THANK YOU TO MOM'S GRANDDAUGHTERS!   I want you to know that Mom (and myself )  appreciate each one of you that remember Mom.  Often, I go visit her at the Care Center and she has me read a letter from one of you.  You often send letters with pictures of your families and keep mom informed about your lives.  Yesterday, she received an invitation to Danielle and Jeremy and Kaylee's Temple day-the day that they become a Forever Family.  She was so-o-o pleased to receive it.  Danielle even had a special embroidered handkerchief that said:  "Sealed with a Kiss"  The Park Family  March 19th, 2011.  That was in an outline of the Salt Lake Temple.  That meant so much to Mom.
Again, Thanks to each of you for remembering her in your busy lives.

CONGRATS!  TO Arianna.  Stephanie's oldest biological daughter- Arianna- officially passed both of her driving tests recently.  She is now legal.  Mike & Stephanie even was able to buy Arianna a car from their tax returns.  So, Arianna is feeling pretty special these days.  I hear she's a good driver.

I'm, setting here at the computer, looking out the window.  It is snowing right now.  It's really wet snow, so it's not going to accumulate.  However, it is sure pretty to see right now.  The flakes are huge.  I love that kind of snow.

MOM'S BIRTHDAY (sort of)  --  I had a Dr. appointment yesterday in Twin Falls.  I decided since it was just a few days before Mom's birthday that I would just take her out to lunch today.  That way, I wouldn't have to go back to Twin Falls tomorrow.  She enjoyed going out.  We had a nice visit.  She wanted me to come back to Twin Falls on Thursday, but I said I just couldn't make it and besides maybe Grant and the twins would stop by and visit her tomorrow.  (Grant called today.  They are going.) 
I didn't know that the day was going to turn into an all day event.  My Dr. appointment was at 10:00.  I went to the Care center and asked if she wanted to go out to eat.  As we were leaving, the driver of care center came and told us that she (Mom) had a Dr. appointment at 2:30.  She asked if I would go ahead and take mom.  I said yes but that I had to be back in Buhl.  I asked if she could pleas pick Mom up and take her home.  Well, Mom wanted me to stay with her until she went in to see the Dr.  Then, she wanted me to go in with the Dr.  The Dr. wanted some blood work and an x-ray done on her shoulder.  By the time she was getting done, I called the care center driver and told her it was time to pick up mom.  She said it would be awhile because she was at the hospital.  I said that I would take Mom home.  Well, when I got her back to the Care center, mom went inside while I parked the car.  When I got inside, I couldn't find her.  Tuesday afternoons is Ice Cream Social that starts at 3:30.  Mom wanted me to stay for that.  Finallly, I told her that I had to leave at 3:45 because I had to get back in Buhl.  I got to the bank about 4:15 and didn't finish with paying off our house until almost 5:00.  I thought I'd be home closer to around 2:00 or 3:00. 
I'm glad that I'm here to be a part of mom's life, but sometimes it gets old.  I still have my life that I need to take care of.  As it was, I never had time to stop and buy any of the things that were on my list.

OUR NEWS! ! !  We paid off our house today!   Yesterday, we owed $65.55.  I tried transferring that amount from our checking account.  It wouldn't let me do that transfer.  It would let me transfer $65.00.   This morning, we owed  55 cents on our house.  I went to the bank this morning, but the lobby wasn't open.  Later in the day -when life slowed down- I went back.  We had enough in escrow that we we able to pay off the 55 cents and the $50.00 title transfer fee and still have $430.15 left over.  We're going to apply in to our taxes. 
We had refinanced it twice.  We knocked off about 10 years and at least $20,000 in interest--at least we think probably that much.
Now it will be much easier to make our car payments.  The last 4 or 5 month-paying car payments and house payments has been a little tight financially.

UPDATE ON YESTERDAY'S POST.

The Dr. did acupuncture on me. It wasn't the traditional acupuncture with needles. It was done with electricity and also done in "key" spots in the ear. My back pain is mostly gone. My sciatic nerve that had felt like it was shortened by at least 4 inches feels better, but not all the way.  I kept waking up last night and had to adjust. I am going back tomorrow for another treatment.

PAIN IS NOT FUN !  I tolerate pain better than many people.  Well last Tuesday, I was putting dishes in the dishwasher. My back went out. I couldn't move and I was in a lot of pain. I told Rick that if it didn't go away, I would not be going with him to our Temple assignment that night.
Rick brought me a chair and I set in the kitchen for awhile. I could tell the pain wasn't going away. I decided that if I was going to be setting, I might as well be watching t.v. I managed to get in the front room. Rick gave me an ice pack and thankfully, we had some pain pills. I didn't go to the Temple assignment. (Rick's mom went with him.) Wednesday was slightly better. I forced myself to go to my Primary Presidency meeting in the the evening. Thursday, I had an appointment with Mom's Care Center--(quarterly family review). I really wanted to cancel the meeting because the pain was terrible, but I didn't. The pain continued to get worse during the day. By the time I got home on Thursday afternoon, I was in excrutiating pain--probably the worst that I've felt in 10-12 years. I doubled up on the pain medicine. Friday, I felt a little better and was able to serve in the Temple. (I did temporarily get sick - I guess from too much pain and medication.) Thankfully, Heavenly Father allowed me to feel fairly well during the day at the Temple. As soon as I finished, I started hurting again. Saturday, I hurt more. Now the pain is moving down my leg. Thankfully, I felt better somewhat for Sunday and that allowed me to do my Sunday responsibilities. Today, my back is better than it was on Thursday-not well-but better. The muscle in my leg feels like it's about 4 inches too short. I AM GETTING AN ADJUSTMENT TODAY ! ! I'M REALY EXCITED ABOUT THE APPOIINTMENT. To be excited about going to the dr.--something must truly be wrong! When I talked to the Dr. this morning, he said that his initial diagnosis was that I'm allergic to doing dishes and asked if I wanted a prescription for that.

