The Mystery Has Been Solved.

A few days ago I wrote about the mysterious spot that appears on my clothes every morning.  I just couldn't figure out where it was coming from.  I got lots of suggestions: everything from my air-conditioning unit (good suggestion), to drool (nope).  It would appear out of the blue.  I tried to be aware of everything I was doing, checking myself constantly, but never finding out when the spot actually occured.  I would always see it 'after the fact'.  It was just 'there'. 

Friday morning, there it was again!  So frustrating!  I wiped it off, got out my hair blower, dried it off, and went to school.  After school we went early to a wedding reception prior to going to the football game at the high school where Garth was on gate-duty.  I decided since I was going to be close up to the bride (wanted to give her a hug) I would brush my teeth.  I went to the bathroom, stood at the sink, looked down at my shirt.  No spot.  I picked up my toothbrush, held it in my hand for a minute while I reached for the toothpaste, looked in the mirror, put and realized I needed to comb my hair.  I put the toothbrush on the counter, reached for the comb, looked in the mirror to comb through my hair, and there was that darn spot!  It had to be somewhere from the toothbrush to the comb.

I picked up the toothbrush, put it back in the holder.  Picked it up again, ..... and noticed that there was a big drip forming on the end of the handle.  That was it!  I have a ceramic toothbrush holder.  Apparently with all the moisture in the house from the air-conditioner, the moisture was causing the inside of the holder to retain moisture.  The inside of the holder isn't sealed off like the outside, so the clay has colored the moisture.  When the toothbrush sits in the holder all day the handle gets drops of the moisture on it.  When I lift it up and hold it in my right hand, it drips the moisture onto my shirt, causing me to go crazy! 

Such a little think making me go crazy!  But, using all my detective skills that I have acquired as a mom and a teacher, I was finally able to solve it.  I'm so proud of myself!  Now, I need to go get a new toothbrush holder.  What kind do you recommend?

Happy Birthday, Nancy!

Another birthday, another year older.  Happy birthday to Nancy.  I am sure this will be a great year with your new baby, Tyler going to school, and all those fun things that are happening.  It will also have its challenges, I'm sure.  But remember that everything must have its opposites so we can enjoy the good.  Have a great day!  (I can't even say, "It's in the mail." because it isn't.  It's on the cupboard.  But, hey, it has been a busy, tiring week.  Have a great day! 

No picture because I can't find one without searching all through everything.  I saw one I thought I saved, but I guess I didn't because it isn't coming up.  Where is that picture Stephanie had of you holding Grayson?  I guess you are saved for another time.  At any rate.  Have a great birthday!

Mystery in the Labrum House

We have a mystery here at our house.  A silly mystery, no doubt, but you know the kind when something keeps happening and you can't find the cause and it drives you crazy?  That mind of mystery.  Let me explain.

I keep getting stains and spots on my clothes.  No mystery there.  But lately I have noticed the same spot every morning.  Now, it is not just a spot that you can say, "Oh, look.  A spot."  It is more like I have spilled something on my shirt, or dress.  But it is always the same thing.  And it only comes on my clothes in the mornings.  Every, single, day!  It isn't the color of anything I eat, so I'm not spilling my breakfast.  It is kind of a green-brown-tan color and slightly moist.  And not just a spot, but it leaves stuff.  Like you can touch it and feel the stuff, like a bit of jam or something.

I keep trying to figure out what I am doing when the stuff gets there, but I never see it until afterward, and I'm not doing anything at that time.  I think back, "What was I doing," and can't figure out where it came from, what it is, or when it got there. 

I thought it might be my make-up, a little bit falling on my front. (The spot is where my chest catches dropped things.)  So I started putting on my make-up before I left the bathroom after I showered.  Sorry, no shirt on there.  But no spot left either.

I have learned in the past that I need to cover my clothes with a "bib" when I eat because I was always spilling something, but I was aware of that.  I know if I don't cover up when eating, I'll have my food on my shirt, or at least a piece of it.  But this spot comes after I eat.

This morning I thought, "I'm going to find that little bugger!"  I checked my shirt when I sat down to eat.  No spot.  I covered up, ate, took off the cover.  No spot.  I took my plate to the sink, took my meds, went into brush my teeth, looked down, and there was that spot again!  For the life of me I can't figure it out.  I can't tell what it is, where it comes from, when it gets there, anything! 

A funny thing.  On Sunday Garth had that same spot on his white shirt when he got to church, only it was under his tie!  Thought it must be from the sink where we brush our teeth, but, NO.  It couldn't get up where my spot is from there.  And it was there before I brushed my teeth.

Now, mind you, this didn't just start happening the past few days.  It has been going on for months.  Where is that spot coming from?  Any suggestions?

Tender Mercy

I have been feeling really down the past three week, even though wonderful things have happened.  It was so exciting to get new grandsons in our family, but sad that we don't live closer so we can rock them more often.  This past month has been difficult financially with the high gas prices and the quick trips we have needed to take.  This, along with health problems has taken a toll on my emotions and I haven't been myself the past week.  But something very nice happened the other day that lifted up my spirits quite a bit.

Garth and I took our annual trip to Wal-mart to pick up school supplies.  That in itself is a bit dis-heartening because teachers just shouldn't have to purchase supplies with their own money.  However, we have learned that any items we really need for the first day of school need to  be purchased, not ordered.  If I put these items in a supply order, it is very likely they would not be here in time to get things prepared for students.  So, that requires me to purchase them myself when Wal-Mart has school supplies on sale. 

A few years ago I purchased the composition notebooks I wanted early in August, only to find them on a better sale a few weeks later.  I was able to return to the store with my sales receipt and get an adjustment on my cost, which was very nice.  So the next week I decided to wait until the "better" sale came up.  It never did and the notebooks were all gone by the time I got there.  The last few years I have just picked them up the first week in August and saved my receipt to return it if needed. 

So, here it was, the first week of August.  Paycheck had been deposited, so off to Price we went.  When we walked in, I headed in the general direction where the supplies were usually located, then remembered that the store had been remodeled and the school supplies were located right in the front, so we turned our shopping cart around and went to the front of the store.  We found the composition notebooks right there on the end of the first aisle. 

While starting to count out the twenty (yes, only twenty this year) I needed, I heard someone say, "I'm just going to talk with these people for a minute."  I kept on counting, then heard the statement again and felt a hand on my shoulder.  I turned around and there was a blessing from heaven!  My old roommate, Marilee!  What a great moment to be able to visit with her and her daughter for a while. 

Marilee told us that our chance meeting was even more of a miracle than just us being at the same place at the same time.  She was staying in Price that night because they were going to some meeting and decided not to go on to Monticello where they live.  Then she had gotten there earlier but had to return to their motel because she had forgotten her wallet.  So to actually be there at the same time was certainly a blessing. 

It was so good to talk with her again.  We lived together at Weber State for one year.  We got together because of a mutual friend, Joy Lynn.  Joy and Marilee had spent some time together at a workshop at Snow College the year before she came to Weber State.  When Joy found out Marilee was looking for a place to live, she suggested to Marilee that she contact me.  I might have all the facts a bit mixed up after .....years, but none-the-less, we ended up in the same apartment.  It was a very fun year and we became good friends.  We drove home several times together.  I would drop her off in Price where her parents would pick her up to take her on to Monticello.  We had some good talks and great fun that year.

Marilee and I even drove up to Logan one weekend where we stalked out the two guys we both ended up marrying!  Rick was just an old friend, according to Marilee, and Garth was on his mission, but we drove up to visit with Rick, then out to Lewiston to see where Garth's family lived.  I remember we drove past Duane and Kaye's house and waited for a lady to cross the street to pick up her mail.  Little did I realize that she would later be my sister-in-law.  One of our great adventures!

There has been a few times when our paths have crossed the past few years.  She was here in Emery County one fall for meeting with the District Health Department.  We all met at Joy's house:  Marilee, Joy Lynn, me, and Dixie Fielder who was another roommate at Weber State.  It just was the next year that JoyLynn passed away.  I called Marilee that morning and told her.  We had a good cry together.

Such good times together.  I am so glad we were there that evening in Price, that she had forgotten her wallet, that our paths crossed at that aisle.  We could have both been in that store and never have seen each other.  It helped me feel happy to see her again.  And her sweet daughter who loved Garth to tease her.  I am thankful for a great friend.

Happy Birthday to Grayson !

We are excited to have our new grandson enter the world!  Grayson was born July 12 weighing in at 6 pounds 4 ounces and 18 inches long.  He is a doll!  It will be fun to watch his personality develope.  We are looking forward to fun times with Tyler and Grayson!

Grayson Nichols Brown



All my other pictures are on my phone and I haven't figured out how to transfer them to the computer yet, but let me assure you, he is very handsome.  He looks a lot like his older brother.  Tyler was so proud of him, but when asked if he wanted to touch him he would say, "No, never!" We know that it won't be long before he picks him up and tried to carry him to his mom or dad.  Isn't that how all kids get welcomed into the family? 

Hello to Grayson!  We love you very much.

Happy Birthday

Here's a happy birthday to my son, Barrett.  Let's see, how old are you?  Thirty-two?  Really?  Has it been that long since you were a little baby in your mother's arms?  The little boy who was waited and anticipated for over 23 years by the entire Ware family?  Well, now you have finally grown up and as you say, you have a real job, and an honorable one at that.  We are proud of you and your wife, and all you two have accomplished the past 10 years, especially those three beautiful babies.  Happy Birthday!  (Look.  Even when you were young your head was too big for your hat.  More like your Grandpa Ware in many ways.)

Busy Doing Nothing

Is it true that you can do nothing and still be busy?  We have been.  We really haven't accomplished much, or should I say "I" haven't accomplished much, but we have been busy. 

Last week was spent in Moab going to workshops.  Now, Moab is an okay place if you are a hiker or a tree hugger, which neither of us can claim to be.  We love trees, and scenery, but with our wonderful legs hiking is out of the question.  We had driven around Arches National Park when we were at USEA a few years ago, and we didn't think the arches had really changed very much over two years, so we didn't opt for that drive again.  So what did we do?  Just rested, and it was wonderful.

We arrived on a Sunday evening, got our rooms, which were on the second floor with no elevators, which isn't bad, but I wasn't breathing well, and .... well, we are totally out of shape.  No oxygen at night, and so many falls doesn't help my stair climbing.  But we both survived. 

We drove down main street in Moab trying to find where the delicious smell was coming from.  I tell you, Moab at night smells so good!  We decided it was Pasta Jay's garlic we were smelling, so we stopped for a bite to eat.  We decided on the shrimp gardn salad which fed 2-3 people.  It was delicious, but the garlic bread was even better!  It really lived up to its smell. 

Monday I started my 4-day marathon of Common Core classes, learning everything we need to know about only the writing standard in the language arts core.  The instructors tried to make it interesting, and they had lots of ideas, but it wasn't the best, most thrilling workshop to attend.  They didn't have the supplies there to give us, so it was difficult for the instructors to present what they wanted us to do.  We were the first group of Core Academy workshops and for some reason the supplies weren't there yet.  Oh, wait.....They did arrive, but the state people gave all the third grade supplies to the 4th grade teachers!  It appears that they came in a box marked "2-4 presenters", and since the second grade teachers said they hadn't ordered them, the box was taken to the 4th grade presenters, who were just sitting in for other presenters who couldn't be there.  They didn't know what had been ordered so, since it was brought in to them, they gave them out.  Hence, third grade got nothing!  I just happened to see Rolene, a fourth-grade teacher, sitting in the hallway reading the book we were supposed to have.  I told on her.  I told the presenters that a 4th grade teacher got their books so why didn't we get ours, since they were the same book?  She got big-eyed and said she would check into it, and came back with the above story.  She was mad!  But happy I had found out about the book.  Now we just have to wait for the state to send our books to our district, then for the district to get them off to us.  What a time!

On Monday night we went for a drive around the other end of Moab.  There are some amazing homes out there!  We found a fun little place to eat called The Branding Iron.  There weren't many people there, but the food was great!  We had a salmon with a barbecue sauce that was wonderful. 

One thing about Moab.  They haven't allowed "big-name" stores or eateries in.  All the restaurants are small, home-town places.  Not really small, some are hold large crowds, but they are in old buildings and can look like old shacks on the outside, but nice on the inside.  There is every type of food you can imagine.  We had fish, Mexican, Italian, steaks, and salads.  On Tuesday we had Mexican at the La Haciendas and it was really good.  Could have eaten more there!  On Wednesday we went to Moab Brewery where I had honey-almond chicken which was wonderful!  And Garth had a very good steak.  I wasn't to up on the home brewed cream soda and root beer, but it was alright. 

