Prickly Pear

This is a prickly pear cactus plant.  I'm not a real lover of anything cactus, but I know it has it's place in the world landscape.  It grows wild on the hill in front of our house among other native plants and trees.  It is the Cleveland National Forest and is protected.  You won't find it the first 200 feet up though.  That is landscaped and maintained by the HOA and it is really pretty and planted with agriculture that provides 'safety' for our homes.  Guess what?  Not a prickly pear anywhere in those 200 feet.  And now we know why.

Our local city magazine ran an article last week about the mudslide/flood on our street from last month.  To quote:  "  The extraordinary amount of rain during the night--almost 6 inches in 12 hours--saturated the native cactus colonies making them so heavy that they fell off the side of the slopes, leaving bare dirt washing down.  This created a cascade mudslide effect in numerous locations on the entire eastern slope of Bell Canyon."

It rained yesterday.  We walked into church and it was dry.  We walked out to a nice cold storm.  Driving home Christine commented that she used to love the rain and now it kind of scares her.  Duff  and I both had to agree with her.  It wasn't anything like in December and we will probably never get that again, but it did just kind of put a tweak in the tummy.

I got my vteaching finished up today.  I have a new sister on my route.  I enjoyed visiting with her and getting all caught up with how she is.  She works and doesn't have much time so I visit her during her lunch hour at work in my car in the parking lot.  Whatever works!

Changing Hats

That's what we do in the church.  We have a lay ministry, so we all serve in different capacities to teach, build up, and minister to each other.  And with every assignment comes a release at some point or another and a new area to serve in and learn and grow and help others.

Today I was released as the Visiting Teaching Coordinator/Leader.  It has been a little over 3 years.  I have enjoyed it and learned a lot.  I have served under two different Relief Society presidents and loved and respected them both.  There were 7 supervisors who I appreciate for all their hard work to build relationships and make the return and report process as smooth as possible.

I was sustained to now be the Activity Day leader for the 8 and 9 year old girls.  How fun is this going to be!  I'm very excited.  I stopped in at Primary today to see who they are and talk to them briefly.  They were happy and I got smiles all around.  I will be working with Diana R. who is the other leader and she is a great gal and we will have a good time together.

Why Can't Men Think Like Women? Haha!

Oh Golly.

This morning Duff and Mike went to work for a couple of hours.  When they got home, it was time to go to the storage unit.  We needed to take the Christmas tree back and some other miscellaneous holiday decoration boxes and Mike and Adrianne needed to take some things over.  They share part of one with us for the left overs that didn't fit into theirs when they moved from their apartment.  And we also have lots of business things stored from when Duff closed it down.

The unit needed to be cleaned out and reorganized.  I think by the time we were done, Adrianne and I were about to drive home together and let the 'guys' go together.  Both of us couples were exasperated.  The men's idea of that is to just shove it all here or there, and we women wanted to take a little more time to organize it so we know what exactly is in there and where it is.  Also to see if we could downsize to a smaller one.  Nope.

By the time we did finally finish, we were laughing but it was 'touch and go' a few times.  Why can't men think like women???? Hahahaha!  You are supposed to laugh now...!

The BYU basketball game was terrible.  I won't say anymore about that.

I took Christine to get her traditional finals studying break lunch:  Panda Express.  I like this tradition.  Hit those books, Chrissy girl!

End of the Week

--I got a much needed haircut today.  I decided in September that I wanted to let it grow out to my shoulders.  So I've just been having it trimmed up.  We'll see how long I last.

--Then I went to Aaron Bros to take advantage of the penney sale.  One frame at regular price and the next one for a penney.  Lucky day.  Found the perfect frames for the pictures my Gramma Myrna had painted when she decided to take up oil painting in her 80's!  There are two.  The same scene but one is spring and the other fall.  8 X 10 canvasses of a barn in a field with a big tree.  Then two collage frames for some of Duff's golfing pictures with his co-workers and friends from the Onyx days.  They played in lots of tournaments and did a lot of business during golfing!

