Conversations with Mom

 Conversations with Mom

Fading in and out of sleep...

Jan 7 2022

I had a phone conversation with Mom that was very different from other recent conversations. First of all, it was an actual conversation. Lately it has basically been me asking questions and Mom answering either yes, no or I don't remember.

First we talked about the normal stuff like weather and I asked how she is feeling. ( She usually answers "Woozy." She told me that she was feeling pretty good (better than recently)

Mom told me that she got some bad news yesterday.

She said, “They don't think that I will get well.  That I won’t leave here.”

Even though we have talked about hospice, this was the first time that dying instead of getting well was actually discussed..

I said “Really?  They don’t think that your body is healing? How do you feel about this?”

She said, “How do YOU feel about this?”

I said that I have mixed emotions.  I said that of course I want you to stay forever but I am thankful that you told me that you’d live until you are 95 and you kept your promise.  I have totally enjoyed your and mine relationship.”

I asked what her body is telling her.  “Does your body feel like it’s healing or giving out?

She thought for a moment and said…”I think it’s giving out.”

We went on to talk about getting closer to dying…

I said, “The closer you get to death, I wonder if you’ll have any vivid dreams about heaven or Dad or Jesus ….  I’ve had a couple dreams about heaven and they were wonderful.”

She replied that yes, if that happens I will tell you about it.  (I kind of sensed anticipation in her voice)

Then she said “oh oh, I think something is happening down there.  I asked if she needed to go to the bathroom and she answered yes.  I told her that I’ll talk to her later.  

We ended the conversation with me saying “Bye, I love you.”  She answered, “Love you more.”

January 9, 2022

I had another short conversation with Mom. She's feeling pretty good today. Yesterday she slept most of the day but today her aide has her up in the wheelchair.

I told her that I will be in to see her tomorrow morning. I asked if there is anything that I can bring her. She answered: "Time....but I suppose we don't need that."

NDU Commercial

https://www.facebook.com/kathi.schwan/videos/599672431080167/

Unboxing my new Samsung Galaxy s21 Ultra

Interviewing Mom (Edythe Grover) 94 yr. old

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic Memories

(Daily at 4:00 We'd watch updates from the Governor Burgum) 

I'm posting this just so I don't forget..... April 3, 2020

(I copied it from Facebook)

Gas price a mile from home was $1.55
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Hey Brett!  Here's your skit:


Student Sunday 2018 Drama from Bethel Church on Vimeo.

Kindred School Bus Crash

Photo taken by WDAY News

Two of our busses were driving an activity run this morning..... in the fog. They were headed to Bagg Farm. Cathy crashed into a semi that pulled out in front of her. Then two other semi's crashed into them.

Cathy was pinned behind the steering wheel for way too long. Life Flight (helicopter) refused to fly in the fog. When I left the scene she was still stuck behind the wheel.) She has lost a lot of blood.

I was heading down hwy 46 @ about 9:00 when someone from the school called and told me about the crash. I said OMG! It's right in front of me. I pulled off to the side of the road. A min later the first cop car shot past. me.

Cathy was driving the first bus carrying 4th graders.Craig was following behind Cathy in a second bus, also carrying 4th graders. After getting out of the car, I checked out Craig's bus first. Those kids were fine...but excited. Craig, had taken off to reach Cathy. One of the teachers on the bus was trying to calm the kids, the other on her phone while pacing in front of the bus. They wouldn't let me get any closer to Cathy's bus. I told them that I was a fellow bus driver....but they nicely said that I would be in the way. I understood.

The teachers on the crashed bus safely got the hysterical kids off that bus and had them stand in the field while rescue people worked on Cathy.

For some reason, I feel like taking pictures during a crisis is wrong. but you know me, I have to document everything with a picture. So I stayed at a distance and snapped a few shots in the fog. You really can't see much in my pictures.

