Grandma Vicki

2009-11-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

Use the 1st letter OF YOUR LAST NAME to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names, things,Nothing made up. Use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You can't use your name for the boy/girl question. Have Fun!!

1. What is your last name? Ratliff
2. Name an animal....Rhino
3. A Boys name...Robert
4. A Girls name…… Rae
5. An occupation.... robot builder
6. A COLOR... Rose pink
7. Something you wear...Rubber boots
8. A beverage ... Rose hip tea
9. A food... radicchio
10. Something found in the bathroom...Rug
11. A place: Romania
12. A Reason for being late....Robbed
13. Something you shout... Run!

2009-05-25T10:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day to all--may we remember our fallen and our loved ones gone on before...

Love to you all

Happy Birthday to Sami

2009-05-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our Sami, with Love

The ABC's about me!

2009-04-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

You've been tagged! You are supposed to write a note with the ABC's of YOU. At the end, choose 26 people to be tagged. You have to tag me so really you just need 25 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you - but not in a creepy stalker kind of way. ( I am not going to tag 25 people - seems a bit excessive!)

A - Age: 61

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: cleaning the oven

D - Dog(s) name: none

E - Essential start your day item: prayer

F - Favorite color: any shade purple

G - Gold or Silver: both

H - Height: 5'10"

I - Instrument: recorder, tiny bit of piano

J - Job title: Grandma, library tech

K - Kid(s): Thane, Trent, Trevor, Tyson, Torri, Taron, Tevan

L - Living arrangements: Me and Tevan right now

M - Mom's name: Marj

N - Nicknames: Vic, library grandma, Grandma, Mom

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth of child: Hysterectomy 2004

P - Pet Peeve: people with NO regard for others

Q - Quotes you like: "We don't have to be perfect today. We don't have to be better than someone else. All we have to do is be the very best we can be." (Joseph B. Wirthlin)

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 sisters

T - Time you wake up: between 7 and 8. (I already did the early stuff!)

U- Underwear: Um...Yes.( I don't really get it.)

V - Vegetable you dislike: Brussel sprouts

W - Ways you run late: trying to cram one more thing in before I go

X - X-rays you've had: leg, sinuses, hand, wrist, foot (three times)

Y - Yummy food you make: rolls, orange bow knots, breads in general, lots of other things--I am a pretty good cook when I am motivated to cook

Z - Zoo favorite: sea otters, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, penguin, tigers.

I tag anyone who is interested, I would like to learn more about any of you reading this.

Finished!!

2009-04-08T12:23:00.001-07:00

The bathroom is finally finished! We finished the medicine cabinet and the towel rods yesterday. (Well I still have to put up the baseboard, but its too windy to paint it outside today, so it might have to wait for calm.)

General Conference

2009-04-05T21:33:00.000-07:00

I so enjoyed conference this weekend. So many good talks, so much to work on, such a boost. I agree with Aimee on her post of being so thankful for a prophet. I am so grateful for President Monson's positive outlook. Four main themes stood out to me: temples, being of good cheer, following the prophet, and talks on the Savior. Some of my favorites were:
Elder Packer on building on bedrock and surviving storms, and being acquainted with the "voice" of the Holy Ghost so we automatically follow it in times of stress and turmoil.
President Eyring on the challenge we all have in common--adversity, and how we need adversity and trials to be prepared, tested and to qualify for eternal life.
Elder Cook who talked about faith and the stumbling blocks to it, and about Faith being a source of great power. We need to keep our balance of faith greater than any causes of disbelief.
President Uchtdorf on discipleship, faith and unity and how the theories of the world come and go but the gospel of Jesus Christ has answers to all of life's questions.
Elder Snow on change, and getting on with our lives. To do so we need to Follow the prophet, Keep an eternal perspective, and move forward with faith. The formula for happiness and faith is to see the light of Christ then see our faults which leads to repentance, and then the gift of the Holy Ghost (after baptism) gives us constant companionship which leads us to extend ourselves to others. We need to remember too that it is not a sprint but an endurance race, so it takes time to do these things.
Elder Holland who spoke of the Savior's atonement in such a touching way- for all who feel alone (as we all do at some time or other). He talked of the Atonement as the most lonely task of eternity, which meant that we in turn don't have to make this journey alone, and we also have people with us on both sides of the veil. I like that thought!
President Monson taught us to focus on the blessings of the Church in this troubled time. He said to make the gospel the center of our lives and all will be well in spite of everything going on in the world.
Elder Oaks on unselfishness and service, and how we are more filled by what we give than what we get.
Elder Bednar on temple work and how that changes our focus on life. When he talked about sacrament covenant was willingness to take upon us the name of Christ, and in the temple we do take His name upon us, it really made sense.
The challenges of President Monson in his closing remarks gave us much to think about and work on: to live closer to the Lord, to pray always, to love our families and tell them, and pray for them, avoid pornography at all costs and in all forms, and get help if caught in that trap, and go to the temple often. He also blessed us that our testimonies will be strengthened and homes filled with harmony and love. What a great blessing. He asked the Lord's blessing on all of us.

