I FOUND MY OLD BEST FRIEND, GENEVA!

May 28, 2009

Today, I called an old friend - an old best friend, Geneva. I am so happy that I did. We were best friends for so long and have lost touch for years. She was as happy to hear from me as I was to talk and hear from her. We still have a lot to catch up on. She recently lost her mother and her husband and I only wish I could have been there for her. She was there for me so many times. I'm looking forward to a renewed relationship more than anyone knows. I have a lot to tell her.

Dawn took Jamie out for his birthday dinner so Judy and the boys and I had grilled KFC chicken. Am I really so blind that I could hardly see the chicken pieces!!!! On television they look so big and scrumptous and ours were--well, just pitiful. They show on tv a bucket of 10 pieces-- large pieces-- of chicken; but when you get home, they are in a biscuit box and there is plenty of room left over for the biscuits in the same box! It was very disappointing. Using baby chickens, I guess. Never again.

Can't go by a day without talking to my dear Auntie Connie. We have a lot of fun on the phone, two-three times a day. I wish she would come out and live with us. We all do. I know she is looking forward to going to Michelle's house and I know they will have a wonderful time. Still I keep hoping that she will one day come and stay with me. She is my precious Mother's precious little sister. I love her very much.

JAMIE AND HEIDI'S 39TH BIRTHDAY! Is that possible?

Today, May 27, 1970, Jamie and Heidi were born at 6:11 (Jamie) and 6:15 (Heidi). Happy Birthday to my wonderful children who honored me with choosing me for their mother. They are 39 today which I am having a hard time figuring out how that much time has gone by so fast. There were celebrations Sunday and Monday and all was great!!

Early on Monday Judy and I got up and went to our beautiful temple and did some work. We ran into Annette there and it was nice to see her. Then we went out to Glen Abbey Memorial Park to put floweres on Mom, Dad and Uncle Art's graves. All the flags and flowers were so beautiful. Daddy was a Marine and we honor him always. It's so peaceful up there. I miss them so much and it will be a wonderful day when we are altogether again.

The pool party at Heidi and Larry's was a real "SPLASH!" A lot of friends and family there.

The photos up above are of Luke's cousins: Abbey, Bailey, Missy, Marley, Ben and Coda.

The top photo is of my grandson #3 Chris. He went creative and pierced his ears and shaved out the middle of his eyebrows. He is unique, to say the least. I love that boy!!!!

Later that day I came home and took a nap on the sofa and then woke up and went to bed.

Judy and I ate some bread and Katie's strawberry jam last night. Oh, my gosh, it is fantastic. I think I could live on jam and bread alone. Judy even went out and bought some vanilla ice cream to put some of the jam on, too. There won't be any left though because Heidi and Larry and the boys are coming over for dinner today to celebrate their birthdays and wait till they get a taste of that jam on hot biscuits. That will be the end of the jam!

Jamie is spending the day with Dawn and their family. As much as I hope they can work things out, this will be the first birthday in 39 years that he and Heidi have not celebrated together. It is sad to me. We will have a cake on Wednesday the 27th (their real birthday) for Jamie.

We went to church this morning and Brother Day and Sister Day were the speakers. The are both wonderful speakers. Katie' is not only a great teacher but she is so darn entertaining! It was a good lesson. Sister Spring also had a good lesson in Sunday School followed up by Sister Nedder in Relief Society on Service. Good Day.

We received very sad news yesterday. Heidi and Larry's beautiful Collie, Beethoven, had to be put down yesterday. He was a wonderful and loving part of the family for many years. We knew the time was coming when he would be going to heaven, but it still is not easy to let them go. Larry, Jr. and Chris had a difficult time, too. They have had him most of their lives. They know that he will be waiting in heaven for us all to join him and our other beloved pets. Casper, Bert and Roxy precede them in their journey to heaven.

Our veterinarian, a wonderful doctor, Dr. Benivedas, told Heidi and Larry that by the time they get to heaven they will have an ark of dogs waiting for them. This is so true. Happily they still have Missy, Bailey, golden labs, Marley, ?, Abbey, English Bulldog, Benny black lab, and Coda, a chocolate lab waiting for them at home; a horse, Billy, who thinks he is a big dog and a cat, Tommy. Lucky pets to have such a wonderful and loving family.

Jamie left this morning to take Mike to school and planned on spending the day with Dawn so it was just me and Luke here when Katie' came over to help me with my blog. She also brought homemade freezer strawberry jam! How do we rate? Judy got off work early today and was able to get home to visit with Katie', too. We love you Katie' and Rob. Taylor got home from school and looked a little rough around the edges--he said his finger was bothering him. For him to say "bothering" I know it was really hurting him.

I just read my emails and my cousin, Michelle, who is in Korea with her family: her husband, Adam, and their daughters, Lorea and Alana. She told me she went to my blog and it was all in Korean. Well, that's cool, I thought. I'm international! She was going to have Adam do something about the language setting. They are getting ready to come home the 20th of next month and everybody is anxious to see them. Adam serves in the Army as a (I'm sorry I don't know which helicopter) but he is a pilot. He has served our Country for years we thank him. This photo is (l to R) my Mom, Michelle, me, Lorea and Alana before they went to Korea.

Motherhood has it's marvelous power, and in it is blended pain and joy, at once the
deepest and the most cleansing influence in the world. That it brings joy no one can
doubt who sees the mutual love of mother and child; that there is pain in it all must recognize.
Perhaps its chief grace lies in the fact that it is a ministry in which in a unique degree there is blended purposeful self-sacrifice with the confident expression of love in its purest
quality. Motherhood is the paradox of life; in its fear and its resolution its giving and receiving, at once the suppliant for our protection and the imperious monarch of our lives, it bids men pay their homage to virtue.

From the New York Times,May 10, 1929

Just to let you all know the results of Taylor's trip to the e.r. Jamie and Little Mike took Taylor to the hospital. They were there for about three hours and Taylor came home with five stitches. I asked Taylor if he cried when he got the needle in his finger and he said, "no" but Jamie said he felt like he wanted to! Michael just wanted to go to sleep.

Well, we had an easy dinner. I made mexican scrambled eggs into flour tortillas. Good and easy. Thought we were in for relaxing evening when Bishop called and, unknowing there was a problem at Scouts, I proceeded to ask Bishop if I could call him back as I was on the other line with my son Michael. Well, he said something funny (I can't remember now what it was but it made me realize he needed me for something important --like stitches--I do remember he mentioned stitches! Taylor had cut himself pretty good. Judy and I rushed over and picked him up and agreed that he did need stitches. I thought we could go to urgent care but was told by Kaiser that they do not do stitches at urgent care and he would have to be taken to the emergency room. As we have had a lot of experience of late with e.r. rooms, I am sure they will probably be there for awhile. These will be his first stitches. The cut is deep and I hope he has not injured a nerve. We'll just have to wait. Love you, Taylor. Thanks Bishop for good first aid for him.

My Angels: Michael and Judy

I had my morning telephone call with Michael. His girlfriend, Judy, a sweet young woman has been sent back to the hospital. She has cancer. My heart breaks for my son and his Judy. He does not have much faith but I tell him I have enough for both of us. They are so happy together, it is very sad.

Here it is Wednesday already. Jerome's furniture is finally coming out to fix a backboard on one of our dining room chairs. This has been an ongoing problem with our chairs. (about the fourth time). I will say it has been a pain in the rear having to do this so many times; but to Jerome's credit, they have always taken care of the problem.

Katie' says I'm getting the hang of this blogging, so I will take that as a compliment because she is one lady that knows a lot about a lot...She has become such a good friend to Judy and I, more than friend, family-she and Rob-and we are blessed to have them in our lives.

I found the following quote in the book "A Special Collection In Praise Of Mothers" selected for Hallmark by Helen Exley. Mom gave it to me for Christmas one year. I miss my Mom so much and today is no different. I liked the quote, but I know that it does not end with the "beating heart." I love you Mom, for all time and eternity.

Children and mothers never truly part--
Bound in the beating of each other's heart.

Charlotte Gray

Well, surprise, surprise, Jamie cooked dinner. He wanted my stroganoff recipe--actually he wanted me to make my recipe--rather, I told him what to do and he did and it was delicious. It was nice. The kids cleaned up. Afterwards, Judy had a dance with Taylor. She was shocked but pleased, even though it lasted for about 10 seconds. Little Mike is usually the one up and dancing.

My Daughter, My Shining Light

My Daughter, My Shining Light

My daughter, my guardian, my friend,

With the strength of the lioness

and the heart of an angel.

My heart struggles daily to stay alit,

Like a candle flickering in the stillness of dusk

fighting to hold its light like

the burning light in the heart of my daughter.

Long before I allowed the pain of life

to try and harden my loving heart, causing me

to look at life with such effort

to love, to trust and to hope

and to not become the woman who almost lost her flame,

But to be like the woman my daughter became.

Sandra Reid to my Heidi

My Wild and Wonderful World

Today I start my day as any other with my son Michael's phone call. As usual, I have to tell myself that Michael has a disorder and he can't help himself. You see, my precious, handsome son lives with the horrible disorder Schizophrenia. Our whole family lives with it. It is so difficult but on the days we visit him and see that fantastic grin on his handsome face, I am so thankful for him. I love him so much, and that is all I am going to say about this at this time.



I am slowly figuring out this blogging business and find that I am really having a good time with it. However, the day goes by so fast and I'm still here working this or that out, how to insert a photo, etc. Thank goodnss, Katie' is going to come and assist me tomorrow.

Judy is at work, as always, and the kids at school. Luke is asleep at my feet. He, like me, is running on low gear these days. He soothes me as I rub his back with my foot.

Taylor's 15th Birthday Party

Taylor's birthday is the 13th. His party was at our home which we all love. He was actually born on Friday the 13th, 1994. We celebrated his birthday after Church Sunday the 17th. It was a great party. In his own words, "Thanks, Dad, that was the best party I ever had!" A lot of his friends from church, Kureay, Ashley, Seth, Jerry, were here, his Aunt Heidi, Uncle Larry, cousins Larry & Chris. His little brother, Cody, stepsister, Hayley and her boyfriend, Ryan and stepmom, Dawn and, of course, his Dad, Aunt Judy and myself. Sister Day even made an appearance! We did miss Jenny, Larry's girlfriend but she had prior plans with her mom. We had tons of pizza, chips, watermelan, cake and ice cream and pop. I think Taylor's day was made when Kureay's parents allowed her to come~ I can't believe boyfriend's, girlfriends already. It seems like they were all just toddlers the other day! The party was a success (other than Luke having to be constrained) and now we will soon start planning Jamie and Heidi's birthday the 27th and Larry's the 8th of June. We usually celebrate the three of them together. That is always a birthday/ Memorial Day celebration--ususally at Heidi and Larry's since they have the pool!