Faces of Grief

 Kenny and His Dad

Shelly and Danny with Grandpa

Shawn called me to tell me that Johnnie was failing fast. She sent me these pictures of Kenny and the kids. So much grief on their faces. There is nothing easy about this ordeal. We all know that he is going to a better place but it never helps when you are going through this time.

I hope he goes fast to be with our family in Heaven. He will be able to finally be with Phyllis again.

I am so glad that I went to visit him when he was doing better. This breaks my heart.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this big brother of mine. As the end grows near I am more and more grateful that he was in my life. I am blessed to have him as my big brother.

Play Date

Alice and Gracie

Alice came over and played with Gracie all afternoon. They had so much fun playing together. I can't wait for Gracie to go to Kindergarten so she can have tons of friends to play with. She loves Alice and always wants to play with her.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that Alice and Gracie are good friends. What a blessing for Gracie to have such a good friend.

Flying to Idaho

Moving a Jet

Ruth came at the crack of dawn and drove me to the Airport. I am very tired but ready to go to home. I am missing my Hubby and Gracie May. I watched these two guys with tiny cart hook onto this jet and move it. When we took off it was pulling it across the strip to a hanger. 

It was good to get home and just chill with my Gracie.

I will miss my cousins and my brother. I just wish he was capable of answering his phone and talking with me. We had some really good conversations.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Allegiant. I am grateful that I can jump on an airplane and fly to my cousins. Blessed beyond measure!

Checkers and Dilly Bars

 Ethel and her Grandson

 Ruthie Scrap Booking

Dilly Bars

Ethel loves to play Checkers with her grandkids. She is a wonderful grandma and they all love her. Ruthie and I scrap booked and then decided we needed Ice Cream. We went to Dairy Queen and as we walked in the front door we were told that they were out of Ice Cream.What!! Out of Ice Cream. So we bought some Dilly Bars and they were good. So were spent the rest of the night eating Dilly Bars and Scrap Booking. Nothing better than that. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for these wonderful cousins. I love them and they love me. Now that's a blessing!!

Hanging Out With My Cousins

Ruth Ann

 Della

Ethel

We spent the day just hanging out and enjoying each other. Every night someone brings Della home from the Rehab Center where Loren is. She usually falls asleep and Ethel turns on her westerns and falls asleep and Ruth and I work on our computers. It's pretty funny. It is so relaxing here I always go home relaxed and ready to get back to my life. I hope I will be able to visit my brother one more time.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for these cousins of mine. We share so many memories of our childhood. What a blessing they are to me.

Johnnie and Me

 My Sweet Johnnie

 I Love This Man

Going to Gilbert

Ethel and I stayed overnight in Shawn's sister's place next door last night. It was so good to just walk next door and go to sleep and wake up and walk back. I got to spend the morning with Johnnie. Shawn cooked us breakfast and I watched my brother chase his breakfast all over his plate trying to eat. His motor skills are really going fast. I hate Parkinson's Disease and how it has taken my brother's steps away. He just wants to walk again without falling down all the time.

After visiting we took off to go back to Gilbert. We were rained on and a little snow fell on the way down the rim. I am so glad I got to see my brother and he was able to talk with me a little bit. He is really failing fast.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this brother of mine. I love him so much. I am so blessed to know the Plan. What a blessing that is and what a blessing my brother has been to me.

Johnnie at Kenny's

 Johnnie, Shawn and Kenny

Getting up to the Table

Ethel and I drove up north to see Johnnie. He is not doing very well at all. Shawn ordered Pizza for us and I had a good time talking to Johnnie. He would say the cutest things and then he would try so hard in his recliner to stop his logging truck from going over the edge. You could tell he really was scared. It is hard for me to see him so confused. I love this brother of mine.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Shawn and Kenny for taking such good care of my brother. What a blessing they are.

Pedi's with Ruth

Ruth

Ruth and I went to get our toes done. It was so much fun to be with this cousin of mine. It is always fun to get our pedi's together. We always laugh and have a good time.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Ruth. I am blessed that she is my cousin.

Up, Up and Away AGAIN

 Ruthie

Della and Ethel

Tommy drove me to the Airport this morning so I could catch a plane to Mesa. I was there with tons of time to spare and played games on my Ipad. The man next to me on the play was from New Mexico and we talked the whole way there. He was a Stake President so we had lots of Gospel discussions. He can't wait until he can retire and go on a mission.

Ethel picked me up and we had Quinoa soup again for lunch. Ruthie made it for us. Then we spent the evening visiting and Ethel and Della watched TV and Ruth and I worked on our computers. I am all caught up on my blog. Yeah ME!!!

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my wonderful cousins. What a blessing they are to me.

Packing Bags

Down For a Nap

I spent the day doing laundry and packing my bags. Gracie just played all day. She has me play store with her and buy all her toys for lots of money. She gives me a receipt. So funny.

She decided to put Maggie down for a nap. She made Maggie put her head on the pillow and covered her up with my cover and gave her some food from her kitchen stuff. How cute is this.

