Sunday Smiles for my Testimony

Greetings friends on this last Sunday in August, 2011. 

My goodness…. this year is getting away from me.

In some ways, it seems like an eternity since our accident 5 months ago….

In some ways, it seems like a blur of time speeding past me as I rest and recover. I feel like I have somehow missed out on spring and summer… but thankfully, through the miracle of healing, I have faith that in the future ,I will be back to doing the things I’m missing now.

I am smiling today because I can see a light at the end of my long recovery tunnel.

While I am still in quite a bit of pain and I can’t do many things I would like to do…. I am getting better. Sometimes I feel impatient, 5 months is a long time to be down, but all in all, I feel very blessed and thankful.

            My  greatest smile  today comes from knowing that                  my Redeemer Lives.

The talks at church today were on faith and prayer. I was touched by the sweet spirit that was there.  Our closing hymn was

 “I know that my Redeemer Lives” by Medley and Edwards

My heart pounded as we sang…

“I know that My Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives who once was dead. He lives, my every living head.

He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives, all blessings to impart.

I am smiling because ….He has comforted me,

He has wiped away my tears …

He has calmed my troubled heart… and…

He does impart blessings upon me every day.

I am thankful for the testimony that I have that God is our Heavenly Father, who knows, loves and blesses us…. and that Jesus Christ is His son and our Redeemer.

With this knowledge, I know that I will be able to smile through life’s challenges and I am thankful.

Have a great week.  Hugs, Grammy Lura

Sunday Summer Smiles

Hello  Blog Friends

Let me start out by thanking those of you who are voting for Lonica.( If you haven’t voted for her yet please read my last post and do it.)

I hope that it has been a good week for you.

I had 3 doctor appointments , which took up way too much time,

… but…

It makes me smile that my doctors are concerned about me.  It seems that one complication from my broken ribs leads to another… and my different doctors don’t always agree on how to “fix” me. I get a bit discouraged, but all in all I am healing. They tell me it will take a year. It has been almost 5 months…. that seems long enough to me…. but then God’s timing is not the same as mine and I’m learning patience. The doctors remind me that it is a miracle that I am alive so I shouldn’t complain… (I still complain, but not a whole lot… and I am thankful at the same time.)

….

In spite of spending hours at doctor’s offices, I had lots to smile about.

Celebrating with Ernie for his birthday makes me smile.

We started out by having a good meal at Famous Dave’s.

Then we went back to their home for cake….

That is just what I needed…. more cake… the cakes I got for my birthday are all gone now…lol

We are thankful for this good son-in-law and that we live close enough to celebrate with them.

Summer concerts at the park make me smile. (Can you find me in this picture sitting next to Kris?)

Our city has had a series of “Cover band” concerts at the park this summer. I was able to attend 2 of them and they were lots of fun. A few weeks ago we went to see “The Beach Boys” … last week we saw “The Beatles”

A picnic…. beautiful weather…fun music…and spending time with our friends, Kris, Craig, Darrell and LouAnn,  brought me lots of smiles.

Fun in the pool with grandkiddos makes me smile.

Mindy and her kiddos come over quite often to swim with us. Jalen also joined us for a week earlier this summer. I can get in the pool now. It hurts a lot to move my left arm and shoulder…. so swimming is great therapy for me. Having fun in the water with the kids helps me to exercise in spite of the pain.

Austin makes me smile.

At the beginning of the summer, Austin would not even get in the big pool or put his head under water. Now he is jumping of the diving board in the deep end of the pool and swimming like a little fish.

John makes me laugh out loud!  He cracks me up!

This is a laugh from the past… but it was so hilarious I have to show you the lengths my crazy husband will go to to cheer me up.

Two days before my surgery I was very nervous. The doctors were quite sure I had ovarian cancer…. I was dreading the pain of the surgery on top of my broken rib pain… I was dreading having to do the bowel prep the next day…and I was dreading the outcome of the surgery. My tears were close to the surface.

As I was watching the kids swim … ”Mrs. Doubtfire” came out to join them.

John does not enjoy the pool…. he does not like getting in the cool  water… So.. when he came out, dressed up in my old bathing suit and swimming cap… I almost re-broke all my ribs I was laughing so hard.

His tactics worked… He certainly did get my mind off of my upcoming surgery.

My nutty husband makes me smile!

I hope that my smiles have made you smile too. I have enjoyed reading more of your blogs lately.  I feel like you are family friends. I am sending hugs to all of you. Have a good week.

Please Vote for our Loni

Hello Friends,

A few weeks ago my 12 year old granddaughter Lonica entered the Disney Channel Shake it Up Dance Contest. 

