Big Miracle

Apache Junction, AZ  High 61  Low 34

Spent a very quiet New Years Day. Did some laundry and took down Christmas decorations.

Today we went to the Escapees Chapter Luncheon at Mickey D’s restaurant here in Apache Junction. Great group of people.

Jim also got his Tonto National Forest yearly pass. With his America the Beautiful Pass it is only $15. Both this pass and his fishing license expired on December 31. Tomorrow we will get the fishing license renewed. That will be a more expensive since we aren’t AZ residents.

This evening we went to the movie that was shown up at our clubhouse. Big Miracle. Wonderful family movie about the saving of the whales that were trapped at Barrow, AK in 1988.

Started making lists of the things we need to get done before we head out to Quartzsite.

We love it when Mom brings home warm blankets from the laundromat.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

                  From our house to yours.

2012 Reflections

Apache Junction, AZ  High 49  Low 31

It’s time to say good bye to another year. They certainly are whipping right along lately.

2012 was a year of medical issues for Jim. As I reflect back on this year, it’s amazing the lessons I’ve learned when I was dealing with one crises after another. Patience, acceptance, faith, love, friendship – all of these grow so much stronger.

I remember watching my Dad deal with my Mom’s Alzheimer's and seeing his growth during that time. Never a patient man, I watched him learn to develop that patient as he went over to the nursing home to feed Mom three times a day. He would just sit with her, holding her hand, for hours in the afternoon. This was a man who did not know how to sit still for five minutes. He had things to do and places to be. Not really a family man. However, in the end, the most important place for him to be was with his wife of 67 years. I want to be like my Dad.

Al has a marvelous post on aging. He says it so much better than I can. Most of you have probably read it, but if not, take a look.

I’ve also accepted the fact that we are snowbirds rather than full-timers. My definition of full timing anyhow. This was a hard one for me. Marriage is so much about compromise and learning to be selfless. Recognizing the needs, abilities, and limitations of your partner. I was 37 years old when I got married. Settled into my ways and having things how I wanted them, whenever I wanted them, however I wanted them. Motherhood taught me a lot about getting over myself. Now being empty nesters has continued to teach me about loving and being loved.

I have a need to be on the move, exploring, seeing new things, meeting new people. And I am grateful for the times we do these things. But Jim needs to fish. Fishing for him is right up there with breathing. I love him and have learned to understand this need. So we have become snowbirds with travel and exploring in the spring and fall as we head north or south. And hopefully one more trip to the East coast in our future.

My hope is that 2012 was a year of growth for all of you. However, it sure would be nice is 2013 wasn’t quite so growth oriented.

Thank you to all of my wonderful blog readers and friends. Life is much fuller with all of you in it.

 

Christmas Wrap-up

Apache (Petticoat) Junction, AZ  High 63  Low 42

Our good friend Bill always referred to Apache Junction as Petticoat Junction. Good memories.

On December 21, we went to a Solstice party just down the street to celebrate the lengthening of the daylight hours. Cam and Lois fixed the best hot chocolate and people brought the best goodies.

 

Cam and Lois added a new member to their family this summer. This is Cheeka, a beautiful Siberian Husky. Just seven months old and full of vim and vigor.

Saturday night we went with Ginny, Mickey and Paul to the Mesa Temple to see the lights. We all took a vote and agreed that we were very glad not to be paying the electric bill. Really beautiful.

 

 

 

Christmas Eve our park lights luminaries at every site. This involves putting sand and candles in bags, putting them on the sites and then lighting them. Hard on the ole back.

 

 

All snuggled in.

 

Christmas Day we had a wonderful breakfast at Stan and Mary’s house. We go to church with them. Then we went to dinner with my sister Judy, Dianna, Bobbie and Paul. My BIL was home sick with a bad cold. (I had the cold last year and missed Christmas dinner.)

 

It was a wonderful day spent with special people.

Jim got a call from his oldest son, Steve, in NM, and a text from Jimmy in VA. Steve is looking forward to going hunting with a good buddy from VA. Jimmy is excited about spending his first Christmas with his new bride.

Todd called and it was so good to hear from him. They had about 3” of snow and it was cold (wind chill below zero) so even though we miss Todd and Michaela so much, we really don’t miss the weather.

Jim and I usually do not exchange Christmas presents but this year I just had to get him this cribbage board.

We also stopped to see Aunt Happy. She has finally reached that time in life when she does not really want to leave her home. They have so many activities she can stay very busy and social and yet be close to a nurse and her own apartment.

She was planning on going to the dining room for their Christmas dinner. She was certainly looking forward to that turkey.

Mom it’s really cold. Would you turn up the heat, please.

We’ve had a marvelous Christmas season and are looking forward to a wonderful and healthy 2013.

Christmas Is Love

President Thomas S. Monson:

It is easy to get caught up in the pressure of the season and perhaps lose the very spirit in our lives that we’re trying to gain. Overdoing it is especially common this time of the year for many of us. The causes for this might include too many Christmas activities to attend, too much to eat, too much money spent, too many expectations, and too much tension. Often our efforts at Christmastime result in our feeling stressed out, wrung out, and worn out during a time we should feel the simple joys of commemorating the birth of our Savior.

Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our thoughts and in our lives as we go about the work He would have us perform here on earth. At this time, particularly, let us follow His example as we love and serve our fellowman.

Let us make Christmas real. It isn’t just tinsel and ribbon, unless we have made it so in our lives. Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for others.

Christmas is love.

And The Rain Came Down

Apache Junction, AZ  High 58  Low 42

Boy did it come down. And it’s still raining as I write this. It’s supposed to quit sometime later tonight. Flagstaff got 16” of snow the last report I saw and it was still snowing.

The Superstitions covered with clouds.

We’ve only left the house twice in the last two days and both times it was to run to the store. Well, I’m not counting the number of times we had to go out with the girls. They didn’t stay out very long that’s for sure.

Made hamburger soup for dinner. It definitely hit the spot. Jim set up our Blue Flame heater for me and it feels so good to have our “fireplace” going to keep us warm. Skittlez is one happy puppy.

Some time ago, Merikay wrote about Trader Joe’s sausageless sausage. We finally went to Trader Joe’s and decided to give it a try. You need to know that this is a majorly huge thing for me. The thought of eating a soy sausage did not excite me but Jim fixed the sausage, sautéed some peppers and onion, and served them in buns with marinara sauce.

They were fantastic. Now don’t get me wrong – they don’t taste exactly like regular Italian sausages but they are close.  We will definitely be eating more of these in the future. Thanks Merikay for the suggestion.

Storm Clouds

Apache Junction, AZ  High 70  Low 49

We have a winter storm headed our way. For us here in the Valley that means rain. But up in the mountains they are talking that white stuff that sticks around for awhile.

We had some beautiful clouds in the sky so I had Jim take me out a ways so I could get some pictures.

The Superstitions.

Across the Valley as the sun came through the clouds.