2 November, 2011

Wow I can not believe how fast this last year has gone. Tomorrow on November 3rd. will mark the 1 year anniversary of Dads passing. I will be wearing Purple in his honor.



I miss Dad so much, I think of him daily and remember the precious times we had. How this horrible Disease was a blessings at times.

You see for me it was hard most of the time but beautiful at times because it allowed me to get to know Dad in a way I might not have been able to do otherwise.

Growing up I got to know Dad as my Daddy and Father, as an adult I got to know him as an adult, then as the Alzheimer's grew more prominent and Mom saw it, and asked me if I would watch over him and take care of him as he progressed before she passed away.

I got to know Dad as a young adult not just a forgetful man. I then saw him as he would have been a rebellious teenager,Wanting his way and trying whatever it took to get it. Those were frustrating days for me but we got through them. Then a child full of joy for everything especially the simple things. The laughter of telling me stories he told me so many times over and over again during this stage sometimes laughing so hard that tears would roll from our eyes and our stomachs would hurt.

Then as a toddler Frustrated because he could no longer read or walk or do the things that he wanted. How he enjoyed the simple things that we all take for granted seeing the animals, smelling a flower, going for a walk a good sip of Root beer his favorite drink. Then as an infant when he could no longer speak or do anything for himself. It was then that I got to know Dads spirit. His loving spirit and longing to be touched and held and have his hair brushed. I LOVE YOU DAD!

I know we all have great memories of Dad and I would love to see some of your memories of both Mom and Dad on here please feel free to share them. I know everyone would enjoy them.



February 14th will mark the 11 year anniversary of Moms passing. I miss her also as equally. I have many fond Memories of Mom. I saw many sides of Mom as well. But above all she was a great Lady. So generous and kind and forgiving. She so wanted to help those in need as she was able. So concerned about her family and her children holding together as a family after she passed away. She expressed this to me so many times that last year of her life. She Loves you all so much. She loved the animals in nature so much. From her pet Skunk (Mr. Waddles) to the deer and the mountain lions. She loved and respected them all.

One thing Mom taught me was to appreciate the little things God created. The delicate petals and beauty of a flower, the tiniest of shells you find on the beach. To slow down and look at the beauty and nature around you, that you would see thing others might miss because you took the time to look.









So as I come to a close for this posting I want each of you to know How much I truly Love you all. I want you to know that if I have offended or hurt you in any way I am truly sorry and ask for you to please forgive me. I want us to be a family again to rely on each other to be friends to Love each other.

With all my heart and Love

Jo Ellen

19 SEPTEMBER 2011

all family member I have tried to include everyone of the family members that I have email addresses for in this blog. I have invited everyone to be authors so all can post on this family sight. I hope we all use this sight to keep everyone updated on each of our lives. I love you all so very much and hope and pray all of you are well.

Jo Ellen

September 12, 2011

Hello Everyone sorry it has been a while since my last entry. as I stated in my email to everyone I had intended to travel to Kalispell Montana to visit and take picture of Mom and Dads head stones at the beginning of summer.But unfortunately I broke my knee and thus was not able to travel. I am so glad I have good friends there and was able to ask one of them to go and take the pictures for me. Thank you to Marry Lue Heartman. I thought you would all enjoy having a copy of them.

Our summer has been busy with our restaurant. yes Ziggie's is alive and well We decided to reopen in May and found a perfect place in Nauvoo IL. with seating for 50. Nauvoo has a huge tourist season (around 500,000 per summer) and many missionaries about (600). Summer is always crazy in Nauvoo but now that the main tourist season is over things are slowing down. everyone loves our Pizza with our homemade dough for our crusts and Pasta and homemade desserts. it was a fun summer.

Wow there is a Lott in store for our family coming up. Diana is going on a mission for our church. She will be serving in the Washington, Spokane mission and will be speaking Spanish. She reports to the missionary training center (MTC) October 26th. she will be in the MTC for 2 months learning the Spanish language and the go to Spokane and receiver her first area around Christmas. She will serve for 18 months. She is so exited.

Nichole and Peter are expecting her 5th child in the beginning of December. Mariah and her husband Kyle are expecting there first child in April 2012. We are happy and exited for both of them.

Eric is doing great on his mission he is truly loving the people and learning about the Latin culture. you can fallow his blog here. http://ericzieglersmission.blogspot.com/ this is comprised of his letters home and some pictures he sends home. I hope you enjoy it.

Birthdays and anniversaries that were this summer that I know of. If there are any I missed I am sorry . please let me know so I can put them on. and since I did Dec. - March in the last post I did not include them on this one.

