Tagged By Molly

I was tagged by Molly. Here are the rules. I did not write the rules. Someone else wrote them.
1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.Ok, here it goes.

A---Animated. I get excited when I tell stories. I get excited when I interact with some people. It's not intentional, it's just the way I'm wired. I wish I could see me as little girl, because I don't remember if I was that way then or not.

N---Nice. Sometimes. I try for most of the times. I was picked on when I was little at school and never felt like I fit in with others. I am painfully aware of what it feels like to be hurt by others. I never want to be responsible for hurting others' feelings. But I probably am, sometimes.

N---Naughty. Sometimes. In spite of the trying-to-be-nice me, there is naughty me. I'm not proud of her. But, she is fun sometimes.

I tag Erin, Sarah & Stacy

Waiting....

I came home from work today just SURE I'd have a letter in the mailbox from Michael. Alas...no letter. That's a real bummer. I mean, come on! He's been in the MTC 10 days now. I am sure he probably has a letter in the mail. Mailman, come on. Julina said she got a letter today and I'm glad for her.

I have no real news to write other than to say I'm home alone. Sort of. I am having a sleepover with Austin & Caylee and they are watching (sort of) Willy Wonka and the Choclolate Factory. It's 10:15 and they've both been yawning andI'm pretty sure they're crashing soon. I sure feel like it.

My husband and both daughters are in Utah with my daughter-in-law and friend Terry. I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself for having to miss the good times. Work won't let me off! It sucks.

I put the kids in Mike's room on the pull out couch/bed earlier and put in an old VHS video in the TV/VHS combo we have there. The tape is stuck and won't eject, and so now, we can't watch TV there either. That stinks.

Work has been intense this week and I'm really ready for a 3 day weekend. Tomorrow I'm making some cookies and putting together a goodie package to send to the boy. I also signed up with dearelder.com and wrote Mike a quick letter. You email the letter to him, they print it and mail it from Provo, so they get the letter's faster.

That's it for now. I need a more full life so I'd have something to blog about!

Missionary Mom

I finally have a minute to post a bit about the happenings of the week. This week has absolutely FLOWN by and I can't believe it's already been 5 days since Monday when I was so stressed and posted last.

Mike got set apart and that was sweet and nice, as those things always are. Seriously, I've been an emotional wreck since Sunday. Just when I least expect it, the tears come. Not sad tears, just love tears.

We left on Tuesday and drove to Elk Ridge and stayed with our friends Morris & Elaine Smith. They are our Mexico "connection". She has a library that she runs that has turned into a part time school, actually. Anway, they treated us royally and love us and our entire family. Without going into too much detail, there was a bit of confusion about the plan for breakfast on Wed. AM, and I have to apologize to Sarah, right here and right now. For someone who was wanting the day to be so perfect, I behaved in a most un-perfect way and I'm truly sorry. One of these days, I'll be able to rise above my most base emotional levels. At least I hope so. Wednesday wasn't that day. Anyway...Howard gave Mike a beautiful father's blessing. And then we left and drove to Provo.

Let me just say here that I am sure I have some of the most wonderful kids on the planet. Erin had been left behind, feeling so bad about not being able to go because she had family commitments she didn't see anyway out of. Nate had work and didn't think he would be able to come. David had planned to come, but at the last minute, they were down like 4 people and he had to stay. It was hard on David, too, when Mike left. In his words, as they hugged goodbye, "This sucks". Well, I'm not sure when it all got planned, but Nathan and Erin were able to work it out and drive up through the night and surprize us. Nate had to let me know once he got in Provo, but when we met up with him and Stacy (who had driven down from Huntsville, where she's visiting her family), who should come out from behind the corner, but Erin, Sydney and Mackenzie. Of course, when I saw them, I was a bawling mess and Mackenzie and Sydney just laughed and laughed. It was great! I just so wished David could have been there, too, but being responsible and mature, he stayed and did what he had to do. Supporting a missionary calls for all kinds of sacrifices :) MY KIDS LOVE EACH OTHER!!! Does it get better than that????

