I'm HOme

The time is midnight and I just read Mom's blog-you are doing great with this new adventure MOm! JUst one comment though, you made it sound like Cinderella fell down on her job!!! I worked my fingers to the bones(ha!ha!)
Mom finished her mini book and is doing better, I t broke my heart to leave her when I got on the airplane Saturday. I held it in pretty good. She was not where I wanted her to be when I left her, but I needed to get home to my family too. HOpefully she will listen to the doctor and continue to do well so she can come here in the spring. Boy, Tammy M and I will have her doing all sorts of fun cards and such(she will never want to leave!!!).
My flights were pretty uneventful-thats probably a good thing. THe 6 hour layover in Seattle were by pretty fast. I talked to Donnell, Serenity, Cindy, and AMber. I called Amber at work and while I looked at books in the bookstore, I had her look them up in our card catalog! THere are some awesome new books out there people-GET TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY!!!! I made it to Ft. Smith airport before my honey, that was a little disappointing, and then I started to get a little worried so my homecoming was a little different then I had anticipated. It was so great to see him walk in the door, and when I walked in the house Josh reached me first and threw his arms around me and Brinae came flying into me-man did I miss everyone. Brinae was still my Brinae and talked my ear off and every few minutes would say I missed you Mom. It made me feel good. It was GREAT to cuddle with my honey and I was so excited knowing that I get to sleep with him tonight also(he goes back to work tomorrow night)
It felt so good at Church today, I got to see my girls and my grandkids.My lap wasn't big enough for Sacrament today, I had Sam sitting on me then beside me and Aden and Abby on my lap. Sam kept saying I missed you Grammy. Aden rubbed Abby's hair and said Abby You are so pretty-isn't that so sweet! I told Abby to sit with her momma so I could hold Aden for a few minutes and whoa-she started crying, Cassandra took her out and she kept saying to her I want my grandma- she came back in and on to my lap and clung to me. We had dinner here after for Serenity's b-day tomorrow. Savanna and Sam are spending the night. Sam sat on my lap for awhile and I said I love you Sam and he said I love you Grammy and I love you more than you love me and smiled-he is a cutie pie alright. Savanna sato n the couch and cuddled with me for a long time too. Noah must have grown a foot! He is huge-o.k. o.k. he was huge when I left, but he sure is grown and boy what a happy boy he is, he just kept smiling and laughing, it is good to be home.
Well I want to go back and curl up beside my sleeping man so good night.

Apple Pie and mini books

The apple pie we made today sure riveled the Ontario onel et me tellyou, it was stinkin' awesome mmm!
Mom was very tired and weak so she had a little nap and I tried to catch some more rays-they have been few and far between this week-everyone says it is unusual with the clouds and rain. I think yep it is just my luck, and tomorrow being the last day we were hoping to take pics around the town, the weather man is calling for clouds all day by morning they will probably change it to rain!
We managed to work on our lilttle mini books, Mom is enjoying it and only has two little pages left so she is coming along. She has learned to blog as well today. So we have accomplished alot what with her health.
I had a Boston Brute from Boston Pizza tonight for dinner, it was pretty good, almost like we make them at home now. I just can't get the sauce quite right.
I talked to my honey for quite awhile this morning, I just miss him so much-he made me feel so good, just like he always does. He told me how much he loved me and missed me, we would be talking about something and he would say after a sentence, I miss you dear. He really is my soulmate and eternal companion, I am so thankful for him. Two sleeps and I am home!

A late Happy Birthday to Tammy

I didn't forget your birthday girl! When I was thinking about you the other day I was going to call and then realized the library was closed and then I got busy again. Did you get your yummy pie you wanted? I can't wait to see the whole gang again. I hope your day was special.
Mom and I went to Walmart to get my pictures scanned, it was amazing how well they turned out-these pics are like of mom when she was a teenager and such.
We went to our class tonight and it was so fun, we laughed and had a good time.THere were6 of us plus the teacher, 4 were doing it for the first time, so it was good for Mom. She had such a great time, she absolutley loves her cards and is HOOKED!!! I think all plans for tomorrow are out the window, she wasnts to play!
I am so tired I am heading off to bed, 3 more sleeps and then I am home.

