One picture is worth.....

Need I say more? Valentines is now under my belt....heading towards Easter BA HA HA HA! Had fun with my new chocolate mold from Germany. Makes DARLING chocolate houses!

MoTab Concert and Valentine "shout out!"

The concert was amazing in US Airways. We took one son and grandson and 9 other people. It turned out to be a wonderful missionary experience with seven non-members coming along. One friend of my Aunt (also from Illinois) is a writer, of two books, and is also a columnist printed in several papers back in the Midwest. I guess she is Illinois' answer to Erma Bombeck. She is going to write up her experiences at the concert for all to see. Marilyn gave me one of her books as a thank you for taking her to the concert. They ALL loved it! The way the choir sang "God Bless America"...it just took everyone's breath away.

I have to insert a "shout out" for my wonderful husband and his kindness and generosity. This year will be our 38th anniversary (and we will be on a mission then.) He got a call from a sister-in-law who plays in the orchestra from Temple Square. She said some poor person needed a ticket and could we help. OF COURSE...we did. We also helped another elderly sister with tickets to come to this concert and one in Gammage several months ago. It feels so good to help people who appreciate the gift. Gifts that are rejected always leave a sting. It makes me think of Heavenly Father and how He must feel when we reject His Son. I got a beautiful new watch for Valentines' Day. Now to go and pick out a new suit for my SWEETHEART.

The car accident before the concert totaled my Aunt and Uncle's beautiful Lincoln Town Car. I spent Sunday morning caring for them as she is in terrible pain with severe whiplash, according to the Doctors. I was able to get them booked on a flight home. Luckily they have other friends here who will take their extra things home for them that they cannot take on a plane.

It has been so fun to have them here this Winter. She showed me my father's old recipe for pie crust and how she rolls it out (wish I had seen this 30 years ago) and now she has me making homemade ice cream with the ice cream maker that has set in the closet for years. I brought it down to the valley and we had friends over for ice cream with fudge sauce (must share recipe) last night after our Valentine dinner out with them. They are the parents of eight children and a store house of wisdom.

I'm reading a new book that is very inspiring...my favorite quote for today from it:

"Once I did bad and that I heard ever,

Twice I did good and that I heard never."

HURTING PEOPLE NOT ONLY DOES NOT CHANGE THEM, IT IS NEVER CALLED FOR.

---Carnegie

LOVE

They do not love who do not show their love.

-William Shakespeare

The Good ...the Bad ....and the UGLY!!!

Might as well start with the UGLY! It's not what it looks like...that is the back of my knee after a week. Wanted to document ...a few days ago it was really pretty...I DO like blue and purple together. My mom decorated my room in those colors after I went away to college. It is already starting to fade. Good thing I don't wear shorts or people would think my husband is beating me. I know I'm fat but that is mostly swelling at this point. I helped my Aunt and Uncle move this week from one condo to another. He is SO SWEET! He is so arthritic that he couldn't even take the clothes on the hanger from the closet to hand to me without having to just use his wrists. His fingers are so gnarled. He can barely walk and I have found several lotions that he can put on his burns to get some relief. Thank goodness for those American Indians and their natural healing balms.

Now this is the best part but you can't see it in relation to the rest of my thigh and get the full impact BA HA HA HA! Would have to don a bathing suit to see this part. Accidents do happen...especially to OLD people. Best advice of the day....don't get OLD.

The GOOD part of this past week has been my Aunt and Uncle being here after his serious accident and falling into his backyard burn pile in November. We thought we might lose him. He has miraculously recovered and they came for the Winter after all. They took us to the Italian Grotto in Scottsdale last night. We laughed and laughed as my Uncle swapped St. Louis Cardinal and Stan Musial trivia with the owner. He had the owner excitedly calling his "sources" back East to verify my Uncle's info.

My brothers are THE best. I got my annual Valentine in the mail yesterday and called my brother to thank him. We share our burdens and then have a good laugh. They know all my warts and they still love me...imagine that!

The BAD is that both Mark and I have lost so much sleep this week that now we both have coughs and colds and so does my Aunt......part of the family togetherness. Looking forward to our barbecue on Saturday. My Aunt makes the best popcorn salad and a lot of other things too! She is going to share my Dad's pie crust recipe from his time in the Navy during WWII.

Smoke Damage

AAAAAaaaarrrrrrggg! Microwave burnty....smoke in house. YIKES! Trying every google site on smoke damage. My house smells like an ashtray. I am finding it hard to sleep the last two nights.
Best advice on internet.....GET A NEW ONE BA HA HA HA HA!
Pulled an ATV out of a crash site up near Four Peaks last Friday nite. Thank goodness for four-wheel drive and a rope. The kid was lucky he didn't get hurt really bad hitting that huge boulder.
Happy New Year people.

