2009 is here...it is January

Boy oh boy...we don't write on here very often do we? Is our life that boring? Actually, we aren't really exciting, however, things do happen but it is hard to decide what you would want to read about. Our lives the last couple of years have been the same ol same ol. Mom, the new apartment, Jeff's job and all the stress...that is why I don't share a whole lot.
Our kitties are wonderful!!! We don't have kids but we have kits...they are our pride and joy. We are struggling with diabetes in Penelope. She is such a sweet girl kitty. She takes insulin shots twice a day and seems to be doing a bit better. The vet would like to have her stay at the office for observation to check her sugars...but...I can't imagine her staying away from home all by herself. I know...some would say...she is a cat...but you know what? She is my cat...she is my daughter...the only one I will have...I can't bear to have her fret. She is our little worrier anyway. I have thought about asking if I could stay there with her...however, they probably wouldn't let me. Maybe if I took her in early in the morning and then stayed there with her all day and they took blood and such and I could bring her back home at night? At least I could be there with her since she would be in a strange place. Well, that is our Penelope. Our little sweetie girl kitty.
Our boy kitty, Marmalade, is more outgoing. He is resting right now on the bed. He is so tired from running around after his mom, grandma, sister and Papi, and from running and jumping window to window checking all the comings and goings in our neighborhood and, of course, cleaning himself. He has to rest alot! Timi took this picture of them eating their Christmas dinner. They have a can of tuna for special meals. They got a tuna dinner for New Years as well. They LOVE tuna!!!
I feel like a shut in! I am scared to death to try and walk on ice and we have had so much of it since before Christmas. I seem to get out maybe once a week. OK, I am a chicken. I have been chicken ever since I fell about 4 years or so ago. I broke my leg...Chris Filoso, Dave Patterson and Jeff will never forget it. They were the "crane" that had to pick me up!!!! I don't want to fall again! Breaking a bone hurts and my pride is tender, as well. Ha.

"It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..."

I don't know about you, but I cannot believe that Christmas is 2 weeks away from today! I am not ready as usual. Cherie and I have procrastinated even putting up our decorations, so here we are, 2 weeks before the big day and we're finally putting up our tree! It seems to get later and later each year. I think Christmas is a wonderful holiday but I can also see why it's the one where most suicides happen. While it can be fun and wonderful and full of lights and laughter, if you are not blessed with certain things in your life it can be a reminder that you are alone.

Cindy, Cherie's older sister and my dearest friend, passed away on December 16, 1993. (The picture above is of Cindy and Cherie when they were younger...Cherie is in the plaid dress and Cindy in the floral) This coming week will mark the 15th anniversary of her passing. It was one of those that is a complete and total shock. There was no terminal illness, no car crash or anything horrific of that nature. She simply went to bed and never woke up. I found her the next evening in bed. Cindy worked nights and was often in bed during the day so that didn't really alert anyone. I was living with her mom and dad at the time, too, so we were upstairs. I went into her room and there she was - looking like she always did when she was asleep. From that point forward my life and the life of Cherie's family was never the same.

Cindy was the reason I came to Indiana in the first place. We had met in college and become very close friends. We did everything together. Our favorite thing while we were in Provo was to go to the Wendy's across from campus and get our diet Coke's with lemon. We would sit at a corner table by the window and talk and talk and talk for hours. We loved that. It was wonderful. We shared everything - our hopes, our dreams, our mistakes, our successes. You name it and we shared it. There wasn't anything we didn't learn about one another as time went by. We had decided to leave Utah that Spring of 1993. To save time from this becoming a novel, we basically were staying in Indiana as a stop-over to our bigger asperations. It became permanent. Life has a funny way of making some decisions for you. This was a big one. I miss her. Cherie misses her. I know anyone who knew and loved her misses her. She was a good big sister to Cherie and Denise. She was a good daughter to Bill and Laura and she was a good, no great friend to me.

So, here's to you Cindy. Merry Christmas my friend. As you smile down on us for another Christmas just know that you have never been forgotten. We love and miss you. Give dad a hug for us. We miss you both.

Christmas is wonderful, but sometimes it reminds you of what you've lost, too. For anyone who has had this happen in their lives, they will understand. For those who haven't...you're lucky. Unfortunately, the day will come. I hate to be pessimistic, but it's the cycle of life. We just had it a bit earlier than expected. So, as we hustle and bustle around this holiday, I hope we'll look out for those who might be having a rough time and give them a smile or whatever bit of holiday cheer you can. It helps.

