March Madness with Sadie and Family

I LOVE March Madness!

Our family fills out the brackets for Stratford Family Showdown each year and I've never won, 

but hope springs eternal. 

At this writing, I am in the cellar, so, it won't be this year either.
Thing is, I secretly root for the under dog, like our dad,
so it's actually a win either way!

So we were excited when Rick invited Roger and I to go with him and his family on Thursday and Saturday 

to the 1st and 2nd Rounds in Vivant Smart Home Arena in SLC. 

Our beautiful granddaughter, Sadie, returned home from her mission to Cambodia March 7, 

so the best reason of all for going up north was to see her and go to her homecoming on Sunday!

We drove up to SLC on Wednesday and met Karleen for dinner at Market Street Grill, 

killing two birds with one stone. 

We wanted to use my free meal coupon for my birthday there, 

and we always try to meet up 

with our friend, Karleen, when we come up north.

They were pushing the strawberry shortcake, and Roger couldn't say no to that!

Next morning, off to four games of Basketball Heaven!

Sadie and I are the true Vikings in our family - we're always hot!

 So where does she get sent on her mission - to one of the hottest countries on earth! 

She told me that she will still be a Viking with me, but right now, her body is very confused!

So happy to have this dear girl home!

Roger got eight spoons, and we passed this giant milk shake back and forth 

down the row until it was gone!

On Friday, we drove to Ogden for me to have Jess do my hair and to go to lunch with Lois. 

As we drove by the Wildlife and Resource Center, Rog took a pic of the birdhouse Ryan built 

over thirty years ago for his Eagle Scout project. 

We can't believe it's still hanging!

Saturday, after we picked up Stacy at the Provo Airport, we were back at the playoff games. 

Jodie wanted to be home as family arrived for Sadie's homecoming the next day, 

so Ryan used her ticket.

What great fun we had cheering at those games! Two games were down to the wire 
and some were blowouts, but those kids are such big fans. 

I asked Abby, who is in 8th grade, if any of her girlfriends were into March Madness, 

and when she told them she was going to the NCAA tournament, they said NC what? 

On Friday she got her phone taken away in one of her classes because she was checking the scores. 

These kids, like their dad, are big sports fans!

Then, Sunday the biggest and best reason we came happened!
Sadie delivered a most insightful, touching and well thought-out talk 
about Heavenly Father's "fourth watch."
Her love of Him and the Cambodian people shone through!
What a tough granddaughter with a soft heart we have!

Jodie planned a delicious lunch for family and friends after church. We had barbecued pork sandwiches, 
many yummy salads including a Southwestern one Si Foster from A Bountiful Kitchen brought over 
and I made the shrimp macaroni one their family loves, cut up fruit and dip veggies and dip, 
taco layer dip and many kinds of chips. 
There was a beautiful Pavlova, Chyrrl's brownie cake, chocolate bundt cake 
and many cookies Jodie's friends and neighbors brought.

Jodie and Rick had a real houseful!

Jodie's mom, Kathie

Aunt Chyrrl, Craig and Susie, Shellie and son, Carson and Courtney (not pictured) came from Ogden 

and honored guest, Grandma Lois.

These two graduating high school seniors have been close cousins ever since they went to EFY together. 

Katie will be joining Josh and Sadie at BYU and Jared got in BYU and USU. 

On Monday he and his brother, Sam, who had driven from Boise in a separate car, visited the BYU campus 

for a tour, then on Tuesday, they toured USU. 

Missy sent a big announcement text yesterday. It's official. 

Jared will be an Aggie!!! 

It was the Aggie ice cream that won him over!

Sadie's mission president and his wife, who were released while Sadie was serving, were there. 

Coincidentally, their married daughter, who was in Hong Kong with her husband, 

became best friends with Sydney while there. Such great people!

Clark Gilbert, Emily's brother, his wife, Christine, and son, James, came over. 

Rick and Jodie were friends with them when they both lived in San Francisco. 

Ryan and Em brought daughter, Sarah, with them. 

She couldn't wait to play with cousin Blake!

Kathie loves Grandma Strat, just like everyone else!

After friends left, family gathered in a circle to chat!

After the Ogden relatives left, we hung out with our kids. After this pic was taken, 

we held a family council using the "Come Follow Me" lesson on Christ's parables and teachings. 

What a beautiful discussion we had! 

Our grandkids came up with such deep insight. 

I think kids are just smarter these days - certainly smarter than I was!

We took quick pics before the Smith's (except Jared and Sam, who slept over, then drove to BYU next day) 

had to leave for Boise . . . 

. . . Stacy (the only Young who could come) flew home to Mesa . . . 

. . . and Ryan, Emily and Sarah flew home to Mesa.

I loved watching Jared helping Katie with her AP calculus - I don't even really know what calculus is!

 These cousins are so cute together!

They both plan to serve missions after their freshman year.

