What's up with Ashley!

Since Ashley doesn't think she needs her own blog, I will have to keep her is mine. For those that haven't heard, she was able to accomplish some major changes for her in school. She was enrolled in the radiology program with Weber State with the thoughts of finishing and then going on to ultra sound. But found out that because of her associates degree from BYUI in medical assisting, she qualified to go skip radiology, and go into ultra sound. That cuts 2 years of school off. She only has 4 semesters left.--GO GIRL.

She decided to live home this semester. She has her job at Central Utah Clinic and only goes to class 2 days a month up to Ogden, so she decided she would just live home with us. Bryan and I love having her home.

Avery Lyn Pendleton

Our 7th grandchild arrived yesterday. It is so fun to be a grandma. James and Katy's new addition made it here yesterday. She is beautiful--what else would I say. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 inches long. She even has eye lashes, dark ones at that. Katy was a real tropper with it all but ended up having a c-section.

We love you James, Katy and Avery. Congratulations!

Tooth paste

Crest has been my favorite toothpaste for as many years as I can remember. I grew up on Crest and I insisted that we use crest after we were married. Bryan never complained, but never could figure out why. He liked other kinds also.

So, when I decided to try melaleuca tooth paste, I even wasn't sure I would want to. James tried it and said he really liked it because it didn't leave a film on your mouth. And he said that he liked that it didn't have sugar added to it like other tooth paste.

Light goes on in my head--really tooth paste has sugar added? But then I guess that is what makes it taste so good right! I had never thought about that.

So I tried it--it wasn't as bad as I thought it might--what did I except--something awful maybe--but why. Surprise I did like it. It doesn't have as strong a favor as I expected--I guess like crest, but my mouth does feel clean, and free from added sugar.

Side note: I love the toothbrushed--not only are they good brushed--they fit in my tooth brush holder. YEA..

Have I gone crazy!

I just realized it has been a very long time since I posted a blog. Where does the time go? It flies when you are having fun right. We are doing that for sure. I will have to post some pictures of the past two months so you can see all of the fun things we have done.

But for now, I should figure out how to do one of those polls to find out if you all think I have gone crazy. The new products we have been trying with Melaleuca are incredible. I love to try something new everyday. I love the way my house smells now after I am done cleaning. It smells fresh but clean fresh not Clorox fresh. My clothes smell wonderful, and my skin is so soft.

I have watched my sister Lisa over the past few years. She sells Stamps and has tried really hard to get me into the craze. But she is really good at it and I just am not even marginal. Lisa, I can't remember the saying you used last week when you were telling me how fun it is to sell to your friends, something about the best sale is to a friend (let me know what you said).

Some days this world gets scary and I have to wonder what is good. I have found something that is good and wholesome and won't damage the environment. I really thinks that is what God wants us to do.

How can I tell the world that we need to start small--just changes some of the products that you are using that are harmful to the world--or your kids. Grand kids are even more perfect than kids and they need a safe place to live and play.

Anyway--I love these products. I will try and write the stories along with the products as we trying these new things. I hope that you will in some way be able to feel the same thing I am feeling.

We will start another journey tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOMETIMES YOU MAY ASK - Is it worth it?

Susan had to wait in the car for an hour longer than we had planned (Bryan's mtg. went long). Before starting our trip to Sheridan, Wyo (can you guess why?).

We picked up some quick lunch (Bryan's favorite hot dog place - Winersnitzel (phonetic spelling) because of some cheap coupons for chili dogs) - just wait til later, only had to roll down the window 3 - 4 times.

Susan drove once we got past Echo Canyon (time enough to finish lunch on the fly), so Bryan could try making phone calls and type on the laptop (try it some time - going over bumps and Susan fighting the good ole Wyo. wind).

Just past what are known as the 2 SISTERS (east of Evanston on I-80, for those of you not familiar with the area) we hear some terrible noises from the car (engine area) that you shouldn't hear, especially after spending 3K on a new transmission. After a few lurches and a puzzled look at each other Susan turned off the cruise control and since we weren't coming to a stop, we decided to venture on with a prayer in our heart that we could just make it.

After stopping in Rawlins to fill up, bathroom check & a few snacks (and unfortunately still realizing the tranny wasn't normal) we pressed on, talking several times (when cell service was avail.) to the hospital.

Casper was our next spot to make an updated phone call to the hospital and check to see if Amy was improving (you can ask for the details of the scary events later). The car seemed to travel fine at the speed limit (OK maybe a little/hair over), but we felt more problems as we slowed or came to a stop light getting through Casper (more prayers Heavenward).

