July 2008

Before-- (July 11-14) Our Family reunion Scheduled here at our house... is getting closer...we will go to Medford on Monday the 7th to do the bigger shopping for the event. About 17 people in total...which is small for his family.After-- The family reunion was enjoyed here at our house July 11-14th and so we are getting back to normal....Busy, busy vacation this time. Just now re-surfacing again...We had a wonderful time with our relatives here and did a lot. They started arriving on Wednesday and all arrived by Friday and we had small easy dinner Friday night and then Saturday night we had a nice Rib eye steak dinner and during the day we went to Taylor lake..(just a few of us..I was the instigator on that one) and Sunday morning we all had a waffle breakfast and then dispursed in different directions.. Some left and ones that were left about 13 of us...went on Monday up to the Jet boat ride/dinner excursion. It was lovely to do that and would do it again in a heartbeat. IT is really a blast .Even though we had done it before twice...we had never done the dinner ride and so glad we finally experienced it...very good food etc...fun ride and all. Then we all came back here and crashed again all over the house...sleeping bags and mattresses everywhere...and got up early Tuesday and more left to go home and then 8 were left and we all went to coos bay for 2nights 3days....cloudy and cold there...but we had another good time experiencing the ocean with all. Then 4 more left and 4 of us came back today and we dropped off the last 2 at Medford airport at 11:00 am...wow...a long week and a half...but we did it.! Wow. All total that came here was 17 people. That is small for the normal size groups that usually come. Lucky for us it was smaller. I did take tons of pictures and movies.....everyone had a super time and it went so smoothly, with no problems at all. I never stopped really moving for 2 weeks and yet I still feel like I got rested. During the reunion we all pitched in and did the jobs together and it went so easily. I think that Mack worked muchHarder than I. I was looking at the viedo that we took and it is entertaining to watch. Glad that we got it on tape. Will try to burn it into a DVD soon for all to see. Got back from Coo's bay about 1:30 ..Friday and we are catching up alittle now and spending the night here and then tomorrow morning going over to the Etna Bluegrass festival and will spend Saturday night there in the camper....I am tired and would like to stay home...but this time Mack is the one that wants to go more ..... I even think he is more tired than me...but is determine to get there. Eric called and has emailed me three times in the past 2 months...Eric is fine...I keep missing his calls but he leaves messages though. Sent him a package about 2 weeks ago...and hope that he got it. He did say in his message he is getting his vacation early..late august and will go to his home in Washington for a week, then down here for a week..and then back there --he has 20 days total. I am so excited.This is what he said:
(first email) Everything going good, Great to here from you. I got this picture from Bob and Robyn my neighbors. It has the front yard grass grown in. Such torture missing the summer for a year. Not much going on here but everyday work. Talk to you all soon.
(Second email) Hi, every thing is going good and I am well, We have been working a lot but things are starting to settle down alittle. This is a cute picture of Kristen and me. I got an e-mail from my neighbors Bob and Robin so I don't need Chad to go out there. I do need Chads phone numbers thou I think. Thanks for all that you do for me. It would be a head ack to do it from here. Miss you much tell everyone I say hello. Love Eric
....(third email)EERYTHING IS GOING GOOD OVER HERE WORK ALOT OF HOURS. I PUT NOTES BY EACH OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD THANKS FOR HELPING. LOVE ERIC
Isn't it funny..he is such a horrible speller like me...I see such similarity in so many things that he does to how dad was and the way I approach things also...must be alittle genetics there. Miss him terribly and glad that he is getting caught up there. I have apackage almost ready to send to him now...I am so very slow doing things like that.
His email is Eric.longhofer@us.army.mil I email him but rarely get emails back..
Haven't touched bases too often lately with TJ ...just play phone tag. She is very busy with her life right now. Working again as a waitress and loves it I think..that is what she keeps telling me. . Will touch bases with you soon...take care... Hugs & Prayers, BJM

Monday April 28th, 2008

Dear Family & Friends,

Well, once again another week has gone by so quickly and lots has happened! Eric left this last Thursday night,(early Friday morning 3:00am) for Iraq and arrived on Saturday our time noon or so. I just happened to be home when he called to tell us he touched down on the ground and they will be in Kuiate for a few days til they process them and send them on to their destination. I am so thankful that I was home to talk. Each time he goes there it seems like the phone service and usualy delays when you talk get better and better. It is just strange to realize that you are talking to someone around on the other side of the world and it seems like they are right in the neighborhood. He will keep us posted as time goes one.

Mack has been at his new job for over a week now and is enjoying settling in to the new routine. He is starting to get ready for our family reunion here by diving into projects that have needed his handy attention for awhile. I have much to do also, but just have my days off to accomplish them.

Our weather here has been absoultely perfect the last week or so. After I set all my plants on the front porch they froze and almost lost them all...hope that they rebound alittle.

Teresa Jo just sent me that first picture of her and her Doggie Skitts last night so will share it with you. She is keeping busy in SLO and soon will move to Arroyo Grande. She looks well. Haven't talked to her but once in the past week. She will be 22 soon next month.

Guess that is all for now...can't think of much else that has been happening here. Just trying to keep up with each days work etc.

Till next entry..Hugs & Prayers,

Bette Jo

End of April

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, how time flies! can't believe that it has been a month since we were up visiting the kids in Yelm and we have been back and in our routines for about 3 weeks now. Since that time many changes have happened. Mack tested for a new job...and got it..working for the D.A. office as a D.A. Investigator. He is just thrilled with the new position and yet it was very hard for him to leave his job at the Sheriff's Office. 19 years is along time to have been working in the same place. But he is happy with getting to do something different and everything rolls over to our advantage so it all was in God's timing. Funny how things go sometimes.

Eric leaves today...they kept post ponning their departure for Iraq this time...and so today is the day and he will be traveling about a day and 1/2 to get there. Your prayers are needed during this time with him being gone probably for at least a year and could be 15 months this time. He was alittle stressed out each time I did talk to him and believe me it was very brief when we did touch bases...he is a busy guy with many responsibilties now and has many people under his watch. He is a angel of a son and I am so thankful to be his mom...how proud I am of him doing what he loves to do the most...! My mom and dad would have especially been very proud of him and his accomplishments. Will keep you posted on what is going on with him over there on this blog...

Teresa Jo is fine and getting ready to move in a couple of weeks from SLO to Arroyo Grande. Her girlfriend Erica has a room she can rent for 1/3 the price of what she is paying in SLO. THey will have a yard etc..for her baby doggie Skitts to run around in also...so it is a good move for her there. Next when she gets settled she will think about finding a job. She is a doll and growing up so fast too. I am so blessed to have had all 3 children and thankful that they are good at keeping us involved in their lives.

I will be going on a trip down south to Southern California soon with my girlfriend Wendy for a nice visit at Newport beach for a week or so. Will be nice to get away and relax. Can't believe that it will be here end of next week already.

So Mack will be holding down the fort with Molly and Copper and says he is gonna clean out the freezer and anything he doesn't like.....haha..but we will see.. He is trying to get ready for the big Family Reunion coming up July 11-13th here at our home with all of his siblings. I have been cleaning and cleaning and still keep seeing things I need to do. Wish I had some help to get it all done.

Am almost done with Teresa Jo's quilt. It has turned out beautifully...and am so very proud of it. I am putting 100 names around the edges in the hearts of all her favorite friends from High School and now in her life...and each time I sit down to do it I can't remember how to get the stupid machine to program...so I fight with it and finally it works...so it is slow going. Have to have it done before I leave on the trip south, as her birthday is right when we get back..and I wanted to present it to her for her 22 birthday. Wish me well...

till next entry...

Hugs & Prayers,

Bette Jo

April 8th, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a few weeks since my last entry and am just getting back to a normal pace after being gone to visit the kids on a nice vacation break in Washington. What fun we had being with both kids...and we kept busy just hanging out with them at Eric's home. Got to see all of his projects he has accomplished and visit Loretta and Bob and although we didn't get to see Kristen and CHristopher and their children because they were sick...we did talk to them. Maybe next trip.

Eric was just getting ready to drive TJ back down to SLO again as her heart is there and she feels drawn to that area with all her friends there etc. They left the afternoon after we left after they loaded up his truck and got everything done. Teresa Jo had less to take back there this trip as she thinned out alot of stuff.

