Christmas Shopping

I had a rude awakening yesterday. I cannot shop til I drop anymore. I now drop way before the shopping is done. Its pityful. Do you remember when you were in school and how you felt the day after your 1st day of PE. Well times that times 10 and thats how I feel today. I hate to admit it but I now envy the 250 lb. grandma on her scooter shopping away. When did standing and walking become such a dread. Maybe its sitting for 9 hours a day that has made me so unfit. Maybe its my age. I used to love shopping and go for hours and hours. I remember when me my sisters and mom would load into a car and we would leave early in the morning shop til the stores closed. We spent hours looking for that one special doll or toy that one of the kids wanted. It was go go go till we could go no longer. And the shopping didn't end until Christmas. I was never done and always looking for that one special thing. Then there was the baking and wrapping & grocery shopping. Well, that still has to happen. Now that we've added daughter in laws, a son in law and grandkids my list has grown & grown. Ed gets mad because he thinks we should just give them money. But how personal is that. It just wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't worry my self sick, shopping, trying to find exactly the right thing, and then watch them open their gifts and wonder if they really like it, and in then end wish I had given money or gift certificates. It just wouldn't be Christmas. And it takes a whole year for me to rest up, relax and start all over again. I don't know if its because my list gets longer every year or that I'm getting older and tireder but as I say every year, next year we just might give money and gift certificates.

Fasten Your Seat belts

We are approaching December at a high rate of speed so fasten your seat belts and hang on. I don't even know where November went but I do know we went through it because I vaguely remember turning 61 years old and then something about mom taking a tumble in the Safeway parking lot, Thanksgiving at the church, eating a little - and I do stress little - bit of turkey, a laugh out loud game of family fued, Austin's successful heart surgery, Haley & Matt's beautiful wedding, and on the very last day of November, two new beautiful babies born into the family. Preston Chamberlain and Aleana Bisnett. Whew!!! I know December is going to fly by as fast because the calendar is already filled with work, parties, programs, birthdays and Christmas celebrations. If it wasn't for the work I would half way enjoy my job, and even though it consumes me to my very core, as God as my witness I am going to enjoy the month of December. I'm going to take a deep breath, laugh alot more, stress a little less, sleep the whole night, and keep in mind what is most important this time of year. Its all about the birth of our Savior, being with family, and giving yourself permission to shop till you drop. Happy December everyone! Enjoy it before its gone!!

Thanksgiving!

I really think this blog should be turned over to someone less busy and stressed than me. Well, who should that be. I know, I know, everyone is busy and stressed! There are many exciting things happening in the family right now. Haley's wedding Nov. 26th, Levi & Dania's baby, sadly Austin's surgery which we are all praying for his fast recovery, and November has more family birthday's than any other month! We also have Thanksgiving coming up. Which we are having at the church this year. The main food has been assigned and we are asking the married grandkids to bring salads and side dishes. Whatever you have brought other years is just great. I think the traditional Cox-Martinez football game is still on. I myself have never gotten to see it - but maybe this will be the year. We have many things to be thankful for this year. Our family is growing and when all is said and done is there anything more important in this life than family!! I love you all!!!

Is it October already????

OMgosh!! Where has the time gone. I haven't even changed the family birthday calendar. I don't think anyone is reading this anymore anyway but I'll try to do better. I have found out that no matter what is going on, life stands still for no one! September was a full month of celebrating. Rick & Sharon and Ed and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversaries, Just can't believe how fast those 40 years have passed by. Our kids are grown, and we've doubled our families with wonderful daughter and son in laws and grandkids. We couldn't wait for our kids to grow up and move out and now we long for them to come home and bring the grandkids. The clean house that once seemed an impossible dream sits quiet and polished begging for little ones to come mess it up! We made it through the rough times and the poor times when we wondered how we were going to make it to the next pay day and how we could make 1 lb of hamburger feed a family of 8. You would never find a family now eating homemade hot dog pizza, or mashed potato pie, heck my kids probably wouldn't even eat it now, but they loved it then. I remember once finding $5.00 and Ed and I were so thrilled we could go to Burger King and have two Wopper meals for five dollars! We didn't have much when the kids were little but they didn't know it. I long for those days, but am greatful for what we have now. One thing I do know is that I don't have to worry about how many more years we have together because I know we will be together for eternity.

Consumned By My Job!!

