Five people I am lucky to have in my life

You know how there are some people who just make your life better, more fun, more uplifting, easier, etc?  The other day I was thinking about how many people I have like that in my life.  I know many of them but some of them really stand out!

My neighbor Erin is one of those people.  She has got to be one of the funniest people I know.  She has such a funny way of talking about real life problems that will make anyone laugh!  But at the same time, she is also very realistic and sees things as they are.  She recently went through a very difficult time and as I sat in her living room and listened to her pour her heart out as she sobbed, I saw a very tender side of her.  She saw things for what they were and was willing to do anything it took to get through it.  To me, the most admirable thing about Erin is the way she mothers.  She didn't grow up with a mom who cared much for her so she makes up for it tenfold with her girls.  She shows amazing patience and always speaks in sweet tones to them.  When I am feeling impatient with my kids I will often put myself in check by asking, "what would Erin do?"  That's all it takes and I realize I need to back up and try again because Erin would handle it with patience and kindness.  Overall, Erin is one of those people you want to be around, don't want to leave, and feel like a better person after being in her presence.

Another one of those people is our former Temple President and family friend, Merlin Hancock.  I don't think I have ever known another person like him.  When you're with him, you feel like you are the only person there and that you are the only thing that matters to him.  He makes you feel like you are the most beautiful, wonderful, and important person in the world.  Anytime I would see him at the temple, he would give me a big hug, and while holding my arm take a few moments to talk to me.  I always hoped I would run into him while I was there just so I could have a minute with him.  One day I was in his office with him and Jared and he asked me how I felt about being sealed for eternity yo my husband and family.  Few things in life make me tear up, but that question had tears running down my face and my heart swelling with love.  What does it take to be a person who can make the rest of the world disappear?  I want to know his secret and do that for other people!

If there was an award for having everything on hand at all times, that award would go to my friend Lacey.  That girl has bailed me out countless times!  Before we had Walmart closeby my sister needed a few pieces of cardstock, I knew just who to call!  When I needed a scrap of white fabric, I knew just who to call!  When I wanted to make quilts with my girls but needed a little direction, I knew just who to call!  That lady has everything!  And she doesn't just offer you a little bit of what she has, she gives it all!  She gave my sister the entire ream of cardstock and refused to let her replace or repay her.  When I needed a scrap of fabric she sent me away with a gigantic bag so I would have options to choose from.  When I called quilting advice, she showed up at my house with the frames and needles, helped me put it all together and got us started.  She is amazing and a very handy person to know.

My friend Raygon is one of the greatest friends I have ever had.  She randomly mails me fun packages that have included things from white chocolate M&M's, clothes, a baby wrap, homemade vanilla, and more!  Sometimes I am expecting them and other times it's a surprise.  We text almost daily and I always enjoy hearing from her.  Sometimes we text about serious things we have going on in life and other times we report funny things that have happened.  She is a true friend- she does not judge me, she gives me awesome ideas, sets me straight when I need it and is always there.  We don't talk on the phone and we only see each other once a year (maybe) but she is one of the greatest friends I have.

Another friend I am lucky to have is Mindy.   Mindy is one of those girls who I know I can always count on for a laugh.  We have so many inside jokes, many that go back several years.  I don't think we have ever had a visit with each other that has not included a laugh.  We are also confidants for each other.  She's had a few surprise pregnancies and I feel honored that she shared those with me before anyone else.  I was also the first to find out (other than her husband) that after five boys she is finally having a girl.  Finally!  I threw her a surprise and impromptu gender reveal party and I have to say it was one of the greatest moments of our friendship.  It was only my family, her family, and one other friend at the party but we enjoyed every second out of the news.  She is also dependable and I love that about her.  I know I can always count on her to follow through with anything she promises.  She is one heck of a friend and I am glad we live close to each other.

I am so lucky to have these people in my life.  I hope that in some way I can be like Erin, President Hancock, Lacey, Rayon, and Mindy and enrich the lives of people around me.

