MY OHANA

Sunday, March 15, 2009

I AM 55 TIMES THANKFUL

So, here I am 55 years old and loving every minute of it. If you would have asked me early this morning if I felt old, I would have probably complained and said, something about my hip, neck and other ailing parts of my aging body...but after having our friends over tonight for dinner I am singing a different tune...Why? Because, my friend (the wife of the couple) has lung cancer, and starts her 6th round of chemo next week. Her hair is starting to fall out and she is tired all of the time. Do you see why I am 55 and loving it? I have been given so much and why does it take a night with an ailing friend, help me to feel so very blessed? I thought... I need to recognize all my blessings, make a list and celebrate my life. I know that I have hundreds of things I have been blessed with! Being that it was just my 55th birthday, I thought I could at the least come up with 55 of my blessings. I am going to try to capture a lot of them with photos...so, this could be long, but I want to count my many blessings, name them one by one. I owe that much to my Heavenly Father and to all my loved ones (these are not in order of importance, just random).....

1. A loving, wonderful husband 2. Great marriage (37 years)

3. My Savior/the Atonement

4. Scriptures

5. Living Prophets

6. Temples (Hawaiian Temple) (Preston, England Temple)

7. Family Vacations (Newport Beach)

8. and 9. A loving daughter and son-in-law

10. and 11. A wonderful son and daughter-in-law

12. Grandson-Brigham (Disneyland 2007)

13. Grandson - Hunter (Disney Cruise 2006)

14. Granddaughter - Elle Kate (Cozumel -2006)

15. Grandson - Brandon (Woods Canyon Lake 2008)

16. Granddaughter - Tatum Lily (Girly Girls 2009)

17. Grandson - Dallin (Christmas 2008)

18. Friends - Craig and Mary Silverthorne (2008)

19. Friends - Glenn and Debbi Vavra (Kailua Beach 2006)

20. Friends- Verna and Chris Lueck (Hawaii 2006)

21. Friends- Terri and Mat Greer (Hawaii 2006)

22. Friends - Susan and Mike McDonough (Kailua Beach 2006)

23. Friends - Marv and Nancee Jessee (Oregon 2009)

24. Plays (Les Miserables -London)

25. Roomy laundry rooms

26. Walks with my grandchildren and husband

26. Craft rooms

27. A lazy, sweet dog (Zack 2009)

28. Backyard playgrounds

29. Pools in Arizona summers

30. Digital Scrapbooking

31. Music

32. Big kitchens

33. Blue Houses with a weather vane

FLOWERS:

34. In Tuscany-Italy

In Hawaii (plumerias)

35. For comfortable beds

36. Silly, giggly girls (Tatum and Elle)

37. Life-long girlfriends (Rhonda Sarager-San Francisco)

38. Girlfriend Get-aways (Debbi and Donna in Hawaii)

39. Old Movies

40. Tiffany's in NYC 41. Walks in Central Park NYC (Donna and Natalie)

42. Macy's in NYC

43. Waimea Bay -Hawaii

44. Rainbows - Maui

45. Hammocks (Maui - 2004)

46. Reading to grandchildren (Newport Beach 2007)

47. Traveling - England (2005 -Stonehenge)

48. Gandola rides in Venice (2007)

49. Beautiful sights - Fog rolling in over Golden Gate Bridge (2006)

50. Kailua Beach, Hawaii 51. With Ken

52. Disney Cruise with Family -2006

53. Newport Beach 54. Sisters (Gail and Donna)

55. FOOD:
Jordan's Mexican Food - Phoenix, AZ

See's Candies

Crepes in France (2005)

Gelato in Rome (2005)

These are some of the things that I am so thankful to have in my life! I pray that Iwill forever be thankful and grateful for all the seen and unseen blessings I have been given! I truly do have a wonderful, blessed life!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

HOORAY, FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY!

