March Update

 I just wanted to update with some job information and how we are doing in Cedar City.  I didn't return to my job and decided that I would collect my Social Security.  I have been very busy trying to get that all straightened out, but mostly I have been so sick with the cough and elements of the flu.  I can hardly stay awake and when I do the slightest activity, I cough and cough and cough some more.  Ambur has been such a great kind person in helping me out and understanding, she still hurts some herself but she is doing what she can to help out.  

We don't have Ministering sisters and the Relief society has not contacted us at all, but our ministering elders have called a couple of times to see how we are.  Ambur is working and carrying the load for getting our groceries.  She never makes me feel low because of leaving my job, she is just very understanding and I think Heavenly Father is working and guiding both of us during this somewhat difficult time.  Fortunately I was able to get my 401K, small as it was, and that has helped.  I had my final check and was paid for PTO that I had and so we are doing OK financially.  I should be getting my first SS check soon and will see if I am able to get a part time job to supplement.

Life is good and I know I am so blessed.  I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and to have a strong faith in Heavenly Father's plan.  I know that he loves me, individually and that he knows my challenges and as I continue to listen and act from that faith, things will be working out for us here.

Birthday Time for my Mom

March is a difficult time for me for many reasons.  It is also a very happy time because it is my mom's birthday.  Since she passed away, I actually don't remember when it started, my sisters have gathered together for the the 'sister luncheon'.  To remember my mom and to catch up on each other's life.  I have so many great memories from the luncheon and seeing my sisters and before mom died we would go to lunch and have a little shopping.  I loved shopping with my mom.  She was genuinely interested in seeing what we purchased and what we liked and she always gave her input as to if she liked the choices made or not.

I hope she has a very Happy Heavenly Birthday.  This family picture is one of my favorites because I am in her tummy.  My mom was an amazing woman.  I love her so much.  In my adult years and especially when I was first married and would call her for advice, she would have the best advice to give.  One particular occasion I was speaking to her about some problems I was having with my children and she said,  "don't worry about how they are feeling about your parenting choices, everyone who gets mad will eventually get glad:.  I love that and have thought of it many times since.  

I quit going to the sister's lunch a few years ago because it is a bittersweet day for me since the death of my husband and I just can't make it emotionally through the day.  I miss seeing my sisters, but since I made that choice the level of stress for me meeting expectations that I put upon myself have pretty much completely gone away.  With the help of a counselor, I have worked through the choice I have made and have come to realize that for me, not going is so much better than feeling like I ruin the day for anyone attending.  I love to hear about the fun that they have together, but I don't believe I will ever be there again.

I am so blessed to have been raised in such a good family.  There seems to always be some type of drama going on, but I love each of my siblings and I am grateful for them.  I wish I had closer relationships with some of my siblings despite differences in politics/religion/ and ideas, but it might be a little late for that.  I am just grateful for them all.  I am blessed and I love them all.

Rough times

The past week has been really rough.  Poor Ambur can barely move and is in so much pain.  She doesn't ever take the pain pills that the Dr. is willing to give the prescription for, so she manages her pain with Tylenol and Ibuprofen.  It works, but it is a little more difficult.  She is also worried about Gimlet who is worried about her.  But I think I am doing OK taking care of the dog.  I have to say that it is a large commitment to have a dog.  Gimlet is well trained.  Very specific times on when to go do her business and when to eat.  Trying to do that and cook and clean has made me so very appreciative of Ambur and all that she has done and does for me, us and she is just kind.  Along with the stress that my work is bringing into my life, I am just exhausted.  I have been coughing a lot and the girls at work make fun of it.  They are so juvenile!  

On the 7th of March we had a meeting with the Human Resources department.  It was pretty good conversation and gave me some hope that things would get better because both of my team mates were asked to do one simple thing.  That is to work with the lights in the office on until they could figure out some better lighting for my area (the girls like the office to be totally dark and my eye Dr. told me not to work under those conditions) both of them agreed that they would do it.  We went back to the office and one of the girls had her light on as promised but the other girl (the real bully, DesMarie) refused to turn hers on and went over and turned off the extra office light and then the other girl followed suit and turned hers off.  They made it very clear they are the big bully's and they have no intention of changing anything.  I just decided I couldn't really deal with it right then, I was so tired that I could hardly keep my eyes open.

