So relieved!

I just read that my great niece is back home now sleeping in her own bed. I am so relieved. I know that it is so hard to have a baby sick. I hope things goes normal for my niece and her husband. They have had to deal with a lot with a new baby. I'm sure it makes them unsettled, and worried. I would be. It takes faith to have kids. They grow up so fast. I wonder where those days have gone. It seems like yesterday that I had a newborn, and now they are teenagers. I love that book "I love you for always". I used to read it to my kids everyday and it seemed like I would never get to the teenage years, and the book says it like it is. They drive you nuts at times, but I wouldn't change it for the world. These times help me grow stronger. I am glad that I have the kids that I do. They are so terrific. I love them so much.

The power of prayer

I am so worried now that I read the blog of my niece and her husband and their new baby girl, Isla. I just found out that she is back in the hospital because she has a blood infection. I hope that all is well. I am praying that she will be O.K. I know the power of prayer is real. I know that I have had to pray a lot. I don't know where I would be without that privilege I am so thankful that I can pray. Some of my prayers have not always been answered the way that I would like them to have been, but I always felt loved. I had a powerful prayer answered when I was moving into our home. I didn't know where we should go and I was so lost. I knew we had to move and that it was the answer to our problem. I prayed really hard and almost as soon as my prayer was over, I knew where to look for our home. We have been blessed here and sometimes I wonder about some of our neighbors, but all and all I am so happy here. Prayer is hard to explain. The world would have you not believing in something or Someone you can not see. I know He is here for us, I know He loves us. I love Him. I know that He will answer my prayers.

Sad News

I was out walking my dog today and I passed some neighbors on the side of the road, because one neighbor has a new puppy named Piper and she is adorable, anyway we were talking about this guy who lives 2 houses away from me. I met him last Autumn walking Max and he seemed really down in the dumps. He said that he lost his job and was trying to find another one that paid better, but because he was older, it was hard to find one. He lived there alone with his dog, Bubbles. He said that she was like his child and that he couldn't give up the house because he didn't think he could go anywhere that allowed dogs. Anyway, he had gone to my Bishop and he really didn't think a lot about him because the Bishop suggested that he move somewhere he could afford and so forth. I tried to talk to him about selling his camper and trailer and he said that he wanted to go on a trip. I talked to him about selling his house when the market was hot, and he didn't think he could do it. I guess he had a girlfriend and she even grew tired of the way he was thinking. Many times I passed his house and he would tell me that he was praying for
God to take him. I thought and prayed for him to find a solution to his problems. The Holy Ghost one time told me to take him some cookies and to see if he was O.K. I regret to say that I didn't follow through on that prompting. He grew more and more secluded as the year wore on. I didn't see him the other day and some other people were at his house. I wondered where he was and I didn't see his dog. I asked my neighbors today if they knew anything about it, and they told me that he shot himself about 2 weeks ago at his parents graves. I am in a state of shock because he actually did it. I told myself many times that he was going to kill himself because he was so down, and he did it. I just feel so sad. I wish I would have done something for him. He was so depressing, and every time I talked to him he would make it seem like there was no hope for him in the world. Iknow that is not an excuse not to help people, but I am going to make a commitment here and now to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and do kind acts for my neighbors, even if it doesn't help their situation at least I know I tried. I feel tremendous guilt. This is how we will feel probably on Judgement Day. I hope he has found happiness and that he is in a better place. I do not judge people who take their own lives because we don't know what kind of mental state they are in at the time. I hope that he is at peace.

This is what my son is obsessed about

My son is extremely obsessed about Japan. He has ordered these figurines and collects them. It is funny how he captured this photo with our cat Chip. He is hilarious. He has quite a nice collection and everyday bugs us about adding to it. I tell him that you can't eat figurines. I have limited his collection because I want him to spend his money on more practical things. It is so hard to teach your kids that principle. Things are going to get tougher, and I told my kids today that we are going to be concentrating on food storage. I heard that flour is going up along with rice. I am so tired of everything going up. I wish we could cut a break. Maybe we should sell everything and head for the hills . Anyway, I will get off my depressing saga about the way the world is today. It is quite depressing, and all I can say is that we must not give up. Goodnight

What I Am Reading Right Now

The novel I am reading is Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I am so into it, and I love the way she writes. My goal this summer and fall is to read all of her novels. The stories make me happy and I sometimes wish I lived back in those days when the cottages and mansions where so full of character and beauty. I really am enjoying the story so far, and hope to have it done with in a fortnight. (Do you know what a fortnight is?) It is 2 weeks. I am a slow reader. I have so much work to do that I find that it is enjoyable to read in the mornings and at night right before I go to sleep. I will be busy reading these fine novels and I hope I reach my goal. I have tons of work to do so I will go for now.

