Speaking of Magic

Have you ever had something happen in your life that just seemed magical?  Gotten something you wanted, but never thought you'd get, just by saying the words?  My life has been exactly that way, which is why I'm not shy about asking for things here on my blog.  I believe it is important to ask for things *pray* as well as to acknowledge the things we are grateful for in life.

A few examples come to mind when I refer to magic happening for me.  The first happened in the middle of February 1997.  I was working at the Box Elder Credit Union as a teller.  It was a fine job, but minimum wage pay, and every day was predictable.  One Friday while working at the credit union I started to think that maybe this wasn't the job for me.  I had done a lot of waitressing and other things, but I just felt that these jobs weren't fulfilling.  I asked myself all morning "what is it that I want to do?"  I came up with nothing.  I went home for my short lunch break and began watching "Rescue 911".  Remember William Shatner narrating the dramatic stories of people who needed help and the dispatchers who helped them?  I used to love that show and had watched it many times before this day.  As I sat watching the show, I realized this is what I wanted to do.  I went back to work figuring that this was far out of my reach and I should just forget about it and find something else to do.  The day at the credit union was slow for a Friday, and I found myself reading the Box Elder News Journal.  As I skimmed the classifieds, there it was: "Box Elder County is seeking a 911 dispatcher" the application deadline was today.  I rushed to the phone and called my husband (now my ex-husband) and told him what I'd been thinking and that I needed an application picked up from the B.E. courthouse immediately and asked him if he would do that for me.  He seemed more than happy to to retrieve it, but when he arrived at my work with a friend, he handed me the application and said "I don't know why you're applying, you'll never get it."  His words echoed my thoughts, but I felt compelled to turn in the application anyway.  He turned in the application for me not 2 hours before the job posting closed. 

Within the next week my job interview was scheduled.  I didn't know what to expect during the interview, but I felt more excited than nervous.  I don't remember too much of the interview other than identifying locations on a map of the county and discussing priority calls.  As I was leaving the interview room, the Chief Deputy said "If you hear back from our HR director before the day is out, you have the job, no questions asked."  It was Friday morning and I figured my chances of hearing back from HR were slim to none.  Time was already running out.  I went back to work at the credit union and within a couple of hours, I received a phone call.  "Hi Tia, this is Peggy Madsen with Box Elder County HR department.  I would like to schedule a time when you can come in for a follow-up interview.  We would also like your husband to come in with you."  I was shocked.  Could it be that I got the job?  The Chief Deputy told me that this meant I have the job, but why would they be calling for a follow-up interview with my husband?  Perhaps I had made an impression and I was competing for the job with someone else now?  I called my husband and told him the news.  "Don't get your hopes up.  They're probably just narrowing it down."  Again, my thoughts exactly, but there was still that hope that the Chief was right.  The next week my husband and I sat down with the Chief Deputy at his office.  He said "you remember what I told you about getting a phone call from the HR director?"  I couldn't believe it.  He was offering me the job!  He'd asked that my husband come in so he could explain the trials on marriages law enforcement jobs impose.  In hind sight, I really appreciate and understand the Chief's intentions and wish that more LEO agencies would take the time to share this information with spouses before they jump right into police work.  I was absolutely giddy as my husband and I walked out the front steps of the old Sheriff's Office.  He looked at me and said "you got the job, now you have to prove to me you can do it."  This time, I had no doubt that I could.

My dispatch days definitely had their ups and downs, but I truly appreciate them and learned a lot about myself and people in general through the 7 years I did it.  I made some great friends and even got a new husband out of it. I have no hard feelings about my ex-husband, we were two different people going in two different directions and I understand why he said the things he did. Sometimes I think I'd go back and dispatch again, but I think I'm going somewhere even better now. 

