Does this article remind you of someone?

I found this quote from a church magazine and I laughed until I thought I was going to wet my pants!  I immediately thought of Lyndsy and the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast.  Here is the quote:

“My brother-in-law thought that in “Love One Another” there was this really cool “church word,” shalmenno.  He always wanted to know what shalmenno meant.  (by this “shall men know”)

Remember when Lyndsy was singing from Beauty and the Beast and she sang “shaderack my paw” instead of “shudder at my paw”. 

Yup, one has to laugh!

Saturday morning thoughts:

As I was exercising this morning at the gym there was a song that kept going through my mind,

Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Where are you going, my baby, my own?
Turn around and you're two,
Turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.

Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone?
Turn around and you're tiny,
Turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.
Turn around, turn around,
Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own

As a mother, you are always aware of your children, no matter how young or how old.  Their worries are your worries, their heartaches are your heartaches, their challenges inadvertently become your challenges. 

I thought about the challenges all my children were faced with and are now faced with.  Jeff and Lynda Ann having to face the fact that their parents were divorced and the stigma that goes along with that.  Then having to deal with being uprooted from their home that they grew up in, the neighborhood they loved, the ward they called home.  I could write paragraphs about the challenges and emotional stress they faced and had to deal with. 

I thought about the Tucker, Maren, Spencer, Lyndsy and Derek and what it must have been like to lose their mother at such young, vulnerable ages.  Not being sure how to act, how to grieve or how to deal with this tragedy.  Trying to go on, trying to make sense of what had happened.  Here again, I could write volumes of what they had to face.

I thought about all of the children dealing with new parents, new rules, new siblings, combining seven totally different personalities. 

I thought about my own life and what I’ve been through and the challenges that Neal has had to address. 

The conclusion to all this is that none of us are given a free ride in this life.  I know with a surety that we accepted and were willing to come to this earth and go through whatever trials were in our path.  These are hard times for all of us.  Satan and his hosts are working overtime to bring us down, to pull us away from what we know to be truth. 

I am so thankful and I feel so blessed as I write this, for all of you.  For your love, for your example and for your faithfulness to what you have been taught and know to be true.  I think about the atonement of Jesus Christ and His role in our lives.  We are so blessed to have that knowledge.  That means we can do hard things.  It is to Him that we look to when hard times come – and they do come.  I love the church hymn: “ I believe in Christ, He is my King.  With all my heart, to him I’ll sing.  I believe in Christ, so COME WHAT MAY . . . . .”    The gospel is what keeps me moving and keeps me going and puts life in perspective. 

I know that some of my children are going through some really rough challenges right now.  I would ask that all of you remember each other in your prayers.  Put your brothers and sisters on the prayer rolls of the temple when you go.  Call each other, buoy each other up.  Don’t be quick to judge what you may not fully understand, just be kind and reach out when you can.  We are a forever family and we need to be there for each other always!

I love you all, I pray for each of you daily.  Love, Mom

Maren’s birthday!

Everyone has been giving her a bad time about her age.  Well, I should clarify that her two brothers, Tucker and Derek, are the culprits.  They claim she is 40 and she claims she is 39.  The chatter going back and forth on Voxer was very funny.  Neal and I drove out to her home last night to deliver her birthday present.  It was sad to drive up and see the “For Sale” sign out in front of their beautiful home.  Maren and Greg have worked hard over the years to make the home as beautiful as it is and it has to be sad to know that you are eventually going to have a buyer and you will have to say ‘goodbye’ for the last time. 

We got to see the official graduation certificate for Brock from Kindergarten.  Oh my goodness, does he look like a miniature Greg?!

We also caught Brock and Boston in the tub.  Pretty cute!!

Maren’s birthday present.  No matter what age you are, Maren, know that we love you and appreciate all you do for us and the family.

I took a picture of Maren’s medal that she got from the Ragnar that she ran last weekend.  I can see why Tucker is jealous.  It is a beautiful and very unique medal.  The center of the medal turns free from the outside rim.  Congratulations, Maren, on another successful Ragnar!

We love all our children and grandchildren and are so proud and grateful for all their accomplishments.

A kindergarten graduate

This picture was sent to me, from Maren, showing our new Kindergarten graduate.  Way to go Brock!!  We love you and are proud of your completion of your first official school year.  I love Boston’s little kick.   

Neal’s projects!

