tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91989359696148668622024-03-06T19:35:00.456-08:00Life With Linda LouLinda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-62334788209620740322019-12-29T09:41:00.001-08:002019-12-29T09:41:30.180-08:00 Week SEVEN in the Mission Field!
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Week SEVEN in the Mission Field!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here it is …
Week SEVEN in the Mission Field. I can’t believe how time flies when you’re
trying to figure out how the other half lives in this part of the world,
Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s beautiful here. It’s supposed to be summer but
so far we haven’t experienced hot temperatures to be uncomfortable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Our flat
doesn’t have air conditioning, but does have lots of windows, some that don’t
open and some that don’t close all the way … but at least we typically get a
nice breeze which flows nicely through the flat. We understand that it can get
quite cold in the winter and it won’t be as nice when the breeze blows through
the flat with no central heat. Brrrr … I can feel the cold already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sister
Hansen has been appointed to be the designated driver while the children have
requested that Elder Hansen be the Co-Pilot and navigator due to some past
driving incidences in his past life. He still claims he wants to learn how to
drive in South Africa but Sister Hansen won’t give in. Perhaps out in the open
country she may consider. He may be able to outrun an elephant! Getting used to
the slipways, motorways, using the right turn signal instead of the wipers,
looking for stop signs on the left, driving on the left side of the road, finding
the gear shift on the left and finding the rear view mirror on the left has
been quite the challenge. Not to mention that many motorists do NOT stop for
Red lights and you DO need to watch out for them, plus pedestrians who have no
fears of motor vehicles. It takes TWO to drive in South Africa. One to navigate
and one to call out the twists and turns and ‘watch outs!’ We laugh at the signs
that say, “No Hooting”. That means “No Honking”. Every time we hear a horn
honk. We laugh and say, “No Hooting!” They’re most likely “Hooting” at us!
Sister Hansen has only turned in oncoming traffic once. The look on the
oncoming motorist’s face was priceless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have been
assigned to a Group on Sunday for Church. A Group is smaller than a Branch. We
had (16) people in attendance this morning and that included (4) full time
missionaries. We meet in a classroom in a Sr. High School. The room is surrounded
by a court yard and we compete with other congregations not of our faith, who
preach very loudly and sing louder. Our metal door sticks and is noisy as our
members often arrive late to meeting because many of them have far to walk. It
takes us about 30 minutes to drive to Wadeville where me meet. It’s out in the
country and it’s a beautiful drive from Johannesburg. I believe we’re most
likely the only White’s in the area for it’s a Township where we’re meeting.
There’s only one outlet in the classroom and I bring my portable keyboard and
provide the organ music for Sacrament meeting. They are enthralled with the
music since they’ve never had anything like it in the past. They’ve asked me to
help start a Choir and teach them music, beginning next Sunday. I’m thrilled
with the challenge. They soooo want to learn, as well as the keyboard. I’ll do
my best since I’ve never had piano lessons. But voice … I CAN do! There’s only
about (4) women in Relief Society and they’ve ALL been endowed members of the
Church. It’s wonderful hearing their conversion stories and testimonies. I love
them already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many of you
have asked, what are we doing? Most days we ask that of ourselves. The Elder we
report to is on leave until April 1<sup>st</sup> and our Director has been busy
with the Durban Temple Open House we have been kind of left to ourselves to
figure things out. We are NOT proselyting missionaries but have been called as
Public Affair Specialists. We work with Opinion Leaders who have an influence
on the Church for either good or bad. We work with the Public Affair Committees
throughout the 24 countries we have been assigned. We ARE responsible for the
financial accounts for the public affair committees. We have to reconcile bank
accounts, write articles for the Newsroom for the various countries and
Facebook. We’re not sure what our responsibilities, if any, will be for the
Durban Temple Open House. Basically, for now, we show up at the office by 8:00
a.m. and try to leave by 5:00 p.m.</span><br />
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(View from our Office Window)</div>
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(View from the Distribution Center)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Stores close
by 6:00 p.m. so it’s hard to do any shopping on the way home from work or grab
a quick bite to eat. There is no dishwasher in the flat or disposal, but there
IS a washer and dryer and we are so grateful! Meals and grocery shopping need
to be planned accordingly. My first purchase here was an electric pressure
cooker, similar to my Instant Pot, back home. It’s been a life saver and I use
it a LOT!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve finally
mastered my oven. The controls are different than here and learning Celsius and
adjusting accordingly as well as the metric system in sewing and baking has
been a challenge. I DO have a conversion chart on my cupboard door, thankfully.
It took quite a few tries to get a good batch of rolls to turn out, but finally
I think I’ve got it figured out. The flour just isn’t the same here. How I miss
my good ole Lehi Roller Mills! Nothing better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">During the
holidays the Area Office full time staff, most of them anyway, leave for their
homes for a couple of weeks, so the office is a like a ghost town. Several of
the Senior Couples decided to fly to Cape Town for a few days to visit the
sites. We were invited prior to even leaving for the Mission Field. We bought
and paid for our trip before we were even set apart, knowing this would be our
Christmas present to each other. My favorite part of the trip was visiting
Robben Island where Nelson Mendela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. It was a
humbling experience and one which really touched my heart. To actually see his
tiny prison cell and to see the view from his cell, which was surrounded by a
cement wall where you could see nothing but the sky. I have nothing to complain
about when I look out my windows from the 4<sup>th</sup> floor of my flat and
complain because all I can see is a partial sky and the apartment building
across the street!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It wouldn’t
be Christmas if Sister Hansen didn’t think of a last minute craft to do. The
day before Christmas we went to the fabric store to buy batting and supplies to
make Kozi’s for the Senior Couples for their Christmas gifts. Sister Hansen
spent the entire day sewing Kozi’s and was able to deliver the gifts on
Christmas Eve to the couples. She wanted to make ‘2’ for each couple but ran
out of time. She told them that if they were here next Christmas, they would
get their second one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And last but
not least our first little great granddaughter, Holland, was born. Although we
weren’t there for her birth, we were there in Spirit. We’ve been able to
FaceTime and see her through Video. What a blessing technology is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My New Year’s
Resolution is to update my Blog every Sunday so it won’t be so long and so
dreaded for me to write. We’ll see if I can keep my New Year’s resolution,
starting next week.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">May God
Bless and Keep You!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Elder and
Sister Hansen with Elder Sitati (Counselor in the Area Presidency)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKmxbcaH0QO_8BH3ZfQA5duCCE2JYoy8v245xyLgaIeA_RFHZe9juFjXtBhwUwJUVjoWmCkm6IxdT1pzUZweM81NmQP7SuSOiKArRZOdTKFuTyrluA6ARua44moFPhiw8njUJKCpGb28/s1600/IMG_8071+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKmxbcaH0QO_8BH3ZfQA5duCCE2JYoy8v245xyLgaIeA_RFHZe9juFjXtBhwUwJUVjoWmCkm6IxdT1pzUZweM81NmQP7SuSOiKArRZOdTKFuTyrluA6ARua44moFPhiw8njUJKCpGb28/s320/IMG_8071+%25281%2529.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-44606725511969046992019-11-27T19:09:00.000-08:002019-11-27T19:10:04.757-08:00Farewell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Telling our friends and family goodbye for two years is one of the hardest things we've ever had to do. Being 10,000 miles away makes it even harder, knowing that it takes over 20 hours to get home by plane. We spoke in Sacrament meeting in the Kenwood First Ward on October 27, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Family members even came to support us from Colorado, Texas, and Montana.</div>
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Siblings</div>
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I think this picture tells it ALL. We drove to Oregon to place our little 11 year old Dieter in the best of hands, our daughter and her family. They will love him as much or more than we do. They will exercise him, cuddle him, snuggle him, and spoil him. Nat says that he is a magical dog. He brings calmness in their life and they love him! Oh how I miss him. He waits for us … laying under the bed that I last slept in. It will be a long wait until we return … two years … but I hope he's still living so I can hold him again. I sure love my little boy. He's been the best and sweetest companion.</div>
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I presented a quilt to some good friends who went to Africa with me last year. I purchased the fabric in our little village of Abomosu and quilted it for them and gave it to them just before we left for South Africa.<br />
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Teaching my little granddaughters how to make granny's homemade rolls before church.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Friday night, the 25th, we hosted an Open House at the Ward and invited all to have supper with us and come tell us fare thee well. It was well attended with about 150 people in attendance. Supper included Café Rio style burritos, chips, rice, beans, granny's homemade bread, butter, and jam, various desserts and bottled water. A huge thank you to my great friend, Joyce, who had been collecting and freezing foods for the event for months and helping me put the event together. And a huge thankyou to great friends and family who came to set up tables and chairs, decorated, cooked, cleaned, washed dishes, and cleaned up after … I love you more!</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Ellen and Elayne, our good neighbors who are twins, made me promise that I would take their picture and make a copy to take to our office in South Africa and place it on my desk so I could look at it every day and remember them. I have their picture tacked up on my wall of our flat so I can see them every day!<br />
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My best friend, Carol, and angel minister who has watched over and taken care of me for over 20 years!<br />
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Bishop Reynolds and wife Carolyn</div>
<br />Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-91506968964763690482019-08-26T21:29:00.001-07:002019-08-26T21:29:48.559-07:00What Did We Sign Up For?<span style="font-size: large;">Most days I sit and wonder what in the heck are we doing at this stage in our lives? We have literally turned our lives upside down. We have now decided to sell our home which we have lived in for over 20 years, sell most every possession we own, move what we have left over to an unfinished basement of our daughter's in Spanish Fork, Utah and move to South Africa to serve a mission for the church for TWO years. What are we thinking? And then I think, "This is kind of exciting! I have no idea what we will be doing in the mission field. I have no idea what they are expecting from us. I have no idea if we can even do what we have been assigned to do. I don't even know if we are going to like our assignment. I don't know if we are going to enjoy living in Africa. But this sounds crazy and sorta kinda' fun." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today was an emotional day as I told members of my Weight Watcher's workshop goodbye. I've been their coach for over three years and loved them dearly. After Thursday I will be officially retired after 55 years of working. It seems surreal. I'm excited but unsure how it will feel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've been working non-stop for days, thankfully with the help of many children, with packing and painting the upstairs to the house. I had two rooms to finish by myself. They should be finished by tomorrow. It's been a painstaking job and one where I heard a few swear words come out of a few helper's mouths as to whose bright idea it was to paint the house when we were just going to sell? (My idea and Angie's, our eldest.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Sunday a member in our Sunday School class mentioned that the 3 C's could pull us apart from the Savior: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Complaining</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Criticizing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Complaining</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found myself throughout the week looking for 'joy' in the journey and through the daily struggles of life, trying not to complain, criticize nor compare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May you all make it a goal to find JOY in your journey as you face each new day. Make it a great one!</span>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-35391425420991430842019-07-28T20:14:00.003-07:002019-07-29T20:31:52.798-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAlmJ5e43koWXy9Rq_9aYggdliYySuw85lzApSFVJx0FqL9ZNlVhi8Q6Xvk7jNvCKhNrxyJVAEEek0SckpFm64-aPHvM8s-OSQEsSczqWXPOHMVr3J_uuLiZzOy_L2h7rkBgYTHFachk/s1600/South+Africa+Flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAlmJ5e43koWXy9Rq_9aYggdliYySuw85lzApSFVJx0FqL9ZNlVhi8Q6Xvk7jNvCKhNrxyJVAEEek0SckpFm64-aPHvM8s-OSQEsSczqWXPOHMVr3J_uuLiZzOy_L2h7rkBgYTHFachk/s1600/South+Africa+Flag.png" /></a></div>
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And away we go ...! I can't believe what it takes to prepare to serve a mission for TWO years. It's certainly different preparing for a mission when you're 70 years compared when you're 21 years.<br />
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We received our call to the Africa Southeast Area on March 26th, 2019 and we don't enter the Missionary Training Center until November 11, 2019. EIGHT long months of waiting. We thought we would leave in June. Now I can see the wisdom in the long wait. We were going to have family members move into our home while we were gone. That fell through. Then we decided to rent it to strangers. That didn't sound too appealing. Now we've decided to sell our home that we've lived in for over 20 years. This is the 'family compound' and the property has been in the family since General Grant's era. I feel like I'm almost letting my mother down, who's long since passed, but made me promise that I would never sell the property to someone who didn't belong to the family. Who know's? Perhaps a distant relative will buy.<br />
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Anyhoo ... it's been ups and downs as we've been preparing but we can see the Lord's hand in our preparation as we put our trust in him that all will be well. As we were contemplating what we should do with our home, we were attending Lynn's 50th class reunion in Logan, Utah. Two of his classmates shared with us their faith promoting experiences of asking the Lord what they should do when contemplating a move. They simply put their faith in Him, asked, and said, "What would you have us do?" One of his classmates wives had just retired from the Tabernacle Choir and was feeling sad that she wasn't using her musical talents. Out of the blue she received a call from a musician in southern Utah telling her that they needed her talents as a Choir Director in their valley. They put their home up for sale and the very next day they had a bidding war on their home and received MORE than the asking price for their home. They went to Southern Utah, found a home within a day, bought it and made the move. Miracles do happen and are led by the Lord. She's now using her musical talents which the Lord blessed her with.<br />
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After hearing of the two 'miracles', we came home from the reunion and I told Lynn, "We need to sell our home and have a miracle." We called our youngest daughter and asked her if her offer was still good for us to come live with them. She jumped for joy and said it certainly was. Within a day they were here helping pack up the garage and haul things to the local charity, Deseret Industries, and dump. Another daughter has been here helping us de-junk and haul things away.<br />
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Several months ago I bought a storage shed which hasn't been put together yet. We've been waiting for cement to be poured, which was supposed to happen this past week. After deciding to move, we called the cement guy and asked if the cement had been ordered, which he replied no. We asked if he could pour in Spanish Fork, instead and he said that wouldn't be a problem. With a few phone calls a trailer was arranged, with helping hands, and the storage shed will be delivered on-site to the new location waiting for the cement pad to be poured. Another miracle!<br />
