Las Vegas Trip

We had a fun time last week, we went down to Las Vegas for the NAGGL convention for Brent's work.  Me, I went along for the fun.   AND it was fun!  Yes, of course, I rented a car to get me around and to go shopping and exploring.   We were way out west in Summerlin at the Red Rock Resort and Casino, pretty average posh, great bed and pillows.  That was about all that I really liked about this place.  Oh, and yes I did like that I could park near the entrance, glad for a handicapped sticker.  Wish it worked for our room.  It was 52, way down the corridor....two for the end, what a hike to get there and back.  Only one elevator and everything was miles away.
     I don't like buffets and they are Brent's heaven....do opposites really attract?   First night, Tuesday, we went to the Red Rock Kings Feast, it was completely forgettable, but I was soooo hungry. Brent loved it....  Next morning Brent was in the convention and I went exploring and shopping.   My little zoomer car zipped around pretty good and I found parts of LV I had never been to.    I don't like the strip, so stayed out west and found my kind of stores.  Did buy a few things, of course.
     Then headed back just in time to find Brent.  We decided to go the the Claim Jumper, only 2 miles away and I was pretty tired so glad it was close.  Punched in the address to my TomTom and it had a hard time finding it.  We got on the belt route and headed where it told us to go.....too funny, 8+ miles away and in the middle of almost no where, there we were and it wasn't the restaurant!  

     Well, from where we were, we could see the Rio and knew they had that great Seafood Buffet, yes I do like that one, so off we headed again.  After a couple of dead ends that we always hit when we come to the Rio from the south, we finally made it!  Famished and dinner was great and there were crab leg parts all over the floor, not just from us, but from everyone.  It looked like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman at the restaurant. It was a great time, always is when we get fed.
     Next day a bit of shopping, Fashion Show Mall, lasted about 1/2 hour, that was enough.  I wanted to see Bloomingdale's, when I got there it was just the home department.  Disappointing, so I 1left and headed over to the Nugget where we were going to stay that night.   Brent drove the company car, slow, slower, slowest  Prius to meet me there.  We had a great room, easy parking and felt like we were coming home.   We love the Golden Nugget and the Shark Tank swimming pool.   

     We had tickets that night to the Nationals of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and it was great fun!  Would love to go to more shows like this over and over again.
      After a great nights sleep we headed home.   We had to take the rental car back, first, then had a hearty healthy breakfast at McDonalds....got on the freeway driving north.  But, WAIT, there is the Las Vegas Speed Way and they had the National Drags going on!  Brent says do you want to go?  Me, I am always ready for more fun, but didn't say turn.   Somehow the car just turned onto the exit ramp and it just headed into the track!   What could we do?
      Tickets were reasonable and so many booths along the way.   Loved it.  The bleachers even had a back rail, who would have thunk?   Great time!  DRAGS ARE THE BEST!    You can't hardly believe how fast they go, they have really improved in the last 30 years.  Pro Stock cars, motorcycles and funny cars zooming by.  THEN the nitro smell and flames, the thundering shudder right through your whole entire body and the sounds so loud that earplugs and fingers can't protect your hearing.  But who cares?   What a great fun experience.  They are the BEST!
      We headed home, stopped in Mesquite for dinner, then to St George.  No room at the Inn, headed to Beaver for a room, but when we got there we were still awake and most important, alert!  So, off we headed to our very own comfortable bed.   Driving in the full moonlight was enchanting and beautiful.  We finally got home around 1:00 a.m. and  hit the sack.
      GOOD TIMES WITH MY BEST FRIEND! 

FOND MEMORIES... Looking back in the years to come

GRATITUDE and GIVING THANKS

         Brent and I were just talking about our move to SoCal when Roy was little (21 months) and Tommy was not quite born.   We moved to Huntington Beach for Brent's work and a better future.  We had some pretty rough times there, monetarily, but that time helped us grow and solidified our life together.    

         We have so many happy memories, joy in overcoming the hardships and fun in exploring new places and people.   I think out in the mission field, that area, was one of my favorite times in all the church wards we have been in.   

          Beautiful flowers, fruit orchards and the ocean.   Seemed like heaven in some ways.   Some of our hardest times, but we weathered the brown residue at the bottom of the bottle when I made powdered milk, 1001 ways to cook potatoes as a main dish, fragrant oranges and Brent bringing them home after he had been to help on the Church Farm.   

