Food for thought...Day 1

*3 Things that make me HaPPy

There are many, many things that make me happy...small things, big things, things with material substance and many things that are "not material"...needless to say, there are more things than I can mention here in this post....luckily for those of you that are reading my post, I will only mention three.

One of the things that makes me the most happy is...."spending time with my family". I know its an old cliche' and everyone says it, but I really feel that I have the most amazing family ever. I have 6 amazing and beautiful children, 2 awesome in-law children, a gorgeous grandson, a wonderful sweet hunk of a husband, 4 amazing brothers and special sister-in-laws and 1 great sister and fantastic brother in-law. I have many sweet nieces and nephews and several wonderful Aunts. I married into a very sweet family as well, all of whom I love to spend time with. I also have been blessed with 2 special mom's and 2 special dad's...and our dear next door neighbors whom we have adopted as part of our family.
I love spending time with all of them doing whatever, whenever and wherever...just being with any and all of them makes me happy. My happiness comes from sitting around a campfire visiting, eating dinner at the local chinese restaurant and having "grown up time", going for a walk with any of them, holding my grand-baby and watching him sleep, visits over the dinner table, laughing at the funny things that kids do, having a craft day, reunions, long drives that take hours to get anywhere, phone calls just to say hi, visiting over a bucket of pretzel bites and cheddar cheese, late night laughs, vacations, sitting on the lawn watching the kids play on the swings, watching a talent show, reading stories with the kids, making cookies and decorating them only to have frosting and sprinkles all over, but loving every minute of it...it all comes down to TIME, I LOVE spending time with the ones that I love....It makes ME HAPPY.

Another thing that makes me happy is..."spending time outdoors" (when its warm of course). Growing up, we lived on a 5 acre farm out in the country. There was always a place to make huts in the tall weeds, play flag football in the field or on the front lawn with the other country kids and many places to explore in our surrounding area...I loved spending every minute I could outside....and I still do. I love hiking, picnicking, walking, biking and the smell of the crisp morning air. I love sitting on a blanket at the park, driving up the canyon to enjoy the great outdoors, going to the zoo...waterfalls, rivers, flowers, butterflies and the hot sun on my back. I just love it all...the outdoors is a happy place to be!

One more thing that makes me happy is..."being organized". I feel really out of sorts if I am unorganized. I am the kind of person that not only LIKES to be organized but I feel it's a NEED in my life. I like to see things in tidy little containers, my closet is color coordinated, and I like things to be put in their rightful place. I also enjoy the task of organizing. There is nothing that feels better than taking on a mess and organizing it...although, I'm not a fan of letting things get that messy...but sometimes there is a job (especially a closet or cupboard) that gets ignored for a while. It just feels exhilarating to conquer the task of getting it cleaned up, put back together and organized. It makes me feel good when I have a list of things that need to get done for the day and I get to cross them off as I go...actually get to see results. I love having a menu so that I know what I need to be making for breakfast as well as dinner. I like to plan ahead, know whats going on days in advance and have things in order, in all aspects of my life....Organization just makes me a happy girl. 


one more quick "happy note"...a new purse or a new pair of shoes is sure to put a smile on my face anytime...just sayin'.

We have an Eagle in our house!

After many years of hard work, scout camps, knot tying and polar dunks....Cameron received his Eagle Scout Award last night at a special Eagle Court of Honor.

Cameron and his best friend, Morgan, both received their Eagle Awards on Sunday, October 17, 2010

 He is such an awesome kid...I guess he isn't much of a kid anymore, he is almost 17...so I guess that makes him an awesome "young man". He has worked so hard and was thrilled to finally get his Eagle completed. We are so happy for his accomplishments and pleased that he set a goal many years ago to attain his Eagle award and then followed through with it. I think scouting is so good for boys. It teaches them so many things...things that I have noticed making a difference in Cameron's life. It taught him not only survival skills and how to be a good camper, but it taught him life skills that will make a difference in his life forever....things like "service" and always looking for ways he can help others out.

Cameron with Grandpa and Grandma Weight (my dad and step-mom)

Cameron with Grandpa and Grandma Allred (my mom and step-dad)

Scouting taught him "respect" for himself as well as for others. He also gained a great love for his scout leaders and has such a deep appreciation for their kindness, devotion to their scout callings and for all of the time they put into helping him complete his Eagle. Scouting taught him "responsibility" and following through with the things he is responsible for. I am grateful to Cameron's scout leaders who pushed him and have helped him for so many years. He couldn't have completed his Eagle without them!

