Merry Christmas family! What a wonderful holiday we just celebrated. It was so fun to be with each of you (sorry Nate and Brianna, maybe next year??) and to share in the wonderful spirit of Christmas. Thank you to Janel and Mark for another spectacular feast (Jason too). I must admit it's strange not hosting the celebration myself. I do miss the big parties with all the extended family...Thanks to everyone for their gifts and sharing the holiday with us. Looking forward to the New Year and all the hope it brings. Love to each of you. Mom

What a great week and a spectacular weekend! Emily surprised us last Saturday and enjoyed Thanksgiving with us. What a treat! Next year I hope we can all be together?? Had a great turkey day at Janel's and then left for Thatcher with all the grandkids. Janel joined us Friday afternoon and then the whirlwind began. Emily and I put the Thanksgiving decorations away in storage and brought the Christmas boxes home. Janel and Emily helped me put up the decorations in the front yard and the tree inside. Now it's up to me to decorate the rest. I do love the season and it's so fun to bring out my decorations and relive the memories I have of all of you kids home, young and so excited for Christmas. Yes, I'm crying as I write this. It's been an emotional weekend and I just want to say thanks to my girls for being there for me. If I knew how to put pictures on my blog I'd take some and post my work. Hint, hint.

Friday and Saturday night we worked on crafts and made some incredible gifts. I have a baby shower this Saturday for Shane and Kelsy Parra and Janel was nice enough to make my gift. Emily made a darling sign for her room and Janel made some Christmas gifts. We work well together, just wish Brianna, Katie and Hannah could have been with us. It was truly a team effort!

Dad left yesterday for North Dakota and it was very bittersweet. We're so thankful to have the possibility of having an income, but it's so far away from home and I miss him dreadfully already. Don't ever take for granted your spouse or the ones you love the most. I'm grateful for our challenges and know that I'll look back on this time and see that it was necessary for us to take the next step in life. Just very difficult right now.

Know that I love each of you and again so grateful for your support. Looking so forward to Christmas and having those that can make it home for the holidays. Love, mom

Heh kids, it's only been since August that I updated...what is wrong with me?? Just not into the computer as much as the average person I guess. What's new??, maybe that's the problem, nothing really. We're still without work, trying not to panic, can't decide what to do next. Any suggestions? Sure love reading everyone's blog, glad to see Emily joined us. Hannah, it's a great way for us to stay up to date with your Hawaii adventures. Sure miss you guys! And then Janel, all the pics, projects and newsy info. Thanks for all of it! The weather (I know it's boring when I talk about the weather) has finally changed. It's only 55 degrees today, but thank goodness the wind stopped. It was unbelievable last night. Wish we all lived around the block from each other, maybe someday??? But, I love you all and hope you're happy and well. Love ya, MOM

Can't believe it's been since May that I posted. I read Katie and Janel's updates and felt really ashamed. We've had an interesting summer with several vacations and I'm glad to finally be home. This weekend was fun at Janel's, kind of a going away party. Yes, Emily is really going to BYU. We leave on Wednesday and dad and I will be home Sunday. It won't be a "FUN" trip, but I'm so happy for Emily. I'm nervous to come home to an empty house (grandma is in Utah for a month) but, I'm going to try and keep busy with projects around the house and finding work. I signed up for weight watchers so I can lose these last 25-30 pounds. I see pics and know I still have some work to do. Katie you look so good. I can really tell you're losing. Jason is also showing his loss. So excited about the bikes dad and I got. We are trying a 20 miler tomorrow. Wish me luck! I feel so much better about my weight, but I really seem to have a problem on the weekends. Not a lot of self control. It's like I've lost the last 5-10 pounds 5 times. What's the matter with me? Anyway, hoping the weight watcher point system will help. Katie, I can have 20 points a day. Isn't that what you get? Well I'm going to try really hard. Guess I better go, everyone try to update their blog, love getting the pics. Haven't figured that one out yet. Love to you all. Mom

Hi! Was Monday fun or what??!! Couldn't believe the memories that were generated from the smell of the boat to life vests. It was like I went back in time. I told dad, it was a perfect day! Let's do it again, maybe in June? Check your calendars. Love ya. Mom

Hi everyone!

