I finally finished Desmond’s birth announcement sampler. It would have been nice to have it done by Lyndsy birthday, which is today, but I just didn’t have enough time and fast enough fingers. But, I did get it finished before the end of the year and only a few weeks after his birth. I need to take it to the cleaners and get it steamed and pressed and then to Cambridge to get it framed. Of course, I started another project. Always have one in the making.
We had a leisurely morning and then headed out to the kids home to see if they all had a Merry Christmas. Our first stop was Lyndsy’s and James home. River seemed happy with his Christmas. We visited there for a while and then headed to Jeff and Mindy’s.
This next picture is of the racing grandmas. Let’s name it Freda racing Freda. I nearly wet my pants to see these two wind up toys racing across the cedar chest. Talk about a memory flash back to Freda and her walker and running across the floor to lock poor Lyndsy out of the house! Yup, the memories just keep coming. I’m sure mother is mortified now that can look back at what she did to that little girl!
I took a picture of Jeff Hintze’s tree just for Tucker. Thought you would like that!
Then out to Maren and Greg’s home to see the Cutler haul. Lots of presents and lots of activity. I loved Greg just taking it easy and Mr. Boston intently playing a video game.
And last we made it out to Gertsons where we had dinner, saw the gifts and played a round of Mormon Bridge and Shanghai. It was a very fun day but we were happy to pull into our garage and head upstairs for a quiet evening of watching a movie that Jeff G. gave me called “Whitehouse Down”. Fast paced and nail biting movie. These last two pictures are of Emmi and her angel drawing that she did when she was 4 years old. Neal fell in love with it and had it framed and Annie hangs it up every year.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Everyone gathered at the house about 1 in the afternoon and we had dinner. Tenderloin Roast, Ham and all the trimmings. Everyone sat around and visited for quite a while and then the kids were getting anxious to open presents. But first we read the Christmas Book for 2013 which was Ernest’s Special Christmas. Then Neal talked about the true meaning of Christmas and then the passing out of the presents began. After everyone opened their presents we had ice cream and then slowly the families left one after the other until the house was quiet again with just Neal and I. How wonderful to have a big family and enjoy all the fun and laughter that comes with it.
Lyndsy sent me this darling picture of Desmond. I think she entitled it “Our sweet sleeping baby”. He is incredibly sweet.
Lynda Ann made each one of her kids their own Christmas tree to put in their rooms. This is a picture of the kids with their very own Christmas trees. Every Christmas the Gertsons have a Christmas movie night where they pop popcorn, make fun dips, lay out blankets and pillows and watch Christmas movies all evening. It was that night that she presented them with their Christmas trees.
Every year Barbara invites the study group to her home for a holiday party. This is a picture of the group. There were three couples missing, but it was a nice evening had by all who were there. If you think the picture is a bit blurry, you’re right. Barbara’s husband took the picture with peoples phones and they all turned out blurry. He just didn’t have a steady hand. Maybe at our age, we all look better if seen a bit blurry!!
I finally finished Derek’s project and my big flag project. Both took me countless hours and I’m very proud of both of them. I may have to enter them in the State Fair next fall. Neal took them to Cambridge to get them framed and he picked out the perfect matting and frames. You’ll notice that the picture of the flag has me in it!! I kept moving the silly thing to different areas of the room to try and keep my shadow out of it but couldn’t find a spot where you could see me. I had to post the obvious reflection of me because it made me smile.
Last night Neal and I went to see Saving Mr. Banks. It is a true story based on the events that led up to Walt Disney getting the rights to produce the movie Mary Poppins. Be sure, if you go see it, that you stay for the credits after the show. Some fascinating pictures and some more history. After the show we came home and watched Mary Poppins. Haven’t see it for a while and after seeing Saving Mr. Banks and hearing some of the author’s and Disney’s frustrations, it was fun to watch and see what Walt ended up doing. Great movie. I highly recommend it. Don’t think kids would enjoy it as much as adults.
I know that all of the children who live in Utah probably think these pictures are silly for me to post because you see snow every day and we get to the point where we wish it would stop. But for the California grandchildren who rarely see the snow or play in it, I have to post a couple pictures for them. They were so disappointed when we didn’t get any snow for Thanksgiving and now that they are home, we have had one snow storm after another. So for Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Pey here are a couple pictures of the snow and one showing the Christmas lights. Isn’t it beautiful?