So, we then went to the MTC. You know, it's great, but at the same time, it's so hard to say goodbye to your kid knowing you won't see him for two years. You cry and hope that image of him leaving and turning and waving will never leave you for two years. And, you are so incredibily proud of him. (She says with a lump in her throat).

Then we went to lunch with our friends Dave & Hilma who I need to call and apologize for being so much less than I should have been. My heart just wasn't in being personable that day and I hope they don't think I was a spoiled brat. I was just spent, emotionally, and didn't have it in me to chit chat too much. I'm so grateful, however, that they came and showed their support. We love them.

It's been super busy for me at work Thursday and Friday, which helped me keep my mind occupied and not be obsessed with how much I miss Michael. (Crying now). I went into his room to start cleaning out a few things today and didn't get too far and decided I'm not really ready to do too much in that direction. I don't want to get rid of his stuff, just pack it up and put it somewhere...else. Don't know where, exactly. I found his little stuffed bear a missionary that used to serve in our area gave him when he was two. He called it his Kevin Bear (Kevin is the missionary's name). I just hugged it and bawled. How can my two year old be on a mission?!

So, today we got our first letter from him. He wrote it Wed. night. He's got Elder Mackay (pronounced Mackie) from Oregon as a companion. He shares a room with 3 other Elders all whom are going to W. VA. Another room of 4 Elders are going, too. Says he's pretty overwelmed. He is the District Leader while he's in the MTC. He said he's pretty overwhelmed and doesn't remember a lot of what he had been told.

Well, that's the update for now. I'll be putting a package in the mail to him, probably Monday or Tuesday.

Today is the day

Today is the day we leave for Provo, UT to take Mike to the MTC. David has to work and has to miss the trip, darn it. Nate, too. Doesn't real life just get in the way, sometimes? Gotta hate that!

Mike was set apart as a missionary last night, so now, he's officially Elder Garrard. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? After the stress earlier, it was a nice way to end the day. I just know he's going to be an AWESOME missionary. I also know that he's got some serious culture shock in store for him. But, he'll do fine.

Gotta run get some last minute things for him at the store. I bailed and went to bed last night around 10:30 or 11:00. I have no idea what time he got to sleep. Nate was coming by on his way home from work.

Will post when I get back.

Man, you just never know what the day will hold!

It's 5:10 on Monday afternoon. Michael is being set apart tonight @8:00. He's out playing his friends. I kind of think that maybe packing for the next two years might be a priority, but I guess that's just MY priority, not his. Anyway, I know he's having a good time with his friends that he won't be seeing for a while.

However, it IS adding to an already SUPER stressful day. I've worked ALL DAY, putting out last minute fires that happen in the Transportation department of the Clark County School District. Being gone the next two days isn't helping much, workwise. I've had no choice than to leave work I should be doing to someone else. A superisor keeps sending out "reminders" of all the work we'd better have done, or it can reflect in our evaluations. In the meantime, I find out about a major construction project that necessitates me to put in two extra drivers at a MS in the SW region. Brand new school. Problem is: don't have two extra drivers. In the meantime, drivers who have done their first day of "dry runs" are coming in with corrections and issues that all need to be dealt with. Blah, blah, blah! Plus, new personnel in our office who don't know enough to be really helpful so we more experienced people have even MORE work to do than normal.

Other stress? The battery in the truck Michael drives died. It got towed home, but is sitting in the driveway needing a battery. Crappy timing. Why? Here's why:

Howard found out THIS AFTERNOON that he's being transferred to a different school. He's in mourning. He LOVES his school. So, we're gone tomorrow and Wednesday, he's going to have to pack and move from his current school to the new school on Thursday and Friday and start school Monday never having worked there before! How does that stink for him? It's really a compliment to his abilties, and I'm so proud of him for that. He was chosen for his strengths and I know he'll be total asset to the school. But, still, he was happy and content where he was. And a dead truck isn' going to be too helpful on the moving thing. I'm not sure when we'll get a new battery bought/installed.

And, did I mention that Michael is leaving tomorrow? For TWO years? And I'm emotional anyway? Not to mention menopausal (think HOT)? I think the Lord should only send daughters to mothers who will be menopausal when the kid turns 19. I know he COULD do that if he wanted to. Or, make menopause happen when you're, oh, I don't know...72? Sounds good to me.

