Joey's 7 Habits Speach.....

I am so proud of Joey and how far he has come. Being apart of Student counsel, he was chosen to give a speech in front of the district principals, (his principals' boss), teachers, and parents.

He was assigned to speak on the 7 Habits course and how it affected his life by having it in the school.

His Habit was #7 "Sharpen the Saw". So proud of him!

Quote of the Day....

"Do what you CAN, with what you HAVE, where you ARE."
--Theodore Roosevelt

SEARIOUSLY?!?!?

Is it really the END of march? I cannot believe how fast this year is flying by already.

Open

So many people are having trouble viewing my blog while having to sign in, so I have made it "open" for now. ;)

Happy Birthday Grmpa Bowden, I miss you!

It seems so long ago that you left this earth, but your memories are still apart of me everyday!

Happy Birthday! I love you!

A little early I know.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gra'mom and Great Grandpa Evans! (it's a few days early I know, but I didn't want to forget)

I cannot believe it is that time of year again. It seems I was saying this just a few posts down.
I still love you just as much and you are still just as great as my post last year!!
Thank you for your wonderful example, your hugs and your smile.
I always feel the spirit when I am near you Grandma, Thank You!!
WE love you: Jo, Mark & Joey

Happy Birthday JennJenn!

I miss you so much everyday!
I hope you have a great day and do something fun. ;)
Thanks for being me sister and my friend!!

Oh my, how time flies...

I cannot believe how fast this month of January flew past.

When I was young I didn't think "growing up" could come fast enough. But now that I am a grown up, I can't seem to make it slow down. All of the sudden my little bean is going to be 12! I didn't see it at the time, but that age for me was one of the best times in my life. My home, my ward, my family, my friends, my school, my experiences, I look back now and realize how great it all really was.

I laugh sometimes because I come from a combined family of "yours, mine, ours and theirs" and if you asked each of us about one particular moment, you would get several different answers. We each had our own,  good & bad. That is one thing I am grateful for being a "grown-up" you can see more often, things as they really are. Things still hurt the same from time to time, but you have a little bit more understanding about what those things mean. 

I often wonder about people who set new years resolutions. Not sure I have ever followed any of mine. But I am thankful for the changes in my life for the good AND bad over the last few years. I have some of the most wonderful friends, whom I depend on very much. Friends come in all forms, and at all different times in your life. I always envied people who stayed friends since grade school, but I realize that the new ones can be even better, they can still know you, and love you anyway. ;)

Well....One month down. I hope the other 11 slow it down a little bit. I'm still trying to remember to stop and smell the roses once in awhile. I hope you all do the same ;)

Christmas 2010 Name Plates

This is what the Fam got for Christmas 2010.

I had such a great time with this project! I designed the layout of the names and what words, but had them professionally made.

I saw them in my super great friend Cyndi's house, and she told me her super great sister-in-law (Angelic) made them.

SO I had to order them. I think they all turned out GREAT. Sorry some of them are fuzzy but you still get the gitz of it :)

This one below is my Fav scripture so I wanted one made as well but Angelic is the master mind of this one!!
I love them when they are full, but keep in mind, the less full ones are for the people still having kids!?! lol.

 

                                                   

Catching up.....Kinda

Thanksgiving was great, Christmas was Great, almost New Year, can't wait. HOPING for a much better New Year!  I hope to be much better at blogging this next year, I really have so much to say :) Happy New Year everyone!!

I seem to have lost my brother.
I haven't really "seen" him since this photo was taken in Mexico.
Something awful happened there that broke him; mentally, physically, spiritually and socially.
I am not sure I will ever see THIS Corey ever again. But I sure do love him, and miss him.
Please pray for him!

Happy Birthday Christena/Kelsey :)

Happy Birthday Kels!
13 is a big deal, though you may not realize it.
I just realized the date is also cool. 10-20-2010 :)
Time goes fast and I think about you often. I love you!

Well Hello...

This is a great time of year for me, the leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and has a slight chill, and Fall has a smell too, I love it!

So many great things have happened over the last few months since I have written last. I will try harder to keep up instead of back track every six months :) I have novels of pictures that I need to post so I will go through them and see what I can whip up as far as getting caught up here.

I am excited for the changes that I feel are coming our way, life is good for the moment! I pray for the same for all of you reading my posts :)

Happy Fall everyone!

No so little anymore.....

My Sweet little Bean is growing up..... It makes me happy and sad at the same time.
I will always miss the cute little toddler phase but I also look forward to growing up (just not so fast though).

We were leaving church this afternoon and I was talking to Joey, after a minute realized I was talking to myself, I had lost Joey about 40 steps back.

