....and then the Christmas music started to play.......

We spent Thanksgiving in Idaho Falls with my family. For some reason, this year has flown by. It's December!?!?!? How did that happen?

I wish I had pictures of our Thanksgiving experience this year, but I didn't take one. Isn't that bad? Regardless, I had much to be thankful for and this time, you will have to r-e-a-d my post.

1st--Cooking For My Family

I had about 4 different orders for 'favorite things' to be had on Thanksgiving. I love that I have something to offer on the table when dinner begins. I am glad I like to cook. Luckily I am married to a man who makes it easy and likes most anything.

2nd--Visiting Another Ward

I attended Sacrament Meeting at a friend's ward the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Although I only knew a few people, I was pleasantly surprised when the choir number was Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. My favorite hymn or in the top 3.

3rd--The Perfect Bite

Turkey, with mashed potatoes, and a little gravy........yum! I'm not a pumpkin pie fan, at all, but I love anything else pumpkin. What's wrong with me?

4th--The tree.....THE Tree

Darren and I braved Black Friday in an attempt to replace our Charlie Brown tree that died last year after 10 good years. It wasn't looking hopeful. Then we found one. I have been waiting for that 'feeling' of Christmas along with the joys of the holidays. I worried that without a tree, it wouldn't feel the same. Once we got it up and decorated and then lit on Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving for FHE, a Lotz family tradition).....I sighed. Once the tree was lit and Darren put on our Il Divo Christmas CD (this is 5th) I breathed a sigh of relief. Christmas filled our home.

Thanksgiving.....Sigh

Dear Thanksgiving,
I love, love, really love YOU. This really had nothing to do with the food component at all, as much as a how devoted you are to gratitude and beautiful colors. Colors that feed my soul. Ironically, with how crazy busy the last couple of months have been, I've neglected you. My goal was to focus better this year, and turn some of that gratitude into action, instead of just making lists of reasons I love you and the many ways you have been a blessing to me.
Years ago, when I was scared and alone in Washington DC, I chose to start a "journal" of a different kind. I decided that the best defense against the loneliness and homesickness was focusing on you. So I did. Each day I would write in my journal, something that I was thankful for. Truly Thankful. None of this lip service stuff. Since then, with Elder Eyring's suggestion, I have turned it into a book of "Noticing Ways the Lord Has Touched My Life Today" book. Mmmmmmm.....it has helped. I hope it will be instrumental in helping me be better. I've got much to work on and there are so many ways I fall short.......that's a long list, that one. But I'm longing to do it better. So, Thank You, Thanksgiving......for turkey, for pilgrims, for Indians, for peace, for love, for family, for forgiveness, for friends, for animals, for babies, for an education, for an America, for music, for laughter, and for you.
Your friend,
J
P.S. I don't know how I can eat one of these this year, now that I have seen one in person. They are so beautiful! Really, a glorious bird.

Unusual Places For Gratitude

We've had a month and a half of unfortunate events and/or something that needed to be repaired. Although, in the moment, you want to implore the heavens and yank your hair out by the fist fulls, it's now becoming amusing and I'm feeling gratitude under some unconventional circumstances.

*A few weeks ago, after a run, I came in my house to get my water bottle. I take a long drink and realize, it's not that cold. After a few days of trying to figure out why the refrigerator is starting to feel more like a microwave, we realize that it's time to call the repair man. We bought this refrigerator new when we bought our house and we have loved it. It turns out that a little tiny box in the back, is not working, thus creating warm food. I am feeling grateful for a broken fridge, as it means that I have food to keep cold. I am also grateful to the repair man who had my fridge running like new.........after spending 10 minutes on it.
*I have a love/hate relationship with television. I can see the benefits of it, but when it becomes someone's sole purpose for living because "their show is on" I want to run back to 1850. Our satellite service (yes, we need service that is orbiting the planet because we live in the middle of nowhere) has been a continual problem for the last couple of weeks. I've been content to just keep the T.V. off most of the time. However, my husband wasn't too excited when all this happened over the Yankees/Phillies games. Today, I am grateful for things that make my life easier and for the day of technology we live in.......I'm also grateful when we gt a break from ALL of it.

