Louise's story View RSS

Re-thinking my name 29 Jul 2017 10:32 PM (7 years ago)

As usual, it has been a long time since I posted--I do post things on Facebook, but this morning I decided to do a post about my name. As many of you know, my first name is Margaret, but I have never gone by my first name (unless I'm in a doctor's office or somewhere where they don't know any better). So I have been known as Louise basically all my life. And I didn't like my first name anyway. When I was growing up, Dennis the Menace was a big TV program and I did not like being associated with his nemesis, Margaret. I always thought of someone with red hair, that was fairly obnoxious. I didn't want to have anything to do with that name.

I was actually named after my mother, whose name was Margaret Ruth, but she, too, hardly ever went by her first name . Her nickname for all her life was "Boots," and I'm not sure exactly how she got that name. However, today I had an "a ha" moment as I was reading scriptures. I was in the book of Mormon in the book of Helaman, and this is what I read, that resonated so strongly with me today. These are the words that Helaman, a prophet of God, said to his sons, whom he had named after some of their ancestors who had been very righteous: "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names, you may remember them; and when ye remember them you may remember their work; and when you remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good." As I read that today (and I've read it many times before), I thought immediately of my mother and the great privilege it is to have been given her name. She was one of the best people I know--so kind to others, so accepting of others, and so gracious to everyone she met. I don't know of many people who didn't just love my mother. All of a sudden, I was humbled that I had been given this name, and knew that I needed to think of it, and remember my mother, and to remember to be good like she was good. I am so thankful that some of our grandsons have the name of Spencer, like their granddad--another great name to live up to. So, I guess I will no longer think of the girl with the red hair who bugged Dennis the Menace so much; rather I will think with love of my beautiful sweet mother, whose name I get to share.

So many things to be grateful for 3 Oct 2016 10:28 PM (8 years ago)

In my mind so many times I have written this post. We were at a funeral and a cousin of mine reminded me of how long it had been since I wrote on my blog. You know me--consistency is not my best quality...so here I go, 4 or 5 months late. As you know from several posts on my Facebook page, at the end of May, Spence got a liver transplant. It has been an amazing year for us--and full of so many things to be grateful for. The timing of this transplant was truly one of the Lord's tender mercies to us. Because of when it was, we could participate in so many important events in our family's lives. We are so grateful for that--so even though they happened a while ago, I'm going to share pictures and tell you a little about what happened. The one thing that this transplant meant was that we had no vacation (our normal one to the beach)...but you know, that was all right. This transplant and the chance Spence has for truly a "new life" is worth any small sacrifice we had to make. When we knew that he was a liver candidate, we told our daughter, Katie, that there was a good possibility that we wouldn't be there for the birth of her second baby. But, by the time little Callie was born, it was the end of July--and it had been 2 months since he had gotten the transplant...and I was able to go and be there when that precious baby was born.

Happy Mother's Day 8 May 2016 10:31 PM (8 years ago)

As usual, with my posts, I have hit a wrong button inadvertently, and lost everything I wrote earlier today. As I was saying my prayers last night, I felt impressed to write a tribute to my mother. My mother passed away in 2007, and I would like to pay tribute to her today--as well as let you all know a little bit about my mother. I have missed having a mother for several years now--even before she passed away, she wasn't able to communicate much because of a series of mini-strokes. So I have appreciated others who have mothered me over the years--my sisters, dear friends and other mother figures in my life. They have nurtured and comforted me like she did for so many years.
My mother was a very sweet and kind person. People were really drawn to her, just because she was so accepting and loving towards them all. She was not a judgmental or critical person. She was basically pretty quiet, although very warm and caring. She was a great listener--people who barely had met her would end up sharing a good deal of their life stories with her. I used to tease her that she would put anyone on her Christmas card list, because after she had met them, they were like her long-lost best friends. She taught our family a lot about how to be a friend. She was an only child, so friends became her family. She shared her friends with us--and so they became family to us also. My mother was great at keeping in touch with people.
My mom and dad loved music, especially jazz. Every year they had a great time at the Monterery Jazz festival...but they also  traveled with a guy who taught them more about jazz, and held different educational as well as music-filled conferences. Even when my mom had a hard time talking, she could still sing. She sang for years with choral groups, and some of my fondest memories of Christmas Eves was of her beautiful alto voice joining in with ours to sing Christmas carols. My mom truly gave me the gift of music.
My mother was an athlete. Learning about her high school days, she participated in a number of different sports--was never afraid to try new things. I remember ice skating with her one time, and she did amazingly well, while I just struggled to stand up!! One time we went hiking as a family in Monterey, and my mom was like a nimble goat, having no problem climbing on rocks and semi-rough terrain. She loved to be active and do many things. It was hard to watch her lose those abilities in her later years, due to a stroke that she suffered.
My mother didn't realize what a wonderful person she was, and often lacked the confidence that I wish she could have had. Still, she did not think of herself hardly at all, but did what she could to build her children and believe in us. That was an amazing gift, because each of us chose such different paths to follow. She was not perfect (that persons does not exist), but she was good and kind and loving...and I miss her.
It has been a good Mother's Day--I am thankful for my mother,and  for my wonderful mother-in-law, who was my best cheerleader ever since I married her son. I am also thankful for my children who made me a mother. Today I would also like to thank the 4 women who bore my first 4 children so that we could have a family. What a gift they gave to us, by giving us their children at a time when they couldn't take care of them. That is a double gift--from them and from our Father in Heaven. Truly I am blessed. I don't always count my blessings, but tonight I am. May you all be blessed, whoever you are--and however you "mother". You don't have to have children of your own to bless other peoples' lives. I have been so richly blessed by many who have cared for me, loved me and supported me. May this be a good year for all of us.

