Christmas City Lighting

There are so many neat things about living in a small community.

Holidays are so fun!One of our little towns goes by the name of Christmas City from the day after Thanksgiving until New Years Eve.

We took my brother and his family to the Christmas lighting and fireworks. All the lights around the square are turned off and then after Santa has made his trip around on the fire engine waving to everyone he climbs down and flips the switch to the "lighting of Christmas City" a giant cheer goes up and then BOOM...one lone firework!!! I looked at my brother and sister in law and welcomed them to Idaho Fireworks!!

I no more said that...and OH HOW I LOVE THE HOLIDAY!

Thanksgiving Dinner

I love men who love to be in the kitchen! I have to say Thanksgiving Dinner was such a fun meal to make. We all pitched in and laughed and talked and were not worn out before it was time to eat!

Kirk got to surprise me by not having to work on Thanksgiving. I am hoping for the same luck on Christmas!

My brother Ro and his family came and spent the weekend with us! Very cool!!

Thanksgiving Humor

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Homemade Pie Crust- Really Good

Best Pie Crust Recipe I Have Found

4 Cups Flour

2 Cups Lard or GOOD Shortening

1 Cup Milk

1 teaspoon salt

Mix flour, shortening and salt until totally mixed ( no lumps) Add the milk all at once and mix totally. Roll in balls and roll out immediately or can be placed in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. dough can also be froze in plastic bags for when needed.

This is a light crust and very soft. I roll it about 1/4 inch thick on a well floured flour sack towel.

SPT

Visit Lelly to learn more about SPT

Turkey Day Story

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly open the door to the freezer, the parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"



HAPPY THANKSGIVING! J

Send An Extra Christmas Card

The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.
The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.
All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops®.To date, more than 12,000 postcards have been mailed to soldiers. With the launch of www.LetsSayThanks.com, more soldiers can expect to receive messages from home.

Don't 'Cha Want To Be A Pepper Too?

Yea, and good luck getting on the web site...Dr Pepper Extends Free Coupon Offer Due to Consumer Demand
Everyone in America* has until 6 PM EST on Monday, November 24

to get a free 20 oz. Dr Pepper

"People are passionate about Dr Pepper," said Tony Jacobs, vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper. "The response has been greater than anticipated and we want to do everything we can to ensure Dr Pepper fans get their free coupon. " HOW TO GET YOUR FREE DR PEPPER
1. Go to http://www.drpepper.com/ or call 1-888-DRPEPPER (1-888-377-3773)
2. Register your information online or by phone to receive a coupon for
one free 20-oz. Dr Pepper.
3. When your coupon arrives, redeem it wherever Dr Pepper is sold.
4. Drink your Dr Pepper slowly to experience all 23 flavors. Dr's
orders.

YES!!! I GOT THROUGH!!!

Lov'n Modern Medicine/Technology

I happily wear a ICD...did I just heard you say,

"To much information"??!!

Look again...ICD...Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, or even easier to explain a pacemaker.

See I have the scar to show for it ...many a airport security have seen this scar

With out my ICD my heart beats about

30 BPM, yes I know...Very S L OW,

with the cool little gadget 70 BPM!

Today, I went to the "pacer" cardiologist to have my neat little gadget checked and re-set. (because mine has to run all the time...it's little "memory card" gets full of all the work it has done)

"Bill" usually will turn off my pacer to see what my "natural" heart rate is...which will quickly make me go to sleep, today he didn't do that. I asked him why and he said, "that where I was alone and still had a 1 1/2 hour drive back home he would rather just leave it as it is"...I always wake up and am just fine...no problems staying awake or anything like that...Why NOW is he not turning it off?? On my way home I began to wonder what silly little pranks he and my husband pull on me...I have never checked for little mustaches drawn on my face or a

HUGE un-a-brow...But I will be checking in 6 months when I go back!

