My bucket list

Look at me. My third post to my blog and my second week in a row. Go Nana!!
On Monday morning, my radio automatically came on at 6:00 a.m. just as the dj's signed on at KLCE radio station. This morning, the first thing Liza announces is that her partner Wayne Richards died the night before while vacationing in Hawaii. I have listened to Wayne since KLCE started about 15 years ago and he and I became friends when Spencer was drafted and we visited on occasion on the radio. He followed me through the mayorial race and my short run for the Legislature. I felt like I had lost a good friend as did many other listeners in the area. Lisa pointed out many times during the week that Wayne died doing something he had always wanted to do - scuba dive- and he had lived life to the fullest. He was 54 and in good health and no one knows what really happened.
All week I have been reflecting on my life and trying to come up with things I would really like to do before my time is up and came to the conclusion that if my sun were to set unexpectedly, I would return to my heavenly family reporting back that I was ready to return and had no regrets. I have done so much in my short lifetime that I am ready to set my speed on cruise control (slow speed) and sail happily into the sunset.
I do have a bucket list though. Considering that I have already climbed the Eiffel Tower, watched the changing of the guard in London, travelled across the USSR on the Trans Siberian Railroad, hitch-hiked through Switzerland, served my country in the Vietnam War in the Red Cross, spent time in the outback in Austrailia, shopped in Hong Kong, swam in the beaches off Sydney, Austrailia, rode the train up Mt. Fuji in Japan, motorbiked in England, spent the night in a hostel that at one time was a hideout for Hitler, got a ticket in Holland for hitch-hiking in the wrong spot on the freeway, and travelled completely around the world, mainly I want to spend as much time with my family as possible, especially the grandchildren as it is fun to enjoy their energy and not worry about if the laundry is done, the piano has been practiced, the hair has been washed or teeth have been brushed. I will leave those chores to the parents and we will just have fun together. I remember the times I spent with my only grandma and such precious memories I have of her. Her cookie jar was always full and we loved playing in her basement and walking the railroad tracks next to her house. I want my grandchildren to have fun memories with their "nana." I also enjoy watching my own children and their parenting skills. I am so proud of each one of them and if I had done nothing else in this life, I would still feel like my life had been complete as my children all have strong testimonies of the gospel, know how to work hard, seem to be happy with their lives, and are dedicated to their families.
My advice to them is to enjoy every moment you have together as it isn't long as you are sending them out into the world off to college, on missions, and to the altar where they then will reward you for all your efforts by giving you beautiful grandchildren. No one could ask for a better reward.
All this rambling on is really bringing me to the point that I want to make. As my sun begins to go down, if it sets sooner than expected, remember that I go knowing I lived life to the fullest and I can return to report "mission complete". Don't feel sad for me as I will be going home with head held high and proud of what I accomplished in this life.

Here I go again. Jessica tells me if I am going to be a blogger I have to ad to my blog once in a while. I thought everyone that reads my blog (does anyone?) would just enjoy looking at the beautiful picture of the Tetons, read what I wrote first over and over again, then find my house in the picture and log off.
O.k., so there is more to it than that I guess. I'm just not used to this stuff. Wait until I learn how to put pictures on then it will get really exciting. But, that may be a while. I am still learning how to turn my new camera that the fam gave me on and off and once in a while I snap a few shots. Now I have to figure out how to get them off my camera and made into a real picture like I am used to.
If you read the Crossley blog, you were told that they visited me about three weeks ago and yes, I definately took advantage of my handy-man son-in-law spending the weekend up here. I have to admit, I did have a list ready for him to tackle and he didn't bat an eye (he didn't have time or he probably did it behind my back). I first set him to work helping me (well he did it all) prop the roof up on my old storage shed which collapsed last winter under the heavy snow. We found a couple of 4x4's in back of city hall, which I am sure they won't miss, and he sawed them the proper length then lifted the roof while I shoved them in place. It looks pretty good but we will see how sturdy they are when winter sets in.
Ned sent me into cardiac arrest though when he suggested he put a new shower head on my shower for me. I loved my old shower head as I got lots of pressure and had no complaints about it. But upon further examination, there was such a huge buildup of hard water that I don't know how I got any pressure at all. I did give in to letting him put a new head on with the promise that if I didn't like it he would replace the old one so he went to work replacing my shower head. He promised I would have good pressure, which has turned out true. Not as much pressure as before, but enough. I am now doing my part to conserve one of our most precious resources so I am now helping save the world thanks to Ned.
It was fun having the Crossleys visit and I even tolerated the dog - Hobbs. He is so patient with those little boys. At one point, Reed had him wrapped up in a rope and a sword sticking through the ropes and he was sitting so patiently with his paws crossed that I tried to get a picture but couldn't get my new camera to work. Yes, I turned it on first.
I have probably said enough but since it has been so long since I wrote I have a lot of catching up to do. Read on for more entertainment.
Next weekend I got to attend church with Kelly's family as they sang and sounded beautiful. Won't be long before Keayen is on "American Idol." He has a beautiful voice and Natalyah looked cute. Monika was sleeping peacefully on the bench so she missed the whole thing but her time will come considering how often they are asked to sing. I can see why.
(Almost done - bear with me). Next weekend I had a satellite dish installed so since then I have pretty much just sat in my chair (mom's wonderful rocking chair that Howard bought her) and skrolled through all the channels watching anything that catches my fancy. Have seen old episodes of M*A*S*H*, Home Improvement, etc. I guess it's time to get up out of my chair and do something productive.
Oh, I did referee a volleyball game for the first time last week in six years. I was scared to death but not to brag, I did a pretty good job. I realized though that almost no one looks at you except when it is time to serve. At one point, I was watching a young father and his cute baby in the stands and nothing was happening on the floor. Come to find out, they were all waiting for me to give the signal to serve. Duh! I tried to pay more attention after that.
O.k., one more thing. I got to know the newest member to our family a little better yesterday when we had a bonding moment on the phone. Thanks Tommy for the words of love and support. You made my day. Welcome to our crazy family!! Bye for now (finally, you are all saying).

Great Blog

Wow! What a great picture of my valley. No wonder I live here. Find the tall grain elevator towards the left side of the picture and that is where my little house is. Wow! what a great blog site. Thanks to my daughters Jess and Nikki for dragging me screaming and kicking into the blogger's world. I'm not going to write much this time as I am not sure this will really work but I do want to say, this weekend I went to the Manwaring Family reunion and thanks to Kelly and Becca for showing up to represent my family. What is sad, I can remember my mother dragging me to those reunions and now, I am that person forcing my children to attend. It was fun seeing all my cousins (now the older generation except for Aunt Lois and Aunt Eva). We realized that "we are now our parents!"
School has started and I have one week under my belt. I have had to add five desks to my classroom but we have a great, new principal so I think it is going to be a good year. I walked through the new middle school they are building and it is huge!
That is all for now. Nor not writing much, I ramble on and on.