Thursday, December 4, 2008
A Visit with the Folks!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Giving Thanks (on Thanksgiving!)
We spent Thanksgiving in Portland with Ashlie and her family. Oh how I love being with them, and how I love being able to play gramma!! Stephen's parents live close by so we all shared Thanksgiving dinner together. We got all dressed up and headed over to the Grand Lodge for a fabulous traditional meal -- turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, and pumpkin pie. No cooking, no cleaning, no leftovers (ouch, now I DO miss that part)! Ashlie and Stephen had to work the next day so Randy and I spent the night at Sylvia and Tim's and kept Destiny and Lyric overnight. What a riot! Those two little people can program and play Wii games like the pro's. It was hysterical watching Destiny box and Lyric bowl. They got a good work-out, that's for sure! It was really special to sit down next to Destiny and listen to her read. She is not even in Kindergarten yet and she's reading 3rd grade books. She doesn't even stumble over four-syllable words. Incredible! And Lyric, who isn't even four yet, navigates the Internet until he finds the educational programs he likes. Whoa, have times changed since I raised my babies! Now to give thanks for the many, many blessings in my life: a loving husband; sweet children and beautiful grandchildren; friends that love and support me; physical, mental, and emotional health; love overflowing; knowing what's true and what's not; freedom to choose; freedom to worship; happiness far beyond my deserving; opportunities to serve others; and most of all . . . knowing that I have a Heavenly Father and a love for my Savior. I try not to take these things for granted. I have at various times in my life. I will try not to and I will make course corrections when necessary. Yes, my life is overflowing with blessings and I am very grateful -- not only at Thanksgiving time, but always!
Monday, November 24, 2008
CRAZY 8's (Susan tagged me!)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Utah Bound!
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Perfect Weekend!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
California's Prop 8


Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Steadfast in the Sun (and in the Son)


Friday, September 19, 2008
What Goes Around, Comes Around
Monday, September 1, 2008
I Filled in the Blanks - Will You?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Busy Bees!
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Things in Life That Really Matter

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Why? "Because . . ." (that's why)!


"Why?" It's all about peer pressure. That terrible thing that happens to all mankind at some point in life. I don't recall doing anything like this when I was a kid. So perhaps this is part of a mid-life crisis for me . . . "I don't know!" Now that I think about it, that's the answer I always got when I asked my children why they did some off-the-wall stupid thing. "I don't know!" or "because . . . " To which I'd respond, "What were you thinking?" And the obvious answer to that question was, "I wasn't." But in this case (the case of kissing the banana slug), I did know what I was doing. And it's like this: I was hiking with seven young women from the Stockton Stake. We were on a 20-mile trek over three days and we happened across a banana slug. The banana slug is actually the mascot for the University of Santa Cruz, the area in which we were hiking. Kissing a banana slug is a 5th grade science class tradition and, as they say, "everyone's doing it!" So - if everyone jumped off the top of a building, would I? NO! If everyone jumped out of a boat, would I? NO! But, for some reason, when each of these young women kissed the banana slug, I felt compelled to follow their lead. So there, Booker children, we're even! OK, OK, OK???
Friday, July 4, 2008
God Bless America


Wednesday, June 25, 2008
What Is She Good At?

- sincerity
- confidentiality
- not judging
- spontaneity
- contagious humor
- eye-contact during conversations
- being a friend
- discernment
- honesty
- not easily offended
- careful to not offend
- creativity
- art
- music
- understanding
- empathy
- using her head
- using her heart
- writing (composing and penmanship)
- fashion
- make-up
- hair
- beauty, in general!
- laughing
- making others laugh
- sewing
- healthy eating
- respect
- spirituality
- affection for animals
- non-materialism (is that a word?)
- remembering Mother's Day and Father's Day
- remembering Mother's and Father's birthdays
- love for holidays, in general
- generosity
- playtime
- working
- sharing
I would really like to go on and on with this list, but I have to fix dinner.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Father's Day 2008

Monday, June 9, 2008
Happy Birthday, Randy!

Friday, June 6, 2008
Over the river and thru the woods .....
Monday, June 2, 2008
Into the Woods!


Thursday, May 29, 2008
Words that start with "F" . . . . .
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I Left My Heart in San Francisco . . .


Friday, May 23, 2008
What Was I Doing 10 Years Ago?
- Ten years ago I was living in our peaceful little town of Farmington and I still had kids at home. I was doing laundry, preparing meals, cleaning house, grinding wheat and baking bread. I was playing with flowers in the yard. I was driving kids to cheer practice and music lessons and going to karate tournaments. I was spending time with good friends (that I miss with all my heart right now). I was working full-time at Life-Line. I was speaking to schools, churches, and civic organizations about drug abuse. I had less grey hair, fewer wrinkles, and less time to do some of the things I'm enjoying today. But I still wish I was 10 years younger right now . . .
5 things on my to-do list today:
- grocery shop
- have my Xterra serviced
- get a physical so I can go to Girls Camp this summer
- pack for the weekend
- get this list done!
- fresh fruit
- pistachio nuts
- string cheese
- skinny cows
- popcorn
- procrastination
- falling asleep during a video
- expecting way too much out of myself and others
- Randy would retire early and we'd travel around the world.
- I would buy a house for each of my 8 kids so we could be near each other.
- I would buy a family business and provide job security for our whole family.
- I would put enough $$$ in the bank for all our grandchildren to go to college.
- I would give $$$ to families in our church who can't afford to send their sons and daughters on missions.
- I would run a soup kitchen and feed the poor.
- I would help Life-Line build a gymnasium and donate $$$ to their endowment fund.
- Alameda, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Farmington, UT
- Stockton, CA
- Secretary
- Wife and mother (the best and my favorite)
- Dental assistant
- Director of Admissions
- I'm afraid of heights
- I can't sleep when it's light outside
- I eat the center of my pancakes first before I eat the outside
- I hate the smell of "old lady" perfume
- I love Western movies
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Celebrating Life

Saturday, May 3, 2008
Missing My Grandkids . . .
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Hooray, Hooray -- The First of May!
