26 years ago today...Mel and I were married. Today we celebrate hanging in there for 26 wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful years. That's what marriage is all about...through good times and bad and we have had our share of both. It's all those things that have made our marriage stronger and it's all those things that have brought where we are today. I hope we can be an example to our children that marriage can be worth it and bring lots of happiness if you just hang in there and stay true to your vows. Our parents have both been great examples to us and I think that has been a huge influence on our marriage. I appreciate their example and their love for each other.
Mel has always loved me unconditionally and I love him for that more than anything.
Happy Anniversary to us.

Well, I am just sitting here thinking about how life goes on. We can't stop it and we can't go back and no matter what....life just keeps happening around us. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the ugly. I really am not sure if I like that or not but that's the problem...it doesn't matter... because I can't change it and life still goes on.
This week I started a quilting class to finish a quilt my mom was making for my sons wedding gift. I am going to the class that she went to with all her friends. It was kind of strange because I know she knew all of them and I only knew one of them and a couple others I had met before. I felt like mom was there though and hopefully she will be with me as I try to finish the quilt. She was in such a hurry to get it done and the wedding is not until this June. She was hurrying and kept saying "I've got to get this done before the wedding". I kept telling her that it was still at least 9 months away and she would have plenty of time. I now wonder if she knew she was running out of time.
Mom also kept wanting me to take her china hutch and her china the last few months before she died. I kept putting it off and told her that it was something I should get after she died. She kept telling me she wanted me to take it now because she wanted it out of her spare room that she used for her quilting and painting. She said she never used it and that since I do all the holidays with the family at my house that I should take it now and use it. I kept putting it off and never took it. Now, last week I finally went and got the china hutch and the china and have it in my dining room. I felt so bad that I never took it when mom wanted me to so she could see it in my dining room. I hope she can see it now and know that I treasure it more than ever. I just wish she could be here to enjoy seeing it proudly displayed in my home.

I have so many things I want to do every day and life just keeps going faster than I can handle. I realize how short life is and how every day is gone before you know it. I wish I could make every day count just a little bit more and not let time slip away from me.
Mom seemed to make everyday count the last few years of her life. She was involved in everything....church, quilting classes, painting classes, exercise classes, line dancing, her friends, volunteering for the Ameri-Corps, not to mention her family. She would still watch her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren whenever needed. She kept in touch with all of us kids almost everyday and always was there to listen to us or support us in any way she could. She totally suppported my Dad in everything that he did. She went to every motocross race or any time he went riding, she was there. She still made his lunches for him everyday...even peeling his apples for him! I told she was making us look bad to our husbands because I wasn't going to do that. She didn't think anything about it, she did it because that's what she wanted to do.
I just keep reminding myself every day that I should live my life more like my mother did. I can't say she had no regrets because I'm sure she did but she was doing everything she wanted to be doing. If there was something she wanted to learn or something she wanted to do...she did it. Life goes on around us whether we're participating in it or not so why not be actively involved in living our lives before it's over. I think that's what mom was doing and it's what I want to try to do more of...living my life doing everything I want to do before it's over.

Thank goodness 2006 is over. The year started off good and a lot of good things happened in 2006 but it ended with the worst possible outcome. Most people who know me, know that my Mom passed away in October. That has been by far the worst pain I have ever experienced in my lifetime. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and miss her more than I ever imagined. I don't think anyone could ever understand the hurt and the emptiness you feel when you lose your mother unless you have experienced it yourself. I know I had no idea what other people were feeling when they had lost a parent. Now I have such a greater empathy and compassion for others that are or have gone through the same thing. I guess we experience these things in life to bring us greater compassion for others. It scares me to think that this is just the beginning of a lot more loss to come. I think of losing my Dad or other family members and that loss and death are a part of life. I can't even begin to understand how someone could cope with losing a child. Again, I don't think anyone could unless they have experienced it themselves. I hope that is something I will never have to experience in my lifetime. The same with losing a spouse. I don't know what my Dad is experiencing compared with the loss I'm feeling. I see how lost he is without Mom and how lonely and it breaks my heart. Even though I have faith that I will see my loved ones in a life after this, it still hurts to not have our loved ones in our life now.
Our family has gone through other changes this year that have been very painful. It has made me realize how much I value family and how important my family is to me. Families are there no matter what, whether we want them to be or not, and that is a good thing. Families are forever. I'm very thankful for that.

Last year started off good with a trip to Disneyland with the family that was a blast. We had so much fun. Chloe loved seeing all the characters and loved riding ALL the rides. Great memories. We have to go again soon.



Mel & I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary in January. Keyera & my Mom gave us a party with all our friends & family there. More great memories.





Went to a motocross race...HANGTOWN.


Raining but FUN.



Had Mother's Day at my Moms with everyone.


We went to Trinity camping a couple of times with the family. Went to Wyntoon with my Mom & Dad. More cherished memories.

Chloe was a flower girl for two weddings....

This was for Kierstens......

This was for Lyndseys....

Joey and Hanna got engaged.



This was at Keyera's birthday in October. Gary, Jeannie, Mom, Teresa, Wes, and my Dad. One of the last pictures of my Mom....Doesn't she look happy?

This was all the cousins at the Sample family Christmas.


Chloe & her Daddy at Christmas .

Mel and I at Christmas.


So, there was a lot of good in 2006 but it seems like it was all another lifetime ago. It's hard for me because things will never be the same again and we won't have any new pictures for 2007 with mom. Our family has changed forever and it's hard for me to accept. I know life will go on and our family will adjust but it won't ever feel right. I can only pray that as time goes on, my memories will remain and new memories will be created. Things will continue to change but families will be forever. Thank Goodness for that.