--I stopped in next door at Timeless Treasures.  Checked out their new sewing/quilting section.  Nice.  But I hope they can expand it in the future.  I got a new fine red marker for my scriptures.  I like the ones they carry because they don't run, bleed and are so fine tipped that when you write your notes you can read them!

--Chris had an APEuro study review by the teacher from 3-6pm.  That sure made it a long day for her and then she came home and went to hang out with friends at Sarah's.  They like to watch scary movies and she doesn't do well with those.  I don't think she will sleep too well tonight!  Waiting for her to get home.  The driving curfew is 11pm here for 1st year drivers.  I like that.  Could the state extend that until they are 18????

Challenger

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster that took the lives of 7 astronauts, including school teacher, Christa McAuliffe.  I remember this day really well. I think it's one of those things like 'where were you when...'.

 The crew's official portrait.

 Getting ready to go and board the space shuttle.

 The space shuttle in the hangar for pre-flight inspection.

 Rolling it out to the launch pad.

 At the start of the countdown.  See a gray puff of smoke on the right side of the fuel tank?  That is where the explosion started before it ever left the ground.  The weather had been very cold and the "O"-ring made out of rubber was compromised because of the frigid temperatures.  There had been ice covering this part of the space craft.

 Lift off to....

 ...explosion at T+73 seconds into the flight.

Memorial at Arlington Cemetery for the crew.

The investigation concluded that the crew compartment had stayed intact and was not destroyed until it hit the water in the Atlantic ocean.  Most likely part or all of the crew was still alive furing this free-fall at 207 mph.

It was 1986.  I was pregnant with Shaun.  The boys had school off that day.  I was getting ready to take them to visit my parents and Lisa because they were going to take them to McDonald's as a treat from a day off of school.  The night before I had burned my hand from some boiling water that I was pouring into a measuring cup to make augratin potatoes to go with our dinner.  That morning it was still very tender and red and had a couple of small blisters.  I had the tv on in our bedroom while I was getting dressed so I could watch the lift off.  This was a unique mission because the first 'non-professional astronaut' was going up into space, a history teacher.  It was really exciting and then all of a sudden I noticed a plume of white smoke.  Small, then larger, then more, and then bang, bang, bang, the whole thing blew up.  It was truly unbelievable.  One of those moments that you see in a movie or a tv show but you know those aren't real because they are hollywood.  But this WAS real.  I think the whole world was in shock.  The boys were watching it in the living room and I tried to be as calm as I could and walked in there and turned it off.  They kept showing it over and over and over again all day long.  I think it was one of the first times that cameras had captured something so catastrophic live.  Nowadays we don't think so much of that, but this was a new experience for most of us.

President Reagan was supposed to give the state of the union address that night.  He cancelled it and instead appeared on every channel and gave one of the most beautiful and compassionate speeches I can remember from a political leader.  

Bella--Poo

This morning shortly into my walk, I found a lost dog.
She was a gray cockapoo.  She was clearly not familiar with where she was.  She kept darting into the street and back to the golf course, then back over to me.  Another lady who was also walking and I went to quite a few houses to see if she might belong to them, but not one knew who she was.

So I took her home where she could be safe.  We got an email two weeks ago telling us to be careful with our pets, especially small dogs and cats, because with all the rains and mudslides last month it displaced the coyotes and some of their 'meals'.  Starting at dusk we need to walk out with them to do their business until the daylight hours and then even at that to be watchful and careful.

I called the gate to let them know if anyone called about her that she was here.  I also posted on our community bulletin page.

She is such a good dog.  Very sweet and well-loved.  Kind of like Darla, you know!  They got along fine.  Darla did a good job sharing her yard and food.  Finally, security called about 5:30pm.  The family was on their way over to recover their precious furry baby.

The mom came to the door.  The kids were bawling in the car in the driveway.  The dad was soothing them in the drivers seat.  As soon as she called, 'Bella'! the dog ran to her.  She was VERY happy to be in the arms of her family.  The mom (I never did get her name...) said,  "Well, you saved lots of lives today.  Mine (because she had accidentally left the gate open), Bella's, and my children who would have died if we hadn't gotten her back.  THANK YOU!"

