So you had a bad day! and the 90/10 Principal

Having a bad day :(
Aubrie approx 5 years old about 2004
Click on the photo so you can see it full screen, it is much better that way

So you know that song... Bad day, by Daniel Powter  (by the way got to love they name pow ter)  Well I have my own Pouter As I was scanning photos I came across this photo of Aubrie...I love it!  I must have told her to clean her room, cause if you look off to the side of her you can see that it is actually coming out into the hall!  She must have been pouting so much and I thought it was funny so I took a photo!  

So I think we have a choice when it comes to having a bad day...Tim always says "sometimes you have to do what you just don't want to do but the key to that is ATTITUDE!"  I have know so many people who are happy all the time, no matter what.  It is a choice, you can choose to have a great day or a bad day.  Steven R Covey has a principle called the 90/10 

90/10 Principle of Stephen Covey

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life :

(at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react. Let's take an example. You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened. What happens when the next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day? 

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is "D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say," It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having. Notice the difference? Two different scenarios.

Both started the same.

Both ended different.

Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc. How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work ? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it. You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle. (c) Steven R Covey

Scanning photos/ Pumpkin carving approximate year 2002

Aubrie almost 3

We bought a scanner a while ago, but haven't really done anything with it. Then for Christmas I got a digital picture frame, and it can hold alot of photos, so I got the great idea yesterday to scan all the boxes of photos that I have.  So yesterday I started the process. I can tell it will be a labor of love process!  It took over 2 hours to scan 30 photos, because I had to crop them off of the format that they were scanned (according to Michael who read the manual that is how you do it) anyway I came across some really funny photos, and some really cute photos.  I think alot of my posts in the next little while will have some of those photos in them.  Looking at the photos brought back alot of memories that I have long forgotten, or tucked away.  I wish I had taken more photos when the kids were young, but it wasn't like the digital cameras we have now!  Where you can take your photos and then upload them directly to your computer.  As I look at these photos I am thinking the year is 2002.  Aubrie is wearing panties.  She was potty trained about 18 months old, and she had hair in this photo, her hair took forever to grow,   Also she is in our new dining room, because we didn't decorate the kitchen with the wallpaper on the wall until Michael was 10

Michael didn't like touching the "Pumpkin guts" as he called them.  he is about 10 years old.  Look at how precise and focused he is in cutting...That is his artistic side showing through!

I laughed so hard when I scanned these in!  You know the phrase "A picture is worth a million" well here is the proof!  I am so glad that  Weston never lost his sense of humor!  I have no idea why his hair is so out of place perhaps he used pumpkin goop!  I remember what a big deal he made about how slimey the "Pumpkin guts" were, however I think he "posed" and made the faces for these photos

Zachary almost 8 years old.  He really hated to touch the slimey insides of the pumpkin.

Christmas Day 2010

 What a Wonderful Christmas! We have been so blessed this year, and especially this Christmas season.  We have been so blessed to have some secret "Covert Elves"...I was wondering what the word Covert meant so I looked it up in the dictionary here is the meaning: Not openly acknowledged or displayed, secret, hidden  Anyway these special elves made Christmas so memorable this year.  It was like they were messengers from God, they were our angels of mercy.  One day I needed eggs and didn't have enough money to buy them, what do you know...That night our elves brought eggs, bacon, sausage, bread and the knowledge that our heavenly father knows each of us, he knows our needs and is there to succor his children!  I hadn't told a single soul that we were out of eggs, so it really was a Christmas miracle!  Another night they brought candy, and treats, but also they brought popcorn and Wheat Thins.  This may not touch you, but for me it was a reminder on how much thought was put into each day.  You see, I have been so good not to eat sugar.  And the candy and treats were something that I passed up, but the box of Wheat Thins and popcorn was meant for me!  Another day we were given a simple wooden Christmas tree, holding 8 ornaments.  Each of the ornaments were made of money.  There were $5 dollar bills folded by origami, into a shape of a star.  The cash on the tree totaled $200!  
Because of the kindness and generosity of others, It made us want to be more kind and loving to one another and to those we met along the way.    The kids are all past the age of innocence and so it was great to be able to focus...I mean really focus on Christ this year.  We sat down for Family Home Evening a week before Christmas and thought of something we could give the Christ for Chrismas this year.  Some of the replies were....I will read my scriptures daily, I will read the Church Magazines from cover to cover, I will prepare for my mission, and give up some video game time to study.  The ironic thing is....That night we read Weston's letter to the family, and he asked what are we willing to give the baby Jesus this year? it was so great that even thousands of miles away we as a family had the same idea!  and were able to really think and take inventory of our life so that we can turn our focus to him!   
We started the Christmas morning off by watching the movie the "Testaments"  Then we opened our gifts.  We had a much smaller Christmas than we usually do, but you know what...It was perfect!  When you are around those you love, nothing else matters.  We had some very special people that helped make our Christmas a great one, and I thank you for your help.  I am excited to try out my new exercise DVD's and I got a beautiful digital Picture frame! I also got a sweater and some home made dish cloths. Tim got a drill (cause his broke), some cologne and a shirt and new garments.  

