When A Migraine Is Good News!

I feel as though I was given my life back. Last week after another in a bazillion episodes of TIA symptoms Ron put his foot down and took me to the emergency room at University Hospital. They kept me over night for observation and tests, and determined that I was having an aberrant form of silent migraine (without the pain) which totally mimics stroke symptoms. They have put me on an anti-seizure medication which should stop the cycle.

I've been on the medication about a week and I have to say that I feel good! My mind is so clear, almost like someone who gets glasses for the first time and realizes that a leaf on a tree has veins in it. My biggest problem right now is deciding what to do with the rest of my life! I know I've spent the last decade (literally) waiting for a big stroke to kill me. When the symptoms happened they were really frightening!

Migraines sound so manageable compared to a stroke. I'm realizing (though no one can be certain when their time on earth is up) that I can probably see my grandchildren grow, go on a mission with my husband, and though I'd never want to be a burden, I may even be a really old lady for my kids to take care of!

Good Memories!

We had a swimming pool in our backyard for 17 years. A lot of good memories were made there and it was sad to take it down, but no one used it much, it needed a new liner and Ron and I are not getting any younger. So sadly it was time, but it feels like we said goodbye to a really good friend that we will never see again, one who has been so much a part of our lives!

Casyn Joseph

Casyn was one week old yesterday! I can't wait to hold him and my darling Aubrie, who is a proud big sister! I'm so proud of my Julie and her good husband Brent! They sure make beautiful babies, and are such wonderful parents! Lucky kids!

New Baby

Little Casyn Joseph was born this morning. Julie and baby are fine now but had a really rough twenty hour labor. We nearly lost both Julie and the baby, but through a priesthood blessing they are both well and healthy! I'll post pictures as soon as I get some, but for now that little family is pretty worn out. Aubrie is in love with her new little baby brother! I can't wait to see pics. I'm just so sad that I am not back there taking care of them! We decided that I cannot fly alone and it breaks my heart. Ron and I will go back for his blessing in August. Oh my arms and heart ache to hold him and take care of my Jules!

Lost Generation

I know it's been awhile since I've posted---what can I say, it's summer, and I've got dirt in my fingernails!!!!!! But, my flowers are blooming. (I've also had some more health challenges, but life goes on---especially in my garden!)

My friend emailed this video and it is amazing.

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward.

This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.

Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite.

This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video and it is brilliant!

Make sure you read as well as listen...forward and backward.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old.

The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place.

When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke

into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant.

Take a minute and watch it.

Mother's Day!

I had the most awesome mother's day! My son Brian spoke in church and invited me to his ward--it was so good. Just perfect, and yes I'm prejudiced, but it was good! Then after church he grilled yummy steaks for us! Gwen repeated her first talk (afterward accompanied by hugs and kisses) after dinner. Notice the stick with paper leaves and a gummy bear--that was from Luke at church. It used to have a flower cookie on it, but before church was over it magically disappeared!

I talked with all of my wonderful children! Kristi sent gorgeous flowers and a funny card. Julie sent a wonderful card that made me cry happy tears. Aubrie made me a little picture book of herself of course. Becky gave me flowers for my porch and a love note! Ron also gave me a card that made me cry happy! And, Judith even drove all the way from South Weber (even while enduring a kidney stone) for a short visit with a darling pillow and "special grandparents" tile! It was a perfect day because I felt very loved by all my children and their wonderful spouses!

I just read an interesting article: "A Mom's Voice Is Powerful Medicine" Next time you feel anxious and tense, like a knot of nerves, instead of scheduling a massage or some time in the sun, you might want to call your mom. A mother's voice has the power to settle jangled nerves and maybe even reach through the fog of a coma to bring a brain-injured patient back to consciousness, according to a pair of new experiments.

I love you all! Please call often so I can love, love, love you!!!!!!

When I Drive Up To The Pearly Gates

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing my neighbor's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

~Marjorie Pay Hinckley ~

I don't doubt that she did just that! That's exactly what I want to do.

Missing Funny Bone

I think when the Lord created me he forgot to install a funny bone. I wish I could have more humor. I know many delightful people that have the ability to laugh at themselves and see humor everywhere in almost any situation. At least I smile a lot! I am basically a happy person and I know how to laugh, I just don't know how to be funny. Do you think humor is something that we can acquire? And if so how?

The Third Floor

As I was getting on the elevator on the first floor this morning at the temple, I shared the ride with one of our older temple workers, a man in his mid to late eighties, who graciously ushered me on first and then asked if I was going up or down. I said I was going up and he said that he was going down, but that he felt he was almost ready to go to the third floor.

I looked at him thinking he was a little confused, and I said, "But the second floor is as high as our temple goes." He lifted his stooped shoulders a little higher and grinned up at me with his beautiful wrinkled face and chuckled, "Well, I'm aiming for much higher, but I suppose I'll have to start on the third floor!"

I laughed with him as I got his joke, and I've thought about his comment most of today. This wonderful righteous man really is ready to go "to the third floor" anytime the Lord calls him home! I thought about "going home" today as I helped with the funeral luncheon for my neighbor's mother who peacefully slipped away Tuesday night. She was a darling little woman with ahlziemer's, who my neighbor and dear friend lovingly brought to her home, and tenderly cared for with such love these last few years.

Debbie posted this on her facebook page: "My mom woke up yesterday evening and we had a delightful time talking to her about all the people she was seeing who had come to "take her home.". She didn't want to be in her jammies with all of them here so we got her all dressed and combed her hair, etc."

Another time when the doorbell rang, her Mom said, "Oh good, maybe they are here to take me home," and she wanted Debbie to help her pack her bags. I thought about Sister Pierce today and smiled to think she wasn't just put on an elevator, but was lovingly escorted to the "third floor" by so many people that love her!

"And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them." D&C 42:46

Back In Time

1906 San Francisco Street Car film - AMAZING
This is really a fascinating piece of history. Traffic seems willy nilly, trolleys, cars, horses, carts, people walking. Seems they all just go wherever there is an opening. The clothing and cars are really interesting.Here's a neat opportunity to enjoy some time travel. The film is from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San Francisco , four days before the big earthquake/fire that destroyed the area. You can clearly see the clocktower at the end of the street at the Embarcadero Wharf that's still there. The quality & detail is great, so be sure to view it full screen.

The film, was originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!). It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing but true!