Discernment

"Nothing you learn here at Oxford will be of the slightest possible use to you later, save only this: that if you work hard and intelligently, you should be able to detect when a man is talking rot. And that is the main, if not the sole, purpose of education."
--Harold Macmillan (prime minister of Great Britain and chancellor of Oxford University from 1960-1986).

Formal learning, life experience, these can help in the development of our personal B.S detector, without question.  Also, at my age it becomes even more clear how needed the Holy Ghost is.

Channel G #2

The latest episode of Channel G, Fire Danger.

Can I just say working with ld, well. He's such a diva.

cardboard boat races

Dreams float on our little boats. With a puff of wind they sailed across Meghan's tabletop.

Cardboard Treehouse

A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity. 
                 - Alexander Smith

A Grandma doesn't create a tree for herself. She creates it for her Grandies.

My cardboard tree version, helped along with Dollar Tree Fairies.  I packed this up and brought it to Faye when we visited in May. Maddie was quite put out that I did so, in order to make it up to her I've started another cardboard project just for her.

 I took these pics for Instagram and not the best quality. Wish the bridge and mushroom were clearer because they were the most fun to make.

love doesn't have to be perfect. it just needs to be true.

Last fall ld turned the big 60 and Meghan organized a lovely weekend in the mountains to celebrate. As part of the festivities she asked people near and dear to ld to contribute a memory letter. Some were touching, some funny and he loved them all.

Here's mine. I'm sharing it because I came across it this morning while looking for something else on my computer. I had written it hurriedly because I had true-to-form put it off, but I wouldn't change any of the sentiment. I'm posting it because I want our grandchildren to someday know how I felt. And because remembering is nice. Ld, you and I will annoy, frustrate, and bug each other soon enough (Ha!), keeping the big picture in mind has served us both well through the years.

As I read through this letter, there's so much I left out. Another time, another birthday, then.

You 'da man, ld.

Dear Lance,

The years have flown, eh?  Our bodies are not what they used to be, we sag and bag, can’t hear and forget things.  It takes a kind of courage to deal with a body that betrays you. The challenges of aging, they are really there. But there are blessings, too. We’re still together and I count you and our marriage as my life’s greatest blessing.

We really didn’t know each other at all when we married, so it’s been a huge relief to have our leap of faith confirmed. We are better together, you and I.

The gift of a long life, we can count our blessings. And, true, 60 isn’t really old age but for all those billions of people in the world’s history who died before hitting 60 it puts it into perspective. Everyday is a gift.  We are only as old as God allows us to be. And I am thankful for everyday spent with you.

I appreciate the family we have created together. Many of those years involved struggle and sacrifice, mostly borne by you. You have done an admirable job taking care of us all and kept this family going. You have fed, clothed and educated our children. That is no small thing, providing for a family. I can’t thank you enough.

There is also a streak of loyalty that runs through your character that is hard to miss. You were loyal to your Dad and Mable and helped them even when they were not so kind to you, whatever their reasons. That speaks volumes. It’s easy to love when it is returned but says a lot about a person when they can love without it being reciprocated or appreciated. 

You have a strong sense of duty too.  In work and in church you have always been found doing yours.

It’s no secret either that you are a handy-man. A good fixer of all things broken. A chair, the car. A faucet, a door, or a computer.  I have appreciated this can do attitude, it’s really been a blessing for our family through the years. And an even added bonus: the years have mellowed and refined your fix-it problem solving skills, you are less likely to get so stressed. You are much calmer when something breaks or face a challenge or problem.

I love you for this and it confirms to me what I have always known: that you are a grower, capable of changing and adapting. I’ve seen you do this many times through the years. This trait, more than any others you possess makes me respect you the most. It helps me to see change is possible for me, too.

They say marriage involves the willingness and ability to be influenced for good by each other. You have wielded a huge influence for good on me. Thank you.

Ld: the memories, the struggles, the growth. The flowers given, the cards written, the ‘I love you’ spoken before you leave for work. The ‘just because’ gifts, the 'I'm sorry's', the putting up with all my cardboard. I love you for loving me, forgiving me, watching over me, taking care of me.  You’ve been a good husband to a terribly flawed wife.

You’re still my guy, after all these years.  I don’t say it often enough, but I love you more than air.

I really do.

Happy birthday. Here’s to many more. Clink.

Channel G

Ld and I launched the first (of hopefully many) episode of Channel G, a place where we can share stories, songs, memories, etc with our Grandies.



The G in Channel G stands for Grandies. Duh.

Children's Parade 2014

Yeah for summertime traditions. This year we added little Sophie and mourned the absence of our Faye and Emerson. One of these years we'll have a float with all our grandies present.

