2 angels, a diet coke, and strawberry ice cream…a perfect moment!!

I have been blessed to have 2 angels in my life.  No, they are not dead.  No, they don’t appear out of no where and freak you out.  But, they are here on upon this earth to make my life easier. 

Tonight, these two amazing angels—my sweet friends arrived on my doorstep  with a diet coke (and a straw), strawberry ice cream (with a spoon) and the sweetest note.   How did they know that today I needed their friendship and laughter (plus a diet coke and strawberry ice cream)??  

To my sweet angels…you are definitely miracle workers!!!  I love you too pieces!!! 

Plus, they know that diet coke and ice cream go hand in hand!!  Yep, they are angels!!

Michelle

just a random post…

I have this ouchy thing in my heart.  It is that feeling when you are kind of sad because of something or someone and then, your heart just simply hurts.  I don’t like that ouchy feeling.  Anyway, it is has been that way for quite sometime.  No matter how hard I try to make that ouchy feeling go away, something happens and it grows and grows to even a bigger OUCHY!!  I don’t know how to handle it…it is just weird and strange. 

On Tuesday, I went to a BBQ with the young women that attended our Stake camp.  I have to admit, that my heart was feeling a tad bit ouchy.  Plus, I was not feeling all that great.  I thought that I was getting a summer cold.  So, attending this event was bringing on that ouchy feeling even more then usual.  

I had been at the BBQ for about an hour when one of the other leaders decided to leave so, I followed her out the door.  I did not want to stay any longer.  When I arrived at my car, I had forgotten that I had left my tables.  So, I headed back in.  Before I approached the gate, several young women came skipping out yelling, “Sister Gren, Sister Gren!”  They gave me hugs and DANG that ouchy feeling was getting stronger!!!  Oh, I love these sweet girls.  They have been such a great example in my life. 

As I headed to the back yard, I noticed that my tables still had BBQ items on them.  What was I going to do?  I decided to go sit by these 4 girls that were sitting at another table.  I am so glad that I did.  For the next hour or so, we laughed and laughed.  We were acting all crazy! I am so grateful for these fabulous 4 young women…they were such an relief in my life tonight.  I know that I will be able to sleep tonight!!

Tonight, I learned that laughter can help heal an ouchy heart (or at least heal it for an hour or so.)

Thanks Natalia, Sandy, McKell and Abish.  You 4 are truly amazing!!!  Tonight, you are definitely my heroes!

Michelle

Cookies…oh, how I love you!!

One of my friends, Vieve, loves to bake.  In fact, that is one of the great things that we have in common.  She finds all kinds of recipes, makes them, lets us taste them and then, shares the recipes with anyone who wants it.  It is great!!  I am grateful that she does this because I do not like to try out a recipe that is not going to work.  The whole sense of failure…just is not my game even when it comes to cooking!!

Anyway, she found the most delicious cookie recipe!!  Yes, they are so scrumptious that I wanted to share with all of you.  They are so simple and easy to make. 

German Chocolate Cake Cookies

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared coconut pecan frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs and shortening until well blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Match up evenly sized cookies and sandwich them with the coconut pecan frosting.

Oh, so delicious!!!  Thanks Vieve for sharing this recipe with me!!!  (and whomever decides to try them out)

Michelle

P.S.  I am taking them to a BBQ…wish me luck!!

I can do scary things!

PREFACE:

On Thursday, my dad had knee surgery.  Dr. Smith planned on doing a simple procedure but, when he started poking around in my dad’s knee, he found more then he expected. He had to repair three tears, shave off some blister type things, and cut off a flap of some sort.  When Dr. Smith was finished with surgery, he brought pictures out to my mom  and I. He, thoroughly, explained each step of the surgery.  Dr. Smith is amazing!! 

Anyway, Dad a few complications during surgery.  Overall, everything went great.  He will have a 5 week recovery time. 

Mom drove Dad home and I ran to the pharmacy to pick up his medication.  Anyway, when I arrived at my parent’s home, my mom was in a panic.  Their family room was flooded.  Their air conditioner hose broke and water was every where.  My brothers came and spliced the hose together. (I am not sure what that means). 

The beginning of the story for today: 

Around noon, I received a phone call from my mom.  She said that they had another flood and that the air conditioner was broken, AGAIN!  She said that she was on her way to Home Depot to pick up some copper tubing and sleeves (I know what these things are used for now.) Immediately, I told my mom that if Dad could tell me how to fix it step by step, I think I could do it. 

After I told my mom that I could fix it, the thought came to mind…I AM DEATHLY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS!!  What was I thinking?  My heart started pumping hard, I started getting all sweaty and nervous.  Yes, this is even before I left my house. 

The end of the story…I did climb up on the roof.  Yes, it was terrifying.  Dad did walk me through step by step on how to fix the air conditioner.  It did work when I was finished.  Yes, there were a few times, I thought that I was going to plummet to my death.  BUT, now, I know I can do hard things!!!

