New Blog

Hey everyone I've decided to start over with a new blog. Go to http://tinybutmightyfamilyarewe.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there! ;)

Gila Valley Temple Open House & Dedication

I had to have a separate blog for this particular subject because it was just so special! The day that we went to the open house, we were already up in Thatcher for a Eastern Arizona College Choir reunion. That was very bittersweet and special. I got to see friends I haven't seen since th good ol days at EAC back in 1997 that is 13 years!!!!! Time flies by so very fast. Some of the people looked exactly the same and I recognized right away. We went to the spring sing and they were singing songs that we sang at our spring sing and I started crying when I heard "In This Very Room", Shanendoah, etc.... Then at the very last song the Alumni were asked to come up and sing with the choir for the last song, and Dr. Lunt who has been retired for a few years was asked to lead us. I was BAWLING. It was so bittersweet to be able to be lead my such an amazing man that I've admired for 13 plus years. Then we went and changed in the local convenience store bathroom, because I wanted the boys to be in their sunday clothes and I needed to change my shirt and pants into a skirt and blouse. We got to the open house and watched the video before going in. When Elder Holland spoke about how he could not even imagine Heaven without his children that struck a nerve and put a huge lump in my throat and caused the tears to start falling. There's nothing I want more than to have my children sealed to me.... in fact it's been a sore spot with me for several years. My ex is anti- lds and I just know he will never give permission for them to be sealed. Then we walked into the temple, I was in a white blouse and the boys were in their nice white sunday shirts. The spirit was so very strong. I felt so strongly that the people who had lived in the Gila Valley before they died, were given special permission to be able to go into the temple. I thought of my favorite uncle Dallas Welker, my grandma Welker... I felt them there. I coudln't stop crying, no matter how hard I tried. I just kept thinking of the song I heard at the choir reunion "in this very room" the parts where they say "For Jesus, Lord Jesus... is in this very room". I knew that the savior walks those halls. The boys were in awe of all of the things in the temple. They were so reverent and listened very closely to what each of the tour guides had to say. When we got to the Celestial Room and I looked up at the Chandelier, it took my breath away. My mouth opened and my eyes popped out and I just started crying again. I felt like I was in Heaven with my children. Then.... we went into the Sealing Room...... WOW!!!!!!!! The boys and I all looked in the mirror at the same time, I was right behind them and like I said before we were all in white shirts.... Danny whispered "mom, why is there so many reflections?" I told him "because that means we will be together forever" and he said "WOW!" There was not a dry eye in that room. A girl I had gone to EAC with, had tears in her eyes. The tour guids were crying. I couldn't remember how, but I just KNEW that one day my kids will be mine forever. I felt generations linked together in that mirror.
The dedication was another amazing experience because I had never experienced a temple dedication before. My boys kept asking me what was going to happen and I said "I don't know, i've never been to a temple dedication." What an awesome day that was. The spirit was so very strong. We didn't go to the dedication itself at the temple, our stake center was part of the process where we were able to watch it there, if we were a recommend holder or a baptized member of the church, so my kids were able to attend it with me. The spirit was soooooooooo strong in the chapel when the dedication started. David whispered "mommy, is this what it feels like in the temple?" and I said "Yes, it feels exactly like this" and he said "wow I can't wait to go there!"

Updates...........