Learning about Christ-like love from the Armstrong's, our landlords who were of another religion.  Finding and making new friends and building a home in a 2 bedroom apartment. 

I think we can be very grateful we were not a pioneer, just think of the heavy, long dresses with all the petticoats….  I remember when all the homes didn't have dishwashers or the internet and computers.  

Back then our houses and cars didn’t have any air-conditioning. That really was not so long ago.  Hot, heavy, sweltering days where the ground burns right through your rubber thongs (flip-flops, now a days).  Long, hot nights just waiting for a breeze to come down from the canyons and cool us off.   Lots of evenings with the door and windows all open wide, trying to get a quiver of the tiniest waft of air to move that stifling, muggy air.  Shutting the windows early in the morning to help keep the cool air in as long as we could. 

We didn't use fast food as we do now, so cooking was just adding heat to the fire.   Taco casserole and Tamale pies, and cool cheesecakes were all good memories from that time.

Can you even imagine being a pioneer, on the plains, in the winter with a dugout in highest hump of the flat-lands for your protection or a house made out of dirt sod?    I used to read stories of the pioneers and could not even understand their courage, not to sure that I could do all that they did.  Freezing blizzards or heat and drought and still not much shelter, and self reliance, with hardships beyond measure.

One of most fun times as a child was playing “going across the plains” as pioneers in the “Olden Times”  Lots of fun back then, even lots of western shows, Wagon Train, Rawhide (Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates-my favorite), Bonanza, Fury and so many more.   Idyllic stories of times gone by.  Looking back with perspective tends to leave us with golden memories, but the living through those trials isn’t easy and was the true test.  I guess our times are no different, we all face challenges, just different ones in this day and age.   We are all the pioneers in our own life.

I love living in our times with all the modern technology, improvements to living and the conveniences of our time, right now.   

Just me thinking and reminiscing of times gone by and a happy heart for all those whom came before us, looking ahead, working hard for a better life.   And all those who kept, as my Dad used to say, "Improving on the stock".  

Blessings

Bobby Jo, a very special person, a friend from Jr High and High School is sick, going through cancer treatments.  I love her blogs and am grateful for her strength and her deep convictions.   I know she will fight the best of wars on her enemy and with our Lord's help.

She tops her blog with words from one of my favorite LDS hymns, Count Your Blessings, pg 241.  

I believe this is as true now as it was when it was written all those years ago.

"Count your many Blessings; Angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your Journey’s end."

Lest we never forget, from where all our blessing come from.

My Saddest Heart

Sometimes you just can't wrap your mind around things that naturally happen in our world, like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and tragic fires. But it is even more unbelievable when something happens that one person purposely caused.  Josh how could you?

The one thing that is impossible to still believe is Josh Powell killing his innocent little boys, and even more unimaginable is how he did it.

How could a father do this? He was really a monster. His thoughts probably were that if he could not control his boys, no one would. Such a horrific,
selfish action.

There's a commandment of "Thou Shalt Not Kill.", but also to compound on his sins there's a scripture in Matthew 18:6 "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Josh took his own pitiful life, so the sea is not an option, but I think that the eternities he has chosen to be thrown out in outer darkness is even more sad.

Our Heavenly Father tells us not to judge others, so I will try to forgive Josh, or at least not think of this sadness as best I can. I believe that ALL the atrocities and unfairness in life will be handled by the only One who can really make those decisions.

I think that Josh learned many of his terrible bad habits, selfishness, arrogance and who knows what else from his father. He is also responsible in some great part. But as stated above, the Lord will take care of him, too.

I believe he first took his wife's life, then broke all hearts when he took the sweet lives of his beautiful, innocent boys.

The only solace that I can take from this is that now Susan can raise her boys in Paradise.

I didn't know this family personally, but through all the press and news, I feel like I do somehow. I hate the exploiting of their stories, but without this news I would never have known this tragic story of real people, of a real family gone. I wish this had only been a story of fiction that I could real, not real life events.

Happy heaven to those three lost ones, who died way too early. My heartfelt prayers and thought go to them, their loved ones and friends.

*Wear blue in honor of Braden and Charlie for Blue Saturday, February 11.

