Shopping

It always seems like yesterday when I go shopping with Lynda Ann and Emmi for clothes. I so clearly remember taking Lynda Ann shopping for school clothes and it was always a trying experience. She didn't like anything that was girlie, which includes ribbons, bows, lace, frills of any kind and especially not PINK!! Well, the apple didn't fall far from the tree with her first. In fact it fell right at the base of the tree. Emmi wants everything plain and that means all of the above mentioned items along with no mixed colors to speak of. She mostly likes blue and white and some gray. Try buying school clothes with her limitations and taste. It is a real challenge. I'm just glad I was along for the ride and to giggle every now and then at Lynda Ann's frustration with Emmi. It did end up being a successful trip to the outlet stores in Park City. Emmi got some pants, tops and even a pair of shoes. We pretty much wandered the outlet stores from North to South and then at the end stopped for lunch at Panda Express. The worst and funniest part was going in a langerie shop to buy some girlie items. I won't write more because I don't want to embarrass Emmi, but I will say that it was like Lynda Ann all over again. Emmi, you are priceless and I promise you that you will make it through these painful years from childhood to womanhood.

I LOVE Summer!

Notice the pot. All his pots are from Mexico. He buys one or two every time we go there. It has almost become an obsession so we've had to tell him that he can't go 'pot' hunting anymore!

One of Neal's beautiful planters.

I was so tempted to go grab a Mason Jar and capture this busy little bee, but adulthood and wisdom has me catching him on film.

I absolutely love summer. I was just out in the back yard admiring Neal's planters and noticed hundreds of bees gathering nector. The scene took me clear back in my childhood to summers spent in Midway with my sister, Lila Mae and her family. Every summer as soon as school ended, I packed my bags and moved to Midway. Lila Mae lived on a farm which made the freedom to wander a reality and the probability of fantisies endless. One of my favorite things to do was to catch bees in a Mason Jar. I would pick just the right leaves and flowers to put in the jar, making a wonderful home for my bumble bees. Lila would punch holes in the lid with a screw driver so the bees would have plenty of oxegyn. I was sure they would live comfortably and forever in their carefully prepared home.

Neal needed a new car too!

My new Grand Cherokee Jeep! Don't you just love it!!!

This is how I shall always remember my mother.

There is a scripture in Alma Chap. 40 verse12: "And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." I always think of this scripture when I get really lonely for mother and it brings peace to me and takes away the 'missing you' just a little bit. I love you mother.

This is a picture of my mother and I that appeared in the Provo newspaper. She was teaching me how to make an apple pie. I was a freshman at Brigham Young University.






I'm 66 years young and serving as the Stake Relief Society President. I'm learning much about caring, reaching out to others (out of my usual comfort zone) and service. This morning I visited one of our rest homes (or care centers as they now call them), for their monthly relief society meeting. Every time I go I have such mixed feelings. I'm happy to be there, to greet them, to give them a hug, to hold their hand etc. but I don't want to end up there when I get old. I remember my sweet mother living with Neal and I for two years and then finding it necessary to have her admitted to a care center. How hard it is to watch someone that you love so much, physically and mentally and rather slowly deteriorate before your eyes. It is a helpless feeling. I clearly remember helping mother with her bath one day and she looked up at me and said, "I took care of you when you were little and needed me and now you are taking care of me when I'm old and needing you." I miss her greatly. I miss jumping in the car and running to Provo to sit at her kitchen table and just talk. I miss playing cribbage with her. (I never beat her. Not even one time.) I miss looking into her beautiful blue eyes and feeling her love for me. I certainly miss her always sage advice.

Last Thursday, which would have been August 12, Neal had a catarac removed and a permanent lens put in is right eye.

My first day at work from my vacation and I was greeted with this happy birthday sign. They know I like pink!

When we got home from our vacation, there was a present on the door step from Tucker, Jamie and the girls. I had commented to Jamie that I loved her Bees Lotion. She remembered and sent me some along with this sweet birthday message that I posted sideways and don't know how to turn it right side up! I'm still trying to get the hang of this blogging!

Rosarito, Mexico Trip

There is nothing more beautiful than coming out of Nephi and see the skyline of Mt. Timpanogas.
This is a picture of the statue I refered to. You can see how big it is in comparison to the two story house below it. Someone made a map to Ron and Judy's condo with the note, "It is 2 miles past Jesus."

Rod, Neal and Ron washing all their found golf balls for the week. I think somewhere in the neighborhood of close to 200! Neal says he found at least 100 of them!

Right after getting our toes done at the price of $12.00 a piece. No wonder everyone in San Diego goes across the border to have the toes done!

Whose toes?

Scenic picture walking along the pathway to Ron and Judy's condo.

Golf balls found in just one day!

My birthday present from Ron and Judy. Of course PINK!