This is a model of the one I have implanted

SPT ~ The List

I love Lelly's SPT for this month...Never heard of SPT go here.

Decisions ~ Decisions

Sunday night was a bit stressful...ok maybe stressful isn't the right word but WHAT DO YOU DO when The Wizard or OZ & Sunday Night Football are on at the same time??

I mean the Wizard of OZ is a classic...

who wants to miss Dorothy and her adventures, even if you can quote it word for word!

Now, this is not just ANY football game it is the Cowboys vs the Redskins!!

I have been a Dallas Cowboy fan since oh lets say...as long as I can remember. I know who "Dandy" Don Meredith is and Roger Stauback. I fell totally in LOVE with Danny White, maybe because my dad introduced me to him while he was still playing college football in Arizona.

I thought (and still do) Tom Landry was the best coach in the WORLD,

I cried when he was fired and wasn't sure I could love the cowboys anymore...but loyalty to my team took over after watched Troy Aikman play. Yea, they went through ugly, hard QB times but now have Tony Romo trying to fill some big shoes.

So, back to the decision at hand....NO I DO NOT HAVE " T-VO" or anything like that...

Wizard of OZ or the Cowboys....

"Romo celebrated his return with a 25-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Bennett in the fourth quarter, and Marion Barber amassed 153 total yards as the Dallas Cowboys surged back into the thick of the NFC playoff chase with a hard-fought 14-10 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday night.
The Cowboys and the Redskins are tied for second place in the NFC East at 6-4 behind the 9-1 New York Giants. Dallas had lost four of its last six games, including a 26-24 decision to Washington in September, and was in danger of having its playoff hopes all but dashed with a loss."

Still a die hard Cowboy Fan...

and

yea...I have Wizard of OZ on DVD

Bless My Computer

Every evening As I'm laying here in bed

This tiny little prayer

Keeps running through my head
God bless my mom and dad

And bless my little pup

And look out for my brother

When things aren't looking up
And God, there's one more thing

I wish that you could do

Hope you don't mind me asking

But please bless my computer too?
Now I know that's not normal

To bless a mother board

But just listen a second

While I explain to you 'My Lord'
You see, that little metal box

Holds more to me than odds and ends

Inside those small compartments

Rest a hundred of my 'BEST FRIENDS'
Some it's true I've never seen

And most I've never met

We've never exchanged hugs

Or shared a meal as yet....
I know for sure they like me

By the kindness that they give

And this little scrap of metal

Is how I travel to where they live
By faith is how I know them

Much the same as you

I share in what life brings them

From that our friendship grew
"PLEASE" Take an extra minute

From your duties up above

To bless this scrap of metal

That's filled with so much love!
Author Unknown

OK this is really bad...my Internet provider was down ALL DAY and I have to tell you it was so SCARY!!! How..WHAT...AAAUUUGGHHH...

But, tonight all is well, so I am going to go kneel down and say a little prayer. I don't believe my heart can handle another day like today, not know how my friends are across the Good ol' USA!

'Tis The Season

Before I had my heart attack, I would have as soon died of the flu as to have a flu shot. I had such a fear of needles...Now it is nothing but a thing...Besides it is better just to get it done, so that the next time I run into my doctor, at the grocery store, he doesn't have to shout In Kindness and some jest...Why haven't you got your flu shot yet!

That is one nice thing about a small community...your doctor knows you even if he doesn't have your chart in his hand...

The GYOB...now that is a whole nother story

UPDATE: I was afraid that I had given the wrong impression of my Dr. It amazes me that he would remembers ME

Thanks Vets

ALL Gave Some

and

Some Gave All

Thank you Veterans

of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines & Coast Gaurd

also to their Families

SPT with out any words...

New to SPT visit Lelly.

Thanksgiving Decor

This was given to me about 10 years ago. I love it! I always look forward to putting it on my table each November.
The details are so pretty.

Such Pretty Eyes

The table setting is perfect even the crust on the bread.