Alan (my husband) and I started out in a little apartment in Tremonton.  Neither of us had a lot of money and both had recently gone through a divorce (you all know divorce is expensive, right?)  We ended up filing bankruptcy and would hold our breath while waiting for each pay check.  But we did dream.  We would spend some of our time off together making a vision for our life together.  Yes, it seemed very hopeless and that we would never be able to afford more than the $400 in rent we were currently paying, we would never have more than one (older) car, and we would never have a savings account that had more than the minimum to keep it open.  We dreamed anyway.  Alan got out the sketch pad one night and we described the house we would some day love to have.  It was a fairly large house with a different floor plan than either of us had ever seen.  I described a four-level house with a family room on the bottom floor, with a bedroom off the garage entry.  The second floor was the main floor with a kitchen, dining room, and formal living room.  Floor 3 contained 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, and the fourth floor was a master suite.  Yeah right!  We should just give up now and pray for a 1920's house with one whole bedroom.  We looked at the drawing often and even started thinking of places we would like to build our house one day.  There were many housing developments in Tremonton at the time and we talked with the same builder time after time.  He knew our financial situation and that we were looking for a 3 or 4 level split home.  He had some new homes like that starting around $130K, but we couldn't even afford that.  Alan and I eventually picked out a lot in Holmgren Estates that was vacant and it seemed it would be years before it would be built on.  That's what we needed.  Time.

Fast forward a couple of years.  Alan was out on patrol and came home for a break.  "Someone is building a house on our lot."  We were both a little disappointed but not surprised that we didn't get it in time.  We decided to go look at the house some time later to see what it was all about.  The same contracter we had been speaking to over the years was building this house.  We walked in to this HUGE home with an open entry way that seemed to go up forever.  We started on the main level to look around.  Yep, there was a living room, dining and kitchen area.  That's standard for all the homes being built in the area.  Downstairs was a large family room.  As we walked up the stairs, we both started to look at each other with this "you've got to be kidding me" look.  Third floor, not 2, but 3 bedrooms and a bathroom and just to the left, a stair case leading up to....you guessed it!  A master suite.  The house was nearly 3000 square feet on a third of an acre.  Amazing!!!!  OUR house built on OUR lot, without any of our direction.  Never in the time that we'd been consulting with the builder had we told him which lot or which floor plan we'd been dreaming of.  I called the builder a couple of days later to ask the price of the house.  By this time, Alan and I were nearly on our feet financially and were beginning to feel a little more confident about buying a $130K home.  When I asked the builder how much he was wanting for that house, he just laughed.  "You couldn't afford it."  I pressed him for a price and he said "$189K."  My heart sunk a little, but I wasn't surprised about how high the price was, but at how low it seemed for such a huge home. 

We began the steps to apply for a loan and the loan officer asked if we had a home in mind.  We told him about our dream house and how we didn't think we could afford it, much less qualify for it.  He suggested that we go ahead and start crunching the numbers for this home, and if needed we could drop the loan amount and find something else that was more affordable.  Within a couple of days the loan officer called back and said "You've been approved for the $189K loan."  What in the world?!  

I am the type of person who worries a lot about money, especially after we had been through divorce, bankruptcy, student loan hell, bill collectors, you name it.  So when he told me the payment amount (which we can afford, but it's a hundred dollars more than I'd like), I'm hesitant to dive right into it.  Alan and I wrestled with this decision and went to visit the house almost daily.  We stood at the master bedroom window overlooking the street and chatted.  I expressed my concern about the money, and though he understood my concerns, he just couldn't let go of the "coincidence" of this house on this lot.  I could see the disappointment in his eyes when we talked about the possibility of downsizing.  Buying our first house together was a big deal, but buying our first dream house together felt impossible.  We walked out the front door hand in hand, and called the bank to accept the loan. 

Now, let's go back about two and a half years to the little bitty apartment.  When Alan and I first got together we had agreed not to have any children.  Alan was content to have his two girls who he was totally in love with, and I wasn't even thinking about the possibility of children.  I knew I was too selfish and enjoyed having our time together too much.  Alan had mentioned before that he had always wanted a son, but felt that it was too late now and he didn't want to start the clock over again.  One of the differences between he and I was my love of country music.  One day as we were talking about children, I mentioned this song I knew about a little boy playing baseball and how optimistic he was.  Alan had never heard of it, so I played it for him:

(Kenny Rogers' "The Greatest")

Yep, I think it was right about this time we both started to change our minds about having a child together.  We hoped and hoped for a healthy little boy with this uplifting attitude and he arrived (again against the odds) on May 19, 2004.  The little boy with the baseball hat, standing in the field with his ball and bat was standing in the desert next to our house yesterday pitching to himself as happy as a clam. 

Now you know some of the miracles that have happened in my life.  I'm certainly not saying that they are likely to happen with little or no effort.  Alan and I are dreaming and preparing for the next step in our life and I believe it will be every bit as magical. 

*Prayer* Help me to find my next niche.  I'm still not sure of exactly what I want to do next.
**Gratitude**  I'm grateful that I have been shown how to achieve my dreams and that they can come true.  I achieve them by knowing what I want, asking for it, and going for it!

