Mother's Day Memories

This is my little corner of the world where I document my family journal…..Hopefully, someday it will be a journal for my grandchildren to look back and remember what was happening in Gramma’s life.

We just celebrated Mother's Day 2010. At 73 years of age, I enjoy all holidays and events more and more..ha! As much as I enjoy being a Mother and Gramma, my thoughts are of my own deceased Mother, who I think of daily. She is the reason that I am who I am today and I was blessed to have a wise and Godly Mother. She loved her children and Grandchildren and I so understand that love with my own family. She was strict in my upbringing (thank you Mom) and we certainly knew where not to cross the line!! I would want her to be proud of her family....to know they are walking with her God and making the right choices in life.

Living many miles from her resting place I felt badly that I couldn't place flowers on her grave to honor the special woman that she was. Wayne is faithful in doing this when he is in Bellingham, but I am determined to hire someone to do it if he or I can't be there. We talked of her often yesterda as we celebrated the day.

And....celebrate we did! Wayne and I spent the day with Shari, Tom, Rob and Teddy. We had an awesome brunch (thanks to Jana Taft's Dutch babies recipe)....watched a movie "UP" in their upstairs entertainment room, which is so comfortable. Rob and Ted you had seen the movie before, but you laughed so much that I was laughing just watching you. It was a very cute movie!! You also gave me a new crockpot, which I was in need of. My old crockpot is often too large for Gramps and me. The new one is perfect...thank you so much.

I am forever telling my family....please no gifts....just phone calls or a card, but they never mind their Mother. A beautiful floral arrangement arrived from Randy and Dana, along with a special box of chocolates and phone calls. Plus...greetings were sent from Tiffany. I am sooo blessed.

We are so excited for Tom and Shari's new pool. One permit has been approved and just waiting for the final one, which should be any day. Pool construction will begin immediately. It is really a beautiful pool with two water features and will add so much to their living space. Their patio will be a wonderful entertaining area.

Randy and Dana will be here in one week and soooo excited for them to come. Teddy also has a May birthday....a lot of activity will be happening. I always get so involved talking, I constantly forget to take pictures. Hopefully, I will do better!

Activity of my family continues to remind me that I am a very blessed
ARIZONA GRAMMA.

Sunshine Galore

This is my little corner of the world where I document my family journal…..Hopefully, someday it will be a journal for my grandchildren to look back and remember what was happening in Gramma’s life.

Where do I start and now do I begint? Many things happen daily and I’m always promising myself to write weekly…..this remains a goal of mine!

This week has been exciting as Denny and Lorraine have been here….they are special family to us and we enjoyed them so much. Their visit was far too short, but is was a relaxing time and good fellowship was enjoyed. It was also get acquainted time for their dog, Abee and Miz Bailey. It was so much fun watching them.

Family has always been a priority in our lives….what would we do without them? My immediate family is scattered all over the country…..but, I know my cousin, Joan in Missouri is a faithful reader – love you lots, Joan!

My Mother always told me (Shari had to remind me this recently) that sometimes we have to create our own family….good friends often are excellent substitutes. We can’t be responsible for our family or their actions, but God will judge us by our created family/friends, as this is who we have chosen to be associated with. Thank you Mom for your wise words.

It was exciting to have Tom and Shari sell their former home. Shari worked hard to have it in prime condition before turning the keys over to the new owners. Anyone would have been proud to move into it. Now the fun has begun on the new home….their pool design has turned out awesome. It’s a beautiful lagoon with two water features flowing into the pool. The contract has been signed with the pool company and now they have to wait for the proper permits to be issued with their Home Owners Association and the City. It could take a month, but we are praying this will happen sooner. The boys swim competitive in the Olympic size pool close to their home, but it is also fun to goof around in a backyard pool. Once the pool is in the landscaping will be able to be completed. We enjoy sharing this joy with them.

Our hearts have been heavy this week as tragedy has happened with several families from our former home town. A real wake up call to those who think they can make things right with God at a later date….we are not always given that choice.

Randy and Dana will be here the middle of May and that will bring joy to all of us! Randy is so good to come and help his Dad with repairs or anything else that needs looking after. He is always telling Wayne to save his computer problems for him to take care of. We have been blessed with loving, caring children……wow, thank you Lord!
Tiffany is doing very well in Seattle…..we miss her, but I think she will be here to visit soon.

Wayne begins his gate work in the morning…..that time comes around soooo fast.
We also begin our pool time at 9AM daily, as the sun is pretty hot in the afternoon. Just had my hair cut super short to be ready for the hot weather and hours spent in the pool

I am so thankful for each day…..I love to study prophecy and the soon coming of our Lord.

I am and remain a very blessed,
Arizona Gramma.

(Image by Bing)

Resurrection Day 2010

I thought I had better blog about recent events, as I would probably forget what is happening in our world. Life is good, but life has been busy and that is the way it should be.