AJ got done with his training and came over and took Gracie out to the barn and kept her the rest of the day. I was able to finish up my packing and laundry.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this little munchkin that I get to take care of. I am so blessed.

Idaho Falls Temple

 Connie and Me

 Wally's Twin

I went to the Idaho Falls Temple with Connie today. We did Initiatories  for 10 sisters so we will have them to do Endowments for. I always feel so good when I can go to the Temple. I really love my friend Connie and have tons of fun with her.
Then we went to O'Brady's for lunch. As I was sitting there I looked over and saw this man that is the twin of my nephew Wally. I told Connie that I wanted to take a picture of him so she scooted over to the edge of the seat so I could take a picture and he wouldn't know.
I came home and made Quinoa Chicken soup for dinner. I used the chicken from last night. It was easy and fun.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my friend Connie. I am so blessed to have her in my life.

Looking For A Rolling Back Pack

Austin took Gracie to preschool so I took off and headed to Idaho Falls to find a Rolling Backpack. Janna took mine to Moscow, Idaho when she went to visit Harley.  I was trying to find one. I went to Walmart, no such luck. On to Kohls, nothing, Target had one it was cute and rolling and cost $139. Not on your life was I going to spend that much.
I came home empty handed and put a chicken in my Rotisserie for dinner. It was delicious. I made steamed broccoli and rice.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that I have my Rotisserie. It is a blessing to be able to feed my family so well.

Cleaning Cupboards

Clean Cupboards

Happy Birthday Girl

Today I started cleaning my cupboards. I got half of them done. Janna is having a cleaning lady come tomorrow so I probably won't get them finished until Friday. Then I am going to pull all the stuff off the top of my cupboards and clean it. If I can't clean it I will get rid of it. I'm on a roll.

I made reservation to fly to Mesa on Sunday. I need to go see my brother. He has been pretty sick. So I think it's time to go see him.

As I was thinking about packing and getting ready for Sunday I realized that Janna has my rolling backpack in Moscow. She went up there on Tuesday to be with Harley on her birthday. So tomorrow I will be hunting down a new backpack. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Harley. She is cute and funny, sweet and a hard worker. I am blessed to have her as my Granddaughter.

Going To The Dentist

I went to the dentist today to have my teeth cleaned. It was so funny. The hygenist that was cleaning my teeth started talking about living in California. Lo and behold she lived in Acton. Her dad sold the property to the church to build the Chapel in Aqua Dulce. She knew the Miller's and Sage's. We just had the best time talking about all the Acton people. I have never had such a good time having my teeth cleaned.
I stopped at Walmart to get some groceries. I came home and Gracie helped me put everything away. She is such a good helper.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Esther that is such a good Dentist. She is so positive and sweet.

Paying Medical Bills

I had a stack a mile high of medical bills. I made up my mind that I was going to get them done today. I got them all paid and also reconciled my checking account. What a relief to have it all done.
It took me all day.
I spent the evening doing more genealogy. I need to call tomorrow because Glenna is "forbidden" when I try to submit her ordinances to do. I did find some relatives of Johnnie Wood to do. I will just keep plugging along until I get them done.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my ability to do Genealogy. I know this work is so important and know people are waiting on us. Blessed!!

Sunday Sunbeams

Well I went to church and Gracie went bowling with Janna and AJ for his birthday. I just don't know how to get this kid their every Sunday.
I went to church and taught my class. We had Karen Jenkins help Connie and I. It still was too many kids. Hopefully they will get us another teacher.
It was fast and Testimony meeting. I was having a hard day and just felt down. I can't get Tommy to come to church, I was thinking about John. Just too much sadness. Bonnie Hall got up and bore a short sweet testimony about how Heavenly Father knows us and loves us. It just hit me that He knows what I am going through and he does love me and he knows my name. It just made me cry. I need to remember that. Suddenly I felt so much better.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Bonnie for bearing such a heartfelt testimony. I think it was just for me.

Working My Primary Lesson

I spent the day working on my Primary lesson. Having to do 15 of each thing takes forever, But I got all the stuff cut out and they are ready to assemble.
Ruth called me and I made a Prayer Chart for her.
That's been my day.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my cousin Ruth. She is very special and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Cinnamon Rolls for AJ's Birthday

Sleepy Girl

I straightened up my house for the Cleaning Lady. She came over and said she was sick so she was going home. At least everything is put away. 

I went to Broulim's for groceries. I needed fruit so I have something for Weight Watchers. I came home and put everything away. 

Austin brought Gracie home from Preschool. She watched a Baking Show on her Ipad until she fell asleep in the middle of he floor.

I made cinnamon rolls for AJ's birthday. they looked so good but I took them over to Janna's and left them there. I did not have a single bite. Now that's the way to do it. I just can't have anything around that I love and that is fattening. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my Wonder Mixer. It is so fast to bake bread and cinnamon rolls. I am so blessed to have my mixer.