Keep Christ in Your Thoughts

For Easter, keep Christ as your main thought.
It was our eternal life he so generously bought.

Wightman's Wooed to Utah

It took a wedding to bring the Wightman family to Utah. Living out of state most of their lives, they were like the illusive butterfly. The Park family (June's maiden name) seldom saw these cousins, but longed to know them.

Here's a photo of Aunt June, Tony (the bride's dad) & Bret Wightman (on the right) at Courtney's wedding in Salt Lake on March 6th. What handsome men they are. Last time most of us saw them was thirty or more years ago. It's quite rare for this many Wightman's to be in the same place at the same time with their Park cousins.
Many of us had to be reintroduced or would not know who they were.

Aunt June's, six children almost never see each other. Joe the youngest, lives in Germany & visited Tony in Florida last winter. They hadn't been together for about twenty years. Cheryl the oldest is in Portland, the twins, Ned & Neal live in California, Tony is in Florida & Brett in Colorado.

June recently returned from a mission to Nauvoo. Both Tony & Brett are active in the Church & have worked together in several businesses. It's been a challenge to keep close with children & grand children, but June has done a great job.

Remembering Oldies, But Goodies

In 1961 the car we drove around in was a Woodie, considered a novelty by my friends. They fought over who would sit in the back seat loft. The station wagon had wood trim exterior. I was embarrassed to be seen in this run down, 1940's car. It ran well & that is the best my parents could afford.

Nowadays they are collectors items & many more styles can be viewed @woodiesusa.com. I'm not sure the make & model we had. If ours was classy, shiny & souped up back then, we would have valued it more.

After getting a job at Kennecott Copper with its steady income, we moved up from the jalopy rung of life. Exciting was the day our dad drove home, in a new silver blue 1959 sleek wagon. Its tail fin lights, chrome grill and automatic windows were state of the art. Even if Mom was just driving to the neighbors, we all climbed in for a ride. How we loved going on trips or just around town in the spacious, house boat of a vehicle. A small miracle for the Crane's to own a car that was less than five years old.

Sad was the 22nd of November 1963, the day after President Kennedy was shot. Normally riding in a carpool leaving at 2pm, Dad drove alone to work instead. On the way he was broadsided by some teenage girls running a stop sign at about 4800 West 11800 South. I remember it well, when he came through the front door a few hours later injured & bleeding telling us the news. One girl, Karen Hatfield of West Jordan was killed. The other one, Margie of Copperton had severe head injuries that kept her out of school healing for 6 months or more. Broken ribs, bruises & cuts was what father sustained. Our beloved car was totaled.

Needless to say we pulled out & repaired our oldie but goodie Woodie of a clunker. What a blessing & tender mercy from the Lord for protecting Dad from serious harm.

Cottage Cheese- A Better Choice

Do you love lots of dressing on your salad? A look at the label will reveal two tablespoons can be up to 150 calories of fat, sodium & sugar. There's absolutely no nutritional value in it. The fat free or low fat alternatives aren't much better.
It's expensive, but often on sale for $2 a 16 oz. bottle or $6 for the 64 oz of Greggs Dressing. I'm on the war path to better health, though.

Here's how to get protein & calcium instead, with a fraction of the calories. Use cottage cheese! Yuk, my son-in-law & grandkids say! Try it, you might like it! Put a generous helping of plain old cottage cheese on your salad. It's delicious!

If that's not enough flavor, blend a 16 oz creamy Knudsons (or any kind) cottage cheese with 1/2 Hidden Valley Ranch packet and add 1 cup plain yogurt. It's better for us than the slimy alternative. Allan is on the band wagon with this one. Success!!

Now how do we replace chips, french fries & pop? We could just not buy them. Ouch!!

Looking for a Great Night In?

With Valentine's Day this weekend. I don't recommend eating out, because every restaurant will be crowded & the wait long. Irritating!!!

Instead pick up a few steaks at the store. They're on sale this week (T-bone or Ribeye for $4.49-$4.99 pr lb). Toss a yummy salad, pick up some fresh veggies & garlic toast. Grill those steaks, salmon or chicken. Pull out the Zatarin's rice (Jambalaya or black beans is my favorite). A nice baked potato or Stovetop is quick. Have strawberries, ice cream or a brownie sundae for your sweet tooth.

Light a few candles to set the mood. Throw on a table cloth & your best dishes. Flowers are expensive right now, so use photos or a branch with red hearts attached. Feed the little ones before, they can be the waiters or invite them, too. Use your best manners, eat slowly & talk about fun memories. Now enjoy! You have just saved yourself $50+.

Here's a Tip: Call this or any handsome young man to do the work. It looks like he's having fun. Turn on some music & wah lah you have a very nice Valentine's meal on a dime.

Wanted: A Birthday, Come & Gone

Why is it when we're young our birthdays don't come soon enough.
As a teen we want to & often say we are older than we are.

After arriving at the ripe old year of ?, we hide, stuff
or forget our real age & start wishing on that star.

But sooner than you imagine we're old & tough.
Our senior citizen years aren't really off, very far.

Happy Day, Sis, Happy Day!!

Wonder in the Winterland

Dreary as the days are this winter there's always fun to be found outdoors at a small cost. Bundle the kids up & get out there. Make snow angels, a family of snow people or forts for the ambitious.

Sleds are cheap now, garbage bags work or get the old one out. Many city parks, neighborhood drain basins or schools have hills adequate for weekend adventures. No snow, try ice skating. Many places offer free/discount coupons. Check the DI or friends/family for their cache of skates, snowshoes or skiis. All are welcome to borrow my ice skates (size 7 women or 1 youth). I have both men's (11) & women's (9) cross country ski & snowshoes (one size fits all).

Years ago I got a four piece set of penguin dishes (dinner plates, bowls, cups etc) for Christmas. The salad plates were especially cute with the cold weather cupids doing antics. I get them out every winter to enjoy. Four wasn't enough for entertaining & none in the stores to increase my collection. I found these four matching plates at the DI last year & was excited to have enough for guests. There is wonder in the winterland when we look for it.