Sunday, October 3, 2010

Thanks, I needed that!

We watched General Conference this weekend and were so inspired and touched by the spirit and the messages that we heard. President Monson spoke on gratitude and I feel like recently I have not shown gratitude for what I do have. I have been focusing on what is wrong in my life and not what God has blessed me with. So thanks President Monson for writing that talk and delivering to us. I needed that! I am sorry to all those who I have whined and bemoaned to. Our daughter Celeste told me the other day "mom life is just what you make it". That made me think but I continued to complain some. Sorry Celeste. I now have heard it from a prophet too and have to try to be more grateful. So here are some of the things I am grateful for in my life:

For the creations of God and all His miracles and tender mercies, His Son Jesus Christ that makes it possible to return to our Father in Heaven (Plan of Salvation) Life itself, Family...(Husband, children, grandchildren, parent, siblings etc) though we are very far from perfect I feel privileged to be a member of it. Gospel of Jesus Christ, Health, Friends, Country, Bounties of life, technology and modern conveniences, good music, good books, hobbies and many other things that I have been blessed with.

President Monson said this quote this morning and I love it "Live in gratitude and you will touch heaven". And he said it in a way that only he could say, he paused after the word you. I will try to always remember this. The examples he used in the scriptures helped me realize that I need to do better in being grateful. I love conference I always come away wanting to be a better person. I am glad we have it every 6 months to remind us.

I called to talk to our son Derek today and he said that he went to every session (all 5) at Temple Square. Oh how wonderful and how blessed we are to live in this day.

Grateful for family and friends who leave comments too :)

Friday, October 1, 2010

So now I wait...

My last post was about the fun we had this summer. Now for the rest of the story...
I started wearing a boot about the end of April this year. The doctor thinks that I have a torn tendon in my left foot. MRI shows there is a problem and so they want to see if they can help and correct it some with the big old ugly black boot. I wore that thing until August and I changed doctors in July. (My first doctor just wasn't very proactive or helpful and I didn't feel confident with his decisions). First visit with new Doctor he did more tests and said yes I do need surgery. Date is set for the surgery and I told by said Dr that I can NOT FOR ANY REASON put my foot to the ground and put ANY weight on it AT ALL. He repeated it at my pre surgery appt too. I got all the "stuff" to help me out during the 6-8 weeks, like walker, wheelchair, crutches and shower chair. Aug 17th I had the surgery. The doctor was really excited about what he found. He said "I have never seen anything like that before, it was sooo cool" Really I am glad that I could entertain you Dr. F. He found that the tendon was not torn at all, there was an extra bone in the foot that was actually growing into the tendon. Well how cool is that? NOT... It would have been better to be born with an extra something else, like metabolism or something like that. During this time Celeste and Joe and little Lizzie were getting ready to move to OK. They left on Aug 20 for their new home. (I mention this because Celeste and Lizzie and I spent every day together and they are greatly missed around here) Doug could only take the day off that I had the surgery so basically I have been home all day by myself since then. Doug has literally had to do EVERYTHING around the house and to help me when he gets home from work. I don't like being a dependent person, but have not had a choice. Doug has been such a wonderful husband and has never complained.

It is a treat when I get out of the house and I enjoy the simple things in life. I love it when I have a visitors and I have been blessed to have good friends drop by once in a while. Tammy (dear friend) has taken me to all my doctor appts every week. I have watched a lot of tv, read a couple of books, crocheted and I learned to knit (thanks Kathleen). Today I sat out on our little patio and watched over the golf course. We have 2 ponds right in front of our house and we can see 4 of the greens and flags on the course. I like sitting out there and watching the golfers. It is fun watching when they hit the ball in the water and they go after it... I know I need to get a life.

I was told last week that I could start to walk in my boot ONLY. Still never putting my foot to the ground without the boot. I was so excited and so started last Sat. During the last 6 weeks my foot has been wrapped with many different dressings and splints and 2 casts. Both casts had to be cut off within a couple of days cause they were too tight. A couple of the wraps were too tight and I started losing circulation in my toes. Well I believe because of that my big toe got infected (on the same foot) and on Monday of this week I went to the same foot doctor (Dr. #2) to have him look at it. The toenail was all infected and he said it was abscessed all around the nail. He determined that the whole nail had to come off. Because it had so much infection he couldn't get the dumb thing very numb. I don't need to tell you how bad that hurt right? Oh wow, I have had 6 children, 4 shoulder surgeries and many other surgeries and never have I had anything hurt like that. So the one day I decided I would try to drive myself to the doctors was that same day the nail came off. NOT a good idea. So it put my healing time back some and now I continue to wait and wait to heal. I have to be better cause in a couple of weeks I am going to meet with our daughters for a fun weekend and baby shower... then off to Utah to visit with family and friends. I have to be better. So I wait (I am trying to be patient) And I am sparing you any pictures.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

blog update

I have really been lazy about updating my blog. I have a good friend that reminded me that I need to write more and tell the good and the bad. I choose to write the fun things that happened this summer.

