more happy January

Monday was so busy. I drove Granny and Beck and the girls to SLC for Mary's birthday Party. I must say the party itself was really fun.

We had good food, cute decorations, lots of fun gifts for the birthday girl and no sick babies. Papa didn't feel so great but he still managed the mayhem in the basement without complaint. My Mary Cherry even got two pineapple upside down cakes complete with cherries and 30 candles. We were so blessed to have a safe and swift journey home. I do wish it wasn't so far, but I guess that is what makes our times together so special. And at last, Allen is out of the dog house (I hope). He got Mary the rocking chair she's been longing for.

Rebecca took advantage of the family together time to announce she is again pregnant. CONGRATULATIONS SORTORS!! Oh how we pray things go better than they did last time. I also pray that our sweet Mia doesn't get lost in the mix. She is such a precious baby, I worry about her. Beck knows how it feels to be the second child so I guess I shouldn't worry about her second child, but I do.

Seuao got off early and made it to the party, YEA! He is such a hard worker we don't get to see him enough. Lance is the same way, bless his heart.

I got to visit the triplets born into our Ward in December, yesterday. they are so cute, but little! they family will need lots of help in the coming months! I also made a home visit, and planned the Visiting Teaching Conference with my fabulous VT coordinator, Nikki in th eafternoon. I got dinner for the tripplet family. I then ran to the Church to print out a list and get to the fireside on time!

I only write this to prove that I do not speend all my time laying on the couch covered up (it's cold in this frozen Norther habitat) watching TV. and things do actually get done. Too bad I haven't finished designing the invitations to the VT Conference. they need to be finished and handed out on Sunday. I will also have Welfare Meeting at 7:15 and it's my turn to teach the RS lesson.

I have Presidency meeting in an hour and a half,--just enough time to design those invitations. So today will be gone before I know it.

I just marvel at how much can be done when I put my mind to it and what a great life I lead.

Just January

Christmas is over and far too gone to recount. It was fun and very busy. Let's just start here.

Today was rather sad. I went to the Employment Center and returned my stuff. I will be officially released. I learned so much! I also feel like I was able to give so much. My fear now is that I am somehow turning my back on the blessings my Heavenly Father gave me, not only in the way of education but also in my personality.

I have had a lot of very boring teachers through my extremely long educational career. Learning from them was not easy, even when I was really interested in the subject. What if the teachers I am leaving this responsibility to are boring? What if they cannot have empathy for the students and their plight? What if the students don't get the hope and inspiration they so badly need? I guess I need to just trust the Lord and remind myself that He has the whole situation under control.

We had three new sisters in RS on Sunday. I did get out to meet them this week---yea success! But I also stopped by and met a sister that moved in about 4 months ago. Her records have never been received so I didn't pursue her. Why go looking for trouble? Anyway, she is really sweet but facing. . . .Her husband left her last summer, he just didn't want to be married any more. They had two children just 17 months apart and the youngest was less than a year old.
She moved here to go to School and get away from all the gossip and people they had known as a couple only to find out she was pregnant again. These last two will also only be 17 months apart. She is due in February. Her mom can come for the Presidents Day weekend, but that is all. Golly, she makes my life look like a breeze and reminds me to count my many blessings!

The triplets will be coming home sometime in the next two weeks. Now that is going to be an opportunity for many hours fo service. I pray there are many people willing to partake of those blessings.

Mary's Birthday is next week and Benny's is on the 14th. I am looking forward to both celebrations. I just need to get some presents bought . . . .the way I have loved spending money in the past you wouldn't think purchasing gifts would be a trial. Something must be wrong with me.

On February 4th we are having the Visiting Teaching Conference and March 4th is the RS Birthday Party. Both of which require a fair amount of planning. The real problem, the cut in the RS budget. Anybody for stone soup?

This is the kind of post that I should just delete. No one wants to hear my petty complaints. (Oh yea, my eye sight seems to be getting worse. I will call the ophthalmologist today!) I have a wonderful, busy life. I have been blessed beyond imagination. Thank you God, for the blessings, the trials, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for my husband, my kids, their spouses, my grandchildren, my calling, and my friends. The list could go on for pages. I am truly blessed. Thank you God.

What a Wondrful time of the year for a break!

What a wonderful time of year for a break!

The NFCP weekend joy was partially marred by the failure of my dryer.
No really big deal, things like that just happen. Too bad Mary's clothes were being washed at the time and she had to deal with two loads of wet clothes and a few more clothes not even washed yet.

