THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY

We had so much fun over the Thanksgiving Holiday with my sister Virginia and her family. Hannah got to experience having little boys around which she isn't used to. We had very nice eighty degree weather up through yesterday and spent time swimming, playing, eating and singing. We went to Old Tucson studios yesterday and had tons of fun on the rides and panning for gold (fool's gold, that is). The whole family participated in the American Idol version of Karaoke Revolution on our PlayStation.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to everyone this morning. My brother in law owns a jet and they tempted all three of us by offering to fly us back to Denver with them! I love surprising my mom, which we would have done but duty calls and we all three stayed in Tucson. We told them that we'd take them up on their offer next summer though.

We're all laying low today, just hanging out at the house. I had fun earlier today by making my first digital photo album. I'm having it made for Virginia who is impossible to buy for at Christmas. I know she doesn't have time to do photo albums and thought this would be the perfect gift for her. It cost less than thirty dollars to make a twenty page album on Snapfish, where I store all of my photos.

"Butt Bread"

What A Week!

It was a week ago today that John took Hannah and her friend Rene up to Glendale to see the Hannah Montana concert. We were only able to score three tickets so I stayed home a priced a bunch of garage sale items. The highlight of the show was when John held Hannah up and she waved at Miley from close range. Miley waved back. Ah yes, I remember my first concert at Hannah's age. Our favorite babysitter took us to see the Osmonds. It was really Donny that we wanted to see and who we screamed for. Yep, had on my purple kneesocks and we all know that is Donny's favorite color. We had front row seats and it was a lot of fun. Just watched the Osmonds on Oprah last week. They can still sing too...just looking older that they did in my Tiger Beat posters! Donny's actually a grandfather!!

Had a great birthday that was celebrated through the weekend and culminated in my third cake at bible study on Tuesday night. My friend Jenni has made my favorite cake for me for the last few years...it's yellow cake with chocolate frosting. One more week of "A Woman's Heart," then we break until January.

I think we're doing "Jesus, the One and Only" next session.

Kathy, it's great having you back on the blog. I promise I'll call Beth and encourage her to give us an update. Happy Thanksgiving. We're gathering at our house. My sister Virginia, Scott and their two boys will join Dad, Nancy, John, Hannah and I at our house. I'm looking forward to having Devin and Chase here. Chase and I have got to get us some "butt bread!" I'll post a pic so you catch my drift shortly.

Love you...Katy

Sorry I haven't been on the "blog" for the past month, and after looking at Katy's posting - it has been over 3 months since my last note! My bad!

I have been able to "create" a part time day position doing staff education for the past month, and was hoping it would evolve into a permanent position - but found out that it will not. There is, however, a part time Nurse Educator position that I have applied for - it would move me out of my current area though (which I have worked for 10 years). I am enjoying being home every evening and weekend though. I have also been able to work my 16 hours in a flexible schedule - so I work all my hours while the girls are in school - love that!

Brian's been through another surgery this past fall trying to clear up a foot wound that he has had for years. It entailed an outpatient surgery and 6 long weeks of no walking. Well, the 6 weeks was up, and by the 2nd week of walking, a small would appeared on his foot. He is off-loading his foot again (not walking on it) and we are going to see if it will clear up again. Then, he and the Podiatrist will have a powow about what might be going on. Our prayer is that we might be able to just modify his shoe to resolve the situation.

Brian's parents are coming for Christmas as well as my sister and her daughter from Indiana. So I am excited to have family here for the season. Can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are so blessed!

Love ya all! Kathy

The Real Hannah Montana - Our Hannah

A Good Reminder...Sunday's Sermon

On Sunday, our pastor taught a great lesson about how God specially designed each one of us before we were even conceived. The drama team also did a great skit about how we are all made by God's design but people and the world around us can hamper or try to change the original plan. I'll post the link here if anyone would like to listen. We have moved to a smaller baptist church within the last year and are just now settling in. I wasn't sure that I'd be able to as I have been missing...really, the people (our friends) at our old church. I have found that one of the best ways to get to know people is to get involved. I ended up working during VBS week in June and met lots of people. Folks at New Life are also very friendly and welcoming. The greeters knew us by name the second time we walked through the church doors....that was huge! I could go on but I now know for sure that this church is where God wants us to be right now. I am thankful for a great pastor and his family as well as an awesome worship team. Before I forget, here's the link to that sermon:

http://www.newlifetuc.org/sermons/sup/CrownedWithGlory.GregLavine.10.21.2007.mp3

I'll also post another excellent teaching which is titled, " God Hears My Prayers." I know I've asked the question before...does God really hear me when I pray? Here's that link:

http://www.newlifetuc.org/sermons/sup/GodHearsMyPrayers.GregLavine.09.30.2007.mp3

I just got home from bible study at Jenni's....we just finished week seven of Beth Moore's "A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place." Powerful message tonight...I can always tell...it was really quiet after the lesson when Beth prayed. Bedtime now for me. Early day at work. I have to be there by seven. The great thing about my job is that I work hard on T, W and Thursdays then get four day weekends all the time!