May Magic

Wow!  What a busy month it's been.  I've had so many blogging ideas but never write them down.  So I have a feeling this post will be a little long since I will be cramming everything I can think of into this one.

I love summer and spring!  It's the time of the year when I am most busy having fun.  (I also tend to run a little low on cash because I end up going more than I thought I would.)  I think I need to get a part-time job in the winter so I can save up for all of my summer adventures.

Mother's Day weekend was the best weekend ever!  Trey was on his best behavior - no whining, arguing, etc. and he enjoyed spending mom and son time.  I don't remember all of the details of that weekend, but I remember going on a walk and talking to him about the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.  We walked our normal mile, and he said "Mom, I don't want to go back, I like talking to you about this."  I was so happy that he was interested in what I had to say and that he could apply these lessons to his own life.  The Golden Rule has been a topic at our house ever since.  We finished the evening by playing some basketball and watching a movie.

I don't want to forget this, and I'm sure you'll find it just as funny as I did.  Trey's birthday was only a week away and Alan had decided he wanted to get him some Vibram Five Fingers.  I think the shoes are the ugliest things to ever walk the earth, and over the past 5 years Alan's been wearing them I haven't been shy about my opinion.  But Alan has made some good arguments about how they have certain benefits for your feet and how good they are to travel in so I had been considering getting some.  I just couldn't get past the ugly part.  Trey wants to be just like his dad, so he doesn't get the whole bit about them being ugly.  While Trey and I played basketball that night, he made a comment about his shoes and how they make him fast.  I (trying to get a feel for what he would think about having Vibram's) said something like "maybe you should get some shoes like dad's to see if they make you fast."  Trey was chasing the ball and stopped dead in his tracks and said "your Mother's Day gift is going to be late!  I'm not going to tell you what it is.  I always tell every year, but this year I'm going to keep it a secret.  Dad's going to be so proud of me!"  Gee, I wonder what my Mother's Day present is going to be.  I had to turn away because I was laughing so hard tears were welling up in my eyes. 

Saturday was every bit as fulfilling and Sunday morning he bragged up his pancakes.  This was his first time cooking and he really was proud of the delicious pancakes he made for me - with dad's supervision, of course!

Monday was his birthday party.  We had it at the park at his request.  I was so nervous that there wouldn't be many of his friends show up.  I really wanted him to have a great day.  He had a blast!  We barbequed, he had plenty of friends show up (Kaden, Morgan, Jerrick, Gunnar, Wesley, Jon & George and Ron, Lisa and Brian).  I even made it fun for myself and invited my law enforcement family to come along and they all did.  I really appreciate the guys that I work with.  I was telling Lisa and Michelle about Trey's Mother's Day "secret" and Lisa said "I guess the only surprise left is what color they are!"  So true. was sure they would be black since it goes with everything and Alan has such good fashion sense.  Alan was the hero of the evening when Trey's new "let's see how high and how far you can throw this" football got caught in the top of a tree.  Alan climbed it right to the top and saved the day by knocking it to the ground.  He's so wonderful and patient and will do anything for his son.

Wednesday my Mother's Day gift finally arrived.  I sat in the chair as Trey proudly brought me the box.  I began to open it and saw the Vibram's logo and said something about the shoe box.  Before I could even begin to open it to find out the color, Trey exclaimed "They're pink!"  Oh great PINK ugly shoes that don't go with anything.  But I found the whole present so humorous I didn't mind and yes, I do wear them.  I think it's sweet that he would want me to have a pair since he and dad do.

Thursday I got to break in my shoes and see just how comfortable they are for road trips.  We headed up to Island Park to see my folks and got to stop on the way to see Cory and Risa.  Alan and Trey went frisbee golfing with Cory and had a really great time.  Apparently, Trey is a natural at frisbee golf.  It was really great to see Cory and his family.  We all wish we got to see them more often. 

We arrived to an empty house in Island Park but started unpacking anyway.  It wasn't long before my dad was home.  I was preparing spaghetti and he walked into the kitchen and smiling said, "hey, kid."  He came over and gave me a hug (only I would be so shocked by this).  He was genuinely happy to see me and chatted for a bit.  The next day Marge pulled her trailer in across the lot and we got to visit with her and mom for the afternoon.  It's so great to see Marge every summer, she means a lot to me and my family.  I hope I have plenty more summers to see her.

