Weary Wings

This morning, after I had dropped Lottie off at school, I rounded

the corner to our long driveway and was greeted by my

spooky ghosts in the famous North Carolina fog.

Then, I parked and walked to my garden, where my Zinnia's

are slowly dying with the season as the nights get chilly.

But my Dahlia's are thriving!

On closer look, I noticed giant bumble bees sleeping peacefully

in the delicate folds of the Dahlia petals.

What a sweet scene to see.

I mean, if I were a bee, I'd probably pick a beautiful

flower to nestle in for sleep, too.

God is so creative, colorful, and meticulous.

When I saw this, I felt it was a love note from Him

and I realized that He not only sees me

when I pray and in my needs and struggles, but

He also created a plan for the adorable bumblebees who,

after a busy work day need

a warm, comfy place to rest their weary wings at night.

I love Him so much!

 

Gigs Day Two

 Today, Gigs has been 18 for two days, 
and for the last three, I haven't been able to get out of bed.
I don't know what I have, but I ache so bad I think I might die.

On Friday, I spent almost the entire day taking Advil 

and DayQuil, and watching all seasons 1-2 (again!) of Poldark.

Lottie turned my nightstand into a medical station.

The only two things I managed to do were wrap a few gifts for Gigs

and text Jane a photo of how I think she looks like Demelza.

And that was it.

On Saturday, I was still bed-ridden but got up to take a few birthday photos

of Gigs opening a few of his gifts.

With Gigs' birthdays, I only managed to get about 20% of

what he wanted. (Remember the sweaters from last year?)

I can't explain it; I don't even know what happened again,

he just never likes the things I give, PLUS I felt so sick

I didn't even make him a cake.

Things he did like;

New brakes for his car.

Spiderman ski mask.

2-pack Batman socks.

Costco shirt.

After I send back the bulk of the gifts I got him,

we'll get donuts to celebrate.

Probably on Thursday.  Probably.  

If I make a full recovery.

(Finger crossed).

Then I was back in bed watching conference.

IT WAS THE BEST.

The best.

Every talk was about peace, unity, and having a relationship with Christ

who is our foundation for truth and right.

HE and He alone can unite our hearts, make the wrongs right, 

and heal. I trust Him, and I trust in the words of His servants, 

the Prophet, and Church leaders.

I am completely, 100% all in.

This year, Gigs watched conference 

with Kitty snuggled up on his lap.

I told him that at the next October conference, he'll be in a suit and tie

somewhere on his mission.

Wow.

Midnight Snack

 So there we were, dead asleep (me still sick) in our bed 

when the door violently opened, and Gigs walked in.

"Dad, Dad, Dad, are you awake?

I need your help!"

And almost instantly, we both woke up to find Gigs, 

who had now flipped our light on with Candace 

(his Ball Python snake) wrapped delicately around his necklaces

around his neck!

Squeezing tighter and tighter with each minute.

He also had blood dripping down his neck from his ear.

He looked like that photo of Trump after getting shot in Pennsylvania.

I didn't even know where to begin.

What is going on?

Why is it 1:00 in the morning, and you're holding Candace?

Why are you bleeding?

He explained that he had removed Candy from her cage and then

she slithered around his neck, getting tangled in his necklaces, 

and then she bit his ear, probably out of frustration.

Christian carefully helped him untangle her from his necklace,

had a little chuckle, and we sent Gigs on his way back to bed

making him promise us that he'll really, REALLY go to bed.

I swear, once it's midnight, Gigs is like,

"Hey, what can I do? I know!  I'll feed and clean my snake's cage, 

yes, great idea, even though I have to wake up for seminary in 4 hours."

I think he's a vampire.

Happy Birthday, Gigs! 18 Reasons

 Well, Gigs is officially an adult!

Happy 18th birthday, Gigs! 

Congratulations to my (once chubby) brown-eyed boy!

As our recent birthday tradition goes, we recreate 

an old photo of us together:

2009:

2024:

Here are 18 things I love about my Nicholas Jones Nielson:

1. He is funny.  So funny.  Sarcastically funny- my kinda funny.

2. He has a compassionate heart- mostly for critters, 

but still, he has a big heart.

