Beya's Blog

After a Year.....

2011-02-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

It has been over 13 months.
I don't have any new words to write.
Life goes on.
Our new life.

The Next Month

2010-12-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

The next month is going to be the hardest Holidays I have lived through. Last year Trina was still with us for Christmas and even New Years. She kept saying last year on Christmas Day "This is my last Christmas" I could not believe it then, I was unable to accept the fact that my daughter was dying. Last year I could still hold her, hug her, love her. This year all I can do is go to the cemetary and see her marker. I am crying now, while I write this, but Asa and Valentina are sitting at the table eating dinner and I am blessed to have them and Cameo.

I always thought it was crazy when a married couple lost a child and would get divorced. I understand it now. This year, Papa and I have grieved differently. We frustrate each other because we do not understand how the other thinks. Papa prefers to not think about Trina and that she is gone. He gets so mad when I cry. He says to just give it to God, and then I will not cry. I get frustated with him because he doesn't want me to ever cry. He took me to talk to the priest last week, to make him talk some sense to me. After talking to both of us, he agreed that I was grieving and so was Papa, but it is normal for people to grieve as we are all human, and he too grieved for his family members with tears. Papa even aplogized to me after that. We are growing closer together after talking to Father William. I love my husband very much and he loves me. It has been a hard year, but we will survive.

I am so thankful for our kids. They make me feel that I am needed. They keep Cameo and I very busy all day every day. Thank God for those kids!!!!!!!!!
I dread the next month, but also know that we will all survive and together we will get past January 15, the day we buried our dear daughter.

I never thought I could lose one of my daughters and live, but somehow we live even though it would be so much easier to die. But we live on for the others that we love. I am so grateful for Cameo and Asa and Valentina. I am grateful for my husband also and my dear sons in law. Together we will get through this time, we are all needed, for each other we will go on.

Life is hard right now.

Too Hard

2010-11-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

It has been 10 months since Trina died. The holidays are here.
Halloween was hard, but the kids said it was fun.
Last night we went out to celebrate Josh's birthday. The dinner was good, the company was good, but we were all still missing Her!
Thanksgiving is next, we still have no idea what we are going to do. Cam wants to be out of town.
We both agree we cannot be at home and cook like we did last year with Trina. That is not an option.
Then there is Hannukah and Christmas. Then New Year's. She had her last chemo on Dec.31, went to the hospital on Jan.2 and died on Jan.9.
I truly do not know how we can live through the next two months. It is so painful. My heart aches for us all. Josh, Cameo, Asa, Papa and I. How do we do this????

Time Goes On

2010-06-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Five months, the days pass and all I have to write is that I am grateful for my family that I still have, and grieving for the one that I don't.

Always an Empty Chair

2010-03-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

It has been two months since my dear daughter Trina died. What to say? It was always my worst fear that I would lose one of my children. I am sure most moms feel that. The worst thing has happened. Now what?

It is a surprise to me that we can still function at all. We put one foot ahead of the other and the days go by. I thank God for my dear grandchildren and Cameo. Without them, life would be unbearable. Cameo and I try to keep busy and with two kids, that is not hard to do! I cannot look past today, Cameo has taught me that. One day at a time is all I can do. If I look ahead to a season, holiday or event, it is too much for me.

Trina was Cameo and my best friend. The three of us were a unit. We are still a unit, missing one third of us. But it isn't like it is a clean piece of the pie gone, it is more like a piece of cloth that is weaved, and as that piece is cut out, it cuts off the life of us also.

I am not a writer, and it takes me so long to write this, but I am trying to document how I feel, so that someday maybe I can look back and see if I have made any progress in healing. Right now I am feeling like my heart is cut apart and bleeding.

Papa spends alot of time at church, I do not. I trusted in Trina's healing so much, that I feel like I am so stupid for believing in the impossible. Why are some people healed with prayer and some are not? The Bible says if you have faith, you will be healed. We had faith. We three had faith and belief. Why???? I need to understand. I have read the book by Rabbi Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. That explains some things, but I still need to know why some are healed and some are not.

I know that we are blessed to have each other. There are seven of us left, we will be strong for each other, we will go on. But there is always an empty chair at the table now. At home, at a restaurant, in the car. An empty chair. We all notice, always, even Asa and Valentina.

I just pray that my heart will stop bleeding, and I will not dread the upcoming seasons, events and holidays. Last summer was hard with Trina on chemo and feeling terrible, but we still had her to hug and love and see. This summer will be the worst ever. The worst ever. Trina loved summer! We loved the sun!!! God give me the strength to make this summer great for the kids.

Cameo is such a help to me. I am at her house from morning to night, everyday. I do not like to be in the trailer at all, it is too lonely. I need her. She is a light to me. She is so strong, I am so proud of her. So proud!

Josh is going back to work in April. I am so glad he has had this time with Asa. It has helped Asa and Josh, having this time together. It is going to be an adjustment when he goes back to work full time. He has been working at his part time job all along. Asa will miss him alot. The two of them are best buds!!! So cute to see.

Another weekend here, another week that we lived through. And they keep coming and going. It is amazing to me that life goes on.

Prayers for Trina Please

2009-10-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

I am asking for prayers for Trina tonight. She had a terrible headache all day. Please pray she will sleep all night and wake up without it tomorrow. Also, I would like to ask everyone to pray along with us Sunday night. A group from church is coming to pray for her healing. Please join us in praying for a complete healing for Trina. God has promised me she will be healed, we need alot of prayers. Thank you all.

The Lord's Right Hand Has Done Mighty Things!!!

2009-08-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

I woke up to those words running through my mind on Monday, Chemo Day, Test Result Day. And that is what my bible was open to by my bedside.

The Lord's right hand has done mighty things, the Lord's right hand is lifted high, the Lord's right hand has done mighty things. I will not die, but live! And proclaim what the Lord has done!!! Psalms 118:13-18

I knew then that we would get good news on the CT scan, but did not realize that God had planned to give us the great news that day on the tumor markers! They were drawn that morning and we usually have to wait two days for the results. The Dr. came running into the chemo room to tell Trina just as we were leaving, "Good News, the tumor markers are 340!" They had come down from 616. Dr. was very pleased. The chemo nurse got goose bumps. Great news. Thank you God!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so blessed to have our God fighting this battle with Trina. It would be impossible to go through this without our God. I love you God.

God is Good.

"Mama, I'm feeling a little better"

2009-06-30T05:24:00.004-07:00

That was what I heard last night at 10pm. What wonderful news! Trina is feeling better. She was able to come over to Cameo's yesterday to hang out. Yes, she slept on the couch, but she was able to get out of her house for a few hours and eat, alot! Her appetite is poor when the drugs are working, and only eats enough so she can take her meds. But Monday at Cameo's she ate! Alot! Then last night she called me at 10pm to tell me she was even better. I was so happy to hear that because she calls me at night to talk over what she should take, what cocktail of drugs will help her the most at that time. And she didn't need any! She was feeling better. She still had aching bones, but she hates to take her pain meds if she can get through it at all without them. By the 4th day of taking her pain meds she is always having a bad headache from them, so trys hard not to take them on her "good days". She is so postive and a blessing to us all!!! This is her "week off" from chemo, and with God's blessings she will be better every day.

Last week after seeing her bone scans, it was just like you could see the bad cancer cells swarming around in her body. Her bones were covered. But again God showed me a precious verse in Psalms that gave me faith that He is healing her.
Psalms 118: NIV
12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord, I cut them down.
16 The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right has done mighty things.
17 I will not die, but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

I am so weak, but with God's strength, I am strong. I hate cancer! I hate seeing my dear daughter so weak from treatment! I just pray for more faith. I thank God for my family and their strength. Together with God, we will get through this trial, and be stronger on the other side. I pray for fear and doubt to leave me and to be replaced with faith and love.

It is so hard for me to write these things. I am so private in my thoughts but I feel the need to write about the blessings that God has given us through this. Even little Asa and Valentina have started to say " thank God" for the littlest things. I guess they are listening to us and the 50 times a day we say that. Papa always "amen" instead, and we are waiting for the kids to start saying that. Trina always smiles when papa says that. We are all changed. Thank God!

One cute story about Asa. He loves popcicles, the ones with riddles and jokes on the sticks. The other day Josh read him the riddle. Who can stop a speeding car? Asa replies right away, "God". How cute! Yesterday when I was driving him home he asked me "When did God make you? When I said "1952", he then asked about all of us and I had to give him the year we were all born. Asa is listening. Even little Valentina has started with "thank God" at times.

I am going to spend the day at Trina's today since Josh works all day, but maybe she will want to go out alittle bit. Maybe lunch out? We will see.

Please keep praying that God will kill out the swarms of bees (cancer) in her body. Thank you!!!!!

God is Good!

Thanking God

2009-06-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

I am thanking God for everything He gives us. Everything.
He is so good to us. I thank Him for His Word, His comfort, His promises, and yes even for letting us go through these terrible trials because without trials, we would not have thankfulness!

There are so many miracles in this trial we are going through, I want to list just a few today:
Trina's strength and attitude! It is truly amazing and we can see God living in her daily.
Cameo's faith and hope. Only God can do that.
My peace and comfort, that can only come from God!!!!!
Papa's peace and strength, what a difference in a few weeks.
Trina's brain scan clean. After seeing the bone scan and how full it is of cancer, only God could have kept it from her brain.
The promises He shows me. What wonderful promises He gives me just when I need them.

I pray that I do not put limits on the wonderous things that God can do. He can and is doing wonderous things. I do not want to limit God, so:

I am inviting you all to join me in praying for Trina's complete healing. I am praying for her tumor markers to be normal next time they are taken in two weeks. I know God has His own timeline, and I am ok with that. But I do not want to limit what He can do!!!!!!!!!

I am also asking for Cameo to be healed. She has such terrible pain everyday with her fusion and this stress makes it so much worse. Please pray for healing for her as well.

I am thanking God today for His love and peace He has given us all!

God is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

Praying for:
good test results,
good Dr. appt.,
good chemo treatment
and strength, peace and joy.
Please continue to pray for both my girls.

