Category Archives: My Life Stories!

-Five Faves-

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on the 5th
1-64 Crayola Crayons With the built in sharpener 🙂
2-Puffins –their babies are called “Pufflings” (can you stand it!!)
3-trinkets from yesteryear and ancestors
4-a really good self help book (we can all improve)
5-clean sheets after a hot shower.
Puffin

Family History Friday (FHF): Games!

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I try to make Family History fun for the whole family. Sometimes that’s asking a lot. You almost have to get bit by the FH bug to really like it. Like most bug situations, you need to spend time around them (the bugs) to get bit. So if I want my family to like Genealogy/Family History, I need to do it or talk about doing it around them. So I found two ways to do this. I have two fun games that help. One, is my original and one my sister-in-law told me about.

The first one is easy, at least once a week, tell your family a fun story about an ancestor. If you don’t know one, ask your parents or grandparents about their parents or grandparents, then write the story down. It also helps to have a pedigree chart mounted to a wall somewhere, so the family sees how they are related to the person. Once you have several stories in your archive, you’re ready to play. We usually play this game while we’re traveling in the car. Sometimes we even play it on Memorial Day. We visit the cemeteries that our relatives are buried in and talk about them while we’re standing by their grave side. So, I call the game “Name that Ancestor!” Usually I start, I say, for example: “I’m thinking of an ancestor who was a fur trader and wrote a journal.” Then they guess who it is, “John Sayer”.

Fur Traders

They won’t know who it is, unless I’ve talked about that ancestor before. If they guess and they’re right, it’s their turn to give a glue. If no one knows, then it’s a perfect opportunity to tell them the story. Then they will know the next time we play.
The next game is Concentration. This is especially good if those of your family, still living, live far apart from each other. First, get as many pictures of them, living and/or deceased, as you can. They can be small, like a snap shot. Make copies so you have two and you won’t ruin the original. Use tape (packing tape in perfect) or use contact paper and attatch them to a 3×5 card, cut in half or something about that size. I like to use the lids from orange juice concentrate (get it? concentrate?) ha ha. They stack really nice and they fit in a empty tennis ball container. Another twist is to put the picture of the ancestor on one lid and their name on the other lid. They make a match when they find the picture and the name that go together.

We are living in a great time, with many opportunities.

Our ancestors walked the path that made it possible

for us to have all that we enjoy now. I want to at least remember them on occasion, and at most, make their memory a part of my everyday life. Happy Family History Friday!

Love, joy

Seasons of Life

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School started this week, and with it came all sorts of changes. First, I started a new job. It is a good job, not that the last one wasn’t a good job, but it is a nice change.

Second, the little boys that we have been tending for years will no longer be coming to our home. They grew up enough to go to school and need a different tender. 🙁

And third, my baby is in high school!! How did that happen? We used to tell the kids that it was breaking the rules to “grow up”!

I have never liked big changes, I mean BIG changes, don’t get me wrong, I love variety in life. But when things change for good, leaving in their place an empty space or even something new, it is always a challenge. So I have been adapting and trying to appreciate

the seasons of my life.
If I compare it to the seasons that are common in the part of the world we call home, it is a good thing. Like Fall, my favorite, I love the colors and the crisp air. I love layering my clothes and I love going for drives and taking walks.
Instead of being sad or overwhelmed with the change, I plan to smile big and look forward to
the season at hand.

Family History Friday (FHF): Maps!

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I love maps!! I REALLY love maps. I don’t remember liking geography in school, but I need to know where things are now. If I hear of a place, any place, just talking to people I run into and finding out where they’re from, and I don’t know where it is, I look it up as soon as I can. I have an
atlas by my nightstand!
Does that tell you anything? Thankfully, this is a very convenient thing for doing Family History. When you research a relative you start with what you know, where you know they lived. If, for instance, they lived in a particular area for work, or because they parents lived there for work, they may move if the work is unavailable there.They may move for another reason, like for religious freedom, a common reason people came to the United States. Sometimes they moved, but not far at all, like to the next town or hamlet. It may be only a few miles down the road. When all the places the family has lived are located on a map it is easy to see the overall area or areas the family spent their lives. It gives you a visual of how the family migrated from place to place. When you have a map like this in front of you, you can see new research possibilities come to light. You can see the surrounding cities, counties, parishes, provinces or even countries. Try it! It’s really fun! Happy Family History Friday. Love, Joy

Enjoy "Here" While You’re "Here".

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Time has always been an issue for me. I either don’t feel like I have enough of it or I wish it would go faster. (I know, I know, make up yer mind. ) When the kids were all little it was hectic and out of control. The typical busy life that all moms lead. We went from chaos in the morning: everybody out of bed, breakfast fixins all over the kitchen, then flying out the door to drop the older kids off at school. Then errands, clean house, do a project or two, play and read with the little ones. Then pick up the kids from school, lessons (for us it was gymnastics), then home to fix a healthy and quick dinner. Sometimes more quick than healthy. There was always many things going on in the evenings as well. In fact when I was in the middle of it, I remember thinking, “it will be nice when all the kids are in school, maybe life will slow down alittle. HaHa. I remember hearing older and wiser moms say, “Enjoy it while they’re little, they grow up way too fast!”

