Here is the first pages of my new book "Millet In The Kitchen"

Millet In The Kitchen by Jane M. Bryson | Make Your Own Book

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas 2011. We hope you have a wonderful season and Happy New Year.

Birthdays and New Book.

Well we had birthdays. Yes that means I am older and wiser! It was very nice at work, one of my coworkers brought a cake, but she missed the day and brought it on the 8th. So we celebrated my last day of being 60. Then there was cake left over so we ate it on my real birthday. Later that evening at work one of the doctors got ice cream and toppings so we had again a nice celebration. On the 12th Mike and I went to Sizzler. While we were checking in Mike said "its our birthdays, but don't sing to us" immediately the people behind us in line started singing happy birthday to us. It was great. Sizzler gave us birthday balloons. On the 14 and 15 Layne and Maureen came to visit. We had a nice dinner and visited forever. The next morning went to the Logan Temple and then came home and talked some more. What a nice time. I enjoyed all of the nice calls from family.
On the 20th I finished a very long project. I have been writing abook. It is a cookbook, with recipes from my childhood. I also included lots of old pictures of my parents. I think it is really cool. I published it on blurb. I can hardly wait to get the finished copy.
Another bright spot was I had my yearly evaluation at work and my boss thinks I am an excellent employee. I am excited to be involved in the projects coming up. I really do like my job and the friends I work with. They are the best!

Cute pictures of the newest "grandchild" Rhona and Jonny have a new baby. Archie Donald.
Wish they weren't so far away!

Remembering Sept. 11.

I was amazed at how much time has gone by. I remember Michael Todd telling me to turn on the TV. It was showing the second plane just hitting the tower. Then when the towers came down, I just sat there amazed. It was interesting how everything in the world just seemed to stop. We were all watching TV and seeing the same events. Later I was reading the Bible. Revelations chapter 18 seemed to apply to the events of that day. On Sunday at 9:30 I watched the Tabernacle Choir memorial service. It was well done and brought tears to my eyes. I realized that an eternal perspective is what we need most in this world right now.

Our Trip June 2011

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Happiness is... 2011

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Photo Book

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Today we are at a KOA in Ohio. Here are pictures of Eden, Jeremiah and Isaac at the playground. We got the tent set up without any problems. It is a new tent and this will be the first time we have ever slept in it. We tired to set it up once in our living room! Just for the practise!!! We are having sun traveling to see Cami and Brian. The kids are really good travelers.

Dad and I have enjoyed our trip so far. We traveled slow across the midwest and experimented with different methods of sleep in our new van. We ended up with foam pads, a feather tick and sheets. It worked well. I even got some netting to put over the windows so they could be open to let the breeze blow through.

Busy Me!!!!

Just a couple of pictures from our visit in March with Jon and Holly in Monterey. This is an adorable pic of Ady and Will. This picture was taken at Lover's Point on the coast. It was a little chilly but a beautiful day and really is a pretty place to visit. Ady loved climbing the rocks.
As you can see, I really like the ocean and the time we had to spend with Ady and Will. They are so cute and keep me laughing. The purple in my hair shows up a little bit. It sure didn't last very long. What will I do next. Probably the red and purple again, I think I liked that the best.

Well I just had a busy couple of weeks. Last week I worked my regular shifts plus picked up some extra time. Had the first day of TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course). This is a great educational class. I am glad that it is one of the required classes because it always has such great information and is a great reminder to do a good job!! Then we also had a skills day for refreshing on skills needed in the ER. Then this week another bunch of shifts and the last day of TNCC, yeah I passed! The test is not easy and I always get a little nervous when I am doing a pass off. Somehow I think I should do things without ever making an error! I wonder why that is? I really am enjoying my time with Michael and the opportunities I have to learn.
We have a boarder for the summer. A sweet college girl named Rachel. She is very pleasant and is busy with working 2 jobs and her activities with her ward and friends. She made roast beef sandwiches for us for dinner last night. They were excellent, added my left over jello (my favorite with cottage cheese, pinapple, celery and almonds in green jello) and some corn. Good meal! Then Dad did the dishes. It is so fun to just walk away from the kitchen and know that when you come back it will be clean! Wow, my life is good.

