Update on Richard

Danielle called me this morning and Richard did not have surgery. The antibiotic is finally starting to work on the staff infection in his knee. He will be checked in the morning and if the infection is gone the doctor will debride the wound then stitch it closed. If the infection is still there they will have to do surgery to clean out the tissues. She said that they have to scrub, gown up and glove up before they can go into his room and they can not touch him yet.

This afternoon he was presented with his Airman Coin and tomorrow, being graduation, she was not sure what will happen with him. The only thing that he could not do was the Airman run and she indicated that he will have to pass that off when he can run again. He is suppose to be in Wichita Fall, TX on Monday to do 13 weeks of tech training. We will just have to wait to see what Friday brings.

I am so glad that Danielle is there with him. Tony and Danielle are attending all the events that were planned and poor Rich is lying in a hospital bed hooked to an IV line.

We are just praying so hard that he will heal fast and can move on to the next step in his training. Please keep him in your prayers.

Changes in our lives

We have been wrestling with what to do about the real estate side of our business for some time now. The concessions are taking so much of our time and it is impossible for us to do both at the same time. After months of deliberation, we finally decided it was time for us to put our licenses on an inactive status for now. We have been keeping up with the license fees and everything else that is associated with the business, but have not been actively engaged in selling homes for over a year. Today we went to Salt Lake and did the paperwork to go inactive and turned in our keys for the office. This is bittersweet as real estate is fun, but we just do not have the time or energy to devote to both side of our business. So now we are just doing the concessions and crafts.

I do want to thank all our clients for the faith that they had in letting us represent them in either selling or buying their homes. Because of each of you, I feel that we were extremely successful in the real estate field. Thanks again for asking us to help you.

Flowers

Fall flowers are so vibrant and colorful. My favorites are mums and burning bushes. For my mother's day gift Dick planted 6 of them in our new flower bed. I was so thrilled and couldn't believe that he remembered my love for them.

Later in the month we found some mums and planted them in front of the bushes. Oh!! they are pretty this year. My fall flowers are just gorgeous.

When I took these pictures the mums were full of bees . They were just buzzing around from flower to flower. If you look closely, you can see a bee on the flower.

Happy Reunion....

Last night my Mom called to tell me that my uncle, Kenneth Miller, had just past away. She said that he had prostate cancer and the cancer had spread to his bones. Last week Mom said that he was trying to get out of his wheelchair and as he was lifting himself he broke his hip and an arm. He leaves behind his three daughters, Kenna, Della and Sheila plus his second wife, Peggy.

When Mom told me he was gone, all I could think of was the "happy reunion" that was taking place at that very moment in heaven. Aunt LaRee, my Dad's younger sister, past away in the mid 1990's and their son, Michael past away in April of 1969. All my mind could see were arms wrapped around him from those that were anxiously waiting his arrival. I can just see Michael reaching out to embrace his father whom he hadn't seen in almost 40 years and saying, "Come, Dad, hold my hand and let me show you the way". Aunt LaRee would have wrapped her arms so tightly around him and whispered words of love to him and told him how very much she has missed him and how grateful she was that they were together again. Sweet Aunt LaRee was probably so gitty with happiness. I can see our dear Ofie and Ralph, his parents, as they held their arms open widely to embrace their son and to welcome him home to heaven. I can just hear Ofie saying, "Well, Kenneth, what took you so long to get here".

A few years before Aunt LaRee past away, Uncle Kenneth joined the church and then later they were sealed as an eternal family in the temple. What a joy it is to know that we have eternal families and that we will see them again when we cross the veil. I am so glad that they lived their lives in such a goodly manner that they can stand before their Father in Heaven and know they are worthy to be in his presence.

My heart aches for those left behind, but Uncle Kenneth lived such a good life and was so ready to go and be rid of the pain he had endured lately. His daughters each have the knowledge and teachings of the gospel and know that they will be together and that they are an eternal family. The days will be long and lonely for them as they proceed on in life. Over the next few days, I hope that they can feel the love and prayers of others, as they prepare to lay their father to rest next to his sweet LaRee and precious Michael. Angels are with them. Let them feel the strenth of the Lord as He holds them in His arms and comforts their aching hearts.

Thinking of and missing the children....

Today I have been missing Richard and wondering what is he up to. We left him in Salt Lake five weeks ago to begin his new adventure in life and now it is time for him to graduate from basic next week. Hard to believe that he is old enough to be on his own.

