What a way to end the year

Sounds like a country western song.

First off - I know I've been very blessed.  In spite of three years of great difficulty we are still in our home, I'm doing dialysis from home, and still have quality of life.  We have been well cared for and I have a new grandson due any day.

Went to the temple today to watch some dear friends get sealed.

But . . . . its like one thing after another this month.  Steve had a wreck the week before Christmas.  We thought no major damage, but surprise . . . big time damage.  Somebody decided they wanted to be where Steve was on the service road and moved over.  Steve jumped the curb to avoid being hit and boom there it was.  So glad we have insurance.  Could have been much worse. The other guy just kept going.

Today . . . I sit in my recliner doing my treatment and working on indexing.  I've gotten to where I take my glasses off to read and did . .  can't find them anywhere!  It doesn't make sense.  I'm hoping Steve can find them.  I'm running around blind and couldn't see where they are if I tried.

November 11 2011

Veterans day today.  Reminded me of my father today.  Dad died 9 years ago.  Coming up on ten.  It's hard to believe.  Sound out to all the veterans present and past.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Just got back from spending time with my daughter in Austin.  I love being with her, but am always glad to come home - my sanctuary.

Our little Benson passed away unexpectedly.  He had been my buddy for the past four years.  He and I had been through some tough times together.  He went downhill in a very short time and apparently had Cushings disease.  He will always be missed.







I have a new buddy.  His name is Bailey.  He went with me to my daughter's house.  He is a handful but a delight.  He's a little black ball of fur and is a busy fellow.  I'll post a pic when I have one to share.

Our visiting dog is gone

My daughter took her dog home.  He's sweet and Steve adore's him.  I'm thrilled.  He nailed the rug under the dining room table.  We had the brother from our ward come over and he tried to clean it yesterday but he said Pepe had saturated the rug.  I think it happened when I was in the hospital.  The scent wasn't there before, but was there when I came home.  When we had all the windows replaced and the patio door replaced we didn't put the doggy door back in.  Bad choice.

Our little guy is really good about it;  Pepe .... I'm just glad he's gone home.

Change

My daughter and I have a unique relationship.  Mother, daughter, and friend.  There are times I have been her counselor and greatest supporter; and she mine.   I love her dearly.

She has changes coming in her life sooner than later.  She's leaving Texas and probably heading to California.  She has an interview on Tuesday and it sounds promising for her.  She's so excited so I have to be happy for her, but sad for me since she won't be down the highway.  If it works, she'll be gone to California in a couple of weeks.

Spent the day today working on the yard.  Its been so beautiful here this week.  I love the cooler weather.

The Little Things

I was standing at the sink washing dishes and thought how grateful I am to be alive and able to do the little things - like washing dishes (my least favorite chore, and yet one of the most rewarding).  I was able to mow the front yard this morning - it was not yet 100 degrees and it felt good to be able to look at the yard and know it had been mowed.

I am well aware that it is only by the grace of God I have a life and have been given this time.  I see the things the Lord does for us on a daily basis and have much to be grateful for.

More Storms

Wow . .  Oklahoma city was hit by tornadoes today and we're under a tornado watch, but other counties in Texas are under a warning.  I hate tornadoes.

Poor Benson is really having a hard time with Kristin's dog, Pepe, being here.  Yesterday for no reason at all Pepe just tore into him.  I took them for a walk this afternoon and one of our neighbors said a pit bull had gotten loose and tore into two little dogs walking with the owners last week.  Scary stuff.  Maybe I should start carrying Mace when I walk.

Clipped the bushes this morning.  My flowers are growing so nice and oh my goodness, my squash plants are huge.

Going to Be a Long Summer

Woke up this morning to the news that 1/3 of Joplin Missouri had been destroyed by a tornado.  It brought unsettling feels inside of me.  So many bad things happening in the world; tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.  I am convinced this is going to be a summer of disasters.

Harold Camping

On a side note, this weekend a "false prophet" said the world was going to end.  If he'd only read his scriptures, he'd know better.  Anyway, there will be a second coming and it is coming.  Personally, I believe sooner than later.  Anyway, watching everyone's reaction to this man, Harold Camping, made me think of Noah and how many people were making fun and laughing at him.  There are so many who don't believe in the second coming and laugh at those who do and they have posted many comments mocking those who do.  Their day will come and they will be surprised.   Phillipians 2:10-11 "That  the ^aname of Jesus every ^bknee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is^aLord, to the glory of God the Father."

