Decking my Hall with Blingy Lights.....fa la la la la la la la

For my Birthday...

 Chad asked what I wanted..

 and I told him a few flowers for outside.. and 2 fake ferns for the inside.

I know.. random.

I looked at Tai-Pan and a few other places.. and haven't found the perfect ferns yet.. so instead.. I decided it was time for some new lights in the Hallway.

I have a VERY long hallway in my house.. and these tiny 1980's clear hideous balls that give us light.

While I am grateful that we even had something there... really.. who had the idea that this would be a good idea for a light covering?

Clearly.. the inventor never experimented with it.. because:

A: It's not attractive looking.

B: I have 4 of these lights in my house and every one of them is filled with Spider carcasses.

Yes.. those brown spots are bits' o spiders.  

Sick.

I question myself as to why I let them sit in our house for so very long.. when I have loathed them so very much.. but with me... I have to be patient.. as I have been trying to find the perfect vintage/Antique lights.  When I bring truly old stuff into my house -- rather than a reproduction.. it feels like it has a story with it.. and I love it.

After 6 years.. I decided that a chandelier just wouldn't work.. even if it was small... because it would hang too low.. so I went out of my comfort zone.. and just decided on purchasing some "blingy" lights from Lowe's.

Of Course I was grateful to be assisting the most gorgeous Electrician....

And we have Bling!

I believe if the Hallway could speak... it would tell me it's happy too.

But -- will be happiest when it has some crown moulding and wainscoting.

I was worried that it would be missing a crystal.. because it has so many.. and we would have to take them back.. but they didn't disappoint!

  They are beautiful!

Every time I walk down my hallway.. I look up and smile.

Slowly remodeling and updating our house has made me appreciate all of the little things that many would take for granted. 

 Trust me.. I enjoy all of the details.

Today I am Grateful for:

My husband's many talents that bless us abundantly.

A great night's sleep.

St. Patricks Decorations are down and Easter is Up.

A Latter Day Prophet

Conference is only a Couple of weeks away-- and I am CRAVING it.

A Lucky Girl....

St. Patrick's Day at our house....

Heavenly yummy's from Nancy

"Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey" -- The Lost legacy of the Highclere Castle

Squeeeeeeee ------from Cherie

Mickey and Minnie Pin purse from Mom

Magical cards of happy messages and love from many friends and family

I feel very lucky.

Thank you to all of you for reading my blog... and being my friends.

Today I am Grateful for:

Facebook messages, comments on my blog and phone calls from friends and family. 

 Your messages made my day!

Dinner with beloved friends at Texas Roadhouse

My darling 3 babies.. singing to me first thing in the morning...

New lights in my hallway ( post to come )

Money to buy flowers

The Sabbath - A day of enlightenment and renewal yesterday....

Birthday Flashback

It's GREAT to be 38!!!

( Because I have been telling everyone for most of this past year that I was 38 anyways..)

Seriously.

30 Years ago... my 8th Birthday... celebrating in 1982.

Stephanie Anderton, Aimee Winder, Me, Cathy, Stephanie Weed and Stephanie Thaxton

I was friends with a lot of Stephanie's!

It makes me happy to look at the girls here-- and to still be connected to all but one.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Today I am Grateful for:

My Mother -- who gave me life.

For happy Memories

My parents for raising me..

For being born on a fun and unique day

For a bit of sunshine through some great storms

Flashback Friday- Hayley

Yesterday was a HEAVY time for me.

I cried off and on pretty much the whole day.. when I could sneak away.. in efforts to keep it a happy day for Tenney.

I will post about it more next week.

*******

This weekend one year ago.. my parents and sister Erin headed to California.. for what would be my Dad's last time there.

He was  traveling there to Baptize Hayley.

Hayley has been one of Erin's Best Friends -- since the school days in Russia.

They met.. and Hayley became like one of the family.

After my family came home from serving in Russia, Hayley came to Utah a few times.. and it was easy to love her.

Many years later... Hayley decided she wanted a change in her life.. and was taught by some amazing missionaries serving in CA.

But.. with the love she had for our "Mormon" family.. she wanted my Dad to Baptize her.

This was a marvelous experience.

Dad, Hayley, Erin and the Elders.

Such a Happy day!!

None of us knew that this would be Dad's last days without pain.

The week after Dad got home from this trip.. he became super sick.. and it was as if-- the Lord had given him blessings of Good health to be able to celebrate my parents anniversary in Hawaii.. and then make it for this special day with Hayley.

