Sunday Smiles

Hello Dear Blog Friends

Isn't this a wonderful season!!

Thanksgiving makes me smile.

I just love this time when we think of all of our blessings and give thanks.

It would be perfect for me except for one thing...

I am still not well.

I've stayed in bed most of the week hoping to get over the "yuckies" before my kids get here.

I am better...but not "better" enough!

My throat is not as sore as it was....which is a good thing...

...but my cough is no better...

My hacking all day and night is driving both John and me crazy...

...and we are both tired from me keeping us awake half the night.

...

However, I must share one smile with you tonight.

I've had a great laugh over it.

I hope you will too.

...

We have been taking care of Austin this weekend while his family is away.

Even though I am dragging I decided I should make a nice Sunday dinner for us.

I grilled steaks

Made buttery mashed potatoes

and had corn, etc.

...

I called John and Austin to come to the table.

I said "Hurry boys....I made steaks."

"We are having steaks for dinner tonight."

...

John and I sat down at the table but Austin would not come.

The more we called him the more he insisted that he was not hungry

and did not want to come.

Since I wasn't feeling good enough to pursue an argument I just let him be.

...

Later tonight Mindy called to say goodnight to Austin.

I told her that he would not come and eat dinner.

She asked him why he didn't want to eat with us.

He answered "because Grammy made mistakes for dinner.

"I don't like eating mistakes."

LOL

Well there you have it!

If you want your grandchildren to eat dinner with you

don't make mis-steaks.

...

Have a great Thanksgiving.... I know that we will.

My kids start arriving tomorrow...I can't wait.

I will be making all of the traditional holiday foods to enjoy with our dear ones...

... I am going to serve turkey and not "mis-steaks".

I will probably be too busy to blog but I will be thinking of you.

Hugs to all of you, Lura

A Sick Sunday Smiles

Today I am posting my Sunday sick smiles instead of my regular Sunday Six Smiles.

...

I had lots to smile about last week but I am sick today and don't really feel like spending much time on the computer. I will share my last week's smiles with you another time.

However, I was writing a quick email to Marie telling her my tale of woe when I realized how funny it is.

...

So I decided to share my story with you.

Now that I think about it, it cracks me up.

I hope that it will bring a smile to your face as well.

...

We had a great day yesterday but we were gone all day attending a musical E.J. and Claire were in during the afternoon and their piano recital last night.

(I will post pictures and tell you all about it another day.)

...

Sometime during the day I started not feeling very well.

My nose stopped up.

My throat started scratching.

My head started aching.

By the time we were starting the 30 mile drive home last night I knew I was getting sick.

...

However, I also knew that it was my turn to have Sunday Dinner at our house this week.

Mindy and I trade back and forth each week.

One week we go to their house and the next week they come to ours.

...

I knew that I could call Mindy and tell her I was getting sick.

I thought of doing that...but....I knew Mindy was exhausted.

Ernie has been tied up with his high school band competitions and wasn't home.

Mindy has had to take kids back and forth to rehearsals all week.

She has not had a minute to spare for days....

She was on the run long before we were yesterday.

After the musical and the recital all three kids were totally worn out.

...

I couldn't call her and make her drag the 3 kids to the store late last night to get something to make for Sunday Dinner.

...

So I decided to trick the flu bug and make most of the dinner last night before I got sicker.

I put all the ingredients in my bread machine to have a hot loaf of bread made today.

I took a pot roast out of the freezer to thaw.

I cut up potatoes, carrots and onions and put them in my crock pot.

I added all the seasonings.

I made a salad.

I stored them all in my refrigerator.

I figured that I would ask John to put the roast in the crock pot this morning and plug it in.....

...and ...wha...la...

we would have dinner....

...well...

It is a good thing John overslept and was late getting into the shower this morning.

I was up sick several times during the night and feel yucky today

but since John was running late, I drug myself into the kitchen to put the roast in the crock pot and start dinner cooking.

I unwrapped the frozen roast I was thawing and got a big surprise!!!

Instead of thawing a roast....I had thawed soup bones.

Bones!!!!

With very little meat on them.

John and I love soup but Ernie doesn't.....

Besides, bones, potatoes, carrots and onions don't make much of a soup.

