Today is the 31st Birthday of my son, Spencer Condie Call! I hope he has a very Happy Birthday! I'm sorry he lives so far away because that means that we can't see him in person on his birthday - - bummer! But we do know that he will have a fun day with his family celebrating his birthday!!
I'm sorry that Spencer and Merrianne both decided to close down their blogs because now we don't get to hear much about how things are going in their family. Hope if they decide to open new ones that they will let us know and invite us to view them.
Or better yet, it would be great to hear first-hand how things are going - - our email is still the same as always.
Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my special son, SPENCER!!!
Love ya bunches & bunches,
MOM
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
ELECTION '08
Well, it looks like many of us have had a JOLT!!! Even though many of the election polls showed Barrack Obama considerably ahead of John McCain - - I still kept thinking that McCain would be able to pull ahead and win. At least I was hoping!! Sorry to say, I was wrong.
I have been very concerned about many of the liberal ideas held by him (Obama) and many of his followers. And his background seems to be full of "interesting" people. Some of the people that voted for him actually think that he can CHANGE all of the problems of the American people overnight! History is full of politicians that have made interesting and bizarre campaign promises - - MANY of which could never happen. Some people actually think that he can "fix" our economy overnight too and that all unemployed Americans will have jobs handed to them as soon as he is sworn in - - NOT!! And what about EVERYONE being entitled to affordable health insurance - - how is he going to do that?? Many small businesses will go under because they can't afford to give health insurance to their employees.
Our Congress has been under the influence of a majority Democratic vote for the past four years and they are the ones that should take a brunt of the blame for how our economy is right now. It's too bad the blame was placed almost entirely on President Bush! Because of that blame, many people switched what would-have-been Republican votes to "the other side."
Things were starting to look up for the Anti-Abortion possibility - - but that went out the window with Obama being elected. AND with his lack of support/respect for the American flag, who knows what will happen to the phrase "One Nation UNDER GOD" that so many liberals want to do away with?? What about our troops - - does he think he can just call them home when we are in the middle of a war?? We need to finish what we started!
The next 4 years is going to be yield many CHANGES for the American people - - hope there can be a few positive ones in there somewhere!
Thank Heaven for the Gospel of Jesus Christ - - it does not change! It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!!! AND with the Lord's help, we'll all make it through what the future holds for us! But watch out 2012 - - - if Obama doesn't pull off what he promised the American people during the next four years - - - that will be an interesting election to watch!!!
And as a final note - - since so many of the Obama supporters are truly interested in the really "important details" - - I wonder what kind of puppy the Obama kids will have when they go to live in the White House??? Remember, he mentioned that in his acceptance speech!
I have been very concerned about many of the liberal ideas held by him (Obama) and many of his followers. And his background seems to be full of "interesting" people. Some of the people that voted for him actually think that he can CHANGE all of the problems of the American people overnight! History is full of politicians that have made interesting and bizarre campaign promises - - MANY of which could never happen. Some people actually think that he can "fix" our economy overnight too and that all unemployed Americans will have jobs handed to them as soon as he is sworn in - - NOT!! And what about EVERYONE being entitled to affordable health insurance - - how is he going to do that?? Many small businesses will go under because they can't afford to give health insurance to their employees.
Our Congress has been under the influence of a majority Democratic vote for the past four years and they are the ones that should take a brunt of the blame for how our economy is right now. It's too bad the blame was placed almost entirely on President Bush! Because of that blame, many people switched what would-have-been Republican votes to "the other side."
Things were starting to look up for the Anti-Abortion possibility - - but that went out the window with Obama being elected. AND with his lack of support/respect for the American flag, who knows what will happen to the phrase "One Nation UNDER GOD" that so many liberals want to do away with?? What about our troops - - does he think he can just call them home when we are in the middle of a war?? We need to finish what we started!
The next 4 years is going to be yield many CHANGES for the American people - - hope there can be a few positive ones in there somewhere!
Thank Heaven for the Gospel of Jesus Christ - - it does not change! It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!!! AND with the Lord's help, we'll all make it through what the future holds for us! But watch out 2012 - - - if Obama doesn't pull off what he promised the American people during the next four years - - - that will be an interesting election to watch!!!
And as a final note - - since so many of the Obama supporters are truly interested in the really "important details" - - I wonder what kind of puppy the Obama kids will have when they go to live in the White House??? Remember, he mentioned that in his acceptance speech!
Friday, October 10, 2008
TODAY
I keep finding "interesting" messages that I think are good to share:
TODAY
TODAY
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - - but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This leaves only one day - - Today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities - - Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of Today that drives men mad - - it is remorse and bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Heaven's Grocery Store
I ran across a short story that I thought was worth sharing:
I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. One day, I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE."
