Robby's Christmas Phone Call!

Christmas morning at 7:30 a.m., the phone rings and it is Elder Robby Jackson on the phone! Oh it was SO exciting to hear his voice and be able to talk with him as long as we wanted! Rachel and Travis spent the night with us. Bruce was on his way home after 4 hours of work when Robby called. We talked for 4 1/2 hours! Neither Robby or us wanted to hang up even though Robby was starting to loose his voice (he had a cold). After a couple of hours, I called Preston, Robby's best friend. Braylee (his sister) answered the phone and I asked if Preston was there. She said, "...no, we were in the middle of opening gifts when the phone

rang and I said it was Diane." Preston said, "oh that is for me, got his keys and ran out the door." Robby and Preston talked for a long time as well. I think they both enjoyed themselves. While we were talking, Travis made French Toast for all and Bruce omelets! Rachel and I, of course, took pictures of almost all talking with Robby. Bruce, Travis and Robby talked sports and got Robby all caught up! I called and my Dad drove over and talked with Robby as well. Robby then said on the count of 3 hang up. One, two, (silence) two... (laugh)... we really never got to three. I told Robby to hang up first. There was several pauses and then he hung up! I started to cry a bit... At noon we started opening our gifts to each other. Rachel and Travis then left for Ogden and we headed back up to my parents house for a couple of hours and then to Bruce's brother's house where we met all his family for dinner and visiting. We had a very fun Christmas! Merry Christmas, Robby...can't wait for Mother's Day!!!! Merry Christmas, Rachel and Travis! It was fun having ya with us! Merry Christmas, Bruce!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve we get together at my parents house for dinner. After dinner we have Family Home Evening. Each one of us takes a few minutes and either has a talk prepared, story or poem. After each of us have participated, we sing Christmas Carols. Then my Dad ends by reading the Christmas Story from the Bible. It is a very nice and fun evening!

FL Jacksonville Mission Christmas Zone Conference

Thursday, December 17, the Florida Jacksonville Mission had their Christmas Devotional and Zone Conference! These are just a couple of pictures that the mission president's wife posted on the mission blog! Look how happy Robby looks. I just want to somehow someway give Robby a GREAT big hug! How can I do it? The first picture, that is Elder Atherton, Robby's buddy. Notice how all the missionaries are still eating. Robby stops, puts his napkin on the table and poses! Gotta love him! The 2nd picture shows all the missionaries serving in his zone. Robby is the district leader. His companion is on his right (our left) and his name is Elder Zabriske!

Robby looks very happy and looks like he is enjoying himself! Merry Christmas, Robby boy!

November 18, 1999

Thursday, November 18, 1999, around this time, my sister, Renate Ann, passed away due to breat cancer. Even after10 years, it is VERY hard and I miss Renate and her family very much! At the age of 42, she left six children behind. I still ask the question, why? Why, if families are so important, was it in the plan that she was to pass away? Why were six children left motherless? Why? And don't tell me she was needed more in Heaven, cuz her children certainly needed her and need her even now! Why did Heavenly Father not answer our prayers and spare her life a little longer? Why did Heavenly Father say, "No" to us? Why did we feel peace that everything would be okay thinking that Renate would overcome this awful Breast Cancer? I would have rather had the feeling that she would pass away or a feeling she would go and not this cal ing feeling that we all felt. What was Heavenly Fahter's plan in taking Renate and leaving six children alone? One day I hope we will come to know and understand why Heavenly Father took Renate from us, especially from her children!

Happy Birthday to Me from Me One Last Time!

So tonight, we celebrated my birthday one last time with the Jackson Family! Danny got sicker as the day went on and decided he'd better stay home. Scott drove up from Provo, and it is always fun to have him join us. We all met at Iggy's Sports Grill and had a fun time eating a visiting and watching the Utes and then the Jazz games (notice Grandpa Jackson watching the TV screen as we are trying to take the picture)! Some of the waiters and waitresses at Iggy's sang to me and brought me a Hot Fudge Sundae that we all shared - I did eat the mar chino cherry (the fun purple sweater & turtleneck are what Dave and Lisa gave me for my birthday). I bought a Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake again for our dessert. Bruce and Dave were really good in cutting the cake for 11 people. Somehow we had two pieces leftover! I now have dessert for tomorrow.