Mike got Mission stuff, He got his luggage, a bathrobe that was monogrammed with his name, a shaving kit with toiletries, White shirt, tie and pair of Levi's, handkerchiefs for his mission, and cologn.

  Zachary got a pair levi's, a Arepostal shirt, some cologne, a flashlight, a Ipod holder for his car and a radio for his truck. 

Aubrie got a beautiful purse, a headband, socks, Clogging Shoes, 3 Arepostal shirts, comfy slippers, sketch pad, lotion and smelly body wash, and the game trouble.

  Each of the kids got a letter from Weston that was wrapped with a gift.  The boys got scripture marking pens, and Aubrie got a earing and necklace set.  Tim and I also got a wonderful letter from Weston....I guess we were good parents after all!  WE had a wonderful Christmas party with my family a few nights before and it was so wonderful, not only to spend time with family, but also to sing christmas songs again as a family.  I think the most important thing about Christmas is Family!  I am so blessed to have such wonderful people on my family tree and am so rich because of thier love in my life.  I love the line in the "Grinch Stole Christmas" that sums it all up...

 But the sound wasn't sad!

Why, this sound sounded merry!

It couldn't be so!

But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville!

The Grinch popped his eyes!

Then he shook!

What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!

IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

(c) ~Dr Seuss

Always there

Well Aubrie and I spent alot of time together last night, can't say it was quality time though...she was puking up her toes.  I was holding back her hair so it wouldn't get gookie, then of course I sanitized everything! after one of the episodes, and after tucking her back into bed, because she was too weak to walk, she said "Mom, have I ever told you how much I love you?", she said "thanks so much for being with me". Well I am not sure that helping a sick kid merits a mother of the year pin, but I thought it was a great compliment. I also thought about it in a spiritual sense. Our Heavenly Father never leaves us alone to walk through the hard times in our life. He is there through the pukey times of our life. He is there to tuck us in when we are so weak and helpless. He is there wanting to help and bless us in any and every way. As I have tried to have a attitude of gratitude, I have to admit that there have been so many times in my life where I thought I was all alone, but when I look back at my life, I can see how the Lord has always been there with me, even through the "pukiest" times of my life. This leads me to the well known/loved Poem....


Foot Prints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”


The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”
-Mary Stevenson (c) 

Just knowing that our loving Heavenly Father  there and is walking beside you, and sometimes when you feel as though you are walking alone, you can look back and realize that you were being carried by him. 


Aubrie also asked why she was sick, and the thought came to me that we are sometimes allowed to be sick, so that we can appreciate good health.  Same applies for our trials in life.  Sometimes we have trials in life, and when we look back we can see how we have grown and been strengthened because of the trial in our life.
Just another thought...When I am sick, I think back on my parents and how they selflessly  gave of their time to me.  Serving me and comforting me.  When I get sick now as a adult, I long for the days that my dad would rock me and say while patting my head "my poor, poor Lottie."
  The Lord does send us a comforter to help us, it is like a warm blankie.  It is the Holy Ghost.  

