REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES

 ON SATURDAY TAMI AND I TOOK A LITTLE TREE AND ANGEL TO PUT ON THE EAMES MEMORIAL.

WE THINK ABOUT OUR LOVED ONES A GREAT DEAL DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR.  IT'S SO PEACEFUL AT MEMORIAL GARDENS AND WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THERE.  HAVING SOME SNOW THIS CHRISTMAS IS VERY SPECIAL TOO.

BECAUSE OF CHRISTS BIRTH, WE WILL SEE OUR FAMILY AGAIN SOME DAY.  THIS IS VERY COMFORTING.

WE LOVE WHERE THE MEMORIAL IS PLACED.  HAVING THE STATUE OF CHRIST OVER  LOOKING THIS AREA IS SO PEACEFUL FOR US.  DON HAD TO WORK ON THIS SAT. SO HE WASN'T WITH US.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL START TO OUR DAY.

TWO OF MY ANGELS ON EARTH

I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE MY 2 ANGELS SO CLOSE TO ME.  DON'S SUCH A WONDERFUL AND CARING HUSBAND.  TODAY HE TOOK THE DAY OFF TO JUST BE BY MY SIDE.  HE TOLD ME THAT HE ISN'T GOING TO LEAVE FOR A BIKE RIDE, WALK OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITY  JUST IN CASE THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT.  YES, HE TOOK THE DAY OFF BECAUSE OF THE MAYAN CALENDAR AND EXPERIENCE HE HAD IN GUATEMALA  AT  TIKAL.  WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER TALKING, GOING SHOPPING AND ENJOYING OUR HOME.  WHAT A WAY TO END THIS LIFE IF IT'S TIME!!

I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT DON  HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ME ALL OVER AGAIN SINCE HE READ MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY A FEW MONTH AGO.  I AM NOW HIS PRINCESS,  AND TODAY IT'S HIS MAYAN PRINCESS.  I GET SUCH A KICK OUT OF HIM AND FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM FOR MY ETERNAL COMPANION.

TAMI IS ALSO MY ANGEL.  SHE CALLS ME EVERY DAY TO SEE HOW I'M DOING.  WE HAVE SUCH FUN TOGETHER AND ARE BEST FRIENDS.  WHEN I SAW THIS PICTURE I LOVED IT BECAUSE SHE IS GLOWING.  I THINK IT'S HER HALO!

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING CHRISTMAS  EVE  AND CHRISTMAS DAY WITH JEFF AND TAMI.  WE WILL ALSO BE THINKING ABOUT ALL OUR FAMILY ON THE EAST  COAST  AND  WE WILL MISS THEM.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND ESPECIALLY A GREAT YEAR AHEAD!!!

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE DOING SOME CRAFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.  I  WAS ASKED TO GIVE A CLASS AT THE DECEMBER RELIEF SOCIETY ENRICHMENT NIGHT.  I MADE UP A STORY ABOUT WHERE RUDOLPH GOT HIS LIGHT AND  WANTED TO GIVE EACH SISTER A RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER ORNAMENT AT THE END OF MY STORY.  I ENDED UP MAKING 68 SINCE I WANTED TO GIVE EACH OF MY GRANDCHILDREN ONE TOO.

 I REALLY ENJOYED MAKING SOMETHING CREATIVE  AGAIN.  IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVE BEEN DOING MORE WRITING INSTEAD OF MAKING THINGS  LATELY.  DON GOT SUCH A KICK OUT OF ME WITH MY GLUE GUN AND PRODUCTION LINE,
HE WANTED TO TAKE THESE PICTURES.

 DECEMBER 5TH IS WHEN I GAVE MY CLASS.  THIS IS THE SET UP I HAD FOR MY STORY.  IT WAS A FUN EVENT AND I  HAD MANY COMMENTS HOW MUCH THE WOMEN ENJOYED IT.

 I EVEN GAVE OUT A PATTERN FOR THE  ORNAMENT SO THAT THE SISTERS COULD MAKE THEM FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN.

 THE RELIEF SOCIETY MADE A WONDERFUL GLASS ORNAMENT FOR ALL OF US WITH A NAIL  WRAPPED IN A BOW.  IT REPRESENTED WHY CHRIST WAS BORN AND HIS MISSION ON EARTH.  THE SISTERS ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB IN ALL THEY DO.

 SOME HOMETEACHING PLATES READY TO BE GIVEN TO THEIR FAMILIES.   SUSAN REED AND I ARE A GOOD TEAM FOR MAKING PLATES FOR OUR HUSBANDS TO GIVE OUT.  WHAT WOULD THEY DO WITHOUT US?  SUSAN IS AN EXCELLENT COOK AND I LOVE WORKING WITH HER

PLATES FOR MY VISITING TEACHERING SISTERS.  THOSE THAT COULDN'T COME TO ENRICHMENT NIGHT STILL GOT SOME REINDEER WITH SOME GOODIES.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS SO FUN.  I FEEL SO GOOD THAT I'M ABLE TO STILL DO THESE KIND OF THINGS.  I NEVER TAKE MY HEALTH FOR GRANTED.  IN FACT, TODAY I HAVE ANOTHER PAINFUL BLADDER INFECTION.  I THINK THESE COME INTO MY LIFE TO KEEP ME HUMBLE.  THIS IS MY 12TH BLADDER INFECTION THIS YEAR.  ANOTHER ROUND OF ANTIBIOTICS......WILL THIS EVER END?  AT LEAST IT'S NOT CANCER.