Thank you to all for making my birthday so grand this year! It was a great week of birthday celebrations!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Travis, Rachel, Me and Bruce!

Dave, Lisa, Bruce, me, Rachel and Travis. See the beautiful tulips and flowers!

Danny was to have had dinner with us. He decided to work downstairs a little more before dinner and cut himself. 3 stitches later he came back and rejoined us!

Bruce asked me where I wanted to go to dinner for my birthday. I told him I thought going to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch on Saturday was my "birthday dinner." So Bruce decided to make me dinner for my birthday! I love it when Bruce cooks! I think he is a better cook than I! Anyway, Rachel called me to wish me a "Happy Birthday" after school and I told her all the things that happened during the day. I told her that "Dad was going to make me dinner for me tonight" and that I was quite excited. I knew it had to do with cooked shrimp. When I got home, Bruce said that Danny was working downstairs and that he invited him for dinner too, which was okay with me. Dave, Bruce's brother called, and we invited Dave and Lisa over too. After the phone call, Bruce showed me all the food that he bought, which I thought was unusual. Lisa called to see if we were sure and do we have enough food and Bruce assured her we did. We were sitting and visiting with Danny and Bruce was in no hurry to start dinner, which was also unusual! All the sudden our door opens and Rachel and Travis walk in with the video going, surprising me!!!! I was shocked! I screamed! And everything else! What a surpise!! What a grand surprise!

Rachel said that Travis had come up this fabulous idea to join us for dinner for my birthday. Rachel had called Bruce, who loved the idea. At first it wasn't going to be a surprise but then Rachel and Bruce decided to not tell me and to surprise me!!! Now Rachel and Bruce could never keep a surprise!!! You could tell in their faces or in their voices or they would just "have to tell you!" This was truly a great surprise and I was completely speechless! Bruce gave me a boutique of flowers and when Dave went to pick up the pie, he saw these Tulips and thought it would go nicely. We enjoyed a yummy shrimp/chinese noodle dinner! It was fantastic!

I want to let everyone know that I HAD A SUPER DUPER BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR! Thank you to all of you for making my birthday so wonderful!!! I will ALWAYS remember this birthday! Thanks!

A Message from Jacksonville, Florida!

My cell phone rings at work. A gentleman asks, "Is this Mrs. Jackson?" "Yes" "This is so and so (didn't recognize the name). I have a message from someone in the Jacksonville, Florida area (ROBBY!) to wish you a Happy Birthday!!!!" I just started crying and then smiling, then crying. My Robby boy remembered my birthday! Robby couldn't call me himself so he had a ward member do it! That just made my day!!!

Happy Birthday to Me from Me! :)

Sunday, I celebrated my birthday with my side of the family! Rachel and Travis came down from Ogden, my parents and Ron and Andrea and family came also. We had a potato bar with lots of delicious toppings and my mom made the Symphony Dessert (butterscotch) and I got my Birthday Cake from the Cheesecake Factory - Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake. It is to die for!

Rachel and Travis gave me this big white sack of birthday gifts with purple tissue paper. Rachel made me a purple birthday card. I am going thru a purple phase - everything purple! Rachel and Travis gave me purple house slippers - they look like baby doll shoes, purple striped socks, purple and black gloves (Rachel said she just pictures me at the check out stand with my purple purse, taking out my purple wallet with my purple gloves on. Rachel, I will send you a picture! - ha ha). They also gave me Berries and Yougert Special K Cereal because of the purple box! And then they gave me a glass framed picture that has JACKSON (in bold black) in the middle and written over the name in silver writing, "complete with camping trips, Laughter, creative crafts, and Jazz fans!" Now doesn't that describe our family!!!! I think it does!!!

