Weird Things

The other morning I woke up with very strange thoughts.  I had a very bad dream and I was not happy.  Scared, in fact.  I have this big fear of water.  Not water in a cup, or water in the sink.  Big water.  Like a big lake....very big lake.  Or falling off the side of the road into a very big lake.  I get nervous driving past the east side of Joe's Valley, looking over the edge of the road to the water below.  I fear being in the water and the car sinking.  I can stand sitting by the edge of the lake going fishing, but I would rather not be in a boat out on the lake.  So I was terrified when I woke from my dream.  In my dream I was treading water in a large ocean.  Yes....ocean.  I looked around and saw no one else any where in sight.  It was just me....treading water.  I wasn't in a panic in my dream.  I knew I was in the water and that no one was around.  I also knew that I could not reach the bottom, like I would have tried to do in a swimming pool.  I turned myself around and around, looking for someone or something.  I knew the shore was about 12 miles off in the distance, but also knew that I didn't know which direction to go.  I figured someone would be coming for me, but also knew that it would be next to impossible for them to find me in that vast ocean.  I saw a pod of dolphins swimming near me.  The water bubbled and bubbled where they were swimming.  I could see them swimming around and around.  I wasn't scared, just glad they didn't come any closer.  And then I woke up.

What does that dream mean?  I hope I never find out.

Today I woke up, stood up, and started walking toward the bathroom, which is what I usually do each morning.  I took a few steps and realized that I was actually able to walk with almost a regular gait!  It was wonderful!  I had a little bit of pain in my left hip, but my feet actually moved on their own, without me willing them to move.  I haven't been able to walk like that for years.  It felt so good.  I can't say it has stayed there all day long.  After sitting in church it was still difficult to get these legs moving, but this morning gave me a little bit of hope.

I have been keeping up on logging in my food each day.  I have only gone over my daily points once or twice during the past two weeks, and have never used more than 3 points in my weekly extra points.  Yesterday, after recording a 2.9 loss for the week, we rewarded ourselves with a small pizza.  OK, I ate my share, but it was still only 2 points over my daily limit.  When you don't eat breakfast until 10:00 and it is easy to only eat two meals a day!

I am also improving in my walking.  When I started the middle of January I was only able to walk at a speed of about 0.8 MPH, which is really a crawl.  But my legs were in such pain that I couldn't do much more than that.  And only for about 5 minutes the first day.  I was finally able to work up to the full 20 minutes, but walked very slowly, only about 1.2 MPH.  Then I did the rib thing and had to slow down for a week or so.  Now I am back to trying to work up the speed.  I learned that taking my iPad and reading a book while walking seems to help me.  It is pretty boring looking out the window at the corner of Ace Hardware (nothing against the store, just not much eye-candy there!) or watching the cars drive up to park in front of the State Liquor store.  (Interesting what a drinking problem we have in this county.)  Reading a book takes my mind off the outside world and I can just put the "up" button and start to gradually walk a bit faster each day.  So on Friday I walked the entire 20 minutes (have done so for several weeks), and got up to a 1.5 speed.  The grand total distance was 0.49 miles... Now, don't laugh at that!  That is BIG in my eyes!  I am aiming for that 0.50 mark on Monday!  Considering that a month ago I was only about 0.15 miles in 20 minutes, I think that is pretty good.  And if it helps me, that is even better.  I don't think I am up to running a race yet, but I might be able to walk up the hallway at school a little bit quicker than I did last year.  And if you were carrying the weight I have been carrying, you might be able to walk that far either!  So don't make fun of me.  I need all the support I can get.......

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.  He is really my greatest supporter.  He goes with me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  He is still recovering from his back surgery, which has been very difficult for him.  Between his back surgery and his knee surgery he has had a very rough year.  You might think, "OK, you are all better."  But it doesn't work that way.  He can't lift things, can't bend as he would like, his legs still ache from the sciatic nerve, he can sit for about an hour, then needs to rest his back by lying down flat for a while.  It is a constant up and down thing for him.  He has had to learn patience, that he can't do the things he wants to do to keep busy.  He has had to learn a new way of life.  He has done hard work all of his life and it is very difficult for him to slow down, but he doesn't have a choice.  His back is worn out from all the years of twisting, lifting, bending, climbing, crawling, and everything he had to do for his jobs.  But in his pain, he supports me.  And I love him so much for that.  I think he is the greatest!  He tries so hard to make my life comfortable.  He brings me lunch each day so we can have time together.  He helps me at night.  He goes to the gym with me, walking beside me if both treadmills are available.  He is the greatest, and I am so glad he is there for me.  I hope I can support him as much as he has supported me.  Love you, dear!

