STARTIN' SCHOOL

Brooklyn (Angela and Eddie's)

Jane (Ben & Cooper's)

Chamberlain (Josh & Ashleigh's)

I just can't believe these three cousins (my beautiful grandchildren) are all starting school this year at the same time, although in different parts of the country. Brings back memories of when my children started school. Once they start, suddenly they seem all grown up. When Adelaide (now nearly 13) entered kindergarten she was sitting coloring with her brother Nolan (now 11) and said, "Nolan you are doing that wrong. I know because I'm in school now." Of course, I chuckled from the other room when hearing this. Yes - they are growing up. And surprisingly enough, I just don't get older, although they all seem to. So, I'll just stick to being 49 in my mind, keep coloring my roots, getting my nails done, an occasional massage, and act like I did when I was 30 - only a bit wiser (I hope.)

Strolling in the Park

Me and Beckham

Yes, this is me in my usual way with riding the rides at either Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm, Magic Mountain or the Orange County Fair. While everyone is enjoying being tossed on their heads, thrown from side to side in a fun-thrilled ride, I am here usually pushing a baby (now grandbaby), or sitting patiently in the shade while my thrill-seeking children and grandchildren seek the thrills, so to speak. And, please don't feel sorry for me. I choose to not ride on the majority of the rides that are featured at a given park. Why? I just don't have the stomach for it. And I know this from my early years as a kid going to Lagoon in Utah. My mom loved the big wooden roller coaster there, and usually tried coaxing me to come on. But when she managed to get me to ride, she, along with everyone in the party that day, regretted it. I was dizzy, felt nauseous and had to lie down on more than one occasion. Of course, the winning event was Senior Ditch Day at Lagoon in high school when the boyfriend of the day talked me into riding the Tilt-o-whirl where not only was I sick the rest of the day, but actually (and literally) lost my lunch on the ride. So...I prefer watching the babies, taking pictures and waving like nice grandmas do on the sidelines. The next time, however, I'm asking for a free days pass for just standing, sitting and buying lunch for everyone.

Chris' kids love taking pix with every character in the park. This is Knottsberry Farm during their trip for David's wedding.

I do like this one - just not the lines you have to wait in to go on it!

Ben and Cooper.  Cooper wasn't sure about this. Think it ruined her day too.

Girls look mighty scared to me...

Wave at Grandma

Face painting bribe from Chris for his girls to ride with him on every (literally) every ride in the park.

This Was Not On the Wedding Checklist Ken!

My mom continually brings up the fact that I shouldn't have moved from Utah, that I should be singing in the Tabernacle Choir, and that she doesn't know my grandkids. It's been 31 years since I moved from Utah to more traffic, warmer year-round weather, and higher housing prices, but it never really hit me that she was basically saying that she missed me and felt lonely, until my baby of six left today, headed to Las Vegas and his new home, along with his beautiful new wife, Sarah.

Yes, David got married. And the past three posts have highlighted it in some way. It was beautiful, joyous and sad, all at the same time. We want nothing more for our children than to see them happy and successful, along with staying righteous and living honest lives. And when they find that "soulmate," we are happier for them than they can imagine. As parents, we do feel what they feel, hurt when they hurt, smile and laugh when they laugh, and rejoice when they see success. So, for David and Sarah, I gave them big "good bye" hugs and kisses, and thought out loud, "make sure you call your mom weekly!"

July and August have been jam-packed with family happenings! From the birth of Josh and Ashleigh's baby boy, Harrison Joshua Burgess, the baptism of Chris' oldest, Kelli Jo, to spending the month there in Utah working out, driving back to Vegas to pick up Ken, the wedding, the paramedics rushing Ken to the hospital, to... Oh yes. Forgot (conveniently) about mentioning that.

Twelve years ago while on a family vacation at Lake Powell, Ken suffered internal bleeding from some ulcerations in his gut, removal of a tennis ball-sized tumor, and recovery. And he hasn't seemed to have had many problems with this since, other than an occasional challenge with stomach burning when eating any sort of semi-spicy foods. Until the day of David's wedding. He knew he was again bleeding internally, was very pale and weak. His thinking was to make it through the wedding for David's sake, then admit himself to the hospital to get this all checked out. The boys came over earlier in the day - Ben, Eddie, Josh, and Chris - and gave Ken and blessing, he rested a bit - then off to the wedding. However, 30 minutes before people started to arrive he sat down, went white as a ghost and collapsed. Luckily Chris was there to catch him, call out to Lesa to call 911, then moved him to the floor. As soon as he gained consciousness and his color returned to his face, he smiled and said, "what am I doing on the floor?" I (frightened) but lightheartedly said, "honey...this wasn't on the wedding checklist."