Bruce gave me a black blazer jacket and a Kaki...(can't spell) blazer jacket. Also, red, teal, and black shirts to go under these blazer jackets. Thanks, hon! I love them.

My parents gave me a brown dress with green jacket. I love it! Very comfortable and cute. Also, my Dad picked out this three tier ceramic pumpkin stack. He thought I would love it - and I do!!!!

Ron and Andrea gave me Nutcracker Christmas ornaments from Modern Display. Andrea remembered me saying I wanted to get more Nutcrackers for my Christmas tree - Thanks Ron and Andrea and family! Angela, my 7 year-old niece, colored me a picture and also drew me a picture, which are hanging on my fridge!

Again, thank you all for a very fun afternoon! I love parties, birthdays, and of course, my family!

Makings of a quiet Weekend and perhaps week!

So Friday afternoon, Rachel calls to report that she tested positive for the Swine Flu! It is highly contagious and unable to come to our annual Jackson Family Halloween Soup Party Saturday night! Both of us were very sad, but what do you do? :( Friday night, one of my doctors from work called me to report that she just came back from her doctor's office and also tested positive for the Swine Flu. What does that mean? I am highly contagious and need to be "quaranted" for the weekend. Bruce came home from work sick with stomach problems and persistant cough! Hope he doesn't have the Swine Flu! So, I ask again, what does that mean? I had to cancel the Jackson Family Halloween Soup Party! What a bummer! Rachel was actually excited - now she can come! We will still have it, just postponed!

Anyway, this is makings of a quiet weekend and I can just imagine it may also be a quiet week at work! Keeping my fingers crossed I don't get it. Today, feeling great (Bruce is still sleeping)! Gonna get some fun projects done! Will post them! Yes!!!

General Conference Weekend!

T


Top picture: Jacob, Andy and Amie

2nd picture: Amie, Angela, Spencer, Matt, my mom, David, and Jacob

3rd picture: Travis and Rachel! Loved having them here this weekend! Good luck to both of you on all your tests and school projects! Last picture: My Dad, me and Andrea making waffles and scones! Lots of fun!
I loved General Conference and all the talks! I also loved hearing the annoucement of 5 new temples! How exciting! Can't wait until they announce a temple in Jacksonville (lol).

Rachel and Travis came down around noon Saturday. We had a lot of fun spending the afternoon with them! Then at 4 pm, we met over at Lisa's house to make watch bracelets! The guys met at our house for pizza and then on to General Priesthood Meeting. We went to Spaghetti Factory for dinner (the girls) and then we all met up our house at 8 p.m. for pie and ice cream! It was a lot of fun! I was really missing Robby this weekend! I think because it has been six months and Robby left the Wednesday after General Conference. We had fun talking and reminscing.

Sunday at noon my family met at our home for our Traditional General Conference Breakfast. This year we made scones, waffles, omlets, and french toast while we listened (or tried to listen) to the afternoon session of General Conference!

Hope all of you had a fun weekend despite the cold and yucky weather! Not liking that it is fall! Can't wait for Spring! (lol)

Labor Day Hike

Diane and Bruce at Wall Lake - we made it!!!!!

Danny climbing up to jump off a cliff

Behind Bruce is Danny's feet as he dove off the cliff (Sorry my camera is slow). I think it was a a one meter platform! And he did it twice!!!!

Danny after his dive into the Lake!

The meadows on the way to Wall Lake - Bruce in the background

Trial Lake

Travis & Rachel @ Wall Lake

Sean, Diane, Danny in back of Diane, Bruce, Rachel & Travis @ Wall Lake with Winston

Diane hiking to Wall Lake

Bruce at Wall Lake - beautiful place!

So almost every Labor Day, with whoever wants to come with us, we drive to Trial Lake and the hike up to Wall Lake (it takes me about an hour to hike). It is a very beautiful hike with a lot of beautiful scenry. Once we get there we relax for a while and then head on back. This year the guys had wished they brought their fishing poles. Danny dived off one of the cliffs and into 40 degree water, if it was that warm! He did it twice - once for Sean, Rachel and Travis and then when got there! Crazy, huh? But he is and that's why we love him!!! Once we hiked down, we drove to Kamas, to Dick's Drive Inn, for hamburgers and shake. It was a very fun day and a very fun ending to a VERY FUN weekend!

