The Year in Review

Okay, so I made a list of all the things that happened to us this year and realized while Ray has suffered, endured three surgeries, two ER visits, an ambulance ride, three months of chemotherapy, dealing with an ileostomy, wearing a chemo pump, having an open wound for eight months, wearing a wound vac, having a second open wound for four months, having me care for that first wound by cleaning it out every other day and repacking it, being visited twice a week by a home health nurse for the second wound, having at least one doctor visit a week and sometimes three, not being able to work or get out of the house; I have been to Orlando, Butler, Moab, Mia Shalom and Butler. I enjoyed two wonderful visits with Katie, Nathan and Josie, I have been able to go to work every day, take care of myself, feel healthy, do things with family and friends and enjoy life. What a very lopsided year for us!

Remind me never to complain or feel sorry for myself.

What we did enjoy together is a wonderful visit with Nate and Josie while Katie was in Europe, having Katie and Megan here for our birthdays, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Megan's phone calls and texts, Katie's daily visits, Nate's texts, phone calls and web cam visits, enjoying two phone calls, weekly e-mails and regular letters from Lauren, visits from friends, and quiet evenings home.

Thank you for your love and friendship, kind words and prayers, support and help!

Happy New Year!

Christmas

I wanted to share a little poem SL shared on her blog on how to simplify Christmas gift giving:

Somthing they want
Something they need

Something to play with

Something to read.

I am thinking this will come in handy for upcoming birthdays and Christmases. You could even combine the want and play parts! I wish I had heard it when our children were growing up. To tell the truth, by the time a few Christmases had gone by, I had resorted to 'play with' gifts that could only be played with out side...sleds, skates, scooters, bikes....that way there were no small toys all over the house all of the time!

We enjoyed a fun and interesting Christmas day. Nate texted Katie at 6:30 a.m. to see if we wanted to do a "computer" call (Josieism). Of course we did and we got to see her play with her new toys, very fun for us. Plus we got to talk to Nate and Kate. We opened up Lauren's letter and read out loud to the whole family her sweet testimony and love for her family. Then we opened the

present she sent us...a dead cockroach.
We did not have the reaction we did to last year's gift of an alligator head as we were quite wary. It is a good thing we read the letter first! We decided to take a nap after the early start. Katie and Megan were out until 1:00 a.m. watching a movie with the B's. Around 11:30 the phone rang and we got to talk to Lauren to set up the time she would call AND hear the Atlantic Ocean in the background. What a way to spend Christmas morning. We ate a leisurely breakfast and decided to find out what Santa had brought. About that time, the doorbell rang and we had a nice visit with an old friend. Once again we went back to seeing what Santa had brought and the telephone rang. This time we got to talk to Lauren for real. She told us that she found the cockroach crawling on in her cupboard on her clean dishes. She captured it, put it in a jar with a tight fitting lid, and it took three weeks for it to die. Yuck! We had a most enjoyable visit and it was so good to hear her voice! All in all it was a very nice Christmas day! The best part is that we got to spend it together as a family, even if half our family is in the eastern part of the U.S.!

Sharing our love really is the best part of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!!

We just finished up our annual Christmas Eve party at Grandma Scott's which used to be Grandma Boshard's and now Aunt S. and Uncle A. live there, but are happy to still have us all over. For the first time in four Christmases all of the Boshard kids were here. What fun. Only half of our kids were there. The other half living on the east coast were very much missed. Annette and Alex were there, too. Oscar, David and Abraham joined us this year. Everyone shared a talent and it was most hilarious and sometimes serious. We have some pretty fine talent among us. On the way home, they stopped to carol for Ray and came in for a visit. A very nice end to a very long day.

Some things I did today:

1. Washed a load of clothes
2. Dried the washroom floor
3. Went to store for drain cleaner
4. Tried to unclog the washer drain
5. Continuously all day long poured teapots full of boiling water down said drain
6. Made heart shaped sugar Christmas cookies with sugar on top-no frosting
7. Made whole wheat potato rolls
8. Cut up lots of veggies
9. Wrapped presents
10. Made dill dip
11. Simmered meatballs in strawberry jam and ketchup (and yes Kate, I used Heinz)
12. Made 7 layer bean dip
13. Made potato rolls
14. Drank hot cocoa
15. Ate cake

Phuture Photographer part 2

How do you keep a small child happy during a long car ride?
Give her a camera!

