50 mile backpacking trip - or not

The flu I had this past weekend was caught by my sweetheart. 

I had it while taking wedding photos. 

He caught it on the evening of the first day of the 50 mile backpacking trip in the mountains with our 12 year old, Kerst, and his scout troop. 

I had to go rescue him (and Kerst). 

He wins.

My Niece - married

My beautiful niece got married this past weekend .... and she asked me to take the pictures (I am NOT a professional).

I think they turned out well ... considering the sun was not in the right position at the time we took photos but we had to do what we had to do

and I don't have the best camera ...

and I was throwing up in the bushes (I came down with some kind of bug the morning of the wedding)

Oh the stories Jenny can share about her wedding ... and the photographer.

Another countdown

Kendall woke up this morning and told me he had only 364 days until his birthday.

Kendall's spotlight

They are spotlighting Kendall in Primary for his 7th Birthday.

Kendall 4 months old

Here is the story I sent in to share about Kendall:
Kendall has always had a love for saying prayers.  For the past several years he has monopolized every family prayer we say.  If someone else in our family gets to say the prayer it is because he is not around to insist on saying it.  It is a known fact in Kendall's extended family that if you need to be prayed for, make sure you get on Kendall's pray list because the temple prayer roll is for 2 weeks.  Kendall's prayer roll is FOREVER!  

For over three years he has been praying for a growing list of people starting with his Aunt Gretchen who was battling cancer.  Last August when he found out about Brother B...n's cancer, he immediately started praying for him and now prays for Sister B...n to feel loved and protected.  He prays for the B...walters and Brother B....sen as well.  During our trip to Chicago last weekend for his Great Grandfather's funeral, we stopped off to visit our old neighborhood.  One of our neighbors was out.  It was someone Kendall had been praying for but never met (he was 18 months when we moved).  His smile was so sweet when Mrs. C......ro told him thank you for praying for her recovery from a serious car accident.  

Sometimes his prayer includes a conversation with us by asking questions to make sure he hasn't left anyone out or he requests more information regarding what he is praying about.  I can imagine that is how we were taught to pray and talk with our Heavenly Father in the pre-existence.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to have a personal relationship with him so that we can carry on a two-way conversation just as Kendall does with us during some of his prayers.

Excited - the countdown

Kendall has been counting down to how many days left until his birthday.

At first he started asking me to figure out how many days.  That is when I explained to him how many days were in the month.  He would subtract that from the date and add 19 (for June).

Saturday he told me that he has been waiting 361 days for his birthday to arrive.

He makes me smile.

2006 Father's Day Memory

June 18, 2006

I was in the hospital being monitored on Father's Day ~ Kendall arrived the next day (8 weeks premature).

I called home to check on everyone (micro-managing from the hospital bed). I had Jaley go downstairs and I walked her through making homemade waffles.   Kerst cracked the eggs, Jenna made the orange juice.   Julia arrived a bit later and made easy over eggs for everyone to add some protein to their breakfast.

The kids put the phone on speaker phone. I was able to hear all of their busy activity and was able to imagine what was going on...the mess, the excitement, etc.   John was upstairs preparing a lesson for his Sunday School class for that afternoon. He heard it all and was loving every minute of it.

I was placed in the middle of the table (speakerphone) and enjoyed breakfast with them.   Kerst offered the prayer. I started to cry as I heard him pray that I would be safe and that the baby would be too. Prayers are answered. Angels do watch over these little ones.

It was an amazing experience. Probably the best Father's Day ever.

Happy Father's Day 2013 to my amazing husband ...

Summer routine

It is nice to finally be in summer .... a new routine.

Signs of summer:

Kerst marked all of the recipes he wants to make this summer (desserts).
This is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks that our family
put together during our 2009 family reunion.

Reading Kerst and Kendall are doing for the Library reading program

Chore charts

Ah yes, the glorious chore chart for the 3 kids in the house at the moment (never fear, Jenna will be home on Saturday and will have a chart next week!)

This year I am giving them a list of items to do around the house and for themselves.  They have one week to complete them all.  Some chores are to be done daily (reading), others are a couple of times a week (dusting, mopping, yard work, vacuuming, blinds, baseboards), others are by time (working on merit badge for scouts - five 30 minute boxes that can be completed in one or several sittings) and others just have to be done before the deadline of Friday at noon (cook, laundry, clean room, clean bathroom, dig out a tree stump just to name a few).  I have a list of chores that I keep adding to that I will use throughout the summer.  Some chores will be repeated weekly, others will rotate (dusting chairs, baseboards).

When the chores are completed (and checked by me) and marked off by noon on Friday, I will take them out for a treat - ice cream, icee, Walgreens trip, etc.  If they aren't, too bad .... they still have to do the chores and they miss out on the outing/treat.

He's old

I am filling out John's physical form that he needs for the 50 mile backpacking trip he is taking with Kerst at the end of the month with the Boy Scouts (yes, you read that correctly - 50 mile backpacking trip).

I had to write down his age, but couldn't remember.

"How old is Dad?"

Kendall - "46.  He's old."

The Relatives Came

My Mom sent this book to the relatives the put up with us, housed us, fed us, hugged us and cried with us during our trip to Chicago for Papa's memorial.

It is a sweet book.

I smiled through it all (and had some chuckles)... we hug and hug (and shed tears), we talked for hours, ate all their food, we happily slept anywhere and we thought of them when we were traveling there and when we left.

I am so blessed to have such amazing family.

The Relatives Came  by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell


 

Dog Talk

We were able to stop in and visit some sweet neighbors when we were back in Chicago at the beginning of June.

Ms. Marie and Mr. Dave have two dogs - yorkies.

Callie was sitting on the couch with us and Ms. Marie was talking to her and asked her what she thought of how big the kids had gotten.