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At church today I mentioned to a neighbor that we were going to sell both properties, our home and our parent's home, next door. The neighbor told me not to list and that his brother, an investor was interested in property in our neighborhood and would be contacting me within 24-48 hours. Another miracle!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEi2-B_BoGP2VaNO6DopER96VoA659G336Luk7bI4W5VmvDO5SUwd36BLoG7439oITw5VlIw9Nsoi8mEhatAY9lM4nMMhHf3Hii4mLfTNUsNkvkt2tyjKbQdnehalNYOXuAdOzUWulIxg/s1600/Lynn+Hansen+Family+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEi2-B_BoGP2VaNO6DopER96VoA659G336Luk7bI4W5VmvDO5SUwd36BLoG7439oITw5VlIw9Nsoi8mEhatAY9lM4nMMhHf3Hii4mLfTNUsNkvkt2tyjKbQdnehalNYOXuAdOzUWulIxg/s320/Lynn+Hansen+Family+2019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Of course it's going to be hard leaving my marvelous family. They are so dear to us. So loving and kind. We have to much fun when we get together. I've made them all promise to save their dollars to they can come visit us in South Africa. They ALL will try to make the trip if they can afford it. The flight is quite spendy, but once there they can stay with us in our one bedroom flat. We'll make room!<br />
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They surprised me with a 70th birthday party. Our daughter Natalie and 4 of her children drove from Salem, Oregon to celebrate with us. Now, that was HUGE surprise. Didn't know we were going to have company. The house was a mess with moving boxes and no food for company. It was a good excuse for not having a clean home. We made 'do' and had a ball with them camping out on the floor and scrounging to find bedding and towels. I had given my excess away to D.I.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGj_60PrWSSCglwVgo2SJD20ESvsMkwSXRli5WjfvQ-walF1xYEC8e-JX8EyxtF7cZTzEpzHDULBzJ0UIbLq6hkIb8jFkYIntLMgELutSGA504bu-5HhyphenhyphenWttrz6c6vDDuMsHV4Ej-vl0/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGj_60PrWSSCglwVgo2SJD20ESvsMkwSXRli5WjfvQ-walF1xYEC8e-JX8EyxtF7cZTzEpzHDULBzJ0UIbLq6hkIb8jFkYIntLMgELutSGA504bu-5HhyphenhyphenWttrz6c6vDDuMsHV4Ej-vl0/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a>As much as I love my children and grands, this is the little guy I'm going to miss the most! Our little Dieter who has lived with us for the past 11 years. Our little schnauzer who is the BEST fur baby. He really is the sweetest and best companion. Our granddaughter is going to take care of him for us in our absence. I have a crying session, most every day, looking at him and wondering how I'm going to get along without him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1_VbN2MWhNIWuHRhk_-LGuSAWGnz-wppAqMIuyGKDf6ka6V2v8VfGjpEHGMjjOHHjJOYVBBYntUkz1QHaCbEPFKp06LbD80h37IGwwozc1ATp-YKQIdZ_aTVyaKP4_AixW9WaSHv_K0/s1600/Lynn+Hansen+Family+2019+Grands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1_VbN2MWhNIWuHRhk_-LGuSAWGnz-wppAqMIuyGKDf6ka6V2v8VfGjpEHGMjjOHHjJOYVBBYntUkz1QHaCbEPFKp06LbD80h37IGwwozc1ATp-YKQIdZ_aTVyaKP4_AixW9WaSHv_K0/s320/Lynn+Hansen+Family+2019+Grands.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of our grands. Sarah, Spencer, Ethan, and our missionary Logan are missing. We have (28) grands who will be praying for us day and night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ELsvxM8DbnFLmyMzts_JW8oreBE-ltn_64UZJVVD6kASUfMyeZA5Mh0nIceJPOtCbENLE9-eO08h-evv5ytOGqhYj4Pb1uV7kQd49BUxdWul8J9FNWVmO7pborjfpqB0ytmJRtMk9yc/s1600/Lynn+and+Linda+Hansen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="640" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ELsvxM8DbnFLmyMzts_JW8oreBE-ltn_64UZJVVD6kASUfMyeZA5Mh0nIceJPOtCbENLE9-eO08h-evv5ytOGqhYj4Pb1uV7kQd49BUxdWul8J9FNWVmO7pborjfpqB0ytmJRtMk9yc/s320/Lynn+and+Linda+Hansen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before we were married, Lynn and I served as single missionaries in the Gulf States Mission. At the end of my mission I had the privilege of serving as the Mission President's personal secretary and Lynn was the Publication Manager. We both lived in the Mission Home with the Mission President and his wife, Golden K. Driggs. I knew what a great missionary he was while living in the home. Now I get to have him as my constant missionary companion 24/7. I can't wait!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8VAuoZYdDTQEFaP96MX8rUKaQ6jvFdio8RUQ9X-GVIG918HN8E9UkrIy_SBeEImISFpA5EnE4ki5REtZY-NFTT5n3-ntRoShAOfI8G1QhDAdImrhytQ4y8dKkXOHtAN8XKt6gb-R8Jo/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8VAuoZYdDTQEFaP96MX8rUKaQ6jvFdio8RUQ9X-GVIG918HN8E9UkrIy_SBeEImISFpA5EnE4ki5REtZY-NFTT5n3-ntRoShAOfI8G1QhDAdImrhytQ4y8dKkXOHtAN8XKt6gb-R8Jo/s320/IMG_1523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our current missionary, Logan, serving in the Scotland, Ireland mission. He's been out 9 months. When we return it will be 3 years since we're seen him. A long wait!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i5LT8M5PMqE80rRqVlgQ2lSW6ms7XCQbpLVwHmhTMC8taQMNs3Jk4arV_IcpDHn5vvu0EawmWMnM7sHgDTwKsghTCqO4mH_mWVIuOCmKgxJuwHyx72br7AdM_9S_WRXS9apRdxFDdxE/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i5LT8M5PMqE80rRqVlgQ2lSW6ms7XCQbpLVwHmhTMC8taQMNs3Jk4arV_IcpDHn5vvu0EawmWMnM7sHgDTwKsghTCqO4mH_mWVIuOCmKgxJuwHyx72br7AdM_9S_WRXS9apRdxFDdxE/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A LOT has happened since my last post. Another grandson, Spencer, returned from his mission to Ecuador and has since married his eternal sweetheart, Fernanda from Columbia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And another grandson, Bryant, returned from his mission to Spokane, Washington and has since married his eternal companion Josie and they are expecting my first great granddaughter in December. We will have to Skype her arrival!<br />
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We've had births, baptisms, employment layoffs, but through it all life is more than great. It's wonderful because of the knowledge that Jesus Christ lives and he loves us. He has a plan for us. There's a purpose for us here on earth, to gain a body, to keep his commandments, to be baptized, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and receive the eternal ordinances of the temple to once again live with Him. I love life. I can't wait to share our experiences through this blog. Sorry for the long ramble, but it HAS been years to catch up!</div>
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<br />Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-76298176801000937002019-06-29T13:14:00.002-07:002019-06-29T13:14:26.982-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Has it REALLY been years since my last post? This is just a test to see if this blog site even works. If so ... I will begin again and start sharing the ups, downs, ins and outs of Life with Lynn and Linda as we prepare to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Africa South East Area.Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-91510750113652723862012-09-28T06:51:00.001-07:002012-09-28T06:51:45.959-07:00Up, Up, and Away We GO ...!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My bucket list has included a Hot Air Balloon ride so my wonderful children gave us a gift certificate at Christmas time for a Balloon ride in Park City, Utah. What a glorious day with the leaves changing into their fall colors to take a sail over the hills of Park City.<br />
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Because of Lynn's impending knee surgery, he was unable to come along for the ride, so I asked my daughter Laurel if she would like to accompany me in my adventurous quest. She jumped at the chance!<br />
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Laurel met me at our home shortly after 6:00 a.m. and off we sped to Park City to help set up the balloon and basket for our sail. It was COLD! The sun wasn't up yet and there was dew on the ground and we could see our breath in the cold morning air. Luckily I found an old 'grandpa' sweater in the trunk of the car for Laurel to wear and I had two shirts and a sweatshirt over my skin to keep warm.<br />
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Then the pilot turned on the fire while we were holding the ropes to the balloon and standing on the edges to keep the balloon open. Now this was getting dangerous and wasn't so much fun, anymore. The fire was singing my hands and the balloon was so full of air it was lifting my feet off the ground. I was beginning to worry that the poor little man on the other side was going to fall into the balloon. He didn't weigh as much as me and the balloon was lifting his entire body off the ground. I yelled for a young man to come help me and as he took over the ropes for me the balloon began lifting his body up as well. Finally they just let go of the ropes and stepped away from the balloon and the basket slowly rose from its side to a sitting position and the balloon was in the air. It was a glorious site! Our balloon and basket had only made 4 journeys. It was still brand spankin' new.<br />
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We climbed into the basket, one at a time, using the footholds on the basket. After all nine of us were in the basket the ropes were released and we started to rise into the air. Laurel was freaked out at first but then soon relaxed as we began the rise to an altitude of over 5,000 feet. Since the balloon was so new and the pilot was unsure of its capacity we just sort of sat up in the air, slowly spinning around. "Where's the action, Jackson?" I thought as I watched the other balloons in the sky dipping and ascending to greater heights than us and skimming along the neighborhoods picking up more passengers! The pilot explained that the ballon was like a new car ... he had to slowly break it in before he could test the limits of the balloon. BOOO ... is all I can say. Yes, it was great fun, but I was expecting a little more 'tickle tummies' for excitement. The most exciting part of the ride was looking for a place to land. We quickly descended and were skimming over the sagebrush and I thought for sure we were going to land on the side of a hill. But to my surprise we skimmed over the top of the hill and then ascended higher over the valley, still looking for a place to land. Now we're talkin' ... we're going faster and there's much more excitement. Soon we came down over a neighborhood ... started dropping ... and I could see a woman in her kitchen waving to us out the window. Are we going to land in her yard? Looks like it! But slowly we descended right next to her back fence and while we were a few feet above ground the co-pilot on the ground pushed the basket into the street and softly we set down. We all clapped and gently climbed out of the basket, one at a time and helped roll up the balloon and load everthing on the trailer.<br />
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Back at the ranch we celebrated with a toast of Sprite and a thankful prayer! Everyone should experience a Hot Air Balloon ride. It really is amazing. To experience great heights with silence is something I've never experienced.<br />
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<br />Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com112tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-67646246883259651862012-09-14T18:49:00.001-07:002012-09-14T18:49:39.481-07:00A Tribute to My Hero!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My hero, my Dad, Gilbert Owen Savage passed away on a beautiful Sunday morning, August 26, 2012 at 7:00 a.m. in Drummond, Montana. Dad was 94 1/2 years and had lived a great life!</div>
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My younger sister, Margaret, took Dad into her home the day after my mother's funeral and her and her husband took loving care of Dad for the last 2 1/2 years. I can never thank her enough for the love and care she provided him. He loved Montana. Montana was his roots, although he was born in Nevada. He came from a large family. There were 12 siblings, six girls and six boys. One of the boys died as an infant. </div>
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Dad was a REAL cowboy ... no dime store cowboy as he used to call the men in Billings dressed in western wear and trying to look like a cowboy. REAL cowboys only bathed once a week, whether they needed it or not. It was common for him to come in off the range from a long day's ride, change out of his grubby, stiff as a board, dirty 'overalls', as we called them, change into clean pants and shirt, and wash his face, neck, arms, and hands in the kitchen sink, slick down his hair, and sit down at the dinner table for a bite to eat.<br />
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My growing up years were on a large ranch in Eastern, Montana. The ranch consisted of over 200,000 acres. That's a lot of ground. He and his brothers worked the cattle and horse ranch and were known as some of the best cattle and horse ranchers in the State of Montana. We owned over 300 registered quarter horses. Some were show horses and some were race horses, but mostly they were working horses. I learned to ride at an early age but after having a 'horse accident' when I was five, I never felt comfortable riding. I did it, however, to please my Dad and pretended that I loved horses. All the while I was terrified of them!<br />
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Dad was good at everything his hands touched. He could fix anything once he made up his mind. Dad only had a high school education but he was at the top of his graduating class. He was very good in Mathematics and could figure sums in his head quickly. Dad loved all sports, especially basketball and boxing. We got our first television set when I was nine. It was a black and white T. V. Color televisions hadn't been invented yet. We were 150 miles from the nearest big city so television reception was almost nil. I remember Dad rigging some wire from the T.V. to the outside of the house and many times he would make one of us little ones hold onto the wire with our hand and pose just 'so' until we could make out the faces on the picture show we were trying to watch. And heavens forbid if there were any sporting events on ... that was ALL he wanted to watch while the rest of us suffered in silence! When Dad got older and spent a few weeks out of the year with me I could entertain him easily by finding Golf, Bowling, Tennis, and especially Basketball on a sports channel. In between watching and snoozing he would be content all day.</div>
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Dad was a humble man with such kind, gentleman manners. Once when being interviewed by an Apostle for a church calling he was asked if he had any other sweethearts in his life besides his wife. He answered, "Yes. I have 5 daughters who are also my sweethearts!" Dad served in many church callings, which included several bishoprics, young men's leader, Stake callings, Boy Scout leader, teacher, and served for many years as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake temple. He served six missions which included a proselyting mission with Mom to the Sao Paulo Brazil North Mission for 18 months. It was harder to let my Mom and Dad go on a mission than it was sending my two sons. How we yearned for their return. It was one of the happiest days of my life when we met them upon their return from Brazil. It amazes me to think that they were around my age when they served their mission together. Lynn and I won't be able to serve for a few more years until Lynn's old enough to retire! Dad said that his favorite calling in the church was working with the young men. He was happy to report that every one of his young men that he worked with, served full-time missions for the Church.<br />
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In 1999 Dad sold us a plot of land next door to him and Mom. This land has been in the White family since General Grant. We built a home next door to them and shared acreage which included the White Irrigation Ditch, which meant helping take water turns in the middle of the night when Dad could no longer drive. He was still irrigating, cleaning ditch, fixing his roof, and all of the outside chores until his 90's. One of the saddest days of his life was when I went to take him to the DMV to get his license renewed and it was denied because of his eye site. I took him to the eye doctor but the doc wouldn't sign the release paper for him to drive. From that day on, Dad's enthusiasm for life began to decline. I remember one morning I could see that someone had taken a water turn in the middle of the night. I asked Dad about it and he said he had taken the turn. I asked him how he got up to 2300 East to turn the head gate and he replied that he rode his riding lawnmower to take his irrigation turn! We had to step up to the plate and help out more because we didn't want him riding his lawnmower on the city streets, especially at night when he couldn't see well.<br />
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Dad was thankful for everything and was the first to always express his thanks to anyone who had given service. He always thanked the teachers in church and always complimented someone on their testimony or church talk. And Dad always complimented me on what I was wearing or how he loved my hair or how pretty I looked. I always felt special when I was around my Dad because he made me feel special. Even up until the morning of his passing he was thanking us each time we gave him a sip of water.<br />
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The light went out of Dad's eyes when Mom was first diagnosed with cancer. Although she hung onto mortality for four more years Dad was sad to see the quality of life she had to endure. I felt like I had lost both of my parents the day after we buried my Mom because my Dad left with my sister for Montana and never came back to live in his home. His home sat for 2.5 years with everything in it, just the way Mom had left it. A few months ago my sister started cleaning out the house and little by little their meager belongings soon disappeared to the D.I. and to family members. The saddest part was they had very little. I often wondered why we bothered locking their home. They didn't have anything worth stealing! But they were frugal and went without the finer things in life and were good savers for a 'rainy day'.<br />
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Dad instilled in me a love for music and espcially a love for singing. He had a beautiful voice and sang solos at many funerals, church meetings and even in the chapel at the Idaho Falls Temple. We often sang duets together. One of the funniest times together, while singing, happened in a Sacrament meeting. We were asked to sing a patriotic number for July the 4th. Mom was accompanying us on the piano. The chorus part said something like, "And when we start, we'll fight, fight, fight." While we were rehearsing the song I mixed my words up and sang with gusto, "And when we fart ..." We roared with laughter until we couldn't sing anymore. We were afraid that I was going to sing the word 'fart' in church so decided that when we were doing the live performance he would nudge me with his elbow to remind me not to sing "fart". I didn't sing "fart" during the performance but sure had a big grin on my face when he nudged me during that part.<br />