It was a great conference and I look forward to printing off a few talks as soon as available this week and to getting the Ensign in May.

Share your thoughts and some of your favorites too.

5 Things

2009-04-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Tagged:
5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
1. Are you kidding? Sometimes I can't remember what I was doing 5 Minutes ago!
2. Went back to work after being off for surgery for 6 weeks.
3. Had my last post op exam
4. Went to Provo for Tyson's graduation from BYU.
5. Getting Taron to dr. appointments for mission.

5 things on my to-do list for today:
1. Listen to general conference.
2. Work on fixing some tops for Cori.
3. Do the Saturday chores between sessions
4. Pay some bills. (ugh)
5. Work on bathroom.

5 things I would do with a million dollars:
1. Finish the upgrades on my house.
2. Save enough for everyone to finish education.
3. Give some to each of my kids
4. Save some for the last two weddings
5. Give some to some dear friends for things they need to do.

5 places I have lived:
1. Davis, California
2. Provo, Utah
3. Lawton, Oklahoma
4. Schwaebisch Gmund, Germany
5. Ridgecrest, California

5 jobs I've held:
1. Motel maid
2. Cleaned student apartments at end of year (ugh!)
3. Custom sewing
4. Dental receptionist
5. Library Technician

5 things I want to be doing in 5 years:
1. Still be around
2. Being a good Grandma
3. Be healthy
4. Still be learning
5. Still be working on my projects--that will mean I still can!

2009-02-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

Have YOU read them?

Apparently the BBC reckons most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.
2) Add a '+' to the ones you LOVE.
3) Star (*) those you plan on reading. (Let's just say everything I haven't read is *ed) :)
4) Tally your total.Then, post your total read at the bottom.

