OUR ANNIVERSARY: 25 Years on Wednesday!

That is right, this Wednesday is our 25th Wedding Anniversay! Dave has been a blessing in my life! He is such a GREAT example of Christ-like qualities in his view of life and his actions! He helps me be a better person, just by doing what comes naturally to him! I am so very grateful that our Heavenly Father brought us together....for eternity! We always say there was a bit of 'matchmaking' happening via some angels that night. It was MEANT TO BE for certain! He is the love of MY life! He has been a super Dad and is a caring and fun (hands-on) Grandpa too! Here's to our next 25 years together!

The BINGO WALTZ RULES! (which is how we met....doing the 'Bingo Waltz' at a Single Adult Church Conference...in Slovang, CA)

July was FUN-tastic!

We just had FUN....on top of more FUN this month!

Fourth of July: We got a WONDERFUL last minute visit from Tara & Jon and Allie! They arrived in the early am.....Dave & I went to the church's Pancake Breakfast, and then we met them up in Ojai for the July 4th Parade.

We met up with Jon's family, who saved us seats on the curbside at the beginning of the parade. Allie loved the horses, and old cars, and any kids that were marching in the parade. I think she liked the bands too. Of course we enjoyed it all through her eyes, so everything was FUN for us. Dave & I continued our family tradition and drove back down to the Ventura Street Fair. We approached it from the opposite side (the Avenue) since we came from Ojai. It made it a little different. I made a few small purchases, and we were done in 2 hours flat! That is a record, I think. After a nap at home, Dave & I drove back up to Ojai to join the Bigler Family for fireworks.

Claudia is back-to-school

Well, after a 4 year hiatus, I decided to hit the books and finish this bachelors degree of mine. I am doing my last 4 classes on-line with a compressed schedule. I should be finished by my birthday. I will be graduating from Ashford University in Ohio. This is where I began finishing up my degree requirements several years ago. I only had one class to go (they changed the requirements so now it is 4 classes).

I took a break the holidays and then for the birth of our first three grandkids.....each class is a short 5 weeks...very compressed and intense: requires time and attention. I just could not focus on school, when something so wonderful and GREAT was happening in our lives! That is ALL I wanted to focus on at the time! We were becoming grandparents and I wanted to relish in that 'world'...not school.

Anyway, that break lasted way longer than it should have, but the good thing is I am on the home stretch to this long awaited goal. So between 2 weeks ago and Oct. 12th, I have been and will be intensely involved in this project each day after my workday is over. Wish me luck!

Pictures from Boise

Mark & Mari visited the weekend before I got to Boise. These pictures are from Jills camera.


Julie, Jordan, Jill, Mom, Avery, Bethany

Dan & his new girlfriend. She is also a cop


Linda & Lance Bradbury, Shawn, Jed & Scott Stewart

Great Grandma Stewart

This one was taken today, May 12th


This picture was on Saturday May 10th, 2008. Mom was sure she would go home this day so we called all the girls and let them say goodby. Mom had been more alert than she had been previous days.

Great Grandma and Jack Stewart Swanson (born Feb 25th 2008)

Mom & my sister Jill Lister

Guess what our Priesthood Brethern did for us today?

During Relief Society the youth took care of Primary, and all the brethern served ALL the sisters 18 years & older a luncheon they had prepared.

They said they kept it simple, because it was the Sabbath, but I just have to say it was delicious! What a wonderful TREAT for all of us women in the Relief Society! That was truly a display of LOVE and appreciation for all of the sisters in the ward! What can I say.....we have a GREAT Bishop!THANKS BISHOP!!!!!!

And thanks to all the men in the ward who made this happen. We are grateful!I took pictures, but again, I have to learn to how to hook up my camera to get those onto this blog. If Dave were home, he could show me....but, alas....he is in Idaho.

