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Rested all day today; I still have very little energy. Sharon called and we talked for a while, which was very nice! =D I asked Sharon about the five types of love; she is definitely not a person who feels loved when people give her stuff, but she isn't sure what category she would be in. Since I couldn't remember most of the categories, and she had not heard of it, I need to give her more info. She describes herself as "the hamster ball girl" referring to last week's facebook viral cartoon. (Note to self: find that cartoon again.) She is definitely not comfortable being the center of attention!
I asked her what she wants for her birthday; she wants either an itunes gift card or an amazon gift card, so she can get music and especially books for her brand-new iPad. I also talked to her about me wanting a 60th birthday party, even if we end up doing it via Skype. She saw that Jonathan and Sara got enough snow this morning to build a small snowman, whereas I got only a dusting. Its amazing what a difference 20 minutes west of here can make!
Sharon's favorite color is still blue, just as it was when she was little. She remembered that she was given the little red chair, and Beth received the blue chair, when she was 4 and Beth was newly turned 3. They ended up swapping chairs. Thank goodness Beth's favorite color was red so they weren't fighting over the same chair! Sharon's favorite book before she was able to read independently was "The Shepherd's New Cloak"; after she could read on her own, it became the Chinese Fairy Tales book, which might actually be named Tales of a Chinese Grandmother, I am not sure. That was as far as we got with the 10 questions; they had a birthday party to go to. But while talking to Sharon, I remembered that Amanda's favorite book when she was little was "The Paper Bag Princess", so I will have to add that to Amanda's list.
More good news is I think the ulcer on the roof of my mouth has finally healed up, hooray! Celebrated with some popcorn tonight =)
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
I Scrapped a Layout!!
I worked nearly all day decluttering computer software on Tuesday, and wore myself out. Wednesday I slept most of the day, and when I finally woke up enough to do anything, I decided that I had earned a day off from decluttering, so I made a scrapbook layout about my Mom's 80th birthday instead. It took me many hours (I am the slowest scrapper in the world lol) but I am immensely pleased with it. A Drop of Awesome for me, for actually finishing a creative project, instead of just planning and thinking about it! After I declutter today, I am going to work on loading the layout onto my blog, then make one (or maybe more!) layout(s). I need to stay awake today, so I can sleep tonight.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Thanksgiving 2012, Revisited
11-22-12 ~ I had a wonderful day today! I think it is a result of feeling especially grateful for so many things this year--my wonderful family and friends; better health on less prednisone than I have been able to do for years; my strong testimony and love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. All these things have especially reminded me that Thanksgiving is so much more than a national holiday romanticizing the relationship between Pilgrims and Native Americans, so much more than an excuse to overeat. Enjoying the company of those we love is so much more important than when, where, and what we will eat to commemorate the day.
Jay and Sara are at Sara's parents in Gastonia, Amanda and Brandon are at Brandon's grandparents in Fayetteville. I stayed home and made a gluten-free pumpkin pie, but then I received a surprise invitation to the Despains for Thanksgiving dinner! They picked me up at 12:30, and I was back homeat 3:45 p.m. I had a lovely time, and took my pumpkin pie with me. After blessing the food, we took turns going around the table to say what we were grateful for this year. The food was delicious, and the company was very nice as well.
Sharon called after I returned home, and I enjoyed talking to her and hearing about her week. She and Sam celebrated Thanksgiving with friends at their house on Tuesday evening this year, and tomorrow [Friday] they are getting together with other friends for a Christmas movie marathon.
Then I called Mom and talked to her and Ruth for a bit. After that, I called Beth--I struck out there, but I think that means Beth felt well enough to travel and they are either at Andy's sister's or his parents for Thanksgiving, so that is another blessing. Anyway, I left her a message, and will see if she returns my call later today or tomorrow.
Now the day is over, but I am not feeling sad nor lonely. I am all full of "warm fuzzies and gratitude!
Jay and Sara are at Sara's parents in Gastonia, Amanda and Brandon are at Brandon's grandparents in Fayetteville. I stayed home and made a gluten-free pumpkin pie, but then I received a surprise invitation to the Despains for Thanksgiving dinner! They picked me up at 12:30, and I was back homeat 3:45 p.m. I had a lovely time, and took my pumpkin pie with me. After blessing the food, we took turns going around the table to say what we were grateful for this year. The food was delicious, and the company was very nice as well.
Sharon called after I returned home, and I enjoyed talking to her and hearing about her week. She and Sam celebrated Thanksgiving with friends at their house on Tuesday evening this year, and tomorrow [Friday] they are getting together with other friends for a Christmas movie marathon.
Then I called Mom and talked to her and Ruth for a bit. After that, I called Beth--I struck out there, but I think that means Beth felt well enough to travel and they are either at Andy's sister's or his parents for Thanksgiving, so that is another blessing. Anyway, I left her a message, and will see if she returns my call later today or tomorrow.
Now the day is over, but I am not feeling sad nor lonely. I am all full of "warm fuzzies and gratitude!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Christmas, Revisited
Clean, toss, unclutter...this is beginning to read like a middle-schooler's "dear diary". Time to try something different!
12-25-12 ~ I had a lovely Christmas with Jonathan and Amanda's families at Amanda and Brandon's home! Amanda and Brandon picked me up at 11 a.m. I had baked apple crumb pie and Sara's pumpkin pie that morning -- the pumpkin pie was HOT out of the oven. Picture transporting hot, juicy pie over 5 miles of periodically bumpy road while Amanda dodged man-hole covers and other drivers. Brandon told me if he ended up with pie on his clothes that he would "kill" me! Fortunately, thanks to Amanda's skillful driving and his quick reflexes, the pies stayed in their pie plates where they belonged.