Can you imagine how shocked I would have been if I'd had John start the crock pot dinner thinking he was putting in a roast only to find at dinner time it was only bones???

I can just imagine the look on Ernie's face.... and mine.

Ha Ha.... the thought makes me smile...In fact it cracks me up.

...However....now I need to come up with dinner.

I am thawing some pork chops.

I'll use all the potatoes I peeled last night to make mashed potatoes.

Those will be good if I make gravy to go with them.

...But my plan of staying in bed all day sleeping or watching KBYU isn't going to work.

Do any of you want to come over and make the dinner for me?

Have a good week. Hugs, Lura

Happy Birthday Lyle...I haven't forgotten you.

Dear Lyle.

Today is your birthday.

You were born on Nov. 10, 1971

Unfortunately, that was also your death day.

I never got to hold you.

I never got to say goodbye.

Back then there was no "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" organization where kind

people like my blog friend Jamie come and take pictures for the family to keep.

...

The hospital took you away and put you in the morgue before I even saw you.

They told me, John and my mom it would be too upsetting for us to see you.

I knew they were wrong but I was too sick to argue.

You were buried while I was still recovering from your difficult birth in the hospital.

You were gone from my life but not from my heart.

I agonized with grief.

Then one night I awoke with the following words racing through my mind.

I wrote them down in a poem.

The words gave me comfort.

They brought me peace.

I consider this poem a gift from God.

It still gives me comfort.

I wrote it for you.

I called it Only Son

At that time you were my only son.

...

Only Son

(Cruel words-Kind Answer)

"Your baby's dead!" How cruel the words.
How shocking to my soul.
It can not be. It must not be.
God would not take my son from me.
...
But it was true. My babe was gone
Taken from my arms and breast.
I wept. I cried in agony.
My torment knew no rest.
...
How could it be? How could it be
God took him in his infancy?
Before he walked or talked or cooed for joy
God took away my baby boy.
...
Then in His loving tenderness
God touched my heart that I might know
I'll have my son. I'll hold his hand.
I'll watch him grow into a man.
...
Though I wait to sing him songs of love
I'll sing them in our home above.
For now I'll prove my faith and worth
and thank God He let me give him birth.
...
...

And so Lyle I wait.

I am trying to live a good life.

I am trying to live as Jesus taught us to live.

I am trying to keep His commandments.

I want to be worthy to be with you in our eternal home one day.

...

You would be 38 years old today.

I imagine that you would be much like your younger brother, David.

I am sure that you would be a fine man with a lovely family.

I miss you. I have not forgotten you.

I can smile when I think of you today because I know families are forever.

Happy Birthday dear son.

Love, Mommy

Sunday Six Birthday and Sewing Smiles

My sweet granddaughter, Emma turned 9 last Monday.

( 2 days after Claire turned 8

and 9 days after E.J. turned 10.)

We have had much to smile about with these dear grandchildren growing up

healthy and strong , learning right from wrong and making good choices.

Emma is a precious girl.

She loves her little brothers (which you can tell from this picture of her with Evan)

and her little sister, Grace.

She is a great example for them.
We love you dear Emma.
I could not be with you on your birthday
but I was smiling as we talked on the phone.
I smile when ever I think of Emma.

You might remember that several of our family gathered together
last year when Emma turned 8 and was baptised.
Emma was my 2nd granddaughter to be baptised and confirmed.
I was happy that I could make her a lovely confirmation dress....

...just as I had done for Lonica two years ago when she turned 8.

I made each of their dresses way in advance.
I had time to enter both of them in local fairs and sewing competitions.
Both won blue ribbons and one got the Best of Show award

which made me smile.
I had time to look at them....and refine them...and enjoy them before I gave them away.
BUT...
the third time was not the charm!
Somehow Claire's 8th birthday slipped up on me.
????
How did that happen????
Maybe it was because I got so sick in Sept. when I had kidney stones...
...or...
Maybe it was because I spent the first 2 weeks of Oct. in Utah for Cal's adoption...
...or...
Maybe I am just getting old...???
...but for what ever the reason I suddenly realized last week that
Claire's 8th birthday was here and she would soon be baptised
and
I hadn't even started on her confirmation dress!!!
I had to make one....after all... I had started a tradition with Loni and Emma.
I couldn't let my Claire Bear down.
So I got busy.

