This is for Paula...

My sister and I were definitely different. She was artistic and an extrovert while I played the piano and was a bit of a wallflower. She kept a tidy house while I struggled to keep the dishes washed. She taught me how to bake bread so that I didn't have to serve "stones" anymore. She loved people and had tons of friends that adored her while I had my short list of people that I held dear. This was because she was caring and was a real friend to so many. She loved her husband even when he could not find the courage to stay by her side to the end. She was optimistic and would always tell me "everything will be all right" when I would be fretting over the "what ifs". When we were little we always shared a room. This, of course, would lead to squabbles and lines would be drawn mapping out our separate spaces even on the double bed we shared. But then there were the nights that we would get the giggles or push the bed under the window to feel the breeze from the thunderstorms so that the curtains would fan us. She wasn't perfect and would demand to get her way when I would be the one that would try to do what Mom or Dad wanted. She was my maid of honor when I wasn't even in any of her wedding photos. But for all of our differences and disagreements, we loved each other. I know I wasn't her best friend but, beside my husband, she was mine. I was blessed with the opportunity to help take care of her during her last summer here on this earth. The day before she passed we had a very special visit together. She was afraid. Afraid to leave her children behind, not knowing what would happen to them. So it was my turn to tell her "everything will be all right". I know it has been hard for them, but she left us with such a good example that if we follow it "everything will be all right".

Ten years ago people were mourning the tragedy of 9/11 while my family and I were mourning the loss of my sister, Paula Jean Burns Fortman on 9/10/01. All the memorials this weekend have brought back so many memories and feelings. She will always be a part of me. I love you Paula.

super summer

We had a super summer visiting family, teaching summer school, and two major home repairs completed along the way.

In June, I called the gas company because I suspected there was something wrong in the gas meter because it was running everytime I went by it. They came out and immediately shut off the gas to the house. There was a leak between the meter and the house. So, we were responsible for fixing the line. Our wonderful home teacher, Bishop Cottrell, helped us arrange (and also dig) for Bro. Witbeck (he has a ditch witch) and Fred Kartchner (he has a shovel) to come and help us dig the trench for the new line. Both Doug and I helped dig the trench. It was a big job, 180 feet and 18 inches deep. Then we had to wait for the plumber and county inspectors to do their part. After two and a half weeks, we had gas again. We also have a new roof! We finally opted to have a metal roof put on our house. One of my former student's father did the actual putting the new roof on, but we had to have the old roof off first. So Doug and a group of high priests from our ward came and pulled the shingles and bad pieces of wood off the house. They were done in two and a half hours and even hauled off all the trash. During all these projects, I got a bit of yard work done too. Summer school went really well and quickly too. It was a very productive June.

Of course, the highlight of the summer was our family vacation. Here is a quick rundown:

We (Doug, Chelsea, Mom, and I) left St. David after church on July 10th and drove all the way to Sedona. We spent a peaceful day at the cabin and had a nice visit with Tara Golden. Doug even caught a couple of fish for my dinner. The next morning we cleaned up and drove to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival. We watched "Romeo and Juliet" which was pretty good. On Wednesday afternoon, we arrived in Logan to stay with Rachel's family. That next week was spent preparing for the family reunion. Rachel had actually done all the planning and work before we got there, so we just helped with the finishing touches. Besides the preparations, we got to see two musicals "South Pacific" and "Oliver". The latter was our favorite because our grandson Joseph played one of the orphan boys and a pickpocket. That was a thrill! The Wednesday after our arrival, we headed off to Porcupine Reservoir for the Davidson family reunion. What a fun time! For four days and three nights, we talked, hugged, laughed, played in the water, slept a little, lounged in the shade, played games, and ate some really awesome food. It was heaven and we didn't want to leave. We can't thank Rachel and Trent enough for all the work that was done for this reunion. It was perfect!! When we got back to Logan, we had more awesome news. Tracy had given birth to her first baby, Daphne Lois Cochran, on Friday, July 22. Dad had already decided that we would go to Colorado to visit Tracy on our way home but now we were even going to see Daphne. We left Saturday afternoon and drove from Logan all the way to Fort Collins. On Sunday, we got to Lamar and had a wonderful visit with the Cochrans. Monday we had a great lunch at a Chinese buffet across the street from our motel and then played games till we had to leave. We went back Tuesday morning to say goodbye and then drove to my Aunt Jean's in Romeo, CO. We went for Mexican buffet that evening and got to see my cousin Vince, his wife and daughter. Mom was so happy to get to see her sister. We chatted till late that evening and left after breakfast to drive back home. We were all grateful to be back home but also for such special memories for this summer.