Michelle

P.S.  I am still deathly afraid of heights.

How do they do it?

So, my thoughts tonight are centered around being thankful that I have two legs that work. Since I found out that my dad was going to have surgery, I started noticing those around me that were limping, or on crutches, or were confined to wheelchairs. There are a lot of people out there under these types of circumstances.  How do they function? How do they get around? What do they do? 

Tonight, my mom and I were at the store. I do not remember what we were talking about but, we happened be standing in the middle of an aisle. A man in a wheelchair approached and asked if I could help him. He needed something off the top row of the shelf. Of course, the Christ like side of me stepped in and helped this man. Believe me, it really wasn’t a big deal for me to help out. I did not have to stand on the tip of my toes. It was not strenuous at all.  It was not difficult.  In fact, it was simple and easy.  But…it started me thinking…..

You know those thoughts of curiosity were starting to form in my brain. I wondered what he would have done if I would have said, “No, get it yourself.” How would he have gotten that item off of the top row? What if no one would have helped him? Do people in wheelchairs have to settle for things at eye level? Really, seriously, what do they do? I never want to find out what it is like to only see and reach things at eye level but, I am a tad bit curious.

What would have happened if there wasn’t anyone to help this man? Does he have some magical power to reach those top row items? Maybe, just maybe, he had a pointer stick with a suction cup attached to the end to reach those high places. HMM!!! I am just not sure.

Michelle

Yes, Sergeant!

Home for only a few days and then, I was off to Youth Conference.  Our stake youth conference ( July 16-18) was held at Camp Williams—an Army Military Base located in Draper, UT.  It was great!

It began at the Stake Center Pavilion… 

Then, we traveled to Camp Williams.  When we arrived on base we were greeted by two Army Sergeant yelling for us to “move faster” and  “drop and give me a push-up or two”.  I could see the fear in some of the youth.  I was worried that some of them were going to be in tears before the end of the routine.  I do have to admit, I, too, was a little nervous.  Luckily, their orientation only lasted an hour.  excitement.

After the orientation, the fun did begin.  I was in charge of the “Egg Toss” game (aka.  egg fight).  It was a lot of fun!

 

We had a few injuries…a few people went to the hospital…but, all in all we had a great time!!

We had a lot of fun in the barracks…

We spent a day at the LRC (Leadership Reaction Course). 

The greatest thing of all was spending time with the youth in our Stake.  I love my calling!!  The youth are so exhilarating!  They are so easy to love!!!

Oh, what a great 3 days!!

Michelle

Harry Potter

One of the companies that my dad works for decided that they would have an employee appreciation day.  They rented out the movie place for their employees and families to enjoy a showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  It was awesome!!!  

I do have agree with my friend, Ammie, “the books are so creative and the imagination is so captivating to read. All the twist and turns.”  But, I do have admit, I have not read all of them—they are on my list to finish.  The ones that I have read are amazing, creative and so captivating!!  

Hope you get to see Potter soon!!

Michelle

St. George…I loved it!!

I went to St. George for 5 beautiful, sun-filled, hot, and exciting days .  It was a fun vacation and a much needed break!!!  Even though there were many reasons why I had fun in St. George, I will high-light the 5 most eventful ones…(save you from boredom—Ha Ha!).

1.  Teaching Mom and Day the “city-name” game on our drive from Springville to St. George brought lots of laughter and giggles.  I will have to admit that my mom and dad are very creative!!  The stories that they shared were hilarious!

2.  Our destination was Jessica’s grandmother’s condo.  Let me share…it was NOT a condo, it was a half of a  million dollar home.  It was amazing!! This is the room that I slept in…isn’t it beautiful!!

This was the view from their patio…it sat on the edge of a golf course.  One of my most favorite things to do was wake up early in the morning and sit on the patio.  There were all different types of birds and lizards running around on the patio…seriously, yes…there were lizards!

3.  We spent a couple of days shopping.  During one of our shopping sprees…Grandpa took Brylie to Build-a-Bear.  Brylie picked out “Princess”.

4.  Spending time with family… 

5. We went to the Tuacahn to watch the musical-ANNIE.  It was incredible.  I loved every minute of it. 

It was a fabulous vacation!!!

Michelle

I love this holiday!!!

The 4th of July is one of my most favorite holidays. I, absolutely, love this day!!!  Mom, Shad, Jess, Anita (Jessica’s Mom), Brylie and I went to watch the launching of the hot air balloons…

a new balloon was added this year…Tony the Tiger

old familiar ones returned…Smokey the Bear

Mom and Brylie watched….

  and watched…

and up in the air the balloons went. 

Then, it was off to breakfast…

Then, we shopped and shopped until it was time for dinner and the fireworks. 

We played Phase Ten and waited for the fireworks to start.

Brylie read her books with Grandpa.

Finally, the fireworks started….

Oh, I love the 4th of July!!!

Michelle