 On Saturday when I woke up, I didn't feel well at all, I had a high fever, body aches and a cough that wouldn't stop.  Off to the Urgent Care I went.  I tested negative for Covid and positive for Influenza B.  I couldn't believe it.  Poor Ambur had just been a week since her surgery, she said she would help out, but I didn't want her to hurt her own healing.  On top of that we had already missed a family dinner because of Ashlyn's date last month and this was the weekend for it so I had to cancel that.  It hurt my heart to have to do that.  But I did.  I let Blaine know that I was sick and Ambur wasn't feeling up to dinner so we canceled again.    I became thankful very quickly that Ambur and I had food in the freezer that just had to be heated up.  I let our ministering Elders know that I was sick and let them know not to come because I was contagious.  They were so kind to call regularly.  Little did I know that this Influenza was one of many tender mercies to come my way.

On Monday the 10th, I called my supervisor and let her know that I was out with Influenza and sent her the Doctor note.  This actually made it so I didn't have to go to that stressful environment for the week and I was so sick I wouldn't have been able to go.

Ambur and I managed to take care of each other.  She had to go back to work on the 11th and they were so kind to her.  She still couldn't lift anything more than 10 lbs and they made sure she didn't.  I wasn't able to drive so she had to walk back and forth.  She NEVER complains.  We managed to get through and thank heavens we had meals frozen which lasted us plenty of time.  I got worse and called the Dr. and they told me sometimes it can actually take 6 months to feel better.  The cough was so bad, I think the worst I remember ever having and it wasn't slowing down any time soon.

As the 18th of March was coming around soon, that would be one year of my working at Fourpoints Health.  When I got the job there, I was so grateful and felt that I would be able to work there until I no longer wanted to work.  They are a great company with amazing benefits and great leaders.  I started there on March 18, 2024 and my one year anniversary was coming up.  I have to say I wasn't quite as happy with my position all due to the bullying that was going on.  It seemed unavoidable. I noticed that my one Year Anniversary Celebration was posted on Facebook.  I am not the greatest at doing screen shots but here is what was posted.

On the morning of the 17th when I was to report back to work, I still felt really poorly and would not be able to answer the phones all day, but I was preparing to go and the anxiety of returning was taking me over.  I knelt and had a prayer and did not feel that I should go back.  I was breaking out in hives just from thinking about going back.  So, I followed my instinct and submitted my resignation.  Basically the minute I did that, the facebook post was removed.    I didn't quite make it one year--I was a day short.  They totally understood and were very kind about my leaving.  

I was so grateful for the promptings and had no idea what would come in my life, but I knew I couldn't, and shouldn't return to that particular job.  I am so blessed to have a good foundation and trust in Heavenly Father's plan for me--which is often very different than my own plan and I am grateful.




 

Ambur's Surgery

Today Ambur will be having her surgery.  Gall Bladder removal.  We were also told that her X-Rays showed that she has two massive growths on her ovaries the size of baseballs and bigger so the surgeon is also going to look at those and see if they need to be removed.  I got to the hospital in time to visit a little.  Invited Blaine to come and visit but he said they were busy that day.  The missionaries stopped by as did our Ministering Elders.  Ambur was asleep through most of it and when she awoke she was about to head off to surgery.  We put her cute blue hat on they came and did some testing, had her sign final paperwork and the anesthesiologist came in to explain what he would be doing.  I was able to wait in the room.  Off she went.  I was thinking after she left how lucky I am to be her mother.  She is such a special individual.  She has had to work through some really tough medical and personal issues and she has does it with confidence and always includes the Lord in her struggles and overcoming them.  I am so proud of her.

I left for a bit and went home to let the dog out and get her a drink.  Then I headed back to the hospital and Ambur was already in the room.  Soon after, the Dr. came in and  informed of what he found.  He said the Gall Bladder definitely needed to come out and that it was in much worse shape than the testing showed.  He also told us that the masses that were on the ovaries are fibrous and not cancerous.  That was surely a relief.  He said there was really no reason to remove them.  

Ambur rested and had to eat a bit before she would be discharged.  She was told that she should not lift anything more than 10 lbs. for the next 2 weeks and really for 4 weeks then she would have a follow up appointment to get the ok to go back to work and to see what she would be able to do.  He also told her not to do stairs for a couple of weeks, but that isn't really possible.  So we decided she would stay downstairs today and when she was ready to go to her bed, she would go upstairs and then stay there and I would take care of feeding and caring for Gimlet.  

We got her home with a great icepack to put over her surgical site.  She didn't feel to badly--unless she laughed.  She is a trooper and it was good to have her back home.  I took Monday off so I could stay with her a bit more.  I have to say that having her down and out showed me really quickly just how much she does around the house. She fixes dinner, she cleans the downstairs and probably so many other things I am not even aware of.

It is going to be a rough couple of weeks.  I am grateful for the opportunity to help Ambur out just a small amount as she is constantly looking out for me and helping me out.  I am thankful for those who took from their time to come to the hospital and for the Elders who administered a priesthood blessing and for the Surgeon who took good care of Ambur.  And for anyone else I may have forgotten or missed.  We are blessed here in Cedar City and I am grateful for all.  

No Balance In February

Today started out with a Doctor appointment for Ambur.  For the last couple of weeks she has been experiencing some pain in her abdomen.  She has had her appendix out so we know it isn't that.  The pain has gotten progressively worse so we got an appointment on my lunch hour so I could go with her.

We were sent to the Emergency Room with the thought that it was probably her gall bladder.  I let my boss know and I can say that it made me feel good I didn't have to go back into the office. I had to pretty immediately figure out plans for Gimlet if Ambur would be staying.  We headed to the ER and I called my son, Blaine, who works at the hospital to see if he could grab someone and come and give her a blessing. He said he would be up.  In the meantime, they took her back and we met with the ER doctor.

We totally got a great Doctor in the emergency room.  She had actually been an intern at fourpoints health under Ambur's doctor.  They did Xrays and then sent us back out to the waiting room and no sign of Blaine so I called the missionaries to come and give Ambur a blessing.  They got there before Blaine and we went into a quiet room and she got a blessing.  I felt like the blessing was also for me with all the struggles I am currently experiencing and the blessing included me by saying I would have the strength to assist Ambur as needed and we would feel our Heavenly Father's love in out life.  That was a wonderful feeling.  Blaine came up and I let him know we had gotten the blessing.  He spoke with Ambur for a minute and then headed out.

Meanwhile we got the results back from the X-Rays and the Doctor said there just wasn't enough evidence that it was the gall Bladder.  This is what we had feared.  I have had those types of pains from time to time since 2017 and have been told over and over and that there just wasn't  a need to have the gall bladder taken out yet.  The doctor asked us to wait a little longer and when she came back, she had called several surgeons and found one that would take Ambur's case and do the surgery.  Hooray--I think.

We headed to our room.  I decided not to stay with her and that way I could take Gimme home and tomorrow she would be OK for a few hours alone.  Ambur got herself all settled.  Ordered some food for herself.  We said our goodbyes and off I went.  What a way to end a month.

