June is busting out all over!

Yes, the month of June is busting out as of today. Everyone ready? There is only 100 days of summer until Labor Day is here. We are all water logged from this long, long, long spring. We turned on the electric mattress pad yesterday! Hopefully no more cold days and just lots of sunshine on it's way.

Seventeen Degrees!

Yes, it was 17 degrees at my house this morning. Is it April or December, I think the weather is all mixed up. So glad everyone had a great Easter weekend. Doyle and I went to Eccles Park for the block meeting and it was a great session. I really did take time and reflect on the resurrection of Jesus and the plan of salvation. What a great testimony to know that we will be received back into father's presence and have a joyous reunion with all of our earthly family members.

Five years ago on Easter I was in the hospital recovering from kidney surgery. Two gentlemen came into my room and asked if I would like to receive the sacrament and I said yes. They left and I thought they were just going out into the hall to retrieve the items for the ordinance. They didn't come back for a few hours, as I drifted in and out of sleep, each time someone entered my room I was hoping it was them. It really struck me how I had taken the sacrament ordinance for granted each week. These two gentleman were strangers to me, but they brought the greatest Easter gift I could have received that day. It is also a gift to have lived another five years and in good health.

It's been two years since my Mom died. It was a challenge to get through the first six months after she left, I cried everyday and visited the cemetery often. The next six months were not so tearful but still I had an ache in my heart. Weekends were the hardest because that is when I spent the most time with her. Oh, my gosh the tears are flowing as I am writing this, sometimes the waves of emotion are incredible. Whenever I visit Oregon now, that mileage sign to Seattle is tough to pass by, so many great memories of the time spent there with her. Yes, she is missed greatly but she also left me a great legacy to follow. She was a great lady and loved all of us unconditionally. She once told me Jared was her favorite grandchild, but then quickly followed it up with "I never could have imagined to have such great looking ones, not an ugly one in the bunch!" I think she bonded with Jared because she stayed with me for two weeks after he was born.

When she had her eighty-sixth birthday I tried to write 86 things about her. I am around number 23, and hopefully I can complete it soon with the rest.

Swing Thru The Trees

Today would have been my dad's 90th birthday if he were still with us. I like to think he would be on a rope swing attached to a tree, in his cutoff Levis and hat. Or maybe running around the desert in Yuma in a dune buggy. HE wouldn't be in a rocking chair on the porch, that would not be his style. Many happy memories of him and all the lessons, love and laughter we had together.

EEK, It's almost Here!

My first child Chet, was born a few days late on December 5th. He is a full grown man now with a family of his own. I am just having trouble of having a son that old. He use to wrestle with his Dad on almost a daily basis and I think he could "take him down" now!

I am so proud of Chet and how he has matured with life and all of it's challenges. He loves his wife and children and is a great provider for them. He has come out of his shell with the help of many friends, but especially with Mindy's help. He is the first one to welcome anyone new in the neighborhood, and would drop whatever he is doing to give of himself. He has even been a good sport at Halloween and dressing up with his family and finding a fun party to attend. He is a loyal friend to many, loves to wear shorts year round, ride his 4-wheeler, and go on family trips.
Hope you enjoy your birthday and many more. We are proud of the man you have become and know Heavenly Father is too.

He is Joining the Thirty Club!

Yes he is! Cant believe Jared is in that club as of today. I have very emotional feelings about the day this child was born. His dad was out of town for 12 weeks and poor Grandma Dorothy was staying with me and trying to hang out in the labor room. His heartbeat took a dive and we called in Uncle Keith to calm down me and Dorothy. They rolled me on my side and his heartbeat was better and we went on to a normal delivery, (Jared really has never been normal). I was glad Uncle Keith was there as when Jared came out he was totally white, and they thought he had a heart problem and whisked him away so fast. I didn't get to see him for 8 hours and poor Doyle in Virginia didn't know whether to fly home or stay there. It turns out it just took Jared a few days to pink up, and he was totally fine. He is a wonderful son, husband, and father at this age, we are so happy to have him in our family. He is a man of honor, loyalty, and has such a fun extroverted personality ( I think his in-laws even like having him around too). You are a blessing in our lives and to many others. We love you and wish you the best in your thirty something years!

Last Day of the Fifty's!

Let them eat cake! I started off my birthday celebration a day early at Taggart's. Some of my fun friends showed up to eat cake with me, Heather, Susan, Marlene, Joan, Lois, and Julia. It was so fun having lunch with the ladies, (I am the last of the bunch to turn 60).

I want to share a lyric with you I love written by Carolyn Pearson. She wrote, "Life is for living, for laughing and giving, whether you're happy or not." I think my header on this blog has revealed how I feel about that. For many years I quoted it to my children as they were growing up and I still feel that way.

I will have to edit my profile to I have just turned sixty! As my husband has told me for several months now, "it beats the alternative, being six feet under". I have a family history of not aging well. Quite a few of my relatives have worked hard at not looking older or feeling it too. One of them still thinks they are the world's oldest teenager at age 85.

I recently went to a conference and the speaker told us to follow this quote from Plato "Life Must be Lived as Play!" He had fifty people enter the room in a different way other than just walking in. I chose to yodel as I entered the room, I never have been a quiet person.

About four and a half years ago I had to have a tumor removed off of my right kidney. I was in shock at the thought of having cancer and not being able to live a full life. For eight days I had to wait to have surgery, the biopsy, and then the report from the doctor. I am happy to report the tumor was benign, I was so grateful to be alive. Emily was out on her mission and I was so afraid I would not be able to see her again. Ashley and Eli were so helpful in greeting me at the hospital and staying with me for awhile to get me back on my feet. My husband was the best through it all. I felt and knew my family was praying for me, along with many friends and ward members. I hope I can always serve with a cheerful heart, to my family, my church and friends. So bring on the decade of the sixty year old. I am so blessed to be at this stage in life and hope to be happy and not ornery into my seventies. (Oh, that sounds crazy).