As I got a little closer, the door opened wide, and I found myself standing inside.
I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "My Child, shop with care."
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store. And if you couldn't carry it all, you could come back the next day for more.
First, I got some PATIENCE. LOVE was in the same row. Further down was UNDERSTANDING, you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE TO HELP ME RUN THIS RACE. By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE.
I didn't forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free. So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill. For I thought I had everything to do the MASTER'S will.
As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER and I just had to put that in, for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin.
PEACE and JOY were plentiful, they were last on the shelf. SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the Angel, "Now, how much do I owe?"
He smiled again and said: "MY CHILD, GOD PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."
HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE
I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. One day, I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE."
As I got a little closer, the door opened wide, and I found myself standing inside.
I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "My Child, shop with care."
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store. And if you couldn't carry it all, you could come back the next day for more.
First, I got some PATIENCE. LOVE was in the same row. Further down was UNDERSTANDING, you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE TO HELP ME RUN THIS RACE. By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE.
I didn't forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free. So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill. For I thought I had everything to do the MASTER'S will.
As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER and I just had to put that in, for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin.
PEACE and JOY were plentiful, they were last on the shelf. SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the Angel, "Now, how much do I owe?"
He smiled again and said: "MY CHILD, GOD PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."
Thursday, October 2, 2008
GOOD LUCK, CHRISTY!!
My daughter, Christy, has been studying her little heart out for quite some time now to be able to score big-time on the SAT tests. We wish you luck in every area of the test!! Sure hope all of your efforts and help from your friends pays off for you this Saturday!!
I know this is very important to you and want you to know that I'm totally excited for you and cheering you on!! Try to get some rest before the big test - - I know you've been putting in extremely long hours at work to make up for time you were off because of your cellulitis - - but don't forget to take of yourself too!!
We love you, Christy, and wish you the very best in ALL you do!!
Love,
Mom
I know this is very important to you and want you to know that I'm totally excited for you and cheering you on!! Try to get some rest before the big test - - I know you've been putting in extremely long hours at work to make up for time you were off because of your cellulitis - - but don't forget to take of yourself too!!
We love you, Christy, and wish you the very best in ALL you do!!
Love,
Mom
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I GOT TAGGED!
My daughter, Andrea, tagged me - - so here goes:
1) I always wanted to be taller - - not much - - just a little. When I was a teenager, bell-bottom pants were totally cool and in style. Well, during the Dark Ages, they hadn’t yet invented “petite” clothes so I had to shorten everything I bought. Well, you guessed it, when you totally shorten bell bottoms - - you lose the “bell” completely! Bummer!! When I met my sister-in-law, Carol, she confided in me that she always wanted to be a little shorter - - because she always had to “add on” fabric to her pants to make them a little longer. That made me feel a little better - - AND the fact that I never had to worry about dating a guy that was shorter than me! (I always thought that 5’2” to 5’4” would have been ideal!)
2) When I was younger, I loved horseback riding. I was born in Detroit and when we came to Arizona, there were some stables not far from my house. I was a little nervous the first time I went riding, but loved it. From age 11 to 15, most of my saved-up money went to horseback riding. I even got to know the owner of the stables and offered to work there on weekends so I could ride horses for free. A couple of my friends and I would clean out stalls, feed the horses, catch them and bridle and saddle them for others to ride, and brush them down after they were ridden to cool them down. An added plus was the fact that there were some really cute guys that worked there too. I even used to ride bareback and it definitely showed on the back of my cutoff levis - - I’d go home with stained pants and smelling like horses - - but I loved it. That’s where I met one of my very best friends, Sherry Lynch - - she adored horses too and rode whenever she could!
3) Sports - - believe it or not, I played Softball, Volleyball, and did Track during seventh and eighth grade. I liked Basketball too, but wasn’t much good at guarding because I was too short, but I was pretty good at making baskets. I played on my school’s team against other schools and we were pretty good! In high school, I got to be a pretty good Tennis player and was asked to go out for the team, but I was kind of self-conscious about a one on one sport and didn’t do it. I wish now that I had! I used to love Badminton and have always enjoyed Bowling.
4) I absolutely, positively hate flying. I was fortunate to have the greatest in-laws anyone could hope for and they died in a plane crash a year after Mike and I were married. It instilled in me the reality that plane crashes really DO happen! Losing them both together at one time really made me nervous about flying anywhere with my husband because I saw first-hand kids becoming orphans and I didn’t want that to happen to my children. We have flown together a few times and I have white-knuckled it the whole way. The absolute worst things about flying are the take-offs and landings - - I hate them. Even though it takes a lot longer to drive somewhere, I’d rather do that than fly!