He stopped at the Relief Society door where there was an older gentleman waiting for his wife, I walked back quietly to listen....
Joey: "Hello, how are you today?" the older man answered "I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" Joey: "I'm good. Well it was sure nice to see you today. Bye"

LOL. On the way out I asked Joey if he even knew who the man was, and he said "Yeah, I see him around I guess" I asked him what inspired him to have this conversation and Joey said to me "Mom, you should ALWAYS be kind to the elderly, you never know how much longer we get them."

I have always love the older generation, ever since I was a kid in the 16th ward, we had a section of the ward boundaries that was a retirement village sort of neighborhood and this generation was always my favorite. This ward in particular had the awesom'est older generation, they offered their wisdom and love at the same time, they really seemed to connect to the youth and even the primary age children. They probably thought the teenagers of my generation were little punks but I, never once, was made to feel this way by any of them.

It made my heart happy to see my little man, feeling this same sweet spirit from the elderly in our ward today.

I love you Joey! Don't grow up too fast though ok?

Simpler Times..........

Simpler Times.........Is there really such thing?
I like to think so, but more so in "moments"................

Sometimes I look back at times in my life and wish I could go back even if just for a "moment".
The funny thing is when we really stop to think about it they weren't always so simple after all.

It is funny how the brain can take one priceless moment and make it feel like that whole chapter of your life was simple. ;)

I was looking through some photos, and although MANY memories of "simpler times" come to my mind, this photo says it all for me, right now. Who knows, maybe the day wasn't perfect, maybe I got in trouble for getting so dirty, maybe it was overcast and rained right after this photo, lol. who really knows. but what matters is that this photo captures a moment in my life where people aren't angry, or mean, and the world isn't hurting so badly.
No, in this one moment, I am at the beach in bearlake with one of the greatest men on earth and we seem to both be having the time of our lives at this ONE moment.

That is why I love taking pictures so much, so that even In such dark times that we live in right now, we can look back and remember there are many moments to be celebrated too!

{{Miss you Gramps}}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom!

I wanted to try to post a Birthday message to everyone but I pretty much suck.
I either forget to post or I never get around to it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom.
Thanks for many great years of MY life and I hope there are many many more great years to share with you,
Thanks for being one of my Best Friends!

Still Alive.........

Wow! sorry for the silence.
So many things have happened I didn't take the time to sit down and write them. In the silence of not writing I missed Valentines day, St Patty's, Sweet little KJ's baby blessing (all of which were Awesome) and Aunt Zola's Funeral (sad but peaceful).
We are also right smack in the middle of our business venture and ready to kick off the Book Kiosk, I am posting a photo of what the Kiosk looks like and also our business logo. People have a hard time with the name but we decided we didn't care, Mark spend a month trying to come up with something and together we designed the final look of it. I think it turned out pretty cool. The name is BookResQ.com pronounced Book Rescue, We start our launch of the Kiosk and the start of buyback on Monday. Wish us luck, busy busy days ahead ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gramom and Grandpa Evans

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMOM! (And Grandpa Evans)
I probably knew, but forgot that My Grandma was born on her Dad's 30th Birthday.
Thats a pretty special birthday treat!

I love you Gramom, you are a very special women,
I look up to you and hope to be half as loveing and patient as you are someday.

I love this picture because you are holding KJ and him being a name sake of Gramps,
and JUST having come from heaven, I believe a small part of Gramps was there in that room with us too.

I look forward to many more years of visits and playing canasta with you and I hope you know we love you SO much!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I hope you had a great day!
Love you; Jo, Mark and Joey ;)

Signs of getting old?

Getting older sucks that's for sure, not in all ways but in health issue ways. I just didn't think that 32 would be considered "old" I had a kid not to long ago call me Ma'am and I wanted to cry, I am not a Ma'am YET am I?? lol.

Mark, Joey and I went to see the new Avatar 3D movie last night, I am not a fan of movie theaters anymore because they some how interact with my body and make me sick. for the last 6-7 years I cannot seem to hear anything (strange because they are SOOO loud) I can hear but not understand the words. I have to watch the whole movie and just piece it together by the actions going on, I do pretty well but it ends up giving me a headache because I have to concentrate so hard to figure out what is going on, this leads to getting nausea for some odd reason, I usually have to go to the bathroom half way through to either clear my head or throw up, usually after this I am fine if I sit in the door way and watch the rest of the movie from there.

Well last night I am not sure what the problem was, maybe I have not been for a while or because it was 3D?? But about 20 into the movie I had to walk out, about 40 minutes into the movie from the doorway once again I made a mad dash to the bath room to throw up all of the popcorn and dinner for the evening, this persisted through out the entire 3 hour movie, 6 times in fact. I was starting to wonder if I was sick off something I ate, it got so bad. It was a great movie non the less but this was the the worst movie theater experience I have ever had.

