Fun in St George!

Last week Dallas and Lizzy invited us down to St George for some sun and warm weather! After all the lousy air and snow...we headed out! It was so fun to go where it was warm and as the guys played golf ...the girls went shopping! On Sunday we went to the temple visitors center after church. The new movies are so amazing! We saw the "Stone Cutter" and "President Hinckley". Then we headed out to take pics and we persuaded Matt to reenact his proposal to Angie! He was a good sport and got right down and did it again!

We found the new Pirate Island Pizza and it was a blast!

Sadie was the Pirate Queen!

Lizzy got herself an older man!

Jessica ~ Lizzy ~ Angie... hitting every store they could!

Give that man a quarter... Hal is trying to earn some money playing his harmonica on the street corner!

A Ghost Town- Grafton, Utah

We went on a fun adventure last week. Matt and Dallas wanted to go and talk to a "treasure hunter" near the entrance to Zion's. The guy wasn't there and so we went exploring and ran into this great place! Grafton. It is an old "ghost town" in Southern Utah. It was founded in 1858. The first place we found was the old cemetery. The cemetery was all southern Utah red dirt. The graves were all mounded and some had headstones. In 1862 (4 years after it was founded)the town lost 13 citizens from illness, accidents and being killed by Indians. It is a beautiful cemetery and so peaceful. Some of the buildings have been restored. The old church in the collage was used in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". It is in the scene where Paul Newman is riding the bike with Catherine Ross. The little houses are really charming and you can just imagine real people living there and having their little families. It was so fun! Hal and I adopted the little house we are standing in front of. It is just the "cottage" I want in the back yard! Such a fun adventure! We loved it!

Then it was off to Colorado City... just wanted to check it out! ... Very interesting. Not somewhere I would want to live or even visit! Fun to see...not to stay! (hee hee)

Happy Birthday Matt!

Matt we love you so much! Happy 33rd! You are awfully special to our family! Thanks for all you do for everyone!

Words to Live By

Paul's funeral was today and it was a perfect way to say goodbye to such a great friend. Patty is remarkable and spoke. She gave us Paul's "last lecture". It was beautiful and so uplifting. I hope that I can always remember the feelings I have had this week. I have been impressed that sometimes we don't live every moment of our lives to the fullest. Sometimes we become too involved with things that don't really matter and forget the things that truly matter. I came across these words today and they hit me right in the heart! Enjoy!
Happy Moments: Praise God
Difficult Moments: Seek God
Quiet Moments: Worship God
Painful Moments: Trust God
Every Moment: Thank God

Paul Liston 1956-2009

Paul Liston, A dear friend of ours passed away this past Monday. He was much too young to leave us! He was a neighbor of ours and became a life long friend. Hal and I were blessed to be able to go and say goodbye to him on Monday. It is a moment I will always remember. He fought long and hard to stay here. Paul lived a wonderful life and will be remembered by all who knew him.

I first met Paul as just someone in our ward and then he called me (many years ago) and asked me to come and meet with him at his wood shop. I went down and he offered me a job as his manager -helping him build a new business. He wanted to call it A&P craft and had some great ideas for it. We got busy and he finished the building and we started a great little wood business. We had the most innovative designs in the county and offered classes and all the products needed to complete the projects. Everywhere you would go you could see an A&P project hanging on a door. Our daughter Amy was one of the designers and years later were were at a craft store and one of Amy's exact designs was being offered after having been made in China! (Who Knew?) I was amazed that Paul had the confidence in me to think that I was capable of doing what he had envisioned. He had a lot of faith in me and showed me that I could do more than I thought I could. I loved working there because I could take Lizzy with me and she was only 5 and in kindergarten. Each of the kids in turn worked there and Paul ended up helping support Matt and Jenny on their missions. I don't think anyone will ever know how many kids he helped to get on their missions financially and otherwise. He was an amazing Scout Master. He loved the boys and they loved him.

Hal and I and Dan and Danielle Seegmiller went on many trips with Paul to trade shows. We had some great adventures! An earthquake was the most memorable...when we were staying on the top floor of the Excalibur Hotel! Yikes!