We have a busy weekend coming up. Hannah has a big party to go to on Saturday which is also a sleepover. On Sunday afternoon, Hannah has her first voice recital. She's singing two songs. Each student is also singing one Amy Grant song. Hannah's is "Welcome to Our World."

Finally, our new dog Miley did everything in her power to destroy the house while we were gone today. She ran around in the mud after John ran the sprinklers and then decided to jump on every piece of furniture she could find. Then she chewed up a few things including the front cover of my bible study. I found muddy paw prints on the kitchen counter and the dinner table. Hannah called me at work to warn me. We had it cleaned up in an hour. My new vacuum has great suction. I calmly explained to Miley that she needs to stay off of the furniture or she'll have to stay in the yard while we're away...I don't like that. Our dogs have always had the freedom to go in and out via the doggie door. I love Miley. I think Scooby will eventually too. She just needs love and lots of guidance.

Goodnight and sleep well!

Miley Is Home!

We brought Miley home just over a week ago. Scooby has a new sister and they already love each other. Both of them are snoozing on the couches in the living room as I sit here typing. Miley is a big bundle of love! She jumped up on the couch with me and put her head on my chest the other day. She loves to go on long walks and tries to chase the bunnies she sees out in the desert. I'm pretty sure she doesn't know about cactus yet so we haven't let her off-leash where the cacti grow. She is house-trained and already knows how to sit and shake. Hannah is trying to teach her how to speak but no luck yet.

As I am home this week (have the week off) enjoying our new baby, I also grieve for my sister Peggy and my niece Maddie who put down their sweet dog Ginger this morning. Ginger had lung cancer and gave Peggy "that look" the other day, telling her it was time. In the last year, all of my three sisters and I have lost our dear dogs...Mandy, Rollie, Maverick, Sam, Cimba and Ginger. All of them were great companions and lived long lives that were filled with love.

As for this blog, it may be getting a face lift soon. Some of my co-bloggers are unable to participate anymore because of the tight security on their computers. So, this blog may take on a new name....just don't know what that will be yet.

Time to pick Hannah up from school soon then we have a showcase to attend for her drama group. I'm praying for Hannah as she is singing her first solo, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" at another church on Saturday night. She's pretty nervous about it but I think she'll do fine. She's auditioning for CYT's Annie next month and is gearing up for that as well.

Have a great week,
Katy

A Friend for Scooby?

I have to confess that I have been lurking on the Tucson Craigslist looking at dogs up for adoption. We really thought we had our hearts set on a golden retriever...that was until yesterday. I saw an ad about a young man who had rescued three 7 month old sisters who are flat-coated retrievers. They were to be euthanized that very day because they had runny noses. Well, this young man and his wife took all three to the vet. They had minor kennel cough which they have all recovered from and are now healthy. They brought all three girls over to our house yesterday and we watched how they interacted with Scooby and with us. We all had a favorite and told the couple that we'd need to talk and pray about it for at least a day. I think we have picked the girl we want. She was mellow and sweet but also got down and tried to get Scooby to play with her. Hannah wanted to take them all of course. So, it looks like Scooby will have a new friend and we will have a new family member. She does not have a name yet and Hannah is SO excited about that! She's probably going to name her "Miley." She wants this to be HER dog. All three dogs were very sweet and well-mannered. Will update you next week. She is getting spayed on Wed. and we'll get her on Friday or Saturday.

Retreating In Rio Rico, Arizona

Last Thursday, I drove down to Tubac (Rio Rico) for the Casas Women's retreat. The speaker this year was Bobbie Rill from Family Life Radio and she taught from the book of Ruth. Learned a lot about relationships last weekend...as well as joy out of suffering and God's great redemption! The retreat didn't actually begin until Friday night so I had the day to myself. Ordered room service for breakfast, went to the pool to read and then drove to Tubac for some shopping.

The weekend was really nice. I connected with an old friend, learned some great lessons and didn't have to be in charge of karaoke this year! I sat at a table with a wonderful group of women. We had some good discussions and powerful times of prayer.

I also had a crisis...my job...thinking that I've had enough and called John and told him I was thinking about leaving (my job, not him). He must have known that my hormones were active and listened thoughtfully. I have been under a lot of stress at work for the first time in 21 years...still at my first job out of grad school...so is it really my job or something else? I spent a couple of hours sharing with a friend on retreat she thinks it may be the female version of mid-life crisis...hmmm...All this to say that a couple of things have happened at work this week that have improved my situation. I also received my retirement statement in the mail and I'm really too far in to quit now. Guess I can work at Starbuck's when I retire from teaching.

I think this was the last Casas retreat for me...this year was more of a "closure" trip. I left after worship on Sunday to head back to Tucson. I had brought a beautiful angel pin with me and had it pinned to my purse all weekend. It was three girl angels in brightly colored dresses who looked very happy. I bought it after Britni died (I know we don't become angels...I just really liked this pin). It reminded me of my first Rio Rico retreat with Britni and Sheri as my roomies. Retreat was in September and Britni was called home in June. Anyway, we had so much fun that year, walking down Mesquite Gulch laughing so hard that we had tears streaming down our faces. Britni also shared a powerful encounter she had with angels who had protected her in a dangerous situation. So as I drove down the hill on Sunday leaving the resort, I stopped my car in the middle of the road and got out at Mesquite Gulch. I took the pin off of my purse and found big rock at the trailhead. I found a nice little place at the base of the rock under some brush and set the pin there. Not an altar nor a shrine...just closure. I had a smile on my face as I headed towards home...had some alone time just worshipping our Father. He is good...ALWAYS!

Hint of Fall Is In The Air!!!

For the first time in a LONG time, we felt a hint of cool air tonight. We drove way across town to the far east side to watch one of Hannah's friends play in a softball game. The girls are in the other room watching High School Musical 2...may be for the last time though...have heard some disturbing news about one of the main stars who is a "role model" for our tweens. I'm sure the girls will hear about it and we will have some important family discourse about it.

My sister Beth and my niece Sophie came for a visit over Labor Day weekend. We had lots of fun. The picture above was just before Hannah and Sophie filmed a Nancy Drew video. How do you like the unibrow Hannah gave Sophie? They were inseperable and love each other like sisters. We spent time with Dad and Nancy as well. We're going to get the girls together again in March during spring break for a week.

It may be time for another "Moms" weekend again this year...I'm going to see Annette and Shevon this Friday for dinner. Kathy, what are you doing Friday? Maybe you can drive down and join us?

Work is going well...still on my T, W and Th schedule. We stay very busy during the week. Hannah has CYT (Christian Youth Theater) on Monday nights. I go to my bible study on Tuesday nights. John will be starting a class on Wed. nights at our pastor's house for men. He is teaching a class on famiy worship. Then on Thursday afternoons, Hannah has her voice lesson. Her teacher has given her two songs for her first recital and she's very nervous. She has a strong singing voice and she will do fine...just wish she knew that!

Would love to hear from you other bloggin' girls. Will send an email to make sure you all made the transition to Google. I know Kathy has. I hope you all are well. Look forward to hearing from each of you here. Much Love....Katy

It's A Dog's Life!

I just read a cute post on the LPM blog about two golden retrievers. Here are three of the loves of my life. Little Scooby is the young one who looks like a golden pup. I went to animal control one day to pay for Mandy and Rollie's tags. I asked if I could go back and visit the dogs that were up for adoption. End of story. Scooby was in the last pen. At the very moment our eyes met, I knew he was coming home with me. Mandy, our golden and Rollie, the flat-coated retriever mix, taught Scooby how to get along in the world. Scooby is best known for having "choosing" time in Hannah's room. When we'd arrive home from school, we'd find Polly Pockets and Barbie's who were missing limbs, under our mesquite tree in the back yard. Hannah's bedroom looks out on that tree. I can still see her standing and her window screaming and crying, while pointing to the carnage under the tree. There is something magical about a dog turning two. Scooby now knows which are "his" toys and chooses only from his Bobos and Bad Kitty selections!

Mandy girl was our golden. We had her for almost thirteen years. She was one of the most loving, sweet girls I have ever known. She was sweet but she was the alpha dog. She would often spend her days lounging on our cool tile floor, just across from the doggie door. If our dog Rollie would stick his head through the door to come in, Mandy girl would lift her lip up, just enough to show some teeth. Rollie would back out of the door and wait to come in when it was safe.

Finally, I will tell you about Rollie. He was the runt of his litter and we got him from a local rescue group. He is famous in my circle of friends for getting into Shevon's purse and taking some gum out to chew. He also shredded a bible once when we were on a weekend trip and a good friend was dog-sitting. My friend Beth called to say that the bible had been ruined...I couldn't resist and told her that it was a family heirloom bible that had been in our family for many years...I had actually bought it at a local bookstore for a dollar. Rollie lived to be 13 and a half. Now it's just the three of us and Scooby. We're hoping that it won't be long until a new dog comes our way. We want a young female and we're thinking we need another golden in the house.

