Showing posts with label family history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family history. Show all posts

Thursday, February 02, 2017

MyHappinessProject Feb. Updated!

Reposted and Updated Mar 6, 2017


Emmaline B Wells

I'm so excited ... I got my book in the mail!!! 

this is a great read for me so far. I'm a very slow reader.  She is inspiring.  She never stops, she is industrious, and sees the needs of others.  One thing I found inspiring for me was, at age 51 she had a defining moment that sent her off in a direction of hope, work and the cause of the rights of women every where.  Her interest in people motivated her to cross boundaries of all sorts when making friends and building alliances.  She experienced much sorrow but did not wallow in it or express it in public. She was very self reliant. Her ambitions were high and her purposes lofty. (She had purpose, even her last 4 decades - she lived to 92)!  She wore a blue neck scarf and a pocket watch on a chain around her neck. (As an inspiration to be more like her character traits I've been shopping for these items!!!) Her consistent message in both her writings and her speeches was to live up to your potential, embrace the opportunities for development offered, shun traditional but artificial dependencies, that lock women into perpetual childhood (which is how I feel actually as a wife sometimes like another child).  She always urged women to seek the qualities of "real womanhood: an active mind, common sense, knowledge for themselves, respect for individuality and a desire to enlarge their own experience.   I want to be like Emmeline!

The following are Notes to myself along with Action Items

Today's February 1 
I already knew I was a list person I know I think it more so .
At the beginning of the month I make my agenda, my table of contents, my list for #MyHappinessProject lining out the things that I need to do.
I've noticed as I've done this that at the month I go back and see how I feel about each item and write out what I did and what I didn't do with the exception of a few notes throughout the month here and there.  
So this month I am going to apply myself a little differently and make paperless yes I am that person I am a list person and I need the daily list not just the monthly list the daily list! This month I also learned I think I already knew I am a control person I like to control things I've lost control of so many things in my life that I let it get me down knowing that about myself the only thing I can change is me the only list I can control is my own so if it makes me happy to control things I need a daily list!!!  

Joy

joy joi/noun.
a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."tears of joy"
  1. synonyms:  delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture
Work.Work

The life changing magic of tidying up I choose to call this months resolution Joy because of the book titled the life-changing magic of tidying up, as I read it a few months ago it stated that as I sort and organize to in fact "tidy up" I will feel joy at the thought of keeping something and if I don't it will be dismissed from my life!!! Or anyway that is how I remembered reading it, so this month is the month of Joy and I feel alot of sorting and organizing ahead, now to prepare myself for the dismissing!!!

Work. Eliminate. Restore. Books. Clothes. Dishes.

remind myself part of my joy and search for happiness is to identify; "Feeling Good Feeling Right in an Atmosphere of Growth."  GR

I very much like the idea of clearing out all my clutter and I'm usually ALL in or not in at all so for this reason I have found some of the things in this book harder to do I really love the additional comment of Gretchinrubin in this blog post http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2016/05/disagree-marie-kondo-life-changing-magic-tidying/#disqus_thread "KNOW YOURSELF!"  thank you Gretchin!!!

GlimpsesGlimpses into the life and heart of Marjorie pay Hinckley

Questions to ask myself this month...Be myself.  I am Kelly.   find out who I am then separate who I want to be or who I wish I was from who I am! when are my goals not a natural extension of myself?  What do I want to do and like to do and think is important to push myself to do versus what I just don't like to do?  What is an atmosphere of growth FOR ME?

Repent

2-1-17 This is my sub focus for the month of February and it's amazing on cue this morning I literally fell physically and I guess spiritually repentant and my knees asking for help!  I believe that I am learning really learning after having heard for so many years "you have to think it before you do it" because the thought is out there, it's stirring around in my head all these #Myhappinessproject resolutions! last month was a testimony to civility and I am carrying it forward and I could tell you what I have done every month, so it's in there and something about me is changing. I am curious to see what and how it plays out and if I can actually be resolute!

