Building spirituality one lego at a time

Early morning seminary is tuff this time of year. It's cold (always in the 20's) and dark, very dark you can still see all the stars in the sky, and of course it's early, 6 a.m.  So I try to think of  fun things to do to keep up morale, help us stay awake and keep our interest.  Scirpture Mastery the lego way.  This is acutally a preschool activity, but we had fun, all of us.  Never underestimate a GOOD preschool activity.

I have to share this.  Teaching at this time in the morning is not always a positive experience.  Everyone is sleepy and many times grumpy.  Because of this the teenagers often do not respond to lessons I have spend hours preparing. So I get discouraged.  I come home and say to myself, "Verda, why do you spend so much time  creating lessons that are up-beat and interactive. the kids don't care one way or the other.  They just want to pass the time quickly and move on to the rest of their day.  Stop making such a effort.  Just hit the basics, they won't know the difference!" 
Than I come into the room the next day determined to keep trying and this is what I see when I turn on the lights.  Our class meets in the Relief Society Room and Mutual is also held there in the evening.  Someone the night before thought of me and left this message.  Kind of made up for all the frustration the day before.  Yup! The Church is True.

T-shirts for Christmas

This year Garrett wanted to give personalized gifts to the Listers.  So he designed a t-shirt for each of them.



 He sat down and drew his GOT JACKED? logo and we took it to a Logo Company in Prescott to have the t-shirts printed.  Front and...

nick name on the back

 Uncle Kevin's shirt was different.  He always tells aunt marsha "No chirpin, Marge!"  and once he told Garrett that he should have a shirt made. "How funny would that be?"  he said.  Garrett made a mental note and asked if we could make this shirt for Uncle Kevin because he said he wanted one.

They all wore thier shirts on Christmas Day.  Gary and I felt left out...and Garrett had a good laugh. Oh, and Aunt Karen did not think Kevin's shirt was funny at all.  She thought it should say no chirpin, Kevin, but we said Marsha should have a shirt that says, Stop your Barkin, Kevin.  with a funny little bug eyed dog on the back  Karen agreed.   Any how, the shirts were a big hit and all was good.

I still have this problem

When I visited  Kim and the kids this year we planned a night that we all could stay up and watch movies as late as we wanted.  Mason was the first to fall asleep.  Lili was next, although she did make it til midnight.  Nate, however, was a die hard.  He refused to go to sleep.  He would play games with his cars just so he would not sit still, because when he sat still, his eyes would begin to close.  We watched three movies back to back.  He finally gave up, lying in the same postion you see in this cartoon.  It was 2 a.m.
that was a fun evening for me.  I don't think I'll ever forget it.  When I saw this cartoon, I had to save it in memory of my late night grand son.

Baby it's COLD outside

After being indoors for the last couple of days it was nice to get outside for a while.  The air was crisp and the snow was soft and glistening in the sunshine.  A glorius day.   Thank goodness for my old snow stuff.  They still work.

But I have to say I'm jealous of Kim and her family, running around on the beach while I'm sitting here drinking hot chocolate wrapped up in a snuggli

And I might be a but cold but my hair and eyelashes are not frozen.  Of course I don't know if I would brave minus 2 degree weather. But Kerri and Brad like adventure no matter the weather.

life is GOOD!

It's snowing Yahoo!

To those of you who live in snow country, this doesn't mean much.  But for all of us here in North West Arizona it is welcomed.  Nice, very nice

a few holiday memories

This year we did something different.  We went to the Christmas parade downtown Prescott instead of the Courthouse Lighting.  The Prescott Resort hosts a gingerbread house display so we made a visit.  We are looking for new holiday traditions.  With all the girls living far, far away we have to find something to do.  Funny how we depend on the children to entertain us. Even our Christmas Eve celebration was different because Granny was in the hospital. We did make a visit to her room but if you know anything about our family being quiet is something we can do but not for long.  So The Listers, Gary, Garrett and I went to (of all places) McDonalds for dinner.  Then we went home with the Listers and spent christmas Morning with them and Aunt Karen, Uncle Chris, Dillon and Eva.  We stopped by to see Misty and her baby for literally 2 mintues and made our way back up the hill to have dinner with PAPA.   He fed us his beloved Speghetti with meat balls and sweet Italtian sausage.  YUMMMERS!  Papa now has his train set up in the family room and he utilized the many Christmas villages that have been in storage since Grandma Canell pased away to decorate the track.  Being out numbered by the guys, basketball and football dominated the remainder of the day. 

Blog Challenge #7 What role does color play in your everyday life?

"Red, and yellow, and pink and green, purple and orange and blue. I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow tune....
Listen with your eyes and sing everything you see, I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing along with me."

Our family learned this song when Kerri attended Preschool.  It expresses how wonderful color is in our lives.  I must have color.  I like it everywhere.  Every wall would be a different color if it were not for my husband.  White walls are his choice.  It depends on the the time of the year which colors are my favorite.  I love red and green all the time, but of course Christmas makes them shine.  Crystal Blue and white in the winter.  Purple and Green are my favorites in the spring.  Red, White and Blue in the summer and Orange, brown, red and green in the fall.  For many years Blue was my absolute fav.  But as I have grown so has my appreciation for colors.
I'm one of those people who when given a basket full of handouts and asked to please "take one" I poke around to find a certain color.  Usually red, green or blue.  I'm drawn to book covers with these colors.  Clothing also.  Even food selection will at times be determined by the color.  Cake frosting, jello flavor, candy bar wrappers.  I usually will not address an envelope unless I add some dab of color, a sticker, a doodle, multi color words.  I never tire of a beautiful sunrise or sunset.  The sky is so pretty especially after a rain.  Nor do I ever tire of green trees.  Spring time is the best when blooms are everywhere.  I am so grateful for Color.

Blog Challenge #6 What is your conversion story?

I BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

I joined the church when I was 18.  My father was a member but was not active.  When he remarried my step-mother mentioned that she had read the Book of Mormon when the Home Teachers were visitng one evening.  From there the missionaries were invited to our home.  This was not an easy job for them.  My parents were not willing to give up their coffee and cigarettes.  My sister Marsha wanted to attend the Catholic church and I just basically ignored the whole thing.  It took a couple of years to get us to change our minds.  First the whole family took the lessons. No one got baptized.  Then some how the lessons were taught again and this time one of them made an impression on me.  So I started paying attention and from there I was hooked.   I began reading the Book of Mormon, the Young Adult group in the ward were very friendly and fellowshipped me and there was a guy that caught my eye.  I was baptized in March 1977. I was  sealed to my father and step-mother one year later.  Gary returned from his mission in '79, we dated off and on that year and were married in March 1980 in the Mesa Temple.  My father, step-mother and I were the only active members in my family.  Gary, his mother and step-father were the only active members in his family.   30 years later adding four of our own chldren, our membership in the church has grown. All three girls have married in the temple and our 5 grandchildren are born in the covenant with one more to arrive in May. 

If you would of asked me what I wanted to do with my life prior to my baptism it would not have included a husband and chldren.  I would not have dreamed it would have turned out the way it did.  I am so glad I made the decision to change my heart and mind and join the church. It has made all the difference.

Blog challenge #5 What is your favorite Adult christmas memory?

HUNTING FOR CHRISTMAS TREASURE

What's great about being an adult for Christmas is that you are in the drivers seat.  One year Gary and I had the thought that Christmas was getting a bit boring for our teenagers so we wanted to do something different for them.  We chose a treasure hunt.  The kids woke up to a big message giving them  instructions for their  morning.  Garrett was designated as the driver and the girls read the clues and navigated.  The clues were distributed all over the neighborhood.  Here were four teenagers drivng all over the place, jumping in and out of the car wearing matching sweats all trying to decypher the clues. It took them about an hour to play this game, but they had a blast.  Gary and I would hide in the dark and watch them at each location where they would go to find a clue.  Of course their gifts were at home all along, hanging in great big santa sacks off the clothesline in the back yard.  But it was great morning.  So much fun!  To this day they will each tell you that Christmas was one they will never forget.  We won't either.  We look forward to doing the same activity for our grandchildren when they are teenagers.

