Conference...

Loved Conference weekend...
Haven't had a chance to listen to all yet....LOVE DVR! But what I did hear...well, it's just proves that My Heavenly Father is aware of me & my family! Lots of words of wisdom, advice and reminder of commandments that we all needed to hear!

We started a tradition several years ago that while the boys are at the Priesthood session, us girls go shopping and we all meet up for dinner. It has become our responsibility to get a seat somewhere and beat the crowds! That's gay...cuts the shopping short! This year, Mick suggest Training table...perfect choice...not a wait at all. We all got there the same time and went straight it. Good thing, we would have been in trouble for goofing if we didn't!

Angela, Mick, Kallie, Preslie and I (Tahnie out of town with volleyball) headed off to the Mall, Rod works (with the rest of the dang valley) left there...2hr wait in line just not worth anything in the store! Then off to Quilted Bear and to dinner. So many Birthdays in the next few weeks, so not a lot of spending splurges! But found fun ideas! Had to buy Rick a Ute's tie and Kallie a cute beanie!

Conference talked a lot about loving our families. Loving and serving others. One talk on Sunday morning talked of his Mother I believe wish...."no empty seats! Oh how that applies to my heart right now! I worry for my children and the world that they live in! It's a blessing to see them choose the right, but I fear the strength of the advesary working on all of us! Sometimes...I just want to say "Bring on the Millenium! Satan bound for 1000 years.. how cool will that be!

Happy Birthday Brandyn...28!

Monday, September 28 will be Brandyn's birthday so Mick decided to throw him a little surprise party at our house...easy way to get him out to our house..babysitter!...anyways...she had a few of their friends over and our family for some good eats and games and cake...it was fun. It feels good to be included in their celebrations with their friends...makes us feel more than just the mom & pops..thanks kids. We enjoy each of you and wish Big B a great year! We're grateful that he has become such a solid part of our family! Each one of our kids adds their own special addition to our little family circle. Shawn & Ang stayed a bit a played scattergories with the group. Chris came by with Kallie and watched the game and ate. Tahnie was gone with volleyball so he's pretty much a single parent right now on the weekends...pretty tuff on them both with their crazy schedules! It's good to see our children socialize and be friends with one another...Rick & I have always worked for that throughout their lives..always teaching them that we ARE a family forever! We love ya guys!

Today was a day spent with my parents as each Sunday rolls around. We took Dad out to Mick & Brandyn's for dinner. It was so good for my Dad....dang it! Not one of us busted out the camera! Dad has a hard time doing things without Mom...but after a little scolding from the Dr a few weeks ago...maybe he will be more willing to branch out a bit and come around a bit more. I can't imagine how lonely he must feel! The Dr asked him if he would want Mom sitting around not doing anything if the tables were turned. Linda said that by the time the Dr was done scolding she had both Dad and Linda in tears...dang this is hard!

Today we visited with Mom in the dining room at the care center. She was sitting there in a dark room all by herself when we arrived. I usually brush her hair when we get there...I don't believe the aides do that on Sundays....but today she was not having it...told me to get that thing away and pushed my hand away. Usually she likes it. Her conversation doesn't make any sense. She's slowly wasting away...loosing weight each month. Today she realized we were leaving her and she didn't like it one bit she said...makes it hard when she tries to follow us down the hall. I hate it when the aides or nurses just watch us try to get past that...do they not understand how hard it is. I finally asked an aide today to please help to distract her while we walked away! SIGH! I try to wrap myself up in the visit and time I get with the two of them...I'm betting the time is growing shorter each and every day!

labor day weekend~Park City

Labor day is generally the last hoorah for the end of summer vacation...WHHHATTT...Did we have summer???? I'm so depressed! I LOVE LOVE summer and it always makes me sad to say goodbye to it!
We have had our wave runners out once, and one of them didn't even run....and no camping....hold on summer...we're not ready to let you go!