Grandpa Stanford

I have very few memories of my Grandpa Stanford.  He died when I was in fifth grade and I feel like I barely knew him.  Through the amazing process of Family History I feel like I've come to know him  through the years more than I ever knew him in this life.

Here are the things I knew about Grandpa before his death.  (true or not true.  Remember, I was a just a kid.):

He was gruff.

His father died when he was a young boy.  His mom later remarried a man who was not good to him.

At the age of 14, he ran away from home and became a hobo, bumming from one freight train to another.

He had many talents and interests: woodworking, airplanes, bowling, and more.

He was not a man of many words.

He worked for many years at General Motors.

His things were not to be touched.

According to Grandma Stanford, he was not affectionate.  (And she wished he was.)

Here are some of the memories of him that I have:

He would sit on the front porch with Binki the dog by his side and watch the cars on 8th Avenue pass.

He slept with the police scanner on.

He went to bed very early and got up very early.

He would walk through the kitchen and down the hall to Grandma's TV room and ask her to "dig" him some ice cream.  Then go back down the hall and through the kitchen to his TV room where he waited for his ice cream.

I was always afraid to talk in front of or to him.

He would listen to bowling the TV with the volume very high.

He had a few heart attacks during my lifetime.  After one heart attack, my family went to visit him in the hospital but I could not go because I was in bed with a badly sprained ankle.

Honestly, I was terrified of Grandpa.  He was so scary to me!  He wasn't a warm and fuzzy person and I wasn't sure how he felt about me being around.  As I've grown and wondered more about his life, I've set out to learn more about him. 

He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 14, 1918.  He had one biological sister named Martha.

Grandpa and his sister, Martha.

His father died of pneumonia when he was about 4 years old, leaving his mom with two small children.  She eventually remarried a man by the name of Walter Hall.  Walter didn't take to his new son very well, so eventually, Carson left home.  

Grandpa got married in 1940 and started a family but that marriage ended.  In 1947, when he was 29, he married Grandma who was 18.  They met while Grandma was working as a soda jerk.  Things were never smooth sailing for them.  The Gospel was not a part of their lives until much later and they lived lifestyles that did not bring happiness the way the teachings of Jesus Christ does.  Eventually they pulled their lives together and were sealed in the temple.

I've had some very special experiences that have helped me see that Grandpa is a wonderful man who loves his family very much.  Considering his difficult childhood I feel like he did the very best he could but had to develop a hard shell to make it.  I am certain he wasn't all gruff and hard edges during this life, just from a kid's point of view, it seemed that way!



Without the ability to study his life and learn more about his childhood I would have never had the chance to see a different side of him.  

18 in 2018

While I was painting today I listened to a podcast where they suggested writing a list of 18 things you would like to do in 2018.  I'm not much of a New Year's resolution setter, I usually just challenge myself throughout the year and go with it.  I felt like this was an easy solution to that- simply document things I hope to do, some big some small.

1.  Visit one new state
2.  Do not do any crafts
3.  Finish the entire house project we have going on
4.  Teach my kids to work harder
5.  Continue working on my goal to not procrastinate
6.  Go to lunch with two different friends
7.  Never miss a Temple Thursday
8.  Be a good Trek Ma
9.  Keep a clean car
10. Visit Jordan and Nichole in CA
11. Visit Disneyland
12. Grow my hair back out
13. Try three new restaurants in the area
14. Continue a regular exercise regimen
15. Make two new friends
16. Save a certain amount of money (a number I have in my head)
17. Take two new photography classes
18. Overall, make 2018 a much better year than 2017 was!

