Life has been so Crazy!

Life has been so good, hectic, and crazy.

So...we went on our cruise, I blogged a little about that. We had such a nice time on the cruise and our day in Ensenada was quite enjoyable. We got into Ensenada on Saturday and got off the ship. We were trying to decide what to do and took a bus into town, it was $2 each to get the ride instead of walking the 10 to 15 minutes. So on the bus they told us that we could get tickets to go to El Bufadora (the blow hole) for $15 each instead of the $30 each it would have cost us on the ship. We decided that was a good idea and went for the tour. We were excited to go and see a little of the countryside of Ensendada so got on the next boat for the tour. A man with a guitar was on there entertaining us until the bus was full enough for us to leave. He was great in his singing and having those of us on the bus sing along with him...it was funny. We got to to to the blow hole and see some of Ensenada, that was fun. After you get to the blow hole you have to go through all of the makeshift shops to see it and run the "gauntlet" of people trying to give you their fliers and get you to come back to their shops. It was crazy, especially the closer you get to the blow hole. We had about 1 1/2 hours there to see the water spray up out of the blow hole and then go back through the street and worse "gauntlet" of people back to the bus. I was very proud of myself because I didn't take one flier that was being passed out and anyone that invited me into their store I politely refused. We eventually went into two stores and Chuck almost bought a plate but the guy didn't want to go down until we left and then he was saying lower and lower prices...we didn't go back. I ended up buying a little dolly that was dressed in Mexican garb and is a rag doll and figured that was a good souvenier for me. We waited for the alotted time to board the bus and went back to town and then back to the ship. I have to say that I felt like we were a part of a dream where tons of people are tempting you here and there and we were trying to keep a hold of the iron rod and stay on the straight and narrow. It was pretty surreal to feel that but that's what it seemed like. I HATE it when there are crowds of people like that trying to tempt you into their space and I didn't want to go there. Just an observation.

Anyway...we got on the boat and went to get some food before dinner time...little snack. We enjoyed the shows on the ship and enjoyed a lazy day on board the ship for Father's Day. It was just so pleasant to go and relax and spend all of my time and attention on my sweet husband. He loved it because there were no phones for me to be on...lol. Then on Monday we docked and Michael was almost there when he got on the wrong freeway and was desparately trying to figure out how to turn around and get back where we were waiting for him. It was pretty scary for him being in unknown territory but he did a great job and with prayer was able to find his way to the dock where we were waiting.

We got home and as I blogged about before changed clothes and left again. When we stopped in Mesquite we got to see Christina, Ray, and the kids and got dinner, slept, then got up and went again. It was nice to get to Utah and know that we had a place to stay for a week before we left again and enjoyed our time there.

As I blogged up through Thursday I figured I would finish the trip and what's been going on. Friday we got to go to the Timpanogas Temple with Mom and Dad, Cindy and Rolly and Daniel. That was a great thing to do...being in the temple with family is just so awesome. We got to take names through for my brother-in-law...he has thousands of family names that he is trying to get done. He's been a busy boy with his geneology. Then we went home and changed and I got to go out with my two sisters. We met for lunch and then went to a movie...I LOVED that too. We are trying to spend some time together, just us girls, and it has been so much fun. My sister, Viki, was having a hard day and by the end of our visit she seemed to be very happy...I'm so glad she came and we could all have fun together. I love being around my sisters when we can have fun and laughter together.

Saturday we decided to go to BYU as Chuck and Ray wanted to go to the bookstore and we wanted to see where Michael would be living up there in just a few months. We had fun and took it easy and met the family at Olive Garden in American Fork for lunch. That evening I got to play some UNO with my Ray, Rolly, and Cindy...it was so much fun. I'm so glad we got to have some fun together like this.

Sunday was church time and after it was over I went off to finish seeing my friend Penny, my brother David and his wife Janna and their kids, and then my dad and Colleen. Catherine and her friend Kristi came with me while everyone else stayed home and visited. Once again I had so much fun.

Monday we got up and packed and were off to home again. We had a lot of fun in Mesquite once again and got home about 3:30 on Tuesday afternoon. It was just a fun trip.

Once home I was exhausted. I got to try to get caught up after being gone for over a week and get ready for work the next day. We had to go and pick up the dishwasher we had bought right before we left for our cruise (our dishwasher pooped out on us). We got it home and Chuck waited for it to cool off before trying to install it. I have to say what a GREAT guy he is...he worked so hard for like 4 hours to get that dishwasher installed...it had so many challenges and he got through them all (I was praying for help for him the entire time) and he did so great. I love the new dishwasher and it is amazing how the dishes come out clean without the food or film on them, quite amazing.

