Hustle and Bustled

This is a photo from our trek to Israel a few years ago...we were going down the steps into the area in a cathedral in Bethlehem where they feel that the Savior was born. It is a site whereon several churches have built cathedrals and shrines to the Christ Child...it has become very non-manger-ish and non-stable-ish as they have guilded and adorned and encrusted the site with much that the world values but with nothing the Child would have valued...it was crowded and hustle-y and bustle-y and very much NOT a peaceful place where you could make a connect to the sacred event that is said to have transpired there. Hmmmmmmmm......there is a pattern there that I am picking up on...a holiday(site) meant to celebrate the Savior but with little real semblance of anything that actually does celebrate the Savior.... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hustle and bustle is the name of the season but my hussle is bustle-d! I told Kerry that I think I have too many 'windows' open on my 'screen' and the hard drive is bogging down! So I may need to be re-booted and see if I can get some forward progress going again! I hope that you are finding all well this season and getting a few of the things that you want to have done.......done!
My mom is home from her hip replacement surgery and we find that to be a miracle..I guess 'tis the season. Kerry's step Aunt Ruth passed away on Tuesday in Vernal. Mabel has done a magnificent job of assisting her during these last years of her life. I hope Ruth is able to understand that now. She would not have been able to before due to her mental alertness and assessment skills. But no matter, the guy that really counts knows. Nan is beside herself with anticipation. She loves the holidays. Corey is all over the place interviewing for transition year programs and resident programs. That process will continue into the new year. Chris is working hard in VA and they are awaiting the arrival of their new little one in January. Lisa and Rags are in the throws of the Rockets basketball season and Marisa will be here on Monday. We are happy she and Ethan are coming home! Our grandchildren are delightful and wonderful.......and growing. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and the happiest of new years.

Merciful

Mom had scheduled hip replacement surgery for today with much consternation and concern on the part of her family. But she has made it through the surgery and is doing well and we are hoping that she will do as well with the rehab. The resident's comments to mom before the surgery were that this was high risk and her test results were less than favorable; the dr's comment after the surgery was that the hip was a real mess. Contradiction seems to be mom's watch-cry. Don't really need evidence of His willingness to bless us but I am always in awe of that willingness...His blessings are abundant and usually undeserved but abundant none the less.

Monday

Trying to make a weekly post...we will see how long that lasts. Kerry home today which is a fairly rare event. Kind of fun to have him around. He helped me with a bit of Christmas shopping. Something tells me the holidays are going to come crashing in this year. Then he spent two hours on a conference call with President Rawson and Kunz. Nan and I went and finished a bit more shopping while he was otherwise engaged!
Marisa called and said that the ultrasound for the baby went well and that they can hear a heartbeat. That is exciting news! She has 'morning sickness' medicine now and so we hope that will help. Babies are wonderful. Nan working and getting excited about holidays as only she can. Corey about done with this year's rotations! That will be a great day. Chris is sick tonight with a headache. Bless his heart. They have been dumped on by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in Virginia. Allen Johnson came for a visit last night. He is Kerry's high school buddy/college roomate and the kid that helped him take the discussions and join the church. He comes to visit his daugher and grandaughters in Houston once a year. Fun to have him. A very interesting guy. And totally blown away by the whole Stake Presidency counselor thing/call! He knew Kerry when he was a total knucklehead! Makes me smile.

I will post a fun picture[s] that will once again be highly random! So the first photo is of a Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall (otherwise known as the Wailing Wall) and the second one is a statue at the {Greek} Orthodox? Church that was built very near the Garden of Gethsemane...in fact, on the grounds of the garden...a little blast from the past of two autumns ago! Have a great week!