Lots of Fun Weekend

Garth and I are still recovering from a weekend of so much fun!  We were so excited to have our family together (minus a few now-and-then).  We used the Fall Break from school to spend this time with family.  It was one of only a few years when we didn't attend any UEA activity.  We had arranged to stay at one of our favorite places, the Staybridge hotel in West Valley City, which has the Grins and Fins swimming pool.  Barrett and his family also stayed there so we had enough swimming passes for everyone.  All of our grandchildren in the same pool at the same time!  So fun!  We then ordered pizza and bread sticks for the whole family and with permission from the hotel manager, we had the dining area for our dinner.  The grandkids were so good and well behaved.  Maybe it was because they were so tired from all their swimming!  They watched the TV while they ate and played together.

Lexi loved playing with the two babies.  Here she is with Isaac.  He is such a fun little guy!

Koy and Kayden watching TV in the hotel dining room while waiting for pizza.

Maxwell, Morgan, and Tyler were anxiously waiting for the food as well.

Grayson was happy with Daddy Dallas holding him. 

Aren't these kids so cute!

The next day my children appeased their mother and went to This Is The Place Heritage Park.  I've wanted to go here ever since my Great-Great-Grandfather's little cabin in Emery was moved to the park.  This turned out to be the perfect time to go.  Because it was just before Halloween, the park was ready with Halloween activities.  Children were encouraged to wear their costumes and given treats at several of the places in the park.

The kids were excited to get their Halloween costumes on!

We got to the park at the perfect time, about 10:00 am.  It was beautiful weather and there weren't many people there yet.  It was a wonderful day!

Lexi kept Grayson entertained while others were off playing games.

Spiderman (aka Maxwell) likes to play the games for candy.  Tyler just like the candy!

Tyler would walk everywhere as long as Grandpa was holding his hand.  Kayden just kept going, encouraging everyone to follow him.

Morgan showed Tyler how to toss into the pumpkins.  Tyler had such fun playing with his cousins.

Everyone was waiting to listen to the old witch tell her stories.  Nicky loved to play with that little duck.......Isaac.

Listening to the witch tell the story.

It must have been a great story!

We finally found our way to the Emery County Cabin.  This cabin was moved from Emery to the park a few years ago. My great-great Grandfather Casper Christensen lived with his family in this cabin.  He was called to be a postman in Emery. Casper was the grandfather of my Grandma Olsen. 

Here I am with my husband and our 8 grandchildren, descendants of Casper Christensen.  This children are six generations away from Casper Christensen.  How time changes what we view as 'acceptable.'  Casper lived in this small cabin with eight children, just as my eight grandchildren.  I can't imagine what that must have been like, but I am sure the family was very thankful for what they had.  When the kids started running back to the street to go to the next place, I was a bit overcome with thankfulness for the sacrifice that Casper Christensen and his wife, Maren, for coming to this country from Denmark, living in Minnesota where 4 of his children were born, then moving to Spring City in San Pete County, later to move to Emery County and establish his home here.  His daughter, Annie married and lived in Emery, welcoming a daughter, Melva to their family.  Melva married Neldon Olsen and moved to Rochester, or 'out on the flat' or the 'blue hill'.  Melva and Meldon had a daughter named Nellie Ann, who is my mother.  These people shaped my live and are a part of who I am today. 

Another Happy Year

August 19, 1977. What a great, wonderful day. The day we got married in the Ogden LDS Temple for time and all eternity. We finally met each other on June 19, 1977 and decided on that day that we would get married. On the weekend of July 4th, we drove to Pete's Hole in a bad rain storm no less, up the very dangerous White Dugway. Garth met my parents and family, along with all the relatives who were camping. To everyones utter shock, we announced that we were going to get married. Everyone immediately pulled out their calendars and told us which days we couldn't get married. It was narrowed down to just before school started. If I knew then what I know now about starting school close to my anniversary, I would have just gotten married the next weekend instead of two months later!
The next day we drove to Lewiston to be with his family for the rest of the holiday and made the big announcement there. After all of that, I was busy finishing up my 22 credit hours of college and getting plans made for the wedding. I was so busy I don't remember anything except Mom making my wedding dress.

I am sure everyone thought we were crazy because we really hadn't known each other. I suppose you really can't count the 22 months of writing while he was on his mission. We only wrote, didn't meet until he got home. We did exchange a few cassette tapes, but what do you say to someone you have never met? Perhaps we were crazy in love, but hey, it has lasted 33 years! That should say something.

I can honestly say that Garth is my best friend, and I have lots of special friends so that says how special he is to me. I would rather be with him than anyone else. I don't like to do things without him. I could, but I don't like to. We are an "item" as my Grandmother Olsen would say. I love him with all my heart. He spoils me by doing everything, and I mean everything. He does laundry, dishes, windows, lawns, garbage, cooking, cleaning, .... everything. And in return, he gets my deepest love. He is a great father to our children, and our grandchildren think he is the greatest!

You have made my life so wonderful. Thank you for 33 years of total bliss. I love you! You are the man at the end of my rainbow!

Will Winter End?

We have been experiencing a very cold winter this year, accompanied by lots of snow. This has created some difficult health problems for my husband. He wakes up every morning between 2:30 and 3:00 to check outside and see if more snow has fallen. If there is more than one inch, he gets dressed in his winter thermal leggings, heavy socks, warm shirt and pants, thermal coveralls, snow boots, along with all the head coverings and gloves he can find, and he heads off to work. His job is clearing off the high school parking lots and sidewalks before people start to arrive, which is around 6:00a.m. The more snow to move, the harder the job. The parking lot at the school is huge and extends around the entire school. Teachers park in the front and in the back, between buildings, and in their own secret places. Each parking area must be scraped and salted so the district isn't libel if anyone slips and gets hurt. With so much snow coming every day, the job never ends.

He does have a 4-wheeler with a blade that helps to make the job a bit easier, and the district maintenance comes and helps on really heavy snow days, but sometimes they make it even more difficult because they push everything into a huge pile and then it is harder to add any more to that pile of snow. For those who know the building and parking lot, here is an explanation: The "new" parking lot on the south side of the building goes around the football field. There is a large wall around the football field that is so tall that when you stand by the wall you can't see the field at all. The wall is probably about 8 feet tall. The snow is now piled up to the top of the wall and extends about 6 feel out of the wall. The parking lot on the north side of the building has piles in it so high that you can't see the cars on the other side of the median. The amount of snow is ridiculous!.

Then, you also have to consider all the sidewalks and steps. Around the Spartan Center there are so many steps that must be scraped off about 10 times a day. It seems like it never ends. All the sidewalks around the building must be snow and ice free. The walkways from the bus zone to the school must be cleared off before the buses arrive. There is also a walk-way from the sub-division by the baseball field that must be cleared off from the highway, along the baseball field, to the parking area by the football field. It is just a small walkway,used by about 4 people, but it is a hazard for the school. It is difficult to get to because of the snow on each side. There is literally no place to put any more snow when scraping off the walkways.

Two weeks ago there was so much snow each day. Garth was gone all day, spending endless hours on the scraper and shovels. Even though he wore warm gloves, using his thumb on that throttle so much resulted in very frozen, hurt hands. Last weekend his thumb was so swollen and sore that he could hardly use it. It hurt every time he touched it. The other day he noticed that his thumb is white. It is painful to use, and if it gets bumped he is in real pain. He tried to pick up something and move it yesterday and he winced, shaking his hand and gritting his teeth in obvious pain. He is going to the doctors tomorrow to have it looked at.