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We've enjoyed living next door to my parents and they have been our very best friends. Now that they're on the 'other side', I have no 'best friends' and it's been a little lonely. Well, it's been a LOT lonely. <br />
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Dad was very active up until a couple of months ago. This picture was taken just a few months ago, on the ranch in Montana where he was branding a calf. Shortly thereafter his back started hurting and he was having aches and pains and then decided that he didn't want to eat anymore. Life started declining. He started losing weight, sleeping more, and having more difficulty getting up and down. My poor little sis was having a hard time trying to take care of him 24/7, getting the haying done, taking care of grand-children, and doing her church calling in the Stake Relief Society. <br />
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This photo was taken the last time he came to our home in May of this year.<br />
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Just a couple of days before his death I was sitting at work and had the impression that I needed to drive to Drummond to help out my sister. I called my oldest daughter Angie to ask if she could get off of work on Friday to drive up to Drummond. She said sure and we left Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. The drive there was bizarre. We felt we were on an errand, sent by angels. The time flew by and so did the trip. It only seemed like we were in the car for an hour. It's a 7 hour drive and we were there by 1:30 p.m. As we walked into the home my sister met me at the door and said that Hospice had just left and they didn't think Dad would make it through the weekend. We went into his bedroom and he opened his eyes and recognized us but seemed confused as to where he was. We assured him that he was still in Drummond and that we had come to visit. He seemed happy to see us. He rested while we cuddled up next to him on the bed, my sister and my oldest daughter, laughing, talking, and telling stories. We took care of Dad's needs because he was too weak to even sit up in bed. He really hadn't eaten for close to a month ... just a few sips of water and a few bites of food here and there. He had lost a LOT of weight in the two months prior and I was really shocked at how old he looked. He was finally looking his age, although his skin was still beautiful and no wrinkles!</div>
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Angie, my oldest daughter kissing grandpa hello!</div>
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That evening my sister and I got up in the middle of the night to take care of Dad. He went back to sleep peacefully. Saturday he was sick to his stomach and complained that he needed to throw up. There was nothing to throw up. He continued to have dry heaves throughout the day. I administered some of his pain medication which Hospice told me to give. He continued to sleep throughout the day but was responsive. Hospice visited early that evening and checked his vitals and said that everything looked great and that he could possibly hang on for quite a while in his condition. I asked him if he was ready to go to the other side and he said that he was. The day before when asked the same question he responded, "Not particularly!" But by Saturday he was ready to go. I told him that he needed to say it loud and clear for the angels to hear on the other side so they could come and escort him home. He said in a very loud and clear voice, "I'm ready to go. Just let me go." He then told all of us that he loved us very much. Of course we were all in tears but told him that we wanted him to go. As I tucked him in bed that night I told him that I loved him and he told me, "I love you more!" He always said that to Margaret, my little sister. They had such a beautiful relationship. It was so sweet watching her care for him.</div>
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Early Sunday morning I woke around 5:00 a.m. and laid in bed wondering if I should go downstairs to check on him. I decided I didn't want to bother William and Marg so took a shower and put on my makeup and got my bags packed to home. Marg came upstairs to visit with me while I was getting ready. She begged me to stay another day but we had to get back for Angie's work. She had been visiting with Dad at 5:30 and had given him a sip of water and he was resting. He'd had a rough night, coughing a lot. Marg grabbed my two bags to take downstairs and I turned to pick up my purse and hear my mother's voice in my head say, "Gil, you've got to go now! Linda's leaving!!" I was wondering about what I had just experienced when I heard my sister call for me to come quick. My sister had just heard Dad say, "I don't know how. Tell me what to do!" As I got into Dad's bedroom I could see that he was going. I supported his back with one hand and had my other hand on his chest while feeling for a heart beat. I told Marg that he was gone. Then he physically relaxed, his head went back and he closed his eyes. I was talking very excitedly in a loud voice, "Dad, I'm so happy for you! You've finally made it. See I told you, all you had to do was step into the next room."</div>
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This is a very spiritual experience that I'm sharing with you. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the spirit world is very near and our departed ones are very close and are very much aware of waht we are doing. They are our cheering section and want us to choose and live our lives righteously so we can live with our Heavenly Father and eldest brother Jesus Christ in the eternities ahead. I KNOW my mother wanted me to be there when she helped escort my father beyond the veil. I know she was there. I felt her presence. I can't be sad because every time I think about Dad and try to be sad a smile spreads across my face because I see Dad and his sweetheart together and I see the smile on his face that he once had prior to Mom's diagnosis. </div>
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We had a beautiful service for him in Salt Lake. My sister and her husband were able to escort his body back to Salt Lake in the back of their pickup truck. How fitting for our 'cowboy' totake his last ride in the back of their truck. We still laugh about the image. Marg said that a few times they hit some rough bumps and were sure 'grandpa' was lying on his side in his casket or possibly on his stomach!</div>
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It was a beautiful day. Everyone that took part in the service did an exceptional job. And my ward Relief Sociey provided the most scrumptious lunch after the services for 152 family members! And NO, we didn't have funeral potatoes or green jello salad. We had a good ole fashioned barbecue with plenty of beef!</div>
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This is my Dad's older sister, Mona. She just turned 98 this month and she's still running on her own 'steam'. Incredible!<br />
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After the luncheon some of our family went back to the grave site to pay our final respects. It was ironic that as we were visiting his site, a flock of geese flew overheard, just prior to a torrential downpore of rain. The flock of geese visited me the first time I visited my mother's grave after her funeral. She always said she'd leave a feather to let us know she had been to visit, after her death. I think they sent a flock of geese (feathers) to let us know they are finally together.</div>
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So am I sad ... NO ... I rejoice in the knowledge that I know my Redeemer lives and loves me. I'm thankful for the inspiration I received to visit my Dad prior to his death. I'm thankful that the Lord heard our prayers and was able to take Dad home while I was still there. And I'm especially thankful for a wonderful family who loves and supports me. Yes, I <strong>know</strong> that my Redeemer lives! And I know that I will see Him again and be able to live with my Mom and Dad once again if I live righteously and keep my covenants.</div>
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Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-82076522707460821672012-06-18T11:51:00.002-07:002012-06-18T11:51:45.463-07:00Help I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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No, I'm not sitting on the 'john' ... I'm sitting on the edge of the tub getting sympathy from Lynn! I was so excited to start my morning walks with Dieter before going to work. I was in the zone and it was my second day of being faithful with our exercise plan. Being the good citizen that ... I am, I had a bag of dog poop clenched in one fist and his leash in my other fist. My toe hit an uneven piece of sidewalk and I stumbled with my nose within an inch of the sidewalk for at least a block before I finally went down, hard! My face was so close to the ground I even skinned my chin. But I think I still had the bag of poop still clenched in my fist! Oh I hurt! As I lay on my stomach worrying that I may have broken my phone, I slowly looked to my right and then to my left to make sure the runner who had just passed me, didn't see me fall. The coast was clear so I slowly got to my feet to assess my pains. My left finger was bent and my right thumb seemed frozen in place. I thought I probably had broken my little finger and just bruized my thumb. A few seconds later Lynn drove by and drove me the rest of the way home. My knee started hurting when I went up the stairs but not enough to cause concern. <br />
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I got in the shower and washed off the blood from the scrapes, got ready for work, and drove to work. I decided to make an appt. for my finger and after two hours of work I was in excrusiating pain in my leg. I could barely walk! To make a long story shorter ... I limped into my doctor's office only to find they had moved their office over a year ago. By this time I was whimpering because of the pain. When I finally found my doctor's office and got to the front desk, the little receptionist said, "Can you please walk around to the other side?" I cried out, "No!" She asked me if I wanted a wheel chair, which I replied yes.<br />
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So, we've debated about finding a new doctor for years and just keep going to the same one because it's convenient. He has our records, his office is close ... but really ... I think he needs to retire. Kids, you know what I'm talking about. It's like he never knows what to do, or how to diagnose. After taking a bunch of xrays he told me that he couldn't see any fractures but he wanted me to go to an orthopedic surgeon. He put my left hand in a cast and left me sitting in a room for ever! In the mean time my sweet daughter Ginger left work to come and drive me home. She had made an appt. with a sport medicine doctor who had been recommended. We took the xrays with us to show him. I felt very confident with this new doc.the moment we met him. He looked at the film and said I had a boxer fracture on my left hand and a broken thumb on my right! And he was very surprised that my 'old' doc had not seen the fractures. The xray tech showed me the fracture in my hand and said it was a very obvious break! The doc said if I had of kept the old cast on I would have lost mobility in my little finger and without a splint on my thumb it would have grown bent.<br />
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So, after having a zillion shots of pain numbing in my hand he had to reset the bone twice. But thankfully for the medication I felt no pain! He placed me in a state of the art cast which is water-proof and has to stay on for a month. The splint on the finger has to stay on for 6 weeks.<br />
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I'm not in pain ... just frustrated because there are so many things I can't do! It's hard typing. I can't hold scissors or knives or pick up a lot of things. I get a little depressed some days when I can't stay busy! I told Lynn that if I ever get to the point of not being able to be busy, then I just want to die. I don't know how my Mom handled her illness and sitting in a chair for over four years. It drives me crazy! And it's so frustrating trying to sleep with a clunky, hot, sweaty cast on my hand! And I haven't been out walking for almost two weeks. I'm too afraid!<br />
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Have a fab day!<br />
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<br />Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-27105983161762804822012-05-15T14:34:00.001-07:002012-05-15T15:08:54.554-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIqxqO3l8F_4M_ICHY6zEjE-lUzm6cKBhJ5VtCXMHkGsOdDM3_Vxz3-lh8V4SI56psiqK0U5YD1zS8VPbc-N88HVa6cMnQAIvaGq9QmX4HKkpqLh7tTE2nLlniDGfWrPXtZaotIki2iY/s1600/Linda%2527s+Event+20121.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIqxqO3l8F_4M_ICHY6zEjE-lUzm6cKBhJ5VtCXMHkGsOdDM3_Vxz3-lh8V4SI56psiqK0U5YD1zS8VPbc-N88HVa6cMnQAIvaGq9QmX4HKkpqLh7tTE2nLlniDGfWrPXtZaotIki2iY/s400/Linda%2527s+Event+20121.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>O.K. ... I know I'm a little crazy the older I get. But I just can't let another summer go by without hanging out with my dear friends during convention time. And we have an opportunity of helping raise funds to build a school in the little village of Abomosu that I visited last year.<br />
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So ... I've been thinking about what fun and crazy adventure we could do on our free night during convention. So many of you have never had a chance to REALLY see the beautiful mountains and canyons of Utah. About all you get to see is the airport, your hotel room, convention center and a few restaurants. I've arranged to have busses pick you up by the Convention Center on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. We will whisk you away to the beautiful Wasatch Mountains in Park City, Utah where we will briefly stop at the Olympic Park and perhaps get a sneak peak at some professional skiiers training for the Olympics.<br />
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We will then take you to the City Park in Park City where you will enjoy breath taking views of the ski resorts and mountains. World Joy will furnish a delicious western barbecue dinner with all the trimmings. After dinner you will enjoy an organized swap, family reunion, raffles, and time to visit the quaint shops on Main Street. We'll have you back to downtown Salt Lake by 8:30 p.m.<br />
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Last year's fundraiser efforts were incredible and the well is functioning wonderful and providing clean water to Abrenya. I've reduced the price for our event, almost in half from last year's event, so more can participate. The cost to attend the event is only $55. All proceeds will go towards the school project.<br />
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We are limited on space. Don't wait to register. Please visit Event Brite at (I don't think the link will work, so try typing the address into your browser). <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/eventbrite.com/event/2455331964?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_term=eventurl_text"><span style="color: #0f90ba; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2455331964</span></a>
</span>to register or call me at World Joy, 801-797-9935 for credit card payment. You are welcome to send a check. There is no extra fee required when paying with a check. :)<br />
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Can't wait to see you!<br />
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<br /></div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-60820226454857736502012-05-03T15:50:00.000-07:002012-05-03T15:50:21.355-07:00Please Forgive Me ...I can't believe I haven't posted anything since January! So sorry ... so many things and blogging just hasn't been a top priority, but I promise I haven't forgotten you. In fact it's been so long since I've posted anything, the blog page has changed. Hope I'm doing this post correctly!<br />
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Well ... we got our well drilled and functioning in our little village in Ghana, West Africa, thanks to the many Stampin' Up! demonstrators who donated money for the well. You are the best! This has been the highlight of my experience working with World Joy these past two years. Abrenya now has a way to obtain clean and safe drinking water which will cut down on diseases and death. We REALLY have made a difference in their lives.<br />
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O.K. ... I've been thinking about another fund-raiser. I'd like to re-furbish a (3) classroom kindergarten in the little jungle village of Abomosu. We will need aproximately $17,350 which will also outfit the students with furniture and uniforms. We have a few high schools who are helping us raise the funds as well. Abomosu is thelovely little village that we stayed in. I fell in love with one of the students, Retta, who was quick to help with the stamping of the alphabet on the walls of the school classroom as well as cleaning all of the stamp sets. She was a wonder and I fell in love with her!<br />
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So .... I've secured a venue for Friday, July 20th in Salt Lake City. I'm not going to give the details just yet, because I'm still working them out. But I promise it will not be as much money as last year, more around $55 per attendee. It will include a scrumdillyicious dinner. And then something so out of the box that you've never been able to do before while attending Salt Lake ... maybe ... just thinking and planning. Nothing set in stone just yet. What do you think? Want to help build a school, meet some old stamping buddies and have a fun time? Let me know .... Got to get back to my planning.<br />
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Hugs!<br />