So thankful for the Savior 21 Mar 2016 4:46 AM (9 years ago)

In spite of my best intentions to write in here more regularly, it just doesn't seem to happen. I guess that I practically need to be "hit over the head" with a prompting to write in here. That happened this morning. Maybe when we're asleep Heavenly Father can get through to us better--we're not listening to all the "clamor" and noise of the world at that time. Last night I went to our stake's Easter devotional. We have an amazing choir director, and some phenomenal musicians who work very hard to put on a great program. They did this again last night, and I was very thankful I could be there. But there was something more that touched me. A good friend of ours has been recently diagnosed with a very tough case of cancer. He was one of the members of this choir. As I picture him standing there, singing about the love and mission of Jesus Christ...and that He truly IS the resurrection and the Life--I felt like I was watching him sing his testimony. He knows that the Savior did live and die for each of us...and that because of Him, we have hope eternally to live forever. I felt hope and peace as I watched him sing--of course, we hope with all our hearts that his doctors will be inspired to give him the best care ever...but we know that because of what the Savior did for all of us, that he is not alone, and that he will be given comfort and strength to get through this hard test. Plus, the promise of eternal life with our Savior and our Heavenly Father is REAL and true--that is what I felt as I watched this good man sing of his love for and gratitude for a loving Savior. Easter is joyful and hopeful, and its message is one of a love beyond our understanding. The Savior came to earth and gave His life--so that we could have the hope of living eternally with our Heavenly Father. I just am so thankful for Him--and for the blessing of knowing that His mission was completely selfless because of His love for us. I pray that I will remember always the Savior--and try to follow Him. May you all be blessed to have a wonderful Easter season.

Blessings in the Fall 12 Nov 2015 6:54 PM (9 years ago)

Last night I was really having trouble sleeping. It was one of those nights when your mind just races, and you can't do anything to calm yourself. It was then that I "wrote" (in my mind) my blog entry. I felt deeply grateful and wanted to give the credit to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Health has always been something I have kind of taken for granted--I just never was sick. Then 5 years ago I got cancer--we got through that, and now we have been facing some more health challenges as a couple. (It still always surprises me). I have felt richly blessed by the Savior, and wanted to pay tribute to Him tonight. I also want to share my thanks for the tremendous amount of people, both family and friends, who have been an incredible support for us. SO this is what happened. About 10 days ago we were going to the doctor's for Spence to have a colonoscopy. I started getting some cramps and pains in my abdomen. This has happened before to me--we have had it checked out, and nothing could be shown to be wrong...so we just take some advil and wait for a few hours...and the pain passes. Well, this time that did not happen. The pain came and wouldn't go away. We went to the doctor, who ordered a cat scan, but the pain continued. Finally, Spence said that we couldn't wait for the cat scan--that we needed to go into the emergency room, and find out exactly what was wrong. It turned out that I had a twisted bowel, and the possibility was good that it could have cut off blood to my intestine, and have a fatal effect on me. I cannot describe in words how grateful I am to Spence, for listening to the Spirit and being guided by our Father--so that my life was spared. Now I know that sounds pretty dramatic, but I KNOW that Spence was guided on that decision...and I am thankful to be married to a man who takes his relationship with his Heavenly Father seriously. I had emergency surgery on Thursday, Nov. 5th, and got out of the hospital on the 10th. I am actually doing pretty well, but I just felt like I should share this--and bear my witness of the power of prayer, of our need to be in tune with our Father's spirit...and also to keep ourselves ready at all times to be worthy of His guidance. I truly felt like I was preserved. I also felt such a kinship with my Savior last night. I know that He has suffered for all our afflictions, and our sicknesses and our sins.I felt so deeply of His love, and for His incredible compassion for me. I just felt so loved--and have felt that in the days since the surgery. It is amazing how much He has suffered to be a Savior and Redeemer for all--that is love that is impossible to comprehend...but still we can be thankful that He loves each of us so deeply. And that's all I know today--thanks to any and all of you who have helped, loved, prayed and supported. I am thankful for the many people who help to carry my burdens--you are gifts from a loving Father.

Spring Sentiments 2 Apr 2015 3:13 PM (10 years ago)

Once again--my "best intentions" have gotten the better of me. I intend to do good things--to keep consistent in this blog, etc. WOW--it's amazing how I DON'T do the things I hope to do. So once again, the saddest things in life bring me back to writing in here. I am thankful for my personal journal where I record things more regularly! Yesterday a good friend from our ward, Rob Rivera, passed away. He and his family live in Utah, and have had a tremendous support system up there...but they also have a lot of fans and friends down here in Arizona. Rob was a super nice guy--very friendly, very interested in other people, and a wonderful member of our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had converted to the Church, and was one of the best Gospel Doctrine teachers we ever had. He truly believed and lived what he knew to be true...and his testimony and feelings about the Gospel touched each one of us. He was a terrific example to all who knew him--and touched many lives through his life's work as an eye doctor. He has the sweetest family--a beautiful woman (both inside and out) and 3 great kids. He will truly be missed, especially by his family...but the wonderful news of this Easter season is that he will live again. Because of what Jesus Christ did through His atonement, we will ALL live again. What a beautiful hope that gives to all of us. I am so grateful that all of us will be able to see our friend, Rob, again. I invite all who read this to go to #Because He lives, and see a beautiful video, testifying of the reality of Jesus Christ, and what He has done for us. May this message resonate with all of us--and help us to reach out to Him, and to find the peace and comfort and strength that comes through knowing Him.

