Sunday, March 30, 2008
If you're inclined
Between computer glitches and busy schedules, I haven't been writing much of anything lately, but for a change, I had a quiet day to myself, so I thought I'd sit down and see what happened.
When I sit down to write, I never really have a plan. I sit down with a thought and it just happens. Well, today, I ended up putting in writing, for the first time, some of my spiritual journey and my thoughts about it. If I offend anyone, please accept my apology. If you have questions, ask....if you enjoyed it, tell me. If I'm a lost cause, so be it.
You can check it out at www.Designed4Joy.blogspot.com
Val
When I sit down to write, I never really have a plan. I sit down with a thought and it just happens. Well, today, I ended up putting in writing, for the first time, some of my spiritual journey and my thoughts about it. If I offend anyone, please accept my apology. If you have questions, ask....if you enjoyed it, tell me. If I'm a lost cause, so be it.
You can check it out at www.Designed4Joy.blogspot.com
Val
Saturday, March 29, 2008
I LOVE THE NEW HEADER!!
Whoever created the new header ~ I love it!! It's fitting for the Spring season ~ even if we don't have Spring weather.
Good job!!!
Good job!!!
Southern Cal news
We come home tomorrow.We will miss the great sunshine-but not the traffic and crowds.Sea World was super! The whales and dolphins were incredible.Universal studios was fun.Some amazing shows and demos about movie making and stunts.Too crowded.
We took a day off to enjoy the beach here in Oceanside.Maddy seemed to get too much sun because she has had a bad heat rash ever since.I had to hang out in the first aid clinic with her on the first day at Disneyland.First they gave her burn gel with lidocaine,it seemed to make her worse.Then we tried calamine lotion-it helped for a while.Finally they gave her some benadryl.We finally decided to have me drive her back to the condo in Oceanside.The boys stayed in Disneyland.Then I went back late that night to pick them up.The freeways here are a scary,too fast and dangerous nightmare.
We still had 2 days left at disneyland.Kim and I wondered how we ever did 5 days in a row on our last visit 5 years ago.Guess we were younger then.Also-having a hotel room close by helped too.We timed this trip wrong.meaning-It was spring break for the local kids as well as for many others.the lines were horrendous.Many things we could never even go on.Kim and the kids waited in lines .I refused to afer a while.That grump gene lives on in me.
Yesterday we went to the wild animal park.It was cool to see the brand new baby giraffe,the hippos,the rhionos,lions,cheetahs,gorillas and helarious Gibbon monkeys.
Today Kim and I headed out to explore the coast highway.ALONE!! Was so interesting to see the scenery and area.Beautiful sights and homes.One has to be rich to live with a view!
We are ready to come home!!
We took a day off to enjoy the beach here in Oceanside.Maddy seemed to get too much sun because she has had a bad heat rash ever since.I had to hang out in the first aid clinic with her on the first day at Disneyland.First they gave her burn gel with lidocaine,it seemed to make her worse.Then we tried calamine lotion-it helped for a while.Finally they gave her some benadryl.We finally decided to have me drive her back to the condo in Oceanside.The boys stayed in Disneyland.Then I went back late that night to pick them up.The freeways here are a scary,too fast and dangerous nightmare.
We still had 2 days left at disneyland.Kim and I wondered how we ever did 5 days in a row on our last visit 5 years ago.Guess we were younger then.Also-having a hotel room close by helped too.We timed this trip wrong.meaning-It was spring break for the local kids as well as for many others.the lines were horrendous.Many things we could never even go on.Kim and the kids waited in lines .I refused to afer a while.That grump gene lives on in me.
Yesterday we went to the wild animal park.It was cool to see the brand new baby giraffe,the hippos,the rhionos,lions,cheetahs,gorillas and helarious Gibbon monkeys.
Today Kim and I headed out to explore the coast highway.ALONE!! Was so interesting to see the scenery and area.Beautiful sights and homes.One has to be rich to live with a view!
We are ready to come home!!
Monday, March 24, 2008
We Made It!
