Kamber

I came across this poem that I wrote a few years ago and thought it would be perfect for today.


Heaven Is Waiting

Thinking back in time,
To the memories we share.
I smile to myself and think
"I'm so glad that you were there".

I've needed you here with me,
I wish that you could stay.
But you're needed somewhere else now,
And I know we'll be together again someday.

We have Eternity ahead,
Until then we'll be apart.
I know when I start to miss you,
I'll always have you in my heart.

Go ahead, heaven is waiting,
And even though I might cry.
I know you're happy where you are,
And I know that this isn't good bye.



It's been two years since Kamber returned to heaven. We're thinking about her and her family today. Jen and Ethan have four beautiful, sweet little girls..... and I'm happy to announce that on Friday morning they welcomed their first little boy into the family!!! Max came into this world at a "healthy" 9.9!!!! Seriously. I've only seen pictures, he's precious. I hope that this new little spirit has brought a lot of happiness and love to their house. Especially today. We love you guys.

(my computer isn't working but I'll add a picture to this post as soon as I can)

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

My sister Kylee had been staying with us for a few weeks. Her husband went to California to work for the summer and she had to finish out the school year. (she works with me) After Ciera's graduation the family headed to Nielson's for some ice cream and goodbyes. You can imagine how the good byes went.... With Savanna leaving for BYU and Ciera heading to Ricks (ok whatever BYU Idaho) they wouldn't be seeing Kylee again until probably Christmas. So hugs were given and tears were shed. Then we all laughed a lot. Partly because I was mad that nobody seemed to care that I TOO was leaving for Cali the next morning. (kylee was getting all the attention :)haha) and mostly because on our way out of Nielson's my mom randomly started talking to this lady from Idaho who had 9 boys and 1 girl. They of course bonded over their blessings..... curse?????


The next morning bright and early Kylee and I packed up her car. In the end she had to leave a lot of her stuff in my guest room because we couldn't get it all in. But we sure tried. It was a fabulous drive down to San Diego. We found some random mix cds in her car and decided to give them a listen. We ended up just laughing because they were like the worst "mix" of songs ever. But it passed some time :)



We arrived at their apartment and began unpacking the car and then did some organizing. Josh came home with pizza and we all relaxed and pigged out. I started making arrangements to head down to Huntington. I wanted to see Tanner's parents and sister before I flew home. Kylee was going to drive me to meet Melayne (my sis in law)half way. But then Melayne had a FABULOUS idea. "Take the train" she said. I was intrigued. Train? Really? I looked into it and I thought it would be a lot of fun/something new. The next morning bright and early Kylee took me to the train station. And a few minutes later I was giving my ticket to the train conductor. If you ever have the chance I would recommend this. It was really fun. It drove through the mountains, along the beach and through different towns. Very cool. I was hoping to find Bing Crosby and Danny Kay singing in the dining car.... but it wasn't that kind of train. :) My in laws picked me up about two hours later and we headed to Original Pizza (It's a tradition to go strait there when I come into town. ) It was as FABULOUS as ever.
Marla (mother in law) and me outside the train station.

When we got to their house I met Betty. Melayne's dog. Isn't she precious?



The original plan was to stay a week and then head home. It was Memorial Day so Melayne and her friends had a bunch of stuff planned. We spent a lot of time on Maine St. in Huntington and at the beach. On Memorial day we decided to dress "army" instead of patriotic. It was a fun/crazy day.
We had breakfast the the "Sugar Shack" seriously good food. The best part was there were like 12 of us, three of our cop friends joined us. ( Jake is a Huntington policeman that Melayne dated a little bit. I LOVE him. but it didn't work out with them so now they are just friends. :( he's a sweetheart.
Anyway there was a lady sitting a table next to us with her two kids. Michael Jake's partner took them out and showed them the police cruiser. Nice guy. Well a little while later our waitress came over and said the lady sitting next to us (who had already left with her kids) paid our bill. Ya..... there were 12 of us. I guess it pays to hang out with cops. :)

Alana, Kalli and Me.

Alana and Me (the golf club and Jake's flashlight are a long story)

Alana and Me.

Happy Memorial Day!!!!

A couple days later Bert said he had Dodger's tickets so Melayne, Me, Alana and Kalli headed off. It was a day game and it was HOT but we had seriously the best time.









I figured I should take a picture of my $5.25 bottle of water :)


That weekend there was a surprise bday dinner for their friend Liz. She was a doll and very surprised.


That was the end of week one. I had planned on flying home that weekend but Tanner was heading to Dallas for a few days for work and we figured there was no point in coming home to be alone, so I decided to stay for another week.

I was taking some laundry up stairs and caught my flip flop on one of the steps. I fell and this was my thigh the next day.



The AVP Tournament was in town. Melayne had some friends playing so we spent a couple days watching.


Do you love our free hats?


At the end of week #2 we headed down to Hollywood for "Charity Bowling Night"




Melayne is friends with Marcus Allan, he puts it on every year. There were a bunch of Celebrities. Nancy O'Dell, she's even prettier in person. Brooke Burns, she's probably the skinniest person I've ever seen. There were a bunch of athletes but I didn't know who any of them were. And a few others that I recognised from movies but didn't know their names. Oh and I met Barry Bonds. He's not as big as I thought he's be. Probably because he's not doing steroids anymore. We should have gotten a picture with him..... or at least an autograph for Tanner but we felt dumb asking. It wasn't like we ran into him at on the street. We were at an event and didn't want to be annoying. But really we should have. Oh well.




