Well it looks like last year was a waste of a blog page for me. I only managed to get one post done. I hope this year I will get more done. I had a great start to this year. I was able to have my traditional meal of corn bread, greens, steak, and black eyed peas for dinner. I also made mashed potatoes, gravy, pork chops, and spinach for lunch. Evan and I were both stuffed all day but that is what New Years Day is about. I loved having the day off to spend with Evan. We slept in and then watched movies, football, and episodes of She-Ra all day. In the middle of all that I cooked all the food and cleaned the dining room and Kitchen. I would have used this day to take down all the Christmas decorations but Evan and I decided to keep them up longer. Since we didn't put the tree or decorations up until a week before Christmas, we wanted to keep them up a little longer. Now that dinner has settled, I have a craving for Rocky Road ice cream.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Grandpa Jason
Grandpa Jason 1914-2009
Today would have been my Grandpa's 96th birthday. He passed away on October 28th. I miss him terribly. I know he is in a much better place and he is finally with his beloved wife Avery, who passed away in October of 1991.
Wow, I didn't realize how much I miss him until now. I had very little time to grieve the loss. Evan called me at work to let me know he had passed away, so although there were moments of great sorrow that day, there was no time for grieving then. I have not had a moment to think about it until recently. Life has been CRAZY.
I am still in charge at the Post Office. In the past three months I have been through the busy Christmas season (down one clerk), had the only clerk I did have retired on me at the beginning of January, and I had a clerk, with 23 years of experience, come to help me out from Casa
Grande. Pam, the clerk helping me out, is a God send. She really knows her stuff. My stress level has dropped down to almost nothing. I am still trying to get the hang of all the reports and Postmaster duties, but with Pam here and the busiest season finally over I am finally finding the time to get everything down within work hours.
Pam is so fun. She is from upstate New York and moved to Casa Grande three years ago to get away from the snow. She has that New York attitude and she really keeps me entertained.
Evan and I got to go to California on the last week of the Year. We spent three days at Disneyland and California Adventure. It was such a great time. We finally had some real relaxation. I LOVE Disneyland at Christmas time, but I will not go during New Year's again. Wow was it busy. If you look at the picture of the crowd below, that was the crowd that was in front of us for the New Year's fireworks. They did not budge for about four hours. We decided no to stay for the fireworks and spent 25 minutes trying to get from the Indiana Jones ride to the enterance of the park. It was nuts! I just wish I had longer than just three days. Well there is always fall break. :)
Friday, December 18, 2009
CHRISTMAS 09
We have had another eventful year. It was another year filled with many trials and many triumphs, but God has continued to richly bless us.
We had great start to a year. Evan and I were both very busy at our jobs: Evan teaching band/general music and me at the Post Office. Evan spent his time as volunteer basketball coach and taking Band Students to Honor Bands and Concert Festivals. I was busy with work at the Kearny Post Office. I had the opportunity to be in charge of the Post Office for four weeks while my boss was on an assignment in a different office. It was a challenge but me and the Post Office were still standing at the end.
We had a rough start and end to March this year. At the beginning of March, we had to put my mom’s pug Spike, who had been living with us for eight months, to sleep. He had a freak accident and it was not repairable. We really miss him. After the heartache of putting down Spike, my parents had an opportunity to purchase a pug puppy. The man who owned the puppy had been given the pug as a gift for his birthday. He didn’t want a dog and he would sell it to them cheap. My parents and I purchased the puppy for Evan’s 29th birthday present. Evan was ecstatic. He named the new addition Winston Edward Thompson – Winston after Winston Churchill and Edward because we thought it sounded good. Winston has really livened up our lives. He is very loving.
Also in March we joined Kearny Southern Baptist Church. Evan filled in for the music minister in the summer and became the official music minister in September. It is a small but loving congregation. Our pastor and his wife are two dear, Godly people.
We ended March with a trip to the ER for Evan. In a freak accident Evan had been struck on the left side of the forehead by two composite wood posts. He seemed alright but a few days later he developed really serious concussion symptoms. He had his cat scanned (as my dad puts it) and x-rays to make sure there was no internal bleeding or fractures. Everything checked out fine. Evan still was not himself so we got a referral to see a neurologist. The neurologist said that Evan has Post Concussive Syndrome(PCS). The concussion has caused a problem with his short term memory. We are working on getting him better. It is a struggle but so far we are still getting through it.
We spent another great anniversary together to start off a busy summer. Evan had summer band and I had work, as usual, at the Post Office. Evan, his mom, and I went to New Mexico to visit and meet a sweet lady who was slipping away from this world. I was glad to have finally gotten to meet the woman I had heard so many good things about. I was excited to be able to visit the White Sands National Monument. Evan and my friend Deidre had talked about it several times and I had been wanting to go. I enjoyed the weekend and didn’t want to go back to work on Monday.
We were busy having fund-raisers to get money to send twelve 5th-8th graders to Four Seasons Music Camp. In the end we made enough money that all twelve students were able to go. We had a blast. It is always a long week for everyone but the end result is a concert on Saturday that leaves the audience in awe of what we did in a week.
All too soon school started and the cycle began again: Friday night football games, Saturday Marching Festivals, and Monday night Marching practice. It is the same routine all the way through the first week of November. It was a long Marching season this year, but it was a successful one. For the second year in a row, they earned an Excellent rating at the State Marching Festival. Evan did a great job getting through it with his PCS. I was unable to accompany them on most of the Saturday trips.
In early September, my boss got a promotion to the Oracle Post Office. It was a good move for her since she lived in Oracle. I had the opportunity to be Officer in Charge until they got another Postmaster into Kearny. I jumped at the chance. It has been a long, difficult three months. We are still short one person and our new Postmaster, who is a very sweet person, is not expected to come until after the first of the year. Needless to say this has been a rough Christmas holiday for my co-worker and me. We have been doing the job of three people while trying to not use overtime.
This year has gone by so fast and next year will begin with a blast. Evan and I are taking our first trip as a couple since our honeymoon. We are going to DISNEYLAND during the last week of the year. We will be there to ring in the New Year with Mickey and Minnie. We can’t wait! We love you all and hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.
May God bless you in the new year.
We have had another eventful year. It was another year filled with many trials and many triumphs, but God has continued to richly bless us.
We had great start to a year. Evan and I were both very busy at our jobs: Evan teaching band/general music and me at the Post Office. Evan spent his time as volunteer basketball coach and taking Band Students to Honor Bands and Concert Festivals. I was busy with work at the Kearny Post Office. I had the opportunity to be in charge of the Post Office for four weeks while my boss was on an assignment in a different office. It was a challenge but me and the Post Office were still standing at the end.
We had a rough start and end to March this year. At the beginning of March, we had to put my mom’s pug Spike, who had been living with us for eight months, to sleep. He had a freak accident and it was not repairable. We really miss him. After the heartache of putting down Spike, my parents had an opportunity to purchase a pug puppy. The man who owned the puppy had been given the pug as a gift for his birthday. He didn’t want a dog and he would sell it to them cheap. My parents and I purchased the puppy for Evan’s 29th birthday present. Evan was ecstatic. He named the new addition Winston Edward Thompson – Winston after Winston Churchill and Edward because we thought it sounded good. Winston has really livened up our lives. He is very loving.
Also in March we joined Kearny Southern Baptist Church. Evan filled in for the music minister in the summer and became the official music minister in September. It is a small but loving congregation. Our pastor and his wife are two dear, Godly people.
We ended March with a trip to the ER for Evan. In a freak accident Evan had been struck on the left side of the forehead by two composite wood posts. He seemed alright but a few days later he developed really serious concussion symptoms. He had his cat scanned (as my dad puts it) and x-rays to make sure there was no internal bleeding or fractures. Everything checked out fine. Evan still was not himself so we got a referral to see a neurologist. The neurologist said that Evan has Post Concussive Syndrome(PCS). The concussion has caused a problem with his short term memory. We are working on getting him better. It is a struggle but so far we are still getting through it.
We spent another great anniversary together to start off a busy summer. Evan had summer band and I had work, as usual, at the Post Office. Evan, his mom, and I went to New Mexico to visit and meet a sweet lady who was slipping away from this world. I was glad to have finally gotten to meet the woman I had heard so many good things about. I was excited to be able to visit the White Sands National Monument. Evan and my friend Deidre had talked about it several times and I had been wanting to go. I enjoyed the weekend and didn’t want to go back to work on Monday.
We were busy having fund-raisers to get money to send twelve 5th-8th graders to Four Seasons Music Camp. In the end we made enough money that all twelve students were able to go. We had a blast. It is always a long week for everyone but the end result is a concert on Saturday that leaves the audience in awe of what we did in a week.
All too soon school started and the cycle began again: Friday night football games, Saturday Marching Festivals, and Monday night Marching practice. It is the same routine all the way through the first week of November. It was a long Marching season this year, but it was a successful one. For the second year in a row, they earned an Excellent rating at the State Marching Festival. Evan did a great job getting through it with his PCS. I was unable to accompany them on most of the Saturday trips.
In early September, my boss got a promotion to the Oracle Post Office. It was a good move for her since she lived in Oracle. I had the opportunity to be Officer in Charge until they got another Postmaster into Kearny. I jumped at the chance. It has been a long, difficult three months. We are still short one person and our new Postmaster, who is a very sweet person, is not expected to come until after the first of the year. Needless to say this has been a rough Christmas holiday for my co-worker and me. We have been doing the job of three people while trying to not use overtime.
This year has gone by so fast and next year will begin with a blast. Evan and I are taking our first trip as a couple since our honeymoon. We are going to DISNEYLAND during the last week of the year. We will be there to ring in the New Year with Mickey and Minnie. We can’t wait! We love you all and hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.
May God bless you in the new year.
Christmas Letter Delayed
I have been working on our Christmas Letter the last few days. I have also been working about 10 hour days at work and am EXHAUSTED. I will have the letter up by the end of the weekend. Please check back in a few days. I am sorry for the delay. :)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Music Camp
Evan and I took 13 band students to camp for a week in July. I was so exhausted from the week that it took me a full two weeks to recover. We all enjoyed the camp a lot. The kids learn as much in camp as they would have learned in a semester at school. I even got to play my clarinet some. I don't play it that often so it was nice to be able to play it. Here are a few pictures from camp.
Here is a couple Ray students learning how to play the hand chimes. It takes a lot of counting and concentration to play these instruments. This next picture shows the waterfall that was created by the down pour we had on Wednesday. The waterfall is coming down the stairs that lead up to the girls cabins. Needless to say we were stuck in the rec hall for a while. The camp crew that did the clean up of all the mud that was brought down the mountain, shoveled 30 wheelbarrows full of mud and dirt. 
The students were taught to swing dance on the next to last day. This is dance night. Junior counselors teach a dance and the students try it out then there is a dance. 
During rec time the students rotate between several activities. This year I was put in charge to watch the tether-ball area. The picture below is the entire camp. While we are waiting we have one person that takes pictures with our cameras. This year I think there was about 20 cameras. It felt like forever standing on those logs. We are in our concert dress of tie-dyed shirts. This is just snapshots of the week. I can't wait to attend next year.
Here is a couple Ray students learning how to play the hand chimes. It takes a lot of counting and concentration to play these instruments. This next picture shows the waterfall that was created by the down pour we had on Wednesday. The waterfall is coming down the stairs that lead up to the girls cabins. Needless to say we were stuck in the rec hall for a while. The camp crew that did the clean up of all the mud that was brought down the mountain, shoveled 30 wheelbarrows full of mud and dirt. 
The students were taught to swing dance on the next to last day. This is dance night. Junior counselors teach a dance and the students try it out then there is a dance. 
During rec time the students rotate between several activities. This year I was put in charge to watch the tether-ball area. The picture below is the entire camp. While we are waiting we have one person that takes pictures with our cameras. This year I think there was about 20 cameras. It felt like forever standing on those logs. We are in our concert dress of tie-dyed shirts. This is just snapshots of the week. I can't wait to attend next year.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Music Camp
I am in the process of packing for music camp. Evan and I are taking 14 5th - 8th grade band students to Four Seasons Music Camp in the mountains near Prescott, AZ. I am excited to be in the cooler weather for the week. I have most of my packing done. After I get done at work tomorrow, we have to take our four-legged children to visit their Grandma and Grandpa's house for the week. Then we have to come home and clean house. I want to return home after camp to a clean house and sleep.
I found out last year that you don't get that much sleep when you are sleeping in a cabin with six teenager girls. I slept the entire way home and a day after that. Well more packing. See you in a week.
I found out last year that you don't get that much sleep when you are sleeping in a cabin with six teenager girls. I slept the entire way home and a day after that. Well more packing. See you in a week.
Monday, July 13, 2009
New Mexico Trip
This weekend we went to New Mexico. Etna and Evan were going to see old friends and relatives and I was going to meet them. I had a great time and am really glad we were able to get there this summer. We are exhausted but we don't regret the weekend. Here are several pictures from the trip.
This is the beautiful house that we had the privilege of staying in. This is Evan's Uncle Jack's and Marie's house. It is a great house and the view is breathtaking. We had a great stay in a very comfortable and relaxing setting. 
This is one of the many picture I took of beautiful flowers this weekend. I loved being up in the cooler air. I could get used to it. 
Evan had to get a picture with this bear that was inside the Lodge at Cloudcroft. We had a great afternoon up in the mountains near Alamogordo, NM. We got to have cherry cider (which I am not a fan of, but at least I can say I tried it), looked in several really cool shops, and ate some fudge. 
The only thing I really wanted to do during the weekend was to visit Whitesands. It was beautiful. I love the fact that if you dig your feet in the sand you reach really cool dirt. It is several degrees cooler than the sand on the surface. I wish we could have stayed a little longer there but we had to get home. We still needed to pick up our dogs, who had been staying with my parents in Globe.
I was able to get a picture of the breathtaking Organ Mountains before leaving Las Cruces. I wish we could have gone closer but this was just a quick trip. Next time we need to stay longer. I was also introduced to the burger joint called Blake's Lotaburger. It was delicious. Well next week we are off to Four Seasons Music Camp in Prescott. We are taking 14 kids this year. We are both excited about it and cant wait.
This is the beautiful house that we had the privilege of staying in. This is Evan's Uncle Jack's and Marie's house. It is a great house and the view is breathtaking. We had a great stay in a very comfortable and relaxing setting. 
This is one of the many picture I took of beautiful flowers this weekend. I loved being up in the cooler air. I could get used to it. 
Evan had to get a picture with this bear that was inside the Lodge at Cloudcroft. We had a great afternoon up in the mountains near Alamogordo, NM. We got to have cherry cider (which I am not a fan of, but at least I can say I tried it), looked in several really cool shops, and ate some fudge. 
The only thing I really wanted to do during the weekend was to visit Whitesands. It was beautiful. I love the fact that if you dig your feet in the sand you reach really cool dirt. It is several degrees cooler than the sand on the surface. I wish we could have stayed a little longer there but we had to get home. We still needed to pick up our dogs, who had been staying with my parents in Globe.
I was able to get a picture of the breathtaking Organ Mountains before leaving Las Cruces. I wish we could have gone closer but this was just a quick trip. Next time we need to stay longer. I was also introduced to the burger joint called Blake's Lotaburger. It was delicious. Well next week we are off to Four Seasons Music Camp in Prescott. We are taking 14 kids this year. We are both excited about it and cant wait.
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