Have I been missed? Didn't think so. ;-)

Has is really been 15 months since I posted anything on my blog?  Wow.  And it's been such an eventful year--but maybe that's why I haven't had time to blog.  It's sad really because I always admire people who keep a journal and I thought maybe my blogging would help me with that a little bit.  Since I blogged last, we've been blessed with FOUR beautiful new grandchildren and we are expecting another any day now.  I've spent a lot of time flying this past year, or so it seems.  (Never enough to earn a freebie, but it seems I spent a lot of time in airports.)  Let's see:  May 2012 I spent a month in Rochester, MN with Shelly and her family.  Bless her heart, she gave us a real scare when she almost lost her baby and was very ill.  Fortunately we had a real miracle and on August 15th little Mary Louise was born.  In July 2012, I spent a week with Sam and Erica in Sacramento tending their three younger children so that they could take Leila backpacking.  (They always do such fun things!)  Later in July we all met at a big lodge in Lake Tahoe for our bi-annual Swenson Family Reunion.  Those are such sweet and precious times for me when we can all be together.  (We even flew Dave and Shelly out from Rochester even though she was within a month of delivery.  Brave, huh?)

In Sept. I went back out to Rochester to help Shelly for a couple of weeks with the new baby.  Dave's mom spent the first two weeks helping her.  (I love that they are able and willing to help Shelly so much!)  About the middle of October I got about as sick as I've ever been.  Bronchitis leveled me and I never want to be that sick again.  It was a long, slow recovery.

Also last year I was the chair of the "In Her Shoes" Women in Philanthropy annual GALA that was November 2nd.  It kept me very busy but it was successful and everyone had a great time.  I moved from doing that to being the Chair of Women in Philanthropy for the next two years.  That has kept me very involved in trying to make a difference in our community.

Sam and Erica and their family came from Sacrament for Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful to have them.  We were disappointed when all of Laura's family came down with the H1N1 flu as they were suppose to come also.  Poor Laura was so sick and her kids were sick and little Matt ended up with some secondary infection and in the hospital so the first of December I spent a little over a week in St. Louis helping her out--she was pregnant, sick and Christmas we just around the corner.  Tough times for the Finlinson's.

Christmas was busy as usual, but we didn't have any of the out-of-state kids home.  Kristy's family joined us for Christmas Eve dinner.  My dad even came, which was a real treat for me!  It's hard to get him to travel that far these days.  Rob got really sick and ended up in the ER.  We all thought he had appendicitis, but evidently not.  Merry Christmas Rob with a great big ER medical bill.

In February I found a great airfare to Minnesota and went out for a week--it was sort of a birthday/anniversary/Valentines gift for Shelly and Dave, so they could  get away for a night or two.  He is always so busy and Shelly really has her hands full with four small children.

The first part of March, I attended a Women's Leadership Summit in South Carolina that was really awesome.  I learned so much and caught the vision of what  is possible when women work together for change.  Ken came out at the end of the conference and we spent a few days in Charleston together.  It's a beautiful area and I'd love to go back sometime.

We horned in on Matt and Amy's vacation to San Diego in the middle of March.  It was WONDERFUL.  We stayed in Carlsbad.  I can't even explain how much I love the ocean.  I LOVE the ocean.  I love the sound, the smell, the salty water, the breeze--everything.  I can't figure out why I don't live by the ocean.  Oh well.  I do love where I live--it would be perfect if there were just an ocean a little closer.

On April 13th we had a momentous event!  Twins!  Not really, but almost.  Kristy and Jessica BOTH had their baby boys that day--so I call them my "twins".   Mick and Jess beat Rob and Kristy by about 12 hours, even though Kristy was due first.  Their baby weighed a whopping 10lb 8oz!  They named him Philip John.  He is ADORABLE and I think he looks like Ken's baby pics.  Rob and Kristy's little guy was 7lbs and they named him Michael Minoru (in honor of Kristy's grandfather).  He is adorable also.  I was tending Kenny, Andrew and Isaac for awhile, but Mick came and got Kenny cause Jess' parents drove down.  Andrew got really sick.  I was actually thinking about taking him to the hospital, but a priesthood blessing and some loving coaxing by Ken got him drinking.  He made a good recovery.  It's so scary when these little ones get sick.  We have been so blessed with healthy children and grandchildren and I am very grateful.

I planned and carried out a "retreat" for Women in Philanthropy in April to help us get our direction and focus.  This job has turned out to be much more time consuming than I thought, but I want to really  make a difference in the community--and not just waste time.  We'll see  how it goes---that will be a blog for another day.

In May I tended Todd and Eve for four days here, then went to Laura's for a week.  I found a great airfare deal and decided that before Laura has her 5th baby, she and Justin should go away for a few days together.  I don't think in 11 years of marriage they have ever been away from their children.  I know the timing wasn't the best, as she was very pregnant and it was  hot, but I had a great time with the kids.  They are just such great kids and I love spending time with them.

A few days after getting back, Ken and I went to Lake Powell without any kids for the first time ever.  We rented a houseboat with the Klug's, Lassens, and the Probsts.  We laughed so hard for three days that my abs were actually sore when I got home.  THIS needs to be a yearly thing.  I felt totally rejuvenated.

On July 2nd, Emilie Jane Finlinson was born.  We flew to St. Louis (Ken and I) on the 3rd.  Ken stayed for a few days, and I stayed until the 22nd.  Laura and Justin moved the boys into what was their living room to make room for Emilie.  The trouble was that there were just bifold doors so Ken helped Justin install some french doors while he was there.  Justin got then primed, and while I was there I got them painted and put some window film on for privacy.  It turned out really nice.  The kids are so thrilled with little Emilie.  She is truly beautiful and such a good, sweet baby.

When I got home on the 22nd, Shelly and Dave were here from Minnesota so I got to spend a few days with them and the kids before they drove back.  It gets pretty crazy here when we get Matt and Amy, Mick and Jess and all the kids here, but I love to see the cousins getting to know each other and have fun together.  Dave's parents took Shelly's oldest three on a road trip this week, so Shelly just has Mary which should be a bit of a vacation for her.  I'm sure she'll miss those kids a lot.  She is such a wonderful, fun, and patient mother.

And now it's August and we're waiting for Matt and Amy's little boy to arrive.  I've made 6 quilts this year, and have two or three either cut out or waiting to be made.  I'm working on Amy's right now and don't know why I quit to blog--oh yeah, I was going to post pics of Emilie's quilt and just got sidetracked.  (Surprise--I do that A LOT).

My garden has been a little iffy this year with all my "leaving".  We had a ton of peas though and my cabbages and artichokes are growing like crazy.  My beans took a hit while I was gone, so they will be sparse.  It's been so dang HOT.  And the weeds are more than I would like, but all in all, I love my little corner of this world.  When I'm out in the yard I find myself so full of joy and gratitude that I could be so blessed to live in such a beautiful spot.  Life is good.  Busy.  But good.