Needless to say on the trip home I actually started to feel better and was hungry ;) I slept for 11 hours but woke up just feeling the affects of it but not still sick. ???? Does anyone else have this problem? I really find it odd that just simply watching a movie on a big screen, a little louder than normal could cause such an effect on me?

Blah!

Well Helloooooooooooooo

What can I say? I suck.

I thought I would be totally motivated to blog everyday this month but it turns out, NOT!

A lot has been happening and I guess that is a good thing. Work has been very busy and I have been thrown into the (drum roll please................) the 9 hour+ shift, lately.
LOL. Yes, Yes I am fully aware that normal people usually work the 9 hour shift but this was actually a change for me. ;) I enjoy the social interaction don't get me wrong, but I am so tired at the end of the day and by the time I get home from Campus, (we are promoting our business up at the UofU) Mark is the one who has cleaned the house, loaded the dishes and picked Joey up from school! (THANKS Mark!) I jokingly told the crew where I am working that I was going to wear my BYU sweat shirt the next day. lets just say I was HIGHLY advised NOT too! lol. {{point taken}} but still funny.

Joey is growing like a weed, too fast in fact, he is at the age now where I can remember what it was like to be his age (in most detail as apposed to small occasions) I am so proud of him he has been working very hard in school and just got the Jaguar of the month award for January.
YEAH JOEY, I am so proud of you Buddy!!

Well that is all for now, back to work for me. Hope everyone else is doing well!

January 6th 2010

Life is not always about holding a good hand, Life is playing a poor hand well.
-- Danish Proverb

January 3rd 2010

YAH for 11:00am Church (instead of 9:00am) We went from 30 kids in the Primary to 42 I am sure it will stay that way because of the time change but who knows :)

Happy 2nd of January!

Today started out a little drab, work as usual...............
But then Joey came out and asked me to play catch with him.
In an effort to be a little more involved......(ok, Let me back up here)
Joey still has days where he just plain wants to hang out with Mom and Dad. Don't get me wrong this is so cool and some day I will miss this, but being a parent of an only child is exhausting sometimes, he gets really frustrated when we don't want to play every second of the day AND when we don't want to play what HE wants to play. ~I~ for one, am not willing to learn Yu-Gi-Oh (his passion) and Mark hates playing Joey's made up games sometimes because he changes the rules so that only HE (Joey) can win. LOL.
SO, I presented the idea to Mark this last Christmas that we each introduce Joey to something (still kiddish) but that we would enjoy too, so we can have a little together time with him. So we got Mark and Joey Matching (Red Ryder) BB Guns and the safety glasses so they wont "shoot their eye out" and we got me and Joey matching baseball gloves and a baseball, Mark is not much into sports and I remember loving to play church softball.
SO.......(Back to the Story) Joey and I went out to play a little catch, he is 10 years old and this is only his second time ever doing so. How UN AMERICAN is that?? {{mother of the year award inserted here}} It was so much fun and he proved to be a natural, throwing right to me and catching perfectly. It was really fun, and something we both look forward to enjoying for a long time!!
Thanks Joey!! Love you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

A new year means a NEW attitude right? I hope all of you have the best of BOTH. When I started this blog I was excited to be able to "get my feelings out" but this year I decided I will get better at writing more often first of all, but hopefully writing positive things and not drag down the rest of you all reading it. I am sure in a few weeks I will look back and laugh at the things that stressed me out last year, but overall it was really a tough year. The world lost a great man last year, and a few weeks ago almost lost another one. I am truly looking forward to wiping out the past and starting fresh, I am hoping that that's what is in store for me. I spent too long telling God what was best for me, this last year I decided to let him tell me what he wanted, it wasn't always pleasant but I made it through, that stands for something right?
So..................... HOPPY NEW YEARS! (thats how I said it when I was little) lol. ;)

.........................................Merry Christmas!

And...... Happy Birthday Grandma Bowden (she would be 104 today) I miss you very much!!

.................Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

There are 9 days left in this year..................Someone, PLEASE tell me Next year will be better ;)
I love you Corey! Please hang in there.

................................Just thoughts............

UUUUUUUUUUUUgh.

There is so much crap in the news right now and most of it right here in good ol' Salt Lake Valley, some even right at our door steps. Don't get me wrong I think you can find evil anywhere you go but it feels so close to home and it is very disturbing to watch and read about all of it lately. I was looking on a local news web site just now and I counted 22 stories on the front page and MAYBE 1 of them could count as a semi positive story. Maybe the world has always had evil things in it and the modern days of media just make it seem worse, but I tell you, I don't remember being scared as a kid, and right now, I am scared for the kids who live in today's youth. Scared for them OR of them.

