Favorite Movie Clips

One of my favorite parts of Sleepless.......men, gotta love them.

Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Sorry about the song quality.....I couldn't get it clearer after 4 attempts.

My 2nd to youngest brother, Jake, graduated from boot camp this last weekend. This is a minute of family time before he was shipped to Oklahoma for another few months of specialized training. I'm ready to have him home, but so proud of him. Of all my siblings, he's the most shy, the definate homebody, and other than me at this age, no one in my family have ever ventured this far from Idaho. Jake went to South Carolina and I went to DC.....something about adventure in your twenties.

Easter...One of My Favorite Things....

*This is a favorite piece of art for me. There aren't many artists who can capture what I feel the Savior looks like. This is closer. But more so, the emotion that Mary is feeling is captured so well in this piece. I believe she had a strong testimony of Jesus' teachings, as did others. How exactly all of this would come to pass, she didn't know. There wasn't a history ever taught on resurrected beings before now. He was the first. The thought that her Lord was in fact gone, and perhaps his body stolen, would create emotion as we see here, I believe.

*In the scriptures, it tells us that at first, she believes him to be the gardener. He must have looked as his physical body looked, but something about him in this new "phase" was unfamiliar to her. It wasn't until He said her name, that she knew who He was. Something in the way He said it, or her memory of that gentle, loving voice uttering her name....was familiar. I absolutely love that. There is a powerful lesson there in knowing the Master's voice and knowing that He knows each of us intimately, by name.

*I also loved having General Conference land on Easter Sunday this year. This doesn't always happen and this year I felt the power of that Easter morning and all that it means for mankind, a little differently this year. It is interesting to me what each person comes away with. When Darren and I were talking, he mentioned that there seemed to be a few talks on duty. I remember one. But I heard many talks on the importance of the nurturing gift of women. As I have walked this short path of life, it seems to me that an non-nurturing environment is more damaging to grow up in, than half of the calamities and iniquities a people can inflict on each other. I believe we underestimate the power of a nurturer. And we forget how important it is, as women, that we nurture each other.

*One of my favorite one-liners from Conference came from one of the Seventy, Elder Foster, and he said, "A distraction does not have to be evil, to be effective."

*On a secular side......I love the promise of spring, baby anything (kittens, bunnies, chicks, etc), pastel colors, blossoms on the trees, egg hunts, Easter treats, and dinner with family. I think it funny that to celebrate a holiday the Jewish population does not recognize......we serve ham. :o)

General Petraeus Visits BYU

Our 4 star General who is serving in Iraq, decided to accept a visiting/speaking assignment at BYU. To open, he listed 10 reasons that BYU graduates make good soldiers. It's quite funny!

• 10--They have already been on many a mission
• 9--Army chow is no problem for folks accustomed to eating green Jell-o and shredded carrots
• 8--It's not a problem if they don't know what rank someone is, they just refer to them as Brother or Sister so-and-so
• They never go AWOL. They just call it being less active
• 6--The will seize any objective swiftly if you tell them refreshments will be served
• 5--They know how to make things happen. In fact, if you ever need a base built quickly in a barren wasteland, stride out to where you want them to start, plant your walking stick down and say in a loud voice, "This is the place."
• 4--They have innovative ideas for handling insurgents--like assigning them home teachers
• 3--They always have a years' supply of provisions on hand
• 2--They are the world's most reliable designated drivers
• 1--The understand how far Iraq has come over the last seven years, and they think that Iraq's old spot in the "Axis of Evil" can now be filled by the University of Utah.

Pretty clever from a 4 star general who has probably seen his share of iniquity and tragedy. Just a funny for your day! :o)

My Sister & I As Official Midwives.....

Amber, my sister, calls my mom and I to head over to her apartment because she has a pregnant mother cat, who's water just broke. Of course, the pull of seeing brand new baby kittens was too much. Mama Minerva (since we couldn't come up with a better name very quickly) was happy to have a little tummy massage while in labor. She purred the entire time.After way too long, and one kitten that didn't make it, she managed to issue 5 other live kittens! Two grey, two black, and one very striped baby who looks a lot like mama. In this picture you can see 3 of the 5. The other two were sleeping under her chin and one of her arms.

I couldn't help but check on them every other minute and I really couldn't help but holding them every chance I got. This one is with little stripey..... With one of the little black ones......who boobed and cried the ENTIRE time I held him.........and then one of the little grey ones.....

Don't laugh at my hair in these last two.....I had just had it cut and there wasn't time for styling. I was on kitten detail.

