Ramblings of a Traveling Nana

Monday, February 2nd, Nana got up and caught a plane for SLO (San Luis Obispo) to see Ryan and Michelle and the 3 little princesses. The visit started with a beautiful drive down the 227 to their new home in Arroyo Grande (AG). Beautiful green vineyards, farms houses, and 2 lane roads. Not a long distance but a lovely ride. R&M live on the ocean side of a hill with a lovely view: daytime of the ocean, nighttime of the ‘Village’ lights below. Leave their house to the south it is a slow downgrade. Leave to the north and you have to use first gear to go down hill. I loved it. I can’t wait to go back. It was wonderful even when it was raining and we did have a good rain. The temperature was very comfortable the whole time I was there. You hear names in the area that we all long to see like Santa Maria, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Pismo Beach. We went to the beach one day and played in the sand. Lexie ate sand cookies: you know cookies with sand on them. A beautiful wide beach with swings and a pier. We went for pizza at a great little local pizzeria and had yogurt at the Yogurt Creations Ryan mentioned, and it was yummy. Emily is putting out a recipe book of her creations from the Yogurt Creations Shop. She is quite creative. (I usually am adventurous but not that adventurous.)

Right now Emily is using her incisors to eat almost everything. She will have all her permanent teeth by the time she is 8 at the rate she is going as you can see by her picture.

She is loosing her teeth in clusters. She is so grownup and such a big help to her Mom. Emily started her new school on Monday and it is right by the ocean. What a great experience for her.

This expresses Emily's desire to take karate this year. Watch out boys she can defend herself even more than in the past.

Bella is very, very independent. She can do anything an older person can do just ask her. We did puzzles and colored and played hopscotch indoors and empted boxes. She is really good at getting distracted and is very grownup too. Look how beautiful she is.

Look at that hair.

And look at one tired little kido. We all wish we could sleep like that.

Lexie is a beautiful, happy baby. She started taking steps the beginning of the week. By the end of the week she was getting braver and braver. She should be running all over by now. Tell us R&M??

I love R&M’s house. The rooms are big, with big closets, lots of storage, great views, hardwood floors, and a deck with an unparalleled view.

I almost missed my flight home. We were enjoying ourselves so much at lunch we lost track of time. Don’t call the airport for assistance. USAir doesn’t have a phone at the desk and they don’t wait for you. The Management Office I got when I called said ‘Do your best.’ ’ I was the last one on a full flight and they closed the door. There were 2 people waiting for my seat but there was no one at the desk to give my seat away. Lucky me! Thanks Ryan and Michelle for a fun time.

Jake’s Separation Anxiety

We had a busy week. Jake left on Sunday, Feb 1st. He was so funny. He knew his mommy was coming home after church. At 2 he put his shoes on without being told. At 3 he got his bag and put it next to him without being told. About 4 I said it’s time to go home and zoom he was out the door and in his carseat in the car waiting on me smiling uncontrollably. He got home, kissed his Mom and ran back and forth between the house and car laughing. That over Nana went home and went to bed.

All We Expected

Jake has not surprised us this week. The highs have been very high and the lows very low. The important thing is Nana hasn’t gone screaming into the night. Jake has gone to bed without crying every night. We went to the Zoo on Thursday with Mickey and Wendy. We had a great time. Rode a four seater bike around half the zoo. It was not an easy ride but fun. The weather was perfect so the animals were out. The cheetah was so close and was pacing. The boys rode the camel and the carrousel. And we loved the stingrays. They were hungry and tried to suck on my hand. It was great. Mickey wanted to climb the wall but decided it wasn’t such a great idea after he got 4 feet off the ground. Jake said his mother told him no, he couldn’t do it. Funny. We ate and left very happy. Jake went to Regina’s for a couple of hours on Friday night and when I picked him up it was like he was leaving the Happiest Place On Earth. He was glad to leave with us but he certainly had a happy time with Hayden and McKenna.

