Home, Sweet Home!

I said good bye to my little ones in Denver on Monday evening.  I have such a mixture of feelings, just like I do everytime I leave one of my kids' homes.  It is a sad, happy, glad, difficult time for me.  I wish everyone were close by and that we could just see everyone all the time.  I guess that isn't realistic...but I still wish it were possible.  I thought I was appreciating that aspect of much of our time when we lived in Denver...but I find that just like my mother used to tell me to cherish my children while they were young because the time goes by really quickly, and I thought I was, my time with my children and grandchildren now also flies by and soon those opportunities are gone....

On brighter notes -

Ruby is doing really well, and so are the rest of the Rogers clan.  Emily is in love with her and can hardly keep her hands off of her.  Mordecai seems to be oblivious to her much of the time, unless he wants his mom's attention and her attention is on Ruby! LOL  Mike and Desi seem to be handling all the stresses like the pros they are and Rich and I are eager to return in April for the blessing.  While I was there Emily turned the big 5 and is eager to have her birthday party at the bowling alley.  And Mordecai will be celebrating his 3rd birthday on Sunday with a little gathering of friends on Saturday to celebrate.  He is having a "Batman" party with a "Thomas the Train" pinata!  Kind of a unique twist, right?  LOL  I also enjoyed seeing old friends there - Karen Hamblin, Kathy Hickman, JoanE Linford, etc.  There is a lot happening in everyone's lives...and I guess it should be that way.

Felicia and Dave have parted ways, at least for the time being.  Time will tell what happens from here...but the great news is that she was accepted into BYU's Master of Social Work Program and will start classes in the fall.  She is tickled pink!  There were over 150 applicants and only 40 were selected...not too shabby!  She is continuing to work at the State Mental Hospital in Provo - from 10 pm to 6 am - and seems to be enjoying the work, with the usual stresses of the job.

Joey got home from his TDY on Wednesday last week but he and Carlie and the kids spent the weekend sick with the flu.  Yuck!  Rich and I are headed there to visit them next weekend.  Joey is trying to get out to Iraq before the end of this month as it will be better for them financially since he has to go anyway.  I know that he, Carlie and the kids will appreciate everyones prayers and faith in their behalf.  Six months is a long time!  Thank goodness that we live in a day and age with modern technology - while not perfect - it is certainly better than waiting for a letter via pony express!

Cherstin and Dan seem to be doing well.  They are both in school but they manage to find time to do a whole lot of other things too!  Abby is learning to read, Emmett is enjoying swimming and diving, Ellie is trying to potty train herself, and the whole family seems to have acquired both a cat and a dog!  It seems that the dog is only a "maybe" - but by the sounds of it I would say it is a done deal!

Hannah and Philip are also doing well.  Philip is still going to school and carrying quite a load at that.  I know that he will be glad when it is all over - and so will Hannah!  LOL  Oliver had his 2 month well baby check up this past week and is the "runt of the litter" - weighing two full pounds less than William at the same age!  We just family pictures (hint! hint! to everyone else!  LOL) from them and they are adoreable!  William and Orion will be really glad to have spring arrive...I saw on the weather that it was snowing there today...being housebound is not cool!

Wanda and Robert and brood seem to be well too.  They seem to be spending most of their time in school, going to church, and doing laundry, making meals, and everything else that seems to need to be done in a big family.  However, they seem to find time to keep me apprised of the political happening there and I sure enjoy knowing first hand what is happening!  LOL  I read tonight that Govenor Walker had offered to compromise some with the unions but that talks fell apart because the unions wanted him and other GOP members to negotiate in Illinois but Walker said no.  Can you believe that????  He actually thinks that political discussions by Wisconsin elected officials should take place in Wisconsin - the nerve!  LOL

My dad is continuing to regress.  I have been in contact with Derk and Mike but both assure me that I don't need to get out there before April when we go to Felicia's graduation.  He has some days that are better than others - but the frequent infections are taking their toll and much of that ground is never recovered.  He has some therapists coming in to help but even that is marginal.  An Alzheimers' specialist came and assessed Dad and his status recently and said that he was fading fast.  I guess Dad asked him if anybody ever recovered from the Alzheimers and the guy told Dad that they didn't but that he would find that soon it wouldn't be as difficult as it is right now - meaning that it won't be that much longer that he'll have the capacity to fight it as he is right now. 

Well - it is nearly 1 am and I am tired.  I'm heading to bed.  However, I must note that I was thrilled to find that the daffodils are in bloom here - and the profusion is absolutely beautiful.  Everything is green and the trees are budding, and some are in full bloom of color - spring is finally arriving!  It couldn't have come any sooner!