My firstborn Child

This is Brians High School Graduation photo!

This is my son Brian at his birth. Today is his birthday and I am very aware of how blessed I have been for the last 33 years. There is something about your first child, I think it is because you have no one else to take your attention away from them. You remember a lot more.

Brian at 3 months

Ever since Brian was born, he seemed like the perfect child. Always alert, happy and communicative. He said his first word at 9 months "Twee" as he pointed to the Christmas tree that was in Dr. Gurfield's (our peditrition's) office.
Brian at 9 months
Once he started saying words he never stopped, and by 18 months he was a full on conversationalist and could communicate effectively. At 2 years almost 3 years we came home from Church one Sunday, where he was in the Nursery (with me because he wouldn't leave my side- even when I went to the bathroom!)

He got very serious and started telling me the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ! He laid it out in a very logical manner and told me that Jesus had died for our sins! He was very animated and his big brown eyes were very serious with the telling of that story, as if I didn't really understand what it meant to me. It was the most touching moment of my existance to hear that story from the mouth of a babe!

Well, from that moment on, no one could tell me that he wasn't the most wonderful child Heavenly Father had sent down to earth in a very long time. I loved my son unconditionally then and still do today. He has grown up into a fine man, a good husband and I hope an effective father! (That remains to be seen)

Brian in Kindergarten

Sunday, the day of Rest

Today is Fast Sunday in our Church. I had to work like a dog to get a substitute for my primary class today because I was asked to train the Brea 1st Ward in the New family search program for their 3rd hour which was 11:00 am.

It's also fast Sunday.

Then at 6:00 pm tonight I am to speak to the Fullerton Stake and answer questions about New Family Search and give them a 'shot in the arm' so they can go out and teach their members.

I'm not getting a nap today.

Two lectures that I'm not getting paid for.

Oh, well, it's all part of the Lords work.

aww...the Blessings

It's wonderful to feel like the most blessed woman in the world.

I'm involved with the two loves of my life right now and no foreseeable future to be stopped from enjoying them.

1. Family History
2. Primary

I know I'm a little different from almost everyone I know, but I am who I am. I love family stories, pictures, puzzles to figure out, and people to help- I'm in Heaven!

I also think that as I serve with love in Primary, I get back 100,000 more blessings than I give. Those four year old children just 'make my heart sing' every week. I truly am a blessed woman.

Reading your blogs

I woke up this morning very worried that I am not accomplishing what I promise I would accomplish and how I am going to break news to some certain people.

I can't believe how busy I am teaching, doing, advising, lecturing, makeing power point lectures and answering the phone 'help' calls that come in daily! What did I do before Genealogy? How sad I don't really remember.

So I read my scriptures, said my prayers, walked, took a shower and went to the computer. 1st thing I did was make myself a list. I e-mailed my friend in KY about how I didn't finish retyping his genealgy book but hope he lets me keep it and I will have it done by end of summer. Then I answered e-mail. Then I typed 4 pages of the book. Next I started the washing. I updated 2 power point presentations: 1) Overcoming Dead Ends 2) Organizing your Genealogy (don't anyone laugh at that, I know how to do it, I just don't take any time to do it for myslef! )I called my ladies and made appointments for Visiting Teaching. Changed the Wash. Made lunch for dad and myslef. Cleaned off my desk of a financial problem I had- I gave it to dad. Answered 1 phone call. Prepared a new lesson for next Sunday that I will give to Brea 1st ward and packed my stuff for the lecture tomorrow. Then I called in some Rx refills and will pick them up later when I go give blood at ''bleed & feed'' which is at the Church Blood Drive. I will then fold the clothes and mail a birthday card.

Now that I've listed all the things I do in one day, I'm feeling a bit better now, then I go to the blogs and start right down the line looking to see if anyone had put new info on them. Then I read them, comment on them, enjoy them and now I am relaxed. I don't know what it is about connecting with all of you that soothes my soul, but it does. I hope you get some of the same feeling from reading my blog as I get from yours. You are all very important in my life and I love you all- and your families!

My Husband

Today was a very busy and stressful day for me. In fact the week has been that way. In fact the month has been that way.

Tonight I noticed my husband, Larry. Not that I don't notice him every day, but today it was very apparent to me how much he supports me and helps me.

