Five Things

I thought this looked like a fun list.

Five things....
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in my fridge: raspberry jam from Brigham City; fresh baby red potatoes, also from Brigham City fruit stand; Soy milk; several types of cheese; and, I am sure, several science projects in the back.
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in my closet: shoes, clothes, a gunnesax dress that I made for my daughter over 20 yrs ago (similar to the picture in a size 4), a winter bathrobe, a Sorry game.
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in my handbag: gum; my 'to-be-read book list; fingernail clippers; store receipts; and, I hope, my debit card.
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in my car: 2 sports bags containing emergency items; a sweatshirt; an open bag of cookies -- Myke?!; The Opposite of Fate book on CD; cell phone charger.
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Five people I am tagging...I don't know what that means -- so I guess nobody, although I hope bloggers I know will do this.

Week #5 Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Daily Rituals
(Summertime - Not during the school year)

1. First thing out of bed in the mornings I put on my glasses and head to the bathroom. The glasses are so that I can see what I'm reading. There's always reading material in a little flat basket behind the bathroom door.
2. I soak my hair, put in a little mouse, fluff it around and am set to go. (sometimes I use a curling iron on it.
3. After washing my face I put on Avon's ANEW ULTIMATE Day Transforming Lift Cream for women over 45. Love it and I'm almost out. Time to buy more.
4. Brush teeth and get dressed.
5. This is embarrasing to report because it's an unhealthy ritual, but it is indeed a daily ritual. Between 10:30 and 11:30 I head to McDonald's and order a 3-pc chicken select meal with apple dippers instead of fries and a large diet coke.
6. Since I usually have a wait at McDonald's I take my book to read during the wait.
7. I eat lunch in front of the computer checking blogs; sometimes playing Zuma or Pat Sajack's Lucky Letters.
8. Either in the afternoon or in the evening I sit down for an hour of reading with a bowl of popcorn. (sometimes it's fat-free)
9. I'm not doing this very regularly anymore, but I for years I've read a daily essay from Sarah van Breathnach's Simple Abundance.
10. A daily ritual that I want to reimplement into my life is reading the scriptures.
11. Another ritual I would like to perform daily is to prepare my family a nutritious and delicious dinner.
12. Of course, there's the nightly ritual in the bathroom - daily ablutions.
13. And finally, you've heard this one before, I thank the Lord for a bed and a soft pillow.

Week #4 Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Am Grateful For (My Gratitude Journal and TT combined)

1. My husband, who is kind, thoughtful, intelligent, funny, patient, hard working, and a great father.
2. My children. All 4 of my daughters are fine examples of womanhood and live good lifes. This makes me happy. The term 'my children' also includes a son-in-law who is so good to our family and so good for our family. You always hope your children will marry someone perfect for them. John is that.
3. My grandchildren. Oh, my gosh, what cute, adorable, smart kids they are! I only have two: Jeff and Megan, but they fill my life with great joy. And best of all they live in the house right behind ours.
4. My parents. With every day that passes I appreciate them just that much more. They taught me independence, a love of learning, a desire to be a good person (daughter, wife, mother, citizen). Both my mother and father set a good example for me to follow.
5. My brothers and sisters. There are seven of us children (which is quite a blessing) and we enjoy each other even though some of us are getting very old. In fact, we probably enjoy each other more than when we lived together. Funny how that works.
6. Grandparents. I was the first grand-daughter on my mother's side and was I ever spoiled, especially by my Grandpa Noble. It was delightful to feel unconditional love from them. From them I learned that every grandchild should be spoiled and loved by their grandparents, occasionally disciplining, always teaching, but given that comfortable love that is hard for a parent to give. You know, parents feel such responsibility for raising their kids, it's sometimes hard to relax and enjoy them.
7. Aunts and Uncles. I wonder if these people have any idea the impact they have had on my life. Always happy to see me and interested in my life they add immeasurably to the quality of life I enjoy.
8. Cousins. My dad served in the army so we didn't get to live around my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins like so many did. I wouldn't want to give up the life I had but I was always a little jealous that the others shared that special bond brought on with familiarity. What awesome people my cousins are.
9. Nieces and nephews. You know, those troublesome little kids who, along with my own, had to gather around us, their parents, while we tried to relax and play games to ease the tension of being parents. Now those same kids have grown into wonderful adults who are so fun to be with and to play games with. I love that a few of them have blogs that help me to know them even better.
10. I am grateful for my freedoms. I am grateful that God loves me so that he will not take away my free agency even when what I choose to do will cause suffering. I am grateful I live in a country that allows so many freedoms. I'm free to live with my family, to travel, to worship how I will, to vote and to say what I truly feel about my government, to read and study what I want, to attend college, to fail, to start over again, to own property, etc. etc. etc. (I better end or this post will be "The Never-Ending Post".
11. I appreciate the teachings of my church. It is comforting to know with that assurance that is hard to describe, that assurance that comes of direct revelation, that my family will be together in the hereafter. All those groups of people I listed in this post, I will see individually in our next life. Such comfort. I am thankful that I am taught about the nature of My Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, that they are actual personages that truly care and love me. And that with this life as a learning ground and what I will learn in the next I can become like them and feel their fullness of joy. I am thankful for prayer, forgiveness and the mercy provided by our Savior that broken things can be made whole. Again I'm going to stop myself. I think I could talk forever about the spiritual blessings I enjoy.
12. I appreciate the worldly comforts that I enjoy. I'm afraid I enjoy them in excess and need to mend my ways somewhat. I love crawling into a comfortable bed at night and putting my weary head down on a soft, billowing pillow. I love the bounties of nature. The beauties it affords and the harvest it provides. I am grateful for the fresh blackberries, big and juicy, that I just ate. I love having a nice home with a lovely yard. Plenty of food. A computer. A vacuum, etc. etc. etc. Again I stop short! (Rather - shorter than it could be)
13. I am grateful for the availability of knowledge. I marvel at what science has learned and what things we are able to accomplish because of it. I enjoy being involved in the 'quest' of science to know and understand the workings of the natural world. My personal philosophy is that science is trying to discover the natural laws of the universe, those laws that God already knows and lives by. How fabulous to have both science and religion to teach us truths. (I realize that sometimes science is limited in its methods for discovering truth and that many times religions tell us lies; some lies are intentional and others are unintentional traditions that have been handed down through the ages. I guess that's where modern day revelation is so important - to teach us those traditions that are false and those that are true and thus helpful.)
How wonderful is it that we can look around our homes and find books! Or with ease we can purchase or check them out. When else in history has that been so? And we are able to read, we've been taught!

