Moving right along~~

Man, I am TERRIBLE at this, but here goes. So much has happened since I last wrote on here..(thats usually how it goes in over a year...lol). First and formost, we have a new member of the family...MR CRU RICHARD ROETHEL...we are so blessed to have him. Next we are expecting another one. Kelsee and Ian are expecting a baby boy the 5th of August. At this time the name they are looking at is Canon Bryan Johnston. We are all very excited to have all these babies FINALLY coming our way!
Everyone else seems to be cruising along just fine. Marc is still in the insurance business, in fact he is a broker..he is also getting involved in finacial planning. Kelli is enjoying being a stay at home Mom to our 2 little monkey's. Dustin is still working for the American Cancer Society, and at present is in good health. Kelsee, as I said is expecting her first little one in August, and she will be the best little mother..I am SO proud of her. Ian continues to be the family plumber, and is very good at what he does. Bryan is still working at his 2 jobs (probably to the grave.) He is having some health issues, mostly with his neck again. However he was able to get away for a long weekend with the guys and his GIRLFRIEND...HARLEY, this past weekend. I just finished my last week of work for the summer, and needless to say, I AM EXCITED. So far, my plans have me going to San Antonio with some friends from Southwest tomorrow for 3 days, then the first part of June, I will be doing my annual chasing cowboys in Nashville trip for a week. I am really looking forward to getting away. Other than that, at this point, no travel plans for either Bryan or I...just waiting for baby Johnston to arrive. Well...thats about it from us for now..and MAYBE...JUST MAYBE...it won't be a year next time!!;)

Catching Up!

I am SO BAD at this! I am going to try to keep this more current...but don't hold me to it! :)

I don't know where to start, it has been so long, but I guess for now, I will just go from here forward.

Life is AWESOME...I am finally home from HELL, which is my name for PHOENIX. It was a long HARD 5 years, but I did it. NO MORE COMMUTING, and no more SouthWest Airlines. There are a few sad parts, but kind of like any relationship, when its over you long for the good things, and truthfully the good things went out the window several years ago, so what I am missing is a memory. BUT I did accomplish what I set out for...LIFETIME FLIGHT BENNIES ON ALL AIRLINES FOR BRYAN AND I...now to just be able to afford to travel and see all of Gods great creations!

On to bigger (well maybe smaller) things...like 3 and 4 year olds. I am currently working as an assistant teacher at SLCAP HEADSTART. I am loving it, and even better than that, they are LOVING ME! What a switch from the negative feedback that kept coming at me the last few years in HELL. :)

I have also made some changes in my personal life....as I have moved forward, and put much of the past behind me, I did the same with some of my "FRIENDSHIPS" that were anything but friendly. I had been in such a negative spot at work, I failed to recognize the negative place I had put myself in in my personal life....so dumped the "JUNK" and I'm movin on....sometimes hard to do, but necessary, and also now that it is fading into the past, like any relationship, the future is looking much brighter. DON'T get too excited though, and I know some of you would :) BUT I have not given up the COWBOY~:) His songs talk to my heart, and really are a part of who I am...so DEAL with it...it isn't going away!

Being "HOME" I have really started to realize what really matters, and what doesn't and I am definitely stopping to smell the roses! HAS ANYONE noticed the beautiful place that we call home? UTAH...the Mountains, the seasons, the sunsets, the sunrises and all the beautiful things around us, that because we see them everyday, we forget just how special they truly are....my words of wisdom...open your eyes and really LOOK at what is in front of you...there are people out there who have never seen snow or mountains, and we can look out our windows in our own neighborhoods and see both..SO BEAUTIFUL.

As I move forward, just wanted to post a few pictures of some of the things I have been up to in the past few months, and some as recent as yesterday. ENJOY the slide show~BUT MOSTLY~~ ~~LIVE LAUGH AND LOVE~~
Taunie

I have been TAGGED!

So I was just reading through Michelle Norlies Blog, and found out I have been tagged..sorry, still catching on to this blogging thing! ANYWAY..here goes!

My good friend has tagged me. So here it goes.

Here were the rules:
1. Go to your documents/pictures
2. Go to your 6th file
3. Go to the 6th picture
4. Blog about it
5. Tag 6 other friends
6. Smile! Here is my 6th in 6th.....