The weather was cooler than we had expected it to be.  We had planned on kayaking and playing frisbee golf, but because it was so cold and mom bought Trey a new Thunderstone game, we didn't get out much.  We did go for a four wheeler ride up to Big Springs.  It was a really beautiful ride although I am still not very confident on a four wheeler.  I really enjoy riding them, just not on any slanted or rough trails just yet.  I need to get me one so I can practice.

As you can see, Big Springs is one of the most breathtaking places in the world.

We had a great visit with Marge and my parents, but I feel it was too short even though it was a couple of days longer than it normally is.  We stopped in to see Milan and Rhonda on the way home and had some Tony's pizza for dinner.  We love visiting them and can't wait to live closer.

May really has been a magical month and it isn't over yet.  We still get to visit Uncle Mike again next weekend.  As Trey says "Dad, there's always trouble when Uncle Mike's around!"  I wonder what sort of mischief we'll be getting into next.




*Prayer* Move to Ogden area to be close to friends and family.
**Gratitude** I'm so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family and for the opportunity to spend time with all of them.

I Need a Plan

It's another WINDY day in Wendover - if you can believe it!  Days like today really motivate me to search for another job in a different place.  Alan and I would really love to move back to the Southern Box Elder/Norther Weber County areas.  It feels like home and we'd be closer to my family, our friends, shopping, medical facilities, etc.  Living in Wendover is quite inconvenient and it feels like another world out here.  Let me be clear about my situation, I am very grateful for the experience of living here and the benefits it has provided me and my family.  The community has been a relatively safe place for us to raise our son up until the last year or so.  Our mortgage is bearable, we got a good handle on our finances, and we have paid off a lot of "baggage" debt that we would never had been able to overcome without living out here.  Moving to Wendover has allowed Alan, Trey and I to escape a lot of drama that would have been too distracting had we lived in Tremonton.  And living close to Alan's family has taught us what family really is.  I've cleared my head of emotional baggage and gotten a degree in Family Life Studies.  There are so many lessons I have learned while living here and I am grateful for them all, and now I am almost ready to move home.

So what's holding me back?  One reason is that I am AFRAID of what will happen with my son once we move.  A major benefit Alan and I have here is that I can take him to school in the morning and Alan can pick him up after school.  Both of our jobs are very flexible so if there is an emergency we are able to leave and handle it.  What will it be like when we move?  Will one of us still be able to take care of our son?  We are both concerned that he will be a "latch-key" child and neither of us want that.  We want Trey to know that he is so important and special to us and we need to know he is safe.  Financially I am a little worried because I'm not sure what our income will be once we move there.  Although, we do have some control over this so my worries about money are almost non-existent.  Ideally, I would love to see Alan get a high paying job (more than $60,000 a year) so I can work part-time with families allowing me to be passionate about my job while taking care of Trey.   As he gets older, I don't think I would mind advancing to a full-time position.

Another "road block" I have ran into is there aren't many good paying jobs in the field of study my degree is in.  My goal is to make $20/hour or more at a 3/4 or full-time position.  Money is important to me not because I want so many "things" but because I want to be able to give charitably to others and to take care of my husband, Trey, and my parents if they ever need it.  I don't really want or need material things.  With a Bachelor's Degree I could probably do other things than work with families; however, I feel so passionate about this and it is something I would like to share with others.  I want to teach them from my mistakes and learn with them about how to create a better life as individuals and families.  From what I have seen, there seem to be few jobs available for this type of career and it is something I really want.  I am very grateful for my education, I didn't only go into it to get a piece of paper, I went into this field of study so I could help myself - and boy has it worked! 

It isn't crucial to move right now; Alan is still in college and I'd really hate to add the stress of moving onto his plate.  I think we'd both really like to move within the next year and a half.  He should be finished with college by the end of spring/summer next year.  I can wait that long.  Waiting isn't really the problem, I think the problem I'm running into right now is how to prepare for the next step.  How do I become marketable?  How do I become knowledgable in the field I have studied?  I'm already knowledgable, but I want to really interest, motivate and teach people.  What requirements to these types of jobs have?  How do I meet those?  How do I practice those things in Wendover with such a limited audience? 