Paul was really scared of Rats...and so of course we would hide little stuffed rats all over the office to scare him... and it did! He would then stash them in my desk and I was startled on more than one occasion. Then everyone that worked there got into it and it was hilarious!

One of my favorite memories was handing him a box one day to give me a bid on while he was on the phone...he immediately opened it and a HUGE spider came up out of it and landed on his hand (it was made to do that!) He was on an important long distance call and it scared him silly! He threw that box and was up on a chair before I knew it! I was trying to calm him down saying "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...It's not real"..but I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. We had lots of fun at work! I don't think he ever forgave me for that one....but it was hilarious!

Paul found the love of his life in Patti! She is one amazing woman. I can't imagine what he would have done without her. She is his rock and his eternal companion. Thanks Patti for all you did for Paul. The one bright spot in all of this is that I know he will have her forever. They just didn't have enough time here.

So many people have called and emailed in the past few days. Everyone loved Paul. He was just one of those people that comes into your life and changes it for the better forever!

We love you Paul and cherish the memories we have with you! Your time was short but the the time you had you served others and blessed countless lives!

We will love you forever! Terry and Hal

Open what?

What company tells a woman of my age... to open up her computer and start taking parts out to see what is wrong with it? Dell... that's who! I was not happy about this little adventure.

Glactic Greetings!

We just received an interglactic transmission from the Millers who have just completed a mission on the new Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster! They asked Nate to stay on the mission because he ranked 57th in the new pilot program! Great job Dr Miller!

Brett and Amy's new baby!

Brett and Amy just got the cutest puppy ever! They came down to Pl Grove to get him! He is without a doubt the cutest dog I have seen in a long time! I am sure he will be a hit at home! I tried to dognap him...but they caught me! Love you guys!

Who's got my camera?

When I down loaded my pics from going up to the cabin...look what I found! Abby and Trey had a fun old time with my camera! It's so fun when you have a cousin your own age...and one that thinks just like you do! I sure love you two little kids! You made Grandma laugh!

We will miss you!

Levi and Becca headed back to Washington yesterday! We sure loved having you here! It is always better when the WHOLE family is together! We miss you already!

Abby and Audrey!

We are so blessed!

I must admit I am getting a bit tired of driving in the snow... but when I realize that our reservoirs will be plum brimmin' full this year... I feel so grateful! After so many years of LOW water this will be a treat! I am also grateful for a wonderful warm home! I love sitting by the fire and looking out on the snow! Thanks Hal for building me such a beautiful home! I love you!

So Dang Funny!

As we were coming home from Timberlakes last weekend... we thought we were following Becca and Levi... We saw them pulled off the side of the road so we pulled off. I tried to call to see what was wrong and they said they were fine, and almost to Heber. Since we thought we were following Becca.. we started to drive again (too many white cars). Then I realized that it could be Nate and Jen so we turned around to go back and see if they needed help. It was about 5 degrees outside and SO COLD! When we pulled up next to them Jenny yelled "Come and help us!" I couldn't figure out what in the world was wrong because she was laughing! So we ran up to the car and apparently Nate had been trying to get some gum for Oaks. He reached up to turn on the light and hit the button for the sun roof. It opened and about a foot of snow fell in on top of them! Because there was so much snow on the top of the car they were COVERED ! Then when they tried to close the window it would just close and pop right back open! It wouldn't stay closed. Because it was so cold the snow had turned to ice in the tracks of the window almost instantly! They worked for almost an hour to get it to close! When I got to the car... Trey said "Grandma, Why did you leave us?" The little boys were freezing...so I took them in our truck.(All but Preston-he wanted to experience it all!) As soon as they got it to stay closed... the car battery was DEAD! So Levi jumped started them and we were on our way again! I am so grateful for heaters in cars!
Here is the first picture!(I am so disgusting... Quick grab my camera...so I can blog it!)
This first pic is after they had gotten alot of the snow out. It was deep! EVERYWHERE! (Remember there are 2 tiny boys in the back seats crying their hearts out! Luckily it only got Jen and Nate in the front seat!

