Reba Concert

Several months ago Pat purchased tickets for us to go see Reba McEntire in concert.  It was scheduled for the same day as our temple assignment so we got some subs for that Friday night.  We went out to a new place for us to eat.  Then off to the Resch Center for the concert.  We parked on another street so we could make a quick exit and didn't have to pay for parking. 

The warm-up act was a woman named Hannah Dasher.  She was crude and crass and I would not ever recommend her.  She had a potty mouth.  She had an ok voice but nothing to write home about.  Apparently her talent lies in song writing.  But she wrote and sang a song where she used a$$ many times.  Not impressed.

I wish I could have gotten this QR code closer to get her playlist.  Oh well.

I've always like Reba's music.  She puts on a great concert.  She plans her music so it is in categories and she makes the change of clothes to fit that category.  

I told Pat that as long as we go to concerts I do not want floor seats.  First of all, everyone is on the same level so you will have to look around the heads in front of you.  Secondly, they all stood for the entire hour and a half concert.  What if I get some really tall person in front of me?  I'll stay in the cheap seats where at least I can see what's happening even if I have to watch the jumbo trons at times. 

At one point she sang a series of spiritual songs.  She said that her faith is what makes her who she is.  I love that!  The only bad thing was some doofus behind us was grumbling about her singing them.  Everyone else seemed to really enjoy that set.  I know I did.

She ended her concert singing "Fancy".  She came out in this long beaded, sparkly dress.  I knew that there was something red underneath it as it wasn't even a little bit form fitting.  I was right!  She threw that over dress down and the crowd went wild!  She gave a great concert and I'm glad we could go.  I was sure it would be delayed once again because of Covid.  Glad it wasn't.

 

The Love Tree

I had a small 3 foot Christmas tree in my kitchen this year.  It was nice but I really wanted a taller pencil tree.  After Christmas Pat ordered one for me.  I put it together and put it up.  I love Christmas lights.  I decided that I would do something else with it rather than Christmas decorations.  

I had Sammi use her Cricut to cut hearts out of colored cardstock.  I made small photos and cut them out and pasted them onto the hearts.  I call it my "Love Tree."  When Lydia came over she was looking at the hearts to see if she could find herself and her family.  She got very excited when she found "MY FAMILY!"  It works really great as a sort of night light in the kitchen in the evening.  Next I think I will have her cut out some starts for the Memorial day, Flag day, Independence Day commemoration.  Perhaps something for Easter before that.  It doesn't take up any more room than the end table and lamp that was in that spot so for now, it will stay and I love it!

 

39 and Counting

Isn't 39 and counting for age?  People stop counting when they turn 39?  I may not like counting my age but I do love counting the number of years we've been linked for eternity through marriage.  

Tom was supposed to have oral surgery today and I asked my sweetheart to come along.  I knew he had basketball games to officiate tonight so this was the only way I could spend any time with him today.  I don't think he remembered it was our anniversary until later in the day.

When Erin came home from work she brought these beautiful flowers in the house for me.  My dear husband, texted her and asked her to stop on her way home to get them.  She is the flower expert in this family and she brought two bouquets and we put them together and it is gorgeous.  Great job my daughter!

When I think about all the years we have been together, it warms my heart!  We have had the opportunity to have some wonderful adventures together.  Mostly, this adventure called life.  We created an amazing family together.  There were sometimes very lean years where we didn't have much.  We always had enough but not enough for anything extra.  Some of those years were so tight because we were putting so much into our retirement account.  Am I ever grateful for that now!

Parenting together didn't always click the way I thought it should.  So many times I had to be the bad guy as he was gone serving the Lord.  I do not, for one moment, begrudge that. At times I did have to be both parents.  When we did parent together, we didn't always see eye to eye.  That was frustrating for me as I'm sure it was for him too.

Family vacations including doing the City of Joseph pageant were always a lot of work for me but still I loved it.  It was nice to be away from the phone and TV and just be able to play together with our friends.  