3. He has remarkable eyes that are almost superhuman.

He can spot a caterpillar 40 feet away camouflaged on a flower.

4. He is good with children and anyone who has special needs.

5. The way he calls me "Steph".

6. His bedroom is a mix of mess, clutter, and beauty, 

with flowers and plants growing in toilet paper rolls and old jam jars.

7. The way he can talk his way out of everything.

8. His long legs, cute hands, and wispy blonde hair.

9. His phone wallpaper is of us together, and he has a photo

of me in my softball uniform hanging on his bathroom mirror.

10. The fact that he owns 57 t-shirts

11. He is smart and learns quickly.

12. He is a creator, fidgeter, and collector 

13. That he has a personalized license plate.

14. He knows how to work.

15. Honors God and the Priesthood power he holds.

16. He knows Jesus Christ and lives up to his privileges.

17. He loves to snuggle with his 'ol mom.  Still.

18. He has a plan, a vision, a future, and I can't wait to watch

him go.  GO, Gigs, GO!

Happy birthday, sweet boy!

Join Me!

Join me!

 

Deathbed

Today I got my haircut and while I was sitting in the chair

I felt really dizzy.

Yesterday, I noticed my throat was sore, but I carried on

as one does.

When I got home from my haircut, I plopped myself on my bed

and died.

I don't know what it is, but it's bad. (It's probably Covid).

Claire and her friends are coming in later tonight and I hadn't finished

all the things I needed to do in preparation for them,

including making sourdough bread to go with the veggie soup,

mow the lawn, and get sheets and towels out for guests.

Around 4:00, about an hour before Claire was to depart.

I called her and told her I was on my deathbed, and I

 didn't think she and her pals should come down.

I would feel so bad if I gave whatever I have to them!!

I'm basically in Hell.

Also, when we woke up this morning, Kitty looked

like she had bees for dinner.

She's been lethargic, and her face is super puffy.

What on earth does that cat do at night?

Excuse me, I'm going back to my deathbed now.

Nostalgia Hits Again

This summer, Jane got a job at the downtown  

Provo Bakery, a block from the Pioneer House, where Christian, 

Claire and I lived when we brought Jane home from the hospital.

She can even see the house from the bakery's front window.

I found myself feeling nostalgic thinking about 21 years ago, 

when I was a very young mom with newborn Jane and baby Claire. 

We used to walk to the bakery almost every day to get a treat. 

It was a chance to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

I loved living near the bakery and watching it change with the seasons. 

We always looked forward to the Halloween pumpkin and bat sugar cookies 

on the trays, as well as the delicious rolls for Thanksgiving. 

But my favorite time was in December when the Christmas lights 

twinkled in the bakery's dormer window.

 I could see them while I nursed Jane in the rocking chair

 by my front living room window, 

waiting for Christian to get off the bus from school.

On the 4th of July, my Mom always bought my 

Dad, a giant Provo Bakery birthday cake

 to share with at least 100 family members at the BBQ/ birthday party.

The memories could go on and on.

Provo Bakery and my childhood/early mothering years go hand-in-hand.

Today, she sent me a text that a couple came into the bakery today 

At the register, they said to her,

"You know, we live just up the street, and we've never been here before,"

Then Jane said,

"Oh really, I used to live up the street at that yellow house right there

and I've been going here since I was born."

"Wait, what yellow house?" the man asked.

"That one, on the corner," she said, pointing again.

"Wait, 303?" he responded.

"Yes!! 303!!" she shot back.

"That's our house!" He said.

Jane couldn't believe it! Then they reminisced about the rooms,

paint colors and neighbors.

When she told me this story, I wanted to cry.

Nostalgia really gets me.

Unfortunately, it was Jane's last day working at the bakery. 

She found a new job that would fit better with her school schedule. 

She really enjoyed working there while she could, 

and I'm glad she met this lovely couple on her last day!

