You better watch out, and you better not pout....

 I got the awesome opportunity to sit on Santa's lap a few weekends ago..... 

it was a magical experience, 

one that doesn't happen every year, in fact, I think I sat on ole' St. Nick's lap about 15 years ago,

 but, 

this one was just a little extra special to me....

CUZ, THIS CUTE OLE' ST. NICK JUST HAPPENED TO BE... 

MY DAD!!!

(one is never to old to sit on Santa's lap.)

He's since clean shaven again, dang-it!

Memories!!!

#79

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear ole dad!!!!

change....

the week/month has been a fast one with a lot of emotional changes...

Kurt's surgery went well last Monday,
the tumor that was on his gum that the Dr. was concerned about,
was just a lot of scare tissue from his past 4 bone grafts, so the good news is he was able to get it all cleaned up, the hard part is just trying to heal and keep on top of the pain, and Kurt is the kind that won't take an aspirin for a headache! but, he's done pretty good!!!

Caitlyn and Kurt are going to Virginia this week for a college visit.

My dad has decided to RETIRE!
I'm still trying to process it.....

I'm looking for a new job, our house sold, but an investor bought it and wants to rent it back to us!
which was the biggest blessing because we love our neighbors and ward!

We past Landon's 17th birthday, I actually had to calculate it just to make sure, I couldn't wrap my brain around it....

I'm the proud wearer of new contacts.... it's amazing to actually be able to see again... imagine that!!!!
their is a great eye dr. up in Vernal, and I'm so grateful for my little sister, she's been such a great example and support to me through all of this! (especially trying to put contacts in my eyes for the first time....it was worst than having a baby.... almost!)

a lot of change this month, sometimes I'm okay with it all, and sometimes I'm not!?!

(sometimes it just makes me mad cuz I can't control it!)

I was once a streetwalker....

Or rather, 

I would walk up and down the sidewalk of our street to the corner and back!

(see the black telephone poll on the left, that was the corner)

I had this beautiful white slip, it was soft and had a little frill on the bottom,

it made me feel pretty, and so did those shoes! 

Ohh, the shoes.... they were the best!!!

They were my great-grandma Sardoni's shoes,

they had an open back, and a little opening in the top of the toe,

they were too big of course,

but 

I loved them because they made a clicking sound on the pavement with each step!!!

As you can see, my mother was like really pregnant with my little sister,

I think Liz was born a few days later,

I always thought my mother looked so cute pregnant with her 5th child,

(although I'm sure she didn't feel so cute!)

 so, she would sit and watch me walk up and down our street,

I would just walk-n-talk to myself the whole way...

this is one of my earliest memories of childhood.

This is my great-grandma Elizabeth Lindsey Thomas Sardoni,

two of my daughters are named after her,

(I even wanted to name one of my sons' Thomas)

and

 I bet... my grandmother was wearing those fabulous shoes in this picture!?!

it was my blessing day at church.

We lived in Davenport Iowa for 3 years while my dad was going to Palmer Chiropractic School

this is a picture of him when he graduated!

and he's still a chiropractor to this day, he's amazing like that!

*we are standing in almost the same spot!!!

I grew out of my "streetwalkering" days

 but, it was fun while it lasted!

June of 2012...

I can't believe its July already....

before I tell ya about our fun fourth, I must back up and document June, 

June was full and worth noting.

Candice flew in for Caitlyn's graduation, and so did grandma Peggy...

It was soooo nice to have Candice back amongst us again, 

we all missed her and tried to take advantage of every minute of everyday with her....

( i loved just laying in bed and talking with her just about life.)

then, we went up to a park in Heber and celebrated Steve, Diane, Grandma Harris', Dad's and Breanne's birthdays, which happen to fall one right after the other, it's quite convenient! 

(oddly enough this is only half my family...)

singing to Diane, Dad, and Breanne,

(Steve and Grandma Harris just happen to be celebrating on the "other side"

but, we still love and acknowledge them!)

Candice and Grandpa...

Caitlyn, Breanne, and Lynzie...

Macall and Spencer...

Sutton and Ella Kate...

AND

that's when we announced 

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW BABY IN THE FAMILY!!!!

(when I say "WE" I really mean my little brother Dave and his wife,)

 we love our cousins,

 and congratulation's to Dave and Kristen and there little family for adding one more to the bunch!

 my mother's day gift finally arrived from Candice...

it's from "Origani Owl"

it's a clear locket with little jewels that describe me,
(a"J" for julie, my birthstone, a heart with mom, a CTR emblem)

i loved it!!!!