February was really not my best month.  I was having more bully treatment at work and reported it to my supervisor because it was just ridiculous.  I was being locked out of my office almost daily but what they didn't realize is that I have a key to the door.  Every time I go out for a break they use lotions and perfumes that set me off coughing.  I got my area moved from the door because so many people come in to visit with them and it is so noisy.  One of the girls constantly makes very rude comments and continues to offend with her language.  Instead of loving to go to work, I was in near tears everyday as i would go just wondering what might happen to me.  I have never in all my career experienced  anything like it.  I have just felt sad.  They turn the heater up so high it is like an oven and then when I open the door they complain and on three of the days they did this, They talked to each other as if I wasn't in the room saying how the person they work with stinks -- no kidding it is 94 in a room with no ventilation, everyone stinks.  I find myself sleeping almost every minute I was at home.  My supervisor was sympathetic but not completely helpful.  I realized as I thought about this month today, that I have not read scriptures consistently and that really just wipes away any balance.  It is as though I shut the door on Heavenly Father and don't want to let him into my life.  I definitely have some work to do for next month.  I am thankful that there is always the chance to change, adjust, restart life every single day.  I have really felt like a failure this month and instead of fighting the negative off, I have fallen to it's horrible trap.  Probably the closest to depression I have ever been and it sure doesn't feel good .

I am grateful to know that with just a few simple changes things can be joyful and happy for me.  Amidst it all, I know I am blessed and I am grateful for the knowledge.  With Ambur's situation, March will be starting off with a bang.  What else will be coming our way for March?????  Life is full of challenges and I love the journey.  I feel so blessed to have felt the spirit in the blessing by the missionaries and I think it will be a start to me choosing to feel good instead of bad and come up with more possible ways to fight off the negative all around me.  

Advocacy and Home Owners Association

We moved into our townhouse on September 1st, 2023.  We hadn't seen the unit (a big mistake on my part) and quickly came to realize how dangerous it was for Ambur simply to enter our unit.  The steps are the tallest in the 16 units (some don't even have steps) and they are just so dangerous.  Ambur has no way of seeing where the edge is and if she has the dog with her there just isn't room.

Almost on day one we submitted a request to get a ramp from the doorway to the parking.  We had an organization that was willing to pay for the ramp.  No approval and had to contact the HOA over and over just to get answers.  So, I did some research and found that there was supposed to be a certain amount of handicapped parking spaces and there were none.  So I petitioned to get a Handicapped spot in front of our house with van accessibility and to include the ramp.  I told them I would purchase the supplies.  But they weren't really enthusiastic.  It went for months without a resolution.  Ambur fell a few times--especially when there was snow-- and it was a real thorn that something so easy was being put off  and really not resolved.  The President of the HOA (also the builder) said he wouldn't allow the parking lot space to be painted blue.   It takes up a lot of time/energy and research to prove the need and it should be so easy for them.  

Per the HOA we each have two parking places (they are supposed to be assigned) so I asked them to assign the two spots in front of our unit to us.  That would stop the cars from parking so close to the van that Ambur can't even open her door to get in.  That was another big no.

Finally got the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) involved and sent off the sections that require safety for the resident and the HOA President actually said no again because, "I don't want people thinking this is a retirement complex for the handicapped".  Unbelievable.  Ambur contacted the Vocational Rehab office and they sent an evaluator out to the house and he couldn't believe our porch.  He sent a great letter to the HOA and told them the porch was not to code and that he couldn't understand how the inspection was approved. (this explained why we couldn't get FHA financing)  He told them he was going to report the unsafety of it.  Suddenly there was parking assignments made, as requested.  There were Handicapped signs put up and no ramp because the Voc Rehab representative said it wasn't really going to help the full problem and he got permission to put up the rails on the porch.  Today I came home and saw it for the first time.  What a great surprise.  It only took 17 months to achieve what could have been taken care of in a weekend.  But thankfully it is great.

Once again Heavenly Father shows his hand at work in our lives.  So many blessings and just on a continual basis.  I am so grateful for it.  Ambur will not be falling off the porch any longer.

 

Family Dinner-Canceled

 When I sent out the reminder for our family dinner this month, I heard nothing.  Then I got a message from Sara and then Blaine saying they just had too busy of a weekend to attend the family dinner.  I am so disappointed that they do not see the family dinner as a priority.  They just don't seem to understand that the family dinner is the highlight of my month.  I start planning the day after one Family Dinner for the next and this month I had some really fun valentine activities planned.