D&C 88

This morning there was a special stake conference held.  Elder Rasband was visiting.  They took the entire Plano Stake and split us into different buildings to watch the conference.  We were meeting over at the Legacy chapel and unfortunately, the feed from Roundrock didn't work.  We sang some hymns; watched a replay of Elder Holland's talk from April conference; and then Elder Rasband and President Wilding made it to the Legacy building.

President Wilding spoke of D&C 88 and suggested for the month of May we choose one item from the following scripture:  119^aOrganize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a ^bhouse, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

 Organization and order have always been great challenges for me.  When I worked at my last job I was in my element and had things well organized.  However, home for me for the past 20 plus years has been a place I crashed, hung my hat, slept, ate, spent time with family and not much more.

I have been trying to bring organization into my life and home and order.  My continuing challenge but one I'm praying about and trying to correct.  So my challenge, President Wilding for the month of May is organization and order (both the same in my mind).

President Rasband's talk was inspiring and well worth staying over for.  I love the definition he shared for "failure in the home."  Don't ever give up on your children.  I love my family and am so grateful for Steve and my children.  Also about the safe harbor of home, family, temple, and the church. 

I Love Sundays

Not only is it Sunday - but Easter Sunday.  I owe my Savior so much.  I was talking to my dear husband earlier this morning about the blessings that have been ours through the Savior's grace and I owe him all that I have to give him which really is nothing but my heart.


Church was awesome.  The speakers were wonderful and the choir did a beautiful job.  Sunday school and Relief Society were moving and I felt the Spirit through all three meetings.


I've had some IBS issues over the past week and my home teacher swung by and he and Steve gave me a blessing.


Steve and I had a nice dinner and settled in for the evening.


One of the sister missionaries that used to live with us is going home Tuesday and stopped in for a visit tonight.


It was really a great day.


There is a picture by James C Christensen that I love and have posted it on my desktop.  Everytime I turn on my computer and see the screen I think of faith.  This woman's faith that even fleeting contact with Christ could cure the incurable is matched only by her resolve in making the event occur. So powerful is such faith that the frenzy of a pressing crowd dissolves before the touch of such a devoted human spirit and the virtue of Christ flows to it. (Mark 5:25-34)

Touching the Hem of God - James C Christensen

Finally Gave Up the Ghost

I guess I should clarify - not me - the dishwasher.  It was a great machine when it was new, but here it is ten years later and its been struggling.  Over the past month when I would unload the machine, I would wonder  what percent of the dishes would still be dirty.

When I take a dirty dish or piece of silverware out of the cabinet I remember way back 40 years ago when my mother pulled out something I had hand washed and didn't get it done right and had me wash every dish in the cabinet.  Still scars me 40 years later - ( just kidding mom) so I get a little anxious when I pull things out of the cabinet and they are dirty.  She's on the other side so she can't get to me, but I am covering my bases for when I meet her on the other side.

Anyway - today about 50% were down and dirty and I cringed and looked on line for another dishwasher, since we are on a really tight budget and yet not enough for me to start hand washing everything again.

A good weekend.  I am still sitting here prolonging my time before I start my dialysis treatment.  Benson wanted to go for a walk so I thought that would kill 30 minutes anyway - oh no . . he realized it was a little too warm for his liking and brought me straight back home.  Oh well!  Some times nothing or no one is cooperative.  Today's my day.

Green Expo

My dear husband and I went to our community's Green Expo today.  We had planned to go earlier, but . . . overslept time got away from us . . . again.  We got there about 11:30 and wandered for a little while.  It was easy to get there (only a couple of miles away) and they had enough parking and the local transit system transported everyone from the parking to the fair.  Very well done.

We went to learn about composting.  We took a class on composting and they gave us a compost bin.  Now let me see if I can remember how to do it . . . oxygen, nitrogen, carbon  and . . .  oh yes . . . water.

Lots of people there and lots of exhibits and kids activities.  It was well done.

We had a good time together and got home just in time to rush him off to work.

