It's still March, but Spring is here!

I'm really going to make a better effort at blogging more. I have this idea in my head that I need to put pics up each time I blog, and that is just not going to happen. So... for the sake of not letting too much time pass between blogs, I'm letting myself off the hook of posting pics each time I post. I love reading blogs from friends, some family and even people I've never met and I have a lot to say too, so beware! (hee hee hee!)

Chan Man is 15!

Chandler on his blessing day - 1 month old

Disneyland 2004

Christopher - 3yrs & Chandler - abt 9 months

Chandler at about 1 year old

Channy 1 yr old

3 yrs old in our backyard in Whittier, CA

Carlsbad Beach 1997

Savannah - 9yrs, Chandler - 3 yrs, Christopher - 5 yrs

Such a ham!!! - 4 yrs old

Chandler - Kindergarten

Yosemite 2004 - Chan 10 yrs old here, constantly cracks us up!

His personality is so much like Ryan

Chandler -14 yrs old


Chan and Danielle - March '09

Chandler - 15, Danielle 3

Chandler turned 15 last week! Woot Woot! He is playing Lacrosse now and loving it. They've had their first few games, and continue to have two a week. Chris is also playing.

Chan playing lacrosse - March '09

So I can't really believe Chan is 15. He'll be getting his learner's permit soon. Here, in Utah a 15 year old can have his or her permit. I think it's a great way to learn and prepare for their license at 16.

Chandler is such a great kid, he is so full of life and BS at times too :)

Happy Birthday Chan! We love you so much!

Oh my, a whole month again! Things are soo much better, I am happy to report!
Bobby had his 40th birthday on the 9th. Haley and a friend of hers decorated the front room and entryway. So cute! We had homemade mexican food and german chocolate cake for Bobby's birthday dinner and dessert. Then, we joined some friends at our local church building for a family home evening lesson and dessert. Games too :)

I'll add a couple of pics soon.

Bobby is feeling GREAT these days! He has had a particularly good week and is feeling so much better than this time last month. Whew!

Our kids are awesome, and Spring is just around the corner... Yay!!!

Have a super March! And happy birthday to Dr. Seuss today!

Chandler will be 15 on the 18th!

Just a quick post

I keep thinking I'll post about Bobby's health challenges over the past few years, but every time I think about it, I just don't want to go there emotionally. Someday, just not now. It's hard enough sometimes just dealing with the present.

He was diagnosed and began treatment for systemic lupus last spring. Some days it's just horrible for him. He hasn't felt like himself in so long. I hate it and so does he. Today he is completely miserable. He has been nauseated for 4 days now, his head hurts, his joints hurt (hips, wrists, knees, back, ankles, you name it). His hands and feet are swollen, he just hurts.

He missed work Thursday, Friday and today because of it all. He fakes feeling well most of the time. In addition to the lupus, he suffers with migraine headaches, several a month. He also has had a lot of trouble with kidney stones. He was in pain with one just this weekend.

He has a great attitude and so do I... most of the time. Then there are those dark moments that creep in and make us wonder, "Will this EVER get any better?" At least we know that it will only last in this lifetime. I'd like to believe he is being tried and tested so he may someday be able to help someone else who is suffering as he is now. We have a lot of faith, but it is being tested.

We have awesome friends and family who remember us in their prayers, offer words of encouragement and serve us beyond belief. Thank you to all of you for your love and support.

Thanks for listening... this too shall pass.

Granny Goose

Granny Goose and MaryAnn 1984

Granny Goose would have been 90 years old today. I miss her. She's been gone for 5 years now and we thought she'd live forever. She endured so much in her lifetime and was ornery because of it, rightfully so I might add. Her name is Mary Ruth Flowers Ford.

She and her twin sister were born to a man and wife who had five other children. Shortly after their birth their mother passed away. We believe their father wanted to keep the girls but could not and so he gave them to a convent to be raised by nuns. There my grandma lived until she was about 15 years old. She was treated well by the sisters in the convent, but didn't ever have the loving guidance and care of parents in her life.

Granny Goose, MaryAnn

Michele & Stephanie

June 1990

Granny Goose & Stephanie

June 1990

She met and married my grandfather Jessie Lloyd Ford at a very young age, 15 or 16 years old. Together they had three children, Helen, Richard, and MaryAnn (my mother).
Jessie was a hard worker and a good provider. He was an alcoholic and wasn't very kind. Once my grandma had the nerve to stand on her own, she left. By this time all three of the children were adults and out of the home. Jessie passed away in the early 1970's.