Early Thanksgiving

My family visited from Virginia and Michigan last week. We had a great time. It was good to see my mom, sister Shawna and her daughters. My brother Lonnie came from Michigan with his wife, Dawn and their kids JD and Kailey. We got to see Shawna's newest baby girl - Clara Jane, too. Our Grace and Martha have grown so much, too. They were adorable. The cousins - Kailey, Grace and Martha all got along, too and had fun playing in the bedroom. My 12 year-old nephew, JD was hilarious when he went into the room and scared them. We heard screams of terror and soon replaced with screams of laughter. Of course being 2, 3 and 6 they wanted him to do it again and again. It was fun. Cherie and I live in a small, 2 bedroom apartment so space was at a premium with eleven of us there. Our two babies - Marmie and Nelpe Ann went into hiding for the majority of the visit. We had our Thanksgiving together even though it was three weeks early. It's always fun to share time and memories with family. I don't get to see my family very often so it was a real treat. My mom is doing well and made her famous dressing patties. Growing up we never had stuffing in the turkey. It was just a tradition that my mom made them into patties. They were great on sandwiches later, too. I love Thanksigiving meals and the smells of the holidays. I had left our Halloween decorations up, too because Shawna and her girls love Halloween as much as I do. I wanted to share them with someone. Cherie and I were worried about seating and sleeping arrangements, but things worked out very well for us. I think everyone was comfortable - at least they said they were. It's just nice to spend time with those you love. I have to say, though, that I was sort of sore and not feeling great. I think it was mostly because Cherie and I had been cleaning and doing all sorts of errands for the week before. I'm in horrible shape. I push myself too hard, too. I have always had a bad habit of doing that. All in all, though, the time was wonderful and went by too quickly. It always does when you're having a good time. After everyone left I thought of all of these things I had wanted to do with them and didn't. Isn't that how it goes? I can't wait to see them all again. It had been over a year since I had seen my mom and sister. I love them so much. I do love and cherish my family. Cherie and I are very lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. We also have some of the best neices and nephews anyone could hope for. JD is growing into such a find young man. I am so proud of him. They are all so smart and beautiful. Shawna has the most beautiful babies. I think Clara Jane was kissed more in the short time she was there then probably in here seven months of being here with us! Grace and Martha were so sweet as they jumped on their Aunt Cherie in bed the first morning they were there with us, too. Kailey Marie was a doll, too. She is a good girl and is so mature for a three year old! I can't get over her conversation skills. I guess you can tell I'm a proud Uncle. I do enjoy them all. Distance is a hard thing to deal with when you miss your loved ones. It was a good time for all. I can't wait to do it again.

Yes, We Did!

I can't believe it...wait, yes I can! Barrack Obama is our new President-elect for the United States of America! I cannot begin to tell you how excited and hopeful I am as we begin a season of change in our country. I have never been so nervous about an election as I was this one either. Aside from the enormous charisma that Obama has, I just feel that he will do what is best for our country. I also am so proud of America for embracing someone of color - a true African-American as our President. What a huge change. In my lifetime there has been such strife in our country over race and now we can see some movement towards color-blindness. I hope it continues. I know that there is much more to do. Cherie and I were to have adopted a black child several years ago. Last night I thought of him and his family watching this election. Of course the adoption fell through but I still hope that he watched last night with his family and felt pride in knowing that there was someone with a similar face smiling back at him from the television.

I grew up in the South and although prejudice still exists, I had many friends who were black. I used to talk openly with them about their struggles. As a white person in this country we have no idea what someone of color goes through just to live in this country. I hope that those obstacles continue to be torn down. I have such hope for our nation. I want so much for the things that President Obama promised to be made realities in our country. I hope that healthcare and the economy can be helped. I also hope that these wars in the Middle East can stop taking our men and women away from their families. I hope we can heal a lot of wounds around the world, too. We are a great country and last night I was reminded of that. I was proud to vote yesterday. Even though I live in a predominately Republican area of Indiana another desire of mine was met last night, too - Indiana went BLUE for the first time since 1964! Way to go Hoosiers! I had three wishes for last night, one, that Barrack Obama would win, two, that Indiana would go blue and three, that our incumbent governor, Mitch Daniels (yes, a Republican), would retain his office. All three came true!

So, here's to you America! We did it...Yes, We Did!!!