The Best Time

I know I don't write enough, but I can't let this year get away without reflecting on how much I have loved it.

I didn't type a newsletter this year because I didn't feel like I had big things to report, but I have come to realize as I have reflected these last few days about this year and things to come next year....that I am actually having the best time of my life.

I quit doing Real Estate altogether in 2011 and it was hard because part of that decision was based off the fact that there just wasn't enough business and I wondered if I had failed, but I also realized that I was at a crossroads and found the demands of my family always conflicting with the demands at work.

Economically it has been tight, but the reality of the matter is, it's also been the best. I am so glad I have had the most important thing with my kids, and it really is TIME.

That's what a year really is isn't it? A measurement of TIME?

It's been a hard time sometimes. There really are a whole set of skills that you need to get along with little children all the time and not go crazy when nobody listens to you all day, but I love my kids and as I watch them grow, I'm constantly aware they will soon be gone.

It's time for me to go back to school in 2012, and although part of me looks forward to it, I know that it will take a lot of my time, and I know where that time will come from and it makes me just a little sad, and a little grateful for the time I have had this last year. Maybe it is the biggest blessing in the world to have time with your children.

I watched a good friend my age run out of time this year, at least time here, and I never knew anyone appreciate it so much and be so grateful for it. I have spent some time this year thinking about life, I'm grateful to have Time to think about that and Time to learn from such a beautiful person. I miss you Krista.

I'm really grateful to Heavenly Father and his plan of Happiness. I know he has given me the blessing even when I'm not entirely convinced, but I know he wants us to be happy and our families are the way we gain it. I'm grateful for the one I have grown up in, and right now the one I have. I'm grateful for my TIME.

Love,
Stacy Zamarron


Here are some pictures of my blessings.



All my little brown heads together, coloring a piece of the cardboard castle they all got from us for Christmas.


Christmas morning


Sledding at Expo park just by the church parking lot....the extra kid sledding is Sam Doty.


Isaac making his angel.


On the carousel at Bass Pro Shops.

Republican nomination your killing me

I have to admit, I am kinda finding the blog boring, but heck, I can't watch this political race and not have a thing or two to say. I figure if I at least blog about it, I can write more and subject less people than Facebook does.

Anyways, I just want to say, really people, Gingrich?

Have you ever actually listened to him? Lastly, it's interesting to me that what many people have thought to be "the party of morals", the one that wanted to impeach Clinton for having an affair with a subordinate, seems to have lost intrest in the character of the candidate. I wish they didn't, I have to admit, it's one thing I kinda found good about the Republicans.

Gingrich, he's admittadly a philandering sort, marriage number 3 or 5 was it? He cheats all the time. I won't even go into Herman Cain. Only after women number 4 came forward did he start slipping a little in the polls? What happened people? Ron Paul? Really? You know, I have come to the conclusion that although Mitt Romney is mentioned as a Mormon alot and people speculate on that, I think it's his lack of charisma and not his faith. That's my opinion.

Lastly, I'm mostly a Democrat and I'm personally hoping Obama wins, but if I have to see someone else in the Whitehouse in about a year, I'd take Romney over about all of them.

My growing old words of wisdom.

I don't know if blogs should be full of short comments like this, but I've been facebooking more lately and this is my frame of mind I guess. At least here I'm not restricted too just over 500 characters :)!

I will tell you there is one lesson I have learned as I have grown older. Tact does go a long way, but no matter how you try to work around it, how we really feel about things always slips out and others see right through us, even if they are polite at the moment.

So your true feelings show, and if you don't want it to, maybe you should really think why you are hiding what you really feel.

So that's my life lesson. I always thought I was so smart when I was young, but the truth is so many people see right through you, you might as well try and see yourself and if you become good at that, I think you can take this world.

Boys to Men

Oh my boys are growing into men. They usually are very excited to sign birthday cards I send out, but just now when I asked them, one said "no" he didn't want to sign the card and the other said, "will you bring it too me."

Camping Trip, 2011

So this last June we took our only camping trip this summer. I uploaded pictures a month ago and just realized I actually never published this blog. However, I am going too because it took so long to upload all of these.