I ran out of the house this morning to go to Mission Veijo to give a lecture. I had spent days turning my 'old' overhead transparencies into power point. Larry did the wash for us, 4 or 5 loads and he hung up all the items that needed hanging. All he asked me to do was to separate it for him before I left.

Then I came home exhausted and took a nap. Larry went out to check out the hotel for Mark and Lisa to stay in when they come for Easter and the Blessing. He also went to the store for some specials he saw in the newspaper.

I got up and went into the computer to learn a new program to help my client who is coming here tomorrow to record her parents. Larry reminded me to download the program Mark had told me to download, "Audacity". While I stewed and read and tried and failed to make the program work, in other words while I learned how to use the program, Larry cooked a delicious dinner. Larry also did the shopping and has done the meal planning.

While I ran out of the house after dinner to go to a Stake Primary Training meeting, Larry cleaned up the dishes and juiced Lemonade for me so I could offer it to my clients tomorrow.

During the day, he stopped me several times to just give me a hug with words of encouragement.

This is indicative of Larry's love for me and I feel like the luckiest woman alive to have him for my eternal companion.

I seem to have days like this a lot lately. God Bless Larry for all his meal planning and shopping and cooking and washing and cleaning and vacuuming. I couldn't do today what I do without him. In fact I might just starve to death, because meal planning, shopping & cooking are way down on my list of likes and necessities.

He also took time to blog and work on his own business and the house budget.

All in all, I am one blessed woman. I love you Larry.

The Winning Limerick

Today, Larry had family home evening with the Singles Ward. It was a contest on who could wright the best limerick. Well here is the winning limerick! I'm so proud, and Ashlynn will be too!

"Ode to Papa Robe's Stache"
We like Brother Rober's upper lip,
The ladies find his 'stache very hip;
A fine shade of gray,
We want it to stay,
Oh, never give that moustache a snip!

written by O'Doyle Rules

Happy St. Patricks day

Yes, truly we are very much Irish. At least in our tempers, right? Just kidding. On my side, I have Emma Lee Swan from County Cavan in Ireland, and James John O'Brien from County Cork in Ireland and then on Larry's side we have Annie McKean and John Glass both from County Tyrone.

So, wear the green of Ireland and have a great St. Patricks day, just don't celebrate the way the Irish do!

This is serious, I'm being stalked!

It seems like it was about 6-7 years ago, when a black man walked into our Sacrament meeting and sat alone. I felt sorry for anyone new in the ward to look so out of place and friendless.

That first Sunday, I plopped myself and my family down next to him and proceeded to be friendly. That day they were giving talks on the Articles of Faith. So, like a good member-missionary, I took out my Articles of Faith card from my scripture case and gave it to him.

It seems now that he has taken the "light of Christ" I try to exhibit and turned it into something ugly!

Everywhere I go, the Family History Center, Church, Store, I see him there and staring at me. He makes excuses to talk to me, send me notes and love letters and I thought I put a stop to it a few years ago by talking to the Stake President, Bishop and my husband. They all had talks with him and it seemed to get better for a while, but now he is worse than ever!

He was asked to change shifts at the ORFHC so we wouldn't run into each other. He refused saying "I won't change shifts and that's final. I want to give Caroline another chance!" The person who called him was flabbergasted!

Now Beth McCarty is going to tell him not to come back to the ORFHC- ever. We don't need him to volunteer if all he wants to do is bother me! I have told him off, insulted him, talked to him, ignored him and walked away from him when he was trying to talk to me.

Last Sunday, I went to Church late because I was just tired (we meet at 9:00 am), I just missed Sacrament, and went directly to the Primary room, and received my class while they were coming in. He had the audacity to peek through the glass partition in the door of my classroom to see if I was there! That is the last straw! I want that man to stay as far away from me as possible. In fact I hope he gets into some accident and can never walk again! This is a living hell for me and I won't go to Church or the ORFHC anymore if that man shows up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got 'clocked'

No kidding I really did! I was getting ready for the day, I had just come back from walking, and I was about to brush my teeth.

The door to my shelves was open and I slammed it shut, no harder than usual and the clock on the wall came crashing down and bounced and slammed onto my nose. You would be so proud, all I said was "Oh, No! But it smarted a bit, mostly it just surprised me.