Update on Matt

I sent Matt a text Merry Christmas and he called me back and we talked for quite a long time and then he also sent me these pictures on Christmas.  He really appreciated my reaching out and we plan to stay in touch.  

Marnie, the sister of his Dad Mark (behind Matt in pix) reached out to Matt and asked him to come and help  them in Wixom, Michigan where she lives with her husband, son Austin (in lower picture) and now she is also caring for Matt's grandfather.  The grandmother died this past year and they are readying his house to sell and he will be living at her home.  Thus she needs Matt's help.

Also Matt and then Mark came also to get the house all ready for selling and now Matt will also be selling the furniture etc.

It is a good place for Matt to be as he furthers himself from the drug scene and all the toxic involvements.  He feels secure and has work to do and he is also trying to straighten out some things so he can get licensed as a "line man".  These are the guys who do the electrical etc work on the overhead wires and such.  Matt has amazing skills and a great work ethic and he is determined to get his life under control.  I think it is a miracle he is still alive and feel he has something special to share with the world.

Matt is the grandchild who worked on my lot so much to make the individual rock gardens, keep it cleaned up, prepared the area for the river rock patio, etc.  So we spent a lot of time together and I always appreciated his caring so much to help me.

Mark and his wife have five acres in Arkansas and have a life away from California also.  They like it.

Interesting they all have the beards but the dog.

Marnie trains or raises dogs for something (forgot what) and has several other businesses going.  Very busy lady

 Austen is taking his tests to become a CPA!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2022

We had Christmas Eve dinner at James' house and Meagan and Matt's family were there which made us all happy.

James did the turkey and between us we somehow got the stuffing and mashed

potatoes done and James had gotten some frozen rolls which were very good.

Meagan brought a huge pumpkin and apple pie and whipped cream.

I had made the Romney version of pistachio salad and Christmas Cookies and frosting.

Unfortunately I get too tired as is evidenced by this picture but everyone else looks good!!!

We had fun with white elephant gifts and James read us a little story and the children dressed up in the costumes that Camber has collected.  So Christmas 2002 was with family, yea, not alone!!!

Jacob was back from Hawaii and Lea was back from Bali and Kelsi was here but Jimmy had to work at the restaurant Jake's.

 I was late getting up but went over at 1:20 Christmas Day and had leftovers and we opened the presents under the tree.  I was too exhausted to go to Church even but I enjoyed the Tabernacle Choir and Treeo Christmas Ward Meeting on You Tube.

The Hardys were invited to a Christmas party at one of Camber's and Kelsi's friends home in Rancho Santa Fe so I went home to nap and they had more.

 Christmas.  I can only do so much partying!!!   

Christmas Sunday with the Hardys at Poinsettia Ward

Christmas Sunday with all the Pulsiphers in Las Vegas

The Three Boys of 2022 from the Pulsipher Clan

 Cohen, born in January (Tanner and Marissa's), Calvin, born in August (Amy and Joe's) and Rowan, born in May (Kelly and Collin's)

Linda said it took them all day to get this one shot because of different baby schedules, moods and etc!!!

Kelsi and I

Kelsi sent over this picture taken earlier this month.  Wow, do I look old or what--90 next month and it shows...need that lipstick!

 

Calvin

Calvin Travis born on August 8 to Amy and Joe and he loves to stand up!!  They are all currently in Las Vegas for Christmas and it is Kristi's birthday so celebrating at her house.

 

Easter 1937 and Christmas 1937 and 1940 in Glendive, Montana

Pictures from David's Book of Remembrance 

1--These are pictures I do not remember seeing before in my books but the first picture is Easter

on the South Side at the white house on the corner.  This was the third house we lived in in Glendive

and I was probably 4 in spring 1937.

 

Those are huge buttons on our coats.  I assume they came from the Karl Johnson store Dad was 

managing.  But I know I wore a lot of hand me downs.  I wonder if Mom got things from rummage

sales, too.  We all look very nice though you can see scuffed shoes and David's pants are not new.

We did not have a lot of money, that I know.  When I eventually get to go to school, I remember

wearing clothes more than one day in a row and changing after school and hanging up my dress or

blouse and skirt with straps.  Actually those are the only school clothes I remember in first grade. 

 Luckily the store clothes will become a great blessing in our life, especially in high school and college.

These look like small Easter baskets by today's standards.  We would have had our hair rolled up in

rags the night before to make it curl on the end.  We would have been going to the Congregational

Sunday School where Dad sang in the choir.

2-It is winter and we are wearing anklets which is interesting.  I have on a different coat and David just 

has on a sweater.  This is also on the South Side and was probably 1937 because Carole has 

evidently not been born yet and we have our Christmas dolls.  This was the Christmas where Mom 

had us follow strings to find our dolls and David got the Kayo doll.  

