The life and Times of the Calvi Clan

Kassandra Ann Calvi

2010-07-05T13:46:00.021-06:00

She is quite the photographer. She loves taking pictures, mainly of herself LOL. I can't get the boys to take pictures of themselves. Obviously! So i thought i would just show you our little girl, who isnt so little anymore!!

2010-07-05T13:45:00.003-06:00

Kassy and her brothers.

2010-07-04T15:13:00.003-06:00

This was kassy's first prom and brock's third. Kassy had a date all the way from drummond. If you dont know where that is, neither do i!! Haha, acually its about five or six hours from cut bank. Pake was very quiet and didnt say much, thought this was odd since our social butterfly can't stop talking. We just guessed she talked to much for him to even say a word! Brock took his now ex girlfriend cori losing. yikes!! Both kids had soo much fun at their prom.

2010-07-04T15:07:00.002-06:00

July fourth

2009-10-20T18:21:00.001-06:00

Beautiful:)

More Oklahoma

2009-04-29T17:32:00.008-06:00

Alex and Jocelyn and Friends

2009-04-29T17:13:00.007-06:00

Jocelyn and the wrestlers girlfriends. Love their shirts

Alex and Jocelyn in Oklahoma at the Arena

OKLAHOMA !!!!

2009-04-29T16:49:00.010-06:00

The Oklahoma Bombing Memorial at Night

Brock and Jessica in front of the fountain at Bricktown.

Brock and Jess outside the Abe Lemons Arena.

Brock and Jess at the Bricktown Canel and Brock at the Memorial.

Kassy and Jess at the Memorial. Brock and Jess at the memorial

2009-04-29T12:55:00.002-06:00

Kassy got to take a school trip to Washington D.C. she is with her friend linzie at the White House

2009-04-29T12:52:00.001-06:00

2009-04-29T12:48:00.001-06:00

Kassy and her best friend. She really enjoys making the gray hairs come out of scott and i's heads.:) Yet we still love her!

2009-04-29T12:45:00.003-06:00

2009-04-29T12:43:00.001-06:00

Kassy Taking Pictures of herself

2009-02-16T13:26:00.001-07:00

Kassy is a beautiful 13 1/2 year old. She loves photography and here she is.

2009-02-16T13:21:00.002-07:00

Here's a couple of pictures of Brock wrestling at State. He went 3-2 for the weekend. I think his mind was on his brother in the hospital and he was a bit distracted.

Alex on the Front Page

2009-02-16T13:05:00.002-07:00

Alex made the front page of the Great Falls Tribune with this picture. Two days later he was in the hospital having surgery on his knee. He is now done for the season as he is fighting a staph infection that could finish him.. Hopefully things will get better. He had to spend Valentine's Day in the hospital. He got out on his birthday though.. He is doing better and hopefully will be perking soon. His little heart is broken since he can't wrestle at National's this year though and I know he would have taken 1st place.

Alex wrestling against Dickenson State

2009-02-08T12:57:00.002-07:00

He beat this kid although his team wrestled crappy that day and lost the dual. Even with the flash these are dark. Sorry about that.

Divisional Wrestling Champion

2009-02-08T12:51:00.003-07:00

Brock wrestled in the Northern BC Divisionals on Saturday and took 1st place. He qualified for state next weekend in Billings. So we are off to State on Thursday. The pictures of him wrestling turned out a bit dark but you can see the stud executing his moves if you look really closely..

Kassy at the Cut Bank Invitational Wrestling Tournament

2009-01-19T21:54:00.004-07:00

Kassy got to escort the winners at the Cut Bank Wrestling Tournament and present the American Flag at the beginning of the finals. Here are some pictures of the girls in their costumes. She looks so grown up....

Brock took 1st at the Choteau Classic

2009-01-19T21:35:00.007-07:00

Brock took 1st place at the Choteau Classic Wrestling tournament. Here he is standing on the podium, wrestling and with his girlfriend Jessica.

Alex the Wrestler

2008-12-12T18:41:00.006-07:00

This is Alex's wrestling picture. He's so serious. I love the tie. They only had three of them so everyone was sharing. They're so close as a team. NO NO NOT THAT CLOSE!!! LOL

Jocelyn

2008-11-04T12:15:00.002-07:00

Jocelyn-Alex's girlfriend It was senior night at volleyball and this is her with her parents.