I guess the thing that started all of this is the recent news of a West Valley women who is missing, I thought the husbands story was strange from the start but tried not to judge because the media likes to "tell" you who to think is guilty. Only a week has passed and the target is getting larger and larger towards the husband, AGAIN.

I am wondering in my mind, when did it become OKAY to hurt (emotionally or physically), hit or even kill your wife, wrap her up or dump her somewhere and then pretend to help look for her for a few weeks before you go to jail for DOING it!!!??? This is the 2nd major case in the Slat Lake Valley (what we actually call ZION) and I am sure it happens more often than we know world wide.

Kidnappings, Murder, Suicide, TRUSTED church and or school leaders causing physical harm/hurting children, school shootings, hit by a car, hit and run, controlling husbands who end up killing their wives, a mom who kills her whole family over a custody issue......
The list doesn't end, and that is all just in the last four weeks of somewhat LOCAL news reports I have seen or read about.

From an LDS stand point, I don't see how we can deny that these truly ARE the last days. And WE are the valiant souls who were chosen to come to earth at this time, to handle these problems?? What were we thinking??? lol.
I have joked in the past that I would have been a horrible pioneer, I would have whined the whole trek, I would have found a reason to ride on the wagon instead of walk, I would have been among the first doubt that all of it was worth the death and loss and starvation and pain and blisters and labor??? But, I am sure they are up in heaven right now looking down and saying the same thing "I'm glad I wasn't sent to THIS time"

My mind wonders a little to the youth of today.... If anyone asked, I'd say I had a pretty good childhood and actually mean it. I can't complain much there. But I look at today's young kids (in general, not all) and I see lazy, want, need, have to have, spoiled, I see disrespect towards the older generation and rules, I see greed. Gangs, school shootings. Drugs. I feel I was taught better than this so I have a hard time relating to this on some levels.
It's actually Funny, I'm SURE our parents said the same thing when we were younger, I guess NOW I am the parent and seeing through their eyes. It's a tough job and one I try not to take lightly. BUT, I hope I NEVER forget what it was like to be a kid either. As hard as we try, our kids don't always learn from "our" mistakes.

Mark actually had to remind me once, as I was getting frustrated at Joey for not doing everything I told him to do the second he got home from school. Mark reminded me that Joey too, had JUST had a very exhausting 6 hour day (at school). Teachers telling him what to do all day, dealing with kids who may or may not be nice that day, cramming in the lessons and trying not to make too much of it home work, sure there is recess but I don't think my mom ever knew I actually dreaded recess, what if no one would play with me, I used to sit behind a wall and watch other kids play sometimes because I had fun, watching them have fun. I'm sure, not everyone deals with that, but I have a kid who breaks out in hives and is emotionally sensitive more than not because of stress he should NOT even be having. So I guess I try really hard now to recognise that, I would not go back to being a kid right now for anything in the world. And instead of gripe I guess they need more support than ever.

This deep thought was taken way off course I know, but as I watch the angry things that are happening in the world today it makes me frustrated in a way I do not like feeling. Life is a fight to succeed, one we should be fighting together, WITH our kids, parents, teachers, leaders, neighbors, spouses. Not AGAINST them.

I KNOW this may not seem very funny, but every once in a while, when Mark and I are talking about all the crap of the world, I never forget to thank him for being responsible with our finances, not hiding things from me, and for not killing me in my sleep. Those are 3 LESS thing I have to worry about in life.

SO, THAT said...... I think I will turn off the TV and put away the newspapers, and enjoy this holiday season and be grateful to the Man we celebrate it for. For he truly knows all things, and someday this will all make sense. I hope. :)

I'm Baaaaaaaaack.........

Well at least for today :)
It is kind of funny, I got on a few times to see other peoples blog posts and not many of my friends have posted in about 2 months either. lol. I guess maybe after Halloween the next two months just fly by with or without you! Thanksgiving was very nice as usual. Then all of the sudden you are in the middle of December wondering what hit you and where the time went. Got the tree up, the cards mailed, presents bought, wrapped and under the tree, but I am still not relaxed yet, whats up with that? I guess it could be worse I could be stressed AND still have all those things to do. ;) I am working on the little updates in between and some pictures to show for it, but that will be another day and another time. Happy Holidays everyone!!

............................All in a days work :)

We Woke up at 6:30am picked up Joey's friend Sawyer, drove to Taylor,
as we arrive we saw this beautiful fog right over the city.

As the sun came up I got this shot, It looks kind of Halloween'y : ]

Then we built a barn : ] (And by "we" I mean the boys), I helped of course until the hay got my allergies going and I had to go inside. lol.
really, in one day it went from this..........



To this...........................


To THIS...........................................

