"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 1:4

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Jason and Kristine

I had an evening

To reflect in the temple.
Though a cold January day
My Heart was filled and warmed
by the fire of joy.
With my son and his wife

making choices that bind them

Forever in light.
Yea! My joy was full.

On this occasion, Kristine was endowed with rich blessings and promises. And better yet, they are planning their sealing very soon.

"I am so grateful - so very happy and I love you so much"!

The Bottom Line of "HOW TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE"

My Valentine

This is a picture of Jim and yours truly when we were first married in 1985. You can date the photo as the mid 80's by my very big hairstyle (the style will come back . . . just wait - you'll see. It will be your kids or your grandkids who will sport it, and I will just smile). Anyway, it has been 24 years since we met in a most unusual way, really.

But this post is not about my romance, but about romance in general. I found this story that I thought very funny. Kind of like when grandma told you to eat your chicken soup when you were sick. Then all the fancy shmancy medicines came 'round, and chicken soup went out of vogue. But lo and behold, years later they decided chicken soup was good when you were sick . . . after all that . . . Here's this story from which I took Excerpts:

Article by Seth Borenstein

From the Associated Press:

The Science of Romance:

Brains have a love circuit

. . . The unpoetic explanation is that love mostly can be understood through brain images, hormones and genetics. That seems to be the case for the newly in love, the long in love and the brokenhearted. . . .

. . . "It has a biological basis. We know some of the key players," said Larry Young of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta. . .

. . . Scientists figure they now know better how to keep those love circuits lit and the chemicals flowing . . . romantic love theoretically can be simulated with chemicals, but. . .

"if you really want . . . to get the relationship spark back, then engage in the behavior that stimulates the release of these molecules and allow them to stimulate the emotions," he said.

That would be hugging, kissing, and intimate contact.

"My wife tells me that flowers work as well. I don't know for sure," Young said. "As a scientist it's hard to see how it stimulates the circuits, but I do know they seem to have an effect. And the absence of them seems to have an effect as well."

* * *

The emphasis was added by me - that's the chicken soup thing I was talking about. Maybe the "group hug" thing is not such a bad idea to fix the world's problems. Hope your valentines day was full of them.

LOVE Margaret

My Kind of stuff at Osmond Designs

Margaret's words of wisdom:

Journals are not necessarily written
to purposely entertain others (though often they do).
I love reading old journal entries from my ancestors.
The most mundane things can end up being
the most interesting . . .
They never knew one hundred years ago what I would chuckle over.
With that in mind, I guess this blog of mine may be interesting
in the year 2109.

I am fond of antiques, antique replicas, and/or all kinds of things 'old world'. My house is filled with antiques, and (unfortunately) things just old.

So this is the deal. Back in December I visited the Osmond Designs Christmas booth at the mall in Orem. I didn't know about Osmond Designs then, but I found out that they are actually a furniture store on State Street in old Lehi. Anyway, I had actually stopped at their Christmas booth to admire these beautiful nativity pieces. I was not in the market for them at the time, but I loved them soooo much. However they no longer had a complete set available, as they had already sold most of them. The nice lady said they had more at their store in Lehi, and wouldn't I come and visit? She even gave me a discount card.

Well, I never had the opportunity to stop by at Christmastime, but I had that store in the back of my mind as a place I wanted to check out - though I lost the discount card.

One Friday, very recently, I talked Jim into going into that store, and amazingly (knowing how he hates to shop with me) he made the sacrifice. Oh WOW! I loved the whole store. The store encompasses the entire antique building. It's my kind of place. Jim had to drag me out by my coat tail, and I was not willing.

To make a long story short, I had just purchased two lamps at Costco that day, and I had them in my car when we stopped at Osmond's. However, I was already suffering from buyers remorse (which is my ever way of being) and then . . . well, I ended up taking them back to Costco after my visit to Osmond Designs.

I bought a pair of these lamps instead . . .

No buyers remorse this time - Wow!
I loved them even more after I set them up.


I especially love the . . .

Beaded Tassels.


And notice how it matches . . .


My Antique clock! (and antique iron)


I think it also matches my antique . . .


Croquet Mallets in a painted old milk can.



I think it also matches this . . .

My antique (some parts are replica) PHONE.


and . . .

My Great Great grandmother's chair
(which was brought across the plains in a covered wagon (I think)

and . . . .

The antique pot shard picture, the antique train lantern, the blue bonnet painting etc. etc. etc.
(I have a lot more)




I think it may even match this antique . . .


The antique barometer and 100 year old photograph

(What did you think I meant?)



ha ha ha! Serves Jim right for dragging me out of that store!
xoxox

Savannah Smiles and other random things

This is the greatest little movie - very family friendly, and even the guys seem to like it. Or at least my guy liked it.

Besides which - I happen to be in it!

Can You Pick ME out? I'm selling Ice Cream to "Bootsy"

Filmed in 1982, Savannah Smiles was not available on DVD until recently, and I now have a copy (Thanks to Lane Ronnow for sending it to me). I watched it last night, and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I watched it.

Now, the thing about me being in it? Well, I worked about 12 hours that summer day back in 1982, and I felt like (at the time) I had made a nice big fat wage. I also felt like I also had a very nice "featured extra" part. However, when the movie came out, all that was left of me was a tiny snippet (I actually missed myself the first time I watched it - my own part -). No, this did not thrust me into stardom. If you watch closely you can hear me utter "Have a Nice day" to Bootsy.

When Jim and I watched it last night, I had to rewind it several times so he could see my very fine acting, and then we had to pause it . . . well . . . 'cause . . . well, he was obviously suffering from some age dementia or something cause he was not quick enough to notice me.

Oh Well, I had a good time playing that day, and I actually knew several of the actors in the movie. The part of the doctor, played in this movie by Oscar Rowland, was the same man who played Scrooge with me in the play "Christmas Carol" in 1980 or 1981 - I can't remember. Oh so long ago. I played the part of "Belle" back then in the Promised Valley Playhouse downtown in Salt Lake City (that wonderful old theater is gone now). It was a musical version, and I had some nice solos and a very fun cast to work with.