Blonde moment!!

Darron and I walked to the Mall that is fairly close to us on Saturday night for dinner. We bought a few groceries in the grocery store that is at the Mall before we headed home. I was carrying the bag on my shoulder and we were crossing this crazy intersection...cars come from about 6 different angles. Darron says "Better run, lights going to change." Sooo..I push forward on my toes to start jogging and the rest was all in slow motion!! Ii was wearing my Sketchers Shape Ups and apparently they sent me forward too much and I could not get my feet to catch up with my body. I ended up spread eagle in the middle of the intersection!!! Good thing I wasn't injured (except my pride) and was able to get up and keep walking, which is precisely what I did!!! I didn't even look back or look around to see who saw...I know about a thousand people had to have seen the tall blonde woman from America fall right in the street. They are probably still talking about it. At least I was able to get up and not get run over when the light changed. I'm pretty sure they would have just started driving around me or better yet, Over Me!!! Never a dull moment for me here.

More adventures!

I took some friends to what is called "The Knock Knock Store" on Thursday. They sell fake brand name stuff there and it is pretty secretive. Soooo...we had only been in this Warehouse for about 5 minutes when all the workers started yelling at us to leave now...they were closing for awhile. We we like..WHAT?...we just got here. We figured out in all the commotion that they were about to get raided.!!! Of course we left..and the workers were literally running down the alley. It was pretty crazy! Just one more crazy thing to happen in China.

Monday in Beijing

Subject: Monday in Beijing

Today was not a good day!!!
I got my nails done and then went to McDonalds at the mall.  I took out my wallet paid, put the change in my wallet slipped it back into my purse, reached for a straw and waited for my hamburger.  I got my order and left to the car.  When I got to Dragon Fly to pay, my wallet was gone.  Yes, my entire wallet and I didn't feel it get JACKED!!!!  It had about 2,800 RMB in it, 2 loaded cards for the nail place and massage place( total of about 3,300 RMB) and my Visa and ATM card.  Oh ya, and my temple recommend!!!  Suffice it to say...TODAY PRETTY MUCH BITES!!!!!

Now this is a squatter!!!

No running water. A little metal room, and a lovely sign on the wall.

Ship

This is a picture of the "rather large" Jade ship that we had made for Darron's Birthday. It weighs about 50 lbs.

New bowls & tables

I went to, what is called furniture row last week. I bought 2 accent tables. Yesterday I went back and bought 2 bows I had really liked. There are so many neat things here.

My mom has a blog!

Forbidden Palace

We went to the Forbidden Palace a little over a week ago. It was very interesting. Did you now that in the earlier Dynasties their concubinces were buried alive with the dead Emperor. That's devotion..NOT!!! The pictures here are taken from a Pagoda outside the Forbidden Palace that one of the Emperors had built, mountain it's on and all. He wanted to be able to go there and look over his Palace. When the Farmers invaded the Palace he went there and hid. He later snuck back into the Palace killed his 6 year old daughter, snuck back out to the Pagoda and hung himself, al this, so they wouldn't be captured.

The Great Wall

We went to The Great Wall recently for a ConocoPhillips clean up day. They donated a sizable amount to maintain a park that has a trail leading right up to the Wall. The trail was pretty empty but the Wall was Packed with people. It seems we keep going places on holidays. It was some holiday where the younger people take their Elders to climb mountains...Hence: everyone in Beijng, it seemed, was at the Wall. We went before the clean up and climbed up the wall pretty far. Here are some pictures.

Olympic Center

We took that Subway to the Olympic Center. It was also very crowded. It's been here awhile now people... It was the holiday though so everyone was in Beijing from out in the country and other smaller cities. Here are a few pictures.

subway

We'll see if this picture shows up.

Subway

We took the Subway a few weeks ago for the first time. It happened to be a holiday and it was soooo packed. I don't like the Subway!!! This picture is before it got real crowded!!

Hey, everybody :)

I have finally gotten it to where I can get to my Blog from China...whoot whoot!!

I'll see what I can do about catching up on here.

