L A G N I A P P E

Bella's NEW ROOM!

2011-12-18T18:56:00.009-07:00

Jesse, Tara, Bella and JJ moved into a great home on Traverse Mountain last year. For Bella's 4th birthday in August, I wanted to decorate her new room. Bella (Snow White on the right, left is her cousin Caroline Moon) helped me paint the room periwinkle blue and I worked on the other elements at home and then on a day in August put together the room. It was great fun to see how excited she was, and still is, when she shows someone her "new room". I was over there the other day and took a few pictures, but now I realize the pictures are only of one side of the room....oh well.

I'm really happy with how everything turned out! The inspiration for the entire room were the flower alphabet cards I found last year at Thanksgiving Point and just loved. Next came the choice of quilt fabrics that I found while in Columbus, Ohio for a work trip. The periwinkle color was chosen to best match the quilt and then while I was trying to figure out a headboard and considering things like a picket fence, I came across this old door frame....already yellow and quite dilapidated. It just needed a lot of sanding and a top coat of finish.

The woman who quilted my quilt top also quilted the fabric which I put in the panels on the door. It softens the door for a bit for a headboard, and I love the floral pattern we picked for the quilting, which she did in a hot pink to match the colors in the quilt. I backed the quilt with a cozy yellow fleece blanket and made a pillow from the same.

The garage sale night stand and desk chair I painted the periwinkle blue and there is a garage sale decorative metal book shelf that is painted yellow. I made little flowers to go on the edge of the lamp frame out of the quilt fabrics.

I've seen picture frame/pictures done similar to this and with the tiny clothespins I thought it was really cute. So, all in all, I'm quite pleased with myself. I appreciated my daughter-in-law Tara giving me license to do whatever I wanted! What a treat! And I love that little Bella and it makes me happy to see how much she loves her room!

Gingerbread House 2011

2011-12-15T20:35:00.007-07:00

This year I decided to do a castle themed gingerbread house to commemorate our trip to Disneyland with Tyler, Kai and Bella. It was a crazy project since I just didn't really have
a plan when I started. Beside the paper towel tube towers, I just wasn't sure how it was going to come together. But come together it did. Good thing these days the project spreads itself
out over many days. In the past I used to put the house together before Thanksgiving
and then we would decorate all Thanksgiving after dinner. It was CRAZY! Especially since we always did little houses for the cousins too.

On the downside, I had to do it mostly by myself. With Lindsey having 22 month old for Max, there justwasn't much time she had when we could work on it together. But the work she did made a BIG difference. I certainly don't have the fine motor coordination or patience that she does so the very detailed things, like the door, are of her making.

So here it is.....Gingerbread creation 2011

Lewis Family 2008

2011-05-08T18:55:00.001-07:00

It obviously takes me awhile to get these photo books made....But I'm finding that there is a certain advantage to the retrospective view.
The memories are even sweeter when looked at this way.

Click here to view this photo book larger

I miss these little girls

2011-04-03T19:01:00.003-07:00

I miss these little girls . . . a lot.
Life goes on sometimes in fast forward, and we don't get to
be with them often enough at all.
These pictures are from January, when Franklin and I went
for a visit to see Austin, Lizzy, Tyler and Kai in Yelm, Washington.
It was a quick "fix", but just so fun to be with them.

TYLER & KAI !
We Love You & Miss YOU !

I do like getting notes in the mail. Note that in the picture
above Tyler & I are swinging together!
I'm glad she sees us having fun together.

When I get down sometimes, I can count my blessings,
such as these wonderful little girls that are part of
OUR FAMILY,
and I feel better.

A Tender Mercy for me

2011-02-17T21:51:00.008-07:00

A few days ago I had an experience I'd like to remember.
I needed to know that Heavenly Father cared about my family.....

The story needs a little background, so here's the background.
Monday night Franklin & I, and several other couples
went to dinner at the home of some friends.
I was assigned to bring the bread.
So I did.
I also brought butter . . .
on this beautiful butter dish . . .
with this beautiful butter knife . . .

which had been carved from blocks of wood years ago by my dad.
It's one of my most treasured possessions.

I came home that evening with some leftover
bread in the bread basket.
That was that.

The next night I didn't get home from the office until about 5 and I had
to be at the church for a Young Women's dinner at 6. Then when I got
home at 8:30, I still had some work to do and to pack for my trip to
Denver the next morning.

I noticed my butter dish still on the counter, but no knife.
I looked around for a few minutes,
and also looked in Franklin's car, but couldn't find it.
Having much to do, I couldn't spend more time, but
figured it would turn up.

A number of my tasks that evening had to do with some loose ends
regarding a child or two.
Yes, these children are all adults now,
but if you're a parent of adult kids,
you know that the parenting and concern just goes on.
There is one of mine that is struggling in particular right now, and that
child had suffered a disappointment that day that I was upset about.

I do what I can to help . .
and then
I worry and I fast and I pray.

So that night when I went to bed at about 11:00,
I was still pretty wound up.
I wondered to myself, is Heavenly Father really listening?
Even if He is, "bad things happen to good people",
I really can't expect any different.

And then!
A thought just P-O-P-P-E-D into my head!

"THE KNIFE IS IN THE GARBAGE"

That's it! I remembered emptying the leftover bread in the bread basket
into the trash can! The knife must have gone in as well.

So at 11:15, I hopped out of bed, went out to the side of the house
where the trash cans are, took out the most recent kitchen trash bag,
and went through it.

Sure enough....there was the knife.

I was so grateful to have that special knife.
I would have been sooo sad to lose it.

And I knew
that it was Heavenly Father's way of gently reminding me . . .
"I do know YOU, and I do know what is important to you.
Trust in me. "

Max turns ONE

2011-01-29T21:02:00.007-07:00

Franklin and I went to Denver to help Lindsey and Joe celebrate Max Joseph's first birthday.

Amazing to watch what having a child does to ones world.
I know they think, as I did about my own, that nobody ever loved their
child as much as they love theirs.

Lindsey and I had fun planning a "wild rumpus" for Max's birthday party.
Yes, we realize 1st birthday parties are for the parents, and luckily Joe and Lindsey had
some nice new friends in Denver to share the fun with.

Then, of course, there is the traditionally messy event of the first birthday cake.
Max started out a bit cautious, but once given a taste he
figured it out pretty quick!

He was also willing to share!

And after getting washed up, enjoyed his new birthday toys!
We love you MAX!

Lucky US!

2011-01-12T23:10:00.007-07:00

We were so happy to have some great family time last weekend.
Lindsey, Joe and Max were visiting from Denver and
we had the opportunity to stay at some friend's cabin
right on the slopes of Sundance. Jesse, Tara, Bella, JJ, David and Kate
(and Kate's friend James) were with us too.

Ski in - Ski out

Perfect for coming in for lunch and for mom's with nursing babies!

It was SOO fun seeing 3 year old Bella on skis for the first time.

She LOVED it and was a natural!

She has a special (and funny) relationship with Uncle David!

Still a little young to ski,
but Max loved toddling around in
the snow.

Indoors there was much fun to be had too....
the best company, fun games, a little reading, great food . . .
Missed Austin & family . . .
We definitely want to do this AGAIN (if possible).

Saying goodbye to a dear friend

2010-12-29T21:40:00.008-07:00

photo from Summer 2010

Today I had to say goodbye to my good friend Kitten,
whose name is really Dusti, but just never outgrew the name 'kitten'.

Kitten died today, and I loved this cat very much.
We adopted Kitten in 1999 from a friend of David's.
Over the years she really became my special friend.
She did not share affection easily. In fact, to some people she was downright nasty.
But she was incredibly loyal to me. She had a unique personality,
and some very special talents.

Kitten pretty much hung out with me wherever I was. She followed me around the
house, sat on my desk if I was working there and just kept a pretty close eye on me. Franklin would often notice my entire 'entourage' with me...Kitten, Moby & Beamer,
but Kitten was especially attentive.
If I was in the backyard, she'd be with me wherever I was or hanging around keeping an eye on me from the top of the fence.

Kitten would actually follow me around the block! These two pictures were taken on my phone just a few months ago. I took Beamer with me as I was distributing flyers to neighborhood doors. Kitten came along, waiting at every door if I was chatting and otherwise just padding along beside me.

She was so insistent on doing this in the last 3 or 4 years, that she even wanted to follow me when I was going on a bike ride. So if I couldn't get away without her seeing me, I would have to go back and put her in the house so I could go on my ride!

Another one of kitten's talents was opening doors! We have the kind of door handles that are levers and if a door was closed that she wanted open, she would jump and jump, with her paws dragging down on the lever until she hit it just right and the door would open.
She was very persistent!
She would even use this skill to find me in the bathroom!
In our previous house, there was a ladder up to Kate's bed,
which was above a playhouse in her room.
Yep, up the ladder she would go to join us reading books.

For so many reasons, I will miss her very much, especially since 17 1/2 year old Moby died this summer. Kitten was not quite 12, and was actually enjoying no longer living in Moby's shadow. The vet thinks it was a tumor, but she became very ill, very suddenly.

Here she is with me and baby Max this last summer. Except for a few years in college, I have always lived with one or two cats that I cared for very much.
Yes, I am a cat lover and can in no way understand those who are not.

I will miss Kitten . . . and the companionship, amusement and affection she gave me.
I took this picture today, just a few hours before she passed away.
She loved me, and I hope she knew how much I loved her.

Our Christmas Season

2010-12-28T21:36:00.005-07:00

This years gingerbread house was made in
honor of Franklin's devotion to all things
'Christmas Carol'. I even watched
several versions of the movie with him

It was great to have Kate home from BYU, although a few times I had
to raz her and ask "are you really home from college, or was I
just dreaming?" since we aren't seeing all that much of her!

Christmas Eve was delightful . . . missing Lindsey & family and Austin & family . . .
but enjoying 3 year old Bella as she eagerly participated in
everyone's gifts.

From Katie she received a book and Auntie obliged her
with an immediate reading thereof.

The star of the evening, however, was David's
Christmas Surprise . . .
a kitten . . .
which he named DROGBA
(after his favorite soccer player from the Ivory Coast)

They were happily doing some pretty
intense bonding.

And Bella provided some additional entertainment.

So enjoyed the warmth of home and family and the spirit of our Savior.

My #1 WISH

2010-11-07T19:56:00.005-07:00

My very favorite "parents-to-be": Can you help?

If I could have one wish today, it would be to help Rachael & Ryan become parents.

NO kidding, NO exaggerating, NO fooling . . .

if I had to pick the very best, the very most loving, the very most selfless, the very most
genuine, the very most deserving couple to be parents, I would pick . . .

Rachael and Ryan

Although you can read about them in their 'bios', I have to say they have in no way told the whole truth.
In no way did they capture how their GOODNESS, is just bundled up in this amazing amount of FUN!

Ryan is in his last year of Dental School & Rachel is an amazing HS English teacher.
A child could simply NOT have a better opportunity to become the best that they could be than
with these two wonderful people.

If any of you know anyone in a situation who needs to calm their fears and KNOW that
they are placing their child in the arms of true servants of our Savior,
please let me know. It's my #1 wish, and certainly theirs too.

Feeding the spirit

2010-10-07T20:14:00.007-07:00

From Sun UP to Sun DOWN,
I've really had a wonderful time with newly acquainted family here in the Tetons and in Yellowstone this week. David and Alma (my first cousin) Hosie are visiting me from France. I've only met them once before for about 30 minutes in London a few years ago and they are here to
see the West for the first time ever and to help celebrate
my dad's 90th birthday!

Dad's done great . . . walking and walking and walking. We try to take it easy on him but took him on a 2.5 mile walk yesterday!
Alma and David are interesting, fun, energetic and having spent most of their life living in the East (HongKong, Malasia, Borneo, Japan etc.) they have so many interesting perspectives
to share.

They were delighted to be introduced to my iphone...especially when it meant
getting up to date coverage of the Ryder Cup!

Alma was raised English and David is a Scott so of course it is wonderful to hear them talk.
Alma kept pronouncing 'geyser' as 'geezer' . . . and I told her that the fellow in the
picture below was the 'geezer'.

We had beautiful weather...clouds and a bit of drizzle, sunshine clouds...perfect.
We are an amiable traveling group and do not lock horns...but sure enjoyed
watching these Elk do so!

Saw lots of buffalo close up, but liked seeing them together with this coyote.

I've loved being back in these beautiful places.
I'm pretty sure I was just meant to be a traveler.

I am so grateful for the beautiful creation of the earth. It feeds my soul, that's for sure.

Little Bee . . .

2010-09-16T18:41:00.004-07:00

Every once in a while I can tell within just the first dozen pages that I've picked up a book that is really special. The last time was with "The Help". I picked up this book, "Little Bee", at Costco without knowing anything about it, but I am really loving it . . .the way it is written draws you in differently than almost any other book I've read, and does what most of my favorite books do ...
draws you into a world that is both so different and in some ways so familiar.

Some things never change....

2010-09-12T19:39:00.005-07:00

Our #1 granddaughter Tyler on her first day of kindergarten

Some things never change . . . like how it feels to send your
child off on their first day of

KINDERGARTEN

So I could completely understand how Lizzy felt last week.
It brought back memories of some days which just
don't seem like that long ago....

13 years ago David helped Katie get on the bus on her first day.

19 years ago I sent our little David off to kindergarten...

and, yes, it's been 21 years since I sent Lindsey off on her first day.
Tender memories.

Congrats TYLER! I know you will love school and love learning.
I'm so proud of you!

My life right now . . .

2010-09-05T20:38:00.002-07:00

This image speaks for itself.

Life is very different.

I miss her laugh.
I miss her laughing with me.
I miss her singing all over the house.
I miss her friends.
I miss her funny stories.
I miss her hugs.
I miss knowing.
I miss her spirit.
I miss her enthusiasm.
I miss her wanting to share.

I miss her.

A lot can happen . . .

2010-08-05T21:15:00.004-07:00

A lot can happen . . . in six short months.
It's amazing how much a baby changes and learns during that time.
Those early years of life are just so incredible for that, aren't they?

I took these pictures of JJ last Sunday, when he was just

one week old.

I'm just so happy for Jesse & Tara.

Then there's Max . . . just 6 months older . . .
and he's decided that he will not only crawl . . . he'll climb stairs!

"Yep, I'm gonna go for it"

So determined! Push yourself Max!

SUCCESS!

We're so blessed to have these two little boys, just 6 months apart,
to be in our family.
We hope they will be best friend cousins!

2010-07-27T19:44:00.006-07:00

Joshua Jesse (JJ) Lewis
Sunday, July 25, 2010
4:40 am
6 lb 1 oz, 18 1/2 inches

We are so thrilled to have our newest grandchild!
Everything went well
for Tara as she gave birth to JJ. His 6 month old cousin Max is thrilled
to have a buddy to cause trouble with
and big sister Bella (almost 3) is very proud!
I was lucky enough to be there as this beautiful baby crossed
through the veil to this life. Such a blessing, and such a responsibility.

Can't resist adding this picture of Tara (aka Energizer Bunny) coming back from a
hike up at the cabin less than 24 hours before JJ's arrival!

A tribute to our Moby

2010-07-15T21:16:00.010-07:00

February 1993 to July 2010

I can't say enough wonderful things about our Moby. I wish I could make a
mile long post including all sorts of stories about him and wonderful pictures of him . . . we must have hundreds, but most are on another computer with a bad mother board.
I really loved Moby. He was 17 1/2 years old when he died while Katie and I were at
Youth Conference. I'm grateful Franklin acted as his hospice worker and helped him. I am also glad that a few days earlier I spent time on the backyard swing
just peacefully holding my Moby, who I knew wouldn't be with me for long, and telling him just how much we loved him, and thanking him for all he has meant to us.

Brief facts of Moby's life:

*Adopted from Lindsey & David's elementary school music teacher in Dubuque, Iowa
*Had a leg amputated after being hit by a car when he was about three.
*Was a poster cat for disabilities - never let it bother him
*Lived in California with Christie's parent's for a year while we built a new home in Provo, Utah
*During that time was called "Toby" by my parents (what's up with that?)
*Was loved and respected by all . . . how can you not love a handsome 3 legged cat?
*Was King of the Roost . . . never did warm up to Beamer the dog or Dusti the kitten
*'Tender mercies' were felt as he was on numerous times granted another 'life'.

Animals can be such a blessing. We all loved Moby, but Lindsey was allergic to him so could
never get real close to him. Jesse and Austin had great respect for him. During his HS years, David established a special bond with Moby with has lasted to this day. During some years when life wasn't always that easy for David at home, Moby was there for him. Moby spent countless daytime hours sleeping at the foot of his bed, but at night, David had a second pillow next to his which was Moby's bed for the night. Because they
were so close, back then I just hoped that Moby would live until David graduated HS. (When you only have 3 legs and you've already used at least a dozen lives, it seems like you are on borrowed time).

That was 6 years ago.

When we moved from Provo to Orem 4 years ago, Moby became so
very important to Katie. That first year was a really difficult time for her and almost every day after a hard day in 9th grade, she would gather Moby in her arms and take him up to her room for comfort and consolation.
Their bond stayed so strong,
even after life became happy again. With no siblings at home,
Moby was her special bud.

I took the picture below on Sunday evening before he died on Wednesday night. Katie
was writing missionary letters on the front porch and had carried Moby from the backyard to the front to join her. There really was something so very special about Moby. I am grateful for the comfort he gave, the fun we shared.

I think his passing is particularly emotional for me. Katie was not quite one year old when
we adopted Moby . . . and in just a few weeks she leaves for college. He is the animal
friend of my child raising years, and his passing marks the passing of a time in my own life
never to be visited again. But life is good, and our memories are wonderful.

Moby is buried up at our cabin. He'll always hold such a special place in my heart.

Good advice for the 4th!

2010-06-29T21:15:00.004-07:00

Just thought I'd share . . . StateFoodSafety.com is one of our companies, and we often send seasonal food safety cartoons to our clients. Here's the one our artist created for the 4th of July!

Better take that advice and keep the potato salad cold!

Back from Girl's Camp

2010-06-27T21:10:00.005-07:00

Thought Lindsey might enjoy a reminder of her days at Girl's Camp - But then again,
maybe not so much.
Serving in the Young Women's organization at church again
(after about an 8 year hiatus),
I got to spend 5 days, 4 nights at Camp Mia Shalom last week.

These are our great group of girls that attended. They were awesome . . . as was the weather.
After a horribly rainy early June,
we had PERFECT weather.

This is the amphitheater . . . site of many morning and evening shenanagins.

Thought Kirsten might enjoy reflecting on how much her camp experiences
impacted her current design skills.

For someone like me who loves to hike, I get such a kick out of the girls who don't.
I guess I just don't get it . . . but all were good sports . . .
as we put miles on
our feet both during the day and during our midnight hike.

The last night the moon was full, as were we . . .
filled with gratitude for a
loving Heavenly Father who has given us such a beautiful world, appreciation
for each other and a renewed commitment to serve Him and each other.

Life is a Whirl . . .

2010-06-11T20:12:00.011-07:00

SPRING BREAK IN BAVARIA

The last few months have flown by . . . I haven't felt like I've had much chance to catch up from one thing before the next comes our way. In between I'm wildly trying to catch up at the office, planting my spring flowers between snow and rain storms and trying to remember to pay all the bills.

Franklin, Katie and I really enjoyed our time in Bavaria during Spring break in early April. We were so fortunate to have great weather, so we, and our princess,

had a great time.

