The Boyles

1998-2009 Rita Years

2010-04-27T22:01:00.021-06:00

October 1998 Rita is having a few issues with her vision and balance; her chiropractor thought she might have the systems of MS, which freak us both out. So we get a appointment with a Neurologist and she has a couple of tests and we went back in to find out what was going on and the Dr. must have been having a bad day because he read the report as if we where doctors and I stopped him, asking him to tell us so we can understand, which kind of pissed him off and us too, so basically told us she had MS, he told us to set up another appt to figure out what kind of treatment would work best for us, Ya Right. When we walked out of there we were both Mad and Sad to have this thrown at us. After that we decided to get another opinion and definitely find a different doctor, and we went right to the research hospital in Denver and got the head of the MS department for Rita. Dr. Korboy was not only an Awesome MS DR. but he had Rita’s personality and lifted our spirits. He told us that yes it’s a pain in the Butt to have MS but life’s not over and she will live a long fruitful life as long as she keeps her attitude up, which was my job to make sure she stayed on track. You couldn’t tell Rita had MS for the 1st couple of years but every time she had an attack she lost a little of her Mobility. Rita did a fantastic job of not focusing on her inabilities but her abilities which was making everyone smile when you were around her.
Other than that Life in Brush is going Great, I finally have this manager thing figured out, of course with the help of Rita and Trial and Error, like the Time I had a come to Jesus meeting and all my Good people quit and the ones I was trying to fix stayed. In 1998 Brush Co. was #1 in the Rocky Mountain Division for the 1st time since I was promoted there in 1990, and we repeated in 1999 after we took over another depot out in Ogallala Ne. Rita and I had a routine that was always tying the families of our Route Managers to our Schwan’s gatherings, Rita would host at our house or wherever we had our function, we did a Christmas Party, Super Bowl Party, Summer Picnic at Lake McCoughy, Bowling Party around Halloween and any baby shower and all those other parties Rita would put together to get the Drivers wives involved and let them know how much we appreciate them and of course Rita would always promote the ways of supporting their husbands because they work so hard and need to know that they appreciate them because Happy Drivers have more $ales and of course the Wives get more to spend, its one Big Happy Circle. At our Banquets since we were #1, 2 years in a row, the guys always wear Tux’s and the women of course get to buy a new dress which is like buying a prom dress for your daughters and since I have 3, we have sure spent a small fortune on Formal Dresses over the years, Rita would gather as many wives as she could and go all over from Ft Morgan to Denver to Ft Collins, Greeley, Loveland and sometimes even to Cheyenne Wy to find dresses for everyone. I know when she came home she was always energized even though it would of Killed any one of us guys to shop like that. When I didn’t win the division the guys just wore suits, and of course, Rita always bought mine and the only time I tried it on was just before we got dressed for banquet, I’d tell her I can wear last years, but she was always looking out for me and trying to keep me in style, because my style is blue jeans and a t-shirt.
With all this excitement around winning back 2 back division championships and exceeding profit every year, it’s time for us to be promoted to the next level which is Division Manager, so after applying several times, they finally decided that I have calmed down over the years and see that Rita has done a fine job of honing me into mature Leader. You see whenever they interview you, they would always take you and your wife out for dinner and they would do an interview with Rita, to see if she supported me or not, because every move up required more responsibility and they wanted to make sure I didn’t have any issues at home, DAAAAAAAAAA, what they were really trying to do was get Rita on board because she was the One everybody Loved. You might not believe this but I’m a little rough around the edges, I tell it like it is and Rita Smozes everyone and she gets them to fall in Love with her and they can’t deny me the Job because it will hurt Rita and nobody wants to hurt Rita!~! So we made a Great Team together. Well off I go every week for a year, Sunday/Monday –Thursday/Friday out of town from Colorado to Texas to Mississippi, and this gets old in a hurry, because I’m away from Rita and our Family.
Rita has been planning a trip with her friends to New York, to catch a couple of Broadway Shows and see the sights and on 9/11/2001 she got her Tickets to New York and I was in Shreveport, La. That was a day that we all felt Violated and brought the war to the United States. She wanted me home and I wanted to be home but they shut all the airports down for over a week until they could tighten security at the airports, so Mr. Cheap?ss decided to take a bus even though Schwan’s would pay for a rental car, and it took 28 hours on a bus to get home. I Will Never Do That Again!! Rita and I Talked about her trip to New York and decided to go since it all worked out with everyone else and they have been looking forward to it. They stayed by Central Park and New York was pretty much a Ghost Town so they could get around pretty easy, I remember her friends telling me they always had to wait for Rita because she would stop and just talk with anyone and she acted like she knew them forever, in fact on a street in New York she spotted our Dentist Wife Pat from Brush Co. who was there for Forensics of identifying the Victims of 911, Small World.
I’m kidda picky and Schwan’s wants me to bid on a few openings in Texas, Missouri and other places I do not want to be, now Rita did not care where we lived as long as it was with me, so I set a goal that I do not want to be more than 10 hours from our Cabin, and of course when I apply for those positions I don’t get them, probably because they didn’t meet Rita. God has a plan and my old division comes available and Rita and I take over the Rocky Mountain Division. So now its time to sell our house and start looking for a new one around Ft Collins Co. Of course God has it all worked out and after 9 months of looking for a new home and trying to sell ours by For Sale by Owner, I’m told to move in 3 months, which means Schwan’s will cover my house payment for 6 months and after that I will have 2 house payments, Not Good! 2 weeks later I find the perfect home that meets my criteria, out in the country, big yard, Million Dollar view of the Mountains, but wait Rita has her heart stuck on a new 2 story and this is a ranch. So she tells me OK while she’s crying, so I ask her if we got all new Furniture would that help, with Big Tears in her Eyes she says Yes, so we write the contract on Saturday and on Sunday we sell our Home in Brush, God is Good!!!! So I’m thinking a new couch and chair but not Rita and $6000 later she is done shopping for our new home, Dang it I should have been more specific about how much, or what room!! But Rita is happy now and that’s all that Matters.
I have arrived; this was our Goal to be a Division Manager, that’s as far as I wanted to go with Schwan’s because I didn’t want to move again. I enjoyed Motivating people to be the Best they can be and Being the Man in the Division. But my Goals are sometimes not God’s plan for me. Evan though I have met all my Goals, I’m not happy and feel Schwan’s is changing and I’m not willing to change with them, so after lots of prayer and 21 years at Schwan’s I QUIT!! If Marvin was still there so would I, but it’s run by a corporation now and that’s not for me. So in 2004 I go to work for Centex Homes after a lot of my Fellow Friends and coworkers start there. So I go from being in charge of over 100 employees to being in charge of myself and take a 50% pay cut the 1st year. But I only work 40-50 hours per week, the pay will get better, and it does, in fact my second year I pass my best year I ever had at Schwan’s in October and still have 2 ½ months left of commission coming. So with more money, less time and responsible for me, Life is Good. And this is where Rita came up with Wine Thirty, as I would call just before I get home, asking her to get 2 glasses of Wine and meet me on the back deck to watch the Sunset. The Sunset was beautiful but not as Beautiful as Rita. In 2006 I was #1 sales person in the Centex Division and won a trip to Hawaii in 2007 for a week at a resort right on the beach and we had the Best room in the place. This was our Best Vacation we had ever taken, we stayed 9 days of just Rita and I, no work, no cleaning, no dishes, Just Fun, but wait Alicia calls us and tells us she going in for emergency surgery and our phone dies, we are 4500 miles from Alicia and stop at a bar to charge our phone and wait to hear something and we called everyone trying to figure out what happened. Finally after 2 hours Lora calls us and we talked to the doctor and told us everything was good. Alicia the night before had taken a fall while riding a scooter and woke up in the middle of the night with sharp pains, so Ronny took her to the emergency room and they put a 10 inch cut along her stomach to check things out, of course they didn’t find anything wrong, so they sewed her back up. When we got back to Colorado she was still in the Hospital so we went to see her and her 1st words to us were “Look what they did to me” and then she showed us her 10 inch incision on her stomach, Alicia was very proud of her bikini and her stomach. Oh Well. Rita and I finished our adventure in Hawaii, we stayed at a Volcano National Park which overlooked an Active Volcano, and went to South Point which is where 2 currents meet, which was beautiful. with our last night in the Hotel Honaka, which she wasn’t so impressed with, but they did have a deck of cards in the room and we played Nerts, you see she wanted to stay at a bed n breakfast, but I drove too far and passed them all up and we ended up on a dead end road by an Awesome overlook and a road that had a 25% steep grade to it, which we took just for fun.
In 2007 Kent, Dennis and I are at the cabin and I let them know that I’m thinking about doubling the cabin again, 2 reasons 1st to put a main floor master in for Rita and 2nd because the kids are growing, we need more room, beside if I’m not building something, I get bored. I also let the Lenhoff’s know from Lincoln Ne. Wayne and his boys Paul and Adam have their construction companies and volunteer their services for a week to get it done. So I start the ball rolling, 1st starting with the plans which have to be approved through the county, Holly Mackerel things have changed and it takes me 3 months to jump through all the hoops and before I even get a permit I’ve spent $7000. We start moving dirt in May 2008 with the help of Dennis running a back hoe and bobcat, Kent as Supervisor and me the Laborer with Michael Too.
Rita and I are missing something, are kids are all grown up and we don’t have any kiddos to play with, because when kids turn 16, they disappear, or only communicate with you when they need something. Alicia and Ronny to the Rescue, they show up at my house 1 weekend with this crazy looking alien picture and tell us where going be Grand Parents, Rita’s Crying and Ashley, Abbie and Michael are all Excited, me too, but my 1st question to Ronny is, When are you going to get married?
Its April 2008, Alicia and Rita are planning a May Wedding in our back yard and only have 4 weeks to get it done. Rita has lost some mobility and we have been using a wheelchair for about a year, but when she hears Wedding and baby, she’s all in and gets extremely excited and energized. I gave Rita a dollar amount and she easily triples it, but she never bothered me with that information, until it was all over and I seen how Beautiful my Daughter and the Wedding was. I did get my deposit back from the 2 kegs they drank “bonus”. Rita was in her element planning for the wedding and the new baby. Alicia is starting to show now and we have to see her weekly to watch the belly grow and since she knows how us Boyles are, she shows off her stomach Proudly, and we take advantage, saying did you feel that big kick? On August 7th 2008 Centex has a special meeting for all employees and I’m the 1st one they escort off the property because they are shutting the doors, now that’s a shocker, I was on my way to having my best year in income and loving my career helping people get into homes, but the economy wasn’t cooperating and so homes lost value and Centex had to adjust their prices only to lose money on every home they sold. So I consult with God and Rita and decide to get my Real Estate License, which takes about 6 weeks to take the class and pass the examine, Walla I’m a License Realtor, But after 6 more weeks of doing the real estate, I am very dissatisfied with my boss and most of the people working in the business, which I can’t control so I quit in November after selling my 1st home.
After Dennis, Kent and Michael help me every weekend to prep the cabin 8 weeks before the Lenhoff’s show up, we have the foundation set for the cabin, and the post’s in the ground for the new 24X24 shed were building too, and in July 2008 we begin the construction, and in 1 week we have built a 1200 sq ft addition and a 24x24 shed. Of course there’s a lot of work after this but the hard part is done and there’s No Way I couldn’t have done it without the help of our Fantastic Friends. Now I did have to feed them and make extra trips to town for more beer and wine and some of the Lenhoff’s abuse like shooting their nailing Guns at me and Michael or the famous titty twister when your hands are full, “Ouch” if I liked touching men’s breast I would of got them back, but had to settle for a few wrestling matches which I lost too.
October 15, 2008 Alicia announces she heading to the hospital and we are heading there to, Now Ronny can’t handle the whole delivery thing, so Rita, Ashley and Abbie are now Mid Wife’s and get to be in the delivery room, I did watch Rita through all her births of our children, and don’t remember her ever snoring through a contraction, I could see it on the monitor, but Alicia was sleeping, Oh she took this new drug that allows her to be comfortable, Rita was jealous. When they wheeled her into the delivery room, they wheeled Rita in too. Rita got to see her 1st Grand Daughter Mejana take her 1st breath in this world and cut the cord. Rita came out Beaming; she had arrived as Grand Mother now and was excited about the new role in Alicia Life of coaching her through Life with Mejana.
After the Lenhoff’s leave Kent, Michael and I are up at the cabin every weekend working on it and were having a blast. I still need to find a new career path and Kent and I have been doing investools (Stock Market) for about 8 years, and there having a seminar in Denver in December, so off we go to get some new knowledge in the Stock Mkt but end up buying a 2 year PHD program that fast tracks you into trading full time. This is right up my alley, as I do not have to work for anyone, and able to be home with Rita full time, and we can do whatever we want, say like go to the cabin more!! 2 weeks before Christmas I come home after working on the cabin and Rita’s not doing too well so I want her healthy for Christmas and we take her to the doctor and she prescribes a strong medicine that you only take for 5 days and your done, so I’m doing my training in the stock mkt through the week and working on the cabin on the weekends and I come home on December 21st expecting Rita to be all healthy and she actually worse so off to the doctor again and this time we get an x-ray and her lungs are full of fluid, so we head to the hospital and get check in and the doctors are telling us pneumonia and have to drain her lungs and she might be out before Christmas. So I stay with her night/day, and see that she might get out before Christmas so off I go to the cabin for some final touches because her brother Ron and Family are coming along with all my kids. I came back to the hospital about 11pm that night and the staff let me take a shower in Rita’s room, and were praying she can get out, but the draining in the lungs hasn’t quit so not looking good, but Rita’s spirits are high and we spend Christmas Eve with the Family at the Hospital, complete with Christmas tree and presents, which the hospital staff said I couldn’t bring a tree with lights in her room but whatever I did anyways and all the nurse’s Loved it.
Rita and I wake up Christmas morning to find a beautiful day on our Lord’s Birthday. The doctor shows up about 8:30am and says Merry Christmas, your test results came back and you have cancer. What, you said she had pneumonia, What the heck are you talking about, she couldn’t tell us any more as she isn’t an oncologist and we have to wait till tomorrow to see one. After she left we prayed and asked God for strength, because now we had to tell our family on Christmas Day, when we should be celebrating. Rita and I didn’t cry then but when the family showed up we let the flood waters come. At the end of the day Rita still had her Happiness for Life and Faith that God would take care of this for us. When the Doctor show up about 6:30 on the 26th we were checking out of the hospital to finish Christmas at home, when he informed us that she had stage 4 Lung cancer and about 7-14 months, I immediately responded to Rita, that we were suppose to grow old together and now the flood waters really came. When we were done again Rita had the strength and faith that she was in God’s hand and that he would take care of her. When we got home we finished Christmas at the house and there was a hugh mess because even though I was out of work Rita went all out shopping for everyone, especially her new granddaughter Mejana. Rita was in her wheelchair and I told her to start cleaning up, and she immediately responded “I can’t I have cancer” and we all busted out laughing, Rita really knew what we all needed when we needed it and not to dwell on the negatives but the Positives in Life. And her life’s motto was “All our Trials, Make Us Stronger”. We had a lot of company and Parties over the next few months and Rita’s always kept her strong faith in God. February 14 2009, Kent and I decided to take the girls out for dinner and a little surprise, 1st Alicia came up and help her with her hair and makeup and had her looking like a Queen!!, then I gave her 2 dozen rose’s but said a few where for the girls, then Kent and I started talking about how all the restaurants will be slammed and I really didn’t want to wait in line so let’s just go to Johnson’s Corner(truck Stop) even though Rita looked like she should be going to a 5 star restaurant, but wait as were driving there I spot a new building behind Johnson’s Corner and ask Kent about it and he doesn’t know either and when we get there, Rita says it’s that new dinner theater Candlelight and I hear its really neat, but you have to have reservations, so I pull up in front and stop and Walla, we do have reservations, Rita and Jeanine are excited now and totally floored that we pulled this off. It was an awesome night, because Rita loved the theater, as she was in many plays in high school. During this time everyone was sending Rita flowers and she just beamed every time the door bell rang and it was someone delivering flowers, she especially liked Juanita’s because she had beautiful flowers and an even more Beautiful Message with it. We went through a lot of Trials, and when we were in the hospital the last time, the doctors gave us no Hope, so against their wishes I took Rita Home on Hospice and they said that she might not even make it home and they could take better care of her at the hospital, Ya Right!!! I have learned to hate hospitals and shift changes, I was there 24/7 to protect her from everyone who wanted to do their job because of legality, there’s only 1 person who can take care of her better than me, and that was God. We brought her home and all the neighbors, friends and family came to our home to see Rita and help in any way they could, I’m kind of numb now and only want to tell Rita I love her every time she has her eyes open and she mouths it back to me. Since I left Schwan’s in 2004 Rita has been after my 1 carat diamond I won for being a 5th year Chairman’s Club, but I always told her it was Michaels and she had enough Bling, since I had won for her 3 Diamond rings through Schwan’s and total was about 3.5 carats and that was enough I thought. Through this whole time I never thought about that ring until I was holding her hand and saw how small the diamond was in her wedding ring and that I could replace it with that 1 carat diamond of mine so I told Alicia to get mom’s rings off and tell her you’re going to clean them and get them back to her, so she got her rings and mine and went the jewelry store and had them replace the diamonds. On April 25th 2008 with everyone watching I presented a long awaited dream for Rita, with our song from our wedding playing in the background (Longer) I expressed my love for her and all that she had given me through the years and gave her wedding band back to her on a Rose, just like I gave her 1st ring to her back in 1978. After that while we were watching Rita’s all time favorite movie “To Sir with Love” She took her suction tube and started mouthing the song and we all joined in and it was a beautiful sight, because she looked so at peace and happy, and because she knew where she was going. At 11:02 pm on April 27 2008, Rita went home to be with her Real Father.
Safely Home
I am home in Heaven, dear ones: Oh, so happy and so Bright! There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, safely home in heaven at last. Did you wonder I so Calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! But Jesus’ Love illumined every dark and fearful glade. And he came Himself to meet me in that way so hard to tread ; And with Jesus’ arm to lean on, could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still: Try to look beyond earth’s shadows, Pray to trust our Father’s Will. There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth-you shall rest in Jesus’ land. When that work is all completed, he will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!
It’s been a lonely year, but with all the family, Friends and traveling, I feel Blessed to have Rita as long as I did, so Thanks from the bottom of my Heart for all your Prayers, notes, hospitality, food and Love.
We are doing our Annual MS Walk on May1st in Denver with over 75 people so if you’re in the area, do the walk with us or donate to MS Society. God Bless Mike and Family

