Age & Happiness

I'm not getting any younger folks! There are moments when it hits me--how in the world do I have 19-year-old son? Where did all the time go? I don't feel 4*! But, my gray hairs keep growing in (curly I might add) and these wrinkles on my face didn't just show up overnight. I think I am going to embrace getting older. After all, I have earned every gray hair on my head and those wrinkles have been made by smiles and laughter, tears and worry through the years. With age comes some wisdom.

I used to work with the elderly population just as I was graduating from college. Because I did therapy, a lot of the wonderful people I worked with had experienced strokes or TBI's or other injuries. One thing they taught me was that attitude is everything! One woman in our facility was always so happy. She smiled at everyone and her laughter filled the halls with joy. Then on Veteran's day she cried as she told us the story about how she sent her husband off to war and he never came home. She never remarried--and yet she was 85 years old and so happy. Happiness is a choice. I think I'd like to be old and happy someday.

#EmbracingAge #ChoosingHappiness

Freezing Tomatoes

The EASIEST way to preserve tomatoes is to take off the stems, blend them up, and freeze them in freezer bags. I figure everything I make with these I cook once I defrost them, so why cook them twice, right?

#FreezingTomatoes

Birthday Missionary

Happy Birthday to my 19-year-old missionary! I don't think it is a coincidence that he is so happy because he is serving others all week long.

Elder Anderson quote from the week, "We've had a great week and I'm excited to see what the Lord does next. It has been a testimony builder because there are a lot of false churches up in downtown (area) trying to give blessings, salvation for $20 bucks, and prayers for $5. Its crazy but I have learned that our church is the true church AND it is free--no charge. It is a blessing to know that I can be at rest and be saved in the last days. That is why I'm here is to invite others to come unto Christ by HELPING them receive the restored gospel, through Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost!"

Grapes!

We harvested 30 pounds of grapes this weekend. Whew! Now I need to do a little more canning... No rest for the weary!
#Harvest #grapes

A Little Quilting on the Side

Does anyone else get distracted cleaning out closets? I found some squares that I had cut out when I was going through my material and ended up turning it into a quilt this week. My husband asked me, "Was this on your list of things to do this week?" Nope. Oh well. It was fun to get my creative juices flowing again. Fun project on the side:).

#Quilting

Book 6

Guess who has had her nose stuck in a book since Tuesday? Oh yeah, the new Michael Vey book 6 came out, "Fall of Hades." She told me I couldn't read it until she was done;). Hurry up, will you?

#NewBook #MichaelVey

Homework

And....the homework fits begin. Sigh! I had forgotten how hard it is to coax a child paralyzed by "too many things to do" to keep moving. My anxiety was through the roof tonight just trying to stay calm and positive on the outside. How many more days until summer break?

#HatingHomework

Another Milestone

And just like that, she's 12! My how the years fly by.