Family Connections

Last Sunday I went to visit my aunt Mary Frances.  She lives in a "rehabilitation center" just east of here.  She's in her late 80's and in very poor health.  Its very painful for her to be mobile.  She always has such a great attitude in spite of it all.

One of the things that keeps me busy is genealogy.  I've been working on Mary Frances's family history and have had some degree of success.  I wanted to share it with her but short of printing a ream of paper (which would have been way too much for her and whole lot more money than I had to spend), I didn't know how to bring it to her.  Last week I asked if someone from my church group could lend me their laptop so I could show her roots to her.  I had a phone call and an email offering me to use a laptop from a couple of different people from church and then on Sunday I was sitting in a class when a wonderful couple brought theirs in for me to use.  I really have a great church family.  Anyway, I borrowed a laptop and took it to see Mary Frances.

My great grandfather left Arkansas and moved to Texas and never looked back.  No one knew anything about his family.  A few years back I met a man who was also working on Stewart genealogy and found the connection to Arkansas.  Willis was excited to find me because the Arkansas family were wondering what had become of my grandfather and his descendants.  Willis had published a book on the Stewart family history and I bought a copy.

I took the laptop and the book for Mary Frances to see.  She was overwhelmed to see her family.  The book had pictures of family she had never met. I use RootsMagic as a genealogy software and I was able to show her family connections over many generations.  It was an amazing experience to share this with her.

Unbelievable

Two days until closing and I called the loan closer at Bank of America and was told they had declined the loan.  I asked how that could be and she asked me to call our loan processor.  Apparently, back when the whole process started for the refinance, someone in Underwriting failed to catch our loan type and due to some small wacky law in Texas they can't run our loan through as an FHA loan.  Talk about feeling stunned and I am just tired.  We're supposed to hear back tomorrow to see what we can do.

There's Got To Be A Better Way

The doctor has asked me to take one of my med's in the morning and not to eat for an hour after taking it; instead of thinking about how hungry I am, I look for things I can do to kill the hour.  This morning its 70 degrees out, not raining, and quite comfortable; so I decided to go out and prune my roses.  35 minutes later I'm done - only two really big bushes - and my arms are covered with scratches and my hands are sore from the thorns.  I thought I was being really smart and put on gloves - the thorns went straight through.  Now I know why there are so many different kinds of gloves - must be the thick leather ones are for pruning.  Next time. Any other ideas?

Yesterday I called my internist because I'd been having symptons of low blood sugar in the middle of the night; anxious, sweaty.  It didn't make any sense because I'm not even taking blood sugar medication.  She asked me to come right in.  When I got there they hooked me up to an EKG because they were thinking I might be having heart issues in the middle of the night.  The results were just fine, but it got me thinking how it might be a good idea to find out what the symptoms of a heart attack for a woman are.  After seeing them, I understood why they thought I might be having heart issues in the middle of the night.  I thought I'd share them, they are:

·      Chest pain-may also include back pain and/or deep aching and throbbing in one or both arms. 

·         Breathlessness and/or inability to catch your breath when waking up.

·         Clammy sweating.

·         Dizziness--unexplained lightheadedness, possible blackouts.

·         Anxiety--unusual nervousness, feelings of impending doom.

·         Edema--fluid retention and swelling usually of the ankles or lower legs.

·         Fluttering--rapid heartbeats, palpitations.

·         Nausea--gastric upset.

·         Feeling of heaviness, such as pressure-like chest pain between the breasts that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder.

Refinance Approved Finally!

After 1 1/2 years of trying to get a loan modification (being declined because we stayed current) and then trying to do a refinance for the past three months - we finally have been approved!  We close on Wednesday.  I am so grateful.

Took Benson for a long walk tonight and then visited our neighbors to see their new grandson.

Its hard to believe this is all resolving.  Oh yes - with my Irish and Scottish background . .  gotta say - Happy Pat's Day!

Thanks Rebecca

One of the ladies I follow is oh so creative.  I turn green sometimes with envy over her talent.  I am not good at putting things together and making them look just right.  I went to a Home Interiors Party must have been 20 plus years ago and bought this little basket and a bunch of flowers that the hostess said you just "plop the flowers in and they would be perfect."  Well . . . I plopped and plopped and plopped.  They just never looked the way they did at the party.  Anyway.  Rebecca is so talented.  I was on her site yesterday and just clicked on one of buttons on people she followed . . and then I clicked on a button on their site . . . and then I clicked on another button and so on . . . they're on my site now.  I'm fascinated at how they make things so darn cute on so very little.  Maybe I can do this.  Hey if I can do dialysis from home and stick myself, surely I can plop and make it right.  Don't you think?

