Out with the Old, In with the New

I don't know what it is, but it seems like every January I want to get a new purse. My old one is fine, nothing is broken or torn or worn out. I just need a change, a new look, a different bag. I did want something with a little more room. I find a need to carry a little more with me. My need to be prepared has increased. My new bag is nice and roomy. I like it. It caught my eye as I walked by the bags at Target. I wasn't thinking "I need to buy a purse". I just saw it and liked it. Although, I have always had a thing with bags and purses. I have a whole closet full of them and I use them. I choose the one I use depending on my mood. Am I the only one that is bag crazy? Anyway, here it is. Wasn't quite sure about the color. If it had come in a different color, I might have bought a different one, but it is growing on me and I loved the style. So now I have made one more step into the new year. Just call me the bag lady!

A New Year 2011

It's been awhile since we've visited. The elections have come and gone. Thanksgiving and Christmas have past us by and it is now a new year. I always love the new year. It brings a much needed boost to my motivation. Things are looking up, but I know it is going to be a tough year. I just have to keep my hope up and pray that my efforts in eating good and taking my meds has paid off.
The holidays were filled with family and friends. Vivian helped me with the Thanksgiving rolls this year. I love spending time with her. "We work together", she declares with excitement. At Christmas time, Pete and Rachel stayed with us and Natahlya helped me make the breadsticks for Christmas Eve dinner. They both did a great job and I felt like I was passing on the Kuhlmann traditions to them. What a teaching moment! It's what I live for. I would love all of my grandchildren to be close enough to be able to work together with their grandma. I miss each one. The children are so spread out now with Candice and Bridget in Texas with their families, Pete, Kelli and Tony in Northern Utah with theirs. Tiffany and their family are about as close as they can get and I really enjoy their visits each day.
With this new year, I have once again committed to be better at healthy eating. I improve each year and the fact that I am still here is evidence that it is working. Happy New Year!

Megan's 2010

(In the words of my megan) my little "snicker doodle" is growing fast!  She is 10 now, and is in the 4th grade!  She still loves school and learning.  Art and music are her favorite subjects/hobbies.  She is in the school choir and the ward choir.  She had a solo a few months ago.  She is in her 3rd year of piano lessons.  She is playing really well and if she puts her mind to it can learn and memorize a song in a week.  SO TALENTED!  She wants to learn to play as many instruments as she can.  She also loves people.  She is always planning parties and adventures with her friends.  Her family has been having a lot of fun.  They went to Disneyland for Christmas last year.  They visited Moab in the summer, enjoying the view hiking around Canyonlands, and Arches.  She always snuggles with he scarf and blanket that mom made for her. The teddy bear I got her this year she has named Sugar, or "Shuger" (as she spells it), and used it with her Halloween costume this year. She's looking forward to getting her ears pierced in two years!  She's says she loves and misses me and hopes to meet me someday :)  Her family sends their love to us, and says thank you for making their family possible. Written by Tiffany Martineau