Fairy Tales can come true, in the Red, White & Blue

the why

Meghan has to teach again this Sunday. I recommended this article from the December 1980 Ensign. I have used it so many times as a source for talks and lessons.

My favorite part:

Why Covenants?

The purpose of the gospel is to educate, perfect, and sanctify man, lifting him to the status of a god in celestial glory. A person cannot lift himself or herself by individual effort alone but must be lifted by the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. This power does not operate in its fulness unless one is wholeheartedly willing to be so lifted.

One important aspect of a gospel covenant is that it commits the individual to the work of the Lord. A person making and keeping a covenant with God must sort out his values and actually work toward salvation, which is a much more involving process than mere intellectual assent. Furthermore, because gospel covenants are revealed from heaven, they are specific indicators of what God would have us do. Without revelation, we would not know how to please God—we would not know that we should be baptized, pay tithing,  observe the Sabbath and the Word of Wisdom, be ordained to the priesthood, fast, pray, partake of the sacrament, or do ordinances for our dead. These are not the kinds of things men and women would do naturally. They require conscious and deliberate and willfull obedience. Divine covenants mark the path of duty and commit us to walk in it. They more fully distinguish the way of the Lord from the way of the world. They are the only way in which the saving ordinances of the gospel are administered to man, and the most sacred of these can be received only in the temple.

The Lord requires certain duties of all members of his Church, but each must also struggle with his own nature and personality. Timid souls must learn to be brave; overzealous natures must develop patience; rebellious persons must learn to conform; the slothful must become diligent; the spiritually uncultured must be refined; and all must learn self-discipline. The covenant relationship encourages us to deal with these personal weaknesses; every gospel covenant ties the individual closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has the power to help us turn weaknesses into strengths (see Ether 12:27).

sophie's blessing

JLW blessed Sophia Sue yesterday. She is precious.

Thanks fam, for supporting and spending the day with us.

It was a great day.

frozen party

Maddie at 4. Favorite party moment: 11 little girls singing Let it Go in unison while they danced and twirled in their Elsa/Anna capes. Oh, the power of Disney.

A few pics from the party. Ld took some of the girls in their capes on the iPad. I'll have to post them later.

Entry way table.

Feed Sven Carrots. A game we didn't have time for.

Olaf out of poster board. We covered the china hutch with fabric my mother had. It's tricot and she used it in her quilt making phase. It has to be over 30 years old at least.

Icicles hung from the mantle.

Icicles everywhere.

Maddie insisted on placing the Frozen figures on the cake herself and wrecked a few snowflakes in the process. She stuck Hans in the back where he can't be seen, because she dislikes him.

Icicles made from plastic dollar store tablecloths.

Since Maddie is obsessed with Anna, an Arendelle castle. Elsa's castle in the background.

I should have made the plastic tablecloth icicles out of blue, they don't show up so well.

Some cardboard frozen trees.

There must have been at least 18 yards of that tricot fabric. Mother must be smiling down.

A view of Anna's Coronation dress. Maddie didn't want the one you see in the stores but insisted on the green Coronation one. I had her stand on a table and just started fitting and snipping fabric to her. She was thrilled with the result. Admittedly, this is a terrible picture. I'll have to post another maybe from my iPhone.

We played some Maddie inspired games and had a great time.  Even though I hate Disneyfied parties, I love this little 4 year old. It brings me joy to see her so happy.

cardboard Sweet Shoppe

When Maddie first saw this she exclaimed, "I love it!" High praise indeed from this child.  It made me so happy to see her reaction. I confess this became one of my favorite cardboard creations. Can't be sure, but maybe it's because my name is Candy. hehehehe.

Here it is, friends. Andie's Birthday Sweet Shoppe:

Some views from the inside:

 And side:

I re-fashioned last years Easter hat parade entry into a cupcake and plopped it on top.

I loved making this. The Grandies and party guests loved it, too. As cheap as it was to make (like next to nothing), it did cost me, though. I had to re-stock it about 3 different times with candy. They sold out pretty quickly, even when Maddie charged exorbitant prices.

andie turns 1

The whole theme for Andie's birthday party came from this little song:

You're my honey bunch, sugarplum
Pumpy-umpy-umpkin
You're my sweetie pie

You're my cuppycake, gumdrop
Snoogums, boogums
You're the apple of my eye.

And I love you so
and I want you to know
That I'll always be right here
And I love to sing sweet songs to you
because you are so dear.

The Grandies love this song so it's fitting we went with a Sweet Shoppe theme. A few pics, then: