Turning 50

I know...who really talks about their age, out loud anyway. But it is true, I did turn 50 this year. Some lucky people aren't bothered by age, normally I'm not but the big "50" scared me. One day about 8 months before I would turn that page, I had a thought...What if I counted other things than years. So I sat down at my computer & listed 50 people who had an effect on my life. It was really a very good experience. I want to keep improving that list. I wrote experiences with people, it was very pleasant. Then I thought of other positive things that made me happy like candy bars...so I listed 50 of my favorite candy bars...ya I know you wouldn't think that there are 50 but actually I found lists on the internet that had over 200 different types of candy. That was a very fun distraction. Then I made of list of 50 temples I want to go see before I die. That led to a goal for Mark n I to do before our 50th wedding anniversary. I had other "50" lists I wanted to create, like hikes I could take, things I wanted to accomplish, places to visit, things that I want to learn about, favorite quotes, favorite foods, books to read, songs I love, favorite movies & things I'm grateful for. Top on my list is my family. My husband...is my anchor, Each one of my children bring me joy & I love their wives & our darling grandchildren. They all exceed my expectations.

Ok so cut the crap you all know what makes turning 50 so worthwhile...ya it's really those GRANDBABIES!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to all those great family members I did have a very happy b-day. Mark took me out to the Lakes LV to stay at the Montelago the night before. We ate a very amazing dinner by the lake side. It was so peaceful & wonderful. The next day we took a long walk around the resort talking, laughing & taking pictures all the while enjoying texts from all my favorite people. We had gone to the store to get some fruit & the checker said, "you guys look too happy, are you going on a trip". Ya we were pretty happy. Afterwards we went to the LV temple & I saw an old friend who shares the same day of birth...that was fun. At about 4:30 we headed home for a very happy surprise. Jayden's friends had made me the best chocolate cake ever!!!!!!!! As I was changing I'm hearing them all yell for me to come out of my room & there they all were holding a cake & a poster full of wishes, singing. What a fun surprise!!!!!!!! Thanks...Alex, Chase, Travis, Brett, Robert & Jayden for picking such great friends. That was really the best part of the day. That was followed by Janea making some very yummy chicken alfredo & pudding poke hole cake with strawberrys & whip cream...yum!!! Then....grandbabies!!!! Yes Jacob & Rachel came by with flowers & those darling boys....Easton & Teagan. Day complete!!! Thanks everyone for helping age have meaning. One final thing no one mentioned numbers. lol

2010 Happenings

Of course we started the year off great with a trip to the Beaver Mts with Jacob, Rachel & the boys before they were married, it was a great get to know you trip. The funny thing was that Jacob duck-taped Teagan into his outfit to keep the snow out...so funny!!!

It has been amazingto get a new daughter & 2 new grandkids. Jacob n Rachel were married Feb 27th. Easton is now 5 & Teagan is almost 2. They are so much fun & add so much to our lives. Rachel is so good for Jacob!!! They are just so cute to watch. They live about 20 minutes away up Cheyenne just past the 215...ya right next to the mt. They have a cute little 3 bedroom 2 & 1/2 bath house. Jacob got a new job as a phone salesman for Bullfrog selling Verizon phone pkgs.

Next big news for our family was that Jen & Jared had baby Gavin on his due date, June 2nd. What a dolly he is!!!! He is now 7 months old, sitting up, crawling & saying da, da among other gurglings. Since they live 6 hours away we enjoy their visits & skype them as much as we can. Jen is back to work as a lab tech & Jared continues to work on creating TraquilMed the device that helps with restless leg syndrome. Grandma tries to go to Provo about once a month to get her Gavin fix.

On a sadder note Marks dad passed away in Jan 2010. We are sure he is enjoying his time with his wife & other family on the other side. Mark was very grateful to all the love that was sent his way during this difficult time.

Also in Jan one of our dear friends husband was deported, leaving behind 4 kids & an expectant wife. As tragedy struck the Velazques family, our family got to witness & be apart of a loving effort to help that wonderful family be reunited in Mexico. We look back on that difficult time with fondness because of the bond of love that we shared. Jayden & Jorge are & will always be great friends & we look forward to the time that we can see them again.

