Time Marches On

We've hit September, and I'm amazed to be nearing the one year anniversary date at Crescendo Properties. The time, as usual, has just flown by. I'm guessing it's due to the busy, busy schedule I keep. I'm loving work, loving being the YW President, and all that goes with it. I don't have near enough time to visit with family and those I love, and interestingly enough, time marches on in their lives too. Porter will start pre-school this month, and Tyson has flown past a year old and is running everywhere. My sweet Stacy and hubby Jared are seeing the difference in the mild-mannered first child and rambunctious second child. Both are just precious. Check this out:





















































Grandma is so happy I was able to get a quick visit in with them last weekend, as we drove Jeff back to Utah to begin his final classes at Utah Valley University. Not too much longer and he'll graduate with his Bachelor's degree in Business. It was a quick, and exhausting trip, but I loved every minute of it. My kids are so incredibly special to me, and those grand kids have stolen my heart as well. Lucky there's enough love to go around!!

Rob is working hard and since his schedule is flip-flopped from ours, we rarely see him. He calls to check in once in a while, but I miss him terribly. He's trying so hard to do everything - taking up the slack from his roommate who recently lost his unemployment. The money is tight, and I feel bad for Rob and what he's dealing with. He is a loyal friend, and his roommate is now working at a restaurant, but he only has 3 shifts per week, and that's not cutting it. I hope things work out for him.

TRAVEL PLANS
If you remember, right after starting my job, I took a cruise that didn't turn out too well. I'm excited to say that I'll be leaving in less than two weeks to join my sisters and take another 7 day sister cruise, free of charge, thanks to Carnival. My sisters and I have such fun together, and I'm really looking forward to the trip. Here' a picture of my sister's and I (as well as my niece and great niece) right after we got back from our 'doomed cruise'.




From left - Cindy #3, Terri #1, Chrysta (front/niece) Cathy #4, Deyla (great niece) on Tina's lap #2. The numbers are the birth order!! I'm the youngest sister, though you'd never know it to look at us. I think they all look pretty great. They are so much fun to be with and I love them dearly, even though we drive one-another crazy on occasion!! I'm so blessed to have sister's like them.

On another note - TWO YEARS AGO - we booked another "Transatlantic Cruise" where you travel from the US to Europe or vise-versa. Anyway, we booked this one going from Europe to the US, and I've been looking forward to it so much. But sadly, the dates conflict with a big show for Scott, so he won't be able to join us. Instead, I've invited my oldest sister Terri to join me, and Tina and Scott booked two years ago as well, so they'll be along. And to make things exciting, Kyle will be coming along too with his buddy Kris, as a belated "Senior trip" that he never received when he graduated school back in 2008. Sorry for the delay Kyle. Here's an old picture of Scott and I on our first Transatlantic trip. I'll miss you my love. This was in Paris, France. The city of LOVE!!



I'll take lots of pictures on both trips and I'll try to share a few upon my return!

As always, I want to thank my Heavenly Father for the many blessings I have in my life, and always remember to give my Gratitude to Him for everything I have. I am acutely aware of His hand in my life and and thankful for it. May you always feel His love as well. :-)

Happy Surprise

I got a very fun and unexpected surprise this weekend. A visit from son-in-law Jared - who came to pick up a new vehicle, and with him, my little Porter. What a special sweetheart that little boy is. We picked them up at the airport late Thursday evening, and when Porter saw me, he came running up to me and hugged me saying "Hi, Grandma". I was thrilled. I was so excited to spend a few hours with him, thinking that they were coming just to pick up the new truck and would be leaving again quickly. But again, I was happily surprised to learn they'd be staying the weekend. I was in heaven. The next day, when that little boy came up to me and said totally on his own "Grandma, I LOVE you!!!"...well, my heart just melted. What a sweet memory I have.

We were able to spend all of Friday together, as I told my work I'd either be late or not come in at all (still in the mindset they were leaving quickly). So not at all it was. We played and played and just had loads of fun on Friday. Mom, (Stacy) in her hurry to pack up her two guys, forgot Porter's underpants. I told Porter we'd go shopping and buy him some new underpants along with a few new toys he could take with him in his new truck - to play with while driving home. After hearing his sweet "I love you, Grandma", I would have gotten him the world!! So, we picked up some new dinosaurs to play with (he can name every kind of dinosaur in the store....it was amazing). I told him he could pick 5 - but he chose 7. What's a Grandma and Papa to do?? We bought 7, of course. He also got some new dinosaur underpants, although his dad made a trip to Marshall's beforehand and got him some Toy Story undies...we couldn't resist the dinosaurs.

