In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Find My Phone

Thanks to Gavin, I own and utilize (just about every minute of every day,) an iPhone! I'm certain that while I was in Heaven, some arch angel stood in front of a massive group of spirits, myself included, proclaimed with a loud trump the estimated time line for when Apple would unveil it's impressive, super spectacular iPhone here on earth and that's how I pin pointed the dispensation I would come forth in!
Gavin has truly converted me to anything with an Apple on it! Yes, I'm a Mac Head, and thus my iPhone has become just another appendage attached to my body.
The other day I happened to discover a sweet app. that Mobile Me provides for iPhone users called "Find My Phone." If anyone's brain functions similar to mine then you are forever misplacing your phone.
I'm always absent mindedly sitting my phone down in some absurd place. This requires a time filled hunting spree accompanied by fierce rantings because invariably my mind doesn't remember where that absurd place is. These constant maniac filled search parties in and out of my house, rummaging through cars, back tracking every minute of my day, calling people and places I've frequented, trying desperately to find my removable appendage that hangs mostly on my ear are very time consuming, annoying and down right maddening!
This morning or last night, (take your pick) I did it again; I lost my phone. However this time I just came up to my computer, logged into Mobile Me, clicked on "Find My Phone," and this lovely little map you see above appeared right before my eyes. Technology is truly amazing!
The first thing that happens when you click the button "Find my phone," a little spinning wheel appears and then the above map pops up. Suddenly the next thing that appears is a nice blue circle surrounding the area the phone is located in. Keep in mind you must also have the application turned to the on position on your phone or it will not work. Well at least I was smart enough to do that!
I laughed so hard when I looked at the blue circle showing my phone was centrally located somewhere on North Plain City Road!
"No 'Shiz' Sherlock," (I must sadly confess) came to mind, but I didn't say it! (I've given up swearing!)
Now as I sat at my computer watching the little blue circle grow smaller and smaller, I thought about how this was useless information at the moment.
I already knew the phone was in my house somewhere, so I really didn't need the blue circle to tell me my phone was at my house, but once the circle had moved inward as far as it could go, the app. then allowed me to send a message on the phone as well as a pinging noise that would ping loudly for two solid minutes. Two really nice features for different reasons.
For the message, I wanted to say something simple and profound, so I typed in bold caps, "STUPID!" Clever huh? However, just in case you're thinking someone else might find your phone, you could type a message that said, "Call such and such a number to speak with the idiot that lost this phone --- please!" or you could go for a more bold approach and type something like, "If you find this phone and return it to me I'll give you a million dollars!" The app. allows you to type in what ever message you want. Cool huh?
Another great feature of this program is, if you feel your information is in jeopardy of being stolen by some low life, crime loving, identity thug, the app. also allows you to wipe your phone clean! Yup, it removes all of the information off your phone so some corrupt person can't get their hands on it. I am extremely impressed and amazed at what technology can do!
Well, after I wrote my clever little note to myself, I started the pinging sound. I had tried calling my phone several times from my house but that's the second thing that happens if you turn your phone on silence and forget to turn it back; you can call the phone all day long and not hear it. The pinging noise however sounds loudly regardless if your phone is on silence or not. Did I tell you how much I love Apple - yes I did!
Now here is the good part of the story. Last night late before I went to bed, I had been reading an article in the Reader's Digest. As I was sitting at my computer typing my personal message to myself (Stupid) I then hit the send button. When the pinging started, it was so loud it scared me half to death. There sitting next to my computer was the magazine I had been reading. And like the idiot that I sometimes am, I had stuck my phone inside the article in the middle of the Reader's Digest to mark my page; my phone was literally sitting right next to me. Great page marker huh? I laughed so hard when I opened up the magazine and saw the message on my phone blinking "STUPID!" Hahahah LOL!
Isn't life grand! If you're over fifty, get yourself an iPhone! You can entertain yourself all day with it!

Happy Birthday Seth!

Some things in this life just don't come any finer! Seth, you are just the greatest son ever! I'm so lucky to be your mom and to have the opportunity to wish you happy birthday today on the blog!

My heart is so full looking at this picture! When I pulled it up this morning the first thing I saw was my dad sitting there! Choked me right up! You have so many of his handsome traits. My dad was so handsome. I remember a picture of him in his cowboy hat, standing outside the house by the old tree, with his dog; I wasn't even born yet, and if I stuck that hat on your head you'd look just like him. You are a handsome young man even with your cherry cheeks that you hate and I love!