Granny Goose led a happy life. I remember her being so optimistic and fun to be around. If she was cooking in the kitchen, then you'd either be helping or you'd better stay out of her way.
She had a lot of friends and they loved her dearly. As a kid, we'd visit her almost every Thanksgiving on her ranch near Santa Margarita, California (near San Luis Obispo). She'd always have another couple of friends over also.

Granny Goose

1984

Granny Goose was an excellent bowler and had many, trophies from her glory days. She developed strong friendships through her associations at North American Rockwell where she worked and retired from. Granny Goose was given this nickname once she began her life after moving 'up north' from Bell Gardens, Ca.

She had dozens of chickens, geese, ducks, peacocks, and other birds. She had donkeys, horses and cows over the years as well, sometimes they belonged to other people, but she is the one who cared for them. She had dogs and cats over the years too. Poor Ripper was killed after being bit by a rattlesnake, he was an okay dog. Our favorite dog of hers was Brownie. He'd come in where we were sleeping and lick us until we were awake :)

Granny Goose

Brownie and Chicken coop in back

1984

Grandma never knew of the finer things in life that only money can buy. She lived in very humble circumstances as long as I could remember. She didn't have carpeting or new furniture or other comforts we see as necessities. She loved her family, her pets, her friends, her soaps and her coffee. She smoked non-filter Camel cigarettes for the longest time. She decided in her late 70's that cigarettes were just too expensive so she quit. Just like that.

Grandma moved to the boondocks of Arkansas, near Leslie, in the 1980's where she and my Uncle Richard lived and owned about 40 acres of land. They loved it there and that is where she lived until August of 2003 when she passed away. She had been out feeding her chickens, and must have missed a step on her way back in to the house. She fell and broke her hip. Once my Uncle Richard found her and helped her up, they soon realized something was terribly wrong because she couldn't put any weight on her leg at all. She was at this point very small, maybe weighing 90-95 lbs.

Uncle Richard put her in the car and they began the journey. An extremely bumpy and long ride to the main roads and eventually the hospital. She was able to talk to her daughters but then Grandma passed away shortly following surgery. We believe her heart just gave out.

My mom and I joined my Aunt Helen and cousin Wendy in Phoenix and then flew on to Little Rock. We then drove the rest of the way. This was an all day event. Once at my grandma's, my mom and I stayed overnight and visited with my Uncle Richard who, of course, was heart broken. We spent our time there visiting, touring her beautiful land and going through pictures and other keepsakes. Granny Goose was buried about a week later at Rose Hills Mortuary in Whittier, California.

We know she is in a much better place now as we all await the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We're grateful she is out of her earthly pain and trust that she is accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ being taught to her as she awaits the Resurrection.

Mother and Daughter

1984

SNOW!!!

Look! The snow was falling when we woke up this morning. Now that it's light outside, see what we see! We are so excited! The boys especially... they can hardly wait to go snowboarding!

Day Shift =)

Tomorrow Bobby starts day shift! Woo Hoo!

Not sure if he'll make it a whole day, he's recovering from yet another surgery. Friday he had an epididymectomy - (right side). You'll have to look that one up ;) He's very sore but doing well.

Just after 'knocking' him out with anesthesia, his temporary tooth was knocked out by the anesthesiologist. It was cemented back in place while he was asleep. Because of that mishap, the doc decided to put the tube up his nose, then his nose began to bleed profusely...from both sides and wreak havoc again later in recovery. Needless to say, it has been a bloody, painful weekend. We're glad it's over and looking forward to day shift.

Bobby really loves his new job, it's been just over two months. He's working at Medicine Lodge where he processes surgical tools and implants, mostly for the spine, and gets them ready to ship.

I still plan on posting more about his health and medical adventures, just not tonight. It's already too late and it'll take me a while if I give any detail.

Happy December everyone! I hope those of you who are LDS were able to watch and or listen to the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional tonight, it was awesome! Chandler (14) had the opportunity to attend the devotional in the Conference Center with a friend and his family. Pretty cool, huh?

Have a wonderful season, and go make someone smile :)