OooOoo . ♪♫•. . OOoooOoo . ♪♫•. .OOOOo

Oh my goodness . . .

I TOTALLY have the giggles!  What has got me laughing fitfully is the thought I just ran across this evening . . .

Wait let me back up for just a minute . . .

Twilight . . . Eclipse . . . New Moon and Breaking Dawn . . .

I hate to say it but you don't hold a candle to the VAMPIRE series that we watched faithfully day in and day out when I was just a youngster!  I'm talking about the original 60's gothic soap opera of all soap operas -

DARK
SHADOWS!

What has me giggling hysterically is the thought of one of my favorite actors -

Johnny Depp

Playing the part of his childhood hero, Barnabas Collins.

For those of you who have NO idea what I'm talking about . . .  this original series was a 5 day a week, SCARY (especially when you're 7 years old - it literally kept us on the edge of our chairs everyday!) gothic soap opera, complete with vampires, ghosts, graveyards, scary old mansions.  Despite that fact that it was mainly dialogue based, moved at a snail's pace, overly melodramatic (and full of funky errors and mistakes as it was taped in front of a live studio audience)  - it was also charming, addictive, imaginative, romantic, and eeerie!  And no matter how terrified one would be each day at the conclusion of an episode, the next day was always a must see . . . and the next . . . and the next . . . and so on . . .

The plot begins where drifter Willie Loomis gets an unpleasant surprise during an attempted grave robbery and mysteriously disappears, and the handsome, though eeerie Barnabas Collins appears, claiming to be a cousin from England.  Willie reappears, suffering from some unidentifiable illness, Barnabas moves into the abandoned "Old House" on the Collins estate. With Willie as an unwilling but powerless accomplice, Barnabas secretly kidnaps waitress Maggie (beautiful even in the 60's) Evans, intending to transform her into an undead reincarnation of his long lost love Josette . . .

Are you hooked yet??

If creaking coffins, cobweb filled doorways and flickering candle are your thing, along with romantic, angst-filled gothic vampires, in endless torment for their mortal souls and their immortal longings, you may want to check the original series out sometime.

Me . . . I'm holding my breath to see Johnny Depp - when the new and updated version is released on May 12th!  Giggle!  If anyone can do it Johnny Depp can!

(ps - if anyone ever wants a scary sleepover, just invite me - I'll be happy to provide the entertainment :)

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Be at the Crossroads . . .

Ran across this recently and I've always

LOVED

it!

The time comes in every woman's life when her youngest goes off to school ALL day.  It's an amazing time, 6-8 hours of peace at home, in one big chunk, everyday.  During that time, the only dishes in the sink are the ones you used, the only shoes accumulating by the door are the ones you kicked off.  Ahhhh!  The peace and quiet it feels so good.

     Sooner or later those free hours begin to fill up, book groups, lunches with friends, a part time or full time job, shopping, errands, new hobbies,  pets, there's always something to fill those newly discovered hours of freedom.  Mothers, don't miss  this opportunity to remain at the crossroads.

     President Harold B. Lee, speaking about the righteous influence of mothers, encouraged mothers everywhere to stay at the crossroads of the home.  He teaches us that, “Mothers are the creators of the atmosphere in the home and do much to provide the strong foundation for their sons and daughters, to provide them with strength when they leave the influence of their homes.”  This never ceases to be a principle of utmost importance whether they be 2 or 20 years of age.  The mother continues to be the single greatest contributor to the atmosphere and spirit of the home.  Don't miss being at the crossroads. 

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Looking Ahead 2012

I did the year in review . . .

and now

Looking Ahead  (part 1)
to what's up in

2012!


We start the year off with big plans . . . towards the end of 2011 we made the decision to enact a major lifestyle change.  We thought we would be here in our Alpine home forEVER - well . . .
NEVER say NEVER . . .

With half our children living not just outside of Utah, but clear across the country . . . . (I guess it could be worse, in todays employment / housing / school market it is not unusual to be scattered around the WORLD . . .) we have decided that WE need to be more mobile.  It's very difficult for these young families to come to visit us, taking time off of work and school.  Also airfares keep going up and up  . . .

So we are preparing to sell our Alpine home and make a major move for us to a town home in nearby Highland Utah.  A simpler lifestyle and allows us the funds to travel for visits AND to gather our family all together at least once a year.

So we are busy simplifying already, clearing the clutter of the last 15 years.  It's a project!

If anyone is looking for a home in Alpine - you can find all the info online at Zillow.  It will also be available on the MLS beginning in March.

We have a little updating to do to get the home ready for the real estate market - but Norm is already busy tearing out carpets, repainting and taking boxes of donations off to the thrift stores.






This is just one of our projects . . . trying to get this room back to a more neutral status :D

Anyway - on to another topic . . .



What's on your reading list for the New Year??

I have a pile already!




Between the books I've been piling up on my nightstand and my

Kindle Addiction 
(anyone else have one of those?)

I really have my reading stacking up already for the year.

Let me just put in a positive note for a particular author who is a cousin of mine -
April Christofferson!

She is amazing - if you like the John Grishamy, Robin Cook sort of adventure - somewhat medical / law / scientifically based novels - you will REALLY enjoy her!    Start with "Clinical Trial" it's my favorite!

So for 2012

We're off and running

at full speed  . . .

of course!

One things for certain . . . there is always more to come!

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The Year in Review . . .

2011

It was a

very good year and we are grateful . . .

Each year is always filled with an annual adventure of ups and downs

but we can't complain as our ups seem to always outweigh the downs

Reflecting back . . . this was the year that - 

• Kelsie went to Tanzania to help in an orphanage 
• Norm and Greg worked together to finally add an additional bathroom downstairs!
• Pickled Pepper Photography - kept me on my toes ALL year!

• Dustin & Cami purchased their first home in Raleigh NC!
• Norm traveled to Raleigh to help Dustin & Cami with their move
• Cory & Sara purchased their first home in Salt Lake City
• Norm helped them build a new shed and replace the roof on the home

• Karianne, Greg and Addision lived with us through August of this year.
• Karianne and Greg bought their first home in Columbus Ohio
• (The financial downturn has been rough - but enabled three of the kids to get into homes!)
• Kelsie got into Nursing School!
• We had our FIRST grandbaby - Addison sweetheart!

• I survived my 2nd year as Relief Society President - yay!
• Enjoyed a family vacation to Lake Powell with Norm's family
• Visited Oceanside CA with the Morawetz family and stayed on the beach for a week!
• Norm's father passed away in November
• Found out Cory & Sara are expecting a baby BOY - 2nd Grandbaby!!

• Norm and I visited LDS and American historic sites back East with my parents!
• I was spoiled - and visited Karianne and baby Addision in Ohio a lot!
• We unintentionally simplified our Christmas! (No lights, no Christmas cards, the unbaked neighbor treats are still sitting on the cabinet!)
• We lost our sweet Cleo girl to cancer  - she was our sweetheart dog of 11 years . . .
• We decided it's time to downsize  in 2012 and find something more easily maintained . . .

WE have much to look forward to in 2012

So . . . .

On with the show!!

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And for Your Listening Pleasure . . .

I think you will agree with me that this . . .

is

truly amazing!

And . . .

They are 

The Piano Guys / St. George UT

Enjoy!

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OooOo! The War we are Really Fighting . . .

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

-  Edwin Osgood Grover

Everywhere we turn these days we see challenges, hardships and difficulties for individuals and families all around.  Our mortal life tests us in so many ways that may seem overwhelming.  We can attribute so many of our challenges to the principles spoken of here.  
We can find comfort in the words of encouragement spoken by the true messengers of peace on the earth today.  

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