Explanation of Wunderland

My brother just emailed me these photos of the minaiture train set in Hamburg, Germany. I LOVE all things miniature. You can see it online if you go to www.miniatur-wunderland.com or also on facebook at MiniaturWunderlandHamburg.

It is so amazing that people would spend 500,000 hours and 8 million Euro to build it. We want to jump a plane and go see it!!! It won't be finished until 2012 and has been under construction for several years. You have the watch the five-minute video if you haven't already seen it!

I have trouble with my computer off and on or should I say....it has trouble with ME! Couldn't get it to let me describe each picture on that last post.

HAVE A WUNDERFUL DAY everyone! Sprechen sie Deutsch?

Miniatur Wunderland in Germany

Bunko

Spent last Thursday helping Sonia prepare for her yearly hosting of her Bunko group. That's my old Christmas tablecloth (25 + years old.) My crystal castle beverage server is always a hit. I picked up the red and green bread bowls at the bakery and took the kids for five hours until Sherman got out of school. We found the most darling Snowman cookie jar at the Gingerbread house in Pinetop. Sonia loved it so much that she got one for a Bunko prize and I bought her one for her birthday. LOVE those pre-Christmas sales! Too bad the sleigh is blocking the view of the cookie jar on the counter top behind it.

Presley Ruth Poulsen

Here she IS!!! The long-awaited little girl. The three boys are elated! Here is Kale on Sunday Dec. 2nd.
Grandma Gigi gets a few minutes in before the boys take over. They LOVE their baby sister. Presley was a whopping 8 lbs. She beat out her brothers' birth weight. We attended Kale's Christmas concert tonight at his school. Just got my hair cut and my hair is now a darker blond. Presley reminds me of little Eli. This picture just doesn't do her justice. She is a beautiful little girl. Looking forward to taking her on our family trip to Florida before we leave on another mission. Harry Potter....here we come!

Half Marathon

We headed out to Hohokam Park for the start of the 13 mile run at 7am. The kids were cranky so we took them to breakfast while their mommy ran the half marathon called Shun the Sun.
Here is Larkie having entered the stadium and approaching the finish line.....GO LARA!
Yup! That's our Strawberry Blonde with a very beet red face. PROUD OF YOU, Larkie! Her first marathon run. The other runs that day were for 3 and 7 miles. I was amazed that she chose the hardest one for her first time. Ryder loved playing on all the free jumpy castles they had around the field. Kendra just wanted her nap. We followed her when we could in the car. It was pretty exciting to watch her pass the check points.

Shower and Reception

We had another backyard wedding and reception. This time our friends used our yard and had to do all the work. Well.....we did a lot of flower-planting and yard work to get ready. I obviously don't have my new camera figured out yet. Still thinking I can just pick it up and shoot...like the old camera.....WRONG!
Still setting up the food and guests are arriving.
Can you see my chocolate babies on top of the cupcakes? Joyce made chicken salad sandwiches. I made cookies and tarts and cupcakes. Larkie decorated the cupcakes and they looked just like Anne Geddes babies all naked and decked out with flowers in their hair....SO CUTE!
Joyce and Sonia still working on their strategy in the kitchen. I learned how to "flood" a cookie this week....I made baby "onesies." LOOK OUT CHRISTMAS cookies....here I come!

Sandy Rios

Sandy Rios is a Christian guest columnist for ONE NEWS NOW and other Christian-based websites. She recently attacked Mitt Romney and Mormonism.

It was the usual ignorant stuff that appears in most anti-Mormon websites. YAWN! If only these people would do their homework and not rely on other ignorant, biased, so-called Christians who won't read the Book of Mormon for fear that it might be a waste of their precious time. They obviously don't think reading uninformed opinions on the internet a waste of time.....

Her attacks....

1. Mormons think they are going to become Gods and rule other worlds and be equal to Jesus Christ.

Okay just that one alone will take pages and pages to explain (with scripture, of course.) But really? Who is interested in reading explanations when they won't even go to the source? If they won't read the Book of Mormon.....why would they bother with the books of Abraham and Moses? Anything that wasn't included in the Bible by that pagan council held way back when and run by deceitful, conniving men bent on political gain....they don't want to read. TOOOoooooo bad. They preferred to let the people deify Mary. Now go figure? Why does SHE get to be considered GOD-LIKE while the rest of us are relegated to .....what? I don't know. Read the New Testament....just ONE verse alone states: "God gave men the power to become the sons of God."

