OUR OUTER BANKS REUNION

I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE A WEEK EARLY FOR NORTH CAROLINA TO SPEND TIME WITH THE TORGESEN'S.  ONE OF THE GOALS THAT I HAD WAS TO MAKE PAIGE HER SPECIAL QUILT.  SHE HAD DRAWN ALL 20 PICTURES SO THEY WERE READY TO IRON ON THE QUILT BLOCKS.  WE WENT TO THE FABRIC STORE AND FOUND THE YELLOW FABRIC FOR THE IN BETWEEN BLOCKS.  PAIGE ALSO WANTED HER QUILT TO BE BLUE FLANNEL ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HER QUILT WAS FINISHED WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND SHE LOVED IT!!

 CHLOE HAD MADE HER QUILT WHEN SHE WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND GOT IT OUT TO SHARE WITH US.  THESE ARE WONDERFUL KEEPSAKES.

 ANOTHER PROJECT THAT PAIGE WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE A TANGLE'S BRAID LIKE I HAD MADE FOR ABBY.  WE MATCHED HER HAIR WITH YARN AND WAS ABLE TO FINISH THIS IN A DAY.  PAIGE LOOKED ADORABLE IN IT.

 DON FLEW  IN TO RALEIGH/DURAM ON FRIDAY.  EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM AGAIN.

 ON SAT. JULY 7, LARA AND BEN DROVE DON AND I TO THE OUTER BANKS.  THIS IS THE LOVELY BEACH HOME THAT THE FAMILY RENTED FOR THE WEEK  IT WAS ONLY ABOUT A BLOCK FROM THE BEACH.

 WE HAD WONDERFUL TIMES IN THE OCEAN AND PLAYING ON THE BEACH.

 IT HAD BEEN YEARS SINCE DON AND I HAD BEEN TO THE OCEAN AND WE LOVED IT.

 WE ALSO ENJOYED THE POOL AT OUR BEACH HOME.  WE WERE ABLE TO SWIM IN IT ALMOST EVERY MORNING AND EVENING.  WHAT A GREAT TIME WE ALL HAD IN THE WATER.

 THE JACUZZI WAS WONDERFUL FOR EVERYONE TOO.  IT WAS SOOTHING TO ALL OF US ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY.

EACH NIGHT  WE ENJOYED FAMILY TIME WITH SKITS AND CELEBRATIONS.  THESE WERE VERY MEMORABLE MOMENTS. FOR EVERYONER.

 I HAD ASKED EVERY ONE TO BRING DARK BLUE SHIRTS FOR A FAMILY PHOTO.  I WAS SO PLEASED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GOOD ONE.  SINCE IT WAS JULY I HAD BROUGHT A BUNTING AND SOME FLAGS FOR ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN TO REPRESENT AMERICA.  WE TOOK LOTS OF PICTURES WITH FAMILY GROUPS, ETC.

 THE GIRLS PUT ON AN ADORABLE SKIT IN HONOR OF MY 70TH BIRTHDAY (IN SEPT.)  I WAS VERY HONORED AND MOVED BY THIS EVENT.

 WE ALSO CELEBRATED NOLAN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!  HE WAS SO CUTE AND LOVED HIS CAKE AND PRESENTS.

DON'S BIRTHDAY WAS ON JULY 12TH AND WE SURPRISED HIM WITH HIS FAVORITE SONG....THE SURFING BIRD!  I HAD MADE BEAKS FOR EVERYONE AND WE CAME IN FLAPPING OUR WINGS AS THE SONG WAS PLAYING..  WE THEN SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM.  I GAVE HIM AN OUTER BANKS SHIRT AND HE LOVED IT.

 WE ALSO ENJOYED CAKE AND ICE CREAM.

 AS YOU CAN SEE WE REALLY HAD A MEMORABLE AND FUN FAMILY REUNION!!

MEMORIAL DAY

 OUR DAY BEGAN AT 10:00  WHEN WE DROVE OUT TO FRUITA TO PICK UP TAMI.
WE THEN DROVE TO THE SUMMERS TO CLEAR UP THE AREA WHERE THE ASHES OF MY MOM, DAD AND TERESA ARE PLACED.  THE PLAQUE AND  SUNFLOWERS STILL LOOKED GOOD.  WE JUST BENT THEM INTO SHAPE AGAIN.