Chicken N Rice

2010-04-23T10:42:00.004-06:00

Rita All our Trials Make Us Stronger

A Toast To Rita at Sunset

Playing chicken chicken little red chicken

Mag Borst with freshing painted lips

Dinner at Rhonda and Erick's

Mag Borst was the Queen as she made Rita's Chicken and Rice for Dinner Saturday Night and it was Delicious, I made the mistake of leaving the left overs there, but Erick polished it off, the Little Maggot. Now Margaret has been feeding me and my family this whole year with frozen homemade meals, I wonder how long can I milk this? because they are Scrumpious!! Heading to the cabin this weekend to think about My Rita and our life together, the kids will be up on Tuesday 4/27/2010, I could not have made it through this year without God, Family and Friends, so I HUGH THANK YOU and God Bless Mike

The Cabin

2010-04-02T07:39:00.006-06:00

Buying the cabin was pretty much painless in 2002. The banks do not loan $$$ on mountain property, especially ones without electricity and water. But since I own 2 vehicles and a motorcycle all I had to do was give them the titles and some Savings Bonds and they gave us a 3 payment 3 year loan, which meant I had to write a check every May for $6000 for the next 3 years. So between my Schwan's Bonus checks and Income Tax checks we had it paid off in 3 years. We didn't do much to the cabin in those 3 years, just clean it up and Rita made it our 2nd Home with a whole 600 sq ft, 300 on 1st and 2nd floor. We would go every weekend or every other, to do everything as a Family cooking, cleaning, hiking, biking, fishing,Picnics, building, wood cutting, grilling, eating together, sledding, motorcycling, 3 wheeling, snowmobiling, playing games, Tickle Monster, Rappelling, bonfires with smores, hide n seek, Lotsa Fun Family activities which brought Rita and I closer together and our Kids. The cabin became a Santurary where we grew closer together and created an unbreakable Bond between us. Our Favorite time here started in 1994 when we spent our 1st Christmas at the Cabin an of course the summers because you have so much to do outside. We had allot of visitor's, where the Ole Cabin felt a little Cramped, like when the Lenhoff's came with their 5 kids, 4 adults and 9 children made things alittle Cozy, Tracy Lenhoff would always, and to this day, hurt herself, gashing her knee open or crashing a motorcycle after 10 whole feet on it. Or the Borst's and their 3 boys sitting around the camp fire telling scary stories like Where's my Toe and watching Luke Freak Out and dive for his Mother's protection. Or the Welu's and their 3 boys. While they were up at the cabin with us, Michael was messing around with me, so I decided to throw him over my back and hang him upside down, by hanging onto his legs, but I forgot I had a Phillip's screw driver in my back pocket and it kind of puncture his private area (OUCH!), so we had to take him to the emergency room. Michael kept saying all the way down, I hope I get a man doctor and not a female. Or the Winseman's and their 3 kids, who Even spent a Christmas with us. Lora and Alicia are Best friends and still to this day, well 1 afternoon, out of the blue, they decided to build a Tee pee on the hill by our cabin, but didn't tell any of us, so Rita with her Loud Whistle let er rip and the girls came running. We all made a trip to see what they built, and "Wow" what a Great Tee pee and still stands to this day after 16 years. They must of learned their buildings skills from their Dads. And of course lotsa Family, My Dad and Dee and all my sisters 1 Christmas, Rita Dad and Mom,Keith Loves the Cabin, they have spent a few christmas's with us there, My sister Michele,Don and her 3 boys, Rita's sister Rhonda, Eric and their 2 kids, I was teaching Kyle how to repel and was distracted by his over protective Mother and did not tie the rope off good enough and he fell about 10 ft, but since he didn't hardly weigh anything, he landed like a feather on some rocks and saw a pretty scared face in me wondering what I had just did, well that was it for his Mother, No More Repelling, at least this time at the cabin because now Kyle loves to rock climb and repel. In 1996 I start tearing down barns, sheds and one small house for the lumber, because we have out grown our little cabin and need to expand, say like double the size from 600 sq ft to 1200 sq ft, so I draw up all the plans after reading a few how to books and start work in May 1996, I can only work on it over the weekends and a few vacation days, and by October I have it enclosed and that’s when the building inspector drops by and leaves me a note to stop construction and get a building permit! What the heck, I’m clear up here and I need a building permit. Luckily I knew someone done there and she took me straight to the head honcho and he approves my plans and doesn’t fine me, Yippee!! Well I had a lot of help building it and a lot of Fun Too; you see working up at the cabin is like relaxing to me. Rita help when she could and this one time I was holding up about 10 sheets of sheet rock about 450 lbs and I needed to open a window so she volunteered to hold it up, I said, are you sure because it’s a lot of weight and she assured me she could balance it for a second while I opened the window, I only turned for a second and heard a loud crash to see Rita on the floor and luckily the sheetrock hit my saw horse, or it would of landed on her too. Before we left for the emergency room I tried to talk her into packing up and heading back to Brush but she knew I wanted to be at the cabin working on things so she said no way let’s just go check my arm out and come back, Yep she broke her arm, and Yep she was miserable but we had to go back to the cabin to pack up and head back to Brush which was a long 5 hours, traveling back and forth. It took 5 years to get a final on it because I told them I have to take vacation to be here during the week, so every year I would get an inspection and would tell them, see you next year, because they always found things I still needed to do. After the cabin was done I built a 1000 sq ft deck around it. OK now I’m done till 2008
The Cabin is just God's gift to all of us. None of this would not have happened if Rita was not so persistent to get me to slow down enough to get the phone #, because she knew it was one of my goals to own property in the mountains. Rita always had so much faith in me and what I could do. It True behind every Good Man there is a Far Better Woman "Rita".
Now back to Brush, I'm extremely busy turning my Schwan's Sales Company into an Extreme Selling Machine, in which we strived to win every contest they had. The one I remember the most is the Chicken Contest for 2 reasons, we wore Chicken Hats and handed out Rita's simple ,easy and delicious Chicken and Rice recipe to all our customers and they loved it, of course so do we. We were #1 in the Division and #1 in the Region for years in that contest. Now Rita was a busy Woman, she worked for me without a raise for 6 years, well I gave her fringe benefits at work! She was my tele-communicator and did all the calls for my route managers, it was 7-12 hours per week and gave her Mad Money for whatever she wanted. When she wasn't doing that she was a volunteer at all the kids schools and would help in the class room and all the field trips. She would take the kids to school every morning in her PJ's and then go all over town having Coffee with her friends, I would have a heck of a time tracking her down when I needed her or was wondering what she was going to feed me for lunch, Rita would always ask What do you wanna eat? and my response always was the same "Food". Cathy one of Rita's friends had a classic Rita Story, Rita had stopped over for coffee and they both were in their PJ's and fell asleep, when Cathy's babysitting Dad came by to drop his kids off and woke them up, Cathy said he had a strange look on his face, like I'm going to leave my kids with You, he did and after he left they laugh about it. Rita was involved in everything, Sorority, School, cooking for church, kids sports, baby sitting,, she made friends easy,and our Life Together Just kept gettin Better. Happy Easter Love Mike and Family

Rita's Chicken N Rice
2/3 cup uncooked Rice (I liked More Rice)
1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can of cream of Celery Soup
1/2 cup milk
Raw Chicken Breasts (I like allot of Chicken in it)
Mix the above ingredients and heat through, pour in greased 8x10 pan(I like bigger for leftovers), Lay pieces of raw Chicken over Rice, Season the top(I like onion soup mix Best), 325 for 2 hours, cover with foil, last 15 minutes or so uncover.
Wala Delicious
Who wants to make it for me?PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Valentine's Day 1985ish

2010-02-28T18:25:00.002-07:00

Happy Valentine’s Day, well it didn’t start out that way. Its 1985ish and its February 14th Saturday and we are still living in Randolph Ne. Bob Winseman and I decide to go shooting and a little drinking and as we are driving around in the country shooting random things, Bob says OH Heck we have to run back to town so he can get Kim some flowers before the flower shop close’s at noon, so off we go and when we get there I go inside with him and watch him pick out a nice bouquet for Kim, without even thinking twice about getting some flowers for Rita (Hugh Mistake). Good that’s finished now we can continue our adventure in the country. When we run out of beer and bullets we decide its time to head back to town and get ready for taking our wives out for Valentines dinner and dancing. But wait I get home and I was thinking Rita’s all excited about going out, since she has been cooped up in the house all week with the kids. I’m not a rocket scientist but I can detect a little hostility in our home so I ask Rita what’s up? Rita informs me that all the wives that we will be going out with tonight received flowers from their husbands, Opps!!! And it’s too late to get any flowers since everything is closed. You see all the wives had a phone attached to their ears and when anything happened like flowers delivered they all called each other and said how thoughtful their husbands were and Kim told Rita that Bob and I even had to run back to town because Bob forgot before he left, so she knew I was at the flower shop. It’s not looking good for Ole Mike. I tried to have fun with her and cheer her up but I lost the Battle, but I haven’t lost the war yet, so off I go to our basement to fix my Bad Judgment. I Finished it just in time to get ready and head to Laurel Ne for Dinner with all our Schwan’s friends. Rita sits by me at dinner but continues to ignore me and any of my advancements, so I’m left no choice but to stop all the conversations going on around the table and explain to everyone what I didn’t do for my wife on Valentine’s Day, and that I hoped what I made for her would Fix my inconsiderate actions. So I placed a Hugh Red Heart around her neck with a rope which said I Love You with me as a cupid shooting Rita with an arrow and the other side was a Rose, and asked for her forgiveness. Eureka it worked!!!! Life is Good with Rita, man I wasn’t looking forward to a lonely night, But Mike’s back in the saddle. Yippee!!! The rest of the night was just Rita and I, Loving each other, and More every Day. God Bless Mike

2010-01-31T19:23:00.010-07:00

Rita and Michael at Church, Prego with Abbie

Our Beautiful Family, Notice all Abbie's hair

Rita with her Mom (Maggie) Grandma (Edith)

Rita and I at Banquet 1990

At our Home in Brush

Rita and I at Managers Night 1990

Lora Wasting a Good NA Beer

Lily and Mejana

Ronny Surfing the Mountain "CRAZY"

Boyles Family Picture Were's Abbie?

Christmas 2009

Mejana and Grandpa hanging out while kids have fun on Beaver Dam

Kids tearing up the frozen beaver dam

Lora taking credit for everything

Alicia The Awesome Mommy and Mejana

Christmas Mess

Christmas 2009 Morning

Ashley, Abbie and Michael Christmas Zombies

Family

Lora finishing decorate the tree

Mejana helping

The Choice Christmas Tree

Still searching for the choice tree

Abbie, Alicia, Ashley and Mejana enjoying forest

Christmas Tree search vehicle since 1994, we actually got stuck for about an hour after this because I back into deep snow

Just like Ole Times

The search is on but we had to ditch the 3 wheeler and 4 wheeler, too much snow

Antique toys I found in one of building i tore down to build cabin

Ashley and Lora making Goodies, Just like Rita

Ashley and I after she got off plane from Hawaii, I made her a Lai (flower necklace)

We had a wonderful Christmas at the cabin and Santa Clause came while everyone slept. We sure missed Rita and her baking.