The spiritual side


  • How do you receive revelation - 1. light is just turned on and you just know. (to me that would be an AHA moment!!!)2. It is like a gradual sunrise.  (to me that says slow and steady light)  3. Foggy and just a little lifting our of a darkness you've been in.   Check out this video - it's 3 min!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slTa15a3mp0


  • When I was visiting my babygrands this month I had this revelation.  We went to McDonalds for a meal - for 4 kids meals!!!  the prizes inside were distributed 2 of each, I'm sure the kid thought that was only fair! Well one of the girls DID NOT want the prize she was given. She went kinda CraZy about it. I went and ask for the prize to be exchanged.  On our way home after much playing on the inhouse playground and eating all of their suppers the prizes were in hands!  The Mask vs the cup was given to the one who was not pleased with her cup.  Again NOT HAPPY and wanted to throw it take it back give it up.  Only one of the girls could even put the stupid mask together and then it was Lame, I admit it!  Seemed the only one really ok with this eve was the one with the cup!  Well as you see it's not a tale we haven't heard before or experienced before with our own children.  The thing that was different for me, was the Aha moment the thought, the wonderment, the self reflection - Do I do that?  Am I blessed with prizes, gifts, rewards, talents and then exchange them, have a tantrum about them, refuse them and or throw them out?  This month Repentance is my objective along with Joy I am going to work on this. Seek out my blessings, gifts talents, treat them like prizes and use them vs rejecting and fearing them as is my character standard.  
  • I'm asking myself what should I pray for.  I'm asking that in my prayers everyday now. I feel like the thugs are happening underneath me and I am not sure where I'll fall. Saying that I'd like to Land and not fall! So I need to know what to pray for!  One specific day in deep solace I found myself praying to not hate myself, to forgive me for hating myself from within for so long now.  I pray for children and my childrens children, My nephews and nieces, people I know that are sick and for my friends that I really want to find and feel happiness. I pray for Heavenly Father to not give us this or that just because we keep asking!!!   I think and RIchard will tell you that as kids we got things from our parents because we just kept asking, I don't want that anymore, I want to be smarter than that to not be selfish and greedy!!
  • #DEEP THOUGHT!   Another eye opener was in a Sunday School class the teacher ask the question Do you remember when you were given the priesthood or do any of you parents remember when your boys were given the priesthood and can or would share that spiritual experience with us today? No one had any comments in a chapel filled with (kinda) with people.  it made me think and wonder about my boys and Richard and ask myself what in the world do I journal about?
  • Yes this #HappinessProject stays in my head now 24/7 #DEEPTHOUGHT 2; when I am confused about life and choices I need to keep the "whole Plan in mind",  I really liked this thought when I heard it.  asking myself when I mess up how do I act in that moment? who or where do I turn in THAT moment?  Do I panic? Do I access shame? Guilt? Anger?   One time in my life that I did keep the whole Plan in mind is about marriage! I can testify that that keeps us together, working, in love and moving forward hopefully in and toward the light, sometimes it can be dark and hard and in the moment, in that darkness things get lost and people are hurt so I am SUPER GRATEFUL for the image and my tiny hope, understanding and knowledge of the Whole Plan!   https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/rise-up-in-strength-sisters-in-zion?lang=eng  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/the-great-plan-of-redemption?lang=eng

Habits

Notes to self from #the4tendencies to look back on and study 
#1 how do I respond to expectations?