Eric is getting ready to deploy again the end of this month...so will be off to either Iraq or Japan. Not sure which one will happen yet. So will keep you informed.

When Eric drove down with her they stopped and picked up their dad and took him with them to help. WHen Eric came home he stopped here really fast for dinner and to pick up a oak Book case we didn't need anymore. He hopefully will be able to use it. He likes to drive all night when he returns...so I packed him a good lunch and snack bag for his enjoyment going back. Mom's always gotta do that.

He had a whole week left when he returned and he said that he didn't really accomplish as much as he was hoping but had a good rest during that time. He is such a wonderful son and I am so thankful that he and Teresa Jo had that last 6 months together to enjoy and get to be closer than they had been. Might be one of the only times in their lives that they won't have spouses and they had a closer time to connect.

Since we got home...I reorganized my craft room and went through all my books...learned how to make a photo show
http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Rj5VN6mj

and also made a website for My family....

http://www.myfamily.com/Home.aspx?mfsid=34456469

I love all these new ways to communicate with loved family and friends. Didn't know that I could do any of these things...but with encouragement of a few friends I tried it and they worked...So I add a few new things every so often.

Guess that is all for now and hope that this finds you all well.

The big good news for this week is Mack is going to start a new job

working as a D.A. Investigator...for Siskiyou county starting on the 13th of this month. He is jazzed and thrilled that he has a new challenge ahead. So guess that is all for now..

signing off for now...Hugs & Prayers,

BJM

March Maddess--Ha Ha

Dear Friends and Family,

We are getting ready to get out of dodge soon...this friday to be exact and have lots to do before then. Finish TJ's quilt, get the snow tires off, find out who will take care of Copper and pack for the trip....and maybe clean the house if I have time before we leave.

Mack seems to think that we will be home early in the week...but I have other ideas about being up there til at least tuesday and coming home Wednesday. We will see. It will be something that he will push for to leave earlier than I want.

We went to a St. Patrick's day party last night and enjoyed lots of food and people there--at the Conners home. They had about 50 people there and we all brought something. Was good to get out and enjoy the time with good friends.

I took a Celery Root salad-learned it from a customer---you boil celery root for about 45 minutes and then skin it and cut it up in bit size squares...and then you cut up 5 apples , half a onion, alittle parsley and oil and vinegar. It is made in Europe he said so thought I would give it a try... I did like it and it is low fat eating it. try it you might like it..

I got a chance to talk to Nancey heard what her and John and amy have been up to. Then went to a tennis championship this last weekend for that is what John wanted for his birthday celebration this year. She said it was fun and they took alot of pictures there for him. She is doing fine and had to hear about her Birthday also. Just hadn't gotten time to call her for the last month or so.

Have been working alot and that is about it...not much else to report here. Weather is fair and alittle rain from time to time...

Hugs and Prayers,

Bette Jo

Dear Friends and Family,
I had this letter all written and somehow lost my orginal draft. brother...someday I will learn to save my writings. We had a quiet weekend and enjoyed going to dinner Saturday night with Mack. We attended the Officer Appreciation dinner at the Elks lodge for all Siskiyou county. It was largely attended and many awards given. Good dinner and glad to just get out. I was off all day saturday and enjoyed going to my quilting class early in the day and then to a Angie Contreras' baby shower in the afternoon. Had a good time...got home and weather was nice enough to wash the winter dirt off both cars. good job done.
Friday I took off the day went over to Wendy's for a good visit and caught up with her and her family...they have such a busy household --lots going on all the time. Sometimes a phone visit isn't enough.
Am trying to finish staining and painting shelves for my crafting area. I am trying to organize my craft room better for the upcoming Reunion in July. Don't want it to look too terrible for Mack's family to stare at. Always a good time to update and organize alittle better.
Also am going to try to finish Teresa's quilt today and put the trim on it. Have to still machine embroider names in each heart around the edges also.
hope to get it to her by the time we go up to visit her and Eric in Washington the week after next.
We are enjoying a false spring now and will take the good weather while we can. It will rain again before we know it.
that is about all for this week...will add more as I think of it...
Hugs & Prayers,
BJM