1. [x ] Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
2. [+] The Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkien
3. [ x] Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
4. [+ ] Harry Potter series JK Rowling
5. [x] To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
6. [ X] The Bible
7. [x] Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte
8. [ x] Nineteen Eighty Four George Orwell
9. [ x] His Dark Materials Philip Pullman
10. [ *] Great Expectations Charles Dickens
11. [+ ] Little Women Louisa M Alcott
12. [ *] Tess of the D'Urbervilles Thomas Hardy
13. [ x] Catch 22 Joseph Heller
14. [ ] Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. [ X] Rebecca Daphne Du Maurier
16. [+] The Hobbit JRR Tolken
17. [ ] Birdsong Sebastian Faulks
18. [] Catcher in the Rye JD Salinger
19. [ ] The Time Traveller's Wife Audrey Niffenegger
20. [ ] Middlemarch George Eliot
21. [+ ] Gone With The Wind Margaret Mitchell
22. [X ] The Great Gatsby F Scott Fitzgerald
23. [ ] Bleak House Charles Dickens
24. [ ] War and Peace Leo Tolstoy
25. [ *] The Hitch Hiker.s Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams
26. [ ] Brideshead Revisited Evelyn Waugh
27. [] Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. [X ] Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck
29. [+] Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll (AND Through the Looking Glass...twas brilig and the slithy toves....)
30. [ x] The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
31. [ x] Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy
32. [ *] David Copperfield Charles Dickens
33. [+] Chronicles of Narnia CS Lewis
34. [ *] Emma Jane Austen
35. [* ] Persuasion Jane Austen
36. [+] The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe CS Lewis
37. [* ] The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini
38. [ ] Captain Corelli's Mandolin Louis De Bernieres
39. [] Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden
40. [ X] Winnie the Pooh AA Milne
41. [ x] Animal Farm George Orwell
42. [X] The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
43. [ ] One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. [ ] A Prayer for Owen Meaney John Irving
45. [ ] The Woman in White Wilkie Collins
46. [ X] Anne of Green Gables LM Montgomery
47. [ x] Far From The Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy
48. [ ] The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood
49. [X] Lord of the Flies William Golding
50. [ ] Atonement Ian McEwan
51. [ ] Life of Pi Yann Martel
52. [ ] Dune Frank Herbert
53. [ ] Cold Comfort Farm Stella Gibbons
54. [ X] Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen
55. [ ] A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth
56. [ ] The Shadow of the Wind Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. [X] A Tale Of Two Cities Charles Dickens
58. [ x] Brave New World Aldous Huxley
59. [ ] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Mark Haddon
60. [ ] Love In The Time Of Cholera Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. [X] Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck
62. [ ] Lolita Vladimir Nabokov
63. [ ] The Secret History Donna Tartt
64. [] The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold
65. [x] Count of Monte Cristo Alexandre Dumas
66. [ *] On The Road Jack Kerouac
67. [ ] Jude the Obscure Thomas Hardy
68. [ ] Bridget Jones's Diary Helen Fielding
69. [ ] Midnight's Children Salman Rushdie
70. [ x] Moby Dick Herman Melville
71. [ X] Oliver Twist Charles Dickens
72. [* ] Dracula Bram Stoker
73. [X] The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. [ ] Notes From A Small Island Bill Bryson
75. [ ] Ulysses James Joyce
76. [ ] The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath
77. [ ] Swallows and Amazons Arthur Ransome
78. [ ] Germinal Emile Zola
79. [x] Vanity Fair William Makepeace Thackeray
80. [ ] Possession AS Byatt
81. [X] A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens
82. [ ] Cloud Atlas David Mitchell
83. [ ] The Color Purple Alice Walker
84. [ ] The Remains of the Day Kazuo Ishiguro
85. [ ] Madame Bovary Gustave Flaubert
86. [ ] A Fine Balance Rohinton Mistry
87. [X] Charlotte's Web EB White
88. [ ] The Five People You Meet In Heaven Mitch Alborn
89. [ x] Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Again, Tyson has read this one)
90. [ ] The Faraway Tree Collection Enid Blyton
91. [X ] Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad
92. [x] The Little Prince Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. [ ] The Wasp Factory Iain Banks
94. [X ] Watership Down Richard Adams (Freaky rabid bunnies!)
95. [ ] A Confederacy of Dunces John Kennedy Toole
96. [ ] A Town Like Alice Nevil Shute
97. [*] The Three Musketeers Alexandre Dumas (have them, Tyson has read them)
98. [X ] Hamlet William Shakespeare
99. [X] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
100. [*] Les Miserables Victor Hugo

I have read 46, an would like to read 11 more. Some I read in High school, and don't remember much about, and some I really didn't like (i.e. Of Mice and Men), but this was an interesting list!

1st pregnancy tag

2009-02-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes and long awaited!!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
for me-no other choice

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
nervous at first as I had had a miscarriage already, then when I was sure all was well, ecstatic

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
26 1/2

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Since I was so anxious to have a baby, I went to the doctor as soon as I suspected.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Bill

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
that was not an option in 1974

9. DUE DATE?
January 18th, 1974 (I had three babies due that date- but never hit it)

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Extreme queasiness for 4 months, but no throwing up. Smells really got me.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
ice cream (but no pickles)

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
I don't remember anything. I was so thrilled to be pregnant that I really enjoyed the new experiences--except the nausea! My biggest irritation related to pregnancy was when one of the doctors at the army post medical center was doing a pelvic exam for something else, and said oh, it looks like you might be a month pregnant. So he had me do a test, and it came back negative. So he said well you aren't pregnant, so if your period doesn't start we'll give you something to start it. I still thought I might be pregnant and so I waited, and I was, but at 3 months I miscarried. It just irritated the crap out of me that he was so cavalier about it and assuming the test was absolutely correct. It didn't help that he was an irritating arrogant guy in the first place! The other doctor there, and his nurse were super nice.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No.

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
20 to 25 lbs. the same for all 7

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes - our friends in Germany gave me one before I left. I came home when I was about 7 months--the latest I could fly, because Bill was rotating to Oklahoma in December, and we would have had to extend to come home in February if I had him there. We had been gone for two years and were ready to come home.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew about it.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No, other than doctors at the Army post in Oklahoma not being ob's, and kind of ignorant of some of the aspects of child birth. (that is another story)

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Lawton (actually Fort Sill) Oklahoma

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
about 12, but all the rest were under 2 hours!

