WELL I DID IT!!!!!!

Well.......I did it......signed for my new house today March 27th, 2015.........made a down payment on the lot #91 on October 12th, 2014........It's been a long road since then as I watched the house come together week by week.   I now own two houses and pray every day the condo sells soon......  The new place is a darling one floor living space with a finished basement for children and grandchildren and my sister to visit me.....hopefully often. The lawn will hopefully be put in in the next couple of weeks.....for the dogs benefit.  Tomorrow the children are moving me in and I expect it to be very hectic. The Panniers have spoiled me and I need to get back to the real world.....cleaning, shopping, etc.......so tomorrow I begin another chapter in my life.......three weeks or so before I turn 83!!!! At 7891 Farm Wood Lane.........Midvale , Utah.

TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY..........

 

Tomorrow we meet with the title company and I will sign the papers to make my new house mine......and the family plans to move me in Saturday........I can't even imagine how hectic it will be.  Robby took Pam and I to dinner tonight to celebrate.  I have loved staying here they have been so good to gigi and I......Rob and I have become real buddies, which isn't always true of a son-in-law and a mother-in-law.! It has been fun helping with their new grandchild a couple of mornings a week.  I am so happy we are only ten minutes apart.

Spent a fun afternoon with my crazy friends and we have lunch and play Mexican Train.  Trying to pack up everything and get it organized to move.  Sherrie and Darren coming in to help and Rob has rounded up some of the grandkids to help........It has been a wild ride these last five months but I am sure I will look back on it and say......"YOU DID IT!"

LIGHT IN MY LIFE........

With a smile like that my beautiful granddaughter has it made.......I am so proud of all nine grand-kids that's why I proudly show off my cars license plate that says "MY GRANDKIDS ARE CUTER THAN YOUR GRANDKIDS!"  Annie is all you would ask for in a 18 year old college student.......Love ya Annie

To day was bridge day so I didn't get much done but had a good chat with all my friends and caught up on the latest with all of them........but didn't get any thing else done and I need to start getting my stuff together to move out on Saturday........Friday I sign for the house.  I will be so happy when this is all done and I am settled.

OH HAPPY DAY......

                        What makes a mother's day more than seeing and being with her children?   Sherrie and Darren came in from Vernal today.......I hadn't seen Sherrie since 25th of January and then for an hour at church......so we spent a fun afternoon inspecting my new house, having lunch and shopping........I had her find something she wanted for her birthday which is In about three weeks.  I have really loved living with Pam and Rob the past four months.......the evenings Pam works.......... Rob and I go to a movie or out to eat somewhere.......tonight was Kentucky Fried Chicken night!  Seen Karrie and Rich quit a lot lately as they have been helping me with the loan and buying new house.  Feel like I am getting sick......the kids have had colds...............maybe  my turn.  So much to do to get ready for the big move this weekend.....can't get sick now........

DAYS ARE NUMBERED..........

 

Well this Monday was an interesting day......Up early and met my tax man and got the bad news.......Then at one did the walk through on my new house and between Rich, Rob, Karrie and I found quite a few things to be fixed.  Then off to the loan company to sign the loan papers......thank goodness for an 8.37 rating putting me in the 98% of the highest ratings.....YES! I had no idea before all this what my credit rating was or even cared what it was.  We close on Friday and I guess they will start moving me in on the weekend.  I have had a lot of hills to climb since I first looked at lot #91 last October.......There are about 150 homes being built in the subdivision and the girls told me today they have 8 left to sell.i guess there will be a lot of people to make friends with.........

Really tired tonight and hope I sleep.  It was fun seeing Richie and Kar today.  This is a picture of my Gigi dog.

 

COUNTING DOWN.......

 

It seems I am always sorting through the beautiful clutter of life to find 'ONE GOOD THING" to write about.  Yesterday was the first day of Spring and the whole town is in bloom......pity people with allergies........but looks like God just waved his wand and all the trees got the message.........Pam and Rob got home from St. George about 4;30......they ran down overnight to pick up their razor.  I tended the house and dogs......went shopping this morning and grabbed some lunch then a busy week starts tomorrow.  Pick up my Income Tax and have a walk through the new house.......Tuesday Sherrie coming to town and will have lunch, Wednesday bridge and Thursday my domino group and lunch,,,,,,at least it makes the time go fast till I move.......My Condo still hasn't sold!!!!!

 

DEAR LORD...........

 

WHAT  CAN WE DO BUT PLACE OUR LIVES INTO THE HANDS OF THE LORD?......I hate to give him all my worries, troubles and cares because they seem to be many......but I also have faith he knows better than me what I need.  So many of my dear friends have health problems or their mates do and they are struggling to tend them....thank you for my health and the wonderful people who are there for me.  Coffee with Patty.....my old next door neighbor who is also my best therapist,,,,,,   then we ran out and looked at my new place.  Long talk with Barbara and Beverly about bridge.  I really am getting excited about moving into my new place,,,,,,,..,about two weeks from now.  Pam off to her play tonight and dinner so ROB  and I made Chinese food and he is watching  "MARCH MADNESS" basket ball.  Tried to get my  sister who I had hoped was home safely from her visit to GRANADA......but no answer.......maybe she decided to stay another week!........Is there such a thing as being tired of being old and hurting?,  I know it does happened to everyone.

 

Just look at some of our hero's........the SEVEN DWARFS.......even they are showing their age.

WILL IT EVER END?????

 

Well.....yes it does happen .......and lately it is getting harder and harder to refocus.  I understand the process but hate myself for getting into this and dragging the family through it all.......even though it was their idea. More and more it is one day at a time.   Baby fun today......Pam has a really bad cold and Henry (their dog had to go to the Vet)......FUN, FUN.  Karrie texted and said Annie was going to Skagway, Alaska to work for the summer......love this adventurous little gal.......And Richie is off to Montana for the summer.....poor Scott is going to be an only child for the summer. 

 

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY............

 

  Happy St. Patricks Day.......and Congratulations to Pam and Rob for 36 years of hanging in there.......A  fun wedding at the McCune Mansion......a great affair with all the family and friends and two days later Don, the twins and I left for Europe.....wow......how did I do it?  The kids went off to Mexico and our family had grown by one.  It was a great time.....a very quiet St Patricks Day.....ran out to the house and got the mail and stopped at Home Depot and checked on railings and washers and dryers.  Baby sitting the dogs tonight while the Panniers celebrate their anniversary with their Ireland friends who are here to ski. In a very depressing mood tonight!!!!!

 

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS..........

I guess you can still be OK and have a lot on your mind.......because I am sure most of us do have lots on our minds...........When will my condo sell......how long will I have to pay on a loan for it.....how much is my move going to cost......how will I get everything I stored moved out of here and Karrie's and my house........and does any of this really matter in my life to be a success or have a successful life.  I guess the secret of success is simple knowing that one dream is enough to set it in motion, that one good decision is enough to put you on the right path, that one step is all it takes to get going, that one ray of hope can keep you going, and that one person can make it all happen:,,....YOU!  I am just trying to have faith and hang in there that it will all end happily ever after.........

72 degrees today and did a few chores.  ROBBY home from the Nash Car Races in Phoenix and we zipped off to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner.

 

NICE WEEKEND.......

 

Look at this picture.......and you will know why I have loved being a grandma for almost 33 years.....My first two granddaughters ......Tiffany and Nicole.......have you ever seen anything cuter......that's why my license plate states......."MY GRANDKIDS ARE CUTER THAN YOUR GRANDKIDS!"   HaHa.  Well Tiffany has added to my joy by giving me my first great-grandchild and I am off to dinner at her home today and get to play with the baby, Aaron.

It has been a fun weekend with grandkids, Friday......shopping with Tiff and Pam and Aaron.  Spent Saturday shopping with Pam...... she.bought her a new chair and lamp for the bedroom and then we had dinner with William.  Liz and Rob out of town so had him all to our selves......and today Pam and I went to the Cheese Cake Factory for brunch and then Tiff and Scott invited us over to dinner....Yes, life with grandkids is good.......if you have the kind I do.

 The Hortons.....Scott, Tiffany and Aaron!  You can see my family is growing and just have that many more people to love.

 

YOUNGER..........

 

             I think this is a problem for all my friends....... Day by day we are getting older and can't do anything about it!......but enjoy the days we have left on this earth.  Today I got word that one of my very best and oldest friend died of stage four lung cancer.....BONNIE LYNGLE...... a couple of years ago her husband died and she never really got over it......never learned to get out and mix and mingle and go on with her life.....she always seemed to be waiting for Warren to tell her what to do......so sad.  We have played bridge once a month for 50 or so years.....She will be missed.

        I did have a nice day with Pam, Tiff and Aaron.....we went to Tai Pan and shopped up a storm.   Sherrie called and said she was setting up a security system for me which is a great comfort to know,,,,,,I  really am nervous about moving into this new place and not knowing anyone,......The new walk through is the 23rd and then to be approved by a loan if my place has not sold.....worry, worry, worry!  Rob off to Phoenix  for the Nascar Races......so [Pam and I will be hunting something to do.........Don informed us he put poor KOKO down.......and I thank you GOD for this nice day.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS.......

 

Yes, it has been one of those days.......I can't decide if it was all good or bad.  I met the lady to measure my windows and order the coverings.....wooden shutters in the office and neat blinds in the rest of the house......seems she was reasonable. It will take three weeks or so which is good because I won't be in the house before then.  I am very nervous being alone in this new place with nothing on the windows......to many strange workers wandering around.  Then Pam went with me and I found a neat area rug.......THEN met Rich and Karrie and they took me to the credit union who said they would do a bridge loan for me until my condo is sold.......only good news here was when they checked my credit score I was a 8.73 or 8 plus and nine is the highest!  YES!  Then we stopped at Zuppa's for dinner......nice having Karrie speaking to me again.

What will tomorrow bring......to be free of debt.......... now I am not .........is hard to get use to. But keep my fingers crossed I will get the condo sold soon.......

My sister facebooked she was off to Granada for a visit with her granddaughter and great-grandchild today.....last week she was attending the wedding of a granddaughter......these things sound lots more fun than moving.

GRANDCHILDREN........

 

There are no words to tell you how much I love my grandchildren and how much they mean to me.  I have nine and they are all special to me in their own ways and they are all very different.......I do pray they each remember me with good memories of the fun times we have had together , the vacations, the baby-sitting I have done for each.  I have shared their ball games, eagle scout honors, school achievements, disappointments, proms and graduations.....and so much more.  I have told them each I love them and followed the missionaries through their trials and tribulations, I have attended every high school and college graduation and one MBA graduation.  I have been to the three weddings and delighted in the birth of my first great-grand child.......I am so sorry for those who do not experienced the love of their grandchildren........or have selfish children who do not want to give up their material things and time to have and raise a baby!

  This is Scottie Cook......13 and my youngest.....I almost hate for him to grow up, graduate and go on a mission......he is so fun and such a go getter.  He is such a light in my life. Scottie never change........

My second granddaughter and I enjoyed her fabulous wedding in Minneapolis.   It has always been hard to keep up with this little gal......she never stops.  She got her MBA from Kelly Business School in Indiana and works for General Mills in Minnesota.  One person full of life and enjoying every minute with cute husband Bill and doggie .................

Oh I can hardly wait to see where this fire ball will take her grandma......I adore and admire and love Andrea Cook, my third granddaughter......she was a cheer-leader and so was I......she liked and had a lot of boy friends.....so did I.  She is beautiful.....I was cute.  We just loved life and could hardly wait to see what the next day would bring......She loves me and I love her and that is just how it is.  I will not be around to see how it ends.....but we will always love each other.

