"I LOVE SNOW"!!!

This is the church that has been built not long ago that is used evry Sunday! The memorial that stands 38 and a 1/2 feet tall! It weighs over 100 tons and is one solid peice od granite!

Jan
and I at the country store in Sharon, Vermont!

What a great week it has been!

I LOVE THE SNOW!!

I know for all of you that live in snow are are thinking.... "If she only had to live in it"!

I have had the opportunity, with much thanks to the Scheidels ,to come for a visit to Connecticut! Walker served his mission in the Hartford Connecticut Mission and to this day he will tell you it is the best mission in the whole world! I might have to agree! One of the reasons why he will say it was the best mission is because this is where he met the Scheidels!

Walker met many people on his mission but as he served in the town of Canton he met two wonderful people who now over the last four plus years have became our good friends as well!

Their names are Janet, we call her Jan and her husband is Hal!

Jan knows I love the snow as I have talked to her over the years! I kept telling her one day I would come to visit them when it was snowing! Hal and Jan have been to our home and over the last three years when Walker and I have come to visit... we have gone to New York with the Scheidels and we have grown to love them very much! But when we have been here, it was never when it was snowing!

About 2 month ago Jan calls me and said "Do you want to come out in January or February"! She continued to tell me she had a plane ticket that was going to expire soon and she needed to use it! I still do not beleive that... And I know one of their kids could of used it as well and.... I have to say I was not sure if I could travel across the U.S again since I just got home from Georgia four weeks or so ago!

BUT sweet Jan someway talked me in to coming for a visit! It was not that I did not want to come but... for all that know me it is hard for me to travel out of Gilbert! Finally Jan called and said "I just need to know when you want to come because I need to let my work know what days I need off,so when you come I will not have to work!! At this point I think I really do want to see the snow and Jan is not talking a no at this point and who would not want to be with the Scheidels... What am I waiting for!

Before I knew it, Jan had me on a flight1

This week has been fantastic! We drove to Vermont and while we were there they had a HUGE snow storm in Vermont where the schools were closed and the town we were in was pretty much shut dawn! I LOVED IT!!! We spent Thursday through Saturday there! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! I have NEVER seen so much snow!!!

We were not on any time frame so it was nice to relax and just enjoy the snow! On Saturday Jan took me to Sharon Vermont where Joseph Smith was born! AGAIN.... I LOVED THIS TOWN!! Jan was so kind she had been to this memorial several times but she let me have the tour and take all the time I wanted! It was great usually when you go it is in the spring and summer and there are lines you have to wait in to get in and have a tour! But on this BEAUTIFUL SNOWY day we were the only ones there so it was like I had a private tour!!! I found out things I never knew before! These grounds and this memorial was BREATH TAKING!

We came back on Saturday and Jan has continued to do SO MANY nice things for me! She has gone out of her way to show me where Walker lived and where he served, when he was here, she has driven me to different towns to see the history and.... Jan made "Fondue" for dinner one night! It was delicious! I have never had this before! Jan said that was Walkers favorite meal always! Now mine as well!

This trip will be one I will never forget!! I am so thankful to Jan and Hal in so many ways! I am so thankful for all they did for Walker while he was on his mission! I am so thankful for the love generosity and time she has given me! I am especially thankful for the special love and friendship we share! I can't thank her enough for everything she has done to make this a perfect fun week! I will treasured the hours of conversation Jan, Hal and I have shared over the past week!

I am so thankful for the snow.... I know you are still saying "if you lived in it you would not be thankful for it" BUT.... I think I still would love living where it snowed! I am much more of cabin in the mountain and snowy days , sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire girl than.... sitting on a fancy beach or cruise boat sipping virgin Pina-Colada kind of a girl! Again thank you Jan and Hal for a wonderful fun chilly week!

I LOVE YOU BOTH DEARLY!!!

"So Tom when are we going to move to the snow'?

"My Forever Valentine"!

For some reason I have ALWAYS LOVED Valentines Day!

I hate my birthday and I think the true meaning of Christmas gets lost BUT.. I love Valentines Day and Mothers Day!

Over the years Tom and I have spent Valentines Day in different ways! One year I made a huge banner and went to his work late the night before Valentines Day and hung it of on the second floor of the Show Room at his work! It was about twenty feet long and it read..."TOM SCHEURN, I LOVE YOU, WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINES"? I think that was one of his favorite Valentines day!

Another tradition we have is we usually go to "Don and Charlies" to eat!