Upholders
Questioners
Obligers
Rebels

The theme of the 3 goddesses
The fateful tendencies we bring into the world
Colors the way we see the world

Questioners hate to wait in line
Respond to an expectation only if it makes since? Inner expectations questioners resist rules for rules sake come to own conclusion uphold or rebel
Need sound reasons.
Upholders reliable deal with real
Obligers motivated external demands and deadlines make terrific colleagues and friend difficult to self motivate depend on external deadlines external accountability self sacrifice is often need for accountability 
Need to be a role model do for the sake of others key 
Need external accountability.
Rebels own goals in own way high value on authenticity rebels frustrate others if you give an assignment creates a stop mechanism rebels need boundaries rebels resist habits  

We manage what we monitor
If we want something to matter we have to figure out a way to monitor it

Look for an Up Band
"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"

"Monitoring whatever is important to me insures that my life reflects my values"

Foundation 4
1.Sleep 
2.move - Start. Consider morning person or night person. Lark or owl? 
*chapter29=3.eat and drink right
4.unclutter outer order contributes to inner calm 

"Begin by addressing big obvious habits"
"Act the way we want to feel"
"The way to loose weight is eating habits"

Essential 7? #4restrelaxrestore

Civility applied from January

Read chapter 3 making a case for morality

Read Apologue the loneliness of moral leadership

Family history from December

Me and him 4 years a month - GO!
I did this. It's really an action item that I must DO everyday a little bit - it's a massive project.

From November Be Healthy

Body in motion I started walking. I traveled alot this month but I started walking and am keeping a daily record.
What I eat I ate terrible with all of the tracking prbly weighing in at the most ever.  MARCH AND APRIL Mindful and not procrastinate will pick this topic up 100% Plus I have a contest of sorts now in play for family pictures in July - Ready Set GO!

Quotes I like this month

"I can only change myself and my behavior"
When I change, the atmosphere around me changes."

President Eyring said the atonement is not a thing, it is a something that Jesus DID for us to be able to repent.  a good reminder for me. He also explained how to share the gospel and your testimony with others to do it boldly with love without judgement with this attitude; "It's not that you are better than they are, it's that you want them to be better than they are."  I like that, I like that alot!!!!  Aren't we all sinners and so aren't we just here to be there for each other?

"We manage what we monitor" this is why I need to track what I eat, weigh and write!!!

Dreams to document 
I was in like a High school parking lot - lots of parked cars.
To see a parked car in your dream suggests that you need to turn your efforts and energies elsewhere. You may be needlessly spending your energy in a fruitless endeavor.a parked car may symbolize your need to stop and enjoy life. To dream that no one is driving a moving car suggests that you need to reassess your level of control over your life. You are unwilling to take responsibilities for your actions.

My parked car started up on its own I was in the back seat I was too fat to get over the seat to brake quickly so it kept moving.-

Brakes
To dream that your brakes fail or that you can't reach the brakes forewarns that you lack stability in your life. Now is not the time to take risks. Your life is out of control and you need to make some significant changes. It may also not a bad idea to check out the brakes in your car, as you mind might have picked up subtle cues and is manifesting the problem in your dream.

Storm
To see a storm in your dream signifies some overwhelming struggle, shock, loss or catastrophe in your waking life. The storm also represents unexpressed fears or emotions, such as anger, rage, turmoil, etc. On a more positive note, the storm symbolizes your rising spirituality. It may signal rapid changes ahead for you.
To dream that you take cover in a storm foretells that whatever disturbance or problems is occurring in your life will quickly blow over. Consider also the phrase "weather the storm", which refers to your ability and strength to withstand whatever comes.

I saw someone and I knew her by name 3rd grade teacher maybe?!?!! She didn't know me but she told me something like a warning

Teacher
To see your teacher (past or present) in your dream suggests that you are seeking some advice, guidance, or knowledge. You are heading into a new path in life and are ready to learn by example or from a past experience. Consider your own personal experiences with that particular teacher. What subject was taught? Alternatively, a teacher relates to issues with authority and seeking approval. You may be going through a situation in your waking life where you feel that you are being treated like a student or in which you feel you are being put to a test. Also pay attention to the demeanor and attitude of the teacher in your dream. If the teacher in your dream is mean, then it implies that you may be putting too much pressure on yourself to succeed.