The Cats are getting ready for a sortie

I saw this picture on the internet and I thought it was so funny. That is how my cats feel and I think they are getting ready for an attack. Max is not loved by our cats at all. They think he is strange and loud. Max has been with us almost a year, and they feel like he has changed the whole way things are run around here. They miss the times when they can freely walk across the livingroom floor without being jumped on . They also miss times laying on the top of the couch and catching some sun. They still get to do those things when Max is asleep, but they tread lightly and secretly. I feel bad at times, but Max is a part of our family now and he is here to stay. The cats will have to get over it.

The weather is weird

Things here in Salt Lake are weird. The weather at least. It was 90 degrees and over on Sat.,Sun.,and Mon. Today and yesterday it has been in the 40's and 50's. I don't know how to dress anymore. I am so sick of bad weather. I really need my wild yellow roses to bloom and they are late. I hope they are going to bloom this year, for if they don't that would make me sad. They are so beautiful. It's a bush in my back yard and every spring they come out and makes the backyard tolerable. The thing with good weather is it makes the grass grow and with grass growing it means mowing the yard. I don't mind mowing the yard, but my husband hates it. I don't care. I actually really enjoy yard work. I have alot of it though. That comes with owning your own home. There is so much work to be done, and projects to do. Some days it overwhelms me. I hope we have so more good weather. It makes me wonder if things are out of sorts in the universe. Everyone is concerned with global warming and being green. Finally! We should have been thinking this way years ago. We have probebly screwed up the whole planet. Who knows. I have to go, I have to tend to a dog that wants to go on a walk. Take care.

What is our Nation going to do if Obama doesn't win?

I have been thinking about the political race and how Hillary is not going to be the candidate. I talk to people every day who was excited at the fact that a woman was running for president, and more excited that it was a Clinton. I heard that Bill and Hillary Clinton are the smartest people in Washington D.C., yet the most unethical. I don't care about ethics, I care about smarts. I want a president who is smart and shows they know what they are talking about. I have had it with Bush, and I secretly think he rigged the whole election, and we have had to live with this Bozo as president. I thought I could see redeeming qualities in him after the attacks on 911, but he has failed in my opinion. He promised that he would find the people who did it, but here we are 7 years later and he has not done anything. The war in Iraq is not the war in Afghanastan where Bin Laden is. I am so sick of everything that has to do with Iraq and Iran. I work for Iranians and I think they are the nicest people I have ever met. I don't think we need to stick our noses in those countries business. I think we should concentrate on our own nation's needs. We need to feed our poor, we need to house our homeless, we need to fix our problems. I haven't read enough about Obama, but he's a dem and that is all I care about. I don't want another Republican in office. I am conservative, but I consider myself neither party. I vote my heart and mind. I think Obama needs to be given a chance, and maybe he will be like Kennedy. He needs to choose a really good running mate. I think he should choose Hillary. Then it would be a hot ticket and the Republicans would cringe. I hope it goes that way. I am grateful for this country and I am thankful for the men and women who fight for our freedom, and those who went before. I just want our country to be number 1 again.( I hope I am not dragged off out of my house and put under surveilance because of what I have written.) Ha Ha If you don't hear from me then you know what happened. Freedom of speech! I love it.

What a beautiful day it is!

I can't get over how beautiful today is. I was so sick of winter, and now Spring is upon us and it feels really good. I think winter was longer than usual and I think I learned more about patience. It was nice to see winter coming on, walking Max and feeling the crisp air on my face each day. Winter hit with a vengeance and lasted longer than I can remember. When April came I kept remembering how hot it was in New York in April the first year we lived there. Then May came and it still was cold. Today it is the perfect weather. The sky seems to sparkle with the sunshine, and there is a gentle breeze. I am so grateful for the world and how Heavenly Father created it with His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that there is a God because of His wondrous creations. I am so in awe of them. I love the creation of flowers and plants. I am going to start a garden and plant some vegetables, and then my kind neighbor has some Strawberry and Raspberry plants that she is going to give me, and I will plant them. I have heard it say that cats are the connoisseurs of things comfortable, andI will add that dogs are the great connoisseurs of a beautiful day. They just seems to eat it up and be in the best spirits when the grass is green and the air is clear. I love the look on my dog's face when he is outside and exploring. He is on the couch now with his head down low and looking at me to take him outside. I will and he is going to get all the exercise he can handle. I am so grateful for this beautiful day and I shall not waste it on the computer, so I must go take advantage of this day.