About 8 years ago

(my baby is now 15 and my oldest just turned 23)

Then I would usually smile & say “I know, I’ve heard that before.” One thing I have learned in my life is that you can’t go back. I really do miss those children, keep in mind, I still live will all of them. The older version of them. They’re still the same wonderful kids. So now that I’m an older and somewhat wiser mom, this is my advice to young mothers with small children, Enjoy “here” while you’re “here”, cause you can’t enjoy “here” when you’re “there”.
In other words smile and enjoy everyday and love them, hug and kiss them, and don’t worry about the things that just don’t matter. They’re growing every second. I am so thankful to the moms who told me to enjoy them while they’re little. And most of all I’m so grateful I have had the blessing to be a mother. Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): True Love!

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Today for FHF, I want to wish my hubby
Happy Anniversary!
We have been married for 24 years and he is still my best friend.
He is the one I want to share forever with.
We had been friends for about 7 years when we finally started dating. In fact, on our first date, I wasn’t even sure if it was a date. For weeks leading up to “the date” we would talk after church, sometimes for hours. Time together has always been very comfortable, just like it was back then. Then he asked me to go to a fireside with him. In case you don’t know what that is, it’s an extra church meeting on Sunday night with a special speaker. The first thought that crossed my mind was, is this a date? And if it is, how will I know? (I have to add here that Brett was very shy, much more so than me.) I decided that if he opened the car door for me when he picked me up, then it must be a date. Sure enough, he did open the car door for me. After our first date I had a hard time not wanting to be with Brett every minute of everyday. We dated for a short while and got engaged.
And on August 7, 1985 we were married
in the Salt Lake Temple.
It was a beautiful and perfect day. The years have brought with them 4 wonderful children, a gorgeous granddaughter, not to mention, many struggles and challenges, and some disappointments. It has been hard work, but I wouldn’t trade a second of it for anything in the world. One thing that I learned early in my marriage is this; Focus on the good things about your sweetheart. He isn’t perfect, but neither am I. Spend more time thinking about all the things that make him the wonderful man that you fell in love with, and less time focusing on his flaws. Is he a hard worker? Does he come home to his family after work? Does he love God? If he does, he will be obedient to Him. That alone is a biggy. Then I know he is doing his best to be honest, faithful, considerate, and to cleave unto me and none else.
In fact, God is a partner in our marriage.
We try to live the life he wants for us and follow Him. We listen for help from Him in all aspects of our lives. Once you’ve focused on your darlin’s goodness, then be the best you that you can be. Be the type of person you want him to be to you. I know I don’t have a perfect marriage, but we love each other and we’re committed to each other forever.
I love you, Brett!!!!
Thanks for reading about part of the history if this family.
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

My sweetest darlin!

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Today is my sweetheart’s birthday! He is
my soul mate and the love of my life.

Here is a list of ten things I love about my hubby:

10-He has beautiful steel gray eyes.

9-He is a stud puppet and very well built.

8-He is super athletic and it’s fun to watch him do sports.

7-He is very handsome.

6-He is not satisfied to just serve his family, but serves others too.

5-He is hard working and provides for his family.

4-He’s not afraid to do a load of laundry or cook a mean batch of “rice surprise”.

3-He has integrity and is true to what he knows is right and honest.

2-He loves God.

The #1 reason that I love my sweetheart is

He loves me!

I love you sweetheart! Happy Birthday!
Have a great day.

Isn’t she darling!

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Isn’t she darling!! What a fun girl.

She was putting her hands under the stream of water and every once in a while she would say “woohoo!” Being a grandma is the best. Happy Thursday everyone. Love, Joy

What’s your speed limit?

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I came across this speed limit sign the other day and had to get a picture of it. I love it when I see something like this. It’s not the usual and it makes me laugh and think a little bit.

Do we try to put ourselves into categories of speed limits like

the roads we travel

in our lives.

-10 mph parking lot

-20 mph school zone

-25 mph residential

-there are even 85 mph interstate highways.

Are you going the interstate speed in your life, driving fast like a crazy person, when you’re really in a residential area? Trying to go fast and get somewhere quick, only stopping for gas, food and potty breaks. If you go fast and you’re not prepared for the trip, with the car in good working order-and yourself rested and alert, you could crash. Are we prepared for all the roads we travel? It would be a much more serious crash going 85 mph than going 25 mph.

Maybe your in a school zone, with young children and going faster that you should. I have personally never felt like I was only going 20 mph in my life. I always felt like I was going faster than I should, especially while all my kids were in school.

Maybe we all have our own personal speed at which we do our best. When I saw this sign I thought 17 mph sounds nice….not too fast not too slow, and definitely unique. I think I’m going to choose my own speed (not literally, of course). Just how fast should I go in life? It will depend on the place I’m traveling through. I will only go as fast as it is safe and enjoyable to go on the roads of my life. The older I get the slower I want to go. I really want to enjoy the ride and the scenery along the way, and spend time visiting with those I’m riding through life with. My mission president used to say, “enjoy the ride”, speaking of life and our journey here. Let’s all “enjoy the ride!” a little more than we have been. I think we all need to choose our speed wisely.

23 years ago

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23 years ago,

I became a mother. Happy Birthday Riley! I remember holding you when you were brand new, tears streaming down my face, wondering how it was possible to love so much. Overwhelmed at the thought of being a mom, and thinking about all the new responsibilities I would now have. It has been challenging and rewarding. I love you and I’m glad I am blessed to be your mom!
In another week it will be 2 years since I became a grandma! Being a grandma is the best, and most wonderful reward for being the mom to her dad. I love you Natasha!