Missing the warmth!

Well, Christmas is come and gone. It was a very nice and relaxing one for us this year! More than can truly be said for some of the years past.

We had the chance to go down and spend Christmas with Mom & Dad this year! It is much easier I have to say, when the kids are older, to have Christmas someplace other than your own home.

I am not saying that I plan on making a practice of this, but merely that it is easier now that the kids are older than I would imagine it would have been when they were little!

That being said, can I just tell you, now that we are home, how very much I am missing the warmth of the southern sun! I got to go outside and run while we were there! I haven't been, and won't be able to do that here at home for a very long time yet! The weather we wonderful, and we had such a nice relaxing time! If time would permit I would go back down tomorrow!

Besides....I was just starting to get acclimated! ;)

I love you all and hope that this Christmas found you all well and healthy! Now I am hoping it will bring us all the best New Year we are willing to work for! I believe that we do get what we work for!

I love you all and hope to get to see you all again soon! Jana & Family!

HAPPY HOLIDAY

Dear Family,
I hope everyone is ready for Christmas, and all the special times that come to our families.. Mom, and i are doing well.. My blood is up and holding strong.. I have another blood draw 1/4/11,I feel everything we be fine then too...
Mom, went to Salt, last week end to take christmas presents and visit with everyone she could.. Sat eve she Megan,Christi, Madie,Gillie,and Mindy got to go out for dinner... Then Sunday morning they all attended the sunday morning Christmas Spokenword program... She then stopped at Steve place and had lunch with them before starting home to St George... She was able to watch Katie and Ryan open their gifts.. Katie loved her new dress but when Ryan opened his gift he started to cry.. and said I don't need clothes I need toys...
Chet had his surgery today and Jan reports he is doing okey tonight.. They plan to come to St George to be with us for Christmas.. That is if the weather is good enough to allow them to travel safely.. We really hope to see them and to spend time with their family...
We just received a note from Mindy, she suggested we as a family we should restart the fanily letter, and start sending it around to each family.. She believes it would help bring us closer as a family and help bring as closer to each other.. I agree, there is something more personal about hold and reading something that one of your family prepared and mailed to other members.. Please don't let this idea fall by the way side I hope everyone will give this serious consideration..
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a very happy Hoilady season .. LOVE DAD

I have been thinking a lot lately about how the years come and go, but with ever passing year though they might be similar they are nevercompletely the same!

Part of what has got

me thinking about this is the "Ice Thing" that Chet

does every year.

Some years it gets going really fast, some years the wind blows and it grows a little lop sided, some years it gets going just a bit at a time, growing day by day, inch by inch. Sometimes, it starts out looking great, and like this year it gets warm and melts before it has much of a chance to get very big.

Like the ice thing, every year brings us different challenges and different lessons that we are suppose to be learning. Hopefully the lessons we have learned have been learned well enough that we won't need to repeat these particular lessons again, but we will continue to grow day by day, inch by inch, into something that when people pass by us they want to stop and look because we have touched them somehow in their life.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas full of all the joys that this season is suppose to bring. With more focus being on the gift that the Savior gave to us That through the years as we continue to grow and change we will be molded into the people that his gift gives us the opportunity to become! Always remembering that things are never staying the same! Excpet for the love our Savior has for each and everyone of us!

Love you all Merry Christmas.

Greatful To All Of You

I am so very greatful to each of you for so many reasons. You are such a great example for Mom and I..You are such great teachers to you children and others in your walk though life... Mom and I had the pleasure to attend Gillie and Paiges, baptisems this past month.. I would like to thank Christi and Chris and Dave and Jennah for their making me and Mom feel so welcome in their homes.. I am always happy to interact with our Grand kids as they continue to grow and develop their lives.. Mom and I had a great trip to Salt Lake and Colo. the weather was good and we didn't have any bad roads to travel on..
While we traveled through Colo we stopped in Idaho Springs, where Mom has some of her jewelry on consignment.. That little shop is really neat and fun.. Mom also found another little shop that may be intrested in some of her stuff if she can find some aspen leaves that are treated in gold, silver etc.. they do make beautiful neckless and earrings... but the leaves are a little pricey to get..
Steve and his family moved the later part of Oct. and are busy setting up their new home as well as Steve, getting to know about his new job.. While we miss them we are also greatful for our peace and quite ..Lilly really misses Katie, who each moring would come upstairs and fist thing, sit down and pat and visit with her.. In fact she still goes around the house looking for them, to play with...
I had my Dr.s visit last Wed. my blood is up to 39 & 13, which just about puts me in the normal range..


