BYU Shirt

 I told Mallory if she could find out where to buy these shirts I would get one for her, for Emmi and for me.  She hasn't found out anything yet.

Baby Blankets

Mallory asked if she could have a couple of the baby blankets that I have in my cedar chest.  I am more than happy to share them.  She said that two of the girls at her work were having a baby.  One a boy and the other a girl.  These are blankets that I have purchased and then had Lila Mae or Susan crochet around them.  These are the two that Mallory pick out and she had a picture taken of the two girls holding up their blankets.  Mallory said they loved them.

 There is only one blanket that I won't let anyone have.  It is a BYU one that I'm saving for a BYU grandchild.  The parents have to be BYU fans to get one.  

Peach Jam Time

 Lynda Ann was able to get us a couple cases of huge peaches.  She has a lady that she is in contact with every year and this lady brings in peaches once a year.  They are gorgeous, sweet and delicious.  Neal and I had peaches and cream every morning and night for a couple weeks and then had to give in make peach jam from the peaches that were ready.  We ended up doing 70+ half pints of jam.  Neal has to do all the stirring.  When I pour in the cups of sugar he keeps stirring to dissolve the sugar.

And, of course, we used mother's old tin funnel.  That thing has to be over 100 years old and has been used for every food possible to can or bottle.  Every time I pull it out and use it, I'm always moved to a couple tears welling up in my eyes.  What fond memories I have of Saturdays spent during my childhood and teen years watching (and some times being a part) of mother and Lila Mae bottling fruits and vegetables.

Brock is off to college

 Maren and Brock were getting Brock ready for his new adventures in college.  We were able to meet with them at Chick-Fil-A for lunch the day before they were to fly out.  Brock said he was excited and anxious for his first year of school.  We won't get to see him until Christmas.  He is hoping that he will be able to play LaCrosse and get a scholarship to help pay for his schooling.  They were flying out on Friday and would have Saturday, Sunday and Monday to get his housing taking care of and get him registered for his first semester which would start on Monday.  The college is Anne Arundel Community College located in Baltimore, Maryland.  Sure is a long, long way from home.  Congratulations Brock on your beginning college career.  We love you and wish you a happy and successful journey!

Much has happened

 First of all I just have to post this picture of Sprout.  Every Tuesday morning I get up at 3:20 to get ready to leave for the Jordan River Temple where I'm serving as an ordinance worker.  Something I never thought I would do or want to do.  But, as all callings seem to go with me, once involved, I LOVE it.  When I get up I do it very quietly so as not to wake Neal or Sprout.  I leave the house by 3:50 to be at the temple and dressed for our preparation meeting at 4:20.  Every morning when I sneak out of the bathroom and ready to leave I see that Sprout has moved up to my pillow and snuggle in for the rest of the morning until it is time to get up.  It always makes me smile and that cute image stays with me all morning.

Mindy sent me this cute picture of her.  She and Maddie were going to the ABBA concert and she loves to dress up.  Cute picture, Mindy.  Total Farah Faucett!

More new roll out cupboards!  They are so wonderful and why it has taken me 20+ years living here to have them installed is mind boggling.  I'm sure enjoying them now.  

These are all the dishes I took out of the cupboards.  You can see how much I have stored in the cupboards!

Lunch With Mindy

 Mindy and I meet for lunch about every 2 or 3 months (or we try to).  This time we met at a place called Root'd Cafe.  It was a fun place to eat and quiet enough to visit.  We always have lots to talk about.  Mostly getting caught up on Maddie, Ryan and Grayson.  Always want to know how they are doing and what they are up to.  Ryan and his girlfriend, Izzy, have a baby boy due in October.  That is the exciting and most newsy thing.  Mindy also mentioned that Maddie was moving back home to save some money for nursing school.  She will be starting school in the Spring.   It is always fun to get together.  

She had mentioned that she and Maddie were going to a concert that weekend and later that day she sent me this picture of her ready for the ABBA concert.  

A brunette Farrah Fawcett!!  Very cute!

Birthday Dinner

 Tucker, Maren, Greg and Neal and I went to The Red Iguana for dinner last Saturday night.  We were celebrating my birthday.  We had a delicious Mexican dinner and so enjoyed being with the kids.  Tucker paid for mine and Neals dinner which was very nice.  Maren and Greg gave me a bouquet of flowers and a gorgeous light weight shirt.  I enjoyed visiting with Maren and getting caught up on her schooling.  She is working on her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and should be done by April of 2026.  We had such a good time.  I love being them.  I was hoping we could play games after but Maren had a ton of homework that she had to get done so we said our thank you and goodbyes at the restaurant.  Thanks Tucker for arranging that.  What a fun evening.

