Thanksgiving 2008

So how was everyone's Thanksgiving break?  We had a great Thanksgiving break!  Our dinner was hosted at my cousin's house in Scottsdale.  Family drove in from New Mexico and from the reservation.  My Uncle & his family flew in from the east coast as well.

Our dinner was delicioius!  We also enjoyed family time!  It was much needed!  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Prayers for a dear friend...

As most of you know, I grew up on the Navajo reservation. I lived most of my childhood life there. Coming from a small town, you practically know everyone! So you can imagine that just about everyone you went to school with is a childhood friend....well, that's how I see it. With that being said, I had this good friend DS, who lived not too far from me. We would always hang out before and after school with another good friend, LN. We would hang out at the recreation center and play pool, watch MTV, play card games, play volleyball, basketball, tennis or go swimming. We all became really good friends and then right before 6th grade DS's family moved. I didn't hear from her until I was going to high school in Kirtland, New Mexico. I joined volleyball and our team traveled to Blanding, Utah for a volleyball game. After 5 years I finally got to see her again and it was so much fun catching up. I'm not sure if we exchanged contact info or not but after that, I did not hear from her for a long time. My Aunt and her mom were best friends so she would let me know how DS was doing.

As the years went by she got married and had kids. What I didn't know was that she was in an abusive relationship with her first husband and finally got out of it. She was re-married and had kids with her new husband. Since he was in the military they got to travel a lot.

I would say about 3 years ago, we were in contact again!!!! Thank God for MYSPACE!!!! We exchanged email addresses and phone numbers and caught up with each other's lives. She is living overseas and I was supposed to travel to meet her family. She has beautiful and adorable children!

The reason for this blog is recently her family had a horrible tragedy occur in their life. My heart goes out to her. I could not imagine what she is going through right now. I told her that she is a strong woman and that with the help of God, family, friends and prayer they will get through this. I'm glad that they will be home soon. You NEVER know who you can trust anymore!!!!

Here's her blog from myspace:

Saturday, November 22, 2008

NO ONE CAN BE TRUSTED!!
Current mood: indescribable
Category: Life

***CAUTION*** THE COLD HARD TRUTH***
MOST OF YOU THAT KNOW ME.. KNOW THAT ALL I WANTED IN LIFE IS TO BE HAPPY.. TO HAVE A FAMILY AND WATCH MY CHILDREN GROW UP TO BE HAPPY AND DO WELL IN LIFE... IN WHATEVER IT IS THEY CHOOSE TO DO.ON NOVEMBER 11, 2008 MIDNIGHT... OUR FAMILY WAS DESTROYED BY MY HUSBAND OF 5 1/2YRS ACTIONS. HE MOLESTED TWO OF OUR FIVE CHILDREN. HE DID IN FACT CONFESS TO 1 OF THE 2 MOLESTATIONS TO ME AND THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES THAT NIGHT. HE WILL BE GOING TO PRISON AND WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR LIVES AND BECOME STRONGER.

WE ARE ALL CURRENTLY RECEIVING HELP FROM THE MILITARY IN THEIR BEST EFFORTS... LOCAL FRIENDS HAVE BEEN A BLESSING AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FROM MY HEART.

I AM SHARING THIS WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE IF YOUR A PARENT, I KNOW YOU WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM... TRUST NO ONE!!! IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT HE IS STILL WORKING AT THE BASE POST OFFICE FOR NOW. WE DO HAVE A MILITARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIM SO HE CAN NOT COME NEAR US.

IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED IF YOU COULD PLEASE PRAY FOR US. THANK YOU

2:56 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment -

☆.mS.cAiT.lOvE.lOcKdOwN.☆
i honestly dont think he should be working. he should be in prison right now. from the moment he confessed. wtf. i was at the post office yesterday. yuck! i wanna punch him in his face! he doesnt have the right to have the freedom that he has right now.
Posted by ☆.mS.cAiT.lOvE.lOcKdOwN.☆ on Nov 22, 2008 5:57 AM [Reply to this]

Krisha
I'm sorry to hear this and can not imagine what you're going through. I will keep you and your beautiful children in my prayers. You're a very strong woman and with the help of God, family & friends you all will get through this.
Posted by Krisha on Nov 22, 2008 10:03 AM [Reply to this]

Native ISIS MOM....
Hey Sis, I had no Idea. I'm truly sorry for what happened to your family. When are you coming home and are you okay, are the kids okay. This is such a huge ordeal for you and your family. I know your family is their to support you and the kids, I hope to see you home soon.You are in my prayers, I'll cedar for you and the kids today and make a short prayer for you and your family this moring. Love you and the kids.Marcy....
Posted by Native ISIS MOM.... on Nov 24, 2008 7:16 AM [Reply to this]

Familiar scents...

As I was leaving work today I found myself thinking of helping my Gramma at her sheep camp near Kayenta, AZ on the Navajo Indian Reservation; Skeleton Mesa, to be exact. Here’s a map so you can see where I’m talking about. Kayenta is near the four corners and Skeleton Mesa is not too far.

As children we would help my Gramma a lot. Can you believe we (cousins I grew up with & my brothers) used to herd my Gramma’s sheep from Kayenta to Skeleton Mesa? We were not scared and it was always an adventure for us.

It's funny how I was able to think of that time. The reason, I say its funny is because when I walked out of the building, the first thing I smelt was the manure from the nearby cows. I guess it just brought back a familiar smell and I associated it to helping Gramma with her sheep.

I’ll never forget the time we got Gramma’s sheep mixed up with someone else’s sheep. We were so scared we were going to get into trouble. We were too busy playing that we forgot about the sheep until it was too late. Luckily Gramma’s sheep was branded so we were able to separate them. Can you imagine if they weren’t branded???? OMG…… We always had good times with Gramma and Grampa….

During the summer time we used to stay in something like this:

My Weekend....

I had a good weekend. On Saturday we (the kids & I) were going to go see Bolt with Jennifer & Travis but after reviewing my budget I was not able to take them. After all, I rented 9 movies on Wednesday so I figured we would just lounge at home while Cordell was at work and watch all of them.

In case you're wondering, I rented the following movies:

1. The Happening
2. Kung Fu Panda
3. The Strangers
4. Tropic Thunder
5. This Christmas
6. Baby Mama
7. Get Smart
8. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
9. Incredible Hulk

These came in the mail from blockbuster :)
1. The Mist
2. Mr. Brook
3. The Other Boleyn Girl


I loved this movie! I also liked the first one :)

This movie was hilarious!

I couldn't get into this movie....so I stopped it like 30 minutes into the movie......Sorry Kevin Costner!!!

This was a good movie, too! I still can't get over it!!!!

I love you Edward Norton!!!!! This was a good movie, we all liked it.

I didn't get into this one either...

This was another good one. We watched this 2 times!

I really liked this one!!! Chris Brown you're a cutie!!!! Sorry KRW, I know you LOVE him! We watched this one twice!!! I think KRW watched it 4 times!!!!! She's in love with Chris Brown!

I was too scared to watch this one. I started it 2 times and never finished the movie.....ha, I know I'm such a girl.

This was kinda lame. I couldn't get into this movie. I stopped watching after 15 minutes......

I didn't get to see this one but the kids seen it 3 times!!!

This was a little creepy...but retarded!!!! I can't believe I sat through the entire movie!!!!

That was my weekend. Hope you all had a great weekend.

DMB!!!!

I've heard Dave Matthew's Band most of my day!!!! (Ok, maybe I overexaggerated, it came on about 4 times)

That was one of Bryant' s favorite band's!!!

Losing someone you love...

L-R: Kendra & Bryant, July 4, 2007

It's almost been a year since my brother's passing. I have had the hardest time dealing with it. I miss him so much and wish I could have told him so much more. One thing I made sure he knew was that I loved him.

Growing up I was close to both of my brothers. Being the oldest of three, I used to make them do my chores or pay them to do it for me. LOL, I laugh now thinking about the silly things we did. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for them. After graduating from high school I always knew I would be married and have a family of my own. I never thought that I would live with my brothers. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I liked knowing that my brothers were near and I wasn't wondering where they were at or what they were up to. All I had to do was knock on the room door across from my room to see what they were up to.

They have always been a part of my life. We leaned on each other when we were going through rough patches. We always knew we could count on each other. That's how close we were. So, when I say that I had a hard time dealing with my little brother's death, you'll understand that we were really close.

I remember growing up I used to babysit them. I can't believe how my parents would trust me home alone with them!!! I was home with a 7-month old and a 5 year old. I was about 10 years old! Can you believe that? I guess that's life on the reservation....LOL

I remember changing Bry's diapers, making his bottles and feeding him!! They were always at my side, especially Bryant. There was even a time when my mom was at work and we were at my Gramma's house. I was trying to go play outside and he was crying after me, calling me mamma.