To Cameron-I think you are amazing... I love you so much and am very proud of you...Great Job Son...YOU ARE SUCH AN AWESOME young man and I am excited to see where your life will take you. Keep working hard, setting goals and making the most of your life...always remembering who you are. Congratulations to YOU Cam...always remember that you are so special to me!

 Only 4% of boys in the entire country receive 

an Eagle Scout Award...that makes you part of an elite group...

Well Done!

Munch on ThIs.....

I'm a "blog browser"(that doesn't sound nearly as threatening as a "blog stalker)...there-its out...I've confessed. I love to read other peoples blogs, see what they do, how they live and read about what challenges they have. I love to see what people do for holidays, the vacations they take, the crafts they make, whats cooking for dinner (having a recipe blog of my own makes that a fetish of mine) and the ups and downs of their lives. Many people write about their small children and all the sweet things that they do. Some people write about the world issues at hand and how they feel about them. Others write about their lives in general. I think over the years, I've written about each of those things from time to time...and since this is part of my life's journal, I will continue to write about all those things...but I'm going to shake it up a bit and write about something different from time to time....I'm going to give a little...

"Food for thought"

(*if you have a blog, you should play along...join the band wagon and post your "Food for thought too". )

I'm dedicating 25 posts to my "Food for thought"...they most likely won't all be done one right after the other but every once in a while I will throw in a "Food for thought" post for you to "Munch ON"....

Things to look forward to...or ignore...(your choice)....

Day:

1. 3 things that make me happy

2. 3 "things" (not people) that I wouldn't want to live without

3. 3 wishes I would make if I found a bottle with a genie

4. 3 favorite holidays...3 least favorites

5. 3 things that make me frustrated, angry, ticked off

6. 3 favorite foods

7. 3 words that I think describe me

8. 3 of my hero's

9. 3 things that I would change about myself

10. 3 pet peeves (have more...but will only be listing 3)

11. 3 things I like to collect

12. 3 guilty pleasures

13. 3 things I wished I could do

14. 3 things I would change about my appearance

15. 3 things I wished I never had to do

16. 3 things I love about Autumn

17. 3 things I love about Winter (just know that this one will be a stretch)!

18. 3 things I love about Spring

19. 3 things I love about Summer

20. 3 things that I want to learn

21. 3 things I passionately believe

22. 3 things that cross my mind a lot

23. 3 things that would be in my "perfect world"

24. 3 things that repulse me

25. 3 things that I have discovered about myself

Those of you who think that you know me might just be surprised at what you read...maybe you don't know me as well as you thought you did....hmmmm could be interesting....(or not). 

Sticks and Stones...will break my bones but names will never hurt me?????....WHAT?

When we arrived into this big world we were given a name, something that identified who we were... some of us even got a sweet "nickname" sometime throughout our growing up years. Maybe from one of our parents, a sibling, or our grandparents~ all in the name of love. I admit, I have nicknames for some of my children..I call one of my daughters "MaryAnn", another one "Mary Ellen" and one of my son's "Bob"...the kids always smile and laugh, because its something fun between us.

but thats not always the case with a nickname.....

Halle came home from school the other day and I could tell that something was bothering her. We talked for a minute and then she told me what was on her mind. She told me about a nickname that some of her peers at school had come up with and had started calling her. As she told me about different experiences where they used this vicious name when referring to her, she was close to tears and I could see that her feelings were deeply hurt. Personally, I don't believe in intentionally hurting anyone...(and  I try really hard not to)...especially with name calling. I've never understood those who use words to hurt another person, to give labels or make others feel worthless...maybe its because when I was a teenager I had a few "nicknames" that were very hurtful, and to this day they still affect how I feel about myself.