Just Thinking

Just thinking....More truths I know:

I am a child of God and we all are children of God. How lucky we are!

We need to think deeply about who we are and why we are and what we want to be; having no restrictions.

Love the Season you are in; yearly and in your life. There is beauty in everything all around you.

Be grateful, nothing more needs to be said.

Do those things you love to do, but do the other things that you have to do, both should make you satisfied and someday happier and content. It is important to have control over one's life. It is a daily challenge.

There is a big difference between wants and needs.

No one should be powerless in their own life. It is the good choices that we make each day that frees us.

I do believe in "Love at first sight.", because I have experienced this with my Sweetheart, Brent.

I am so blessed, because once upon a time, but not very often in this world, in a very ordinary life, love has given me a true eternal fairytale.





Friends are an important sweetness in your life. Handle with love and care.

We have been taught that Love is the answer in almost all questions.

Some True Tenants I have Learned From Life

My resolution in 2012 is to share some of my own personal beliefs. I will add more later, but here are some of them now... my 'Maryisms' or Mary's Bible:

- It doesn't really matter what happens to you, it is HOW you handle it that ultimately, truly mattters.

- I think we should all do good and be good with no expectations from anyone, ever. The best reward is the feeling of joy in your own soul.

- It is always better to smile than any other option.

- This one I learned early in life, be honest and don't lie, life is just simple, then.

- True love from a good man, conquers all. (I will always love you Brent, eternally everlasting.)

- I was taught true unselfishness from my dear husband.

- A nice word to others goes along ways to your own personal joy.

- Will it matter in 20 years? If not, is it worth the fight? This is a good means to help draw the lines on ideas or things that are worth fighting for.

- Self worth comes from the unselfish love and happiness you can give to others.


- Grandkids may be even better than your own children, and that is pretty hard to beat.

- I tell my grand children that "I love them forever and ever, plus a day, no matter what!" I make them repeat that back to me so they will always have that truth inside of their hearts

- Hugs and kisses are an essential part of life. They help us grow, they are free to give and they are equally good for the giver and the receiver.

- Sunrise and sunsets may be the best parts of a beautiful day.

- Just do it, do it right, do it right now. My Mom always said "How come he can find the time to do it the second time, when he didn't take the time and do it right the first time?"

- Find the beauty in everyday simple things, they create lasting pleasure.

- Love of critters gives so much more love in return. Our pets are important to how we view life ,they need our care and they love us just like we are.

- One from favorites is take from Mary Englebreight:
No matter where you go, there you are.

- I am grateful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and yes, I am a Mormon.
And to the WORLD: We base our religion on Jesus Christ, I cannot understand why some people say and think I do not believe in Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful sculpture that resides on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Catch Up

Well, tons of things have happened lately and thought I might do a "catch-up" blog.

Had a great Sunday Brunch with my longtime, old school pals, great to
catch up and love who they have turned out to be. We are all glad for our happiness and friendship. Went with Jayne, Charlene and Martha. Just the right size group. Nice to reminisce and laugh and talk. Good to have friends.

We first had a scare the Tuesday/Wednesday just before we left on our cruise and then being luckier than a million 4 leafed clovers when we got back and did the angiogram. Just $10,000 in medical bills (so appreciative for good insurance). And glad Brent had his heart scanned and even though they didn't give us much of a diagnosis, at least we know how blocked his heart arteries are. I guess that is something and we still do believe in better living with chemicals, not so sure about doctors. Now, he trying to get back into a more healthier state, just his recovery after exercise takes a few hours to get back to normal. Each morning he goes out and weeds or does something in the yard for an hour. Nature is good for his heart and soul.

We loved sharing our beautiful spring flowers with our folks for Memorial Day and loved the time in the truck just being with my Love. Glad my Mom and Brent's Mom loved flowers and gave the appreciation to us to cultivate and enjoy the beautiful blessings of color and floral bouquets of smell that they bring to us.

When we came back and stopped to see Aunt Ruby, we did get the "last ever she'll make", plate of some exquisite Turtles that Aunt Ruby makes. Such a treat and she always has some for Brent when we come. She knows just how much he loves them and her, and she loves him. But then, who couldn't? As he says, "I am basically lovable!" And of course he IS.