That was nice.  But Christine and I had already started talking about names for her if nobody came to get her!

Staging for Taylor

This is Taylor.  And his mom, Jennifer.

See the resemblance?  Yes, we all look very much alike.  Genes are strong in our family.

I took this picture from her blog.  This is when they were getting ready to go in for his PET scan and staging tests.

They have diagnosed him as a stage IIB (2B).

She called me on their way home from the hospital.  I was in the car driving to the high school to get the carpool.  I pulled over and she gave me the news.  Then I had to cut her short and get on my way, but

I think Jennifer says it best so here is a clip from her blog.  This way I will get the details correct:

"It's good and it's bad, to have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Or do we?

"We met with Dr. Verma and Dr. Barnett today. For hours. One of it was spent waiting for someone to come into the room. After a whole hour of not seeing a soul I went and asked what the hold up was. Apparently Taylor's case is pretty complicated and everyone likes to weigh in on it. They had several doctors going over the scans and trying to figure things out.

"Here's what we were told. Taylor is at a stage IIB. In layman's terms, this means the cancer has spread to two areas in the body that are in the same region. Taylor's is in the neck and below the collar bone. The B means that it is more aggressive and shows more outwards signs. (Such as fever and weight loss.) Which Taylor is experiencing.

"However, they are concerned that he could be a Stage III or IV because of the size of his spleen and some things that are going on with his organs. Because of his colitis it is hard to tell for sure what is happening with some of them. So, we really don't have a "definite" stage yet. Best case a II, worst a IV.

"On Monday they will take a bone marrow sample to help them evaluate things better. They will also put in a Port-o-cath (which is a semi-permanent i.v. line which sits in the chest under the skin) run more pulmonary testing (to make sure his heart and lungs are strong enough to stand the chemo treatments).

"We should have the results of this testing by Wednesday. At which time they will decide the proper dosage of chemo. Either way, he starts chemo on Thursday. It is just the dosage that remains in question at this time.

"If we remain IIB they will do chemo two days in a row. Have a week off. Receive another treatment and then have 21 days off. That cycle will repeat for six months. Then once that is done, he will have radiation 5 days a week for 4-5 weeks.

"The doctor flat out told Taylor that he is going to feel like crap probably until near the end of summer. Also that he will start losing his hair by the second round of treatment. That his school days are numbered. They said he will be to weak and it will be to hard to concentrate to continue attending. Also, he can't be around the kids and all the risk of infection.

"He was to the point and very up front with Taylor and I think Taylor appreciated that."

LOVE YOU GUYS.

(We are all trying to process it, but Christine especially.  She has a heavy school load,  finals coming next week, lacrosse, and church stuff.  We have been talking a lot and I try to work in as much frank gospel discussion as I can and how that relates to this life experience.  But I know the uncertainty of it all weighs on her mind and heart.  She is a good girl and a stong girl and this is a tough learning curve. I do think that our own personal family trials have given her a more mature/deeper perspective than a lot of her peers.  And that has sometimes also distanced her from them as well.  Being the youngest in our family among a group that for the most part are the oldest in their families creates a gap born from different life stage experience.  She has gone through more than most at a much younger age.  She doesn't realize it now, but it will serve her well.)

Seize The Moment

Oh yes they did!  The Y beat San Diego for their first loss as #4 in the country.  It was a good game--back and forth with us down by 1 at the half.  But in the end we pulled away led by Jimmer and Davies.  Coach Rose methodically planned out the game and the players executed their roles just as they should.  Thank goodness for tv:  the next best thing to being there!  And you get all the commentary and close ups.

We got our dinner from Rubios for the ward youth fundraiser.  It sure beats bake sales, car washes, and carameled popcorn sales.  Take your flyer to the restaurant and they give the program a percentage back from your order.  We all have to eat dinner, right?  Plus, no kitchen cleanup. It's nice to have a break from that on occasion.  We should have called it a ward activity because when I was picking up our take out, most of the restaurant was filled with our ward having their dinner.  I brought 2 extra flyers and gave one to a customer inside and then as Adrianne and I were leaving I gave the 2nd to a man going in to get his dinner and asked him if he would support our group and use this flyer.  He said sure.  Score.

