The Shack

I just finished reading this amazing book called "The Shack" it was written by Wm. Paul Young. I really think that you all should read it. It is about a father's love for his family and his love for God. My favorite thing about it is how it changes this father's thinking about God and Jesus and how he learns to forgive others.
One statement that really made me think, and even underline it in the book (and I don't like marking in books) was:
"Remember this, humans are defined not by their limitations, but by the intentions I have for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it means to be created in my image." This is a statement that Jesus said to this father.
I know it sounds weird for me to read a book like this, but every time I went to the D.I. to look at books (50 cents each), this book would jump out at me, so I bought it and read it and I think that everyone should take the time to read it. There is even a website for it at www.theshackbook.com.

Okay guys, go get the book read it and then let me know what you think.
Fran

More to be Thankful for

I spent 4 hours today down at the Rescue Mission helping serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless and less fortunate. What a humbling experience!!! Let me tell you, I really didn't want to go down there on my day off and work, but I am so glad that I did. Many people are afraid of the homeless, but I learned today that they are very thankful for this simple act. Many of them don't eat real well, other than what the rescue mission provides, but this Thanksgiving dinner meant a lot to them. It is heartbreaking to see all the men, women, and yes, children, sitting there eating like this could be their last meal. The Governor and his family also came down and helped us serve dinner, and was very nice to everyone.
I just really think that if you all have the opportunity to go donate your time to help the homeless or anybody, I think you should do it. I am really thankful that I did

Thanksgiving

I remember as a kid, Mom would ask us what we are thankful for, and Deon's family does the same thing every year, so I thought I would post what I am thankful for.

I am definitely thankful for Deon and the fact that he has been able to put up with me for the last 13 years of marriage, and a year of dating. He is an amazing, hardworking, loving guy, and totally would do anything for his family and friends. I am thankful that I have my dogs, and a lot of people tease me about this, but they are my babies. They are always there for me and I love how much personality the little buggers have.
I am thankful for my family. Even though I don't call or text you all as much as I do Penny. I am thankful that every summer, some of the kids(penny's) come and spend some time with us, it means the world to me. I want you all to know how much I love you and miss you all. Mom always worried that we would grow apart after her passing, so let's not let that happen. I think that we should plan a family reunion for next summer and I will be willing to do whatever necessary to get that planned. I am also thankful for Deon's family. His parents are very special to me and mean a lot to me. They are always there for us when we need them. Our beautiful grandma, has the strength of a hundred men. She was had a triple mastectomy and unfortunately the cancer is getting worse, but she is amazing. She never let's that get her down and is such a happy upbeat person.
And finally, I am thankful for all my wonderful friends that I am blessed to have. You are all a bit crazy, in one way or another, but that is why we all have so much fun together. and yes, I am thankful that both Deon and I have a job. In this day and age, it is truly a blessing to be working. Even when we don't want to go into work. LOL...I am terrible.
Thank you all for being a special part of my life and I love and miss you all so much.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

more pics from Deer(less) Hunt

We went out on Saturday to try our luck again, but of course we only saw does. This doe and her babies came right out across the meadow, and didn't even mind that we were there. We came across this bull moose as we were heading out of the area we were hunting on Saturday. He is a really big boy.

This young bull moose we came acrossed as we were heading up to the meadow on Thursday. He didn't even care that we stopped and took pictures.

We didn't get our deers this year, but we are not giving up hope. We had to leave the mountains early on Saturday because this mean storm started rolling in and the deer all went to bed down during the storm. About half an hour after we left it started to snow.

Deer (less) hunt so far

Well so far we have not gotten a deer yet, which totally sucks. Especially when we see does and get excited. This doe was standing on top of the hill and we were hoping it to be a buck.







This doe and the one in the next picture were standing in the grove of aspens, right off the road. We were once again hoping for a buck, but then they lifted their heads and we knew we couldn't shoot it. I am really thinking at this point in time that I should have tried to get a doe tag.











Look how big she is







just a picture of another grove of aspen trees, but I thought it was really pretty





Here's Deon on the side of the mountain watching a grove of aspens across the way that we saw a doe and her fawn (last years baby) run into. We were really hoping at this point, but the only other animal that came out of this grove we are watching was a range cow.









Thought that I would finally let Deon take a picture of me.

Already

It's starting to seem to me that this fall and winter season are going to be rough. In the last 3 weeks, I have I had the same head cold twice, and feel like my head is being squeezed between two vice grips. I just hope that things get better soon because we are headed out on the deer hunt on the 16th of this month, and it would suck to be ready to pull the trigger and sneeze, and scare the deer away or worse yet, shoot myself in the foot. We have been having such weird weather already here in Utah, and I really hope that we don't get snowed in while on the deer hunt. It wouldn't be too bad, but I don't like snow or being cold.
So wish us luck that we both or one of us get our deer, and that we don't get too bad of weather, and Pray that I don't sneeze and shoot myself in the foot. Oh the thoughts that run through my head when I don't feel well.
Love and miss my family lots!!!!

