Update on Mackay.....

Well, Mackay has been in Seattle for a month now. He is not much for giving updates but here is what I got out of him...He is working for three different people! He tells me he is doing "everything!" He is laying sod, cleaning out rain gutters, powerwashing whatever is dirty. It is hard work. He feels like all he does is work. When I asked him if he is ready to come home....All he said was "Not yet, I will let you know when I am." And there you have it! Communication from a 16-year-old. But he is saving some money so that is good. And he didn't have to raise any pigs, which is a plus for him.

He did go camping with Ben and the scouts. They hiked about two miles but climbed 3500 feet in elevation. It was a steep hike to Lake Constance. He said it was cloudy but the fishing was good.....he and Ben just forgot to take fishing poles. :-(

Mack will also be going to Youth Conference at the end of July (if he lasts that long....). No trek in Seattle though.....it's a dance festival! That is more my style anyway! His dance partner is his friend, Hannah. Of course, Hannah is cute so Mel and Ben are monitoring that friendship.

Mack is still alive and kicking! I am missing him horribly but he seems to be enjoying himself. I do hope that Mel still likes me in August. In case you forgot what he looks like.....

A thought....

Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile.
~Author Unknown

The Sheep Whisperer!

Mallory is becoming quite the sheep herder! This is her third year raising, showing, and selling market lambs at the Tooele County Livestock Show & Auction (4-H). She loves it! She is really digging in and taking care of those wooly beasts! She walks them up the road everyday with Grandma Betty. The last two nights I have been given the privledge of helping with the exercise program! O what fun!!! It was actually pretty easy duty for the mother....I basically sat back and watched Mals take control and harness "Ma" and "Babe"- so we could walk them. They are quite funny creatures! They want to stop and eat all the way up the road. We had to push and pull them along the way! The real treat came when we turned around to head back to the house. Those lambs started to run!! Yes, RUN! I thought sheep were supposed to be dumb animals! Well, these two know when they are going home and they know dinner is waiting for them! Imagine two sheep dragging Mals and I down the road! It was quite a sight! I'm not sure who got the better work out, me or good 'ol Ma? But we all had fun!

Once again I sit back, my insides welling with pride, and watch my little girl show me just how talented she is! She is so great with animals! We may just see her on Animal Planet someday!

Now if I could just convince her that stopping and picking up (more like STEALING) every dog she sees in town is a bad idea!?!

What a Great Weekend!

We just spent the weekend camping up at Strawberry Reservoir! It was fabulous! I really needed to get away! Work is busy. Home is busy. I was ready for a few days with things moving at a slower pace. It felt great to just relax and enjoy good company, the scenery, the water, the kids, the weather, no phone, no schedule....everything was perfect! The three girls got along really great! We missed Mackay, of course, but I think everyone had a great time!

...A few of my neuroses did rear their ugly heads but I think everyone survived [including me]! Did you know that Strawberry is "bear country?" Well it is!!! I made it clear that if there was a sighting we would be leaving....but I was assured we would not be going home if we saw a bear so I just prayed that those darn bears stayed away. The kids got a kick out of telling me over and over they had seen a bear and it was coming for me....There was also a little teasing about the NO five second rule, dripping off before you get in the boat, no fish in the boat [makes for a nice fishing trip, eh?], the tablecloth and my utensil basket....but it was all in fun! Besides...The Johnson boys themselves do a few strange things, but we won't get into that today!

All in all........The weekend was great! Now it is back to the old grind....

Attitude is Everything....

Boy how things change!!! When I was young, wearing glasses was the worst! But that is not the case anymore! "Attitude" glasses are Mallory's new thing...and she is all about attitude these days! We have daily discussions about hair, clothes, etc...When she wears an outfit that frightens me she tells me, "I am making a statement!" What statement exactly, I am not sure! But I am all for Mals being Mals! She doesn't need glasses but wants to wear them! Ergo...attitude glasses! Crazy girl! She was trying to wear my reading glasses [yes, reading glasses] but I don't want her to mess up the good eyes she does have. So, I [and everyone I could get to help] have been on the look out for awesome glasses with clear lenses. I'm all about making dreams come true so:
Wha La.....A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E! She kills me! But she is happy! I guess attitude is everything!

A girl's first love......

Today we celebrate a special day, Father's Day! Some may try to tell you it is just a made up holiday (just like the rest), but today is not just a day to give dear old dad a new Hawaiian print shirt, it is a day all girls can look back and celebrate their first true love! Yes Dad-it's true! Not just one woman fell in love with you...there were also five little girls who fell for your charms!

And now I watch my daughter fall deep in love with her own father! They are quite a pair! No one can make Mallory smile the way Duane does! He is her night in shining armour! The two of them laughing together is the picture of pure happiness! It's true love!

The love a daughter has for her father is one that no other can compare! Theirs is one not only filled with endless love but piggyback rides, "do I look pretty daddy?", learning to ride a bike, telling of bedtime stories, camping trips, waterfights, daddy-daughter parties, mediating fights with the mom, dances at the prom.....father's blessings when you really need them! How could we not fall in love with the smartest, strongest, funniest, and sweetest man in the world? Was Scarlett's first love Ashely Wilkes? While he may have been a gentleman, it was Gerald O'Hara who earned the prize of the first true love. A man whose strength Katie Scarlett didn't know she had until she needed it.

Take a moment to think about your first love.....his smile, his strength, his hug, his love.....Happy Father's Day to my first true love!

The greatest gift I ever had came from God, and I call him Dad!-anonymous

Toys.....not just for boys anymore!

Don't you just love new toys? Well, I L-O-V-E love 'em! We recently got a new phone system at work and everyone hated it at first....everyone but ME! What some saw as an unwanted change, I saw as a new toy that I didn't have to buy for myself! It was fun! (mind you, the other day when I had to change my voicemail, it wasn't as fun as it was the first day-but that is a blog for another day) Toys are everywhere! Even in unlikely places! And the toys we have at our fingertips are fabulous! iPod-BlackBerry-Wii....ksl.com-eBay-overstock.com, to name some of my favorites! Not to mention "blogger.com!" Can you think of anything more fun than texting while you surf the classifieds on ksl.com?

My sweet friend, Deb, recently posted on her blog my new favorite toy! It is a photo convertor that makes pictures look old! What a great idea!! Who wudda thunk?!? I have been playing with it all evening! Now I don't have to beg Mack to help me with Photoshop so much! Although he is the master! (another blog for another day) Mom-what do you think of your boys now?????

Think of the possibilities.................Check it out! http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

What will they think of next??? Who knows-but I can hardly wait!!!

Oh, There’s Sunshine in my Soul

sun·shine-something (as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness….

What a wonderful concept…to surround ourselves with “sunshine”…those things that bring us happiness and joy! We all could use a little bit more sunshine in our lives each and every day! Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I believe this statement to be true! I believe that being happy is up to us! We make the decision (whether conscious or unconscious) to be happy and content with our own lives. However, I also believe that there are people who seem to make it easier for us to find joy! Think about that person in your life! The one who makes you smile by simply walking in the room! The one that fills your heart with peace when all you do is hear their voice! The one you can’t wait to see! The one who makes everything right! The one who fills your life with...sunshine!

Now…think about your life without them! Think how life would be if you were not able to open the windows to your soul and let the warmth and brightness of your sunshine in! How dark and cold the world would be! Sunshine is a gift from above! A gift that should not only be returned-but shared with others! Life is too short to stay inside when we could be out enjoying the day, soaking in the rays of sunshine that fill the air!

Are we the sunshine in the life of others? Are we a source of warmth and happiness to those around us? Do the people we love know we love them? Does the light within our beings send out rays of happiness….waves of pure, natural sunshine? Let today be the day that we take the sunshine thoughtfully conferred upon us and Pay it Forward…let your rays of sunshine bring warmth and happiness to the life of another!

Thank you to those who brighten my days! Thank you to the Sunshine in my life!

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves"

James M. Barrie

Tragedy on Clark Street

Tragedy has struck the littlest of the M's! Mallory's little poodle, Lacy Loo, was hit and killed by a car last night. All who knew Lacy are so aware that she loved to run around outside. Even moreso now that the weather has been warm. She had lots of energy and loved to run and play. The Allen's next door came to our aid and helped me get Lacy back to the house. (they are the best neighbors-they keep an eye on us) Mals and Jared built a box for her burial. Tonight Mals and her dad will pick a final resting spot and bury her sweet, little Lacy. We had a long tearful night! It is a sad day for the M's!

Oh, the blog.............

I have been working on a most profound blog for about a week now! And it just isn't ready! I have been a little under the weather so my brain is a little foggy! I can't get away from the thought that I need to post a little poem I wrote for one of my classes. I am sure it has been read by everyone in the fam but you can read it again. I am not a great poet by any means but I was given the assignment to share my experiences with a grandparent in a "creative" way. So, I came up with this short poem about Grandma (Donna) Anderson. I hope it brings back your own memories of this strong, little lady.

My Grandmother Through the Seasons
Emily Matthews

I look out my window and watch- as winter turns into spring
I take a moment to reflect on her- and how much that she means
To that little girl who looked to her as an extension of her own mother
Her gentle ways and kind words of love made me float above all others

I never understood how someone so small could be so awfully strong
Yet she was always there to help me through those days I felt so wrong
Spring is when the Earth renews and awakens from its sleep
And with each spring I feel her smile and twinkling eyes so sweet

She was always there in summer- to take us on camping trips
We went from Yellowstone to Zion’s Park- but her backyard was the hit!
Those summer nights on the back porch just talking meant so much
She told us stories of days gone by and taught us families must stay in touch

Fall was the best time of the year- ‘cause I always felt connected to her
Our birthdays were just days apart- and I wanted to be just like her
I close my eyes and smell her stuffing- as we sit at Thanksgiving together
With a barrel of belly wash too big for the fridge keeping cold outside in the weather

Winter brings my sweet memories of shopping and going to lunch
It was time I got to spend with her- which to me still means a bunch
Her generous heart brought strangers around to spend the holidays
She taught me that everyone is welcome- even if we don’t share names and ways

She sat with me when I was sick- hugged me when I would cry
Never once did I question she loved me- I knew ‘til the day she died
She accepted me for who I am even when I made mistakes
I am who I am because she was near and supported the choices I made

We can’t stop the seasons from changing- or the world from turning around
But with each season I spent time with her- I kept growing and learning how
To be a better woman who cares and shares and loves
I hope she likes who I have become- as she watches me from above!

Happy June to you all! School is out, the sun is shining, the breeze is warm, the Red Sox are winning again! What more could a gal ask for?