For a long time none of the TV stations could get to the crash because hwy 46 was closed off not allowing anyone to pass. Once they got there, they were able to take some really clear pictures including the picture at the top of this message.

Here is a link to KYLY's report:

http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Injuries-Reported-in-School-Bus-Semi-Crash-in-Richland-County-329520631.html

Here's another link to a inForum report:

http://www.inforum.com/news/3848475-mom-child-wrecked-kindred-school-bus-says-seriously-injured-driver-saved-our-children

I forgot to mention, Cathy's husband Bob was on call at the ambulance building when the call came through! Can you imagine how he felt to get the call and yet how wonderful that he could be at his wife's side?!

Even though this happened a few hours ago, many of us are still shaking. I asked our superintendent how he was doing. (He was visibly shaken also.) His answer warmed my heart: "You know that we're all family."

My Digital Life

The reason that I'm writing this blog entry is because many people often ask me which laptop or which tablet that they should buy. Here is a list of my choices and why I made those choices.

Favorite Operating System: Android's Lollipop
I feel that Apple devices have wonderful hardware but they don't have the bells and whistles that Android has. Apple gets the same bells and whistles but a couple years after Android. I won't argue that Apple does have good looks and hardware.

Favorite Tablet: I like to stick to the flagship devices. Flagship means the brand's best product. For example: who makes the Android operating system? Google does. So who would make the best hardware to run their operating system? Google themselves. Resulting in Google's current flagship tablet - the Nexus 9.

Google commissioned HTC to make a tablet to Google's specifications and to run the most recent Android operating system. (Which was is lollipop) So when I wanted to replace my old Nexus 10 tablet I waited, and waited (two years), for the new Google Nexus tablet to come out - which is the current Nexus 9. Most people had to wait for the Lollipop update on their Android phones - sometimes over 6 months - but my new Nexus 9 was born with the Lollipop operating system. That's a big bonus. (I always want the newest bells and whistles.) In fact, Google will update their products before other Android devices. Now I'm waiting to see which bells and whistles the Google "M" OS (still unnamed, but it will start with M) will bring.

I have to add that I have owned two iPads....just to keep a foot in the Apple door. The iPad mini lives in my purse for the grandkids to use.....because my favorite tablet is definitely the Nexus 9.

So now the question comes up, Did I buy the Google Nexus phone? No.
My Favorite Phone: The Samsung Galaxy s5. Samsung flagship phones are the Galaxy series. The Samsung S6 and the Note 5 are lacking in a couple areas which are very important to me. You cannot remove the back cover to replace the battery or add a larger SD card. When I buy a phone I buy an extra battery. I also move my 32 gigabyte SD card from one phone to another. Most of my apps are stored on the SD card so I do not have to reinstall them on my newest phone. I just purchased a brand new, still in the box, Samsung Galaxy s5 for $300. I waited for the s6s to come out knowing that would bring down the price of the s5.

Another reason why I stayed with a Samsung phone is because I have Samsung Gear watch. I need the phone and the watch to connect to each other.

My Watch: Why did I choose the Samsung gear watch? Because of the price! I was able to purchase it at a ridiculously low price on a Best Buy one day sale. I love it. It does most of the things that my phone does....... like take pictures, texts, send and receive phone calls, etc. The watch has many apps. Is the Samsung Gear watch my favorite? To tell the truth, I haven't looked into the Android Wear watches.....but I am very satisfied with Gear.

My Camera: Nikon. Earlier this year I purchased a new point and shoot camera... a Nikon Coolpix. I also bought it for the same reason that I bought my watch. It was on one of the Best Buy's daily sales. The price was awesome and it has built in Wi-Fi. My camera will connect to my other mobile devices. It has a 30x optical zoom which is great! I take most of my pictures with my cell phone because it is handy. But there are many times when I prefer to take pictures with a camera. If you know me, you know I take a lot of pictures. I also have a Canon DSLR camera that I rarely use. Its too big to lug around. To tell the truth my point and shoot camera takes pictures that are almost equally as good. So why tote a camera bag with extra lens when my 30x point and shoot camera does the job?

