Selling a house???

Well, I as most of you know, I'm trying to sell my house in St. Joseph, MO. I went online today to find an LDS Realtor, and went to this website: http://www.liahonarealtors.com/ A guy called me in less than ten minutes!!! We talked...I was impressed!

So...today I made lemonade!

Living in Vegas, there is always an opportunity to travel on the freeways. By freeways, I mean five to six lanes going each way, clover-leafs, mach speed, IDIOTS, etc. It's like being on the racetrack except that the drivers are not any where near that capable, NOR do they posses the abilities needed for a race track. ANYWAY, today I was going across town and yes, there was a wreck. Not just one, but three. One was on the freeway. In the heat, and the fact that it was right at the "Spaghetti Bowl" could get most people down. BUT forever the optimist, or the almost always optimist, I decided to make a crappy situation into a good one...made lemonade out of the lemons, tried to find something positive in the situation...AND I DID!!! WOOHOO!!!!
Along the freeways here there are murals and desert/Native American decorations. At the "Spaghetti Bowl" there are several bronze sculptures of Desert Tortoises! I have always tried to get pictures of them, but usually in a car that is going "mach" speed! Since I was stopped, I got out my camera and was able to photograph several of the tortoises!!! It was AWESOME and I have accomplished a goal. So, now if I can post them, you too can see them!

Life this Friday the 13th...February 2009

So, things have been building...in many ways. If you don't want to hear about it, quit reading...it may be "positively negative." Yes, that's an oxymoron. But so is my life at this point. How can one person be so totally elated, euphoric, joyous, etc. etc. etc. and yet be so totally depressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, disappointed, defeated, etc. etc. etc. ALL at the same time?!?!
There are MANY things in my life that are very POSITIVE. I am trying hard to focus on those things. Yet, it's hard through the tears that seem to constantly be falling. I try real hard when I am around anyone. I absolutely HATE people to feel sorry for me. I am quite capable of doing that all by myself. I want to be around others, so that I can forget life for awhile and focus on other things. I am very blessed. I have four healthy adult children who have homes and jobs and are, for the most part, happy and well adjusted, adding "wonderfulness" to the world type of people. I love them with all of my heart. They have brought more joy to my life than anything else. They are my life. I would love to insert one of my favorite pictures of them, but alas, it is only available in my brain. When they smile, it fills my heart with such joy. When they tell each other, "I love you," it is, at times, more than a mother can wish. I need them far more than they need me anymore. That is one of the reasons I moved back to Las Vegas. I missed them so much. I missed being a part of their lives.
I know that all of this negative stuff that is going on right now will pass. It always does. It is kind of like things that bring pleasure. Lasts for a moment, but is fleeting. It is making me stronger, and in a way, I know that it's good. But, I feel so weak, before I feel the strength.
I am a survivor though. I will survive. Past experiences have taught me that. I have been through a lot, and this is just a little more to add to that. The scriptures have taught me that; "this too shall pass..." and "it came to pass." Great words to remember.
Anyway, I'm off to take care of a negative thing in my life. Why do they always cost so much? Well, I guess if I was spending this money on something I really wanted, and could afford, I would really like it.
Keep smiling...I think there is a song like that. Dionne Warwick sang it in the '60's. I'll have to look up the words...researcher that I am, here they are. Hope you know the tune. The title is: That's What Friends are For
And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you

And if I should ever go away
Well then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember ...

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Well you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you

And then for the times when we're apart
Well then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember ...

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

There is another one too...my daughter likes it also...

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

So...I'm off...smiling...knowing things will ALL work out. They always do.
There is a God and He sees to that. I'm thankful to know this.

The Ice Storm In December of 2007

I have experienced a LOT of things in my life, but this was pretty close to the top of most incredible things, albeit horrifying, I have had to deal with. I'm not sure now when it started, but I think it was the very early morning of December 9th. It had been cold and wet the day and night before, and during the night, everything froze. The eerie sound of the tree limbs snapping, the ice falling and shattering, st times became scary, to say the least. The smaller limbs made a distinct snap, and fell to the ground, along with the ice. Then you would hear what only sounded like glass shattering as the limbs would fall throught the trees, knocking ice down with it.
But when HUGE limbs and trees began to crash to the ground, it was scary.
Then about 3:00 a.m. there was a HUGE explosion and the sky turned a greenish blue. It lit up several times, and then the power was gone. Not for an hour, not for several hours...not for a day...it dragged on for 10 days. NO power for 10 days. To some, this may not seem like a big deal, but the electricity was what ran the thermostat that made the gas radiators come on. So, not only did we not have anyway to cook, we had NO heat. I had some food storage, but didn't include the canisters for the camp stove. Had I thought of that, I would have been able to crank that up.



Fortunately, I horde things. Down in the basement, I had wood that I was going to use for crafts. I started burning it in the basement fireplace. While I was down there, I started to organize things to keep warm. Bobby was under blankets in the living room.




We decided to venture outside to check out the damage and I was horrified to see what nature can do. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. The devastation was great and it was everywhere. Trees were down all over the city. Roads were blocked, One word came to mind...HAVOC! Plain and simple. In some ways, the ice was beautiful,











but in reality, it was dangerous and in the middle of the night became horrifying. For days all you could hear was the ice falling and shattering and the limbs falling and crashing. Hoping it wasn't on the cars or the house.It was hard to sleep, not only because of the cold, but fear of what could happen. Bobby was outside almost every morning at 4 a.m. when the guy who delivered out paper came by. They would talk about what was going on with the trees and limbs, and how he had several close calls.
The first day, we ventured out also on the roads in search of food. Taco Johns on the North Belt was the only place open. We had some hot food, and went home.
The temperature in the house got down to 38 degrees. Yeah...it was cold. We had a generator, but hadn't gotten it back. When we called, they had loaned it to an older woman with a heart problem who needed it to run her heart machine. When her power was turned on about six days later, it was returned to us and friends hooked it up at out home. Now we had heat...and a way to cook. We did find out that we had hot water about three days in to the ice storm. That was AWESOME!!! Several men from church went to other church members houses and cut up most of the big limbs. Bobby bought a chain saw and went out too.Most everything was closed. It took months for the city crews to clean up the debris; people from other states came to help with the clean up. Electrical workers came from far away states to fix transformers. Power lines had snapped all over town and transformers were blown everywhere. I was able to make some cookies, and when they guys came to do the power lines from the power pole to the house, I gave them a plate of cookies. They were from Michigan and spent a good two weeks or more away from their families, helping our little town. I was grateful! It was a Sunday morning and I was getting ready for church when the power was restored to our area. There were others in town whose power wasn't restored for days. I was thankful we only were without it for the ten days. It was an aweing experience. One I shall not forget; one I am glad to have experienced...I am thankful for a living prophet, and I know why he admonishes us to be prepared.

The Ice Storm of 2008

In

Just getting things started

So, I'm going to do this. Everyone is blogging, and since I like to write, I'm going to do this. As soon as I find out how to do other things, I will do that. Like some of those cool lay-outs. Ohhhh and the pictues. I figure this is a good way to read about everyone. Keep in touch, things like that. Anyway, I'm just learning about this and it's almost one in the morning. I figure if I can get this to go where it's supposed to and all, I'm doing pretty well. Then I will write more things and try to figure out how to add pictures and stuff like that. So, this is it for my first post. Exciting isn't it?!