I am not good at Christmas letters.- Barbara

If you already read my blog , there is nothing new here. But, here goes - our year "in brief" - but not nearly brief enough:

One of the first things I did this year was wreck my car. Early one dark morning in an empty parking lot, I slammed into a cement standard which probably, maybe will someday hold a light, but right then just totaled my car. My credit union gave me a loan and I bought another Cavalier because I had liked Jade so much. Sadly, Goldie isn’t quite the car Jade was, but it gets us around and that’s the main thing.

In February, Glen moved out and signed the house over to me. Again, my credit union gave me a loan. So, having filed for divorce to protect myself from debt, I immediately put myself into debt and felt pretty happy about it.

We have enormous amounts of work to do on the house. It is as old as I am and even more decrepit, having been almost totally neglected for 30+ years. I have no idea where to begin and am reluctant to incur even more debt, so thus far, there has been little to no progress. There are always plenty of other things to occupy us and enable procrastination, that’s for sure.

Andrew led Troop 40 in collecting and sorting over 1500 books which he delivered to Books for the Barrios to be distributed to poor Filipino schools. Later he added carload of books that he collected after the official project. That was his Eagle project and completed his requirements for Eagle - except for preparing his application and Eagle book to the satisfaction of our District Eagle Advancement Chairman. It took several courageous visits to the lair of the bear to accomplish the task - just a couple of days before the deadline of his 18th birthday! Oh, then he had to pass a Board of Review, but that was easy compared to passing the chairman! We are proud that Andrew persevered and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. On the way to his Eagle Court of Honor and "After Party" in September, Andrew helped an old man who stumbled crossing a busy street and had us drive him safely home.

The boys and I drove up to Vancouver to be at my granddaughter Acadia's baptism in June. We enjoyed a wonderful weekend - visiting, celebrating Cadi's birthday, and participating in her baptism. She was radiant and the spirit was strong. It is a joy to see her growing into such a lovely young lady.

We are so blessed to live "almost next door" to Tom, Ruth and the kids. The uncles sometimes babysit for them. Tom helps us around the house - like replacing our front door and other helpful things. I get to do Stampin'Up with Ruth now and then. And it is just nice knowing they are there. It is so good to have them close by!

We enjoy Sunday dinners usually at Ruth’s house with Debi and Miriam a couple of times a month and get together for most birthdays and holidays. Lucky me!

Ben had great fun on a trip to Disneyland this summer with his cousin Adam and aunts Kris and Lainee, mostly courtesy of Aunt Lainee. (Thank you! ) We both survived him flying alone. He got to know his cousin and aunts a little better. They all had a terrific time.

My divorce was final August 22. There are some things I don't know when I will really get used to. Being solely responsible for my home. Being divorced in such a family, marriage oriented faith. Knowing that my children have to explain things to their children that don't fit what we teach about "families can be together forever". Not being at home. Still, it is more good than not. I have had the witness of the spirit that this is the course I must take. The boys and I are happier. Home feels more like home. I feel peaceful.

Apparently it is working out well for Glen, too. He started attending the church singles activities when the divorce became final and by Thanksgiving he was engaged. I am told it will be a short engagement. Ingrid seems like a nice lady.

Over the Thanksgiving holidays we had all my children together. Not for Thanksgiving itself, as Ruth and Tom were hosting his family. Debi had the rest of us over to her new home Thanksgiving Day where, despite the turkey being HOURS late, we had a lovely time and a delicious dinner. The siblings (my children and their spice - plural of spouse?) had a couple of sibling get togethers over Thanksgiving weekend. We all enjoyed an afternoon at Fairytale Town. I relished having all my children in one place, a feat not readily accomplished any more.

I have been working at the California Department of Parks and Recreation Business and Fiscal Services for a year now. Although I deeply miss being at home, I am constantly aware that the Lord really blessed me with this job. From the convenience of having my office right by the light rail line, to the wonderful boss, the pleasant co-workers, the opportunities to learn (I have taken 2 Accounting classes courtesy of the state and am signed up for another one next semester), and my nice work station, I am truly blessed.

For a brief time, work was even nicer. I had had the boys come downtown with me - to map my office (they did a wonderful job! the map and index they made for me has been very helpful) and to enjoy the annual opening of the downtown ice rink. They also helped out with little office odd jobs. After that, Joseph came in nearly every day for about a month and a half as an unofficial, unpaid worker. He had his own cubicle and never lacked for work. My unit loved having him. He liked getting the work experience. Unfortunately, "management" got worried about liability and put an end to his unofficial job. Even though we hardly saw each other during the work day, knowing he was there made the office feel even better to me. I miss him now.