Tom and I have had the flu so we did not feel so well, so we thought we wait for Don and Charlies until the weekend!

I do have to say though that even though we did not feel good and the day was some what hectic we had a wonderful tender Valentines Day!

I awoke to a sweet note taped to my mirror! It read...

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Tamy You KNOW YOU ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY
SPECIAL VALENTINE!

V- you are the Very Very,Best!

A- Always the greatest!

L- the one I will LOVE forever!

E- Eternally bound with you!

N- NO one will ever fill your shoes!

T- so THANKFUL our paths crossed!

I- I'M happy you're mine Valentines!

N- NOT a day goes by that I don't think of you!

E- EVERY day I count my blessings as I think of you!

I could of not had a more BEAUTIFUL note written to me! Now you know why Tom Scheurn is my Sweetheart!

Since we did not feel good... I picked up some Pollo Loco Chicken and brought it home! So we had a quiet little dinner together and then sat on the sofa and exchange our treats we had for each other!

As we sat hand in hand just enjoying the quiet... We had a special treat come to the door!

Blake and Tanya had brought Gavin, Lucy, Ellie and Gage over to wish Pops and Granny a Happy Valentines Day! They were so cute and excited to bring us what they had made for us!!! BIG Homemade Sugar Cookies! They were so cute and they had decorated them for us! They were in the shape of a BIG heart with pink icing and one had a "Pops written on it, and the other one had a "G" on it for Granny! It meant so much to us for those cute kids to think of us and want to share their Valentines Day with us! They stayed for just a short time but...It meant a lot to Tom and I!!

I am so thankful for..."il mio PREZIOSO compagno di San Valentino per sempre eterno"!

I am so Thankful for my Eternal Valentine! Tom I love you more than you know and Yes I will be your Valentine for EVER and you will be my Valentine for ever!

"Ti Amer'o Per Sempre"

"I Will Love You Forever!!

"Struggle= Strength"

Why is it when you feel like you are being faithful, obedient, serving, selfless and just doing all you can to be the best you can be...Adversity comes along in many different forms!

WHY... I think, we need to struggle to grow!

As I study this I still question certain things BUT... I know I have come to an understanding that this world is painful BUT... we have been given tools to get through these difficult times!

Adversary comes in many different forms. Such as a wayward child, health issues, all kinds of addictions, a trauma of some sort, financial issue, spiritual issues, and the list could go on! But the thing I have found out is "Where there is Pain there is a Purpose"... "Where there is Struggle there is Strength' if we choose to look at it in this way!

I am sure you are wondering ... What is going on in Tamy's life that I would write this post! I can tell you what is going on.... Joy and Happiness! I could not be more thankful for all I have in my life! It is full of joy!

I had a training meeting a few weeks ago where we (agency representative for family services...ARs) were trained by a area Seventy, Elder D. LeSeuer. I have to say he rode us pretty hard in our calling as ARs! He talked to us about our roll from the churches standpoint and even though I have had this calling for eight years....I learned so much! Elder LeSeuer answered so many questions in my mind and confirmed so many things that I questioned in my life! Elder LeSeuer has been a huge tool in mine and our family's lives over the years!

I would say in the last year I have felt more mentally and spiritually healthy than I have ever felt! I have felt a clarity in my heart that I have never felt before! For once in my life I feel good about me in my role as a woman and a daughter of God!

In my calling I see SO MUCH pain BUT... I also see so much happiness when people decide to surrender their life to their Heavenly Father and their Savior and take the pain that they are going through and realize the purpose of their pain and struggling! You don't always realize the whys and the whats at the time but then you can look back and see the answers. Sometimes you will never get the answers and you have to rely on your Heavenly Father and just except things the way they are! I do know at some point in your life whether it is in mortality or in the Eternities you will have an answer to ALL of your whys and whats!

I received a call last night at around 11:30 pm from a family that was in need of help! It was a single mom and her children. By the time I arrive to help the police came shortly after I arrived and I did not get this family home until 12:30am. The reason why I am talking about this is because this family has been given much help and tools BUT YET... this mom chooses to not use the tools and help they have been given! This is difficult to watch! If was not for the kids I would in a loving way say to this mom... "We all love you and we and the Lord have given you many tools and help and since you do not want to use them and move pass your addiction and your past we can no longer help you. How long can we play the victim card?

I know everyone in this world either has a family member or it has been them self that has struggled in some sort a way. THIS IS LIFE!!!

