This is only a test...

No, hell hasn't frozen over (that I know about). I am actually, for the first time in over two years (!) posting on my blog. Go figure. I would have thought that Blogger would have given me up for dead, but, I guess, there wasn't anyone else wanting to name their blog "Like Maria but with an 'F'." I'm already feeling guilty for maybe not keeping up with this. But I'm going to try. Seems like I've been busy with a lot of nothing. I've been distracted with things like Facebook and Pinterest which seem easier. Even then I find that I don't have a lot to say on Facebook, which is the beauty of a blog. I can ramble a little on a topic. Are you ready to catch up? Let's do this thing.

Steve actually has a job in Denver.He has lived at home since August for the first time in 5 years. It's nice to feel married again. The new job, designing retro fits for medevac helicopters, isn't so far away but it's across downtown and the tech center (thick traffic!!) from home. Our mantra after experiencing particularly trying commutes? "I'm/you're not in Ogden."

Michael and Sarah:  He's finished with the army and she has been a social worker for the State of Texas. But Sarah has been on maternity leave. That's right, I'm a Grandma, but not for the first time! (see paragraph below). Nathan was born on March 25th this year. He's adorable (see picture on right). For such a young baby he has tons of personality and huge dimples! They are very shortly to return to Utah and he will finish college.

Christopher and Christina:  After graduating together from BYU they moved to Maryland where Chris is pretty much half way finished with his Master's Degree in Psychology from Loyola. And they made me a Grandma for the first time!! The have a beautiful baby girl, Emma (picture on right). She was born November 20, 2013 and is a pistol. I love watching her on Skype. Christina has a blog where I can see Emma's progress every week. She is so freaking cute!!

Allison:  She's been working as a stylist and is in demand at her salon and is developing a reputation as an outstanding stylist for weddings. She's my great shopping buddy!! We don't get into too much trouble, I promise. In March her long term boyfriend, Christian DeShazer (aka "the boy") returned from his mission in Guatemala. A dress has been purchased, and shoes and jewelry and.... No date yet, but we think the end of July. So, in case this hasn't occurred to anyone reading this let me point out to you I will have a Christopher, Christina and Christian. I don't think I stand a chance if Helen is already screwing it up.

Emily: A junior at BYU, she's been working her butt off getting awesome grades. Emily was just accepted to the BYU Accounting program, which is a top 5 program in the nation. She is over the moon about this, as she should be. I'm SO proud of her determination and hard, hard work. Her picture in the sidebar is from a hiking/swimming trip last summer and I'm going to MAKE her take a new picture of herself by showing this one!

Helen:  Doing awesome! She is determined to get a quilt finished for each of her grandchildren before she dies. She's just finishing Emily's quilt top and has only my nephew, Richard's, to make after this. But it will have to wait a little bit. We need to get Alli's quilted before her almost planned wedding.

Me?  I'm still substitute teaching (I won't make you yawn over the myriad of issues that have kept me from getting a full time position). I've had two long term assignments this year; four months in HomeEc and one month in Strategic Reading/literacy. I'm tired! But I've been crocheting a lot, sewing a lot and doing small "make me feel good" projects. Maybe I'll have to share in another post. See? I already have a goal!