I love Gavin DeGraw

I just have to say a few words about Gavin DeGraw. He is a singer/songwriter that has hit it big with his hit, In Love With A Girl. I first heard that song driving in the car with my daughter Sarah and I said " What is this song?" She hated it. (of course) But I really liked it. And then I found out who sang it and I thought I would get his first cd because his second cd wasn't available until May, so I started with his cd titled "Chariot". I fell in love with that cd and realized that I had heard Gavin DeGraw when he first became famous. I had watched the Chariot video before and I didn't realize it was the same person. Anyway, I love that cd and I love the second one titled Gavin DeGraw. It includes a song that was in a movie soundtrack, Triston and Isodle. I really love that song. It is titled " We Belong Togethter". I would include it in this blog, but I am really a ameture in blogging and I will find out how to do it later. I love it though. I want everybody to hear it. I am so glad that I happened upon his songs, because I think he is super talented. My daughter is trying to dilike him, and every now and then I find her singing his songs. I hope she learns to love his songs the way I love them. She has good taste in music and I think I do too. I was raised on music and I love it.

This one of my favorite actors alive. I can't wait to see this new movie!!

Confessions of a T.V. addict

One of the things I enjoy is sitting down (rather lying down) on the couch and while my husband works on his projects, we watch T.V. We have Tvo and I don't know how I ever lived with out it. I love it. It is so neat because you can record your favorite programs then fly through the commercials. Some commercials are funny, but they get annoying. We ended the season of Survivor. We have watched them all and I must say this one was good. However I didn't want the winner to win. We are getting ready for all of our show's finales and then it will be that time of season where there will be nothing on t.v. I hate that. I have to hunt around the program guide for good viewing. One of my most favorite programs is Law and Order CI. I have watched every one. I can't find any new ones anywhere. I also love CSI, and ER. I love the history channel too, and I can find some really wonderful programs on that channel. One channel that totally depresses me is HGTV. I secretly like it, but it drives me nuts. I want to be like those people and work on my house, but I am no carpenter. I thought I was about 3 years ago, and some projects never turn out like you plan. I have to take a class or something. My husband started school yesterday and I am so proud of him. He wants to go into nursing. I think he will make an excellent nurse. I think I watch too much t.v. by the looks of this blog. I really do clean my house and tend to the needs of my family, I just can't give up t.v. I also have a sickness where I tend to buy dvds and I have to stop that. It is getting to be an obsession. I drive by Barnes and Noble and start to hypervenlate, or I walk by the movie section in any store and can't pull myself away. I love movies. I don't like to go the theater too often, but I love to bring it home and watch it with the family. It is the best time. One movie that I must see in the theater is Indiana Jones. It is coming out in June. I can't wait. (They also have all three movies on sale at Walmart for 47 dollars) I bet they put them in a set when it is going to be released in the stores, probably for Christmas. I make a prediction that it will be all the hype in December. Well, I have to go and clean the house so I can sit down and watch T.V. tonight with my family.

Today is Mother's Day

These are my wonderful children Sarah and Andrew and Max haha Today is Mother's Day and I just wanted to say how grateful I am for my children and thank them for being the kids they are. They bring me so much joy. I love them so much. I am so happy to be their mother and I hope they know that I love them no matter what they do in this world or the next. A mother's love is forever and I didn't really realize it until the other day. I am so thankful for my own mother and her gift of love she gave to me. I know she loves me and that no matter what I do nothing will change that fact. She has told that to me many times, but it didn't sink in. It has now and so I want to tell my mother Joyce, that I love her very much. I want to thank her for giving me life and for caring for me. Mothers are very special people. I want to wish all mothers everywhere a Happy Mother's Day. Rejoice in the knowledge that we are awesome!

These are the people that made me "Mother"

The worry factor

I will post more pictures of my kids, I just have to take them. Ha Ha

My beautiful daughter

It' s me again, and I have to write and tell you that being married and having teenagers is hard. Why did God make it that way? My daughter Sarah has discovered the uncharted territory of "Boys". Yes, I was getting alittle worried because she wasn't acting like she was interested in the opposite sex, but now I have to worry about the fact that she is a total guy magnent. I sound so bias, but it is true. She has 3 guys sniffin' around and it is really driving me nuts. She confessed the other day that she let this one boy(the boy she really likes) put his arm around her waist. I pretended not to let it bother me so, but I found myself in a restless sleep last night and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It reminded me of that scene in "Bringing Down The House" with Steve Martin, and his daughter tells him all about what she has been doing and he just sits on the bed and looks like he can handle it, and then he goes in his bedroom and screams into a pillow. I love that movie. My son on the other hand is always arguing with us. He thinks that he is a lawyer (which he wants to be when he grows up) and is always in "Objection" with us. It really gets annoying. He plays these lawyer games and it cracks me up how he thinks he can overrule the judge. All I can say ( and this is especially for my niece Melissa, who just had her first daughter) is enjoy them while they can't talk. Because it gets harder and harder after that. I really do love my children to death, but sometimes I find myself I want to cry and run away from it all. I know that is not the answer and that is when I find they do something so incrediably cute that it makes all the bad stuff go away. My son brought me home flowers the other day, and I guess they were from somebody's yard, oops, but it melted my heart. My daughter shares with me all her secrets and likes to make me laugh. I love them so much it hurts at times and I want them to grow up to be respectable people.

