tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89945012563308996802009-11-14T22:22:21.757-07:00"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." -Benjamin DisraeliGerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-78279586884686516172009-11-14T19:52:00.007-07:002009-11-14T22:11:16.768-07:00

Some days I miss my dad a lot.Some days, for no particular reason, I will have him on my mind all day long.Other days something will trigger that place in my brain where all of my 'dad-memories' are stored.In either case there is nothing much to do about it... except to remember.When you lose someone you love to death, there is no describing the range of emotions experienced. I'm not sure I can

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-65401127104246504522009-11-13T08:00:00.008-07:002009-11-13T08:00:05.973-07:00

We got our new family pictures done recently and we love how they turned out!The whole crewCoolisterElemenoBThumbelinaThe "big girls"All-a-BoyCowgirl PrincessThe "Little Girls"Curly HubbaLittle OIn true form...Want to see more? Go check out the rest (and some of my favorites!)at our awesome photographer's blog.I am thankful to have a friend with an amazing talent for photography! All photos are

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-59070990675029946942009-11-12T10:03:00.003-07:002009-11-12T10:29:04.492-07:00

photo from makeandtake.comHave you ever been in a thankful mood,Where thoughts in your mind have simmered and stewed,So you went and sat down and took the timeTo turn those thoughts into a "Thankful' rhyme?I did - it's at Four Perspectives today.Come see if you like what I've tried to convey.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-53938724146309539742009-11-11T12:13:00.000-07:002009-11-11T12:20:26.246-07:00

Fifteen years ago today, I fell in love.We were expecting our second child and had decided not to find out the baby's gender. We already had a boy, and I was secretly wishing for a girl. My wish was granted in the early morning hours of November 11, 1994 as we welcomed ElemenoB into our family.I loved everything about her from the start. Her thick, dark hair, her pouty little lips and large,

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-21417497219789840892009-11-10T16:33:00.003-07:002009-11-10T16:40:22.157-07:00

Three out of three UDOT males agree...Manual labor is women's work.Today I am thankful that my brother likes to take awesome pictures with his iPhone. Thanks, Chip!

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-22749468577456139912009-11-09T13:04:00.007-07:002009-11-09T14:38:38.370-07:00

photo from ehow.comToday I am thankful for the websites which show me how to get all sorts of free stuff.(Because I like free stuff.)My favorite is Money Saving Mom. In just the past week I have received all sorts of free stuff in the mail from deals she has posted about. Stuff like a coupon for a free 20 ounce lemonade. Stuff like full-sized boxes of 100% real garlic mashed potatoes and

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-71614683082672992502009-11-08T17:02:00.005-07:002009-11-08T17:40:26.906-07:00

Last week I was having a discussion with my Sunday class of 4-5 year olds about who their heroes are.BatMay-un, SpydoMay-un and even Hannah Muntana were mentioned.To clarify, I asked them to think of people they would want to be like, those whom they looked up to and thought were amazing.BatMay-un, SpydoMay-un and SooPaGul were named.I explained further that Superheroes were, in fact, amazing,

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-89194609451154549912009-11-07T10:09:00.007-07:002009-11-07T10:41:33.294-07:00

Every year I am required to attend 20 hours worth of interpreting workshops to maintain my certification. Last night a workshop was offered for FREE, and being the penny-pinching, thrift-loving money-miser that I am, I could not resist.Apparently, no one else could either.Aside from the fact that it was an interesting and informative class, it was like a reunion of sorts. (Almost) EVERYONE was

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-63077251566411257192009-11-06T08:22:00.008-07:002009-11-06T12:57:19.268-07:00

above photo from thesweettoothfairy.com - all other photos by meWhen I discover a treat that I cannot get enough of, I usually try to duplicate it. For example, Double Fudge Cake Bites from The Sweet Tooth Fairy. The first time I ventured into their shop I was offered a sample of these little morsels of heaven and my taste buds screamed with joy! I knew I had to make them on my own to appease

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-50189081418486275252009-11-05T15:41:00.003-07:002009-11-05T15:46:20.836-07:00

Have your local radio stations been playing Christmas music since the day after Halloween? Did you know there is another holiday between Halloween and Christmas? It's true! There is! Want to know how to give this holiday the recognition it deserves?I'd love to tell you all about it... come join me over at Four Perspectives.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-44822490604373288982009-11-04T05:52:00.007-07:002009-11-04T07:34:22.123-07:00

I have been looking forward to telling you everything that I am thankful for today. This one's easy... I am thankful for this guy.Today Allen celebrates his 40th birthday. So first off, let's give credit where credit is due: I am thankful to my sweet mother-in-law for getting him here. And for raising him the way that she did so that I could have such a great man for my husband.I won't get

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-12046861414334287572009-11-03T10:30:00.003-07:002009-11-03T10:51:54.595-07:00

On Sunday our family enjoyed dinner with cousins Glen and Jeannette. It is not often that our large family is invited over for dinner - and understandably so. However, Glen and Allen were born less than a week apart from each other and grew up more as brothers than cousins, so we were invited over and enjoyed celebrating their birthdays together.Cousin Glen (pronounced Guh-Len, in case you

