Blessed

In an effort to broaden my reading horizons, I decided to check out our ward's book club. I picked up this month's book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" a few weeks ago and couldn't put it down until I finished. Wow. Did it make me think and appreciate my blessings and my freedoms!

I am ignorant about life beyond the US border and what people in other countries struggle through daily. What a pampered girl I am. I now appreciate more the simple things in life through new eyes.

Highly highly recommend it.

Memory Bears

With all my extra time lately, I've been finishing up projects....inspired by you, Shay.

Grandma Hendrickson passed away two years ago. Grandpa let me have some of her clothes. I decided to make Memory Bears out of them, and attach a poem, like Laura did for all the Allred grandkids, but for the Hendrickson grandkids. While she had to make 54, I only had to make 20....a big difference. So you'd think the quality would be top notch, but it isn't.

I hope they enjoy them. When I give them to them. That might take me another two years.

Watermelon Wonders

Primary visits require a captivating treat....these watermelon cookies fit the bill.

Twenty-Five

I remember feeling so awkward telling people we were newlyweds.....how fast twenty-five years flies! I am so LUCKY to be married to my best friend. xoxo!

Missing Family

We got back from my family reunion just yesterday. It was great to be together. Really, truly was. I missed them as I was saying good-bye, as we drove the 6 hours home, and today as I reflect.

It was held here....
Broom Tree Resort near beautiful Irene, SD (Broom Tree Resort & Conf. Center). The Allreds have really moved up in the world !

One sister was in charge of the Family History segment and did a GREAT job. So fun. She created an "Authors" card came (wish I'd taken a picture) with each of us 9 kids and mom and Dad having their own cards/books and you had to collect all four books. Very creative. And this game...GUESS WHO? Various boards so all 54 cousins could get on a board.


And she made food for us to sample from our great-grandma, grandma, etc. I learned collard greens aren't as nasty tasting as authentic Johnny-cake. Who would have thought?! The Treacle was delish..
There was the talent/skit portion...We never lack for talent, but after 25 years it's getting difficult to come up with new material.One of my FAVORITE parts: CRAFT time for the girls and women. My sister in charge of this had us make scrabble necklaces and these cute boxes.
The necklaces are soooo cute and easy. Click here for the how-to link.

My sisters who organized it did a fantastic job of scheduling in free time for games, getting reacquainted, swimming, etc. We even did a service project for a few hours.

And the grand finale...THE MARSHMALLOW FIGHT. My sister, Kathleen, is a relentless competitor in the fight and is usually the last man standing.The "older" siblings tossed a few and then did this...

What a wonderful 4 days! I'm grateful for my family. Thanks for your wonderful examples and friendship. Love you all!

Painful moments

We've had our share of unfortunate events lately. Nothing out of the ordinary for everyone, but one of which happened while Todd and Nathan were driving the truck on the priest/teacher canoe trip in southern Missouri.

To quote my husband, "Three deer were FROLICKING (yes, he really did say that) at the side of the road and one of them turned and ran right at us." Apparently the deer thought she could high jump over the truck. She missed by about 2 feet.

And they were only 20 miles from their destination.. Good news was no one was hurt. It could have been worse if the air bags had deployed. It made it home but not before overheating.

Another painful moment in the Hendrickson Household: Three Sundays ago Todd noticed, after a full day of Primary, Sunday dinner, Youth Conference meetings in a town 35 miles away, that my diamond had fallen out of my wedding ring. Sad.

To make a lllloooonnngggg story short, I could not get it off. The humidity has made my fingers swell.

I was resigned to keep it on until winter, but thanks to a friend, Katy Glenn, it made it off my finger. It was a painful process and included several people.

But MUCHO THANKS to Katy who made me instantly happy using her dental floss trick.


She was so concerned about hurting me, so funny. Forever in debt to Katy Glenn!

And no, I never did find the diamond. Until Katy got it off, the diamond was replaced by cookie dough or whatever I was baking in the kitchen.

Bummer. Oh well. This too shall pass.

Sixteen--SWEEEEEET!!!

Yep, my baby's 16 today. Happy Birthday, Nathan!

I have a feeling I will be chauffeured instead of doing the chauffeuring from here on out.

He had to waited an extra year to get his license because we moved, so today was the long-awaited, drive-us-crazy-with-a-daily-countdown-for-a-year, big day.

And he did it....(sorry, Nathan, not the best picture)Watch out---not only because he can drive but because he can also date.

Love ya, Nate!