********

I am always blind-sided at the weird times that the Grief slips in..

I miss my Daddy today so much it hurts my heart like I can't explain.

But-- while it hurts... I also feel a great amount of comfort and knowledge that he is where he is needed more.. and he is with our family-- more than we know.

It has been almost 9 months since Dad's passing.

I can truly see that time does help to heal.. but I am not sure there has been even one day that I don't ache to have him here with me again.. to give me counsel, to  listen to me and hug me.. to celebrate the good and fun things in life... and hunt through Antique shops with me.

Hug the people you love -- and tell them you love them.

Today I am Grateful for:

Sacrifice.

Relationships.

The Atonement

Tokens of love.

Attending the Republican Caucus yesterday.  After attending.. I feel grateful for the delegates chosen.. I felt grateful to be in a room with so many that believe in the things that I do-- and it felt good to be a registered Republican. 

She made me a Mommy....

11 years ago today... I became a Mother.

I will never forget that day.

Tenney Marie was due on my Birthday.. but she decided that she wanted a day of her very own.

I feel grateful for the blessings of being her Mother. 

I'm not sure any other babies have been kissed more in their life.. than mine.

At least I like to think so...

Look at her kissy cheeks!!

Tenney always has loved pretty things like her Momma. 

 She loves flowers.. and everything I love. 

Tenney and my Dad (Grandpa Wright)

Tenney loves each of her family members so much.  

Tenney LOVES cats.

More than anyone else I have ever known.

♥♥♥

For her 11th Birthday.....

 I want to list 11 things that I love and admire about my baby girl...

1- I love how Tender hearted Tenney is.

She is very pleasing..doesn't like to be in trouble.. and likes to be a friend to everyone.

2- Tenney is a great example.

She called me a few years ago from a birthday party she was attending -- asking for me to come and pick her up.  I was shocked because it was early.. but she told me that the movie they were watching was one that she shouldn't see.  A year later.. the mother of the girl having the party-- told me what an effect it had on her.  I was so grateful for her good example!

3- Tenney is fun to be with.

She is funny.. and loves to tease you-- and be teased.

She is a lot like Chad in this area..

4- Tenney loves her name.

When Grandpa Tenney passed away a month ago.. Tenney had a really hard time.

I found her hiding and crying in her bed. 

I told her that Great Grandpa would want her to be happy.. and good.. and carry his last name for good.  I expressed how much he loved her.. and loved that she had that special and unique name.

She smiled.. and has carried that -- her love for her Great Grandpa and his name happily and proudly.

5- Tenney is so smart.

She gets fabulous grades.. helps others in her class with their school work.. and she has memorized all of the Articles of Faith.  When we read the Book of Mormon -- as a family-- she always can tell everyone what is going on.. and explains things well.  It amazes me what she understands.

She loves to learn.

6- Tenney is such a good helper.

Since the day Christian came home to us.. Tenney stepped in as my "helper" and has always been an excellent older sister.  Last year during my Dad's last weeks.. my brother Chris was building his house.. and we would watch there little 18 month old boy "Linkin" often.

A special bond was made during those months between Linkin and Tenney.. and he still LOVES to be held and carried around by her.  

I love their relationship.

Tenney is also a great babysitter.

7- Tenney is Beautiful.

Inside and Out.

She shines.

8-  Tenney has a great imagination.

All of the kids in the neighborhood.. and all of her cousins and friends love to be with her.. because she makes the funnest clubs, houses, American girl and barbie suites, and yet-- can play Lego's for hours.. and build amazing forts with the boys.  She is quite the girl.

9- Tenney is clean.

She likes her space to be in order-- and clean.. and many times I have her friends Mothers tell me that she goes into their homes and organizes and cleans up her friends rooms.

She is always welcome there.

I was worried at first... but now.. I just smile.

And.. sometimes I ask if she "played" or "cleaned" when she comes back from her friends.

I would complain... but....

10- Tenney is Grateful.

I feel like this is such a neat quality for her to have-- at such a young age..but it makes me happy that she counts her blessings.. and looks for the blessings that surround her.

11- I love that she teaches and humbles me.

I don't know how I was fortunate enough to get her... but I will forever be grateful to the Lord for her happy and good spirit.. and for the joy she has given me -- in being her Mother.

She is a best friend, an example.. and sweetheart.

...... And she even joins in -- organizing books at the DI with me.

hehe

Today I am Grateful for:

My Tenney Marie

Patience

Joy and Sorrow

Memories

Many celebrations this week!

Something NEW at our house...

One day last month I insisted we buy a new TV.