Bradley

Tomorrow will be Bradley's 39th birthday. He died on Monday from unknown causes. My cousin, Brad, was 16 years younger than I am so I didn't know him well during our growing up years. Over the last several years we saw each other every 2-3 years at reunions, so I did not know him well. What I did know was that he was kind, easy to talk with, loved food, helped his mom on the farm, wanted to get married but never found the right girl, lived in a small rural community, was close to his family and was much loved. I will miss him. And my heart is filled with sorrow for his mother, his brother and family, his sister, and the rest of the Petersen extended family. One cousin was close in age and very close in friendship to Brad and my heart hurts for him as well. So much sadness.

But at the same time there is gladness. I imagine the reunion of Brad with his father and his older siblings that he never knew in this life - it brings tears to my eyes. Also, Brad will be welcomed by our grandma and grandpa. I look forward so to seeing them again, myself. There will also be Aunt Betty, Aunt Elaine and Aunt Louise. And my own father will be there, too, I am sure. Can you just imagine their joy? Brad, we will miss you until our sojourn on this earth is finished, then we will meet again.

Gratitude Journal #1

Several summers ago, I wrote in a journal 3 things that I was thankful for. That process of thinking, writing and being aware changed my life in monumental ways. I became aware of how blessed I was, more conscious of the beauties of nature and people, and I think I was a much more pleasant person to be around. After all these years I'm going to start this ritual exercise again.

1. I am thankful for adequate water. Water that is clean to drink and bath in. Water for washing clothes and cleaning house. Water for cooking food in. And if all that is not enough, there is water to green a lush and cooling lawn and to grow beautiful shade trees and bushes. Still more - there is water to fill a wading pool so my grand kids can splash and soak away the hours of a hot summer day.

2. I am thankful that there are pipes in place and spouts that bring water right into my home. No hauling water from a well or a river. I turn the spigot and out comes water. Such a spendid thing.

3. I am thankful for the absence of water where I don't need or want it. Last week my sewer backed up and several of my basement floors flooded. I am grateful that most of the time that water is not there. It's a good thing not to have water all over where the dry ground should be. I would hate to wear galoshes continually. It's nice to have water in streams, rivers and lakes but not in city streets or beautiful meadows.

Happy Birthday, Dear Husband!

Mr. Booklogged is 56 yrs old today. You'd never know it to look at him. He looks fabulous! I do think his age is affecting him, however. On his birthday he weeded the flower beds, mowed the lawns, cleaned the kitchen, attached a compartment thing-y to the trailer and went to a meeting. This man needs to rediscover the pleasures of a birthday. Maybe there just aren't any at his OLD age, who knows! Where was I? Exhausted from all my tripping, I languished most of the day away reading a book and planning my quilt. Disgusting, isn't it.

Happy Birthday and MANY Happy Returns on the Day!
I Love You!