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Bill

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Bill did. He was there for all of them, but it was just beginning to be accepted, so I had to request it

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
I did have an epidural or something for that one, but not with any of the others--they came too fast,

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lb. 4 oz.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
January 11, 1974

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Thane William

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
35 I had to think about that.

2009-02-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

Finally some progress on the bathroom! Tevan has completed the laying of two of the walls. Hopefully he will be able to do the last wall on Thursday. Then he can cut in the bottom row and do the grout! It is exciting to see how it looks.

2009-02-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

The main focus of my mental and monetary energy the last 3 weeks or so has been Tevan's jeep, but finally we seem to have all the issues dealt with and he is so excited to actually be able to drive it. He has done a couple of quick drives out in the dessert and he loved it. So I thought it would be appropriate to put up a couple of pictures!

He looks pretty happy, doesn't he?

2009-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Getting to know you 2009

2009-01-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new 2009 edition of getting to know your family and friends.

1.What is your occupation right now?
Grandma and Part time library tech

2.What color are your socks right now?
brown with pompom balls on them

3.What are you listening to right now?
the quiet
4.What was the last thing that you ate?
banana chocolate chip muffin

5.Can you drive a stick shift?
that's what we learned on back in the day!

6.Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Sabrina

7.Do you like the person who sent this to you?
YES!!

8.How old are you today?
61 years young

9.What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Olympics

10.What is your favorite drink?
right now hot chocolate

11.Have you ever dyed your hair?
yea- hence the 61 years YOUNG!

12.Favorite food?
prime rib

13.What is the last movie you watched?
Eagle Eye

14.Favorite day of the year?
Any holiday with lots of family around.

15.How do you vent anger?
tears and pacing

16.What was your favorite toy as a child?
my baby doll

17.What is your favorite season?
spring or fall

18.Cherries or Blueberries?
fresh sweet cherries

19.Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?(or in this case post on their blogs)
most have already done it

20.Who is the most likely to respond?

21.Who is least likely to respond?

22.Living arrangements?
right now, me and Tevan

23.When was the last time you cried?
last night

24.What is on the floor of your closet?
shoes, slippers, box of old purses

25.Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?

26.What did you do last night?
Helped Torri work on organizing toys

27.What are you most afraid of?
letting someone down

28.Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese

29.Favorite dog breed?
not really a dog person, but medium sized ones like sheltie. we had an Irish setter once that was really pretty too.

30.Favorite day of the week?
Sunday

31.How many states have you lived in?
5

32.Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds

33.What is your favorite flower?
pansy, carnation, rose

2008-12-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Christmasy Tag!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay,
here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a
whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to
you......Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper for most, and like Stacey, need ribbon or bow.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial--partly because we always left it up for a long time

3. When do you put up the tree? When the kids were young we always put it up Thanksgiving weekend. Now it takes me a little longer to get to it.

4. When do you take the tree down? Any time from Jan 2nd to Thane's birthday on the 11th. We have had the tree up for his birthday, but only a couple of times.

5. Do you like eggnog? not particularly, though I can drink a little

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think maybe a doll I had wanted for a long time. But my typewriter year, and my sewing machine year come close.

7. Hardest person to buy for? That sort of varies from year to year, but maybe Scott because he won't tell anyone what he wants, and his dream things are way too expensive.

8. Easiest person to buy for? All the boys who like Transformers?

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, two. One is the one Bill and I painted together while we were living in Germany, and a small Precious moments one. I have other decorations that are Nativity themed too.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail always, but not always before Christmas. One year they were Valentine cards, but I try!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not a gift, but the year I had the flu. I was so sick on Christmas day that Bill fed the kids graham crackers and milk and kept them entertained until I could drag myself out of bed for presents

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't really have one.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Start thinking early, but it may take a while, because I often want to make something.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? orange bowknots, and fudge

16. Lights on the tree? yes. of course - I love the glow it gives the whole room

17. Favorite Christmas song? That's hard--I like lots of them. Silent Night, and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

18.. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When the kids were home they did the ones from each other on Christmas Eve, partly to give those humble gifts the attention they deserved before they got lost in the shuffle, and partly to ease the excitement. Everything else was morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Maybe that it goes to fast- I really like everything about Christmas time, because I ignore the commercialism and focus on what I want the season to be.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree is pretty eclectic, and nearly everything on it has some sort of story or special meaning. The glass balls are the only "just decoration" and are there to add sparkle and color.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We have our big dinner on Christmas Eve, and have roast beef and Yorkshire pudding as tribute to our English heritage.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A fun time with my family and family photo updates for my wall!