<br />Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-19808818772964504722012-01-05T17:22:00.001-08:002012-01-05T18:41:20.441-08:00Yummm....Funeral Potatoes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDj1iqRJRw71oASTtqVAK7dw1Nhy9Afd1gM65Qu0Kb0fkqAcgcRjLV3wZHdPgplhECmgIgGtpsz8LNZqtXWQCTUV2QpbnfbNv4KTHimCGCPhOfn1kV74Cq1L7NAbzUCiblz1UtWP63cM/s1600/DSCN0107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDj1iqRJRw71oASTtqVAK7dw1Nhy9Afd1gM65Qu0Kb0fkqAcgcRjLV3wZHdPgplhECmgIgGtpsz8LNZqtXWQCTUV2QpbnfbNv4KTHimCGCPhOfn1kV74Cq1L7NAbzUCiblz1UtWP63cM/s400/DSCN0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694327031014379026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5wBhlxrUE6opToFVey-OW-iKZc1DpTkXLePy2HBAw8QLVoeprkjWvIHm_6F513ZzPT3OZzvnJy4bov1g8e-DWGrlrouMruQqJs4nkLyYzK_Csj6wGT-BFqkN-j6sOydj3s-hE2b71t8/s1600/DSCN0106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5wBhlxrUE6opToFVey-OW-iKZc1DpTkXLePy2HBAw8QLVoeprkjWvIHm_6F513ZzPT3OZzvnJy4bov1g8e-DWGrlrouMruQqJs4nkLyYzK_Csj6wGT-BFqkN-j6sOydj3s-hE2b71t8/s400/DSCN0106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694326724851485458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Some of you are probably saying to yourselves, "What in the HECK are funeral potatoes?" If you do a google search you'll find all sorts of recipes for funeral potatoes, but if you do a search for cheesy potatoes, you probably won't find anything!<br /><br /></span>Funeral potatoes are a traditional dish typically served at a Latter-day Saint luncheon after a funeral. They are also known as a dish served during the Christmas holidays. Personally, you could serve me funeral potatoes any day of the week and I'd be a happy camper.<br /><br />Today marked the 17th funeral in three years since I've been the Ward Relief Society President. And I'm afraid that we're going to have more before too long. We have several older brothers and sisters in the ward who are their late 80's and 90's and their health is failing fast. I feel so sorry for their burdens and struggles that their little bodies have to endure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAb2RYkp1SM5o1LyqydTmcdZlp9nNhJBWF8P5CCB_BCyeMVGKmWbl_MQGGjEfrt_fh-H1dW_fcMEyebN8uP4lRDY5KPu_sfKwr2QNs4b-DySDQtg5yqpvTGFOEEqt3MnBHI7K_0WeIPM/s1600/DSCN0107.JPG"> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP79DwYKIFRqxWQub0AsyNonMr233XpUwXuiTUWHENa3sYgbi4VDq3bQShVr_9wqk94_llsKWPVvQl1loPUBvPqzojJCgacSEH5m_fvghOGkssukvWCqP3Gpqr6F8zbnQa8dDCVYbsf4/s1600/DSCN0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP79DwYKIFRqxWQub0AsyNonMr233XpUwXuiTUWHENa3sYgbi4VDq3bQShVr_9wqk94_llsKWPVvQl1loPUBvPqzojJCgacSEH5m_fvghOGkssukvWCqP3Gpqr6F8zbnQa8dDCVYbsf4/s400/DSCN0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694325384450262386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHjPx-c0Xm5BsBS8vzSNcJfKEfOMyPsepypJJonYZd0vAVPX1xbdVzf12XyMT1G8UdNCeb8bw8kM4YkkqNH1mqutgU0Si3HFmohq89A7H-SVJfi6kup23XketH9YtXvsROxhT-CjPK4/s1600/DSCN0108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHjPx-c0Xm5BsBS8vzSNcJfKEfOMyPsepypJJonYZd0vAVPX1xbdVzf12XyMT1G8UdNCeb8bw8kM4YkkqNH1mqutgU0Si3HFmohq89A7H-SVJfi6kup23XketH9YtXvsROxhT-CjPK4/s400/DSCN0108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694329529924191762" border="0" /></a>I'm telling you about my cheesy potatoes for Dawn Rapsas' benefit and anyone else who would like to be enlightened in the ways of the LDS culture. I think it's a beautiful service that we offer to our fellow members. When a member passes away the Relief Society President is notified (me) and then I make a phone call to my Compassionate Service Leader who in turn notifies our funeral chair. If the funeral will take place after a Sunday they will pass around a sign up list during services on Sunday for brothers and sisters to cook funeral potatoes, make salads, bring fruit plates and dessert. The ward budget provides the meat for the funeral and mostly the sisters in the ward provide the additional dishes of food. If the funeral will before Sunday, then a food sign-up e-mail list is sent around. We have the most AMAZING ward! Our members are so caring and giving of their time, talents, and energies. These are just four of the most amazing members of our ward. Rachel, on the left, is our Compassionate Service Leader, Shelli next to her is our funeral chair, and Rachel's parents Lee and Carol do MORE for the ward members that almost anyone I know. They are always the first to volunteer, the first to arrive to help, and the last to leave the church. Carol and Gus are just like Carol and Lee! They will help and assist anyone in need.<br /><br />I picked up 20 pounds of beef and Carol and Gus cooked it, plus added a roast of their own, sliced it and simmered it in Au Jus. It was to 'die for'. Funny pun, don't you think? Considering this was for a funeral. I'm on a roll! Oh .... speaking of rolls .... we have another couple, Peggy and Marloe who bake and donate all of the rolls for every funeral, and they're delicious and Peg is legally blind!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYg214ZfBwv8p7GKBElT0B4gDHnP1hNckmTdHyIxjya8HZI1Ed6NQ-744PqGlUzZ8J2BMcvy-kWeBO7I8H7sGhHId_5lPesQeooxgz3KPLVXZDXTiXF1peMoUJbmVxeqm_vTCuhy2pTAQ/s1600/DSCN0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYg214ZfBwv8p7GKBElT0B4gDHnP1hNckmTdHyIxjya8HZI1Ed6NQ-744PqGlUzZ8J2BMcvy-kWeBO7I8H7sGhHId_5lPesQeooxgz3KPLVXZDXTiXF1peMoUJbmVxeqm_vTCuhy2pTAQ/s400/DSCN0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694324579188347026" border="0" /></a>I'm so grateful to be living in this wonderful neighborhood. They truly are my brothers and sisters and indeed angels. I had to be over to the church by 8:30 a.m. There were tables to set for 60 people, windows and floors to be washed, drinking fountains shined, floors mopped .... yes the ward members do all of the church cleaning. It's all volunteer. Isn't that amazing? No one gets paid for their service, only in spiritual blessings! Not even our clergy are paid.<br /><br />Then the food started arriving. Dawn, I remember you asking me if the ladies really came walking down the street carrying their funeral potatoes and salads and desserts for the luncheon. And, yes ... you are absolutely correct! Food just magically starts to appear and yes ... all of the pans and bowls have a piece of masking tape with their name on it so we can hand-deliver the pans and bowls back to the owners after being washed and dried! Some of the younger sisters have learned how to etch their names onto their glass dishes. That's a lot nicer looking than a burned old yellow piece of masking tape. You ladies know what I'm talking about, and I can hear you laughing!<br /><br />There's a lot to do for a funeral. We arrange with the family to bring special mementos which we put on the tables for centerpieces. Today's theme was Africa. Marjorie and Rex served a mission in Botswana, Africa and there was a hint of Africa everywhere. It was beautiful. Marjorie will be missed. She was my mother's first cousin and I loved her dearly. I visited in her home monthly for over a year and just a week before she died we had a wonderful visit just days before Christmas. We talked about death. Marj had been diagnosed with terminal cancer just a few weeks prior. She was given about 6 months to live. She looked beautiful the day of our visit. She had been wrapping Christmas presents for her grand kids. She was a little breathless and mentioned that she had some fluid on her lungs. But she had done her own laundry that day.<br />She never complained about her illness and had a positive attitude about life. She mentioned that it would be wonderful if the Lord would let her go to sleep and her heart would just stop. Well, that's exactly what happened. I was surprised to get the Bishop's call telling me that she had passed away in her sleep.<br /><br />Shortly after her diagnosis I found the cutest, cheetah, fuzzy, warm pajamas that I bought for her. I enclosed a card telling her that as she wore the cheetahs to remember what a fighter my mother was with her illness and that she too could fight the cancer that was taking over her body. Marjorie was such a lady, so proper and prim, and cheetah print probably really wasn't her style. But you know Linda ... I LOVE anything on the sassy side and I just HAD to get them for her. I wondered if she would ever wear them. This morning her daughter-in-law came up to me and with tears in her eyes said that Marjorie was wearing her cheetah pajamas the morning she passed away.<br /><br />I'm so thankful for the promptings of the spirit. I felt prompted to visit Marjorie. Although Christmas rush was upon me, I felt that it was most important. I'm so thankful that I followed those promptings and was able to visit with her and give her a kiss on the cheek, one last time. Little did I know that she was very close to the other side.<br /><br />Well, it's been a long day, but wonderful. I love working with these wonderful sisters and brothers! I love them for their dedication, hard work, and service and love for the Lord. The funeral was beautiful, the speakers were inspirational and the music was a gift from heaven!<br /><br />After the family left, we boxed up the remainder of the food and ran it around to our shut-ins and elderly brothers and sisters in the ward. And I forgot, there were dishes to wash and dry, return to the owners, tables and chairs to be put away, floors to be swept and mopped, and doors and lights to be checked. Other than that ... a funeral is a breeze!<br /><br />So here's the simple recipe I use for "Funeral Potatoes". If you have a better recipe, please post. We'd love to try it!<br /><br /><ul><li>(1) Pkg. Frozen Hash Browns or Cubed O'Brian Potatoes</li><li>(1) Can Cream of Chicken Soup</li><li>(1) Carton Sour Cream</li><li>Shredded Cheddar Cheese</li><li>Salt and Pepper</li><li>Potato Chips, Corn Flakes, or Ritz Crackers</li><li>Melted Butter<br /></li></ul><p>Mix soup with sour cream. Add shredded cheese. (As much as you'd like!) Stir until blended. Pour over frozen potatoes and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with more shredded cheese. Crush potato chips, corn flakes, or Ritz Crackers and place on top. Drizzle with melted butter. (About a half of a cube.) Place in 350 degree oven til hot and bubbly.</p><p>Enjoy! Hugs to you all!!<br /></p>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-85725509062868290662011-12-28T05:50:00.000-08:002011-12-28T06:37:22.482-08:00Geez Louise!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4lwEb3XrW8SSh1sOnqTgW7c0krBjI_qdkTlh5uABAZ4GL5yagdg4CpD_Fsh0jvdc0GXoTwIecHkTTaVMFd3zUpC4b0A-aTdNUVFNmTZZ6EfcQp0E_0slNF4ZdtlJayIbFW62aD2yaOc/s1600/Ghana+Field+Visit+June+2011+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4lwEb3XrW8SSh1sOnqTgW7c0krBjI_qdkTlh5uABAZ4GL5yagdg4CpD_Fsh0jvdc0GXoTwIecHkTTaVMFd3zUpC4b0A-aTdNUVFNmTZZ6EfcQp0E_0slNF4ZdtlJayIbFW62aD2yaOc/s400/Ghana+Field+Visit+June+2011+032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691179124827830082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRpD-q4Rwi3nVtlB4Di5piPeyy6sCA4I3Wb2NbyVdA2uhKvEShGVA17n9ByTeIIpG__7aJNlDmYdBas77nhenmGJOExKseMf7djvSWQKkpO_eYOIw6xGKrXOuaOZGxoN0iOE1oNqmbRU/s1600/Ghana+Field+Visit+June+2011+-+Katelynn%2527s+Pictures+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRpD-q4Rwi3nVtlB4Di5piPeyy6sCA4I3Wb2NbyVdA2uhKvEShGVA17n9ByTeIIpG__7aJNlDmYdBas77nhenmGJOExKseMf7djvSWQKkpO_eYOIw6xGKrXOuaOZGxoN0iOE1oNqmbRU/s400/Ghana+Field+Visit+June+2011+-+Katelynn%2527s+Pictures+053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691179120195075554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTFQj6loofrJ7ITr3jCEXnEU-9bxS4VcigYPvLIoIyeNNx6AIo79rjoj-mFZ1SsCpG8J-Ryfbwmy_PpOf_2yXAPsjUc3jra4mFAME7th9zwU8hCOt9y-WGrhr29izjpEqVSyhKVhgWU/s1600/P1040223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYTFQj6loofrJ7ITr3jCEXnEU-9bxS4VcigYPvLIoIyeNNx6AIo79rjoj-mFZ1SsCpG8J-Ryfbwmy_PpOf_2yXAPsjUc3jra4mFAME7th9zwU8hCOt9y-WGrhr29izjpEqVSyhKVhgWU/s400/P1040223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691179116707361810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxLlqsEYJuQWFn7egD5qWxcZrBHijmxtQTqnXzABRc-iIgtM07RjPML1RKSvlLzxyVJbkPlUb_Md3ry94CLCh8bLanRKfpB1Igv3UkntTiUlfXsZzCClasVp_aLaIwuqaAOAjv3ELeLM/s1600/DSC_1488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxLlqsEYJuQWFn7egD5qWxcZrBHijmxtQTqnXzABRc-iIgtM07RjPML1RKSvlLzxyVJbkPlUb_Md3ry94CLCh8bLanRKfpB1Igv3UkntTiUlfXsZzCClasVp_aLaIwuqaAOAjv3ELeLM/s400/DSC_1488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691179106235129010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02A4POpb5f21K8DD-IHhWuHu0xg2aXKUBTDyieAQLpnMwI4XOCqWDccv6c2WFPxp36buurGdzrQ1Ue4mCAmVE3LPNQxUXjoxr0j7SFc89cmQLKN76Gi-MPAnK7FGZ2E2WCdoUB6CdJR4/s1600/DSC_1476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02A4POpb5f21K8DD-IHhWuHu0xg2aXKUBTDyieAQLpnMwI4XOCqWDccv6c2WFPxp36buurGdzrQ1Ue4mCAmVE3LPNQxUXjoxr0j7SFc89cmQLKN76Gi-MPAnK7FGZ2E2WCdoUB6CdJR4/s400/DSC_1476.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691179101376402514" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged! Life just seems to get in the way.<div><br /></div><div>I turned the 'ripe' old age of 62 in July and decided to take early retirement from Social Security. I now only work 19 hours a week at my wonderful nonprofit job at World Joy. I've been so busy that I don't know how I ever had time to work full-time. I'm really enjoying this early retirement status.</div><div><br /></div><div>As promised, I need to catch you up on the status of the well in Abrenya, which so many of you donated to. We raised over $8,000. We have been waiting for a dryer part of the season before drilling. There was a terrible flood shortly after we left Abomosu, which destroyed most of the farmer's crops. It's been too wet to drill until now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Abrenya was probably my most favorite village that we visited. The people are so grateful and willing to do their part in improving their conditions. We had to walk on foot, about two miles, into the village. It wasn't a hard hike and the weather was cooperating with us ... not too hot. There were sights, sounds, and smells that I had never experienced before and I was so grateful that I was finally here in Ghana, Africa! </div><div><br /></div><div>As we approached the village we could see the World Joy school up on the crest of a small hill, nestled among the jungle. I watched a teacher running along the classrooms, clapping his hands to announce our arrival. Then the most marvelous thing happened. At least 200 children came running out of the school towards us. They placed their arms around us and loved and hugged us. As they were running they were shouting the word, "Obruni". I thought they were yelling "Granny", which my grand kids call me. We were all overwhelmed with the welcoming party and we all had tears of joy in our eyes as we hugged the children back. I later found out that Obruni means white woman and not granny!</div><div><br /></div><div>We were shown the lovely school which World Joy built for this small village a few years back, as well as the living quarters for the teachers. The school is overcrowded and they need more classrooms. They could also use playground equipment and supplies for the students. The tribal leaders and village met with us under the Mango trees and had a little traditional dance and singing for us. They proceeded to thank us for all World Joy has done for them and then petitioned some additional help which they are in need of. We told them of our plans to build a well in their village. They were so grateful for the news.</div><div><br /></div><div>Upon our arrival back to the states we found out that the government was going to be drilling a well shortly for their village. But, they are in need of an additional well, so the funds that we raised from our dinner in July will build the extra well that they need. We are in looking for a contractor and the drilling should take place any day now. I'll keep you posted with pictures as they become available.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm excited to announce that two large companies have asked if they could do a service project in our villages and then take 50 volunteers over to complete the projects. Veridian Energy from Norwalk, CT will be going over in February. World Joy will be conducting the excursion. They will be installing solar panels which will generate electricity for our new Health Post and Library in Asanafo, and school in Abrenya. These solar panels will store electricity in lanterns and the children will be able to check out a lantern in the evenings so they can work on homework and read.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not at liberty to announce the other company's name just yet. But many of you are familiar with this company and may even be distributors for them. They will be announcing their venture at their annual convention in the New Year. So, I may be seeing some of you on their excursion to Ghana. They are going to build a school and then at least 50 of the distributors and executives will go over for a week to complete the project. I can't wait to announce the name of the company after their convention. Oh ... and I'll be at their convention in our World Joy booth so you may see me there!</div><div><br /></div><div>After immersing ourselves in the African culture in Abrenya, the skies were threatening rain so it was time to hurry back to Abomosu. The rains came and the floods came up ... as we slipped and slogged our way back to camp. And I mean it didn't just rain ... it poured. I met a lovely young woman with a baby strapped to her back, a pan of plantains on her head, packages in her arms and she handed me a large palm frond to hold over my head like an umbrella. She insisted that I take it. She gave me the one that she was holding over her and her baby. I tried to refuse, but she insisted. That was the most kind and loving gesture!</div><div><br /></div><div>So ... lots of great things are happening for our brothers and sisters in Ghana, Africa.</div><div><br /></div><div>Life has been kind to the Hansen family. I'm so grateful for this past year. We've had three lovely grand babies join our family. We're enjoying good health. Perhaps I've partied a little too hard ... I've got about 10 pounds to lose. I've signed up for the Salt Lake Half Marathon in the Spring so will be starting training as soon as I get rid of this nasty cold. I lost my voice on Christmas day and it still hasn't returned. BOOOO!</div><div><br /></div><div>Got lots to do today to get ready for my laundry room makeover, which my daughter Ginger and her family gave me for a Christmas present. Can't wait for Friday!</div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-24207518258764097652011-11-07T07:43:00.001-08:002011-11-07T08:55:42.452-08:00Abomosu Here We Come!As promised ... I'll catch you up on my trip to Africa after telling you what I've been up to.<div><br /></div><div>I had the wonderful opportunity of flying to Oregon and being with Natalie while she gave birth to her first boy, Jacob Doc Peton. Doc is a family name on the Peton side and I think it's an adorable name so I just may call him Doc instead of Jacob! It was a fabulous week getting to spend time with the girls while Natalie took care of the baby. I think my lot in life is being a mother. That's ALL I ever wanted in life. I loved every minute I spent taking care of the family.