Slide Show-Iowa Nebraska trip

Here are some pictures from our trip to Iowa and Nebraska in June 2008. We went to Andy's graduation and Bob and Adriennes wedding. We even got to experience being in a couple of tornado warnings! It was great to see all the relatives and meet some we never met before. We visited Amish country and toured the Gretna Fire Station, where Mark's brother Terry is chief. We also enjoyed Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

A New Beginning

Who are you?



Who am I?






Mark and I had to get to know each other all over again because the focus of our marriage was different now. Up until now our main purpose and goal was to raise two good productive members of society. That had been accomplished, so we had to decide what to focus on now. In a sense, we set off to 'find ourselves.'

We went on a few trips the first year. We visited Quebec City in Canada and practiced our French; we went to a Jimmy buffet concert in Las Vegas; Vegas again to Cirque du Soleil Beatles 'Love' show; and to Puerta Vallarta to a resort, where I actually went para sailing! (My Dad said I had to 'Fly the kite', because my Mom did that in Mexico when she was my age!)

At first it was really awkward with no kids in the house. Neither one of us knew what to do, or how to act. I decided to take Beth's room and convert it to a hobby room, where I could have a table for scrapbooking that I never needed to clear off for company. I also got to have my own computer there for the first time. After that was done, I started writing a cookbook for the kids with their favorite recipes. Some were handed down from my mom, and were never written down before.

This is where I sit as I write this post.

Already?

Flashback - August 2006

After 27 years of marriage, (this is a picture of me and Mark on our wedding day-September 1st 1979.) and 26 years of living with kids growing up, my daughter, Beth announced her engagement to Tim. The wedding was planned for March, so there was alot to do. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and busyness of planning a wedding. We did alot in the planning of our son Chris' wedding 2 years before, but this time, as the bride's family, we were making the big decisions. Chris moved out 3 years before, but Beth was our youngest child which meant we would be 'Empty Nesters'.

Through every stage of child rearing, diapers, homework, advice, I always felt that this was the reason I was here. I knew that raising these kids was probably the single most important thing I would accomplish in my life.

Christmas 1983

Christmas 1991

Chris' graduation from ASU May, 2003

Beth's Wedding March 2007