'I Touched a Stingray at the Phx Zoo'

Friday Jake went to pick flowers out to plant for his Mommy and vegetables for my garden. Today he and I planted the flowers for his Mommy. He says they are beautiful. We went to the park today too. Jake’s a busy boy.

"Pretty purple and white and yellow pancies in our garden grow."

Monday Nana leaves for Arroyo Grande, Ca, Ryan and Michelle’s new home. She’ll be there for a week giving Michelle a little time to shop for their new home. It’ll be great fun to see Emily, Bella, and Lexi, and play with them.

Supper Grandparents

Today is Suzanne's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I have a very poor memory but I do remember 43 years ago today and it was one of the better days in my life. Have a GREAT day Suzanne!! Love you!!

Only the facts Ma’am, only the facts. Today Richelle left for the Happiest Place on Earth with Anthony, Derek and Carsen. Jake is staying with Nana Carlys and Grumpaw. We have concerns about scream’ in Jake as we should. But never fear Super Nana is here. Well let me share a few things that transpired today.
Lori left him and Jake stopped crying before she got in her car. I thought we were off to a good start. He only tuned up off and on after that. We were blessed with Ryan’s presence for dinner tonight. Thank goodness!! First Jake was watching ‘Dora’ and the show ask for the viewer to repeat after Dora. One word was map. Ryan said to Jake ‘Big Guy, say map’ and Jake said map. I said ‘Jake say map’ and Jake said ‘NO!’ which was the answer to every question Nana ask. We sat down to dinner. I called Jake to dinner and Jake said ‘NO!’ Ryan said ‘Big Guy, do you want to come eat some dinner so you can have some ice cream?’ Jake jumped up and looked and then came in the kitchen and climbed in his chair and ate his dinner. We were concerned about Ryan leaving but at bedtime my powers worked and he fell asleep in my arms of his own choice. He climbed up their on his own. That was after he came out from lying behind the couch. He’ll be just fine. Randi, I’ll be talking to yours en uterto (sp) so we start our ties sooner.

Uncle Eric and Aunt Jeannie have been here for a week visiting Sarah and Joe and their new baby Rockwell, who by the way is absolutely adorable. He is what you call a pretty boy baby. Congratulations to them. Jeannie is staying with Sarah and Eric is staying at our house at night and playing with Dad part of the time. We have really enjoyed having him. Richard and Eric have really had fun together especially making sawdust. I have some really cute small jewelry bowls that Eric made like it was a snap. They look like they are having such a great time.

We’ve had such a fun week: making bread with Jake, making boysenberry jam, a new stew recipe with cloves and cornbread (so good I thought I would die.) I finally used the wheat grinder I bought last year. Loved it. We’re ready for that part of the crisis anyway.

Comment: Alma 36:3 teaches that the youth face trials that are real and difficult. They can be strengthened during their trials and overcome them by trusting their Heavenly Father and continuing to grow in the gospel. Alma 36:3 – And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
We were ‘Heart Attacked’ tonight. What fun! Found cookies too, from the Beehives

We're Back

I don’t want any snotty remarks. I just want tranquility, repose, love, pacifism, calmness. What a great life we live. Dad and Mom (Nana and Grumpaw) are happy and love our kids and adore our grandkids and great grandkids. You all are why we get up everyday. Love, Nana (“All of us are endowed with abundant talent, beauty, and ability.” Elder L. Tom Perry)

MEDICAL UPDATE

THE MEDICAL REPORT ON GRUMPAW

WELL TODAY FINALLY GRUMPAW GOT THROUGH WITH ALL THE MEDICAL TESTS WE STARTED TRYING TO DO IN JANUARY.