Williams-Sonoma Voucher = Fun Afternoon

Shaun got his staples out this morning.  He is able to move quite a bit better.  Doctor says he is doing just as is expected.  He can drive now and also be a passenger.  But no swimming, bath, pool, beach, hot tub, etc.  No immersion of any kind. I don't know why that is.  Is there pressure from the water?  Danger of the incision bursting open, getting infected?

While he and Duff were gone, I went through the tupperware cupboard and got all the containers matched up with lids.  Is it just me?  Where do they go?  I have lids without containers and containers without lids.  Is this a phenomenon like lost socks in the washer and dryer?

I picked Duff up from work mid-day and we headed to the mall.  He got me some new kitchen knives from Williams-Sonoma for Christmas and they came with a $140 gift voucher!  So we got some lunch in the food court and shopped.  WS is one of my all time favorite kitchen stores.  I made a wish list before we went (that had WAY more on it than the voucher was for) and one of the very nice employees helped me decide the best use of my voucher. 

I got:  a fish spatula.  I have wanted one FOREVER. 

 A new set of 10 nesting clear glass mixing bowls.  My vintage 34 year old avocado and gold mixing bowls are dwindling.  I only have 2 of the original 5 left. 

The Emile Henry red ruffled pie plate.  Oh, if you have never seen one they are SO fun!

 And last but not least:  a new 8" square gold non-stick brownie/cake pan.  Now I think I would like to get another one because doesn't the idea of making a square layer cake sound darling and fun?  I have a pretty square cake pedestal that I always put a round cake on, so why not a square one!

And I had to put some gas in the car and while I was close to Albertsons, I grabbed my last pan from the sticker promotion.

(Tonight was the state of the union address by our current president.  I couldn't even watch it.  I don't care for anything about that man and the way he leads our country. And all the responses have become so argumentative and finger pointing.)

Continued

I was putting the clean dish towels away and decided it was just time to tackle the placemats and kitchen towels drawers.  Not that any of them were messy, but just needed to be gone through, wiped out and sorted.  Well, to do that meant that I have to also do the drawers in the bakers rack.  The items are related.

Now all the kitchen towels are sorted by regular and holiday as well as the placemats, and all the candle items.  Tapers by dark and light, tea lights, votives and holders (I am a candle lover), toppers, jars.

Wow.  So fun!  I found lots of things I had forgotten about and some things that I convinced myself to keep and now have tossed.  Things can accumulate without realizing it.

At this point, I am just about through with all the kitchen cabinets and drawers.  I love walking by and just opening them up to look and be pleased with the job!

This, along with Monday laundry, and spending almost all afternoon on the phone with various items took up my day.  Shaun's friends came to visit and give him a change of scenery.  I didn't realize how late they were all still here until I walked by the bonus room on my way to read scriptures and pray with Christine, and saw them watching tv and relaxing on the sofas.

I attended 3 more Primary Sacrament Meeting Programs today.

They were all very well.

I spoke in each sharing time after to thank them and bear my testimony that the scriptures are true.  One of the new songs this year is titled If I Listen With My Heart.

I love it.

What ever we do, if we listen with our heart, we will hear the Savior's voice speak to us.

I know that is true.

I need to do it more often than I do.  It is so much easier to listen with our minds rather than our hearts.  The Lord looks on the heart.



Adrianne's Pizza Party

Adrianne's birthday was on Friday.  She and Mike went to dinner at a new place but the food was terrible.  Bummer for a birthday dinner.  We were at the family party for JT, and her Grandma's 90th bday party was yesterday so we celebrated today.

She wanted homemade pizza.  It was delicious.  But I burned my tongue on a piece right out of the oven.  I have little blister-like things on the tip and they hurt.

