I Love the UPS Man

Signed, sealed...delivered.
Going to see Josh Groban.
Going to be the longest three months until November 13th.
Worth the wait.

Pinch Me! I Must Be Dreaming!!

 Today is our 31st wedding anniversary.  I have been married to the most wonderful man in the world for 31 years now - and today, it actually crossed my mind that I was grateful to the other man I loved, that he didn't marry me and left me available to marry the man I was supposed to marry.  Small favors, for which I am now eternally grateful.
We have had a great 31 years.  Full of adventure, fun, heartache, worry, laughter etc etc...every single emotion and experience you can think of has been ours to have.  And it's not even close to over, but just starting in so many different ways.  Del is such a good man.  I am so lucky to have him and for him to love me.  I adore him...and cherish him.
And as always, he gave me a wonderful gift.  He KNOWS I love Josh Groban, a musical performer that has the most gorgeous voice.  Josh is in concert in November - in Dallas - and we now have tickets to go - together.  It's going to be wonderful.  The concert isn't until November, right before Del's birthday, but it will be an experience well worth the wait.  What a thoughtful and kind gift.  I am beyond thrilled!!!

'OUCH'. That Hurt!

Del and I have been feeling some aches and pains lately - even more than the usual soreness from working outside or in the garden.  We both feel it in our shoulders, elbows and hands.  Yeah, I think it's arthritis.
Tonight, we went to the temple and on our way out to the car, we were commenting on all of our body parts that were hurting, aching, and over all, just slowing us down.  The conversation continued as we arrived at Taco Bell to grab a bite to eat.  We ordered our meal and as Del paid, I went over to get my drink from the soda fountain.  When Del joined me seconds later, he was laughing and said 'Hey look.  They gave us a discount!'.
I would have laughed, but even THAT hurt!!!

She Looks Good

I didn't go to family reunion, but I have been able to see some of the pictures taken by those whom were there.  These were taken of my mother.
She looks happy huh?  I love that she looks sooo happy.
My mother isn't one that gets lonely, or feels sad.  I know she misses my dad, but she will be okay.  She really looks happy in these pictures...don't you think?

Open Door Policy

When you have a dog, you have to have a doggy door.
And the doggy door has to be left open so that the doggy can come and go as it needs to.
For ten years, we have had a doggy door; and the door has stayed open as Lacey would come and go all throughout the day to do her business.
But since Monday night, the door has been closed.  No need to have it open anymore.
That's the only thing that has made me cry. I don't LIKE the door closed.
Over the past four days, we (Del, Kathryn and I), have felt the loss of Lacey's presence.  We miss her.  We are used to having her greet us each day at the door as we come home from work. I am used to her snoring on the floor by me side of the bed and each morning, shaking her ears back and forth as she wakes up and stands for the first time of the day.  When Del would go to the bathroom first thing in the morning, Lacey would come and stand in front of him, insisting Del pet and scratch her ears as he sat there.  Then she would anxiously wait for him to dress, so that he could take her for their daily walk...every day...for ten years.  When we would eat ice cream, Lacey would patiently wait for the final spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl; at which time, she knew we would put the bowl down for her to lick clean.  No matter where she was in the house, she would hear that spoon and come running.
When we sat to watch t.v, Del would put his feet up on the ottoman and Lacey would climb up and lay by the side of his leg and sleep until Del got up to do something else.  In the morning, when Del would go into his office to do his scripture reading and studying, Lacey would go in and sit on Del's feet under the desk. Del was continually having to watch for Lacey under his feet - he's mentioned several times since Monday night, that he has caught himself looking for her underfoot as he goes from room to room.  he even got teary eyed as he shared some thoughts of her yesterday.
What a sweet dog.
The door is closed now.  We'll keep the doggy door, just because we can't afford to change it out.  It will stay, as a reminder of the sweet ten years we had of a really beautiful, loving, playful, devoted and loyal friend that we extended the 'Open Door Policy' to, with much love.

All Dogs Go To Heaven

In 2002, we moved to Texas, leaving behind a lot of wonderful memories and love in Utah.
Kylie had always wanted a dog, so for the Christmas, the following year, Santa (Jordan), delivered Kylie's Christmas present to her; wrapped adorably in a Christmas stocking.
That's when Lacey arrived in our lives.  And so, for the past ten years, we have watched this adorable puppy turn into the most wonderful and loving pet you could ever hope for.
But Lacey left us yesterday after a very painful and difficult weekend.  On Saturday evening, as Del and I were outside working on the lights in the front yard, Lacey was struck by a car in the road.  She had been across the street in the neighbors yard and I had called for her to come home.  Neither Lacey, nor the driver saw each other and the car hit her, crushing her pelvis and breaking her hip.  Del and I took her to the ER vet clinic where xrays confirmed the break and pain she was in.  It was heart breaking.  We hoped that keeping her stabilized and still would allow her to heal, but Sunday night and Monday, she started bleeding internally and by last night, it was obvious she was in dreadful pain.
The conflict for the family came with the discussion of how we wanted Lacey's life to end.  Del, raised on a farm where animals were just that...animals...no loss, no special care for them and no emotional attachment, wanted to take Lacey out into our back forest and shoot her, then bury her on our land.  Of course, that thought sent the girls in the family ballistic!!!  We wanted to take her to the vet who would give her an injection and let her go to sleep peacefully...humanely.  At a cost.
I won't go into details of how the decision was finally resolved, but last night, Jordan stopped by on his way home from work and Mike and Kylie were already there.  Kathryn did not want to be present.  Del offered a family prayer and blessing upon us all before he, Jordan and Kylie went to the back forest, shot Lacey and buried her.  Tears all the way around, but the moment was special and the experience was spiritual.  All conflict had been resolved and the ending was peaceful.
Lacey is missed already.  No-one to lick our ice cream bowl - no-one to greet us at the door when we come home - no-one to beg for food,  no-one to walk with Del in the morning...no-one to snore by my bedside at night...and it's very very quiet around here.
We're all sad.  But the memories are wonderful of our sweet Lacey.

A Near Death Experience

Homemade peanut clusters.
After I had eaten my third or fourth one, Del looks over his glasses at me and asks,
"are these included in your new diet?'
PMS week, just spent 3 hours canning tomatoes, hot, tired....and I wanted chocolate???
Not one of Del's more brilliant moments in our almost 31 year marriage.