2011 Coming to a Close

I’ve tried to write at least once a month in my blog, but I see that the last time was in the summer!  I can find extra time now to write when there’s nothing else to do at work.  This is quite long, however, and I don't seem to be able to add any pictures right now.  Has anyone had this problem and how did you fix it?  Will keep trying.

I got a job as a receptionist at Air and Sea International Freight Link since the end of August.  I found the opening on-line and applied, then they called me, and the next week I was interviewed and started work.  It’s surprising how quickly you can get a job after trying for six months!  It was nice to get off of government unemployment,  but I felt that I deserved to take advantage of it since my previous employers have taken it out of my paychecks over the years.  The company I work for is a freight-forwarding business.  It is a medium-sized company that has been in business for 40 years and run by a family.  They make arrangements (mostly over the phone) to move freight of any type to/from anywhere in the world.  I sit at a desk by the door where I let visitors in, answer phones, get the mail and Fed-Ex’s ready, do some of the invoicing, filing, water plants and anything else they need me to do.  I’m also on the monthly luncheon and birthday committee with another lady.  The office has to be locked due to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) requirements.  There are about a dozen import/export men and women that have made me feel welcome.  I like that I don’t have to start until 10 AM and leave at 4 PM.  (Six hours Monday – Friday)  I hope to just stay at home someday and be able to do the wife/grandma thing and putter on projects. 

Right now the Tabernacle Choir, which I sing in, is in the middle of preparing for our Christmas Concerts.  They always make the holidays seem more exciting for me, but I have a hard time doing all the things I would like to for others.  It does make it more stressful.  Thanksgiving will be here next week and I look forward to having our family over for a delicious meal.   We have to Skype with Lee and Spencer’s families most holidays but everyone else will share in bringing the food, so I’m sure it will be great.  It’s nice having married children now so I don’t have to do it all myself.  Our kids in Utah come over on Sundays when they can for meals and time together. 

Since I last wrote on the blog, Bruce and I had two more grandchildren.  Sarah and Denys had Aleksandr (we call him Sasha) on August 15 and Diane and Dallon had Ellison on September 15.  Jared and Candace have Adele, born in June, and Andy and Hope are expecting a little boy in February.  That makes 12 grandchildren for us!  We had a great time at our family reunion in July.  Twenty-two of us met at a cabin at Bear Lake in Garden City, ID.  Even our Washington families were there and we brought Bruce’s mother with us from Orem.  It was a lot of fun for all!  Next year we are looking forward to the Garrard Family Reunion that will be held in Alabama and will count that as our Howard Reunion also.  My sister, Kathy, is working hard at making arrangements for it.

At one point on my blog, Bruce and I were working to get in better shape physically.  We went to a gym close to where we live and went on walks, etc.  Life got really hectic which slowed us down.  We decided to stop our membership at the gym and get a treadmill.   So we have one and a recumbent bike and we need to be better again at getting the exercise we need.  We have to keep recommitting ourselves to eating better and exercising more.  I know it’s hard during the holidays, but it can also be the best time to do better by avoiding all the goodies. 

I have been seeing a holistic doctor for a number of years with hypothyroidism issues.  This is one of the reasons I struggle with my weight.  But Dr. Cameron put me on a bioidentical hormone that helps me feel normal.  However, that is not the end of it.  After awhile the medication has to be adjusted because I start feeling worse again.  Right now we’re in the middle of re-evaluating how much T-3 medication I need to take.  Unlike a conventional doctor, he has me take my temperature every morning and take my blood pressure on occasion and report into him so he can take everything into the equation.  I also get blood tests so he can measure what is happening in my body.  The thyroid is a complicated endocrine gland that is responsible for sending out the hormones our bodies need to function properly.  I think this disease runs in my Mortensen family.  My mother and sisters all take medication for it but I am just trying to go with a more natural method of treatment than Synthroid.  I took Synthroid for a period of time about 10 years ago, but didn’t like how it made me feel.  I heard about Todd Cameron and his success in treating thyroid problems with natural methods.  He treats himself for the same disease.  I would like to know from others in my family or from anyone that has had thyroid issues, what their experiences have been.  You can learn a lot about the disease simply by “googling” it.  I wonder how we ever got along without the computer!

OK….I will end this book entry now.  This is what happens when I don’t write for so long!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS (if I don’t write again by then)!!!!!                    
     Jeri

OUR SUMMER 2011 SO FAR

A miracle happened in June when Jared and Candace were finally able to adopt our sweet new granddaughter, Adele.  She is a joy to watch, hold, and kiss!