Neal’s projects always seem to turn into something much, much bigger than anticipated and this little project was no exception.  Our walk in closet has a light fixture that most people would think was adequate.  But almost since we moved into this house, Neal has struggled with how little light there is in there and how hard it is for him to match ties and suits together.  Almost every week (Sunday’s especially) he will bring out a suit and a bundle of ties, take them to the window to see if the colors match the suit colors perfectly!  We all know what a color guru Neal can be and it really comes to reality when he is putting an outfit together.  So, last week, his frustration got the best of him.  He decided not to pay any attention to the light voltage suggestion in the fixture.  He put in two 72 w bulbs instead of the 60 advised.  I told him that he was making a mistake but he was determined to get more light in that closet.  Well the lights lasted for about three days and then one day he turned on the switch and the fixture popped and no more light!  I suggested that he call Mike Dowse to get it fixed because it was going to require an electrician!  Mike came out Monday morning while Neal was here and I was at work.  I got a call from Neal about 12:30 telling me that he thought I would be really surprised at what he and Mike decided to do.  I could hardly wait.  When I got home, I ran upstairs walked to the closet, flipped the switch and this is what I saw:

A florescent light fixture that goes almost the entire length of the closet and yes, it certainly lights everything up.  He will never again have a problem matching ties and suits.  You almost need your sun glasses on when you walk in there.  Neal also had Mike fix the garage light and put in a light and switch in the downstairs bedroom closet.  His little escapade with too much voltage cost him $286.00!!  But, I have to say that it has sure made him happy and no more grumbling about the lack of light in our closet. 

Saturday and projects

Neal and I got up this morning and the projects began.  The first thing we needed to do was change out the dishes in the china cabinet.  Neal loves arranging the dishes for display in the cabinet and I’m more than happy to have him do that.  I spend my time changing the dishes from one cupboard to another.  We usually have Annette’s china in the cupboard during the Spring season and change to the Americana for the summer season and into early fall when we change to the Christmas Spode.

While Neal was finishing up the china cabinet, I began the process of making some banana bread.  I have to take dinner into someone this evening and thought some fresh banana bread would go good with the dinner. 

Our next project was the big thorny trees growing on the back side of our fence and getting so tall that they cut off our view of gorgeous Mt. Olympus.  Neal got out the two ladders, one for each side of the fence, grabbed his saw, cutters, hatchet and gloves and over the fence he went.  I helped by sitting on top of the ladder and taking pictures!  Love those kind of projects together because we get along so much better when we are both doing something different!!  These are the two trees that Neal is going to cut down.

Neal finally got the biggest tree cut down and poured motor oil over the stump to keep it from growing again and moved down to the next tree.  As he was pulling the morning glory and other weeds from around the tree he all of a sudden got stung by a hornet right on his lip.  Yes, it hurt!  He quickly moved way back and we could see all kinds of hornets buzzing around so we know there is a nest in there somewhere.  I ran to the store and got some raid for hornets.  Neal sprayed the tree good and we decided he’d better wait until this even to go cut it down.  We also noticed blood on his shirt sleeve and on his face from the dang thorns on the tree.  He put baking soda paste on his lip to keep the swelling down.  Right now he kind of has a fat lip, but it isn’t too bad.

After all the outside projects I hustled in to start dinner that I’m taking to a neighbor who just got home from the hospital and then quickly got in the car and headed up to have a facial and a partial massage from Lyndsy.  My Christmas present from Neal. 

Hummm, maybe this would be a good way for my viewing!  What do you think?

Right now Neal is at his class reunion for just the students – no spouses – thank goodness.  Neal can sit at the park and visit with all his class mates until everyone has left.  Let’s see, it started at 2:00 – I’ll expect him home about 6:00.  What is your bet?

Believe it or not . . .

One of the Gertson’s kids ran upstairs to report to Lynda Ann that they saw yet another hamster run across the floor in the basement.  Traps were moved to the family room area and sure enough they caught, what they hope, is the final and last hamster.  If I’ve counted right that makes baby number seven and the mother all safely caught and returned to the pet store where the nightmare began! 

KSL Writes Story . . . .

In display of compassion, woman helps family get dog

by Celeste Tholen Rosenlof • Jun 20 - 2:59pm

STANSBURY PARK — As a unit clerk in a hospital emergency room, Lynda Gertson sees a lot of people at their worst. But last month she saw people, including her family, at their best — even if it took a little stretching and growing.

On May 22, Gertson's five children were getting ready for one of their last days of the school year when their dog of six years, a black and white shih tzu named Lily, was struck by a car.