Hi everyone! I don't often have a chance to even talk with most of you anymore, so it's nice to say hi this way! I miss you all and love you so much!
You are all a great inspiration to me, as I watch you go about your lives, meet your challenges, and find solutions. I am so pleased that you are all trying your best to live the gospel, and to teach your children. You are so much more faithful than we ever managed to be!
I'm so grateful that you are strong enough to have survived us and come out stronger for the experiences. I hope you can forgive us for our mistakes, and love us anyway. We are always so glad to see you and to hear from you.
It's been a busy month! We went to No. UT for Gilli's baptism, then I did 'What Women Want', then we went to Co. for Paige's baptism. Then we barely got back from CO when I learned I would be going to No. UT again for a conference with work, so Mon. night my immediate supervisor and I left for SLC. The drive up was good, we spent 2 days learning new stuff, the late Wed. afternoon, we headed back home. The drive back wasn't so good, as it was snowing, but in answer to my prayers, the Lord did 'open the way before', as I literally followed a snow plow for most of the way betweenbetween Scipio and Beaver before the snow let up and we felt safe. I was very grateful for the answer to prayers, as I hate driving in snow, especially in the dark! Then, Friday night it was "Art on Main" here in St George. I hadn't heard anything from the organizer so thought it had been cancelled, but then finally Fri AM got an email from her and it was still on, so had to rush home from work to load up and get back. It wasn't very well attended, saw only about 25 or 30 people, but it was OK. Got home about 10 PM. Sat. AM was the Alzheimer's Memory Walk to raise funds. I donated a piece of jewelry as a prize. All in all, it's been a long month and I've been really tired, but life is good, and I'm grateful!
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Love to all of you!!! Mom

Thankful

As this is the time of year and the month for it I just wanted to tell you all how grateful I am that I get to be numbered among such amazing people!

I am grateful of the wonderful memories of growing up! Fighting and learning things both the fun and easy way, and the hard way (which lessons I seem to remember the best).

I am grateful for being born into a family with the blessings of the gospel in our lives and that we had parents that tried to make sure we knew and understood the importance of said blessing.

I am grateful that we are all different individuals with unique personalities and quirks that make us who we are!

Mostly I am glad we are friends! Please squeeze your families for me and tell everyone I miss them. I have no idea when I will be able to see any of you and it would be great if you could maybe make a little post in here and tell me (US) how you are all doing!

Happy November, and Thanksgiving! Love Jana & Family!

Hey guys! We're getting more and more settled each day that goes by. Still have a lot of stuff in the garage, and even more stuff in the basement, but we're getting there. We've decided that we're not ever going to move again because of all the crap that we have had to buy and build. Not much fun. Work is going well. I work for America's best from Ogden to Orem and all places in between. Hope things are going well, and if you have any good books, I am spending a lot of time reading, so I'll take any you want to lend.
Come and see us if you're by American Fork.
3329 S. Hawk Drive
Saratoga Springs, UT 84045

Fall is flying...

Well, fall is upon us, but it feels like it is just flying by! This for me has been the strangest year! The garden was weird, and I just feel like I have been off a bit this last little while.

We are still trying to figure out how to help Megan through this new stage of 'tween'. If anyone has any ideas I am all out and have just had to turn this one over to the Lord! Hopefully I will be open to the guidance that I am hope to receive.

Ford too is still struggling in school, but this time I have backed WAY off instead of fighting him like I did Megan. I am not sure which approach will work the best, but I do know that I am tired of fighting for something that doesn't/didn't seem to matter as much to them as it does to me!

Chet is still busy with work, but the tractor season is starting to wind down. Too bad it is too cold now to go riding the motor cycle in the evenings, because now we have some time to. That's ok though, it will give me something to look forward to, to get me through this winter.

I am still doing the lunch lady gig and liking it for the most part. I am hoping to be able to receive more training towards a manager job this year, and I am getting ready to start taking a Spanish class next week. Hope my brain will remember how to retain what I will be taught! It's been such a long time since I have been to any kind of class.

I hope everyone is doing well and I love you all! Jana and Family

Happy News

Hi everyone! I had my blood draw on Wed the 15th, my #'s are 13.3 and 39.1..If i keep going I will be considered in the normal range of 40.0 and 16.0... Who knows I my surprise everyone, even myself.. Mom and I are doing well and are greatfull for all of our special blessings...In fact this week end she will be traveling to Salt Lake City to attend the gem show that is held there every Sept.. She plans to stay at Christi's home and later on Fri. she and Mindy will hang out for awhile.. The past week end Jan and her family come to St George to attend a wedding for Jan friend April's step daughter..It was fun to have some time to visit with them as well as with Steve and Jenn.. Steve, and his family traveled to Utah Co to look for a place to live when they get to start his employment.. I think they found something, but I think it will be up to them to share their infomation.. I know that everything seems to be moving along in hyper speed.. O well thats the story of live when we get a little older.. Or as some would suggest with the start of the 2nd coming.. I have decided to sale our Rhino, I have'nt used it and it sat down stairs and the gas went bad in it and it is running rough.. Dave and his family have expressed some interest as well as Jan and Chet... Any one else in the family who might be please let me know...Love you all very Much!! DAD

Time for a quick update. I flew back to Chicago to retake my last board exam on the 21st of Aug. I feel that things went well. Now we get to sit back and exercise our patience muscles while we wait for the scores to come out. Thankfully, I have been able to work at Adrian's selling clothes and doing some windows on the side. Scores are due out by Oct 11th. We were given a huge blessing before the exam when America's Best called and asked if I still wanted a job in Salt Lake. I will be floating between 3 stores up there as soon as I get licensed (3 days in Midvale, 1 in Orem and 1 in Ogden.)

Hi Everybody.....

Hi Everybody!

Things around the Parker house are going about the same as usual. I am working at the school, Ford is going to school, Chet is doing air machines and tractor work and Megan is working at Subway looking for another job and trying to decide what she want to go to school for.

