Okay, I'm Going to Do This...

It's a lot to do! That is, detailing some of our past 2 weeks' events.

First of all, Phillip came to visit. Didn't see him much, but that's ok. I know I already wrote about that, but just saying - that was an event! Then Megan and Brooks and kids, plus Kattie, came here to Idaho, to our house! They were here a couple of days before moving on to Brooks' family home and Melinda and Danny's home. Anya is sooo tiny! Her pictures don't convey this at all. And Audrey talks more, but in spurts. She'd forgotten about my legs, and that clearly made her withdraw some. Aiden was friendlier than ever, and not shy about liking us. Anya was friendly, too. All three kids were enjoying their vacation, that was finally HERE! Kattie seemed happy and more settled. More mature, which makes her more beautiful. She has funny stories about Mongolia, of course. If you know Kattie, you know that she would have stories! We went with Megan and Brooks to fly Aiden's birthday kite (from a year before). Even in zero wind, the dragon soared a little. The weather that evening was so perfect. The air was sweet and delicious. The grass was thick and soft. The sounds of young adults playing catch were distant enough, a pleasant backdrop to the kite-flying. The sight of Aiden and the girls running through the grass, with Anya wandering occasionally and Brooks gathering her in, was memorable. I will always have that circumstance to savor. Friday we met up with Melinda and Danny and Brooks and Megan, and Justin, Haley, Seth and Kattie, and saw Eclipse. I like it more than the second movie, but not as much as the first, because Rob Pattinson looked better in the first movie (I think they later muddled him up on purpose, to make the Jake rivalry believable), and the first movie was more romantic. There may have been lame moments, but there were great pieces in it too. Think of the ballgame, or when Bella visits the Cullens' home for the first time, or the dance at the end. Also, Victoria's smile in the last shot. That actress was great, even tho Dallas Bryce Howard was fine in the role, just not great. And Saturday, after spending the night at Mel and Danny's, we went to the morning parade. Many people threw candy my way, or even handed it right to me, since I was in a wheelchair and also looked retarded, with my big Dollar Tree, man-glasses (but sturdy!) and toothless smile. Now my purse is full of parade loot. Yay! Saturday afternoon we ate at M&D's, and Danny's folks came over to share our vittles. Yum! Mark made Philly steak sandwiches, and Megan made a great bean and corn salsa which I ate straight up. There was also Jell-O salad, my favorite kind. People spread to the back deck and yard, and Ben and Linda were there with Josh. Also, Haley was there with Hunter, with his dreamy blue eyes. It was great. That night, Dallin joined us at our reserved (by Danny and Justin, I think) spot by the river. Kattie was there, too, and lots of Haroldsen cousins. On the way, we saw and spoke to Brock and his family. He and his wife have a baby now! Mark had his usual cooler of soda pop and sandwiches, and the fireworks were better than ever. Great display of blistering light and color and sound! And last Wed., Megan joined us for book club. We discussed Three Cups of Tea, and Maria Hart was home on vacation with her family, so we had her there, too. It was a fun visit at Angie's home, and I was really tired by the end of the evening. It was the last I would see Megan and family, before they left Idaho. Boo hoo... Megan called me the next morning to say bye again. You know what? It won't be long till we get back together again, and Danny and Mel are going out there in a week or two. Time goes by, and we are always together again, one way or another. Hope I'm not forgetting anything. Mark found Jewel's papers, btw, in some of his own office stacks. Yay!!! So Ben and Linda and Josh came by Saturday a.m., on their way to Soda Springs, and picked them up. What a relief! Josh is always so bright and cute. I want to see and hug the grandkids every day! Oh, and Friday afternoon we went to see our last movie for a long while - Despicable Me. It was funny and touching. My favorite parts featured the littlest girl. She wad adorable! After this, we will wait to see most movies on Netflix. This a.m., I wrote an actual letter, and now I'm posting on my blog! Both are relatively rare occurrences, and I know I should do so more often... but don't hold your breath! Love you! xoxoxo PS I'll post some pictures later, so be sure to check and comment on them. :)

