Changing It up a Bit!!

My new snack of choice.......Crushed Ice, It drives Jay CRAAAAAZY......I think I'm addicted.

I have had a membership to Golds Gym for, well lets just say its been a very long time. Today I thought I would try out the orem fitness center classes (again, it is a new year after all) Well my friend Deb and I went to the Tai Chi class looking for a fun cardio workout. Judging from the title I thought it would have something to do with martial arts, which should be fun for me since I have done a little MMA training with Jason Sabin and I love Turbo Kickboxing. When we walked into the class we noticed that it was "Chuck Full" of Senior citizens---This should have been a dead giveaway that the class would not be a real workout for either of us, but we went with an open mind. I have nothing against Seniors in fact I think it's great that they have classes geared to them, but they might want to add that to the description of the TaiChi class. Well needless to say I don't think I even broke a sweat. So we decided to stick around after the class and use the elliptical "BORING". But I did get a work out anyway. Which brings me to my next topic.

FOOT WEAR!!!

If you have foot issues like me then you might want to take note on this part of the post. I spent years trying to find the right shoe for my jacked up feet so I could go a whole class without my right foot going numb. The search is over---2 words NIKE SHOX with SUPER FEET in soles great combo.

People always say the spring heal is it just a gimmick....It is no gimmick it really does make all the difference. Try it you will agree! Yes I know my shoes are filthy but they do get a lot of gym time.
Here's the part that brought it all together....Yes you do need the right sock. The Nike Dri-Fit----THE ONLY WAY TO GO!!!!Yes the sock does make a difference. That gray band you see is a support band for people like me with high arches and it really does support. The L and R are for left and right foot. Toe memory You know....
Love these socks and they help to make my gym time "PAIN FREE"
Even with the dissapointment of the TaiChi class I still have a smile on my face after my eliptical workout because----You guessed it I can feel both of my feet and they don't hurt Thanks to Nike Shox, Super Feet, and of course Nike Dri-Fit... It's going to be a good day...

Like Mother Like Daughter!!!

Being a mother is truly one of the greatest blessings Heavenly Father has given to women. I love the role of mother, it does help however to have 4 very special, wonderful children. I have to admit that I am very grateful for the people that they have become. As adults I not only "love" my children but I can honestly say that I really "Like" them as well. I have to add that I am grateful to have a beautiful daughter that shares my love of motherhood. I like to think that part of the reason she is such a great mother herself has a little something to do with me, at least I'm hoping.

Interrupting this cold Season with a warm memory

Looking at this picture brings back some warm summer memories. I sure wish Summer and warm carefree days would hurry up I miss them so!!!

Feeling good!

I just love these little people!!!

Jay's New Do! He Finally Did It!!!

That's right he he finally shaved the remaining hair, there's still a hint of it but it's pretty much shaved right down to the scalp. I was skeptical, but I think it looks pretty good..

Front View

Rear View.

With shoulders like that he can do what ever he wants to, who is going to give him a hard time?

-- Nobody I think.

On our way out the door for a night on the town with the stylin' new do...Such a handsome guy!

Just Some Thoughts

It's late and I can't sleep, the house is dark and so quiet, and somewhat peaceful so I blog.. I have been thinking a lot lately about the abundance of blessings Heavenly Father has bestowed upon me, so many I couldn't possibly count them all, but I try anyway.

About 4 years ago Jay and I decided to put our home on the market thinking that it wouldn't sell and knowing that no one would ever offer our asking price. After only 3 months on the market we received a full price offer, so we did what any sane couple would do--we took the offer, made a huge profit, and sold our beautiful home on Palisades drive.

**

We didn't have much time to get out since the buyers needed to move in within the month. We bought a beautiful home way across town (deep in Mt. View country) something I thought we would never ever do.

**

I shed so many tears as I packed away all of our belongings along with so many sweet memories. I remember the day we loaded up the last load into the truck and handed the keys over to the realtor, I felt a pain deep down inside my stomach one of those pains that you don't think will ever go away. As we drove away for the last time I looked back at our home and neighborhood so full of memories and I felt like I was leaving a huge piece of my heart behind, it really hurt.

We were leaving behind so many great memories, so many great friends, and a wonderful ward that we loved so very much. Both Jay and I shed quite a few tears that week. Jay was serving as Bishop in the BYU 140th. Ward and I was serving in the Byu 6th. Stake Relief Society presidency at the time of the move so we would not be attending the new ward. Jay had at least 2 years left to serve as Bishop so it would be a while before we could attend the new ward.