Follow everyone car to house once inside I realize it's strawberryhill house but it wasn't! There was a few horses meandering I assumed to keep out of the storm I found myself wondering around in the house "hinting" to everyone that I used to live in this house. 

Spill
To dream that you spill something represents your carelessness and inconsideration of someone's feelings. You are not paying enough attention to those around you and as a result are offending and upsetting them. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something that you are dying to say, as in "spill it."
Medicine
To dream that you are taking medicine represents a period of emotional and/or spiritual healing. It also indicates that the troubles you are experiencing are only temporary. Things will work out in the long run.


I spilled my pills into a planter or something when I retrieved them I also had bark dirt rocks and a giant worm... the worm stuck out the most it was red and black and huge and wormy!

Earthworm
To see an earthworm in your dream indicates that you need to go deep into your subconscious in order to unearth your hidden feelings and desires. Alternatively, earthworms symbolize little things that can be beneficial for your growth and well-being. It also represents renewal. Perhaps you need to restore some aspect of yourself.

and another dream...
I also had a dream about moving.  again in a high school parking lot.  i was attempting to fit in to my new congregation at church and the youth invited me to a football game!  I couldn't understand who would put maroon and blue together for school colors and the thought came to me that it was a comfort, a home feeling, an elma feeling- elma and monte merging!!!  How crazy is that!! that would not happen!!!  Anyway the colors gave me peace. I looked up school colors and came up with the Tempe Union School District!!!! Wow!!!

Thursday, December 01, 2016

My Happiness Project

Return and Report!
These are my 5 Strengths, I would also refer to them as my strongest weaknesses!
My Friend Urlene and I started a smash book to record and document to make a fun place to see our progress our resolve to dig in to My Happiness Project.  She told me about Gretchen Rubin and her books and I fell hard!  Urlene loves me and so she indulged me setting up these books of ours my last visit to Arizona, you should have seen us, it was quite a mess both the room and us!! I was enlightened to see how much she cared about me, this isn't something she wanted to do! I watched her work at it staying there processing this project idea, I want her to know I appreciated that she did this with me - I don't know how I would have started it without her.
Solitude is a weird thing, I've had my share of it these last 3 years, done some serious soul searching.  These books of GR are amazing and fit to my personality I can relate to her so much, anyway ... Because I'm not a reader, if you know me - you know that, it jumps out at me that I can attempt to use her pattern and find my Happiness, my purpose added to and upon the things I've been taught, my upraising and my current emptynester status.  This list is the first of the things I want to learn about, character traits I want to develop, and the person I want to find down deep within.
and this is where I start.
What is a Patriarchal Blessing?   https://www.lds.org/topics/patriarchal-blessings?lang=eng
The #4spendidtruths These are from her Book(s) and she talks about them in her YouTube videos http://gretchenrubin.com/ this is a great place to go and learn from her

My inspiration comes when I'm reading from The Light of Scriptures
Ok so I don't have my own 12 commandments yet these are Gretchen's http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2009/09/twelve-commandments-of-happiness/


I hope to have my own 12 commandments at the end of this project.  After completing my first month (Nov and Dec of this year are going now to be considered my practice months!!) I think one of my commandments will be Don't Give Up, if you didn't write yesterday write today. Writing, Logging, recording, documenting somehow some way will help me not give up.
I just like this paper! It will have a cool picture on it before this is over!!!

I love her #SecretsofAdulthood
I will apply these and read them often.  I have added to this page the following list for my secrets of Adulthood.  
  1. Pray everyday everyday everyday Pray asking what should I pray about! Pray for my kids!
  2. Move the Body!
  3. Minimize time screen time - evaluate daily
  4. remember mom taught me to write thank you cards  - Say Thank you everyday.
  5. Spend Time Outside make myself go outside everyday everyday everyday
  6. Unplug  (I don't know how long yet but I know everyday everyday everyday that I need to)
  7. Do service and this doesn't count my chores!
  8. Have a good clean joyful laugh (this one is hers, but I like it I don't know how to do it)
  9. Use your talents always searching and maybe adding new ones
  10. Live with who I am sleepwise be productive
  11. Don't look back longingly
  12. Read more Learn more Apply knowledge

This is a great guideline for Happiness also
Proverbs 31:10-31 I want to be that woman

The first 2 practice months and first 4 months
 Main Resolution with subgoals
the next 8 months FamilyisForever Nov and Peace Dec.




