This is alot harder than I thought it might be. I just never seem to find the time to write anything down and with the weather warming up so nicely I don't want to be cooped in doors. Like Alie, I too would much rather be outside. I finally finished her word book with all the signs in it. It turned out great and Alie loves to look at the pictures of her and her cousins and practice the signs that go with them. She has learned to spell her name so when I ask in sign language, "What's your name?" she will sign, "A L I E". It's so cute and she usually gets so excited that she can't get clear to the end before she starts turning inside out. She is such a sweetie!
We started ISAT testing this morning. If everything goes as planned we should finish up on Friday. I hope so any way. My feet hurt! and it's only noon. School is going good, only 27 more days. I think I can hold out that long. A teacher here at school and a good friend of mine, Jennifer, just got notice a week ago that her husband, Jon, has been called up to go to Iraq and leaves on June 8th. Not a lot of time but she's doing pretty well. I admire her so much for doing this. She is a strong woman but this would be hard. No doubt about it. It's like the early days of the church when they would call newly married men to leave their little wife and serve a mission for two years over seas or somewhere far away. I don't know that I could do that. It would be tough. To help Jennifer out a bit I've been calling around asking local businesses to help make these few weeks memorable for their family. Destinations Inn, a theme hotel in Idaho Falls, has donated a free night in their Congo suite for Jon and Jennifer. That alone is worth $200 so things are going well. Johnny Carino's donated a dinner for two, Olive Garden donated something (I'm not sure quite what yet) they said they would put something together and have it ready for me to pick up. Bowl-ero bowling alley has donated thirty free games with shoes for their family to enjoy now and after Jon's gone. Subway has donated five foot long sandwich meals, Papa Kelsey's donated two large pizzas, and the list goes on and on. I'm excited about it. It will be from our little group of ladies that goes to McCall every summer, the Yo-Yo Sisters, and I hope their family will enjoy it. We're going to all donate some money for some movie passes since it takes six weeks to process the request for a donation through their corporate office. Jon will be gone by then so I'll take care of that. I also want to contact Carnations Intimate Apparel and ask if they would donate some fun (and rather naughty) games or something like that for Jon and Jennifer. I know they would love it. I've got to get it all put together quickly though so I guess I'm going to have to go to Idaho Falls tonight to pick up stuff. Hopefully I can do it all in one trip. I watched Oprah's Big Give and decided that there are plenty of things I could be doing for those around me who need some help, even if it's just a cheering up or a show of support. Jennifer does so much, it's nice to be able to do something for her and her family.
Lunch time is almost over and another session of ISAT's is going to start. I want to spend some time talking about my little sisters so hopefully I will be able to get back on here sooner than I did the last time. Any way, I guess we just keep going. The alternative to that is not very appealing!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Better late than never . . .
It seems I'm getting farther and father behind here. Not only here though but everywhere. I didn't get anything graded at school today because we were getting ready for ISAT testing and review, review, review! I've got about two hours of correcting to do but I feel like I haven't written anything for so long that I'd rather do this now and go in to school early in the morning to get the other stuff done. This past weekend was amazing. The weather was incredible and we had the grandkids all here to play in the back yard. We set up the Jump-a-Roo castle that we bought them for Christmas and they had a blast. I had pictures and I will post some so you can see them. They were so darn cute. Then of course they had to swing. All Kennedy and Camryn would say was "push me harder." Lauren and Treyson had so much fun playing in the dirt and gathering dandelions. We got the Dora Jeep out and Lauren took Alie for ride after ride. Lauren is such a good girl and so considerate of other people's feelings. She has been taught well.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
And Now, Last but Hardly Least,
My Sister Julie . . .
What can I say, Julie is amazing. She is the second youngest of all my sisters and growing up I was probably closest to her as I was to anyone. She came along when I was about eleven or twelve, right when a young girl is in the babysitting stage and all I ever wanted to do was hold her and take care of her. It was great.
I remember when she wouldn't go to sleep I would lie down with her on my arm and sing her to sleep. Her sleeping on my arm is as vivid a memory as I had of anything. I remember being in my parents bed and her sleeping on my arm. I don't think I slept but I didn't move either until she woke up. She was such a beautiful little girl. It was hard not to love her with her blond hair and blue eyes, she was a doll.
She always got a long with Pam and Cherri and the three of them played so well together. As I got older and out of the babysitting age I think I got more interested in driving licenses and boys than I did my little sisters. But about the time Julie graduated from high school we became very close again.