Daddy driving

Self portrait

Grandma

Snowy woods

Cold hillside

#30

I love this beautiful earth we live on. I love the blue skies in the summer and the grey skies in the winter. I love the budding leaves in spring and the golden leaves in autumn. I love hot summer days and cold winter days. I love the rain and the snow. I love the sun and the moon and the stars. I love the black dirt and the red rocks and the water. I love my backyard and I love my aspen hills. I feel so blessed to live on such a beautiful planet. Thank you!

#29

Josie...darling...smart...cute...sassy...energetic...ever busy...always loving...full of light...our grand-daughter.

#29

The Gospel of Jesus Christ...the plan of happiness...I am so thankful to know my Father in Heaven loves me. Thank you!

#27

My girls...each of them is different and unique...each has a special place in my heart...together we have tons of fun! Even today... all three...good times.

#26

Friends...need I say more? Thank you!

#25

I am thankful for a day spent with our family. Too few and far between. Thank you Megan and Katie!

#24

My oven...warms up my kitchen on a cold night...heats up fast...broils to perfection...bakes frozen pies...cleans it self...modern conveniences are wonderful!

#23

Kate...witty...creative...artistic...energetic...

fantastic photographer...caring...kind...fun...patient...

gracious...the best mom...a wonderful wife...a great daughter...

beautiful...Thank you, Kate!

#22

Nate...strong...honest...firm in his convictions...hard worker...awesome son...wonderful brother...good husband...great dad...fine man...I am really missing him...Thank you, Nate, I love you!

#21

Hymns...help me feel the spirit...speak to my soul...bring peace and joy to my heart...remind me of my mom...help me remember what this life is all about. I am thankful for all those talented people who down through the years of written the words and music to our hymns. Thank you!

#20

E.W.- Lauren's trainer...came to visit today and brought an apple pie for us to enjoy...she is so full of love...she radiates the Spirit...we are so thankful for her example...Thank you Sister W!

#19

Lanett...makes appointments...calls people...answers questions...makes sure questions are answered...helps everyone...Thank you, Lanett

#18

Jenny...takes care of me every single day...she makes sure I am doing what I need to be doing...she is a person who can do anything, and do it well...she is trying to get me organized and is not giving up...she remembers to do the things I forget...she is always there, ready to do whatever...Thank you, Jenny!

#17

Katie...one never realizes how much someone else does and what a big hole there is when they are gone. We are so happy that you are home. Thank you, Katie!

#16

My mom...I have really been thinking about this thanksgiving thing and what it means. I was taught to look on the bright side of things always. A friend who had a still born baby was crying on my mom's shoulders when I was eight years old about six months after my sister died. I remember her wiping her tears off and telling my mom that she (my mom) should be the one crying about the recent loss of her daughter. Instead, my mom comforted her friend and said, "I had five years to get to know Margaret, you did not have any time to get to know your baby."

My mom always looked as the glass as half full. My father disappeared a few weeks after my sister died. We had no money. My mom figured out how to renew her teaching certificate and started teaching school. When I cried that she was not home after school or at lunch time, she told me how lucky we were to have good neighbors where I could play and eat lunch.

I never ever remember my mom complaining!!!! Not one time. Not about anything.

I never remember my mom criticizing any one. Not one time. No one.

My mom taught me how to be thankful for everything we had. She never talked about what we did not have. And, looking back, we really did not have much. We rented old houses, converted into apartments. She drove an old car. I had one new Sunday dress a year and one new pair of Sunday shoes. I had three school dresses so I could wear one every other day and one pair of school shoes. Growing up I never remember my mom buying herself a new dress. I still use the Tupperware she got as a wedding present! My mom never had a new home, she never had a new car, she never had much that was new. But, I never realized that we went without. She filled our home with love. She gave of her time and talents to those less fortunate. Looking back now, I think we would have fit into that category if my mom had thought that way.