So Stay tune and I shall return and report my progress of #MyHappinessProject the coming of self.


Friday, April 29, 2016

2016. Michael Philip Tomney 1882 -1938

Preface...Today Richard and I were talking about our grandchildren and what we know and don't know about them.  It brings our hearts sadness to not be closer to all of them.  It led to a conversation about how we don't even really know how to grandparent.  How neither of us having any grandfather to speak of to build on and then I found this story.  Knowing that my Dad was an orphan and that he didn't know how to father and now that my moms Dad was an orphan too.  I recognize our need to have our kids and babygrands a little bit more in our lives both for them and their futures and for us in our present!!!  Also makes me so grateful for my life.  Posting this for the kids!

Grandpa Michael Philip Tomney

    Left an orphan at an early age of 5 years, he knew many heartaches.  His parent, Patrick Tomney and Annie Gahan had come from Liverpool to the United States in1880, that is his mother and her three sons; John, David and Patrick came then.  Patrick Sr. had been here for a number of years and had a good house, a fine ranch with a team, farm implements, and twenty head of dairy cows for his family to come to, not far from Idaho Springs Colorado, at which place Philip was born on 25 Jan. 1982.
     In Sept. 1883 Patrick sold his ranch, moved his family to Idaho Springs and left them there while he went to find a new location.  He found a place that suited him on the Unaweep, and bought a squatters right to a piece of land fifty cows and a bull.  He hired a man to care for them while he went to get his family.
     He arrived at Golden Colorado on the 12th of December and was stricken with apoplexy; he sent for his family and they were at his bedside when he passed away on the 15th of Dec 1883.  Philip, being a little less than 2 years old had no recollection of that event.  Nor had he any recollection of his brother John, who went back to England after his fathers death.


     Annie Tomney moved with her family to the new ranch in May 1884.  Here she and her boys broke some of the cows for milk cows and she made butter to sell.  She would pack it in large crocks and would take it to Grand Jct. to sell.  Philip remembered those great crocks of butter and the fragrance of his mother's newly baked bread.  He recalled also the way the cowboys called her "Mother" and loved to come to her home where she always made them welcome.  This was a wild country, only one or two ranchers for miles around, and horse thieves and cattle rustlers often stopping here on their way through the country.
     Around the 8th of May 1887, Annie and her son Dave started to Grand Jct to dispose of butter and to get supplies.  When they reached White Water where they were to stay all night, she started to get out of the wagon, as she stepped on the the horses moved a little, turning the wheel and casing annie to fall, lighting on the wheel.  She was helped into the house and said she wasn't hurt.  But in the night she became very ill, and they sent to Grand Jct for a doctor. When he arrived he said she had ruptured herself badly.  They took her to Grand Jct. where a consultation of 3 doctors decided to operate.  She came through the operation alright, but died of complication two days later, on her birthday May 12, 1887.
     After the death of their mother Dave and Patrick Tomney chose James H. Smith as a guardian and the court appointed his as Philips guardian, but Mr Smith sent him to Capt. F.M.Anderson and his wife to be cared for. Dave and Pat were alloted the cattle and the ranch was put in the care of Capt Anderson for Philip.  Philip loved Mrs Anderson, "Aunt Molly" he called her, but the Capt was harsh and unfair with him so when he was quite a young lad he left to work for other people.  While he was away Aunt Molly took sick and begged for Philip.  Capt wouldn't send for him so some of the neighbors did and he arrived before she had answered deaths call.  At this time they were living at Bayfield, Colorado.  Capt had leased the ranch while Philip was yet with him and they had moved in 1892 to Whitewater, where Philip attended school and helped with the Stables. From there they moved to Durango and in the spring to Bayfield.
     Capt persuaded Philip to stay with him for a while after Aunt Molly died but soon again the harsh treatment caused him to go away again.  In the mean time Dave and Pat had sold the cattle and were mining or doing some other things first in one place or another.  In 1889 Philip went to see Dave who was forman on a ranch in Ridgeway.  While there he contracted Typhoid fever and was in the hospital for week, in Ouray.  After leaving the hospital he stayed with Dave till after Christmas then went to Tin Cup to be with his brother Pat.  He worked at the mines at Telluride, Ophir and Ouray and then at saw milling in Dolores, Colorado.
     In 1908 he and Billy Brookins went from Farmington to Bluff in a boat, they were going down the San Juan to prospect for oil.  Just a few miles above Bluff their boat capsized and they lost everything they had.  He went to Monticello, where he met and married Gladys Perkins.  He farmed and did carpentry was a road supervisor and took up a homestead.  In 1915 he was shot by a carless boy with a gun which nearly cost him his life at the time and affected his health thereafter.  (This is me Kelly wondering if that little boy was Otis?)  He moved with his family to Colo in 1923, first to the mines then in 1924 to Montrose, where he ran a dairy for 13 years.  The last 5 years of his life he was first in one hospital and then another Montrose, Denver and Salt Lake, where he passed away Sept. 7, 1938, after a series of operations and was buried in the city cemetery there.
     Before he came of age Capt. Anderson had sold the ranch and skipped out with the money.  Philips earliest recollection of Christmas was receiving a little brown jug of whiskey and a pipe from the cowboys.
The parents and their daughters; Gladys, Elda, Philip and Iris