Mom and I picked up Gramom, went to the Cemetary and then shopping.....
Had a GREAT time, and got some neat Christmas items.



Took the kids to a ward Trunk or Treat, Then to Trick or Treat at Papas. Happy Birthday tomorrow Papa!



Came back, had homemade chili and doughnuts for dinner, and then we were off to storm the neighborhood.....
This is only half the crew but the only pic I could get.

I really need to figure out this camera, sometimes I get lucky with night shots and others, well, they are pretty bad but the memory is still there :) We stopped at the neighbors house for this pic and they opened the door right when we took the picture so I think the back light drown it out a bit :)

AND............... gained an hour of extra sleep tonight, I'd say thats a great reward for a long day of Fun!

...............................Yeah for Halloween : ]

I am not sure why I love halloween so much, I'm sure because I love Fall and you cannot have one with out the other :) We are having our ward trunk-or-treat tonight but it decided to snow today so we will move it all in doors. Joey asked me this morning if we had to cancle it and I told him No we'd just move it inside. He gave me a rather odd look and said "Mom, how will we get all of the cars IN the church??"
LOL. Thats my boy :)
I will post pictures later but I am very excited I like halloween parties!! : ]

..........................Where does time go????

I cannot believe it has been 12 years! (October 20) Sometimes I feel Sad that all of the things I would be able to explain to you, may never matter. If I could, I would tell you that the decision I made was with out a doubt the RIGHT one. I may never understand WHY it was, but I KNOW it was. You are where you are supposed to be in this life and I am finally where I am supposed to be too. I have loved the privilege of being able to watch you grow up from a distance. I would also tell you how much I love you. I love your family. How amazed I am at your ability to handle all of the disabilities and setbacks you have had to endure in your life . I hope one day in heaven (I will be able to hear and you will be healthy) and we will be able to look back with peace in our hearts and be grateful that things worked out the way they did.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

...........................Almost Real!

Yeah! We have insulation!! Walls should come next week if we pass the things Mark fixed! I can't wait to move the office in.

And Many More.............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mark!
I love you!

........................Having Fun with the Phone :)

Joey and I were playing with the phone camera since I forgot my camera for the day.
Here is what we came up with......
Not great quality I know but it's night and no flash on the phone :)

This is me skooshing Joey with my fingers...............

.................................The GREAT Pumkin.............

I miss those Snoopy shows they always used to show around the holidays. I always love watching Linus wait for the "Great Pumpkin" for some reason:) What a better way to kick off FALL than to go to the Pumpkin Patch, Joey has never done this before so we decided (actually Mark's idea) to take Joey and let him pick one out to carve or decorate this year. I think ~I~ was more excited than he, I wondered off with the wheel barrow looking for my own :)
Can you imagine I ~FORGOT~ my camera??? Good thing I figured out the whole phone camera thing, not to bad for a phone camera at least we got a memory :)
HAPPY FALL..........................................

Fall.........

Things have really settled down and are getting back to what ever "normal" means :) I am really looking forward to "Fall" It is my favorite time of the year. These leaves, the colors, the smell, Fall also means that Christmas cheer is around the corner. I am a little stressed though that I have not even started with Christmas, usually I am done or close to done by now and I honestly haven't even let it slip into my mind until now. I don't do this for bragging rights, it is simply so that by the time the season is actually here I can ENJOY it, instead of rush with the rest of the angry crowd to get it all done. Oh-well. For now I will just enjoy Fall, I hope it doesn't slip by too quickly, the skies already have winter written all over them...............

Really????

Ok, anyone who truly knows me will not believe either of two thing......

1. That ~I~ Made this. Or
2. That ~I~ Ate this.

I was excited when Mark suggested Veggie-ka-bobs for dinner the other night, at first I cringed, you can't have that with out the meat?? But then as I was shopping I was excited to see what I could find to put on it. I realized that... ok, Martha Stuart IS talented but really all you have to do is make something colorful and look nice and you can call it talent :)

I have a funny way of cooking, I LOVE to make cool looking food and then not eat it because I don't like what is in it, or I snack while I am making it so when it is done I don't want it anymore. :P

But............ I truly tried this and had fun making. I even got Joey to try and like most of it :) Mark who will eat almost anything loved it!

SO, this is our veggie dinner....................



Veggie-ka-bobs......Red pepper, white onion, Orange Pepper, Italian Squash, Green Pepper, mushroom, pineapple, cherry tomato, and then again back wards :)



Our mixed greens n spinach with red lettuce Salad..............

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.....

Ok, WHO would believe that these symptoms of "depression" I have been having for weeks: headaches, sleeping all day, stomach pain, nausea, moodiness, weepings etc. etc. could possibly have one simple "over the counter" common cause?