I think of him often. December 29th will be 1 year since his passing. Sometimes I think I could have done more for him or I shouldn't have been so hard on him or we should have done this or that with him. I should have help him finish high school. I should have put JW in daycare so that Bry could have been more independant. I should have done this or that.... I can't change anything now. All I can do is keep him close to my heart and know that the Lord took him home and I will one day see him again.

It's one of the hardest things to for me to deal with. At first I kept thinking he was back in New Mexico with my mom and then toward the middle of the year I was just numb to it. As we get closer to the year, I feel like I am going to lose it.

Everybody kept telling me I had to be strong. You have to be strong for you mom, you have to be strong for your dad, you have to be strong for you kids and your brother, Donovan. I think what about me? Who is going to be strong for me? I just feel like I have held it all in all this time and one day I am going to break down.

Sorry, this started out as a remeberance to my brother and just led to something else....

OMG...

So Cordell and I were headed home from work today and noticed this girl driving next to us. As Cordell was pulling up next to her to pass, I glanced to my right and noticed she was TEXTING on her cell phone while she was driving!!!! OMG, she was swerving all over the road (ok, maybe I am exaggerating) but there were a couple of times she swerved into the other lane.

It drives me crazy when people do that! **hint, hint Cordell** not only does texting and driving get on my nerves BUT talking on the phone and driving!!! It's a distraction and drives me crazy!!!!

Ok, that's my rant about texting and talking on the phone while driving.

My weekend...

I'm disappointed that I didn't get to hang out with Trina this past weekend. I saw her on Friday at work for a little bit but, that was it. We had talked about going to see Saw V with Jenna & Jennifer but nothing was confirmed. She left to have lunch with J-Dog & K-Mad. I told her that I would call but I never did. I sent her a text and since she didn't have a ride, we didn't go out.

Saturday I was home with my kids and made plans to go with JKSY & T to go see Madagascar 2 at the drive in. My kids had ONLY chore; it was to clean their room. It took them ALL day to get it done! OMG.... They were goofing around and when it was time to get ready for the movie their room was still a wreck and soooooo, JW was the only one to come with me. That was his first time at a drive-in and he liked it.

He was very shy and kept to himself. I was thinking to myself, JD please don't be shy....but I know that as soon as he warms up to JKSY & T, he will be himself and I will be trying to control him.

Sunday was a day of catching up on all my TV shows and doing 6 loads of laundry. CW & his brother BBQ'd and watched the Cardinals game.

Test

Just testing to make sure I set this up right.

My girl Trina is planning to visit from Orlando this weekend! I'm excited to see her. I hope that she gets her tickets in time and she makes it on her flight! Heres a photo from her last visit. We ate & had some drinks at the Four Peaks.

So what are we going to do on your next visit Trina?

Here are some pictures from her "going away" party. Whatcha talking about??? Going away???? She didn't go far!!!

This was our bowling night out! We had fun bowling. After bowling we moved the party down the street to Max's....

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

The kids & I went to watch Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa!!!

It was a good movie and the kids enjoyed it. I think we'll go again on Saturday but only if they have a good week.

Usually I take pictures when we go places but after Cordell & the kids were being grouchy the last time, I hardly take pictures anymore.

I'm slowing getting back to taking lots of pictures so my blogs will have more pictures soon :)

Nascar Weekend - November 9, 2008

It's race day!!! I'm excited because we have tickets to the NASCAR race and our seats are by the exit of pit road!!! I'm thinking we get to walk the pits, too! What great tickets Nate bought....

Well, we get up around 8am and start getting ready for the day when.....Darold says he wants to go now... So, me, being the nice sister-in-law give him my ticket to the race. The brothers get to spend the day with each other :)

I can't believe how many people are there!!!

These are just some of the pictures Cordell took at the race.

The kids & I get to spend another day together. This time we go watch Madagascar with Beth!

Nascar Weekend - November 8, 2008

Cordell won a pair of tickets to the NASCAR race this past Sunday. At first I was excited to go but then I know how much my dad has always wanted to go so I thought I would give my ticket to Dad. Well, after awhile I thought about it, who am I to give Cordell's ticket away? I hinted to him telling him my dad might want to go and that I didn't want to go. I'm not sure if he took the hint or not but he asked his co-worker and friend, Brian to go with him.

