Check out this entry I found on Say Cutie!.

Check out this entry I found on Say Cutie!. Stop by and take a look. Nash makes the "cutest little monster" I ever did see. His mom is so talented and made this adorable hat. Thanks for checking us out.

Our Crazy Dog Hank!

Friends and family get such a kick out of our "Hank" stories that I thought I would record a few here. You would have to meet our dog Hank to fully appreciate his love of life personality. I don't think you will meet a dog that likes to play more than Hank. In fact a little neighbor boy came by yesterday for fast offerings. While he waited for us to fill out the form we made casual conversation. I remembered that when they first moved to the neighborhood he was afraid of dogs and thus very afraid of Hank. Anyhow, this 12 year old boy tells us he's not afraid of Hank anymore, he now appreciates the fact that when Hank comes running, he just wants to play. He said "I threw a frisbee for Hank one day for over an hour!" Yup, Hank loves to play frisbee. In fact, he loves to play anything. There's one thing that Hank loves more than anything else and that's eating. He especially has a love for fresh bread. He can sniff out bread from a mile away and he rarely misses the opportunity to stand up at the counter and help himself to whatever he can find. If it isn't bread, it's usually something you'd never guess a dog to eat. I'll recount the things I can remember:

1. $19 in cash off of my dresser.

2. My new Valentines wreath - berries everywhere!

3. Jocelyn's wedding announcements

4. My Christmas pillow that I made with patchwork on it. I don't sew, so I was very proud of myself for making this.

5. Loaves and Loaves of bread.

6. Wonderful homemade candies and treats that my visiting teachers made me one year for Christmas.

7. Cookies brought over by a neighbor.

8. About 15 syringes complete with needles attached. They were just little TB syringes but still - no perforated stomach or anything!

9. A gallon size bag of rice.

10. More Bread. Rolls. Hank really likes homemade bread if you don't mind.

11. Pizza leftovers in a box. He even opened the dipping sauce for the one remaining breadstick.

12. Waynes dinner off his plate. (serves Wayne right for eating in the family room)

13. A brand new package of Christmas scented wax (like sentsy)

14. The mail

15. Wayne's suduko puzzle book and clicker pencil.

16. Another pencil.

17. Another pencil. Kind of has a liking for clicker pencils.

Well, that's what I can remember right off the top of my head. I've even documented a few of his messes. Crazy dog!

Yet, he is kind and gentle. He's excellent with the grandkids. He doesn't shed. He has a ferocious bark for strangers. He loves to play in the water in the ditch. He can jump high enough that when I'm not looking and the kids put his toy on the ceiling fan - he can jump up and sometimes retrieve it right off the fan.

People ask me why I would keep such a crazy dog. I'm not even a dog lover so I ask myself the same question. He's just so dang loveable when he's not eating your treats. If I didn't know better, I'd say he can probably open the fridge!

To Be Content

What does it mean to be content?
The dictionary defines this as "happy with what one has. Not desiring more or different. Satisfied. Pleased".
In the February Ensign, Brenda Sampson discusses what it means to be content and even more importantly, what it means to be discontent. Unfortuately I have found myself in the latter more often than I care to admit. Just like Satan plants the seeds of discouragement, he also places seeds of discontent. Yearning for more and lacking appreciation for what we have happens all too often as we place ourselves daily among the world. Everywhere we look we are told that we deserve better, bigger and more.
Yesterday as I was reading this article, it hit me like a ton of bricks! Not only should I not sit with envy for the bigger house, the newer car or the fancy 5 star hotel vacation - but I needed to appreciate what I do have right here, right now. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family. I am blessed to enjoy having my parents (both sets) still here with us to draw upon their wisdom and love. I have a warm home, with food in the fridge and a nice warm fireplace that lights the flip of a switch. I've never been so cold or so hungry that I wanted to die. In fact I can pretty much say that I enjoy all the comforts I could ask for. I also have a knowledge of our Savior and his plan for each of us. I have recommitted to myself to BE CONTENT. To be appreciative of what I have not constantly aware of what I don't. I'll have to keep an eye on myself - and I'll update my progress as the year moves along.

Savannah's Scrapbook page

Syd and Savannah came to grandma's house tonight. Savannah decided she wanted to make a scrapbook page. So using the computer this is what Savannah put together. Of course I had to help a little but she did all the rest including choosing the pictures and writing her favorite things about Lake Powell. I love having the girls come spend time with us. Sydnee is snuggled up with grandpa watching the Story Teller.

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Tonight I was able to spend the evening with Sydnee at her primary achievement day activity. She was able to show off her talent and love of art. While we were there I just had to snap a picture of my "little monster"! Isn't he just adorable! Karie made his little hat and what a darling hat. Savannah was her typical self trying to strike a pose for the camera. Thanks Karie and Sydnee for inviting me to come to you activity tonight. I had a blast!

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I had to post just so I could write the date! Nothing too exciting on this New Years day. Lots of cleaning and organizing and decluttering. I've been through all of my file cabinets and cleaned out anything I didn't need there. Scanned into my computer what things I could scan and if it belongs to my dear sweet children, I've made a special pile just for them. It's feeling oh so good to get rid of all of this paper. My 2011 goal, or at least one of the major goals is to simplify. One way to do that is to get rid of things I don't need or that aren't enriching or adding happiness to my life. Since I can't eliminate everything - such wishful thinking, I'm going to work on contacting everyone who sends me statements and request they change to electronic statements if they haven't already done so. I am amazed at how many financial prospectuses(sp) we get from our financial planner every quarter. Our statements are electronic but we get these huge books everytime the funds want to make a change! I don't read all of that material and that's what I pay my finacial guy to do. He reads all that fine print and keeps me informed. Sending me all that paper just makes me feel guilty for not reading it so I keep it thinking maybe I'll change. Until the next one comes, and the next one and the next one and pretty soon I feel like a hoarder! No more! It's out with the old and there will be no more IN WITH THE NEW so don't bother to send it! I'm sure that many of you feel this same way! It's not only at home but at work - everywhere! Everyone wants you to keep their one or two important pieces of information - just in case. Well, I'm rebelling and it feels good. Join me if you care to. Let's reduce our visual clutter for a little peace and quiet in our homes. SIMPLIFY! I just need to say that 500 times out loud. Feel free to check in on my progress.

Christmas means to me...

Christmas means so many things. Of course I am grateful for the birth of our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ. I am grateful for this time of year to reflect upon all of the blessings that I have been given. Christmas is a feeling, deep in your soul that cannot be bought with money or wrapped in fancy paper. I can't explain the warmth and happiness it brings when I reflect upon the wonderful plan given to us and the Gospel of Jesus Christ which provides us direction and meaning in our lives. It gives me the strength to press forward on days when I'd rather give up. I am so grateful for my family and my friends and my health and my job and my house and my comforts and well.. you get the idea! This is a time to reflect upon our blessings. I am making a committment to myself to simplify my life in 2011 so that I can see through all of the worldy clutter more easily the wonderful blessings I so often overlook. Right now I am sharing DOTS with a 4 year old darling granddaughter I call a blessing and we're making a video all about her to send to her Great-Grandparents on a mission in Boston. What more of a blessing does one need? Even if she did steal my favorite RED one!