Wow how long has it been since I posted a blog? SHEESH! Time flies by so fast these days. Ok so for the last several months I have been working on myself inside and out. I've been working on exercising and eating right and losing weight. So far, so good. I've hit a few snags along the way but as soon as I can, I'm getting back and going hard core. The boys ordered me a beautiful ring for my mothers day gift. It is a mothers ring. It has both of their stones (March & December) and has their names engraved by their stones. David just completed the 5th grade at Visions Unlimited Academy and Danny just completed the 3rd grade at Benson Elementary School. This has been a rough year for all 3 of us, but we made it through. And we got some great news as well, the best. I got a letter saying they are back in Pomerene school for this next school year!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last month we lost a very dear family member. My cousin Linda Saline. She was diagnosed with Colon Cancer about 4 years or so ago, decided not to do Chemo, went home and did everything she could to fight this disease on her own. She changed everything about her eating habits, how she lived her life, etc.... and went into remission. Then in February of this year, I got a text from her daughter Ginger saying her mom was sick and going to the dr. I told her "Her cancer isn't back is it"? and she said "I HOPE NOT!" about 4 days later I got a text from Ginger and she said her mom's cancer was back, it was in her liver now and moved into her bones. I went to the temple to try to get some peace about it, and put her name on the prayer roll and knew everything would be ok, no matter how it turned out. I felt so much peace. One night I was watching a movie with my boys and my mom (to overcome with tears to talk) texted me and told me that Linda had passed away. I cried for a long time that night, not because she passed away, but because of how much I was going to miss her. She was a very special lady. She fought that disease with every bone in her body. She was a warrior and will always be one of the most influential people in my life. I love and miss her very very very much. She and my mom have always been close. My aunt Doris had my cousin Linda, then my mom was born a month and a half later. They were best friends.
This last month we had a special thing happen. Our temple... The Gila Valley Temple was dedicated. What an amazing experience that was to be able to go to that with my kids. I will post a separate blog about it.
Over the past several months my ex's sister Melinda and I have been talking about having a birthday party for her grandparents, which I was totally in for as long as the ex wouldn't be in the picture. She had texted me last month and told me it would be at her grandparent's ranch in Reserve, New Mexico and I'm thinking ok if chris is anywhere near New Mexico, I'm not going to this thing. It so happened that he is far away in Washington State so that worked out... but then there was another dillema... getting the boys there, such a long drive for only one day and a lot of gas money. So then a couple weeks ago my mom calls and asks what we were doing for Memorial Day and I told her I didn't have any plans. She told me she and my dad wanted to take the boys to Alpine on Memorial day for a couple of days then I would come up there and take them home on Saturday the 5th. A couple of minutes later I receieved a text from Melinda telling me the party would be on Saturday the 5th around noon. Alpine and Reserve are about 28 miles apart. So I said "Yep, we're in".... the whole time in Alpine I felt sick because the trailer we were sleeping in was ICE COLD, with no running water and no heater except for a very old space heater from like the 70's or 80's. And I didn't give Melinda a definite yes that we would be there. Saturday morning I woke up and I felt better. We packed up the car and headed out of town and stopped at the grandparents house... we were the first ones there, in fact the others were several hours later, so the boys got to spend some alone time with their great grandparents and their grandpa esrael. We stayed one night in their HUGE ranch house that is not quite finished yet and we headed home on Sunday. Now we are embarking on a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 30. My dr.'s secretary commented to me she said "YOU TRAVEL A LOT" and I said "of course, I'm from a small town, I have to get out to keep my sanity!" LOL!!!! I found out that I have a small hernia, but the hernia isn't what has been causing the pain... I have a case of acid reflux and a ulcer... which is NO surprise whatsoever. I don't have to have an operation... YAY!!!! The dr said to keep up with the weight loss and the ulcer and acid reflux should get better and may even go away! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Newsletter

Ok so as previously stated on Facebook, I have decided that instead of sending out a whole bunch of Christmas Cards this year, I am just writing a Christmas Newsletter.
I will start from the youngest being Danny and lead up to myself.

Daniel Isaiah will turn 9 years old on December 22. It's hard for me to believe my baby is turning 9 years old! People ask me all the time "What's it like having a christmas baby?" and I reply "EXPENSIVE" lol. He is in the 3rd grade and just finished of his 3rd year in Soccer. He had an awesomely awesome coach and team this year. They only lost one game this year!!!!! He was so excited about that. He gets all a's & b's on his report card and is usually really good about doing his homework don't know where he gets that from! lol

David Christopher is 10 years old and will turn 11 on March 25th. He is in the 5th grade and attends Visions Unlimited Academy where they have special help for Autistic children. He's making much better grades than ever and got all a's & b's on his last report card. Makes me anxious to see what he got on this one. He likes his teacher a lot and she is sooooo good to him.

I have been told that a lady never reveals her age but since i really don't care I am revealing mine. I am wait for it wait for it 32 years old and will be 33 on February 19th. I chopped off my hair this year. I decided that my long hair went with me through all the junk I went through and I shed the drama and the junk it was time to shed the hair too. I had 15 inches cut off and then I had more and more. I really like the cut that I have now though. Wait I don't like it I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been recently going to Latin Dance Exercise classes called ZUMBA. it's so fun and gets you moving and well it got me off my big toosh!

Last week my parents took the boys and I to Disneyland for 3 days and to Sea World! We had SOOOOOOOO much fun!!!!!!!! In fact we had so much fun that the boys and I have made a goal to save up enough money and me to lose enough weight that we will go exactly 2 years to the day we went this year. Our goal is to go December 6, 2011.