2008-11-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Alex is on the end. The wrestlers at UGF were Spartans for Halloween and went to cheer for his Girlfriend's volleyball team. I'm sure her parents were impressed to see him in his underwear!@!!

Kassy and Hailey

2008-10-05T21:30:00.000-06:00

Kassy is becoming a beautiful young woman. She has cute friends, too. Her favorite past time is taking pictures can you tell???

Homecoming Parade

2008-10-05T21:23:00.000-06:00

This is Brock in the homecoming parade. He even got to have Alex's old number!! I think they did that especially for me so I didn't have to remember a new number to look for during the games! LOL They got to ride on the fire engine through the parade. It was great!!

Specially for Kate!!

2008-08-05T21:33:00.001-06:00

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as
your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

_____________________________________________________

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last
time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

__________________________________________ ____________

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and
discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

______________________________________________________

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper,
a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten
to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to
rewind the mechanical swing.
______________________________________________________

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until
you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it
off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

______________________________________________________

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour,
whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to
complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

_______________________________________________________

Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing,
Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

_____________________________ _________________________

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter,
you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to
leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

______________________________________________________

At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

______________________________________________________

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

______________________________________________________

GRANDCHILDREN: God's reward
for allowing your children
to live!

Christmas Blessings

2008-07-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's good to see that there are
people out there that know what Christmas is all about.

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their
means and then never had enough for the necessities.
But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all
outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes
from giving, not from receiving.............It was Christmas Eve 1881. I
was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me
because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd
wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some
reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in
the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of
the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still
feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood
to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up
again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already
done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy
wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in.
It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on,
Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really
upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa
was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could
see.
We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else
that needed doing, especially not on a night like this.
But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd
told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got
my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the
do or to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was
the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were
going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell.
We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load.
Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up
beside him. The cold was already biting at me.
I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and
stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think
we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high
sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the
low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a
lot bigger with the high side boards on. After we had exchanged the
sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of
wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and
then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting.

What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are
you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow
Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year
or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight.
Sure, I'd been by, but so what? Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in
the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed
for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high
that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally,
Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa
took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told
me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a
sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in
his left hand. "What's in the little sack?"
I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks
wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I
got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas
without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried
to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly
standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what
was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into
blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so
we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa
buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow
Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood
as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the
door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who
is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a
bit?"...... Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a
blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in
another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire
that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match
and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of
flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had
the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantl y and took the shoes out one
pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the
children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her
carefully.

She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled
her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like
she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a
load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go
bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat
this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring
in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to
admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing
those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing
there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her
heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled with in me and a joy
that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas
many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I
could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids
started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow
Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for
a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I
know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he
would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump
returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd
never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen
mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a
better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all
the ti mes he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others.
The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone
try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I
wondered how he had known what sizes to get. then I guessed that if he
was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the
right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to
leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug.
They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed
their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to
invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The
turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get
cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals.
We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little
ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell."
I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and
had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Miles. I
don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He
will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't
even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said,
"Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a
little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for
you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a
little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and
me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and
I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw
little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in
those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money
for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again.
I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle
seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more.
He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles
of her three children.

For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the Jensen's, or split a
block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy
I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than
a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

40 Things you'd love to say at work

2008-07-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

40 THINGS YOU'D LOVE TO SAY OUT LOUD AT WORK:

1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of sh!t.

2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

3. How about never? Is never good for you?

4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.

5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.

6. Who lit the fuse on your tampon?

7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.

8. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.

9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a damn word you're saying.

10. Ahhhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.

11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.

12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

13. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don't give a damn.

14. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.

15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.

16. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.

17. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

18. Any connections between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks?!?!

20. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.

21. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.

22. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

23. And your crybaby whiny-a@@ed opinion would be...?

24. Do I look like a freaking people person to you?

25. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.

26. I started out with nothing & I still have most of it left.

27. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

28. If I throw a stick, will you leave?

29. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

30. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

31. Oh I get it...like humor...but different.

32. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.

33. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #1?

34. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

35. Nice perfume...Must you really marinate in it?

36. Chaos, panic, and disorder...my work here is finally done.

37. How do I set a laser printer to stun?

38. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a paycheck.

39. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.

40. Wait a minute --- I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

I've been tagged again!

2008-07-20T16:23:00.000-06:00

I've been Tagged! Again yeah!!!
4 Things I am looking forward to in the coming year:

Another new niece (Now there will be 4 little girls and 14 boys) so yes another girl is exciting(: We are so out numbered!
Going to Nationals to watch Alex, state to watch Brock and State Swimming for Kassy.
Moving into another new house.
Buying and insuring a car for Brock to drive.

3 joys in my life:

My awesome family.
Spending time with my husband and kids.
Watching my kids in any sport they are doing at the time.

4 movies I have watched more than once or twice:

Steel Magnolias-
Harry Potter-all of them
Independence Day
27 Dresses

3 Fears:

CANCER.
Losing my kids
Dying young like my mother and sister.

4 favorite foods:

PIZZA!
Shrimp Capresse from the Olive Garden (although now I have the recipe I make it at home all the time!
Tortellini
anything chocolate(It is one of the basic food groups ya know)

3 goals I have set for myself:

To be alive at the end of the year!
To go home again to visit
Think about losing weight so I don't resemble Grandma Lewis quite so much!

4 tv shows I watch:

CSI-
House-
Cold Files-
Baby Day-
John and Kate plus 8

3 current obsessions:

work
building a better relationship with my Kassy
Bloom where I am planted I really think I died already I keep forgetting to water!!

4 places I have visited:

New York, New York
Lake Powell
Washington, DC
Mount Rushmore-just recently too!

3 places I'd like to visit:

Austrailia
Russia
Japan

4 random facts about me:

I work in a prison and love it!
My husband is my best friend, maybe only friend!!
I have a very limited amount of creativity
I love my kids more than life itself.

I officially tag Kate!

2008-07-13T20:17:00.000-06:00

My first TAG!! I'm so excited. I don't know if I like this tag, because it let's you get to know me a little better and people really don't want to get to know the "real" me. The "disturbing" me.

10 years ago....I had been in Montana for only 2 years.. I was still debating on whether I liked it or not. Alex was a handsome chap of about 10, Brock was a stout 5 year old and Kassy was a tiny little prissy missy!! I also did not resemble Grandma Lewis quite so much!! I still couldn't take out my teeth!!And I did not have three chins!

5 years ago...I had just got promoted to Classification Coordinator at the prison about two weeks after Grandma Hagen (Scott's grandma had passed away) Alex was now 15 and had just passed his driver's exam and I had a new chauffer!! Brock was now a pudgy guy with a mohawk and Kassy was still a tiny prissy missy but... she was sporting a new hair cut that she did herself.

5 months ago...February. We were on our way to Sioux City, Iowa to watch Alex at the NAIA College Nationals with his girlfriend Jocelyn in tow. Brock had just finished his first High School wrestling season and Kassy was almost a teenager!!!! Scary!!

List of 5 things that I need to do tomorrow...

1. Visit with my Scott since I haven't seen him all weekend!! It was Cut Bank's Swim Meet and Scott had to work. He went to work before I got home and I left for the meet before he got home! Such is the fast paced life of the Calvi's.

2. Go to work and get felt up. Day just doesn't go right if you don't.

3. Laundry since I was gone all weekend.

4. Dishes I know there will be a stack of them by the time I come home!!

5. Talk with my husband some more to make up for not seeing him all weekend!!

5 bad habits...

1. I too have a potty mouth but my husband didn't tell me I figured it out all on my own.

2. Spending too much time on the computer.

3. I have to agree....I hate wearing a bra, too. It's especially bad at night when you lay on your back and they fall into your armpits. That's the worst.

4. Pepsi and green Tea I have to try to balance the bad with the good antioxidant.

5. Not keeping in touch with the people that I love.

5 places I have lived...

1. Scarsdale, New York

2. Reno, Nevada

3. Cut Bank, Montana

4. Mountain Home, Idaho

5. Phoenix, Arizona

5 things people don't know about me...

