It has been so nice

spending time with Tom and Lynn and family.  Last night we went to Brick Oven and sat in the Nostalgia Booth (the one that has the picture of the back of Gary's head).   Tonight we had Stephanie and Bryce and Jared over.

I remember when Tom would come up to visit his kids when they were younger, and there would be many amicable discussions going on.  Tonight we got on the subject of personality types and what constitutes being too much of a worrier/planner/stress case, etc.   We tackled those subjects while Bree and Amelia kept us entertained with arranging apples and tumbling.   It took me back to when their parents were doing just that not too many years ago.

Happy Birthday to

Tiffany on her 36th birthday.  

One of my Dad's favorite songs was "Sunrise Sunset" 

from "Fiddler on the Roof."   

I love the words, too. 

Is this the little girl I carried?

Here she is at 6 weeks.

 Swiftly flow the days . . .

Sunrise, Sunset

Swiftly fly the years . . .

We are blessed by and love you, Tiff.  

Happy Birthday!

We are very boring hosts . . .

Tom and Lynn are here to see Stephanie and Bryce and their family.  We love having them here, but we are definitely boring.   I'm glued to my computer with work and Gary is at work and had graduation tonight.

We'll have to drum up something exciting tomorrow.  Hmmm . . .  Maybe we could go to Costco and have samples.  

Why didn't I think

of this?  

My friend, Eileen, knows how much frosting I make and use for cupcakes.  So, she forwarded a link from pinterest showing a way to fill pastry bags.   It is slick.  It is so much less messy.  The only thing that made me laugh was how little frosting the lady doing the video made.  That is only enough for one of my cupcakes.

I tired it with my next batch of frosting (strawberry).   Wow, it really is amazing.      

http://www.karenscookies.net/Cookie-Decorating-Video-Color-Mixing-Bag-Filling_ep_74-1.html

A total of about

26 hours of hard labor for Gary . . .

 Finally, he has it fixed, dirt back in, and waiting for it to settle.

After church we

met Janice and Frank and Geniel and Dickson at the cemetery.  Then we came here to have a meal.  It is always wonderful to together with them, and it doesn't happen as often as it used to.  We are very blessed by our families.  

Not fun for Gary . . .

But, let's look at the positives.

He has a strong body and can do it.  (Click)

We have a house and yard. (Click)

It is a beautiful day. (Click)

I love him for it. (Click)

He learned a lot about installing a new valve.(Click) 

When it is done it will be nice not to have a leak. (Click)

Duke was there to keep him company. (Click)

His reward was to go to Costco.  (Click)

Apparently grass is very resilient according to Gary. (Click)

Apparently even when dirt is on it for several days it is still resilient. (Click)

I really trust that he knows what he's talking about.  (Click)

25 years ago,

when Chuck died, Mom and Dad and Gary and Lynn bought their burial plots  They got two extra for me and Gary.  Except that now we've found out that there is not enough room for two of us.

So, that is what Gary is demonstrating here at the cemetery.

He's pacing it out and thinks there is enough room for two.

Or, he decided that maybe we could stack, and he would let me be on top since I have claustrophobia.  Or, that one of us can be buried and when the other one dies they can be cremated and added to the casket.

Or he could be buried under the rock behind them.   Or I could be buried somewhere else and he could be buried there (I told him I didn't think Mom would like that)  .

We didn't really come to any concrete conclusion on this grave matter.  I guess it will just be "first come first serve."   But we had a nice time going to the cemetery with Gary and Lynn.   Here we are sitting on Chuck and Christine's bench.

l

It's on its way . . .

for only $4.99

SALT LAKE CITY — Negative thoughts are a lot like Gremlins, the pesky little creatures from the popular '80s movie. The more you feed them, the more they multiply.

It's been said that you become what you think about most of the time. In the U.S., where one in 10 adults suffers from depression, it's apparent that most Americans have a difficult time controlling the proverbial snowball of negative thoughts we can have.

Hilary Weeks, the popular faith-based singer and speaker, has felt firsthand the power that negative thoughts can have when you feed into them.

Most people have around 300 negative thoughts every day.

Weeks was told that most people have around 300 negative thoughts every day. Fascinated with the statistic, she started an experiment to find out if it was true. She purchased a small counter, or clicker, and counted her negative thoughts for one whole week. After a week of pausing to recognize each downer and disappointment with a click, she felt drained and low. She wondered if giving the same attention to positive thoughts could have the opposite effect. If we pause to recognize blessings, hope and everything good in our lives with a simple "click," it could lead to that shared goal we all strive for: happiness.

Weeks has created a website inspired by this experience, billionclicks.org . It's a movement that encourages people everywhere to "click" as a reward for their positive thoughts and actions. "Clickers" even log in to report their tallies in the hope that one day the site will reach one billion clicks — an idea that Weeks believes can change the world. So far, nearly half a million clicks have been reported from participants who believe in the motto, "Think. Click. Be."

Clicking is a tool for becoming who we are truly meant to be. Ideally clickers will learn to seek the positive and believe in who they are and what they can achieve.

–Hilary Weeks

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1010&sid=20353717

"

"Every click is a little more good added to the world — and clearly, the world needs it. Every effort, action and movement that inspires goodness is reason to celebrate."

I have just spent

eleven hours straight working on the website.  Once I started,  I couldn't stop,  It would have been a major mess if someone tried to order invitations before it was all done.

I honestly don't know how Loralee does it all.  Mine is just a very small part.  Yet it is overwhelming and difficult to wrap my mind around the best way to enter products.  She does all that and creates the the beautiful products as well.  