Here is Jenny...trying to stay warm! Notice the snow in her hair! Becca and Levi came back to help and they got whatever they could use to dig the snow out of the tracks! (Pens and combs)

Here is Nate...digging for all he is worth! Remember...it is 5 degrees or less! They couldn't find their gloves or anything at first!

Then the battery is dead!

Let's jump it... and we are on our way!

Back on the road again! Aren't we grateful for heaters in cars? I think we are really spoiled!

Give Miss Macie a Mike!

Macie kept us all entertained the other night...She got hold of a tiny hourglass from a game...and thought it was a microphone and went to town! She hit the high notes and the low ones! Her vibrato was amazing! She just sang at the top of her lungs and she had all the moves! Who taught her that? She was a riot! Keep it up Miss Macie!

Lindon Legends 1st Year!

Here are the LINDON LEGENDS! We have all been here forever!
I decided it was high time to get us all together and have a visit! We just got two of them home from serving missions!
This group of dear friends have been together since our early married days! We were missing a few others...but we will get them next time! We all moved here as young married couples and raised our families together! We are not all in the same ward anymore...but I still love each of them dearly! Margene on the right is Hal's aunt and Alana's (next to her) mom. Then Diane T and Me and Diane H. Then Diane W and Geri and Danielle and Connie (Geri's daughter). It was so fun to just slow down and visit for a few minutes and get caught up on all of our lives! We figured that between us we have over 100 grandchildren and 20 greats... Good grief! Who knew that Lindon would be such a great place for us to live and love?

Our Favorite Things!

This is a favorite tradition! We love Oprah's My Favorite Things show... and since we don't seem to get to be on it...we started our own! Each of us chooses one "favorite thing" that we have found throughout the year...and we get it for all of the sisters and mom and darling niece! It has been so fun! These ladies are so creative! You should try it!
I sure am one lucky mom and grandma! I love these ladies and their families more than anything else in the world! They bring such joy to me!

Me ~Becca ~ Taylor and Amy

Lindor Balls.... YUMMY! Stuff your mouths full!

Jenny gave us all a couple pic! So Cool!

Angie and Matt's

Heather and Ryan... she cried...she really loved it!

Becca made us all new "sister" bracelets! Darling!

Heather is keeping us all warm with scarves, gloves and hats!

NOW LET'S GO SHOPPING! And we DID!

Our Nativity

One of my very favorite parts of Christmas is having the grand kids dressup and act out the Nativity. They have alway dug through my dress-ups and found costumes but this year for my Christmas gift, Becca made all new Nativity costumes for each of the kids. They were amazing! When Amy and Brett went to the Holy Land in May they brought me back the traditional headdresses. Amy also got the little caps for the 3 wisemen. It was so AWESOME! I LOVED IT! What a wonderful gift! I will treasure them always!

Joseph (Hunter) and Mary (Sadie) with baby Jesus (Millie)

Angels Macie and Abby

Littlest Angels and a darling lamb

The three wisemen - I think he is saying "Peace on Earth"

Shepherds in the field with a baby donkey

Shepherd Mason

Trey and Benson

Usually it is not very reverent...but so much fun! We try!

The Worlds Best Santa!

Every year we are blessed to have the REAL Santa come to our family Christmas party! He has been coming for YEARS! He has watched all the kids grow up and he is amazing and knows EVERYTHING about the kids even the brand new ones! He knows how old they are and look at Mckay's face in the first picture when he asked about "Lexie" (a brand new girlfriend!) He was so surprised! Then he asked Taylor where his Elf Rupert was... All the kids were so shocked! Abby ran like crazy into the kitchen to get Rupert... and bring him to Santa. They had a good visit and he gave Santa all the information he needed. Santa knew about Sadie dancing in the Nutcracker...and many more surprising things! What a great guy he is! When an almost 16 year old kid....says "Grandma, he is the best Santa ever!" You know you have something special going! We love our Santa! He is AMAZING!

Santa and Taylor with Rupert!

Favorite Memories of Christmas

Letter to Santa in the mailbox!

Our "Believe" Tree... I love the "Believe" theme. It has so many meanings.

Dallas reading to Mckay! Goofy guys!

No...Tay you may NOT peek at that gift!

Yeah .... Right.... Grandma is a pushover!