New Life

It's finally official!!!! Samuel and Amanda are united for time and all eternity!!!! WHEW!! What a ride. The day was beautiful, even though we had been having rain like crazy! But for this day, it was lovely blue skies and sunshine.

This picture is priceless to me. Tifani loves her Sam. It's been hard for her as Jake is gone too and now Sam is "gone". But she has found since the wedding that Sam is not totally gone and she can see him whenever she likes. It has helped her anxiety.

The after wedding car!! Yes, it was done right. All the groomsmen and bridesmaids did a good job! Marshmellows, plastic wrap, and milkyway candy bars! Oh, and a little bit of writing with window markers....

This is one of their engagement pictures. Quite the cute couple I think!

That's the Spirit!!

There is a "competetion", so to speak, up on base for those people who put forth the extra effort. It's called "The Spirit Award". Those who receive it get this jacket. It's a "coveted" award that only a few receive.

Since Randy has been in this IT Help Desk position, it has been more of a "Hell Desk" position. He is the hardest worker, and I'm not joking, gets asked all the questions, even by his boss, helps anyone and everyone, and yet gets kicked and spat on all the time. I don't know how he puts up with it!

So when he received this jacket/award, in front of the whole Help Desk, given to him by his bosses boss, it was a well deserved award. And I might add, a nice slap in the face to his boss! We are hoping this will help him as he applies for other locations.

But this is a nice tribute to my hard-working, awesome, amazing husband! Now, THAT'S the Spirit!! :)

It's FINALLY Official!!!

We can NOW let everyone know. They've been "engaged" for a couple of months, but, with the ring on her finger, it's official!!! Sam and Amanda are getting married!!!! May 7th.
It was cute because Samuel wanted to ask her in a cute way to make it official. So, being the 7th Harry Potter movie was just out, we went to the theater early and made arrangements with the Manager to have the proposal before the movie started.
It turned out really cute! And, it took her totally by surprise! Her parents were there too, so they were surprised also. Fun times!!! I tried to take a video, but it was too dark in the theater. So all I have is sound. Good to have the sound, but I sure wish it would have picked up the picture as well...
Anyways, she's a cutie patootie! So we'll keep her. Oh....and Sam too.... :)

Holiday Jumping!

I don't know why I don't have any pictures from Thanksgiving. We went to Amanda's parent's house. Had a wonderful time! Good food, good company.

Christmas Gingerbread Houses 2010. Our Christmas tradition of Gingerbread houses continues. This is a fun, family thing, except this year, only Tifani and I did them. This is Tifani's. Very cute and creative.

This is the front and back of mine. Funny thing is, I couldn't take the picture fast enough before the candy started disappearing!!

Tifani and I actually did two houses this year. These two were done at our friend Dawn's house.

This is cute because Tifani said she wanted this one to look like an abandoned house. Not bad!

Halloween 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!


Yes, this year we once again had our famous pumpkin carving time. Samuel won with his rendition of the "sick pumpkin".


We had our Halloween Party once again. It had been postponed, put off, and forgotten about for the past few years. So this year I decided we would put another one together!

Just as we were making the arrangements, sending out invites, etc.., our heater decided to quit working! So we cancelled the party, thinking the repairman wouldn't come until late, as that was what we were told. It wasn't even half an hour after we called that the repairman was at our door! But the cancellation was already done, so we didn't plan on anyone coming over.

It wasn't until after I talked to Jared that the party was once again on! Even if only a few could show up. I am soooo happy we had it! We haven't laughed that hard in years!!!! The party was a success and I can't wait until the next one!

Even Sam and Amanda made a showing! They didn't stay long, missed out on the fun, but it was good to see them.

Ricky was pretty scary in this mask. It kept fogging up his glasses though! That made it funny!

Tifani makes a cute mime!

And a "cute" zombie. Her concert choir group did a rendition of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. It was really cool!

We love our pumpking carving!

This year I even had the inside of our house decorated! Everyone thought it was awesome!!! I think I might make this an annual event!

No Egg Drop Soup Fo You!

So we went to our favorite Chinese restaurant tonight, Dragon Hill. Just Randy and I. Our waitress and waiter were awesome! When we first sat down, our waitress gave us our menus, but we just left them there. WE knew what we wanted. When she came back over, she said, "You no wan menus?" We said, "No, we know what we want already." That started it all. She started joking with us, so of course, we gave it back. So when Randy wanted egg drop soup with his order, she said, "Oh....we no have egg drop soup. Weaw out." We laughed, said it was alright, and she left with our orders.

She came back with the soup and gave both soups to me! It was funny! So I gave Randy his, and when she came back, she said, "Oh, you gave him soup?" I said, "Yes, I'm sharing mine." She laughed! Then when our main course came I asked her for some chopsticks. She said, "But you American!" I said, "Ya, but it tastes better with chopsticks!" She smiled and brought some back and said, "I like yoa answa, so here yoa go." It was great!

Our fortune cookies were interesting. Randy's says....You will make a change for the better within the year. (one can only hope!!!!!) Mine says....You will have a close encounter of a surprising kind. I'm kind of scared! I guess as long as Randy is close by, that will be a good enough "close encounter" for me! I mean, I like surprises, but.....

So after rolling out of the restaurant, we are home, safe and sound, full to the max, fat and happy, ready for bed. Life is good tonight. :)

A tribute to my dad......he died 25 years ago today. You are missed beyond words dad. I miss your smile, your words of wisdom, your humor, your hugs.... everything! I would give everything I own just to have you back again, just to touch you once again. Love you daddy!!!!

Does Anyone Know Where the Love of God Goes....

This entry is not a happy one. It is one of questions without answers, the whys and the why nots!, the do I exist or don't I, and the what the hell am I doing here and why can't I have a bit of heaven here!


I miss the military life. I really do. I understood it, I relished it! It gave me meaning! Maybe because the military life is more regimented. Maybe because in the military things are black and white, there is no, "Well.....maybe....." We met a neighbor from the "Layton side" tonight who's wife is from a military family. Her brother was just being deployed. Hard day and yet such a proud day! As he was talking to us, there was no judgement because we were from one area or another. There was actually a camaraderie! It was good to meet him! Deployments and TDY's are hard. They will either make you or break you as a spouse/family. For Randy and I, it made us who we are today! And I HATE that we are here at "home" amongst those who live daily in the gray area! It has started to seep into my family over the too many years of living here, and I don't know how to stop it! It is showing up in sneaky ways, such as, saying one thing and doing another, making excuses instead of standing up and changing, whining and pouting when it's not done a certain way, but when the way is approved, there is much cheering and jubilation! None of this happened before. It's wearing me down.....


Why are we given talents and abilities if not to use them to better our existence? I feel my abilities are a waste. I am like a vegetable, just existing day to day. I do not know why I get certain feelings only to have them dashed against some hidden rocks! It's like some way of taunting me. I know I am not where I am supposed to be, I just don't know how to GET where I'm supposed to be! There's no way to get there from here! And NO ONE will HELP me! I'm tired of embarrassing myself explaining why we need help, then being laughed at behind my back and still not receiving the help needed!


I have prayed for understanding and all I receive as my answer is that there is a peaceful feeling in my heart. And yet, things don't change! This peace in my heart is like a lie when all I live with day in and day out is everything BUT peace! It is very frustrating and I have begun to doubt my very reason for wanting peace. Maybe I need to be more GRAY. That seems to be the way of this world. I am so ready to leave this frail existence! If this is joy, as we are meant to live in, I don't want any more of it! If this is joy, I have had my fill!