Halle told me that it was "no big deal" and that it was "okay"...but I could see on her face, as well as hear it in her voice, that it really was a big deal and was NOT OKAY. Frustration and anger took over my emotions and I just wanted to go to the school and grab those kids by the ear and give them a piece of my mind (among a few other things!). It just makes my blood boil... and makes me want to come completly and utterly unleashed on some of the children whom I KNOW have been taught better, and if nothing else, are old enough to know better!!! I wished that kids, especially teenagers, realized the long term effects of how they treat each other. I don't know why some kids feel the need to "step on someone else" to get a high. I don't know why some kids feel the need to hurt others to make themselves look better in someone else's eyes. I don't know why kids feel the need to laugh and make fun of someone else to feel important. I don't care whether your rich or poor, fat or thin, popular with your peers or the class clown...it hurts to be made fun of and put down...by anyone. I don't know whether these kids will ever fully understand how bad they hurt others with their name calling, their rude jokes, their unkind gestures and the way they treat other people. For some reason it has become an excepted behavior in our schools as well as our society, something we consider as being OKAY AND NORMAL...when in reality, it's NOT okay and it's NOT normal...and if it has become so-then it needs to be changed!

It shouldn't matter what brand of clothing my children wear, it shouldn't matter how many letters are in our last name is, it shouldn't matter their body shape or size, it shouldn't matter if they are in athletics or not, it shouldn't matter how fast or slow they can run, it shouldn't matter if they ride a bus to school or get a ride in a CAR, it shouldn't matter that they don't have diamond studs on their jean pockets or a shoes from the most expensive store in the mall....nothing gives anyone the right to give my child (as well as anyone else's child) an awful nickname or put them down. I don't know how many times I've heard the old cliche' — " Kids will be Kids, let them work it out,  they will out grow it"....I'm sorry, that doesn't cut it for me!! Kids need to be taught to be kind, to be thoughtful and to go out of their way to lift another person instead of making fun of and tearing someone else down...we need to expect positive behavior.  We've all seen and heard the news lately about teens and young adults who have taken their own lives because of the hurtful acts or remarks of another person....Don't tell me that "they will out grow it," I would almost bet those kids who teased and bullied in their youth are continuing to do so as they get older.  Many of us go into "adulthood" with issues (some big, some small) that stem from experiences that we had during our jr. high and high school years, issues that sometimes never go away, even when we grow up. Kids need to understand that what they say doesn't just go away because they say, "I'm just kidding!"...often times the hurtful remarks are branded into a persons soul. Those words and actions can, and do, stay with a person for many years.

I know that kids can, and will be, mean, I know that all too well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not standing on a soap box and saying that my kids are perfect...I know they aren't. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone or anyone else's children...but after talking with Halle about this experience I have decided that it wouldn't hurt for me to just remind my children once again that....

"Sticks and Stones break your bones...

and calling names are just as hurtful!!"

It's not okay to tear another person down...not today, not tomorrow....Not ever!

Welcome HoMe!

This past Sunday our sweet little grand baby, Kenron, finally came home from the NICU. It was a bit of a shock because last we had heard, it would still be at least a few weeks before he would be able to be released from the hospital. But once the doctors felt like he was well enough, they didn't waste any time and told Todd and Dana, "He's going home". We have been so excited. He is just so darn cute and has grown so much since we last saw him (4 weeks ago). He is up to 5 lb.. 11 oz. and is 18 1/2 inches long...he's come a long way from his birth size of 3 lbs 15 oz and 17 inches long...BUT he is still so, so little. Although we are so thrilled to have him home in his own house with his mommy and daddy...its still a little scary. With all of the germs floating around out there, especially this time of year, his parents have to be so extremely careful with him. Because he was such a preemie, he has a compromised immune system, which means that he will pick up any sickness or germ that comes around...even the little ones that don't make grown ups sick. All these "little germs" could cause him to be one very sick baby.  The doctors have instructed that he NOT leave the house for 3-5 months (other than doctor appointments). He isn't able to have visitors other than grandparents and aunts and uncles...but I guess if thats what it takes to keep him healthy, then thats what we will have to do. He's gone through so much and it would just break our hearts to see him have to go through anymore. 

I got to tend him for a couple of hours today while Todd was at work and Dana was teaching her dance classes. I got to hold him and cuddle him...and do all those fun grandma things, like change his diaper, feed him, burp him and stare at his gorgeous little face. Gosh, babies have a way of just melting my heart. 

Kenron still has some hurdles to over come, and the first year of his life will have to be monitored closely, but he is doing so well, especially for being 8 weeks early. We are so grateful for all of our friends, our families and our loved ones...for all of the prayers, the thoughts and well wishes. Kenron is a lucky little guy to have so many people in his life that love him and want what is best for him.