I'm an American

Subject: I'm an American

I am an American Mom.  I grew up in Idaho on a cattle ranch.  My father was up before the sun and many times still out after the sun went down.  I am the youngest of five.  When I was still a toddler my mother went to nursing school, in order to be able to help support my father and the ranch.  We didn't have a lot, but I don't remember feeling like we didn't.  My mother worked nights as a nurse and my father worked the ranch during the day.  I can't say I remember ever thinking, "when I grow up I'm going to be rich and have more than my parents had.  I'm going to be able to give my children more".  We were happy!  
I did grow up, I got married and I had my own children.  The first few years of my married life were tough financially.  My husband was in college, playing football, tutoring, and I was pregnant!  He worked so hard to provide for us, for me, what we needed.  That's the American way!  Everything wasn't handed to us.  We had to earn it!  
Our children are grown now.  They grew up doing the usual American things.  Football, basketball, swimming, track, piano, academic competitions, and video games.  They mowed lawns, took out trash, shoveled the drive way, babysat, had part time jobs and went onto college and marriage.  We taught them to love their country and God who created it.  To appreciate what they have and to be happy with what they have.  I don't mean to settle for what they have, be it great or little, but to be happy! Live for the moments you are in.
When did America change?..  When did it become so important to have "things" that we started spending money we dont have? When did it become ok to just sit back and let those who "have" provide for those who "haven't"?  When did the taxes we pay start providing a living for people who aren't even American's?  Don't get me wrong...I have no problem with helping the those truly in need.  I have a problem providing for those who refuse to provide for themselves and especially those who have never even paid taxes!  
To me a Welfare system should be just like what we did with our children.  You need money for a bike...I've got just the job for you!  That bike was taken care of and appreciated way more than if it had just been given to them.  We've become a "Free Society".  Why work for some thing you can get for free.  I've been living in Beijing for three weeks now, my husband will be working on a project here for awhile.  I find it fascinating that with the millions of people here that there is No Welfare! The government pays people to do all kinds of jobs though!  There are people out sweeping the streets, trimming bushes, ect.  These people have self respect.  They recycle everything here.  There are so many people riding around on three wheeled bicycles stacked with hundreds of pounds of cardboard and anything else that recycles to take to the recycling centers at the end of the day.  That's how many of the poor people make money.  I remember when I was pregnant with my first child we would walk for miles collecting soda cans to take in to the recycling center. We needed the money...it was an honest way to get a few extra bucks.
If we want to get back to where we were about 30 or more years ago, we need to start remembering what it was.  We need to start teaching our children and grandchildren not only the value of a dollar, but they they have value and something to offer.  It all begins at home people!  If we sit around and just complain about everything we don't like....our children and grandchildren will do the same thing.  It's time to stand up for what we believe in!  To let everyone one who will hear know that we are One Nation Under God and it is in that God That We Trust.  We truly live in a Land of Promise that has become a Land of False Promises!  We can't just wait for someone else to do something about it.  Make a stand, be heard, support those who run for office that you believe in, heck... Run for office yourself!  If you want someone to do the dishes, you can leave them in the sink for a week or two...or you can just do them yourself.  This country was founded by those who stood up and took action.  What will you do?  Will you be heard, will you participate, will you vote?
I Am an American...I believe in America...But I'm not so intellectually challenged that I can't see that she is in big trouble.  Let's get back what we hold to be so important...Our Freedom...something our Forefathers fought and died for.  That Freedom that so many young men and women are fighting for today!!  May God Bless Us in our endeavors to Re-take Back America.       
Sent from Julie's IPad