TEVAN IS HOME

2008-12-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

Tevan is home!

Well he was for a few days. He is in Idaho with Taron for a few days now. But he will be home again Saturday.

All of my grandkids had a grand time getting to know Tevan again, and playing with Uncle Taron and Uncle Tevan. We had a fun couple of days of mostly open house, with family coming and going, and eating with us when they could. It was a lot of fun! It was so good to have him home.

Tevan's nieces and nephews made a sign for him- each child made a letter.

2008-11-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

I just want to share some thoughts. Several things hit all at once several days ago-not huge, but frustrating and difficult in some cases to deal with. Torri and Sabrina both had cars break down, and trying to get Trent to work and both families of kids to school was a challenge, and then with Torri's house there were some glitches (mostly a lien on the property they didn't know about) that made for a scary couple of days, as the lender wanted all the stuff in and rate set just a few days from then. I just want you all to know there is an angel among us who went above and beyond to help resolve that issue. Trent was able to get their car fixed, and Sabrina (the angel!) drove to Barstow, then to Bakersfield, back to Barstow and then back to Ridgecrest to get the lien issue resolved. The next day she had to drive her Mom to a doctor appointment in Lancaster. This stress kicked the anxiety in again for a couple of days, which made us sad, but I know Torri and Scott and I surely did appreciate her efforts!

Moments

2008-11-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

What was the happiest moment of your life?
Like Brina, I can't pin it down to one. When I was married, and when each child was born, and going to the temple for the first time with each one, and looking forward to the temple time for the last one. Also going to their weddings, and adding their spouses to my life.

What was the saddest moment of your life?
Again, can't do just one. The first was when Bill went off to Basic Training-we had been married a year. The second was the miscarriage of my first pregnancy. The third was when it finally hit, while standing in the doorway of my bedroom, that Bill wasn't coming home any more.

What was the scariest moment of your life?
When Bill had the seizure and they called code blue, and then when I realized, before they called it, that he wasn't coming back.

What was the most embrassing moment in your life?
There are a couple of things I still remember, but my lips are sealed!

What was the most exciting moment of your life?
Still can't narrow to one. There was the time after Basic, when I was supposed to drive to Oklahoma alone, and meet Bill there, when he suddenly showed up at the front door. That was about the best surprise ever. I think another (6) was the day each of my sons came home from their missions. Well, there's a few days until the last one!! There are a lot of others, like moving into our own house, getting good news like getting a specific job for Bill or for me....

2008-11-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Crazy Eights!

8 Things I am passionate about:
1. The Gospel
2. My family
3. People being nice to each other
4. Reading
5. Sewing-
6. and all related - quilting, fabric crafts
7-8. Memory preserving- photos, scrapbooking, digitizing slides etc.

8 words or phrases I use often:
1. Okay
2. Sirus!
3. May I help you? (work)
4. Sirus!
5. I can't remember.
6. No Logan
7. Sure, I can do that
8. I can't remember

8 things I want to do before I die/on my wish list:
1-4. Finish all my projects
5. Visit all my relatives
6. See my last two sons married
7. Live long enough to see all my grandchildren born.
8. Keep all my marble!

8 things I've learned in the past:
1. Friends are eternal too! good one-I'll keep it
2. You need time for yourself. It is okay to take it! -Keep this one also.
3. Having children is the greatest blessing one can have. (I kept this one from my friend's she put it so well!) Again, I agree
4. Everything can change in a flash!!!
5. I really do love studying the scriptures.
6. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks-live where (mentally and emotionally) you are happy and comfortable. Bloom where you are planted
7. Keep in touch with family, they will be your comfort and support forever. Amen to that one too.
8. There is no greater comfort at any kind of loss (including the loss of the spouse) than an Eternal marriage and eternal companion.

8 things I currently want or need:
1. My bathroom finished
2. My kitchen remodeled
3. my photo projects caught up
4. to go to the temple more often
5. A remarkable treatment for Huntington's disease--a cure even better
6. Same for fibromyalgia
7. "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." - want it back
8. I forgot the other one.

