42 Years

Yep...Ron and I have been married 42 years today...June 17, 1967. Who would have thought...that Ron Fischer and Donna Urban would still be married after all these years.

Marriage is work and anyone that says differently is just not telling the truth. We both deserve trophies...big ones!!! And I know that lots of people have heard this before but it's the King and Queen theory. In order to be the Queen, you have to treat him like the King. AND...in order to be the King, you have to treat her like the Queen. That's just the best way to put it.

42 years has seen the move from Indiana to Arizona. LOTS of traveling, children, grandchildren, career changes, semi-retirement, health issues, etc. etc. etc. AND an unbelievable number of GOOD TIMES.

I love it when Ron states that if he were to die today he would have to say that he had had a great life with very few regrets. Not many people can say that.

Anyway...Happy Anniversary Fischers!!!!

Our Little ONES

Again...grandkids are the BEST!!!
Ron and Joe had a wonderful time at the cabin last week. It is amazing what kids will ask and talk about. Everytime Ron remembers something and shares we both get such joy from Joe's actions and reactions. He really did not want to come home and wanted to stay longer.
Joci and I had our "girls" night. Once she got on her new little "princess type" dress it took an act of God to get it off her to go to bed and it went right back on first thing in the morning. She is such a strong willed little one and such a little mothering type. In fact, I think that is what one of Jennifer's teachers said about her when she was in the first grade.
Brandon is home from the hospital. WHOO HOO!!!!! He is even more of a momma/daddy boy now and he does not like to have them out of his sight. It will take a while to break the little bad habits that the hospital created. But you can sure tell he is glad to be back at his home. And he is okay health-wise. Still has some meds to deal with but overall doesn't have to be poked and stuck anymore.
All is well with our little ones! :)

Our Little One

I am so worried about our littliest grandson. He was born early with some problems and hopefully because he is so young will not remember all of his hospital visits and stays over this year and a half.
He is currently in the hospital in Phoenix...over a week now and it looks like it could be another week. They know there is an infection and have treated one area but it looks like another area is going to have to be treated. He is on some high powered antibiotics and is now definitely afraid of the color yellow. That's what they wear when they come in to stick, poke, look at, feel, etc. So I wonder if he'll remember why he won't like yellow!
Of course mom and dad are worried and just plain worn out. Mom is living at the hospital and dad is traveling back and forth every night. You can see the worry and tireness on both of their faces and in their bodies. You and see and feel the love as well.
The thing is with kids, they get sick fast and get well fast. We are all hoping that the infections are stopped and they find out why so they can be prevented in the future and that our little guy comes home soon, well and happy!

Grandma and Granddaughter

So, while grandpa and grandson are in Pine Top, it was a good time for Jocie and me to have an evening. Her dad delivered her to me at work and of course she had to say hello to everyone as we walked thru the building to my car. I believe she gathered some chocolate on that walk! :) Of course the first thing we did was go shopping. Joe loves to shop BUT Jocie is just as eager to look and buy. She especially likes to carry the stuff around. Afterall most of it is hers!!
We found some really cute outfits and at a great price. Than home to get our jammies on, which she was very proud that she was able to put them on herself without any help from grandma. Than dinner...mac and cheese AND a diet pepsi. Neither of the kids drink much pop anymore so this was a bit of a treat. We cleaned up the dishes and than on to the most important time of the night...NAILS!!!! Pink of course. We put two coats, toes and fingers. She thought I should also do the pink instead of my boring "shinny brown" but understood that pink was her favorite color, not grandmas.
By that time it was bedtime. She got to sleep in grandpa's bed on his side and with me so that was pretty special.
Next morning it was up, eat breakfast, get cleaned up, dressed and off to the babysitters. She is used to doing all of this later but did really great in getting around earlier.

I love having the kids together but it is always special to have each one separate at times. They are so alike and so different in so many ways. I love that they love to give hugs and kisses and say I love you with such meaning.

I know I've said it hundreds of times but it is so true...Grandkids are the best in the world!!!!!

Grandpa and Grandson

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to attach to this later. I am so bad about getting pictures.

Ron took Joe, our 5 year old grandson, to Pine Top with him for a few days. Just the two of them. Joe is like a sponge...soaking in all the answers to his questions. When I talked to him he was excited that the cabin is actually a house. That the porch goes almost all around the house. He saw Greer Lodge and the fish ponds and the ducks and checked out each one of the ponds which are full of trout. Of course he wants to fish. Ron has been working on some projects at the cabin which belongs to a past neighbor and very good friend. So, they do the work in the mornings and play in the afternoons. Ron did say that keeping up with a 5 year old is not easy. And of course, it's not like grandpa doesn't like to spoil too. Joe will have some great memories and lots to talk about when he gets home.

Why is it So Hard:

to get good, dependable help today? I know that there are a lot of VERY good, dependable help today...but...where are they?!!!!!!
I just hired an assistant which I believe will be excellent in the customer service area but cannot start working until the middle of June. So, I need a temp for about three weeks. This is what is hard. A temp...not a permanent person but someone that will work like a full time person. Someone that will give me 100% and believes that I am in charge not them. Someone that will do the job(s) they are given and not recreate them, or complain about them or just not do them. A responsible, considerate, nice person who gives the same customer service they want to receive. So, hopefully beginning next week this person will be sitting at the desk making an impression that if there was an opening they would definitely be recommended as a result of the work done as a temp.

Okay, off the soapbox...but I'm sure many of you know exactly where I'm coming from.

I'm back

The CFR retreat has come and gone. AND, was very successful. There is so much joy felt when you see the faces of those 14 ladies change as the weekend progressed.

I have to add the below for you to read. Fran read this at our closing ceremony and it is so perfect:

By the time the Creator made women, it was the sixth day of working overtime.
An Angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
The Creator answered and said, "Have you seen the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but no plastic, have 200 movable parts, all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that can hold three children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart, and have six pairs of hands."
The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six paris of hands! No way! And that's just on the standard model? This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
"But I can't" the creator protested, "I am close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick and can work 18 hour days."
The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft."
"She is soft", the Creator agreed, "But I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?" asked the Angel.
The Creator replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The Angel noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Creator objected, "that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the Angel asked.
"The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her dissappointment, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."
The Angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Creator. You thought of everything, for women are truly amazing."

Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry hardships, they carry burdens but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in. They stand up for injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin! They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have a lot to say and lot to give.
YOU are an amazing woman!!!