Here's Katie and her daddy strolling along the Salzach River in Salzburg,

and it was a beautiful sunset near Neuschwanstein Castle.

With graduation coming, we had a 'reunion' of the graduating girls from our old Vintage neighborhood. The other girls all went on to graduate from Timpview HS, but with our move 4 years ago Katie changed schools and graduated from
Orem HS, which she just loved.
This was my 'fieldtrip' group . . . since Katie was my caboose
I had the time to take them lots of places . . . including here at
"This is the Place" State Park when they were 10 years old!

Then there was a work trip to Colorado Springs and Denver and at the tail end I hooked up with Joe, Lindsey & Max as Joe was exploring some dental opportunities
in Denver.

I love seeing this little family . . . and we loved Denver.

I like this picture, because Joe and Lindsey and Max may very well be headed
forward toward their future in this beautiful city!

Lindsey & Max came back to Utah for a few days and during that time we had a graduation party for Katie, her 7 best friends and their families up at the cabin.

I love these girls, and I believe in these girls.
They have been such an important part of the success of
Katie's High School experience.

Go Girls! Grab the future and be all that you can be.

And of course it was wonderful having Max and Lindsey here.
Franklin has taken to calling him "toughie".

Here's Max with his great Grandma and great Grandpa . . .

and here with his wonderful mom who just loves him so much.
I have been so impressed with the dedicated, loving mom Lindsey is to Max.

Aren't they adorable together?

Then there was Katie's lacrosse banquet, celebrating
a fun, even though not winning, season.

And then there was graduation . . . had to post the picture above because it was the only one which shows Katie with her very cool looking Nat'l Honor Society Sash.
Katie, being Katie, lost her tassel before reaching the floor of the Marriott Center
(so she didn't want to wear her hat in pictures) and traded her sash for her
diploma before we had a chance to take pictures.

Happy/Sad parents of our wonderful Caboose!

The neighborhood gang has been an important part of Katie's life these last
few years too. I will miss the presence of all these friends in my world :-(

So . . . since then I've spent 4 days in Albuquerque for work,
and have now landed . . . but for just a few days.

Finally finished!

2010-05-19T21:28:00.002-07:00

I'm happy that I finally finished my photo book from our family time together last August! Here it is!

All in the family

2010-05-17T18:43:00.002-07:00

These aren't my pictures, but they ARE my family! That's Lizzy, Austin's wife finishing her first ever marathon last weekend in Olympia, Washington . . . 3:26:29 . . . meeting her goal of qualifying for the Boston. That makes two for two daughters-in-law who are amazing in their grit and determination to what, okay, I admit it , I think is an insane undertaking!

She was cheered on by her sweet girls . . . our adorable granddaughters . . .

and one FAB husband . . . Austin.

I love knowing how they came together as a family to work together so Lizzy could
prepare and achieve this goal. That means the world.

Ready to GRADUATE!

2010-05-09T20:20:00.005-07:00

Katie and I finally found some time last week to take some

SENIOR PICTURES !

Love this girl . . . and today especially, I'm celebrating being a Mom.
My greatest life's blessing . . . I am so grateful for 5 children, 2 daughters-in-law,
one son-in-law and 4 1/2 grandbabies. Lucky, lucky me.

My favorite part of being a mom is just the love . . .
to be able to feel that
much love for another person, is an amazing thing
. . . an amazing feeling.

2010-05-02T20:44:00.004-07:00

I was asked to prepare a "sharing station" for Women's Conference at BYU last week.
The topic I was given was "sharing your excess with those who have less" and eventually I settled on the title "My Sister's Keeper". The 'sharing stations' were like a trade show . . . there were about 80 booths focused on a very wide range of topics . . . from grandparenting, to working with recent refugees, developing reading skills with children, agency, raising teenagers etc . etc.

As part of the display, I had posted this. It received many, many comments. My goal was
to remind women that in serving others it is most important is to do something, anything, to reach out and connect with someone. Too often we fail to do something, anything, because it won't be what we imagine is 'best', and we imagine only 'best' is good enough.
Good - Better - Best
We've heard it many times but there are different ways to think about it,
and different ways to apply it. Let's make sure we apply it in a way that is 'best' for us.
(Notice that instead of a fancy, computer generated with perfect letters and pretty pictures poster, I intentionally just had Katie make a simple poster. Funny, I had to swallow hard and not make it the best!)

End of an Era

2010-04-17T20:19:00.003-07:00

I probably have a LOVE-HATE relationship with PROM . . . and if you're a mom, I probably don't have to explain why. But tonight is the last PROM of my mothering life, and that
marks just one more of so many "lasts" I'm having to face this year.
Don't get me started,
I might start crying . . . again.

Lucky Franklin

2010-03-31T20:32:00.003-07:00

Lucky Franklin got to go back to Baltimore this last week to meet Max and spend time with Lindsey and Joe. Max was 8 weeks old and was blessed at Church. For my non LDS friends, our Church does not baptize children until they are 8 (considered the age of accountability), but they receive a beautiful priesthood blessing, usually from their dad, during the church service.

Max is obviously being raised to be a great

BYU fan.

His Grandpa is about as die hard as they come. Don't they make just an adorable pair?

The family movie star

2010-03-28T19:42:00.005-07:00

I guess the fact that I wondered whether or not I should post this is proof enough of the whole point of the new Kotex campaign (pretty interesting actually). But how can I not brag that I have a 'star' in the family that not only appears in TV and Print ads, but has even made it into the
NY TIMES! article entitled

Rebelling Against the Commonly Evasive Feminine Care Ad

Yes, that's Ed . . . my brother's Mustang convertible which he refurbished from practically scrap. Ed has an agent and from time to time gets called on for a part. We're very proud of Ed . . . he works hard and then lets my brother keep the paycheck!

18! Unbelievable!

2010-03-24T21:49:00.005-07:00

Yes, it's almost
UNBELIEVABLE!

Kate, the caboose, is 18 today.
She has always been such a joy to everyone in our family. She's unique, funny, quirky,
talented, interesting, smart, kind . . .

GIRLFRIENDS are the best!
and Katie's did everything to make her day wonderful, including treats in every class and this poster with a terrific list of 100 things they love about her. These are some of my favorites . . . what's with the fairy thing?
6. The way your laugh stands out in a crowd
11. How you change our world
16. How you're quick to smile
28. Your mom
36. The way you keep us on the straight and narrow
37. How you play hard to get
40. The way you think you're a fairy
41. The way you are a fairy
42. The way we all make fun of you for being a fairy
46. Snide remarks under your breath
47. The way you hate turning 18
51. How you never settle for ordinary
59. The way you have the same swimsuit as sophomore year
69. Your hand made word searches
70. Your ability to get sidetracked SO easily
72. We love how you are naive
77. Your strong opinions
89. How you make everyone feel like they are the most important person in the world
93. How you always wear super nice shirts with sweats
96. Late night conversations

The list made me chuckle . . . they really do know and love my girl.
I am so grateful for her 'besties' and other friends too. They have brought such fun to my life and I appreciate so much what they have done to bring Katie happily to her 18th birthday.

Katie, I love you. Happy Birthday.

Almost married!

2010-03-14T16:39:00.004-07:00

I took bridal pictures of my niece Savannah on Friday. I'm not a photographer, so I tried reading up to figure out a few things. It was lots of fun actually and the fact that she's so pretty and photogenic made it easier. I learned a lot, especially afterward looking at the images and figuring out all the things I should have done differently with camera settings etc. I VERY rarely enlarge anything more than a 5x7 so one thing I didn't realize was just how much different an 8x10 proportion is.

Only one more week and Savannah will be married to Josh!
Love you Savannah!

PICK ME LILA!

2010-02-21T19:03:00.005-07:00

For the past 8 years I have served on the board of the
Utah Valley Health Care Foundation.

Our mission is to improve health care in Utah Valley and our fundraising efforts support the Intermountain Hospitals in Provo, American Fork & Orem.

On March 5th is our gala event of the year . . .
The CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA!

All proceeds go to the
Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

It takes place in the ballroom at UVU . . . includes dinner, entertainment and a live and silent auction. Donation is $1000 for a table that seats 8 or $150 a person. Let me know if you would like to attend! It's such a worthy cause . . . the funds help provide state of the art equipment that just don't make it into the capital budget . . . and that just might save a baby YOU love!

So, I'm also posting this because I am entering my neighbor Lila's giveaway of this
beautiful quilt she made with her latest line of fabrics she designs for MODA. If
I get picked to win the quilt, I will donate it to the auction!
If you love fabric, color, and artistic talent, check her out here!

PICK ME LILA! I THINK IT WOULD GO FOR BIG BUCKS!

More Max

2010-02-07T19:11:00.002-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook
I admit it . . . not only can I just not get enough of Max (I'm headed home tomorrow . . . as long as BWI really is finally open again) . . . I also just love all the fun stuff technology can help you do to share across the country. So if you really want to look, here's another fun way to check out MAX!

Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-02-06T20:42:00.005-07:00

WOW! It was definitely a snow of snows! Record breaking for a 24 hour period in Baltimore.
Here in Owings Mills it was about 25 inches.

So, instead of spending my birthday in Utah and getting to see my three little granddaughters (Tyler & Kai just got to Utah from Washington on Thursday),
I'm still here in Baltimore with Lindsey, Joe and Max.
My flight and many others out of BWI Friday were canceled long before the storm even hit that night and now I'm not scheduled to fly out until early next week. But, if I'm going to be
stranded, I sure can't complain about the company!

Here's my hardworking son-in-law Joe . . .
he spent about 4 hours shoveling the walk and finding the car!

And then I got to have birthday cake!
YUM . . . delicious carrot cake Lindsey & Joe! Thanks!
(They were careful to not go with the accurate number of candles so as
not to set off the fire alarm)

Nope, not telling what I wished for!

