Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Golf Tips

You are probably wondering in your head right now, "How could Cindy know anything about golf???" Well, I want you to know that while my personal golf skills leave nothing to be desired, I have great observational skills. Thus, I can see what has worked well for others. And I'm very willing to share. I have video to show exactly what to do.

The first video shows the crochet shot. Watch how Evan hits the ball perfectly. He did eventually get the ball in, but due to camera failure, I was unable get that shot!!





This second video is an example of the floating golf ball shot. As you can see the ball never really even goes into the hole because it does NOT sink!! Do not, I repeat do NOT play golf during flooding.





This last video is an example of the "Happy Dance"!! Feel the joy, when you sink that ball in the hole, and do a dance. Andrew shows a great example of that kind of happiness!!





I hope you enjoyed these examples of golfing skills! I'm happy to share this advice free of charge. No need to thank me!!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

52 Blessing Project - Week Seventeen


This week I'm most thankful for:
GRADUATIONS!!!

What a wonderful opportunity we have had to watch our five older children pursue degrees in higher education.
David graduated this past week with a Masters degree in Informational Services. We have children who have majored in Interior Design, Early Childhood Education, Math Education, Liberal Studies for elementary teaching credential, and Political Science.

We have enjoyed celebrating with David and his family this week!! Graduations are such happy occasions. It's the start of a new beginning!! David has worked hard and it has been a sacrifice for the whole family, but one that I'm sure will reap many benefits in the near future!!



Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Over the Meadow and Through the Woods....

Oh, wait I need to rewrite the song. It's through the boring desert, by passing Las Vegas to our grandchildren's house we go!! Woo Hoo!! We are headed to David's graduation!! After David we are headed to visit with April and I get to go to her baby shower!! What fun!! You may not see me for a while, but I will come back with pictures!! You can be sure I will having fun!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

52 BLESSING PROJECT Week Three - Week Sixteen

I'm very grateful for our Toyota Sienna Rampvan!! In fact I feel a little spoiled. But, we really truly love this van! It is so nice to have Evan just roll his wheelchair in the van. We fasten his wheelchair down with heavy duty straps and away we go. No lifting. No folding wheelchair. It is very very nice!! A very wonderful blessing that my back totally loves!!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Trip to Stanford

Yesterday we took a lovely little eight hour trip to Stanford to visit with the pulmonologist who is following Evan's sleep apnea/restrictive lung disease. He was very happy with how well Evan has tolerated his BiPap machine at night. We are too, it's amazing anyone can sleep with that thing on their face!! So pulmonary wise he is doing great!! However, when he listened to his heart he was a little concerned with something he thought heard. Key word, thought!! I hate that!!! Evan's heart has come up in many conversations with other doctors concerned about this or that, but nothing ever comes of it!! In fact he has seen cardiologists now three times in his life and been sent away!! So, now we have to have things evaluated yet again, just to be on the safe side. I will remain positive that all is well with my little miracle man!!

Tagged Again!!

My goodness, my daughter, Katie, tagged me again. This time it's the Book Tag. Here's the rules.

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

The nearest book to me was The AAA Tour Book for Northern California and Nevada. Page 123, fifth sentence is:

"The vast quantities and varieties of vegetable and fruits grown in the area have earned the Salinas Valley the nickname, "Salad Bowl of the Nation."





So there you go!! If you want salad go to Salinas, but make sure you take a trip over to the coast and visit Monterey!! They have a great aquarium and Dennis the Menace Park is awesome!! That is a lot more fun than watching lettuce and spinach grow!!

As far a tagging people, well I don't like to tag people so if you want to do it you can, if you don't, don't!!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fabulous Friday's Forever Family Featuring...


my mom and dad!! April 18th was always a special day when I was growing up. That was the day we celebrated my parents birthday. My mom's birthday is April 17th and my dad's birthday is April 19th!! So, it made sense that we celebrated on the day in between. They didn't seem to mind to share the spotlight. I wish I had a picture of one of their birthdays celebrations but I don't. My father passed away 29 years ago, so now it's just my mom. I wish I could be near her! Hopeful the flowers I sent will cheer her day. I love you, mom!!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

My Blog Book!!

Well, I did it! I slurped my blog into a book and I absolutely love it!!
Now, I can tell people I published book that is copyrighted!!
I used a program called Blurb! It was easy to do and I think it turned out great!!
It cost around $30 for my 84 page book. To me it is well well worth the price!


PERFECT IMPERfECTION



Please bear with me as I try to get my thoughts and feelings into words. The idea of perfect imperfection has been in my head for a while and won't go away. So, I will blog about it to get it out of my head!!

I had been following the touching story of the Mack family on their blog. Their sweet little Kaden's brain was not developed enough to keep him alive without life support. He also had a bilateral cleft lip and pallet. He lived a very short one week life on this earth. Now his sweet perfect spirit is in celestial realms waiting for his family to return to him. My heart goes out to them. I know what it is like to have a child born with a severe birth defect. However, I can't imagine saying goodbye to an infant child. The Mack family did this with courageous faith.


Why is society in search of "perfect"? I know that my Evan doesn't have a perfect physical body, but I think his body is imperfectly perfect! He is just the way he is suppose to be. For that matter aren't we all. When babies are allowed to be born with little imperfect bodies we are allowed the opportunity to love unconditionally. Isn't that something the world needs...unconditional love?? I try to imagine an earthly world where we are all perfect. How boring would that be? How would we serve others? It is sad to me when I hear of people who think that lives such as Kaden's and Evan's are not worth living. I know deep within my heart they are worth living!!

Could it be that the imperfections of life are part of a perfect plan that help to draw us closer to God?

