Aging- A Glorious Secret

"There's this youth culture...it really discards people once they reach a certain age.  I actually think that people are so powerful and interesting - women, especially - when they are older.  We've got so much to say, but popular culture is so reductive that we just talk about whether we've got wrinkles, or whether we've put on weight or lost weight, or whether we've changed our hairstyle.  I just find that shallow."  ~Annie Lennox

Not so in this neighborhood where I live surrounded by so many incredibly elegant, talented women. They are so beautiful in so many different ways.  It is because of how they have lived and what they have lived through.  Their beauty radiates through their eyes and in their smiles.  They have accumulated wisdom that only life can give you.  I find great comfort being around these lovely women.  

I have been walking in the early mornings with a few of these 'girls'.  

January can be cold when you live so close to the mountains, but we get up early and get ourselves moving!  One of our group has had a stroke, two have pacemakers, one of those nearly died before she got hers, and I couldn't breathe for three years.  

We have always cared for each other during those times, and also during emotional upsets.  

And so we marvel that we are out walking at all! 

 We notice the blue sky, the sun when it comes out from behind the mountains. 

 We notice every beautiful thing as we walk, because we have lived and we are so grateful for each other, for our surroundings and for the fact that we are actually walking!  Oh, what a wonderful world.  How much better to be on this end of things. To know what we know. 

 It's almost like having a glorious secret. We'd like to share it with our younger sisters, friends, daughters... but we can't.  

For they must live it. 

 Then they will know.

  "Growing old is a mandatory process. For women, for a period of time, we might even resist aging as we try our hardest to fight off wrinkles and hang on to the physical beauty of our faces.  Yet, getting old is a natural process where things are slowing down, and you'll begin to see that the sparkle in your heart and the twinkle in your eyes make you beautiful in a way that's not achievable in youth. 'Age' is the acceptance of a term of years.  But maturity is the glory of years."

GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTLIKE FRIENDS

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." 

~Arabian proverb

I am blessed to have such friends and family members. I have posted many times how fortunate I am to live where I live.  To live among people who are kind, loving and Christlike. 

I was reading a talk by President Uchtdorf last night.  Some of his comments are so applicable to my friends.  I would like to quote him. 
"To follow Christ is to become more like Him.  It is to learn from His character.  This process is very complex and very simple at the same time.  Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life.  The test comes in practicing what we proclaim.  The reality check comes when Christlike attributes need to become visible in our lives - as husband or wife, as father or mother, as son or daughter, in our friendships, in our employment, in our business, and in our recreation.  Christlike attributes include knowledge and humility, charity and love, obedience and diligence, faith and hope.  These personal character qualitites stand independent of the organizational status of our Church unit.  Christlike attributes are gifts from God and cannot be developed without His help." 

My friends are not perfect, but they strive to live Christlike lives.  They know what love and charity is and they live it.  There is a feeling of security living among these people for come what may, we help and lift one another. 

President Uchtdorf continues:  Christlike attributes are the basics.  They are the fundamental principles that will create the wind beneath our wings.  As we develop Christlike attributes in our own lives, step-by step, they will "bear [us] up as on eagles' wings"  (D&C 124:18). " 

These lovely people bear me up.  I have learned more about kindness, acceptance and unconditional love through my associations than through any manuel. It is the actions and example that teach.  How could I been so blessed to build our home and raise our wonderful children  here 37 years ago?  To raise a family, to learn and grow from the example of people such as these? 

Simple Blessings

I am  grateful for the simple things.

  I could go on forever about the simple blessings that enrich my life. 

 I just have to sit out in my garden for a few moments as the sun goes down,
 feeling the autumn air as it turns my leaves from green to dark yellow and red.

I just have to snip the last flower from my
 garden to brighten up a spot on my table.

I just have to look at the changing seasons, knowing with a surety that spring will come again, as it always does.
And while I wait I will enjoy the fall colors and the winter snow. 

Simple blessings surround me.
My husband's love, a call from a son or daughter, feeling small arms around my neck from a little one, soup from a dear friend, my lovely home, the beauties of nature.
 Simple is what my life is made up of.
 I count these blessings each day.

