TIMELESS TUESDAY:

We had a day together yesterday. Me and My Sweetie. TEST'S, Tests. Gearing up to make sure exercising is safe for Mr. Clark. Hoping to find some miracle to make him more comfortable? His neuoprathy s/p? in his legs is frustrating him. He had the case of the GRrrrrssss. Tired of struggling to even get out of the car. Frustrated because we felt kinda old being in a place that 80 year olds meet for health care and wanting to feel young again! So we were reminiscing on the good ol' day's. When we were invincible with no inclination life could get to be so challenging! Our Dating years were phenomenal! We had some awesome times. And then remembering when Mr. Clark could run up and down mountains hunting and had an amazing endurance level that never tired. We were talking about the times water skiing when he could land on shore from his ski's! The farming days when we could spend hours on the tractor. Sitting side be side acre after acre! Hustling cattle. Ooooo remembering holding down the calf's for castrating etc. Or battling loading animals. I totally disliked the PIGS....They were Clarks favorite. The day's spent riding in the roll off truck or garbage truck with all three kids! Or the day's when we would take metal to Spanish Fork for the family business. Oh and don't forget the time when we went around the Power Plant turn up Price canyon and spilled a load of scrap iron and frantically was picking it up across the highway... LOL:) It stinks not to be in good health. Soon things will get better. Clark's Dad once said he was older at 40 than he is at 65. That gives us HOPE! We know it could be worse, for that we are grateful for the minimal challenges today. Update: On April 22nd Clark is going in for a heart cath. We know this is a common proceedure.His tests showed signs of a blockage so we are hoping that they can FIX things, so that he can function and have some comfort. Keep him in your prayers.

Miraculous Monday

HA--- the sun came out and we experienced a nice day yesterday with the exception of trying to scrape our windows for church. Glad no one was taking a picture of me taking the shovel to chip the ice away after breaking my scraper:( Luckily Elder Albaugh was hollering at me to prevent me from busting my windshield! OOoooopsie! 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch thick Ice... On Sundays I pick up a college girl to take her to church and I got stuck in the parking lot:( not from deep snow but no traction on the ICE COVERED parking lot. Just kept spinning those tires. We have the miracle of power back on, but a single sister and her son still do not have power so they came over for the day yesterday. Another miracle is that I always have enough food? Honestly, I feel sometimes like the miracle of the loaves and fishes is Jesus's time. I can't describe it, but I recognize that as a blessing. By the way we had Stacie's Chicken Pot Pie (from the meal exchange) and it was YUMMY. I also experienced the blessing of having a good friend who after we ate cleaned my whole kitchen! THANKS MAMA BEAR!!!!!! YOU ARE MY MIRACLE FRIEND! and YES the miracle of the Ice Shimmering Trees. Couldn't capture the beauty with my camera you had to see it for yourself.

THE BLESSINGS OF AN ELECTRICIAN!

THE POWER IS --OFF/ON

WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ELDER ALBAUGH IN OUR HOME! He wired in the house to the generator when the city power was out. We are blessed to have Elder Albaugh's expertise. Another reason housing the missionaries is a blessing!

Yes we had the FURNACE, THE FIRE PLACE and ALL the LIGHTS IN THE HOUSE 'ON' we were so excited that we were prepared to have all the comforts of life for 5 hours! What a good feeling to have our home a safe haven.

THE BLIZZARD!

ICE TREES!

The SNOW is NOT FLUFFY it is more like SNOW BRICKS/ SOLID ICE!

This is the reason the power was out. So much heavy ICE on the trees and power lines. Snapped and Broke Power Lines EVERYWHERE...

GUESS WHAT... After lunch our POWER went out

Some serious NERKS, Slap Jack and Go fish!

Ice on the windows on Friday The power is out in part of the town, so we are having a "Party" with a member family that had a tree fall on their car and they have no power!

The Ice cycles we woke up to this morning.

FABULOUS FRIDAY!