Monday, I was smiling when I finally got it all cut out.
(That is the only part of sewing that I don't like...I always dread the cutting out step. )

I was smiling Wednesday when I got most of it sewn together...including the ruffly petticoat you see in this picture.
(I left town Tues. and went to visit with my friends, Sil and Betsy

but I took the dress with me and got some hand work done while I visited with them. )

I got back Wed. from visiting my friends, which also made me smile...(Sorry I didn't get any pictures...What am I like???)

After returning home, I sewed the bodice and skirts together.

Then I settled down to sewing on sequins and pearls.
I even put pearls on the sleeves this time. If you look closely you can see them.

Do you like them there?

After sewing on over 2000 pearls on Mindy's wedding dress years ago

I said I would never sew on another pearl... but I was wrong.

However, after I finish making Grace's confirmation dress next year when she turns 8,

maybe I will never need to sew on another pearl.

That will make me smile.

Meanwhile I was smiling as I worked on Claire's dress.
I thought it was turning out nicely.

I burnt the midnight oil finishing it up but I was smiling.

This time I added something else new.

I put lace and pearls down by the hem in front. I liked the new touch.
That made me smile.

Seeing Claire's smile when I gave it to her

made me smile most of all.

I am so thankful for my precious granddaughters.

I am thankful that each of them have been raised to love the Lord.

I am glad that they want to be baptised

and confirmed a member of His church.

I can't wait until our family comes together in a couple of weeks
for Claire's baptism and confirmation.

You can bet that I will really be smiling at that special occasion.
I am thankful that I have been given the skill and ability
needed to make my grandgirls special dresses for their confirmations.

That also makes me smile.
...
I send hugs and best wishes to each of you.

I hope you have a week full of smiles.

Sunday Smiles Halloween Week

I am sure that many of you have had a happy week filled with
all sorts of Halloween Fun.

We surely have.

I couldn't call this post my Sunday Six Smiles because I have had way more than six reasons to smile.

In fact my smiles were far bigger than those found on our Jack-o-Lanterns
(Speaking of Jack-o-Lanterns, my friend Kris has written a beautiful story about how making the Jack-o-Lantern is similar to the way God works with us. It is a lovely story. Go to her blog and read it for yourself.

Halloween is my Claire Bear's birthday.

It is always fun celebrating with my little Pumpkin.

(My nickname for Claire became Pumpkin when she made her

unexpected arrival on Halloween night 8 years ago.)

She always has lots of interesting friends show up to celebrate with her.

Here, her brother Mario, helps her blow out her candles.
Having a Halloween birthday is loads of fun....
but then I guess a birthday is always loads of fun

no matter what day it comes.

Last week my daughter Mindy and my grandson, E.J. also had birthdays.

E.J. had a lot fun playing guitar on his cousin Jalen's Guitar Hero game while we were in Utah.

All the way driving back home to California, he kept telling us that Guitar Hero is all he wanted for his birthday.
He got his wish and his house has been rocking every since.

My birthday girl, Mindy, Austin and Claire have also been rocking all week.

Any of you that read my blog know how much our family enjoys karaoke singing.

We never get together for very long before the karaoke starts....

...now it is even more fun with the guitar and drums accompaniment.
...
I liked Halloween and the fall season as a child....

...however, it is much more fun now that I have 1 daughter and 4 grandchildren that were born between October 1 and Nov. 2nd....
and they all are so darn cute!!! (Not that I am prejudice!)

Wait a minute....where is E.J?

Oh...there he is...

He decided to be spooky this year but he doesn't seem to scare Sailor girl or Mario.
...
Of course picture taking on Halloween is the first order of business.

Mario poses for Mindy one last time before running off to the neighborhood block party.
...
Block Halloween pot lucks make me smile.
We enjoy gathering with Mindy's neighbors for a good dinner before passing out the candy.

Getting together with neighbors makes Halloween night even more fun.

After dinner we all sit together and visit while we pass out the candy.

It makes it more fun for the adults and the kids don't have to go door to door to

trick or treat.

Little spooks just come to the end of the cul-de-sac and collect their loot from each of us there.
...
We also had fun last Friday night at our church Trunk-or- Treat party.

