THIS IS LIFE.................

One Little, Two Little, Three Little MIracles!

2012-02-10T20:00:00.001-08:00

First, more than eight and 1/2 years ago we got our first miracle

granddaughter, Kamree! She is such a blessing to our lives.

February 9th, we are blessed to add our second granddaughter to
our family branch, Brielle! Again a very great blessing.

July of this year we will be blessed with a third grandchild. Don't
know the gender yet, however, we are just as anxious to meet the
third family member as we were to meet Kam, and as we are to still
get to meet Brie!

Boy is Thanksgiving going to be fun this year! I think
it is our turn for everyone for that holiday. Kam can help with the pies and
the baby's can suck on the turkey drumsticks if they can get them away from
this grandma!

Life is SPECTACULAR!

2012-01-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

WHILE we wait to hear word about our next of kin......
(Carianne is in Labor this Friday the 13th of January.)....
I started to contemplate all the goodness that we are
so blessed to have........ And then while doing this,
I found that my fingers and the rest of me is suffering
for a lack of food. I'll be back later._

WHERE HAVE 'i' BEEN? WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?

2011-09-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

I spent the fall and winter and spring............ oh and all of my summer break taking
extra technology classes. WHAT DID I LEARN???? I learned that there is more to
know about the science of the tech world than my aging (but growing) brain can handle.
I learned that I can learn something and now it one minute and it is gone the next.
I learned, truly learned and love using, about googledocs and picasaweb and the power
and ease of sharing through them. I think we need a RS extra meeting for those tools
alone!

Where else have I been? I've been depressed. I learned that my kids are going to move
away and take their sweet little families with them. I've learned that they will come back
and then they will leave again and again and again. Maybe that is why Heavenly Father seldom
lets people come back after they have died. He doesn't want to have them leave again?

I've learned that I can feel great about my job for one second and then the walls will come crashing
down again. I already knew that but it keeps happening and I keep enduring it.

I've learned a lot. ANd most of what I've learned and remember I don't want to truly,
heartfully acknowledge. Because it is too painful if I do.

OH! There are so many bright sides to life. Because..........
I learned that Angels are protecting my children still. First there was Amie's flight of 100 yards straight
down a blind revine one late night last November before Thanksgiving. She and her
friends were all unharmed. And just like her, Jace and his friends were equally protected
by Angels when the 4runner he was driving was t-boned in front of Wendy's on Sunset and the 4runner was flipped 1 1/2 times, landing on it's lid, and not one of them injuried with more than the
scraps that Jace got on his waist and hip..........none of the kids were wearing their seatbelts.
And another grand blessing!?!!!! Tyrel and Carianne are expecting their first child. The 4d ultrasound at the tender age of 14 weeks reveled that this grandchild will be a granddaughter. That will give me a nice set of girls! YEA! Finally, Kamree will get to a cousin on this side of the family!

Lexus or the TRACKER!!?!!

2011-05-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

YA! A funny little question I was asked by my son, Jace, and his friends today. They had
just come from the lake and one of his friends was driving it.......... the Lexus! Without skipping
a beat I told them! Any guesses? Just incase you don't know I'll give you a hint! What is the most
photographed vehicle on this blog? You're right! There is NO Lexus!

So many days........

2011-05-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

have passed without any remarks of sadness nor fun. Too many experiences have gone into the
past. Of these I find the following blessings, my children who greatly show love to me and each other,
the preciousness of life--- as my mother had a heart attack and she ( and we) are blessed enough to have her still with us after two operations to help keep her kind and wise influence with us directly from her, the opportunity of getting to spend time watching my granddaughter
the dances that she has practiced and then enjoyed performing with great precision! YA! I'M A PROUD GRANDMA!
I have missed the funny and wise words from those of you that have been too busy living life to write about it....... I hope you are immensely enjoying your time. And I'm sure that this won'te be read because you are loving living your life.

I've fallen.............

2011-02-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

off the wagon and it ...........

hurts, so good! JK!

I only gave up on the DR Pepper for a week and
for some reason rejoined the addition train. maybe it's
because of the ever awesome DR PEpper shirt I was
given for CHristmas..................... maybe it's because.....
I love going to Dutchman's in the morning and shooting the
breeze!................maybe because I truly find that I enjoy the
calmness that caffiene gives my atomical and biological makeup!

I'll try again. Trust me! I'LL TRY!!!!!!

re-writing the Old WOMAN story -- IT's a weighty matter!

2011-01-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

YES, I'm an old woman and I'm writing a different slant to "THere was an Old Lady who swallowed
a FLY". I will be entering it into a National Competition due in Februry with results of winners to be announced the end of March. I'll let you know how well I take the rejection! ANd I only say that because I'm getting really use to it!

ANd while I'm working on that little venture I'm also working on my own health. I have been through three days now with less than 32 oz of Dr Pepper! I, personally and for one, can't believe it. The lack of all that yummy sugar and carbon soda coarsing through my veins accompanied by the caffiene. ANd TODAY!!!!!! I needed them all but had little to calm my nerves after a trying ordeal at work.

I have also found that I'm struggling with being able to calm myself and sleep at night without my daily dose of 'what the dr (pepper) ordered'! TOo much running through my brain.
So there's to enjoying your journey................... Pamela

ITS BEEN TOO LONG AND WITH TOO MANY

2011-01-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

Blessings ignored~
From Football to the Newest day of a new year and not a word of thanks, or
amazement or gratitude in print.
I think I'm so busy that I don't know which end is up.
I'll attempt to make this a 'wrap' of gratitude since after football
season at the high school level comes the wonderful season of
Thanksgiving!
And I found out a few days after Thanksgiving that I was THANKFUL
that my youngest daughter and four of her friends were able to endure
a car accident that involved the vehicle they were in falling 100 yards
onto a cliff shelf that was so small that they couldn't turn the truck around.
The police officer told me that had the truck tipped at all it would have bounced
them to the river bottom below........... and who knows if any of them would
have survived that!
WHen I get pictures............. I'll share. Currently, I still get shakey just thinking
about it. IT's been too wet to go out and see the site. So in a few more weeks
I may get a chance to visit it. I'm also grateful that Amie recited to me how she
prayed on the drop from the sky and had time to put her seat belt on as they were
falling! I'm thankful she prayed during the ordeal rather than swear.
I'm thankful for a wonderful Christmas with all the kids and their sweethearts and our Kamree
on the 30th. It seemed that we all had a blast. THere was a lot of laughing and joking and
it all seemed good hearted.
I know this isn't very entertaining............I'm stressing over the new activities planned
this year in Relief Society as well as the classes I'm finishing up and then the new set
of classes I'll be taking (double the time in class and homework) for a math endorsement.
AND I have 20 years of family photos to gather before Clayton gets home the beginning of
Nov 2011. TEchnically, if I'm well organized I'll be fine...........which means I need to
really straighten up my act! later, and may you all have a very Blessed New YEar!

FROM THE STANDS..............

2010-10-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

there wasn't a lot of watching...........
the ball game during this night.
There was only sparitic cheering
during the young mens sporting fight.
The stands were almost full with
people young and people old,
some cheering nice and quiet
others yelling loud and bold.
It was a typical night of football
players doing their very best,
yet each of the players movements
put the fans temperments to the test.
There were some that were cheering and
some only seeing the flaws
but more seemed to enjoy the yelling at
the officals and 'their' horrible calls.
Three teams were on the field this night
it was just like any other.
And the attention paid was like that to a naughty
child bawled out by a stressed out mother.
The third team was the zebra bragade
only five (six?) with whistles mighty.
Getting paid to ref a young mens game
wearing stripes of black and whitey! (haha)
The team that received the loudest cheers was
the most embarrassing of all,
IT wasn't the team we were playing or
us while fighting for the ball.
The cheers went to the refs who in
their very human way,
Made good calls and bad calls, so to
them the attention did sway.
I wonder, 'if' and 'how often', while I'm
going through my day
I ignore lifting another and focus, instead,
on some type of decay.
May we look toward the good or
at least turn our energy
to the lifting up of others
to a much higher degree.

okay! Lame but seriously! What could have happened if we spent more time in
positive united support for the hard work of the players then wait and use more
energy on screaming at the refs? And yes! I wasn't happy with them either. And no!
I'm not perfect........but I'm trying to be. Just some food for thought..........mostly mine as
I'm not well read.
Go TEAM!!!!!

well, maybe just a few

2010-09-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

mind games but I'm seriously going to have to wait until after the weekend.
Can you believe that the Santa Clara UT Swiss days celebration is about to begin......
AGAIN!????? Personally, I'm not struggling with it like I have in some years. This year I
have actually enjoyed----YES EN-JOY-ED----counting the cows on the main street
and I'm amazed that I haven't seen them connected unless it is by a rope. I won't explain.
If I have to explain well.....you've not been around here at Christmas time (either) when the
lawn art deer with the little white lights on them all seem to have the need to act like
they are real and attempt to 'pro-create'. There!!!! Did I draw you a good enough picture?
Actually that wouldn't work anyway because, I think those that have helped the deer in the past
have realized that all the cows are well......COWS!
That in and of itself is kind of like an oxi-moron (NOT MORMON----MORON).....Only certain
Santa Claraians would believe that there isn't any BULL in our town. There is plenty of it just like there
are plenty of really good people. Sometimes the really good people don't know they are dishing it out and a lot of other times those that think they may only be full of bull pull some really wonderful acts of kindness (and we knew that was really a part of them the entire time). And I personally, enjoy both types of
people.(and there are, of course so many other types)....after all with out both this town would just be plain ole boring. And sometimes I'm really good and sometimes......well, maybe I'm just full of bull. But it seems to me that most of us are... just in
many, many, many different ways. Sometime we spend more time trying to fool ourselves than anyone else. WOW!!! that's too deep! HAHA! OKay, I'm stepping away and out of that subject! IF I lost you, well, don't worry........... I have a mind that bends and curves and sways like any other unstable
substance.
ENJOY SWISS DAYS! And maybe I'll see you there but I won't be buying anything.........unless I can do some pre-Christmas shopping! Later, Pamela

taking a break from........

2010-07-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

my break! Ran into the school Thursday to discuss the classroom lists, AGAIN! I know that the parents don't realize the time and considerations that go into their children's academic and social environment for the following year..........at least, at the school I work in. What a lucky bunch of kids!

