Sunday, June 12, 2011





















It has been months since I added to my blog. All I can say is, it has been a full chunk of time, with many happy and memorable events! We have had a daughter move to CA and back to SLC, a wedding and a new son in law, a son come home from his mission to Albania, a new grandaughter born, and that's just the "BIG" news! But, mainly, it is always reaffirmed to me each day, how much I love my family and how truely blessed we are to have each other. I can never get enough of them!!!! I love each and everyone, for their own strengths and weaknesses, and for their spirits!! Lucky me! I love them.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

PREDATORS, PARIS, and PIXIES



Our little "pixie fairies" with their fairy house at our house. I have been able to spend a week with Kate and Ruby and Sadie this past month. (Of course, no camera with me at Amy's), but these three little girls bring such joy into our lives. They each have a special place in my heart- Kate-the toy organizer, computer whiz and Littlest Pet Shop pro
Ruby- the thinker, creator, and "pocket" girl
Sadie- snuggler, lover, and "binky" beauty.

I love them all! Lucky Grandma!



Yes, Tara and I went to Paris! What can I say- Opportunity knocked and WE ANSWERED! We had a wonderful trip with 2 girlfriends and wayyyyyyyyyy to much info to share in a blog. This is in the unbelievable pretend world of Interlaken Switzerland (oh yeah, we took a side trip to Switzerland!)




This is at poor little Marie Antoinette's play area village near Versailles. (Oh yeah, we took a side trip to Versailles)




The Eiffel tower is FOR REAL!! Who knew??


Finally, this a lake in Albania where Troy is serving his mission. Some one's got to serve in these ugly parts of the world. HA!

I have no picture of my other adventure because it was fairly top secret! My brother retired from the Air Force and we went to his retirement service at some unfamiliar base near Vegas. The ceremony was amazing and I saw a side of my brother that I had never gotten to experience before. I have a renewed respect for him and his accomplishments in his life. He did sneak us in to see the Reaper (which is a larger version of the Predator) All top secret and I can't reveal more than that!!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

January and February Camera Regrets!!


Elder Troy Shields and his first companion. The first pictures from Albania.






Washington DC- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

JANUARY/FEBRUARY!! What can I say?? I am PATHETIC! My life is so full of activities, church, phone calls, work, that one of the favorite parts of my life gets pushed to the bottom of the list! I love pictures of my family, friends, vacations, places I visit, and yet, very rarely do they make it onto the camera--let alone, from the camera to the computer to the blog to the albums or file!! Perhaps, when I die, I will be put in charge of "picture taking" in the next life, and THEN, I will become the expert! Although, Troy lost his camera on the way to Albania and I dropped Amy's very expensive camera in the pool, so, on second thought, since our family seems to be fairly unlucky in the camera dept, maybe none of us will be put in charge in the next life!!

These two pictures explain the highlights of the past 6 weeks!

No. 1- Troy's arrival and letters from Albania!
Troy made it to Albania about 7 weeks ago. Whew! It has been a joy to receive his letters and hear his perspective on all the teachings and people that he meets each week. I would say that I have had more communication from Troy in the last 4 months than the last 4 years!! It has been great to see his "wit" and share in the experiences and the growing of his testimony. He seems to find joy in everything he is doing (or at least that is what he is trying to make us think!). I did get to talk to him for about 10 minutes from the airport as he flew over to Albania. It was funny though, because I happened to be IN Washington DC visiting, when he landed there for his stop over to Albania. There was a huge blizzard that day, and I truely thought he would be stranded in DC, and then, I would have seen him for SURE! But, he flew off, and we look for his letters every Monday!
No. 2- Visiting Washington DC

We live in the best country in the world! We are blessed beyond what our forefathers ever imagined. Visiting Washington reminded me of our past and the greatness of our history. I am so thankful to live here and to have had ancestors, and even a brother now, that keeps the place I live safe and free. I loved all the Smithsonians, all the monuments (and yes, kids, I DID cry in a few of them), and the spirit of greatness that I felt there. I will go again!! Maybe that should be the trip that I take each of the Grandkids on---That sounds relaxing!!

Speaking of pictures and Washington DC, I took some others, but this is basically the only one that is not turned sideways, head cut off, blurry, or soooooooooo far away that it looks like a pic of LegoLand.

No. 3- No Picture - Just Stress!
This past month, I had to speak in Sacrament Meeting, teach a big lesson at church, be in charge of an Enrichment activity, have Relief Society Board Meeting at my house, do 3 to 4 presentations a week in front of people for schools and I am starting to get "major anxiety" about getting up in front of people!! I think it is because now that I am older, I think I should have "alot of knowledge" to share, but I finally figured out that I really don't much of anything!!