my dog max

This is some pictures of my dog Max who is waiting at the door whining to be taken for a walk. He is not a very patient dog, but I love him all the same. He is a minature Schnauzer and he is so cute. He needs a hair cut, and being a hairdresser you might ask why I couldn't give him a haircut, I just can't. He is rotten when it comes to grooming. I don't know how groomers do it, but I give them credit. My groomer died last December in a horrible pedestrian accident, and so to find a good groomer has been hard. He is so sensitve about his paws being touched and when we comb out his fur he likes to nip at us. He has personality plus. I love to snuggle with him..my cats are different. I think they talk to eachother and say "don't get too close to a human". They seem to get embarrassed when they do give in and snuggle and another cat catches them in the act. They are wonderful pets. I love my pets so much. They are like my children. Anyway, he is barking and barking and wants to go on that walk I promised him, so I will write later. Here are some pictures of him to enjoy.

Today is a rainy day

I don't know about you, but I am really tired and scared of the way the world is going. I look at the price of gasoline and I worry over the fact how much am I going to spend for a gallon of gas?? What is my limit? Will I have to purchase a horse and buggy? What about the price of food? I mean just the price of milk and eggs and staples are enough to put you in a bad mood. I think we will be spending our paychecks just trying to feed our families. What are the answers out there? Will my children ever see the days when a gallon of gas costs less than two dollars a gallon? Will they ever be able to own their house? Will they be smarter than I am? I wish that I had finished college and chose a better profession. I am happy being a hairdresser, but we don't make alot of money for all the work we do. However the price of haircuts have gone up and the price of color service is outragous to some older hairdresser who maybe paid a nickle for a shampoo set. Yes, I have met some of those hairdressers. I always feel guilty charging them the price of a shampoo set today, which is 12 dollars. Not bad still. So I am complaining about prices, I think we really need to start thinking about food supply and prepare for the future. I think that kids today need to start to think about the profession that will bring them the most happiness, and the most money. I hate to think like that, but times are not going to get any better and that is the sad to me. Like some prophets of the past have told us to live within our means, but just living within our means, means that we can eat for the week. So today is indeed a rainy day.

Today is my sister's birthday

Today I would like to say a few things about siblings. I feel really bad that I missed my brother Scott's birthday. I didn't realize it until I tuned into the blogs that he has on his site and it hit me like a ton of bricks that he turned 50 and I didn't even send him anything. So I would like to say that I am sorry to him publicly and that I will never forget a birthday. Today is my sister Kathy's birthday and she is my older sister. I think sister and brothers are really special. I know that she is special to me. I love her lots and think that she is one of a kind. I can talk to her about anything and she understands. Same goes with all my brothers and sisters. I have another sister named Wendy. And another brother named Matthew. We are a close family and sometimes don't see eye to eye, but that's what makes us unique. We wouldn't be here with out wonderful parents. I have a mother Joyce and my father passed away 5 years ago this July. His name is Jim. That's been a hard journey for me to take. I love my father very much and I miss him every single day. So birthdays are kindof sad sometimes because the family has changed. But we shouldn't let that stop us from telling someone special I love you or to wish them a Happy Birthday on their special day. I hope that my brother can forgive me, because turning 50 is a big thing. I love him.. I love all my brothers and sisters and I am so thankful that we grew up together. Things I do are because of my up bringing and I wouldn't change it for the world.

My New Neice

Isla Keymer is my new great niece. She is so beautiful.

Introducing...Shelley

I have decided to start my own blog, inspired by my beautiful niece Melissa and my wonderful brother, Scott. I look at their blogs daily and I want to be able to share my life as they share theirs. I am a 44 mother of two wonderful children. Sarah and Andrew. I am married to my best friend, Thomas. We have been married for 16 years. I can't believe how time flies when your in love and married and having babies etc.... I am a hairdresser and I love working with hair and doing all I do for people who can't do it by themselves. I sometimes get really bogged down with all that I have to do and I get so tired. That is what upsets me most about getting old. I hate it when the bones hurts or the joints don't work like they used to. Now I realize I am only 44, but I am also fat. So it really takes a tole. I am in the process of walking my weight off with my terrific dog named Max. I walk him faithfully every day. I am trying to get those horrible pounds off. I will keep you informed. I need to go, but I hope that you can share in my life and find some kind of humor to pick the day up .