Goodbye Susan (she flew out on Tuesday), Goodbye Sean (he left to go back to Boise), Goodbye Wall Lake, Goodbye Cabin, Goodbye fun weekend and Goodbye SuMmEr!! Did I miss anything or anyone? :) (not liking to say goodbye at all)

Swiss Days

(L to R) Todd, Megan, Brittany, Dave, Emily, Lisa, Chase, Sean (Brittany's boyfriend) and Bruce. I am taking the picture. Somewhere is Chloe but I can't see where)

Susan, Danny, Grandpa Jackson, Rachel and Travis

Danny Fishing

Travis fishing

Hey..guys...where are the golfing pictures?!?

So we had a lot of fun at Swiss Days! I first drove up Thursday night so that I could meet everyone and be down to the area by 7:00 a.m. Friday morning. Susan and I, Lisa, Deanne and Marsha (my new best friend), all had a blast shopping! It got crowded a lot sooner than I remembered! Susan and I had fun hanging out and running into Jan Davis and group and then Aimee and Shellee! Haven't seen Aimee and Shellee in a long time and it was fun seeing them and visiting really fast cuz we needed to get our shopping done. Sorry Ceceila and Mitzi (I was to meet stay at the scone place and meet Mitzi, but then I left- I had to keep shopping! ) that we didn't see each other!

Susan and I left around noon and we all met up again Friday night to spend the weekend shopping, fishing and golfing for the guys and a barbeque with everyone on Sunday! I heard Rachel say Sunday night, "I don't want to see this weekend to end." I felt the same way. Scott Jackson, Bruce's nephew, came up too as well as Danny, Sean, Dave and Lisa and family and husbands and boyfriend and Chloe. It truly was one of the best Swiss Days!

I had a lot of fun shopping with Rachel on Saturday too. We got up and down for breakfast at Swiss Days right around 7 am - I know Grandpa Jackson couldn't believe it either that I was up and ready to go. In fact, Saturday, I was up before him~!!!!! We found a lot of fun things for Rachel and I to decorate our homes! Can't wait for our remodeling to get done so that I can hang some of the things I bought!

Sunday, we went to Sacrament Meeting with Lisa, Brittany and Sean (Brittany's boyfriend) and then met everyone up at the cabin in the afternoon for our annual barbeque! Chloe, Megan's daughter, decided I would be the one to get her these acorns hanging from the tree she couldn't reach! I ask, "Why me?" But I couldn't resist cuz she always said my name really cute and added "Please." How can ya resist!

Thanks, family, for a very fun Swiss Days Weekend! Gotta love it...

Chris Derrick George and Susan Jackson Buffington

Okay, so the first day I started working at Primary Children's Behavioral Health, I met Chris. She looked awfully familiar, but we didn't seem to connect where we knew each other. I asked where she went to high school, Highland, but she graduated before me. Finally, I asked where she grew up! DOWN the street from me! Chris looks exactly like her mother that we all loved and adored. I think Chris' mom was everyone's Grandma in the ward! Then I tell her that I married Bruce Jackson from the ward! And...come to find out Susan and Chris were friends in high school and then thru their single years (Chris helped with Susan's wedding) and Chris, don't be mad at me, but it is cute... Chris had a crush on James (Bruce's brother) in high school! Isn't that a riot??

Finally this year we all got together and had dinner. What a small world! It was so much fun. Chris, since, has moved up and works at IMC and so we only get together thru emails! Thank goodness for emails and blogs! Anyway...again it was fun. I miss Chris, especially in the early mornings - Chris started work at 6:30 a.m. and I at 7 a.m. and so we would have a little bit of time before the rest of the gang came in or patients to visit and catch up!

