New Adventures on the Horizon!

We finished our third part-time service mission.

We sent to California.

And, now it't time to head the other direction:

South and East - here we come.

Traveling is such an adventure.

It's an opportunity to meet new people; see new places.

And, I am grateful.

The Beauty of Early Mornings

I'm not sure when I started getting up early.  Many, many years ago.

I've been an early riser for lots and lots of years.

And, I love it.

The mornings are so clear, fresh, clean, beautiful, pristine actually; with such promise.

It's all rather exciting...a NEW DAY...a clean slate, a fresh start.

And, I am so very very grateful.

WORDS!

I love the power and majesty of words.

I love how some people use words to create word pictures.

Instead of saying; the sky is BLUE....some writers use some unique descriptive words.

I'm not good at it.

My vocabulary consists of: awesome, great, cool, amazing, etc.

So, while I can't do it myself, I love reading the WORDS of very talented and creative word lovers.

Oh, yes, I am grateful.

Extended Family

Picture this:

early morning walk along the shore of Coronado Island.

Sitting down on a slightly damp bench to enjoy the view, scenery, moment.

The morning ferry picks up commuters from Coronado Island to take to San Diego...

An  older lady is standing nearby, so I strike up a conversation.

She tells me that she is originally from Manhattan.

I remark that that San Diego is quite a long way from New York.

And, then she makes this astonishing statement:

"I have only two living relatives and I figure one of them will have to bury me!"

TWO LIVING RELATIVES!!!!!!!????!???!???

Truly, I cannot wrap my mind around that incredible statement.  

Last night, 6 relatives came over for a short visit.

Over the weekend, there were 18 of us gathered for a significant event.

This morning, I will be with 4 relatives to bid farewell to the "other missionary."

I cannot even imagine having only TWO LIVING relatives.

I have so many living relatives that we could populate a small state.

And, I am grateful!

ITouch and Arm holder

I have a neat gadget.

Well, actually two; well three with the headset:

I strap one gadget on my arm.  And I listen to books on tape while exercising or walking.

I have listened to: scriptures, stories of people.  I have heard some great stories over the years.  I have been totally inspired over the years, astonished, amused, amazed, awakened.  Oh, yes, it has been good to LISTEN.

It is just so awesome, easy, and wonderful.

I am grateful.

a TONGUE

Miles is sitting on my lap this early Monday morning.

I showed him my thankful list.

He suggested I write - T.O.N.G.U.E..

What a great idea!

I am so thankful for a tongue; it helps me talk, it helps me chew; it helps me taste my food, it helps me sing, it helps me smile.

Thanks, Miles, for that great suggestion.  I would not have thought of it, but I'm glad you did.

Oh, yes, for my TONGUE, I am thankful!

Missionary Farewells

They are joyous occasions...lots of good food,

good music,

laughter,

family.

And, most of all, inspiring talks by soon-to-be-missionaries.

This is the Perfect Day!

And, I am thankful.

The Fisher Grandsons

They leave in about five days.

They will be fantastic missionaries.

They are good, good young men.

And, I am grateful.

Books on Tape

Over the years, I've listened to some really great books while I walk:

the scriptures - those are always good, right?

I prefer listening to non-fiction and I've heard some good ones.

I love that I can borrow an audio book from the library, listen to it on my ITouch, then return it -

all for FREE!

And, I am grateful.

A Good Night's Sleep

I haven't been sleeping too well lately.

The last two nights hardly all.

So, it totally makes me appreciate a really good night's rest.

Oh, yes, for a warm, comfortable bed and a sleep through the night,

I'm grateful.

HOME!

We just returned from a trip.

And, it makes me grateful to have such a lovely home to return to.

I had cleaned it before we left, so it was great to walk in a clean inviting home.

And, I am grateful!

Health!

It really is a recurring theme.

But, right now, Allen and I are mobile, have good health.

And, I am beyond grateful.

Mission Mondays....

but this is our last.

I will miss going each Monday and Tuesday mornings.  It has been a great, great blessing for us.

And, I am grateful.

TEXTING!

My two daughters don't much like to talk on the phone.

But, they will text.

Texting was invented by a German engineer in 1985 and it originally encountered problems.   It took some years for it to catch on, but within a decade, people were texting more than they were phoning!

And now, for me, because my daughters and I don't talk on the phone much, texting is often how I find out about what is happening in their lives.

And, I am grateful.

the Music from Les Miserables

The music is absolutely soul-stirring and inspiring.  

It is a religious experience for me to hear it being performed.

I love the music, the words, the emotions.

And, I am grateful.

Clean Water

In China, we had to boil all our water....

we could never drink from a fountain (not that there were any anywhere), but drinking water was a problem.  It always made me nervous to eat at restaurants because what about washing their dishes?

I NEVER even think of unsafe and unclean water here in America.

I just always assume it will be clean and drinkable.

And, I am grateful.

Our Home

I'm grateful to live in a beautiful home.

Allen keeps the yard so neat and tidy.

The home is orderly and suits our need.

And, I am very grateful.

Teeth!

Man, we see some people with

REALLY

REALLY

BAD teeth!

It makes me so grateful for my teeth.

Computer Knowledge

Many, many years ago, RAH bought a "computer."  He wanted me to learn how to program it.  Which I thought was really stupid.

He was one of the very first in our community to sign up for the "Internet." One morning - very early - he came in and woke me up to say excitedly, "Loni, I just got into some documents at the University of Virginia."

I thought that was ludicrous and ridiculous...who cares about some old documents in the University of Virginia?!?!??!?!  How did that apply to MY life?

Well, how things have changed.  I LOVE the computer.; I'm crazy about the INTERNET....in fact, I can't live without it!

I love knowing how to do things on the computer.

All three of our missions have been computer related.

I see many many people in our generation who don't know how to use the computer and honestly, everything is computer based these days.

I am so grateful RAH encouraged computer knowledge very early on.

Oh, yes, I'm grateful.

Grandkids

This is just a very small handful of the MANY, MANY, MANY!  But, aren't they adorable?
Jeremy & Carisa's kids heading out somewhere!

We have a dang lot of them.

They are all so very different; artists, guitar player, techno geeks, basketball players, princesses, swimmers, soccer players. a violin player, piano players, etc.

Spanish speakers and a French speaker.

All say - "Gimme my gadgets!"

All are noisy, happy, fun, unique, different, interesting.

And, I'm grateful.

Sunrise!

Pink appears so subtly....

then it spreads across the far horizon.  The clouds up high have a pink tinge.

QUICKLY!  Take a peek because in just a matter of minute/seconds it will be gone.

But the whole sky will be suffused with light...a new day has begun.

And, I am grateful.

Gas Stations

Now, this might seem like a strange thing to be grateful for,

BUT, I am grateful for gas stations.

I don't have to walk to get gas.

I don't  ave to wait in long lines because of rationing.

I don't have to wonder if there will be any gas (so far, at least.)

And, it's just easy to pull up and get gas.

Oh, yes, I am grateful.

the Ability to Exercise

Let's be honest here.

I do NOT like to exercise.

It's not fun; it's hard work.

SO, I'd much rather be reading a good book.

BUT, I am physically able to exercise, so I try to do it regularly.

And, for that, I am grateful.

Fingers

I'm so very grateful for my fingers.

They might be wrinkled with age, but oh they are so useful.

And, I am very grateful.