Up and Onward

For the last four years I have poured myself into a full time education... one that my husband never thought I would complete.  Well, I showed him.  I will graduate in May, 2015 with a BS in Psychology and I have never felt more proud.  I have to confess, completion has surprised me a tad as well.  

For economical and family reasons, I cannot pursue Psychology at the Master's level.  It would entail leaving my home and family for the next few years and that is not an option for me.  However, I decided to take the world by storm, to follow the advice of Gandhi:  "In a gentle way, you can shake the world."  

I applied to the Masters of Social Work program.  Everyday the excitement mounts.  And now the icing on the cake; a letter of acceptance!

I will be a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) by May of 2017, barring any catastrophe or unexpected calamity.  Please, End-of-the-World, hold off!  

Some of what I've learned:

*You are never too old to dream - More importantly, you are NEVER too old to FOLLOW a dream!

*A life without a goal is hardly a life at all!

*If I can do this, ANYONE can!

"You have brains in your head.  

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself any 

direction you choose."  Dr. Seuss

   

Lost blogger returns!

I haven't blogged in so long, I've forgotten how!

I apologize.

My baby turned 13 yesterday.  The last of 5 teens I've had the privilege of borrowing from Heavenly Father to teach, enlighten, and guide through this earthly life.

Life with Gavin has been different.  As an older mother, I had more patience. I am more flexible.  I am a better communicator.  My older children probably think he is just "one spoilt brat!"  The truth is, I am different.  I am a much better mother with him than I was with them.  And I am sorry for that.  I am sorry that with my older children, I was young and quite stupid at times.  So many times, I wish I could go back and do things differently.  Unfortunately, that is not an option.  But, really, if I had done things different, I might not have this to prize:

This picture is fairly recent but there have been additions.  I love them all.  I'm so very proud of them.  They teach me life in ways I could have never imagined.


But today, I have another teenager.  I want to do this right.  I want to teach Gavin to be kind to all he meets.  I want Gavin to appreciate the good in everyone.  I want Gavin to love life and to live every minute fully.  He is such an incredible kid; full of happiness and vivacity.  He has truly been a very special gift from God.  I hope that, in my mothering, I never smother or diminish his spirit. 
Gavin is my person.

Losing Casey

(Madison and Casey ~ 2011)







(Jadyn and Casey ~ 2009)


In September we lost a part of our family; a very large part. Casey, my beloved boxer, went to doggie heaven. It was a very sad time. In 2001, my four oldest children gave me Casey as a Valentine's gift. She was a very wonderful dog.




From the moment we brought Casey home, she was family. Being single at the time, she became my devoted companion. Although she was mine, she loved the kids with all her heart. She never had a mean bone in her body.






(Jarren and Casey ~ 2009)






In fact, the grandchildren could climb all over her and she never made a sound. She was Jarren's footstool. Even if he used the top of her head to climb onto the couch, she just let him... then she'd move on.







(Jadyn and Casey ~ 2008)



And above all else...
She became Gavin's best friend. They both entered our home in 2001 and they were truly devoted to each other. Sometimes she would chase Gavin down the hall, knock him over and nibble on the top of his head; Gavin giggling all the while. Boxers are so docile and loving.






(Gavin and Casey ~ 2008)
















(Gavin and Casey ~ 2009)















(Gavin and Casey 2011)


Although she was truly my dog... in every way, she loved the kids with all her heart. She wanted to be where they were. She loved the grandchildren as well as the family she had grown up and known her entire life. Today, she rests peacefully under the cottonwood tree in the back of the pasture. We've found a new dog that we are already learning to love. But, still, I miss Casey every day. I <3 you, my Casey dog!



(Casey 2008)


My Casey Dog
RIP
2000 - 2011

DIY simple Idea

My son decided he needed a quick room update! He is 10 now and tired of the stuffed animals, the "cutesie" spiderman comforter, and the neon green dresser. After a trip to Walmart where he chose the paint color, we got started.




















I found sports decals, Dad helped put up the airsoft guns in a great display, new comforter, a little elbow grease, new poster and Viola! a perfect pre-teen room.







One of my favorite tricks came when I was trying to think of some way to display his baseballs. It dawned on me; the perfect baseball display were some crystal votive candle holders in my china hutch. They were ideal!

Today's Blessings

Snowflake Arizona Temple



When I was a very young girl, as early as about 3 years of age, all I ever wanted was to be married and have children. I remember wishing someone would leave a cute bundle on our doorstep. The note left would always read: "This baby is for Debbie." I wanted to make sure there was NO mistake. It would not be a baby left to my mother but a baby left to me.

I also dreamed of the day that the love of my life took me inside the temple doors to be married and sealed for time and all eternity. Well I actually got it a little backwards but eventually everything panned out.

I got married, had children, divorced and then met my soul mate. So in 2004, I finally was married in the Snowflake Arizona Temple. It was beautiful. It was all I had ever imagined and more. It was not until that time that I gained a love and appreciation for the Temple.

