Sandi Chats

Good Sunday afternoon! Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend. A week from today we will have celebrated our Savior's birth in the form of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or whatever day you celebrate. Or many may still be awaiting the celebration as the holidays have gotten so hectic that many of the family get-togethers are put off until a later time when everyone is less stressed about the holidays. We had our first family gathering on Friday night, our last Christmas party last night, and this morning was the wrap up on the church Christmas program. Basically, that leaves only two family gatherings left.  This year is bittersweet as it marks one year since my mother left this earth to meet her Savior. This year I have had two friends who lost one of their parents in the past week or so. While I would have naturally reflected on my mother's death this week, knowing friends are facing this same loss this year brings back the memories of that time afresh. I...

Well, we messed up! We hung around in Nebraska too long and now it has snowed!!! Honestly, when you stick around after early November you just have to know you are courting danger because it can snow on short notice any time after Halloween. I can recall a couple of memorable early snowstorms from our past that we still talk about today. The first one was in early November 1972...I don't remember the exact date, but I know that we were within days of expecting the birth of our first child, Heather. It began snowing one evening and snowed heavily through the night and all the next day, in the end dropping 24 inches of snow. Since there was no wind, it laid 24 inches deep everywhere. This being our first child, we had no idea how labor and delivery would go and whether we would have lots of time or not. Mike was a nervous wreck worrying about this baby coming with no way to get to the hospital. As it turned out she hung in there for another 10 days or so and we made it to the hospita...

Christmas came early for me with a new laptop! I may have mentioned a similar event in a previous blog a few years, but once again...a new laptop! I learned a thing or two about getting what you pay for with the old laptop, so I spent a bit more "green" for this one and got a Dell.  When I worked at the courthouse, I got really used to a great computer system...two screens, top-notch programs, great speed. It all came at a great cost, much more than I am willing to spend on a computer system for home. And now I work at Hespe Auto a couple days a week and enjoy the use of a great computer system there also.  I like the portability of a laptop. We travel a lot these days so it can always tag along. And honestly, it might only go to the couch where I can get comfy, but I love that it can ride along wherever I go! Mike is now the proud owner of his own laptop! I think he was tired of me yelling at the old computer and threatening to pitch it down the steps or set it afire. It wil...

  And just like that, it's December! Another year almost finished. I was hoping 2021 would be a better year than 2020, and maybe it was just a bit better but there is still lots of room for improvement. Maybe 2022 will be that turn-around year our world needs! The end of every year is a time I really need to work at improving in my life. It always begins about November 10th, which is my birthday. People feel the need to celebrate with me.  I appreciate the thought but in these past few years I find myself wishing everyone would just celebrate without me. This was the last birthday I get to be sixty-something, next year begins a new decade! Joy!! From there life morphs into Thanksgiving. And the ham and turkey leftovers aren't even finished when Christmas begins to take over our lives. We have quit giving material gifts for Christmas as everyone has way too much stuff anyway. And, honestly, our family has gotten so large with in-laws and a couple generations of grandkids that i...