Kendall looked at Callie, waited and then told Ms. Marie, "She's not talking back."

They go a long way back

I was her first best friend.  I cried whenever Bama and Papa would fly back to their home after a two week stay with our family while I was growing up.

The tradition continued.  Jaley took over as the young best friend.

At an early age they had a special connection.

And it is a mutual love ...

One that will span through the eternities.

Remembering ... is a painful process

These are the stages Jaley went through on Saturday at Grandpa's Memorial.  The stages she went through with her Great Grandma.

She was thrilled to be reunited with her childhood BFF.  They were (and are) best friends.  Growing up, Jaley couldn't say the "G" sound.  It came out as a "B".  Grandma became Bama.  It has stuck.  For years.

Jaley soon realized that her Bama didn't recognize her.  Tears flowed for a long time - and mine started when I saw her struggle with this.  Dementia is a horrible thing on everyone.

Through the memorial service Jaley held her Bama's hand.   Just the simple, loving holding of hands was comforting to her.  She didn't want to let go. Ever.

After the memorial service we went to the hallways where everyone greeted Grandma again and gave her hugs.  This is where Bama caught a glimpse of the young girl that did weekly visits, numerous sleepovers, millions of tea parties, walks and makeup parties.  She told Jaley how beautiful she was. Jaley beamed through her tears.  So grateful for the moments of clarity.  Bama remembers ... the grown up faces are hard to place.

Papa's Memorial

It was a sweet moment - and a sad moment.   So wonderful to have family from the T and P side there to celebrate Gpa.

I took photos (yes, in the chapel - shame on me, so kick me out).   It was sweet to see my uncle Keith give Gma a kiss and tease her.  

It was tender to see my Dad with Gma talking to her and then leaning over with tears running down his cheek while leaning on her shoulder.

And then the reunion of Jaley's childhood best friend.  She missed seeing her Bama.

It was heart wrenching to see Jaley realize that her Gma didn't remember her.  Dementia is a horrible disease on everyone.   They were best friends ever since she was an infant and remained that way for over 10 years (with nearly 8 years of constant visits due to living so close).   So many fun times they had (sleepovers, play dates, tea parties, make up parties .... exactly what I did with her when I was growing up!!).   

The tears flowed with this realization ... and didn't stop for a long time.   

Jaley sat by Bama the entire time and held her hand through most of the memorial service. 

  

Gma remembers the memories, but the grown up faces are hard for her to place.

How wonderful it felt to hear Gma say, "Ahhhh, John!" when he walked up.   Some faces never change, and his was one that didn't need a memory boost for her.

The military presented a flag to Gma.   

I took pictures - the angle was difficult from where I was standing outside.   It was still so very moving.

They played Taps for Gpa

My brother, Richard, gave a moving tribute and talk about Gramps, grandparenting and our own Gethsemane.  

He then sang a beautiful hymn, Where Can I turn for Peace (one of Gramps' favorite hymns and it is Richard's favorite as well).  

My Dad gave a wonderful eulogy and tribute as well.

Kerst and Jenna sang a duet, I Know that My Redeemer Lives.   I have that audio as well.

President Kenneth Robinson spoke as well.   

President Robinson after the service

He is a good friend of Gma and Gpa's and the former Chicago temple president.   He would visit Papa weekly and bring him a chocolate covered donut with hot chocolate.  They also made trips to Wendy's for their chili.  I loved how he used the imagery of a ship  - Just as we stand on the shore and watch the ship with loved ones sail over the horizon and we say "there he goes," others on the other side of the horizon say "here he comes" and he is greeted with tears of joy.

Afterwards we gathered in the foyer for pictures.   It was fun to see the kids shake hands and tell Gma who they were.   

Jenna knelt down next to Gma and talked to her and then you hear "Aahhh, Jenna!"   ... her memory came back.  

Jaley was there with a glimmer of hope her childhood best friend would remember.   She saw Jaley and told Jaley how beautiful she was.   She beamed through her flood of tears.

Viewpoint from my Mom:
Grandma would comment on all of the little boys....years ago it was all of the little girls.

The grandchildren flocked to greet her.   It was touching.

The boys, Kerst, Max, Kendall, RIV, Carlisle, and Sam were close to the front.   Many boys flanking her on the right and girls on the left.   Sweet Jaley was right next to her.   When the Air Force did the flag presentation, you could hear a pin drop.   Their presence and bearing was electric.   When they folded the flag, you could HEAR the fabric snap.   They were erect, wore impressive uniforms including white gloves.   Sharp, crisp, serene.

From where I was sitting, I could see the organist, Clayton Waite, an elderly man who was at his post at the organ, crying his eyes out.   The taps were played and the sound seemed to echo in my mind as the other soldier stood in front of Grandma with the freshly folded flag.

The flag presentation was before the service began.   Bishop Wright opened the service with a lovely teary prayer by Corin, then we sang America.   Perfect after the military presentation which was scheduled to be after the closing prayer, but the military men had another obligation 30 minutes away.   So Bishop Wright consulted Dad and the change was made to before the Service began.   The Stake President had given permission to do the flag part in the chapel because of Grandma's frail condition.   The taps was played outside by the open door.

The talks were great.   Richard's was very personal and tender...Dad was to do the Eulogy with a couple of personal touches.   He wrote it on Wed, Typed on Thurs and practiced on Friday....He sat in Gramps old car to practice.   and on his bed and on his chair....He didn't want to read it .   President Robinson's ...well what can you say about a former temple presidents talk.

Gramps had requested that Richard sing ...he came through...very solid yet touching...what a proud mommy I was!

Kerst and Jenna...beautiful

Grandma made it...that was great and kind iffy that she would be up to it.   But she did.

So wonderful to feel everyone's support.