Thankful Me

As I've mentioned, I arrived in Oregon this week to care for my grandma while my dad undergoes heart surgery and recovery.  My sweet grandma is 97 years old and has Alzheimer's disease.     Me, Grandma, and Mom--Summer 2013 Though she functions relatively well given the circumstances, caring for her has poignantly reminded me of just how much I take for granted.  The terms "Alzheimer's" and "forgetfulness" go hand-in-hand, but even though I don't have Alzheimer's, sometimes I fail to remember how easy my life is:

The visiting teaching message for March is: " The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ:  Light of the World. "   No one has set a better example of how to live than Jesus Christ, and as we follow in His footsteps, we can be forces for good, too. I designed a couple of handouts to accompany this month's lesson.  I like the quote by Elder Quentin L. Cook, but I also wanted to use the photo I recently took of the little lamb, so I decided to make two handouts.  Feel free to use either or both!   Thanks for the example of Jesus Christ.

The flight attendant handed me a small bag containing banana chips and who-knows-what-else, a cup of water, and a napkin.  Printed on the napkin were words listing reasons people might fly:  "vacation," "wedding," "tropical getaway," etc.  Nothing applied to my situation:  "Care for Grandma while Dad undergoes heart surgery."

A year or so ago, I learned about Dapper Days at Disneyland.  During Dapper Days, many guests dress up, often in vintage clothing, and head to the Happiest Place on Earth.  I've never attended, because those events are always held on a Sunday, and as much as I love Disneyland, and as much as I'd love to attend Dapper Days, I wouldn't feel like I was keeping the Sabbath day holy if I were at Disneyland on Sunday.  (It's a bit ironic that my old-fashioned ways prevent me from participating in a "dress up in old-fashioned clothes" event, isn't it?)

Next week, I'm heading up to my parents' house for a while.  My dad is having a heart valve replaced, and I'll be helping take care of my grandma while my mom is at the hospital with my dad.   (My house will not be unattended, as John and youngest daughter will still be home while I'm gone.)

Thanks for cheerful flowers.

How do you like your chocolate?  I prefer mine sweet!  Dark or milk doesn't matter as much as the sweetness factor.  Oh, sure, I'm not above snitching some semi-sweet chocolate chips while baking cookies, but generally speaking, the sweeter the chocolate, the better.  (Yes, I realize it's not so healthy to have such a sweet tooth, but this post is not about that.)

As I've mentioned before, I enjoy family history.  While my research will never be "done" (family history involves not only grandmas and grandpas, but their brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, in-laws, etc.), I do know quite a bit about my ancestors.  I've spent most of my research time on my dad's line, and my mom and grandma have worked extensively on my mom's side of the family.  

Yesterday, I walked to a park with my daughter and granddaughters.  Oldest granddaughter experienced the joy of swinging.  Youngest granddaughter experienced the joy of sleeping.  I enjoyed watching both girls.

I promised photos from last weekend's Color Run.  I'm throwing in other photos from this week, as well.  It's the Ten Things of Thankful, Photo Edition:

Twenty-five years ago today, my first-born entered this world and forever changed my life.  Happy birthday, son! 

"Happy February 7th.  The best decision I ever made was asking you to marry me." Those are the words I woke up to this morning. Every February 7th, a red rose appears.

Question:  When you wake up, do you have a song playing in your head?  I don't mean your alarm tune, either. 

As I've mentioned before, the television show, Studio C, really makes me laugh.  When I saw this clip recently, it reminded me of the polar vortex.  I hope your weather is better than this forecast!   Thanks for laughter.

January 2014:  It's a wrap! This week, I'm thankful for: 1.  Colorful eggs that are fresh for the gathering.    2.  Drexel the Guide Dog puppy.  He's scheduled to return for his formal training in a couple of weeks.  We'll miss him, but we are so excited for him, too. 3.  My Kindle, which allows me to check out and read books from the comfort of my own home.  My latest finish?  The Children of Willesden Lane , based on a true story of a young pianist who fled Austria during WWII and went to London.   4.  The internet.  I think I have tracked down the person whose letters I found in my attic .  I'm just waiting and hoping for an e-mail response.  5.  Green eyes, so I can count myself in with the green-eyed group.  (Sorry, girls, I can't call myself part of a gang.)  Lizzi mentioned she has green eyes, and all of a sudden there was a chorus of "Me, too! Me, too!"  Afte...