Taking a look back at 2009

I can’t say that I am unhappy to see 2009 leave us. It has been a tumultuous year to say the least. There were celebrations, salutations and disconsolation, to deal with. As 2009 passes by I will remember this year as the year that I did a lot of growing up. If you are under 40 or still in your 20’s I am here to let you know that this thing called life is a never ending lesson. It’s one of those things that you just have to find out for yourself unfortunately. No one can teach you the lessons that you need to learn to complete the person you are supposed to be. You can’t read it in a book or read it on a blog, although a book about what you need to learn can point you in the right direction, there is NOTHING like life experience. You have to go through it. This is the year that made me think, “Why God are we here and why does it have to hurt so much”? In an effort to make note of the lessons I’ve learned this year I am listing and reflecting on the following events.

January 2009 – President Obama’s Inauguration – I received invitations from the Presidential Inaugural Committee to attend this historic event but I did not open the envelope until a month after the inauguration. I was so busy with family stuff that when the envelope came I didn’t open it. I thought it was just junk mail. A month later I noticed the envelope on the kitchen counter upside down. What made me look at it were the words Handle With Care printed on the corner of the large envelope. When I opened it I was stunned. I was sent an invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee in Washington, DC. and I missed out on it.

February 2009 – My Dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. We were very optimistic since his type of cancer is highly curable. It was too late since he like most men would never go to the doctor. By the time he was diagnosed the cancer had spread too much and after a series of biopsy’s and an attempt at surgery he was given 6 months to live.

February 2009 – My 8^th Wedding Anniversary – Tony and I went to dinner to celebrate the day we were wed. I am absolutely in love with my husband. I am blessed to be married to my soul mate. He is the wind beneath my wings. He is my very best friend. Sometimes the 2nd time around is the charm. There is a line in Avatar, the smash hit new movie (with the blue people) where during different times in the movie the 2 main characters would say to each other with a gentle touch, “I see you”. I so connected with that line in the movie every time it was spoken. If you haven’t seen Avatar yet I’m telling you that you must see it. You must see it in the theatre before you see it on DVD. See it in 3D if possible. It was an awesome movie, the best I’ve seen this year. Oh excuse the little rant there for a sec…as I was saying, this is how I felt that day. I felt that he could see me. Okay now I’m crying. Time to stop and move on to March.

February 2009 – On Feb. 14 it was Valentine’s Day but it also marked 8 years I have be a successful work at home Mom. I replaced my income in 2003 and my husband’s income in 2007. I help others do the same thing.

I am always looking for new partners to team up with. Wanna work at home? Contact me today!

March 2009 – Sweet Repeats consignment sale – I love this sale! Twice a year I shop for the girls here. Designer labels and the clothing is great! Looks like new and saves us a lot of money. If you are shopping retail for your kid’s school clothing I urge you to try a consignment event or store near you. Each year I have been spending about $200 on clothing for the girls. All designer labels. You can’t beat that with a stick.

March 2009 - I went to CA on a business trip and spent 3 days training and spent some time with friends and colleagues without the hubby and kids. I spent my free time sleeping and it was wonderful!

DANG! THIS IS A LONG POST…..(it was a long year. What can I say?)

April 2009 – Beyond The Canvas – As the fundraising chairperson of my daughters Montessori school I assisted in the schools largest fundraiser by booking the talent. The event consisted of lunch, an art show/auction, as well as performances by the children and talent I booked. The event was a success!

May 2009 - Started Monday morning prayer with my 5 sisters and my Mom. We prayed together for my Dad who was undergoing treatment for cancer.

June 2009- Attended luau at the Brentlingers who have a house in the middle of nowhwere. Miles and miles of greenery and very few neighbors. After driving on a dirt road for about a half an hour we reached the destination. They had a beautiful pool and the decor took us back to the Hawaiian Islands – Big fun!

July 2009 – Working my business, visiting Dad at the hospital, and took our annual family vacation to Buffalo, NY.

August – attended company convention in Florida. Tony and I were finally sealed in the Florida temple, started big push for merit badges by attending merit badge clinics almost every weekend.

My son Justin at a court of honor ceremony (age 14)

My son Wesley at the court of honor ceremony (age 16)

My mother and her sister, my Auntie Marion in the black suits with white tops in front. The rest are sisters and cousins.

My Dad passed away on the Aug. 18^th, almost exactly 6 months after he was diagnosed just like the doctors said. Lots of family visiting, we all chose the casket and flowers, we spent some time together, we laughed and cried, I worked hard and had a very successful month in an effort to suppress my grief and we all did some growing up.

My sister Debra (center) and her daughters, my nieces Sana and Jannah

Rest in Peace Dad

September – more grieving, merit badge clinics and fundraising.

October – Halloween, baking, grieving, and more Boy Scout merit badge clinics.