OOHHHHH wooops! Somebody forgot to read that part.....or just skipped it....like they skip all the verses about the temple. Just read an article by Billy Graham at the Dr. office this morning. He quoted an old testament prophet exhorting the people to put their houses in order and serve God first. It was totally related to the rebuilding of the temple....but.....YAWN.....too much trouble for the Reverend to explain that part away....so he SKIPPED it.

These people ( so-called Christians) make me SO TIRED!

Going Home

Baby is on the mend after Grandpa Poulsen gave her a blessing. She had the E Coli. It did not spread throughout her body. She will go home on Wednesday. I am so blessed and grateful for the Priesthood.

I can't get anyone by phone. One brother is in Boston on business. Go Cloud2Mail!!! Morgan doesn't answer at home or at his nursery. I am feeling so lighthearted with such good news at the hospital that I decided it was time for a long-overdue prank. Left a message on the Nursery answering machine in Illinois. I put in my order for the Christmas Tree that I want this year and asked them to let me know when they can deliver it. The tree that I described doesn't exist..... of course. I will check back tomorrow if my brother doesn't call me up laughing his head off today. I'm sure he will recognize my voice...

Anastasia

A sad day for us. The baby wasn't doing well and we took her to the Dr. on Monday. They blew us off and said she is fine. Her diaper smelled funny and strange color. Today she burned up with fever and I drove over and brought her to our urgent care after trying the ones near Will's house. They were all locked up and CLOSED? It was like being in the twilight zone. Took her to urgent care. Temperature was 102.8 they gave her pain reliever and she vomited it all up. They said get her to emergency QUICK! They called ahead for us. They did a catheter and spinal tap and blood work. She has infection in her body and they will keep her for several days. POOR BABY!

They have her on an I.V. so she should be on the mend unless her spinal fluid shows meningitis. If that is the case we will be visiting the hospital for weeks. She laid in my arms exhausted after it all. I stayed with her and Will came from work. The others (including Grandpa Poulsen and Costea Grandparents) couldn't stand to watch any of it. I held her little head and gave her the syringe in her mouth for pain relief. I am good during the crisis and very composed....but now.....I am ready to go to bed and have a good cry. After more than five hours of phone calling and texting....my phone is completely dead. Note to self.....start carrying an extra charger in the purse!

FACEBOOK

I am busy rushing around with Simona and her parents. The baby is a little doll and has all of Will's coloring and is beginning to look more like Simona as time passes.

A dear friend lost her daughter last week to a tragic car accident. Amanda was driving home to Flagstaff and fell asleep at the wheel. They couldn't find her for four days. She was in her car at the bottom of a canyon. Funeral yesterday. SO SAD! She was to have been married this week-end and was one of Sonia's bridesmaids.

I miss some things not being on Facebook anymore. As the picture above attests....I'm not missing much.

Grandchild number 14

She's HERE. We can't believe it. After the C-section we have a perfect baby. I had never experienced seeing a new born immediately after a section. Nice not to have the "cone" head. Congratulations to Will and Simona. She is gorgeous. Her Romanian grandparents are here too and what fun we are having.

Will has posted all his pics on Facebook which I no longer participate in. You can barely see the baby because my new phone hadn't been adjusted yet.

Keira's and Dan's little girl is due in November and we are excited for her baby shower coming up. After three boys this one will be so FUN to shop for.

Jaycee vs. Casey

Watched some of the Casey Anthony drama. Hope it is over for awhile and we all get some needed "rest" from it. Can't seem to look for the daily news without being side-swiped by it all.

Thought for the day....Pain is inevitable....Suffering is optional. I like that!!

Just finished reading "A Stolen Life". Jaycee Dugard is one amazing woman... the complete antithesis to Casey Anthony.

Jaycee: Tortured by self-serving, egotistical, perverted, monster.

Casey: Emotionally tortured her loving parents..led police and searchers on wild goose chase.

Jaycee: Loving and devoted mother of two children forced upon her by rape.

Casey: Mother of daughter mostly raised by the grandparents. Partied after child's death.

Jaycee: Imprisoned in a back-yard and not allowed out for 18 years...not guilty of anything.

Casey: Imprisoned for 3 years for murdering her child....GUILTY, but not proven.

Jaycee: Positive, happy and moving forward, living with family and daughters.

Casey: ON THE RUN....not willing to communicate with her family.

Jaycee: Always faithful, helpful and caring....even to her captors.

Casey: Lying, lazy, party-going, boozing ...refusing to tell parents where the child is for 31 days.

Jaycee: Police failed her.

Casey: Police foiled by her.

My own feelings......Everyone on the planet should NOT buy anything Casey writes...that includes articles written about her or picture stories in magazines. Boycott People and any other rag sheet she appears in. Jose....same for him. Don't support his law firm. Go elsewhere. Let them wallow in obscurity from here on out. They should be ignored.

