A Day in Pocatello

Most of the family went to Pocatello to watch Hailey clog in a competition. I just failed to get a photo of Sadie, who was sitting down at the other end of the row. Hailey did a great job. She certainly has the energy for this type of dance.

Lily and Sophia's Special Day

Today we celebrated Lily's "5" birthday. She shares her birthday with her little cousin Sophia Hill, who is "1", and also with pi day.
She got to go to breakfast with her daddy and then spent most of the day with her cousins watching Hailey clog. Sophia was in Boise with her dad and sisters, so this photo is when she was only 9 months. Lily is our eighth grandchild and Sophia is our eleventh.

Just Hangin' Around

Danial and Daris are hanging their father's moose, Bullwinkle. We waited 18 months for Bullwinkle to get groomed and come to stay. I had a difficult time eating the meat, it tasted like burnt hide to me, and the first evening he was at our home, I discovered I could possibly be allergic to him. My eyes watered and my throat began to itch.

I've Been Tagged...

This photo was titled angels and shepherds. Truly, what angels they all are. There is no better way to celebrates Christ's birth than with little innocent children. They are full of Christ-like love. We can learn much from these beautiful spirits. when ever I am feeling down and troubled, being around small children that show unconditional love always brings me back up and helps me to realize what is important in life. They give their love freely to all and are quick to forgive. Thank goodness. Can you imagine what this world would be like if they acted like the rest of us? May we all be as humble as a little child, and as teachable. Have a wonderful day!

I finally got out of Dodge!
I have wanted to post exciting news about my life,
but I have not gone anywhere or done anything.
Finally, I went as a chaperone to Sun Valley.
I didn't get to ski since I was still wearing my boot.
But. . .I soaked in the hot tub, drank hot chocolate
and best of all. . . I went back to bed when everyone left for skiing.

Getting Out of Dodge

The chaperones had a great time.
Here we are out on the ice skating rink posing for a photo.
Later we went out for hot chocolate to warm ourselves up.

Three young women out to conquer the world. Here I am with my aunt, Julie Forrey and cousin, Christy McGinnis. We are all the same age. I have great memories of visits to grandma and grandpa's little farm. When our family would go visit grandma, the cousins would often come. We would ride mules through the sagebrush, play in the playhouse, roller skate in Hermiston and later go for ice cream. Life was simple then. This photo may have been taken at Julie's graduation in 1972. We all three graduated the same year. Don't you love the 'shag' hairdos? Charlie's Angles have nothing on us.

This photo was taken about 14 years ago. It was Thanksgiving, I think. My mom, Ruth Christensen, is in the back, with someone I don't even recognize. Then it is me, my sister Lorie, my niece Audrey Jenkins and Daris, my youngest son. Several of my nieces and nephews came to Ricks College, which gave us the opportunity to get to know them better. Apparently Erik was taking the photo, so I'm guessing the guy is his roommate. I wish time could stand still. . . on my body. The rest of life I enjoy, just not aging.

Reflective Learning

Yesterday I was doing some reading to try and get ideas to help a client that is dealing with depression. I turned to a book that I have previously read by William Glasser. He was discussing our "total behavior" and how when we are not in effective control of our lives, many of us immediately think about using the total behavior we were born with, that of angering.

Anger is built in our genes to help us survive. But as young children, most of us learn that anger doesn't get us what we want, especially when we try to use it against adults that are also angering.

Although we are not aware of it, depressing is one of the most powerful ways that humans have discovered to restrain angering and many of us use it a lot. Depressing is a very strong controlling behavior.

It takes a lot of energy to block angering completely, that is why we are so tired when we are depressing. As long as we depress, we have little energy to do anything else. Depressing prevents huge amount of marital and family violence, therefore it is good that we are able to depress quickly and effectively. Some people dedicate their lives to this behavior, thus needing to be cared for. If they can figure out another choice to give them control over their lives, they might stop choosing to depress.

Depressing is a way we ask for help without begging. In fact it is the most powerful "help-me" information we can give to another person. The suffering others see, legitimizes our asking for help. Often times, depressing people will tell us how crippling their depression is, so others will know their suffering.

We all have a choice in what our behaviors will be. We need to either stop our behavior (depressing, angering etc.) or change what we want (Our Quality World).

Often times someone who is experiencing depression may think they would not choose to be this depressed. I would like them to take a challenge. Force yourself to do something physical for at least one hour. Something you enjoy. Notice that for a short time you are not depressing, you are not thinking about your unhappiness, in fact you may feel much better. When you are finished, you may start thinking about all the unhappy things in your life. To keep depressing you have to keep thinking the unhappy thoughts.


Taken from Choice Theory by William Glasser.

Gift Giving

This year I made quilts for the three little girls that were too young a few years ago to get theirs. They were mostly pink with yellow and blue. I ragged them. The other grandchildren were given nice sweatshirts with hoods. even the two babies got one. Sophia's was too small and needed to be returned. Corbin's matched Grant and Clay's.

Each year we rotate names with the brothers and sisters. Natalie is included with the brother and sister exchange.

The Christmas Nativity

Every year when my own children were young we would read the Christmas story found in Luke and act out the various parts. This year Tracie graciously invited the Christensen family to meet at her and Derek's home for the annual nativity. We have Mary, Joseph,and the baby Jesus being awed by angels and shepherds. There was a star that shone brightly.

We stop between the scripture verses and sing an appropriate song. Not shown are the three kings.

Christmas Parties

Friday, December 19, the Howard sisters held their annual party at LuJean's new home. It was a perfect place for the party. LuJean taught us how to make crocheted hats. So here we are all busy with our project. We talked and laughed, ate snacks, laughed some more, fixed dinner and laughed some more. It was just what I needed to release some tension from working hard.