We are in charge of ONLY OUR OWN SALVATION AND CHOICES! It is sad when A mother and or a father chooses thing that make their children lives so hard! I have seen addict parents that would step in front of a train to save her child BUT... Won't save her self or himself for her kids! Tom and I have talked a lot about this! We can love the person and not the problem, and some times you just have to do this and continue to pray for that person!

There is a missionary in Posey's ward who I met when I went to visit Posey a few weeks ago! He is a kind, sweet, big handsome Elder and has been in the field about nine weeks! I enjoyed my visit with him. A week or so after I came home.... Posey called me to tell me that Elder Fife was hit by a car from behind and never saw it coming! He has now had two brain surgeries another surgery to try and rebuild his leg along with many big lacerations and severe road rash everywhere! He is finally coming out of his coma and he starting to breath on his own somewhat and is now motioning to different parts of his body trying to ask what happened! Through this HUGE trauma as his parents have sat by his bed 24/7 except to came share their testimony at church.... Never once has Brother and Sister Fife asked WHY! They have just continued to ask for prayers and they have shared that they have clearly witnessed Heavenly Father and the Savior's hands in this entire journey they are on. It has now been a little over two weeks since this happened and.... Elder Fife's parents have also said as of last night he has started trying to console them now! He will motion for his mom or dad to come closer and he will put his big arm around their backs and gentle pat their backs! They have said they just need to get Elder Fife back up and running so he can finish his mission! This is called EXTREME FAITH and STRENGTH like I rarely witnessed! Not sure how I would handle this one?

Elder LeSeuer said to us sometimes we need to be careful in our calling with people we try to help because..."Sometimes when you help the needy you make them poor, and sometimes when you help the poor you make them needy! Enabling people is not what we need to do! We need to love them and again give tools to them so they can help them self!

I will say I was worried about Rhett as he left on his mission! I was not sure how he would handle the MTC and the language and being home sick. I am so thankful for every letter we have received! Never once has he murmured! He has only sent letters of joy and happiness and thankfulness! He spirit is amazing! I know it is hard to learn a language and then when you think you are catching on you get in to the field and you realize you don't know the language and the people speak so fast you don't understand anything! But this is okay because.... Rhett continues to tell us that he knows it will all come just fine because Heavenly Father will continue to give him the tools to learn the language and he has been promised if he does what he has been called to do and be obedient he has nothing to worry about!

I know I will have days that are hard because this is life!! I know I will have down days! But I will try to use my tools! I will try not ask the whys and whats of life! I will remember I am powerless with out my Savior and my Heavenly Father! There is nothing the Atonement cannot make right! I am thank for the Atonement! Unfortunately I use it often! It is a big part of my life!

Rhett shared a scripture with Posey, and Posey shared it with me and it has really stuck with me over the past week or so! It reads..

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders,that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as a witnesses for me hereafter,and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God do visit my people in their afflictions.

And it came to pass that the burdens that were laid upon his brethren were made light: Yea: the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

So I will continue to try and pick my stumbling stones up and gather them together, and try to make building blocks out of them!

I could not be more thankful for all I have!

"Cowgirl Up"

This is a scketch of the picture below! It was drawn by Lari Smith!
Goat Tying! Me!
Me!

Tom enjoyed the reunion so much I just had to post of few pictures of my CUTE Cowboy!!

Fran Bodine

Lori Jo Giddings

Reed Anne Richards Eisentraut

I always thought that old cowboys were the only people that sat around and told old "re-ride" stories about old broncs, mean bulls calf's you can't get tied, steer that run to fast, bull-dogging horse, team roping horse, calf roping horses, what horse or bull bucked which ones that didn't buck , broken bones and the list goes on BUT... I now know that old cowgirls sit around and tell old re-ride stories too!

So with the help of the "Locator" Reed Anne Richards Eisentraut. who lives in PA.... we had a minni reunion and it was fantastic! some of us had not seen each other in over 30 years! We laughed for two days solid and I have not laughed that hard in a long time!

So let me start with a few of the cowgirls names....

Reed Anne Richards Eisentraut / "The Locator", Lori Giddings, Kathy Addy Stevens, Fran and Wren Bodine (twins) Sharon Little , Michelle Howel and me! There were many other old cowgirl names that came up as well!

I have gone to many many rodeos with all of these girls! I was the youngest of the group and I have to say I learned a lot! But I also was able to share some of their horses! Mainly Reed Anne and Lori's horses!

