Looks like I have some catching up to do, as usual. I always have the best intentions to keep up with my blog, but alas, find that other things get a higher priority and my blog gets neglected. So first, I'll catch up.
The elections are over and Barack Obama won. I have to say I was shocked to say the least. Mitt Romney is such a class act and I think he really could have turned things around in this country. I was stunned that the majority of Americans chose a man who has covered things up, tanked the economy, and put the USA in debt so deeply. However, I am grateful that as Americans we have the freedom to vote and choose our leader and I realize that not everyone sees things the way I do. The thing I have to remember is to strive to live righteously and strengthen my family and that will be the greatest benefit I can provide to our country and the Kingdom of God.
Thanksgiving was just last Thursday. For the past few years I've posted daily on Facebook what I am thankful for. I didn't do that this year, but still pondered the innumerable blessings I enjoy. In fact, when I think about how blessed I am it puts me in a state of awe. I am blessed spiritually and temporally and hope I will never ever take for granted how fortunate I am.
I'm so thankful to live in a free country. We can be and do whatever we want. We can worship however we choose. We have an abundance of opportunity. It's no wonder so many people try to come into this country and I am grateful to live here. I'm thankful for the community I live in. We are surrounded by incredible, choice children of our Father in Heaven and I am so grateful for this Utopia that is my neighborhood. My ward is amazing, my kids go to great schools, our neighbors are thoughtful and kind, and we have natural beauty that astounds me as I walk out my front door. A beautiful mountain range that colorfully follows the four seasons.
I am grateful for the Gospel which ties right into my gratitude for my family. Without the Gospel or my family, I can't imagine life. They are everything! Because of our Savior and my family, I try to be a better person. I have an eternal perspective that really helps me see what is important, which is the Gospel and my family. My greatest blessing is being a wife and mother. When I married Don, I felt like I was on top of the world. Then when Jordan and Jacie joined our family, I was over the moon! I'd do anything for them and it is my greatest desire to teach them the importance of making good choices so I can help return them to our Heavenly Father in mint condition. I realize they are just mine for this earthly sojourn and I thank Heavenly Father every day he entrusted these precious spirits to me and Don and give us the privilege of having this earthly stewardship over them. I say this often, but I think I learn more from them than they do me. How I love them! Sometimes when I think about Don and the Girls I find tears streaming down my face. Tears of love, gratitude, and amazement.
I'm also thankful for incredible Grandparents, Parents, siblings,nieces, nephews, cousins, anuts, uncles, and countless dear friends who are part of our eternal family, but also family by adoption.
I'm thankful for food to eat, clothes to wear, reliable transportation, a warm home, technology, modern medicine, temples nearby and the list could go on and on. In Church a week ago we had a Senior Couple talk. They had returned from serving a mission in France and talked about the sacrifices the Saints in Europe had to make to simply attend the temple.The Elder said he would often think, "forgive us Father, for we know not what we have." Again here is where I hope I never take for granted these abundant blessings.
Christmas is 29 days away. I love the feeling of the Holiday as everyone reflects on Christ and His birth. I love the peace and hope that come with the season and pray that I will strive to focus on going about doing good, just as our Savior taught by example.
Of all the blessings, right up there at the top is the Atonement. I can't really wrap my mind around the magnitude of it, but how I love our Savior and know that He is there for us and truly knows exactly how we feel as He has taken upon Himself our sins, disappointments, sufferings, weaknesses, pain, as well as our joys. I remember a man in Church saying once that he didn't understand the Atonement 100%, but he was 100% grateful for it. I echo that. Now I just need to live so my actions echo that as well.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day
Today is Election Day. I'm sure hoping people come to their senses and vote for Mitt Romney. Barack Obama has been the President for the last four years and in that time he's apologized for our great nation, tanked our economy and put the country in debt to the tune of about 16 trillion, yes TRILLION dollars! I can't even imagine anyone thinking he deserves more time. UGH! Romney has had great success in business, he has better foreign policy ideas, and I think hands down he's a better leader.