We all enjoyed the defferent kinds of chili, hot dogs and salads...

But....most of all....

We enjoyed the association with good friends.
....
There are so many fun fall activities.
We started the fun stuff while we were in Utah for Calan's adoption

two weeks ago with all of our kids and grandkids.

Lynell was in charge of making caramel apples.

It was fun making them and even more fun eating them.

Erin and Patrick were in charge of carving the pumpkins.

Everyone helped out....we made quite a mess...but we were all having fun.

It was great that David and his family were there with us.
They live far away and we don't get to see them that often.

However, this is the second year in a row that we got to carve pumpkins together.

Last year we went to Kentucky to celebrate Emma's 8th birthday with her.
Emma's birthday is Nov. 2nd but we were there for Halloween too.

For both years we had more smiles than we could count.

Our Happy Halloween is over now.

October was a magical month for us.

We were all together as a family.

We celebrated 4 family birthdays.

We officially adopted little Calan and had him sealed to our family.

We were truly blessed.

We were all smiles...all month.

We are very thankful.

...
I hope that you all had a happy month too.

Tell me about your Halloween activities.

Have a great week ahead...

...and happy birthday #9 tomorrow sweet Emma.
Love, Grammy Lura

p.s. I'm thinking of you dear Marie. I am glad that we could visit on the phone for a little while after church today. I hope that you will find your sweet smiles again soon. XOXO

Sunday Smiles

Hello Again dear blog friends.

This past week has really been a busy one for me.

Besides being in Utah, driving home (with 3 grandchildren), doing our church and temple callings,doing my Goldrush travel agency work and driving 100 miles to San Diego to attend a ship inspection, we celebrated two family birthdays.

I have been too busy to hardly sit down much less get on the computer.

I have missed checking in on your blogs but I have thought of you....

...and I've had so much to smile about that it will take a month of Sundays to tell you about it.

...

As you know from my last post, John and I and all 4 of our children and their families gathered together in Utah a week ago Fri. to go to court and to the temple with Erin and Patrick when they adopted, sealed and blessed little Calan. It was a wonderful day.

However, another special occasion was in store for us the next day.

...

Evan's blessing made me smile.

Saturday morning all of our family joined with Marla's family for David's little baby Evan's blessing.

We usually have our babies blessed when they are a month or so old.

In our church the baby is given the name he or she will be known by and then the baby is given a special blessing through the power of the priesthood that will help them through out their life.

This is a special and scared occasion to us.

The child is usually blessed by his father or another family member that holds the priesthood and assisted by additional family or close friends who are also priesthood holders.

Little Evan was blessed by his dad, our son David, and assisted by his grandfathers and uncles.

Evan is almost 4 months old.

David and Marla waited until they came to Utah for Calan's adoption to bless Evan so his family from both sides could be there to share this special time with them.
We are happy that they did that.
Since David and Marla live far away from us, across the states, we don't get to spend much time with them.
Being together with them for a whole week
and attending little Evan's blessing was a precious time for us.
We were all smiling.

Grampy with our David and his boys, Davey and Evan

This is Evan with his other grandpa.

I just threw it in because I thought it was cute how David got Evan to smile.
...
Watching Dancers made me smile.

Our daughter Lynell teaches preschool dance classes.

While David's girls, Grace and Emma were visiting in Utah, Lynell got them to go to her dance classes and be her assistant teachers.

Emma took her task seriously and carefully instructed the little dancers.

So did 7 year old Grace... who is so tiny that she looked like a preschooler too.

I was full of smiles as I watched.
...
Karaoke and more dancing made me smile.

Of course our family can't get together for too long without having a karaoke fest.
Almost every night we were smiling as we sang and danced to our hearts content.

What fun!
...
Hugs and kisses for Grammy made me smile.

I just couldn't get enough of my little ones.

My lap and arms were always full... and so was my heart.
...
Justin makes me smile.

It is not just my little grandchildren that make my heart smile...

My big grandsons do too.
My 18 year old grandson, Justin, graduated from Army basic trainging

this past week.

He did well and was one of 5 that were nominated
for outstanding soldier of the company.
Lynell and Dathan flew to Kentucky to attend the ceremony.
John and I could not go but our hearts were with Justin and we were smiling.

