LOVE...and other four letter words...by Mary Hazlett

My daughter has got this new phrase, " I just love you".  What does that do to a mother, you might ask...sends my heart fluttering and my spirits to the sky.  Yipee...my life is good today.  So, what is Love?  I think that love is an action word.... summed up by a lot of four letter words like: work, help, care, kind, hugs, and kiss.  I believe that Love should be unconditional and surrounded by trust.

I love being in love. It is amazing how love evolves through the years.  Do you remember the flirty overwhelming love that you get when you are first married or dating?  Then it changes as you experience life together and work together and then there are KIDS...that is another four letter word.  Makes me laugh when I think of how I was when we were first married and to think today that I love my husband more than ever...even though we probably should be on a diet...another four letter word...  or maybe we should consider getting more hair in some areas and less hair in other areas...but despite all the imperfections that one may see in the both of us... He is my match, my equal... my partner.  We laugh, cry, cheer on our children, and snuggle together.

L- is for the Life we share together
O- is for the way I Ogle at my hubby
V- is for the Very glad I married him
E- is for the worthwhile Endeavor it is to LOVE

Truly, the love you give will come back to you!  Happy Monday to you all and Thank you for your support.  Our family LOVES you!!

** Share your stories with us at nutshellstories@gmail.com

Purple socks equals happiness...by Mary Hazlett

A little over one year ago, Mom started writing for herself!  It was hard to believe that she would be doing this for herself.  Mom did not think that her writing meant much to other people.  She started her writing with "Feeling BLUE with Purple socks".  Her writing for us serves as a legacy of her for those of us left on earth.  I want to repost my mom's first written blog "Feeling blue in purple socks" which was the start of my mom really doing what she wanted to do and writing what she wanted to write about for those she loved.

Originally posted, June 1, 2013...

Each year about the time the leaves begin to fall from my backyard trees, I begin the hibernation process. Black storm clouds hasten it and slowly but surely I retreat from civilization into 'the den' inside to ride out the depressing winter.

My apparel also changes from the bright yellows, greens and blues of summer to the dark hues of ... really, just black! And always, and without exception are those purple socks!

Thank goodness they don't come out of the drawer that often, but when they do, you can be sure it's a down time in my life. ... The kids leaving home, weight gain, getting older, each one a bona fide purple socks time. And I only say that because it's true.

Take this past week for instance. After writing a wonderful community column for a newspaper for nearly 12 years, suddenly it was over. No warning that the end was near ... except for the statement on that little piece of paper inside a fortune cookie last month. It said that I was in for a 'BIG change' in my life.

"What do you mean by BIG change?"  I thought, as I scanned the front and back of that startling announcement, hoping to find a phone number or at least a website (bigchange.com?) to visit for more information.

Unfortunately the 'BIG change' came. I packed up my belongings, hugged those I'd known, left the comfort and surroundings of a place I was familiar with, and would have probably stayed at the rest of my life, and returned to ... 'the den!'

You guessed it ... purple socks time.

Didn't even realize, what with the blinds closed and me, dressed appropriately in black (and purple, of course) and feeling that death had come prematurely, that I had thrown in that proverbial towel, so to speak.

Took me a few days to go through all the mementos I'd gathered in 12 years, and brought home. There were wonderful cards, letters, photos and even a handmade nativity set. But what grabbed my attention immediately was a booklet filled with snippets about one subject. It was entitled "Don't Ever Give Up Your Dreams," a gift from a sweet grandma, whose grandson I'd featured in a recent column.

On the attached card Christine wrote, "I want you to know how deeply I appreciate the wonderful words you included in your column about my grandson, Will. And thank you so much for what you said about this old, old, grandma, too."

Suffice it to say, memories flooded back of all those whose stories I'd told, the conversations, laughter, tears and most of all the joy and love.

Hey, it's not a miracle ... at least not yet. Starting over at any age is hard (and I'm middle age only if I live to be over 120). But I've decided there are a lot more stories out there I'd like to tell, more joy and love to be felt and NO ...  I'm not finished quite yet.

... As for those purple socks? 

They're all that's retired in this house. Going barefoot these days. Love the feeling!

♦Hope you'll let me share your stories and photos here at my new residence "In a Nutshell." Email me at nutshellstories@gmail.com.  

First World Problems...by Gina Waite

I was feeling badly for myself the other day ... you know one of those days when it seems that no matter what you do, you cannot do anything quite right!  ... And the world, as you know it,  is out to get you!!!

It started off with me getting into the shower and pulling my curved shower curtain rod down onto my head!  Then, as I was washing my face ... got soap in my eye!  Towel-dried and dressed in my unders ... I slipped on a little puddle of water on the tile and nearly performed the unforgettable Jean Claude Van Damme splits.  Shortly after picking myself up off the tile, and making sure my inner thigh muscles were still attached ... I bit the inside of my cheek while eating my healthy, boiled egg and morning toast ... to say my day started off a little rough would be a huge understatement!

