Our House is a Very Fine House

These are photos of the new place before we filled our things inside. You will have to wait for more previews because my camera is on the fritz. But I am having so much fun decorating. Top photo is the kitchen with the sweet stainless appliances. The main floor bath and than the basement bath and a shot of the basement. Two bedrooms and a full bath and a laundry room. I am so very grateful and so very blessed to have this sweet place to call my very own. My Sweets and I are having so much fun decorating and doing different things. we had an old piano my brother-in-law gave us. Two guys just took it away for fifty dollars! What a relief. It would have done us in to move it a second time!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is the date of my parents wedding anniversary. They were married this date in 1935. My mothers brother Louie and her younger sister Ann were their attendants. My mother had an eighteen inch waist! Look at those lovely calla lily flowers in her bouquet. I had wonderful parents. This picture is framed and hangs in our bedroom with a collage of phamily wedding photos. I am sorry the quality does not shine but it is framed and I would not take that photo apart for anything! I miss my folks as they were wonderful examples of true Christian love. But I do store lots of memories here.

My oldest daughter had wanted to be married on this date and the hall she rented was already taken so she moved her wedding to August 27th. She wanted my mom in attendance and her grandma Rita too so she chose to move her wedding to Pueblo. The Marriott Hotel and Convention Center has 163 rooms and for my daughters wedding we rented 73 rooms and they were all filled with phamily and friends. It was a beautiful wedding and that was ten years ago on Aug. 27th. I am very proud of Noelle and Roger. They have really managed to stay happy and enjoy their phamily. They went to dinner at a Hawaiian steak house on Friday night. If anyone can find a unique eatery it is my girl! She has had a love of good food since she was a small child. So happy  anniversary to my loved ones today.

PHAMILY BUSINESS PART II

Again thanks for all the prayers sent Phil's way. You know I am not a judgmental person and I am also not a stupid person. I know there are folks out there who are suckered into the enabling role for a loved one. But this is not the case with Phil. He did some stupid things when he was younger and I don't feel that his parents were very good role models. Therefore he let an old court date slip away and they caught him several years later.
Wedesday night after working a long kitchen shift he was catching a ride from a co worker. They were stopped by the police because Brandon had a tail light out. This makes me angry because all around us horrific crimes are committed and the police are never there because they are too busy shaking down young working stiffs! Of course, the warrant comes up and off to the jail house goes Phil! Only instead of a small bond this time it has doubled! He and Rebekah basically pooled their paychecks to pay it! He was released yesterday afternoon. Here is the favorite part of this ridiculous story!
He was arrested for not appearing in court. Ok. Understandable. But he was in court. Only no one told him that he should have cut himself in half and went to the county court at eight a.m. and also to the city court at the same date and time! These two courts are thirty minutes away from each other. He went to the city court, where he received the ticket although the law can charge you anything they want any time they want and get away with it! Oh My Goodness! This is starting to sound a lot like politics to me!
So that is Phil's story. Keep praying for him. I am not sure what happened next. More monies paid out to a system we all hear that is B A N K R U PT! You don't even want me to go there!
I have said I would use my blog for fun and friendship. So the Good Lord is getting out the duct tape. Time for me to sign off!
Love and many blessings to all of you!
Please check back on my giveaways and also please read my posts after these two. I will update later.
I am also participating in the Fairfield House/NJ Longest Yard Sale. I have so much Princess House. If anyone is looking for anything e mail me. I am selling cheap but the postage is high due to fragile nature of shipping!
I always have a great special right too! Anything in the regular catalog line of the current catalog I will give you for half price! The company is noted for their wonderful gift express shipping and they get an excellent rate to ship. Let me know if I can help you in any way. I am helping an out of work friend catch up and I am helping my kids so I need to sell sell sell!

 Courtesy of google image

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST BORN SON!

My baby boy turned 25 on Monday the 9th. We had so much company and had such a great birthday bar-be-que that I did not get to post this until tonight.

My sweet son is an awesome man. I call him my man child along with his baby brother who turns 17 in 9 days! J is studying at Metro State College and he has a double degree which he should finish in the Spring 2011. He had taken a year off before he started college. Tried construction. His friends dad owned a big company and they won the contract to remodel the Federal Building in Denver. You can only imagine my horror because the Timothy McVey trial was going to be held there and many upgrades were being added. I constantly prayed for my son and his co workers. I was experiencing great fear. I was worried enough about my hubby working nearly across the street from the Federal Building in Denver and then my kid was in the basement of the place remodeling!

God was good to us at that time. Although J was making a lot of money he was constantly getting hurt. I kept nagging at him and telling him it was a direct sign from God to go to college and leave this lifestyle behind. He finally applied for college and with his excellent grades was readily accepted.He has worked very hard at college and has constantly made the Dean's List and has qualified himself for some school money that was a scholarship that he would not have to pay back. It is the only perk my children have ever received. While millions rely on the government and tax payers to cover their life expenses my kids all work hard to provide a better life for themselves.

J coached Thornton Boys Basketball for six years. During those years he took his team to a third place championship, 2nd place and finally first. He worked hard and the boys rallied round him and won their games because he showed them so much respect. He saved a boy or two from the streets of crime and gangs during those years.