Gertson took their sweet, cuddly dog to the vet, who determined to put her down.

Later that afternoon, the Gertsons received a large, beautiful bouquet, a stuffed dog and a sympathy card containing $500 from the woman who hit Lily. Gertson didn't feel she could accept such a generous gift, but when she called to offer the money back, the woman was adamant that they keep it.

"(She said,) 'No, I want to do something. I've been in tears all day. Please, if this can help with the vet bill, and when you guys are ready to get another dog I want to help," Gertson said of the woman.

Touched by her kindness, but still uncomfortable with the gift, Gertson kept the money and continued helping her children overcome the grief of losing their childhood companion.

"When Lily died, the kids went through this and said, 'I don't want to have another dog because I don't want to have to be this sad again,' " Gertson said. "It's one of those life learning lessons where you don't choose out of things because it might hurt a little."

Like many children with childhood pets, Lily's death was the Gertson children's first experience with the death of someone close to them. Together, they came to the conclusion that Lily was in Heaven with little kids, keeping them company. She might not be laying on their laps watching movies, or playing catch out in the yard with them anymore, but maybe she was doing that for someone else.

"You know that Lily's happy because she was such a great dog and made us love her so much that we want another dog," Gertson said. "(Dogs) add something to your home that nothing else can."

Monday, the family brought home a black, brown and white shih tzu puppy named Maggie, and Gertson said the kids are excited to have her around. Though they didn't want a dog, much less another shih tzu after Lily's death, now they can't wait to hold the dog next.

"We're not trying to replace Lily, but it brought this joy into our home immediately after that loss," Gertson said.

Besides learning about death, the Gertsons also learned a bit about charity by the example of the stranger who hit their dog, their mother said.

"To see people do care and do take the time to do the right thing, to have someone take time and think about somebody else and not just themselves, I think was a good lesson for my kids that you have to stop and care for other people," Gertson said.

Hamsters, hamsters everywhere!!

I had to post this.  I got a text from Lynda Ann this morning that said, and I quote:  “I found another gosh dang #&*@ hamster last night!!!  And I was able to catch it under a box lid!” 

Can you believe it?  Annie is still capturing hamster babies from the original lost mother hamster.  Apparently she didn’t get the whole family.  Whether this is the last one or not is yet to be known.  More traps are being set.  Happy hamster hunting, Gertsons!!

Shirts for the family reunion!

Thanks Lyndsy, they are GREAT!  Can’t wait to wear them.

A few final pictures:

There was one more mishap.  Neal, Tucker, Jeff and Emmi went golfing the first morning we were there.  As they finished the 17th hole and were teeing off on the final hole, Emmi borrowed Neal’s driver and this is what happened.  She followed through on her swing, hit the ball and all of a sudden, thump, the club head hit the ground while she was still holding the shaft!  She was mortified and kept saying, '”I’m sorry Pa, I’m sorry Pa.”  But, it wasn’t her fault and Neal knew that.  Tucker kidded Neal by telling him that he was glad he didn’t react to the golf club like he did to the big red Christmas bulb!

The only mishap in the whole trip was:

Poor little Peyton on the last day and the last hour we were together, came running from the restrooms and biffed it, scraping her knee.

We did get some sad news from Tucker.  Just as we were reaching home we got a text from Tucker telling us that he his job had been cut and he was without employment.  The news was sad for their family and sad for ours as that means that Tucker and family will not be able to come to the family reunion.  That certainly was a downer for all of us.  We are so sorry Tucker and hope that you will find employment soon – hey, maybe in Utah!!

The trip home begins

We left Tucker and Jamie’s about 3:00 p.m.  Our goal was to go as far as Mesquite.  Jeff and Annie have friends who own a home there and they were kind enough to let us spend the night.  We made a few stops on the way.  One was for dinner and the other for a ‘pump and dump’ as the Gertsons call it. Of course, we always look for the windmills.  They are fascinating and certainly eye catching.

We arrived at Mesquite at 12:30 p.m. and were all exhausted and happy to be able to get out of the car and lay our weary heads down.  The next morning we cleaned up, had family prayer and headed for home.

One stop for a pump and dump and a bite to eat and on our way again.  Arriving at home around 3:30 p.m.

The Gertson’s left us to go pick up the new member of their family, Miss Maggie.  It was a WONDERFUL trip and like most vacations, being home is a good feeling.