My mom raised me to believe we had everything we needed and to be thankful for what we had. I only hope that I was able to raise my children in the same way. It is not what you do not have that is important, it is what you do have.

Thank you, Mom, I love you!

#15

Having a job I love...it is so nice to go to work everyday and enjoy what I am doing.

#14

Thomas S. Monson...the Lord's prophet on the earth today...I am so thankful to live in a world where I have the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a living prophet.

#13

David Siafanua...has asked me what he can do to help me and when I told him, he promptly went to work and helped me, not once, but twice and I know will every time. Thank you, David and Nianoah, you truly went the second mile!!!!

#12

Lindon Cannery...I am thankful that I can go there and can chicken and salsa and ground beef and spaghetti sauce and applesauce and...without every having to clean my kitchen after. Hats off to all of those service missionaries!

#11

Video calls...a lovely visit with a lovely little girl and her auntie! It made our day. Thank you, Katie for making it happen.

#10

Cell phones...being able to see my precious grand-daughter first thing this morning just as she was...I am thankful for cameras in cell phones.

#9

Home health nurses...come to our house any time day or night with cheerful smiles and healing hands...I am thankful for the service they render.

#8

Health...good health. I am so thankful for a body that works and takes good care of me. Have you ever thought about all that your body does?

#7

Children...out of the mouths of children the most amazing Gospel principles are taught. Today nine year old A.B. taught us the importance of paying tithing, "When I don't pay my tithing, I don't earn as much as I could have. Paying tithing is really important. Paying tithing is like taking a step up to heaven." I am so thankful for children.

#6

Megan...

Megan with the birthday cake she really did not want (but asked for it as she knows I like that kind)



Megan with her inside birthday banner.

Megan with her outside birthday banner

...born on election day 26 years ago!

Megan has always known what she wanted and went after it until she got it.

Megan has stickitytoitiveness.

Megan is brilliant in every single way!!!

We love to have her come home, she always cheers her daddy up.

Megan is fun to play 20 questions with. In fact, last night, we had her convinced her birthday present was a night light marble globe! Boy was she surprised!

Megan is fun to hang out with, play games with, shop with, eat with, pretty much do everything with.

I am so thankful that Megan is my daughter!

Happy Birthday, Megan!!! I am so thankful for you!!!!

#5

Lawn mower...a grass/leaf mulching lawn mower that WORKS!!! I am so thankful for something that makes my life a little bit easier. And, I am thankful for Katie because she helps me use it!

#4

Food...let's face it I love food and I love to eat. I am so thankful that we have such easy access to all kinds of yummy food!

#3

Good health care...we are both here today because we have enjoyed good health care. Today Ray had surgery and every single person who took care of him was so sweet and nice and COMPETENT! He is resting now and will be fine all because we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!

#2

Missionaries...I am so thankful for those courageous young people who put their lives on hold for 18 to 24 months and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with complete strangers who become dear loved ones. Especially, I am thankful for my very own sister missionary, Sister Lauren Johnson and my very own returned missionary Elder Nathan Johnson. And the sweet young people from our ward Sister Misty Madsen, Elder Chris Boshard, Elder Daniel Young, Elder Lars Anderson, and Elder Greg Whatcott. Oh, and may I remember those two who led the way, Sister Jenny Boshard and Elder Steven Boshard. But even more so I am thankful for those courageous men who left their families to share the Gospel and met my very own ancestors who embraced the Gospel, left their homes, and headed to Zion...Missionaries are a great blessing!

A month of thankfulness #1

I am thankful for my good husband. He is kind and patient. Every single day he tells me, "I love you" and "Thank you for taking good care of me." The angels were smiling down on me the day we found each other!

Katie tagged me in her blog because Katie tagged her in her blog. The deal is I must answer these 8 questions, pick 8 more friends, come up with 8 new questions and ask them. Here goes!