I found some great words from Elder Robert D. Hales a member of the Quorum of The Twelve Apostles.

"It is clear to me that we have imperfections of body, imperfections of mind and intellect—that we are not perfect. And for that reason we are dependent on others. We must be self-sufficient ourselves, but that does not mean independent of help of others. We cannot gain a testimony without having the help of the Holy Ghost.A just God has placed us here on the planet earth where we experience suffering and imperfection all around us. And this life and estate are necessary because in this life we experience something we cannot do any other place. The life we had before and the life we will have hereafter will leave our bodies, spirits, and minds in a more perfect state. But we did not and will not have the opportunities to give of ourselves in the same way as we can in this life. What a principle! As we suffer and serve in this life, we are fulfilling a very essential part of the gospel plan."

I love what he said!! Thank you Elder Hales!!


So, thanks for listening, I feel better now. I think I will go and find something imperfect to admire!!






Monday, April 14, 2008

What's Not to Love!!


I have a very special place in my heart for these little ones!!!



Sunday, April 13, 2008

52 BLESSING PROJECT Week Three - Week Fifteen

FOOD



I am so blessed to live in a country where food is plentiful. I don't know what is is like not to have enough food in my house. Twice a week I volunteer at a local Christian Women's Food Ministry. This wonderful group of women gives food out to needy people five days a week for free. People can come twice a month to get food. All they need is a photo identification, no questions are asked.I help in the morning before the patrons come. Some of the food is purchased at a very reduced rate from the local food bank. Grocery stores donate their almost outdated food. We go through boxes and boxes of produce and throw out the yucky, moldy stuff and put the good stuff on the shelf. Actually we waste very little the, limpy lettuce and moldy tomatoes etc, go to feed pigs and goats.I'm so grateful never to have known true hunger.I'm also grateful for the opportunity I have to help those who are hungry. It's a wonderful blessing!!


Monday, April 7, 2008

Me Through Pictures

I was tagged by my dear daughter, Katie for this project! Actually it was a lot more fun than I was expecting. I'm tagging anyone who reads this and wants to give it a try. Just go to google and find a picture that matches you!! Have fun!!


Age on my next birthday:

A place I'd like to travel:

A favorite place:





One of my favorite things:



One of my favorite foods:


My favorite flower:





My favorite color:


The city I live in:




Name of a past pet:


A nickname I've had:




My college major:



First job:




Hope for 2008:



And the winner is.......

Drum roll please.....the winner is....everyone!! Thank you to all who helped with my captions. I really couldn't just pick one, they were all so great! You made laugh! I love to laugh. And I appreciate your friendship, whether you be family or blogger friend! So, I decide I would share some inspiration as a prize. Enjoy.



TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING
THROUGH THE DESERT .
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE
THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,...WROTE IN THE SAND
,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .
THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH
.

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIE ND
ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF
FOR GIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE M UST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A
MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL
PERSON,
AN HOUR TO
Appreciate

THEM,
A DAY
TO LOVE THEM,
BUT THEN ,

AN ENTIRE LIFE
TO FORGET THEM.


SHARE THIS WITH
THE PEOPLE YOU'LL NEVER
FORGET.
I JUST DID.

TAKE THE TIME TO LIVE!

DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS
YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE
WHO YOU HAVE IN
YOUR LIFE!
'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Fifty-Two Blessing Project - Week Fourteen


This week I'm grateful for Living Prophets!!

I love General Conference and this week was especially wonderful with the Solemn Assembly to sustain President Thomas S. Monson as Prophet.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe that our President along with his two Counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to be living prophets. They are special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Twice a year Latter-Day Saints have the privilege of watching General Conference. Some travel to Salt Lake City to attend in person. Others watch a satellite broadcast in a church building. And still others can watch on cable or satellite television at home or on the Internet.

Last October one of the many talks that touched me was Elder Dallin H Oaks, "Good, Better, Best". It made we seriously look at how I spend my time. Was I spending my time doing the best things?? Not really. But, I make a commitment to change that and it feels great now to be in service to the Lord as a missionary helping others with family history.

My heart again has been touched as I listen to words of the Lords special servants this weekend. I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk this morning about "Faith of Our Fathers". And as always it is wonderful to hear President Monson speak. I know these great men are indeed Prophets sent here to lead and guide us and I will strive to follow their counsel. What a wonderful blessing!



Thursday, April 3, 2008

Fabulous Friday's Forever Family Featuring...

my wonderful first born daughter, April!!Dear April,
I was so happy when you were born to finally have a little baby girl! You were so beautiful, with all your dark hair and dark eyes. I got to hold you and nurse you and keep you beside me right after your birth! Such love, I felt for you! I still love you!



You were such a good little baby girl!! Always happy and smiley!



You never seemed to go through those terrible twos that most toddlers use to drive their moms crazy. You like to sit and cuddle and have stories read to you!!



This picture reminds of me of that Pilgrim girl you drew that won a first place blue ribbon.




Oh, look I found her. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said the picture you drew was in the newspaper!! Your artistic abilities showed up at an early age!!


So, cute how you loved Tickle Me Elmo!!


You have a wonderful sense of humor. I still don't know how you make that "fish face". But, Evan certainly loves his "fishy". How did that start anyway? There is some of your bunny collection in the background. How did that start anyway??



You were such a beautiful bride!! You have been a wonderful and a loyal wife. I really do admire you!!


I can't believe it's been almost thirty years since the day you were born. You have grown in a wonderful woman, ready to become a mom yourself. I am so happy for you!! I'm so grateful that you are my daughter. I love you very much.

Love,
Mom
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