Anyway, Danna said it best back in the summer. She said it's all in the Lord's hands and if Romney needs to be in office, he will. I think Obama can do serious damage to our nation so I'm hoping he gets booted out!
I love our country. We are so blessed to have the freedoms we enjoy, including voting in our leaders. I love our freedoms - freedoms to worship how, when or what we may, work in whatever job we choose, live where we want to live and travel about freely. We are truly blessed.
Well, soon we will find out if we get a new leader of the free world. Tomorrow is Ben's birthday and I hope for his birthday he gets a new President!
Anyway, Danna said it best back in the summer. She said it's all in the Lord's hands and if Romney needs to be in office, he will. I think Obama can do serious damage to our nation so I'm hoping he gets booted out!
I love our country. We are so blessed to have the freedoms we enjoy, including voting in our leaders. I love our freedoms - freedoms to worship how, when or what we may, work in whatever job we choose, live where we want to live and travel about freely. We are truly blessed.
Well, soon we will find out if we get a new leader of the free world. Tomorrow is Ben's birthday and I hope for his birthday he gets a new President!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Remembering 9/11
Today marks the 11 year anniversary of September 11, 2001. The day terrorists attacked our country. It's a day I'll never forget as I'm sure anyone who was old enough on that day will never forget. I don't think even Jordan and Jacie will ever forget. Jordan was 2 1/2 years old and Jacie was 7 weeks old to the day. We had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero last year and they both have had the same 6th grade teacher who shows a documentary about the tragic and heroic events of the day. It is one of the most historical days in our nation's history so I'm glad they have had Mrs. V and have the opportunity to explore 9/11. I also share with them the events of the day as I remember them.
People always say they remember exactly what they were doing when they hear of these types of events. Like when JFK was assassinated, where they where when Princess Di was killed, and what they were doing when they got the word about 9/11. I remember it as if it were yesterday.
Don had left on September 10 for a business trip to Chicago. On the morning of September 11 I had been up about 5 or 6 in the morning to feed our 7 week old little bundle. I'd even had the news on just for background noise, not having any idea what was to take place within the next couple of hours. After Jacie was fed and back to sleep, I went back to sleep. At about 7 am here in Utah which was about 15 minutes after the first tower had been struck, my brother Marty called and asked me if I'd heard about the plane that had hit the WTC. I hadn't and asked him if it was a private plane, because I knew commercial jets normally don't fly around lower Manhattan at that low of an altitude. He said he didn't know. Anyway we ended our call. About 15 or so minutes later my dad called and said the other building had been hit and by then it was pretty clear this was no accident. I remember my dad choked up as he talked about the senseless loss of life and told me to call him if I got scared. Well I was scared. I had two innocent, precious spirits and I'd wondered just what kind of world I'd brought them into. Shortly after we learned the Pentagon had been hit and their was a rogue aircraft in the air. We then learned that plane, too, had been hijacked, and was taken back by the passengers and had crashed in an empty field.
I had called Don (who was in Chicago) to see if he had heard about the events of the day and also to find out if he had plans to go Downtown. He didn't answer so I was a little concerned but knew the cell towers were probably overwhelmed and I was pretty certain he wasn't going into Chicago. I then packed up the girls and headed over to one of the places I've felt safe my whole life...my Grandpa and Grandma Kreutzers. We turned on the TV kitchen and put Jordie's shows on and we watched the news all day. I remember the feelings of hopelessness, fear, sorrow, and extreme sadness. So many lost loved ones and their lives would be forever changed, and for those of us who didn't lose loved ones, we would never be the same either.
We stayed at Gram and Gramps all day and into the evening. I do remember the Mormon Tabernacle Choir coming on and singing hymns of peace. My favorite was Be Still my Soul. It was the perfect thing to hear because my soul was anything but still. I felt such peace and comfort. Then our beloved Prophet, President Hinckley spoke to us. His wisdom and love was so comforting and I knew that if I stayed true to the Gospel I had no reason to fear. It was a healing balm. I'll forever be grateful for his comforting words and counsel.