Peer Facilitation

In High School, I chose an elective that only a small handful of other people chose- Peer Facilitation.  This meant I was able to work closely with the greatest kids in the entire school, the Special Ed kids.  Our class periods were 90 minutes long so I would take a few of them to Cooking or Art class for about 30-45 minutes then we would go back to their classroom for the remainder of the period.  I would work one on one with them, play games, work on simple tasks or just hang out with them.  It was my very favorite time of day!  Those kids were so special.  I don't care to remember much about high school or the people I knew, but I will never forget the kids I came to love through Peer Facilitation.

R to L  Back row:  Manuel, Michael, Johnathon, Gilbert, Daniel

Middle row: Ashley, Keith, Stephanie, Manuel, Bill, Roise

Front row Jim, Donella, Toni

I remember Toni for her contagious smile.  Her family obviously cared about her very much.  Her hair was always done perfectly and she was clad in the most stylish clothes.  I don't think I have ever known someone whose smile could light up a room like hers.

And sweet little Stephanie with Down syndrome.  Man, was she boy crazy!  She would blush at the sight of any boy who passed her.  She had the sweetest most gentle personality.

Johnathon Baker aka Stone Dawg (Seriously!).  He was an aspiring gangster and breakdancer.  Everyone knew and loved him.  He would start breakdancing (which he was terrible at) during lunch or passing period and everyone would circle around to watch and cheer him on.  He's got to be nearly 40 years old now but my friend, Monica, told me he is still running the streets of Southwest Queen Creek, or as she still calls it, Chandler Heights.

Now Micheal, oh what a sweet kid.  He was head over heels in love with Stephanie.  He would wait for her outside the classroom door and light up the moment he saw her.  I was able to take him to Art class and spend time getting to know him personally.  He had the sweetest and softest heart of anyone.

Ashley was a force to be reckoned with!  She was a fireball and could be a little mean.  But if she loved you, she really loved you!  And you knew it.  Fortunately, I felt like someone she loved.  It wasn't easy to make her laugh but when she did give in and chuckle it would warm your heart!

Jim was the most handicapped of all of the kids but I am so glad I had experience with him. It was a little difficult in the beginning because he had less control of his body which meant he would flail, drool and moan.  But working with him helped me to overcome any fear or trepidation I had.  The ability to work with and understand people like Jim has come in handy many times in my life!

Little Donella was truly one of the happiest people I have ever known.  I don't think I ever saw her without a big grin on her face.  I often wonder what she knew that I didn't know that made her so happy.  Her body was limited in its capabilities and her life had its challenges but she smiled all the way through it.

Daniel was a giant!  He was the biggest and most intimidating of the bunch, but there was nothing to be intimidated by other than his size.  He was nothing more than a teddy bear.  He always wore a plain black t-shirt and jeans.  It was almost like a uniform for him.

Bill was the cutest!  I remember him always being so cheerful.  He was also polite and well mannered. I remember that he always wore polo shirts with jeans or shorts and tennis shoes.  Bill, what a funny name for a teenage kid, but it suited him.  He seemed like an old soul stuck in the body of a teenager with the mentality of a child.

I will be forever grateful for the chance I had to work with these special kids for two years.  It has helped so much as I have encountered other people with similar needs throughout the years.  The things I learned, the fears I overcame and the opportunity to be with such perfect and celestial people changed my life.

Go to websites

If I want to find a deal:  Hip2Save

If want to listen to something uplifting:  Mormon Channel

If I want to check an Amazon price:  Camel Camel Camel

If I want a DIY home remedy:  One Good Thing By Jillee

If I want to try a new recipe idea:  Mels Kitchen Cafe

If I want a hair tutorial:  The Small Things Blog

If I want a home DIY or decorating idea:  Young House Love

If I want a workout:  Fitness Blender

If I want a super simple sewing project:  Made Every Day with Dana

If I want a coupon code:  Retail Me Not

Something Special

Being a parent is harder than I ever thought it would be but more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.  Each of my kids brings something special to our family and helps make us who we are.  I thought it would be fun to dig a little deep and share a few things about each of my kids that make them special.