 This is a HUGE post of lots of misc. picturesfrom the last 1/2 year or so.

This is Heather's daughter-"Bekha"

Softball   2010





"Bekha" at bat.












Bekha out in field-softball-2010



Heather's oldest son-Tyler
pitching in baseball-2010
He's good, but gets nervous.



Tyler loves to steal bases. 
Most of the time, he succeeds.




Tyler batting.  Often, he hits
 homeruns and is voted the
 most valuable player.
He has potential.

 

Heather's youngest son- Jacob.
It reminded Alan when we were growing up.

 

Jacob posing for a picture.  2010

 



 

Another picture of Jacob as catcher
June 2010

      Heather's kids did pretty good in baseball this summer.  I believe Bekha's team got 2nd place. It was kind of a surprise. Jacob's team is still too young to go very far, but improved a lot.  Tyler's team had a very good chance at getting first place.  They had gotten themselves in the tournament as one of the favorites.  Then, their coach got irritated (at the tournaments) and was thrown out of the game.  The boys went in a spiral downfall after that.



Sunset coming home from baseball
in Filer-early evening-2010.



Another Sunset picture from the
same evening in 2010.




   



Stephanie's daughter-Mady
in drama class O'leary Jr. High 2010
Mady is the one with a blond wig
over dark hair with a huge smile.



Another picture of Mady.







  

This is Mady's 3rd year playing the viola.
I can actually hear improvements now.





A better picture of Mady
takeing her "bow" in Oct.  2010.

        




  

Thanksgiviing 2010

Twin Falls Care Center

My twin brothers and Mom
Terry & Jerry  and; Helen Bodily




Thanksgiving 2010
Terry, Jerry, Diane and; Mom

  


Stephanie's youngest daughter Kennedi
"Kenna" and friend and cousin on 6th b-day Dec.2nd  2010


 

Kenna and friend

 

Heather's youngest son-by the coach-Jacob at his basketball
tournaments in Dec. 2010.  His team got 2nd place.



Jacob's team picture at tournaments--Dec.  2010




                

Stephanie's family made mom a
Christmas present.  Mom is
opeing it right here.

    
 

Stephanie and; Mom enjoying the present.

                                                                              

  

I love this picture!
Stephanie, Rick, Arianna, "Kenna" and Mom

 
 

Mom at our house on Christmas Eve
Grant, and the twins came also.



As of last Thursday-October 21st, 2010-I am officially retired.  the company that I have worked at for 29 years (Green Giant/Seneca Foods) is downsizing.  They will no longer can corn in our area.  They will freeze corn and peas.  Half of the regulars were informed on Oct. 1st that their jobs were eliminated at the end of this year.    Since my job dealt with  "canned corn", my job is one the the eliminated.   I'm a seasonal worker instead of a year-round worker.  That means there is no severance pay-just a big Thank You for all of my years of service.  Yes, I probably could get hired for next year.  If I did, it would be dirtier and harder.  I'm too old for that.  Since Heavenly Father allowed a miracle to happen over a course of many years, (our house will be paid for very soon), I choose not to go back to work.
We now have a car ! !  Heavenly Father directed us to a car that we can afford and like.  We found a 2003 Buick Century.  It has 100,000 miles less than our old car and is 6 years newer.  The payments are affordable and it will be paid for in 3 years.  However, you won't recognize us when you see us.  It is not red.  It's listed as bronze.  Rick calls it our chameleon.  It changes colors with different lighting on it.  Sometimes it looks bronze, grey, or silver all with tints of green, purple, and brown added.  Thank Heavens for personalized license plates.  It looks smaller on the outside, but almost the same size inside.  It still has 6 seat-belts, and even has a larger trunk.  Thanks Heavenly Father for always blessing us with what is right for us ! ! !

IT NEVER FAILS.
Just when it starts to look like "things" are getting better, than something else happens. Our car pretty well died lastnight. The transmisssion went out. Thankfully, we have roadside assistance on our insurance. that paid for a wrecker to take the car home. (I was at the Temple when it died.) Also thankfully a family member is spending at least the next 9 months in Switzerland. We can use their car for awhile- until we decide what to do. Our car has 198,000 miles on. We don't know if it's worth getting a new transmission or if we try to get a different car. We don't know how long the engine will last-although, the engine was pretty well reworked 2 years ago when it died. I know Heavenly Father will watch over us. He always does.

This last month in Primary-(church-for those of you who don't know), we learned that Jesus is a God of Miracles and the miracles continue to happen in our time because of our faith.  I want to share with you a miracle in my life.  For about 10-15 years, I've heard that many jobs-mine included-will be eliminated.  I've been asking Heavenly Father to not let that happen until we could afford for me not to work.  Well, the miracle happened this year.  Just about a month ago, I found out that this year will be my last year because the jobs are being eliminated for sure.  In fact, usually I've been working about 4-6 weeks by this time of year.  I've only worked 1 day so far this year.  The Miracle is this:  Our house will be paid for this year.  We owe less than $3,000 on our house.  Heavenly Father allowed my job to continue as long as we needed it. Thanks Heavenly Father for always watching over us and blessing us according to our needs!  It definitely is a Faith Builder when we can see that you are taking care of us.
I probably won't be posting much for awhile.  It is time that I'm working most of the time-as soon as the corn gets ready.  After work, I'll try to get caught up.  I need to post other pictures when I get caught up.