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

It's a Process ... Progress~

Dig In

Richie and I have moved so much in our married life. Always in the search for the next best better job and or "lifestyle"! I recall on Strawberry Hill saying "just dig in", in Roswell saying "this is it" and on Memory lane saying "lets just start over and dig in" and then again in Valley saying "lets drop an anchor or at least a boat in that lake and Dig in"! As my Grandpa Lyman would have said "its all joyful to the purpose"! Transitions are hard. Commitment is necessary. Experience necessary. 

For now we are transitioned, committed and experienced.  We are us for the first time in 36 years! Richie is indeed digging in!!! Just wanted to share his little project remember it's a work in Process to Progress!!!  Plus I found a new app!!!

I guess it won't load so I have loaded it on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_xpDUnxV0I

Happy Birthday I'm 20

Kelly Sue McCoy

a birthday poem by Iris (you know my mom!)

K is for the kaleidoscope of events in her daily life
E is for the exuberant enthusiasm of each day
L could be for Lady but it's not more for love, or laughter, or lessons learned.
L too, might mean loneliness or leisure enjoyed or light of the gospel she holds so dear.
Y stands for the youthful quality of her heart.

S is the silky long hair, sunshiny smile and SELF for which she searches
U is the indescribable Urgency she feels in LIVING!
E the Enigma of those Elaborate dreams she has.

M what else? the Man in her life she looks for and the marvelous magnetic thought of Marriage
C well lets see -- Capable, clever, cunning, capricious or cute?
C too, can be Caring, Catty, Caustic, cautious, challenging and ever changing!
O might be oblique, or obstinate, outspoken or overflowing with love of others.
Y is for the 20 Years she has had or maybe for the Yellow of her favorite color!

Am I talking to You or to Me?

Trifle not with sacred things

2014 Larry Kacher

• accept by faith those things you can not understand
• your Choices do not only affect you
• riptides can take many in the current of life
• establish patterns in your home
• develop righteous currents

Christmas letter 2014

The Christmas letter
Year of Two Thosand Fourteen
It's too long they say!
It is history, tradition I say
Stories to keep #scriptures
#Sharegoodness #HeistheGift
a record of our Journey
#Pictures to share
A sum of the whole
#millennial speak
and this is how it goes ...

Seahawks, empty nest
She say "Yes" to the dress
Rens Lanzillos and Temple & Family!

A move is in the play
Sammy, Cici and Charlotte
Miracles and tender mercies

Mudslide in Oso
DC news snow and Larkins
Apryl, Sean, Vaughn, Pax and Gage

I love Parkers all! (#toomanytocount)
Tea cups, Tea pots and Sobczaks
Hawaii, Tulips and love

Shawn is family
Samish Island is our Home
Amric loves his Mom!

Heaven is not far
His Career is our blessing
We all need our Friends

Chapters

The more things change the more they stay the same ... Or Do They?  

who am I and more important what is my life style

whats my "cause"? 

whats yours?

what brings me Joy?

you?

whats my lifestyle?

and you what is your lifestyle?  

Am I a Two Story farmhouse girl? A sandy beach house girl? A skyscraper woman? or a Trailer Rat? Am I a night time rambler or a Spanish Mansion? I think I might be a row house without a row! When I was a teenager I had the dream of a wrap around porch and dormers. When I was in college I thought a salt box was the way to go; stands alone one personality presents itself to the entrance and one to the back yard Strong and independent.  I had a dream once that I was in a house with long dark hallways and lots of rooms and so we bought the Ginny Lane house! I had a spiritual experience once that presented me the elusive "white house with a red roof" and it has been my vision ever since! What lifestyle lies in that house for me and why do I care? What kind of a house are you and is the house the life style? 