I am not sure if it is the same Christmas Marilyn got a tricycle and it seemed the whole living room floor

was full of things.  That Christmas must have been a very good year at the store!  So the bountiful year

with an electric mixing bowl for Mom  and a tricycle may have been 1938 or 39.

We moved to a this house on the North Side Heights the summer of 1940 and we have our Christmas 

dolls so Carole would be 2 and I would be in second grade.   She was born in November of 1938 and I 

turned 6 in January 1939 and went to first grade on the south side at Lincoln School in September.

Dad was able to purchase this house and we had lived in 4 other houses since moving there in 1934.

This house was about a hundred years old I think.   It was remodeled when I was at college.  The man

looks familiar but can't think who he is, salesman or?  We often had missionaries eat with us but why a 

single man?  I usually wore pigtails.

At Home and at Park City this Week

Linda invited Kelsi and James to dinner the night before they went to Utah and thought it was cute that they were both doing the same thing.

A Few Days Later at Park City, Snowboarding

Sarah and Ethan are with the Pulsiphers at Sweetwater in Park City for the day.

Tanner snowboards and Marissa and Cohen enjoy the snow.

 

Lunch with Johnny and Maria, Christmas 2022

Linda and Gary are in Park City and Maria and Johnny will be at Johnny's work location near Walnut Creek, Ca.  Johnny added these poinsettias to the front porch and Maria put some presents under the tree.  They had invited James and I to lunch and we went to Miguel's by McDonalds and had excellent food and talk.  I had made her and Johnny some raisin bars and cookies.

Had not seen them since I went to Utah in 2021!!!!

  

On Christmas Day we opened the presents Maria had left and I received this lovely cup that Maria sells on a site.  She does the art, etc herself as therapy and is now making a business of her art.  Very nice!

Carole and tne St Lucia tradition

Carole taught her grandchildren about the Swedish tradition and then dressed them with all the perfect outfits.  Very nice.

 

Early Christmas with the Hardy Family, 2022

Since Linda and Gary will be in Las Vegas with all their family for Christmas, she had the Hardys over for dinner, gingerbread house competition and white elephant.

It was a very fun party and we played a game at the end which Lea kept saying was very good therapy, and we laughed a lot.

 

 Unfortunately Camber has been in the hospital for almost 90 days and we miss her so much!!!

                              

 Christmas 2022 with the Hardy Family and Sadie!

Christmas is Near, 2022

I have been listening to a supposed Christmas station for several days.  There is not one Christmas Carol or any reference to Christ is the music.  Evidently Jesus has been cancelled in America by the media.  So Sad.  I am glad I still have my own Christmas records.

I have just realized something else that once you are a Great Grandma you are last on the list of most family members thoughts.  Easy to understand, everyone has children or grandchildren and that is who Christmas is centered around.

I am just happy to have wonderful memories, in my mind and in my blog and books. 

I have lost quite a few pounds this week while I have been sick, back to what I was when I moved into Treeo and then I gained about 20 or more pounds.  Ate too much there.  Still recuperating and do not have much of an appetite.

Janet, 90 in January, yikes!

Christmas Decorating at Hardy Home, 2022

James invited me to come help him decorate the Christmas tree that Mimi (Mary, Camber's Mom) bought for last Christmas.  James hung up the sox.  Kelsi is to finish hanging bulbs etc on the top of the tree.

James or someone had put up some Christmas from the storage and the house looks very nice.

Christmas is Coming! 2022

Poinsettias from Costco are the first sign of prep for Christmas.  So very beautiful and so many blooms!

James took the pictures of Kelsi and I at Church which is actually called Poinsettia Ward,  Kelsi had crimped her hair and was second guessing her choice but it looked lovely though she tells me that I am always telling her that her hair needs brushing...it does.  She is a surfer and out in the sun and surfs a lot.  Beautiful girl with strong legs and strong and beautiful body.

I think I look ok in my bathroom but in the light of day my wrinkles and eye bags and double chin are very obvious.  I have on the sterling earrings someone gave me at one time.  Love them.

89 this Christmas! And those eyes look tired.

Kelsi has 3 dimples!  She is a junior and is tired a lot from all her activities and probably not getting enough sleep and protein?

Hate to show this picture but Kelsi is soo cute!!!

 

Carlsbad Campground

Linda and Gary and Kelly plus Rowan walked down to see the Christmas lights at the campground.  I can't walk that far and am very slow so did not go.  I have not gotten into the Christmas spirit yet and it is already near Thanksgiving!!!!

 

My Blog is Helpful, Happier Times

 I have been so down thinking over and over about the situation with Marilyn and Debbie.  How they can think the way they do is just so unbelievable to me that it makes me feel really bad.  But last night I felt energetic enough to get back to my job of putting pix on my blogs from books I am getting rid of.