She just made up a little dance by herself and sent it in.

She did not get fancied up or do her best dancing, so I thought she didn't have a chance since over 28,600 audition videos were uploaded.

We were totally shocked when Sunday morning we logged on and Loni was the most "liked" of the day.  Today she has moved down to number 11 or 12 so we are asking you to help us keep her in the top.  Please go to the link below and "like" her.  After you have clicked on "like" you can go to another audition and then back to Loni to vote again. You can vote over and over.  We would be so grateful for your help.

It will also help if you will leave a comment on her audition page...after you click on the "like" button, click on the "comment" button... then click on one of the pictures and select a comment to send. She has over 2,350 comments now but some contestants have more... so again your help would be appreciated. 

How fun to think that a little Utah girl might actually have a chance. 

Click HERE to watch her audition and vote a  “like”  for Lonica.

(If you want to pass on this request the actual web site is:

http://makeyourmark.disney.go.com/s/3q07o8?cmp=Dcom_emc_MYM_vidview_ready_u13_extl

Thanks, Grammy Lura 

Sunday Birthday Smiles (The last 67th birthday post)

(I started this post late Sunday night so it really is my Sunday Six… even though I didn’t finish it until after midnight and the date says Monday.)

I promise that this is my very last post about my Happy Birthday# 67.  I bet that makes you smile…. I know that enough is enough…. but bear with me because I want to document the sweet things others have done for me. I feel so blessed to have so many dear friends and neighbors.

LouAnn makes me smile. She has been doing my hair for about 25 years. She is a dear friend and does a great job controlling my thick mop of hair.

My birthday actually started on Fri. the 5th when LouAnn colored, cut and styled my hair. It was great to wake up on my 67th birthday without grey  drab, unruly hair. When she finished I didn’t look a day over 66…. (but then when she finished I wasn’t a day over 66!  That didn’t happen until the next day…lol )

John makes me smile. I told him that all I wanted for my birthday was for him to drive me to San Diego to meet Buttercup… which he did … but he surprised me by also getting me a Garman GPS for our car. Our lovely Prius had a navigational system which I used all the time. John’s little car does not have one…. and since our Prius died in the crash, we only have John’s car now. I am delighted to have a new little GPS to use when I start driving again.

Mindy and Claire make me smile.

Without me even asking, my dear daughter and granddaughter came over early Saturday to clean up the house for me and help prepare food for my little birthday get together. That was a great birthday gift in it’s self.

My birthday pot-luck made me smile.

I didn’t intend to have a birthday party…..

… but….Mindy, Kris, LouAnn and Sil all offered to take me out or have a birthday tea.

However, I know that I have very limited strength to be up and out…. and since we were planning to be out all day the next day, going to church and meeting Buttercup, I asked them to bring dinner to my house instead…

… so we ended up having a little, last minute…  pot-luck birthday party.

It worked out great.  Silvija brought everything we needed to make home made pizzas. We had a regular pizza shop going with every kind of pizza you could think of.  We feasted on pizza, egg plant parmesan , salad and fruit. (Do you recognize Ernie now that he is 30 pounds lighter and shaved off his mustache.?)

Birthday Cakes made me smile.

LouAnn, Craig and I all have birthdays the first week of August so we all got to blow out the candles together. As you know from a previous post…. we had lots of cakes to go around…. and they were all yummy.

Dear Friends and Family make me smile.

I got many lovely gifts even though I had told everyone not to bring presents. Marie even sent me a complete tea party in a box…  all the way from England… how sweet is that!!! …

…but…

…The best gift of all is being alive to share my life with so many dear people…. including you sweet blog friends.

You all make me smile!

I feel very blessed and very Thankful.

I am sending hugs to you…… and now you can smile…. because this is my last 67th birthday post.

Have a great week.

Happy Birthday Marie

I hope that you have had a happy 56th birthday.

I just got up but I know it is evening there in England.

I hope your day has been filled with sweet things and best wishes.

...

I Think that most of you who read my blog know and love Marie, but if you don't, hop on over to England and read her blog A year from Oak Cottage. She publishes a delightful post every day. I am sure that you will be glad that you took the time to visit her. While you are there please wish her a happy birthday. She will appreciate it.

Let me tell you a little about what Marie stands for.

I wrote this poem for Marie 2 years ago.
As a tradition I post it on her birthday each year.

...

M -is for Merry. She works with a grin.

She sees the bright side, no matter what spot she's in.

...
A- is for Artistic. She paints all the while.

Her sweet little people make everyone smile.

...

R-is for Reliable. She serves with a smile.

She does all that's required ,then goes the next mile.