MisAdventures of Julie

Subject: MisAdventures of Julie

This morning I got up at 8:00, talked to family on the phone for an hour or so, went down for breakfast (today was pancake day), had my usual omelet, watermelon, juice, milk and PANCAKES :)  I took my IPad so I could read my book and containers to fill to take some stuff up for lunch.  Today the had rice noodles with mushrooms and a spicy sauce to put over them.  I also grabbed my usual watermelon, a few mini apples and some sliced cucumbers and green and yellow peppers.  Usually I fill a drink containers with juice but I didn't drink yesterdays.  Why do I tell you this..you might wonder.  I tell you this because it is my routine here in Beijing.  I usually go workout before breakfast but today I had an appointment at the Police station.  I was suppose to have an interview about my residence permit.
My driver picked me up at 12:20 to take me to see the PO PO HAHA...  It took 50 minutes in traffic to get there and the interview consisted of a lady handing them my information, I signed something, they took a picture through the glass window and the lady I met that was taking care of my paperwork said,"that's it, you go now"  I was like "really, that's the important interview?"  Oh well...I had the driver take me to Dragonfly next.  Got a killer massage...seriously it hurt so bad I thought I would die, but I stuck it out.  I have a few bruises!!!!  These people are serious!!!  I had a 2 hour foot and body massage...it cost the equivalent of about $40 American dollars!!!! Crazy right?  I bought a card you put money on and get 30 percent off all services, they gave me a certificate for a free 2 hour massage!!!  I like this place.  This will be my Tuesday afternoon routine.  My friend Sherri, I went on that outing with her last week, she has a lady that comes to her place once a week and gives her a 2 hour all over body massage for $15 American!  I'm working on getting that set up for Thursday afternoons!! :)  What a life....
This morning I laid on the guest bed and talked on the phone to family while they changed my sheets, cleaned my bathrooms, vacuumed, mopped, changed out all the towels, and filled up all the toilet paper holders.  The only thing I can complain about is he switched spots with my shampoo and conditioner when he cleaned my shower.  I seriously washed my hair three times and didn't understand why it wasn't lathering.  I figured it out finally when I put conditioner on my hair and it lathered up!!  haha...just call me Blondie :) Who am I kidding...I'm not complaining...I just switched them back to their rightful spots :)  This major cleaning occurs ever Tuesday and Friday.  The other weekdays they come in and straighten things up, wipe counters and take out trash.  Some afternoons I just wash a glass in the sink to feel useful!!!!! haha

Sent from Julie's IPad

Smiles are Universal :)

Subject: Smiles are Universal :)

I ventured out on my own today.  There is a supermarket that is pretty easy to find and not too far.  Just out the front doors, take a right, walk walk walk, take a left, walk walk walk, cross a busy (crazy street) and there I was.  They don't speak any English there, everything is in Chinese, but some things have 1 or 2 English words on them :) I was able to find containers of gum, I know this because the one English word on it was Wrigleys.  They also have different pictures of fruit on each...I think I got strawberry and a spearmint.  
It is very strange going out among the people here...I mean, I just don't fit in!  Not only am I white, but I'm sooo much taller than almost everyone and I'm BLONDE!!!  I get a lot of "LOOKS" and a lot of "Im not really looking at you looks".  Nothing like being a fish out of water haha!
I found bags of cashews and other nuts.  I knew what those were so I got some! :) I bought a pink backpack to pack stuff around in.  It's very nice.  I was a little nervous when I went through the checkout.  The gentleman rang my stuff up while I loaded it into my bag that I brought...you have to bring your own bags everywhere!  Then he said something and I kinda just stRess at him...I thought I had made his trip without a hitch, I thought he would say how much in numbers.  He said them in Chinese! There are even regular numbers ( you know, like 1 2 3 ) on the signs by the merchandise....I was thinking what to do...hand him what I thought it might be, but I hadn't kept track!!  I proceeded to lean over the counter to see if it showed numbers on the screen...to my relief it did...I get out the money, hand it to him and wait for my change.  I stead of getting me my change he starts saying something in Chinese and is pointing at the screen....I finally realize that he want to know if I have change!!  I'm thinking "Look Dude, I have know idea what each coin is even worth and I think I have maybe one coin in my pocket and I don't even know what it is".  I'm shaking my head...No, and he finally makes change for me.  I'm doing good to know what the value of regular bills are, now I have a few that are probably worth one penny!!!  I think there are some even worth a half cent!!  Well I made it back home ok with my nuts and gum...I may be accumulating a lot of nuts and gum!!  
I got a cell phone recently, it's a huge process to do anything like that here.  Our driver took us to a "little" place with heavy strips of plastic covering the entrance.  We parted it and entered a "huge". Department/electronic store.  Like a giant Sears.  I got my "pink" phone but not after a lot of hassle.  Our drive came in a took care of it all for us, but Darron and to show his passport and produce a business card ( he has some that are all in Chinese).  Our driver had to show his Chinese Citizen ID and talk to them for a long time before he got a credit card looking thing that we had to take to another desk in the store to pay then take that receipt back where we started, then they went somewhere "far away" to get the phone.  I think we finally got out of there about an hour or more later.  They really do things differently here, ha!
Yesterday we found out that we are not going to get the rest of our clothes, personal stuff, stuff we bought that you can't find here, ect., till late December or maybe even January or February!  Something about ConocoPhillips business permit needing renewed and that can't be done till Mid December.  China won't let our stuff into the country until after that.  The jokes just keep coming haha!  I have exactly 3 skirts for church and 5 pants, 4 being capri's....it gets cold here.  Not sure what we'll do about this one......we'll just keep pitting those cherries one at a time!
Oh, yay, the smile thing.  Andy gave me a shirt for my birthday that says," I smile because I have no idea what I'm doing". That has never been more true!  I have found though that if I smile at the people here enough, they always seem to crack a smile back....sometimes even burst out laughing.  IF THEY COULD ONLY READ MY SHIRT!!!  
Sent from Julie's IPad

More Misadventures of Julie...Erma Bombeck..Move over!!

I finally made it out of Alaska without having to give up my first born, but not without wondering if it would come to that.  (I love you Jacque)  My medical clearance didn't come through until the morning of my flight.  I Packed all my luggage in the car and set out for a few last minute errands.  I arrived back home an hour before Taylor was to come home and drive me to the airport.  Keep in mind, I DROVE MY CAR around town for about 2 hours.  When we got in the car to go to the airport.....it wouldn't start!!!!  I didn't wonder if It was Devine intervention, I mean come on, I just paid $100 to have the dealer tell me there's nothing wrong with it!!  Taylor and I just started laughing in amazement!  Then, we unloaded all those heavy suitcases and stuffed them in her car.  The adventure was begining..finally!  I'm glad I;m not telling you the plane wouldn't start, or better still, that we had a crash landing.  The worst thing that happened on my trip to Beijing was leaving my pillow that I dragged thousands of miles (BECAUSE I WANTED IT HERE) on the plane.  I figure that's no biggy after everything else that has gone on.  Its just a pillow...at least it wasn't my pink blankie..now that would have been tragic!!

After arriving here safely and getting a pretty good nights sleep, we set out for some shopping.  Now that was an experience!!! Loved it, but it is really crowed here.  We walked to a few of the Malls and I gotta say...IM ALIVE.  I truly thought it was going to be in the Headlines.  Death by Scooter.  I came close to getting run over more than once.  They drive all over the place.  Its a mix of thousands of cars, mixed with thousands of scooters and just as many bikes.  I would think I was on a sidewalk with bikes and scooters going by, only to quickly move out of the way of a car.  Its funny though, among all the kayos, no ones is yelling or speaking harsh words, or even looking angry.  In America people get shot for less!!  They love to honk their horns though, it just isn't in anger.  Our driver is amazing, but I sometimes just have to close my eyes, when he is literally just inches from another car.  It's a "TRY" situation on the streets.  If you see an opening you try to take it!!!

I went out on an Adventure today with Three other ladies from church.  I was a little nervous.  I gave Steven, our driver, the address where he was to drop me off.  I didn't really even know what these ladies looked like, I was truly hoping they would remember what I looked like and find me.  It took an hour to get there in traffic.  We went to the Chinese Capital Museum.  After the museum, we wanted to get something to eat before we made our next stop at a chinese temple.  None of us spoke Chinese and we went in the Embassy area where the Chinese people speak some English.  My driver had stayed out side to wait for me though, so I asked if he could drop us off somewhere to eat Chinese food.  He took us someplace very close, dropped us off and we were on our own :)  The adventure began....

NO ONE in the little authentic chinese restraint spoke any English.  they pointed us to a table and mingled together over at the counter just looking at us..sometimes laughing and sometimes with a look of pity.  We were wondering if they were even going to serve us when 2 of them (teenager looking) headed our way. They sat a menu in front of us that was entirely chinese characters and began agin to laugh because we burt our laughing.  We tried everything from pointing at others peoples food to putting our hands to our mouth trying to say we were hungry.  Finally I called my driver who speaks 'SOME' English and asked him to talk to the kid and just order food for the four of us.  The kid was laughing so head that a woman, a customer, took the phone from him and talked to Steven.  It was all so hilarious and WAY OUT of my comfort zone.  We literally had no idea what she told them to get us.  First we got a bottle of water, later came our food.  24...yes 24 long egg roll looking things.  They were stacked on three plates.  It was sooo much food.  We mixed our soy sauce, vinegar, and hot pepper flakes and dug on.  We don't know what meat was in them..don't want to know..but  they were wonderful.  Some had carrots with the meat, some cilantro (my favorite) and some green onions (I think).  Soon they came back and started pouring us bowls of something creamy and runny.  A Chinese gentleman that was eating at the next table sensed our wonder and was able to speak enough to tell us it was Hominy Soup.  He and he wife were eating some also and they had a bowl of some type of vegetable looking thing she was putting in it.  i pointed to it and asked what it was.  Before I could stop him, he grabbed the bowl and put half of it's contents on one of our plates.  He told him hank you and tried to tell him that wasn't necessary but he insisted.  It was good, I think it was tangy pieces of steamed cabbage, but I'm not sure :) We finally had all we could possibly eat and put our hands in the air and rubbed our fingers together...universal symbol for money, right.  They cracked up, but soon brought us a piece of paper with 41 written on it.  For all that food (leftovers to take home) it was the equivalent of less than $6 for all of us.  I quickly said I'm buying :)

