"Witch" hat shall I wear?

Halloween is fast approaching and I'm far behind my usual Witch Party planning.  I have my hat....but no dress, yet!  And the party.......dine in or dine out???

Here's where you come in!  I want your ideas of what you think a fun Witch Party would be for this year.  I'd love some fun ideas.  My thinker is full of cobwebs!

Happy Witching!

Sunshine in the Forecast!

As I was getting ready for church yesterday morning, I was listening to the Mormon Channel on my iPhone.  I do that most mornings and I have really enjoyed the positive and uplifting start it gives to my day.  I, also, enjoy the "food for thought" it gives me.  Some days those thoughts lead me down interesting trails of thoughts.  I'm sure you know what I mean.

The program "Conversations" was on.  The interview was with a BYU professor of Church History and author, Susan Easton Black.  She had some wonderful words of wisdom.  Here's three that really stood out:

1. When discouraged look up and live...move forward.
2. If you try to top someone on sorrows, you won't have many friends.
3. Small people talk about people.  Medium people talk about events.  Large people talk about ideas.

She then told of a time when she was a student at BYU.  She and her roommate were both from the LA area and thought Provo was such a small town.  They decided to go to Salt Lake for some "excitement" and kept being pulled towards Temple Square.   President David O. McKay was the prophet at the time and they heard that he lived at Hotel Utah which is now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  They wanted to find out which room he lived in and "pay him a visit".  They found out quickly that no one was about to tell them which room he lived in so they decided to go room to room, floor by floor.  After many doors they had not found him but saw a cleaning woman come out of one of the suites.  They asked her which room President McKay lived in and she pointed to a door down the hallway.  They came up with a story that they were taking orders for Girl Scout cookies to tell him if he answered!  (I thought it was interesting that they thought it was okay to lie to the prophet!  Ha!)  As they approached the door, her roommate chickened out and started running the opposite way.  Susan knocked on the door and President McKay opened the door.

She was awestruck.  She knew the minute she looked into his eyes that he was the Prophet of God.  She fessed up and told him what she and her roommate were doing and just wanted to meet him.  He invited them into his suite and they sat in his study.  After a few minutes of conversation, she asked him for just one piece of counsel.  He looked at her and said, "Be happy." 

She realized those two words packed a big statement.  The true way to real happiness is by being obedient and living the gospel.  She has since had a life with many big trials.  One of which her husband left her and their 3 boys when they were all 3 and under.  But she found a way to go to college and get her Doctorate degree.  She did her best to "be happy" under hard trials.  I thought it was an amazing story and I didn't do it justice but I had to share it.

We make the choice to be happy.  President Hinckley said, "You can be smart and happy or stupid and miserable."  I've learned that being happy requires a conscientious effort.  I have to remind myself of it daily.  Some days it's easier than others.  But I hope I'm on my way to more sunny days! 

Lots of hugs!

(Thanks, Nancy, for reminding me of President Hinckley's quote!)

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1.03.01

Happy Birthday, Melanie!

It's Melanie's birthday today.  It's hard to forget her birthday since it's now a famous date....9/11.  Melanie is married to my oldest son, Milo.  They have 4 cute, funny, sweet, and wonderful children...Kathryn 9, Nathan 8, Dane 7, and Reed 2.  Dane just had his birthday (pics coming) and the other 3 are all having birthdays very shortly. 

Melanie is an absolute blessing in our family.  She is a "go to girl".  If you need an answer to something or need to know how to do something, Mel's your girl.  If she doesn't know, she finds out.  And I think I've mentioned this about her before....you have to be careful or she'll do it for you!

Her laugh is infectious!  She is funny, smart, witty, talented, giving, and always is there if she thinks you're having a bad day or need an extra hand.  She is everything you would want a daughter-in-law to be........She is my friend!  I love you, Mel! 

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1.03.01

Rain, Rain...Go AWAY!

Look!  No fridge!

And no sink!

Found the fridge in the dining room!  Might be convenient!

Found the sink in the garage...Not so convenient!

Definitely not convenient!

And guess where I found the stove?  Not good at all!

A Thought for Your Piece of Chocolate?

I'm on a new kick!....Surprising, I know! I was given a "Dove" chocolate piece in a thank you card recently. I knew from previous indulgences that there is a "food for thought" inside the wrapper. Of course, after you unwrap the chocolate to get to the thought you MUST eat the chocolate to get the full effect of the thought!

I can't remember what the wrapper said at that time. However, as I was trying to rack my brain to come up with a little something to boost one of my visiting teaching sister's spirits, I decided to buy her a bag of Dove Chocolates remembering the cute thoughts inside the wrappers. AND...chocolate ALWAYS makes us feel better...right? I added in the card that she could have one chocolate to receive a positive or fun thought per day. So, I bought TWO bags! If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me!

Yes, I indulged today. This is what my wrapper said:

"Be the silver lining in another's cloud."

Another one from a previous day:

"You can't lead a positive life with a negative attitude."

No explanation needed...both statements can stand on their own!

Now...SPLURGE!! Go buy a bag of Dove Chocolates! Savor the smoothness of the chocolate as it melts in your mouth. But even more importantly, savor the thought inside your wrapper and may it help put a smile on your face!

Leisha, cont....

Here are some pictures taken on Leisha's birthday. For some reason my memory card wouldn't read in my computer last night. What would a birthday be without documenting the cake?

Leisha beat us back from dinner and added the "24" on the cake. She kind of got a bum deal this year with a boxed cake and frosting due to me not being home all this last week! Maybe next year.........a princess castle cake?


Emma helped put on the candles...


FIRE!! Call the fire department!


Look at all the smoke! I love Emma's expression....


I'm glad we were at least able to enjoy her birthday with her. It's been a few years since we've been together on her special day! Happy Birthday, Leisha...Again!

She's One of a Kind!

It's Leisha's 24th birthday today....which is hard....she is my baby! It's hard to believe she could be that old!

Leisha is one of a kind. She has never walked to anyone's beat but her own. She makes all of us in the family smile with her dry humor and quick wit! She definitely has the "Chlarson" gene in the humor department!

The picture of her proves my point! It was taken last Christmas when she was pregnant with her 2nd baby girl, Nora. In this picture she decided to model some of her Christmas presents (Pajamas, purse, boots, etc. Notice she's holding a Pampered Chef Hamburger Chopper! The baby doll equipment in the background she got from Santa! Just kidding...that was Emma's!)

Oh, how we love you, Leisha! You have been a great caboose to this family! Have a very Happy Birthday and know that you will always be my "Little Leisha"!