The day is over, I'm ready to hit the pillow. Thankgoodness for several day's of sunshine so that I can actually enjoy a day a "STAYING IN FROM THE RAIN/SNOW/ICE! I enjoyed the day of a pot of soup and a good book. We'll see what I'm like after 3 days of this?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today was a "ahhh ya, quit panicking moment". 'JUST TAKE IT DAY BY DAY. I am the queen of saying if you can't change it today don't worry about it. Well, Clark and I went to bed this night WORRIED. Just the toe issue (by the way is doing great)and going to the cardiologist. Clark is suffering from LOW blood pressure...Mystery of the 'NOT KNOWING' what to expect. Amazing how the 'NIGHT' sometimes can be filled with such GRIMNESS. Any way today I am THANKFUL for the MIRACLES of GREAT doctors and TECHNOLOGY. I am also THANKFUL our problems can always be put into perspective. Compared to the problems others face. We are THANKFUL for the life we have TODAY.

TIMELESS TUESDAY: The Garden Mode

My Dad and his "BAKERS ACRE"

I love spring. I get in the garden mode. Clark and I didn't do very well planning our yard (the builder offered us a good deal he'd include sod and sprinkling system) Our regret is that we didn't think out planting trees and leaving a spot before it was all put in. So we are still trying to decide where to plot our little garden around the sprinkling system. Last year we tried just planting a few things in pots. It didn't work out. Sister Albaugh and I watered the plants to death! So this year, we've got to get us a special place. While in Utah, Paul's family had already tilled and prepared their garden spot and had Onions growing to about 4" and were planting peas and chard. If you know Angela (Paul's wife) she is AMAZINGLY AMBITIOUS! What talent she has! She inspires me! Growing up, my father would have his garden growing also. He retired at 52 so he devoted his days to his Garden. He decided one fall to dig up all the tulip bulbs in his flower beds and so he planted ROWS of tulips on his little acre of garden. It was so fun to go to his house every spring and see his garden blooming with tulips, Peas popping through the ground and the Orchard all in Blossom. I think I still get that little excitement in my stomach every spring because of the life I grew up with loving SPRING! I'll post pictures of the garden spot progress later!

Miraculous Monday

There is HOPE! My tulips finally are popping up. We've decided that because they don't see the sun they have been slower! ITS A MIRACLE!

I am inspired by many of the blogs I follow. I love Heather who is counts her blessing everyday and M who recognizes the miracles in every day so I am going to attempt a Miraculous Monday. We'll see... I love blogging, reading and making new friends and getting inspired to reach a little higher. See the fun in life and also the challenges we all face. I appreciate that my own trials sometimes seem small and insignificant when following others challenges. And I can also appreciate the beauty in life from others talents. I can already tell you I am also HAPPY that I have my honey that surrounds me with love ALWAYS. I've been in a "FUNK" too, as M says on her blog I should call it JET LAG or GRANDBABY BLUES. Yes I need to live closer to them. Yesterday while getting set apart to be the second counselor in Young Women (a change from R.S--my comfort zone) I asked the Branch President to bless me to be more POSITIVE! He blessed me with PATIENCE!!! I can see the miracle that God knows me personally. Thank goodness for the miracle of a new day, a new week. I can try once again to be a more patient (positive) person and recognize the miracles that happen everyday. Thanks to all you bloggers!

Another Meal Exchange

Our Theme this month was CHICKEN- This is Chicken Spaghetti (it was YUMMY!)

This is Chicken Pot Pie

This is Green Bean Chicken Bake

This is Chicken and Rice

This is My Chicken Rolls

So this is my version of Chicken Crescents. Nothing different except I tried putting Fresh Shredded Parmesan Cheese in the Cream Cheese/Chicken Mixture and I rolled them in Butter and then instead of bread crumbs I crushed *Stove Top Mmmmm We'll see if anyone else likes them. Can't wait to see what everyone else makes. Love having 5 meals in the freezer!

P.S I made 80 Crescents!

