What in the World?

It is hard to listen to the news. What in the world is going to become of us? We are really unaffected right now. Ray and I just keep going to work, getting a paycheck, having plenty to eat, and a nice warm house. We pinch ourselves to think that our family has been so blessed with each of you having a job at this point. I believe that one thing we always emphasized in our time of raising our children was the payment of tithing. Blessings come to each of us when we obey the commandments.

Time is flying by. We are headed towards the middle of March. Michael will soon be home, the reunion will be a memory, and we will be headed on to bigger and better things. We are grateful for all of our family and the blessings that we are all receiving.

Tax Time

The time has come for us to bite the bullet and do our taxes. It is such an ordeal with the houses. Ray does that part. He took 6 hours on Saturday working on the Cougar House taxes. Then he had everything in order for the others to fall into place. I did the itemized and 1040 in a couple of hours. Now I am waiting for him to finish up. We will get it sent off this week, hopefully. It is always such a feeling of accomplishment to finish it up. We have certainly been blessed this past year, as our donations have gone way up!

I have been busy with the Scouting Advancement. Our Eagle Board of Review will be March 5th. We have 6 Eagles ready for their Board of Review. That is more than this District did all last year. It is good though that so many are making it through. I am proud of my six Eagles.

All of our grandkids are so precious. It is good to see them on the blogs and how much they are growing. Take good care of them and teach them the gospel. That is the most important thing you can give them.

Time is Passing

Time seems to be going by so quickly. We have lots of things to do and don't seem to get any of them completed. It seems that we are so busy on the week-ends. We were in Salt Lake this last Saturday attending meetings. Ray is my driver and that really wastes his time. He is a good sport and drives me all over.

This next week-end with the extra day on Monday, we will be going to Cedar. Thomas needs his cap and gown for graduation. Then we plan to bring his passport back with us so that we don't take a chance of loosing it in the mail.

I will be happy when this week is over. This past week we went for a dental check-up. I just need one root canal and a cap at this time. The root canal will come about on Wednesday. It will be nice to have it over with.

Hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day and that you men treat your wives well.

Retirement here we come!

Ray has been working hard at the Cougar House. The other night he went into the basement, tore out the old stairs, cleaned up a bit. Now he has another bedroom with a closet already there. Now that house will be a four bedroom, two bathroom house. He has a way of doing a good job. It seems that he has a way to see what it will look like with a few changes. He still has things left to do, but it is looking good.

The back bedroom has been repaired. He is at the texturing and painting stage now. Ray put insulation all around the window. Too bad, birds! He plans to put a new window in there as well.

We don't know how much our property is worth at this time, but we feel good that we still have them rather than money in the stock market that vanishes into thin air.

Time is really flying. January is on the down hill run. It has been pretty cold here the past few weeks. Ray is good to scrape my car as the garage is still off limits with storage. It was so good to have all of you here for the holidays. We were able to see everyone, including Michael, on the blog.

We are trying to line up our trip to Russia. Got tickets reserved and found out that they would not take our credit card for International. We have to go to the bank and up the amount on our regular credit card and then get them ordered. It is a good deal. So we must get things in line. Our invitation and visa is off limits until the first of March. Hopefully it will all come together. We will be thinking of all of you as we fly off into the skys.

Hope everyone is being good and getting on in life. Word is that the twins (Misty and John's) are sleeping through the night. Yea!

We are looking forward to the family reunion. Let's all support Erica and Cody and we'll have a great time.

Beginning a New Year

Today is New Years Day, 2009. I remember when we were concerned and looking forward to 2000. It is hard to believe that time has flown so quickly. We have had a wonderful holiday. During the Christmas week-end, we loved and kissed the babies along with Bryce, Desiree, Karly, Avery, and Gracie. For New Years we were able to love and kiss Desiree, Weston, Chace, and Tyler. What fun. It makes life worth while to have such wonderful children, their spouses, and the adorable grandchildren that we have been blessed with. We love and appreciate each and everyone of you. It was a great holiday.

It was nice to have beds to put most everyone in as they visited. The three bathrooms made a nice difference. Grandpa will have the sink fixed by the next visit.

Michael had a hard time hanging up after his visit with all of us. He commented that it was good that he is only able to call home every six months. It is too hard on him. Each visit makes him homesick. In May he will be home. It seems like a long time ago and yet the time has gone very quickly. It will be great to have the family back together again. It is a little bigger than when Michael left.

We wish all of you a wonderful New Year and the very best in all that life holds for you. May we all follow the Prophet and live as we know that we should.