Rachel Travis (see how sick he looks) and Sean w/Winston

Grandpa Jackson, me, Bruce, and Bruce's sister, Susan!

Susan invited us up to the cabin for a barbeque (we provided the corn - Susan did the rest). It was a lot of fun spending time together and visiting. The guys went golfing and after golf (as you can see in the picture) Travis got sick and then was deathly sick the whole next week! He did, however, play an excellent game of golf, according to the guys! Rachel and I made watch bracelets and Susan cut up fruit and we all had a fun time talking and going down "memory lane."

It was so much fun getting together at the cabin! We live so close and yet don't get to get up to the cabin that often. Thank goodness Susan comes to town and wants to go to the cabin! Thanks, Susan for a fun afternoon, food, and evening!

!

Beads, Beads, and more Beads...

So about 3 weeks ago, Bruce and I, Rachel and Travis, met Susan, Sean and Grandpa Jackson at the cabin for an afternoon of golf and dinner. While the guys were golfing, Rachel and I made these watch bracelets! I made the first black and silver earlier, Rachel made the silver and clear as well as a green and brown, which I didn't get a picture of. I also made a watch bracelet for Susan. Susan chose the beads and Rachel and I put it together. No picture either - darn!!! The other black one, I made for Lisa, my sister-in-law, for her b-day and Amanda, from the ward made matching earrings. I also made the brown one on the end, but don't know if I really like it. Thanks goodness the price is right that I can take it apart and start all over.

When the guys got back from golfing, we had a barbeque and enjoyed the evening (well Travis didn't cuz he got sick and was deathly sick the whole next week!) Can't wait until our ward's "Wumbles Night" Ceceila put together! WOOT WOOT

Once Upon a Time...They were future Missionaries

Elder Robby Jackson now serving in Florida

Elder Ted Jackson now serving in Korea

Their proud moms then and now, Diane & Mary!

Barney Bag

I love my "Barney Bag!" And everyone else seems to like it too :) Wherever I go, I get compliments. Even strangers at the mall stop me and tell me they like my bag! It is also like a Mary Poppins Bag. It is bottomless. I can put so much in it and there is still room! It's really fun! When I pull things out, it is like the Ever Ready Battery Rabbitt... it keeps going and going and going! Thanks, Bruce, for buying it for me!!!!

Manti Trip

At the summit - Mt. Nebo Loop

Cows at Mt Nebo - not deer crossing signs but cow crossing signs!

Me at Mt. Nebo

Scenic Site

PALISADE LAKE IN MANTI, UTAH

YES...THE MANTI TEMPLE

FLOWERS AND BALLOONS FOR RENATE - WISH YOU WERE WITH US!

DIANE AND BRUCE

On Renate's birthday and the day Renate passed away, I always take off work to take my parents on a day trip I hopes to brighten their day a bit (how is that possible?) This year, Bruce took off work too and my parents wanted to go to Manti! So after visiting Renate's gravesite, off to Manti we went. What a beautiful drive. We thoroughly loved it. We got to Palisade Lake and ate lunch and enjoyed being outdoors and everything. It is a beautiful place and we will be going back next year to camp. There are some cabins to rent and so I think I talked my parents into coming and camping with us! YES...camping to them is the Marriott and so this is so exciting for us! Now...if we can get my brother (his family likes to camp) to come, we can make it a Family Camping Trip! Probably will be the first and last time! But we would have done it!

On our drive home, we drove the Mt. Nebo Loop (Nephi thru Payson). What a beautiful drive and saw such beautiful scenery! On this route there aren't deer crossing signs, but cow crossing signs! We saw at least 100 cows - got us hungry for a steak dinner! :) When we got to the summit and looked around, it was so beautiful and majestic! I understood the clip in The Sound of Music where Marie was running thru the hills singing! I actually wanted to do the same and take it all in! Heavenly Father has truly blessed us with a beautiful world. Utah has so many beautiful and different scenery and sites to see! It was a wonderful day...

On our way home, we did stop in Sizzler's to have a steak dinner! Sorry cows at Mt. Nebo or wherever!