BACK to SCHOOL!!

Ashley's senior year started today & it makes me sad! Where did the time go?? Time definately flies by & I HATE it! I miss my kids being little~wish I could go back~I would be a stay-at-home Mom~Not worry about the house being clean all the time~I wouldn't stress over the small stuff~my list goes on & on! Hayden's 2nd year of College starts Aug. 23rd & he has decided to transfer to EAC in Thatcher. He is going to try-out for the baseball team & seems excited about it!

I have registered for College at NPC as a full-time student & will hopefully start the nursing program this time next year. There are some pre-requisite classes that I need to get out of the way first. I am looking forward to going back to school~hopefully I can handle it~23 years is a long time to be out of HS. I LOVED taking care of my Grandma & my Mom so I look forward to taking care of others in the future! =)

My niece Devanie had her baby on 8-6-10~Carter Lee Tate~7 lbs 3 oz. He is a perfect little boy & we LOVE him so much already!

Summer...hmmmm!

I can't believe it is already the middle of July, where has the summer gone??? It definately hasn't been full of things I had hoped for~but I'm not giving up yet, gotta get out there & make it AWESOME!

Hayden has decided to transfer from Adams State College in Colorado down to Eastern Arizona College & boy have I had mixed feelings about it! Football is no longer in his future BUT he hopes to tryout for the baseball team at EAC. There is more to life than football, I wish him happiness & success in whatever he chooses to do =)

Ashley's senior year will start August 12th.....HOLY COW....I can't believe it! She is going to be the Student Body Social~Chairman & seems really excited about it! Her summer has been full of hanging out with friends...swimming at Becker Lake...going to movies in Show Low...sleepovers...volleyball...basketball...she definately lives life to the fullest & I'm happy for her =)

My year so far has NOT gone the way I had planned! Does it ever??? I miss my Mom on a daily basis...will it EVER get better (not sure)??? I have heard that your 40's can be the BEST years...gotta say, I'm looking forward to it!!!! I have a WONDERFUL man in my life, thank goodness!! My children are AWESOME & bring me sooooo much HAPPINESS!! These are things that REALLY matter in my life & hopefully I can focus on that! I've come to realize that life doesn't revolve around what other people think of me...only what my family thinks of ME, THAT'S what REALLY counts!!! I am ALSO thankful for the WONDERFUL friends in my life, you know who you are...THANK YOU for loving me unconditionally =)

Til next time....... =)

Small Plane Crashes into RVHS

On 6-11-10 a small plane crashed into the Round Valley High School. Hayden & I were in Colorado when Dusty called to tell us this horrible news! Dusty & Dj (my nephew) were fixing the walk-in inside the cafeteria at the HS when the small plane crashed into the main building. We have now discovered that the Ulrich family of 4 from Florida was on the plane & did not survive. This family had just refueled at the Springerville Airport & was headed to the Grand Canyon. Our HS was badly damaged, but it can be rebuilt! My heart goes out to the family & friends of the Ulrich family, what a very sad time for them. Life is to short! ~Laugh Often & Love Completely~

Bliss!

Ashley went on the Trek & had a POSITIVE fun experience! She had Mike & Angie Colwell for a Ma & Pa with a GREAT family! I am so proud of her for going & making the BEST of it, she is definately growing up! Dusty & I went on the Trek in 2000 as Adult participants, it is pretty tough, I won't lie! We both loved the experience & had GREAT Trek families. In 2005, we went again as Ma & Pa, which was an AMAZING experience as well. We had the BEST family & hopefully made their experience an AWESOME one. Hayden was able to go in 2005 too & he had a GOOD Ma & Pa/family too. (Thanks to Ginger Wiltbank for the Pic =)

Hayden had a couple of sports clinics to do up at Adams State College June 6-10 & I decided to go along for the ride! I have plenty of things to do to keep me busy...(2) quilts to finish for my niece & nephew & books to read. The weather is warm during the day & it has been raining in the afternoon. It is green & beautiful =) Hayden is busy from 8:30 am to 9 pm. Wednesday, he only has to be in clinic til noon, so hopefully we can do some sight~seeing =)

Dusty & I celebrated our Anniversary June 6th away from each other =( I can't believe it has been 23 years!!!! HOLY COW!!! I am the LUCKIEST woman in the whole~wide~world to be married to such a SWEET & LOVING man! What a GREAT married life we've had & I'm hoping for many many more years of BLISS =)

=) Awesome Friends =)

I have the BEST friends in the whole~wide world! =)

I have been in Queen Creek for a week, staying with Missy (Bigelow) Sullivan. We have been making these easy quilts & they are too cute! =) (I will try to post some pics) What a GREAT little family Missy has! I LOVE her little kids & enjoy spending time with them. What a WONDERFUL place to run away too!!! Thanks SULLIVAN Family!

How sad life would be without friends ~ I am SO SO SO blessed with the BEST in the WORLD!! I look forward to a SUMMER of........going to get cokes, movies, (hopefully) Valley trips, Booga Reds, walks, making MORE quilts, Java Blues, grilling with each others families, fishing at the Wiltbank Ranch & picnics in the park =) Now that's my kind of SUMMER!!!!

Happy Summer to ALL!!!!

SUMMER'S COMIN'

I am READY for SUMMER ~ warm weather, capris, flip~flops, pedicures, grilling, irrigation, fishing, camping, rain & hanging out with friends & family =)

Happy Mother's Day

Since my Mom's passing, I feel like a part of me has died as well. I miss her smile, her voice on the other end of the phone, her positive attitude & her words of encouragement when I'm feeling down. It's still hard to believe she's gone, but I know she is happy. Sometimes it seems like I can feel her joy & her happiness feels me with comfort. I will miss my Mom each & every day, no doubt. I am so thankful for my faith & knowing I will see her again. The day of the funeral my dear friend, Rachel Wiltbank, made these sweet little necklaces for each of the daughters & granddaughters of my Mom when she was 8 years old. What a special gift, that I will treasure always!

Whirlwind of Emotions!

My Mom passed away on Wednesday, March 10th after marrying the LOVE of her life, CB Ray, on Tuesday, March 9th. CB proposed to Mom in the good ol' traditional way, down on one knee, on Monday, March 8th. She was a BEAUTIFUL bride & was truly "On Top of the World"!!

Moms cancer was very painful in the end & there is comfort in knowing she doesn't hurt anymore. She gave this pancreatic cancer the ULTIMATE 2 1/2 year fight. We will miss our SWEET mother, friend & grandmother dearly.

The funeral will be on Monday, March 15th at 10am at the Eagar Stake Center w/ a burial in Luna, NM immediately following. Also, the viewing will be Sunday evening from 6-8pm at the mortuary.

Thank you all for the prayers over the past 2 1/2 years, they blessed her with strength & comfort to help her endure to the end.