Life

It's January 14th, 2013. I'm at work and thought I'd take a moment to blog somethings that are on my mind lately.
I've been trying so much harder to make my prayers more meaningful in hopes that Heavenly Father will really listen and bless me with the things that I need and those I'm praying for need. My Lord and Savior is always there for me, there's no denying that. I love when I'm all ready for work and it's dark outside and the house is dark and quiet. I go into the family room and really pour my heart out to him. I love the calmness and peace I have as I talk to my Father in heaven. I'm so grateful I can turn to him in times that are difficult and when I have worries.
I have a testimony of the gospel but I want it to be stronger. I continue to pray that he'll bless me with opportunities to serve and help others. There's not a better feeling than when you've helped someone and you see how much they appreciate it. Sometimes I find it hard to find the time to serve because of working 40 hours a week but I'm striving to find the time.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about life and all that's going on. I think a lot about being a parent and always wish I could go back and do things different. Then I have to tell myself that I did my best and there isn't any going back. All I can do now is continue to strive to be a good parent such as being there for my kids and grand kids and trying harder to be a better example. Parenting never ends no matter how old your kids are. You never stop worrying and caring. My prayers are always on my kids and grand kids and that our Heavenly Fathers spirit will dwell in their homes.
My prayers are also upon Roger every day. I see what a wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather he is. He has a zest for life and wants so much to keep doing the things he loves to do. He loves to serve others which he's always been such a good example to me when it comes to that. I've seen his health slowly declining and it saddens me so much. He wants to do things but his body just won't let him. Some days are good and other days are awful for him. I'm anxious to talk to his kidney doctor next month about what's going to happen and what steps we need to make in order to get moving on a kidney transplant.
I pray that God will bless him and help him through this time in his life and that when he finally does get a transplant that his life will be made better. I wish I could take it all away from him and take his health issues upon myself. I also wish that my kids could see what he goes through 24/7 trying to deal with his diabetes and the complications from it. Also, his back issues. I wish they would call him and ask him how he's doing every once in a while just to let him know that they care.
I pray this coming year will be great and that we can grow closer together through these trials. He's my rock and I love and adore him.

Jareds Wearing Brown

I'm so proud of Jared. I always have been but I'm very proud of him now. For 5.5 years he worked 2 jobs. His main job was at UVRMC in the OR as the head orderly. Then in the evenings he would work for UPS unloading the trucks at night. He was hoping to get on as a driver several years ago but since the economy turned so bad none of the long time drivers were retiring anymore. So he waited it out and finally in October of this year..2012 he was finally put on as a full time driver. I really lucked out too because his very first route was at my hospital where I work. On many occasions when he wasn't real busy he would call me to see if I was working that day. If I was I'd run out to the main entrance and say hi and see him getting his packages off the truck for the hospital. If I do say so myself, he's the best UPS driver around. He's such a hard worker and determined to do a great job. I love you Bud!

Grandmas Annual Christmas Cookie Decorating Party

As I'm doing this blog, Christmas is now over and I'm looking at these pictures and it truly brings tears to my eyes. What joy fills my heart as I see each one so happy and it thrills me as a grandma to be creating some fun, fun memories for them. Jared, Shana and Troy still talk of the times they got together  with their cousins at their grandma and grandpa's home to decorate their Christmas cookies.

Look at the happy faces on these kids. Aren't they just the cutest? 

Look at how serious they are. Presley even has her tongue hanging out. lol Easton is placing his decorations so carefully on his cookie.

Makinley loves the frosting. And Daxton has so many decorations on his cookie!! I bet it will taste so good.

I had lots of yummy treats to put on their cookies. I had made so many cookies that the kids got bored and the adults chimed in on the decorating.

Papa and Shana are helping out. Hadley is 2 now and loved getting in on the action this year.

Jared had snuck some cookies before the party had even started!!I love that the adults even love decorating too.

Oh Easton is so proud of his cookie. He should be! Look how delicious it looks.

Grandma sitting next to the Grand kid Christmas Tree.