8 Places I want to see/visit:
1. Alaska
2. Hawaii
3. Australia
4. Back to Germany
5. Back to England
6. More temples
7. Nauvoo
8. Back to Adam Ondi Ahman

8 favorite restaurants:
I rarely go out, and it is usually when I am visiting other people
1. Buca Di Beppo- have gone with Tyson and Stacey-I love the bruschetta
2. Cheesecake Factory- went with my sister
3. A little tea house in Lincoln by Sacramento -can't remember the name but had a real English tea (meal) and it was yummy
4. Outback
5. Victoria's here in Ridgecrest
6. Black Angus
7.
8.

8 TV shows I can't live without:
none. (are some I like, and watch, but I haven't any I get upset about missing.) - unless you
count general conference. I have been know to cry when it was supposed to be broadcast on channel 3 and then wasn't on - especially before we had internet to watch on.

8 things that happened yesterday: (Saturday)
1. Helped Torri paint a castle entrance for Victoria's party.
2. Cleaned up the house for Victoria's birthday party.
3. Victoria's birthday party.
4. Torri's car got looked at but not fixed.
5. Trent and Brina's car got worked on but not fixed
6. Tried to figure out what to do about the newly discovered lien on Torri's and Scott's property,
which was holding up the closing of escrow, which is scheduled for Thursday.
7. Went to Walmart in the morning with Torri for Victoria's birthday presents
8. Finally read my scriptures for Sunday School today.

8 things I look forward to:
1. Tevan coming home
2. Seeing Bill again
3. Christmas
4. Millenium- no more wickedness, persecutions, money trials...!
5. Bedtime on exhausting days
6. Sundays
7. the music at church
8. A time with no more pain-physical and emotional

8 things I love about the fall:
1. the smells
2. cooler weather
3. Thanksgiving
4. Baking and eating rolls
5. Cooler weather
6. Cozy feelings
7. Did I mention cooler weather
8. Pumpkin Bread - I'll agree with this one

8 things I need to work on!
1. Being more Christlike.
2. Being more organized.
3. Being more calm.
4. Being more aware.
5. getting back to a better schedule for scripture study.
6. More self discipline for things like getting to bed on time,
7. eating on a better schedule,
8. putting the book down when I should be doing something else!

broken bathroom

2008-11-09T18:45:00.001-08:00

So--now I have a "broken" bathroom. With a leak into the hallway, and damaged wall, I decided that since I wanted to gut and redo the front bathroom in the spring, I would have to up the timetable and do the work now. So the process begins. Thought I would document with a few photos. Here is phase 1 beginning.

Twilight character

2008-11-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Guess I joined everyone else!

2008-11-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

1. I have lived in 5 states (Utah 3x, Nevada, Wisconsin, Oklahoma 2x, California 2x), and one foreign country (Germany)

2. I used to have a fear of fluttery things - moths and birds especially, butterflies are mostly okay. Now I just have a moderate nervousness about them in close proximity.

3. I love to learn to do new things--particularly in the arts, crafts and sewing area. As a result I have about a zillion projects that aren't finished. Something new comes along before I finish the last one! Now I mostly just get in the mood for one type of project, and after a while move on to another. But some things actually do get finished.

4. I love rainy days in the desert-love the smell, sunrises, sunsets and the smell of pine forests.

5. I have a really hard time when any of my family is struggling with something. I just worry lots.

6. My first major in college was Home Economics-that was at UCD. When I transferred to BYU I went from the general Home Ec. to Clothing and Textiles, which was my first love anyway.

7. I really liked math in high school, and did well, up through algebra II (advanced algebra. Then we had Trigonometry, and suddenly nothing made sense to me anymore, and that was the end of my math. I took statistics in college for my math requirement. That was okay.

Blue ribbon quilt

2008-10-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

I also entered some things in the fair. My baby quilt got a 1st place, and the judges comments said, "fanciful and delightful design, Sashiko quilting adds design and interest" The picture doesn't show the design really well-sorry.

