This week 24-30th of Jan 2011

Put out the Valentine's Day stuff...and replaced pretzels in the HOT TAMALE jar back with hot tamales. Had to abandon the hot tamales a while back because I LIKE THEM TOO MUCH...upon taking photo...hoping to heck I did not single handedly eat these down this far, because it WAS filled to the top...
LOVING the new hutch and it's "holiday" space.

REALLY ENJOYED the unexpected ALL DAY LONG snow storm on Tuesday that kept us all in...and my sewing machine humming...this will be the new Valentine's Quilt. Sam and Spencer were sick so I loaded up on DVD's at Blockbuster and we had a LOVELY LOVELY stay at home movie fest for the day...we watched Secretariat, The Guardians, Creation, RED (again)...It was kind of like the Saturday you always dream about, but never happens because there is too much to do...here's hoping it happens again soon!!!

I GOT CALLED TO JURY DUTY!!! I report Feb. 7th. Not so sure I would be a good juror. I will err on the side of MERCY. Unless of course you happened to have messed with my children....then, Heaven help us all. Will be interesting.

Still working on the weight. Yep, even as I sit here sipping on my Pero, heavy on the Irish Cream and wondering if the boys ate all the vanilla oreo's last night...accepting all prayers in my behalf. Swimsuit season is coming. My favorite new rationalization seems to be "You are 47. You look FINE..you are NOT 20 anymore...NO ONE CARES EXCEPT YOU." Amazing how many times that can surface in my brain in a day's time.

Nana has come to my mind several times this week...each time we are in her trailer eating Ritz crackers with a hunk of sharp cheddar cheese and grape jelly on top. The Price Is Right is on the TV. Odd how memories are triggered...and I ALWAYS wonder WHY. I was going to pull her up on my genealogy program to see if it was her birthday or if we are near some other important of her life events, when I realized I don't have it loaded ANYWHERE. I wondered then about GGDad Arthur who I never remember knowing...guess I'll work on that later today.

Megan and Don have been car shopping every second that Megan is available which isn't very often...the joy of youth. That girl has just a few too many things on her plate. Missing her. Michael went up to visit Josh this weekend and I was dang glad of it. I am so not loving Josh being in Logan. Growing pains. Spencer did NOT get his mission call but it seems to be in almost every other thought I think. This Wednesday maybe??? Actually, forget the weight prayers...focus on ME and WHERE he goes....as I watched him play his intramural basketball game this week I was struck again at how he really is a MAN and not my little boy. Same with Sam. The basketball games have been fun, yet awakening to how few we have left before they are off and I have NO games to go to......I will find games. I will MAKE them play city until I die??? My saddened brain has no reasoning skills at the moment.

We are but angels with one wing, and it takes 2 to fly....

One day last spring I noticed that my garden angel had lost her wing and I was sad because I couldn't think HOW I would get another to replace it. That VERY DAY I was at a friend's home and saw this picture (below) and thought "how odd that twice in ONE day I would see 2 angels with only one wing". Later that week I came across the same painting (James Christianson) in an art gallery and bought it for my office...LOVING what he had written about it..."WE ARE BUT ANGELS WITH ONE WING AND IT TAKES 2 TO FLY". I wanna be an angel and I wanna FLY.
I am smiling at the coincidence this morning when I took down my calendar to write new upcoming events on it, when I noticed the TITLE....JOURNEY TO WINGS...hmmmmmm.

Genes and Jeans....

This is my tiny, beautiful sister Sheri. Yep. We share the same genes. I WISH WE COULD SHARE THE SAME JEANS. But alas, Sheri would NEVER be lured by one of these....
or even STOP IN if the sign said something like this...
I on the other hand (with current rounded face and butt), not ONLY turned my car into the establishment,.... I ordered, drooled, inhaled and want to go back for more...RIGHT NOW. I give THE CHOCOLATE 10 Stars...no make that a GAZILLION!!!!!
It seems when I have a rough real estate day I convince myself that I DESERVE IT. These magical cakes make tomorrow ALL BETTER for a new start. It has NOTHING to do with a monthly cycle... Or the Angels forgetting to leave me my magic wand for this earth trip.

Drew is 10!!!!!

And she talked her parents into getting her ears pierced (not sure WHY it took so long when DAD has had his pierced for YEARS.... :) couldn't help it baby brother!!!) You look ADORABLE Drew!
This is our BEAUTIFUL Drew. She turned 10 yesterday. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! We are sad that she had strep on her birthday.

Spencer's New Baby :)

I LOVE to hear him play. This guitar is his belated Christmas present...he was going to go to Pebble Beach to watch one last PGA tournament before his mission...but he changed his mind and now we have Black Beauty in the living room....and ohhhh, he makes her sound BEAUTIFUL.