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-35930887774017021422009-11-02T09:52:00.003-07:002009-11-02T10:12:10.611-07:00

Today I am thankful for kids who love autumn as much as I do. In Utah autumn is just a blink between summer and winter so we try to enjoy it fully while it's here. We play in the leaves, bake up pumpkin-infused treats and eat them until we almost turn orange, and marvel over the brilliance of the changing colors on the mountains that surround us. The photo above is by Thumbelina, taken a couple

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-70223918680670878802009-11-01T22:21:00.006-07:002009-11-01T22:51:09.794-07:00

I'm jumping on the bandwagon and posting every day for the month of November. I will post about something I am thankful for everyday until Thanksgiving... but for the days after Thanksgiving, it's free game.Actually, the whole month is free game, but I promise to try. If I post everyday, I am going to give myself some sort of award or something because frankly, I'll deserve it.Today I want to

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-6544247331850228742009-10-31T13:24:00.003-06:002009-10-31T13:28:56.795-06:00

(And that's all I'm going to say about that...)Happy Halloween, everyone!cartoon from inkygirl.com

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-42598455110804781252009-10-29T11:08:00.002-06:002009-10-29T11:10:38.737-06:00

Do you remember some of the defining moments in your life?Come over to Four Perspectives and read about one of mine.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-7443979981838050702009-10-28T08:12:00.008-06:002009-10-28T08:50:25.053-06:00

This is how we usually decorate our house for Halloween each year.But for this year... nothing. We decided to use the time required for set-up towards installing a fence instead - something we've wanted for 12 years. So to make it up to our kids we've done a few other things to keep the Halloween spirit alive this year; one of these things was promising the 4 oldest kids a trip to the Haunted

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-71378918480769886652009-10-26T14:24:00.006-06:002009-10-26T15:26:45.732-06:00

(Note: To protect the children in the following story, I will give them non-gender names. They are referred to as Kid 1 and Kid 2.)Yesterday was our church's Primary Program, which is the day when all of the kids pretty much take over the main meeting (under the direction of a few adults) with songs and talks. Needless to say, it's pretty much my favorite day at church of the entire year.My

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-78699613176648704112009-10-23T06:07:00.002-06:002009-10-23T06:07:00.454-06:00

I spotted this sign in W-Mart this week:...and I couldn't help but think, really? Is that sign seriously necessary?I mean, I'll be the first to admit that we live in a conservative state. And I know that I live in a city where the local university is constantly recognized for their squeaky clean image.But, really?I tried to imagine what would necessitate posting such a sign, and here is the

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-77842644641062113902009-10-22T07:51:00.005-06:002009-10-22T11:54:03.188-06:00

Have you noticed this little button at the top of my sidebar over there? >>>>Do you remember this post?Well, guess what?(you didn't think I would make it that easy, did you?)CLICK HERE to jump over to Four Perspectives and read about what is consuming my thoughts today.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-74602215873426320402009-10-15T14:47:00.004-06:002009-10-15T14:53:50.784-06:00

(Me & pal Debi, all gussied up for a trip to the mall. We liked to draw attention to ourselves.) Have you ever wished you could write your past self a letter? Perhaps offered some much-needed advice?I have. And I did.Come see what I had to say to myself over at Four Perspectives!

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-70085570749239112552009-10-14T06:08:00.001-06:002009-10-14T06:08:00.480-06:00

Chip and I, circa 1980.I have been blessed with many super, great, amazing, wonderful (insert every happy adjective here) friends in my life, but over time I have realized that the best of them all is the one my parents gave me when I was 19 months old... my little brother.Growing up, people were constantly amazed that we got along so well. Some even asked if we were twins because we shared a

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-71499722988118828592009-10-13T14:55:00.002-06:002009-10-13T14:57:39.466-06:00

Have you heard of minute mysteries? My kids go through stages where they love these things. I pretty much always think they're ridiculous because they are so open-ended that anything could be the answer.Here's an example of a minute-mystery conversation in our house:Kids: Hey, mom... Bob is a delivery man who is in a hurry. He's coming up on a railroad crossing as the barriers start lowering.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-73523216374591759672009-10-11T18:04:00.003-06:002009-10-11T18:14:27.523-06:00

Well, I am home. Back to the land of crisp autumn weather, a colorful landscape and every child in my home infected with the cursed Swine Flu. (I wish I was kidding.)Did you miss my weekly post over at Four Perspectives last Thursday? (I'm going to pretend you said yes.) Well, I have something for you then...Want to know what I think heaven will be like? Just CLICK HERE.

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994501256330899680.post-8245081117375486352009-10-09T08:40:00.002-06:002009-10-09T08:47:05.621-06:00

Thanks so much for all of your well-wishes after my last post. Here's a quick update that's a bit more specific...My 'adopted mom' had a brain tumor. It was successfully removed on Tuesday and we are awaiting results from the tumor's biopsy which are hopefully coming today. So far everything looks wonderful and mom is doing great. She actually seems just like herself - talking, walking and

Gerbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103247512887532095noreply@blogger.com12