-1

you read it right -- MINUS ONE!


GOOD MORNING ... really, nothing more to say than that!

There, That's Better

i love christmas-looking blogs ... sometimes, i think i might keep it up all year 'round, like the tree -- contrary to what david would like!! actually, as long as it's *not real* (i hate saying, *artificial* -- makes it seem sooo .... fake!!!), he doesn't care how long it's up ... must be his experience managing 911-call centers that does it: *the needles are dry and it could catch fire!* ... my reply, of course, as the little devil thinks: *i've had trees for longer than you've been alive and never had a fire, plus, i keep them lit 24/7* ... but, the boss speaks, i listen ... a BIG ho ho ho on that!!!

we went stove shopping again ... nothing, nada, nil, none ... maybe we will have a stove by the time the v's come *over the river and through the woods,* to visit ... i'm hopeful! if not, we all freeze our heineys off!


ANNOUNCEMENT:
we finally did freeze our heineys off -- most important ... DAVID froozze his off:  he lit the wood stove! the little devil that LOVES THE HEAT is soooo happy ... it's been 86 in the house today ... oooh, that little devil is happy and warm!

some thoughts that resonate with me

"All of us have problems. We face them every day. How grateful I am that we have difficult things to wrestle with.They keep us young ... if that is possible. They keep us alive.They keep us going. They keep us humble. They pull us down to our knees to ask the God of Heaven for help in solving them. Be grateful for your problems, and know that somehow there will come a solution." -- President Hinckley

First things first!

i better change the look of the blog to reflect this amazing season: Christmas and Christ!

I should have known better .....

than to actually believe I was going to blog daily or every couple of days or, even, weekly ... that should read *weakly* and let it go at that.  who was i kidding .... you should, dear readers, have known  better, too, knowing me as ya'll do ....

We are getting ready for a visit from not only Tev, but Molly and Mike and baby Siiah next week. That means the wood stove will be connected (alas, it's been in the low 20s or so at night here the past week, veering into the teens, like 19 degrees .... brrrrrr ... and freezing), although, lest you think our home is cold, it's not; it's just not 80+++ like I like it!!!

David is very happy basking in a *perfect home* .... 68 in the morning when we awaken, and not much more than that in the day. Why he stayed in Yakima all these 36 years, i'm not sure. It's devilishly hot in the summer -- 90s and 100s+ and the winter is chilly, not really cold (oh yes, you canadians, will completely understand COLD, and this is not.) .... the little devil in me wants to turn our bedroom heater uuuupp to 80 when he's sleeping ... LOL ... the little devil would be gleeful, for sure!

we laid the bamboo floor, now just need to do the molding and repaint the walls ... oh, and paint the brick fireplace the same green as the walls. Bless Sharon for scraping and cleaning all that brick, lo, years ago ... removing the white paint was a terrible job, and now i'm going to repaint that same brick ... hmmmm .... i guess, what goes around seems to come around.

gotta go and get lots done before we check out a new wood stove in the tri-cities ... don't hold yer breath for another epistle soon; i will put up pics after molly et al leave.

here's some weekend spiritual enlightment. Enjoy!

i guess i'm going to have to get off my heiney ....

and post ...

i really did love posting on my blog, but, whowuddaguessed i became so lax (what a paltry word when, probably, slack/lazy/procrastinator would tell it like it is) ... it is embarrassing to even begin again ... however, getting in touch with my sordid and varied past, people i knew in vanderhoof, makes it easier to start!

finding a response from summer and taking note of koe's on rose's blog (wow, girl! posting again!), brought back so many memories of our life in the 'hoof! we loved living there and sometimes i think *what if ........ * however i can't go much further than that or it will negate the present and the present is good! i love my husband, david (i wish you all could meet him), my children are great and .... well, my grandchildren:  precious; darling; cute; smart, nay, brilliant; cute; did i say precious??? ... you get the picture! i will post images or links to substantiate these claims soon!

life is good ... i am so thankful for all my many blessings: good health, not just my good health, but the excellent health of my husband, children and ALL the darling grandchildren; mine and their testimonies, my families, especially my darling granddaughter’s, tevia, and sweet grandson, aaron's; our physical and spiritual strength; happiness; great satisfaction with my *semi-normal* (whatever THAT means) life; and all the good that is here to experience ... i'm even thankful for all the trials we have had, and will have, that bring us closer to heavenly father.