Just the 2 of us for the first time

Merry Christmas

It dawned on me this evening that with Margo traveling here from Flagstaff today and choosing to stay tonight in Tucson so she can watch her nieces open gifts Christmas morning, tomorrow will be the first time in our nearly 30 year marriage that Rod and I have been childless on Christmas morning. For the last 5 years we have at least had Margo here. Our very first Christmas as married folk in Green River, WY included 24-day-old Nora. I guess I will have to watch an old family Christmas morning-mayhem video to relive those crazy years with 6 children clamoring to open their gifts. That is, after sleeping in until ~~ dare I? ~~ 9:00 AM.

Not to worry. The majority of them will be here later in the day complete with 6 excited granddaughters. Sadly, Trevor and family will not be here. We plan on visiting them next week in Apache Junction which is near Mesa/Phoenix and about 2 1/2 hours from here. While there we will also take time to see the lights at the Mesa Temple and hopefully attend a temple session , too.

Rod spent about 2 hours this afternoon cutting mesquite wood with the chain saw for our traditional Christmas day fire in the fireplace. Those who have never been near a mesquite wood fire, it's the best -- burns hot and long. Luckily(?) the weather is suppose to cooperate and be cold and rainy.

A nice place to visit, but forget about living here (except in the summer)

We spent 3 days in Flagstaff enjoying(?) the snow, but, most especially, visiting with Margo. We arrived Friday night around 9 PM and went to Margo's apartment. Flagstaff had received about a foot of snow earlier in the week and the majority of parking lots in the city were not cleared as thoroughly as needed. So there were large ice and snow mounds everywhere. We parked next to Margo's car on top of some icy snow. An hour later we decided we'd better head to our motel. As I was backing out, the back of the truck started to slide towards Margo's car. I quickly stopped, pulled forward to try a better angle, but because of a huge mound of frozen snow in front of us, I couldn't move very far. I tried backing up again but even with Rod outside to guide me, the truck again slid and when I stopped, it gently "kissed" Margo's car. Now what were we to do? Margo was pulled up as far as she could be and because of the angle of the truck against her car, she couldn't back up. I suggested we try to remove about a foot of the 2-foot high frozen snow pile in front of Margo's car and then push her car forward and maybe that would give us enough room to back the truck up. Of course, the temperature was in the 20's and the water on the asphalt, in addition to the ice already there, was quickly freezing. So with a large plastic (plastic -- to chop ice?) snow shovel Margo had borrowed (because every store she checked in Flagstaff was sold out of shovels), Rod and I started chopping away at the mound of snow. Even though it was after 10:00 at night, Margo went to get her home teacher who lives in the same complex to see if he could help, which he did. He even got his tire chains to put under the truck tires for better traction on the asphalt. Well, my solution worked. After about 20 minutes of chopping, shoveling, and chain-placing, we were successful in getting the truck backed up and, upon inspection of both vehicles, no damage done. If I had been thinking, I would have taken pictures of all the fun. After that, we made sure to park away from other cars.

Saturday was sunny and warm (43`) so we took a drive to Lake Mary about 10 miles south of Flag. Margo reports this is where the city gets its water supply.

Sunday, the first day of winter, was also sunny and beautiful. Then, on Monday, winter made itself known once again. We left for home at 1 PM with a temp of 29 and near blizzard conditions. About 30 miles out of Flag, there was absolutely no snow anywhere. Then, four hours later, we are in Tucson and it is 63`. It was warmer than Phoenix had been. This trip just reminds us why we choose to live in southern Arizona.

No mother-in-law jokes, please

My mother-in-law is an absolutely amazing woman. Today is her 84th birthday and anyone who knows her says she looks and acts 20 years younger. In the family picture above, she is at the far left.
I admire her so much because she hasn't let all the tragedies and trials of her life get her down. I love her mainly because she raised an incredible son that I have been married to for going on 30 years. I love you, Mom!

The Teacher (or Mother, Father, Parent)

I saw this on a bulletin board at the school where I work and thought it very profound. Just insert the word "Mother / Father / Parent" in place of "teacher" and "home" in place of "classroom".

"I've come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized." ~~ Hiam Ginott

He's Back ----------

----- to work, that is. Yesterday Rod was given the clearance to return to work although he still does not have complete range of motion with his right arm yet. The DR has limited him in doing any overhead work because he can barely get his arm above his shoulder at present. He went back today and will work this week and next and then have two weeks off on vacation (already scheduled). He is continuing with occupational therapy twice a week for at least another month.

?? December ??

When did it get to be December? Christmas gift-giving this year will be less monetarily but greater in thought. As with many, the economic slumb -- um, free-fall -- has hit us, too. Where, or where, is our IRA and 401K going? And with medical bills from Rod's accident in the mix, OUCH! Luckily, we are debt free and have well-paying jobs (at least Rod does). He goes to the DR on Monday and we expect him to be given the OK to return to work on light duty on Tuesday. The timing is great. He will work 9 days and then take the two weeks vacation at Christmas he already has scheduled before heading back to work on Jan 5. The occupational therapy continues with strength exercises beginning.

We went to Tucson last night and decided to get a living tree for Christmas - one that we will plant outside in the spring. It is a drought-resistant Aleppo pine and is a nice shape. Because it is small - about 4' tall - we just have lights on it. In spite of the 70 degree weather we have been having, mornings are cold >30 and frosty and the evenings have a nip that, along with the wood smoke smell from fireplaces, gives you a feeling the holidays are close.

Happy Birthday to our Firstborn

Has it really been 29 years since that early morning in Green River, Wyoming, when we knew you were on your way. Back in "those days" we didn't have ultrasounds to determine the sex. But once your Dad and I picked out the girl name, we knew you would be a girl. We are proud of the woman you have become and all that you have accomplished. WOW! Know that you are loved and appreciated by us.