Let’s see where are we in the Boyles history, ah yes Rita is pregnant and looking more beautiful each day. We had our Schwan’s banquet coming up and they were having a 50’s manager night on Friday and our banquet on Saturday. So Rita went to goodwill to see what she could find and sure enough she found cat rimmed glasses for her and an old suit for me, we looked Great together and she had the belly to prove it. I remember watching her at 6 months along doing the ho la hop contest, she still could move those hips. Rita love the banquets because of all the dressing up and seeing everyone at their best, of course I would be happy in blue jeans but no no Rita always had to dress me, and always did a fantastic job making us look Good Together. The kids are all getting excited about the new baby, which we still don’t know which sex is, as we always wanted to be surprised, but I was sure it was a boy because of how she carried the baby and big she was getting. May 30 1991 Rita goes into labor, how exciting this is our 4th child and just what my goals where for our family, but wait Rita is not as happy as the other births in fact she is really annoyed at me and all my jokes about her contractions and how easy it is and she announces that this is our last kiddo. Yes Dear was my favorite remark to her when I was in trouble and I’m sure I said that and sunk even deeper into trouble. As the doctor was examining Rita her water broke and I remember him pushing back on his chair and saying Whoa! About an hour later Abbie Marie Boyles was born, weighing in at, well I can’t remember either 8lbs 15oz or 9lbs 1oz, I’m sure Rita could tell us. Well she’s a screamer with jet black hair and lots of it. So I’m thinking man little Michael and me are really out number, maybe we should try 1 more time to even things up. The kids are really excited to see their new sister and of course mother Alicia is going to tell Ashley and Michael how to treat little Abbie. That summer all was well, Abbie moved into the cradle at the end of our bed, and was being spoiled by Mom, Dad and family. Except for the family cat, you see we keep seeing scratches on Abbie and couldn't’t figure out how she got them until 1 time I snuck into our room to check on her, only to see the cat at the end of her cradle watching her and when Abbie would move she would scratch her. When I saw that I freak out and tried to catch the cat but couldn't’t, when I finally did it was the last time at the Boyles. Don’t worry I didn’t kill it or hurt it just relocated the cat. I thinks its July and Rita has some good news for me, she says she pregnant and I’m floored but happy and Rita not so happy, in fact she’s crying, so I ask her how does she know and she failed a pregnancy test, so you better make an appointment with doctor to make sure, well she passed the doctors test NOT Pregnant, but for me that’s bad news because now she wants me to go see the doctor and I’m thinking as fast as I can on why I shouldn't’t go see the surgeon, but I lose and that’s when I lost my deep voice. I guess I did make my goal of 4 kiddo’s but you see I always under projected and over delivered, not this time, I’m done making babies.
Now its April 1992 and I won a contest where my boss put us up for a night at the motel, bought dinner and a round of golf. When it came to golf I said no thanks and would rather go on a hike with Rita, so off we went on a adventure up Buckhorn Rd, except I thought it was Stove Prairie Rd, we found a great spot and hiked about a mile or 2 and even found a tree I took home and planted. When we finished I looked at the map and saw the road went through to Poudre Canyon so I said let’s see where it takes us and head home. Now Rita being the shopper always spotted the for sale signs and wanted to check them out. I can see us driving by right now and Rita’s telling me to pull over so we can have a look at this cabin on the side of the road. God knew what was going on but I didn’t so I said we couldn't’t afford it, so why look and kept driving. Well I drive about 4 miles to the road closed sign for Winter and have to turn around and go all the way back we came which is about 40 minutes, so on the way back I slow down enough to let Rita write the number down and off we go back to Brush about 3 hours. The next day I call because now I’m curious as to the cost of the cabin and find out its only $22,000, so I make plans to go up the next weekend and check it out, I find out its been on the market for 2 years and they did have an offer but the guy had to move out of state so that fell through. Rita couldn't’t come up because Abbie was sick so we took the recorder with us and Alicia did all the recording telling Mom why we should get it. Rita was impressed but still wanted to check it out. The next day I called the realtor and offered $15,000 and she came back with $15,500 and I said sold, you see Rita and I were talking about a new car for her and I hate how you buy a new car and how fast it depreciates, besides I’m a salesman and I can talk Rita into it, because I haven’t told her we’re going to buy it yet, but I just did so I’m in trouble, not really, Rita is always so supportive of my decisions, besides this is one of our goals, to own land in the mountains and this one has a cool cabin on it with a stream out back full of Brooke Trout, 2 acres and an outhouse. What I didn’t realize is how important this cabin would be to our family and keeping us all together away from the controls of the world and back to being together as a family should without T.V. or Phone and more about family games, exploring, hiking, driving around and just plain Fun in the mountains. That’s it for now folks. Love Mike and Family

Christmas at the Cabin

2009-12-16T22:53:00.007-07:00

All the kids slept together until Alicia turned into a teenager, at our cabin and home, besides there were only 2 beds anyways, notice my homemade rope ladder because this was on the second floor, Looks like a Family to Me!!!

After Santa's visit, he Even ate the cookies and drank the milk

around 2000 Christmas

kids stringing the garland for the tree in new addition

Our Cabin Can you picture yourself there?

Another Boyles tradition from Santa is Silly String which usually ends up on Mom and Dad

Our Brand New 1974 Suzuki 400 our kids plus Cole and Cody Schnoor, yes it still runs and the kids loved it

Look how ready they are for Santa to come, notice the tree with very few ornaments, we just started our collection that year

Rita's tradition the kids get to open 1 present on Christmas Eve and guess what they are always PJ's(this is because my family always opened gifts on Christmas Morning and Rita's family always Christmas Eve, so we compromised as good parents should

Dad in Heaven on earth

Kids in Front of our old cabin

not our 1st Christmas but this old truck has delivered all our Christmas trees to the cabin

2006 Christmas at the cabin with Rita's Parents

Our 1st Christmas at the cabin with kids 1994

This is one of my favorites, I was just reading the story the night before Christmas when all of sudden I saw Santa Claus shooting across the sky in his Sleigh and the kids just had to see and believe which they still do!!

Our Our 1st Christmas in Jacksonville North Carolina 1980, notice Rita Long Beautiful Hair.

Merry Christmas

We celebrated Rita's Birthday on Friday 12/11/2009, all the kids came up except Ashley who's still in Hawaii. Wayne and Amy, Adam, Becky, Callie, and Emily, Tanner and Loren, Mike and Deb, Sara, Matt and of course my Red Headed step child Lora were there to toast to Rita and all the memories she left us. On Rita's 18th Birthday I asked her to Marry me and we forgot to ask her parents if it was OK, so we didn't tell them until her Mom spotted the ring on her finger and of course they wanted nothing but the best for her so when I got over there , they let me have it with both barrels, and I stood my ground, I guess they might have been preparing me for Boot Camp with all the yelling, after all these years I still feel as close to them as I did my Parents. The Cabin is 95% done and so let me tell you about our 1st Christmas at the Cabin.

I'm trying to remember what year was our first Christmas there, has to be around 1993 or 1994, anyways let me tell you how we celebrated Our Lord Jesus Christ's Birthday. It all starts in a 2 story 600 sq ft cabin in the Roosevelt National Forest, with no running water, electricity and any other comfort that we take for granite these days. That means I get to warm the cabin when we get there, because it is usually about 10 degrees warmer than outside which could be as cold as -22 below. Yep the wife and kids get to enjoy the warmth of the car, until I can get the temperature above 32, so you don't have to see your breath, and when they do come in they huddle around the fireplace. Well we can never make it anywhere on time so by the time I get the cabin warmed up, it time for bed, which brings another fun job of mine, warming the beds and pillows so the kids will actually go to bed. I do this using an old aluminum fry pan that I put on the fireplace and then make mad daces to each bed with a hot pan, the kids and Rita loved it as the beds were toasty warm, of course my side never got the full effect as the kids always wanted more warmth, so I would get the Luke warm pan, But I had Rita to warm me up, Ya Baby! (that means good - Real Good). The next morning we would all wake up to the refreshing fell of the mountains and No TV, Radio, Nintendo, and of course NO PHONE, if fact you can't get any service up there and still can't, Thank God for that one. We get everyone fed and dressed up real warm, because its time to go find our Christmas Tree. What a treat 4 kids with 4 different trees and no one is willing to give up their tree so I can cut it down and put it up in our cabin. This goes on for about a hour because I have made a stand that I will not cut anything until they all decide on 1 tree. Abbie was always the winner because she would always throw a fit and the other kids would just give up, never without a fight though, Rita and I would just sit back and film them and laugh and get mad then laugh again. We have always taken the same truck to get the tree, it's a 1968 Jeep J2000 with seats in the back of the topper to fit all the kids, now don't tell anyone but I haven't licensed it since 1997, beside have you ever seen a license plate on Santa's Sleigh? After I set up the tree its time to make some ornaments from hobby lobby and strings some popcorn, cranberries and fruit loops, which we still have. The kids always go crazy making different ornaments and of course they want that special attention that they made the best one, which of course Abbie always had the Best. We have another tradition that the oldest gets to put the Star on top of the tree and that of course is Alicia until she moves out, which is not for about 6 more years. I didn't have much choices then for lights so all I could come up with was a few battery powered ones, but they did just the trick and really looked beautiful at night with the lanterns off. We always have a fantastic meal on Christmas Eve followed by the kids opening 1 present before they go to bed, which turns out to be always PJ's and of course they must leave cookies and a note to Santa. This is the only day of the year I can get them to bed on time because they know if they don't Santa ain't coming down no chimney here, so off they go and of course I get to read The Night Before Christmas and all through the house, you know the rest. If you can believe it just before they fall asleep I see something through the window could it be, I think it is, so I tell the kids Look there's Santa Clause and his Reindeer streaking through the sky, its looks like a plain but the kids swear they saw him so i said you'd better get to bed. Speaking of rest who ever gets any on Christmas Eve, because Rita has always went all out for Christmas, which means I get to wrap, put together and pull all the hidden presents and put them under the tree. Rita's in charge of writing on the presents from Santa and she always had a certain way to do it and make me eat the cookies and leave lots of crumes and Santa would write something back to the kids. Wowser it about 2am and I haven't Even done the stockings yet! Isn't it Great to be a Mom or Dad!! well I finally make it to bed and just before I turn the Christmas Tree lights on and listen for the kids when they wake up to check if Santa's arrived yet. That is always a Special Treat for me, because I could see them through the vent in the floor and listen to them get all Excited that Santa Clause has come. Well I had to tell you our Christmas story and they still are happening today, just this one will be a little lonier, Rita will be watching from the Best Seat in Heaven as we all Celebrate Jesus Birthday. Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year. Mike and Family

Thankgiving and Cabin ready for carpet

2009-12-03T20:40:00.006-07:00

Yep this is our outhouse at the cabin and let me say it will wake you up when you sit down when it -14 out, it is in our shed now, the insulation is a trick on the brain telling it, its keeping the cold out. And the sheet used for a door is our 1st water bed sheet from 1980 Yep I'm a packrat, you never know when you'll use it again

Me and the kids on a downed tree in Sioux Falls

Sunrise off back deck this morning 12/03/2009

Kent, Michael and me finishing bathroom counter

No I'm not flipping you off, unless you deserve it, well I'm showing off my finger which I shot a nail through with my nail gun, pretty handy huh!

Rita's Mom making us coffee like a Good mother in law

Boyles gang from my Dad's brother Pat's Side

My sister Michele and her Family

Our Precious Mejana On Grandpa's chair in kitchen

Me and Grandpa stuffing the turkey, notice the wall decor, it hasn't changed in over 31 years!

Well when we make a fast trip we really do, we left Loveland at 8pm on Wednesday and got to Sioux Falls at 6:30 am, just in time to help Grandpa stuff the turkey. We could of eaten on time because we had everything ready except Abbie decided to blow dry her hair and the turkey roaster blew the fuse so we didn't catch that for about 2 hours, Way to go Abbie, I guess she forgot to tell anyone the blow dryer quit working. We got to see everyone and it was Good to be in our Home town again. As usual we flew around everywhere trying to see everyone and everything and left at 3:50am on Sunday and got back to Loveland at 11:57 am, so the kids could go back to work. It was a quick trip and I would do it again. Love the Boyles

Alicia, Ronny, Mejana, Lora, Michael, Kent, Tanner and me will be up at the cabin this weekend moving furniture so the carpet dudes can get it all down, I think someone else is coming too but can't remember oh well Merry Christmas

Brush Colorado

2009-12-02T21:26:00.005-07:00

At Schwan's banquet 1991 about 4-5 months along

in our new home at 429 Cambridge St 01/12/1991

Managers Night at our 1991 banquet, it was a sock hop dress like the 50's wasn't she cute

Rita never liked her picture taken so I always had to be fast or she would dodge me this picture was taken 19 days before delivery 05/11/1991

at our Christmas party for our employees 12/29/1990

We landed in Brush on April 19Th 1990 and moved into a neat old rental in the old part of Brush with lotsa older big trees, just like Randolph Ne and of course lotsa young families close by who Rita instantly knew all of them. I remember the young mother across the street who had the same baby monitor we had and when she would talk to her baby we could hear it on the monitor, well that gave Rita an excuse to go meet her and see if she was hearing any of our fun things going on in our home. The rental had 4 window air conditioners, Rita thought we were really moving up in the world until we needed them and turned them all on, too find out they didn't do much except move the air around a little. The downstairs was OK but the upstairs was an oven and that's where the kids bedrooms where, so they didn't spend much time there during the day. The nights always cooled the house down and Colorado has very little humidity, which made Rita very Happy. I settled into my new positions as sales manager trying to figure out my managing style which took allot of effort because I'm a thick headed X Marine who likes to learn everything the hard way, Thank God I had Rita to calm me down and tell me things were going to be alright and think before you speak, which was hard to do. Quick note about 8 months into management I had a come to Jesus meeting where I put the law down on how we were going to run routes with all my Schwan's Men. I guess I should of run it by Rita before I had the meeting because what I was trying to do and what happened was totally opposite. My best people quit and all the ones I was trying to run off stayed. Morale of the story, don't try to put in what they don't have but improve what they do have and make them the Best they can be and life is Good. Speaking of life, Rita is out of birth control and hasn't found a doctor yet to get a new prescription, oh well maybe she wont get pregnant. My goal when we got married was 4 anyways and I need to Evan things up alittle as there is too much estrogen in our home. Oops September 1990 Rita gets pregnant AGAIN Yippee, it seems we did have a little time to ourselves. Man I Love watching Rita go through the stages of pregnancy But wait maybe Rita planned this because she was getting sick of this little rental and now with another kiddo coming, well i have to put it in high gear to find us a home since ours in Randolph has closed. So the very next month as we were driving around looking someone that day put a sign in their yard for sale by owner, you see the town had about 5000 people but I bet there was only 5-6 homes for sale, so when a new one came up they didn't last long. So Rita and I went to the door to see if we could check it out and before we left we had a contract on it. Its a bi-level and Rita loves it, except she not sure about the swamp cooler for a air conditioner, what the heck is a swamp cooler anyways, we don't need it till next summer so I guess we'll find out then how it works, and yes it did a great job keeping the temperature down, except sometimes at night when the wind was just right a cloud from the feed lot just north of town would head our way and we would know in a minute because the swamp cooler would blow all the nasty air into the home, then I would fly to turn it off.

