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.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
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!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
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...........
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...........
Friday, February 13, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, February 6, 2009
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!
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!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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!!!!!!
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!!!!!!
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