Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Change

Change is always uncertain in ones life....just as the seasons change so does every aspect in ones life. We cannot control it for the most part it just happens.

I am so grateful for loving and good examples in my life. My Grandma Colby was such a person. She demonstrated unconditional love and a will for life. She loved life to it's fullest. She never had a lot of money but I never heard her once complain. All I heard was how grateful she was for everything she had....Especially her family. She was faithful to her husband, family and to God. I could not ask for a better example in my life.


She was so determine to live to be 100 and she almost made it. She passed away at the age of 99. I will always love the memories of her and all that she did for me. I am even more grateful that I acted upon promptings to go and visit her just recently and to take my kids with me. She fell in love with Miss Millie and couldn't get enough of her. I will never forget watching Craig cry as he hugged her to say good bye. It was so touching.....he has such a tender heart.



Thanks Grandma for all the loving memories.....you are truly blessed. Oh the happy reunion on the other side with her sweetheart and child.

She was laid to rest on December 15, 2009 I just wish I could have been there but my thoughts were of you all day.....I will miss you deeply.



Another change was that we laid our dog of 15 years to rest on Saturday. She was a faithful companion to my children. Where ever they went she went. If they went to a friends house she would follow and stayed by the door until they were ready to leave. I always knew what house my kids were at by walking around and seeing where Socks was. One time Craig disappeared and we could not find him. Socks was in a frantic trying to get our attention. We clued in and started to follow her. We had a hard time keeping up....She led us to a fast moving creek due to all the run off from the winter....Craig was there. He was only 4 I hate to think what could have happen had it not been for Socks protective nature.

And yet another change......my house sold! I have had extreme mixed emotions about it all.... I didn't think that coming back I would get so attached. After the divorce I was the one that left the house...Then Richard got married and the house sat empty. I moved back in in August to prepare the house for sale. I have gotten reattached to my home. We built the house in 1998 and have lots of memories here....It's very scary for me to think I won't be here anymore. I think of all my kids Craig is having the hardest time. So I'm trying to spend some extra time with him.....
Change is hard and when your young sometimes you don't understand it.

Life is good and change happens all the time....Just when we get comfortable or think nothing more can happen we get a little reminder that sometimes we have no control......

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snow, Snow and more Snow



Just a quick note on what has been happening here......SNOW....and Freezing temps.

These were taken Tuesday morning as we were heading to work. It was freezing so I was not so interested in getting the perfect shot....just a memory of Miss Millie and how much snow we got in two days.

Miss Millie loves the snow and all the pretty lights......as we drive she says "Moor Lits" although I know she is saying more lights....she is pretty fun right now. I love every second with her and all my kids. They are so amazing.....

Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Sounds of Laughter

Today I had everything planned out....Shopping for Christmas, cleaning the house to get ready for company, grocery shopping and a good movie to end the day. What I find myself doing is dancing with Miss Millie....listening to the other kids laugh and play in the other room and not caring if anything else gets done today.....I love having my Kiddos around with love and laughter in the air....It's a good day after all!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fall Pictures of Miss Millie


Today we decided to venture out and take some Pic's while the weather was nice. This is a dress that her Nana sent her for Halloween. Isn't it cute!





Thursday, November 5, 2009

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

History Unfolding


I received this email from a friend of mine and as I read it I was moved. Our History is Unfolding or is it that History has a way of repeating it's self. Please take the time to read:


Dr. David Kaiser


History Unfolding


I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books on history that have been published in six languages, and I have studied history all my life. I
have come to think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is simply a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.


Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it
feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about ten to fifteen years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.


We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people we know they can never pay back? Why?


We learned just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no
real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700 billion we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "we the people," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not.


We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy.. Why?


We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth
preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?


We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election
(violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it simply
wants marriage to remain defined as between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?) We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?


Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, social
security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and I know precisely what I am talking about) - the list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth.. It is potentially 1929 x ten...And we are at war with an enemy we cannot even name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who, in turn, cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.


And finally, we have elected a man that no one really knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen. All of his associations and alliances are
with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it.


Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change. Why?


I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.


This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different
power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.


And that is only the beginning..