At the end of September, my world was rocked when our Stake (comparable to a diocese) was reorganized. My ward (congregation) was dissolved. The remaining 6 wards were realigned and re-organized. So really all 7 wards were dissolved and 6 new wards created. It has been an emotional time, but our new ward, Perkins Ward, is beginning to feel like home, too. We no longer meet in our beloved building at 51st and Dover, and I miss it! but, Perkins Ward is growing into a real ward family. With the reorganization I was without a church calling for a month or so. I was beginning to feel like a non-person and wondered if being divorced had anything to do with it. Then they asked me to serve on the Ward Activities Committee and to be the Cub Scout Cub Committee Chairman. As a parent, I am also on the Scout Committee. I am making lots of Scouting noise and hoping to help make a positive difference in boy's lives. I am a little concerned about Scouting in my new ward, but I am going to try to help make it work. Also, I still nag "my" Life Scouts from old Troop 40, my fledglings. I like Eagle Courts of Honor.

I am thankful for the many blessings in my life - not least of which the many wonderful people who have blessed my life. I think of you, thank God for you and pray for your welfare. I am sorry that I do not manage to spend actual time with you!

Merry Christmas! Celebrate the birth of our Saviour with joy and thankfulness. I really love the baby Jesus, but it is the adult Jesus, an innocent man allowing Himself to be tormented for my sins; the most powerful being in the universe submitting to the torture and mockery of weak, ignorant and sinful men, an immortal God willingly dying a cruel death, and then rising triumphant so I can live again that I worship. May you feel of His Spirit and His love at Christmas and throughout the coming year.

Early Christmas Gift

We feel as though we've just received an early Christmas gift! The gift of "family" and the gift of "time". Just put those two together! :) Ryan has been offered a promotion in his company that will allow him to be on a more family-friendly schedule. It will make so many things easier for us! We will have weekends together for piano recitals and trips to the beach, Friday nights available for dates and ward activities, and most weeknights we'll have dinner together and Ryan will get to tuck his girls in bed.

His current shift, which he has had for years, has been really nice in some ways and it has been the best option he's had for the position he's in. It gave him 3 and 4 day weekends every week, he commuted less, and received OT every workday. But for the 3 or 4 days that he worked, he didn't see his girls at all. He would leave before they woke up and come home after they went to bed. And the only day he and Cadi BOTH had off from work or school was Sunday since Ryan worked every Saturday. That has made it difficult for us to have much family time.

We are very grateful for this opportunity for Ryan to grow in his company and also for us to spend more time together as a family! Congratulations, Ryan... so, when are you taking me out? ;)

I want addresses!!!

Hello family that I love!

I am preparing to mail out Christmas cards, as I'm sure many of you are, and I'd like to get some current addresses from you! If you have 1) moved, 2) married, or 3) somehow managed to keep your address from moves prior to this year from me, PLEASE e-mail me your address (and if applicable, your new last name). This counts for even those of you who THINK I have your info (Like you locals and even some of my siblings! lol) - better safe than sorry! And if anyone needs mine, please let me know and I'll be happy to get it to you.

My e-mail address is stamperscandles@yahoo.com. I'd LOVE to know where to send you a card! :)

Thank you!!!

Sariah

Do you have Lainee's contact information?

Nothing special.  Today is the anniversary of the dedication of the Billings Montana Temple.  Montana makes me think of Lainee.  I was going to just say Howdy, but I realize I don't have her email address or snail mail address, and I am not too sure about whether I have a good phone number.  Too busy to check right now, isn't that bad!

 

Lainee, wherever you are, I love you.

 

(the rest of you, too)

 

Thanks,

love,

Barbara

from Kathie and Esque

We almost missed the deadline because I'm just too tired after a full day on-line.    SO glad to know that our family newsletter is still moving forward.  How is everyone?  We hope and pray that you are all well, happy, and safe.

 

We cannot believe our luck with cars this past 18 months.  Remember the accident in January 2006?  Well, there was a bigger accident in July 2007.  Our car was raked from stem to stern on the passenger side of the 1991 Cressida, when a woman backed down her driveway into oncoming traffic.  Fortunately, Esque's injuries were minor, as he was driving the car.  I wasn't in the car, as he had dropped me off at the office a few minutes earlier.  We had the car repaired and were planning to drive it a few more years.  That is, until Halloween.  We were headed to Sacramento City College, stopped near the intersection of 19th and Q Streets, waiting for the light rail to pass.

 

WHAM!  We were hit by another vehicle on the passenger side, back door/tire area.  MAJOR damage.  And, the driver, after inspecting the damage she caused, fled the scene.  Poor little car cannot be repaired.    It's now worth $167, according to AAA.  Funny/sad thing, the tires (which have fewer than a year's worth of driving on them) and rims are worth a cool $1,500 - $2,000.  Such is life.  We were driving the 1985 Toyota pick-up but not feeling too safe.  Purchased a 2007 Honda Accord and, with airbags everywhere, are now back on the road again.

