We have three missionaries serving in our ward right now. Their apartment is walking distance to Chick-Fil-A and since they are on bikes, I decided Chick-Fil-A gift cards would be a great Christmas gift to give them today.
Category: News (Page 4 of 29)
I love children’s books. Every year I buy a new Christmas picture book for each of my children and their families. Some of them read a Christmas different book each night leading up to Christmas.
Today for my deliberate act of kindness I decided to give that same book to a wonderful young family I know. Their little boy opened the door and I handed him the gift and he ran to his dad, “It’s a present!” As I was leaving he came running out to tell me thank-you. I smiled all they way home.
Today my act of kindness was more random than deliberate. I met a man selling stems of mistletoe to earn a little extra money to buy Christmas gifts for his seven children. I now have mistletoe hanging over my door. He was so grateful.
Today begins the “60 days to 60 Years” Birthday Project. I will turn sixty on February 10 and to celebrate being alive for this big event I am planning 59 deliberate acts of kindness for the next 59 days. The 60th day will be my birthday and I plan to spend the entire day doing acts of kindness.
Last year, just three days after my 59th birthday I had a biopsy. A month later, following a thyroidectomy, I was diagnosed with follicular thyroiditis and large diffuse b cell lymphoma. I am so grateful for the out standing medical I have received this year and for the love and support of my family and friends. I am so blessed to be alive, hence “The Birthday Project- 60 days to 60 years.”
Since I am driving to College Station today, I am sending off some checks for charitable contributions and I’ll be on the lookout for some spontaneous things to do. Thinking about this project has kept me in the spirit of doing good things ever since I decided to do it.
There are more new blog posts. I am still trying to keep them in chronological order so scroll down and see if there is something you haven’t seen. I have done two new posts today and hope to get another one done.
Helen Madeline Brown Gren – My Grandmother
I have never really had much time for family history. I always thought is was something old people did so they could perform LDS ordinances for those who had passed away. Well now I am old and I am interested in my ancestors, maybe because I hope someone will be interested in me. I think that it is natural as we age to hope that people will remember us when we are gone.
I have spent a lot of time over the past few months going through family photos and documents. I like the new and improved Family Search website and the ability to upload photos, stories and documents. The website is great and anyone can use it. You can login with an LDS account or if you don’t have one you can quickly set up an account. You don’t need to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to use this really great resource.
When I first experimented with uploading some photos I was surprised to discover that there were already some photos of my ancestors posted. It was fun to find photos of my father’s grandfather and great grandfather and see how much he looked like them.
I posted a story that my great grandmother wrote about her father. This has made me think about all the stories that are inside of me. I have been making notes each time I think of one so I won’t forget all the stories. Now, I just need to get busy and write them down.
One weekend while Rorey and John were here, Ellie and Daniel came over to play. Then we spent some time at the park with Henry. Here are some photos of their cousin fun:
When the bridge between Kingwood and Atascocita across Lake Houston opened the YMCA had a fun run to celebrate. Andrew, Kristina and Alex ran in it. Kristina, Brian, Alex and Henry participated again this year.
I had Ellie, Daniel and Henry over for a little Valentine’s Day activity. It involved finger painting and decorating cookies-
Ellie liked the finger painting, but Daniel and Henry did not. Mostly, the boys just liked eating the cookies-
While we were still in Australia for Christmas we found out that Ruth would be having knee surgery after the first of the year. What none of us know at the time was that it would be major surgery and she would be off her leg for six weeks.
We were in Australia with all summer clothing and they were in the middle of winter in The Netherlands. I wanted to go to help, but I needed to stop home first. I was in Houston for a weekend…just enough time to catch up with family here and change wardrobes.
I arrived the morning after a big snowstorm. The temperature was below freezing and stayed that way most of the time I was there. When I hopped into Big Blauw the first thing I was reminded of was the standard transmission. It’s not that I can’t drive one, it’s just that I haven’t for awhile. Also, it would be a van filled with kids and I would would be driving on the left in the snow. I have done all of those things a lot so it didn’t take me very long to calm down.
I pushed Mark and Holli to preschool in the jogging stroller. The other children were pulled by their mothers on sleds. The stroller went through the snow well, but the sleds looked much more quaint and fun.
My days were filled with car pools, laundry and cooking, but I had such a good time. I love being with family and serving. The car pools always began with an argument about where everyone was going to sit. I finally got tired of the bickering and when it would start I would crank up One Direction or Taylor Swift and soon everyone would be singing along. Man, the words to You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful and We’re Never Ever Getting Back Together Were Stuck in My Head for Weeks, in a good way!
Here are some photos:
My early birthday celebration
Belgium Chocolate Trifle
It was great fun!