Take a look at all the changes:   loraleelewis.com

Here is another nice Mother's Day gift

I received.




Though he thinks we should use both of them for both the decor and security.

I was checking up

on Misty to see how her finger was doing.  She had an encounter with a hedge trimmer last week.  She ended up in the emergency room with stitches in her left pointer finger.  She said it is doing better, but that it still doesn't look very good.  

Marshall was with her when she did it, and he was quite traumatized by the whole event. Misty said his way of coping is to tell everyone, "Mommy cutting, zzzzzzz (motor sounds), ouch, zzzzz (motor sounds) . . .

I tried to get him to tell me in person, but it was no go.  She's going to try to record him telling it.   

Anyway, she wanted the recipe for the Sesame Honey Chicken I made yesterday.  I got it from the http://www.sixsistersstuff.com.    Gary really liked it.  I served it over a rice mixture of half white rice, half brown rice, chicken bouillon instead of water, and frozen veggies.  

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Recipe adapted from: Baby Center

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thighs would be fine too)
Salt and pepper
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (could also use olive oil or canola oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional - doesn't really add heat, just adds more flavor)
4 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tablespoons water
Sesame seeds

Directions: 
Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in 6 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened. Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

*You can also sprinkle more red pepper flakes on top if you want more heat.

One of the projects we did

was to make cute placemats with pockets for the napkin and a band to hold the silverware.

Actually, Tiffany made some, but I finished mine just in time for dinner tonight with Natalie and Trent.

I really need to learn to learn how to take better pictures.

Repeat of May 18 2009 Post

Since it is 12:30 am on the 19th . . . . .  

And since I've been working on the computer most of the day and night . . . . . 

And since the 18th passed and I didn't blog . . . . .  

Then here is a repeat of my blog 4 years ago on the 18th.   

Happy belated birthday, Charlene!

I am the youngest of 5 children born to
Golden Stevens Anderson
and Charlet Hall Anderson.
This week my only sister and one brother had a birthday.
Happy Birthday!

My brother, Tom's birthday was on the 14th.
Tom always had a knack for popping up in pictures
when he wasn't meant to be in them.
Here are a couple of examples.

Tom behind my grandma Hall (Gran)

Tom behind me and Charlene

Here's one he was actually meant to be in.


And, today is my sister, Charlene's, birthday.

Mom always told the story that when my 3 older brothers found out she was expecting another baby, after Charlene, that they were very concerned. They wanted their only little sister to have all the clothes and things she wanted as she was growing up. They were afraid that if it was another girl that Charlene wouldn't be able to have everything she wanted. Well, I can promise you, neither of us ever went without.

(Just ask any of the brothers)

Here are some photos (not great quality)
I scanned in of Charlene and me growing up.

I feel so blessed to have been born
into such a wonderful family.

I'm going to yoga in

style now days.  Tiffany made this cute bag for this cute mat.  I get raves every time I go.

My friend looks pretty cute, too, though she doesn't go to yoga with me.

As I was working

on the computer today, I was watching a recording of a Studio 5.  You know, the show that is my "Lifestyle Bible," so to speak.   I feel embarrassed mentioning it so much, but I guess the things they share just resonate with me.

Anyway, many women were interviewed about how they knew they were loved by their mothers. They were all small consistent things and not grand gestures. One thing said was "Her eyes light up when I walk in the room."  

I remember President Monson's daughter saying that every time she stops by her parent's house her Dad says, "Well, look who is here, and isn't she beautiful."   I remember feeling that way when I would come home when I was young, or stop by to visit Mom and Dad after I was married.   There was always the greeting and feeling that they were happy I was there.

It is easy, in the day-to-day routines of life, to forget to interact in a positive way with the people we live with or see daily.  Somewhere in the back of my mind there is a story that impacted me and has made me more aware of greeting with joy.  But, I can't remember what it is.   I guess what the story was isn't as important as if I learned anything from it.  But . . .  it is really bugging me that I can't remember.

Anyway, I'm resolving to work on this awareness   Even on days when I'm not feeling particularly cheery or am preoccupied with something.  It doesn't take a lot, really, to express with a "light in your eyes" that you are happy someone is there.    

Text from Tiffany. Picture at dinner

Luci just informed the preschool carpool "my grandpa Ashton eats mustard on his cereal!"  The comment elicited many "eeewws!" And a lot of laughter.  With such a great audience she continued "and he eats mustard on his cupcakes, cookies, rolls and everything!"  It was a very entertaining conversation. 

Wow, it's been a long day on the

computer.  I've literally been sitting here for 9 hours straight trying to figure out how to program options for the website.   There are lots of exciting things going on with the company as we add products, update collections, and add different customization options.  I feel very blessed to be able to work from home.  I need to be better at budgeting my time and not let the household upkeep slide.

And, I want to shout out a Happy Birthday to my brother, Tom, who has a birthday today.  Guess which one he is in the pictures?

Life would be so boring without you, Tom!

I'm so grateful to have you as my brother.

I thought this

would be a fitting article to share around Mother's Day.  We were talking about it yesterday as we were reminiscing about our Mothers.  I know that when the article came out in the Provo Daily Herald our senior year (1972), that I loved that he so willingly gave credit to his Mom.  I know that it meant a lot to her and that she got several notes from friends telling her what a tribute it was.

Gay went on to play baseball on scholoraship at Snow College for a year and lastly at Southern Utah State College for two years after we were married.  He was a scholar-athlete at SUSC also, and I know he did make his mother proud.  And me too.

P.S.  He wasn't wearing shades.  His glasses tinted in the sun.  Although he does look pretty cool.