Tonight Ken and I were invited to share with our son Michael and his sweet wife, Nicole, a really awesome moment. We went to a place called, Stork Vision and we were able to view, our almost to be, grandson through 3d imaging...it was so amazing! And I am here to tell everyone that Cooper James, is perfect and cute as a bug! The process is the same as an ultra sound but, more advanced. We could actually see Cooper's face (what he looks like, can you believe it?)and see his feet perfectly, (counting all five toes on each foot) and all the rest of his cute, healthy body parts. I walked away feeling like I had just met our unborn grandson...it was such a special feeling! Congrats, Michael and Nicole on a precious little child! Thanks, to Grandma Iris and Grandpa Jim (Nicole's parents) for making it all possible...I will never forget it! "What will they think of next?"....

Just amazing!

Cooper's Mom - due May 8th

Cooper's Mom and Dad

Cooper's Grandparents(Lefever and Schaub)
and Parents

NOT AGAIN!! I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

I can't believe I was tagged again....thanks, Gail (my sister)! This is what I was told to do....take your 6th folder of pictures and pick the 6th picture in the folder and then publish it on your blog...here it is:

Ken riding a Raptor in the desert...it really was my 6th, 6th photo...I like it because I think he is kind of cute!
By the way this is not what I was talking about when I said I was going to be posting something soon...this just happened! Okay, now, Ben, Jessie, Megan and Jeana you guys have been tagged! And , Natalie I want to make my pictures bigger, like yours on your post...how do you do it???

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

I know, I know, I haven't done a new post...but I promise it is going to happen, soon! I'm Spring Cleaning and soooooooo busy, but I've got ideas and things I want to share, so just hang on! Until, Later....

Friday, March 6, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY-BRIGHAM STEELE PERRY!

Okay, so I feel so old...because our oldest grandchild is 10 years old today! But, I don't really care about being old, because I have enjoyed every minute I have had with Brigham! The bonus is...we are birthday buds! Yes, our first grandchild was born on my birthday..thank you, Natalie and Anthony! Brigham is the best birthday gift I have ever received!
Brigham was born in Provo, Utah on March 6, 1999 at about 2:47 PM. He is the only grandchild of ours that can claim Utah as his birth place (his Dad is a native of Utah). Brig was the first grandchild in the Perry family and Schaub family. Brigham has always been dear to my heart for so many reason...because he is 10, I will share with you 10 reasons why I love Brigham-
10)He is very tender hearted and kind to everyone
9) He still will hug and kiss me hello and good-bye
8) He loves Hawaii
7) He is a wonderful example to his siblings
6) He is a natural leader
5) He is a great athlete, but works hard at it.
4) He loves his Mother and Father very much
3) He always chooses to be obedient
2) He has an awesome sense of humor
1) He is my precious grandson
Like always I have several photos...here is Brig thru the past 10 years-

March of 1999- Nana and Brigham (love the hair, Nana!)

Papa and Brig - March 6, 1999

Many faces of Brigham - he was and is the cutest kid!

This is one of my favorites--love it!

Brig with Papa and Nana on a Carriage Ride in SLC -Temple Square

Brigham with his friend and cousin, Hunter saying good-bye

they have always been best friends - New Orleans 2003

This is a favorite of mine..Brigham hates it. I had this picture

on my frig and he would always take it down and hide it...Disney World -2004

Brigham at Cafe Du Monde's eating beignets - New Orleans

Sister Elle and Brigham - 2004

Hunter, Brigham and Brandon, best friends and cousins

Newport Beach, CA 2006

Disney Cruise - Cozumel...Swimming with Regina the Dolphin

2006

Papa and Brigham on Brigham's baptism day - 2007

Brigham and Nana at Disneyland - 2007

Papa and Brig at SLC Temple Square-they are always goofing off!

2008

Brigham loves to swim- Summer 2008 at Nana and Papa's

Elle, cousins and Brig, they have too much fun together!

2008

Dr. Perry - Halloween 2008

Brigham Steele Perry

Happy Birthday, Brigham...you are awesome and we love you!

Friday, February 27, 2009

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - Back to Reality....