The first day we went to "pony camp" in Vail. Colorado had a freak late snow storm, but the roads were fine and it mostly all melted and we made it! Sam and Isaac had a blast of a first real horsey experience, made less intimidating by small little ponys.



We actually camped at Shadow Mountain Resevoir, which is just right by Granby lake and outside Rocky Mountain National Park. It was too wet to really have a fire the first night, but Ted really, really tried.




The boys posing by the little bridge by our campsite.



The rainclouds the first day over the resevoir. The clouds were gorgeous.



On the Cub Lake hike in Rocky Mountain National park, probably the last time Adriana will be carried so far. It was short about 2 1/2 miles each way.



We were testing how much we could push the boys, apparently alot farther than we could push Mom and Dad.


Cub Lake



From the top of the trail too Cub Lake.



I know you shouldn't feed wildlife, but these were some pretty well fed chipmunks, and it's so fun when they get that close! The kids loved it. Nobody tell RMNP!



My husband told the boys that this rock along the trail was eating the little rocks :)





There were elk this close just everywhere.



Along Trail Ridge Road. All the National Parks are free the first day of summer so we enjoyed this one free of charge. It wasn't too busy either, especially from the Grand Lake entrance.



Dad and the kids.



I can't remember this creatures name anymore, but they live in really harsh climates.



Some of the snow drifts were still this high....thank goodness it was a beautiful day lower down.



Me and my wacky kids



Near our campground. We had great weather the rest of out 3 day trip and no mosquitos!



Sam



Adriana



And lastly, the best part of camping...junk food. This was Isaac's plate. A bite out of the hot dog, and a bite out of the side of marshmellow.

Stuff we've done lately

I know I haven't been a blogger much, but I figure maybe quarterly people could see how my kids have grown, so here are some pictures.



We went just this last weekend to Estes Park in Colorado for two nights to celebrate out 10th Anniversary. It's the first time we have ever spent a night away from our kids....this picture is in Rocky Mountain National Park which just so happened to be free that weekend, but very cold and we didn't get out of the car much. I did see deer and about a million elk down in Estes Park, and even wild turkeys on the mountainside behind where we were staying



Adriana and Isaac watching 3D on the couch...they're so funny



Sam participated in Odyssey of the Mind this last school year and this is his little team of boys sitting just after doing the play they created themselves at the competition. He had fun and it's silly to see what a bunch of kindergarten boys will think up when not reigned in. Loads of "amazing" robots in their play



Adriana on her 2nd Birthday, also a Sunday and the first time I sent her to church in her Easter Dress. She didn't want to wear it, but then I painted her fingernails and she walked around all day as if she were the most delicate thing...kinda in a screaming Adriana kind of way.



We were lucky enough to see our friends the Cooks when they were passing through in March. The kids were in 7th heaven and I can't wait till we get another chance!

Isaac is 5

So, Isaac turned 5 a week or two ago. He had his first real birthday party. He got to invite some kids from primary, some kids from school, and a few family friends. He even got lots of presents. I think now that my daughter gets a lot of attention and camera time because she's the baby, but the truth is, I really love my little boys! They are Mommas boys still and I will forever be grateful I got a little time of it.

You wouldn't believe how quiet Chuck E Cheese is on a Monday afternoon before schools out! Yippee. Anyways, while I was busy getting everything done, the boys managed to get their own photos made for me and they are gorgeous and very typical of their personalities. I will cherish them forever and want to share them.....

Civility

You know I hate it when a word gets used in the press too much. Civility is sure a popular word now, so I hope I don't grow to hate it....but I want to share something I am glad I learned lately.

It all started by listing to a show called "Fresh Air" on National Public Radio why I waited outside my kids school. During this time, they always speak to new authors or actors of movies coming out. Some guy wrote a book on manners or civility or something and I can't remember who he is or what the book is called. It's not on my list.....but, he did say something that I can't get off my mind.

He said that it has been shown that our ordinary every day contact with strangers does has some impact on our day and how it goes. How we get treated in public does affect our day and the days of those we come into contact with. It's been proven. So if someone is rude or kind at a store or on the road or whatever it can have a positive or negative impact on our day. It may not be the number one thing, like family relations, but it plays a role. I have never thought of it this way...but it has really made me think of what I do.