Its a First! did the Blog at the cabin using my neighbors internet neato. Thats all for now I'll throw some more up on our trip to Sioux Falls and the finishing touches of the cabin. Merry Christmas The Boyles

Cabin almost ready

2009-11-17T21:26:00.006-07:00

Notice Wayne working, Adam telling me I'm #1 and Paul showing us he is Atlas, on the addition I forgot to mention that needed to be done to connect to new addition

Adam and me cutting off the peak of the old part, which I still have and do not know what to do with it yet?

The old connected to the new, an engineering Marvel by the Lenhoff gang, notice the chimney, I actually tried to start a fire that nite to take the chill off the cabin, only to realize we had no chimney, only burnt some plastic and allot of smoke. (Knuckle Head)

This is the doorway from the old part to the new part up stairs, it fits me just fine but if your over 6' 1" your going to have a headache, just ask Adam Lenhoff who hit his head three times 'My Bad'

Biggest icicle ever after 3 days of snow over 5'

downstairs with new baseboard, ready for carpet

This is the connection joint between old and new part downstairs, above it I had to put 3 15" micro lambs to support second floor.

This is a picture from second floor old part with new window and Roof which gave us more room in that area, when we got to that part in the construction, I mentioned what we where doing according to the plans and they said they didn't know about that, and I said I showed you the plans but forgot to tell them that this was a tear off and new roof, heck only took them a few extra hours 1 night, it was fun watching them in action when the work gets tough.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I spent the last weekend up at the cabin and it snowed all 3 days, I was finishing all the trim about 1600 feet of it that I had to sand and stain. She is almost done. I had the generator running all 3 days to power my table saw and chop saw, also had to cover up when I went inside or they would get covered with snow. As I was cutting a few boards I heard something from above and took a few steps forwards and the snow off the roof, just missed me, I said missed me missed me now you have to kiss me Rita. I didn't get my kiss but have been blessed by so many friends who have helped me at the cabin or have encouraged me through their words. You all are invited to Rita's birthday celebration at the Finished cabin on 12/11/2009. 1st ones their gets their choice of beds and bedrooms, except for Adam who said if any ones in his bedroom he will open up a whole can of Whoop ass on them. We all started this new addition for Rita on 06/05/2008 and God willing I will have a final sign off on this Friday. Love Mike and Family

Video of peak being torn down and notice the Hugh mess.

Life's moving on From Randolph to Brush

2009-10-31T21:07:00.005-06:00

Schwan's Banquet with Marvin Schwan 1985 to 1990?

Rita and Michael, he was always eating

After we bring Michael home in July, Rita gets to take care of 2 small girls Alicia 5 and Ashley almost 2 and me almost grown up at 28, Rita is 27, and we've been married 8 years. Well back in those days only the Rich had central air so we were rich but not in cash so we had 1 window AC in our front living room and a house full of fans, you see I worked all day and left early am when it was cool and came home late in the evening 11pm-1am cool again, so I thought it was fine, not Rita, the heat and her did not get along. Especially after having Michael and being house bound for a while. Rita's parents always came down and spent some time helping her out with all the fun of running the Boyles household. Lets see Rita's daily chores starts out with by getting my cloths out for work, make me some coffee,make my lunch or lunches as I had double overnights every other week, do the Schwan's paperwork, take care of 3 kids, clean the house, talk on the phone, drive down to get the mail, deposit the Schwan's money, make meals, make me a plate for when I get home and wait for me to get home, Wow, she did not have a boring life. With all that, Rita did a fantastic job of running our household, now she did have 1 downfall balancing our checkbook, never happened the whole time we lived in Randolph.

About this time everyone in Schwan's is getting look at for promotion's, 1st to go is Randy and Donna Page, then Jon and Jeanie Schnoor ( I know I can't believe it either), well what about Mike and Rita, it seems I have a big mouth and when I drink I get cocky. I would still be there if it weren't for Rita as she always stood by my side and kept me going in the right direction by telling me how proud she was of me or disappointed when I drank and too look at my actions through other people's viewpoint. Which was hard for me as I only saw my way, Rita was a very patient, Loving, motivator, and the Best wife any man could hope for. We would take a walk around Randolph on Sunday evening and talk about our hopes, our dreams and where we would end up next year, then next year we would take the same walk and wonder whens our turn? It's our turn 11/1989, I get promoted to OJT manager and will be in training for 6 months and gone for week to weeks at a time, with never a complaint from Rita, just open arms when I finally come home again. Rita wasn't in my classes to keep reminding me to keep my big mouth shut, as I always spoke my mind and Did Not like authority until I respected that person, and to top it off I only wanted to be promoted close the the mountains somewhere, I was offered areas like North Dakota Nope!, Clovis New Mexico Heck No!, Finally Brush Colorado comes up on the radar screen, I remember Al Bussman taking me out for breakfast in Marshall Mn to talk to me about it, (Al was the original Division Manager who hired me and now was a Regional Manger who had Colorado), I asked Al if it was close to the mountains and his answer was No but you can see them from there. So off we go to Brush Colorado to meet with Bob Ludewig and check out Brush, population 5000, movie theater, Pizza Hut(Rita's in Love with it already), it was a farm community on the plains of Colorado, great schools and great people, only 1 thing Al said I could see the mountains from there, what he didn't tell me was I had to be on my roof at sunset to see them! Ha. We leave our beautiful Home in Randolph which we paid $26000 for in 1983 and put $12000 sweat equity in it, and sell it for $35000 in 1990 and land in Brush Colorado on April 19th 1990 with our 3 kids, a dog, a 1970 Chevy pickup with a camper on it, a trailer with 2 motorcycles and Rita car a 1986 Pontiac 6000, when you get promoted with Schwan's they pack and move everything for you, all we had to do was pack our cloths we needed for the trip, nice little perk. I need to back track a little to lead to the rest of the story. I bought our 1970 Chevy pickup with a camper on it in South Dakota after a banquet and income tax coming in for $2500, it was about 1985,you see I had taken Rita camping a few times and she was not into sleeping on the ground and dealing with the whole tent thing, so I thought that if we bought a camper she would enjoy going more, well she did until we started feeling the camper up with kids. We only had Alicia when we bought it and now have Ashley and Michael, Well Michael took the front seat with me and Rita and had to put Alicia and Ashley in the back when we went anywhere, and after we got there after about 2-3 days Rita would get claustrophobic and didn't wont to go anywhere in the truck after awhile. The only thing I didn't like about camping was finding the right spot or over crowded camp grounds. Had to insert this as it will lead to our decision to buy the cabin. Take Care everyone, the Holidays are coming and its our favorite time of year. We are heading back to Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving with all the kids ad spending Christmas at the cabin, I will be having a party for Rita on her birthday 12/11 at the cabin also, and will have it totally completed by then. Just FYI, Everyone has an open invitation to the kids cabin, so if you don't get an invitation, invite yourself, and we would Love to have you anytime, Evan at Christmas,(cabin can sleep 20+ on real beds and more if we count air mattress or the 5 couches) That's our Rita's Way. That's it for now, Love Mike and Family

Mejana 1st Birthday

2009-10-21T20:37:00.009-06:00

Halloween Party 1990, I guess they should of bought something

Grandpa and Mejana Notice how much she Loves me

Daddy and Mejana, this is how she really looks before we clean her up

Auntie Paula with Rita's cake pan she used to make Mejana 1st birthday cake

Mommy and Mejana with the Demo cake

Mejana kissing Grandma Rita

Beautiful Mejana 1st Birthday Party Dress

Mommy and Daughter

Alicia and Paula put on an awesome 1st birthday party for Mejana, complete with Rita's old cake pan she used to make Alicia 2nd birthday cake, I think Rita's cake looked a little better than Paula but not by much. Paula and Rita surprized us with a Birthday Card from Grandma Rita which she wrote out when she knew God was taking her home. Rita called her Sweet Pea in the card, it made us all cry. It was grand ole time for Mejana, because all the attention was on her and opening all the presents, we had a little competition to make sure Granpa's was the best gift as I had to keep banging on her new Barbie piano to keep her wanting it evan though there was alot of cool gifts that would help her learn and make's all kinds of sounds, to keep her wanting all of them. Ronny and Alicia have done a Great job on Mejana and Rita was there for her very 1st breath and evan cut the cord along with her Ashley and Abbie. Its Halloween and I got to watch Mejana as Alicia had to make up a day at work. We had a Great time and she didn't start to whine until her Mother got home. Well Happy Halloween :>

Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque 2009

2009-10-06T11:11:00.004-06:00

Old Town Albuquerque with Randy, Mag, Me, Jon and Jeanie

Balloon Fiesta, Randy,Mag,Jon,Tiffany,Cole,Jeanie,Me, and Cody

At dinner with gang

Mag and Randy trying to piss off Jon and Jeanie's neighbor.

on their back deck enjoying the view and warmth from God and maybe a Marga "Rita" too (that's a drink that came from Rita's celebration, I think we toasted Rita 1 too many times, as Jon kept filling our glasses)

Made a quick trip to New Mexico with the Randolph Gang, had to polish up my selling skills to get Mag and Randy to go with me. We had a great time reminiscing, drinking, balloon watching, telling lies about each other, and just being together, which everyone should do with their Family and Friends, let go of the time thing, money who needs it, and just plan some Awesome trips that don't cost hardly anything but reward you with Plenty, I will always pick a trip now over any other destination, that involves visiting Family and Friends!! See Ya Mike

How about a Boy

2009-09-30T22:35:00.008-06:00

Beautiful Rita

Lets Go Rita Yes She will be having Michael today 07/12/1988

Rita, Alicia, Ashley in our yard Randolph Ne

Our New Son Michael, notice how we all match

Alicia and Mejana in our back yard Loveland

New deck at Cabin

Upper Deck Michael and Me

Upper Deck

Margaret, Tim, Nicole and Riley at Rita's favorite spot in the fall with all the aspen trees changing at the cabin

Lora and Me, she volunteered to paint so I let her

Getting a load of wood for the deck and whatever we can't use, we'll burn it, Rita and I bought this truck in 1994 for the cabin, the back has bucket seats for the kids and the top rack for hauling logs, its 4 wheel drive and its been a great truck for $400

Kent Hall surprized Rita and I with this for Christmas 2008. its bolted to the side of the cabin

Kent, Natalie Kent's Daughter, and Adam lenhoff, is he drinking on the job?

Labor Day Weekend at our cabin with Lenhoff gang, Stevenson Family, Michael and me

Ronny and Wayne Texturing

Adam texturing

Wayne and Paul Texturing, now get back to work!!!

Hey Everyone

Its been pretty busy at the cabin trying to get all the inspections done before the permit expires. I don't know what I would do without Kent Hall and the Lenhoff Gang, Kent always comes up with me and spends a couple of days working on it and making sure I do it his way as he is a perfectionist and I'm a guy who says trim will hide that. Most of the Lenhoff's came up for Labor Day to finish mudding and textured the new addition. It was also a time for them to practice there mud throwing abilities on each other and everyone who walked by, especially Michael and I, they Evan hit Megan a few times (Michael Girlfriend). It was a time consuming job, and thankfully Wayne Lenhoff (Dad)kept everyone on track. The next time they come up, it will be all fun, it was over a year ago when in July 2008 that Wayne, Paul and Adam came from Lincoln Ne to build a 1200 square ft addition so Rita could have a bedroom on the main floor.

Abbie got a new job at Mosaic, its a home for the disabled, and she helps with a friends Grandmother in Denver who is home on Hospice. I'm still studying stocks, working at the cabin, drinking wine, watching those beautiful Colorado sunsets remembering Rita, and waiting for God's Comfort.

Moving right along, Rita and I are enjoying Alicia and Ashley. Alicia has the whole pecking order all figured out as she is bigger than Ashley and can mess with her whenever Mom and Dad aren't looking. I can still see Ashley in her walker and Alicia throwing her around in it and Ashley trying to get away from her but she can't. Ashley would look up at us and couldn't talk but her face said it all, Get That Bratty bigger sister away from me. I think this is were Ashley learned to ignore us, as I always had to say her name 3 times before she would Even acknowledge me, and when she did it was just a look and then back to whatever she was doing.

About this time is when Jeannie and Rita would have a new weekly routine of getting our payroll checks on Thursday and driving straight to Norfolk Ne to see who could spend the most money the fastest and yes they left the kids at home with the babysitter so they could better their skills at spending money. At Schwan's if you were at the top of your game in selling you would be in Chairman's Club, which we all were, and so our wives had to get in the game and I believe they were in Chairgirls Club for spending, which the prize for that was a Golden Pen to write out the checks easier, as this was way before Debit/Credit cards. We never balanced our check book the whole time we were in Randolph and thank goodness I never tried because I might have blown a head gasket.

