To All My Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I actually would rather write a personal letter to each of you but it’s not going to happen. So I am going to try to put an update to all on what has happened through 2009 for my family.
-In the beginning of the year- I had Jason, Jessica and their son Cody living in my basement along with Esther, Sarah, Naomi and of course me J Joshua had moved out the end of 2007. Josh was living in an apt. not too far from us.
-On April 12th – Josh married Amber Hunt in the SLC Temple.
-In May- Esther graduated from Ben Lomond High School.
-In June we took the girls on a trip to Zions canyon. Josh and Amber came along on this trip with us. We stopped in Manti for a night and watched the Manti pageant. Yes we camped out on this trip of ours J. After Manti we went to St. George and visited with Rachael (who has been living in St. George attending Dixie college). We camped at Zions for couple nights enjoying the outdoors.
-Esther moved to St. George to join Rachael and attend Dixie college. About the same time that -Esther moved out. My brother Mike and his family of 8, moved in my home while they looked for a place of their own.
-September- Jason and Jessica bought a home in Riverdale and moved out…… just in the nick of time sense Jessica is due to have a baby in Oct. J
-August- Laura and her family moved to Utah. Korey’s job has given him a position that will keep them in Utah. They have sense bought a home in West Point.
-October- Jessica had a baby boy (Cayden) He is adorable and they are all doing very well. That makes two grandsons from Jason and Jessica. J
-Mike and his family also moved out in October. They are now living in Clinton. Now for the first time ever…. My household is simply Sarah, Naomi and I. J
-Thanksgiving was quiet at our house. Hannah and her family came by other wise it was two girls and I.
-On Dec. 1st…. I had Carbal tunnel surgery on both my hands. I have the greatest doctor and my hands are doing great. I have to take two weeks away from working at Walmart but that is all.
-On Dec. 8th – Hannah had a baby. J Little Conner is doing great. Conner is my 9th grandchild. I now have 2 grand-daughters and 7 grandsons!

------- We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!!! Judy, Sarah and Naomi

Ps. Esther is moving back here to Ogden to be near family.





Btw… Sarah is a senior this year and Naomi turns ‘16’
this month!

It is the month to Ponder even more what we are thankful for..... I am over whelmed with graditude. I am indeed thankful for my wonderful children, wonderful grandchildren and I am thankful for life itself!

Quiet House

wow - I have a quiet house! Can you believe that I have a quiet house! I have never had so few living in my house than I do now...lol well atleast not for 28 yrs or so. The girls and I are adjusting. There are times we miss those that have been living here and then there are times that we are at great peace. Its a new beginning for us here.

Don't forget.......

Don't forget as your go through your day to remember the little things........give lots of hugs and tell those you care about how important they are.

Life gets funny sometimes or so it may seem...

One needs to look at life and laugh otherwise cry for days.... I look much better laughing than having swollen eyes. So I laugh......

It is about time :)

Its about time - Its my time...
Time to find out who I am...... :)
Time to be my own best friend!

Hey I read a quote today that I really like:

“Don’t worry about People in your past ~
There is a reason they didn’t make it to your Future”

For the past six weeks I have been changing my eating habits - low carbs and no sugar.
I am truly excite to shout out to the world I am finally loosing weight!!!! It is working for me
and it is about time :)

Finally looking like Spring in Utah

Wow spring is here and so are Dandyloins!!! I have to get out there and spray my weeds. Life gets crazy on this end and it leaves me not knowing what to put in my blog so my blog doesn't get done............sorry. You should see my journal.

Wow what a wonderful day :)

MEN they are not a necessity or are they?

Why Why Why????? I think it is some complex or virus women get.... to thnk they are not worth while unless they have a man or a ’boyfriend’. It is sad when you read young girls remarks about a boy and they talk like they could not live without him or that they are only complete with him. Why do we feel such a loss to be single? Why do men have such a spell on women that they tell the world they can’t live without them???? I myself am living prove of that spell - I hate it yet I love it .........

