OK-My cute Jessica tagged me again. I am supposed to say six things you might not know about me. It is sad because everyone knows everything about me-because I tell all. (Unless Dennis has forbidden me to talk about it and my life is threatened by him)
1. I am painfully shy. Most people do not believe this, but it is true. I just force myself to do the things that make me uncomfortable. 2. I might complain about working too hard, but I like to work. I work or exercise to relieve stress or anger. If you see me working really really hard, I am usually really angry. 3. I like to sleep a lot, but only at night. I really like to get up early in the morning. I do not like to lose a minute of day light. I like all the blinds open. I do not like dark at all. 4. I am scared of the dark. I have night terrors. Mostly I think spiders getting on me. 5. I do not like board games because I am not very competitive when it comes to games. 6. I am really competitive when I am taking a school class and it comes to grades. It is kind of crazy but every test is a competition. 7. BYU basketball makes me bight my fingernails.

OK--I better blog about turning 60, which I experienced a couple of days ago. Here is a list of the good things about turning 60.
1. Everyone is really nice to you. (I hope it is not because they feel sorry for you)
2. People joke a lot about how old you are and it is fun.
3. Your mother in law (who is an angel) tells you that you are perfect.
4. By the time you are 60 your life is full of wonderful people. Family, Kids, Grand kids,
and lifetime friends. If you are really really lucky you might still have a parent or two hanging around.
5. You might get taken to dinner a lot.
6. You are still young enough to accomplish important goals, and old enough to not get too upset if you don't get them done.
7. You do not feel 60.
8. You quit worrying so much about your body, and you exercise to feel better, not to look better. It takes quite a bit of pressure off.
9. If your husband gives you workout shoes it is a compliment rather than an insult.
10. You are glad you made it this far. and you are thankful for the blessings of a good life and good family.
11. You love people more, you appreciate them more, and each moment is pleasure.
12. You can look back at some of your trials with gratitude, understanding they are the thread that has made you who you are.
13. You are thankful everyday for the wonderful kids you have, their spouses and there children.
14. You are glad that you have a spouse!

This is our family picture of our river trip on the Salmon this summer. It is about the most fun I have had in a long time. If was filled with friends and family. Hot days with white sandy beaches, clear blue sky, and fun, fun, whitewater rapids. The best were my cute grand kids that were old enough to go. I hope I never get too old to go on the river. I want to go with all my grand kids some day.

This is Eliza and Kiya. They rode everyday like this. We pulled them inside the boat for the big rapids, but on all the little rapids they rode and screamed everytime they got splashed. It was a lot.

I especially wished while we were on this trip that my Dad could have seen his Great Grand kids enjoying the river. (Maybe he did see them)

Jessica tagged me again. I am supposed to write 10 things I have to have everyday. I don't know the difference between have and want. Most things we can live without for a day. Here goes. 1. Some contact with my kids (at least one) that makes me happy.
2. A coke. What can I say I am addicted.
3. A trip outside. I like to look at the sky, see the mountains, and thank Heavenly Father that I get to live in this Valley.
4. A soak in the tub or a shower, with a hair wash. I even like to wash my hair on the river in freezing cold water that gives me a headache. It is that important to me.
5. A smile. Only one person has to look at me and smile-it will make my day. I especially love smiles from my kids or grandkids.
6. Money--Just a little bit, but some in my pocket. I could live without it, but I do not want to! Even a $1 will do.
7. The paper. I have to read it first thing in the morning.
8. I have to see Dennis or talk to him on the phone.
9. Some food. I really like food.
10. In the summer I have to have a tomato everyday.
These things are temperal. There are spiritual things that are even more important to have every day in my life. They are there just for the asking and I never have to do without them.
11. Toothpaste and toothbrush. I have to brush my teeth the minute I wake up. (Even if it is 3:00 in the morning.

My Cute Grandkids

This picture is my birthday present from my kids. I have it early because I found Jessica's account number and had some extra copies printed up. I am getting a big one for my living room and I am so excited. These cute people bring so much joy into my life, I cannot describe it. Every Grandmother will know exactly what I am saying.

8 things I'm Passionate about: (This is not in order of preference) 1. My kids 2. My Grand Kids 3. My beliefs 4. Good Food, Good Friends, Good Family all at the same time. 5. Living with purpose (working hard, serving others, playing 6. diet coke 7. taking care of my responsibilities 8. my job

8 phrases I use often:1. Oh my heck 2.Slow down 3. I'm poor 4. Pick that up or put it away 5.What are you getting for lunch. 6. Bring me a diet coke. 7. Is it your turn to drive or mine. 8.I don't care you choose.