My Laptop: I am in love with my old Windows 7 HP laptop. I should have replaced it years ago. But I don't use it very often and I have kept it in good shape. I format the hard drive yearly and I keep it updated. I am considering replacing my laptop with a new Microsoft Surface Pro 4 this fall when it comes out.... As long as it's running the new Intel processor called Skylake.

When do I use my devices?:I basically use my laptop as a briefcase for when I'm on the go and want to get a project done. I use my tablet when I'm watching TV, for playing games or reading a book. When I'm on my treadmill, I use my tablet to watch podcasts while I walk. If I am walking outside, I listen to my podcasts on my phone with earbuds. When I sit down to type, edit pictures, answer email, or pay a bill, I like to be at my desk on my desktop computer. I also like to do my video chatting from my desktop PC.

My Desktop PC:  A few years ago I bought a new i5 Dell PC. I bought it on Black Friday at a fantastic price. It has a mid size processor and plenty of ram. Sitting upright looking at a screen, using the keyboard is the most comfortable way to get work done. But.... I do like using voice the recognition that I get on mobile devices. Some day I will replace my desktop computer. For now I will just update it from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

My Favorite Streaming Device: Can you guess? The Google Chromecast. It does everything - nuff said. I also own Amazon Firestick, which I passed on to my mom, a Roku classic and a Roku 3.I also bought another mirroring device which I can't remember the name of. So all of our TVs have a streaming device attached to them but the Chromecast is my favorite. I carry an extra Chromecast with me in my purse in case there's something that I want to show someone on their TV. (chuckle) The Chromecasts are cheap enough (on Black Friday) so that I can afford to have a spare.

What are my favorite apps?

1 - My favorite favorite - favorite - favorite app is Google Now: I love this app. it gives me suggestions on what to read reflecting on subjects that I've read previously on the web. It updates me on the weather. It updates me on events to remember. It even updates me on how long it will take me to drive to our lake cabin considering today's traffic. Gmail updates Google Now's reminders with dates of events or plane arrivals. .

2- I use Google Docs to store nearly EVERYTHING. I am able to access all "my stuff" from any device that I am holding.

3 - Google Hangouts is my messaging preference. I like to video chat with my family. My favorite place to video chat is from my desktop computer just because of the way the webcam is set up. I use a $75 Logitech webcam that I purchased a few years ago from Amazon. It takes good pictures and can also be used wide angle. We have attached it to our TV screen and video chatted with our kids in Colorado on Christmas...... connecting their living room with ours. 

My favorite text messaging app is also Google Hangouts.  I like it because I can type my messages from my desktop if I choose.

4 - Another app that I enjoy on my Nexus 9 is the Google Handwriting Translator. When I am in a meeting I can take notes by writing on my tablet while listening to the speaker. My tablet recognizes the my handwriting and transcribes it into print. 

5 - My favorite note taking app is Google Keep. I can speak, use the Google handwriting Translator or of course type my notes. Google Keep is very visually appealing also.

6 - My favorite launcher on Mobile devices: The Google Now Launcher.. Even though I have a Samsung phone I installed now the Google now launcher instead of Samsung's Touch Wiz. The Google Now Launcher is also on my Nexus 9 tablet.

7 - My favorite photo storage app is Phanfare. I have used it for years. All my pictures are stored by date. I like the format Phanfare uses. It makes my pictures look pretty. I can easily access any of my photos from any device.... which often happens during conversations when I want to find a picture from years ago.

8 - My favorite photo backup: Google Photos. It automatically backs up all my pictures to the cloud. (PIctures in Phanfare have to be manually stored.) Google Photos gives me peace of mind. I also like the "Auto Awesome" pictures that Google suggests to me. There's always a new surprise.

9 - My favorite photo editors: I use Phanfare's basic editing tools daily. If I want to do something fancy I use PicMonkey. (I don't do any serious editing from my mobile devices.)  I like the way Google's Picasa tags people in pictures.

10 - I have to mention Dropbox. How can anyone live without Dropbox? You can easily move items from one device to another using Dropbox.

You can see that I am definitely in the Google Sphere. I have found that I can access all my stuff using the Chrome Browser (made by Google) through any device....even my iPad.

Now as I look back at what I've written... Actually spoken... because I used the voice transcriber in the app Google Keep to write down my thoughts and used Blogger to edit my words. By the way, Blogger is also owned by Google.. It looks like I have written an ad for Google. I didn't mean to - but I definitely live in the Google Sphere.

One more: My favorite Tech Podcast: DTNS (Daily Tech News Show) by Tom Merritt. No, he doesn't work for Google.....but his wife does. :)

Max Memories

My precious dog died this weekend.  I am heart broken. All these memories are surfacing.....and I don't want to forget a single one.  I writing them down here randomly as they come to mind. 

I am seeing the keyboard through tears. 

Max Memories

Max was a small rust colored cocker spaniel.

Max was born September 7^th, 2001  

He died July 11^th, 2014

at the age of 12 ½ yr old.

June 2014

I had seen a friend’s little cocker spaniel and commented that I had a cocker when I was a little girl and would love to get another one.  The friend told me where he had gotten his dog… a place in Minnesota called Neddlewoods. It had been a former family zoo type place. After okaying it with Dave, Mom and I went to Needlewoods.  We bought home Max and a bouquet of peacock feathers. Mom (as a present to me) bought Max for $75. The reason for the cheap price is that we got Max without papers, even though he was purebred. (It’s silly but I’m angry because I feel that it’s unfair that we still have the peacock features but not Max)

October 2001

I didn't know what to name Max.  I wanted to name him Cricket but my husband, Dave and our daughter, Jenny shot down that Idea. The name Max never did fit him.  He was more of a mini that a max.  I’d often call him Maxie which would bother Jenny. It made her think of “Maxi Pads”.

Dave got Jake and I got Max at about the same time.  The dogs were just a week apart in age.  Max was always the dominate pup even when Jake doubled Max’s size.  This was unusual because in everything else, Mas was timid.  The two dogs would pretend fight.  Max was very vocal while they wrestled too.

Jenny and the pups, Max & Jake

Jake was the smarter dog.  I would try to teach the dogs tricks.  Jake did pretty well.  Max learned how to stay and that’s about it. When I wanted him to sit up and beg…he'd wait for me to put my wrist up for him to balance against. (Jake died in June 2010)

Max followed me everywhere. He would even follow me into the bathroom at the lake.  (but not at home, because that is where you get a bath) He wanted to be with me in the bathroom at the lake but if I was taking a shower, he’d get bore and start scratching the door to get out.

5 yr old

At the lake, he would sit on the deck and watch for chipmunks.  When he spotted one he would dash off the deck but of course the chipmunk would be long gone before he got to the spot that the chipmunk had been at.

Always watching for chipmunks

He only wanted to be outside if my husband, Dave or I was with him.  Even at the lake…even though he loved chasing chipmunks.  Dave buried Max in a spot at the lake that overlooks the favorite Chipmunk sightings. Dave figured that if Max wasn't with us, that would be his 2^nd favorite spot.

Max had a couple different sweaters that I put on him after haircuts.

Once when Max was young, I took him with me over to Mom’s house. Something scared him and he got away from me. In a panic he ran with his leash dragging behind him. When I caught up to him he was running against busy traffic down 10^th street – a one way street. He was so glad for me to get to him. (The feeling was mutual)

Max’s breathing became harsh his last year.  I called it huffing.  The vet tried some medicine, but it didn't work.  A couple times I had to put him in the back entryway while we had Bible study because his breathing was so loud it was distracting.  Dave often told him to shut up….. meaning close your mouth…because it was so loud.

