Mom

Words cannot express the love and appreciation I have for my Mother. She was the best.

Her greatest possesions were her family and she loved each one of them for who they were. She loved Preston and was proud of him serving a mission. She would tease him that he wasn't so tough and that she could take him down in a minute. She couldn't believe that he would choose to be married at 8:30 in the morning, but she and Dad were the first ones to the temple.

Meranda was her redhead. She loved her long beautiful red hair. She loved it when she would curl it and wear it down. Meranda was a lap sitter and would always find Grandma's lap to sit on. As an adult, she would sit next to Grandma and hold her hand. She was Grandma's ball player and she loved watching Meranda play!

Parker totally cracked Grandma up! He would make her laugh and forget about how crappy she felt. She thought he was so good looking. He loved swimming in Grandma's pool and she loved yelling at him while he was swimming.

Evan felt like Mom and Dad didn't think he was good enough to marry their daughter. But they grew to love him for who he was. They saw what a good husband, father and son he was and appreciated that about him. Mom would ask him to do things and she knew he would do it in a heartbeat and that it would be done the way she wanted.

I was Mom's last daughter to get married and we spent a lot of time together as adults. When I got married, she told me she was losing her best friend. There were times when I didn't feel like I was a very good daughter. It has been difficult seeing her struggle during the last year. I had the opportunity to help them at their doctor appointments - three times during January - and sometimes it was exhausting! Friday morning I spent a couple of hours with them at the doctors office. Mom was in a bad way and Dad was very concerned. I think we both knew her time to leave us was near but we would be there for her as long as she needed us!

I was so grateful for the time we spent with them as a family on Thursday night. Meranda had driven down for my birthday and we all ended up at Mom's house with ice cream cake. She felt like total crap but she laughed and popped off. I am so thankful we were able to spend that evening with her as a family. It is something I will cherish for ever!

Mom was an amazing woman. I know she is watching over us and will be forever!

I love you Mom!

Family Matters....

I'm so thankful for my family.

Husband, children, parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews

They are the bright spot in my life.

I don't know what I would do without them.

Enough said!

It's my Birthday and I'll post if I want to!

Today, January 20th, is my birthday. It's a nice even number day even though it is in January. Every 4 years the President of the United States is sworn in on my Birthday. I never really liked having a birthday in January. All of the stuff in the stores is left over from Christmas, the spring merchandise is being put out, but who feels like buying that in January!?!?!?!?!

I've lived a short (or somedays) a long 54 years. I don't feel like I'm 54 whatever that is supposed to feel like.

So I've been thinking about what I have done in those 54 years. The other night Parker told me that his Keyboarding teacher was a Sterling Scholar in Business. I told him that I was and he was surprised because he didn't know that. My life B.M. (before marriage) is somewhat a mystery to my family because I don't really talk about it much. So as I have been reflecting about those "early" years I thought that there probably are some things that the readers of my blog might like to know........

I started playing the piano when I was about 5 years old. I only had about 4 weeks of formal lessons - and was self taught with the support of Mom. I played my first solo at my 2nd grade Christmas party and was accompanying the school choir in 6th grade. I was the ward organist from about the time I was 13 (and still am today).

I attended Webster Elementary for Kindergarten and 1st grade and then went to Lakeridge Elementary starting in 2nd grade when it was a brand new school. I was on the student council in 2nd grade because Mike Fraser, the President of School, picked me and I hated it! I started playing the clarinet in 3rd grade, which was early and was because I already knew how to read music. I was a 4th grader in a 4th/5th grade split class and that year I was invited to my first "boy/girl" birthday party. Mr. Bates was my 6th grade teacher - who moved to Idaho and his son served a mission with Evan - and he actually came to my wedding - small world.


Brockbank Junior High was a time I would like to forget, but luckily it was just for 7th and 8th grade. I was kind of a geek, played in the band, took all the honors classes and pretty much hung out by myself at lunch. I had 7th grade gym with all of the 8th grade cheerleaders. Showering after gym class was mandatory and probably the most degrading thing I have ever had to do. I was exposed to kids my age "smoking" when a girl in my gym class lit up outside while we were playing a softball game. We actually started wearing "dress pants" to school when I was in Junior high - it was dresses up to that time.

High School began as a Freshman at Cyprus High and I was "Judy's little sister". I tagged along to the games with her and her friends and somehow survived. But I did get involved in high school, partly because of Judy's example and decided to try to enjoy high school. I was in the Band, Pep Club, Keyettes, FBLA, National Honor Society, Copy Editor of the Yearbook, on Song & Yell Committees and the Graduation Committee Chairperson. My senior year, I won a couple of awards during Spirit Week - dressed up as a Hillbilly on "Sticker-gitter-day" (first place) and as a "Greaser" on 50's day (honorable mention). I was President of both FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and Keyettes (a service organization). I was chosen as the Business Sterling Scholar and made it on Television as one of the 12 finalists and I wore a new blue floral formal with a scarf tied around my neck. I wrote the winning "Original Song" my Senior Year for Song & Yell. I graduated 13th in my class with a 3.93 GPA and earned a scholarship to the University of Utah. Toddlers & Tiaras have nothing on me - I competed in the Miss Magna Contest with Magna Water as my sponsor.

After High School, I attended the University of Utah and was on a Business Advisory Committee my Freshman year and actually ate dinner in the home of Jon Huntsman, Sr. - he was the Dean of the School of Business and I had no idea who he was. I worked the entire time I went to the U and took mostly night classes. It took me 11 years to finally graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. I was a member of the business fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi and was Vice President my last year! I did an internship with the Big 8 accounting firm of Coopers and Lybrand and then accepted a full time position with them after graduation.

I could go on and on - but I think that's enough for now. All of the things I did "back then" helped develop who I am today. I'm thankful for the experiences - both the good ones and the bad. I don't think I will be around after another 54 years - but you never know!

1-11-11

What's going on today - 1/11/11........

Weather - cold, cold and colder. The temp in Logan was 2 below this morning. Parker texted Meranda to let her know. She said she threw another layer on.

Gas prices - not too bad today - with my 10 cent discount at Smiths - I paid $2.53 a gallon.

Sports - Hunter plays Skyline - the Utes play BYU. Hopefully one of them will come away with a win - if so - I doubt it will be the Utes.

Work - being an accountant, my work is based alot on dates - closing dates - posting dates - reporting dates - today hopefully is a closing date - but probably not.......

School - end of the semester for Parker this week) - start of a new semester for Preston, Meranda and Katie.

2011

I've reflected just a bit on 2010 and am looking ahead to 2011.....not really knowing what it will bring. Parker asked what my New Years Resolution was. I told him the same as always - lose 10 pounds. If I actually succeeded in this annual resolution, I wonder what I would weigh???

So what will 2011 bring - hopefully good things! I am looking forward to.....

Vacations - actually going to take a couple without a softball game to watch

Anniversaries - Mom and Dad's 60th! Evan and Cindy's 25th! If we are still kicking at our 60th, I would be 90 and Evan would be 87.

Financial Freedom - setting goals and accomplishing them

Home Improvement Projects - finishing the exercise room, remodeling the downstairs family room (we need a bigger room with more seating), turning Preston's bedroom into a guest room.

Yard Work - Enhancing the back yard with a fire pit conversation area, rose bushes on the south side of the house, taking out multiple trees and relandscaping a bit.

So there you go ---- I'm pretty sure the "fun" things will happen - hopefully the "work" things will happen too - because they would be fun in the long run......