It is so hard to return to reality when you have been "playing" for 12 days straight! Our 2009 Sister Retreat has already come and gone. Time flies when you are having fun!! Each Year it gets harder to say good-bye and we start counting and planning for the next year, right away. Sandra flies in from Provo, Utah. Gail arrives from Monument, Colorado. Betty and I are always anxiously awaiting for them here, in Gilbert.... We gather for my birthday each year and it is just a week (12 days this time) of visiting, laughing, sitting out on the back patio (Gail and Sandra especially enjoy this, as they are "thawing out" from their long cold winters), watching movies, pedicures, massages, jacuzzi, Jordan's (our favorite Mexican Food place, in Phoenix). We attended the temple and did sealings for some family names. We were able to go to our Stake RS Enrichment Day. We planted flowers, went for a ride down Memory Lane in Phoenix, to see all our old homes we lived in and our old schools, Church buildings, etc.

Let's see how many movies did we watch (this info is just strictly for my journal entry) during this visit?

1) Fiddler On the Roof

2) Overboard

3) Friendly Persuasion

4) Thoroughly Modern Millie

5) The Apartment

6) How to Murder Your Wife

7) Some Like It Hot

8) Brian Regan "I Walked On the Moon"

9) What's Up Doc?

10) Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (Cary Grant)

I Think that's all....can you believe it?? As if 10 movies weren't enough....we even went to the theater and saw "Confessions of a Shopaholic"!

Here are a few photos of this past week (Feb. 12- 24)....

Our brother Phil and his sweet wife, Susan joined us for
dinner one evening. Our brother Ron stopped by too, but we
forgot to get a picture with him. No, men allowed at our
Retreats..but we let our brothers stop by for visit. Ken, thanks
for putting up with all of us crazy girls and giving up your time with me...
you are the best husband! Every year he does this for me!

On our ride down Memory Lane we saw....

Our home on Campbell, (1950- 1956? 20th Street and Campbell)in Phoenix.
It basically looks the same, at least the owners have kept it up.

Our Mariposa home ( 28th Street and Camelback Rd), Phoenix
(1956 - 1966ish? -This house has been totally remodeled and
doesn't even look like the house we lived in... it's nice, huh?).

Our 19th Street home ( 1967 -1972. 19th Street and Bethany Home) -
This home has been remodeled, too and looks better than it did
when we lived in it! It was nice to see that our childhood homes were
well taken care of and still standing after all these years!

Our East Phoenix Stake Center (18th Street and Brill)
It is empty and not owned by our church anymore.

Gail, Sandra and Betty in front of Jordan's Mexican Restaurant.
This Jordan's is located on 7th Street and Bethany Home Rd. The
original Jordan's (the one we went to more often) was located on Central
and Thomas area. Because of the "light rail" it went out of business! That
was a sad day for all of us... for over 50 years we ate there!

BUT, we didn't just watch movies, we did a few productive things....

Gail and Donna planted flowers in front of Ken and Donna's home

Donna and Gail and planted flowers...(Thanks-Gail!)

And one thing we can always count on is....
When ever we are together we reminisce
about our visits to Hawaii....
and plan for our next trip there!

Gail, Betty, Donna and Sandra in Hawaii....

We will always take whatever chance we can to be together but...
We would always rather be shopping, or beach hopping in Hawaii...(we try to go every other year, if our finances allows us). We love our time together there and our husbands are allowed to join us on this retreat, ha-ha!

But, until next time, Sisters...we'll just keep dreaming of Hawaii! A big THANKS for all that you do for me and for taking the time to come here each year. I love you, Sandra, Betty and Gail!

Your little sister,

Donna

Saturday, February 21, 2009

HAPPY 30th NATALIE.......

Natalie is 30!!!!.....Where has the time gone?

It seems just like yesterday that we were so happy and thrilled when we found out we were expecting our 2nd child! We had waited a long time for both our children, and each one was a separate miracle. Natalie has been a joy and a blessing to us and to so many others. She is fun to just hang around with and be with. She is talented; she is a quilter, awesome cook, organizer, and one of her best qualities is she has great faith and gratitude and appreciation of all her blessings. She has a very kind and giving heart and truly cares about others. She is a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend neice, etc. She has always been a great example of finding the good in everyone and everything. Happy Birthday, Natalie! We love you....Mom and Dad-

Here are some photos of Nat through the last 30 years.....