The outside of you today however is not the most impressive thing about you, it's what's on the inside that brings me great joy! God put a special heart in you Seth, and I can't count the many times in my life that heart has personally rescued me! Oh the ways in which you have helped me through so many things, you will never know! And along with that great heart He also gave you a great mind with lots of wisdom which I draw upon over and over again!

You are steady Seth, steady and dependable. You are a river that runs a little deeper than most and you are a great blessing to this family! So today I am thankful for my first born son, who is a great example to his brothers and to all of us. I know the grandkids think you are better than candy and ice cream. They love their Uncle Seppy! And I know my life personally would not be near as rich without you in it! You are a major cog in the wheel of this family son, and without you life would not turn near as well! We all love you so much! Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have a great day!

1999 Was The Last One!

2009 We Finally Snapped Another!

It's only been ten years since I had a family picture taken, and I only had to add
ten people to the photo. That's pretty bad ten people in ten years, given the fact
that I do nothing but take pictures every chance I get. I think from
here on out I'll be a little more prompt in taking my own family picture!
I can't tell you what looking at this picture does to me!
My patriarchal blessing say's I'll have a posterity that is numerous!
Looks like I'm getting a good start doesn't it!
Well, family of mine, I love you! You are what makes life worth living!
Thanks for gathering and putting up with your mother, Fuji Motto!

The Best of The Best

Here they are! The people I love with everything contained in heart and soul! If you want to really see the image good then just take your mouse and double click on the picture. I'm blind so this small image just doesn't cut it and when I blow it up big I start to ball like a baby. These people are everything to me! I'm so proud of ever single one of them!
How this picture came to be is a good story. I finally got my own family together and decided it was time for a new family picture. I only had to add ten people to the group. That's so bad, ten years and ten people, oh my! Kyle was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to see himself in a family portrait hanging on my wall in the family room with his wife, let alone his kids. The last family picture we took was back in 1999 right before Seth left on his mission. I've had four missionaries since that photo and I was long overdue for a new picture!
So at the last minute I called everyone up and scheduled the event! I found a good spot, we all met, I got the camera all set up and had Logan Berrett come and push the button. Thanks Logan! Logan is Kelson's friend and I can pretty much call him for anything and he'll help me out. So I'm not sure who the photographer is on my family picture, between me setting the camera up, Kaedell who helped position us all and Logan pushing the button and trying to get all the kids to look at him, I'm not sure who deserves the honors. I am grateful for the combined effort and no matter the credits, I'm just glad it's done.
Today though I just happened to pull up this picture first. On the day of our photo session, after taking some family group shots, Gage spotted this old truck and suggested the kids all hop on the flat bed in their rightful order of course. So as you can see from left to right all of my children are sitting in their proper order of birth and if you look hard between Caroline and Gage you can envision Corbin sitting there. How I wonder what he would look like positioned in the group. I guess I'll have to wait some time in order to see that line up.
Glade took one look at this picture and said, "We're going to need a bigger flat bed when Seth, Goose and Des get married." I said, "Let's just hope I can take another family picture before I have to add ten more people to it!"
Winston Churchill said, "There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained." Today looking at this picture does my heart good, for everything I see in it tells me my life has great meaning! I'm so grateful I spent the whole of it doing what matters most, raising kids! The love of family is life's greatest blessing!

Create!

All men dream: but not equally.
Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their mind wake in the day
to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers
of the day are dangerous men, for they may
act their dreams with open eyes, to make it
possible.
-T.E. Lawrence

I saw this little clip on Facebook about daring to create and just loved it. This month Desi and I started an oil painting class. Des loves art, is very good at it and has wanted to try oils for sometime. The instructor is a friend of mine and after much coaxing on her part and an offer of almost a two for one price, I decided to take her advice and join in. My thinking was, "What the heck"! Now keep in mind I don't have an artistic bone in my body when it comes to drawing or painting but for some reason it intrigued me so reluctantly I said yes.
Thursday we had our second class and actually got to dabble in the paint. Des picked up her brush and went right to town. I was so apprehensive and I kept saying, "Oh my", as I took brush in hand and began trying to paint a colorful rooster in black and white only. It was nerve wracking at first, awkward and foreign, but then something deep inside me started to enjoy it. It feels good to discover oneself! It feels good to express our spirits and to discover all we are capable of.
So when it comes to being creative just remember what Buckminster Fuller said, "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." I love that quote! I'm certain there are many beautiful butterflies in each of us. We just have to be brave enough to reach inside ourselves and find them. Then we must create the window to set them free! I love the finding, the creating, the opening of the latch to a window in time that gives wings to all the richness of life in the art of expression. Because it's true God is the great creator and he created us in an expression of His pure love and so it is that we are born to do the same!

