101 Uses for a Lost Sock or The Washing Machine Didn't Really Eat Your Socks

Have you ever finished folding your laundry only to find that there is a leftover sock? or maybe 2 or 3??  You may have 4 socks, but they are all different colors or sizes???

It happens a little to frequently around here lately.

But never fear!  Samuel has found a use for all those mismatched socks.

 

Toot, toot.......it is the sock express.

Samuel loves trains.

Joshua loved trains when he was little as well.  We bought Joshua quite a bit, an awful lot, a copious amount of Brio when he was a little boy.  It was an investment - so the sales lady said.

Anyway, here we are years and years later, pulling our investment out of storage so our youngest son can play with it.

 

Thomas the Tank Engine is another favorite that has carried down through the years.  When Joshua was little, Thomas stuff was hard to come by here in the USA, so my Mum would send Joshua books, etc..

Now, Thomas the Tank Engine is everywhere you turn.

But, it seems, we didn't have to buy all those trains.
Just a little bit of track and a sock would have been just fine.

Sally-Ann

Looking Back From The Beginning of a New Year

The past few weeks I have been doing quite a bit of reminiscing.  Some of my thoughts went back 24 years, some stretched back 40 years.........

Jim and I both served in the Australia Perth Mission.  Me - January, 1983 to July, 1984.  Jim - October, 1983 to March, 1985.  Jerold Johnson was our mission president at that time.  President Johnson had been battling cancer for quite some time, it was in remission and then came back with a vengeance.  We received an e-mail telling us that he only had a few months to live and then, just a few days later, we received another e-mail telling us that President Johnson had died on January 20th, 2010.

President Johnson had a great impact and influence on our lives.  He called me his brown-eyed, Australian daughter.  I suspect he knew I needed a father figure in my life.  I had my Dad, but I needed someone who had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, someone who could guide me spiritually.  My Dad did not believe in God, in fact, that is something that bothered me for a long time, but not anymore.

President Johnson would look at you over the top of his glasses that were down on the end of his nose, and say, "Sister Johns, is there any reason why......".  Sometimes it was to ask if there was any reason why you couldn't be the highest baptizing missionary, or, as I think the Elders found out more than the Sister missionaries, it was to ask why you weren't following a particular mission rule! 

My Mum and I started to go to  
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 
when I was 7-years-old.  There weren't very many member of the church in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia back then.  We lived in Ulverstone, a town about 20 minutes from Devonport.  We actually met in a dance hall in Spreyton, which was just outside of Devonport.  We didn't even meet in the hall part of the hall!!  We met in the kitchen!  They didn't have an organist, and I remember my Mum playing for them from the very first time we went.

Harry Triffitt was the Branch President (minister equivalent).

This is a picture of Harry and his wife Sheila.
They had a farm outside of Deloraine.  5 sons and 1 daughter.
Several of those sons were also my Branch Presidents or Bishops over the years.
Many, many summer days were spent by the youth of the church at Harry's River Flats.  I know that on one of our trips back to Tasmania, someone announced in one of  Sunday's church meetings that Zion was going to be established at Harry's River Flats!  That did raise my husband's eyebrows!!! After wards he asked, "Where and what are Harry's River Flats?"

Harry Triffitt died on the 25th of January 2010, he was in his 89th year.

Harry Triffitt was a good man.  His loving and kind influence touched all those that knew him.  He was Patriarch when it was time for me to get my Patriarchal Blessing.  I remember what a spiritual and special experience that was.

His family has set up a face book page, so if interested, you can visit and see how others can touch lives for the good.

In Memory of Henry Leo Triffitt 

I love both of these men, they have both influenced my life.  They are wonderful examples of magnifying your church callings, of serving others.  I think they truly understood the scripture, "As I have loved you, love one another." 

Sally-Ann

Have a Smiley Kind of Day

Most kids love band-aides.  
They will make-up a "boo boo" just to get one.

Not Sam.

We have bought every kind of band-aid known to man. 
Not one has ever been stuck to his body.

Well......for one brief moment a neon blue band-aid 
was allowed the privilege of covering up a bad scrape.

And then.............it was gone...........just like that!!!

There is one thing that Sam thinks is fun to stick on things.

SMILEY FACES 

Yep, 

SMILEY FACES 

are a big hit in our house.

The more the merrier.

When we go to Costco, the person checking us out the door just has to draw a

SMILEY FACE 

on the back of the receipt.

My day is not complete until I go through my entire day of shopping, running errands, parent/teacher conferences, etc., etc., etc., with a million or so  

SMILEY FACES  

stuck all over my back.  

So.......if you need a little cheer, Sam picked this out just for you!!

Have a happy, SMILEY FACE kind of day!!

Sally-Ann

The last few months of our lives in 1 blog or less........maybe not!!!

Well, it is time to play catch-up on my blog.  I will not get it done with just one post......or two, or three, or even four!!  But, hopefully, at least before the end of the year!  Just joking, it won't take that long.........I hope.

I

I have already written previously about Sam's birthday, but that is where I am going to begin on my epic catch-up.

Sam likes to watch "Blue's Clues", so that is the birthday cake he picked.

After all, turning 4 is a big deal and you should be able to pick out your own birthday cake!

 

Sam thought the candles were pretty cool.....

 

Sam enjoyed blowing out the candles.......well, he does have to work on his blowing skills, not sure if it was wind or spit that snuffed out the flames.

What could you possible get a 4-year-old for his birthday?

 

With this photo you may think........maybe, clothes????

NO!! 

To quote Sam.

 

Here is another hint!  A cage????

Once again,

NO!!!!!

 

A Golden Retriever puppy called Blue???

YES!!!!!!

 

Even as a little puppy, Blue loves, adores, relishes, inhales his food....a true Purdy.

   

Everywhere Sam goes, Blue goes.

 

Every morning you can find Sam in the backyard performing "Sam Tai Chi", Blue will be right by his side.

No bush is left unturned in their exploration.

No plant is left intact

No ground is left unsniffed.

W

Wherever Sam is......there is Blue

Wherever Blue is.....there is Sam

They have many common interests.

Sam likes to browse through the telephone book.....

Blue likes to shred the telephone book.

Jessica even likes Blue.

Though, there are times........

times like the times Sam and Blue explore her bedroom.

We won't even talk about the time Sam locked Blue in Jessica's bedroom.

Let's just say, thank heavens for air freshener!!!!

We can't let Blue sleep in Sam's room because Blue likes to sleep right on top of Sam.

Ask Sam about Blue and Sam will tell you that, "Blue is Sam's dog" and that, "Blue makes Sam happy!"

I'm sure if you asked Blue, he would tell you the same thing about Sam.

Our life sure has changed in the past few months.  We never thought we would have another dog, let alone a big, golden dog that knocks everything to the floor with a wag of his tail.  A dog that loves to chew up toilet paper and tissues.  A dog that digs holes to Australia in our backyard.  A dog that has the stinkiest farts that we have ever had the misfortune to smell.  A dog that has ruined what little backyard we had.  A dog that can eat, and eat, and eat, and eat.......

We also never thought that we would have a big, golden dog that sticks faithfully by the side of his little master if he happens to escape out the front door.  A dog that does not budge from the front door until Samuel comes home.  A dog that brings out the words in a little boy that often cannot give his words a voice.  A dog that is loving, kind, patient and gentle to a little boy that often is not gentle with him.  A dog that will do whatever he can to be by the family he loves......the family that loves him.

Sally-Ann

Can I Get A Halleluia???