The Parable of the Houseplants

Those of you who know me, know that I have a LOT of house plants in my house. This morning I looked outside and there were a lot of dark clouds hovering in the sky. I decided today would be a great day to take all of my houseplants outside, give them a "bath" and clean them up a bit.


Over time, some of my plants get long lanky stems with just a few leaves on the ends, some are root bound and need repotting, some need the dead leaves plucked, others need staked and supported and some need a good pruning and cut way back drastically. Sometimes I'm ruthless and, once in a while, a poor plant is hacked so bad, there's not much left of it.

I did all that today, loosened up the soil (in some cases it was rock hard), repotted some, added some fresh clean dirt and fertilizer and hosed them off to get off all the dust that's been collecting on their leaves. I watered them really good.


Most of the time, this treatment sends the plants into quite a shock and they appear wilted. But, after a few hours pass, I know they will snap out of it. I do all of this because I know in the end, they will grow bigger, greener, lusher and they will flourish and become more beautiful.

I have to be careful if the sun comes out. . .the plants will sunburn very easily. So, today when the sun peaked out from the clouds, I moved them into the garage where they were warm enough to dry off before I brought them into the house, but also where they were protected from burning in the sun.

A month or so ago, I woke up one morning to dark clouds hanging over my house. That should have been a warning to me right then, but unbeknownst to me, the Lord was going to take me outside and clean ME up a bit.

I'm not sure what all He is going to do to me, but I am getting my lanky stems pruned back and my dead leaves plucked. I've learned I don't need to buy movies every week or comb DI for a fifty cent bargain or eat out two or three times a week. Perhaps I am rootbound and my soil needs loosening up. I am sure, though, He is wacking me back pretty hard. Grandpa J is not having a lot of luck finding a job.

I know that what He is doing to me is for my own good and that when He's done I will be much better off, a BETTER person and "LUSHER" in my faith. The fertilizer He uses on me is a combination of scriptures and prayer where I can learn to grow in my faith and put my trust in Heavenly Father. Getting hosed off washes the dust from me and reveals my blessings. I have SO very much to be thankful for.

With all that's happened to us, I have gone into "shock." Most days I feel pretty wilted and can barely put one foot in front of the other, so I go to the Temple where I can get out of the "burning sun" and away from the disappointments of the world. The temple brings me warmth and solace and peace. It's the refuge I need and it's where I can get a "stake" to prop me up so I can make it through the day without falling over. Sometimes one time a week will do the trick. Other times, like this past week, I had to go three days in a row.




I just hope my Heavenly Father doesn't have to "repot" me. I really want to stay in this house. But, whatever happens, I know I have to put my trust in Him. He knows best and I will do whatever is required of me because in the end, I know, I will be much better off and I will flourish again one day.

Ten Reasons Why I Love Mercedes!

1. She's dang cute!
2. She looks like the Gerber baby with her curls on the top of her head.


(This is the Gerber Baby and Mercedes)

3. She (mostly) never cries.
4. She waves hysterically when she sees ME.
5. She chewed the edge of the baby bed and left permanent teeth marks. (Kind of like her signature - Mercedes Was Here!)
6. She blub-bla, blub, blub-bla's when I flip my finger on her lips.
7. She crawls like I did doing the one-armed thing.
8. She's MY grand baby!
9. She visits me at work wearing her "I Love Grandma" shirt and brings me a Diet Pepsi or leaves me a note on my desk if I'm not there.
10. She sticks her tongue out at me when I stick mine out at her.
11. She brings joy to my life.
12. We are sealed together FOREVER!

(Who can stop at just ten, the list could go on forever.)



Mercedes and Grandma



WARNING: The following pictures and video are pretty goofy. What grandparents won't do for their grand babies on their birthdays!









Note: My camera now will only do 15 second videos, so whatever we do has to be pretty fast. Also, in way of explanation of the "short distance" hugs - Mercedes only lives a "short distance" from us. We can always give her up close and personal hugs-no need for long distance ones.

We love you Mercedes! Happy Blub-blub, bla Birthday!

Happy Birthday Diane!

Over the years, my sister Diane and I have lived many miles apart and I regret that we haven't been able to get together a little more often. But even though we are a long distance from each other, I want to wish Diane a very Happy Birthday today!

Thinking back over the years, I remember a few things about Diane and found some pictures. I thought I'd share. . .

Diane had some musical talent. Well, so did the rest of us. The three of us girls took piano lessons. Since we each had to practice an hour every day, the piano was going all the time. Each of us also played a band instrument. I played the clarinet and flute and Yvonne also played the flute. Diane chose something "easy" with only three keys to play: the trumpet. I think it surprised her when she found out that it wasn't all that simple of an instrument. She had to squeeze her lips together plus play the appropriate combination of keys in order to make the right notes. It was fun when we got together and played in our own little band at home. Diane played the organ too. When I gave up my calling as the Ward Organist, she inherited the job from me.

