Review, Renew - Can you say "do-over?"

Well, as any of you few that have checked out my blog will know, I haven't posted for a REALLY, REALLY long time! Well, I think I need to pick it up and restart.

Since the last post, I have had many, many changes in my life, but I'm not going to review all that - just a few things:

1) New Grandkids Heidi and Owen

2) New Son-in-Law David

3) 3 Semesters of College completed at ASU - YAY! I have 2 years to go, but I'm still here!
3 LESS semesters to go to get my degree! My projected graduation date is Spring 2012.

4) Another batch of puppies. Yay for the added income. But Sugar and Cookie have now been spayed, so no more puppies.

5) I bought a mobile home, but that didn't work out well. Too much to tell about it here, but you can call me if you really want to know. (I'm still involved with the court case suing the guy who illegally repossessed it.)

6) My neighbor from the mobile home park, and new best friend Matt, passed away a short time ago. It's really hard losing a close friend. Not as hard as losing a parent, but as he was only 42, it was really a great loss to me and others who knew him. He was such a good-hearted person, loving friend, and great neighbor. He also was the owner of the father of 2 batches of my dog's puppies. Sugar loved him MASSIVELY, but now she will never see him again. :-(

7) I currently "work" as a live-in caregiver for an elderly lady. This has been a blessing in that I currently have no rent or utility payments, so this has been nice. I do expect to probably move again though in August, before school, since I will have TWO night classes in the fall semester. There is NO WAY I can ask Jeremiah to pick me up 2 nights a week for ANOTHER semester. So, if I don't move to west Mesa or Tempe, I will have to buy a car or something to get me home after 9:00 or 9:30 when my Monday and Tuesday night classes get out. It totally stinks that you are at the mercy of the SINGULAR option they have for your major classes. But, what can you do about it? Nothin'.

8) Oh, I nearly forgot - I've also had two knee surgeries - meniscus tear repairs on both knees. The first was last July, and the second in December, during the winter school break. Yeah, I still have pain in both of them, but not so much as before. The recuperation for the left was much more difficult than the right, but the physical therapy place, Banner Physical Therapy over by the Banner hospital on Dobson and Southern, has the greatest physical therapists! They are easy to work with, and genuinely gifted in knowing what will work for each individual person. And, they treat you like a person - not a patient.

Thanks so much to Camille, Kieth, Aon, Janet, and all the staff there for all your help and encouragement!

Anyway, so I've been through a LOT in this past 2+ years. I have had many highs and lows, but I'm still here, and still moving and breathing, so I'm grateful. Now that I'm trying to go back and do a better job of writing down the things that happen in my life, maybe I can better manage to keep updating my blog. I know this is not really spring or the new year beginning, but it's a restart, so wish me luck with keeping this up.

Time will tell.

Day of Thanks 14: I'm Thankful to Get to Hang Out With Grandchildren

Now, I know most families use the term "babysitting" when the grandparents are watching the grandkiddies for awhile. In our family, we don't.

When I get the pleasure of spending time with the grandkids "sans parents," I'm hanging out with them, playing with them, and enjoying their company. Yes, if they are in bed sleeping, I read or watch TV or a movie; but if they are awake, I'm watching a video they want to watch, playing trains or puzzles with them, or reading a book to them.

I loved having little ones in
my home when my children were small, although it may not always have seemed like it to them. I don't have the full-time privilege these days, but I cherish any time I get to spend with little children now, especially my grandchildren.

Their brilliant, funny, and insightful comments are always such a treat. Their generous hugs and kisses are beyond priceless. I know it's been said that "If I had known grandchildren were so wonderful, I'd have had them first," and that saying is as old as the hills, and twice as dusty. But I believe that grandchildren are the BIG REWARD for all we go through as a parent, to raise THEIR parents.

There are very few things in this world that are worth that much effort, love, time, and dedication, but raising children properly has some amazing rewards. Watching them grow and become happy and successful is one of them. Watching them become parents and go through some of the same things you did with them, is another. And, being there to see, and hold, and play with those grandchildren is, so far, the greatest reward!

And, now I have 9, count 'em, 9 grandchildren! Amazing!

Thanks Day 11/11 - Heidi is Here!

Well, grandchild number 9! Wow!!! How hard is that to wrap my brain around! Heidi Louise Lamoreaux has arrived.

She was born on Veterans' Day, at 7:16 a.m. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and nearly 21 inches long, she has cute little pudgy cheeks and lots of dark, wavy hair. I don't know what color her eyes are, since she never opened them while we (the family) were visiting her. I went with Marily, and Jeremiah went with Kerami, so we were all there at the same time. I got the honor of holding Heidi first, and that love that you feel for your own newborns is multiplied ten times over when you hold your grandchild. It's Amazing! Great Job, Bethany and Daryl! She is adorable and spectacular!

Next, Jeremiah got a turn. He commented that it was the very first newborn he had been able to hold. It sure seems hard to believe, since he has eight other nieces and nephews, but it's true. Then Kerami held Heidi and was rubbing her back. As she did this, Heidi was murmuring and sighing. Kerami said, "Hey guys. She purrs!" Pretty funny! Then Marily had her turn, and then I got another turn. Yay!

On previous days, I've been thankful for ancestors and predescessors. Today, I'm so grateful for posterity. And, I'm very proud of my children and grandchildren. Can you tell?

Busy, Busy

Hi all! As you know, I'm a full-time college student.
My math, econ, music history, creative drama, and
choir homework (yes, there is still homework for choir - lala) have kept me REALLY busy this semester, so I've neglected things that didn't affect my grades, when neglected. (Except for my family) I make sure to take time to spend with my kids and grandkids, hence this posting.

Last weekend, the annual Mesa Storytelling Festival took place at the Mesa Arts Center. Much of this event is FREE (my favorite price) and my Creative Drama teacher gave us Friday off from class, but we were required to go to some event at this function. Thursday and Friday were very busy days there, since kids are imported by the busloads from schools all over, to attend the event, so I chose to go on Saturday. I thought, "This is a perfect event to spend "Grama" time."

Saturday was a beautiful day. I arranged with Marily to take Dallin and Adam to the festival. We had a GREAT TIME! We listened to storytellers, took puppet-making craft classes (with free books included for the kids), and shared a blue raspberry Italian Ice. We even got our picture taken with the Target Dog. (Target is one of the big sponsors of the event, and also gave out cute "doghouse" boxes of Target animal crackers - yum.)

Then, we took the bus part-way back to their house, and Marily picked us up part-way there. It was the boys' first ride on the city bus. We ate french fries from Pete's Fish & Chips and took a picture with the Metal People, while waiting.

It was such a great day. Dallin wanted to go back the next week, but I told him the festival wouldn't be back for a year, when he would be 5. Later, he asked, "Can we go back there when I'm 5?" I'd say that's pretty much a sign he had a good time.