Sewing progress as of July 1st

Slowly, but surely I’m making progress on this thing.  As you can see the whole middle and one whole side is completed.  The last part is a huge tree limb.  It will be beautiful when it is done but I shall never do another one!  It totally is a gift of love!

As I post this, it is July4th, independence day for America.  I’ve been diligently reading the Book of Mormon every morning and realize more and more how blessed we are to live in this great land.  I am so grateful to be here in this country to enjoy the freedoms that I often take for granted.  We are a blessed nation and what ever I did in the pre-existence that ensured by birth here in these United States, I shall be eternally grateful.  Annie and I have often said that neither one of us can stand and sing the National Anthem without crying.  To see Old Glory waving in the breeze always makes my heart swell with love and pride that I am an American.

I loved the 4th of July celebration that always took place in Provo.  I think that is one of the reasons that I loved growing up there.  Every year mother and I would walk up to Center Street to watch the freedom parade.  Then when I got in junior high and high school I found myself in the parade almost every year.  I was either on a float waving happily to the crowds of people waving at me or I was in the Provo High marching band playing my clarinet.  I hope all my children take a moment today and every year on the fourth to think about this land and what it means to them and their happiness.  I LOVE AMERICA!  “Long may this land be bright with freedoms Holy Light”.

Lynda Ann made these cute 4th of July cups filled with caramel popcorn for me to give the girls at the office and to the sisters I visit teach to.  She also made a bunch to take to Lila Mae’s.  Thanks, Lynda Ann!  I’m grateful that I get to be a recipient of your craft talents!!!

A fun weekend

I picked up River at the baby sitters and after dinner he talked his grandpa into taking him swimming.  He brought his suit and was all ready to eat, change and jump in.  He is quite the little swimmer. 

Saturday morning Neal and I went golfing.  He wanted to do 18 holes and I was only interested in 9 so I came home and did a couple loads of laundry and some ironing.  I got a call from Emmi telling me that she was at the University of Utah campus and had two games, one at 11:00 and the other at 3 p.m.  So I picked up Neal and we got to the first game for the last 10 minutes.  We took Emmi to lunch.  It was fun to see her play and to spend a little time with her and her friends.

Maren left her Tiva’s at my house and I wore them one day and found out they were so comfortable that I wanted a pair for myself – cute aren’t they!

We have not had an oven that works since April 1 and we are still trying to get it fixed.  So Lyndsy, invited us over for dinner.  It was delicious.  We had grilled chicken, corn on the cob and broccoli.  Lyndsy also made some gluten free cookies that she forgot were in the oven and the were just on the edge of over done – maybe slightly burned.  However, they really didn’t taste that bad and Neal ended up bringing them home.  After dinner we played MaJong and I WON!  It was a very delicious dinner and a fun time playing games.

The biggest surprise of the evening came when Lyndsy presented me with this beautiful scrapbook that she has spent hours putting together.  It tells the story of our courtship, marriage and honeymoon with a few pictures after the honeymoon.  I can’t believe what a beautiful job she did and I can’t wait to show it off.  Thank you Lyndsy, from the center of my heart.  I shall treasure this forever. 

This was one of my favorite pictures.  I’ve never seen this picture before.  What a funny picture.  Lyndsy captured each person with the perfect comment.  You can’t see all so I’ll list them:

Me:  What have I got myself into …..”

Neal:  Oblivious

Tucker:  Look at me I’m so cool.

Spencer:  Whatever

Maren:  I’m crazy!

Derek:  I’m funny

Lyndsy:  Are we about done, Ehh!

Lynda Ann taking the picture:  Thinking, Oh brother!

Just some ‘deep’ thoughts

I became a bride and a ‘wicked step mother’ in the same ceremony.  In barely more time than it takes to wink and eye, my life was transformed from being a single parent of two, to becoming a wife and instant step mother of 5.

As a small child, I remember fantasying about the day that I would become a beautiful bride.  I never wished or fantasized about becoming a step mother when I grew up. Stepmoms are the stuff of fairytales.  They were never a part of any fairytale that I pictured myself in.  I have found that it can make for a very tricky terrain.  Stepmothers take on several different meanings such as:  one step removed, second best, or stepping into some else's shoes.  As a stepmother, all of these terms have felt familiar at one time or another throughout my almost 22 years of marriage.

