Monday, July 9, 2012

Big #62

Received this email from Kelly for my birthday.  Thought I would publish it and my reply...




HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER!
 
Are we still allowing those??
Well, have a happy day anyway. I often think of you and how much you taught me growing up. Thanks for being a great "big" sister.
 
I hope things are going well for you. Congradulations to Amy and hubby - He looks like he will fit right into the Fontano Clan. (I can find the picture but not the invitation!) Kath, you and Jim should be proud of your kids - all married in the temple, all knowing what i smost important and going forward in the gospel. I am sure yesterday was a beautiful day for you.
 
what is going on with the rest of your bunch? I thought you were beating me in the grandkid count - but now we are at 18 and 1 great due in December. Davydd and Candace are expecting in August  (18) and Tosha (oldest granddaughter) is expecting in December. (I love these kids, just wish that they would get the marriage taken care of first!) Kami & Seth are not able to get pregnant and it is very depressing for her.
Of course having Taryn in my life is a blessing I am grateful for every day. I keep praying that her mother will catch on to the gospel. She goes to church with us all the time, but really doesn't allow herself to be a part of it. It is an unusual situation, but as long as we live together, she will go, but she won't pray with us or study scriptures or discuss the gospel at all. She just got a job, so that wil help me out with the financial struggle - I hope. With the way things are set up, you never know if getting work will help or set you up to lose benefits like WIC and medicaid for the baby. We are hoping that this will allow her to keep medical coverage for Taryn and WIC but allow her to pay off school debts and get a car.
I am teaching RS again. It is about all I can handle with work which is taking about 60 to 75 hours per week. Of course, since we are in a branch - that means that I teach almost every week and lead the music. All I didn't do in RS today was say the opening prayer and conduct and this was my week off! But we have a great group of sisters and I love it.
Mike has been called as 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. It is his first leadership calling since we've been married and he is terrified. I think it will be great for him, but quite new and different. He is most comfortable teaching. He is looking for work still. This economy and not having training in a business setting and being too old to do physical labor is really hard.
Ah well, life is still good and happy.
God bless you and all yours. and have a Happy Birthday. Make Jim take you somewhere else to eat besides your own place!!
Love you.
Kelly

Well I already ate lunch at the LBH and I know he will take me to the Garden House for Prime Rib which is my favorite!  So no worries for Birthday dinner.

All the kids were here and in the temple for Amy's wedding so that is the best birthday present ever!  Yes they are all active and have strong testimonies - don't know what we did right but they have all chosen well.  We are at grandchild #19 as Pete and Tara had their baby boy , Oliver Charles, last week (3 weeks early) and that was great because Pete and his little Abbie were able to come to the wedding.  I feel very blessed!

Jim and his family will be coming to Nauvoo in a couple of weeks... do you live near enough for him to come and see you or you to meet him?  I don't know what day for sure but this is his email:  jimfontano@yahoo.com and if you will contact him perhaps he can make arrangements.  He definitely wants to see you if it is possible. 

Big Jim's sister Judy passed away with a brain tumor last week - she found out on Mother's day and so she went quickly.  It was a bitter sweet day of course - seeing relatives but also saying goodbye to a very good woman.  

We are busy at the shop - I bet we are actually doing similar things only you know what you are doing and I just guess most of the time.  I love the arranging and coordinating - it is something that I have loved since we were little and Mom and Lucy were both so into antiques.  I feel blessed to have this opportunity but I do know that my age plays a part in what I can do or not do.  I met a lady today who is celebrating her 55th anniversary this week and she looked fantastic and the thought crossed my mind that I hope I am strong like her when I make it to her age... if I do.  This business will either keep me young or kill me so we'll see!

You mentioned teaching and everything else in RS - you go girl!  They have put me in YW again as a MM counselor to a 25 year old amazing girl.  All the other workers are also in their 20s and I am sure they just as soon leave me alone but I am doing okay with the girls (they think of me as their grandma) and so I guess some of my experience helps out.  We have girls camp this week and I have gotten out of going all week - just Weds and Thurs.  I am afraid of the 7000' altitude and what it might do to my heart so I have just bowed out of sleeping over.  I have never been to a better camp in my moving around than Liahona - I think we were so lucky to go up there...who knew I would still be going to girls camp at the age of 62!

Jim and I are doing okay.  Keeping busy at the shop.  Today he made chocolate and carrot cake big cupcakes as well as Chocolate satin pie.  He loves to do all that but whines about it at the same time.  He struggles with his back and hips and all of that but is an asset to the business because he is such a people person and drums us up business etc.  We will miss Amy being there (she is moving to Orem) but on the other hand there has been a lot of family involved in making decisions and having differences of opinion so perhaps one less "family" member int he management might not be too bad.

Well, thanks for my email, it made my day.  I love and appreciate you.  Some day I hope we can spend some time together.  It would be a delight.  Congrats on all your grandchildren - especially having a little one living with you is a blessing (although Donovan - Laura's youngest is now 20 mos. and is already in his terrible twos)  He spilled bleach on my carpet and lost my remote on his last visit.  Whew, glad she is able to take him home!

Love you so much, Kathy

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