Relaxing in the Garden- Glorious Summer

Can't believe we're almost halfway through glorious summer. 

 I love warm summer nights. 

 My upper garden has been a mess of vines for the last few years.  

This year we cleaned it out and added quite a bit more space. 

 So nice to go up my steps and hideout while reading a book or just star gazing.

  Perfect spot to relax in the evening.

I've always enjoyed the concept of "rooms" in my garden.  

Another lovely place to enjoy warm evenings is my back patio.  

Sometimes I just sit and listen to those wonderful summer sounds.

Something fun going on in the gardens around my neighborhood is our weekly lemonade gathering.

  Once a week we gather and enjoy a cool glass of lemonade, visit and just enjoy each others flowers. 

 It's nice to stop once in awhile and relax with good friends.

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on

 a summer's day,

 listening to the murmur of the water,

 or watching the clouds float across the sky,

 is by no means a waste of time."

~John Lubbock

Dear Old Friends..

Yesterday I called my friend, Pat, and asked if she would like to run around with me for the day. 

 I needed to find a clock for my family room and a few things to spiff up my home going into the new year.  Soon after ten in the morning we were off to see what we could find. 

Of course being with Pat, we found ourselves wandering through the after Christmas sales. 

 (Pat is the all time best shopper)  

which, although I love to be with her, is one of the other reasons it is good to take her along when you shop. 

 She has shopped for bargains for so long, that it is like they call her name.

  I knew if she was with me I'd find just what I needed, and for the right price.

Did I say we left at ten in the morning?  

Well close to three in the afternoon my son, Nick called me on my cell. 

 "Where are you? "he said. 

 I told him Pat and I had made our way at that point to Tai Pan.  

We had our carts full.

  His response was " I'm worried for the other shoppers, with Thelma and Louise on the loose!"  or something to that effect. 

 Thelma and Louise we aren't..but wonderful, good old friends we are.  

We left Tai Pan with almost nothing as we realized the full carts didn't have anything in them we really needed. 

 But, as I dropped Pat off at her home late in the afternoon, 

I had a full heart. 

 How grateful I am for this dear friend. 

 We have raised children together, gone through broken hearts together, planned and carried out parties together, served together, laughed together, gardened together, become grandmothers together, we were young together..

and now we are growing older together.  

We take care of each other and understand one another. 

 There is nothing better than a dear, dear, old friend.

A Sewing Project

My mother was a talented seamstress. 

 She sewed for herself and we three girls always had beautiful clothes created and sewed by our mother.

  She had a little sewing room right off our family room, so she could sit and sew,

 but still be a part of whatever was going on downstairs with the rest of us. 

I sewed a little bit when my kids where little,

 but haven't even had a sewing machine for years

Jim bought me a new sewing machine a few weeks ago,

so I thought it was time to start creating.

Last night my friend Marcie and her mom Kathy came over and helped me

cut out a dress and a skirt, using a dress I had and just measurements for the skirt. 

We started about 7:00 pm.  

 They left at about nine when the skirt was complete. 

 I stayed up til about eleven and finished the dress.

So this morning I have a new dress and the skirt goes to Abby. 

 I'm really excited to have completed this project so quickly.

  Nothing went wrong as I sewed these up. 

 I even put the sleeves in the dress with no problem! 

 Kathy showed me how to make the yoga band for the skirt.

  I really appreciate her help. 

Kathy is my age,

but it was a little bit like having my mom there helping me along my way. 

"The fragrance always stays in the hand that give the Rose"

What a wonderful world. 

 That is a strange sentence to write down after reading the newspaper and listening to the news.  There are so many things going on that can bring a person down.
 I have had a particularly rough month.
 But even with all the heartache, physical illness and all kinds of other strange goings on..there is still so much of heaven everywhere.
 The contrast for me is so strong.
 When I get down or falter or go back a step or two,
 what keeps me going is the army that Heavenly Father chose to bless me with.
   I believe that Heavenly Father works through us.
 I am constantly amazed by the courage of people like Tyler Hallsey and his family and Burgen Jensen and her family.
 They give me strength.