His back is also hurting him so badly he can't sleep at night. He had a shot less than 3 months ago that helped to calm down the pain, but all the work on the 4-wheeler has bothered it again. He was put on a medrol pak two weeks ago, and it helped for about a week. Now the pain is back again, so badly he can hardly walk. He will always continue doing his job, then come home hurting so bad that it makes me cry. I wish I could take his pain away from him.

He knew we were low on coal for our stove, so yesterday we drove up to the coal mine to get some lump coal. He had to load it by hand, big heavy lumps of coal. He loaded about a ton with the help of the one guy who still lives up there. It is a good thing we went this weekend instead of waiting a week because we got the last of the pile. This particular mine isn't working any more, so there is nothing left up there. If we need more we will have to find another place to get lump coal. But then, maybe we won't have to load it by hand. All that work just made for a bad night.

Today our plan is to just sit and relax his back and not pick up anything that will hurt his thumb. Even though there is a skiff of snow, he isn't going to scrape, shovel, or sweep. He needs rest. He is realizing that he isn't as young as he once was and that the hard work he has done all his life is catching up with him. The injuries are harder to recover from, and harder to accept that you must slow down.

He is still doing the floors at Alco all by himself, which is also adding to the pain. He works so much because he knows there is literally no one else in the county that will do the job. He knows that because he has called around and can't get anyone else to do it! No one will even come to help him, let alone take it all over and do it for the money. The money isn't enough to worry about, but he does it because they need someone to do it. It is almost to the point that he will be telling them "Thanks, but no thanks. Your floors just will not get done by me any more."

Garth is a great guy who cares about helping people out. But he needs to look at getting himself feeling better. Today is his day to just sit and relax and take time for himself. He has been too busy to take a few minutes for himself. Now is his time. I love you, dear!

Another Sunday

I look back on the past week and I don't see that I accomplished very much. I seem to get further and further behind in school. I remember the days when we did a little bit of this and a little bit of that, an art pictures and sang songs, too. But now we don't even get a little this done. I still have the bulletin board I put up in August out in the hallway. We can't even get a piece of art completed! We have worked all week on writing descriptions of monsters for Halloween. I guess I am not the teacher I used to be because I can't get them motivated to write.

I found something fun in my files this week, though. I was looking for the picture of a large jar for the students to use for drawing their monsters to fit their descriptions. A Monster in a Jar) I found a booklet filled with descriptions of witches...completed about 19 years ago when NICKY! was in my classroom. Now I have proof that students actually did write very good descriptions. Some of those descriptions were 2-3 pages long! And they were written in beautiful cursive writing! We just barely got through the first round of the small letters in cursive. There was a time when all students were expected to write everything in cursive after the first of October, and I have the proof right there. Their writing was very neat, even the most sloppy writer (and I won't say who it was.) It was so fun to go through that booklet and read those descriptions. They used very good adjectives and really described every witch. You could draw a picture by their descriptions. How I wish my students would be able to do that now. Oh, well. We did our best. Maybe the next writing assignment.

We did make a graph comparing the cranes and herons, as well as the ravens and crows. Next week we are working on OWLS. Yes, owl pellets will be out during this week. We will work on writing facts about owls from our reading. Maybe non-fiction writing will be better than fictions. Facts and not details. We'll see.

What else did I do? Let's see. I played the prelude and postlude at Bishop Tuttle's funeral. I really felt on the spot because there were so many people just sitting and listening prior to the funeral. I think that was the quietest I have ever experiences during prelude music. The people were actually able to hear, and that made me nervous. I try to keep to just simple arrangements of appropriate hymns so people can contemplate the words and think about the meanings. I had several people compliment me on setting a special mood for the services. That made me feel really good. I need that every now and then, honest true compliments, not just "Thanks to Sister Labrum for the music" that happens without thought every week, just a robotic comment. These people really meant their compliments and I thank them for it.
I also went to the view for President Curtis. I talked with Marlene for a few minutes of course. She says she looks at his passing as his way of being there to help Colleen prepare for the temple. It won't be very long before the one-year mark of her passing and Marlene said Colleen must need her dad there to help her get ready. I look forward to that day.