Family Fall Photo's

The Marsh Family

The Boys

The Girls

Weston

Michael

Zachary

Aubrie

The Marsh Family 10-9-10

"I stretched and walked the dog!"

With Weston's Farewell gathering just days away, I am under alot of stress, trying to make sure that everything is just perfect for Weston's special day.  I can look back on this and laugh now...But at the time it was a different reaction!

 I told all of my kids that I needed all of them to do extra jobs around the house, because there would be a lot of people who would want to "take the tour."
  Now our home is not ooberly messy, it is just lived in!  We have fingerprints on the walls, and dust on the floor boards.  I went to work and asked the kids, while I was gone to make sure they did a few extra jobs...just look around and see what needs to be done.  When I returned home from work, I asked Aubrie what she did that day to help.  (....Now I must first say that Aubrie is taking a dance class, and part of her dance is to stretch daily...) ok so I asked her what did she do, and she hesitated, because she knew that she was busted...then she hesitantly said she "stretched".....I am sure my mouth dropped wide open...you what?  You stretched? I exclaimed! And then she quickly added...and I walked the dog! I asked her in probably not the happiest voice..."AND JUST HOW DID THAT HELP OUR HOUSE TO GET CLEANED?  Then the crying started! and it lasted 3 hours!  I could not stop.  It was not the fact that she only stretched and walked the dog...it was that I had a overflowing sink full of dishes, a bathroom that was messy, a stack of piano books that could have been repositioned nicely.  There was plenty of things to do to help....I thought by now that I had taught my children to look around and see what needed to be done.

 Well Aubrie is so tender hearted, and she started to cry too.  I know she felt bad, knowing that she could have done better.  I asked her to look around and tell me 5 things that she could see that needed to be done.  She looked and noticed quite a few things.  Then she admitted that she is just so used to seeing things that she really doesn't notice them...I think that is how life is for most of us don't you think... I think a lot of times we are in such a hurry to go here and there that we forget to stop and "smell the roses"  or we see things that need to be done, and think to ourselves...I will do it tomorrow, and sometimes, tomorrow never comes!  Sometimes we see the need, but tell ourselves, it is not my mess, and so I am not going to help, or do it, or perhaps we pass by hoping that someone else will take care of it.

 It reminds me of the good Samaritan.  There was a man on the road to Jericho who had fallen by the roadside, being left to die.  A priest and a Levi who passed by, seeing the man, they crossed and walked on the other side of the road.  Then there was a man from Samaria, who bound his wounds, he took him to the inn, he paid the inn keeper to make sure the needs of this man were taken care of.

It is a great lesson to learn to be "aware" of others needs, and to look around and see what you can do to help and lift another.

Needless to say the next day she was extra helpful, and did things without being asked, so maybe it was worth it to have this lesson, of just walking the dog and stretching!

School Dayze!

Well here we are again....Back to school time.  I once saw a Staples® commercial where it had the Christmas song " It's the most wonderful time of the year" playing in the background, and a dad throwing school supplies into the shopping cart! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcYbo7pjto  (Click to view).
 It was the best commercial, because parents all around the world can relate to this " back to school" time of the year.  However this year, I am dragging my feet almost singing  the "Grim Reaper song" (what ever that is...just think of the most sad song you can think of)  This summer went by so fast! Zac was gone all summer, Michael and Weston Working almost every day. It seems like this summer was cooler than usual.  It didn't even warm up till July! and now it is cooling down very fast like we are heading right into fall.  Only 2 of my 4 kids are in school this year.  That is weird!  It is like when they were little, I could hardly wait for them to go to school, and now....totally reverse, I don't want them to grow up.  Zachary is a Junior in High School, and Aubrie is in 6th grade.

