The last few weeks have been pretty busy, considering the fact that I have no job. I have been working to get the garage, shed, and basement cleaned and orderly.(I have to admit it was Dan's idea, but we have all been working hard.0 We discovered that we had a mouse in the garage who apparently loved pears. We hope he is now gone, as all the food is. Bailee won't go in the garage without shoes now. That is ok though because it is getting colder.

I LOVE canning, or rather, I love looking at the fruits of my labor. Those jars look, and taste, so beautiful! Thank you to Meg and her Father for the gift of the pears. If you don't have to purchase the fruit, it makes it soo worth it! The storage room is shaping up nicely. We are looking forward to our "GIRL'S" apple canning days ahead. This time thanks to the Packer's apple tree. We even know how to make fruit leather this time. Fun, Fun, Fun!

Also, for the past few Wednesdays, I have had meetings at the temple to be trained. Then every Friday at 5 I go to the temple to do my regular shift. I am pretty tired, but the whole process seems to fit together. I feel more prepared in my home and thus more prepared in Heavenly Father's home.

A Birthday Tribute

This year we are a bit limited as to what we can do for Dave's birthday. We are saving as much as possible for our family vacation that begins on the 27th of September. Bet you can't guess where we are headed? You guessed it . . .

DISNEYLAND

So, I wondered what I could possibly do for my awesome husband? Then I figured I could write this tribute. Dave and I met thirty years ago about this time of year. We did not waste much time before we were engaged. He proposed to me on conference weekend. This December 19th marks 31 years. When you say it out loud, that is quite a long time. He really is amazing to have put up with me all this time. I have always said that it is because we laugh together every day. I try to give that counsel to everyone getting married. I remember when we lived in Orem. Someone in our ward saw us driving down the street. They told us later that they noticed we were both laughing and talking as we drove. I love that about our relationship.


We have had our share of trials, and haven't always felt like laughing, but even through our Gethsemanes, we have found things to make us laugh and smile.

One of the things that I love most about my Dave is that he is a big kid at heart. He has managed to find time to be a loving husband as well as a supportive father.


I cannot complain one bit about the love and devotion he has given me over the years. How many husbands would sleep on a cot at the foot of a hospital bed, shower in a hospital room shower, then head to work every day for three weeks, and stay up all night with their wife, when they couldn't sleep? Dave would, and did. I will adore him forever for that. I even learned the rules to soccer in the process. Ha Ha.


And last year when I could not take my sweet Mariah to be put to sleep, who did that for me and for her? Yep, my wonderful man! And then when he really did not want a new puppy, who allowed me to get not one, but two sweet puppies? Yes again, Dave. He really is the best. Those who know him know that he is there to help whenever he is needed. I actually felt a bit foolish when he suggested that we offer to take the grandchildren so that the kids could attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication. But that is the kind of grandpa and father that he is.


One of the things that Dave has been doing lately with his sons is to have a day each week or two that they go to have a guys lunch. This gives him a time to bond with the guys. They have even managed a way to keep this lunch under 20 dollars by eating off McDonald's dollar menu. It doesn't matter what they eat, it is that they have the undivided time with each other. This was his idea and I am glad that he is doing it. Sometimes I have kicked against the pricks on this one, but he tenderly tells me how important it is to him to have that time with his sons. He is especially happy that Jason is able to attend now. He is looking forward to next month when Dan will be here and they can all be together. He really is a thoughtful man.

And as for loving his grandchildren, there is nobody that can compare in my mind. Although sometimes at a loss for what to do with them, he is more than willing to try. We still laugh and smile a lot about the time he tended Ammon. He was reaching for Ammon's hand and he got his finger instead. I guess Dave pulled Ammon's finger, which hurt Ammon a bit. When Kathie got home, Ammon, who is getting very verbal, said, "Papa, finger, owie." Yep, Ammon told on Papa Dave.

Dave is very patient with all the grand-children, and he is a sucker for the girls. I have watched him and notice that he has a special connection with our Janie. The love in his heart seems to spill out when she smiles and reaches for her Papa.


So, Have a wonderful day, my wonderful man, I do not say it enough, but I wanted the world (or at least those that read my blog) to know the man inside the man I married. You really are spectacular! (and like I always say, "a Genius")

Love, Suzy-Q

Pills, Pills, and less pills

I had a doctor appointment last week. He decided to have me stop taking my water pill as well as my potassium. I have to admit that I am a bit nervous to stop taking them as I do tend to swell up (especially my cankles) I was looking at a photo of myself from many years ago and realized that I did indeed have ankles. Oh, well, I am alive and I am grateful. So now I get to watch my sodium intake and wear lovely stockings that keep me from swelling, but not sweating! I actually like the way they feel, except for feeling hot. They look sort of dorky, but soon it will be fall and nobody will notice with long pants.

The doctor also had me go to a vein center and make sure I did not have any signs of blood clots, so I did that last week as well, all is good, so that was a relief. ( I feel like an old person talking about all these doctor appointments), but I thought some people might want to know that I am doing well. Just to let you all know - when I left the hospital following the transplant, I was taking 47 pills a day, now I take 6. Wow!