All the projects I had in my head to get done this summer are NOT done. Mainly, because I finally got smart and REFUSED to 'share' all of these ambitious ideas with the husband. Actually, I only shared about two with him and well.............he's busy with sports. Now, some of you are thinking that I underminded (undermined? hmmm) myself by doing so. However, for those of you with perfect (I love to help you and work by your side and share in the work and creation of your dreams) spouses there is a reality out here that others of us live in and therefore, need to manipulate our own minds to maintain peace and lower the anger/disappointment level as well as the blood pressure. AND THAT is to just solicite the most willing--ourselves! So when I went about 'all these' projects and found such joy in them is, in part, because the experience was met with 'zero' resistence from myself and only positive and creative ideas flowing during the process, including the ones with difficult solutions. OK! I'm not that great but maybe you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes it's better to create a multi-level marketing system to get the work done and sometimes it's better to just be IT.
SPeaking of being IT! I need to get some tomatoes bottled! ANd I'm the one to do IT! in this house at least. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Mine's gone as training starts Monday the 27th. Later, Pamela

I have NOT been just sitting around doing nothing...........in fact...........

2010-07-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

BACK YARD WEEDS!!! NO GRASS!!

I spent almost two hours every morning for four days weeding the back yard. Jay helped me on the last day for about an hour. I sure appreciated the help. The weeds were all within reach of the shade of the mulberry tree and the sprinklers. Some were higher than my inseam. I'm not bragging! Just saying!!! Now we just have dirt with a few small croppings of grass, which I will mow on MOnday.

Our garden is most groomed place in the backyard. IT is producing some good zuchinni, crooked neck squash, green peppers, tomatoes, spinach and before too long---potatoes!

I got to have my granddaughter with me one day and did some

'pressure cooking canning'. IT was a first for both of us

but we survived and so did the kitchen!

Yummy!

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT NEXT WEEK BRINGS!!!!!

Tidings from ACCIDENT/SURGERY-VILLE!

2010-06-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

yea, so the family has had a few set-backs the last week!

This car hit Tyrel's truck-while going through a red light!

The car was traveling a quarter turn to the right--or down the lane right in front of the camera where I was standing when I took the picture. It's position (now) is facing the way Tyrel's truck was facing before he attempted to turn left.

Carianne is standing between us and Ty's truck, with her back to us. Tyrel is by the driver's door. Ty couldn't move his truck until the front left fender was forced out from the tire without damage to the tire. His co-worker/friend, Lindsey--a tough biker, sweetheart of a guy--is parked in front of Tyrel's truck. And with Ty's truck in park, Lindsey floored the gas in the other truck that they had chained to the bent fender. It's NOT amazing what grease monkeys can do with simple ingenuity! IT WORKED, and Ty was able to drive his truck to the shop/work, which is just behind the building that the accident was infront of in this picture!

AND THEN............Jace had surgery!!!!!

Here he is happily incharge of the tv remote even with his dad in the same room. He was almost all prepped and ready to go. He had his leg shaved, IV in but no 'real' medication yet!

After surgery--a very short 22 minutes-- and recovery, we met him in post op! He was so dingy and happy. He was drinking apple juice and eating string cheese-the yellow kind. After about half an hour he threw all that up! I had to leave the room. In this picture he is just being silly for Jay and me. He got to ride in a wheel chair to the truck. Second best ride he had had all day. THe first was on the way to the operating room when he was 'medicated'. He mentioned that the ride on the gurney was like a roller coaster! I don't think we reminded him of that -------YET!!!!! OH he had a tear of the cartiledge and should be back to football practice by Monday........and yet taking it easy at the same time. Yea, RIGHT!

TALK ABOUT A SHOCKER!!!!!

2010-06-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

DR VISIT TODAY!!! Just a check up! Hypertension is a problem so when the nurse put that sadistic blowup balloon around my bicep and clapped the velcro as tight as people handcuffs on a large elephant's ankles I tried to relax. ANd then she spoke.....................................

124/82

As you know that's.................. like..............................almost normal!
SO I about passed out! YEA! for low sodium intake and painting! I swear it's all the
painting.

I have NOT been stagnant!

2010-06-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Really I have painted the basement family room! It is (or will be complete with chair railing around the room by tonight( Wednesday the 16th! of June). As for some idea as to the extent of the work......two colors; yellow on top and white with grey pin striping on the bottom.

The pinstriping makes it look a little like beadboard and I'm so excited the way it turned out.

FOR YOU PAINTERS OUT THERE.....the striping took me a total of 1 hour for half the room. NO TAPING REQUIRED! I'm so in love with the way it looks. Here's a preview of it before it is totally done. After it gets totally done it will be covered up by furniture! So few people will actually see all the work involved! Still I couldn't be happier!

Also, I thought I'd add a few pictures of Jace's adventures with the tracker. Tyrel saved the day, er, night with a simple tug from his big powerful truck! Don't you just love big brothers? I do!

And how could we resist but to encourage Jace to drive this thing through the mud hole a few more times to see if he could get it all the way through (or totally stuck)! HE ran it through twice more-or three times more- only got it stuck once more. It was all for fun and the tracker is still wearing the mud today...four days later. Just advertising that this thing is FUN! Sorry I couldn't get the video to download!

ANd then, to add some gardening interest, I've added a pic of our first zuchinni from our garden. Love you all! Stay happy and if you aren't happy then keep yourself righteously occupied. IT will all work out! Love you all! Pamela

Did I mention that school was out????????????

2010-06-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

And I was also told that there was no way I could fill in the huge intentional gouges in this incredible big, incredibly ugly dresser that has been used and abused in our family since Jay's parents gave it to us about 15 years ago. I'm so tired of my house being a conglomeration of hand me downs that look like a mismatch of, well, for lack of a better or worse word, hand-me-downs gathered after a major weather calamity and I've decided to do something about it. The cost of this project was $0 for the paint, $8 for the wood filler, $2 for the sand paper, and $18 for the handles. What do you think? Was this possible?

I just love wood filler and paint! Don't you? Even the sanding was so therapeutic~~~ !!!! So dusty!

SO extensively time consuming...... and so worth it!

So I had to do Jay's night stand, for the ethstetics of the room, and 'cuz I had all this paint left over.

These handles only cost me $5 for all three. Now I'm working on a headboard and props for my video! Oh, boy am I enjoying my time off!

the 'half-death' of the Ca-tal-pa Bung-e-i

2010-06-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

trees was more than I could stand. The kids, the husband and the neighbors wanted these gloriously artistic growing trees to be totally chopped down and dug up! What is this world coming to? With the signs of new growth, (indicating to me that there was still some hope in this {plant} world) I begged for some assistance in pruning these once two beautiful green shade bearers. As you can see more than half of the back tree was past its ability to support growth. That's Jace clinging on for dear life! Poetic, isn't it?

Jace pruning the front tree ---a little here---

and a little bit there!

Jay also seemed to enjoy the lopping off of limbs! Could it be pent up aggression or just pure satisfaction in having a tree look 'less dead'? We were blessed in many ways that day: 1)that Jace didn't have to practice a drop and roll from a tall building, 2) Ryder didn't get hit by any large falling limbs, 3) that none of the limbs fell toward the neighbors house with those three large windows, and 4) that there was no swearing the during the process! And now we have extra fire pit wood to burn. YEAH!!! S-mores!

5 days!

2010-06-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

School has been out since May 27th and I've been busying myself with projects.
Like the pantry floor that was part of the orginal 'remodel job' for the house which started a
few days after we moved in. Here's what it looked like throughout my 'I'm-done-waiting-for-you

to-help-me-do-this (that included the hubby AND the tile guy)-stage I'm going through.This is the before picture--just cement and paint!

After a nice cleaning---I relaid the pattern. Then started tiling. We had everything at the house. So the cost was time and patience!

I was also told by the nice sales lady at Home Depot that they just got a tile saw and would cut my tiles for me. I just about died when she said there was zero cost involved! And finally, the tile man told me that I would hate mosaic...............

Here it is before the grout was added....

I even did the baseboards! Painted and caulked!Here it is finished and moved into! PS! I love the mosaic! And I'm looking for another project to do that on! I think I had better seal the grout. What say ye?

the MEDIA!!! Is it just a reflection of society?

2010-04-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

I got the biggest shock the other morning as I was listening to the radio....
the dj said, " Illegal immigration will now be criminalized."
I realize that I don't have much of an education and that my brain shorts out
more than occassionally but please correct me if I'm wrong..........

If something is ILLEGAL then isn't it automatically a CRIME to do
such a thing.............making it criminal?

Seriously, correct me if I'm wrong, K?

SO MUCH TO BLOG SO LITTLE TIME

2010-04-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

to consider the best words while blogging. Let's face it. Getting on here and just typing any ole' thing is just not right. Although it is a travel-log, which I don't do from the puplit, it should still be entertaining and thought provoking...........at least you should click away to the next blog or webpage and think......."I'm so glad I have MY life!"
Just to keep you updated on this person's life...........I had run in with the cancer witch! She cursed me with melanoma! My good skin Dr, Dr. Robin Burger, got right to work and cut the mean little cursing out! She took out about an inch across and had to slice down about two inches. The cut was also about ........well, when she showed it to me....I thought it was the across section, not the down and into the bone section. ITs' like a mini face-lift on one side of my face. But it's nice to be minus a few wrinkles thanks to that extra skin having to take up that one inch of missing flesh. All in all I have this faint new laugh line running down the left side of my face, closer to my ear than my nose. It's probably something you wouldn't notice if you were just talking to me or passing me on the street.
No! That's usually when you night be checking out some of other physical flaws! And I would say that 'hey, we all have them' but I know people who hide their flaws so well and you would never know they had any.
Back to importance of anything...............we are learning to use prayer more and more in our daily life. IT's surprising that we have any time to carry or hold the weight of a full time job or anything else with all the things that we are giving to ask for help for (show reliance on our faith with our Heavenly Father) or to pronounce major gratitude for blessings that we have sprung upon us in any given day, hour, minute, second, etc. Many times this past few months I have felt the urge to drop to my knees in jubilant gratitude. YES! JUBILANT !!! Even if it is spelled wrong. One day I recieved 'good' word at work and, although I was currently speaking to two of my aides, I dropped to my knees at my desk and thanked the Lord. Some things just can't nor shouldn't wait.
Till later, this is too long! I love you all. I pray for your strength and guidance and I thank you for your friendship, faith and love. Till next time. Pamela

SO MUCHO To DO-O SO LITTLE TIME>>>>>>>>>>

2010-02-28T17:41:00.000-08:00

Okay wonderful people who visit this small blogspot.........I have a new posting on my other site
jctasksolutionsnsuch.blogspot.com it is about the song that I have been working on that is now
licensed and I'm working on getting it to print. If YOu know of anyone that might enjoy it or want to use it please have them visit that site. I"m planning on the song going to print and being available the end of March. But I have a lot to learn and do. So till, later, I love you all. Mom/Pamela

the trouble with the season

2009-12-06T08:48:00.001-08:00

and working..........is that 'the season' gets lost in all the work.
Okay, that's not true..........I know a lot of people who do it and are
successful at it. And the truth is.........I'm not good at it!!!!!!!!
Do you ever hit those moments of truth, somewhere throughout your day, in some
2 second part of a glance, or a conversation, where you just have some truth about
you or your life trying to stare you in the face........and you just have decided in the
past to live in denial about it, so when the encounter happens you recognize it so quickly
and you change the subject or look away or walk away.