8 things I want to do before I die. 1. Watch my Grandkids grow up. 2. See my children reach their goals. 3. Have enough money to go on a mission. 4. Be completely so good that I am not afraid to die. 4. Get to the point where I am always nice and don't ever loose my temper 5. Tell everyone in my family how much I love them. 6. Go on some wonderful trip with my whole family. 7. Enjoy all the moments I am in no matter what. 8. Have enough money to share with my kids.
8.Lessons learned in the past: 1.Your kids grow up really fast and then you get plenty of time to sleep- so yell less--overlook the little things--enjoy them more--hug them more--kiss them more--tell them you love them--don't loose your temper at them -time is just too short to waste. 2. Always work toward your goals-it is only too late if you think it is too late. 3. People are happier if they keep their life in balance. 4. Do your church callings to the best of your ability. 5. Try really hard in everything you do and then don't worry about it. 6. Stay out of debt the best you can. 7. Learn new things all the time. 8. People can change.

8 things I currently want/need:1. A smarter brain 2. A new job for Dennis 3. Enough money to help my kids more 4. More time 5. To be able to eat everything I want and still loose weight. Michael Phelps metabolism would be nice without all the swimming. 6. Trip to Disneyland for my birthday 7. My body to feel like I am 16 again. 8. Everyone around me to be happy.

8 TV shows that I like to watch:1. So You Think Can Dance 2. American Idol 3. Dancing with the stars 4. BYU sports (if it is on TV) 5. Any movie on the Hallmark Channel 6. Today Show 7. Saturday Night Live when they do the political stuff (other than that it is to gross for me.)

Today was Sunday. This really cute girl taught a lesson in RS. Every once in a while someone - somewhere will say something that will reach out to you and make you think a little more. That happened to me today. We were listing on the chalk board the things that cause trials, or adversity. We listed lots. I guess I have been worried and fearful about everything that is going on in the world just like everyone else. I keep reminding myself of what President Packer said. "Fear is the opposite of faith" I've kept saying that to myself, but sometimes it is hard to control fear. Well anyway --if anyone knows me well, they know that I read the last chapter of every book first. I then read the book to see how they got to the last chapter. When they have the results of American Idol, or So you think you can dance, or Dancing with the stars, or BYU plays on TV and I record it I go to the end and see the results then I watch it to see how they got to the ending. Back to the cute girl that was teaching RS. She reminded us that we are really lucky. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ we know how this earth life will end and what will happen after. It just struck me, that I know the last chapter. Because I know the last chapter , I can go through the rest of the book without fear. I will have my trials and challenges like everyone else, but I know the end. I just have to go through with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
working hard because I know the promise of the last chapter.

I hate Sundays when my kids don't come to dinner. I didn't have them come, because I was trying to keep my house clean for tomorrow. I am having some of the BYU Ward kids over for FHE. I didn't know if I could work, clean the house, and fix my refreshments, so I cut out the cleaning part and I am sorry. I have spend my day fixing the Halloween goodies for my grand kids, finishing my BYU class (yes it is already to mail off tomorrow) going to church, eating stuff that is bad for me, and now writing on my blog. It is so quiet in this house right now. I am really a people person. I always like to be around people. Quiet is nice for a while, but then I like a little bit of commotion to spice up the day. I guess I am a commotion person.

Did I tell the world yet what great kids I have? They are all really good people ( no thanks to their mother) They are fun to be with. They are all really good parents. It makes me happy everyday because they do such a good job of parenting.

This is a poem I like. It is by Shel Silverstein

"Barnabur Browning
Was scared of drowning
So he never would swim
Or get in a boat
Or take a bath
Or cross a moat
He just sat day and night
With his door locked tight
And the windows nailed down,
Shaking with fear
That a wave might appear,
And cried so many tears
That he filled up the room
And he drowned.

I like it because it reminds us to face our fears. If we let fear rule we are never happy. I try to to that--I try to face my big fears and not let them rule my life. There are some little fears like bees and spiders that I have not quite got rid of -in fact I have not got rid of them at all! Why are we more courageous about facing the big stuff than the little stuff? Maybe because the little stuff doesn't matter as much.

This is my first post. Jess so kindly made this blog for me. My favorite thing to do is be with my family. I love to cook Sunday dinner and have everyone over. Yes, it is messy, and it is a lot of work, and I get mad sometimes, but I hate the Sundays I am not cooking dinner. I love to go to Disneyland with any of our kids and Grandkids. I don't even want to ever go without them.

I love my job. It probably is one of the best in the world. It might not pay the best-but I am happy everyday to go to work. I work with the best people in the world.

I have 8 kids. Four birth kids and four that came to me when my kids got married. I have 11 Grandkids. They are amazing and cute.

-SSH

Susan's new blog.

I made this blog for my Mom. Hopefully she will use it. I made it in the Enrichment class I had to teach about Blogging. It turned out better then I thought it would, and the lady's seemed like they enjoyed it. Even though it was a big pain, now my Mom has a blog!-JS

P.S. this is the only picture of me and my mom I have on this computer.