Its Spring!

Took the pups for a walk this morning.  The trees are all budding.  I saw a neighbors flowers budding.  It felt so good to be out in the air and walking.

Today I made a new bean chili for Steve to eat when he gets home.  Its in the crockpot and simmering.

The house is so quiet this afternoon.

Way Before My Time

But . . . what a way to take care of those postpartum blues for the Mom and the baby -

A Morning at the Temple

Went to the temple this morning with my daughter.  The grounds were beautiful. We went through a session and came home.  It was wonderful to spend time with her.

Finally get my camera back tomorrow.  I've really missed it and am looking forward to using it.  I found I wanted one of the new SmartPhones so I could take pictures.  Once I realized what the yearning was for, it was an easy decision to buy another point and shoot instead of spending 30 a month for a data plan. So I ordered a little Canon from WalMart and its here.

I'm trying to cook different things.  Today I'm making home made tomato soup - Sunday I made King Ranch Chicken.  Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow, but I think it'll be a chili of some kind.

Changes to the Bible?

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has ordered up a new translation of the Bible, one it says is more accurate, more accessible and more poetic. The  bible with the changes is to be released on Ash Wednesday, March 9.  Hmm... by what authority are they doing this?  One of the things they are changing is troubling to me; it is the removal of the reference to Mary as being a virgin, it will now say a young woman.  How long before they start rewriting the Bible and remove references to other doctrinal items.

Children - Heartbreaks and Blessings

I sat in the room listening to my son and his wife speaking of the end of a thirteen year message.  I would have never dreamed in my lifetime this would happen and why.  They have struggled - a lot - but have held together and now . . . I don't know.  He made a really poor choice and this is the consequence. She called me at six and was screaming in my ear.  I couldn't understand a word she was saying.  The only thing I could hear was my son's name.  She got off the phone and I was sitting here thinking he was dead.  I called her back and she had settled down.  The next three hours were one call after another from her, my daughter, and my son.

Funny - the little icon I have on my home page on pornography.  My marriage dissolved because of it and it looks like my son's will be for the same reason.  People just think the only one they are affecting is themselves, please wake up world and know it is no little thing. I couldn't believe that after everything we all went through with their Dad, that they would follow suit.

So I sat until late last night listening to both my son and his wife in pain and I felt it.  I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain the Savior must have felt for all of us.

Genealogy

Technology - a blessing and a curse.  The blessing - I was at the family history library this morning and was on the phone with the technology guy for our center.  He said they learned alot of new information at the Roots Tech conference in Salt Lake this past week.  He said they felt like they were drinking water out of a fire hose.  I'm looking forward to our training meeting this week.

The curse - sometimes technology seems to absorb so much of my life.  I'm trying to be more careful about the time I spend on line.

Saw the dr yesterday and told her I was worried about my weight loss.  She examined me and talked with me and then said "have you changed your eating habits?"  My response was "not really, I quit eating ice cream, and quit eating the sugar free chocolates, and cut back on my breads."  No sooner had I said the words and she started laughing, I felt pretty foolish.  But its great - 10 lbs. in a month.  Feels good.

TESTIMONY

I spent the better part of the day yesterday watching a video series on BYU tv.  Messiah: the Lamb of God.
May I say first and foremost the series is awesome and give lots of room for thought.  www.byutv.org/Messiah

The has been a really good week for me.  Tuesday morning I was at the temple working on family file names.  Wednesday morning I was working on my genealogy and found some great sources.

This morning I did my dialysis treatment early and read scriptures and resource materials.  In general a very good day.

In the last episode I watched yesterday they encouraged us to bear our testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ.  I do believe he is Jesus the Christ - the son of God.  I believe he came to earth and took upon himself all of our sins.  I do believe he died and was resurrected; and because of Him, we will be resurrected also.   I have a great sense of gratitude for the price he paid for us so that we might return home when we pass from this life.