Until recently we drove over 5 hours one way to attend the temple assigned to our district. Even the long drive was worth it. The days spent in the temple were rejuvenating and inspiring and I have grown to love my time there.

When I need to feel close to my Heavenly Father, I need only spend some time in the Celestial Room pondering. I need only feel the peace and serenity that fill the temple walls. I need only quietly meditate on who I am and why I am here and life once again makes sense.

In April 2008 a temple was announced in the Gila Valley. It was dedicated on February 14, 2009. It is located in Thatcher, Arizona and only takes me an hour and a half to get there. It is such a blessing. I never imagined the incredible blessings and miracles I would witness as I watched a Temple built in such close proximity to my community.

Now I have the opportunity to go any time. I can attend over and over again. I can find answers to life's deepest questions. I can renew my spirit when it is lagging. I can set example to my children by attending the temple frequently. I can seek the Lord and I can find Him. In this month of Thanksgiving, I am so very thankful for the blessings of the temple in my life.












Gila Valley Arizona Temple

Increasing the barnyard...

I hope no one has missed me too much. :-)
Actually I have found myself insanely busy... that happens when your husband gets laid off and is home all the time. I find that I am chasing him around everywhere. Can't hardly stand to be away from him. We work outside, garden, do odd jobs for neighbors, go places and life is good!And in the meantime, we have started raising chickens, bought a goat and increased our dog litter by one. For a very long time, Casey was our only pet. She is having a hard time adjusting. How dare we ration out our attentions to others!! Casey is a 9 year old boxer that I got for Valentine's day from my children in 2001. She has truly been a part of our family and thinks she is human at times.Poor Casey is really not sure how to take all the new family members.
First came the chickens. They have been great fun. An experiment in trial and error if there ever was one! Casey never even looks their way...
unless we go inside! Twice I have caught her with tail feathers in her mouth. Darn Chicken Eater! We learned. Never trust a born predator. Since she and I have come to an understanding, things are better. She is only allowed out and off her chain if I am outside with her.That's when we decide a goat might be fun. Meet Beelzebub! The king of annoyance. We love him. He is constantly in the way, chewing on our jeans (sometimes catching a piece of leg as well), butting when he doesn't get is way and generally just a feeding nuisance!
Surely this would provide company for Casey, a playmate for our 9 year old son and entertainment in life. He has definitely done all that and more.
We tried taking in an adult black lab that my father had but that was a disaster. Doyle needed a "man's" dog! Casey is too sissy for him. She hates to ride in the truck. She can't be persuaded to fetch or play anymore because her arthritis is getting too severe. But bringing in another adult dog was disaster. Casey fought tooth and nail to protect her territory. She has always been as docile as you could imagine... Not when Riddick wanted to eat dog food out of the same bag! Heaven forbid. Riddick went back to live with Dad. He headed for the hills and turned up at the folks house a few hours later.
And so for father's day, Gavin and I decided to find the perfect dog. I think we may have done it! A gorgeous Lab mix adopted from the pound. He is only 4-5 months old. Casey loves him. Beelzebub thinks he's just another goat. And Doyle's not sure one way or 'tother. So... maybe father's day isn't about fathers afterall!

Fresh new start in 2010

When Doyle and I got married in 2004, I was happy with myself for the most part.

I weighed around 145 and looked and felt great. I did, however, have a smoking habit. Being a single working mom, I spent days living on cigarettes and Dr. Pepper.

I had a few lower back problems but nothing serious. I was confident with myself, secure in my health, and comfortable in my body.

Well...
I quit smoking. Suddenly I ballooned. I gained over 40 pounds! and quickly!

Saying gooodbye to cigarettes was one of my proudest moments but the weight gain was certainly NOT! Along with the extra pounds came some serious back problems. I spent close to 5 months almost entirely laid up; using a cane and barely moving from the bed to the living room. This was our 2nd year of marriage.

Piano playing, which I have done my entire life, became very, very painful. I could not sit at the bench for more than five minutes.

At the time of my marriage I had a 3 year old, Gavin. He is the love of my life. Now at 8 years of age I know it frustrates him that his mother cannot participate in all the fun things he wants to do. When we play basketball, it is h-o-r-s-e and he has to bend down and retrieve the ball off the ground for me. The act of repetitive bending is absolute posterior~suicide! Too much of that leaves me unable to do even the smallest things; like walking!!

Gavin is incredible. He knows that there are things I must be very careful about and he never complains. He just jumps in and helps me.

But for 2010 I have made up my mind! Enough! I am determined to get back into shape. I want to be healthy. I want to feel good. I am tired of putting on 3 or 4 outfits
before deciding on the one I think looks the "least fat". Tired of the muffin top on my jeans. Want to be able to run again.

I got a new start when I dumped the smoking habit. I traded it in for obesity. Now I want to start new once again. The next time you see me, I will not look like this:

For support and tips I have started a facebook group to get fit and thin in 2010. To join go to

http://www.facebook.com/dlsully?v=info&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=428102365485&ref=mf