Mother's Day

So, I guess this was about the "Best" Mother's Day ever. It started off with me working all night. Which isn't unusual, just that I wasn't absolutely tired when I got home. We went to church and they had an awesome meeting with excellent talks. And I always love and laugh with the Primary kids singing to Mothers. Then they gave me a big Hershey's Chocolate Bar. How can you not love a ward that does that! I got calls, visits and texts from all of my kids. And a big hug and clean kitchen from Mike. Then I went back to work! So I'm not sure what made it so good, unless it was my attitude. I guess that I just didn't have any time for thinking about all the things that I wish I had done as a Mother. I did spend some time thinking about all of the "Mothers" in my life that have truly made a difference. My own Mother especially. Thanks everyone for such a positive day!!!

Ady eating. It is hard to get her to eat without talking constantly. She is such a character. She keeps us laughing. We really enjoyed our visit with Jon, Holly, Ady and Will.
Grandma took Will to the playground when he woke up from his nap. We had a lot of fun.
Will riding the trike to walk to get Ady from preschool. He thought he was really big, even though he couldn't touch the pedals.
Grandma and Will. They were so glad to get back together again!!!

Trip to California

This was a trip we took to Monterey, California in March 2011. It was still pretty snowy and although most of the time the roads were good. There were some interesting times.

We got to drive past the Bonneville Salt Flats. This was the first time we had ever driven this road during the daylight. It was very interesting. It really is very flat and barren.

When we got to Reno, Nevada the road over Donner's Pass was closed so we headed south through Carson City and South Lake Tahoe. It was interesting how the snow started just as we headed into the mountains. We got to Tahoe and found that to go further we would need chains, it was getting into the evening so we stayed there in a little hotel and I went and purchased chains and had them put on the car. It snowed all night but the morning was beautiful and the roads were being plowed. We drove easily down into California, removed the chains and then drove through the rain to Monterey.

News from Japan

After the devastation in Japan following the Earthquakes and Tsunamis, we were worried about Sayuri and family. She sent us these pictures and a note that they are doing fine. They were entirely safe.


It is amazing how much Takumi and Misaki have grown. We miss them and wish we could see them more often.

Latest Crocheted sweater.

This is my latest work. It would obviously look better on Lanie!!! All it needs is buttons and the baby. It was kind of fun to make. It was worked all in one piece and the only sewing was the side seams and the top of the hood. I sure do like to make things.

PINK exercise Program

This week I am doing week 12 of the exercises of the PINK program. This is an awesome weight lifting program. I am amazed at how much better I feel, hopefully look and really act. I have a better attitude about things. I am more positive and less judgemental. I think that exercise is probably the number 1 best thing to help with attitude as well as physical improvement. I wish I could loose weight faster, especially on my belly!!!!! But at least I am slowly improving. Yes I do feel better.

Reading

I just finished reading a few books.
1. Jane Eyre -- read it once a long time ago. This time it was entirely different, because I read it as an adult! It was amazing to me how well the author painted a picture of the time and place in England. I could really feel like I was there. What a great romantic novel.
2. Life, Love and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell -- This is definitely a modern romantic novel. It is set in Canada. It was pretty easy, light reading. It did really address the question of how we make decisions and what makes us the way we are. Good read.
3. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum -- This is the author of the Wizard of Oz. He did an excellent job of creating a believable Santa. What a fun story for Christmas time.
4. The Christmas Chronicles: The legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover. This is also a fun read. I received this book from Tovi this Christmas. It is also a very good story of the history of Santa Claus. It is not at all the way my mother told the story.
5. Fairy Tales Every Child Should Read. by Hamilton Wright. -- This is a lot of fun, some really good tales.
6. Life of Pi by Tann Martel -- Interesting but I got bored and never finished it.
7. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale -- This is a really good book. One that I will probably read a few more times. It is so good in so many ways. You really believe that it is from the true world.
8. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built: The New No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Novel by Alexander McCall Smith -- I have really enjoyed this series. It is about life in Africa, from a woman's perspective. It is a really fun and easy series to read. Lots of comments about life!
9. Peculiar in a Good Way by Mary Ellen Edmunds -- This excellent audio book is read by the author. She is one of my favorites. She is a nurse from BYU and is an excellent speaker. She talks about being better than we are without feeling guilty or becoming overzealous. The is a good book to listen to while you finish a project ....... like crocheting, or filing your fingernails!