Max was an ideal dog. …Quiet…only barked at his shadow. Timid…..Preferred stuff animals to chew toys…. Was always licking.  He would let the kids do anything they wanted to him….he would put up with them. Sierra used to like to style Max's hair with water and an a brush. He put up with it....even though he'd rather be taking a nap.

Max and I played this game.  Whenever I saw the squirrel at the bird feeder, I’d say “SQUIRREL!” and Max would shoot out the door.  Funny…Max’s attitude was once he got out the door was pleasant surprise like  - Wow A Squirrel! And then he’d chase it. It was as if when I said “SQUIRREL!”…to Max it meant there’s going to be a surprise for you…and he’d get excited not knowing what it was going to be.  (You would have thought that he’d catch on…it’s a squirrel again)

Two things that Max never did forget was  - when I was teaching the pups to catch a freebie, I’d use slices of bread so that they wouldn't duck. Til the very end, Max would get excited when he saw me opening a loaf of bread…even though I hadn’t shared any bread with him in years.

Max also got excited when I poured milk on my cereal because when the dogs were puppies I used to give them milk. I did, however, let Max drink the milk left over in my cereal bowl.

Max lost most of his hearing the last year, so it was hard to call him back when he went across the street.

3 yr old

Max was funny.  He really didn't care to ride in cars…he put up with it without complaining. He preferred the front seat. In fact if Dave was driving, when he had a chance he’d climb up in the front seat and squeeze in next to me.  I’d have to put the seatbelt across my lap and over him because he wouldn't move. If it was just Max and me, Max would sit up in the passenger seat and get this… he would duck every time we went under an overpass.  Ha  Ha

Fresh Haircut

7 yr old

Max loved to go on walks.  When he saw me get my tennis shoes on…he knew that I was going on a walk.  He’d jump all over the place.  I’d put on his leash and he’d lead me out of the yard.  EVERY TIME we’d get across the street by that open lot and he would stop and poop..

I’d bring a doggy bag along incase he’d want to poop again which rarely happened unless we were in front of someone’s house with the people out in their yard…then he’d poop

.

On walks, Max would lead out of the yard and down the block.  I’d lead the rest of the way until we turned to face home.  Then Max would take the lead again.  Max was not one of those dogs that had to stop and smell everything…which made him a good walking companion.

During his last year I rarely took him for walks.  His huffing made it too hard on him. Even though he wanted to go along, I could tell that it was torture.

9 yr old

It’s makes me sad to remember this….During his last year, when it was just me and Max at home during the evening, Max would stand in the back entryway and stare at the back door, waiting for Dave to come home.  I think that because Max had lost his hearing, he didn't want to miss Dave’s arrival.  Dave said that he’d wait for me to come home too.  Max wasn't comfortable unless we were all home.

Dave watches TV a lot so Max would either sleep with his head on Dave’s lap or right next to Dave’s leg or on the floor next to Dave. If I was watching TV Max would sleep on my feet on the couch.  (The problem was that I am not a sitter, so I’d be up and down and Max would give me the look as “I just got comfortable and you’re moving again?”)

7 yr old

Over the last year, during normal work days, Max would sleep hard. When I came home from work I actually had to touch him to wake him. That was totally abnormal for him.

Max was a cute dog…..  He looked more like a female than a male.  We always feed him expensive Science Diet food and no table scraps so his coat was always a shiny rust color. We had his hair cut once or twice a year.  His ears and legs would get matted.  Ironically, during Max’s last month I wasn't working or babysitting so I had time to keep his coat brushed. Boy did he shed! The one thing that we won’t miss is all the dog hair around the house.  It bothered Dave more than it bothered me, especially the hair that collected on the steps which rarely got vacuumed.