Sara had a family outing with her family and Ashlyn had her first date which really surprised me because she is not 16 for several months.  Blaine has come with just the kids many times so I am not sure why he wouldn't just bring the rest of the kids--that would be great.  But, I do understand busy and so I will try not to let the disappointment take me over.

These are the pictures Ashlyn sent to me from her dance/date.  I didn't know that the school had dances on Sunday.  The first picture is her date, the second picture is her with her cousin that she is very close too.

I love my grandchildren so very much.  When moving to Cedar I thought it would be much more visiting with Blaine and his family but it sure hasn't worked out to be that way.  Never the less, I am happy for whatever time we are able to spend together and hopefully we will be able to get together in March.  Life can sure take us over and priorities can be hard to get right.  The disappointment of the dinner cancellation has made me think about my own priorities and I have come to realize that I have made visiting with family my largest priority and it is something I can not control.  I am going to work hard the rest of the month to find some other things that are important to me to prioritize and hopefully it will help me to be able to fill my own sad feelings with joy and happiness.  I know that with Heavenly Father's help I will be able to do this.  I also feel that everything happens for a reason so perhaps this is what is meant to be.  I know I am a bit sad today, but also very happy to live in a beautiful place  and experience so many fun times with Ambur and others.  Indeed I am very blessed.

Teeth

For more than a decade, I have had teeth missing in my mouth.  In 2021 I finally saved enough to get a tooth fixed that needed a root canal and 1 month later, it fell out when I was eating.  So, I have not had a tooth in that spot for a while.  Let's just say my mouth is a mess. 

My dentist and I had a long conversation about what the plan would be going forward.  So, beginning in May of 2024, the dental work began.  I really HATE getting my teeth cleaned, it showed and the last time I had gotten it done was a few years back I visited my sister and her family in Washington State.  Her son in law who is a dentist and he did a great job (so I didn't feel the need to get it done again--hahaha!)  So we started with the cleaning (after the X-rays) and then there were 6 fillings, 5 teeth pulled (they all needed root canals and I said no to that) and 6 crowns and then the molding for the partial denture.  This is how the final product looked.

This is how they turned out after being properly fitted.  Overall I am so pleased.  The colors really match my own teeth well and I hope I can get used to chewing with them in.  A full upper and lower mouth of teeth.  February 6th 2025 felt great.

When I started my job at Fourpoints Health, I was very thrilled about the benefit of discounts on dental services.  The manager of the dental team was setting next to me and we talked about what my goal would be to get my mouth working and she was so excited to see my excitement and she asked me about it over the year or so it has taken to accomplish the goal.  Today after I got my final visit, She took a picture with me and I was so embarrassed because I literally got all teared up.

I am blessed.  I am so grateful for Heavenly father's plan, for his help and guidance and the way he guided me to work at such a great place.  It is fun to go to work most of the time and that is so important.  

January wrap up

January 2025 is over and it was a great month overall.  This is just a bit of a wrap up of the various happenings of the month.  

At work in the break room, there is a counter where anyone can put things they don't want for anyone to take.  One day I came across this embroidery kit so I snagged it and got to work on it right away.  It isn't something I would have picked out, but I haven't done any embroidery for a while so it is a lot of fun.

I experienced some great sunsets when I got home from work.  You might have to click the picture to really get the full affect.  I love to see the beauty of the sky in the morning and the evening.

My eczema resurfaced on my hand.  I think it is due to a bit of a stressful situation at work.  It sure does itch though. 

We had a storm.  I love the way the storms often start out with hail.  This one was no different.  It  rained a ton in just a little bit of time and it was settling around the snow.  Sort of a fun storm.  It was quick and fun to watch.

I got the first fitting at the Dentist for my partial dentures.  What a process!  It has been almost a year, teeth pulled, cleaned, measured, more teeth pulled and now I get to have a try on to see how they fit.  This has been much more of a process than I thought it would be and I am relieved and very happy to have it be almost over.