God is Good.

Thank You

2009-06-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers and comments. Dr. Oncology was really encouraging and supportive today. Trina loves him and Josh thinks he is very smart. It is in the early stages of the vertebra and he is confident the chemo can get rid of it. Dr. said that it was teamwork with God. He also said he had seen miracles many times. That was nice to hear from him.

I am still concerned about the brain scan, but having faith in God. I believe he will heal her in His time. I need to persevere like Job and to have faith like Abraham when he was told he would be a father in old age. He did not doubt. I feel so guilty when I have a lapse of faith.

Trina is feeling so good tonight. Her father in laws wife had prayers said for her in her church in West Virginia tonight. I thank God for all the prayers being offered up for her by all of you.

Keep up the prayers for my girls please and thank you in advance.

God is Good. :)

I need to be strong

2009-06-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

I need prayers tonight. I dread the Dr.Oncology appts. so much. Trina has another round of chemo tomorrow and we see Dr. Gloom. Trina loves him, so I guess I should too, but it is hard for me to like someone that always had bad news to share about my little girl.

Pray Trina's brain scan is clean, please. Trina told me today she really does not want to have cancer in her brain. Oh I wish I could spare all this from her.

Pray for Cameo too please, this is so hard on her. When Trina had cancer the first time, she turned into Trina's second mother.

Trina's pain was less today, and we even went to JCP's and she bought some cute loungewear. She is so strong. She went 8 hours without pain meds and then only took half a dose.

I need to be so strong for my girls, and today, I need some prayers. I don't know how much more I can go through. I do have faith that she will be ok, but it still is hard sometimes. Thank you.

Please Pray Again or Still.....

2009-06-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Trina's brain scan to be ok. They are scheduling a brain scan on Monday because the mri showed it has moved to her vertebrae.

Please we need many prayers for the cancer to leave her!!!! I have faith in God that she will be ok in the end. God has promised me in Psalms 41: 1-3 that he "will be with her on her sick bed and restore her from her bed of illness." NIV Please claim that verse with me.

She is very tired from the chemo, and has pain in her spine, but her spirits are pretty good considering all she has been though. She is on diladid. (sp?)

Please pray for Cameo too, she is so completely without hope and her faith in God is very distant right now.

I love my girls so much and wish so bad that it was me, and not Trina.

Thank You God !!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-18T06:04:00.001-07:00

I want to thank God for his love and healing power. I would not be able to handle Trina's illness if I did not have the Bible to get my power from. God's word is powerful and I need His power.

This is week number three in the saga of Trina's cancer. The last two weeks have been a blur. From the ER on the third, through all the Dr. appts. tests, and procedures. Poor Trina has been poked and given an IV at least 10 times. She had surgery to put in her mediport yesterday so hopefully the pokings will be less. She starts Chemo on Tuesday and is understandably nervous about that. Josh has asked for the day off so he can be there with us. Josh is such a support to Trina. He makes her laugh and loves her!!!!! He told her one day he just wanted to hold his "little ball of cancer". Please continue to pray for her to have peace and comfort over the loss of her baby. That is the worst for her.

I also need everyone to pray for Cameo. She was only 17 when Trina went through this the first time and had a lot of responsiblity at that time with Trina because Trina's first husband did not want me around. Please pray for Cameo, she is hurting alot.

Papa and I took the grandkids to a Mexican Fiesta at church yesterday. They had a nice time. Valentina loves to dance to mexican music and they had a live band there and she danced her heart out. She saw a little boy dancing and really watched how he was dancing and wanted to dance with him. It was so cute. Asa was afraid of the loud music at first because of the masks from last August, but once I told him they did not have masks on he was brave and looked and had a nice time with Noah, his teammate from soccer.

I am going to spend the day at Trina's today. It is going to be 80 and we are going to be outside!!!!!!!!

God is Good.

2009-05-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you God!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trina's bone scan is clear.

Thank you God.

But I am still asking you to keep praying for her.
I pray she will have comfort after the loss of her baby.
I pray she will have the courage to go through chemo again.
I pray for complete healing and a long life for my girl.

Thank you all for praying for my little girl!!!!

Life is Good with God.

2009-05-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

I want to thank all of you for praying for my dear daughter. She is so strong and loving. Her bone scan is on Wed. at 5pm. Please continue to pray for a clean scan. I thank God for all his promises to us and his comfort at this hard time. Thank you for all your prayers, and please do not stop.

Life is Good with God.

2009-05-10T19:58:00.001-07:00

Please continue to pray for Trina to have a clean bone scan this week.
Pray for strength for all of us, and FAITH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pray for peace for her.
Please just pray!!!!!!! Thank you.

2009-05-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Please pray with me for a clean bone scan for Trina and that she will have peace with the termination.
God has promised a long life for her. Ps.91:16

I Believe

2009-05-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

I believe in the healing power of God.

"With longlife will I satisfy her and show her my salvation." Psalms 91: 16

...... "you have great faith! Your request is granted" and her daughter was healed from that very moment. Matt. 15:28

Please thank God with us today for that loving healing power.

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-12-31T15:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone out there!

I am looking forward to another happy year.

My resolution this year is to be more patient with the people in my life. Mostly my husband. After 40 years of marriage, it seems that I take him for granted more and more. He is the most important person in my life, my best friend and the love of my life. I want him to know that, and I am going to make a honest effort to show him how important he is to me.

Life is good!

Happy New Year!!!!

Fabulous

2008-12-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

Jill gave me this Super-Fab Award!!! I don't think that I deserve the fabulous award since I don't post very often, but I am not one to turn down an award, so THANKS!

Here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you this award and link it back to them.

My Addictions:

1. Blogs! I love to read other people's blogs. Some of my best "friends" are friends I have never met, but love to read about.

2. I love reality TV. My favorite is the Amazing Race, but anything reality is something I have to watch.

3. Hairspray, I know I have listed this one before, but I really cannot survive without my hairspray! I know it dates me, but hey.

4. My family. I cannot live without my family. I have been so spoiled by being able to live by my family for so long. I do not take it for granted for one minute.

5. My new addiction is Bubbletown! It is very addictive to play, as you know that you will make it "next time". Ya, I have been stuck on level 13 for days now. I have to give this addiction up soon!!!!

I am tagging anyone who wants to do this that has not been tagged already!

Life is good!!!

100 Things

2008-12-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Trina's Blog. Please feel free to steal it from me. Everything I did is in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Valentina's Welcome Home Day

2008-11-25T07:26:00.000-08:00

Today marks one year that our dear Valentina came home!!!!! Oh what a blessing she is. I can watch her all day long. She loves to play, laugh, sing and dance. Boy can that girl dance!!

And Asa, who has been in West Virginia for 10 days with his mama and daddy is coming home today!!!!

I love November 25!!!!

Life is so very good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to all our Veterans!!!

2008-11-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

Get out and VOTE!!!!!

2008-11-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

Vote!

I am so excited to be a part of this election!

I am so excited that my grandchildren are growing up in an era where the color of your skin or your gender do not matter in the race for President of our United States.

Get out and Vote!

It is a priviledge not every one in the world has.

We have that priviledge!!!

Vote!

Happy Birthday Cameo!!!!

2008-10-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!!! I cannot believe that it has been 33 years since you were born!! I still think of you as my baby girl, and it is so wonderful to be able to watch you be a loving, kind and doting mother to your daughter. Happy Birthday and I know we will have a great day! Thank you for being the kind and loving daughter you are to me. I love living by you and love that we have a good mother/daughter relationship now. I feel blessed everyday and love my life!!!! Thank you!

Life is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Valentina

2008-10-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Valentina came over to visit in the trailer today. I had bought her a tea set last year before she even came home because I loved the pockadot on it. Today, I decided to get it out to see if she liked it. She did. It kept her entertained for quite a while. I took a "few" pictures of her. It is rather hard because she moves so fast at all times!!!!!!!!!! She just goes all the time!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's The Weekend!!!!

2008-10-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but I am excited about the weekend this week!!! We have the usual soccer game Saturday morning, and Sunday is Valentina's Christian Blessing. Cameo has bought her a precious dress and was going to look for shoes today. The girls went shopping again!!! We have all gone shopping every afternoon this week. Trying to find something to wear on Sunday. Trina is the only one that is still going to be naked!!!!! I decided I needed some time alone and that I needed to clean my place. Papa is working today, and I have the trailer all to myself this afternoon!!!!!!!

The weather is beautiful this afternoon. It was really foggy this morning, maybe that is why Trina is fighting a manic spell, maybe not. She will be ok. At least it is nice to know that she will be ok. When she was first diagnosed with Bi-Polar, it was harder because we did not have the times in the past to know that it was temporary and that she needed to ride it out, and now we do. It is still hard for her and us too that love her. I thank God everyday for the medication she is on, and that it is working for her. It was not easy finding the right meds, and I am grateful that she did not give up when the first ones did not work, but kept trying new ones.

Cameo is feeling better also. She said yesterday she is feeling great. I am thankful for that. It is hard when they are both down. Trina needs more people when she is down/manic. Cameo withdraws from us all and wants to be all alone with her thoughts.

This weather has me thinking alot about my parents. It is the time of my Dad's birthday, and my parents anniversary. I was born on their 15th anniversary. So since my dad died, my birthday was always kinda sad. We always use to celebrate together. After Daddy died, I would try and spend it with mom, so she would feel better. The last year or two, she did not remember dates, so it was not as important

Wow, I guess I am like Trina today, Debbie Downer. Not really. I guess I am just thinking how really blessed we are. We are a family, and we help each other get through rough times. And then enjoy when we are all up!!! The girls are always there for me when I need a pick-me-up too.

I am so happy that we have our Valentina home this year. A year ago, we were still waiting to go and pick her up, and now she is home and making us laugh every day so much. Asa and Valentina together are hilarious. Valentina walked over to Asa this morning and hugged him a long time. He hugged her back, looked at her and gave her such a gentle kiss. Ohhhh. What is there to be sad about then!!!