After Ashley is born Rita and I decide that the only way she could get pregnaught was through fertility drugs so we don't Even try to use birth control and in November 1987, Rita fails another pregnancy test and makes me the Happiest guy in the world again. But wait something is different Rita seems to be carrying this one really low and she is allot bigger then the other 2, which were 6 and 7 lbs. We always decided that we didn't want to know the sex of the baby until he/she was born and they always offered us a test to see if the child was disabled or not and we always refused because we would love the child the way God gave it to us. Oh My Goss Rita is getting so big with baby and I'm in Heaven watching this child grow inside of her. Now Rita isn't to excited about the size of this baby and how its affecting her but Oh Boy I am. Well the same Dr that delivered Ashley is going to delivery this one too( Dr Holzworth) I still remember when we went to see him after we found out she was expecting and him singing Rita, Rita, Rita what have you been doing, and both of us with Hugh Smiles on our face saying Oh Nothing. So Dr Holzworth decides we should induce when Rita gets far enough so we do not have to deal with trying to get there on time, because we live in Randolph Ne and the Hospital is in Yankton SD. So we have to be at the hospital at 8am and they will induce labor for Rita. Well its 7ish am and and whats taking so long for Rita Getting ready, Oh she has to curl her hair, put makeup on, and look like she is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, which she was, but hey she going to have a baby today 7/12/1988, why all the fuss, That's Rita!!! Oh I know because I'm going to film the baby's birth (G rating). I'm getting pretty good at this whole labor thing and pointing out after they induce her when she will have the next contraction and Rita's getting pretty good at some new word combinations because I'm having too much fun waiting for this next kid. If you have ever been induced you know that the labor is much worse than just waiting for God to pick the time and date. But Rita is a strong person and she delivers a healthy 9lbs Baby Boy. Finally I get to name this one lets see how about, Michael. We were both so excited to have a healthy boy, I cannot describe the feeling you just have to experience it. Well I get Rita and Baby Michael all settled in for the night and its time for Dad to go show his new son off with the video I just made, so off I go to Randolph and head to my boss's house Joe and Jean Welu with all the Schwan's Route Drivers and a case of beer, plus Jean's homemade casserole , in all the excitement I forgot to edit the video and so I put it in the VCR and we watch and every one's so excited, well thankfully there wasn't any parts exposed except for Michael. When I show up the next day to see Rita and Michael I get hit, really hit hard and I said whats that for and she said you showed everyone our video of me having Michael!! Oops I guess I should of asked Rita if I could show it and then she said that one wife called and said that Rita was way better at giving birth then you because she hardly made a noise, and that's how she found out I showed the movie. Well everyone that's it for now, I'm heading to Albuquerque NM on Friday with Mag and Randy from Randolph Ne to see Jeanie and Jon and all the Balloons Love Ya Mike

PS No i'm not putting birth video on blog, i'm sure i'm in enough trouble when I see Rita again.

Sioux Falls for Andy and Lori 25th Wedding Anniversary

2009-08-27T12:21:00.006-06:00

Cousin Pat, Brenda and Jeff at Pat's Home

Keith and Maggie at their Home

At Lenhoff's Home in Waverly Nebraska celebrating Amy's ?2nd birthday, with the whole gang, notice how i'm the tallest

Me, Lori, Andy and Deana at 25th wedding anniversary Deana was Matron on honor(Best Girl)

Rhonda and I at downed Ctton Wood in Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, This spot was one of Rita nd I's favorite parking spots.

Chris Winseman and Family Home In Sioux Falls with Kimmie

Sunset on Missouri River by Vermillion

Randy and Mag on there new hang out area off there back deck in Randolph

I had to dig 6 holes for my new deck and found about 250lbs of rocks in each one, wonder who put them there?

Me and Ashley by Mummy Range at our cabin

Me and Michele same spot

Hello Everyone

Made a quick trip to Sioux Falls SD for Andy and Lori 25Th wedding anniversary because I was the Best man in their Wedding and he was the Best Man in ours. I made a few pit stops on the way there and way back. Its pretty quiet around here now with Ashley in Hawaii and Michael back in college, Abbie's on the hunt for a job and sticks around here long enough to make a mess and leave again. Alicia, Ronny and Michael are going to a Rega concert on Saturday and Abbie will be watching Mejana and Lily, they didn't invite me to it and I can't figure out WHY? I will be at the cabin trying to get signed off from the building inspectors and getting ready for our very own Extreme Make Over Team the Lenhoff's Wayne & Amy, Paul, Analise & Family, Adam, Becky & Family, Tracy & Matt, Tiffany, and Charity. They are coming Labor day weekend to finish the inside and maybe if I have the frame for the deck ready, that too. Still having a glass of wine every sunset and remembering all our good times we've had. Love ya all Mike

Randolph 1984

2009-08-13T15:01:00.018-06:00

Alicia and Ashley August 9th 2009

Rita and I at our home in Randolph

Rita and Alicia in Randolph

Rita (expecting with Ashley), Alicia and Tracy Lenhoff At Missouri River in Yankton

Rita with Ashley in the oven and Alicia, back of our home in Randolph

Dinner Friday Nite

Kyle, Me and Michael

On Glacier Me, Michael and Tanner

Boyles Lake

Wine Thirty on Our Back Deck

Steve Michael, Ryan and Carissa

Michael & Ryan Jumping

Tim and Margaret, Melanie, Riley,

Carissa Ryan and Michael on Lake Flathead

Ashley spinning out of control caused by Kyle

Ashley Alicia,Mejana,Me,Michael

Michael and Me

Last night Michael and Ashley worked together at Sonic

Last Time I get to harrass the kids at Sonic

Abbie as an New C.N.A.

Mejana chowing down on Nectarine

Kent and I finishing ceiling

Olga, Alicia, Mejana, Lora, Megan, Ashley and Lily at cabin

Jon stopped right as he put his head in the water, Kyle watching

Michael and Tanner's Turn

Boyles Lake

Me, Tanner, Mark, Kyle and Michael, with Love Lake and Arrowhead lake

The start of our trip into Forest Canyon.

Where do I start, the summer has flown by as always, Michael and I made a road trip to 1 of his best friends (Ryan) cabin in Montana on Lake Flathead, Michael's been asking us to go up there with him for years along with Steve and Karen, Ryan's parents. Its an amazing place with lots to do, on our last day we went up the river about 10-15 miles until we hit a log and decided that was far enough, that time didn't hurt the boat but when we got back to the lake we hit a log at full throttle and that messed up the propeller. Michael did a few jumps off bridges, chip off the ol'e block. After that we headed south to Tim and Margaret Bustos in Vernal Utah, the car almost didn't make it, as it stalled allot in the heat, the car was Rita's parents car that Michael wanted instead of his 87 Yota which we donated to the Open Door Mission in Ft Collins. I traded Rita's car for theirs on my last road trip. Tim and Margaret treated us like family and we had a Great time especially on the deck at Wine Thirty. I've been going to the cabin again and when I'm working up there it all seems O.K. Its when I slow down that's when the emotions hit. Kent Hall & Dennis Naibauer have been a HUGH HELP for me at the cabin, always lending a hand. We have the upstairs all sheet rocked and the ceiling is done with all new Old Barn Wood, Next is the wrap around deck which I have to have the holes dug before winter sets in. We had a Blast on our annual back packing trip with 7 people going (Me & Michael, Tanner Scott Michael Best Friend, Jon Schnoor & Kent Hall Best Friend from Schwans, Kyle Anderson Nephew, Mark Kyle's friend), and the best weather we have every had. Michael brought up a piece of wood from the cabin and we carved our name on it and dedicated a un-named lake up there called "BOYLES LAKE" , we Even had a ceremonial dive-in since it is fed by a glacier. Then on Sunday our Family was Baptised, as we were baptised as infants in the Catholic Church, Rita and I wanted to do publicly after seeing Abbie done 3 years ago at our church Grace Place, so we finished it as a Family on August 9th 2009. Ashley was so pretty, she got on a spinney child thing and couldn't stop, it was funny for a second, then we knew we better stop her. Abbie Graduated from CNA school and is now on the hunt for a Job, She loves working with the old people just like her mother. Ashley heading back to Hawaii August 18th to finish her last semester and start her next , she will be back in December. Michael is going back to U.N.C. in Greeley. Alicia, Ronny,Lily and Mejana and doing great in Denver and Alicia continues to be in the top 10% in sales.

Well lets see here, living in Randolph was one of our high lights in our life. We met so many life long friends there, Jon & Jeanie, Bob and Kim, Mag and Randy, Wayne and Amy, Randy and Donna, Joe and Jean, Al and Juanita, and so many more. Everyone had kids the same age as ours so it was natural for Rita to meet and see everybody at school, church or at the store. We were never bored because somebody was always having us over or we were having them over, or we had everyone over, because Rita Loved to entertain. Some of the parties didn't get started until the kids were in bed, then we would usually play spoons until our hands hurt. Saturday was always a recovery day for us Schwan's people because we usually worked about 70-80 hours a week, but by afternoon and evening we were all ready to Party and some of us got started a little early. Sundays have always been our day to spend with the family and doing all those wonderful events with Rita and the Kid, because we still only had Alicia when we moved there. I guess I loved going to the Missouri River the most by Yankton, the kids could swim, and go on adventures, because the landscape was always changing along the beach. We would grill and just hang out with our family and friends. We have been in Randolph about 2 years and Rita hasn't been using any birth control and hasn't been able to get pregnant so she went to a fertility doctor (Dr. Holzworth) and by golly that's all she needed and in December of 1985, she has a bun in the oven, YIPPEE. About time as Rita was probably sick of hearing me talk about all my pregnant Schwan's customer, and now I can talk about her and watch the excitement build as she goes through the 9 months. That's the only time I would slow down, was to watch her stomach move around or place my hands on her to feel a kick, That was the most amazing gift she would ever give me, besides her Love. Our Life together was always exciting but never has it been like this on August 7th 1986, it all started with a phone call at about 5am in O'Neil Nebraska, as I was on an overnight with Jon Schnoor. When Rita called she thought her water broke and that I'd better head home and take her to the hospital in Yankton, I asked how far apart the contractions were and I think she said 30 minutes, so I told her I was on my way. Well I analyzed the data I received and determined I had time to take a shower and go out for breakfast with Jon and then drive the 75 plus miles back to Randolph. When you work for Schwan's you had to plan for everything to work like a well oiled machine, so after Rita called me, she called Randy Page to head my way and pick up my truck and run my route for me and I would drive his truck back to Randolph. Well this was before pagers and cell phones, so as I top the hill going into Randolph in Randy's truck about 8ish, I see Rita's Dad Keith driving her in my car so we both pull over and Keith has this sick look about him and I ask whats going on and Rita's Yell back I'm 5 minutes apart. Well Keith was relieved to see me because another 2 miles and we both would of missed each other and he would have had to take Rita to the hospital. We had a 50 mile trip in front of us and we made it in less than 30 minutes, we killed 3 birds on the way as they misjudged my speed heading down the Hwy, we also passed several cars along the way on the right shoulder as I did not want to wait to pass because of oncoming traffic. I believe Rita didn't like me so much on the way because I took my time getting to her, I used our last child Alicia as a timing tool and figured I had all day to get her to the hospital, well Rita made sure I was verbally punished for my thoughtful decision. Whoo we made it to the emergency entrance and couldn't move her because she kept having contractions, well we get her inside and they hook a monitor to her and can't find a heart beat, its like sucking all the air out of you, Thank God they hook another monitor up and we get a heart beat. From the time I pulled to the emergency entrance to baby born was about 10 minutes, Not Bad for being such an Idiot about comparing Alicia birth to our dear sweet little Ashley Ann(after Rita) Boyles. The doctor and nurses were so amazed after Ashley's birth because Rita and I started talking about having another baby while she was getting cleaned up. I told her we weren't stopping until she had a boy. Till next entry, Thanks all who keep posting comments, espically Jaunita as they are a Hugh Blessing for me, Love Ya All Mike

2009-07-09T23:17:00.004-06:00

Rita's Beautiful Smile 08/2008

Bob and us, where's his other hand?

Kim and us, she was falling and I tried to catch her.

Rita and her parents on our back deck Keith and Maggie

Rhonda Me and Judy at Szechwan Chinese Resturant in Sioux Falls, we always went there for dinner before Schwan's banquet

Rita's Parents Keith and Maggie, Uncle Pat and Sharon, and my sister's husband Don at the world famous Sports Bowl in Sioux Falls

At Palisades State Park in SD where Rita and I hung out alot, I used to jump off this bridge.

Glen Boyles and family in downtown Sioux Falls

Cousin Pat, Jeff Wagner High School Buddy

My Cousin Pat and his son

Randy Page and daughter Christine, ole Schwans Friend

Kyle, Rhonda's Son

Curt and Shirley, Rita Best friend's Sue's parents from High School

Maggie, Megan and Blaze at their home in SF

These are the rest of my pictures from the trip, I would like to thank everyone for being there for me and my family Love Ya

2009-07-09T22:25:00.003-06:00

Quick Note

Our family, most of them at least where there, missing Michael and my sister Michele on the 4th of July at lake McConaughy in Nebraska. This is an annual event for our family because the lake is soooo awesome, it has miles the sandy beaches and the clearest water. Mejana fell asleep on the tub due to the waves, I guess she has some of her dads love of water. Rita and I were here last August with Abbie and Andrew. Also at the lake was Dennis Naibauer, Celeste, Jordon, and Brandon. We jet skied, tubed, swam and just laid around and almost got a ticket from the sheriff for lighting off fireworks, he asked if I was done and I said almost and his reply was, your done or get a $240 ticket and we'll take your fireworks, OK I'm done, and they left. This lake is notorius for Bad Storms and we have lotsa stories about them but this time was real nice, except for missing Rita, it was hard not to think about all the good times we had there as a family, I was always pointing out things Rita and I did . My favorite picture of us at sunset was taken at that lake you can look back in the blog to find it. Lora had a friend Kim who did a 150 mile bike ride for MS and we cheered for her an everyone else for riding for a cure, it was a riot and Lora still has a sore throat from yelling. Love Ya All and Thanks for the comments they keep me going, I actually check daily just like Rita

PS Its Paula Nester 40th birthday party this weekend, thats Paula and Rita at Michaels Graduation

Where have I been

2009-07-02T06:59:00.007-06:00

Winethirty with Jolene,John, Pat, Judy, Diana, Mike, eric and Rhonda

Jon and Jeanie

Back porch of Rita Parents "Notice the Railing

Andy and Lori Best man at our wedding

Ron and Jane new home

Mag and Randy

Joe and Jean

Wayne and Amy

Rita and I with Al at Schwan's banquet

Rita and Alicia at home in Randolph

At Park In Randolph

Hey Everyone

Sorry haven't written much, Its seems I'm a little off these days and can't find my motivation. Rita was my Motivation and My Cheerleader, they say that behind every Good man is a Better Woman and that was Rita. You don't know how much you rely on your wife until she's gone, Rita was always building me up and pushing me to do better and I Know She Wants Me To get My Motivation Back. I start Grief Share next week at a local church for 13 weeks, I look forward to it and finding my way again.

Well we survived Abbie's Graduation and 18th Birthday with the help of friends and family, espically my sister Michele who was their for me and my family through it all. It was a very special day as Abbie received a card from her MOM, yep it was beautiful and made us cry and miss her evan more. Mag Borst took some pictures which I'll post that had a cloud in some and others not, HMMM who could that be, don't know but we'll just say Rita was able to be there. In her cards to us she always put I can't be there but we'll always be there in Spirit!!