...

I-is for intelligent. Marie knows what to do.

She gives good advice and recipes too.

...

E-is for Exceptional. We all know it is true.

You're a rare treasure, Marie, and I 'm blessed to know you.

...

(O.K.... I know that is a corny poem...but this poem was written with love

...so that makes corny O.K....right???)

Sweet friend I hope you have had a wonderful day.

I am sending you loads and loads of love and this birthday cake.

You can eat all you want of this cyber-cake because it is calorie free

and won't spoil your diet.

You can even have some for Sunday morning breakfast...I won't tell.

...

Thank you for being such a dear person...such a good example...and such a great friend.

I will call you soon.

I love you to bits.

Happy Birthday.

Love, Lura

Birthday and Buttercup

This is my blog  friend, Buttercup.

She used to be just my blog friend from Buttercup Counts Her Blessings  but now she is my real life friend as well.

(She lives in Manhattan and visiting her blog is like taking a mini trip to NYC.)

Last week she attended a BlogHer convention in San Diego which is 100 miles from my little spot of the world.

My birthday was Saturday. When John asked me what I wanted for my birthday I said I wanted him to drive me to meet Buttercup…. so he did.

I thought that was really nice of my hubby (I guess he didn’t complain because I got him to drive 1000 miles to meet Marie… lol)

and

I was thrilled to meet dear Buttercup.

We picked her up at her hotel and took her to Old Town San Diego which is rich with history and Mexican Folk Lore.

We watched the colorful dancers… listened to the festive music…

…And visited while we shared a delicious meal together.

We also went to the Mormon Battalion visitor center where we were taken along  on the longest Military march in American history…. 2000 miles from Iowa to San Diego starting in July of 1846.

 The story of the Mormon Battalion is one of faith, courage and accomplishment. If you would like to read about their story click HERE

If you would like to see more pictures of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site or get it’s location click Here

We all enjoyed the tour at the Mormon Battalion visitor center. Buttercup had studied American Religious history of the 1800s but she did not know about the historic accomplishments of the Mormon Battalion.  Learning about the way they persevered to accomplish great things in spite of their hardships gave Buttercup and me new resolve to get through the physical challenges we face.

Our day with Buttercup was one of joy.

It was a lovely birthday gift for me. 

She is a woman of faith.

 She is a valued friend.

She faces having the same surgery in a few weeks that I just had.   She is concerned… as I was… as any one is when they are told they might have cancer… but she has faith and an optimistic attitude. Please remember her in your prayers and go to her blog and give her a little bloggy love.

Well… this is post # 3 about my birthday… I bet that you are glad that I will only do one more which will be my next Sunday Six Smiles.   Please bear with me because I’ve learned not to take birthdays for granted…. I and want to document each precious moment of them.

I’ll see you again on Sunday…. Until then… Hugs from Lura

 

My Life is a piece of cake!!!

I should say….

My life is pieces of cake

I didn’t get a birthday cake last year.  We had just returned home from our trip to Utah…. we were all worn out…. getting a cake just wasn’t a top priority…

but

let me tell you,

I have more than made up for it this year!

Cake #1 came early

My WIC (Women’s Improvement Club) friend, Joyce, brought me a homemade angel food cake with cream cheese and strawberry topping a few days before my birthday.  It was Heavenly!

Cake# 2 was a Coffee Cake

Dear friends, Carolyn and Don brought over a yummy Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake. 

 

 

It was the best coffee cake I’ve ever had. It made a delicious breakfast and a great way to start my birthday.

…

Cake # 3 is cream filled chocolate

John got it from Sam’s Club and it is really good. LouAnn, Craig and I all have birthdays the 1st week of August so we all got together to celebrate and enjoy this cake that was as pretty as it is good.  Half of it is left if you want a piece.

Cake # 4 is a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Another sweet WIC friend, Re, brought me this cake that she made this afternoon. It is almost all gone already but if you hurry over you might get a small piece.

Cake # 5 is a spice cake with buttercream frosting.

Darlene, my long time friend from church brought me this delicious spice cake tonight.  It is yummy.

…

So many sweet cakes from sweet friends. I am thankful for their friendship and thoughtfulness.

Well as you can see…. I can have my cake and eat it too…. literally!

I’ve been loosing weight…. but after these cake filled days I will probably find it again!

Not only that… but ….I also got a box full of sweet treats from Marie….

… and…

Silvija made me pies…. but I will tell you about the rest of my birthday on another post… I need to stop writing now and have a piece of cake…. It has been over an hour since I’ve had one.

If you would like to share a piece with me…. just pop on over.

Hugs, Lura