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LHT has sorely tried the skills of Jared (our son-in-law) and his dental genius. He has had one root canal and will have to have more work done. I also have some work that needs doing. We have not been doing really well at the annual dental checks and so we have a few problems, each of us. We will try and get back there soon so that the work can be done. I think that instead of Jared doing the work free he should double-charge. It was not easy work. Anyway, we are back in Nephi and Jared, Kirsten and children are back to normal since the house guests who had to be taken back at forth to the dental clinic have returned home. Love, M

Hi From Barbara

Just got some interesting news. David talked to Bree this last week. They aren’t letting me talk to her or the kids. I can’t go to the house with David to pick up the kids, which means they won’t let me have them.  

David isn’t telling me anything.

I’m not coming up there this weekend. 

Joke from Uncle Charles

Joke: A lady moved to Seattle and it was raining the day she got there, and it rained steady for a week. She stepped out on the balcony one day, and saw a young boy below."Hey kid, she hollered, does it ever stop raining around here?" The kid hollered back "How would I know. I'm only six years old."  

Siovhan and Conference

Siovhan wrote: I have conference tickets for both afternoon sessions, so I don't know if I'll be back down to Provo at the start of our bi-annual outing, but I'd love to come if that's okay. I really want to see you all and hang out with all the family that's in town. Just let me know where and when--and heads up, if I'm at work or don't have service on my phone it doesn't tell me I've missed calls unless you leave a message, so please leave a message. 

I love you,

Siovhan
 
      B 
love me. ortiz me.

Myrna wrote: We are going to meet at AnnMarie's on Saturday evening, somewhere around 5:30 p.m. We will order in pizza (Brick Oven, if I have my way) and will visit. Hope to see you there. We are meeting at my house on Sunday. As you know, Kirsten and family are here.


Right now, my other e-mail won't send so I am hoping this gets through.


Lots of love, Grammy

To and From Barbara

Barbara wrote: Not much is going on.  Bree and David don’t share much unless there is a crises.  Bree called on Mon or Tue, and Erin was in a real panic, didn’t want to go to school, didn’t want to stay there, wanted Grandma and Dad.  Bree was ready to leave, hates it, doesn’t understand all the rules.  Donovin is doing just fine. 
 
Erin was OK the next morning.  But it broke my heart – again!
 
Sounds just like where Bree needs to be.  They took away her caffeine, which has got to be really killing her.  She has to get up at 6:30 am and take care of the kids and get ready for the day, that has to be killing her.  And they make her work out for 45 minutes.  Which really, really has to be killing her.  Then, she gets to go to several hours of counseling, private and group.
 
For the first time in her life she is totally subject to a schedule.  Once she gets used to it, she is going to love it. 
 
I am really worried though, Myrna.  This program is a 5-6 month program.  They are going to try to cram it all into 3 months.  I feel like we have just set ourselves up again.  I do not want her out at the end of 90 days if she isn’t ready.  And that is what they are talking about doing. 
 
If you are not in the legal system, if you are not rich, you don’t get treatment.  That is the way this country is.  
 
Can you talk to AnnMarie about this, and find out exactly what the plans are?  I have left several messages but they don’t call me back.  David has a “don’t need to know, don’t ask” attitude.  I have brought it up several times and he just ignores it. 
 
I wish I wasn’t in the middle of this, but she is my only child, they drug me into it kicking and screaming 5 years ago, and now here I am, and everyone wants to just pretend like I’m not here. 
 
Ok well. 

Thanks for your help.  Barbara  

Myrna wrote: If she needs more time, somehow we will all work it out. Let's see how well she does. Maybe we will have a well Bree. If we don't, then we will deal with getting her what time she needs. She didn't last three months the last time. Three months is the goal, for now. Then we will see what the counselors think. This is one of those patient times when we just need to take it a day at a time.
 
Sometimes I think Erin is just worried about all the people she loves. She doesn't know how to be everything to everyone at the same time. She feels guilty being with her mom because she worries about you and David missing her. I have noticed that when she is here sometimes. I tell her it is OK, that you all know she loves you and that I am glad I get to spend some time with her. She is then OK. She is just certain that you are all missing her too much and are too sad. If she came home, she would then feel that way about her mom. We just need to give her permission to be a child and to not have to have adult concerns. Been there, done that. I always worried about my grandmother when I wasn't there because I knew she was alone. She finally told me that, when I was gone visiting family, she was OK. She just got some work done that she couldn't get to with me there. It was OK to have fun and to know she would be there when I got back and she would still love me and I would still love her.
 
Love, M
 
Barbara wrote: I’m just voicing my concerns Myrna.  Nothing really does have to be done right now. 
 
It is not a matter of setting a goal.  The counselors told us they were going to try to cram the full program (five months worth) into 3 months.  They told David that again on the phone.  That is what I am worried about.  That she will feel like she has to get all of it as quickly as possible and won’t be able to just relax and take the information as it comes. 
 
In other words, they are putting a tremendous amount of pressure and stress on her and that is when she bolts.  Or just shuts down.  She is dealing with enough with the kids there and just trying to control the depression and the addiction.    I would love it if all she had to worry about right now was the kids, and keeping herself there that day.  She wants to leave really bad right now.  She won’t, but she wants to.   She knows the program is a five month program, but for some reason she only gets the 90 days.  Somehow Bree always ends up “special” somehow.  It is not a “good” special.  I don’t think she should be in that sort of situation, not now.
 
I know Erin is feeling like she has to be brave.  I also know she is very scared.  I can hear it in her voice.  I hope they get her to talk about it.  I don’t think she is worried about us.  She is worried about being alone with Mom.  I hate to say that, but it is true.  I also know that that will pass with time.    
 
Anyway, I can’t do anything but wait. 
 
Barb  

Myrna wrote: AnnMarie is looking into it. She is going to need a week to get it all done, however. She is prosecuting a rape of a child case and the guy who did the deed is trying to bargain for a light sentence. She is hoping to go to a jury. She has also been really, really sick. She was too sick to go to the pre-trail meeting and her boss had to fill in for her. She developed a major sinus infection and cannot take an antibiotic because she has a horrible vaginal yeast infection. As a result, she has no voice. Drat!  The doctor is treating her sinus infection with OTC drugs. Love, M  

Barbara wrote: It is OK.  I have contacted all of the directors for the entire program with this issue.  I got a response from Lisa Heaton today, and she is going to call me later on.  I feel bad for AnnMarie.  I know how bad she must feel.  I got a yeast infection from the antibiotic for the strep.  I quite taking it because the infection was so bad.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that I took it long enough.  I feel fine.  But, I know how she feels.
 
I do not know why I feel so strongly about this.  David told me I needed to take a major chill pill and see what happens.  But, I really believe that this is part of the reason why she wants to leave.  Why bother if she isn’t going to get what she really needs??  So I do have this sense of urgency. 
 
Love ya, B

Myrna wrote: Barbara, I love you. The women in this program are all in Bree's financial status. That is one of the reasons the program was set up. It was set up for middle-class (and poorer) women with children. It is not for rich people. She should have all the same time as most of the women. Jared Eldridge, the county attorney, said that if she needed more time after the 90-day program, then she would get it. We will work it out but all of the women are being treated the same. All of them are having the same rigorous program which is designed to make them think of their bodies and their children in a more healthy light. That is the way it is set up. She will be taught not to think of just herself and what she thinks she needs and wants but what others need and want, as well. We cannot enable her to fail. She needs us all to be strong! She needs us to love her and give her the space to succeed. She will still need us. She will still love us but in a healthy way. 

My other e-mail is not sending today. It is receiving but not sending. I decided to try this one.

Love, Myrna

Quote from Melanie

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily

"Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful; but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."

-- Joseph Warren (Boston Massacre Oration, 6 March 1775)

Reference: Life and Times of Joseph Warren, Frothingham (435)

The Buzzin’ Joneses

Dear Family,

We hope you are all having a great Christmas Season. It seems like we just had Christmas, and here it is again. Why is it that when you are little Christmas can't get here soon enough, and then when you are older it seems like it comes quicker and quicker every year. Does that make me old?

November was a good month for us. We were excited to have Grandma Jones come and stay with us for a week. She was great help to Jim. They got a lot of problem solving done and did a lot of extracting. Mary was, as always, was glad to see her. She sure loves her grandparents.