BLISS

supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment. The Joy of HEAVEN!!

The snow has mostly melted. The sky is as blue as I've ever seen it. The clouds are speaking to me with their shapes. The air is super nippy but a buzz to breathe in deep while blanketed in the 104 degree hot tub water. My chickens are clucking softly and letting me know they appreciate their food source. The pool sits waiting for Spring with memories of last summer screaming happiness through my brain matter. My gratitude for my healthy, strong body that longs to dance and run and hug and play is overwhelming. I can count about 11 head of deer behind the back fence seeming to try to congregate close to me to get "in" my unbelievable energy space. The trees are filling with birds. I FEEL myself radiating. I AM. All are sleeping. Except Don who is somewhere inside doing his Sunday stuff. And me...I just AM. It is a feeling far beyond contentment. I know with every fiber that I have Heavenly Parents, Angels, Guardians and Guides that surround me. I know that for right now, I am perfect, whole and complete in my journey. I think this is BLISS. I want to learn to keep this with me ALWAYS. But for now, right now....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Night

UPSTAIRS we were having the Olsen's and Butler's for dinner (Tonya had a bad headache and couldn't come) when Megan got back from her Denver trip with her FFA kids to the big rodeo...so she took Tonya's place.
DOWNSTAIRS in the family room Sam and friends were having BARGAIN DINNER before their BARGAIN BALL with the theme NERDS IN LOVE. (they had a photo booth at the dance and their pics are ADORABLE...my scanner isn't co-operating so I will have to post them later) The came back after the dance to Hot Tub and eat penny(Bargain) candy.


In the MAN CAVE (spencer's room) the "brethren" began to gather for their Saturday night activity which included Halo, cutting Jordan's hair, various beautiful females coming and going and eating lots of Valentine treats from the kitchen.
The WHOLE HOUSE was rockin'! What will I ever do when they are all gone? Really, seriously...WHAT WILL I DO?

Goddesses

Dear Goddesses who gathered here today.....SO SAD I didn't have a picture of us! But THANK YOU for letting my basement "clean out" be the BINGO prizes that you so graciously carried away from my home. THANK YOU for letting me tell you about the CHAINBREAKERS FOUNDATION and being willing to help out. THANK YOU for the Vegas planning. THANK YOU for the yummy treats brought. THANK YOU for loving me and letting me be me. THANK YOU for who you are.
GODDESSES are eternal. That thought alone makes this life easier. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!

Karie Cooper brought a CRAZY GOOD recipe to share, so here you go:

Cedar Plank Fish
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup Rice Vinegar
2 T Veggie Oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 LG garlic cloves
2 sprigs of rosemary

Combine this in saucepan and heat until thickened.
Soak the cedar plank in water for 30 minutes. Dip salmon in sauce and let sit for 20 mins. Place salmon on plank skin side down. Cook on BBQ for 20 minutes. Rebaste if you want to!

K---I say we do this for the MAY Gathering of the Goddesses for lunch:)!!!!

Visualizing

People can say what they want...but I TESTIFY...IT WORKS....today Megan found out that Triple A TOTALED her car-- (a big doubt in EVERYONE---including the adjuster's mind!). She and I visualized it being totaled all week (the car has been a lemon). TODAY they called to tell her they TOTALLED IT and that they were giving her $2600 ABOVE what she owed. Amen and Amen.
Working on world peace, and MY WORLD peace...please join in :) xx00xx

Joshy home for the weekend

Josh came home for the long weekend...CLEAN SHAVEN!!! But this photo above was a step along the way. Cracks me up how they have to play with their facial hair for a while once they get home from the mission. Utah State doesn't have any facial hair rules so I'll keep a visual record of what comes next :) LOVE YOU YOU BEAUTIFUL CHILD!!! Megan spent the weekend in Vegas partying with Snoop Dog and Ray J (literally), Michael chilled in Provo, Spencer and Sam had every 15-19 year old person within a 20 mile radius HERE for all night Poker, Pool, Ping Pong and Halo tournaments, oh... and Beto runs :). And Don and I just watched from the middle, the sides, the back, the front....and loved our kids. Note to all men...the OLD SPICE body wash called PURE SPORT...good stuff!

CLOVER CANNON COMES TO EARTH!!!

Two of the most beautiful people on the planet married each other. Now they have a daughter. So, just HOW BEAUTIFUL can ONE person be????? And that's just Clover's PHYSICAL genetic make up....her mother and Grandmother are ANGELS on earth....we are SO EXCITED to have you here! Finally! WELCOME Clover. I am hoping for QUANTITY SNUGGIN' Time....I will be patient and wait my turn :) Shannon, I love you. Sorry about the C-section. After 5 of them I really mean SORRY.