I feel like I have been in the twilight zone the last couple of months. Its the Pure Line Twilight Zone. Like nothing else exists. The owner closed our corp office and moved everything to Warden except finanical stuff. So Kylee & I have been over loaded with 2 past secretaries work. I am now the foreign order shippier. Since I have taken over this responsiblity I have been responsible for shipments to Sri Lanka, Morrocco, China, Pakistan, Colombia, & New Zealand. The paperwork is overwhelming and so maticulous! (never thought I would use that word!) My whole life revolves around this work and I think about it 24/7. One of these days I will either relax & comprehend it or I will quit! I see a small pin light at the end of the tunnel but we have a new Chief operations manager who is driving us all nuts with his big company changes and who, in all of our opinions, doesn't know what he is doing! The good thing about it all is the owner likes me and trusts me and respects my opinion because, bsically, he doesn't want me to quit. Kylee has been a real trooper through it all and is my shoulder to cry on. Well, actually we cry on each others shoulders. I'm not sure, at almost 61 years old, I am wanting to take on such a huge task but there is one thing really keeping me here. The money and the benefits. The 2 ladies who were laid off from our Corp. office are my age and can't find a job anywhere. Both are single ladies with no other income. So I will count my blessings and gird up my loins, and stick it out until I, #1 get it, or #2 drop dead from exhaustion.

In Memory of Chessie Olson

Chessie Olson left this earth to frolic with the angels on August 1st, 2011.
Chessie's birthdate is unknown because she was orphaned at a young age. She was found abandoned 5 years ago by Ed. He brought her home and begged if he could keep her. I said she could stay in the garage even though it was freezing cold outside.She had long mangy hair and we weren't even sure what kind of dog she was or if she was potty trained. I know it sounds cruel but you have to understand that I grew up on a farm and dogs were outside animals. They ate our leftovers because we never bought dog food. Ed has such a kind heart and couldn't stand to see her out in the cold, so the next thing I new she was living inside. I made it clear that she was not ever, ever sleeping in our bed. I've seen other people with indoor dogs and how they share a plate of food or kiss on the mouth and heaven forbid, sleep in their beds!! So if she wasn't going to sleep in our bed we had to buy a doggie bed. I finally agreed to let Ed take her to the doggie barbershop just so we could see what kind of dog she was. How shocked we were when she came home - "a Schnauzer". What a cute dog. And she was clean and they had put a little hankerchief around her neck. Next thing I knew we were buying a collar, leash, doggie toys,shampoos & clothes. What do you know, we had another child. If she had one bad habit it was barking at everyone who tried to enter our home or even walk by. We felt protected. Chessie loved to go with Ed and if he left without her she pouted all day. When he came home she would get in her bed and turn her back to him. What a personality. If he left a chocolate bar in the pickup she would sneak and eat it. The grandkids loved Chessie and she loved them. They loved to see the 2 tricks Ed got her to do. She would roll over & she would stand and walk on her hind feet. But only for a treat.
Almost every day for 5 years she went to work with Ed. It was a normal work day the day she died. She was running along side of the pickup as Ed checked the bean field. All of a sudden he heard her yelp, he stopped and when he opened the door he found her laying dead. She had somehow lost her attention for a moment and thats all it took he had accidently run over her. I never thought I would cry over the loss of a dog, or see Ed cry over the loss of a dog, its suprising how much she was a part of our life. There will never be another Chessie. RIP Chessie dog.

Never thought I would say this . . .

I miss my kids! Years ago when all my kids were at home summers were chaotic. The first few days after school was over it was nice sleeping in. Not having to make breakfast, find shoes, clothes, homework, book bags, and race the clock to the approaching bus. Then after about a week into summer, I realized I had to feed the kids all day, clean up messes, referee the fighting, and not panic when I saw them jump from the roof of the house onto the trampoline. There were trips to the ER, bag balm & bandaids for the lesser injuries, tears to comfort and fears to calm. But inbetween all that the good times out weighed the bad. Camping trips, swimming, picnics, one major trip to Disney Land, memories that will never be forgotten. At the time I didn't appreciate our time together. Now that they have families and reponsibilities I'm so proud yet I really miss and yearn for those days long ago. Each time in our life has its good and its bad. I would say raising my kids was one of the best times of my life. I was born to be a mom - I feel blessed - I miss having the kids at home, chaos and all!!!!

You're Never Too Old

This last week I did something I have never done before. I traveled 125 miles all by myself and stayed in a Motel by myself for 2 nights. You young people probably laugh at that because you are so much more fearless than me. If you know me very well you will know what an unbeliveable task that was for me. Pure Line Seeds is closing our Corporate office in Moscow Idaho and I had to go over and be trained to take over MORE responsibilities. Just what I wanted. Our new COO/Chief of Operations who is 40 years old and who doesn't know the difference between a pea and a bean is now in charge. He is supose to be a financial wizard and I guess that qualifies him to run a Seed Company.(That and he is the owners nephew) My most interesting experience on the trip was going to lunch and dinner with him every day. He is very religious (Catholic) and said a blessing over every meal. So it was comforting to know that his beer was blessed as well as my ice water with lemon. He did, however want to know all about Mormons and I was able to give him the first discussion during one of our dinners. I never thought I would be doing the things I am doing at this age. I'm old and tired and worn out. Not sure how long I can last at this job but I do enjoy working with Brian and Kylee. I guess if I can't keep up maybe I'll be offered a severence like the secretaries in Moscow. I could live with that.

Empty Nesters No More

I haven't decided whether it was guilt or a desire to do what is right but we decided to let the missionaires live in our basement. It is an adjustment for us, no more screaming matches, no more running around in underware (that would be Ed) the TV has been turned off more often, and I must say there is a different feeling in our home. I'm not used to sharing my kitchen, especially with 2 young men, and they do cook alot, but they clean up after themselves. We're not used to accounting for our where abouts or telling anyone where we are going, and we're not used to someone coming and going except each other. When I hear bumps & noises in the basement I have to remind myself the missionaries are down there. For now I have turned half my house over to missionaires, but we have received blessings already and a feeling of peace in our home I can't describe and was not expecting. Its an adjustment for sure but we are going to give it a try. I'm sure each missionary will bring new experiences and maybe some challenges. When you come home from a hard day of work and see two young men cooking in your kitchen and have the biggest mess you just learn to disapear and hope when you come back the mess will be gone. And so far so good. I keep thinking "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your God" I'm sure we'll have some interesting tales to tell when its all over- Maybe I'll start a journal or write a book "The Boys In the Basement".

Family Easter Party

I know there are lots of things going on Saturday but if you were wondering about the Easter party at Aunt Sharon's - it is still on. If the weather cooperates! Saturday 11:00. The eggs will need to be there earlier for the Easter Bunny to hide. So please provide those. Bring and something to cook on the fire salad or chips or dessert. Now also please note that if the weather is bad the party will be cancelled. Who would have thought we would have freezing weather this late in April. If there is any question on Saturday please call Sharon to see if the party is on.

Family Gossip

Please notice the invitation to the right of this to Abby's Party>>>>>>>
Family rummors : I heard that Emma is wearing a shiny ring on her left hand -- fact or fiction? I heard Sharon turned the big 60 this last week end. We could hardly get any sleep from all the partying going on down there. Almost had to call the cops. Fact or Fiction? I heard Rick has been going to night school to be a State Patrolman. Fact or Fiction? I heard Kyle and Mishelle took their kids to Seattle over Spring Break and ran into Brian and Ronnie and their kids at the Cheese Cake Factory? ( This was a fact) Answers: I did hear Emma has a ring, No there was no party at Rick & Sharon's - that I know of, Rick's going to school but I'm not sure what for. I've been sick and out of the loop for so long these are things I have heard second hand. I think they are true. I would love to hear any news about the family if anyone knows any.

Pink eye! What Next?

For the 3rd time in a little over a month I am sick!! And this ain't no April Fool's joke! This started Monday morning with my eye sealed shut. By Tuesday I realized it wasn't going away when I woke up with my eye swollen shut and I couldn't get out of bed because by body was raging with pain. No it was not a pretty site. I couldn't believe this was happening - AGAIN!! I don't know how but I got my self ready and drove myself to the Moses Lake Clinic. The walk in clinic had a 1 1/2 hour wait already even though it was very early in the morning. I just prayed no one came in that I knew because I didn't want to talk to anyone. I looked awful, eye sealed shut, no makeup and I didn't even do my hair. I wished I could have written down my symptoms and just handed them to the Dr. cause I didn't even want to talk to him. And you don't just have to tell the Dr. You have to tell the lady that checks you in, the nurse who takes you back and the Dr. For Heaven's sake, can't they all just be there together and hear the story. No one really cares but the Dr, anyway. So I told the Dr. my sad tale about how I had been sick so many times and everytime they were just viruses. So $125.00 later he said it was a virus. And guess what there is nothing they can do for viruses. Why oh why can't I have a bacteria infection. At least then I could have an antibiotic. Well he could give me something for the pink eye. So thank goodness for that. And did say if I got one more virus they were going to do tests to see what was causing this. I know that because almost every chair in the waiting room was full - I am not the only one sick. So hopefully thats it. I am thinking good thoughts and hoping I get my voice back fully and get rid of the headaches and cough soon. AGAIN!!! Its a good thing I don't have a bunch of chickens to take care of!

