Back to the grind stone

Since the last posting, Shane and Whitney arrived safely. They are lots of fun to be around. I started back to work on the fifth and we already had a holiday yesterday and a snow day today!
Snow days are nice, but they have to be made up. Ugh! So no holiday in February. Who cares. It is just nice to be back to the norm. We have been celebrating birthdays with lots of family activities and visits. Just what I love. Shane and Matt both have had a birthday. Next is Zack and Whitney in February.
Of course we are getting stuck to the t.v. during these winter months with "24" back on and American Idol. I love me some Jack Bauer. Until the contestants are chosen for A.I. I don't even bother to watch yet. That part is studid. They just need to have the people chosen and then start the show. The young people like the choosing but not me.
Last week I was driving home from work listening to the radio. The d.j. said he was going to have contest in a few minutes and get ready to call. Well me being the senior teenager that I am, I called. It was busy so I would hang up and call back. The next thing I know the d.j. answered. I about swallowed my teeth. The contests was for ticket to see The EAGLES that night in Charlotte. He asked me what was my favorite Eagles song then to sing a little of "Take it Easy." Well you know I did! I WON!!!!!!!!! It was 4:15 and it took me till almost 5:30 to get to West Columbia and pick up the tickets. I got home at 6 and Dennis at about 6:30. We left, got there, went to the restroom, and the show started. I have never in my life been to such a fantastic show. Unbeleivable! Like I have never seen. Those guys may have messed up political views, but they can flat play the guitar! Dennis and I haven't had that good a time in years!
Our little Zack is still the best thing around since chocolate! We enjoy all his surprise remarks and the love he gives each one of us. Blythe is still looking for a job, Matt received an award at work for being number one in his region and number 18 or 20 out of 2000 reps with Blackberry.
Pretty good, huh. Whitney job shadowed last week and began her new job at an endodontist office this week. She is a dental assistant. We are so happy for her. Other than that, we are all just back to our normal grind stone. Take care to all.

Our Three Degrees of Glory

Once again Dennis came up with the title. He said our children's college degrees were our three degrees of glory! We were sooooo proud on the 15th of December at 3:30 our Blythe Alexis Branham received her B.A. in Art History. It was an emotional day. TaMara claims her degree is the celestial degree because she received it from the Lord's school, BYU! I am just thankful and greatly blessed that it is all done and over. Truly we have been blessed with three wonderful children.

Matt, TaMara, and Zack moved out that same week. They have an apartment about a mile from Shane and Blythe's. It has been fun for those three. They will only be there for about six months while they build their house. We are going this week to pick the spot out and measure it off. Progress!

Shane is about to bust to leave Tuesday for Utah or should I say leave to go get Whitney. I am so excited for them both! Whitney has brought back our fun, sweet, loving Shane. He is a different person. Thank the Lord.

Dennis was sick for about a week before Blythe's graduation. The day of it he really was sick. He just kept pushing himself all that week until by the 16th he was exhausted. We were able to get him an antibiotic but he needed rest. TaMara and I commanded him to the bed that Friday and he did not go anywhere until Monday morning. We were worried, but he is much better now.

Zack had a big Christmas. I absolutely had the best Christmas ever because everyone was here!

Thanks For Giving

Dennis always says, "Thanks for giving" instead of Thanksgiving. It is a pretty good way of putting things. We were soooo thankful for the first time in years to have all three of our children and our Matt and Zack with us this Thanksgiving. What more could we ask to have?

While Grandma was making the ambrosia, Zack decided to help himself! I feel a newness to life with so much family around. I don't know why it took TaMara's coming home for Shane and Blythe to come around more. The reason doesn't matter. I just love it. Shane brought a new friend over to meet us all on Wednesday night. Dennis grew up with her mom and me for a little while in the teen years. They were visiting here from Utah. Shane and Whitney met Sunday and spent just about the rest of her whole visit together. Just a few more days before Blythe graduates! Another reason to give thanks! Now we are asking the Lord to give Blythe a job so we can thank him for another blessing. Matt and TaMara will probably be moving into an apartment soon for about six months while building their house NEXT TO US!!!!!!!! I have truly been blessed during my life to learn patience, but it truly does pay to have it. Look....I waited on Dennis and have had 32 blessed years of bliss and now Zack will be living right beside Grandma!

Is that happiness or what?

Shock! Twice in one month! Wow!