We made it to california in one piece! It's a miracle! We are really tired the minute we got off the plain we had a quick breakfast and then went to Seaworld! we got home late and the next day we had to get up early to get to universal studios on time! and then we got back to the hotel at about 9 pm. and now it's finally monday and we get to relax today! Here are some pictures of the resort we are staying at seaworld, and unversal studios.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Ryser Happenings
These are a couple of pictures we took of Garrett while he was waiting for his surgery. They had us change him into these funny hospital PJs. He was in good spirits for a kid who hadn't eaten in
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Our trip to Las Vegas II
The damn computer kept kicking me off so I published the images in one post and hope that I can finish narrative in this one. We had a good time in LV. I'm ready to move there and to get out of this soul sucking winter weather. Let's all go, OK? Traffic is terrible and summers are stiffling hot, but there is a lot of outdoor stuff to do, the Church is strong, and the schools are good and are likely a lot of jobs. It was nice to see and feel the sun and to see the moon and stars at night.
Land sailing was just OK. The wind was fickle and never settled down to a solid blow.
We took mom to the temple one day and to lunch. She was glad to get out. She is very lonely. I stayed with her so she could "take cae of me". Sharon stayed with Paul & Pam. Paul was badly wronged in his firing from the city. Some people he had helped even turned against him. He says he is not bitter, but I wonder. Pam says maybe it was for the best since her dad appears to be dying and they sit with him a lot.
We both enjoyed "4 wheeling" with the whole "famdamily" out at Apex, Nevada. Paul has 2 ATVs, Mark and Tonya have 4, Scott has one and Eric has one. They were very generous to us. Scott can ride on 2 side wheels and can do long wheelies. His will go real fast. I rode it a bit and cut a few feeble wheelies in the dry lake bed. Easy to see how people get hurt on them. Mom even rode - slowly.
Paul and Eric and I went for a desert drive out past Cactus Springs thru some BLM land and then in USFS land with wonderfully terrible roads. He has a 4WD pickup. So nice to be out there. I need a week in the desert to "heal my mind" from city living. Back on BLM land we shot up several boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells at thrown clay targets; fun. Paul and Eric are good. I hit a few. Anyone got a 20 or 16 gauge shotgun? I have a 12 gauge, but it kicks kinda hard for kids to use.
Mark and Tonya fixed a wonderful barbeque lunch for all of us. He is a hunting and gun nut and loves to cook too. He has killed a bear with a bow and arrow.
Pls write to g'ma and telephone her too. She is mostly alone. She spoke at a R.S. night meeting and she was the star of the night talking about her long life, the farm, family and all that. Such times are rare for her.
Grandpa the grump
Land sailing was just OK. The wind was fickle and never settled down to a solid blow.
We took mom to the temple one day and to lunch. She was glad to get out. She is very lonely. I stayed with her so she could "take cae of me". Sharon stayed with Paul & Pam. Paul was badly wronged in his firing from the city. Some people he had helped even turned against him. He says he is not bitter, but I wonder. Pam says maybe it was for the best since her dad appears to be dying and they sit with him a lot.
We both enjoyed "4 wheeling" with the whole "famdamily" out at Apex, Nevada. Paul has 2 ATVs, Mark and Tonya have 4, Scott has one and Eric has one. They were very generous to us. Scott can ride on 2 side wheels and can do long wheelies. His will go real fast. I rode it a bit and cut a few feeble wheelies in the dry lake bed. Easy to see how people get hurt on them. Mom even rode - slowly.
Paul and Eric and I went for a desert drive out past Cactus Springs thru some BLM land and then in USFS land with wonderfully terrible roads. He has a 4WD pickup. So nice to be out there. I need a week in the desert to "heal my mind" from city living. Back on BLM land we shot up several boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells at thrown clay targets; fun. Paul and Eric are good. I hit a few. Anyone got a 20 or 16 gauge shotgun? I have a 12 gauge, but it kicks kinda hard for kids to use.
Mark and Tonya fixed a wonderful barbeque lunch for all of us. He is a hunting and gun nut and loves to cook too. He has killed a bear with a bow and arrow.
