Wednesday Wisdom and Winner

Happy Wednesday everyone.

It is time to select my give-away winner of the $20 in gift cards..

I wish I could pick all of you...but hey... I am a retired teacher...

not Bill Gates!!!

I wrote all of your names on pieces of paper.

I couldn't use the random generator to select the winner

(Not that I know how to do that anyway!)

because you got 1 chance for each comment you left and extra entry chances

if you tried to answer citrus quiz

or if you left a comment on Marta's amazing photography blog and told her what great pictures she took of our darling new grandson Calan.

I folded all the names in half and put them in a basket.

I had a non-biased third party pick one name.
...
And the WINNER is....

*** KRYSTYN***
Way to go Krystyn.
Krystyn is a sweet blog friend that always leaves me nice comments and sends me emails.
She is a chemistry high school teacher and the mother of two darling little girls.
Krystyn send me your address in a email and I will send the gift cards right off to you.
I hope you enjoy them.
...
And now the moment you have all been on pins and needles
waiting for...
...the answers to John's Citrus Quiz...
No one got all of them right but
Holly, Patsy, Grandma B, Evelyn Theresa and Angie came close

and got an "A" for effort...
I am impressed by your citrus knowledge gals!

So.. for this week's Wednesday Wisdom...

The answers to the citrus quiz are.... (from the middle clockwise)...

CHANDLER POMELO (my favorite citrus) , POMELO HYBRID, COCKTAIL GRAPEFRUIT, TEXAS PINK GRAPEFRUIT, MARSH GRAPEFRUIT, LIME, LEMON, MORO BLOOD ORANGE, TANGELO, and up on top of the
Chandler pomelo are the little KUMQUATS.
By the way, the diameter of the Chandler pomelo is 8 inches...amazing huh!!!
We also grow several varieties of oranges, avocados, nuts and other fruits not pictured here.
I complain too much about our warm/hot climate but it surely is good for our orchard produce.
John works hard in the orchard and we are blessed with delicious fruits.
...
Thanks to all of you for reading my blog.
A special thanks to all of you that comment and leave me love.

You are all winners to me.
Have a great day.
Hugs, Lura

Sunday six and a Give-away

Dear Blog Friends ,

How are you? I hope that you are having a lovely Sunday. I am not feeling too well today and stayed home from church. Even though I have been watching KBYU on TV all morning and have been able to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and see wonderful inspirational programs, I miss going to church. I miss the spirit I feel there. I miss seeing my friends. I miss the love I feel there. I miss taking the Sacrament and renewing the covenants I've made with the Lord.

...

In Deut. 5:12 we are told to Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

In Mark 2:27 the scripture that says

"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."

I believe that.

Attending church on Sunday gives me a spiritual boost that carries me through the week.

When I don't attend church on Sunday I feel a void all through the coming week.

I am sure that those of you who attend church regularly know what I am talking about. For those of you who do not go to church regularly I invite you to do so. I think you will be amazed at what a day of rest and worship can do for you.

1. Attending church makes me smile.
...

My last three Sunday Six smile maker posts have been about our joy of adopting precious little Calan. However, other things happened during that wonderful visit to Utah that also had me beaming. I would like to share some of those with you today.

2. Our 12 year old Johnny makes me smile.

A couple of days after we arrived in Utah, Johnny packed up his bags, waved goodbye to us and headed off to Colorado to compete in a regional gymnastic meet.

He earned the right to compete there because he had won first place on 4 events at the Utah State competition. In fact he won a scholarship at the Utah state level that provided the finances for him to compete at regionals.

At regionals Johnny got a gold medal on the rings and silver medals for the high bar and his floor exercise.

He also won a scholarship to attend a gymnastics camp at the Olympic training center in Colorado this summer.

I just found this newspaper picture of Johnny on the rings on his Aunt Tricia's blog.

She says that it was on the first page of their local paper.