*While I was tending my nieces in Utah, Darren calls me to tell me that the computer won't boot up. Of course it won't. Sigh. Nearly every time I am away from home for longer than a weekend, my computer seems to have a problem. Poor Darren. It's always on his watch. This time, it was just one too many power surges in a row from our lovely city of Declo. It completely fried the motherboard. Lovely. So, we have been looking at a new computer. As it is my connection to the outside world, I was a little frustrated......mostly at the repair guy who took a week just to look at it and tell me it was dead. I felt grateful, however, for the blessing of being connected to people I love, since we do not live close to our friends or families. I was also grateful to have a break from that technology too. I am additionally grateful for a sweet husband who works so hard to support us and makes it possible to get everything fixed.*Darren comes in the house one evening after we had come home from somewhere, to tell me that the tires on the car are nearly bald and need to be replaced. I looked at him with this incredulous look, all the while wondering "am I in my body and actually hearing this???" He was right. The additional bonus, was checking out what it would cost to replace 4 of them and realizing that it is about 3 times what it cost for our Honda. Grrrrrr. (Sound of hysterical laughter)....ominous music.....you get it. However, 4 tires later and $100 less that we thought it would be, I am very thankful for a dependable car. We are so dependant on our transportation where we live and I am thankful to have that worry removed.
*Our phone line, also has needed "fixing". It made me very grateful very fast for high speed internet and communication devices that help us "keep in touch". Pick up the phone and call someone. Not E.T. Just someone.

*I have felt strongly to try acupuncture. As a person who has pursued getting our babies here, there are tons of needles and shots that accompany that over a 10 year experience. It did not prepare me for this, as I had hoped. Nearly half of the needles they put in my body, hurt. Really hurt. A few days ago, I thought I was going to end up on the ceiling, but today I am very grateful to have "ears to hear" and feel the directions I should go. I have no idea what is on the other side, but I am hoping it is twins at this point. I am grateful for the medical profession and even more grateful to have other options available to me.

The Funniest Thing.....this week

So, my niece Whitney comes home from school last week and procedes to tell me her 2 favorite Chuck Norris"isms". Evidentally, this is the new funny thing going around schools these days......and the adults that know them. Whitney's favorite of the week when I was there is below. I have also included some of the others that are so funny to me. Chuck Norris......wow.
*Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice.
*When Chuck Norris jumped into the lake, he didn't get wet. The lake got "Chuck Norrisd."
*Chuck Norris' tears can cure cancer. Too bad he's never cried.
*Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.
*It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 minutes.
*There is no such thing as evolution. Just a list of species Chuck Norris has allowed to survive.
*Chuck Norris can set fire to ants with a magnifying glass. At night.
*Chuck Norris knows what Willis 'is talking about'.
*Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.
*Bigfoot didn't believe in Chuck Norris. That was his first mistake.
*Never play a game of "Sorry" with Chuck Norris. It can only end in tears. Yours.
*Chuck Norris' favorite cereal is Kellogg's Marbles N' Gravel.
*Chuck Norris is Darth Vader's father.

My New Favorite Quote

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving,
and tolerant of the weak..... because someday in your life, you will have been all of these.

Tending Nieces

So, this week I am in Utah tending my nieces. Their parents, through Mike's work, have a trip each year and this year they are in Australia. Last year it was Greece & Italy, and the year before that, Scotland. Here are some fun pictures of their adventures.....
This year: The Opera House in Sydney
Santorini, Greece....
The Highlands of Scotland....where some of my ancestry is from
Makena Beach, Maui

I don't have any pictures of Ireland or some of the other cruises or trips they've been on through this buying group. However, the evidence displayed here begs just one question.......
What have I not hidden myself in one of their suitcases???!?!?

It's Official......

It's October! Brrrrrrr! Freezing winds and rain last night, snow in IF, frostbitten tomatoes.....are you kidding me?!?! Where, pray tell, did autumn go. It's at the top of the pet peeves list when Mother Nature or WalMart completely skips over the autumn/Thanksgiving season. Not a happy girl about it. However, in October there is much to celebrate and many to celebrate. Happy Birthday to you, October birthday kids!