WHY I GO TO CHURCH

This is WHY. It's my weekly kid fix. I have thought LONG and HARD about WHY I GO...many times actually. 3 hours is just so DANG LONG for little guys (WAIT...and for ME!!!)! Even though I'd change a few things if anyone would let me (like 2 hours MAX), I am grateful that they get the foundation here that there IS A GOD and that they have HEAVENLY PARENTS who are crazy mad in love with them and a Savior who realized they WILL make mistakes. A Savior who encourages us to hurry to say we are sorry and get back on our way to loving. And being loved...that feels BESTEST. Okay, so sometimes there are things taught that make me feel a little crazy and it doesn't feel so loving...so yep...I just take the parts I like. I LIKE Primary. (see the little girl in the pink in the middle? She is dead asleep...no one dared move her and she just slept through all that noise and playing and treats....)

Band of Brothers....

Jordan (furthest left) was called to serve in the Phillipines on Sunday....and these guys were just heading out to Keaton Secretan's farewell...all this dang GOING...they pushed the "BUTTON" for Spencer on Sunday...so we should be getting "the LETTER" in the next 3 weeks....anybody have an extra oxygen tank they could spare a mother???

Remember my 4 year old BFF?

well....she turned FIVE!!!!!! LOVE YOU MOLLY!!!

Operation Smile

After my book deluge and then the Social Network movie and my Sister Kelly loving secretly on her neighbors, and then THIS COMMERCIAL...I just really wanted to do SOMETHING to contribute MORE to world happiness. And I especially wanted it to bless CHILDREN. I pay my tithing and fast offerings...but there is never an accounting, like,.... I don't really FEEL apart of the difference it makes...do you know what I mean? We just pay it. 1o+% of your income is a healthy chunk not to FEEL. I have so many examples of people in my life who spend lots of time and resources making the world a better place. (Barb M is one of my personal hero's in this department). So in 2011, I am resolute to support Operation Smile and am still looking for other child blessed organizations. Do you have any favorites?

Social Network

This movie rocked my socks and I THOUGHT I didn't care to see it!!! The kids brought it home from Redbox....GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!! What would it be like to have mothered this child? I was overwhelmed at how much came to him and how fast...and considering his age, I think he did great...what INCREDULOUS creations don't come with the price of adversity and mis step? Bless his heart, mind and life to come. I am excited to watch what he will now do with his Billions to continue on in his loving the world. THINK of the sweet sweet energy he has brought to the planet in "connecting" us.....

Where have I been for a week?...

Reuniting with my IPOD while doing 2 a day exercising...and let me just take a moment to do a commercial for AUDIBLE .COM!!!!! A M A Z I N G site!!! It has like EVERY BOOK you could ever want!!! You just give them your credit card and then they download it into your ITUNES and VIOLA!!!! I have been slightly gluttonous with my first month subscriptions...but every book has been delightful.

Mangled Morning

Megan ran a red light without realizing it on her way to class this morning and caused a NASTY accident. It gave me great pause as I thought of my morning prayer to help Josh through his first day, and ALL of us, especially the kids as they would be driving the icy roads. It was a MIRACLE that no one was hurt and only the cars. Kate Braestrup said in the book I wrote about a bit ago HERE IF YOU NEED ME: "A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by Gratitude."
IT WAS A MIRACLE!!!!!!

Date

Went on a last "date" with Josh and Megan before taking him to school...had MY favorite tortellini alla panna at La Dulce Vida. Then we went to this show. LOVED it. Already was a Gwyneth fan...but WHO KNEW that girl could SING?? I wanted the sound track the second I got out of there. I was sad to find that they put Faith Hill's version of GIVE IN TO ME on the sound track instead of the one in the movie...someone made a wrong call....in my opinion of course.

ICKY WEIRDNESS

I think I'm NEVER going to get use to my kids going away...not for sleepovers, not for ball camps, NOT for MISSIONS.....and NOT FOR SCHOOL!!!! We took Josh to Utah State today. This is his apartment. It was decent enough...I just want him to be WARM and FED and HAPPY!!! There are 6 guys and only ONE shower...in girl terms that would mean murder. We got his groceries stocked up, his cleaning supplies...but I just wanted to stock up the COME HOME EVERY WEEKEND...I know its silly. I know it. But I still feel that way. Such a beautiful perfect child. He JUST got home, I am so not ready to share. The great news is that Preston and Jeremy and their families will gobble him up and help him with anything. I think I will be "sleeping over" with the nieces ALOT this next year.