November - Thanksgiving with just me and the kids, nephew Dawud visited and stayed over a few days and spent a lot of time with my children. (Tony went to NY to visit his 88 yr. old Mom), grieving, and more Boy Scout merit badge clinics.

December – Job hunting with Tony, retyping resumes, faxing, My birthday, Tony’s birthday and Christmas.

I'll add the Christmas pics another time. Thanks for reading:)

Sudoku

Okay I am addicted to Sudoku. Yes, I just started playing. I thought it involved math so I would not play it but now I see what all the hoopla is. I showed my son Wesley and he started playing in about 5 minutes and beat my time by 30 minutes. Some people are just nerds have a good aptitude for numbers. The NY Times version is my favorite. The only way I will be able to play regularly will be in the bathroom. Can you picture that?

It actually stimulates the brain. I have already felt the results. My memory has improved. I have also gotten rid of some nonsense in my life. There’s no time left in the day to do anything for me and definitely no time to waste. Print this one off and see how you do. Time yourself. After you've completed it post your time here.

Pamela

And then we said , Amen

I really enjoyed Thanksgiving this year with the kids. Tony went to Buffalo to visit and we missed him terribly, haha. To fill the void I added something to our traditions which are still forming. First let me tell you what I prepared. For appetizers we had small crab cakes and scallops. Just a few each, I like to add something different each year to the menu.

Here’s what we ate:

Small 10 lb. turkey

stuffing with apples and cranberries

macaroni and cheese

green bean casserole

homemade mashed potatoes (special recipe) made with cream cheese and sour cream super fattening

corn pudding

dinner rolls

and for dessert I baked sweet potatoe pies

This year after we said grace, I had each child take 10 beads and place them on their charger near their plate. I then placed a small bowl in the center of the table. I asked them to think of 10 things they were grateful for…it could be anything or anyone or anyplace. They were to keep it to themselves. No blurting out. Just quietly while they were eating dinner or while we were talking and in their own time to one by one drop a bead into the bowl when they thought of something they were grateful for. It was so awesome throughout the evening to see beads being dropped into the bowl from time to time. We laughed at Wesley’s jokes and the girls being silly. We could not help but notice the empty chair where Daddy is supposed to be.

Kyra set the table for us and set up the grateful game for me. Everyone had contributed in some way. After dinner I asked the children to share just one of the things they were grateful for. We went around the table and I was surprised by what they said;

Wesley – was grateful for the Priesthood and the power it gives him

Justin – was grateful for the church he is a member of

Kyra - was grateful for Heavenly Father and her family

Halle – was grateful for Wesley…..we all laughed, but I thought it was sweet as she loves her brother…

I was grateful for having the Gospel in its Fullness, for a wonderful family and a loving husband

Then we had dessert which Justin ate too much of… I ended the meal with a letter emailed to me from President Barack Obama about Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to next year. This Christmas I will decorate the table really pretty I think. I already have the Christmas spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You MUST click on Pumpkin Pie at the end!!!

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.



TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.




I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.




MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!











PUMPKIN PIE

Sandy had puppies!

I told Tony we didn’t need a 2^nd dog but you had to see him standing at the door with another dog who is now Sandy. After a few weeks we had Dutchess spayed we made an appointment to have Sandy spayed. We had a trip to New York planned to visit in-laws so we postponed the spaying and left Sandy with my mother on the other side of town. We were away for too long about 10 days. When we returned we were going to reschedule the spaying right away. We did but it was too late. Apparently a neighbors dog had already gotten his groove on lucky. I remember driving home and seeing a strange dog. It looked like a brown Bullmaster, male. He had a red collar. I had left Sandy outside tied up with Dutchey and ran a quick errand. I remember thinking that I hope the dog was not coming from my house. Needless to say a few months later we helped Sandy with her dang puppies brood. I fell in love with all the puppies and I really enjoyed going through the maternity experience with her. I watched her nurse and helped as much as she would let me. It was amazing to watch her clean the puppies and clean up after them, literally. I didn’t know that the female dog lapped up the puppy urine and ate the feces. It was disgusting harmless since the only thing they ate was her milk. They puppies grew so fast. Poor Sandy seemed to always be hungry. Nursing a brood of that size is a big strain on a dog. Large amounts of calcium is taken from the female during nursing. Sandy looked like a crack head thin to me. After about 5 weeks she began to wean them. She would not let them nurse. Sometimes in the evening she would let them nurse but only for a few minutes. The puppies were getting very big. They all looked like the Bullmaster. Check them out. They were only about 3 weeks old and very big for puppies I think. So for the past 5 weeks we had 7 dogs.


All the puppies are gone now. A few days ago we were able to find really good homes for every one of them. One of the new owners works at an animal hospital in my neighborhood. All of the homes already have other pets or other dogs as members of their family. We were very lucky. I know it was because the puppies were so gorgeous. Anyway I am estatic happy they are gone. It was a lot of work taking care of them and 4 brats kids.