In the last few months there have been many ups and downs in our family, as I'm sure there have been in yours. It is not always easy to keep the right perspective, when you or your loved ones are going through tough times. However, it seems even more obvious to me that if we trust in our Father in Heaven, and try to let Him guide our lives, we will be filled with more assurance that in the end things will be all right. That may not be "all right" according to what we initially want--however, if we seek to do the will of our Father, then we will have His spirit to guide us...and to help us choose that "better part," which is always what is right in His sight. It is hard to go through tough times, but if we can encourage each other to build our faith in Jesus Christ, He will give us strength to make it through.

My youngest child, Brady, has received his mission call for our Church. He is going to serve in the Nampa, Idaho mission. He is very excited, and so are we. We thought he might be going a little further away, but it really doesn't matter WHERE he serves--he will be serving our Father's children there, and will hopefully touch the lives of people there. He is such a good young man, and will be a blessing wherever he goes. I am super proud to be his mother.He is a great example and friend to all who know him. I love him a lot.

One last thing--last night I went to the Easter pageant, held each Easter on the temple grounds of our Mesa Arizona temple. It was a beautiful night, and there was such a powerful spirit there as they enacted the events of the life of Jesus Christ. We brought 2 of our friends, and it was so awesome to share that experience with them. I am so thankful for the Gospel--for this weekend when we can hear from inspired leaders and prophets...and for all that I've been blessed with. I truly have so much to be thankful for. Happy Easter to all of you! I send this with so much love. :)

Some Thoughts for the New Year 13 Feb 2015 4:57 AM (10 years ago)

Well, it is now the middle of February...and the last time I wrote was in December--so much for writing more in my blog. I have been inspired this week by the story of Stefanie Nielsen. She is the mother who was burned like over 80% of her body in a plane crash...and it is the story of her recovery and painful coming back to a very different style of life. She had 4 children at the time of the crash. It is heart wrenching to read of the tremendous pain she went through...and the very difficult task of trying to recover just basic skills. I haven't finished the book, but the thing that has touched me the most is her realization that there was purpose in her having this experience and that she was to share her journey with others. She has kept a blog for years, and it has been the source of inspiring MANY others. It made me realize that there is a purpose for all of us in this life...and that as we go through difficulties and personal adversity, that as we learn from those things, we can be a light to others to help them through their own personal challenges. It made me think of the great blessing that I received to be healed of cancer and to continue living. I need to be more grateful--I also need to realize that for whatever reason Heavenly Father spared my life--I need to be reminded of that often, and seek to know what He would have me do for Him to repay Him for His amazing mercy to me. How can I best serve Him? Who do I need to reach out to to bless the lives of others? It is pretty humbling to think of all I need to do to thank Him for sparing my life, and allowing me to be here with my family and many dear friends. I am able to serve in the Church, and spend time, hopefully helping others along their life paths. I am able to work out, and go on walks...and make cookies with my grandchildren. I am able to laugh and have fun...and have tender, spiritual experiences as well. Maybe we all can take a little time today, and ponder our purposes here on earth--whom we can bless, whose lives we can touch...and ponder the great gift of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and how we can best follow Him. I am thankful for this new day, and for new days every day that give me a chance to try again, to be better, and to love more deeply. I am thankful for countless people, whose faith has been a beacon for me...and whose love carries me through, when life seems too hard. Happy Day to all of us!

The true meaning of Christmas 19 Dec 2014 9:52 PM (10 years ago)

Well, I must say I am probably even more behind than usual this Christmas--still shopping, haven't really started baking, and done very little wrapping. However, this morning as I was kind of in that in-between sleep and wakefulness mode, I felt very grateful for the things that have been happening in our lives. I may not have everything DONE by Christmas morning--however, some of the things that have been going on are more important than those things.

Yesterday my husband spent over an hour talking to his cousin, and catching up with him. Yes, he could have been writing Christmas cards or been out shopping, but he felt so good just spending time with someone who is one of his very best friends. What a great use of time!

At the same time, I  was having so much fun, making sugar cookies with my grandson. It has been quite a while since I made sugar cookies--my children outgrew the "fun" of doing that, and so it had been a tradition that had been  stopped for a while. But now I have this very active 3-year-old who LOVES to make sugar cookies. We had so much fun. Even my own son got into it...and helped roll and cut those cookies out. It was so much fun! And it didn't even matter one bit that we cut cookies out of the very middle part of the dough!!

Tonight we had the great opportunity to take a friend to see the temple lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple. They are absolutely breath-taking, and it was a beautiful night (a little chilly for us desert rats) to walk around the grounds. We also got to hear some of our favorite men sing in a men's quartet...and they were so good!! What a fun night. NO, we weren't home, wrapping gifts...but we were enjoying time together, and deepening a friendship. It was an awesome evening.

Last night some of our kids were over--after eating dinner and making cookies, we just talked and laughed. It was good to be together. These are the things that I need to focus on. Yes, I know I'll get frazzled in the next few days, and feel overwhelmed and under accomplished...but hopefully I can remember the sweet feelings of some of these very simple experiences, and find joy in them...and realize those memories are what really make Christmas. Good luck to all of you in your preparations--may you feel peace and joy and may you have time with loved ones.