Ken was rushed by paramedics to the Western Medical Hospital near the Tustin Tennis Club, smiling and waving us to continue with the wedding. So - that's what we did. With Ken in our thoughts and prayers we continued greeting people as they arrived, started the instrumental ensemble playing, and proceeded with the wedding, then the reception, follow-up and clean up.  Other than having Ken nearly die prior to the wedding starting, things went pretty well.  Huge "thank you's" to Ashleigh, Joshua and Lee Ann Chamberlain for the incredible decorations, Ben and Cooper for the non-stop work on everything from writing checklists, shopping for the rehearsal barbecue, scouting out the park in Irvine for the barbecue, decorating the park tables and surroundings to match up with the wedding colors, food prep, event organization, clean up, best man duties with announcements...etc. For Lesa, Angela and Eddie for prep and clean up, for Chris watching all of the kids and helping...it all came together. And once again...families are forever, and they pull together at times of need in a huge way - an eternal way that says, I love you mom and dad! And, that IS on the wedding checklist!

Speaking of the Wedding

Sarah and David, August 4, 2012

Cousins

Handsome Chamberlain

Uncle David!

Ben and Cooper helped me non-stop

Stunning Decorations by Ashleigh, her mom and Josh-Wedding Song -

Angela helping the girls with the smores bar - yummo!

Wedding Song 

"He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain,
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name,
There is love. There is love."

"Oh, a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home.
They will travel on to where the two will be as one.
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end,
woman draws her life from man
and gives it back again and there is love.
Oh, there's love."

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For is loving is the answer then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh, there's love. There is love.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part. 

The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
there is love. Oh, there is love.

Flower Girls (Zoey on right)

My Boys (also Sarah and Chamberlain)

Cousins - Madison and Kelli Jo

Josh and Ashleigh (and Lee Ann) did all of the decorating

Mom (me) and David dancing

Stunning Decorations

Best Kiss Ever!

Doesn't Look Good for Mom

I think Chris' comment when he snapped this photo of me after first attempting my workout with him in Bountiful, Utah was, "doesn't look good for mom."

Well, that's how it started. Me driving to Utah to spend the month of July at Chris and Lesa's home attempting to make lifestyle changes. I've been told that it takes 21 days of doing something consistently to form a habit. And that was my goal. At age 61, after 6 children (and 17 grandchildren :-), a type 2 diabetic, working too much behind my computer either teaching voice, writing training materials and communications for a new company called Voyager Health Technologies, or talking on the phones non-stop, my lifestyle had to change.The ole' mantra chanted over and over by all health professionals is "eat less, move more." I needed to adapt and internalize this mantra, so I took Chris up on his offer to work me out all of July. It was also a good incentive to start to get in shape for David and Sarah's wedding on August 4th. And I'm so glad I did this. And I will be forever grateful for those 30 days, to Chris for his patience, care and love - although this pictures doesn't reflect that.

My day would start with 45 minutes of loud music - usually Adele or a musical - while I walked on the treadmill, followed by Chris bounding down his stairs to workout himself there in his home gym to P90X video's, then giving me the basics (the "P" of P90X) with warm-ups, arms, abs legs, and the dreaded stand up, sit down routine. That first week was so tough and Chris had to hide his chuckling as I would nearly fall with every exercise. But, near the end of my stay there I could do every exercise, and was down over 20 pounds. And although this is a drop in the fitness bucket with my goals, I am now on the right track and after coming home I signed up at the new Irvine LA Fitness Center, and haven't missed a day with exercise. I actually love it!

From left (Jamie Armstrong move out of the picture) David, Chris, Josh & Ben

The boys were a huge help for me. Their love and care was shown in so many ways. Between phone calls, text messaging reminders and encouragement, to banning me from cheese and late night snacking, I slowly changed my outlook on the word "diet", replacing it with "lifestyle."

Josh was the most concerned about me taking cheese, especially string, out of my diet. David kept encouraging me, and when Ben arrived for the wedding he would make me walk to the LA Fitness Center, workout, then walk back. He and Cooper set me up with my lock and small backpack for this daily trek. However, since they've left, I do enjoy driving there, working out, then driving home :-)

My goals are now looking more long term with seeing lifestyle changes, and hopefully by Christmas I'll be where I want to be.  I have to take one day at a time, as they say - one foot in front of the other - and like the way I feel. And, the good news? I got into that red St. John knit suit for David's wedding!

Smores Bar at wedding reception (I did have one!)

Birth and Baptism

There are a number of posts running through my head right now - all worth sharing, writing down and remembering. And everyone filled with joy that comes from family and family activities. We left California a couple of weeks ago, headed up to be a part of the baptism of Kelli Jo who had just turned eight (8). After spending a few hours at the Vegas offices of Voyager, we headed to Hurricane, Utah (just a few hours from Vegas) to see our newest grand baby, Harrison Joshua Burgess, who was only one day old. 

There is nothing more precious than holding and smelling a brand new baby - fresh from heaven. There's such joyous feeling that sweeps over you as you cautiously snuggle that new baby, touch their soft skin, count their little fingers and toes, and just take in that bit of heaven that lingers with a newborn, remembering why we all came to this earth. There's a peace like no other with newborns. And it takes me back to the births of every one of my six babies. I loved that special time with each one of them in the hospital. That bonding time that only a mother knows and feels. Welcome to the world my precious little one, Harrison Joshua Burgess!