MAX & Family

2010-01-31T16:18:00.007-07:00

So I took some pictures today of Max and his mom and dad. SOOO different from when Lindsey was a baby 26 years ago. Even though I took what I thought were quite a few pictures back then, it was in the day of film and you certainly didn't snap, snap, snap. And if there happened to be a picture of me included (very rare), then you can bet I probably had my eyes closed...and there was no retake. I don't think I have a picture of Franklin and me with her until she was quite a few months old, and then it was just a random snapshot. But we sure spent just as much time admiring her and loving her . . . and the pictures I do have bring back precious memories . . . as I know these will for Lindsey and Joe.

Our growing family

2010-01-27T20:25:00.006-07:00

These photos speak volumes to me. A family has been born.

Max Joseph

January 26, 2010
7 lb 9 oz
20 1/4 inches

Any ideas?

2010-01-21T22:26:00.004-07:00

Any ideas?

I'm supposed to be in Baltimore (but I'm not)
and Lindsey & Joe are supposed to have a baby (but they don't).
Well, of course they still have a baby, he's just still hiding out inside,
instead of making his worldly debut.

We're waiting and we're ready . . . but no one is quite as ready as Lindsey!

Lindsey is getting impatient and she needs encouragement.

Any ideas?

I love special mail . . .

2010-01-10T16:04:00.002-07:00

It may be a bit late in the season for this . . . but I wanted to make sure I had a special place to save this great drawing sent to us by 5 year old Tyler. It was her rendition of just how beautiful their house looked at Christmas time! Tyler loves to draw and being a Grosi who lives far away, I love getting a drawing in the mail. Thanks Tyler! I love it!

Where your heart is . . .

2010-01-01T21:03:00.004-07:00

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.
It is to decide forever
to have your heart walking around
outside your body.

Elizabeth Stone

I stole these pictures from LIndsey and Joe's blog. They are from the "babymoom" they took to NYC the week before Christmas. Now it is only 14 days until Lindsey's due date. I am so excited for them.

I think they understand that life will never be the same again . . . time is never again all your own. Sleeping in is a thing of the past. But despite the love they already feel toward their unborn child, I believe they cannot yet comprehend how much life will yet change from the inside out. I think the quote above captures some of what they will experience . . . and I am so excited for them.

A taste of normal

2010-01-01T20:09:00.002-07:00

It's been 8 weeks since Franklin's knee replacement and yesterday was his first trip up to the cabin. Since that is his favorite place, you can rightly conclude that the recovery hasn't been as easy as we would have hoped. So it was good to get him up there, even if he is paying dearly today with increased swelling and pain. We had to walk quite a way in from where the road was not plowed to where we keep the tractor. With the tractor he cleared the way to the cabin and back down the road to where the truck was.

It was a beautiful day after some great snow the previous couple days. Of course, Beamer was happy to be there too.

There were two bald eagles flying around . . . which was very beautiful to see. Good to get out of the valley and up to where the air is clear!

Our Little Christmas

2009-12-27T17:01:00.004-07:00

Christmas 2009
Our little Christmas

This year for Christmas, it was just Franklin, Katie, David (a bit) and me. Jesse & Austin and their families were in California; Lindsey & Joe back in Baltimore. David, who works at a Marriott, was scheduled to work Christmas Eve until 11 pm & then Christmas Day at 3 pm again. But I still enjoyed the spirit of the season and there were moments to savor. The picture above is this year's tree...the first time in many we have had a real tree. Without Franklin to help me (knee recovery is going VERY slow) I just didn't want to face dragging the fake one down from the cabin. But I love a real tree and have avoided one because it is so dry in Utah. David called the tree 'scrawny' , but Kate and I quite liked it! The fake one used to fill up the corner, so I can see that it was a big change...but this was more the tree of my childhood anyway.

Honestly, the highlight of the season for me was Katie's choir performances. She sings with both the Orem High Accapella and Chamber Choirs and the Chamber Choir has multiple performances throughout the season. They are really good and have a wonderful director who can do wonderful things with their talents. Katie, of course, throws her heart into it and of all the singers (you may think this is because I'm biased, but it's not) she radiates the most joy in her singing. Whether it is at their HS concert, their performances at a local congregational church, or whatever...I escape from the hustle and feel enveloped by the joy and worship of Christmas. I really love it.

On Christmas Eve, Franklin, Katie and I went up to SLC and attended an evening service at a local church, visited a friend who is in the hospital there, visited David at the Marriott and had a nice dinner out. As is our tradition, we opened family gifts on Christmas Eve...just the three of us. Moby was my first gift! I had been repeatedly asking Franklin for an orange kitten for Christmas, knowing full well that there was no way I would get one. So Katie put a bow on Moby and went behind the tree. I'm feeling bad now that Moby thought I was trying to replace him. He just really is on his last legs, and I kinda want him to train a new kitten to be as completely wonderful as he has been.

David came home a bit after 11 and we had to put some effort into getting him into the "Christmas Spirit" before he even wanted to open his gifts. Reading a Christmas Story remembered from childhood always helps.

Christmas morning it was David, Katie and the dog...and we had to WAKE them up!

Katie has put out the decree that all Lewis children and families must be home for Christmas next year!
But I was still happy, and knew that those not at home were with people that loved them as well, and for that I am grateful.

Why I need a dog

2009-12-16T08:25:00.004-07:00

My 89 year old daddy is here visiting from California again. When he's here it is always a priority to get out and walk...not around the block...but somewhere worth walking. It was cold and snowy on Saturday, and if he hadn't been here I would have just stayed home and worked on some of the million tasks that always hound me. But instead we went up to Sundance and trudged through the snow. It was beautiful, and the three of us (me - Daddy - dog) had a good time.

As I've said before, it is odd how important Beamer has become to me during my outings. Without a child who can come along anymore, I appreciate Beamer's joy as if she were a child. I delight in her enthusiasm as she gets to 'come along for the ride', in her accelerated breathing & excited panting as we approach a familiar play place like the cabin, and in her boundless energy as she responds to the sights and smells that surround her. She had such a good time today, and I loved watching her be so happy.

If and when I'm 89, will I make it MY choice to go out exploring? I worry that I won't make the effort. What will I become, who will I be? What will I be like when I'm 'really' old? I'm kinda afraid. But maybe if I have a dog, I'll do it for her.

A thanksgiving tradition

2009-12-10T21:05:00.006-07:00

Our 20 year old tradition of making a Thanksgiving Day Gingerbread House was happy to welcome Lindsey back this year for the first time in 5 years. In the early years, even though the houses were much more modest, we had many caved in roofs and other engineering problems. Over the years we have learned a lot and this year ....

I think we got most elements working right! Lindsey is more detail oriented than Katie and me, so it turned out especially well, I think.

Everyone and everything else tends to get ignored while the girls work on our house ...
but WE are having a good time!

Traditions are part of what make the holidays so personal to all of us.
This picture makes me feel cozy, and so grateful that I have a REAL home that is
warm and cozy this cold time of year.

Here's what I've been up to!

2009-11-04T21:48:00.006-07:00

Up close and personal with Franklin's knee replacement...doesn't that look pleasant.

Here's what it looks like on the inside. No wonder it hurts like $#%&!

Franklin has been bone on bone in this knee for a long time as a result of degeneration post ACL surgery 30-some years ago. Finally, after years of hoping some easy solution would be invented, he finally went for the new knee. He did this a lot for me.

After 4 days in the hospital, he's been home now for almost a week. This visit from Bella on Halloween was probably one of the few bright spots during what has been a very challenging and painful time. (Here he is strapped into his torture machine).

I took this the morning of his surgery...out the window of the Park City IHC hospital where he had his surgery. I'm hoping, just like this picture, there are some good days ahead.

Busy day for Kate

2009-10-21T20:41:00.002-07:00

Very exciting that Katie qualified for STATE in X-Country! She's steadily improved this season and was #5 on her team, with the top 7 being able to complete at State (the poster on the garage was from supportive friends)

The state course is at Sugarhouse Park. Just a beautiful fall day!

She ran a great race, had a great time and was supported by great friends.

And then she finished off the day with the fall choir concert. The songs from Les Mis were wonderful. Every activity Dad & I see her in now has this bittersweet element...kind of like fall turning into winter.

Brother Luman D. Lewis

2009-10-17T21:22:00.002-07:00

The internet is certainly an amazing thing. I can hardly imagine what life was like before I had instant access to so much. I could explore that thought for awhile, but this post is about something Franklin found when he was playing around the other night. Among other things, he 'googled' the name of his dad, Luman Doyle Lewis...and came across a devotional given by an economics professor at BYU Hawaii in 2004 that told a detailed story from during the Vietnam War in which Grandpa played a central role! His talk was titled "This Great and Amazing Church". Here is the complete talk but below is the excerpt that talks about Franklin's dad!

" During the years of the Vietnam War, I received orders to Taiwan, the Republic of China. This would be a remote assignment, meaning that I would go without my family. This assignment, although not entirely unexpected, was heartbreaking to me. We had four little children, including an eight week old baby girl, that I would leave behind for 15 months of military duty.

I made a covenant with the Lord. Heavenly Father, I promise to do all I can to build up the kingdom in Taiwan. Please take care of my little family while I am away and please bless me to have the strength to bear this separation.

I left my family in Utah and flew from Salt Lake City to McCord Air Force Base in Washington State where I boarded a military aircraft. I shed tears when I bid farewell to my wife and four little children at the Salt Lake Airport. I was emotional as my flight left McCord Air Force Base. But the depths of sadness came to me when, After transferring aircraft in Taipei, we landed in a C-130 aircraft on an airfield at Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in Taiwan to begin my new assignment. I was half way around the world from the people I loved. My eight week old daughter would be 17 months old when I would see her again. I would miss Christmas with my family, I would miss five birthdays, I would miss Thanksgiving, I would miss our anniversary. Brother Russell was a sad Brother Russell that day.

I had to find a friend. And my emotional health required that I find my friend quickly. During in-processing, I asked for the name of the LDS contact on base. I was told that Senior Master Sargeant Luman D. Lewis, from Bossier City, Louisiana was on record as the leader of the Mormons.

I was not on that base sixty minutes before I had Brother Lewis on the phone. Brother Lewis, this is Stephen Russell. I just arrived on base. I'm missing my family and I want to have contact with the Church. Brother Lewis responded, "Welcome to CCK Brother Russell. Our little Church group consistes of seven other lonely guys just like you. We all miss our families. We gather every evening at 7:00 in my dorm room. We find if we stick together, we all stay out of trouble."

I went to Brother Lewis's room that night. I find it challenging to describe the peace that came to me when I saw his Latter-Day Saint smile, when I felt his firm Latter-day Saint hand shake, and when I saw Latter-day Saint things in his room. There were photos of his family and of temples. I saw copies of the Ensign magazine and the Church News on his table. The scriptures were on his pillow. I knew that I was with my friend, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Brother Lewis served the eight of us in his room that night vanilla ice cream floating in grape juice. I had never heard of grape juice floats before or since. That was an unusual combination. But I got used to it. Brother Lewis served us grape juice floats every evening.

Night after night, we'd meet at Brother Lewis's room. We would review the news of the day, share stories from home, eat ice cream floating in grape juice, play games, or go to a movie or a ball game. Sometimes we'd go to town. But we would always go as a group, because we knew that being away from our wives, there was safety in numbers.

I honestly don't know how I could have survived socially or spiritually were it not for President Lewis and the LDS Serviceman's group at CCK, Taiwan. Even today, whenever I encounter grape juice, my mind goes back to a dorm room in Taiwan 34 years ago, and I am reminded of what a great friend I have in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This great and amazing church is a blessed source of enrichment, of comfort, of security to its members."

The internet may be amazing, but there is nothing as amazing as the impact we, as individuals, can have in the lives of others. WOW!

Counting Blessings

2009-10-10T19:45:00.005-07:00

Last week my 89 year old Daddy came to visit us. I am grateful that he is healthy enough to get to the LA Airport and fly here to see us on his own. He loves the outdoors, so it was the PERFECT week to enjoy the beautiful fall colors of Utah. Three days in a row we took drives and a walk to enjoy the beautiful fall. If he hadn't been here, I probably wouldn't have taken the time away from work, etc. to get out...so I'm grateful I did...it was
amazingly beautiful.

Not everything about living in 'happy valley' is my favorite, but I do love living where so much beauty is just minutes from my door.

Our jaunts included walking at Cascade Springs, driving the Alpine Loop, walking up at Sundance and riding the lift, going up to Squaw Peak and Hope Campground.

Fall is such a fleeting season so I'm glad to have been able to breathe it in at its peak!
Love you Daddy!

A wonderful trip....

2009-09-30T20:48:00.005-07:00

It's been a few weeks since we were in Washington to see Austin, Lizzy, Tyler and Kai...a very busy few weeks. But I wanted to post some pictures of our visit. It was wonderful and I think Franklin and I learned that even if we can only squeeze in a few days, it is so totally worth it.

Here we are with #1 and #2 granddaughters. They are such fun girls. Tyler was turning 5, and we timed our visit to be there for her birthday....we surprised her at preschool which was a real treat for us.

We squeezed a lot into a few days. On Monday afternoon we went to the Puyallup Fair...which we have been too numerous times and just love. It is a GREAT fair. Last time we went it was raining but today was beautiful

These piglets were just a few days old. Oh my, what a brood. Franklin said I should take this picture for Lindsey (who will be nursing only one baby in about three months).

Tyler and I made a special birthday cake. She worked really hard with me...you can see the concentration in her face.

She also worked hard on the potholder project. She enjoys projects like this that require concentration and small motor coordination, I think.

Then there is 3 year old Kai. She wants to do EVERYTHING Tyler does...and more.

Austin and Lizzy live in home in a beautiful community outside the small town of Yelm. The homes are basically in the woods and there are wonderful trails around the lake and such fabulous places to explore and play just a short walk from home. I love visiting, and I also love getting a glimpse into all the good things about their life there...good neighbors, good friends and a really lovely community.

Last but not least, I must say I look sharp in their Mini-cooper, which I adore. It actually has enough leg room for Austin and really helps with the cost of his commute to work and school. I am so grateful for family and how my joy has multiplied with the marriage of children and the coming of grandchildren. Getting old isn't quite so bad, when this kind of love comes with it!

SUBWAY 2009

2009-09-17T09:36:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Mormon Ladies

2009-09-15T21:08:00.006-07:00

Of my vast blog readership, I'm guessing probably all three of you :-) understand "enrichment" meetings and probably just kind of take them for granted. So if by chance there is a blog-surfer out there who isn't LDS and thus has never attended one of these quarterly women's meetings, I wonder what these picture look like to you.

I took these pictures while we were setting up tonight. For the non LDS reader, the first thing that might look somewhat perplexing is that this looks rather like a basketball court...hardwood floor, basketball hoop in the background. Yes, indeed, this is a very multi-purpose room in our church buildings...and tonight it happens to be doubling as a "Relief Society County Fair" (believe it or not, it is also the site of many a wedding reception). My job tonight was to demo my 90 minute wheat bread recipe (which I got via Lindsey via Baltimore RS).

You're right, that is not wheat bread, but the french bread someone else brought to the "Enrichment county fair". There were lots of yummy food "entries", including great homemade ice creams, terrific salsas, cobblers, jams etc. It was quite festive, and a wonderful time for the women in the ward (congregation to those who do not speak LDS)to get together and laugh and share and enjoy each others talents & company.

So WHAT do you think this looks like to someone who doesn't live inside this culture of ours? I'm really not sure anymore.

But I do know a good time was had by all. And I know there were women there who needed a night away and whose spirits were lifted by the friendship of women who cared about them, cared about their families and shared their joys and their sorrows. What more could you ask for?

I'm her biggest fan!

2009-09-13T20:56:00.002-07:00

It's Kate's Senior year. A very bittersweet time. I have had so much joy over the years as each of our children has sought out and participated in the activities that they loved. There has been soccer, basketball, lacrosse, ballroom dance, football, karate, ice hockey, choir, piano
(what am I forgetting?)
So now it is Kate's second year running x-country. This last Friday was one of her favorite races, in Murray Park.

I just love these pre-race pictures. What do they tell you about our Kate? When Grandpa would ask "which one is she?", I'd just have to say "the one who is moving the most"!

She ran a great race but to me it hardly matters. Just like with all our kids, I just LOVE watching them do anything! Because they are mine, and I love them.

Grandma and Grandpa were great cheerleaders and enjoyed their first ever x-country meet.

Katie's other biggest fan.

A birthday adventure

2009-09-12T23:19:00.006-07:00

For Franklin's birthday outing last week, we took the day off and took the boat up to Flaming Gorge for the day. It was a warm and very beautiful day, perfect for our plans to just tour and picnic in the gorge with his brother Martin and sister-in-law Peggy.

We are still very new at this boat ownership thing, so we had some unexpected adventures.

I always wonder why you see so much rubber on the road. But suddenly we had a blow-out on one of the tires on the boat trailer. It was nasty! Our jack didn't give us enough clearance to put on the spare, BUT...we were so fortunate because although we were out in the boonies, we were only about 2 miles outside a tiny town which had an auto parts store.
They came out and took good care of us, and on we went.

This picture is posted especially for Joe. I'm guessing this nice smooth water makes his wake board-lake-boating loving self green with envy.

Then we headed toward home. It was a very pretty drive toward Vernal, with many steep and windy stretches through the countryside. Finally getting closer to Vernal, Franklin whispers to me...
"we're almost out of gas".
He just hadn't anticipated the guzzling the truck would do in the altitude and grade of the road. BUT...once again we were blessed. We ran out of gas 1/2 mile outside of Vernal, just next to this auto shop. A quick walk & Franklin returned with a can of gas and off we went again!

We really did have a very enjoyable day ... and just marveled at how watched over we had been. Each of our mishaps could have been a REAL problem had they occurred when help wasn't so readily available.

So as we drove off into the sunset, we counted our many blessings.
Happy Birthday, Franklin!

Big, bad, Moby

2009-09-11T19:19:00.021-07:00

When I got home from the office this afternoon, I saw that the Stewart's Lawn guy was in my backyard. I had wanted to ask him about some weed issues, so I went through the gate into the backyard and noticed that he wasn't spraying and his hose was just lying on the ground. Then I saw him. A nice young man, kneeling in the grass next to our Moby. The lawn guy was startled to see me and then explained that he had found this "stray cat in our yard that looked like he was about to die". :-) No, I explained, this was not a stray, but our 16 1/2 year old 3-legged cat that is very well loved and has looked like he's on his last leg for about the last four years! He has gotten SO skinny! This nice young man had gone back to his truck and gotten his water bottle, spilled some out on the flagstone stepping stone (Moby drank some) and crumbled some of his granola bar in hopes the cat would eat some (he didn't). Then he had called headquarters and received the instruction that he was not to spray since he wasn't permitted to touch the cat to remove him from the lawn. So he was glad when I showed up and reassured him that this cat wasn't about to die and I gently lifted him off the lawn so he could do his spraying.

The incident was reminiscent of another Stewart visit earlier this summer in July. On that day when I got home I found this note on the door. I kept it because it had made me laugh hysterically. The note indicated that they were unable to spray because "there was a loose pet in the yard" and the handwritten note indicated

"orange cat wouldn't move off lawn"

So Moby. I sure love that cat. I hope his last leg will last a bit longer yet.

That was fun!

2009-09-07T21:05:00.008-07:00

THAT was a fun game! Very exciting to have
BYU beat #3 Oklahoma
in the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium.

You can see that we were in a sea of RED (here in one of the concession areas) ...
but the the OU fans we met were very gracious.

I do have some advice for Mr. Jones and his stadium though. There was not much worth eating...burgers, dogs, fries, a chicken sandwich, nachos and that's about it!

However, there was a much wider variety of alcohol! Of course, the profit margin is bigger and there is, after all, a 1.3 billion dollar stadium to pay off.

Good to be smiling at the end of a game. Franklin takes this all
very seriously, so it made for a much more enjoyable evening.

TEXAS HOSPITALITY

2009-09-05T10:04:00.004-07:00

Franklin and I are down in Dallas for the opening BYU game vs Oklahoma....the first college game to be played in the new Cowboy stadium. What a stadium.

When we took our tour yesterday they were putting down the turf. That screen up at the top is 160 feet wide, 72 feet tall.

There are a total of 3000 TV screens in the stadium, and 824 concession stands. Tonight there will be 80,000 fans....mostly in red....about 15,000 in blue.

I met with the HR director of the place we're staying to talk about for a work related conversation and he responded by sending this chocolate boot filled with chocolate horseshoes etc to our room. Now that's Texas hospitality!

So after the Texas sun sets tonight....will be celebrating?

Back from Kenya

2009-08-28T20:23:00.004-07:00

We're so happy to have Katie home safe and sound from her
OPERATION SMILE
mission in Kenya.

Katie had a fabulous experience. The children endeared themselves to her so easily, and vice versa. This is her friend Michael. He was being treated for burns so his mobility would be increased. Someone on the medical team paid Katie the great compliment that they
hadn't seen another young volunteer that had her gift for engaging so easily with the kids.

Although much of her time was spent with children, during the surgeries she also spent time with parents helping relieve their high anxiety.

They also engaged in 'medical play' to help the children feel more comfortable once they were in their actual surgery situations.

So easy to love.

Katie really loved visiting the orphanages and their schools and having
the chance to play with the children.
See her in the middle of the 'soccer game' above?

She was really impressed with this school at one of the orphanages. I think it was after this experience that we got the texts informing us that she wasn't coming home but
"staying to teach school in Kenya".

You can tell from the pictures of their notebooks, that she really was impressed with
all they were learning.

There were many experiences that will stay with Katie for a long time. In fact, it has
been hard for her to jump right back into the swing of school & the high school scene
(she missed the first 3 days).

The last weekend the team was able to go on safari and spend the night in the bush.

Kate's biggest thrill was seeing a male lion....just what she had hoped for. And she
even heard him R-O-A-R!

I'm grateful that she had this opportunity to love and to serve. I'm also appreciative
of all the neighbors and friends who contributed to her mission so she could
buy the materials to teach and to play with these special children.

And...I'm so glad she is home safe.

An unexpected ROAD TRIP

2009-08-23T18:55:00.007-07:00

Kate comes home from two weeks in Kenya on Monday, so on Saturday Franklin and I had all day to spend some time together. We spent Friday night at the cabin and in the morning set out to check out Starvation Reservoir (about an hour away) near Duchesne , which someone had suggested as a good place to take our boat. We ate lunch on the shore of the lake and then unexpectedly decided that what we would do next was to drive up to Flaming Gorge.

It turned out to be a 425 mile roadtrip! We had Beamer with us so we stopped from time to time to let her use the restroom.

It was a beautiful drive and it was fun to stop whenever we wanted to without an agenda...
something we rarely ever do.

Flaming Gorge is just beautiful and we vowed to bring our boat up here and explore.
It was a bit of an introduction to what life will be like in the not so distant future.
Just us and the dog.
It was fun, but I'm sure glad Kate comes home tomorrow!

2009-08-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to be here. I've learned so much already"

Great words to hear from Kate's text message from Nairobi where she is on an Operation Smile mission. She's been gone since last Wednesday morning when we put her on a plane from SLC to Detroit to Amsterdam to Nairobi, and she won't be back until next Monday night.

Operation Smile does cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries all over the world and Kate has been preparing to go on a 'mission' with them for the past year, and received her assignment to Kenya a few months ago. There are only two student volunteers who accompany a 47 member international team of medical volunteers. Her role is to assist the medical team by working and playing with the patients and their many siblings who come with them from villages all over the country. She and her student partner also teach oral hygiene and other health lessons to families and children in schools and orphanages.

I know Katie will be amazing. She is great with kids, loves easily, is fun and outgoing, loves to serve and is so open to new experiences. It's so strange having her gone so long, and not talking with her at all, but I am so thrilled for the opportunity she has to grow and learn and serve.

FAMILY TIME!!!

2009-08-13T21:24:00.016-07:00

All summer I have been SO excited for when we would ALL be together. For communication purposes, we called it our 'family reunion', which Kate just hated because that made us sound so 'distant'. But the fact is we are spread out from Washington State to Maryland so it's a feat to all be together. We pulled off 3 1/2 days at the cabin when we could ALL be together. It went by so fast, but I hope a good time was had by all.....Here's some pics.

Tyler - almost 5

Bella - almost 2

Kai - 3 1/2

David - 23 years

Katie - 17

Lizzy, Kai, Tyler & Austin

Joe & Lindsey (yes, Lindsey is sporting a baby bump)

Tara, Bella & Jesse

We had a great time at the lake....

were brave on the zip line ...

had a chance for aunts & uncles to play with nieces ...

for Grandpa to give tractor rides ...

for cousins to have fun together ....

for challenging sports ....

for some well-deserved relaxation ...

and of course for eating, eating and eating.

Franklin and I are so grateful for our family and this time we could spend together. We love them more than I can possibly express. Let's do it AGAIN! It went by too fast!!!

2009-07-26T22:00:00.001-07:00

2009-07-26T17:08:00.010-07:00

Last weekend we had a great family adventure! Katie, David, Jesse & Tara, Austin & Lizzy and I hiked the "SUBWAY" in Zion with the help of two friends. Katie & I spent all of Thursday night in a line outside the Zion Visitor's Center to assure that we could get a backcountry pass for the Subway. Since we were second in line we got the remaining 9 that were available.

It was awesome! Yes, that's me doing a cannonball!

The "Subway" gets its name from this tunnel through the rock.

There were so many incredible formations....

and cool places to explore.

I like this picture of David...the reflection was pretty neat, I thought.

There were lizards to catch out in the heat, and frogs to catch in the water.

Here you slid into the water and then swam through an underwater arch to get out the other side. The water was very clean, actually.

Nice place for our picnic, don't you think?

We spent about 9 hours on the hike...about 9 miles but we spent much time playing and having fun in the water.

The pool above was a great place to cool down on the way hiking out after the slot canyon. It was about 105 degrees that day, and the last mile is a killer...straight uphill. My legs couldn't handle stairs for two days afterwards.

Check out the video clip of Austin. We DID have fun! I'm grateful for our friends Jeff and Hayden who took us on this adventure!

Family Reunion

2009-07-09T20:34:00.006-07:00

Earlier this week we went to a few days of a family reunion. Franklin's Dad was partially raised by his older sister, Veda Thornhill (deceased), and so the families of her three daughters (1 has died) invited Grandpa and his family to join with them and their decendants. They are a large family and some I know...and many I don't. I did enjoy it. They are a wonderful group of people. I finally met Franklin's cousin that lives in Switzerland (she married a Swiss) and I'm excited to have more family there I know!
Above are Katie, Grandpa, Grandpa, Fran

The gathering was in a lodge up Pagonah Canyon outside of Cedar City, Utah. Very pretty.

Typical family reunion stuff...skits, water balloons, stories and more stories.

This was a collection of beautiful and happy families.
But I was struck by the amount of triumph and tragedy and challenge this family has seen, and how individual strength and resilience and the love of family have kept them together, optimistic, able to weather the storms...
and most of all, glad to be together.

Go Cowboys!

2009-06-29T20:41:00.004-07:00

I've been in Dallas for the last few days at the Food EXPO. My small company works with the state of Texas providing online food handler training so we're here sharing information. I'd post a picture of me in our booth...BUT...I think the picture we took makes me look 10 pounds heavier and 10 years older so I'd rather stick with the distorted positive image I have of myself.

There are 'stars' at such a show...such as Elsie the Cow. There is also LOTS of food. My weakness, of course, is the Gelato. It's awfully hard to walk by free Gelato without having my favorite...the hazelnut...again...and again.

This was the view out the window of my hotel room. I like downtown areas of cities. I especially like the skylines which combine the new and the old architecture.

I miss home, especially during the summer when I really want to be enjoying every day I can there. But this has been a successful trip. I go home tomorrow!

It's wrong...

2009-06-28T21:39:00.003-07:00

It's wrong that I missed this.
It's just plain wrong that I wasn't there for her first dance recital.
It's wrong that I wasn't there to give her a big hug (and flowers).
It's wrong that grandchildren are so far away and I can't be there.

Tyler, I love you... and I think you can dance!

Lake Powell is such great fun!

2009-06-27T19:49:00.007-07:00

There really is nothing like Lake Powell. When we first moved to Utah 14 years ago, I realized it was THE place to vacation for many people here. I didn't get it....what could be so great about a big lake in the middle of the desert? Then a few years later we were invited by friends to spend some time on their houseboat....and I was sold!

We've been a few times since then and Franklin and I and Katie went again a few weeks ago. It was a 'friend' trip made up of the Laurels group (16-18) from our Church hosted by our neighbors, the Williamsons. Franklin and I were lucky to go as chaperones!

It can be such a beautiful, peaceful place.

But it is definitely also a place of ACTION and FUN!

We also went rapelling. An exciting first for some of the girls.
That's Katie above and me below.

Kate's been wakeboarding a few times before so it was great for her to get a chance to try again.

This is the group of girls who went (minus 1).
It was fun to see them have such a great time together.

Yep, that's Kate flying off the banana!