What a perfect way to end that chapter.

Then she sent me a photo of her at my parents' house, 

eating dinner that my dad made. 

When I close my eyes and think of my Dad making dinner,

I see on my plate soup with toast (and tons of butter on top),

and a clumps of grapes.

And that is exactly what she got.

I love my Dad.

She also sent me Y mountain and the changing leaves.

I love that she's experiencing that!!

 

Once A Boy, Always A Boy

Today, I took Gigs to get his passport.

He'll be starting his mission application process around

December, and I wanted him to have his passport done and ready in case

he gets called somewhere out of the country; this is just

another step we'll have completed.

After, he asked me if he could buy some cheap hairspray

for his potato gun.

We got home, Christian was on the front porch waiting for us and 

just as excited as Gigs to shoot the gun.

Then I realized that once a boy, always a boy!

These cute boys who go on missions are all still just kids.

Incredibly, the Lord trusts these boys to carry His work forward

to people all over the world, learning about their culture, language, and lives.

I have seen so much growth in Ollie.  It's amazing!

He's a man in every way,

but he'll still come home and want to continue his helmet collection

and ride his dirt bike, and he even mentioned he wanted me to 

read him picture books on the couch like I did when he was younger.

I look forward to Gigs growing in this way, too.

Then, for dinner, Lottie made an artichoke dip.

She's been begging me to make his for weeks now!

It was delicious!

Go, Lod, go!

You know those commercials where people are shown 

eating food, closing their eyes to express extreme delight 

or emphasize how good the food is?

Well, that's Lottie, for reals.

She's done this for as long as I've known her.

It's the cutest thing!

October 2024

Happy October!

I'm really looking forward to the next 31 days because it's my favorite month!

Today, we had our traditional "Welcome October" dinner. 

I made chili, and afterward, we went out to get some donuts

and ate them around the TV, watching Ichabod with warm cider,

even though it was 80 degrees outside.

 We've been doing this for 23 years now, and it's still a great tradition. 

Both Jane and Claire had their own 

Welcome October parties with donuts and friends. 

Good job, girls, carry the torch!

Claire and a few friends from college are coming down 

on Friday for conference weekend!

Plus, we're celebrating Gigs turning the big 18 on Sunday!

I can't believe it!  Where has the time gone????

Goodbye September

Helene has mostly moved out, and we saw the sun today

 for the first time in days. I inspected my flowers and my 

Dahlias and my Zinnias made it through the storm.

Truth is, they look better, having weathered the storm.

That's life.

We're all better off when we can overcome and weather

our own personal storms, amiriiight?

Gigs and Christian worked on his motorcycle carburetor.

I'm just kidding; I don't know what they were working on.

I just wanted to type that.

And I did some Halloween decorating around the house.

You know what tomorrow is, don't you?

Goodbye September!

Days are gettin' shorter an' the air a keener snap;

Apples now are droppin' into Mother Nature's lap;

The mist at dusk is risin' over valley, marsh an' fen

An' it's just as plain as sunshine, winter's comin' on again.

But the air is mighty peaceful an' the scene is good to see,

An' there's somethin' in October that stirs deep inside o' me;

An' I just can't help believin' in a God above us, when

Everything is ripe for harvest and the frost is back again.

Edgar A Guest

Oliver in Brazil: September 2024

Well, another month down!  Yahooo!  We just keep marching on!  

In our video calls, I can tell he's tired.

He works so hard.

Both Claire and Jane have told me that they finally slept good 

for the first time in 18 months the night they came home.  

They were not physically uncomfortable on their mission 

(I mean, yes, I know they were),it's just the weight of the calling.

Ollie is carrying much of that weight as he finishes his last few months!

But he's happy and having incredible experiences!

(Like this one!)

Teaching friends:

Food (mostly pizza)

Companion photos:

His district/mission:

Random:

*He was so excited to show me the new Oreo Coke!

(Ollie and I are crazy about cool drink flavors)

I haven't seen it yet here in NC!

I told him to pack me one when he comes home!

*He sees a lot of dogs.