Some thoughts on what I can do right now are to check with USU in Tooele about offering classes in Wendover and see if I could instruct them.  I can check the Family Life Educator website to learn how to become certified.  It wouldn't hurt to check with the USU career help website to see how they can help to find a new job.  I really want to talk with Alan over the next week to learn what he would like to do for his career so we can learn what he needs to be marketable.  And finally, we need a vision. 

My vision, or goals for the next two years:

• Move to Box Elder/Weber County
• Have a 4 bedroom + home in a safe, supportive neighborhood
• Have an income of $80K a year or more
• I want to be in a career position of working with families in ways I am passionate about
• To continue to be financially stable
• Trey is protected and loved and we are there to support him before and after school
• Trey is in a school which encourages and supports his academic level of learning
• Alan has found a job which he enjoys, has weekends off and works day shift; taking little time away from his family
• Spend more time with friends & family (mom, dad, California people, etc.) & have fun
• For all of us to continue to be healthy and active

Please God, and all my readers, support me and help me find a way to make these things happen. 

Vegas, Baby!

I woke up the morning after Rhonda's book party and was overcome by the idea of going to Las Vegas to be with my family.  I got right out of bed and went about my Saturday morning routine, except with much more of a rushed feeling.  I called and texted everyone I could think of that would be in Vegas at the moment.  Aunt Joy, Brooke, Loretta...why isn't anyone answering the phone!...Nick, and then I'd try all over again.  I didn't think I had the correct phone number for Adrianne and I really wanted to be on the road to Vegas by 11:00 since it is almost a six hour drive.  I tried to get ahold of anyone for almost two hours with no success.  I had all but decided not to go when I decided to text Adrianne at the phone number I had for her.  "Adrianne, are you in Vegas? Is Aunt Joy with you?"  Within seconds she responded, "yes we are here!"  Immediately I began to pack.  Joy finally called and we arranged to meet in Vegas that evening. 

I really hate leaving Alan behind, but this was an especially stressful weekend for him since he was trying to catch up on and finish a lot of college projects.  He questioned my plans saying that it was an awful long ways to go, only to come back a day later.  But he supported me and understood the excitement I had to see my family.  We said our goodbyes and I ran out the door.

I needed to stop for fuel and to stop at the grocery store on the way out of town since my son eats like it's his last meal on every trip we take.  I hurriedly got the fuel and rushed over to the store.  I could feel myself getting frustrated because I just wasn't get out of town fast enough.  As I stood at the sandwich bar trying to choose a sandwich for Trey, I looked up and what I saw instantly relieved any anxiety I was having and I was immediately at peace. I was more than at peace, I was giddy!  Alan was strolling up the isle toward me.  I jumped into his arms and finished my shopping with him.  It was so good to see him so unexpectedly and to take a few moments to relax before embarking on my trip.

Trey and I arrived in Las Vegas several hours later.  He had been learning about Wendover Will (the ugly, neon-lit cowboy that stands in the middle of Wendover Blvd. and represents our city so proudly) and had informed Alan and I last week that Wendover Will has at least one twin in in the state of Nevada.  As we approached Las Vegas, Trey asked me if I knew where "Vegas Bill" was located.  I didn't give it a second thought and told him I didn't know where the hideous cowboy stood.

While we were driving to Vegas, our family decided they wanted to go with Uncle Mike to Supercross.  What the hell is Supercross!?  I knew it was motorcycle races and I didn't have any desire to go, but I said "Sure!  Count us in!"  We arrived at the hotel in the nick of time.  I had exactly 30 seconds to freshen up and get out the door so we could have dinner and head over to the races.  This didn't allow me to consider that I was wearing heels and I probably wouldn't want to be wearing them for the rest of the night.

The Supercross event was held at Sam Boyd Stadium where UNLV hold their football games.  The place was packed!  Turns out Supercross is the "NASCAR" of motorcycles and we were at the final event of the season.  So walking up to our seats in heels was not so bad until we reached the aluminum bleachers.  It was like walking a twelve inch plank while people pushed and nudged you from different directions.  Don't fall!  Was all I kept thinking while trying to get to the very last seat on the row (go figure!)  We hung out at Supercross and I was thrilled to learn that Bret Michaels was there to support it.  I didn't get to see him except for on the mega-screen, but it was still exciting to know he was there.  The races were confusing to watch since there were so many motorcycles on the track at the same time, but eventually I caught on and the races got more exciting as the night went on.  The champion was named and the stadium was lit up with fire works and a mass amount of confetti.  What a fun experience!  And Uncle Mike couldn't have been more happy to share this with the rest of us. 