Now here it is 11 years later and in some ways it seems like yesterday, yet in other ways so much longer ago. I'm so grateful to live in the United States of America. I'm thankful for the opportunities we enjoy here, our freedoms, and the people we live amongst. While all the horror was going on, we must remember the heroes that arose on that somber day. Firefighters going up flight after flight of stairs, never reaching those they were striving to help, and losing their own lives in the process. Ordinary citizens who saw other people in need and helped where they could. It seemed that everyone was a little kinder, reached out a little more, and remembered how great our nation is. Instead of tearing us apart it brought us together.
Let us never forget!
People always say they remember exactly what they were doing when they hear of these types of events. Like when JFK was assassinated, where they where when Princess Di was killed, and what they were doing when they got the word about 9/11. I remember it as if it were yesterday.
Don had left on September 10 for a business trip to Chicago. On the morning of September 11 I had been up about 5 or 6 in the morning to feed our 7 week old little bundle. I'd even had the news on just for background noise, not having any idea what was to take place within the next couple of hours. After Jacie was fed and back to sleep, I went back to sleep. At about 7 am here in Utah which was about 15 minutes after the first tower had been struck, my brother Marty called and asked me if I'd heard about the plane that had hit the WTC. I hadn't and asked him if it was a private plane, because I knew commercial jets normally don't fly around lower Manhattan at that low of an altitude. He said he didn't know. Anyway we ended our call. About 15 or so minutes later my dad called and said the other building had been hit and by then it was pretty clear this was no accident. I remember my dad choked up as he talked about the senseless loss of life and told me to call him if I got scared. Well I was scared. I had two innocent, precious spirits and I'd wondered just what kind of world I'd brought them into. Shortly after we learned the Pentagon had been hit and their was a rogue aircraft in the air. We then learned that plane, too, had been hijacked, and was taken back by the passengers and had crashed in an empty field.
I had called Don (who was in Chicago) to see if he had heard about the events of the day and also to find out if he had plans to go Downtown. He didn't answer so I was a little concerned but knew the cell towers were probably overwhelmed and I was pretty certain he wasn't going into Chicago. I then packed up the girls and headed over to one of the places I've felt safe my whole life...my Grandpa and Grandma Kreutzers. We turned on the TV kitchen and put Jordie's shows on and we watched the news all day. I remember the feelings of hopelessness, fear, sorrow, and extreme sadness. So many lost loved ones and their lives would be forever changed, and for those of us who didn't lose loved ones, we would never be the same either.
We stayed at Gram and Gramps all day and into the evening. I do remember the Mormon Tabernacle Choir coming on and singing hymns of peace. My favorite was Be Still my Soul. It was the perfect thing to hear because my soul was anything but still. I felt such peace and comfort. Then our beloved Prophet, President Hinckley spoke to us. His wisdom and love was so comforting and I knew that if I stayed true to the Gospel I had no reason to fear. It was a healing balm. I'll forever be grateful for his comforting words and counsel.
Now here it is 11 years later and in some ways it seems like yesterday, yet in other ways so much longer ago. I'm so grateful to live in the United States of America. I'm thankful for the opportunities we enjoy here, our freedoms, and the people we live amongst. While all the horror was going on, we must remember the heroes that arose on that somber day. Firefighters going up flight after flight of stairs, never reaching those they were striving to help, and losing their own lives in the process. Ordinary citizens who saw other people in need and helped where they could. It seemed that everyone was a little kinder, reached out a little more, and remembered how great our nation is. Instead of tearing us apart it brought us together.
Let us never forget!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
First Day of School 2012-2013
So now we start another school year. I always find myself a little melancholy on the first day of school. There are two reasons for this. First, I know the kids are gone all day and the house seems so empty after having the girls around all day every day. It gets pretty quiet just me and Cooper. He even gets a little mopey that first week of school. I think he wonders where everyone is except the boring old lady. The second reason for the melancholy is that it's a reminder that the girls are growing up and it is happening fast! It seems like yesterday they where in preschool!
