~Happy Memorial Day~

Happy Memorial Day to all my blogging friends~I hope you are having a WONDERFUL weekend!

Ashley graduated from high school on Thursday and it was such a bittersweet moment.  I have been sad, I won't lie....but Ashley has such a bright future ahead and is so excited to move on that I try to be happy for her.  I am going to help her get moved up to Flagstaff tomorrow and I hope we are able to enjoy our time together.  I will keep you posted!

This has been an emotional week for me~Ashley graduating was part of it, but Oprah's last show was Wednesday too.  My mom loved Oprah and watched her everyday.  I have watched Oprah since I was a senior in high school & I feel like she has helped me throughout my married life. Oprah's last 3 shows were wonderful, but the very last one was full of such great advice, I felt she was talking to me.  Everyone wants to feel validated & it is so true, we all need to feel like what we say & do matters.  I'm gonna start adding Oprah quotes to my blog & I hope you enjoy them! =)

Oprah Quote~"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance"

To my sweet Ashley~ I hope you know how much 'I Love You' and that I am ALWAYS here for you!  You are a WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, KIND, LOVING, SPECIAL woman, whom I'm proud to call my daughter.  Know that you can do anything you set your mind to~'THE SKY IS THE LIMIT'~ and let your Heavenly Father be your best friend, turn to him daily and he will bless you more than you know!

May Madness!

I can't believe it is already May 18th....HOLY COW!!! Ashley has Seminary Graduation and Baccalaureate on Sunday.  Graduation is Thursday May 26th and she leaves to go to NAU on May 31st & she'll be gone til July 6th.  I can't believe she'll be gone soon but THANKFULLY she'll be back July 6th til she leaves in August. 

I will be leaving June 5th til June 25th to take a CNA course in Mesa~I have to have this certification to apply to the nursing program.  Dusty & Hayden will be 'bachelors' for the month of June, I may need a housekeeper! =)

It has been so nice not having homework.....I have gotten some cleaning done on my house that was badly needed.  I love school, but having a break right now is HEAVENLY!! =)

Sorry~it's been way too long!

I haven't even been on blogspot since Aug. of last year~so sorry!!  I am going to 'TRY' to do better at posting~I promise!!

Let's Play Catch-up:

Hayden is doing great at EAC~~I think he is majoring in 'pretty girls' but his grades are holding up, so I guess it's okay =)  He has been able to come home a few times & we sure enjoy his sweet smiling face & his teasing that never ends.  Summer is coming fast & he will be coming home to work with his dad....Dusty loves having his boy home~They are 2 peas in a pod!!

Ashley's senior year has been full of volleyball, basketball & friends...friends...friends!  She was accepted to NAU & has senior-itis something HORRIBLE~can't wait to fly the coop & start her college life as a psychiatry major.  Ash was accepted into NAU's Star Program as well, in which she will take classes at NAU from June 1st to July 1st~she will beable to earn 8 credit hours for doing this.  We are so proud of our 'Ashley Bug' & the wonderful goals she has set for herself!

Well, I started school at NPC and boy has it been fun BUT an eye-opener....23 years is WAY to long to wait to go back to school.  I am finishing up finals & will have 1 year behind me....Phew!!!  I will be going down to Mesa from June 6th to June 24th to become a CNA.  I need this certification to apply to the nursing program in the spring of next year.  Being able to apply to nursing school seems so far off, but I know it will be here before I know it!  Dusty & Hayden will have the house to themselves in June~~not sure if this is a good idea or not! =)  My mom passed away over a year ago & it has been a hard anniversary but I know she is looking down on us & smiling.  I was able to go & do her temple work with my Aunt Lilly and Rachel.  What a WONDERFUL day that was...I know she was dancing in heaven!!

Dusty has been staying busy with our appliance store, although business has been a little slow lately but hopefully it will pick up again soon.  Fishing is on his mind all of the time, so hopefully he'll be able to get away to Roosevelt & fish....fish....fish!!

May is coming fast & Ashley will be graduating from HS.  I will try to get some pics posted soon of dances, senior pics, graduation & more!  Hope all of my 'blogging' friends are doing well~thanks for sharing your blogs with me~I enjoy reading about your families too! =)

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.

New Year's Resolutions?

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Well I do, but they usually fizzle out before the month of January is over. This year, I would love to lose some weight, but as I get older it's just not that easy to lose weight....ugh!!

What does 2010 have in store for all of us? Sometimes I wish I could look into the future....just a little ways down the road anyways.......hmmmmmm........maybe Hawaii this Summer (the economy would have to turn around & around & around for that to happen...dang it)

I recently became the Visiting Teacher Supervisor & have never worked in the RS before. I have found some great VT sites (check them out on my side bar). I have failed in the VT department in the past & believe this is WHY I have this new calling =) Hopefully I will get a whole new outlook on the importance of VT (fingers crossed).

Til next year.........Happy 2010 to all of my blogging friends :o)

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve Eve & it has been snowing all day! We may have a White Christmas....Woo-Hoo!! I am ready for the BIG day & NOT even stressed this year. I am usually grumpy & just ready for Christmas day to be over. I have been watching Christmas movies for about a week & they have helped with the Christmas Spirit! My wish for everyone is a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"The Blind Side".....is an AMAZING Movie!!

Gloria, Shannon, Aunt Judy, Courtney, Chelsea, Dev, Claire, Shilee, Ashley, Me & Meilyn started a GREAT tradition last year watching movies at the theater the day after Thanksgiving! We split up in the morning & some went to Old Dogs (funny), A Christmas Carol (Ok) & New Moon (good). In the afternoon we all got together & watched "The Blind Side"........BEST movie this year....hands down!!