He is now in Texas starting his specialized training to be a medic.

How we love our Justin ...and wish him well.
...
My honey makes me smile.

Both kinds of honey...my John and the yellow sweet liquid, make me smile.

Most of you said that you thought John's home made honey extractor would work.

...

Well....it did ...but only for about 5 minutes...then it froze up and broke.

He had not put bearings in the bottom and when the contraption got to spinning really fast it got so hot that the plastic parts melted together and froze up.
We were sad...but John is back to the drawing boards to try again.

However, he took the beeswax frames and drained them into a tub.

He filtered them through layers of cheesecloth to strain them.

(This took place when I was really sick with kidney stones and couldn't get pictures for you)

We ended up getting 4 quarts, 6 pints and a bear full of honey.
and
IT IS DELICIOUS!!!

I am now happy that I let Queenie and her family stay in our yard.

...

I hope that you have been smiling too.

I have a lot more I would like to share...but this is enough for now.
Until next time I send you love and wish you well, Lura

Thankful Tuesday-Come share our joy

It is Tuesday today. We just returned home from visiting with our whole family in Utah.

I am feeling very thankful which is appropriate since...

...Fall is the season of thanksgiving.

Our family has a lot to be thankful for.

We all joined together in Utah last week to celebrate with Erin, Patrick and little Calan

Last Friday, Oct. 16th, was a very special day for our family.

Early that morning we all went to court with Erin, Patrick and Calan.
We have waited for this day to come for 6 months since little Cal was born.

It was an emotional and special occasion.
Erin and Patrick were asked what this adoption meant to them.
They were asked why they wanted to adopt little Calan.
Their hearts were so full.... and their feelings so tender.... that they could hardly speak.
There was hardly a dry eye in the court room as they told the Judge of their love for little Cal and how thankful they were to his birth mother that she would allow them to be his parents.

Patrick's parents had come from Indiana. We had come from California.
All of Erin's siblings and their families also came.
John and I were thrilled that all of our children came to celebrate with Erin and Patrick.
It was quite a sacrafice for them to come.
Mindy and family came from California. David and family came from Ohio. Lynell and family drove down from Northern Utah.
We all got there early Friday morn and waited anxiously for court to begin.

The Judge said he was pleased to declare the adoption finalized.
He wished us well....and...at last...
Calan is legally ours!
...
What a blessing!
What an answer to all of our prayers.

The Judge invited us up to take this formal group picture.

When the Judge left we all burst with excitement.
Little cousins from around the country rushed to welcome baby Cal officially to the family.

After court the adults went directly to the temple.
We joined together in the same room that Erin and Patrick were married in and
little Calan was sealed to Erin and Patrick and our family for time and all eternity.
In our religion we believe that through the power of the priesthood families can be sealed (joined) together for all time.

Families can be together forever.
Now Calan is both legally and eternally ours.

What a joy it was to be in the Holy Temple with all of our children and their spouses.
Nothing could bring John and me more joy than this.

Later Friday afternoon, Cal was blessed by his father and assisted by his grandfathers and uncles ...who all hold the priesthood.

For us a baby blessing is similar to a baby christening in other churches.

It was the third special event of the day.

...

I was not able to get to a computer to do my Sunday Six Smiles but you can believe that I was certainly smiling.

I will tell you more about the wonderful time John and I had with all of our children and grandchildren (except Justin who is at Fort Knox in basic training) at another time.
...
As you can see.... thanksgiving has come early to our family... we feel very blessed and grateful.
Hugs, Grammy Lura

What is John up to now with his new Honey???

I told you last week about how my John fell madly in love with his new Queen Bee.

He risk life and limb climbing up into a tall tree to capture her and 10,000 of her family when they came buzzing into our patio several months ago.

I was afraid that he would fall and break his neck....I was yelling

"John come down from there...she is not worth killing yourself over"

...but he would not listen to me.

He survived his "high" adventure

and built Queenie and her family a nice house at the back of our property.
...
At first I ignored them.

Then for a while, to make them feel welcome and like their new home, I made them sugar syrup ,which John took out for them to eat.
I was very understanding considering the love and attention John was giving his new Honey and her brood.

...

But....lately, I decided that enough was enough!