We were back to our hotel in minutes - Vegas Metro really knows how to do traffic control!  Aunt Joy had this crazy idea to head down to Fremont Street to ride the zipline - um, it's 11:00 at night!  That is so Joy!  When she wants to have fun, she makes it happen and she has the energy to do it with style!  The clan decided against going that night and we made plans to get up early in the morning to go.  It was already early in the morning, we didn't get in to bed until 2:00. 

I gave her Rhonda's book before we crawled into bed and she seemed very appreciative.  She also mentioned that she has a lot of geneology and pictures of generations past.  She invited me to come to her house some time and look at them.  This is something I must do soon.  I can't wait to see what she has and to hear the stories I've longed to for.

Sunday morning was slow moving - surprise!  But I didn't care, I was with so many people I love and I just wanted to enjoy it.  We had breakfast at IHop and then went down to Fremont Street.  Some of the kids went down the zipline, it looked like fun and I kind of regret not going.  Adrianne, Trey, Loretta, Ray and I walked up and down Fremont Street while we waited for them to get off the ride.  As we were walking, I saw someone who looked very familiar sporting a white cowboy hat.  Holy crap!  Bret Michaels!  Nope, not quite.  But he looked close enough like him that after walking past him three times and after seeing the Real Bret Michaels at Supercross the night before, I couldn't pass up stopping to get a picture with him.  He was a good sport, but oh boy did he smell bad!  It wasn't til the second picture when I noticed it, and he was leaning that sweaty arm pit right onto my left shoulder.  Let me tell you, what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas.  Every now and then for the rest of the day I would catch a whiff of good old Bret!  Oh well, it was fun and it was an adventure!

Walking Fremont Street as a seven (almost eight) year old, is not a worthwhile experience once you've been told there is no more money to spend at the cheap souvenier shops.  The only other things there were casinos and strip clubs, not even a little restaurant to sit at.  But all of a sudden I heard a sound of excitement coming from Trey.  "Look Mom!"  My eyes followed the point of his finger and there he was.  The second biggest, ugliest cowboy you've ever seen, Vegas Bill.  (Apparently his name is Vegas Vick, but in our home Vegas Bill just goes so much better with Wendover Will!)

We all decided to head down to the real Vegas strip and check out the lions at the MGM Grand and let the kids ride the roller coaster at New York New York.  Mike was nice enough to drive my car for me through the Vegas traffic and what should have been a 5 minute trip to the MGM took about 40 minutes.  I didn't mind at all and loved every minute of visiting with my Uncle Mike.  He is such a caring person and we talked a bit about how much he'd love to leave California but that he is so dedicated to his daughters that he can't leave them just yet.  He talked about how important it is for kids to have their parents in their lives and how he didn't want his kids to grow up the way he did without a father.  His love for his kids and his family just make me love him more.  I cherished this short drive and enjoyed every second of his company.


The rest of the day was more rushed than we had planned. There were no lions at the MGM and Mike took the kids to New York New York while the rest of us went to check out the M&M store. We said our goodbye's and I told Joy how much I appreciated that she let us come down. It really meant a lot to me that she would do this for us. I held back tears as we parted feeling such a great amount of love for everyone. Before I took this trip I wondered if Alan was right that it was such a long ways to go that it wouldn't be worth it. I knew right then that the 12 hour drive was completely worth it and I would do it again  every month if I got the chance. 

Friends and Family

Boy, am I wiped out!  What a fabulous weekend it really was!  I am truly grateful for all the friends we have and for our extended family.  I'd like to take a moment to thank God for all of these people in our lives.

Alan and I kicked off my weekend with a date night to Ogden.  This is an extra special treat for a couple of reasons.  One, Alan and I went out on a Friday night together!  Very rarely do we ever go out on a Friday night or even have a date night because of our crazy schedules and because of Alan's overwhelming college classes.  My weekend nights are usually spent home snuggled in bed by myself watching Dateline, 48 Hours Mystery, or some other depressing television show.  Mark it on the calendar that Friday, May 4, 2012, Alan and Tia went out to enjoy ourselves!  Two, we actually left the house alone!  As rare as it is for us to go out on a Friday night, it is equally as rare for Trey to be left at home with a sitter. 