I've hit several of those moments in the past two weeks...........and I think I must love my
self-built misery because I remain doing the same things, keeping the same habits, and the
same attitudes that I let keep me held bound. I need to be a mouse and start chewing, as
if ravinously hungry, on the things that I'm letting keep me from being what I can be.

One very important thought in all of this.............I love the saying that Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind.
Funny thing is that my printer in my classroom understands that concept all to well. If I have any doubt that it may not print---guess what??????---it may not. The slightest doubt and it doesn't work........ I also figured out that begging it doesn't work...however.........when it does work, and I tell it thank you (in hushed tones) it will work for a few more pages. And, yes! I do talk to objects that are suppose to be void of thoughts, feelings and emotional actions or reactions.

Merry Christmas! Give yourself a great gift! Give you the best you you can be. OH! And go see The Blind Side. Fantastic movie! Fantastic title that extends into so many levels of the movie and life. Later! Pamela

a little green bear

2009-11-21T12:20:00.001-08:00

was found on the back bumper of the Envoy after I parked it and went around the back to go into Walmart. Hmmmmmm. I hmmmmmmmmed. Someone must have put it there after I parked (they would have had time as I was busy writing something in my notebook for a few seconds). Maybe someone had dropped it and someone else thought it belonged to the nearest car and maybe if I left it there someone else would find it sitting on the bumper and grab it and take it home.

I went into Wm to get my s_____(_tuff) and get out but I found that shopping through the Christmas (YES I SAID CHRISTMAS!!!) items was too fun. My intention was to pick up a few things for the wreath making session the girls and I would be having by the end of the month of Nov. ( A little tradition we started last year but without all the girls. I picked up 3 cheap wreaths and then started hunting for things to decorate it with. Dang, now that I think of it--- I didn't get any ribbon! Oh, well, tis the season to loose all reason! fa-la-la, la-la, la-la, la, la!!!!!!! BUt I did have fun getting some cheap items to give to the 9 students I work with and I got all of that for just around $1 per child, including the bag. Then I started to consider the paras that work for me. Have to get them something........don't have a lot of money............group gift! Pepperment sticks dipped in chocolate! IT will have to do. After all to do what we do a person has to be a little sweet, a little spicy and ..........are you ready for this????????????? A little dippy! Not really dippy but at least having a little chocolate doesn't hurt when you are (or may be) at your wits end.

I also gathered a few things that Jay likes: building up his collection of miniature snow village with two cheap pieces (under $5 each), and getting those pine cones sprayed with cinnamon.

Yea, I spent way too much. But I also couldn't resist getting a small 9" tree to send to Clayton. Kari's idea and we are going to decorate it and send it to him by Dec 1st.

Speaking of Elder Clayton Graft......... apparently you can email him at clayton40graft@myldsmail.com I'm thinking there is something wrong with that as I don't know about caps or underscores but I'll get you an update as soon as I find out.

Oh, yea........when I came out of the store that little green bear with the beautiful shiney green bow was still sitting on my bumper. I had to smile and carefully placed him on the front passenger seat of the car. Maybe he is going to help me get through this Christmas season knowing that I have a special angel watching out for me and wanting to remind me to watch out for others more than I or my family usually do. Sooooooooo, please remember to help bear other people's burdens and your blessing tree won't be bare. Love you all. Pamela/Mom

becoming..........

2009-11-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

a mom with less children around isn't as easy or as joyful as some young mothers burdened and tired and frazzled might think that it is. Sure the temporary peace and quite when the baby takes a nap or the children are in school might be enough to pacify your tense shoulders or give you time to tape up some of your frayed edges.............but I hope you find more joy and peace when your children are gathered around you.

Becoming a mother of adult children who have turned into miraculously good people (of which, with my children, I give credit soley to the child) is such a pleasure and a comfort. But they go away and continue to grow one way or another. And learning to become comfortable with them gone is more difficult than the sleepless nights and strains experienced in their youth and ours.

I'm thankful that becoming a mother of any age of child is a slow process. The time passes, slow or fast, but it goes..........out away from our grasp and I'm glad that most of the time the moments are good ones.

I'm thankful for each of my very different and very wonderful children. And I hope through out my days to be becoming more like them in their strengths and their wisdom without leaving my own behind.

Becoming a mom...........one of the greatest things the Lord ever blessed me with.

it's been almost three months......

2009-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

since Clayton got his call to go to Mass. Boston Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. The past week and a half brought family from MS and NC to be here for his talk and testimony and a small gathering of family and friends. Almost all the preparations for the mission are complete. ALMOST! He has his clothes (over $1000) and his scriptures (priceless) and all the little things that added up to over $100! THE gathering cost us over $100 and with friends appearing out of the woodwork offering food so we were eating more than kaluha pork and rice--we were able entertain those that gathered on Saturday night before Clay spoke.

I found myself, once again in my old age of 52 trying to set an example to my children of how we follow the prophet in small ways. We had quite the discussion as to when to have the gathering with friends and family and food and the discussion leaned heavily in the direction of having it on Sunday. But, with the Lord on my side we had it on Saturday. Wish everything could be that easy!

Clayton's talk was wonderful. We hadn't heard him speak in church for over 8 years--because he was never asked to speak. What a wonderful experience to sit and listen to your own child bear testimony of the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ with confidence and calm, quiet power. I think I'll miss the fact that I won't get to hear him bear testimony to those he will be teaching more than that I will miss him asking if he can take the car somewhere. What a wonderful experience he is going to have. I only pray, right now, that we can get the last remaining items together before Tuesday night when we leave! AAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!
(Tear shedding experience will follow next week!)

My anticipation of

2009-08-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

a day so busy might have sent me back to bed with anzeity attacks in previous years, but I think that with the previous four years of stressing teaching Severe SPED combined with the past 26 1/2 yrs of marriage may have been what helped me through it all. This day was planned a few weeks ago with one or two important items of importance that would consume about 5 hours of the day............and then grew within the two days prior to it (Since Thursday!!) to activities from 8am through almost midnight.

SO at 8am Jace was getting ready for his football scrimmage against the sophomores and freshmean teams. He and two of his teammates were lamenting the night before--" I hope I don't get my knee blown out when one of the sopomores hits me so I have to miss the rest of the season." "I hope I can make the gaps." "I hope noone is short like me." Each had their durothers! (that's a word my parents use--I don't think it's in the dictionary-and actually my children use that thing so much these days that I don't know where it is to check it out--I like to do it the old fashioned way--leafing through the pages rather than pushing a key or icon on the computer). Anyway, getting him there was easy and so was standing around helping Deni sell the Warrior Apparel. The best part was when the freshmen were called out on the field to play against the sophs. Jay told me later that the soph coaches were told, by him, to put the second and third string out to play the freshmen. This didn't happen. So the freshmen are out there making great plays against the sophs 1st string. Jace made a fantastic tackle and got very pumped up and continued to do well. Um, he didn't blow his knee out, Westie opened gaps and Cade was the shortest dressed Warrior.

Next was a parent meeting. Then home to get things ready for the temple and next week. Oh! See I did get to do some normal Saturday stuff after all! That usually includes someone doing the laundry (this week it was me) and heading down to Dutchman's Market (hi Kim!) for a soda refill. I think I went to Dutchman's three times this Saturday but only got soda twice.

Anyway, off to the temple! Clayton was endowed yesterday. It was great. EVen with a few glitches involving getting a female family name to me it was a perfect temple experience. So I told Jay we need to work out the details better next time. As it was a very dear friend picked up this Grandma's name and I couldn't be happier (no Sarcasim! HONEST!) that she had her. So that all worked out wonderfully.

AFter the temple it was head home, get changed and head to Kari's. SHE HAD BEEN MAKING dinner and it was fantastic! Including special ingredient brownies. And Carianne's favorite store bought sweet rolls. Sara joined us which was great and we played games and sat around and talked. WE were only missing Amie (working this time around) and Jace who had been several places including the Virgin Rvr (skimboard sponsors -- photo shoot) and then the county fair. But we'll get both of them today with Sunday dinner at 6.

last of the travel log--shopping for Sunday dinner at 10:30pm with four teenage boys and Jay. Met a parent of a student that needs help. Pray for our friends and neighbors please! There is a lot of pain out there that we are oblivous too in our busy days and prayer helps! It really does! Saturday..............it was a good day...........I woke up thinking that this morning. It was almost perfect.

bike ride number 2

2009-08-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

'OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH, BRRYOOOONNNNNNNNN!" I exclaimed with some fear mixed in with the exclamation. Getting used to bike riding again was more difficult than I had imagined, and I had imagined that it would be difficult. One of my weakenesses in this area was interest in speed. I had none. So after braking down a short 8% grade hill, Bryon encouraged me to go down the upcoming 6% grade without the use of a brake.

SINce I had read the signs and I knew that 6% was less than 8% I thought I'd attempt the speed. I was well repaid for my efforts with the experience I wished I'd had a video recorder for. WIth a little speed slightly whizzing me down this 6% grade hill I was presented with another challenge that came upon me quicker than I wanted it too. An UP COMING CURVE! Please notice that I said curve and not TURN! there is a huge difference and in order to grasp the comedy of the situation you need to understand the difference in an intersection of a street and a slight bend in a straight path. THIS WAS A SLIGHT BEND in a STRAIGHT PATH!!!! ANd it was coming way too fast!!!!