Serving the Lord together has been spectacular!  Being able to be the support that he needed while he served in the stake presidency and as the bishop was an honor.  I never felt that we were better than anyone else because of those stewardships, I just knew that the Lord expected me to support my sweetheart even when I didn't know what his struggles were which was often.   When we served as Area Temple and Family History consultants, it gave me a feeling of what was to come.  We traveled together, finally.  We spoke together and taught and trained together.  It was so much fun.  Two years ago when we received our call to serve full time as missionaries was such a joy.  Those 21 months went by so quickly and are forever etched in my mind.  We didn't work side by side for the most part, but we did serve together in specific assignments which were sometimes difficult but always rewarding.  

Being grandparents together is grand!  Maybe that's why we are called GRANDparents.  Those nine children that called us Nana and Papa are such dears.  I love watching them grow and learn and see their personalities in full bloom!  The tender hugs and excitement to see us makes my heart smile.  Even those that don't like touching so much make us so proud to call them ours.  (Cami)  Whether it is school and book learning or watching them develop as athletes or musicians or actors or anything else, we are so blessed to have them.

Being sweethearts and living and loving together is the best!  I bless the day he finally noticed that I was someone who could be more than just a friend.  He's been so patient with me when I was a snotty, immature newlywed.  I'm glad he stuck around to watch me grow up.  I'm glad we can grow older together.  I love him more and more each day.  Sometimes I warn him that he's acting like an a$$, but he always checks himself and pulls his act together.  We laugh, we spar, we enjoy life with one another and that's what makes life so wonderful.  I love you forever and always Patrick!

 

Covid Positive

On Tuesday it was Sammi's turn to call me with a mask over her face.  Covid positive.  She took the children and herself to school for testing.  Henry was also positive but the girls were not.  I told her to drop the girls off at my house and I would keep them until she was fever free for 24 hours. 

I know Lydia missed her "Hankie" as well as her parents.  Good thing they lived here for most of their lives as it wasn't really an issue for either girl to be here.  Jeff dropped off Evelyn's homework on Wednesday so she could get on virtually and not get behind.  They were also doing some kind of testing which she was able to do on her down time.  

The girls stayed from Tuesday through Friday morning.  Lydia sure is obstinate.  When she gets something in her mind, there is no changing it.  We had many tea parties which was just up her alley.  I figured out that it was better to have her party at meal times which kept the mess to a minimum and she actually ate as well as drink.  

I dropped the girls off on Friday morning and the littles were so happy to be together again!

 

Christmas 2021

 Christmas is my favorite holiday ever!  I love the music, the lights, the decorations and the fact that people are genuinely nicer.  It can be busy and stressful, but I still love that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

There is a program at church.  The boys were wise men and shepherds and Eli was a star.  Cami was part of an angelic choir.  Clare called me on her birthday with a mask over her face.  Covid positive.  I teased her that the year she was born, she ruined my Christmas because I had to stay in the hospital and missed the festivities at my parents' home.  I remember how lonely I felt.

This year her family came and she stayed at home.  We facetimed her as everyone opened their gifts.  I saw her wipe a tear at one point.  Was she sad?  I would have been.  Brock got a nerf vest that holds all his ammo.  Cami got those white boots she's wearing. 

It doesn't show on his face, but Jeff was thrilled with his ladder. 

Clint got a new work light and some wood clamps.  He seemed happy with his gifts as well. 

Butchy got K'nex.  He plays with them when he comes over to our house so I knew he would like his own. 

Henry got the new little people garage.  He was in heaven and Eli played with him.  Eli got his paw patrol Skye that he's been asking for. 

As always, there was plenty of good food and good conversation and good people to share it with.  Andrew and Cierra took Eddie and went to Independence.  They couldn't go last year because of Covid so it was good that they got to go this time.  We missed them and Clare but understand that we can't always be physically together.  I adore my family!

 

Tea Party Time

 One day while Sammi was visiting with Gramma Kay, Lydia asked for some toys.  She didn't have any toys but let her play "tea party".  Lydia had such a great time that Gram bought her a tea party set of her own.  