We are so tickled that Sadie is home from Cambodia safe and sound 

and that she shared her love and the Gospel 

and her love for the Gospel with the Cambodian people. 

She is a shining light and we love her so much!

Connecting and Reconnecting

Recently, Roger and I received our results from Ancestry.com (a Christmas gift from Patty and Hal) 

telling us the percentage breakdown of our progenitor roots. 

Not surprisingly, my DNA is 49% from England, Wales and Northwestern Europe, 

43% from Norway and 3% from Sweden.

It is fascinating to wonder and try to trace how you're connected
and what traits you inherited from your ancestors,

 not only physical, 

but interests, talents, and abilities as well!

Last week, our daughter, Mindy, posted this photo composite on Instagram of three generations of us 

when we were/are four or five years old - 

me, Mindy and her daughter, Fiona,
labeled, #like grandmotherlikedaughterlikegranddaughter#triplets#threegenerations.

It seems that, lately, we have been connecting with friends.

I enjoyed meeting with our book club again for lunch at Painted Pony,

and I just joined a new cooking club of branch members and friends. 

Roger and I recently had lunch, then played Hand and Foot, a card game, with new friends,
 Charlotte and Steve Nebeker, 

and we were invited to a party at Crystal Lakes Clubhouse for Chinese New Year food and Chinese checkers.

Rog loves playing golf every Monday morning with these guys - 

Karl Richter . . . 

. . . Deral Sorenson, and, not pictured, Dale Dawes, and sometimes, Dave Uffens.

Our beautiful granddaughter missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sadie, 

returned home from serving for 18 months in Cambodia.

We get to reconnect with her next week when we go up north to go to the first round 

of the NAA basketball games in SLC 
and to hear Sadie speak in their ward on Sunday, March 24 at noon.

We are soooo proud of her and so grateful that she is back home safely.

Her wonderful family greeted her at the SLC Airport.

(Blakey had an operation on his hip in January and has on a cast and can't walk for a while yet.)

Jodie texted this pic, labeled "Carpet!"

We have had some fun opportunities to reconnect with several old friends, lately. 

We met for lunch at the Outback with good Ogden friends, Jim and Kathy Jensen, March 1, 

 and had Aggie friends. Kathy and Mike Cranney, over for chili, 

then went over to their house for dessert 
and to watch the USU Aggie-Nevada game March 2. 

Such an exciting game - Aggies won and share the Mountain West Conference Championship with Nevada! 

Pre-season, Aggies were picked to finish 9th!

They have an outstanding new coach whose big mantra is team unity!

Last Wednesday night, Roger received a call from our Ogden friend, Kent Petersen, 

who lost his wife, Nyla, to breast cancer last year and now has a lovely new bride, Lynene. 

They would be passing through St. George, 

and he invited us and his old high school friend, Art Baliff, to go out to dinner the following evening 

to get acquainted with her. 

We had a delicious meal at Rib and Chop House.

Lynene lost her first husband after a long illness and it was good to see those two so happy together.

Our dear friends, Mary and Bob Brady, will be returning soon from their mission in Kenya, and we and the Taylors wanted to get together again before they get back.

We had planned to have them over for dinner on March 8, but then they found out their granddaughter 

and her family were coming over that night to "open" her mission call, so we made it a lunch, instead.

I made a new recipe of chicken enchiladas on A Bountiful Kitchen website. 

We know Si Foster, who writes this food blog and lives in Rick and Jodie's ward, 

and it's a great website with lots of yummy recipes. 

Anyway, I also made our favorite tomatillo salsa verde and Anne brought a delicious Mexican green salad. 

I baked an orange poppyseed cake and served it with ice cream and berries for dessert.

We love these guys and had so much fun reconnecting and catching up!

As I think about it, life really is about connections to each other.

We feel so blessed for having ours with wonderful family and friends!

Brrr! - Winter Wonder-fun!

Okay, true confessions!

I love the house COLD!

Roger's and my biggest battle, by far, is at the thermostat.

We live in the hot desert, so, in the summer, let me just say that air conditioning 

is my favorite 20th century invention. 

I know, I know, that's a huge statement and covers lots of inventions, 

including the washing machine. 

I've been known to say, as I am dripping with sweat, that I would rather beat my clothes on rocks in the river 

than give up refrigerated air.

Of course, I have no idea what it would be like to beat laundry over the rocks, 

but I am convinced that it couldn't be nearly as bad as that suffocating, dying-of-the-heat feeling.

In the winter, cozying up to a fire with the thermostat DOWN LOW 

 and snuggling under warm blankets and quilts in bed 

are winter's best perks. 

In St. George, this has been a winter to remember.

It has been cold here for days, for weeks, even months.

Recently I grabbed my phone and took a pic of Roger all bundled up to watch the ten o'clock news.

What you can't see in the pic is how his teeth were chattering.