Mother's Day Surprise

Yesterday there was a knock at the door and when I opened it I was flabbergasted to see a beautiful edible bouquet being delivered to ME right at my doorstep! They said, "this if for Claudia Stewart", and I responded "for me"? And the guy said, "if you are Claudia Stewart, yes." WOW, for me???? I was happily SHOCKED....for me!THANKS TO LANAE & CHRIS & FAMILY.....I love it and of course I LOVE YOU!Mine look just like this picture, but a blue metal basket. I got this picture from their website, because I don't know how to hook-up my camera to the computer to download the pictures I took of MY bouquet. (Dave is in Idaho visiting his Mom for Mother's Day today)I immediately began eating the fruit last night....then this am, I took it over to my Mom's & Joyce's house for a shared breakfast....I brought the fruit and they provided the waffles. I drove over there in my PJ's (before church). We also had some cocoa in cute coconut cups (drink through the straws) from Target. I got them each one and I have two in our guest room.

I did two posts today....and apparently they are not showing up. Great....who has time to re-do them? I thought they showed up earlier, but they are not showing up now. Crazy....are we having FUN yet?

Leaving for Utah first thing in the morning...

Well, we are on our way to Utah for Cyndi & Craig's BIG GRADUATION from college!!! Yeah, you guys did it! Wonderful! We can't wait to see you guys tomorrow, for Cyndi's Interior Design Program! Then to spend some time with you guys and Craig's parents is something we are looking forward to too. Looks like we will have a wonderful 'support team' there at your graduation with both sets of parents, Craig's Aunt Donna from TX, and his sister, Julie (& her little one) from TX, and Aunt Linda Bradbury from NV! Love how supportive Aunt Linda has always been and continues to be! She is someone special!

All are invited....any of you Utahans? Ya'll come....Cyndi is actually SPEAKING during the commencement excercises (one of 2 student speakers). Elder L. Tom Perry is also speaking. Their graduation is held right on Temple Square in the Assembly Hall....how cool is that? Cyndi gets to speak on Temple Square! What a gal you are, Cyndi! You & Craig are both 'goin places'. Craig with his business....you guys are hard workers! We are excited to have you back in CA next week! Yeah, Palm Springs!

Soon to be reunited, again!

St. Louis, MO Temple 2006

Just had to say: I'm excited that DAVE is coming home on Thursday! He has been working out of state for the winter, and it has been lonely here. He has a one way ticket HOME! I will pick him up from the airport in less that 48 hours (who's counting?). There is always something to be learned from our experiences, and I believe I have learned to appreciate Dave more. There are so many things I miss about him. He makes me laugh....I miss that. He has really good insights into life and what is going on....I miss hearing those spontaneously. He is FUN and helpful....I miss that. His perfect sense of direction when we travel....I miss that. He has a great perspective on life (to me it is like sunshine...that essential to daily life)....I really MISS that!

This has been quite the experience, with him working out of state for so long. Life just seems very FLAT without Dave. Kind of like the spice is gone. So, I am looking forward to the JOY of having him back home. And I hope I remember to appreciate him more!!!

Bigler Time...even tho Tara & Jon are not here

Yesterday I went to the Ojai Ward for Sacrament meeting...because Jon's little brother, Clark Bigler gave his homecoming talk...just got home from his mission from Chile the week before. He did an excellent job on his talk. Very inspiring and insightful. I thought he was a 'mini Bert' (his Dad) when he spoke. He is truly a leader and just a great guy! I was impressed. I had fun visiting with the Kris, her sister, and the Bigler boys etc. after church. I also got to meet David's fiancee,.

Tonight the Bigler's were having a B'day bar-b-que (another grandchilds b'day) at the park right next to us....she invited me to come by for dinner.....I did and had fun visiting with Kris and Clark mostly. I always feel so comfortable with Kris....she is a good friend/relative.

Afterwards, I went to my Mom's house to hang out with Mom and my sisters...Debbie & Joyce. We had fun watching the Bachelor on TV and then visiting. Debbie made her famous cooked sugar free chocolate pudding with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in the bowl of pudding....the contrast between the hot and cold, creamy vanilla & chocolate....yummy! Anyway, that was my evening after work. I was going to do errands, but instead I had FUN! Errands can be another day....

A GREAT new Church Website

Did you see this yet? http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/
A beautiful new website the Church has created for the world to enjoy! Check it out, I thought it was awesome!