CHRISTMAS SEASON IS HERE!

 OH HOW I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  WHEN I GET OUT MY DECORATIONS SO MANY MEMORIES FLOOD OVER ME.

THESE ADORABLE SNOW MAN AND WOMAN WERE MADE BY MY MOTHER.  THEY ARE 46 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOK WONDERFUL ON OUR SHELF.

MY MOM WAS VERY CREATIVE.  I'M SURE  SHE PASSED THAT TALENT ON TO ME.  I KNOW THAT SHE MADE THESE IN RELIEF SOCIETY ONE YEAR.  I LOVE THEM.
DON AND I REALLY ENJOY GOING AND LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS AFTER GOING OUT TO DINNER.  THIS HOME ON  15TH STREET IS SO LIT UP EACH YEAR.  THEY STARTED PUTTING THE  DISPLAYS UP BEFORE THANKSGIVING.  IT'S A GREAT GIFT THEY GIVE TO GRAND JUNCTION EVERY YEAR.



DON'S AUNT MAUDI GAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL GOLD NATIVITY SCENE TO DON AND I OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER.  HER AND HER HUSBAND OWNED A FLOWER SHOP IN SALT LAKE AND SHE TOOK US TO THE SHOP AND TOLD ME TO PICK OUT ANYTHING THAT I WANTED.  THIS IS WHAT I PICKED OUT.  I MADE THE FIREPLACE IN THE BACK GROUND.  I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS MADE 46 CHRISTMAS'S WITHOUT BREAKING.  IT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DECORATIONS.

 IT TOOK ME 4 DAYS TO COMPLETELY PUT UP EVERYTHING.  THE TREE IS ALWAYS THE LAST THING I DECORATE.   WE BOUGHT THE TREE 42 YEARS AGO AND IT STILL IS THE PRETTIEST TREE WE HAVE EVER SEEN WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS   AND DECORATIONS ARE ON IT.

DON FINISHES THE TREE BY PUTTING ON TINSEL.  THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT LOOKS SO GREAT!

 WE LOVE TO TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS EXCEPT THE COLORED ONES AND PUT ON OUR FIREPLACE CD THAT CRACKLES AND MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ONE.  IT'S A GREAT FEELING.  IN FACT, IT MAKES US FEEL WARM AND COZY INSIDE EVEN IF IT'S COLD  OUTSIDE.

 I'M SURE ALL OUR DAUGHTERS REMEMBER THE STOCKINGS THAT MY MOM MADE FOR THEM.  THEY ALWAYS HANG ON OUR MIRRORS.  SO MANY  FUN MEMORIES!!
MY MOM HAD 30 GRANDCHILDREN SO THIS WAS NO EASY TASK FOR HER TO MAKE THAT MANY.

MY SHOPPING IS ALL DO DONE SO WHEN TAMI AND I WENT TO  K MART  ON SATURDAY IT WAS TO  JUST  LOOK AROUND.  THAT WAS A MISTAKE SINCE WE FOUND A WONDERFUL SALE ON DECORATIONS.  IN JANUARY I ALWAYS DECORATE WITH A SNOW THEME AND USE BLUES, SILVER AND WHITE.  I FOUND SOME LITTLE PORCH CHILDREN AND DECORATIONS THAT MATCHED THOSE COLORS SO WE BOUGHT THEM.  YES, TAMI LOVED THEM TOO AND BOUGHT HER A SET.  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!!

HOPE YOUR DECEMBER IS AS GREAT AS OURS AND IT'S JUST BEGINNING. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL WITH CARDS, LETTERS AND PICTURES.

I'M FULL OF GRATITUDE!

 LAST WEEK WAS MY YEARLY CAT SCAN AND TAMI  WENT WITH ME TO MY ONCOLOGIST TO GET THE RESULTS.  NO SIGN OF CANCER!  THIS WAS A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN OUR THANKSGIVING WEEK!

I NOW ONLY SEE MY DOCTOR EVERY 6 MONTHS INSTEAD OF EVERY 3 MONTHS.  THE NEUROPATHY  IN MY HANDS AND FEET STILL BOTHER ME BUT I CAN DEAL WITH THIS.  I'M NOT SURE IF  THE NEUROPATHY  WILL EVER GET BETTER.  IT DOESN'T STOP ME FROM DOING THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO SO I CAN'T COMPLAIN.

 THANKSGIVING BEGAN WITH LOTS OF HELP FROM DON.  WE HAD BOUGHT A 20 POUND TURKEY SO DON HELPED ME GET IT READY AND INTO THE OVEN  IN THE MORNING.  HE ALSO VACUUMED AND CLEANED THE FRONT ROOM WINDOW FOR ME.