We have sold some honey. Jim sold 62 barrels worth of honey to Barkmans and then has been selling buckets and tubs of honey as well. We are thankful that the price of honey has gone back up a little bit. We are also thankful for all of those people who love to eat honey. Jim has wrapped up the extracting part of the business for the year. He is currently moving the bees and getting them ready to load up and take to Bakersfield this year. We are a little bit nervous about leaving them unsecured in Bakersfield but at least the diesels will get to go straight through Vegas and will not have to deal with the "Spaghetti Bowl." It looks like the bees will be taking up residence in California some time next week. Then he will have to make a couple of trips down there before Christmas to check on them and feed them.

Mary has become Lightening McQueen this past month--she is no longer Pocahontas. Jim told her the other day that maybe she should be Sally because Sally was a girl car and McQueen was a boy car. She gave him kind of a blank look. I told him that maybe you had to older than 2 to discern a boy car from a girl car. Mary has quite a sense of humor. She has begun teasing me about rice pudding. Whenever things get a little dull for her, she will come up to me and say, "Rice pudding, Mom!" I tell her "yuck" and she laughs and follows me around the house saying, "Rice pudding!" She gets the same reaction from her Dad. We tell her that her Grandmas and Grandpas love it. She thinks she loves it too, but she has never had it. The other day she asked me to make her some. I refused of course. I told her that I never wanted my house to smell like that, but she was more than welcome to have her Grandparents make it for her. One of Mary's highlights this past month was getting to see Santa Clause. We primed her by telling her that he would ask her what she wanted for Christmas. I said, "So what are you going to tell Santa that you want for Christmas?" She thought for a second and said, "Something." And so she did. She is going to be hard to please this Christmas isn't she?

Christene is six months old. She has begun babbling very loudly--even during Relief Society. She is getting stronger and we are looking forward to her crawling. We believe that she is getting some teeth because she chews on everything. She sure is a happy baby! We love her and her sister!

We had a snowstorm the other day and went out and made a snowman. We had to use a bucket to pack the snow in because it was too powdery to make a real snowman. Mary has wanted to make a snowman since August when she saw the pictures of the snowmen we made last year. She got her wish. She played in the snow while Christene slept in her stroller all bundled up like they do in Denmark. Christene even had her Danish hat on that Grandma and Grandpa T. bought on their trip over there a few years ago. She sure had a red nose when she woke up.

We love you all and hope that you have a great Christmas. We are thankful for the real meaning of Christmas.

Love,

The Nephites

Will Rogers Sayings

Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following:

1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.

2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

3. There are two theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.

4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

5. Always drink upstream from the herd.

6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.

8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.

12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

About Growing Older

First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.

Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.

Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.

Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf

And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

The Butcher, the Baker, and the Mammograph Taker

Boy, it seems like it was just last week that I wrote our newsletter. Oh wait, it was.

I can't believe how the year has flown by and that it's December already. We were able to have a very enjoyable Thanksgiving with the Trauntvein clan who were also willing to open their home up to my parents. My siblings weren't able to get together until Sunday but it was our turn to be with them so Mom and Dad were gracious enough to allow us to bring them with. Thanks!

My sister-in-law Julie came up from Arizona with her kids so we spent lots of time playing with them. Julie and I stamped and made LOTS of cards for Julie to take home. We had several late nights getting projects done!!!! I also finally had an appointment with my new Dr. (a neurologist) Hopefully we can get some help for my headaches now.

Eric is stuck on the basement. He's been trying to figure out how to do the sheet rock in windowsills???? He has been able to spend some time out in the West Desert though, which always makes him a little happier.

The kids are doing well. We went to the Festival of Lights and they loved that.

Jason has been doing a lot of help with cooking. By the time I get home from work my head is usually really bad, but Jason has been a HUGE help. He's been learning a lot of things about cooking and helping.

David is still working hard in school. It's not easy but he is sure trying. He is a very good friend though, and has made lots of new friends in our neighborhood.

Maddie is a big personality packed into a tiny body. She is always saying something that has me laughing. Her teacher has said how much she enjoys her for the same reason. She has been doing a lot of reading to her younger brother and cousins. What a sweetie!

AJ is growing up. I'm not quite sure that I am ready. He and dad continue to have their Tuesday Wal-Mart routine. Last week he allowed his Aunt Julie to take him instead, but he informed me that she did it wrong. They didn't get a sticker or a "tookie” Next year he'll be in kindergarten so I'm not sure if the routine will continue for much longer.

We are mostly ready for Christmas. Just a few things left to do. Still, I'm sure that December will be a busy month.

We love you guys!

Eric, Amy and kids