Our laws need to be changed. Defendants up for murder should HAVE to take a polygraph and should HAVE to take the stand and answer questions. Lawyers should be forced to be more ethical by the judges themselves. Judges need to step in and counteract the stupidity of the average American sitting in the jury box. Judges should be forced to preside over jury deliberations and do more explaining to them of the law and the ramifications of evidence that is presented.

Lawyers who publicly celebrate with champagne and flip the "bird" to cameras should be heavily penalized. The courtroom has become more of a sports stadium with the prosecution and defense teams behaving more like athletes in competition. THERE IS NO TRUTH in the U.S. Justice system. Only the best lawyer with the most persuasive "arguments" wins!

IF THE GLOVE DOESN'T FIT.....THEN DON'T COMMIT.

FANTASY FORENSICS.

YES WE CAN.....CHANGE.

Happy Birthday to me....

Had another wonderful birthday. We have kept the tradition of going to a restaurant with just the "adults" and no grandchildren so we can all enjoy the "quiet." Another grand daughter is on the way and we are all SO excited. Two little girls in the next few months!!!!!

I drove the deck furniture up to the cabin yesterday and unloaded it all before the rain started. I just love to sit and watch the birds and feel the breeze and have a few hours out of the HEAT of the valley.

I received so many lovely gifts from neighbors, friends and my family. Wow! The first year EVER that I have been remembered by my visiting teachers (38 years in the church now)....I was so shocked! One of them brought me a bottle of hand soap. The visiting teacher I had before the mission didn't come for 9 months. I had taken her to lunch when she moved into our ward and thought I would make a friend. She announced that she was disappointed to move into a ward with so many skinny blond women. She informed me that she didn't EVER do her visiting teaching. She held to her word. She was made RS counselor and got up and preached to us all at the VT conference that year. I laughed all the way home...to be fair to her, I gave two of her daughters piano lessons one before and one after the mission..she cheated me both times and wouldn't pay the full amount. The second daughter just stopped coming...no phone call...no check...nothing....I get a kick out of being ignored in the hall at church. LOVE it! I could write an entire novel on THAT particular topic (members who don't pay for services.)

No...THIS year has been special. I am truly SPOILED!!!!!! Next week I go to California to celebrate my youngest brother's 50th. My other brother will fly out too and we will have a BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA! Shopping and eating in Cali is always a treat.

MISS USA...only Liberals need apply?

I am taking these comments from One News Now that arrive in my inbox on a regular basis. I agree with everything this commentator has to say....

Only two years ago, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, the runner-up in the national contest, claimed she lost the competition because she affirmed traditional marriage when asked by a judge about same-sex "marriage."

This year the question was asked of the women..."do you believe in evolution?" Only two of the 51 contestants answered in the affirmative, with one of those two winning the competition.

Discovery Institute President, Bruce Chapman, states....that the women get "walloped" with a political litmus test at the end is disappointing. He also states,"it is unfortunate that the women who don't adapt to the judges' prejudices end up wasting their time, talent and beauty."

The right answer is the politically correct answer on the left....so why don't they advertise that only progressive liberal women need compete?

I also am shocked this week by the news that the State Department (Hillary Clinton) pulled strings to get Lady Gaga to perform for a Gay Pride Activist Concert in another country. Bill and Hillary were notorious for supporting NOW (National Organization for Women) at the United Nations Conferences on the family back during their presidency. NOW has a goal...to undermine the traditional family and to promote ABORTION.

If you have not seen the "INSIDE JOB"....run do not walk to your nearest Redbox rental or Netflicks and WATCH VERY CAREFULLY.....warning....it will upset you.

Faeries

This is my DREAM playset.....for the grandkids...of course! The only draw-back is that the house doesn't have a door that opens, etc...it is just for looks. The faeries have to play...outside. This is WAY too much money for me to spend.I know you want to know the price....all three sets are shown....well over 300 dollars....like I said.....too much.
One of my most favorite online companies sells children's books and toys . I have drooled over their cover art for years. Now...this week....news that the artist is selling the 11x14 prints for 40 dollars each...OH SO TEMPTING! This is just the first of three that I love....I HAVE to do things in threes....
Oh so lovely....PINK! Can I picture this in my toy room or a new grand daughter's nursery....OH YES I CAN! You will notice that there are books in each picture....and I DO love BOOKS!
Love pastels. Once read an article in the Wall Street Journal about astrological signs affecting choice of color...OH YES..... I AM DEFINITELY A.....MOON CHILD! I need to get a job.... LOL!