Pls write to g'ma and telephone her too. She is mostly alone. She spoke at a R.S. night meeting and she was the star of the night talking about her long life, the farm, family and all that. Such times are rare for her.
Grandpa the grump
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Science fair
I finally finished my science fair project on dissolved oxygen i habe to go get water smaples at comenwealth park for my experiment and here are some pictures.Monday, March 10, 2008
My Wonderful Husband!!
Courtney tagged me so here goes:
What's his name?
John Russell Wilkins
How long have we been married?
47 LONG years. (ha ha)
How long did we date?
He asked me to dance at a Sock Hop when we were in high school. Wee had a Chemisry
class together. He was a senior and I was a junior. While we were dancing he asked me
to go to a movie with him the next night and I
said 'yes'. His family had already moved to Las Vegas and he stayed behind with his
grandparents until he graduated from high school two weeks later. We saw each other every
night until he left. By this time we were pretty serious and we had a hard time saying
goodbye. I don't know about him but somehow I knew that he was who I wanted to marry.
We talked on the phone once in a while. Then he called and asked if I would like to come to
Las Vegas for a visit and to meet his family. I asked my parents and they said it would be
alright since they knew his family on both sides. (Wilkins and Woodruffs). I traveled by train
from Pocatello to Las Vegas. He met me at the train station and took me home to meet his
family. We had a great time while I was there. His parents took us to see the Four Lads at
the Thunderbird Hotel. This was pretty cool stuff for a small town girl who had never been
further south than Salt Lake.
That fall he moved to Logan to attend Utah State University and he would drive to Blackfoot
occasionally to see me. We wrote letters back and forth over the months. He had to pay his
way through college so he would work during the summer at the Nevada Test site and make
enough money to get through two or three semesters of school.
This is getting too long so I'll just say that we dated and wrote letters back and forth from
1957-the summer of 1960. He asked me to marry him in June of 1960 and we were
married in October that year.
How old is he?
68
Who eats more?
Definitely him but he seems to lose weight much easier when he tries.
Who said 'I love you' first?
I really can't remember.
Who is taller?
He is. He's 5' 10" and I'm 5' 6"
Who sings better?
Probably me. Although my voice changed dramatically after I had to start having
injections of progesterone when I was 14. I had dreams of becoming a colleratura
soprano and was taking voice lessons. The hormones dashed my dreams. Now my
voice is more alto.
Who is smarter?
I would say he is smarter in some areas and I am smarter in others.
Who's temper is worse?
I think we have both mellowed in our temperament over the years.
Who does the laundry?
We both do it when the need arises.
Who does the dishes?
Both of us.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed.
We've found we get better rest in separate beds due to snoring and sleep apnea
machine issues.
Who pays the bills?
I do.
Who mows the lawn?
We have landscapers here in our complex
Who cooks dinner?
I do but we find ourselves eating out more than we used to or eating frozen
dinners. I'm getting tired of cooking after all these years.
Who drives when you're together?
I do because I'm a 'control freak'.
Who is more stubborn?
We both have occasions of stubborness.
Who is first to admit when wrong?
We've both improved in that area somewhat. Sometimes we are at loggerheads.
Whose parents do you see the most?
My parents are both deceased and his mother lives in Las Vegas. We get to see
her once or twice a year.
Who has more friends?
I think I do. I'm always going out to lunch with friends. He goes out with friends
occasionally. However, many of his friends live out of state.
Who has more siblings?
He has four brothers and I have two brothers. My brothers are both deceased
and his are all living.
Who wears the pants in the family?
Over the years we have found ways to negotiate on most things. Neither of us
bullies the other.
Now I tag Andrea and Jennifer.
What's his name?
John Russell Wilkins
How long have we been married?
47 LONG years. (ha ha)
How long did we date?
He asked me to dance at a Sock Hop when we were in high school. Wee had a Chemisry
class together. He was a senior and I was a junior. While we were dancing he asked me
to go to a movie with him the next night and I
said 'yes'. His family had already moved to Las Vegas and he stayed behind with his
grandparents until he graduated from high school two weeks later. We saw each other every
night until he left. By this time we were pretty serious and we had a hard time saying
goodbye. I don't know about him but somehow I knew that he was who I wanted to marry.