Profile

Today I was wondering why my profile pics in comparison to others is an older one from the past.  The answer inside my head was "I guess I liked myself then".  Which got me to thinking!
I was impulsive and acted often without thinking!!  It's nice being young and not knowing your family is poor or dysfunctional. In other blog entries I've skimmed lightly over my life history, stopping at my Young adult years of which that journal has been burned and only a few pictures remain; thank goodness social media waited for me to finish that section of my life before being fully instituted!!! This year I have the goal to not look back longingly. I have over these last few months been inspired with the phrase "Thru Him you can fix this."  April seems to be my worst month, my month of wanting to look back longingly.  The last 3 years have been so soul searching ... so weightganingly depressing, so looking back longingly. Now a days Richard is having his own searching conundrum. Anyway, I had all those thoughts in like a second after asking myself why I use old pics as a profile picture?!!!

and thus we see 

I liked myself! and then I haven't!  I want to again, but first I want to understand why I didn't and then have a change of heart.

Lets get on the magic school bus and go back

When have I "liked" myself? ...

I liked me as a kid

I liked me as a tween

I had my dislike moments as a teenager

What families did I like and fit in with and why...

DH...It was great being here. Family, chaos, love all kinds of personalities we were kids it was awesome. Residential  she built her own firepit patio with Brick BBQ

JH... I loved her home her mom was great everything was pristine and so I prbly felt like it was out of my league For heavens sake they had a living room with a piano in it!!!!

RG...I really liked the parents I fit in with them the siblings didn't like me so much! Rambler

TG.. loved being there, loved the siblings, parents didn't really love me that much so I may have been always on guard residential rambler with a basement

BP... hated me rambler with a pool (kinda!)

Young...I felt like It was a dream I'd never get this the farm, the attention, but the bars - awkward! Ranch in the mountains

ECP...they taught me what my lifestyle was suppose to be like. I wanted this. Everything about this I wanted. The dad the mom the siblings the house the yard the chores the respect the fighting the making up the prayers before bed the forever bonds. Residential 2 story

GB... love I could be myself here, well I wanted to be myself - I was still on guard except with Gunga and Papa they were real and non judgmental! small humble residential pool pool pool patio brick BBQ

The Stables... I loved it there. I wanted to be comfortable there, but no one around me was comfortable - they were afraid of Daddy and Tom - They knew I was not suppose to fit it. I never had a chance to see if this was my life style.

JA... No that was my time to be who ever I wanted. College apts, 20 something friends, I saw some things! I was comfortable and then guilty maybe in this house. In her family home I was always comfortable and loved the beach, weird for me cuz I don't like to lay in the sun or get in the ocean. I loved the camaraderie the since of people connecting going to lounge and visit, tortillas and salmon, brain tacos, drinking (me soda) and dancing, sleeping and family. I loved it I loved it all. BUT! I was Very uncomfortable with the second language.

VinDel I was the happiest here with this family! weird. I was part of something. I prbly did things with this family that teenagers do that I never did. OOOooops! But the family. I wanted the family. They did everything together. The drama, the love, the drinking, the hugging, the races, the religion, the chatting, the friend shipping, the dreaming it was all done together. No one covered up anything or anyway it didn't seem to me as if they did. They spoke english!!!!

lots more houses homes people have influenced me these are the highlights!

I love the quote  - 

“At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

Now for my houses so many, too many to count...highlights! thinking Lifestyle thats it at this point!

skipping the childhood for now - thats a whole other chapter.

Spool table first apt.

garden boxes first trailer home!

patio patio patio

hated the condo

liked didn't love the luxury apts

back yard tinkering

pool

happiest in the house with the dommers but happy inside it with the wood stove and the family

large family rooms

pool hot tub fire pit

cool back yard for get togethers anyone and everyone

pretty much inside is for family outside for get togethers but in the rain country need space inside for all too I loved it love love loved it when my seminary kids or friends of the children came over

lake beach 

view 

and thus we see 

My lifestyle is patios BBQs water but to look at not really swim in and People!

I hope people remember how they "felt" and that it was good, and comfortable that they felt loved when being at my house 

Thats my goal, my vision my lifestyle!

How is being 59 any different than being 19?