 

Work is going well for me.  Being a Manager is such an adventure.  Thank goodness Esque understands when I get grumpy, frustrated, too tired to do housework...  He's a gem.  His 76th birthday will be 12/28/07 and we'll be celebrating with our English buddies, who are coming to town in early December.  Hooray!

 

Esque is keeping in shape by riding our stationery (or is it stationary) bike and walking most mornings.  Touch wood, we'll make it safely through the next few weeks and begin a new year without incident.  Touch wood.

 

We send you love and best wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

 

MUCH LOVE,

Aunt Kathie & Uncle Esque

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WOW IT'S BEEN AWHILE

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE WRITTEN FAMILY TIES. I WAS NOT SURE IT STILL EXISTED UNTIL I GOT THIS RANDOM E-MAIL FROM BARB. SO WHERE TO BEGIN......THERE IS A LOT TO CATCH UP ON.

WELL MY LIFE HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE MOVED TO HAWAII, ANNOUNCED I WAS GAY, LOST OVER 100 LBS AND GAVE UP ON ORGANIZED RELIGION. ARE YOU SHOCKED YET? OH BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE. SO IN JANUARY ON 05 IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY WHEN I DECIDED TO WEIGH MYSELF. TO MY OWN HORROR I DISCOVERED I HAD HIT 250 LBS. SOME HOW IT SPAWNED INTO A COMPETITION BETWEEN TAYLOR, MY MOM AND I. WE HAD SIX MONTHS TO LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT AS WE COULD AND AT THE END, THE WINNER WOULD RECEIVE TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR NEW CLOTHES. AFTER HEARING TAYLOR TELL MY SISTER THAT I WOULD NEVER WIN, I GOT ANGRY AND CHANNELED THAT INTO MY WORK OUTS. FOR ONE HOUR A DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX MONTHS I RAN, AND RAN AND RAN. AT THE FINAL WEIGH IN I HAD DROPPED 70 LBS, MOM HAD LOST 30 LBS AND TAYLOR HAD GAINED 5 LBS. SO YA I WON WITH FLYING COLORS.

SO SKIP AHEAD TO THIS JANUARY, I HAD GOTTEN VERY SICK. SO MUCH SO THAT I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE LOOKING LIKE DEATH WARMED UP THAT MY MOM RUSHED ME TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I STAYED FOR TWO WEEKS. IT TOOK ALMOST A MONTH TO RECOVER. NOT FUN!!!!!

AFTER RECOVERING FROM MY NEAR DEATH DRAMA, I CAME TO A VERY HUGE DECISION IN MY LIFE. I DECIDED TO STOP LYING TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. SO I FINALLY TOLD THEM I WAS GAY. ITS FUNNY HOW ALMOST DYING REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, MY SIBLINGS TOOK IT VERY WELL BUT AS EXPECTED, MY PARENTS DID NOT (BIG SHOCKER). SO AFTER DROPPING A HUGE BOMB ON EVERY ONE I KNOW, I DECIDED TO MOVE TO HAWAII FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AS WE ALL KNOW JAY (A.K.A SPERM DONOR) IS LIVING IN HAWAII AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO MOVE OVER THERE. HE CLAIMED HE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW ME AGAIN BLAH BLAH BLAH. SO SINCE THINGS WE A LITTLE CRAZY IN PORTLAND I PACKED UP MY LIFE AND HEADED OVER TO THE BIG ISLAND. WHEN I ARRIVED I SAT AT THE AIRPORT WAITING FOR JAY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. SO I MUST BE HONEST, ONE REASON I WENT TO HAWAII WAS TO SEE IF JAY HAD REALLY CHANGED HIS WAYS AND WANTED TO REBUILD HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS KIDS. SADLY I WOULD FIND THAT IT IS A WASTE OF TIME. YOU CANT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS. I LIVED IN HAWAII FOR FOUR MONTHS AND WORKED AT THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT. I LOVED IT. I GOT TO MEET MANY CELEBS RANGING FROM KELSEY GRAMMER TO BRITTNEY SPEARS. ABOUT A MONTH INTO MY STAY ON THE BIG ROCK, JAY DECIDED TO TAKE VACATION TO THE MAINLAND. IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR TWO WEEKS. ABOUT A WEEK INTO HIS VACATION I GOT A CALL AT 4:30 AM TELLING ME HE WOULD NOT BE BACK FOR AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS. SO HERE I AM ON AN ISLAND NOT KNOWING ANYONE, AND THE MAIN REASON I WENT WAS NOW NOT COMING BACK. THAT WAS WHEN I MADE THE DECISION THAT I COULD NOT HAVE JAY IN MY LIFE. THERE IS ONLY SO MANY TIME YOU WANT TO THROW YOURSELF UNDER THE BUS. I DECIDED TO MOVE HOME BEFORE JAY GOT BACK TO THE ISLAND. SO IN AUGUST I MOVED BACK TO PORTLAND.

