9/11 Memorial...A Must See

http://attacked911.tripod.com/

This is an amazing site that any of us must watch. It will bring you great sadness to watch this again.

My daughter, Shayna, and husband, Stacey, are making big moves and big names in the modeling world

Four of my five kids. They are my heart. Shayna, Adam, Lucas, and Hannah. We were at Stacey and Shayna's grand opening of the new Elite/Pulse Management Model/Xtreme Sports/Movie Actors office in South Salt Lake City, Utah...SoSaLa. The building is under construction, but Pulse and Elite have offices already open in the adjacent building. Elite, who represent some of the most amazing models of our time, i.e. Cindy Crawford, have offices all over the world. Due to the amazing young women and men found in SLC, they decided to open a $500,000,000 office in Utah. Pulse has found some of the most amazing talent to the runways, such as Hy Rim Park, currently one of the top 10 runway/high fashion models in the world today. Stacey and Shayna have worked very hard to make this happen. Their beliefs have sustained them and brought them great joy in watching these events unfold.

I remember

It's funny when moments of your children learning the ins and outs of life surface to give you the giggles. I remember one such time with Lucas, my oldest son.

He must have been about 10 years old, and the mullet was a true fashionable hair-do...egads...shades of Billy Ray Cyrus!

He was quite a vibrant little guy. He was quick-witted and he is still one of the funniest people I know. He speaks the truth with whimsy. He is gifted with his physical comedy. I always felt like I was watching a live cartoon. He reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes.

I was in the back yard pulling weeds and he was squinting into the sun. "Mom, can I get my ear pierced?" I realized he was being very sincere and hoping for the answer he wanted. I didn't just want to dash his hopes by saying a flat "no".

I told him when he was 16 years old, he could get his ear pierced. His shoulders dropped in disgust. In his true wry fashion, he grinned and said, "Awww, I will know better by then!"

Retirement should start at birth.

We live longer than we work.

By the time we hope to retire, we have much longer to live than we did many years ago when the retirement age was set.

More than that, our health is an issue. We feel great the first 35 years. But then about age 35 the aches and pains and weariness start crawling their way into our bodies.

We are looking forward to retiring in our 50's, if we have prepared. But the the cost of living is rising, and our retirement fund is not rising as fast, if at all.

The costs of medical needs and prescriptions heap faster than a speeding locomotive.

Our parents have warned us for years. We thought that being old was a long way off. Not so much.

We are old much longer than we are young. It makes up for more than half our lives. We consider young up to about 35. After that you have another 50 years. Are we prepared for the financial burden? It takes at least 30 years to pay off your home mortgage. Did you buy a home by age 25? Then someone has to keep working till age 55.

Okay, maybe most of us can't set up a retirement fund at birth. But, I think it should be a required educational class in school.

Yes, $48 BILLION on AIDS research

Yes, $48 Billion. Our president just voted in this amazing amount of funding. Not only for research, but for supporting the world to prevent the AIDS virus from exploding. (Has anyone told the world how to prevent AIDS so maybe it will stop spreading? I know, I know, unrealistic to think that people will stop having unprotected sex. Rubbish.) I know that's just a drop in the bucket for our budget. And, I think it is incredible that we are trying to help other countries from being affected by this horrible death. Let's, at least, acknowledge that AIDS is a preventable disease. But, even though not a disease, getting OLD is not preventable.

So, how come we don't help at home first? At least, for our elderly? The same president just vetoed a bill that would keep premiums lower (thank goodness that Congress overrode him). Those most affected are those seniors/disabled on fixed social security income budgets.

We may disregard this problem now, because we think we are too young to worry about it. But, you don't get to skip this part. We are on our way to becoming the elderly.

Let's not use the words elderly or seniors. We could even use the word Mom in each sentence. Okay, let's use "Mom" in each of these sentences to give a better idea of how you could feel, or use "I" starting with: We have people that are going hungry. Now relate this to..."Mom" is going hungry or "I" am going hungry). These people are going without medications. They are not able to use electricity to keep cool or heat to stay warm. They are becoming homeless. These people have worked and paid for programs that are becoming too expensive to use.

These people will be you and me, someday, and sooner than you would like to think.

I want my family members and friends to know that they will get appropriate medical help and prescriptions that won't take away from the feeble retirement pay they will, or already, receive.

Maybe the answer...and don't scream at me...is socialized medicine for those over the retirement age. Oh, that's right, I think they call that medicare. Well, if it's supposed to be helping, how come only the ones that can afford it get the most benefit from the program. Kind of like, how you can get a loan, if you don't need one.

We should offer all prescriptions at a low discounted rate, like the military receives, which is federally funded from the same money that funds medicare, or just at no cost to the people that would qualify.

The body starts to fall apart over time. As one gets older, more medications are needed to keep the body stay in balance to have a comfortable life.

Maybe the presciption funding isn't the answer but it would sure help. People shouldn't have to give up eating to stay well, or stay alive.

RECIPES...food, how exciting!

I have an amazing recipe for Pumpkin Bread from a friend that is to die for. Jen Barber is the author of this and I am passing it on. I had the cinnamon and sugar topping. The topping ended up being crunchy. YUM!

Pumpkin Bread
3 cups sugar
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
Well in dry ingredients together
4 beaten eggs
1 can pumpkin (15.5 oz)
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients, divide mixture into 2 large bread pans, bake at 350° for 1 hour.
You can put pecans on top or sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

Family means warm fuzzies.

We all have families that don't meet the criteria for a "Leave it to Beaver" rerun. My family has character, and characters. The word dysfunctional is harsh and should be avoided. It is a sore and silly word. I have never met a family that doesn't have something a little wacky in it. I like it. It makes us more interesting, charming, and wise. My family gives me warm fuzzies.

Bless their hearts, all of mine are just wonderful and a miracle to have in my life. This includes old and new family, extended family, my kids' friends that call me mom, friends that are forever, and there is always a place in my heart for someone who wants to join us!

My favorite location...the marvelous ocean. My favorite place to be with my favorite people.

This is a new project for me...blogging.

I am new to blogging, but I am sure I will pick it up quickly. I want my blog to be a variety of fun, food, family, friends, happy and not-so-happy ideas and concerns.

There will be pieces of news that could have slipped by undetected, but may have real relevance in our lives, and the world coming our way. As caring people, we need to make a difference. It may start at home, but every thought, action and prayer will affect our lives and those around us. The news articles will be open for feedback and opinions that will be posted.

Food is always good for any article. They make books, magazines and TV shows...just on food. I will list tried and true recipes that I or others have really enjoyed. Send me your best to share with others. We reeaally like the quick and easy to make, shortcut recipes. But, if they are awesome, send it. I found out my oldest daughter, Shayna, is the Costco Contessa. She buys Costco foods and creates a new meal with additions that have really made her family happy.

I have a favorite savings site called The Screaming Penny. It is so amazing. PinchingYourPennies.com. It updates every day with new info from savings at Albertson's, how-to's, Black Friday, coupons and so much more. Check it out!

Of course, there are the family pictures. I will change them out, because I want you to come back! No people falling asleep here. But, just so you get to know me, there are my first set of pics of my loved ones.

Hot Shots! My loves...Together is our favorite place to be.

We all think our children and grandchildren are the most amazing people that have ever existed. We pull out our pictures, share our stories and our memories. These blogs are so wonderful in that we are able to share our families without wasting money on pictures that get hidden away!...I can be sooo cheap.



We are not a family that poses for that cute shot, as much as we may be a poser in the moment. We live our lives candidly and that makes for candid shots. Together is our favorite place to be.

My snapshot moments are emotions at a point in time. The trigger that helps me to relive, revel and relate to that flash of memory.

My Interests

He is my very best friend. I just want him around all the time. He has a roaring sense of humor. I love his company. Even when he is cranky. My joy, my husband.

Another interest. Hmmm, my husband says I need to back away from my porn...which is HGTV. LOVE that show. But, I have so many ongoing projects, it's killing my husband. Just ask him. He always says, "You're killing me. Finish one, then start another." He just doesn't get it. The projects are just so intoxicating. I am a junkie. I can see the finished product before I am done. So many projects, so little time. Therefore, unfinished projects. Don't blame me, blame the HGTV.

I love to go out to eat. I think everyone does. I don't have to clean.

I enjoy my children's lives. I stay tuned to what is going on. What that means is I track them down and drill for the truth.

I love to hear from the grandchildren. They can really do no wrong at this point. I always blame it on their parents. Things haven't changed!

Love to read. Love to watch TV. I admit it. Love to watch shows that have strong female roles.




I am still trying to dress my teenage daughter, Hannah. I didn't have nice clothes like this when I was young. So, vicariously, I am trying to make her my little Barbie doll. I dress her the way I wanted to look, and she dresses herself the way I don't want her to look. Where do all those tight and teeny clothes come from? I care about style as long as you stay in the house while you are wearing it!



But, my husband, he is living athletically through our daughter. She must get tired of us. Volleyball. Once my retired-feeling-old beat-up-knees husband found out that our daughter is a beast on the volleyball court...he became energized. He bought $80 jump shoes that will help you jump an additional 6 inches for those kill shots, and they are still sitting in the closet. He had her doing pushups in the living room. If you are at one of her games...you will find him immediately. He is the guy that is red in the face with a vein puffing out down the middle of his forehead. He could be standing due to anxiety, or sitting with one hand over his mouth in an attempt to keep his voice lower. He is the loud guy. How loud? Well, at the football stadium at Boise State University, our son was playing in a high school football game. We were among the roaring crowd in the arena. When Jon yelled...Jacob looked right at us...along with the rest of the team "Jacob, there's your dad."

Now, just imagine a confined gym and Jon together, with his daughter powering a kill shot. Cover your ears!

I am interested in all our kids activities. From sports to video games to their friends.




Just think...we could be your neighbors!

I may be boring, but my life isn't dull.

What about the Children?

Foreclosures:

In addition to children of renters evicted from foreclosed properties and those of prime mortgage holders who defaulted, an estimated 2 million children will be directly affected by the subprime mortgage crisis as their families lose their homes to foreclosures, according to a report by family advocacy group First Focus.

The group cautions that frequent, disruptive moves can lead to behavioral problems, difficulty in school, health problems resulting from families' inability to keep health insurance, and emotional issues such as shame and the trauma of parting with friends. In drastic cases, some children may have to stay with relatives or even in temporary shelters.

Some children suddenly find themselves in charge of babysitting younger siblings when parents can no longer afford child care, and a number of teenagers seek after-school work to help the family meet ends. Source: USA TODAY

Food Drought Ahead? Make Food Storage Priority

Honey Bees
Perhaps nothing on our list of disappearing America is so dire; plummeting so enormously; and so necessary to the survival of our food supply as the honey bee. 'Colony Collapse Disorder,' or CCD, has spread throughout the U.S. and Europe over the past few years, wiping out 50% to 90% of the colonies of many beekeepers -- and along with it, their livelihood.

This is listed as the #4 of Top 25 Things Vanishing from America from Wallet Pop.