Just noticed how long it's been and how diligent everyone else is...so, we had a wonderful time in Hawaii. Just need to figure out how to visit more often. Brianna was a wonderful hostess! Thanks so much!!! Didn't do much but sit around the pool and beach and got a terrific tan, just ask Emily!! Dad went scuba diving with Bri for the first time and had a great experience. I just can't figure out why I never moved there when I was young. I've always loved the people, the ocean and just the general feeling you get, guess it just wasn't in the cards.

So excited for Brianna and her adventure coming up. Glad she can spend time with Nate for a couple of weeks. We miss you Nate! I am looking forward to Minnesota, and like Emily wish the "boys" could come too. Maybe our next reunion will be in Hawaii while Bri, and Nick & Hannah are living there. I'm up for Christmas, anyone?, anyone?

Looking forward to this weekend at Roosevelt lake with everyone. You know losing weight makes you want to do a lot more things! I've already had people tell me I don't need to lose anymore (any guesses??), but after looking at the pics, I do!! So, hopefully by the time you get home Nate I'll be 105.

Well, time to go, going to Mesa tomorrow. Still trying to get my WBE status. Can't believe how the adversary is working against me. But, I will prevail!!! Love to you all. MOM

EAC Graduates 3 and 4!

Well.  Congratulations to my older brother Nick and I!  Wow it feels so good to be done with Eastern Arizona High School!  Ok ok EAC wasn't that bad, it's just not as fun when you grow up in Thatcher and then go to the college in your little home town.  The education was good?  I sure hope it was good because I'm going to need it in the fall!  I'm sure everyone knows, but I am officially a cougar now!  I've already registered for classes at BYU in Provo and I can't wait to expand my horizons and move out of T-Town.  Not that it hasn't been good for me, it's just time.  Well life has been going pretty good for me out here in the west, not too much to complain about.  Maybe the gas prices??  But who knows how high they are in Korea and Hawaii.  Speaking of Hawaii, is anyone else a little hurt that mom and dad didn't invite anyone to accompany them to the islands?  I know I know they need some time together but we do live right by Mount Graham...rent a cabin and take the whole famdamily to Hawaii!  Haha I'm kidding, they are taking a well deserved trip and although I'll miss them, I won't miss watching politics on the big screen,  love you dad!  We had a good weekend here in Thatcher with Janel the kids Jason and Nick and Hannah!  Wish everyone could be here!  I talked to Nate and he said we'll all be together again next...March...and he also said I'll be married in two weeks once I move up to BYU!  Hopefully both of those were just jokes.  We miss you Nate!  And can we start posting on this thing again??  AND!  Did everyone notice how fantastic Mom looks in that picture!!!  Well I love you all and hope to see you soon!     

Happy Mothers Day!!

We have The Best Mom!! I love you mom so much! When I was a baby I would follow you around and cry relentlessly if you left me. I may have grown up but my heart still wants to follow you everywhere. It cries when I can't be with you when I want to. There is just something so comforting about being with you. Just talking. You've taught me to be a good person and have given me the gospel and taught me to live the best that I can. For that I know you have given me a life that will always lead to happiness. Thank you. Thank you for loving me and for giving us all a wonderful home to grow up in. And for a home we know we can always go home to. I love you Mom.

Frank's Fiddle Photos/Out and About Photos/KevinFrankVMAAI

Frank's Fiddle Photos/Out and About Photos/KevinFrankVMAAI

Check out my WEBSITE!!

Hi Guys! I don't know if you know this but Mark and I (and our neighbors) started a gourmet popcorn business in January. We have been working super hard and it and it is going great! Today I was able to officially present our website for our popcorn. I love it, it turned out so cute!! People can actually go online and order popcorn and we can ship it!! Take a peek and let me know what you think. I will be adding lots more things, pictures and what not but at least it is a working site and it looks good.


www.uncleredz.com

mini post

hey Nelly, can you change the font color in the blog its really hard to read the green on white

missin' out!

