Day 3 - Plenty to Be Thankful For:

 Today is my college friend Cammie's birthday - it is also my granddaughter Rhoda's birthday. But I had forgotten about it being Cammie's birthday until I saw it on FB. I am pretty good about birthdays, but the family grows and the circle of friends grows - and I'm grateful for the reminder!

I met Cammie when we were seniors at BYU. In fact, I think she had graduated - or graduated before me because she had earned a credential and was teaching school while her husband was in school. But I was a graduate student teaching Freshman English so maybe we met in senior classes. I'm not sure - but we stayed in touch for several years - and then we fell out of touch.

While on the BYU campus during an Education Week foray, I ran into Cammie in a parking lot. I was impressed that she remembered me. We stayed in touch for a couple of years. We had a mutual friend in Kay Lineback - and I mostly kept up with Cammie via Kay.

And then a few years ago we reconnected once more. It was a delight - friends from the past make wonderful friends - probably because we are all getting older and things are changing - but our past experiences have stayed the same.

I am grateful for friends old and new. But I especially am grateful for friendships that invoke so many specific memories. Times have changed. Much is different. But the past with these friends is the same.

And it's a past I treasure.

Day Two - Plenty to Be Thankful For:

 I am grateful for my daughter Bonny. She made me a mom - and there is something about that distinction that is really significant. She takes her role as oldest sibling very seriously too - and I am grateful for that also.

We learned a lot together over the years. I wasn't much of  a seamstress, but my mom would give me remnants of fabrics and I would make clothes and doll clothes for Bonny.  I recall how delighted she would be when I had her try something on - she never saw the mistakes - or if she did, she never mentioned them. She was always pleased with my efforts. For many years, she really would not take a store bought dress - I recall her high school homecoming - I was pregnant with Noah maybe or Hannah - anyway, I did not feel up to sewing - I said, "Let's go buy a dress." We shopped - and her dad took her shopping too - there wasn't anything she liked. She ultimately went with a dress that was too expensive - and that she never wore again - in fact, I gave it to my sister Mary - and when I asked Harry why he'd spent so much he said, "I was too tired to keep shopping - I was willing to go with anything!"

And so I developed a talent - one that would probably have not gotten developed without her participation! I made her wedding dress - really the last dress I made for her - but it was a lovely experience - one I am grateful for.

Bonny - what a wonderful daughter!

Day 0ne - plenty to be thankful for!!

Grateful indeed for grandchildren - and now even a great grandson!! I read a column to day that explained that retirees with grandchildren were happy indeed - they seem to give meaning to many lives. They do give meaning and purpose to my life - and I love interacting with them. 

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have many or even any grandchildren - through no fault of their own - so I hesitate to fulminate too much.  But mine are the biggest blessing in my life!

General Conference Weekend

 Drove up to Utah for Harry's mission reunion - only 14 people came - three had been serving when he did - the years take their toll! And I did not take any pictures!

Stayed at Alice and Dale's - they have a comfy basement room for watching conference - and it was a great conference.

Ara and Roger came Saturday morning - for a lovely breakfast made by Alice of course - and to watch the first session with us. It was so nice to be with them. And I remembered to take a picture!

We went up to Logan to see Frances and Dee and then drove home Monday morning. And once again did not take pictures.

But it was a good weekend!

Beware the Ides of March!!

 We had an Ides of March Party on Sunday the 20th - and we had a good turnout - and I didn't take photos - but suffice it to say, the yearly dramatic production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar will likely resume now!!

Saying goodbye to an old friend!

 A Celebration of Life for our dear friend Mayla Brown was held this month - on the 19th - at Damond and Katrina's house. It was a lovely tribute - seems ironic that the loss of someone in our lives causes us to gather many together!! Mayla was a good friend, a good mother, a good wife, and sounds like she was the best grandmother ever!

We love you - and will always miss you!

Happy Birthday Izayah!!

