Replanting Susan's Memory Planter

Neal went out yesterday and bought a bunch of flowers and two small rose bushes for the planter box that Annie and I gave to Susan when her son David past away a year ago.  All of the flowers from last years planting died.  Neal and I left this morning at 9:00 and headed to Midway with the back of my car loaded with fresh dirt, flowers, digging tools and a broom.  Neal dug out all the old dead plants, work on the soil to moisten it and break up the dried clods.  He then planted all the flowers while I sprayed down the front porch and cleaned up any mess we made.  We got finished about 11:45.  I called Susan and we met her over at the Junction and had lunch together.  She insisted on paying for our lunches, which was very nice.  Here are some pictures of the newly planted planter.

 

Fun Presents

Mother's Day hasn't ended just yet.  Lynda Ann gave me a Food Warmer.  Something I've wanted for a long time.  Judy has one and uses hers often and I've kind of coveted hers.  So thank you Annie.  What a great present!

 Then I was really surprised when I got a fun present from Andrew!  He gave me a lens cleaner cloth for my phone, glasses, etc.  I absolutely LOVE it.

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Cutest thing ever!!  Thank you Lynda Ann and Andrew.  What a fun way to top off Mother's Day.  Thanks everyone for the great gifts and mostly for the love expressed.

Sunday - Mother's Day

 Yesterday was an amazing and very fun day.  Lynda Ann brought in dinner.  We had marinated chicken on the grill, funeral potatoes, jello salad, broccoli and corn.  For dessert we had cherry, apple and chocolate pie.  It was a delicious dinner.  Jeffrey, Lynda Ann, Mallory, Andrew, Hayley and Alex were the Gertson group.  Tucker had been in California for the weekend and came home Sunday afternoon. Neal picked him up from the airport at 3:15 and we had dinner at 4:00.  Before and after dinner we played games.  Shanghai before and Swoop after.  Lots of fun and laugher which made the day almost perfect.  Maren had work 5 nights in a row and was going to her sixth night so her family didn't come.  They were missed.  Emmi is in South Korea on Navy business and Abby in California but they both called in.  It was fun to hear their voices and talk to them.  Mindy was having her mom over to her house along with Ryan, Izzy and the new little Logan.  We missed having them here.

Mallory gave me the cutest little succulent plant in the cutest container ever!  Thank you, Mallory, I absolutely love it!  I never look at it that I don't have a smile on my face and in my heart.  

I had a gift for the girls but totally forgot to give them to them when they were leaving.  The funny thing is that Lynda Ann forgot to bring my present in, so she and I still have something to exchange.  

I did get a text from Lyndsy wishing me a happy Mother's Day and a call from Maren saying that she wanted to go to lunch with me.  She was on her way to work.  We will have to set up a time to have lunch.  I think Maren and Taylor are having a congratulations celebration for both of them graduating from college, on the 12th so I can take Maren's gift out to her tomorrow.  

This is what I had for the girls.  There are two boxes there.  One of Blueberry muffins and the one you can't see is brownies.  

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful Mother's Day celebration and dinner.  Love you all so much!

For The Beauty of the Earth

 For the Beauty of the Earth is a primary song that I just love.  I walk almost every day and I don't think it matters what season we are in there is always beauty to be found around me and it always makes me think of that song.  I was out walking Sprout yesterday and came on these gorgeous little flowers blooming away on the side of the road.  They made my heart happy and I thought of the ending of the song that says, "Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise".  I had to stop, take a picture and say a little prayer of thanks.

How can one possibly deny a God in Heaven.  They just aren't opening their eyes and their hearts!

I have to add here that when Sprout and I got home he got a drink and then jumped up on the couch and took a nap.  I had to snap a picture.  

Surprise from Emmi and Jamie

 Yesterday I had a darling bouquet of flowers deliver to the house from Jamie and the girls.  So very nice of them to remember me.  I love my California family and miss them greatly.

Then, this morning I got a message from Emmi, who is right now in South Korea, asking me if I was up?  Not but a few minutes after the message I heard the doorbell and there was a gorgeous bouquet of pink and white daisies, carnations and roses.  Absolutely beautiful!  

Tucker also surprised me with two large orders of my favorite drink, Hint.  I'm feeling very spoiled.  The Gertsons and Tucker are coming tomorrow for dinner and they are fixing dinner.  Very excited to have them here and eat and play games.  

Mother's Day with Susan

This Mother's Day started off with Lynda Ann, Andrew and I going to Heber to meet Susan for lunch.  We ate at our favorite eating establishment, Don Pedros.  As always the food was delicious and the conversation absolutely funny and delightful.  We always have a good time when we get together.  Andrew made the comment to his mother that if he ever had a girl friend he would want her to be just like Susan.  What a nice compliment.  Susan does have a great personality and her humor is very subtle.  Andrew picks up on everything and loves her.

I was, as usual, spoiled by Susan.  These are the many gifts she gave me:

Susan made this card!

What a fun day we had!  She also gave me a big box full of storing dishes with lids.  
 

Primary Project

 I had Annie help me with a gift for my little primary class to give to their parents.  Last Sunday we went in the kitchen during class time and had the children dip their hands in paint and then put their hand on paper for a hand print.  Lynda Ann made the little vase with the rocks, stick and petals.  I brought the hand prints home to dry and then with Annie's help, we assemble each child's hand print on the stick.  Lynda Ann is so creative.  Don't know what I would do without her vision, craft expertise and willingness to help me with all my projects.  

This is the beginning.

Cutting out the hand prints.

The finished project.  Aren't they cute?  Thanks Annie for always being there for me and helping me brighten someone else's day.  This time the mothers of my little primary class.

These are my primary kids:

Kari

Kate

Rae

Paisley

Jimmy

Taylor Graduates Bachelor of Science

It was so fun to be able to drive down to UVU and see Taylor at her graduation exercises.  So proud to have another grandchild graduate from college.  Emmi and Mallory from BYU and Taylor from UVU.  The other exciting news is that Maren also finished her Bachelor's degree in nursing.  That ceremony will be some time in June.  Neal and I are proud of Taylor and Maren for their accomplishments.  Maren, Greg, Sylvia (Greg's mom) Tucker and Neal and I were there to celebrate with her.  Some good pictures and some not quite so good :-)

Very fun morning for all of us.  We love you and are so proud of you Taylor and we see a bright future ahead for you.