Last night, Neal and I went to the Maxfield adult Christmas dinner at Nila’s home. It is always interesting to me how often I am asked, “Now that you know - - would you do it again?” Of course they are referring to marriage and combining a family. Sometimes I jokingly say, “Never” and other times I respond with, “well I would have to think about it”, but mostly my response is “Yes”. When asked again last night, I smiled and said, “Of course.” I’m not sure what they expect me to say. I thought about it all evening, some more in Sacrament Meeting and again in relief society. Here are my thoughts on the subject.
In 1990 I found myself married and immediately the mother of 5 more children. It was queer. All of a sudden these were my children and I was their mother. We were all learning to love each other in a new way and sometimes it was beautiful and sometimes it was a struggle and very hard on all of us. So, if I had to take the same step now – oh, I am sure I wouldn’t dare. I would see all the dangers and difficulties in taking over the place of a second wife and second mother. I would be very doubtful that five children would ever take to me. I wouldn’t feel adequate to take over so much responsibility – I simply wouldn’t dare. But in 1990 and having already raised two children I felt beautifully unconscious of possible complications, and complications there were.
So, knowing now compared to what I thought I knew then . . . . would I do it again? I cannot honestly answer that. My heart says YES without question, but reality and knowledge says, maybe I would dare. I’ll leave it at that. The question to ask is, “Are you glad/happy that you made the choice you did?” The answer to that is without doubt, Yes. The journey has been and continues to be full of adventures, happy times, misunderstandings, complications and problems. But, that is life’s journey no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. I would never give up the experiences I’ve had so far. I guess that answers the question for me and that is what is really important here, isn’t it?
Lynda Ann got a line again, for the 5th year in a row and finally got 4 tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert at the Conference Center. The original plan was for her, Emmi, Mallory and Abby to attend the concert, but as fate would have it, Abby’s school band concert was the same night. So, Jeff opted to stay home and go to the concert to support Abby and Abby’s ticket fell to me! Thanks Abby and Jeff for the wonderful experience.
The four of us met at Sizzler where we had a great dinner and then off to the concert with millions of other ticket holders. Annie and I let Emmi and Mallory off at the Southwest corner of the Conference Center and the two of us finally found some parking. We made our way through the crowds, through the scanners and into that massive and beautiful building. Emmi and Mallory had saved us seats so we were settled in for an incredible 2 hour Christmas extravaganza!!
After the concert, Emmi surprised me with a set of Christmas coasters. I LOVE them and they will be used during the Christmas Season for sure. Thanks you Emmi, Mallory and Annie for a WONDERFUL evening!! I love you all!. I did have to laugh when we were leaving and Emmi grabbed my hand and said, “We don’t want to lose our little Gam in the crowd.” Nice to taken care of. Believe me, I didn’t want to be lost in that crowd either!!
Thursday night, after work, I made some turkey soup and some Lasagne to take over to Lyndsy’s so she would have meals in between the days the RS was bringing them in. Friday night Neal and I loaded the meals in the car and drove over to see how Lyndsy and Desi were getting along. I had been sick ever since the morning the baby was born so I wanted to make sure that I was well enough to be around both of them. He is a darling little boy. He looks a little like James, a little like River and, I think, a lot like his mother. He has a full head of dark hair and beautiful eyes.
Apparently he had slept the whole day and was not interested in waking up when we were there. He did open his eyes a few times and then went right back to sleep. Right now, the little scamp is being nocturnal. This baby may not be as easily trained on the sleeping hours as River was. Lyndsy may have a taste of what a normal new born does. Sleeps all day and is awake and fussy all night!
I know that when Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Peyton were here they had hoped it would snow, but not a flake fell from the sky. Down deep, I was grateful that the weather allowed Jamie and Tucker to travel up here and back on dry roads. It is always a worry when I know they are heading back through storms and treacherous driving. But, it would have been fun for the little girls to play in the snow. This morning we woke up to a winter wonder land. Our first big snow storm of the year. I don’t think there is anything more gorgeous than the sun shinning on newly fallen snow. Beautiful!
Of course Neal went over and helped the neighbor and clear his driveway and had to even out what the snow plows did by the pool. I used to say something but I realize that snow clearing for Neal is his OCD. Tucker, Spencer and Derek will understand that. Happy winter to all!