</div><div><br /></div><div>I participated in another Half Marathon last Saturday in Provo, Utah, the Halloween Half Marathon. Words of advice ... don't participate in a Marathon without training first! There were several of us who dressed alike, "Where's Waldo", and we were VERY easy to find in the crowd of 4,000! A grateful thank you to my daughter Angie, and niece Eden, who stuck with me the entire time and helped me limp across the finish line because of leg and toe cramps! We had to leave the house at 4:30 a.m. to catch the bus in Provo at 5:30 a.m. The most exciting time of the race was riding on the bus up the canyon, which caught fire and we had to evacuate, in the dark, cold, and windy morning. It was FREEZING! Fire trucks, police, and ambulance arrived to make sure we were fine. It was pretty exciting!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then yesterday we participated in the blessing of Margaret Rita Martineau. What a gorgeous little grand baby girl! Lindsey and Ryan provided a delicious luncheon for all, after Sacrament meeting. It was a great day being with family. I LOVE the Martineau family!</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to Africa ... I was warned that I would be swarmed with people begging to take my luggage at the airport so they could receive a tip. No one bothered me in the airport and I was feeling pretty smug until I arrived at the van which would transport us to Abomosu. We were swarmed with many men trying to take our suitcases and place them in the van. I handed a tip to our driver and told him to disperse it to whom he thought was helping the best. It was sooo hard to ignore their pleas for money. But, I couldn't pay everyone, so had to tell them that Yaw would disperse the tip. There was a lot of grumbling and I had to just ignore it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was very worried that we wouldn't be able to get everyone's luggage into the van. Thankfully Teri, who has been a luggage handler for an airline was able to offer her expert advise and all luggage was soon packed tightly and neatly into the van. We piled into the van, with Granny in the front with the driver, and off we headed into the busy streets of Accra. Yes, it was a shock at first, to see all of the vendors coming up to the van as we stopped at the traffic lights, begging us to buy their wares. We were warned not to buy anything but a specific brand of bottled water or we would become sick. The breads and fruits and vegetables looked delicious, but once again, we couldn't eat the raw items without treating them with bleach first.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first stop was at the Accra LDS Temple. The grounds were beautiful and we were able to take some gorgeous pictures there. We didn't look too bad for having traveled 1 1/2 days without a shower!</div><div><br /></div><div>We had many stops that we needed to make before driving to the village. The traffic was horrendous and crossing the streets on foot was literally taking our life in our hands! We had to buy some minutes for our international phone as well as internet time for our computer. Then it was off to the market to shop for our groceries.</div><div><br /></div><div>The mall was very nice and modern with a very nice grocery store. All of the foods were imported from various countries so the prices were extremely high! We divided and conquered by splitting up in two's and shopped for our items. Total bill was over 900 Cedis. I'll never forget how frightened and vulnerable I felt while pulling out and counting 900 Cedis, in small bills, from my sweaty money belt!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now the big challenge was getting ALL of the food into the van. Luckily I had brought a collapsible cooler which we placed our frozen foods into. We shoved groceries EVERYWHERE in the van, pockets, under seats, on laps, in between seats, you name it ... we stored it. And we made it fit. It was getting dark and our driver was nervous about making the trip into the jungle during the night, but we had no choice. We were ALL tired and hungry so ate at the mall. There was a nice chicken place and pizza place which we enjoyed. We were told that we didn't have to worry about eating the food there and we shouldn't get sick. And none of us got sick our entire trip! We were really blessed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we were on the road to Abomosu. It was dark, dusty, and extremely hard to see. What an experience! It took forever to get out of the city of Accra. And just when we thought the roads were clear and there would be a break in traffic, everything came to a screeching halt. The road would literally end and cars would be dodging pot holes, each other, people, and there was no rhyme or reason to where everyone was driving. It was a nightmare! There was no sleep for me! We had now been up for 2 days and a night!</div><div><br /></div><div>It took us over 4 hours to drive 90 miles. We pulled into the little jungle village of Abomosu just after 11:00 p.m. The village was asleep with a few goats wandering around. We were excited to see our new home which would house us for the next 10 days. We pulled up to a gated structure and within minutes Brother Abu came to greet us and open the gates. The house looked wonderful compared to the other structures in the village. We quickly entered the home and were met with extreme heat! The windows had been shut and the fans weren't on so it was extremely hot and stifling. The appliances were much smaller than American standard and I was worried that not all of our perishables would fit in the fridge. The fridge wasn't working but we were able to run an extension cord into another outlet to get it to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our party quickly spread out in the home to claim their beds. I was assigned to the bunk bed room. It had (4) sets of bunk beds and there were (4) of us sleeping in that room, so we each got our own bunk bed. While I took care of the groceries my sweet companions made up the beds for us. The pillows and linen weren't quite what we were expecting. The pillows felt like bricks under our heads. I learned to sleep better without one!</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought it may be cooler sleeping up top closer to the fan, but it was extremely hard for me to climb to the top without a ladder, and the fan was making such a rackity noise, and my head was so close to the fan ... I thought it would chop off my head ... I decided to sleep in the bottom bunk. Because of sooo many high bunk beds in the room there wasn't much air circulation so my first night of sleep was next to nil. In the night I could hear something munching in the corner of the room. I was too tired to care so didn't worry about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were all anxious for morning to arrive so we could see our surroundings in the daylight. I got up bright and early to see if the internet connection would work and post an e-mail to my family to tell them I had arrived safe and sound. Internet was too slow so decided to start cooking breakfast for the crew. When I went into the kitchen I was met with a 'slew' of bugs on the countertops. Although the windows were screened the tiny bugs could still fit through the screens. There was no hot water in the home so water had to be heated for dishes as well as treated with bleach. Even the egg shells had to be treated before cracking them into our food! Food prep took a lot more time because of the precautions that had to be taken.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a beautiful sunny morning and it was amazing to watch the villagers walking back and forth in front of our home, with Plantains and water buckets on top of their heads. The children were dressed in their school uniforms, fetching water for their homes before heading to school. I could hear the bleating of the goats, roosters crowing, strange animal sounds that I had never heard before, and smell the fires burning used to cook the villager's breakfast. The village was coming alive and my companions were still slumbering in their beds! I couldn't wait to get started for the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>More to follow on my Africa trip .... Have a wonderful day!</div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-66468902306714211412011-10-19T06:50:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:59:20.809-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEYLr-MJHZEynrsoyj9hHI4RADegGgavKqH47wRz85DKX1KNX6Yrgmr3LkeXgzUPOFOlM-xai0wVPXxlknju9BUqzzX_r_stsu5z73UBNmAGZBI81LCF71_jBA1I_I7W-OuMjvLcwgys/s1600/Ghana+2011+440.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEYLr-MJHZEynrsoyj9hHI4RADegGgavKqH47wRz85DKX1KNX6Yrgmr3LkeXgzUPOFOlM-xai0wVPXxlknju9BUqzzX_r_stsu5z73UBNmAGZBI81LCF71_jBA1I_I7W-OuMjvLcwgys/s400/Ghana+2011+440.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201683053929362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Packing for Ghana!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYsFosHt8gnV8kMLjYTwOp0sdt_0D2NL7ILr7q0qh55cVeli0IKsmOwtUGuzjVZm9holObMCqcnT2XeCrn_Y_uGfzgSHVHkbXa6fRoABQQ94emVwH9ahDKAP_-0akuqnq4_6UkB_fo20/s1600/Ghana+2011+441.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYsFosHt8gnV8kMLjYTwOp0sdt_0D2NL7ILr7q0qh55cVeli0IKsmOwtUGuzjVZm9holObMCqcnT2XeCrn_Y_uGfzgSHVHkbXa6fRoABQQ94emVwH9ahDKAP_-0akuqnq4_6UkB_fo20/s400/Ghana+2011+441.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201262661286210" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Demonstrators sent in TONS of craft supplies which we used to teach crafting projects and left with some of the local teachers for use in the schools.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o4d4WVEm-wYtnIF-fGUaoscsSpPX7UzjS4b0GRpZ6U_kl233OsakFrByaIzA7uXuCzQgmH0_01pM8pNSyy5I1p3wx7l2TlovUQv9bBdOVZzcV8iYo4Tm8Ub9jz7Tqk4WH6usGBrf_HI/s1600/Ghana+2011+443.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o4d4WVEm-wYtnIF-fGUaoscsSpPX7UzjS4b0GRpZ6U_kl233OsakFrByaIzA7uXuCzQgmH0_01pM8pNSyy5I1p3wx7l2TlovUQv9bBdOVZzcV8iYo4Tm8Ub9jz7Tqk4WH6usGBrf_HI/s400/Ghana+2011+443.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201240967543090" /></a>Some of the gang --- Holly was off getting something to eat and Trav and Terri had already left on the red eye to New York.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxXjN-koWD1OLwr2L_SPen8HXeXvzfkRqFoSskuzYP3lJD-CRaZnL9GZ1F7YfT00XDi0GNbdnJ-3kOAsKnp69TTkdhniJqR0ztnSuVr25uaeDE8pf-bOWMfjOHM_kzuiU7cNawURqEVk/s1600/Ghana+2011+445.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxXjN-koWD1OLwr2L_SPen8HXeXvzfkRqFoSskuzYP3lJD-CRaZnL9GZ1F7YfT00XDi0GNbdnJ-3kOAsKnp69TTkdhniJqR0ztnSuVr25uaeDE8pf-bOWMfjOHM_kzuiU7cNawURqEVk/s400/Ghana+2011+445.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201236832127298" /></a>New York here we come!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlXTkxv01O9WZSeYW0ELAigxRPOHkCmHhcy3EbX8Y4tF98mpKaYOlRUpBoJLJlHuRxNoyCrZZxBTmfo06UpKSedGg3mz6o0Jez6VYIoJXNoW38eZCfsI8zVW32ypxUDlYfqraxIaYR2o/s1600/Ghana+2011+448.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlXTkxv01O9WZSeYW0ELAigxRPOHkCmHhcy3EbX8Y4tF98mpKaYOlRUpBoJLJlHuRxNoyCrZZxBTmfo06UpKSedGg3mz6o0Jez6VYIoJXNoW38eZCfsI8zVW32ypxUDlYfqraxIaYR2o/s400/Ghana+2011+448.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201222908863042" /></a>Accra, Ghana Africa .... we have arrived!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvioDU5iWG1Ko1uHmo2pLEV61RYVzH1gyxtk5ZsexjbWBWASI092NFJZlu7pp1Ng85f37Vh3nT5MvhYOIAlpLok0WVP5ikjWmjscPav7Twx1AalP09qnUof2y6VqMX9XtYGlIcnJKX0w/s1600/Ghana+2011+450.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvioDU5iWG1Ko1uHmo2pLEV61RYVzH1gyxtk5ZsexjbWBWASI092NFJZlu7pp1Ng85f37Vh3nT5MvhYOIAlpLok0WVP5ikjWmjscPav7Twx1AalP09qnUof2y6VqMX9XtYGlIcnJKX0w/s400/Ghana+2011+450.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665201221517740946" /></a>Wendy Oakes, one of our school teachers and me at the Accra airport.Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-49377171654585697562011-10-19T05:15:00.000-07:002011-10-19T06:30:46.195-07:00Looking Forward To This Day!I know ... I know ... guilt trip ... It's been months since I've posted anything on my blog. I promise nothing is wrong. In fact everything is terrific. Yesterday was a day that I've been waiting and longing for, for years! I officially joined the ranks of receiving social security and I've semi-retired from my job. I'm taking my Social Security early because I'm afraid if I don't there won't be any left when I reach full retirement age. And ... gosh darn ... I've worked hard and I'm getting older and I deserve a little break from work! So yesterday was glorious. I woke early and sat in bed crocheting, then did a little reading, ate a little breakfast, played with the dog, took a little nap, ran some errands, cleaned a little bit, networked three of our computers to a printer, cleaned a carpet, and rearranged Lynn's office. I think he's afraid I'm taking over his personal space. I am!<div><br /></div><div>And I only have to work 3 more hours this month at my day job. And ... I'm flying out to Portland, Oregon to stay with my daughter for a week while she brings her first baby boy into the world, tomorrow! Isn't this fun?</div><div><br /></div><div>As promised, a few months ago, I told you that I would recap my glorious trip to Africa. So I'll post just a few comments today and continue to do so for the next while. I tried posting to my blog while in Africa but the internet connection was next to 'nil', so I was lucky to get an e-mail or two posted while there, to the family.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Executive Director, Regina, and I planned a site visit to Ghana, Africa where World Joy has adopted 13 villages in the eastern region of Ghana. Up until working for World Joy I knew nothing about Africa, other than I thought South Africa was a location in Africa, not realizing that there are over 70 countries in Africa. Ghana is located in the western part of Africa and is a tropical country. There are no lions, tigers, hippos, water buffalos, and etc. that you typically think of when you hear the word, Africa. But there are man eating ants, large snakes, grass cutters and all sorts of strange looking creepy, crawly things. And of course the biggest danger, mosquitoes, which carry malaria.</div><div><br /></div><div>When word got out among our friends and family that we were going to Africa, everyone wanted to come along too. Because we were going on a site visit to see the projects that World Joy had completed and assess what still needs to be done, we weren't sure how we could use volunteers on this trip. But soon there were 10 of us making plans to travel to Ghana together for 10 days. There were 3 mothers with 3 teenagers, 2 school teachers, 1 teenager, and one ole granny. I was responsible for the lone teenager. What a blessing these teens were. Talk about entertainment and such good, hard workers. And ... they were cheerful and so helpful the entire trip. Our trip wouldn't have been nearly as successful without their help.</div><div><br /></div><div>We determined that we would each take 2 suitcases, one with personal items and the 2nd with school supplies, newborn kits, food, and craft items for our villagers. Our volunteers had raised money for paint for one of the schools that we were planning on re-painting and we put together a vocabulary packet for teaching English in the classrooms. This took weeks of planning and preparation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prior to leaving on our trip we were required to have a Yellow Fever shot to enter into the country. But many of us took extra precautions and had Typhoid shots and whatever else they recommended prior to take off. We also needed to secure passports and Visas, and an official entrance letter from World Joy. We also had to start taking our Doxycyclene pills prior to leaving on our trip and continuing taking them for 3 weeks upon our return. This was to prevent Malaria. We also pre-treated all of our clothing with Permethrine prior to our trip. </div><div><br /></div><div>I planned the menu and shopped for food items that I knew would be hard to find in Ghana, like peanut butter and tuna fish and canned chili. And each traveler was asked to provide the ingredients for one dessert. So we all had brownie, cake, and cookie mixes in our luggage. We knew that it would be a hard adjustment for the next 10 days and if we had something sweet, and something from home, we could make it through anything!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, on the morning of June 22nd, 8 of us took off from the Salt Lake airport heading for New York for a layover. Terri and Travis were flying stand-by and took a red eye the night before to New York and met up with us there. We were soooo excited. This trip brought 10 strangers together for an unforgettable and marvelous experience. I couldn't have asked for better friends to share this experience with. I still marvel that 10 people who had never met prior to this trip could have been matched more perfectly to live, eat, and sleep together for 10 days, without ever having an unkind or harsh word between us.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived eager and anxious in New York and could hardly wait for the next leg of our trip. Our flight didn't leave until after 11:00 p.m. As we approached our gate for departure I noticed that we were in the minority for skin color on this flight. There were many blacks dressed in American clothing and a few in traditional African attire. I was mesmerized by the fabric and head dresses that the women wore and had great plans of acquiring a traditional dress while there. This was also the flight I was kind of dreading. I don't normally sleep well on a plane and have a hard time getting comfortable with my long legs. But one very nice thing ... my body is a lot smaller and the seats are much more comfortable these days!