It was Jeremy's birthday December 18th and Preston's on the 6th of January so we all went out to CELEBRATE at AGGY's before I left the boy alone and carless. I LOVE my family. I mean, I really really really really LOVE them...Graham is talking up a storm, doesn't like ice cream until it melts because it is too cold. The girlies just live in their own world together making me wish I had known the intimacy and sweetness of a cousin. Jeremy is getting RIPPED with his dedication to P90X--he got to dinner a bit late because he went to check on a baby he delivered to a 16 year old girl earlier today that he was worried about. Kori gave me her latest book list (gotta check out CRYSTAL CASTLE. Talk about buffed...tiny, sweet, LITTLE Jeremi is now adding the Paleo diet to her health and fitness journey. Preston ordered a beer to celebrate the Birthday and just loves me even though they all know I'm nuts. Josh will be in great hands. I just wanted them to be in MY HANDS...guess I'm going to have to look in Logan for some real estate.
We came home from the long day to Rueben (Spencer's friend--ours too) bringing his date in to HOT TUB...WITHOUT SPENCER even being home. London and Tanner in the basement building with the poker chips and cards, Sam and many other friends having some video game tournament, Michael bringing a darling red head home to watch a movie....I'm so glad they are all here. But it still doesn't make up for Josh NOT being here. Yep. ICKY WEIRDNESS.

My BLOG Book came!

At the end of each year Megan works her magic on the computer and has my BLOG bound into a book that is SOOOOOOoooooo COOL! Thanks lovey for helping me! As I flip through the pages I am grateful for my life....

Gives me a BUZZ

I am so HAPPY these 2 people have $11 of my dollars to begin living their new dreams with. Just makes me SMILE!!! Think of the thoughts and laughter they have had in the last 24 hours. I can feel it from here!! My dream is to have that kind of money that allows me to create from such a different place. Instead of ME looking for wealthy investors to invest in my clients projects...they would come to ME ...and we would build the destination for men that is a DISNEYLAND OF GOLF (for Spencer), ...and ALOT of other projects...

Mega Millions Winner Is Retired Man From Washington

A retired man from Ephrata, Wash., will step forward today to claim his Mega Millions and become the country's newest gazillionaire.

The winner is one of two people who picked the correct numbers and lay claim to his share of the $380 million Mega Millions bonanza. The other winner is from Idaho, but has not contacted lottery officials.

Washington Lottery Communications Director Scott Kinney said the Washington winner is a retired man who plans to bring his family to claim his winnings today. Kinney said that the new tycoon's family has a "great story."

The man bought the ticket at a Safeway store in the small town of Ephrata, a town of fewer than 7,000 people who pronounce their town as e-FRAY-ta.

Kinney said the winner hand-picked the magic numbers at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The winner was feeling so lucky, he bought two tickets. Besides the golden ticket, the second one was worth $150.

The numbers drawn in the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history were: 4, 8, 15, 25, 47, and the Mega Ball number was 42.

The Safeway store that sold the winning ticket will receive $50,000.

The $380 million jackpot will be split between the two holders of the winning tickets.

A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT today, when the player holding the winning $190 million ticket will be revealed, Washington Lottery officials said.

Idaho Winner Still a Mystery

LOVE THIS PIC OF MY KIDS!!!

They are at Megan's Christmas Benefit Ball....she has so many causes I can't remember this one!?! And EVERY cause is an excuse for a BIG BASH :)

Oprah's new Network... OWN..SO FAR...LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!