Julie came to Ricks College, the same as all the Cameron's before her and would visit us on weekends every now and then. I was expecting Amy at the time, and we were getting ready to go home for Christmas. Julie caught a ride from Rexburg to Idaho Falls to meet us with a guy from Idaho Falls who worked at Pizza Hut. His name was Doug Rydalch. He was sure a friendly guy and the walked up to us in the mall hand in hand. I had never met him or for that matter ever even heard Julie mention him so I was a little apprehensive. He seemed nice enough and walked around the mall with us while we finished some Christmas shopping and then walked Julie right to our car and tucked her safely inside. Then he told us to drive careful because we had some very important cargo. Excuse me? I don't even know this guy and he's giving us driving instructions. Well, Julie talked about him the whole time, he called her in Canada all week long and the rest is history. To think she had only met him that day. His roommate heard that Julie needed a ride to Idaho Falls and told her his roommate was going home there that night. The Lord works in mysterious ways to say the least.
The next summer they were engaged and got married on January 11th. They are perfect together and I couldn't imagine either of them with anyone else. After they got married, Doug's boss transferred him to manage the Blackfoot store so they lived over on Clark Road in some people's house who were on a mission. It was less than a mile away from us so it was perfect. We spend a lot of time together and our relationship grew stronger every day.
They later moved to American Falls, and then back to Idaho Falls where Doug took over as General Area Manager for Pizza Hut. They built a new house up on RimRock and have been there ever since. Doug was laid off from his job when Pizza Hut down sized but quickly went to work for a friend in the construction business. Julie got her CNA one summer and has worked part time as a nursing assistant at an assisted living center and full time during the school year as a ParaPro with Jr. high school students. She's amazing at her jobs. Doug lost his job again when the economy dropped and building houses slowed down so now he takes care of the house, the family, and is going back to school to learn a new trade. I'm so proud of their family, they haven't let any of this get them down. They have three children, Brad who is serving a mission in New Jersey, Derek who is serving a mission in California, Blake who is in High School and Kourtnie who is in Jr. High. What an awesome family.
For years while our kids were all young we would go to Idaho Falls on Sundays or they would come down here for dinner and to play cards. We had so much fun and each one of my children remember Sundays fondly because of it.
When Julie was about thirty-six years old she got some bad news at her routine yearly check-up. The doctor found a cancer in her breast and seeing as how my mother had been a survivor of breast cancer, we know it was serious. She went in for the biopsy and sure enough, there it was. Julie underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery which is nothing short of incredibly amazing. Then she went through hours and hours of chemotherapy and radiation, loosing her precious, beautiful, blond hair. If it hadn't been for Doug who physically had to carry her into the doctors office some days for more chemo, I think she would have opted out of it. She was so brave and for her kids sake, she hung in there. Now she's cancer free and her hair has grown back.
She cuts her hair every year for wigs for cancer patients. They don't know how lucky they are to have her gorgeous hair. It was a hard time of life for her but she came through it with shining colors. I'm so proud of her and love her so much.
Though we don't get together every Sunday anymore, we remain extremely close. Julie will always hold a special place in my heart. I learn from her continually and her love and generosity never cease to amaze me. I love you Jules, I'm proud to call you my sister and my friend.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
And Now, Last but Hardly Least,
My Sister Julie . . .
What can I say, Julie is amazing. She is the second youngest of all my sisters and growing up I was probably closest to her as I was to anyone. She came along when I was about eleven or twelve, right when a young girl is in the babysitting stage and all I ever wanted to do was hold her and take care of her. It was great.
I remember when she wouldn't go to sleep I would lie down with her on my arm and sing her to sleep. Her sleeping on my arm is as vivid a memory as I had of anything. I remember being in my parents bed and her sleeping on my arm. I don't think I slept but I didn't move either until she woke up. She was such a beautiful little girl. It was hard not to love her with her blond hair and blue eyes, she was a doll.
She always got a long with Pam and Cherri and the three of them played so well together. As I got older and out of the babysitting age I think I got more interested in driving licenses and boys than I did my little sisters. But about the time Julie graduated from high school we became very close again.
Julie came to Ricks College, the same as all the Cameron's before her and would visit us on weekends every now and then. I was expecting Amy at the time, and we were getting ready to go home for Christmas. Julie caught a ride from Rexburg to Idaho Falls to meet us with a guy from Idaho Falls who worked at Pizza Hut. His name was Doug Rydalch. He was sure a friendly guy and the walked up to us in the mall hand in hand. I had never met him or for that matter ever even heard Julie mention him so I was a little apprehensive. He seemed nice enough and walked around the mall with us while we finished some Christmas shopping and then walked Julie right to our car and tucked her safely inside. Then he told us to drive careful because we had some very important cargo. Excuse me? I don't even know this guy and he's giving us driving instructions. Well, Julie talked about him the whole time, he called her in Canada all week long and the rest is history. To think she had only met him that day. His roommate heard that Julie needed a ride to Idaho Falls and told her his roommate was going home there that night. The Lord works in mysterious ways to say the least.
The next summer they were engaged and got married on January 11th. They are perfect together and I couldn't imagine either of them with anyone else. After they got married, Doug's boss transferred him to manage the Blackfoot store so they lived over on Clark Road in some people's house who were on a mission. It was less than a mile away from us so it was perfect. We spend a lot of time together and our relationship grew stronger every day.