We did get together as a family in July. Not all the kids were able to make it. That is the challenge of having a large family, it is really hard getting together. We spent a couple of days doing some fun activities in Salt Lake this year. It was the first time where we actually had all 7 grandchildren together. We made an attempt to take a picture but one child was asleep and a couple were just very unhappy. We took the picture anyway.

We also went to a huge arcade with an "all you can eat buffet" for as long as you want. The kids and adults had so much fun. I love to see the grand kids having fun.

We missed having Aubrey, Kyle and Joe with us at the family events this time. We hope that we can all get together for one of the holidays soon. Aubrey and Kyle are expecting their first child (baby girl) in November. So I am sure more pictures will be taken of those fun times. It is nice to have these great times to look back on and look forward to. I love the times together with the family. There is nothing that makes my life happier!!!


























Monday, June 14, 2010

My sweet brother.



I have two sisters, one older and one younger and one younger brother. My brother was a guy's guy. He has always loved motorcyles, boats, trucks, radios, and he lived his life having fun, working hard and loving and taking care of his family. He was the only son, only boy and my dad's best friend... all of our best friend. He loved to make things pretty and green and keep them that way. He used to tease us (his sisters) all the time. He's very handsome and has been told he looked like Tom Cruise. I have been told that I look more like him than I do my sisters, and without makeup I do... I always said that I would have been a better looking boy. He was always laughing and was very funny, his favorite word to say was "flip". Ahh he could make me laugh and was quite the gentleman. I remember when I had one of my daughters and my life was very hard, I got a very sweet card from him, and he said all the right things to make me feel better and make me smile. He was my hero so many times in my life and oh how I love him!!!

So it is with great sorrow and saddness when I learned that he passed away tonight.

I love you Don and pray for peace and God's tender mercies to attend us as we learn to cope without you. May you rest in peace dear sweet brother of mine.



This is Don with his wife Rae Jean when they came for a visit for his birthday in Oct of 2009. It was his first visit to Arkansas and he was so excited to see the beauty of the state. The Old Mill was his favorite place that we visited.

Family picture of my parents and siblings...


Thursday, June 10, 2010

An Eventful Summer

Our house is Sold and the people that are buying the house want to close June 28th. That means we have to move on June 26th. We are busy looking for a place to live. I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a place! It is hard to downsize and live somewhere else. I have some issues about where I live and I guess I might be rather odd or a bit OCD. Is is too much to ask for a place to be clean?
So today the search continues... Celeste, Baby Lizzie and I are out on the hunt again.

Today I go to the Doctor to find out if I have to have foot surgery. An eventful summer!

More exciting news is Derek our youngest son is going to Dubai for 3 months to over see the landscaping for the tallest building in the world. It is an awesome opportunity for him. Way to go Derek!

Happy summer blog friends!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Blog updates

I have not entered anything on my blog for a long time, not because there isn't anything going on in our life... just haven't wanted to.

I started taking piano lessons a few weeks ago. It has been years since I quit piano lessons. I think I was in 5th or 6th grade. I took for 4 years and really didn't like to practice and I didn't like the dreaded piano teacher. My mother warned me that I would regret quitting... and I do. Julia gave me piano lessons for a Mother's Day gift and I find it exciting to practice and pass off each piece. It is nice to learn the info all over again. Life is funny though, my teacher is one of my Mia Maids that I taught when I first moved here 22 years ago. She is patient with me and all my bad piano playing habits that I have acquired.

Aubrey and Kyle came this past weekend for a visit. We had a great timeand went shopping for Aubrey's maturnity clothes, Aubs and Celeste got pedicures, we went to the new Yogurt shop a few times, went swimming, went to breakfast and had barbeque with friends. It was a nice weekend!

I am sporting a really awkward (and ugly) air boot. I tore a tendon in my left foot. Not really sure how or when I did it. I do remember last summer Doug convincing me to prepare for a half marathon (yes it is the same 1/2 marathon that Doug ran and fractured his leg and was on crutches). I was doing quite well with that and got a little to over active and remember pulling something in the left foot. It has hurt since then and no amount of physical therapy and ice has helped it. Probably looking at wearing the thing for 4 more weeks, then check it and probably do surgery then wear it another 6 weeks or so. So I will sport this all summer. I took it off last night and my left leg is much thinner that the right leg now. Wonder if I could get velcro and use it on my whole body?

We plan on a vacation to Utah this summer within the next month. We are all getting together for a family reunion at our eldest son's house. We are excited to be together again. Hopefully the weather in Utah will stay cool for the summer. I am excited to get out of this heat!!! While on vacation I have some high school friends that I haven't seen in a long time and we are planning a lunch date. I am so excited for that too! Also Julia is moving into her new home in a few weeks so I want to be there to help her out.

Our house is still for sale. The market is picking back up so that is a good sign. We are getting rid of "stuff" and it is so liberating. Celeste and I did a big garage sale a few weeks ago and got rid of furniture and just stuff. Now to sale the house and we will be set! Our plans to downsize will be complete.