So, I was just feeling relieved about not having any big things this week, and today in Sacrament Meeting, the Stake President called me to come up spontaneoulsy (no other adults in the ward!) and share my feelings and testimony!! Well, maybe 5 years ago, when I knew everything that would have been easier, but now that I get all stressed about this, I truely thought I was going to have a heart attack! Randy had to basically push me up there!! Oh well, I survived, and I REALLY better be off the list for a longggggggggg time!!

N0. 4- No pic here, either- Just missing my family!!
I am starting to have the withdrawals of not seeing my family! I was ready for the quiet after Christmas, but that only lasts about 6 weeks, and we are moving into about 8 weeks! I need to see my children, grand children, brother and sister, and parents, soon! March is almost here, and I will get to see them all in March! Sounds like a good plan to me! We did get to see Matt and Amy this past few weeks, and Bonnie and Sam--so, I had a little fun with them. This has inspired me too---I will take pictures at the events this next month!! One thing I regret not taking pictures of is, we went to the Getty Museum for our Valentines Date (great date, by the way) and we stood on this bluff, on a gorgeous clear day and could see from the ocean to the San Bernardino mountains (Hollywood sign in clear view), and it was breathtaking!! Once again, reminded me of the beautiful country in which we live!!
March Madness here we come, Camera and ALL!!!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

FAMILY, FRENZY, FUN, FREAKING OUT OF CONTROL MONTH!

FAMILY FILLED OUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!! Lots of laying around and visiting!
Matt
Lots of fun, excitement and anticipation!
Kate, Ayana, Sadie, Ruby

Lots of fun, lots of eating, lots of presents!

Lots of late nights, lots of mess!

Grandma's attempt at gingerbread houses!


Sally and Dave from Arizona

Tara (happy to be awake early for Santa)

Troy H. and Shannon

Miles and Rhoda

Nate and Nachelle (newly married, new to the fam!)
MOSTLY LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE !!!!!!
Thank you, family- for all the gifts, love and joy that you bring to our lives.





Friday, November 14, 2008

The Famous Troy Kick goes to the MTC-Albania!!







These pics capture the essense
of our past month. Much of our
wonderful family shared in the
activities of this past month-
We loved having you all with us!

Seeing Troy off to the MTC for
11 weeks.

Whirlwind trip to Hawaii for our
10th Wedding Anniversary!
(a great surprise, by the way!)

A great day at the spa with my
sister, mom, and daughters-celebrating
my mom's birthday!!

Schools calling me "non-stop"
for technical support (another
funny joke in the fam!)

BYU, BYU, BYU Football! (Christy)
USC, USC, USC Football! (Randy)

Relief Society Enrichment
Counselor- here we go again!

Tara-off to NYC

Grandaughters, Love
Grandaughters, Love
Grandaughters, Love

Prop 8
Prop 8
Prop 8
(Which state can we move to where "rational thinking" takes place???







Thursday, October 2, 2008

Troy's Mission Farewell

There is soooooooo much to share, and so little time! But, I wanted anyone who is interested to know that Troy will be having his farewell talk at our church on Oct.19th at 1:00 pm. The good news-it is late start, so, Troy might actually be awake and there!!! The bad news is, Troy will probably have a short talk since two of his friends will be speaking, too! Actually, that is probably GOOD news for Troy!

Hope to see some of you there, but if not, thanks for all the love and support! He will appreciate it and need it, as he struggles to learn this hard Albanian language.

Also, we had a great, fun time at the beach with all of our family a couple of weeks ago. They are so much fun, and we had some great laughs. It was my birthday, too, and of course they treated me amazing. I added this photo, but I will add some more when I don't feel so overwhelmed. It takes me a half hour to figure out how to download one! (Computer expert-you, know!)

Friday, September 5, 2008

Troy's Mission Call- ALBANIA Tirana


Excitement at our house tonight! Troy had put in his mission papers about 3 weeks ago, and we were waiting with anticipation for his call to come. Well, today was the big day and he shared his mission call letter with the fam tonight! He read he would be serving in the Albania Tirana mission and will report on Oct. 22 to the Provo MTC. Wow, fast! At first, I didn't even know where Albania was!!! So, we quickly checked out the map and found it above Greece, next to Kosovo, across the Adriatic Sea from the boot of Italy. Who knew!!! He will be learning the Albanian language, which will surely be tough, and may even need to be in the MTC 3 months. But, he can handle it, and it's about time he gave that smart brain of his a work out!!


Well, Troy's older brother, Matt, was a great example of sacrificing 2 years of his life for the Lord, by going to Michigan. And now, Troy will follow along in the same path. When he was getting ready to open his letter tonight, it just really hit me, how willing and faithful our youth are that choose to give up 2 years of their life, to go someplace remote like Albania or somewhere in another corner of the USA. What a gift for them and for those they teach. Well, now I know what we'll be doing for the next 5 weeks! Busy-Busy!!