This is the one time that google'ing actually paid off for me. I found the source of the pain and treated it and within 24 hours, sure enough one by one each symptom is starting to subside. I feel like a new women!

It's funny to me actually I remembered a time when I was sick for weeks with similar symptoms and for some strange reason I decided to take an Sinus Pill and all of the sudden I didn't feel like ripping the heads off of anything that moved anymore. So I set out to see if in this case I could find another one common cause.

Is this normal? I really thought I was going to have to be admitted to a hospital, it was just not going away. I don't remember my body reacting in such a sever way to simple everyday complications. It's like I literally just shut down in all forms until I finally figured out what it was.

The good news is, although I DID fight some serious stress issues over the last 3 months, which is probably what caused the problems to start with, I am NOT crazy. And I am glad to feel like my old self again. :)

Happy Days Ahead...................

:)

Yeah, today is a better day! Nothing Paryer can't fix right? :)

Blah.......

You would think I was Pregnant (YES I am SURE I am NOT...........)

The last few weeks have brought so many changes for me in many different ways. I am eating foods I would never try before, more fruits and veggies than ever before too, my taste buds seem to be changing and I think my body is trying to tell me I have neglected it for too long AGAIN. I literally have gained and lost the same 50 lbs, (3) times now, and unfortunately I am on the upside of the scale right now. :P

I am Eating different which is a good thing but I am also taking 2to3 hour naps 1 or 2 times a day, I am achy in my back and tired almost all the time. I have prescription headache meds that seem NOT to be working like they used to because the headaches are seeping back in more often than they should. I cry for no reason most of the time and I am not a lazy person by any means, but I seem to have lost my MO JO with getting my routine back.

I have had a couple people say it sounds like symptoms of depression. But it really feels different than that.
I really thought once we got Gramps peacefully laid to rest, things would get back to normal: life, work, thoughts, sleep etc etc. But I can't seem to shake it off.

Am I preparing for another rough turn in life, or am I having some sort of separation anxiety?
My friend Cyndi mentioned in a previous blog post that I was the lucky recipient of a wonderful "learning experience" (LOL) Which I am truly grateful for, don't get me wrong. But I am MUCH better at helping other people with their "learning experiences" and not so great at mine. :)

My thoughts seem to turn to the things I feel like I need to be doing but am not getting them done. Mark and I work so hard and seem to have so little to show for it. I know I should bite my tongue right there, I DO count all of my blessings every day! But I mean in other ways, I am tired of being tired, and working so hard all the time, and not being able to make time for what I want to be spending my time on.

Maybe all of this is regrets of some sort. I feel like we didn't get up to visit family until Gramps's life was on the line, we got to spend some GREAT moments with him his last few months, my regrets aren't with him in anyway but since the funeral it has been back to being too busy to find time for anything else, it seems like we can't even find time to go visit Gra'mom who probably needs visitors now more than ever. I haven't been up to Ogden to visit my family since last Christmas. Why is it in life that we wait until it might be too late, to MAKE time.

I am 32 years old, I know I am not anywhere near retirement age but sometimes I I wish things would jump into order and we could enjoy life a little more. Breath a little. I have been fighting a sickening urge lately that someone is missing from out little family. Crazy as it seems I can think of a million reasons NOT to, and only 1 reason too. Joey is 10 years old, we don't have health care, our house isn't big enough to bring one more into it comfortably, I have complicated pregnancies, and so on and so on. The ONE reason, is that it feels right. (light chuckle)

Gramps was famous for saying in his retirement article "This place ain't worth getting all stressed about" He applied that to his life and he lived it well. I feel sometimes these last few weeks he is standing over me saying "Didn't you learn anything from me?"

I am sorry to anyone who actually has to sit and finish this whole post, and I DO know the sun shines tomorrow.
I Just needed to vent to the blog again today :)
Love you ALL!

And many more.........

On and Off for 2 years, Dating for 7 more, and Married for 2, They ALL ironically have September 14th in common. So that means I can count 11 years right :)
Happy Anniversary (September 14th) Mark, I Love you very much, and I look forward to many more years :)
Jo

a Wonderful Day for a Wonderful Man

As we wrap up this chapter of life, laying Gramps to rest, I want to say it was truly a wonderful moment:
The weather, the company, the food, the talks, the feeling........... I wouldn't have changed a thing.
Now my thoughts turn to Gra'mom.
I hope You know how much you mean to us. I have been raving about Gramps for months and I never meant to leave you out of that equation, I've said it before and I will say it again, you CANNOT have Such a Great Man as Gramps, without a GREAT Women by his side, You kept him in order and you are silently the Rock in the Family, the one who holds it all together and you gave Gramps the support and love to be the man he is.
Now it is our turn to give you the Support and Love to be who you are. I look forward to it!!!!
We love you so much!!!