They had a fashion show. While that was happening people started handing out shirts and telling everyone to put them on. They were black with Marcus's charity on the front, and the back said ALLAN and the number 50 in football jersey letters. It had been Marcus's 50th bday a few months earlier. When the fashion show ended and Marcus turned around everyone was wearing the shirts and we all sang happy birthday. It was fun. And the shirt..... I took two and they are the MOST comfortable shirts ever. We literally wore them for the next three days strait. I'm wearing one now, as I'm typing this. :)




On the way home we needed gas but decided we would be fine and just get it when we got to Long Beach. NOPE about two exits before that we ran out of gas. We pulled off on Willow St. It turned out to be this dark, creepy abandoned road. Melayne called her her dad and he called AAA. After about 30 minutes the gas arrived.

Tanner was like "of course you get a picture with the AAA guy, but not Barry Bonds".




Tanner's family was heading to Vegas for Bert's annual work convention. Tanner and I decided we would join them. So..... that meant me staying another week in Cali and meeting Tanner there. So week #3 begins.

Now in between all of these pictures we did a ton of shopping, eating, hanging out on Main St. Melayne works at a salon down there so I would just read or walk around while she did a client. We road our bikes EVERY day. A minimum of 5 miles. (to main and back) One night I met Alana at the Hiatt where she works for a movie in the pool. We bundled up in towls because it was freezing and watched Happy Feet. Then I spent the next afternoon laying by the pool drinking free drinks. Pina Colada and strawberries..... seriously amazing. That was the day I road my bike 8 miles. I about died. But who can complain when you're riding along the beach right?

I had to watch the Laker's game with a bunch of hard core Laker's fans. P.S. I hate the Laker's. And more than that...... I HATE the Laker's fans. Not the ones we were with.... I love them. (the same group from the obove picture at Liz's bday) But I watched all the news coverage after the game...... I HATE Laker's fans. Their stupid team won and they were setting cars on fire, breaking store windows etc...... LAME.

The next day was Friday I had to pack and get ready to leave for Vegas the next morning. Tanner called and we discused the fact that we really want to finish our house and that would be a better use of our money. So I changed my flight to Phoenix and at 11am the next morning...... I was hugging Tanner, not wanting to let go. Three weeks away a very long time. But it was SO MUCH FUN.

I'm very lucky to have married into Tanner's family. My inlaws let me stay with them for three weeks and made me feel welcome and at home the entire time. Melayne took me with her everywhere she went. Jeff, Melayne's boyfriend (I met for the first time while I was there.) Called me "Kid Sister" the whole time. hahaha.

So that is that. Pretty much my longest post ever. It's so nice to be home, but I sure am missing the weather over there. And Bert, Marla and Melayne. Oh and Alana.

Tanner and I are finishing the trim in our house this week. It is looking AMAZING. All we have to do is have it painted next week and our house will be pretty much done. I can't wait!
Loves to all!

Part 1

You know how you keep putting off posting because there is just SO much you have to catch up on? Then you realize that putting it off only makes it worse? Ya, that's me right now.

Here is a recap of May. In the Stradling family May is busy. Probably worse than December. And December is INSANE.

Spring Training. Sofball/baseball/Tball started in April but I only made it to some of the games in May. Ciera, Molly, Bria, Jenna, Drew, Nate and Major were the athletes this season.

Drew

I can't find my pictures of Molly or Bria so here is one of them at their dance recital instead :)

Jenna

Tanner and his nephew Major

Me and Major



Some pics of us during Drew's last game.







My sister Ciera graduated!!! High school and seminary. She also played softball. During one of her games this season she was pitching and she stopped a ball with her face. Luckily she didn't break her nose or lose any teeth. Just a lot of swelling for a couple days. Anyway she graduated!! She'll be heading off to Idaho next month.




Our brother in law Josh graduated from MCC. Now he's heading to ASU and then dental school!

Tanner trying to break Savanna's high score.

Tanner and Jenna waiting for Josh's name to be read

Our family with the happy graduate.


BIRTHDAYS!!! Kylee, Savanna, Ciera, Jack, Trey and Chase. And Mother's Day. Not to mention Candi, Heather, Ty and Father's Day in June. NUTS.

May 27th was the last day of school. It's always crazy wrapping up the school year. I'm so thankful for another wonderful class! I'm so lucky to have the kids and the parents that I do. It was a great year. That last week I was running around like a crazy person. I think that is the longest and most exhausting week out of the year for me. But it all worked. I hugged and kissed my kiddos goodbye, went home and collapsed. The next morning Kylee and I set off for Cali. Josh had been there for about two weeks working, so we packed up Kylee's car. And I mean PACKED. I kissed my sweetheart goodbye (thinking I would be flying back after about a week) and we headed off......... Now the Cali trip will have to be another post. I ended up staying for three weeks! So.... To be continued!