Oh ya- I lost 10 lbs!!!

WOO-HOO! It must be the walking and drinking water, but according to the scales, it is 10 lbs. off.(watch me get home and it not be anything!), but I will take this as a good sign to a good start.

Scrapbook store shopping and a talk with my cousin

I took Mom to her will revisement appointment this morning, I sat in the car and watched people. I couldn't believe how many seniors I watched riding bicycles. We then went to a couple of scrapbook stores, Wal-mart and got Mom a digital camera, Michael's , and Harvey's for my hamburger.
WHen we went to the scrapbook store across the bridge, we told the lady mom wanted to take her Christmas card class, and she said she is having one tomorrow night, there was so much interest that she added another class tomorrow night-yep Mom and I are going. She is really excited. SHe did pretty good today, but she is very tired and gone to bed.
We talked to my cousin Ann Wilde tonight. I haven't talked to her for YEARS! It was good talking to her, I was laughing, it was like no time had passed.
I went to the beach tonight-surprise! It was pretty cold and windy, lots of those surfer dudes, I am going to find out exactly what they are called as I know it can't be para-sailing as this involves no boats. It sure is amazing to watch though.
Tomorrow is card making at home and making an apple pie with my yummy apples.

Grandkid stuff

Mom said she wanted me to put this stuff on here for her. Aren't they cute?

Happy Birthday Cassandra

Today was my Cassandra's birthday! The family got together and had homemade fajaitas and cake for her, I helped sing happy birthday to her.I remember holding her as a newborn and just felt so much love for this new little spirit. She has been a great joy and a many frustrations and worries to me, I love her so much. It is so heartwarming to hear Serenity tell me how they text and tease each other lately, it warms my soul as they have not got along for awhile now and I was worried if they could ever start to gain back their friendship. Hopefully it will continue to mend and grow.
I went to Sacrament mtg with mom and Glen today, Mom was still having some stinging in her groin, but boy did she look GOOD all decked out for Church. SHe looked beautiful in her white suit, pearls, and her hair curled!It was so neat to se the building, it brought back memories of my teen years(it is the same construction as the building I used to go to). I met some of mom's friends. It was nice to know that there were different songs and speakers, but that everything else was the same as my family was doing today. I felt connected to them.
Donnell said Tammy at work misses me so much that she reads my blog everyday and sometime the old stuff too!!! I miss all of you at work so much, you gals are just a part of me!I love ya!
Tammy Morgan called to see if she had calling to Canada, they said no but for 5.99 a month you can, she said hook me up-I only need it for a week. So she has been checking on me -she keeps me laughing with her stories of her day to day life-if you see her ask about the twins first day of schoolLOL!!!!I just miss alll my cronies! You allknow who you are!;)
I did go swimming yesterday-whoo the water sent a shock treatment through my body-it was cold.
Tomorrow is more Cinderella stuff-I'm going to vacum and dust so it will be done for mom. I was laughing telling Donnell you would think that glass slipper should be fitting by now, don't ya think????????

Mom's new adventure

I set up mom with her own blog-hers is Marrian's Quest. I told her this will give her family a way to see what she is doing daily and how she is feeling. I think that once she gets started it will be a little addictive to her.
I am just showing her the ropes now so I will blog later my day.

Thanks for the comments & Farmer's Market

I read them and feel like you are talking to me-funny how homesick we get for friends and family. Yet, I am a little sad thinking I only have a week left with mom. Today her and Glen went to the doctor, Glen has to go for blood tests and go back. Dr. Sue told mom her bloodclot is going down nicely. I have to tell you something else quite amazing here, so many people ride bicycles here. They have bike lanes on most roads, we were at the Dr. office early and here comes Dr. Sue riding to work. She locked up her bike while she was chatting with the patients waiting, it was aresome to see. There were other businesses in the stripmall there and yep more people on bikes were coming in to work. After the doctor we went to the Kelowna Farmers's and Craft Market-I had a blast.There were so many tents set up and everything under the sun there. I bought
a bag of yummy tart apples, picked off th e tree last night. Mom got some more corn for dinner today(that's lunch to us). It is so fun to see everything there, there was this mascot and i went up to him and said"I'm a visitor here and would love my picture with you can you walk down here withme to my mom to take it?" He signaled with his hand, wouldn't talk and I got my pic taken, I took one of mom and Glen(he was reluctant), and the "farmer" did a little jig for me. I am so sad that you can't see the pics while it is all happening.
I think I might go swimming today. I have been to the beach everynight and wading in the water. Mom's friend Bruno comes over and visits me for a few minutes while I'm there-I told him last night, when he said I will see you tomorrow and gave me a hug, that he was my beach date! He laughed-he is like 70+.I need to go and start the barb-b-q- I am making prok steaks, cornon the cob, potatoe salad. mmm!