Thursday was work at summer school where I stayed busy the entire time...the day flew. Friday Chuck had to get the cooler fixed...the house was so HOT...once again he proved how Genious he is and was able to take care of the cooler and now our house is actually COOL! How novel is that? :)

Our 4th of July we went swimming at Aunt Judi's in Glendora and visited with Grandma Vera and had such a nice time. Some of us got a bit burned but not too horrible. Then we came home for pizza and were too tired to go to the fireworks show. Daniel was more bummed than he admitted and now I feel guilty we didn't go and see them but I can't change it now. All in all...a good time though.

I am so grateful for my husband and his fixing all of these things and so grateful to my Heavenly Father for blessing him to know what to do. Life is full and challenging and I am loving it that it's a Sunday and we get to relax and enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Now to Christina and Rays for dinner tonight...even better.

I am grateful for the independance we have to enjoy our days like we do and the freedoms we have.

Our Cruise and now Utah

So we went on our cruise on our 29th wedding anniversary. It was so AMAZING and everything I had hoped for! We had some really nice couples that we sat with at dinner and our waiter had the table sing "Happy Anniversary" to us and made us kiss the whole time, if we stopped they would have to start over. lol We were a bit embarrassed about the whole kissing thing, it seemed to go on forever and these strangers didn't really care that we were kissing like that. Anyway...we had such a great time and it was so relaxing. The food was good and we ate way too much. Way too plentiful...but we enjoyed ourselves and spending time together. It was so awesome!

Then we got home on that Monday and were home for about 1 1/2 hours while we switched clothing in our suitcase and left again for Utah. We stopped in Mesquite, Nevada to stay the night and got to our in-laws on Tuesday.

On Wednesday we went and got Daniel's missionary clothing at Mr. Mac. I have to say that I have been doing pretty good except for that experience really got me going. We got the suits and shoes taken care of and then went off to get Daniel his missionary scriptures and his missionary journal. While we were at the Deseret Book I just got to feeling so emotional about everything, it was suddenly so real...I was tearing up and trying not to. Chuck told me later he went and sat in a corner and had an emotional moment by himself also, so I know it wasn't just me. It was so great to get Daniel his clothing and know that we are getting prepared along with him for him to go and serve. I wouldn't want Daniel anywhere else for these next 2 years and Chuck and I have both told him that he isn't to come home until the 2 years are over with...no matter how homesick he gets, he is to go and do the Lord's work and lose himself in it. He will do an amazing job, I know that! He is such a great young man and will be an amazing missionary.

So here it is Thursday and we've been taking it easy today. Chuck took the grandkids fishing along with their parents and Christina, Ray, and the kids came home early with sunburns (Christina is the worst with Ariana having a small one) and Chuck and Rolly stayed up there. So...quiet day today and tomorrow I get to go and spend time with my sisters and see my twin brother...good times.

I am so thankful to be here though. My father-in-law has Alzheimers and we are spending as much time with him as we can while he still remembers us. It is so hard to watch him as he heads down hill...he is such a great man. We just keep on keeping on and praying for mom to have the strength she needs while she takes such loving care of dad. He has his bad days and his good days and this disease will progress at it's rate but for now we just let him know we love him as much as we can.

Such a weird day though with two more stars dying so close in time to each other. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. We were wondering who the third one would be when we saw that Farrah had finally succumbed to her cancer and it was a shock to see Michael Jackson was it. Life happens and I wish their families the comfort that they will need at this sad time. I am so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge that we have of being a forever family. It sure helps to know these things especially at times like this.

On to having fun with my grandchildren...I have been enjoying them this evening so much while Christina and Ray went out for a while. I love my family so much!

Cruise and my 29th Wedding Anniversary

Chuck and I get to go on our cruise tomorrow...we are both so excited. It's even nicer because it's our 29th wedding anniversary tomorrow also so we get to celebrate that on the cruise ship. We are so looking forward to our 3 day cruise and know that we will have wished it was longer but are so grateful that we can go for these 3 days. It's Chuck's birthday gift from May, our anniversary gift, and my birthday gift in September. It seemed like a great idea for gifts and we get to spend the time together and just enjoy each others company. I just love to spend time with my husband when it is the two of us and we are so happy together. This is my second cruise and Chuck's third but we look forward to many more over the years.

Then after we get home on Monday we change suitcases and go up to Utah to get Daniel his missionary clothing and items he will need. I look forward to visiting with our families up there and Christina and Ray will be coming up with the kids too. Michael will be home to take care of things so it's all good. Michael is planning on moving up to Utah the middle of July so he'll be up there soon enough also. He will be living with his grandparents until he can get in his dorm room at BYU and start school there in the fall. I'm so proud of Michael for earning his AA at VVC and heading on to do something with medicine. He says he wants to go to med school and become a doctor...it's all his choice and I encourage him in whatever will make him the happiest as he works for a family someday. The most important thing is that he likes what he chooses to do...that's all I ask of him, to make sure it's something he will enjoy doing.

