Monday, June 23, 2008

I forgot to tag the next group of people, so here goes. I tag Carrie, Danielle, Linnlee, Donelle and Tanisha. Sorry, I don't have any more people that haven't already been tagged. Have fun!
Well, I guess I've been tagged - I'm not too sure what this is supposed to be, but here goes!

The Rules: 1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.2. Peoplethat are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.3. At the end of your post tag 8 people and include their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment on their blog to tell them they've been tagged, and to comment back and read your blog for the whole story.

#1 - I have the absolute BEST husband in the world! We have been married over 30 years and it just keeps getting better.

#2 - I also love shoes. I go barefoot alot, but there is nothing that feels better than a new pair of shoes.

#3 - I have mild OCD...I count stairs when I go up and down. I try not to, but I just can't stop.

#4 - I have recently, in the last couple of years, started reading again. I didn't read anything for about 20 years. I am really enjoying it too! I am trying to read at least 6 books a year, and am doing pretty good. So far this year, I've read 5 and have two more started.

#5 - I don't like to get my hair wet when I'm in the pool. I have to stay away from everyone and threaten them with their life to not splash me.

#6 - I just took up quilting. I've sewn since I was 9, but I have never made a quilt.

#7 - I collect cook books and recipes. I try a lot of different things and experiment with lots of things. (I don't count cook books in the books I read each year.)

#8 - I made a commitment to walk in the Breast Cancer 3day walks (60 miles) each year as long as I can. I did it for the first time last year and am training for this year. It is really a great thing to do if anyone is interested! I can always use a donation!

Monday, June 16, 2008


Well, since yesterday was Father's Day, I would like to tell you a little about the father of my children. I first met Jeff 33 years ago. We were set up on a blind (sort of) date by my brother-in-law. I was 16 and Jeff was 19, getting ready to go on his mission. He was the coolest guy I had ever met and I just couldn't believe that he might like me. The first time he came to my house to pick me up with my sister and brother-in-law, I was so nervous that I could hardly stand it. We went to the movie (White Line Fever) and then out for pizza. It was such a great date! I was smitten right then and there, I only hoped that he felt the same. And as it turned out, he did. Who knew that love at first sight was for real???


We were inseparable for the two months before he left on his mission. He had already turned in his papers, and when he found out he was going to Idaho, he was surprised because he thought that everyone there were already members. When he came to my house after getting his missionary haircut, I cried. It was really going to happen - he was going to leave. (I wouldn't have wanted it any other way) The day came, all too soon, that it was time to go. I was with his family and we went to the airport. He was hugging and kissing everyone goodbye, everyone but me. But he did kiss Jordan and had him kiss me and said, "That is as close as we are going to get to a kiss for two years!" I was pretty upset the rest of the day. My friends from school had planned to take me out the coming up weekend to help me get over his leaving. We went to the drive in and had pizza, but I don't remember what we saw. I had great friends!


I was walking into my kitchen one evening when the phone rang. I picked it up and a voice on the other end just started talking to me like we had never been separated. I had to ask who it was and he was not too happy about that. I was just so shocked that he called me! We talked for a long time, he told me how cold it was already, but he was doing great. (It was the end of September) We wrote each other every week, I wrote sometimes more than once. He has a great big box full of letters and things I sent him and I have a small stack, about 3 inches tall, of the mostly post cards he sent me. I'm not complaining though, I know he had others to write and work to be done. I never knew that two years could go so slow and so fast at the same time. While he was gone, I managed to finish high school and get a job in Fort Worth.


The time was fast approaching for him to come home and I was getting more nervous by the day. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't do anything but worry that he might not like me as much as I liked him. I took the day off when he finally did get home, mostly to stay in my room and worry. His parents picked him up and they went for him to be released from his mission. He came to my house then. My mom was famous for having the doors locked and this time was no different. We had this glass storm door, so when he rang the doorbell and I went to the door, we could see each other, but I couldn't get the dumb door open!!! I don't remember if we hugged each other but I can remember that he was just as wonderful as when he left! We went to his sister's house for the evening because she had had twins while he was gone and he wanted to see them. As we were driving to her house, it was like that two years hadn't happened and it was just a few days since we had been together. We had a great time together. It took him four days to propose after he came home. We had been out for pizza (I think pizza plays a big part in our relationship!), and we were sitting in the car in front of his house and he asked me to marry him. I had to think about it for probably 1/2 second before I said yes. We were married three months later, on January 10, 1978.


These past 30 years have been so wonderful! Sometimes we both look at each other and say that we can't believe that it has been 30 years. We have done a lot of fun things, had a few rotten things happen, but overall, there is nothing we would change. We have four of the greatest kids, who have married four more great kids and we have the best grandkids on the planet. (Sorry if I offend anyone!) Jeff has worked from home for a long time now and when he goes out of town or has a client that he needs to work a lot with, we miss each other during the day! It really is great to be married to your best friend!!!


Anyway, I'm sorry if I seem to be bragging about him, but he really is my world and I love him immeasurably! Happy Father's Day Jeff!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008


Well, it's official! Charley has graduated from puppy basic training...doesn't he look ready to take on the world? He did pretty good in class, but he will move up to the next step in training after his little snip, snip later this month.


Jeff leaves tomorrow for Lake Powell with some of our kids. I'm glad they have so much fun there, but I'll be just as happy staying here and embarking on my first quilting project. I met a lady this spring who is a quilter and she has graciously volunteered to teach me the finer points of quilting. She even has a long arm quilter so that the project can be professionally finished. I have also bought myself a Cricut Expression and am learning how to use it and make things. So far there have only been little experiments, but I can feel some bigger projects coming.


I am looking forward to going to Utah in about a month. I always love spending time with Analee and her family.


I hope you have been trying the recipes I've posted. I think they are pretty good. I just made the sweet and sour chicken today to take to a friends house for our Tuesday lunch bunch. There are about 7 of us that get together and talk and laugh and spend time in the air conditioning having a great time. I was really missing having some good friends to do that with.


Well, I'm sure I've bored you enough for this time - see you next week!

Monday, June 2, 2008




Not much new goes on around here...




Charley is growing like a weed. He has two more weeks of obedience class and is doing pretty good. He has finally started to listen when a command is given and respond to that command. He "sits" great, but his "come when called" is lacking a little bit. When he and Dexter get together, they still play like they haven't seen each other in years, but they are getting a little better.






We had Justin and Kaylynn spend the night with us this past Saturday. It was JL's birthday and their Stake Conference, so we kept the kids and they had the evening to themselves. We watched "The Bee Movie" (it is pretty cute if you haven't seen it). Kaylynn walks around saying "Charley is a nice dog" all the time. We don't know if she is trying to convince herself of that fact or if she is just letting everyone else know. Hotrod has started buying Hot Wheels cars and the boys get to pick a new one each time they come over. We keep them here, but they really like to pick them out and play with them. We really love those kids!! (Kaid too, of course) Justin and Kaylynn have a garden at home and they tell us about it all the time. They have already eaten two ears of their corn.