We spent time just eating, and visiting with each other.  One day Garth went to the golf course and said he had a good time.  Other than that, we just spent time together driving around and being with each other.  It was wonderful. 

Since our return Garth had worked on the yard and gotten it in shape, which was good because this week he wrecked up his knee!  The doc says it could be an ACL problem.  We are waiting on the ok for an MRI for the final decision.

Me, well, I was a klutz again and fell in my classroom.  What was I doing there?  Getting ready for two days of planning and work with the third grade teachers.  Yes, we work while on vacation.  Doesn't everyone? 

After two days of work, Garth and I took off to Provo to a check-up with his dermatologist.  His cancerous spot on his back looks like it was all cut out and should be fine.  Just regular check ups for a while.  Then we drove to Salt Lake for our annual eye examines and spent a fortune for contacts and glasses.  Why do they have to be so expensive?  I know why we didn't update my contacts, or get glasses every year when we had children in glasses and contacts.  The Opticare coverage has changed so much it doesn't help like it used to.  I know most of it is because of our terrible eyes, but it is crazy! 

We came home with paint for our bedroom, bathroom, and hallway, so I guess we will be busy getting those areas of the house done.  Who says summer is a time to relax!

Back Home

We spent four days in Moab together which was a wonderful thing for us.  I was attending Core Academy learning about the new Common Core writing standard, so Garth got to just hang out all through the day.  However, he was busy taking care of me most of the time. 

I am sure I have the most wonderful husband in the world because he was there making sure I had everything I needed, and that I was able to get to my room and settled in for the time there.  My classroom was on the second floor with lots of stairs to climb,  Being without my cute big oxygen machine at night made my legs not work very well (muscles need air, you see).  That, and with my terrible size, knees, ankle, lungs, and everything combined made going up and down those stairs too tramatic to even think about.  But, my wonderful husband who knows how to take care of people, arranged for me to get a key to the elevator to keep for the entire time we were there.  He also got me a chair to keep my leg up (swelling became a big issue during the week).  He was there to help me get to the lunchroom (downstairs), and back up to the room, and out the door at the end of the day.  I am so glad he was there and not concerned about going off hiking the trails or sight-seeing.  He was able to get in nine-holes of golf, but the next day he paid for it with a sore back.

We loved just riding around the area together, and eating in a different place every night.  We ate salmon, enchiladas, chicken, steak, and salads.  Main Street in Moab smells wonderful with all the different fragrances from all the ethnic food there.  Our biggest decision all evening was which one we would go to.  We picked some very good places and had great food.  The company and conversation was even better.  It is nice that we can spend some time together and still enjoy each others company.  I am lucky to have a husband who still wants to be with me after all these years. 

I love you, dear!

Busy, busy, busy

What happens when I don't post often on my blog?  I get so behind with things that I don't know where to start.  I could say I will turn a new leaf and promise to write more.  I know that I should.  I could use the blog as a journal, but I don't.  I follow the daily blog of a very sweet lady in Smithfield.  She keeps a wonderful  blog.  I don't read her blog every day because she makes me so tired.  But I try not to get to "behind" because she has some wonderful reminders, and I like her ideas.  I like the way her blog is her journal.  But I'm sure I would never find the daily time to write, even though I am at my computer every day. 

I just need to quit being a "viewer and doer" and start being more actively involved with my own writing. I am now so far behind that I can't find a place to start.

Since school let out I have been doing little catch-up jobs around the house.  Things like getting the finances up-to-date on the computer, which meant I had to find an old CD with our finance program on it and install it on the newer computer because the older one is really on it's last leg.  Which makes me a bit upset because we had just purchased a really nice large monitor for it, and within one month the computer started doing bad things.  I might get it fixed up and take it to school to give me one more 'slow" computer for my students to work on.  I'll see if it is even up to doing that.  Not a bad idea, actually. 

It was so cold after school let out that we didn't go on our annual camping trip, but my short-term memory is not so good and right now I can't remember what we did!  No laughing at me, please!  I know we went somewhere, and did something, but I can't remember what it was.  I know we stopped in Provo and bought Garth two new suits.  It was a good deal...buy one and get the second for $100.  But they didn't say how expensive the first one was.   And white shirts were on sale....and the ties looked really nice and we couldn't decide on one or two........ We'll just say that they were more than the bedroom set we purchased.  But he deserved it, and needed them because his old one is....well, old and worn out. 