My eyes caught sight that the space between where my front bicycle tire and the edge of the path was closing in distance. THE closer the bike tire got to the dirt and gravel the more tense I became. Did I tell you that I had three fears when I started riding? One was death by exertion (notice that isn't over exertion), two was running into something because I couldn't stop and three was getting gravel etched deeply into my hands. So here I am presented with the possibility of the latter two. I screamed 'oh, Bryon' right before I headed off the path. He yelled back, "LEAN, PAM LEAN!"
I can't I thought I'm going to crash. As the first sage brush brushed my thigh my mind echoed Bryon's words, "LEAN, PAM LEAN!" My eyes were fixated on the passing ground below. My fingers trying to work both front and back brakes. My mind split into thoughts of crashing, graveled hands, my lack of balance combined with racing thoughts that repeated don't turn the handle bars and Bryon's words, 'lean, Pam LEAN.' AFter the brush on the leg with another sage I somehow pulled myself together. I leaned slightly to the left and the edge of the path (which was only a few inches away) placed itself back under my bike tread.

I then resorted to the one thing that my Mom and I are both known for. I started laughing. Oh! MY! I couldn't believe I was able to do that. Bryon rode up from behind, "I thought you were going down for sure," he sighed. "And that the second day out would have been the end of our biking."
"TOo bad we didn't have a camera for that one." I laughed again, relieved to upright and unscathed.

We continued our two blocks to my house without incident. It was such a relief and a feeling of accomplishment to have ridden two days with a total of 12 miles and to still be alive!

That's day two! Day three Bryon took me on a ride that started out mostly down hill. part way through I said, "since we are going downhill so much now that means that the end of the ride is going to be up hill, right?" Bryon laughed. Ya! I'm not so dumb! We made that ride without incident and in 102 degree heat in one hour going another 8 miles. Just so ya know, Bryon is use to going 30-60 miles on a ride. This may be killing him but I sure appreciate his willingness to torture me for my own good! Later, L, Pamela

heading for ......

2009-07-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

a fall I'm afraid. After a long week of day long classes and then homework for the past four days, I 'm fried! ANd I'll have homework every single day of the next school year with classes every Tuesday night. NOt too excited about all the work but I know that the learning will be well worth it. What's it for? TO be able to help teach literacy lessons to kids that are very low....but that aren't yet in SP. ED. That won't change my case load but it will help less kids to qualify in the Mild category giving those teachers a break as well as giving more time to children that do qualify.
Enough said--- for now.

We are heading to the beach tomorrow. We aren't packed! WE do know about where we are going..........Maybe we'll take the map with us this time. Clayton wanted to head to the beach one last time before he gets his mission call and so we are going while we still think we can afford it and he is still here. His call could come as early as Wednesday or Thursday of next week.............we are coming home on Wednesday but will be in late. ANd the summer season is coming to a quick close for us. Teachers are already getting all of their pre-teaching teacher contract days filled up with 'important' ssssssssssstuff from the district level as well as at the school level. and being in the SPED department..........there are extra trainings for that this year as well. And there are days in front of that that will have be eaten up by more meetings and trainings. BYE BYE SUMMER!!!

WEll, the hour is late and I'm already cranky due to a headache I've had for a few days. Dang! Now I know why my kids don't want me to stop drinking (DR PEPPER, you guys!)!!!

later and have a great week. I'm missing many of you already! pamela

PS for those of you who are interested in my business ventures~~~~ the church office of intellectual materials finally got back to me after a few months (I first contacted them in March if I remember correctly--with 2 means of communications on the same things and hadn't heard back). THey let me know that they finally assigned a para-legal to my 2 projects and they hope to be getting back to me soon. I'm just thrilled to know that they didn't just trash my material. I'll keep you informed! LATER!

MY BEST BLOG EVER AND>>>>

2009-07-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

no one commented on it. That's the previous one, not this one! Maybe the title threw everyone into disappointment that the family is now all alcoholics or maybe after reading just the title ya'll got a little thristy yourself????
COME on people I give you my best work and I get NOTHING!!!!!
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT???

LIfe as we have known it this week is my going to class from 8:30 am to 2:30pm for the past three days and now again today.............and Jace and Jay at 2adays for football. Amie has been working great hours at work and Clayton is sspinning his wheels but being good and patient...
let me rephrase that............patient and good (even though he is teasing Jace relentlessly) since his mission papers were sent in ....total with the picture on Friday.....should have been Monday before last but the emailed picture didn't go through and we had to do it again. ANd let me just say that I have some very good looking children! THEre's only one I'm sure how he is going to turn out but he was born ugly and then went cute and now his personality is making me wonder.............IS HE GOING TO BE CUTE or just one of those pain in the a_ _ kind of people?
He is trying and if we all remember back ......................... .............................. (trying to remember back) .................... most of us wouldn't repeat those years of growing and pain for anything. SO I'm hoping and praying and working with him and cutting him a little slack.

Tyrel has been in and out of the building this week. IT's fun to see him even though we know that he and Cani are missing each other. They are still talking about getting here.

Well, I"ve avoided getting ready for class long enough. We are heading back to the beach on Friday (that's tomorrow) and staying until Wednesday (most of us-HOlly, Amie should be back Tuesday night with Kari so don't freak with that statement, please!). Clayton's request for a vacation was the beach so that is where we are headed!!! YEA! When we get back Clay's call should be in the mail the following day! Later!

SO we started drinking.......

2009-06-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

powdered milk!

IT's kind of dry but the taste isn't that bad once you get it choked down. (At which point I have to drink a glass of water. )

That and just sprinkling it over your cereal is kind of interesting. NO concern for dripping it on the table, though.

OH! OH! and dunking your cookies in it is a totally new experience! And if you do drop some on your clothes it just brushes off.

And we can put that old saying to bed...... "don't cry over spilled milk" cuz it's powdered and easier to clean up than all that liquid milk from the past.

Sooo, it's nutritious AND less messy....
It's just different, but the family is adjusting!

Have a great summer!

the rest of this week..............

2009-06-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

I get the unique opportunity to take care of Kamree while Kari runs off to
Girls Camp for the rest of the week. WE get to start with a sleep over tonight~!
I was thinking of all the boring things that I do around the house and need
to do and I got a little discouraged because I don't want Kam to get bored.
As I sat staring at one of my walls I remembered how much fun Kari, Kam and I
had painting that wall. Kam was 3 at the time. What am I worried about?
This little girl is so eager to help and do and play and even relax. I don't think
her momma has taught her how to make jam yet and so that is one of the
things I think Kam will enjoy for little while at least. THe plum tree is looking
beautifully fully of the purple fruit and the birds haven't attacked it yet.
We also have some yummy loquat fruit that we took from our tree and
those are in the fridge waiting..........for what I don't know ~~~I mean I haven't
decided. There aren't a lot of recipes for that fruit..........well I think Kam and I will be
jammin' at least for a little while.

I'm hoping that we get to the park, or watch Jace skim board and play in the stream or
if possible go to the Washington City's new recreation center. Too much fun I'm sure.
That place should wear us (me ) out for one day. TRying to decide how best to enjoy
these moments coming up.............dang, I think I'm burning something.

So much flies by in so little time!

2009-06-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Just to catch you up! Clayton announced that he is going to serve a mission
for the Church of Jesus CHrist of Latter-day-Saints. He has some medical
exams to have done and his wisdom teeth (only two) pulled and then the papers go in. So
I'm thinking that he can send them in before June is up. And we should find out the week
of my birthday where he will be having his next great adventure!

I've been working feverishly on the house the back yard. Not that anyone but myself
would know of the progress. The back yard is full of weeds and hasn't been mowed due
to well, too much dodo! That's doggy dodo by the way. Yesterday I pulled about 1/6th
of the weeds and picked up more than half the 'crap'. I look around and I think, "dang I did
good!" And I can hardly wait to get out and work on the rest. After I can bend my legs again.! haha! But seriously, I'm going out again tomorrow for another section. THe first section that I did was the smallest but also had the most 'stuff' in it. I also, finally, planted a garden in the back yard. There are two mounds of yellow squash, two of cucumber, two of zuchinni, and there was one of pumpkin but the dogs decided to dig that one up! So, for Kamree, I planted some in the front yard in a pot. Don't read that wrong! I didn't plant pot in the pot I planted pumpkin in the pot!

THis morning while watering the backyard garden I saw some little plants starting their ascent into the open air. YA! At least I'll have a few plants. Here's a funny note. It's difficult to close the gate latch and yet this morning when I went out the gate was open. All I can think is that Roxy is pretty persistant to open it or the neighbor kids are getting in there for some reason. MY kids are all gone the last two days so I know it wasn't them.

I'm painting in four rooms where a patch job was started three years ago. Kari was sweet and asked Bryan to come and fix the patch work J had done and he was a blessing and came and fixed what I needed fixin'! I was able to get two of the areas painted! They are small but the budget is smaller and I had the paint for those areas already so they got done. THE other two are going to require a lot more paint as those rooms haven't been painted since the house was built in 1970.

Next I'm working on tiling the pantry floor! IT's a small area but again it was tore up when we moved in and remodeled and it's making me nuts not being done! WE have all the stuff needed but need some tiles cut. Hey, maybe I can do that as well. HMMMMMMMMM! I have an idea................................

Got to go and check it out! Love to you all! COntinue in prayer and faith and fasting. See ya!

REmember THAT TESTING THING!!!!!!?

2009-05-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well, the results are in!

I'm glad I didn't worry
I'm glad I didn't stress.
I figured I'd wait til later
just before I'd retake that test.

Well, now the day of justice
which was yesterday for sure.
I got brave and braced myself
and sent in for the score.

Jay tried to remind me
(of what he thought I'd do)
that to 'worry' about it
was wasteful, so true!!!

And I promise that I didn't
waste a minute of time
in further prep or worry
(I'm struggling with this rhyme)!

I don't have to take the
same Praxis test #2
I passed the bloody thing
somehow, with a score of 162!