 These are my fourth and fifth grandsons.......Brayden and Kennedy Christenson.......I did not have any boys and am a lucky grandma having six grandsons to love and spoil.  These two and I have shared a lot of memories of vacations and long talks.  Brayden plans an amusement park some day and I am all for it.....right now he is on a LDS mission in Washington state......Kennedy is in high school and loves sharks and dinosaurs and is planning to volunteer in the Dinosaur Museum in Vernal......he would be so good there.  I miss my missionary!!!!!!

My third grandson.....Richard Cook.....So handsome you can't stand it and a really neat guy......he has always been so good and helpful to help me with house work, yard work and just got home from a mission to Mexico.......... my favorite place and speaks fluent Spanish.  Can hardly wait to see what road he takes in life.

Looking back these are my first three grand-children.. Tiffany, Nicole and William......Tiffany just gave me my first great-grandson, Aaron........and works at the U of U.  William, the cute little guy is my first grand-son.  He graduated from the U of U and lives with girl friend Liz.  William works with Tiff's husband and loves golf.....oh yes, has a GREAT BIG DOG named Apsen.  I love these kids so much and still see and love them much.

This is number two grandson Alex Christenson.......who always had a wonderful smile and chrisma you would not believe....and I have never seen such a hard worker.....well his brother Brayden does give him a lot competition!.........but after a LDS Mission in Brazil he is married to a cute girl named Lindsay and they have a dog Douglas and working for the family business.  Oh, how I love this guy.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT A LUCKY PERSON I AM AND WHY I HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR AND THANKS TO PAM, SHERRIE AND KARRIE FOR MAKING ME A GRAMMIE!

NEW PRAYER..........

 

AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE I HAVE REALLY NEEDED TO DO SOME SERIOUS PRAYING........A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS COMFORTABLE IN MY HOME WHICH WAS PAID FOR, A CAR THAT WAS PAID FOR, A LITTLE IN SAVINGS AND LIVING ON MY MONTHLY ALOTMENTS AND ABLE TO PAY ALL MY BILLS. NOW .........IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS I AM GOING TO OWE ON THE NEW HOUSE THE KIDS THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE, WILL END UP PAYING INTEREST ON A LOAN I WILL TAKE OUT BECAUSE MY CONDO HAS NOT SHOLD.....I WILL BE PAYING SOME MOVING COMPANY TO MOVE MY THINGS THAT I THOUGHT THE KIDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR......NO WORRY MOM.......RENTED A PO BOX FOR MY MAIL, HAVE TO BUY WINDOW TREATMENTS, A NEW WASHER AND DRYER,.....RUGS ETC.  I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITH THE DOG WITH NO YARD AND I AM NOT ABLE TO WALK HER A DOZEN TIMES A DAY......COSTS TO HOOK UP COMCAST, LIGHTS, HEAT, GARBAGE ETC. AND OWE MY SON-IN-LAW FOR THE REMODEL ON THE CONDO.......WHICH HOPEFULLY MOST WAS TO BE RECOVERED IN THE PRICE OF THE HOUSE.......WHEN IT IS SOLD!  SO.........I CAN ONLY TRUST THAT I AM GOING THROUGH THIS FOR A REASON GOD, YOU ARE FINDING SOMEONE TO PAY FULL PRICE AND SOMEONE THAT WILL LOVE THE PLACE LIKE DID ........YOU ARE OPENING DOORS TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN I HAD EVEN TONIGHT THINGS LOOK BLEAK FROM MY END......BUT THANK YOU GOD FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME........I ALSO KNOW THE CHILDREN MEANT WELL AND THEY HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND I AM GRATEFUL......BUT MADE A BIG MISTKE BY SAYING "YES" ........I WILL MOVE.