After the Graduation Randy Borst and his son Jake and I went on a 1000 mile motorcyle trip up to Devils Tower in Wyoming then through the Black Hills and Badlands. It was Fun except for the Rain, Hail and Wind that followed us everywhere. Then I went on a 3800 mile trip to see everyone(Jon&Jeanie, Joe&Jean, Wayne&Amy, Ron&Jane, Mag&Randy, Andy&Lori, and everyone in SiouxFalls) and ended up in South Dakota where I spent a week visiting and revisiting our old hang outs. On the last night there we had winethirty at a bar that served frozen wine, It was awesome because I had around me Jolene (with Rita when we 1st met) Diana ( girlfriend who was with me when I met Rita, OK must clarify, Diana due to the circumstances hated Rita but that wasn't working for me and Jeff because we where best friends and Jeff started going out with Diana that same night. So Jeff and I decided these girls should get over it so we could party together. Jeff and I met at an 18 bar to have a few pitchers of beer and I ask Rita to join and Jeff asked Diana to join. Rita got there 1st and had her sit with the back to the door and when we started smiling she turned around there was Diana, well we all started to laugh and long story short Diana was in our wedding and Jeff and Diana evan drove down to North Carolina one sumer to visit.) Judy who was Rita best friend in High School and lived a few doors down from her parents. Rhonda and Eric, who that day drove around with me to find our old parking spots as the ole card board hill had turned into a sub division and Alvin lake turned into a State Park. My 2 cousins John and Pat. It felt really good to be in Sioux Falls and around our family and friends.

OK so Al Bussman hires Rita and I to work for Schwan's Ice Cream on July 18th 1983. I learned what Hard Work was all about that summer, Al started me at $350 a week, that firgured out to about $4 an hour. It was a paycheck and they had awesome benefits. I was leaving every week on Sunday and not getting home until late Friday night or Saturday Morning. So we decided that wasn't working for us and I started taking Rita and Alicia with me and we could at least see each other every night and spend our weekends together. I would put our bike on the top of my car so Rita would have transportation when we got to the motel. We looked like the Beverly Hill Billies traveling around. It took about 4 months and I was making enough money to get our own apartment in Sioux Falls and 2 months later I was offered Routes in Randolph, Nebraska. We moved there on 1/01/1984 and bought a home that was the best in town in 1905, lets say it needed a little updating. It had allot of beautiful features though, hard wood floors, walnut and oak, great fireplace that I loved to fall asleep in front of with Rita and the Kids, stained glass window, cut and beveled glass doors all solid oak, corner double lot, all for the price of $26,500, payment was about $232 per month. Which Rita took advantage of and bought a new car that cost $250 per month, I remember because I expalined what I wanted in the deal and to have the paperwork ready at the dealership and I would stop on my route and sign it all, well when I got there it was all wrong and I knew how much Rita wanted it so she got the car.

It didn't take Rita long to get to know all the Schwan's wifes in town and all our neighbors. Randolph is a small town of about 800 folks, so lets say everyone always knew what everyone was doing which made Rita happy because she loved to talk. I remember meeting Mag Borst at her dads Grocery store, because she saw we where new in town and wanted to know where we lived and guess what right next door to her parents Paul and Lorraine, I bet she already knew that because Mag knows everything that goes on in Randolph just like her mom did. It was awesome living in a small town with so many people who cared about you and would do anything for you. Paul and Lorraine would watch our kids when our pipes would freeze and the washer backed up througn the house or a bat decided to hang out in our living room when I was on an overnight and Paul came to the resue. I remember Sunday's there we would always go for a walk or ride bikes with the kids and end up at the park. We would play with the kids and talk about our future together, and wondering when that next one would arrive. Rita made where every she was at with me, a Home with lotsa of Love plus Friends and Family.

Favorite Memory Rita Singing

2009-05-18T20:47:00.007-06:00

My favorite memory with rita is when she would be driving abbie and I somewhere and a song would come on and rite would crank the tunes and we would dance and sing and Rita would always get the worlds wrong and we wouldnt care and just keeps singing I love you- Candice

This Song by Andy Gibb was the #1 song in 1977

Rita was a beautiful singer and she knew all the old songs(70's-80's), This video is from Rita's phone taken by Abbie. Whenever we went on a trip I usually didn't listen to the radio, but Rita loved the radio and when a song came on she liked, she always sang. I loved watching her because she always danced in her seat and used her arms to express herself, and occasionally I would join in, when the part of the song came on that I knew. Rita was in concert choir in High School and in 1978 her choir went to Mexico and recorded an album and sang at churches and schools. I thought it sucked because I just met her on May 6th and on June 1st she headed to Mexico for 2 weeks. While she was there she caught a 9' 2" Marlin and was able to bring it in, in only 15 minutes. She called her Mom to see if they wanted to get it stuffed and send back to SD, but her Mom said take your pick either you come home or the fish. Back then you had to call collect and her Mom reminded me that once she accepted a collect call from Rita only to hear a dial tone because Rita wanted to talk to me and charge her Mom and Dad for the call, thats my girl!! When she came back she looked like a native because she was so tan, and with her black hair, she was my Dream Girl!

29 Years May 16th

2009-05-14T23:00:00.007-06:00

Abbie and Andrew prom 09, MS Walk ,May 2nd 2009 over 50 walked for Rita, go to site to see video, Rita and Family at Lake in Nebraska
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm2KJdWRqf4

Wow its hard without My Rita, I've been just listening to her sweet voice, watching home movies and reading our old letters. It sucks because I know she not here, but relaxing in Heaven, No Pain, No worries, and lots of energy, especially talking. That doesn't seem to help me though, Only Time will Heal My Broken Heart, I'm Lost without her, Rita was my Everything! Words of Advice, If anything is upsetting you about Your Spouse, Just try and Live without them for 1 Day and you'll never stay Mad again, because it’s not worth the pain of Losing Someone as Special as Rita. I just Hope I lived up to Her Expectations of me. Rita kept saying to everyone No Regrets, Well I have Plenty, because If I Knew I was going to Lose Rita I would of Done Allot More for Her. So if you’re reading this, Just live Each Day with Each Other as if it were Your Last and it will Change Everything.
OK where was I? So we get on I-40 out of North Carolina and head straight for South Dakota with Rita, 9 month old Alicia and a 24 ft extremely full U-HAUL, car in tow with 2 dogs in it that like to stand on the steering wheel and honk the horn, we got some pretty good laughs with them, as people passed us. We had one pit stop in Onawa Iowa, Rita’s stomping grounds with all the cousins as she was growing up. We visited with her Grandma Delashmutt and her Favorite Aunt Claire. As we were leaving Claire’s husband Jim notice our trailer hitch holding the car was loose so I went to fixing it when the Schwan’s Man drove up. I can still hear Claire asking him if they were hiring and he said they are always looking for good people to hiring. I didn’t think much of it since I hated door to door salesman, because they were very pushy in NC and when you only make $500 a month, when we 1st got married and when I left the Marines was making $1250, that doesn’t leave much for extras. Rita did say we always had enough for a 12 pack each payday as long as I bought her a 6 pack of Coke. We moved in with her parents, which lasted about a month and then we moved in with her sister Rhonda and Eric. I applied everywhere they had openings for Police officers and didn’t get 1 bite, so I started at a farm outside of Sioux Falls making $8 an hour, it helped but I was going nowhere fast, so we decided I would go to the oil fields out West if I couldn’t get a real job soon. As I was looking at my resume and I notice the Schwan’s Flyer and decided to check them out. I interviewed with the 1 and only Al Bussman , Juanita’s husband. I felt the interview went well, but Al wanted me to go to Faulkton SD to ride on 2 different route systems, Schwan’s and Tony’s Pizza. Only 1 problem we were out of money from Rita and Alicia getting sick and going to the doctor. Which back then, they wanted cash before they would see you if you didn’t have insurance. So I headed to Faulkton with enough cash for gas, but had to eat MRE’s (meals ready to eat, from Marine Corp) and it was an overnight so I brought a blanket and was going to sleep in the car till the driver offered to pay for my room. Well I really like the retail side of Schwan’s as all the customers treated you like family and everyone was so excited when you showed up. It was long hours, but the pay and the benefits made it a Fantastic Career. When I check back in with Al he wanted to meet Rita and I together. Rita asked why do they want to interview me, I don’t know but you better look good so Al doesn’t see all my faults. Just kidding. Rita was the perfect Schwan’s Wife as she was Very Supportive, independent, Loving, Caring and would always put others 1st, especially me. I think we got hired after he met Rita and we went out for a beer afterwards to celebrate, I just remember how good she looked and how she talked me up in front of Al and that made me Very Proud to be Her Husband. That’s all for now, I’ve had a tough go since May 6th and this Saturday would have been 29 years. Love Ya All Mike Rita and Family OH Abbie had Prom and Graduates May 30th and its her 18th Birthday Too

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T07:26:00.004-06:00

Well sorry everyone for not Blogging as Good as My Rita, I'm a work in progress, I do want to Thank everyone for their Love and Support, it Really Helps in the Healing Process. I promise to finish our story, and in the meantime will use this to share what others have written to me, their favorite memories of Rita are, I'm reading 1 a day and will put my 2 cents in to.

From Celia Mattson

I remember Rita sharing stories about childbirth at our women's Bible study, I remember her sharing that immediately after her 1st (I think) was born that she wanted to do it all over again. She said the delivery room nurses were amazed that she was that excited about having more babies that soon.

Mike: it was our second child not 1st, because Alicia didn't want to come and had to be pulled out screaming. Ashley was almost a Bridge baby. I was on an overnight with Schwan's about 1 hour away when Rita's called the motel and mentioned she thought her water broke, I asked how far apart the contractions were and I don't remember what she said but I thought I had time to shower and catch breakfast with Jon Schnoor. When I came over the hill coming into Randolph Ne about 2 hours later I saw her dad flashing his lights with my car and he looked like he was scared. I asked what was going on and Rita Barked back that her contractions where 5 minutes apart and what the heck took So Long!! We had 45 miles between Randolph and the Hospital. I was thinking that all births are the same and I had about 10-12 hours of getting her to the hospital, ice chips and squeezing my hand off till the baby was born, WRONG. I jumped in the car and buried the speedometer all the way too Yankton SD, Rita did not have her seat belt on and I ask her to put it on and she gave me one of those looks like kiss my ?ss so I said if your not going to where one neither was I. We passed people on the right side of the road to get around them because of traffic, we had our emergency lights on but nobody could figure out how to get over. We hit 3 birds on the way there, I ques they thought they had time also to get out of the way. When we hit the bridge over the Yankton River she was about 1-2 minutes apart, we made it to the hospital in less than 30 minutes, I went straight to the emergency room and they had Rita out of my car and in the birthing room in less than 5 minutes, I remember the nurse giving her a gown and she tried to get it on but the contractions were coming to quickly, when she did the nurse put a monitor on Rita and couldn't get a heart beat from the baby , which scared the tar out of us, they did finally get a heart beat and about 10 minutes later our 2nd beautiful daughter was born Ashley Ann Boyles 8/07/1986 8:55 am, 7lbs 13 oz. After the birth because Ashley came so fast and Alicia blazed the trail made it seem easy that Rita and I started talking about having another baby while she was still gettin cleaned up. I told Rita we need a boy and until she got it right we were going to keep having kids together. Besides I loved seeing Rita Barefoot and Pregnant, She just had a Special Glow about her when she was expecting and I have allot of pictures to prove it. I was always checking out my prego wife, feeling for the baby and putting my head on her stomach, which my family has turned into prego/baby crazy, touchy feely kind of a family. Man I Miss her and babying her all day on Mother's Day. Love Ya all Mike and Family
PS if you haven't ...Please post your favorite Rita Memory and Pictures Thanks Mike

Rita's Celebration of Life

2009-04-29T05:51:00.004-06:00

These are some of my favorite pictures of Rita and I, top 1 in the Black Hills and next our last vacation to Hawaii . The ones below are when we 1st met, Rita driving my Dad's boat full throttle and our 1st picture together and then 30 years latter at the same spot.

Rita's Celebration of life

Thursday April 30th, 4-8 pm Hang Out with Rita and Family at Viegut Funeral Home 1616 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland Co. 80538

Friday May 1st, 1-2pm Last Time to Hang out with Rita, 2-3pm Rita's Life Celebration, 3-4pm Refreshment's at Grace Place Church 250 Mountain Avenue Berthoud Co 80513

4-? Going Away Celebration and Wine Thirty at Mike and Rita's Place 4306 Crane Ct Loveland Co. 80537

Rita and I met on May 6th 1978 on the loop in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She had just broken up with her boyfriend and my friends had waved her down to stop and when I came over to check things out my friends had already taken up the back seat of her car so I crawled over Rita and took the last seat between her and her girlfriend. That was the start of our Life together, it only took 3 months for us to fall in Love, Rita of course said it 1st and I followed after a backpacking trip to the Black Hills to think it over. I was 18 and she was 17 and on December 11th 1978(Rita's Birthday) I asked her to Marry me. I went into the Marines in February 1979 and on May 16th 1980 we Finally got to be together Legally. Rita had only been in 3 states her whole life and now I was driving her to Jacksonville North Carolina. We had 1 car which I took to work everyday, I figured she couldn't escape without a car and 1500 miles between us and her parents. It didn't take Rita long to meet all the neighbors and start her social networking society which produce allot of life long friends but not much income, she did settle in on baby sitting after a few jobs that didn't appreciate her. Spring of 1982, 7 months before I was to get out of the Marines, Rita decided to get Pregnant, not really, she thought she had back problems and I knew something was up with her but never thought Baby. Well our lives keep gettin better because of what we shared together. So 1500 miles from home we have our 1st baby on September 15, 1982, and what a noisy one she was, I remember a friend of hers telling Rita I have to go now, I don't know how you listen to her scream all day long. Rita would get so mad because I would walk in the door and she would hand me Alicia screaming and tell me it was my turn and me being tired, would sit on the couch and fall asleep with her. Rita and I kept growing closer together and learning what Love really means and our commitment to each other. I had to extend in the Marines to pay for everything and have enough cash when I got out.(before credit cards) So in June of 1983 we head back home to South Dakota with allot more stuff then when we left.

Sorry everyone But I will have to finish this later and finalized Rita's ever lasting party. thanks for all the Memories, comments and Love you pore out on Rita's Blog as I'm addicted now to reading your notes and it really helps, as I do not know what to do without MY RITA. I Thank God for bringing us together and Helping us Stay Together, she is home now and I'm sure she is still talking to the 1st person she met in Heaven and there is a long line still waiting to catch up with her. Love Mike, Rita and Family

Love you Rita! We'll miss you

2009-04-28T02:22:00.003-06:00

April 27th, 2009 at 11:02 pm Rita Boyles went home to be with Jesus. There is no more pain, and no more suffering for Rita!