     He was proud of his son and two daughters and thankful they had no such childhood as his.  He was adored by them and there was no place he wanted to be but home with his family.

by Gladys P. Tomney


Monday, December 21, 2015

The Sobczak Christmas Letter 2015!

at the Temple
Papi reads to the Sobczak Girls
Lets just say all things Christmas are different in 2015!  We started off in Hawaii (well Ayris and; Shawn) and ended up there too (well Richie, Kelly, Austin, Sammy and Cici)!
Ayris and Shawn go Hawaii!
As mentioned in earlier posts with the immediate, fantastic and often too much media posts, a Christmas letter seems completely dated and unnecessary except where tradition has a great big hole in my 2015 life and thus a short (for Kelly Sues' sake) Christmas Letter!

it's at least 12 below  at the Burlington Airport!
Looking back at past letters I see that I spared no detail and completely embarrassed several family members and thus can no more (as if i did) judge any posts about family success and moments!  I would've been a disaster as a youth and young adult and even, yes, as a Young Married couple in the media!! Thank the 'gods of invention' that they waited for me to get thru those phases of life and now as much as I want to "Quit It"!, (much like Molli Parker Smith) but I just can't give up the connections to the friends and family I have because of this great blessing we call social media!!
I just want, (for myself), to document a little about the highlights of this year ... But BEWARE: I can not do that because there were so many highlights! At Richards work party they asked him that very question (what was the highlight of this year?) and his answer was... "Simple" he said "A 50 Mile Hike!"  pause  "oh and Amric marrying Megan" (but that I'm sure was only because they were there!!) Come on.... 
Pax and Apryl
Baptism
The Larkins and Amric
(Seans so cool!)
  • Amric left for school to live in Utah.
  • Pax Bennett was Baptized, Amric and I flew to Vermont, 
  • we flew to Utah to watch that the Superbowl Seahawks game on the big screen at Anona and Austins' - you know the one where they didn't use Marshawn to Run the ball!
  • in March we had our 7th grandchild Kate Adelaide, 
  • we went to a cubs game and a Mariners game in Arizona seeing Mike, Urlene, and the Rens

....thats just the first 3 months!  Let me just mention here that because of the blessing of travels we went from negative temps in Vermont to 100+ temps in Arizona all in those first three months!  Moving forward... 
Fieldings BYU Graduation
Meet Kate!
Cubs Game with Shelbys and Rens at the new Cubs Stadium in Mesa

Breakfast a little Ren time!