Tag You're It

1. Do you like bleu cheese? Ewwww no.
2. Have you ever smoked? Unfortunately I used to... not my proudest moments... but I don't anymore!
3. Do you own a gun? Nope though I should!

4. Favorite type of Food? Mexican Food! Italian Food! Chinese Food! oh and Texas Roadhouse Food! LOL

5. Favorite type of music? I will listen to just about everything!!!!!!

6. What do you think of hot dogs? The only hot dogs that I will eat are the ones at Circle K.... don't ask me why.... all the other ones I hate!!!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Seriously? I love Christmas movies!!! The Grinch (cartoon & non), ELF, all 3 Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen, A Christmas Story, Rudolph (the old one they showed on tv every year) Frosty (the old one they showed on tv every year), Mickey's Christmas Carol, Pluto's Christmas Tree (so cute!) Muppet Family Christmas, etc..... i love CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh a good suggestion is Disney's Small One! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO moving and precious!!!!

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Juice or water.

9. Can you do push ups? not very well I have to say! LOL

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? oooooooo my new Island Girl necklace I got from my party I had for Jennifer!!!!! love love love it!!!!! and my bubblegum bracelet I got from kendra!!! way too cute!!!!!!
11. Favorite hobby? Oh I can't name just one. Scrapbooking, collecting recipes, writing poetry (though I haven't in a long time), etc....
12. Do you have A. D. D.? I wouldn't be surprised if I did..... o look a kitty! lol
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Glasses

14. Middle name? dont have one
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 1) I need to go to the storage to get my christmas tree and decorations before it gets too dark and cold!2) I can't wait till Disneyland next week!!! 3) sad because they won't have the electric light parade when we go!! :(

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Water, Pepsi & crystal light pink lemonade

17. Current worry? too many worries!

18. Current hate right now? Hate takes too much energy I just completely loathe a certain person
19. Favorite place to be? White Mountains of Arizona or the temple (will get there again someday soon!!!)
20. How did you bring in the new year? Went to a fun Par-Tay with my ex sister in law and her now fiance!
21. Someplace you’d like to go? Hawaii

22. Name three people who will complete this. IDK
23. Do you own slippers? yup

24. What color shirt are you wearing? black

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? lol slippery i sweat too much at night

26. Can you whistle? Yes. I sure can!

27. Where are you now? My parents house

28. Would you be a pirate? no but i'd kiss captain jack!
29. What songs do you sing in the shower?all kinds whatevers in my head at the moment
30. Favorite Girl’s Name?Olvia, Marissa,

31. Favorite boy’s name? David, Daniel, Edward, Jacob, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle, Sam, Jared, Quil, Embry lol

32. What is in your pocket right now? not a thing

33. Last thing that made you laugh?I was watching Home Alone 2 when he's in New York
34. What vehicle do you drive? Chevy Impala

35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Hmmm well I tend to be rather adventurous/clumsy gal. I've had weird injuries.
36. Do you love where you live? NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!! i mean yeah its a very safe town but so so so so want to move there is nothing nothing nothing for me here especially as far as dating goes! :(

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3
38. How many computers do you have in your house? 1
39. If you changed your job, what would it be? I would be a nurse in the maternity ward at a hospital
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? 1)A cure for autism, obviously, 2) unlimited funds3) a happy eternal marriage