Zac left early in the morning I didn't get to wish him a good day, and Aubrie wouldn't let me take her picture this year, she didn't want to wear new clothes or shoes, she said " It's not cool to wear new stuff on the first day" what? OK, well in my day, that was the highlight of the whole back to school is wearing the new stuff!  When I dropped off Aubrie at school I wanted to shout the words from the movie "My big Fat Greek Wedding" "Why You want to Leave Me?"  All day I was anxious for them to come home so I could see how the first day of school was...First was Zachary....He didn't want to talk about it...He said it was OK and that was it!....What! no details....I am a detail oriented person....I need details....Then Aubrie came in, and I was so excited to ask how her day was....and nothing, she said she didn't want to talk about it, I asked if it was bad?  No, she just didn't have anything to talk about....Well needless to say I went to bed and had a pity party the rest of the night.  Today I am much better though!  I think it is hard knowing my kids will be gone soon, and I will be left alone to talk to the walls!      

Creating a girls dream come true!

For the past several years Aubrie has a low profile twin bed (about 15" off the ground) she told me the best thing about Weston leaving is that she would inherit one of the boys higher beds.  Their beds are too masculine for a little girl, and so I asked her what kind of bed would she like?  She thought she might like a day bed, and so we looked on a local website like craigslist, and the first thing we came to was a 5 piece girls bedroom set.  We both fell in love with it! and for $200 who could go wrong? solid wood, no scratches or dents.  I wanted to make sure Aubrie really liked it, cause I didn't want to spend the money and have her not be satisfied.  We went to go see it, and she was so excited, she said it was just what she always wanted.  We arranged to pick it up on Saturday, and I arranged for Aubrie to be gone Friday and Saturday so I could paint her room, and set up her room; so I could surprise her with her finished room.  I asked her after the fact if she had any suspicions why she slept at grandma's and grandpa's and she said the thought didn't even cross her mind.

When Tim and I set up the bed we noticed it was a lot higher than we thought, it is  over 3 feet high, both Aubrie and I have to kinda jump up a little to sit up on it.  The posters on each side are 6 feet tall.  The headboard and all of the furniture have a rose design on them.  Her whole room is Cow Girl themed.  I made her Bedspread 2 years ago, and had a scarf valance that went with it.  The bed is so high that I had to use the scarf valance as her under layers of the bed skirt, cause there was a big gap!  So ironically, we had been on eBay last week and saw the coordinating blue fabric to the pink cowgirl fabric on her bedspread and we ordered it.  It came on Friday, and so I was able to make a valance for her with the coordinating fabric ( I love it how things like this work out don't you?)  When I sewed the valance and hung it up, it just didn't look right, so I thought about it and pondered how to make it better, then I thought of adding the ruffle on top and bottom.  To do this it required about 4 hours of unpicking, well sewn fabric. (unfortunate for me, I hate unpicking more than anything!)  I was very pleased with the finished product, after 15 hours of sewing!  I was also able to make her 2 more throw pillows for her bed, a neck roll and the blue pillow that matches her valance.  Notice the sign above her bed says "Cowgirl"

   Notice the collection of stuffed horses on her bed along with the cowgirl doll, with boots and everything. This girl likes horses!

 This is a close up of her bedspread.  It took me 3 months to complete, working on it several hours every chance I got.  The fabric is "Queen of the Ranch" by Moda Fabric.A quilt shop order it in special for us.  There is 20 inches from the floor to her frame, it was the perfect fit for these totes that are as long as her bed is wide.  She can actually fit everything she owns ....Literally, under her bed!  The quilt hanging off of her bed by her leg is her "Scrap Quilt"  It is all of the scrap pieces of fabric we had left over when making her quilt.

We are so pleased with the chest of drawers! they are 2x as deep as her last set, and are solid wood instead of particle board.  The Drawers have the Rose design on them too!The night stand fit perfect on the small wall in between her closet and entry door.  Notice her collection of boots!  

One of the best parts of the bedroom set was the bookshelf/desk.  Right now until she gets more books, it is more of a Nick Knack shelf, but that is OK too! Every kid needs to show off their treasures (in a orderly manor!)  The great thing is, her porcelain dolls fit perfect on top!  Tim reupholstered the seat of the chair with coordinating fabric that matches her bedspread.