Schedules are Soooo hard with getting the fam together, especially now that school has started! So we decided to go up to the Mountainside Resort in Park City so everyone could come and go with their crazy schedules. We had a lot of fun, even in spite of the stupid weather...it actually wasn't bad...even with the little bit of rain on Saturday!
Rick & I took Friday off and headed up to Swiss days with the rest of Salt Lake Valley...hey folks...half of you stay home next year...there were WAAAY too many people there to really shop the booths...strollers...not such a good plan! Poor kids...they don't want to be there! Get a sitter! I'm so glad we didn't take our little ones!
Angela and her Mom worked a booth..Cindy sells her cute little Book of Mormon's. I think I want to do a booth with her next year....I really need to get on it right now though! Rick was a good sport, just followed me from booth to booth and came when beckoned to take note of "can you build that for me?"
We ate lunch and headed over to the resort as soon as they opened up check in....we asked for an early one...got in about 30 minutes early is all but it was nice to enjoy the quiet before all the fun began!
Chris came and went to his soccer tournament. Tahnie is traveling with volleyball now so we don't see much of her. Shawn & Ang joined us Sunday and Mick & Brandyn and kids were there with us the whole time. I was excited to have some Preslie time!
Poor Preslie was allergic to Mick's milk. They tried special diets for Mick but poor Mick was starving and nothing was working so Mick gave in! She was such a trooper! I wouldn't have lasted that long! She's so tiny as it is and I was worried about Mick getting the goods she needs. I bet she lost another 5 lbs while trying to make it work! She put Preslie on Nutri...something and she is a totally different baby. She doesn't hurl for spit up and she is happy! I can actually hold her and get her to smile at me now! We LOVE her! She is such a beauty! And it's such a relief to see her without a belly ache! We took lots of pictures...but missed Chris totally and only one or two of Rick...I know...he really hates that:)! Brandyn's aunt Jyll came up on Sunday and joined us with their family. We all had a good time, wish we could get us all together...not sure when that can happen!

So it's only taking me 3.5 hours to get this picture scanned by my lovely printer...I was just talking my printer up to Brandyn & Mick too...UGGH~ So frustrating. And I can't leave it alone until I can get it to work. Good thing I don't go into work until 10 tomorrow!!
These goats were about 2 months old. Only one was interested in being held. The youngest one ran from us, the middle one just layed in their eating bin and the one with us LOVED his neck rubbed. It was a fun outing~ petting animals, riding the pony's and playing till they shut it down!