Next it was off to the temple, which was across the street.  When we were done my chariot awaited.  He took me and my new friends home.  My driver is wonderful.  He did have a good laugh about our experience at the restaurant.  He said " You say you want Chinese"  I said "We got it"  
Sent from Julie's IPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Julie Jackson <dawgsmommy@gmail.com>
Date: September 6, 2010 11:52:44 AM GMT+08:00
To: Darron China# <darron.b.jackson@conocophillips.com>, Darron Jackson <tazeng@hotmail.com>, Mom Hansen <beverlyhansen@frontier.com>, 007 <andrew.b.jackson@us.army.mil>, Ben Jackson <bjack20000@gmail.com>, Jacque Butterfield <jacquedee@gmail.com>, Blog <dawgsmommy.myblog@blogger.com>, "mrslincoln55@gmail.com" <mrslincoln55@gmail.com>
Subject: Erma Bombeck

You remember Erma Bombeck?  The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence!
Well that grass in China better be pretty green!!! I'm just saying.... I feel a little like that saying. "If anything can go wrong it will.". I mean really people..... If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries why am I in the Pitts???  Seriously.....first, I have my car towed from my garage to the dealership because it won't start.  I'm not crazy or anything, it really wouldn't start!  I have witnesses!!  I don't hear anything from them for a day, when they finally call I get this from them.
"Hello, this is IDIOT from Lithia Dodge, we have your Jeep here and we were wondering why.". UNBELIEVABLE!!!  I tell, we'll call him IDIOT #3, that it won't start and the guy I called and talked to told me to have it towed there.  Then another guy from there told me who to have tow it.  " Oh says IDIOT "3 we probably won't get to it untill tomorrow now since it is almost closing time....I was totally shocked....NOT!  Next day I get a call telling me it's ready they did all the tests and there is nothing wrong with it!  Started right up!  I can come get it, that will be $100. Totally shocked!...NOT!  Sooo....today I go to my friends for dinner.  I get out of my car and hear a very hold hissing sound.  I'm thinking is there a gas leak in the garage?  What's going on?  I look around and start going toward the sound... Which leads me straight to my back tire!  I reach down and run my hand along the tire and feel AIR!  To my dismay there is a screw sticking out.  Now I realize it's Sunday so I just have to let the life seep out of my tire and figure out to use the air  thingybob in the morning so I can speed to the tire shop. It's these bumps in life that I have had lately, and I've only mentioned the minor ones, that make me start thinking.  Is there greener grass somewhere?  Will it be better....softer....not make me miserable.  Are there cherries without Pitts out there somewhere?  If so where are they?  And if anything can go wrong, it will...then what next?  Then I stopped and reminded myself that life is an adventure...we sure don't want it too easy, then it would be boring, we would become weak.  So we take the lumps and the bumps and we get tough.  We learn how to Pitt our own Cherries, and make our own grass greener and we thank our Father in Heaven that we have grass to fertilize and cherries to Pitt, a body to take care of and family to love!  I don't think the grass will be greener in Beijing, but the love of my life is there.  Who needs grass?      
Sent from Julie's IPad