We talked on the phone once in a while. Then he called and asked if I would like to come to
Las Vegas for a visit and to meet his family. I asked my parents and they said it would be
alright since they knew his family on both sides. (Wilkins and Woodruffs). I traveled by train
from Pocatello to Las Vegas. He met me at the train station and took me home to meet his
family. We had a great time while I was there. His parents took us to see the Four Lads at
the Thunderbird Hotel. This was pretty cool stuff for a small town girl who had never been
further south than Salt Lake.
That fall he moved to Logan to attend Utah State University and he would drive to Blackfoot
occasionally to see me. We wrote letters back and forth over the months. He had to pay his
way through college so he would work during the summer at the Nevada Test site and make
enough money to get through two or three semesters of school.
This is getting too long so I'll just say that we dated and wrote letters back and forth from
1957-the summer of 1960. He asked me to marry him in June of 1960 and we were
married in October that year.
How old is he?
68
Who eats more?
Definitely him but he seems to lose weight much easier when he tries.
Who said 'I love you' first?
I really can't remember.
Who is taller?
He is. He's 5' 10" and I'm 5' 6"
Who sings better?
Probably me. Although my voice changed dramatically after I had to start having
injections of progesterone when I was 14. I had dreams of becoming a colleratura
soprano and was taking voice lessons. The hormones dashed my dreams. Now my
voice is more alto.
Who is smarter?
I would say he is smarter in some areas and I am smarter in others.
Who's temper is worse?
I think we have both mellowed in our temperament over the years.
Who does the laundry?
We both do it when the need arises.
Who does the dishes?
Both of us.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed.
We've found we get better rest in separate beds due to snoring and sleep apnea
machine issues.
Who pays the bills?
I do.
Who mows the lawn?
We have landscapers here in our complex
Who cooks dinner?
I do but we find ourselves eating out more than we used to or eating frozen
dinners. I'm getting tired of cooking after all these years.
Who drives when you're together?
I do because I'm a 'control freak'.
Who is more stubborn?
We both have occasions of stubborness.
Who is first to admit when wrong?
We've both improved in that area somewhat. Sometimes we are at loggerheads.
Whose parents do you see the most?
My parents are both deceased and his mother lives in Las Vegas. We get to see
her once or twice a year.
Who has more friends?
I think I do. I'm always going out to lunch with friends. He goes out with friends
occasionally. However, many of his friends live out of state.
Who has more siblings?
He has four brothers and I have two brothers. My brothers are both deceased
and his are all living.
Who wears the pants in the family?
Over the years we have found ways to negotiate on most things. Neither of us
bullies the other.
Now I tag Andrea and Jennifer.
GREAT News from Melanie!!
Melanie just called to tell us some GREAT news!! She said Edwards Enterprises has offered her old job with Anthro Computer Cart Co. if she wants it. She is so excited about it. We haven't heard so much excitement in her voice for months and months.
She will have to be bus trained to ride the bus from near Saba's to the work center and return. She will then be transported to Anthro in the Edwards van.
We know she would love to receive phone calls of 'Congratulations!!' from everyone. For those of you who don't have her phone number it's (503) 643-5453.
She will have to be bus trained to ride the bus from near Saba's to the work center and return. She will then be transported to Anthro in the Edwards van.
We know she would love to receive phone calls of 'Congratulations!!' from everyone. For those of you who don't have her phone number it's (503) 643-5453.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Three good Blockbuster videos
Three good videos rented for Blockbuster; foreign section:
"A Talking Picture" from Portugal. Mother daughter travellers
"Cilantro Y Perejil" from Mexico. About marriage.
Rosenstrasse" from Germany. Nazi/Jewish movies are always tense. This one is about the strength of women.
"A Talking Picture" from Portugal. Mother daughter travellers
"Cilantro Y Perejil" from Mexico. About marriage.
Rosenstrasse" from Germany. Nazi/Jewish movies are always tense. This one is about the strength of women.
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