Memorial Day

For Monday - Memorial Day - I will tell you all that I know - We will meet at Warden Cemetary at 10:00 AM. Then go to Moses Lake Cemetary. Then we will have a picnic afterwards. I don't know where. But it will be the same as it always has been. Bring Flowers for the graves, and for the picnic meat to BBQ, salads and desserts. And whatever you want to eat on and eat with. I'm not really in charge of this holiday so I don't know if we are getting the Warden Park again. Another thing I have been told is that there will be Family basesball game after we eat. So plan for that either to play or watch. We should know more on Sunday. Please pass the word to all family members.

I'm Glad Thats Over!!

Now that the reality shows are over maybe I can get something done! Dancing with the Stars and American Idol - 2 shows that kept Ed and I home and in the house every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. On Thursday night Ed would always say "so what are we watching tonight, Dancing with the Stars or American Idol" and I would have to remind him that they were only on Mon,Tues & Wed. He would be so dispointed like a little kid waiting to watch Sponge Bob or something. We would have liked Melissa to win on Dancing with the Stars but the winner is ok. And we were really rooting for Adam Lambert to win American Idol. That one was disapointing. (Ed doesn't know he's gay) He's just a nice guy and a very good singer. Even though he was hard rock sometimes he could really sing a good ballad and how can we forget his version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". (The thought also entered my mind that he would have been an awsome Edward in the Twilight movie) Ok so enough daydreaming - now maybe my fence will get built in the back yard and some flowers will get planted. We're thru being couch potatoes for a while. I'm not even going to watch the Bachelorette!!!!

Will you be my friend?

Everyone has been talking about Facebook and so the other day I decided to look into it. I signed up for it not knowing anything about it at all. I was exploring. The outcome has been suprising! Bordering on shocking! Of course I don't know what I'm doing so if I checked something that said everyone who I have ever known and some I don't know well who is on Facebook please accept me as their friend - I must have checked it. I am a very shy person and don't have many friends except for family so of course my first thought was I hope everyone doesn't think you have to accept me as your friend. I am flattered that you did but maybe you didn't and you thought you had to. I know some of you "chat" and who would want me, your Aunt,mother or mother in law eaves dropping on your chatting. I will assure you that I won't be on in the evenings so chat away. The one good thing that has happened since I have been on face book is I have heard from old friends that I haven't talked to since graduation. I know you won't believe this but that was 40 years ago. I know, I look so young! This new age computer stuff is so great. What a country!

Mother's Day

AHHHH the aroma of BBQ chicken, & poopy diapers.It just wouldn't be Mother's day without the 2. We have often talked about going out to dinner on MOther's Day but look at what all we would miss. Loud schrilling screams, food spills, whining, messes, blood & first aid experience. We did do something different this year. We had all the moms go thru the food line first and we got to eat at the Big table. The dads had to take their kids thru the line and eat outside. It was so nice. I just want to tell my daughter and daughter in laws how much I appreciate them. Being a mom is such hard work and takes so much courage and strength and patience. Sometimes you just want to throw your hands in the air and say "I give up" I'm sure I said it more than once. And yet somehow we go forward and pretty soon the kids are in school and we have more time to ourselves. And they get involved in sports and activities and we go and cheer them on. The work is still there but it gets more enjoyable. I think Heavenly Father realized what we could handle at each stage in our lives. As I was scrubbing the jello off of my kitchen floor Sunday night - I could hear Ed throwing toys in the toy box in the basement. We were tired, but it was a good tired. I loved having everyone of my kids come to my house Sunday and I especially loved having my grandkids there. Yes they make noise and YES they make messes but when they are gone the house is so quiet. Quiet is good, but theres nothing like the sound of grandchildren laughing and excited to see Grandma and Grandpa and their cousins. I love it.

A Tribute To My Mama

Since Mother’s Day is Sunday I thought I would blog about one of the most influential women in my life. How can you not give tribute to the woman who gave you life. You never really-really appreciate your mom until you have children of your own. Maybe its because mom never complained or maybe its because moms keep it a secret so our kids will have kids. . . but no one ever told me about being up all night feeding a baby, or all the crying and screaming (and that the babies do that too) and still being expected to clean and cook and wash and fold- and in our day, sew. I only remember running away once. I packed a big suitcase and walked down to Dan & Mary Lou’s and told them I wanted to live with them. I think I was about 6. Of course I was sent back home. Then there was time I ran away from home (after I was married) My mom gave me some good advice and then told me to go back home. (I’m glad I did) I always had the prettiest dresses at Easter, and the fanciest dresses for Prom & Homecoming dances. She made sure we had the latest fashions as we started school every year and for almost any event in between when I know that she probably only had one dress a year growing up. She had 9 brothers and sisters and lived in a Tent house a lot of the time. There was no money for Christmas or clothes or anything. She has devoted her life giving us the things she never had. Sadly I know there were times I made her cry, I hope there are more times I made her laugh. Over the years we have shared notes of sadness, happiness, and encouragement. The hardest thing I ever had to tell my mom was that Brian was coming home from his mission, the greatest love and compassion I have ever received from mom was when Brian came home from his mission. She’s the one I run to when anything goes wrong, or first one I want to tell when something great happens. It was after midnight one night when I told her Ed had proposed and it was on Mother’s Day 1975 I told her I was pregnant after trying for 5 years. She was in the recovery room at the Hospital when I shared the news I was having twins! She’s always been there for me – good times & bad times. She’s the one that picks me up when I am so down in the dumps I see no way out. Her strong testimony of the church and her dedication to church callings influenced mine and I will be forever greatful for her decision to become active in the church again. I know it wasn’t easy raising 6 kids but thanks mom for hanging in there and showing us patience and love and not giving up. I’m sure we gave you many reasons to.
Love you MOM Happy Mother’s Day!

I wished I'd married a Dentist

Ed's a real handy man. There isn't many things he can't do. He has even cut my hair for the last 20 years. But he can't fix my teeth. If I had all the money that we have paid dentists over the years we would be retired and traveling the country in our huge luxery Winnabego. I don't understand how one little tooth can cause so much pain and cost so much money to fix!!! And when it hurts you would sell your own child to get the money to fix it. (well maybe not) But tooth pain is like no other pain. Labor pains can't even compare to it. We went on a 2 week trip one time with all of our kids and Ed's mom and I got a toothache while we were gone. I swallowed aspirin like candy and all it did was make me mean. Its a good thing we didn't have a gun or surely I would have used it. I'm suprised my mother in law still speaks to me. My worst toothaches come late at night or on weekends. I've been to the emergency room and walk in clinics and got Dr. Schafer out of bed at night more than once to come put me out of my misery. I follow Sharon around to every dentist office she has worked at begging her to do whatever it takes to get me in. I'm like an addict but get no joy or high out of my pain except for laughing gas. Sharon understands because she is the same way and so is Lyn. I've been to the dentist 3 times for one stinkin tooth this last week. This last time I had a cold sore and Dr. Dorrow told me they were caused from stress and I needed to pack my bags and go to Hawaii for a week. I would like to have replied "Maybe I can go to Hawaii with you because you have all of my money." Well he is a nice guy and so I couldn't be mean and after all he had a big needle in his hand. So if you don't have bad teeth thank your lucky stars and count all your money. If you have a dentist in the family your extra blessed. I on the other hand can always count on a fast demo car and a good hair cut. Its a good thing he's good lookin'!