Dianna

Welcome Home Dianna w/2 n's..

The giving of Blood!!

Meagan got home from work last night at 10 pm or so. We had a wonderful conversation about the blood drive. The family had 13 people sign up to donate blood and when all was said and done they had 71 bags(liters or pints) donated. The family was overwhelmed with the love of family and friends. Meagan said the grandfather has to go back to Pittsburgh for more chemo today. He was very tired but he was upbeat. I am so proud of Meagan for doing this. What a grown up young lady she is.

She and Jessie are off to school today for the freshmen orientation. They both volunteered to help with that. I am so proud of them. Well, I am off to work. Have a wonderful day!!! TTFN!!!

Family and Church

We had a very lovely couple that came to Church today. They are the Bria's from Richmond, Va. They are a missionary couple but now Brother Bria is a Bishop. Sister Bria spoke about her children and how two, one daughter and one son, do not attend Church but that the Home Teachers keep in contact with them. Her talk really touched me in all the right places. It has been very hard for me to not have Jared at home anymore. So I hope and pray that someone touches his life in the way the Home Teachers touched Sis. Bria's children's lives. I hope that Jared will come back to Church. I KNOW that Jared would make a wonderful Missionary. He has a great understanding of the Church and God's plan but is just a little off the path right now.

Gabbie is finally home from California!! YEA!!! She did have a wonderful time and is very glad to be home. My mom decided that she and Gabbie are a lot alike. So that is why they knock heads once in a while. Oh well, life goes on and they still love one another so I am pleased about that. Gabbie will have a wonder summertime story to tell very soon at school.

In the conversation with my mom and sister, when they brought Gabbie home, they told me the High Priests had come by and invited them to Church the next Sunday. I was very HAPPY to hear that. They did go to Church and took Gabbie with them. It was two days before they were supposed to leave for California. I am glad that they felt welcomed at Church and hope that they will continue to go. It has been a long time since they were active and so it feels right that they had a visit. So prayers are answered.

I cannot believe that school will be starting soon. There is soooo much to do! Meagan and Jessie have already been to school for different activities and will continue to go till school begins. I am very proud of the girls and what they do to make the world around them a better place to live. Meagan missed church today because she is in Pennsylvania for a blood drive. Her friend, Katie's grandfather is ill and so the family started a blood drive for him. I am so proud of Meagan for donating blood. My kids are sure growing up fast.

I hope everyone has a Wonderful week. TTFN! Nicole

Quiet house lonely Mom

For a couple of days I will only have two kids at home. It has been really strange to not have all the kids here. I don't know how to cook for just three people. The house is very quiet except for the dogs barking. Emma and Ian have played Nintendo DS together so I don't have to think of things to do with them. They have gotten along very well. I am surprised since there is a big difference in ages. But, they watch tv, play games and they have even mowed the lawn together. That is really great for me because I am the one to mow all the time. With it so dry here my allergies act up when I mow. I am sure you are asking where are the other kids. Well, I will tell you.

Meagan and Jessie are at Youth Conference at UVA till tomorrow afternoon. Gabbie is still in California she will be home tomorrow also. So the whole gang will be back together tomorrow. I even had a visitor today. Jared came by and brought gifts for the family from Myrtle Beach. That was a nice surprise. His girlfriend gave me a lovely shell wind chime. I love wind chimes. So that was very sweet of her to think of me. Ian and Emma have just been stuck with boring old mom. I guess they have enjoyed themselves.

I have had more time to work in my fish ponds while everyone has been away. My frog is getting so big. When I figure out how to post pictures I will put some on. My plants are over taking my two whiskey barrel ponds and my small in ground one. I have given away quite a lot of plants and I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as I do. I need to get a few more fish for me in ground one because a local cat has had a free meal of my fish. He swiped my frog with his claw and made a scratch but froggy seems to be doing ok. I really want to dig out a very large area for a big pond in the front yard. One day I will be able to do that.(wistfully said) I love working with the ponds and helping others with theirs. I am not a expert by any means but I have learned a lot from having mine. My friend Karen says I should start my own business. I think that would be lots of fun!!! I just don't think I should try that now. Whats the old saying "don't put off what you can do today". A pond business would be something I would really enjoy. If any readers have ponds I would love to come see them. I have lots of plants to share too. Just let me know.

Well ta ta for now!!