Jordan started 8th Grade. She is at the midpoint of her Jr. High career. Someone told me the time really flies once they get to Jr. High because they are only at that particular school for three years. I believe that because it really seems like Jordan just went to her first day of Jr. High as a 7th Grader! Wow!
Here is a picture of beautiful Jordan on her first day of 8th Grade:
Jacie begins her last year of Elementary School. I realized this is the last year I will walk my little girl to class. Next year she moves on to Jr. High. It will be very different not wandering the halls at Reading Elementary talking to all the moms who are there dropping of their children for another first day. Next year if you see me aimlessly wandering the neighborhood after the Jr. High bus leaves just smack some sense into me and point me home! It is so hard to believe the baby of our family is in 6th Grade! I remember the Kindergarten first day with all the parents as vividly as if it were minutes ago! Jacie was so excited for another school year to begin.
Here is lovely Jacie on her first day of 6th Grade:
I'm hoping to keep things up to date a little better. It is fun to go back and look at how the girls have grown and to remember some of those emotions.
The girls are home now and both had a great first day. I couldn't ask for anything more!
Jordan started 8th Grade. She is at the midpoint of her Jr. High career. Someone told me the time really flies once they get to Jr. High because they are only at that particular school for three years. I believe that because it really seems like Jordan just went to her first day of Jr. High as a 7th Grader! Wow!
Here is a picture of beautiful Jordan on her first day of 8th Grade:
Jacie begins her last year of Elementary School. I realized this is the last year I will walk my little girl to class. Next year she moves on to Jr. High. It will be very different not wandering the halls at Reading Elementary talking to all the moms who are there dropping of their children for another first day. Next year if you see me aimlessly wandering the neighborhood after the Jr. High bus leaves just smack some sense into me and point me home! It is so hard to believe the baby of our family is in 6th Grade! I remember the Kindergarten first day with all the parents as vividly as if it were minutes ago! Jacie was so excited for another school year to begin.
Here is lovely Jacie on her first day of 6th Grade:
Here is the joy and loves of my life:
I'm hoping to keep things up to date a little better. It is fun to go back and look at how the girls have grown and to remember some of those emotions.
The girls are home now and both had a great first day. I couldn't ask for anything more!
First Day of School Last year!
Last year I was quite the slacker on updating the blog so I realized I never put in those glorious first day of school pictures of my beautiful daughters. Jordan entered the 7th Grade at Centerville Jr. High and Jacie 5th Grade at Reading Elementary. Here are their beautiful pictures:
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Arizona in August!
It's been awhile since I've updated, but I have many things to be grateful for, some wonderful experiences, and wonderful people I know, have met, and seem to continue to meet. The Lord is in charge and he knows just what we need.
We returned last Saturday from 2 weeks in sunny and hot Arizona. I loved it. I love the heat and it's a good thing because they even broke heat records in Arizona while we were there. Don, Jordie, and Jacie however did not love the heat and even wondered how people live there. I often wonder how I live here in the dead of winter. Oh well. I was grateful to have them with me.
You may ask, "what on earth were you doing in Arizona in August?" Well, I'll explain. I have a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP for short. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, but my dear brother Marty was diagnosed about 11 years ago. What happens is you start noticing night blindness and your peripheral vision begins to decline. Marty has steadily declined and they said he may not even be able to renew his driver's license next spring when his license expires.
After my diagnosis I felt a little hopeless and fearful because sight is one of my physical abilities I am so grateful for. I'm an active person - I love bicycling, boating, and most importantly watching my precious daughters grow up. With RP they are very up front in telling you there is no cure, no medication to slow it's progress, and basically you'll end up visually impaired and potentially legally blind.