I am hoping to get my Christmas decorations up by next weekend. Christmas is gonna be here before I know it & I am sooooo NOT ready! I used to venture out shopping on BLACK FRIDAY but gave that up for movies.......much more relaxing, I have to admit =)

Last year we started having a Bunko Tournament Thanksgiving night & boy does it get WILD! It's actually called Bunko Dammit in the EAGAR family =P Big winners of the night.......1st Ross, 2nd Dusty & 3rd Katie Phelps.

It's been GREAT having Hayden home for a week for Thanksgiving. He will be leaving after Ross's Homecoming on Sunday. I look forward to Christmas break, in which Hayden will be home for a month, woo-hoo!! Happy Holidays!!

Very THANKFUL!!

I am very THANKFUL that my mom is still with us for another THanksgiving! She is truly AMAZING!! Lately, she has been having a little more trouble but still seems to keep going strong!

Ross comes home November 11th from his mission in Brazil...Woo-Hoo! It will be so GREAT to see him....the time has flown by =) What a wonderful example he has been to our entire family.

Happy Thanksgiving! Til next time....

Happy Halloween!!

A good friend of mine sent this video of her family to me & I had to make one of our family too! Hope you enjoyed it =D (see video at the bottom of page)

Happy Fall Ya'll

I love this time of year......leaves changing, yummy spicy candles burning, a chill in the air & football season....GO ELKS!! It's been awhile since I blogged....sorry =(

Hayden is a redshirting Freshman for the Adams State Grizzlies in Colorado (football). He still LOVES home but has made lots of friends & seems to be doing just fine. We have traveled quite a bit up to see him & to watch some college football. It is strange NOT having Hayden here with us but it does get easier as the months go by...thank goodness!

Ashley is on the Varsity volleyball team this year & is so much fun to watch. Our team struggles but they don't give up, they are a GREAT group of girls!! This past weekend we went HOMECOMING dress shopping & she found a really pretty one. I can't wait to see her all dressed up for her first formal dance (pics will be posted)! Ashley will be turning "17" on Friday.......HOLY COW......it seems like only yesterday, she was turning "16" & I was worrying about getting her a car.....how time flies!!

Hope everyone out in BLOGLAND is doing GREAT! Til next time.................

GRADUATION =(

I can't believe Hayden is graduating from High School. Mixed feelings for sure, where did the time go? It's hard to believe my little boy is grown up & leaving home in a couple of months. The tears just seem to flow these days & I feel like such a cry~baby! Hayden has always been more of a home-body & the thought of him leaving home is HARD! I am sooooo proud of him & the GOOD person that he has turned out to be. He has an AWESOME future ahead of him & I look forward to this new JOURNEY in his life.

May...May...May...what a CRAZY month!

My Mom is doing good & is home for the SUMMER! The cancer is once again in remission....which is REALLY AMAZING! The pneumonia is showing up again & some infection in her stomach, but hopefully nothing serious! Thanks again for all the thoughts & prayers!

Hayden & Ashley will be working at the store for the SUMMER, to earn some money! Ashley will be attending EFY in Provo the first week in June....VERY EXCITING! Hayden will be leaving for college in July & HOPEFULLY the month of June will go by SLOW! (wishful thinking..I know)

Dusty & I will be celebrating our 22nd Wedding Anniversary June 6th! Once again, NO Hawaii but hopefully we can go for our 25th Anniversary! (that is my WISH anyways :)

WiNd....WiNd...&...MORE $@%* WIND!!!!

Wow.....It's WINDY for a change!! Dusty & Hayden went fishing at Roosevelt & Ashley is in Payson at her track meet. I just talked to all of them & they are dealing with the WIND too! HOLY COW.....ENOUGH ALREADY! I am working at the store & watching the trash from Basha's fly by the windows. UGGHHHHHHH!!!

Well my weekend started off with my momma cat abandoning her 4 little ones that are 2wks old. I spent the night & morning with crying babies...trying to feed them formula out of a dropper. I'm not sure they are getting enough food....what to do? Hopefully they'll be drinking out of a bowl soon!

There was a good turnout for my mom's benefit on April 15th...thanks to all my friends & family who donated their time & money. She still hasn't been able to start chemo because her body is not quite ready. Hopefully she will continue to get stronger. Thanks again for all your thoughts & prayers =)

ALSO!!!!! I got my braces off on April 15th...."WOO-HOO"!!!! It feels sooooooo goood to have those puppies OFF!!

Spring Break!

Dusty & Hayden are having a father/son fishing trip at Lake Pleasant. They entered themselves in a Bass Tournament & are so EXCITED (I hope they WIN)!! Ashley spent the first few days of her SB in Phoenix with Michelle & Kaylee Schubatka laying by the pool & had a GREAT time. I got back home Tuesday from Tucson to WINDY, cool weather....UGH!!!!! My mom got out of La Canada Care Center on Saturday, March 21st & ended back up in the ER on Sunday morning with blood clots. She is truly feeling like there is no hope for her....but we keep trying to convince her otherwise. She was released from the hospital yesterday 3/25 & is so far so good! Suzanna is spending some time with her as well as PJ. It is great to be back home with my family, even though 2 of them are fishing =) On Feb. 5th, Hayden signed his letter of intent to go to Adams State College in Colorado & will leave in July. I am NOT ready for him to be gone.....it makes me SAD!! Today Rachel & I are going to take my niece Kodi, Brayden & Jaxten to the movie in Show Low. We are going to see "Paul Blart..Mall Cop", hopefully the kids will enjoy it. "Happy Spring Everyone"!!