**

The 140th. Ward Bishopric

Every morning for quite sometime I would wake up with such a profound feeling of sadness over our move, and really feeling like I wanted to go home. It seemed that every time I would go out just to run errands I would always end up back in the old neighborhood, I was so homesick. I started looking for homes for sale back in the old neighborhood, but nothing ever went on the market. Jay would always tell me to give it time and I would adjust, but I didn't think I would ever adjust. It only took a few months until I fully understood why we chose this home, and this neighborhood.

You see the Wilson's live on one side of us, and the Mella's live on the other side, and the Kirkham’s live right across the street. Possibly the best neighbors/friends any human being could ever ask for.

**

Our Good Friends & Neighbors, The Wilsons

Not to mention the rest of the Cul-de-sac is just chuck full of the best people and friends as well. The ward is amazing, full of some of the kindest, Christ like, and diligent people I have ever had the privilege of associating with.

Never have we felt so loved, welcomed or such a feeling of belonging. We have lived here for 4 years now and you could definitely say WE ARE HOME ....For sure this is one of our greatest blessings.

Flashback Friday!! It's all Over The Place...

1981 Lovin' life at BYU livin' at Wymount Terrace. Notice the concrete block walls. Gotta love this place. actually this was a pretty great time in our lives.

Yorba Linda California at the Richard Nixon Library. 1996. Notice the looks on all of our faces except Jordan's. This must have been at the end of one of those rough vacation days. "FRAZZLED"

Jay and I in 1997....How long did I wear that hair style, and why didn't someone tell me it needed to go!!!!

Jay and Jordan on Balboa Island driving a very cool pedal car. Boy I wish I had one of these babies to troll around the neighborhood in. It looks like there is room for the whole family...

Watching our super star son Jackson win first place in the region with this win over a Brighton wrestler. Just one of many1st. place region wins. He's such a "STUD" I wonder who took this picture Jay and I are both in it. Some stalker I guess!!!

My "Pet Peeve's" Oh so Many of Them!!

Right Way! Big ball on the table.

Wrong Way! Big ball in with the others. It just throws everything off balance...

We had friends visiting last week and every time I went into my living room I noticed that the big ball was taken off the table and put in with the others, Isn't it plain to see that the big ball belongs on the table. Truth be known, it's probably Jay switching the placement of the balls just to see if he can get a rise out of me.

Does this bother anyone besides me. Laying on a Neatly Made Bed! This is Just "Wrong".

A messy Playroom! doesn't bother me so much. Isn't this how a playroom should look, it means some little people had fun at Grammy's today...

However I do prefer this.

The World Does Not Owe You a Living!!!

A friend of ours sent this email to Jay I felt it was compelling and thought those that follow my blog would appreciate reading it... A special thanks to Holly Cowdell

Emergency Weather Bulletin

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after a severe snow storm ...

The Mining Journal, Marquette, MI

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in the Northern part of Michigan we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

Emergency Weather Bulletin FYI: Obama did not come. FEMA did nothing. No one howled for the government. No one blamed the government. No one even uttered an expletive on TV. Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit. Our Mayor's did not blame Obama or anyone else. Our Governor did not blame Obama or anyone else either. CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or even report on this category 5snow storm. Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards. No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House. No one looted. Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something. Nobody expected the government to do anything either. No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera. No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Brad Pitts, No Hollywood types to be found.Nope, we just melted the snow for water. Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars. The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny. Local restaurants made food, and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families.. Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns. We put on an extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die". We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks. Even though a Category 5 blizzard of this scale is not usual, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.I hope this gets passed on. Maybe ..... SOME people will get the message ...... The world does Not owe you a living.

Weekend in Review!

It seems like every time I turned around I was getting in the hot tub this weekend. I love cold days in the hot tub....
Jay and I logged quite a few hours in the playroom this weekend. Building transformer's and robots out of duplo blocks. (With the grand kids of course.)
Rediscovered Voltron on the Internet with a little help from Hewitt. Anyone remember "Voltron".
Played some mean racquetball.

Built some train tunnels and had a sweet "tea Party" at Mack and Andi's house.
Spent Saturday evening with great friends and good food at Gloria's Little Italy, One of Provo's best dining secrets.
Ended the weekend with a beautiful Sunday sacrament service, Sunday school, and young women's service.
Good Times.....

Flahback Friday is Back!!

Flashback Friday is back. I love old pictures it brings back so many great memories.

Jay and Jackson age 12 months 1980.

