Hello ~ you probably wonder where I've been...Well, I've been super-sleepy because of dehydration (inadvertent and not a real problem), my eye was bothering me (he took some stitches out, plus we were missing one of the drops somehow), but is fine now, I looked a lot on Pinterest (which I love), and I watced a bunch of tv (between bouts of falling asleep). 
As I correct the dehydration and my eye is so much better, I can get back on track.  Life is what happens while you're busy making plans, right?  And I really have plans, if we get this job!  I'll share them with you, just for fun, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay?

Well, if we go back to our house...I've talked to Mark and I've thought this through, and, of course, our goals will be the same, no matter what happens: to keep the commandments the best we can.  Pres. Hinckley said that if we do our best, everything will work out.  And to have a twinkle in our eye and a smile on our face, but to have great purpose and strength.  (There are so many great quotes on Pinterest!  One shows a picture of the temple and says, "If this isn't your castle, then you're not my prince."  Isn't that fantastic?  For boys, just insert "princess.")

So, that's the overall, overreaching plan, no matter what.  With that in mind, if Mark got this job and we had a steady, fair income, I would try to budget well and be really thrifty and purposeful.  I would try and have a place for things, so I could clean easily (or my aide could).  We'd have to get a washer and dryer, and we'd make any little repairs, and so on, that might be necessary.  Then we'd start on a list of projects and go on from there, working to clean up the yard and make the house sound and warm or cool, and putting the shelves up in the garage, and so on.

We would, over time, secure more food storage (we've been working on that this past year, a bit at a time, and Mark has made some real strides in the plan, but there's much still that can be done, for sure).   I'd want to get more fishing supplies, too.

I'd want to improve the soils and plan for the best land use for our little place.  I'd want to be sure that our trees are cared for, and that we are good stewards of what we have.  We'd want to fix the irrigation and make sure that the drainage was good around the house (like installing guttering!).
Wouldn't that be fun?  That's what a regular job can do for you.  ; D

After we had things in good shape generally, then we could decide what the next steps would be.  Those might include things like having the pasture reseeded or the yard leveled, planting more fruit trees and/or grape vines and berry patches, putting in square foot gardens, wheelchair paths and ramps, getting softer water indoors, redoing fences, building structures for storage or chickens or whatever, doing window boxes off the porch rails, putting a swing on the porch, putting a lantern, curved walkway, etc., in the front, making cold storage and other improvements in the basement, getting or making compost bins, and so on.  Just things to make improvements, step by step, as we are able to.

We would make a plan for prioritizing, of course, so that our wants didn't rush ahead of our needs.  All this securing and preparing would, I believe, enable us to help others, too.  I think it would be great if we worked to help our neighbors with preparedness, also.  And, of course, our family.  I see our family leading the way, and I've been influenced by their examples. 

Anyway, that is my fantasy and plan, for if Mark gets this job.  Plans give me energy and help me to progress.  Usually turns out some different way, but progress, nonetheless.  It's amazing what daily prayer and effort can accomplish over time, isn't it?  To paraphrase a saying, you're not growing a garden, you're building character.  We always seem to be in situations that are just the opposite of what we'd planned for, but the habit of looking for what we can do, and praying for help with it, can make whatever is important happen anyway.

Okay, so I'd better get going.  We're leaving for Salt Lake City soon, and tomorrow a.m. Mark meets with the people!  Say a prayer, okay?

Love you!
xoxoxo

Newses

I have some sad news and some glad news:  the sad news is that Mark got an e-mail from the lady in Ohio, and someone who'd been with them before applied for the job and, due to their background with the company, they got it.  So we keep looking and applying.  Whatever it takes, right?  It does seem like things are being kept this way on purpose.  Hmmm...wonder why...no telling, from this end of the telescope!

And the good news is that Linda had thought that her folks had sold Buddy.  Turns out, it was another horse!  Super-yay!!  That makes me so happy!  I love Buddy.

PLUS:
Within hours of the email from Ohio, after praying and talking and fasting a little, we got a call from a facility in Pocatello,
and Mark will be meeting with some people over that in SLC next Thursday!
So, that was kind of a stunning turnaround.  : )
And we're just thankful for the encouragement!

Also, remember that Seth's birthday is on Feb. 12th, as is Mark's dad's - Jeanne would probably appreciate it if you could send her a card or note.  I know Seth loves to hear from you, too.  

Contact us for addresses, if you need them.

And then what else?  Well, let's see...oh, Kattie came over on Wednesday afternoon and just hung out with us for a while.  I love to do that.  She brought a baby quilt along, that Ben's mom had made.  It is darling!  Also, she'd made matching blanket sleepers and receiving blankets - so soft and fuzzy and cute.  All the colors were Kattie's favorite soft, vintage look.  A  great, classic look that I love, too.

Kattie also brought some clothes that she has purchased (just a few, she said) with that same look.

Darling!

And she showed us some nursery wall decor that she made herself, out of shoebox lids!  She found the idea on Pinterest, she said, and she did Ava's name in big letters, with decoupaged collage fronts that she made with scrapbook papers.  Can't wait to see everything together on the wall!