I was doing lots of internet research to see if there was anything I could do to slow it down and in one of my google searches I came across a doctor in Arizona who has used acupuncture with great benefit to help people with Macular Degeneration and RP. Here's the real beauty for me - she is a Board Certified Opthalmalogist. Well my cousin had some real benefits from acupuncture from healing some general ailments like migraine headaches to overcoming infertility after trying for 10 years to conceive. So I thought there's got to be something to this. So in order to see if maybe I could save myself two weeks in Arizona (the prescribed course of treatment) and see an acupuncturist here in Salt Lake. I went for about 4 months with no change at all. It was costing me a fortune because he wanted me to come in twice a week and buy all these supplements. I heard a quote from Einstein (I think) that said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over with no results. So I decided it was time to get serious about seeing this Dr. in Arizona who had proven improvement with many patients.
I called her office back in March or April and she called me back. She was very open and said some people are too far advanced that it won't help and some people don't regress but don't have significant improvement. She said the only way to know is to try. She does 10 treatments a week for one week and if you are showing some improvement you can stay for an additional week and receive 10 more treatments. Well I was blessed! I started the treatments and the her office staff would ask if I was noticing improvement. I really thought I was, but then I wondered if it was just wishful because I so desperately hoped for improvement. They said we'll know on Friday when I had my first vision test.
They had me take a "field vision" test which tests your peripheral vision. I had one Monday before treatments and Friday after the initial 10 treatments and it turns out it wasn't wishful thinking. There was noticeable improvement. I about danced out of that office feeling so blessed that this had an impact. It was like a new lease on life. She said I could stay an additional week and receive 10 more treatments. I had originally planned for 2 weeks but determined if it wasn't helping I would leave after one. So I stayed on and did 10 more. What a blessing! I feel as if I'm going to be able to retain my vision for many years because of Dr. Tukan being so accepting to try Oriental Medicine when most Western Doctors think it's voodoo or something.
I plan to go again in 6 months and I'm hoping Marty will join me so that hopefully he can keep his Driver's License. It would be fun to have him be my acupuncture buddy as well. She has 2 chairs and can treat 2 patients at a time. I met a real sweet lady named Betty the first week with Macular Degeneration and the second week I was with Howard who has been coming to Arizona for 11 years to treat his MD. He was told 11 years ago that within a year and a half he'd be legally blind and couldn't drive. Well, he's still driving down. It's amazing.
The other thing I am so hugely grateful for is the support of my family. I'm not real sure if Don was a believer, but when he realized how hopeful I was, he was willing to drive down there with me, redeem a ton of hotel points for our stay, and pay for the treatments. He had business in San Diego the first week so he flew to San Diego and spent a few days and then came back to Arizona for my Friday vision test. If it wasn't working we were going to just head home. Thankfully it was so we stayed on another week. He flew home Monday morning to work and flew back Thursday night of the second week to drive home with us. I was so extremely grateful that Jordan and Jacie stayed there with me the full two weeks. It's a long time to be stuck in a hotel, but that one on one time I had with them was exquisite. That is the only word I can describe it as. We talked a lot, spent a great deal of time together, and I loved every minute of it.
I can only think that I must have done something so good in the pre-existence to have been blessed to have stewardship over these choice daughters of our Heavenly Father on this mortal sojourn. Jordan has loved doing baptisms for the dead since she turned 12 and would like to do it in as many temples as possible. I didn't have treatments on Wednesdays so the first week we drove down to Mesa and Jordie and I did baptisms for the dead. I was so proud of her for her desire to do the right things. I think I learn more from her than she does me. Jacie can't wait to do them, but she's not 12. We parked her in the Visitors Center and she read 7 chapters of 1 Nephi then played on the iPad. Jordie and I were the only ones in there so Jacie didn't have to wait too long. When we came out of the temple it was about 112-113 degrees so Jordie's hair dried quicker that she's ever experienced. It was almost dry by the time we got to the Visitors Center to get Jacie. Jordan was amazed because her hair is so thick it usually takes hours to dry. I loved that day. It was my favorite day of our trip.