The Warm Fuzzies of Fun Memories

Some photos taken over the course of last year. Trips, activities, and people that I love. Not tons of Darren or I and none of us together. Next post, I promise.

Not funny....not funny

So, Mother Nature made a hypocrite out of me and a mockery of my last post. I woke up this morning to at least 1 1/2 feet of snow outside. Seriously???

There's A Rumor.....

.....that spring is coming. Evidence of sunshine is all around outside today. Dare we hope? Are we ready for yard work? Fresh grown veggies? And of course, hummingbirds? Um, I am! March 1st is a great day for sunshine......of course, so is every other day. :o)

February, I think.....

One of the sweetest things my Valentine did for me this year, was opt not to buy something that wasn't quite within what we had budgeted for. There really isn't much out there that has monetary value that Darren or I obsess about. We live pretty simple, content lives and are grateful for that. But instead of trying to impress me with "things", I felt impressed and grateful that he took me to dinner, took me to feed the ducks down by the river, and just knowing he was thinking of me, made me grateful for such a sweet Valentine. It might not seem very romantic, but a sweet man that will take care of you by looking out for the "long run", is VERY romantic.
So, we were in IF for Valentine's Day and luckily we never eat out. We live in Declo. Yeah. We opted for something fun and sensible and so we headed over to Applebees. One of the bothersome things about Applebees is they are CONSTANTLY changing their menu. One of the bonuses is, they are constantly changing their menu. I opted to try something new. Not out of bravery, out of desperation when I realized my stand-by wasn't on the menu anymore. I chose the spinach & shrimp salad with a bacon vinaigrette. Three words. To. Die. For. Generally, those words are reserved for family and country, but in this case, it's true. So good!

On the downside.....my Aunt Catherine had to put her Pomeranian, Annie, to sleep a week ago. Annie was about 13 and suffering from kidney failure. This is the 5th of the Poms my aunt has had through the years (not all at the same time) and felt particularly hard for all of us. Pets truly become part of the family.....if you are doing it right. Annie, at her heaviest, was about 3 pounds, so she was a fun little thing to travel with and pack around. She's a cute little thing and hopefully feeling better and happier running around dog heaven with Tajj, Espree, Honey, and Dove. Today I am grateful for all the little critters that make life just a little more fun.

I Never Know How To Title A Post

Do you like it? Really, unless it's an obvious post about Christmas or a trip we've taken. In January and February, and well, every other month it's just kind of random journaling.....thus the title problem.

UPDATE:

*We put my little brother, Jake, on a plane bound for South Carolina for boot camp at Fort Jackson. Jake's only been to Boise in the last few weeks. Holy cow. Is it possible to be so proud of him for being brave and so sad that childhood was over long before I realized it? Being the oldest it's been a stark realization that my family, my siblings, are all adults now. I don't know how Moms do it. I miss you already, Jake.

I had a little experience this week that was frightening for me. I am grateful that in my old age, I appreciate the varieties of people in my world. And I have quite a bit variety. Having family that empowers you to be a better and stronger you, and oft times sees much deeper into the chasm of strength that lies within each of us, is a gift and a blessing. Each new experience helps me understand another layer as to why the family is of central importance to our Heavenly Father. For these 2 people, I am very grateful. Lastly, I miss this place. It's actually my grandparents place out on the Snake River in Idaho Falls. I miss their house, I miss them, but I miss living near family. It's been 15 years since I lived in the town I grew up in. I'd like do-overs. Not forever, but for a season. It's such an important bonding experience to move away from home and especially to have your own household, just the two of you, when you are newly married. Now that we are old hat at this :o) (11 years in May), I'd like to be more of a ready support to my family. Can anyone arrange that? :o)

Bleh....it was inevitable

Um, January.....in Idaho.....in a town with 340 people.....with wind.......rain.....wind....drizzle......wind.....post holiday clean-up......wind.....you get the picture, right? I think I need a little vitamin boost and a trip somewhere fun. January is the start of a new year, which should be exciting. It's also the beginning of resolutions and tax season coming up. Wow. Really, that just feels like more wind.
My darling little brother, who is 22 and not so little anymore, heads off to boot camp in one week. One week. Sigh. So good for him, but not fair he is going somewhere less windy and warmer, and I will miss him too much to think about.
On the upside, my Grandma Snow, my mother's mother, turned 92 on the 12th. I can see the wisdom, if you actually have it within your power, to have a baby in January. It definitely gives you something to look forward to that doesn't include w-i-n-d.
What do you get for someone who has probably owned anything twice in her lifetime? I decided to enroll her in Jennz Meal of the Month Club. So every month I am in IF, I will make her something homemade and yummy for dinner, complete with a visit. It's really a win-win. I might have done it to get a little time with Grandma, but that's a win-win too, I hope.
I need a book list......something that doesn't have "wind" in the title.....and doesn't take place in the dunes of the Arctic. Quickly. Cabin fever is the leading cause of death in Declo. Okay, maybe not. Maybe just at our house. ;o)

