Looking back, looking ahead

I'm so blessed.  I have so many things for which to be thankful.  I'm at a very good spot in my life right now and I recognize that fact.  Sure, I have some health concerns that bother me.  I have some relationships with people that I wish were better and some relationships that I would like to put more energy into strengthening. And I have a lot of relationships with family and friends that are very comfortable, satisfying and enjoyable. I've been able to see a lot of different people in different situations over this past summer and it has strengthened my faith in humanity.  There are always going to be bumps along the way.  I have some things I want to improve on and some things I feel like I've pretty much mastered and I don't have to even think about those things anymore.  I have such a desire to learn and grow and to spend my time wisely.  So far, my retirement years are going very well.  We have more money to do some things that need to be done around the house, to travel, to help other people when we find out about a need.  We are in a good place, and I recognize that fact.

I have a faithful husband who has been with me for over 39 years.  He is my best friend. We celebrated our anniversary in June. This fact alone is my number one blessing.  I recognize that this long-term type relationship and marriage is harder to find and to hold on to in this day and age.  It makes me feel safe and secure to know that he has by back and that he is my biggest cheerleader (maybe sometimes even a little too much!) It has given our children stability and has helped them launch their own successful marriages.  We are fortunate to have been born into homes where this type of relationship was modeled.  Our own parents gave us a fabulous foundation upon which to build our own family.  Rick and I talk about this often.  We were so fortunate to have been born to goodly parents.  And they were each born of goodly parents.  And so on it goes.  It's all about families and keeping those ties that bind strong and being a strong link in the chain of generations.

We have four amazing children who married four amazing spouses.  We love them all so much!  Each one brings their talents and abilities to the family and we celebrate their strengths, their differences, their good lives and the choices that they make.  They are solid and are making great homes together with their children. The have brought us 10 (gong on 11!) darling grandchildren who we love and adore. 

We have had a very busy summer.  We traveled a lot.  Really, almost too much.  Three east coast trips and one west coast trip in eight weeks is a bit much. We've been able to see more of this beautiful world of ours and to spend time around people of all different backgrounds.  Hence, my belief in humanity.  People are generally good and willing to help their fellow man.

It's been wonderful to spend so much time this summer with family and friends.  Those are really cherished times (which I know sounds cliche, but it true.)  We got to spend a week in NC with Dave, Courtney and their children.  We went to Rupert to see Janet and Dave and their family (who we love so much!) and had a great time there. We went to Rhode Island for four days and explored that beautiful state.  We went on a cruise from New England to Montreal, Canada with Rick's mother and siblings.  We went to San Diego while Rick attended a conference and Carol got to go with us.  She and I had a great time exploring around while Rick was in meetings (poor guy.)  We got to see Andy and Chelsea in CA, and they came to town for a number of days.  Dave and Courtney and family stayed with us for a week and we had non-stop fun with them.  And of course, I went to Israel for two weeks with Jordan and a group of friends in May for an incredible experience there.

I value my husband, my children, my daring grandchildren, my siblings and their spouses, our mothers, Rick's family, my long-time friends and some newer friends, and my friends from church and community associations.  Life is Good!

Now, we are looking forward to what comes next.  So much of what comes next is up to us!  We get to choose where we spend our time, with whom, doing what we enjoy, serving, fulfilling our church callings, having fun and trying to eat healthy and exercise.  We get to choose our attitudes. 

There are also a lot of unknowns that lie in the future.  We are contemplating those changes.  What will we do when Rick retires?  Go on a mission?  Should we continue to fix up our home or move to a different one? What will be the end story with our aging mothers?  What health challenges will we face?  How will our children and grandchildren grow and develop and what challenges and successes will they have?

My thought is that we prepare as best we can....we put our faith and trust in the Lord...we work towards our goals....we adjust when things don't go according to plan....we forgive...we ask for forgiveness....we keep learning and improving...we help and serve others...we love and find joy in every day living.  There is so much good going on and so much to be enjoyed in life.  I'm so grateful for the one I'm living!

7/27/2018 - Ten years!

Hooray!  We made it!  My blog and I are 10 years old now.  Happy day of birth Vonnierom!  You are 10 years old!

I know, I know, I haven't been blogging all summer.  Truth is, I haven't been home very much this summer, but I want to get back to it.  More on the summer adventures later.  For now, I want to celebrate this little blog here.  I still LOVE her.  I love having a place to share thoughts, activities and ideas.  I love writing things down and looking back.  I know my poor readers have probably long since abandoned me, given the infrequency of my summer writing, but never fear!  I have plans to continue. I may be one of the few at-home, not-for-profit, just-a-regular-person bloggers who is still active.

I've learned so much over the summer, I've seen so much, I've felt so much and I want to record some of it here.

But for now, I want to treat my little blog to an anniversary treat!

 Mary's (my mom's) fresh peach pie!

Here is the recipe:

Mash 2 large peaches in the blender 

add 3/4 c. sugar into which 3 T. of cornstarch has been added and 1/2 c. water

cook for 5 minutes or til it boils

Remove from heat and add 1/2 t. almond flavoring and 2 T. butter

Cool

Slice 3 peaches into each pie already prepared pie shell

Pour the above mixture over the top.

