Great News!

JAMES will return November 5, 2011 after serving with honor in Cordoba Argentina.  His homecoming will be on Sunday November 13, 2011.  I almost junked the email I received from the Church. As I have been getting a lot of cruddy email, I didn't recognize the name of the sender until I glanced at the email address....from church headquarters!  It is entirely in Spanish except the flight information and the names of those traveling.  Needless to say the next 40 or so days will drag....

It will be a happy Thanksgiving we have with our entire family together to celebrate!  I am very grateful and excited!!!

Sunday we had our Primary 2011 Program.  Those sweet Primary children are so wonderful and strong testimonies.  It touches me to hear them.  And the music was superb.

We are still in limbo as to Dana's situation.  We have heard nothing...just waiting...waiting....waiting.  We had a scare with him aobut two weeks ago.  HE endured two mini strokes...Now we are on first name basis with the hospital staff.  All tests are clear, but to be on the safe side an asperin therapy and a dose of cholesterol medicine.  Even though his numbers where fine.  I don't want to go through that again~ ever.  Now I truly know how he feels when I have been seriously ill.  Thankfully there are no long lasting results, but a bit of drag occationally in his left foot and his eyes are affected some. BUT helives and for that I am forever grateful.

Matthew is now 25!!! in less than a week our baby Whitney will be 19 and Melissa 24...Time has flown and we are nearing our empty nest years, but I hope not too quickly.  The children keep us young. :)

Easier said than done...

 FYI:  we will get a NEW family photo in November so you can see

how great we all look now!!!!

Easier said than done to keep up the blog......  :)

 Today is Friday, Friday just another Friday! [inserted just for Whitney] heheheheeeee

I of course have not written, maybe I should've to release stress that obviously my body was feeling.  But alas I didn't...this is a small attempt to catch people, family, friends, and 'journal' up. 

Dana is a better 'home mom' than I ever was!  He works hard to keep things in balance at home so I can work and go to school.   He is handling the change of roles much better than I, especially under the stress of the holding pattern you are in working with Social Security.  Many times we have talk this dilemma through and we come back to disability is the road.  Some may feel it is a cop out, but what do you do when you are mid 50's can no longer do what you have done your ENTIRE career, your lifting is limited to 50 pounds or your bicep will tear, your neck is fusing, back pains you, benign tremors don't allow fine motor skills without frustration and flinging things, you can't sit for long, can't stand for long, and generally have a headache most of the day?  Retrain? sure, no worries, but who will  hire a late 50's man [by the time you finish] over a younger person and pay less?  It will not be said that way, you will just be overlooked during the hiring process.  Truly a conundrum.  But he is a trooper AND  puts up with all the females in the house on top this.

I am well. I have been in school a year and a half, with a year and a half left!! Here we come January 2013.  I will toot my own horn and tell you I have made the Deans List every semester and the Presidents List for 2010 school year.  I have found a new job at Utah State University.  I an a staff assistant II for the Regional Campuses and Distant Education Vice Provost.  I LOVE IT!!! And we have insurance, and everything.  Truly God watches over us.  I just recently went through a scare.  I was switching a medication and thought I was having a reaction, after four days of symptoms, I finally had Dana take me to hospital.  Turns out my body was slowly leaking blood and I was half full.  My vitals were great, because my body is an excellent adapter.  It would loose and due to circumstances I won't list, it wasn't able to produce more so it adjusted.  The Dr's think this has been going on for about 8-9 months.  No wonder I felt cruddy but could never put a finger on any one thing!!  So they put five pints in me, a few easy scripts and now I am healing and adjusting to being full.  Almost as tiring as loosing it I think. :) 
As I enter this new motherhood roll, kids growing and leaving, I realize I didn't enjoy them enough while they were young.  I didn't enjoy those moments as much as I could have.  Dana assures me it is okay. He's the greatest.  No wonder I love him so.  We can't wait for grand children, I mean we can, but think it will be wonderful!!

Matthew is terrific!  He has found the 'real deal' in a cute woman named Amy.  She served our country as well, Marines, and has made him happier than I have seen him in years.  They are both attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.  She is studying fixed wing pilot and minor in Arabic. He studying helicopter pilot and minor in weather.  Both are taking very good care of each other, I can't wait to meet her in November as they are coming for Thanksgiving. YAY!!

Melissa is well. She is a free agent, which can make her happy and irritable at the same time.  Jobs are SO scarce.  She really misses her soda and magazine money.  But still continues to help around the house, listen to her music, Facebook, and walk outside.  Her smile is contagious when she shows it. And can't wait for James to return as well.

James, oh James has 90 days left on his mission.  I cannot believe how fast this has gone.  The last few months have been super fast and I hope the next three go just as fast.  Although I want him to have the time to complete why he is there, God has a mission for him for sure.  He will be a free agent upon his arrival home and through all of that.  I personally can't wait for a hug... awww .... and his laughter.  I secretly hope he will not rush leaving the 'nest', but we will see right? 

Whitney my Whitterbug is super fantastic!! Especially at this time of year when there will be NO 'Back to School' stuff.  She is taking a bit of time off and hopefully find a second job, and save.  She has worked a lot of hours this summer, and enjoyed getting things on her own.  And with one income, that is a blessing.  She is happier, more talkative, and enjoyable.  The stress of high school can be crushing and I am proud of her for coming out alive and hopefully unscathed. 

            Our lives are small, we don't do much, but we love and spend time together and know that our

family is forever.