John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, " It is Finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 17:24
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Romans 5:3-5

Abbies's Face Plant

2009-04-23T21:42:00.004-06:00

So if you haven't read about the story.....go to the "Pictures of Family" comments and read Kim's comment that was left on April 20th. The pictures won't be as funny unless you read the whole story. Anyway.....this is Abbie all happy and nice, playing on the beach. And then she got all excited and started to run over to us........she face planted it in the sand and it was so funny Rita was laughing so hard saying "oh Abbie honey it's ok just wait a minute while mommy takes a picture!" It was the funniest thing.

Rita's day today went well. Kent and Jeanine, Janelle and Maria came over tonight and brought a ton of awesome food. The Chaplen came over tonight as well......we continue on saying nightly prayers around Rita, surrounding her with love and faith. We are so thankful for all the love and prayers coming our way, we can truly feel them.

My Beautiful Mother singing

2009-04-22T21:10:00.007-06:00

Alicia and beautiful Mejana

Greg and Rhonda

Brenda and Makayla

The Chuck family!

Rita getting ready to sing!

Rita and her cousins Tim, Kim and Dawn

Hanging out on the patio stylin and profilin

Lora AKA super hero....trying to make us all laugh!

Some of the family being dorks as usual!

Wine-30 out on the patio

Click here to see the most beautiful women in the world sing her heart out, to her favorite movie "To serve with love". WATCH NOW!!!!! Today was a good day we got to take my mother out on the deck. Then my dad and mom talk about the good old days when they were sneaking around behind their parents back to have a little fun with each other ;).

Pictures of Family

2009-04-16T13:52:00.004-06:00

GOD WINS

2009-04-13T12:37:00.003-06:00

Yesterday Abbie's Boyfriend sang the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" Mom said "I'm leaving ON GOD'S PLANE" (ps i just had to ask her how to spell plane..) She always has helped us kids spell. She is still correcting us as we speak!
My Mom asked me to write this Blog for her, she wants me to tell EVERYONE SHE LOVES YOU, and she is so Thankful that she has such loving and supportive Friends and Family! She is so thankful for all the thoughts and prayers.
We are still at the hospital right now. We are trying to get my mom home, and make her comfortable. She is very happy and ready to fight! NO ONE IS GIVING UP ON FAITH!!!
We are planning on trying to get home tomorrow with Hospice. We just ask that you pray for our Family that we all can stay strong in Faith and in Love. Also we just want to pray to God that he gives us our time with our Mommy! Thank the Good Lord we safly got Ashley home from Hawaii. She just flew in today at 10 am. So our WHOLE FAMILY IS TOGETHER BY THE GRACE OF GOD! He has also brought us her Mother and Father and Sister From South Dakota. God has truly blessed us with so many loving friends and family that are here to support us journey.
We know we are all going home some day to be with God. We know that she will be walking with the Lord at her side and free of pain. P.S she said that when she gets there she will put in a good word for all of us.
LOVE RITA..
our trials make us stronger!!! AMEN!

He Has Risen

2009-04-11T14:40:00.004-06:00

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD. "

Please Pray that Rita's Lung issues are cause by her new Cancer Medicine 'Traceva'. Our lung doctor said her breathing difficulties was being caused by the Tarceva or growth of the cancer.

Love the Boyles Picture at the Cabin

Good Friday

2009-04-11T14:00:00.002-06:00

Thanks for all your Thoughts and Prayers, need to ask again For more Prayers , As I ended up in Hospital on Friday with Breathing Problems, they did a cat scan and found 1 of 3 things, fluid, pneumonia and or more cancer. In order to find out which one they will have to do a Lung biopsy, which is not likely due to my weakness. Oxygen went from 3.5 to 10 as they are trying to keep my blood oxygen level at 90. our oncologist believes it is pneumonia, still waiting for our lung doctor and MS doctor to show up. So keep on praying and God willing, we'll have a Easter miracle with our Lord Rising to save us all. Our kids and friends will have Easter Meal at our house and Bring our plates up here to Celebrate our King. It looks like I'll be here till at least Tuesday.

Have a Safe and Blessed Easter

Love Rita

Hallelujah

2009-04-05T09:54:00.003-06:00

Hallelujah
Mike called Doctor yesterday and changed my inhaler medicine to open my lungs up and dry them out so I do not have to cough as much. It has been a blessing thanks for your Prayers, They Worked!!! Also was able to spend all night in our new bed because Mike got an adjustable frame that allows me to sit up, I'm able to adjust things so I do not get sore and able to breathe, 1st time since December. Yippee

Started new meds

2009-04-04T10:31:00.002-06:00

I just started new meds last night. It's oral and I take it everyday. It's called Tarceva so hopefully it will work great and I'm expecting it to work great since I've heard so many good things about it. It's another form of chemo. If it stops the coughing it would be nice. So please pray for my coughing to stop. Fluid is still in my legs and feet so I'm taking meds for that and eating lots of protein. Still waiting for strength, but with prayer it will come. Mike prays all the time with me. Thanks to everyone for their prayers.

"and they were healed ... and they were healed"-Acts 5:16

Finally!!!!!!

2009-03-28T18:58:00.002-06:00

Finally I'm home from hospital!!!! With plenty of new meds! Thanks again for your prayers once again!
Love,
Rita

still here

2009-03-27T17:02:00.002-06:00

Well had to stay another day hopefully be home tomorrow God willing!
Thanks for your prayers for strength

Need of Prayer

2009-03-24T20:54:00.002-06:00

ok going to make this quick!
I'm back in the hospital and they found blood clots to both legs. So that explains not being able to move them. They are filling up with liquid bad!
So just say some prayers. I'm thanking God for sending me to the Doctors so that they could catch this!
Love,
Rita

New Energy

2009-03-20T16:09:00.002-06:00

Mike and I decided to call Dr. because I'm not drinking like i should be so ,didn't have hardily any output ( if you know what I mean lol)
They drew my blood and told us we were right to come in and keeping up on it.
So tomorrow I'm going to go in for a blood transfusion. They said no wonder you have been tired!
I'll be 5 or 6 hours at least so wish me luck!

For I will restore health unto thee and I will heal thee......Jer. 30:17

WHAT A BlESSING

2009-03-20T08:51:00.003-06:00

I will alert you more when closer:

Ritas spring fling, May 9th - 5PM TILL 8 PM 5 STONES

4 WHEEERS POKER RUN Merno Co. May 23

God is blessing us thru our family and friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2009-03-19T07:06:00.002-06:00

HAPPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY MIKE!

I LOVE YOU MORE THEN I CAN SAY!

2009-03-17T19:34:00.000-06:00

Happy St Pattys Day!

I Feel the need for Speed!

2009-03-17T07:05:00.003-06:00

Prayers answered?
Has most of you know I have been fighting for energy,I'm thinking its the chemo and my MS. Once again I have to tell you how awesome my husband is! He lifts me everywhere with never a complaint, Even after he had to go to the chiropractor! My legs and my feet are hard to lock up and move. We asked the Dr. for something to help. He was all well we should do an MRI to make sure the cancer is not pressing on her spine! I'm thinking NO because God has already healed me! So he gave me a stimulant he said its just like speed! Never done anything of the sorts but, just the word Speed excited me! They said i should know in 3 days if it works! Please let this be the prayer we have been Praying for!

The few, The proud,.....The Boyles

2009-03-15T17:36:00.004-06:00

So last Saturday I got a call from Ashley and she had told me how she was riding her bike to work while it was raining and some how ment to jump the curb only the bike had a different idea....to jump the curb sideways! The sideways jump turned into a massive fall! Some bystanded saw what happened and helped her back on to her bike. And because us Boyles are so tough, she rode her bike the rest of the way to work! (They told her she had to still come in because they didnt have enough people to cover her shift) Ashley kept telling me that she thought it was broken and I kept telling her that if it were broken you wouldn't be able to stand on it........WRONG! Long story short, Ashley broke her foot in THREE places! She's a tough girl! And getting through it because the Boyles are tough! So last friday they put a boot on her foot to help the healing process. Poor girl, in Hawaii with a boot, how sad. No swimming for her....just whale watching.

As far as me....I'm getting better but still not 100%. I'm sure I'll be feeling my best just as soon as it's time for the next chemo! Love you guys and thanks for all the prayers!

Third round Of Chemo!

2009-03-07T17:32:00.002-07:00

I had my third round of Chemo! Went well! The day before I had a swallowing test. That was amazing. It was an x-ray that showed me exactly how I was swallowing it was cool. I was aspirating my liquid to my lung. which isn't good because your mouth is the dirtiest! They told me to keep my mouth very clean. My Neurologist showed me how to swallow properly. I take the drink and touch my chin to chest and swallow. And no water, its the hardest thing to swallow! The thicker the better. And other tip that really helped me out and now I haven't had a coughing attack since. Praise God! I'm doing great, just tired. We decided to have Chemo on Fridays in stead of Thursdays that way I don't crash until Monday. So We can enjoy the weekend and attend our amazing Church! They increased my oral steroids so we are praying that I won't crash so bad. I really am blessed because I have really strong Chemo, the strongest, and I really don't get sick! I was blessed with my MS medicine, most people get really ill with those too and I hardly ever got sick!
Thanks everyone for your prayers and support you have given myself and Family, You Rock!

Asking about my song, heres the lyrics

2009-03-06T09:16:00.003-07:00

Starfield Over my Head Lyrics:After the words have all been saidAfter the songs are sungI realize I've only but just begunTrying to wrap my mind aroundExtravagant love come downLeaves me undoneFinds me with nothing to sayThe reach of Your fameThe power in Your nameYour glory surrounds meIt's over my headIt's over my headThe shame of the crossFor all that it costThis friendship astounds meIt's over my headIt's over my headUnquenchable songs and endless praiseA million tongues poised to singCould still not conveyThe worth that Your name deservesBeauty for ashesJoy for painMercy instead of my blameRuins me for more[ Find more Lyrics on www.mp3lyrics.org/L8xM ]I'm lost in Your presence, LordHallelujah...Lost for the words to sayI'm left here in disarrayWaiting for You, waiting on truthI've thrown reason overboardKnowing that there's still moreI don't yet believe, Ican't even perceiveI can't seem to understandCan't seem to find my wayIt's over my head, it's over my headLearning this mysteryTrust what I cannot seeIt's over my head, it's over my headThe wonder of all You've madeFoundations Your hands have laidBringing me back to myknees, to my kneesI'm lost for the words to sayLost for another wayBringing me back to myknees, to my kneesI'm lost for the words to sayLost for another wayRuined for anything other than Your loveI'm desperate to know You, LordDesperate for what's in storeFinding my hope in only You, in only YouTake me beyond this doorLead me to something moreOpen my heart up for moreof You, more of YouLyrics: Over my Head, Starfield [end]
Send "Over my Head" Ringtone to your Cell

Boy I'm on a roll with My Blogging!

2009-03-01T10:41:00.007-07:00

Felt Really Good so made a mad Dash to the Cabin, Mike wasn't expecting me to go in but when I got there I said I can't drive up here and not go in! So Dennis and Celeste made a fire and warmed the place up for us. Fun Fun. It was so nice to go there, it made me cry! They did such a great job!

The Challenge Continues

2009-03-01T07:55:00.003-07:00

I had two appointments last Wednesday. My Oncologist and Neurologist.
The main reason I went to my Neurologist is to tell him I am no longer taking my Multiple Sclerosis meds. (a 3xs a week injection with a interferon called Rebif) The oncologists Pa had weened me down to a 1/2 steroid everyday (From a 40 MG). I could tell my strength was getting worse! I told Mike we needed to call the Neurologist because he understands my MS better than an Oncologist ( Who was on vacation again!) Mike called the office. They said that they could fit us in March 31st! I thought to talk to his Nurse and left a message. She Had left him a note on his desk. We were praying so hard for an appointment! He told us to come in that next week. (another answered prayer) He had ordered the steroids for me on the 17Th. He was aware of my experience I had with my treatment.
He said as far as my MS goes the Chemo will possibly knock it out. They give Chemo to Ms patients who have tried everything else. Thank goodness Mike asked about my choking,I had hardly taken in any fluids because I Would choke! He taught me how to swallow so I wouldn't, which increased my intake.
Then went to my oncologist next. He ordered IV's and blood work. Just got home from there the Doctor called had to go back in for more blood work because the last one said all kinds of things.
My potassium was critically low, anemic, dehydrated, that I might need a blood transfusion. I might have to be admitted! I'll be honest I started to cry I had seen enough of the hospital! Then we started to pray! God is so awesome! We went to our old hospital someone was there that knew how to access my port and be Qualified! so she got my blood right away. Even remembered me from the steroid treatment! Mike got to take me home and bring back sample for them to test. T hey said they would call if I needed to come in. We waited and prayed they never called we assumed that was good news actually, God has been so good to us we KNEW! They called the next day, said everything was low but not critically! The Power of Prayer! Once again I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and food and Flowers and to many things to name off that you have given to my family! You just never know how many friends you have until you meet a challenge head on! And wow do I have dear Friends! We love you all and are so thankful we have you all in our lives. God has truly Blessed US!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:11

Challenging last couple weeks.

2009-02-27T12:41:00.008-07:00

On the 17th I got my IV drug, and the 18th I went back in for my next session of one gram of steroids. That very day I went back in, as Mike said "She has been saying the most abnormal things". Mike took me in and then they admitted me, they discovered I had a urinary tract infection; which was affecting my personality and state of mind. The steroids were counter reacting with my UTI. To the point the bladder is connected to your brain directly, which caused something of the sort of craziness haha! Then again being in la la land is much better then other side effects such as brain swelling and long term psychoses. The only thing that really calmed me down was the music from my blog. Other then that I am not going into details, but these are just a few things I said on my journey back to the 60's " I rather have a lexis then life", to " I rather have life then a lexis" lol Mike was getting worried, saying that he would buy me a lexis, I guess he figured I would forget that comment. Ha like I would ever forget such a promise. (just Kidding, I choose Life!) A lot of things I said in my "State" Are coming true! For example I thought I saw Mikes stepmother I thought for sure she was there. She called that day and was looking for tickets to fly out and stay for a couple of weeks! She wanted to come out in March but I asked her to come out in May For Abbies Graduation which is On Her 18th Birthday!And that my fluid was drying up and has long as its been dry for a couple of weeks they will take out my chest tube!( hoping for that too come true also!) Everyone is so excited to see her she is a retired Nurse and was such a blessing to take care of mikes dad when he was so sick and a great advocate for him so I know she will be a great advocate for me that knows whats going on! She is so loving and helpful we all can't wait! It ended up taking me four days to get me back to normal and back home, in most cases this could last up to a week, or longer.I was lucky with so many prayers from family and friends and with God on my side. To the people from the hospital, I must apologize for my attitude they said " No worries it was the Drugs talking and not you". On the way home on Saturday, I still was acting a little strange, but everyone loved me anyways haha! Well since I am back to normal I finally got to write on my blog once again, praise the Lord!

