I'm back, well sorta...

Maybe you are wondering were I've been all week? Well you are not alone, I've been wondering the same thing. I got home to my sweet husband,slept and slept some more, and then my computer broke, crashed, went capoot. It has been diagnosed that my hard drive is gone. Really? my computer is 14 months old. Yep the warranty expired 2 months ago and silly me did not renew it.Anyway it is an HP if you care. I'm using Art's computer. I'm thankful, but it's kinda hard using someone else s stuff, I'm used to the feel of my own. 
This morning I had to relent because I had two writing assignments I needed to get in and my machine won't be back til next week.   
Along with those writing assignments I was to send a picture, now all my pics are on my computer so I asked Art if he had any of me.

Our conversation went something like this:

"Of course I have pictures of you. Let me find one." 
Art opened his pictures, and after looking for a while, he said," What? did you erase all your pictures?" 
"No, of course not," I responded. 


"Wait I found one." 
"Here you are in your elk suit." 
"Ha,Ha. just kidding."

"Wait there you are in your woooly outfit." 

Smile...

"Just kidding." 

"Well were are your pictures?  I gotta have some." 

"Wait here you are in your cat suit."

Seriously....

See what I have to put up with. 

Anyhow....

After much searching and downloading 1000 pictures this is what we came up with. 

Who cares that I'm two years younger and probably 10 lbs lighter at least we found one. 

I just want my computer back.

My May ....

It's been a busy month. I'm loving the warm weather.
Heather, Dale, and adorable Samantha were here for a week.
We had a great time....
We spent Heathers first Mothers Day together.

Heather and I had High Tea at the Brown Palace Hotel for her 30 birthday.
It was a treat both to spend the time with her and the food was so good.
Samantha is so fun.
She is starting to take steps, and should be walking very soon.
She likes me and was always ready to give me a smile.
Check out Heathers Blog/Kickin it Landis for more details of her trip.

A week later Erik and Michele with all my adorable grand children arrived.
We have had a fun and busy week.
They are experiencing Jet Lag and lots of tiredness, but it has not stopped them from
Getting caught up on shots
Wal-Mart and shopping
McDonalds
Rollerblades
Swimming
Hiking
Fishing
Reading
Game Store
Erik took a trip to North Dakota and brought back a borrowed van.
And lots of EATING....and visiting family.....

Whew....I'm tired just writing about it.

What a Treat to have them on Furlough...
They were here when Vanuatu experience a 7.2 earthquake.
Made me a happy mom that they were here and safe, and no worries.

The next week looks to be busy...I will try and keep you updated, but for now I'm having a great time.

The Women...

Four Generations of women....Happy Mothers Day!!!!

The Trip....Update

WELL.... tomorrow is the day of departure.
It's been a long couple of weeks trying to put it all together.
I have been collecting clothes for the village and t-shirts have been rolling in here in the last week so that I have 2- 50lb bags filled with village clothes and two more bags with clothes and other stuff. Thank you to all who have so graciously donated.

Sage is excited. Good thing that he has grown 5 inches in the last 6 months. He will have to lift these bags for me. I just know that he is going to do it cheerfully:)
The boy is 14 and eats constantly, but that will change in the next month.
We could not carry enough snacks to keep him going. Maybe he will fall in love with sour sop, yams or coconut?

Joel is doing better. His leg appears to have healed nicely. We are thankful.
Last week Erik, suggested that if things were not okay they would come back to the states and I would have to cancel trip.
I won't even share how I handled that. Through tears,
I kept looking at the stacks of clothes in my living room while trying to keep it together.
Art says that I am to stressed. okay whatever....
I have to say though he is so sweet to me....always supportive even though he is always anxious and sad when I take off on one of my trips.

So as we leave I ask you to pray for us.
Safety, that we will stay well, and all will go smoothly.
We arrive in Vanuatu on your Wednesday.

I will try and keep blogs updated at least while I have Internet access.

A MISSION

Art is on a mission! It all started last week, well actually it started a few months ago when he decided that the "select comfort mattress" that we sleep on isn't a comfort, but a pain, a big pain in his back. I like the mattress, but this is one of those not worth the battle things, and besides, I don't want Art to suffer. So last week when he could afford it we went to the mattress factory.

"Why don't we fix the floors upstairs while we are moving the mattress," I suggested.
I could not believe my brilliance.

Looking at me like I might be loosing it, but not wanting me to say no to the new Drs. Choice mattress, he reluctantly agreed.



We bought the mattress on Tues., started the floors on Weds., and Thurs. we picked up the mattress. Without much lifting, because I could not budge the king size wonder, but with much shoving and pushing we got the thing into the house. To say that it was huge is an understatement. It filled the dining room.

"I cannot wait to sleep on this beauty,"said Art.

Actually it was fun hearing the excitement in his voice. I just love to see Art happy, but within a couple of minutes that excitement turned to a panicked whisper.

"I'm not sure we can get the mattress up the stairs," Art said.
"You are kidding? Right?"
"Really, I'm not," he said.

After abut 10 minutes of surveying the situation he said,"I will have to take the railing down, and move the bookcase. That should work."

Good thinking, Art always comes up with a plan.

NEXT DAY:

"You know we could always take that new mattress out to Nebraska, and put it in the spare bedroom," said Art.

"That must mean that you thought about the railing, and it's not going to work," I responded.

"WEELLLL....I might have to cut a hole in the ceiling or take the front window out," he said. Art wasn't laughing.

Now I really tried to respond in a nice way, I even took a minute before I answered.

"After all your fussing, you will get that mattress up the stairs if you have to cut it in half, and sew it back together again." I said with a smile.

"Well, fine, but I'm serious about the hole in the ceiling," he said.

TODAY.....

The floor is done, but we are still assessing the situation with the mattress.

"I had an idea in the night," Art said this morning,"I'm going to fold the mattress in half and tie it off with a rachet tie."

HHMMMM.... I knew he would come up with something besides the hole in the ceiling idea.

And the really good thing is that Sage is here, and he will be able to help his Grandpa, and I will not be the only one dragging the beauty up the stairs.

THE CONVERSATION WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.....

"Wait, wait, bend it, bend it."

"I am, wait, wait, we almost have it."

"Okay, rest a minute and I will get the ties."

"What's grandma doing? we are doing all the work, and she is taking pictures."

"Wait, you get up here Grandpa, and I"ll slide down."

"Get hold of the bottom and I'll pull it."

"One, two, three, pull."

"One, two, three, push."

"Why are you taking picture Grandma?"

WAHOOO, THEY DID IT!!!!!

I cannot tell you how thankful I am Sage was here.

We will be sleeping on the new mattress tonight that is if we can get Sage off the bed.