My computer has been ill, as well as myself. I have had to reload everything back onto my computer and haven't gotten it all done yet, just the basics!. I can't post a picture of the beautiful snow we just got. I have been sick all weekend and am very behind with everything! but will hopefully get some more interesting info. soon.

Getting Ready for Christmas

I'm having my work Christmas Party at my house Dec. 4th. Even though the pictures aren't very good, I've been decorating and putting up lights. The little santa boots are party favors.

Old Co-workers......always friends!!!!!

A few weeks ago I got a call from my friend Natalie,she announced to me that all my old co-workers from the Twin Falls BlueShield office was coming to visit me....we had our reunion Nov. 14. Natalie came from LasVegas, Barb Twin, Jon & Kari Boise, and Rick flew in from Salt Lake (he's wife works for an airline) Thanks guys it was great fun to reminisce, laugh, and catch up. Miss you all and the great times we had, and am so glad you took the time to come visit!

Woke up to Snow

It is quite beautiful and I don't even mind it: 1) The Wind IS NOT blowing and 2)it melts when it hits the roads and cement. No shoveling, take note how perfect it melts on the patio. I would love the snow if it did that all winter.

As many of you may know my dad passed away 3 weeks ago.....he was a great dad. I am so thankful I was able to spend so much time with him the last few years and he was able to live such a long active life. I am also grateful for the knowledge I will see all my family again and desire to live my life so this may be.

My dad was ready to move on to the next step in the "plan". Here is a short version of what he told my brother not long before he passed away. Basically he was okay with what was happening to him and he was ready. One thing for sure he didn't want to be "buried in the middle of the winter on that cold windy hill in Parker", and the other was he "didn't have to worry which one of those SOB's was going to be president". My dad always had a great sense of humor. I learned a lot from him, Thanks dad, I love you!

I am moving this back to the top of my blog, because I am so grateful to family and friends who have been so kind, so helpful, and just there since my dad passed away. I wanted to again express these thoughts! I was just thinking how true it is that "angels are among us" whether it is family, or friend, maybe even a stranger sometimes those who come into our lives give us without even knowing a "boost." We really don't know what truly goes on in others lives (even though we may think we do) or how much we can effect them. Sometimes we may just need a smile, or a quick glance and friendly hello, other times we may need a listening ear, or someone to say I was just thinking about you. I know I get so involved in my own life that I probably don't say or do the "nice things" I should as often as I should, but I do know when someone takes a moment out of their lives to do or say a kind thing to me it means so much. We really can make a difference and "touch others lives". I know I am grateful for family and friends who "touch my life" it doesn't go without notice,
Thank You!
"No man or women proceeds alone. All of us are largely the products of the lives which touch upon our lives. Caring for others,seeing and reaching beyond our own wants...cultivating kindness, ... towards others...a virture to be admired, a virtue to be acquired." Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

Family....More food for thought!

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Food for Thought......

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I'm back!

I know you haven't seen me update my blog for a while....I guess you could say I needed to escape from reality and I was "bitten" by the Twilight series books. Reading this last month has been my summer vacation. I must admit that is not usually something I take the time to do, but I was hooked and had to read the series, hence not a lot of extra time. My dad has been sick, I have a few hour a week second job, Sydney continues to be a challenge for the Drs. to figure out what is wrong with her, and Wendy needed help since she was without a car and that required some extra running, I wasn't able to go camping this summer so I did enjoy my escape into the books. I have been back to my new old job for a month now and it is working out great! I am very grateful that opportunity happened! I need to move on to another (more productive) project and have actually been thinking about fall cleaning instead of spring cleaning. My storage room is a mess and I need to organize, organize, organize. I also am looking for some soup recipes. My dad doesn't want to eat much anymore (any of you who know him knows his meals have been top priority) so this is definitely an unusual turn of events and I am hoping some good homemade soup will give him the nourishment he needs and will be something that will taste good to him. So if anyone out there has some recipes to share I would love to try them. So now you know where I've been, maybe next time I will actually have something interesting to post!

Alex 8-9-00 Sydney 8-10-02

Alex.....turned 8 on Aug. 9, 2008

Sydney .....turned 6 on Aug. 10, 2008

Happy Birthday you two......I love you both!

Sausha came over from Boise, just to celebrate a birthday weekend! Kristin stopped by and we grilled some hotdogs (Sydney's request) and of course opened presents.

We went to the river to check out the things that were going on down there....all kinds of craft things for "kids" to do as well as the duck race.

Alex and Syd both had a friend over and played in the pool. The guys also played swords and the girls played Polly Pockets (princess)

Then Sunday I met up with them at the park for some more birthday fun and cake! There were more friends!

Saturday/River Pictures

Fun Times @ Yellowstone

What a week!