**Jake

My 2nd to youngest brother is a Halloween baby. This year we are planning to dress up as scary people and just hang around my aunt's yard for trick-or-treating. It's really more for the teenagers. We have a "no scaring litle children" policy that I strictly enforce. Halloween has never been my mother's favorite holiday, so I am sure she had a baby on that day to have a reason to love it. We do enjoy celebrating Jake. I love you Jacob!

**ZacharyMy youngest brother was born almost exactly 4 years later to the day. His brithday is on the 28th of October. Zach is officially the tallest of all his siblings. He turns 18 this year and is a senior and it is very odd that I will have all adult siblings. There are 15+ years between Zach and I and somehow I have parental feelings for he and Jake. Well, for all my siblings but particularly them. I adore my brothers and I am grateful for their many gifts and goodnesses.

**Camille

Darren's oldest sister, my sister in law. How to describe Camille......let me see. She's confidant, she's cheerful, she's very funny (especially if she has to pay more for Desitin than she wants to), she has beautiful eyes, she walks faster than anyone I know (when we used to exercise together), she's the BEST Mom ever. It was Camille's counsel that helped us decide to try adoption. I've always been the oldest and once I got married, it was nice to have a big sister. I love you Mille.

**MasonOne of our favorite nephews. The oldest son of Darren's youngest brother. He's beautiful to look at and delightful to be around. Since he was born we've had a unique connection to Mason and it's naughty that they live in Montana and we live in Idaho. However, we love little Mason and how gentle and sweet he is. Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

**Megan

My niece Megan will turn 11. When did this happen?!?? I saw that little girl come into this world and now she's a year away from being in Young Women's? Have I been married that long? I see myself in Megan, except her favorite color is blue and mine is not. She has the biggest, bluest eyes of anyone I know. She has perfect skin. She loves to play soccer and she's really good. Most of her friends are boys. Her feelings on dolls.......bleh. :o) Happy Birthday, Meggie. We sure love you!

**Carol Davetta

A dear friend of our family who has been part of it so long, she's become part of it. Carol can read, like 3 books a week. Normal size books. She's a master gardener, a chef, queen of tapioca pudding, loves the English as much as I do, and very, very funny. We can get laughing at things and have a hard time stopping. Way to join the fam, Carol. You can charge us for any therapy later. :o)

Warm Fuzzies

**RS General Broadcast

I went to the Broadcast last evening and sat there feeling very grateful to belong to an organization that honors womanhood. There is much in our world, and many in it, trying to diminish the role of woman. I am grateful for these two people particularly. One who honors womanhood as dearly as the Priesthood he holds, and one who wants women everywhere to obtain all the blessings possible. In doing that, she expects us to step to the plate.....and is often criticized for it. My feelings on the subject........go Julie!

**Two Cute Friends

Not realizing that the Broadcast was last night, I was in a rush to make it on time. That afternoon I had 2 of my friends from Declo call to remind me and willing to save me a seat when I got there. It is such a gift to have GOOD friends.....and such a gift that even as a grown woman, they are still watching out for me. What a gift to be remembered.

**My Parents

My Mom and Dad are celebrating their anniversary today.......mind you, it's the day before my mother's birthday. Interesting planning you two! I married a man similar to my Dad. My parents are easy to be around, fun to be with, and fit like two pieces in a puzzle. I love them both, dearly.

**Teaching Relief Society

I actually taught last week and as I attended RS today and listened to another friend give her lesson, I was warmed all over for the women in my ward. The row of Grandmas that have much life experience and who's philosophy is often "get over it and do your part and the Lord will help you." It's so fun. Another friend there is buckets of sunshine every time I see her. Another one who is in a wheelchair with MS and has a handicapped son, who reminds me to be grateful and to remember not to whine. Relief Society wasn't something I watched the women in my family embrace much, and although I am still learning, I am grateful for it's place in my life.

Ahhhhh, My Favorite Things

*My Running Shoes

My sweetheart bought these for me for my birthday this summer and it is heaven to have the support of new shoes. I love them. I also feel like I'm part of the future with the cool little purple sole bubbles on them. I went running this morning and I was free of any soreness that often accompanies feet in shoes that died long ago.