I'll Huff and I'll Puff

I really have days when it would be OK if the big bad wolf showed up at the front door and huffed and puffed and blew my house down. I would at least feel like it came from an outside source as opposed to the slow painful demise that currently is at work here. The roof people replaced the roof after a hail storm a few years ago (not a hurricane mind you, a hail storm) then we had air conditioning and ceiling leaking problems that seemed un-related but now have proven to be connected. So the ceiling had to be repaired on two levels of the house and the air conditioning continues to function below minimal levels and now the plumber is here trying to resolve a back up in the system that seems to have been the source of the air conditioning overflow problem which caused the ceiling issues.AHHHHHH!!! And my floors ans walls are getting beat up in the process and the house is in serious need of some cosmetic and routine maintenance work and all in all, as hard as I try to keep it maintained, it has outpaced me! Just a fun Monday.
In other news, Kerry was released as Bishop yesterday and promptly flew out to Mexico City this morning (those are un-related events as well unless he doesn't come back!) He will feel a void in his life from the hole that the Bishop thing will leave in his heart and schedule but he won't have much time to worry about it. He has plenty of other items that will require his attention. Nan is having work scheduling issues......Corey and Stephani are fielding responses to his application(s) for transition programs and residencies. He has a one year transition program that is required in his field of endeavor and then the residency begins after that for four? years?. So twice the applications and twice the interviews. And twice the expense of flying to interviews. Bless his heart. Chris and Chira are heading to Utah for Thanksgiving. Lisa and Ragnar are in the throws of beginning season NBA basketball. Marisa is counting down her student teaching and very excited to be able to announce an impending birth to their family. Ran to Killeen to watch Jon play football and see Jana and the kids...then a week later that horrific assault occurred. Some are calling it a terrorist act.
Halloween was fun.....last week I took Nan to Mary Poppins and that was fun. Lots happening at church......and the holidays are coming on! So I'll huff and I'll puff and keep going along!

Sunday

Sundays can be one of my more energy sapping days. It is all good in that I really don't worry about a single thing that is related to home management or property management. That is a delight. But just for instance, today was choir then church with an opportunity to sit with a 2 year old whose mother leads the music in sacrament meeting and whose dad works on Sunday...so Sacrament Meeting was busy but fun (is it supposed to be fun?) with Daxton and the Children's Sacrament Meeting Program. Then Gospel Doctrine that was condensed to 20 minutes which is fine but the prep is what it is whether it is five or forty five minutes. Then I subbed in Primary with a little lesson so the Priamry teachers could have a break after rangling children for an hour and a half in Sacrament Meeting. Then home to get ready for a Bishop's Fireside that we were having here at the house. Now don't get me wrong, I have plenty of time and resources for this stuff...and I am not complaining....and with frozen pizza for dinner and cocoa puff for breakfast...the lagging commodity here is energy! Hooray for Sunday!

Been A Long Time

Here are a few more photos from the trip to Guatemala. Been trying to find these for a while to get a few posted. I was going to do a bit each day. I find that doing anything consistently is the hardest thing I do in the world! Journal-ing, blogging, exercising, letter writing, reading, cooking, budgeting etc. etc. etc.test me to the max..........Been working hard on getting the house dug out and re-arranged now that my darling boarders are gone. Lisa and Ragnar are happily ensconced in their new little abode in Atascocita and my house is empty and and a bit too quiet but I am glad for them to be able to be on their own. It is a much nicer way for little families to live. Nan and I and the dog rattle around here. Nan is working a bunch more. She has to work this Sunday. Kerry has a pile of stuff on his plate that is pressuring him. Some fairly heavy responsibilities for a month or two. He just got back from Bucharest. Corey and Steph are in the winding down phases of this year's rotations....he is finished in November and has December and January to fly around the country interviewing with transitory program directors and residency program administrators. Chris and Chira are 'potty training' and 'binky breaking' and 'big boy' bed switching Caden in prep for their new little fella that is coming along early next year. And Marisa is finishing a fairly stringent student teaching assignment that has stretched her expectations of providing care and teaching to disabled populations. Grateful that the kids are well and that they are getting along ok. Loved General Conference and the General Relief Society Broadcast a week or so ago and am always grateful for the blessings of the gospel in our lives.

