I am waiting on the Sunshine...

So not to be Johnny Raincloud, but this has been an extremely sad week for me. Actually, the start of this New Year has been a little stressful.
Issue #1
The year started with Tony's sister upset at us for a decision we had to make for our family. Won't say anymore about that right now.
Issue #2
The state is cutting budgets everywhere, but education is really being hit hard. I worry for our students, our teachers, our jobs, but most importantly for our future. These kids are going to be my leaders someday. If we cut out so many things, how do we expect to have good people who want to teach, or can afford to teach our children. What if our children do not get quality educations, what are we going to do? These children will be making decisions for us someday.
Issue #3
You have seen from the earlier post that Bev passed away...I don't think I need to say more about that one.
Issue #4
Last night, Tony and I went to visit a friend, who used to work with us and has been fighting cancer. She has been in Tuscon for months in the hospital. She is not married, her children are grown and live away from her with families of their own. So now she is here, alone, fighting to get strength back. She was one of the most vivacious people, with so many things she wanted to accomplish. A truly good and faithful person. She now is so small, no hair, no eyelashes, no strength, and her faith is a little wobbly right now. Not only is she fighting this illness, but is also forced to fight with insurance people to get bills paid.
I could go on with other "issues"...
All of this, and other things, have really weighed me down this week. Ya know that feeling of being in a heavy, dark down pour?
So...I made the decision today that I need to look for the sunshine. Sunshine always makes me happier! This will be my new motto...anytime I am feeling sad or upset or stressed, I need to look for the Sunshine in each situation. I will see what I can do to make things better, knowing that I cannot change some things. I do not want to be in a down pour. Maybe this sounds a bit corny or cheesy...but it will work for me. It will bring me back to the happy me, I will be happy about the things I have.
I will be happy about the BLESSINGS I have.

It Happened...

It happened this morning...Bev passed away. I know she is happy and free from pain! Please pray for her family, friends, and dancers. Please also pray for Laney!

Goodbye to a special lady

Since Laney was very young, she has danced. She is beautiful when she dances and has a confidance on stage that you don't always see in her everywhere else. We have to give much of the credit for this to Beverly Greis. SHe was the owner and master teacher of The Dance Academy in Show Low. She took Laney with her on a dance cruize last summer. They got even closer as Laney was Bev's assistant and stayed in her cabin. Bev was a breast cancer survivor. She danced her way through the treatments and was brave when she lost her long beautiful hair. Bev has touched many people in the White Mountains not only with dance, but with her faith and love. She was a proud, loud, fiesty, and truely happy woman in a little tiny body. Well, that body cannot fight anymore. Her cancer returned and is now spreading throughout her body. We believe she will not be with us much longer...and we are all truely sad.

Bev, we know you will be watching down on us as you teach the angles to "point their toes!"

Much Love!

2009...Already?

Can you believe that it is really 2009? I gave myself a goal at the beginning of summer "08 that I WOULD lose weight before 2009 and I did. We were watching some show, and they did a story about Demi Moore, the actress, and how when she was going to turn 40 she decided she wanted to be a "Hot 40 year old woman". Well, I totally missed that boat, but wanted to at least try to be a somewhat smaller 40-ish year old woman. Woo Hoo!!!! I have lost about 36 LBS and believe me I had it to lose. I still have some to go until I am at my goal weight (which did not happen by "09) but I am still very happy with my progress at becoming the somewhat smaller 40-ish year old woman.

Ok, weight loss commercial over...

Let's talk about the best holiday ever...Christmas is such a great time of year, even if it does snow. I love Christmas. Being with family and friends. Seeing the "spirit" that people seem to naturally have during Christmas. I love the stories of people helping others have a happy season. I love the traditions. One of my favorites...every year on Christmas eve we all get new PJ's from my parents. We change into our new comfy duds and have a program. The smaller kids are the Nativity complete with costumes while Gramps reads the story from the Bible. Malori usually plays Silent Night softly in the background. It is super! Then we sing carols and open our gifts from our drawn names. We started a great tradition with my mom. All of us girls, even the little ones, get together to bake goodies (which I also love). We leave some for the times we are together and take plates to others.

Here are a few pics of our fun day... and yes, to my two readers, they are the same ones that Mal has...but she never sent me more.