Erma Bombeck

You remember Erma Bombeck? The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence!
Well that grass in China better be pretty green!!! I'm just saying.... I feel a little like that saying. "If anything can go wrong it will.". I mean really people..... If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries why am I in the Pitts??? Seriously.....first, I have my car towed from my garage to the dealership because it won't start. I'm not crazy or anything, it really wouldn't start! I have witnesses!! I don't hear anything from them for a day, when they finally call I get this from them.
"Hello, this is IDIOT from Lithia Dodge, we have your Jeep here and we were wondering why.". UNBELIEVABLE!!! I tell, we'll call him IDIOT #3, that it won't start and the guy I called and talked to told me to have it towed there. Then another guy from there told me who to have tow it. " Oh says IDIOT "3 we probably won't get to it untill tomorrow now since it is almost closing time....I was totally shocked....NOT! Next day I get a call telling me it's ready they did all the tests and there is nothing wrong with it! Started right up! I can come get it, that will be $100. Totally shocked!...NOT! Sooo....today I go to my friends for dinner. I get out of my car and hear a very hold hissing sound. I'm thinking is there a gas leak in the garage? What's going on? I look around and start going toward the sound... Which leads me straight to my back tire! I reach down and run my hand along the tire and feel AIR! To my dismay there is a screw sticking out. Now I realize it's Sunday so I just have to let the life seep out of my tire and figure out to use the air thingybob in the morning so I can speed to the tire shop. It's these bumps in life that I have had lately, and I've only mentioned the minor ones, that make me start thinking. Is there greener grass somewhere? Will it be better....softer....not make me miserable. Are there cherries without Pitts out there somewhere? If so where are they? And if anything can go wrong, it will...then what next? Then I stopped and reminded myself that life is an adventure...we sure don't want it too easy, then it would be boring, we would become weak. So we take the lumps and the bumps and we get tough. We learn how to Pitt our own Cherries, and make our own grass greener and we thank our Father in Heaven that we have grass to fertilize and cherries to Pitt, a body to take care of and family to love! I don't think the grass will be greener in Beijing, but the love of my life is there. Who needs grass?
Sent from Julie's IPad

Flight to Myrtle Beach

Jackson got tired :)

Andy & Ben

We eat at this Seafood Buffet called Benjamins every time we go to myrtle Beach

Jacque

Tom & Jackson

Andy & Jackson

Ben & Jackson

Ben

The three kiddos

Ben probably laughing at Dad!

Tom, Ben and Jackson

Dad running out of money:)

Eating at the Westgate

He wanted to drive that cart!

Beach with Grandpa

Swimming with the sharks

The Gold Nugget has a fun pool with a shark tank and a big slide.

Swimming with the sharks

Vegas

The Jackson family went to Vegas for Dad & Mom / grandpa & grandma's
50th Anniversary. We all had a great time. It was fun to spend time
with everyone. Some things we did that I can remember:
Swimming
Shopping
Eating / the Seafood Buffett was great!
Roller coaster
Shopping
BBQ's
Shows/ we took grandpa and grandma to the Lion King
Pictures at the Vegas sign
Coke store samples
Shopping

Did I mention shopping?

Juliet

Dad & Mom / Grandpa & Grandma

We were all in Vegas celebrating their 50th!

Morning snack!

Jackson wearing his jammies that Grandpa brought back from Beijing.

After swimming

Such a big boy!

Swimming

Jackson learned how to swim underwater.

Freemont Street

Jackson had fun in Vegas!

On the road again!

Now that's a snot bubble!

Cute!

M&M car

At the M&M store on the strip.

Oh to be young again!

The young ones:)

Outside The Gold Nugget

Waiting in the truck :)

Swimming

Jackson loves to swim!

Vegas

Homemaking blog...

Everyone should check out our new group-run homemaking blog and become a follower...

Willis F. Hansen

May 28, 1924 - January 26, 2010

Home to Idaho

On January 19th, I flew home to Idaho after getting news that my Father was not doing well. On January 26th he passed away at St. Lukes Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. Writing this makes it seem so final..as it is still sinking in. He passed quite peacefully with all his family around him. Even after passing to the next life; he had a good grip on Mom's hand. I know he hated to leave her and us, but he knew it was his time to go. I miss him so much. I'm very grateful I was able to be here. I'm returning to Alaska in 2 days and I hate to leave my Mother alone, eventhough; I know she will be just fine. It was nice getting to see all my brothers and quite a few of their children the weekend of the funeral. Andy was able to get a fancy Dress Uniform in time to be able to wear it at the funeral and present the Flag to his Grandma. Ben was a Pallbearer. Jacque and Tom made it down in time to see Grandpa before he passed..the rest of my family came later for the funeral. It was a very nice funeral service and there were approximately 300 in attendance. I spoke about his life and Scott spoke about memories we had of him. Steve gave the family prayer, Gary gave the closing prayer and Tracy dedicated the grave. We filled up the entire cultural hall for the dinner after. I'm so thankful for the Parma ward, for their kindness and for their friendship. My mother is truely blessed to have these Saints in her life. It makes it a little easier for me to live so far away.

Too Cute :)