Janea is 18 & a SENIOR!!! All in the same year. She is a most capable young women. She has a tough school schedule & is still ranked #1. She has great study habits & uses prayer before tests & through out her day to give her that upper edge. She LOVES soccer & has been on the Varsity team for ALL 4 years. While she hasn't always had a winning team she has been a winner because she keeps her chin & fight up during the games. This year is a better year for Cheyenne. They have alot of girls with skill & fight. She stays busy during the summer by life guarding for North Las Vegas rec dept. She tans, which none of the rest of us can do. Along with the fact that she loves kids & swimming, it makes a perfect job for her. She knows & loves the Savior & that above all makes her mom extremely happy.

Jayden also loves the Lord & His gospel, also making his mom very happy. He makes great choices with his life & friends. He likes girls, facebook, texting & hanging out with friends in "the cave". Yes he now has the big "teen" bedroom all to himself.
He is Priest Secretary & he often speaks in different wards in the stake, which I must say he does SUCH a GREAT job at, he is quite a natural. He loves to snowboard & loves the cold. With the ski resort re-opening in Beaver, UT, he has found a new place to enjoy his favorite hobby. While there in a blizzard we all got to enjoy a night without power, reading books by flashlight & heating hot cocoa by fire. He is an amazing teenager who has the confidence to share his beliefs with anyone at his high school, ATECH. He & Janea willingly, get up at 5am to be able to go to Semenary M-F. He is especially enjoying it this year as he is maturing.

Although Mark & Patti still have 2 kids at home they suffer from the empty nest syndrome because the kids at home are teens & don't want to leave their social life to go on trips so Mark & Patti had a few chances to get away alone this year. 1st to San Diego May 30th-June 3rd then on to Provo to see that NEWEST Grand baby, Gavin & finally to Disneyland in Dec. Patti thought it wouldn't be fun to go to Disneyland without kids to enjoy it with but soon realized she was with the biggest, longest living kid ever so she had the best time ever!!!! Mark loved it cuz he got all the churos & treats he wanted.

They also had enough hiking hours in to prepare them to hike the Mt Charly peak twice this year. Although it is quite a feat they both know it keeps them young so it is worth the effort. The first hike was through about 15 large patches of snow & the 2nd was in record time for them of 5 hours up & 4 back. Good times!!!

Jared finished his masters at BYU on "An adaptive Grid-based All Hexahedral Meshing Algorithm Based on 2-refinement". Well it's basically a technique that helps scientists figure out how to put mass into the computer so they can test car crashes & other effects on things. I am so amazed that he can think of such things. He used his science brain & made a diaper chute from Gavin's bedroom window to the outside trash. Now that's science!!!

Jordan is serving strong in the San Antonio, TX mission. He is now zone leader & loving the hispanic people. Some of my favorite quotes from him are:

"I never knew God had a plan for the man I'm meant to be. I thought I was just gonna go through life. Get in and get out. I never thought I would be built up, torn down, raised up and beat down. I have been the victim, the felon, the missionary, the victim. I've been the savior, the sinner, the example and the hypocrite. I've given advice and ignored counsel. I've given sermons and ignored seminars. I've lived and died. All to become the man I'm meant to be."

"Mom, I'm working my butt off."

"God truly is preparing the way ahead of me."

"I am about my Fathers business."

"The Lords work is beautiful."

"God lives, He uses ALL, weakness, faults, everything."

"I love these people, I pray for them, I serve them."

"God is pushing me on."

"I will stand with courage n faith."

Jeramy is in a conservation camp just outside of Southern Desert & should be released in July 2012. He is progressing well & working filling orders out of the storage rooms for the cafeteria n such. Sofia started K & so bright. She loves swimming, going to park, playing with friends & jumping in leaves. She is now in a permanent home that her mom is buying.