Chet hurt his shoulder at work this week and has an appointment with an orthopedic on Monday. We are hoping he will be able to avoid surgery, but we are sure that the rotator cuff is torn, just not sure how much damage there is. The good thing about it is (if there is a good thing) that he did it while at work so work mans comp will have to cover it, instead of coming out of our pocket. The bad thing is it is his right arm and working is very difficult for him. I have been going with him after work to help out when I can, but I can't go with him all the time. Wish I could. Keep him in your prayers for a quick recovery!

Tomorrow, we are both taking the day off and heading down to the State Fair! One of our favorite things to do this time of year. Should be a good time and it will be good for him to not have to work all day. Give his shoulder a rest.

Anyway, hope things in your parts of the world are going well! Love and miss you all! Also would love to hear from you! Love Jana

What A Summer!!

Dear Family, this has been a very intresting summer for Mom and I. We have had Stephen and his family live with us.. We have gotten to know our grand kids a lot better and that has been fun most of the time.. They love our dog Lilly and really enjoy playing with her.. In fact if Katie could she would keep her in her bed room all the time, but her dad told her she could not shut Lilly in with her in any room.. Part of the reason is, Ryan like to tease the dog when Katie is playing with her..I know when they move lilly will really miss all of them very much.. This summer Mom traveled to Colo to be there when Jesse was ordained a deacon, and watched him pass the sacrament for the very first time.. They had a great visit and took Mom on a short but steep hike to see a pretty spring and waterfall.. She really enjoyed the hike, and thanks to Jesse and Dave,she made it down safely but tired..On that trip she found an other place to sell her jewlery in a resort town of Idaho Springs COLO..In fact she has about ten pices there now, that she sent up to him about three weeks ago.. When we go over to Colo. for Pages baptisem we are planning to stop there and see what success he has had..Stephen, went back east to take his board on the 21st, of Aug.He and his buddie got to stay with a member family that spoiled them..He feel so much better about this time around taking the test, and is sure tha he passed... But he stll won't know unil sometime in OCT.which is still tough to take because they are really anxious to get into a place of their very own and set some roots for their children.. Katie started school this Aug. bet you all can't guess what she like most at school...Mom and I are doing good.. Mom is busy at work and getting her jewlery going; infact she signed up to do the Wash. Co fair for 3 and a half days it turned out to be a great learing lesson for her.. she did okey but it was a lot of time sitting and waiting for something to do.. She has been ask to participate in the Art Show on The Main, this nov. This is a good way for her to unwind form the pressure of work at Zionsway and me a way to hele her a little.. My blood is staying up.. I go in the 15th of this mon. for a blood draw, and then again in 30 days, and don't see the Dr until Nov 10th. we will just all keep thinking positively.. Love evryone and always enjoy seeing or talking with each of you.. LOVE DAD..

Nothing new....(sort of )

Well, just wanted to post so that everyone knows we at the Parker house are all still alive and well. There really is nothing new to share. Megan is still working a few days a week at Subway, and looking for another job, Ford is working at Artic Circle and getting ready to go back to school on Monday. Chet is still crazy busy between work and the tractor. We didn't even get the chance to go back down to St George for the summer. I think this is the first year we didn't make it.

I guess we did do something new that most of you don't know about. Chet and I bought a motorcycle. We have wanted one for years and finally had the means. I has been a good thing for us as it is an easy way to go do something out of the ordinary without much advanced planning (if any). You know how we are the "fly by the seat of our pants" kind of family ;)

I go back to work tomorrow to get prepped for the first day of school. Having a hard time gearing up to go back this year. Usually by now there is some small part that is ready, but this year all of me is wishing I didn't have to. Oh well, responsibility calls.

Take care and know that I love you all! Jana

I am graceful

Hey guys

Jesse had his birthday a month ago now and I meant to post this little video clip then. But, better late than never. Hope you enjoy.

Love

Dave

Wonderful Summer

Dear Family,
It has been awhile for me making a post. Mom and I have had a great spring,and now summer.. It has been a little warm down here in St George, but for the most part it is"just right". I had a bout with some sickness for a couple of weeks,which in turn caused my blood to stay low 8-9, but my last blood draw was 11.3 top number bottom number 33.7, so it is going up.. I have a blood draw Wed. and Dr's appointmennt thr. so I hope it continues upward.. Stephen and his family have been staying with us since may, and it has for the most part been enjoyable.. It has been tough on them having to wait to find a job and get their own home.. But they have been blessed to do window cleaning, practice the things he needsto do for his up coming Boards he takes in Aug.. He is working a couple of day at Adrins clothes store and blessed to be doing okey.. Our grand kids are growing up so fast.. Katie, turned 7 on Mon.. She had a great birthday party at her other grandmas house where they got to go swiming..
Mom, went over to Co. to Jesse' ordination to represent her and I because my blood was still down, and my lungs weren't clear enough for me to go to that ealavation...I am greatful to Dave and Jenna for how enjoyable they made it for her, thanks!.. I want to thank all of you for the B-Q, grill, we have used it a few times for hamburgers and corn on the cobb.. it has been sooo good.. Come down and we can do it with you..
I would ask all of you to please stay close as brothers and sisters..families.. I cant even begin to share how empty a feeling you have when some in your family passes away and you can't visit with them anymore.. I have wished many times that I had spent more time with my siblings, even if it was a telephone call or letters etc.. I can't go back and change it or ever get that time back.. I hope that no one thinks I am finding fault, because I am not, I am sad that I, didn't make more effort before one died and I got to where it was hard for me to travel..
I love all of our family very very much and am sad I don't get up to see or help you more.. I hope everyone is well and happy. Have a great summer and stay coool! Love you Da

hee hee hee!

