I'm Going to be a Grandma, Again!

These two sweet love birds

are ecstatic that they are 15 weeks pregnant!

A modern day miracle!

When Adam was only 19,

and only shortly after entering the MTC

to go on a mission,

was found to have a rare and nasty auto-immune disease

for which he had to go on chemo-therapy,

which thankfully saved his life.

He was later able to go on a two year mission

and even later meet my lovely daughter

and marry her!

They always knew that they may never 

be able to get pregnant.

Almost three years of waiting, she got pregnant.

But heart-breakingly, miscarried, early.

A few months after that,

they found she was pregrant again.

After a couple of months,

during an ultrasound,

they were heart broken again,

to find the baby didn't have a heartbeat.

So, it is with trepidation and anxiety

that they announce this pregnancy.

With great news from the doctor

and a strong and fast heart beat

from the baby,

they look forward to the birth of their

much wanted and much loved,

 little bundle of joy.

And so do I!

Painted Chairs, Part 2

I love that first picture.

It was a couple of years ago

and I had just finished spray painting those chairs.

It was in the morning on a beautiful Spring day

the sun was shining just so.

I LOVED how it all turned out.

Well, wood chairs weather.

Over the last two years they were falling apart.

I didn't want to spend any money

other than buying spray paint.

So I used what I had,

I spray painted with new colors

and moved things around.

So today, on a beautiful fall day,

after deer have eaten the flowers off my purple pansies

and the hot, dry summer sun has dried up so much of our garden,

I took these last three pictures.

It'll do.

The fragile heart of a little shaggy dog and the little girl that holds the key.

Little Miss Sunshine spent some time with us this weekend.

She brings joy wherever she goes.

That little shaggy dog LOVES that little girl.

He follows her every where she goes.

She had to go back yesterday.

Last night Frodo waited by the door for hours.

I just know he was waiting for his Little Miss Sunshine.

Every once in awhile, everyone needs a "hero pig" to come and save the day!

Gratitude.

It is time for another list of things I am grateful for

(not all inclusive and not all in order of importance).

A frequent and needed reminder 

to count my many blessings:

Colors of Autumn.

A dear, patient, hard-working and loving man of a husband.

My children and for all the times they pick themselves up

and try to do and be just a little better

(the courage I see in each one of them humbles me).

Memories of tropical paradise get-a-ways.

The smile and laughter of Little Miss Sunshine

and hearing her say "salsa" about 30 times!

The perfect ice to crunch.

The view outside our big back windows.

Those mostly adorable and part-time pesky

 little animals that make me smile

(who also adore Little Miss Sunshine).

 The sweet and tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father.

The feeling after getting a job completed
(I was going to say
the smell of wet paint.
But it's not like I like smelling paint
but it's the feeling of finishing painting
and having something completed
and that's accompanied by the smell of wet paint).

Grocery stores.

Pink little chairs.

Kind neighbors.

A good magazine.

A warm sunny day.

Watching a white moth

(thinking it's a butterfly)

flit around the garden.

The sound of birds singing.

A kind word.

Other photos from my phone. Lately.

Here's some more things I loved:

Beautiful here and here and here too.

Fascinating what happens sometimes

when Google Street Views takes a picture.

Something about the way those kitchen counters

are staged, makes me swoon.

Wow. Look at these quilts!

So far, the only way I look at Pinterest.

Hedgehog.

Tintype. Wow.

Musical furniture.

I moved 4 pieces of furniture

(with some help) 

and 2 rugs.

All because I was worried about our coffee table

(that I love)

and Little Miss Sunshine

(whom I love more)!

She already has fallen on it

and gotten a huge bruise on her forehead.

It had a hard wood top

with very hard metal legs in a rectangle.

The jute rug that I had underneath it

(that I love)

is thick and full of texture.

So much so that Little Miss Sunshine

(again, whom I love so much more)

would frequently trip on it!

I've been worrying about it all.

Thinking about the gash and stitches 

that were sure to come!

 I decided I would change things around

and so I did.

I knew I couldn't buy anything new

so I used what I had.

I know that old white chest

is too tall for a coffee table 

but for now it will do

and it's just a little funky

(which I love).

The rug is thin but has cute animal silhouettes

and she is less likely to trip on it

 (it was downstairs in our tv room)!

I also moved a bunch of things outside too,

just for fun!

Happy Birthday!

His Birthday was actually on Sunday.

We celebrated on Saturday by going to a trampoline place

with his cousin, one sister and her husband

and me!

We had lots of fun and this time I jumped too

and got stuck in the foam pit.

We had a family dinner (on Sunday) with most everyone

and nearby grandparents and my cute youngest sister!

He LOVED every minute of it!

We LOVE you!

 

Remembering 9/11 (revisited from last year)

Remembering 9/11

We went to Sandy (near Salt Lake City) yesterday to see the new statues

depicting a moment after the twin towers collapsed.

It's called The Hope Rising--To Lift A Nation.

Amazing.

There is also a memorial called The Healing Field

that has a flag for everyone that lost their lives that day.

Every flag has a little card that has the name 

and something about that person.

It's very touching and powerful.

President Thomas S. Monson wrote for The Washington Post 

"On Faith" Blog, 

along with many other leaders of the world.

Read it here.

First Day of Work!

 Davis was so excited that he was ready to go 

more than an hour before work!

He did great!

He didn't even call once!

 I went for a walk nearby.

All. By. Myself!

 There is a walking trail that a husband made for his wife

and they let anyone come and walk on the trail!

It was better than a calgon bath!