NEW PASSION.....OR INSANITY!

Every Tuesday afternoon a group of quilting gals get together and hand quilt. It is a process they call "promise stiching" and I have kindof gotten addicted. I took it up because I wanted to get out and visit with people and DO SOMETHING with Jeff gone and it is something I can travel with easily and do in airports, on flights, during down time of my new job, etc.

I currently have 30 blocks done....I need about 160 for the size of quilt I want....UGH!

IN WITH THE NEW....

That's what they say....In with the new, out with the old?? BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT! I have been trying (for several years) to switch over to a new set of scriptures. I bought one set with the intent to switch over and decided to give them to my sister, Tamara instead....good excuse to hold on to my old ones! I then finally bought a set of LARGE PRINT scriptures...(no more needs to be said about THAT). They have been sitting on my bookcase for about a year and a half. So finally I got them out and have been slowly switching over.

My old set are like my best friend! I have used them for probably 15 years or so, (whenever the new footnotes came out) and have taught seminary out of them for 12 years.....it is a PAINFUL process that I have pouted about for far too long.

SO HERE GOES>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THANK YOU, JOAN!

My sewing room/craft room/extra space now that it is no longer a seminary room.... has fast become my favorite spot in my house. Thanks to Joan, my step-mom, I was able to add a BEAUTIFUL sewing/craft table to the room. I spent yesterday re-organizing my material "stash" and getting the room less cluttered (something I love). I love going in there and flipping on the light! Now I might get it painted a bright color....my daughter, Tanya has recently inspired me to use bright colors.....the next hurdle is talking Jeff into it!

NEW OPPORTUNITY!

Jeff has worked for a company called EMSI for the past year or so and just recently they hired me to travel and do the Logistical Support work. A fancy name for the "gofur", but it works. I get to travel with Jeff and I do all the computer work, provide snacks, take care of the instructor travel, etc. So far it has been very enjoyable and I have the opportunity to travel with Jeff and not be a slug at home while he is gone. One of our recent trips was to Juneau Alaska. Juneau in January! Brought back alot of memories from when we lived in Petersburg, AK YEARS AGO. Next trip (for me) is to Miami.

CATCH UP.......AGAIN!

Just can't seem to keep this blogging thing going. I thought I would be better at it than this, but I keep being a slug about it......some pixs to catch up....

NUMBER TEN!!!!

Last night I got a video message on my cell phone from Maisie and Addie (Tammy's two little girls). They were jumping up and down yelling, "We're going to have a baby!!!"

We are very excited to be looking forward to number TEN! Tammy is due in late July it sounds like and is doing fairly well. She has migraine headaches so it is always a little touch and go for her as she goes off the meds during pregnacy. Here's keeping our fingers crossed that this is an easy one for her!!

I would love to see Brannon get a little "Cowboy" fan, but if I were a betting grandma I would put my money on a third little girl. For whatever reason, I just see them with three little girly girls.

LOVE THIS NANA STUFF!!!

INTERESTING!

I had been reading the newspaper and this article caught my attention. It was about some money savings tactics for the new year, but mostly some smart things to think about during these difficult economic times. I was going to e-mail it to my kids, but thought instead I would blog it.

I have NO idea who reads this blog, probably just my kids and very few friends, but in case it would be helpful to others, I thought I would pass this information on.

Here is a quick summary of some of the highlights of the article:

• Order your FREE credit report....we are entitled to one free credit report a year. Here is the web site: www.annualcreditreport.com
• Once you receive your credit report review it and take the time to make changes....ie: if you are making regular payments on a loan and it doesn't show up on the report, contact the lender. Otherwise you are not getting credit for "good" credit.
• SCRUPULOUSLY pay your bills on time. One late payment can be costly on a credit report.
• Set up on-line banking. Helps you to keep up with payment due dates, and notices can be set up to notify you when a bill is due. Limits late payments and ugly late fees.
• Try to set up a on-line banking account with a bank that offers this service free. Most do anymore.
• Avoid ATM fees....again, your personal bank should NOT charge for an ATM withdrawal....if they do find a bank and offers free ATM and free on-line banking.
• The article says the reason for on-line banking is that it is a much better paper trail, (believe it or not) and allows you greater options to work with a company on payment times and days, etc.

How you are scored on your credit report:

Payment history: 35%
Amount you owe: 30%
Length of Credit History: 15%
New Credit: 10%
Types of credit: 10% (Didn't elaborate on "types")



As I am sitting here reading this again, these really seem like simple things and most people already do them, but for us old foogies who are a little nervous about on-line banking it helped me to be a bit braver and just get it done. I tried the on line credit report and it works pretty slick. Really good to see what accounts are open/closed/no longer active, etc.

Well, not much more....Just wanted to pass this on.

JUST ABOUT HOME!

After a week in Snowflake with Chad and Cassie and Justin and Jessica; two days in Phoenix with Nan and Gerald (Jeff's family) and a quick overnight trip at Larry and Jerri's, we are headed home. We have gone through freezing cold weather and enjoyed 71 degree weather in Phoenix. Beautiful drives and roads and terrible snowy, icy roads.....but all is good.

We had a wonderful time with Chad and Cassie. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Chad and Jeff did alot of work to help Chad catch up on rock work, fence work, painting touch up, etc,. Always something to do and I had the job of holding Jessica for hours at a time! I definitely got the better end of that stick! Justin is talking up a storm and Papa and I can understand most of what he is saying. He didn't want us to leave by the end of the week, and that made me the most happy! It seems we just get to spend enough time for him to get comfortable with us and then we have to leave. Hopefully he is getting older and will remember us better. Papa and I spent time on our drive home planning some camping trips we might be able to take Justin, Seth, Noah, Hope, Maisie and Addie on. (Jessica, too when she is older!) Hopefully some fun times we can share. We love opportunities to spend individual time with our grandbabies!



Tammy and Brannon and girls spend a few days in Reno with Grandpa Vern and Grandma Nancy. Sounds like they had a good time as well. The drive is always more than you think and crummy roads don't help, but I know Nancy loved the girls and appreciates the effort they make to be there. Sorry Brannon about the Cowboys! BUMMER! Jets, too!!!



Tanya and Matt and family moved back to Montana to be closer to family and then we leave for the holidays and Matt had to leave for Billings around noon on Christmas Day. Not the most fun way to spend Christmas, but they did spend time with the Kanenwisher family before Matt left and were able to enjoy the great snow for sledding. We had them up to our house before we left and celebrated our Christmas together with my sister, Terry as well.


I love all the joy and peace the season brings. I love visiting all our children and grandchildren. I love being able to look forward to home, the gospel in our lives, and the opportunities it brings to each of us.

May God bless each of you in your choices and endeavors for the New Year.

We love you all, miss you all, I plan to get a card out to many of you during the first of the year!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!

CHRISTMAS is such a beautfiul time of year....even more so when you have little people around! This year we traveled to Arizona to be with Chad, Cassie, Justin and Jessica. Children just make the spirit of Christmas come alive.....what is it the Savior said..."become as a little child"....That seems so much more meaningful during this time of year. They bring out the "child" in all of us.

Little Boys.....Big Boys....Some things never change!

Muddy, Buddy......Chad loves the mud as an adult as much as he did as a little boy! We are in Arizona for Christmas and I was struck by my son's "muddy" trucks. He works in the woods, plays in the woods...works in the mud, plays in the mud! Life is GOOD!!