Jackson age 3 and Jayson age 2. We were students at BYU and living on BYU campus in Wymont Terrace. Good Times, Great memories, Our whole life was centered around BYU. I sometimes wish life was still this simple.

Tammy, Donna, Stephanie. me, and Margo. I'm not sure what year this was but the bangs were popular around 1997 I think. I sure am glad that hair style is a thing of the past.

Jayson, Ashley, and Jay. 2003 standing on the porch at the house on Palisades drive. Miss that house, and the great neighborhood. This was the home where our kids spent their teenage years. I don't think they have ever really forgiven us for selling that house.

I's Time For an Overhaul

I'm in need of a complete overhaul, a boost of something...

"HELP" I'm thinking of SPRING CLEANING----but wait spring won't be here for a few more months (that's a thought I hate thinking about.)

Well Valentines is just around the corner and I truly hope my "Sweet Valentine" plans something very EXCITING!!!! Odds of that actually happening------not to good, but a girl can dream.

I am going to sign up for a racquetball league but----I think I'll do that tomorrow, thank goodness there is always tomorrow.

Maybe that's when I will get my much needed overhaul..

Linford's Love Football at Every Age!!

Anyone who knows the Linford family knows that there is definitely one thing we all have in common, yes you guessed it--- FOOTBALL! We all love it; the old, the young, the male, and even the female members of our family just love football. We can't have a get-together without the topic of conversation turning to---you guessed it Football. You know it's gotten bad when even the 2 year olds in the family know who laDainian Tomlinson, Ray Lewis, Ben Roethlisberger, and Brett Favre are just to name a few and these same toddlers will argue who is the best QB in the NFL. We all love to watch the game on Monday night and on Sunday night and any other night we can find a game on which happens to be every night since most of us have cable and the season ticket channel. Jay was particularly excited when they came out with the Red Zone which will take the viewer to whichever game is in the Red Zone. Whew!!Just talking about it makes me tired. I really can't wait until bowl season is over I'm actually starting to get a little sick and tired of ---you guessed it FOOTBALL. However I was looking through my pictures when I came across these and I just had to post them. Linford's love football at every age..

J.J. and Mack with their game faces on, ready to play with all the male members of the family.

Hewitt has pretty good form in this tackle. "Wrap up" That's what Jay always says. He also has said that you can't teach kids to want to hit, it's something they were born with. You can teach correct form but they have to want to hit. I think our boys definitely have it...

This one just cracks me up. Mack is coming to tackle Linford and I'm sure he was thinking "Bring It On I'll just get right back up"

All the Linford guys (except for Jordan, he was working this day) after a fun filled afternoon of family football.

Some families play music togeter, some hike, some play board games, some play video games, ours plays football..

Beautiful McCartney's Special Day!

Yesterday Jordan blessed his beautiful baby daughter McCartney Sue Linford. It was such a beautiful day for everyone, Jordan gave such an amazing blessing and the spirit was so strong. All the members of our family were in attendance and all but one of Linsey's family members were also present. After sacrament meeting we all came back to my home for a little get together and a great time was had by all. I love to see the priesthood in action, it is such a wonderful blessing in our lives. It was so nice to see all of the men in our family as well as all of the Koplin men stand as worthy priesthood holders in the circle and share in this special day for our precious grand daughter.

McCartney Sue Linford

Isn't she beautiful

Jordan, Linsey and McCartney. Jordan gave such a beautiful blessing.

Jay and I with Linsey, Jordan, and McCartney.

Linsey and Jordan with Linsey's Parents Mike and Sue Koplin. I am very grateful for the Koplin's they are such good parents, grand parents and in-laws, We feel very fortunate to have them in our extended family.

Three generations Sue, Linsey, and McCartney.

In Pursuit of a Better Me.

The Top Ten Things I would Like to Accomplish in 2010. In no Particular Order.

1-Read the Book of Mormon with a greater desire than ever before.

2-Truly magnify my calling.

3-Join a racquetball league.

4-Be more diligent about attending the gym.

5-Perfect my drive.

6-Be a better wife, mother, grammy, and friend.

7-Continue my education.

8-Attend the Temple once a week.

9-Look for opportunities to share the gospel.

I found this place a few months ago. My friend Debbie and I stumbled on it in our shopping adventures one day. It is one of the most unique boutiques I have ever seen, but the little bistro is definitely my favorite part of the whole adventure.

It's located at 10953 Alpine Highway Highland

The atmosphere is unbelievable, such a quaint little shop.

The sugar cookies they serve here are to die for, and the chocolate treats are almost as good as the cookies.