Okay Lindsey....there you have it....some pictures from Lake Powell.
It's okay Joe...there are many Lake Powell trips in your future!

Life in the country.....

2009-06-27T19:20:00.002-07:00

It's been a beautiful spring up in Wallsburg where we have some land and a cabin. We toy with the idea of living up here when Kate is well-launched. The more crowded and crazy life gets in the valley, the more appealing it feels. There is a lot to be said for the peace and quiet.

4 happy years for Lindsey & Joe

2009-06-18T19:39:00.008-07:00

WOW, 4 years already!
June 18th, 2005
Happy Anniversary Lindsey & Joe Dastrup
Of all the beautiful wedding pictures of Lindsey & Joe
the 4 below as they emerged from the
Salt Lake Temple
are my very favorite....
I know I'm biased, but I've been to a lot of weddings and I've
never seen a couple radiate like these two.

I love you both very much.

PRIZE!

2009-06-07T12:46:00.004-07:00

My 88 1/2 year old daddy is visiting from California this week.
We've gone on lots of walks and had a nice visit.

This picture just makes me laugh! It was taken last Sunday afternoon
when baby Bella was visiting.

I think it needs a

CAPTION

and I'm looking for ideas. Got any? I'll award a prize for the best.

My Empty Nest

2009-06-04T10:36:00.010-07:00

They're gone.
One left yesterday.
The other two were gone this morning.

I checked on the eggs every single day.
They were born 15 days ago.
Since then I've checked 4, 5, 6 times a day.
It's made me happy to watch them grow.
I show them off to anyone who comes by.

I've tried to protect them from the cats & dog.
We even fed them a worm after the rain.

They grow up so fast.

But now my nest is empty.

And Katie the Caboose will graduate HS next year.

I'm a mom again!

2009-05-27T20:23:00.007-07:00

I had to create a "mama robin protection zone" since our mama robin decided to build her nest right outside our front door. It was just the most exciting thing that had happened in recent months to our dog Beamer and she wanted to spend most of her time right below the nest barking incessantly. So I had to do some creative chair arranging to keep her away.

She faithfully nurtured her 4 beautiful blue eggs...and then

last Tuesday they hatched! So tiny and fragile and vulnerable...

and sadly I think one was not to be and didn't hatch.

So here they are a week old. Silly how excited I am to have them right where I can check on them. Franklin is a bit weary of the front porch decor, and Beamer is still going nuts.

Welcome Back!

2009-05-24T15:24:00.003-07:00

This post is for Joe and Lindsey....coming back today from what I hope was 5 days of rest and relaxation in Cancun post graduation.These are some pictures from the Sunday after graduation...hope you can repeat some of this R & R (or study of Lehi's dream, as Dad would say) on future Sundays too.

"Robbed of the Moment" & "Da Hood"

2009-05-17T16:51:00.008-07:00

Okay, so this the only other graduation post.....but there are two stories I wanted to document. The first is funny (now) to us and the second is just kinda cool, I think.

#1: The night before graduation on Friday, there was a special reception in Westminster Hall at the University of Maryland in Baltimore for only those students in the law school who were receiving special awards. Lindsey had received an email inviting her to attend, but with no additional information about the award to be received. But we basically all knew it was because she was #1 in her class and we were all excited for her moment to shine for what she had worked so hard for.

The Dean gave a number of other service and leadership awards and then the time arrived for the scholarship awards for #2 and #1. First they would announce #2. So the Dean says ... " The student with the second highest scholarship, graduating #2... is......Lindsey Dastrup".

I was stunned !

Worries about how Lindsey would handle this disappointment spread through me. She walked up to the stage, turned, braved a smile, accepted her award and sat back down. Time stood still. Then the commotion began. The associate dean went up to the dean at the podium and started a pow-wow...at that moment I felt pretty sure that maybe a mistake had been made and things would be worked out. It took a few minutes before the Dean finally announced..."we've had a technical difficulty and Lindsey Dastrup is #1 and xxxx is #2. Then #2 went up and got her award and Lindsey was able to settle back down. But she never did exactly get her moment to shine.
Which is all well and good.
Franklin had been bugging her for days to keep her perspective and that she is the same person whether she is #1 or #x. So we teased her that he had paid off the Dean to stage this event!
But the truth is, even I felt a bit

ROBBED OF THE MOMENT

For the unique Lindsey-Lou perspespective on this moment, go to her blog.

Below is Joe reenacting his reaction to the announcement of Lindsey as #2.

#2: I just thought it was awfully cool that Lindsey got to "hood" Joe. For advanced degrees it is called a "hooding ceremony". Every discipline and every school has a special color combination in their hoods. In the Dental School the students could select an honorary "hooder" who has an equivalent degree. A few were able to select Dads or Grandpas that were doctors ... but Joe got to have his wife! So Lindsey was able to be the "hooder" for Joe! It was quite a special moment given all they have been through together for the past 4 years!

Joe receiving "da hood".

We went on to have a great few days post graduation. Now they are in Cancun for some well deserved rest and relaxation. Then Lindsey begins to study for the bar which is the end of July and then she begins work as a tax attorney for DLA Piper in Baltimore. Joe will begin a General Practice Residency at the Baltimore VA in June.

Life goes on.

They really graduated!

2009-05-16T13:56:00.011-07:00

On Friday, May 15, 2009,
it actually, finally, really happened!
Lindsey & Joe graduated.

University of Maryland, Baltimore
4 years of Dental School
3 years of Law School

Joseph S. Dastrup, DDS
Lindsey C. Dastrup, JD #1!

The final confirmation

2009-05-12T16:57:00.010-07:00

I'm finally here to witness what has become quite an event in the last three years...
Lindsey going online when the final grades comes in.
Lindsey has wanted to go to Law School since she was in the second or third grade and
she's always been a really hard worker. She has always given her school work
everything she had ... and that is A LOT! So there has been a lot of hard work and sacrifice on her part and on Joe's. So here's what it looks like as she opens up the grade screen.

After this she jumps up and down and screeches. That lasts for awhile and then she settles down to enjoy the feeling.

Then, after the smiles ... since this is the very last semester ... she got overwhelmed and a bit emotional....because a lot of effort has gone into these grades ... and a lot of sacrifice into graduating

#1

in her Law School Class!

Then comes the serious work of figuring out the final GPA...
ahh Lindsey!

CONGRATULATIONS!

So ready for THIS!

2009-05-11T08:35:00.004-07:00

YAY! I'm on my way to Baltimore to

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!

Joe is DONE with DENTAL SCHOOL and Lindsey is DONE with LAW SCHOOL and graduation for both of them at the University of Maryland in downtown Baltimore is this coming Friday.

Lucky Lindsey has a great sister-in-law to give them those funky glasses so they
could demonstrate their delight. I can't tell you how nice it is to hear the joy
in Lindsey's voice when I talk to her...to hear laughter...and to know
they are both reconnecting with their inner child!

I'm looking forward to a wonderful week.

MOBY

2009-05-03T21:29:00.002-07:00

Moby has been our family cat for over 16 years. We picked him from a litter of kittens belonging to Lindsey and David's elementary music teacher back in Dubuque, Iowa. He lost a leg due to a car accident, and has been best friends with both David and Katie (Lindsey had kitty allergies but still loves Moby).
Nowadays he's pretty much deaf as a doorknob, so I can sneak up and take his picture while he's sleeping...we'll, correction....I don't really have to sneak, because he can't HEAR me!
He's gotten really skinny and boney but we just love him. At one time I just hoped he'd live until David graduated from HS....that was 4 years ago! (nowadays David calls him MOPY, because he's no longer so spry) So he's lived longer than I thought he would. One year until Katie graduates...not sure he'll still be with us but we hope so.

She's a great, great girl!

2009-04-25T20:06:00.005-07:00

Well, it's PROM....a big day in the life of a high school girl. But you know our Kate...down to earth, not the frilly type, a pretty, natural girl. So she was sometimes a little intimidated by all that it took to 'get up' for this day. But, she met the challenge....

beautifully...don't you think?

Kate designed the dress, a combination of pictures and ideas....and our neighbor Barbara executed it beautifully!

Her date Barrett wore a tux with tails and the two looked sharp together.

and off they went....

By the way, it's been pouring rain most of the day. At least it's not snowing!

Celebrating our God given gifts

2009-04-22T20:47:00.004-07:00

I'm sure 90% of us have heard about Susan Boyle and her extraordinary performance on 'Britain's Got Talent'. But in case you haven't, here is the link to her performance . But what got me to post this today was this commentary on why it captures us so. I thought it was well said...and captured how much we love for a fellow child of God..that we can relate to because of our own ordinariness....to celebrate the gift within them. Listen, read...and then let's think about what it means for us and those we love!

Off to Neverland

2009-04-18T19:56:00.004-07:00

I took this picture last week (before the snows)....The full moon greeted me as as I took the trash out to the cans on the side of my house. I'm looking forward to the next full moon....hoping it is on a warm summer night when I will lay on the grass and feel as peaceful as this picture made me feel. Somehow this scene makes me think of Peter Pan, and makes me want to fly away to Neverland....or at least away from the resposibilities of everyday life. It also reminds me that it was a moment that I did allow myself to feel at peace...and glad to live in a neighborhood that I like and where I feel safe and cared about.

Yep, April 16,2009

2009-04-16T20:42:00.004-07:00

Do you think the sky was crying so very hard because it was tax day? We were crying, that's for sure. Then we had to cry some more because so many beautiful trees that were full of blooms couldn't hold all that wet, heavy snow and lost so many limbs.

The other thing to cry about is that this is "Spring Break"....Franklin & I are here and Katie was invited to Cabo for the week with friends....now THAT's sad.