(She probably wants to do pictures on her blog, so I'll not spoil the surprise, tehee.)

The next evening, Thursday, we went to Ben and Linda's to add some ideas for the roadshow, which Linda is in charge of (facilitating?).   Mark brought some fish to bake, along with cheesy potatoes and green beans.  Yum!  Ben and Linda chipped in orange juice, donuts, and ice cream, so we had a feast!

Beth fed herself, which was amazing to me.  And Josh helped with feeding her ice cream.

Wow.

They are growing so big.

!

And that's about all.  Hope you are well.  Everyone I know has been sick, but seem to be better now.

We're doing fine, and my eye is slowly healing.  It's great as we get to reduce the appts. 

frequency of eye drops.

Take care, and we love you!

xoxoxo

Eye Update

I went to the eye dr.'s the past 2 a.m.s, and he said there's a scratch on the white of my eye that happened during surgery.  He's being extra-careful with it, and I can't focus enough yet to see what my vision is like yet, but I'm sure it will be fine.  I wear an eye patch at night, and I have a soft contact in to protect it while it heals; I can't even feel that, except I know it's soothing, and I'm all for that!

So, that's my little update.  Hope you're all fine and dandy.  We love you!

xoxoxo

Dumb de dee Dumb...

Sometimes I just feel that way, especially when I'm tired or feeling shy or lonely or whatever.  Do you?  It helps to realize it's related to those times, though, rather than reflecting something true so much.  I know that's when the seeds of discouragement are apt to take root, so I try to toss thoughts about "being dumb" off lightly and not entertain them (isn't that a funny expression?). 

Often I feel that I'm dumb if I can't be and do everything, which is actually a pretty big-headed way of thinking, when you consider it. 

Deep down, my fondest wish is to have us be together, spending time on the bed, talking or watching old movies or crazy tv shows.  I love that.  But life goes on, and I'd be pretty dumb if I got stuck on doing that and only that! 
And I still look forward to those times.  Ha!

I love you!
xoxoxo

My Left Eye

Like the movie "My Left Foot," right?  So I had my eye done yesterday, super-early in the day.  I could feel the dr. putting in the stitches!  But it wasn't too much of a price to pay for better eyesight.  I get the bandage off this a.m., and then it will take a while for it to focus.  Hope it heals well!  It aches and I feel nauseated some, but able to manage okay.  I look forward to closeup vision, as the other eye is more focused on distance viewing.

We won't hear from the Ohio position that Mark is pursuing till next week, when he has a second phone interview.  Pretty exciting, as we feel good about this one~ we'll let you know how it goes.  We've forgotten what it's like to have a job!

I've just been finishing up some Christmas projects.  Still have a couple to do.  We got Bethany's bday present to give to her, and I finished repairing Melinda and Danny's kids' quiet book for them, plus made myself a necklace (and gave Melinda hers), and so on.  Let's see...what else?  I can't remember right now.  Mark has been shoveling lots of fluffy Idaho snow off of our huge driveway, plus packing up lots of our food storage into boxes, for whenever we move out of here (I guess that's inevitable, at some point).  Linda and Ben and I are going to write the roadshow together, after getting input from the kids.  sounds like they had some good suggestions at last Tuesday's YM/YW mtg.
And that's all I know about that!

Hope you are having a great January!  We love you!
xoxoxo

I'm a Mormon, Vietnam Veteran, and Italian Brooklynite

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I Am a Mormon: Flight Nurse

Hello, Fellow Jetsons!

Do you realize how much our lives are like the Jetsons, and we just don't notice it?  We are future people!  It is 2013!  

We're well on our way into the 2000's now, and time will continue to shoot us into the future.

I think that is so exciting!

Mark and I were talking about this the other day, just thinking about how we live now; we get used to reading about fantastic new inventions that are coming our way at some unspecified time, and while they can be jaw-dropping, they don't seem real.  Then, by the time discoveries make their way into our daily lives, we've gotten used to the idea of them.

I've noticed that when I watch movies just a few years old, I have to laugh at the cool protagonist and his high-tech gadgets, 'cause they're already clunky relics in our time.  Like the huge car phones, for instance.  Or the great big laptops.  Or the "futuristic" big tvs.  

Think of the changes in cameras and photos, crafting and art tools, microwaves, food processors, telephones and computers, entertainment, tvs and tv shows, the Internet, web broadcasts, Skyping, shopping, ebay, working from home, access to ancestry information, online education, CDs and DVDs and Hulu and Itunes, scanning and printing or faxing, information storage, robotics, artificial body parts, transplants, botox, plastic surgery, cosmetics, cars, car seats, children's toys, electronic books, Pinterest and Facebook and blogs and Tweets, living spaces, and what we expect from our daily lives.

 

Unlike the Jetsons, we don't seem to use our conveniences to have more down time or more "face" time - we keep in touch in small, electronic bites.  Everything is generally quicker, and everyone has their things they are into.  