She sent the tea set home with me and I wrapped it and gave it to her on Christmas Eve.  She was so thrilled and has insisted that we have a tea party each time she visits.  

This is one happy little girl!

Basketball

 Brock is in 5th grade this year and the middle school boys needed more guys to have two full teams so the 5th grade boys got invited.  On his second day of practice I was at school and saw him sitting on the sideline crying.  I went over to see what was wrong.  He had gotten flattened by one of the big boys in a game and was hurting.  I took him home and he vowed he would never play again. 

                                           

Well, he changed his mind and went back to practice.  I watched him play a few games.  Basketball is a game with a lot to learn.  He was a great defender but struggled on the offensive side of the ball.  

                                       

I enjoyed watching him play.  I don't think he cared if he played or not.  He enjoyed being part of the team.

                                              

His coach was giving him some extra instruction during a foul shot.

                                          

Cami has been so much fun to watch.

I can see the growth and confidence as I watch her play.  At first she was quite timid, but now she gets in for a rebound and boxes out.  She isn't afraid of the ball so much anymore and will put an offensive rebound back up. When the opposing varsity team isn't very good, Newell puts in many of his jv players.  She has had the opportunity to play in the varsity games quite a few times.  When family is there, we always cheer when she enters the game.  I'm sure she is mortified, but we love our girl and cheer for her success!

                                           

Amaryllis

 When Sammi was just over 2 years old, she asked her Nana what kind of flower this was.  Nana told her it was an amaryllis.  "Can you say amaryllis?"  Sammi's response, "No, I cannot say amaryllis."  It is a sweet memory so when I saw these at Menard's I bought one for each of my girls.  

                                     

This one belongs to Erin and grew three gorgeous flowers rather quickly.  The others are all in bloom now but they've grown a lot of greenery with the blooms.  This one is done blooming but has grown another stalk and it will bloom again.  A beautiful flower that brings back a fond memory.

Evelyn's Accident

 Evelyn was hurrying home from school on the 20th and tripped on the sidewalk in front of their house.  She came into the house crying and blood all over her face and coat.  Poor girl.  Sammi facetimed me for some advice.  Her two front teeth her loose.

I told Sammi to hang up with me and call Dr. Walsh's office immediately.  When they called her back they wanted her to come in for an x-ray.  I told her I would meet her there to watch the twins but Jeff got home so I didn't need to go.  Today, two weeks later, she is almost completely healed.  A little pinkness lingers but that will fade quickly. The power of a father's blessing of quick healing!

Fog

 A few days before Christmas my sweetheart asked me to go to Green Bay to get parts for the Transit.  it was quite foggy but got in the truck and headed out.  I said a prayer while I was driving that if there was any danger ahead that I would have a clear thought or prompting.  I kept the radio off the entire time so I could feel or hear those things if needed. 

It was hard to tell where I was on the road since the roadside views were unavailable due to the thickness of the fog.  Just as I was coming up to the onramp by Bonduel, I saw red emergency lights.  I slowed down and followed the fire truck that entered highway 29.  The vehicles that were following me didn't know why I slowed down and they passed me.  Once they saw the flashing lights, they slowed too.

Just passed Doc's there was an accident involving a U-haul, a van and a pickup truck.  There was also two different semis in the median.  Probably to avoid causing further damage.  

In Green Bay where there was no snow cover, there was no fog.  It was nice to be there with good visibility.  Once I left town, the fog was there to great me again.  Much of the accident scene was cleared when I came back through but not all.  Driving into Shawano was horrible.  I was nearly  impossible to see traffic coming from side streets. 

As I pondered this drive, which was kind of stressful, I thought about Lehi's dream.  He talked about holding fast to the iron rod as the mists of darkness came swirling about.  This is how I felt.  The mists were all around today and staying in my lane of traffic at a reduced speed was most important.  The road was the safe place to be, but I needed to use caution.  The strait and narrow path is the place I want to be.  But when the mists of darkness swirl around me, it is ONLY by holding to the rod that I can be sure to stay on the path.  I've come to understand just how important the scriptures are!