The holidays were a great opportunity to spend time together. Last Sunday, we all met in Casa Grande to have Christmas dinner, share gifts, time and share the Christmas spirit with each other. Brandon, Marcy, Brian and Janette, Rusten and Danae, Tanner and Porter, Alena and Kensey, Toby and I - we were all there to enjoy the season. Brandon needed to get back to Safford for work. Jet graciously gave her Christmas Eve and Day to working at St. Mary's Hospital. Brian spent those days studying for his CPA exam. Christmas Day, we (Grandpa, Nana, Aunt Lena and Aunt Kenz) went to Maricopa to Nae's and we got to watch Tanner and Porter's excitement. Tanner loved his "santa" gift, a pretty cool bike, Porter loved his bike and they both loved the many gifts that Tanner got to tear open. Tanner found outside a spring horse we named "scooter". He just knew Santa would bring a bike and a scooter. Well Nana and Papa had to supply a "Scooter". Poor thing will be confused with a real scooter and his horse named scooter. We loved Christmas morning with Nae's family. Santa was also good to Alena and Kenz providing a travel itinerary in their stockings...a trip to Utah. Alena has applied and Kensey would also love to attend a BYU school. We thought this would be an ideal time to visit and get prepared for the cold, the fun.... plus Dustin Skinner was married and we attended their reception. It was nice to spend the evening with Danny's family. Joey and Lisa invited the girls to Snow Basin - what an experience. It was so fun watching the girls ski. We had a great Christmas Week and look forward to 2008. A couple pictures from the trip - first night we went as far as Las Vegas and the other picture is in the Snow Basin Lodge. ENJOY.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Holidays
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
6 Things you may not know about Sandy
Sounds like Brynn challenged Danae to writing 6 things other's may not know about yourself. And of course Danae gave the challenge on to the rest of us...hum! I think a jabber so much that there may not be anything you don't know about me. I will try.
1) As a child growing up in Elfrida we were told to read a book or go out side to play. I could not sit still long enough to read, so I played outside. I don't know how in one grade I was rewarded with a book for reading the most books that year. It wasn't until the past few years that I don't think I have missed a day reading from something.
2) I like to swim the side stroke because I don't like water in my eyes. In fact I have only swam the side stroke for so long I think I might not know how to swim a regular stroke, not to mention the butterfly. I felt like a toad with that one.
3) I really enjoyed being around Grandma Mattie. I think I was either a little scared or intimidated by Gr. Nelson. She had so many grandchildren and was always so very busy doing things. I have always been proud of them both; Grandma Mattie for her bluntness and wit, Grandma Nelson for her strength. She was my first Primary President I remember. I remember listening to her stories and being so proud of her. Every Christmas she was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting (held at night back then). One special Christmas Sacrament meeting, grandma told her stories and mother was the special musical number. She sang Oh Holy Night.
4) One time Toby took me for a horse ride to work, find something or do something. Never rode for fun, it was always for a reason. To me it was just a fun ride. We stopped at a dry creek bed where water was just coming up out a small hole like a ant bed - just like a drinking fountain. I was SO facinated by such a thing, my horse got loose, then both horses ran away. We had to chase them down. I fell and cut my knee and have an ugly scar.
5) I could not have gotten through child birth without prayer. I thought if mother did this 6 times, I can too. I could not have gotten through many hard and/or lonely days/nights without prayer, I love to pray. (gives me someone to jabber to) As a small child, I would hold my hands very close to my eyes making it very dark. When applying pressure to your eyes you begin to see a lighter spot in the middle of the dark. I would pretend that light spot was Heavenly Father. I don't believe their has been a day go by in my whole life (since the night my mother taught us to say our prayers - I still remember that night)that I have not said at least one prayer if not many.
6) Oh goodness, this is my last one - as you have noticed I have dug deep into the barrel to find things that you may not know about me. I was in 8th grade before I shaved my legs - we used daddy's straight edge razor. He always knew. It wasn't an every day occurance - did not dare.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