 We don't see much of Izayah these days. Noah and Taylor are splitting up and she lives with her mom and doesn't often come when the boys do. But she does have a birthday this month, and we've scheduled a Grandma's Birthday Weekend for next week - I am looking forward to lunch, and shopping, and a manicure, and maybe a movie!!

Happy 12th Birthday Izayah - we love you even if we don't get to see you as often!

Some Birthdays to Celebrate!!

 David had a birthday on the 19th - and Esme had hers on the 21st - and we celebrate Ry on the 22nd - which was 2/22/22 - on a Twosday!! I know he would have been all over that combo!

Best wishes to these beloved family members and friends!!

A dear friend -

 February brought the sad news that our dear friend Mayla - mother of Damond and Reggie - the first friends we made in Monrovia all those many years ago - had died unexpectedly.

Losing friends is hard. Thankfully there are good memories. And photos help me recall the conversations we had and the activities we shared.

But we will miss her!

It's been a "surgical procedure" kind of time!

 Harry had a surgical procedure to remove a growth on his ear. And then they took a strip of skin from behind his ear to fill in the blank!! It is healing nicely and he had the second step done today.

Then on the 3rd of February, he had a prostate procedure - a plumbing issue as they say. And he is healing from that too. The growth on the ear was a superficial melanoma - with no cancer cells! Phew!!

So many people were kind and solicitous - cards, calls, cookies - doesn't get much better. Dawn was the best nurse ever - and I've learned more about medical stuff than I ever knew I needed to know!

Hoping March is less eventful - at least medically speaking!!

Behind again - some things never change!

 Happy Birthday Pop!! Born on Groundhog Day -  it's a party every year. And a viewing of the movie of the same name - always fun!!

The Favorite Uncle!

 Happy 108th Birthday to my uncle Paul - indeed the favorite uncle!! He visited often, was always fun, attentive, jovial, happy - usually the life of the party!

Everyone ought to have an Uncle Paul - along with their Aunt Dorothy!!

Once again, behind at the beginning!

 Richard had a birthday on the first, Grandmother Agnes had a birthday on the 9th, Dale had a birthday on the 7th, Scott had a birthday on the 12th, Theo had a birthday on the 11th, and Leslie had a birthday on the 13th. 

I am really having trouble remembering to do this blog - maybe I should give it up!! Not sure anyone reads it!

Maybe I will report on Ara in a timely manner - that's not til the 31st - let's see how I do!!

Oh, the things I've forgotten!

I know I will forget to check my blog - not sure anyone reads it anyway - but will post December's events now - or at least the commemoration of birthdays and anniversaries that abound!

It was Harry's bday on the 18th - 77 years!! And we had a fun family party in the Cultural Hall in the Church - and it was perfect - plenty of social distancing available for the 18 of us!

I can't get center align to align the photo above this - and I'm not sure exactly when in December it is Peter Gilbert's birthday - but Happy Heavenly Birthday Gilbert!

And Happy Anniversary to Matt and Eliza on the 27th. That was a fun year - Christmas, a wedding, New Year's - lots of celebrating!!

 Center Align is way out of wack!! Happy Anniversary to Bonny and Bruce on their actual wedding day the 15th, Happy Birthday to Bobby, Happy Birthday to Mary, and Happy Anniversary of the wedding reception for Bonny and Bruce on December 22nd, and Happy 54th Anniversary to us!! 

Hopefully we will have some fun festivities to report for the month.

Happy day to Isla!!

 That cute Isla is 12 today!! How can that be - but she is in 6th grade at Santa Fe, runs track, has been studying Chinese since Pre-K - so she is definitely growing up!!

Hope it's a happy day - and the best year ever!!

Happy Birthday Harry W!

 Harry W. shares a name - and other characteristics with his dad - also Harry! 

There are lots of Harrys in our family - but only one Harry W. - and we are grateful for him - and want to wish him the happiest of birthdays today!!

Happy Birthday Donna!!

 We love Donna - she is a big part of all of our lives - and she deserves the happiest birthday ever!!

 Happy Birthday Matt - we love you!!