 THEN WE WENT TO\ MEMORIAL GARDENS TO PLACE SOME FLOWERS AND THE LAMB AND LION DECORATION ABOVE  THE FAMILY PLAQUE.   REMEMBERING  OUR LOVED ONES AND TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM WAS FUN.  MY DAD WAS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II AND I EXPRESSED SOME ,MEMORIES OF MY MOM BEING LEFT WITH 3 LITTLE KIDS AND 800 CHICKENS TO TAKE CARE OF.  SHE WROTE ABOUT HATING TO CLEAN THE EGGS EVERY NIGHT WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE IN BED.

EVERYONE SACRIFICED WHEN IT COMES TO WAR......EVEN THOSE THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND.

 DON AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING SEVERAL MOVIES ABOUT DIFFERENT WARS ON T.V.  I'M TOTALLY AMAZED AT THE COURAGE MEN HAVE FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY.  FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.  WE TRULY ARE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES WOMEN TOO.

 WE ENJOYED THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS PLAYING THE BAG PIPE.  WHEN HE SAW DON HE PLAYED THE MARINE CORPS HYMN.  THAT WAS VERY TOUCHING.

 TERESA HAD GIVEN DON THIS MARINE CORPS RING.  HE ENJOYED WEARING IT ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.  HE'S GOING TO TRY AND WEAR IT ALL THE TIME.  DON'S NOT USED TO LARGE RINGS SO WE WILL SEE.

WE ALSO REMEMBERED ALASHA.  SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 34 YEARS OLD IF SHE HAD OF LIVED.

AFTER OUR STAY AT MEMORIAL GARDENS WE TOOK TAMI TO TACO BELL BEFORE DRIVING HER HOME.  IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND  WE ALL ENJOYED IT.  ANOTHER TRADITION WE LOVE.

.

MY FRIEND JANET IS FINALLY FINISHED WITH HER RADIATION!

 I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN JANET HAD HER 25TH RADIATION TREATMENT.  I WANTED TO BE THERE WITH HER AND CELEBRATE.  BOTH JANET AND I LOVE THIS WALL HANGING AND JANET WANTED A PICTURE OF IT.  IT'S A GREAT SAYING FOR THOSE THAT FACE CANCER.

 AFTER JANET GOT DRESSED I WENT WITH HER TO SEE DR. KING.  I HAD THE SAME DOCTOR SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIM AGAIN.  WE GET VERY ATTACHED TO OUR ONCOLOGY DOCTORS BECAUSE THEY HELP SAVE OUR LIVES AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF US.

AFTER THE DOCTORS VISIT I SURPRISED JANET WITH COOKIES AND BALLOONS.  SHE GOT A BIG KICK OUT OF THIS.  IT IS A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE!

JANET LEAVING THE RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT.....YAHOO!!

A VERY SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY

 MOTHER'S DAY BEGAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT WITH TAMI AND JEFF TAKING ME OUT TO DOS HOMBRES.  IT WAS SUCH A LOVELY AFTERNOON WE ATE OUT ON THE PATIO.  IT WAS A DELICIOUS MEAL AND FUN FOR ALL OF US.

 TAMI MADE CHURCH A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL BY COMING TO OUR WARD.  AFTER THE MEETING FLOWERS WERE PASSED OUT TO MOMS.  I GOT ONE FOR TAMI SINCE SHE WAS SUCH A MOM TO ME WHEN I HAD NEEDED HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

I'M ABRIDGING 2010 RIGHT NOW AND CREDIT TAMI FOR SAVING MY LIFE WHEN SHE GOT ME IN TO HAVE A CAT SCAN.  SHE HAD CALLED MY DOCTOR AND TOLD HER THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH  ME AND AND SHE WANTED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.  I HAD ALREADY BEEN TO THE DOCTOR 3 TIMES AND HAD GIVEN UP ON HAVING THEM FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH ME.

OF COURSE, IF IT WASN'T FOR DON I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MOM TO SUCH WONDERFUL WOMEN.  I DO HAVE TO GIVE HIM SOME CREDIT.

DON DIDN'T WANT ME TO COOK ON MOTHER'S DAY SO ON SATURDAY NIGHT HE BOUGHT A DELICIOUS KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN MEAL.  ALL WE DID WAS HEAT IT UP.

  GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM TASHA, LARA AND DADRA  MADE MY MOTHER'S DAY COMPLETE.  ALONG WITH THEIR WONDERFUL CARDS AND NOTES I FELT VERY ;HONORED AND LOVED!!