5) I love old movies. They just don’t make movies nowadays like they used to. I love movies with Carey Grant, James Stewart, John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Elvis Presley, and tons of other oldies. I also love movies like Gidget, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Old Yeller, Pollyanna, Parent Trap, An Affair to Remember, Sex and the Single Girl (with Natalie Wood), West Side Story, and the list goes on. I like comedies, dramas, movies about animals, war movies, chick flicks, adventure, you name it. I also like old TV shows like I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Fantasy Island, Dark Shadows, McHale’s Navy, Mr. Ed, the original Mickey Mouse Club, American Bandstand, etc. And TODAY, I am hooked on Lifetime Movies. **And my daughters and I love shows like Grease, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, etc., etc., etc.
6) I found out at a fairly early age that following a recipe when cooking is a very wise thing to do. Just because some things in the kitchen look alike does not mean that they are always interchangeable. My Mom was at work and I was going to surprise her by baking cookies. In the middle of putting my concoction together, I realized that I didn’t have any Baking Powder. Upon looking through the cupboard, I found Baking Soda. They both started with “baking” and were white and powdery - - so I guessed that one would probably substitute well for the other. Not so!!! Use what the recipe calls for or make darn sure what a respectable substitute would be - - don’t assume anything! The cookies were awful!!! I also found out that there are some really good mixes available that are super easy. AND when I do follow a recipe, I read it closely to make sure I’m using the right stuff.
7) I once had a disagreement with my husband and told him I’d rather walk home than get in the car with him. He said, “Fine.” The only problem with this situation was that we were in Scottsdale at the time and our home was in West Phoenix. All of us ladies know that our husbands will let us stew a little and walk a little and then they’ll come and pick us up - - right??? Well, all during my 14-mile walk home, I kept looking back waiting to see our car and my hubby coming to pick me up. Wrong! I just got a stiff neck from looking back and sore feet from walking. To top it off, I was wearing a new pair of shoes that gave me blisters right off the bat. So I took them off and walked a good part of the way barefoot. And, I had to walk through a construction zone where the cars were continuously throwing gravel on me. It took me fours to walk home and believe me, when I got there I was ready to kill my husband. He made me even angrier by saying he thought I had probably gotten a ride from a friend or somebody. I did learn one important lesson - - next time I get upset, I won’t be the one walking home!!
Boy, these were really hard to come up with. I don’t think I want to be tagged ever again
1) I always wanted to be taller - - not much - - just a little. When I was a teenager, bell-bottom pants were totally cool and in style. Well, during the Dark Ages, they hadn’t yet invented “petite” clothes so I had to shorten everything I bought. Well, you guessed it, when you totally shorten bell bottoms - - you lose the “bell” completely! Bummer!! When I met my sister-in-law, Carol, she confided in me that she always wanted to be a little shorter - - because she always had to “add on” fabric to her pants to make them a little longer. That made me feel a little better - - AND the fact that I never had to worry about dating a guy that was shorter than me! (I always thought that 5’2” to 5’4” would have been ideal!)
2) When I was younger, I loved horseback riding. I was born in Detroit and when we came to Arizona, there were some stables not far from my house. I was a little nervous the first time I went riding, but loved it. From age 11 to 15, most of my saved-up money went to horseback riding. I even got to know the owner of the stables and offered to work there on weekends so I could ride horses for free. A couple of my friends and I would clean out stalls, feed the horses, catch them and bridle and saddle them for others to ride, and brush them down after they were ridden to cool them down. An added plus was the fact that there were some really cute guys that worked there too. I even used to ride bareback and it definitely showed on the back of my cutoff levis - - I’d go home with stained pants and smelling like horses - - but I loved it. That’s where I met one of my very best friends, Sherry Lynch - - she adored horses too and rode whenever she could!
3) Sports - - believe it or not, I played Softball, Volleyball, and did Track during seventh and eighth grade. I liked Basketball too, but wasn’t much good at guarding because I was too short, but I was pretty good at making baskets. I played on my school’s team against other schools and we were pretty good! In high school, I got to be a pretty good Tennis player and was asked to go out for the team, but I was kind of self-conscious about a one on one sport and didn’t do it. I wish now that I had! I used to love Badminton and have always enjoyed Bowling.