I told John that his new honey had been a freeloader long enough.

I said that it was time for her to pay some rent for her new home.

John agreed with me.

He went out and told her that she would have to share some of her

liquid gold with us.

Queenie agreed....and didn't seem disturbed that John demanded payment.
...

That is when John's new adventure began.

He found out that a honey extractor costs $700 or more.
$700!!!!!

So John being the thrifty, clever type (cheap), decided to build is own extractor.

He spent about a week drawing up the plans and making his extractor.

He bought a large trash can and fit PCP pipe inside.

He built wooden forms to fit inside the tub over the PCP pipe.

He made a fitting for his drill.

When he turned his drill on the wooden forms spun around and around really fast.

Next he went out to Queen Bee and took 4 of her wax honeycomb frames.

He scraped the tops off of the honeycomb cells and...

...placed the frames into his contraption.

He secured the frames with another wooden contraption that he made.

He turned on his drill....and around and around the honeycomb frames went.

...

We could hardly wait to get our liquid gold.

Around and around the frames spun faster and faster.

...

Do you think it worked?

Did we get our desired gold from his new Queen Bee honey?

...

Tell me what you think? Did John's extractor work?

You will have to wait and see.

Until then, I hope that you have an un-bee-lievably good week.

Love, Lura

My John found a new honey! part 1

I thought I knew my husband well.

I have known him for 45 years ....

and been married to him for 44 years...

...

I never in a million years thought he would do something like this.

I thought I was his only Queen Bee....

...but I was wrong...

Now he has a new honey.

I should have recognized the signs.

I noticed that he had been showing a lot of interest in her kind lately.

A few months ago he even bought a hat at a garage sale just to wear when he was with her.

...but I never thought it was anything serious....

...Until early one morning a few months ago.

We were having a lovely breakfast in the patio with Claire...

when it happened!

Ms. Queen Bee and 10,000 of her family made an uninvited visit.

They came buzzing by... disrupting our meal...and made themselves right at home in our tree by the pool.

My husband left me....without even saying goodbye...and climbed up a tall tree to visit them.

I told him that he was too old to be running after a new honey.

I was yelling..."No, No John....please think about what you are doing."

I was worried that no good could come from this, wild inpectious love of his.

But, my pleas went unheeded.

He not only went up to visit....he brought them back with him.

...And told them they could stay.

He did all this right in front of our little grand-daughter Claire

That is when I put my foot down.

I said if they were going to stay he would have to build them a house way in the back of our property.

I certainly wasn't going to have them in the house!

So he did.
As I said that was some time ago.

...and...with the passage of time...I have gotten use to the idea.

I've forgiven John for scaring me to death.

I've come to realize that Ms. Queen Bee and her family are not all that bad.
In fact they are quite sweet....literally dripping with honey.

So, we are all living together now.

I let John go out and visit them from time to time.

I leave them alone and they ignore me.

I like it that way.

...

However, something happened last week that changed everything.

John started spending hours with them....leaving me in the house alone for days at a time.

I will have to tell you about that at another time.

I'm not up to it tonight.

You really won't believe what happened next.

Stay tuned for the next "true confessions" installment.

Meanwhile, please give me your advice.

What would you do if your husband Bee-haved this way?

Leave me a comment and tell me what I should do.

Thanks and hugs,

Lura

Sunday Six Smiles

I feel so blessed today.

So full of smiles as I count my blessings

and thank my Heavenly Father for all that He has given me.

...
1. Modern technology makes me smile.

We have been uplifted by watching the 179th Semiannual General conference of our church.

It takes place in the conference center in Salt Lake City....

...but through modern technology conference is broadcast all over the world.

What a blessing to be able to sit in the comfort of my home and be a part

of these inspirational meetings.

I just finish watching the Sunday Morning Session.... and I am smiling.

2. The General Conference Messages make me smile.

During the 2 sessions yesterday and in this mornings session we got to hear from many of our leaders and all three of the first presidency of our church, Pres. Monson, Pres. Eyring andPres. Uchtdorf. (Pictured above)

My heart has been touch. My soul has been edified.

Our dear prophet, Pres. Monson, reminded us that when we are in the service of our fellowmen we are in the service of our God.

My resolve to love and serve my fellowman has been increased.
There is one more session we get to listen to this afternoon.