Oprah has a new show (well, they are ALL new...) called MASTER CLASS. It could NOT have been more brilliantly named. My soul was tutored. How they will get the rest of the series to come off as AMAZING as this one, I have no idea, but I don't doubt Oprah. I know I won't miss one. It made me want to work for Oprah SO badly. All these people I want to spend a day with sipping the cream off the top of WHO and HOW they are...I COULD!!!! I've never written a letter to Oprah, but I want to send her one with MY LIST of Master's, hoping she will spotlight them.
This show she featured Diane Sawyer. What a BEAUTIFUL woman...love and kindness. I have always loved Diane Sawyer...just like I love Oprah....if they are on the TV I WANT to hear what they have to say. Diane's quiet graciousness, that is filled with strength and love as she calls out hard topics and hits them on the head, has always drawn and bonded me to her. Her sweet realness is so appealing to me. I want to BE like her. I loved it at the end of the show when Oprah said she wanted to be like her too!
ANYWAY...something Diane said has affected me deeply...rarely does just a comment hit my soul about needed change in myself. I am sure it was able to slip in so boldly because it wasn't DIRECTED at me-- so my ego and pride had NO TIME to get in there and blow it off. Diane was talking about marriage and how she had interviewed some woman ( I wish I could give her credit) that had said to her about marriage "Criticism is just a really really bad way to make a request..." It STILL washes over me with warmth and goodness. I don't want to criticize---EVER. Criticism has never been an effective tool in helping ME change. Yet, dang it all, I CAN BE QUEEN of CRITICISM. I have been trying to work on myself when I have negative feelings...and almost always those feelings come through my mind as criticism---to myself or of others. This one phrase of light helps me SO MUCH. There is no need to criticize EVER if I can just learn to identify when I am doing it, and then make the REQUESTs that would change my negative feelings. And if the requests can't be met, then I can choose not to keep myself there or with that person.
Diane, I am SO GRATEFUL, YOU came to my world, and shared so much of your life and happiness processes with me. And Oprah honey...Best Friends forever---you never cease to astonish me. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in your energy space with SO MANY people LOVING on you and the miracles you provide for us. I wanna be like both of you before I exit this sphere.....

CODY the FIX IT GUY

Listen...if any of you ever need a general repair, fix it guy...I want to pass on CODY...his number is 801-420-2746. He has been here a few times to do the odd fix...ice machine maker, rewire a light,...I can't remember what else. But this morning when the dryer was on the blink...he TALKED ME THROUGH it on the phone!!! So now it is fixed and he won't let me pay him (so HE thinks...) I LOVE generous, smart, kind people....so please...send work his way if you need someone like that too!

I love it when...

....it is freezing outside but I am in the laundry room taking the warm clothes out for folding and I stand in the warm spot the sun has warmed for me by the window. I close my eyes and smell the fresh laundry and am still glad I can't take clothes out to the line....

Tuesday...still withdrawing...

I wonder if I was a fussy baby? A whiny toddler? A complaining teenager?
Another day and no IPOD classic 160 gig anywhere in Salt Lake or Utah Counties....how can that be? I feel like my binky has been taken away and they won't give it back....
And no way am I a BABY....I have turned totally geriatric...in years past the snow and ice never kept me off running the roads...and now I am terrified to try and run on the ice. So much so I am running round and round and round at the Rec Center.
Marcii ran the rec center circles with me this morning and made it doable. Only a truly BESTIE would do that for a friend. Love you woman.

Sweet Day to go Home

DEBORAH BURT

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Deborah Kay Burt 1953 ~ 2010 Welcome home! Well done good and faithful servant. Deborah Kay Burt passed through earth's veil into paradise Christmas morning December 25th 2010. She will be reunited with her father Kay O Burt, grandparents Sig (Buddy) & Ellen Mattey, aunt Marie, uncle Charles, Kristy, and many other family members. Deborah came to earth July 1953, she was part of the eternal family of Florence and K.O. Burt, and welcomed by two adoring brothers Richard & James Burt. She grew up in El Cajon California and because her father was in the water well business she visited many of the western states. Deb was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and later moved to Utah where she graduated from Springville High School in Springville. She pursued a higher education and graduated from the University of Utah with a Master's Degree. Deb was an Educational Therapist, a Learning Disability Specialist, and Behavioral Therapist. In Salt Lake City Deb reached out to those with learning difficulties and began her business of "Learning Differently." She took her endowment in the Salt Lake Temple and strived to live the Gospel. Deb loved all of Gods creations, she loved people, she loved animals especially her pets. Deb struggled to overcome health problems but always kept a good attitude. She loved Jesus Christ and set the example for her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by her mother Florence Burt, brothers Rick Burt and wife Susan, Jim Burt Sr. and wife Frances; nieces' Rhonda Buchanan, Lindsi Loveday, Emily Carter, Leesa Hicks, Denise Dunning; nephews James and Eric Burt, Robert & Martin Dunning, Joseph, Lloyd, Michael, and James Frazier, aunt Dottie Carrasco, many great nieces & nephews, cousins and Sharon Abeggland a longtime friend. Deb has completed her homebound journey to God. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 3, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Lindon Stake Center, 56 East 600 North, Lindon, where family and friends may attend a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery under the direction of Olpin Family Mortuary, Pleasant Grove. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com

Our neighborhood has had its fair share of partings this year. Deb has lived 2 houses down with her mom Florence for the past several years. Florence is 87 and has "mothered" me well. Florence helped me through all the GrandDad "stuff". Florence's perspective on life and death is heart opening. I think maybe that happens the longer you have been here? May I be a light and love in her life while she goes through yet another life transition.