She loves saddles, and it matches so well with the theme of her room.

When Aubrie came home I was almost done wit her room, we had her go down and clean the family room while I finished up.  We brought her up and had the door closed.  We let her open the door and she sat there with her mouth wide open.  She ran to the bed and was so excited to have a "high bed" she sat in the chair, she opened the drawers.  Then she got tears in her eyes and said "I can't believe you would do this all for me...I can't believe you love me enough to do this for me!"  Needless to say it was hard for her to go to sleep that night she was so excited.  She loved the Taupe color I painted her walls.  I left the floorboards and doors white, so it created a 2 tone paint job, It looks great! 

It has been 4 days now, since Aubrie has had her new room.  She has made her bed every morning, and makes sure if she gets something out, she puts it right back.  This is a great improvement from how her room was before.  You had to put on hip waders just to walk through her room before.  She said she wants to keep her room the cleanest in the whole house.  I hope it lasts.  I find myself going in her room several times a day, because it is such a cute room, and she is right it is the cleanest!  I go in at night and lay on her bed, and we look out at the stars (her bed wasn't by the window last time)  it is fun to stare out at the night sky with your little cowgirl. 

Poppy seeds, and more Poppy Seeds!

Well, we are still doing cooking lessons.  Aubrie spent most of thursday looking at recipe books.  She has a list of things she wants to make.  Top on her list was...Poppy Seed Muffins and bread.  We found numerous recipes.  All about the same, but we found 4 that had different variations.  We wanted to know which one tasted the best, so what did we do... We made all 4 recipe's!  The first one was a basic recipe with no flavorings, the second was a lemon / butter flavor with orange glaze.  The third, was a almond / butter flavor, with orange glaze.  The fourth was lemon with lemon glaze.  We had all the muffins lined up and numbered.  The results....Lots and lots of muffins and bread.  Everyone liked the Almond/ butter and the Lemon came in second.  The least favorite was the basic.

This week/ months has gone by so quickly.  We are 16 days away from when Zachary will come back from Catalina island. 24 days away from the first day of school (which will be weird, cause only Zachary and Aubrie will be in school this year.)   Weston has 10 weeks till he goes on his mission.

Yesterday I went shopping and got about $1,000 worth of clothes for free!  how you wonder? Well I went shopping in my own closet!  Yes I saved all my "thinner" clothes from 3 years ago.  It was so exciting to find that everything not only fits, but some of it I should have unpacked earlier!  And the nice thing is, that most of my clothes are still in fashion.  I tend to go more for clasic, more than trendy anyway. It is so worth it to eat healthier!  I could sit and kick myself  for waisting so much time "Thinking" I was making good choices an eating right.  I have found that measuring my food has made all the difference.

Cooking Lessons for Aubrie

This summer Aubrie and I have been having "cooking lessons"  We have made several things...Mostly desserts... UGH! it is so hard to stay focused on my diet with all this sweet cooking going on, but I will have you know, I have stayed strong, I am still sugar free!  Aubrie's Favorite thing to make are Pizookies.  They are cookies baked in a little ramekin dish or custard dish.  You fill the dish 1/2 full of cookie dough, bake till brown on sides but soft in the middle, then top with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. click here for the recipe 

 http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/03/pizzookies.html 

 We found it on this wonderful cooking blog  http://www.ourbestbites.com/

The other thing we cooked yesterday that we really like are ham and egg cups.  You bake them in cup cake pans, like mini quiche.  They are so good, and the great thing is you can freeze them and reheat later. click here for the recipe  http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/01/mini-breakfast-quiches.html 

She didn't really like them because of the peppers and onions, so it was a great opportunity to show her that you can adjust recipe's to your taste buds.  So we made another batch...(honestly I don't think she was too excited about it, because we had just cleaned the dishes up!) In the new batch we left out the red peppers, the onions, but she did like the salsa, so we increased that a little, (OK funny thing...What does salsa have in it??? peppers and onions funny that she liked the salsa, but not the peppers!)  Walla...Something she likes.  We put them in a zip lock bag and into the freezer they went for future quick meals or breakfast's. 