ok, kids really do say & do the funniest things sometimes. take last night, for example, gilli asked for something, without remember the "magic word" so Chris, trying to remind her, said, "puh-puh-puh" and paused. the problem is that we live in the modern world, instead of "please", chris got "pokerface". It was twice as funny as it should have been, because she sang it instead of just saying it. (for anyone who doesn't know, pokerface is a song. our family happens to be very fond of the glee version.)
hope it made you giggle just a little bit. i had to hide in the pantry because i was laughing so hard.
summer is flying past. love you all, and hope you are surviving all your back door blessing with style, grace, and maybe even a little joy.

joke from madi: "how do you make Lady Gaga mad?" "poke her face."
:)

Taking your lumps

Just in case word hasn't gotten around, I didn't pass my last set of board exams. What that means is 1, I have to take the test again in August in Chicago and pay the fee again (ouch), 2 I lost the job waiting for me in Orem and 3 I'm back to washing windows again. Needless to say, its been a very gut wrenching experience. If you have ever felt like you failed at something, you know its very difficult to separate the failure at a task from you being the failure. I guess we can look for the blessing in the trial, and I know we will be taken care of, but I sure could use the prayers you feel inclined to send our way. We have several challenges ahead. I need to find a place to be able to practice, while avoiding a law suit for practicing without a license, and keep up with our finances by trying to wash windows. Katie will again have to go to 2 separate schools this year, and all those dreams of starting to get out of debt are put on hold. What's the lesson? Wish I knew, but I am confident we were set on this path of school for a reason, and I know we were meant to succeed. We'll be okay. Things in August will go well. Its just been fun right now waiting for the emotional bruises to go away.

Thanks for listening to me complain.

I have decided!

This is just a little note to let you all know that I have decided that you will not have to worry about me ever moving to Washington or Oregon. This last few months has taught me that I am pretty certain that I would totally go nuts in a climate where all it did is rain everyday! I admit it. I miss the usual Utah weather! Warm sunshine filled days is what I am use to and I am truly missing them. Not to mention I think my garden is drowning! I will be amazed if anything grows this year! What a waste of money :( Oh well. If it does I will be grateful and if it doesn't and I actually get some veggies out of it all!

The sun did shine down for a little bit this afternoon and Chet and I went out for a walk and got some really beautiful pictures! (Chet took them) and it really was beautiful. As I sit her getting ready for bed though, it has started to rain yet again and even the sound of it doesn't bring me the peace that it did even a few weeks ago. I hope you will forgive me for my ranting, and those of you whom I am sure are loving this....Enjoy it for me :) I love you all and hope you are all doing well.

Ph, and Jennah, Happy Birthday my sweet sister. Daddy, I hope you are feeling better SOON! You are in my prayers Love ya Jana

great quote!

ANNA QUINDLEN : Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live...to love the journey, not the destination.

good reminder! love you all!!! :)

THANKS FOR THE WEEKEND

Well my special family, I again want to thank all of you for your efforts to come to St George for a very good visit.. I enjoyed the time I had to visit with each of you one on one, I came away even more impressed with a confirmation that Mom and I have the greatest kids ever.. We are greatful that the gospel is important to all of you, and your families.. I pray that none of us will ever let that go away from us in our lives.. I had fun seeing how much each of the grand children have grown ..I really missed Chris, Megan and Ford and want you all to know we all felt the hole that was left by your absents.. I am sorry I did not have the energy to take the kids on a ride in the ATV, I feel badly about that.. but maybe next time we can do that..
I hope the new summer warm is making everyone happy, and that now your garden can start growing Jan.. I talked with Henry Post, he told me he had to till up where he planted his corn and re plant because it has been so wet it rotted the seed.. Mom, made a quick trip up to be at Megans graduation{way to go Megs}she was impressed, and greatful to be there for her and I...Megan I am proud of you for the the effort, I know it has not been easy..
I hope everyone is well and your summer is full of great adventures.. That could include a visit to sunny St George... Well that was just a passing thought, Love you all very much DAD

thanks!

thanks everybody for a wonderful weekend! it was so good to see everybody. my house seems way too quiet today. wish we could do it more often. love you all!

So good!

It was so good to see everyone this past weekend! reminds me of what fantastic people I am privileged to call my family!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for housing us all! I am sure it was a lot more noise than they were/are use to. Still the giggles of the kids makes me smile to myself as I sit here typing this note. :)

Thank you all again. Good times! Love ya, Jana

Change of Plans

Well we have been really blessed. We have had 4 job offers, with two of them being in Utah. We had accepted an offer with Standard Optical, but have had another offer since then from America's Best. We have been torn between these two because Standard Optical would get us to St. George in a year (possibly) where America's Best pays much better. After much prayer and anguish on my part specifically, we decided to take America's Best in Orem. Also, graduation is this next weekend, so we will be driving up to Oregon on Wednesday, and then the next week we will be packing things into storage and going to St. George until I get licensed. Then its off to BYU-ville.
Now all we have to wait for are the last results of boards.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to you fantastic women in our lives. Its wonderful to be surrounded by, and to have the blessing to associate with great women.



