Happy Holidays 2010

Happy Holidays

Enjoy Your Day!

Johnina ☺☺☺

Happy Easter

 

About 25 years ago I was making Easter eggs for the kids from a kit that my mom had sent me.  We were spending the day getting ready for Easter which was the next day and having a good time, when I received a phone call that would forever change the way I celebrated the Easter holiday.  My sister called to tell me my Mom had had a stroke and was in a coma.  I was shocked and Tom and I made arrangements for me to fly to Florida from where we where living in Utah so I could be with my family.  It was a time that we as a family grew closer together as we talked of our Mom and her wishes and our memories of her.  Mom died a few days later.  In talking about mom we decided that she probably picked Easter as her time to leave us; as a way to comfort us as we all believe in Jesus Christ and his redemption and resurrection.  What a wonderful comfort that was to us as a family to share that kind of testimony of Jesus and all of us be able to comfort each other with this knowledge.

Since that Easter I have not dyed Easter eggs but we have had baskets and goodies, but they never had the importance to me that they once did.  Now the significance of the holiday; the atonement, the death and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ holds number one priority in my heart.

Today was especially tender for my heart as my friend Marsha died just last week, it being close to 25 years since my Mom died and today was General Conference (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) from Salt Lake City and many of the talks by the general authorities, the apostles and the Prophet centered around Easter and the resurrection.  The choir even sang my all time favorite hymn "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".  What could have been a sad day of grieving was instead a day of inspiration, peace and comforting.  I am so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My wish for you is that on this day you could feel the peace that I have felt, no matter your beliefs or religion.

Family Christmas

I have had lots of family visiting and between having been in the hospital and trying to recuperate from being sick and having the family visiting I have not had a lot of time to spend on the computer. Emily flew here from BYU were she is a senior. We have spend lots of time talking and getting to know each other on a different level. It is wonderful to get to know your children on an adult level. Laura is down here from Virginia with her two boys Hayden (2 1/2) and Wyatt (6 mon.). She is doing so well as a mother especially with one in his terrible twos and a little one. My house is not very well child-proofed which adds to the challenge. We now have locks on all the doors so as to limit access which helps. Benn has been down and spent a couple of nights. Of course than there's Tom, Jeremy and myself. What a houseful. We've all had a good time, but it has been stressful for all. I learned a long time ago that any change even a good change causes stress. I love them all and am glad they came and stayed. Everyone of the visiting family was gone yesterday and things are much quieter and it is nice that things are getting back to normal.

Holiday views

Took Emily to the Doctor in Jackson just before Christmas; saw this house liked it's old-fashioned charm.

A Pleasant day of rest

A pleasant day outside not really sunny, but pleasant. Nice temperature, slight breeze, just feels nice. Slept in this morning and when I got up and looked out my kitchen window; my backyard was alive with movement there was all these little birds in the grass eating away. They were well hidden so mostly all I could see was movement and an occasional bird; it was kind of magical to watch them appear and disappear. A pleasant way to start the day.
I've brushed the big dog and with enough Milk Bones (what dog won't behave for a Milk Bone) and a leash and good brush; it can be very relaxing.
Now I've just doing what I want on my computer watching an old Disney movie on the Hallmark channel. I haven't seen the Gnome Mobile since I was a kid and am quite enjoying it.
My little dog, Rascal, is on medication that makes him have to go outside about every 2 hours or so, so I'm real glad it's nice out plus it keeps me from getting stiff. I've kind of overdone the last couple of days trying to make up for the time in the hospital and moving slowly cause I didn't feel good so I pushed too hard and really needed to rest up in preparation for the next couple of days.
I'm feeling better now and I'm grateful to be feeling well enough to enjoy it. I wish you, my friends, a Happy Holiday this year. ENJOY!!!!!