During his stay, we took Porter and his dad to the Sacramento Train Museum and Fairytale Town. I have pictures of my kids at Fairytale town and thought I'd share the next generation enjoying his visit too. So here's some pictures of Porter and Jared during this visit. Thanks guys for sharing your time and sweet son. We loved it.

Happy Anniversary

BEFORE......

Today marks the year anniversary from the time I was laid off from my long-time job. A year ago this afternoon, I was home reeling from the reality that my world had changed. Now, reflecting back, it's clear that being let go was a huge blessing in disguise. I hadn't realized just how crazy it was where I worked until I was gone and could look from the outside in. It makes me very sad that I have friends who still has to endure that environment on a daily basis. But I'm sure, like me, they really don't realize what they're dealing with. It becomes normal; second nature to accept it for what it is. Sometimes it's like being entertained within a horror film. I'm so grateful to be gone and in a better place.

I have been in my current employment for over 6 months now. We've moved from the office I started in and I'm loving our new location in Roseville. The drive takes less time, and with gas currently $4 a gallon, I'm glad for that. There are so many great places to eat lunch, and the office itself is so nice. The deal they had been working on when hiring me still has not come to be, and that worries me a little. But it hasn't gone away either, so I'm hoping it will still pan out. Things take so long to happen sometimes. I still love the people I work with and feel as if I've left out of a horror film into the greatest Disney film out there. I almost expect to see a princess singing through the office. Okay, a little over the top, but it's truly night and day. I'm happy and hope to continue on, but it's hard being paid so little. I still check what's out there and keep my eye on other options, but I'm hoping that this deal will happen and I can stay put. I'm leaving it in God's hands and pray for His guidance every night. This just might be a stepping stone to something better, and I'm open to whatever His will is for me.

AFTER...............

Past that, I'm enjoying my calling in Young Women. It's a lot of hard work and a lot of time, but the girls are so wonderful and I love them so much. We have a small group and have lost a couple of girl to Utah, but we have 5-6 upcoming Beehives, all from strong families, so things will increase as time goes by. It's been such a huge blessing for me to have this calling, and I feel like I want to become a better person with this calling. I guess I just want to be a great example to the girls I serve, and therefore work to be the best I can be. I can see the blessings pour down from my efforts which only makes me want to try harder. The only negative about it is that I love these girls so much, I find myself worrying about them and praying for them constantly. I know that's not a bad thing, but I'm afraid I have worrying down to a science. Just ask my kids. Maybe it'll take some pressure off of them if I'm worrying about the girls instead?? Nah, never happen.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!

Today is my daughter's 27th birthday. Wow, how did that happen?? It seems like just yesterday I was hating the fact I was turning 27 years old (it was actually a traumatic birthday for me) and now my daughter is 27!! How quickly the years passed by. It makes me wonder how the time could have gotten away from me. Oh well, that's how life is.

I want to say that my daughter has been a wonderful example to me. She was such a sweet child as a girl and even sweeter as she grew into a young adult. So many mom's have trouble with their teenage daughters, but Stacy was a jewel. She helped me to build my testimony. She allowed me to relive my childhood through her, and always made me feel as if she wanted me around. She included me in so many fun things in her life, and confided in me with some of her special secrets. When she was sad, I felt her pain. When she was happy, I shared in her joy. When she grew up to be a young woman, I was fortunate enough to be in the Young Women's program to be able to watch and share as she became an adult. I am very proud of her and proud to be her mother.

When she graduated high school, she was so anxious to get on with her life. I cried so hard when I drove her to Utah to attend BYU. She seemed so young, and yet she was so ready. Although young, she was very mature, so it didn't surprise me when she found her true love and decided to marry. I trusted her judgment and when I met Jared I knew she'd found 'the one'. What a special young man she chose to share her life with, and I have so much gratitude for how he treats her and our family.

When Stacy called to tell me she was pregnant with her first child, I was so thrilled for her. I remember how I felt learning I was going to be a mom, and I was so anxious for her to have that same joy. She is a wonderful mother, caring and loving, and she has her priorities exactly right. Again, how proud I am of her. She now has two sons, Porter (3) and Tyson (6 mo's), and she's an amazing wife and mother. So, my sweet baby girl, happy birthday. I love you.
MOM

Reflections of 2010

I obviously have much less time to "Blog" than I did when I started this. But I've been wanting to update for sometime now, so here goes.....