Deon's 40th

We had a birthday party on Saturday and one of the gifts he got was that silly hat that he has on his head. No that is not his hair sticking out of it, it is part of the hat.







This is his friend, Danny and his wife Sarah. They are great people and love Deon to death.







This is Danny, he gave Deon the silly hat. He has known Danny for many many years.







More friends, Linda, Elmer, LaNae (his cousin) and Danny. We were all down in our basement doing Karaoke and playing ping pong. It was a lot of fun.


Happy 40th Deon

LOL

me at 2 1/2 years old.










at 17 years old









and at 40 years old.
See I wasn't always fat, even though I thought I was. My how you change in life.

Family Time

We decided to go to This Is The Place Heritage Park instead of the zoo this year. We had fun walking around and looking at all the farm animals. Here they are coming out of one of the barns.








They had this train that you could ride all through the park, which made it nice since it was hot. Here is Adam waiting for the train.









Noah waiting for the train.











and sooo handsome CJ waiting for the train. Look at that adorable smile.












Here's Sarah and Noah checking out the Llama, which is one of Sarah's favorite animals.
It was really fun walking around and spending time with the kids.

Getting Closer

I am excited because Sarah, Noah and Adam, are coming to spend time with us again at the end of the month. I can't wait!!! I just wish Aaron would come too, but after he got so sick last time, I don't think he will. I have been trying to think of fun, cheap things to do with them this time, and found a book at DI that is called Utah Mommas. I know I am not a Momma, but there are a lot of really cool things to do in there. I think we will go to Red Butte Gardens, and a few other things. I am sure we will make our yearly pilgrimage to the Hogle Zoo. We always have fun there. Well, not much else going on. But I will post while they are here

Bored

I really am in need of some fun!! LOL!! Other than going to work, the gym, or the store...We don't go many places. Mostly it's because we work opposite hours. Deon works from 5am-6pm Monday thru Thursday, and I work 3pm-10pm whenever they want to schedule me. I really think that it is time for us to take some time and go camping. I really would like to get out of this crazy valley and head up to see some beauty. Even if it is just a day of fishing. It's terrible that we went from going fishing, camping, etc every chance we could to not really going at all. This year has been tough, but we will make it. I have the 18th and 19th off, so I think I am going to convince Deon to at least go fishing. I will let you know if that happens, and will post some pics.
Now....I am excited and just want to go fish!!!!!!!!!!!

A day away

Deon and I finally got a day off together and decided to head up to the mountains and see his parents and grandma who were staying at a condo in Midway, Utah. The guys decided to go fishing and so us girls decided to go over to the Homestead Resort and walk around and check out the sites. Here is Jolene (my mother in law) and grandma taking a rest break. Grandma has been really sick lately (cancer) and hasn't even been able to get out of bed. But here she is, looking cute and walking around with us.

This is one of the walkways at the Homestead. It's really pretty up there. There are a lot of individual buildings with rooms in them, like the Milkhouse, Barn, etc etc. But it is really cool. You can play golf, rent horses, scuba dive in a crater....fun stuff!!






we decided after walking around a little bit, we would go up the road and check on the guys who were fishing a little pond at the rangers station. Here are a couple ducks enjoying the pond!!






as we are getting out of the car, there is a family yelling "look at the deer". So of course, I grab my camera and catch a family of deer coming across the street. It's a doe and her twins babies from last year. Which is cool!! The little one in the back, behind the tree is a little spike (boy) and the other are two does (mom and baby girl). I thought it was pretty cool how with all the people that were running around the area, that they were comfortable enough to come walking in.
Kinda makes me feel guilty, cause this year, I drew out for the deer hunt and want to shoot a nice Buck (male). But anyways, I am hoping that Deon and I get a few more days off together this summer to go fishing, hiking, and just spend some time together. It sucks cause he works days, and I pretty much work all night shifts.

40th!!

Well, when I woke up on Friday morning, and looked outside, I saw this sign, my neighbor made, sitting in the front yard. Along with pictures of me on the camper, my front entryway, and even down the street on a pole. She is so fun!! There was also a homemade pie and a gift on my front door when I looked there.




This is our camper (we are selling it) and she decorated it too












one of the pics on my car













Here is me, next to my sign. I wasn't really happy at this moment, cause I was headed to work. I think all companies should give you a paid day off for you birthday. Right??

