HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY-- FREEDOM'S NOT FREE

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!! THANK-YOU TO ALL WHO SACRIFICED  FOR OUR FREEDOM!!

VISITING WITH OLD FRIENDS

On Tuesday I ventured out to Maricopa, AZ to visit with Anna Anderson, who is visiting Frank for a few days.
I've known Anna for what seams like forever. It was wonderful to see her and visit about life, family and old friends.
I used to babysit Frank and his younger siblings when he was a bratty little kid, and later he was my sidekick for many trips into the projects to pick up and drop off a sister in our Ward on the way to Scouts. I would have never admitted it at the time, but I felt a little safer having him with me after dark in Great Brook Valley, I'm not sure even my Mother could have convinced me to go in there alone.
THANKS FOR THE VISIT, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

Today would have been Dad's 84th Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! WE MISS YOU!

BABY SHOWER FOR JENN & BABY BUNKER

Last week we gathered at Aunt Karen's for a baby shower for Jenn and her soon to arrive new little boy.
We had plenty of good snacks

to munch on

There's always time for visiting.

We played a couple of games

Jenn got a lot of presents to welcome the new baby.

He will be a very well dressed little boy, with a lot of other fun stuff.

CONGRATULATIONS JENN & BRIGHAM

2 DOWN

2 More to go

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM

My Mom was born 15 Oct 1929 in Lapointe, Utah. She was the 3rd child & 2nd Daughter. Mom was a tomboy and even though her Mother made her learn girly things like quilting, embroidery, crochet and sewing, she would rather be climbing trees.
Each year Mom would receive a new doll for Christmas, but to be able to receive the doll she had to show that she had taken good care of the previous doll. Every year, right after Christmas she would bury the new doll and dig it up in time for the next Christmas.

Ella Mae, Grandma & Mom
Mom lost her mother when she was 15 years old, leaving her and her older sister to help raise their baby sister age 19 months.
Mom served a mission to Minneapolis, MN and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

When she came home she was met Dad on blind date, and didn't really like him.

That changed and on 28 March 1957 they got married.

Mom loved her family. She expected us to work hard. During summer vacations we would go to local orchards and pick fruit, whatever was ripe and bring it home. We spent much time in the summer canning fruit and vegetables. In the winter we would have peaches, apple sauce, rhubarb, strawberry jam, pickles of all kinds, catsup, and even better there were always pies made and put in the freezer for a special treat during the winter.

We were expected to help clean the house on Saturday Mornings before we could go play. My first chore was washing the dishes after school.

Mom knew what she wanted and had a way of getting it. One incident I remember was during the time she was the Primary President. Our Branch President was a convert who had never been to Primary and had no idea of how important it was. After a particularly frustrating time of not getting anyone she asked for as teachers, she called the Branch President out of Sacrament meeting and read him the riot act.

Over the years Mom taught us the importance of service, by helping make and deliver meals, babysitting, etc.
In 1988, Mom and Dad retired to Gilbert, AZ, where she was very happy. They were able to make 2 trips to Japan to visit Richard's family. She was always a bit sad that her grandchildren lived so far away.

Back: Nick, Dad, Mom

Front: Michael, Rachel

In 1998 Mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, she did really well for a few years, but then the disease started to take its toll. So in 2002 she moved to Tolleson, to be closer to her kids. She was blessed with 2 grandchildren, who lived locally during that time.

Jordyn wasn't born when we had our last family picture taken, so I added a separate picture, because Mom adored her, even though they didn't have much time to become acquainted.

 During my life, Mom taught me to work hard, she always cheered on my efforts to learn to sew, crochet, etc., she taught me to be a good Visiting Teacher, and to always give 100% to any calling I accepted. She was known to say, "If you don't think you can do a good job at a calling and you aren't going to give it everything you've got, its better to say no."

Mom passed away on 4 Nov 2004, after 2 months in various hospitals, and care centers. Even though her family misses her, we know she is happier now.

I found this poem on line and felt it was appropriate and accurate.


In tears we saw you sinking, And watched you pass away.
Our hearts were almost broken, We wanted you to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping, So peaceful, free from pain,
How could we wish you back with us, To suffer that again.
It broke our hearts to lose you, But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you, The day God took you home.

If Roses grow in Heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother's arms and tell her they're from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her, and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy, I do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart that will never go away.

Don't think of her as gone away Her journey's just begun
Life holds so many facets This earth is only one
Just think of her as resting From the sorrows and the tears
In a place of warmth and comfort Where there are no days and years
Think how she must be wishing That we could know, today
Now nothing but our sadness Can really pass away
And think of her as living In the hearts of those she touched
For nothing loved is ever lost And she is loved so very much.
Anonymous



I originally posted this for Mother's Day 2009, but I felt it was appropriate to post it again. Some of the pictures have been changed from the original post.