Book Group

2009-04-13T19:08:00.005-07:00

For the last year, I have belonged to a book club. Surprisingly, it's really the first time in my life I've done this. I have really enjoyed it. I enjoy the 6 women a lot and I have loved reading books I probably never would have picked up on my own to read. These are the last four we've read. They have been exactly the kind of books I love to read....each of these four have immersed me in a different culture, a different perspective, and the lives and hearts of very interesting women.

Being able to talk about these books with other women who like to explore and are willing to speak openly about their life experiences and their own interpretations have added so much to my experience of these books. I read things differently, I think about them differently, when I know we will get together and share our individual insights and what the writings touched within ourselves. In fact, it makes the books so much more interesting and they take on so much more meaning when you can view them not only from your own perspective but from the view of others as well.
So, I'm grateful for my book group!

a little homesick....

2009-04-12T14:27:00.005-07:00

I'm feeling a little homesick and melancholy today...the last time I was at my family home for Easter was in April 2003, 4 months before my mom died. Makes sense that I would think of her particularly today, on Easter. I know she is alive again, I know she is happy. In fact, I think she is probably more cheerful than she had been for a long time, although she was in amazingly good spirits throughout her 3 1/2 year battle with cancer.

Baking has always been an important part of Haggenmacher holidays, and Easter is no exception. Grosvati (you can see it in his face) takes his baking very seriously, although he did enjoy Katie's help (not so much my dough nibbling).

I wish my dad understood that he will truly see his sweetheart again. He misses her terribly.

My brother sent this picture today....taken of my dad's baking triumphs (and garden blooms) this Easter weekend. At 88, he is alone in the kitchen fixing the traditional Streusel Kuchen and Zopf...missing, as always, the companionship of my mom. I am grateful for my family, I am grateful for the atoning sacrifice of my savior Jesus Christ and I am grateful to know that my mom lives. I look forward to the day I will be with her again. I cherish the knowledge that we will be closer then than we could be in life. I love you, Mom and I love my Dad, who continues to live life as fully as he can, despite the everpresent sadness and missing.

2009-04-09T21:22:00.004-07:00

Couldn't help but steal this picture of Austin, Kai and Tyler from Lizzy's blog . They are all so adorable and I just want to squeeze them....You too Austin! (Austin is a wonderful daddy...so adored by his girls.)

Moments

2009-04-02T09:05:00.005-07:00

I'm a sucker for brief articles that make me feel good and remember what's important. I'm still kindof in the midst of a bit of a pityparty and even though this column is about a dog, I liked it...I like all reminders to live in the moment, and I guess, most articles about the love of pets. It also reminded me of a quote I like that goes something like
"If I had life to live over again, I'd have more moments".

I do have good moments....hmmmm, I think I should go have one.

Another birthday!

2009-04-01T22:06:00.003-07:00

Happy 23rd Birthday David!I love you.
(I also quite like this picture of you)

So ready for SPRING!

2009-03-30T20:18:00.002-07:00

This is the view out the front door that greeted me this morning. Yikes....I knew I'd been feeling a little blue lately, but really...
Katie had a lacrosse game at 5:00 this evening. Not much snow on the field by then but it
was COLD and WINDY. I'm sure it would be more fun to
play....and watch....if the birds were chirping and there was a spring breeze
instead of a winter wind.

I'ts Katie's Birthday!

2009-03-24T18:46:00.018-07:00

She's spunky, she's fun, she's beautiful, she's adventurous, she's ONE OF A KIND!

She's Katie, and it's her birthday!
She's 16 going on 16...meaning she doesn't really want to grow up! So this post is for Katie....to remind her that growing up doesn't mean leaving behind the parts of yourself that you love...you take them with you and just add more!
It's to remind her that some things last forever.....no matter how much older you get.

Like....how much you are loved by your siblings....

David

Austin

Lindsey

Jesse

It's a reminder that life really hasn't changed ALL that much! You STILL love to take your cat to bed with you and read. (Yes, that's Moby before he became a three-legged cat)

You've ALWAYS loved the outdoors and loved to hike...and of course, you still do.

You still love to sing...you always did!

You've always been such a sweet, affectionate daughter (and we love it). We sure hope that doesn't change!

You've always loved traditions (like our gingerbread houses).

You've always loved to dance....even if you aren't 'a dancer'!

You've always loved to climb trees (although these days you have better discernment about which trees are climbable).

You've always been so very kind & accepting of everybody!

You've always enjoyed being creative!

You LOVE your friends...did then, do now!

Your love of waterfalls goes back a LONG way! They are STILL among your favorite things in nature.

You've always loved to explore and learn new things. That NEVER has to change!

Skiing...well, you've loved that for a LONG time too!

You love to be busy, play sports, be outside...have loved soccer for a long time
and now lacrosse.

So even though life is sometimes still confusing....you are Katie and always will be! ........And most important of all...you will always be loved and adored by your MOM.

Happy Birthday Katie! Don't worry, LIFE IS GOOD! And always can be, because YOU are wonderful, full of faith, and loved!

He must really like her!

2009-03-22T20:49:00.002-07:00

David's girlfriend had a birthday today. He asked last week if I could make her an apron...like the ones I had made at Christmas time (David likes to cook, and she does too). I said, "sure, I'll help YOU make one"! I did the cutting and pinning, but David did ALL the serging and sewing. It took us most the afternoon and he did a really good job! It was actually the first outing for my new sewing machine which Santa gave me for Christmas and I'm excited to use it for some spring time sewing for the grand girls!

Katie ROCKS in 2007

2009-03-15T17:40:00.003-07:00

I recently made a PHOTO BOOK of the climbing trips I took with Katie in the summer/fall of 2007. One of the things I like about doing these types of books is that you can work on them a little at a time when you have the time. In the past few years I have mostly used "Shutterfly" and "Picaboo" to make photo books online. This is my first use of "Scrapblog". I'll order a bound copy of this book and then let you know the pros and cons of the different services. So for now....click HERE to see this book!

Passing it along....

2009-03-08T15:25:00.006-07:00

One of the good things to work toward in life is coming to peace with yourself...with who you are and who you are not. One of the great blessings that comes from that is enjoying and appreciating the gifts that others have, and that you do not. I think I've written about this before, but it comes to me again today as I want to offer a few links to the blogs of others my age that are filled with insight and wisdom that I could not write about. Perhaps it is because I could never sit still long enough or concentrate deeply enough to have those kinds of thoughts or if I did, they would be fleeting and I would never have the patience to put them into words, much less down on paper. I am not a 'seeker', I am a 'doer'...and I recognize that I do lots of good things. My mind does spend a lot of time actively engaged, but it is in other things which are good too.

So, as for these 'friends' of mine. One really is a friend and the other just 'looks' like a new friend.

Sherrie Johnson's BLOG right now is focusing on a topic she has been exploring in depth... strategies of living and thinking that are rooted in gospel truths but are practical to apply in your life....strategies that help you through the necessary pain of life, and help you avoid the unnecessary pain....and certainly are ways to help you distinguish between the two. She is in the process of writing a book titled "Living in Truth" and she is exploring topics she writes about in her book. If you need some encouragement and more peace in your life, it's definitely worth reading.

Another blog I've recently been introduced to is written by the twin sister of a new friend in our neighborhood. Gwen recently moved here from Park City and a couple times I thought I saw her, but something wasn't quite right. Then I learned she had a twin and soon I saw this 'other' woman again and said hello! Anyway, she writes a blog on hope titled "Fireflies of Hope" and has recently published a book by the same name. Again, since I think most of us can benefit from looking forward with hope no matter what our life situation, I found her writings thoughtful and encouraging....because even though I don't slow down that often... I do like to think, I do like to look within, I do like to be full of hope, and I do always want to be a force for good in my own life and in the lives of others. So, I'm glad there are others I can learn from.

Younger than we look!

2009-03-06T19:44:00.006-07:00

I hope none of the women in this picture ever read my blog....because they might misunderstand. This picture makes me realize that we're older than we think we are. These women are some of my new friends in my neighborhood where I have lived for the past 2 1/2 years. Sherrie, the woman next to me, is wearing a hat because she recently had brain surgery and miraculously the tumor wasn't malignant, she didn't lose her vision as a result of the surgery, and she is recovering nicely. She is the one who 'sponsors' these 'tea parties' from time to time. She has a great collection of teas, tea pots, tea cups etc. but it is simply an excuse to get together and enjoy each other's company. Of these 7 women, 4 of us have PhDs, another a Master's. Conversations are honest and interesting and far reaching and I always learn something and see things from a new perspective. This time we were each asked to bring a favorite poem, which was a springboard to some interesting insights into each other. I think I can speak for us all and say that we really enjoy the time spent together, have a lot of fun and

DON'T FEEL AT ALL OLD!

But somehow I know I am getting to the age where I am 'old' to others who think they are still 'young', but truthfully, just haven't arrived at this age yet. Remember how big and grown up the 6th graders looked when you were in 3rd grade, or the HS Seniors seemed when you were a Freshman? But once you got there, you realized that it was just a mirage because you weren't anything like you had assumed that they were. It continues like that throughout life, I think.

SO, if you looked at this picture and found yourself thinking that we don't look like we could be much fun....think again....because WE ARE! However, I don't think I'll be taking a picture of us again any time soon :-).

Introducing 'Grosi'

2009-03-01T21:12:00.005-07:00

For the past 10 days we've been lucky enough to have some of our favorite people here with us....Lizzy, Tyler and Kai. Because Lizzy's parents live up in Draper, they went back and forth, back and forth depending on what was going on.

One day Tyler said something about going to the 'other grandma'. THAT DID IT! Ever since we've had grandchildren, we've wondered about just what we wanted them to call us! We've tossed back and forth a few ideas...but so far it's still been grandma and grandpa. But I DON'T want to be the

OTHER GRANDMA!

So it was Lizzy's idea for me to use 'Grosi'. Why didn't we think of that before? It's what I called my Grosi, and what my kids have called my mom, their Grosi. What a perfect plan for me. Of course,

I'm GROSI!