      

HOPE EQUALS ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.......

                                                      PRAYAS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON GOD
                                              AND WORK AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON YOU,,,,,,,,

           There is an old story that illustrates this principle very well. It seems that two frogs were playing on the rafters of a dairy farm one night and they fell into adjoining pails of cream. Both frogs scrambled for survival, but one fought longer and harder and stayed the course.  When the farmer came in the next morning, he found one frog floating on the top of a pail of cream, dead:  and the other frog standing on a cake of butter......exhausted, but happy to be alive........
          MORAL:  When we let problems overwhelm us, when we stop jumping and hopping and scrambling for survival, we stop living.  But when we hang in there and fight the good fight we end up on a cake of butter.
         I agree with this but it is so easy for someone viewing your situation from afar to give you advice......with a....." just hang in there......this to will pass."    There will be times in the future I will turn myself into a little frog and just keep going.

SPRING AHEAD....................

                                   WELL HERE WE ARE.......TIME TO SPRING AHEAD AND MOVE OUR CLOCKS UP ONE HOUR......I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND IT WAS ALMOST EIGHT......THINKING I HAD GOTTEN AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP  IN......AND THEN I REALIZED I SET MY CLOCK AHEAD LAST NIGHT AND MY BODY REALLY JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ON SCHEDULE AND WOKE UP AT IT'S REGULAR TIME.......SEVEN!  EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO THE GOVERNMENT PUTS US THROUH THIS.....TAKES SEVERAL DAYS FOR THE BODY TO CATCH UP WITH THE NEW TIME........
                                  TODAY THE HORTINS AND PANNIERS AND I TOOK IN THE ANNUAL HOME SHOW........PARTLY BECAUSE ROB WAS ASKED AND AGREED TO WEAR A PLANT SOIL SACK AND ADVERTISE POTTING SOIL FOR HIS FRIEND WHO HAS A LANDSCAPING BUSINESS.........AND WE ALL GOT IN FREE..................HE LOVED IT AND WE REALLY ENOYED ALL THE VENDERS......I AM LOOKING FOR WINDOW TREATMENTS FOR MY NEW PLACE AND WAS CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT IS NEW AND FUN;
I GOT TO PUSH THE STROLLER WITH AARON IN IT OR I NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE ALL THAT WALKING........NICE DAY.

LIVING ON THE EDGE

 

They say if you aren't living on the edge......you are taking up too much room!........Well since October I feel I am getting closer and closer to my edge......I just hope I can hang on until I get moved and everything gathered up that was dumped on the kids and still in my house and in the trunk of my car and.....and......and.  I thought it was just a cute saying......about living on the edge......seems I feel ready to topple off or maybe jump........only with my arthritis now days I have taken JUMP, HOP, RUN etc. out of my vocabulary........so I guess I would be a candidate to just fall off the cliff....you know nervous breakdown kind of thing........Lets just say I am dangling on the edge.......waiting to get my condo sold!

Played yesterday......so today I am washing my hair and my cloths and trying to get caught up with the mail.

Our time changes tomorrow and so we have to adjust to a new schedule AGAIN............

 

50 Shades of Grey..........

 

I truly believe we are all in charge of our own happiness.......No one can make you unhappy unless you let them.....but believe me it is harder said than done.......I know, I lived with an expert who did it to me for 30 years........AND I LET HIM!   But moving on almost 29 years later I am in charge of me.  Had a busy day with coffee this morning with Patty and then off to the movie this afternoon with Shirley and Bonnie.  Last night Rob talked Pam and I into seeing "50 Shades of Grey" with him........not impressed or depressed......if people want to run around with no clothes on that is their concern not mine......I just hate to see any woman let a man use her body for his entertainment!  Yesterday went through my house it is really coming along.......been busying buying bath towels and rugs and a few things I am going to need. 

 

 

JUST WHEN YOUR ABOUT TO...........