Baking Day & a Compliment

Today I took pictures of mom making pie and tart shells, it has to be Tenderflake-I learned how to make the perfect shell. We made my rhubarb pie and another Canadian fave-butter tarts. I always buy a pack when I am in Canada and mom said oh we can make them. Well, let me tell you, they are so easy to make and yummy! The crust was so flaky-you would think Martha Stewart or Paula Dean were here, they would be proud.
We had a very good dinner also, we make dressing in spare ribs, squash, potaotes, and carrots-all from the garden, I forgot just how good they taste when they come right out of the ground. I made coleslaw, mom had to supervise to make sure it was right-Serenity and Cassandra would have gobbled it up.
It is raining again, but nice and cool. Mom is very tired tonight and still unable to move very well, I had a good day with her . Oh yeah, her friend Bruno came over(a very nice man and friend to mom and Glen) and said "Bridgette you are a very good looking woman!" He turned to mom and said-"she is good looking " I just smiled and said thank you!!!!He is Italian so he speaks in somewhat broken english.
Brinae informed today on the phone that I will be home in 10 days, I am missing my family so much, they just have no clue how much I love and miss them.

Here in Canada

Mom is managing and although her groin where they did the procedure is very sore, she is getting around pretty fair.
Yesterday, I took her to the doctor and we went to a Dollar Store-it isn;t like ours where everything is a dollar. We got a few things to make a couple of cards-yup I had to hit the scrapbook aisle. Ooh OOh! Mom is thinking she would like to do that-Glen will kill me when she gets started!!!! We went to Wal-Mart and got her a few items, paper cutter, scissors, ect and then I got to go to HARVEY'S, yes siree I got my fix, best hamburger this side of the Canadian border!, actually best hamburger to be found anywhere if you ask me!!!! It was so good, I can hardly explain it, I also had an order of Poutine-french fries with gravy and white cheddar cheese curds-it was pretty good, but next time I am just getting two hamburgers and nothing else!!!
Today mom is al little more sore so it was an easy day, she read my scrapbooking magazines and started getting inspired. There was a little thunderstorm and after supper , I walked over to the beach and read my book for a while. I love the peacefulness of the beach and the mountains in the background across the water-it is beautiful. When I get back home I will post a picture of it.
I am enjoying my time with mom, but am starting to get really homesick for my family and friends, It is REALLY QUIET here, a whole new world for me-ha ha!
Anyway the air is so fresh, it is so pretty here, i love it outdoors here-I bet you can't believe I said that eh?
I am getting ready to head off to bed, I am pretty tired. Tomorrow we are getting eggs, so we can have my fave pie in the world, my mom's rhurbarb pie-it ranks right up there with my hubby's pumpkin pie and the apple pie from Ontario!! We are going to get corn to so I can have my own corn fest!