 I live in an area that could only be called Heaven in the middle of a world in crisis.
  Here we have a bit of peace. 
A little bit of land with houses dotting the hill..and those homes are filled with people who all have problems,
 but who take care of each other
Such a pure love dwells here. 
The closeness that we feel is priceless.
 The love that ties us together is a rare thread, it doesn't break.
 All of the people give of themselves over and over again.  They never stop, they just keep on giving.  I have been the recipient of their generosity and love over and over.

 

"..have miracles ceased?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

 

Moroni 71: 29

 

Miracles have not ceased and angels do exist. 
They are all living in my neighborhood. 

 

"..charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.."

 

Moroni 71:47

 

And these angels who live here have the charity that this scripture is talking about. 

My dear friends and neighbors have given out so many roses over the years. 
It smells like a rose garden as you walk down the street.

I am so grateful I live among these lovely people.

Lone Peak Liberty Days

Our small neighborhood parade is growing.  Grandkids come back with their parents to the place where they grew up. 

We gather together to celebrate our nation's birth..and this place we call home. 

We honor our veterans and celebrate our "Liberty Lovelies"  These beautiful women who have gracefully taught us how to live our lives.

 

And of course there are the spectators..

Cheering us on!

We love getting together on this special day.  We love seeing kids that have grown up here who come and bring their families.  We love celebrating our heritage, our freedom and this beautiful part of the world that is our home. 

Turning 60 at the Sego Lily Spa

 

 

Yesterday I turned 60!!!! 

 I got up as I usually do

Got dressed..a little slower,

(due to my age)

 

Went out the door to take care of the grandchildren. 

When I got to my daughter's home a wonderful surprise waited for me there.

Three of my five kids were there with four of the eight grandchildren. 

They had fixed a delicious

breakfast. 

 After eating,

 they were sending me off to a spa!

FOR THE WHOLE DAY!!!

 

I have never spent the whole day in a spa.

Maybe being 60 isn't going to be that bad. 

 

 

I can't say enough about the

 Sego Lily Spa. 

The Facility is lovely and the treatments are all to die for. 

What a wonderful way to spend my day.

 

The spa day was fabulous,

 but the present I loved the most was the thought that went behind the gift, 

 I loved the notes from nieces, nephews, sisters, and my brother, kids,

 and grandkids, and my dear husband. 

Visits from my friends. 

 I love them all so much and am blessed to have these people in my life. 

 Getting older isn't bad at all when surrounded by so many blessings. 

Happy Valentines Day

Just a few of those that have and continue to bring me joy. 

To my family, loved ones and friends...

Happy Valentines Day.

Perspective

"We are all in this together. We need each other, Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young. And, hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old. It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance. We need to renew our faith every day. We need to lock arms and help build the kingdom so that it will roll forth and fill the whole earth".

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I think the older I get the more I seem to understand this beautiful statement.

How I treasure my friendships. I have a better understanding of younger people and so, more compassion. I am not so quick to tell them what they should do, because I have learned that there truly are no real answers. Mostly we just want to be listened to and loved.

 I think that's why I loved my Grama so much. She was so sweet. She pretty much just gave us all her unconditional love.

 That's probably why I do so well with the younger set.

 I get them. They don't really want to be told what to do.

They just want loves and to have somebody around who listens to them.

They don't even care what you look like, whether

you have makeup on,  or what you wear!?!

A few Regrets...These aren't among them.

Yesterday in church our neighbor gave a talk about regrets.  It was a fabulous talk.  He went through life stages and how we have small regrets in our early years, but maybe as we get older there are bigger regrets.  He ended his talk with a letter from a friend who has only a few weeks to live due to illness.  He listed his regrets, which basically had to do with loving more and spending time with those loved ones, expressing his love to them more often.  Of course we think of those things as we get close to the end of our life.  But they are such simple things..things that can be done each day, just a quick hug or an "I love you"  letting someone express their feelings freely..loving unconditionally.  I have so many regrets, but I thought I'd list a few of those things I don't regret this year. 

I don't regret surrounding myself with these guys, seeing their happy faces.

Their smiles bring joy to my life.

   

I don't regret seeing Jim smile.  Especially when he is with his grandkids.  That's when the joy comes out the most.  He's got a great smile.