The boys are definitely missing out!!! BUT! I'm planning an adventure to Bali Indonesia in June and I plan on swinging by Korea to see Naters! Since I told him I would come like two years ago I figure I should keep my promises. I was excited for the boys to come meet the Jokimaki Band in Minn! Nick,Nate and Jason we will miss you. Anyways I am too excited for Mom and Dad to visit Hawaii I've already got the fishing boat lined up for Dad and a huge Party in the making at Waimea that we did last year. And Digger and Myongsuk are coming the first week in May that should be a BLAST! Love that so many of you are making it out to visit! Nick and Hannah and Kids Had fun, and now we need the rest of you! one at a time I'm going to suck you in till everyone wants to live here. hahaha. Just kidding I like my island :) I kinda have some plans/dreams to go live in a few other exciting places. I've heard that Australia is the best place in the world to live. Most affordable and there is great surf and hotels to work at and I love kangaroos! haha. I have a girlfriend that may go live in New Zealand for a few months so I may join her... no reason not to. I have friends that I've met here in Hawaii that live there now and I have that connection. I still want to travel in europe a little and go to Italy and France and Ireland and Norway for sure. everywhere inbetween will be a pit stop. But the biggest one of all in Brazil. I am dying to go learn portugese and live in brazil. there are tons of Brazilians in Hawaii because there are places that have very similar climate and landscape. And once again I have lots of connections there. I also dream of Costa Rica, more just to visit for a few months and surf and learn spanish. I'll probably go there first to make learning portugese easier. I'm gonna try and pack all this in, in the next few years. kinda like a five year plan! haha. But it's absolutely do-able. I think the biggest inspirations, beside the fact that I've always wanted to see the world, is that all of my close friends that I work with have done it. Jen, Tara, tara, Daniella, Chiharu, they have all travelled and have so many great stories and experiences and I will always have a hole in mmy chest if I don't do it! wish I had millions of dollars to do it but, I would rather be young, and I can do Massage and esthetics ANYWHERE in the world! yeah! well I didn't plan on posting that this morning but I guess I should let you all know whats up from time to time. haha. so that's it. I'm gonna be traveling. If anyone wants to go to any of these places and would like to join me and my friends that are also tagging along to them :) let me know! Have a beautiful day everyone! love, and peace!
Breezy

Heh,
Just read Katie's blog, and thanks for sharing your inspirational experience. It's little things like that, that keep us going. I'm excited about MN too. Just reserved Emily and my tickets today. Decided since none of the boys were going, so no one to help me drive, that I may as well fly. Got some terrific tickets, rented a car and now just need the hotel for 2 nights. Sorry Janel that you have to drive by yourself. I'm sure given the opportunity, Cade would help, haha. I really am disappointed none of the boys are going, but perfectly understandable. Hopefully, all that are flying in can meet in Minneapolis and spend a day at Mall of America. Would be fun! Dad and I are flying to see Bri May 11-18th. Can't wait! I've started tanning so I won't burn. I just plan on laying on the beach or by the pool and reading a good book. Not sure what dad will do, maybe I'll find a good book for him too. Well, dad is still in Minnesota and I'm just working on my WBE, taxes can be picked up this week, so I'm getting closer. Hope all is well for everyone and look forward to hearing from you. Love, Mom

Hey family!
So I am getting way pumped for minnesota! besides that nate won't be there :( So hopefully this coming christmas we can take a family picture! of everyone..seriously I think the last time that happened was when nick got off his mission...
So not a whole lot is going on. Just working and enjoying nice flagstaff weather. Kameron has enjoyed his spring break getting to watch the NCAA and just not having to go to class.
Well I just wanted to promote the movie "Knowing"...we saw it last night and it was crazy! seriously intense almost the whole time and it just leaves your mind boggling!!! It's not what I expected at all!! But it was really good. Kameron and I talked about it that night and we talked about it in the morning. Talk about a good movie if that's the first thing you are thinking about when you wake up the next day. So I would say to you all, go see it. or make sure you see it when it comes out on video.
So you know when you are little and when you loose something and than you just pray you'll find it and than it pops up? Well of course we need to do that even in our old age so here is my little experience: I lost my retainer. yeah $100 I havn't been to the ortho in years and so I'm sure they would give me a guilt trip so I didn't want to go back and get a new one, I wore braces for 4 years and the last thing I want to do is ruin that. So I've been looking and looking for the past week or two and finally I'm like katie it's so simple but just pray for it. So I did and i still have been looking and today (saturday) I decided to clean my house and I'm just vaccuming away and I go by this chair and all of the sudden my retainer is there on the floor. Right when I pulled the vaccum back there it was! What the Heck!!! seriously it kinda freaked me out. I have looked EVERYWHERE and there it is in the middle of the floor. Coinsedence? I think NOT! :)
So anywho I hope you enjoy my little inspirational story and remind everyone to pray for the little things. Even when they seem small and you think you can handle it. It's amazing what can happen when you put faith and prayer together!!
Love you all!!!!

Updates

Hey everybody!

