This week...

Holly took Wayne out for his birthday to Joy Luck.  She included me, Dale, and Wanee.  Holly loves ham fried rice and Orange Chicken, so she was in heaven.  Holly is fun to go out with because she is kind of silly and really positive about everything.  She enjoys the waiter, and the food, and ordering the food and getting a Sprite.  It's childlike joy and it's contagious.   

I had my Girlfriend bgroup Therapy for January.  We gathered at Kathleen's home for a pot luck Salad-- evryone brought the perfect ingredients-- it really was delicious-- and a book exchange.  The task was to bring one of the books you have read to tell about and give away.  We had many wonderful books shared and we all went away with a new book to read.  When I made this group I didn't want another book group-- but occasionally it would be about books.  

front row:  Diane Lake, Bonnie Benedict, Janet Webster, Lesley Leger.  back row: Jan Hedberg, Kathleen Blake, Erin Perkins, Jill Allsop, Myken Shingleton, Jana Uryan, and me.

We went with the Lakes to see Three Dog Night!  It was a riot!  The average age there was probably 65.  It started at 7 cuz we all want to be home in bed by 10.   We love their old tunes… so many familiar ones that have played in the soundtrack of our lives.  “One is the loneliest number, “  “Black and White,” “ Shambala”, “Just an Old fashioned Love song,” " Easy to be Hard, " and  “Jeremiah was a bullfrog.. Joy to the World.”    

I remember so clearly my family singing the “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” song at a Stake Talent show down at the Regional Center (the Valley Music Hall ) when I was about 10.  Mom got us girls all matching dresses and Dad and Adam had matching vests and we had tambourines.  Angela was 3, Liz 5, Adam 7 and Marcie 11…and we were AMAZING.   Mom changed some of the words to be more fitting..and I remember Dad and Adam singing the verse of “You know I love the Ladies…”  Good times.

Big Birthday party

We celebrated all of our December and January birthdays.  There are 8 of them from Dec. 2 to Jan 22.  This is the first time in two years we have had the entire family together!   We had roast beef and mashed potatoes for dinner - everyones favoirite -- then went around and said good things about each of our birthday people.  Elsi, Andrew, Monson, Wayne, Alfie, Lady, Tru and Laila.  It's good for the birthday person to hear and it's good for all of us to be reminded on how important it is to speak well of each other and notice each other's gifts and talents.

Addison made the cake...we blew out candles and played a fun music game called Hitster... you run a QR code and songs play, then if you know the artist and the title, that's bonus points, but the real goal is to figure out the time period when the song came out.  You build a timeline with the songs you use. 

Wayne broke out his soft ice cream machine...in the cold of winter.  Everyone loved it!  All the ice cream you can eat...but you have to eat it in the garage or in the kitchen, because I don't want a MESS.  

The grands all sang Wayne the Beatles song--" When I'm 64!" IT was really cute then a big group hug!

 

GKGN

Grandkid game night was great.  We had all 8 nuggets here.  I’ve started calling my grandkids nuggets since that’s all they want to eat when they come to my house.  So nuggets it is.

We kind of have a routine now that we are 2 years into this. We gather, color, and chat, have nuggets and fried or tator tots, do a “lesson”  this month we had all the kids write something they love, a wish or a goal on a paper to make a grand paper chain to decorate the sliding door and as a reminder for the next month. 

We head outside for running around, - red light green light– we even go outside if it’s really cold..and Wayne lights the fire pit and we have toasted marshmallows and s'mores.  Then back inside for charades. Our charade highlights were Lady being baby Jesus, and George being an eyeball– we didn’t guess either of these..... or some type of acting/ hiding game, then dessert– we had ice cream, then games.  We played trash and Sky jo then the parents come to get the nuggets.  It’s always a treat. 

New Years Day 2026

 Wow, and we are at a New Year again.....

Many of us joined Addison and Bre's family for their annual seafood lunch on New Years day.  

I love a new year.  It feels like fresh starts or at least a time to contemplate what the coming year could bring.  

2026:New year, New me…

My word for the year is CREATIVITY

Dress more creatively— wear all my good clothes and jewelry.  Dopamine dressing. 

Only Thrift — DI, Savers, Good Will, TJ Maxx, Ross, NPS, other stores only clearance or sale

Don’t do two things at the same time —focus, be more present.

Silent morning walk— me and my thoughts, so I can have more inspiration and creativity. 

Listen to Book of Mormon and Old Testament Devotional each morning

Read 26+  books

Tell everyone about the Telepathy podcast

Dance every day!  30 seconds.

Tesla road trip to ….  Nashville, TN. - get Wayne to North Dakota-- the only state he hasn't been to.

Bear Lake June 22-29 with the Calls and the Coles

Disneyland with family the end of May

Continue Missionary ARP service in Water Tower Branch

Grandkid game night -- do mini coaching sessions with the grands.  Work on confidence and empathy.

Girlfriend group therapy once a month

Work with Friend 2 friend every Friday

Sidetracked band-- still enjoy it and see it continuing throughout this next year.

Monson's family also picked inspirational words for the coming year.

Monson's is Jesus-- he just turned 33 so it's his Jesus year to love more, be more compassionate and no harsh words.

Lexi: Simplify

Tayla: Resilliant

Lady: Calm

Elsie: Love

MY WISH:  Be too much.  Be extra.  Live Large.  Smile big.  Laugh hard.  Celebrate yourself.  Open your heart.  Express your emotions.  Use your words.  Giggle.  Dance.  Soak in the sun.  Splash in the waves.  Breathe deep, and love your life.  You only get one.