I started feeling so left out at my work place.  The other two girls I work with are not really trustworthy.  One of them is a member of the church but constantly takes the Lord's name in vain and it is so offensive to me.  One day when I went to work ( I start one hour later than they do) I could hear them laughing and having a good time and I walked in and it became dead quiet and then there was nothing but silence the rest of the day.  I decided I needed to bring out my thought cards and these are the two that I drew out of the stack.  I am very visual so they are very helpful to me.

I am grateful for the beautiful place I live in.  I am still getting used to it here and I don't get to see the grandkids as much as I would like but I sure do love every minute that I am blessed to be around them.  Ambur and I continue to work to get the house in shape (even after a year we haven't gotten it all organized) and life is good.  I am thankful for the gospel in my life and for friends and family who fill my life with joy.  




 

The Weak and the Simple

 Doctrine and Covenants section 1 is the Lord’s preface, or introduction, to these revelations. It clearly shows that even though the membership of the Church was small, there was nothing small about the message God wanted His Saints to share. It is a “voice of warning” for all “the inhabitants of the earth,” teaching them to repent and establish God’s “everlasting covenant” (verses 4, 8, 22). The servants carrying this message are “the weak and the simple.” But humble servants are just what God calls for—then and now—to bring His Church “out of obscurity and out of darkness” (verses 23, 30).

I love the Doctrine and Covenants and this touched my heart.  My favorite D&C January Scriptures are:

D&C 1:4: "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days."  

We are continually being warned of by the disciples of things that are happening and going to happen.  I remember growing up how much food supply, emergency kits were discussed at length and now we are hearing from almost every leader about our covenants.  

D&C 1:14: "And the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people."

I certainly hope I am not one that will be cut off, but I know I need to work harder than I have been at hearing the voice of the Lord and all we are told to do.

D&C 2:1-2: "I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers."

I have not done completely well on my spiritual work, but I have done it and that is a start for me.  I really love the Come follow me book and each time my ministering Elders come, they ask how my study is going so I want to be able to answer positively and I can, but I have not listened to the conference talks much.  I will be better at that as I know it is helpful to my day being brightened and my burdens lifted.

I have a very strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am ever so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints.  I am continually given tender mercies by my Heavenly Father and I don't give back as much as I would like.  So much room for improvement. I am grateful for my testimony, for a wonderful Prophet and all leaders that give such wisdom so freely.

The big 40

I can't believe my baby is now a 40 year old.  Where does time go?  Ambur is such a special person.  She arrived a little unconventially, but none the less she made it right into my arms and I have been grateful for her beauty, kindness, laugh, sense of humor ever since.  

As a baby she was just a delight she smiled and laughed and she slept through the night and I cherished my moments with her.  Not a day in the past 40 years has gone by where I didn't thank my heavenly father for her in my life.

We have certainly had some rolling emotions along the journey, but she is obedient (to some that is a surprise) and loving.  She loves with a passion and she is giving and kind.  I can't really write about her without telling at least one story of some challenges.  She is smart that is for sure and she has also been a little sneaky throughout her years.  I celebrate her today by sharing one of my favorite stories about her.

We were living in Arizona and I came home from work one day and as I walked up the sidewalk to the front door, there were Barbie dolls everywhere.  (I am not a fan of the barbie doll, but Ambur had probably a hundred or more of them).  So, I went into the house and let her know that if I find them out there again, I am going to pick them up and throw them in the garbage.  She showed her pouty face (which she is good at) and said sorry and went into her room.  In my mind, I think, that was a great little learning lesson.  It turned out that it was a great learning lesson.  Not for her, but for me, I went home a week or so later and much to my surprise, there were barbie dolls all out by the front porch again.  I felt so badly that I was going to have to pick them up and her not have them.  But I did it, I think there were probably about 25 or so and I picked every one up and in the garbage it went.  Imagine the lesson I envisioned she was going to learn about as I entered the house.  I looked at her and she looked at me with a strange look and I said, "well, I am sorry, but I did warn you what would happen if you left your barbies in the front yard again,"  She looked at me and said, "yes, I thought it through and cut a bunch of my barbies hairs and then took the clothes and shoes off and left them out there because I knew you would pick them up and I didn't have to."  She outsmarted me.  There are many outsmarting stories about this girl because she is good at it.