Two days before Max died, I came home in the evening and found Max hurting. One of his front paws wasn't working. He was walking on the top side of his paw. He hobbled around trying to follow me. I called Dave home. We were so worried.  We just knew that when we took him to the vet in the morning that he doc would suggest putting him down. We prayed and asked God for healing.  God didn't give us exactly what we asked for, but he did give us one more day with Max.  We awoke the next morning and Max was walking fine. He was his normal self with less energy. I took this video. (Max woke up the following morning unable to stand without falling over. He quit breathing twice on the way to the vet.)

Just now I looked down on the floor where Max always laid while I typed on the computer. It’s bringing tears to my eyes. I am sure that I will have to deal with this recurring lost feeling over and over for a while.  It hurts.  I miss him.

Addie Died Today

Addie DuBord

1930 - 2014

It's been a long time....

It's been a long time since I've added to this blog. I also haven't updated my websites in ages either.  I think it's because I've more or less journaled on Facebook instead. I've decided to drop my websites and update my blogs more often.....maybe that will be my 2014 New Year's Resolution????

Vikettes

I had the honor of driving the Kindred Vickettes to the State Competition in Grand forks. They took first place in all three of the categories that they competed in. Here is their "Pom" routine:

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2012 in Pictures

2012 was a busy year with a lot of changes. 

We made two trips to Colorado (February and November) and one trip to Iowa (Dave's Niece's wedding). Jason and Bekki came back to visit 3 times. (June, October, December)

We had one birth (Granddaughter, Bailey in August) and one death (Dave's brother, Dean in November). 

The winter was nearly snow-free. Which meant very good roads for school bus routes. The summer was very hot and dry. Which meant many hours in the water at the lake. We also got a lot accomplished at the lake.

Jason, Bekki, Jamie, Jenny and I changed jobs. Jason quit his day job.  Bekki started working for another company. Jamie became the general manager of a Best Buy Store. Jenny became an at-home mom. I started working in the new Kindred High School. (I also still drive a school bus) 

Bekki shot a trophy antelope and Jason shot a trophy bear. Dave didn't go deer/gun hunting at all this year. (odd)

Jamie and Ryan moved to Grand Forks. Dave talks a lot about moving. (retirement is coming up)

Here are the pictures:

January 2012

Brooklynn's 1st Birthday

Amy & I at CCEC's (belated) Christmas Party

Family Get-Together at the Solomons

 Jodi's Birthday

Lunch with Jamie

New Haircut/Color

Open winter - Very, very little snow!

Sierra's 8th Birthday

Bunco!

February 2012

Cousins Nite Out

Max

Jenny and Mom

Hawkeye and Kimberly

Kindred Water Tower

Lunch with the Girls

Matt's Birthday

The one and only time that Dave had to Blow Snow

Sierra and Jenny's cat

Warm enough temps to melt snow and read out on the deck.

March 2012

Debbie's Birthday

Our snowless back yard

Bunco!

Bookclub

Sierra & Lily

Get-together at the Jobgens

Having lunch with Sierra at her school

My cousin, Gene & I having lunch in Grand Forks

Brooklynn playing at the cupboard that my dad had made for me when I was small.

April 2012

Ron, Illa and Jen at Cousins Nite Out

Gerry and John

A Meal with the Family

Bunco!

Dave with the Easter Turkey

Easter at Solomons

Jenny's 25th birthday

Jenny's Baby Bump

Lunch with Jamie and my Mom

Michelle's spa party

Mom and Gene

Lunch with the Paras

Speech Coaches and a couple Students

Speech kids in Bismark

Book Club

May 2012

new planter

last day for me to work in the old kitchen

Fellow Bus drivers: Kermit and Vic 

Ryan replacing roof on Bungaloo

Fixing up the Bunk House

Brooklynn and Max

Ryan & Brooklynn at the Bonfire

Our House

Co-Workers: Altea & Mary

Last day for us to work in this kitchen. (On to the new HS building)

Dave & old Friend Jerry

Graduation Party

Our Cottage and the Log House Next  Door

Lunch with my girls

Cousins from Mott, Janelle and Hubby
I had lunch with them in Bismarck while on an activity run.