2010 brought lots of changes for me!! As the year began, everything seemed status quo and I was going along like nothing would ever change. I was working hard at paying off the bills incurred from all our home improvements, and planning for future vacations - one being my dream vacation to Tahiti. But no sooner had I started the process, I was laid off and everything came tumbling down around me!!

Although change is never easy, I soon learned that this change was the best thing that could have happened to me. It isn't until you have the chance to step back and really look at something that you really see it for what it is. And many times, you don't like what you're seeing. I felt gratitude to realize what a blessing it was to have this change thrust upon me.



So, once you figure out that change is for the better, it's easy to see things in a totally different light. I spent a lot of the next few months doing things I really enjoyed. I got to travel to Utah to visit my grandson, Porter. I was able to spend time with him and really get to know him. What a huge blessing that was. In addition, I was able to return when my second grandson, Tyson, was born. I was in heaven. I am madly in love with Porter, and Tyson comes along and I fall just as hard for him. No surprise there...it happened with my own kids. But these two guys have just stolen my heart, and my only regret is that I don't have more time to share with them on a daily basis. But, I felt grateful to have the time I did with them.



Once I got back home and realized I needed to find a job and get back to work, I was fortunate enough to find a few possibilities, and was called for interviews. I had four job interviews and was offered three jobs. I feel pretty good about that. And, of course, I chose to work at Crescendo Properties. I cannot begin to tell you what a huge difference it is to work in a environment where people are happy and content, no drama or backstabbing, and everyone is truly wonderful. Once you get into that kind of work environment, it becomes so clear just how horrible the other place truly was. I am so happy working now, and feel so much less stress and discouragement with how my days are spent. There are opportunities ahead that will make things even better, and I'm really excited to see where this takes me.



The negative to it all is that I don't make as much money, and I don't have as much free time due to the commute. We're due to move in about 6-8 weeks, so that part will hopefully be better. As for the money, I'm hoping that will change fairly soon too, but I'm going to try and be patient. I've discovered that working in a happy workplace has a lot of value and I need to always remember that. Somethings are just worth it, and this is one of them.

When applying for my job, I told my future supervisor that I had a cruise planned and would be taking time off approximately 5 weeks after they hired me. I knew this was asking a lot, but being honest up front seemed the right way to go. They were okay with that, and so in early November, I left for a much anticipated week long cruise to Mexico with my sisters. We were all excited to be together that week, but again, you just can't guess what the future holds. The first day of our cruise, there was a fire on board, and our cruise ship was left without power and stranded out in the ocean. We ended up having food flown in via helicopter since they had no way to cook, and we were living on sandwiches and fruit for 4 days. They finally had tug boats come in and drag us into the San Diego port, but needless to say, it was not the vacation I was hoping for.




Those are my sisters sitting in front of the ship on a bench waiting to be picked up. Needless to say, not the experience I was hoping for. The cruise line refunded our money AND are giving us another cruise for free, so hopefully we can enjoy that sometime in the near future. Sadly, because I had just started a job and I didn't feel comfortable asking for more time OR spending the money it would take, I had to cancel my dream cruise to Tahiti. Hopefully I'll be able to do that someday. NO!! I WILL do that someday. I still have reservations for another Transatlantic cruise in November of 2011, as well as the replacement sister cruise. I hope those work out for me with my job. By that time, I would have been there for a year or so, so I'm guessing I'll be able to take time off by then.

Another big change in 2010 was being called to the Young Women's President in our Ward. I love being in Young Women, and I'm really enjoying this opportunity. It's a lot of hard work, but my girls are all worth it. I have been blessed many times in this calling, and I hope I'm able to serve to the best of my ability.

As 2011 begins, I have high hopes for this year. I'm hoping that work will continue and that the changes they're hoping for will happen and new opportunities will arise from that. I am worried about my Dad's health as he's been struggling, so I'm hoping he'll be able to work toward getting stronger and healthier. Scott's mom will celebrate her 95th birthday in March, and she seems to be doing really well, so I'm hoping that will continue for her. The kids all seem to be doing fairly well, with a few bumps in the road here and there. But they're handling those bumps and are working through them, so I pray daily for them and hope they'll succeed in whatever their lives hold for them. Over all, I'm pretty happy and feel very blessed for everything I've been given in my life. I recognize the source of all my happiness, peace and blessings. I hope you can recognize it too: