CATCHING UP AND SOME PICTURES

Well, it's been quite awhile since my last post.
Heather & Stephanie's brother was in Idaho for a week during the week of Mother's Day. I didn't get a chance to visit with him, but Rick did. I asked the girls if they would get a family picutre of the 3 of them. I told them to act like they liked each other. By the time they got finished posing for pictures, I think they were tired. I think they could have smiled a little more. However, I'm grateful to have the picture anyhow.
Stephanie, Heather & Andy

Mady had a spring concert not too long ago. She plays the viola. She was setting behing a music stand. Because of that, I couldn't get a picture of her while she was actually playing. I had her pose for a picture.
"Mady" Rodriguez
Rick is doing much better than what he was. He seems to have some desire and actually is enjoying parts of life again. We're grateful for the improvements that we have.

For Memorial Day, Rick & I took Mom/Grandma out to eat. She really enjoyed getting out of the Nursing Home. I physically can't take her by myself anymore. I'm not tough enough anymore. So I have to wait for a time that Rick is willing to help me. Sadly, I've only been able to take her out of the home twice-now and during the holidays. (She would have gone one other time, except she got sick.) Anyhow, Mom thought it was a great day. I'm going to try and take her out more often. Rick & I went to a movie afterwards.

During the month of June, Heather's kids all play baseball. This year, they are on 3 different teams, different times, different days. Our month will be busy - trying to go to most of them. Last Thursday night, Tyler's team was losing. Tyler's team had last up. We caught up and the the game was tied. They played 2 extra innings. Tyler's team had 2 outs, and Tyler had 2 strikes at the bottom of the second extra inning. Tyler pulled thru and got a home run at the very last chance. They won. Today is "Bekha's" first game. The first two were cancelled. One of Jacob's games was cancelled also. We've had a lot of rain lately.
Well, that's all for now.

GOOD ADVICE FOR ALL

This is copied from:  L.D.S. Young Single Adult Gems
The Virture Of Heavenly Patience                                                                                                                           “Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.”
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-Thomas S. Monson, “Patience, a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Sept. 2002

MOTHERS'S DAY 2010

This post is more for Mom than myself. She had a good Mother's Day weekend. She got to see visit with all of her kids. It started on Saturday. Gary stopped by and visited for about and hour. After he left, she called and told me that he had stopped on his way home for a visit.
Diane & Helen (daughter & Mom)

On Sunday, Grant and the twins were at the Care Center early enough that they could go to Sacrament Meeting with Mom. They had lunch with her. They left shortly after I got there around 2:00. The Care Center had cake and punch for residents and visitors. They also provided flowers for the Mothers. (You can't see mine in the picture-because I'm on the wrong side and it's covered up.)

Mom /Helen

Mom's Sister had sent Mom a DVD - (an interview with Mom's Dad-Ether Allen and Mom's Sister-Carol McEntire) for her Birthday back in February. She had not seen it yet, because Mom didn't have a DVD player until recently. We decided that would be a fun thing to do for Mother's Day. The interview of Grandpa was only about 12 minutes. I wish it had been much longer. He was such a "cute" man-great personality. The interview with Aunt Carol was about 70 minutes long.

Mom's days started before 5:00 a.m. She wanted to get a perm -so that she'd look good for today. By the time I left-about 5:00 p.m., she was very tired. She'd been up all day. Over all, she had a very good weekend. I'm glad for her.

Rick gave me a card. I could tell that he actually made an effort in getting one that had a good verse on. Coming from him-that's a good effort. Today was also Heather's Birthday. I stopped at her house to give her a B-day card. She wasn't home. She had called me earlier and wished me Happy Mother's Day. I wasn't home. She left a message. I later called her to wish her Happy Mother's Day. She wasn't home. I left her a message. Stephanie called me while I was at the Care Center visiting Mom. She asked me to stop at her house on my way home. They gave me a potted orchid and a card. It was a pleasant day.

KARI'S LATE B-DAY PICTURES and other pics.

Good thought for the day:
Reputation for Excellence

'Work is an antidote for anxiety, and ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents.'
Dieter F. Uchtdorf"

Kari celebrating her 17th Birthday.

 

Mike & Stephanie bringing in Kari's cake.

Traci and other relatives in picture.

Kari turned 17 on the 12th of April.  She's a Junior in High School.  She's improved her grades and is planning on going to CSI when she graduates next year.

A few weeks ago, Rick & I and Rick's brother went 4-wheeling.  (Rick really was too dizzy to drive.  After the first drive up a steep hill, he had one of Danny's girlfriend's boys drive his 4 wheeler.)  Danny drove faster than we like to drive.  We weren't familiar with the area and we sort of got lost.  We ended up at the Little City of Rocks-which is where we wanted to go earlier anyhow.  Earlier in the day, the road had too much snow.  We went a different direction.  I've always wanted to go up close.  It's really kind of neat.
I took 2 pictures.  Maybe sometime when Rick isn't so dizzy, we can go back and truly enjoy the area.

Little City of Rocks near Gooding, Idaho

Little City of Rocks near Gooding, Idaho.

PICTURES - LAURIE'S BABY SHOWER and other stuff.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised that Laurie had one of the babies home from the hospital.  Mason Edward Criss was home.  He's a pretty cute baby.  He weighs over 6 -lbs. now.  He looks a lot like Alisha.
Chantz Alan is supposed to look more like Austin.  He weighs over 5 -lbs now and is eating up to 30-40% of what he's should be doing - to get to come home. 