Olson's Chicken Farm - Eggs for sale

So Ed decided it would be a really great idea if we got some chickens and had our own eggs. I didn't think we could have chickens in town but he said he asked and we could. So he bought the lumber for the chicken coop and the wire and all the stuff. I told him I was deathly afraid of chickens because we had them when I was growing up and the rooster always chased us when we went to get the eggs. Besides with the stink of chicken poop--and the crowing of the rooster I knew our neighbors would not be happy with us. But he was determined to do this and I couldn't change his mind. So he got on the internet and actually found a place where you could order chickens. Did you know you can get 20 baby chicks and 1 rooster for $35.00 not including shipping and handling. And they ship them UPS! Well, yesterday they showed up, the problem being that Ed didn't have the chicken coop ready yet. I called him and screamed "THE CHICKENS ARE HERE - what the H - E - double hockey sticks are we going to do with them!!!?? I don't see Ed panic much but he did rush home and there I was with this cardboard box of chirping chicks. Chessie was going crazy trying to get in the box.
And evidently they have to be kept warm and need food, water & shelter of which we had none!! I will not go into detail of the words spoken that night but I know a lot of repenting will have to be done. Ed decided the chicks would have to be put in the house for the night and well, I won't repeat what I told him. We rigged up a water pan and did you know baby chicks can eat dog food!! Today I am exhausted from no sleep, Ed is building a chicken coop and our house smells like chicken poop. And if it wasn't april fools day and if it was a true story Ed would be packing his bags to go live with his mommy!

Things that never go away.

I have always looked forward to the day when the kitchen table and counter was not covered with back packs, books & homework. I dreamed of a table with a beautiful tablecloth and centerpiece. When the kids were all gone my house would be immaculate with no shoes, coats, and school stuff laying around. Well, here we are, several years later- kids grown and gone - and my table is now covered with Ed's laptop and stacks of copied pictures of tractors, several used car magazines, a nickel saver and finally his briefcase with his geneology. Every chair has a coat draped over it - work coats, nice coats, and sweaters. The kitchen counters are covered with mail waiting to be opened, my Young Women's lesson and materials and a few handouts. There's at least 5 pairs of shoes in the living room and a couple of hats. I don't wear hats. Well, here we are, no better off than when the kids were home. Maybe working full time I'm just too tired to care at this point. The dishes are always done because after all, how many dishes can you use between cereal, toast and cold sandwhiches. I am still hoping to have the immaculate home someday, a table cleared off with beautiful tablecloth and centerpiece. Kitchen counters cleared off. But as long as I have church callings, incoming mail, and no big fancy office for Ed to work in we will have clutter. You can't exist without clutter. Unless you have a full time housekeeper. Maybe I could get me one of those. Anyone know of one?

Not again!

Yes I'm sick again. I never get sick. But the last 3 weeks have taken their toll. Maybe its the stress at work, or maybe its cause everyone at work has been sick but I would like to blame it on daylight savings time. What would ever possess someone to say "We're not tired enough, lets make a new law where every Spring we'll make everyone move their clocks ahead one hour." And what would possess us to say "ok". And even if we thought it was a good idea at first until we realized it wasn't doing anyone any good - why oh why have we kept doing it all these years. Enough already! Its not natural for the human body to change in the middle of the year like that. So then were're exhausted for the next 6 months and finally get used to it they suggested " Hey, lets move the clocks back an hour." It has to be a communist conspiracy to keep us in zombie states of mind so we do whatever the "they say. Who are "they" anyway. I really wonder what would happen if I started a petition against daylight savings time. Would you sign it? I'm going to check it out.