1. I'm really a young skinny chick trapped in an old ladies body!

2. I used to run the blocks in Phoenix that were each 1 mile long. It was a long, long, long time ago.

3. I love my husband and he's my best friend.

4. My husband loves me even when I take out my teeth or maybe it's because I take out my teeth!! LOL

5. I miss my family so much even though I forget to call and write I do think of all of you often and miss watching your kids grow up....

So there you go. Now you know that I'm really kinda weird. I hope you'll still talk to me and blog me!!

I tag the following: Lynda Muir, Kate, Jenny

Disturbia

2008-07-08T19:03:00.000-06:00

HUGS TO YOU FROM ONE DISTURBED PERSON TO ANOTHER

I don't care if you lick windows,
take the special bus or occasionally pee on yourself..
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Today is International Disturbed People's Day

Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend ... just as I've done.

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And Never regret anything that made you smile.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance!

2008-07-02T22:51:00.000-06:00

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.
I love you.

P.S. And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
Now, you have a nice day...God

God has seen you struggling,
God says it's over.
A blessing is coming your way. If you believe in God, please send this on.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/em>

Sisters

2008-06-29T22:00:00.000-06:00

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,

drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As

they talked about life, about marriage, about the

responsibilities of life and the obligations of

adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her

glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance

upon her daughter

'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling

the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll

be more important as you get older. No matter how

much you love your husband, no matter how much you

love the children you may have, you are still going

to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now

and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...

your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other

women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women

always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman

thought. Haven't I just gotten married?

Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a

married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely

my husband and the family we may start will be all I

need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact

with her Sisters and made more women friends each

year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,

she gradually came to understand that her Mom really

knew what she was talking about. As time and nature

work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,

Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,

here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how

many miles are

between you. A girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on

to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did. Short and very sweet:

There are more than twenty angels in this world.

Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds Nine are

playing. And one is reading this blog.

Love ya all!!

Bra shopping made simple!!

2008-05-26T12:11:00.000-06:00

What Religion is Your Bra?

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy's and shyly walked up to the woman behind the counter and said, "I'd like to buy a bra for my wife."

"What type of bra?" asked the clerk.

"Type?" inquires the man, "There's more than one type?"

"Look around," said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material imaginable.

"Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose."

Relieved, the man asked about the types. The saleslady replied:

"There are the Catholic, the Salvation Army, the Presbyterian, and the Baptist types. Which one would you prefer?"

Now totally befuddled, the man asked about the differences between them.

The Saleslady responded, "It is all really quite simple..."

The Catholic type supports the masses.

The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen,

The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright, and

The Baptist makes mountains out of mole hills.

Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used to define bra sizes?

If you have wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed!

(A} Almost Boobs...

{B} Barely there.

{C} Can't Complain!

{D} Dang!

{DD} Double dang!

{E} Enormous!

{F} Fake.

{G} Get a Reduction.

{H} Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up !

They forgot the German bra.

Holtzemfromfloppen...

Before I was a MOM!!

2008-05-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

2008-05-11T00:28:00.001-06:00

Happy early Mothers Day!!
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PLAN TO BE GREAT MOMS,
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GREAT MOMS,
THOSE WHO HAVE GREAT MOMS,
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD GREAT MOMS...

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have
time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy
ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't
come out of shag carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum
just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get
their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child ' s growth is not
measured by height or
years or grade... It is marked by the
progression of Mama to Mom to
Mother...

> >4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole
lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know
quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know
that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly
old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out
of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little
bit about it.

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get
Mom ' s opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have
thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with
Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she
wears, the figure that she
carries, or the way she combs her hair. The
beauty of a woman must be seen
from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to
her heart, the place where
love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a
facial mole, but true
beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It
is the caring that she
lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and
the beauty of a woman with
passing years only grows!

Kassy is a TEENAGER

2008-04-06T11:13:00.001-06:00

Wrestling at Nationals

2008-04-06T10:59:00.001-06:00

Receiving his award at Nationals

With his coach on the right

Wrestling for 3rd place

Manhandling Ike from Oklahoma

Brock's First Prom

2008-04-06T10:36:00.000-06:00