April brings us Megan and Amric 
  • Enter Megan Andersen!  a result of a Movie mission reunion party! One where pizza was bought, no football was watched no Movie either and Megan and Amric were the mission reunion sweethearts!!!! We just love her and she is so good for Amric. More proof that Heavenly Father is out there watching over us!!! These two are great together.  School for Amric in Utah led to Bellingham. It will be a long road ahead for these two in school but it will be an adventure and the christmas letters from them I'm pretty sure will show up mine with CraZiness!!!




  • Apryl, Sean, Vaughn, Pax and Gage came for summer vaca and stayed 3 weeks!

  • Fieldings and Larkins spent 4th of July with us on Samish Island.  We love the holiday here on the island; the parade is lots of fun and the weather is perfect. Boating and hikes were all part of this visit. Like I always say - "It's where we Live!"




HIKE - 50 Miles Plus


the pack


he is ready!


the sunday before


the gathering begins


the hat
  • A 50 mile hike in the Olympics.  Richard went for a week with his boys and brothers Hull and Knoblich for a week. He prepared for months for this hike walking each day with Winston shedding weight and gaining very cool and "light" new toys to hike with.  He dedicated this hike to his friend Steve Snell and the past hikes with his boys from Elma.  I have NO pictures of this hike because well the phone sunk into the pool when no nobody was watching!!!!

  •  









  • Matthew and Marcella have a baby girl!!!!!!! and she was named after her Grandmother = Mia Judyann (how sweet is that!).
  • Olaf has made such efforts to keep in touch this year.  He surprised me bringing not only himself, his kids (Bianca and Olaf) but Matthew the day after his new baby was born too! they arrived with all their smiling faces at the Temple!!!!
  • Richie, Bella, Molli and Porter
    porter and Zane
    the honeymoon
  • Everyone Newport Temple
  • Amric and Megan were married in Newport! They honeymooned in Cancun!!!! Moved to Bellingham ... Welcome to Washington my little love birds we are so happy to have you here.

  • Kathy, Don and Gramma Came for a visit.  Gramma had knee surgery, 
    crabbing on Samish Island is Heaven ....  Sharing is Awesome!


    sold her home, retired and moved in with Alicia and Josh.  We really enjoyed our visits with Seffens. Especially our boat trip on Whatcom lake and eating fresh crab on Samish Bay!





  • For Austins Birthday we visited Friday Harbor

     it's hard to catch Austin in a real picture!  He surprised us for his birthday and we took a ferry to Friday Harbor.  He and Dad went to a tour of Boeing they saw "secret things"!  Ate Sushi and enjoyed some Father son time!  Yes it is true I love my Austin.  A moment to give him kudos... he is a Good Son. We appreciate him and all he does for us.  I know he is being blessed for those efforts everyday of his life. Someday he will know that too, if he doesn't already. Austin - thanks for being you.

  • Short Christmas letter just got LONG!!!!!

  • since I'm noting to myself... I'd like to say I love where I live so much. We had a life changing highlight this year when Richard was considered for a job in Salem and he made the decision to not accept it because "we aren't going to move" this is a big deal!!  right?! those of you who know me, know that it is.    Maybe now, I will feel more willing to dig in make some friends and be part of something where I am. I've been timid about that. I really do love it here so much. It's hard to get involved without kids, then to add to that the fear of always being on the move!!!



I have to mention Zane and Marion helping us set up our new Swim Spa












The weekend we bought our swim spa in Elma (who knew they sold such things in Elma? by the way we love love love ours)  anyway ... we had dinner with Travis Vaughn and BEN Doughtery with his wife Ursula.  What a great time to see these kids I taught oh so many years ago!!!  Someone forgot to tell Ben and his family that he is still a hero in Elma!