Harrison - only one day old.

Harrison was born June 28, the same day as Kelli Jo eight years earlier. Kelli Jo just turned eight (8) and that is an important time in our church. That is when we baptise our children members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So, not only were we heading up to be a part of Kelli Jo's baptism, but we were able to stop by and spend a few hours with Joshua, Ashleigh and their new baby boy Harrison Joshua.

Now it was time to continue along I-15, next stop...Orem, Utah to spend the 4th of July with Angela, Eddie and their family. Chris and his family came down to celebrate with us and we had a fun visit. With so many fireworks stands on every corner here in Utah, the neighborhoods were all aglow with firecrackers, sparklers, and various firework displays shooting off around us. In fact, where we were sitting there in Angela's driveway, with the girls all snuggly and giggling on blankets on the ground, we could look up, look over to the right and then to the left and see fireworks lighting up the sky from all directions. It was fun and kind of exciting. Anad although the turkey burgers were a bit dry and lacked ...taste... (missing here the real beef burgers of days gone by before my marathon Fit Farm visits,) the company was all that mattered and it was great fun being together.

June 30, 2012 Kelli Jo's Baptism Day

That brings me to the original reason for our treck to Utah ... the baptism. On June 30, 2012, Chris baptized his oldest girl, Kelli Jo.  What a beautiful day where such joy and emotion filled my soul being a part of this important event. To watch Chris baptize his daughter, to be a worthy priesthood holder, brought tears to my eyes, and tremendous joy and happiness. We want nothing more than happiness for all of our children, to see them reach their goals and dreams, to find worthy companions.  But most importantly, to live the gospel fully, honor their convenants made at baptism, raise their families in righteousness, and return again to our Father in Heaven's presence. "Families are Forever," and with every step we take, that dream becomes a reality.

FIT FARM

Here they are, all five of my fab kids, four married with kids and the last one, David, getting married in a few weeks. And, of course, I adore them. And I miss them everyday because they've all moved from California to Utah, Nevada and Pennsylvania. But, that's a whole other post where I bust out in an ole' 70's song, "All By Myself." But this post will be about the four handsome young men pictured who have teamed up to get mom fit for David's wedding. They even have some network, or something, where when I was in Costco here in Bountiful, Utah near Chris' home, I received first a call from Josh saying, "mom stay away from buying cheese." And at that exact moment a text came in from David saying, "mom, stick with the program Chris has you on. Get serious."

Ben, Cooper and Family (5) All Bike

Oh, forgot to mention, I'm at what I fondly refer to as the "Fit Farm" here at Chris and Lesa's beautiful home in Bountiful, Utah for nearly the entire month of July. My mission...to get in shape. That means exercising with Chris everyday on his extremely modified P90X (I'm doing just the P), and Lesa cooks the meals and plates it in the portion I'm allowed to have. I'm fully "armed and dangerous" with my new MACbook Pro (had to throw that in for Chris' sake), my new iPad (3), my cell phone, chargers for all, a small refrigerator in my room, a desk, cases of bottled water (including my fav...ICE from Costco), and to my knowledge, there is no string cheese in the house. And...I love it. 

Chris (my coach) does P90X

Here's my schedule. I get up early, answer biz email and update Facebook, Twitter, and Textmarks for my distributor team, do my call-backs to distributors, straighten up the room, drink my Atkins Vanilla shake with a handful of vitamins and my V3, then plug in my iPod to the treadmill. The music of choice is either Adele or Carrie Underwood, where I crank it up high and start walking. And I walk fast for 35 minutes. Once I'm "warmed up", as Chris puts it, he comes downstairs to his home gym where I'm toweling off the sweat, and says, "today we're working on your core." And then the fun begins.

Josh Runs and Plays Basketball

It's been one week (actually 6 days on my new Fit Farm program), and my blood sugars are doing great, I'm down 6 pounds, and my legs and arms are sore. You see, the only muscle left in my body is my jaw from singing, talking and training. Every other muscle has laid dormant for a number of years. Other than the occasional walk around the lake in Irvine, CA and a massage or visit to my chiropractor where they move my extremities, my muscles had seen no action. My first day with Chris (this past Monday) saw him trying to sneak a picture of me struggling through basic stretches with his cell phone, where I immediately put a stop to that. And the snickers he was trying to hide under his breath were answered with a few motherly GLARES. And my sweet son-in-law, Eddie, attempted to sell me on doing a fitness documentary - not! Come on now, I'm 61 years young, have had 6 children, 17 grandchildren (I know...I did nothing to get the grandbabies, but thought I'd add them in), and I love watching and cooking with the cooking channel. Ooops...another post all together. 

David and Sarah do Spin Classes and P90X

The bottom-line is that I love that my four boys have ganged up on me. I'm glad I'm here with my personal trainer (Chris), and I'm glad I'm on my way to a permanent lifestyle change. I needed this little push and I'm feeling much better, even if it has been just a week. Thank you kids...Ben, Chris, Josh and David! You