She asked for apple pie, so while everyone was at church--I stayed home with Shaun--I made two of them.  She and Duff love crumb topping.  Josh and Mere brought the ice cream and we had a party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIANNIE.

Sure do love you!

Done and Movin' On

THE TREE IS DOWN!  It's about time and it feels good.  I enjoyed it and the lights for almost an extra month but didn't feel one bit bad about packing it all up.  Duff put all the boxes up on the shelves, and I got everything else in the cupboards, swept out the garage, hosed off the driveway, and have a small pile left for the storage.  Now I can move on to other things like:

• put my blog into books by year.  I've never done this so maybe I need a tutorial.
• make binders of the kids elementary and middle school awards.
• organize binders of family church ordinance documentation.
• scan all the family photos, put them on discs, organize the negatives, and organize the prints I have into photo safe boxes and/or albums.  I have finally made my peace with the fact that I will never be a scrapbooker per se.  I have too many years (34) to do and it would take too much time.  Once upon a time I fashioned myself a Creative Memories poster mom with beautiful albums documenting everything in our lives.  It didn't happen and it's not going to now and I'm okay with it.
• I have a closet with all kinds of projects (new and unfinished) to do.  I'm determined to get them done before I delve into other things.  We'll see how good I do at that!

Richard came over to watch the game with the guys and we had some steak and baked potatoes with garlic green beans for dinner.  BYU won and now we anxiously wait for Wednesday for the big game against SDSU.

Shaun is getting around a bit better.  Still tires easily, but every day some improvement.  Mike and Adrianne went to the valley to celebrate with Grandma Liz for her 90th birthday.  She is the sweetest most gracious woman.  Chris is getting herself to practices, road show, friends, and a test for APEuro today, yes Saturday, at the school.  We are getting used to her taking the car and it feels more normal now than not.  Josh and Meredith had dinner with friends and she is their ward choreographer for the road show.  She taught a new dance today at practice.  Our weather is in the 70's this week and beautiful. 

It's Great To Be Eight!

Tonight we were together for JT's family birthday party.

He chose hamburgers on the grill, potato salad (his mom's of course), chips, drinks, and fruit.

And an oreo ice cream cake.

I think every present was his favorite!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JT!

Love You--

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Jennifer called me early this morning.  They got word yesterday that Taylor does have Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Not the news that we were hoping for.  He will go back to the hospital next Wednesday for what they call 'staging'.  That is where they will do several more tests, scans, etc. to determine where exactly all the cancer is in his body, how aggressive it is, what stage it is in:  1,2,3,or 4, and what course of treatment they will follow.

It was so thoughtful of Jenn to call me and give me a head's up before Christine found out so I could prepare to tell her.  They are close cousins.  Just 2 1/2 months apart.  Divinely, she was the only one in the carpool today so we were alone.  She was silent at first then I glanced over and saw the tears starting to run down her face.  Then she cried really hard.  We were on the toll road driving home from school.  Something so normal but inside the car it was anything but normal.  I put my hand on her arm and let her have her tears.  Sometimes all you can do is have your tears.

We are prayerful and hopeful that he can beat this.  He is strong in spirit.  And we have the gospel teachings that we know are true of a Heavenly Father who knows all and loves us more than everyone else combined.

Perudo Game Night Pic and Shaun Update

 This is a picture of Shaun and some friends before they all went back to school after the holidays.

They had an impromptu game night playing Perudo.

Now that Shaun is graduated he is missing his 'buds'.

l-r:  Tanner, Nathan, KB, Henry, Shaun, Bryce, Corey

(Shaun made it up the stairs this morning for a shower and to remove the dressing.  The incision is about 6-7 inches long and has about 20 staples.  It always feels good to have a shower!  It was painful and taxing, but a couple of vicodin and 30 minutes later and he is doing better in the bonus room.)

We Seek After These Things

Last night was New Beginnings.  The theme was We Seek After These Things.  As always, it was wonderful.  Our girls have amazing leaders.