Oh Crap!!

okay, so I have never stressed about a birthday before or even growing older, but OH CRAP....I am going to be 4o in 13 days. Everybody keeps telling me not to worry...40 is the new 30....I don't think so. 40 is 40!!! and it SUCKS!!!! Plus...when that statement comes from somebody who is maybe 20-25 years old....well....what do they know about being 40??? LOL...Deon has been teasing me about being worried over turning 40. I guess it is easier for guys to turn 40. Oh well... I guess I can't stop turning 40, but I am NOT happy about it.



The first picture of us, is when I was 17 years old...I have such a dorky smile...and huge eyebrows...LOL

This one of me and Stormy is last fall. Back when I was ONLY 39 years old.
I tried to add a pic from when I was younger...but I couldn't edit just me out of it for the picture. Oh well...

Blogging

It's been a while since I have spent any time on our blog, and I am sorry. I just really haven't had much to write about. But I thought, who cares, just put something on here. LOL!!!

For Memorial Day weekend, I got to spend all 3 days at work. Which kind of made me mad, because on the Friday before, at 5 pm, my boss walks up to me and hands me a piece of paper and says "Here's your schedule for this next week, hope you don't mind" Mind? Mind? Less than 24 hours before a Saturday off and he changed the whole weekend for us. Crape!! Oh well....I need the money. We were able to squeeze in a BBQ with our friends, Jason and Suzi and kids on Sunday night. Which was nice. We haven't seen them for a while.
I did get Tuesday and Wednesday off, and had so many things that I wanted to get done, and well....I didn't get them all done, because I decided to relax a bit, and since my allergies have been bad the last little bit, it was nice to just chill.
Deon and I did get the lawn mowed. And we have been working on the flower bed out front. It's been in a shambles, because the people who lived here before us, just tore it apart. We are digging up all the daffodil and tulip bulbs, tilling the beds and are going to spread the bulbs out and re-plant. Plus we are going to add the mums that we take to his grandparents' and brother's grave every memorial day. We like to have them, kind of as a "Memory Garden" and yes, I will be adding lots of plants for Mom.
Well.....I will see what they do to my schedule tomorrow when I go into work. Let's hope for a Saturday off, so I can have Deon help me get more stuff done.
Isn't life GRAND?? LOL

-10 things we love about the Becksteads-

10. They work hard. (Sometimes it's hard to have good work ethic, but they do!)
9. They always think of us...even when we aren't being the most sociable of people.
8. They can be counted on, whenever you have a problem.
7. They are responsible, and dependable, and lovely to talk to.
6. They are blunt and forth right...and I love that about them.
5. They never give up, and they stand by their word. They live what they say.
4. They never let me down...and if they do, they say they are sorry.
3. They aren't just good friends, they feel like family.
2. They have the cutest kids in the world, and we love them too.
1. They love each other. You can see it when they speak, when they interact and when they are ticked at each other.

Thank you for being such great people, and for always standing by us even if we are pains in the bum! We need to get together soon, I'm missing you and the kids!!

Thinking of ya!

Memories

I was looking through pictures on my computer and came across these, that I think Tim had. The first one is Mom with my Grandpa Sturges, when she was pregnant with me. The second is her getting the Mother of the Year award. The third is of Brian and Tim on a dinosaur. The one that is turned sideways is one that I took of Mom on Thanksgiving when she was living in that apartment on Garfield Ave. The one of her with us girls cracks me up, we were so little. The last one is of Brian and Tim again, when they were young. I really would like to get more pictures of us all growing up, if you all have any that you want to share with me. We are planning a trip up to Idaho this summer, just don't know when, and I can bring my scanner and scan them into my computer or if you can make copies, that would be awesome!!! Thanks!!!!

Ryan's Wedding

This is our friend Ryan getting ready to walk down the aisle. We came up to Redding to see my dad and go to Ryan's wedding. He has become a really good friend of ours, we met him through my dad.













Here he is with Sarah saying their "I do's"









Our other friend, Mike, that we met through my Dad. Mike's a crazy guy, but we love him. I am so glad that we got to come out to the wedding.

Side trip to Dunsmuir

We decided to take a side trip to Dunsmuir, which is 50 miles above Redding. This is as we are driving across Shasta Lake. It is a big lake and we saw some Huge boats on it.










This is Mt. Shasta, which is a volcano.










THis is the bridge across Shasta Lake








I thought this was cool. This signs was on I-5. Yes it is showing that Bears cross the interstate. Can you imagine driving at 65 mph and seeing a bear in your way?? I would die.

Packing

You know, I have come to the conclusion that having dogs is almost like having kids. We are taking our pups with us to California this weekend, and I have to pack everything that we all need. I have to laugh though, because I made a list of the things that the dogs will need. This includes Food, treats, leashes, harnesses, kennels (so when we can't take them to dinner) and their toys. Yes, we have to pack their toys so they don't get bored. OH....let's not forget their favorite blanket from our bed. Yes, these brats are spoiled. I just figure that they are going to be stuck in the truck with us for 10 hours (one way), and they should be comfortable too. So, I will have to make this a short blog, cause I have to finish everything today, cause I work all day tomorrow.
I will post a blog or two while we are there. Hope you all have a great weekend.

WHY

Not to be a Negative Nelly, but why are people so stinking inconsiderate???? So I am at work, folding the clothes over and over again, like I do everyday that I work. Yes, Sam's Club has a clothing area, and I think people think that since we are a warehouse style store, they can just trash it. So, I am standing at the table full of women's shirts, and these two ladies walk over and start looking at the shirts, well, it would have been cool if they would have attempted to refold them. BUT NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They literally toss them on the table and continue digging through the stacks of clothes that I had just folded. They were there for 1/2 an hour and trashed the table. I mean, it looked like a tornado went through. They picked up and tossed every shirt on the table. It took me another hour and a half to refold it all.
THEN!!!!
I had a hispanic couple come up to another table that I was working on, and started digging through the clothes. I asked them if I could help them find the size that they needed, and you know what she said to me???????????????????????? She told me to SHUT UP!!! I about died!! I stood there thinking, did that b... really tell me to shut up!!! It pretty much ruined my whole night and maybe me become very grumpy, and I hate being grumpy at work because then it makes for a long day.

Okay, I just had to vent a little bit. Hope you all had a better day than I did and I will hopefully post a blog tomorrow.

Terrie's Tag

Favorite 8 tv shows: 1. American Idol 2.Extreme Makeover Home Edition 3. D I Y 4. Will and Grace 5. Home Improvement 6. Operation Repo 7. Animal Precinct 8. Paula Deen

8 Things I did yesterday: 1. sleep 2. sick 3. went to dr. 4. nap with puppies 5. dishes 6. went to store 7. cooked dinner 8. went to bed

8 Favorite Restaurants: 1. 5 Guys 2. Cafe Rio 3. Subway 4. Dee's (good Wisconsin Cheese Soup) 5. Texas Roadhouse 6. Red Robin 7. ?? 8. ???

8 Things I look forward to: 1. Going to Idaho to see my family (all of you) 2. Going to California 3. Throwing my pups a birthday party (lol..I know I am a dork) 4. Nice Warm Weather 5. Deer Hunt 6. Camping 7. My dogs being Calm 8. RETIREMENT!!!!!!

8 Things on WIsh List: 1. Treadmill 2. WII 3. A golden retriever 4. A Ford Escape 5. new clothes 6. fence in front yard 7. ?? 8.??????????????

Tag 8 people: Terrie tagged most of you, but I will tag Penny, Sarah, Suzi, Deon, John, Chuck, Barb, and Tatem


That was a hard one to do Terrie....

This is what the skies in the valley have looked like for a few days now, and what they will look like most of the next week. It actually hadn't rained much today, but yesterday it poured!! I don't mind the rain though, I like it better than the snow. The good thing about Utah is, if you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change again, and again, and again. I love to curl up with a blanket and a book on the couch and read during the rain, but I don't get to do that too often.
By the way, this picture was taken with my cell phone, while riding in the truck. Not too bad huh??

Memory Lane

Okay, so here is my trip down memory lane. Sorry there are several pictures. This first one is of Sarge, on the car ride home the first day we got him. Sarge was born on Mother's day, cool huh?






Here he is pigging out on his food. He used to chase that bowl all over the kitchen.






Where's Sarge?? Can you find him?He is smack dab in the middle of the picture, hiding in the bushes in our backyard. He loves to run out in the yard








This is Sarge now. He is just about a year old, and is a BIG BOY! But he is such a little love. He is definitely a momma's boy and is protective of me too. You guys know, we bought both dogs for Deon...right?



His nickname is Bug...cause he used to eat bugs









This is Stormy the day after we brought her home. Look at that cute little smile on her face. She spent the first week on the couch with us, so we wouldn't lose her, she was so tiny. She was born on May 20th







Here she is playing on Noah's skateboard when they came out for a visit. She loved that thing. And she loves the kids!!!










This was taken on her first fishing trip with us. She has a stick laying across her legs, and she is content. If she has a stick to chew on, she is happy. I love how her one ear is standing straight up in the air.




This is Stormy and me in October. I love my baby girl!! She is now going on 2 years old and is still my baby. She gets so excited when I come home from work, and talks to me. Both her and Sarge sleep with us, but mostly on me, which is fine.
Stormy's nickname is Boo, because when she was littler, she used to go under the blankets, and I would lift the blanket up and she would jump out at me as I yelled BOO!!
I know, I am obsessed, but they are my babies, and they are very spoiled. We are going to California for a few days in May and they are going with us. I can't sleep without them. It's funny.
Well, hope you enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane......

Love and miss you all