America, The Beautiful Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913 O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassion'd stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine! O Beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! We sang this song in sacrament meeting on Sunday.  I only made it thru the 1st verse, then I wept for the remainder.  I'm still going over the lyrics in my head.  How blessed I am to live in this most magnificent land, to enjoy freedom that has been secured by the ultimate sacrifice.  I pray that I never take it for granted.  The gratitude I feel for those who serve and have served is tremendous.  Happy birthday America, May God continue to shed His Grace on Thee.

The State is on Fire

Last October, when this was presented to me on my 54th birthday, I thought is was out of control.  I informed Boyd and Harmony that is was ridiculous to put than many candles on a cake.  I was mocked!

They lit them, I was concerned that when I blew them out that the smoke alarm would go off, because of the abundance of smoke.  Again I was mocked.

This happend right after I showered........so my freshly washed hair would smell like smoke

Once again......this is what a controlled burn looks like.

This is an uncontrolled burn........latest in a string of fires in the state.  So many people losing there homes.........so sad.

For now I'm grateful for a controlled burn on a birthday cake and some smoke in my eyes......I still have my home.

Smoky Sunrise

The last few weeks it seems like the whole state has been on fire. The smoke in the air has made for some gorgeous sunrises. I meet up with my pal Val in the lovely part of town called "Chesterfield" where my brother affectionately refers to the residents there as "Chestermites". We meet there with our mace and tasers, because it is close to our place of employment......yes we work in "the hood", but I digress. I get there as the sun is peeking over Mount Olympus, and I've pulled over to the side of the road to observe it.....and take a picture, although these pics do not do justice. I have also put a lovely profile of me in my car with my early morning "look" velco rollers!! It keeps the Chestermites at bay!  There have been some breathtaking colors.  This is truly my favorite part of the day.

Saturday .......

Boyd and I took the Lloyd Brothers to see this film......

fun--fun--funny

We had to have lots and lots of these.......

Here's Grumpy and the Lloyd Bros.......

Grumps was tired, he had painted

in the morning a rushed home to catch

the 1:35 showing.....

.......and Sweet Sophie.....

She is such a good eater.................

................more please.................

This is her fat little hand 2 weeks ago......the ring no longer fits. 

I put this picture in....*sigh* I'm hot....and not in a good way.....and this picture soothes me.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life. ~Charles M. Schulz

Sister to sister we will always be, a couple of nuts off the family tree-author unknown

Today is my leetle seester's birthday.

I love her, she makes me laugh and since she is younger

and incredibly beautiful she gives me a goal

"I want to grow up to be as gorgeous as my sister!"

Happy Birthday Peggi.

LDOTY

It always makes me a bit wistful,

We have just finished the

LonGest Day Of ThE YeAr

the days will start getting shorter

and......Summer is just getting started.

The Boys of Summer

It wouldn't be summer without hanging out at the ball park.  Isaac and Alex played baseball this summer.  I lucked out on this day.....they played back to back.........

I watched The Soph-a-licous while her dad helped coach.

I didn't get a very good picture of Alex.....