Week #3 Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen FUN Things I Did This Week While Mostly on the 'Mooo've

1. Drove to Fielding/Logan for a Petersen family reunion.
2. Drove to Cedar City to see my sister and her family, play games and see plays.
3. Visited with family while eating a wonderful veggie sandwich at the Pastry Pub in Cedar City.
4. Went to St. George and bought some very cute quilt fabric.
5. Saw the plays On Golden Pond and The HMS Pinafore at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
6. Visiting with S and her family at The Garden House in Cedar City while eating scrumptious food. Especially loved the soups: Sausage, cabbage & rice and creamed tomato Florentine.
7. Playing games with Davis, Corey and Audree . Also, getting hugs from my grand nephew and grand niece. Such cuties all of them
8. Seeing two of my favorite nieces, Julie and Cassie. They are just so darn cute.
9. One of the best parts of the week were seeing my Aunt Carol, Uncle Donald, Aunt Betty Jean and so many cousins and their families at the reunion.
10. Another best was attending plays with some of my aunts, cousins, mother, sister, brother, nieces and nephews.
11. And yet another best was traveling much of the time with my brother and his son.
12. Being with my sister is always a 'best' time.
13. The very best part of the weekend, though, was traveling everywhere with my mother. I'll never forget the laughter and face contorting over "going without the dip."

Week #2 Thursday Thirteen Week #2

Thirteen Things about MY NAME 1. My Army officer father heard it while serving in Japan. 2. It is really an adjective. 3. It is used to address someone who is very dear or special to you. 4. My mother received a telegram from my dad telling her to name the young lady Cheya. 5. My mother didn't know how to pronounce it, so she had to spell it to the hospital personnel for my birth certificate. (My dad was in Japan when I was born.) 6. My school teachers could never pronounce it. 7. Other kids would call me Cheeta, Chela, Sha-a, Shee-a, etc. 8. Now that there are Chia pets I just tell people it's pronounced like that, even though it is spelled different. 9. An ex-boyfriend named his daughter after me. 10. A high school friend, also a boy, used to sing, "Cheer up Cheya Jean, Oh what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen." Used to make me laugh. 11. My middle name is Rae. 12. Rae is my mother's name. 13. My oldest daughter also has the middle name Rae. We couldn't figure anything to go with Cheya.

My Seven Seven List

Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1. Take a cruise to Alaska (preferably with my Mother, brothers & sisters and their spouses)
2. A cruise to S. America and Antartica (with hubby and children would be ideal)
3. Finish cleaning my study
4. Visit every state in the U.S. (only 10 more to go)
5. Visit each of my children in their own homes
6. Visit the Peace Park in Hiroshima
7. Make at least one more trip to Oregon, Washington and Vancouver Island

Things I Cannot Do:

1. Have my whole house clean at the same time
2. Climb back down a ladder once I've gotten on the roof
3. Twist or fold my tongue
4. Whistle
5. Fit into a size 1
6. Avoid putting my foot in my mouth
7. Find time to be alone (JK)

Things I have Done That I'm Quite Proud Of:

1. Stayed married for 34 years
2. Raised four lovely daughters
3. Graduated from college
4. Taught high school biology for 14 years
5. Hosted a huge July 4th barbecue for the last upteen years
6. Prepared a terrific powerpoint Jeopardy for school
7. Learned to control my temper

Things I Often Say (or Think):

1. If it's before 10:30, I say "I'd like a #2 with a large diet coke"
2. If it's after 10"30, "I'd like a 3-piece chicken select with apple dippers instead of fries & a large diet coke" (You need to know I only do #1 or #2, not both in the same day)
3. Get those dirty dishes out of the family room
4. Go away I'm reading
5. I have to go to the bathroom
6. Every night as I lay down in my bed and put my head on my pillow and pull the quilts up around my shoulders, I thank the Lord for the comforts of my bed and that I am safe and protected from the elements. Every night I say this.
7. This is not anything I have often said yet, but I will be saying it a lot after seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: "I love those moments . . . (pause) . . . I like to wave to them as they pass by."

Things That Keep Me Attracted Me to My Spouse:
1. He is genuinely trying to be the best person he can be
2. We share similar goals
3. He is not domineering
4. He is such a great father and grandpa
5. He loves my family (his in-laws)
6. He is smart and always learning
7. Nobody in the world is better to travel with

Movies I Could Watch Over & Over: (Who are you kidding?! I can only stand to watch a show 2 or 3 times at the most. So here's a few movies I've watched more than once)

1. American Dreamer
2. Men in Black
3. Finding Nemo
4. Sleepless in Seattle
5. DaVinci Code
6. Conspiracy Theory
7. Wait Until Dark

Things I'm Afraid Of:
1. Being without food
2. Seeing my children suffer heartache
3. Being without water, electricity, toilets, and fast food
4. Dying a slow, painful death
5. Watching anyone I love die a slow, painful death - I hope we all go in the blink of an eye.
6. Being stranded in the desert
7. Developing Alzheimer's