This past Friday was a Gramma & Grampa sleep over night! Yahoo! The kids love it and so do we! All the kids were over for awhile, but I find it very difficult to visit and entertain the kids all at the same time. My kids and Rick all seemed to have a great little visit as I did with the kids. We jumped on the tramp, we played a little bit of baseball and soccer, dug in the sand and the boys rode their bikes for a bit. We were all so tired by 9:30 and hit the tramp for one last sleep outside! Can't believe it's the end of SUMMER! UGH! I love this season and always feel a sort of sadness when it comes to an end! We watched the stars for a bit, trying to make the shapes out, but not really dark enough here in the city to see a whole lot! Saturday morning Discover Card was part of a fundraiser to walk for cure of juvenile diabetes at Wheeler Farm. I thought it would be fun to take the kids to all the little fun things offered there with this function! Mick was going to join us, but her and poor little Prelie are trying to figure out food allergies! They had a rough morning so it was me and the kids...Rick was on call! They had the big blow up slides, jump houses, climbing wall, petting zoo and free lunch. It was fun! We took a darling picture with baby goats, but I can't get my scanner to work...DANG IT~ anyway...it was a lot of fun and we were all wore out. The boys did not want me to take them home so I gave in as usual and they came home with me. I told them, gramma had some work to do..so playtime was on their own. They painted Christmas ornaments...played some more outside, and crashed and took a nap. I on the other hand put up some pears and tried to get some things ready for the family reunion the next day. As usual, ran out of daytime and into the night! I was exhausted! But I LOVE spending time with the kids! They are my little buddies. Today, I went out to Mick's for a little bit after work, Talan asked me if I worked tomorrow, he wanted to sleep over again! That does my heart good! I hope they always want to hang out here! Even when their big and too cool and stuff....:)
Talan says the funniest things! Saturday morning, bright and early at 630ish...he looked up in the sky and yelled, the stars are gone, the stars are gone gramma, we can get up now! Payson is a joy as well! He LOVES riding his bike and scooter. He loves to cuddle in the morning to watch TV, but then soon gets antsy and needs to get out there and play. He wanted to ride his bike at 7 am down towards the new friends he has made at the end of our circle! His front teeth have fallen out and he looks like a 6 year old! So fun to watch them make these changes. I love every little second I am with them! Kallie is a busy little thing who LOVES having the boys here. When their not here, she carries around Mickie's family picture I have on the book case. She likes to jump on the tramp, kick any ball like a soccer ball...(Chris eats this up!) and NEVER stops! People are always stopping to comment on how cute she is! Her curly hair is so fun to doll up and play with! Preslie is a joy to have and cuddle with, but too early to hang with Gramma by herself. She still needs her mamma for the nursing thing. She's growing so fast and has turned into a little chunk. Her Mom on the other hand is going to blow away in the wind on this diet she's on to figure out the food allergy. Mick's been a trooper. I would have given up the first day!

Happy Birthday Mom! 82! WHeW That's awesome!
Just returned home from spending a little bit of time with Mom on her birthday! It seems as if it's been a good day today. She's ready to go...always asking if I'm ready to go and what time do we need to be there....I pushed her in her wheelchair around the center and outside to see the flowers. Dinner time came so I took her in the dining room. I don't like to stay then...it's hard to watch her struggle to feed herself and she gets mad if I try to help. Still to this day, very independent in her own little way!
Today she told me she tried to get her Mom to join us, but she is sick in bed!" Dang it Grandma! Would love a visit with you...hope you get to visit with Mom in her own little world. I truely believe that the veil is very thin and she gets many visitors. I've shared with others how Mom has asked me if I have seen her Grandma & Grandpa out at the gate lately...."No, have you Mom?" I'll ask. She'll answer "no, not for a while!" I tell her it's okay to go see them! I mean that in a totally loving way! She has asked me if I would like to meet her Daddy? I just answer, no, not today!
Being at the center always makes me reflective of who my Mom is. It makes me sad that the people there who care for her, really don't know her. It's made me think of who she is to me and what she has taught me through out my life.
She's a young woman who came from down south to be in a city where the church was. I remember her telling me that there was nothing in the small town of Albany Louisiana for a young LDS girl. I can't imagine moving so far away from my family and home town...
I remember long talks at night through our bedrooms as a teenager...she would finally say, Stac, I need to sleep now. We'll talk later! She was a good friend to me and I laughed with her alot.
My earliest memories are that she has always served in the Young Women's in one way or another, mostly Secretary. Always a good record keeper! From the time I believe I was 6 or 7 I remember going to youth activities because all the babysitters were there, so Mom would bring me along. Maybe that's where my love of the Young Women was inbedded!
She's a people person. Always reaching out to others to be there friend! She speaks to those she sees always, in the halls today, she'll say hello to all who pass by her!
She taught me about prayer through example. Many nights I would come running in at my curfew to tell her I was home and goodnight and would find her on her knees or lieing there quietly saying her prayer. I would unknowingly interupt her, but she wouldn't move and I would soon get the hint to leave her alone for awhile. She taught me that going to Church was important, even if it means going alone! She loved to sing, but couldn't carry a note and she would laugh and tell you so, but she still loved the hymns. Today when she can't think of the words to say in her conversation, she will sing a part of a hymn. She ALWAYS did her visiting teaching! ALWAYS with a lesson.
She's been married to the same man for 61+ years and their love is so sweet to watch. My Dad is a "prince" as his sister describes him as he loves her so much and aches to be near her!
Oh how old age scares me. It's not death that I'm afraid of, it's the last part of the journey that I fear!
I love my Mom and I miss her terribly. Many times I wish I could call her up to share my day with her. In another world Mom, in another world!