This is where the nightmare all began~~some know it as a HARLEY DAVIDSON...Bryan and I flew out to Ft.Worth to go to a Clay Walker concert (little did I know just how expensive this concert was). We stayed with some dear friends of mine Charlie and Debbie Shumacher. Well, Charlie had a couple of Harleys in his garage. That was all I heard about for MONTHS after we got home..so I fianlly gave in, and here is the one that Bryan now parks in my garage, and kisses goodnight, every night!
Just to give you other women some pointers....be careful where you drag your man, because buying the thing was the tip of the iceberg..EVERYTHING costs WAY TOO MUCH FOR THEM...and of course...men have to have every little trinket for their babies!

Now I am tagging:
Tiffany, see what you get for snooping..lol
Summer
Kelsee
Kelli
Cathy
Heather Gunnnell, yea I spy on you!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Makayla turned 5 years old on Thursday. I can't believe how time flys. This little girl is so smart and so beautiful! She adds such a huge dimension in our life. I am thankful everyday, that we have been blessed to have her! SHE IS A CHARACTER, and teaches all around her so much! Always happy and bubbly..always worried about others...and yet a tough little apponent on the soccer field...she makes me smile and warms my heart!
So I am just wanting to wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We will see you at the Zoo (if it doesn't rain) with all the other MONKEYS!

Love you KAYLA BOO!!

CRAZY BUSY WEEKEND!

Well, first of all, on top of everything, I have HAY FEVER so bad, I keep getting swollen eyes, and styes, runny nose..you know the drill. And of course Bryan and I are still trying to recover from surgery...have drugs will travel! So Friday night, Kelsee got us tickets to go to the new Oqquir Hills Temple open house, so we went to that, what a beautiful place! Then Saturday morning we went to MaKaylas soccer game....she is so funny..those boys better look out...cause she means SERIOUS BUSINESS!! Saturday night, we went to her year end dance recital...talk about a little Tom-boy/princess..she covers the whole spectrum. Be sure to watch the video...it is PRICELESS!! Also, Marc and Kelli have some friends in their ward, that have a little girl(I think its a girl) MaKaylas age. Anyway, I guess this family just adopted a baby, and MaKayla said "I really think you guys should consider doing this"! TOO FUNNY Sunday, we met Kelsee and Ian and went to Hill Air force base to see the air show, and the THUNDER BIRDS PERFORM..it was AWESOME! SO here is a video and pics from the weekend...ENJOY! Be sure to scroll all the way down to view the Dance video, don't know why they posted like this or how to fix them. I just know I am to lazy and tired to do them again!!

Can you BELIEVE IT??

I am going to blog again...this is a miracle! Not that there hasn't been a crap load of stuff going on, I am just to lazy to Blog about it.

First of all, Bryan and I both had surgery, and we are doing....well OK. It was a much worse surgery than we planned on, but it is behind us now. We had the SAME surgery..seriously, we had disc fusions in our necks, the same disc's were degenerating..you would think we were genetically related!! Anyway, I had mine on the 28Th of April, and Bryan had his on the 14Th of May(Happy Anniversary Honey). We just thought that matching neck collars were the way to go this year...LOL. Hey they will end up costing us about 3K by the time we are done..so it is the gift that keeps on giving!

Next, can I just say....YEE HAW!!! Not only is my trek to and from Phoenix coming to and end (FINALLY), but they announced an early retirement...can you just say COLOR ME HAPPY...I AM SO GONE!!! You know with this economy, call me crazy, but there has to be life after SWA...and there are more important things than money..I have missed way too much family life, and it has taken a toll on my mental and physical state...IT IS TIME TO COME HOME!!! So pray for me, and wish me luck, will ya? Hopefully, my next blog I will be telling you, I am done with this chapter, and hired on at somewhere remarkable...they don't know it yet, but they will be LUCKY to HAVE ME!!=)

Just before I had surgery, I went to Nashville, to see Clay receive the National MS Society Hope award. It was an honor to be invited, and an honor to see him receive it. I truly believe so many of these debilitating diseases are related, that as they find cures for one, it will help find cures for others, so anything that is being done in the way of research, I am all for. Clay has raised over 2 Mil to help find a cure for MS, which he was diagnosed with in 1996. His non profit organization is called BAND AGAINST MS, and many of us in his fan club, have done auctions, etc to help raise funds for it.

So since I probably won't blog again for a couple of months...I will just finish this with my favorite saying...KEEP LIVIN LAUGIN AND LOVIN your way through life..you know when you smile, it really makes people wonder, what you have been up to!

Happy Easter Everyone...

May we all remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTIN!!!

