L.I.F.E.

      It has been a while, and I have been busy.  I've had work and a church calling to fufill, but finally my mind has been given permission to relax and ponder about life. Life- what a precious word.  That one word brings all sorts definitions to the page of a book.  Life is short, meaningful, full of items from our bucket list, with not enough pictures taken and regrets, but memories as well.  But as I sit here and ponder so many people come to my mind who have passed on.  I think of the service men and women who have fought for my freedom.  They are the true heroes of mine and many other lives.  They put there life on the line day after day, leaving the comfort of their home, family, and safety behind.  I have seen thousands of pictures and videos of soldiers returning from duty and surprising the kids and wive.  It tears me up, to be quiet honest.  They cry, I cry and so do millions of others who view the same video or picture.  To them I say THANK YOU.  I know doing so on this blog does not and never will do justice for them.  But I do think of them often and thank them from the bottom of my heart for all that they do for me on a daily basis.
     Next I think of my 2nd cousin Steven Jellum.  We were close enough to be first cousins and so we upgraded our family relationship to such.  Steven was put in critical condition after being involved in a horrific car accident.  I saw him once after that.  I was asked to give a motivational speech for a company.  One to the morning shift, another to the afternoon shift.  Between the two shifts I went home, lunch, then on my way back I visited Steven.  His mom was there.  She was so cool, calm and collective about it all.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I looked at Steven, he couldn't hear, talk, or communicate at all.  I did my best to keep my composure.  I talked to the mom who seemed to be doing ok, and when it was time to leave, I looked at Steven, tapped my heart twice and slowly walked out.  That was the best I could do so I wouldn't start bawling and making myself a mess before giving a motivational speech.  I gave the speech and did just fine.  Steven passed away a day later.  I think of the great times we had.  Especially between my junior and senior year of high school.  We made a video together and I still have it for memory reasons.
      Last, there is my beautiful Grandma Salvesen.  I love and miss her more than words could ever explain.  Her heart, smile, laugh, all of it was so motivating for me and I was one who certainly needed it at times and still do as well. Grandma and I had a personal relationship.  It was like we had a heart string attached to each other with a knot that no one in the world will ever be able to untie.  She passed in May of 2011 after a courageous battle with diabetes.  The funeral was beautfiul..just as she would have wanted.  My dad gave the closing prayer at her grave site.  It was the first time I ever saw him cry.  
      People come and go in our lives.  There is nothing we can do to stop it.  What we do with those people in regards of friendship..now that is something we can control.  Take time to ponder the special people in your life.  Who are they?  Why are they there?  What makes them so special to have a place in your heart?  You'll find your list to be long..in what is a very short life.

Retired in Paradise!!

My parents have completed their "Retirement" House and it looks gorgeous in my opinion.  I finally got the time to get over there and get some pictures to show off.  Hope you enjoy them as much as my parents enjoy living in the home!!            
     This picture (BELOW) is the living room with the host entertainment provided by the 70 inch monster

My dad may not know how to cook but he has a kitchen that makes him look he knows what he is doing..

This is a room between the master bathroom and master bedroom...so maybe it's called the master "I'm pissed at you right now so go sleep somewhere else because the bed is mine tonight" room

The master bathroom

Master bathroom continued

Dads office

My moms sewing room..talk about a mothers Heaven huh??

Moms huge sewing machine.  

Plenty of space inside those 4 closet doors for my moms sewing storage.

The Theater room

The theater room

The guest room

Our living room from a side view

Ok so this picture is the coolest!!  A family friend of ours drew this and it was a gift from my sister to my parents. On the picture is the kids.  The top left is Kassi, the top right is Ajay, the bottom left is Nick, and bottom right is Abby.  Each picture represents something of our family.  Kassi has her ipod, I have my New England Patriots shirt and a football, Nick-Boston Red Sox shirt and baseball bat and Abby-phone.  Our dog is also in there at the very bottom with a bone in her mouth and rocks surrounded around her because she plays/wrestles with them all the time.  Upper part of the tree is our cat.  You'll see a quilt and a tractor that represents my mom and hanging near the bottom of the tree is..yep you guessed it..Homer Simpson.  The reason behind that is because in a Simpsons episode, Homer buys Marge a bowling ball with Homers name on it, so then Homer can use it.  Mom and dad usually do this to each other on Christmas as well.  So that is our really cool Christmas present!! 

Harlee sitting on the couch and ruining it.

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom