No Time Traveling Today

Sorry I missed posting for a couple of weeks. The Master and I went to Los Angeles for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming and Diving championships. It was a lovely week of record high temperatures for the LA area and I ate it up! Mornings working out in the hotel gym (I was so proud of Me!) and mid-mornings of lounging by the pool reading were my agenda. I'd wait for the coaches to bring the athletes back from the morning's prelims and then my cute husband and I would go for a lunch date every day! We drove around a bit and looked at local neighborhoods, houses are a favorite pass-time of mine, and we shopped at the local mall. At the end of the week our men won the conferences championships once again and all of the coaches went into the pool to celebrate! That last night, Dee started coughing. It was a rough night. We had to be up and out at 8:00 am to drive to the Long Beach Airport. On the drive there I noticed that my throat was a bit sore. By the time our flight landed in Salt Lake I just wanted to crawl into bed. Dee and I coughed, didn't sleep, and were miserable for the next week. He got it worse than I, as he tends to have things like bronchitis turn into pneumonia. The second week in, he was still coughing so hard he pulled muscles in his rib cage. I was blessed to recover and be able to take care of him but I was still so weary. Late in the second week Dee's parents arrived at our home with a moving van pulling a large trailer and all of their earthly possessions. They have moved from their home of 24 years, Puyallup, WA, and returned to Utah Valley where they once lived. It's been an ordeal for them as my Mom-in-law says, "people in their 80's should never move!" They are now nicely settled into an apartment and will look for a home in the coming months. I wish we had felt better and could have done more for them, but the kids helped and so did new neighbors. We have already enjoyed fun outings and Sunday dinners with Granni and Papa, who we haven't lived near since the year 2000.

We have been through a pretty rough last weekend. My dear brother-in-law Steve has been layed-off from yet another job. I have lost count over the years. I don't even think he and my sister know anymore. He is so skilled at what he does, and is at the point where employers would rather hire someone younger who wouldn't require as much salary. It's an economy driven job, and he got caught in a cycle of being hired, layed-off, over and over. Now he can only find contract work. It pays very well but there are no benefits. Sometimes those contracts last for months, sometimes not. He has even lived away from home for months at a time just to be able to work. The stress and worry are about to kill both of them. I don't know what to say to them anymore except that I love them and I know God does too. Through all of these unstable years they've never gone hungry or lost their home. He has always been there for them. Some health insurance and retirement would be nice though.

My 92 year old mother lives in their home. This last Saturday she suffered another mini-stroke and spent the night in the hospital. Mortality and reality have a way of smacking me in the face lately. I worry for her health and I don't want to think about life without her. She's home and happy but it sure takes a lot out of her. We have varying troubles in our own little family, among my children, ranging from need for employment or direction in life, to unfulfilled dreams and expectations. I have prayed and poured my heart out to the Lord in the last few days. They have been prayers for miracles and mercy and peace. I couldn't sleep last night. I cried a lot. I  dozed for awhile and awoke way too early with a killer headache, but I fully intended to sit down and type out another Time Travel Tuesday for my family. Then I saw what I'd be typing next in my Grandma's story and I don't need that sorrow right now. I'll save it for a Tuesday coming up.

Until then, please know that I KNOW that God lives. He knows each one of us intimately. It seems like prayers aren't heard or answered quite often lately. I cannot pretend to know why certain of us have certain trials, and why they last for years. All I know is that He is there to comfort and lift us up. The Savior bore it all for us and can calm our hearts with his perfect empathy. Don't ever give up the good fight! "The Son of Man hath descended below the all. Art thou greater than he?...There fore fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."  Doctrine & Covenants 122:8-9

I'm holding tight to that promise

Football, Moving, & Fall...er, Fall-ing (oh MY!)

It's football season folks! Here we are in our awesome top of the stadium FREE seats! I emphasize the word "free" because we really do appreciate them! We sit among all of the other coaches and trainers from various teams who also get seats as a nice little perk of their jobs. Besides, walking up there is the best workout I get all week! This was at our first home game of the season, 3rd game overall.

It was BYU vs. Houston and was played on Septemebr 11th.

 Our awesome ROTC carried out the 

Mother-of-all-Flags and the players from each them helped hold it for the National Anthem.

Breath-taking.