The day continued...and so did my bad luck!  I was driving my kids to and from their various activities (praying that our third vehicle would be up and running from the mechanics by the next day so my teenage son could drive himself to his activities) and realized the reflection of red and blue hues hitting my face from my rear-view mirror were from the officer who was following me and NOT the beautiful crystal I have dangling from my mirror!  After getting a five-mile-over-the speed-limit warning and a reminder to sign my vehicle registration (stupid girl this is the second time I've been reprimanded for that) I drove away feeling deflated and completely picked on!

That's about when I met her ... the girl who helped me to realize I was having "first world problems!"  I pulled into my local grocery store to do a mad dash of pickup-pay and I noticed a lady standing by a vehicle with her baby in arm and little child holding to her leg.  Clearly there was something wrong with the vehicle as there was a light haze of smoke coming from under the hood of the car.  The look of despair on the lady's face was so apparent that I quickly came to the realization that the car, and the impending cost of repairs, must be hers.  I couldn't help but walk over and ask if I could be of some assistance.

Upon further discussion, this lady  informed me that having been newly divorced, and without family nearby ... she would love transportation from where we stood, to the house of a friend she was staying with.  She was hoping she could get her children ready for bed and asleep before deciding what her next step should be.  After a quick trip into the store to purchase formula for her baby ... I took this lady, and her two sweet little children, to the home where they were living on a temporary basis!  As the lady stepped out of my car and retrieved her little ones from my vehicle, she thanked me profusely for coming to their rescue!

As I drove away from the little house ... a renewed appreciation of my own "first world problems" humbled my soul!  Before this opportunity of service, I was all ruffled about the day I was having but after meeting this lady, a reflection of the days events helped give me this new found  perspective:

*My morning shower, heavy on this mishaps, had been in a house of my own WITH warm water!  Water ... may I remind myself ... that I did not have to carry from a river and warm over a fire before taking a bath!  And the Jean Claude Van Damme splits ... well that was just plain funny!

**I bit my lip while eating my breakfast but had something wonderfully healthy to eat ... and I get to eat again throughout the day!

***Having one, of our three cars, in the shop for repairs was a small inconvenience considering we have two running vehicles and money to pay for repairs on the third!

****Being pulled over by an officer, living in a country where there is regulation and need for accountability is a great blessing ... the other option would be anarchy and we know how that worked in "Lord of the Flys!" 

*****Last but not least, if I were ever in need of help, I have a huge support of family and friends that would rally around me and every one of my needs would be met!

... like I said before ... First World Problems!  

♦ Hope you'll share YOUR stories and photos with us at: nutshellstories@gmail.com. 

Grandpa's heart...by Gina Waite

Photo Courtesy of Mike Terry

"You know..."

Quote: livelifehappy.com    Photo: Courtesy of Jim Terry

CHOCOLATE...by Mary Hazlett

I love it...CHOCOLATE that is!  It is the thing that gets me up and going for the day.  I often say to myself in the morning, "What would go well with chocolate for breakfast?"  We all have addictions and chocolate is mine!

C- is for its Creamy texture
H- is for the emotion it gives me...Happiness
O- is for the Optimism it bestows on me for the day
C- is for the Cares it erases for just a moment
O- is for the Others we should share it with
L- is for the Love I have for it
A- is for the Always must have for my day
T- is for the amazing Taste
E- is for the Enduring legacy of the love of chocolate that I have passed onto my children  (see picture...and Yes that is chocolate on his face!)

Today will be a good day as long as there is chocolate in the house!!

****Share you stories with us at nutshellstories@gmail.com

Memorial Days...Day 5...by Marlene Terry and Verl Terry

As the husband of Marlene Terry many blogs that she wrote went right to my heart with laughter, sorrow, regrets, amusement, fantasy, love, and many emotions especially since her passing on November 16, 2013.  I really miss her cute personality, her smile, her big brown eyes looking at me for comments or emotions that I would show during the reading of her blogs.   I know exactly how Marlene felt about her family and all the prayers, phone calls, and tears shed by this special lady.  

My favorite blog is...It's the Crew!  Marlene loved anything that dealt with space travel and all the adventures of the crew on the Starship Enterprise.  She watched Captain Kirk and laughed at all his crazy romances with all kinds of foreign women.  She always loved the quote, "Beam me up Scotty" in which was always her wish.  Well, she got her wish on November 16.  Lucky for her she can now travel anywhere in space, time, or to her favorite...planets in the universe.  I know she has come back to visit this Old World, for we have felt her spirit many times.  One of the quotes used in Star Trek was, "Once you leave, you cannot go home again".  Well, this is not true for the love of my life!  Marlene has gone home again!  Surrounded by many other of our family members that loved her and have passed on, Marlene will continue to champion our Savior and our Heavenly Father and their plan of Salvation.  A plan that includes going to a New World and having many adventures and returning home again.  Marlene returned home from her mission here with this report from Him, even Jesus the Christ, "Well done my daughter.  Welcome Home!"

Thank YOU Honey...for all the memories!
Love Always,
Your Superman