All of us girls would use each other horses depending on where the rodeo was, what event it was and availability of the horse we needed! So if Lori was using her barrel horse I would ride my barrel horse even though her horse was a better barrel horse! I have to say though out of all the barrel horses we all had.... I think Reed Anne's mare "Sis" Was by far the best barrel horse out of all of our horses! Pet ran a close second! I am not sure if Lori would agree with that!

I do have a story about Sis that I will never forget! I was about 17 years old and I had qualified for the High School Final Rodeo in Douglas, AZ and I decided I would ask Reed Anne if I could take Sis down there to run on her! I knew this would be a tough rodeo and I needed to bring my game...I needed a first round pick for this rodeo! So the month and a half or so before the rodeo as would practice on Sis, she seemed to just not be running her best! This mare loved barrel racing and we could not figure out why she was just not giving her all! As the rodeo came closer I had my concerns that maybe I should ride my horse! Sis was very lean and athletic and she did not seem to have gain weight but she did look a little full back through her flanks! My back cinch was a little tighter but did not think to much about it! Well about 3 or 4 weeks before the rodeo Reed Anne went out to feed her one morning and standing next to Sis was a brand new baby foal! We were ALL shocked! Some how or another their stud horse "Driftwoods Ike" got out and got to Sis without any of us knowing! Well let me tell you this mare had heart and so did Reed Anne! A few weeks after Sis foaled, Reed Anne said lets take Sis over to the arena!We started her slow but she had no problem running! So what ended up happening..... I went ahead and took Sis and Reed Anne kept the foal home and bottle fed her. I would get up in the middle of the night at the rodeo and milk Sis and then I would milk her just before I ran! Sis had so much heart she was fantastic and did not miss a step And I ended up doing really well on her! I will never forget that mare! Reed Anne thanks for trusting me with your best horse!

When it came to Lori's horses now they were a little different story! Lori had horses that could skid to a stop on a dime and then she had horse that could RUN! But... we all laughed as we visited because...Lori's horses did one or the other. She never just had a all around horse! They either STOPPED OR RAN FULL speed! Lori would always buy horses off the race track that were fast and that was great and good BUT not a ton of control! Lori was the one that was never scared of any horse! She never rode a gentle horse! They ALL had some kind of issue! But I can tell you anytime I could use her "Flaxcy June" mare to tie goats off of...That was a good day for me! Lori's horses were always high powered horses and BEAUTIFUL! But we all loved each others horses and we always shared!

Sis, Angel, Rena, Flash, Pet, Sadie, Siggie, Ike, Kamata, Billy Chalkta, White Eyes, Faxly June and the list of names of horse could go on but we always felt like we were well mounted by all of these horses! I should mention the main goat we practiced on... Her name was Janie! I will never forget the day that Lori and I thought we could de-horn her! I will spare you the details of that!

We all use to run Quadrille! That was so fun! It was fast and sharp! We worked in pairs of two horses that looked the same in color and markings!

I will not go in to detail of Rodeo Dances, Boon-dockers, Harvey Wallbangers, sleepovers, traveling to and from rodeos, me driving when I did not have my license, age 14 or 15, and the list goes on with those kind of thing BUT... I can say that we had some of the funnest times of my life back in those days!

Tom has been out of town the past few nights and sense Rhett is gone I have had to do chores! I will tell you that I enjoyed going out opening a big bale of hay to feed! I love the smell of the hay and just being part of the chores as Tom has been gone! Let me make this clear...I enjoyed a few nights BUT...I will be happy when Tom My PRECIOUS cowboy comes home! I will say that I am so thankful I was "Good Hand",when it came to horses and a rope! I feel sure that is why Tom married me!

I would LOVE to go back for a weekend or two! These girls I will forever hold a place in my heart! I am so thankful for the "LOCATOR" Reed Anne for getting this reunion together! I feel sure there will come a day when we all get back on our horse and ride off into the sunset together laughing our heads off like we did for two days!!

To ALL MY COWGIRLS.....I will LOVE you forever! Lets do this more often!

NEVER FORGET...." COWGIRL UP"!

One small hint for anyone reading this post... If you want your horse to look like he is running faster than he is....Put his forelock back under the headstall of your bridle! This is a inside joke!

And never forget to "Ride- em hard BUT...Don't put them up wet"!

I LOVE ALL YOU COWGIRLS FOREVER!!