PS The stuff that just popped up on the blog with some past dates have been sitting in 'draft' for a fairly long time so don't let that stuff fool you...I was trying to import photos and kind of finally did it! These photos are of Palnenque and then our trip down the River Usi-something heading to Yaxitlan. The children (four and five and six year olds) live along the river and when they see tourist boats coming along they hop in the canoe and paddle out and offer to let us take their picture for a dollar (one dollar one dollar!) They are desperately poor and to die for adorable. Women washing babies and clothes all up and down the river.

Home a Week

Survived our Mexiguateduras trip and been home a week. I thought I would try to post a couple of photos before I continue with my day. Haven't seen John and Madi for a million years so I get to go say hi this afternoon and then I pick up Lisa and fam from the airport later this afternoon. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that we(my family) would be traipsing around the world like we are wont to do! Lisa and Rags in Germany and Chris and Chira spent the long weekend up in Boston; Kerry and I tramping through Mezzoamerica; I think we are home for a while. Lots of catch up to do. Kerry has only been home to sleep since we got back a week ago and he leaves for Romania a week from today. I hope you can catch a glimpse of the ancient civilizations that we explored and get a sense of the environment in which they carved out their lives.

This is My Day!

This is my day,
My Baptism Day
Life in God's kingdom begins in this way........
Congratulations Johnny, I can't believe you are eight!
We were so happy to be a part of John's baptism. He was baptized in the same font that Corey baptized Marisa in 13 years ago! Who would have thunk it!

Important Numbers

34-1975-5- 5.5-a whole string of numbers that don't mean much of anything to any one but me.
Wonder what will be going on in 34 more!?

News

I haven't posted in ever so long and so I thought I would try to put a few things up.Chris and Chira notified us last week that they are going to have a baby! We are so excited for them and for the little one that will be a new member of their family. Chris went to California for a week and now Chira and Caden are in Utah for a few weeks to attend weddings and baptisms.
Natalie has a new haircut. Should have taken a picture while it was still professionally styled cause now all she has is me! She is excited about our little jaunt to Utah this week.
Corey and Steph are gearing up for their annual BIRTHDAY WEEK! John was born on August 20 and two years (almost) later Madi was born on the 18th. So we are going to be birthdaying it week after next. Johnny is going to turn eight! What an exciting thing.
Lisa and Ragnar just celebrated their fifth anniversary and Cavin and Ella are growing and going and keeping us entertained and hopping. Cavin is learning new things everyday that he can do with that chunky little body of his and he loves it! He can climb and walk and run and sit and roll and march and jump! It is 'Cavin' jumping but nobody is more delighted at the prospects than he is! And Ella delights in serving us pizza and making us cocoa and twirling in her dresses and teeling us stories.
Marisa walks this week. She will be finished in December but they will be gone to Idaho to school by April so since she is eliglible to walk now, she is going to! She has been called to work in her RS Presidency as of today and so she is (and actually has been for a little while) a Relief Society girl! We are excited to see the kids when we run up. ( I know! the photo is random!)

R and R

Kerry and I went to visit a new little family that moved into the ward through the block and in the process of talking with them a minute, I invited Raney to come for a walk with me some morning when I take the dog out and I would show her where everyone in the neighborhood lived (we have 20 ish families that are members in our little sub-division). She responded favorably and then she asked what time I went walking at which point Kerry kind of smirked and the point was made that I am not a particularly structured person by nature and therefore my morning walk time was fairly randomly scheduled (basically when I feel like it). NOW, if you know anything at all about Kerry, you know that the opposite could be said of him. He IS a structured guy and I can pretty much tell you at any given momnet of the day what he is up to. So there you have it! Kerry and I can now be known by our psuedonyms, Random and Robot! R and R...ying and yang and black and white. We will celebrate 34 years of marriage a little later this month and you may be able to see that we have had some learning curves to navigate. It's all good. That's what it is all about! [Speaking of random, the picture I posted was from a youth conference that Kerry attended earlier this year. It was a Book of Mormon re-enactment kind of thing and he and two other bishop's went as the Three Nephites! He and Bishop Peterson are standing as watchmen on the tower!)