This is a fuzzy picture, but I took it sitting down and raised the camera over my head during the Laurels skit.  It was really funny at the same time being appropriate and a 'roast' of their leaders.  The girls carried it off well!  Christine was Sister Pothier.  And the musical number was beautiful.

Everything was a garden theme focusing on the butterfly using gospel and personal progress metaphors.  From a caterpillar creeping along to a chrysalis to a beautiful, unique, individual butterfly.  And we even had butterfly sugar cookies frosted in all the value colors for refreshment.

(Shaun is doing a little better each day.  Able to get up and down more.  It wears him out though, but the short walking around the downstairs is doing him good.  Logan came by for a visit.  Shaun enjoyed that.  He has been a good patient.  I think one more night on the couch.  Tomorrow he'll try the stairs.)

Day After

It's hard to believe it is January.
The weather is so mild and pleasant.  My roses are even beginning to bloom.  They are cheerful.
Shaun tried to go upstairs--didn't make it.  I set up a bed for him on the family room couch.  I slept on the other.  Well, we tried to sleep.  Hot, cold, still, coyotes yipping.  We finally turned on the tv.
He is right where he should be.  2nd and 3rd day the hardest.  So we'll see how tomorrow goes.
He is tired.  I'm tired.  But he was able to get his face washed and teeth brushed and that always feels good.  Tomorrow late afternoon, he can try a shower.
Meredith came by and brought him his favorite Togo's sandwich:  #24, turkey avocado on white, and also some Coldstone.  Mike and Adrianne brought him some more ice cream later in the day and prunes.  Got to keep things running 'smoothly' you know.
It was really nice that Christine could drive herself to the orthodontist today! Things are moving along there towards her surgery in June.
It seems like Shaun has finally been able to relax some and is now asleep.  I'm kind of wired, so I'll just work on some laundry until I feel sleepy.  I'm thinking we might sleep better tonight.

Shaun's Surgery Today

We had to be at the hospital at 8am.

Shaun had his surgery today.  He went in around 10:15am. and the doctor came out to talk to us a little bit after noon.  Everything went smoothly.  Just as expected.  However he did say that the hernia was bigger than he had thought.  In his words:  It was a BIG one.

But all is fixed and now it's time to heal.

We brought him home about 2:30ish.  Crazy how they do that now.  He has a lot of pain, but the meds are helpful as is the ice.  He can get up and down on his own albeit very carefully and s l o w l y.  He had a little coughing while eating his dinner and that was not good.  He said its the most pain he has ever felt in his life.  He is going to sleep on the family room couch tonight downstairs and I'll sleep on the other in case he needs help during the night.  He is a good patient.  Not whiny or complaining.

Surgeon said he has to be down for 7-10 days and then needs to take it easy for 6-8 weeks after that.  Then life as usual.

Kitchen Drawers

I woke up before anyone else did on Saturday.

I went downstairs and enjoyed the morning quiet.

I finished the grocery list and then got the idea to clean out and reorganize all the drawers on one side of the kitchen.  They have been bothering me for a while now.  You know when you see something with fresh eyes and realize it would work better?

I've noticed that the beginning of each new year I go through a cleaning/organizing phase.  This is part of it.  I try to take 20-30 minutes each day and go through a drawer or two in the house.  Would that it should last...hahaha!

 I had all of these spread over the two drawers below.  In the beginning, it all fit nicely into one of them, but I've added supplies over the years and just stashed them between the two with all of the hot pads. Now it is all together with my parchment paper on the bottom ready to pull right out when needed.

 These utensils were shoved in the larger drawer where the wraps are.

Now they are much more concise and organized.

 I moved the everyday silverware into the drawer next to the dishwasher.

Why didn't I do that 16 years ago????

The middle drawer is a work in progress.

It holds all my recipes that are written on pieces of paper that I need to type/write up and get in a book.

It is also home to my coupons.  I am a couponer.  Why pay more than you need to?

The family is having a hard time getting used to the changes.  Especially the silverware.  The last time I tried this, Josh came over and changed it all back!  