Alaskan Cruise







We went a wonderful, beautiful, relaxing cruise to Alaska at the very end of May. We flew into Seattle and caught the ship that morning. We cruised up to Glacier Bay, Juneau , Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC.

The sun almost never sets this time of year and so when Brent gets up at their time it is up and when we go to bed really late, it is still up. Makes for a great day.

We even saw a big white mountain goat in the middle of nowhere, just proud and majestic standing like a picture post card on the way to Glacier Bay and 2 Bald Eagle sitting on ice chunks.

In Juneau we took the city bus up to the Mendenhall Glacier and then hiked to Gold Nugget Falls. Doesn't the glacier shadow on this iceberg that was in the bay at the Mendenhall Glacier look like a cruise ship?

On the way back to the ship we did a little shopping in the Red Dog Saloon shop. The original saloon is pretty old and dank, and dark, and smokey, and crowded, so we didn't stay to have vitals.

I was amazed just how large, no, GINORMOUS, the water fall was. It was about a mile and half hike on a good path up there and then you could see rainbows in the mist. Perfect day for a walk with the birds, butterflies and tourists. I only saw it from a distance the last time we went there and there was less water and more bank, then. Loved to walk back in the forest and alder trees.
On sailing days we saw tons of whales, all kinds and Orcas just off the deck with their spouts like water steaming up like a volcano. Saw the BIG back of a Humped back whale and he was pretty close to the ship. After the shows we saw many pods of them and their spouts off in the distance, almost looks like steam, then quickly disappears. Quite a site. Many schools of Dall porpoises and dolphins jumping, playing, and bow-riding, a sea otter and some seals, NO Puffins, oh well, another trip, another exploration.Sitka is a true gem in the world and probably my favorite stop almost anywhere I have been. Flowers all over, ones so temperate that we cannot grow them here. A volcano hovering in the background, verdant forest, with wilderness just minutes away, a Russian and fishing history. I think I would like to live there, if it were not so remote. The kids never would come to see us.

Ketchikan was spectacular and fun and Brent thought Dolly's house was pretty interesting, this old lady had a brothel until 1965, it is famous and infamous right on beautiful Creek Street and they are very proud of her. Loved all the Totems. Later, Brent of course, got lost so I met him on the ship.

Great scenery and fell in love with Alaska, all over again. We didn't do any of the cruise excursions and just wandered around. It was a terrific time. Holland America always treats you really well and of course the food was the best. We met and made new friends and loved all the green, the turquoise blue of the icebergs and the glory of waterfalls. Who couldn't love this week?

Just after we got home from the cruise we had the grand kids for a sleepover the Friday-Saturday. Justin, Tom and Ashley were on a 1,000,000 mile Rockwell bike riding relay from Blanding? to St George. Whew!

The g-kids sure did enjoy the Slip N Slide and little pool. Shane and Ash came over so Emmalee could play with her cousins. All in all a really great fun time. Love our backyard and having family over to play in the water. Grandpa loved the pic with the boys and their hats. He sure does love life and good times.

We dropped them off to Eagle Mountain at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning so they could go and see Tom and Sarah's newest little one be blessed.

We had a leisurely ride home going around Utah Lake, saw the biggest antelope ever, just standing in a field at the south end of the lake, so we stopped and just looked and watched. A Sheriff came by, stopped and asked if we were having problems, nope, just admiring the wildlife, so he watched, too. That ride we also even saw a big bad badger crossing the road, then he hissed at us and acted like he was going to eat our tires. Pretty cool. I guess big maroon trucks do NOT scare him!

Brent is enjoying golfing this summer and seems to be going almost every week somewhere for work to golf. Golden times.

We have been down to Sanpete for the Mormon Miracle, it is better than ever and always so good to see our Aunts and have a Turkey dinner in the old church on Main Street. The stars shine so much better than here in the city, pure amazement, that is what I have for the heavenly night skies!

The big 4th of July weekend started on the 2nd with the Riverton parade, then dessert at our home after, but it really turned out to be a BBQ. Always fun to be with family and watch the g-kids and kids loving the local parade, the princesses and never, no never, forget all the candy that they throw to the kids. After the BBQ & dessert, Brent started a leap frog with the g-kids, then all the BIG kids joined in and then races, so funny and tons of fun and laughter. Wish I had a video of this. Pretty funny. Not sure who is the biggest kid of all, but I am sure glad they all can enjoy the "little kid" in them.

