The New Blog...

Its official. We have a new blog. Click here or save this link as our new link: http://ohatravelingwellgo.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the memories and here's to many more!

New Blog

So, I guess sometimes you just have to change things up, so I am starting a new blog. I haven't gotten an address for it yet, but once I do, it will be my final post on this site.

Relay for Life

This last weekend was the Relay for Life in BE county. I wasn't going to do Relay this year. But thanks to some awesome friends, I was able to meet my fundraising goal.  This year was pretty emotional for me. I miss my dad a lot. He was always there for me, no matter what. I wish I still could talk to him and joke with him. He wasn't perfect, but he was my dad and I loved him. Here's to Lou!

Define yourself...

In that movie, Runaway Bride, there is a scene where Julia Roberts' character has to figure out what kind of eggs she really likes, because for so long she has feigned her style due to who she was dating. This scene keeps playing over and over in my mind because I feel that way about everything in my life. I don't think I have ever taken the time to figure out who I am. I have spent my entire life pleasing everyone else. I was the best daughter, sister, friend and neighbor because I was always living my life to please everyone else. I was always so unhappy. Well, I want to figure out what kinds of eggs I like. I want to know what my style is and who I really am. I am not completely lost for I know that I love Gary. I know that I love to serve people. I am most at home and at ease with myself when I am serving people. What I don't know is what color to paint my bedroom, what kind of clothes I want to where and what sport I want to pursue-I know I have an athletic heart, but not a competitive heart. In the end, Julia Roberts' character decides she actually doesn't like eggs at all. I don't know what I will find at the end of this journey, but I have hope it will be a positive experience and I will be much happier in my own skin...I hope.

The Storms of Life

Recently I had an euphoric experience as I found a great job after looking for sometime. I was so happy. I contribute this to mine and my family and friends' prayers, as well as that everlasting positive thinking. The same day I found out that I had the job, I found this great little house in Clearfield that was for rent. It was the perfect price and included all the utilities. My mom and I went the next day and looked at it. I was in communication with the owners of the home via email. I felt so excited. New job and new house in the same day.

Everything was finally falling into place and our luck had really finally changed. Today, was the day I was to send the rent money. I got cash from the bank and went to wire the cash to the owners and they, in turn, would send the keys. After I got home from the Western Union shop, I had a message from my friend (who always has my back). She said that after hearing about the situation, she felt kind of sick inside. So she did some research and found that the house was for sale and that it was a HUD home (a.k.a, owned by the government). I ran down to Western Union and they were able to not only stop the payment, but they refunded the fee as well.

HELLO, HEARTBREAK!!! I can't believe that I fell for that. I know better. My heart hurts tonight for that perfect moment where I had my dream work out.

On the bright side, I know that I have at least one friend who is so true to me that she was willing to rescue me from a big mistake at risk of our relationship. I also know that I will never get that stupid about renting a property again. I got my money back and I am better off in the longrun. But for tonight, I am going to feel heartbreak for that perfect situation. My luck, though seems to be slowly improving, is still not good.

Positive Thinking

For the last month, I have been moping about the house feeling sorry for myself because things were not where I wanted them in my life. No job, family issues and the tremendous guilt from not sticking to my diet. But recently, I have been reminded of the power of positive thinking. Its been said that athletes and other successful people use positive thinking to motivate, encourage, and achieve the awards they seek. How does it work? An athlete might spend time before the competition, meditating on winning the race, catching the ball, hitting the home run, or making that 3 point shot. They think it through fully from start to finish. They can imagine themselves running fast and crossing the finish line.

The same principle can apply to our everyday lives. If there is a difficult task at hand, take the time to ponder it and think it through fully from start to finish. Meditate finishing the task successfully.

I have neglected to do this. I have neglected a lot of things. But, for this week or for now, I am going to practice this. Many of our stumbling blocks in life are based on our mental hinderance of our phyche. I plan to fight through that until my stumbling blocks become stepping stones.

Moore Happenings...

New Laptop!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Several employment prospects.

Happy Happy JOY JOY

Mr. Moore's at the top of his class in every class.

WOOT WOOT

Home from 2 week Caribbean Cruise vacation.

WHAAAAAHHHH ;(

Still have a tan.

ROCKIN' IT

Hopeful for the future, living for today.

PEACE, HOPE, JOY

She woke in the morning knowing she had to return a phone call she received late last night. She had worried and fretted about it for a long time because, you see, it was from someone she knew a long time ago. He wanted to tell her his life is changing. What did that mean? New opportunities, new beginnings, new life. But this road was short lived for another, greater adventure was waiting in the wings like a shadow in the dark, waiting to step into the light and making his presence known.

Once upon a time there was this girl. She was a smart girl and a happy girl, but unbeknownst to her, she was about to start the adventure of a lifetime...

Hello World,,,if your still out there.

The last few month have been a whirl wind and I am very sorry I havent blogged lately. Sometimes you think that your life has nothing to write about. Other times you wonder how you'll ever get it all in. This is somewhere in the middle.

Where are we?
We are still living in Perry. I made my mom's basement into an apartment, sort of. Gary and I have been here for a while now and are anxious to move. I love Perry and my mom, but I also love my own space and time. It has become a valuable commodity in my life. I have decided that I am pretty selfish. Some of that comes from laziness and some comes from shyness. Where ever it comes from, I caught it.

Gary started school in January. He is excelling in all his classes and he really loves it. He is working graves and going to school and spending every other weekend with his kids in Idaho, so I don't see him very often. Its actually made me appreciate him a lot more and I get giddy when we get to spend time together. I haven't had that feeling in a while.

I am done with school as of December 13 and I am currently looking for work. I have decided to go on and become a professor, but I do need some work experience to move on with that goal. So hopefully, I can get some soon and be on my way. Its really funny that I spend all my life hating school and I was always a terrible student, but now I seem to be like a fish out of water when I am not in school. I miss it.

Both Gary and I are getting ready to head to the Southern Caribbean on an 11 day cruise. We are so excited. Our trip will consist of three days in Puerto Rico before setting sail to visit nine other islands. We are so excited for this opportunity to go and renew our relationship and spend time with good friends.

So thats us in a nut shell. I hope that I will have the motivation to blog more often, but I am not making promises. I can't seem to keep them...;)

Ode to the Holidays

When its time for the turkey to cook, 

its hard to remember how you look, 

For we eat and eat and eat some more, 

and before we know it, there ain't no more.

We traveled to Rexburg, the coldest place around

it was so snowing and icy, there weren't no ground.

We visited and played and painted little men, 

they were gingerbread, about a a million plus ten.

A new game we played, once learned  before, 

Its called Rage, you see. Of course I got high score.

We had pumpkins in pie and chocolate as well, 

then off to sleep. Oh, we slept so swell. 

Gary took me to the movies, on a date you see. 

We saw that new Disney, Tangled in 3D. 

Then of to Target, to find some great deals, 

But my wallet was missing so back we pealed. 

They gave me a flashlight to search the seats, 

I found it hiding there, under everyone's feets

Being all funned out and ready to head

Its back to Rexburg and back to bed. 

We had a good visit and we had a good time, 

We left without apples, lemons or limes. 

Its nice to be gone, to visit family afar

But its great to be home and not in the car. 

Now to finish up school by December ten, 

I am working and writing and not using a pen.

A few days for the grands who love to play

Back to real life, real world, and back today. 

Check it out!

Hey guys, Check out my new blog...here.

Oh, the guilt...

As I am finishing the last semester of my Tech Writing program, I realize how I have neglected my blog. Me, the "professional writer", has neglected to write anything on my blog. Well, I guess that is because I have fallen deep into the well of normalcy. I say that because I see that there is not much to report on the home front. I started school in late August. I have been diligently attending school and not working. Gary has been working diligently at Lifetime Products and loving it.

So what is there to report? How about Gary cutting his thumb on a backboard and having to get stitches? Thats right folks. He came home and said, "hey, look what I did today." I threw up a little in my mouth. Yuck.

How about Jennie ripping all the wallpaper down in the Dining Room along with removing the popcorn ceiling and paint off the cabinet doors. Its become the bain of my existence. I love designing and remodeling, but when it turns into a month long (or longer) project, then I have to say, UGH!!! I know its going to be worth it in the end though. I am really excited for the end result. By the way, if anyone wants to come help, PLEASE DO!!! ;)

So that pretty much sums up our life for the last six weeks. I can post pics of the dining room soon. WOOT WOO!!! Until then, enjoy!

MIA

Okay, so I know that I have probably lost all my followers. Yes, all three of you, but lets just say that my summer has been more than eventful. To start, my former co-workers and I had created a team to represent our family and friends at the Relay for Life in Logan.