Lyndsy says that Desmond is eating like a trooper, sleeping lots and when he is awake, he is wide awake. I might add that she mention that for the first few days River would only come and look at him and smile but had no interest in holding him, so this may be the first time he actually held him.
Somehow you never think that one you love might be involved in a scenario like this. Both Emmi and Mallory go to Stansbury High School. This news flash was a little too close for comfort and came on my screen at work. Lynda Ann assured me that the girls were fine.
“The lockdown of three schools has been lifted. Stansbury High School was placed under lockdown after shots were fired nearby. All of the students are safe and parents should not try to come to the school. The Tooele County Sheriff’s Office reported hearing shots fired in the Stansbury Park neighborhood. Troopers are currently on the scene and have surrounded a house at 745 Country Club Drive with rifles drawn.”
That night on the 10:00 o’clock news it was reported that a police officer had committed suicide in his home. Very sad ending to this story. I’m so grateful that it wasn’t some lunatic running through the school shooting anyone in sight.
I thought about the Thanksgiving Holiday that we had all spent together. I am so thankful for good children and good grandchildren. I reflected on the week and many activities that brought us together almost each day. I’m so grateful that my children and grandchildren love each other and enjoy being close and sharing time together. I know that every family has issues. We are not only a combined family but a big group and there are bound to be differences, frustrations and misunderstandings. We all need to not be quick to judge a situation or each other. I know that families are eternal, and God put us in families for a reason. I love my children and grandchildren!
What a wonderful week we had as a family. To have everyone here except for Spencer, Walker and new little Desmond was an exciting and delightful time. Neal and I felt truly blessed as the matriarch and patriarch of the group. The details need to be recorded and are interesting so stay with me as I relate the details of Sunday and Monday.
Sunday morning I woke up with a nasty cold and a miserable sore throat. But I had meetings to attend so forced myself up and in the shower and off to my meetings. Neal also had meetings that he was attending. Tucker and Jamie decided for their meetings they would go to Temple Square and go through a tour of the Conference Center. We all returned home about 2:30 at which time I got tables set, dinner in the oven and preparations made for the gathering. Cutlers came to say “Goodbye” to Tucker and Jamie and so did Derek and the Goss’s. Peyton and I seem to have the hardest time with ‘goodbyes’. They are killers for us emotionally. We both shed many tears as the family loaded in the car to head for California.
Now the part I left out was that just as we were getting ready to sit down for dinner Lyndsy used the bathroom and came out with the surprise of her day telling us that her water just broke! She and James left for home and after I had said my goodbyes to Tucker and famly and the Cutler’s, Derek, River and I got in the car and headed over to Goss’s for an all night vigil. Derek, James, Lyndsy and I stayed awake the whole night by playing games, watching a movie ( I did doze in and out during the movie) until about 4 a.m. at which time the midwife was called to join our vigil. Lyndsy was determined to have a home birth. I was skeptical – not that she couldn’t do what she wanted and put her mind to but that it wasn’t safe for her or the baby. I watched my little girl go through hours of agony and pain that would have wrenched any mother’s heart. I noticed James was, what I interpreted from his face, a very concerned husband. It is hard to see someone go through that kind of pain when I know there is medication available that would ease her suffering. But, being respectful of Lyndsy’s wishes, I said not a word and held her hand with each violent contraction. It just about broke my heart. At 6:52 (I think that was the time) little Desmond Neal finally took his first breath and joined the family as the second son of Lyndsy and James and the twentieth grandchild. Welcome little one right from Heaven.
It was time for me to head for work to my new job and to once again say ‘goodbye’ to another child of mine. Derek and I walked upstairs, hugged and I cried and we hugged again. I told him I loved him and what I wanted for him more than anything else was to be happy and make good choices in his life. He expressed his love for me and I waved ‘goodbye’ as I walked out the door.
This has probably been one of the most rewarding, eventful, fun, powerful, and loving weeks I’ve spent in my life! Thanks to all my children for making this past week one that will be long remembered by all, climaxed by the arrival of a new baby. We are truly blessed as a family and I would hope each one of you would get on your knees and thank our Father in Heaven for the blessings we all so abundantly enjoy. I know I will.