Here is a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dust Boy!! I know he never reads this, in fact I don't know that he even knows I have this, but I want to wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY here, anyway.
I want to publicly thank GOD so much for the miracle he has given me, letting me see my boy go through another Birthday. I know people can try to put themselves in my place, but truely, this is one situation, that unless you have been there, you will never really understand the depth of it. I PRAY that NO ONE I love will ever have to find out, how if feels to think you are going to lose one of your babies! Three years ago today, Dustin had his first round of Chemo..little did we know that after 3 years, we would still have him here to wish HAPPY BIRTHDAY to. It is an honor and a privledge to do so!
My children are my life, and more precious to me now, than the day they were born!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN DUST BUG...I love you!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!

Marcus,
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY!
I am sorry I am late,but I had no internet access on my trip! I just want you to know how very lucky I feel to be your Mother. You are, and have always been such a great person. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such great children!!!

I love you and I will never forget the very first time I held you in my arms!! You will ALWAYS be my BABY!

See you this weekend to celebrate!
Love you,
Mom!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "E"

Wanted to wish my FAVORITE SON IN LAW an AWESOME Birthday...even though you raz me all the time, I do love you, and I am so thankful that you are a part of our family. You are so caring and take such good care of my "little girl"!! Thanks for all you do for us, and have an awesome DAY, WEEK,and Month...see you for our party on the 14th!!
Love ya,
Mom "Stalker"

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

Just wanted my FAVORITE HUSBAND to know how much I love him, and how grateful I am to have him. Happy Happy Birthday Bryan...I love you!

The end of 2008

Well, I definately can't say this has been my worst year...I think 2005-6 hold the record for that, but it hasn't been my best either. I am looking forward to the new year, full of hope and trust, that things will work out for us.
I would have to say, that losing my Mom this year, is top in my mind, of things that I will never forget about 2008...last year at this time, we had just put her in the hospital...what a difference a year makes. REMEMBER that, and embrace those you love! RIGHT NOW!

So that being said.....I am LOOKING FORWARD TO 2009!! It promises to be an interesting year if nothing else. I will be so glad to get our audit for 2005 settled, take out a loan...do whatever, but get er done...we have been fighting it since January of this year!! Life is wearing on me..can you tell? LOL

Again though, I have to remember the many, many things I have been blessed with!!
I have the best husband in the world...he loves me no matter what, and that is quite an accomplishment, especially lately! I don't know how I found him, or why I have been so blessed to have him..but I am THANKFUL! I love him with all my heart!

My Kids....they are a blessing to me EVERYDAY! The Love me unconditionally, and support us. Sometimes especially lately, I know they are leading, and we are following...I guess that means at some point, we lead right..right?

Marcus, what a true valiant person he is. He is so strong, and unwavering in EVERYTHING he believes...he is a wonderful husband, daddy and son. I am truely blessed to have him as my example. He is the eldest brother, in everyway setting the path for others to follow,including his Mom and Dad.

Kelli, what a blessing she is in our family...she is kind, loving, and thoughtful, a great wife to Marc, and a great Mommy to Kayla, and the best DIL I could ever have asked for! She has been there, to cart me to and from the airport, more times than I can count! Thank you sweet daughter!!

Kayla...My baby( I KNOW I KNOW...GET WITH IT MARRIED KIDS!!LOL)She makes me smile, everytime I think about her twinkling eyes, and sweet personaliy. I don't think I have ever been around a more loving or well mannered little girl. She even seems to find something to entertain herself, with this house full of adults..usually Unca "D" Unca "E" or SISSY..since they are all just overgrown kids anyway! I love her to death, and maybe when I come home from HELL as I LOVING call Phoenix...I can spend more time and be more emotionally able to be a better Grandma to her....I think all the time of things I should do with her, but just never have the energy, emotionally or physically anymore!

Dustin...What can I say, but how very thankful I am to have him. How blessed are we, to have gone through such hell, and come out on the other side with so much! Dustin will forever be an inspiration to us all, to NEVER GIVE UP, and to work forever on our testimony's of prayer, and faith. Dustin in a TRUE WARRIOR, and a great example to anyone who is lucky enough to know him. And as a Mom, all I can say is THANK YOU GOD!

Kelsee, what a beautiful daughter she is in everyway. Forever making plans for things for us to do as a family, to keep us close. Always being there, to encourage us, and to support us in everything we do. She has grown up so much, and I am so PROUD to say I am her Mom.