</div><div><br /></div><div>Ghana is only 6 hours ahead of Utah time, so after flying all night we arrived at 2:30 p.m. the next day, which was only 7:30 a.m. Utah time. The sky was a little overcast and as I stepped off the plane I noticed the humidity, which was nice, but I was expecting more heat and surprisingly there was a gentle breeze. The airport was small and extremely crowded. Going through customs was a breeze. But going to exchange our currency into Cidis was very hectic. Although the money changer spoke English I had a very hard time understanding her and had to keep asking her to repeat what she just said. I had to exchange over a thousand dollars into Cidis and asked for small bills. And what I received in exchange was a wad of bills that would have choked a horse! Here I was trying to stuff the 'wad o' cash' into my money belt which was readily exposed for all to see. I was sure I was going to be robbed the minute I stepped out of the airport. Since I was the one in charge of the money I told the others that I would go meet the driver and wait for them. Picking up my luggage was a nightmare. There were at least 50 people, with luggage, trying to shove their way through a check-point. The officials were going through everyone's luggage. I decided to act like I knew what I was doing, so pushed and shoved my way through the check-point line and was able to get through without having my luggage searched.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I exited 'check point Charley' I searched for our driver, Yaw, who said he would be holding a sign with my name on it. I've spoken many times to Yaw on the phone but we had never met. Sure enough, there was a good looking black man, holding a sign with my name. I ran with open arms, screaming, "Yaw!" He looked a little surprised, but hugged me back and grinned. A few minutes later another black man came over to us and I noticed he had a World Joy shirt on. It was then that I found out I had hugged the wrong man. This man was holding Yaw's sign while he used the restroom. We had a good laugh!</div><div><br /></div><div>More to continue tomorrow! The next post will take you to the streets of Accra and thru the jungle to Abomosu our little village where we lived for 10 glorious days!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hugs to you all! Make it a great day. I certainly am!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-91287989313025844802011-06-21T20:28:00.000-07:002011-06-21T20:47:55.949-07:00I'm On My Way Tomorrow!!!Ghana, Africa ... here I come!<div><br /></div><div>I'm all packed and ready to go. Now if I can just get a good night's rest I'll be all set for the big day tomorrow! I'm so excited. This is going to be an adventure of a lifetime!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have planned all of the particulars for this big trip. We have ten people in our group going to Ghana. We have three mothers with three teenagers, two teachers, one teenager, and one ole' granny. It's been fun planning the meals, grocery list, and itinerary for the 10 days that we will be there. This will be a 'first' for all of us in our party. I think that's why I'm so nervous. I really don't know what to expect. I've seen lots of pictures and asked lots of questions and talked to the people we will be working with in Ghana, but until I actually experience it, I'm sure it's going to be different than what I've imagined!</div><div><br /></div><div>We leave Salt Lake tomorrow morning at 11:00 and fly to JFK. Have a 3 1/2 hour layover there and then leave on a direct flight to Accra, Ghana at 9:30 p.m. We arrive the next day at 12:30 p.m. We have a wonderful driver with a 15 passenger van who will meet us at the airport. We are each taking 2 suitcases, one with our personal items and the second filled to the brim with school supplies, rubber stamps, ink, card stock, and paper. One of my suitcases was designated to hold food items. It was overweight by 2 pounds so I had to remove a 3 pound jar of peanut butter. I may be hand-carrying that on the flight! I hope TSA doesn't consider it a dangerous weapon! Gotta have my Extra Crunchy Skippy Peanut Butter!</div><div><br /></div><div>Yao, our driver will take us grocery shopping, to the pharmacy to get our malaria pills, to the phone store for a phone card, and then to the computer store for a wireless modem. Yes, we plan on having internet in the jungle. After getting our essentials, we'll get on the road to Abomosu. It will take us probably at least 3 hours to get there. It's 90 miles from Accra, but on a very bumpy, rough road. We are going to be packed so tight in that van with all of our suitcases and groceries, I'm not sure where we're going to put the pigs and chickens??</div><div><br /></div><div>My plan is to post our daily experiences on my blog as well as Facebook. I'll try to include some video footage as well. So, please check back daily to see the wonderful 'good' that World Joy and our volunteers are bringing to the Atiwa District in Ghana. We will be working in some of our schools which we have built, as well as helping out in the Health Posts, and helping repair and paint one of our World Joy schools. We've got a LOT of work to do, and I'm anxious to experience this new adventure!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm off to get a good night's rest. Probably won't get to chat with you until Friday!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-19030031505975695982011-05-18T08:13:00.000-07:002011-05-18T08:42:00.415-07:00PLEASE VOTE FOR WORLD JOY!Hey Everyone .... it's a dark, dreary, dismal rainy day here in Salt Lake this morning. I HATE this kind of weather. Give me the sunshine and I'm a happy camper! You'll all probably laugh in a few weeks when my tune changes. I'll be leaving for Africa on June 22nd and I'm sure I will be experiencing some very hot and rainy weather. UGH! But I'm soooo looking forward to the trip. I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited ... all emotions are swirling around in my head. I'm not afraid that something scary is going to happen to me. I think I know what I will encounter, but until I REALLY see and feel the poverty and the living conditions of the villagers it will hit me hard and it will be very emotional for me. Not sure how I can handle that. I want to help everyone and yet I know it's not possible!<br /><br />We had the most wonderful donation from Ogio. They delivered over $28,000 worth of backpacks and computer sleeves for our children and teachers in Ghana. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they are delivered. We have a fabulous sponsor who ships containers to Ghana every few months and has offered to ship the backpacks for free. Our first shipment of used books arrived a couple of weeks ago. They will be going into our first, ever school library. Isn't that marvelous?<br /><br />World Joy has been nominated for the Vivint Gives Back Project for 2011. With your help, we have the chance to win $250,000, but we need your votes daily to win. A few months ago the Utah Food Bank was in a voting campaign to receive one million dollars ... and with their supporters they were the winners of the million from WalMart! We just need to get the word out! Put the link on your facebook, blogs, e-mails and help us raise funds for our mothers and children in Africa. You can vote once a day for World Joy. Please get the ball rolling to help our wonderful charity.<br /><br />Here's the link to vote, <a href="http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject">http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject</a>. When you get to the site you'll need to click on the Mountain Zone, View All, List, and then click on the "W" for World Joy. There will be voting button to click on. Let's make this happen!<br /><br />Thanks to you demonstrators who have graciously donated retired alphabet sets, stamp sets, ink and paper to World Joy for our expedition. These supplies will be used in the classroom to help support our English teaching classes. We can still use more supplies. Please send to World Joy, 420 W. 1500 S., Ste. 101, Bountiful, UT 84010. If you let me know the value of your donation I can send you a receipt for tax purposes.<br /><br />Can't wait to see many of you at our upcoming Evening to Remember - World Joy 2011 event. We will be having an organized swap, with (20) in each group. You can access our web <a href="http://www.aneveningtoremember2011.com">here</a> for information regarding the swap. You will need to bring your own adhesive and scissors for your projects. I still have a few more seats available. Please visit <a href="http://worldjoyghana.org/">www.worldjoyghana.org</a> to register or call me at 801-797-9935.<br /><br />Loves and Hugs to All! -- LouLinda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-11783796874398826952011-05-04T08:12:00.000-07:002011-05-04T09:00:40.198-07:00I DID IT ... I REALLY DID IT!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs0ZdmVxA_raX38SG47OaBwIFi7MeXSdLZYoloaG6vG76DcL-uKh61QMGP3ebElWdHBbzShTC4nfuxcyfxEJD-L0tDR9Al6IhuvqiabU1s_-bh87c06ihnuDnLqlS7Vu_-UEbW8-iD4k/s1600/UStamp+2011+070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs0ZdmVxA_raX38SG47OaBwIFi7MeXSdLZYoloaG6vG76DcL-uKh61QMGP3ebElWdHBbzShTC4nfuxcyfxEJD-L0tDR9Al6IhuvqiabU1s_-bh87c06ihnuDnLqlS7Vu_-UEbW8-iD4k/s400/UStamp+2011+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602879986896862850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqcT3JOziw_ql-OsPpMgzF-3bvPZv1jzFCk5_KPwEHDLQlLgMHyp5GWDOICxCoHCTtkggq7PusdTcEZWQsEsHWw1g_MFmZY_Hi-tvPkNE2JBrrBznVkZCgJeAqDeqYffhVzgethpPrRY/s1600/UStamp+2011+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqcT3JOziw_ql-OsPpMgzF-3bvPZv1jzFCk5_KPwEHDLQlLgMHyp5GWDOICxCoHCTtkggq7PusdTcEZWQsEsHWw1g_MFmZY_Hi-tvPkNE2JBrrBznVkZCgJeAqDeqYffhVzgethpPrRY/s400/UStamp+2011+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602879983854294066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAky3xodXapwbH3tA1NSy5owPsGJObq5V9bAJLucnqwK5eF_GreAj38lXXgu2wsqhsufP2FruaPUzHHN9mvKxEqs1jb_u2VD8GTI1Eh0-EMwHzqSMxDy7bW8DCSZf-EWlTulKk7XXCQhs/s1600/UStamp+2011+066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAky3xodXapwbH3tA1NSy5owPsGJObq5V9bAJLucnqwK5eF_GreAj38lXXgu2wsqhsufP2FruaPUzHHN9mvKxEqs1jb_u2VD8GTI1Eh0-EMwHzqSMxDy7bW8DCSZf-EWlTulKk7XXCQhs/s400/UStamp+2011+066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602879667021404194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5dEx2n2i10Sf8aRBgapwjMCjbZL_98v46ldVfAbgQ6U-I6sFkGOrOdhXr2KUD1e5HChZu2C3q7FWUTqkP6txY4XAH7_8961KsodgxGbOT7qeOG0YmL5_CPcr4xnQeWgFo_8BAnjM4A0/s1600/UStamp+2011+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5dEx2n2i10Sf8aRBgapwjMCjbZL_98v46ldVfAbgQ6U-I6sFkGOrOdhXr2KUD1e5HChZu2C3q7FWUTqkP6txY4XAH7_8961KsodgxGbOT7qeOG0YmL5_CPcr4xnQeWgFo_8BAnjM4A0/s400/UStamp+2011+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602879985173334642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySW5-R0NTlWjOGWfqIRyWsd5a4ro_P_aFCx4pHZP6_PpyE_m_DeFbjFBmurb_QEYmyoO6UdGRl73puE6q4fx2ouPdxjOLzcVUf-QfQx_LpihdkF2Gj9tNAFeW1kDyQnZuWQL2AQTouLI/s1600/UStamp+2011+073.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySW5-R0NTlWjOGWfqIRyWsd5a4ro_P_aFCx4pHZP6_PpyE_m_DeFbjFBmurb_QEYmyoO6UdGRl73puE6q4fx2ouPdxjOLzcVUf-QfQx_LpihdkF2Gj9tNAFeW1kDyQnZuWQL2AQTouLI/s400/UStamp+2011+073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602879992393649378" border="0" /></a>Two weeks ago I participated in my first ever Half Marathon. I've told you before, but I'll tell you again ... I've NEVER run in my life. Well, once ... when I was a teenager and was being chased by a bear. For reals! My counsins and I had walked about 7 miles across the fields to our other ranch in Montana, up in the mountains for a day of fishing and lunching. My cousin caught a fish and a nice, ole bear smelled that fish and proceeded to chase after him, until he threw the fishing pole and fish down and ran. The bear was more interested in the fish, thank heavens! I think we ran the entire 7 miles without stopping and didn't dare look back.<br /><br />Anyway, a few months ago I shared with you how I was crazy, but was going to train for my first race. I faithfully trained, following the Jeff Galloway 'walking' schedule for the half marathon. I can't remember how many weeks we trained, but it seemed like it was forever! My daughters would come to the house early Saturday mornings for our long runs/walks. I began to dread our Saturdays because it took up most of the morning. But I loved the talks and associations with my girls.<br /><br />The night before the race we met at Mimi's Cafe for a pasta feast. Well, mine wasn't much of a feast, because of my small tummy, but it was good and we had a great time laughing, chatting, eating, and geting our minds set for the big race the next day.<br /><br />My baby sis and her daughter from Idaho came and joined us for the race. They too had been training. My oldest daughter Angie, and middle daughter, Laurel have both joined Weight Watchers and have lost 60 pounds. I'm soooo proud of them, and they raced with us, as well. My darling daughter-in law, Camie and my niece, Nancy joined us too. (Nancy qualified for the Boston Marathon so we weren't quite in her league. And Camie is running a Tri-athalon in a few weeks. She's not only a racer, but a biker too.) So we had a great group to train and motivate each other.<br /><br />The day of the race dawned bright and early! I was sooo excited, but nervous for the un-known. I was certain that completing the race wouldn't be an issue, but I wanted to complete it in 3 hours. That would mean keeping a pace of a 15 minute mile, which is pretty 'clippy'. The furthest we had walked was 10 1/2 miles in our training. What's another 2 1/2 miles, right? The course started up at Primary Children's Hospital, on a hill ... thank goodness. There were over 10,000 people in the race! Can you believe that? We made our way to the back of the pack. Our race number on our chest had a chip in it, and when we crossed over the start line, it started tracking our speed and time.<br /><br />I promised my daughter Angie that I wouldn't leave her and we would complete the race together. What a wonderful time we had. I remember seeing the first mile marker and we cheered and raised our arms in the air, as if we had just completed the marathon. It was exciting! There was a LOT of energy around us and it was a perfect morning for a race. The skies were overcast and the weather was perfect for a long sleeve top, with just a little threat of rain in the air. Not too hot, not too cold. As we made our way along the course, I noticed gloves, hats, jackets, and scarves thrown on the ground, left abandoned, waiting for the owners to hopefully retrieve them at the end of the race. Runners were already warming up and discarding their extra clothing. Thanks to Camie and the use of her top, "I was perfect ... not too hot, not too cold, just right", as Goldilocks would say.<br /><br />We were told that the race would be marked every mile, and it wasn't. It was disappointing because neither of us had those fancy Garmin watches to tell us how far we had gone and how fast our speed was. We were trying to calculate from our watches. But the best site of all was coming down 2700 South, which is just a few blocks from my home and hearing our baby daughter yelling and screaming for us, and seeing Lynn and Dieter and Lindsey waiting for us and cheering us on. It makes me cry just remembering the scene. We were still going strong and feeling great, other than we needed a 'potty' break. We would run some, walk some, and when I would lag behind, Angie would spur me on, and vice versa. We were sooo good for each other.<br /><br />We probably waited in line for the 'potty' at least 15 minutes. We were tempted to 'squat' behind a bush, but my dignity just wouldn't let me! Some runners who ran past us, looked like they had just went in their pants ... probably did ... that's what I'm told the serious runners do. I guess I'll never be a serious runner! After waiting all of that time for the 'potty' ... Ang decided that she wouldn't go, which caused us to have another potty break down the road.<br /><br />Who would have ever thought that I could walk from Primary Children's Hospital to my home? This was amazing! And I was still walking ... still had a long way to go. When we arrived at Liberty Park, we found another wonderful site ... Lynn, Dieter, and Linz cheering us on. It was exhilarating seeing the red, 23 mile marker. The red signs were for the full Marathon runners. The route split at Sugar House Park and then joined up just past Liberty Park. When we got to State Street and looked UP the hill, I thought, "Wow ... I never imagined State Street was soooo steep." You don't notice it when you're riding in a car up the street, but you sure do when you're walking it. Those last three miles weren't difficult at all. The hill was great! I had good tunes in my ears and was dancing and singing and 'egging' Ang up the hill. Later she told me that she was having a hard time and every bone in her body hurt. I had no 'hurts' at all ... not one little whit. It was amazing!<br /><br />We did have a good laugh when several good looking, fit, buff men ran past us. I thought, "Wow ... you mean we've been in front of these guys the whole race? Man ... we're really haulin'!" After a few more ran past us, the lady next to me said, "Those are the marathon runners!" Deflated I said, "Ohhhhh...."<br /><br />Coming down the home stretch was so energetic. Thinking that we were going to run right into the Gateway behind the Union Pacific, and then finding out that the route turned south for a few blocks was discouraging, because we had started running thinking it was the Finish Line. And of course there were thousands of our fans cheering us on, we couldn't stop running now .... we had to keep going, and we did! Our finish time was 3 hours 21 minutes. I figure that we made our goal of finishing in 3 hours because we stopped twice for a potty break.<br /><br />If you would like to see more pics of our race along the route, check out the website marathonfotos.com, put in my last name, Hansen, and choose the Salt Lake Marathon race and our pictures will come up. The 'sweat' on Angie's shirt is NOT 'sweat' ... she spilled her water.<br /><br />Well ... end of race, end of story. But wait ... there's more! I've signed up for the Halloween Half Marathon in October, running down Provo Canyon. It's downhill all the way and is supposed to be a beautiful run. Come join me if you're in the area. I'd LOVE having you. We have a group on Facebook where we motivate and encourage each other with our training program. Now, I've got to get back to training during the week. I've been a 'slacker' lately!Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-13980324124966265612011-04-07T13:00:00.000-07:002011-04-07T13:03:35.312-07:00Urgent Update!Thank you, thank you for the HUGE response to the building of our well in Abrenya, Ghana, Africa! We're ALMOST there. I only have a few spots left for our Evening to Remember, so first come first serve. I don't want to have to turn anyone away, like I had to last year.<br /><br />I'm soooo excited I'm going to cry ... literally. This is a dream come true. This could not be possible without your generous hearts.<br /><br />More later ... gotta run ... we have a well to drill!