So much has happened since I last wrote! The biggest thing of course was the trip to Utah!! All I can say is that it was truly awesome!!! We loved spending time with all the grandkids, and family. Each day that we were there was full of visits and activities! Again we are reminded of what a wonderful family we have, and how much we love our family!

On the 10th of Dec was our Ward's Christmas Party. Grandpa was asked to Sign a song and I was asked to sing it with him. We chose to do "The Star Carol". I was scared to death. I asked for a blessing the night before and felt comforted. As I started to sing I got really nervous, I felt a prompting come that told me to watch Grandpa as I sang. As I did so, I felt a peace come over me and I could sing.

I haven't done my Christmas cards yet, and I missed sending Matt's b-day card yet. I have been really sick for about a week now. Today I am finally starting to feel good again. It seems that I get sick alot more now. I am glad that I am feeling better for now.

I can't believe Christmas is this Sunday! I love Christmas. I wish that we could be with you all and share the day with you! Jacob and Tally and the girls are going to come over to eat dinner with us. Grandpa put up our decoration this year and he decorated the tree. I did a little bit, but because of being sick I didn't get to help like I would like to.

When I came to my blog this morning and saw that I had not posted since July, I was a little embarrassed. I knew it had been awhile, but hadn't realized it had been that long! Life sure goes by fast! I will work at doing better!

Today I have had a slow start. I didn't feel very well when I first got up so I was just on facebook and noticed that Karen and others had updates on their blogs so I went to read their updates then I came to update my blog and that is when I realized it had been forever since I last wrote and made changes. As I started to type up my entry I glanced at the clock and it was 8:30am. Today is Wii bowling and Lisa and Heather are supposed to come at 9:00am. I got up and started to get myself ready. Heather called and she was sick. I called Lisa and she said she was coming so I finished getting myself ready and was out in the family room waiting when she got here.

We had fun bowling as usual. We are trying to do the special things on the game to get the leaves. On Tuesday we started trying to get one where you have to throw it down on top of the gutter guard all the way to the end and by doing that all the pins will just fall down. We tried and tried on Tuesday and couldn't do it. Today the first ball that Lisa throws, rode the guard all the way down and all the pins fell! I tried the first game we played and couldn't do it. On the 2nd frame of the 10th shot I did it, but because it was the 2nd frame it didn't count it! We played a 3rd game and couldn't do it. By then we were out of time for the day. I will just have to try again next time!

On Friday of last week. Jared the man that Grandpa has been helping to get a job with NRI came to live with us during the weekdays until December. His family isn't able to move until then, so he will stay with us during the week and go home on weekends. We are so glad that an opening finally came up at NRI that he could take. The opening that he got was Grandpa's previous position as head of the paint crew! It works out well having Jared here, because he will be able to take care of Buster while we are gone. His family is going to come and spend Thanksgiving here with him.

I am using my wheelchair more. I am now using it when I go to church. I can't walk very far without it causing me pain, and other problems. I just had my lungs checked and they are doing good! We are very grateful for that!

Buster is doing good. He is getting better about letting people come to our home. He seems a lot more accepting of people.

Grandpa is enjoying working on the plumbing crew. He is still not sure when the State will let him take the test for his license. Until then he will just have to keep working as an apprentice.

It is starting to get cold here already. The leaves are changing and it is beautiful. We are so looking forward to coming to visit you all in Utah for Thanksgiving. October is half over and November will be here, and then on Nov 22nd we will be there!!

Wow, I can't believe almost a whole month has past since I last wrote in my blog! Time seems to go so fast.
Grandpa has been very busy this month. Every Tuesday and Thursday he has been volunteering at the concessions stand for the Nauvoo Pageant. On the days that he volunteers he leaves home in the morning to go to work at about 6:15am. He goes straight from work over to the concessions stands. He usually doesn't get home until about 10:00pm. So he comes home pretty tired, but he loves serving.
Grandpa still has the opportunity of serving in the Temple every other Saturday. He loves to serve in the Temple. He has had many great experiences while he has served.

Yesterday we celebrated Pioneer day with Jacob and Tally. We started the day by having a waffle breakfast. Grandpa loves making waffles, and eating them! After breakfast we all had errands to run and grocery shopping to do so we did that. After shopping we met back at our house and played games and had lunch. For lunch we had ham and cheese sandwiches. Later for dessert we had banana cream pie. I was going to make cookies, but when I found the pie I decided that would be a lot simpler. While we played games I sat in my wheelchair with my legs elevated. It really worked well, and kept my legs from swelling as bad as they usually do when we play games. It was really a fun day for everyone. Except probably for Maggie. Because Buster is still mending we decided that she should stay home. But next time she should get to come because Buster is almost all healed. He is going to have some big scars but he is doing really good!

Today I woke up in quite a bit of pain. I took my pain medication and after Grandpa went to work I went back to sleep. When I woke up about 8:00 I felt a little better. Today being Tuesday was Wii bowling. Heather and Lisa came and we played three games. It was fun. We enjoyed the bowling, talking and laughing. We also enjoyed the lemon poppy seed muffin that Lisa brought for each of us.

It seems that I am having a lot more pain and more down days. But even tho I don't feel good and can't do much, I am happy. I am so blessed. One of my greatest blessings are you all. You all bring such great joy to my life!

I can't believe that it is the 28th already! This month has just whizzed by!

I had something very special happen with the program I did for church on Sunday. Normally I get the program all ready to be printed by deleting old announcements and adding all the new announcements that I have been given. I change the dates, update the Sunday School reading assignments, and change the thought. The thought is usually a quote from a General Authority, or something the Bishop has asked me to put in. I also make changes to the calendar and Ward leadership that need to be updated. I also pick the picture that goes on the front of the program. Usually after I get all this done, I print up a copy and wait for Grandpa to proof read it. After he proofs it and we do any tweaking that it needs Grandpa prints it up. Right now with all the visitors in Nauvoo, we are printing up about 90 copies! Well this last Saturday Grandpa had to work all day and into the evening. Which meant he wouldn't be here to proof read the program and to print them up, and I knew he would be to tired when he got home to want to fold them. (The programs are printed on legal size paper so that they can be a trifold. So because I knew I had a huge task ahead that day, I prayed to Heavenly Father to bless me that I would we accurate in my typing and that I would be able to pick a picture that would go well for the meeting, and that I would have the health and strength to complete it all. I had pretty much everything done on the computer except I needed to find the picture. The theme was on the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ. I went online and started looking for pictures. I found a couple that would fit, but I didn't feel that they were what I wanted. Then a picture popped up that I felt would be perfect. I just knew it was the one I needed for the program. So I added the picture and after a few more changes had it ready to print. With only a few quirks I had to fix on figuring out the printer, the printing was all done! I had about 1/2 the programs folded before Grandpa got home! I was tired, but I did it! That was one of the tender mercies with the program, the next happened the next day at Sacrament mtg. The brother who was to speak passed out a stick figure drawing that went along with his talk. On the left side of the paper depicted Christ's life on earth in the old world, and the bible that records this and then on the right side of the paper it depicted Christ coming to the people on this side of the world. Well the picture that I had found online had on the left side a map of the old world in the background, a picture of the bible at the top, and then a picture of the Crucifixion. On the right side it had a map of the American continents in the background. At the top was a picture of the Book of Mormon, and then there was a picture of Christ appearing to the Nephites. I was so excited to see how the Lord had blessed me! He will truly bless us when we pray!

Today a group of us ladies are going to go to the city of Macomb for lunch. It is about an hour away. We are going for Shirley Evans, she is going to be moving to Florida. Looking forward to getting out and going to lunch. It will be sad seeing Shirley go.

Yesterday Lisa came over to do wii bowling, but we both decided to just watch a movie instead. Lisa had brought a movie with her. It was the movie, "Yogi". It was a really cute movie. We even popped up some popcorn to eat during the movie. After the movie Lisa mentioned that she really wanted to get her hair cut. I have been wanting to get mine cut too, so Lisa called Robert Saint at "The Nauvoo Salon". He had some openings in a couple of hours. Lisa had some errands to run and so she decided to run the errands and then come get me and then head into Nauvoo for our haircuts. Before she left shopping Lisa helped me with Buster so I could change his dressings. They were coming off. Lisa decided that while she was out shopping she would look for something that would help in keeping the gauze pads in place. She found something that seems to work pretty good, it just needs some fine tuning. Buster is getting better, but he still has a long way to go until he is all healed up.