*VisitsI was blessed to have my cousin Leslie come and stay the weekend at my house. We watched movies, went to dinner, talked and talked, laughed and laughed, played with my cats, and went for a walk around Declo. Nothing spectacular or monumental, but extremely important to me. I am grateful for a relationship as this is, that allows us to grow together, to talk anything and everything through, where being together is second skin, one that is very nurturing, and never one I have to worry about. I love you Leslie.

*My Ward

I have some unique friends in Declo......nearly all of these ladies are older than I am, some by about 15 years. This is not unique to me, but something I love. I watch Julie be such an amazing and funny mom with 4 little ones. I watch Terina be fiercely loyal not only to me but to all of her friends. I am grateful for Sandy and how absolutely funny and fun she is. She's never towing a rain cloud around. For Laura and her kind heart and sterling example of love of the Gospel. For Evelyn, who is grandmother to the entire ward. And to my very dear friend, Leslie, the girl from the land of the Maple leaves.......the near perfect example of the kind of friend I hope to be someday.

*Cucumbers

Home grown, garden fresh, green vegetables from heaven. I LOVE home grown cucumbers. I can and have been eating 2 or so in a setting. Not as good for my tummy, but oh so good for my taste buds. There will be a very big "sigh" when harvesting out of our garden is over for the season. Winter??? Bllllrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhh!!

Taming My Hummingbirds

Watch closely.......Darren is video taping me, through our glass door, holding our hummingbird feeder. I found that there were quite a few birds who were brave enough to come and eat. I just ADORE hummingbirds.

Ahhhh, Big Sky Country

After Bear Lake, in August, I was lucky enough to head to Idaho Falls for some super-fun Dr appointments. Not feeling great afterward, I took my sweet cousin Teresa up on her offer to come to her house. Teresa lives in Bozeman, Montana and I have yet to come to her house. Usually we get time together when we are in IF or in Bear Lake. Not quite enough time for me this summer, so I headed to Montana. It's a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL drive. Heading north from IF you pass the Tetons, then up through Island Park area, Henry's Lake, and then the gorgeous Gallatin Canyon. It was raining on the way up there, but it just made the mountains seem more majestic. Next time, I'll get some sunny pictures. Thank you, Teresa, for a little R&R at your house. I love Montana.....it's amazing on the way to Bozeman.There are only 4 granddaughters on my mother's side. My sister, me, my cousin Leslie, and my cousin Teresa (Leslie's sister). So I feel VERY grateful when we get a minute to play together. Why does Montana have to be so far away???
I am the biggest sucker for water and mountains.....but especially water. The Gallatin River is beautiful all the way through the canyon.
Majestic even when it's a little drizzle......what a wonderful world we live in.
Annnnnd, I was there the same time President Obama was visiting Big Sky. It was very cool to hear the choppers carrying the President fly right over Teresa's house. I've not heard anything that loud in a long, long time.

Why My Cats Are Mentally Ill

This is a video I took last week, of Oliver in my chair....... He makes me laugh often with all these bizarre poses he sleeps in. This is just one of the many. So funny to me.

Friends

So, my next lesson to teach in Relief Society is on friendship. As you think about your closest and dearest friends, what are some of the adjectives that describe their personalities or character? I am making a list of the important ingredients of friendship, so go ahead......let me know!

My Favorite Things.......this week

*My Sunglasses
Part of having LASIK surgery, is the absolute importance of sunglasses when you are outside. I have a pair stashed all over. Two in the car, one in my purse, 3 in the house, one in Darren's car......it's essential. The sun is way too bright after LASIK. The other bonus, is I LOVE to people watch. Love it. However, most people don't understand my joy when they are the ones being watched. Wearing dark glasses allows you to watch people, without them knowing you are watching them. See? This way, everyone wins!

*My Husband's Sense of Humor
We are at the Dr. on Tuesday for the upteenth time this year......As I'm laying there feeling a little anxious and a lot tired and uncomfortable, Darren makes this witty comment about helping ourselves to some of the items in the room we are in. We got laughing so hard, I am sure the nurses thought we were nuts. At least nuts. You'd never expect that from my husband and I am so grateful for his comic relief. It's delightful.