New Hair cut

Lily & Sierra

Field trip to Wahpeton Zoo

Bunco!

Cousin's Nite Out

Lake

My bus kids on the last day  at Davenport School

Davenport teachers waving good bye for the final time (School closed)

June 2012

Jenny's growing baby bump

Bubbles

My nephew, Shaun

Dave & Max at the bonfire

Early morning

Jenny & Bekki

Jamie & her daughters

Lunch with the girls

Amber and her new hubby
(wedding in Iowa)

Rick & Liz

Brent and Matt
hanging out at the motel before the wedding

Jenny's baby shower

Brooklynn, Jamie, Bekki and Farrah

The fam hanging out at our house

Me and the granddaughters at Yunker's Farm

lunch at T&T

The first time that my mom met her newest great granddaughter Farrah

Farrah and Bekki

Frozen Yogurt

Bekki, sierra, Jason and Farrah at Wahpeton

Babies and baby ducks

The Wahpeton Zoo

Teddy Bear Parade

Island Park

Fixing up the Bungalo

Cleaning Fish

The DuBords

Dave's 60th Birthday

Our cottage

Sisters, sierra & Brooklynn at Burger King

Shot Ski

Piano Players

New hair cut and color

at the lake

Farrah and Grandpa Dave

Lorie & Brent

Dave & I

cousins: Shawn & Jamie

Mom and I at Summerhill Farm

Picnic with the neighbor, Helen

making a mess

Sierra and her catch

Rachel, Lindsey and Mari at the baby shower that Lorie held for Jenny

Hanging out with Friends at Starr Lake

Lorie, Jenny and Lindsey

Jenny, Sierra Me and Brooklynn

Sierra and Helen

cousin's Nite Out

Farrah came to visit us while we were working the school board election

Auntie Jen holding Brooklynn

July 2012

Sierra at the downtown street fair

a lot of time was spent in the water

It was a hot summer.  I spent more time in the lake than I ever had...at this cottage.

Brooklynn and Sierra

CCEC family picnic

Olive Garden with Jamie and the girls

All the Grovers/DuBords on the 4th of July

Shorem Chapel is where Mom and I attend church during the summer

Kindred Wildlife Club House

Kindred wild life club - wives

Sierra visiting Jenny at work (Fargo Tire)

the Kindred Wild Life men made us dinner

Sierra & Helen making waffle cones

Dave and I took mom out to eat at the lake

Sierra having lunch at summer school

Kindred High School going down

Yum! Sweet potato fries!

Leonard kids and Sierra
I drive the kids to swimming lessons 2 weeks out of each summer.

Dennis's 50 birthday

Dave and his childhood friends: Jake and Doug

Sierra's swimming lessons

replacing deck boards

My two brothers: Bob and Ron

Rachel, my cousin's daughter, and me

Ryan and Brooklynn

Brooklynn and Jamie

My cousin, John and Me

Out to eat with my brother and hubby

Ron and his daughter, Jamie and Midnight the dog

July 2012

Sierra, Zach and friends

Dave and I celebrating our 39th anniversary

Sierra reading to Brooklynn

Our cottage

Brooklynn

Jamie playing with the little ones

Sierra

Sierra and bible School at Bethel Church

Dave and friends on Kindred Days

Jamie and the girls in front of their  home in west Fargo

Jamie

Kindred Days

Ryan, Matt, Jenny and Jamie at Kindred Days

Sierra and the neighborhood kids

Brooklynn decorating Jenny's baby bump

Sierra, Lily and Brooklynn at Cousin's Nite Out

Lorie and her mom, Addie

Dave and his new toy

Sierra and Helen at their "store"

Pizza/Craft Party

Farrah at Walmart

Jamie's 30th Birthday

Bailey has arrived!