And surprisingly as I read some posts of my experiences and what I gained from them and what other people thanked me for and wrote to me I felt really inspired to overcome these negative feelings and just be thankful for so many other things.  I do not need to be around Marilyn, she lives in her own little world and I have very different activities in my life.  She just repeats pat phrases and really does not know what she is talking about and it is more interesting to talk to others anyway and I am busy with my projects anyway.  I believe she knows the truth and just will not overthink what Debbie tells her and I might say something unkind and no need for that.

Carole had to go in yesterday because her blood pressure was over 200 and they have had a hard time gettihng it down.  This morning she has done several tests so anxious to hear how she comes out.

I just found a podcast that is made just for me.  For curious people and I have already learned alot of very interesting things.  For instance there is now in place a hotline for mental health.  Instead of calling the police who do not have the skills and just put more negativism on whatever problem there is, you can call 988 and get professionals to talk to and try to help with talk and resources.  We are to spread the word.

I was having such leg aches just above my knees but I finally decided that I have been watching so much tv while not feeling well and the rocking chair I sit in does not have any pillows to heighten it and so it is too low and as I get up and down a lot the pressure is on my legs in that very spot every time I get up.  Need to let Sadie have the rocker and sit some other way!!!

I also learned why I probably do not gain weight from my eating, I definitely do intermittent fasting just because my body wants to and it helps.

Call Me Curious is the new podcast I am listening to.  There is another one I liked earlier which was also a lot of facts about curious things but I cannot find the title yet.

This is a good memory of a happier time and I loved the way my house looked inside at Christmas.  I will never have that again.  My eye that always irritates me looks bad in this picture way back then in 2012 or so.

Christmas 2021

1000 piece puzzle was Santorini!!!!

Sadie loves her bed!

 

My Puzzle Set up

 

My wonderful present of nice sox!!!!

Christmas Day I woke with a croupy cough and it only got worse.  There was a guy at our table the week before and I caught it, whatever it was.  Sick for Christmas, bummer!

A Christmas Memory by Carole Fuqua, 2021

 "In Eastern Montana, Glendive, winter nights were long but not boring.  Basketball games, Community Concerts, sledding under street lights and exciting radio programs.

I heard my first harp when I was in first grade, sitting on the first row of DCHS auditorium (without parents) eagerly looking up at the beautiful lady playing this etheral instrument.  She smiled at me and I was forever smitten by a harp. 

Great fun and memorable was to come home from sledding to find my Mom stirring up a batch of fudge.  You could use a candy thermometer to get it right or just drop a bit into a glass of cold water to see if the proper soft ball stage was reached.  It was now ready to remove from the fire (we cooked with gas), drop in the butter and vanilla and begin to beat it with a wooden spoon.

Mom wrapped a towel around the hot pan and propped it in the crook of her arm and began to beat.  Too much beating and it would turn to a crumbly mess.  Just enough and it would lose its gleam and be ready to  pour in a buttered dish.  When it was firm to the touch, it was cut into squares or sometimes rolled in a log (not too often on that one).  It was delicious and with a large family you didn't have a chance to overeat.  The pan and spoon was given to the yougest to lick, me.  Many times it was shared with brother Dick in the Navy or brother and sisters at college.

Some like nuts in it, some don't.  I liked either.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas!"

Carole Anderson Fuqua

Messages from Christmas 2021

Messages at Christmas while living at Treeo in Orem, Utah, 2021

I’m glad you are up in Utah living now. I marvel at your youthfulness and zest for life! It’s been wonderful to get to know you better these last few months. Merry Christmas Janet! You are awesome! Much love, Kim

...........................................................

Cute Christmas card/email, love the pics. Glad you have some Christmas entertainment at Treeo. Love you :)  Linda

.............................................................

Glad to see you are adapting to your new surroundings, I never doubted that you would, you have always been up for new adventures. It is so good to see you at Treeo and we are all so glad you are here with your sister Jeanne, we  love you and your little dog Sadie .

Brian

.............................................................

So nice to hear from you! I enjoyed my SBA duties in San Diego (Julian) during this time of year after the fires from before Thanksgiving (Borrego Springs) and after (New Years Eve in Ramona) Lovely area. Blessings to you and your Very Extended family.  BTW, There is an LDS Community in Julian.

Antonio (Tony) Olmi, BA QB Broker La Entrada Realty    NM Lic.#6650   Gateway Real Estate Services NM Lic.#17324  

................................................................

Thank you for the photos and nice stories.  It’s great to her that you are doing well and have your health.  Keep doing all your fun activities and enjoying life and the family and friends that are able to visit.  We get to talk with you often and love hearing about how things are going.  We send positive thoughts and hope that you outlive the doctors prospective on time.  