*My Oliver & Elphie
We had 2 of the wild kittens we feed, die unexpectedly this week. Although I know it's part of life, especially when you are wild, it is NOT my favorite part. So as I am burying these 2 little kittens I see my own kitties looking out the window at me and I feel grateful for 2 little furry balls of fun and love.....and I feel thankful for tender mercies.

*Tapioca Pudding
Or fish eyes and glue, as my Dad would say. Because my naughty aunt got me started on the stuff, I can't stop eating it. I make it as low fat as possible, so that's good but I am definitely in addiction mode. That can't be good, right? I go through these phases, and right now, it's definitely tapioca pudding. What phase are you in?

*Joven Musk & Donna Karan Cashmere perfume
One is inexpensive, one not so much......I love them both. I love to smell them as I am doing laundry from a previous day I had sprayed some. I love it on other people, which isn't unusual.....oft times it's finding a fragrance that you like with your own chemistry, that isn't too overpowering and that you don't tire of easily.

The Joy of Bear Lake

One of my very favorite vacations, is the trip to Bear Lake. A week full of waterskiing, Jestskiing, knee boarding, wake boarding, miniature golfing, getting sunburnt, and enjoying my cousins. These are cousins that feel more like siblings than anything, and I love it. The weather wasn't the greatest last week, but the water was still beautiful! I adore Bear Lake, and I adore those that we are blessed to spend time with.

Happy Birthday President Monson

Even though we all knew it was coming, it was a difficult transition for me after President Hinckley died. Not because he was, as for some, the only Prophet they had ever known but because he felt so sincere, so accessible. His ability to laugh and be so happy, is such a trademark of President Hinckley.
Although he was ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve at such a young age (36) it has been interesting to watch President Monson take on the mantle of Prophet. At his first news conference with the newly organized 1st Presidency, he seemed tired and distracted and I can only imagine the weight of the mantle he now carried. It has been inspiring to me to see him feel the weight of what the Lord has asked of him, and to see him jump in with both feet.....willingly.
I am grateful for a Prophet who loves the Lord, who loves His people, and who knows how very interesting it can be to live today. To the sweet man who loves the color yellow, going to a jazz game (see below--I think Sister Monson was rooting for the Lakers), eating at Little America, adores chocolate, and reminds me of Telly Monster on Sesame Street, Happy 82nd Birthday! We love you!
A tender moment with a Conference attendeeHis first news conference with his newly called counselors (probably laughing at all the sleepless nights they've all shared)

Happy, Happy Late Birthday, Darren

As Darren and I both have summer birthdays, we are often not home or sometimes together for our birthdays. When you are having birthdays in your 30's though, that is just fine. It's often a fun change to see where you'll spend your birthday THAT year. This year over Darren's birthday, we went to Boise for a work conference, then came directly to Bear Lake for a few days to water ski, knee-board, Jetski, etc.....then directly from there, to Idaho Falls. I had a couple of Dr appointments and Darren had a dentist appointment, then directly from there to Bozeman, Montana to visit my cousin Teresa (since I haven't been up there since they moved there 7 years ago) and then back to IF, and then home last night. I am so tired of being in a car......however, this is why Darren's birthday tribute, is so very late.

So here's to you Darren......and few fun facts about this man I love.

*Darren has beautiful, kind eyes. Sometimes they look blue, sometimes more green

*Darren is very funny. We were at a meeting awhile back where they were trying to train some people on how to use the Church's software for family history. The woman giving the presentation talked about the problems with duplicating baptisms or endowment work and said that when her mother died both she and a cousin took her mother's name through the temple. Darren leans over to me and whispers, "Does she have to wear 2 pair of garments now?" I burst out laughing, right in the middle of the meeting. Not good. :o)

*Darren is very good to my friendsAlthough "my" friends often become "our" friends, I am grateful he is always kind and good to them. He is always supportive if I need a "friend" moment. I do make it easy, though, as I choose well in the friend department. :o)
*Darren knows his scriptures--down to what each chapter contains

*He loves the Gospel

*He served a mission to Panama

*He has 5 kids in his family, 2 girls at the beginning followed by 3 boys, just like my family

*He likes the outdoors*He is a double digit this year......33

*He loves our kitties as much as I do---This is big, since he has been a self-proclaimed cat avoider. He often gets up at night to come out and get Oliver if Oliver isn't in bed with us.

