Remembering - once again - a good friend!

It's been 9 years since Charley left us.  I still often expect to see him - maybe as Santa at the ward Christmas party - or at a T-ball game somewhere or manning the sno-cone machine at Clifton.

A man "bigger than life" whose memory is always with us.

So thankful that Charley Graham was part of our life!

Thankful for Grandchildren!

As is often stated, "If I'd known how great grandchildren were, I'd have had them first!!"

Our grandchildren continue to bring us great joy and happiness.  Just today I got a note from Esme that said in part, "Thank you for being my grandma and for being a good grandma."

The blessing that just keeps growing and giving - having grandkids!!

Zim Zam!

If you're a Terrill - or related to one - you've gotta be thankful for Zim Zam - and all the good memories that go with it!!

Reading at the beach - doesn't get much better than that!!

Thankful to be married to a guy who loves reading - and the beach!!  A great combo!!

What's another brother or sister or two??

Grateful for Harry's great sister and brother - and his mom and dad too - although I guess I'd better find a photo that includes Pop!!  

When I married into the Terrills, I gained a wonderful "new" family that has certainly grown and blossomed over the years.

Looking alike

Sometimes I made matching dresses for Bonny and me.  A couple of times I made matching dresses for Bonny, Phoebe and me.  But I really had fun doing quite a few matching dresses for Eliza and Hannah.  They were willing subjects, very cute little girls, and I must say I enjoyed it all very much.

"Thank heaven for little girls!"

Following Akela!!

Thankful for all my years in Cub Scouts - and thankful that I still get to work with them now.  I am a Cub Master.  Porter came to his first Pack Meeting and said, "My grandma works for the Cub Scouts, and I get to come!!"

It was fun to work with Harry and Noah - and now Porter.

Gotta love 8 year-old boys!!

Thankful for college beaux who helped me discover what really mattered in a man!!  This young man was named Dee - and he was lots of fun.  But he was a bit troubled in some areas - I was young and romantic, so I didn't see the flaws right away.  But he wasn't happy for me when I had the opportunity to go to school in France for a semester - wanted me to stay in Utah where he was - and Harry, while on his mission - was so encouraging about my adventures.  

The contrast was telling!!

Even with total 80s hair,

I love her to pieces!! On this Thanksgiving Day, which is also Donna's birthday, I am especially thankful for her!

"Happy, happy birthday Donna dear, Happy days will come to you all year!!"

(Thankful for my great parents too!!)

:Here Kitty, Kitty . . ."

We have had 4 cats in our married life - Amado, Baby Kitty, Elizabeth, and Cosmo.  With the exception of Baby Kitty, they were exemplary pets.  I don't think we even have a photo of Baby Kitty.  But we loved the other three - and were saddened at their respective demises.

Cosmo was an especially fine feline.

So I am grateful for good pets!!

Thanks Mr. Card!

I am indebted to Bill Card for my current employment status!!  He asked me - many years ago - if I'd taken the CBEST.  When I said no, he told me to take it, and he'd get me work subbing.  So I did, and he did, and a few years later he offered me the job I currently have at Clifton.

What a guy!!

FHE

Grateful for Family Home Evening - then and now!!  What a blessing in our lives!

I love words!!

I have always loved to read and write.  And I had wonderful teachers through the years who helped me hone my skills.  And thoughtful parents who bought me an electric typewriter when I graduated from high school - in today's terms, that's like being given a new Mac or an iPhone or an iPad.  (Only mine came from Sears - but it did the job!!)

"Couldn't have done better if I'd picked them myself!"

So thankful for the wonderful choices in mates that our first 5 kids have made!!  Noah has some wonderful examples to follow!

"All the world's a stage . . ."

So grateful for the opportunity to study abroad - in Grenoble, France - for 6 months.  It was a life-changing experience for sure!!

"I love to see the temple . . ."

So thankful for a temple marriage and a forever family!!

Busy hands!!

Really grateful that my sister Alice pushed me to learn how to really sew.  And grateful to my mom for sending me remnants to practice on.  And grateful that Bonny wanted me to make her wedding dress - the mileage I've gotten out of that fact will last me a lifetime!!  (Not that I deserve any kudos, but it really does start a conversation these days!)

Other lives/other persona perhaps!!

 Phoebe - definitely "Queen of the Costume!"

Do thrift store finds count as costumes?  Or dress-up clothes??

 

Playing dress-up will never end!!

 

Is this "virtual" dress up??

 

I remember that dress!!

 

I guess everything counts as dress up!

Noah - the King of Costume maybe??

 

Phoebe - working it in to high school even!!

 

Not sure of the motif here!!

I am grateful for imaginative children and grandchildren who love dress up - things can't go too far wrong if we can still enjoy the dress up box!!

"Enter to learn, go forth to serve!"

So grateful that I was encouraged to attend college - and that I graduated when I did - so that later on, that diploma could serve me well!

Can you believe it??

Thankful that big hair and spiral perms are no longer in vogue!!

Becoming Grandparents

So thankful for the great blessing of becoming grandparents.  Just like becoming parents, the job keeps getting better and better, but grandchild number one always holds a special place in your heart.

I love these grandparenting years - and the wonderful grandchildren that have come along!!

"I sigh that kiss you,

for I must own, 

 

that I shall miss you,

 

when you have grown."

 

Lines from a poem by William Butler Yeats - a favorite of mine.

 Photos are worth thousands of words indeed,

and browsing through them, and remembering the times they represent, is a lovely kind of blessing.

"Called to serve"

I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to serve for 5 years as the Arcadia Stake Relief Society President.  I confess that when I was called, I was a little over-whelmed.  I was a ward R.S. President and felt that I had hit my stride, that I knew what I was doing.  Now I'd have to start all over and learn a new job!!

When I was called, I kept hemming and hawing and saying, "I don't know what to say."  My sweet husband chimed in with , "Yes is always a good place to start!"

It turned out to be the best job ever!!  And a lot of that was due to the wonderful women I got to serve with.  Brenda was soon called as a ward R.S. President, then they took Amy for a ward assignment.  But Yukari was a great member of the team, and it was truly a blessing to have Trina on board.  Elizabeth and I were the only originals - and that was a special experience.  I don't necessarily miss the job, but I do miss my regular association with some pretty great women.

Yes is indeed a good place to start - it leads to blessings you didn't even know you wanted to receive!