I really enjoy my new haircut. After Lisa dropped me off at home, I was still feeling good. I decided it would be fun to go to a movie with Grandpa. We called Lisa and her husband Ken to see if they wanted to go too. So we all went to the little theater in Keokuk. At this theater you only pay $6.00 for your ticket and you get a drink and a popcorn to go with it! We saw the movie, "Super 8". We were really disappointed with some of the language, but other than that we all enjoyed it. It was scary though!

It has been a very interesting week. Buster is recovering well! He got his tubes out yesterday. Right now he is sleeping next to me.

Tuesday I went to the emergency room. My friend Lisa brought me. We were supposed to play wii bowling that day. I woke up with horrible pain in my stomach. Grandpa and I decided that I had better call the doctor. I talked to Dr Joe and he wanted me to be seen by Dr Caropreso. He told me that if things got worse that I should go to the emergency room. When I called Grandpa to tell him, he wondered if I should just go to the emergency room. Then when Heather and Lisa came they took one look at me and said I needed to get in to see a doctor. So.... it was decided that Lisa would take me to Carthage emergency room. The doctor that I saw there is in my ward. Just like dr Joe. Well doctor Holden did an EKG and some labs and it was determined that I need to follow up at a doctor who can look at the stomach better. Dr Holden said that it may be time for surgery again. This time to remove part of my stomach. If I look on the bright side, it will help me lose weight!!!!!!

Thursday Heather, Lisa and her son David came to play wii. Actually David came to see Buster. He wants to be veterinarian. He just graduated from High School this year. We all played wii bowling and then since my birthday was the next day they bought Subway sandwiches and then we had cake and ice cream. It was a lot of fun.

Friday on my birthday, Heather came over and we played wii bowling and the sword fight one. She also brought me some pickle relish because I was out of it and needed to make a potato salad for the potluck that day. While she was there she helped me peel the potatoes too. It was really good having her there. The potluck was fun, and it was nice that the Hamilton potluck for our ward happened to fall on my birthday this month. Fun way to celebrate. After the potluck we went home and Grandpa and I watched the move, "Unstoppable". It was an intense movie.

Today Grandpa is serving in the Temple. He gets home from the Temple around 2:00pm. He has Priesthood Leadership Meetings that start at 4:00pm and last until 8:00pm. It doesn't look like I will be seeing much of Grandpa today. It is hard to have him gone all day on a Saturday, but he is serving the Lord, and that makes it alright! It is amazing how the Lord blesses us when we will sacrifice to do what we should!

We had a very sad night. At about 9:00 when we let Buster out to go potty, he was attacked by a rottweiler. Buster is at his hospital now. His doctor is going to do surgery first thing in the morning. The rottweiler had come up on our porch while Buster was on his chain and attacked him. :( When we got home from the doggie hospital a police officer came to talk to us and to take pictures of where Buster was hurt. He said that he is going to go tomorrow to talk to our neighbors down the street to see if both of their rottweilers were accounted for during the time Buster got hurt. He is also going to check to see if there are any other rottweilers licensed in Hamilton. It was so very hard to leave Buster tonight. The doctor gave him a shot of antibiotics, and a shot of pain killers, and sprayed his wounds with a local anesthetic. It should make him pretty comfortable tonight. Buster's Doctor changed the schedule around so that he could operate first thing in the morning. He said that they like to wait for them to be more stable so that it is better when they put them under for the surgery. If everything goes alright Buster will only have to stay a few days. Though he will have to have 2 tubes and wear a collar for few weeks.

Monday Grandpa and I and Jacob and Tally and Heather, all went to The Cellar for lunch. That morning Grandpa had noticed that in his calendar it was marked for Heather's birthday. We decided to give her a call and wish her a happy birthday and take her to lunch. She was so happy that we called. She said that she was really sad that morning because she knew that nobody would call and wish her a happy birthday that day. The thing is that her birthday was the next day, but her husband who had past away about a year ago never could remember her birthday and would always wish her happy birthday on the day before her birthday. So when we called, it really touched her. It was fun to spend the time together. Then when Grandpa and I got home we watched some movies. I always love it when Grandpa has the day off and we can spend time together.