17th IV Steroids

2009-02-17T18:07:00.007-07:00

Sorry its been awhile since I've blogged
Had my chemo on The 12th
I have weakness no strength can't get up
Mike God bless him He lifts me
He is such a good cook! He's Amazing! Instead of take home Chef Hes' Stay Home Chef!
Finally It is more because of my MS. All the weekness
They said to have an appointment with Neurologist on March 31st. Then Mike called the Neurologist's His Nurse left him a Note
My Neurologist said Its my My Ms So he So he is putting me on 5 days of IV steroids!
And I have appt. to see him a week from Wednesday! Yeah
So I will have strength Again! Can't Wait
God Is Good

I'm so excited

2009-02-11T22:37:00.005-07:00

So tonight Lora came up and stayed over. A surprise came with her for me! Alicia and Mejana Lora has to leave early, bless her heart! so they drove separately. Alicia could stay longer while I'm going through my chemo tomorrow. She took today off. But acted like she was coming Thursday.
Alicia shopped for me . I authorized her on my Kohls and I had a extra credit so she bought a new comfort plus I finally had a coupon for 30% plus it was on Sale Score!!!

I love this confession!

My Father loves me; He doesn't condemn me. His best for me is that I walk in healing and health, and I walk in His best.

I start everyday believing he has healed me!

Last Month with old Randolph Friends

2009-02-11T22:33:00.002-07:00

2009-02-11T22:30:00.001-07:00

2009-02-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

Love this confession!

2009-02-10T13:37:00.002-07:00

Medicine helps me, but Jesus is my healer.I say with confidence,

" Gods Word works, and it's working in me now!"

Alicia & Mejana

2009-02-10T13:10:00.003-07:00

Dr. said she could eat cereal at 4 months.

Yesterday Mejana Tried Cereal for first time. And loved it

Lilly & Grandpa Mikes Lincoln Logs

2009-02-10T12:33:00.002-07:00

Sunday The 8th Of February

2009-02-10T11:57:00.005-07:00

The Stevensons drove down and beat us to church! ( Alicia said they are coming to our church every Sunday if they can!) Mejana's Auntie Abbie Loves to show her off!

Ronny brought Salmon to smoke and Grill for me.

We Had a nice Meal, Ham (not Me), Salmon!

It was so great! He has been wanting to grill for me. He asked me what I wanted him to make. I said grilled fish. ( didnt expect Salmon!)

Yum Yum! What a good Son In Law!

He left me the leftovers. I love them on crackers and Salad!

Lack of Oxygen con't

2009-02-10T11:26:00.002-07:00

Just have to tell you about another incident this weekend!
Lora was masaging my feet. Which she is great at.
She had a friend who is a Physical Therapist show her how to help the swelling.
We were so concentrating on that.
When my friend Celeste came and sat by me she was like,
"Why are your fingers Blue?" ( Thats how good the massage was!)
NO OXYGEN! It was diconnected on part of the hose!
OOPS!
Connected, All is Well!
Good thing Celeste noticed are they would of thought I was REALLY RELAXED!

Sunday The 8th Of February

2009-02-10T10:58:00.005-07:00

This Sunday was great made it to Church! It always a good day when I can go to Church. I asked God not to have me cough thur the sermon and he never fails me!
It was kinda funny though in church.
I asked Mike to turn my oxygen up, He did.
Still couldn't get any. Mike looked at it and it was completely empty! Out they push me Mike and a good friend Celeste from Brush.
Mike disconnects and Makes a Mad dash to the car where there is extra tanks! The tank must of Drained all the air. Mind you it was full when we left the house. (Malfunction)
It was funny because there was the nicest greeter from church asking if we needed some water!
Didn't want to be rude and say
"No, I need Air!"

Everything turned out OK!

That was the weekend for a "Lack of oxygen!

Quick note for Feb 2nd on 6th!

2009-02-06T17:55:00.009-07:00

Dr. called from University On Monday The 2nd.
He said with all the test they took. He is About 98% sure it is lung cancer, At one point he ran test to make sure it didn't start with Breast Cancer.
I told Him I went off my Morphine Saturday night because it made me feel loopy. He asked, How I felt and I said,
"Good"
"Well there is your Answer!"
Wrong! I really got sick on Monday.
We called the Oncologist On call Monday night. Where I proceeded to tell Him I had gone off the Morphine.
"You can't just go off of it! You have to ween yourself......slowly.
So I'm on my last one, Instead of taking 4 every 12 Hours!
I don't feel loopy, But with My M.S. still trying to get my strength back!

2009-01-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog!

2009-01-24T17:51:00.002-07:00

WOW! It's been a really long time since the last time I blogged, I"m sure all of you will find that acceptable given the circumstances LOL. And I thank you all so much for being so understanding.

It has been a crazy roller coaster since I was diagnosed with the "C" word on Christmas Day. But thankfully through my faith in God and the support of all my loving and caring family and friends, I am ready to fight this battle.

The news was grim from first oncologist, so we wanted to see a second one. God has a plan I guess because we were scheduled to see someone else but because of my surgery we got to see the #1 doctor who is also the director of the University of Lung Cancer, Dr. Camidge. He spent a hour and half on us!! We are truely blessed to have found him. Anyway, basically when we went to see him he said for the cancer that I have been diagnosed with, I'm not average! The stats come from people over 60 who chained smoked and I am 48 and a none smoker! He said 100,00 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and 25% will be nonsmokers like me. They are the #1 hospital for lung cancer. He changed what my oncologist gave me as far as cocktail wise and I had my first round of chemo this last thursday, it went really well and I feel great! Prior to the chemo they gave me some steroids (I forgot how much I love them from my MS!)

They are having a round table disscussion on MONDAY where he will talk about my case, he said that he will call me on Monday about 11:30. So I will be waiting for that phone call for sure and will keep you all posted on what the news is. I'm strong thru my savior Jesus Christ!

I will try and keep blogging on here so that way you all can know the latest news but forgive me if I dont get it up on here right away! Again I thank you all SOOO much for all the love and prayers you are giving me!

HAWAII BOUND!

2008-12-20T19:47:00.003-07:00

I just thought write a quick note that Ashley got housing for the University Of Hawaii so now she can afford to go there! She's pretty excited! She leaves in like 17 days! Wow a lot to do before then!
Better break out the Tissues!

The Moby!

2008-12-06T10:11:00.006-07:00

My Bestest Friend Margaret, gave Alicia this wrap called Moby. She loves it!

She said shes going to put it on in the morning and keep it on all day! Mejana loves it too!

She says its kind like when she was pregnant, she still has to turn sideways to get something on the counter!

Christmas Pictures 2008

2008-11-21T10:37:00.003-07:00

I was telling Mike, "I sure wish the kids were little again!
"Then I could just get them ready and tell them, "We are taking Christmas Pictures Today!"
Instead of having to work it out with School and Work For 5 people! Amber that took Alicia's wedding pictures took these! Looking Forward To Christmas this year! New Baby!
This is the earliest I have had my Christmas decorations up!

Mejana at Her Baby Shower

2008-11-17T16:19:00.005-07:00

Mejana at Her Baby Shower

2008-11-17T16:19:00.004-07:00

The Baby shower was a great success! Everyone helped get ready!
A special thanks to Auntie Lora, She was great!

First Lunch outing with Mejana (Of Many)

2008-11-06T09:38:00.009-07:00

Ashley took

me, Alicia, and Mejana out on her first lunch date at PF Changs!
Mejana was such a good baby, as usual.
Her and I sat in the car, while the girls got shower supplies, Once again she was so good for grandma! I took pictures but they are on my cell phone. I'm Sure I will have pictures of the baby shower on Saturday.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T14:03:00.003-06:00

I couldn't believe it we only had 8 kids that stopped at Our Door for Trick-or-treat.
Not like the Old Days when the kids were still ringing the doorbell at 10 o'clock! Mike was so disappointed, he even dressed up! Ashley and her friends looked so good. They just hung-out here and built a bonfire in the back.
Man I miss going through the kids candy searching for their Snickers! Mike bought the candy this year. I said, "What, No Chocolate! He said "The kids just eat it!"
"DUH, isn't that What your suppose to do!"
Michael lives in Greeley, so he went to some party, Abbie went to Denver with a friend. Alicia went to her churches' Harvest Days in Denver of course. So the night was pretty uneventful. I thought about all the times I ran to 3, if not 4 Schools bringing Halloween treats for the kids......Oh I miss those days! I use to tell the kids their to old for trick-or-treating, but I figure if they have enough guts to ring that doorbell, Have had it, and don't forget to give mom your Snickers!

Just like her Mommy!

2008-10-31T10:23:00.012-06:00

Mejana is just like her Mom. When Alicia was a baby she was hairy just like this! All over her back, forehead, and arms. I use to call her my little Gorilla! Ronny and Alicia call her their little Monkey!

Auntie Abbie & Baby Mejana

2008-10-29T17:47:00.011-06:00

Ronny, Alicia, Lily and Baby Mejana came up on Sunday. We fixed them Alicia's favorite meal. Steak & Cheese potatoes. Made Fruit Pizza for dessert! Yum! It was so good! Ronny and Michael went fishing down at the river, and of course Ronny caught a fish! Lily made some pumpkin stencils on the computer. We took the baby to Mikes office. We used Alicia's camera, so when she gives me the pictures I will Post!
All out, a fun day!

Lily jumping on Tramp

2008-10-29T17:41:00.003-06:00

And Everbody say...Awwww

2008-10-21T08:50:00.005-06:00

Baby Mejana

2008-10-21T08:46:00.000-06:00

What a Cutie Pie!

2008-10-21T08:32:00.002-06:00

Yes I may be a little partial, but what a cutie pie, and what a good baby!

5 days old.......and looks like a month!

2008-10-21T08:16:00.004-06:00

Mejana was 5 days old. Alicia & I took her to the Doctor. She weighed 7 lbs 12oz when she left the hospital, and weighed 8 lbs yesterday. Good job mom & baby! Alicia is nursing with no supplements and doing a fantastic job! The doctor was very impressed with her and Ronny's parenting! She asked me what I thought,
I said, "I was very Proud!"
Uncle Nate and Chad came over to see her Too.

First Visit with Uncle Michael

2008-10-21T07:50:00.003-06:00

Michael and I drove up to the hospital so he could meet his niece. He will make a great father one day!

Patiently Wainting For the Big Event!

2008-10-16T10:44:00.004-06:00

Everyone was waiting for the Big Event....It was worth the wait!
Lora came and brought us some lunch! Alicia did so good. Her water broke at 1:45 am. Went to the hospital at 3:30am. They induced her around 12 or so. She pushed for over 2 hours! I just can't tell you how great she did! Finally had Mayhana at 8:07 pm!

Mike pointing out the Good Ones!

2008-10-16T10:15:00.003-06:00

Mike has Always been good at pointing out the good ones. He said they look like mountains, another thing he's good at pointing out!

You Can Do It!

2008-10-16T10:10:00.001-06:00

Abbie & Ashley Massaging Big Sisters Head

2008-10-16T09:56:00.003-06:00

Ashley & Abbie were so Awesome! They were massaging Alicia's Head when she was in Labor. They did so good, she fell asleep!

The Home Stretch

2008-10-16T09:52:00.002-06:00

Its A Girl!!! 8lbs 1oz, 20 inches Long, Mejana Jahiya Daily Stevenson

2008-10-16T09:35:00.006-06:00

Got to check all those Fingers & Toes!

2008-10-16T09:29:00.001-06:00

2008-10-16T09:18:00.001-06:00

Baby Mejana

2008-10-16T09:10:00.001-06:00

2008-10-16T08:28:00.003-06:00

Daddy So Proud!

2008-10-16T08:23:00.001-06:00

Just after 1st Bath

2008-10-16T08:19:00.001-06:00

Daddy & Mommy & Mejana

2008-10-16T08:08:00.003-06:00

Grandpa Holding Baby Mejana

2008-10-16T08:06:00.003-06:00

Grandma Holding Baby Mejana

2008-10-16T08:00:00.005-06:00

Baby Arrived

2008-10-16T01:02:00.003-06:00

A Beautiful Baby Girl, Mejana 8lbs 1oz 20 inches long! Alicia did so good! What a trooper!
Will post pictures tomorrow, Just got home after being at hospital for 13 hours! Its late 1am. so headed to bed!
Being Grandparents is so cool!

Alicia just Called!

2008-10-13T12:49:00.003-06:00

Alicia just called and the Doctor stripped her membranes! The doctor said she may be in labor in 12 hours! If she isn't, she is suppose to come in on Thursday, and she will break her water! Looks like we are going to be grandparents soon! I kept waking up all night last night, I kept dreaming Alicia was in labor! Looks like my dreams are about to come true!

Oh my Gosh!

2008-10-13T09:45:00.003-06:00

Oh my Gosh Alicia is so Dang Cute and so Dang Big!
What Belly Button?

Michael Made It To Denver and Got to see Alicia Pregnant One More Time!

2008-10-13T09:35:00.003-06:00

Michael Made it One last time before Baby Comes, but he forgot her gift at home!

This is what happens when you smart off to your wife!

2008-10-13T09:13:00.004-06:00

Mike & Michael went and played racquetball at his college.
Mike was beating him so...Michael beat him, with his Racket! LoL
6 Stitches later!

Alicia's Starting To Charge To Touch her Belly!

2008-10-13T08:53:00.005-06:00

Alicia is starting to charge to touch her belly, and she's making bank! LOL
Ronny was the Enforcer!

Not fair, I Have to Change The Baby Countdown Clock!

2008-10-07T21:18:00.008-06:00

She went to the Doctor today and she said shes due 18th, because you can't go off the Ultrasound measurements! Shes still dilated between a 1 & 2 and her cervix is starting to thin! She says they scheduled her for only one more appointment, which is good!
I'm sure Michael will be Ok with that, he wants to see her pregnant at least one more time before the baby comes! He's going to Denver on Friday and said that if Alicia has her baby before, then he's taking all the baby gifts back he bought!

Making Popcorn Balls!

2008-10-06T13:34:00.005-06:00

Alicia had a craving for Popcorn balls, so Ashley and I made them to take for dinner. Mike said we made more of a mess!

2008-10-06T13:28:00.003-06:00

All Us In Front Of Crib, We bought For The Baby

Practicing Rockin For The Baby!

2008-10-06T13:11:00.005-06:00

Alicia's already for the Baby! Strollers, Car Seat, Swings, Crib, Cradle!
You can see the cradle in the back Mike made for her when she was a baby. And Now her Baby will be in it! How Sweet!

Nate, Poster Boy For Country Time!

2008-10-06T13:08:00.002-06:00