Flowers

I am only making one corsage for winter formal.
I do love working with flowers.

Odd Thing

Here is an odd thing. After family prayer this morning we got to talking about chest hair. Yes, I know, very spiritual. (I blame this kind of stuff on Rae.) Our gathering for prayer has always lead to our being slightly rambuntous for some reason, anyway--I think society wants us to be androgenous! Why should a man have to wax his body? What is wrong with a hairy chest? The same scent for men and women? Please, no. Clothes the same? -jeans, black t shirt, a bandana, and tatoos and skate shoes. I have seen more and more people lately I cannot tell what sex they are.
Well, I guess the basketball player with the ponytale last night sent me over the edge,but I do enjoy a good rant once in a while--back to the topic..
Yea, I know, styles like thes have been around forever but it bugs me particularly this week.
Theyre trying to make it sexy (and a "turn on") when a woman "likes" a woman or if a person goes either way? Maybe by society I really should say Satan.
I say "Vive la Differance!"

even in a world that touts showing lots of cleavage it shouldn'e be appropriate before noon!

More of Four

--more of My four

Yes! I have four Children!

When I moved here and we stood and had our records read in as new members of this ward, and neither of my girls was there, I wanted to shout,"There are more of us! It's just for some silly reason we are not all attending here right now." Wait! (looking around) There really are more. They must be here somewhere. Really. I have four Children!

I have been thinking the past few days about me as a Mother.

It has slowly dawned on me that am no longer considered a young mother. I am not the Mother of four young children anymore either. (as evidenced by the above). duh

I went to lunch with a great new friend- free makeup and lunch at Paradise Bakery--great stuff. Anyway, next day, I ran an errand with another new friend (I call them new 'cause they have been my friends only since I moved here five years ago) both are way younger than I am, Well, their oldest children are Seniors in high school. Somewhere in my brain I thought we were in the same boat, relating to each other due in part to our similar circumstances in life. Nope.

The first picture is when my oldest was in High School. From the looks of things that is not now.

I had just gotten over the fact(maybe) that I am no longer of child bearing age. Now this!

So, I am feeling the need to post pictures of my kids, all four together.

Now I feel the need to find pictures of all four together when they were young. (meaning me of course). Stay tuned to see if I manage to get any on here.

More of Allison just for fun

Wedding Reception in AZ.

Prom in Colorado DCHS

Senior trip to Germany

Sister Rae and Mom.

Yankee fans!!

The Marines wanted her to join--notice the lanyard. I bet they did.

Spring Training!

Happy Birthday Allison!

23 Years ago today Allison Layne Cutler Kelly
came to this earth as a tiny baby for her walk by Faith.

Allison married Ian 3 years ago, loaded up her stuff and drove to new York City. And I let her go.

There Ian works for an advertising agency and Alli is studying and working at Lehman college to become a nurse. She is very good at this and is also very smart (She is on the Deans list and received a prestigious award) I would definitely want her as my nurse.

Ian is a Bishop for the Church of Jesus Christ LDS in the Bronx. He is studying to be a writer. He is a good man. Solid, and "with the program"(those are the two highest complements I give).

Alli plays the organ in Church and teaches early morning Seminary among many other things.

(I love you, Allison!)

Chile!

"The airport was fun, the flight was long, and Chile is awesome. my area is called Casablanca (awesome) and included is a pic. It´s a pretty dope place. me gusta. The people here are nice and stuff, the ward is rad too. only one ward in this town but it´s good. We´re the only missionaries here too, that´s exciting. "

"That´s my trainer in the pic, Elder Nelson from Mapleton Utah. hard work and good trainer.

We´ve been working hard, getting alot of contacts. knocking doors and stuff. "

Visit to an old friend

She is actually very young.

Janessa used to baby-sit my kids when we lived in Woodinville, Washington, twenty years ago.
She and her sister Merinda are like family to us.
Janessa is married to Evan Cambell.
They live in St. George Utah with their three adorable little girls.
They took us in on the spur of the moment and their little girls gave us their room for the night. We felt very welcome. These are great people. Thank you to the Cambells!
and toEmmi,Paitlin for sharing their room.
This is the youngest, Hadley

82 Degrees

It hit 82 degrees yesterday. I guess I will have to take my snow scene down.

Danny's Christmas in the MTC

Danny spent this Christmas in the Missionary Training center In Provo,Utah. He is studying and training to serve the People of Chile in South America for two years. What an amazing opportunity this is for him. I am so proud of him.
I guess he really is an Arizona boy entralled by his first real snowfall in years, as evidenced by this Christmas Card he sent us.


He is working and doing what needs to be done.
And doing it every morning all over again.



As I have said many a time before,"I am happy every minute of every day he is where he is."

copy of a letter

I have not really fell off the face of the earth. Long story short, Idaho for all after Christmas holidays, Rachel to ER in Utah for illness and dehydration (the beginning of a long road perhaps, due to a something from her third world mission?), Allison and Ian here for the first of the year for "second Christmas", then, and here is my secret topper, I spent a morning in the ER myself followed by a seriously drugged stupor (during which Danny called from the airport on his way to Chile). It turned out I had a Kidney stone to pass. I was told to take pain pills (plural), drink gallons of water, and do some walking if possible. I finally got my tree down yesterday. (9th)

Hello! V

Christmas Morning

Limbo

A kidney stone has put me in limbo.

We came home to snow

...just thought you'd be interested Mom.

I felt like including proof. It's quite beautiful actually.

What to do on a snow day besides throw out our crispy Christmas tree? Ian's at a scouting conference thing. At least our Direct TV works. I miss my crocheting!

We had a fabulous time in Phoenix, thank you. Can't wait til February!

January Sixth

Three Kings Day has come and gone.
The Twelfth day of Christmas too has flown.
Even boxing day is through.
Ian is packing his things to fly home to New York City.
I guess the Christmas season is officially over.
May it never be over in our hearts and hands.

I am not insulted by Hanukah.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday !

...

anonymous from Karen Collins