A first for everything.........

Today I got badly needed sleep :) woke up to everyone disapearing here and there. So I was alone with a home that needed cleaning. I was in no mood for it - everyone (almost) had been home for a couple hours and the dishes were still waiting for me. Clutter was here and there and I did not want to deal with it or look at it - so for the first time ever I got ready and went out to eat at a resturant by myself. This is what my fortune cookie said "YOU ARE SOCIABLE AND ENTERTAINING" :) even by myself I guess. Dinner was good -still haven't figured out if going by myself is good or not.

Let's Be Happy!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's Be Happy!!!!!!!!!! I feel so totally better when I am Happy :) So Let's Be Happy! I did a quick search on happy thoughts and found this great one ~

“Some pursue happiness - others create it.”

What a super thought!!!!!!!!!! So let us all go out and create happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not believe how difficult it is to hang blinds! Dang it all! Wow I did! I'm sure the picture doesn't show it very well but I love them!!!!

The color Green

When I was young I hated the color green. I owned one green dress and it would be worn once a year. But I find that colors have come a long ways......... I do believe there are more shades of all the colors let alone green, now I find myself enjoying some greens. Basically I just love color - I love adding color to a room, to dinner and to life. :)

Wow do I love my girls (and my sons)

I just took a fun/quick trip to St. George to visit Rachael. Take a peek at my pictures :)
http://www.dropshots.com/annbrown#

Where Does Time Fly?

Not sure where it goes but -
I know time flies.
One minute I have plenty -
Then it seems to be gone.
Oh my where does time fly?

It never does come back-
Time is so valuable-
yet we often sit around-
And watch as it flies away.
But where does time fly?

Sometimes I feel it is ok-
To rest and watch time fly.
But if only I could call it back.
To gain a few minutes in my day.
Oh where does time fly?????

Family Home Evening

It's Monday........Family Night. But it is getting harder and harder for me to get my family together. I have to start pushing myself to have family night even if it is just me and Naomi at home. I do try in the mornings when the girls and I gather together to 'discuss the gospel' - sorta like mini family mornings.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What is Family Home Evening?Family home evening is a special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously. http://www.lds.org/hf/statements/0,16955,4232-1,00.html

Why I have used the title "Words by Judy"

I thought I would explain my thoughts here....... "Words by Judy" Basically I love 'words' - I save magazines just to cut the words out. When I was a teenager going to seminary my favorite part was collecting quotes. It is so cool to me how one can take a few words and put them together to make a brillant thought. A thought of encouragment or uplifting to another. So there you go- "Words by Judy" It is actually my own secret business title :) when ever I fill out a form online and it ask for my business I have put in the past "Words by Judy". Now sense I am not the best blogger........I am going to start trying to put a favorite quote or a play on words together for my blogs.

Quality Time

Yesterday I spent quality time with half my children! I took the three girls that live at home out for lunch (we like never do this). Then after lunch I took Sarah to the mall (of course I told her in order for me to really want to do this my fridge needed cleaned out). Then I had the wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with two of my grandkids...Abby and Lucas! Before Rebecah picked up the kids Joshua showed up and asked if I wanted to come with him to a craft store - so Jessica took over the babysitting and I had quaility time with Josh. Somehow through this day I just simply did not have quaility time cleaning my house! But I did feel it was a good day :)
So you can guess what I must do today......... But I am having a strong push inside to take some spiritual quality time also.

Here I am........wishing my Lucky Duck was with me

Ok here I am....... wishing all my house work was done and all my grandkids were here around me. Instead I think I did not even get half of the things done on my list for the day. Of course I did get a few things done that was not on my list :) I went D.I. shopping...found a few more toys for those grandkids and I went to dollar cuts and got my hair cut, came home and dyed it to hide my lightly greying roots. I think I am on a constant battle to not be overwhelmed with life, but I refuse to loose the battle.

Journal writing

I claim to having written in a journal sense I was about 13 yrs old.....but sometimes that writing is less than a dozen entries in a year. I struggle with this and have yet to find an answer. This week I am trying something new out, so cross your fingers it works for me. Over a year ago I started using www.readthescriptures.com for my scripture study. The girls and I read the Book of Mormon and then I seemed to stray from that site. This week I reset some goals - using www.readthescriptures.com site. I discovered that on that site it can help you study the scriptures but also the sundays school lesson and relief society lesson. :) Anddddddddddd the Ensign!!!! I have also discovered a section for journal writing, you can save it on word on your computer- now isn't that cool. So I am working on improving my studing as well as journal writing. :)

Kids and their Masterpieces

I have a houseful of Artists, yesterday I quickly took a picture of Naomi's Art work before it got washed away.

It is all a matter of Choices we make-

I recieved this in an email and thought I would share it with all who take a peek at my blog :)

READ THIS LET IT REALLY SINK IN - THEN CHOOSE .
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'.

I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'." Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

snowy days ~

What do you do on snowy days?

Do you make snowmen and throw a few snowballs?

Did you shovel your walk and driveway too?

What happened to the days when the cold did not bother you?

Oh no I'm in trouble now....

I'm in trouble now...... she has this perm a grin on her face! She even told me that her smile is not going away!!!!! I guess it is something that is doomed to happen and I need to get it over with, but now??????????????????? She is the last one and then I have it over with. Oh why are girls so silly. The word is out......he sat by her on the bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh no what am I to do????

I love Sundays

I love Sundays!!!!! Truly a day of peace. A day I can slow down and be in touch with the Lord. I know we are to do this every day but Sundays is always the greatest. :)

Tagged for Seven

Tagged for 7

Ok - no fancy picture or even one to pass it on to

let alone seven. But here you are- Just for my seven,

sense I happen to have seven daughters :)

1. At 8 yrs. old I was Baptized on Okinawa (when my dad 'practiced' with me to just help me be less nervous he practived in the ocean).

2. As a Teenager I was dared at a yw/ym activity (this was called MIA when I was a teen, it is a church meeting) to jump off the diving board. My friend said she would be waiting for me in the pool to help me. Well despite the fact I could not swim I jumped! I don't know where my friend was, a life guard ended up helping me.

3. At another yw/ym activity - I entered a Dance festival. We were learning to square dance. I only joined because of a guy I liked joined in.... at one of the practices something went wrong as all the guys lifted the girls up in the air and we fell. It was the guy I liked that dropped me. As I landed I broke a bone in my wrist. I did get him to sign the cast :)

(this is hard! )

4. At 22 - living in SLC. I discovered how mean chickens can be. I started carring a pvc pipe with me when I gathered eggs. Many times I would have 10 cartons of eggs in my fridge. It was at this time I learned how to make a good omlet.

5. I have always loved nature... from when I was very young to the present time. So moving out to Park Valley and living with out power and water was not to hard for me. I could find beauty anywhere, even in the deseret of Utah.

(I know some of these are not unknown facts to children)

6. I have given birth to nine children, two sons and seven daughters. The last seven of my nine were born quite close... June 10, 1985 -to- Dec. 30, 1992. ~ Looking back I really am not sure how I did this :)

7. I have had "7" men ask me to marry them throughout my life. So see!!! I don't say yes everytime!!!!!!!!! lol.

A Step Closer.......

Are you moving a step closer?
Or do you feel you are on a treadmill,
always moving and never going anywhere.

My favorite job......

I have been asked many times what job I liked best or what carreer do I desire.... and no matter what I have done or seen I still stand strong that my favorite job of all is being MOM. I have never recieved more satisfaction than from simple little things of motherhood. Of course then there is the role of being a Grandma...wow.

Why does it hurt so bad????

Why do somethings in life hurt so bad and yet seem so right? Why do we have to go through so many things in life that just seem to hurt and never stop. Is there ever the right answers? Choices we do that won't hurt. How much strength do we need? How strong must we become??? Oh my..............................