Fabulous Weekend for Phoenix, Arizona 16 Nov 2014 7:02 PM (10 years ago)

Wow--can't believe it's been since May when I wrote! That is pretty bad...but this weekend was so memorable that I needed to write about it. I know that many of my posts are about my feelings about the Gospel and my religion--but I guess those are some of the most meaningful things to me...so I guess that is what I SHOULD write about! My family is doing pretty well. Since May we have added a new member to our family--cute little Ruby Johnson, born to our daughter, Emily, and her husband, Michael. She is just precious--there is nothing like a baby to help you "reconnect" to heaven--there is something so sweet about a newborn...and now, as she is starting to smile and respond, it is even more fun to have her around. We are so grateful she arrived here safe and sound. :) We love our precious grandchildren. :)

Well, now let me write about the events of this weekend. The Phoenix Arizona temple was dedicated this weekend, and is now ready to be opened and to be used. It has been an amazing fall for us--we went to the open house several times, with several different people. Each time was very meaningful and special to us. We are so thankful we could share that experience with people not of our same faith--the temple means so much to us, and it is so nice to share it with people who don't get to normally go into it. We loved doing that. After 3 weeks of open houses there, it was ready for a final cleaning and then to be dedicated. That is what this weekend was about.

For weeks, even months before a temple is dedicated, the teenagers in that temple district participate in learning dances and songs for a big cultural celebration that is held the Saturday night before a temple is dedicated. So many people are involved--and thousands of hours of service are given to teach dances, to coordinate huge numbers of youth and to make costumes for all the youth involved. It is a huge undertaking--and the final result was last night, where 4300 youth between the ages of 12 and 18 performed in a football stadium. There were songs and narrations about the history of Phoenix, and the Church's influence in that history--and it was all coordinated. It was an amazing show--and the enthusiasm and love of the youth was evident as you watched their faces as they performed. It was spectacular. I believe it is shown on U-Tube--if you want, you should watch part or all of it--it was great! After the performance, many of the performers gathered around where our church leaders were sitting--our president, whom we revere as a prophet of God, was right there, and it was wonderful to see how the youth just wanted to be where he was. It was so heartwarming. :)

Then today in 3 different sessions the temple was dedicated. As part of each service, there were probably 4 or 5 speakers--different ones at each session, beautiful music performed by 3 different choirs, composed of people chosen from the different areas in the temple district. One of those choirs was led by our dear cousin, Becky Allen, which made it even more special for us. A dedicatory prayer was read in each session, dedicating the temple to the work that it is designed to do. The Spirit was so strong in each session--I went to 2 of the 3 sessions. Each speaker talked about something different, but each talk had to do with the blessing of having this temple here and how we need to rededicate ourselves to going to the temple...just as the temple was dedicated for the work that goes on within its walls. It was an amazing experience, and I was just so grateful to be there.

I have a very special feeling towards this Phoenix Temple. We lived for our first 5 years of marriage on the west side, so many of the people who have been involved in all the activities getting ready for it are very close and dear friends and family to us. Plus Spence's family has been in Phoenix for several generations, and his granddad, JR Price, was one of the first leaders of the church here in Phoenix. He was very instrumental in its growth and progress...and so this temple is very dear to the hearts of our Price family. I felt quite emotional as I listened to some of the talks, and thought of what this all means to us--it makes me very grateful for the tremendous heritage I inherited when I married into this Price family...and just so very grateful for SO MANY good people who have sacrificed so much of their time and energy and talents to making this temple a reality. I am especially thankful to my Father in Heaven for blessing us here in the Valley with another temple--and I hope to rededicate MY life to serving in the temple, and doing all I can to build the kingdom of God here in the Phoenix area. I am so grateful for my membership in the Church, and for the blessings it has brought into my life, ever since I joined so many years ago.

Losing my "other" mother 5 May 2014 8:53 PM (10 years ago)

Yesterday my mom's best friend and "sister" (since my mom had no siblings), Beverly Bennett, passed away. We have been getting emails from her niece, who has been extremely good about letting us know how Bev was doing. This is a huge loss in my life, and has caused me lots of time to reflect about the impact of people in our lives. Bev was truly a wonderful person in our life. We called her "Aunt Bev," and loved her like she was family. When we had family reunions or weddings or any big celebrations, she was there, sharing with us. When my mother was unable to talk much, due to several mini-strokes, it was Bev who I could go to, and discuss family problems or issues. I appreciated her listening ear and her very caring heart. She would always express her love to me, and her concern for my siblings.

In 2008, I went back to Boston to be with Bev. I didn't really know much about my mother's life, and her growing-up years. Since Bev was there in so many of those times, she shared with me several places where my mom lived her early life. She also shared several stories, and even helped me label some pictures that my mom had taken. We went to schools she had been to, and saw many places in the Tewksbury area outside of Boston, where my mom had grown up. We even went to Wellesley where my mom went to college, and saw the dorms where she lived. It was a wonderful trip--so great to learn more about my mom, and so good to be able to spend time with Bev.

When I was going through my sickness, Bev was so good to check in with me, and make sure that I was doing all right. She was so loving. I will miss her a lot, even though I didn't get to see her much or talk to her much.