Twin Night At The Stake Dance

Christine and Addy hanging out before going to the stake dance this month.

They both got their drivers license a couple weeks apart just like their birthdays.  So shopping was on the list to do.  Only thing is, one cannot drive with the other under California state law, so they each had to drive a car to the same places.  They got some cute things in their budget and then came back here, made some dinner, and got ready for the stake dance which was about twins/nerds.

Funny friends.

Around Town

--Remember the neighborhood fire we had in mid-December?  I've been forgetting to give an update.
The homeowners mother (the grandma) was backing out of the driveway and hit and mowed over the phone/cable/electric box that is situated in the corner of their yard by the cement.  It blew all the connections and circuitry in their whole cul-de-sac and set it on fire.

Thankfully it didn't reach any structures, but the poor grandma is traumatized.

--Petco is closing down and going out of business.  I loved them.  Guess we'll have to go to the Petsmart now or the shop by Albertsons.

--Timeless Treasures is branching out.  They are our main local scrapbooking store.  They have now added fabrics and quilting to the store!  They just opened this new section on Friday and I haven't been over to check it out, but I hear it is very nice and I'm excited!

--The speed limit on DCDrive has changed from 30/35 to 40! 

--Albertsons is having what they call a 'can sale'.  It is the California version of caselot sales.  Go and get what you can.  Amazing prices right now. Great for the pantry or emergency prep.

Jamesy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES

Sending you birthday love and wishes from the happiest place on earth.  What are your plans?  Are you having a party?  What is your favorite cake? Favorite ice cream to go with it?

We Love You!

Uncle Don, Aunt Cindy, and cousins!

Danger

This is our 2nd year having an artificial Christmas tree.  (Or as my family calls it:  FAKE.  Say that with contempt and disdain and all things negative.)

I have loved it.  Not worrying about the water, the falling needles, having to take it down Christmas night or the day after because of safety.

Now I have discovered the danger of having an artificial tree:  keeping it up!  All of Christmas is down now except the tree.  I just don't want to gear up to tackle the job.  I tell myself everyday that today is the day.  And then I get into something else and talk myself out of it. 

I am still enjoying it's 'glow' of minilights.  I'm a sucker for those.

Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday.

She is 74.

WE LOVE YOU, MUTTI!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU--

(Lisa hosted a party for her.  She requested chocolate sheet cake from Costco--which is out of character for her because she always want cream puffs--fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cream gravy, baked beans, veges and salad. )

Not Everything On A Blog Is Good And Happy

This is Taylor, my cousin Jenn's son.

He is in the hospital today having some major surgery on his neck.

Look at his left side.  He has masses going from his cheekbone down to his shoulder.

They have appeared and grown very quickly.

The doctors are removing the masses and trying to figure out what they are.

The two preliminary diagnoses are:  lymphoma or ALPS disease, neither of which is very good.

Tay is 16. He and Chrissy Miss are just 2 months apart and close cousins.

She is having a very hard time with this.

She understands the possibility of loss since another cousin left us last year.  We had 4 family members pass a little over a year ago.

Not everything on a blog is good and happy.

But it is life.

We're praying hard Taylor!

(Talked to a friend for a long time this morning.  She is struggling.  She is so wonderful and has lost faith in herself and her own goodness.  The phone call ended well.  Then went over to Josh and Mere's to meet Miguel.  He is helping them landscape their patio area in the back of the townhouse.  Meredith has a nice plan and Miguel gave her his suggestions and I think it will be quite nice.  Off to do the carpool and then home.  Dinner was 'clean out the fridge' so I had a ham and cheese grilled sandwich with some leftover soup.)

Our Newest Graduate

SHAUN GRADUATED!

From BYU on December 15th, 2010.

His major was Psychology.

They don't 'walk' in December, so we will go back in April for the ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You worked hard and it paid off.

Quite an accomplishment.

We love you and are proud of you.

Albertson's Stickers For Pots

Does anyone have any extra stickers for the pots and pans from Albertsons?  I need 20 more.
If not, then I have 5 extra to give to someone who might need them.