How cool is that!!!! Thanks Tricia... I didn't know about it...Lynell didn't tell me.

Way to go Johnny!!!
Your hours of hard work at the gym are surely paying off!! You make us smile.

...

3. Johnny's coach, Gabe, makes me smile.

We met Gabe several years ago when Johnny first started competing. He is a great coach and very supportive. However.... Gabe blew me away on this last trip to Utah.

I am used to seeing Gabe at the gym or at competitions dressed in tee-shirts and gym pants the way he looks standing below Johnny in the picture I posted right above the newspaper picture.

However on this trip I got to see Gabe in a Tuxedo.

Gabe is a vocal music major at Heber State College.

He invited us and "his boys" from the gym to attend his senior recital.
I was blown away by his beautiful voice!

He thrilled us by singing a whole program of beautiful operatic arias...most of them in foreign languages. It was amazing. My mouth was gaping open.

Johnny had told me that Gabe often plays opera music at the gym while the boys are working out but...Who knew his gymnastics coach is an outstanding opera singer???

I am amazed and smiling every time I think about it.
...
4. Grampy makes me smile

While we were with Johnny at the gym he showed Grampy how to do a Giant on the high bar.
I was impressed at how quickly Grampy learned to do it with such style and form.

Until I got a better look at the picture.

Oh Grampy....you make me smile!!!

5. Lonica and Amanda make me smile

Lonica and my little blog friend, Amanda had a major dance competition in Logan the same weekend Johnny went to Colorado for the gymnastics regionals.
It was a 12 hour drive from Utah to Colorado and about an hour and a half drive to Logan.
Since we couldn't attend both competitions, we opted to go to Logan.
We got to watch Loni, Amanda and the rest of the girls from her dance studio compete.

Both Loni and Amanda won "Queen" in their divisions for their solo dances.
This was Lonica's first time to compete in the advanced category.
We were thrilled that she won Queen in the 9 to 12 year old division.

The next day all of the advanced Queens from every division had to compete against each other.
As I mentioned, this is Loni's first year to compete at the advanced level.
She did not want to compete against all the other advanced Queens.
She had just turned 10 the week before.
She did not want to compete against girls 7 and 8 years older.
She said she would be embarrassed going against 18 year old advanced dancers.
...
Lynell told her it would be good experience for her.
She told her to not be a quitter...to do her best and not worry about it.
So Loni did....It was hard for her but she did as her mother told her to do.
And She Won!!!
She got high points and was named
Utah dancer of the year!!

Her picture will be on the cover of that competition's Dance Program next year.
We couldn't believe it and we are so proud of her.
I am amazed that my grandchildren can be so athletically talented when I am such a clutz!!Obviously they don't take after me.
...
6. Marta's pictures make me smile


I love this picture of Calan
Marta is a photographer friend of my Erin.
She did darling pictures of our little Cal as a gift for Erin.
They turned out so cute.
Go over to her blog, More Than Memories Photography, to see the rest of the pictures and leave her a comment.
If you do leave a comment for Marta let me know and I will give you an extra chance to win my give-away.
...

Don't forget to leave me a comment for my



I want to give you a Barnes and Noble and a Starbucks gift card.
(See my last post)
All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment before this Wed.

You can get extra chances to win by entering my citrus fruit contest.
(see my last post)
and by leaving Marta a comment.

I will pick the winner this coming Wednesday morning.
Have a great week. Love, Lura

Wed. Wisdom Giveaway contest

They say "It is better late than never."

I hope that applies to 100th post give-aways because this is my 112th post and I am just now getting around to the "give-away".

As I was driving yesterday I noticed the display in my car told me it was 102 F. outside.

102 F.!!! Honestly....doesn't Mother Nature know it is April!!

April in CA should be in the 70s....not 102!!...it is way too hot!!
...
However a few days ago we left Utah in a snow storm.

The temp was in the 30s which is too cold for April.