 

            I read this now and then and try to remember it as I lay awake for hours at night or cry myself to sleep because of the turmoil in my family over the this darn house thing!!!!!!  I feel sorry I have caused so much extra work and time spent trying to help me get through the move.......It wasn't my idea and I cannot at this age do it all myself.......... as I did after the divorce 29 years ago.......Went through the new place today and it is really coming together and I am excited about it.....but I still have a lot of hurdles to cross......sell my condo......or take out a loan.....and hope there is enough money to pay for the new house and pay back everyone who has stepped forward to help out when it sells eventually.........A couple of people interested.....but need to sell their place first......I close in three weeks and not sure that will work.......and so we move on one day at a time!

Yesterday I had a dermatologist appointment.......so today I have some scary looking spots on my face......also he biopsied a thingy on my arm......Today it was off to the tax man to get that over with. ......never a fun experience.......Got to think of something fun to do this weekend.........Sunny and cold today.

I DON'T THINK I'M SEXY.......BUT WHAT IS MY OPINION AGAINST THOUSANDS OF OTHERS????

Just trying to convince myself......I am still OK......I guess..

MY GRAND BABY........AARON

 

I HAD A GREAT DAY HOLDING, FEEDING AND ROCKING THIS LITTLE GUY THIS MORNING.  GRANDMA PAM IS TENDING ARRON TWO MORNINGS A WEEK UNTIL THE DAY CARE HAS AN OPENING SO WE GET TO WATCH HIM GROW AND LOVE HIM LOTS.  HIS MOM HAS GONE BACK TO WORK 1/2 DAY FOR AWHILE..........MY YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD IS 13 AND IT WAS TIME TO GET A NEW BABY IN OUR FAMILY TO LOVE AND SPOIL........WE GOT OUR FIRST SNOW STORM OF 2015.....THE LAST BIG SNOW WAS ON CHRISTMAS DAY......I'VE BEEN LOVING THE WEATHER THIS WINTER.  PAM WORKING TONIGHT SO ROB AND I WENT OFF TO KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN  FOR DINNER.....PAM DOESN'T EAT CHICKEN.......WE WENT DOWN TO THE ORIGINAL FIRST KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN RESTRAUANT.

NOAH'S ARK.......

Some days you just have to stop and figure out what and where you are headed for......... One minute things look bright and sunny and the next black and discouraging........I have a million questions about what is ahead........but then I see if I just take a look at some of the lessons Noah's lessons.   For so many of is while we are waiting for our ship to come in we have missed the one will take us into the life we have been destined for.......And I bet everyone at one time or another feels he missed the boat!........Plan ahead, have some goals and stick to them.  If you need to get a better job, educate yourself for one......if you want to lose 20 pound......quit eating!!!! Build your future on high ground and for safety.......always go with a friend when the situation is ify.....and no matter the storm, when your with GOD on solid ground there is always a rainbow.   Wow....I feel better already.

GIGI.......

GIGI........This is my constant companion, care-taker, watch dog and best friend.   She is 13 and getting deaf like I am.......she tries very hard to be a good girl, but now and then gets into trouble.......like scratching the Panniers carpet when locked in the bedroom......not a good day......but their Charles chewed up the woodwork in my bathroom once and ROB had to repair it for me......so I guess what goes round, comes round.......We will be glad when we get moved into our own place though.

It's a quiet Sunday ........the Pannier kids are coming over for dinner tonight.  I love having the grand-kids and now even the great-grandchild in my life.  I miss the Cooks and Christensons.  I did have a nice dinner with one of my favorite nephews and his wife last night.......it so fun to catch up now and then.  Now days it is my family that is keeping me going.  I need a home and to sell the one I just left.....both a worry, but I can only take it one day at a time and trust that it will all work out.  I do have a wonderful place to stay and they really spoil me here,,,,,,I will probably forget how to vacuum, dust, etc......but have tried to keep in practice by emptying and filling the dish washer and taking the garbage out.