We worked hard all the month of May and June to do fund raising for our team. We raised over $1,000, for which I am very proud. The Relay took place in Logan at USU track. It was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! That was on July 9th and 10th.

The week before that, we (my entire family) celebrated the 4th of July by hosting our large family float in the Perry 4th of July Parade. For the first time, we didn't have my dad there. But, ironically, the theme of the parade was "Honoring our Hero's". There was a bitter-sweet feeling in me as we gather together to decorate the float, line up for the parade, and as we made our way along the parade route. I felt like it may be the last time the Reese's are a part of the Perry Parade.

Our first parade was when I was 8. My dad had built a tractor (which we still have) and a trailer (which we don't have). My sisters made a sign that was attached to the trailer like an arch that read "Grandpa Reese's Little Piece's". The rest was history. We spent every 4th there after dressed in orange and walking, riding, or skateboarding down that parade route. I am proud to have been a part of it.

Now, the week before the 4th, we had our annual Reese Reunion. My family all gathered at Crystal Hot Springs and played and played until we were all red as beets from the sun. Gary and I had Kason, Kaybreigh and Tyson with us. It was a LOT of work but very fun.

Fast forward now to after the Relay for Life. We have since spent the summer enjoying our freetime (what we have of it) and enjoying each other. We try to go on bike rides and enjoy the country side, take care of the garden, and play with Gary's grandkids. Its been an adventure to say the least.

We took a fun trip to the zoo, but by the end of 5 hours, everyone was dog-tired including the adults.

Dings in the wall,
Carpet a little worn,
Dirt in the window sill,
The door so adorn.

What was once my life,
isn't any more.
With so many changes--
a lot for sure.

I look back at life's lessons
With a little sorrow,
And look back and smile
It'll be better tomorrow.

A lesson was taught
A lesson's been learned
A family, yes we are
And forever earned.

Goodbye to the house,
And hello to the free.
For tomorrow is come
For him and for me.

May 26, 2010.

Commitment.

It feels like an eternity since I have blogged and I have been feeling very guilty about it. But I have been thinking a lot lately about commitment. I have talked before about commitment in dealing with weight loss and such, but this time around, I have been thinking of commitment in general. For instance, I have been asking myself "how committed are you in life?" "How committed are you in your relationship?" "How committed are you to your religion?" "How committed are you to your family?"

I have heard it said that it is within the trials of life that your true character appears. As I ponder that saying, I wonder why my true character is such a wuss.

As most of you know, I was married almost 3 years ago (in September). I knew before I got married that my sweetheart had four teenagers that had some problems. Well, for about the first year of our marriage, when people would ask how its going, I would always say, "Marriage is great, but parenthood sucks!" I was consistantly trying to fix Gary's kid's problems, so they would be kid's with no problems (or smaller ones anyway). By the time I realized that I no longer needed to "fix" these kids, but just love them, it was too late. The damage was done. They hate me--and rightfully so. In the effort to fix these kids, I gave them just one more person to distrust. One more person that is not on their side.

I look at my mom who so valiantly raised her own kids and others. In the midst of her adversity, she bloomed and grew by leaps and bounds. She had it hard. Very hard. But she never let her children ever feel like they were not loved.

When I think about my commitment to my family, I think about my mom and her commitment to her family. She was committed and nothing was going to tear her away from her commitment. My mother is a rock, an angel. She suffered greatly in her life. I often ask why she didn't quit? She just replies "quitting is not an option."

Am I committed? I don't really know yet. I want to be. I want to build strong characteristics and become a better person, a person like my mom. Strong, obedient, determined, righteous, and brave. For now, I am working on being committed. I am working on being better.

As for my sweet troubled kids, I love them dearly and I am so sorry for everything that I put them through (even though I still don't approve of their actions). Its not until recently that I realized they had enough on their plate without adding a wicked step-mother into the mix. I am so very sorry. Their father is my sweetheart and will be forever--I am so lucky to have him and I wouldn't change anything about our life together. For me, in this moment, its perfect.

What I have been doing lately!

1. School, school, school. April was our last month of the semester and I have been busy trying to get all my projects done. However, I still have 2 papers and 2 projects to finish by tomorrow. I think I can do it!

2. Work. NO WAY!! I quit my job at State Farm at the end of March and have been happily concentrating on me, school, home, and Gary for the month of April. However, my free time has been eaten up by all the housework, schoolwork and life that has happened.

Starting May 3rd, I will be working for a company called TopTenReviews.com. I will be an intern for just the summer and I hopefully will learn a great deal regarding editing, and writing. I am just really excited to be working in the business.

