Baby! Oh Baby!

The latest edition to our family comes today (finally) 12 days past his due date and weighing in at 8# 5oz and 21" long is our sweet little Nash Tyler Sexton. He and mom are resting and doing fine. Savannah is very excited to be a big sister and has been preparing for her new role for the past 9 months. She is going to do an excellent job as she was mentored by her big sister Sydnee. Life is good we are happy that all is well!

Stop and Enjoy What You Have!

Normally I have a tendency to look at things with the eye of need or wish, "I wish I had" or "we really need" but today as I look outside I look with an eye of appreciation. I had an interesting visit with a good friend yesterday that has caused me to reflect once again on how quickly time passes and on what really matters. She and I work together so we spend many hours comparing our to-do lists prior to our weekend departures. Then on Monday we all compare how much we either did or didn't accomplish, most of which consists of the didn't although our list of did's would put many to shame. Most of us can accomplish an amazing amount in just two short days. Anyhow back to appreciation and my visit with my friend Mary and her husband Don. I watched as she came up the driveway (because my dog was going nuts at the approaching visitors). Mary stopped to admire my hanging flower baskets and flowers in the beds near the porch. Once inside the house the compliments of what a clean house or "how do you get so much done" comments started. I had to laugh as I knew inside that if she bumped into anything the dust balls would start to fly and heaven forbid she touch the furniture. She could write her name on most of the pieces in the dust. Today was my day to work on de-cluttering the upstairs and I had not "cleaned" anything today. I had to tell her and we just laughed. Funny what we notice in our own home that we must over look in others. Certainly she had to be able to see the stack of unread mail on the end of my kitchen bar and the numerous other pieces out of place!
Mary is my inspiration for making the best of every day. She is a cancer survivor going on 5 years. She knows the value of life and feels that she has been given a gift! It's because of Mary that I have this picture and many other pictures I've taken lately. I've learned a new appreciation for many of the simple things that I have taken for granted. I wanted to capture the view from my front window today. As I sat down this morning to feel the cool Mantua breeze coming through the window, I could hear the wind chimes, a favorite of mine and I could see the American flag in my yard that the Boy Scouts had placed this morning. It just reminded me once again to appreciate what I have and to put away my thoughts of how I might make it better because it's pretty darn good. I just need to be reminded now and again to stop and enjoy what I have.

Savannah turns 4

Today is Savannah's birthday and the family celebrated with her at her house with cake and ice cream. Savannah was adorable in her birthday dress and her hair done up so cute. Karie always has the girls looking so cute. Savannah wanted a pink bike for her birthday. She said her trike was just too slow for her even though it was dang cute. Well her parents surprised her with a pink bike and grandma Kathy supplied the pink helmet and knee pads and Savannah provided the entertainment! She's a natural on her new pink bike. She was a gracious birthday girl and gave everyone a hug when thanking them for their gift. Looks like her cousin Carter even got a hug! Happy Birthday little Savannah!

Litte Valley Days 2010

It's here again, our annual tradition here in our small town of Mantua called "Little Valley Days". Our little town may not be big and that's ok with me, in fact it's more that ok, it's why I drive 25 miles one way to work while Wayne drives 65 miles one way in the opposite direction just to live here. Sure we could move to Salt Lake to be closer to our jobs and even our families but we love it here and unless something happens that prevents us from working outside of Mantua and keeping our home here we will continue to sing our theme song as we head to work each morning: "On the road again! Just can't wait to get on the road again!"

Grandma's little helper

Savannah loves to help me with my Saturday chores. She actually enjoys cleaning the house with me. She's getting old enough now that she wants chores that she can do herself not so much things she can help with. Since I hurt my back, vacuuming the stairs is really a problem, but not for Savannah. She wanted to do it all herself.
She's doing a great job. She's very careful to pay close attention to each stair.
It's a long flight of stairs but Savannah doesn't seem to mind. She just wants to be left alone with her vacuum and the job at hand. Savannah you're a doll and I just love having you come over to my house for sleep overs and some one on one time with Grandma!

The Hands of Time

This was taken at my little grand-daughter, Emma's baby blessing yesterday. You can see little Emma's hand holding on to her momma. Emma has a ring on that was passed down from my mother to me. Next to her is her mom Jocelyn. Next to Jocelyn is her mom (me) and next to me is my mom Nora and next to my mom is Wayne's mom Margaret. Four generations.

Our hands in a circle, life symbols…… both perfect and
profound. The women of our family, young and old in love are bound. We are born
into our circle…..sweet, delicate dimpled hands. Loved and held by the
generations, the miracle of life we understand. As we move throughout our lives,
our hands speak our heart. Touching, loving, comforting……….They are God’s work
of art. Our hands entwine for games & prayers. They clap with joy and pride.
They tremble with anger and sorrow, soothe broken hearts and babies cries. Our
hands shape, guide and teach, nourish, support and share. At times swift, deft,
and purposeful…….. at times imperfect and impaired. We are called home from our
circle, a life story engraved on our hands. Loved and held by the generations,
the beauty of life we understand. Together we share our journeys, the
generations both now and then. The women of our family are a circle of love that
never ends. Teri Harrison

Girls Day Out

I work with some of the most incredible women and I am so blessed to call them friends. Today we took some "girl time" and we went and had pedicures. It was a first for Mary and me. (Pedicure virgins!) It was kind of stressful for me in the beginning but with the support and laughter of this crazy group, I soon got beyond my anxiety and I loved the pedicure! Thanks Jessica - you did a great job. And thank you Ashley for helping put this all together for us.

Gena, myself, Susan, and Mary. I had to capture my first pedicure experience. Just incase I died from the anxiety.

Oh my goodness someone else is touching my feet!

Cute little flipflops provided after our pedicure. Do you just love my bright orange polish because I do. Mary and Susan both went safe with neutral colors and Gena choose bright purple with glitter and well, this is my bright orange!