Laurie holding Mason- not a great picture-Baby Shower

Mason Edward Criss-Alan's grandson

 I gave Laurie 2 preemie suits, 2 Levi shorts and 2 shirts-these outfits

were for 12 month old kids.  I also crocheted 4 or 5 pair of booties for each boy.

Laurie opening shorts and shirt present and Alisha.

I was pleased to see that Laurie had both of the plaques (that Alan had received for being a Good Samaritan)  on her front room wall.  That pleased me.

UPDATE ON RICK:

 He is not dizzy anymore.  We have adjusted the meds. to get control on that.  We're grateful for that blessing.  His moods are not terrible, but not great improvements-small improvements. 

LAURIE'S BABY SHOWER and other

Baby Shower for Laurie this Saturday -the 24th of April at 2:00 at her house. 642 Maurice in Twin Falls, Idaho. Go to corner of Elizabeth & Locust. Turn East-when you get to Maurice, turn North. Red brick apartments - back of drive. The twins are not out of the hospital yet. Mason will be soon.  A few days ago, he weighed 6-lbs. and was off of oxygen for 3 days.  He's eating on his own now.   Chantz is a little slower.  He only weighed 4.6 -lbs. on Saturday.  Both boys have good color.  I have not seen them yet.  They are still in the preemie unit of the Hospital.  This information is from Robyn.
Rick's attitude is improved.  He's been home from University of Utah for about a week.  He's still over-medicated.  He's pretty dizzy.  We've started cutting down on it.  The doctor called yesterday and told us to cut down just a wee bit more.  He's mowing the yard right now.  (It's a driving mower, so he doesn't have to stand up and walk with dizziness.)

UPDATE ON RICK AND MANY THANKS!

Thanks to all of our caring friends that have asked about Rick's situation. (He has been taking shock treatments for depression in University of Utah for about 6 weeks-with a few days off.) THEY HAVE NOT WORKED AS WELL AS WE HAD HOPED! He's finished with the treatments and now the dr. is trying to regulate the medication before Rick comes home. I believe he will come home at the end of this week-possibly mid week.
Again, thanks for all of your prayers and loving concern.

CONGRATS TO "MADY"

CONGRATULATIONS to our granddaughter-"Mady" for getting good enough grades to be on the National Honor Roll List. She had to get above 3.75 grade point average. She was one of 2 or 3 kids accepted-I guess that means from her school. I'm not sure.
Her name and information will be printed in a book that will be on display at the white house for a year. Way to go Mady! We're proud of her.

EASTER MESSAGE

SALT LAKE CITY - April 2010 -The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following Easter message this weekend:

DIANE'S FAVORITE EASTER PICTURE

"At this Easter season as we contemplate our own mortality and remember loved ones who have passed from this life, our hearts turn to Him who promised: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
"Jesus Christ is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world…I am the light and the life of the world.” “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
"This Easter season, as His witnesses, we testify that He lives and that through Him, we too shall live."

A GOOD THOUGHT and CATCHING UP.

“The Lord does not expect that we do what we cannot achieve. The command to become perfect, as He is, encourages us to achieve the best of ourselves, to discover and develop the talents and attributes with which we are blessed by a loving Eternal Father, who invites us to realize our potential as children of God. He knows us; He knows of our capacities and our limitations. The invitation and challenge to become perfect, to achieve eternal life is for all mankind.”
Jorge F. Zeballos, “Attempting the Impossible,” Ensign magazine Nov. 2009, 33 .

Well, I took Rick down to the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute on the the of March-for shock treatments to help with depression. I brought him home on the 23rd of March. That was a Tuesday. He did lousy. I took him back there on the following Sunday. Finally, this last Saturday, I felt some improvement. That's when the dr. noticed some improvement. Rick is tentativly scheduled to come home on the 14th of April.
Rick is scared that he won't wake up from the treatments. The dr. has changed the procedure so Rick is not under as much medication as he was.
It will have been 5 weeks-for the most part-that he's been down there. THANK HEAVENES FOR MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE! THE BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME AROUND WAS OVER $36,000. I ASSUME THIS TIME AROUND WILL BE CLOSE TO THE SAME AMOUNT.
The dr. is going to adjust the medications before Rick gets released. I'm grateful for that

About the time that I took Rick down to Utah, someone in the ward gave us some coal. The scouts delivered it as a service project. We figure we got close to 2 tons. At the time, we thought it was a blessing. For several days, I tried to get the coal to burn. It would only burn for a little while. Finally, I gave up on it. I've been using our baseboard heaters-that's only in 2 rooms. Later, we called the guy that we get coal from. He said that coal does go bad. (Rick's brother says it won't.He says we just need to mix it with good coal. That's a good plan is all of the good coal wan't buried with the bad coal.) We got a little extra back from taxes this year-not much. It's still under $900.00, but close. Rick's brother is going to help us get a new used furnace that we won't have to use coal anymore. That will be a blessing because it's blown up on us several times. HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE THAT HEAVENLY FATHER ALWAYS BLESSES US TO BE SAFE AND PROVIDES ENOUGH FOR US TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
Andy called Stephanie yesterday. He felt the earthquake that California had. His was at his in-laws place. Everyone is safe. THANKS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR WATCHING OVER THEM.
I spent the weekend watching and listening to Conference. I really needed the Spiritual Nourishment. I stayed home on Saturday and watched the conference by my self. Yesterday-Easter-I spent the day with mom. We watched conference together. I didn't get quite as much from Sunday's conference - because she wanted to visit a lot. It was still a good day.