Yesterday when Lisa came to do wii bowling we decided to give Heather a call and take her to lunch for her real birthday. We went to a Mexican Restaurant in Keokuk. After lunch we went shopping at Cato's. I used the gift card that I got for Mother's day and bought me a lime green blouse with material made of little ruffles. Grandpa was not to sure of my choice, but then when I found a necklace that went well with it, he decided it was a good choice. It is a little different from what I would normally wear, but it is fun!

Today is SUNDAY! I love Sunday! What makes this day especially great is that I am feeling well enough to go to church! (Yesterday I had to spend the day in bed, because I couldn't really even stand up!) I really enjoy going to church! I love the opportunity to partake of the Sacrament and to renew my covenants. In essence to be "reborn" and renewed. Each week I can covenant to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and work at becoming like Him. Each week I give an accounting of my works and I can see my many failings, and weaknesses. Then the great atonement comes into play and I know that the Lord will bless me as I strive to overcome. I can feel of His great love for me, and the great love He has for each one of us. I know that there is nothing I will have to endure that He won't send help to bless me thru it. I love to go to church to feel the Spirit of the saints! I go and fill my reserves so that I can make it thru the hard times. What a great blessing it is to feel the strength and the joy when the saints meet.

Friday we had a fun evening. Jacob and Tally came over and we started playing games. Then Chad & Erika Stewart, and Elijah their 2 mo old came to dinner. We had pizza for dinner and brownies and ice cream with homemade caramel sauce for dessert. It was a great evening. So nice to be able to share it with family and friends!

This Monday on the way to work Grandpa hit a deer. It was really sad. It just jumped out in front of him and he didn't have anytime to stop. Grandpa didn't get hurt, but the car got some damage. We still don't know when we are going to be able to get it fixed.

Today I wasn't feeling well so I didn't do my wii bowling this morning. Lisa Miller came over anyway and we watched some cute movies that were on the Hallmark station. It was nice to have her come and spend some time. After she left I took a long nap, and that seemed to make the chest pains go away again.

Marjie Rice sent a lasagna home with Grandpa from his High Priest Group Leadership meeting last night. It was really good and it was nice not to have to worry about fixing something when I wasn't feeling very well.

We have been very blessed this week. We were kept safe from all the storms. My heart is saddened for all those who have lost so much.

Yesterday I spent most of the day resting. I was just really tired all day. Early in the evening Jacob and Tally stopped by and we decided to go out to dinner together. I wanted to go to a restaurant in Keokuk that I heard about, but when we got there the sign said that they weren't open on Monday evenings. We ended up going to a place at the other end of Keokuk called Ogos. We had gone there before and it was really run down and dirty. We had heard things were better and they were, but we all agreed that it was one to go to when you were in a bind. We were so spoiled living in Utah and having so many wonderful places to eat. Lonestar Steakhouse in Layton, Olive Garden, Golden Corral in West Valley. My favorite Mexican restaurant closed and that was Casa Melinda's in Bountiful. Anyway to get back to my story, Lisa, Shirley and I decided to go out to lunch today. We went to The Cellar, the restaurant I wanted to go to last night. Come to find out it was open, they had just changed their hours. The food there was pretty good. I even asked if they had fry sauce, of course they had never heard of it, but they asked what was in it and made me some, and are thinking of including on the menu! We enjoyed our meal and enjoyed being able to get out and talk.

Today in Sacrament meeting one of the talks that was given was on keeping a journal. It pricked my heart because I realized how long it has been since I last wrote on my blog. So many things happen and they have not been recorded. I really need to do better.

After Sacrament meeting I came home with a friend. I was not feeling the best and so I took her up on the ride home. I said goodbye to Grandpa, and told him I hadn't brought my keys. He told me that I didn't need to worry about keys because the dining room door was unlocked. I knew that we had locked the family room because Buster was in there. So Laurel brought me home and I went to the door and it was locked! So I started thinking about how I could get in. I went to the window to see if it was unlocked, it was. Now the problem was how to get the screen out of the way and get the window to come up. I pushed on the screen and it went right up. But the window wasn't budging. I worked and worked and it finally came up. Then I climbed through. Whew! I made it. So I had an adventure on my way home to rest.