Retro Hairstyles

Natalie is becoming an expert at Retro Hairstyles.  She really has a knack for it.  She is also becoming quite a cook.  When she came over this evening, she made us some wonderful paninni sandwich, which was very nice since I was home all day sick with a cold.

Anyway, back to the hairstyles.  This is her today:

 With Grandma Anderson's Scarf

She is doing a weekly hair challenge to try 1 new 

hairstyle a week.

Here are some from the last few weeks. 

She's beautiful and sweet.

I wish I had

thought to take a picture of Ian and his family this afternoon.  We went up to Ian's baptism in Salt Lake and he was so excited and couldn't stop smiling.  I haven't seen Angie and her cute girls for a while and they were there, too, as well as Charlene and Greg.  All of the kids are always so loving.

To top that off, I was able to see Stephanie's new one this morning, too.  She is so cute and so little.  I'm sure Mom and Dad are looking down at all their descendants and "getting a kick" out of all of it.

Today I had a reminder about not

judging by appearances.

I was standing in line at Costco (imagine that).  The line was long, so I had plenty of time to observe the lady in front of me.  I just saw her from the back, but from that viewpoint she appeared to be very poor and/or unconcerned about appearance.  She was wearing an old looking house dress, a sweater that was misshapen  and grey hair pulled back not very neatly. I guess the best description would be that, from the back, she kind of looked like Granny in Beverley Hillbillies (if anyone remembers that show).  

Then she turned around and she saw the primrose flowers I was buying.  Her face lit up and she said, "Oh, aren't those beautiful flowers".  She had a very melodious voice and her face had a radiance about it.  She told me the story of friend who had moved into a new place and was feeling alone.  Her friend awoke the next morning to find that someone had anonymously planted primroses outside her window and that it had made such a difference for her.  

That was the end of our conversation, but as I observed her interaction with the clerk, I saw that she showed that same bright attitude to him.  I was humbled and amazed at the same time.  And also reminded that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Today I had the

honor of spending time with these two adorable girls while their baby sister, Zoe, was born.  They were so good.  And, I've never seen anyone more organized than my niece and their Mom, Stephanie.  She had a 20+ page manual with a table of contents and labeled pictures.  She also had videos of how to give Andie her medicines and feed her through her stomach tube.  I would have been very nervous to do it without such good instructions.

Both mom and baby are doing great and Dad is now home with his two oldest sweethearts.

(Bree knows how to mug for the camera and Andie laughs at everything)

Camelot Moments

I was reading an article by Brad Wilcox today.  He was Misty's 6th Grade teacher as well as one of Gary's students.  I've always enjoyed his perspectives, as a speaker and a writer, because he always seems to look at the positive.  He definitely built up Misty and all the students he had in his classes and instilled confidence in them.

In this article he was talking about "Camelot Moments."  Like the line from the musical that says, "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot."   He relates that to our lives.  "When you get down and feel like everything is falling apart, remember the Camelot moments.  That may help you maintain a long-term perspective and keep on going."  

He quotes President Hinckley as saying, "I know it isn't easy. It's discouraging at times,sure.  Aren't you glad it isn't just fun all the time?  Those valleys of discouragement make more beautiful the peaks of achievement."

I also liked where he related an experience with his wife, who is a nurse.  He was complaining about all the ups and downs during his days as a teacher.  She said, "Brad, when you get hooked up to the heart monitor, you don't want to see a straight line.  That's bad news.  It's the ups and down lines that let you know you are alive."

Reading this got me thinking about "Camelot" moments.  I've had many in my life, though one in particular comes to mind.   That was when we adopted Natalie.  After having our two stillborn daughters, Annalee and Emily, I felt a great loss but I also gained a greater gratitude for the daughters we had.  I viewed them with a different perspective and never took the blessing of having them for granted.  And then when Natalie came into our lives, it was pure joy.   It was a completion.  A Camelot Moment, as Brad Wilcox would say.

I'm grateful for Camelot Moments in my life.  I need to do a bit of attitude adjustment to think as President Hinckley did, and feel glad that it is not always that way.  Or be grateful for the downs on the heart monitor.  I tend to look at problems as, well, problems.  Not as opportunities.

Lots of food for thought.    
    .
 

I saw this cute idea

 today on facebook.  I will definitely be trying this.

Breakfast Cupcake

I don't know the original source, but here is what it says:

This is a really easy dish to prepare, and it looks so darn cute! It is also a great dish to serve on a buffet table because each serving is completely self-contained and can just be picked up and popped on a plate.

1 20 ounce package pre-shredded hash brown-style potatoes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons flour
1 small sweet onion, coarsely grated
2 thick slices deli ham, chopped into small bits (about 1 cup)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 dozen eggs, scrambled*
chives for garnish
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F., and lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the first eight ingredients together in a large bowl. Spoon potato mixture into each prepared muffin cup until about 1/3 full. Gently press the potato mixture down in the middle and up the sides of each cup. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. If the nests have puffed up too much in the center, scoop out a little with a teaspoon. Spoon a few tablespoons of scramble eggs into each nest and top with chives.

 — 

We were lucky

to see Hyrum play many games while we were in Missouri.  And, of course, Harrison is the official bat boy and an integral part of the team.

 But, sadly, Jackson was only able to pitch half a game and had to stop because of pain in his back.  I suggested to Misty that she call Ed, our unofficial family chiropractor, to get some advice.  Ed went above and beyond.  He talked to Jackson and had him do different movements and describe how it felt.  He suggested what the problem could be, and sent him exercises and suggestions on what he should do and what he shouldn't do.  He suggested Jackson go to a chiropractor, and the chiropractor agreed with what Ed had said.

Wow, what a difference it made.  Jackson was diligent about doing what Ed suggested.  It has been hard for him not to play for a week (or more) but it has made such a difference having Ed's advice.  (He listened to Ed like he wouldn't have listened to novices).  

It is such a blessing to have family and friends share their time, training, and expertise.  Now I want to pay it forward and share my experience with baking with Ed.   I'm be waiting to hear what form that should take.