Top with whip cream.

Enjoy!

So far my Vonnierom has enjoyed some of my favorite desserts to celebrate (isn't it uncanny that we enjoy the same desserts?) which are:

2008 she was born
2009 she received a birthday cake (not chocolate of course)
2010 a carmel cheesecake
2011 a lemon cupcake
2012 Key Lime pie
2013 Creme Brûlée with fresh fruit
2014 a rootbeer float
2015 delicious caramel corn
2016 Grandma Mayme's cinnamon rools
2017 Home made icecream
2018 Mary's fresh peach pie!

I love you little blog.  Don't give up on me because I haven't paid much attention to you.  Let's reunite and have some fun!  You're welcome to join along.

At last!

Last month, I finally got to meet Mitt Romney!  I supported his run for President and wish that he had been elected.  I now support him in his bid for Senator from Utah, replacing Orrin Hatch.  I like just about everything about Mitt.  I like his politics, I like his values, I like his judgement, I like his family values, I like his name, I like his wife, I like what he is trying to do at the Senate on issues affecting Utah.  I had about a two minutes conversation with him before he gave his speech.  It was a highlight for me as we talked about some things we have in common.  Romney for Utah!

7/27/2008 - 9 years!!

Happy 9th birthday to my blog!  She turned nine years old on July 27, 2017.  HAPPY DAY OF BIRTH VONNIEROM!

Even though I don't have as much time as I use to, I STILL love to blog and I'm still going to keep going.  I'll admit that I use to blog a lot at work in the early years.  I had a job where I was at a desk for long hours each day and some of those hours involved just being there.  Blogging was a perfect way to fill those hours.  It's kind of crazy now that I am retired, that I don't have time to sit around at a computer anymore.  Who would have thought it?  I'm almost as busy as I ever was, but now I get to structure my day the way I want to.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being retired! Rick keeps saying that I must be the happiest retired person that he knows.  I think I am!

I've given my blog various birthday treats over the years.  She and I aren't big chocolate lovers, so she has received some delicious non-chocolate treats.  2008 was her birth, 2009 she received a birthday cake, 2010 a caramel cheesecake, 2011 a lemon cupcake, 2012 Key Lime pie, 2013 Creme brûlée with fresh fruit, 2014 a rootbeer float, 2015 delicious caramel corn, 2016 grandma's cinnamon rolls and this year.....

Tuh duh......

Home made ice-cream!!

Ever since I can remember, I've made homemade ice cream.  It all started with my Grandma Mayme. She made homemade ice-cream by the freezer full.  She made a special caramel ice-cream that I can still imagine and taste to this day.  She used one of these hand crank models and I'm sure that my Grandpa Ray and my dad churned many a batch of caramel ice-cream treats.

We made ice-cream in our home growing up and having it in the summer was especially delightful. My mom made some great ice-cream.  I still use her recipe and change up the fruit to go with whatever is in season.  I use this type of machine now.  We've burned through many, many motors and just this 4th of July, burned out another one.  Now I have a new machine and I hope it lasts awhile.

During the winter months when it isn't practical to be outside freezing ice-cream, I use this delightful table top variety.  It only makes enough for about 6-8 people, but guests love it when I bust out some freshly made ice-cream.  I keep the container in the freezer and it is ready to go at a moments notice and freezes up in about 15 minutes.  I've added a crushed up candy bar, fresh fruit, chocolate syrup or just had it plain with a good vanilla flavor.

The recipe I use the most is this one:
Fruit Ice-cream
(can use raspberries, strawberries or peaches)
2 1/2 cup sugar
Juice of 2 lemons
4 cups ground up fruit (we like the fruit blended in the blender so that there aren't big chunks of fruit)

Mix these ingredients and let stand for an hour or so
then add to the ice-cream freezer the blended fruit and sugar mixture and
1 pint cream
1 quart half and half
1 can evaporated milk
It makes about 4 quarts and can be doubled if you have a large ice cream freezer.

We also like this recipe for 3 fruit ice-cream.  It is very refreshing in the summertime:
2 cups water
3 cups sugar (dissolve sugar in water and boil for three minutes.  Cool completely)

4 oranges juiced
1 lemon juiced
3 large bananas, mashed
1 pint cream
1 quart half and half
1 can evaporated milk

Enjoy birthday girl!

Pioneer Theater 2016-2017

Rick and I enjoyed another great season at Pioneer Theater.  The acting is top drawer and the sets and music are amazing. We have season tickets and go to a play about every six weeks. This year some of our friends also got season tickets and went with us and that has been even more enjoyable.  Rick and I love good theater!  This year we saw most of the plays on their season roster which were:
The Last Ship

The Glass Menagerie

Oliver!

 Fences

King Charles III

And the Will Rogers Follies

We learned, we laughed, we cried, we had more understanding for people in other times and places, we enjoyed, we escaped to another time and place and we were entertained.  What more could we expect from a good theater experience?? Can't wait until next year!

Happy 8th anniversary to my blog!