New Year's Weekend 2010

As part of his campaign for "it hurts my face to shave everyday even though I've been doing it for 15 years" Darren likes to not shave over Christmas break. It gives his poor sensitive skin a break and that is always nice. He's good about keeping it trimmed and looking clean
and we have a tradition to document the end results just before they end up in the drain.
Here is the before photo..... sorry about the nostril shot. I took it sitting down.This is the half way mark...... Darren's facial whiskers remind me of a bag of skittles. He literally has almost every color in his beard. So funny!

In Idaho Falls, while visiting with my family over New Year's, we woke up to this. Isn't it beautiful? It was disappointing to come home to Declo and find that it looks like a nuclear site.....a little crusty snow and bunches of dead sagebrush. I do love a heavy snowstorm!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a fun New Year. I am convinced that 2010 will bring about some good news, some changes for good, and some unexpected blessings for all of us.

Let's be on the look out! Our love to each of you.

Christmas 2009

This year was our Utah year. Although is is important to gather with family and to take turns, I think we are getting to a stage in our lives where it is becoming fun to stay home too. We might think about that in the coming years, but this year was A Wasatch Mountain Christmas.
In this picture of Mom and Elphie, I managed to get it right when Elphie is thinking, "See? I am so cute, I knew we would be friends. Let me lay on your lap." Mom....the smile is deceiving.....she is thinking "Get. Off. Me. Now. Don't make me throw you into space with witnesses in the room." She's a good sport. Mom, I mean. :o)

We spent the week with Darren's parents at their house. Darren's mom is a terrific hostess and was very patient with 2 more people in her house and 2 instant pets. Yes, we brought Oliver and Elphie. They were actually on their best behavior all week until the very last day. By then we think they were getting just a little too comfortable. You have to love the picture of Oliver trying to play the game Dad and Darren are playing and Elphie and Oliver just chillin' with the boys. It's funny to watch them.

Other than not joining them for games one evening and going with Darren's brother and sister in law to dinner or when we didn't go to RS & Priesthood and came home to get dinner started, things went pretty smoothly. One of the two snuggling, and the other is Elphie at our home perched like a prairie dog on the heater watching me make toffee. So funny.

I am grateful for Darren's family for many reasons but this year I noticed how different each sibling is from the others. They all have the foundation of kindess and fun and positive attitudes. I love that. But it's some of their uniqueness I noticed this year and I am grateful that I have such a good relationship with my in-laws.










A few photos from the Christmas Party.....My darling BIL Trev, and my SIL, Bonnie. Then a picture of 4 grandsons hovered around something fun. If you look close you can see the very top of Chani's baby girl Claire on the left. And cute Darren with his Christmas Break facial hair.
We did the Lotz Family Christmas Eve party.......which is akin to walking through a fireworks factory whilst lighting a match. It's very loud, it's very intense, and oft times there are casualties. However, it's a fun show for all, and that's good too.

One night we noticed that the temple has snow clouds that were descneding on it and making the lights on the temple, adding to the etheral look while it glowed. We ran back for my camera and missed the best shots, but here's a taste. It was so cool!
Christmas morning......we got going quite late and it sounded like that was a common theme with a lot of families this year. It was nice albeit quiet. A little too quiet for me. Darren's Dad got an iPod this year and Oliver got a few kitten treats from Aunt Catherine. What a lucky kitty.











It's almost 2010....Resolution Time. Maybe I should resolve to be a better blogger? :o) I'll make the list and get back to you.

My Favorite Treat(s) This December

Mmmmmmmm.....can you tell what it is?*I have always liked pomegranates, but this year they are particularly yummy. It's been my one vice........a fruit as a vice, you are thinking. Yep. They are $3.00 a piece! Unless you get a smaller, withered looking one, which are in abundance in Burley. Then they are only $2.50 a piece. So good, I have a hard time sharing. :o)

*I haven't had much hot chocolate in the last few years, just because it's usually just too sweet anymore. I like the flavors that Stephen's offers but it's much too rich for me. However, my naughty friend, Leslie, in Declo, shared this little gem. It's SO GOOD! If I manage to find it, I might have to have a little this winter.

....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???!?!?