If you stop to think about it, step families present difficult situations and why shouldn’t they.  They are somewhat like an arranged marriage.  People that are barely more than acquaintances are expected to come together and live in the intimacy of one home.  It seems you are always aware of your relationship.  A step relationship is kind of like an in-law one.  You react spontaneously to a parent and no matter how angry you become most of what is said in anger is forgotten.  In dealing with a stepparent or child, you are always conscious of your tone and especially what you say.

I guess the conclusion I have come to is there appears to be no gray areas when dealing with ‘step mothers’.  The stepmother seems to be the one who is always responsible for any problems.  Very unfair in my way of thinking and quite a load to carry on ones shoulders, don’t you think?

Weekend events

Friday right after work, Neal and I went up to the U of U to watch a few minutes of Emmi’s basket ball game and then hurried from their to attend a dinner being held for a young man going on a mission.  It was a full evening and we didn’t get home until late.  I’m still having a hard time realizing that Emmi is 16, a junior in high school and will be off to college in a couple of years!

S

Saturday morning we got up early and went to Forest Dale and played 9 holes of golf.  In Utah during the summer months you want to play early in the morning or just at dusk when the sun isn’t beating down on you quite so intensely.  We all know that Neal never gets enough sleep (so he says) so when I looked out the window this is what I saw.  He had gone out on the patio to eat his fresh scone that we had just bought at the grocery store and to check his flowers and give them a drink.

 

That afternoon about 1:00 pm we went to the Jordan River Temple and did a session and from their to the Saturday night Stake Conference adult meeting.  Linda and Dave Knight invited us to go to dinner with them after.  Dinner at 8:00 p.m. is pretty late to be eating.  I remember mother always used to say, “Your dreams will have plots if you eat after 7:00 p.m.”  I always thought that was kind of a funny saying.

I forgot to mention that I told LInda Knight that I didn’t want to sit towards the front because I’ve experienced being called out of the audience in Stake Conference and in sacrament meetings to speak and share my testimony!  Well as fate would have it, when we got there we ended up sitting on the side of the chapel the third row back from the front. Linda and I even joked about sitting up toward the front and being noticed by the Stake Presidency!  Well, I wasn’t called on to speak but when President Amos announced the closing song, he said, “This is an impromptu request, but we would like to ask Sister Jeannine Maxfield to give the closing prayer.”  So I had to speak – sort of.

Maren turns 38

Last night Maren, Greg and the children came over to the house so the kids could swim and we could wish her a happy birthday.  They didn’t get to the house until about 7:30.  Neal went for pizza (my oven still doesn’t work) and I had some watermelon and a salad.  We had dinner and then let the kids swim.  After swimming, we had cake and ice cream.  It was a very fun evening.  Someone ask Maren how old she was and she said, “28.”  We all hate aging don’t we?!  Maren just completed another Ragnar race, is still nursing full time and seems to be happy and enjoying life.  Maren and I at the top of Mt. Olympus.

Very fun evening!  Happy Birthday Maren!  Love, Mom

Gertsons came for a visit and stayed awhile

Annie brought the kids in to go to the zoo while Jeff and Neal went golfing.  We drove to the zoo and found out there was some special event going on and we didn’t have tickets.  Annie’s season pass would work for the event.  So we ran a couple of errands and headed to Wheeler Farm.  One funny thing that happened.  When we drove into the parking lot of the zoo, there was an attendant standing on the side.  Annie rolled down the window and ask him if he thought there were any parking places available (this was before we knew that we couldn’t get in anyway).  He looked at Annie and said, “Well, if you see a car backing out then there will be a space available!”  Good thing he told us that because we would never have been able to figure that out for ourselves!  We never could figure out why he was posted there, it certainly wasn’t to give any information that was worthwhile.

The above picture is one of Emmi checking out Jamie’s blog and saying how cute Peyton is and how she misses her.  The following pictures are of Wheeler Farm.

We tried to get a picture of all these geese all standing in a long line and at the very end of the line is a rooster, but just as I was taking the picture the first goose moved.  Annie started singing, “One of these ducks is not like the other.”

An Evening of Swimming

James called me about 4:00 and asked if I could pick up River from the tender.  It wasn’t long after that Jeff H. called and asked if they could come swimming.  It worked out great.  Gave River some cousins to swim with.  Jeff, Mindy and the kids came with their dinner in hand, ate, and then went out to the pool.  Just some random pictures.  Mindy had a presentation she was preparing for so she stayed in the house and worked on her presentation while the rest of us enjoyed visiting by the pool.

Another Eagle Scout Carving

This particular carving has to be one of my favorites.  I just love it.  Neal didn’t know for sure if the scout liked dogs but he didn’t have enough notice to talk to the young man to find out what he would like.