New Year - Celebrate!

This is the year to Celebrate!

Last year my good friend Jane embraced the word "balance" and tried different methods to remember to have "balance" in her life.

My word this year is "Celebrate"!

I want to remember to celebrate the things in my life - daily celebrations, family and friends, holidays, and my many blessings. The word celebrate just sounds happy.

To start the new year off Rayme and I were invited to celebrate a surprise birthday party! Happy Birthday Toyke!

The very next day I got to help celebrate Ray & Cali's wedding! Congratulation Ray & Cali!

I love to celebrate! And looking forward to many more celebrations! What do you like to celebrate?

So long, fair well .........

Last night Nicole and I were watching my favorite movie "The Sound of Music" and I remembered the part of the movie where the children were leaving the party and singing the song - so long, fair well...... Like all good parties they all have to end.
As our children have grown up and are having lives of their own we don't get together very often.
Rayme and I were blessed enough that both Nicole & Michelle were able to come home for Christmas in spite of the extreme weather conditions and flight delays.
We usually go to Rayme's side of the family for Christmas Eve, but with our weather being frightful, his parents didn't want anyone to venture out on the roads. Therefore, we had an unexpected time together with just the four of us. We had a wonderful time together and getting the last few details wrapped up (no pun intended).
We kept expecting the rain to come, but it never came just snow and more snow and more snow! Poor Nicole her blood apparently has thinned out and was having a hard time keeping warm, but still loved the white Christmas. My family and some good friends came over to enjoy our Christmas dinner. It was such a wonderful Christmas.
Now comes the time when the party has to end and we have to say to Nicole & Michelle - so long, fair well ........see you soon.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

The temperature here has certainly taken on the feel of winter. Usually we don't have this kind of cold weather until January. Our temperatures here have dipped into the teens and with windchill factors sometimes below zero.
This morning when I left for work I got into my car that is parked in the garage, so I really didn't have to brave the weather to much, but when I got to work and had to walk from the parking lot to the building - whoa baby - I had to look down to make sure that I actually put my pants on (and I had)- it was so cold and wind whipping it felt like I didn't have any on.
As I watch the doppler radar, satellite images, and weather forecast it looks like we have this cold winter weather for a couple of weeks.
How is the weather in your neck of the woods?

New Christmas Shopping Experience

It is time to update my blog! Can you believe that I haven't updated for over a month? Can you believe we are in December? Can you believe that I have 22 days of shopping before Christmas - OK really 21 days since this day is slipping away quickly and if you subtract Christmas eve it is like 20 days. Yikes! But I have made a new discovery to help out with my lack of planning.
Online Shopping!!! Yes, I have ordered things online before, but never for Christmas shopping.
I can't tell you what I bought because the recipient reads my blog. So let me tell you what I think of online Christmas shopping - I love it!!! You can't believe that there is so many things that I have on my list and I can do it all in the comfort of my own home in my PJ's.
The other good reasons for online shopping. No parking issues, the store doesn't close, I am a little bit better at not impulse buying, did I mention that I can shop in my PJ's.
Have you shopped more online this Christmas? What great deals have you found online?

Fall Fun in Arizona

Our vacations include planning different destinations and of course food! One of our first stops on the way to the Grand Canyon was a little cafe with great pies!

This is Dan (as in Daniel Boone), Lloyd and Rayme sporting their coon skin caps getting ready for our adventures at the Grand Canyon. It was rather chilly that morning we were at the Grand Canyon, but it did warm up to a balmy 50 degrees (as long as we were in the sun it seemed warmer).
The first time I visited the Grand Canyon I was in awe, and couldn't believe how beautiful and the creation of it was an overwhelming feeling. It still makes me feel a bit of disbelief of it magnificent wonder.

Another thought, I wonder when the first pioneers came west and came upon this natural creation what they thought?

Cheryle, Dan, Dawn, Lloyd, Donna & Rayme at the Grand Canyon (not to close to the edge).

Dan & Rayme close to the edge. (A little to close for Cheryle and mine comfort.)

The next stop on our vacation was Sedona, and we took a Jeep Tour in the back country. I love gnarly looking trees, and I wasn't disappointed because I was able to take quite a few pictures of the unique looking trees.

I am not sure if you can detect the color of the jeep, but it is Pink! I highly recommend the Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona. We had a great driver - Kristen! No, we didn't let the guys drive!


Definitely a wild ride!

I love taking pictures of the scenery in Arizona.

Earlier I said we like to eat and here is one of our stops - gotta love Texas Roadhouse.

Breakfast outside on the patio in the middle of October!
A vacation wouldn't be complete without a friendly game of Hand & Foot!

And a daily midnight swim in the 97 degree pool. Dawn likes her pool warm, the rest of the us think of it as a big bathtub.

I had a great time with great friends and lots of fun!

It isn't the destination it's the journey. I can't wait until our next journey.

Dutch Oven Delight

Friday night, Rayme & I hosted a Ward Adult Dutch Oven Cookout/Potluck. It was a fun and learning evening. It was to help teach how to use their dutch oven especially under an emergency circumstance, and enjoy the wonderful food.
Being that this is an outdoor event, and the briquette's are used (meaning the use of fire). Weather is a factor, important issue to consider! Yes, again I was watching the weather to try and predict the weather and the forecast wasn't looking favorable. Being in the the great Pacific NW - yep you guess it - rain! As you may understand rain can have several definitions here. When Rayme started the briquette and it wasn't raining yet, and then it started sprinkling after the coals were started and about the time everyone showed up it started pouring rain. Since this event was taking place on your patio (no cover), Rayme fashioned an awning with tarps to cover our guests.
In spite of the rain, we enjoyed some fabulous food, such cowboy type of beans, a couple of different kinds of stews, Carmel apple crisp, and peach cobbler, ribs. Mmmm - good.
Some of the people wanted to know if we were going to cancel the event because of the rain. Rayme's response - No way! If we really had an emergency chances are it is going to be raining.
I would have to say all in all it was a successful night.

New Adventures

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have opportunities to serve in different positions (callings). Since our ministry isn't paid, we all help out. Let me make it clear we don't have a sign up sheet asking for help in Sunday School or working with the youth,etc. Callings are issued with great thought and prayer and are inspired. (Sometimes I think maybe desperation, but I know better.)
Well, I have a new calling - Stake Young Women's Secretary!
Previously I have held callings within the Young Women's organization since my girls where little, and even in the Stake YW. But it has been about 10 years since I have worked with the young women. I have forgotten how busy the youth are. I think in the week or so, I have been to about 3-4 different events, and about that many more are planned for the next week.
If you remember a previous post about being in my PJ's by 6:00 - no more! Maybe we can plan an activity including wearing your favorite PJ's??!!
I am excited about this new calling, and the wonderful women that I will get to serve with. My observation is that people that serve with the youth tend to be more young at heart too. Do you think this is my way of not growing up?