Mommy I'm Sick

Those are the 3 words I can't say anymore but would love to. The sad thing about getting old is - when you are sick you pretty much have to take care of yourself. That is if you are a woman. I don't want to husband bash. They can't help it if they've always had a woman to take care of them. I almost felt sorry for Ed because he had to make his own toast for supper the other night but I got over that when I had to put his dishes in the dishwasher and clean up the mess. He did offer to go to Moses Lake late last night to get me a vaporizer - I know he was tired of listening to me cough - bless his heart. Or so I thought until I got in the car this morning and found evidence of the ice cream treat he enjoyed without me! Well, maybe I would have done the same thing. And yes I have been working everyday inspite of my illness. Everyone at work is sick too, and I felt guilty being the only one staying home. Guilt - a big topic for another blog. Well, my sickness is the reason why I haven't kept up with the blog. I know I have a Valentine's background. I promise to take care of it as soon as I feel better.

Sunday News

This coming Sunday - February 20th - Ben is giving his mission report at church. Everyone is invited to come and after church there will be a potluck lunch in the gym. Lyn & Rich are providing the meat and asking everyone who comes to bring a side dish or two. (cause there are so many of us you know!) We hope lots of you can attend because its so good when we all get together as a family.

He's Coming Home

Attention Family: Wednesday February 2, Elder Ben Bisnett will be returning home from his mission. He will be flying into the Tri Cities airport at 3:45 pm. We are inviting any family that can, to be there in full force. He is afraid that the Elder flying in with him will have a bigger welcoming crowd than he has. Lets all try to be there to welcome Ben home. We can't hardly wait to see him!

Sleepless in Warden

Well a Dr. finaly confirmed what I have been telling Ed for quite a while now. He stops breathing in his sleep! We just didn't realize how many times he stops breathing. 70 times an hour!!! You combine that with his loud snoring and it doesn't make for a very good nights sleep. A couple of months ago I decided to spend the night in the spare bedroom and got the best nights sleep I had had in a long time. Ed could snore and not breath the night away and I could sleep. I know that sounds mean of me, like, what if he didn't start breathing again. Not to worry, I could still hear him snoring so I knew he was ok. What did make me feel guilty was when I started trying to decide how I was going to decorate the spare bedroom to make it into my Master suite. I was really getting serious about it when I heard Dr. Phil say that one of worst things a couple could do in their marriage is sleep in separate bedrooms. And we all know that Dr. Phil is always right. So our next plan was to find out if a different Dr. could help Ed. Last weekend he spent 2 nights at the sleep clinic hooked up to all kinds of wires and we found out how bad he was. Tonight he came home with his miracle breathing machine. Hopefully we will both get a good nights rest and Ed will be like a new man! Whoo Hoo!

Snow, snow go away . . . .

Snow is fun if you are a kid. My dad used to pull us on a big sled with a tractor. The whole neighborhood of kids were on that sled. We'd go around a corner and everyone would fly off into the ditch. It hurt like heck, but we laughed and laughed and jumped back on for more. Now I'm afraid to walk out to get my paper for fear I will fall and break my hip. I shuffle around like a little ole' lady. I can't tell you how many times I haven't been able to get up my drive way and into my garage this winter. What good is a garage if you can't get your car into it! Ed shoveled it one time and it about gave him a heart attack. So now he just drives up and down it with his pick up packing it down. I found out that if I turn around up by Brent & Cindy's I can get up enough speed coming in at that direction to make it up into the garage. I don't know why but it works. So far I haven't lost any side mirrors or anything. The snow is packed so tightly that we might have snow on our driveway till next winter. I now know why old people go to Arizona for the winter. If it wasn't for my kids and grandkids we would go too, well except for our jobs, if it wasn't for our kids and grandkids and our jobs we would go too, except for money. If it wasn't for our kids and grandkids and our jobs and money we would go too. I guess we're stuck! thank goodness for my warm fireplace and my dear husband who keeps it burning everyday. If we just didn't have to shuffle off to work everyday!

Happy New Year

I guess the big question is "are you better this year than you were last year? Every year we make New Years resolutions and never give them another thought. Lose weight, spend less money, be a kinder person, - you know. I really want to do those things, I really do! First of all I never thought I would be 60 years old. That was too far in the future to even think about and I never thought I would be working at this age. I'm just so glad I've taken care of myself so I can keep up. Yeah, right! I always thought Ed would take care of me. Now he is close to retirement and thinks I'm going to be the bread winner. Such a silly man! But back to New Years Resolutions. This year I think I am going to make some I can keep, like, I'm going to quit smoking, drinking and gambling. Should take about a day to quit those. Then maybe I could start working on the others, like losing weight, spending less money (might be too late for that one) and being a kinder person. I have lots of hope for the new year. No gloom and doom here. I hope you all do too. Just let the sun shine in, face it with a grin, open up your heart and let the sun shine in!