thankful heart

it's funny how many little things in life make me think...I should blog that...and then I don't because I don't have a picture...so today just some journaling...
yesterday Shawn & Angela had 2 extra tickets to the Real game and they invited Chris and their Dad. I took the opportunity to keep Kallie. We haven't seen her much and it was fun to play with her as I ran some of my errands! She says "where is it?" Hi! and lots of chatter that only she knows. I played a cd of primary songs while in the car and she loved them...she just sat in the car seat and sang her heart out. It was so cute! I LOVE the time I get with the grandkids. There is NOTHING cooler in life than having their love! After I finished a bunch of running around, we came home and I gave her a bath and put her in her new jammies I bought her. I always try to have a set for each grandchild that stays here. We bought her a new set last night. Just as she was starting to quiet down, Mick and the fam made a surprise visit so she could feed Preslie. I was so happy and so was Kallie. She ran up and gave Talan a hug and he said.."look she so happy to see me!" When it's only Kallie at the house, she always finds Mickie's family picture I have on the book case and she'll carry it around. She must think it's so boring here without them!
After the game they all stopped at our place and for a little while, the whole family was here, minus Tahnie cause she is traveling with volleyball this weekend. It was fun to hear them all laugh and enjoy one another. Now that's pay day! Wish I could just snap pictures of the little moments like that!
Preslie is a spitter upper...ALOT! and she soaked 2 outfits in the short visit they were here. Mick asked me if maybe I could get to her doll clothes and I said better than that..lets see about the old clothes you guys use to wear. I pulled them out, and they were so stinky...smelled old! But how fun it was to see some of the stuff I put on the kids. It was only yesterday wasn't it. Shawn dubsed the first pair of Nike's he had..took them home with him! And now I'm laundering all the stuff to divvy out to those that want....I had more than I remembered!
Today Brother Bednar spoke in a special stake meeting. Rick & I were suppose to meet up with a new ward member, but we missed him..he couldn't remember where to meet us and in a crowd like that it's hard to find a face you think may be someone you have never met. We did speak on the phone after and we're going over to meet him this week. It's so hard initiating the first meet...so uncomfortable! Not sure I will ever get over that one..anyway, glad he made it to the meeting. It was awesome!
I love that man. Simple and frank, the way the gospel really is. He taught how we tend to look at free agency the wrong way...that it's our choice...we can do as we please....not really. The Lord has set the terms and conditions...we don't! We accepted and now the choice is to CTR!! How simple is that. I wish all of our kids would have come. Kind of like the credit card world I work at...We as the company, set the terms & conditions of the loan or credit card. If you accept them, the terms are such that you HAVE to pay it back, or there are consequences. The customer doesn't make the terms...not at all. Same as the Gospel. Heavenly Father made the plan, set the plan out for us, told us the terms, and we accepted. Now what! CTR!

As each Sunday is, I went out to get Dad to see Mom. Today was a hard day. Mom is speaking a little bit better...but only half of her sentence makes sense! Today as Dad was sitting next to her holding her hand, she looked at me and whispered to him.."who's that?" Then she asked Dad.."didn't we use to live together?" He teared up and said, yes we did..yes we did...we both cried, then Mom was sad. I wonder sometimes...what's the pay off? to live to be old so I can have my heart break cause me and my sweetheart can't live together cause one of us is too weak and the other one is without a mind? I don't get it? I don't want to get it or understand it! I want it to stop! Does that make me a bad daughter?