I don't regret working in my garden.  I love planting those beautiful flowers and seeing them grow.  What a lovely season, barefeet on hot cement, sitting outdoors late into the evening, watching the sun set. Summer, my favorite time of year.

I don't regret travelling.  I always love seeing different places, experiencing different ways.  It makes me appreciate the beautiful world and also the beautiful spot I call home.

I don't regret spending time with family and friends.  These women are my support, They are who I turn to who and who turn to me.  I love them.  Girlfriends are the best. 

 

I certainly don't regret loving and being with "my girls."  We're outnumbered, but a strong force in the family.  Beautiful each one with different and individual strengths.   How grateful I am to be apart of these girls lives. 

 

I have many regrets.  Things I wish I would have done better..things I wish I wouldn't have done at all.  But, spending time with loved ones,  spending time out in the beautiful world,  these things I only regret not doing more of.  So very grateful for these simple, yet most important blessings in my life.

A Gathering of Loved Ones

Just another group of my most precious loved ones.  A gathering last night for some of Aunt Polly's homemade chicken noodle soup, aunt Julie's pretzel jello, and other delights brought in by our gang!  Almost fifty crammed into our home.  And of course the original "name game" group stayed and played after everyone left. 

As I post these different pictures during this Christmas Season, each one could be our Christmas Card, for all these people are so dear to me. 

My family of course. 

Then the extended, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, who, I love so dearly and love seeing each one, and of course our dear neighbors and friends. 

What would I do without all these wonderful people in my life? 

 I am truly blessed. 

Christmas Bells are Ringing!

Early Saturday morning before Christmas the Choir always practices. 

Just to make sure we remember our songs for Church the next day.

It is so nice just to go and see my friends, who love music, love one another and love singing praises to our Savior. 

There's always something to laugh at, or some song that makes everybody cry...

 (either from the message or how badly we sing it!)

We have so many talented people. Several who play the flute, soloists.

 A bell choir, and Pat, who has kept the music in our ward alive for over thirty five years.

 She's amazing.

We hope the angels will sing with us tomorrow. 

 (They have on many occasions, you know.) 

Merry Christmas

Simple Christmas Blessings

Last Saturday was our second annual cousins Christmas party! What a fun event, hosted by the second generation, with the mom's just invited to watch.  Yoga, with Whit as our instructor, delicious food and gifts for everyone.  The best party of the season spent with my favorite girls.

Nothing more beautiful than falling snow during the Christmas Season. 

Nothing nicer than neighbors who plow our sidewalks and driveway while Jim wasn't feeling well.  What a lovely place to live.

 

Jake's preschool program was the best.  He knew all the songs and so did Sam, as he sang along from his seat in the audience. 

 

So grateful to be so close to family and friends who are so caring and full of love. 

My daughters are presenting me with the 12 days of Christmas. 

 Every few days I recieve some lovely gift from them. 

They are so thoughtful and are truly spoiling me. 

 What a truly joyous time of year.

"TRIBUTE TO FALL"

When I first feel that cool fall air in the morning and see the leaves change and pumpkins start showing up everywhere, I always think back to the fall when "Tribute" was born. It was many years ago, because my son Nick, who is now 33 was about 10. According to my journal, this is how it went.

"When I was a younger mom I decorated my home for each holiday

- even St. Patrick's day took a day of my time to make everything green.

 But Fall and Christmas took days.

Of course my friends were all engaged in these same activities,

 making their homes look festive for the season.

 One year when my son was about ten or eleven, I had just finished a masterpiece on my mantel for fall.

 I called my friend Pat right over to admire my handy work... and admire we did.

Nick, just in from school joked as Pat came in,

 " You have to see my moms Tribute to Fall".

Ever since any decoration for a season has become known as

"Tribute" to Christmas, Fall or whatever season we are in.

Well, a few years back I was in bed, sick. I just didn't have it in me to get "Tribute" out.

I had a phone call from Sue, the most concerned of neighbors.

Her first sentence was "I hear you might not get your Tribute up!"

It almost sounded like our country was being invaded or some such disaster.

She was that upset!