Swine flu hysteria

2009-05-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just a segway--I was reading through some early Mormon history stuff and I came upon this famous quote of former fellow Martin Handcart COmpany traveler. I say fellow because I figured he knew my ancestors in that company pretty well. Anyway, back to this flu thing. (yes, as is normal for me I'm going to bounce around a lot with my thoughts)! SO the kids in elementary school are getting pretty anxious about this flu and how many of us are going to get sick and how many of us are going to die and all. Poor kids are hearing all the bad stuff that could happen and they are translating it into what is GOING to HAPPEN> Can you blame them? THe teachers are really talking it down and encouraging them to remain safe by living as healthy as possible. Well, when I was reading the following excerpt from the church history I thought about what 'could' happen and how I pray my attitude will be if things do get really really bad. So I included it just incase it might help any of you in what COULD HAPPEN and how it MAY AFFECT you and your family. There are greater purposes that lay before us than we may realize or want to realize. Let's be safe, be smart, be clean, and attempt to be sane through what ever is laid out before us. My love to you all.

Here's the quote! I love this quote~:) This was spoken by a man who stood up for the the saints that left late in the fall to travel to SLC. ANd he was one of them that suffered and lost a lot. I love his attitude and his gratitude.

"I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there. "Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."

may we strive to understand our choices and our circumstances with love and faith. Pamela

What a compliment!

2009-04-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

The work I do at school is considered by most---too difficult to do and stay sane. I agree. I would also agree that I'm not totally sane, which....if I have this correct means that any lack of sanity would make one INSANE! And most people (with the exception of Jay, my husband) know better than to argue with an insane person. After all............one never knows what they are capable of!

ANyway, we have this nice charter school in town and a certain amount of students will be attending there that use to go to our school. In the plight for figuring out the student to teacher ratio next year, a letter was sent to parents asking what their intentions are for their student children. One of my student's parents came back with neither box selected as to charter school or current school, but instead wrote 'Not sure'. This was of utmosts concern to the next grade level teachers and the current teacher. I figured that what would be would be --K sa-rah, sa-rah! The child's teacher last year finally got the scoop. Some one started a rumor that I was going to be teaching at the charter school. The parents, bless their hearts, said that they wanted their child to go where I went. SO sweet of a compliment! And I had to pass that information on to my wonderful group of paras that I have working with me. AFter all, I'm only as good as my support team. Hats off to all of these wonderful ladies!!!!

THE LOW DOWN ON MY EDUCATIONAL STATUS!!!

2009-04-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

If you got the email about the same thing then................this is the same thing. IT's the testing thing!

HEre's how it went down! I answered questions for 1, 2, and 3 all on the first page. I wasn't worried. I looked up at the clock and I was at 25 minutes exactly. I turned the page and the noticed the muted light red print that said, "Answer question 2 on this page only". So I fail because I didn't read nor follow directions! I got back on track and put answers for 4 and 5 on the correct pages. THen I answered #6 on the page for 19. So at the top of the answer page for #6 I wrote--MAN!!! I'm really messing this up!!! THere's the answer for #19, answer for #6 is on #19's page. THen I answered the question. I had a great group of multiple choice questions, which I did in 12 minutes (cutting myself short a 2 minutes for the other sections) . Back on track with the essays!!! I kept my answers on the correct pages--yes! I'm a little more than slow---I looked up at the clock and I had 4 minutes left. YEs! I'm done I thought as I looked back through the test and then, THEN!!!! realized I had another section of multiple choice to do. WHY THE 'H' don't they put the answer sheet for those 12 questions behind the last essay page??? WHEn I figure it out, I only have three minutes remaining. I start from the last question and answer the last three. I did good on those by the way! THen the instructor says, "I'm suppose to be giving you your 10 minutes warning but I forgot and you only have 26 seconds left. SO with 26 seconds left I randomly filled in the other nine questions. That is my story, sad but true. So now you know! I'm more of an idiot than you already knew! Nice rhyme huh? Seriously, I'm not taking this as a bad experience! I'm still anxious for the test scores but not with a 'did I pass' or 'did I fail' question more of a 'how well did I answer the essays so I can see what I need to improve on for the next time' outlook. By the way, as I left the testing center I patted the old instructor guy on the back and said, "See you again in a few months." HE laughed! HA! I have the last laugh on this one! IF he only knew..............if he only knew......... The sequel will follow when I get the results. I'm going to look at it in a comical way! After all, only me and Lucy (from I love Lucy) could screw something up this bad and make it into a comedy (all because of errors not lack of intelligence)!

Stranger in the night.....strange in the day, but

2009-04-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

stranger in the night. That's what it seemed like. ANd although those aren't the real words in the song, that's the fun way my Dad would sing it to us. Monday evening We were presented with an opportunity to help a stranger that Sara and I met during the day. He was traveling from AZ to NC and needed some medical help and a place to stay. After calling around, a lot, we were able to get him the hospital, and then put him into a modest hotel. With our credit cards maxed out (all 2 of them) and running on empty in our banking accounts, Jay was able to pull out enough cash for the hotel. THen, when the hotel wanted Jay's cc account number for possible damages and, as the hotel personel said, "if he doesn't leave then we will bill you for as long as he stays." Pure panic set in! We didn't sleep much last night and I prayed until I fell asleep and continued praying every time I woke up that this traveler would be honest and not take advantage of us. Jay called him this morning and then called the hotel tonight. This poor traveler was good to his word. THe money he was waiting for, I hope, was wired to him so he can eat on the rest of his trip. I was able to give him a cheese burger that Sara gave me and I wasn't really hungry so I gave it to him. Kind of one of those experiences you read about in the Bible and you just hope that it turns out as well. Curtis, whereever you are, thanks for the experience and I pray that you get safely home and can get the rest of the help you need. I'm thankful we crossed paths and we were able to help you.

To all of you, GOd bless you. And may we all work to preserve more than we spend so we can always help when someone has a need arise. And that's going to happen more and more I fear. Sincerely, Pamela

Carried AWAY?????? I WISH!

2009-04-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

Today I attempted to work some things out with some of my family and while it sounded good to me I really had no control over the matter. ANd it failed but the attempt was worth the planning, explaining and dreaming of.
ANd it won't be the last time.

I also did something VERY BRAVE TODAY!!!! In fact I just finished doing it!!!!
Want to know what it is? Do ya? DO YA????? DO YA REALLY????

Okay, I sent away for permission to use three different things or get copyright for three different things so I can hopefully get on with these projects. So please pray that I will get the permission and hopefully further direction so I can advance these things.

That was really vague wasn't it! WEll, one is a song combination and the other is a condensed study guide for SUnday School. I should hear back to 2-4 weeks and then I'll have to send them more information and wait again. I think I'm getting really good at waiting. Maybe too good.

Have a good week and remember if you're gonna run with the bulls expect to get a trampled! HHMMMM! NOt as inspiritational as I thought it would be. Maybe next time. Love to you all. Pamela

THIS WAS for Saturday the 4th!

2009-04-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

Busy day today. TOmorrow will be also as Amie gets home-11:08pm Vegas. I> might go down with Kari and take the day off of work so I can get some rest.>> The weather here is cold but we have blankets enough to keep warm in. Not a> lot has been going on around here except that we sold another puppy. Two> down and seven to go. The families that have come to get them are sweet and> Roxy stands at their feet for a few minutes before she walks away, as if to> say, 'it's okay! You'll be a good family.' Hopefully when Ty and Carianne> get Putch (about three more weeks I think) Jace can keep one of the> puppies. there is a little female he is quite attached too. Clayton is> still job hunting and working hard on his grades. HE is great to do wrok> around the house and not complain about anything I ask him to do. Hopefully> that will rub off on Jay and Jace. Jay is getting better at it. Jace is> good at helping when he wants something and is learning to space that out> from the time of the performing the task to the time of asking for the> favor. maybe he is learning this behavior stuff really really good. What 'd> ya think? AMie is enjoying Maui and the beaches and the shopping! Jace> continues to pull really good grades and is working hard in track and> lifting for the football season. Sara is busy with both of her jobs still.> Bryan, Kari and Kam are keeping busy. Kari started doing day care! She'll> be awesome at it!>> WOW! Mom is facebooking now too? HOW COOL IS THAT!!!???? I may have to> ask her how some of this stuff works.>> COnference! Was great. ALthough this morning I went to Kamree's dance> recital. OH MY! I was in tears during three different dances, none of> which had Kam in them. One was done to a classical song and the> choriographers (sP) interruptation was tremendous. That the skill of the> dancers was just nothing short of poetry in motion and that doesn't do the> performance justice to use such common verbage.> Another dance was called 'Goodbye' I think. Half the dancers worn military> fatigues and the other white frilly dresses. I was such a great experience> to see this dance as well. I think the same person did the dance steps to> this one as well. Very moving! Then there were the typical dances and> the funny ones. K am and her group's 1st danced to the Chipmucks singing,> "I'm to Sexy for my Shirt". BOth of her performances showed confidence and> coordination and she did great. Plus, I'm the grandma so I know!!!! I need> to go it is late.>> One of the conference speakers today quoted these words (and I whispered> along) "and should we die before our journeys through, happy day! All is> Well." Those words use to make me cry a lot. Today they seemed> comforting. maybe I'm starting to understand things finally. I'm reading> Maxwell's book- "NOt my will, but thine." Maybe I'm starting to comprehend> it a little.>> I also enjoyed Kam playing soccer, although I think she's seen way too much> AMerican football and needs a helmet and pads and different shaped ball.> She was more than willing to 'take out' other players. Too funny. Well, it> is late. almost midnight. I love you all and pray for your happiness and> feelings of security. Love, Pamela

SO MUCH in SO little time..........

2009-02-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

Last week was one of those weeks that lasted forever, because I spent so much time praying that everything would work out. As it turns out, here's what happened-- Jay had his interview for a position as head football coach for SCHS Monday at 2 pm. Tuesday the principal told him to come to his office first thing in the morning. We feared that he didn't get the job. Wednesday morning ---- he DID get the job! YEEE-AAHHH!

Also Monday our Carianne was escorted to the MAYO clinic in AZ by Tyrel. Her appointment--Monday at 2pm. By Friday she was operated on and she seems to be fine. Hopefully, cured.

There were other circumstances that I won't get into but that also had a lot of 'prayer time' dedicated too. EVerything, at this point has turned out well.

