Things I learned from Grandma

This morning I learned that my lovely Grandma had passed away and I'd like to share a few things I learned from her.

• Always have a tissue handy. Who says you need pockets!
• There's nothing wrong with putting half a slice of bread back in the bag.
• You can make someone feel like the most important person by remembering their name.
• You don't need a reason to wear a dress or a nice piece of jewelry.
• Offer popsicles and they will come.
• Do the good ones twice. A good joke never gets old.

I will always cherish the time I spent with her and Grandpa and I'm so happy that they are united once more in their best form. I love them both!

New game for everyone including Aaron

I have always loved Christmas because it brings out the good in everyone and I am sure we all have fond memories of years that have past so here is the new game. Everyone needs to post about a Christmas that has special meaning to that person and if you share a blog each of you have to post something.

My most memorable Christmas came when I was on my mission. It was my last Christmas in the mission and instead of buying gifts and mailing them to us my family would just send cash so we could get something from our mission that would be something we could have for a long time, I really wanted a leather coat. So everybody sent me cash and I had just barley enough to buy the leather coat I wanted. It was the day before Christmas and we had just received a media referral, somebody had ordered the Lamb of God and it was a Spanish order, we never got those because the Hispanic people thought we were the government and we were going to arrest them when they called and ordered the movie. We went over to this woman's house and showed her the movie she was really touched by it and asked if we could come back when her husband was there. She had 5 or 6 kids and she couldn't have been older than 30. We asked her what her husband did for work and she explained that he was one of the guys who would stand out on the corner and wait for someone to pick them up to go work construction for the day but they hadn't had much luck in the last couple of weeks. She then asked if we knew of anyone who would be able to help her with Christmas because she couldn't afford it that year. I told her being the day before Christmas I was sure that no one had any presents left but we would check. We left and I had the biggest pit in my stomach and I felt like I needed to spend the money I got from my parents to get them stuff, so my companion and I went to the store and he went crazy we started grabbing stuff and throwing them in the basket, I watched as my coat fund slowly dwindled away. We split the cost and I spent 40 dollars, no leather coat for me. We took the presents over and a member of the ward provided a whole turkey dinner with all the trimmings for the family so we took them to this woman's house. Her eyes got really big and she started trying to get her children in the only bedroom so she could get the presents in without them seeing. The oldest boy realized what was going on and he was dragging his younger brothers in the room by any means necessary. We gave her all of the stuff and wished her a Merry Christmas and we left. Because we had spent all of our money the member took us out for dinner and he made sure we knew we would be blessed for our service but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed I wouldn't be getting my jacket. He took us home and dropped us off and I walked up to the mail box and there was a Christmas card from my Stake President I opened it up and a check fell out, the check was more than double what I had spent, some of the Stake members had donated money to the missionary fund and they had a surplus so they sent a check to every missionary currently serving. I still have that leather coat to this day and it serves as a reminder that if I put others first I will always be taken care of. We went back a week after Christmas and found out her husband found a job in another state and they moved. I'm not sure what ever came of it, if anything, but I am sure grateful that I took the time to put somebodies needs before mine.

Drew's wish list!!!!!

I thought that since it's Christmas time and I know everyone is pondering what should they get Drew for Christmas, I would make it easy and post what I want this year!
Besides the obvious peace and goodwill there are a few things I would like to see.

1. What ever happened to carolers? I remember even as the less active family that scared most people off we still got the brave family from down the street that would come over and sing. I miss that.

2. I was so disappointed when we didn't get any sweets from the ward members for Halloween. (we did get cookies from the Huff's and they were delicious.) (thanks Huff's)Our ward better get some crazy goodie exchange going on this Christmas! And I know a lot of you check out our blog so hop to it!

3. I wish everybody had real trees and on the same token I wish the clean up was as easy as the fake ones. Emily and I get a real one every year from the 5 dollar forest but the temptation to get a fake one gets bigger and bigger.

4. I wish more people would decorate their homes it doesn't have to be much just a window or a tree outside. Unless you can find a street with people who go all out, the decorated houses seem to be disappearing and that's sad.

5. I wish it snowed more, I remember making a lot of money shoveling snow and I remember the forts we would make and the snowball fights. I don't remember much of my childhood but I do remember the snow. (Andrew and Josh since we will have lots of free time on our hands we should build a huge fort in my yard!)(the invite extends to all who want to participate!)

For those of you who actually want ideas and it might be a little too far to travel for caroling I would like a propane torch, welding gloves, a gift certificate to Walmart (I need to stock up on fishing stuff), clay and if they offer it a gift certificate to capital ceramics.

Let's play a new game.

We've been tagged once more, this time by our beloved Bigger Family. I would love to tell you more things about myself but I had a hard enough time doing it once. In good faith I will leave you with two.

I watch Matlock on my lunch hour. Drew makes fun of me but it's the only decent television on at 1pm.
Drew always wanted an easy bake oven growing up. I've thought it would be fun to buy one for him but we have a real size oven, so it wouldn't be as fun.

Hope you enjoy these!

Trick or Treat

We had one, and only one, trick-or-treater. It made me sad because we bought extra candy, I put signs in the yard, and Drew performed brain surgery on our head shaped lamp to light the way. I was excited to hear little voices and very excited to see Andrew, Kristi, and Ethan. Too bad they were the only ones to partake of our candy.

One Year.....

Drew and I headed to the large metropolis of Salt Lake City this past weekend. My oldest brother Aaron was nice enough to fly in my dad from Texas so we could see him before he heads to Iraq to be a civilian bus driver on a military base for 1 year. Thanks Aaron!

It was fun to see him and go miniture golfing with the fam. Anna even scored a hit in one, as she liked to call it. We all went to the 5 Star restaurant, where Aaron is a star! And we had some good laughs and good food.

My Dad mentioned that a lot can happen in a year and started to list the things that have happened in his last year. I thought a lot has happened in my last year, and where it is close to my birthday it's a good time to reflect.

I've worked full-time this whole year, we got out of debt, we saved and went on a honeymoon to San Diego. Drew saw the ocean for the first time and we attended our first major league baseball game. We had a taste of parenthood when we adopted 3 kids for a week and we participated in the first annual Clark hoopla. Brad and Tahnie announced the first Roska grandchild. We have outstayed another couple in our apartment building and Drew for the very first time is a full-time student, period. Let's not forget...I caught my very first fish!!! Most of which has been put on this blog another item of this year.

Now I need to decide what needs to be done in the next year, because that's all the time I have before my "Things to do before 25" list needs to be done. AH!