Happy Birthday, Delaine!!

Aren't babies amazing? Conception, cell division, intelligence and spirit.

I have said this before, but it is so pleasing to see my daughters

and daughter-in-laws welcome children into their lives.

You did good, Heidi!

The circle of life. Where I once was now Heidi is.

Congratulations to the Joncas family.
This picture doesn't tell Jill's excitement for this day.
Heidi called us in the morning and said she was on her
way to the hospital. Jill just got so excited. We worked our
way over to the west valley in two cars. Jill left me in her dust.

Christmas Past

David gave me a new camera for Christmas.

It took the whole holiday for me to learn how to use it.

We had a lot more fun than my few pictures show.I love having daughters.
And sons.

But nobody should quit their day job.

A few of my favorite things.

Is John mad or is this his imitation of a super hero look.

I love this daughter, too.

Merry Christmas, Scout.

DAY THREE~THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE?

"Nothing matters more than knowing God's purposes for your life, and nothing

can compensate for not knowing them--not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure."

Rick Warren

THE BENEFITS OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING

• Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.
• Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
• Knowing your purpose focuses your life.
• Knowing your purpose motiviates your life.
• Knowing your purpose prepared you for eternity.

THIS IS TRUE.

AND WE WILL ALSO BE HAPPY.

"Happiness is the object and design of our existance; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."

Joseph Smith

DAY TWO ~ THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.

I liked his thought with one disagreement. He believes God

created us here. There isn't anything about a preexistence. I liked the idea that God made great plans for us individually, e.g., our looks, talents, and personality, where and when and how we were to be born. Because that says He loves us.

I believe that I lived in a preexistence before I came here. I was already his spirit child before I came here. And I think I had "looks, talents, and personality" before I came here. And I know that I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly parents.

Before I formed thee in the belly

I knew thee.

Jeremiah 1:5

The Young Women's Theme sums it up best.

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith

Divine

Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity

& Virtue.

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

I STARTED A NEW BOOK THANKS TO DESERET INDUSTRIES LIBRARY.

aka: second hand and cheap.

THE AUTHOR, RICK WARREN IS THE FOUNDING PASTOR OF SADDLEBACK CHURCH IN LAKE FOREST, CA. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HIM FROM LAST FALL'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HE HAD THAT Q/A EVENING

WITH THE TWO CANDIDATES.

There are 40 chapters. Read one a day. I am going to blog my thoughts for 40 days.

He makes an interesting point about the 40 day thing.

• Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain.
• Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai.
• The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land.
• David was transformed by Goliath's 40 day challenge.
• Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength with a single meal.
• The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change.
• Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness.
• The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

So maybe in 40 days I will be a better person. I know my purpose here. As someone who just turned 57, I reflect on my purpose alot. You can't be my age and not think about how it's going. Perhaps that is why this book interests me....more help to keep me on the path.

"I can't imagine pain greater than stepping across the veil and realizing I had not done what I came here to do - or realizing that I had given up my life to little or nothing, only then to find that it was gone." Sheri L. Dew

DAY ONE

"It All Starts with God. It's not about you. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny." Rick Warren

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love for the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities." Ezra Taft Benson

One day I want to see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I want to be in the same room with them. I don't want to "give up my life to little or nothing" and not make that day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH JILL PAPA

You are a beautiful 29 year old woman!

bA list of things that I love about Jillb

1} Her good heart.

2} Her love for her husband.

3} Her love for her children.

4} Her personal strength in times of trouble.

5} Her ability to make friends.

6} Her love of extended family.

7} Her sense of duty.

8} Her creative abilities.

9} The spirit that she has created in her home.

10} Her memory of interaction with her sibilings.

11} Her testimony of the Savior.

12} Her interest in new recipes.

13} Her handwriting.

14} Her driving skills in the city.

15} Her coupon sense savvy.

16} Her ability to paint and repaint a room.

17} Her beautiful hair.

18} Her love for Pinetop.

19} Her love for the mountains.

20} Her concern for the welfare of those she loves.

21} Her love for her parents.

22} Her personal integrity.

23} Her belief in the power of prayer.

"Woman is God's supreme creation. Only after the earth

had been formed, after the day had been separated from the

night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after

vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man

had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and

only then was the work pronounced complete and good."

Gordon B. Hinckley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JILL.

YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S SUPREME CREATIONS.

The Year in Review

Besides becoming empty nesters in 2008, which was a huge change for

David and I, here is a list of events and a few choices that

added up to a very busy and significant year.David became a Certified Residential Appraiser.

This was huge. The appraisal industry is requiring

much more of it's work to be by certified appraisers.

I am very pleased and proud of him.

Jeremiah left us to join the Phoenix Policy Department

Looking back, I don't see a man like Jeremiah sitting at a desk

the rest of his life. But I did enjoy his company everyday at work.

Beverly passed away. I didn't listen well enough to her when she

said she was ready to be with Gib. I am still surprized that that is where she is.

When she left I became an orphan. No more parents to let me be a child.

She was a tender mercy in our lives.

Connie's mom passed away. She truly was a beautiful woman. My last

experience with her was at Abbey's first birthday party. She loved

Abbey. I had brought my sewing machine down to Payson to hopefully give it

to someone at the party who lived in the valley and have them get it

to the repair shop. Kathy volunteered and became very concerned

that I make sure she didn't leave without it. I felt very accepted by her.

We sold our Tacoma and bought a Vibe. I have to say in the middle of this

snowy winter I miss the Tacoma. But we love the gas mileage with the Vibe.

Cars come and go in our lives with frequency but this coming and

going has made a different statement than others.

Paisley was born. And one week after her birth she had open heart

surgery. A rocky way to make an entrance. She brought us

closer together as a family because of this trial. By the way,

she is very healthy and happy.

Michael Reed was also born this year. When I first started my

journey as a grandmother, I wondered how I could love more than

one or two or three but everytime the love is multiplied ~ never divided or

diminished. Connie welcomed us to be there for Mikey's birth.

That was a good day.

The city of Show Low made a monument honoring Dad and others

who were responsible for starting the Little League in Show Low.

Just the other day a lady who grew up in Show Low called and wanted

some pictures of Dad for a book she was publishing about Show Low.

Little league was huge at my house as I grew up but it was big

to other people, too. And they remember Dad and this contribution.

Brittany and Pete are expecting. (this is Brittany with Michael and Paisley)

This is a long awaited blessing. And it's a BOY!



And, as I make this entry, Heidi is in the final stages of her pregnancy.

I so love my daughters and daughters-in-law for ignoring the world

and are having babies and loving their children. Family is what it is all about.





We try not to make a big deal out of this, but we paid our house

off this year. That was huge for us.


Lee ran track. Peter started high school track in 1992. Lee finished

up in 2008.

Lee graduated from high school.

The event was held in the gym due to a SNOW storm

that came the end of May. But it was nice. It was

so personal and attached.

OK, so getting wood isn't that eventful.

But ~ we haven't cut our own wood for 16-17 years.

And we aren't any younger either.

There is nothing like spending time in the mountains

and the sounds of a chain saw.

This isn't personal to us (or is it?) but we had a presidential election.

My guy didn't win. Hey ~ my guy didn't even win the primary.

The downturn (to put it mildly) in the housing industry

was another huge thing for us. Especially since we make our

living in real estate. So far we are still making a living.

THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE OBVIOUS THINGS THAT

WILL COME TO MIND AS WE REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR.

BUT I AM ABOUT THROUGH "REFLECTING"

BECAUSE EVERY DANG DAY IS SO BUSY.

GOD BLESS US ALL IN 2009.