Since Brayden is 11 now he is the decorating expert. His cookies were so precise with the decorations and looked so beautiful.

Oh Hadley Bug..she loves dressing up and coming out and showing everyone how pretty she looks.

Gentry is 6 now and does a great job. 

Now we're starting to decorate the grand kid tree. They each have their own ornaments and love putting them on. Some even have pictures of when they were just little so it's fun for them to look back at what they used to look like.

Presley in her cute Mickey Mouse Christmas shirt.

Brayden didn't really need crutches but was just playing with them. 

This is such a fun tradition for me to do with the grand kids. I hope they don't get tired of it. Easton and Gentry love it too.
We had Mel and Michelle and Abigail over for dinner and sharing the evening with us since Mel and Michelle are leaving for the MTC to serve their mission. I'm glad they enjoyed being with us and sharing the night with our family traditions.

Happy Birthday To My December Sweethearts

Happy 32nd birthday to Shana Banana. She's such a beautiful young woman. So full of talent as a photographer and a wonderful wife and mother and daughter. 

Hadley turned 2 years old on Dec. 22nd. I love the excitement in their eyes as they wonder what's inside their presents. She's such a doll and is all potty trained and talking up a storm. 

I love this picture of the two of them. Their birthdays are one day apart. They share quite the bond together. Shana asked me how dad and I did it when she was growing up with having her birthday so close to Christmas. Because of the extra money going out for Christmas at the same time. I told her just because she was born on the 21st of December didn't mean her birthday was any less important. I told her I always tried to give fun birthday parties and always wrapped her presents in birthday wrapping instead of Christmas. It was nice of her to notice how hard we tried.

My Visit To San Antonio Texas

On Dec. 4th through Dec. 10th, 2012 I had the opportunity to fly to Texas to take care of Colby and Addie. Troy and Kori were going on a cruise and didn't have anyone to take care of the kids so I took some time off of work and flew to San Antonio. I was so nervous about flying alone but it ended up being a great experience and I didn't have anything to worry about. I met a couple of people on the flight that were so kind. What a blast I had with my sweethearts and I was so grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity and for giving me lots of energy to keep up with them. Before I left I had found some ideas of things that we could do to help pass the time during the day. I went to the craft stores and bought everything I needed and loaded up my suitcase to take it with me. Each day I had planned for one activity for them to do.

Here are a couple of activities we did. They loved making the pom pom trees and coloring the nativity scene.

I had to post this because this is what I got from Troy and Kori when they got home. I laughed so hard. They even brought one for Roger that was a muscle man in a speedo of the American Flag with a $ bill stuck it in. We got quite the kick out it.

While I was there with the kids we ventured off to Target and I bought them some legos and they loved playing with them. They loved to create a big mess but were always good to pick up after.

I had taken so many pictures of just the kids so I had Troy take one of me and Addie when they got home. Colby didn't want his picture taken with me darn it.

Another venture off was to Kohls. I was so thankful for a phone AP that Troy had told me about because it got me everywhere we wanted to go. But I bought the kids this little book called "Do You Know How Much I'll Miss You?" I was able to record my voice to the words of the book and that way it would be like me reading it to them. They read it over and over so much that the batteries wore out. lol

I got to take Adaline to her ballet and tap class and it was so much fun watching her. She was awesome! She's the one in the middle.

We would spend a lot of time outside each day playing. Addie's hair is getting so long.

Another thing I bought them while I was there were these nerf guns. They picked them out and it was such a great cheap investment. They spent hours and hours shooting them inside and outside. 

Another adventure we took was to the Winter fest there in San Antonio which wasn't too far from their place. I had heard about it so we decided to go. They rode a couple of rides and bounced in the bouncy thingy. For the Winter fest they ship snow in from some place for the kids to play in since Texas doesn't ever get snow. It was pretty disgusting with all the hay and kids playing in it that I was glad Colby and Addie didn't want to get in it.
Needless to say I had such a fun time taking care of my sweethearts. Roger was sad he wasn't able to go because he had a couple of important doctor appointments but hopefully next time he can come.