On Frisday, Cordell received a call from his little brother, Nate, stating he had 2 extra tickets to Sunday's race. Two of his friends backed out on him after he had purchased the tickets and pit passes for the race. I'm not sure what's going on and what they are planning to do but I offer a round trip companion pass to get him to Phoenix for the race. Lucky for him, the flights he listed for were both wide open.

Let the fun begin.....Nate arrives Saturday afternoon and hangs out with Darold, the oldest brother, for the afternoon. Since Cordell had to work the kids and I stayed home hanging out and enjoying our time. Here's some pictures of the brothers hanging out after Cordell got home. I guess I didn't take any pictures of them together....

Here's Cordell & Nate

Joshua & Nate

My recent trip to Las Vegas!!!

I recently took a trip to Las Vegas to hang out with my dad & brother, Donovan at the drag races at LVMS . Let me just say, I HATE non-reving now!!!!!

My weekend started on Thurdsay, October 30th. I originally took the day off but decided that I would go to work since dad was not going to be in Vegas until 6pm and my flight didn't depart Phoenix until 4:30pm. Silly me....what was I thinking????

We arrived at home about 4:00 and Cordell takes me to the airport. Guess what? The flight is full and there are a ton of people listed to non-rev on the flight. I think, ok no big deal I'll just take the next flight or hop on Southwest. After all, I still have my tickets from when I was supposed to go to Denver to visit my cousin Gina.

So I list for the Southwest flight and make my way to the gate when I realize, my ticket might be expired.....oh great!!! Well I give the gate agent my ticket anyway and the first thing she notices is that my ticket is expired and she can't let me on the flight!!! I'm thinking, "Why didn't I just take a 1/2 day and take care of this sooner? UGH..... I would have been in Vegas at 6pm and could have gone to the fan fest like I was planning. I swear, I should not have let Cordell talk me into going to work!!!

Anyways, back to the story....So I miss the Southwest flight and start walking back to USAirways and list for the next flight, which is also the last flight of the night! The whole time I'm texting Jennifer and Amber. They both tell me I can purchase my ticket at the USAir ticket counter but I was tired and not to mention lazy to walk back downstairs only to stand in line (AGAIN) and then make my way back upstairs to the Southwest terminal. I sit and wait for the flight and then 45 minutes before the flight is to depart for Vegas, the gate agents say the flight is oversold and that they are looking for volunteers for a flight the next morning. You know what this means....I'm not going to make it on the flight. So I call my dad to let him know I didn't make it out and to expect me the next morning.

I finally made it to Vegas the next night, yes I said night....I was bumped from my flight and was tired of the airport. In the mean time, I received an email from Donovan telling he was driving. I didn't want him to drive alone so I told him that I would go with him. Of course he couldn't leave early so we had to wait until he got off from work and then hit the road. We finally left Phoenix at 7:00 pm and arrived in Las Vegas at the hotel at 11:30pm. I thought we were going to go to sleep but what happens???? We take a walk down the strip and start playing slots at Harrahs and Caesar's Palace! OMG, we were out until 5am!!! That was just crazy!!! We got back to our room and literally laid down for about 3 hours when dad came to the room and wanted to head out to the track.

We finally make it to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway!!! YAY!!!! Here are a few pictures. Speaking about pictures! I forgot to buy batteries for my camera so I didn't get to take as many pictures as I wanted!!! I was so mad at myself!!! Ugh.....

We parked and are now walking to the drag strip. My.....does that look like a LONG way to walk!!!

Dad following Donovan.....

Dad purchasing our tickets for the drag races!

When we arrived at the drag strip the dragsters were just starting to qualify. We were trying to hurry to find a seat so we wouldn't miss out! Here are some photos I was able to take.

Here I am trying to snap a picture of us.

Ok Donovan, you look better in this one :)

Here I am after we walked back to dad's truck for mor water! I was hot and tired from that long walk! I swear I did more walking than I have ever walked!

We were at the race track until 7pm. Donovan & I got back to our room and washed up and walked with my dad to the Wynn casino. OMG, was that a walk!!!!! Donovan & I were there until 5am the next morning. Dad was tired so he went back to the room early.

Let me just say that I had a blast in Vegas with my dad and brother....not to mention my friend Shelby from high school. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I met up with her and met her husband Mac. I have not see her in YEARS!!! I'm talking since HIGH SCHOOL!!! OMG, we were so close and I'm not sure exactly what happened but we lost contact and were re-united on myspace!!! It's crazy how myspace works! Anyways, we hung out with them for a little bit and had so much fun and laughing non-stop!!! Good times!!! I can't wait for our next trip!!!