Today at lunch bunch

we were talking about holiday decorations, and one of my friends mentioned that she didn't know where I stored all of them.   Kay and Maisel, my cousins, mentioned that I have a lot of storage.  They know about my "deep." 

I explained that when we moved into the house, the 4th level was unfinished.  We made half of it into a bedroom for Misty and Tiffany.  Dad built the shelves in the walk in closet and built the shelves in the storage side.  As I was describing the storage area and the custom made table in the middle, my friend asked, "How did he know what to build."

The answer was, "I told him what I wanted."  That pretty much sums it up.  We measured storage boxes and analyzed what I would be using and needing.  We bought little slide out containers and made slots for poster boards and large paper.   He made a closet area with double layers of rods. He was amazing at figuring out how to make things, often using bits and pieces of things he had around.    And, after all these years, the only thing I would change is maybe the closet area.  I tend to just stuff things in there.  The only other thing I would change is how tidy I keep it.  Yes, I know, I have that in my power to change.

I've been thinking about Dad a lot this week.  He died 19 years ago Monday.  In some ways it seems like yesterday and in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago.   On Monday Richard's granddaughter, Kylee, got married.  Kylee was just a newborn when Dad died.   Life does go on, but the memories and feeling of love are always there.   Here is a sweet picture of Richard and Kylee.

Timber Floats

A few weeks ago, Gary told his team that anytime they win by 40 points or more he would treat them to a "timber float."   They were all excited but wondered what a timber float was. He was surprised when no one knew, but he refused to tell them.  So each week the anticipation from the players grew, thinking it had to be something good.  Finally this Thursday night they did win by 40 points, so the team reminded him and asked again what it was.

So he told them.  A "timber float" is a cold glass of water with toothpicks floating in it.  Needless to say, they groaned with displeasure .  Gary assured them they would get something good besides a "timber float" at the next practice.  And, one of the team dads offered to provide actual root beer floats.

So when Gary came home after the game at 9:30,  he casually asked if I could maybe make 10 dozen or so cookies by the next day at 2pm.  Fortunately I have my convection oven, which I know I've expressed my love for before.  I didn't make 10 dozen small cookies, but I did make 60 extra large cookies.   It was fun!  (I do hope they don't win by 40 again anytime soon, though).

And, in case anyone ever wants to make 60 extra large cookies,

 if you 8 times this recipe,

that is what you will get!

                                            My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cups shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
-= Instructions =-
Mix shortening, sugar, vanilla, and egg.  Add flour, soda, and salt.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

We've got a boy

who is turning 12 today!

 

His smile says it all! 

 

And thinking of Hyrum brings a smile to my face.  He is so good natured and kind.  He and I have some very common bonds -- we both love candy and we both love paper and pencils and office supplies!   When we go to Costco with Hyrum and offer to get him something, he heads right to the office supplies for pencils, pens, markers, or sticky notes. 

 

We wish we could be there to celebrate with you, Hyrum, and that we could be there when you are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.   Know that we love you and are thinking of you today!

I got a text

from Tiffany this morning that said:

"Yesterday while shopping at Target Luci randomly says, Grandma Ashton loves me so much.  I miss her." 

What I truly, truly hope is that all of our grandchildren feel the love that Gary and I have for them.  Being so far away, our physical and everyday lives are very removed.  But I want them always to feel the love and know that it is there.  I pray every night for each of them by name, visualizing them in my mind as I do.   I hope they will always feel it.   No matter where they are, and no matter what they are doing.   

What I feel as a mother and grandmother gives me a small inkling of understanding about how God feels for all of his children.  He wants us to feel His love.  No matter where we are, and no matter what we are doing.   We need to remember that, too.

I feel very blessed.  

Ahh . .

it felt good to be back to yoga today.  I went a few times in the summer when it was in the park, and that was really fun.   But it feels good to know I'm going to be committed and regular with it.  I even paid by the month this morning, just to cement that in my mind.

Why do we resist doing things that we not only know are good for us, but that make us feel good, also?  Or is that just me?   It would be so easy to sit and stretch when we're watching our favorite shows (like last night with "Major Crimes" and "Perception").   But I don't. 

Today at yoga we were supposed to focus on mindfulness.   Being in the present moment and not judging it.   I need a lot of work with that.  Not only doing it, but understanding what it means.

I visited with my friend, Diane, the other day.  We were talking about how we would never use the word "hate" when referring to or thinking of other people.  But when talking to or about ourselves, we use it all the time.   Things like, "I hate it when I do that."   "I hate how I don't do what I know I should be doing."   I'm going to try to be mindful of not doing that. 

Well, this is kind of rambling.  Having your mind going in all sorts of directions is not being mindful!  When I searched "mindfulness," this was one thing that came up.  I'm going to work on these.     

ASPECTS OF MINDFULNESS
1. NON-JUDGING becoming an impartial witness to your own experience. 2. PATIENCE 3. BEGINNER’S MIND willingness to see everything as if for the first time. 4. TRUST – in yourself	5. NON-STRIVING by doing nothing, all is done. 6. ACCEPTANCE seeing things as they actually are in the present. 7. LETTING GO From a workshop with Jon Kabat-Zinn

The countdown

chain for Disney World!

 

 

The next big event we have coming up is our Disney World vacation with the whole FAM!   We are going to be there over Thanksgiving.  I'm very excited!

 

When Tiffany was here, Misty sent a package with a DVD of some home movies showing the kids, her garden, and Lydia's new bedroom.  She also sent us each a set of papers to make into this countdown chain.  Every day I get to cut a chain off, and that means we're getting closer. 

 

Apparently Lydia thought the chain was a silly idea, but I don't.  I feel like a kid again!

 

 



While I'm being

a football widow (and Gary is doing the stats for the varsity game), this is what I was doing.