Since then several of my blog friends have mentioned having April snow.
...

I wish that I could send all of you that are having

late winters 20 degrees of our heat.

Since I can't do that, I would like to send you $20 in gift cards.

Hopefully that will brighten and warm your day a little....

(or if you are in a warm area you can spend the cards in the air conditioned stores and cool off.)

I went to Barnes and Noble while I was in Utah.
I also got a wonderful hot chocolate and pastry at Starbucks.
I thought that you might like to do the same so I got a $10 gift certificate at both places.
I will send both of them to one of you.
To enter leave me comments before next Wednesday.
I will select the winner next Wed. April 29th from those who left me comments during the week.
...
However, since it is "Wednesday Wisdom" day, here is a way to get extra chances to win.
I am going to combine my give-away with a quiz.
(This was my cute hubby's idea)
Answer this quiz and get an extra chance to win.
If you answer correctly you get 2 extra chances to win.
...
Pictured below are several different kinds of citrus fruits that grow in our orchard.
Name them all starting with the big one in the middle and moving clockwise around the circle and ending with the little ones on top of the big one.

Here is a hint....each fruit is different and there is not a Naval or Valentia orange pictured.

However there are 3 kinds of grapefruit.
Go ahead...give it a try and get extra chances to win.
...
Thanks to all of you that read my blog.
I truly appreciate all of you.
Blogging has broadened my world and brought me many new friends.
I hope you enjoy this give-away.
Remember...
Comments left today and Sunday = 1 chance each comment
Taking the citrus quiz= 1 extra chance
Getting the right answers=2 extra chances
Good Luck
Hugs, Lura

Sunday Six and a give-away

Note: Before I start my Sunday Six, my blog friend Lynne, is having a nice give-away for her 100th post from her home in Sweden. Go visit her at Bun Mountain.... and yes... I know how late I am getting around to my 100th post give away.... but stay tuned because I actually bought a couple of gift cards that I will give away later this week.

...

Now for my Sunday Six.... and yes... I am still smiling, no beaming, over getting baby Calan.

Two weeks ago today we got to go to the hospital and meet our new little Calan.

(How can it only be two weeks???? It seems like we have loved this little boy forever!)

Today as I look back on the past two weeks I am still filled with wonder and awe.
I have so much to smile about that I can hardly contain myself.
and...
even though you may think that I have gone on about getting Calan long enough
I just have to share a few more photos with you..
and...
express the thankfulness in my heart once again.
You see, our whole family has been praying for Erin and Patrick to be blessed with a child for so long.... pleading that this prayer might be answered..
and now that it has been... I just can not thank our birth mom enough....
I can not thank my Heavenly Father enough.
My heart is smiling.
My soul is smiling.
Here are a few more pictures that explain my joy.

Even though we were sorry that Calan got sick a few hours after we brought him home.... and.... we were concerned during the time he spent back in the hospital, we were happy that he got such good care and that we got to bring him home after 4 days.
Our hearts go out to the familes who have their little ones in the hospital for long periods of time..
...some never to come home.
How blessed we are that our baby got better quickly.
...

As much as I enjoyed holding this sweet babe in my arms...

As much as I loved looking at his darling face and feeling him hold on to my finger...

I loved seeing him with Erin and Patrick even more.The love radiates between them.
It is tangible.
It is beautiful.

These cute parents make my heart sing.

Patrick just can't get enough of his little son....

...and neither can Erin.

I loved watching them care for him with such tenderness.

I loved hearing Grampy sing to his little buddy.

I loved every minute of the time we had together.
This was us at our Easter dinner just a week ago today.

It was a blessed day.

A day full of praise and thankfulness.

Even though I am back home now ,I will always treasure these memories in my heart.
...

When I was a little girl I used to sing a song in my primary class that has been ringing in my head all week. I can not remember all of the words because it has been a long time since I've sung it but the melody keeps going through my mind. The words go something like this.

...

Can a little child like me thank the Father fittingly?

Yes, oh, yes be good and true, patient, kind in all you do.

Learn to share and do your part.

Learn to say with all your heart

Father I thank Thee, Father I thank Thee

Father in Heaven, I thank Thee.

...

Those may not be the exact words to the song but they are close.

That is the question I am asking.

How can I find a way to express my thankfulness fittingly?

There are not words to express my gratitude for my children and grandchildren...

...for my John... my husband of 43 years... my eternal companion..

...for my friends....for my home....for my health....

...and most of all for my testimony that God lives and loves us...and answers our prayers....

...that our Savior Jesus Christ died for us....

I know that I truly am a child of God.... how could I not be smiling???

...

I have some other wonderful news about my other grandchildren which I will enjoy sharing with you another time.

I hope that you have had a good week and that you are smiling too.

Much love, Lura

Calan's First Easter

Happy Easter Everyone

My heart is full of Love and Gratitude this beautiful Easter Morning.

I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and all He did for you and me.

I am so thankful for the sacrifice He made for us so we can be found worthy to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again one day.
...

Marie has posted "One Solitary Life" today. I hope you will go to her post and read it.

I know that God loves us.

I know He answers our prayer because the prayer of my heart has been answered this week.

After years of pleading with the Lord that my Erin could have her lifelong desire to be a mother granted.... our prayers have been answered.
...

A sweet birth mom 's heart was touched.

She listened to the promptings of the Spirit.

She felt the longing in Erin and Patrick's hearts to become parents.

She was sorry for the void in their lives of being childless.
She knew in her heart that they would love her child more than words can express.
...

She knew that they could give her precious babe a better home than she could provide at this time.

She loves her sweet baby so much that she found the courage to give him up.

Calan went from God's arms... to her arms....to ours.
...

Could there be any greater act of love than that shown by our birth mom?

No... I think not.

Dear Birth Mom there are no words to express our gratitude and love for you.

How fitting your loving act took place at this Easter time when we honor God, our Heavenly Father, for giving us His son because He loved us.

How fitting that we thank you as we also thank our Lord for giving us his life because He loves us.

...

Our little Calan came home from Primary Children's Hospital Friday afternoon. It was hard having him there for 4 days, but we were thankful for the good care he got.

Erin and Patrick stayed by his side night and day.

We are so happy that we have this sweet baby home from the hospital now and that he is doing well.

This is our best Easter Ever!!!

The Easter Bunny did come to baby Calan's house this morning.

Erin and Patrick went to Easter service and Grammy got to babysit.
I plan attend church with Lynell's family later today.

Cal and I just had our own special time together.

We are buddies and have a special bond since I was adopted too.

We just hung out and had a good visit together.
Calan had lots to tell me. This is what he said.

"I'm glad that my mommy got me all cleaned up for Easter"

"I just love it when she washes my hair"
"Thanks mom, that felt so good... and don't I look cute!!"

"I have lots to tell my daddy too. Hey dad... do you think we could dye some Easter eggs?"

" I will try to stay awake while we color the eggs."

" OK folks, those eggs will do nicely for my first Easter egg hunt."

"Then of course you had to get me all dressed up for our first family Easter picture."



"The Easter clothes Grammy got me are size 0-3 months and are way too big....but I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I wore them anyway. (Grammy says that they looked little in the store.)"
"Everyone keeps ooing and ahhing over me.... I guess that is because they have prayed so hard for me to come into their family....and I am so CUTE!!!

"They took so many pictures that I fell asleep before I got to open my Easter Basket. Oh well, there is plenty of time for that a little later... my family doesn't mind...

...they think I am their little Miracle...and they are content just to sit and look at me."

"My mommy will post more pictures of me later today. You can go to her blog to see more of me."

...
Life is good.

We all feel greatly blessed and thankful this

wonderful Easter Day.
Happy Easter one and all.

Love, Lura