He has worked since he was 12years old. For two years he delivered the Avon lady's  catalogs twice a month and she paid him $25 a month. He sold gum at school during his first three years of high school and made a tidy little profit. At age 14 the neighbor who managed a Grease Monkey hired him to clean up after work. He helped pay his tuition at a private high school where he and his friend Sean founded the Family Freaks an spirit club who attended all the sporting events, painting themselves with gold and purple Sherman Williams paint and cheered for their teams until they lost their voices!  There is an award in the Sport case at Holy Family HS dedicated to the Family Freaks.When he turned 18 he also worked on and off there and then Target Super Stores. Because he is a big guy he played Santa Claus for a couple years. He also worked for Media Play and Barnes and Noble during high school and currently delivers pizzas for Dominos. His baby brother work the phones and he delivers the pizza.

Next week he will drive to Las Vegas with his buddies.  He refuses to fly so his one buddy has a new car and they are going on a road trip.

After the party Monday night he told his dad and I that it was the best gift he could get. Surrounded by my loved ones, phamily and friends he was very content.

I know our son will be a terrific success in life. He has a kind heart and he is a wonderful friend. He is a good son and I love him to pieces. Join with me to wish him a belated birthday wish tonight.

MY DADDY

My daddy was the greatest man I ever knew. He was a terrific father. He was a wonderful husband to my mother and he cared for us with such love and kindness that I always dreamed of finding a man with qualities like his.
I am writing this post because my dad would have had a birthday July 23rd. It is also my hubby's birthday. But my hubby lost his mom on his birthday so now I have three reasons to always remember July 23rd. I had planned to post about my dad but life happened and my plans changed.
So today I honor my father. He was an incredible man. He raised five children with my mother and he worked very hard all his life. He was a steel worker. He worked for 47 years in the Rail Mill as a head roller. He worked under awful conditions with the temperature being nearly unbearable but he worked hard and cared for us with love and kindness.
When he was a younger man and my two older siblings were small toddlers my dad played semi pro ball. He was a catcher and he once had the incredible opportunity to catch behind the plate when Babe Ruth came up to bat. He had an autographed baseball from Babe Ruth and I am not sure where it went after his passing. My dad was a life long NY Yankees fan and I got my love of baseball from him. There was absolutely nothing about the game of baseball that he couldn't talk to anyone about.
I miss my dad terribly when I watch baseball. Last night my sister and I sat on the phone talking for the last hour of the Rockies game against the Pirates. It makes me smile when I think about it because she loves the game and the Yankees like I do. We both followed in our dad's footsteps.
Today I just want to say I miss you dad and I love you and I will never forget you.

Good Morning/Prayer Request

I am an early bird today. All that traveling has exhausted us so we tend to get to bed early these days. We also had some light rain last night and that helped after spending the day trapped in an office reeking of paint fumes! The office below us is getting renovated and the paint fumes were awful! I was glad to walk out into the 80 plus degree heat yesterday just to breathe regular air!

I am asking for specific prayer for Phil today. He was in a bit of a jam and he has to go to court today. He is a really good kid and he and my middle are going to court at eight a.m. She is there for support. I just ask God for direction in his life and for the court to be gracious to him. I don't want to get into a lot of particulars but I see the celebrities just breeze in and out of these court hearings and never humble themselves. I see various people breeze through without a care because of things with which they do have control and yet choose to allow the rest of us to pick up the tab.

Here is a google image for you today.

Phil is a good guy. He is very hard working and at his job only himself and a non English speaking woman are able to close down the kitchen each night. That does not say very much of the upper management but it will give you an idea about Phil and the ethics he has at work.

Remember him today and ask God for guidance for him.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

I AM PROUD OF MY SONIC KIDS

Hi and welcome to Monday! We are two short at work so with our fill in audiologist who takes about 30 minutes per patient as opposed to our regular gal Koko we had a mad house today! The doc saw approximately 40 patients. He never stops to eat lunch or anything. So Theresa and I were super slammed and took a 30 minute lunch. AH...I am wishing for Friday so I will have another 3 day weekend! Woo Hoo!
So I feel great but tired and my daughter the middle just walked in the door. I have been teasing everyone I know telling them my middle and her honey were holed up in a hotel all week! Ha Ha Hee Hee! My middle and her little sister work for Sonic as well as the middle's beau. The middle and the beau have been involved in a contest. The company put them in a nice hotel to study for a week. They were still paid their regular salary and the co. paid for everything. They had the "suits" come in today and they did their competition and my middle and another worker got all the answers right! The beau missed one! They all got a brand new camcorder for participating and as soon as their audit is over they will find out if they are all going to Vegas! The company will send the over 21 crowd to Vegas and pay for everything plus take them to Cirque du Soleil! Now I have to say I have wanted to see that show forever but could never afford it! The tickets are upward $400 a piece! Yikes! So I am so proud and so thrilled of my kid and the beau. My middle has worked for Sonic Drive Ins since she was a junior in high school and she is into her third year of college now! It pays the college tuition bills. I tease her that she is probably the only living Sonic employee that has lasted five years! Hee Hee
I tell you this because I am proud of her. Her sister took on lots of extra hours to cover their shifts while they were in this training competition. Some employees from other stores helped cover and a couple of snotty teenage girls gave my who girl a hard time. The "mouth", the middle, like me, told the managers all about the lack of team spirit with these snotty girls! I watched them go into the drive in Sunday when the who girl went to work. So I told the middle to pray and let it go. The managers know about it and that is that! She is very emotional like me! When the kids were at the Catholic high school my hubby tired to be diplomatic but I went to Catholic school from K to 11 and I know they favor the rich kids with their big money! So I always fought for my rights. I still do! So my kids know how I am ! Many times I warned the vice principal at the high school that I was disappointed because I knew Jesus was not in the building and if you tell people like me that you base the school policy on the life of Jesus Christ, you better mean it! So I have to remind my middle girl and myself to be kinder and more gentle. The who girl could care less. She flips that hair back and says "I had work to do, I could care less that they were talking about me!" I guess these two girls never saw the who girl's honey. I would be scared of him, if I didn't know him! 6"2" 285 lbs. This sweet boy plays college football, defensive lineman! Oh, he is smart too. Getting a Business Degree and going on a sports scholarship with high academics! Ah...life is sweet.
So you know my Sonic story now.  The hubby and I were thinking when they go to Vegas we can tag along. Really, they are two single kids and they need a good chaperone! Don't you agree? That nice paid for room can maybe afford us a nice show! Hmmm...Oh wait! They are staying at the Venetian and God Bless Sonic! You can not room with the opposite sex unless you are married! God is Good! Sonic has morals! Horray!
Sorry I did not have time to get pics because the girls are exhausted from their busy days and the beau is working til midnight! So here are my google images.

GRANDPA CARL

I wanted to post this today because it was 18 years ago tonight that we lost my precious father-in-law. This was a man who was a gem. He was silly and funny and most of all he loved his phamily. He was sent off to the US Navy when he was all of 14 years old. Having been orphaned with an older sister and younger brother a wicked aunt took them in to collect the monies from the state. By the time my father-in-law was 19 he had been around the world three times! He was a man who held three jobs at one time and attended college at night so he could raise his phamily with his wife at his side. My father-in-law was a godly man. He loved the Lord with such a pure passion that I know understand where my husband got his love for the Lord from. He could talk to you about anything and I loved his world map he had set up in the dining room. He pin pointed where his youngest son was traveling with the US Navy too.

Grandpa Carl taught my kids silly songs and he made me feel loved in a phamily otherwise ignoring my presence. He cared for me when I had major neurosurgery and he taught me that you can never let go of your phamily. He was such a fighter, a small man from an Irish clan of six foot something people. He stood about 5"7"! I loved my father-in-law. He worked as a watch guard at the CF&I steel corporation in its heyday. I am sharing a few photos of the Irish clan.

I am still trying to organize phamily photos and this repeat from Father's Day photo of Grandpa Carl with my infant son J.  Lucy, Mike and hubby recently and hubby with his mom and younger brother John in better days.

My father-in-law would be mad that I still don't have a postcard from his home state of Arkansas.

Someday I will tell you about me, the Mormons, my husbands late overbearing grandmother and his dad's funeral.

Grandpa Carl, enjoy eternity with your maker. You deserve the peace and pain free after life. Blessings

RANDOM PHOTOS AND SUCH

I am posting some random pictures. We had to take a couple quick trips home to Pueblo and the kids were restless. They aren't todlders either! But we got some great shots.

Here goes:

My pretty hand stitched find from the thrift store for $1! I am going to have it re-framed as my friend will show me how to launder it so we can stretch it on a new frame! I am apprehensive but she is an old pro!

This is Matt. He is my nieces youngest son and he is posing at my sister's house with Bumblebee one of the three kitties she inherited from her granddaughter.

This cute guy is Gizmo. Isn't he sweet? Photogenic too.

This is Chompers. He is very shy. In the background is my sister's new super huge wood dining table that her daughter found for F R E E on Craiglist! Lucky sissy!

This is my late Ta Ta's house. Tata is SLOVEnian for Aunt. The house is on the flip side of my sister's home. I wish I had money to buy it. My Tata's grand daughter owned this house and her husband has cancer so they are selling to keep their bills paid! I have so many memories here. My Tata let me braid her long hair. I miss those memories so much.

The evening sky from our car window traveling North on I-25 from Pueblo.

My white Veranda plate does not do my topping justice! My sis created this yummy topping for burgers and dogs. Just slice an onion thin and add fresh or canned mushrooms and a few whole mild chili peppers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and some oil and cook in a foil envelope on the grill or in a casserole on the oven or microwave. Yummy!

Some yummy sweet refreshing watermelon after a big day of 4th of July festivities! Yummy!

Old Glory at the front of the Mexican market we often shop at.

Flags on the world at the Mexican Market!

Don't bother the father while he is driving in four lanes of fast moving Denver traffic!

The momma and her baby girl!

The papa and his little middle girl!

 Sisters!

 Brother J and the little middle sister!

The little, the middle and the baby!