My husband the coach may, or may not have been crying.

I love Cougar Stadium. I love the view. WE saw a lovely sunset that evening.

 (Yes, I know it's LaVell Edwards Stadium now. I am not big into name changes. It will ALWAYS be Cougar Stadium to me!!)

I got to participate in my first-EVER stadium card stunt during half-time. It was really fun! Notice the large instructions printed on the card. How could we fail?!

After a beautiful half-time show paying respect to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we got our big moment. You will see us at the top of the second "W" in the white. Aren't we great?!
Wait for it...there are TWO card stunts!

We are so talented!

 A few days later on a Thursday morning, I went up to the airport and met a very early morning flight from San Diego. What a treat to have Diana and Lucas visit us for four short days on their way to their new home in Minnesota!! This little trooper was so tired after getting up at 5:00 am on the coast!

Nick and his father were driving the truck. Mike flew out from South Carolina to help. That's a nice Dad! They arrived in Utah a little bit after Diana and the boy did. They spent the night at Nick's Grandparent's home down the hill so there would be enough beds for everyone. They left early two days later and began their long, Lo-o-o-ng journey! They arrived after driving I think about 23 hours and went to work unpacking the truck and putting together the beds so that all would be ready for Nick's little family to arrive. They deserve a medal!

We were the fortunate ones who got to enjoy a few more days with the young Master and his Mom!

This has become a standard thing for Pa and Lucas. Lucas asks for a "Choo Choo" and Pa finds a video on his iPad. There are some pretty awesome train videos out there! They boy could do this alllll day! What Pa? You have a Priesthood lesson to prepare? Pshhh! What's more important?

Anything the kid needed, his Aunties and Uncle were right there!

Here's Auntie Rachel making her famous "Unicorn Poop" cookies. You read that right.

I grabbed these pictures from the web. Someone in the house posted a picture that night but I can't find it.

They're just sugar cookies. No Unicorns were squeezed!

Does your Gramma have a big Piggy Bank? She should!

When someone says "Feed the Pig" Mr. Lucas tries, but that Piggie just won't eat!

"Gramma says you do it THIS way."

He's got a very good eye for this!

We took Lucas to "Cookie Cutters" for a trim. He chose the pink car this time!

One day Momma went to lunch with her BFF Whitney. Gramma and Lucas went outside to enjoy the afternoon. Pa and Gramma have a really fun neighbor. Lucas told me all about the "poy-pul" pumpkin and asked to go see the others.

Then he decided Pa's yard needed a trim!

Gramma grew some zinnias this year.  See that dead bush in the background? Pa and Uncle Richard are pulling it out this weekend...they don't know this yet!

"BUS!!" We had a great time watching the school bus, a big UPS truck and lots of cars go by.

Friends since they were both the new girls on the first day of 8th grade. Love Whitney so much!! She now drives a mini-van because she's the mother of twins Lucy and Eloise, and sweet baby Ava!

I took the gang down to Provo to enjoy some Sodalicious, ON ME! 

(Those $100 of gift certificates are awesome!)

Lucas gave me a flower!

Auntie Britt came over from Google Fiber to join us.

It was a gorgeous day but we were racing a thunderstorm!!

Story time on the last night before they left. We all wanted him to stay up just a bit longer.

Nick, Diana, & Lucas have been in Minnesota for just over a month now. Somehow I miss them more knowing they are just that much farther away. They are doing well and love exploring their new home. If you want to follow their blog, the link is off to the right. She makes some fun observations on the difference between living in Utah vs. San Diego vs. Minnesota. Kinda hilarious! I'm not sure if she's private anymore but she welcomes friendly readers. If you need an invite you can send me an email and I'll send you hers. mloose79@gmail.com

It's autumn now at the Little House on the Corner. Sigh. I always mourn summer's passing for about a week. Not because I hate fall, but because I LOATHE winter!!

See those feet? They are wearing their brand new NIKE Cross Trainers. I was so enjoying them and how they feel. This is just minutes before they tripped on uneven sidewalk and I fell forward, hitting the sidewalk hard on my left chest area. Yep. Grace. I dislocated a few ribs and spent the next week in a Lortab induced state of drowsy pain! I'm healing now and dealing with the fact that winter is just around the corner. Sigh.

Next Time? ROLLER DERBY!!