Dear blog,
I'm still here.  I know you haven't seen a lot of me this summer.  It's been crazy sometimes and very exciting around here with six of our grandchildren and their parents living/staying/going in and out under our roof. Happy 8th year anniversary to you and to me!  I created you on July 27, 2008!

Sometimes I think I will stop blogging.  It seems to be a "thing" that has passed its prime.  Sometimes I worry about privacy and sharing too much information.  However, I continue to enjoy blogging.  I don't worry about what other people think about what I write and I know I'm not the greatest writer.  I guess I just pretty much blog for myself.  My husband is my most faithful reader and commenter. I don't think I have that many followers or people who read anymore, but that's OK. As I've said before, I'm not a great journal writer and this is a way to document and preserve some sort of history of me and my family and some of my thoughts and insights.  I tend to have a lot of thoughts rolling around in my head.  So, I guess I will continue to write and to share.

Each year I've give my blog a little birthday treat, and this year it will be cinnamon rolls.  I love to eat them whenever I can get them, and I know a really good one from a standard one.  This is a recipe I've had for years written in my Grandma Mayme's handwriting.  I will make them this week as a birthday gift to celebrate with my little 8 year old blog.

Thanks for "sticking" with me and staying true. You are the "icing" on the cinnamon roll.
You're a dear friend.
All the best,
Vonnierom

BYU Basketball - along the trail to fame and glory

Another season is coming to an end.  We attended the BYU-Portland game last night and watched BYU tear Portland to shreds.  Kyle Collinsworth did an impressive job of getting his 11th triple-double with an all time high of 16 assists, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  When he got his 10th rebound, the crowd went wild.

We had season tickets again this year and even though I haven't attended every home game, I have really enjoyed the games I have attended.  I like basketball.  I get it.  I find it very entertaining.
As Rick and I sat in our seats last night, we thought about ALL the games we have attended over the years in the Marriott Center.  There have surely been 100s of them by now.  We have seen some extremely exciting games with great players like Danny Ainge, Kresimir Cosic, Devin Durrant, Shawn Bradley, Travis Hansen, Greg Kite, Rafael Araujo, Michael Smith and Andy Toolson and most recently Brandon Davies, Jimmer Fredette, Tyler Haws and Kyle Collinsworth.

I remember the days before the shot clock when the players would slow the ball down at the end of the game, trying to hold on to their lead.  It would drive me nuts if we were behind and within striking distance and we couldn't get the ball.  I remember when the shorts were short and the legs were, well, long.  I remember when teams wouldn't play BYU before the announcement of the priesthood being available to all worthy males.  I remember some very heated games against our rivals in the WAC.  I remember the great satisfaction that came with each and every win over Utah.  I remember eating BYU concession treats and was especially delighted with the invention and sale of "the Cougar Tail" maple bar doughnut.  I remember when the seats were all gold in the Marriott center and the hall ways were enclosed and narrow.  In fact, I remember the first time I walked into the Marriott Center in 1973.  It was the largest building I had ever visited and I was so overwhelmed by its size.  Little did I know how many events I would attend there in my future.

Now, the games are just as exciting, but some things have changed that aren't my favorite.  I love the new jumbo score board, but I don't like the selfie social media screen.  Who cares about watching selfies of other people at the game with their BYU hastags??  Big DEAL.  Am I missing something? I use to like the half-time entertainment that was entertaining, but now I dislike watching the Cougarettes toss their hair around a million times (I must be getting OLD.)  Their dancing and such is OK, but those head movements and hair tossing is SO ANNOYING! Plus, their routines are so short. Why not present an actual half-time routine?  I remember when the cheerleaders would build insanely high people pyramids that would take our breath away.  Now they don't go more than one person high.  Also, I remember when we had about 10 cheerleaders, now it seems like there are 110.   I don't like the constant "entertainment" provided during the time outs that are so stupid with contests of various sorts.  Let's just have a moment to ourselves while the players rest, huh?

The new speaker system is awesome and I like the loud music, but it is very loud!  (Age probably showing again.)  It makes my hears ring even worse than they already do.  I need some of those kiddy head phones or ear plugs at the least.  No one can say they can't hear what is going on.  I like how the BYU students dress in a similar color and use those crazy signs and other items to distract the opposing free throw shooters. And I will admit...I love Cosmo.  He is truly athletic. His news skills on his hover board are amazing.

Anyway, the point is we've enjoyed our lengthy history at the Marriott Center watching BYU take a lot of teams to the woodshed.  Nothing was more entertaining than the years Jimmer played.  Truly, those games weren't to be missed.  It's been so fun to share this activity that Rick and I enjoy doing together and I appreciate him taking me to "Our House"  where we rise and shout.

Go Cougars!!

Provo City Center LDS temple

Rick and I had the opportunity to tour the new Provo City Center temple a few weeks ago.  It is stunning.  Seriously, words fail me in describing how beautiful it is.  So much detail has been added to give it time period accuracy, all the while preserving as much of the original architectural detail as possible.  Take the time to watch the video.  It is time well spent.  Rick and I are so grateful that this temple was built from the ashes of the old tabernacle and we look forward to serving there as temple patrons in the future.