It's Official-Not Only Are Teachers Underpaid-They Are Over-Germed

Teachers are at the top of the list for the germiest jobs. We are above the trash collectors and doctors when it comes to handling the most germs. This explains why for many years my mother-in-law would come home from teaching first grade and hop right into the shower. This explains why I constantly have a runny nose & seem to go from one cold to the next. Why, just yesterday one of my little lovelies sneezed right on me! If you want to know whether or not your profession is in the top 10 of the germiest read on at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5514726.

Bad or Good Hair Day??? YOU DECIDE

This was the result of 100 little braids that were left in for about 2 days and then brushed, and brushed, and brushed. She wears it well!

Baby Blue Eyes

Delaney recently got glasses. She picked electric blue frames. Being the cautious person I am, I asked her if she really wanted frames that stood out so much. Her reply---"Mom, I am almost 6 feet tall and have bright red hair. I already stand out." Enough said. She got the electric blue frames.

"Tagging"

Recently I have received many emails in which I have been "tagged" to do something. I HATE THESE. I also hate "spam" mail. Who has time to weed through all of this? The one thing I do like to weed through are my friends' blogs. So, today as I was going through my daily ritual of reading my favorite friend blogs, I noticed that my good friend Val had posted a blog "tag". I thought it was so interesting that I decided to try it myself. I know this will be a shocker to her, as she has sent me many email "tags" over the years, of which I have responded to none!

The first part of this particular tag is to take the fourth picture from your fourth picture file. My picture is of Addy. It was taken last April in Los Angeles at an Italian restaurant. I took the girls to see Wicked at the Pantages Theater in L.A. for their birthday. We had a great time.

The second part of the tag is to Google my name and the word "needs" after it, and return the first 10 phrases it gives to me. Here is what I got:

1. Sheri needs to find out why she is being contacted by a collection agency. I used to work for a collection agency while in high school (many years ago) but can’t imagine why one would be trying to contact me now.
2. Sheri needs a prosthesis that can keep up with… When I tried to click on this phrase to read the rest of it, a “forbidden” warning came up. So, I probably don’t really want to know what kind of prosthesis I may or may not need!
3. Sheri needs to go to a concert. This is true. Britney Spears IS coming to S.L.C. soon! No thanks…
4. Sheri needs help with Broodlord quest chain. I am not quite sure what this is. I think it has something to do with the World of Warcraft. Maybe my father-in-law needs this more than me-he is a gamer.
5. Sheri needs help with the annual march against the death penalty. I am actually for the death penalty, but don’t know if I am so for it that I would really get out and march.
6. Sheri needs your birth story. Sure. If you want to send me your birth story I would be happy to read it.
7. Sheri needs to take a chill pill. This could be true. I have been told by some (Thanks Val) that I can be a little “high strung”.
8. Sheri needs your prayers. Today it would be helpful for you to pray for my dad-not me. He is going in tomorrow for his first cancer "scan" after his lung removal and cancer treatments last fall. I pray that he is cancer free.
9. Sheri needs to find a WWII nurses uniform. I am not quite sure that I really need this.
10. Sheri needs to walk a mile. Or three or four! I do need to get back on the treadmill!

Thanks Val. I needed something "useless" to distract me today!

Guitar Girl

Today Addy added yet another instrument to our home. She spent her Christmas money from Nana & Papa & Uncle Jack to purchase a new guitar, case, and guitar lessons. Actually, she only had enough money for part of the guitar and she suckered her dad into paying for the rest!

A normal looking girl!

A crazed "rock-n-roll" looking girl!

*%#@ Happens!

I have always liked the phrase “*%#@ happens”. I have had my fair share of “*%#@” over the years, just as many other people have. However, I am a person who is always waiting for the “*%#@” to happen, and for the “bottom to fall out” of everything I hold dear. I am often pessimistic about what is to come, and I worry about the “what ifs” in life that I have no control over. Well, during 2008 the “bottom fell out” of just about everything in my life.

Now, looking back, some of the things that happened seem so insignificant, like the month of July in which just about everything in our house fell apart-the van broke down, the brakes in the car went out, the central air went out (might I add on the hottest day in July), the T.V. quit working, and Addy blew up the microwave by cooking popcorn for way too long! Most of these things have been repaired and/or replaced, although I am very tired of watching a 19 inch T.V. that requires me to wear my glasses in order for me to see anything! July was rough, financially. Today, in the economy that we are facing, I am just thankful to have a job. As I see neighbors, friends, and family members dealing with the realties and/or possibilities of losing jobs, the month of July seems like no big deal.

The “bottom” did fall out in some pretty significant areas of my life. In July our beloved dog (for non-dog people this may seem like not a big deal) had a cancerous tumor removed from her leg. We were told that there was a 95% possibility that the tumor would reappear within 2-3 months, much larger and deeper into the tissue of her leg.

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of September. This shouldn’t have been a huge shock to me, considering that my dad has smoked since he was 13. But it was a shock. I spent two weeks at the beginning of October at a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska by my dad’s bedside, as many life & death decisions had to be made concerning his health.

At the end of October Addy complained about her neck hurting. You have to understand that Addy often complains about things hurting, and being the good mother that I am, I often dismiss these things! This hurting, however, turned out to be something real. After two days of testing we were told that Addy had two tumors in her neck, and the doctors were calling it neoplastic lymphoma.

As of today, the dog’s tumors haven’t returned. My dad recently received treatment for his cancer at an alternative cancer clinic in Mexico and is planning on returning to work at the first of January. Addy’s “lumps” disappeared on their own without any type of treatment almost as fast as they appeared.

After these experiences I think I can change my “*%#@ happens” to “life happens”. Yes, some bad things have taken place over the course of the past year, but good things have also happened. My relationship and faith in my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, have been strengthened. My relationship with my earthly father has been strengthened. My love for my children has been strengthened. My outlook on life has been strengthened. Life changing events have occurred in my family over the past couple of months, but life has not stopped! I have endured the “bottom falling out”, but I am still standing. My goal for the new year is to not be afraid of “*%#@ happening” or the “bottom falling out”. LIFE will happen and I am going to enjoy the good and do my best to endure the bad!

More "Mexifornia" Pictures

I recently saw my brother write the word "Mexifornia" on my dad's cancer blog (http://caringbridge.org/visit/jerrybradford), and I really liked the word! So, I am stealing it for this blog entry. It is appropriate, considering that about 1/2 of each of our days was spent in Tijuana and the other 1/2 was spent in California.

I love this picture of Addy and my dad. Dad has always had a deep love for Addy, but I think the cancer thing has brought the two of them a little closer together.

I know this is a "cheesy" picture and that I could possibly have the PETA people after me for posting it, but I really like it! We thought we had found such a unique way to remember our day of shopping in Tijuana, only to discover that there were about 15 other zebra striped donkey stations within 1-2 blocks of each other.