My new shirt.  It fits perfect and I LOVE it!!  Thanks Maren and Greg.

My flowers that the Cutlers gave me.  They are gorgeous.

Cute picture of Maren and Tucker.  I think this was at one of Neal's sister's wedding.  Maybe Nita?

Love The Gospel of Jesus Christ

 This is a quote from Virginia Pierce that I read this morning.  

"Even though we may not see, minute to minute, that we are moving forward and making progress, I believe we will be able to one day look back at our lives and see that we were, in fact, doing just what we needed to be doing at just the right time, in just the right place.  We can trust that the Lord will work in and through us.  Mormon expressed it beautifully; "And now I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come, wherefore, he worked in me to do according to his will."  Like Mormon, I do not know all things, but I do know that the Lord works in faithful prayerful people to do according to his will.  I know that by small and simple means are great things brought to pass."

This perspective is beautiful.  I am so thankful for prayer, for hope, for faith, the Book of Mormon and for miracles which seem to happen constantly in my life.

Moving Day

 Mallory finally was able to move out of her BYU apartment with roommates dwelling and into her own private apartment with her first full time job.  She was excited to find an apartment that checked off all the things on her list and one being that the windows all faced North.  She has a beautiful view outside her windows.  She sees Mt. Timpanogos.  That is a beautiful mountain to see in the summer and in the winter.  

Lynda Ann, Jeffrey and Andrew helped with the moving.  Neal and I assigned to stop at IKEA and pick up a desk that Mallory had ordered.  Mallory had everything all boxed up and ready to go.  We were able to get her completely moved with the IKEA table set up, her bed made and her new TV and couch delivered all by 1:00 p.m.  We all went for lunch at Crown Burger and then everyone headed home.  Lynda Ann had worked the night before and had to work that night as well so she needed to get home and get some sleep.  I took a few pictures of the move:

Neal and Mallory bringing the table from IKEA

Mallory's new place.

Putting together the new TV stand

TV delivered and on the new stand.  Jeffrey and Mallory setting things up and getting the TV working.

Exhausted and tired and back hurting!  Along with no sleep!

Andrew feeling the same way.

Waiting for the couch to be delivered and deciding where we were going to have lunch.

And here comes the new couch.

Mallory is the first to sit down on her new couch.  It wasn't but a moment until Brinkley wanted to take claim on the couch as well.

All in all it was a good day and the moving went quickly and efficiently.  Even thought it was blazingly hot the move went very well.  Now Mallory won't have to share her place with anyone else except Brinkley.  She can leave her apartment in the morning and come home in the evening with it still spotless and everything in its place.  Congratulations Mallory.  Enjoy!!!

Birthday Celebration

My 81st birthday fell on Sunday this year but the celebration began on Saturday the 2nd.  Lynda's family brought dinner in Saturday afternoon.  We had steak and all the trimmings along with my favorite dessert which is peanut butter cookies!  Apparently that is a secret I've kept hidden my whole life.  Annie was totally taken back and even Mallory who lived with us for a while was surprised.  So now, everyone is aware that I LOVE peanut butter cookies.  We had a really fun evening and lots of fun surprises.  Andrew came in and gave me a dozen pink roses that he had purchased just for me.  What a sweetheart.  

Lynda Ann had made peanut butter cookies and I've already devoured too many.  They are so, so, so delicious!

She also gave me some Meyers Lemon dish soap and Meyers Lemon countertop spray.  She said you couldn't get it on Amazon so she made a special trip to Williams Sonoma in Trolley Square to get it for me.  I just love this product!

I also got a gift card from Emmi for Market Street for $50.00.  Everyone was very generous and I especially loved having the Gertsons over for games.  My most favorite thing to do to celebrate.  Thanks Gertsons for making it such a fun day.

Sunday Neal and I went to church.  I taught my little primary class and then we came home and had left over steak and potatoes from the night before.  We played a game of scrabble - which I will add here that I beat him by 1 point.  Great victory!

Our neighbors came over (Ken and Mindy) and brought me some home made ice cream.  Delicious and so good on a hot summer day.  I also got a present from Jan Little.  She brought me a Jim Shore bird feeder (which I will not hang outside) an amazing book called When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered by S. Michael Wilcox.  What a great book.  I want to get one for Annie, Emmi, Mallory and Abby.  This is just a short synopsis of the book:

"We have all had tines when we feel that the heavens have closed and our supplications have gone unheard.  The Lord often waits until the moment when we have nearly exhausted our resources and our strength to send an answer to our prayers.  God is not quick to save us.  He allows us to learn from our mistakes and struggles."  

