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.

Happy birthday, Tammy

The first week of May is full of birthdays in the Labrum family.  Now that we have added little Isaac to our family we have one more! 

Today is the birthday of the little girl who made us parents for the first time.  Tammy came into our family on a beautiful Tuesday evening.  (I know it was Tuesday because all my children were born on Tuesday.)  I want to wish her a very happy birthday and hope she is able to enjoy the day.  She is busy with full-time mom, full-time student, full-time working.  I know she is concerned about the week because her sweet son is having surgery later this week that will require a 4-day hospital stay.  But she will do it all with grace and style because she has a way of just pushing through all she she is required to do.  Nothing stops her, she just keeps going.  With all the trials that have come to their family, she hasn't complained about any of it, just meets it head-on and makes the best of it. She has learned to rely on prayer and her testimony of how our Heavenly Father watches over everyone.  She learns so many things through her scripture reading.  We love her very much.

Have a great day, Tammy!

Happy Belated Birthday!

How could I let the birthday of my most special person go by and not put a post on my blog?  Where was my mind?  I know it was not in the right place.  There have been so many things going on this week, with the excitement of our little Isaac Paul Labrum coming into the family, a quick trip to meet him and visit with his family, getting ready for our trip to Park City, getting things ready in my classroom for testing and Mother's day gifts there.  Just to much to do...But that is no excuse and I don't know to ask for forgiveness. 

But Happy Birthday to my dearest person in the world,  My wonderful husband, Garth.  I don't know how I would ever go on without him in my life.  He brings me so much joy.  I have the most wonderful husband in the world.  He is such a hard worker, always going like the Ever-Ready Bunny, never slowing down until he drops into bed.  He is up at 3:00 to go to work and works right up to bedtime.  He brings me lunch every day, which is one of the most exciting parts of my day because he comes into my classroom and just brings joy with him.  I love him so much.  He is a wonderful grandfather and will do anything for his grandchildren, or his children.  He never feels as though he has done enough, but I know he has done more for them than most father would ever dream of doing.  I know they all adore and respect him. 

I love you, dear.  More than words can ever tell. (I don't know why the sound didn't load with this video, but they were sure having a great time!)

Little Isaac Paul Labrum

We are so excited to welcome little...Isaac Paul Labrum into our family.


He was born early Sunday morning, May 1, at Jordan Valley Hospital in South Jordan, Utah.  His parents, living in Kansas City, Missouri, got the phone call soon after his birth.  They bundled up their two children, Morgan and Maxwell, and got in the car and drove all night and all day to get here as soon as they could.  The story of Isaac joining our family is very special.  He has been wanted for a long time, and we are so lucky to have in him our family.  His mom and dad have not had the time to write his story, and they should be the first ones to post this wonderful family.  I will give a link to it when they have had time to post it themselves.  In the meantime, we are so thankful for Isaac. 

What To Do When You Can't See the Light

A few weeks ago I picked up a book at Deseret Book written by Wendy Watson Nelson. She is a marriage and family therapist who was single most of her life. What would she know about marriage and family? A few years ago she married Elder Russel M. Nelson. I have admired her work for several years and have read many of her books and articles. This particular book has really helped me to find different outlooks into my own personal problems.

This book, Rock Solid Relationships, has helped me to center the solutions to my problems with the Savior and the scriptures. I will just mention a few things right now that struck me again this morning as I looked back through the notes I took when I started reading. Here is a paragraph from her book:

"When we don't know the next step to take, when we can't see any light at the end of our relationship tunnel, the scriptures--the word of God--are the "iron rod" that we can count on and hold onto. The wisdom contained in the scriptures will guide us over the mountains of misunderstandings, through the dark nights of betrayal, and around the mine fields of destructive traditions and legacies of lethal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. And all we have to do is be willing to seek their wisdom. "Yea; we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall ....lead the man (and woman) of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery" (Helaman 3:20--even that gulf of misery that is created by unhappy and stressful relationship."

She goes on to explain that the scriptures hold to keys to everything, but sometimes we need to keep reading and look before we find it. But we are promised we will find it. "Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you ALL things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)

I know when I was in my deepest depression nothing anyone said helped me at all. Looking for answers from others just didn't work. I never felt that angels were sent to help me. That only happened to other people. I felt I was never good enough, never worthy, that God didn't know me and didn't care about me. I felt so alone and of no worth. It took a long time of looking, reading, trusting on the word of others that the scriptures were true, trusting on the word of others that God did know me, and did care. Sometimes even now I slip back into those thoughts and I have to struggle to keep my head where it should be. I just needed to remember that my husband, children, grandchildren, and all my extended family needed me to be my best, however difficult it was each day. I guess it was a "fake it until you make it" type of thing. They deserved happiness, and I was trying so hard to be the one to give it to them.

This book has helped me see what I need to do as I work on my eternal relationships. I still struggle with thoughts of not being good enough. I think it will always be a struggle, but I can say it is worth it because I love my family. They are worth everything I can possibly put into our relationships.

Turn to the scriptures, turn to prayer, turn to Christ and you will receive ALL things what ye should do..