4/25/09

Happy Birthday Harper

Dear Harper, 
I hope that your birthday is a great one. I sure had a fun time visiting with you while you were here in Texas. Did your mom make a really yummy carrot cake? I've included a video of you from not long ago to celebrate your youth. It's going to make your mom cry so have a tissue ready. Have a wonderful day! 
Much love, Grandma Vicki 
 
                                             

4/23/09

Four Most Caring Words

"We can't afford it"...
I love to watch those home shows on HGTV, one of my favorite being the makeovers. They take a home of modest looks and turn them into "gorgeous living areas". They have experts that know the right colors to use and the perfect fabrics to complement.
My other favorites are the shows where people are looking for a home to buy. Some of them are looking for an upgrade in living area (more space for a growing family, etc) but many of them are first time home buyers. I've been fascinated at what they perceive as "necessity". As they tour a home you watch their eyes as they walk into a master bathroom with all the amenities; a jetted tub, showers with two shower heads so you can get hit from both sides (actually not a bad idea for those of us who have ample "two sides"), walk-in closets that have space for 100 pair of shoes and 30 suits (not to mention space for matching purses). They move on to the kitchen where they talk about the color of the granite counter tops "not being quite right" and "we'll have to replace those cabinets but I love the stainless steel appliances, oh, there's no ice maker in the refrigerator". On to the yard; the yard is huge but it only has a two car garage. "We could park the boat at a storage somewhere..." and on it goes!
When I think of the homes we've owned I think of what I would have liked them to look like; I would have liked a master bathroom where you couldn't reach both sides of the room with outstretched arms. I would have liked a master bedroom that could hold a rocker (for rocking babies and for old people) as well as two night stands. Still today, I would love a family room that could hold all of us for Christmas dinner. And then I take a moment to think...
Our home, humble, undecorated has done everything it was meant to do and we could afford it!
We've been married nearly forty years and our family has been sheltered, fed and clothed because we didn't feel it necessary to have a beautifully decorated interior. Each child had a bed. No child walked around naked. Not one went hungry. Bathrooms accomodated us in our daily needs and the kitchen was more than adequate in spite of the fact that we didn't have an ice maker; I think we had one once but I gave it up for more freezer space.
Our yard has been a neighborhood playground for years with it's swingset and space to play soccer. The garden's given us tomatoes, zuccini and "salsa blend" (ask Luke, that's his story to tell). We've had chickens, rabbits, ducks and dogs; currently the animals outnumber the humans! The point is this. Many times there are things we would have liked to have or do but had to say to ourselves "we can't afford it".
Today we find ourselves in a position where we can afford almost anything we might want and yet still ask ourselves "can we afford it"? We want to go on a mission when the Army is through with us. We want to go on family vacations that the kids/grandkids will remember forever. I want to know that our years supply will take care of all of us. I want to know that paying a bigger fast offering was more important than a matching pair of shoes and purse.
So using the counsel given to us by Robert D Hales at last months GC (his full talk can be found at byutv.org), we still take a moment to determine the reason we are buying something; do we need it or do we want it?
I'm thankful that our home is still standing tall and fulfilling it's purpose; it shelters four parents, six and one half grandchildren and will continue to do so. We are blessed!
Much love, VZ

**disclaimer...I'm not perfect and yes, we did buy that Wii :) In fact Mike and I use it daily in our fitness program and last night we golfed, bowled, boxed and played tennis. The Wii Fit says we are 48 yrs fit! Gotta love it!

**disclaimer...we hope someday our home will not have to shelter four parents, six and one half grandchildren OR all those animals! They will be blessed to have homes of their own... :D

4/21/09

More Wii

Wii Fit?

No, Wii isn't, but Wii's funny! I've been laughing hysterically since Wii bought the very thing Wii've been avoiding. Have you guessed yet? Yes, Wii've entered the world of Wii.
I wanted it because, quite frankly, Mike and I enjoy the bowling and golf, even if we did use the kids as an excuse. That's not what finally sparked our interest in the purchase. It was the Wii Fit program that Wii had heard so much about. And it's been worth every penny!
This is a quite a nifty little gadget with the capability of diagnosing your BMI, your balance and working your behind off! It calculates the time you spend on the workout and keeps track of your progress. That, however, is not why I'm having so much fun with it; it's watching people of all ages and size do...the hula hoop! I've watched Sara and her family do it. I've watched our army friends do it. It is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. But don't take my word for it...see for yourselves. I'll have to split up the videos but I promise, it's worth it! Enjoy!
Much love, VZ


4/17/09

Alone Again

Well, Sara and her family left Thursday morning. It's very quiet! :D Enough said...hehehe.
Much love, VZ

4/14/09

Nagel's Come to Texas


We got to do some really fun things while the boys were here. Swimming and a baseball game topped the list. Enjoy the pics!













Swimming, Baseball and Boys

Sara and Matt have been with us since Friday, April 10th. The weather hasn't been as warm as it was the last two weeks but it hasn't dampened the boys spirits...or their desire to take advantage of the apartment pool. On Saturday they talked their dad into taking them swimming but mostly that just meant putting their behinds in the unheated kiddie pool and then warming up in the hot tub.
It reminded me of the time my dad took our family on a vacation to Yosemite. We stayed overnite at June Lake and it was so cold that my dad had to heat rocks in the campfire and then bury them in the dirt under the tent. The tent was toasty, we were toasty...until the next day when our dad took us swimming in the lake. It was freezing! We went in the water anyway because it was our vacation and that's what you do on vacation! The boys are on vacation. They don't care if they're freezing!
Last night for FHE we went to see the Texas Rangers play against the Baltimore Orioles. We've been looking at the stadium from the outside for four months and waiting for the time we could be inside that beautiful place. It seemed natural that our first time would be with some of our grandsons. We took the time to go online to find the best ticket deals and found one that seemed feasible; the "take an empty Dr Pepper can, get a ticket for half price" offer. So, before the game we bought Dr Pepper and took the cans with us. The only problem is...none of us drink Dr Pepper. It didn't matter, we left the full cans with the ticket agent and still saved over $100. It actually ended up sounding like an ad; $100 for tickets, $30 for the hot dog deal, $7 for cotton candy, $45 for three youth Ranger shirts...three little boys at a ballgame...PRICELESS! At the end of the night we had three happy little guys, one of which ended up on the big screen and in possession of a baseball from the field and four adults who only had to drive 20 minutes to get home. I love Texas!
Today is Tuesday and we're just relaxing. Mike has finished and mailed in our tax stuff and we actually get money back! I'm holding my breath 'cause as fast as they give it to us, one of the kids usually snatches it from our grasp. I need to spend it before that happens.
Sara and Matt are at the pool with the boys taking advantage of the warm day. It's actually warm enough to wear sunscreen so the boys are generously slathered. I'm glad that they're enjoying themselves. This place has been quiet for too long and although I love the time Mike and I have had to be on our own I do enjoy the company. The place has that "lived in" look. There'll be plenty of time next week when everyone is gone to restore things to order.
I'm looking forward the the next "wave"...until then I'll enjoy the "sands of time" with this one. Pictures to follow...
Much love, Vicki