Jennah is about ready to launch her soap business. We have hopes for great success, though on a limited scale at the outset. If any of you are curious to see her website as it is right now, you can go to woodlandnaturalsoap.com.



I have just finished my latest CAD class and find myself in a familiar conundrum. Where do I go from here. I felt through part of this course that I am actually more interested the design process and principles that go into creating the objects rather than just laying them down in a drafting project. That means engineering, but I can't afford, in time and money, to go back for another Bachelor's degree in engineering right now. It would probably take 5 years to finish it going in the evenings. So, I've got to think through all of this. That's ok. The Lord has something in mind and we'll find our way there.



The kids are great.



Jesse becomes a Deacon next month. That's exciting.



Brielle has found that "big books" like the Fablehaven series are actually worth the effort, such as it is, to read.



Paige wants to be a writer and poet. She loves to tell stories, now she just needs to remember them for long enough to write them down.



Kylee can rule play time with the strength of her imagination and the way she wraps everyone involved in her reality.



Caleb. Rockets, jets, balls, and guns. What more can I say?



Eryn is both stubborn and persuadable. She is stubborn when she won't be made to do something. But, her siblings can get her to play along at almost anything where she gets to be a key player. No problem, we just need to change life into a game and we can get her to do anything.



Love you all.

Dave

Happy Mother's Day

Happy mothers day to you wonderful women that have influenced life so profoundly. You have the trust of God in bringing life into this world and guiding it onto the path of eternal life. You are all the best.

Standard Optical

We accepted a job at Standard Optical, so we will be staying in UT. We work one year in SLC and then they will transfer us to St. George. We are really excited.

Dilemas

I feel truly ungrateful. We have been working and praying to get a job, and now I feel like having to choose is really a problem. I flew to Omaha, Nebraska this last weekend for a job interview at a clinic getting ready to start up there. We now have a job offer in Nebraska and Nevada. (hmm maybe these things run in N's?) So now we have to choose if we want to go to Nebraska by this Friday. Its a pretty good opportunity, but I'm torn about moving so far away! Again!
Decisions, decisions.
(I confess it would be easier if I was sure that I had passed my last board exam.)
The air force ruled itself out as an option because I was told the soonest I would be able to get into officer training would be the end of August, and I can't sit around waiting for 2 months where I could make $16,000 as an optometrist putting my life on hold.
Hope things are just as happy and fun with the rest of you.

Just a quickie

I just wanted to make a quick update and let everyone know we are all still alive at the Parker house. At least all of us are for the time being. I think Megan is testing to see how long it will take before I snap and either end up at the funny farm or kill her. Really though, over all things are going well. I have my job and Chet still has his. The kids both have a job which helps out now that they are both driving fiends and can pay for their own insurance and gas. (whew) Megan's friend Jessica is still with us and she is getting ready to graduate at the end of this year. Megan should be going to graduate, but it is looking less and less likely by the day. One day I am sure it will matter to her, but right now I think she has just given up. There was too much to over come, and it was simply too over whelming for her. Which at this point I can see how that would be. To bad she didn't start working on it long before now. Ford too is feeling the tug of summer and has slacked off in his school work, but I am hoping that by watching Megan that he will decide to kick it up before he has to work as hard to catch up as her. I have decided that they have to be the ones who want it though, not me! All I can do is encourage and pray! If you all would send up a prayer in their behalf as well I would be grateful! Love you all and hope to hear or read from you all soon! Jana

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birhtday, EVERYONE!! there is a bunch of folks who enjoy this spring month.. Mom, just had hers on the 9th, someone sent her birthday flowers at her office to help her enjoy spring.. I got her a set of mup flaps for her car.. hopefully this will save her fenders from road sand blasting from her tires.. Ten we went out to dinner on Sat. for both of our birthdays.. Mom, gave me a new pair of shoes and the 2nd vloume of the Lighting King, on CD's.. Mom, has been very busy and stressed at work trying to get everything brought up to date before they receive a new visit.. We are both doing well and enjoying this beauthiful spring weather..For those of you that enjoyed the oranges from the orange Man, I am sad to report that he just finnished up this sat. the oranges are starting to go hard and tastless.. So we have to wait until next Dec. for him to restart.. I guess Steve is in Oregon to take his last set of boards, the he returns homw for interviewes for some porspective jobs.. I again want to wish everyone a special love the Lord has for each of us and our families.. May you all stop along the way to take the time to smell the roses,and that which the Lord has prepared for all,of us to use and enjoy... Love DAD

Competition

Jenni and I have been having a competition on losing weight with her mom. The goal was to see who could lose 20 lbs. first and Jenn won this last weekend. I lost 17 but she beat me by 3 pounds. Way to go Jenni!!!!