Checking out the new addition to our family. (4 generation picture)

Proud grandma

precious baby Bailey



Everyone wants to see the baby

September 2012

Max

Lisa received flowers at work

Jason shot a huge bear

We celebrated Bob Odegaard's life at the Air Museum

Out to lunch with Mom at Borna's Bagels

Rachel at her baby shower

Mari and I at Rachel's baby shower

Bunco!

Lorie and Brent's lake home

Siblings: Rick Lorie and Dave

Joe and the girls

Bailey

Kindred Home Coming parade

Liz, Lorie and Me

Anne, Joe and Reese

Lindsey and her boyfriend

Anne and Alexis

Illa, Ron, Rick and Liz

Lorie and Brent

Check out how far the lake is down!!

The steps normally are at the water's edge.

Bauhaus... a German restaurant outside of Park Rapids

Fort Ransom

Jamie, Brooklynn and Dave

Illa and Ron

October 2012

 Bailey

 Cousins and spouses

 Shaun, Jenny Jason and Mom at Drunkn Noodles

 Jenny and Jason at Concordia's Home coming Parade

 My 60th birthday

 Sierra at Cabela's

 Jenny, Lindsey, Lexi, Anne and Bailey

 Getting together at the Gastro Pub

 Lunch with my son in Lisbon

 Father and son at the airport

 The new high school where I work

 We had a chef come in and prepare a meal for the kids

 My co-workers in the school kitchen

 Little Bailey

 Halloween in the kitchen
(celebrating my birthday)

 We just picked up Jason at the airport...stopped to chat at Lucky 13

 Cousin's Nite Out

Little Farrah in Colorado

November 2012

 Cut and color done by Denise.

 Breakfast after church with my mom at CJ's

cousin's nite out

 Me and Bailey

 Kirk'n of the Tartans

Holiday Tour of Homes

Dean's Funeral (Dave's Brother)

Lunch after the funeral

 The Jobgens

The Solomons

Dave and I

Nick and Kayla

 Jenny and Bailey

Amber and hubby

Dave and Lorie with their mom, Addie

They sold Dean's van to my neice, Jamie.

 After the funeral we flew to Colorado.

We went for a stroll in a park that is
a short distance from Jason and Bekki's home.

 We went to Littleton to watch Santa come to town
and lighting up the city Christmas Tree.

 Jason and Farrah

Wonderful!.

Thanksgiving dinner

Black Friday

Breakfast after early morning shopping

Waiting for the train to take us to the Nuggets game

Nuggets Game

Ride home after the game

Ta Da! The tree is trimmed!

Trying new beers at Jakes.

We ate at this little cafe before flying home.

December 2012

 Hanging up the lights

 Sharon's birthday

 Para/teacher get-together at Mexican Village

Bunco Christmas Party

 Comparing Farrah's and Bailey's feet

 Making salt dough hand print ornaments

 Dinner after after watching football

 Making gifts

 Kutless christmas Concert w/ Jodi

 Church Christmas Luncheon with Mom and Rita

 Cook's Christmas Party at Lisa's House

Family Picture

 Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve

 Jenny reading to Brooklynn and Farrah

Bailey and her new doll
(the doll has Bailey's name embroidered on her dress)

Jason made a "growth guage" for the Solomons

This year I bought a couple Christmas Stocking Trees

Christmas morning opening stockings

Our 4 Granddaughters

Brooklynn and Jamie

 Christmas Dinner
The solomons and the Jobgens left.
Mom and Ron came.

Bekki's mom, Patti and I at Applebees

Having coffee at Hodenattes in Lisbon.
(we're celebrating Patti's new job offer)

 New Year's Eve we had a drink at the new bar in town,
Kindred Spirits

New Year's Eve we had dinner at Deweys

Looking back, God blessed us with a good year!
Wonder what's in store for 2013....

Note: 
You can see more pictures in my online photo album at
  www.barbspictures.phanfare.com