1. When was the last time you took a road trip and where did you go?
May 16, 2009 to Disneyland! The happiest place on earth. Megan talked me into a Disneyland trip for Lauren's 21st birthday. She said that as she was turning 25 and Katie was turning 30 that year it would be a celebration for all of us. And, it was the funnest time I have ever had.

2. What dessert is your guilty pleasure?
M&Ms

3.What's your favorite thing about this time of year?
The fall colors, the cool nights and warm days

4. What's the last sporting event you watched/attended?
The Rangers /Yankees baseball game last night

5. What is your dream job?
The one I have right now. I love my job.

6. If you could eat dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
My mom so I can talk to her one more time and hear her sigh and tell me what a good meal it is.

7. What is your favorite line from your favorite movie?
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

8. What is the one thing you absolutely can't live without?
Ray

Okay, so "tag, you're it!"

Lisa who lets me know the best places to go and is always fun to go there with
Nancy who always says it best
Sunny who I want to grow up to be like
Kendra I love to read about your kids
Heidi who does not update nearly enough
Kate my 3rd Kate
Jenny who really needs to start blogging and this would be a great opportunity!
Shari because I love her and want to hear all about her adventures

These are the eight questions for eight people I love and admire:
1. What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
2. What was the last movie you watched in a theater?
3. What question do you like to ask people when you first meet them?
4. Who is your hero and why?
5. What do you like to do to relax?
6. Who do you enjoy spending time with?
7. What is the first thing you think of to do when you find out you have some free time?
8. What is a Christmas tradition you really enjoy?

Sheer Happiness

This is my baby boy with his baby girl. He will always be my baby boy because he is my only boy. However, he really is my wonderful grown up son who adores his little girl. Thanks, Katie, for the great pictures and the opportunity to share in this happiness!

Patience is not just sitting and waiting..

• Patience is putting my desires on hold
• Patience is a precious and rare virtue
• Patience is a purifying process
• Patience means actively working towards worthwhile goals
• Patience encompasses enduring well
• Patience is the price of knowledge and understanding
• Patience is a Godly attribute
• Patience is a process of perfection
• Patience means delaying gratification for future blessings
• Patience is reigning in anger and unkind words
• Patience is resisting evil even when it seems to be making others rich
• Patience means keeping the commandments
• Patience means to trust in God our Heavenly Father
• Patience means to serve Him in meekness and with Christ-like love
• Patience is to exercise faith and hope in the Savior
• Patience means to be firm, steadfast and immovable
• Patience means to never, ever give up!

Thanks to my good friend LR and Elder Uctdorf

Wow!

General Relief Society meeting was awesome, don't you think?
I am so thankful to belong to such a wonderful world wide sisterhood.
Really and truly, "Charity Never Faileth."
I am also blessed to be raised by a mother and to have a husband raised by a mother who truly lived by that motto.
I hope that someday I will be that same kind of person.

Roller Coaster

The end of last week brought some miracles! I will not go into the details, but life was looking up! We thought we had the end of this ride in site.

Monday morning did not start out so well, but the wound vac came off. What a relief. The two areas that had not healed from the January surgery were finally, yes I am saying f-i-n-a-l-l-y healed. As Megan would put it-- WOOT!

Wednesday was another story and we ended up in the ER. The upside of this is we did not have to wait in the ER! When does that happen? A blessing for us. The not so good side is that the August surgical site popped open and was full of yucky stuff. Tomorrow we get to welcome the wound vac back. The up side is there is a wound vac and it does work!

Yesterday's fantastic news was Megan passed her national ASL certification test! Oh the doors that will open for her now!!!! Congratulations Megan!

Lauren asked me to update her blog, which I did, and I thought I should update mine. August was a blur. Since I like lists here is what happened:

• My birthday
• A zucchini swan and cookbook from Lanett and Jenny
• A beautiful flower arrangement from Stacie
• A brand new microwave that actually cooks food fast-thanks Katie
• A weekend with Megan
• A manicure and pedicure by Megan
• Katie's birthday
• Lots of one yard wonders to celebrate her birthday
• Our 32nd anniversary
• Beautiful yellow roses from Katie
• A stomach scope and gall bladder scan (everything is okay)
• 2nd anniversary of Mom's reunion with Margaret and Dad
• Cancelled trip
• Lawn mowing
• Garden weeding
• Fresh tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers

We are home!!!!

