Every 15 minutes

The Morning of Tuesday March 24, 2009 Taking Cecelia to school. This was the start of the Every 15 minutes Program. Cecelia and 34 other students were selected to be victims of drunk driving accidents and that morning a Police officer and the Grim Reaper came to each of their classes and pulled them out of their class. They layed a rose on their desk and reportedly read their obituary. A Headstone was placed with their name and they participated in an reinactment of a drunk driving accident. They were sequestered off later that day to a retreat and they had speakers and games that were related to the program. Later that evening they were then instructed to write a letter to their parents as if they had died. Very intense. The same evening us parents had our own retreat meeting where we listened to two mothers who had lost their students from a DUI accident. I thought that I was pretty strong and not be so affected. But when those mothers spoke and gave the details from the start to the end of their experience, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. It was so emotional. We inturn had to write a letter to our children as if they had died. I had Dave write most of it. It was very hard. The next day, Wednesday was the most emotional. We had to sit through 2 assemblies going through the whole program from watching the kids lay their rose on a coffin and then listening to a man who was a drunk driver and how he was affected, completeley disabled and how his life has changed, from one of the coaches at El Dorado and his brother getting killed last year. But the most intense part of the program was the 5 students who read their letters to their parents and their parents reading their letters to the children. All in all, if no one else was effected, I think the 35 students were. I hope that this program continues thanks to all the Law Enforcement, Fire fighters, nurses, Student Faculty, School Administraters and everyone who contributed to this program. It was well worth it. I'm so thankful at the end of the day we could all go home, children included. It just makes you appreciate each other more and more.

Sisters Get-away

First of all, in case you didn't know, I am not photogenic, never have, never will be. So when I display any pics of myself, it's not for my own self indulgence, but for my memories. Now that I got that out of the way. My little sister Rhonda, I love her dearly, took me and my older sister Dawn on a much needed sisters outing. All expenses paid too. It was a whirlwind, but oh so fun. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, you'll have to check it out, Located on New Montgomery St right off of Market St. Very opulent, very Palatial! It was a mad dash to check in and then not knowing where Wicked was playing we took a taxi to the theater. Unbeknownst to us it was only about 5 blocks away. Now I never had the desire to see this play but I did hear of it. It was a nice surprise. Can I say it was soooooooooooo good! It got over around 11pm and because we hadn't eaten dinner we were so hungry. We decided to walk back to the hotel since everyone else seemed to be walking too. It was kind of strange, here it was 11:00 at night and there was so many people out at night. We never felt afraid we just kept walking with the crowd. We were going to order room service but who wants to pay $15 for nachos, or pretzels. So we got dressed again and went out and got the next best thing, the good ol standby, Mickey D"s. We brought it back to our room and had own own little party. Oh did I tell you the room had a King size bed, not two beds. I wish I took a picture of this. Me and my bright idea, I told my sisters we could sleep sideways that way we would fit better, poor Rhonda she got put in the middle. It was pretty comical. We actually slept pretty good. The reason Rhonda was in the middle is because she said she is always cold, well she said later that she actually got hot. She tried not wake us and every once in a while she said she would put out one leg out at a time to try and cool herself. I never woke up. We woke up around eight and I told them I wanted to take them to the next best thing to heaven. There is the best FOOD Court underneath the Market St Westfield's Mall. I'm telling you it is the best. We got there around 10:30am and Bristol Farms is the best place to eat. It's better than Whole Foods. You take a small box and you just fill it with what you want to eat. Of course you are charged by the pound. Let me just say, someone's box was a couple of pounds, not mine, someone elses. I have said the word "Best" a lot haven't I. I'll try and come up with some alternatives. Okay after we ate, course that is the most important thing. We walked up to Union Square, because Dawn hadn't been up there in years. Then we start asking each other, okay now where do you want to go to next? So off to Macy's, I needed to get some more lotion. Okay, while they were testing perfume I was waiting "patiently" to purchase my lotion. I guess city people are not used to people being patient, because I was, really I was. There was this couple before me and they couldn't decide what they wanted, and because I wasn't stammering or yelling or causing a scene, the Manager noticed and decided that she wanted to give me a Bag with accessories included because I was so patient. WOW I love freebies!! She didn't know I was eyeing the bag anyways. You know the kind, if you pay so much for something they throw in the free gift. I didn't care. So hey it pays to be patient. I just got myself another purse. YIPPEEE!!! Hey have you done the "Brow Bar? Never heard of it until this weekend. What else are you going to do when you are with your sisters and you feel daring. So we all got our brows done and free makeovers' again the Free thing. I like my brows thicker, since I don't have much to start out with but they'll grow back, I think. We walked through some more stores and then we decided, let's take the Cable Car to Fisherman's Wharf. Okay, picture, sardines in a can, yep that's what we were. The guy kept on stopping and adding more people he said we'd fit. We did, I now know some people a little to well for my taste. It was typical SanFran weather, a few sprinkles, then the sun would peek out, then it would get over cast, then some more sprinkles. It was beautiful. Once we got there, someone in our group wanted chocolate, like yesterday. So on with the hunt for Ghiradelli's we forgot where it was, I think we went around a couple of blocks more than once, and this one homeless fella thought we wanted to contribute to his cause over and over again. NOT. Once we found the Chocolate of all Chocolates we sat ourselves down right next to the chocolate making machine and just inhaled. Besides the delicious Old Fashioned sundae's I know I gained 10 lbs just from breathing in the aromas of this delectable Factory. We decied to walk off our appetizer and people watch all the vendor and street artists along the wharf. We ended up at Bubba Gumps on Pier 39. Okay. I never heard of this. They call your party, party of 3 and they direct you up the ramp. Then you wait, and wait and wait. Like, why did they call your party if they weren't ready to seat you. But alas patience is a virture, the wait was worth it. We got great seating with a beautiful view of Alcatraz and the bay. Lunch was at 4pm the day was going so fast, but it didn't seem that way. After getting a few souvienrs, it was on with the hunt for "ZOTS" I think that's how you spell it. My sister Dawn loves Zots, in fact that's all she wanted for her birthday last year. She doesn't ask for much. We looked in every candy store but no Zot's. Finally the very last store before we had to meet back at the Cable Car station we found her Zot's. The store keeper, said there must be a run on them. She went through 6 large boxes of them just that day. Do you remember Zot's?, it is a hard candy with the fizz inside. They come in strips. I guess you have to be over 40 to appreicate them. Well time to go, back in the Sardine Can of a trolley car. It was about an hour wait, but we were all serenaded by Phillip and his electric guitar. He must have been playing all day, because he was running out of songs. We got the alphabet song and eensy weensy spider renditions. He ended on an up with a Stevie Wonder, My Cheri'e we sang back up chorus . Picked up Rhonda's car from the hotel. Oh, I love GPS. We would have never found our way out of the city without it. Try having 3 women and one of them doesn't know which way is left get you to the Bay Bridge. Lots of Laughs some tears and Lots of advice. Notice that you can always solve each other's problems, but not our own? I love them so much. I have found as we are getting older that we have come to appreciate each other so much more.