Doings and Plans

Hello! Long time no post...Sorry. However, I'm posting now, and I hope you are cheered by that, lol. Here is a video that Nie posted on her site - extremely touching. I wish we could all reach out like that and say those things to ourselves, but the Holy Spirit can and does give utterance to the truth. I know that for myself, and those promises have proven true time and time again. I know that will continue. Here's the link: http://youtu.be/8nczw6xHJ0I Copy and paste the link in the address bar. Hope it works! If not, let me know and I'll try and fix it. :) Okay...doings...let's see. Well, Mark's been looking for work, applying online (more about that in a few paragraphs). I was sick with something mysterious, but it didn't last long. Mark said it was just meant to keep him home from something he wasn't supposed to do (for his past job). That feels true, actually. Mark downloaded (legally) Masterpiece Theater's version of Jane Eyre, the best I've seen. We both loved it! It's on Netflix, also, but in two parts. And for Mother's Day, Seth downloaded Myasaki's Ponyo, another cute, cute movie that M. wrote and directed. I love his work! So that was happy. Seth just remembered about it yesterday, hahah. Isn't that just like me? Mark and I went to see a matinee of Toy Story 3. We hadn't been to a movie in quite a long while. We thought the movie was the equal of the other two and we highly recommend it! Also, Kattie is following Megan and Brooks back to Idaho - Yippee!!! That's so cool! And Phillip is returning to MO Saturday evening, so we are having a bbq on Saturday, to celebrate his visit and a couple of missed other occasions. Then Mark and I will bring him back here to catch his bus. No one has seen much of Phillip, because he visits his theatre friends in Shelley. I'm sure he's loving that, and we're happy that he gets to see his old friends. He is anxious to get out of the army - is it next spring? - and he is talking about his mission and college. Bravo! Now if we can get Seth in school (have to register still - but it's not too late), we'll be relieved. All you kids are sooo smart, and we're happy for each one of you, when you make and attain your own goals. I could start a list of everything, but I'll just mention a few from the past year or so: Three lucky, cute babies born (Hunter, Josh, and Emme), at home with their mommies now, Brooks getting his Master's Degree and a good job in WVA, them buying a house out there (after a long wait while living in a motel!), Haley getting her Assoc. Degree from BYUI and Dallin continuing with his schooling, Melinda dancing 'toe' in her ballet recital and for a church program, Justin making the move up to Idaho and working at Quest, Linda starting a small preschool and teaching piano, Ben selling Melaleuca and making plans for work, etc., Megan starting her own photography business, Danny having a great month at Quest in June, Phillip having his army leave and planning for deployment, then discharge from the army, Seth not working at Burger King (yay! 'cause they wouldn't let him have any Sats. or Suns. off) and Justin's giving him church clothes (thanks!) and him going to church and making plans to be an EMT, and Leto has made friends and Tut has rolled around on our bed all day (he loves our vintage chenille bedspreads) and Jasmine made her exit from this life, after 17 triumphantly spoiled years! Remind me of what I've missed (probably tons of things), but I just want to say that we are making progress, non? Mais Oui! I have even learned to live my life in a more orderly, serene fashion - however, that doesn't rule out the fun side of things. If anything, I enjoy things more. Oh, I went to the orthopedist here, and he gave me a cortisone shot for my knee (yay!) and basically said he can't do anything more for me, because I couldn't tolerate surgeries, etc. So I'll just get palliative care while my knee continues to heal whatever it will heal. My arm just needs rest, and my hip is pretty much the same story. Isn't that fascinating? The shots have really helped me, and it's been great. : ) Mark and I have a plan A and a plan B, as far as job-hunting goes. Either way, it ends with him getting his RN, to make him supremely, super-employable. That could happen via tuition reimbursement while he's employed at an Assted. Living facility (the large ones do that), or just going straight into the first program he can, living the poor student life. We'll both research these paths, while he makes applications and also fixes things up around here, in case we have to sell. Isn't that a good plan(s)? I think so. There's a clear objective that's worth obtaining, and Mark is so good at that type of work. With his Ph.D. and an R.N., plus his years of experience with all aspects of care and management, he would be such a valuable employee, able to get work anywhere in the country. And if times get harder, a nurse would be most likely to still have a job. It follows the counsel to improve your employ-ability. I like it, and it feels good that Mark should do so. Sorry that he didn't years ago! Anyway, that's the direction we're heading. Everyone should get nurse's training. How's that for a statement? No, but it's a great skill to have - anything medical. It's just so useful, and it gets you into so many other opportunities. Okay, enough about that. The weather has been great lately. Mark fixed our air conditioner and installed it, but we haven't need it yet. We're really looking forward to the bbq Saturday, having Megan and family and Kattie out here, having a girl's party for Eclipse, having all the July baby and adult birthdays, maybe going to Bear Lake at some point this summer, and also celebrating the Fourth of July! Too bad Phillip can't stay, but he's being even more patriotic, whether he acknowledges that or not (he doesn't like to be glorified like that), by serving in the armed forces that defend our country. That's a totally honorable cause, even if the army environment isn't like Sunday School, by any means. I hope the link to the video works. I'd better post this now. I love you all! xoxoxo

Life Back Home on the Farm

Hi! Did you know that tomorrow is Justin's birthday, and Saturday is Sandy's birthday? And Sunday is Father's Day? And Phillip was picked up in Nebraska by Justin and Danny, and they got in on Sat. evening and they all yelled Happy Birthday! to me, over the phone?! Exciting times! Even tho we have no definite plans, it's exciting to know all these things are happening, Phillip is getting to visit, I'm really middle-aged now (Hurray! I love getting old!), and anything is possible! Mark's been doing some work on policies and procedures for Shauna, for where she works, and he's been applying at different assted. living places around the country and talking to people, asking them to keep their heads up for job opportunities, and so on. I've been enjoying the clean bedroom and having Mark around more, Seth went camping and fishing with his friends (in the rain, no less), and I've read The Bounty, by Caroline Alexander, and am now reading a new bio of Louisa May Alcott, by Harriet Reisen. Leto loves it when I read, because I go outside with him. I love to sit in the sun and read. I keep my face away from the sun, but I can feel it on my head. My hair blows around and my shoulders and back are warmed and it's so deliciously peaceful. In the long, cold evenings, we get on the bed and watch tv - many cartoons and movies. I watched an old Randolph Scott western yesterday, "Fighting Man (maybe of Kansas?)." I was surprised by how engrossing it was. Very well done! Tut spends lots of time lying out in the sun, and I look online for job opportunities while I eat plain oatmeal, in the mornings. And I talk on the phone (quite a lot) and write the occasional letter (not so much ;). Read and do blog posts. Talk on the phone. Do Primary assignments. Work on art projects when the house is warm (it's not been heated for quite a while, since it's not that cold - I just want to be warm, so my hands are more flexible for the work). Later on I'll start fishing. Yahoo! My daily life holds a nice mixture of activities, wouldn't you say? I would! Love You! xoxoxo