Long time away

It has been a long time since I wrote last. I am now taking care of my mother, so alot has changed in my life. I am working at Hamlet Homes in the Daybreak Northshore model homes. I am a sales assistant, not actively selling at this time. With the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent, I didn't feel ready to devote that much time to Real Estate.

In August, before I left for Maui for Liliaan's baby birth, Mom got really sick and she ended up in the hospital with severe gallbladder, pancrease, and colon inflamation. She was there for a few weeks and had many visitors including aunt Mary. She then went to Highland Care Center for rehab, where she stayed about a month.




When I returned from Maui, I found a condo for mom close to the Jordan River Temple where she wouldn't have to climb stairs. It has turned out to be a nice place for family to gather.
It has a large kitchen where we can all congregate for family parties.





Jenni came from California to live with grandma, she has a nice room in the Basement with her own Bath. Simba her cat also came too and is quite shy, especially when alot of people are around. He likes to hide under grandma's chair.



He also likes to steal food off Jenni's Plate.

We have had a welcome home party, Welcome back Jenni Party, and we all had Thanksgiving with Grandma this year. Jenni and I care for grandma and Pauly helps us on Saturday. Richard comes periodically to take mom to her ward, and visits regularly. Mom has improved so much and is off many of the medications which were complicating her mental alertness. We found a good Doctor for her and are working to improve her nutrition. We keep her busy with all the events we take her to and the Dr. said the best thing for her right now is to be with family. She has been to a Halloween party, went with Jenni and Marcel to the Nutcracker, and has been to ward parties. I am happy to see her better and walking so much better.




She loved hearing Roelof play at Elena's Wedding and can't stop talking about how wonderful Roelof Plays.

Have Managed to continue to evade winter.

Last year I made a decision that I no longer wanted to endure the cold winters of Utah. Well I have somehow managed to make that come true this year. From going to California in January, I went to Albuquerque to help my sister Marina take care of my mother. Marina and Claude lost Nelle Bowman, Claude's mother so they went to her funeral in Utah. The weather was really great, and started cooling up after I left. When I got to Utah, it was nice weather for a while, but it started snowing and being cold again so I took off to help Liliaan in Hawaii. I have been here for two weeks and have really enjoyed being in weather where I can really relax and enjoy the cool breezes. I spent my birthday here and my daughter Liliaan and her husband Darin have really great and being with my granddaughter Kaya has been wonderful. She is quite a sweetie!

Evading Winter.

I have not been blogging much lately. After getting a Temp Job with Rio Tinto and working 8 hours a day. I didn't have much time to sit down and try to figure out how to do it. It seems to take longer for those that aren't to savvy in this field.

I have been trying to get away from Winter in Utah. 2009 came in with a bang! Right away I got laid off from Rio Tinto. Just in time to go help Sophia after her surgery. I stayed two weeks and had a wonderful time. I got to stretch my cooking muscles and got to watch a bunch of Indian movies. I have figured out how much I like to clean. I spent most of my days in a trance, cleaning and having fun with the little kids. Having time to just sit and talk to Sophia was really good for me. We spent time figuring out why we do things and why certain things bother us. I must say she is a remarkable girl(woman)and has together with her husband Derek, done a marvelous job in raising their 4 children. I must say Derek is the greatest guy for her. He is so kind and patient and cuddly!

I went home last week for a day and now I am presently away in New Mexico, helping my sister Marina take care of mom, while she and her husband Claudius are in Utah for his mother's funeral. Nelle was such a wonderful and fun person. I was always impressed with how prepared she was when we visited with our kids. She always had a basket toys for them to play with. I will be returning home next week. Mom is doing well and she has been playing the piano for me and we went for a walk today to the mail box down the street. She will probably be sore tomorrow. I am finding that serving others is more fun than dealing with unemployment and other issues in my own life. Next week I will start working on my life issues.

I am supposed to be writing a paper for the class I am taking, and I always seem to find other things to do like clean, start blogging again etc. etc. to avoid it. I don't know why I am not able to settle in and concentrate. I just have to do it.

My own laptop died when I spilled water on it so I don't have all of my pictures to share, but when I get home from New Mexico I will get some on my blog.
Ta for now! There is noffing I like more than to be connected to my family and read each other's blogs!

Ethan's Baptism

Last weekend we went to Ethan's Baptism. It was a really nice trip. We all stayed at Sophia and Derek's house. They really had a full house. With all Derek's family and Roel, Adriaan and Me. Here are some of the pictures I took.
Program


Bates Family



We got to stay in the newly remodelled part of the house upstairs. Here are some pictures of Kaya with my shoes on.





Tuesday I flew back in to see WICKED, with Sophia and Liliaan. We had such a good time and some cool adventures. Thanks for driving in LA and the food and shelter!

Back to Work Wed Morning
Weekend Trip on the motorcycle with Roel through the canyon behind our house.

I have been away a while.

This summer went by in a flash. There is so much that has happened, I could probably write a book. After Laura's wedding we spent a few days together alone and we went to Disneyland for a day.




We went and stayed at Sophia's for a few days and Roelof helped them with the room upstairs and the pantry. I spent some time with the kids and kept my exercise up.

We Came home the back way and it was a really peaceful drive. I totally enjoyed it.
Back Road from Sophia's

Roelof and Adriaan continued to work on the basement, and I helped a neighbor train his dog. He was totally wild with no manners. He kind of reminded me of my old dog dusty, when I was a kid.


I kept looking for a job and ended up finding the cute great dane puppy in the classifieds. Isn't he the cutest! No I didn't get him.

Great Dane Puppy


The weather started changing and got cooler. We had another special event at daybreak with the opening of our North Shore. Now we have a little beach and we had caterers come and serve us some pretty wonderful food. But the storm kicked up and blew like crazy but by then we were safe inside at one of the models with my friend Maria and her daughter Rachel. (one of Roelof's students.)
Maria(Tochi)and Rachel

September came in and Sophia and Elena, and Ethan Celebrated Birthdays.
(More pictures to follow about these birthdays). Flowers for Elena from Liliaan.




Then I got a job at Kennecott Copper and have been working now for a full week. I am a receptionsist and work in a little place called copperton. It reminds me of Ramah somehow. I guess because I pass a cemetary like the one they have there.


Roelof at Brighton
Last Weekend Roel and I headed for the hills on the Motorcycle and enjoyed the peaceful views at Brighton.

My next blog will probably be about our finished Basement! Stay tuned for more pictures!

My Pictures from Laura's Wedding-Congratulations!

It is really hard to take a picture of the temple when you are this close! It is sooo beautiful.

They had some really fun photographers with lots of good ideas.




Here is a pose just for me.


I had to get a close up of the back of her dress, I thought it was beautiful.

The Following were some of my favorite scenes from the day.


Laura Danced so beautifully for her husband.

He looked really surprised.

Laura with the little cousin flower girl.

Laura Walking to take pictures.


Some family at the Reception.