Yesterday was another fun day at Josh and Tiffany's house. I spent a lot of time washing dishes which Tiffany really appreciated. It actually was fun for me to do dishes for Tiffany. I knew that she would appreciate it, that why I did it. Later on during the day Tiff, Josh, Ben, Bella and C.C. went to Chuck E. Cheese to play games. At that point I was really tired so I stayed home and rested. When they came back, Josh ordered two pizzas and some cheese sticks. After the grandaughters were in bed Josh, Tiff, and Ben started watching a show I was not interested in watching. Tiffany came out to the living room where I was reading. She asked me if I was going to spend any time with them. I said I would if they would watch something I enjoyed watching also. We found a show that all of us liked, so I stayed and watched T.V. with them. Their choice of is entertainment is not what I consider appropriate. They are all adults, two of whom I have taught what I consider appropriate entertainmant. I have taught them, but they have to decide for themselves. When they choose to watch things I don't feel is appropriate rather than make a big deal about it, I just choose to go some where else. All in all we have gotten along very well. Sometimes I slip and act like a parent instead of a grandparent, but not too often. Today I helped Bella make a cloud picture. She then made pictures with fish and shapes on red paper. Red is her favorite color.

Today has been another fun day at Josh and Tiffany's house. This morning to start the day I read a couple of books to Isabella. After that I got ready for the day. The grandchildren ran around playing with toys, having Tiffany, Ben, or Josh read stories to them or play with them. When Cambria went down for a nap, Josh turned on the movie "Wall-e" for Isabella (Bella) to watch for the hundredth or so time. One day before Kimberly, Ben, and I arrived she (Bella) watched "Wall-e" six times in a day. Tiffany has a bookshelf with six shelves on it that is filled with books. One of the first things Cambria (C.C.) does every morning is empty as many books off the shelves as she can. She also really loves books. When she wants you to read her a book, she puts the book above her head and says "k" which stands for book. Her mother Tiffany has gotten really good at reading books quite quickly. Tiffany doesn't read quickly all the time. Sometimes Tiffany reads at a normal pace, if she isn't trying to get something else done. Josh reads to and plays with the girls a lot. He probably doesn't do it all the time, but since it is Christmas vacation, he has more times and can do it more often. Benjamin is really good at playing with the grandaughters especially Bella. The time Josh and Tiff spend interacting with their children in positive ways is very admirable. I wish I had spent more time playing with my children. Each night I did go to their rooms one at a time ( They each had a room of their own.) , read a story of their choice to them, and talk to them. During the day, I was usually busy with house work, church work, or laying down because I was so tired. My parents never told me that they loved me out right. I knew that they loved me because of all the things they did for me, but I would have liked to have them tell me. It wasn't as commom to tell your children that you loved them in my parent's generation. I made a real effort to tell my children that I loved them and give them hugs and kisses. It is much more common to hear parents and children telling each other that they love each other. Bella has even told me that she loves me this visit. It is great!

I have been here in Indiana with Josh, Tiffany, their daughters Isabella and Cambria and Kimberly. Ben took a different flight, but arrived about the same time I did at the Indianapolis, Indiana airport. Josh picked us up and drove us to their home. We arrived at their house at about 8:30 p. m. Eastern Time Christmas Eve. My grandaughters were waiting up for Ben and I. After the girls welcomed us, Tiffany and Josh put them to bed. Josh, Tiffany, Kimberly, Ben and I watched "Joy to The World" a video put out by the church about Christ's birth then went to bed. It was more fun to open the presents this year than last, because Isabella was older and more excited about Christmas. Tiffany bought a ball popper machine for Isabella and a bubble blowing machine for Cambria. Both of the girls loved each of the presents. Tiffany got a sewing machine and Josh got a watch. I helped Tiffany pay for the presents for her family. Kimberly and Ben got money from me to buy whatever they wanted. Kimberly bought me a Jane Austin movie that I already had so she is going to buy me the movie "Becoming Jane". Benjamin gave me money. Tiffany and Josh gave me a glowing candle, some body wash, and filled my stocking with goodies. Christmas Day Tiffany cooked a magnificent meal. The next day Ben and I got the sickness that Tiffany's family and Kimberly had before we arrived. Tiffany said it was hard on her to have us sick, but it wasn't that nice for us either. Thankfully the sickness only lasted two days. The rest of the stay has been great, except I only saw Kimberly for two days. She arrived at Tiffany and Josh's home on Fri. Dec. 19th and went back to her home Fri. Dec. 26th. It was good to see her even for a short time. It is really fun to be here. I hope we continue the tradition for a few more years.