SHERIFF'S ELECTION 2010

Dear Friends;
I have always thought it important to be involved in the Republican Primary, which will be held on Tuesday the 22nd of June. You know me and know of my experience in public service. I have served as a volunteer firefighter and Search and Rescue member. I have been involved with the Sheriff's Office in one capacity or another for the past thirty years and have served under the past five Sheriffs. I have held many positions including Chief Deputy over the Patrol Division and Undersheriff. I know the Sheriff's Office and many of its members, and the candidates. They are both good men. They are both conservative, with similar views on the constitution, immigration and citizen rights, but there is a difference. It is easy to say you care about Washington County, its problems, and its people. It is another thing to show you care through your actions. Lieutenant Cory Pulsipher has shown throughout his 23 year career with the county Sheriff's Office that he cares. His actions speak volumes about his commitment to our communities.He showed he cared in the 1990s by actively participating as a member of the first county SWAT team, when participation meant donating your time, and buying much of your own equipment to make the county a safer place. In those days members trained without compensation and Cory was there, and eventually became the team leader because of his abilities and dedication. He is and has been there when funds are being raised for “Shop with a cop”, when we are fighting cancer or child abuse, supporting Special Olympics or Search and Rescue. He is repeatedly donating his time and talents, raising funds, working, and feeding volunteers. He is not going to start programs when he gets elected, he has started programs. He put deputies on bikes at the county fair, special events, and in your neighborhoods. He raised funds for a program to help teach construction skills to inmates so they could return to society with abilities that would allow them to feed their families through honest labor. He participated in the first Citizen's Academy in Washington County, and other important community programs which worked directly with you to listen to your concerns and bring you within our circle. He is there when your child gets lost helping to organize and supervise the effort to find them. When a major event happens, he is there working to find solutions which keep you safe and protect your property. He is there when one of his people is in need of support.
In my years of service and as a supervisor, I have learned that past performance is one of the best indicators of future behavior. Cory has a history of being there when the county needs him, and it's a long history. A history filled with compassion, concern, and dedication. He has been there and you can count on him to be there in the future. He has done good things in the past and he will continue to do good things in the future. That is why I am endorsing Cory Pulsipher for Washington County Sheriff. I hope you will vote on June 22^nd and that you will vote for Cory Pulsipher. He has shown in the past that he can, and will do the job for you and your family.
The Republican primary is open to registered Republicans and to unaffiliated voters who are willing to register as Republicans at the polls prior to voting. Please participate. It is important to our county.
Pete Kuhlmann

Our Precious Baby Girl, Adria Jo

3 lbs 10 oz
Our Precious Baby Girl, Adria Jo, was born November 17, 2009. Rachel was put into the hospital on bed rest because of the lack of amniotic fluid. Two months earlier than planned, our little girl came into this life struggling for life. She is precious!

Tony's kids

Tony's kids
Fall of 2009

Dinner with Friends

Went to Paula's Restaurant tonight with Bishop Curt and Ronda Johansen, Gina and Chris Blake and Riley and Claudia and Bruce Jewett who were out visiting from Missouri. We miss them and would love to have them move back some day.

Princess Halloween Cupcakes

Had a great day with my granddaughter, Vivian. We made Princess Halloween cupcakes!

Five Generation Quilt

Mom and Dad Law brought this quilt and quilt stand over today. Dad has had this beautiful stand finished for a while but the quilt has been worked on for the last several months. Grandma Law completed the quilt blocks before she past away. Mom put the quilt together and I went over many times after cardiac rehab to help quilt it. Tiffany and Vivian didn't do much quilting but we did get a picture with the four of us around the quilt. It is a great reminder of my grandmother and her quilting talent. I will treasure it always. Thank you mom and grandma Law. Thanks Dad.

Our Fall Harvest

We had a great pumpkin and watermelon harvest this fall. About ten pumpkins from one plant and some really good tasting watermelons.

Time to go home

After eleven full days in Florida, we had to go home. Mom and Dad said that it reached record high heat after we left. Great timing for us. It was a great trip. Pete and Dad did some bush trimming and other projects for Aunt Mickey, we visited Grandma and Grandpa Kuhlmann's graves and cleaned them up and we had some great times in the Keys and at the beach and pier. Couldn't ask for anything better.

Fishing with Sea Dog Charters on the Bad Dog with Captain Jeff

What an awesome day to go fishing. The swells were minimal and the sun was behind clouds most of the morning. We caught Cero Mackerel and yellow fin snapper. There was no chumming over the side of the boat by me this trip! What a beautiful morning. As we were fishing, Bottle-nose Dolphin swam by. Perfect fishing trip.

Trip to the Keys

Our day started off with a beautiful sunrise over the Everglades as we drove to the Keys. We arrived in Marathon and attended church at the Marathon Branch. They remembered us from the last visit in April. After church, we checked into the Gulf View Waterfront Resort and enjoyed some quiet time together. There was a beautiful sunset off the Gulf Coast that night.

Florida rain storm

It has rained some each day we've been here, but today was a much heavier rain. Took pictures to show how much water was flowing off the roof. Nice warm Florida rains are wonderful. If we had this much rain in Utah, we would float away.

September 25th Sunset at Dania Pier

This morning we went back to Dania Pier for a sunrise fishing trip. It was raining when we first got there but before the sun came up, the rain stopped. It was beautiful! We fished all morning.