Some of you reading this would probably laugh at my idea of a date night once you finish reading about the night's events.  But I have to say that I am very happy with the time we spent together and the events of the night.  It's a two hour drive from where we live to Ogden and we left our house in the early afternoon.  I had made plans with our friends, Randy and Erica, who we haven't seen or visited with in over two years.  We met them at Applebees and spent some time catching up.  Have you ever had friends who you've been separated from for so long and then met up with them again only to learn that the meeting is awkward, with no subject to talk about, leaving you wondering if you're even still friends at all?  I'm so happy to report that this was NOT the case with these two.  Our conversation went smoothly as if there had been little time that had passed since our last visit.  There is absolutely no question of how real this friendship is.  Now that's a great way to arrive for our date night!

The excuse for our getting out on a Friday night did not at all revolve around the actually day being a Friday.  Rhonda had recently published her first book Every Essential Element.  Milan and Rhonda had planned a book launching event where supporters could come and meet Rhonda and her mother, Gaye.  Rhonda would also be reading a excerpt from the book. 

I have to tell you that I purchased a copy of the book on my Kindle the moment I knew it was available.  I was so excited to support my friends and help them get the word out.  I also wanted to read the book first so I knew I would be promoting something worthwhile.  It didn't take me long to become completely devoured in her story.  Gaye's life experiences are based on love and faith and her perseverance has paid off.  I am envious of such a tight-knit, successful family and hope that at the end of my life I can be as rewarded as this woman.  Her story has inspired me to look beyond the present and realize that there is so much more to life.  I look forward to life's next adventures and even get excited when I look down the road 10, 20 or 30 years from now.  Thank you Rhonda and Gaye for writing such a powerful book.  Gaye, you are truly a hero!

When we first walked in to Union Station in Ogden, we found Milan standing tall and proud, and he was smiling BIG!  The pride and love he had for his wife was obvious to everyone in the room.  Our visit with him was much shorter than we'd have liked, but it was great to see him so happy.  Rhonda was also quite busy signing books and welcoming supporters as they arrived.  The room was full of over 100 guests, including friends and family.  Did I mention they have a supportive family!?  I don't think I'll be able to describe the amount of love I felt in that room as I sat on the bench with Alan resting my head on his shoulder.  It almost brought me to happy tears.  I could feel the genuine appreciation Rhonda and her brothers had for their mother and father, as well as the pride Gaye had for her children.  I swear I felt the presence of Rhonda's father, and I know how happy and proud he was of his family.  I hope the rest of the family could feel what I felt.  They are truly blessed. 

Part of showing our support for their book was to purchase a copy, even though I had already gotten the electronic version.  As I stood in line waiting to purchase a book, I had no idea what I would do with it.  I considered giving it as a gift, but to who would I give it to?  And then I heard it.  "Joy."  "Give it to Aunt Joy."  I had no idea for sure when I'd see her next, so I'd send a package to her.  I know she has been under a lot of stress with her own big family and has found new challenges in being a mother.  This has got to be the perfect gift for her! 

We stayed for the author's reading, gave our best wishes, and went out for a little bit of shopping before taking the long WINDY drive across the desert.  The conversation on the way home was based on thoughts of our friends who we had seen that day and the desire to move closer to them.  We both really miss doing fun things and we miss the ones we love.  There was a pause in the conversation when we both got tired and I checked my Facebook account from my smart phone.  My cousin, Adrianne, had posted "Spontaneous trip to Vegas? I think yes!"  Hmmmm, there might be something to this!

The Perfect Everything

Have I mentioned how blessed I am?  I have the perfect dog, the perfect husband and the perfect child!  My son impresses me every day with his intelligence, care for others, and love for his parents.  He is such a people pleaser and really makes an effort in everything he does.  Trey is truly the love of my life and I thank God every day that he gave me such a wonderful child.

Trey is only 7 years old but I can see his sense of humor and his personality blossoming.  Watching him grow is one of the best things in life.  I know he will make mistakes in life, but I feel he has a really good foundation from which to grow.  He loves to draw, read, play games, ride his scooter and play sports.  My love for him gets deeper every day.  I plan to keep this blog as a way to remember the precious moments I have with him.  There have been too many that have been forgotten or buried deep in my heart.  He makes me laugh, makes me proud, and I am certain that his life will be full of prosperity and love. 

