October already??

It is nearly the end of October--how time flies. Life is still good.

We took a short trip to St George and had a quiet vacation with no stress. How nice it was. The weather was gorgeous. The condo was quiet. We listened to a book on CD on the way there and on the way home. The drive didn't seem nearly as long as we listened to the story.

Now we are preparing to go to LA for the weekend. What a weekend to plan to go there with the fires ablaze. We returned early from our trip in July when Mom died and didn't get to use our Universal Studios tickets. Since it is UEA weekend and Kent and Kristen have Monday and Tuesday off, Eric and I are taking Monday off so we can use the tickets. I hope it is worth it. Kristen thinks she will leave Braden home. I guess we'll find out Saturday morning if she can do it.

Other than that, life goes on. I still love teaching. I'm not getting any of my crafting, quilting or scrapbooking done though. There is far too much preparation! That's ok. It will get done sometime.

Can't think of much else.

I don't know why I'm taking the time to do this. I really don't have much to say. Perhaps it is a release for me.

Last week was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Students returned to Viewmont High School and I was not there. I didn't miss not being there. That was a big relief to me. Perhaps the reason I didn't miss it was because I was busy as an adjunct at Weber State University. I'm only teaching two classes, but I love it so far. It is so nice to feel that I am not responsible for discipline, notifying parents, keeping students awake, etc. I just have to teach, try to make the material seem like it is worth learning, and hope to motivate my students to do their best. I probably have a few more responsibilities, but those are the main ones I see. It is really fun to be back on campus.

I must say that if there were anywhere else I would rather teach, it would be at BYU. It's just too far away. I would prefer to not have students coming to class who smell like smokestacks. I would also rather not pass by students who are blowing cigarette smoke out into the air I must breathe. It would be nice to have more modesty in the dress of some students. However,.... I'm happy to be at WSU.

Life is good. I love my family. I'm grateful for Sunday. I'm grateful for a few rainshowers to clean out the air. Kent is a good husband. I'm grateful for him, too. My blessings are many today. How fortunate I am to have the heritage that I do, to live in this country, and to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life!!

Gratitude

Thirty-eight years ago today I became a mom. My twins Kim and Kevin were born. That was quite a day. Nineteen months later, Craig came into this world. Three years later, Kathryn joined our family. It was another 8 years before Kristen entered this world. I love each of these children and am so grateful that I've had the wonderful opportunity to be their mother. They have taught me more than I've ever taught them. They are the greatest kids a mother could ever have.

Happy Birthday Kim and Kevin!

Short Summer

The summer is nearing its end and I feel like it has just begun. My how time flies.

We took a fun trip to Branson. In fact, we would love to go back again. I had no idea that southern Missouri was so beautiful. We saw shows by the Duttons and the Hughes Brothers. They were both terrific. The only complaint we have is that the traffic is terrible along the strip. So, if you go to Branson, learn about the side roads!

Then Kim and Becky came to visit with their 5 children. Three of them had pneumonia. Our plans had been to meet them in Anaheim, go to the parks and then come back to Utah. Instead, they came here. They were here for about 3 weeks. The kids recuperated and then we went to Disneyland.

Unfortunately, we were only in California 2 days before my mother died. The last thing I did before leaving for California was visit Mom. She wasn't super perky, but I didn't expect to lose her while I was gone. It was a very happy day for Mom, I'm sure, when she got to leave mortality behind and join Dad and many others who love her. Her body had held her captive for over ten years. I hope I don't have to endure the things she had to endure--not being able to talk, walk, read, write, play games, do needlework, etc. Those must have been ten very long years for her. So July 27th was a happy day for her and a rather sad day for those she left behind. She was and is a great lady.

We returned home the day Mom died. Kim and his family came back to Utah instead of heading to Oklahoma to his new assignment as an endodontist. Kevin, Michelle and 2 of their children were able to come from Virginia. We had a very enjoyable time as a family for several days. What a blessing our 5 children and their families are to us. We love them dearly.

Now it is time to do all the other things that should have been done by now but haven't been done. I'm working on the craft room. I will soon be preparing for my class(es) at Weber State. I certainly don't have to complain about being bored!!

Kristen still hasn't showed me how to post pictures, so that is all---------------

June

Where is the summer going? June is three-fourths over and we don't have much to show for it. I haven't even updated my blog! Kristen tells me that it is a necessity. Since she thinks she is the boss, I guess I will have to follow her instructions. I think she has 26 hours in her day. I don't know how she managed to get 2 of mine. I only have 22.

We went to Bear Lake at the first of the month. We were only there for a weekend, but it was fun. If I knew how to add pictures, you could see the blue water and the blue sky. The weather was beautiful for that early in the summer.

We have a trip planned to Branson and another to Disneyland. Kim and family and Kristen and family will be going to Disneyland with us. I wish the other kids could go also, but their schedules wouldn't allow it. We will miss them.

We have been busy around the house. Kent is trying to put in a deck in the backyard. I've been trying to organize some things in the house. That hasn't happened since we moved in nearly 2 years ago. I have so many things of my parents still around. I wish I weren't such a packrat!!! I have such a difficult time throwing things away.

I have been having pressure in my chest and have been short-winded for about a week. I had a stress test today and my heart seemed to be doing just fine. I would think it was my gallbladder, but I don't have one. So, hopefully, it is nothing to worry about. Getting old has its good things (retirement and grandchildren) and its bad things (health problems). I admire those who make it into their 80's and 90's and still seem young.

If I can get Kristen to teach me how to add pictures, I'll add some sometime!! Life is pretty good most of the time!!

Retirement

This was a difficult day. I thought I would be happy and jumping at the chance to say goodbye to Viewmont High. Instead I spent much of the day crying as I close another chapter of my life. I'm sure life will be good, but it is not easy to leave behind the students and my colleagues. I won't miss the administration. I won't miss parent conferences, grading, faculty meeting, small learning communities, kids being pulled out of class, disrespectful students (although I had very few of these), or a classroom that is often either too hot or too cold. So there are some good things. I surely will miss the kids though. I'll miss their "thank you's", their humor, their insightfulness. I'll miss having them come back to tell me about college or a mission call or a marriage. I hope some of them will find me in the phone book and keep me posted. They are great!!

That's all for today!