Tony Loves Terra Day!

Let me explain the title, I do not really care for Valentine's day much. I never really have. I think it is a day more for heart aches than anything else. When you are younger and that party is coming near and you try really hard to pick the perfect card for certain people...then you see that they don't really care what the card says, they like the ones with candy. When you get older, like high school age, then it seems like a lot of pressure to be a girl on Valentine's day. If you are not carrying something around (flowers, stuffed something, etc) are you a loser who does not have a boy friend? Or do you have a loser boy friend who doesn't care enough? What if you are carrying something around, but it is from someone you just can't see yourself ever dating? Sad right?

Anyway, Tony and I (who met when I was 12 and he was 15 and were best friends in high school so he knew my feelings about this subject) would sometimes joke about this. Tony has always been able to make me laugh! We would get together on Valentine's Day, for a little while, just to make the day more fun which his girlfriends would hate me for. While we were in High school, there was a song that said "a penny for your thoughts, a nickle for a kiss, and a dime if you tell me that you love me" We would always say a penny for your thoughts to each other and decided that was "our song". He even took me on my very first date, it was to a movie during Prom week. Then, he took me to his Senior Prom (again the girlfriend was not happy)

Well, Tony left on his mission and I had no one to dislike the day with because let's face it there are not many who really dislike Valentine's day. Don't get me wrong, I did have boy friends who would give me flowers, candy, and the stuffed things. And Tony would send me "I hate Valentine's day" cards...that was great!

Now, I want to tell you a true love story. I am getting to the title...I promise!

When Tony came home from his mission, we only saw each other a few times. He moved to Mesa right away, and I was living in Safford at the time. We both came home for Christmas break, me single, but Tony had a girlfriend from Utah who happened to be visiting him. We saw each other at the town Christmas dance and we danced a few times, ok more than a few, and decided we would go out on New Years for ol' times sake. Again, I had made an enemy out of the girl friend.

We had the best time on New Years! We remembered why we liked to hang out with each other so much. At mid-night we even cashed in one of those nickles mentioned above.

After Christmas break, we would write. I even invited him to come visit me, which he did...a lot! We had a great time together. One time, we were going to Mesa for some reason I can't remember, and we were getting gas when Tony hands me a small white box as he is getting out of the truck. Now, for this part you have to remember the above mentioned song, the box was full of dimes! WOW! I was shocked because I knew how I felt about him, but I was not sure how he felt about me. This told me for sure... I was a very happy girl.

We continued to date, and write, and visit when we could. We didn't have cell phones and I didn't have a phone in my apt. then so we could not talk much, this was hard!

One weekend, I was visiting Tony and staying at my Aunt Susan's house. Tony was over (Susan has always loved Tony) and we were joking and laughing, having a great time as usual. Susan's family all went to bed, but Tony and I were still in the living room, joking. In the middle of telling me jokes, he says "you are so pretty, wanna marry me" and I laughed! I couldn't help it, but he was serious.

The next day, we decided to visit the families so that Tony could ask my dad...and we could make the announcement.

I am lucky to be married to my best friend!

So...back to the title of this blog...Tony decided that because I didn't really care for Valentine's day, we would change the name. Now, it is known, to us, as Tony loves Terra day!

What more does a girl need?

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.

I am a lucky mother!!

Something happened yesterday to make me just want to say how much I love and appreciate the great people my children are! I am so very proud of them and their decisions. They, along with my sweet husband, are truly the light of my life. Malori is one of the most positive, happy, and genuinely nice people I have ever known! She is smart and talented. Malori can sit down with anything to write with and on, and create the best stories for children. She is beautiful and can sing like an angel! Her husband Jon, is such a patient and giving person. He is motivated to do well and take good care of his family. Jon is a gifted wood turner and artist. He sings, plays guitar, and writes music. Also, he has become a super big brother and example to Tanner! Laney is sweet, beautiful, funny, and talented! She is an awesome friend with a huge heart. She gives her all to every relationship and truly cares about people. She can sing, play the guitar, act and Dance. It is so wonderful to watch her dance. She also teaches dance to the cutest little ballerinas you have ever seen. Tanner is a smart, happy, good looking boy, who loves his family. He is a hard worker who is not afraid to get in there and do the job right! Tanner will help anyone. He is kind, and seems to have a knack with the elderly, small children, and animals. Tanner has a beautiful base voice that I love to listen to.
I really love my family! I hope they know how much I appreciate them.

What an amazing weekend!

So I had a super weekend!! First, Malori and Jon came on Wednesday night. We got up early on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) and turned on the Parade, which is always a good time! We were all in the kitchen cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone was making something and we had the best time visiting and laughing and trying to take turns with the oven. We had dinner at our home for our families. The very first Thanksgiving in our new home! It was great! Then Mal and Jon went to his families house for another dinner...talk about being stuffed! Later, we had left overs which I look forward to as much as the actual dinner. I loved being with my family! My sister, Shakira, and my mom, talked me into going to the Black Friday sales. I have never done this before, but we had a great time! We left at 3:00 am, I know...early right? But, I got much of the Christmas shopping done at great prices! Then Saturday was my birthday...Mal and Jon came back and we put up the Christmas tree. I loved this! We played a really fun game, ate pizza and watched movies. It was a super day. On Sunday, I got to hear Malori and her Sisters-in-law sing in church. That was beautiful! They should make a CD of religous songs, they are that good! We then went to church. It was a GREAT weekend! Looking forward to Christmas with my family.