I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT WHENEVER I COME IN  OUR FRONT DOOR, WALK ON OUR WONDERFUL CARPET, FEEL THE COOL AIR FROM OUR COOLER, ENJOY LOTS OF HOT WATER WITH OUR WATER HEATER, ENTER OUR BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM, USE OUR GREAT VACUUM, WALK ON OUR LINOLEUM AND ENJOY ALL THE MEMORIES OF OUR CRUISES AND REUNIONS,  I FEEL LIKE IT IS MOTHER'S DAY EVERY DAY.  I LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL OF MY WONDERFUL FAMILY AND THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR DON AND I.  WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OUTER BANKS EXPERIENCE IN JULY......ANOTHER GIFT.  LOVE YOU ALL!

FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE

 TAMI, DON AND I WENT TO THE HUNGER GAMES ON FRIDAY NIGHT.  WE ALL ENJOYED IT.  CHLOE HAD TOLD TAMI ALL ABOUT THE BOOK SO SHE KNEW  THE STORY LINE.  WE ALL FELT THAT IT HAD WONDERFUL SPECIAL EFFECTS  AND IT REALLY KEPT YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.

I'M GLAD THAT I READ THE BOOK SO THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT  ALL THE FUSS  WAS ABOUT IT.  I HAVEN'T DECIDED IF  I WANT TO READ THE OTHER 2 BOOKS OR NOT.  I HATE THE IDEA OF CHILDREN KILLING EACH OTHER FOR OTHER PEOPLES PLEASURE.  THIS IS SO BARBARIC.   I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN THAT KIND OF WORLD.

OUR CELEBRATION OF LIFE OUTING

 JANET JUST FINISHED HER SECOND ROUND OF CHEMO.  SHE REALLY DID GREAT.  A FEW DAYS OF NOT FEELING GOOD AND BEING VERY TIRED AND THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION AND GET THINGS DONE.

WE ENJOY THE SAME STORES AND INTERESTS.  HERE WE ARE AT HOBBY LOBBY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME SALES FOR SCRAPE BOOKING

 WE LOVE THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS TOO.  WON'T BE LONG AND IT WILL BE JULY......WE ARE READY!

WE ENJOYED GOING OUT TO DINNER AT INTERNATIONAL BUFFET.  JANET HAS HER APPETITE BACK AND SO DO I!!  WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER SHOPPING AND VISITING.

WE TRY TO DO THIS EVERY THREE MONTHS.  SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

EASTER 2012

IT WAS SO FUN TO HAVE TAMI COME OVER AND COLOR EGGS WITH ME.  I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER OUT GROW THIS FUN TRADITION.


I WAS ABLE TO EVEN GET MY EASTER DECORATIONS OUT TO MAKE APRIL SPECIAL IN OUR HOME.

 ON SUNDAY TAMI CAME OVER AT 9:00 A.M. TO GO TO MEMORIAL GARDENS WITH US BEFORE CHURCH.  IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SPRING MORNING AND THERE WAS NO WIND.

WE FIRST PUT SOME FLOWERS ON ALASHA'S GRAVE WITH A LITTLE SHEEP IN IT.

 WE THEN STOPPED AT THE RESURRECTED CHRIST STATUE WHERE THE EAMES PLAQUE IS.  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SPOT FOR REMEMBERING MY MOM, DAD, RON AND TERESA.

 THE TREES NEAR THIS SPOT ARE IN FULL BLOOM WITH GORGEOUS PINK BLOSSOMS.  IT SO PEACFEFUL THERE AND WE ENJOYED TAKING A FEW PICTURES AMONG THE BLOSSOMS.

WE THEN WALKED ON TO THE OTHER STATURES OF CHRIST IN MEMORIAL GARDENS.

 THE BENCH IN THE SHADE IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS TO TAKE PHOTO'S.  SHADOW AND MUFFIN LOVE THIS AREA TOO.

 SPRING IS SO BEAUTIFUL WITH EVERYTHING COMING BACK TO LIFE AGAIN.  WHAT A PERFECT TIME OF YEAR FOR EASTER AND CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

SINCE IT WAS STAKE CONFERENCE FOR OUR STAKE WE DECIDED TO GO TO FRUITA WITH TAMI TO ATTEND HER WARD.  THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL EASTER SERVICE.  IT WAS SO NICE AND WE ALL ENJOYED BEING TOGETHER FOR SACREMENT MEETING.  TAMI DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT BY HERSELF FOR A CHANGE.

OUR EASTER WEEK-END WAS WONDERFUL.  HOPE YOU ALL HAD ONE TOO!!