Diane and her little dog Winston stayed with us for the month,

it was fun going on nightly walks...

and I think Winston even slimmed up a bit!

and just a few days ago,

we got to celebrate some of our favorite people's 50th wedding anniversary,

Bob use to be our bishop and Marilyn was our Young Womens' Leader,

and camp director, she taught us how to tole paint and so many other life learning experiences.

the whole neighborhood use to hang out at their house in the summers playing 

"kick the can", jumping on the trampoline, and sliding down their pulley.... 

you know how there is always one house on the block that is fun...

it was so heartwarming to see so many people from my days of growing up that had such an impact on  my life, that shared my love for the gospel, that helped build my testimony and that helped shape and make me who I am today,

 I also saw and visited with a lot of friends that I went to school with,

oh, the stories i could tell....

it did my heart good!!!

(the only problem was I was visiting and gabbing so much that I didn't take any pictures of all the people I love...)

then, of course,

come hell or high water....

we were going to get a family picture before Candice left,

and so we did!

 Candice will be moving back in a few weeks..... and we couldn't be happier!!!

(pictures by Danette Chugg)

"Offerings To The Little People"...

Kurt gets to drop a load in Provo on Thursday,

he's excited to see the Lowdster....aka Lowry.

Spencer and Lynzie are excited to get the play station back that we left there,

and

I'm excited cuz Kurt's bringing back the painting!

Ohh, the painting!

My dad has bought each one of us a H.T. painting,

this is mine...

Howard Terpning rocks!

it's random picture time again....

Lynzie picked #31 today,

An old picture of my dad,

If I am correct,

this is when we lived in Davenport, Iowa

while my dad was going to Palmer College of Chiropractic,

not only is he a great Chiropractor

but, he is still cracking backs at age 75....

he is also a great artist and golfer,

(in his spare time,)

I love this picture because he is closing one of his eyes to get a good look at his painting,

which he still does to this day when he paints...

I have one of his paintings hanging over my bed.

We love you dad and grandpa!!!

.......................

That picture was painted Christmas weekend 1970. I just graduated, no studies to do so I painted that picture and an autumn picture of Pennsylvania countryside. Both pictures are hanging in my office. Love ya, Dad.

Happy 75th birthday Dad...

YW girls camp Gilmont 2009







Wow,

What a whirlwind of the last week and a half!
I was planning to go to Utah to celebrate my dad's 75th at the end of the month
but
then he called on Monday and said
"plans have changed we need you out here this Saturday"
so
I flipped everything around, jumped on a plane,
and
was enjoying my family at IHOP over breakfast late Thursday Night!
.
.

There is something about going home to Utah
that is so relaxing and healing to me,
I can always receive better insight and things seems so much clearer to me,
I guess just being with family at the base of the beautiful mountains,
(or on the mountain, if your staying with my sister)
the air is clean, and the water is good
where everything is slower and calmer
and there is beauty everywhere you look...
.
.

We haven't been together as a family for over 4 years since my brother Steve passed away and so that is why I jumped at our window of opportunity to go to Utah,
I didn't know how I would feel doing our traditional "family picture" without Steve, and was a little hesitant, it's kind-of funny but that is the one thing I dreaded most is taking a picture with out him and I have worried about it for over 4 years!
I kept thinking how lopped-sided it would be, since there has always been 4 girls and 4 boys,
a lot of thoughts went into that picture, but after looking at it, it feels okay to me, not so lopped-sided because after all Steve is always with us in our thoughts.

I still miss him though.
.
.

After Utah I jumped right into girls camp...
as many times as I have been camp director this year was my favorite!
I loved the camp, the Young Women, the theme of camp this year, and I love the leaders that I was surrounded by...
I will always cherish the years I've been able to spend camping with
Candice and Caitlyn,
it's so fun to see your daughters in a purely spiritual element, I think that's when you really see who they are and what they are becoming, it's like a little glimpse into the future!

Blog ya later...

My dad took this picture on the way to his office this morning....

amazing huh! (Timp)

LOWRY

Hey Dad,

Sometimes...

like the other dayI just need to hear Your voice

and

sometimes

I can hear Your voice

without

even talking to You

I always enjoy our chats...

about everything and nothing,

it means the same to me

Your compassion and Your non-judgemental ways

always leave me with a sense of wonderment



thank You for everything You do to make me
happy!