Creative solutions

We live in a family where everyone has a great idea for creative solutions to problems. So, this evening, I've been sitting in my favorite (new since the flood) Lazy Boy recliner with my feet up and my laptop (computer) on my laptop catching up on blog reading (I am way behind since Thanksgiving). The laptop was getting my lap hotter and hotter and hotter (which is not unusual). So, Mike, sitting in his matching (but larger) lazy boy next to me, came up with a great creative solution to my hot lap. He reached over and grabbed the empty arhu (Chinese instrument I bought on our China trip - never played) box and placed it across the two arms of the lazy boy. Voila! The laptop is well supported up high and my lap is staying cool. Only a new dilemma - the cat won't jump up on the chair arms with the box there - she actually jumped up on Mike's chair and he's low on her pecking order. Oh well: cool lap or cool cat!

Down at the WAP

This is the Wild Animal Park's last Christmas for "Festival of Lights." We didn't want to miss it (since we have missed it for who knows how many years, but we used to go every year)! So we met Jocelyn there for an afternoon and evening of park delights. I love the lion camp. Currently they have 8 lion cubs (at age 13 months) lounging, leaping, licking, frolicking, boxing all over their open enclosure. The cheetahs appear at dusk so we enjoyed them as well. After our safari tour around the back enclosures, we enjoyed wandering around looking at the lights. A good time with family.

Dilemma

Here is my dilemma. Jocelyn set up my blog listing the 5 siblings under the heading of "My Little Ducklings" in reference to the finger play and the great Mother's day card the siblings put together last May! But, where do I put Jack? I don't want him to feel like he's a "little duckling" but I don't like separating him out into "Family blogs." Whadjagonnadue? I'm taking suggestions. By the way, I think this is great - this is the biggest dilemma going on in my life right now!

Spoken

Today I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. I chose two of my favorite general conference talks: Elder David A. Bednar's April 2005 talk on The Tender Mercies of the Lord and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's October 2008 talk on The Ministering of Angels. What gratitude I have for these two talks that spoke on things that have encouraged and uplifted me during trials and challenges. And how thankful I am for experiences of the Lord's tender mercies and the presence and attendance of angels both heavenly and earthly at times needed in my life. I started a list of these experiences but realized some were too personal to share or the list would get too long. But I think it would be a good thing to journal and read when I'm in need of a tender mercy! However, I don't know why I don't choose a topic for speaking in church that is not quite so dear to my heart so I could just give a talk for once in my life without tearing up! Next talk will be on the importance of giving service cleaning the ward building!

"Robertson, Party of Four"

Our Halloween celebration was very different than usual! No one came over (because we were sick) and no one went trick or treating (we're just too old) and no one carved a pumpkin (dad would have if I could have found a pumpkin)! But I really wanted us to have the fun of Halloween so I tried to make it a party. I couldn't find any pumpkins to carve on Halloween day (the only day I had time and any energy from being sick to look for a pumpkin) but ended up buying a "Cinderella" pumpkin to use as fall decoration and then the fake plug in and light up Wal-mart pumpkin (which I put outside - soooo nice to have electrical outlets outside). I bought doughnuts, favorite snack foods and some Halloween candy (not much good stuff left) and put some fall mums on the table. Brent set up the fog machine outside the front door. Chelsea dressed up in her Halloween costume she wore to school (and to the Renaissance fair the next day - borrowed from Lyn) and she and Brent answered the door for the trick-or-treaters. Between door knocks, we all played Mancala (two boards). It's great to play this game with mom and dad when they are too sick to think! So, even though it was just a party of four, we celebrated Halloween!

From blog to book

I was reading my Creating Keepsakes magazine on the plane and came across a great idea that I thought I'd share (or know where to find again). You can turn your blog into a bound book at http://www.blurb.com/. Here are some blog template sites they suggested as well: http://www.bloggerboutique.com/; http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/; and http://www.simplyfabulousbloggertemplates.com/.

Orlando, Florida Temple

On Sunday, October 12, we headed on out to church for 1 PM Sacrament Meeting. I had printed up the address at home and a map with directions. It wasn't very far away, however, when we tried to find the address all we found was a shopping center. Looking more closely at my printout I realized that this address was for a YA ward! But, also was listed another ward further down the road (miles). So hurrying down the road not to be late, we looked up to see the white temple looming ahead! We were surprised. We had forgotten there was a temple in Orlando. The church was across the street so afterwards we went over to enjoy the Orlando temple grounds. It was a very warm, humid day and hundreds of little lizards were scurrying all around. I should have taken a video of Brent trying to quietly sneak up on one and catch it - they were way too fast. I have never seen so many lizards! The temple grounds are beautiful and peaceful.

I took dozens of pictures. Wish I could format them better on this blog. And fortunately, I won't put all the pictures here! It makes me want to start a new family temple book - remember the one we made when Tamara and Jocelyn were little? We kept adding pictures of our family at temples we visited. Unfortunately it was in a magnetic album, so it is time to start over!