Our weather has been glorious....it is a delight to roll out of bed every morning and throw on shorts and a tee shirt and know that I am set for the day. It was on a bright, sunny warm day that we were able to celebrate Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, we had to do this without Wayne, as it was his day to work at our Park Gate. I headed to Rancho Sahuarita to attend Church with Tom, Shari and boys. It was special to attend their little Baptist Church in Green Valley...to sing songs about the resurrection and hear a message about the risen Christ was a special blessing. Afterwards we enjoyed a wonderful brunch at the Country Club in Green Valley. The buffet was awesome and it made for an easy breezy day for Shari and me. The Green Valley hillsides are beautiful and the desert homes were special to see.

After returning to their home, I stayed to watch a movie with Tom and the boys, while Shari took a much needed nap. I arrived back at our Park as Wayne was finishing his 5 hour shift. On holidays our Park always has a big dinner for residents, as there are many who do not have families locally. The kitchen help delivered a big ham dinner to Wayne at the entrance gate, which was so special. However, he was so busy with people coming and going, it was hard for him to get much eaten.

Now to back up a little....Saturday night before Easter Wayne and I had a lovely dinner out for the two of us to celebrate Easter together. We stopped by the large car show that Wayne loves to go....it didn't take long to find Del Bosman there, so the guys were able to spend a little time together.

This past Monday evening, we enjoyed Mexican dinner out with Pat and Del, as they were preparing to return to Bellingham this morning. We definitely will miss them and just knowing they are not in Tucson really leaves a big void. We will look forward to seeing them again in October.

Tonight we met other friends for dinner and enjoyed their fellowship. It had been awhile since we had visited with the Chapmans.

Goodness, seems like we keep busy eating out....and then I have to find excuses to my Doctor why I haven't lost any weight....yikes!

I really felt when we moved into the mobile park that it would be for a short time, but here we are 2 years later and I still don't feel the desire to move....maybe later, but not now. Now I have been feeling the burden of not being busy for the Lord, and the Lord has definitely been working on me and not giving me too much peace...and, deep down I have known what He wants me to do. So this Fall, Lord willing, I hope to start a Women's Bible Study Fellowship. There is a tremendous need and I am willing to let the Lord use me in this area if He desires. Nothing happens during the summer in the Desert...totally siesta time during the heat. I am expecting big things to happen, so Fall gives me ample time to make arrangements. Please pray that God will open doors and hearts during this planning stage.

In another week or so, Denny and Lorraine Sorenson will be here and we are so excited to have them in the park with us. How I love our family and many friends...yes, I am definitely a very happy and blessed
Arizona Gramma

Spring Days

This time of year in Arizona is all about the weather!! We always have many visitors and everyone is hoping for tons of sunshine...pool time...and patio dining. We usually are able to meet these requirements, but we do have a mild winter too and it is not unusual for a winter storm to blow through, dropping our temperatures and leaving a dusting of snow on our many mountains. The good news is our occasional storms will only last a couple of days and then it is back to our awesome weather. Today it was an awesome 93 degrees in our Park...we often feel we are on an extended vacation with no need to travel away from home. I can remember living in Bellingham and just about every six months I would feel I needed to get some sunshine - either in Arizona or Hawaii. Now here we are and I love every minute of it. We are also very blessed to have Tom, Shari and boys close by, otherwise it would be difficult to live so far away from them.

Recently good friends, Dave and Joyce Langley, were here and it was soooo good to see them. Unfortunately, their visit was short and sweet. We dearly love them and it was like having family home. We will be seeing them this summer and we will continue our visiting together.

Other good friends, Del and Pat Bosman, have been in Tucson this past month and we more than love having them around. We recently enjoyed dinner at our 50's Diner during a large car show that delighted Del and Wayne.

We have many visitors schedule to visit during the next two months. I think I need to add days to my calendar.

Tomorrow is our son's 50th Birthday....does that ever make me feel old!! We won't be able to be with him on his birthday, but we definitely will be talking to him. He and I decided that I should celebrate his birthday too....I worked very hard 50 years ago to bring him into this world, so I am also going to have a big celebration!! Dana is baking his favorite oatmeal cake, which he requested. I am sure Dana and Tiffany will make the day very special for him. We could not ask for a better Son...we are blessed.

Recent events in our Park included the annual St. Patrick's Day Golf Cart Parade...as usual Wayne decorated our cart and Rob and Ted had fun riding on the back. I did post a picture on facebook...can't find it now, so perhaps it was eaten...ha! Last week we attended a lovely banquet for all couples married over 50 years!! We definitely qualified at 56 years. It was great to see another 40 couples there. Again, being my usual self, I forgot to take pictures. I think the Park was taking pictures, so will post something later.

RESURRECTION DAY is this Sunday. We will be attending Church with Tom, Shari and boys and then having dinner at the Country Club in Green Valley. We are looking forward to celebrating the day that Christ arose from the grave.