I hope anyone reading this didn't completely lose interest after my lengthy post. I just am so grateful for the experience I had and for my family. I don't know what I'll do when I have to go down in the middle of the school year and the kids can't come. I think I'll fly so I can get there and back in a hurry. I am so grateful for Dr. Tukan for learning this so she can help so many people. She is amazing. I'm grateful for all the wonderful people who offered prayers in my behalf. Everyone from my family, my friends and the wonderful people in my ward offered prayers for me. I can only thank them because I really feel that their faith and prayers in my behalf gave me this blessing. I still don't see perfect, but I've found I'm not bumping into things as much and tripping over things (like poor Cooper, our dog) as much. It has been a truly wonderful experience for me.
Thanks everyone for your love and support! I am so blessed!
We returned last Saturday from 2 weeks in sunny and hot Arizona. I loved it. I love the heat and it's a good thing because they even broke heat records in Arizona while we were there. Don, Jordie, and Jacie however did not love the heat and even wondered how people live there. I often wonder how I live here in the dead of winter. Oh well. I was grateful to have them with me.
You may ask, "what on earth were you doing in Arizona in August?" Well, I'll explain. I have a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP for short. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, but my dear brother Marty was diagnosed about 11 years ago. What happens is you start noticing night blindness and your peripheral vision begins to decline. Marty has steadily declined and they said he may not even be able to renew his driver's license next spring when his license expires.
After my diagnosis I felt a little hopeless and fearful because sight is one of my physical abilities I am so grateful for. I'm an active person - I love bicycling, boating, and most importantly watching my precious daughters grow up. With RP they are very up front in telling you there is no cure, no medication to slow it's progress, and basically you'll end up visually impaired and potentially legally blind.
I was doing lots of internet research to see if there was anything I could do to slow it down and in one of my google searches I came across a doctor in Arizona who has used acupuncture with great benefit to help people with Macular Degeneration and RP. Here's the real beauty for me - she is a Board Certified Opthalmalogist. Well my cousin had some real benefits from acupuncture from healing some general ailments like migraine headaches to overcoming infertility after trying for 10 years to conceive. So I thought there's got to be something to this. So in order to see if maybe I could save myself two weeks in Arizona (the prescribed course of treatment) and see an acupuncturist here in Salt Lake. I went for about 4 months with no change at all. It was costing me a fortune because he wanted me to come in twice a week and buy all these supplements. I heard a quote from Einstein (I think) that said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over with no results. So I decided it was time to get serious about seeing this Dr. in Arizona who had proven improvement with many patients.
I called her office back in March or April and she called me back. She was very open and said some people are too far advanced that it won't help and some people don't regress but don't have significant improvement. She said the only way to know is to try. She does 10 treatments a week for one week and if you are showing some improvement you can stay for an additional week and receive 10 more treatments. Well I was blessed! I started the treatments and the her office staff would ask if I was noticing improvement. I really thought I was, but then I wondered if it was just wishful because I so desperately hoped for improvement. They said we'll know on Friday when I had my first vision test.
They had me take a "field vision" test which tests your peripheral vision. I had one Monday before treatments and Friday after the initial 10 treatments and it turns out it wasn't wishful thinking. There was noticeable improvement. I about danced out of that office feeling so blessed that this had an impact. It was like a new lease on life. She said I could stay an additional week and receive 10 more treatments. I had originally planned for 2 weeks but determined if it wasn't helping I would leave after one. So I stayed on and did 10 more. What a blessing! I feel as if I'm going to be able to retain my vision for many years because of Dr. Tukan being so accepting to try Oriental Medicine when most Western Doctors think it's voodoo or something.
I plan to go again in 6 months and I'm hoping Marty will join me so that hopefully he can keep his Driver's License. It would be fun to have him be my acupuncture buddy as well. She has 2 chairs and can treat 2 patients at a time. I met a real sweet lady named Betty the first week with Macular Degeneration and the second week I was with Howard who has been coming to Arizona for 11 years to treat his MD. He was told 11 years ago that within a year and a half he'd be legally blind and couldn't drive. Well, he's still driving down. It's amazing.