When we were young we liked to play. We played on our swing set and we played with dolls. I had a Barbie and Ken doll and Diane had Midge and Skipper. I had a bride doll and Diane had a cool Chatty Cathy. You pulled the string at the back of her neck and she talked! One year I got Quick Draw McGraw and she got Huckleberry Hound for Christmas. Now that shows you how old we are. Her kids and mine won't know who those guys are.

I think, though, she preferred to play outside games such as softball and dodge ball. In fact, she liked all kinds of balls. One Christmas we got a Super Ball (the really bouncy kind) and were bouncing it in the garage of our new house before we had moved in. A few bounces later and SHE broke the window. Yes, I am putting all the blame on her because I can't get her to read my blogs. Therefore, I can say what I want and she won't dispute it.

Diane had her fair share of injuries when she was little. Thinking back on our childhood, I think Diane and I scrapped and fought A LOT. When we were little, I discovered that if I pulled on her arm, it would pull out of socket and knock her out of commission for a while. She would have to wear a sling for a time and sometimes Dad had to pull her arm again to set it. I'm sure it was pretty painful, but, I promise, I DIDN'T pull her arm on purpose!

I also remember Dad mowing the lawn when we lived in Yuba City and a bolt coming loose from the underside of the mower. The bolt was thrown from the mower like a bullet and it hit Diane in the side. I think there was an exact imprint of the side view of the bolt on her skin for a long time. Another time while at school she was playing, "Smear the Queer." Well, she got smeared and ended up breaking her collar bone.

Diane was the rebel of the family during the "Hippie Era" in the 70s, and during the days of mini skirts and long straight hair. She'd leave the house with a short skirt on, as short as she could get away with when leaving the house, and then as soon as she got on the bus, she'd ROLL up the top to make it shorter! And, speaking of long straight hair, that was Diane's hairdo in those days. Mom was always after her to curl it or get it out of her eyes. But in her defense, long straight hair was the style of the time!

Diane always insisted on having the very best and along with that, always had good taste. I think she hated homemade stuff and, therefore, she wouldn't wear home-sewn clothes like the rest of us. I truly think she would have preferred to go naked rather than wear something homemade!

Red must have been her favorite color years ago. Maybe it still is. When we were little, she got a red go cart for Christmas one year when we were back in Utah at Grandma and Grandpa's house. And then, a few years later in the 70s, she bought herself a really cute little bright red Honda Civic car. Oh, and by the way, Diane had a LEAD foot too!

Check out some of these pictures. . .


A Family Christmas Picture. (Mom, what kind of an outfit are you wearing?)



Diane and Me in our Red Radio Flyer Wagon



Me, Diane and Yvonne



A Portrait With Santa Claus - Me, Yvonne and Diane
(No wonder Diane didn't like homemade clothes. Look at the outfit she is wearing!)



Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma's House in Utah, 1971



Me, Yvonne, Mom, Diane and Dad in the 70s



Diane and Jaron, 1976



The Entire Family Gathered for Mom's Birthday, May 1984



Both of our Families Somewhere in the USA. (Where's Shaun?)



Dad and Diane - Now. . .



Diane - Then. . . On Her 3rd Birthday

Though the years grow longer and the memories grow fainter, every once in a while something comes to mind about Diane and I have to chuckle or smile to myself. I hope she has a really Happy Birthday!

Something's Wrong With This Picture!

Now that Grandpa J is officially out of work, take a look at this picture.

I'm bringing home the bacon and Grandpa J is frying it up!


Well, being the traditional sort of person that I am, this is wreaking havoc with my sanity. Things seem to be working backwards. Grandpa J should be bringing home the bacon and I should be the one at home cooking and keeping house!

Last evening we heard a bunch of "Eeewww!!" "Ick!" "Gross!" "Yuck!" "Hee-hee!" "I got one!" "Eeeww!!" comments coming from the front of the house. We opened the front door and there were five visiting grandkids from the neighbor swarming around the flower beds right by our front steps. When we asked what was going on, they replied that their grandma, our neighbor on the west, was PAYING them 10 cents for every snail they could capture.

Well, it certainly has been a BUMPER crop of snails in OUR yard this year I suppose from all of the rain we've been getting nearly every day. In fact, yesterday after work, I looked at my flower beds and snails were everywhere - on the grass, on the flowers, climbing up the side of the house and all over the sidewalks. We've been taken over by SNAILS!


So, when I found out what the little kids were doing, at first I was WAY excited. They were going to get rid of these gross creatures for me! Oh, how I hate squishing them! It gives me the creeps! The kids had baggies full of them.


BUT THEN, the old cogs in my brain started to spin and I shooed them home. "Go collect your own snails out of your own yard!"

I got a terrific idea. Maybe WE can supplement our income! Now that Grandpa J is out of work, he certainly has the TIME to collect the snails out of our yard. And, since the neighbor on the WEST is willing to pay 10 cents each, I bet the neighbor on the EAST would be willing to pay at LEAST 15 cents each! If you have ever been to my house, you know how nice the neighbor's yard is on the east. You see, he hasn't a single weed in his yard, let alone a SNAIL!

But, he could have. . .