Looking back on the last decade

This morning in church our pastor spoke of the past decade and it got me to thinking.... In the last 10 years I've seen many things. I've lost both parents to death. THEY are with Jesus now. I miss them but am glad they are at peace and have no more pain! The last few years of their lives were a struggle for them so I can only be happy for them. During the holidays (especially Thanksgiving and Christmas) I miss them most. Daddy died just before Thanksgiving 2 years ago so that is still a hard time for me. Thankfully, I have Larry who helped me through the loss of my parents and also stood beside me as I lost my two best girlfriends; one to death and another by choice. Lisa also went to be with the Lord two years ago. Her death was even harder on me than Daddy's as she & I were only 1 year apart in age. She was the love of my brother Pete's life and a ray of sunshine to all of us. She was the instrument God used to bring me back to walking with Him. My other 'friend' Deedee proved not to be a friend after 20 some years. She & I were on shaky ground for a long time but I continued to try to be her friend and get past her lying and dishonesty (while trying to witness to her but ALWAYS being rebuffed.) I stayed in her life because of her daughter Jacque (now 12) for several years. The cigarettes, alcohol and general life style she continues to choose became too much for me. I realized I was not making a difference in either of their lives and chose to end the relationship that began so many years ago. I had grown and she had not. It is hard to realize that some people, no matter how much you love them are poison to you. So, in the last decade I've lost 4 people who were a great big part of my life for 20 years and more. Sad... In the last decade I've also gained someone who is My Best Friend. My Larry came into my life in Aug. 2003 when I moved back to Spokane from Clarkston and took a job at the hotel where he worked. I became a part of the family and now have 3 adult (step) daughters, 6 grandchildren ranging in age from almost 18 to almost 2! I also have 2 brothers-in-law and 4 sisters-in-law and a MOM. This man has stood beside me during my 'decade of loss.' But it has also been a decade of gain. I have gained a Best Friend who loves me and supports me, someone who shares my love of wandering. Together we have moved 8 times in the last 6 years! Only one of those moves was within the same state and that was when we lived in Arizona and moved from a one bedroom apartment into a brand new 3+ bedroom/2 bathroom house in a new housing project. I have also gained the possession of a black cat we named Spirit. He came to live with us in mid-October 2004. We have determined he was born around the first of August so... Spirit and I share a birthday, a home, a bed and ALWAYS my oranges. During this decade I have made some good new friends and met many people. I've worked in several hotels and worked again at Mold In Graphic Systems in Clarkdale, AZ. While at those jobs, I met several people who became friends and some of those have remained Very Good Friends. AND one bonus daughter that Larry and I both love as our own. While my mom and then my dad were in the assisted living home in Lewiston (prior to going to the nursing home) I met and became very good friends with one of the ladies who worked there. We remain friends today. I always look forward to her visits to Spokane and hopefully, I'll get to see her when I visit Lewiston in the future. So now, 2009 is nearly at an end and I look forward with eager anticipation to what God has in store for me in the next decade. And that's it for now. Until next time and more of Jacki's Ramblings. =)

Christmas for Larry and delivering gifts

It was a good weekend. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Lewiston and I have to say I was impressed. Our 'bonus daughter' Michelle works there so she got us a rate. NICE!!! Mostly all we did after we got there Saturday was lay around and go to dinner at Applebee's. I spent some time visiting with Michelle while she was working. Sunday AM we met up with my ex and his "friend" for breakfast, then drove up to Orofino to deliver the Christmas gifts to KD & family. It was almost snow as we headed back down the river so we gassed up in Lewiston and headed up the grade and came home. Even only being gone one night it was nice to get back home. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to attend church services at home or at Tammany View but it was important to make this weekend about Larry and doing the things he wanted to do - Including meeting Steve! lol =) Yes, they got along well; I knew they would. So nice Larry isn't intimidated by me being friends with my ex. He knows and is comfortable with the fact that I am where I want to be. I am so thankful for Larry. He is a good man. This week we'll go to his mom's on Christmas eve day and then to the services at church - I Think Larry is going with me. Friday will be our day together, with me cooking a Christmas ham dinner for the two of us. On Saturday the middle daughter Tonya & family will be in town and we'll go to Swedette's for a birthday party for Mom, Lyden (Tonya's stepson) and Bailey (KD's son.) Not sure Bailey will be here, KD said "no" last time we asked but we're still hoping. But we celebrate the birth of our Lord without His being here (physically) so I guess we can celebrate Bailey's birthday without him this year - if we have to. Then we'll prepare to welcome the new year, the new decade... where did the 0 years go???

Larry's Weekend

This will be Larry's weekend. For Christmas, instead of a 'gift' he wanted to go do the hotel thing and get out of town. I figured we could combine his desire with our gift giving expedition. We will be taking the Christmas gifts to Orofino for KD and family. Bummer is they had a chance for a ski weekend so they will be gone and they won't be coming to Spokane for Christmas. So...we are going to drop off their gifts and just have a quiet weekend. Well, other than seeing the friends/family in Lewiston that we'll get to see. So far we don't know who we'll get to see since this was a last minute decision. We'd sort of thought we'd go down there on the first. Nope, we're gonna go NOW. Larry is ready for some time away. He got a bonus for Christmas and we're using that to make this trip. It should be a fun time as we haven't really told many that we're coming. It won't be like my trips down usually are: rush, rush rush.

Gotta hit the hay so I'll be up and at 'em in the morning.

My Christmas Present

Today was the day Larry gave me my Christmas present. Those of you who know him know he doesn't do surprise gifts. Once he's bought the present, he has to give it to you right away...no fancy gift wrap or bag. It comes in the bag from whatever store where he shopped. Well, today that meant I got to go and pick up the mixer I've been wanting for several years. It was just so expensive I wouldn't pay the price. Yesterday he saw in the paper where it was on a two day sale. (GOOD PRICE) He told me "Go get that mixer you've been wanting. Merry Christmas." After we talked about it, I agreed to get it. I've really been missing the stand mixer I gave away when we moved to Arizona last January and this was the One I'd Longed for... I've never put a Christmas gift on a credit card so I'm having a tough time with that. Larry pointed out that we have a credit card from that store and we'd pay more if we missed the two day sale so we agreed we'd get the mixer and pay off the balance as soon as the bill comes in. I've bought a few things for Larry for Christmas and have a few more in mind, but nothing that compares with the mixer that will sit on my counter where everyone can see it. =) I know he doesn't care but for me Christmas gifts are about giving; NOT about getting so I feel like a selfish pig right now. Of course what he's looking at is that he'll benefit from my having the mixer since he gets to eat the foods I'll prepare with it. That makes me giggle. Merry Christmas to me and to all who read this. :=))

Something to Say

So it seems I've always got something to say and after sending two or three e-mails saying the same thing, I get bored and want to stop so sometimes the people I think I've told about a subject actually heard NOTHING from me... With that in mind, I thought I'd try out the blog and see if this works better. I'll be hoping for some feedback to know if you're really reading this or if I'm just writing to myself. ;=O