Drama in California

I was searching through the blogs I read and decided to hit the button for "next blog". It was interesting to see what comes up. I saw many different languages and many different countries. I came across quite a few that I knew right away were LDS based. Since I am new to all of this it has taken a little time getting used to. I really enjoy what other people write but I am not quite sure what I should write about.

It amazes me that just with a click of a button you can view a snippet of someone else's life.You can read about what they are doing, how their families are growing or even about a tragedy that has happened. I just don't always have the words to write down what is going on in my life.

I really do enjoy reading about other people's lives. The internet sure has made people for away seem close to home with just a tap of a key. It also let me know that there are people just like me. Searching for answers to everyday life problems. I know that I am not the only one going through trials and tribulations. There are others that are going through them too..

I talked with Gabbie today. She is in California visiting my sister and her family for week and half. She says she is having a great time but, that her MOM-MOM (my mother) yelled at her today. Gabbie was very upset about that. My Mom usually is not one to yell at the kids or even say a harsh word to them. So I asked her what had happened and she gave me a few details. She said that they had eaten a very big breakfast this morning and that when they got to the Pier in San Francisco to eat lunch that she way not very hungry. I said ok what else happened. Gabbie said she ordered chicken fingers but, could not finish them because of the big breakfast. She said they were not able to get a to go box since they would have more than an hour ride back to my sister's house and it would not be good. I tried to explain to my 9 year old that Mom-Mom was probably tired with all the running around the twins and then her and the twins sister. That it was a long hot day and sometimes these things do happen. I asked her if she had talked to Mom-mom about how her yelling made her feel. She said no she just told Rayna (my sister)about it. Hopefully after we got off my sister helped to explain what was going on and that my mom really did not mean to yell at her.

She will be home in a few days so I will be able to talk to her some more about it. I know my Mom loves her but, I just hope that it was not as serious as Gabbie made it sound. Oh well, what can you do? I am only 3700 miles away so I cannot do much about it from this end. My Mom really did not even want to go out there but, she did since my brother-inlaw will be gone for TDY for a week. My sister has three children under three and two are twins. She did not think she could make it without help. I can understand that. It has to be hard to have your husband gone and try to cope with the kids. Mine are older so that helps me a lot. I don't know what I would have done if I did not have a few older children when Derryl and I split up. Get through it I guess. Well thanks for reading and leave any comments you may like. TTFN

Deep Fried Attorney!!!

What do you do when you have to go to Court with your estranged husband and your attorney doesn't show up? I was mad at first then kinda laughed about it. Derryl and I have been to Court more than 77 times. He has always been the one to not show up or even his attorney not show up. I left the courthouse and was glad that court did not happen.For some reason this divorce just does not seem to want to be over. Something always seems to come up or there is a distraction and it gets continued. As of July 19th I will officially be married 19years, half my life. I just cannot wrap my mind around that. I just wish I knew when this would end and could get on with my life. Explore options that are out there. I have signed up to go to Blue Ridge.Not sure what degree I want to pursue but, I do want to do something for me. Any hints or suggestions would be helpful. I would like to berate my attorney a little for not showing up. He was the one to set the court date. The judge was just a little angry. Oh well, what can you do.

I have hinted to me my kids that I would like to meet someone and possibly get married again. That has been a BIG NO NO!! They don't want me to get married again. They don't even want me to date anyone. I don't want to live out the rest of my life by myself, I want a partner to help me along the way. Hopefully soon Heavenly Father will put someone in my path that he knows will be good for me and for my kids. They need a Good Father Figure in their lives. I don't know how to teach my youngest son to be an honorable man or even how to shave his face. But i will do the best I am able. I do have six wonderful kids they are growing up so fast. I know that they will be very productive members of society and hopefully all continue on the Church and I hope they will all want to go on Missions. We shall see. Well thats all for now please let me know what you think. Good Bad or Ugly. Ta TA For Now!!

Loss of a Friend!!

Today I went to a funeral for a wonderful family friend. He passed away on Tuesday after suffering for a long time. His wife seemed so held together. I cannot imagine life without your spouse. My mom is getting by after we lost my step-father and I admire her for it. I don't know how she keeps going. I am just separated from my husband and have been for a long time but I don't think I would think about him the same way if he had passed away. He is a major thorn in my side. I just don't have the loving feeling for him the way I used too. Oh well, life goes on... Tell me what think ....