Wayne begins his 5 day guard duty at our Park tomorrow. If you were visiting, he would be waving you through our gate.

EASTER BLESSINGS to each of you....

I am so blessed and happy to be an ARIZONA GRAMMA

The Power of Facebook

I blinked and the week was over...blinked again and the month is gone. Then the email begins telling me that I haven't posted...Oh my, I am allowing time to slip by again!! I absolutely love my busy life...Xango always keeps me busy, which I love sharing a product that has helped me so much. I love spending time with my family. Shari has had to work more than usual because of the stormy weather on the East Coast and Tom has been gone on business....sooo, I have tried to help out with the boys, which I more than love, but my time zips by.

WAYNE loves his part time job at our Park Entrance...he works 5 (5hr) days and then is off 10 days. He loves greeting and meeting people. He has been busy designing a new apartment complex in Washington, plus other design projects. Hopefully keeping busy will keep us both young at heart longer...ha!






CHEESECAKE FACTORY (Yum) was the recent Birthday Club selection to celebrate Paddi's birthday. We had such a special evening....as always, much chatting, laughter and eating filled our evening. If you have never experienced women, who are best friends, getting together to celebrate, you are missing out on an awesome aspect of life. Girl's night out included, Eileen, Georgeann, Paddi and myself. In-between birthdays, we find excuses or any reason to meet again and again. Oh - the food was excellent and the deserts beyond delicious!




VISITORS...We are beginning to enjoy a few winter visitors. We recently enjoyed our annual Bellingham visit from Bud and Joyce Scheffler. We really look forward to their visit and time is never long enough. We chatter away like crazy....I don't believe we would ever run out of conversation. Wayne brought home Chinese to enjoy....we didn't want to waste a minute being in the kitchen. We knew they had been eating a lot of Mexican (which we never tire of, but thought they would like a change). Thanks for coming Schefflers.


RODEO WEEK in Tucson is really a BIG deal. Even the kids are dismissed from school to enjoy all the festivities. Rob and Ted now attend school in Sahuarita, but their old school 'Wrightstown Elementary" was very dear to their hearts. Unfortunately this school will be closing next year. They held their annual Rodeo breakfast this past week and Rob and Ted were invited to attend. Grampa took two very happy Cowboys to the breakfast and they were thrilled...not only to participate in the breakfast, but to be with all of their old friends. Rob is extremely proud of his genuine Stetson Cowboy hat...Ted will get his Stetson next year, but in the meantime he is just as happy to wear his cowboy hat....his western scarf is also very important to him.



WOW, THE POWER OF FACEBOOK...I love this picture of my nephew, Mark and Kim ...and it looks like love could possibly be in the air. Mark and Kim were friends on facebook, but did not really communicate. Shari talked to Mark and I talked to Kim (we really felt they were perfect for each other) and once they started chatting on Facebook sparks began to fly. Actually, many years ago Mark and Kim attended grade school together. Kim now lives in Texas and Mark lives in North Carolina...so it will be interesting to see where this goes. I love both Mark and Kim, so this would make me a very happy Arizona Gramma.



This is a wrap for this post and until next time I pray that you will stay well and safe. I remain a very happy and blessed ARIZONA GRAMMA

My friend, Georgeann, took this picture of her grapefruit tree with the snow on the mountains directly behind...this was during our recent winter storm that lasted a couple of days. Not often does this happen...it is nice to see, but I'm more than happy that we are once again in the land of beautiful warm sunshine.

Time does have a way of disappearing and our days seem to melt into one. We get set into our normal routine and we often forget that the world continues to evolve. Just can't allow that to happen...I think the answer to that is to continue to inject spice and changes to our daily routines. Hmmmm wonder if this will work - ha!

A little bit of this and that:

Wayne is happy to be working a few days a month at our Park Entrance Gate, where we have 24 hour security. This helps to keep my workaholic husband out of trouble...ha.
He gets to greet and talk to many people during his 5 hour shift. He works 5 days followed by 10 days off, which is plenty of time to go or do other things that he wants. Alternates are available if you want more time off. Just works out to 10 days a month, which is pretty perfect. Thankfully, the gate house is air conditioned and heated.

Enjoying our boys is always something we look forward to. Tom was recently in Boston on business and Shari was working more than her normal 'hardly working' schedule, so Gramma and Grampa went to the rescue of the boys. Last Thursday we picked the boys up from school...Wayne took them to their swim team practice and I stayed at the house to cook dinner for everyone. We stayed in Sahuarita until Shari got off work. The following day, we picked the boys up from school again, but brought them back to our Park for pizza. They love going to the Clubhouse with their Grampa, visiting the Library to work puzzles, check out movies and of course, they have to check out everything else when they are there. This is always followed with a golf cart ride to the RV area to get orange soda from the RV Club house. It is music to my ears to hear them laughing and carrying on as they drive down the street.

Our Granddaughter, Tiffany, was also recently here for a visit. How special she is to us, and how we love having our three Grandchildren together at one time. Her visits are short as her work schedule in Seattle keeps her busy, but having her Dad as a Director of Alaska Airlines, gives her unlimited free flights....her visits can be short and sweet.

Randy is planning a visit next week to help his Dad with a few projects around our house. We always appreciate his visits and his help. We are also expecting a visit from former classmates, Bud and Joyce Schiffler next week....I will try to post after everyone leaves.

Lack of pictures with this post is due to camera problems. I have bought two expensive Nikon cameras...the last one this past summer, and have had problems with both. I need to send my newest back to Nikon (the last time I returned a camera took several months to get it back) soooo, I recenlty bought a very inexpensive Kodak to use until I get my Nikon back. Well, this Kodak is excellent...very simple and easy to use...is a 12 MP maximum viewing screen I am just beginning to use it, but I find the photos are excellent. I promise many more pictures in next weeks post.

Until next time, I leave you as a very happy and blessed
Arizona Gramma

WHY I LOVE LIVING IN ARIZONA

Many years ago one of our Church Pastors, Dr.Stan Gundry, would tell us about the beautiful Arizona sunsets, as he was born and raised in the Desert. At that time I had no interest in visiting Arizona, let alone visualizing sunsets. I totally thought he was being prejudice, as this was his homeland. Well, let me tell you....our sunsets are totaling amazing. Recently my good friend, Georgeann, took a few pictures of one of our beautiful sunsets. The colors are beyond description. Tucson is surrounded by mountains and often at sunset they turned vivid pink, purple and orange and are breath taking. Thank you Georgeann for allowing me to post a couple of your pictures. You do an incredible job with your camera.

I love the relaxed lifesyle of the Southwest. Waking up to sun 95% of the time, rolling out of bed, pulling on shorts and tee and knowing I am set for the day. I love that our outdoor space is an extension of our homes...casual dining at it's finest. My Lenox china and cut crystal is seldom used and a beautiful table is in style with lovely hand crafted pottery. 9 months out of the year, I enjoy being able to be outside until the very late hours....sitting and visiting with friends around a table.

Oh how I love our citrus...it is really awesome to walk outside and pick citrus off the tree for breakfast! I also love just looking at the colorful fruit on the trees. My little minature lime tree produced more limes than we could eat this year. The tree was loaded...now we have a new crop of limes sitting on the tree. Our Park has an abundance of grapefruit, orange and lemon trees. When left to ripen on the tree, the citrus is soooo delicious.

I love the ability to be able to swim outdoors in our many pools. Our previous home had a heated pool, which we were able to use 9 months of the year. Our Park has a very warm heated pool year round. Entertaining is usually done poolside and that makes for a very relaxing life style.

I love the birds that come during the winter months...we are a bird watcher's paradise. Star Gazers come to watch the stars under our clear skies.

I love the Southwest Architecture...beehive fireplace, pueblo style houses with casitas. A style I was not familiar with, but have grown to love. I love the eclectic
interior design that so personalizes a home and is certainly a welcomed change from the traditional look so popular for many years.

I love the many guest that we have as they come looking for the warm sunshine.

My list could go on and on, but I think you get the general idea.

We think we are living in a very special place and thank God daily for this little piece of paradise.

I remain a very blessed Gramma....

WELCOME TO TWENTY - TEN

A very Happy New Year and welcome to Twenty-Ten.....don't blink too many times, as this year will disappear far too fast. The older we get the more time it takes to accomplish anything....soooo whatever you have plans for this year you had better start now and perhaps, just perhaps, you will accomplish a few things before the end of the year.

We welcomed in the new year comfortably and safely in our little nest. We decided to stay off the streets....regrettably we turned down a few party invitations, but opting to visit a few friends in our Park....then home to snuggle in our comfy chairs and watch the celebrations on TV. We were happy that our children decided to do the same and it made this Mom feel good that everyone was home and off the roads.

No, I didn't make any New Year's resolutions, but I do have plenty of goals...starting with pool exercise as much as possible...losing weight (which is a constant battle)...
spending more time in God's word...making certain that I am a walking testimony of our Lord...growing my Xango business (if something has helped me so much, how can I not share that with others??) Continue to make my health a priority and enjoying my family as much as possible. Oh my, the list could go on and on, but I think you get the general idea.

I'm looking forward to the challenges of 2010 and I think we are all going to need as much determination as possible because of the political mess we are in. However, regardless of the world situation, isn't it great to remember who is really in control, and that "The Word of the Lord endures forever," (1 Peter 1:25)

Because of His Promises, I remain a very
Blessed Arizona Gramma

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009!! Can you believe that the holidays are once again here? As I sat down to write our Christmas letter, I quickly looked over my past blogs and I realized that everything has been posted and not much news to add to a letter. Most or our family and friends are regular readers of my blogs, so I thought I would just direct everyone here to catch up on these past few weeks and to allow us to wish you the blessings of this past year. You may have to click back on older post to catch up.

Tom: Manager of Information Technology for Raytheon....he just returned from Boston. As an Eagle Scout, he is a troop leader for the boys. They love their big new home and are now settled in their new Church home.

Shari: Works part time as a Supervisor for American Airlines..... She is well known in Tucson for her involvement with Angel Charity and several other non-profit organizations. She keeps the family organized and is loved by everyone.

Rob (9) and Ted (7) are both on competitive swim teams....they are really excellent swimmers. They are the tallest in their class, and academically in the top of their classes. It is a blessing to watch them grow and be a part of their lives. They have adapted to the move and their new school very well.

Randy: A Director of Alaska Airlines, plus a part time Seattle Police Officer. Golf is his passion and he plays in all kinds of weather.

Dana: Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines. She is happy that they now fly to Hawaii. Nordstroms loves Dana!! Dana loves her garden and flowers and her dog, Duffy.

Tiffany: (25).... now living with Randy in Seattle for a short time. It is a good move for her and we are happy that she is there. Tiffany previously groomed Show Dogs and she readily found work grooming dogs at PetCo. She is enjoying Dad/Daughter time together.

Wayne and I?? Well, we keep busy trying to keep up with everyone else. Wayne continues to do a little Design work, enjoys our Resort Park and developing his sketching. He basically is in good health. I am gradually recovering from my car accident and am learning to live with a very sore back....it will just be a way of life for me. Definitely could be much worse!! My Parkinson's is under control - thanks to Xango. We are in the process of looking for a couple of new business partners to add to our Xango team. A great opportunity to stay at home, make money and see amazing health benefits. I enjoy swimming in our Park pool, lunches with friends, knitting, reading and helping others with health issues. I am a computer nerd and would be totally lost without this machine. As you can see, we keep Starbucks busy. I just recently served a week of Jury Duty...an eye opener to say the least.

Miz Bailey.....our sweet abused rescued Yorkie is still a work in progress.....she had no human socializing for 4 years and it is so much fun to see her come alive in so many ways. We enjoy her so much and she is so responsive to attention and a lot of love.

We just enjoyed the annual Christmas parade in our Park.....we had lighted fire trucks, decorated golf carts...a big event here with people in the community coming to see. Wayne had our cart fully decorated....Rob and Ted were excited to ride on the back of the cart....Shari driving and I rode a long. Even Miz Bailey rode wearing her Santa Hat.

This was going to be a short temporary move for us....then the accident happened, and now we are firmly planted in this little community. Not sure what the future holds, but we are certainly not worried about it. It is nice not to be boggled down with 'things' and we are free to travel or do whatever God has in store for us.

I am posting some random pictures.....many have already been posted on facebook, but many of you have not seen them.

We have been sadened this year by the loss of several dear friends and major illness of others. We continually uphold these families in prayer.

We love this time of year. Mostly we love hearing from all of you and wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. Remember to pause and reflect on the "Reason for the Season".

Mary Ann, Wayne and Miz Bailey

MIZ BAILEY UPDATE

Miz Bailey continues to be a challenge, but we are seeing little changes daily. She is such a sweet little dog and our hearts break just knowing how abused she was.

She is most comfortable staying entirely in her bed or up against the wall hiding her head, but we don't let this happen for long periods of time. She is beginning to be more social....not to strangers, but to me. She likes to sit on my lap and in my office. She loves riding in the car in her booster seat and sitting on the porch with me. Today I took her in the golf cart and she was great...as long as she could snuggle close to me.

At night I had put a small bed on the floor next to our bed, but she wouldn't have a thing to do with it. However, this morning when I woke up she was sound asleep in this little bed. I was so excited!! I had been leaving our bedroom door partially open, hoping she would eventually come in.....and yep, there she was. It is amazing how excited we get with the slightest improvements.

She was so frightened of her leash, so I put it on her and just let her walk around with it trailing behind.....she finally realized that it wasn't going to hurt her and now she is okay with it.....just time and patience. She will now stay by me when I feed her and she loves her food. In the beginning I had to sit her food down and walk away.....not anymore.

Her bath is traumatic....I end up as wet as she does, plus the kitchen gets a bath too. I am taking her to our Vet next week, and I think that is going to be traumatic also. Potty Pad training her will be a BIG challenge....we haven't started that yet, as I think it would be a lost cause. As soon as she has our entire trust, that will happen and then hopefully, the travel bag will follow.

As soon as I know it is 'safe' to let her out of the kitchen, she is beginning to venture into the other rooms and will run back and forth from kitchen to my office. That is really a biggie!! Eye contact for her is very difficult and when in her bed, she will usually face the wall. We are seeing marked improvement in this area.

We shower her with lots of love, which is very easy to do. We love her dearly and just knowing we have made her life much better is worth it all. Starting today, she has wanted to follow me and be with me wherever I am...that is really exciting!

Blessings galore with Miz Bailey, so I remain a Blessed and Happy Arizona Gramma

Randy and Tiffany's Visit

We all enjoyed Randy and Tiffany's visit, but time passed too quickly and there seemed to be so many things happening all at once, plus their time was so short. One of the purposes of the trip was to bring Wayne's car down from Seattle.....so, it was convenient for Randy to stop in Sacramento to pick up Tiffany....it was a great opportunity for some special Father-Daughter time together.

It was fun showing Tiffany around in our Park....putting around in the golf cart. They took my car to the garage for a check up. They came home with toys and treats for Miz Bailey. Soon it was time to head to Sahuarita where Shari had baked and prepared a special dinner for us. This was the first time that Tiff had seen the new house and the boys were soooo excited to give her a tour. Both Rob and Ted think their Uncle Randy is the best ever and they are always so happy to be with him. It was a delightful and fun evening for all of us.

The next day there was more running around and of course, we had to indulge in Sonoran Hot Dogs at BK's. They are famous for their Sonoran style hot dogs and the locals say you are not a true Tucsonan if you have never eaten these hot dogs. They are a delicious true Mexican treat. Tiff and I were also able to visit Shari again before she flew back to Seattle....staying one night with Randy and Dana before flying to Sacramento.

The above swimming pool is where I spend daily time and was the main reason that we moved to this Park. Not many place heat their pools during the winter months, but our Park keeps the pool at 88 degrees all winter - plus they keep the pool in pristine condition...very clean and beautiful. I couldn't find a condo unit that heated during the winter.

Definitely feeling blessed with my family and where we live,
ARIZONA GRAMMA

WOWSIE.......Today I received my new JUNI products from XANGO and tonight I had an incredible time using each product. The SHAMPOO is the best I have ever used......and, because I have had squamous cell cancer over the top of my scalp, I have been especially careful to use non toxic shampoos.....BUT, nothing has compared with what I used this evening!! All of the products contain the precious mangosteen and scented with a light touch of lavender.....gentle enough for the new born baby.....yep, MIZ BAILEY will be using this shampoo too.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING......many of my gift giving has been solved. I ordered the Holiday gift bag for myself, which included:
SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, BODY WASH, BODY LOTION, AND A LARGE BAR OF SOAP. This comes with a very nice canvas tote bag with large wooden handles, priced at $65.00 + shipping and sales tax. Now, I wish I could afford to make this my gift to everyone (and I will to some).....but, since all items are also sold seperately, I will package two or three items in small bags for some my gifts. These are all items that anyone will be happy to receive.

The body wash was beyond my expectation and I followed my shower with the body lotion. Knowing that these products are from Xango, I knew they would be outstanding in quality.....but, they are far above and beyond what I was expecting.

Words of caution.....There is a tendency to use far more than what is needed.....A DAB WILL DO YA!!

This ARIZONA GRAMMA is more than pleased tonight and I will be more than happy to help you order these amazing products......
Mary Ann
520.440.3211
www.mymangosteen.com/reserve
Distributor #1188780
www.xanthoneeducation.com

OUR LITTLE MISSY HAS A NAME.....

SHE HAS A NAME.....finally after much family discussions, our new little dog has a name....MIZ BAILEY....she will be called BAILEY, we added the Miz because she is such a Diva and all my dog's names have started with an "M". Thank you everyone for all your good suggestions....Gary - Milly was a close second, followed by pumpkin.

Now that she has a proper name, it is fun to use it. I do believe she is more relaxed today, as she hasn't been heading to the corner to hide her head. She knows her bed is her safe haven. We hold and cuddle her, but she soon wants to return to her bed. I had no idea that these dogs could be so abused and it breaks my heart to see the pain in her eyes. Eye contact is very difficult for her.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON PUPPYMILL SURVIVOR BEHAVIORS:
TERROR AT HUMAN HANDS: The only time most mill dogs are removed from their cages, it's a painful experience. The dogs may be grabbed by the first reachable part of it's body: tail, leg, scruff, ears. This takes lots of patience and non-threatening touches to overcome.

AVERSION TO EYE CONTACT: Many puppymill survivors refuse to make eye contact with humans. This indicates fearful submission which decreases as the dog comes to realize he will not be harmed by you and begins to trust. Talking to your dog in a soft, calm voice helps speed the process. Wayne rocks and sings softly to Bailey....hymns, as that is all he knows.

AFRAID of FOOD; Anytime the cage door is opened on a mill dog, fear is the response, because an evil human is behind it.
This is definitely a problem with Bailey. It is necessary to place her food down and then walk away.

FEAR OF WATER: They are frightened of water hoses. Puppymillers generally don't bother removing the dogs before hosing down their cages.

They spend their entire lives in locked cages, unless rescued......They receive no veterinary care.....They are confined to overcrowded cages with poor quality food and dirty water.....They receive no human contact.....They often die of neglect or disease. Unwanted dogs are destroyed (even puppies just over 12 weeks old).

Miz Bailey is a beautiful little dog and my prayer is she will soon be romping around and playing, as she will know she is loved.

My eyes have been opened to this horrible treatment of animals......my niece, Kim, has been involved with rescue work and I so want to thank her for her involvement. It is so unbelievable that anyone could be so cruel to these adorable dogs.

If anyone is looking for another dog to add to their family, please take a look at a rescue dog.....they need you!! We found Bailey on a Yorkshire Terrier Rescue Website.

Bailey will be a sweet little dog.....she will probably always be a little shy and timid, but she will know how to show and accept a lot of love.

Because of Bailey, I remain a very Blessed Arizona Gramma.

OUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER

We are soooo excited......tomorrow we are adopting our newly rescued Yorkshire Terrier. As least I hope all goes as planned.
We have had two previous Yorkies, plus we had bought a Yorkie for our Granddaughter, Tiffany. All the dogs had been purchased by a well known Breeder for mega bucks. Several months ago, my good friend Paddi adopted a rescue dog and reading about all the dogs that have been rescued and need homes, my heart wouldn't allow me to do anything else.

Since our little Molly died, I didn't think I would be able to get another dog for a long, long time.....but, I realize I still have a lot of love and patience for another member of the family.

This little dog is a purebred, rescued from a puppy mill.....they were half starved and kept in cages crammed with other dogs. She is very timid and will need lots of love. She is very small like our Molly, but she looks like our little Muffin. A good combination of both. She is cut short because she was so matted and dirty. A crate or travel bag will scare her right now, so she will be held and loved until she has our trust and ready to venture out.

We have had to jump through hoops to please the rescue people and we have been told we are approved. Hopefully, we pick her up in Phoenix in the morning.

I'll keep you updated. I'm sure this bundle of joy will more than please this ARIZONA GRAMMA.

October Paradise

This time of year I feel like we live in a little bit of paradise.....we are in awe at the beauty of the Desert, plus the weather is totally beyond enjoyable. I totally understand why people flock to the Desert this time every year.

I am excited that my family will be together in another week. Randy is driving Wayne's car down and hopefully, Tiffany will be able to come with him. It will be a short trip and he has to fly directly back.....but, there will be time for us to all be together and share a few meals.

Wayne has been working a few hours a day delivering flu vaccine to clinics.....this is a temporary job, but he is enjoying it. A man in our Park is Manager of the operation and another neighbor also works at doing this......they asked Wayne to help and he jumped at the chance. He works several hours early mornings and again in the evenings. Hence the reason he could use the extra car down here.

I just finished knitting slippers for Rob and Ted and they are soooo excited. They were afraid I would keep them until Christmas, but they are coming by today to take them home. I'll have to get busy knitting other items for them.

I am doing great and am feeling better than I have for several years.....exception being my back. Pool therapy seems to be helping that. I try to swim a full hour 5 days a week. The boys will be here a half day tomorrow afternoon and again Wednesday morning. We are both looking forward to enjoying them. They have their house decorated for Halloween and we have promised to spend that evening with them. Oh, the fun and joy of having grandchildren. I would love for Tiffany to be that age again.....no, not really, as she is a delightful and pretty young lady.

I will post pictures soon.....until next time, I remain a very Blessed Arizona Gramma.

Autumn is in the air.....

Our early fall is in the air.....my most favorite time of year. This is true wherever we are living as I am continually amazed that God created His beauty all over the Country. October and November is absolutely beautiful in the Desert. Our hot summer is coming to a close....our mornings and evenings are much cooler (no sweaters needed) and entertaining family and friends begin to happen with real vigor. Our outside spaces come alive as patios and porches become additional living spaces.

Instead of 4 normal seasons, the Desert has about 8 mini seasons. During the coming weeks Snowbirds (winter visitors) begin returning to the Desert to enjoy our wonderful weather, but increasing our traffic. Plus flocks of birds migrate to the Desert to shower us with their beauty and beautiful songs. Our citrus is beginning to ripen and will be ready by late Fall. In the meantime, the fruit adds an array of beauty to our trees. I have just had the first ripe lime from my little tree in the front yard. Looking out my office window I can enjoy the ripening of orange, lemon and grapefruit trees. Nothing taste better than tree ripened fruit.

As our weather cools I bring out my knitting and begin projects of fuzzy hats, warm scarfs and slippers for the Grandchildren. Teddy has already ordered 'green slippers'. It is with total joy that I begin these small projects. Holiday thoughts and ideas begin popping into my head and I am looking forward to spending time with special friends. We have a very large pool in our Park, which is heated to 88 degrees all winter.....needless to say, pool time will continue to be a priority.

My heart is full of joy and and over flows with thanksgiving as we begin my 'favorite time of the year'.....it is so easy to remain a very BLESSED ARIZONA GRAMMA.