Well...off to get some packing done and get ready for our fun times ahead.

All of the Priesthood Holders...they are so COOL!

The guys started to goof around...it was so funny...

All Priesthood Holders...such great examples!

Pics from Daniel's Temple Day

Here are some pics I thought I would share from Daniels Temple Day...it was wonderful!

June 6, 2009

Friends that came to the temple for Daniel...so awesome! The Shaws, Elaine Cripps, Kathryn Tait, Dyerly's, and Bishop Ewing.

Not shown are the Haskins and Stouts that were also in the session.

We are so grateful for these wonderful friends coming to the temple for Daniel.

He wanted them all here.

Redlands Temple

All of us and Grandpa and Grandma Colleen Shell (down from Utah)



We are family...forever!

The weather was cool and it was a wonderful day.

My 29th Wedding Anniversary and a Cruise!

It is so awesome to think that we leave on our cruise in about 5 days. I am so excited! I will have been married for 29 years on Friday and Chuck and I get to go and celebrate on a cruise ship...so much FUN!!! I am so looking forward to the relaxation that we will experience on the cruise, away from everything except for each other, wow, so great!

Chuck and I have been married for 29 years and boy, it seems like yesterday when we got married. I remember when I was that 18 year old girl and marrying the man of my dreams. We were newlyweds and I saw a couple come into church with their 3 or 4 children and I thought how someday that would be us. It seemed like it would be forever, and here we are...4 grown children and 3 wonderful grandchildren. I am so blessed in my husband, my children, my son-in-law, and my grandchildren. I know that more blessings will come as my other children marry and begin families of their own.

I know that Chuck and I have had our ups and downs, every marriage does, but I am grateful that we have both decided to work through our issues and find the happiness that we now have. It's a lot of hard work, marriage is, but it's worth it. I want to spend forever with my husband and my children and I am so blessed that we are a "Forever Family". I love the Lord and I am so grateful to Him for the many blessings he has given me.

Now I am waiting to send my sweet Daniel, my youngest, off on his mission to serve the Lord for 2 years. I am so proud of him for wanting to serve the Lord. This is what I have wished and hoped for since he was born. I am proud of Michael for serving the Lord first and setting the example and now I am proud of Daniel for wanting to serve the Lord also. This is the fondest wish of my heart, that my sons would serve the Lord and love the Lord...my two stripling warriors. Daniel will do great in Chile and the people there are so very blessed to have him coming to serve and love them also.

So...this Friday Chuck and I are leaving on our cruise to Mexico and I am so excited. We are leaving on our anniversary and we are going to have a GREAT time! I love it because it will be just the two of us with time to spend together, just the two of us together. I LOVE spending time with Chuck and have such a GREAT time with him. I love you Chuck, forever and ever. I am so glad we have forever together.

Life is.....Good

So...I realized I haven't actually blogged about much of anything lately so I thought it was time to. Life moves forward as normal...home...work...home...family...friends...church...etc. I spend my time at home in the morning surfing the web and checking out facebook and the blogs I like to follow then I get ready to go to work...work 3 1/2 hours at school police in the office and then back home again...or out with family/friends. I can't believe that school is almost out, this Friday, it has gone so quickly. I remember when the school year started saying how quickly it would go and it does, absolutely, go so swiftly. I will be working summer school once again, this time at Desert View Independent Study at Chaparral and am so grateful that I have the work that month to help earn the money to pay the bills.

This summer is so full of happenings...Chuck and I are going on our cruise to Mexico for 3 days and then home and off to Utah to get Daniel his missionary clothing and Michael moved up to Utah for BYU Provo this fall. It is so crazy that I am losing both of my sons in a 2 month period of time. It's all good though as they are supposed to grow up and leave the nest. Kinda hard on the moms heart but it's all a great thing that is happening.

This is Michael's permanent leave the nest in my opinion...he has a long road to med school so I don't know where his path will take him. It is so exciting to see Michael moving forward and progressing towards something that makes him happy. I am happy for him to go to BYU Provo as he will be around tons of other college students and will have all sorts of new experiences that he can't have living here in Pinon Hills...it is so rural and does not have the opportunities he will have up in Provo. It will be a fun time for him with tons of other young adults to hang out with.

Then I have Daniel going on his mission to Chile and I wouldn't want him anywhere else in the world than on a mission for the Lord. He is my youngest so it will be hard to let him go, but it was hard to let Michael go too...but it's a wonderful, beautiful thing!

I do have Catherine living at home again after 7 years of living on her own so we won't be empty nesters quite yet. Catherine is at home so she can go back to school for a nursing degree or whatever she chooses...just trying to help her out too.

So, I work, I am home most of the time, and I LOVE my family! Life has it's challenges but it is good too.