I want to be a Grandma when you grow up!

There's No One Like Grandma. Grandmas influence us in a way no one else can. They teach us, inspire us, and help make us who we are. Watch grandchildren around the globe convey their heartfelt thanks for their grandmas by sharing small and simple stories of love.  Watch their stories How Has Your Grandma Touched Your Heart? Take a moment and share a memory, a favorite saying, or something that reminds you of your grandma. Your contribution can be cherished for generations to come. Share a story        This is a video you don't want to miss- We all Love our Grandma's don't we? I was blessed to have had three beautiful and loving Grandmas- Grandma Bowles, Grandma Edwards and Grandma Brown-  in my life and who I miss very much! They inspire me still today to be the best person and Grandma I can be! To Coleman & Peyton, I love being your Grandma Dewie! A Grandma's Love reaches into the Eternities!

The After-Life

                                            Our First day in the After-Life

So... this is what it feels like to have all your children grown and gone, I'm calling it the 'After-Life'. They are all off doing what we raised them to do- BEING BRILLIANT AND STANDING STRONG! It brings us so much JOY! I find the walls echo with memories. I find myself still picking up small remnants of them scattered through out the house. I find myself talking to Jack (the dog) more then ever before. I've hung a sign up that says, "Time to put on your BIG girl panties!" so, each morning I square my shoulders, remember to say prayers of gratitude and show myself how Brave my Brave is. I have loved being a stay at home Mom- I enjoyed the moments... now I'm going to find creative artist Judy, spoil Erik and the dog- and live in the After-Life happily ever after.  

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, 

it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Every  day I review a gratitude list in my heart and I find that it brings joy and perspective to my day. I'd like to share with you a small smidgen of that list. Not the obvious blessings like God, family and friends- those are always at the top of the list. These are some of the smaller things that bring such joy:

1. Imagination- an adventure in a minute 

2. Story tellers that capture life in good books

3. Anticipation

4. Being told by someone that I inspired them to create

5. Human touch- Huggers

6. Laughing till your face hurts

7. The whisperings of the Spirit

8. Dark Chocolate with sea salt

9. Being still in Nature 

10. Giving a Spontaneous gift

11. The smell of freshness (cucumbers, watermelons)

12. The 6 followers of this blog- Love you! 

Way to Go Megan! running a marathon in 3:21!

Megan Cooley

I remember running a 5K with Megan when she was 10 yrs old and helping her stay focused and positive by chanting "My legs feel strong! I feel great! I can do this!" she sprinted for the finish line leaving me in the dust- now look at her- running marathons in 3:21! Yes she's still sprinting for those finish lines with that "I can do this!" spirit. Proud of you darling- keep running strong!

I want to FLY!

I love being a Grandma! It keeps my soul and heart young.

I gave my Granddaughter Peyton a princess fairy dress up tutu with wings for her 2 year old birthday. When I put them on her she said, "I want to FLY!" so, I swung her into the air and around the room, then she ran around to continue her flight. I believe she felt she was really flying. I love the innocence and beauty of a two year olds imagination. And oh how I wish I could've magically put those wings on her and have them lift her up in the air in flight. I want her and all my children and grandchildren to always believe in the impossible and dream and imagine, and to reach for it! I want her to FLY!

WHAT AN HONOR! 

The Children’s Book Council has selected you for a March feature on the Girl Scouts Studio.

“There are canvases, stories and songs deep inside our soul just waiting for a spark to ignite its brilliance.”        -Judy Cooley

Judy Cooley was born the same year Ford came out with the Mustang and she was named after Judy Garland who is Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” so, Judy thought she would be a movie star when she grew up and would drive a Mustang. But Judy always wanted to be an artist and author. She loved coloring and painting as a child. “I even faked being sick one day so I could stay home to finish a paint by numbers of a horse.”

Judy’s first art lessons were at the age of 10. “I remember the thrill of buying real oil paints, brushes and canvas. I loved learning art! My parents proudly framed and hung all my art on the walls like real art, and would show it off to visitors. Looking at those paintings now, I realize that was so kind of them because they weren’t pretty and even clashed with the décor, but what it did for my confidence as an artist was beautiful! I will always be so grateful for their belief in me. I grew up believing I could be anything I wanted to be!”

Judy started in fine art in college as an art major at Weber State University. She was able to be a stay at home mom as she launched into her art career. She displayed in museums, art shows and competitions across the nation. It was while visiting in New York that she walked into the ‘School of Illustration’ to see the display of children books illustrations. While viewing those paintings she received that spark or “Ah ha” moment when she knew that was what she wanted to be doing.  

“I Love You More” her first book published in 2005 was a life long dream come true. It was in the making for 10 years while she raised her children, painted and tried to figure out the publishing world. “Never give up on your dreams!” Judy says about those days. “Mom Says I Can” was released in 2008, it was the first time she painted for the sole purpose of a book enjoying every minute of the creative process. She secretly would tell you this is her favorite book because of the journey to create it. “I Want To Be A Mommy” was released for Mothers day 2012. It’s this book that really beings to light that Judy writes with a purposeful message. “I want something to stir inside as you look at the illustrations and read the story, there are some old fashion values like God, Family and believing in one’s self that I want as my works legacy.”

Judy is a wife, a mother of four and a grandma. They are her inspiration and greatest joy.

Judy is currently working on the “next” book, and hopes to be creating all of her life; she says, “ There’s so much I want to paint, write and sing about!”

www.judycooley.com

Climbing Mountains

Every year my family climbs the Middle Teton as a reminder that we can do hard things together. This year it was just a small intimate group; Erik, Jesse, Megan, Shane and me. We were blessed with a perfect window of climbing weather, great snow to slide down on (we all know this is the favorite part) and beautiful views! It was one of those perfect days your heart takes a picture to hold on to forever.
The prophet Spencer W. Kimball once said, "There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, "Give me this mountain,' give me these challenges."

This year when I started off the climb I made a choice to "Make it Light" by just making that simple attitude choice before things got hard made all the difference. As I climb I always find myself praying for the strength, protection, good weather and a cheerful heart to carry me to the top. Then, when in life I find myself facing different kinds of  mountains to climb I see in my minds eye those climbing days and I know with God's help I can do all things, even climb rough mountains and I can choose to make it 'light.'
My prayer is that my children can know and remember these life lessons taught by the mountain so, when they face their own challenges and mountains to climb they know that together with the Lord we can do ALL things, and even enjoy the views!