They later moved to American Falls, and then back to Idaho Falls where Doug took over as General Area Manager for Pizza Hut. They built a new house up on RimRock and have been there ever since. Doug was laid off from his job when Pizza Hut down sized but quickly went to work for a friend in the construction business. Julie got her CNA one summer and has worked part time as a nursing assistant at an assisted living center and full time during the school year as a ParaPro with Jr. high school students. She's amazing at her jobs. Doug lost his job again when the economy dropped and building houses slowed down so now he takes care of the house, the family, and is going back to school to learn a new trade. I'm so proud of their family, they haven't let any of this get them down. They have three children, Brad who is serving a mission in New Jersey, Derek who is serving a mission in California, Blake who is in High School and Kourtnie who is in Jr. High. What an awesome family.
For years while our kids were all young we would go to Idaho Falls on Sundays or they would come down here for dinner and to play cards. We had so much fun and each one of my children remember Sundays fondly because of it.
When Julie was about thirty-six years old she got some bad news at her routine yearly check-up. The doctor found a cancer in her breast and seeing as how my mother had been a survivor of breast cancer, we know it was serious. She went in for the biopsy and sure enough, there it was. Julie underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery which is nothing short of incredibly amazing. Then she went through hours and hours of chemotherapy and radiation, loosing her precious, beautiful, blond hair. If it hadn't been for Doug who physically had to carry her into the doctors office some days for more chemo, I think she would have opted out of it. She was so brave and for her kids sake, she hung in there. Now she's cancer free and her hair has grown back.
She cuts her hair every year for wigs for cancer patients. They don't know how lucky they are to have her gorgeous hair. It was a hard time of life for her but she came through it with shining colors. I'm so proud of her and love her so much.
Though we don't get together every Sunday anymore, we remain extremely close. Julie will always hold a special place in my heart. I learn from her continually and her love and generosity never cease to amaze me. I love you Jules, I'm proud to call you my sister and my friend.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Such a long time
It's been a long time since I posted anything. Spring break came and went without so much as a whimper and now here I am back sitting at my desk just waiting for the next eight weeks to crawl by. I can't believe we're only eight weeks to summer vacation. It always comes and goes so quickly. I've decided that I have hurried much of my life away. I hurry to the weekend so I can get caught up on things at home, and then I hurry through the next week from one thing to the next. Now I'm at that point in my life when I wish things would slow down and let me enjoy it but none the less, it speeds on by. I remember when I was a kid summers seemed soooo long and growing up in Canada we only had about eight or nine weeks of summer. Not May, June, July and most of August like we do now.
Easter was great! It's always fun to have little ones in the house for the Easter Bunny to harrass. The kids loved the annual Easter Egg Hunt at grandma's house. Alie caught on really quickly and gave Camryn a run for her colored eggs. I like to buy the all-ready decorated plastic eggs that are all-ready filled with candy. They were bright and not very easy to hide but oh what fun!
Finally feeling better . . .
Alie has finally started feeling better but because we spoiled her so badly while she was sick we are now paying the consequences. She wants her own way all of the time and if she doesn't get it she will continue to cry and whine until you get up and take her where ever it is she wants to go and give her whatever it is she's looking for. She's really into playing on the swing set outside and she doesn't care if it's freezing cold or the wind is blowing so hard it goes right through you and chills you to the bone. She just smiles and keeps on swinging. I know, I know, I'm the adult here but I guess I just never learned how to say "No" very well.
Easter was great! It's always fun to have little ones in the house for the Easter Bunny to harrass. The kids loved the annual Easter Egg Hunt at grandma's house. Alie caught on really quickly and gave Camryn a run for her colored eggs. I like to buy the all-ready decorated plastic eggs that are all-ready filled with candy. They were bright and not very easy to hide but oh what fun!
Then we spent some of the day outside in the blowing wind and not so sun shiney afternoon. The kids love the swing set and the cold didn't hold them back at all. We also had to get out the Dora Jeep and take a leisure afternoon drive in it. Camryn was a little afraid to ride inside but Alie was glad to take her turns too as Lauren puttered around the yet brown lawn. I'm so ready for green grass I could cry. Patience, I know, is a virtue.
Finally feeling better . . .
Alie has finally started feeling better but because we spoiled her so badly while she was sick we are now paying the consequences. She wants her own way all of the time and if she doesn't get it she will continue to cry and whine until you get up and take her where ever it is she wants to go and give her whatever it is she's looking for. She's really into playing on the swing set outside and she doesn't care if it's freezing cold or the wind is blowing so hard it goes right through you and chills you to the bone. She just smiles and keeps on swinging. I know, I know, I'm the adult here but I guess I just never learned how to say "No" very well.
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