Catch Up!

Oh, my gosh! It's been three months since I made an entry. I can't believe how quickly time flies.

Christmas was probably one of the least stressful I've ever experienced. Because of the economy we decided to cut our budget way, way down. We didn't budget a certain amount for each person, we just decided to buy each a gift - and not an expensive one. Talk about reducing stress!

Because of family schedules we decided to have our traditional prime rib dinner (no, we couldn't cut that out) the Sunday before Christmas. All the children and grandchildren had planned on being there, but Lisa and Rusty's little guy, Logan, got sick on the way up from Las Vegas so they turned around. However, we forced ourselves to enjoy the extra food in spite of the disappointment.

At the last minute Lisa and Rusty decided to come to St. George for Christmas, so we had them and the children (Rachel, Logan and Abigail), Brandon, Angie and Mom and Pop. All in all, it was a very nice, relaxing day. The work was done - shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking. It was a day to sit back and enjoy the family.

New Years came and went quietly. We went to Las Vegas for the day on New Years Eve and enjoyed a little bowling with the grandchildren but made sure we were home before the drunks hit the highways.

Brandon turned 24 on the 31st of January. My, where did the time go??? He's a Senior at Utah State University already - and it seems like just yesterday he was a toddler.

On the 14th of February we celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed the company of dear friends Jim & Marlyn Bunker and Fran & Judy Urry. The Sunshine Dancers Square Dance Club hosted their annual Sunshine Dancers Jamboree on that same weekend. We not only enjoyed dancing together as we have done for so many years, but we also pulled out the videos of days gone by and relived many wonderful memories. Carla Bateman was also in town and she joined us for the dancing and the memories.

We had the opportunity to travel to Central and Eastern Utah on February 18-20 to teach western dance at Red Rock Elementary in Moab, Creekview Elementary in Price and Loa Elementary in Loa, Utah. It's a great experience and wonderful to know that we are providing an activity that is meaningful and fun for the students. I must say, however, that it is an exhausting experience because we have to maintain high energy and enthusiasm for two solid hours at each school. I was glad for the opportunity to rest when the trip was over. All in all we covered nearly 1,000 miles.

On March 7 we enjoyed Brandon and his roommates' (Eric, Steve and Kyle) company. They are on Spring Break and headed for California to go on a cruise. Brandon is the only one who has cruised before. I'm praying for their safety and protection while they are away. Strange things are happening to tourists in Mexico these days . . .

On March 8 we made a quick trip to Las Vegas with Mom and Pop. Our purpose was to celebrate Rob's 30th birthday and Pop's 80th birthday. Jaime fixed a nice meal. Lisa and Rusty and their family joined us. Rachel and Adam McCracken and their newly acquired family of four children popped in and we enjoyed their company also. For dessert we had strawberry shortcake.

It blows my mind when I think about my dad being 80 years old. I still think of him in his late 30's/early 40's even though I see him regularly. He is aging remarkably well. His heart is not perfect and he has diabetes, but he continues to be active. He goes to the hills almost everyday to get in touch with nature. I think he desperately misses the mountains of Montana, but he also realizes that he doesn't have the energy or the drive he once had to comb the hills and vales for elk.