Only 2 hours to go. We're almost there, but off in the distance we (I should say Susan-we all know how she likes fireworks) begin to see a lightning show that the closer we got and the darker it became was truly amazing. I've seen dark skies before, but this one reminded me of reading about the early members of the church who were saved from the MOBS because of a hugh storm, the blackness was almost erie. It seemed that by the time we would reach the storm it would have passed and I said to Susan that it was a good thing that we were only going to barely catch the back edge as it passed over the freeway heading northeast. Well to our surprise we moved ahead and before we knew it the rain was increasing, the wipers had already gone from intermediate to highest speed possible. Our speed had slowed to about 5 mph and the headlights on high beam. Just about then the HAIL began hitting our car with the sound of breaking glass (I told Susan that I'd been in some downpours before but this one took ALL CAKES) You would have thought that we would have stopped but we didn't really know were the side of the road was & I could barely make out the occasional yellow center lines, so we again prayed in our hearts to please Heavenly Father watch over us. We passed a over pass with lights probably lighting the exit (we must have passed without seeing) but rather than the lights helping they practically blinded you and I almost ran into the back of a SEMI TRUCK that had come to a complete stop. Providence watching over we continued on. The hail on the freeway made it feel like you were traveling on a bumpy dirt road. Finally we began to make it through to the other end of the storm and I even could turn my wipers back down to just normal, I also could pick up the speed but not more than 30-40, when we hit several areas on the road that had water completely over the road causing us to hydroplane and fish tale several times ( yes I had even slowed back down but when the water came up over the front of the car and windshield it was still amazing we were still on the road).

Just when you think your safe, a deer or antelope (WYO you know) appears out of no where. It was dead right in the middle of the road. Rather than swerve to miss (still wet roads) I put it in the center of my tires and waited for the bump (I told Susan it was a good thing that flesh and bones are going to give under the force of a 3000 lb car).

I think we had made it, I was even singing to my wife(one of my favorite songs about how beautiful she is) I even played the repeat and sang it again. As I wiped tears from my cheeks and looked at her several times I noticed something approaching the right lane from the side of the road. I had since picked the speed back up to 75-80 (speed limit is 75) yes the roads were still a little wet but not bad at all, when walking right to left straight in front of us was a deer, with no time to react (I thought) and hearing Susan let out a high pitched scream, I was bracing for impact ( the problem was - this one was standing up right). Somehow I swerved to the right and God only knows how we missed. After controlling the car and easing my heart back to a acceptable rate I mentioned to the LOVE OF MY LIFE that I didn't have time to say (JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL). We thought to ourselves, that this had been quite the trip.

Sheridan's lights were in our view and I even was able to time the stop lights getting to the Hospital. When the door of room 165 was opened to our wonderful daughter lying in bed and our equally wonderful son-in-law holding a precious precious new baby granddaughter, giving my ALIVE daughter a kiss on the cheek, my son a GREAT BIG HUG and then holding OLIVIA LYNEA 7 pounds 41/2 ounces 19 1/2 inches long. I finally had the answer to my question - YOU BET!!!!!!

THANKS Olivia for the memories. Coming into this world at 12:22 pm. I'll never forget June 5th 2009.

I tell my kids that life is a journey--enjoy every minute of it. The kids even made me a sign for my wall that says "enjoy the journey"--so why is it that those 3 words are hard to do sometimes.

About 5 weeks ago, I did one of those stupid things. Bryan and I were walking out of the Marriott Center after a BYU Basketball game. It was snowing and actually, it was very pretty. We had commented as we went in that the sidewalk was slick--just waiting for someone to fall.

Well you guessed it--it was me that fell. My foot just slipped out from under me. Bryan tried hard to catch me--but I almost took him down with me. It was crowed and before I knew it, 2 men from behind me had me back on my feet. Well, at least one foot. I made it back to the car. I knew I hadn't broken anything, but it really hurt. I went to work the next day--probably shouldn't have -but did. The pain got worse and so on Thursday I went to the doctor. Bryan had really wanted to take that weekend and surprise Amy and go up. So he was trying to convince me to do such. The doctor thought it was just bruised and said the trip would be OK if we got out and walked often. Didn't want blood clots. So we did. The surprise was great. We called Joe when we were about 4 hours away- it was 10:00 p.m. by then and we needed to have him leave the door open for us. When Amy and the kids got up the next morning, they were so excited. And we had a great time - other that my leg hurt and Amy didn't feel very well. The two of us sat on the Couch and laughed. Ashley did somecleanind for her and we even got Bryan to clean her fridge. We really enjoyed the trip. But by the time I got home, the pain was incredible. So back to the doctor I went. This time I went for an ultra sound. Yes, there was a blood clot. Ashley used her new talents and gave me shots in the stomach for a week and took very good care of me. Bryan was off that week and really tried hard to make me laugh. I am not a very good patient, because I am so use to helping all of them, that I don't like to just be waited on.

But a big thanks to Bryan and Ashley for all they did for me. It was a journey!

Be thankful!!!!!!!!!!

If I wait for pictures to post, it takes me a long time.

Just when I think spring is coming, it snows again. I know that February is still considered winter, but I think it should be spring.

When my kids were young, pre-teen and early teenagers, they would come home from school and tell me all the bad things that happened. After awhile, I realized that they were becoming negative people and I didn't want that. So, I told them that they had to come home everyday and tell me 5 things that happened at school that were good.

I feel alittle like that. Work feels like the movie Ground Hog Day. The same thing every day. So alot of days I come home a little grumpy. (Sorry Jeff) Amy reminded me of this the other day and told me that I need to start thinking of 5 things everyday that were good. So here goes.

1. I have a job-with a great boss.
2. The sun did shine for a minute today and helped melt the snow.
3. I have great kids
4. My grandkids always make me laugh
5. I love living in Utah

I guess I need to count my blessing more often.

Thank you all for listening.