Jo

One (only one of many) of the things I will remember most about Gramps is that

he wrote almost daily in his journal since the 1970's.

That is such an awesome habit to make and I can't wait to read

what his thoughts were all these years.

I love you Gramps!!

Keith E. Gale

1921 ~ 2009

'The Greatest Generation'

ROY - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather

and very special friend, Keith E. Gale, peacefully passed away

Monday, September 7, 2009 at

his home.

He was born August 3, 1921

in Ogden, Utah to Fred Eugene

and Oertel Innes Gale.

Keith graduated from Ogden

High School in 1939 where he

was co-captain of the football

team and involved in ROTC. He

lived in Ogden for 19 years and

has resided in Roy for the past 69

years.

He was a Veteran of WWII assigned

to the coastal artillery/antiaircraft

division. He was stationed

in the Aleutian Islands, Attu, AK.

He was honorably discharged in

November of 1945 advancing to the rank of Tech Sgt., U.S. Army.

Keith married Laura Evans in Arimo, Idaho on January 26, 1946.

Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings in

the ward and stake including Sunday School, Young

Men's, Membership Clerk, High Council and Bishopric. He

and Laura were faithful home teaching companions. They

influenced the lives of many members of the Roy 5th

Ward throughout the years.

Keith worked at the Ogden Standard Examiner for over 50 years,

starting by sweeping the business office on weekends and after

school. He retired in 1986 as the Mechanical Superintendent of the

newspaper. In an article concerning his retirement the Standard

stated "17,885 editions of the Ogden Standard Examiner rolled off

the presses with three things in common, newsprint, ink and Keith

Gale".

He and Laura enjoyed 63 years of association with a great group

of people referred to as 'the Canasta Gang'. Thanks to all of them

and their children for many years of camaraderie and good times.

They also enjoyed Weber State athletics and were basketball season

ticket holders for over 50 years.

They loved attending the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

They looked forward to their annual trip of visiting their

daughter and her family, renewing old acquaintances, making new

friends and cheering for the underdog.

Keith is survived by his wife, Laura; their children, Diane

(Charles) Adams, Taylor; Jeff (Kathy) Gale, West Point; Greg

(Kathy) Gale, Summerfield, NC; Mary Lu (David) Wheeler, Omaha,

NE; 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, one great-greatgrandchild;

a sister-in-law, Carol Gale; and many nieces, nephews

and other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Darrell

and Darwin.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Justin Mansfield and Kelly, and

the caring staff of Vista Hospice for their loving care and concern for

Keith. The family also thanks the members of the Roy 5th Ward and

the Taylor 1st Ward for their many acts of kindness, love, charity,

service and compassion. These acts will never be forgotten.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 12th at 11

a.m. at the Roy 5th Ward Chapel, 5300 South 2100 West.

Friends and family may call Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's

Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South and Saturday from 9:45 to

10:45 a.m. at the church house.

Interment, Roy City Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Keith's name to the Primary Children's

Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 58249, SLC, UT

84115.

Send condolences to the family at:

www.lindquistmortuary.com

I Love little baby ducks.....And I LOVE YOU TOO!

All the way home I thought about what I wanted to say, I wanted to start out complaining that the world LOST a wonderful man tonight. But I decided to Say this instead: Heaven GAINED a wonderful man tonight. It was such a wonderful and peaceful way that Gramps left this world, and I feel at peace right now knowing the many things he CAN do now. He can walk, and sing, and see, and pee, he is with his Mom and Dad and BOTH Brothers (1 whom he never got to meet in this life) How can you feel sorry for an opportunity like that?
Shortly after he took his last breath I went out to the back patio and saw what Gramps had left us.....
This BEAUTIFUL Sunset, Thanks Gramps.

Gra'mom told me that Gramps loves the moon and told her to be sure and go out and look at it tonight. So this one is for you, Gramp's Moon......

This night, I thank my Heavenly Father for the honor of knowing AND being related to such a GREAT Man.
I will Miss you Gramps!
Jo

To Pitty or Not to Pitty, That is the question....

Ok I am just kidding,
This is totally NOT a pity me blog post but I need to vent.
I really don't even feel picked on and I KNOW we will get through this but it seems crazy. In the last 4 weeks we have had a suicide, a lost kitten (which is like a funeral for Joey), Gramps is literally fighting to the end on this stupid cancer that decided it was ok to take him from us, Family flew in which was nice but then we found out that we were all exposed to Strep for 2 weeks (which like the plague for Joey) who ironically came home from church today not feeling well, and My 31 year old cousin just fell off a bike up the canyon, hit her head on a rock and is being rushed to the hospital. Ok, any takers on what I am supposed to be learning from all of this. I will pay good rates to the first to respond with great answers :) LOL. Just Kidding.
To ALL of my family out there also dealing with all of this....I LOVE YOU! And this too shall pass, Right????