My birthday dinner. Judy fixed shrimp coctails with steak and all the trimmings ending with her delicious bread pudding! What a wonderful 66th birthday!

This is shrimp to buy at the grocery store. Everyone just digs in and helps themselves.

Chicken sits out all day!

Grocery shopping. Neal, Ron, Judy and Rod.

Neal and Ron hunting for golf balls.

Just played 9 and ready to go again. Notice Judy will always have a diet coke in hand.

Eating lunch between 18 holes of golf. Neal, Judy, Ron and Rod.

Neal getting ready to do his very favorite thing!

This is what we do when we are not playing golf, shopping or getting our toes done. Bridge is the game and Judy and Rod are the experts!

We teased Judy every day about this expensive very small water mellon from Green River. She says any price you pay is worth it to have a Green River Watermellon.

Picture of the statue. It is huge! Some man started building it and when he died his son took over the project. It was finally finished a couple of years ago. It has a beacon light at the top, it is so tall.

Having a light lunch after church at our favorite roadside taco stand.

Ready to order.

Neal, me, Judy and Ron just going into Sacrament Meeting. Ron is sporting his new shirt that Neal gave him.

Neal's favorite store in the whole wide world!!!

After shopping in his favorite store in the whole wide world. We always stop in Primm to shop. Neal goes right in to Tommy Bahamas and the rest of us go around the rest of the mall. We usually set a time limit of 1 1/2 hours or 2. When we come back and meet at the designated time, Neal will still be in Tommy Bahamas, never having left the store while the three of us will have been all around the mall!

Posing with the actress and actor from Tarzan

Judy and Ron

Rod, Neal and Jeannine

Neal and I have the wonderful opportunity to be invited to go to Mexico a couple of times a year by our friends, Ron and Judy Stanfield. They have a home in Rosarito about 45 minutes over the San Diego border. I've never had a camera along until this year so I've taken lots of fun pictures of our trip.

In the car headed and on our way.

We started out Friday, July 29th about 1 p.m. We met Ron and Judy in St. George, where they have a condo. We went to the stage production of Tarzan, which was fabulous. Then spent the night and left Saturday morning about 9:30. Of course, we had to stop in Vegas at the outlet mall and then again in Primm at Neal's favorite store in the whole world - Tommy Bahama. We all bought stuff we didn't need but had a wonderful time. Neal bought me some birthday presents - shoes, skirt and some pants.

At the Tuacan Outdoor Theater









We arrived in Rosarito about 10:00 p.m. We spent the week golfing, sun tanning, eating fabulous tacos at a road side place, and even found some time to do some shopping for a few souveniers to bring back to the grandchildren. Of course, there was many hours playing bridge.
We had a wonderful week and was able to attend Sacrament meeting with the Saints in Mexico. We don't always understand what is being said, but we always understand the feeling we get from the spirit of the meeting.

I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday. I turned 66! Judy fixed a dinner of shrimp cocktails and steak with all the trimmings. She and Ron gave me a golf glove and golf balls (pink of course) that said, "Life Is Good". I love that logo.

There is a huge (enormous) statue that some guy erected up on a hill. It is kind of a land mark for those going through Rosarito. One evening I was looking for a pair of scissors and I came across a note pad that had some directions on it to get to Judy and Rons place. The note ended with "Just go 2 miles past Jesus". Of course we all knew what the note meant and we laughed and laughed and laughed.

We headed for home, August 8th. We left at 4:30 a.m. so that we could miss some of the heavy traffic trying to cross the border. We also lose an hour coming back to Utah - thus the early leave schedule. We arrived home around 7 p.m. Nice to be back.

Thankful for Jamie

It is always interesting to me to hear women, young and old, talk about how difficult it is to have a close relationship with their daughter-in-law and/or mother-in-law.  It is very difficult for me to relate to their feelings when I feel very blessed to have two incredible daughters-in-law.  I feel very close to both Mindy and Jamie.  But right now I want to focus on Jamie.  I always look forward to their visit and the quiet times when we can sit and talk about anything that pops into our minds.  We’ve shared everything from intimate feelings to silly nonsensical jibber. 

While Jamie was here we spent a day shopping together.  We wandered in and through a few stores and had a wonderful time talking, laughing, exchanging ideas and even buying some items. 

She also spent many hours setting up and trying to teach me (I’m not a savvy computer operator) how to blog.  I so appreciate her time, patience and effort.  She was still helping me get the hang of it late Sunday night.  They left for home the next morning and she made the comment that she would create a heading for my blog.  I figured with her arriving home and trying to get her life back to normal that it would probably be a few days before she would have the time to fuss with it.  I should have known better!  I got on my blog today and there was the heading all created and I loved it.  She is amazing!  Thank you Jamie for taking the time to do that for me.  I love you!

Wow, Jamie!  Aren’t you proud of me?  I did this all by myself - YAHOO