OK, I've vented. Now, I have to pull myself together so we can at least have the Spirt in the neighbrhood tonight when he gets set apart as missionary.

How Ironic is It?

How ironic is it that after my post about whenever I'm sick...I GET SICK. Not majorly, I-think-I'm-gonna-die sick. I have an Upper Respiratory Infection. Maybe you'd call it a cold, maybe a sinus infection. I'm on amoxicillin. And here's the biology question of the week. HOW in the world, when your nose is so stuffed you can't breathe, even a little bit, from one nostril, can it be that you can LITERLLY DRIP? That was my night last night. Got to bed around 10:30 and have to be up by 5:30. At 1:40, I woke up hacking and coughing and not being able to breath and DRIPPING! Drip, drip, drip. And, wide awake. Couldn't go back to sleep till 3:something. When the alarm went off at 5:30, I just knew there was no way I was going to work today so I called in. I think it's a blessing in disguise, really. House cleaner lady is here today and I want to "direct" her a little. Friends are stopping here tonight and I want to be sure David gets his room (also known as the guest room) cleaned up enough the Health District doesn't get called in and I just have putzing around stuff to do. Plus I'm sure around mid morning, I'm going to crash and need a nap to make up for my 1:30-3:whatever shift I took out of my sleep last night. Maybe encourage Michael to get started on boxing up his room before he leaves in 5 days! Remind me not to blog about car accidents or people dying!!!

Journaling

My daughter, Erin, gave me a beautiful birthday gift this year. It's a bunch of questions, each typed on a strip of paper and folded up and put in a beautiful jar. I've been asked to journal my life by answering the questions. I actually started this project years ago, when it was given to us (not so prettily) at a Relief Society meeting. I was about twenty typed pages into it, when the disk it was saved on got damaed and all the months of hard work were gone! I've been meaning to "get around" to doing it agan, but now I seem to be getting the prodding I need. My kids have suggested I post it to my blog. Some of the questions I will, some I won't. I find it bordering on narcisistic endulgence to post the answers in such a public forum, but to humor my kids, here goes:

What do you do when you're sick? What are your go-to fixer-uppers to make you feel better? Write about getting sick as a child, as well as an adult.

There is a difference in being "sick" and having "ailments", to me. Sick has always meant rather short term, acute, as opposed to longer-term, more chronic. Thankfully, I have never been long time sick. Like with cancer. The last time I was really sick, it was Thanksgiving about 5 years ago. We had planned as a family to go to Mohler's condo in Bryan Head, UT. Michael came home from school on Tues. with a fever. I took him to Urgent Care and while he was dehydrated and feeling puny, the dr's assure me that if he "just stays away from everyone" we should all be ok. Now, all our grandkids at the time were going, as well as Howard, me, Mike, & David. Tyler, Kevin Sarah and Erin and all their kids. We checked with everyone and it was decided to go ahead and go. BAD IDEA. The first or second night, Caylee got sick. She was just a baby at the time. The next night, I got sick. When I get a fever, I wake up every few minutes, SURE that an hour or two has passed, only to look at the clock and see it has only been 15 minutes! I couldn't sleep, had nothing to read and thought I'd go downstairs and watch a little TV, but when I got downstairs, Tyler was sleeping on the floor with Caylee and I had to go back upstairs. We ended up going home early from the trip on Friday, instead of Sunday. Got home late Friday night, and went to the dr. on Saturday AM. "Congratulations, you're my first case of Influlenza, this year" said the dr, after I waited 2 hours to be seen. Seriously, I thought I was going to die. Dropped Rxs off at the drug store, went home and asked Howard to go back and pick them and some water up for me. I surrounded myself with the humidifier, a thermometer, the TV remote, Tylenol and the phone. My fever was about 103. And I proceeded to "be sick". For about two more days. Finally, on Sunday, the worst had passed and I went downstairs, feeling pretty ignored and sad for myself that Howard hadn't checked on me. Only to find out that he had been sick himself in the downstairs bedroom!

