"Manitowoc Ward"

October 2008

This is our Ward building in Manitowoc, WI. and also the YW and leaders with some quilts we tied then donated to the Domestic Violence Center.

"Beautiful Fall Ride Up Door County!!!"

October 11, 2008

We decided to take one last ride before the weather turns cold so we jumped on the Harley and headed up Door County to see the beautiful fall colors! It was a great ride and the country side was awesome!!! Wisconsin has lots and lots of trees and when they are changing colors it's a sight to behold.

Some of God's greatest creations!

"Our Mini-Cruise Across Lake Michigan"

October 4 & 5, 2008

We did end up getting to go on a cruise after all! It was a mini-curise across Lake Michigan on the authentic Steamship the "S.S. Badger". It was a relaxing four hour, 60 mile cruise. Blending tradition and nostalgia, the Badger gave us a rare opportunity to enjoy a little history by stepping back into the past on a journey that took us from Manitowoc, Wi to Ludington, MI. We thought it would be interesting to go on the last operating steamship. It was fun. Not all that exciting or anything but we can say we did it. We had a state room that left a little to be desired but we didn't really expect it to be something really great anyway. We could have spent the night on the ship but decided to get a nice room in Ludington instead. We had a great meal at a "Big Boy" near the hotel that night. The next morning we headed back to the ship and spent the next four hours just relaxing on our way back. While on board we did some shopping in the gift shop, watched a short movie about the ship, ate and just relaxed. All in all it was a good experience.

I'd still like to go on a real cruise!!!

September 29, 2008 "We Made It 30 Years!!!"

What an accomplishment in this day and age! But we did it and are going for 30 more!

I love Jeff and our life together. He's just the best! I had wanted to go on a cruise for our 30th Anniversary but Jeff's work schedule just wouldn't let it happen. We did go out for a really nice dinner at a place called "The Wellington" in Green Bay. It was perfect for a nice, romantic, anniversary dinner.

Baby Boy Quilts!!!

I've spent the past couple of days making BOY baby Quilts! I did two BLUE fleece ones and three tied quilts. One blue, one green animals and one CAMO!!! How fun is that! Angie has been putting things together so we can have a BOY Baby Shower for Britnee when we go home on the 29th of August. I thought I had better get going so I would have them done for her shower.

Mom Home To Help Out!

The 2ND of August I made an unexpected trip home for 11 days. After a few worrisome incidents with Britnee we thought maybe she could use a little help from Mom. Britnee is doing everything she can but her body is just fighting her with this pregnancy. She thought it might be hard with this last one but it's being even more difficult than she thought. After a few days and discussions with her and Preston we made some decisions: It's time to cut back and she needs a little help! Preston and I talked her in to giving up her Primary class, Visiting Teaching and having meals brought in on the days she works plus having someone take McKinley on Tuesday afternoons so she can get a nap in. Our main hope at this point is that their house sells so she can just quit working on Thursdays. All the family and Ward family were so willing to help out. We sure do appreciate them all. We just have to do whatever we can to help her gets through this tough time. I'm so glad I was able to go home and hopefully I was of some help.

"It's a BOY!!!"

We just recently found out that Britnee and Preston

are going to have a BOY!!!

This will be our first grandson to go along with our seven beautiful grand daughters. It's exciting but I'm not so sure we are all going to know what to do with a boy! (j/k) It's going to be fun making little blue, boy blankets and quilts! This will be their last one I'm sure because Britnee is diabetic. We just hope that it's not to hard on her. Anyway........we should have a grand SON the first week of November 2008 and isn't that GREAT!!!

We're "HARLEY" riders and lovin' it!!!

Ok, we got the bug and went with it. We bought a "HARLEY"! Everyone kept telling Jeff that if you're going to live here, "Ya Gotta Have A Harley". Well, I'm now a "Harley Chick" with all the leathers and the whole nine yards! It's been fun and we hope to have a lot more fun in the future.

One day we jumped on and went for an ice cream at Dairy Queen in Manitowoc. It was nice and hot when we left the house, like the first day it had been 75 degrees! After we finished our ice cream and got back on the bike......within about 5 minutes, the weather changed and by the time we got home (about 20 minutes later) we were froze and ready for Hot Chocolate! You never know what the weathers gonna do around here but it was a fun ride anyway!

Never move to a city with the nickname "THE COOL CITY"!!!

Oh my goodness are we ever going to have a summer here in Two Rivers, WI.... I'm beginning to wonder!!! My advice to anyone is that if you move to a city or town and you notice that the nickname of the town is "COOL CITY", it probably is.......COOL! I am ready for some warm weather and sunshine. I think it's coming but it's taken it's sweet time in getting here. Last night Jeff and I decided to walk uptown, I had to go back and get a sweat jacket! It looks nice outside but it's still COOL!!! They say it's because we're by the lake. I believe it. Another bad thing about the weather is that they say nice weather only lasts about 2 months! Why couldn't we have moved to Florida!!! I need my sunshine!!!

"The Middle Place"

Today is April 15, 2008 and I just finished readying the book "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan and wanted to share my feelings. " The Middle Place is about calling home. Instinctively. Even when all the paperwork--a marriage license, a notarized deed, two birth certificates and seven years of tax returns--clearly indicates you're an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you're still somebody's daughter" (words by Kelly Corrigan)
It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me remember what going through breast cancer was all about. It's kind of ironic, but we must have been going through breast cancer about the same time during the years of 2004-05. It made me remember how I loved my husband and my girls, my family and my friends for helping me through that difficult time. It made me think of my Dad and how much I love him and appreciate his sense of humor. It made me remember times of growing up and silly things I'd forgotten about. It made me remember my Mom and wish she were still here to share things with. It helped me to remember that I'm still not out of the woods and that my cancer can come back and how much I want to enjoy the life I have. Towards the end it made me face thinking about a funeral for my own Dad and how difficult that will be. It made me cry and love my family all so very much. It made me cry and truly appreciate that I am still somebodies daughter. After I finished reading the book, with tears streaming down my face, I instinctively picked up the phone and called my Dad. He wasn't home which was probably a good thing because I could hardly even talk to leave him a message and tell him how much I love and miss him. I did call and talk to him later and told him how much I loved him and how grateful I was for having such a great Dad. What a book on so many different levels.

6 Months in Wisconsin!!!

Today is April 10, 2008 and in 8 days we will have been in Wisconsin for 6 months! Time is going on. I'd like to say, "Boy how time flies when you're having fun" but I'm still not so sure that what we're having here is called fun. Jeff has really taken on a big job and sometimes I think it's even bigger than he thought it was going to be. Being the first project of it's kind is pretty overwhelming. Plus being the one responsible for some of the major parts of this up rate, well, to say the least, it's a major job for my sweetie!
Speaking of my sweetie, he's going to look at a Harley tonight! Maybe it will help him relieve some of the stress from work!!! I think that's a good excuse for us to buy one anyway and enjoy riding up through Door County this summer!!!
We both miss our family something terrible. Thank goodness for being able to go home for a visit every two months. It gives us something to look forward to! Something else we are looking forward to late this fall........our 8th grand child! Britnee and Preston are expecting a new little one in November. We are so happy for them (and us)!
We are getting to know the area better all the time and are looking forward to warm weather and sun shine (if it ever happens!) so we can get out and about a bit more on the weekends. So far we've spent most of our time shopping, eating out or watching movies. Which is fine but we're ready to be out and about. It's a good thing we like each other!
We especially missed getting together with our family for Easter. That's when it will be the hardest I'm sure...for the Holidays. Dad and Merlene did stop in for a real quick visit while they were in Wausau visiting Mitz. It was nice to have a familiar face from home here for a visit. They are our only visitors so far.
Well, just last week we traded pickups. Our 8-1, 3/4 ton, GMC was breaking the bank with it's gas mileage! (or should I say lack of it!) We are now back to driving a 1/2 ton Chevy. Hopefully the mileage will double. We hated trading because we liked our truck but we just don't seem to have the need for that big engine and won't be pulling anything around for awhile. Just as a side note: gas just went up today to $3.39 a gallon! YUCK!!!
I'm doing OK being here. I'm getting to know a few more of the ladies in the ward. It's still not Grant, nor will it ever be, but it's getting better. I'd still rather be in Idaho hanging out with my daughters and grand daughters!!! There are some real nice people here and we are doing alright. We have the 4 Missionaries over for dinner once a month and enjoy getting to know them. I go to BYOP once a month: Bring Your Own Project. We work on projects and have a Pot Luck lunch at the church. It's nice to just go and enjoy the ladies. I finished a baby quilt for one of the sisters in the ward at the last one. I've also started listening to books on CD. It gets addicting. I'm into my 11th book so far. I don't listen to so much Dr. Phil or Oprah now. I also enjoy listening to books while I am on the tread mill, elliptical trainer or my recumbent bike. It helps the time go by!
Did I mention that we miss our family? Well, we sure do! Whining isn't going to help so I guess I won't. Maybe Spring getting here will help.

"2008" Two Rivers, Wisconsin!!!

Well here it is 2008!!! Hard to believe we are in Two Rivers, Wisconsin but we are. We spent 11 days home in Idaho during the holidays and it was great to see all the kids, grand daughters and family. We love and miss them all! We are looking forward to the next trip home probably the end of February. Jeff's job is going well. He's got alot going (probably more than he really wants!) but he knew it was going to be a big job and it is. I'm keeping the home fires burning and just hanging out doing the normal house wife stuff. The other day I went to lunch and shopping with a few friends and it was nice to hang out with some ladies! The weather here doesn't seem to much different from Idaho other than I think this year Idaho has more snow. We are getting to know a few more people in our ward and they all seem like real good people. The people in the ward probably know us a little better now since we were the speakers in Sacrament last Sunday. It's always scary but it's getting easier. We don't have callings as of yet but Jeff was asked to teach the Priesthood lesson next Sunday. Well, not much else has been happening other than watching alot of movies (we love to couch up with a big bowl of buttered popcorn and watch a good movie) and I think Jeff is getting the "Harley" bug. This is Harley Davidson country!!! We're told, "If you're gonna live around here, ya gotta have a Harley!