Friday Updates

1. Nurse visits
2. Doctor visits
3. Social worker visits
4. Sitting
5. Napping
6. Full liquid diet
7. Wound vac

Thanks for spending time with us Megan, Jenn and Zamari.

Updates

1. Napping
2. Breathing
3. Sitting
4. Walking
5. Wound care

Need I say more ?

Updates

1. Chemo finished


2. Cancer chased away


3. Surgery completed

We are at the beginning of a new adventure!

95 to GO!

One Yard is All You Need

Okay, so I read about a book, "One Yard Wonders," and perseverated on how I needed it. Taking the way of caution, I requested it through our public library and not only did they order it, but I got to be the first one to check it out! And check it out I did! This book has 101 projects you can make with one yard of fabric. I decided to use up some of the fabric I have collected over the years. Here are some creations:

A scrunchy bag for Sarah.

A scrunchy bag to match the skirt for Sister J.

A scrunchy denim bag.

A diaper purse with changing pad.

Personal Progress Book sleeve.


Origami organizer.

I admit it, I went crazy with the scrunchy bags and made four. The personal progress sleeves were so fun I had to make two. Only 97 projects left to make! I think I will give myself this book for my birthday, I am enamored with it.

arrrrrgh....a pirate party matey!

The hostess with the mostest...

...and her trusty assistant.

A personalized pirate...


and a dangerous foe. (He lost his head first)

The birthday girl...

...with her family.


A couple of scary guests...

...a whole family of pirates...

...and a surprise guest.

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

10:12 P.M.

1. Wake up with rising sun...check
2. Biffy visited...check
3. Clean clothes donned...check
4. Sleeping bag rolled up...check
5. Air mattress deflated, rolled up and put in bag...check
6. Belongings gathered up and packed...check
7. Tarp folded up...check
8. Lanterns collected...check
9. Gear stacked out side...check
10. Gear missing...check
11. Gear found...check
12. Car packed...check
13. Lunches passed out...check
14. Levels checked out...check
15. Goodbyes said and lots of hugs...check
16. Girls put on bus...check
17. Cabins, bath house and pavilion swept, cleaned and ready for the next campers...check
18. Bat net returned...check
19. Farewell and thanks to JDee...check
20. Stop at Walkers'...check
21. Safe trip home...check
22. Bus met...check
23. More hugs and goodbyes ...check
24. Hugs and kisses at home...check
25. Car unpacked...check
26. Gear put away...check
27. Laundry started...check
28. Shower taken...check
29. Dinner made...check
30. Movies watched...check
31. Hands held...check
32. Fireside planned...check
33. More holding of hands...check
34. Laundry finished...check
35. Ready for bed...check

Good night!

10:55 p.m.

1. Sweatshirts labeled and divided into levels...check
2. Name tags printed, laminated, put on lanyards and divided into levels...check
3. Iron on letters ironed on sweat pants...check
4. Clothes packed...check
5. Sleeping bag, air mattress and quilt in trunk ...check
6. Elevenses presentation and handouts completed...check
7. Food for Elevenses bought and packed...check
8. Sweet peas picked and washed...check
9. Spinach picked and washed...check
10. Carrots cut up and peeled...check
11. Jicama cut up and peeled...check
12. Cooler packed...check
13. Tarp found...not yet
14. Games found...check
15. Boots found...check
16. Coat and raincoat packed...check
17. 100 hats made...check
18. Laundry done...check
19. Young Women on bus and headed to camp...check
20. Me? I'm still here.
A great big THANKS to Shari, Jennifer, Lanett, Jenny, Katie and Lauren. I could not have done it all without your help!

Phuture Photographer

Following in the steps of her mother, my beautiful three year old grand-daughter is a budding photographer. Her are some examples of her excellent work!




Self portrait 1



Still life of kitchen cupboards.


Shoes


Self portrait 2


Grandma


Grandma 2


Daddy driving

Daddy smiling


Daddy

What do you think?