It doesn't matter how old your children or grandchildren get, one still can't help but worry about them. I find myself waking in the night wondering if the children have enough covers on or if they said their prayers before retiring for the night. If they had enough to eat and are the doors all locked tight at their homes. Are the windows shut and is the stove turned off. Did they have a good day and was everyone nice to them.

Seems like I am always thinking about and missing those precious gifts from heaven more and more each day. I am so thankful for these gifts from Heavenly Father and so thankful they wanted to be part of our family. I do love you all.

No Girls Allowed.....

Saturday was "NO GIRLS ALLOWED" day for the "Madsen Guys". Grandpa had bought tickets to the Utah vs. Colorado State game for him, Canyon and Derek. The anticipation for two weeks was more than Canyon could bear and he kept telling his Dad "I don't think I can wait that long". Well the day finally arrived and at 7:30 a.m. Canyon sends Gramps this picture:

ARE YOU READY GRAMPS? I AM!!!!

Grandpa left our house at 7:45 and met Canyon and Derek at the train station in Ogden to ride the FRONT RUNNER to Salt Lake to the game.

This is my Gramps and me sitting on the train ready to go to the ball game. You have to wear RED cause that is the rule!!!

When they got to Salt Lake they hopped off the Front Runner and got on the TRAX train and rode it to the stadium. This was so much fun for them. They found their seats and settled back to enjoy the game.

#1 Ute Fan at the Game

Thanks Gramps for letting me and my Dad have a special day with you.

You are one special GRANDPA!!!

Golden Spike Monument

Today Derek, Kelly, Canyon, Evan and I went out to the Golden Spike Monument at Promitory Point. This is where the East and West railways meet.

The little ones had so much fun as it had snowed, so of course, there had to be snowball fights and the trill of getting wet. They were intrigued with the engines that they have there. There is the replica of both the Jupiter and the 119 engines that met each other at Promitory Point. A big celebration was held and the golden spike was pounded into the track signifying that the railway

was complete linking the East and the West together.

Here are some pictures of our adventure today:

Derek, Kelly, Canyon and Evan standing by the #119 engine

First snow of the year....
First snowball fight of the year....

Got cha Evan.....

Now it is my turn....
I can't make a snowball....
I'm done.........

This was a good day!!!!!

The Healing Touch.....

I have been faithfully following the story of Stephanie and Christian Nielson who were in a plane crash in August and are now in the hospital where both are recuperating from severe burns. Christian is awake but Stephanie is still in a coma. (find her story at blog.cjanerun.com)

The stories written by her sister, Courtney, are so uplifting and you can really feel the Spirit of the Lord in her writings. Today, though, I was in tears as I read her blog. Her brother, Andrew, was her guest blogger and when I read his words, how very true they are. Here is part of what he wrote today:

Many families over the years have come up with their own vocabulary. My family is no different. We as siblings grew up with the word “mug.” Mug is an action word. Mug is similar to hug. Yeah, I know they rhyme. A mug involves the hug but it is much more personal. A good mug could involve the massaging of feet, hands, scalp and back. Kisses from the neck up are free game in the mug. It’s not uncommon for our mom (councilwoman) to call one of her children and say; “ I haven’t seen you for awhile, when can you come by the house so I can mug on you a bit?” So we do and she does and both parties win.

In the evenings my three little girls like to get in the tub. On special nights after the tub I let them choose from one of their mom’s many scented lotions. They take their time as they peruse the many flavors. After the lotion choice is made they climb onto our big bed and wait their turn for a massage. I’ve found this is a great way to get them calm, quiet and easy to talk to. When they are done they put their PJ’s on and they smell so good before bed. This small tradition is a special way to say ‘I love you’ through the human touch. Although they do not realize, these moments are bonding them to me. I take great pride in my mugging abilities! Oh, and Megan always gets one too.

As children of a loving Heavenly Father we are entitled to certain basic needs. I believe the human touch is as much of a basic need as food, water and shelter. The human touch has the ability to calm anxieties. The human touch has the ability to heal wounds. We as parents kiss scraped knees all the time. The human touch has the ability to heal hearts. It can cause one to fall in love but, most of all it establishes a connection that the verbal word cannot.

