LOVE vs. HATE

I just had to add to my blog since it has been so long since I did. Okay...

Here is my list and why it's on my list:

I LOVE my double oven. It makes baking so much faster. It is especially nice on holidays.
I HATE my double oven when it is broken! What gives, it isn't even 5 years old. There are times it may have died from lack of use, but not from over-use!!

I LOVE my laptop computer and I am so glad I have it. It is really handy and I can do more than one thing at a time.
I HATE computers when they don't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is with our Dell desktop computer?????????? This is the 2nd time the hard drive has crashed!!!!! Pray for my pictures, the hundreds of scanned pictures, and my Family History. Mr Daniel and Dell are "working" on it.

I LOVE my children.
I HATE that they live so far away.

I LOVE my grandchildren.
I HATE even more that they live so far away. By the time we begin to bond it is time for them (or us) to go home until the next time.

I LOVE my chemo doctor. He takes good care of me and he LISTENS. He also spends time with me.
I HATE that I ever had to meet him in the first place.

I LOVE that all my blood work came back perfect.
I HATE that my blood work came back normal. I was hoping there was something wrong with my thyroid and that was why I had gained some weight. Shoot, you mean I gained because of what I ate???????

I LOVE my garden and can't wait to eat more veggies from it.
I HATE that the birds think I planted it for them. I have CDs hanging and some other things to distract them.

I LOVE that I am not a teenager or raising children in these days and times. My hat goes off to those of you that are.
I HATE that it means we are now senior citizens!!!!!!! Mr Daniel has been diagnosed with a gall stone, 2 bulging discs in his back, a lump down where the sun doesn't shine, an enlarged prostate, and poly cystic kidney disease. The interesting thing is he didn't know he had any of them!!

I LOVE (for the most part) my blog. ( I love reading the blogs that belong to other people)
I HATE writing on my blog. I HATE even more that I have relatives that don't read my blog!!

I LOVE that we are having a family reunion in August.
I HATE that not everyone is coming :( :( :(

I LOVE winters in Arizona.
I HATE summers in Arizona.

If there are other things I love and hate, I plead old age and can't remember what they are!!

Just a Mom

I copied this from a friends blog and I thought it was great.


JUST A MOM?

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. What I mean is, explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...? ''Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.'' We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it, 'Said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar. ''What is your occupation?' she probed.. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.' The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field? 'Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,(any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money. 'There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom. ' Motherhood! What a glorious career!Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and HumanRelations? 'And great grandmothers'Executive Senior Research Associates?' I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts 'Associate Research Assistants.'

Not April Fools

This is where Mr Daniel and I went yesterday. You know how it is getting ready to go. I guess you might not know - no kids or babysitter. We planned the day, where to leave Mr Daniel's truck, what time to pick him up from work etc. Of course, I showered, did my hair, got dressed and had everything ready to go. I talked on the phone all the way to Phoenix and then kept talking all the way to Mesa. We were going to eat in the cafeteria and I was going to have chocolate pie for dessert. Well, imagine our surprise when we get there and the gates are closed and the parking lot is empty. The pageant hasn't started yet, but why were we the only ones in Arizona that didn't know the temple is closed for 2 weeks for maintenance??????????? We tried...do you get blessings for trying??

Cemeteries Tell Stories

My cousin Karen came for a visit a couple of days ago. We both enjoy family history and we have had some success with it. We have done several things together like going to the temple, but we have never been to the cemetery before looking for information. We knew we were going to find 1 Macdonald grave and four Hudlows. We were quite surprised that we found 4 more Hudlows buried there. Should I add this was in Phoenix at Greenwood/Memory Lawn Cemetery. This headstone (above) is Mr Daniel's uncle that was killed during WW II. He left a young pregnant wife and a devastated family. His daughter has never known him, but she will someday.

My great-grandmother was Margaret Johnston. She had at least 6 sisters and I have always referred to them as the Johnston girls. There was 1 brother that lived to adulthood. One of the girls married a Hudlow and these are two of her children. It just reminds me that these people really lived and we will get to meet them someday. After doing genealogy and family history work, you begin to feel close to them and excited to be able to do the work for them. The above headstone is Cora Hudlow Laveen and after seeing the headstones I was able to put her family together as well as her husband's family. The puzzle pieces came together and I know those on the other side helped us find the pieces. It was a successful couple of days.

Some of the People We Like to Be With

The Cook Family in Michigan is all ready for Savannah's baptism. Savannah was baptized with her twin Cook cousins. It was a special day for everyone especially all the grandparents that were there in person and those in spirit.

Miss Sadie and Miss Cora are good friends, as well as cousins.

Who can resist Mr. Read. What a cutie he is. He wins the all-time-drool contest hands down. (sorry Sarah)

Savannah looked like an angel in the baptism dress her mother made for her.

What no Pictures

I am not sure I can blog without having a picture to blog about. Amy actually mentioned I had not blogged anything for awhile. I do have something in mind to blog about, but I can't find a picture to go with it. How can you have a friend for for almost 33 years and not have a picture of them????????????? I found that quite odd. I have pictures of her children, but not her. I will still spend some time searching. I have decided that scanning pictures is SOOOO VERRRRY SLOOOOOW and SO BORING. My father-in-law always told me to write on the back of the picture so we would always know who was in the picture and when it was taken. Well, I have discovered that he didn't listen to his own advice. Now that he has passed away, it is hard to ask him.
Poor Mr. Daniel has pneumonia and bronchitis. He said he is feeling some better, but of course he won't stay down or home for that matter. We are looking forward to being in Michigan for Miss Savannah's baptism. We will enjoy the cooler weather while we are there. We will get to see 7 of our grandchildren, but they will be playing with cousins.
My house stinks!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried to burn up a bag of popcorn in the microwave or maybe the bag tried to commit suicide. It was only in there about a minute when the smoke began to pour out of the microwave. I am lucky it didn't burst into flames. So that was my excitement!
Miss Emily has gone to Sacramento for job training and will try and see my sister and some of her cousins. I am going back to scanning pictures so I will have something interesting to say on my next post. :)

Miss Savannah

Miss Savannah turned 8 years old yesterday. We know what that means... Papa and Grandma Mac are going to take another trip!! We do like trips, especially when we can see cute ones being baptized. Savannah surprised everyone by coming into the world early. I remember Mom trying to get her classroom all set for a sub while she was in labor.

Five years ago Miss Savannah became a big sister to Miss Sadie. You were so excited and you make a great big sister. We can see you have grown!

Miss Savannah has turned into a little lady.

Your mom and dad are very proud of you. Miss Savannah is a great student, great big sister, is a good friend, plays the piano, plays soccer, loves her family,and she especially loves her cousins. We all love you and want to say Happy Birthday and Eight is Great. (see you soon!)