A new TARGET is opening in Ventura

I read in the paper today, that the new Target (in Pacific View Mall) will be opening next Tuesday, March 4th. It is where the old Rob-May was. The paper says this is a new tradition for malls all over the USA, to add non-traditional anchor stores. It is just short of a Super Target, and only lacks produce, a bakery and a deli. If it had those 3 things, it would have been a super-Target....but then our fair city would not have allowed it to be here. The city council is bigtime NO BIG BOX retail. WalMart has been trying for YEARS to get in to Ventura. They even own the recently closed KMart building and pad. But our city has put so many restrictions on them, it has been impossible for them to develop it. I hope they are getting close! We need a decent WalMart.....our Oxnard one is trashed. We need one here in Ventura! I like WalMart everywhere else I go, but NOT here...yucky and dirty. So here's hoping.

215 new jobs were created by this store's opening. Ventura should make about $500,000 a year in new taxes. They are not worried abou the other Target being less than one mile away. They say it will remain open, since it is the highest seller of the county.

Aunt Norma's Memorial Service

Last night after work, I went to my Mom's house to watch her sister's memorial service on DVD. It was beautiful. Her kids and grandkids did an excellent job putting this together. They covered all bases....with wonderful pictures on display, beautiful music sung by her granddaughter, Carly, and another song by her son-in-law, Terry. They even made a video of Aunt Norma's life, set to music of the 40's...which was their era. Some of her granddaughters spoke of their memories of their Grandma. She is from the same mold as my Mom for sure, as they always make things FUN! Really, those 3 sisters know how to make everyday things FUN! Terry read some of the memories my Mom wrote about her sister and their younger sister, Barbara, made a video clip of herself telling some memories of their shared times together. Barbara's clip was hilarious and yet also touching. They all were loving sisters! It was neat to watch that together with Joyce & Debbie and my Mom. Afterwards, Debbie came over to hang out with me at our house. We watched Monk on the DVR and had fudgescicles & licorice. It was good times the whole night.

I did my 'new duties' again today....

Well it's Tuesday, and I just finished my fairly new weekly tasks. If you don't know, while Dave has been working out of town, I have the JOY of cleaning the kitty litter box....something Dave has ALWAYS done for our household. It isn't as bad as I thought, but the first time I really goofed. The box is siftable, and comes in many pieces....like 3 or 4 siftable trays. Well, you have to get them put together correctly, or the next time you go to sift it....the whole thing sifts onto the garage floor. Well, that was my first experience with it, but I was a quick learner, and never did that again. Another one of my newfound duties is taking the big trashcans out to the curb each week. Dave has always been a gentleman and insists on taking care of all things related to trash...which is perfect for me... 'cuz I don't like "dirty". Thank goodness these duties are only temporary...till Dave gets home. That is my exciting day: going to work and these 'special' home duties. I miss my honey....not just for this, of course. I really miss him to hang out with and go Costco with, to go to the movies with, and to grab a bite to eat together also. Simple little things, but I miss doing them all with my honey.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE!!!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY"

This is the first time we have been apart on your B'day. I wish we could go out to dinner together tonight (and a movie). I know you are very busy and working HARD. I appreciate that. I hope everything 'goes your way' today....meaning an extra smooth day at work for you (my wish for you) Just know: YOU ARE LOVED and MISSED! Take care and be safe!

Happy Fifty-something (we won't say exactly which number it is here).

Note to our girls: This is my FIRST POST by myself and you are right...it is easy! You are good teachers too. Thanks a bunch for showing me how to do this. I love it!

My FIRST Post!!!

I'm in Palm Springs @ Tara & Jon's house with Cyndi & Craig....Tara & Cyndi are teaching me how to do a POST! I can't believe how easy it is! By the way, Palm Springs looks exactly LIKE this picture right now...snow on the mountaintops and green everywhere else. The drive here was so beautiful....with all the recent rain, it was crystal clear and the mountains & rolling hills were totally GREEN! (just snow on the really high mountaintops) LOVE being here!