  It's been a while since I contributed last, but now I've got things to talk about.  It looks like I'll be back home around the 15th of December for good.  I've saved enough leave to be back then so my military career will finally be complete.  Unfortunately it comes at the expense of the family reunion so my sincere apologies :(  It's been a difficult choice but one that must be made.  I just cant see myself doing this for much longer and need to expand out my horizons.

  Sang Mi and I are looking forward to starting a new life in Thatcher.  Our immediate goal is to go to school.  Not just me either.  She is planning on starting the road to becoming a veterinarian.  It's good to see her with such a good plan because we know how difficult it will be with the inevitable homesickness.  Right now our house is full of dogs and they all have such unique personalities.  The female Lilly is starting to adjust to family life and is already bossing the other two around.  I've never see such a little dog so fearless!  And she's the cute one.  We are leaving her un-spayed so we can one day let her have a litter or two of her own.  The boy dogs are neutered so there are no worries of a unexpected pregnancy so we can go at our own timeline.  The little alien looking dog, Sangun is back in the house for just a short while so he can get healthy again after his new owner failed to take care of him.  If I have my way, I want to keep him here for good.  I just hate to see such a good little guy sick like that.  Breaks my heart.  Wonee, our first dog, is feeling a little replaced by all of this so I hope he gets over it soon.  He's a handsome dog and a bit of a stud so I consider him our number one.  The Maltese breed is my favorite.  They are comfort dogs so at the end of the day, they just curl up in your lap and chill out.  Right now they have short hair, but we are letting it all grow out.  The breed is long-hair and non-shedding so they are extremely clean and hypo-allergenic.  I'm getting good at giving haircuts too! So much fun.

  As far as work goes, it still sucks but I get to go to Beijing, China in April.  We are also currently looking for a gig in Russia as well.  It's not my favorite music to play but whatever.  For the fun music right now, my side project is headlining the Hard Rock Seoul for the next couple of months.  Great gig with lots of perks!  My studio is finished as far as the basics go and I'll be working on a new CD in the next couple of days.  The extra money is nice since now its harder to save money when you're married.  Our resident Visa is going to cost about $1400 and we have to buy a one-way ticket for Sang Mi.  But we take two steps forward and one step back each month.  So we'll eventually get there.

  I miss you guys and can't wait to see all of you again.  Sorry it's later then sooner but when we meet again it will be for good.  Luv ya!

Hi!

Just getting ready to call it a day, decided to check-in with everyone. I'm getting real close to having all the info I need for the WBE application. Still don't have copies of our last 3 years of taxes (thanks to the auditor/bookkeeper). Oh well. By the time I get those, I'll hopefully have everything else wrapped up. I talked to the girl at the certification office today and she said I can come in anytime and someone will go through my application, indicate anything I'm missing and so that's what I'll do. The office is in Phoenix, so shouldn't be a problem.

Guess Hannah, Nick and the kids are in Hawaii finally. Ask Nick about Paige's broken arm and Hannah's food poisoning. What a fiasco! Talked to Bri a little while ago and she said everyone is now in Hawaii!! Hope you have a great time!

Looking forward to Jason coming this weekend and bringing Ava, Wyatt and Dayton. Spring Break for Ava, Janel thanks for letting the little guys come.

Headed to Mesa tomorrow for a scrapbk class, just a turn around trip.

Grandma is doing well and the weather is beautiful!

Hope you all are doing great. Still don't have the hang of Facebook, but I'm trying. Probably won't see me on there often. HaHa.

Love to all, MOM

Hello!

So I havn't posted on this blog for a while...probably cause my life is so unneventful! Is that a good thing or a bad thing, I'm not sure? But anywho life is just goin along. It was actually kind of spring time weather today here in flagstaff. It seriously has gotten me in cleaning mode! I want to organize and just redo everything! I just need more energy for all my cleaning ideas. Work is going good. Kameron is doing good in school even though he hates it. Um...We spent the weekend in Thatcher. So fun. I could never live farther than I already do. There is just something about family that rejuvinates me. I think if we could stay a little longer the 4 hour drive back wouldn't be too bad. But we went and saw a movie, hung out and talked. Oh and of course used the sauna. You deffinatly appreciate something like that when it isn't in your backyard. We had a really good time. Oh and we got to see mom and dad on their canning craze. Which i think is awesome! We really need to get on our food storage. Kameron has signed up for ceramics in the summer. And I think I'm going to sign up with him, the only bad thing is that it's an extra $200!! yea seriously. But I think it would be fun. But that's life for right now...hope everyone is doing well!

