I have not been very good at keeping up on the blog....so much for my once a month postings. I just had a wonderful birthday yesterday, with a facial, pedicure, and sushi for lunch and tonight we are going to Tapenyaki....yummmmm. I can't wait. Paige is now 4 1/2 months old and is cute as ever. Chloe just had her 6th birthday party at Round Table and it was a huge success. Lots of people came and she got a ton of presents. She is almost done with kindergarten and she is getting so grown up. Last night our church had a teacher appreciation dinner for all the teachers and Chloes teacher came. Chloe was so excited. It was really nice. Bret is now driving....scary. He has my Suzuki Esteem and I got a 2007 Mazda 6. Not a whole lot of new stuff has happened since I last wrote. I'll update with pictures soon.

Uncle Bret holding Paige



New Parents: Hanna and Joey

Four Generations: Great-great Grandma Julia, Great Grandma Judy, and Grandma Sherrie (Nana) with baby Paige.

Courtney, Chad, Kyle and Paige.

My beautiful Granddaughters, Chloe and Paige.

Me and My Hubby!

Me and My Daddy!

Our trip to Utah in October to go to General Conference. I never thought I would be there with two of my boys!! It was AWESOME!

Kyle and Bret....Bret was on his cell phone of course....always.......but not during conference!

Bret and Kyle inside the conference center....new scriptures in hand!

Beside the temple by the reflection pond......

Here we are....Mel, Sherrie, Kyle, and Bret...don't they look handsome all dressed up?

Dear Mom,
I miss your voice
I miss your hands
I miss being able to call you
I miss your phone calls
I miss you coming by to see me
I miss not seeing you
I miss you at the holidays
I miss you every day
I miss your friendship
I miss having your advice
I miss you momI miss my friend
I miss you
Love Sherrie

Well I'm sure most of you know by now we have a new granddaughter, Paige Loraine Sample.

She was born 3 1/2 weeks early on 11-27-07. She weighed 6 lbs. 14. oz and is absolutely beautiful. Momma and baby are doing great now that she is out of mommies tummy. She was making momma pretty sick there towards the end. But they are both doing great now. I am so proud of Joey and Hanna. They are going to make wonderful parents and Paige is a very lucky girl. I am a very lucky Nana to have two beautiful granddaughters.


I can't wait for more....hint....hint. (Not you Bret....you just wait for at least 7 or 8 years)

I haven't kept up my monthly blog. Lots has happened since my last blog. I finally have one son (Joey) married and got a bonus of a wonderful daughter-in-law (Hanna) in the process. I'm so lucky! The wedding was beautiful and so was the Bride.


I also have the wonderful news of a new grandchild on the way. Joey and Hanna are expecting their first child December 20, 2007. I can't wait to find out what they are having, although it doesn't matter to me one way or the other, I just want to know what I'm shopping for!
I've been hecka busy with work and I'm feeling tired all the time. I'm looking forward to some much needed time off in August. I can't wait!
I'm really looking forward to the new addition to our family in December. Chloe is excited to have a new cousin and a baby to hold. She loves babies!
So that's it for now. We have lots to look forward to....

Can't sleep...have to be to work at 4:30 a.m. (in 4 hours). It's my first Mothers Day without my Mom and I just don't know how I'm going to make it through the day. I miss her so much and I wish I didn't have to go through this day. I hope everyone who does have their mother tells her how much they appreciate her and how much they love her. I hope Mom knows how much I love her and how much I miss her now. My world has an empty spot that can never be filled. I have had so many moments that I have went to grab my phone and call her to tell her something or share something exciting and realize she's not there. She's going to miss out on so many things that she would have loved being a part of, like Joey & Hanna getting married, Chloe's birthdays, Bret graduating, the free flights she could have now because of my job, & all the wonderful moments our family has yet to come. She would have loved to have been able to fly for free! She would be going EVERYWHERE! I love you Mom and miss you EVERY day! Mothers Day will never be the same without you, nor will any other day be the same. There will always be an empty spot in every special moment. Happy Mothers Day to you wherever you are! I love you!