We tried to make a "Watermelon cake" featured in July 2010 Woman's Day magazine.  It didn't look quite as professional as the one pictured. but I heard it tasted great, and it was fun for her to make click here for the recipe http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Watermelon-Cake-Recipe 

We had lots of watermelon red frosting left over, so we made Sugar cookies..The thick kind! They were the most tempting for me! We cut the cookies round then cut in half, which made the watermelon shape, then she frosted and sprinkled chocolate chips on for the "seeds"

We have been looking for a good cookbook for kids, but not one that shows you how to make Caterpillar meatballs or cutsie things like that.  we want something that has good pictures by every dish, and easy to make items.  We were at the store the other day and she picked up a magazine called Taste of home

I have seen in on the magazine rack, but honestly never thought twice about picking one up.  It is such a good magazine, we actually subscribed to it. (the subscription for a year was only $10.00 and the magazine in the store cost $5.00 get that?!!)

Food really does bring families together...It is like a swarm in our kitchen when good cookin' can be smelled through the house.  And someday, perhaps the cooking lessons will pay off, when Aubrie finds the right man to cook for...You know the way win a man's heart, is with.... Pizzookies!

Zions National Park Vacation

Tim, Aubrie, My sister Lila and me had the awesome opportunity of going to Zions National Park.  We had a wedding for my niece in St George Utah, and so we made the pilgrimage over the mountains and through the desert and lava fields (no joking Lava fields in Veyo, Utah, who would have thunk it!)  It was a lovely wedding.  It was nice to spend time with relatives on both sides of the family.  While in the area, we decided that it would be a fun experience to visit Zions National Park.  Tim has never been there, nor has Aubrie.  The thing the Park Ranger told us is that the "Subway" and the "Narrows" hikes were the best and unforgettable.  My hips were bothering me, and I really didn't feel like hiking 14 miles, but Aubrie, bless her heart said it would be "Such a waist to come all this way and not experience the Narrows"  She was right, cause I am not sure when we will pass this way again.  The other reason why I didn't want to go is because the hike is wading in the river (except for the mile long trail head.)  Tim had just bought a new pair of shoes, and Aubrie was wearing my shoes, that I didn't want to get dirty (of course she was wearing one of my good pairs!)  but she kept saying what a rip off it was to come all this way, not to be able to hike it...So...I plunged right into the water!  Yup the hike was in the river going against the the flow of the current.  It was really rocky too, and you had to be careful of your foot placement.  I was lucky enough to find 2 walking sticks.  It helped me alot with my hip pain, and stability. 

The Narrows got it's name because of the fact that you are walking through a canyon that the river flows down.  You have red sandstone cliffs on each side, hundreds of feet up in the air.  It is beautiful and breathtaking...now when I say breathtaking I also mean that literally, because some parts of the hike were past my belly button, and the water was cold!  However it was such a hot day, that it felt really good.  We hiked for several hours, and then decided to turn around so we could head home.  The hike down only took about 45 minutes because we were walking with the current.  Lila made the comment that it would be a great idea next time to bring a blow up raft and float down! It was worth the hike, and needless to say, none of shoes got ruined, and it was one of the best hikes ever.  We really enjoyed having Lila along for the trip.  It has been a while since we have gone on a trip with her.  We also spent time with my Uncle Theron.  It was really good to see him again.  Here are some photos of our trip

there were these woderful cave type formations along the path.  Tim and Aubrie were brave enough to climb up, if my hips hadn't hurt so bad, I might have climbed up too!

Aubrie had "Fun" falling in the river.  She was not disappointed with her "Once in a lifetime" hike to say the least.  In one of the photos above, you can see my walking sticks! they are a must for this hike for sure!  If you click on each of the photos you can see them full screen, for a more detailed view.