Because he is still so small, he has to be waken up every 3 1/2-4 hours to eat (if he doesn't wake up on his own). He wasn't wanting to wake up too bad so I decided to un-wrap his blanket and change his diaper to see if that would help him want to wake up a bit. While he was stretching and trying to open his sweet little eyes, I noticed how small he looked next to the wipe container on the bed... then I thought to myself how deceiving some of his pictures are-they seriously make him look much bigger than he really is.

He is smiling and cheering because "Grammy J" is tending him....see how excited he is!

Okay...so maybe he is still a little tired...BUT he finally woke up and ate like a "growing boy" (a lot)!

UMMMM...yes, he smiled at me! So what if it was in his sleep, and so what if someone might say that it was gas... I will always believe it was because he was so happy

that I was holding him and he wanted to "send me some love"...

It was a REAL smile, I am sure of it!

I am so glad that we have this little guy in our lives. He is such a sweetheart and just makes me smile. I love him so much and consider myself very blessed to be his Grammy J. 

Leaves are falling all around, on the housetops on the ground~

Autumn is a beautiful time of year. I love the colors of gold, orange and red.

Deron and I went for a drive up Indian Canyon. The peak of the colors had already hit, and many of the leaves had fallen to the ground but what leaves WERE left were gorgeous. 

It was a cool day and the sky's were full of clouds that were threatening to pour buckets of rain, but the sun kept peeking out through the clouds from time to time and would shine directly on the trees, making the leaves glow

....too bad my pictures don't do the leaves on the tree's justice...trust me, it was gorgeous!

Ohhhhhh....if we could go right from the beauties of Fall directly to the beauty of Spring...

you know, skip everything in between?!....

If I had a genie, that would defiantly be one of my wishes!

We are FAmOuS!

Duchesne has officially been put on the map as of last week when oil was dumped into the Strawberry River. I was as shocked as the next person when I turned on my television to watch the news and heard it for myself...especially since the oil was dumped in the river not even 1 block from my house. (If you missed it on the news you can go to ubstandard.com and read all about it).

If you look over on the bank you can see the film from some of the oil

I am not a tree hugger or someone who goes around and pickets about saving the planet (no hate messages if thats your forte'...I'm not pointing fingers and nothing personal was meant, I'm just stating that ITS NOT MY THING) but I do care about the environment. I do my part to take care of it and I try to "Be Green" whenever possible. I care about what is happening in the world as well as our environment...especially when its right out my front door. I have to say, I was a little curious as to what an "oil spill" might look like and I wanted to take a stroll down to the river and take a peak at the sludge and oil mess close up...but the Envirocare Team has it all "red taped" off so I couldn't get down there without causing a scene (no worries, I didn't cause a scene). They have big trucks and people all over cleaning things up and I am sure that the tape was to keep people (like me) out of their way and to prevent any injuries or mishaps. BUT as the day went on, I thought about places that they probably didn't have roped off (yet) and decided to take myself a little walk this evening and gander at the sloppy mess.

check out the big glob in the middle of the river...uhg!

This glob was at least the size of a football and was lodged between the rocks...it stunk pretty bad. 

More sludge between the rocks

It was all over like this...just like someone had thrown big balls of it and it had landed haphazardly in various places

I was surprised a bit because I expected to see TONS of oil lining the sides of the river (like you see on TV from the oil spill down in Florida), but instead I saw globs of oil here and there, between rocks, splattered on rocks and logs, and on the banks of the river. It looks awful and smells even worse. I feel bad that this kind of thing had to happen in our little town. Whether it happened because of someones negligence or because someone intentionally did this, I feel there has to be some consequences given. We all have to pay for our mistakes, as well as for deliberate choices that we make...thats just the way the cookie crumbles. There is an old saying that I like to tell my kids, "If you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other end too," with each choice we make there is a consequence that follows.

I hope they are able to catch whomever did this and that they are held responsible for it. The damage that it has caused, and WILL cause, will be long lasting for our little area full of of farmers and small town folk. It will have effects on our wildlife as well as our land.

If you look just below the bridge you can see big garbage bags that they have filled..
full of sludge I am sure. 

I sometimes feel that because we live in a rural area we should be sheltered from problems such as this, but in reality it can happen anywhere...and it does...Duchesne is now proof of that.

*PS...sorry some of the pictures are blurry, my camera was low on battery which causes the pictures to be blurry. I was too lazy to run home and grab some as it was starting to get dark outside and I didn't want to lose my opportunity to take the pics....so you get these!