Happy Anniversary Gage & Missy

Happy Anniversary you two!

I just don't know where the time goes? Really, I think it just flies by faster and faster.
One minute there's a wedding and the next minute there's a family and I don't know where all the time went in between those two events.

But what a beautiful family this little family is.
And I'm so grateful I get to count them as my very own. Missy, you are a wonderful addition to this family and I'm so thankful everyday that you are a Crowther! I'm so grateful that you endured my early torturing and stuck with us. I have a tendancy to freak out when my kids get married. Just think, Seth, Kelson and Deserey have this to look forward to! Hahahha
Well, you are gem and such a good little mother and a great wife to my son. Together you make the cutest couple ever! Now add little Baylee to the picture and what a blessing!

Now I hope you have a wonderful anniversary! Gage has had the dreaded Swine Flu, so they've all been stuck at home this week. I felt bad because Gage had a fun trip planned to Park City so that he and Missy could celebrate their anniversary. Then when Gage got sick they had to cancel their reservations. Well, such is life, isn't that the way it always goes? But I hope you'll have a chance to celebrate soon. So have a wonderful day and I just want you to know how much we all love you! Glad you belong to US!

October Ellis Update

I blinked and October was over! Where does the time go? Here are some pics of some of the things we did in October.
I decided to do a photo shoot with Corbin and Eden. Corbin was a great sport and it was pretty simple to get him to cooperate. Eden was a little harder, but with the help of my amazingly animated mom, I finally got a few. Thanks for dancing around and making Eden smile for the camera mom:)
Corbin is amazingly photogenic when he is laughing at his own jokes. It was pretty stinkin' cute!

My handsome little buckaroo!

You are one cute kid Corbs!

Eden LOVED the sunflowers! I love the light it this picture!

So sweet!

Beautiful little Eden! Love those eyes!

Enjoyed another uplifting General Conference. We drove over to see Mike and Aimee at the Broadbent cabin and I just had to stop and take a picture of this! It was like the heavens opened and God was smiling down on this group of deer. It was a picture perfect ending to such an inspiring day!

We went on a little hike up near North Fork. I took my tripod so we could get a family shot! It was a beautiful day and the kids loved eating lunch up in the "woods". Corbin was a great hiker and he showed us the way to the little waterfall. It was so fun!

Corbin sang like a little bird in the Primary Program. He memorized his part and did a great job at saying it loud so everyone could hear!

One of the great things about October is all the beautiful leaves changing colors and then falling to the ground. Corbin and Eden stayed out playing in the leaves one night until it was too dark to see anymore. Look close at Eden's face and you'll see the little ladybug on her cheek--so cute!

We went to uncle Lynn's farm to take some pics of Corbin. We were lucky enough to catch Lynn out with the horse. Eden was very apprehensive about getting on this huge animal, but once she went for a ride, she didn't want to get off!

While we were there, Doris let out the Lab puppies and the kids were in heaven!

Corbin loves to play with little toys. He was deep in self entertainment this day and I just had to snap a picture.

Every October we have an Ellis/Folkman girls sleepover. It is a tradition my sister-in-law Mandy started 3 years ago and I am so glad she did! It is something I look forward to every year. Everyone comes and we all share different things. It can be a talent, a poem, a story, a craft project, anything you want. I have to say that this is my favorite part of the tradition. It is so fun to see what everyone has to share. We eat dinner, stay up late, talk, eat treats, talk, eat more treats, and then we usually go somewhere the next day. It is a fun filled weekend and no boys are aloud!!!

Corbin loves to draw and he learned how to write his name without any help!

We all got the flu bug and bad colds! NOT FUN!!!

Family Pictures!


See you all again in November!!!