Now I'm hoping the Roxy (who has birthed 5 pups today) is done whelping.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow to see how soon I can get her fixed! I do fear that she has about 3 more on the way.

I don't have any wise words of knowledge or anything funny or upbeat to say. Praying is great and worth the effort, as is the faith one has and pours into those prayers. And it can be exhausting. I'm thankful for the new things my family gets to do now.

We are planning on heading to SO CA in March. Time to get away and play.
Have a great week--or month if I'm too slow on the writing. PS I get to study for a really difficult test that, if I don't pass, will keep me from teaching next year. ANd I really like my job THIS year. We shall see what I can pull off. Later, y'all.

From gift giving to taxes........as life in the USA turns

2009-01-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

That's right! In the long list of holidays it's 'Scare everyone for candy', followed by 'Eat so much that you're grateful for even just a little bit so that the next day you can spend all the money you haven't earned yet on gifts you hope are the last choice of your children or other family members', followed by 'CHRISTMAS (merry or otherwise), BOXING day in Canada, and then the great season of 'gather all the reciepts and see (PRAY) if you can get any money back from the gov.'! OF course, after that it is 'will the big ugly squirrel see that dark scary gray thing' , and then, 'fatten your sweetie up with chocolates because they are getting to damn skinny for that swimsuit that they will too good in and no one should be admiring them except me'. I think we actually get a small break and then it's 'give the teachers and students a break so that the last 8-9 weeks of school, including end-of-level federal testing will be skewed along with everyone's mental ability to even want to be there'.
HEy, it's dinner time! MORE LATER!

ON being rejected and moving on

2008-12-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

with other things and I'm talking a whole lot of other things.

First off, on being rejected, I'm pretty good at this getting rejected
thing. I had another manuscript turned down and actually, I was
expecting it. Nobody wants something that is inspirational and comforting
and that isn't preachy. NOBODY! ANd since it is a private rejection, i.e., they
write me (so I know already they don't want it) and nobody knows but them, me
and anyone else I share it with. There are those semi-public rejections and then the
very public rejections that have a combination of so many feelings attached to them
that it's just one emotional trainwreck colliding with social disgrace. I like mine better.
That is the private kind!

NOw on to moving on! While I should have been diagnosed as ADD when I was a child it never would have happened because acronyms weren't a big thing back then and you were just excepted to behave like everyone else in school, church, the neighborhood and the store if you were lucky enough to go there once or twice a year. IT was also difficult enough for my parents to get one of us kids to the DR when we really thought we were hurt let alone for some non-sense behavior crap! Basically, while I have been waiting for the book rejection my mind has been all over the map. SOmetimes I feel like a freaked out ping pong ball on Red Bull (although I've never had the stuff---one Dr Pepper clams me down but 2--that's when I start wishing I heard voices! haha). I am thankful that, now that I am older, My mind finally settles down at night so I can get some rest so I can start the madness all over again the next day, in a fresh state of mind. It has been difficult but I have learned to train my mind into slots of time. When I'm at work, I think of work things (with a lot of effort) and the same goes for church. Otherwise the thoughts crowd my head like a flock of geese and then scatter in every direction with a passing new thought and I try to grab and concentrate on only one of them. Have you ever tried to grab more than one thought at a time and work with it? Imagine grabbing the legs of two or more geese and having them bolt in different directions. It's insane, I'm telling you! INsane!

So the madness is getting caged and I'm forming a company that is going to be called, JC Task Solutions. That took a lot of work right there and the I thank my kids for helping me with the name. I scrambled and getting that just right and only asked for their opinions when I thought I had something. So.............that's it for now. There will be a lot going into this but the first thing is starting the company. I'll let you know what's next--actually I already have 3 new products for the company and those should be solidified before the end of Jan. and that includes packaging (with a UPC code) for one of them. DOn't stop the insanity! I'm not trying to stop it just keep it productive! Have a good one! Pamela/Mom

Down, down, down, down, down....

2008-11-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

1)ONE CHristmas quilt down.
2)Going down to volunteer two days this week to help Kari with the Festival of the Trees.
3)Down to only having to do three more IEPs, FUBAs and BIPS for three kids at school. (That's just policital/educational/legal jargon). SO I'm half way done on that count.
4)Down to four cars on the property! Please be impressed because only one doesn't work.
4)ONly four full weeks of school until the Christmas break!!! That doesn't count for the three day week we have either.
5)With that it is five weeks!
6)Down to six dogs! Sold the last male yesterday. Jace said all three female pups had their heads cocked to the same side staring at the new owner as if in wonderment to the situation. Jace was standing with his feet slightly apart with one female was sitting to his right, one to his left and one right under him. That would be a cute picture.

7)Down to seven more quilts to make before the second week of December--because I have more things to do this season than try to make up lost time for all late planning and procrastination!

8) Count down to dinner????? TOo long! Not much going on this week just busy keeping life rolling along at a good pace so I don't create too much stress during the up coming Seasons and provide some entertainment of ending up in the ER with a blood pressure problem. Jay about had me so stressed yesterday and I knew it was up. But then I did some relaxation de-stress therapy and I felt fine. Have a good one.

a little piece of thread told me.....

2008-11-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

Well, this was EXTREMELY frustrating but last night I started working on one of the seven sewing projects I had in line for Christmas gifts. (After talking with a friend at work I now have doubled that number.) Anyway, the only thing stopping my progression was one of two things. One, the stupid thread that kept breaking, or two, the stupid tension thingy on the machine that kept breaking the thread. I finally got fed up with the breakage and the constant fixing of the breakage after half an hour. After all, when you sew less than three inches and the thread breaks and you have to re-wind and re-thread........it's more than a little monotinous(sp)!!! I considered calling a friend for the use of her machine and I considered calling my brother for the use of his wife's machine. I called my brother. He was heading for SLC to visit his wife and said I could use the machine if I was willing to battle 'DROGUS' (their huge Russian terrior-the animal is so large that he towers over Bryon's 6'1" frame when the dog stands on his hind legs.) I talked for about 10 minutes with Bryon concerning Sunday dinners invites to our house and his families plans for Thanksgiving. I considered going to his house and possibly losing a hand, arm or entire leg to their beasty! Then I decided to try my machine again. Even though I was sewing on jean fabric, and sometimes four layers of it the thread NEVER BROKE again. Not once! ANd I sewed another hour and a half straight. SOOOOO, I'm thinking that this little thread told me that I needed to call my brother. Actually, I ended up thanking Heavenly Father for giving me the oppurtunity to make a call I didn't want to make and I thank the Holy Ghost for prompting me to call my brother instead of my friend. Things happen for a reason. I love experiencing the reasons! Happy Fall to ALL. Pamela

HELP IT's RAINING AND WE HAVE A

2008-11-09T15:11:00.001-08:00

leak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Jay and I go into the kitchen and sure enough we have a leak. I stand back while Jay and Clayton discuss where it could be coming from and then...................

are you waiting for something important to happen...............

SO AM I !!!!

Jay went back in to the family room, sat down and watched TV! FOOTbALL to be specific!
YEP!!! That always fixes leaks! A sure cure all for everything!

A few minutes after that he gets up and asks me what I want for dinner. Hmmmm??????

I want the leak fixed!!!!
I'll let you know when we have to move!!!
(TURns out--15 minutes later Jay goes out and climbs up on the roof) He found the problem. The solution will have to wait until tomorrow.........forecast..........more rain.

IN RETROspect..........

2008-11-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure what that means and this time I'm not looking it up. I do, however, want to reflect on the past week.

I was expecting the Animal Control guy to come back on Friday and check up to see how well I had completed the assignment he gave me an extension on. Still only down by five but working on finding homes for three more of the puppies. Jay found a little bit of control and joy with Putch as they played fetch, and no! Jay was not the one running and getting the ball. Maybe next weekend Jay and Jace will take Putch and Roxy out on a 'real' hunt. THe big fear is that Putch will find a bird, and after he flushes it, and it's shot, he will pick it's dead carcus up, run to a secure spot far from 'the master' and consume everything but a few feathers. And that is highly possible! Roxy on the other hand should do better as she hasn't eaten a bird before.

Jace played his last football game of the season last night. He had a pretty good game with only one blunder on his part......
He has only been running the ball for a few games and during each of those games he is used sparingly to run the ball. He does play an awful lot of defense and he loves making the play so don't think that he doesn't get any playing time. BUT he hasn't had a lot of game time running the ball. The first time the ball is pitched to him, in this game, he doesn't hold on to it. His three attending siblings chanted, almost, in unison, 'catch the ball before you run with it'. The next time he gets the ball he holds on to it tightly and runs approximately 30 yards...............
Later, while fully dressed in his SC Warrior uniform, when the ER triage nurse asks him how it happened he commented, "I was carrying the ball and then I don't know what happened." So I'm wondering now if the kid has a concussion! The following thoughts race through my mind.......'What do you think happen? YOU'RE playing football!!!! You were having a great run!!! THE OTHER TEAM DIDN'T LIKE IT!!! ' I promise, I didn't say that. I was thinking it. DUHHH!!! 'THEY HIT YOU WAY OUT OF THE PARK!!! Also, I got to do the "be-a -patient -Mom- in -the -stands -and -act -like- everything -is -going- to -be -ok -while -a -delay --of -game- with -an -official -time -out -was -called-and-all-the -players- from- both -teams-kneel-in-silence- -and- all -the -coaches -could -go -over -to -make -sure -the -kid-lying -on -the --ground -is -still -alive- and -secretly -praying -he'll -be -ok" routine. And that was first for me with one of my boys and football. ANd with Jace's love of the game I'm sure it won't be the last. Next year he will get to play on the freshman team> yeah, team, whoever he decides they will be. AND THAT is another story.

LOve to you all. Sign in and win ..............
a puppy!!!! Just kidding but I do need to continue to down sizes.
THanks for your love and friendships. Pamela

grab hands, make a circle and start singing,

2008-11-03T19:57:00.001-08:00

Kum-bi-ya!
Yes, tomorrow, NOv 4th is the much anticipated election day for the com-PAIN (I spelled that as correctly as I wanted to-notice the letters in caps) between McCain and Obama. This will be quite an emotional ride I think.
Even the 8th graders have it high on their list when conversing.
8th grader #1 boy: Have you seen that new girl?
8th grader #2 boy: Yeah she's hot...have you heard the latest on Obama?
Like what his name means?
8th grader #3 girl: Obama's not hot! Gross.
8th grader #1 boy: Her name's Obama?

Anyway, Jace is already plotting how he can stay up late enough to see the results. I think I'll have him wake me when he finds out. After all, me staying up isn't going to win or lose the election for anyone nor will it change anyone's mind as to who to cast their ballot for. I think I will take some cross stitch so I can occupy myself whilst I wait in line for my time behind the iron (I mean cloth ) curtain.

I was telling a friend/co-worker that I think we should all just grab hands, make a cricle and start singing 'kum-bi-yi' because either way I feel like we are approaching the end. Kind of reminds me of the big water thing in Pirates 3 that just sucked the ships in. Once the momentum for the last days starts its going to keep going--one big spinning circle that will eventually lead to something so glorious that we can't imagine it. Now I know some one is feeling a little 'dooms-day-ish' with this but that is not my intent. I'm just thinking that we need to hold together in all of our good and positive beliefs in each other and anything else that is good and bouy each other up. AND, pass out as many good recipes for wheat and 7 grain cereal that you can find. I'm also thinking that I'm going to have to learn to cook all over again. YEAH for my family. hahaha!

WE had a great weekend with visits from BIll and Shirlene and then Tyrel and Carianne and her family; played cards and ate and then watched Jaces' football game then, ate and played cards. Oh and then we watched Jace's football team scrimage another team and then ate. STill it was fun to be with family.

HEy, if you have the words to any hand-holding-we're-going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket songs please pass them on. Many I'll start a new blog with them.

One more thing. If any of you are LDS (you know-Mormons-the other Christian religion) and you would like one of my inventions please let me know. I'd like to send you what I'm working on. If you want more than one I'd have to ask for reimbursement of $2.oo a piece. ANd NO I won't tell you what it is! Love to you all. Pamela/Mom/Grandma/Friend/WEirdo-and-proud-of-it!

Goals like: touchdowns, puppies and a clean

2008-10-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

garage! That's what this message is all about.

Jace was more than eager play his football game last Saturday
as he had been practicing to 'run' the ball. And his hard work
paid off. He was given the ball several times on one set of plays and he was able to make a TOUCHDOWN thanks to the help of all of his teammates! It was great to see him move the ball, as most of what he normally does is move other players around, slow 'em down or knock 'em down. I know he really enjoys the last one because today he insisted on playing even with a broken toe. Oh the joys of having athletes as children, they will play even if their arm is halfway falling off, as long as they don't act like it's hurting and there isn't any blood then they tell Coach that they are good to play (to bad they don't feel the same way about doing their chores when they are hurt)! Anyway, today's 8:00 am(our time) game was great even with traveling to NV. The team gets to play in the playoffs due to their win/loss record.

I had a nice little visit from Animal COntrol yesterday. The man wanted to know how many dogs I had in the back yard. My response was simple, "TOO damn many." AFter explaining that three of the dogs aren't mine and should have their home ready in two weeks, and that six of the creatures are only 8 wks old and are just now ready to be shipped to other homes and ..........I paused. "How many dogs can I legally have in Santa Clara?" "FouR." Hmmm, I started calculating; with Kari's 3 gone and Roxy's 6 gone and Amie's one gone.........I'll be down to two dogs. I can go out and get me 2 more dogs. THen when Ty and Carianne get a place and can take Putch them I can get one more. My heart almost leapt for joy! But I tried to contain myself under the pressure of the local law enforcement. And I'd probably get more dogs just to upset the nieghbor that called in on us. How dare we help out our children or let nature take it's course. Truth be told-I'm using the procedes of the puppies to have Roxy fixed so she won't be having another litter. Then someday I may hunt me down a Gordon Setter. Then I'd have myself two hunting dogs and we'll still babysit Jetta throughout the day so Jay still has something to complain about.

Next of the list of goals............I have been discouraged with one of my 'inventions' as I needed a piece of equiptment that I believed exsisted but could never find. Then this week I went to Wal-mart. I was looking for dust pans and went down this isle that I was pretty sure didn't have dust pans BUT I felt like there was something down there that I needed. I'm walking down some strange isle and I'm concentrating on the upper row of merchandise on the right hand side. WHY??? I don't know. Well, I didn't know and then I see this strange little devise that is SO OUT OF PLACE. I pick it up and then put it back. I'm curious. 'How does it work?' I think. So I pick it up again and read the label. 'Hmh', doesn't make much sense.' So I put it back. Still I'm wondering about it and why I didn't understand what I read (and I promise it was written in English). So I lift it again from the hook from wence it hangs, which by the way is marked with a tag that reads 'laundry bag', and read the label a second time. This time I spend a little more time and read the back as well. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR THE PAST YEAR!!!! I turn it to the front again and read, needs 2 AA batteries, not included. YEAH! IT NEEDS 2 AA BATTERIES, (why am I so Excited??)not included. I'm hoping at this point that I'm not yelling about my new find. I perch the small item on top of my two 44lb dog food (eighth and nineth bags for the month) and I know, yes, I know, that I'm grinning from ear to ear. Now I'm kind of afraid to try it because if it doesn't work...............well, I shouldn't wonder about that, after all I followed some inspiration to a destination for an unknown reason and I, I, I'm going to check it out in a few minutes to see if it will work.

My last goal is to clean my garage out enough so I can park the vehicle that I drive in it for the winter. I just get cold too easy and if I don't have to scrap off the frost (or with any luck the snow) then I'll have a more pleasant winter season! I know! I'm such a whimp. later! I'm going to check out this new devise I bought.
Have a great week. Pamela

PS IT WORKS!!!!!! GIVE PRIASE TO THE LORD!!! Kari, call me!!!

I SHOULD BE making breakfast, but

2008-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

I became curious as to how my family is doing. I wish someone would walk my parents through how to do this as I can see my Mom enjoying the communications and technology part of it and I can see my Dad snapping pictures for her to add to the blog. Both would enrich our lives with them even though we can't be with them very much. After all, even though North Carolina is within walking distance of Utah, it is a very long walk.

Just some new things happening around here.

Clayton is feeling the crunch of not having money so badly that he has decided to become a PIRATE! (much to his mother's liking-argh--hahaha!) A little local place is opening up and it's called Pirate Pizza. Clay can wear a pirate costume if/when he is the host and he says the place is really dec-ed out (or maybe it is DECKED out) I can hardly wait and I hope the pizza is great.

Kari is now 25! We got to have Kamree over so she and Bryan could get away to a JImmy BUffet concert in Vegas. We will be having a dual (not dueling) family celebration at their house today. Applesauce cake with my Mom's icing, and before that it's enchidala's, yum! And I (we) love Bryan's family. What a great bunch of people. And a big thanks to Kari for helping me get this blog page looking better and adding my playlist!

I have sent off a manuscript to Cedar Fort Publishing and I'm excited to see the results even if it is another rejection......I guess it's a good thing that I was single for so long as I got pretty use to rejection and now it's just a door leading to another door that will lead to another...........hopefully you get the picture. ANd WHEN I get 'accepted' I'll post it here first! Aren't you lucky, all you faithful readers! (Let's see I think there are 4 of you now)! ANyway, I have one week less of three months to wait...unless they will reject me before that time but most make the hurt wait for a full 3-6 months.

Have a great week! Sing songs out loud from your heart that haven't been written, dance when the music moves you even if you are in the parking lot of a busy c-store, and keep a prayer in your heart ANd on your lips for the blessings you have and the needs of others. My love to you all, Pamela

inspiration from one of my children--good advice to us ALL

2008-10-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

Clayton stayed up late last night (again--he's 20 and doesn't know any better) and wrote this down. He gave it to Jace who read it, loved it, and then asked me to tyoe it up so he could share it with his teammates.
I thought (and think) that it applies to more than football. SO.......I'm asking that you think about your lives and what you expect and what you are about. I love you all and now.................here's....................Clayton

THE GAME

Clayton James Graft

EVERYDAY is a challenge.
TAKE IT ON!
Don’t take a day off on making yourself better.
Make working hard part of who you are.
Expect to be great, but, you must
Work to become extraordinary. Take care of the
little things and the rest will fall into place; in the classroom and on the field.
NEVER GIVE UP!!!
To many times people give up on their dreams.
Don’t be one of them!
When your working for a goal -- achieve it!
Don’t stop short. Don’t be one of those people who gave up and later say,
“If I would have only worked harder I could have been something great.”
Be the best you’re meant to be.
You are only as good as you make yourself.
Help out your teammates and classmates.
Be open to other’s opinions.
Don’t think you’re the best because there is always
Someone better, work hard to become better.
If someone says you’re too small or too big prove them wrong.
Don’t be COCKY!
It will only make people hate you.
!!!NEVER GIVE UP!!!

There's a problem with hunting dogs!

2008-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Swiss days was yesterday and it started off with a bang!
Literally! The bang signaled the beginning of the 5K race. I went out and did my usual morning feeding of the 12 dogs (Roxy's pups are supplementing mom's milk with puppy chow) with all the typical vocal exercises to go with it. Those vocal exercises being, 'hello', 'how are you', 'get off me', 'DOWN', and then 'where's the water? where's the water?'. Tipsy and her pups love the watering hose!

I made my way to the kennel with Roxy and her pups secured inside.........okay well, normally with the afore mentioned inside. Only today I was missing Roxy. I should write that, 'today I missing ROOOOXXXXYY!!!'
I examined the kennel and she had to have gotten out only by some magician's magical spell. Remember that BANG I told you about earlier? I think it also signaled to Roxy that 'a hunt' was on. She was gone. I believed that she would find her way back so I went to Jace's football game in Washington (20 minutes away). As I drove to the game I looked in the 'bird-laden field' where Jace had taken Roxy hunting a few times. Not finding her there, I posted a notice at the c-store. MISSING!!! NURSING MOM!! Weimerainer, please call.

After the game I went to the Finley's new (and moved into house--Kari will be busy getting her house setup so don't expect to read from her for a few days). Boxes were lined up and stacked up everywhere. She and Kam were eating breakfast. It was great to see that the house is done. Although, now I can't help with it anymore because I'm no good a decorating. As I left their house....

