"...and another one bit the dust!"

Another pound down, my blood pressure is excellent and I am now walking and working out without the knee brace.  I still have days when I hurt but I notice it is not just my knees but all my major joints.  Arthritis is something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life and the better ways I find TO deal with it - the better off I will be.  My blood sugar levels are the best they have been in 8 months.  This is working.  One thing closer to being able to qualify for a mission!

Random Thoughts

Went to the DR yesterday and he was thrilled with how well I was doing for the first time in over a year.  Nothing needed to be tweaked.  I just need to keep on with Karen and keep following the regime she has me on.  I was on high yesterday all day because of all the good reports I kept getting.  The other thing I noticed is I have wrists and ankles again.  This is a wonderful thing!

My daughters and I started our blogs several years ago to keep close to each other.  We were much more faithful about writing them at first but then the novelty wore off and life got in the way.  I still check every day to see if there is any mention from anyone though, in hopes one of them have written something.  As it has turned out, my two youngest have been the most faithful all along.

My daughter, Pam, writes a blog on Tuesday based on lists.  Every week she makes me think about our life and the lists we make.  I found a shopping list written by my mother in a purse I had inherited from her.  I hang on to it because I have very few things that are hand written by my mother.  It is very precious to me.  The other day I realized that I couldn't make what I planned for dinner because I didn't buy one of the ingredients when I went shopping.  Clyde said, "You know if it isn't on the list, you won't buy it."  He is right.  If it isn't on my shopping list, I won't remember it.  We have a cleaning list at the Church of who cleans the building what week.  It is our week this weekend.  Clyde and I now have a list if criteria that we have to accomplish so we can even put our papers in for a mission.  Basically, our lives are run on lists.  It is interesting how something as simple as a few words each week from our youngest daughter can really be very thought provoking.

Kneeling Down

For the last 5 1/2 years I have not been able to kneel down because of my knees.  This has been a great sadness to me because I have felt my prayers have not been as sincere but in addition to that I have been hampered in other things too.  I haven't been able to do things in the temple that I loved to do.  Just pulling things out from under the bed were monumental.

Then a month ago I hired Karen King to come and help me get in shape for our mission next year.  I knew I had to be physically able to go, with the stamina to push in order to be a good missionary - no matter where we serve.  3 weeks ago she had me go on the floor for some Pilate's exercises and on my knees for balance.  As I went down the second or third day on my own, I realized my knees were hurting less and less.  On a hard floor they still hurt when I initially get down, but if I cushion them with a pillow or a cushion, I can kneel quite comfortably for quite a while.  This was evident when we went to the temple last Friday.  Ordinarily we work on Friday's in the temple but one of my seminary students was in the play "Our Town" last week and we wanted to see him.  If we wanted to do the session it was necessary that we fulfill all responsibilities of the session because there was Clyde and me and a Spanish speaking sister.  We eventually ended up with the Mission President and his wife but nonetheless I did it and felt no pain.  It was big milestone and I have been kneeling for prayer ever since.

A real quick note about "Our Town".  I have to admit that I dreaded it.  I hate that play.  I have never liked it.  I tried watching it again not too long ago when I heard that Paul Newman played the stage manager.  I still didn't like it.  Friday night's High School production was the best I have EVER seen.  It was engaging and wonderful.  The only thing I can think that made it different was there was a sense of naivete and other worldly attitude to it that only youth could bring.  Devon Mello did a fabulous job as stage manager and he truly made the play.  He is the best stage manager I have ever seen.  I have been tortured through this play many times.  I am probably becoming an expert on it!  I used to rank this with Heart of Darkness (my least favorite book ever!)  Not anymore.

Happy Birthday, Evie

Today is my granddaughter, Evie Nordell's fifth birthday.  It seems unreal that she is that old.  It is unbelievable they are finally stateside.  I can't wait to see them and cover both Evie and Bella with hugs and kisses.  Happy Birthday, Evie.  I hope this year goes quickly so you can celebrate your next birthday with your dad home with you again.

Happy Birthday, Andy - Late!

I didn't forget it was my son-in-law's birthday yesterday but the last 3 days have been so busy that I just didn't have time to blog.  So I apologize for being a bit late.  I did think about it yesterday but the 'bishop' gets priority on the computer on Sundays - especially when Ward conference is coming up.

Andy has been a part of our lives for 15 years.  Heidi wrote to him as a friend while he was on his mission.  I had listened to his  and his friends Dave's dreams on speech tournaments in high school.  Andy is someone whose dreams were ones that I admired even in high school, because even back then he wanted to teach.  He will soon be able to do just that on any level he wants.  He has never let go of his dream.  He has also in that time become a wonderful father and husband.  Happy Birthday, Andy!  I hope this year brings the fruition of everything you have worked so hard for.  Lots of love from both of us.

A Fun Trip

 Marie, Harper and Atticus Hammill

 Adam and Marie Hammill

 Clyde with Atticus.  Atticus looks pained but he is really laughing.  Clyde is playing grandpa and winding the kids up.  They loved it and so did Clyde.

Clyde with Harper.  She thought she wanted to rough house but mostly she just wanted to bounce between laps and get hugs.  She just turned two.  Atticus will 4 the end of June.  

A week ago Clyde asked me if I wanted to go Portsmouth, New Hampshire with him.  He said if I did we could visit the Hamills.  The Hamill's moved here to Newport just after we did.  They have been an important part of our Newport family ever since. They moved to Washington state for a few years and then a couple of years ago they moved to New Hampshire.  We have been lucky enough to see them periodically.   We had a wonderful visit and basically just picking up where we left off.  It was a fun two days.

My Early Morning Seminary Class

 Back Row: Dale Lowman and Devon Mello
Front Row: Alicia Lowman and Lauren Borg

For a couple of  years I have spoken about my early morning seminary class so I thought I would show them to the world.  The Lowman's moved this summer and Dale graduates so next year my seminary class will shape up to be Devon and Lauren unless something interesting happens this summer.  I do have home study students but they were not around when this picture was taken.  We are winding up this year and believe it or not - I look forward to next year.

Welcome Home Nordells!

It very rare for me to want to be somewhere else.  But today I so wish I was in Salt Lake City so I could be there to welcome home the Nordell's from Okinawa.  It  has been a long 4 years since I have seen this part of my family.  I am glad to have them home.  I love you and can't wait to see you and hug you!