What's in your collection?

A home doesn't exist to impress other people~it should be filled with all the things that delight YOU. That's the first commandment of great design. Whether your tastes run to vintage or modern, any house can be captivating if it tells the stories of those who reside in it. Our homes are a tribute to our greatest pleasures.
A collection is a group of things gathered or collected. A person has a collection when they bring items together into a group. Collecting is a great hobby because it can be different and unique for everyone. Each found item has its own 'story'. All of us go through our lives collecting and discarding things around us.
I enjoy collecting many different things. My collections have changed over the years. Things I once found interesting, perhaps I no longer do. Take for instance my collection of pickininny craft objects! They are now 'gone with the wind'. I started each of the girls with their own collections during the 80's. They are no longer fascinated with bunnies, bears, music boxes or 'precious moments' porcelain. They have grown into different interests. I still love collecting; old alarm clocks, bird nests, birdhouses, old books, old reading glasses, baby shoes and bone china teacups and saucers~ to name a few!
A few years ago I decided to start a collection for each of my grandchildren when they turn 8. My hope is that someday, years from now, they will cherish these items, so lovingly gathered by their grandmother. But it's not a guarantee. I am collecting for them; (Josh) old boys books, (Rachel) bone teacups/saucers, (Daniel) measuring tapes and sticks, (Griffin) skeleton keys and padlocks and(Camdyn) crystal salt and pepper shakers. Because I love antiques so hard, it is a labor of love for me. Time will tell about the rest of it.

Live to 100

Twenty Signs you might live to 100

1.  You eat purple food.

2.  You have been a college freshman.

3.  You have a drama-free marriage.

4.  You enjoy good friendships.

5.  You have strong legs.

6.  You set goals.

7.  You feel 13 years younger than you are.

8.  You have a positive outlook on life.

9.  You're outgoing.

10.  You've got skinny friends.

11.  You don't have a housekeeper.

12.  You often walk instead of drive.

13.  You do aerobic activity five hours a week

14.  You don't like burgers.

15.  You skip cola, including diet

16.  You love tea.

17.  You limit calories to 1,400 to 2,000 a day.

18.  You don't snore.

19.  You weren't overweight as a teen.

20.  You have a flat belly.

Hellyray.  I have 16 out of 20.  I refuse to live one day after 80 so looks like I better start fighting more with my husband, stop exercising, add even more weight in my stomach and double my pop drinking.  I'm just saying.



I Can See!

I had LASIK surgery on Monday at Hoopes Vision in Salt Lake, and am so thrilled with the results I can hardly stand it. It is only day 2 and if my vision didn't improve any, which it will, I would be satisfied totally. I had mono-vision for correction so I won't need reading glasses, or glasses at all. I've worn mono contacts for ten years so my learning curve is non existent, lucky for me. Mono vision just means you treat one eye for distance and one eye for closeness. I was 20/200 in my right eye and in my left eye they just called it 'fingers' since I couldn't read the big E on the chart. Hip..Hip..HORRAY!

Wordless Wednesday

Remember these?!!

DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE

I read the following remarks by GLENN BECK last year at our family patriotic morning devotional on the 4th. We sang God Bless America, said the pledge, then listened to these inspiring words. I think they bear repeating. Thanks Glenn.

We tend to forget that to sign the Declaration of Independence was to commit an act of treason and the punishment for treason was death. Signing was a move fraught with danger, so much so that the names of the signers were kept secret for 6 months. The signers were risking everything and they knew it. That's the meaning of the Declaration's last sentence: And for the support of this declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Most of the signers survived the war. Several went on to illustrious careers. Two of them became Presidents of the United States. Among the others were future vice presidents, senators and governors. But not all were so fortunate. Nine of the 56 died during the Revolution, having never tasted American independence. Five were captured by the British. Eighteen had their homes, great estates some of them, looted or burned by the enemy. Some lost everything they owned. Two were wounded in battle. Two others were fathers of sons who were killed during the war. Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

You know, we all recognize John Hancock's signature, but whoever notices the names beneath his? Like William Hillary, Thomas Nelson, Richard Stockton, Francis Lewis. Most of us, we hear these names and they have no meaning, but they each represent a real human being, some of whom paid dearly for the support of this Declaration and American independence. Louis Morris of New York, for example, must have know when he signed the Declaration that he was signing away his fortune, for within weeks the British ravaged his estate, destroyed his vast woodland, butchered his cattle and sent his family fleeing for their lives.
Another New Yorker, William Floyd, was forced to flee when the British plundered his property. He and his family lived as refugees for 7 years without any income. The strain tolled on his wife. She died 2 years before the war ended.
Carter Braxton of Virginia was a planter who had invested heavily in shipping. He saw most of his vessels captured by the British Navy, his estates largely reined. By the end of his life, he was a paper. Our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Thomas Nelson, Jr. of Virginia raised more than two million dollars for the patriots cause on his own personal credit. The Government never reimbursed him, and repaying the loans wiped out his entire estate. During the battle of Yorktown, his house had been seized by the British and occupied by General Cornwallis. Nelson quietly urged the gunners to fire on his own home. They did so, destroying it. He was never again a man of wealth. He died and was buried in an unmarked grave. And then there was John Hart, the speaker of the New Jersey assembly. He was forced to flee in the winter of '76 at the age of 65 from his dying wife's bedside while he hid in forets and caves. His home was demolished, his fields and mill lay waste and his 13 children put to flight. When it was finally safe for hime to return, he found his wife dead, his children missing, his proeperty decimated. He never saw any of his family again.

The men who signed that piece of parchment in 1776 were the elite of their colonies. They were men of means and social standing but for the sake of liberty they pledged it all: Their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Enemies Become Friends

My brother, Gary, served his career with The United States Air Force. We can say he truly loves this country. During our first annual LAND I LOVE, hosted outside in our backyard on a warm summer night in July of 2001, he stood to give the following remarks. He spoke aloud the first sentence and then, overcome with emotion, handed me his paper to read for him. I didn't fair much better. I have referred to it often and would like to share his thoughts. He says:

The true greatness of a nation is not always measured by what her friends think of her, but rather by what her enemies think of her. The greatness of a nation is not measured by her wealth, but by her generosity. No other nation in the history of this Earth has been more generous, more magnanimous in victory, more selfless in the treatment of its enemies.
Following the dastardly attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, this nation was roused from isolationism and peacefulness. We set about, in a very short time, to build up our woefully inadequate military and become the strongest armed force this world has ever seen. We assembled a force of over 12 million men to face not only the Japanese aggressors but an even greater threat to world peace, the Nazis of Germany. They were all ground into oblivion by the United States Military within four years. That was the greatest achievement any country had ever performed. We now had control of over half the world. What would we do with it? Keep and control it as ancient Rome had done? No, we not only gave it back but we paid to have it restored to its former state. The Marshall Plan gave millions to feed starving Europeans, including the Germans, Italians and Japanese who had started the war. In Japan, we fed and rebuilt and restored, and out of the ruins of war emerged countries that to this very day are not hateful or revengeful people, but friends and allies.]
I don't think there has ever been such a country as ours, and I am sure there will never be another. The greatness of America lies in her kindness and in her willingness to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. It is interesting how a people totally and unconditionally defeated in battle can hold this nation and its people in such high regard. This became clear to me a few years ago while living in Germany. The United States Army had been stationed in Germany for fifty years when I arrived, not as an occupation force but as defenders against the Soviet Union. As that threat was diminishing, U.S. Forces were pulling out and going home. As the garrison in the city of Karlsruhe was preparing to depart, the city decided to hold a farewell. The U.S. Forces were assembled for the last time and a long line of tanks and trucks and other equipment were in formation to leave town. The route out of town was lined by tens of thousands of Germans. They had not come to celebrate the departure, but to mourn and say goodbye. At the reviewing stand that day, as the American Commander was saying his farewell, a disturbance broke out in the crowd near the reviewing stand. A very old and crippled German lady was trying to push her way to the front of the crowd and was making quite a fuss about it. She reached the front of the crowd and was finally allowed to approach the stand. When she was right in front of the American General she opened her purse and removed a very old and tattered American flag. She never said a word, but with tears streaming down her face, she stood and waved that flag at the Americans on the stand.
The greatness of a nation is not always best measured by what her friends think of her, but by what those she has defeated in battle come to think of her.

Lt. Col. Gary Griffin

Planning Ahead

Clarkston, Utah is in the most charming valley, nestled in the foothills north of Logan. It is the end of the trail. It is not "on the way" to anywhere. My heartstrings are tied to this place to a degree that I cannot possibly describe. My father was born here, and is buried here. Dad's parents, most of their siblings and all 4 of his grandparents are buried in the Clarkston Cemetery as well. This cemetery is famous as the resting spot of Martin Harris, one of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon. The Martin Harris Pageant is held yearly in August. I have my cemetery plot purchased here and find comfort with having that decision already made.

I have been trying to start a "movement" for several years with the idea of wrapping garland around the base of the headstone. This way the flowers aren't removed by the caretakers to mow around. I buy 2 garlands and take my wire cutters and some wire with me. I attach the garland tightly around the bottom and secure with the wire. I change the garlands out seasonally, ending with evergreen garland and pine cones for Christmas.

Award winning photo

You would never know from this photo that I have taken countless photography classes, would you? Tip: always take notice of the background!!!

The Learning Club

The concept of The Learning Club started over four years ago when I began assigning topics of discussion at the dinner table. Even the grandchildren loved getting a turn to express their own thoughts and ideas. When we traveled to Mexico with Lakes and Bundys in 05, I assigned topics to discuss during dinner and time in the rental van. We never did get through everything because one topic would lead to another and we would share ideas late into the night.
On our recent trip to Thailand with all ten of the adults in our family, we did the same thing. This time Trace assigned each of us a 30 minute presentation and then a mini of our choice. These "presentations" were some of the best moments of the trip and we all looked forward to each others topics.
Last summer I started a Learning Club with some friends in my ward. We got together once a month for one hour....no food allowed! We took turns hosting and sharing ideas on a wide range of topics. We loved it and will start over when I return to Utah in May.
I like to teach the kinder something when we are together. Sara bought Caleb, who is four, a deck of geography cards of places around the world. Like Easter Island, Panama Canal, K2. There are 42 cards. Caleb learned so fast. When my 15 year-old grandson, Josh, came over I got the cards out to see how he would do. Two of his friends were with him. They did not so good. Then I said, "Let's see how Caleb can do." It was sweet! In Josh's words: Caleb stole my cool!
I have indoctrinated the kinder with memorizing God Bless America and the life sketch of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Lindberg. And that's just the three year olds. All the time we spend together in the car does not go to waste:)