I got a call from Dutchman's (the c-store). Someone found Roxy and she was on the corner of Chalet and Gubler in Santa Clara. Jay and Amie got to her first. Her pads are ripped up a bit as are her claws on her back feet and she isn't moving very well. We figured that she climbed a tire next to the fence, wedged herself somehow between a tree limb and the wall and went to the bird field. The field is surrounded, for the most part, with lava rock and that stuff is SHARP!! With all that fun and excitement of hunting and chasing birds, she most likely, didn't pay attention to the rock. We had always kept her from it in the past. Now she nows first hand that that stuff hurts.
She's still moving a little slowly. Jace and I relocated the dog house and the tire. Hopefully, the next 'shot' she hears won't have her sprout wings so she can fly over.

The pups were happy to have mommy home. Dang, them dawgs are getting cute.

FEEL LIKE FLYING!

2008-09-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

And for me that ain't a good thing! Things are getting interesting and I'll spare everyone the details. BUT, for a little hint, it is at work (that being said) and everything will work out. I love the ladies I work with, the teachers I work with, oh and those wonderful and fun children that I get to learn how their minds work. AND THEIR MINDS ARE WORKING!!!!!
If you think they aren't you are being fooled!

News for the children!!!

Jace is doing great in school. Still has his phone, which means his room is clean (clean enough to keep his phone but not in model/my-mom's-annual-condition--cause I'm not!) and his grades are all above a C+. That means that there are only A and B grades! It's about time I learned the true power of technology! Now maybe I can rule the world, ha ha ha ha! That was an evil-take-over-the-world-laugh, by the way! HOpefully he will continue to just fly through school and love doing it.

Amie and Sara are both working two jobs a piece. Some days I don't think their heads see their beds. Sara is also selling her plasma! THE things kids will endure! ME? You ain't touching this wimp with a needle unless I'm in medical need and there's a great 'knock me out' drug in it so I'm not telling the doctor what to do during the operation. I actually had a doctor tell me once that he didn't need my help as he knew what he was doing. Fact is he did and my right thumb works good as new! Back to the youngest girls! Amie has a new car that is soooo her. And she loves it. She looks good in it and I think she still doesn't have any speeding tickets. Sara looks sharp in her little Tiberon. HMMM! HOpefully they are just driving those things and not 'flying low'.

Tyrel and Carianne are, I'm thinking, doing great. They have a great little blog that really let's you know what is cooking with them. Ty calls someone here once a week so we know that they are doing great. I sure hope he continues doing that. Anyway, I'm sure time is flying for them with all of their plans and concerns and being busy with family in CA.

Clayton is in school and seems to be loving it. He and Ryan are putting in applications for jobs at just about every establishment in town. I can't imagine why they aren't employed. Must be their good looks, fun personalities and tell it like 'it is' attitudes. They would be great employees however, and I can't really think of anything that they aren't capable of doing. Clay and AMie are both attending an LDS college ward, although I don't think that they are going to the same one. THese two also have some great stories about flying---CLayton was climbing a cliff out at Sand Hollow Resevor and he slipped (let's just say for the sake of the theme here, that he flew backwards, unintentionall)y into the water below and hurt his toe. Amie just told me that she was at a ward party at Sand Hollow Aquatic Center (the indoor pool) and the ward held a 'BIG SPLASH' contest. Well, my girls love contests! The guys told her she'll never win and she said she was doing it to have fun. Apparently, this little diver, cannonballer, child of mine, had water flying higher and further than anyone else, so she soared to the top spot of the competition.

Kari, Bryan and Kamree will be moving into their new house next week. Still a full week before OCt 3rd. My, how houses fly when people are starving for work cuz their just plain starving! Anyway, I hope to be able to help with the construction clean-up and the move in. (Holly, I hope to see you there!--cuz it's got to be as fun as painting Kam's room!)

ONly two people left--Jay and I. He hasn't bailed on me and I haven't told him to take a flying leap ----yet soooo, I guess you could say that some things haven't changed! have a great week or month or whatever till I write again.

Such is life!

2008-09-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

The ups and the downs, the smiles and the frowns, the oh-no's and uh-oh's, the hurry-and-get-here and the please-don't-pass-so-fast. Such is life.
Amazing things that are happening: Watching my children as they turn up the music too loud for me and inpress each other with their dance moves. To see them dancing around the front room and kitchen is like watching a magical mist that rises and falls and swirls around obstacles in its way. It is, to me, mezmorizing!

Jace played his first football game of the season on Saturday and I missed all but five minutes of it as I had to get the Relief Society Super Saturday set up. All went well with both events. I'm glad that I will get to see all of his other games. I'm also thrilled that he was able to play quite a bit and had a great time whilst getting banged up.

Clayton has started college! It is interesting to listen to him and his friend Ryan as they discuss different concepts they are learning about. I'm sure that they discuss the 'girls' on campus at times but I've only heard them talk about concepts on subject matter they will be graded on! (And they don't mind talking about girls around me.)

All of our other children that don't live here are great to see us on at least two Sundays out the month, with the exception of Tyrel and Carianne who visit when they are in the area. But at least we get to talk to them about once a week. Amie and Sara are both working two jobs. And Kari and Tyrel's families have a blog spot each so you can catch up with them. These are great ways to get to know the family!
Speaking of which...............................anyone out there have a savings plan that you can share with everyone else out there so that we can see you at the next Condie family reunion which will be in Beaver? I'm telling you that housing will not be an issue!!! Just the getting here and back! But if you can only get here..............we will put you up for two weeks until you can secure a new JOB! It would be great to see you all again.

FIrst week of school over!

2008-08-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

This past week has been quite the ride! ANd that is a good thing. While Kari, nor Kamree, had a difficult time with Kam's first day at school, the Mother of the Mother cried when she read her daughter's blog about her granddaughter's first day at school! Kari, so elequently, wrote about how she had raised Kam to this point to be confident and to be able to go and do new things. Part of my tears were in Kari's calm emotions and her perfect realization that she had done good and that Kam had blossomed so well in her mother's nuturing care. I read Kari's passage again and again. And as I cried a second time I realized that part of my tears were for the great way Kari had left for Kindergarten 19 years ago. She refused to even let me leave the house to watch her as she rounded the first corner of her six or seven block trek. And to keep her trust I didn't shadow her. Although, a neighboring mom did shadow her daughter who did walk with Kari.

Back to life in school. Jace is getting use to the new block schedule. He is also loving the tough football practices that he and Jay attend Tues, Thurs, and Fri.
While that leaves me some time to myself it also allows me to stay at work a little longer to get some important things done without the worry of what my youngest is up too.

I just finished helping with the Relief Society Pine Valley Retreat today. IT was nice and cool and we even got rained on! YEA! RAIN! I was asked to lead the games and I love doing it. More and more I am amazed at the great ways people can get together and just bond over a few laughs and time spent together. It was also nice to have a bunch of women (I hardly knew) pile into my car and get to hear about 'other' lives and concerns including books being read and cabinets being cleaned out. Sounds a little crazy but it was good to listen to all of their concerns and joys and triumphs.

I'm happy to have my few triumphs! I'm enjoying work right now and I'm really optimistic about the progress that one of my toughest students can make this year. I wish I had known last year about the teaching technique that will help this student to be behaviorally appropriate so that he can,then, learn. What a blessing this will be for the entire school and his family. YEAH!!! ANother triumph this past week is that while I cooked three meals only one was a wash!
THe second was good (and noone came home on time to eat it) and the third was take out! Two out of three isn't bad! Have a great week. Keep on Keeping ON! Love to all. Pamela

2008-08-09T22:20:00.001-07:00

Well, family and friends! School starts Tuesday! It is going to be an interesting year. It hasn't even started yet and we are hearing the word "lawsuit". It isn't aimed at me yet but if a certain parent gets their way then I might have those words thrown my direction. Oh well!

Here's what the kids are up to!!!

Jace in public school this year. He will be playing football with Jay as one of his coaches.
Clayton registered for college at Dixie and is attempting to encourage Amie to at least start by Jan of 09. He is passing on his wisdom of a year waisted that he realizes he will never get back.

Sara is working two jobs and is keeping her sense of humor about it.
Kari and Bryan are going to be painting their house this week. YEAH!
Kamree will be starting school on Tuesday! She is a big KINDERGARTNER! I think her Mommy is going to have major withdrawals and she and Kam did everything together.
Ty and Cani are taking things one step at a time.
Amie is just working part-time at Baskin/Robins. She was looking for a second job but I don't know how that is going.

NOthing exciting except what the kids are doing. I'll send pictures as I get them. Meanwhile, check out the finley's and the Tyrel/Cani Graft blogs. have a great week. Love to all. Pamela

2008-08-04T16:39:00.001-07:00

WOW! Maybe I can get this right. The past week we were without two of our children and without our little grandaughter. It also hasn't helped that Sara and Jeff moved into a house rental and asked Amie to be a roommate. SHe accepted and so now I'm the only female living here, but not the only one that is hormonal!!! Talk about lonely. Jay still seemed content as his big scsreen tv was still here and in working order. I'm not saying that I'm going through the empty next thing yet but I can see how crazy it is going to be with everyone gone.

We also sent my parents home to North Carolina on Tuesday and that is always difficult for me because I know that it is going to be at least another two years before I see them. Maybe next time Mom will look a little more her age and not so much like my younger sister of a few years.

The Condie Family Reunion was fantastic! We cousins decided that to start having two events a year to just hang out together. That's how fun it was! No one has to show up but those that do will have a great time. We are also excited that the next Family Reunion in two years will be closer still and will be in Beaver, Utah. We did miss Tyrel and Carrianne, Kari, Kamree and Bryan as well as my siblings, Jay and Family, Bradley and Family, Patti and Family and Stuart and Family. Maybe they will have more funds to get back here next time. I do know that my kids will never forget their experiences back in NC and will remember those times long past when we have it paid for. Enough of that. THE CONDIE's ROCK!

Thanks for all the blogs and pictures. They are so cool! Later, School starts soon and I need to get my life together.

in the beginning........

2008-06-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not the beginning with five of our six children graduated from high school (of which three resided with us, two are happily married and one is in a serious relationship!),
But what an interesting ride we have had.

We are blessed to boast that our children are all great people!!! And we have a wonderful and charming granddaughter. More later, as I have to run help get some homes for some puppies.