Feb. 2011

It's cold still! I know it is winter but, it has been a very cold winter. We are so glad that we cut wood this summer. We did a experiment on types of wood. We cut aspen, pine, pinon, oak, and alligator juniper. Well the hard wood does burn hotter and longer. We are glad that we cut some hard wood for this winter. The aspen really does keep the flue clean. I am so glad that my boys are finally big enough to split wood and they actually like it. Benjamin turned 12 years old at the end of Feb. We went to Robert's nephew's homecoming from New Zealand it was awesome. Then the next weekend we had family that came to our ward to be involved with Benjamin receiving the priesthood. It was a very humbling experience especially to have Grandpa, Grandma Spurlock and his Uncle Jerry and Aunt Nancy. It was a very special day. The first day that he passed the sacrament he passed with his Brother Michael. I was very emotional to see both of my boys passing the sacrament.

January 2011

Wow, I can't believe that January is over! The first month of the New Year, it started out with a great freeze. -17 degrees on New Years Eve! I've never experienced that type of cold. I couldn't believe how bad my fingers and toes felt even though I had them in thermal boots and gloves. I was only out in the cold for 10 minutes to get my dog and Wow, the cold had a bite to it. January was very busy. Ben and Robert went to the Klondike camp out. It was cold but, they were prepared and did well. We enjoyed the day off in the middle of the month for Martin Luther King day. It was nice to have a break. We had some really nice snow storms and a lot of fun sledding. Ann really enjoyed the sledding. Our animals are doing well even though it has been the coldest winter since we moved here. I learned what it was like to fall down the stairs, when I tried to walk on ice. It hurt real bad, but I am better now. I always check for Ice now! We are excited about February, hoping Michael will finish his Eagle project soon!

The end of 2010

As the time was winding up to Christmas day life became very busy. Grandma Johnson and Aunt Annette came to visit the weekend of the 17th. To watch the White mountain dance academy's "Nutcracker ballet". My two nieces were in the opening act. It was a lot of fun to watch. We have watched the ballet several years in a row, but, this was the first year that I had family preforming in the ballet. It was a very nice evening.

Aunt Annette then left and went back to the Valley of the Sun to work. So Grandma Johnson spent the week with us. It was a busy week preparing for Christmas, finishing all of the projects and getting the gifts wrapped and many other things.

On Christmas Eve we were invited to attend dinner at Mary Caldwell's house. It was a nice evening with some yummy soup and sandwiches. The children presented a small nativity for us all. It was very special. We then went to the Snowflake Temple to start our trip around town looking at Christmas lights. We met Aunt Annette there and of course the kids wanted to ride with her. It was a nice evening. We could see our Christmas lights way in the distance from the Temple's parking lot. It is such a beautiful place. So peaceful.

Christmas day was wonderful. It started early. Ann was the most excited of everyone. She had a blast opening the gifts and seeing what was inside. We enjoyed sharing the morning with Aunt Annette and Grandma Johnson. I was so glad that they didn't have to spend Christmas morning alone. We talked about our many blessings and the wonderful blessing of having a family. We talked about the awesome blessing of the birth of Jesus Christ. Then that afternoon my brother Jason and his sweet wife Amy came to dinner with their family. We had a wonderful visit enjoying the special time together. To top the Christmas weekend off on Sunday we fed the missionaries. It was very special to sit and visit with them about the gospel. It brought such a nice and special feeling into our home. I am so thankful that we were able to have them come for dinner. What a blessing their presence was in our home and what a way to end the weekend.

Now we are looking forward to the New Year of 2011. As we look forward I am thinking back on this year. We have been so blessed. We have a warm home, family, friends and food. My Mom survived a heart attack and is recovering. We had a productive garden in the summer. We have a wonderful community to live in. We have a wonderful church to attend and serve in. We have a wonderful school system to learn in. We get to enjoy the seasons of the year. We are very blessed. Even though the World seems to be in great commotion and so unstable. We have so many wonderful blessings in our lives. I have enjoyed looking back and seeing the Hand of the Lord in my life and the life of my friends and family.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Lets make 2011 better than 2010!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a very pleasant Good Night.

