And it Begins . . .

We are down to the last few days in our lovely Alpine home . . .

So many people express interest in why we would ever want to leave . . . and the answer is . . .






"It's Complicated" !!

Is it based on the economy?   . . . yeah partially . . .

Is it because we're empty nesters? . . . yeah partially . . .

Is it because we're not getting any younger . . . we value our time (especially the FREE time), and want to spend it in more meaningful ways than cleaning a home that is bigger than we need, and trimming and mowing a yard that is bigger than we need?     . . .  yeah partially . . .

Is it because we have opportunities to serve that we need to be unencumbered by a home? . . . yeah that too!

Is it because I have a son and DIL, and a daughter and SIL and grand baby clear across the country - yeah mostly!



AND . . .

on the other hand . . .

I have loved looking at every single thing in the home and making a consciencious  decision to keep, not to keep, trash or good will an item.  I love it that we are just down to the best of the best!  Reminds me of making decisions about our time and energy . . . . and only making time for those things that are the best of the good, better, best decisions.


In other news today!

Kelsie just returned from Nauvoo - in an outstanding "field trip" with her YSA Stake from Price, Utah.  She has shared some amazing experiences they have been able to have there!

(kelsie & friend at the brand spankin' new Kansas City temple - cute huh??!!a FB download from a friend of hers!)

We are currently moving almost EVERYTHING out of the home!  We will have to move into an apartment for 3 months while the townhouse is completed!  And it's pack . . . pack . . . pack . . . move . . . move . . . move everyday!

Dustin (in Raleigh) has a new and exciting job!  He is a financial analyst for Red Hat, Inc.  So he is preeettty excited about that!!

My cute little DIL, Sara (yep!  the newest little mom in the family!) just graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in International Studies.  So we are SO pleased with all of her efforts and we're so amazed by all her accomplishments!



And - TA DA!

Our Addi bear arrives with her mom in just 6 and 1/2 hours now!  She is on the plane!  The only time in her life she has been sick is this last week . . . and we've been praying her better all week, because we couldn't stand the thought of her not being able to come for a visit!


 

 Last but not least . . .

My darling niece M'liss get's married on Friday, and we have a fabulous girls day planned for tomorrow while the cousins are all together for these few days - before they scatter to the four corners of the country! (just about!~!~)  WE are having our nails done, and our feet done . . . aren't we in for a special treat!!

  (inserted from over at the photog place - Pickled Pepper Photography!)

Tonight - we are finishing up THIS!
 



A new gorgeous quilt for the beautiful bride to be!
(thank goodness I have my personal assistant and keep tracker of everything current here to help out!  I'd be sooooo sunk!!)
I DO believe that is about all for the moment - but hang onto your hat, things change by the gazillion around here . . .
Loves!!
ME

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Where to Start . . . that is the Question

Oh my goodness . . . where to start . . . 
(sooooo long . . . if you read this you get high fives and kudos next time we meet :)

This last two weeks has been a whirlwind of packing boxes, cleaning out closets . . . putting the house back on the real estate market, taking it back off the real estate market - and finally negotiating a done deal with a closing date of May 24th.  So we are off . . .  (talk about stressful!)

(our first and ONLY garage sale EVER!

it was more like PLEASE just come and take our stuff :)

We got a brief reprieve with a hotel stay away from home for 3 days at the fabulous Marriott Mountain side resort in Park City, Utah.    Of course, it rained and snowed on us daily, but we have many fond memories of hot tubs and swimming pools in the snow and rain, with the steam billowing all around . . .  - no problem :)

(ha! we're practicing living in a smaller space!)

Blessings!  We have many!

A new little grand baby, born April 21 (I KNOW, and I'm JUST barely posting a picture!!!) -
his name is Jonathan and he is adorable.  We just cannot love and hug on him enough . . . and he is totally oblivious, and sleeps through almost all of our visits.  Mom and baby (and daddy . . . no one ever asks about the daddy . . .) are all doing well!












The house is definitely sold!  We're moving -  and building a townhouse that will allow us to create a simpler life style so we can travel to visit our family living far away from home on a more frequent basis! (And our family living close too! We want to spend more time with them also :)



The more complicated part is that the townhouse won't be completed until August, so Norm and I and our large black lab are moving into a little tiny two bedroom apartment for 3-4 months!  That WILL be FUN, let me tell you . . .

In other good news!

Kelsie was accepted into the LPN to RN program (silly nursing schools make you keep reapplying all along the way!) Hurrah for Kelsie!  She survived her third year of college, which was her first year of nursing school . . . only three more semesters to go to her RN!

She also passed her courses this year with adequate grades to continue on in the nursing program . . . sounds like a simple thing . . . BUT NOT . . .

So HUGE accomplishments there :D

I was able to attend her pinning ceremony (a fun little nursing tradition for each accomplishment, as you pass your LPN year you get an LPN nursing pin, when you pass your RN year, you get an RN nursing pin . . .)

