December 2017

The past month has been so busy. Some highlights were Emmy coming home from school for the semester with no problem, and hearing Brian talk on the Book of Mormon in Church. My folks watched Spence, which was no easy task and Brian's parents even got to come and hear him. He did a great job. It was inspirational, well presented and on point. He is such a great and intelligent man and I am grateful to have his love and support.  Things have been challenging with Spence, but we are doping all we can and hoping for the best.  I was able to go to the temple on my own and with Brian. It really does help me to have an eternal perspective.

On Christmas Eve, Rah Rah and Papa came over with dinner and we had a lovely time with them. We were blessed again with my folks having us over for Christmas day dinner. I feel like we tried to have the Christmas spirit and overall it worked. So much goes on during the holidays and so many need comfort. I'm grateful for the Angels in my life.

November changes and opportunities to party

It was fun to Host Thanksgiving at our home. My folks and Brian's folks came. I invited more extended family via a fb page.:) Willow, Jeremiah, and Uncle Scott made it. It was so nice. Emmy was in town, our New Adult. I can't believe she is 21 now. She still went and shopped Black Friday with me and when she is home it is just like usual and like she never left. We did have some challenges/adjustments this month. Joe and Caroline broke up and we had some issues with identity theft and purchases. We are pretty resilient though and still felt grateful through this Thanksgiving season. I had our Bunco party for Christmas early on November 30th at my house. It was a fun time and my friends left at midnight after yummy food, a favorite items gift exchange and a whole lot of chatting. Thanksgiving pack meeting went well as also. We collected items for the homeless and put up a thankful tree. It was a neat opportunity to serve in the community. I also was interviewed for our family being the spotlight profile in the West Roseville news. I was nervous, but happy with the end result. I suppose the socializing will continue in December with the KJ Christmas party as well as the packer party and the  ward Christmas party to start.

Whirlwind before Winter

October has been pretty busy. It felt a little bit like a December rather than a October.  We hung out with the grandparents quite a bit. We saw Tanya and Kieran in Tahoe. We had dinner at a quaint Mexican restaurant, Maria's. We braved the cooler temps and I even got a Zoltar fortune telling. Celia Joseph and I got to spend the night at the Ridge and ride around Tahoe seeing King's Beach, Emerald Bay, and Inspiration Point. It truly was beautiful and it was nice to get out of the Smokey weather from the fires that were all around our city, but not in it.  We had a ward trunk or treat and I went to Halloween Bunko. Spence had a few Dr. Appointments and we had changes in our respite worker.  Joe has been giving me grey hairs with his teenage way, but we keep on plugging along.

Grandmas birthday at McCormick's and Smick's was so yummy and we enjoyed walking around the fountains afterward.  We went to the pumpkin farm and carved a doggy Jack O Lantern in honor of our new dog, Tokki. She has been a good dog and we are all adjusting well so far. We need to teach Celia to be firm with her as Tokki sees her as a playmate and gets really rambunctious.  The month has been full of family, we even had Spaghetti and bread brought over by Rah Rah and Celia saw Holly and borrowed a poodle skirt to dress up for the Dance a thon this month. I dressed up in fifties wear and volunteered at the school. It was a great time and overall a great month. We have much to be grateful for.

Teeth and Temple

Time has been flying by. Celia got two teeth extracted and is handling braces like a trooper. We did have to say we would get her a dog sometime during her two year stint with braces. We look on the Placer SPCA website everyday for good options and I have applied twice to organizations for a service dog.  We have been kept busy with our Spencer this month. I think his ears and jaw having been bothering him. He might be getting his wisdom teeth in.( going to have that checked soon) Little sleep and a bit of Strong aggressive behaviors have been challenging, but we love our buddy.

I did get to go to the temple last week. My parents had gone the day before and were very pleased with their visit. I was going for peace and I found it. The Lord speaks through his servant here on earth and the scriptures can give us needed insight and perspective. An older lady in the temple struck me as a wise woman, an Indian chief of sorts, giving me blessings and grand advice from God. It was the usual ordinances, but I felt the spirit and was happy. I am grateful for the little tidbits of knowledge and great feelings of peace and comfort I feel when I am trying to be obedient and live up to the covenants I have made with my Heavenly Father.

Celia and I went to my mom's house to watch the General Woman's Conference broadcast.  I was happy to have grabbed my kindle just in case ( felt I should bring it) and it was great to us as we were having technical difficulties as he broadcast began. The talks were great and inspired. I feel such a high when I feel the spirit and a little bit of a low when I see the stewardship and duties awaiting me at home. The lows are short lived. Little by little, I go about my work and am blessed and buoyed up.

I'm glad the Land cruiser still lives and Joe can bring his sister home from school, it is so very helpful. I'm also grateful for technology and the convenience of my phone from which I can do almost all  my household management, kids school, and church calling communications. I can even transfer money to Emmy way out in Idaho. I'm proud of her cooking more and budgeting food money over just having a dining card. Grateful for the daily grind and the blessings of each day!