My 4th Nephite.......

Gramps, Words can't express what I am feeling right now.
I LOVE YOU so Much!
The things you have taught me by example and by word, I will cherish forever.
You are Light on a cloudy day and The Rainbow after the rain.
You make me always want to be a better person so I can be with you again someday.
I love that we get to play canasta and that you always beat us :) And that we get to eat liver and onions with you.
Thank you for being a Man of Courage and Honor and for raising your family in the Gospel so that I would have this opportunity too. Thank you for always having such a great sense of humor, and for loving me no matter what. You still hold the record of the only family member to ever touch my stinky feet! Thank you for always teaching me that Family comes first no matter what, "that's just what you do" you always said and I never forgot it. I promise to take your advice and take small vacations and breaks once in a while and enjoy life. And I hope I can keep your legacy and example going for my children and theirs. Thank you for being YOU.
WE Love you so much.
Jo, Mark and Joey

Say it isn't so........

My baby is in 5th grade today! Where does the time go? I am having a hard time with this today, I assume because he his my only one, and secondly that I remember this age so well, it's hard to believe that HE is that age. :)

Whew, I made it.........

I am glad this crazy week is over. I am praying for a better one next week.
Marks uncle Charlie decided to end his life last weekend, no one knew much about the arrangments for awhile because his wife was admitted to a mental hosp. after finding him, and his 90+ year old Mother, I am sure had to take out a loan to pay for the arrangements and plan a funeral for her oldest of 7 kids.
Such a sad, selfish decision...... I am sorry to offend anyone who may be reading this, but this was a really hard week watching people pick up the pieces he left behind for them.

On a positive note, a good door was opened too. Marks Dads siblings don't keep much contact, they are not close in the way I am used to a family being. Marks Dad has an identical twin brother and I only found out about 2-3 years ago. (No one has seen him in 12 years) And I found out just this week that His Dad also has a sister I have never met and didn't know exsisted, no one knew where she lived until she came in from California for the funeral.
Marks grandmother turns 93? on Monday and this will be the first time in 12 years all of her children will have been together, that's kind of a nice birthday present I guess. A major loss was also 6 gains (by having her children here.)
You know, I think I spent all week counting my weaknesses instead of my blessings. That's easy to do I guess.
I still hope next week is a better one.

For starts, tomorrow is August 23rd!!
For YEARS this has been dedicated as a very special day to me, I always knew something very important would happen on this day, marriage, birth of a child, proposal...SOMETHING! As hard as I tried nothing really ever did happen. It took 31 years, but ONE year ago tomorrow I went to the Ogden Temple to take out my endowments.
WOW, what a WONDERFUL day! Sunday IS the first of the week according to the calender so I guess Next week really will be better. Tomorrow is also a Temple Dedication (The Oquarrah Mnt. Temple) right here in the valley, I can't think of a better way to celebrate my one year anniversary :) And, start a new week.
School starts Monday for Joey. I cannot believe how time flies. Sometimes I wish it could freeze frame, but other times I am content with how things are progressing. My head spins sometimes when I stop to think so I try to stay busy or I catch myself trying to understand it all. People die, others arrive. Things get tough, then better. Life moves fast and it moves with or without you. Our theme at girls camp this year was "Enjoy the Journey" I think I know now what that really means. It's about making the best of the hand your dealt. You can't choose the cards but you can choose how you play them. I just hope I can look back and say I played them well......

These are a few of my Favorite things........AGAIN

As I was looking through old posts I found this one from 2 years ago , and needed the reminder :)

I love all of the beautiful things that God has given us to remind us that he is God. He does know us and he does know what we need. There are some days when I am down and that day or night I happen to notice something very beautiful and it reminds me that he IS there, and I pretend that he sent me that beautiful sight at that moment to remind me, I'm not alone and he IS watching.

Our awesome day with the Barkers.......

Joey and I got to spend the day with Sawyer and Savannah a week ago or so.....
Our power went out so we decided to go "out" too. First we went to Carl's Jr. to play on the play ground and get drinks and shakes. Savannah got a great idea to shoot spit wads through straws at the boys while playing hide-n-seek
{smart girl, she must have a lot of older brothers to teach her these wonderful things}
This also started the spit wad war for the rest of the day. Then we went to Pizza Hut to pick up dinner. (and continued the spit wad war of course) Then we came home and the power was back on. We played with the cats, and watched a movie, and then played star wars Lego's, and Joey taught us how to do back flips off the recliner chair. And then it was time to go :( Thanks for a FUN day!!!