WORDS to live by....

 Around my house I have lots of WORDS displayed to remind me of qualities to seek after. Today JOY stood out as the morning sun made reflections on the wall. I love the shadows. I found the happy frog jumping for joy in a fabric store and of course it had to come home with me. 

So what is JOY? It's more than HAPPINESS or temporary pleasures. It seems to me there is an eternal aspect to it. Realizing that there is more to LIFE than what we realize. A DEEPER HIDDEN MEANING that gives us a spiritual happiness that I would call JOY. Those moments when we feel in synche with a higher power or nature or whatever we perceive to be in charge of our EXISTENCE. For me, it's the SPIRIT of GOD witnessing to me that I'm on the right track and making PROGRESS.

 

Mini-FAMILY REUNION

It seems difficult to get family together these days for holidays but FUNERALS are a once in a lifetime experience that can bring us together to say goodbye to the loved one being honored for their memory and contributions to our lives. Was able to see six of my seven grandchildren and two sons with their wives for a dinner at Chuckarama during this past weekend. Here's my photos.

Grand kids: l-r Heather, Eddie, James, Nathan and other twin Emilee

Eddie, now almost 6 years old is the youngest grandkid

l-r Rory-Eddie's sister, dad Jeff, (missing mom Rachel), Tina (wife of), Dan and me

Lorien is loving playing with her jello

Loved the wild west chuckwagon in foyer of Chuckrama

Goodbye Cousin Jody

Funeral Program

Program with 6 children and lots of grandchildren spoke

Cousins and their kids that were there

Johnson cousins left: Bill, Marion and Lin (Doug not shown)

Play Day with my friend Caryn

A new craft boutique in town to explore 558 E Riverside Drive

Caryn needed some white tulips for her home decor

I'm just looking, note the umbrella, it's raining like crazy outside

Fun stuff in every corner to look at

Signs for everything and kitchen decor and aprons...

It feels like SPRING will come soon

Signs galore, I'm looking for one that says SIMPLICITY!

Drawing and journaling stuff

Click to enlarge, fun signs

Fun books anyone...they have it all.

Another Family Member GRADUATES

My cousin Jody Berg Renstrom graduated from this life last night. I tried to call her last night, now I know why she didn't answer...any news on when the funeral will be? I did talk with her last week and she was feeling miserable had been in the hospital since Dec 12th with pneumonia and RSV, on oxygen 24 hrs. She was ready to go, in her 80s and lived quite the life. In many ways she was like a sister to me in taking me to visit other churches in California when I was a young teen and she was looking for a church. We found the Mormons-not realizing we were already Mormons-at least I was baptized at age 8 in UTah but knowing nothing about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of her example and taking me to church I gained a testimony and later attended BYU. She was there for me during the years as I married in the temple, got divorced and started over as a single parent raising my son when I moved back to Utah. Rest in Peace dear Jody with all our family on the other side. You will be missed and are appreciated and loved.

Grandma Alda Johnson with her first grandchild Jody

Jody with her parents Les and Esther Johnson Berg

Jody with her little sister Marion

Jody hunting with her dad

Jody as a young teen

GM Johnson visiting at Knox Berry Farm: Lin, GM, Jody, Marion +Esther

The Berg family in Lawndale California

Jody and her first son Gregory living in Texas

Keith+Jody wedding in St. George UT with Gm and Ethel+Sonny

Jody and Keith Renstorm

Berg Family at parents 50th wedding anniversary

 

Esther and Jody shared the same birthday December 23rd

Happy Birthday #50 to my son DANIEL

My how fast life passes and children grow up, have their own families and bless our lives. My second son was born on a cold winter morning in Stevens Point, Wisconsin 50 years ago today. Here's a photo collage of his growing up years. Happy Birthday dear son.

LOOKING BACK about 5 years

Searching in my many computer files for a certain class handout and what did I find. These images from 2012. Amazing to look back and consider all the water that has run under the bridge since that year. Experiences both exciting and challenging. Makes you wonder what is ahead. Thankfully we don't know and don't need to worry about it because that doesn't help the NOW MOMENT as I search for PEACE in the new year. How about you?

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS?

I read an article about the difference between renewal and resolution. Seems like most of us just recycle the same old resolutions which is more like renewing our goals for another year. Continuing on to become a better person. I'm a visual learner and have words all over my house to remind me what to focus on. My WORD for this year is PEACE. It's a illusive quality that is missing in our society but I'm talking about peace INSIDE. How do you find peace? I find that writing in a journal helps me empty and identify unpeaceful thoughts that demand attention. Then I can let them go and seek for TRUE PEACE>

Over my kitchen window by the table is my reminder

The star reminds me of the Savior who said "My peace is give unto to..."