So how am I at 59 the same or different and what and how has that made me who I am today.  The deal is I feel like the same person, yet I know I am different and maybe I don't want to be I want to be FUN, impulsive and full of Sass vs jaded, anxious and full!  Also note here I still write with question marks and exclamation points that has not changed. My grammar is definitely still me no matter the age!!  The more things change at 59 for me are they really any different or am I any different that I was a 19?  The point being you ask? I don't know it's just always running thru my brain every day and today I am writing it down!!  I want their to be a point I want to gain something and for you out there striving to find discover, or answer that inner voice asking yourself;  whats my life style, what kind of a house am I? Not the whole where did I come from thing? more because of life experiences who am I is it true that inside we are always still that same 17 year old kid cuz back then i would have said; sex drugs and rock'n roll and today I say sex drugs and rock'n roll with a different attitude are they the same how has it changed? Whats the perspective? the lifestyle? and why do I write like I'm talking to someone and expecting feedback?

Then and now... (19 and 59)

sex

I think its changed. definitely still happening, still talked about.
1950's;  “A sex symbol becomes a thing. I hate being a thing.” 
― Marilyn Monroe
1990's “I knew I was different. I thought that I might be gay or something because I couldn't identify with any of the guys at all. None of them liked art or music. They just wanted to fight and get laid. It was many years ago but it gave me this real hatred for the average American macho male.” 
― Kurt Cobain
this century “I was like, Am I gay? Am I straight? And I realized...I'm just slutty. Where's my parade?” 
― Margaret Cho
Growing up it was talked about in my home "NO NO NO NO NO"! I feel like I talked about it with my kids, but they seem to not have heard what I think I said! I always swore it was Clintons fault that it changed so in the media.  Back in the day my first response would have been words like Curious, Reverence and Marriage. Now sadly my first response is Preference?, Porn, Abuse, fear and human trafficking.

drugs

Still out there. Still prevalent in most peoples lives in one way or another. Talked about way more openly which seems like it would help in the avoidance of addiction, but I don't really see that. Legal use of pills and weed are taking peoples free agency away not aiding in it.

rock'nRoll or Country!!  

Music is a mood enhancer and a mood killer. I can't find music anymore for the me that is me now.  Help!!!  I like it all from late 60's / early 70s's country/Western, Rock and Motown and then the 90's!

I still want music in my life and it hasn't changed at all what I like. For instance the other day I swept with a small brush sand into place around patio rock and listened to a playlist called "light" yes inspirational almost religious songs. It was deeply methodical and relaxing I discovered that I really enjoyed the combination of the two things. Then this morning I listened to a playlist entitled "Should I stay or should I go" In the midst of it I was crying and depressed and searching again for who I am, not very motivational for a work out!!!

Rejection 

I think this might be my toughest one. My most sensitive one that I work on today.  One of my sons told me recently he reads my blog but I "should write more present day" - hum I think I've found a topic. I don't write present day cuz it's so "out there" then! (I guess that goes with my Profile picture thought! hum!) I didn't know this was an issue with me until right now! But I know it's the same at 19 that it is today at 59 I'm just not sure what "it" is!!!  I find myself asking is it rejection or attachment that I fear? 

Women in the work force

I used to say, when I was a (out in the work force) "working" mom and wife. "Someday I am going to write a book about working (out in the work force) women and the men that put them there"!  I'd still like to write that book but I bet my perspective would be different. 

On being pregnant

When My Mom was pregnant she did everything she could to hide such an embarrassing fact. Big tent tops and dresses totally loose fitting clothing no discussion with anyone about this topic.

The First time being pregnant I gained lots of weight - attitude going to gain weight anyway - take lots and get lost in group photos!!

My last pregnancy I gained the least amount of weight ... already had the extra pounds gained! - take photos and hide behind anyone I could.

Todays pregnancy she only gains the amount of the baby weight and wears tight fitted clothes or none and poses for lots of pictures on social media.
Pregnancy still happens but yes it's changed.

