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!!!

2008 in Review

I have a few moments to review the year.........how can you sum a year up in a few minutes?! I found a word that will likely work!
We have many joys that I am grateful for; there were challenges as well and I have worked to remind myself challenges are part of the plan...an important part...an essential part....but many more great gifts from heaven. So.................................

Marisa was endowed and then sealed in marriage. Joy. My beautiful daughter is all growed up.
I had all the grandchildren together in one place for the first time during the holidays; that goes into the great joy category.
Cavin Ragnar Hartzheim joined our family. Joy
Corey ordained a high priest. Joy.
We spent time with Chris and Chira in the Mediterranean this spring. Joy
Madi started kindergarten. Mixed joy (she can't be old enough)
Visited Chris and Chira in their new home in Virginia. Joy.
Hurricane Ike came and WENT. Joy (the went part)
The protection and care we experienced. Joy.
Marisa transferred down to BYU in Provo. Wonderful.
Johhny. Joy
Madi. Joy.
Ella. Joy.
Caden. Joy
Cavin. Joy.
Health, resources and employment. Joy. Priesthood bearing husband, sons and and sons in laws. Joy. Temple duties and opportunities. Joy. Visiting with friends in Heber and Bountiful and Vernal and by email and letter. Joy. Sisters and brother. Joy. Goodly parents. Joy. Callings and opportunities to serve. Joy. Lisa and Rags in Houston. General Conference. Living prophets. Great prophets who have gone on. Laurel breakfasts. The gospel to cling to. Joy, joy, joy. Time is short and the joys are many. The challenges kind of fade with the thoughts of rich blessings. May we wish you a safe and happy holiday and a joyful new year!!!!!!

I was tagged as I was making my list for the week and checking it more than twice...a few too many things on it...anyway

This is a photo of the casino on the cruise ship that we sailed on earlier this year....we walked through the casino most days to get to the auditorium on the ship where they had shows and stuff...we did not go near it in the late evening because it was full of really kind of 'interesting' people. I have WAY more interesting photos than this but if I am honest...this is the fifth photo in the fifth file........

9 point 2

That is how many pounds I have lost as of yesterday. You may be saying to yourself, big deal! And rightly so, BUT, it is 9.2 pounds less that I weighed in August and hopefully I will be 29.2 pounds lighter NEXT August. (Weight Watchers wants it to be 39.2....I may be settling but 29.2 will be FINE with me!) Hope you have a happy healthy week.

Crazy Government

I am sitting on the phone waiting for someone from the Social Security office to answer. They arbitrarily denied Nan her SSI benefits last week (and her SSI has the medicaid benefit attached which is what pays for her community resources program that really doesn't do anything anyway BUT....) and as our insurance company has decided to release her from coverage again, I guess I will try to see if anyone has any in the heck idea why! I marvel at human capacity when I watch a plane fly overhead or hear an aria or a symphony or a ballet or tour a beautiful cathedral in Europe and with the very same breath that causes me to marvel, I am also compelled to wonder how we can mess things up so badly! How can intelligent, capable, sophisticated individuals have created a government and society that is so complex and difficult to navigate that fewer and fewer individuals are capable of figuring out taxes, benefits, insurance, retirement and investment plans, banking procedures and mailing processes. Oh my goodness...
Now, if I were an intelligent and capable person I would cease my ranting and get on with something more productive. Thanks for allowing me to the figuratively 'kick the wall'