<br /><br />Love You -- LindaLinda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-52096076245452364662011-03-29T08:11:00.001-07:002011-03-29T08:41:13.515-07:00I'm Baaack!It's a great day! Wonderful things are in the works and I'm so grateful for all that the Lord has blessed me with. Let me share a few of those blessings.<br /><br />I'm so blessed to have you as my friends. You have been such a joy and inspiration in my life. You were with me through the passing of my mother, you have supported me in my Stampin' Up! days, you cheered me on in my weight loss success, and you continue to e-mail, phone, and send cards of encouragement of love and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you ... I'm so blessed!<br /><br />I know that we are all anxiously waiting for April 1st for the announcement of Stampin' Up!'s convention schedule. Once again, I can reassure you that World Joy's event will not interfere with anything that Stampin' Up! has planned. I've moved my event to 4:00 p.m. so you'll have plenty of time to come over and swap, stamp your projects and have a delicious buffet dinner, and be back in time for any festivities that Stampin' Up! may have planned.<br /><br />The reason why I tell you this in advance of April 1st is because the media is going to have me on their TV program announcing our event to build the well. The event will be open to the general public. I want to give you 'first dibs' on registering. <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/847056569">Click here to register.</a><br /><br />Why else am I excited? Because we are going to build a merry-go-round in our little village of Abrenya, the one we are raising money for the well, and the 'whirl' will generate electricity for the school and charge (40) battery operated lanterns for the children to take home in the evening. This village has NO electricity. The lanterns are assigned to leaders who are in charge of keeping them charged. The leaders are in charge of 6 children who gather in the evening as a study group around their lantern. Test scores have risen at least 50% since the children have been able to study at night. Isn't that AMAZING?? I'm going to the inventor's home to play on the 'whirl' and charge the lanterns to see how they work. Doesn't that sound like fun?<br /><br />Am I'm also excited because World Joy is coming to St. George, Utah and Mesa, Arizona. We'll be doing some fund raiser dinners and auctions in those cities this year. There is a wonderful lady who called our office yesterday and volunteered her reception center and is providing the food and venue for the event on December 2nd. I can't get over the generosity of people! And our Mesa event will be on November 6th.<br /><br />And .... I'm going to Ghana on June 24th! We will be teaching English to the school children. I'm so excited I can't wait. My Visa came the other day.<br /><br />What else am I excited about? Oh .... you know that I've been training for a Half Marathon on April 17th in Salt Lake. I'll be so happy to get it OVER with. Our long walks/runs are on Saturdays and it takes up such a big chunk of my time. I'm beginning to not like it sooo much. But I do like the results after the walk is over. I feel good ... well most of the time ... if I've had a good rest the night before. We walked 10 1/2 miles last Saturday!<br /><br />How am I doing with my weight? Well, I'm maintaining. When I started training for the Marathon I gained about 4 pounds. I've lost 2 of those. My weight stays right around 147-149. I'm still wearing a size 10 ... oh wait ... I bought a pair of size 8 corduroys the other day. I still continue eating too much sugar and have bad headaches. When will I EVER learn? After the candy is gone in the house I won't buy more, I promise!<br /><br />And last, but not least, I'm blessed with a wonderful family who love and support me. Most weekends have been spent tending grandchildren, which I adore. Our daughter Natalie joined us last week from Oregon for a few days. It was wonderful having her just to ourselves ... no children to compete with. She didn't have to make her bed ... got to sleep in ... eat when she wanted ... lounge around in her jammies ... and just have a relaxed time with her siblings and Mom and Dad. She needed the R&R. She's expecting her 4th baby.<br /><br />So, that's about it for now. I'm teaching myself how to can meat tonight. Pray I don't blow up the house with the pressure cooker! Yikes .... I'll share more on the Bag Meal preparation and why I'm canning meat. It's amazing what I've been doing with food storage and I'd love to share my recipes and how to's. It's great for the working Mom in helping simplify meal time!<br /><br />Love and Hugs to All! See you soon!Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-79971565139441511382011-02-21T10:34:00.000-08:002011-02-21T12:12:30.955-08:00Register Now for An Evening to Remember, 2011 - World Joy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ScMc64t7am042eVEb_8hUDBFjD5b4wfzo5cFTQ6odsXE0Ywq1hmO4GJ17qgbF_60dDNIzGmb92Fr2dacmNPsQo0kFywTWUhZtwNUUrxJpScLop917s3m_TDk4ZeQ-0wLkAV-ng-eX4/s1600/Gary+Ghana+Trip+October+2010+210.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7ScMc64t7am042eVEb_8hUDBFjD5b4wfzo5cFTQ6odsXE0Ywq1hmO4GJ17qgbF_60dDNIzGmb92Fr2dacmNPsQo0kFywTWUhZtwNUUrxJpScLop917s3m_TDk4ZeQ-0wLkAV-ng-eX4/s400/Gary+Ghana+Trip+October+2010+210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576230195458573234" border="0" /></a><br />I'm so excited I can barely stand it! The possibility of bringing clean, pure, beautiful drinking water to the villagers in Abrenya is becoming a reality with each new day. Many of you have already taken a leap of faith and registered for our event, not even knowing the schedule of events for convention. I thank you for your trust and support!<br /><br />I would never purposely plan anything to interfere with the scheduled events for convention. Not knowing what is being planned I need to take a 'leap of faith' and schedule my venue for Friday, July 15th. At the present I have our event scheduled from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">IF</span> we need to move the event to earlier in the afternnoon, I have the option of doing that as well.<br /><br />For those of you who attended last year, you know that it truly WAS an Evening to Remember. Not only was the food 'to die for', but the renewing of old acquaintances, and making new friends, and stamping gorgeous projects, and participating in the best swap ever was priceless. BUT this year will be even BETTER, because your participation is truly making a difference in that little village in Ghana. Seats are going quickly, so don't delay.<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/847056569"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Click on this link to pay for your spot for An Evening to Remember and build the well in Abrenya!.</span><br /></a><br />For those of you who can't attend Convention, you can still participate in the building of the well. We'll accept any donation, large or small, and it's tax deductible! <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);" href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1347393089">Click on this link to make a donation for the building of the well.</a><br /><br />So what's for eats on the menu. Let's see, how about The Traditional Buffet, with all you can eat.<br /><ol><li>Mixed green salad with condiments and dressing.</li><li>Assorted seasonal fruit tray.</li><li>Prime Rib with Au Jus</li><li>Apricot cranberry glazed chicken</li><li>Seasonal vegetables</li><li>Parslied new red potatoes</li><li>Chocolate macadamia nut moussecake with an Oreo cookie crust.</li><li>Hard rolls<br /></li><li>Sparkling cranberry juice</li></ol>Yummm ... my mouth is watering just thinking about the food. It's excellent! You'll love it, I promise.<br /><br />And yes, we'll have an organized swap that you'll want to sign up for. More details forthcoming. There will also be an incredible item that will be up for 'auction'. I'm not going to tell you just what it is ... but it's something that you'll ALL want, I promise! So, save your pennies for the 'live' auction item.<br /><br />And, last but not least, don't forget the incredible stamping projects donated by the one and only, Dawn Rapsas! Dawn is the creator of UStamp with Dawn and Friends. This is an amazing website which gives you access to incredible stamping projects with tutorials and step by step instructions with pictures. This new round of projects will focus on the Big Shot. Dawn has a line up of incredible designers, including the one and only, Jaron Winder, and THE Designer of our Exclusive Stampin' Up! Bigz XL Die the O Christmas Tree Pop-Up and the Pop-Up Three Tier Cake, Karen Burniston. Oh, and did I mention ... I'm a Guest Designer on UStamp too and I've got some great projects that I've already started working on. You won't want to miss out. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://ustampwithdawnandfriends.com/375/ustampbigshot11600">Please click on this link to register for UStamp with Dawn.</a><br /><br />That's about it for now. Don't delay. Last year's An Evening to Remember sold out quickly!Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-2937688639161817222011-01-18T07:36:00.000-08:002011-01-18T10:36:33.410-08:00Get Ready ... Get Set ... Go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF63TpUs64BJT-1Q1zwsUSTDuEoeabQRFOFO6t2WrzgP0h0wxCeJmLaWF4EWQgdKckUhYCCJ8eUiM0nRrXA9qOqNTQGJlQ7Lm_vrp3ofqGP2Fk-ZEVklzuv94vWpiyPjBi1LtA5tgyPCM/s1600/Employee+Pictures+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF63TpUs64BJT-1Q1zwsUSTDuEoeabQRFOFO6t2WrzgP0h0wxCeJmLaWF4EWQgdKckUhYCCJ8eUiM0nRrXA9qOqNTQGJlQ7Lm_vrp3ofqGP2Fk-ZEVklzuv94vWpiyPjBi1LtA5tgyPCM/s400/Employee+Pictures+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563550857561547298" border="0" /></a>Before I break the<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> BIG </span>news ... let me tell you a quick story. Almost two years ago, I took my last trip with Stampin' Up! to London, Ontario, Canada. On the way home we had a layover in Detroit, Michigan. I had my really expensive handbag on the chair next to me. It was a later flight in the evening and the only people down by our gate were the ones waiting to board our plane. My traveling companion sat down next to me and her skirt was covering my purse so I didn't see it when I stood up to board the plane. As soon as I got seated on the plane I realized that my purse was missing. The pilot had me come up to the front of the cockpit while he radioed for help to find my purse. But alas my purse was gone. It was the worst trip home ... because everything was in my purse, from SS card to passport, check book, debit card, camera, glasses ... you name it, it was in there! It's the most horrible feeling knowing that someone is pilfering through your personal items and knows a lot about you.<br /><br />Just before Christmas I got a notice in the mail saying that some loose items had been found at the post office and there was postage due of $1.90 for the items. I kept ignoring the attempt to deliver because I didn't know of anyone sending me a package. I finally stopped at the PO and the desk clerk retrieved the envelope with my name on it and told me to open the package and I could refuse it if needed. I opened the envelope and the message inside was from the post office in Detroit telling me that some loose items had been found at their office. Out plopped my Stampin' Up! passport holder and inside was my credit cards, DL, and passport. I was floored. This has been almost two years! My temple recommend and SS card is still missing, which concerns me and of course my camera, glasses and nice handbag .... BOOOOO! Just wish I knew the story behind the stolen purse. Wouldn't that be interesting? Anyway, someone was either feeling guilty or simply found my items dumped somewhere. Thank you whoever you are!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3oOZPMOXSYychMFZIv5_kWGrdtWs7HwaEjca-OuE7eLQYD-wmdCU-nUydJWx4XIAzcJY39Rk6BYdPCV5S4RKSp13TV7IdNU8xrbqv81qqTy0OOU6dPECZbiQNBpULUh12IBvXCQ9PHI/s1600/163002_1588417914726_1364160797_31392729_3435472_s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3oOZPMOXSYychMFZIv5_kWGrdtWs7HwaEjca-OuE7eLQYD-wmdCU-nUydJWx4XIAzcJY39Rk6BYdPCV5S4RKSp13TV7IdNU8xrbqv81qqTy0OOU6dPECZbiQNBpULUh12IBvXCQ9PHI/s400/163002_1588417914726_1364160797_31392729_3435472_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563557003480329282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpNcjums4pqsOtnVREHXy1Z0__Ro86LtfwS6cOtsDtyZezGCA9hd4UB_pQnXFKTNFdkp8bc85PxsK3p5XDppVKtHEoNvGQQegfaQBXsygXE8qCDnBfDkldt5fYNI7qN-G2yopHAik7bk/s1600/179010_1588416794698_1364160797_31392728_4963667_s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpNcjums4pqsOtnVREHXy1Z0__Ro86LtfwS6cOtsDtyZezGCA9hd4UB_pQnXFKTNFdkp8bc85PxsK3p5XDppVKtHEoNvGQQegfaQBXsygXE8qCDnBfDkldt5fYNI7qN-G2yopHAik7bk/s400/179010_1588416794698_1364160797_31392728_4963667_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563557010298854674" border="0" /></a><br />O.K... so I just participated in my FIRST EVER 5K Frigid Race in Provo, Utah. What an amazing experience! I'm not a runner and don't profess to be one. I've only been training for the Salt Lake Half Marathon for less than three weeks, but my daughter-in-law talked me into running with her. Although the air was 'gunky' and it was cold .... duh .... wonder why it's called the Frigid 5K?... it was a wonderful experience. There were only about 35 in the race and they were mostly young college kids. That was to my advantage because I received an award for the oldest female and I had the best time in my division ... 43:47 for 3.2 miles. Not too shabby for an ole slow-poke. I walked fairly fast and shuffled a few times. There was a lady with a dog behind me and a young, heavy-set girl behind her. I was bound and determined that they weren't going to beat me. Every time I heard the woman running behind me, I picked up the pace. I beat em' both! I think I'll enter the Chinese New Year 5K race in February. Come join me!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Now for the BIG NEWS .... YES .</span>.. I'm going to have another <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Evening to Remember </span>in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Salt Lake City, Utah</span> on <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">July 15, 2011 </span>at the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Joseph Smith Memorial Building.</span> I was debating the other day about having the event because it's so much work and after hearing about the forgotten Village of Abrenya, the thought hit me like a bolt of lightening ... why not hold the event, charge $50 more than last year and donate all of the proceeds for the building of the well. I contacted the villagers and they are so excited to think that this may become a reality. And by paying your money directly to World Joy, this will be a tax write off for you because we're a 501 (c)3 non-profit foundation.<br /><br />I'm taking reservations now, and payment, because all of the profits will be donated to World Joy to build a well in the Village of Abrenya, Ghana, Africa. (I need $10,000) They need to build the well during the dry months which is January-March, hence that's the reason for taking payment now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8YCgxa5K-S0YO4v4xXjFtNsRuUFJAY78E_idKN_IFRUg9wKgrT7iTKHcU7m2kYETpFF_n3J1h1Ib-d9zutP0t72M846GcOt5LpHa6JBcgAfBgtO-K7D9OToeGNGJ2TA44sAd-CdiqA/s1600/antr2010-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8YCgxa5K-S0YO4v4xXjFtNsRuUFJAY78E_idKN_IFRUg9wKgrT7iTKHcU7m2kYETpFF_n3J1h1Ib-d9zutP0t72M846GcOt5LpHa6JBcgAfBgtO-K7D9OToeGNGJ2TA44sAd-CdiqA/s400/antr2010-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563557008214976674" border="0" /></a><br />The cost for the event will be $100, which will include a delicious buffet dinner, gorgeous ambiance and view of the city, entertainment, and some stamping projects. Call me quickly at 801-294-5581, World Joy from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to reserve your spot. I can accept credit cards over the phone or you can e-mail me your information at lindah@worldjoyinc.org. Or you can send a check to World Joy, 420 W. 1500 S., Ste. 101, Bountiful, Utah 84010. Remember, last year's event sold out in less than a day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTjzlZViTMvLQwjUEFpOwdLNJ65lcYKID4p60j3WEvgtT93I2BSWDREcofd6Mz0aSLHlmzJujQCPbT9YclbOqmmXgI7C0ykNLe1VEusAyPYN51f5izKPNVUk2QgFeMchM101kaQ4dD1s/s1600/antr2010-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTjzlZViTMvLQwjUEFpOwdLNJ65lcYKID4p60j3WEvgtT93I2BSWDREcofd6Mz0aSLHlmzJujQCPbT9YclbOqmmXgI7C0ykNLe1VEusAyPYN51f5izKPNVUk2QgFeMchM101kaQ4dD1s/s400/antr2010-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563557014500336466" border="0" /></a><br />Now for another <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">BIG ANNOUNCEMENT</span> .... Our famous, one and only, Dawn Rapsas from the state of New Jersey has offered to donate ALL of the stamping supplies for the projects that will be made at the event! Dawn is one of the most generous, kind, happy, creative, business oriented, exciting, and motivational people I have ever known. In 2008-2009, Dawn earned the status of #32 Demonstrator of the Year. In 2009-2010 she was #1 Demo of the Year. And for 2010-2011 she earned the title of #3 Demo of the Year! Last year she was the Winner of the Workshop of a Lifetime Recruiting Challenge. She is also the creator and CEO of UStamp with Dawn. For a small fee you will have access to some of the greatest stampers in the world, showing you projects through pictures, detailed instructions, and video. Thousands of crafters have received ideas for their personal projects as well as their business ideas.<br /><br />Our stamping projects for the evening will be phenomenal, thanks to our own Dawn. We love you, Dawn!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9CQYHvQHXuYXfAdvePvbbjsKE-KuJH0nh62i5gMKL9wOHC8h4WyR-B-rBU4hOfhDdrNXvEB0_y6A-OCyIbPvtGs46QAuiL66zE2MZdVOG14atx_CbUwKTL8NLHVn2X-fc5ya2l86Kqs/s1600/6a00d8341f656c53ef010536fa9ded970c-150wi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9CQYHvQHXuYXfAdvePvbbjsKE-KuJH0nh62i5gMKL9wOHC8h4WyR-B-rBU4hOfhDdrNXvEB0_y6A-OCyIbPvtGs46QAuiL66zE2MZdVOG14atx_CbUwKTL8NLHVn2X-fc5ya2l86Kqs/s400/6a00d8341f656c53ef010536fa9ded970c-150wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563588313402170178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWJkUDU2ElP0hVsvsWKNI2vLDwxJ9r1pB7MdiPYhoCieRO6F2rJiMnWxVM_5ECXFHcWmamv1hCjrYYqUvL0sTMz8Rwr4un_FvqWUtbZ7Q-qaMITRfjVrJGXZ3qpUJxz2zdcVaA75dHGU/s1600/antr2010-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWJkUDU2ElP0hVsvsWKNI2vLDwxJ9r1pB7MdiPYhoCieRO6F2rJiMnWxVM_5ECXFHcWmamv1hCjrYYqUvL0sTMz8Rwr4un_FvqWUtbZ7Q-qaMITRfjVrJGXZ3qpUJxz2zdcVaA75dHGU/s400/antr2010-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563588788068398162" border="0" /></a>Due to the payment of the drilling of the well, in advance of our Evening to Remember, there can be no refunds. But, if for some reason you are not able to make the event, you are welcome to sell/give your seat to another attendee.Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-11127025157968623772011-01-06T13:26:00.000-08:002011-01-06T13:26:22.217-08:00World Joy<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jUW8s-MmQQE?fs=1" width="480" frameborder="0" height="295"></iframe>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-91766835593732716322010-12-27T11:50:00.000-08:002010-12-28T07:16:29.311-08:00Grandkids, Sewing, and Family!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU6ltneloebSs7VRq_Z_WcTbLPRfRNCVGT1KGaL2YuXgtoq0APfZBXLHI4Z8OKBCrgu9XB5d2J7Ss-cct82IYPMlj4pmNSq7SLgAi3S7WFGl48sBJB3YQEW27CafemcDj22ZN5rywEOQ/s1600/IMG_0096%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU6ltneloebSs7VRq_Z_WcTbLPRfRNCVGT1KGaL2YuXgtoq0APfZBXLHI4Z8OKBCrgu9XB5d2J7Ss-cct82IYPMlj4pmNSq7SLgAi3S7WFGl48sBJB3YQEW27CafemcDj22ZN5rywEOQ/s400/IMG_0096%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453707419179938" border="0" /></a>What a way to spend the holiday season ... taking care of grandkids. A week before Christmas our youngest daughter, Lindsey, asked us if we would take care of their three kids while they attended a wedding, wedding breakfast, dinner, reception, and a temple sealing the next day. Of course we said yes. I was really nervous about tending the 'wee one'. She doesn't like me and pushes my face away when I try to kiss her. But after her parents dropped her off, she was my new best friend. So cute ... and would cry when I would walk out of the room. She was a darling, as were the other two. Laurel dropped by to visit with Addy and we talked Addy into spending the night too, so we had four kids to watch. It was Ellie's birthday so we took them all to McDonalds for dinner. We haven't been to McDonalds for years and as we drove up to the establishment I noticed there was a Playland inside. "Oh horrors", I thought, "I'll bet their mothers never let them play in those germ infested areas." But I'm the granny and I get to take liberties so I indulged them and let them climb and slide down the slides to their hearts content. They loved it! As we were pulling away from the curb heading home the phone rang and it was Laurel, Addy's mom, asking her how she was doing. This was the conversation we heard on Addy's end. "Yep, Mom, we're having a great time. We're playing at McDonald's and they have a giant slide we got to play on. And guess what? They don't have any balls with poo on them!" We laughed and laughed. Of course she proceeded to keep saying that phrase over and over because she was getting laughs out of all of us! She had overheard me earlier saying to Lynn that I was glad the place didn't have those balls that the kids land into, with poo on them!<br /><br />Normally the kids go to bed quite early, but I had instructions to bathe the kids and then put Ellie's long hair into these springy roller things that I had to figure out how to do. Talk about difficult! You have to use a big ole crochet looking hook and pull the hair through this springy contraption that when dried produces the most beautiful ringlets you've ever seen. Well it took me over an hour to put her hair up. She didn't mind at all because I put on a new fairy movie and she was oblivious to what I was doing with her hair.<br /><br />Got them to bed around 10:00 p.m. and Ben was up in my room at 4:00 a.m. telling me that he couldn't find Ellie. I guess he was scared. By the time I got back downstairs, the three older kids were up and ready for the day so I put on a movie and let them stay up and I went in the sewing room to work on aprons for my girls!<br /><br />Yes, that was my big surprise for the girls ... aprons for all the daughters in honor of my mother who was the best cook in the entire world. She loved polka dots so each apron had polka dots on them in honor of her. I tried to pick out colors and fabric that represented each girl. Each evening was spent hunched over the sewing machine sewing like a maniac. I cut out most of the aprons at work on my lunch time and would sew each evening and some times early morning before work. I took off Thursday and started sewing at 5:00 a.m. and finished my last apron around 10:30 that morning. Now my back has been giving me fits. I even had to go to the chiro to get an adjustment. It's still bothering me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Xvh2Yw6otq_KbVkk0vwqg0V_IYHLSgKNmHwsquu_Waon1XXL9ssDOGTF2Q-bC62nrPpP6l5hnorbMTOvGbbMfdfDfV9SPTw_8nAhwo3-BwSDtpIKt3FHH9vJaeqYlc4lId8yCWXmkVc/s1600/IMG_0112%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Xvh2Yw6otq_KbVkk0vwqg0V_IYHLSgKNmHwsquu_Waon1XXL9ssDOGTF2Q-bC62nrPpP6l5hnorbMTOvGbbMfdfDfV9SPTw_8nAhwo3-BwSDtpIKt3FHH9vJaeqYlc4lId8yCWXmkVc/s400/IMG_0112%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453701468932466" border="0" /></a>We had a wonderful Christmas eve dinner and party at my home ... Hansen tradition. All were here except my oldest son Ryan and his family. We missed them, but they were spending the evening with her family. These four little kids went to sit down at their table and were asking where their paper plates were. One of the kids answered, "You're not eating on paper plates. You're eating on REAL plates!" They were astonished to think that they got to eat on REAL plates. And guess what? When I went to clear their table there wasn't one spot of food on the table cloth! Talk about great table manners for those wee ones!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNC2Yy-7oxKXf4v7RHNPmELlzSFxAQAw-1JAfW5a5gZMYkQZYcQg0_QaL_0nc4pTtoR2zIh3QJT4sEKip5JzOOLI7bczwoxP_ikjAli76Dq39PDq4p_9Lqqq3M0atluQs7I9krxEu84g/s1600/IMG_0115%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNC2Yy-7oxKXf4v7RHNPmELlzSFxAQAw-1JAfW5a5gZMYkQZYcQg0_QaL_0nc4pTtoR2zIh3QJT4sEKip5JzOOLI7bczwoxP_ikjAli76Dq39PDq4p_9Lqqq3M0atluQs7I9krxEu84g/s400/IMG_0115%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453690772073938" border="0" /></a>D.J. is showing off Ginger's incredible twice baked potato casserole ... in his mouth. They really were incredible, loaded with lots of butter and bacon. I think that was the favorite part of the meal ... next to my famous homemade rolls and buttah!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv9mlHvJIdGa7Bx-LRsab5kA3hyhhD9Kf2fRTpQflZo1N6m-jucJOMuHW6vo1FboqXtFneTQaBzvQaMrG0QB_2m9-OoKWmQK3MXo7bV3Q2T_qXPygpujZGoxYAYl_o-15okmSKlCaOWQ/s1600/IMG_0116%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv9mlHvJIdGa7Bx-LRsab5kA3hyhhD9Kf2fRTpQflZo1N6m-jucJOMuHW6vo1FboqXtFneTQaBzvQaMrG0QB_2m9-OoKWmQK3MXo7bV3Q2T_qXPygpujZGoxYAYl_o-15okmSKlCaOWQ/s400/IMG_0116%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453687483339666" border="0" /></a> My youngest baby girl, sweet Linz.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5udJc0XQIlyQhkTvZtVgjMu-oM-2I0UqUywGDqtg0JY9zl3GpD5Od0Lx-5OirJV5RW3o_ZaTGGj8UBl5w59IqKIDz1yrCKGvg37dG9Ym55OUAfD2bdGykTeNB18ZSUrm4Cmr3hPg8mY/s1600/IMG_0114%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5udJc0XQIlyQhkTvZtVgjMu-oM-2I0UqUywGDqtg0JY9zl3GpD5Od0Lx-5OirJV5RW3o_ZaTGGj8UBl5w59IqKIDz1yrCKGvg37dG9Ym55OUAfD2bdGykTeNB18ZSUrm4Cmr3hPg8mY/s400/IMG_0114%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453237016341842" border="0" /></a><br />These wee ones had paper plates and cups, but didn't seem to mind.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkoL65HLyD05-RLVvufjSv4xg8ahDLMD7ZhMaxDduEJGE6qzywLnGr2L84hDxYfrDqJK9HhWxGsYHMxFTrJx9bNrr_AT2AgAYhMfLxyhZk8Y7UbRpE_iMHHdoA8fRu0qkXyOnJKYuQPE/s1600/IMG_0111%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkoL65HLyD05-RLVvufjSv4xg8ahDLMD7ZhMaxDduEJGE6qzywLnGr2L84hDxYfrDqJK9HhWxGsYHMxFTrJx9bNrr_AT2AgAYhMfLxyhZk8Y7UbRpE_iMHHdoA8fRu0qkXyOnJKYuQPE/s400/IMG_0111%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555453066623421714" border="0" /></a><br />Look at my Lee Lee (Liam). He was having a melt-down but obviously knows what to do when someone wants to snap his pictures. He paused long enough to smile for the picture, then went back to crying!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFA78BmMsyHhZu5IxseESP4L8Q2WiIjpuLaP-AUeWf3sNbilbRhhxorztxDUPMg2GfVbMex84wSuSDyTqBmTntMkDapmUvxcA9BB1DtyB9A4V0OjO-UXsm7mu8dX1mo5SDG4LvIwDMu0/s1600/IMG_0119%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFA78BmMsyHhZu5IxseESP4L8Q2WiIjpuLaP-AUeWf3sNbilbRhhxorztxDUPMg2GfVbMex84wSuSDyTqBmTntMkDapmUvxcA9BB1DtyB9A4V0OjO-UXsm7mu8dX1mo5SDG4LvIwDMu0/s400/IMG_0119%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555452807421994034" border="0" /></a>Here's 5 of the 7 daughters who received the aprons. From L to R --- Laura, Reese's wife who is expecting their first baby in May ... Angie, Laurel, Ginger, and Lindsey. Nat got an apron but lives in Oregon and Camie got one too, but wasn't at the party.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd4UVVmnvyUdl7KMusVCOHWmOed7xhpF9J3bCCUMW4YYrLyMZ1y99slT418IJ5LphRp51a9hyNPpmTnmuIQPxLNxPIg4_hRd6oDgXE-rgcZfpKSxG2kv6Oa6HOWF7q_N62j42W2OLvbs/s1600/IMG_0128%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd4UVVmnvyUdl7KMusVCOHWmOed7xhpF9J3bCCUMW4YYrLyMZ1y99slT418IJ5LphRp51a9hyNPpmTnmuIQPxLNxPIg4_hRd6oDgXE-rgcZfpKSxG2kv6Oa6HOWF7q_N62j42W2OLvbs/s400/IMG_0128%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555452565288324290" border="0" /></a>Got up bright and early on Christmas day ... well actually this was the first year that Lynn and I have been alone on Christmas day with no kids at home. Dieter woke us up at 4:45 a.m. so we got up, got dressed and started a tradition, this year, to go to some of the kid's homes and watch them open their Christmas gifts. Got to Angie and Boyd's at 7:00, rang the door bell and woke them up! I told Lynn that it was so much fun watching them with their Christmas that I didn't even care if I got one single present. He didn't echo my sentiments! Dieter loved Bryant as you can tell from the picture. Rudolph kissed Bryant and the boys while they were sleeping!<br /><br />Well -- I hope that each of you are prepared to have a wonderful New Year. It's going to be a great year. I have such fun things planned for this year and can't wait to share them with you. As soon as our IT guy posts the info I need to the World Joy dinner/stamping in July I'll start selling tickets for the event. There's a few of you who have already planned on going with me to Africa to do some service projects. There's a lot of work that we can do. We'll be there for about a week. I'm thinking that we'll probably go some time in April. Let me know if you would like to go too ... just have to pay your airfare and food. World Joy will cover your lodging in Abomosu.Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198935969614866862.post-42154017315824388482010-12-15T15:33:00.000-08:002010-12-15T16:27:01.187-08:00I'm Taking the Plunge!O.K. ... I've had an over-whelming response regarding the World Joy fund-raiser dinner and I'm going to do it! I've reserved the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, same place as last year for July 15, 2011. I may be able to take as many as 250 people.<br /><br />I had an amazing conversation with a dear demonstrator who wants to donate all of the stamping supplies for our stamping projects. I was almost in tears, I was so amazed at the generosity and kindness. Bet you would have laughed if you could have seen me waltzing around my office shouting for joy. I'm still in shock! As soon as I receive permission to use her name in my blog, I'll give a big tribute to her. She's incredible!<br /><br />Not only will we have a wonderful dinner, like we did last time, but I'm working on some incredible entertainment. No, it's not Jaron ... even though I'm sure he'll sing a few numbers for us, if asked. And no, it's not me. He's a recording artist and I'm almost certain he'll entertain us for 'free' when he hears our purpose.<br /><br />I've also had a few of you 'opt' into the trip. I'm in communication with our people in Ghana to arrange some service projects while there. I'm hoping to take a group of you over the first quarter in the new year.<br /><br />I'll let you know how to reserve your seat for the dinner as soon as my web contact links the credit card information to our World Joy site. And remember, your donation (not the dinner portion) is tax deductible since it is going to a non-profit organization. We'll have door prizes, stamping, and entertainment, and fabulous food.<br /><br />We had a nightmare trip to Oregon for Thanksgiving! Normally we can drive it in 12 hours. It took us 17 hours and my daughter-in law and I had to ride in the back seat of the pickup truck with NO leg room. And I had a dog laying across my lap almost the entire trip. The roads were horrible ... even some road closures in Idaho. At one point we were stopped in the middle of no-where with several truckers and family vehicles. The kid in front of us was in shorts and got his unicycle out of the car and was riding up and down the highway. It was frigid cold and windy. There were people out of their cars visiting with one another and dogs running free. After almost an hour they opened the road and we were on our way. Coming home was just as bad...another 17 hours. We finally stopped in Ontario, Oregon and spent the night. Boy were we ever tired! I don't think we'll take a road trip again in the winter months. Next time, we'll fly!<br /><br />I miss my little Oregonians. Wish they lived closer! BOOOOOO! Are you all getting ready for the big day? I still have a lot of sewing to do, but no worries ... I'm having a ball with all of the church and work parties.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkZWkkaOPeRG4_QRxDiiiTgVRaXCJVBl5iJzIzczyBqk0wsyDQtBKb54J972jGmH78y_Lrjmm32_vjVm5-xT4Pvt7kPkk1bwknDkoopkQq175Y34gWveJP47RqAaVFYBGMq1P8dl7ukg/s1600/IMG_0085%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkZWkkaOPeRG4_QRxDiiiTgVRaXCJVBl5iJzIzczyBqk0wsyDQtBKb54J972jGmH78y_Lrjmm32_vjVm5-xT4Pvt7kPkk1bwknDkoopkQq175Y34gWveJP47RqAaVFYBGMq1P8dl7ukg/s400/IMG_0085%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551066410104060786" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It was raining and a wee bit cold when Lynn and I took 5 of the grandkids to Hogle Zoo for the Zoo lights. His company paid for all the tickets, plus dinner and gift for the kids. What a company and very family oriented! Don't laugh at my hair ... remember it was raining!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkVAHu9UYlx2XuxH5FnuV-QLYO2vEz_mG_O1cqqSPSHGkbu9FEC3JSi6YY_4IjfHQK_6S7NmOoAgbVAHAmYxxulHPb-0Ijsq_NeNL6804-LtP5jZS3IYUWRb8yrqCp4Nv6B3in-8EPFk/s1600/IMG_0070%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkVAHu9UYlx2XuxH5FnuV-QLYO2vEz_mG_O1cqqSPSHGkbu9FEC3JSi6YY_4IjfHQK_6S7NmOoAgbVAHAmYxxulHPb-0Ijsq_NeNL6804-LtP5jZS3IYUWRb8yrqCp4Nv6B3in-8EPFk/s400/IMG_0070%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551066416827486562" border="0" /></a>When you put on the Zoo Lights glasses, all of the lights turn into snowflakes. It's amazing! Look at little Ellie with the glasses on top of her glasses. Yummo --- hamburgers!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9NFkqzPX4wCzW_CRUj7LM1YkxZaaJNjO2sCflt56wT4ia_sqeTDKoFAtEZTrL3FBRyFbpqN5KPhyphenhyphengrwtd4sxOVzUoGYqLaWZ8sAsr5VHEJO_spRFqBx1f6xn8z74a4lf5fl5VkT1vyc/s1600/IMG_0071%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9NFkqzPX4wCzW_CRUj7LM1YkxZaaJNjO2sCflt56wT4ia_sqeTDKoFAtEZTrL3FBRyFbpqN5KPhyphenhyphengrwtd4sxOVzUoGYqLaWZ8sAsr5VHEJO_spRFqBx1f6xn8z74a4lf5fl5VkT1vyc/s400/IMG_0071%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551066421020297474" border="0" /></a>Addison ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpWtfv4pIcH8HEeBsM7voulIqKx8KDDFX7fqUdG3RVYWUknrHQ0Lry6q0DiUdLxq28zUwGF88dRPtYmVh3wxx8LQpG9Tqi7NJWndknkZ46WOcI6d-W8lYWsHdyZxvllMK7wBJGD4wI4M/s1600/IMG_0072%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpWtfv4pIcH8HEeBsM7voulIqKx8KDDFX7fqUdG3RVYWUknrHQ0Lry6q0DiUdLxq28zUwGF88dRPtYmVh3wxx8LQpG9Tqi7NJWndknkZ46WOcI6d-W8lYWsHdyZxvllMK7wBJGD4wI4M/s400/IMG_0072%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551066423671841682" border="0" /></a>Ginny<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaFpPLXfmsc2YLPkpQA0NMu-of_Ux9vBlD_3c7BKGFAU2LUwkgP_Kzn3YlsFsaBE3PuipFgi-Opca_1JnUzVbhOXyakbSBPZexTk5coDlVlq4V1JG4GLl7fzD4k85ajutP9YX99hYyM/s1600/IMG_0074%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaFpPLXfmsc2YLPkpQA0NMu-of_Ux9vBlD_3c7BKGFAU2LUwkgP_Kzn3YlsFsaBE3PuipFgi-Opca_1JnUzVbhOXyakbSBPZexTk5coDlVlq4V1JG4GLl7fzD4k85ajutP9YX99hYyM/s400/IMG_0074%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551066426510348466" border="0" /></a><br />Benny -- with catsup on his face!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdghPe1SWK1QMq8xmNkOFomGhJpahXd1tuM2YyLtM1mwX-sbIi9Q0_fYfcKTkBm9USfxlVxAqcoTKVP3mVCJ-6XBDnvNHgfZiJn5tgLxpNuivwH1UGUvZKW0yHA0Zz2gmJ2UVs6VZvE4/s1600/IMG_0076%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdghPe1SWK1QMq8xmNkOFomGhJpahXd1tuM2YyLtM1mwX-sbIi9Q0_fYfcKTkBm9USfxlVxAqcoTKVP3mVCJ-6XBDnvNHgfZiJn5tgLxpNuivwH1UGUvZKW0yHA0Zz2gmJ2UVs6VZvE4/s400/IMG_0076%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551068867981087394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdghPe1SWK1QMq8xmNkOFomGhJpahXd1tuM2YyLtM1mwX-sbIi9Q0_fYfcKTkBm9USfxlVxAqcoTKVP3mVCJ-6XBDnvNHgfZiJn5tgLxpNuivwH1UGUvZKW0yHA0Zz2gmJ2UVs6VZvE4/s1600/IMG_0076%255B1%255D.jpg">Reesie --- we only lost her once!</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczwzJLJJKBcWiyHX7DOma9yfH2RgKlfIIKAsJk_R0QbSg0C0dKO3nvGnO0RxbCZ10mOnYlj2atw7u94acMX2URGw9GB_SXCWUcuNMUlbTEOWkYFQ7IKrQGOK7B9gn3EvxwtDQpj_vOwk/s1600/IMG_0075%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczwzJLJJKBcWiyHX7DOma9yfH2RgKlfIIKAsJk_R0QbSg0C0dKO3nvGnO0RxbCZ10mOnYlj2atw7u94acMX2URGw9GB_SXCWUcuNMUlbTEOWkYFQ7IKrQGOK7B9gn3EvxwtDQpj_vOwk/s400/IMG_0075%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551069309397759650" border="0" /></a>Granny Linda!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0yLtmUsNuDbNYElTcaM7ANd0OvMC8VkNzDokwQH5eWOlMuAZIRZYMUWzhf0Xzn39JLmZcZCvtE2mZoS8emR4rfjsL9AfxD7aKIIsmipvgZEy3cCEuV7sv0takM5sTrq6XRiJ2nhtKPY/s1600/IMG_0087%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0yLtmUsNuDbNYElTcaM7ANd0OvMC8VkNzDokwQH5eWOlMuAZIRZYMUWzhf0Xzn39JLmZcZCvtE2mZoS8emR4rfjsL9AfxD7aKIIsmipvgZEy3cCEuV7sv0takM5sTrq6XRiJ2nhtKPY/s400/IMG_0087%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551069773871481218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Linda Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562046214689388800noreply@blogger.com2