Ray of Sunshine

Is there such a thing as the best funeral? If there is, I had the honor in attending one. Dirk Payne was such a great man, a great example of a Husband, Father, Priesthood Leader and friend. I'm not their mother, but if I was, I would be so proud of Lauren and Hannah for giving such great talks to honor their Father. They were composed and graceful in presenting their thoughts and feelings of their Father. I heard from many of those that were in attendance that it truly inspired them. It made us all want to do better, and help us to reflect our own lives. This picture is a small glimpse of sunshine that was felt that day.

Life is Precious

What can I say? My friend, my dear friend has lost her best friend, her husband, her wonderful father of her 5 beautiful daughters. My heart breaks for them and there's nothing we can do, but pray for them, pray for all those who love them, pray for our community who has been so affected by his death. He was a respected, and honored man. He was the epitome of integrity. We love their family so much and I am witnessing the out pouring of love from so many people for this dear family. This family will be preserved because they are Family that will be together Forever. So to Brenda, Lauren, Hannah, Maren, Kara and sweet Little Chloe, we love you, we are praying for you, we know that our dear Heavenly Father has his loving arms around you. Peace will come.

It's Raining It's Pouring

Well today, I worked just a couple of hours and then got to go home, Yeah! It was suppose to be my day off any way. It was pouring rain and still is. It was those kind of days where you just want to cuddle up in front of a fire and drink Hot Chocolate. Cheri called me to remind me that it was Chloe's 9 months birthday and informed me that Chloe can now crawl up the stairs. Real fast too. I remember when Cece was that age and we didn't have a gate so I blocked our stairs with a couple of chairs, especially when I would be busy doing something in the kitchen. Oh those were the days. Well I had the fire but not the hot chocolate, instead I decided to clean house. I know I'm a sicko. I love to clean. The way its raining, we maybe looking for an Ark. Made Fish Taco's, yum yum.

Talipia Fish Tacos

Marinate Talipia about 6 in lemon juice a little of olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon pepper, garlic powder.

Put in a foil lined 13 x 9 pan lightly sprayed with Pam

Broil for 5 minutes then turn over and broil for about 3 more minutes, til done

Lightly heat corn tortillas

Serve with your favorite condiments

I use salsa, grated cheese, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes and baby spinach

Enjoy!

Friends are like a bouquet of flowers

My dearest friend Mary Ann Buchan passed away at 1:15pm today, March 2nd 2009. She was a very young 51 year old. She died peacefully and surrounded by her cherished family. I'm going to miss her so much. Whenever I saw her whether it was at TJ Maxx or in an aisle at the store or Church, she was always uplifting others and had a beautiful smile on her face. She always boosted me up and asked how I was doing. I love her. I know she is fine, she is with our Heavenly Father, she is free now from this terrible disease we call cancer. But, again her family and friends will miss her deeply. I love you Mary Ann.

Today, was Fast Sunday and right off the bat, Brent Booth gave a very heart felt testimony. Honestly the meeting could have ended right there. It was touching and edifying to my testimony. I wish him great success in his endeavours. He just returned from his mission in Arizona. Attended Break the Fast. Good food and good company. I made Strawberry Jello with Marshmallows and bananas and BBq-ed Breast tenders and Meatballs, yep everything from the Pantry and Freezer. It was good, I hope, Hey all bowls empty when I took them home. Oh I skipped something, oh yes, Relief Society. It was very touching by all the women who contributed. Jessica Smith shared her thoughts on being a young mother. She shared very good points, of never settling for less to the young women that were in the room. Carrie, on being a single mother and Janice Bennett, on being a woman in her AARP years, as she put it. They were all very good. Carrie, if you read this,( I want you to know I admire you very much. It was so touching and inspiring.) She is a great example of putting her children first and staying close to our Heavenly Father despite the world telling her differently. All in all it boosted my testimony and reminded to keep the faith.