Last Thursday Megan and I were given a charge from the nurse (Page) and the councilwoman to go see Nie at Maricopa Medical Center and to mug on her. We all understand the great healing power a good mug would and has had on Nie’s ever living skin cells. So we did. We made the trek down through the majestic red rock of southern Utah, crossing the Colorado River into Arizona. We marveled at the beauties of the high mountains of Flagstaff and finally into the blooming deserts of Phoenix. Upon finding Nie I mugged on her. I massaged feet and legs. I offered touch to her bandaged arms and shoulders. I lightly touched her scalp and kissed her face all the while expressing love and counting blessings. We talked about her great husband who is so strong and noble. We talked of her kids and the angels that walk with them at all times. Finally we talked of great times had and many to come. Meg and I left Phoenix this weekend better people. We love each other more, we love our kids more. I’m grateful for the power of the human touch.

Our loving Savior Jesus Christ went about His ministry on this earth blessing and teaching his flock. He cleansed the lepers, healed the sick and raised the dead. He washed the tender feet of His disciples. He asked the children to come to Him and sit upon His knee. He blessed the children. And He did it all with the human touch.

As I follow this story, you cannot help but feel the love for this sister that is laying in a bed in Arizona, while her family in Utah are caring for her four children and trying their best to keep some normalcy in these little ones lives.

I remember a few years ago being in this same situation where my mother was laying in a bed with burns over most of her body and wondering what I could do to help Dad and my siblings get through those days of peril and strife. All I could do was hold Dad's hand and let him feel the love I had for him. Just touching him made things better for me.

I would go to Mom's bed and hold her precious hand and let her know I was there and my love for her was never ending. We were so lucky that Mom fought hard and recovered, but I know that there were times that she did cross through the veil and then returned back to her body.

I have my days when all I want is my Mom's arms around me holding me tight and whispering words of love in my ears. Having her hands caress my face and letting me know I am more precious than gold to her.

Yes, touch is the most powerful healing tool that we have been given and I hope that all of us are using it daily to wipe away tears and to heal broken hearts.

Raining Cloudy Fall Days

Raining cloudy fall days brings memories of :

Hamburger stew....yummy, yummy

Mom's homemade chili

Baking bread

Cozy fires

Wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket

Reading a good book

Playing with my grandchildren

Conference

Deer hunting

Quilting

Yes, raining cloudy fall days are one of my favorites!!!!!

Kottage Kupboard Craft Fair

We are currently doing a fair in Ogden at the Golden Spike Arena. This is one of the largest craft fairs in Northern Utah and was even featured on Channel 2 News on Thursday. It was fun to see all the news equipment there when we went down to stock our booth.

Dick makes these cute little puzzle trucks and they are selling almost faster than we can put them in the booth. It is almost like they are watching him bring them in and rush to the booth to get them. They are so much fun for the little children to play with.

These little cars and trucks that he makes we call "Chunky Cars" because little chunky hands can hold on to them perfectly.

I make the pillowcase dresses and superhero capes. They are both a great seller and I do enjoy making them.

I do love the central checkout events as I do not have to be there and am at home working and my items are selling. We do have to pay a small percentage of our sales for this luxury, but it is the only way to go. You just have to put in a 2 hour security shift once during the event and stock your booth once during the day. To me it is a no brainer to participate in this type of an event. It is so much better than having to sit in your booth all day long and you have better sales when you are not in the booth. We really do excellent in sales with our crafts that we make.

Saturday is our last day of the fair and it sure has been a fun experience. Our next fair is on October 15-18 at the Union Station on Wall Street in Ogden. We both have to work really, really hard next week to get everything done for this event.

CAPES, CAPES, CAPES!!!!

Some little boys and girls are having a fun time being superheros right now. I have been so busy the past week making capes for this craft fair that I am participating in this week. It is so fun to be in a craft fair and see the smiles on faces as they come into my booth to play with the wooden toys that my sweetie makes or to try on the capes and pretend they are flying.

Last week I made seven capes for a woman that ordered them while I was at Melon Days and this week I have made 15 capes for the craft fair. My poor sewing machine is probably wondering just what is going on as it goes from 6 in the am until late in the pm. Today I had both of the machines on the table at the same time doing different tasks on each one. I thought it very ingenious of me to be multi tasking with my sewing skills.

Tomorrow more capes need to be made....sometimes I wonder if I can get them all done before the fair is over.

Oh well, this is what I love the most. I am my own boss and only have myself to answer to.

Life is a Ball!!!!