What ever happens, we are with you in our thoughts and cherish the wonderful Mother you have been for our family.  Lots of warm and Heartfelt memories of visiting you at your Lake house.  You were always such a nice host to the kids and they love you deeply.  Thank you for all you have done for them and the love and hospitality you provided through the years. 

The photo of you at your lake house really touches my heart.  I really have enjoyed your family.  Thank you for being a Mom to me and welcoming me into your family.  I love Maria so much and it has been nice to enjoy her siblings and extended family and her Mother.  

Merry Christmas.  Happy New Year, and I hope we get to say the same to each other for  many more years to come.   

Love you.  Take good care of yourself. 

Johnny

....................................................................

Oh, Aunt Janet, I am so happy to hear from you. It sounds like you have the perfect little home -  so close to the many family members that love you. I am sorry to hear about your health problems. I will be praying that your life is joyful and extended. Merry Christmas to you. You have always been my favorite!!!

Love forever,

Rebecca Smith

.......................................................................

Dear Aunt Janet,

Thank you for the update and glad to hear you are doing well.  I was just in Orem last week and if I knew you were there my wife and I would have visited.  My wife (Laura) and I, along with Michelle & husband, Jennifer & husband and  Cameron and wife are all building homes in Mapleton Utah about ten minutes from you.  We are all moving from Lake Stevens Wa.  Our home plans are with the architect and we should start building in the second quarter of next year.  It will be two years before we move there .... this is the direction we are headed. The building lots are in a development called Hidden Cove near the mountains.  Please send me your telephone number so that I can contact you.

Love you,

Matt and Laura

...................................................................

Merry Christmas Janet:

Great getting your very nice email Christmas card….we both wish you a wonderful Christmas!

 We are doing fine but this past year dealt us some blows that have caused us to blink a bit.  We spent a month last summer at the Jersey Shore (Cape May) visiting Suzy’s daughter and family.  By and large a great time but with an exception….went for  a boat ride and in the process hit a sand bar causing most of us to be thrown to the floor of the boat causing me to break my wrist and Suzy some damage to her arms that she is still hurting from.  We will be OK though!

So sorry to hear about your health reports…sure wish you well and our prayers are with you.

We sold our lake condo at the Flathead last July so our summer plans have changed a bit.  We still want to spend time up there and when we go thru Utah we will give you a call and may be we can do lunch sometime.

 Our best to you Janet….

 Suzy & George

..................................................................

Dear Aunt Janet,

 We love and appreciate you and are so glad to have the chance to see you at Treeo.   We are grateful for all the love and care you give to Jeanne.

All our love, 

Brian and Norma

Stan and Becca Thayne

Jen and Mike Crosby!

Missy and Ken Matthews

 .................................................................

Thank you so much for you wonderful letter with pictures, I love it.

Wow, lots of changes! Would love to come for a visit and meet your sister and family. I need to take your example and get busy--I've been busy reading toooo many books lately!  Really good books--but still need to do more important stuff!  Been busy in R S.  Take care of yourself--you're important to me.

Cheri (Betty Matson's daughter)  Eleanora's granddaughter

..................................................................

Janet,

Someday I hope to travel your way and visit.  Great to recieve your letter and address update.

Janice (Eiler)

...................................................................

Dear Janet,

Thanks for your Christmas letter.  Good to hear news of you. We've slowed down a lot at 89 and 90 but we have Donna here with us.  We hope you are contented in your new place.  Sending out cards has become a little more difficult as we age!

Love, Don and Kay Bennett and Donna

..................................................................

Merry Christmas!!! Love,  Ellen ( Kawaguchi) from Glendive 6th grade

She sent a picture card and her and her daughter and grandchildren.  She looks so young!!!!

................................................................

Dear Janet,

Merry Christmas and Hopeful New Year.  Thanks so mch for all you do for Mom.  We're all so glad you are there,

Love, your niece Carole

.................................................................

Merry Christmas, Janet,

Wishing you all the blessings of the season.

Thank you for all you do for Mom.  David and Tami

................................................................

Dear Janet,

Heartfelt wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.  Love, Carole

Love my bed!

.................................................................

 

Christmas At the Pulsiphers and Stewarts, 2021

The Stewart children in Las Vegas, Kate, Ryan, Brynn and Molly

Craig, Collin, Gary, and Ethan show their muscles in the Pulsipher Play Room.

Sarah and Kelly dressed like twins!

Brynn

Molly

Sarah and Ethan at Pulsipher's

Craig, Ethan, Sarah, Collin, Kelly

Fun Sleep Wear

It is almost like being there when you have wonderful pictures!  Thank you so much for  being there for me and sending your Christmas to me!!