4) I absolutely, positively hate flying. I was fortunate to have the greatest in-laws anyone could hope for and they died in a plane crash a year after Mike and I were married. It instilled in me the reality that plane crashes really DO happen! Losing them both together at one time really made me nervous about flying anywhere with my husband because I saw first-hand kids becoming orphans and I didn’t want that to happen to my children. We have flown together a few times and I have white-knuckled it the whole way. The absolute worst things about flying are the take-offs and landings - - I hate them. Even though it takes a lot longer to drive somewhere, I’d rather do that than fly!
5) I love old movies. They just don’t make movies nowadays like they used to. I love movies with Carey Grant, James Stewart, John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Elvis Presley, and tons of other oldies. I also love movies like Gidget, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Old Yeller, Pollyanna, Parent Trap, An Affair to Remember, Sex and the Single Girl (with Natalie Wood), West Side Story, and the list goes on. I like comedies, dramas, movies about animals, war movies, chick flicks, adventure, you name it. I also like old TV shows like I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Fantasy Island, Dark Shadows, McHale’s Navy, Mr. Ed, the original Mickey Mouse Club, American Bandstand, etc. And TODAY, I am hooked on Lifetime Movies. **And my daughters and I love shows like Grease, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, etc., etc., etc.
6) I found out at a fairly early age that following a recipe when cooking is a very wise thing to do. Just because some things in the kitchen look alike does not mean that they are always interchangeable. My Mom was at work and I was going to surprise her by baking cookies. In the middle of putting my concoction together, I realized that I didn’t have any Baking Powder. Upon looking through the cupboard, I found Baking Soda. They both started with “baking” and were white and powdery - - so I guessed that one would probably substitute well for the other. Not so!!! Use what the recipe calls for or make darn sure what a respectable substitute would be - - don’t assume anything! The cookies were awful!!! I also found out that there are some really good mixes available that are super easy. AND when I do follow a recipe, I read it closely to make sure I’m using the right stuff.
7) I once had a disagreement with my husband and told him I’d rather walk home than get in the car with him. He said, “Fine.” The only problem with this situation was that we were in Scottsdale at the time and our home was in West Phoenix. All of us ladies know that our husbands will let us stew a little and walk a little and then they’ll come and pick us up - - right??? Well, all during my 14-mile walk home, I kept looking back waiting to see our car and my hubby coming to pick me up. Wrong! I just got a stiff neck from looking back and sore feet from walking. To top it off, I was wearing a new pair of shoes that gave me blisters right off the bat. So I took them off and walked a good part of the way barefoot. And, I had to walk through a construction zone where the cars were continuously throwing gravel on me. It took me fours to walk home and believe me, when I got there I was ready to kill my husband. He made me even angrier by saying he thought I had probably gotten a ride from a friend or somebody. I did learn one important lesson - - next time I get upset, I won’t be the one walking home!!
Boy, these were really hard to come up with. I don’t think I want to be tagged ever again
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sharing a Friend's Loss
Yesterday I attended the funeral of the granddaughter of a very good friend (Donna Wheeler) that I work with at the Arizona Temple. It was devastating for her. Her granddaughter (Brenna) was only 33 years old and was a beautiful person - - daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter, wife, mother, stepmother, and friend to everyone who came in contact with her. What a loss and so young! There were heartfelt talks and touching and humorous memories shared by her aunt, her cousin, her sister, bishop and stake president - - aren't LDS funerals great! The music was beautiful with two solo musical numbers and a harp solo that was heavenly. They said she was beautiful, always smiling, witty, loved to laugh and make others laugh. Her husband, stepchildren, and little daughter (less than 2 years old) were all heartbroken - - yet buoyed up by the knowledge that they will all be reunited someday. How glad I am that I have the knowledge of the gospel in my life so I can know that death is just a temporary separation and not a "forever loss."
This was difficult to attend the funeral of a lovely girl the same age as my daughter, Andrea, and who shared the same birthday (August 10) of my daughter, Christy. To see and hear the great tributes by family members was awesome and made me think of my own family. The closing song of the services was "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" - - the music and words are beautiful and have great meaning - - but I cannot sing it all the way through without sobbing. I am always reminded of other funerals I have attended where that same song was sung and memories come flooding back of other lost loved ones like my Mother and my Brother and others. It also makes me think of my children singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" at my Mom's funeral - - what a tear jerker that was!
Since I consider this Blog to be somewhat of a journal for me, I have to add at this time that life is very short and family and friends need to make the most of it in a loving and positive manner. Minor disagreements, differences of opinion, insecurities, jealousies, petty squabbles, and all misunderstandings (no matter how big or how little) must be forgiven and forgotten now once and for all - - because that's how Heavenly Father wants it!!
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