Can't find the words to express the sadness at the loss of my good friend and mentor Ellen Price

my immediate thoughts when I'd heard the news.
I can close my eyes...
and see her ‪‎dance‬ hear her ‪‎laugh‬ feel her ‪‎forgive
‬I can put myself back in her kitchen ‪‎learning‬ ‪watching‬ ‪‎working‬ taste her cooking
I can smell ‪home‬; where we ‪prayed‬ as a family and by our beds! 
Only the best ‪memories‬ here in my heart❤ I find myself giggling just at your thought. 
I open my eyes and your gone.
"Well done thou good and faithful servant"😇 til we meet again 
bless you and your family for all the good you've done.

Love you and love to April, Jon, Jason, Jim, Michelle and Jennifer and your families you have the best (mom & grandma) and I know you know it too!!!!



Arizona in October!

...and thus the last 3 months are here...

This person right here! I'd be lost with out her.  She is my life line.
these two girls and Debbie were my total circle of friends.
Me, Jane, Urlene, Sheila
    Me and Sandy
    Urlene I love you!!!
    sunset the night of the reunion
    I couldn't have gone to this reunion without a support system.  Thank you Urlene for being that person for me.
  • Kelly attended her 40 year High School Reunion. It was a major decision for me to go to this event! Instead of shedding pounds like Richard in preparation I gained additional lbs! I had decided to not go. Austin, at the last minute took me with him to Ohio for a quick get away and then sent me home thru Mesa so I would go! It is so interesting to see people who you know from childhood, stirring up all those "core memories"! 


  • as a side note....Our very good friends the Clarks; Marty and Lovena sold their home and moved into town!  [see videos on my facebook wall]  
  • and some extra pics I just had to include before its too late!!!  Larkins start school. Fieldings move and LIVE the life in Utah. We love our Sunday afternoons with Amric and Megan...























  • As mentioned earlier we went to Hawaii.  I can't explain how important this trip was for me. I just can't imagine going off on vaca just cuz, for no reason, no funeral, no wedding, no visits required.  It was beautiful. It was relaxing. We visited history, ate good food, went scuba diving (well the boys did), I played in the sand with my girls, we read, I wore a swimming suit in public!, we enjoyed a luau, we watched our son be a great dad, we saw beautiful sunrises and even better peaceful gorgeous sunsets.  This was and will be a "core memory" for me.





















This is the only picture with all of us in it!

  • Off to Vermont! Happy Birthday Apryl! I love having great chats with my Pax, Vaughn and Gage. and this visit was especially nice mom and daughter time with my "sugar bear" Apryl Ann.

  • Thanksgiving brought home Ayris and Shawn, Amric and Megan. It was quiet. It was a bakers heaven! Thank you Ayris for all the beautiful food you presented to us. It was delicious. Nothing so sweet as seeing your adult children be happy. I am grateful. We are blessed. 

    Family Thanksgiving 2015
  • I love love love my kids!!! Even as Adults! Infact they make good better best Adults!

this is my Richie. One of my favorite pics this year and of him.







this is one of my favorite pics of 2015 
I know what she is doing and what she is thinking, or at least I think I do!
  • one of my favorite Highlights this year is a treasure that only moms can understand prbly it was taking a road trip alone with Amric,  the last one with my baby (can I tell you as I write this my playlist started playing Baby by Blake Shelton)  I'm bawling now, so it must be time to quit!!!!  (last because he is married now) 




It has been a year of blessings. One after another. One HighLIGHT and then another highLIGHT!!!!

The world can be dark, but this time of year it brings with it, for me a cause for recollection and reminds me of Light only the HighLIGHTS of the past. Thus I leave you with this thought for the Christmas Season... 

5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set a on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Be the Light in 2016!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.



not the best pic
but we are one and this day was a High LIGHT!