The other thing I am so hugely grateful for is the support of my family. I'm not real sure if Don was a believer, but when he realized how hopeful I was, he was willing to drive down there with me, redeem a ton of hotel points for our stay, and pay for the treatments. He had business in San Diego the first week so he flew to San Diego and spent a few days and then came back to Arizona for my Friday vision test. If it wasn't working we were going to just head home. Thankfully it was so we stayed on another week. He flew home Monday morning to work and flew back Thursday night of the second week to drive home with us. I was so extremely grateful that Jordan and Jacie stayed there with me the full two weeks. It's a long time to be stuck in a hotel, but that one on one time I had with them was exquisite. That is the only word I can describe it as. We talked a lot, spent a great deal of time together, and I loved every minute of it.
I can only think that I must have done something so good in the pre-existence to have been blessed to have stewardship over these choice daughters of our Heavenly Father on this mortal sojourn. Jordan has loved doing baptisms for the dead since she turned 12 and would like to do it in as many temples as possible. I didn't have treatments on Wednesdays so the first week we drove down to Mesa and Jordie and I did baptisms for the dead. I was so proud of her for her desire to do the right things. I think I learn more from her than she does me. Jacie can't wait to do them, but she's not 12. We parked her in the Visitors Center and she read 7 chapters of 1 Nephi then played on the iPad. Jordie and I were the only ones in there so Jacie didn't have to wait too long. When we came out of the temple it was about 112-113 degrees so Jordie's hair dried quicker that she's ever experienced. It was almost dry by the time we got to the Visitors Center to get Jacie. Jordan was amazed because her hair is so thick it usually takes hours to dry. I loved that day. It was my favorite day of our trip.
I hope anyone reading this didn't completely lose interest after my lengthy post. I just am so grateful for the experience I had and for my family. I don't know what I'll do when I have to go down in the middle of the school year and the kids can't come. I think I'll fly so I can get there and back in a hurry. I am so grateful for Dr. Tukan for learning this so she can help so many people. She is amazing. I'm grateful for all the wonderful people who offered prayers in my behalf. Everyone from my family, my friends and the wonderful people in my ward offered prayers for me. I can only thank them because I really feel that their faith and prayers in my behalf gave me this blessing. I still don't see perfect, but I've found I'm not bumping into things as much and tripping over things (like poor Cooper, our dog) as much. It has been a truly wonderful experience for me.
Thanks everyone for your love and support! I am so blessed!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Big Shake Out
Yesterday, the state of Utah held a huge earthquake drill. All the schools and big businesses held an earthquake drill at 10:15am to help people prepare for "the big one." I happened to be over at Jordie's school, Centerville Jr. High at a PTSA meeting when this happened.
I was being trained for "Reality Town", which happens tomorrow. It's a "real world" experience for 7th graders where they are given an income, certain life circumstances, and help them live within a budget. I'm going to be in investments. Anyhow...we were doing the training and they come over the intercom with these rumbling sounds. When you hear that you are supposed to take cover and hold on.
I will never forget sitting under that conference table with the gal named Jeni Davis. We just continued training like it was the most natural thing in the world for 2 women in their 40's to be sitting under a table. It made me feel like a kid again. If only we had a blanket to make a fort!
Earthquakes are scary business, but like the prophets always say, "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."
I need to update on our recent trip to Orlando, FL two weeks ago. What a ball we had and I'm thankful for these wonderful opportunities to travel to different places. It couldn't have been better weather for me...90's, humid, and the best part was being with my beloved family.
I'll update when Jordie shows me how to upload pictures. Now, I'm going to index. I'm hooked on it! I've been working on the 1940 census and it has been addicting. I think I'll do a couple and then maybe be productive and do some cleaning.
I was being trained for "Reality Town", which happens tomorrow. It's a "real world" experience for 7th graders where they are given an income, certain life circumstances, and help them live within a budget. I'm going to be in investments. Anyhow...we were doing the training and they come over the intercom with these rumbling sounds. When you hear that you are supposed to take cover and hold on.