OK I'll post :D

Right like I don't blah blah blah enough on my own blog :D I have a seriously busy week this week. It has come time to get crackin on our popcorn business. We are selling popcorn at the gunshow this weekend and we have put down our booth rental on the Ostrich Festival!! Also, we are going to hopefully be out at Country Thunder, how cool will that be?? We are really getting serious , huh? I guess we have to since we we are getting audited for 2004 and 2005 and they are saying we owe all this stupid state tax (which is ridiculous- that was when we were living with Dianne and making NO money!) ANYway we gotta get workin!! Add to that Marks new calling (YMpresident) and football is starting in the next week or so. Geez and I thought I learned my lesson about thinking "theres no way I could take any more busy-ness" that is a sure way to get a whole new pile of stuff to wade through. I didn't think it or say it, I promise!!! LOL I was just saying to Mark tonight "what did we used to do before that we thought we were busy??" I guess now we just multitask better.

So Nate how is married life going so far?? Katie I haven't heard from you, did you guys freeze solid up there?? I hope you have a little heat on in your apartment! Bri you sound like you are lovin single surfer girl life! Hope everybody else is doing great!!

It's been awhile, so what's up with everyone? I know Janel has been busy painting and decorating, can't wait to see the new look. Heh, Nate, did I ever send you the phone #, etc. for that Sand Lake Resort where we are all staying. You probably need to get yours reserved rather soon, unless you're not planning on staying there. Let me know.

Our renters moved out without notice. That was indeed a bummer!! Now I've got to get it cleaned and ready to rent again. Why are people so dishonest? My trust in mankind is dwindling...

Hope to see a new blog from someone soon. Take care. Mom

Heh family! Just catching up with the family blog. It's exciting about Emily, huh? She will be in Utah next week for choir tour, so I'm flying up the end of the week to check out housing and meet with a counselor. So proud of her!

Brianna, would love to visit Hawaii again, just no money. It's really scary out there for us. We have no new work, and not really anything looking very positive. We do have a small job starting sometime, just not sure when. Dad even went on the internet and checked out contracting in Iraq. Now that's scary! So don't think I don't want to visit again, I love it there and miss you soooo much, but things are difficult right now.

Janel, loved Cade's creation! Our kids continually surprise us, huh? I'll be down next week, will stop by then with a few things.

Hope everyone is praying for each other. Jason is still without work, I complained earlier about us, and Nick and Hannah have made the decision for Nick to go to school full-time and so Hannah is working a couple of nights at Casa. So, just be diligent with your prayers.

Love to you all, got to run...Mom

BYU!!!!

Well thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes whether it was a phone call, a voice mail, or a thought when you read this and barely remember.  But my day was great...19 feels exactly the same as 18, but I guess it sounds a little better.  Hey, if I was Katie...I'd be getting married tomorrow!  Crazy.  And the caption to the picture...I wasn't driving, but Trent did get pulled over on my birthday...fortunately it was the nicest coolest cop ever and he just got a written warning and promised to never speed again!  Anyways.......I'm sure most of the family has heard my exciting news but if not, I got accepted to BYU Provo!  I'm still waiting to hear from Idaho, but I think I'm leaning towards Provo.  Its a little closer and a little warmer.  Plus tons of amazing devotionals with the prophet speaking!  And General Conference!  I know I know, you're all jealous.  But be glad you're done with school!  I'm taking twenty or so credits, and I'm all set to graduate in May as long as I can make 30 visits to the gym and get the credits!  I can do it.  School and work is keeping me pretty busy but it sure makes the time fly by!  Well I hope everyone is doing great!  I love you!!!

Heh everyone! Been awhile, but the holidays are over and now it's on to a bigger and better 2009! Work is slow for everyone, so we really do have to look for the blessings we enjoy. This was a great Christmas! Loved having Brianna home, going to Janel's for the DeRusha party, seeing Nick, Hannah and the kids on Christmas morning, and enjoying Emily just one more year at home. Don't get me started, because I tear up everytime I think of her leaving. She's the best! Ok, each of you is the best, but, "she's the baby"! I've forwarded the latest info from Auntie Rita about the reunion. I know we'll be there the week of July 20th or so and will probably stay a week. Dad will be there another week after that. I'd really like for our family to put together a Kevin DeRusha album and what do you all think of matching t-shirts?? We're all looking forward to the week, so share any ideas you have. Love to you all, and let's see more blogging this year! Mom