Let me know!

'1'nce In A Lifetime

Today is 1/11/11.

At 1:11am.

Then it will be 11:11am.

And 1:11pm.

And just as it is ending it will pass

11:11pm.

This will happen only '1'nce in a lifetime!

and I'm here to see it.

Christine says you are supposed to make a wish whenever it is 11:11, so here goes!

Holy Crap

I say this from time to time and each time I do, I think to myself:  crap can't be holy, Cindy!  You shouldn't say that anymore.

This morning I said it to my cousin.  Her son is really sick and it's not good and they get some test results back this afternoon that don't sound encouraging.  As in, the doctor won't give them over the phone only in person kind of scary.

So I've been thinking about Holy Crap.  And have decided that indeed, crap can be holy.

Crap is bad stuff.  Crap is the stuff we don't want. Crap is made of events and/or experiences we would simply not invite into our lives that come anyway.  BUT Crap is the things that cause us to have soul enlarging experiences to grow from. Crap is what refines us.  Crap helps mold us into what God knows we can become in order to return to Him.  Isn't that becoming Holy? 

So today I say Crap can be Holy.

And please call us asap after the appointment. (And I still should find a more refined way to say it. But today it fits.)

Wedding Bells

We went to a wedding and reception today in Murrieta at Monteleone Meadows.

It was a beautiful garden setting.

Lisa is probably my longest friend.  We've know each other since we were about 3 years old.

Her daughter was the bride.

 Jenelle and Richard, Lisa's parents.

 Son, Nathan, escorting the Mother of the Bride, Lisa.

 Holding hands, and now ready for the grand entrance.

 Here comes the Bride.

Becky with her dad, Ron.

 See how happy the groom, Brent is?  Look at his face when he saw her!

 It was a very nice ceremony by the Bishop.

 And now it's time to par-tay!

We had hors d'oeuvres while the wedding party did the pictures and then quite a delicious dinner of beef tenderloin, chicken, fresh vegetables, salad, parmesan bread, and augratin potatoes.  It was some of the best wedding food I have had.

Diane, Lisa, Jenelle, and Marilyn (Jenelle's sister)

Jenelle used to be one of my YW leaders.  I always loved her lessons on Wednesday nights.  Lisa and I tried to conquer all of life's problems in growing up.  Childhood, adolescence, teenagers, dating, young adults, marriage and children.  She is the best!

And now a little bit of the Martinelli's bubbly to toast the occasion.



Today's Birthdays and Christine's Driving

Today we have 3 birthdays.
Niece, Bekah. Neice, Brooke.  And my cousin, Jeff P.  I can't believe he is 50!
I hope they all have a really good birthday.  I am thinking of each of them and sending our love through the miles.

Christine is doing a lot of driving.  She gets herself pretty much where she needs to be without me now.  Just uses my car!  We are still carpooling for school and seminary because she isn't eligible for a school parking pass until next year.  Bummer.  It is really nice to have her driving, but I'm missing our conversations together in the car and truth be told, cutting this apron string is kind of hard on me.  She is my last driver and I'm feeling a little obsolete.  That's probably not the exact right word, but you know what I mean.  I sent her to the grocery store last week for a few items and she doive there, shopped, called me a couple of times to ask where certain items were, paid, and came home.  I was so excited that she is learning that skill.  She did a great job with the errand.  And was pretty proud of herself.

The Next Step

I started taking down the decorations today.  I have really enjoyed them, but now they are starting to bug me.  The mantle and banisters and front door garlands and carolers are packed away.  Shaun, Kevin, and Eric got down all the bins for me.

I have gone at my own pace this year and not felt pressured to have it all cleaned up right away.  Everyday a little bit more. I just looked on the porch and my poinsettias are dead.  I forgot to water them!  I must have overlooked that detail since I turned off the sprinklers letting the landscaping dry out from all the rain.

(Today is my brother's birthday.  I haven't seen him in about 15 years.  He is a very unhappy person and doesn't know how to fix it.  Some things probably won't be repaired until the eternites. )