He Lives--the Savior Lives! 18 Apr 2014 10:06 PM (11 years ago)

Last night I did the best thing ever to celebrate Easter--I went to the Easter pageant at the Mesa Arizona Temple grounds. It was a great experience. My sweet daughter, Kelsey, who happens to be one of the most thoughtful people I know, went with me. She had already gone this week with her singles ward, but she knew that I didn't want to go alone, so she went with me...just because she is a super nice person. It was SOOO crowded there. we got there about 7:30 (I usually get there a couple of hours early--and the performance starts at 8:00), and we drove around for quite a while, just looking for a parking place. Kelsey finally dropped me off so I could find us some seats, and she parked the car. People sitting next to us, held one of their children on their lap, just so we could have two seats together--pretty nice. The pageant goes through the Savior's life, quite quickly, with script and music. There were several times I wiped tears from my eyes--seeing the love of the Savior for little children portrayed so well, when he was whipped and scourged, when He appears to Mary in the garden, when He suffered so much when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane--so many times my heart was touched by His sacrifices, and the love He demonstrated so many times for us during His life. I am so thankful for the Savior. I know He is the Son of God, that He came to earth so He could show us he way to live. I am thankful that He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross for us so that we could return to live with our Heavenly Father if we will repent of the things we do wrong, and try in all ways, to be like Him. I am thankful for inspiring music and the spoken word when it helps us feel closer to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior. I am so thankful for this time of year--what Christ did for us in unfathomable. I am just so thankful. The last song that all the cast sing is "He Lives--My Savior Lives." That touched my heart so much, and I felt like singing along with all of them--yes, I too, know that my Redeemer lives.

Happy Birthday Eve! 10 Apr 2014 7:55 PM (11 years ago)

This is the night before my birthday. Not that anyone really will be reading this, so it won't really matter to anyone...but I thought I would write it anyway! A few years ago, I wondered if I would see many more birthdays--it has been an amazing journey to see that Heavenly Father, for whatever reason, still wanted to prolong my life here on earth. There are days that I really wonder why, and other days that I'm very grateful--it's funny how we go through such a variety of emotions. It is awesome how many people write mission statements for their lives--laying out their purpose and goals for life. They have a focus in their life that I seem to be lacking in my own.  I have always been a goal-setter, and tried to set goals at the beginning of each new year. However, like many of you, it is hard to remember what goals you've set, and to actually try to achieve them. Some days I am amazed at my lack of motivation to really get anything done. One time one of the leaders of our church talked about how we use our "discretionary" time. That phrase has stayed with me...and at times, HAUNTED me, because I see so much of my time being wasted. I am not always a very good steward of my time.

In the last couple of weeks I have had family visiting me. My daughter, Katie, and her precious daughter, Brooklyn (my first granddaughter) were here for a week. Katie is an amazing mother. She has always been a very unique person, and certainly marched to the beat of her own drummer...and she is an incredibly relaxed mother. It is fun to watch her mother, and I am very proud of the way she is handling her new responsibilities. She has become a very close friend to me. During her teenage years, I could never have anticipated this happening. She was a challenge, and I know I was a challenge to her. We rarely saw eye to eye, and life was pretty much a roller coaster...and VERY challenging. However, now we love to talk and share thoughts and feelings. I am grateful for her. I am especially grateful that she tries so hard to keep in touch with me. She knows that is important to me, so she really makes an effort since she knows it makes me happy. She cares deeply about every member of our family.

While she was still here, my sister, Kathy, came to visit also. It was great, because it meant that all my girls got to spend time with their aunt. She is very interested in them, and enjoyed being with them very much. We visited a lot, ate out a lot, and just had a good time. She is a gift-giver, and so she always comes with gifts for everyone. She is very thoughtful. She is a huge San Francisco Giants fan, and we took her to a baseball game where the Diamondbacks were playing the Giants. She really was in seventh heaven, and loved being there. She let all her friends in the Bay Area know she was there, by posting pictures and messages on her Facebook page.

Then last weekend was General Conference. It was the BEST. I love it--love the inspiration I feel from my leaders. It is easy to get caught up in the world's ideas and philosophies...but when you listen to Conference, you get the clear call that comes from men who are called of God. It is always such an uplift, and carries me for a long time after it is through. However, I wish I could feel as good always as I do when I'm listening to Conference--it is awesome!

What every mother wants to hear! 23 Mar 2014 9:55 PM (11 years ago)

It was just an ordinary moment--I was doing the dishes after having some friends over for dinner. My daughter, Kelsey, came into the kitchen, and just said, "Thanks, Mom, for being such a great mom." Those are words EVERY mother would like to hear--and it doesn't happen very often. So that meant a lot, and even though Kelsey doesn't read my blog, I want to tell her how much I appreciated her saying that to me. There are a lot of thankless days and nights--and many frustrating moments as a mother, but when a child (especially a grown-up child) says something like that, you really do feel special, and feel like all the effort, time, and craziness of being a mother is worth it. Like Kelsey said afterwards, we don't say that often. I hope I remembered to tell my mom that--she was such a sweet and loving person, and I hope I let her know at least sometimes that I DID appreciate that. Gratitude is so important.

I have found lately that I have been very critical of people, and I know that is not right. First of all, we don't know all the facts, so we really can't judge--secondly, when we criticize others, we become negative and ungrateful. We see the things that are wrong with others and wrong with our lives, and then let that discourage us...and make us unhappy. It would be so much better if we would look for the good, and then tell others the good we see in them. People who do that are so nice to be around...and we enjoy being with them. They see the good in us, and help us to see the good in others. Oh, if only I could be as good as I know I should.

Yesterday our son, Brady, had two basketball games with the YMCA. His team lost both of them, and quite badly. Usually I enjoy watching him play basketball, and watching his team. However, I guess I don't love watching losses and especially blow-outs! Brady gives his all every time he's on the court--he plays hard, and intensively, and he's good--but who am I to say, I'm just a biased mother! Anyway, that was a big majority of my Saturday. So that's about it from here--this week my daughter, Katie, and her baby girl, Brooklyn, come to visit. We are so excited, and know it will be lots of fun to have them here.

Beautiful spring weather! Happy Days to you! 18 Mar 2014 9:48 PM (11 years ago)

This is the time of year that people in Arizona live for. :) It is beautiful--the nights and mornings are wonderful, and it is fun to be outside. You can smell the citrus blossoms everywhere, and even though that isn't always good for people's allergies, it still smells fabulous! It has been a cold and tough winter in many parts of our country, but this is the time when we can brag about our weather...and enjoy these days! Much hotter ones will be coming soon--so we need to enjoy these while we can. This has been a particularly fun spring for us, since our grandson, SJ, now lives in Arizona. He loves to come to our house, to play in our sandbox, jump on our trampoline, and dip his toes and legs in our pool. He brings a lot of fun and excitement to our home--we love having him around...and love that he comes to visit his "Handdad," (what he calls his Granddad), and "Grandma Weez." (That would be me!!)

I have had many enjoyable experiences with my Church calling. I work in the Primary organization (our children's organization), and I work in the stake--where I am associated with several wards, and their individual Primary organizations. It is a joy to work with the children--I love their sweet spirits, and the funny things they say...and how they aren't afraid to say ANYTHING!! Last weekend we had a choir composed of children from throughout our stake, who sang at our stake conference. They sang the opening song, and then a song after the announcements. They were so AWESOME! They sing with all their hearts, and with so much enthusiasm--you can't help but be touched by what they do. I am SOOO thankful I can rub shoulders with these wonderful children. I also love working with their leaders who put so much time and energy into serving these children. Primary is the BEST!

Just one more thing for today--aren't you proud of me for writing TWICE in March--I AM improving!! Today our daughter, Emily, called--she was feeling very sick with the flu, and wanted her dad to come give her a blessing. So we spent a few hours over there this afternoon. It is so nice to be able to help when she needs us and to be close enough to do it. We had a great talk with her, and it was good to be over there--so glad she will let us help. :) Happy March to all of you!! Love you!

A new year...and new resolutions 24 Feb 2014 8:21 PM (11 years ago)

Yes, I have made some New Year's resolutions, but true to my normal life, it is hard to keep those resolutions in mind (even though I DO write them down), and then even harder to DO them. One of them is to be more regular in writing in my blog--so even though it is almost March, I will try to do better...and to keep this goal this year.
I was very faithful in writing in here when I was having so many health issues 4 years ago...but when things get back to "normal," we forget to show our gratitude, and also just express some of our feelings, because we're not in such a desperate situation anymore. It's crazy how easy it seems to be to forget--SIGH!
I just went to the cancer doctor, and he told me that this year I won't have to have a pet scan. That is huge news for me--and I'm very thankful for that! I still go to him every 3 months, and have blood work done, so if anything changes, they are aware of it, and we'll take care of any potential problems. Sometimes going to the doctor for a "routine" check is a pretty amazing thing...and a reminder that I truly was the recipient of some pretty miraculous things. I wish I could keep that uppermost in my mind, and just show more gratitude on a more regular basis. It's too bad that we get kind of complacent sometimes and take things too much for granted.
We are doing well. Our daughter, Kelsey, has come home from BYU, and now lives here at home with us. She is very busy with work, school, and several ward activities with the singles' ward she is involved in (with young adults of her age and older at Church). They seem to have things going all the time, and she is very good about staying involved.
Our third oldest daughter, Emily, has moved down here with her husband and little boy...and it is truly a joy to have that cute grandson here in town. He has so much personality and it really brightens our world to have him around here. He is just SO MUCH FUN!!
Our youngest child, Brady, is  a junior in high school. He is a very dedicated student--and works very hard to keep his grades up. He also has quite the social life, and has lots of friends. He plays basketball for the YMCA, and his dad is his coach, which is something he has wanted for several years now. With Spence, halfway retired, he DOES have more time, but finds that coaching is a lot more time-consuming than he had ever imagined. But he does enjoy it.
Brady is 16 and so does many of the normal teenage things, but I have to say, he really is a pretty good kid. He has good standards, he works hard in school, and on the whole, he makes very good choices. I think he is a good example to his friends, both at church and at school. Yesterday at church he and his dad blessed the sacrament during our sacrament meeting (that means they said the prayers over the bread and water). I had some very proud and some very grateful moments as I watched them--thankful that they both are living in such a way that they can do that, and just so thankful for the good examples they are to our family. It was wonderful to watch them do that together. Well, that's all I'll write for now--but I really AM going to try to be more consistent in here. Have a great day, and write if you ever feel so inclined!! Love you!

It's About Time! 14 Dec 2013 4:17 PM (11 years ago)

Dear Readers (and I know there is at least ONE reader!),
Well, it has been 6 months since I have written anything in my blog--no excuses, except that I just didn't do it. However, my sister has a good friend who sent me a Christmas card, and asked me why I hadn't written in so long. SO...for that friend and her continued interest, I will write in here.

Much has happened in 6 months. One of our daughters, Emily, has moved from Utah to Arizona with her husband and son. We are thrilled to have them here--it is especially fun to have a grandson here to play with and to have come visit. They lived with us for about 2 months, and now are in their own home. Her husband has a new job here in Scottsdale, and we are just very happy to have them here.

Another daughter, Katie, has had a baby. In fact, she was born on Friday the 13th of September, so yesterday was her official 3 month birthday...and it landed on Friday the 13th also! She is a darling baby--our first granddaughter, and so she is getting spoiled...and has all kinds of people who want to dress her up in cute little-girl clothes. We just went to Utah last weekend, for her baby blessing, and that was a wonderful event. She had one of the prettiest blessing dresses I have ever seen! She is very pretty (of course, I am totally biased), and has a lot of personality, just like her mom. We are all enjoying her, although we wished we lived closer...so we could see her more often.

The whole family came here for Thanksgiving...that was lots of fun, and at times, kind of wild and chaotic. But our kids really enjoy being together, so that makes it worth it all. They love to play games, and they laugh a lot. It is fun to watch them enjoy each other--sometimes when they are younger, you wonder if they ever will like each other...and then they do! It's awesome!

I am NOT ready at all for Christmas, and am struggling to get things done. With Thanksgiving being so late, it has been hard to get caught up. Christmas cards is one of the biggest projects we do at Christmas, so we keep plugging away on those. If I could do it the way I really would like to, I would sit by the Christmas tree, and watch the lights, listen to Christmas music, go to Christmas plays and watch Christmas movies...and not worry about any of this other stuff. I would also drink some really yummy hot chocolate--like the kind that my son-in-law, Cody, likes so much!! :) Well, on that note, I'm going to add a couple of pictures...and wish you all (or at least my friend, Carol) a very merry Christmas. I'll try to keep up better on my blog in the new year. Have a great Christmas!! :)

OK--here is my son, Brian, and my son-in-law, Michael, duking it out after family pictures! There aren't too many serious moments when we're all together!

Here is our cute new granddaughter, Brooklyn, with her beautiful mother, Katie--aren't they something else?  Next entry will have more pictures!! :)

Happy Father's Day to the father of my children! 15 Jun 2013 10:32 PM (11 years ago)

I think one of the things most of us are most guilty of is ingratitude. We take so many of our blessings for granted, and also take the people in our lives for granted. We just figure that they know how we feel, and that we are thankful for them...but we need to TELL them. So, tonight I am going to tell all of you how thankful I am for the husband that I have...and for the father that my children have. Spence is an awesome dad. He cares so much about his children and always has. When they were little, he was the one who worried that they might be cold at night. No matter how busy he was at work or at church, their welfare was always so important to him. He has always made it a priority to be at their games, or anything else they are involved in. When I was so sick, he really became the mom--taking them to doctor's or dentist's appointments, and going to meetings to make sure they were doing all right. One night when I was in the hospital, our teenage daughter had a very traumatic experience--he left early so he could help her through that tough time.

He has always taken us on family vacations. Our favorite place to go is the beach, and he is so much fun on the beach. Over the years, he has built many sand castles, and gone body surfing...and helped look for crawdads. I often sit and read on the beach--he is the one who makes it fun for everyone else. One of our kids' favorite things to do when we go to the beach is go grocery shopping with their dad--he buys them all the fun stuff that Mom never buys!! They love to go with him, because they know he will buy them practically anything they want!

Every year before they have started school, he gives them priesthood blessings--to help them with their school work, and with their friends, and with all the challenges that go with school. He cares about their homework, and is interested in their grades and how they're doing. They want to do well, because he has always motivated them to want to do well.

He continues to be a good dad, as they are older and have families of their own. He is very concerned with what is going on in their lives, and loves it when they call him, and tell him of something they have done, or something they might need help or advice with. He cares very much about them. He loves his 3 grandsons, and is so looking forward to having his very first granddaughter this fall!! She will steal his heart, just like his girls have! He is a source of encouragement and help as they go through their own challenges, and will do anything in his power to help them through tough times.

He has always been an example of honesty and integrity. His example has always spoken louder than his words, and his children have been blessed to have such a great man as their example. He loves them, he loves his Father in heaven, and he has always worked hard to serve and help others. I truly think he is probably one of the greatest examples they could ever have. So, if anyone DOES read this, please thank YOUR dad for whatever he has blessed your life with. I know that our family has been richly blessed because we have such an AWESOME dad. Thanks for everything, Spence! You are the best! :) I'm trying to find a picture, but am having a hard time!

Another year--Cancer Free!! 25 May 2013 6:45 AM (11 years ago)

Well, tonight I owe it to myself and to my readers (if there are any left out there!) to write. I am super grateful tonight for the blessings of the Lord upon me--today we went to the doctor, and got the results of my pet scan. For the third time, I have a normal pet scan--which is quite amazing. It has been 2 1/2 years that I have had clean pet scans, and that is a miracle!! My husband and I waited in that doctor's office for nearly an hour, to hear that news...and it has made our day. So I just wanted to share that with whoever still reads this...and I am thankful again that people have kept me in their prayers and in their thoughts...and so I have continued to be blessed. Like others I have asked, "why me", and I know there is no clear answer for that...but I just have to keep on trying to do things to show my gratitude...and to try to give to and serve others.

We have had a very eventful spring--with the graduation of two of our children--our daughter, Katie, and her husband, Cody, both graduated from Utah State University in Logan, Utah...and we are so proud of them. Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment...and no small feat for anyone. We are thankful they stuck it out, and did that. Now Cody is working for the company that he did an internship with, and Katie is awaiting the birth of their first child...so it is an exciting year for them.