Update from here in Canada

Well, I am in Canada and we were able to bring mom home from Vancouver General yesterday to here in Kelowna. I flew in Sat. night, mom had to be airvaced to Vancouver for surgery. She had two stints put inb ecause it was so plugged. It took 10 hours to drive a 5 hour trip yesterday because of needing to stop and let her walk around. We take her to the doctor on Sat, and go from there. I am trying to get her diet regulated while I am here.
It is bittersweet here, I am so glad to see my brother and sister and mom, but so hard with these circumstances. I love them all so much and miss them tons. Last night after we got mom in bed I went outside to where Kathy and David were and I don't know I just got so choked I started to cry and said I was going to bed. I cried for ever it seemed like. Kathy came to bed and I told her how I feel. That I know that when mom took me and split the family up that it tore Kathy and David's life apart., I was only 3 I think. I was kind of raised like an only child, I think due to the age differences in us kids. My sister Kathy is the one who gave me a love for reading, she used to read to me whenver I spent the night with her, I have memories of laying in her bed in the redhouse and her reading me the books. She was my idol and I looked up to her, she was the world. I had my first taste of pizza with her and she showed me the world(treats, music, etc). She has always been one of very best friends. My brother Dave has no clue just how much he means to me. WHen Kathy and him came to Arkansas for a road trip, I got close to him and loved the fact that he was so touched by the scrapbook I made him, he cried and my heart burst. He is MY big brother and I have very fond memories of riding the motorcycle with him and thinking I was on top of the world because he was sharing with me something that meant the world to him. i remember as a little girl, him picking on me and tickling me until I peed(yep a regular brother!!).I love them so much it hurt, I hate living so far from them that it is so rare that we get to see each other. Anyway, I was telling Kathy I know we have to have the "talk:" with mom and I was dreading it, well we just finished part of it. We were explaining how I need to help her make sure all funeral arrangements are made and contact list in done, will revised and up to date, etc before I leave. Talk about hard, I didn't want her to feel like we were gaining up on her, although I'm sure that is how she felt. It is making me realize that I have some things to do myself when I get home so my family is prepared-because like it says-you never know when it is your time.
I only have another full day with Kathy and David before they leave on Friday, it is already killing me that they are leaving. I cannot explain just how much I love them.

Another full day finished

Isn't that new grandson of mine a real cutie???? He is just such a happy baby boy and so good. i just want to squeeze him all the time-the only problem is -is that he is heavy! i'm not kidding, he is solid!

It was a hectic day, I worked this morning and part of the afternoon and then Serenity wanted me to tag along and do some errands with her and Noah. I had to rush home and take the kids to the activity. I got home to find the phone is still not charging and everybody and the dog has been trying to get ahold of me. I did get to talk to my sister and wish her a Happy Birthday, she was telling me that Mom had a heart attack, I told her I had just talked to Glen(mom's hubby) last night and he thought she was coming home. My phone died while I was talking to her, ugh!!! Then my brother called and was telling me what he knew and yep my phone went dead again-it is ticking me off-it is a fairly new phone too. I am going to call Glen in the morining and hopefully the phone will last through the call. i just love my siblings-I don't even think they have a clue how much I think of them. I really do wish we lived closer.

I had to work like I said and I was sad I missed my neighbor's graveside service. Virginia Thorn has lived across the street I think all her married and adult life. She had more energy than anybody I have ever known. Her feet must have been tough as nails, she would walk down our road(it is gravel) to her sons house and back all the time. She always planted a huge garden. She was an amazing woman. I haven't visited her like I should have, but I will miss her. I believe she was in her 90's.

Well, I am hitting the hay, Donnell went in 2 hours early tonight-woo-hoo-overtime yay! I am working tomorrow afternoon, I need to get the baby book scrapbook class finished. I teach it next week.

A pic of Noah

A Night Cap

I called my mom to see if she had been able to find my blog and I found out she is in the hospital. She was having problems with her chest and so they were running a bunch of tests on her heart. I sure hope and pray she is okay. Glen was waiting for a phone call, he might have been able to pick her up today-she is 2 hours behind us, but still no word.
Tomorrow is my sister Kathy's birthday-I sure miss her, she is such a hoot! I am working on something for her and don't want to give it away on here. Of course I am not done-everyone is used to all my stuff being late.I just want her to know if she sees this that I am wishing her a great day! I have to work in the morning so I won't be on here in the a.m.
Today I went to Wal-mart with Serenity and Noah. I had Noah laughing, you know that first baby laughing that they do-he sure is a happy boy-big smiles for Grammy(ok, big smiles for everybody). He rubbed his eye, his mommy said, that is super good news as he was born with shoulder displasia(sp), but theyu have been doing physical therapy and his left arm is getting to be as good as new.
Anyway, I'm heading to bed, I'm really tired, but I have the 4th book in the Twilight series and I got o get to reading as Brinae is chopping at the bit to read it.
Good night everyone!

YIPPEE-I FIGURED IT OUT!