It's December already and 1/2 the month is already passed by. I can't believe that the year 2010 is already coming to an end. This month has been busy as usual. But, we have enjoyed being together as a family. There has been many wonderful moments already to bring the spirit of Christ into our home. We so enjoyed the First Presidency Christmas Broadcast the first weekend of December. Wrestling is over. I think Michael learned a lot and it was good for him. We also learned how to juggle schedules. School is almost out for the Christmas break. We need a break. I think most of us are looking forward for a White Christmas. I hope that it is a White Christmas this year. But, I know the kids are looking forward to Christmas with excitement. I am so thankful to be in a community that is not afraid to have Christ in Christmas. It is a wonderful place to live. We have lived in other types of communities in the past so we are well aware of the sadness that happens when Christ is taken out of Christmas. I hope that everyone has a very special Merry Christmas and a most Happy New Year. Can you believe it's almost 2011, Wow time is sure sped up!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

So we went from Football to wrestling. It has been a busy school year. I have such a hard time watching wrestling. I feel so bad for the boy who is getting pinned even if it isn't my boy or on our team. It is just stressful to me. But, all the dad's seem to love wrestling and so do the boys. I just don't get it. But, then I've never like contact sports. While wrestling was going on we also finished up soccer for Ben and Rebecca. Sometimes the schedules were over lapping. But, for the most part all worked out well. We only have one more meet and then tournament's in December. I can hardly believe that the Holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. Probably because of good food, good times and family. We love the holidays. It gives us a time to think about all that we are thankful for. Rebecca had a challenge at activities days to list things that she was thankful for that were not spiritual. It was a fun project. So here are some of the things, animals especially horses, cats, and dogs, homes that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, food to eat, friends, family, good neighbors, communities, the Flag of America, the constitution, cars, schools, grocery stores, forests, camping, and so many more things but most of all Freedom. Because it allows for all of the things we love. I hope that this is a good Thanksgiving Holiday with lots of warm friendships and time with family and friends.

Fun with Jr. High Football

So Michael decided to go out for 8th grade football this year. He has never played football. But, he thought it would be good exercise and a fun way to get to jump on people and not get in trouble. It has been a fun season. He hasn't played in a game against another school yet. But, he has played in the game against the 7th graders and will most likely play in the game today. He has learned alot about stretching out his muscles and running. It has been a fun time for our family to support his team at the games. It is a way to get to yell with out everyone looking at you like your doing something wrong. So "Go Lobos" can't wait to see if he will play next year. But, Ben is going to go out for 7th grade football next year. So it will be fun!

Grandma Johnson's Heart Attack

At the end of August around the 24th I think. I called my mom as usual in the morning after I drop the kids off at school. She answered the cell phone and I asked her "How are you doing today"? She answered me with "I think I died last night, But, I am still alive today and I don't know what to do!" So I asked her to tell me what happened. She said that she woke of from being a sleep in the recliner chair and she couldn't tell where she was, like her legs and her arms. She couldn't tell where they were. She thought it might be sugar level problems and so she got up to walk to the bathroom to test her levels. She could see well enough to test her fingers. But, there was nothing wrong with her sugar levels they were not elevated. She then started feeling like she was going to pass out so she went back to her bed. She then took her pulse and blood pressure. The pulse was at 144 bpm and her blood pressure was elevated. She never had any pain. Well she then told her self that she was having a panic attack and needed to just lay down and rest. But, in the morning when I called her blood pressure was still elevated and her heart was still racing at 144 bpm even when she was sitting still. So she was waiting for a call from her Doctor to see what she should do. Well the doctor called and said that she needed to have someone drive her to the heart hospital on baseline and ironwood. So my Step - Grandfather Jake drove her to the hospital. Then I didn't hear from her again until 2:00 p.m. when she called to tell me that she had a heart attack it was a heart attack in the electrical side of the heart. She is a survivor of the heart attack. But, she is very limited with what she can do. It has been a very big learning experience. She was at the Doctor yesterday and the Heart specialist was telling her that her type of heart attack is on the rise in fact it has increased over 200 % this last year. I am so glad that the Lord saw fit to give us a miracle that day. She is a great inspiration to me and my children and has a awesome testimony of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I just never new you could have a heart attack with out any pain. Wow.