September 24th fishing at Dania Pier

Went fishing several days at Dania Pier. Not great fishing, but fun and relaxing. Dad went with us this day.

September 2009 Trip to Florida

Another trip to Florida included a visit to The Mad Pita, Basila Graham's new restaurant in Las Vegas where she fed us until we were full. The next day we flew out and met family in Houston at the Airport. Candice, Garrett, Bridget, Paris and Elise were there. It hasn't been too long since Bridget, Brad and family packed up their things and left Mesquite to move to Houston and look for work starting a new life in Spring City. We miss them!

Anton Allen Kuhlmann Jr Born August 2, 2009 6lbs 6oz 20 inches long This little one has brought joy to our family. He's healthy and happy. Caught this picture of Jordyn holding the little man.

Girls Camp June 2009

We held Young Women's camp June 24th through 27th in Kolob at Blue Springs. We had 16 out of 18 Young Women attend.Our theme, “Find the treasure within...Song of My Heart” was based on Doctrine and Covenants 25:12. Our goals for camp were to focus on the new value of virtue, build stronger testimonies and a love for Emma and Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, build stronger bonds and an understanding of our ancestors, strengthen our testimony of Jesus Christ, have a desire to live righteously so the Holy Ghost can guide our lives and therefore fulfill our mission here on Earth, and build strong friendships of support for each other.We started with “A walk in the path of virtue”. Our path had warning signs along the way and snakes close by. At our destination (Lava Point Lookout), we talked to the young women about being virtuous using Sister Elaine S. Dalton's talk “Stay On The Path” as a basis for our information. That evening, we were visited by a few “Virtuous women of the past”, a grandmother, mother and daughter portraying their own ancestors. We also watched a documentary on Emma Smith put together by one of the authors of the “Joseph Smith Papers” documentary. We held a compass course the next day incorporating the values and knot tying as we made a macramé bracelet with value colored beads. We also did some fun activities that afternoon. We made ice cream in cans, decorated our bandannas, hand dipped candles and wrote a “Desires of My Heart” letter. That evening, we had a talent show with every girl participating.The next day was a busy one with workshops in the morning and a “soul survivor” challenge in the afternoon. Our workshops consisted of Diana Coonradt “The Voice of our Ancestors”, talking to the young women about the importance of knowing who our ancestors are and the connection we have with them; Nancy Brook “Seek For a Better”, talking to the young women about being prepared with the armor of God to be able to fulfill our missions on Earth; and Linda Clarke “Everybody's Life Is a Story”, talking to the young women about writing their personal history in a fun and personal way to share with their posterity.Our activity that afternoon was a series of six challenges with two teams competing with each other. They were to accomplish each challenge and in doing so obtain a puzzle piece. The puzzle was then put together after finishing all of the challenges. The puzzle was a picture of “Moroni and the brass plates”. After each team completed the challenge, we discussed Moroni's challenge to us and the importance of them accepting this challenge so that they could stand as a witness of Christ.That evening, the Bishopric cooked us dinner, and then we had some guests from the past visit us before our testimony meeting. Joseph Smith and Emma (Amber and Breck McArthur), Porter Rockwell (Kendall Hall), and Hyrum (Joel Warden) bore strong testimony of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and our Savior, Jesus Christ. As our young women bore their testimonies, we knew that our goals had been accomplished. The young women bore strong testimonies of Joseph Smith and their love for Emma, their love for the Book of Mormon and their love for each other. The spirit was very strong and our testimonies were strengthened.By Saturday morning, we were tired but we got up for our last event, our Sunrise Devotional, where Julia Barney wrapped things up for us speaking to the young women of the significants of what happened in the grove. I loved the new challenge of a ward level camp and thought it was a great opportunity for all of us to experience something different. We all think that the ward camp experience was a great success and would love to have a ward camp again!

Easter picnic

We had an Easter picnic with the Kuhlmann family at the Ivins park. It was good to see all the family that came. We hope to have a family gathering planned every 3 to 4 months so we don't get so out of touch with everyone and hope that those that didn't make it this time can come next time. Here are a few pics from that day.