Most of the family enjoyed a trip to Mission Beach in San Diego where some stayed at an apt on Mission Beach while others stayed at the Hyatt on the Bay. Both places had something great to offer. The Hyatt was great for the exercise room on the Bay, 3 great pools & a Jacuzzi. At the beach Jayden dug a HUGE hole in the sand & tunnels all around it. Alot of kids that were around us got involved as we waited for the tide to destroy his work of art. One of grandmas favorites was running along the surf with Easton & Teagan to chase the birds away. Jacob, Mark & Jayden ran on the beach for a healthy start to their day. Patti & Janea loved shopping along the strandway. Easton & grandma surprised Jacob by decorating the apt for his b-day. Everyone loved the ribeye & fish tacos. The Mormon Battalion in Old Town was extremely well done & it was exciting to find Marks great, great grandfather Dore Purdy Curtis's picture in the records. The kids loved gold panning & sitting on wagon. Although that was fun the candy store in old town took 1st place.

In Oct Mark & 5 friends enjoyed a 5 day deer hunt in the Ruby mts of Northern NV. He considered it an honor to gut Keens deer. You'll have to ask him that story. It is a much needed time to enjoy the outdoors with good friends, good company in his element.

Gavin is my Disneyland

He is far better than Disneyland. He is such a joy. Such a good boy. And better than his amazing cuteness n good babyness his parents are great to be around. I have so fallen in love with Jen, she is such a dear sweetie. I would think gratefullness is the key word in her life. As we are shopping she thanks me, as soon as I'm at the cash register she thanks me, when we put the groceries in the car she thanks me, ya it goes on. She is the whole package...smart, hardworking, spiritual, etc. Jared is one lucky man. Of course Jen is also one lucky wife because he is equally grateful n sweet. He is very focused on working out a way to provide a living for his little family. He is just about done with his masters. He will then put his focus into businesses. He will continue working on Tranquil Med & has other potentials on the way.

To see pics of Gavin go to my FB

And the winner is.....

Jared Edgel, Tim Lovell and Ryan Allred won 1st place at BYU's Business Plan competition in April 2010 for the company of Tranquil Med. While Jared has proven himself to be an amazing engineer & student, he has changed his focus to business. In 2009 he & his wife, Jen attended a rich dad seminar & it changed his life. He has since been very focused on becoming an entrepreneur. He now has 4 business potentials...speedlings, folded flower, real estate & Tranquil Med. He is reading everything in sight & ready to learn all he can.

Here is the article in the BYU paper about Tranquil Med.

The 2010 Business Plan Competition came to a close Friday, with the announcement of Tranquil Med as the first-place winner of $50,000 of cash and in-kind services.

Tranquil Med strives to help sufferers of Restless Legs Syndrome combat their symptoms. The company, founded by Tim Lovell and Ryan Allred — both second year MBA students — and Jared Edgel — a Masters of engineering student, invented the Rest Easy light to bring about “effective treatment through light technology.”

“It’s amazing to win,” Lovell said. “I think as we sat here having people congratulate us, we realize how many people had a hand in helping us. We are so grateful; without them we wouldn’t be here.”

The Tranquil Med team said it plans on using its prize money to invest back in the business and complete the design of its product. In addition, it hopes to use the money to pay back people who have done work so far.

Close to 840 students, administrators, judges and family members of competing teams filled the JSB Auditorium. Cosmo gave out numerous prizes to the audience — the biggest prize was a 42-inch flat screen TV.

Scott Petersen, who serves as chairman on the BPC founder’s board, said all three of the competing teams had good business plans. He thought because of the size of its market, the potential existed for Tranquil Med to be a high performer.

More than 30 million people suffer from RLS throughout the world and sufferers spend close to $1.5 dollars a year on treatment.

“Tranquil Med found a really simple solution that works without side effects,” said Spencer Arnsten, a second-year MBA student and BPC director on Tranquil Med’s winning idea.

Before the announcement of the winner, all three finalists — Tranquil Med, Bizari and Fanfare — presented a final 10-minute presentation. The company Bizari took second place, while Fanfare took third place, winning $30,000 and $20,000 in cash and in-kind services, respectively.

