This afternoon

can't wait!

Today

 I woke up grumpy this morning.

Despite my best efforts to get to bed at a decent hour (I was in bed at 11:00) I didn't actually stay asleep for the night until past 12:30am.
My alarm at 6:15 this morning was not a welcome sound.
I walked around this morning making breakfast and packing lunches in a funk, not just tired but frustrated by my tiredness. I decided that after Jenn left for school I would go back to sleep for 30 minutes to try to catch up. I set the kitchen timer and noticed Jenn had left her phone on the counter, Oh well, she could get by without it. My favorite napping place is the living room couch. As I went in the living room to lay down I looked out the window and saw a neighbor walking by. Earlier this morning Jenn had mentioned that she got a text from this neighbor last night about babysitting. After checking with me this morning she wanted to respond but was worried that it was too early. She got the text ready and would send it on her way to school. I opened the door, got her attention and told her that Jenn could babysit. (Nice little tender mercy)

Then I noticed this:  

 The sun lit up a small face of the mountain and colored the snow and clouds a pinkish orange. 

Even though the valley was still in a shadow here was the promise of a bright sunny day.

In a few moments the pink and orange were gone but I was mesmerized as the sunlight traveled down the side of the mountain filling it with light.

Soon this whole valley will be filled with light. 

I felt a great reassurance that it's going to be a beautiful  day after all.

A little slice of Heaven

Aaron called me about two weeks ago with a proposition.

He was coming out to attend a conference sponsored by BYU and was thinking about bringing Olivia.

Because she's only 18 months she could fly for free. There was one catch... Aaron would be in meetings Thursday afternoon, much of Friday and half day Saturday... which meant I would need to watch Livi... ummm where is the catch?

Celisa was kind enough to let Olivia come with Aaron

(I did feel bad that Celisa was home alone but hopefully she got a good break) 

One benefit of having grandchildren living a good distance away (I'm trying to be optimistic) is that when they do come and visit I don't feel the least bit guilty dropping everything to play with them 24/7. I think I only cooked one meal and we just snacked on that the whole time. 

I must admit that while we had fun playing and reading and dancing, Livi's very favorite activity was playing the piano - and play it we did, literally a few hours each day. Aaron got her up one morning and she asked to go downstairs. Aaron asked her if she knew who was downstairs (referring to Grandma) and she thought about it and said "Piano!"

Mark and I lay in bed at night filled with gratitude for our wonderful children, their spouses and our grand children. Each one has unique talents and gifts and we are in awe of them as we watch them live their lives... and these granddaughters are such a gift. Thinking about them and the wonderful way they are being raised fills me with so much joy. I'm so excited to meet our new little grandson in January (more positive thinking and energy here). 

LIFE IS SO GOOD!

Faces

Amy posted a few pictures on her blog that were taken on Photo Booth and it reminded me of a Thanksgiving years ago... before the advent of Photo Booth (you know, back in the olden days). We had more but I can't seem to find them.

Christian, Robbie, Amy and Jennifer (I think)

Instead of the computer we used the water pitcher.

Homework today

is not like the homework I had in high school.

Case in point.

For her APUSH (AP US History) class, Jennifer was assigned to put together a commercial or skit that President Andrew Jackson could have used in his presidential election campaign back in the day.

She wrote it, called two friends and recorded it on her ipod touch...

downloaded it on to the computer, put it on a thumb drive
and took it to school to be played for the class.

I'd give her an A... what do you think?

I am still awaiting her official permission to post this if it disappears later on you'll know why.