Well today is Saturday. I didn't get to bed until 2:00 AM, but still got up at 8:00 AM after only 6 hrs. of sleep. I must be making up for the 10 to 12 hrs. I was sleeping the first three months of my leave of absence. Actually, I think I am just not depressed any more. Perhaps I am a little anxious, because time to get back to work is only two and one half months away. My typing is really comming along, but I am really dragging my feet on learning the computer. Maybe I should start learning Microsoft Office before trying to learn EZ Grade Pro. I have all kinds of helps for Microsoft and only one manuel for EZ Grade Pro. Maybe I can get Lauralee to help me after she learns. I guess this is turning into my blog instead of a family blog, but that's O.K. It's kind of fun to have a blog, although I cant's wait until I know how to use my digital camera and load the pictures on the computer. ( Have I said that before? I think I have.) So far I have the unassembled Christmas tree in a box in the living room. Maybe I'll get it set up today! Since reading on Tiffany's blog that the twelve days of Christmas has a religious meaning, I am excited to put my twelve days of Christmas ornaments on the tree. I have alwawys loved that song, hence the Christmas tree ornaments. Some of the ladies in my ward have a Jesus tree. The tree has ornaments about the birth of the Savior on the tree. I think that's a great idea. Since I have a small tree also, I think I will turn it into a Jesus tree. Another friend of mine has an angle tree which is also a great idea. I am really getting excited to go to Tiffany and Josh's house for Christmas. Since I had such a good time last year while I was still teaching school, I should have a really great time now that I am on a leave of absence and much more relaxed. Well I had better go. I have all my Christmas presents, but need to wrap and fit them in a suitcase.

I am using my blog as typing practice. I also spend time on the typing program to help me with memorizing where the numbers and symbols are as well as the letters. I can type much quicker when I am typing just letters, although I am still making mistakes. Not only am I going to type about today, I am going to type about yesterday. I forgot how to get in to make an entry yesterday, so I didn't get an entry. This morning I called Tiffiny who reminded me how to get in. The day before yesterday, I scheduled my whole day out. During the morning I followed my schedule, but by the afternoon I was doing things I wanted to do that were not on the schedule like cleaning the desk off in my work room. Although I didn't follow the plan, it was a good thing I cleaned my desk off because yesterday evening my friend brought her lap top home from school with the EZ Grade program on it. I need to learn this program if I go to another school that is not Edison. Since the desk was clean, I was able to put the lap top in the middle of my it. Today I woke up after eight hours of sleep which hasn't happened for a couple of days. Like two days ago, I did have a bad dream. It had somehting to do with computers. Last night I read the manuel to EZ Grade Pro which didn't help me much. Whether I want to or not I am going to have to get a tutor. First, I am going to see if my home teacher will help me. He works with computers for his job. Maybe my friend can help me once she figures it out herself, but I don't want to wait too long. If those don't work out, maybe I can get a high school student or another college student to help me. If all else fails I will have to pay the computer tutor I found in the phone book who charges $65 an hour to help me. I hope it doesn't come to that, but I will do it if I have to. It is imparative that I learn these skills, so that when I go back to work the computer will no longer cause me anxiety. Actually I came up with another idea, perhaps my home teacher's son can help me with this program. He seems to know more than his dad about computers. He is home for the holidays and might like to earn a little money. I think I will call him right now.

Tiffany uses her blog as a journal. I think this is a great idea, so I am going to do the same with mine. It will be a while before I add pictures because I don't know how to take pictures with my digital camera yet, but I am going to learn. Then I will have to learn how to add the pictures to my blog. It might take a while, but I am determined to learn. Since I have improved my typing I feel more like I can learn to use the computer. It's a great feeling. I woke up this morming at 4:30. Since my eyes were hurting, I decided to put some allergy drops in them and see if I could go back to sleep. After laying there for half an hour, I decided to get up. I was determined to do something constructive since I was already awake. I had been wanting to rearrange some things in my bedroon and work/guest room. I moved a small chest of drawers from my work room to my bedroom. Then I filled the chest with my winter shoes. The shoes have been on some shelves in my closet. Every time I wanted a pair of shoes I would have to hunt for them which was really annoying. The shoes were arranged by catagory on the four shelves from dressy to casual (heals to slippers) but they would always get mixed up. Now that they are in drawers the shoes are much easier to find. I also moved two sets of plastic shelves from my bedroom to my work room. It's much nicer to have the shelves out of my bedroom. As for the shelves in the bedroom, I am using them for sheets and towels. I have got to get to bed, so I will stop now. I will write more tomorrow.

More of Mom's morsels

Tiffany says she thinks my entry was great and wants to hear more. Here is some more. I am typing 27 to 36 word a minute. That might seem slow to you, but it is great improvement for me. My tutor for Microsoft Word turned out to be a flake, so I bought some tutoring CDs and books. I am going to tutor myself. A friend of mine still says she is going to bring home EZ Grade Pro. She also said she would bring a manuel home from her school that I can use. I continue to learn more from my Attacking Anxiety and Depression program. This week's topic is being assertive instead of being agressive or letting other people walk all over you. She (Lucinda Bassett the auther of this program) says you need to find someone who is assertive and learn from them how to be assertive. I think I am way more assertive than I use to be but sometimes let feelings build up and get aggressive. I am learning some good things and have been happy for a week now. Yeah!!!

Mom's morsels

As you know I am on a medical leave of abscence from work. I have suffered from anxiety and depression along with chronic fatigue syndrome for many years. I am on a leave from work to learn what I can do to over come these problem. I have been practicing my typing which has gotten much better. I am getting tutored tomorrow on Microsoft Word which is one of the computer programs I need to know for school. Also I am going to get tutored on EZ Grade Pro, another program I will use at work. I am feeliong better and will feel a lot better when I know how to work these computer programs. As well I have been using a program titled Attaking Anxiety and Depression. It has given me some useful tools to overcome these problems. I got the idea of having a family blog from a lady in my ward. I hope it works for our family. She said it helped her family keep in touch. I love Tiffany's blog. The pictures are the best. I need to learn how to use the digital camera Uncle Mark and Aunt Stephanie gave me. This might give me movtivation to use it.