Repentance

then it was all about releasing all the guilt to someone now it's a real change of heart actually not wanting to do that (whatever it is) again.  It's why I am overweight right. I haven't had a change of heart. I still want to eat. 

eating

which leads me to eating!  then my metabolism would allow me to eat whatever whenever and burn thru it. Now I want to still do that and I still do do that and Bam! so this has changed and stayed the same I can control some of it but not all -- I hate stuff I can't control ... now that has not changed not sure it ever will!!!!

watching TV

I grew up watching TV alone with the family with friends. We all watched it together and laughed and cried and talked about it AT THE SAME TIME!  I still watch tv,  alone with ... Richie!!! No one does it at the same time any more!!!! So lost the connectivity there with all the availablity, plus not too much really good shows on anymore that a person can watch!  Tv is still there that hasn't changed, but WOW TV is very different.

Death

People die. Tim died. When daddy died I fell apart even more than I knew until just recently. When my sister died part of me died inside -the part where hope and bonding live, I learned about how we say; "we mourn with those that mourn" just ... well it wasn't true for me, I felt I was alone no one mourned with me. But then Tom Timmy Uncle Otis Aunt El never so empty as when Mom died. So death is the same people are still gone. What has changed is ... in life I see thru my own experiences the things these people attempted to teach me to my face that it took them being out of reach for me to "get it", catch on truly have more wisdom with the age of 59 than 19! 

and thus we see 

Life creates the lifestyle and because of it we are who we are so, Accept yourself. More than that don't judge others or attempt to be who you think they are, cuz they aren't that person at all!!! The house; it's home because of who you share it with. Love yourself pamper yourself teach yourself - Only You can save You!  Never give up and Remember who you are!

Baseball in 1994

Baseball, kids, summer and Family! 

The Clarks do Roswell

The best back yard ever! a nice family volleyball game Nothing better than when friends drop by.

Wrestling

Jun 1994 Fathers Day Scavenger Hunt

Wow! I wonder why money and presents both are issues for the whole Fam Damily?!!!!!

Apryl got Spoon'd

I loved living here in this small town and very much our little house by the school! Easy access for all sorts of crazy shenanigans!!!

aj dances

Ayris! she loves to dance ... this was back in the day Aberdeen Mall!

Dang Discipline

Jan 2014!!!
Too Walk or not to Walk?
to eat or not to eat?
to run or not to run?
to watch Tv or not to watch TV?
to Watch naughty or not to watch?
to read it or not to read it?
to clean the house or not to clean the house?
to wash the windows not or later?
to sweep, or dust or vacuum?
to do the dishes before the meal or after!
to make the kids go to bed at sundown or midnight?
to have sex or not to have sex?
to listen to Rock, rap, alternative, hymns or Country?
To count calories, carbs or fat grams?
To write or not to write?
To dance or not to Dance?
To go to church, watch football, or sleep?
To Drink or not to Drink?
To hit or let be hit?

I found that as a draft in my blog today!  I feel exactly like this today! Jan 2016!!!
I am circling the two year drain in my indecisive, what do I do with my life nature of the now, the -- today! Thinking...what the heck?! 

I think it's something about the new year.
I desire to...
I want to...
I long to...
and so many days later 
if nobody else 
desires too...
wants too...
or longs too...
(Am I the only one who thinks like this?) I find myself asking... 
"What the Heck does it matter then?"

this train of thought though, I'm sure is why Donald Ressler had sex with Samar and why, well, why people give up and why people make choices that aren't good for them. 
I want to make good choices!
I can make good choices!
I will make good choices for me!

FIND a Direction, A Focus, A Positive reference!  writing snaps me out of it usually, like now!  I'm grateful for my own weird little quirks they make me who I am and I'm grateful to be me!

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!!!!

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• 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!!!!

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  Richie, Bella, Molli and Porter

  

  porter and Zane

  

  the honeymoon

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  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!

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  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!