Yesterday we, or I should say Garth, laid out the pavers for the steps from the driveway to the new shed. It looks really nice. He smashed a few fingers along the way and I felt badly that I couldn't help him more. I have spent the last week coughing a lot so I'm not of much use to anyone. The steps look really nice. A nice finishing touch to his hard work. He took down the trampoline, mowed up the lawn (and Charlene's as well), and cleaned up other yard work. I worked on the den and got a bit done inside.

I am walking better today than I have for about 3 weeks. I pray the pain will stay away the rest of the winter. Hopefully I will be able to walk better each day again. I was blessed with about 6 weeks of good walking, then it hit bad again. I hope this time it will improve and I will be able to walk pain free for a while. Walking and breathing are very important. I like both of them.

Tomorrow is Nicky's birthday. I will write another post tomorrow.

Happy Valentines Day

Boy, am I glad Valentines Day was on Friday and no school until Tuesday. Maybe all that sugar will be out of the students and we might have a good day of learning. Friday was crazy! If I had to hear "When is our party?" one more time I think I would have screamed. Didn't they hear me announce at the start of school that the mothers would be there at 2:00 for the party? Oh, that's right. We have a problem with listening. But all in all, it was a fun day and the kids had a great time. Thanks to great room mothers who are there to help.

I hope everyone has a very good day today. We had a lazy morning, then I decided to change my hair color from gray back to dark brown. I had a baptism I had to play for since I am the substitute Primary pianist this week. Lucky Liza is in California this week. I went to the baptism at 12:00, got home around 1:00 and we went off the the big city of Price to pick up some new outdoor working shoes for my Valentine. We stopped at Walmart for odds and ends and got back home at 3:30. Not much of a day, but just what we needed. It snowed last night but now it is all melting. We are getting ready to go the Stake Adult Valentines Dinner at 6:00. It should be good food and a good speaker.

I want to let everyone know how much I love my husband on this Valentines Day. Here are 14 reasons I love him:
1. He loves me. He makes me feel special. Anyone who can put up with me must be great.
2. He is a great husband. He does all the laundry, helps me wash the dishes, cleans the toilet (hey, he is a professional at that!). He is a better housekeeper than I am.
3. He scrapes the sidewalks and driveway and keeps them free from ice.
4. He always offers me his arm when we are walking.
5. He is a great father. Everyone turns to him for advice. He has a difficult time telling his kids "no" about anything. He will always help them no matter what. He has taught them so much about how to take care of themselves. Even Nicky can use the jumper-cables.
6. He is a wonderful grandfather. All the grandkids can't think of doing anything more fun than having PaPa around. They follow him like a shadow. He is so happy when they call him and ask him to come and play. It also breaks his heart that he isn't there when they want him.
7. He is a hard worker. No one puts in more hours at work than he has. He has taken on second and third jobs just to be able to provide the basics for us. He is honest in his work, always putting in more time than he is paid for.
8. He honors his priesthood. He is always willing to help others and tries to live his life the best he can. Okay, no one is perfect but he tries to be.
9. He doesn't have to "play." A good day for him is one where he can just sit here at home and not have to do anything.
10. He is not lazy. See #9 and #7. He doesn't get those days very often, so I make sure he enjoys it when he can.
11. He keeps us warm. He keeps the fire going in the basement so the house is warm. Even though it means cleaning out the stove and carrying those ashes outside, he enjoys the warmth of the fire and the coziness of the flames.
12. He is patient. He puts up with all my forgetfulness. He doesn't complain if dinner isn't ready when he gets home because he knows I have been working as well.
13. He sees a need and he is there to help. He knows he can help in ways others can't and he doesn't wait to be asked. For example, last week during Sacrament Meeting a young girl a few benches up from us got sick and threw up. Garth quietly stepped up and helped the family with the problem. Mom took the girl out and Garth took care of the evidence. (I hurried to the school to get my bag of "stuff" to put on the evidence.) He sprinkled the stuff on the spot, then after meeting he got a bucket, gloves, deodorizer and cleaned up the area. He did it all without drawning attention to the problem. Just did it. He is that kind of a guy. Will help and be understanding of the situation. He didn't need to be asked, just knew he could help.
14. He is my strength. I lean on him for my support and a shoulder to cry on. I love him and don't know what I would do without him.
Will you please be my Valentine? Love ya, Sweetie.