I LANDED AT MIDNIGHT ON AUGUST FIRST. WHEN I WALKED UP TO THE GATE MY FAMILY WAS WAITING. THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE ME. I ALMOST WALKED RITE PAST THEM. I HAD DROPPED THIRTY MORE POUNDS AND NOW HAD A DEEP TAN.

I NOW LIVE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND WORK AT THE HOTTEST HOTEL IN PORTLAND. SINCE BEING BACK I HAVE MET SOME AMAZING PEOPLE. I LOVE THE STAFF I WORK WITH AT THE HOTEL LUCIA.

ONE WEEK AGO MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY OF CANCER AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO SERVICE AFTER SERVICE FOR HIM. MY FAMILY IS DOING WELL WITH HIS PASSING. I ALSO FOUND OUT ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE GONE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WITH ALMOST NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. AND TO TOP IT OFF MY BOYFRIEND JASON HAS BEEN REALLY SICK AND I HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIM. SO THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE BEEN VERY CRAZY.

SO ABOUT MY FAMILY, SAMANTHA IS GROWING LIKE A WEED. SHE IS NOW IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IS GETTING STRAIGHT A'S. SHE IS GROWING INTO MUSIC VERY WELL. SHE LOVES TO SING AND SHE IS VERY GOOD AT IT. SARAH IS NOW ENGAGED AND WILL BE GETTING MARRIED. THATS JUST CRAZY. CHELSIE IS DOING GREAT. SHE WORKS AT A VERY HIP SALON. HER DAUGHTER QUINMREE IS GETTING SO BIG. SHE IS NOW THREE AND IS HAVING FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERY ONE SHE MEETS. MOM AND DAD ARE DOING WELL. THEY FINISHED BUILDING THERE SHELBY COBRA. IT TOOK THEM TWO YEARS. TAYLOR, WELL HE IS DOING AS WELL AS TO BE EXPECTED.

I HOPE EVERY ONE IS DOING WELL. WE REALLY NEED TO ALL GET TOGETHER SOON. I AM THINKING REUNION THIS SUMMER? I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE ALL UP TO. SO UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES.

LOVE,
CHAD

McKona Koffee is a Reality

Since I know that Michael just isn't going to find the time to write about his new endeavor, I thought I'd let you all know that  as of November 1, 2007, mcKona Koffee Roastery & Paradise Kafe  (formerly Paradise Café) are now owned by Mike McGinness & Bruce Harrington. 

Everything chaotic and crazy right now, especially since their big floor roaster hasn't been delivered yet and probably won't for another month, so Mike is having to do all the coffee roasting at home.  Apparently the whole bean sales are going pretty good as people are discovering that they are carrying a variety of them, fresh roasted and packaged in 1 and 1/2 lb bags.  They have their own label and a website the is working, but still under construction.  Check it out a www.mckonakoffee.com.  Still needs a lot of work, but they need to find someone that can work on it that has some knowledge of coffee.

Couple of my friends went down for lunch last week and said the sandwiches were really good.  Big and satisfying and so was the red curry soup, which they only got a taste of because it was almost gone.  They have a guy that makes scones and blueberry muffins, and get the rest of their baked goods, including the breads for their sandwiches from a local bakery up the street.

The only really bad thing we both get home late - after 6 for me and after 7 for Michael.  I've had to take over fixing dinner again, which I got out of the habit of doing this past year.  Got to learn to start planning ahead.  Hate eating that late though.  We'd gotten used to heating about 6:30 and now, sometimes it's almost 8 before we sit down.  Some days, it's just too much, then it's Schwan's.

My big news is the I had my 30 year anniversary with Bonneville Power on Wednesday.  I'm now eligible for full retirement.  Can't even believe it.  Of course, just starting a new business, it may be a while before I'll be able to actually do it, but just knowing that I could just up and retire at any time is sort of a nice feeling.  With everything that's been happening with my job over the past couple years - and it's still going on -  I could just get fed up one day, turn in my papers and leave.  Lady in HR did that about 4 weeks ago.  Just like that.  Of course, I wouldn't do that to my co-workers.  Besides, I want a BIG retirement party when I leave.  Michael says a couple more years, which will go really fast the way things are going.  Can't believe another year is almost gone.

So, that's the news.  Need to go make some potato salad for dinner.  I love hearing from everyone and like Robin wish everyone would write more often.

Love to all
Debi (and Mike in absencia)