I am sad that it will soon be over. I eat up their words and counsel.

I can't get enough of it.

...

If you would like to watch it, I gave the link to broadcast information in my last post.

...

3. Talking to Angie and Marie makes me smile.
My dear blog friends, Marie and Angie in England are visiting each other today. They have know each other for several years but this is the first time they have met in person. I just love them both so when I learned they were together today I just had to call and be a small part of their party. It was so fun visiting with them. They are both delightful. How I wish I could hop over the pond and join them at Oak Cottage but since I can't ,I am smiling that I could have a nice phone visit.
...

4. Primary Sunday Programs make me smile.

For the past couple of weeks primary children all over the world have given their Sacrament Meeting Programs .
Every child gets a small speaking part and they sing several songs during the program.
...
To see these precious children, from ages 3 to 11, get up and speak on the microphone in front of the whole congregation.... and to hear their sweet voices singing songs of worship and praise, is so touching. It is amazing how even the little ones do their part... and sit reverently in the choir seats for over an hour during the program.
...
Last Sunday I got to go Mindy and Ernie's ward (congregation) and watch E.j., Claire and Austin take part in their primary program.
They did a wonderful job. They said their parts and sang the songs. Claire also sang a beautiful solo and a trio number.
I was proud of them and all of the children.
You can be sure that I was smiling.
...
5. Fall time and apples make me smile.

Our weather has been cooler...in the 70's and 80's with only a few 90+'s days thrown in.
It feels like fall.
Our apple trees are loaded full of apples.
We have picked hundreds of them.
John gave away a whole wheelbarrow full of them that we picked just before I got too sick with kidney stones to can them. I was glad that we could share and not waste them.
Then this week, we picked a bunch more.
I canned 18 quarts of apples.

The aromas of canning apples, apple pies baking and apple muffins have filled our home.
That makes both my nose and my tummy smile....and John's too.
...
6. My grandson soldier, Justin makes me smile
Justin is a wonderful young man. As many of you know, he is now at Fort Knox, Ky going to basic training. This has been a very difficult experience but Justin has done well.
He says that his prayers and love from family and friends has supported him.
He will graduate from basic training on Oct. 22 and move on to specialized training to become a medic.
I miss my sweet Justin.
I cringe when I read of some of the experiences he has had to endure...
...but I am so proud of him and his desire to serve his country.
I love my Justin and pray for him every day... as I pray for all of our service men and women.
...
My face is sore from smiling.
I hope that you are smiling too.
Have a great week.
Hugs, Lura

This wonderful weekend is finally here! Join me

I have been waiting 6 months....and this weekend is finally here!

It is time for the

179th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I will be listening to our leaders talk to us along with millions of members around the world.
I will be watching from home over our DirecTV .

It is also broadcast over cable channels, the Internet and at many of our church buildings.

The 179th Semiannual General Conference of the Mormon Church will be held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on

Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2009.

Join me in watching.

There will be beautiful music provided by the world famous
...

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

and...
There will be inspirational talks from leadership of the church.
...
No matter what your denomination or faith you will find these talks uplifting, motivational and inspirational.
I know that I do.
...

It is broadcast by direcTV and Dish Network on the following channels.

DirecTV: BYU-TV Channel 374
Dish Network: BYU-TV Channel 9403

The sessions will be broadcast at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
I have put links below where you can find the time it will be broadcast in your area.

...

For additional information about general conference, see General Conference

For information on worldwide broadcast times and options, see the broadcast options

and broadcast schedule.

There is a scripture that says
"By there fruits ye shall know them."
Some of you have heard misleading and untrue things about Mormon beliefs and philosophy.
Some of you may be curious about what we believe and are taught by our leaders.
I think that many of your questions will be answered by listening to these talks.

I invite you again to join me and tune in to conference.

...

The messages and music will touch your hearts and bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world.
...

I will be glued to the TV for all four sessions that will be aired Sat. and Sun.

They also have good programs in between the conference sessions.

Have a great weekend.

I know I will.

Hugs to all, Lura

Survivor's Sunday Six

Has it only been a week since I did my last Sunday Six?

How can that be???

It seems like it was a month or more.

As you all know I have been very sick with Kidney stones.