I guess it is part of her charm.  She has gone through a lot with her eyes including surgeries, eye patches, not being able to drive, being made fun of, tripping, falling etc, etc. and she has learned to rise above it all.  She sometimes has to really work at it, but she does it and I am so proud of her.

For her birthday we headed to St. George.  We have been seeing advertisements for Olive Garden that appealed to us so we went and had an early lunch with some favorites that had returned and then we headed to mesquite for a little fun in the sun then we headed back to St. George and ordered the other items we wanted to go.  We picked them up and headed home and got there before dark and it was just great.

We had a really fun day together and it was great weather and got some warm sunshine in Mesquite and had fantastic food and some good treats.  I love this girl and am grateful for her in my life.  She is so helpful and supportive and she listens to me whine and complain and she just loves me anyhow.  I love how much she loves her friends, her companion, Gimlet, her nephews and nieces and her brother.  She is responsible and good to call her dad and speak to him often and keep up to date on her Grandma Davis and it makes me feel good that she does that.  She is an amazing woman and I love her and am blessed.

 

January Family Dinner

I just love our monthly family dinner.  Most months, it is the only time I get to see my grandchildren and I think about each month very carefully and plan for it hoping to plan an experience that will bring some fun memories.  I look so forward to each month and the day after one happens I start planning for the next month.

To start off January I planned a bowling outing.  The food there gets some of the best awards in Cedar City so I saved up and rented a room so we could eat, bowl and have a great time.  It didn't disappoint.  For dinner there were chicken strips, hamburgers, soda's and foot long hotdogs.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food.

After we ate we all got our bowling shoes.  That was fun, fortunately Blaine knew exactly what sized to get.  Then it came time to go down to our lanes and pick out our bowling balls.

We got two lanes.  The far right is a normal lane and it would be Blaine, Kinsley, and Ashlyn. The lane next to it had the protectors over the gutters so NO gutter balls and it had me (I am actually a fantastic bowler but I wanted to see the newbys doing it--haha!), Maddox, Jaxon, Tessa and Ambur (who although blind, should have gone on the normal lane).   

Blaine was in charge of entering the names for both lanes.  Once he finished we were all set to get rolling the ball.

We got a great start, Tessa, in the no gutter lane, actually got the ball in the the next lane over and went all the way through the gutter.  They were laughing thank heavens.

This was pretty funny, Tessa let go of her ball a little too soon and it cam flying backward. She got it together and was smiling away.

There were lots of high 5's and Jaxon decided to show how strong he is by holding two bowling balls.

The normal lane got done long before us and played their second game almost before we got done with our first game.  Next time, I think we will do two games for the normal lane and 1 game for the no gutter team.

Jaxon wouldn't pick up his ball on the left side so he would pick it up and then walk all the way around.  Sometimes you just have to roll with it-so to speak.

And here is GrannyT as Blaine put it on the list.  I haven't been bowling since I lived in Arizona where I used to go often with friends, and it certainly showed.  I did get one strike through the night though.  I actually think everyone had at least one strike.

Gimlet just sat down by the shoes and didn't move all night.  It is always funny to me how when we are leaving, and she gets her halter on to go to work, people will say, "oh my goodness there was a dog in here the whole time.  

I thought I got pictures of both lanes final scores, but couldn't see them in the group.  As you can see we had a lot of  fun in our lane.  Kinsley did like pointing out to Blaine that he was beaten by his sister. Next time Ambur will join them and see if that holds true.

What a blessing to be able to go and have such a fun time together.  I just love these family get togethers even though they are not that often, I will take what I can get and feel blessed to have these wonderful people in my life.