The pets have their own little food bowls too!

This was a thank you gift from the Senior Citizens Center.

I Believe In Christ

I believe in Christ; he is my King!

With all my heart to him I'll sing;

I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,

In grand amens my tongue employ.

I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.

On earth to dwell his soul did come.

He healed the sick; the dead he raised.

Good works were his; his name be praised.

( Bruce R. McConkie, 1915-1985)

(Picture by Greg Olson)

Today we had Stake Conference, a Stake in the LDS Church is a comparison to a Diocese in the Catholic Church. We are taught by the local and area leaders.

We had Elder Douglas L. Callister, of the 2nd Quorum of the 70's as our Keynote Speaker.

He used a story given by Brother Cecil O. Samuelson, who is a member of the 1st Quorum of the 70's. Brother Samuelson was asked by a group of religious leaders in England while he was serving in that area how can the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) call themselves Christians? He answered by asking them these 3 questions:

1. "Do you believe that Jesus is the actual son of God?


2. Do you believe that Jesus performed ALL of the miracles that are writ in the Holy Bible?


3. Do you believe that Jesus died and was placed in the borrowed grave of Joseph of Arimathaea to rise on the third day?
   I DO and so does my church...why would you question if I am a Christian."

I have always became flustered when people Question if I am a Christian, a follower of Christ.Why, I wonder...and yet with those 3 simple questions, I can raise my voice and say...

I DO! I believe in Christ, He is my king, He is my Savior.

Well Done, Thy Good and Faithful Servant

Well done, Elder Angle.

You have served and made a positive impact on those you served in the Idaho Poccatello Mission. It was my honor to tell those in our area that you were my nephew.

Kirk, Janiece, Elder Angle, Rhonda & Morris

I sent several pictures each time I was able to see him.

I still remember thinking that my nephew was pulling a silly joke when he called and told me he was coming to Idaho on his mission, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But, can I tell you what a treat it has been for the past 2 years to watch my nephew grow not only as a missionary but, as a man.
What a wonderful blessing it has been for me.

My "nanana" picture to send to my brother & sister in law!

Elder Angle was able to be at the temple when both Kira & Derek went through for their first time.

This is a surprise visit to take a "food" box to the missionary.

It made me realise how important it is that "others" help with missionary meals

No Puppies for Itsey

You might remember that Itsey was due to have puppies this week.

Well, I never posted that Itsey had what I guess would be a miscarriage. But, as the Vet explained it her body absorbed the fetus. She didn't feel good for about a week and then the tell tell signs of her being prego begin to go away. The Vet explained that we are lucky that she didn't get "real" sick.

It's good to have our roudy little puppy back and we will try the whole thing over again next time she is ready.

Post Holiday Blues

I feel like I am having "post holiday blues" ...after 2 years of thinking about who would run for President of the United State, and all the suspense and speculation... I feel...like...well, the day after a great party...the day after Christmas...

So, what do you do when the party is over? Do you move on to the next big thing...take a break...clean up before the last guest has left?

I feel like I can not get my brain to start working today...

I really do not have time for that...

I have a School Zone deadline today, my nephew is being released from serving 2 years, of an honorable, LDS mission, I need to get invoices in the mail, laundry done and BONES is on tonight...

But...in the midst of all of that the ensign shows up in the mail and as I flip through the conference address I open to this one from Thomas S. Monson he says,

"I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.”
Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly...

In closing, I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?
He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.
The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
Earlier, perhaps perceiving the culmination of His earthly mission, He spoke the lament, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” “No room in the inn” was not a singular expression of rejection—just the first. Yet He invites you and me to receive Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.” He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.” He pleads, “Keep my commandments.”
Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.
Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. "

What comfort I feel as I know We ALL have a loving Father in Heaven, he can guide us if we choose. We have a prophet on this earth, just as the prophets of old...He is here to lead us as the Father directs...and at this very moment...I am fine and at peace.