~MIKE~

Last year at this time we
were enjoying ourselves in one of our favorite vacation spots with some of our most favorite traveling companions.  It seems that January is always just a little more bearable when you spend half of it in Hawaii. We have traveled to so many places with Mike and Ann.  I often say that we have traveled the world with them because it pretty much sums it up!  For 20 years we have been taking trips with these two and have enjoyed EVERY minute with them.

This year things are a little bit different. Mike is battling some major health issues that have us all wondering if we will be able to make another trip together again to the "Big Island".  About 15 years ago he was the  proud recipient of a liver which has been doing a phenomenal job up until this year...He is in liver failure now and is waiting to be placed back on the list for a new one. The process is a long and often disappointing one but, we keep him in our thoughts and prayers and give him little chance to give up or get too disheartened.  He is such an inspiration to us all. I can not imagine one day without him in it and I tell him that all the time!  I have watched him go from 6'3-210 lbs to 6'3-150 lbs.  He has been in and out of the hospital so many times this year I have lost count yet, he shows up to our weekend "get togethers", "poop" parties           ( that's a very fun little card game with slight gambling involved),  and other activities that we throw at  him.  He is weak and exhausted most days now but never complains. His appetite is gone and he can't do what he absolutely LOVES...Golf, still he doesn't complain.

If I could give him part of my liver I would but he needs an entire one not just part. I think every one of us that know him would do that for him in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we are forced to play the waiting game which is more like "Russian Roulette  when it comes to livers but, play it we will and we will be grateful for each and everyday!

We love you Mike. Get well so we can go warm our old bones in the sunshine again and again and again...

~TIME-OUT~

Seriously...I need a vacation so that I can find a little time to blog.  Sorry that I haven't kept up. I will be back when my temporary bout with insanity subsides...Until then just know that I am learning new things, many of which are totally unimportant and self-indulgent!

~MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE~

I'm not sure how it happened but, Christmas is almost here and there are things that I just didn't get done...Christmas cards being at the top of my list.  So sorry that none of you received a charming picture from Steve and I this year displaying our beautiful brood, we really do have a bunch of the cutest grandchildren on earth and getting them all together for a picture is well...Impossible! I am going to seriously work on my organizational skill this next year and try to do better in many ways, "hopefully"!

We tried going to dinner the other night minus Stephanie and Cambria and this is what we got...SANTA!  Just for OUR grandkidos!!  They were super excited. Every one but Charly that is! (sorry Garett and Lisa, I took a picture with your camera and forgot to get one with mine :( Send me yours and I will add it to this post...). We had a great time but I am afraid the poor waitress had quite a mess to clean up after we left. 

I can't wait to see the rest of my family over the weekend. I LOVE Christmas and my family

~FAMILY~

This has not been a stellar month for me emotionally, death takes a toll on everyone involved especially those closest to the ones who are left. It really doesn't matter if you are 5, 25 or 91, there is never a good time to say good-by. The only thing that makes it bearable for me is knowing that I will see everyone who I miss so much again. I truly believe this is true and I can not even entertain the thoughts of how wonderful that reunion will be.

I miss those that are missing in my life. I feel the need to call my mom, go for a ride with Bruce. I need to eat sugar cookies with my grandma, you know those really thin crispy ones that I, for the life of me, can not make! There are just certain things that those who leave us take with them that we will always miss. Perhaps that is the Lords way of helping us to always remember the blessing they were in our lives.

My Aunt Mildred passed away this week. She was 91. The last living member of my mothers family, she truly was an "Angel on Earth". Sometimes when you would call her she didn't always recognize your voice so she would say stuff like: "Hello, I don't know who this is, but I do know that I love you!" She was always so happy to hear from me whenever I called... I should have called more often. One thing I have learned is that there are always some regrets, we are not always as thoughtful, kind and caring as we could have been but, if in realizing this we make a change, be it very small, we have turned a corner and have learned yet one more lesson in this experience of finding our way home. I can only pray that I do this "earth" thing as well as my Aunt Mildred did. You will be missed Aunt Mildred...For now.

~Do Good Things~

"The Lord doesn't care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use--in His own way and for His holy purposes--those who incline their hearts to Him. God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior's example and spend the days of their lives doing good". Uchtdorf

~MISS MADDIE~

Maddison is one of our little four year olds. She is beautiful and happy and one of the most thoughtful little girls I know. She constantly is thinking of everyone else making sure no one is left out! I just LOVE that about her.

She likes to clown around and make everyone laugh. I seldom see this little one in tears. She told me once "Grandma I don't like to cry, it makes me sad but, when we laugh it makes us happy! I like to laugh". She laughs a lot and is happy all the time. I hope that she can go through her life always laughing and ALWAYS happy!

Wherever Madds goes she gathers friends. She LOVES to do hair and I have been the recipient of many a hair-do by Maddie. She loves cowboy boots and horses, pretty dresses and dolls but most of all she LOVES her mommy, daddy, brother Cole, and sisters Bella and Whitney. She celebrated her 4th birthday this month. How quickly time goes by.

We are SO glad she is one of our 8 grand daughters! LOVE you Madds!