And, of course, she included a Diet Coke in the package.  

Tucker called in the early evening and wanted to stop by to wish me a happy birthday.  I was thrilled to see him.  I've missed our nightly gatherings at the table for games and I've missed his fun and high energy personality.  He brought me some Hint with a promise to take me out to dinner at the Red Iguana.

I also got a text from Maren, Greg and Lyndsy wishing me a happy birthday.  Also got one from Peyton, and Lexi and my niece, Barbara Kay.   Peyton and Lexi both sent me very sweet messages.

From Lexi:  "Happy birthday Gam.  Miss you lots!  Hopefully we can see you soon!  Love you!!

From Peyton:  "Gam!!  I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and say that I hope you had the most wonderful day.  You are a beautiful person inside and out and I am so thankful to have you in my life.  I can't wait to spend more time with you.  It is always my favorite and I look forward to seeing you.  I love you so much and I miss you.!!"

Monday, Lynda Ann and I drove to Heber to have a birthday lunch with Susan.  We always, always have such a fun time together and recognize how important it is for the three of us to stay close to each other.  Susan was very generous, as always and gave me Talbots gift cards along with some home made dotz cards and two cases of jam jars!  I certainly needed those.  I'll be filling them up with peach jam as soon as the peaches come on in September.

I just loved this card!  This is one of Lynda Ann's favorite children's book authors.  

She gave me twelve of these beautiful hand made Diamond Dots cards.  

We had such a fun time.  On the way back we stopped at the outlets and bought a few things and the home.  

I also got a text from Jamie telling me that there were some flowers on my front porch.  This is the gorgeous bouquet she sent to wish me a happy birthday.  I'm laughing uncontrollably right now.  It looks like the water picture is settled on top my head!  

Thanks to all for your love.  I know life hasn't been perfect for any of you, nor for me.  Just know that I've tried to be the best mom, step-mom and Gam I knew how and hope that you can overlook my faults and love me for the good I try to offer.  We've all suffered hurts and pains along our life's journey but hopefully we can rise above them and let the past be the past and build on all the good that has been done.

PS While we were in Heber we drove by Susan's and Annie put the plaque on the planter that we had given her after she lost David.  It turned out beautiful.  

Finally

 Neal and I finally decided to hang one picture.  We haven't wanted to pound nails in the walls unless we were positive what we wanted hung and where.  The big family picture we had taken when Neal turned 70 is completely obsolete and I did not want it hung back up in the front room.  But, I felt like we should have some kind of family picture hanging so we went back to the happiest day when everyone liked each other.  

This was the picture we chose.  Maybe it will help us remember those happy feelings on that day.  We've had one death and two divorces and a grandchild that wasn't even born yet and a son who had chosen not to be a part of the family long before Neal's 70th birthday party picture was taken.  That picture just doesn't bring up very many happy memories.  This wedding picture is much more positive and does show the beginning of this combined family.

New Pullouts

Ron Stanfield's brother, Chris, is a carpenter by trade.  He is amazingly good.  He, however, is retired and doesn't hire out and do jobs anymore except for his family.  A few years ago I had him build me a shoe rack for my closet and put two rows of shelves in there as well.  I also had him build a large cabinet to go downstairs to house all my journals, pictures, etc.  I have wanted some pullout drawers in my kitchen but didn't think Chris did that kind of work.  Come to find out, he put some new ones in Judy's kitchen.  So I called him and asked if he would want to do some for me and he said he would.  I was thrilled.  He came over, measured the cupboards I wanted changed to pullouts and a week later came and installed them.  I LOVE them.  Why I've waited this long to have them done?  Just never thought it might be possible in the tight space between the island and the cupboards.  But he did it.  We have one more area that he is going to do for me.  He is working on it now.  This is the pullouts that he finished the other day.

All done and ready to use.  You do lose a little bit of space so there were a couple items that wouldn't fit there.  One was my 8 quart pressure cooker that I haven't used for years.  I took it downstairs.  Not ready to give it up quite yet.  The other item was my food processor.  That I use probably once or twice every couple months or so.  I found another place for it in another cupboard.  Everything else fit perfectly and I already love them.  I don't have to get on my hands and knees to get things out of the back of the cupboard anymore.