I am learning to trust Him more and more.  Sometimes I try to take things back and fix things for myself.  I spent two years trying to get a loan modification on our mortgage after I started dialysis.  We sold my husband's truck, cancelled the cable, cut down on our cell phone plan, took no trips, didn't eat out, packed Steve's lunches and managed with the help of God and many were able to keep the mortgage current during the time we tried for the modification and were turned down because we kept things current.  So . . .  I filed for a refinance and thought it would be no problem.  It has been a problem and so I stepped into my I need to fix this and kept calling probably to the point of being a pest.  Yesterday I realized I had done all I could possibly do and the couldn't do another thing.  I took it to the Lord and prayer and have turned it over to Him.

Some Days Are Just Days - Nothing Spectacular

The past few days have just been hum drum.  Nothing spectacular.  Church was good yesterday.  I thoroughly enjoyed the service.  Leadership changes in the women's organization.  Came home, rested, walked the dog, fixed dinner, and cleaned up.  Did my treatment.

Saturday pretty much the same except of course for church.  Oh but wait, I did get the laundry done!

I  also did the FlyLady thing and had a shiny sink when I went to bed.  That was good.

I think the trick must be to just be grateful to have the days and maybe, just maybe, its good to not have anything spectacular happening.  

Elder Neal A. Maxwell: Hope through the Atonement of Christ

I always loved Elder Maxwell and missed him when he passed.  It was nice to find this video today and hear his comforting words.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell: Hope through the Atonement of Christ

On A Thread

Life is so short and sometimes we just take it for granted.  It throws it punches and we fall and can either get up or just lay there and do nothing.  I was listening to a program on www.mormon.org yesterday about a family, the Christensen's, who had four children and every one of them had "Congenital Muscular Dystrophy".  After each pregnancy they were told they had a one in four chance of their child having the condition and after much prayer and fasting would decide to try again.  They loved and supported each one of their children and delighted in their accomplishments - and they did accomplish.  They spent alot of the time in the hospital with them, but when they were out of the hospital, they lived. They have lost two of the four children.  I was amazed at their strength and resilience.

We have an older couple in our ward.  I sat behind them at church yesterday.  He's had skin cancer for a number of years and has had many surgeries for it.  They have continued for years to serve and in very busy capacities.  They served over at the welfare center in strenuous jobs.  They've both served at the temple a couple of times a week for years.  They are such an example to me.  I noticed he's getting frail and it makes me sad.  It was so sweet - after all of these years together, he had his arm around her and her head resting on his shoulder.  It made me just want to melt.

I worked with a woman at the temple several years ago who had breast cancer.  Nancy was cancer free for four years and went in for reconstructive surgery.  Less than a year later the cancer was back.  Nancy fought  and with the fight won back one of her son's, but not her health.  One day she had determined it was her time to die.  She showed up at the temple with all of her family; went on an endowment session; did some sealings; went home and ate with her family; said her goodbyes to her family and went to bed.  Much to her surprise, she was still here the next morning.  This replayed a couple of different times before she actually died.  She fought valiantly and was at the temple performing service for as long as she could physically go.  I was impressed with her but also learned another lesson.  The Lord will take you when he's going to bring you home and not before or after.

A few years ago I had my challenges  . . .  I went through three bouts of sepsis.  Each one of them severe;  but he didn't.bring me home.  At the time I had decided he'd left me here because of my family, but I've learned I'm just not as smart as God is and he knows the reasons I'm here.  I can just make the most of my life day by day.  I try and sometimes I'm less productive than I wish I was, but I do try.

We're all here hanging by a thread.  None of us know when we're going home, but we will be going sometime.  The important thing is to live our lives the best we can and just trust in God's purposes.  A lady told me several years ago "the battle is already won, what matters is where we are standing".  I hope I'm always standing on holy ground and will stand approved when he brings me home.

One Really Good Man

My dear husband, my son, and my ex-husband left my house yesterday and drove an hour to get to my ex's apartment yesterday.  Eleven hours later they returned.  They spent the day loading boxes from the apartment onto a trailer.  My daughter had agonized and struggled last week to try and sell her dad's washer and dryer to no avail; one of the neighbors bought it yesterday.  Apparently her Dad saw someone carrying clothes to the laundry and approached them.  They bought them immediately.