2008-10-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

1. Did you date someone from your school? Well, I didn't date in high school except one girl's league dance, and I asked Bill, who had graduated the year before.
2. What kind of car did you drive? A bicycle or I hoofed it.
3. Were you a party animal? Not at all!
4. Were you considered a flirt? no--just quiet and calm.
5. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? no
6. What was your most embarrassing moment of high school? Probably had several, but after this many years I have successfully blocked it!
7. Were you a nerd? That term wasn't really used much, but probably sort of
8. Were you on any varsity teams? no--didn't have girls sports then, though we did have teams in PE classes that played each other and I played basketball
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Never!
10. Can you still sing the fight song? yes if I think hard enough (go Blue Devils!)
11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Crabill (math) and Mr. Bowman (chemistry). Mr B. would make explosions behind his back to keep everyone awake!
12. What was your school's full name? Davis Senior High
13. School mascot? Blue Devils
14. Did you go to homecoming, and with who? no
15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? No. I do agree with Aimee that if I could go back knowing what I know now I might make a brief visit!
16. What do you remember most about graduation? I was just excited for it to be over because all the LDS kids were going to Salt Lake City that night for the now non existent general MIA conference to participate in the dance festival. Our ward was selected to represent our area, and it was way fun.
17. Where did you go senior skip day? I don't remember/
18. Were you in a club? Yes- FHA (future homemakers of america)
19. Have you gained some weight since then? not really--I did weigh a little more for a while, but I actually weigh less now than I did then.
20. Who was your prom date? didn't go
21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Make that 50th in 2015, and maybe.
22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Don't get in such a fret about things like dating and even getting ready for college. Just enjoy where you are, do your best, and enjoy your friends. I did have some good friends, and I was better off not dating until college!

six questions tag

2008-10-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

1) Six places that I go to over and over: work, church, Albertsons, Walmart, Mervyns, my kids' homes.
2) Six people who e-mail me regularly: Aimee, Brina, Torri, Donna, Carl, Linda.
3) Six of my favorite places to eat: Home Town Buffet, Any place with good steak or prime rib, Baskin Robbins, Marie Callendar, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden.
4) Six places I would rather be right now: bed, home, temple, mountains, with family, with Bill.
5) Six people I think will respond: Linda? just about everyone else I would tag has already done it.
6) Six TV shows I watch: Knight Rider (depending on how it goes, since it is new, Ghost Whisperer, Numbers, CSI, Heroes. I don't watch all the time, it is occasional.

Thoughts on Conference

2008-10-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share a few thoughts on conference. I really enjoyed all the sessions, and have several favorite talks that I will print out as soon as they are available. First, I was excited about the five new temples announced, and especially about one in Rome!

Elder Perry's talk on a simplified life really touched me as a view to take while the world goes crazy with the economy stress. If we just worry about the key things-physical and spiritual, we will be okay. I enjoyed Elder Andersen's theme of "you don't know everything, but you know enough" with faith in Christ being enough. I also found the idea of deciding to rely on our faith in trials really powerful. The hymn the choir sang - "Come Ye Children of the Lord" for some reason had me in tears and longing for the time when the Savior comes. Elder Oaks talk about the sacredness of Sacrament meeting was a powerful reminder of something it is a little too easy to get complacent about.

The two talks on Hope and Unity were both awesome, and first on my list to print. First Elder Uchtdorf's which focused on hope and its power, and how it is a commandment to use hope to move us forward to salvation. It is hope that is the opposite of despair, and is its antidote. The other was Elder Eyrings, which focused on unity and hope. He said we are doing better-we are praying and pleading for unity and our prayers are being answered. When our hearts are knit together, we are magnified in our power. I just think this is so important in families and in the church, and is the pathway to overcoming the problems of this world. Elder Christofferson also talked about unity and Zion and how we are to be beacons of righteousness to those who want out of Babylon. That supports the idea of unity overcoming the world!

Another talk I want right away is Elder Holland's on angels. I loved how he testified that angels exist and they still are sent to help us. Sometimes angels are seen and sometimes unseen. Sometimes they warn but most often they give comfort. I have had unseen angels give me comfort often in this past year and a half. I also found comfort in the reminder that God will fight our battles, and He will win.

And our prophet counseled us to realize change is inevitable but to find joy in the journey. I love that positive attitude. I have often thought of this idea--to bloom where you are planted and joy in the journey. I have tried to be content with where I am and enjoy the moments along the way, though I have sometimes fallen short. I totally agree that gratitude will help in finding the joy in the journey.

I would love to hear your thoughts on conference and know what your favorites were.

the Fours

2008-09-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

I know this is an older thing that went around, but I never had a way to do it before, and Trevor asked awhile ago for my list of Fours--so...this is for Trevor, and for anyone else interested.