 Addie- she is the perfect oldest child.  She always steps up when she sees I need help and always backs down when she sees I need a little room to breathe- all without me ever saying a word.  She tries very hard to care for her younger siblings, even when they don't easily accept it.  

One thing I really admire about Addie is that she is not afraid to stand up for herself.  Recently she was struggling with a friend at school.  Instead of letting it get to her and wondering what went wrong, she approached the girl, asked what the issue was and cleared the air.  And just like that they moved past it and are doing much better!  Most girls, especially girls her age, would not dare speak up.  She is also not afraid to stand up to me to tell me when I need to change something that frustrates her.  

And she has a lot of nerve, in a good way.  She is not afraid to do new things or put herself out there. I was so proud of her for running for Student Council.  Elections involved giving a speech to the entire student body and she approached it like it was nothing at all.  She won the vote and is handing her responsibilities (which are way more than I ever expected!) like a champ.  It involves doing a lot of things that would make some kids her age squirm, but not Addie.  She rolls up her sleeves and gets the job done!  On that same note, she is so great to have in Young Women.  She always has an answer to help move the lesson along.  One of the other leaders mentioned this to me recently and it was such a nice thing to hear.  I hope this skill takes her far in life.

Addie is also very open with me, and I love it!  She tells me all about her crushes, the drama of Jr. High, her struggles and frustrations, her highs and lows, who said or did what, etc.  I hope she will always be that way.   She is a great girl and I love the bond we have.

Kimber- what a great girl!  Kimber loves her mom!  And doesn't like to be far from me.  It's flattering at times.  She is also a great friend.  She is devoted and complimentary.  I know this because she often comes home saying great things or reporting on the nice things she noticed about someone at school.  She looks for the best in her friends and stays true to them.  She also has a broad variety of friends and I admire that.

She has been playing the piano for three years now and is lightyears ahead of where I was at her age. She has picked up on the piano so well!  She loves to play hymns and songs from the Primary Children's Song Book- and she plays them so great!  It's so nice to hear A Child's Prayer or Choose the Right rather than the ear piercing beginner songs most kids struggle through.

Kimber doesn't love to do hard things but who does, right?  The thing I love is that she will do them and always come out seeing good changes in herself.  She used to be so afraid to participate in the Primary Program.  It was terrifying to her but she would do it and each year she noticed that it got easier and easier.  We just had our program on Sunday and she gave a talk!  She did wonderfully!  She has also had an interesting year at school.  Two weeks into the school year I requested that she be moved to another teacher.  It was extremely difficult for her to say the least.  But she did it and now she is seeing how much better off she is.  She has made a new friend, she loves her teacher and she is enjoying the growth she has seen in herself.  I love to hear how she feels the change has benefited her.

I'm not sure where she gets it, but she is very artistic.  She loves drawing, painting, creating, designing- basically anything that uses her creative side.  Last week for Spirit Week she decided she wanted to make a pineapple headband to wear for Tropical Day.  She asked me to take her to the store to pick up the supplies, a headband and pipe cleaners.  Not catching her vision, I dragged her around the store for nearly an hour trying to come up with another idea but she kept insisting she knew what she was doing.  I finally relented and wouldn't you know it?  She blew me away with the most adorable pineapple made from pipe cleaners hot glued to a headband.

Kimber is a fantastic student.  She has maintained an A+ report card since she started school.  If she doesn't understand a concept she works at it until she understands it adequately.  Her teachers have also told me this about her.  Her new teacher recently told me that Kimber is one of her top three favorite students.  I'm not exactly sure she should admit that she has favorite students, but I was glad to hear she likes Kimber so much.

Lucy- She has got to be the sweetest 7-year-old out there.  She is super timid and does not like to be the center of attention.  Trust me, she flat out refused to say her part in the Primary Program last week!  