Ian...again...you make me LAUGH..that is a good thing!! He is a great person, and I am so glad Kelsee found him! He is her perfect match~and he is so good to her, and us, I could not ask for a better SIL!! He even put up our outside Christmas lights this year...I KNOW Bryan was thankful for that, as were Kayla and I!

To my extended family and friends.....thanks for being who you are, and always being there, at just the right times, with just the right words of help and encouragement.

So to end this, and get some things done...I just want to let my Heavenly Father, My Family and My friends know, that I am THANKFUL for the GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY that we have gone through in 2008, and BRING IT ON...2009...I AM READY!!

BAH HUMBUG! I mean MERRY CHRISTMAS!;)

Thanks to Ian, we have lights outside!! Bryan, was however going to do it
(so he says), but we are SO thankful Ian did it....Bryan did break out the reindeer!
Got the tree up, and you can call it the lazy way to do it, but I was SO SICK of the same blue and pink tree, but since our living room is Blue and Pink, it was kind of hard to variate. BUT we went to the store yesterday, and took back the outdoor lights we had purchased,(because Ian also donated the lights) and got new ornaments. Here is also one of the little village houses I am going to do inside, but need to get some cotton! It is BLACK SILVER GOLD and PURPLE..I know kind of random, but sure is fun for a change! I will add pictures of the outside, when it gets dark!
SO BAH HUMBUG...I MEAN HO HO HO!!

THE MANY THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR!

I just wanted to wish everyone a BLESSED THANKSGIVING, and put down on paper (or computer) the things I am thankful for!

1. My Family, I have the BEST LOVING HUSBAND anyone could ask for, he loves me and puts up with me, through it all, what more can I say!

My oldest son Marc, is such an EXAMPLE to me, of unconditional love, and NEVER wavering in his beliefs, his wife Kelli, is such a sweetheart, much more like a DAUGHTER than a DIL, and such a GREAT Mom and Wife, every mother in laws dream for her son. My BEAUTIFUL Grandbaby...(I know I know, she is not a baby...but come on, you married kids...only you can fix this)! I love her, and she is the light of my life....I finally understand what people meant when they said,"the reason for having kids, is so you can have grandkids"! They were so right...she is so full of energy, and love, and is such a sweet little spirit! I LOVE HER TO DEATH!

My Son Dustin, he is my HERO, and I thank GOD EACH AND EVERY DAY, that I still have him here with me, for one more Thanksgiving...I have been very blessed, and he has taught us all, to try to appreciate each minute!

My Daughter Kelsee, she is my only Daughter, what can I say, but how much she has grown up, (how smart I have become, lol) and how PROUD I AM OF HER, she is as beautiful inside as she has ever been outside!! Her husband Ian....I love him as if he were my own son....and he makes me LAUGH..he is one in a MILLION, and is so good to my little girl, what more could a mother in law ask for?

My EXTENDED FAMILY...you are everything and more, that a family should be..thank you for always supporting us and loving us!

2. I am SO THANKFUL for my TRUE friends! You guys have been with me for better or WORSE...and the last few years have definitely been the WORSE! THANK YOU for loving me, anyway!! I hope that I can show you all in some way, sometime, how much you mean to me, and how much I have appreciated your love and support!

3. My crazy life..even with all the ups and downs, and aches and pains, and heart wrenching things I have gone through, and continue to go through, I am glad that I still am able to do the things I need to, to make it through everyday.

4. MY COUNTRY...and the freedoms that I have, living in it...how much I appreciate EACH AND EVERY SACRIFICE that EVERY SOUL has made to keep it this way!

5. My Mom, this will be my first THANKSGIVING without her, and I miss her, more than I can put a voice to, but she has taught me some very important lessons, that will be with me till I see her again on the other side..may I live my life till then, so that she will be proud of me.

6. My Faith...where would I be without it? LOST..I am so THANKFUL to know, that I have a HEAVENLY FATHER WHO KNOWS AND LOVES ME..and yes I DO BELIEVE THAT, and I love him...I am thankful for that knowledge, sometimes, especially through the last couple of years, my faith and religion are what got me through!


THANKS EVERYONE...and Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

Well, time to learn about blogging!

So My kids give me SHIZ all the time about MySpace, which of course they introduced me to, and I had a fit about them using, so now they are going to corrupt me further with blogging!!
Just remember, you are the cause of my downfall!!

All I am going to start with, is a simple, I LOVE MY FAMILY! THEY ARE MY LIFE! I miss them so, when I am in Phoenix working. Hopefully I will be able to come home soon!
Love you all,
Mom