My Grandma Welker

This blog post is dedicated to the memory of my Grandmother: Wyona Louvina Powell- Welker who passed away on Wednesday September 23, 2009 after suffering from dementia and alzheimers disease. I love and miss my grandmother very much. The past few years have been very rough for everyone involved. She moved into a manufactured home next dorr to my mom and dad's house in Pomerene back in 1997 when I was attending college at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher. I was able to go and spend quite a bit of time with her when I was there at EAC before she moved. She was an independent and strong woman with a beautiful smile. Her favorite color was lavendar. In preparation for her funeral I have been putting together posterboards with lavendar scrapbook paper, flowers and pictures of my grandma. A lot of tears were spilled in working on this project. There were some pictures of my grandma that I had never even seen before. It was hard to see the pictures of when she was with my grandpa and not put them on there, but I really don't know if she would have wanted those on there, so out of respect for her I kept them off. There's a few pics of her with him on there but they're respectful of her feelings and of the situation. There's this one picture that I love, it is a newspaper clipping of when they used to square dance and she just has this HUGE and beautiful smile on her face in this picture.
My son David is having a really rough time with her passing away, even though he's been prepared for it for quite a while, when I told him the news he cried a lot. He used to go over and talk with her a lot when she lived next to my mom and dad before she went to live in the care facility up in Peoria, AZ. He would go over and watch television with her, speak with her about life, geography, etc.... He has such a kind and sweet spirit and was so patient with her when she would say things over and over again and ask the same questions over and over again. I remember one time he had gone over to my grandma's with my mom and my mom came back cracking up so hard. And we wondered why she was laughing. She came into the room using her walker and he asks her "Great Grandma, what's wrong with your legs?" and she smiles and giggles a little bit and says "Oh they're just getting old, David" so he contemplates this for a bit and says "Oh, like your face?" He doesn't like me telling that story but it's so hilarious and so cute.
I used to love to go to my Grandmas, she was an awesome cook. I remember her cooking fried rabbit or dove that one of my brothers or cousins had shot with Grandpa. We used to spend a lot of time out at the old farm that they used to have and I have MANY MANY fond memories of that farm. After she and my grandpa divorced, I remember helping her move into town on Relation Street in Safford. I went by that place recently and the trailer she had lived in was torn down. Then I remember her moving into a manufactured home over in the Lexington Pines Mobile Home park.
I remember her cookies. I remember helping her make those cookies. I remember her telling me to make sure I chewed all my food and getting after me if I didn't. :o)
I remember the organ that she had and playing it along with my cousins.
I remember how her dementia started. She had surgery on her Cyatic (sp) nerve in her back and after then was when she started repeating herself. And over the last few years it progressed into dementia and eventually I believe it turned into full on Alzheimers. It was really hard to see her like that and to have to tell her over and over again things that happened. She would ask where my uncle dallas was or if I had seen him and I'd tell her he passed away and it was like telling her for the first time, she never remembered what you told her. One time I went to go take care of her while my mom and dad were busy taking care of things for her to prepare to take her to the Assisted Living Facility and she asked me "Have you seen my kids? I can't find my kids anywhere, they're supposed to get ready for a birthday party." And so I would tell her "Grandma, my dad is next door" and she said "Who's your dad?" and I would say "Randall" and she'd say "Randall's got kids?" And she'd ask "Well have you seen Dallas?" So finally I just started saying "Nope, I haven't seen him in a long time." It was just way too heart breaking to tell her over and over again that my uncle had died back in 07. One time she had asked about him and said "A little boy died?" And I said "Grandma, he's a grown man with children and grandchildren of his own." Sometimes she would mistakingly call me by my cousin Kris Ann's name. Which I didn't mind because there's been several relatives that have mistaken me for her.
Anyway not long after we moved her into the care facility she fell and broke her hip and had to have it operated on, and it seemed from then on was when she started to really slip away. We were told several times over the last few months it could be anytime that she passed away and so we were prepared.... there towards the end we found ourselves just praying that she would go just so that she wouldn't suffer anymore and so that we would all be at peace. Well on Wednesday, I was at my ex's mom's house waiting for his grandparents to come over and visit the boys when my mom called me and told me that she had passed away. I cried a lot but it was more of a letting go cry. I kind of lost it when I drove by the mobile home she lived in next to my moms house which is being rented by a young family.
I know my grandmother is happy and is in a better place and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she is with my uncle now and that she is not suffering anymore and that she is watching over all of us. The other day David said "Mommy when we go to Great Grandma's funeral I am going to wear my black tie because I know that Great Grandma will be watching over me and will think that I look nice in my black tie." The faith of children huh? Danny has cried a little bit over it. We will be going to her funeral on Monday in Pima. I love you Grandma Welker and miss you very very much. Love Always, Your grand-daughter... Lori Welker

Soccer Season Has Begun!

Fall is upon us and so is Soccer season in the welker/mendoza family!!!!!! Danny's first game with the Y-10 Soccer was Saturday 9/19 at 9 am and they won!!!! 2-1 against the Blue Demons. Sorry Howe family I have to brag a lil even though it wasn't my son making the goals! SHEESH there's some boys on our team who have been in soccer since they were little bitty so they are GOOOOOD! Good job to the other team! You've got some AWESOME soccer players there!!!!! We will play each team 4 times. Soccer season here ends the week before Thanksgiving. So we're looking forward to a great season!!!!!! :)