Blog Journal Challenge #4

what is your favoirte Christmas movie and why?

I have many that I love to watch each year however the top three are in order

I have watched these three movies for as long as I can remember and I love them.  Of course, since the Home Alone movies came out they have to be watched as well.  I can not resist little Kevin and his antics with the bad guys.  But if I want Christmas spirit, it is these three.  The music and dancing in White Christmas is wonderful and the service that is performed for an old man that is respected and loved.   The conversion of the mother and daughter in Miracle on 34th street is so sweet and I am always encouraged by Mr. Scrooges desire to repent and change his life.  These are very special messages to me.If you haven't watched these old classics in a while, you should.  It warms the heart and your eye balls get a flushing out  as well.

Journal Jar Blog Challenge #3

What is your favoirtie holiday traditon?

  I look forward every year to all the lights.    When I was a  kid my dad would always take us out about the city looking for the bestest light displays.  He seemd to know just where to go.  One neighborhood was lit up every year.  We loved this eveing and would drive around for hours.  To this day i still look forward to seeing the homes in the neighborhood all lighted.  I remember when we were asked to conserve energy one year and so many families opted to not put up lights.  Christmas lights just haven't been the same since, however, I really appreciate the die hards.  The ones who make it a point to cover every inch of their yards with beautiful colors that illuminate the night.  This year Gary decided we need new lights so we purchased the new LEDs.  They are so pretty.  We are fortunate here in Prescott Valley to have the Valley of  Lights.  A beautiful drive through a park with multiple lighted displays.  We even drive through lighted tunnels.  It try to go as often as I can.  I always feel like a little kid sitting in the back seat of my fatther's car ooohing ang ahhing at all the pretty lights.  It's the best part of the season.

Journal Jar Blog Challenge #2

This is an interesting question for me.  I do not have a favorite day.  Well, I look forward to Sunday but I wouldn't say it's my favorite.  I suppose what ever day I have something new or fun planned would be my favorite for that particular week, but hmmm, no, I do not have a favorite. I do have a favorite week song that we use to sing in preschool.  "There are seven days of the week, and I can name them all...Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday is the last day, and I can name them all." I am curious to read what  my fellow blog challenge buddies have to say.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Read By Ja Rule

A book I loved as a child.

My friend Jennifer Mendenhall invited me to participate with her in sharing memories as sort of a journal/blog project.  This is our first entry.  *Name a book you loved as a child and tell why.

A book that I will always remember my father reading to me is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss.
This story has always stayed with me.  I love how the Grinch makes the transformation from Mr. Poophead to Mr. Lovekins. How he learns that Christmas means more than gifts bought at the store.   The characters are so endearing to me.  His little dog, Cindy Lou, all of Who Ville.  But it's the language that I enjoy.  If I see a book  written by Dr. Seuss I will pick it up and read it.  I don't care where I am, who I am with I will laugh out loud while reading the many stories Dr. Seuss so creatively made up about how we handle everyday life.  I get a kick out of the language this author made available to us. When I had the best job in the world, Library assistant in a grade school, the Head Librarian, Mrs. LaPlante would plan a Dr. Seuss Day and as staff we would all eat green eggs and ham for breakfast to kick off the celebration.  We would read Dr. Seuss books to all the classes. She and I would speak Dr. Seuss language all day long.  So much fun. It was great.
Some of my favorites are:
of course the Grinch comes first... "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 and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore.  Than the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.   What if Christmas, he thought doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more."

It's not Christmas for me if I haven't read this book or watched the t.v. program.  It's funny though.  I do not own this book, yet it is one of my favorite childhood memories.  I do not own the movie either.  Hmmm...that's curious.

Here are a few other quotes that I am remember from reading Dr. Seuss stories.
*"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere." (one fish two fish red fish blue fish)

*"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

* "I said what I meant, and I meant what I said. An elephant's faithful one hundred percent!"
*"A person's a person no matter how small."(Horton Hears a Who)

*"You have brains in your head,  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.   You're on your own and you know what you know.  And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go." (Oh The places You'll Go)

*"I do not like green eggs and ham I do not like them Sam I am."

*" Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not!"

(The Lorax)

" Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.  Dr. Seuss

I could go on and on but I think you have the idea. 

Autumn is a second spring....

When I left for Alaska the trees were just beginning to change colors. "Autumn is a second spring, when every flower is a leaf."

When I got to Alaska all the trees were bare and the air was crisp and cold.  Winter had begun.

When I made a visit to the Anchorage Temple, every thing was covered in white.

Coming home to Prescott I expected to see all the trees in red.  Instead, I found bare, empty branches.  I completely missed Fall in Prescott Valley.  So sad, but the leaves on the bushes are still changing colors.  The air is cold and brisk and winter is on it's way. 

The snow has arrived

We have snow!  And rain.  It alternates.  Yesterday Kerri suggested that we make a trip to the glacier.
As soon as we arrived to the area we wanted to hike it started raining.  It was a long drive to this spot, so we decided to brave the rain and make the hike anyways.  We got Forrest tucked into Kerri's coat, Kaci put on all her snow clothes and off we went up the trail.  I suggested to Kaci that we ask Heavenly Father to make it colder outside so it would snow instead of rain.  It's easier to walk in a light snow than the wet rain.  But instead he just made it stop raining.  Wow, that was a quick response to a request.  It was only  0.8 mile but when you are hiking in slush, carrying a little one and encouraging Kaci to keep going, it takes a bit longer than one would think.  We finally made it to the end of the trail and it was worth all we did to get there.  We touched the smooth cold sides of the glacier, splashed in the freezing cold water pooled up in the glacier wall and stood on the glacier to have our pictures taken.   I wanted to go inside the Ice Cave but as soon as I entered it I got swarmed by a ton of mosquitos.  There were hundreds of them all over the walls of the cave.  So I made a quick departure.   We were able to make the hike dry.  The rain stopped just long enough for us to make the hike and return to the car.  The clouds came down so low that it was like we were hiking right through them.  Because the clouds were so thick and close Kerri thought we better get back to the car as quick as we could so  we would not get caught in a down pour.  She said, We've been lucky so far, but we had better not push our luck."  It did sprinkle a little bit on our journey  back down the trail but we got to the car just in time.  Swoooosh  the rain came down in buckets and soon changed  to snow.

 This is a piece of the glacier that has floated up from the bottom of the lake which it is floating on that was carved by the glacier. The color of the water is the most stunning shade of blue.  The ice is blue also.  It is much prettier in person, the photo does not do it justice.There were  many chunks floating along the shoreline on this day.  Kerri said the last time they were here these chunks were not.

No Snow :(

Every day we hope to see that it snowed during the night.  Not yet. It did make an attempt this evening, there is a whisp of white on the street but I don't think that counts.  Brad checks the forecast for us every day, still nothing.  Supposedly it will snow tomorrow.  We will just have to wait and see.  I don't get to see the  Northern Lights either while I'm here.  The forecast is pretty poopie.  Oh well, I get to wake up to my sweet little grand children each day and that's better than snow and lights.  I'm having a wonderful visit.  It would be so nice if Gary and Garrett could be here also.

trick or treating with a cow and horse/a lake of ice/Tinkerbell in snow boots

Kaci went trunk or treat with her friend Brenna.  It's hard to see, but Brenna is a cowgirl riding a horse. These two little girls are fun to watch when they are together.

This is Kaci's lake FROZEN.  So do you know what a rock sounds like when it hits frozen lake water?  Beearrinnnggg.  It is a most peculiar sound.  I expected a regular rock THUD.  but it has it's own unique sound.

This is what Tinkerbell looks like when she wears snow boots.

We were all sitting in front of the window watching the neighbors load the moving van when what do you think comes walking down the sidewalk--- a daddy moose!  By the time we got our cameras he was already across the street making his way through the elementary school playground.  We put on our boots and coats and went after him.  I guess children are not the only ones who play on the playground in Anchorage.  This animal was huge, his bottom is as tall as I am.  Kaci did her best to get him to slow down so we could get a better picture, but he didn't listen.