When I feel sick, I like to have a hot bath, especially if it's winter time, and crawl under the covers. I like to eat chicken noodle soup. and make hot lemonade with lemon for a sore throat. And remember my mother. My mother was the BEST nurturer. I had measles and Rheumatic Fever when I was little, as well as a tonsilectomy and chicken pox and a plethora of ear infections. She was always so patient and caring and attentive. I like to be checked on and catered to, unlike Howard, who wants to be LEFT ALONE.

When I had Rheumatic Fever, I was 5 and spent 5 days in the hospital. She was there every day, at least part of the time. One night, when I started feeling a little better, she bought me the Little Golden Book of Chicken Little. She read it and I don't know now why I thought it was so funny, but Goosey Lucy and Ducky Lucky had us laughing ourselves sick! I had my tonsils out when I was 6. We spent the night in Mansfield with friends after the surgery, in case of post-surgery bleeding, I guess, and I was bummed that I couldn't have some Hershey Kisses because my mom thought the points on them would hurt my throat! Seriously??? When I was 7 I had Measles, and was home from school sick in bed for two weeks. Someone brought me a small bell. I would ring that when I "needed" anything. I know she hated that stupid bell. I was so weak, she had to carry me to the toilet and brought me food in bed. Light hurt my eyes and I was just SICK! A year later, I got the chicken pox. The worst part about that was it happened in October and I had to miss going to the State Fair in Shreveport. My brother went and brought me back a big, green & white Teddy Bear, which I had for years and years. SO disppointed to miss it. We didn't get to do many fun things, and the Fair was a highlight of my life. To this day I love corn dogs! When I was 14 I got sick at school with the flu (see first part of this blog; it was a lot the same. Crappy).

That's about it. Did you love it? How boring was that?

Good day

Tonight, I'm going to bed a happy Mama. Michael spoke in church today and we had an open house for him tonight. I never counted, but there had to be at least 40 people here (adults). More, if you count the kids. It was nice to see the support Michael received as he's about to leave for his mission to W. Va. He looked like such a missionary today, in his white shirt and suit. All he needed was a name tag!

I read something the other day. I was at work, at lunch and logged onto lds.org and was reading the Ensign. I don't know who wrote the article, or even which article it was, but something in it really jumped out at me. The Bible Dictionary says,“Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them”. How many times have I prayed for things- wanting them so badly- and then, as an afterthought (if even then) adding "thy will be done". I think I should change that order. Seek to know His will and try to line up with it and ask for faith, courage, conviction, whatever I need to be able to be able to HONESTLY say, "thy will be done". There are times I don't think it matters one way or the other to Heavenly Father, as long as we chose with integrity. But, certainly he knows better than we ever will what is best for us, and sometimes what we want isn't in our overall best interest.

That's my food for thought for this week, I guess. I'm tired and going to bed.

L-O-O-N-G Day

So, I went to bed last night at midnight :15. Because I didn't have to be up for work @ 4:40. Figuring I'll sleep till 6:30 or 7:00. No! I was WIDE awake @ 5:03. I thinkI finally rolled out of bed around 5:30. Good thing, though. I got up and started on Mackenzie's dress I wanted to finish for her, since I finished Sydney's last week. I had a nail appt. @ 9:30 then Mike & I went to the bank to take care of some pre-mission finances. Had to run to Hancock fabric to get something I needed for the dress. Grabbed lunch with Mike. By the time we got home it was 1:00 and since I was operating on less than 5 hours sleep, I as way too tired and had a short nap. Got up around 2:20 and finished the dress @ 6:00. All the while, I'm thinking of all I still need to do for the Open House tomorrow night we're throwing for Mike. When I started planning this, I was really going to keep it simple, food wise. But, after speaking to Sarah, I got nervous and decided to do barbeque pork sandwiches, baked beans, veggies & fruit and dips and cake and cookies. So, Howard went to Sam's and picked up an order I placed yesterday with the "click & pull option". But, I ended up going back to get stuff I hadn't thought about when I placed the order. Got gas. Got home @8:30. Started cutting and chopping and slicing. Put away the sewing machine & stuff. For the first time in 2 weeks you can see my kitchen table. It's ow 11:05 and I'm headed to bed so I can get up and get going in the AM so I can be to church early, since Mike is speaking. Still need to clean up and vacuum & mop. Realized half the invites to the open house doesn't have the time. Oh well...I guess we'll see how it goes.

Tagged

Yourself: Trying to be a better person.
Your partner: Quiet
Your hair:Needs to be washed
Your mother: Nurturer
Your father: Not a nurturer
Your favorite item: My ruby ring
Your dream last night: Can't remember now.
Your favorite drink: Caffeine Free Diet Coke (fountain)
Your dream car: Something luxurious.
Your dream home: One with a sewing room & big laundry room
Where you are now: In the office
Your fear: Facing God and coming up short
Where you want to be in 10 years: Retired and loving life!
Who you hung out with last night: Howard
You're not: Christ-like enough
Wish list item: Trip to Nauvoo
Thing you did today: Took someone to an appointment
What are you wearing: Denim shorts & t-shirt
Favorite weather: 75, Sunny and breezy--on the beach!
Favorite book: Don't have a favorite.
Last thing you ate: McDonald's breakfast
Your life: Stressed
Your mood: ponderous
Your best friend: Marsha
What are you thinking about right now: Who will replace Pres. Faust as counselor to Pres. Hinckley
Your car: Chrysler Concorde
What are you doing at the moment: Duh...doing this survey
Relationship status: married
What's on TV: CNN
Last time you laughed: Yesterday, watching Michael & Chris wrestle.

Here I am again

Well, it's my last Friday off work today as today is the end of my four-10 hour day work week. I'm sad to see Friday's off end, but I'm NOT sad to not have to be getting up @ 4:40 every morning. That one extra hour sleep will be GLORIOUS, I'm sure. It makes me feel too old to be tired and ready for bed by 8:30 or 9:00 at night!

Today, I've got a laundry list of things to do, most of which probably won't get done. If I were Sarah, that alone would keep me up at night! I'm taking a guy in our ward to an appointment this AM. I met him a few weeks ago when he was in the hospital. I feel so bad for this guy and am curious to see how things turn out in his life. He's a member of our church, but hasn't been active in it for years. He has a girlfriend who is much younger than he. He was a taxi driver but several weeks ago got sick and hasn't been able to work. No one is able to say for sure, from what I understand, that is the exact problem. When I saw him in the hospital, he had a severe tremor in his right arm. Tremor doesn't seem to adequately descibe it. His left arm and hand were involutarily jerking non stop and had been for days. Which caused his shoulder muscles to spasm and cause severe pain. He had generalized weakness and now can't walk and is relegated to a wheelchair. Speech was difficult as he stammered really bad. I guess it was stammering. At any rate, it was hard for him to speak. Seems like a really nice guy. They kept him in the hospital for about 2 weeks They finally sent him to a "rehab" hospital for a few days, which I've decided is where they send patients they can't cure or can't appropriately diagnose. How can you "rehab" someone without a clear diagnosis? Since then, the best idea is that he's had a stroke, but it sounds rather uncertain to me, from what I understand. Anyway, he was only there for a few days and now he's home. Out of work. Girlfriend doesn't drive. No real job, though she paints and tries to sell religious icons. Sad. No real family support in town. Anyway, I'm picking him up at 8:30 and taking him to some appointment. Then I have a chiropractor appointment at 10:30 and...who knows from there. Maybe lunch with my kids??? Some sewing?

Michael is leaving in 12 days. Yikes. I can't believe it's that soon.

Gotta run. Things to do. Places to go.

Great Day

Today, Aug. 4, 2007, is a good day. Today is Erin's 29th birthday and today Michael went to the Temple.

I love the Temple. I'm such a smoosh for dead ancestors and think about them a lot, even the ones I never knew in life. I've always sensed this connection to them even when I was a kid and didn't know anything about Temples or their purpose. When I go there, I most often have this sense of being with them. Today was no exception. There were some people I really hoped were there with us, though I can't say I "felt" anyone's presence, especially, probably because I was such a basket case myself. My mom & dad. Howard's mom & dad. My grandmothers. I hope Elizabeth Keener from Arkansas had a good day today, too (she's the name I had). Michael leaves in 18 days. Wow. That evokes a lot of emotion, but mostly pride and joy.