We are blessed and life is good!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Random Pictures!

2008-10-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

Papa and I had to run some errands a couple of weeks ago taking with us a couple of little tykes.

We took our machine armed guard with us since we were going to the bank.

Valentina was rather bored with the "Storm Trooper" " Can he ever take that off Bobbi"? She pronounces Beya as Bobbi. So cute!!!

Oh, yea, I do have a face. A cute one at that!!!

A tomato plant decided to grow right outside our trailer this summer. It decided to grow too late though, and is going to freeze any night now. It will never ripen now. I guess I should bring them in and fry them into Fried Green Tomatoes!!!

Soccer Day and Pumpkin Patch Day. One and the same.

This was taken at Old Spaghetti Factory after Asa's soccer game. Asa adores his Valentina and she loves him too.

At the "Pumpkin Patch" AKA: Chapman's Greenhouse

Valentina was still on antibiotics and was not feeling well, and had just waken from her short nap, so she wasn't too happy while we were there.

Asa is always ready to pose though!!!

The kids on the wagon, instead of the pumpkins.

Josh, Trina and Asa. What a cute little family!!!

Asa had so much fun loading up his pumpkins, he did not want any help!!!!!!!!!

This is the only photo I had where Valentina looked at all happy. Grandpa had his hands full! But at least Valentina looked like she was having alittle fun! It was so cold. She held on to her little pumpkin the whole time.

Life is Good!!!!

We're Back!!!

2008-10-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are back, and I need a big rest!!!! I don't think we will ever get things done in Gdale. There is so much work to keep up five acres of land, a shed, shop and house. We got three projects done, and came up with 10 more!!!! We roofed the shed, cut and stacked wood, and re-roofed the front porch, reupholdstered three dining room chairs, plus cleaning, sewing and other normal things.

Life is Good!!!

I love and miss you Daddy!!!

2008-10-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't post about my Dad's birthday on his birthday, the ninth. I guess I just needed to celebrate it privately. My dad was so special. He was such a strong Christian man. He did not preach to us kids, just lead by example. I am so glad that my girls were able to live next door to him in Gdale for so many years. They thought so much of him. I loved to help him do work. My sister and I helped him build their last house. That was one of the things my dad loved to do, build his own houses. When he retired, he told my mom he wanted to move to Gdale and build one more house. And he did. He died there, in his house that he built, seven years ago. Even though seven years have passed, I always think of him several times a day. I still remember the things he taught me, such as always to be honest and truthful, and I still miss him alot. He was a very big part of my life.

I love and miss you Daddy and always will.

How Should You Vote?

2008-10-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting. Take the quiz....

I was found to be 20% Republican 80% Democrat Go figure!!!

http://www.blogthings.com/shouldyouvoterepublicanordemocratquiz/

After The Party

2008-09-29T21:01:00.001-07:00

Well Asa's birthday party went very well and now it is back to the real world.

Papa works again tomorrow, so our trip to GD is out. I feel so torn when I go to GD. When I am here in Vancouver, I miss my little cabin. The cabin seems so roomy compared to a 24 foot fifth wheel trailer. Granted, I am not in the trailer much during the day, but it still seems small. I do know it is alot more than most of the world has, so I am not complaining. And when I am there, I miss the girls and my babies.

Have I told you how funny those kids are? No matter what is going on in my life, or how tired I am, they can always make me laugh so hard. When I go to Cam's house, Valentina pats the floor for me to sit down by her. She likes us all to sit on the floor with her. What a scream of delight she gave us the other night when we walked in. Asa is so hilarious. He teases us all of the time.

I am so glad that both of them have so many people that love them. They both share each others Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. Asa's Uncle Todd is Valentina's Uncle Todd. Valentina's Grandparents are Asa's grandparents and vise versa. They share Valentinas' Aunt Lori and both love her so much. She gave Asa his favorite present, a Star Wars Sand Trooper costume and blaster!!!!!!!! He looked so cute riding around in his electric Jeep Grama gave both the kids in his sand trooper outfit and using his blaster. So Cute!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures of the Birthday Party Day.

Look at that concentration!!!

This is the sand trooper costume from Aunt Lori, Asa loves it and looks so cute in it!!! Uncle Norm is putting new batteries in his new blaster as Asa used it so much the first set of batteries were toast!!!

Valentina with her Papa!!!!

Asa is teasing me here. He would make faces everytime I wanted to take a picture of him. He was so busy running around, I hardly got any photos of him.

Asa was trying to put the soccer cones on Valentina's head all the while she was yelling "NO NO NO" He trys to love on her too, but she is always yelling "NO NO NO"

The little Princessa looking beautiful in her party dress from Aunt Margo.

Being silly

She is a climber. She has No Fear. She does fall, but does not learn. She loves to climb! She is unclothed because she got her dress so wet pouring water on herself, the dress was literally dripping water. She was performing for us.

Happy Fourth Birthday Asa

2008-09-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Asa's birthday is tomorrow, he will be four and I am just thinking about when he was born and a baby. What a joy that baby has been. He is four now, and just gets to be more and more fun everyday. My little Blue Power Ranger. He is wearing his ranger costume everyday all day, but it makes him so happy that even Trina, that likes him to always be well dressed, lets him wear it everywhere!!!!!!!!! Non moms I am sure will not understand, LOL, Moms will.

Nine months

Wearing my bra as a hat.

My darling little cowboy!

Happy Birthday Nieto!

Global Orphan Team

2008-09-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Please take the time to read Julia's blog. She just returned from visiting orphanages in Guatemala including the one Valentina came from. This could be Valentina.

http://thejujucrew.blogspot.com/

Please Pray

2008-09-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Krystal and Elviz and Gershon!!!

http://braydenboy.blogspot.com/

Another Meme

2008-09-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about yourself.
Tag 6 other bloggers.
I am having a really hard time coming up with 6 quirks about myself since I see myself as normal :)

1. I prefer to drive a pickup rather than a car.

2. I have to put my right pants leg on first and also my right shoe.

3. I am one of seven children, six are still living. (Papa is one of 14, 12 of who lived to adulthood, and are still living)

4. I love to travel, but I fall asleep alot when I travel, so I do not take my turn driving very often. Papa on the other hand, can drive 14 plus hours without stopping. I really do not do my share of driving :)

5. I live in Cameo's driveway most of the time in a 24' fifth wheel trailer. Not much cleaning required here.

6. I do not have any friends other than family.

Weekend Post with Photos !!!!!

2008-09-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we left last Thursday night for G'dale. Our plan was to not have to work on projects, but to just relax and have a nice time together. Papa had worked 73 hours last week, he is suppose to be part time, Ha!!!! We wanted to go dancing Saturday night, and go on a long drive on Sunday or Monday into Eastern Oregon. Our plans were not to happen, but we had a nice time together anyway. :)

We got to G'dale Thursday night and slept in without an alarm clock, nice. We always have our morning coffee outside and watch the deer. Friday afternoon, we just relaxed out on the back deck, had a few drinks and talked and listened to each other all evening.

Saturday, we worked out in the shop alittle bit, but no project we had to get done, just some sorting and cleaning. Then we got showered and dressed up and drove to the Yakima Valley to go dancing!!! Ya, didn't happen. We got to our fun place, and it was boarded up!!! They had closed it down!! It seems we just find a new place and it gets closed down!!! We drove to the other places we use to go, but they were still closed down too! All four of them! About 10, we decided to head home, THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON!!! Papa drove fast so that we could get home before the car died! There is no phone service for 50 miles over the pass, so we really needed to get home before it quit. We made it!

Sunday, papa drove the old 1967 Ford pickup to town to order the alternator, it wouldn't be into town until Tuesday, so our long drive was out of the question at that point. :) Sunday, we just piddled around the property, sitting outside in the evening, drinking and watching the deer. There were three deer that just hang around the cabin all day and night. I say that they will sleep in the shop in the winter.

Monday, we decided was a work day, so Papa put on the roofing to his shop extention, while I sewed new curtains for the cabin living room, and sewed a quilt for Asa. I had made one for Valentina a couple of weeks ago.

Tuesday, papa went into town to pick up the new alternator, we installed it on the car, packed up and came back to Vancouver.

We had a nice time together, but was glad to come back and see the girls and kids too. Papa is back to work, we are back to the real world. It was good to be with the kids again today.

I had to get back for a mamogram and ultra sound today because I had found a breast lump two weeks ago, but after the mamo and ultra sound today, it is not cancer, so thank you God!!!

So here now are the pictures......

Valentina likes to get in Papa's Corvette and play around. She played in it as we packed up the car. One of us stands close to her so she will not fall out.

She was not happy at all when she had to get out when we were ready to leave, poor baby girl, Papa and I had to go in her house with her so she would stop crying.

We stopped by to tell Asa and Trina goodbye also.

Asa loves papa's Corvette too, here he is using it as a prop for his modeling shot.

Good bye girls and grandkids, we will be back!!!!

Dressed up to go dancing, self portrait. I love papa when he dresses up with his hat, buckle and boots!!!!! Even after 40 years of marriage he still looks good!!!

Papa sitting out watching the deer and drinking a beer on the back deck.

The tame deer.

Old curtains.

The new curtains I sewed for the four windows, and I love them! I had the white lace for 10 years at least!!!

Life is Great!!!!

We're Back!!!!!

2008-09-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

We are back and had a great time. Will try to post pictures tomorrow. :)

Happy Thursday

2008-09-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I and my man are off for the weekend!!! He has been working every weekend this summer, and he has agreed to take off one weekend a month to spend with me!!!! This weekend we are going to G'dale, and where ever else we decide to go! Saturday night we are driving the 50 miles to the valley and going dancing. I love to dance with my man!!!! It has been a long time since we have been out dancing, so I am going to enjoy it alot!!!! We have to be back on Tuesday, but that is 6 days with my husband. Yay!!!!!!!!

I will miss my girls and babies, but we will be back before you know it!!!!!

Life is Good!

A New Treasure

2008-09-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

For years I have been looking for a little vanity table where I could sit and roll up my hair and put on my makeup. I finally found the perfect little thing! It is tall enough for me to be able to sit on a little stool that my grandmother had and it is just perfect!!! I had decided that I needed to get out more, so yesterday, I decided to stop at the Goodwill and there it was!! I am rather excited about that. It will look so cute in my bedroom. It doesn't take much to make my day huh? I will post a picture when I get it set up in G'dale. Now it is still in the back of my truck.

Asa started Fall soccer tonight. I went with Trina to watch practice, it was really fun. The coach is good and has a lot of things they work on. The kids are all so cute.

Cameo and I have started walking in the mornings with the kids. Asa walked all the way there by my side. Valentina was in the stroller, and made Asa walk beside her and hold her hand the whole way there. As soon as we turned around to come back, Asa said he was too tired, so we took Valentina out and put Asa in the stroller. Well.... Valentina was too slow, and she didn't like to walk that far anyway, so we put Valentina on Asa's lap, and he held on to her the whole way home. It was really cute and sweet.

Grama came soon after we got home, and we had a nice time with her as usual. When she comes, she gives Valentina her bath, and Valentina gets to have a nice long bath instead of her 5 minute one Cameo or I give her. Valentina loves her Grama!!!!

Life is Good!!!!

Thankful for....

2008-09-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

1. The sun. I know winter and unstoppable rain is just around the corner, so today I am very happy for the sun!

2. Living by Cameo and only a mile away from Trina. It is so nice to live so close to my girls and their families. Trina brings Asa to me at 7am, Cameo stands at her front door and calls Asa and I over around 8 when Valentina wakes up. I really have it very good.

3. Our G'dale place. It is nice to take a couple of days a week and escape to the country. I love to sit outside on the decks and enjoy the deer and birds and am so grateful for that place.

We Have Come a Long Way....

2008-09-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

This is a historical Presidential election. I hope that we can all appreciate the history that was made last week by nominating an African American for the President of the United States. I was born in 1952 and my husband was born in 1941. In our lifetime, we have gone from my husband, being Hispanic, not being allowed to go into "white only" stores in Texas to this. And this week a woman has been nominated for the vice presidency. I believe that voters on both sides are excited to vote this year. While we have a very long way to go, we have come a long way, and we as parents and grandparents have the opportunity to teach our children to be race and gender blind. This is exciting! Vote!!!!!

Thankful

2008-08-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am going to try to post three things I am thankful for each week. I have so many blessings in my life.
1. My family:
Papa, my dear life companion. We have fun together, makes me laugh, and can outwork anyone. Trina, Josh and Asa, Trina is a joy, Josh is a dear and my Asa is so FUN!!!!!!!!!
Cameo, Norm and Valentina, Cameo is a sweetheart, Norm is generous and Valentina is so FUN!!

2. My truck:
Everytime I drive by a bus stop, I thank God for my vehicle.

3. Sandi and Rod:
Norm's parents are so wonderful. Not only do they love Cameo, their daughter in law, like a daughter, but they love Trina like a daughter too and love Asa as their grandson.

Photos From Last Weekend

2008-08-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some cute photos from our fun swim weekend last week. The weather is not warm enough to swim this weekend, and besides, Asa is sick and not feeling well. Trina had us over for coffee this morning, and we stayed for lunch also. Yummy scalloped potatoes and vegeburgers. Both my girls are great cooks.

Here is Trina with the kiddos out on Cam's deck.

I love these two pics of Cameo and Valentina. Don't they look alike? It is amazing to me that they look so much alike. God does amazing things!

Asa and MumMum swiming. Asa wanted to use goggles so his eyes didn't get wet, but I am not sure that they worked all that well.

Swimming with his floaties and goggles. He loves the pool this year.

Here Valentina decided that she wanted to try on a coat that was made for Asa's Star Wars figures. You can see how small it is, but she sure tried to get it on.

"I'll try two hands, maybe that will work.

"Maybe if I shut my eyes real tight it will go on, Beam it on Scotty"

" Okay, I give up"

My handsome guy, Papa !!!!!!!!!!

Life is good!!!!

Happy 39th Birthday Trina !!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Trina!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Girls Lunch Out

2008-08-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Trina, Cameo and I went out to lunch without kids!!! Grama was kind enough to watch the kids all afternoon so we could have an adult lunch. It felt rather weird without them, but we had a nice time. We went to a Thai restaurant that we had not been to. It was so good!!!!!!!!! Keo Thai!

My pretty daughters!

Cameo checking her blackberry #1

Cameo checking her blackberry #2

Cameo checking her blackberry #3

For dessert, we stopped at a little ice cream diner and had cones. Trina was so hungry for ice cream she decided to have two! LOL

This is Cameo when we decided we had to head back to pick up the kids. She is tired as you can see.

We took Asa to G'dale on Wed. He hates the sun in his eyes, and the sun was in our eyes the whole way home, so I put on Papa's hat and Asa's sunglasses from when he was a baby. It worked, he was well protected.

The kids came out to the trailer and got on our bed. You can see Valentina is moving all the time, she is blurry. They love to play up on the bed. I told them to go to sleep, so they lay for a second, then up they go again.

Valentina before Asa's soccer game. She wanted to ride with us to the game.

The weather is going to be hot this weekend, so we have decided that we are not going to go camping. We are going to stay close to Cameo's pool. Papa is working all weekend, poor papa. He doesn't mind though. Have a great weekend, I am.

I am so blessed to have these two kids in my life everyday! What fun!!! Life is good!

Pictures of Papa and Valentina !!!!!

2008-08-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

I went along with Papa on Sunday, since he had a long day going to Eugene and then to Wauna. It always amazes me how well he drives the semi truck. When I ride with him in the pick up or Corvette, I always have to tell him how to drive, but when he is driving the semi, he drives so good. How is that? I had a great day with him.

This is the truck he usually drives, the double tranker, but to Eugene, they only take one big trailer. He won't drive a trailer, if when he sees it, the mud flaps don't match. He takes it to the shop and has the mechanics put on matching mud flaps. He also hates to drive a dirty truck. They know that now after 12 + years, so they keep his clean. Notice how all the flaps match.

The front....

Valentina came over to the trailer yesterday. He went over to Cam's, and when he was leaving, she put her little hand in his, as if to say, "I am going with you too", so he carried her over. I put on Asa's cowboy hat on her, when she pointed and said "hat".

This is Papa's hat.

Both of them, how cute is that?

Then she decided she needed him to paint her fingernails, so he did. He cannot tell her "No". He can't tell Asa "no" either. How sweet!!!!! What a good Grandpapa they have. He worries that he will die before they are old enough to remember him. He is only 67 and in great health. He can outwork most younger people.

This was Asa and Papa with hats on about a year ago. So Cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is Good!!!

Fast Week

2008-08-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

This week sure has gone fast. We did not go to G'dale this week, but the time still went fast. Papa worked some extra days, and they need him this week also to fill in for drivers on vacation. That is good, since the girls have appts. every afternoon this week. I am needed!!!!

Asa has been so loving to me lately. On Friday, he gave me at least 10 kisses. He is usually so busy he doesn't have time. I sure enjoy my grandkids. Valentina is such a climber!!! She climbs up on chairs, stands up, sits on the arms and falls. V is also so attached to us, everytime I leave her house to go to the trailer, she cries to come with me. She sure is fun too. Asa is doing so well with his swimming leasons. His birthday is coming up next month. I cannot believe he will be 4. What a dear. It is going to be so much fun to have V at Asa's party!!!! We sure were sad last year that she was not home yet!!!

I love the Olympics!!! I love to watch all sports!!! Aren't our athletes amazing? What about the opening ceremony? WOW!!! Amazing!!!

Have a great week peeps!!! Life is good!!!

Photos

2008-08-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

A year ago in July (I am always late with things like this) we were in Guatemala City visiting our baby girl for the first time. Isn't she so cute?

This a photo of me and my two sisters in G'dale last month. Thank you sisters for visiting with me. I had a great day!!!

Anita on our bike ride. Anita has a favorite bike road that is gated off, so there is no traffic except other bikers and fishermen, since it is along the Klickitat River. We took one rest on the way going but several on the way back. I got tired!!! It is only 15 miles, but I am a little out of shape. Anita has a $1000 bike I have a $100 bike. She had to go slow for me. Sorry Anita....

Me.
The scenery is really pretty. You can see the river almost all of the time. It smells so good out there and sounds nice too.

This stick was on the road by a washout where you have to walk your bike through, I thought it looked like a snake from a distance. There are really big Rattlesnakes there. We did not see any that day, but have seen them before. Anita was hoping to see one that we could photograph.

This is at the Fiesta Mexicana that we went to last weekend. These are diablo (devil) dancers from Oaxaca, Mexico. They look pretty evil with their masks and whips. Asa had to be taken out, he did not want to see them. All of the other kids and babies just watched them like they were rather ordinary. I even thought they looked scary. They danced around to traditional music for an hour.
A close up of one of the diablos.

Life is good!!!

Tagged by Holly

2008-08-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

I've been given the brilliant blog award from the brilliant Holly.

Okay so here is how this thing works: First I have to answer a little questionnaire thingy which is pretty much all about ME!

Then I have to choose 7 bloggers who I feel are BRILLIANT (see list below) and I give them the award. They will post their own answers to the questionnaire on their own blog and they will choose 7 more recipients. And so it goes!

Here is the questionnaire (drum roll please...)

A. Attached or single? Attached

B. Best friend? Cameo and Trina

C. Cake or pie? Cake!!!!!!!!!!

D. Day of choice? Saturday

E. Essential item? Hair Spray!

F. Favorite color? Pink

G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither, YUK

H. Hometown? The booneys in Washington

I. Indulgence? Chocolate Truffles

J. January or July? July

K. Kids? 2

L. Life isn’t complete without? Mi Familia

M. Marriage date? December 16, 1968

N. Number of brothers & sisters? 4 sisters, 2 brothers

O. Oranges or apples? Oranges

P. Phobias? Kids drowning

Q. Quotes? "It's all in your attitude!!"

R. Reasons to smile? grandkids!!!!

S. Season of choice? Summer

T. Tag seven peeps! (see below)

U. Unknown fact about me? I started college after Cameo went, when I was 41 years old.

V. Vegetable? tomatoes

W. Worst habits? I am bossy with my family

X. X-ray or ultrasound? x-ray

Y. Your favorite food? Pizza

Z. Zodiac sign? Sagitarius

I'm tagging:

1. Anita

2. Miranda

3. Sonia

4. Marty

5. Erik

6. Amanda, Christina and Denise

7. Danita

8. Trina

Photos

2008-08-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to upload photos for the last hour, blogger will not let me. I will try later. :)

I guess it has been a while....

2008-07-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

Danita says I need to post. This is for you.

We have been busy as usual. My sister Anita came up from Las Vegas on the 18th.
On Sunday we drove to Walla Walla for a beautiful outdoor wedding. We visited with our sister Bernice in the afternoon and went to the wedding in the evening. We had a nice time and stayed overnight there.
Monday, we went to the Yakima Valley and bought fresh produce. We had Anita's car packed up high with peaches, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, Walla Walla sweet onions, raspberries, potatoes and strawberries. We had decided to make jam. It was so much fun to spend some alone time with Anita. She says she is so quiet, but we seem to talk alot!!!!! Papa met us there. We spent the week in G'dale.
Tues. we made our jam.
Wed. my dear girls came with the grandkids. What fun. We had Valentina sleep with us.
Thurs. my other sister Jean came with two granddaughters. It was great to spend time with her too. We set up a kiddie pool and let the kids (plus Trina and I) swim. It wasn't very deep, so to get wet on both sides, we had to roll. LOL. I had a very blessed week. Cam left on Thurs. evening. I understand Valentina cried most of the way home. She is not a very good road trip girl, just like her mommy.
Fri. we spent sometime in the kiddie pool then packed up and came back to Vanc. Asa got stung by a yellowjacket, but he did not cry, he said it was ok. He is so brave.

I was suppose to meet my sister yesterday in G'dale again after she went camping with her kids, but Papa had to work Sat, Sun, Mon, and Tues. We will be going again tomorrow, so Anita and I can bike on her favorite trail. It is 14 miles round trip, and I have not been on a bike for two years, but it should be interesting. Maybe I will post some pictures of our ride.

Life is good.

Tagged Again .....

2008-07-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

So I was tagged by my nieces in Alaska and told to write "Things That Are Familiar To You" using each letter of the alphabet.

A Asa, my favorite grandson, Anita, my favorite sister!!!
B Bisquits and gravy, Norm makes them great!
C Cameo, Coffee
D Dancing, I do love to dance with Papa.
E Energy, needed to dance
F Food, all kinds, I love food.
G Goldendale
H Hugs from Asa and Valentina
I I love Trina and Cameo
J Josh
K Kool Aid, for you Trina, LOL
L Lemonade, Lotion for tanning
M Margarita
N Norm
O Oil, for tanning
P Party time!!!!!!!!
Q Q-tips
R Roberto Ruiz, a song I like.
S Snooze, I love to sleep in the car while Papa is driving.
T Trina, tanning, tortillas
V Valentina, my favorite granddaughter
W Water in the swimming pool
X X-lax
Y Ysidro
Z Zapato (shoe in spanish)

Have a great weekend, I am heading to Cameo's pool!!!!

Tagged by Cam a week ago.......

2008-07-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Name 5 things that you can't live without and they can't be a person or a "normal" thing like cell phone, computer, etc.... and must be specific.

1. Aussie hair spray

2. Umbrella, it rains here all the time!!

3. My thongs, I mean flip flops. Haha

4. Reading glasses, I have a pair stashed everywhere. I have a pair at Cam's, Trina's, 3 in my purse, 2 in G'dale, a pair in each car, even a pair in my husband's briefcase. I cannot read with out them.

5. My Bible, it shows me God has answered so many of my prayers.

Taking the Grandkids to G'dale

2008-07-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

We took both of the grandkids to G'dale with us on Tuesday, this was V's first time without Mama. We all had a great day!!! Here are the pictures of the day!

In Cameo's driveway, ready to roll!!! They both did well on the 3 hour drive. Asa has always been a great road trip traveler, but Valentina is sometimes not.

We arrived and both the kids headed to Papa's shop. Valentina followed Asa everywhere he ran.

Asa always heads for "his" gravel pile to play trucks, and Valentina was just chugging along,
here and there.

Here they are trying to catch lizards, but they are really fast, and so Asa needs a little more practice. I think he may catch one before the summer is over though.

Papa had a bought a work table that needed to be put together, and he thought he could do that while we had the kids. They really were fun and really wanted to help. Asa did really good, and learned to use the socket wrench. So cute.

Valentina had to "help" too.

The box was so fun also.

"Helping" some more.

Upsy Daisy....

Playing the box was a room.

They both had the most fun putting the complete socket set, piece by piece in side the frame.

Asa and his new tool he learned to use.

Taking everything out of the box.

Asa decided to check out the wheel. Yup, it rolls.

Looking for the socket set down the frame where they had put them.

"I know we put them down there"

All at once, Asa walked up to Papa and hugged him for a long time. How cute is that?

Valentina saw that and had to come for a hug too. Papa was feeling the love.

My three cuties!!!

Still loving on Papa.

Asa riding his horse. He got up there by himself for the first time, and off too.

After they ran up and down the driveway, I thought they needed to cool off and get the dust off them as well, so papa brought out the old bath tub the girls use to use. How cute! It was a big step for V, but she did it, Asa could so she did it too.

But Asa was off to better things, he is chasing down the yellow jackets to "wack". He wanted mum mum to buy him a fly swatter at the store today, he liked it so much.

Finally, the day was over and it was time to head back. Asa kept saying "a couple more minutes" . He really wanted to wack a yellow jacket. This was taken about fifty feet from the house. Valentina was out!!! Asa was out within 8 miles too. Asa slept the whole way home, while Valentina woke up after 45 minutes. Papa had just said how great it would be if the both slept all the way home. It was a wonderful day, but I know I could not do that everyday, Papa and I were both exhausted!!!

I have been tagged by Cameo

2008-06-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ten Years Ago:
1998, I had just started working for NKC in Portland. Papa and I were going out dancing every weekend. Fun times!!!

5 Things On Today's To Do List:
Shower
Swim and hang out in the backyard at Cameo's all day
Play with Asa and Valentina while in the backyard at Cameo's all day
Talk with Trina and Cameo while in the backyard at Cameo's all day
Eat and Drink while in the backyard at Cameo's all day
Sounds like a fun day for me!!!!!

Snacks I Enjoy: Cheetos!!!!!

How Funny Is It: I cannot remember where I bought the tablecloth weights for the picnic table!!!!!!! It was only a couple of weeks ago, and I cannot remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I'd Do If I Was A Millionaire:
Pay off the girls mortgages and other bills, college funds for the kids, travel with entire family, and last but not least, I would support the hogar where Valentina was.

Five People I'm Tagging: Anita, Sonia, Amanda, Christina and Denise

Another Week........

2008-06-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Another week is gone. They seem to just fly by. The weather is nice and time seems to go even faster then.

We went to Yakima and G'dale on Thurs. and Fri. this week. I was so excited that my potted plants were still complete when I got there. I guess the soap water spray really kept the deer from eating them. I sprayed them again when we left. We will see............

It was good to get back to the girls and the kids. Valentina was so glad to see me when I came in. She does this cute thing with her legs when she is really happy, we call that her "frog legs". Asa is just the cutest too. He had never seen me cry before Mom died, so he finds it rather interesting to see me cry. He gets in front of me and looks right in my eyes with a half grin on his face and just looks. He give me a great big smile and I cannot help but smile and laugh at him. What a sweety. Both of the kids love my Mom's old yard swing. They sit longer there than any place, just swinging back and forth like their mommys did with their grandma. It is nice to remember the good times.

The weekend is suppose to be hot here, 90ish. We sure enjoy everyday that you can see blue sky here. We all plan to give the pool some time this weekend.

Life is good.....

Planting Flowers.......

2008-06-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

We went to G'dale again this week. We went on Tuesday and came back on Thursday. On Tuesday I planted some flowers in pots. I never know how long the deer are going to let me enjoy them, but I love to plant flowers. This year I planted all pink flowers because my mother loved the color pink. It makes me happy to look at them and remember the good times mom and I had together. After I planted them, I sprayed them with soap water. I heard somewhere that the deer leave them alone if you do that. I will see if that is true.

I really enjoyed this week there. It was fun to just putter around and the weather was so nice. I took off the winter plastic on the back porch. It always feels so open after I do that. Papa and I sat outside for our morning coffee and our breaks also. He comes in from his tractor every couple of hours for a cold lemonade. It was really nice.

My mother had about 14 photo albums full of her photos. My oldest sister Jean took half of them and we are to take them all apart and separate all of the photos to divide among the six of us. I got all of the ones I was to do done, that was a relief. It went alot faster than I thought it would. Mom had pasted alot of them to the pages, so that was hard to get them off, but it is done. Poor Jean, she took the really hard one that had every photo pasted. That will take forever!!!

It was good to come back to Vancouver Thursday also. We got back in time to see Valentina before she went to sleep, but Asa had fallen asleep before we got over there, so I went over and had a nice time talking with Trina. We sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather but Trina's allergies were terrible. Both of the girls are miserable with allergies right now.

Trina had us all over for grilled chicken last night. It was the best chicken I have ever had!!! She used a chili pineapple grill sauce. Yum!!!!!

Today we went over to Trina's again for morning coffee. We enjoy every moment that the weather is not raining here in the summer. So nice outside!!! The rest of the day, I was at Cameo's.

Mom had an outdoor swing that my dad and her would spend hours on after they had worked hard all day. She had paid $25 for it at a yard sale about 30 years ago. She was so excited when she brought it home. It had been stored at our cabin for the last 7 years since my dad had died. We had used it alot together when she came out to our place when she lived in town the first 3 years, but it had not been used for the last 4. Well, she had written that if Cameo wanted it, she would like Cameo to have it. So, we brought it to Cameo a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, it was old and rusted and so Papa spent about 2 hours this morning painting the whole frame black. It looks so nice now, and I know we are going to enjoy hanging out on it and remembering the good times with mom and dad. The girls spent alot of time on it also with them while they were growing up. It is comforting to have it with us. Good memories!!!

Life is good!!!!!!!!!

I Like to be Happy

2008-06-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

OK, I do not like to be so sad, but I will be at times very sad for my mom's passing. But today and onward, I am going to do my best to be happy for myself, my girls and my grandchildren. My dear mother always tried to be happy, even after my dad died, she would try and find things that would make her happy again. I can do the same! I will always miss her and love her, but she would find the happiness in life, and I am going to try to do the same. From now on, only happy posts.

Life is Good!!!!!!!!!!!

This picture always makes me laugh, it is of Asa this winter when he went to G'dale with us and was running through the road puddle. He loves to run through water and even though it was freezing cold, he was getting soaked!!!!

Happy Father's Day to my husband and Trina and Cameo's Papa!

We Are Back!!!

2008-06-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

We arrived home from the California Family Reunion on Tuesday night at midnight. I was just trying to hold it together while we were there, and knew I could fall apart when I got home, which I have done for the last two days. It was just too early after Mom passed to go and have a vacation. It is time for my monthly visit to my mom, and she is gone. I don't know what to do or say. I cannot wish her back, but I miss her!!! My heart hurts so bad, and I am sad. I am finally letting myself feel the pain, and I miss her! When I see Asa and Valentina, I am happy. They make me smile and laugh and I am so blessed to have them. I am glad for my dear girls also. They are hurting too. We will all be okay someday. Thanks for listening.

Life Goes On

2008-06-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone for their support and love. The funeral is over and life goes on. My sister Jeannie had a wonderful dream/vision about Mom the day she died. In it Mom was young and in the middle of a great field of daisies dancing and carefree. Mom was never carefree, ever, so that makes me happy thinking about her like that. I will always miss my dear Mother, but life goes on. I am so blessed to have my sisters, brother, husband, daughters and grandchildren.

We have a big family reunion on Papa's side that we are going to this coming weekend in California, so we will be traveling on Friday to that. It will be the first time everyone will meet our little Valentina!!!! Asa is excited about seeing his California cousins again.

So thanks you again everyone, and life is good.

My Mom is at Rest

2008-05-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

My dear mother passed away this morning, and altho I am sad that I will never see her again on this earth, I am glad that she is with my dad, her dear husband, that she missed so much. She was the best! I will miss her. I do not have the words to write how much she meant to me and my girls.

This picture was taken a couple of months ago when I went to visit. I told her to smile bigger and she said she was smiling the biggest she could!!

Mother's Day Weekend

2008-05-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this Mother's Day Weekend!!! Not only am I going to go see my mother on Friday and Saturday, two of my sisters are going with me!!! We are all excited as this will be the first time we have ever done this. Anita flew to Portland from Las Vegas this morning so she could travel the 7 hours with me to Spokane, and on the way we are picking up our sister Bernice in Walla Walla. Mom is going to be so excited! She may not remember it the next day, but she will be so happy that day.

We took Asa to Gdale for two days this week. He loves it out there, but by the afternoon of the second day, he said "Beya, I am done with Goldendale" I asked him if he wanted to go home and he said yes, he wanted to see MumMum. We all had such a good time though. He adds so much to our lives. It was good to get back home to our Valentina. He really missed her and had to talk to her on the phone.

We are going out to dinner on Sunday, hopefully my nephew and his wife will join us. We love big dinners, and it is always more fun, the more the merrier, and alchohol helps too!!!! Alchohol always makes things more fun, is our motto. Accually, we hardly ever have a drink anymore, we are all busy running after our two babies, and it sure is fun.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mothers!! Life is good.

Loser and other ramblings............

2008-05-04T08:30:00.001-07:00

I am a loser, not a good weight loser, but a loser because I cannot lose the weight I need to lose. I just cannot do it. I am so frustrated with myself. It is down to one month until the reunion, and I have only lost 10 pounds. I really need to get focused and do it. Just Do It!!!!

In other happier news. We keep so busy! I did not realize that retirement would be so happy and busy. Papa worked 3 days last weekend, and 3 days this weekend. I really think he is happier working part time. He feels more important. When he is home now that it is spring, he is usually working on the girls yards. He likes to do that too. Spring/Summer is so much better than winter. We all love to be outside! I keep busy with the girls and kids. My life is pretty good.

I am planning a trip to see my dear mother for Mother's day next weekend. I am so glad we still have her with us. She just wants to stay in bed now, but she still knows us when we visit and I am so glad about that. I am so blessed to have such a loving mother.

My dad passed away 7 years ago on May 8 at the age of 84. He was a great Dad. I had two loving and kind parents. He was always so smart. Although he only had an 8th grade education, he was a machinist, and had to figure out math problems that amazed me. I really admired my father. The greatest gift he ever gave me was when I would go to him with a problem, instead of telling me his opinion, all he would say was "You are smart enough to figure that out for yourself." and he was right. I always hear his words in my mind, and am so glad he had faith in me. He was such a good grandpa too, teaching the girls their algebra when I homeschooled them. And always making them feel loved. I miss him. He taught us how to build our own cabin, and was always an example of how we should treat those around us. He did not preach, but led by example. He was the hardest worker ever, and he loved my mother with all his heart. God truly blessed me by giving me my dear parents.

Life is good!!!

Snow!!!!

2008-04-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

We have snow tonight!! It is the end of April and we have snow! I think this is the most it has snowed here this winter and it is almost May.

It seems like we had a very busy week, but I guess they are all busy. I am going with Papa again tomorrow while he works. Then we are going to Gdale for 2-3 days. More work to do there as always.

I lost five pounds this week. It sure is hard!

I will try to post some photos later in the week.

Life is good.

Another Weekend Gone

2008-04-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend we have had. The weather was beautiful and sunny. We don't get those days very often here in Washington so when we have one pretty day, we all appreciate it to the fullest!!!

Friday night Papa and I decided that we would try to have Valentina overnite for the first time. I did not expect it to go very well because when we went to Spokane and stayed in the Hotel, Valentina cried most of the night, even with her mama, she is use to her crib and likes it. Anyway, she did so well. She went to sleep at 7:30. Woke up at 8, looked around for a while and decided that it was ok, and went to sleep again at 8:45. She woke up around 2 for about 5 minutes, I told her she was with Beya and Papa and she cuddled up to me and went back to sleep. She did wake up for the day at 5:45 am, but it was with a smile!! I thought she had done so good for her first night away from Mama. I will try to do it for Cameo once a week. When we went to Guatemala for our visit trip, she slept with me everynight. So it was nice to cuddle with her again.

Asa's soccer game was on Saturday. It is so fun to watch him have so much fun. He just loves the game and the kids. He is so cute!!!!

After the game, we just hung out at Cameo and Norm's. We went outside because of the lovely day and the kids played. Asa played soccer again with Uncle Norm. It seemed that he ran all day!!

Saturday afternoon I cooked. That does not happen very often, but boxing (Gomez vs Cotto) was on that night, so I made Tacos, rice and fresh salsa. It took me 2 hours to get it done, but I use my mother in laws recipe and they are pretty good if I say so myself. One of my husbands friends ate 10 tacos!!!!!!!!!! Asa made cupcakes, they were very special of course.

Today, Sunday, I went with my husband as he worked. He always amazes me the way he drives that truck. He had to make two runs to Newberg so we had a nice time together. Valentina was glad to see us when we go home, so we took her out to the trailer for an hour and played with her. What a dear child.

I will get my dear Asa in the morning and we are planning to go to Gdale for a couple of days with him. He has his eye surgery on Thursday morning early, so please pray for him and a quick recovery. What a joyful child he is.

We are so blessed to have these two grandchildren to love and spoil. Life is Good!!!!!

Okay, time to blog again..........

2008-04-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe time has gone so fast. As I have not posted since I announced I was starting a diet, you can kind of know it is not going too good. I have only lost 5 pounds, I am so bad at dieting. I start every morning and then when something looks good, I eat. The last 2 days I decided I would write everything down that I eat and add up calories. Yikers!!! Everything has so many calories in it!!!! I only have less than 2 months, so I better do alot better!!

I went for my monthly visit to see my Mom this week. She is failing faster now. My brother that lives by her said that she started going downhill two weeks ago. She only got out of bed for about an hour the two days I was there. She sleeps alot now, and it makes me sad to see her that way. I am so glad she is by my brother and his wife Gloria. Gloria works as an RN in the care center. She is getting love and care, especially being on hospice also. I love my mother dearly, and am dreading the day we do not have her with us.

My grandkids are growing and we are having so much fun with them both. Asa's soccer games are so fun, and our baby girl is a joy too.

Life is good, love Beya

Diet Days......

2008-03-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

We came back to Vancouver today, after being in Goldendale for 2 days. It is so good to go to our cabin and get things done. All winter when we would go for a day or one night we usually had Asa and I would just dump the extra stuff I would bring from the trailer in one of the bedrooms and come back, so the crap was really piling up. This time, I cleaned and organized everything, it felt so good to have order and have it really clean again. But as soon as I was done, we came back to Vanc. next time it will be clean and tidy though!!! While we are there, Papa is always out on his tractor, spending all day outside. He moves his crap from place to place on pallets. He has a thing about moving stuff from here to there. Before he had a tractor, he would move the wood pile, stick by stick. He always has to keep busy. I love that crazy man!!!

We miss the girls and grandbabies when we are gone, but it is nice to spend time together also. When we are in Vanc. I spend most of my time with our girls, and sometimes I think Papa is neglected a bit, but we always have fun together.

I am starting a diet and I thought if I posted that statement, it might keep me on it. We have a Gonzalez Family Reunion coming up on the first weekend of June, and I want to lose 20 pounds by then. I will not be posting my weight!!!!, but I will post my pounds lost each week. Both Trina and Cameo have lost 40 pounds each this past year, and they have inspired me to do the same.

Life is good, Beya

I'm back.........

2008-03-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

I stopped blogging because blogger was giving me trouble downloading pictures, but I decided that I would just write an entry. I probably don't have any readers anymore since I don't write often. I will try to be better at least once a week, with/without photos.

We have been so busy since returning from our great vacation to San Antoino and Brownsville. Texas is beautiful in the spring. It is only the second time I have been there. The first time 14 years ago, we drove. That was a fun trip, Papa had just bought his first Corvette and we just took off. Cameo was living with Trina and going to College. We were in Texas for Thanksgiving, the first holiday we had been away from the girls, accually, I think it is the only holiday. They never let it happen again. LOL This trip, we flew. It sure was faster!!! We had such a good time. Papa has 2 brothers and sister that live in Brownsville, so we spent most of our time there. I love to stay with family. They made us feel so welcome and I love them all.

Asa is just growing and maturing so much. He is such a sweet boy (most of the time). I love it when he comes to my house at 7 am. He is so cuddly and lets me hold him on my lap at that time for about half and hour. Then he wakes up Papa and plays with him. When Cam calls and Valentina is awake, we go to Cam's and hang there the rest of the morning. He loves his Valentina very much.

Valentina is getting bigger and almost walking. She is very attached to me. If I enter into the blocked living room, I have to pick her up, she makes a beeline for me and yells loud if it takes me too long to pick her up. I had her in the trailer for her nap yesterday. I held her the whole time she napped. So fun.

I know I am always saying the same thing, that I am blessed to live so close to my girls and grandbabies, but that is how I feel. I thank God everyday I am so blessed, I am tired every night, but oh, what a blessing I have. I only hope and I pray I can be a blessing to them as well.

Papa started back to truckdriving part time yesterday. He will be working Sat and Sun. I think he thought it was kind of fun to be back. He was always going to the truck yard to talk to the drivers and mechanics anyway, and it will really help 0ur finances!!!

Life is good!!!

Tagged

2008-02-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, Trina tagged me, I feel that there is nothing strange about me, but my girls dissagree!!!

~The rules are to link the person who sent this and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours
~Post the rules on your blog
~Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself
~Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and link their blog
~Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

1. I have to put on the right leg of pants first, also the right shoe. If I don't, I have to take off the shoe or pant and do it right.

2. I married Papa when I was barely 16. Also had Trina while I was 16.

3. Our cabin in Goldendale does not have indoor plumbing. We rent a porta potty year round.

4. When Trina and Cameo were young, we lived 10 years without electricity. They still use that one against me!! LOL

5. I like big hair.

6. I love to dance to Mexican music.

7. I like to sit next to my husband in the truck, in the middle, not on my side.

I am tagging: Gmom, Amanda,

Papa's Birthday and pics of the kids of course!!!!

2008-01-24T08:28:00.000-08:00

I had more pictures to post, but blogger was acting up, so I will post just these few. It is rather late to say Happy Birthday to Papa now, but I just wanted you to see how handsome he was when we married. He still is very handsome!!!!

This picture of "Papa and Beya" was taken on our wedding day, on the steps of the Reno, Nevada courthouse, December 16, 1968.

Asa decided he would like to experiment with Beya's makeup.

Papa and his nietos in our trailer. He loves being GrandPapa!!!
Drawing submarines for Asa. Asa is the engineer, Papa does the drawing. So cute to watch.

Happy Birthday Valentina

2008-01-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

Our dear Valentina turns one year old tomorrow, the 14th. Her party was yesterday at the Spaghetti Factory. It was so nice to have so many people there that love her to celebrate not only her birthday, but her homecoming as well. Thank you God for making her for us!!!!! I thank God every day for my grandbabies, having two is even better than one!!!!!!!!!
I was so proud of my family yesterday. My daughters are beautiful, sweet, loving girls. My sons-in laws are kind, loving daddies, my husband is my best friend, and my grandbabies are my world.
I know Cameo is going to post tons of pictures, so I will just post two of my babies.

My two baby girls!
Asa looking very handsome all dressed up, sitting with his parents!!!!!

Life is Good!!!!!

Back on schedule ???????????

2008-01-08T06:23:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over and our lives seem to be on a schedule. As much on schedule as retired people can be I guess. Have I mentioned that I love retired life? The only thing lacking is money, but otherwise it can't be beat!!!!!!!!! Papa loves it too, he keeps talking about going to work one day a week, but has yet to do anything about it other than talk! LOL He enjoys his grandbabies as much as I do as you can see below.

Papa with the grandbabies (and toys) at Cameo's

We took Asa to G'dale again this weekend. We were hoping we had snow for him to play in and we did!!! Papa has his Dad's hat that he always wore hanging on the wall above his dresser, Asa saw it and since he is into toro riding and cowboys, he wanted to try it on. Isn't he adorable?

Asa in Great Grandpa Pedro's hat.

He also likes to build with his legos when we are there.

Such concentration!

Here he is setting up his farm. He brought alot of his toys from home, but played with the "Property" toys instead. He wanted to bring them all home with him.

There were a couple of inches of snow when we arrived Sunday night, but snowed two more inches after we went to bed so it was nice soft snow for him to play in the morning.

He would run and fall on purpose, he had a great time.

What an angel!Eating snow off his mittens was his favorite thing to do.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2008

2008-01-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I am truly blessed with a wonderful family and it feels so great to have it finally complete. We have waited for "Sissy's Baby" for three years, and this year on Feb. 16, "sissy's baby" finally had a name and face!!!! Our dear Valentina.

My dear Asa is so sweet and is such a great joy to me and all of us. He comes into a room and just lights up the whole place. He has made all of us want another baby in the family.

Our dear Valentina is such a loving happy baby. She makes me laugh all day! Her closed eye, flat mouth smile is so funny.

It is so fun to watch the two of them together. Our joy is tenfold with her here with him.
We had the ultimate Christmas with our two kidos. I cannot imagine anything more heavenly than those two playing together. What fun it is to be a beya!!!!

Life is good.......

Anniversary Weekend

2007-12-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Papa and I celebrated 39 years of marriage on Sunday! That seems like a lifetime ago! I would like to be young again, but I do not want to live my life again. I am the happiest that I have ever been now, at my old age. I have good relationships with my dear daughters, sons in law and the best ever with mi nietos, Asa and Valentina. Papa and I are at a great time in our marriage also. Life is good!!!!!

Saturday night we got dressed up and went to the Yakima Valley to see if we could find a mexican bar that would have live music so we could dance. We had three places that we would go to before, but they had closed down, (due to too many fights). We decided to try another place we had been to years ago, but when we got there, nothing was going on, but the owner said they was going to have a dance across the street. We went over to Ixtapa and had the best time ever!!!! We danced all night and had so much fun. Everyone at that bar was so nice, friendly and fun, we cannot wait to go back for Papa's birthday next month!

We came back to Vancouver on Sunday afternoon and it was good to see our babies again. Trina and Cameo along with the angels and I spent all afternoon shopping yesterday, had a great day. The kids are so good!!!! Life is great!!!!!

It's been a while.........

2007-12-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been busy since I last posted with, most importantly a trip to Guatemala to pick up our baby girl angel!! It is so good to have her home where she belongs. I cannot wait to get up in the morning to go and play with her. She is a blessing, as is our first angel, Asa! Have I mentioned I LOVE being a grandma? I have two wonderful grandbabies!!!!

Since Valentina was 10 months old when she came home, I started thinking about my babies at that age, so I took pictures of pictures again, and here are my babies between the ages of 8-12 months. I think they are so cute!!!!

Cameo at 6 months

Asa at 9 months

Trina at 8 months old

Cameo at 11 months old

Trina at 10 months

Trina at 6 years, Cameo at 6 months

I am so blessed to have two wonderful grandbabies that I can enjoy everyday.

Thank you God for the blessings of My husband Papa, and my daughters and their families. Trina, Josh and Asa, and Cameo, Norm and Valentina. I am so very very blessed.

I went to visit my dear mom at the care center last week. She is doing about the same, weight keeping at 80 pounds. She is always so glad to see me when I come and is so sad and crys when I leave her. It is so hard to leave her, but this time my niece, Denice was there visiting from Alaska, so she was okay when I left. Kind of.... I am so thankful she remembers who her kids are yet, I know the day will come when she doesn't but as yet she does and I am glad for that.

My dear mother and I on Saturday.

Denise, Mom's first granddaughter, visiting from Alaska

Halloween with Asa

2007-11-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Asa when we took him out for Trick or Treating. He was so cute! He really did not like the scary costumes other people wore. MumMum, Daddy, Cameo and Beya all went around with him. He always has an entourage following him. We all adore that little guy!

How cute is that?

Beya and my little guy.
MumMum, Daddy and Asa. Asa was so excited that Daddy came!!!

Happy Birthday Cameo!!!!!!!!

2007-10-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

I had to take pictures of pictures to load on my computer, so they are not very clear, but here is my baby girl.

Cameo (6 months) and Trina (6 years)
Cameo (9 months) and PapaCameo (8 months)
Cameo (1 day old)

Happy 32nd Birthday Baby Girl!!! I am so proud of my baby girl and the woman you have become. The last year has been so hard for you with the adoption, but you still have your faith and sense of humor intact. I am so looking forward to seeing you as a mom, that is going to be so fun. You are a great wife, daughter, sister and Tia!! I know you are going to be an amazing mommy too. We are all truly blessed to have you in our daily lives. I love you so much!!!!!!!
Love, Mama

Asa in Goldendale

2007-10-25T20:04:00.001-07:00

We "kidnapped" Asa and took him to Goldendale over night on Tuesday. He loves to go out to "the property" and sleep in "the cabin". We all had so much fun. Papa had work to do, but Asa and I just played. I was worn out but I don't know why, he is such a good boy. He does talk constantly, but is really good. When I told him on the way home, "Thank you for going to Goldendale with us Asa" he told me, "Thank you Beya". He is such a joy!!! Here are some pictures of him having fun.

He collects the oak tree bark and says they are his Star Wars space ships. He loves them!

Riding the quad Grandma Sandi gave him for his birthday. We took it with us for the two days so he could ride it more. We made him a ramp to ride over.

Off the ramp, ready to go again.

Flying his "space ships". They have battles, and he (the good guy) always wins.

My sweet Asa!

Flying more space ships. He discards the ones that don't look right. I don't know what the criteria is though.

Our big boy.

Chasing leaves.
The wind would blow the leaves, and he ran for an hour just chasing leaves. He had so much fun!!!

Hiding from me. I could see his shadow on the cabin.

Riding his quad.

Throwing acorns off the deck. He is quite the pitcher, and I always have to report if it is a ball or strike!!!!

Analise is Out

2007-10-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

Analise is out of PGN!!!!!!! Finally out!

Monday

2007-10-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Cameo feeding Valentina her "middle of the night" bottle when we were in Guatemala in July.

I love this picture of my baby girls!!!

The great news is that Valentina is coming home soon as Cameo wrote on her blog. I cannot wait until we go and get her!!! I am going too!!!!!! Yea!!!

I saw this in my photo archive of Asa from a couple of months ago, I love it so decided to share it.

We had Asa the Angel today, all day. We ran errands all afternoon, and had a great time. He talked constantly all through the grocery store, wanting everything!!! He makes me laugh all the time.

Cameo made another kick ass apple tart today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those are simply the best!!!

My Mom and Another Busy Week

2007-10-21T21:40:00.001-07:00

Mom (in pink sweater) on her birthday, August 1, 89 years old

I got to see my dear mother last week. She is still losing weight fast. She is down to 83 pounds, she looks like she just has skin over her bones. She sure is glad to see me though. I love to spend time with her, but it is so hard to leave her when I have to come back. She loves to look at Valentina's pictures, I want her to be able to hold Valentina, she loves babys.

We have another busy week coming up. Trina works all day every day this week, so Cameo and I are going to be blessed with our angel. Tuesday, Papa and I are going to take Asa to Goldendale for a night. We will come home on Wed. again. One night away from MumMum and Daddy is all Asa (MumMum ?) can stand. I am looking forward to having him, I will not get any work done there, but he likes to play outside. The fall folage is so pretty there now.

I am praying Analise gets out of PGN this week! I am also praying we get news that our baby Valentina can come home soon!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone has a great week. I hate to not be able to read everyone's blog while I am gone, but I make it for two days I guess.

heeheehee

2007-10-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Cameo here. Mom won't give me her password because she's afraid that I'll do something mean, like I've done on Trina's blog, or something like that. I had to install a stat counter for her and she made me go in to another room while she logged on! I mean, does that not scream out "I don't trust you!"? Well, I uploaded the stat counter....... along with her Sally Jessy Raphael profile picture! Wonder how long til she realizes what I've done. Just wish there was something else I could do as this is the one and only time I'll be able to break into her blog! I already tried to change her password, just to get her password, but it didn't have it already entered in. Bummer. Oh well, guess I have to be content with just getting bad pictures of her and uploading them on to my blog.

Going for the week

2007-10-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

We are headed out tonight to Goldendale for a day, then to Spokane to see Mom Wed. and Thurs., then back to Goldendale, then Vancouver on Friday. Retirement sure keeps us busy. Asa was a great joy today. He is so much fun. I am going to miss the girls and Asa this week, but it has been a month since I saw Mom, and I am anxious to see her again. I am glad she still knows me.

Goldendale

2007-10-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

We headed to Goldendale Saturday evening so we could get Trina and Josh a load of wood. Trina, Josh and Asa went with us to help. When we arrived there, the championship baseball game was on, so we watched that while Asa played around. It was so fun to have the family there with us. Sunday morning we got up had breakfast and went out to the neighbors 40 acres and loaded up a pickup load of pine wood to bring back for Trina and Josh. It was so easy, the trees were already cut up, all we had to do was load it up. Asa is such a worker! Here are a few pictures that I took that day.

Asa wanted MumMum to ride a horse with him. So cute!
Asa riding the little horse.
Playing on the wood.
Filling up the load a few pieces from Papa's wood pile.
Trina and Josh
Asa on his John Deere
Being brave on the big horse.

Carolina Valentina is nine months old

2007-10-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Happy nine months to our baby Valentina (yesterday). I want you home so bad!!!

My Sister

2007-10-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

My beautiful, sexy, sister Anita, drinking a margarita with me.
Sisters

This entry is dedicated to my sister Anita. We stayed with her when we went to Las Vegas last week, and I had such a nice time with her. Thank you Anita for going to the casinos with me and playing the penny slots together. Thank you for drinking margaritas with me, even tho you don't drink!!! I loved laying at your pool, shopping for our grandkids and just talking. I had a great time with you and cannot wait until you come up here and we can visit mom together again. Thanks for being such a great little sister. I love you.

Our Valentina is OUT!

2007-10-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

I know I need to blog about our vacation, but I don't have the time right now, but I have to shout to the world, Our Valentina is OUT of PGN!!!!!!!!!! YEA!!! Thank You God!!! On my Dad's Birthday!!!!!!!!We received new pictures last week also of our pretty baby girl. Here are my favorites. Isn't she beautiful?

Friday Night

2007-10-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Papa and I worked on the wood again today, Papa did most of the work, chainsawing, but I moved the cut pieces and am tired again tonight. We did get ready and go and visit some of Papa's brothers and sisters this afternoon tho. We saw Elsie, Hipolito & Maria, and Raul & Stella. I guess that is all the visiting we are going to be doing here in Porterville because tomorrow we are going to the beach to be with Anita's family and then we are leaving on Sunday to visit my sister in Las Vegas!!!!

We are going home thru Winnemucca, since that is Papa's favorite town in Nevada to gamble, we always have alot of fun there at Winner's Casino!!!!!!!!

I miss you girls, but will be home before you know it!!!

I hope we have the news that Valentina is out of PGN before I get home. Please God?????????

"You make me smile Award"

2007-10-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

I received a "You Make Me Smile" award from Cameo today. Thank you Baby Girl! I am to pass it along to someone and I am going to give it right back to Cameo because she has been so good at posting pictures of my Asa on her blog for me while I am in California. Thank you baby girl!!!!! Thank You.

It is Friday morning and I am still tired from the last 3 days. We had a great time tho, working together as a team. Papa, Margo, Drunk cousin Caroline and I. Elsa also came and helped two mornings. She was a great help, but I didn't get a photo of her, I will get one later and post. Josh, Barbara's husband came on Wed. and helped so much. He climbed up high into the highest tree and cut down branches first, then realized that the whole thing was split, and needed to come down from the bottom. Margo wanted to keep that one, she had planted it on June 26, 1996. I don't know how she remembered the date, but she does.

Margo also had to learn how to back up the trailer at the recyclers. We laughed so hard all 9 times. Caroline and I would direct her by saying turn the steering wheel the other way, she would turn it and it would be the wrong way so we would yell, "no the other way", and she would yell "which way?" Us: "The Other way". She really did quite well tho, and it made us laugh even when we were tired and hot. :)

Well, Papa wants breakfast now, so I will write more later!

Here at Margo's

2007-10-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

We are here at Margo's

The "Crew"
Before (28 trees to cut down)
The Boss (Papa)
The brush crew

After (28 trees down)
Chain saw man
Tired after a long HOT day. Josh did the big tree.
Half a load for the wood recyclers. We piled it on high. We took 9 loads!!!!

Well, after three days of work the 28 trees are down and the brush is at the dump. We still have some of the big logs to cut up, but the big job is done. I will write more tomorrow.

Off to California

2007-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Papa and I are off to California this morning. It is a 14 hour drive, so it takes all day. We are going to help Margo cut down dozens of tall Eucalyptus trees that line her property. Hopefully it won't take more than 2-3 days. We are bringing a chain saw in the corvette, so I had to pack light, only 7 pair of shoes!!!!!!!!!! It is raining this morning and I hate to travel in rain, maybe after Oregon, it will be sun, Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I better get ready. My girls don't like the idea of us being gone for a week, but are going to spend alot of time together. Don't worry girls, I'll be back bossing you before you know it. I love you both.

Mayan Families

2007-09-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

I want to post this website on my blog for anyone interested in sponsoring a Guatemalan child to attend school. www.mayanfamilies.org It is just $120 per year.

Asa's Birthday Party and Our Retirement Anniversary

2007-09-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. Asa's Birthday Party was today at his house. Cameo made her delicious lasagna and it was the best she has ever made, even tho she is feeling sick. My girls are such good cooks!!!! Asa had a great time, but got too tired by the time we left. She loves the 4 wheeler that Grandma Sandi gave him. It is so cute, he rode it all over the house. He also loved the digital camera that Tia Sissy and Uncle Norm gave him. It is so much fun to all get together.

Today is our first retirement anniversary for my husband and I. I cannot believe a year has passed already. Time goes fast and even faster when you get old. I love retirement, I am so glad my husband let me quit working when he retired. I love my husband!!!!!

First Day

2007-09-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I really don't have much to post.

This has been a hard week for all of us concerning the adoption. I "KNEW" when we first received the referral of Valentina that she would definately be home by Asa's birthday. Wednessday was Asa's birthday and she is not home, not out of PGN, and no idea when she will be. I fought God hard on that, I wanted her home!!!!!!! But, yesterday I had to give in to God, again, and say thy will be done. I love that baby girl so very much, she is so sweet and gentle, just like our Asa. She will be home in God's time, not mine. :)

Asa's birthday party is tomorrow. He is going to have so much fun, he is such a joy to me and all of us. What a geat little boy he is. Trina and Josh are such great parents.

I am so blessed to have two wonderful daughters. They both are amazing women. They put up with me and love me. I love them so much.

Have a great weekend..........

Beya's Blog

2007-09-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Good Morning to All!!!!!!!!