Hope all of you made some good memories too. Here are some pics too.

end of school 2011

Another school year has ended and even now I am starting to prepare for the next. I learned alot this year and was able to make it through PreCalculus and earn my math endorsement. I do enjoy teaching math and have grown to love the middle schoolers. I have big plans for the new year and am looking forward to improving the middle school math program. I still spend most of my day teaching Title I reading classes and feel good about how well this program is working. I have moved my Title I classroom to the elementary building so that I can be closer to those students and have a little more room. It will be nice but right now it is a BIG mess. Thanks to Rocky, Frank, John, and especially Santa (my aide) for doing all the packing and heavy labor. Now I get to try to sort through all the boxes to be ready for summer school that starts in a week. Fun times.

Many of you have probably heard about Doug's heart attack this past April. It was a little bit of a shock but a blessing in disguise. They were able to fix a problem that he has had for a very long time. Now he is doing great in that area. Today, we have been married for 35 years. We have gotten closer in the past few years, so I'm glad he will be around for a few more. He must have inherited Vivian's heart and not his dad Arlo's. He may outlive me, which he says would be the worst thing that would happen to him. Anyway, we have also had some really high winds this spring. This has done some damage to our roof. It has been quite an ordeal trying to find someone to get the work done. It still isn't done but I think we finally have someone that will follow through. Here's hoping. As my mom always says, "If it isn't one thing, it's ten." So, like a roof, marraiges will get damaged and worn over time. It isn't always easy to fix it, but with a lot of work it can be done.

Mother's Day was nice and I was able to talk to almost all of my children. My great-neice, Sierra Garner, was baptized this past month. I was honored that she asked me to play the piano and say the opening prayer. It was a very nice day with family. I want to thank Shannon for taking care of mom when I want to go to the temple or go on a date with Doug or any other crazy thing that comes up. It is such a blessing to have her family so close by and willing to help. We also had Ashlynn's birthday party which was another great day. We are thankful that Amy is now in John's life and they have attended our family get-togethers. Family is important - warts and all! It is my greatest blessing.

Doug, Richard, Beth and I got to see the Moody Blues in concert this past month. It was really AWESOME. Doug and I have tickets to go see a Diamondbacks game this next weekend which we are excited to do. Mostly we are looking forward to our trip to Utah to visit Rachel's family, "Romeo and Juliet" at the Shakespeare festival, and have the Davidson family reunion. Should be a good summer!

Love to you all.

Chelsea, Mom, and I got to spend an afternoon with Anna and Emmett (Vance's little boy) during Spring Break. He just turned two this weekend. We went to Sears and had these pictures taken. He was cute and we had a nice time. We don't get to see them very often so it was a special treat. Spring Break came and went with nothing too exciting happening. The week before my cousin's daughter got married and had her reception in Tucson. We had a wonderful time visiting with my uncle (Mom's brother Jim) who lives in Montana. We even went to my cousin Jim's house the following day.

Mom has had a lot of pain lately because of arthritis and her curved back. Shannon has been very helpful in taking her a few times so I could get other things done. I really do appreciate it. We have been blessed by having Mom stay with us and she seems quite settled now.

This week has been a busy one. On Thursday evening was Family Math Night at the school. It was not very well attended because of too many other activities going on, but it was enjoyed by those that were in attendence. Yesterday, I had to go to Tempe and do a lesson presentation for the last class I should have to take for a while. Thank heavens.

Sunday Blues

It has been a very long time since I wrote on this blog. Life has been very busy and there are many things I should have shared. There was Broadway on the River. This year, I sang "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun" from Annie Get Your Gun. It was a lot of fun and went really well. Thanksgiving was spent at Richard's and was really nice. Mom had a little bit of a hard time with being back at her house and it not being her house anymore. She was mad for a few days. But, now she is very settled and is happy to be here. For Christmas, Rachel and her family came to visit. We had a very nice time and then had a wonderful get-together with most of the family including John at Casandra's club house in Tucson. That was so nice. I have been working towards earning a Math Endorsement and getting through PreCalculus which was a real test for my brain power. I also passed the AEPA teacher certification test for math in January. We recently helped Chelsea buy a house in Tucson that she will be renting to Chris and Emily. It needed quite a bit of cleaning and a little fixing up. We have been working hard for two months and they are now moved in and getting settled. I think that catches up the on the news.

But, I usually sit down to do this on Sunday; and Sunday I always seem to get the blues. I cry alot on Sunday. The blues that is caused because of those in our family that choose to not associate with us. My heart is broken and I ache for the loss of opportunities to be a part of their lives. The only reason I started this blog was to keep in touch with the family that is far away from us. I'm not sure they even care what happens in our lives. We love and pray for all of our children. We also pray that someday that they will be able to forgive us for being imperfect parents.