We had people from our ward that showed up and that was so nice for the support for our family. Other family friends were there too and that was so great. I appreciate everyone who came. Those who wanted to and couldn't, I understand. Life happens sometimes.

I missed great-neice Bryenna's baptism, but made it to her house to visit a bit. After the Temple and the forever-long wait @ Cheesecake Factory, by the time we got home it was nap time. I laid down for a "short" nap and slept right through her baptism. Felt really bad about that, but had a good visit with family at Taylors later. I look forward to seeing more family @ Darrington's tomorrow as Tyler blesses Kiersten. Sorry Dustin & Leah that I had to miss Karly's baptism. Can't be in too many places at once!

I am going to officially complain. I'm tired of the heat & HUMIDITY. I realize that it's nothing compared to what I used to live in, but I never lived in it when I was menopausal and I'm tired of heat, both internal & external! There. I feel better. Probably because I have a fan blowing right on me, not beause I vented.

Not much else to say tonight. I'll go for now.

People

I'm sitting here on my Friday off work thinking of the bajilion things I need to do today. Go to the chiropractor because it's been a month and my neck/shoulder are killing me. Bust out the carpet shampooer, but hate to, because the humidity in the air makes it take forever to dry, but really need to before next weekend. Do some sewing! I could spend 3 days straight at the sewing maching with all the things I have planned in the sewing department. Grocery shop because I need eggs. Birthday shopping for Erin. Maybe do lunch with my kids today, if they're available. Write some thank-you's for birthday gifts received. Do laundry. Clean out my pantry. Call my dr for a Rx refil. Work in a day sometime to make it to the Family History Center to clear some more names for Temple Work to be done. Is that enough? I'll think of about 15 more things as the day goes along.

But, I was looking for a new post from daughter Sarah, who hasn't posted since 7/25, (ah hmm) and was re-reading Erin's post. Which then led me to the comments. Which then got me thinking about her birthday and what I can give her. Which got me thinking about how much I love her. Which got me thinking about how much I love all my kids & Howard. Which got me thinking about other people I love. Which got me thinking about how blessed I am in life to have so many people to love. Some people don' t have anyone. How do they do life without loving someone? Its family and friends that get me through day to day. OK, here's the GINORMOUS lump in my throat! How can you think about how blessed you are without crying?! I don't know how to do that. And, why does your throat close up and cramp up and you get a lump in your throat when you start to cry??? What's the biology of that, anyone know?

So, I love my kids. For so many reasons. Sarah is so smart, creative, diligent and caring. Erin is loving, smart, creative and nurturing. Nathan isn't a big talker, but a thinker. He's a great dad & husband. He steps up and does what is needed when necessary. Takes care of business. David is loving, FUNNY, kind, personable and smart. Michael is dedicated to the Gospel, feel things deeply, and brightens my days. They sustain me. Howard can lift me up and brighten me when I'm down (his mood affects my mood, which sometime is good and sometimes not!). He's brought so much good into my life, I can't even begin to list them all, but appreciation for Broadway musicals is one. I had never seen but on, Fiddler on the Roof, when I met him. Then, he introduced me to Camelot and Man of Lamancha and I was hooked. I'm listening to CNN and the sad coverage of the bridge collapse in Minnesota and am so sad for the families of those who died. Some people lose more than one person in their family at a time. I can't imagine how I would EVER be able to handle that. They mean everything to me. I'm so grateful for my knowledge and faith that families really can be together forever.

There are so many people who have touched my life for good. I started naming them, but had to erase them because I can't list them all and tell you why I love them. But there are a lot. A LOT!!! And I'm 52. Which sucks. Not because I'm 52, which I'm totally fine with (it is what it is!) but because I have this huge sense of TIME-IS-PASSING-TOO-QUICKLY to do everything I think I'm supposed to and want to. Seriously, I think I need to live to about 120 to get it all done. Guess I need to prioritize, huh?

OK, I've got to run. Lots to do today. Need to get going on that.