A moose is loose A man made of stone and PIZZA

Day one: The entire day was spent getting acquainted with Kaci and Forrest.  Yeah Yahoo!

Day Two went as follows:

Brad invited me to drive him to work, in the dark in a strange city, all by myself, so Kerri could use the car for the day.  Hmmm, I'm not much good at this kind of thing.  But he assured me that all would be well.  Amazingly enough I was able to make my way back to their apartment without getting lost.  WHEW.
When i returned Kerri took me on a tour of the City of Anchorage.  As we were traveling down the road named Northern Lights Kerri mentioned that she hoped that I would be able to see a moose and lo and behold just a  few minutes later we saw one...just taking a stroll on the coastal trail (a bike trail that follows along the road).  So we took a quick pix.  Kerri suggested she take a picture of me  with the moose standing across the street   Then he made his way across the street where we had parked and I got out of the car and got a bit closer to him.  Kaci wanted to follow him through the neighborhood where he chose to wander and we photographed him helping himself to a few crab apples on a tree in one of the homes' front yard.  You may or may not be able to see his itty bitty antlers.  He is just a little guy.

We visited the giant chocolate fountain, took a few photos of the area outside where there stood a giant rock man and had lunch at The Moose Tooth where we ate the most yummy apricot pizza with cream cheese, chicken, carrots, red peppers, cilantro and green onion.  And now it is beginning to snow.  It has been a great day!

Conference and costumes and witches, oh my!

This is conference weekend.   In my opinion Fall can officially begin.  I have spent my weekend preparing for Halloween.  I enjoy making costumes for my grandchildren.  I know the time is coming fast when Ma Verdi's costumes will no longer  be suitable, but for now they let me do this for them.  Why am I so obsessed with making costumes.? It's what I do.  I like the creating process.  When I was a child it was a time of happy memories for me with my little sisters. 

My Father  would give us cash so we could go to the Thrift Store to buy items for our Halloween costumes.  This was always so much fun.  We looked forward to it every year.  The three of us would create the most wonderful costumes and on Halloween night we would stratagize our route through the neighborhood considering where the best candy would be.  When we would get back to out house we immedicately dumped out our candy unto the living room floor and surveyed our treasures.  Of course we sorted out the candy we didn't care for and bartered with each other for candy we preferred.  Our Dad would always come in and try to sneak our favorites away from us, but we always kept our eye on him.  When all was accounted for we would let him come pick what he wanted. 

I always enjoyed Halloween.  I think it's because it was "our" holiday.  No expectations, just fun!
Planning, shopping, creating, trick or treating, sorting candy....it was something we could do all together and there were no disagreements.  It was just delightful, childs play, no strings attached.  I still look forward to planning and creating for this holiday.    Since I joined the church General Conference has become part of my Fall ritual.  I plan nothing for that weekend except watching conference, working on costumes for myself, my children, (when they were at home and before they got married) and now my grand children. 

Isn't it fun to dress up and pretend to be someone, or something.  I think so and I did what I could to encourage my children to do the same. When my children were in grade school we use to choose charactoers from their favorites books or movies.   I just like the fun stuff, not the scary, gory, yucky things so many other people display.  I like jack 'o lanterns with funny faces, cartoon type ghosts and witches.  Witches are my favorite.  Why?  Because they can look like just about anything.  I like the wild fashion sense, the hats, the shoes, the colors, the brooms, the black cats.  There's so much you can do with Witches.  Witches have homes, they cook, they decorate, they have pets and they are loyal to their sisters.  NO!  Ido not believe in Witches.  I just like to pretend for halloween.

So go out and enjoy the season.  I have already bought and eaten my first bag of candy corn which is my favorite fall treat.  Gary brought home halloween  oreo cookies, YUM,  and the halloween cookie cutters have been taken out of storage and will be put to use this year.  I found a very yummy recipe which I have practiced and am ready to make.  I'll be making cookies for my seminary students. 
The other teachers and I are planning 'A Morning with Ghosts ' (pioneer stories) for a fun day before the Halloween weekend.  I have made myself a new costume and can't wait to wear it.  We are all looking forward to performing for the students.