My dog, Bailey, is like none I've ever seen before.  She doesn't mess on the floor, chew anything she shouldn't, or eat food that is left unattended.  Seldom does she bark or do anything that is annoying.  She loves Alan more than anything, which boggles both of us since I was the one who had to fight to keep her.  She came into our lives as a "foster" dog and I promised I would get rid of her as soon as I found a home good enough for her.  Alan stepped in within a month and said there is no way we would find a home that would be suitable for her and we would be keeping her.  He teases her relentlessly about being the "foster dog", but Bailey and I both know there is no way Alan would ever let her go.  She is one of the most beautiful creatures on this earth and I pray every day for more time with her.  It seems unfair that we got her in the middle years of her life.  Now and then when I look at her I see more gray hair showing up on her muzzle and her toes and hope that she has many more years left.

To describe my family in a way that gives them credit they deserve will take many more blogs and I am excited to tell you about them.  This blog serves as an introduction to my family who I love and honor very much.  My husband has been my teacher, my best friend, and my sanity.  I admire his intelligence and strength.  The last eleven years with him have been interesting to say the least, but I hope all our greatest struggles are behind us and I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.  I wouldn't be where I am today without him, and that is a good thing. 

Holiday Happenings

Wow!  I have just finished up with college and am now unsure of what to do with all this free time I have.  I don't know, maybe I could actually work at my job, be a mother, and a wife?! 

I began college in the fall of either '05 or '06, and finally graduated in December 2011 with a BS and majored in Family Life Studies.  Someone asked me today why I chose that degree.  One of these days I will share those reasons with you.

Alan, Trey and I had a really great holiday season.  It started with the long-awaited graduation the second week of December, just in time for Christmas.  That was lucky since it was time to give all my attention to the Tooele County Children's Justice Center's Christmas Assistance Program.  This year in Wendover we had more applicants than any other year.  More than 80 children applied, and with the assistance of local generous sponsors, the West Wendover Fire Department, Toys for Tots and the Peppermill Casino all were given assistance for Christmas.  The CJC was able to provide clothes, food, and toys to roughly 40 children which is the most we've assisted so far. 

So, the holidays begun with a quick visit to my parents, brother, nephews and cousins in Ogden.  I really value all the time I can get to be with them all.  It did throw a wrench in my plans for shopping for all these children, but Alan really stepped up and not only went with me for the visit but also put in a 18 hour day of shopping for children in need and a short visit with the family.  He was so helpful, patient and thoughtful throughout the shopping experience.  He also kept things organized which meant less work and worry for me once I was back to Wendover with all the goodies.  I don't think he'd have done such a great job this year if he'd known I'll be taking him along with me next year. 



Dad & I; this picture is one of the greatest Christmas gifts I have ever recieved.  Thanks for being a good sport Dad!  I love you!

After our long day of shopping and visiting, I went to town a few days later because the budget allowed me to assist a few more families.  The day before Christmas Eve was CRAZY!  With several piles of clothes, toys, food, quilts, coats, gloves, scarves, hats, and other donated goods it was time to start delivering.  Did someone say something about wrapping???  Oh yes, Santa's elf (Delsie) in the Wendover Court took her whole day to wrap all of the gifts and clothes.  She was assisted by Lance and Jolene Christensen and family who generously donated their time and money to provide the children of Wendover with a very special Christmas.  There is no way Delsie and I could have gotten everything prepared for delivery without the help of the Christensen's.  A very special thank you to them as well as Delsie!

Sgt. Shandy had spent the year in Wendover and sadly Christmas Day was her last in our office.  She also spent many hours helping with deliveries.  She was even kind enough to donate a 6 ft. Christmas tree to one of our families.  Shandy's a really special person with a big heart.  Delivering was fun, and the families seemed very grateful. 

My gift this year to Sgt. Shandy, the Christensen's, Delsie, and Alan  was the gift of giving.  I truly believe that as a society we really need to help each other as much as possible in order to have happier, safer communities.  I'm sure I'll write more on this later.

Christmas Day was relaxing.  Trey got everything he asked for and then some.  I prepared a turkey dinner and Alan got the whole weekend off.  The following Wednesday we attended the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Salt Lake.  They are amazing!  Alan and I have enjoyed their shows for the past seven years.  I look forward to seeing them again next year and hope The Kings of Christmas tour here then as well.  You can check out their web page at thekingsofchristmas.com. 

Time is up!  I've really enjoyed reflecting on the holidays and the importance of giving to others.  I think the topic was a great one to start off my new blog.  I hope that you all have found something to be grateful for in 2011 and are looking forward to a really exciting 2012.