Well my birthday is over. I had a pretty good birthday but I REALLY missed my mom! It was my first birthday without her and it was also exactly 6 months since mom passed away. It's still so hard to even write those words "passed away". I can't believe she's been gone for 6 months. I really enjoyed going to lunch today with Keyera and later to lunch again with the Trumble girls but I couldn't help but think that normally me and my mom would be going to lunch. I missed her alot today. I felt the same way on Chloes birthday. She would have loved being there and we definately felt an empty spot with her gone that day. I know she's with us in spirit but I still miss her hands and her hugs.

Just wanted to fill everyone in on why I haven't been writing anyone lately. Too tired or too busy...sorry, I know it's a lame excuse but it's true. Ever since I started this new job it's been crazy. Like right now I should definately be in bed but I wanted to write at least 10 people messages that have written me and I decided I just couldn't do it right now so this is a shout out to everyone! I have been working some crazy hours...like 4 in the morning till 7 at night and then back to work in the morning at 4. Tomorrow I have to be at work at 4:30 and here I am at 10:00 at night writing a freaking blog! CRAZY! Not everyday is a 14 hour day...just a few of those..lol. But everyday is a 4 or 4:30 in the morning day. I do love my new job though. It's actually really fun...never boring! We do it all...check in passengers, check in their bags, load the passengers onto the aircraft, load their bags into the aircraft, send the plane out and marshall the plane in when it lands (you know...with the orange wands..hehehe), rebook passengers when the flight gets cancelled or delayed, and we get to dump the lavatoryyou know...the pooper. Yep, that's right...we get to do that too! And I had the pleasure of cutting my finger the other day while dumping it and had a hole in my glove so I enjoyed a trip to the hospital for 4 shots and some blood taken. I'm telling you...this job is AWESOME! Just kidding...not about the whole lav story but really I do love this job. I'll really be loving it when I'm flying to Cabo San Lucas or somewhere in Mexico or Hawaii!! Or even just to Redding for the day...anywhere for free is pretty awesome. So....sorry I haven't been keeping in touch with everyone but hopefully things will slow down or I'll adjust and be able to write everyone more often. If you're ever at the Airport come by the Horizon counter and say hello! By the way...I do look pretty snazzy though in the uniform...I'll be the one in the vacation looking shirt with postcard pictures all over it...looking like a tourist shirt with black cargo pants and beautiful black tennis shoes. VERY attracting looking....hmmmm. Yea, right! Well that's about it for now. See you all soon!

So I just finished my two weeks in Seattle training and testing and I passed!! Woo Hoo!! What a stressful two weeks! I'm pretty excited though because I got 100% on both tests! I was just hoping to pass but I was pretty excited with acing them both! Now I'm official and I can get free flights!! Can't wait to go to Mexico, Hawaii, and everywhere!

Started a new job this week for Horizon Air. Pretty exciting minus the 3:30 a.m. alarm! Last week I was in Portland for a week of training and now I have to do two weeks of on the job training and then I leave on the 18th for Seattle for two more weeks of training. From what I hear, the two weeks in Seattle is pretty brutal! You have to pass all the tests with an 85% or higher and if you don't... you're sent home and you're done. You can't apply again for 6 months! If I make it through those two weeks then I'm IN and I will get free flights on Horizon and Alaska Air!!WOO HOO!! (not to mention discounted fares on other flights too plus a bunch of other benefits!) So everyone...wish me luck because if I don't pass I'll be devastated!!

Well, I've decided to try and keep this blog updated at least once a month. I have a blog on myspace that I have kept for a few months now. I am going to post the blogs from my other blog so everyone can know what's been going on in my life for the last few months without having to write about it all over again. Then as I post a blog on myspace I will copy it to this one so I will have it on both sites. My other blog can be found at http://blog.myspace.com/sherrie_nana4life

So please feel free to comment to me or ask me questions. Once you read my blogs you will know more about me and my family.