Four jobs I've had: maid, custom seamstress, dental receptionist,library technician

Four movies I watch over and over: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, super heroes (3 series for 1): Batman, Spiderman and Superman. (also like latest Little Women, Transformers and Narnia)

Four places I've lived: Davis CA, Provo, Scwaebisch Gmund Germany, Ridgecrest

Four TV shows I watch: (they keep removing the ones I like: Moonlight, Journeyman) but I watch Numbers, CSI, Heroes, sometimes Ghost Whisperer.

Four places I've been: Scotland, England, Switzerland, Canada. Four places in America: Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mt. Rushmore, (and several others)

Four favorite things to eat: breads, Ice Cream, Roast Beef, Chocolate

Four place I'd rather be: home, temple, with any of my family, with Bill-which will happen again someday.

Four things I look forward to in the next year or so: Tevan coming home, general conference, temple trips, maybe having enough money to do some more on my house.

Hubby Tag

2008-09-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

1-Where did you meet? At church, at a practice for a dance festival. Bill's mom and sister were active when they moved to Davis a few months before. Gwen was called as the dance director for the ward, and we had a couple of practices when Bill came. He was dating a girl in the ward, and she got him to come to practice. Then he started coming back to church and never went back to inactivity.

2-How long did you date before you were married? This is a more complicated question. I had a crush on him at one point in high school, and we had one date to a girl's ask dance when I was a senior and he at a junior college, but we didn't date until I was a senior at BYU. I had been engaged to a missionary, and during the summer back in Davis we were just hanging out some because there weren't many young adults around in the summer. But I had increasingly conflicted feelings and finally decided I wanted to date him seriously, so I broke the engagement. We actually seriously dated about a year-maybe a year and a half. We got officially engaged about 2 months before we got married.

3-We have been married 38 years this past June--and yes I am still counting because we are still married!!!

4-What did he do that surprised you? He used to give me the most interesting gifts--or present them in the most unusual ways. He also would come up with fun activities for the family to try.

5-What is your favorite feature about him? I was first attracted to him because I thought he was very good looking, and I loved his smile.

Who could resist that grin? It was just as appealing when he was older!

6-What is your favorite quality about him? Again, when I first got to know him I saw two characteristics that I liked best about the Savior: kindness and gentleness. He always made the people he was with feel like they were important and were equal participants in an activity, even if they were just beginners at it. I still see the kindness and gentleness as he best qualities.

7-Did he have a nickname for you? He just called me Vic. He never used terms of endearment, but he always wanted to hold my hand, or sit by me. I was the most important person in the world to him.

8-What was his favorite color? He tended to like darker colors, but he really liked pure chroma colors best.

9-What was his favorite food? Pizza, shepherd's pie, and for desert - pie of any flavor.

10-His favorite sport? He was not a big sports fan, but he liked the Indy 500 (which happened on his birthday until the Monday holiday thing passed), and he really liked the Olympics-winter and summer.

11-Who said I love you first? I am pretty sure he did, because I was way to shy and insecure to say it first. I think it was sitting out in front of my parents house in his car, about a year before we got married.

12-When and where was your first kiss? I honestly can't remember, but it might have been on a bike ride around the arboretum on the UCD campus two summers before we got married.

13-What was your favorite thing to do together? Ballroom dancing and board games were the two things we did consistently all throughout our relationship. We also did things like build and fly model sail planes, and astronomy-we bought a small telescope and learned quite a bit about the night sky.

14-He was 61-nearly 62 when he passed away.

15-We have seven children-all wonderful, talented and good looking!!!

16-What hidden talent did he have? He was a jack of all trades and could figure out just about anything. He was a very talented problem solver. When he was going through the psychological evaluation part of the disability exams and tests, the psychologist said he did better on the problem solving puzzles that college professors--so even in the earlier stages of his mental impairment he was very sharp at that.

17-Favorite types of music? He liked a lot of kinds, but mostly similar to my list: hymns, classic rock, folk, anything positive and upbeat!

18-What do you admire most about him? His deep and abiding testimony-and solid determination to do whatever the prophet said. He was the one who made sure we did family prayer, family home evening, family scriptures and were on time (which was 10 minutes early!) for all our meetings. I usually had the follow through, and a lot of the planning out of things, but he was the driving force.

Bill with Thane, Trevor and Trent

19-Will he read this? I kinda think he will be totally aware of this.

2008-09-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

So, I have decided to try this blogging thing, for 2 reasons. One, I have enjoyed everyone else's blogs, and thought maybe I would have something to share that way, and two, some of my girls wanted me to do the Hubby tag, and I wanted to do that for them. So look for that post later.