Thanksgiving

We have just had a most disappointing election. My heart just sank within me. Possibly because I have been studying Mormon 1-6 and I likened it to what is happening these days. This country is so corrupt. I know that the Lord is testing us. Hope that I have the faith to endure. Enough sadness. What am I thankful for? Oh, my. I have to say that finding the church has been the basis for all that has been good in my life. First, I found a place where I am happy. Its beliefs are my beliefs--long before I had ever heard of Joseph Smith. Next is Larry. I was so very lucky to have someone like him who puts up with my crazies. Next are my kids. They are the pride and joy of my life. I cannot adequately say how very sad I am at not having them all closeby to me. I recognize that I was such an incomplete mother but I did provide a foundation for their lives with the gospel. I think that they are all mostly happy. Some are still finding their way but it will happen. I am ready to get this house refurbished and sold. I am ready for our plans to begin but it won't happen for at least 18 months. So I am looking forward with some trepidation but not much. I know that the Lord is on my side and so I can't lose only grow stronger.

Updates (it's about time)

Well, I was very embarrassed to see that I haven't updated since 2010. I did continue my landman career until Dec. 3, 2012. I worked in Oklahoma, Texas, and Illinois. It was interesting and financially rewarding but I was not here when Grandma Knackstedt died and ended up being fired because I wanted to come home. Duh!

So I am back at the Library--really bored out of my groud. I like the challenge of the landman work but now I need to be here so we can finish remodeling our home in order to sell it or rent it. Lar will be in San Antionio (maybe--fingers crossed). He's been told for many months that the store will be opening down there. We'll see.

I did go to Charleston, WV when little Chloe was born in September. That was a great time being with Kimball and Holly's darling family.

I have been able to spend some time with Kris and Emily's family and the kids are so darn cute and smart. They will be moving to Ft. Collins, CO in March so I will be very sad.

Bright spot is that Chanda and her kids are here. However, don't see them much. They are so busy with their animals and shows.

Grandma K died following a massive blood clot on the brain. She came through the surgery fine but just couldn't sustain. Lar and Kris were there when she died. She is buried in DFW National Cemetery. She and Ali the Dog were buried the same day. We had to put Ali to sleep because of her colon cancer which was really making her miserable. It was an awful day altogether. But Ali is comfortin Grandma. Grandpa is very lonely--they were married almost 71 years.

That's the major stuff-now hope that I can do better since I'm home.

FALL is here

It's finally cooling off. The last few days here in Oklahoma have been beautiful but I wouldn't know since I'm working inside all day. I love my new career. Being a landwoman is fun--lots of research and lots of details and lots of thinking and reading legal papers. It makes my brain exercise every day. Now I am in a courthouse where everything is not on computer and I'm lifting 40-50 lbs. books and climbing steps with them. Anyway, maybe I'll lose weight doing this. I've been in Stillwater for 3 weeks but will probably be in Guthrie next week. It's the oldest town in OK. Anyw got to download my photos of deeds etc. so I can work on them.
That's all for now.

Summertime in the country

Except for our tomatoes, our garden is gone. It has been hot, maybe I should say HOT! However the rain has been coming and Larry is mowing the grass 2 & 3 times a week. We haven't done anything this summer--just work, work, work. I really need a break. Any suggestions? Maybe a trip to West Virginia. Haven't been there yet.

I must be getting old. I don't have any energy except when I wear my energy chip. I have the" don't want tos" I did, however, go to Shreveport yesterday with Granny and James and I was worn out at the end of the day. James and Granny were like the energizer bunny--go, go, go. Of course, James was winning. Granny was losing and trying to get into the winning column. I stopped when I lost what I was willing to lose. So it was fun but would have been more fun if I had won something. Had a great meal thanks to Granny.

We are trying to buy out the store. Owner is willing to sell and we're talking with the leasing agent. To start we need $100,000. Once we retain the lease and remodel we will make money. In 18 months we will get an SBA loan and pay back the $100,000. Anybody want to invest $25,000?

Well, got to get ready for work--not looking forward to it.

It's Official!

Summer is definitely here. It's too darn hot to do anything. Our garden is producing lots of summer squash, lots of green tomatoes, spaghetti squash and 1 giant sunflower.
The sunflower was a story time project from the Library. Each child planted seeds. then when the seeds came up, kids took theirs home. Colton's is the only one that survived transplanting. It is now 10 feet tall with one good sized bloom. I will put photos on later.

Tonight we will be going to the fireworks in city park. We try to get a jump on July 4th. There is a live band. About dark time we'll have fireworks.

It's almost summer

In a few days it will be summer officially on June 21. And you know what it will be as well--our 37th wedding anniversary. That is so hard to believe. Time just flies by and if we don't do something (like scrapbooking, journaling) it will all be lost. I know that I had great times at Baylor but only a couple of people and events standout. The rest are mush. Actually, I can't remember what day it is. JK. I'm really sorry that I don't have my 3 oldest kids' baby books (they burned in our house fire) but I do have Karey's. It's truly sad that I haven't journaled so that I have every day memories. Wonder if this bit of insight will help me to journal? I do scrapbook (not very well)and will pass those books on to whomever. There is great joy in looking over those books.

Oh, yes, Summer. We have a garden and are enjoying the bounty. So far squash, peas, potatoes, a few tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, radishes and strawberries. We're waiting on carrots, spaghetti squash, watermelons, and cantaloupes. Then we're going to do our fall garden. Kris has been the worker in all this bounty. Wouldn't have had it without him.

I've got to go pick some more blackberries and some blueberries to freeze. They are wonderful to have in the winter--a taste of summer.

Today I'm having a nanny day with Caitlyn. Will start having days with each grandkid again this year. Those will be good days to write about..

Ahhh Spring

I really think spring is coming. Wednesday when Lar and I went to Dallas to look at apartments for Karey & Jodie, all the trees were bare--I mean bare--not a hint of green. Today, there are tulip trees blossoming and ornamental pears plus the trees have a green haze around them. And I've seen daffodils, jonquils and narcisses (sp???). All this happened in one day. I feel rejuvenated.