Wow, it's already February. 2007 is flying by. So many things already have happened...our Anniversary, my mothers birthday (the first one without her), Valentines Day, Joey & Mel's birthdays, Bret transferred to McKinleyville High, I had the opportunity to start a new career with the airlines, passed the first test and start training in Portland on Feb.26. Very exciting and VERY life changing. I am scared, nervous, excited, apprehensive, overwhelmed....yes....very overwhelmed. I have been home for almost 5 years and have gotten very spoiled being able to be home. I have loved being able to care for my granddaughter and I can't imagine not seeing her every day like I have for the last (almost)5 years. She is in preschool now and starts kindergarten in the fall. She doesn't need her Nana as much. Oh, that makes me sad. She is growing up too fast...just like all kids do...just like we all do.
I don't know where the time goes. I wonder every night how today is already over. It just seems like every day goes by quicker than the last. Well, except maybe some days that seem to never end. Those are the days that are the worst. Then there is the sleep issue....oh my. I have always loved to stay up late to wind down after everyone else goes to bed. It's my time. But 4 in the morning is over kill of alone time. In the past 4 months, I seriously have stayed up till 3 & 4 in the morning at least 4-5 days a week and have never went to bed before 1 in the morning except maybe once or twice. I did go to bed at 5:30 pm when I went to Portland last week. I got back to the motel and layed down to rest before I went to dinner and the next thing I knew it was 10:30 pm and so I just stayed in bed till the morning. That's the most sleep I've had in the last 4 months.
Well, I leave to start training for my new job on Feb. 25, so I have less than 10 days to totally clean & organize my house, my life, and lose 10 pounds, start walking and exercising every day and drink tons of water. No problem, huh? Then come home & lose another 10 pounds in the next two weeks during "on the job training". Then I leave for another two weeks of training...so another 10 pounds during those two weeks. Yea, no problem. All this while still maintaining my house, my family, walking & exercising every day, eating a well balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining my sanity. Piece of cake. (oh yea...no cake)
Wouldn't that be nice if I could just map out the next six weeks of my life so perfectly? 30 pounds in 6 weeks...YEA RIGHT. OK...so I was dreaming for a minute there. How come an actress can have an upcoming part in a movie and lose weight and get fit for a part in six weeks (after having a baby no less)but I can't? I guess because I don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars hanging in the balance for me like they do. That must be why the contestants from "The Biggest Loser" can lose so much weight so fast. It's all about the money$$ (and maybe the personal trainers). So all I need is some $$$ and a personal trainer and I'm in.
Ok, now I am seriously depressed.

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.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Hoping we can all remember the true meaning of this special holiday.
We all get so caught up in the presents and the hustle and bustle
that we forget why we celebrate.
We forget that we're celebrating the birth of our Savior.
The presents represent the gifts that He has given to us.
We should let our gifts to others represent the same thing.
We should give gifts of unconditional love, forgiveness, faith, acts of service, kindness, charity, love to one another, patience, etc.
Remember those that are less fortunate than ourselves.
Remember all the good things that have come our way.
Take time to thank the One who has made all this possible.
Take time to remember our loved ones, friends, & neighbors.
May we keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts as we try to be more like the Savior, forgiving others as He forgives us, serving others with a glad heart, and finding joy in serving Him.

In his contemplation of the Christmas season, James Wallingford penned these lines:
Christmas is not a day or a season, but a condition of heart and mind.If we love our neighbors as ourselves;if in our riches we are poor in spirit and in our poverty we are rich in grace;if our charity vaunteth not itself, but suffereth long and is kind;if when our brother asks for a loaf, we give ourselves instead; if each day dawns in opportunity and sets in achievement, however small—then every day is Christ's day and Christmas is always near.[In Charles L. Wallis, ed., Words of Life (1966), 33]

So here I am awake and another sleepless night. I have been having way too many of these lately. I just have too much going on in my head and I can't lay down and listen to it all. I can't share with ANYONE all that is going on right now. I don't know if I can even comprehend myself all that is going on. I feel so overwhelmed with emotions that I can't even begin to let them show. I think if I let myself feel them I will lose control and not be able to get it together. I feel such an emptiness, such a huge hole in my heart and in the pit of my stomach. I don't think anyone can understand unless they have experienced such a loss. I know I didn't understand what my friends or family were going through during their loss. Even when I was feeling the loss too, my loss still wasn't the same as theirs. I can't imagine, still, the pain that others experience from other losses like that of losing a child or losing a spouse. I know as great as my loss is of losing my mother, I still can't imagine the pain my father is going through losing his wife of 47 years and his very best friend. My heart aches for him because of the loneliness he must feel. I know how lost I feel without Mom and I know he is lost even more. Everyone says it will get better with time but that emptiness will never go away. Nothing can fill that hole that is left in my heart. Time can't make that go away, time can only make us move on because time gives us no other choice. Sometimes I only want to remember what a wonderful mother and friend she was to me and other times I can only remember the things I feel bad about doing that let my mother down. Everyday I am at a different point of where I am with my feelings. Sometimes I am at several different points throughout the day. Sometimes I feel guilty, sometimes I feel lonely, sometimes I feel sad, sometimes I am filled with wonderful memories, sometimes I am proud, sometimes I am angry, sometimes I am too busy to know what I'm feeling, sometimes I am happy, sometimes I feel scared, sometimes I feel lost, sometimes I am just numb. I guess right now it's obvious I'm just feeling very confused.

