Ok, so it has been a long time since we posted...2004 was the last to be exact!
Things have changed. All Americans are experiencing a horrible economic upheaval; the world in general is a mess. We have a history of rising above the tough times, but now the future is looking dark and bleak. Yes, we have a new President and one can only hope that the promise that his election holds somehow begins to turn around the country.

More people are unemployed, the American Dream of home ownership has turned into a nightmare. Even the most prepared people are suffering. Families are going without healthcare, homes are being lost, college graduates cannot find jobs to even begin to pay off their college loans, employers are laying off and terminating people; some for valid reasons, most to save their bottom line. Gas prices have been on a roller coaster, the cost of finding a job sometimes outweighs the wages one might receive. Cars are becoming timebombs as people neglect repairs which lead to unsafe vehicles on the road. Cities and states are looking for ways to make money which alienate their citizens and impose big brother type of methods for gaining coin in the coffers....photo radar being one of the most lucrative and ridiculous. DPS is laying off officers who could patrol the highways; keeping those dedicated officers able to provide for their families.

The US still sends too many jobs overseas. Jobs which could help families here, are given away. Yes, this helps the economy in other countries and improves the bottom line for those employers but we need to concentrate on the situations here in the US.

The war has cost us dearly. Young men and women who have dedicated themselves to the fight for freedom have been forgotten once they have "served their duty"; coming home to debt, physical and psychological problems and the inability to receive the care they deserve.

We have seen the economy hit our family hard. Our eldest son lost his job in August and has been trying to find work, Gary was laid off this past week, a week to the day before his scheduled surgery and recovery period which was to last at least 6 weeks.

So now to the future....we are looking at ways to supplement our household income while he is recuperating. I am still working, but am also looking for part time work in the evenings and weekends.

We are fortunate because we have a variety of skills in our family; we are able to offer office skills, catering, custom corporate gifts in the form of baked goods, photography, Malcolm Baldridge training for quality and much more.

We are going to send out a request to everyone that if you need part time help, catering, corporate baked gifts, heck even babysitting and housecleaning; we are ready and able!

Wishing the best to all of our family and friends in these tough times... may they be short-lived!

Well summer heat has been creeping into what was supposed to be spring... All the plants have been blooming and Arizona is full of color. Been busy getting the pool ready for summer. Things are coming along great.

Chantel has turned into a beautiful young lady with a fantastic amount of talent - she is competing in dance competitions and winning! Cherish is now working as a lifeguard at Sun Splash and getting a chance to be outdoors with a lot of her friends and seems to be enjoying it. Kameron is playing coach pitch and slugging them out of the field.

Gary and I are looking forward to going to Paradise to see Mom and Dad near Memorial Day weekend. It has been way too long, but with work and then being sick with pneumonia we weren't able to get there any sooner.

Auntie Cudge has a big birthday coming up - she will be 96 and we are going to drive over there to see her - what a wonderful and beautiful lady she is! She lives in lovely retirement home with Eastern Star and has many friends there.

Kevin and Cathy will be celebrating the big 10 year anniversary at the end of May - they have 3 great kids and are, as always, working hard.

Josh went to Tokyo (see www.clubjosh.com) and has weird hours lately. We will catch up with him when we drive over to California. He is always busy working or doing something. He is also working with his dad at HP Core.

Gary received a long deserved promotion at work to Vice President. He doesn't toot his own horn, so I will do it for him here! He has been working on the house and the backyard and keeping up with his Gary's Candy. His candy is very popular and he would like to make it a little bigger than the cottage industry he has going on now. If you are interested, contact us.

We are STILL working on our cookbook. I think we got too ambitious and are going to downsize it a bit just to get it out before Christmas...we should be able to have printed to send out before then and to be able to take orders. If you want to be on the list...let us know.