The REST of the Stuff


I managed to attend a few sessions at Women's Conference at BYU  . . . and hey!  I got some chocolate bridge mix from the bookstore (which is my favorite) and a fabulous new backpack from the bookstore . . . along with some amazing notes to uplift and inspire me along the way (maybe it will keep me sane during the next 4 months . . .!!)

In addition I taught Relief Society on Sunday, probably my last lesson as the Relief Society president :(

Norm organized and attended Youth Conference (in his spare time while repainting the entire apartment that we are planning to move into)

Pickled Pepper Photography is undergoing a website transformation!  (Which may take the rest of my life since I have no time to work on it . . . but it is SOOOOOO cute!!)

I am editing photos non stop for the many gorgeous bridals, engagements, newborns, family sessions, and weddings that I've been blessed to be involved in the last couple months.

And when I do have a spare moment or two I love my diet coke and whatever chocolate I can find . . . I think you can almost subsist on the two out of desperation.


ALTHOUGH . . .

I did make this yummy PINTEREST dessert just this week for a birthday party!  It is delish!  And I highly recommend it for any special occasion!

Chocolate Mint Icebox Dessert!

Oh so yummy!

Whew - that will have to do for the moment . . .

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Breaking for this Political Announcement . . .

I think this about covers it . . .

Yes . . . I . . . Do

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Hmmm . . . Tornados and Chicken Pasta Salad

When I was in Ohio recently we had a VERY interesting experience . . .

Just as we were sitting down for a lovely Sunday dinner . . .

The tornado sirens began to sound.

(not my photo - but this is what the skies looked like . . . trying to find my photo . . .)

You know . . . that is just a little bit disconcerting!  Especially since my son-in-law who is actually from Ohio shared the information that he hadn't actually heard the sirens go off except for a drill for many years.

Another interesting fact is that we had 9 of us (including two babies, 3 women and two LDS missionaries) in a cute little house, but no basement to take shelter in . . .


Hmmmm . . . what to do??  Instead of taking shelter (which sounded like a good idea to me . . . ) the guys all headed outside to keep a look out for tornados - go figure!!

The sky did look ominous, and I really couldn't resist standing out on the sidewalk myself taking photos.  We were fortunate that day that no tornados touched down in the neighborhood of my daughters home.  But it did lend itself to making us more prepared and actually making some preparations for the same type of event should it occur again in the future!

Maybe just maybe  . . . having a couple missionaries for dinner turned out to be our lucky day . . .

Now for the Chicken Pasta Salad . . .

My daughters good friend brought this amazing salad to contribute to our dinner!  Just had to share!

Chicken Pasta Salad (From Matt's aunt Kathy.)

Mix the following:
5 chicken breasts cooked, cubed
1 C red grapes sliced in 1/2
1 sm. can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 bag craisins
1-1 1/2 can mandarin oranges, drained

Add:

1 pkg cooked, drained, and cooled bow-tie pasta.
1 pkg cooked, drained, cooled tri-colored spiral pasta
1 sm can sliced water chestnuts, chopped and drained.

Dressing:
1 16 oz. coleslaw dressing (Hidden Valley)
1/2 C. light mayonnaise

Mix and refrigerate.  Just before serving add 1 bag of cashews.  If salad is dry the next day you can add more dressing or mayo.

(Try adding honey roasted peanuts and some sunflower seeds - just a sprinkle on top!) 

ENJOY!:)

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We Seek After THESE Things . . . .

Ahhhh . . . yes we do . . .

I can't get enough of this precious baby!

And can I tell you I LOVE Facebook and Skype and Instagram . . . (I know I'm a techno nut case)
but without them I wouldn't get to see this . . .

or this . . .

and . . . tah da da dahhh!

We are expecting grandbaby boy any day!

and . . .

since that baby is being stubborn . . . the lovely 8.95 months pregnant Sara
and I are going to lunch today!

Come on outta there you little rascal!

Loves!!

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I'm Inspired . . . Yes . . . I am

 
Not an Easter basket in sight at my home, no decorations grace the mantel this year, most things are packed and stored at this point . . .
But this I knowat this time of year and always . . .
with or without the colored eggs, baskets, and pretty new Sunday clothes to celebrate . . .
He Lives . . . Yes, He does
(please take a moment to watch the other uplifting events portrayed throughvideo HERE)
 

John 20:

11 ¶But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

 12 And seeth two ^aangels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and ^asawJesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, ^aMaster.

 17 Jesus saith unto her, ^aTouch me not; for I am not yet^bascended to my ^cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my ^dFather, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Luke 24:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

 6 He is not here, but is ^arisen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is ^arisen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:

 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is ^arisen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 Matthew 28:

5 ^aAnd the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

 6 He is not here: for he is ^arisen, as he said. Come, see the place where the ^bLord lay.

 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

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