Just thought I would blog before I got too busy with Thanksgiving and the start of the holidays. Hope all are doing well. I finally got well after about two weeks of some virus or flu bug. To make it worse, I took the flu shot the day I became sick. It was the worst ever but now I feel like a million dollars. About a week ago I was named "Staff Person of the Month" for November. Woo-hoo! I couldn't believe it. Everyone at school has been very nice and assuring that I deserved it. I thought, well after being there nine years one would think so, huh? In less than a month Blythe graduates from college! That is another thing that makes me really proud. Three down and NO MORE TO GO! We have had a child in college for eleven years staight. No we have no retirement money.

Next Sunday my favorite tv show returns "24." I think it will be two nights in a row. Good thing "Dancing with the Stars" is almost over. Next Monday is our 32nd anniversary. Now I cannot even believe that! I surprise myself sometimes.

Has everybody been working on their year supply? Dennis has gone crazy between buying food and guns. I don't know if I can take 4 years of his griping about Obama being our president. It is the Clinton era all over again. Maybe this time it will only last four years instead of eight.

Well, hope everyone of you who checks this will have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holidays. I love this time of year. It has been a beautiful fall here. Love to all. TaWanna

We did our part!

As you can see.....we all did our part and voted today!!! It wasn't that bad of a wait either. We were there about one hour tops. Wasn't that a blessing? Probably the only one we are going to receive since Obama is probably going in. It has been hard to accept, but this is how I feel. We were blessed to be born in America and in the church. I am just thankful at these troubled times that we have the safety of the gospel and a prophet who I know will tell us what to do. Dennis voted after being in meetings most of the day and Shane had to vote early, early this morning. He probably will not get to leave for home until about 4 a.m. tomorrow morning. Somehow he is in the middle of the security for the votes. We are all just sick around here but know the Lord will provide. We can all help each other through this.

Our Family is Complete!

No lectures. I know I am behind again. TaMara, Matt, and Zack arrived August 16th to our home! We are so happy making up for lost time with each of them.....especially Zack. Their being here has added life back to our home. I did not realize how boring our empty nest was! There are some pictures (finally) attached of our trip to Savannah in early August. We just wanted to get away one last time before I started back to work. It really is a lot like Charleston.

We wanted to go to Paula Deen's place but the community kind of discouraged it. They said it was always so crowded (2 hour waits) and not as glamorous as you pictured. It was true. We rode by it and peered inside. It was just okay. Another place that was recommended by the towns people was the Wilkes House. The owner passed away about 2 years ago. Anyway, I think this is the place Paula Deen may have copied. We went in the 100 plus year house in the basement area. We only waited an hour. You go in with 12 people and all sit at one table. They bring out about 15-20 dishes with different meats, veggies, and starches in them. All made from scratch and Southern. It was wonderful and like going back in time. You definitely did not have to eat again the rest of the day.

Since going back to work, I can hardly get anything done. It is just wonderful to come home and be greeted with hugs and kisses from Zack. He adores and loves his Grandaddy Dennis. He helps Grandaddy pick the garden. He tells Dennis, "We have to go get the harvest." Of course, Dennis first put him up to saying that.....and many other things. I don't know what we are going to do when they buy a home or build one. They may build one here on the family property. That is a big decision to live so close to us.:)

Zack has had a very bad cold this past week and is on an antibiotic. It was hard to see him so sick. He still kept being the sweet, fun child he is though.

My little business has really taken off now that I am back at work. I have to take this Thursday off to handle one sale this week. Then I have another one on the 27th and one on Oct. 11th. The USC games were going to be to hot and aggrevating to find a place so I decided against that. Other than all of the above, everything else is fine. I am trying to do better at all this.:) Love to all!

My Summer Is Flying

Elbow update: after going to the doctor I found out I have arthritis and 3 spurs on my right elbow. Yes, I am right handed. Naturally I was given a non-inflammatory drug plus I have to ice it twice a day. Yes, I am still doing it even after a couple of weeks. The dr. discouraged surgery of any kind.....even orthoscopic. What is up with that? Well I will just tell you something is going to be done. I cannot go on without some permanent help. So Monday I am going to another dr. for a second opinion. Ha! Would you believe we went back to the beach for a couple of days? Canada and Hill Cumorah were ruled out with the cost of things. The real reason is because we want to go see Zack more than the east coast! We will definitely be going out to Utah at least before Aug. 6th. That is my dreaded day of return. On July the 4th we went up to the lake with LaDonna and her family. It was very nice! We now have a boat slip! Sure makes life simpler to just go up and walk on the boat then start the engine. Besides watching our garden grow, crossword puzzling, ipoding, and just a little here-ing and there-ing I am loving life. Today I went to the temple with Mama and my aunt Hallie. I got to be at the altar for the sealing of my great, great, great grandfather and his father. It was a special time. Hope you all get to see the pictures I tried to post.