 HERE DON IS ENJOYING ONE OF OUR THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS WHILE WAITING FOR TAMI AND JEFF TO ARRIVE.

 THEY ARRIVED AT 2:00 P.M.  JUST AS THE TURKEY CAME OUT OF THE OVEN.  JEFF HAD MADE MASHED POTATO'S.  THEY ALSO BOUGHT AN APPLE PIE SINCE JEFF DOESN'T LIKE PUMPKIN PIE.

 IT SMELLED SO GOOD!  WE WERE ALL HUNGRY!!  ONLY A FEW THINGS LEFT TO DO BEFORE IT'S TIME TO EAT!

 TAMI ALWAYS MAKES STOVE TOP STUFFING DRESSING AND JEFF CARVES THE TURKEY.  THE TRICK TO A GOOD THANKSGIVING DINNER IS GETTING EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE WHILE IT'S HOT.

 AFTER OUR PRAYER OF GRATITUDE AND BLESSING ON THE FOOD IT WAS TIME TO EAT.  FOR SOME REASON IT WAS ESPECIALLY DELICIOUS THIS YEAR.

 WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT TAMI AND JEFF LIVE SO CLOSE THAT WE CAN ENJOY THESE TRADITIONS WITH THEM.  THIS IS SUCH A BLESSING IN OUR LIVES.  WE DO HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR AND I  HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THESE BLESSING SO MUCH LATELY.

LIVING IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND ENJOYING THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE, THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIVES,  BEING HAPPY, DEBT FREE, LIVING IN GRAND JUNCTION, REASONABLE GOOD HEALTH, WONDERFUL FAMILY,  GREAT  FRIENDS,  ADORABLE DOGS, ETC. ARE JUST A FEW THINGS TO  BE GRATEFUL FOR.  IT'S NICE TO BE REMINDED OF THESE THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING TOO.  NOW IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR AHEAD.

I WATCHED A BEAUTIFUL MOVIE ON THE  BYU CHANNEL TONIGHT ABOUT THE SONG SILENT NIGHT AND HOW IT WAS WRITTEN.   IT WAS SO TOUCHING AND I ENDED UP WITH LOTS OF TEARS WHEN IT WAS OVER.  THIS GOT ME INTO A VERY SPIRITUAL CHRISTMAS SPIRIT MOOD.  I DO LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!

LOVE OUR VETERANS

 A FEW YEARS AGO I MADE A TRIBUTE WALL FOR DON'S SERVICE IN THE MARINE CORPS.  IT'S IN THE CORNER OF OUR BEDROOM.  HE REALLY LOVED IT.

 I WANTED TO DO THIS BECAUSE I AM SO PROUD OF DON BEING A VETERAN AND SERVING HIS COUNTRY BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED.

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING SOME WAR MOVIES  IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY.  I ADMIRE THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION OF THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT.  IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMAN THAT WE ARE A FREE NATION TODAY.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICES AND SKILLS,  WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU EVERY DAY!!!

ELECTION 2012

 DON AND I WERE VERY EXCITED AND HOPEFUL AS WE WATCHED THE ELECTION ON TUESDAY NIGHT.  WE FELT SO GOOD THAT   ROMNEY AND RYAN WOULD BE SUCH A WONDERFUL CHOICE  AS OUR   LEADERS FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS  (AND POSSIBLY 8 YEARS)

 WE VOTED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM SINCE WE HAVE BEEN SO WORRIED ABOUT OUR COUNTRIES ECONOMY, DEFICIT,  BIGGER GOVERNMENT AND DECLINING LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD AFFAIRS.  WE VOTED BECAUSE OF THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR  AMERICA AND NOT FOR  REVENGE....WHATEVER THAT MEANT!

WE WERE SO DEPRESSED WHEN WE REALIZED THAT ROMNEY LOST THE ELECTION.  I EVEN SHED A FEW TEARS.

AFTER THE SHOCK WORE OFF,  I TOLD DON THAT WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE FOR THE ELECTION TO GO THE WAY WE WANTED IT TO GO.  WE GAVE MONEY EACH MONTH FOR ROMNEYS CAMPAIGN,  PRAYED DAILY,  FASTED AND THEN VOTED.  IT JUST WASN'T MEANT TO BE.

THE ONLY THING WE REALLY CAN CONTROL IS OUR OWN LIFE TOGETHER.  WE FEEL SO BLESSED EVERY DAY.  WE AREN'T IN DEBT, WE OWN OUR HOME AND CAR AND ENJOY BEING TOGETHER.  WE ALSO HAVE THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIVES AND THE SAME ETERNAL GOALS.  WE LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND IN THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE VALLEY.  WE ARE BOTH HEALTHY AND ENJOY LIFE.  WE HAVE A MARVELOUS FAMILY THAT WE ENJOY SO MUCH.  WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GRUMBLE ABOUT?

SO GOD BLESS AMERICA.!!!!  HOWEVER, I WILL ALWAYS WONDER WHAT PRESIDENT ROMNEY COULD HAVE DONE FOR ALL OF US!