My son struggled with the trailer and in the effort of backing it up blew the lights out on the u-haul trailer. They called U-Haul and they said it would be an hour before they could get there.  My husband got out his tools, got the trailer fixed, and they were about to leave when the U-Haul guy got there.

They were all exhausted by the time they drove my dear husband at home.  What an amazing guy.  I'm so lucky to be married to him.

Out in the Light

My family has been devastated by pornography.  Twenty-six years ago I was divorced because of pornography.  My first husband's life was horrible growing up.  It reads like something out of a horror movie and I'm sure it felt like it was to him, his brother, and his sisters.  The scars of this devastated his soul and he turned to pornography to medicate himself.  This past month has been turned upside down because of his pornography use over many years and the damage it has caused him.  He's had to move in with my son and his wife.  The courage and strength they are showing in taking care of him now is of great magnitude.  So many I've spoken to over the years have thought it is no big deal.  I'm here to say it is and there is a growing sickness of it spreading even to our youngest. Its even thrown in our faces at times when we think we are safe.  I can't how many times I've seen Victoria Secret's Angels being shown in a commercial during what used to be called "family hour" on television.

Anyway, I found this website earlier tonight and it is so full of information for those who are struggling with pornography themselves or for their loved ones and families who are struggling with the ripple effect it is causing in their own lives.  I have put their button on my page.  It is a good resource.  www.outinthelight.com

He's Coming Home!

I really thought Benson was just sulking because Pepe had been here too long.  By Sunday night I knew he was in trouble when he'd let me hold him; usually Benson will sit until he's had enough and jump, but not this time.  He was miserable.  I got him over to Dr. Hanks office first thing Monday morning.  They ran labs and he had pancreatis.  He was a sick little dog in serious trouble.  It was a scary couple of days.  I am so grateful for Dr Hanks.  She worked hard on him and we get to bring him home today!

I got emotional yesterday and was speaking to my daughter.  Her boss told her it was o.k. to get mad at God.  She's had a rough time of it with all of the stuff going with her Dad and life not working out the way she'd hoped it would.  We spoke about it last night and she said "what point is there in getting mad at God?"  I have learned that the trials bring me strength and make me a much better person than I was; so why be mad at God?  Of all of the miracles in my life, the greatest is what he's been able to do with me.

I need to remember I am many things - a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend; but most especially a daughter of God and I am grateful to him for my life, my children, my husband, my faith, and my trust in Him . . . and today for being able to bring Benson home.

January 2011 - A Fresh Start

2011 - I can hardly believe it.  New Years Eve was quiet here.  Watched tv and climbed into bed just in time to kiss 2010 goodbye.  I am hopeful for this year.  There is so much potential and a clean fresh start.

Sometimes I'm really not sure why things have to be the way they are and just when I start to grumble, the Lord humbles me and reminds me he is in control and there is a reason.

There's been a lot of commotion in our lives this past month  - still lots going on with the kids Dad, Sue living with us and all of its accompanying challenges.  Day before yesterday I got a little emotional and informed the Lord I really needed a break in it all.

Last night I was trying to figure out what to eat for dinner.  I really didn't feel like cooking and my good friend had brought over some great soup last week when I couldn't eat.  I was finally able to start eating on Thursday and thought it would be good idea.   By the way - the soup was great.  But, I also forgot I had to do my dialysis last night.  Dialysis and salt are not friends.  If I'd only eaten half of the box, I'd of probably been fine, but I thought the whole box was one serving; it was two.  About 1000 grams of salt in the box and added crackers to it.  So . . . when I realized I had to do my treatment last night I knew I had to make adjustments.  I tried, but about 30 minutes before the treatment was over I started cramping something awful in my legs.  I called for Sue and in the short time it took for her to get up here I was shaking and was throwing up.  I was so grateful to have her here last night - she helped me through it.

This morning at church it was fast and testimony meeting.  I got up for the first time in sometime and was overcome and cried.  I felt like I'd been called to repentance in a way from the Lord.  I know she's here and as challenging as it is sometimes, its a good thing.  We help each other don't we all?  I guess thats one of the reasons we are here.

Kristin was here for Christmas and spent most of her time cleaning out her Dad's apartment.  We babysat her dog.  Benson has really struggled with his presence here and hopefully will do better now that he is gone.  Kristin and Pepe left tonight.

I love my children.  They are incredible and are so strong.