Look familar:(

DeJaVu... Just 7 months ago Clark spent 9 days in the hospital due to surgery on his diabetic toe.Yes when we went to Utah this passed week Mr. Clark takes off his sock and SURPRISE! His toe is oozing with infection. Sooooo when we got home back to the Dr. we went. They cut into his toenail. I have been battling this toe nail from turning in for a month. GRRR. Back on antibiotics. A constant battle to keep is toe... Update: Sunday March 22, Toe is doing great it is already down to a bandaid without any redness. SHEW Update: Monday March 23, I always speak too soon and either jinx whatever I feel hopeful about. Tonight Clarks toe is throbbing and shooting with pains up his leg. It's late at night therefore I tend to worry even more. I hope it is a sign of healing. I need nurse Pam! She was our wound care nurse for 3 months. I think tomorrow I will call her. Just for peace of mind. I have doctored the toe and prayed over it. It's the best I can do for tonight.

Update: Monday, March 30, toe is doing great. Still doctoring it and it is a little red but Dct. said it is progressing well and will take a good two weeks or more to heal.

An Inspiration- PAUL CARDALL

I am INSPIRED by Paul's latest blog entry. "FORGET YOURSELF AND GO TO WORK" also "and what of dying" Today I will look at life through his eyes and see the beauty and gift life truly is. I love his comment, "If we think for two or three minutes each day about dying each day we would see the world differently. " Paul is an example of seeing joy in everyday. For those day's when I'm whining... I will GET TO WORK:) and FOLLOW Paul Cardall and be GRATEFUL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSkQKFcEhLs

Guess what we are eating...

This is a 8.73lb block of Swiss Cheese! We are eating our very most favorite sandwhich. A REUBIN. Thanks to Terrence (he works at Shrieber Cheese in Logan)we are supplied with all the cheese we can possibly eat!

Should have seen us divide it all up between 3 suitcases:) We brought- Butter, Cream Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Fresh grated Parmesan , Blue Cheese Crumbles, 1 case of cheese sticks and the dreaded goat cheese... We already have Motzerella and Montera Jack in the freezer from Christmas. We are enjoying it all!

Any other ideas for meals with SWISS?

THANKFUL THURSDAY- In the Mail:)

The Newest Picture!

The only one I had that includes my Mom. and Grandma center front. My how they have all changed!

My AUNT JEANNE is THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!! She always keeps tabs on my family and for that I appreciate and love, love, love her. She just sent me a St. Patrick's Day card with two pictures of my Mom's siblings. THE GREATEST and HANDSOMEST UNCLE --JIM, THE MOST TALENTED VOICE AND BEAUTIFUL AUNT JILL. MY HUGE HEART AUNT LINDA. MY ANGEL,AUNT LOU AND MY GENEALOGIST, INTELLECTUAL, AUNT LORNA . I AM BLESSED TO HAVE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE!

Spring Fun with the Kiddo's

There you go Jill W. THE GUN SHOOTIN' MAMA!

Tyrel and Hero --Happy to finally locate the "KILN" used for baking bricks

Scenery of the San Rafael

Gramps and Clark by some Indian Writings

Scenery on the Swell

Great Grampa's Ol' Barn

Digging in the garden

Hanging out at Gramps

Farm Scenery and the Mountains of Huntington

PAPA CLARK IS SUCH A TEASE!

Chores with Papa

Gathering Eggs

Chickens on the run from the little ones:)

Kylie steelin Papas hat

I think we have totally wore out the girls or I should say the girls have wore me out! It's hard going back to full time MOMMY! BUT I NEED PRACTICE! Wouldn't trade this time for the world! I feel so lucky to get to kiss and cuddle every second! (their Mom and Dad went on a little retreat) They have been ANGELS-- of course. We have played, played, played. It has been so awesome to be with the kids. Thank goodness for Elyse this weekend. She was my extra hands, she is so patient and loving and I needed her extra help especially when it came to HAIR! This weekend has been too short but packed with fun. Papa Clark whispered in my ear, "let's go down to the desert and roast a hot dogger" He said the word---and off we went! There is nothing like the UTAH San Rafael! Especially in spring. Especially to see the love Tyrel has for the history of the desert and the desire to cover every inch of it. He found a "Kiln" built out of rocks that he had been looking to find for 1 1/2 years. I think he had seen it but had forgotten where it was. It had us homesick for the good ol' Easter/General Conference Outing we take every year. People were already camping in our favorite spots. Well I dropped off Mr. Clark had Savage University and I am in Logan for a few days We are off for another adventurous day!