At first we were stressed about the new Millenium and things happening so fast; now we seem very acclimated to crazy things happening in the world, and we are deciding what we want to do and focusing on what is important to us.  And letting the rest go.

We are the REAL Jetsons, and we are still pretty cool.  

Love You!

  xoxoxo

2012 Christmas Pictures and Loong Descriptions of Old Movies

I've already told you about Christmas, and here are the pictures to go with the story:

The first ones are of the Ward Christmas Breakfast and Santa's visit.

Even though the quality of pictures isn't that great,

I love the kids' expressions.

Irelyn really needed Mom, until she figured out how fun Santa's bells were,

and that he had candy canes hiding somewhere.

Then she got really involved!

The rest of the pictures are from Christmas Eve at 

Danny and Melinda's home.

The kids seemed to enjoy acting out the Nativity,

And Alaina was such a devoted Mary.

Justin and Phillip and Ben were Wise Men and Shepherds,

while Danny read the story.

Joseph was a caring, concerned husband,

yet with a smiling, confident attitude.

Everyone played their part well,

and Linda got to take some shots with her new camera.

And the food was great!

 I had to laugh at KittleLitty sitting directly under the lamp.

Isn't that pose so peculiar-looking?

Today, there was a Twilight Zone marathon, so we watched it off and on,

catching all of our favorite episodes, like Talking Tina, and

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

A little further on in this post, I'll tell you about

some of the movies we watched while being down being sick.
But first,

Drum roll please...Megan and Brooks and Family - your box is basically done.  

Tadaa!

I was so delayed by illness, but didn't go around your stuff

when ill, so it should be safe.

I hope so!

I'm so excited to get these boxes done.

I can't wait for you to get them!

 Also, I'm excited to give Melinda and Danny's kids their gift,

plus a couple of other things. :)

I went to the eye dr. this a.m., 'cause I thought the stitches were 

rubbing on my eyelid, but it turned out I had a piece of fuzz

in my eye.  Now I am experiencing blessed relief!

And I'm feeling better over all.

The contrast is amazing,

and highlights the principle of opposition.

It does produce happiness to experience opposition, pain, and illness,
so you can appreciate not having them.

Man, I'm sure looking forward to that!

Today Mark made me the most awesome ham,
at my special request.
It was just a small ham from Wal Mart,
but he let it soak in brown sugar and pineapple,
after scoring the fat.
After leaving it overnight in the fridge,
he baked it till it was nice and hot, and
thoroughly banished any thoughts I had
of ever becoming a vegetarian!
That was a great way to close out the year!

Mark did something else for me, which I am so happy about!
He got me some Honey Bee scissors,
a version of Cutter Bee scissors.
They're fairly small scissors, that actually work!
Hallelujah!

Btw, Megan, did you finish catching up on Downton Abbey?

We've got to talk!

And guess what, girls?  The Karen Carpenter Story is on YouTube,

available in a whole movie form.

Mark and I watched it today.  Then we watched some of 

The Carpenters' performances

and part of an interview.

Did I ever tell you all that Mark saw The Jackson Five 

perform live once or twice,

And he saw The Carpenters at the beginning 

of their career and towards the end.

He said that Karen was really pulled down in the latter performance.

So sad, but at least she was doing better at the very end of her life. 
Her heart had previous damage from anorexia nervosa, and couldn't operate properly.

Louise Fletcher, by the way, is outstanding

as Mrs. Carpenter.  All the performers were excellent in their roles, I thought.

The really skinny outfits Ms. Gibb wore were actually Karen's.

Richard Carpenter, the executive producer, had her wear her clothes.

Kind of creepy!

Anyway, we also watched Buckaroo Banzai in the 8th Dimension.  I love it when 

Peter Weller sings "Since I Don't Have You,"

but I want him to sing the whole song!

Mr. Weller is actually almost as much a Renaissance Man

as the character he plays.

He's a musician, actor, professor, art historian,

and sometime History Channel host.

I can't remember what all else he's done and is still doing,

but I'm impressed.
It's nice when your super-heroes have real-life counterparts.

To change the subject, aren't Google video and images amazing?!

Just look at these images that came up, among many others,
when I simply typed in the words "Old fashioned Christmas,"
and clicked on images:

Aren't they great?  There's such an abundance

of inspiring images and how-to videos on the Internet!
I love that accessibility;
many of you may not remember a time when
there just wasn't that much available to you,

unless you lived near museums, libraries, and universities.

I used to be starved for learning, growing up

and for the first half of my life.

I even had plans to start a non-profit organization,

to bring resources to rural residents.

Now that's generally a problem of the past, 

and that's so awesome!

 

Well, Happy New Year, evereebuddee!  I pray you are all getting well again.
Mrs. Cannon has to have serious spinal surgery in one week, so please keep
her in your prayers.  I get the other cataract done on the 16th, 
and I have 20/20 vision in the eye that's been fixed.
Isn't that great?  The world is still out there, I've found,
after a long while of living in a big blur.

So take care, all of you.

We love you!

xoxoxo