I have so much to be thankful for.

I have a wonderful, loving husband, Mel, who has loved me unconditionally for over 25 years. He has been with me through good times & bad, poor & poorer, sickness & health, and will share eternity with me. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have four sons, Chad, Kyle, Joe, & Bret, who I am thankful for also. They also love me unconditionally. They have given me good times & bad, made me poor & poorer, and have made me sick & healthy. For those things I am thankful because they have made my life what it is today...full of love, laughter, & tears. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have a beautiful granddaughter, Chloe, who I am so thankful for. She is my joy! She is full of unconditional love for her Nana. She is what brings a smile to my face everyday! She fills my heart with love & gratitude. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have parents that I am eternally thankful for. They too have always loved me unconditionally. They have taught me that family is what is most important in life. They taught me that what we learn in this life is all we take with us out of this life. No material things go with us when we leave this world. Only the knowledge we gain and the love of our family is what we leave here with. I am so thankful that I know that families can be together forever. I am thankful that my mother has been such a wonderful example to me of how we should live our lives. I'm thankful she has made me want to be a better person. I'm thankful that I will be with her again someday. I'm thankful for a father who is so strong and who has always loved my mother and his family with his whole heart. My Dad is my strength and my rock that I lean on to help me stay strong. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have a sister, Jeannie & brother, CJ, who I am so thankful for. We have a connection to each other that no one else can share. We share the love our parents have given us and our love we have for them. I am thankful for the bond we will always have and the unconditional love we have for one another. I'm thankful for their spouses, sons, grandchildren, etc. who have added so much to our family. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have wonderful friends who are like family, that I am thankful for more than they know. Keyera, Hanna, Nancy F., Lauren, Kelsey, Nancy C., Jill, Lona, Talyse & more. They all are so special to me. They have also been with me through good times & bad. I feel their love as they support me through trials that are more than I can bear alone. They all have been such a strength to me throughout this past month. Losing my mother is the hardest thing I have had to go through and I don't know how I'd do it without the love of my friends & family. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have extended family that I am also very thankful for. Mels' parents, Mel & Judy and sister, Teresa have also loved me unconditionally. I didn't always know that, but I do now. I am very thankful for that. They have been with me through good times & bad also. I'm thankful for the example they have been to me and for the wonderful memories we share. I'm thankful for the unconditional love they have always given my children. I'm thankful for my nieces, Lyndsey & Whitney. They are such an inspiration to me. They have overcome so many trials with such strength. They give me hope and make me so proud. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I have so many more people in my life that I have to be thankful for. There are so many more family members & friends that have been such a great influence on my life. I am thankful for the people that have shared in the good times & bad. I am thankful that I can look at my life and know that I have been so blessed. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and who teaches me to love others the same. How much more thankful could I be than that?

I'm feeling very blue today. Feeling like I can literally feel my heart breaking. It physically hurts in my chest because of the losses I feel right now. I don't know if I can take anymore loss. It feels very empty and doesn't feel like the void can ever be filled. I guess some things in life just can't work out like we pray they would. It's "God's will" be done not "my will" be done. That's pretty obvious. I would have things turn out much differently but that must not be in Gods plan. I have to trust in Him that this is part of his plan for me and my family even though it doesn't feel right. I believe He knows each of us and doesn't give more than we can bear. I just hope I can be strong enough to accept it. I pray I can let go and believe that things will be OK. Today will be over soon and tomorrow is a new day and hopefully a brighter future. I'm not writing this for sympathy or to make anyone sad. I just know I'm not alone in how I feel sometimes and it helps me to be able to share my feelings even if it's in writing. I have to remember..."one day at a time..."