April
Anniversaries
Don and I had our 28th anniversary
Birthdays:

Peter Ivie my son in law
Would have been Grandpa Beryl L. Westergren

May
Nichole and Peter's Anniversary

June
Birthdays:
Dawn's

July
Birthdays:
Bethany My grand daughter
David Hopkins
Beck my grand son

August
Birthdays:
Would have been Grandma Leona Westergren
Would have been Dad's Jerome Westergren
Diana's
Mariah's
Mine ( Jo Ellen )

September
Birthdays:
Jon's
would have been Mom's Dorothy Westergren

October
Birthdays:
Brianna's
Mark (Terri's husband)
Eric's

November
Birthdays:
Heather's
Amber's
Terri's
Mariah and Kyle's Anniversary

Well for now all my Love to you all. I hope and pray you are all safe and well.love you all so muchJo Ellen

15 February, 2011

Hello Everyone!!!!!!

Life here at my home is settling into a routine and getting somewhat back to normal. I am still looking for employment. Don is currently working in a Bakery in Quincy. This bakery has been around since 1929. http://www.underbrinks.com/historymap.html
I am glad he can put his schooling to work.

As for Diana she is going to school and working. This keeps her busy and that is a good thing for Diana.

Eric is doing well on his mission. He has been at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah for the last 2 months. Normally Missionaries are only there for 2 weeks unless you are learning a foreign language then you are there 2 months. Tomorrow Eric leaves and goes to Canada. He will be able to call home for a short conversation while he is at the Airport. I am so exited. After that it will be only letters. They are required to call home 2 times a year Mothers day and Christmas. and they are given a time limit. Other than that they are required to write home once per week.
I am keeping a blog on his mission there is a link on this page. Feel free to view it any time. here is the web address as well. http://ericzieglersmission.blogspot.com/



I hope everyone took a moment yesterday to think of Mom. it was 10 years ago yesterday that she passed away. I know I did. I miss her greatly and can not wait for the day when we will meet at Jesus feet in a joyous reunion.



We had a blizzard here on February 2 it was crazy how much snow built up in only 12 hours. we had 3-4 feet of snow. we could not see across our street in daylight because the snow was blowing so hard. it was all powder snow so it was not to slick. but when you have that much it hangs on for a long time. We still have quite a bit on the ground but we are beginning to see patches of grass. wow I can not wait till spring.



Don is chomping at the bit to get our garden in. he already has blue Hubbard squash, Lots of Tomato's (several kind) and eggplant started. and he can't wait to see the 1,000 tulip bulbs and 300 hyacinth bulbs sprout and bloom. He planted those last fall.

As for me I am sprouting the flowers for our hanging baskets and flower boxes so they will be big enough to replant in a month or so.

Let me see other news..... Our oldest Granddaughter turns 6 on Saturday the 19th. Our youngest granddaughter Miriam turned 3 in December. Don and I will be celebrating our 28th Wedding Anniversary in April. Terri and Mark Have an Anniversary in March as does Scott and Tracey and Lee Has A birthday. I hope I am not forgetting anything. sorry if I did let me know so I can update my lists. I will try to post up coming events on here so all can be reminded.

Well until next time Know I Love you all and miss you much.
Jo Ellen

22 December,2010

Yesterday was our grand daughter Miriam's 3rd. Birthday Happy birthday sweetheart. It was fun having cake and watching her open presents.

Miriam was over the other day and was helping Grandpa make a German Chocolate cake.

I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year. I unfortunately did not get cards out this year. Christmas this year is a hard one for me. I am just not in the mood to do much.

Well any way I just wanted to let you know what was going on in our lives. Diana is still working at Dairy Queen and in January will start a new semester of collage. Don is working between part time and full time depending on the week. I am still looking for employment. I am keeping my knees bent in prayer and my fingers crossed that I find one soon.

Eric is doing great in the MTC.

Mariah and Kyle are both working and loving being married. Kyle is Loving Culinary School.

Nichole, Peter and there 4 little ones are busy, busy, busy running everywhere and getting ready for Santa to come in a few days.

Well I hope you are all well. and know I love you all.

Jo Ellen

12 December 2010

Life is moving on here sometimes faster than others. Yesterday we sent Eric off to Utah for his mission. He will enter the MTC on Wednesday. He is nervous and exited at the same time. I have created a blog for him so everyone can keep up to date on what is happening to him on his mission.

There is a link on this page but here is the web address ...... http://ericzieglersmission.blogspot.com


yes it is another loss for me but joyful at the same time. I will miss him so much.

as for the rest of us our lives move forward... Diana after taking some time off of school to work is starting in January with some of the basic classes (required ones) at the local collage here in Carthage.

As of right now she is planning on putting in her papers for a mission in April. She would not go out until August . They like to give you plenty of time to get any necessary paperwork and travel documents needed and done.


Don is working and I am in search of employment now that Eric is gone.

Well that is all the news from here I hope all of you are well

I love you all
Jo Ellen

5 December, 2010

Life here is busy we are preparing this week for Eric's mission departure on Saturday. He won't actually enter the MTC until Wednesday the 15th. but he has a few things he has to take care of in Utah before he enters. His Sister Mariah will be picking him up from the airport and he will stay with her until Wednesday. She will take him to the MTC for us.

in the mean time we have lots to do here this week.

I hope you are all well

I love you all
Jo Ellen