*He supports me, even when he doesn't agree or understand

*He takes great care of our yard

*He gives the BEST back scratches

*He often says "give me strength" to the heavens when I'm teasing him and he's ready to pound me

*He is loving and good to my family

*He is active in his relationship with my nieces

*He has joined me in becoming a runner

*Darren's first words when I am cleaning, making dinner, paying bills, working in the yard, anything......are always "how can I help?"

*His middle name is Brad......not Bradley, not a family name, Brad.

*He loves ice cream

*He loves sports--but often talks to the T.V. to convey his annoyance to an athlete with less than desirable behavior

*He's determined to get through Les Miserables--I insisted he read the unabridged version to get the full effect

*He's an upbeat and fun person

*He looks good with a few days facial hair.....even though he can't wear it with his job, and even though most men can't pull it off and not look sloppy. However, I love that he prefers to be clean shaven.

*Last but not least, I love him. He's taught me much, he's open to new ideas and learning, he's gentle, he's fun, he makes us as a couple really look good, and I really can't imagine life without him. I love you, sweetheart.

Favorite Things From Our House.....

Yes, I've been a delinquent blogger......it's summer. Even if you don't have a life, it's busy somehow. Here are some of my favorite things from our yard this year....
These are my Leslie Day Lilies.....well, they are just daylilies, but my cousin Leslie is such a fan of pink, that everytime I see these I think of her.

Our walkway up to our front door. I love how the grass has grown so well in between the stones. It makes me feel like we live in a cottage in Switzerland or something. :o)
The HUGE monarch butterflies we have this year. I've not seen Monarchs this large in years and never at our house. It's the grass. I'm sure of it.....so neat!So, I walk outside with my camera one evening, taking a few shots of the wild baby kittens that pass through our yard. As soon as I close the door to the back yard, I hear this whoosh and this enormous thing, that was sitting on the roof, takes flight. I'm fumbling for my camera to get "the perfect shot", which didn't happen. Feeling disappointed, I look up and I find this, right above my head, looking down at me......even as magnificent as this is, I felt like dinner

Samplings From Our Garden.....

I LOVE having a vegetable garden. I love planting, waiting for new plantlings to come up through the ground, watering, pruning, spraying bugs and finally the harvest. I really love it. The year I was ill I wasn't able to do a garden and it was very, very hard for me to let that go. This year, we did some fun new things. My dearest friend, Cecile, told me to plant purple beans and purple potatoes. We couldn't find purple potatoes but we did plant beans and they are so yummy! They really are purple! When you cook them, they go back to being green. Here are a few things from our garden that are so yummy!

Butter Lettuce was also something new we tried and it turned out wonderful!


And of course, red potatoes......so yummy, so yummy!

To Those Who Inspire....

My "aunt" Elizabeth, okay she's not my aunt, she's one of my Aunt Catherine's very best friends and one we grew up with. Her husband, during some tests after hurting his back, discovered he had cancer. Aggressive and, no, it was not caught early. He's been through surgery after surgery and the prognosis isn't good.......and yet, they LIVE. When my aunt called me in June, I got the distinct impression that it would be weeks. A few, at the most......and yet, we are approaching August. I know, I KNOW, that he has been granted the gift of time. Maybe for him, maybe for her, maybe for both of them. It is a testament, again, to the love our Father in Heaven has for us. When someone you love deeply is sick, time is everything.
Sometimes it's years, sometimes it's measured in months, sometimes weeks......but it is time. Here is a picture of Elizabeth and David running a 5K......just a few days ago.Elizabeth has been a runner as long as I have known her. She's also a vegetarian, a gifted scholar, has beautiful eyes, a delightful sense of humor, and a fun Wisconsin accent. I haven't had the chance to interact with David a lot as they live in Maine now, but I know he's a very good man. If Elizabeth loves him, he's a keeper. We love you both, a ton! Always, Your Idaho Family