My what a week.....sometimes life is a test!....Sunday was a normal day, actually during Young Women's (I am the Secretary) I was spotlighted because it was my Birthday week. They told about me and things I like and as they did they gave me items to go along with what they were telling, for instance my favorite animal is a moose so they gave me a little stuffed moose. I bet you can't guess what they said my favorite color(s) was? Yep, purple, bue, and green, It was quite fun!. Monday I was very nervous to go to work because I had to tell my employer I was giving notice. My old employer wanted me back and offered me better pay and benefits, after almost 8 months without insurance it will be good to be able to have it once again, and of course anytime the pay is better you don't argue!
Tues. was my 54 birthday, wow that sounds old unless you're 54! It was a good day I had a number of friends remember and call to wish me Happy Birthday. Jim and Patty Conan took me to lunch, Justin, Kristin, Wendy, Alex, and Sydney came over that night, we ordered Chinese food and sat outside and enjoyed the food and company. The only bad thing about that day was my dad found out some of his test results the Dr. ordered a week ago came back and didn't look good and he needed to go see another Dr. It was 3 years ago on my birthday when my mom also had to have tests which ended up being pancreatic cancer, so that is a little unnerving coincidence. The news we got on Wednesday wasn't the best but also wasn't the worst. He will be having some surgery this coming Monday and then we will go from there. I was just settling down on Thurs. evening after shampooing carpets and cleaning the laundry room when Wendy called and needed to take Sydney to the hospital. (she is still without a car, after two weeks, {anybody know a very good attorney}and so just shuffling cars and trying to help her get places has been wearing us out) At the hospital and after some blood work and consultations with the ER doc and Syd's regular doctor they decided to admit her. Wendy ran home very quickly to get some things while I stayed with Syd and then about 3 am I left to go home and get 3 hours sleep so I could go to work. 54 is too old to only have that much sleep, but I always have needed a good nights rest. I didn't dare go in late or stay home because they are already unhappy at me for quitting (the office manager quite the same day as I did, neither of us knew the other was quitting either) and then because I have to take dad to the hospital for his surgery I have to get a little time off next week. Oh well life goes on and you do what you gotta do! Hopefully Wendy will post some of the pictures we took since I didn't have my camera. Today is Saturday and after I did some necessary chores I took Wendy, Alex, and Sydney to the river. (Again Wendy has the pictures) we met my friend Patty there. It was very hot and we didn't want to over do it with Sydney so didn't stay much longer than 1 1/2 hours. The kids had a good time and were able to have a pony ride and "barrel train" ride as well as play a few games. I guess that about wraps of my week, I would have much rather been on my family annual camping trip which we usually do this time of year, but that wasn't possible because I have no vacation time. Next Year!!!!!

Alex

Alex came and spent a little time with me this weekend.....so here is a picture of my backyard pool (haha)and him swimming.... I also decided to get my feet wet and Alex decided to splash me. I thought it was very considerate of him just to "flick" the water at me instead of really splash me. He is so limber...he was doing splits in the water.

My Aunt Marie who was 100 years old in May passed away two weeks ago. This picture was on her Birthday celebration announcement so as you can tell she looked quite well, but unfortunately she got salmonella and was not strong enough to fight the damage it caused. I made a video I sent her for her Birthday. {Is that possible to add the video here and does anyone know how?} Aunt Marie was my dad's only sister and at 11 ,when his mother passed away, Marie was really the only one to take care of him since my grandpa had to spend the week out of town on their small farm and my dad had to stay in town to attend school. I have the best memories of my aunt, they used to come to Idaho every summer and I looked so forward to those visit and spending time with her and uncle Harry and their family at our cabin. The best memories ever!

It's My Life!

My life is very interesting, (if you know me, you will know I am being somewhat sarcastic)I get up in

the morning, get ready for work, prepare breakfast and lunch for my dad, go to work, come home, fix dinner and then it's time for bed ~~~then I do it all over again the next day!

I do retreat to my back yard, water my flowers and enjoy the yard, I actually have a (fence) garden.....if you can call it a garden, but hey I try. ***See Songs 2 & 3 on my Playlist!!!***

We will be doing the big thing (around Idaho Falls) again this year, plus adding a bar-b-que at Justin & Kristin's. Parade at 9am, both Sydney and Alex will be in it this year. Alex for Taekwando (I need to learn how to spell that) and Sydney in her little singing group. ( i hope she is up to it, but I believe she will get to ride not walk)

Hopefully we will already have a place saved and staked out at the river to watch the fireworks. Yes some people actually spend the night to save a spot. We always sit across the river from where they are shot off, and actually have been hit with some embers over the years. It is quite impressive to see the actual ground fireworks they have too. I know it's crazy but has always been fun watching people, so the time goes by fast until the big show starts. Each year I say I am not doing that again, but then each year I think "oh, why not'! Looking forward to spending the day with family! and friends!

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