This pic was taken before the bigger snows that were to come.

Don't the powdered sugar mountains look pretty? 

Winter snow storms, quite uncommon here, have been commonplace.

Off our back balcony

Luckily, there have been fun things to do indoors.

Our little book club met for lunch at Benja Thai to discuss our book.

Three of these fun gals are from up north and come to their St. George homes in the winter. 

We hadn't met since last spring, and none of us were sure which book we had chosen, 

so we read different ones and talked about several.

Truth really be known, we laugh and chat more than we discuss books.

On my Most Favorite Foods list is Tom Kha Gai Thai soup, and Benja's has a yummy version. 

Nectar of the Gods!
(I said to Roger when we went to Vegas for my birthday (below) that I wanted to shop at a Chinese market in China town
and buy the ingredients to make this soup
that I can't find in St. George such as lemongrass and galangel, Chinese ginger.
I made it last weekend and it turned out tasty - Rog liked it better than the restaurant variety because I put in less heat.
It was fun to make and I loved browsing through the Chinese market!)

Roger's sister, Chyrrl and husband, Glynn passed through St. George recently to go on a little trip 

with Jim and Mary Andrus, a great couple they served with in Nauvoo on their recent LDS mission. 

They invited us to go to dinner with them.

We met Dan and Jane Madsen at Magelby's for our annual birthday dinner.

Jane and I taught school together at South Cache Junior High when we were right out of college 

and living in the married student housing. Jane and I carpooled to Hyrum together.

They are very special people, personifying service to others.

Roger looks forward to the Super Bowl with great anticipation, 

but not to watch the game. 

(We don't even watch it.)

We use it as an excuse to have Winger's wings. 

We order the wings and the sauce in separate containers on Saturday, 

then I heat up the wings in the oven and pour the sauce over.

Yum!

It's a tradition.

 Valentine's Day brings my birthday!

I have had the same super-wonderful visiting teacher/ministering angel ever since we moved to St. George - 

Janice Ence, and, almost that long, her partner has been, Judy Van Drimmelen.

I adore them both!

They send me flowers every year on my birthday and they're always so lovely!

Here is the crazy-fun friend responsible for involving me in lots of her wacky schemes!

Okay, in all fairness, this is not how she usually looks. 

Charlotte planned a branch talent show and twisted lots of arms to get many performers/presenters. 

She and her husband did a comedy hula. 

She was born and lived in Hawaii in her childhood and she is really good!

She really does have her front teeth and is skinnier than this.

As you can see by the composite pic below, she talked me into playing my uke and singing. 

I'm not so hot at playing since my accident with my hand, but I can strum and play in the key of G. 

She had me go first to warm the audience up and I finished with If I Had A Hammer 

and had them all wailing it out with me. 

There was lots of good talent - poets, writers, a magician, a story-teller, a harmonica player (my favorite), 

a singer/pianist, and a wood carver, artists, photographers, book-makers, dress-makers and quilters 

displayed and talked about their creations.

She also asked me to show and tell about the many books I have made.

We celebrated my birthday in Vegas the week after Valentine's Day to avoid the crowds. 

We had the seafood tower at our favorite French bistro, Mon Ami Gabi in The Paris.

A free birthday profiterole tops off a yummy lunch.

We stayed in a Marriott with a free night and next door 

is a great tapas restaurant we have been to before and loved, Firefly.

We wanted to see Donny and Marie before they retired their Vegas show in November. 

We saw them about six years ago and it was so good.

They are amazing! 

Donny is 61 and Marie is 59 and they've still got it! They both can sing great, separately and together, 

and the production showcased their talent beautifully. 

My favorite was watching Donny dance. 

He did a whole routine with the four professional, twenty-something male dancers, 

and honestly he outshone them with his moves! 

He still looks, acts and sings like a heart throb and he's a grandpa!

As we were walking out of the theater, 

we ran into Ryan and Emily's 

across-the-street neighbors and friends, Kathryn and Lane Cook.

Cute family - Sarah plays with their Addie every day.

And, last but not least indoor activity that we loved, is the Tri-stake Special Needs Roadshows.

We went to this a couple of years ago and enjoyed it so much, we went last Friday night. 

The leaders put their whole hearts into working with these special people. 

The theme of the show of the kids who live in our area was The Greatest Showman.

The director started working on it six months ago and it was thoroughly entertaining!

It started with many kids coming from the back of the audience to the stage dressed like circus performers 

and singing, The Greatest Show along with the recording.

A narrator told the basic story of P.T. Barnum as the program evolved and the costumes, 

sets and enthusiasm were outstanding!

The soloists who sang, A Million Dreams and This Is Me along with the recording into the solo mike 

and in the spotlight put their whole hearts and souls into it, with grand gestures 

and sometimes off-key sounds of touching sincerity.

It was a night to remember!

In spite of all of the winter wonder-fun, I think I'm ready for spring!