JANUARY:
I GOT A NEW PRIMARY DR., FIRED THE LAST ONE FOR LACK OF HER/STAFF INTEREST AND A DESIRE NOT TO FIGHT THE NEW INSURANCE MAZE WITH HER.
GOT CLEARANCE ON THE HAND AFTER IT HEALED DRS WERE SURPRIZED IT HEALED SO WELL. THEY THOUHGT THERE WAS BETTER THAN EVEN CHANCE IT WOULD DO SO WELL.
STARTED TRYING TO GET MRIS AND CSCANS FOR KIDNEY FOLLOWUP HOWEVER THE INSURANCE MESS SCREWED THAT UP AND ONLY LABS WERE COMPLETED.

FEBRUARY:
STARTED FIGHTING WITH GETTING DRS. OFFICE, INSURANCE, AND RADIOLOGY WORKING TOGETHER. SEEMS RADIOLOGIST WOULDN’T DO MRI AND CSCANS AS ORDERED AND THEN EVERYONE THOGHT EVERYONE ELSE HAD RECHEDULED. STILL NO SUCCESS THIS MONTH.

MARCH:
WELL THINGS ARE GOING SLOWLY STILL MORE LAB WORK MORE DRS FOR VARIOUS ISSUES.
GASTRO DR WANTED COLOOSCOPY TO RULE OUT ANY PROBLEMS IN THAT TUBE BESIDES IBS. NEUROLOGIST DISCOVERS CARPAL TUNNEL ISSUES IN BOTH WRISTS AND POSSIBLE NERVE DAMAGE TO NERVE AT C-6.
NEPHROLOGIST HAPPY WITH STATUS, EXCEPT FOR WEIGHT GAIN BUT HR GAINED MORE THAN I DID HE BLAMED IT ON CHRISTMAS COOKIES SO I DID TOO.

APRIL:
PULMENOLOGIST DID HIS CHECKS ALL OK. FINALLY UROLOGIST GOT HIS REPORTS AND STUFF TOGETHER AND I HAVE CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FOR NEXT SIX MONTHS. ONLY 5 MORE SIX MONTHS CHECKS THEN HE SAID I COULD BE CANCER FREE BUT AS ALWAYS THAT DEPENDS ON NO MORE POPPING UP SOME WHERE ELSE. THE COLONOSCOPY TODAY WAS CLEAR AND I DO NOT HAVE TO DO ONE FOR FIVE YEARS. THE IBS HAS TO BE CORRALLED BUT THAT MAY NOT BE A QUICK FIX, IT MAY BE MEDS OR WHATEVER, SO ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

SO HERE WE GO FOR THE SUMMER IN RELISTIC NOT BAD SHAPE FOR ALL THAT HAS GONE ON FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST HEART JOB.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WATCH THEIR LIFESTYLES EATING ETC. SO YOU CAN AVOID ALL THIS CRAP,
FOR ALLOF YOU, I CAN DO IT MY WAYERS, PER THE GASTROENTEROLOGIST, CAFFEINE LADEN SODAS ARE A MAJOR ISSUES WITH IBS AND FREQUENT BOUTS WITH LOOSE BOWELS. NOT TO MENTION HEART ANS WEIGHT ISSUES. GRUMPAW SET THE WRONG EXAMPLE. LOOKS LIKE LIMITED CAFFIENE FREE DR PEPPER FOR ME AND MORE DIET DRINKS LIKE DIET RITE ETC.

WE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING WITH YOU WHO CAN AT RYANS FOR ALEXI’S BLESSSING, GRANDMA JOYCE IS STILL TRYING TO DECIDE IF SHE HAS ENOUGH GET UP TO OR NOT WON’T KNOW TILL FRIDAY AS WE HIT THE ROAD. SEE YOUALL THERE .

THE GRUMPAW

Last Blog!!

To my sisters in the Lord...

There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself in all her glory and imperfection. Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.

Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene , Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land.

Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, " What's up with her?" ask yourself, "What's up with me?" That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME.

Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life. Encourage and love, forgive and forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way.

May the peace and love of Christ be upon you!