Janea is an amazing student!

On many levels Janea is such an impressive student. She received 4 awards this month. Three letters at her HS....she lettered in soccer, leadership & academics. Which is all very good but the award that is most impressive is the Harvard's favorite junior award. She was approached by her physics teacher to apply for this award about 2 months ago. She was 1 of 60 students in Nevada who applied & she won. She had to put together a resume with her activities, copies of her transcripts & a paper on who her mentor is. Of course awards or not I just love this girl. She is a dream daughter on all levels. My favorite thing about her is that when life is tough she knows where to turn. She lets God be her strength.

The princess Disney trip

Oh yes, what is better than princesses n Disneyland? Especially with very excited little girls. I of course am one of those very excited princesses. I love Disneyland. I love Graysen, Adi, Sofia & Janea. What a better combination. Every 6 months I crave Disneyland. The draw back is that Mark & Jayden don't love it as much as I do. So I had to go elsewhere to find Disney buddies. I am so glad I didn't have to go far. Since Graysen & Adi's parents don't love Disney like I do & I so love those two darlings I figured no one would mind if I took them. We made countdown paper chains. We had a different color chain for the days we had Disney planning meetings to talk about the food, snacks, DVD's for the drive, favorite princesses & rides. Well it was all so wonderful as you could imagine...too short but wonderful. We went on a Monday so we had no lines at all. We were all so exhausted that we strollered Graysen & Sofia to their beds. I had slept on the same bed the night before but Monday night it was the most comfortable bed I had ever felt. I thought as I lay there that I would write the manager & tell him how amazingly comfortable the bed was. So funny. When I woke up the next day it didn't seem that comfortable. I was exhausted. I have heard someone who runs marathons say that running marathons is less exhausting than walking & standing at Disneyland all day.

Jacobs love story

Me and Rachel's story is a strange one. I'm a recent RM she's a recent divorcee. Both of us reluctant to date each other. Everyone and their mom tried to set us up. Neither one of us were having it. Finally thanks to an uncomfortable work party, I was forced to ask a girl out. By this time me and Rachel are friends and I definitely enjoy her company. She is the perfect choice. After that date I couldn't stop seeing her. I was stoked but apprehensive.

2 small problems. As with dating a mom and a recent divorcee, you run into challenges. It was the first time I was not coming first in a girls life. Not an easy adjustment. We had a bump (or I did) and broke up a week after the first date. Those next 2 days were miserable. I couldn't believe how horrible it was not talking to this wonderful woman. Fortunate for me she broke first and just wanted to talk. Back at it again with renewed emotion and added meaning to our early beginning.

Now I'm hooked. This girl has me. Never have I met such an amazing women with such love and compassion. So much of understanding. On top of all that she is a great person who I love to talk to, be around, and not to bad to look at. Truth be told, I think we both knew where this was going awhile ago. Or at least awhile ago in our terms. A condo trip sealed the deal. Seeing my baby for a continuous 84hrs. I'm sold.

Now were talking serious. I see the woman that I want to rear my children and take care of me forever. Definitely a diamond in the rough. A priceless jewel. One that will never disappoint nor cease to shine.

Asking her dad. Yikes! Not exactly a calm experience. He is the kind of guy legends are built off of. By (not my own) experience, I know if I do something wrong I'm in trouble. He says yes. I can tell he likes me. Enough to not choke me out right there. Ca-ching! I'm in and the rest will be history.

The boys. So it would be one amazing thing to get the woman of my dreams but on top of that I get these amazing boys. Both studs in their own right. Easton (4) is a lot of fun and is such a sweet boy. Teagan (1) aka the destroying angel, is such a cutie and lots of fun. I bond well with the boys and they in return. Could life be any sweeter.

There is my scoop. I appreciate a lot of the support rendered by many church leaders and good friends. It is my greatest honor to marry such an amazing woman. I feel complete and whole with her and the boys. God does bless us. Sometimes with the last thing we could ever expect. I love that woman with all that I have and hope to do so forever. Thanks to you all for the love and support you have shown.