At Amanda's, we ate a light lunch (okay, mostly we snacked) while preparing my family's traditional Christmas dinner: standing rib roast, Delmonico potatoes, candied parsnips, baby peas, butternut squash, and banana bread.
We exchanged gifts while food baked and simmered. Jonathan and kiddos' arrival was perfectly timed! Watching small children open and play with their gifts was so much fun! Xander, 16 months, pulled his Christmas gift from Sharon out of the box, and then proceeded to play with the box for the next hour. (Days later, that box was still his favorite Christmas toy.) Aaron, almost 3 years old, enjoyed opening gifts the most. He wanted to unwrap everyone's! Lily, 3 and a half, liked the 60-piece dragon puzzle from Great Grandma D the most. Jo had received a beautifully colored red and blue betta fish at home, so she loved her clown fish pillow from Sharon. Ammon, who had been given a live hermit crab at home, was thrilled with the hermit crab soft puppet Sharon gave him. (Amazingly, none of these gifts were planned between the two families.) Christmas is still magical if there is a small child involved!
Jonathan and Brandon gave each other NERF automatic weapons. After assembling them and teaching all of us correct gun part terminology (a major undertaking), the two of them battled it out for control of the kitchen and living room. No one was spared! Careful! Don't shoot your eye out!! We all laughed and squealed when hit by the soft foam "bullets". At first, Lily and Xander hid behind boxes and the curtains, but eventually when the laughter was not followed by anyone crying (Jonathan's kids had played this game before), they came out and attacked their father and uncle too. Even Xander took his share of "hits" and loved it. I have never seen our family let loose and have as much fun with each other as adults as they did Christmas afternoon!
Dinner was only 15 minutes off-schedule. The roast beef was perfect, everything was hot, and nothing was over- or under-done. We made a great team of chefs, disproving the old saw that "too many cooks spoil the broth". Only Amanda and I ate parsnips, although everyone tried them.
I couldn't believe it when Jay insisted he had never had them before. Amanda exclaimed, "Mom always makes these!" He still insisted he didn't remember them and finally replied, "that doesn't mean I ever ate them." After trying them and pulling a face, Amanda said with dry humor, "Apparently you tried them once and disliked them so much that you blocked them from your memory." "That's okay, there's all the more for me!" I laughed and exclaimed between mouthfuls. There was so much food, no one went hungry. I shared leftovers with all and still had plenty of everything to take home with me. Most of us were too full for dessert!
12-25-12 ~ I had a lovely Christmas with Jonathan and Amanda's families at Amanda and Brandon's home! Amanda and Brandon picked me up at 11 a.m. I had baked apple crumb pie and Sara's pumpkin pie that morning -- the pumpkin pie was HOT out of the oven. Picture transporting hot, juicy pie over 5 miles of periodically bumpy road while Amanda dodged man-hole covers and other drivers. Brandon told me if he ended up with pie on his clothes that he would "kill" me! Fortunately, thanks to Amanda's skillful driving and his quick reflexes, the pies stayed in their pie plates where they belonged.
At Amanda's, we ate a light lunch (okay, mostly we snacked) while preparing my family's traditional Christmas dinner: standing rib roast, Delmonico potatoes, candied parsnips, baby peas, butternut squash, and banana bread.
We exchanged gifts while food baked and simmered. Jonathan and kiddos' arrival was perfectly timed! Watching small children open and play with their gifts was so much fun! Xander, 16 months, pulled his Christmas gift from Sharon out of the box, and then proceeded to play with the box for the next hour. (Days later, that box was still his favorite Christmas toy.) Aaron, almost 3 years old, enjoyed opening gifts the most. He wanted to unwrap everyone's! Lily, 3 and a half, liked the 60-piece dragon puzzle from Great Grandma D the most. Jo had received a beautifully colored red and blue betta fish at home, so she loved her clown fish pillow from Sharon. Ammon, who had been given a live hermit crab at home, was thrilled with the hermit crab soft puppet Sharon gave him. (Amazingly, none of these gifts were planned between the two families.) Christmas is still magical if there is a small child involved!
Jonathan and Brandon gave each other NERF automatic weapons. After assembling them and teaching all of us correct gun part terminology (a major undertaking), the two of them battled it out for control of the kitchen and living room. No one was spared! Careful! Don't shoot your eye out!! We all laughed and squealed when hit by the soft foam "bullets". At first, Lily and Xander hid behind boxes and the curtains, but eventually when the laughter was not followed by anyone crying (Jonathan's kids had played this game before), they came out and attacked their father and uncle too. Even Xander took his share of "hits" and loved it. I have never seen our family let loose and have as much fun with each other as adults as they did Christmas afternoon!
Dinner was only 15 minutes off-schedule. The roast beef was perfect, everything was hot, and nothing was over- or under-done. We made a great team of chefs, disproving the old saw that "too many cooks spoil the broth". Only Amanda and I ate parsnips, although everyone tried them.
I couldn't believe it when Jay insisted he had never had them before. Amanda exclaimed, "Mom always makes these!" He still insisted he didn't remember them and finally replied, "that doesn't mean I ever ate them." After trying them and pulling a face, Amanda said with dry humor, "Apparently you tried them once and disliked them so much that you blocked them from your memory." "That's okay, there's all the more for me!" I laughed and exclaimed between mouthfuls. There was so much food, no one went hungry. I shared leftovers with all and still had plenty of everything to take home with me. Most of us were too full for dessert!
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