Happy Easter

I just wanted to drop in and tell all of you Happy Easter. As I listened to conference today I thought of our family and growing up together. I am so glad I have such great people that I call family. Thanks to Mom and Dad for doing the best they knew how :) It must have been ok, because we all turned out pretty ok. We don't do the rabbit thing around here anymore as our kids are just too old... I was trying to remember when we stopped getting it for us while we were home? That part of my brain has it seems shut down. Does anyone else remember? Mom? Dad? Christi?

Am I horrible for not doing the gift thing this year? I guess, oh well, if I am because I didn't, and there is nothing that is going to change that now.

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well, I love you and look forward to seeing you all in May.

Jana & Fam.

Hi Guys

As you read in Dad's message, Memorial Day weekend sounds like the best time for my crew and I to come out for a get together. Looking at our summer booking up so quickly so soon, and knowing that the longer its postponed, the more likely it will be permanently postponed, we thought this sounded like the best idea. Jennah and I talked about leaving Thursday after work, going partway, and finishing the rest of the drive on Friday morning. So, that would put us there sometime Friday afternoon. Then we would probably go home Tuesday morning, giving us the weekend plus a day. What do you all think?

As an aside, Jennah and I are celebrating our 13th Anniversary today. That seems like a long time when I look ahead, but when I look behind, is seems like no time at all. Like Jacob said in the Book of Mormon, that their lives "passed away like as it were unto us a dream", so it sometimes seems to me.

Here are a couple pictures of our puppy monster. On the whole, its been fun to have her and she's learning. As you can see, she's already bigger than Eryn.

I also added a recent picture of my little girls. I think I'd better start training Dame to be a guard do so she'll be ready when the boys start to come a'knockin.

Love you all

Dave

Family GG Togather

Hi! everyone I guess no one wants to blog with me.. I talked with a couple of you about coming for a visit to St George this year.. Christi and her family are trying to arrange a visit on Memorial Day, week end..I spoke to Dave, about what time frame he and his family had in mind to come to Utah, this year..with the infomation about momorial day he and Jennah, both thought that may be the best time for them also.. I have ask Dave, to post a blog with what they decide.. hopefully it will be this weekend.. then everyone else can see what their schedules may look like at that time frame.. Stephen, and his family just may make that one before they travel to their first assignment.. who knows where that may be??????? He will graduate on the 22,May 2010..I hope everyone can block out some time for momorial weekend.. Mom and I are doing good.. Mom has had a week from----, they are being reviewed and she has put in tons of extra time trying to get all the information they may need.. She will be ready for her trip to Salt Lake City, for the gem show next weekend.. I went to the Dr. Friday and had a great visit..my blood is up to 12.8 which is a good range..We both have been blessed to not get colds etc.. thank the Lord for those blessings..It is getting late and I should close this.. I Love each of you very much... DAD

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

When I had a chance to speck with David, sunday evening he informed me that the month of June,is all booked up for scouting and camp out with his ward.. I know we talked about trying t get togather that month for our family gathering... so I ask each of you to to please start thinking about when we can have are whole family time some time this summer...or any other time that may work out for everyone.. It really is going to take some effort on everyone part to help make this work for us..
I love you all and really am looking foreword of have the family all togather...I hope all of you will share ideas and thought and let us know what works best for you all.. We had a great visit last weekend up north and was able to see everyone and had a family dinner at the villege Inn, I was sorry that Christi, and family could not be there, and hope Mati, is feeling lots better... It would be nice to here form you It seems most of what in entered in the blog is from Jan or me or Steve.. LOve all of you very much...DAD

Very sad

He everybody! :) I just wanted to drop you all a line to say hi! This weekend was a good one! We celebrated Megan's 18th birthday on Friday by having a bunch of people over for cake and ice cream. Thanks to those who were able to make it. Sorry for the lack of planning on our part and not getting everyone called. (it was Megan's fault) I was very sad that Christi and her family got sick over the weekend and weren't able to enjoy the weekend! That and the fact that we didn't get to see them either. :(

Mom and Dad came up to get their taxes done and stayed with us. I felt bad for not getting out of bed to see them off this morning and hope they will understand when I tell them I had a really rough night and didn't get much sleep. I am sorry though. There really is no excuse!

Steve and Jenni and the kids came up to visit us this afternoon and we actually got to play outside for a little bit. I lent him some books and we talked about a bunch more. We LOVE books! :)

Also they got to hang out with my teenagers and listen to the things that we get to talk about to a degree. We didn't talk about everything because we want them to come back and see us again :) Not only that we don't want to make them too afraid for their future. All in all it was a good weekend. Thanks everyone!

Hi Family

This weekend Mom and I will be traveling to northern Ut. to have our taxes done by George Howell, we have been working with him for over 45 years.. When he send out our appointment time notice he told us this is his last year of doing anyone else taxes.. We feel very blessed to have had him for almost an extra 10 years when he told everyone he was done doing personal taxes .. But he will be turning 80 soon and he wants more time to fish,duck hunt,and use his air boat..
While we are up there we hope to see everyone of our family at a Sat. night dinner at the Village Inn, in Bountiful at about 6pm.. we are going to try and see aunt Faye and uncle Paul for a short time.. We also need to arrange a time to get Henry and Judy's christmas present to them while we are up there.. Like always we have too many things to get done and not always enough time to get to everything.. Our weather has been very wet this winter, in fact we have received almost 5.50 inches of water this year, with more yet to come.. Mom and I are doing okey and feeling good .. Mom is busy at work and with her church assignments.. Family History..
I had my Dr's appointment last friday.. she said I am healthy.. my blood is up to 13.6, and everything else is okey.. I feel very blessed, and I am greatful for everything he does for me..I love all of you so very much and look forward to seeing all of you.. Dave you and your family are most welcome to come join with us.. LOVE DAD

Quick update....