Can I just say I love summer, spending time with kids and grandkids, I love sitting by the pool, and I love to eat fresh fruits (melons are my favorites) oh and ice cream/yogurt. More blog info to come later.

Have a great summer!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Power Outage

I received this email from my aunt a couple of weeks ago. I loved it and laughed so hard. If you have never had a mammogram then you might not appreciate the humor but either way I found it very funny so I thought I would share:

POWER OUTAGE

At my recent assault trial, I offered a plea of "Guilty with an explanation." The judge asked me what my explanation was, so I told my story.

"Your Honor," I said, "I had a mammogram appointment, which I actually kept. I was met with: 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear?' I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.' Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?' 'Fine', I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other breast wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap!

Complete darkness and the power went off! 'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda said, and headed for the door. 'Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted. Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back.'




Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men Extraordinaire, found me ... Half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass! After exchanging a polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greeting, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off. Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.' 'You bet, take care' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps....."

The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said 'Case Dismissed!!'

Monday, March 15, 2010

Happy Birthday Doug

Happy Birthday Doug! I love you and hope that you have a great year. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

I just love how much you love our kids and grandchildren, what is even sweeter is how much they love you!







Sunday, February 7, 2010

I have my life back (almost)!!!

Things are looking up and I am finally on the road to having my life back. The doctors are not sure what brought all this on but possibly through a series of events and my already medical condition (brain tumor), something happened that they cannot explain. After talking to about 6 doctors (specialist mind you) I found one that was willing to do tests, he was persistent in the diagnosis and treatment. I am not going to go into all the details but he told me the day he released me from the hospital "Mrs. Martindale, I am giving you your life back". I do not have epilepsy, I am off the high doses (in fact all doses) of the seizure medication. I am to take it easy and go back into things slowly, I will be able to drive, go back to work and function as I did before but not take on quite as much. I have not had an episode for 2 weeks now and have been at home getting my strenth back and basically hibernating to get back to my old "normal".

Now we know that this awesome doctor found all this information out but we realize that I was being blessed to find the right doctor who would listen and take action. Heavenly Father has blessed us beyond belief (yet again) because of everyone's prayers and faith. The strength and support that we recieve is amazing. Thanks to all of you for your love, prayers, food, flowers, notes, visits and phone calls. We as a family felt that power and never wanted to give up even when I was told (by one crazy doctor) that my life was just going to get worse and I needed to deal with it. Prayers are very powerful and we know who these wonderful blessings come from. It was a trial and we look on it as a growing time for all of us! Our family was amazing too, our children were so supportive and just jumped in to help even when it was a difficult and required much sacrifice on their part. We are blessed to have each of you in our lives. God gives us others to not only share in our burdens but to help lift us up when we are down.

Love ya'll and thanks again. whoot hoo, yeeehaa I am back (almost)!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

There is a silver lining

The silver lining to being gimpie and sick is having awesome adult children that will come and help take care of you. I have been truly blessed with adult kids that rally around and help out when needed. These are opportunities to spend time with them and grandchildren that I would not have had if "all was well".
Aubrey gave me a gift that has the words written "The most important things in life are not things". So very true.

I am learning that there is a "new normal" for me in my life. I just have to get used to the "new normal" and help others around me realize what that is and how to deal with it.

Here are some of my new normals: I need help walking sometimes, I need someone to sit next to me at church and realize that I might end up resting my head on their shoulder, I need people to help me with transportation because I can't drive etc. So life goes on and we accept "new normal" and make the best of it.

Just so this is upbeat I wanted to add pictures of some of the silver linings and greatest blessings in my life.

Family that we shared precious memories with last year:

















My brother Don and his wife Rae Jean for a weekend visit.


My sister Michelle and her family with Mom and Dad and sister in-law Rae Jean.

Extra special treat was my institute class doing a surprise Christmas Carol visit. Yeah I wasn't dressed.

Family and friends are the silver lining to every life of every day :)

Friday, January 1, 2010

Got any ideas?

We are getting ready to sell our house. We are downsizing pretty much everything! What do you do with all the stuff you have accumulated over the years. Like: church books (fictional) that have been read and probably won't be read again in this home, wedding dress slips that are in perfect condition, a wedding vale that has never been worn (put those on Craigslist and in the paper and didn't get any response I would probably do better sending somewhere in Utah to sell huh?) just stuff. I keep telling myself that it is "just stuff" so it will be easier to get rid of. It's just stuff that I really don't need. So if you have ideas on what to do with all this "stuff" let me know. (We are having a moving sale as soon as we sell the house) but don't want to put the above items in it.
I am open for any suggestions!

Happy New Year

We spent a quite evening at home last night. Our friends the Green's came over to help bring in the New Year. Had Derek, Celeste, Joe and cute little Liz here to help celebrate too. Nothing better than family and friends!
Good bye 2009 Hello 2010.

Started the morning off by saying goodbye to Derek as he starts moves to a new state and new job. He has been a life saver for the past month, driving me everywhere and taking good care of the family along with Celeste.

Wishing all my friends and family a very Happy New Year.