This is a little bit more than what I had intended on sharing, but I hope everyone enjoys the Fall season.  I know I will.  This year I will be spending my Halloween with Kaci and lil Forrest in Alaska.   I'm so excited!

I hope ya know I had a hard time...

It seems as though we are all having a "Hard Time."  My step mother is experiencing health problems, my brother-in-law is also,and my daughter in Hawaii has had a bad experience with misunderstandings that have put her family into a major down spin.  Until Saturday my other daughter was miserable waiting for her baby to come. He is now here and she is much happier.  I know things get hard to handle sometimes.  I am the first to start complaining, but isn't it great to live in a country where we have so much available to us.  I'm grateful that I am a Mormon.  I find a great deal of comfort in the knowledge that God lives and has provided a living Prophet to warn and guide us.  Thanks Heavenly Father for all you do for each of us.  We are truly grateful even if we are a bit grumpy during this time of testing.

It's okay to sit on the kitchen floor and CRY

I have a friend named Bobbie Mortensen. She is great listener. But she also gives good advice. Simple, and useful. One day she was telling me about the troubles one of her children were experiencing. I was a bit down at the time also so I was kind of in a funk. She recognized that I was not paying much attention and she asked. What's goin on with you? I just shrugged my shoulders...I think this was the time we were having to move out of the cute little house we were living in because the owner was no longer making the payments on the mortgage. I really enjoyed living in that spot. But we had no choice. Then there were other things, one right after the other. I was disguntled [but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to us]. Bobbie finally got me to fess up to what I was so sad about and these were her words of wisdom..."Verda, it's okay if you want to sit in the middle of the floor in your kitchen and have a good cry, if you need permissin, I will gladly give it to you but eventuallly you will have to get up and do the cooking!"

That statement made so much sense to me. I don't know why. I guess I was looking for permission to feel sorry for myself. So I did just that. I had a good cry, went through the motions of a "pity party' and when I felt satisfied that I had wept long enough I pulled myself together and went back to the work of everyday life. Taking Bobbie's suggestion I started cooking again. This was the best advice I have received in a very long time. So for any of you out there who are experiencing pain, frustration, Why Me?, I don't deserve this!, whatever else, you have permission to sit on the kitchen floor and have a good cry. Throw a tantrum, if need be...just remember, once that is out of the way, get back on your feet and get the cooking done. Take  it from someone who is now using this therapy at least twice a year....

Singing in the choir

A few weeks ago we sang the song "Jesus love is like a river" it has the sound and feel of an old "spiritual" as they use to call them. I have been humming this tune ever since. It is very comforting and gentle. I hope you will take the time to listen. the lyrics are by Oran Hatch, the music by Janice Kapp Perry

i am calling you...

Elk season is here and Gary can't wait to get out in the wild and call to an Elk.   Uncle Jack got his elk last week.  Funny story,  he was sitting in a tree stand watching a water hole when up walks a nice 6x6,  He aims his bow and shoots, ooops, the arrow went to the left.  The bull is still standing there..shoots again, off to the left again.  this happened 5 times.  Gary said when Jack came back to camp he was not happy, apparently had a bit of a tantrum throwing arrows around.  The next day he remedied the stituation.  He was shooting with his left eye hence the reason for the arrows going left.  They put tape on his glasses and he was able to shoot straight and true.  That evening he finally got a kill.
Gary is excited to get out in the woods and do some hunting once again.  He will be hunting in the Willaims area this year,.  GOOD LUCK!

STARTING SOMETHING NEW

I have started a blog for my seminary class.  If anyone is interested in what I do every morning at
 6 a.m.  you can read about it on this site.   http://www.seniorseminary.blogspot.com/
This way I can keep what Gary,  Garrett and I are doing separate from my daily going-ons with the kids at seminary.

My most recent HAPPY THOGUHT

Yesterday Gary surprised me with a Mini Cooper.  He brought one home from the car  lot.  I took it for a quick trip around the block.  Wish I could have driven it for a road trip. 

  It was fun to drive my dream car.