 I found out that if I was not well enough by the first week of October that Sue, Colleen and Pat would be over here making sure my tribute was up in all its glory,

because it just can not happen one year.

It seems a small and very unimportant thing when you look at the state of the world.

Wars, hurricanes, tornadoes that take peoples lives and homes.

 But what if all neighborhoods were like mine, where people were so concerned that they would come and put some fall leaves up just to see a smile?

 Somehow, when I look at it that way it seems as big as world events.

 It seems more important. Friends loving friends, looking out for each other.

We are all so different yet because of love we are the same. "

We have put up "Tribute" for others when they didn't feel well. We take each other to the hospital,

we sit with each other, comfort each other, laugh and talk and have fun together.

 

Each fall as I put my leaves and pumpkins out,

I am ever grateful for the beautiful world I live in, for the friends I am surrounded by,

 for a son who still has a funny sense of humor, who makes me laugh,

 for traditions, for those who continue to care,

 no matter what comes our way.

Wandering the streets of Spring City

 

We spent a perfect day with our friends, Teri and Dale, wandering around the streets of Spring City, Utah.  Seeing the lovely old homes, visiting with the city's many artists, and of course, taking pictures of their gardens. 

We caught the beautiful blooms just as summer turns to fall.

 

The hollyhocks were everywhere.

 

 

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

 

~Vincent Van Gogh

 

We certainly found it in Spring City.

"What a Wonderful World

Whitney and Jason's beautiful little family.  A day to honor Wren.

Of course in our family she is the little princess. 

What better way to celebrate than to gather family and friends together.  A beautiful evening.

Whitney's special touches were everywhere. 

So grateful that all the grandson's were there to welcome this little one into their gang.

So grateful the family could all be together for the lovely day.


"I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom, for me and you,
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue, and clouds of white.  The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night.
And I think to myself,  What a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces, of people
going by.
I see friends shaking hands, sayin' "How do you do? "They're really sayin',
"I love you"
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow.
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know,
And I think to myself..
What a wonderful world,
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world."



"The love of family is life's greatest blessing."

Independence Day in my Neighborhood

Because of the courage and bravery of our Founding Fathers, we today are celebrating the birth of our Nation.  How blessed to be living in such a beautiful country.  To have the opportunities and freedoms that sometimes we take for granted.  Because of their (our Founding Fathers) foresight we are able to enjoy activities like we do in our neighborhood. 

We gather as neighbors for a breakfast where we celebrate the birth of our nation, our friendship and our blessings.  We are grateful to the Jorgensen's who have hosted this for about 33 years.  The neighbors participate in setting up, preparing the food, and clean up.  Hundreds show up, many who have grown up here bring their children back for the fun.

There's a mix of old times and new comers.  Everyone is welcome and feels it.   

After the breakfast we get ready for the parade!  You can't have the 4th of July without a parade and a popcycle!

We've got our Grand Marshall, we've got our Royalty, we've got children on decorated bikes, we've got our spectators!  Who could ask for more?

Happy Independence Day!

Travelling through History

We've arrived home after two weeks of one of the best vacations ever.  Seeing the historic and beautiful sights of Williamsburg and the surrounding area was lovely.  Our home away from home was the Marriott at Ford Colony.  Beautiful and peaceful, with gardens everywhere. 

Being able to stroll through old Williamsburg and visit their gardens was my idea of heaven. I couldn't get over the colors and the size of their plants.  Perennials and annuals that I have to nurse all summer, flourish back east in the humid air. 

We enjoyed just walking slowly through each garden, noticing the fencing, the paths, and the varied bushes and trees. 

Toward the end of our Williamsburg stay we were able to take our neighbor out to lunch.  He is serving in the area on his mission and got permission from his Mission President.  So we had a fun afternoon visiting with Michael and his companion.  They are loving their missions.  Couldn't ask for a lovlier spot to spend two years. 
Our first stop after Williamsburg was Mount Vernon.  Just the beginning of our Washington DC tour.  Perfect way to start the next part of the trip.  Will post pictures of Washington DC next time.  For now I am enjoying reliving our fun as I look through these pictures.  Nothing better than being able to see the world and enjoy it with wonderful friends!