Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It's been my traditional many months since the last blog. And a lot has happened. Perhaps a player by player update would work.

Victoria is now in 7th Grade and in Junior High. She is loving it! She is playing the violin in her strings class still. She is learning more of her fingerings and getting better and better every day. She enjoys playing her violin, as anyone who follows her facebook will see. She is in Young Women's and is currently her class secretary. She enjoys being on the computer, playing games, helping the family out, and generally is just a happy, wonderful daughter!

Amanda has had many changes. She graduated from Snake River High School this year. She has one semester of college taken care of at Dixie State College in St. George. She is currently home for the Holidays! She has no idea how much we miss her. She is enjoying the college activities, dating, and the Dixie sun! She is working at TempleView R.V. Park and taking care of Grandpa Pete. She is studying Dental Hygiene. So far it's the general ed classes. She's really working hard and playing hard, too!

Susan is adjusting to a college daughter. She loves the cell phone, texts, picture messages and skype! Susan had a hysterectomy a few weeks ago, so she is staying down (well, she is supposed to be staying down). She is feeling a lot better and her constant pain of 5 years is now a thing of the past. She is still the popular "Mrs. O" at Moreland Library.

Rick is still enjoying work with the Sheriff's Office. I'm becoming familiar with I-15 between Blackfoot and St. George (except for my mission and very young years, I've never lived more than a few miles from I-15!).

We have had some fun vacations and trips this year. Susan, Rick, Victoria and Susan's sister, Cathy, spent a week in Grand Teton National Park. Sight seeing, rafting, animals, Jackson Hole, and kidney stones made for a really fun vacation (except for the kidney stones). We have been to St. George for family events, moving Amanda (a couple of times), homecoming and football, and bringing Amanda home for the holidays. I'm really enjoying reconnecting with my Aunt and Uncle, Grandpa, and cousins, although it doesn't seem like there is enough time when we go down.

As Christmas approaches, we realize how blessed we are. Family is so important. And the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ strengthen that family bond now that we aren't always together. We also appreciate all of our family. It's hard to stay in touch with so many as everyone's lives go different directions, but you are all in our thoughts and prayers. May each of you enjoy a holiday season of peace and may 2012 bring many blessings and opportunities your way!

St. George, and Again!

100 degrees outside! Loving that, acutally... since it's been bloody miserable in Idaho lately, weather-wise. But, we are in St. George right now. Or, more correctly, Victoria and I are... Susan and Amanda are about 1 hour away from St. George, but coming.

Amanda and I came down to St. George last week for Grandma Pete's (Grandma Stone) funeral. She passed away on the 2nd of June from cancer. It was a sad reason to get the family together, but it was wonderful to see so many of my cousins and other family members, as well as meet in person some Facebook family friends. We were down for 3 days and then back to Blackfoot for 2 days.

Yesterday, back to St. George! Rented a car and loaded it to the gills with Amanda's stuff and Victoria and I left bright and early and drove down. We had to meet with the manager at her apartment and get set up to move her in today. Today, Susan, Amanda and Beau came down... er... are coming down. It's taken them hours and hours to travel hours. Tonight we move Amanda into her apartment. Next week, we (not a full "we" but a 75% we) go back to Blackfoot; without Amanda. I-15 will become the trail of tears, I'm afraid. She will start at Dixie State this fall.

We are also staying with Grandpa Pete and taking care of him for a few days, as well as getting in some swimming at my cousin Ira's place. Also wondering why we don't live here ourselves!

Well, I'm going to get ready to take Amanda to meet Aubrey, Ashley, and Allisa, her roommates. Yes, the A Team! And unload the cars and hope there is room in her apartment for it all!

We are still alive

It's been almost a year since my last post. With facebook and all, most of you know what's going on to some extent, anyway.

Amanda is a mighty senior at Snake River High School. She graduates on May 25. She is planning on going to Dixie State College in St. George. We've started the application process. Now we start trying like crazy for scholarships!

Victoria is in 6th grade. Doing well and enjoying her violin. She's starting to play what we recognize as songs and music! Finally! :)

Susan's going crazy getting things ready for the next Jr. Miss program. Since Mandi is the Jr Miss, she is heavily involved in it. Plus work and being mom.

I'm enjoying "the street" still. Except for the fact that my rotation for 2 months of graveyard shift is back, and I have the added joy of starting it a week early. Oh, well. I still get to go to work!

Amanda had state Jr Miss in Coeur d'Alene in October. She didn't win, but she had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends.Susan and I went up, as well as Grandma Brower and Susan's sister, Cathy. It was really pretty up there. Spent a day in Spokane, Washington. Endured the 12 hour drive up and 12 hour drive back (back in snow and rain the whole way).