I've mostly been nice in public, but now I think even more. I am very conscious that alot of people I run into, even the unpleasant ones, are all struggling with hard life. If I let that dude in traffic, or hold the door open, or offer empathy to the cashier, hopefully in some way I know I have made their day better. This world is hard and full of hard things, and half of the time I look at the worlds problems and other peoples problems and I feel so small and helpless and inadequate, but lately I feel very purposeful walking around this world and just being kind, even in traffic.

So that is what I want to share with the 2 or so people that may read this waning and barely posted blog. :)....it's good to know.

I've noticed

This season, I have tried really hard not to focus on problems, or life that most people have to face...and have felt inspired by a talk on gratitude. I have tried to think of those who have given to me and sent thanks...but I have been thinking that alot of wonderful things in my life are contributed by people who have gone ahead and don't know me. Anyways, so this post is a thankyou for them.

First and foremost. Most people say "thankyou" to the soldiers and those for their freedom, but as I grow older, I see that the sacrifice is made by family and community, by individuals, and those that come home alive mentally changed and fighting bad memories. There must be a reason and purpose for them, and it is for people like me. People who can live good and easy lives and not think much about what it really means to live so innocently. Thankyou and may I never take you for granted or pass by you in the street or ever pass any judgement. I'm pleased to know a few soldiers and will always do my best to be supportive.

I'm grateful that as a woman I can vote and be looked upon as an equal and respected. I realize that it's not like that everywhere in the world. Thankyou women who stood up in the past and suffered criticism and worked so hard. May I never do anything to disrespect myself after you worked so hard to earn some for me.

Thanks to some choice politicians. Everyone loves to criticize them (hey me included), but there are plenty of examples of people who were politicians and worked hard to give me a good country and often did the right thing, many even who sacrificed their careers to do that. I see some even now days who did the right thing and lost for it. Like a couple good Democrats from Colorado I respect now. Anyways, I appreciate the life I have in this country. I can say what I want and the worse that can happen is people disagree with me. I can go to school and I can marry who I want. Thankyou.

Thanks to loads of teachers who undoubtedly could have made more money elsewhere. Many taught, many boosted me and many still probably have never gone on a cruise or seen the world that they teach about...thanks for the sacrifice for me.

Thanks to so many good scientists. There are so many diseases I will never know about now. I can shop online and not face the mall I despise. Thankyou scientists.

Lastly, I'm thankful for My Heavenly Father. I cannot deny his hand in my life and I see him all over when my eyes are open and I cannot deny that he is great. May I forever aspire and get better to earn your forgiveness and return to you.

Stacy

Disenchanted

O.k., I know the big news story before the election was that Americans feel disenchanted with politics. I didn't, I mean I role my eyes at the news stories as much as the next guy, but I just saw people fighting for way different political extremes.

However, I am pretty disenchanted at the "deal" that Obama and some other Democrats have struck with Republicans. I thought we all wanted less debt right? Hey didn't the Republicans campaign on that? It's a bunch of crap.

It seems the Republicans are straining their necks to protect a few superwealthy people and little attention to actually reducing the debt. I think the Democrats are selling out too. They should have held out to tax the wealthy. I think the Republicans would have eventually caved. All this for stupid unemployment? I know it's a problem now, but I think the debt is a way bigger problem. I'm for protecting the weak, but my kids are becoming the weak now! Who steps into this world with such a bad debt problem. At least they should have the chance to run it up in their time, right? I waited for the stimulus to help and am even chearful about there still being American car compaines, but this is too much for me.


I personally would like to see a deal where the superwealthy pay a little more taxes, and unemployment although necessary, should have a limit. I don't know the ins and outs, but from what I read, people can be on it for years in the current system. That's too much. I know some great people on unemployment right now, but I think alot of them might agree to a limit- like not years!

I attempted to change my affilition from Independent to Democrat towards the end of the last election, but it was a little more work than I intended and I let it go. I'm glad now, niether party has earned my respect. Democrats, you passed Health Care, but that won't win me over indefinately.

This deal is totally crappy.