3. Church. I am still serving in the Webelos once a week, but I have been released from my other callings. Its been nice to go to church on Sunday and actually enjoy what is going on, instead of worrying about primary! LOVE IT!

4. Play. Gary has worked extra hard to get the bike out and ride worthy. We have a new Mustang seat that makes the ride a lot more comfortable for everyone involved. Also, I have new floor boards to rest my feet. Riding has been a lot more fun for us, but then it snowed and now we have to wait for the weather to warm up again? WTF, Mother Nature?

Also, we recently purchased a new bigger tent (6 man) to go camping this summer. Gary and I have only gone camping once our entire marriage. I love camping! So this year, we are making a better commitment to go! Gary was so excited he also bought a new lantern. He broke it out the other day when the power died. It stunk up the whole house. I know why we just use them outside.

5. Family. I have been spending a lot more time with my family since Dad died and especially with my mom. Its been healing for both of us to talk and laugh and cry. I really am glad I have my mom so close to me that we can share and heal together.

Well, that is our post for now. I hope to be writing much more in the near future as I continue to practice, practice, practice my writing.

LOU’S GONE FISHING! King Louie caught his limit here and has now Gone Fishin’ in
a better place. LouDell Reese was born May 20, 1926 in Malad, ID to Nette Mary Abter
and Louis Lorenzo Reese and died March 20, 2010 surrounded by family and friends.
With compassion, friendship, humor, and happiness, LouDell Reese lived a life of
service. He rescued everybody from Boise to Kanab and cared for the elderly, the
disabled, and the ill.
Known by many names he created memories and moments which deeply touched others:
Husband, Dad, Papa, Brother, Friend, Santa, Saint, Scoutmaster, Hero, Cowboy, Coach,
Mechanic, Teaser, Rescuer, Dogcatcher, Mosquito Man, Perry Parade Chairman, and
Founder of the Orange-Shirted Reese’s Pieces.
He served in many Church callings and was a loved member of the Perry Wards and the
old Brigham City 5th and 10th wards.
He leaves an on-going legacy of good works and laughs to his posterity of 11 children, 41
grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren. He was preceded
in death by his parents and by his wife Mary Alta Baker (wife of 26 years), and by
siblings by Eva Yearsley, Dale Reese, Ruth Reese, Burke Reese, and Sylvia Reese.
LouDell is survived by Dorothy (his wife of over 36 years) and his 11 children and their
spouses: David (Lois) Reese, Daleine (Fred) Allen, Vardell (Mike) Reese, Larry (Jenny)
Reese, Kenneth (Kayleen) Reese, Jolene (John) Griffin, Deena (Phil) Poulsen, William L.
(Jin Sook) Reese, Dell (Lisa) Reese, Robert (Amber) Reese, and Jennie (Gary) Moore.
He is also survived by his siblings Rosalie “Skip” Reese, Ray Don Reese, and Joseph D.
Reese.
The family would like to thank Alpine Hospice & Dr. Hillam for their compassionate
care as well as all the many friends and family who gave assistance and love.
There will be an viewing on Thursday March 25 from 6pm to 10 pm at the Myers
Mortuary in Brigham City.
Funeral will be held Friday March 25 at 12pm with a viewing prior starting at 10am at
the Stake Center 685 W. 2250 S. Perry Utah.

The WHOLE family!

Mom, Dad and all my Sibs!

Family Pictures

There is nothing in this world that brings me more stress and anxiety than family pictures. I am not talking just my own family, but all of my Dad's decendents. Most of you know that I am the youngest of eleven children and since this may be the last chance we have to get family pictures, I decided to make it happen. I have some family in California, some in Arizona, we even had one come from Alaska. What an experience!

This was the first time in I don't even know how long that we had all the siblings together. I was so glad that everyone could make it. It was a big sacrefice for many people to make it to the pictures but I am glad they were willing to make that sacrefice. I counted last night and there was a total of 73 people that came.

Despite all the whining and complaining by many people in my family, I think all in all that it was worth the effort. I have learned many things from this experience. First, I will never do this again. Second, my siblings love my dad enough to make the sacrefice to miss work, to drive hundreds of miles. Third, this year will be the last of all our big family traditions. My dad has been the rock in our family to hold our wonderful traditions together. However, I think its time to move on. I am excited to start my own family traditions with just me and Gary and our family and hope it will bring us closer together as a family.