As a serious student of history, I thought I would never come to experience what the
ordinary, moral German must have felt in the mid-1930s In those times, the "savior" was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the
average German knew next to nothing. What they should have known was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory. Conservative "losers" read it right now.


And there were the promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and frowned and waved a lot. And
people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts"
would bully and beat them into submission. Which they did - regularly. And then, he was duly elected to office, while a full-throttled economic crisis bloomed at hand - the Great Depression. Slowly, but surely he seized the controls of government power, person by person, department by department, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The children of German citizens were at first, encouraged to join a Youth Movement in his name where they were taught exactly what to think. Later, they were required to do so. No Jews of course,


How did he get people on his side? He did it by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, and rewards for the military-industrial complex. He did it by
indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country,
across Europe , and across the world. He did it with a compliant media - did you know
that? And he did this all in the name of justice and .... . .. change. And the people
surely got what they voted for.


If you think I am exaggerating, look it up. It's all there in the history books.


So read your history books. Many people of conscience objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and ridiculed. When Winston Churchill
pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though. And the world came to regret that he was not listened to.


Do not forget that Germany was the most educated, the most cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and
universities.. And yet, in less than six years (a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency) it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors.. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.


As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if
they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from
across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong by closing my eyes, having another latte, and ignoring what is transpiring around me..


I choose to believe the evidence. No doubt some people will scoff at me, others laugh, or think I am foolish, naive, or both. To some degree, perhaps I am. But I
have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe-and why I believe it.


I pray I am wrong. I do not think I am. Perhaps the only hope is our vote in upcoming
elections.


David Kaiser

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Life at our house this week!

Well I am into day three of my new job and can I say what an adjustment we have had to make. Miss Millie and I are not use to getting up so early in the morning especially Miss Millie. She is really having to adjust with going to a sitter house. It's so sad when I drop her off and she is really confused about what is going on. "This is not what is suppose to happen!" is the look on her face. The first day was OK because she had no clue as to what was going on. By day two she was a little more clued in and this morning....she was really clued in.

Other things that have happened this week.


Colby my brother came back into town for a class and to job search. Not really sure how long he is planning on staying but if it was up to me he would not be going back. I love having family here.

Kenna was in a car accident yesterday. Nothing serious just a minor accident but none the less she was shaken up. But today she went down to the DMV and got her drivers licence. This was an exciting day for her since she has waited almost two years to get it.

James has an infection in his back molars. I am pretty good and not passing out at the site of things but to be honest this one about did me in. Saturday night he came up to me and said "Mom look at this!" He then opened his mouths tilted his head back, pulled his cheek from his teeth and pushed on the roof of his mouth. Out came the most disgusting puss. I about lost my dinner. He asked if I wanted to see it again and the answer was a definite NO......so yesterday he went to the dentist and they drained his infection. The worst part is we have to take him to a specialist to get this fixed.....MONEY! OUCH!!!!!

Deborah picked Miss Millie up today so that we could all attend Madison's last football game. It was so cold and the wind was awful. Thanks Deb for all your help. Love ya.

Ali is proceeding with treatments and trying her best to have a positive attitude. She amazes me with her outlook and keeping things together with all that she is going through and will have to go through.

Craig is doing great in school and loves to play with Miss Millie when she gets home. His greatest challenge right now is just getting out of bed in the morning when his alarm goes off....at least he is not alone in the world on this one.

Fall is our most favorite time of the year.....We are loving life at the Riding House!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sunday Drive


Today was a much needed day for a drive.......location of choice the Alpine Loop. Miss Millie and I headed up the canyon to Sundance. Which by the way is one of my most favorite places in Utah. We continued on up the canyon to enjoy the beauty of the Loop. This is what we saw!



Saturday, October 10, 2009

Bitter/Sweet

I have mixed emotions.....I want to jump for JOY and CRY and the same time. Thursday I was offered a job with an amazing company.....doing what I love to do.....but it comes with a price.


I will not be with my kids all day long......Miss Millie will have to start going to daycare..... seeing Craig when he is done with school.......chatting with Madison on IM....hearing about Makenna's day. Helping Deborah out when she needs it no matter what time of the day it is. Talking to Ali and James about their day and having lunch dates with them.