Two for One

It would seem that I missed a couple of birthdays! So before the month is over, I better get my birthday boys up here......smiles and love to you...Kerry and Corey

Dumb and Dumber

I am fifty two years old and you would think that by now I would know a few things. I find that the older I get, the more I am faced with how much I don't know!!! I think that is crummy! You would think that you should get a tiny bit of satisfaction at this stage of the game out of knowing at least something. SO, this afternoon, I have been sitting here at the computer making a list of all the things I need to learn technologically (is that a word?) and all the things I should probably be doing instead of worrying about all the things I don't know. So I will blog!!!!! I'll push all those disturbing thoughts out of my mind and update....haven't blogged in a while (have you noticed?) Here are the few things I have successfully navigated this afternoon in my effort to learn something I need to/want to know: #1 I successfully copy and pasted this text to my blog as I realized that I was writing this in Lisa's blog...brilliant. #2. I downloaded the new images from my camera to the computer. Now I just need to learn how to name the files according to date taken. #3 I am figuring out the 'copy image' thing from computer image libraries to Powerpoint. #4 I successfully set up the church's projector and connected the computer so I can operate a Powerpoint program for class on Sunday. Now, if I can just do it again. I am trying to move into the 21st century on visual aid types of resources. That is as far as the afternoon has taken me. I will close with one of my photos....another thing I would love to learn more about! I hope you like my Gettysburg Soldier.

Happy Birthday

28 years ago we had a sweet little guy join our family. Kerry was crazy happy that he had TWO sons! He was a sweet and peaceful little man and has grown to be an adorable not so little man. We were very blessed those seemingly few years ago. THEN, three years ago a little girl came into our family who has been a delight and I expect will continue to be a delight for a million years to come. She is a bright and funny and adorable and precocious 'big girl' and we are happy to have her around! Happy Birthday to Christopher and Ella.

Life

I started an update but I only got as far as the title(Creation). When I went back to try to finish, I decided the title said it all. I really love the photo of the thistles. It is a shot I took down at the ranch when we were home for Will's funeral. They are reminiscent to me of life;' stickery and stunningly beautiful!

We have had such fun watching Ella and Cavin lately. Ella is such a pistol and so dang sharp and Cavin is growing with 'fast forward' speed and his little personality is just 'popping' out all over, just like he is popping up everywhere; he is getting so good at his 'all fours' crawl and he is unstoppable at the army crawl and he pops up over the rail of his crib and he pops up as soon as he hits the floor which is where he wants to be cause that signals freedom. And he has gotten that little mischievous gleam in his eye that makes you smile and cringe all at the same time. They are such darling and adorable children. There really aren't words to describe the joy of seeing them everyday or watching Caden on Skype or hearing John and Madi come through that front door. And then there are my really fairly amazing kids who are their parents. I am really in awe of the great gifts of heaven that these people are to me and to the world at large. Missa who is now two semesters away from student teaching and graduation and a light in the life of kids who have been challenged by developmental delays; Lisa who is a remarkabley committed mom and wife when there isn't much support in the world for such devotion; Chris who listens to the spirit and allows it to guide him through work and church duties and responsiblities and who is a joyful father; Corey whose curiosity and desire to know more hasn't ceased in the 30 plus years he has been hanging here on this planet (he was probably Curious Geroge way before that) and the methodical way that he applies those acquired skills and bodies of information is really very inspiring even instructional to watch; then Nan who is courage personified; it is required in every footstep she takes but she keeps stepping. It is all stuff I have been reflecting on lately and with world conditions seeming a bit out of control, it is great to remember that there is much good as well. Thanks for being good, guys!

Creation

Goofing Off

We just returned from a quick trip to Utah. It must have been more draining than I thought because today I am JUST GOOFING OFF! I have a thousand things to do but feel wiped out. So I am playing with my blog and contemplating the universe. I need to go to the grocery!

Millions of thanks to Chira and Ragnar and Stephani for supporting the kids while they came to Utah to support Mabel and Kerry. It was really wonderful to have the kids there and the only thing that could have been better (two things I guess) were a) happier circumstances and b) y'all and the babies there with us. Thank you for your sacrifice and support and the happiness you bring to the kids lives.

Birthdays Birthdays Come Unto Earth Days

Happy birthday to Lisa...26 years ago today she came to us quite a bit late and after some concern for her welfare. She has been a blessing to us every moment since then. Have a great 26th year honey!

I'm Busy

Ella was in the family room the other day and her mom called her to come and do something and after she had called her several times, Ella very matter of fact-ly marched into the kitchen and informed her mom that she was 'busy' after which she marched right back out and back to the picture she had been drawing. It was fairly hysterical and I have smiled every time I have started to say to someone "maybe later, I'm busy" or "not yet, I'm busy" Soooo..... I hesitate to begin this little entry with "I've been busy" and not very focused on blogging...in fact, I am fairly certain that I don't really even need to say that because I will assume that you can surmise that from the dates of entry on this thing. And my busy and y'all's busy are likely very different things. Mine is more likely 'piddly' busy than urgently busy. And I think my head is where I am busiest. I have a LOT going on in my head......that does not necessarily translate to being physically busy. Or productive; or anything that even remotely resembles overly scheduled. Some of my busi-ness has included a day or two spent with Natalie at "Time Out For Women". I am at a place in life where I don't feel like I really need a 'time out' but Natalie loves it and she needs to be able to do some of the things that she enjoys. Johnny was here at the house while I was gone and he wanted to know what we had done to warrant a 'time out'. Funny huh!
We also had a little jag to the rodeo this week to see Toby Keith. The rodeo is fun. The temple has been closed so we are looking forward to that starting again this week and John and Madi are out on spring break and so I am looking forward to a little time with them. Lisa turns 26 tomorrow so we need a little celebration. And Corey finished with his neo natal rotation and goes to 'ambulatory'. I have no idea what that means except that it is at Ben Taub and so I assume he will have a story or two. The kids went to Bill Cosby who appeared with the Houston Symphony this week and Johnny was awarded first alternate for the the first grade on his science project. That means he can go to districts if one of the top three opt not to go or are unable to enter. Rags is working the Rockets. And Marisa is buried (it sounds like) Really quite busy! I got a very fun phone call from Caden this week. I saw on my cell that a call was coming in from Chira's phone and when I answered it all I heard was a darling little guys voice talking about I am not sure what. It took me a while to realize that his mom didn't know that he was making phone calls but I heard something about bananas and mom and daddy and cake and walking in the park. What a fun baby! oops, little man! I am going to put myself through a tutorial about how to download photos and get them posted so have a great week and I will quit with the less than focused blog entry. Smiles and love...........

Happy Valentine' Day

There really aren't any little people on the earth I love more than these four...and Cavin who isn't pictured here but who steals hearts at his early age! Certainly mine!
Then of course there are their moms and dads and their Aunt Natawee and Aunt Rissa. And their Gwanpa ssssSpeers....he is kind of a silly one!