Just a quick update. Noting new really happening in our world. I just wanted to thank Mom & Dad for their hospitality and for letting us stay with them and share their space and time. Thanks also for making Jessica feel just like one of my kids! :) We had a good time visiting with Mom & Dad and Richard and Julie over this last weekend. We got to go out to the glitter pit and dig for more rocks. My "boys" Chet and Ford were in the heights of heaven. They both love to dig! (hence Chet's tractor)

We got to go out and visit with April and her family too and we even went out to dinner with them, and Mom & Dad went out with Richard and Julie. All in all even though it was a short visit, it was a good one. I hope that we will be able to do it again soon!

Also I want to thank Steve and Dad again for the blessing! I am so grateful for the blessing of the priesthood in my life and for the faith I have in it.

Looking forward to Steve and Jenni being closer to us within the week! Yeah!

I love you all and hope you are all doing well!

Jana & Family

HI MY FAMILY!!

I hope that everyone is well and happy.. As for Mom and I we are doing good no great pains to report, just the same ole little ones that keeps reminding me that Im'still just a kid with lot's of life to live yet.. Today I got to go shopping for Mom valentine gift and card.. I didn't do to bad.I got her a spring jacket,pants and top..she liked it all but a couple of things did not work out .. She exchanged the pants and top. 2 out of 3 isn't too bad is it? This weekend we are having Jan and her family are coming down for a short visit..also Richard and Julie,are planning to come for the week end if he dosen't get called out by his work.. Stephen and his famly will also be in St George, this week as the are moveing up to Salt Lake City to complete their last internship ship for school. Then he will graduate on May 22,2010.. It has been a pretty fast time these past 4 years.. He is still looking for a job when he is all done. I ask the blessing of the Lord to guide him to find the situation best suited for him and his family..We took Lilly to the Vets for her shots and check up she is in good health.. We ask him how much he would charge us to spay her .. to clean her teeth and Spay her they want $380.00. we won't be using those folks ..Jan and Chet gave me a book on CD' for christmas..The Lightning Thief, I see that a movie has just been made so I guess I will go see the movie to see how the book may end.. It has been fun listening and ended very fast.. will you folk please take care, and enjoy life to the utmost and take time to smell the flowers on you way.. Love you all Very much Dad

Last call from Arizona

Things are winding down for us here in AZ and we are getting stressed about the move up to SLC. I don't look forward to the cold. We are also still looking for a job to pay back all our debt, and we are considering joining the air force as an optometrist. Crazy, I know, two Captain Martins in the same family. But we haven't reached any decisions yet, other than the fact that I would rather join up than work at America's Best! We are still alive, and for the most part pretty good. Jenni has started feeling anxious again, so we are dealing with that. Other than that, just living live.
Hope you are all well, and would love to have David's opinion of what he things of the air force, if he would return my call!
See you all in SLC in about 2 weeks.

Parker Update

Okay not to much to say but here goes anyway.

Megan is doing as little as she has to in everyday life just to scrape by. She is in a major funk and I hope we can find a way to get her out of it ASAP! She is working on things in her own way depending on the day.

Ford let his grades slip a little in the last term which resulted in his missing the last 2 swim meets of the season. Sad for him and his Mom. I have really been enjoying them. I get a little excited though I have to admit. Now the goal is to keep grades up for the rest of the year so that he can be on the team again next year. That's the goal. Oh ya, and he got a job!!! He works at Iceberg drive in, in Syracuse.

Megan's friend Jessica has been living with us now since New Years. It has been an adjustment having someone with a totally different background and up bringing living here and making the adjustments on both sides so that we can all be happy. All in all I think it has been a good thing. She and Megan are sharing a bedroom and it is a little cramped but I think it has been good for both of them.

Chet was working a crazy lot of hours there for a while, but now seems to either be caught up a little bit or to be just worn down enough or both, to not be working so many hours. He and I have been spending time together when we can to get back some of what has been missing.

I am still working at the school, not making any money, but eh, oh well right? Everyone is healthy for the moment so what more could we ask for? (don't say a word!)

I think I will be going out for a managers job if one comes available, so if I could ask that you all keep me in your prayers a little bit I would be grateful!