The family fixed up the baby's room in black and white to surprise  Jared and Candace when they returned from Colorado with Adele.

Also in June was the Choir's tour to the Eastern Coast and Toronto, Canada.   We took off in 3  jumbo jets.

We had a sound check and rehearsal for each of the 7 concerts.

There was time to let the Choir do some sight-seeing.  We visited Colonial Williamsburg, VA where the workers are dressed up in costume and they re-enact scenes from the past.

We even got to participate in a "flash mob" to the crowd's surprise.

Some of us toured Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

And the Smithsonian.

The Washington Monument is always  dramatic to see.

When we performed at the Mann Theater in Philadelphia, PA, my sweet sister, Susan, and  her family met me beforehand and bought me dinner.

Thanks Kimberly, Michael, Doug, and Susan for coming.  I could  see you in the audience as I sang.

The next morning in Philly, some of the Choir walked to Macy's and  sang with the  famous organ there for its 100th anniversary.

I'm lucky to rub shoulders with very nice people like Lloyd Newel.

We stopped off at the Joseph Smith homes in Palmyra, NY and sang for visitors that were there.  It's so moving to be in that sacred place.

On Sunday I took a walk in Buffalo, NY with a few friends in the Choir and we found the  LDS Church house.  A baptism was about to take place so we stayed to witness it.  It was for a blind man who brought his seeing-eye dog along.

Then we continued our walk to see the many old and beautiful church buildings that are in the area.

Twelve buses had to go through the check point into Canada.  We had to show our passports.

Toronto is a very clean and beautiful city!

Can you find me?  These are our newest dresses made in time for the tour.

Our largest suitcases were carried to and from the East Coast in a big truck.  We had to pick them up from the Conference Center the Sunday after we got home.

Next came our Howard Family Reunion at Bear Lake.  Bruce's mother has joined us last year and this.  Wyatt and all the children enjoyed her company.

It's a good time for the cousins to play together and get re-aquainted.

Adele is our newest member this year and Joshua was the newest last year.

Norah was born a couple months after JJ.

A few brought their guitars and grandpa Bruce taught Zachary  some things on his new guitar.

Diane and Dallon posing for me

Denis and Sarah were in Ukraine last year so this was their first.

We had a birthday party for the kids on the first night there.  It was Sophie's 4th birthday that day, Wyatt's 3rd birthday on the 31st, and Joshua's 1st birthday on August 3rd.  Diane brought gift bags and fun masks that they loved.

Each of the married couples took their turns at making our meals.  Everything was delicous!

Our cabin was very cozy and had enough room for everyone to visit and eat together.  We had a second smaller cabin nearby so there was extra sleeping rooms.

Whitney is our oldest grandchild.  I kept hearing her ask her dad,  "Can I call _______ now?"  Hopefully she had fun anyway.

The next day we visited Bear Lake and the beach.  The water is so blue but because of all the snow and rain  Utah had last winter, there wasn't so much beach and the edge of the water was muddy.   We had fun anyway.

Jared and Candace set up a shade tent.

And kids enjoyed shoveling in the sand.

Sandcastles were built and deep holes were dug.

We had family photos Sunday morning (thanks to Karyn) and then some of us walked to a nearby Sacrament Meeting in Garden City.  

The kids loved playing on this fort with swings and a slide.

Lee and JJ.

Spencer and Norah.

Hope and Andy were married last month.  Hope is helping to  tie one of the baby quilts  to give away.

We had a show and tell time and Spencer decided to stand on his head.

Each family took their turn to catch us up or perform something.

Denis and Sarah sang a song.

We had a baby shower for the new moms and dads.  One of the games was like the Newly Wed Game.  Here are the dads.

And here are the moms.

Karyn was very helpful with the games.  Thank you!!

The end of our reunion came too soon and it was time to say good-bye.                                                                                    

  Thanks to all who came to our reunion.                                                                            
Well I finally got caught up but there will be more to come with two new grand babies on the way this year and one in February.

APRIL SHOWERS MAY BRING FLOWERS

 It was fun to have my brother Ron's family (minus Mike and Peter) with us for a couple of days.  They experienced our Utah snow in April and now have returned to sunny California.

 I know it is springtime because this little robin in our back yard told me so.  The tulips were pretty and now we're waiting for the iris and lilacs to bloom.  Bruce was able to plant a few veggies two days ago.

 Thankful for some sunshine, we took our grandson, Raidon, to the park playground.

He figured out the chain ladder....strong little guy.....and made it to the top.

 He tried out all the slides.....

 and wasn't scared at all.

He wore himself out and slept soundly all night.  Sweet dreams to a sweet boy!