Off to a Fast Start

All through the holiday (and wedding) season I kept saying to myself and anyone who would listen, "I will get to that in January". January came and went and there is very little that I intended to get to that I have actually gotten to BUT, February is here and I am going to try again! Not that we didn't have plenty going on in January. Marisa got married on December 27th (by my account, it went very well even with the glitch or two at the temple). Laurie and Charm and Randy and Janikka came to the wedding. Great to see them. Marisa was a beautiful bride who married a very nice young man with a great family and she is happily residing in Provo working to finish school this year. She has informed us she is contemplating walking in August as she will graduate in December and they don't have a ceremony in December (which would require her to come back in April and that doesn't make sense). She is working for BYU Catering and Ethan is working for a Post and Ship company until he resumes his work for Kevin fighting vermin (Giselle's word, not mine!).
Chris and Chira and Caden were here visiting until the 2nd of January (we LOVED having them home to play and visit.....Ella is sad Caden is gone and Caden made a new best friend in Uncle Corey) They went home to Virginia where Christopher began the month teaching his kind of wild little Sunbeam class and then received a call to work with the Elder's of the ward as the Elder's Quorum President. Let us hope that they are less wild than the sunbeams. They endured the Inaugural festivities (let's hope the country can) and are plugging along through chilly to say the least weather. They are getting ready to celebrate Caden's second birthday. Happy birthday to you!
Then Lisa and Rags helped me put the house in order after the holidays. They have been living with us since the first of December. It is great fun to have Cavin and Ella here where we get to see them everyday. Ragnar is trying to find employment and has taken a couple of part time jobs. There may be opportunitites for one of them to turn into long term employment. That would be a blessing. They rented their little cute townhome out in Logan so they have a reprieve on mortgage payments for a year or so. The kids are getting along ok with Maggie dog and they are a delight to have around.
Then off Kerry and I went to Utah because of the difficult situation Kerry's mom was facing with Will. Will's dementia became so debilitating that Mabel had to place him in a long term care facility which was very difficult. It is a horrible decision to have to make for someone you love and want so much to take care of yourself but the workload is overwhelming and it became unsafe for her to try to manage him on her own. It was a very sad day and Will is declining significantly. We visited with mom and dad and quite honestly, all not going well there either. Laurie and Charm work hard to help and support but Dad is wearing out as well. Becky pitches in when she can and I am fairly useless. Old age 'ain't fun'.
All this has limited my opportunity to see John and Madi and so we are looking forward to trying to catch up with them very soon. The excitement at their house has come in the form of a totally unexpected call for Corey to work as an assistant to the High Priest Group leader (30???) and so Kerry went over and ordained him a high priest in early January and shortley after that he got the fabulous, stupendous and marvelous news that he gets to defend his thesis (on Monday). He has worked for years on his PhD and the time has come for him to wrap it up and present it to the committee that oversees his work. Even though the defense date came sooner than he had anticipated, it will allow him to get back into rotations for med school in March and a year from this spring he will be done!!!! Many years of labor and sacrifice.
And Nan just applied for a passport! She is so excited at the prospects! We are going to Mexico to Amy's wedding in May and she is coming with us!
All in all we have much to be grateful for. It was wonderful to have the kids all home for Christmas. It was the first time all five grandkids had been in the same place. All the kids pitched in to make Marisa and Ethan's wedding a success. I am past proud of all of them. There will be great things ahead for the wonderful year of 2009!

THE QUESTION

There is an article in the local paper today about three guys who decided that they wanted to be in the Krystal Hall of Fame (Krystal is a hamburger joint). They embarked on a plan to build a pyramid out of the Krystal hamburger boxes they got every week when they would go get a 24 pack of burgers!!!! It took them two and a half years and a shift in plans (they built a replica of the Washington Monument instead of a pyramid because the pyramid was too wide at the base for their garage) The reward for their 'effort' is personalized Krystal boxes (their photos, names and all) that are being distributed company wide! Now, this begs the question, WHO IN THE HECK HAS TIME TO THINK ABOUT, MUCH LESS BUILD, A TOWER OUT OF HAMBURGER BOXES AND WHY HAVEN'T THEY DROPPED DEAD FROM HEART DISEASE BECAUSE OF POOR DIETARY DECISIONS? And do you really want your picture distributed on the cover of fast food packing materials? I simply could not help but ask myself why people have the time or inclination in life to contemplate such remarkably obscure activities when I seem to be unable to get around to some fairly significant (in my mind) duties and responsibilities......like updating my blog! I guess the last question that comes to mind is, why did I take the time to stop and read an article about guys building monuments out of food wrappers??!!! Oh, the distractions of the world!!!