Up early the next morning, the 3rd, to watch Ashley run her first 10K and she did the race proud. J & A went to the Stadium of Fire that night so we had their 4 little ones and took them to the Riverton fireworks that night. Amazing how much Maci LOVES kettle corn, but, dainty, just one kernel at a time. They all lasted until it was over and barely made it into our beds. Maci kept saying "BOOM, BOOM" and loved the lights. I put my hands over her ears while she was sitting on my "almost" lap and she just wore out and fell asleep. Nice moment for a Grandma and Grandpa to share one of our traditions with them. Roy, Tommy, Lelani, Shane, Ash and fam and Ash's Mom, sisters and family and friends shared this with us. We had LeAnne and Norman, Clint and Tricia, Jer and Amy, Chris and his wife (cousins & nephews and families). Always a memorable time and dazzling eye candy that we never get tired of seeing and hearing. Great exposure to the senses on a perfect July night.

On the 4th we headed up to CJ's and Lava Hot Springs. The lines were too long to go swimming (almost a 1/2 block long in line to get into the pool and the pool already looked full!). So we drove north to get my favorite Oreo shake at the Jack-in-the-Box in Pocatelly and a quest to find a place to go swimming. Didn't like the look of the lake, but stopped for an hour and won some money in a little, junky, smoky casino. Really a hole with a capital "H", but we came out with more money than we gave them, so not as good a swimming, but maybe a stinky okay. Maybe the lottery ticket that Brent bought will bring us some good fortune. Who knows?? It could happen. ;~)

We went to PBR in West Jordan with LeAnne and Norman on Monday the 5th, rip snortin' great time and had a killer view of the bulls and fireworks. Bulls 37, Cowboys 2. But still a good time had by all.

Had a dinner last night with my "Salem Gals" and sure was good company to be with friends of a very long time. Always look forward to talking the them. It is a blessing to have such great girl friends.

Brent is off golfing at Rose Park this morning and he deserves it. He has taken a new position, like in April, a brand new department to handle servicing of the SBA loans. They were being poorly serviced at a third party company and it was all messed up, really messed up, not the right docs. no docs, nothing, no order to speak of and no history on 3,000 loans. Well, Brent to the rescue, he can fix anything and he is. He has hired some really fine talent and together they are whipping this battle and putting it into shape. Really proud of him and his abilities and his brains! New challenges are great, but tiring. BTW, he is still doing all the commercial new construction loans and trying to train his replacement on residential construction loans. Doing two jobs at once and quite a project.

I have delved into genealogy and loving it, just like my Patriarchal Blessing told me to. I really am feeling like I am learning about my family and their lives, successes, hardships and glories. Quite a rewarding and tremendous feeling. I use the Church site and compare it to the Ancestory.com site for the actual records and am catching up all the lines I can on my side first, then will do Brent's. I think I must have waited until all the technology made it easier. Just the same, I was able to find our long lost Nielsen ancestor that no one could find, with the help of the Lord and the Salt Lake Family center member who could speak Danish we found him on my very first try. Just one more of those numerous and wonderful blessings that I have had in my life.

We love our back deck and the swing and patio table. We have many meals and pleasant swing sessions and talks out there and just enjoy the bountiful vistas and the beauty of nature. I still feed the birdies and it is so much fun to see them each day and the varieties that come and visit us. Bird scoopies, black sunflower hulls and the cost are all that may be a burden, but so worth it. Just had a young Grossbeak at the pie tin. Fun to watch them eat and share with all the other birds. We wake up each morning to the chirping and sweet songs and go to sleep by the crickets. Pure beauty as Brent would say.

An interesting spring and summer so far. Weather has been wet and cool, can even turn off the central AC some days and leave the windows open at night. Love fresh air. Didn't have to turn on the sprinklers until mid June. Who would have thunk?

So, after writing this, it just rained like a banshee for a long time-maybe 15 minutes and that is a long time for us in the summer. It hailed at Eagle Mountain. Now the sun is shinning and our deck is already dried off. You know, just wait a few minutes and we will see what else we will have.

Long winded again, oh well.... just catching up.