Disneyland Motivates

I have discovered that the best motivation for me at work is a trip to Disneyland, so I should always have one planned.(haha) I have done better the last three weeks than I have done in three months. I want to go to the park and not use anything but cash, so I know that I have to do my best. I think the excitement must come through in my voice over the phone. Anyway, it is working and that is great! We are excited to have most of the family with us. Andy doesn't want to come and I guess I can understand that. I am sure that someday he will want to go again.

Last week I had my high school friends here for a few days! It was nice that the Oqurrah temple was still open for viewing, they were all happy to see it! I feel so blessed that after all these years, we still love to be together and have a fun time. Thanks to Dave for putting up with so many women for a few days. He was a champ!

On being a better, friend, grandmother, and mom

Well, an apology to everyone but Dave and our ward family. Youth Conference was all consuming. We did an Amazing Race with 40 youth and 12 adults. We were all over the Salt Lake valley on Thursday the 25th and on Friday the 26th we hit Utah County. Service, service, and more service, but what the youth had was fun, fun, and more fun. We said afterwards that we should have kept track of our hours. I am sure it would have been over 100 hours for Dave and I alone. I can't even think of how may the Pulsiphers must have spent. Everything went as planned. We had so many blessings that I think I should write a few of them down.

Weather: We had to try our River Adventure, so one week prior to the Conference, we borrowed a raft and headed to the Provo River. Matt, Kathie, and Ammon came along. It rained all the way down to the river, but when we opened the door of the car, it stopped. It was clear during the trial, and as soon as we put the raft away and got into the car, it started raining again. Then, the day of the actual River Adventure, it was pouring rain all the way up the canyon, but as the door opened, once again it stopped. The sky was clear all day and as the last group of kids was getting off the river, the rain began again. I know that the Lord wanted the experience to be what we had hoped and prayed for.

Another small but huge miracle. It took many hours to get all the clues into all the envelopes. Each team had between 27 and 29 clues. Each team was going to different places all the time. So each family's clues had to be done separately and then put together into a box that would be at each location. Not easy. But we finished on Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning I was breathing a sigh of relief and eating my breakfast at the kitchen table. I pulled out one of the schedules and was just thinking of how fun this would be, when an impression came to me. "What time does DI open?" I called to Dave in the computer room. We discovered that it opens at 10 and we had several teams showing up at different DI's in the valley at 9. Well I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who is into details. We had time to redo the clues that needed to be changed and still get them out on Wednesday evening. So, I learned that if Heavenly Father cares about our clues, he must care about each of us individually. I felt his love and care during the conference and was really touched that the youth felt it as well. We had a wonderful experience and I am glad that I could be a part of it!

So, now it is over, and I promise to be a better friend, grandmother, and mom to all of you who have felt the neglect. Love, Sue

Just got a new hairdo. Here is a photo. Let me know what you think.

Well, I've decided I have to be the laziest blogger on the planet. So I figured I would pick an easy background that I can just keep there forever. Besides, the Easter one was just ugly and not easy to read.

Dave and I decided that when I got home from work on Saturday, we would be on "Vacation"(except from church). It has been really fun. Yesterday we went looking at homes for Matt and Kathie. We drove all the way to Magna. We found a cute place, but it looks like it may not work for them just yet. I liked that Kathie was reminded of the talk on provident living from this last conference.

We even looked at some places for Dave and I to downsize to. Afterwards we all went and got some spaghetti.

Today we went to church and showed Dave's awesome "Powerpoint presentation" to the youth. I think they are getting excited. We came home and had a bit to eat. We loaded up the chichihuas and headed to Orem. (Oops, should I say Schnauzers?) Anyway, we charted out much of the youth conference. It rained all the way down to Orem, and by the time we had to get out of the car, it had stopped. We took photos that we will need, and measured time and mileage, and just had a fun time.

Barbara had called me this morning to tell me that Mark had done well with is surgery to remove his kidney that they had discovered was cancerous. He did however have a bit of a scare. He got a blod clot and it had moved to his lung. They are watching him very carefully. I asked Dave if we could go and see them in the hospital as long as we were in Provo, and he was glad to do that. It was nice to see Barbara, Mark and Kelly. Mark really looked well and they were removing his IV while we were there.

When we left the hospital, I suggested that Dave call and talk to Julie. She was overjoyed to hear the good news. Everyone keep Mark in your prayers.

We sort of invited ourselves to dinner at Mom and Dad's house, since we were going to be in the area, and It was just too early to get to their home, so Dave suggested a walk in the park with the pups. It was fun, but we just have not taken them on leashes enough, and they kept tangling us up. We laughed a ton. It was a blast!

We got to Mom and Dad's house and had a great meal with Lester and Vickie, and Mom and Dad. I think it was fun to just be there together. We laughed, talked, listened to a song that Mom and a bunch of ladies sang, had fun and ate. What a great day! And I actually did feel a bit like I was on vacation. I am looking forward to what we will do on Memorial Day. I have not had a holiday off of work in forever! I am excited. Well, thanks for reading! If you read this Jason and Meg, I have been trying to get a hold of you guys. Jason said he would have time to talk while on the trip. Well, hope you are having a great time and relaxing. Congrats to Dan on the sales this week. Love to everyone! Mom