I would love to know how things in all of your worlds are going, since we don't get to see each other nearly often enough. Please at least drop a note telling me (everyone) you are all alive. Life is crazy busy I know, but it would be nice for even a hello. Love and miss you all. Hope life is treating you good. Love Jana & family

HAPPY MONTH

HI! everyone, I hope that everyone is feeling good and that those who have had surgery or will be having surgery will recover quickly.. Dave I hope your mouth is feeling better and you are able to talk a little more after four or five days.. This is a happy month because Jan, and Dave had their birthdays I hope they had a good day... One other reason this is a happy month is because Chris has employment he starrted last Monday... Our weather has been wet and cool but we welcome the water our area has received.. Lilly has a tough going outside when it's raining so when it rains she has to be kept on the back porch until we get home.. She is having another problem she does not like me to leave her home.. Joy next door to us called to report she was out of the yard but she put her back in the house.. the next day she got out by crawling undr the back gate.. I received a call from a lady out walking her young kids and ask if I had a dog named Lilly? I said yes ! she told me she had followed them on their walk and was about 2 blocks away I drove up and found where they were and called to Lilly who jump right into the truck with me.. But the little boy told his mother I want to keep the doggie and take it home. Well I left again to day and Joy, told me she heard Lilly out back crying and trying to get under the gate.. she could not because I put a gallon can of paint there to block he space.. So until Mom and I can think about a solution to that problem I will have to block her on the back porch when I leave.. Well I shold close as it is getting late and Mom and I have to get up early and get ready to get Mom over to the old hospial for a minor surgery.. She is having the port, removed she used when she was being treated for her lung condition.. We Love all of you very much.. and proud of Steve for how well he did in passing his second set of boards.Way too go big Boy..

Kids do the darnedst things

Here's a quick update from phoenix. Just having fun helping our brave servicemen and women see better and getting a lot more out of this rotation than I had planned.
Katie lost her other lower front tooth and has the cutest little toothless grin you could imagine. The other day Katie was pretending to be a waitress for the family and she said not to laugh at her because she was just woman without a husband.
Ryan has recently discovered that he likes Elmo and calls his show La La while elmo is also La La at different times and Elmo on others. He is Katie's little parrot and copies her as much as he can.

Jenni and I are on a diet trying to lose weight and so far we are at least heading in the right direction.
Hope you are all doing well. We will see you guys in 4 weeks in SLC.

Not much to say

I guess over the last month or better I really haven't had much to say. Not much has changed in that direction either, but I wanted to drop you all a line and tell you all that you are on my mind and in my prayers always.

I do have a couple of up dates. Ford is still on the swim team and he is making fantastic person strides! In the last two meets he finished first in one of his events both days. It is exciting to watch him improve and get faster. I sure I am really funny to watch as I watch him swim. I can't help getting excited and jumping around a little bit. I think this has been almost as fun for me, as for him.

Also on the Ford up date. He is now officially employed. He is working at the new Iceberg restaurant they built in Syracuse. He started training the week after Christmas in Bountiful. Let me tell you, I am SO glad that they finally got the Syracuse store open and he no longer is making the trek to Bountiful. That is a really long drive. (not to mention, it takes a lot of fuel)

Megan is still trying to work towards her graduation and still working at Subway in Riverdale.

Chet is still working his guts out for Airserv and being totally under appreciated as usual.

I am still doing the lunch lady thing but have decided once again that I will be looking into the managers job this year. It is time for me to do something that will make me stretch a little bit. So here we go. Again I love you all, and hope everything is going well for you all.

David's Day

greetings family of mine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!!!!


I hope it is incredible. how did it get to be the 12th already? I was going to be so much more organized this year and everything. hope you know I haven't forgotten you, i just misplaced my 'do things ahead of time' mojo. right now i seem to be flying by the threadbare seat of my sweats. maybe my mojo is hiding in one of my christmas bins and i will find it when i take down the trees.

that might not be until february. . .

i think i'm in trouble.

chrisser started his new job with a large dose of butterflies in the stomach. new industry, new job environment, new income bracket, but after the day ended, he feels like he'll be just fine. phew!

so since you guys have asked me word questions, i think that turnabout is fair, so here goes. . .
what do you think that the difference between honor and glory is? waiting for your thoughts.

love you all.

by the way, HEY DAVE, HOW'D YOU GET ALL GROWN UP?

pinches and raspberries to all of you!! c

Happy Holidays

I guess it's all over for another year.. I really hope everyone had a great holiday time and received a blessing of good heallth and joy.. Mom, and I so enjoyed the visits from all those that made it down to St George.. we thank you for the effort during the storms.. Jan, Magen, Ford, and their friend Julie Ann ?? it was great to visit with all of you.. Mindy, was here for christmas and shared opening her stocking with Mom and I.. Stephen and Jen, and their kids come up from Az. they stayed with her folks through christmas and then spent new years with us.. They left to return home on Sat. morning about 10am.. It was fun and Lilly had fun most of the the time, until Ryan wanted to sit on her.. but they all got along great.. and when they did'nt Lilly would hid behind my leg.. Mom, bought us another TV, we put the other one down stairs so now there is something nice to watch when you all come to visit with us..I got DVD's socks a book on CD's and good health.. MOM, got a drill press but took it back because it turns too slow to drill the stones she want to use.. So I guess she will use my dremel because she can get it to go faster.. she will be gettig a set of diamond bits when she takes her trip to Ar. on 1/13/10- 1/17/10.. She is going to get stones for her newest project of making energy jewlery.. I have to admit the are really neat and pretty .. She also got a couple of sweaters and a nice top purple in color.. We welcomed in the new year with Steve and Jen By playing Dominos until 2am .. Mindy! I got 600 points.. No i did not win.. I bet you can't guess who did... Mom.. I guess it is back to the same old thing in life work school church etc.. But we can do it with a big smail knowing the Lord still love each one of us... May you have his guidance and protection for this new year is my hunble pray... LOVE DAD