Squeezing the Last Drops of Summer Juice For All It's Worth!

Kathy, I sure hope you're over that cold and gettin' used to waking up at the late hour of 7AM! I feel the same way at the end of each summer. I am blessed to have a teaching job that allows me to have summers off with Hannah. I start feeling a little blue when I know the end is approaching. I went back to work on Monday...John and Hannah took our little camper to Canyon Lake. I miss them but know they're having fun. No cell phone service there though. John drove eight miles last night to call me and tell me how much fun they had on the Seadoo. They are there with some of our neighbors who have daughters Hannah's age. John said something silly about wanting to buy a Seadoo and I laughed. I had to tell him that Scooby has been digging under the fence and that we have to have a block wall put in. My baby boy is still in mourning for Rollie...I am too. I thought I heard him whining tonight and I even talked to him. Burst right into tears when I realized it wasn't him. I also told John he might come home to a new dog (I wouldn't really). I do think we need to consider it though. Scooby is lonely. My friend Kristin let me take him to her house for doggie daycare today and tomorrow. I'm off Friday, Sat, Sun and Mondays.

Hannah went to church camp in Prescott for three days. She cried and told me she wasn't going the morning they were to leave. I had her get dressed, eat breakfast and told her we'd drive to the church to just "scope things out." She clung to my arm and had tears as her Sunday school teacher encouraged her to go. Then her friend Amanda started crying and said she wasn't going if Hannah wasn't going. I was almost ready to give up and wasn't planning on forcing her to go...my heart was breaking...I offered her an insurance plan. I told her that if she got up there and absolutely didn't like it, that John, Scooby and I would jump in the car and come get her. I meant it. Didn't need it though. She went and had a great time. I missed her but know I need to let her go do these things...preteenhood is a whole new adventure for us. She starts sixth grade on Aug. 13th. Hope to hear from the rest of you! What's new in your lives these days?

A question for all before I close with a picture tribute to my dear Rollie. I will answer this question in my next post. What has the Lord been teaching you this summer? Have you been a good student?

Beth? Annette? Jennifer? Ann? Kathleen?

Love to you all....Kate

First Day of School

Hi friends,

I just dropped off my girls for their first day of school. Emily and Corrine are now both in school full day - 8am to 3pm. I thought I was going to be all "yahoo" and "I'm free", but I am more "Oh no" and "So Sad" - it has really caught me off guard. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I have a summer cold, just started my period, and haven't consistently woken up before 7am in over 3 years?!?!? It was pretty interesting driving to school today, I didn't know so much hussle and bussle happened before 10:30am?

Hope you all are gearing up for the new school year. I would love to read about how you and your families are doing.

Love, Kathy

Full Time Students

Well,

Starting July 25, I'll have both girls in full-time school!!!!! Oh yeah, I mean BOOOHOOO. We just got back from three weeks in Canada. We had a great trip, and I didn't even fight with Dad this year! We all got along great. Brian, the girls, Oma, and Opa and I all went to see the National Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta - large diansour museum, AWESOME! - spent the night in the hotel two nights, played in the pool, hiked in the HOODOOS, walked across the suspension bridge and crossed the river on the ferry for a picnic. We then went to Stetller, Alberta to ride the steam-engine train, got robbed by horseback thieves and had a country buffet in Big Valley - with the blue church on the hill. I felt very country!

Now we are back and the girls are getting geared up to start First and Third grade. I loved helping out in the classrooms last year, and will do so again this year. I am looking forward to using my day hours to participate in women's ministry again, and maybe do some hospital visitation for the church.

I finally let Corrine out of piano after two years of fighting over practice. Both girls took swim lessons this summer, and Corrine is actually very good. Both are in tumbling still and we are looking into either Brownies or soccer for the Fall.

Brian and I are doing very well, we are able to share our thoughts and feelings openly and have worked hard at listening to one another. We have had more date nights and spend more time talking about what is going on, so we don't let our busy schedules get the best of us.

I am hopeful that you are all well. Thanks to Katy for this great tool for sharing our lives.

Remember This?

Friends and Families Reunion
Six friends and I became close during our single years. When we all married, started moving out of state, and raising families, we decided we didn't want to miss out on that part of our lives. So when our children grew old enough to travel easily, our families (seven dads, seven

moms, seven boys, and seven girls) chose a week when we could vacation together. We enjoyed family time as well as mommies-alone and daddies-alone time. We even held our own church service! We created some wonderful memories that summer and hope to do it again in the future.
—Katy Mount, Arizona

This was the piece that was published in Today's Christian Woman about our trip. I'm hoping this will inspire us to start planning the next one. I still like Ann's idea of family camp on the Oregon coast! Anyone?

Here we are, the girlfriends of the "Tucson Girlfriends Journal."

Tucson Girlfriends' Journal

Hi everyone,

Well I finally figured out my username and password to get on line and chat. I am pathetic when it comes to usage of the computer world (and Internet/email). Anyway, the girls just finished their 2 week Spring Break. Corrine, Emily and I went to Tucson for the day last week, saw Katy, John, Hannah, Nettie and the boys briefly as they were sickly, and Shevon (and her dogs and cats).

Corrine has some touch of allergies. She gets plugged nose and watery eyes often - but I am so bad, I don't give her anything - just suck it up kid and get through it (coming from someone who doesn't have a clue about the sufferings of allergies). I guess I need to develop more empathy - huh?!?!

Had some new changes - Corrine and Emily both need glasses. I took them in mostly to have Corrine's eyes addressed as I would see her pull her book close to her to read. Ends up she has "weak focusing muscles". She can see and read fine (slight stigmatism). But with very week focusing ability, along with the stigmatism - she mis-reads letters and reading puts a lot of fatigue on her eyes, so she has nevery liked reading. She will need reading glasses and will be wearing them while in class and for piano. She of course is very excited - picking out some lovely pink frames!

To my surprise, Emily ends up having vision deficit and needs glasses ALL THE TIME! I was blown away. She is so observant, detail oriented, that I couldn't believe it when she gave me sample glasses for me to hold up and said this is what Emily sees (blurry like crazy). I guess God made our eyes this way, and children are slightly blurred and their focusing muscles work during their growing time up to about age 12. Emily's are more blurred than an almost 6 year old should be, so right now she is able to focus things in to see clear enough, but the glasses will help her not have to work so hard to see (and see more clearly). She is content with pink frames too, and tells me "but I can see" as we are waiting for their new glasses to come in. It will be fun to see her change once she wears them about 2-3 days and realizes she really can see! Does anyone know who glasses stay on while doing cartwheels, flips, summersaults, spins, handstands, headstands, splits, and hip-hop dance moves? Just wondering how many replacement pairs I should have on standby for Emily!

Well, with me getting reading glasses last November, the Wruks are all in glasses except Brian (who is still ejoying his Lasik results - but was told her might need reading glasses in about a year).

Thanks for letting me go on a bit too long with my first posting!

Tucson Girlfriends' Journal

Tucson Girlfriends' Journal

LIFE IN GENERAL

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Hi Girls...Well, Hannah and I are home sick with the crud this weekend. You know, the sore throat, cold and cough deal? We are now on the upswing but wishing for warmer weather. Here is one of the pics from Hannah's Aladdin musical. Can you pick her out? I'll post some better ones next time.

So what's new in the Mount's life you ask? Well, we have made the decision to move to another church. We will be going to New Life Baptist Fellowship. It was an extremely difficult decsion to make. I'm anticipating the "Why" question from some of you and I will say that it wasn't just one thing that got us started down this path. The two main reasons are #1- Programming for kids. One of the other main reasons for us is also the changes in worship. John and I are not comfortable with many of the changes. We have been involved in starting up a new ABF Adult Bible Fellowship class on Sundays and that will be hard for us to leave. So there ya have it. I know that Kathy is trying to post and having trouble signing in...Kathy, sign in to the "old Blogger" not the new Google version. I will be sharing with all of you about converting our Blog to the new version soon. It is easier and more secure.
Love to all of you...Katy

It's COLD here in Tucson!

Hi Girls,

I know I shouldn't complain but we've had a couple of mornings at 12 degrees below freezing. I wouldn't mind a little snow before the winter is over though. We Mounts just finished a very busy week ... Hannah was in the CYT (Christian Youth Theater) production of Aladdin...did you and Garrett like it Annette? We did a total of 7 shows in 5 days! It was a musical and had kids from 8-18 years old in it. I will post some pics when they become available. Hannah is planning on auditioning for the spring production of Beauty and the Beast. For now, we're all nursing colds and trying to stay warm around here. So Jennifer? Where are you? How about some pics of the remodeling work? We'd love to hear from you. Time to go make some soup and sandwiches for din din but I'll be back in the near future. Hannah's class is doing a blog on Blogger to respond to a book they are reading. Their teacher is leading it....kind of neat!
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