My name is my friend

All my life I have loved my name. VERDA. Isn't it great. It sounds good too. When I was little the boys use to tease me and call me Verdi River. Not such a bad nick-name as nick names go. I like the sound of my name, even in combination with other words. After I got married I would get a bit grumpy about my name. When we were at church all the other women in the ward were referred to as Sister so and so... I wanted to be called Sister Hebner. I like my last name too because it connects me to Gary and I am proud of that. I was introduced as Sister Hebner but it wouldn't be very long til it changed to Verda. The priesthood would call all the other sisters , Sister Coleman, Sister Philp, Sister Merrill. I was always VERDA. Even the men in the Stake would do this. I use to feel like I was being demoted or something. But no matter what I said, they still called me Verda. My seminary students were sweet, they called me Sister Verda.

Why do I bring this up? Well, since I have moved to Prescott, I have been known as Sister Hebner. Wonderful, I thought I had finallly been promoted. But I think it was only because we moved from ward to ward so quickly, that I wasn't really quite known yet. We have now been in the Glassford Hill Ward for about a year. No one has really spoken to me this whole time. So I didn't feel much like a member of this ward. I said to Gary one night, if I don't receive a calling by the end of the year, I'm going to the bishop and ask for one.(this was last october) That's all it took. We were called to serve in the primary. Ever since then, the Bishopric is now aware of me. Not as Sister Hebner, though. As VERDA. I have finally become part of this ward. It feels good, like coming home from a long vacation. I think it's funny that people prefer my first name. It's doesn't bug me anymore. It just makes me feel at home. And Gary, well, he isn't Gary, he's The Heb, or usually HEBNER. The guys like his last name. Oh well, like Dad use to say, 'call me what you like, just don't call me late for dinner'!

The old gray mare she ain't what she use to be, but...

She can still learn new tricks! Yep! I am very proud of myself. I have been trying to make "good" torillas. The kind my grandma use to make when I was a little girl. I use to stand by her side in her little 'hot' kitchen (no air conditioning in those days) and roll out dough and watch my crooked, pointed creation bubble up on top of the old black cast iron griddle on her little stove. My tortillas did not look like hers, but they tasted the same. Maybe because she made the dough. As long as I have been married I have tried and tried again to make her tortillas. They always turn out yucky. Hard, thick...no good. But today I have succeeded! Yeh, yahoo!. Thanks to Youtube. I found a video, several actually, but one in particular caught my eye and I did everything exactly the way the video explained, and
wha-la!!! yummy, soft, round tortillas. I feel like a whole new woman. Isn't it funny how something so simple as a minor accomplishment can give us so much joy. Tonight we will have home-made green chili burros and they will be yum, yum, yummers. I also learned how to make corn tortillas...but that will have to wait for another day.

52 and lots of charm

GEORGE PATRICK LYONS

This is the latest picture I've taken of Uncle George. His favorite place to be is with his lovely wife Sandi.

Uncle George

We are happy to celebrate with you

the grand young age of 52!

You are wise, witty and full of charm

Yes! you still have muscles in your arm

You should be happy and do as you choose

there are only 364 days left in the year to be 52!

Have a grand day Georgio, Jorge, Mr. Smooth!

Birthdays are good for you, the more you have the longer you live.

I am posting a few of the photos of Courtnae that were sent to me over the years of her growing up. Isn't she the cutest little girl? She's a beautiful woman now and is enjoying the day to day wonderment of motherhood.

Happy, Happy Birthday dear niece of mine. I hope all your dreams come true and that you will be blessed with all the happy desires of your heart.

A birthday is the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip!

"Every smile makes you a day younger"

BETTY LOU NULLINER

Happy, Happy Birthday Betty Dear....may happy days come to you all year!

Today is Granny Buns birth celebration day. What do we remember about Granny?

*always serching for the bathroom
*passes gas in the elevator and blames it on Bob
*crochetes covers for family jewels
*is the family's #1 card player
*smiles, smiles, smiles
*has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ
*best step-mother ever
*too many more to mention

"Every smile makes you a day younger."-chinese proverb Granny is proof of this.

We Love You Granny Buns!
*

This little boy had a birthday, this little boy right here....

NATHAN BUTLER HOWARD

GIDDY-UP!

Nate always notices when the wind blows the branches of the trees.

Girls, girls, that's all I see...they are always holding me.

Brother wiggling in to take a nap with big sister and her baby doll. He always has to be where Lili is and doing what she does.

This little boy is my love-adorable grand son. Isn't he the most darling little guy? He is now two years old and we legally can not call him Baby Nate anymore. However, I'm sure that name will forever be his. I wonder what his friends will think when we are still calling him Baby Nate when he is 16!

Happy Happy birthday Nathan Dear.