Anyway, that's a brief recap of the past 9 or so months since I posted anything here. Call if you have questions or want more!

Victoria

Victoria turned 12 several months ago. She is now in the Young Women's program at church. They had their New Beginnings, where they introduced the girls. I was asked to tell about Victoria, and this is what I came up with. Thought I'd post it on here so family that doesn't know her well can learn about her a little. The theme was Pearls of Great Price, btw.

Everyone has heros. For many of us, it is our parents. For others, an athlete, or an entertainer. For some it is a fictional character. One of my heros is my daughter, Victoria.


Victoria came to our family when she was 17 months old. She had been exposed to drugs and alcohol before she was born and had been neglected as a baby. It was a rough way to start out in life, but Victoria has a strong spirit and she is a hard worker.

Victoria started riding a school-bus to school before she was 3 years old. She has been in school almost her whole life. She loves learning. If something interests her, she will look for books on that subject. She looks it up on the internet. Then she writes down everything she finds about that subject in a notebook. She started out tracing over the letters in the books. Then she started writing it out. She has developed very nice penmanship by doing this. She has several notebooks full of things she has learned about.

Victoria also writes stories about what has happened to her. She keeps them together like a journal. She likes to share them with her family.

Victoria works very hard in school. She has to put in much more effort than other students to learn. But Victoria does it. She works very hard. Victoria has taken up the violin. She has been at it a year less than most of the other students in her strings class. She is working hard to learn the notes and fingerings on her violin. But she is doing it. She practices every day because she loves playing the violin.

You might think that with all the struggles Victoria has it would get her down. Like all of us, she gets discouraged. But Victoria has a special gift from her Heavenly Father. She has so much happiness. Victoria is the happiest person I know. Even though sometimes it is hard for her to make friends, she works hard at being kind to everyone. She has a lot of empathy for those around her.

When I think of the qualities of a pearl, several come to mind. First, they are beautiful. Second, they are strong. Third, I consider the process that makes them. And last, I consider how they are valued. Like a pearl, Victoria is a beautiful person. Inside as well as outside. She shares that beauty with all around her. Like a pearl, Victoria is strong. She keeps going and going and going, even when it takes more work than it would take others. Like a pearl, she has grown layer by layer, effort by effort. Starting out small in difficult circumstances, she has grown slowly and has been turned into a fine gem. And finally, like a pearl, Victoria is of great worth. She is of infinite worth.

We are very proud of all that Victoria does. We are excited to see her come into Young Women’s. She is very excited to continue to grow in the gospel with the friendship of her other Beehives. And she is looking forward to girls camp!

When I think of a person who exemplifies a heroic life, I definitely think of Victoria.

And we are now in the rear-view mirror of yesterday...

Boy, time is flying! School got out today, my job has changed, it was spring yesterday (today is back to winter), and life goes on. Since my last post, we've been to several dance competitions (Amanda's dance studio has kicked bootie... won each competition they've been to in all events and overall), spent a fortune at the vet (Chloe's face really swelled up, both sides of her nose and face, very puffy and almost blocked her eyes... after several antibiotics and steroids and everything, she is almost back to normal, but with much more energy and spunk than the past few weeks), got the car back from the shop (looks brand new... everything is fixed! Just an annoying rattle it goes in tomorrow to get taken care of), and got through the school year.

Our district passed a levy last year and construction is underway big-time in several of the schools. Susan's school is being hammered on like crazy. She's had walls torn down around her, the roof being slammed to bits above her (lots of NOISE!@!) and dust and noise and fumes and all. She's got everything boxed and out of her library now so they can renovate that part of the school. Anyway, it's been a tough month or so for her. Lots of noise, dust, and smells, in case I didn't mention the noise and dust. :)

With budget cuts in our district, the district cut one of the School Resource Officer positions. The sheriff decided I was going, so I'm going back to patrol full-time now. I am going to miss being at the school. Yesterday was the last day with the kids, and it was a tough day, saying good-bye and all. I will miss the association with the kids and the staff of the school.

Victoria has started the vioilin. She's been at us for over a year to let her try. We figured it would be a passing phase (which, with Vic, can last seconds or minutes or occasionally days). But she's kept at it, and evidently with the strings teacher at the school, because she invited Victoria to give it a try. So Victoria is learning violin.

Amanda finished her junior year with pretty good grades. She's now a mighty senior! Gearing up for the SAT's, applications, and everything else that goes with this time of life. She's still working at the chiropractor (electrocution and radiation, anyone?), hopefully getting some more hours for the summer.

Today I was informed that my patrol car is being decommissioned. I was told by the captain to empty my stuff from it and bring it to the office so it could be driven to SLC tomorrow to be stripped and the stuff put in my new car. So, I'm thinking, "He said 'my' new car..." Which is a first for me... as SRO, it's always been hand-me-downs, which is as it should be. Anyway, I took the car to the house and unloaded it, leaving it idling while I took the stuff out and put it in the garage. When I drove out of the driveway, I saw that the car had overheated. Never done that before. After a minute of driving the temp dropped back to normal. The captain said to drive it a bit and see if it was o.k. to go to SLC, since the officer taking it down has to make the airport on time. I drove it around and it did fine. Until I went on a call, parked it for a while, and came back. It was hot again. It cooled down, but then the transmission started acting up. Anyway, it's now dead on the back lot and another car is going to SLC to be stripped, but I was told that the first Charger is mine! Woo Hoo! Next week, hopefully.

I guess that's about all the highlights of our existence. At least that come to mind right now. Enjoy!

{{{Somehow this blog got tied to my Facebook, so I guess my facebook friends will get to read this, too. If you read this far, it must be a boring day for you!! :) But thanks!}}}

Junior Miss!

Last night was Snake River High School's Junior Miss contest. Amanda has been getting ready for this for months, including practices, shopping, interviews, shopping, dancing, shopping (did I mention shopping?). I spent Thursday with Susan in Idaho Falls going to every store that sells neck ties trying to find one to match her dress. Finally found one at Kohls.

Late Friday night I started throwing up and spent the whole night sick. Friday about noon things started to shift. Got a blessing and started feeling better. By the evening I felt about 95%, thank heavens! I was able to go to Junior Miss with Amanda.

She did so well!!! Her poise throughout was spot-on. Her talent (she danced) was incredible! She hit from the first beat and stayed on beautifully and gave it her usual 200% effort. Her fitness routine was great! She made it look like there was nothing to it (not like she isn't 100% muscle). She really did well. I sat there and tried to figure out when my little girl turned into this beautiful, dynamic, young lady that was up on the stage. I can't describe the pride I felt! I got to escort her out and do a brief dance with her. She made us look good in spite of me!

At the end they were doing the awards. They awarded a few scholarships, none to Amanda. I'm thinking, "She has to get something!" Then they get to self-expression. This is the one Amanda said she thought she'd blown. She got a scholarship for it! Then they announced talent... She got a scholarship there, too! Next was fitness. I was certain she'd get a scholarship here, and she did! Then they got to 2nd runner-up. I thought, "Amanda!" Then I thought, "No, she's getting Junior Miss." She didn't get 2nd or 1st runner-up. After they announced first runner up, I thought, "Oh, my gosh! Then it's Amanda, Sage, or Kyra." They announced, "Amanda Otterstrom!" Amanda's mouth dropped and she stood dead still for about 5 seconds! What an evening!

I can't describe my excitement or pride in Amanda. She is such an incredible young lady. I don't know what this journey will hold for her, but I'm sure she will excel and it will be a tremendous opportunity for her!

After we got home and Susan made a late-night run to WalMart, we found that Victoria was in the newspaper for student of the month! Victoria was such a trooper at Junior Miss and did such a great job sitting still and all and was so excited for her sister, it was really neat for her to see herself in the paper! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! Every once in a while, our Heavenly Father creates perfection with all the extra touches.

March Madness... what are the odds???

Thought you'd enjoy a chuckle. The principal at the Jr. High, Mr. Erickson, decided that since a lot of our math classes will be doing statistics and probabilities soon, he'd use the basketball tournament to help them learn about probability. So, he made the students an offer. The students would fill out the flow chart of the winners of the tournament, predicting who they thought would win the games. If one student got all 63 games correct, then for the rest of the year all of the students would get a one hour lunch break as well as open campus... they could leave and go to the store or go with a high-school friend to lunch. He supplied the charts for the kids for the standard copying cost of 10c, but they could copy their own or copy ours. Each kid could enter as many times as they wanted.

Yesterday morning (day one of the tournament) we had over 250 entries. After the first two games finished, there were 5 left. When the bell rang at the end of school, there was 1 left... a girl who knew nothing about basketball, according to her. She was out before the faculty left at the end of the day.

Evidently, the odds of getting all 63 games correct is 9.1 quintillion. His offer of a long lunch and open campus was a very safe bet! :)