I am stinkin' proud of myself. I figured out something tech!! MY playlist and posted it here-feel free to scan the list and see if one of your faves are on my list. Post your faves and if they are also mine, I can post as my mind went blank as I made mine-isn't that funny how that happens!

A light at the end of the tunnel?

Could it be? It has been a very rough few months for us here in our home due to financial difficulties. I got sucked down into depression due to it, I did not call my friends, I barely answered the phone(and you know how I love to talk!), I stayed in bed, I snuck home after Sacrament meeting, I just plain hid my head-thinking a head in sand knows nothing and it will all go away. I found excuses not to mingle with life. It was our own stupidity and putting things ahead of others, I did not want anyone to know(funny how we are like that), anyway on Sunday during Relief Society I found myself standing up and bearing my testimony-ok mostly I stood and sobbed, I din't really explain what all was going on, but they got the picture. I had found by starting this blog it was letting me see the good things(because I certainly wasn't going to tell the real truth for all to see), it was fun writing about the neat things in my life-somehow that has helped. Anyway, after RS sisters came up and hugged me-that is really what I needed-and told me to hang in there. One sister Rachel-she was visiting and was one of our young single adult's birth mother(an absolute beautiful story for another time) came up and hugged me and said "Now that you voiced it, it is out there and things will get better." I completely understood it and it hit me hard. I got to thinking that this blog is replacing my handwritten journal and that is supposed to entail my trials, heartaches as well as my joys. I am looking at things differently now and hoping I will make it.
I do have a very strong testimony and it did not change through this process. I just didn't know or feel like I should lean on Heavenly Father for it was our faoult we were in this predicament. You see, we almost lost our home, and it is not over yet. It is very hard to admit this. Anyway to save our home from foreclosure, we had to change our mortgage payments to cover lawyer fees and such so our mortgage is now $997. a month, it went up over $400 dollars. With Donnell changing jobs(it was the best decision as his other place of employment is going under and he got out in time to get another good job), it was a big cut in pay andright now they are limiting overtime. We are not having enough come in to cover what needs to go out. THis high payment goes until December. I have asked for more hours at work and they have been great to me. It is a vicious circle though, we pool our money together and realize that we do not have enough for the house payment so we borrow it and make the payment and then payfamily back and boom it is time to start worrying over how to make this months payment. With this set up we are not allowed to be one day late or our house is gone-final.
Thus my start of major cleaning yesterday, with the depression I just let everything go, I want my home back, I want to feel pride in an orderly home. I want to feel like me again. I am getting there, just a day at a time(sometimes an hour at a time!!)
I just realized that here is this truth and eye-opening blog just after I sent my blog addy to everyone-oh well truth prevails I guess.

Is summer ending soon?

It is so hot here. We went swimming for a couple of hours this afternoon and even the water was warm. It was still nice, but we are driving the van and it has the ac out. I am so tired tonight, we worked very hard in the house this morning. I just couldn't take it anymore. I rearranged the front room and took another leave out of the dining table and rearranged it. I really like the results. I need to scrub the cupboard doors and wash and wax the kitchen floor and I think the kitchen will be pretty done.
I cannot believe how tired I am, I guess it is the playing outside in the heat. Cassandra, her kids, her neighbor, Josh, Brinae, and I were the ones to go swimming. Abby laid on me and we floated around for awhile. I have a burn though.
I am going to try to put some pics on here.

Catch-up

Just before I tried to get on to write my entry for Friday, the power went off-ugh! It got hot real quick in here. We were in bed when it came back on.

Yesterday was my honey's birthday, I ended up working and my plans for the secret dinner fell through, partly because it was over 104 degrees outside.
we had a quiet evening with Josh and Brinae. It was nice and he said he enjoyed it.

Today during Sacrament meeting Brinae received her Young Womanhood Recognition, I was extrememly proud of her. In order to earn this award you have to do various readings and service for each value and then a project for each of the 7 values; faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, and integrity. Each project has to be at least 10 hours. Most of Brinaes' were in excess of the 10 hr minimum. Her medallion she was given is silver with a beautiful etching of the Temple spires on it. We are going to have a little open house for her as this is right up there with the boy scouts earning their Eagle .