About Me
I've been tagged by Nae
Jobs I've had
1. High School - Simmons Pump
2. Sale Barn Clerking in the office
3. My job now - Administrative Assistant
4. Best Job - MOM OF 5
Favorite Movies
1. The Count of Monte Cristo
2. Les Miserables
3. Pearl Harbor
4. Thorn Birds
Places I've lived
1. Elfrida, Willcox, Jerome ID, Boutiful UT, Salina UT, Chandler
2. Las Crucas NM (Brandon)back to Willcox (Brian)Scottsdale (Danae), Afton WY, Hiko NV, Page
3. Safford (Alena, Kensey), Morenci
4. Casa Grande
Guilty pleasures
1. Eating Out
2. Sunday Nap
3. Shopping
4. My Work
Vacations I've been on
1. As a child - White Mountains
2. Many Rodeos
3. Venezuela, Argentina
4. Ensenada
Favorite Foods
1. Prime Rib, Filet Mignon (red meat)
2. Pecan Pie
3. Anything Chocolate
4. Mexican Foods
Websites I visit Other than work
1. APS - pay bill
2. Qwest - pay bill
3. Chase Bank
4. LDS.org
Places I'd rather be
1. Anywhere with the kids (turn the clock back to when they were small)
2. Anywhere with Tanner - he's such a hoot..
3. Traveling
4. Visiting Family
Favorite books
1. Book of Mormon
2. Bible
3. Children's Books
4. Institute Manuel to help me understand 1 & 2 better
Things I'd like to know how to do
1. More Efficient in Excel
2. Fly Airplane
3. Business Management
4. Patient, Kind and Loving
Neglected body parts
1. Behindy
2. Legs
3. Nails
4. Mind
Things I worry about
1. Children
2. Traveling
3. Myself
4. Parents
Happiest moments
1. Moving around / Working
2. Birth of each child / Each child's stages
3. Listening to the kids have conversations with one another
4. Church Assignments / Witnessing Children's Testimonies
Things I want to do this year
1. Lose weight / inches
2. Be safe
3. Do Geneology
4. Attend the Temple more often
Who has the time??? ...excuses, excuses
Ok, I admit I have been very bad at keeping up the blog thing. At work there had been a firewall placed on any blogs. So I just assumed I couldn't do it during "free times" at work. Not thinking I could do it from home....ok, I'm blond and have those moments when things don't "click". So I am going to do better I promise.
I did go to California last month to Hannah's Missionary Return. She is still beautiful and gave a great talk. It was good to see each of Karen's children. They all are growing and maturing. So fun!! I took a load of pictures and will post them when I can (now that I know I can. Life is good!! ENJOY!!!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
BLASTER SANDY....in Ajo, Arizona
The end of June I spent a couple days in Ajo, AZ. The mine in Ajo has not produced copper for many years. All the buildings were recently completely demolished, the last to come down was the smelter stack. Phelps Dodge had hired CDI a demolition company that implodes sites in Las Vegas, many continents, they were apart of Twin Towers and the Federal building in Oklahoma implosions; a very popular and experienced international company. It was so very interesting to visit with the gentleman that came to Ajo for this job. At dinner the group mentioned me putting dynomite into the stack. They didn't know me well...and of course I jumped on the idea. They joked about me being one of the super-heroes. One conversation led to another and by the next morning, (just like being at girl's camp and the fun pranks)one of the guys had made me my cape; BLASTER SANDY. On one whole side of the stack, I loaded each stick of dynomite and attached particular strings. One particular "string" would burn 2000 feet per second. The holes were previously drilled with precise placing, my job was just to load the sticks and preparing the string. It took me an hour and my face was dusty with dirt and powder. It was beyond fun and interesting. I was also told the demolition of the stack made Channel 4 news in Tucson. Jean Sandoval and myself being "featured" as by standers. FUN, FUN!! After telling mother about the experience, she laughed and talked about the connection with grandpa Nelson. Gr. Nelson was in a underground accident in the early '30's at the Phelps Dodge Bisbee mine as he came upon a stick of dynomite. I have been to the Bisbee Mine several times and not taken pictures - I will next time and share. ENJOY.
Another fun day...
In June I was invited to join a VIP media / community involvement / Phelps Dodge PR group. I thought I would be with a group of people that would bejsut watching the coming down of two 500 - 600 feet smoke stacks that no longer were needed by PD. Little did I realize that I would make the Daily Silver City Press. Because the stacks were a sentimental icon of the town of Hurley, NM - a community resident would be involved with the implosion. A man won the coveted raffle to push a ceremonial plunger. We had radios and listened to the 10...9...8 to 5 and "radio silence" 4...3.. and at 1 he was to push the plunger and I was to step away. The newspaper got me before the countdown. It was loads of fun, not only to be apart of the community but to meet the people and feel their pangs of witnessing the icons being demolished. Check on the following link and use the archived date of June 5, 2007 to view the front page of the Silver City Daily Press. http://www.scdailypress.com/index.php
They call it work....Enjoy.
In the past couple months I have had the opportunity to do some traveling to a few Phelps Dodge reclamation sites. The first trip was to Jerome, AZ. Jerome is such a quaint town. I had never been there. The town is an old mining town that has since closed the production end of the mine. Today there are only reclamation and maintaining the property. During my tour of the project amd the town site, we had the privleged opportunity to tour an old home that was owned by the owner (Mr. Douglas - a side note: the town of Douglas, AZ. was named after this man) of the mine and housed some of the mine employees. 13 years ago, a man and his wife purchased the dilapidated building and have refurbishing this old place into a lovely home. What an amazing project. This home is not on a "touring list" but certainly is worthy of such a list. The owner works part time for Phelps Dodge at the Jerome site. He graciously entertained a few of us for a grand tour. How wonderful it is to enjoy anothers' talents, interests and personality. I loved this tour! As you drive into the town of Jerome, the home is on the right. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
"Love One Another, As I Have Loved You"
Luke 22, John 13 - 15
Sunday's lesson went ok - Thursday (in time) Jesus introduced the ordiance of the sacrament. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Since that upper room experience on the eve of Gethsemane and Golgotha, children of the promise have been under covenant to remember Christ's sacrifice in this newer, higher, more holy and personal way. ...if remembering is the pricipal task befoe us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precous emblems are offered to us?"
Remember why we are willing to take upon us the name of the Son. To always remember HIM and to keep his commandments so that we might always have his spirit to be with us.
Jesus taught his disciples to be "the greatest" we would do well by serving one another through service and simply loving one another. He told Peter, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren". He added, "Peace" I give unto you. We have the Holy Ghost as that comforter. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides peace - simple as that.
Brandon closed the lesson with a wonderful rendition of "As I Have Loved You" and "I Stand All Amazed". It was more than I could have asked for.
