Alan & Linda Strebeck

I'm Back

2008-08-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought I was never going to get back to this Blog. But just look at me go! Not that my kids have shown me how to down load my pictures to go along with my stories, but I will get there.

We have been very busy at our house the past few months, people coming and going, church work and just trying to stay ahead of the curve on just about everything. We have enjoyed having family up to see us, they are always so fun to have around. And now Alan's Dad will be moving here soon. They are closing on their house mid Sep. We are really looking forward to having them here. Now if we could just get our kids, and my parents here life would be just about perfect.

We did have the girls all here for a weekend (missed Jeremy and Tamara) and we had a lot of fun. We water skied, kayaked, and we girls had fun canning and learning some new provident living skills. We had a blast. Then Mel and Erik, the girls and I went up to visit with my Dad and Gwen while Alan had some one on one time with Allison, Jackson, and Steph. It was a great week!

Things are going well, we are having some friends from here in the Valley (10) over for dinner and then going to Tuachan for the opening of the show "Big River". I've never heard of it but I'm sure it will be great, and the company will naturally be wonderful!!

We miss you all and wish you were all closer. See you soon

My Sweet Michael

2008-06-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is a hard one to post.

We just got back from Mesa where we said good bye, for now, to our oldest son Michael Emmet Smith Jr. who went home to his Father in Heaven on Father's Day June 16, 2008. He was born May 25, 1970 in Mesa, and died not far from the very place he was born.

People ask, "How are you doing?" Truth is, not well. But my job is to stay strong. And I will. But I have to be truthful and say that just now my heart is breaking. The pain is unimaginable. No mother should ever have to plan and carry out a funeral for their child. I know that he is out of his pain. I know he is with a merciful and all loving Father in Heaven. But I loved him too, and I just want him back! Not the Michael who was in pain a suffering, but the one he truly was down deep in his soul. That Michael who was happy, and full of fun, and full of faith. I WANT HIM BACK!!

I have had to survive a lot of things in my life, and I have. But this one....This one is the hardest of all. I need all the prayers and love you can send. I'm afraid this one is going to be with me forever.

Thanks to all the amazing friends who have been there for us, for the support they gave us. And thanks to our amazing family who came from far away to be with us and let us know we are loved, and those close by who, as always give us so much strength. And thanks to our kids who helped out with the arrangements, and spoke so eloquently of their brother. Their love holds me together. And to Jill and Paul for bringing Elliot to us to remind us that a part of Michael remains here on earth to love and enjoy. He is such a sweet spirit. We all love him, and them for the wonderful job they are doing in raising him.

And most especially to my sweet husband who holds me in the dark as I sob, and reminds me that I am strong, that God loves him even more than I do, and that he loved me. My love to all.

OK funny story #1

2008-06-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

OK, so Alan had to get this new Kayak, and he has been out in it three times since getting it last week. He likes to go out at the crack of dawn, which for those who really know me know that will never work for me. There just isn't much worth getting up that early for, unless it's to roll into the hot tub outside and watch the sunrise. Then I just might go back to bed at that.

Anyway, he leaves and then he comes back a half hour latter. I know that that was not nearly long enough for him to have spent any time on the lake, so I popped open one eye and said,"What's up? Why are you back so soon?"
"Just came back to get something I forgot."
"What?"
"This,"he says and holds up his snorkel gear. "Why? you may ask," he said. "I need to see the bottom of the lake."
"Why?" is asked both eyes open now and not getting that warm fuzzy feeling.
"Because that's where my cell phone is."
Great.
So he goes back and comes home two hours later, lips blue with cold and shaking, and no phone. Couldn't find it. And the snow melt water was so cold he was nearly hypothermic!
A long steam shower latter and he was ready to talk with out his teeth chattering. All he said was, "We will go again later, and I will wear a wetsuit."
We did...He did..Still no phone. I'll try and send a picture of him trying to find the phone in the lake.
The saddest part of all this is he has all of his phone numbers and contacts, notes and calendar reminders in that phone! It is something I have never trusted. Always keep a hard copy of everything. It's not like we haven been taught this lesson before. One of those personal planers and two crashed cell phones worth of lessons. He stores everything on his phone still....which as far as I'm concerned should be used to MAKE PHONE CALLS!!!
Alan just came in and said, What are you doing? Blogging? Make sure to tell everyone this has not been edited or approved by me. You are only getting one side of the story." True. But it's my space and my blog, and I stand by everything I've said. Man I love that guy. Never a dull moment. Next time I'll tell you about our little adventure into the world of tax sale. That's a real good one. Later. Love to all

2008-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone.
I sent a lot of emails to tell people how to get to this page, but I may have to do it again because I'm not sure they all went out. If you got the email let me know.

Well, Mel, Erik and the girls have gone back to AZ. and we miss them already. We had fun while they were here. We even played some games and Jadyn creamed us! They are sure fun girls. And I think their parents even relaxed some. It is hard to get Mel to relax, but I hope she did.

We have had my brother and his wife here last month, and Craig and his family, Mel and Erik, and my Dad and Mom. Alan says we are getting this B&B thing down so you all come! This spring has been just spectacular, and we have really enjoyed it.

Our newest toy.... We have some friends up here who got a Kayak last summer and they go out on the lake just ten minutes from here in the AM then come home and get ready for work. They have been telling us about how great it is for some time, so Alan has been wanting it, and now he has it. He has gone out twice now, and his friend Val went with him this AM. But now, after testing Val's he has determined that we need to take this one back and get one like Val's. Ours is a lot harder to balance. So it's back to Costco with that one. But he does enjoy it a lot. And I will get into it too...once he has worked to bugs out. Personally, I would like a two man one, but Alan says that I would just coast leaving him to do all the work while I gaze at nature. Ah, he knows me too well.:)

Alan and I just got new callings. Alan as Stake Sunday School Pres. and I was released from the Primary Pres. Stay tuned to see where I land next.

Love to you all, Linda and Alan

Opening Comments

2008-05-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am sending this out because I'm just getting this set up, with Mels' help because I am Techno challenged and having typed a long opening blog, that was by the way brilliant, it all went away! So I will try and remember what I had said, but I am sure it will not be as entertaining or informative as the first. So if you find this boring just remember the first one was WONDERFUL!

The picture you see is one of the many awesome sunsets we see from our home here in Dammeron Valley. We love it here, as you all know, and find it hard to leave for any reason. That is why we love it when you all come visit. We are hopping infact to have a big reunion the middle of July and are planning on all of you getting here. The boys will have some fun nature things to do, and we will do some fun girl things (and nature things to). We may even take in a show or two at Tuachan.

When I get the hang of this I will have some stories to tell of our adventures in Utah. And there are some stories!

Lets see if this works now. Love to you all