pArTY HiKes

Last Thursday night after work, Doran and I headed down to Orem to go to Susette's Buffday party. She is &^% years young.

She has two awesome friends that live by her and I pretend that I fit right in.

Laurie, Jody, Susette, Analisa

Look! Twins!

I wish I was as gorgeouser as her.

Her daughter Kali made this wonderful cake for her. Unfortunately we got there for the tail end.

Doran and I planned a running exercise with Susette but Cortney had a brillianter idea.

She took us on a hike to the Y in Provo.

Lemme tell ya folks....I struggled!

I can't believe how out of shape I was for this! Smackers! There was a point that daddy even let me hang on to his pocket and he jogged up a few yards. Then he made me let go. I wanted to stop every 10 feet. But we did make it to the top and Yes, I would do it again.....(did I say that out loud?)

Whoa, hang on, it would be a steep fall.

I was huffin and a puffin while everyone else was takin a walk in the park.

This was before we started....anticipaaation

By the way......if anyone finds $20+ dollars on the hike....ya, it was mine that fell out of my running pack when I took my phone out to text Mark. I partly blame Doran and Cortney because they were behind Susette and I on our way down and they should have seen in.

After this hike Susette took us to Porter's Mountain.

This was an easier hike but I still struggled. She showed us where he loved to hike and I can see now why he loved it so much.

Even though there is not much green at the moment it was really nice. When we got to the base of the mountain she told us the story of them finding him. What a heart break. I cannot even imagine the grief that took place that day.

She then took us to the top where he slipped. I understand why he liked to go up there. The view is spectacular! Thank you so much for sharing this with us Susette. And thanks for pushing me to the top.

We love you and miss you Porter!!

PANDORA

Most of you know that I am hard of hearing. So in order for me to enjoy a good show or some music I have to basically have the TV or radio blaring so I can understand the words. This is very annoying but accepted by my family. They are great. The joke is.....I tell my family when I get older I will be one of those grandma's that have to have the sound up so loud that the neighbors can hear too....sad thing is, they tell me I am already there.

Soooo when I am at work I rarely turn any music on because it can't be on loud enough for me to enjoy the words. I sit there in silence and do my work. When I am the only one there I might turn something on but radio reception is not the greatest. I have found some great online radio sites that I enjoy but it seems to be the sameo sameo. I like a variety except rap and not too keen on hard rock anymore and classical is eh.

I have heard the NAME of Pandora but didn't know what it was all about. Then my wonderful daughter, Camri, introduced me to Pandora. I had the icon on my phone but didn't know what it would do. She got me on my puter and off we go......

I set up an account (free) and started choosing artist that I like. I usually can't remember names or what they sing so she helped me cuz she knows what I like and don't like. Then I added some more of my own. I was even able to block the potty music!! Then it will automatically add artists and songs that "are in the same category" of the ones you chose.

So now....I have a mixture of country, soft rock, LDS, and whatever else some of these people are called. I can turn it on my puters OR my phone! I LOVE it!!! MY music radio station! :) I will pay more attention to music on the radio and when I like a song I will enter the artist on Jody's Pandora Radio Station.

If you haven't created your station, go do it!!

MIDDLE AGE TEXTING CODES:

ATD: At The Doctors.
BFF: Best Friend Fell.
BTW: Bring the Wheelchair.
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth.
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was.
GGPBL: Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low.
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out.
OMMR: On My Massage Recliner.
OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas!
ROFLACGU: Rolling On Floor Laughing And Can't Get Up.
TTYL: Talk To You Louder

Prayer, what an amazing thing...

Then comes guidance, do we heed it? Do we act on our promptings we receive as answers to our prayers? Not all of our answers come right away and some in ways we never would have thought. But as long as the promptings are good we know they are from the Lord and that we should ACT.

There are many times that a lot of us send out a request for prayers to family, friends, on Facebook and blogs. Because of the recent request to "cross fingers" because of layoffs many of you have said that we were in your prayers. This got me thinking. (Don't worry, no brain cells were hurt and as a matter of fact this is a topic I think about often.) Anyway, back to my story.

There is one thing in my life that I am thankful for and that is I am able to truly have a constant prayer in my heart. I am ALWAYS aware of my Heavenly Father and KNOW that he will hear my prayers no matter what form I send them in. I am not perfect but....

I sometimes stop and think....Can you IMAGE that someone is prayer for YOU? What an amazing thing  knowing that they use your name personally in their prayers.

When someone asks for my prayers I DO actually pray for them. In my thoughts all day and when we have our bedtime prayers it is not unusual that we include someones name in their for their wishes. Then when prayers are done we discuss (or introduce) the person we just prayed for. Then the next night it is automatic that the next person praying will include the name again. We usually don't even have to remind each other. And then more than likely your name will end up on the temple roll.

There are many of you (my bloggy friends) that Doran has been introduced to you through prayers. And then you have been included with our family. He has the same big heart I do.

We have been counselled to uplift one another, pray for others, mourn with others, etc. Having a big heart for all of you is one thing I am thankful for. If the only 'talent' I can think I have is the gift of love. No, I am not perfect and yes, I am hurt when I see friends and family doing fun things and have not included me (that is a whole nother story) but I try to get past that and realize that my efforts are for me and the Lord and that should be enough.

I read a quote yesterday that I just absolutely LOVE!!

"What if when you woke up this morning all you had was what you thanked God for last night."

May we all strive to be thankful, prayerful, and obedient in the promptings we receive. Someone needs us today.



One more if you want...

Just call me Hook

This morning I went to see Dr. Dave and had some x-rays done of my owie foot. I have been limping for a couple of months now and every once in awhile I get shooting pains through my heel. I went to get some orthodicts built a few months ago and they are not seeming to do the trick. It started hurting down the side of my foot now. My next step was to go get some higher insoles with cush. Doran told me to go get it x-rayed to see if I have a fracture or heel spurs and go from there. No wonder it hurts. Look at that hook and also at the bottom on my heel. Dr. Dave said it should be smooth. Definitely Plantar Faciitis and heel spurs.

He suggested I go see a Podiatrist and lucky for me I can get in today. Dr. Dave didn't have a lot of 'happy' hope for me to run the Utah Valley Half in June with no pain. He thought maybe the podiatrist can help me get better to be able to make the Top of Utah Half at the end of August.

I have high hopes because Doran had Plantar Faciitis and the podiatrist told him to get insoles (which I have already done) and he got better (which I haven't). But......let's wait and see, shall we?!!

Layoffs

Layoffs again tomorrow for Doran's company.

Cross your fingers crossed that we make it through again.

**Update: We made it through!!
Thanks for all your prayers :)

My Kind of Teacher...

A former Sergeant having served his time with the Marine Corps took a new job as a school teacher. Just before the school year started, he injured his back.  He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body.
 
Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable.
 On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school. The smart aleck punks, having already heard the new teacher was a Marine, they were leery of him and decided to see how tough he really was before trying any pranks.
 Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk. When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he took a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest, twice.
 
He had no trouble with discipline that year.