I am better now.

That makes me smile!

I still have 2 stones happily residing in my kidneys but as long as they are contented and stay there I am told they will not cause havoc.
I was sad to find they are still there, but what is...is.

Hopefully they will stay put... and that will make me smile because passing their little crystal relatives was torture and I don't want to do that again.....ever!!!

My John makes me smile.

We were not told "For better or worse" when we got married
but if we had been I am sure that John would vote that this week was one of the worst.

I am sure that changing catheter bags , cleaning out the vomit pan and holding my hand while I moaned and groaned was not much fun.

I am thankful that I had John to help me get through this week.

The first few days since last Sunday just seem a blur of pain, nausea and dizziness.

Each day after that I got better.

I was happy when I was enough better to read and watch TV to help pass
the time. Each step toward wellness made me smile.

Thinking of the trips we have made and the good times we have shared also comforted me and made me smile while I was down in bed.

Good memories are a lot to smile about.

..

Getting a priesthood blessing from John and our home teachers made me smile.

Well wishes and love from my children made me smile.

Your comments, and Marie's post make me smile.

I could also feel your concern and prayers.

That gave me strength and made me smile.

Even in the midst of pain and suffering there is always much to smile about.

...and that makes me smile!

I am getting stronger each day.

I am going to try going to church today.

I am sure my week ahead will be a good one. I hope yours will too.

Love, Lura

I'm stoned

Dear blog friends,
Thanks for your concern and prayers. I have needed them. After hours of agony (I thought I was in labor) and not being able to urinate,even with a cath, they did a cat scan and found I had kidney stones blocking the urethra. The codeine was useless so now I have graduated to morphine. I am really out of it but the pain is more tolerable. This is the first time I have sat up today....just to write you.... so you can see how important you all are to me. But I am too dizzy and nauseated to sit up long.... so I will visit your posts when I can. I must lie back down.... I am double stoned. Love to you all. Prayers are appreciated. Stoney Staffy

A sick Sunday Six...sorry

Hello Dear Blog Friends,

Today I am thankful for the following:

1.A husband that is concerned about my health.

2.Urgent Care available on Sunday

3.Good doctors.

4.Kind and gentle nurses

5. ciprofloxacin antibiotic

6. codeine for pain

Each of these things make me smile.

I am not well today but I'm sure that I will be soon. I started having problems Fri. night and John wanted me to go to the doctor yesterday but we had some dear friends getting married in the LA temple yesterday afternoon and I didn't want to miss it.....besides I was hoping I would get better on my own by drinking cranberry juice. We started out for church this morning but I felt like I was going to burst and the pain was more than I could stand so John made me go to urgent care at the hospital instead. I am getting good care. They are giving me cipro for infection, codeine for the pain (which hasn't helped much yet but they say it will) and have done other things to help me which are too unpleasant to mention.
I am sure that I will be better soon. However, I have learned a new lesson. I used to think it was a pain to have to take out time run to the restroom....I have now learned that it is a much bigger pain when you can't! I will never take tinkle time for granted again. I am sure that this is more info than you want to know....so I will say good bye and send my love to each of you.

Here is a pretty picture I took while we were at the Bushard Gardens in Victoria, Canada. I hope it leaves you with a prettier picture in you minds than this post does.

I hope that you have a good week. ...I will be back to visit your blogs soon....and each time you have to run to the restroom and your plumbing works....be thankful. lol Hugs, Lura

Please help my friend

This dear lady is my blog friend Grandma B.

You can tell how good and kind she is just by looking at her sweet face.

She posts lovely poems, pictures and thoughts on her blog that uplift and encourage us bloggers.

Today she needs our help.

She is walking in the National Alliance of Mental Illness walk-a-thon (NAMI).

She has done this for several years.

She walks for her daughter who has schizophrenia.

Having a child with a mental illness has been challenging.

For this reason she calls her blog The Long Journey .

...

She is trying to raise money for NAMI though this walk which will be held on Sept. 26th.

Would you please click onto her blog The Long Journey link to read about this cause and donate... Or click HERE to go directly to the walk-a-thon donation page.

Every dollar helps.

Give what you can.

I did and it only takes a couple of minutes.

The money will go to a good cause and be appreciated.

Thanks, Lura