Not only does Lucy keeps us laughing but she laughs easily at herself.  For some reason she has misunderstood several of our conversations lately, only to chime in with a very distorted view of what she thinks was said.  It's often way off- but when we laugh she laughs right along with us.

Along with Kimber, Lucy is a great friend.  She makes friends easily and is a ton of fun to play with.  She is easily entertained and when she has friends over they never complain of boredom.  Not only is she a good friend at school but she is a good friend at home as well.  She plays nicely with everyone, especially Colton.  She is happiest when she is outside riding her bike, jumping on the trampoline or having some type of adventure.

I love to listen to Lucy pray.  She asks for the greatest things without any coaching.  Just tonight she said, "bless that if anyone has a test or anything tomorrow that they will do good."  Every time she says the nightly prayer she asks for something that we actually need but no one else really thinks of.  It's really sweet!

Lucy is always dressed so great and it has nothing to do with me.  She really cares about her appearance. She usually chooses her hairstyle for the day based on her outfit- a ponytail for something casual, a crown braid for something fancy, etc.  She takes good care of herself and it shows.

Colton- our caboose.  I hate to think that I almost didn't have him!  He makes our life so exciting!  It's fun to have a kid who gets dirty, loves tractors and building things.  It's definitely a change from my girls!

I always heard that boys have a special love for their mamas and I've learned that it's true!  He is rough and messy, but he melts for his mom and I melt for him.  He is my buddy and he keeps me busy during the day when it's just the two of us.  I have an extra year with him before kindergarten because he is a September baby, and I am so grateful!  We have a great time together.

I've noticed that Colton makes people around him happy.  That's kind of a neat thing for a four-year-old.  His Primary teacher seems to adore him and often tells me how happy he makes her.  His preschool teacher says similar things.  I know he makes his parents and his sisters happy but I'm glad other people get to experience it as well.

He is also easy to please, which is nice because he spends a lot of time playing alone.  I will often find him playing in quietly with his trucks, lining them up from biggest to smallest or by color, just happy as can be.  He will play outside for hours digging in the dirt or burying seeds to make a garden.  He doesn't need constant supervision, he's just happy to be busy.

Man, I've got some great kiddos.  They keep life busy but worthwhile and rewarding.

Snacks

I am a big time snacker.  In fact I've discovered that I'd rather snack than have a meal.  Because of that I am always on the hunt for a yummy snack.  Here are some of my favorites.

Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt with berries.  Easy and yum!

Roasted Vegetables.  I love to roast a variety of veggies then eat them over a period of a few days.  Some of my favorite vegetables to combine together are: brussel sprouts, broccoli, red onion, zucchini, cauliflower and red bell pepper.  Really, the possibilities are limitless.  I just cap everything up, drizzle with olive oil and add some flavor like salt and pepper or Italian seasoning.  400 degrees and 15 minutes later and you have a healthy and yummy snack.

Talenti Gelato.  I've eyeballed this for a long time but never felt like I could justify the price.  After hearing about it on a podcast I talked myself into spending almost $5 on a pint.  It's very indulgent so you get satisfaction out of a single bite.

Sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper.  It's easy as 1-2-3!  Sliced tomatoes are also super yummy with graded parmesan or sliced mozzarella cheese.

Steamed edamame.  I love these steamable bags- toss one in the microwave and in three minutes you a have a  healthy snack.

We don't eat Kettle Corn often, but when we do it's a fun treat.  Sweet but salty...mmmmm!

Speaking of popcorn, I came across this stuff a few years ago and got hooked!  I'm glad it's a seasonal product and that it's not carried at a store near me!

I only eat cinnamon bears about once a year, but when I do I totally enjoy the heck out of them!

Even better?  Chocolate covered cinnamon bears!

Me and my kids love love love frozen grapes!  They taste like candy but they're actually good for you.  Just pull your grapes off of the vine, throw them on a sheet pan, flash freeze them, then add handful size amounts to ziplocks bags.  Store them in the freezer for a quick-on-the-go-snack.