So Long 2010...Welcome 2011!

2010 is almost in the history books..I am thinking back over the last year. The highs and the lows. The joyful times and the unhappy times. Remembering last year as I left my sister in the hospital on New Years Eve to return home to Reno. Her ovarian cancer had returned and she was recovering from surgery. Remembering my daughter-in-law miscarrying and my youngest son serving a 6 month sentence for drugs..yes the 1st of 2010 was not the best of times. But then came my 40th anniversary on Feb.14th..wow how time has flown bye. Then a trip to Disneyland with 3 of my children and 6 of my grand kids! Great Times! And from Disneyland I flew to Vegas to hop in the car with my youngest sister Nell on our adventure to Phoenix to take care of our sister Brenda as she recovered from more surgery at the Mayo Clinic. What a time we had. Laughing, crying. talking, listening, hugging, eating, crafting and just having such special sister time together. As sisters we have always been close, but now we are even closer. The 3 Amiga's!

Then there was my nieces wedding in April and my parents 60th anniversary party the next day. Spending more quality time with my sisters, brother, parents, and nieces, nephews and spouses. Good Times! Summer brought another anniversary party, this time for the motorcycle women's group that I am an officer in. Great times with fellow riders from all over the western US and Canada. Special time with the Twisted Sisters from Oklahoma. Sad times as my middle son and his little family moved to Washington. Happy times when my youngest son moved back home and has done so well. Sad times when my youngest daughters marriage fell apart. Good times when she and her sons were able to move back home. Great times when John and I took our 4 oldest grand kids camping with us in Oregon. Overwhelming times when John was called to be Bishop of our Church. Blessed times when all our children, grandchildren, my parents and sisters and brother-in-law were all with us when John was sustained and set apart. Great news when my daughter-in-law was pregnant again with a healthy pregnancy. Sad times when my sisters cancer returned again after Christmas. Seems as if we have come full circle. I know that every year has ups and downs. We must have trials to appreciate the blessings that we have. May I remember to count each blessing and know that the challenges are for my good also. Goodbye 2010..Welcome 2011! Will remember to find joy in the journey. Life is for living! Happy New Year.

Changing Seasons

Autumn is here. Leaves are now orange, yellow , crimson, and brown. Evenings require a sweater and socks. Frost kisses the last of my summer flowers. A new season. And here I am looking at the new season in my life. Children are grown. Grandchildren are abundant. My husband was just called to be Bishop in our Ward ( We are Mormon). We felt the spirit telling us this was going to happen, but, we were sure that as with the changing of summer to fall, we were past that season. Bishops are younger now. My husband is grandpa and I'm grandma to 8 grandchildren. But Heavenly Father knows what is needed, and at this time he showed his sense of humor and called John as Bishop. I know he will be a wonderful Bishop, he loves the Lord, he loves the ward members and the kids love him! He is very much humbled by this as am I.
But then I think, what a nontraditional Bishop and Bishops Wife. We are both converts to the church. We have a business that is spiraling down, our children, as good and loving as they are, have, for the most part, become inactive. John builds hot rods, we ride harleys. We also love the Lord and will serve him. Season change.. and so must we. Life is full. I am blessed

Oklahoma Sisters!

One nice thing about traveling around to different motorcycle events is meeting great women from all corners of the country and all walks of life that share a commen interest in motorcycles. I have met many great women..but have a special bond with my Oklahoma Twisted Sisters. maybe its the name of their chapter..but really it is just a wonderful group of women that have become my special friends. I met them lasat year when I was in Kansas City, MO, trying to drum up support for Summer Nationals to be held here. I was alone at he event, tyring to be a lot more out going than I usually am with a group of strangers..and there they were...The Twisted Sisters. We hit it off and a wonderful friendship began. Two of the members Hopper and Sprout visited me last year. Then this last week 7 of the chapter members came up for a visit and to attend our Anniversary Party for my chapter. So much fun having them here. Sharing food, fun, conversation, and riding. Was glad that they were able to ride up to Lake Tahoe with me. Such a great time. I miss them.. I'm hoping that I can ride out to see them sometime in the future. Good Times.

Party On!

I have been working for almost a year on my motorcycle groups 10th anniversary party. It came off this last weekend with very few hitches! Wonderful weather for the most part for all our events and rides. "All That Glitters". I think everyone had a great time. I know I was very much exhausted when Monday came around. Now...what will we do next?

Revolving Door

Revolving Door...Boomerang Kids..never an empty nest. After 40 years of marriage who would have thought that we still have a houseful of kids?? As I count the number living under and around my roof it is a little overwhelming..even for me. Kids have fallen on hard times with economy and are moving in and out. Middle daughter, husband, and two kids have taken up residence in the apartment off of our house. Youngest son just moved back home, Middle son, his wife and baby will be moving into the travel trailer for three weeks while he recovers from knee surgery and they ready themselves to move to Washington. My oldest daughter and her family were here for about 1 year and a half and just recently moved into their new place. Revolving door...some ask how many are here..and I always answer.."Depends on the day". I'm grateful that we are able to help...but I also wonder what it would be like to have our long awaited alone time. Oh Well...keeps us young! Never a dull moment here at the compound..

60th Wedding Anniversary

April 28th was my parents 60th Anniversary. What a wonderful example of love they have been to all that know them. What fun it was to honor them with a Popcorn Party! Mom and Dad love simple things. No big fuss, no going out to dinner, or to a show, or a cruise..just a family gathering of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dinner of Lasagna and Salad. Then the popcorn party! Yes as kids growing up our favorite thing was watching "Saturday Night At The Movies" and having a big bowl of popcorn on the knitted blanket in the middle of our living room. And for an extra special treat we would have Shasta Soda! In honor of our favorite things, we had blankets on the floor of the cultural hall at the church, with popcorn and soda. We had skits...all 4 of us kids are hams...and watched old home movies! My grandson wondered why there wasn't any sound...yep, old home movies..50's and 60's 8mm. Wonderful memories then and now. Thanks Mom and Dad for the love you have shown to all of us, and the example of love you are.