Tonight we had the privilege of watching our daughter, Jodie, perform in a play, "The Little Mermaid," with other handicapped adults. These plays, as I've said before, are a total delight to watch and to be part of. There is pure joy on that stage, and you come away with that same joy in your hearts.

My reflections on General Conference 7 Apr 2013 9:14 PM (12 years ago)

Long time--no write! 3 Apr 2013 10:07 PM (12 years ago)

Dear Readers (if there are any more of you out there), WOW--it's been so long since I wrote. It took a letter from a friend of my sisters to remind me that I hadn't written in so long. I guess keeping my journal keeps me busy enough...and things haven't changed much here, so I don't write as often. It's pathetic that you write more when things are going badly, and when things are going better, you don't write much at all.

It is spring in Phoenix, which means that our days are getting warmer...and warmer. I am thankful that we don't have the cold winters like so many places do. I don't enjoy spring as much as I should here, because I anticipate it getting hot again, and don't just enjoy the beautiful spring days.

I am feeling well, basically, most of the time. :) That isn't the most definite of statements, is it?
 I am thankful that I have energy. I have been doing physical therapy for my bad shoulder (a slightly torn rotator cuff), and that has made it get so much better. I have almost total range of my shoulder now, and that is awesome. I am looking forward to swimming more this summer. I still work out at the cancer center, and that is still an awesome place to work out. I love the people who work out there, and I love the "trainers," who work with us.

The best news we have in our family right now is that our daughter, Katie, is expecting a baby girl! We are so excited. We have 3 adorable and fun grandsons, but we are so excited that we get a granddaughter too. :) HOORAY! Katie has gone through 2 miscarriages, and is now 16 weeks along...and we just keep hoping and praying that all will be well with this pregnancy. So far, so good!

I keep busy with doing Church work in the children's organization of our church. It is called Primary, and it is fabulous working with the different wards (units) in our stake. I love getting to know people better around the stake, and seeing the great things they do with their children. I just like being their cheerleader--because I am so impressed with all they do to teach their children the Gospel.


My children and other grandchildren are doing pretty well. Spence just went to Utah a couple of weekends ago because we have a nephew who just left on his mission to England. Spence loved being with our children, Emily and Michael, and their cute little boy, SJ, who is such a fun boy. Spence and he have quite the relationship. :) A few weeks before that, our son, Brian, came to visit for a few days. That was a lot of fun, especially for our 15-year-old son, Brady. Brady is playing basketball, and enjoying that. Kelsey is about to finish up her semester at BYU--kind of a stressful time for her,  but she's almost done with another semester. Katie and Cody graduate from Utah State at the beginning of May--a great accomplishment for both of them. WE are so proud of them. :)

Well, that's about it from here. One of the interesting events of the past few weeks was when I went to the funeral of one of my sister's friends' husbands--did you catch that relationship? I had known her friend when we were all in high school. I met up with some people who had known me in high school--as they were younger and I was older at that time, they had known me better than I had remembered them. It was just so interesting to be with them, and to hear their remembrances...and to realize that we are making an impact (either for good or bad) even when we aren't aware. It is amazing how the things we say and do can affect people in big ways. It was just pretty mind boggling to me. :) Well, I hope that I will write again sooner than two months, like this last time. Anyway, happy spring to you all!

Happy Birthday Mom! 2 Feb 2013 4:23 PM (12 years ago)

Happy New Year! 13 Jan 2013 9:37 PM (12 years ago)

It's about time I wrote in here--the new year is already 2 weeks old, and I haven't written since before Christmas. I read this wonderful quote this morning, and thought I would like to post it. It is by Dieter F. Utchdorf, who serves as a counselor to the president of our church, whom we revere as a prophet of God. He said, "No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God! For what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are...and who we will become." Isn't that an awesome quote? I thought I would share it, and hopefully it will uplift you as much as it did me. :) I believe it with all my heart, even though I don't always live it.

Today was a good Sunday. I got to go to Church, and meet with people that I don't see every week. I work in the children's organization of our Church, called the Primary, and it is truly delightful to visit with them, and hear their comments and insights. It is so refreshing to be with them. We also had a nice evening with our son. Both my husband and I told him about our first date, and how we met. He was pretty amazed that we both could remember the details of that time--I guess he sees how bad our short-term memories are; he just couldn't believe we could remember something that happened so long ago! It was fun to just have a more relaxed evening at home, just the 3 of us. I also talked with two of my daughters, and that was a nice thing too. They are both up in Utah, where it is bitter cold right now. It is cold for us down in Phoenix (relatively speaking), but nothing like what they're dealing with up there.

We also had a good experience on Friday night. Spence and I went to one of our daughter, Jodie's plays. I have posted in here before about this theater group that she belongs to, where they put on plays with handicapped adults. It is an amazing experience to go--they do unbelievably well, but there is just such a spirit and enthusiasm and pure joy on that stage that is like nothing else you could see. They put on "Oklahoma" this time, and did a great job. What made that evening even more fun was seeing some people there whom we haven't seen in forever. One was our children's 3rd grade teacher, who was phenomenal, another one was the room mother from my daughter's 1st grade class, and then there was another daughter's close high school friend. It was SO MUCH fun to see them all, and to see them after so many years. So it's been a good weekend, and a time to once again be thankful for the many good people who have touched our lives. What a blessing it is to have friends!