BUSY FAMILY LIFE

When a family is busy, it is a good indication that all is well and everyone is healthy and happy. What more could I ask for? As a parent, it is a blessing to see positive attitudes in your children. Their glass is always half full and never empty. And then, to see that positive attitude in the Grandchildren is a blessing beyond compare. Robby was remarking the other night that knowing God created him made everything about him just right!! We definitely please God when we love what He created and we choose to live our life with joy and thankfulness.

Wayne is enjoying retirement....he loves his morning walks and visiting with people in the Park every morning, plus he enjoys sitting around the pool visiting with friends as I swim. He would like to work a few hours a day....very part time....and I think that would be good for him. He is a workaholic, so I think he would enjoy just a few hours a day.

Randy and Dana are leaving this Friday for a cruise.....Actually I believe this is to celebrate Dana's birthday. I know they will enjoy their trip, as they have been on many cruises in the past.

Tiffany and Jordan are doing well. We hope their move to Seattle, after the first of the year, becomes a reality. Randy is especially excited about this.

Tom, Shari, Rob and Ted are totally enjoying their new home in Sahuarita....they are constantly going in many directions, but yet they have a very peaceful, safe and loving home.

I continue to recoup from my surgery.....I'm feeling great (except for my back). I enjoy the pool every morning and use pool weights to increase my strength. I'm thankful for the natural healing that Xango gives me.

It is a wonderful life and it is so easy to be..and remain...a Blessed Arizona Gramma

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POLITICS

Politics can be an ugly subject (sometimes). However, as good citizens and having a love for our County, it is also a very important subject. I like to think of myself as being a very conservative Independent....voting for the best person that I feel will serve in the best capacity of whatever office they are running for. I hope that I will always look at all issues and make a complete study of that issue and not be blinded by whoever is popular.

It is so interesting that as I talk to people and ask them about the Health Care bill that the Senate will be voting for, their opinion is based on whatever they are hearing on the news or the fact that they voted for a person, so whatever they say is true.....oh my, that in itself is bad news! I am fortunate enough to have both friends and family that will dissect any bill line by line and actually know what it says and means. I try to do my part in this too. I also listen to both sides of an issue and hopefully use my own abilities to make my decision. Shari's husband, Tom...our Randy.....and good friend, Jim Swartwood, are all good at going line by line with bills and issues. I appreciate opinions from both my Democrat and Republican friends. What I don't like is someone saying "well, I voted for so and so....they must be right. That sounds pretty stupid to me. I voted for George Bush, but did I like everything that he did? Absolutely not! I have a responsibility to be the best that I can be for my Country. I take the time to listen to the liberal press and TV stations and after listening to many lies, I am happy to return to FOX news and Glenn Beck, where, as an Independent, he calls it as it is. He is also very honest.

I challenge you to listen to both sides of the issues and studying line by line before making up your mind. Be smart and responsible about your choices.

Thank You XANGO

I think most of you know how much I appreciate Xango's Mangosteen Juice....but, just in case.....this juice, I feel, is responsible for maintaining my Parkinson's Disease for the past 11 years without medication. Recently just having major surgery...and at 73 years old, I have bounced back like a young chicken....well, almost ha! Often after taking a supplement for a long time it is only natural to think it isn't continuing to do anything for you, or you don't need it anymore. However, we now know that all disease begins with inflammation - even heart attacks. The medical profession is even stating that the level of inflammation in the body is more important than Cholesterol levels. Taking this juice consistently allows the antioxidant to work within the body to attack the inflammation within your body. Wow....how cool is that! It continues to work without you even knowing it.

Xango, as a company, has such a respected name in the industry. Everything they do is superior and that includes research, science, quality control.....the best in the business. I am confident that whatever new products they bring to us, the consumer, will be only the very best.

It is with this excitment that Wayne and I began takiing ELEVIV..... This is a 100% Natural Product * Clinical Studies as well as 5 years of Science * Boost energy levels * Promote vigor (mental & physical energy) * Promotes relaxation * Reduce Stress * Improve mood * Promote restful sleep * Restore mental alertness/acuity. BELIEVE ME....THIS DOES WORK.

It is with this same excitment that we use our outstanding 3SIXTY VITAMIN & MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS This is whole food nutrition at it's best and easy assimilated into our system. Different formula for Men and Women. Please call me for additional information regarding these superior vitamins.

Another product that I would not be without...GLIMPSE SKIN CAREThis is topical skin nutrition at it's best. There are no toxins or chemicals in any product....just pure nutrition for the skin.

COMING THIS FALL: BODY CLEANSER, SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER AND BODY LOTION All products are non-toxic, nourishing and contain the potent phytonutrients of the mangosteen.

I could continue to write a book on these products...instead if you are interested in a product send me a note and I will be more than happy to send you additional information.

My biggest WOW factor in the hospital, was no one believing I was 73 years old.....All guesses came in much, much younger.
I attribute that to a toxin and chemical free body, including my skin care! THANK YOU XANGO from a very Blessed Arizona Gramma