Visit with BYU roommate.

I got a call one day from one of my old BYU roommates. Well we really are old!!! Anyway she was in town visiting one of her daughters. So we met up for lunch. What a fun couple of hours. We spent laughing, remembering old times, talking about families, the church and the world. Thanks Nancy for a good day. It is amazing to realize how long ago that was.

January Afghan

I finally finished this beautiful afghan. I really like this pattern. It is a huge granny square. It is fun to make because I get to use all different colors. I really think it turned out great. I am working on another one and also on a big Christmas one for me. Some times they go really fast, and other times there just doesn't seem to be time enough to work on these kinds of projects.
I have been working on a picture roster for the Relief Society of our Ward. That has been fun and a really good thing for me. I sometimes find it really hard to remember names. This sure makes it easier and I don't feel so stupid. I really admire people who can meet someone and then always remember their name.

Goals for the New Year!!!

I have been thinking a lot about the New Year. I know it seems kind of late, but it is never too late to plan for the future.
1. Continue my weight loss plan. I have done well so far, but I can do better. My goal this year is to loose 30 more pounds.
2. Continue my weight training. I have been working on the PINK fitness program, which is an Olympic Weight Training program with Debbie Millet as the trainer. So far I can really tell the difference in how I feel. I really like the program. My goal is to keep going with this program and see how good I can get. Even if I am old!!!
3. Continue my plan to get out of debt. I have a few more debts to pay off and then I can truly decide what to do about retirement. Do I want to stay in Logan or move to a warmer place? Do I want to keep working or do other things? Do we want to serve a mission? Those I think are things to think about and decide for another year. This year is a time to prepare.
4. Food Storage. I have to get serious about this. I work at it off and on, and am so glad for the things that I have stored. It makes it so much easier when times get tight.
5. Read the lessons for Sunday School and Relief Society ahead of time so that I am prepared to participate in the lessons.
6. Read the New Testament this year. As well as the Conference Talks.
7. Organize my files and get up to date on my scrapbooking. I also need to get more stuff cleaned out of the garage.


Wow that is quite a list. But I think it is all possible. I love to keep busy and I love to see the results of my efforts. It is fun to make lists and then mark them off!!!! That is one of the best things in life.

Trip to California

Will looking closely at a parrot on the Wharf at Monterey. He was not scared, but really didn't know what to think. Ady was too busy eating free clam chowder.
Ady on a fun slide at Dennis the Menace Park. It is one of the most fun parks that I have been too. I really enjoyed the whole park and there was lots of variety for all ages of kids.

In November, I traveled with Holly and the kids as they moved to California. It was a very nice trip. I enjoy my grandkids a lot as well as my own kids. We drove the whole night and arrived in Monterey at breakfast time. We spent the next few days in a base hotel and then on Monday moved into their new place in Seaside. It was fun helping them unpack and arrange everything. It is a good size place for the little family. I hope that they will have fun there. It is always great to be where Dad is and be a whole family again.

I had a nice flight back to Salt Lake and then the shuttle to Logan. Then spent a few days rearranging our house. Dad and I sure like to be together. It is nice to visit with family, but our place is home and together.