I am grateful that in this economy I have been able to locate a wonderful job.....but the JOB I long for the most is FULL TIME MOM! Hopefully soon.....


Miss Millie has been a wonderful helper while I have been job hunting....she would bring me food.....all sorts, some eatable and some not......she would sing and dance for me, sit on my lap and help type......OK not so helpful but I will miss it. And best of all she would give me foot massages.....and she is pretty good at it too.

My foot massage.....YEA!



Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Thoughts for the day!

Some friends of mine brought these comments to my attention.



Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel, “Pick up your shovels, mount your arses, hitch up your camels, I will lead you to the promised land". Seventy-five years ago, FDR said, "Lay down your shovels, sit on your ...arses, and light up a Camel, this is the promised land". Today, Obama has nationalized your shovels, taxed your arses, raised the price of Camels, and mortgaged the promised land.




Some other differences between Moses & Obama; Moses didn't want to be a leader because he was poor in speach, Obama wanted to be the leader because he could give a good speach! Moses was a man of few words, Obama is unavoidable for comment 24/7. Moses feared God & did what God asked of him. Obama fears no one & thinks he is God.



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

It's been far too LONG.......I'm back to Posting

Miss Millie

This summer has been one eventful ride.....and I'm not sure if it was to build character or teach me more patience...one thing this journey has been is humbling beyond belief.

I finally have a home to call home at least for awhile. (Until it sells)

I am still looking for a JOB!

I had to break down and get Internet service.......(a cost I really do not want to endure right now but must) it helps to have it to find a JOB.

Through everything I have had the support of an AMAZING family. I have had the opportunity to spend additional time with and build stronger relationships with.

I love being with Miss Millie all day long and dreaming of the day that this will be a permanent situation.......

Last weekend I had the opportunity to take the family up Payson Canyon and set up a campfire.....cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows......A perfect ending to a perfect day!
Colby, Makenna, James, Madison & Craig

Miss Millie and Aaron


Saturday, June 13, 2009

LOL

I guess you might what to check your camera to see every picture that is taken on it. I had no clue that these pics were on my camera...... While we were shopping a WalMart Craig took the liberty to snap some shots of his little sister and this is what we got.......I loved them, thanks Craig......I should let my kids take more pics you'll never know what you might get.







This Weeks Adventures


So much happened this week with the family..... A wedding, beesting, swimming, D-Back's game and sadly the passing of my Uncle Craig.... (my Craig is named after him).

Dawna got married on Wednesday and it was so beautiful especially for a June setting.....weather could not have been more perfect.




Craig started building a fort in the orchard.......he spent most of the day out there......oh the memories of when I was a kid.....

Thursday Miss Millie, Craig, Colby and I went swimming and while Miss Millie was walking around the pool she stepped on a bee and guess what happens???? Ouch!!!!! Tears - Tears and more Tears. She did quite well and didn't cry too long. Her foot swelled up for awhile but it didn't take long before she was up and running around.


Friday night was Dawna and Nik's reception...... the setting couldn't be more beautiful. Desert setting, Arizona sunset, a cool breeze, friends and family and YUMMY FOOD! We had so much fun visiting and dancing.......




Saturday night Craig, David, Hannah and I went to the Diamondbacks Game....Hoping that they would win but NO such luck! It was again a perfect evening.




Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Fun Filled Week

This last week we were able to attend several Major events.....the First being my sons High School Graduation. It seem like just yesterday I was holding an infant in my arms and looking forward to his life. I remember thinking he would Graduate High School in 2009 and thinking "WOW that is a long time away". Oh how the years go by before you know it. How proud I was of him. Way to go James!


Second we also attended the Open House for the Oquirrah Temple. My Dad, his Sister Judy and her husband Alvin along with Miss Millie, Craig, Madison and Me. We went around Miss Millie's nap time and I was wondering how she would do. Why worry she did wonderful....she Loved the stairs and wanted to climb them all. Madison stated how beautiful she thought everything was and Craig was just so worried about his little sister climbing the stairs and wanted to be close to her the whole time.

And last Craig played his last game of the season and we were glad that Papa was there to take all the pictures as I chased Miss Millie around.