This is usually something Chad would be insisting on.. but it was all me.

We have always had every one Else's "Hand me downs" and the last TV we had was so old and ancient.. the sound would work.. but the picture never stayed on.

It was a Dinosaur in the TV world.

While I adore almost everything in an "Antique" state... electronics.. I do not.

So of course.. Chad did some shopping around.. and we found the best price for a 55" to be at Costco.

Chad set the TV up on a beautiful Antique buffet I purchased last year at a yard sale for $30.00.. and everyone in the family gathered around to partake in the beauty of this epic new TV---it's size and picture quality.

We get excited pretty easily at our house.

After about an hour... the TV wasn't so interesting anymore.. and the kids were back to playing with their regular old toys.

  I am grateful that my kids like to play-- rather than sit at the TV all day long.

In fact... I am not sure which was more exciting. 

 The TV.. or the HUGE box that it came in..
 and the HUGE pieces of Styrofoam that came with it -- to protect it.

BEST new fort for Mary's little "things" = yes.

Note:  The Styrofoam only lasting for 2 days because I hate it so much... 

Seriously.. the sound.. texture and mess it makes is horrid.

Today I am Grateful for:

Tax returns that made this purchase possible.

No more pieces of tiny Styrofoam to be found in this house.

I can watch TV again while I work out!

Hope, Peace and Comfort

My Aunt Jeannine. 

 Seriously.. I don't know how she does it.. but she always calls me when I need her. 

 It is quite amazing.

Meeting friends through Blogging...

Last weekend.. many of my friends I have met through blogging were all coming to Salt Lake City for the Story at Home Conference.

 Even though I didn't attend the conference.. I still wanted to see many of these women that I usually only chat with on-line.

Because the girls were all going to be in classes all day Friday and Saturday.. I decided to drive up to Salt Lake City on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday -- right before dinner.. so I could eat with them.. and spend the night talking.. and sharing many things that we don't get to spill out over the Internet.

It was awesome.. exhausting.. but so worth it.

These ladies traveled from Washington, Idaho, Northern Utah, and Southern Utah.

How could I not want to drop everything for a chance to see them? 

Kimmie, Tauna, Ann, Keely and Jody.

These were the girls that made it the first night.  We talked and talked.. and I started home after midnight.  It was so worth the lack of sleep -- catching up with this ladies.. and meeting Jody for the first time. 

Thursday night we ate at Paradise Bakery... Friday night we ate at Siegfried's ( German Food ) and then Saturday night Cherie put together a large dinner at Biaggi's Italian restaurant.. and many more blog friends joined in for a chance to meet each other!

Sheila, Jenny, Karie, Me, Keely, Julie, Karen, Cherie, Nicole, Sandra, Valerie, Tauna, Kimmie and Valerie.

This was the group that came Saturday night.  I had never met 4 of the women.. but it didn't matter-- you know me.. bold and chatty.  I jumped in and chatted away-- and found that even though we are all very unique.. and different.. there is always something to admire from each of them.

They are inspiring women! 

And look what awesomeness Cherie brought me from the Idaho Caucus? 

I was soo excited!  I love Cherie.. and it was fun going back to her Hotel after and chatting it up with her and Keely until midnight.  Seriously.. I love all of these women!

During the Dinner.. I was sitting next to Karen and Jenny.. and had fun learning more about Jenny.. and soaking up some of the goodness that Karen radiates.
 Seriously.. each of these women are so neat.

Valerie, Jenny me and Julie.

Amazing women!

Banana Foster - Get in my belly!

We had such a large group.. it looked like 4 ward tables put together in church.  I was laughing because it looked like a "blogger panel" like these women were guest speakers.. or something.

There is Cute Tauna, Kimmie, Julie, Sandra and Valerie.

And Melissa ( M Cat ) joined in for dessert.. I just love her!

There are about 5 pictures still missing -- some more one on ones that I need to add to this post.. but I will add them as I get them from friends!

As I was heading up the elevator to the room one night.. a man was asking me about me meeting other bloggers.  He wondered if I had ever met any that I didn't like.  I told him.. that truly.. there were only a few that maybe I didn't "click" with -- as much as I thought I would.. but really... 98% of the time.. it has been even better than I have expected.

I am Grateful. 

 These women are such good people.

Today I am Grateful for:

Catching up on sleep.

Catching up on house cleaning.

All of the girls traveling home safely

Our first outdoor grilling yesterday! Hamburgers were yum!

Christian went back to school today after being sick for a week! YAY!