The story of her washer troubles can be found on her blog--maybe. So I called the appliance repair man early this morning. Of course, I removed the vent hose and checked to be sure it wasn't just a clogged line and thermostat auto turn off. He will be here tomorrow, we pray. Oh did I mention, I have been putting off repairing the washer for months, It too has some significant problems. A "gyro-scope" balance type thing has gone out and the thing rocks to the point that it has lost two legs. But it still worked.

The oven on the other hand has burned everything put in for the last month or so. it's really been on the fritz for three or four months now. I was going to call and get it repaired before the Christmas celebration but, it didin't even make the list of things to do. See previous blogs.

So what the heck, I gave all the info to the repair people and I'll have them all looked at at the same time. Ok

Following my much needed nap Pat and I went to investigate the non-functioning television in the family room, as reported by the kids this weekend. We talked to Comcast and then to Sony but to no avail, it's an internal problem. We called the certified repair people as we were referred by Sony. Yep, you guessed it, they will need to order the part and it will take 7-10 days. "That's nice" Just to make the afternoon complete the tv will into fit in either of our cars. Who would have guessed that while calling Granny to see if she would be willing to get in her van and drive over here in the snow so we could transport the vicitm--the repair store closed--promptly at 5 p.m..

Ther television downstairs in the living room has a pretty good picture, it just has some problems with the connections in the back. I cannot play DVDs on it. Now what? We have all five kids and six grandkids coming, for a "4 day vacation", and no entertainment means for them. Even if they bring the Wii there isn't a tv that will accomodate them.

What do you know, four repair requests in one day, the 22nd of December, 2008.

What is up with all this "stuff?" We do the right thing and give to others so they can have a nice Christmas just to get this? It's a real good thing I know one thing has nothing to do with the other. I surely just wish . . .you can guess what I am wishing for.

Have a heart, your life depends on it

The following is a copy of a letter I sent to my children the 22nd of December. When two people fall in love and marry and have children they never know what will come In faith we go forward, in faith we follow the plan and in faith we accept what we are given. Then we do our best, praying as if everything depends on the Lord and working like everything depends on us. the two together makes us who we are. the alternatives, faith without works and works without faith are both dismal and depressing. thanks be to God and our Savior Jesus Christ for life and love and family forever. Renee

True to his nature Dad did not tell us everything about the passing of his brother. Let me fill you in--thus preventing any unnecessary faux-pax.
On the day he died, Grandmother went into his room several times to give him his medications. He didn"t want to get up and was hadr to arouse. but this was not all that unusual. When it she got no responce and his breathing had become very fast, she called the Paramedics--he was still alive att hat time. They took a little longer to get there than they had in the past and by the time they walked in he was gone. She could not find the"Do Not Revive" paper he signed and by law they had to try to revive him. Which they did, but not for too long. He was gone. The coroner eventually said he had an ischemic heart problem--often the only sign of which is death. It's a strange diagnosis, but no worse than "we don't know" Which is, as you know what we got on John. They did draw a lot of blood and there was no evidence, spoken of in the final report, of unusual drugs or overdose. All of which is a real blessed relief for the family, I guess. Really, an overdose would be easier to understand. An undetermined heart problem gives no comfort or reassurance to those left behind who may inherit the same thing. We can only pray as time goes on, as it will, that the frontiers of medicine expand to include the prevention of such things.

Meanwhile, Aunt Kathleen evidently had a racing heart episode that did not pass in a few minutes and needed to be transported to the hospital (she was at some kind fo a luncheon at the time--I think Grandmother said) She was not able to get into a Cardiologist until January--so much for managed--HMO health care. We will have to wait and see what comes of that.

Anyway, neither Dad nor I knew when we got married that BOTH sides of your family would have life threatening heart problems. Not that it would have made a real difference in our choices. We only regret that we have saddled you with a health inheritance that you did not ask for. Frankly, neither did we. But we love you all, with all our (not so perfect) hearts. and we pray you will pay attention to you health and that of your children, that future generations will be healthier and live longer, happier lives.
I love you all!!!! Mom

And the List grows on

So I cleaned all the stinky stuff out of the fridge,
20-1=19 (to go)
Except
21.Wash old curtains-the lace is still good for somethings, if it is clean
22. clean out Dad's corner-people need to be able to get around the table
23. Take out the garbage-especially the fridge stuff but it's only 15 degrees out there
24. clean out my bathroom-at least my piles can go
25. Put drills and tools away! If it need fixing-it will need to wait!

You call this time off?

Well, it's been a while since I wrote anything. It's not like I haven't had anything to do. but I always take time to read my kid's blogs. They are great to keep me feeling like I know what is going on in their lives. Thanks!

When Dad left for SLC this week I had a list of 20 or so things to do. No matter how many items I mark off the list, the list continues to grow and the time is growing shorter. You see, on Friday he will return, with his Mother in tow. Now I have a great Mother-in-Law. she gets up early and gets in and out of the bath before any of my kids even dream of arising. And she always brings puzzle books to entertain herself when the rest of us are running around. She is 88 years old and doesn't even complain about sleeping upstairs.
So why am I dreading this? Because I am not ready. How does that go? "If ye are prepared ye will not fear?" It applies all to well.

So far this wek I have washed the sheets, made the beds (thanks Pat for the help!), had presidency meeting, hung all the curtains (a very very big job), sewed a few things for Beck, tended Mia for a few hours, purchased 2 food baskets, fixed (decorated. . .)and delivered them.
I did not go to meet with the Bishop. The executive secretary told me ther was not a minute to be had before 9:30pm. So I called his wife, we had a nice visit, and talked to him on the phine today. I also got my flu shot (with Mia in tow), found her some shoes that actually fit, and she doesn't cry when you try to put them on, and purchased a piece for my drill so I could hang the drapes. I bought two additional poinsettas for the chapel-it looked so boring in there last week, I couldn't take it anymore. Don't tell Dad. I will get them out of the house befroe the NFCP. Granny and I have been to Sams and Walmart, Albertsons and Home Depot sp far this week. I am sure ther is more to come!

After a pause for phonecalls the food baskets, fruit baskets, shopping and deliveries for tomorrow are at least planned. Maybe they will wait until next week. At least some of them. no probably most of them. There is just too much to do.

1. I still have to put the furniture back in the living room. There is lots of moving of furniture when replacing drapes. And I should vacuum, I've uncovered a multitude of dust and crushed leaves.
2 Clean off the table--that alonde could take a while!
3. Copy Grandfather's picture and getit in the frame. I got Grandmothers done today-yea! She will no longer feel left out.
4. Move the bunk bedsd-Lance is going to come over and help me do that tomorrow. I also ned to get the twin matteress from Betsy so it will be comfy for her.
5. Re-decorate the tree-for the LAST time. After that it will be just maintainence of the top two thirds. Little people think bright shiney round things are for throwing.
6. Finish the cards and mail them--this ought to get moved to the top of the list.
7. Clean out the fridge-it really needs it.
8. Wrap and Deliver over-due baby gifts--oh forget the wrapping
9. Call the Opthomologist
10. go to Michaels for a round brush (see below)
11. Paint three chairs (one really needs he round brush. . .)
12. Make 4 books
13. Gather 4 "family boxes" for organization purposes, while families are visiting
14. Finish sub-for santa shopping-only two little gifts left, actually this may get bumped from the list entirely as I just made them a food basket today. Hummmmm????
15. Make menus for next week-so I can shop on Saturday without using what is left of my brain. Is htere anything left up ther. If there really was I wouldn't be in this mess.
16. Be sure thers is a plan and stuff for dinner on Friday when Grandmother arrives. (this may have to move closer to the top as well.)
17. Finish sewing Ella's christmas gifts. then put the sewing machine away!
18. Get all the adult gifts out of the living room before the NFCP
19. Sleep?
20. Friday I get my nails done.

Do you think I can do it? Thank goodness it doesn't really have to be all done by Friday! Why I have a few days next week, sort of, with Pat and Grandmother here.
I was actually feeling pretty good about being ready for Christmas, until I made this list.
Heck no, I am not going to check it twice. I have too much to do for that.

Merry Christmas World

Oh yea, then there is all those emails to answer and transportation arrangements to make.

Any volunteers out there?

Gotta' love it.

So scary, thanks Lord

Tonight we had a terrible scare. I was sitting here writing blog entries to keep my mind and hands busy while I waited to hear from Mach. She was here yesterday and had a sore shoulder, not so bad except for all the other weird things going on with her-7 week postpartum body. But mid afternoon her rib started to hurt and she couldn't breath. She took ibuprofen and things calmed down but later returned. She got a blessing and went home.
Today was not so good and eventually she went to the hospital. Seuao stayed home with the kids but we were all so worried! It could have been gall bladder--we would have been ok with that. But when the doctors mentioned blood clot we all panicked! It wasn't until at least 8:30 that the doctors got the results of a CAT scan and decided it was just plurasy. Now that is really painful but at least it is not often life threatening.

Just the few hours of waining was tough. What in the world we ever do without Rachael? After loosing John I just don't think we could have survived a blow like that. All of my children are important to me and our family. I sincerely try to let them know how valuable each of them are to me. I know the Lord has answered another prayer. And I am so very grateful. I need my children. They mean the world to me. Rachael as the oldest hold a special place in my heart and. . .I am just so very very grateful that everything will be ok. thank you Lord.