I will never forget sitting under that conference table with the gal named Jeni Davis. We just continued training like it was the most natural thing in the world for 2 women in their 40's to be sitting under a table. It made me feel like a kid again. If only we had a blanket to make a fort!
Earthquakes are scary business, but like the prophets always say, "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."
I need to update on our recent trip to Orlando, FL two weeks ago. What a ball we had and I'm thankful for these wonderful opportunities to travel to different places. It couldn't have been better weather for me...90's, humid, and the best part was being with my beloved family.
I'll update when Jordie shows me how to upload pictures. Now, I'm going to index. I'm hooked on it! I've been working on the 1940 census and it has been addicting. I think I'll do a couple and then maybe be productive and do some cleaning.
Monday, February 27, 2012
So Grateful for....EVERYTHING!
I was on my way home from the gym this morning thinking about how blessed I am. I'm thankful I have a body strong enough to go to my morning "suffer-fests" aka cycling classes. I'm thankful for the fun people in those classes, who have become friends. I'm thankful to have the means to belong to the gym so I can ride a bike all winter.
I was also thinking about how happy my family makes me. Don and I were engaged 16 years and almost 2 weeks ago. No we are not the perfect couple, but Don is perfect for me and I am eternally grateful for him. I'm so grateful for Jordie and Jacie. They are the greatest source of joy! I was visiting teaching yesterday and the message was on the divine roll of parenting. I had that exquisite yearning for the days before the girls were in school and that sweet and tender time we spent together watching Rugrats, Dora, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, and Little Bill. I loved the miles and miles we (well I) walked pushing them in our double jogging stroller, looking at the horses, flowers, snow, and trees. I remember the wonderful times we spent at Gramma and Grampa Kreutzer's house. I got excellent advice while the girls drew, colored, paper-clipped, stapled and whatever else they did that made it such a special place for the 3 of us.
I was reminiscing about Gram and Gramp's house. They lived at 399 West 400 North #48 in Bountiful. For as long as I remember it was my home away from home. They lived there until Grampa passed away 4 years ago. Gram then moved in with my aunt, Jane. I have so many happy memories at their house. Sleepovers with cousins, sleepovers with my siblings, and the special ones - the sleepovers with just me. Right between Gram and Gramps in their big king-sized bed. I always loved the Cocoa Puffs we ate for breakfast, even though they tasted a little funny with Grampa's "skin" (skim) milk.
All of the cousins loved swimming in the pool. The condo had a pool and we spent many hours and got many sunburns in that pool. We also all got threatened with the wooden spoon. Gram used to say she would "lick" us with it. I don't think anyone ever actually got spanked with it, but the fear was there.
Her salmon patties, pot roast, and Rice -a - Roni were the best. I swear anyone could make them identical to hers, but for some reason hers just tasted better. My cousin Steph and I still maintain this is true to this day. Gramma claims it was because it was made with love. So true!
Gram always gave us back rubs with baby lotion after we got out of the tub. When I was a Sr in high school I went over to Gram's one night for a back rub. I'll never forget that. It wasn't that Gram was a massage therapist, but I think the love she put into those back rubs made all the tension go away. I remember I drove Dad's "big Cadillac" over. It was an '83 Coupe de Ville. That thing had to be 50 feet long. We called it the boat.
A friend posted a picture of a kid on Facebook climbing a door frame. I remember doing that as a kid. We also had a narrow wall in the hallway that we could climb by putting our feet on each side of the wall. I remember Mom getting upset with us and I always wondered how she knew. I think Moms notice footprints on the wall that are invisible to kids. I've often wondered if that was the reason most hallways are much wider than they used to be. I'm grateful for a wonderful childhood. I had great parents, too!
I hope I'm providing a wonderful childhood for the sweet angels I've been entrusted with.
Sorry for this rambling blog. I don't post as much as I'd like so I thought I'd get these thoughts out while they were still on my mind. I am so grateful!
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