Oh, I remember now where we went.  Sorry I forgot.  We went to North Salt Lake for the funeral of our son-in-law's mother.   We drove to Lehi on Friday night, got up early and drove to Salt Lake to help get all the kids up to the funeral.  Tammy needed some help with transportation because of being one car short and Josh had to get up there earlier... so we stopped and picked her and some of the kids up, drove up to the funeral, then back to Lehi and on to Provo, then home for Sunday.

 The next week (first week in June) I spent doing those odd jobs around the house, but didn't really accomplish much.  On Saturday we drove up to Salt Lake to help my sister move into a new apartment that will be much easier for her than a house.  She won't need to worry about keeping up a yard.  And when something breaks down someone else can worry about fixing it.  We came home again late that night with our four grandkids who live here in Utah.

On Sunday we got a new bishopric.  We have loved Bishop Tuttle, who has helped us through so many difficult times.  He is kind and compassionate and we love him and his wife, Karen.  Our new bishop, Lee Madsen, is a wonderful, soft-spoken man who is very generous and full of care.  He is quiet and does a lot of service behind the scenes where he isn't noticed.  He is a very good friend to Garth, and they have a great relationship. 

Sunday was also the day that President Law passed away.  That is something I will write about later.

We had fun in church on Sunday with the kids.  We went to Primary for both hours and had fun singing.  In the afternoon we played and ate, and ate, and ate and played.  The kids went to bed late and slept really well after playing musical beds.  For the rest of the week they played outside in the water, on the tramp, on the bikes/scooters/four-wheelers.  We finally went to the pool on Wednesday afternoon, but it was cold.  The weather this year is just not cooperating with water fun.  Lexi made puppets for the kids, they played games, they built things with tinker-toys, they played baseball, they played until they dropped.  They had a great time.

Nancy came down on..... I can't remember the day.   But Tyler was excited to see her and said "Can we go home now?"  Little bugger!  He was fine until he saw her. 

On Thursday we attended the funeral for President Law.  All my girls were here with us, and I am sure Barrett would have been here if he could have.  President Law was such a big influence on our lives, watching our kids grow up from a very young ago.......more later. 

The Gales went back to Salt Lake with their mom and Nicky, and we took Nancy and Tyler back because they had to leave their car to be fixed.  We picked up the new suits which were being hemmed and altered a bit, then drove up to VFFactory so Garth could get some much needed levis, then drove home.  Friday we spent resting.  I went through the shelf where I keep cookbooks and through away all the old Taste of Living magazines, old cookbooks I've accumulated that I never use, and several other things in there.  We went to a wedding reception last night, and then just rested the rest of the day.  And today is Saturday.  Garth is planting some flowers and I am sitting here.  We had tons of laundry to finish up and now we need to get ready for a trip to Moab.  I have meetings there Monday - Wednesday and Garth gets to rest.  I am hoping the meetings will keep me awake and I don't sleep most of the time.  I think I will take my ipad with a book on it so it looks like I might be listening or taking notes. 

We are hoping to get a few fishing trips in, but can't see where on our calendars.   The next two weeks are filled with school meetings and doctor appointments. 

We are looking forward to the day when the Missouri Labrums move back to Utah, then we can have those kids here for a few days.  We want to spend a few days with Isaac and get to know him, and get him to know us.  Garth was lucky to get to be in Missouri for a few days in May so he got to hold him.  I can't wait for a few hours to rock with him.

We are also waiting for Nancy's baby to be born, which will mean a few days of rocking a baby as well.  That will be great. 

All this means that school will start before we are even ready for it.  Looking forward shows that the summer is just too short.  Wish each day had a few more hours so I could actually get something done.  Oh, well, maybe next summer. 

Happy Birthday, Morgan!

Happy birthday to the sweetest 7-year-old of the year.  Morgan is such a fun girl, always happy and willing to help.  She is a great big sister to her two little brothers.  She is a very good reader and is learning to play the piano.  We are so happy she is moving back to Utah so we can visit with her more often.  She is also a great fisher-girl (not fisherman), and maybe she will be able to come down and fish with Grandpa again this year.  Have a happy birthday, Morgan!  We love you.