Random memories

This photo is from April of 1973. We had driven from Provo to Arizona for Charlie and Jeanette's wedding. Then on to California for the reception.

We stopped in South Pasadena to visit the Linebacks - Kay and I went to Grenoble together and taught together at BYU.

And then a few years later, there we were practically neighbors - how delightful.

And then Steve joined the Navy as a chaplain and they've been traveling over the world ever since!!

Just a random memory triggered when I found this photo at the bottom of a box!!

New Year's Resolutions

Karl is here staying with us - amid all the chaos - doesn't seem to bother him though. In fact, he's pretty good with the kidlettes - he must be vying for favorite uncle status!! Anyway, he asked me if I'd made any New Year's resolutions. I told him I pretty much make resolutions every day - and then the next day need to make them over again.

Browsing through my photos, I came across this one-year old photo of Ara - who will be 13 years old next month!! This idea staggered me for a moment. While we were bowling today, the topic of being a teenager came up - well, it came up when Eve brought it up - she said, "I'll be a teenager soon. Well, in a few years."

I so vividly remember awaiting Ara's birth, watching her grow, watching the bevy of beautiful grandkids grow too.

Maybe I will get more serious about some resolutions so that I can thoroughly enjoy the wonderful blessing that is grandchildren.

35 years ago

I was just thinking how much I love the SoCal winter experience. I lived in snow country for 17 years - and thought I didn't mind it. But when we came back here in '79, one winter passed and I realized I didn't miss the snow and cold at all.

Bonny and Harry at the Rock House - winter 1974.

I enjoy pictures of folks enjoying the snow - more than I enjoy snow!

42 years ago!!

42 years ago we came home from our honeymoon - and visited both of our families. When we got to GH, someone, Leslie or Donna I think, ran out of the house shouting, "There are millions of presents under the tree - and they are all for YOU!!!

You need to understand a couple of things. First, a flocked tree was an absolute luxury that our family had never indulged in. And a flocked tree with "themed" decor was also unheard of in our household. So my siblings were duly impressed when the tree from the reception came to the house for its last hurrah.

And secondly, gifts weren't usually under the tree. On Christmas Eve, you picked a spot and one of Dad's work socks. And you pinned said sock, with your name pinned to it also, on the chair or section of the couch you were claiming. When Santa came, he deposited gifts on your spot - and then covered them with a piece of tissue paper. Apparently that tradition did not last much past my childhood - but I remember it well. And many years later, when I was up late on Christmas Eve, wrapping what seemed like far too many gifts, I was thinking that I wished we had started the tissue paper tradition ourselves!!

Just a little day-after-Christmas memory for your perusal!!

This is to let all of you out there know that we do get inclement weather now and again. It blew like crazy yesterday. Some places it was up to 80 mph. This shot is taken in Sierra Madre.

And also to let you know that we have some mighty fierce sunsets. It can be glorious driving west on Hillcrest.

And keeping with the time-honored Terrill tradition of getting the tree up at the last possible moment - ta da - it's up and ready for festivities!!

I shopped for it, picked it out myself, got Harry F. to deliver it in his truck - and did a pretty good job. Who needs Home Depot?? (Not us apparently - they were fresh out when Dad went on Saturday. So I ended up contributing to the Youth Ministry at IC!!)

O, tannenbaum!!

"Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!!"

Is that what a baby says in a Santa sleeper? Not likely. Found this photo in the box of pics Mom gave me to sort through.

It's obviously December of 1970 - we drove down in a little VW bug - had a carbed for Bonny on our laps as we sat in the back seat. Kinda scrunched up we were!!

It was a long trip. But worth it just to see the look of pure joy on Leslie's face when she pulled back the blanket to see Bonny for the first time!

And I remember Dad "walking the floor" with Bonny when she was fussy, assuring us all that he was a pro at this. And indeed he was!

Christmas and good memories do seem to go together!!

Happy Holidays to You!!

If nothing else, this is certainly good for a smile!!

Season's Best to one and all!!

And to all a good night!

Fashionistas Extraordinaire

The setting: Bonny and Bruce's unfinished house.

The year: 1996

The object: Take a fashion foto!!

The result: A couple of cute teens bring a smile to their old mom's face whenever she runs across said fotographias!!

And then there were 5

This is 2002 - when there were 5 grandchildren - and I was thinking, "Wow, we are growing by leaps and bounds."

I'm getting excited for the holiday season and all that it entails - meaning being with everyone!!

And school is out!!

Getting Into the Holiday Spirit

Getting into the holiday spirit with the Terrills involves weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays - as well as Christmas and New Year's Eve.

This shot from Eliza and Matt's reception of Esme with Bruce certainly makes me smile!!

Have a great Thursday!

The New Yorker has nothing on us!!

The New Yorker has a back page feature with a cartoon without a caption - and they invite readers to submit captions.

"So, do you think they know what they're doing, Harry?"

What do you suggest??

A lovely Christmas tribute -

A businessman in Maine has been donating 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery since 1992. I think it's a really lovely tribute.

No author was mentioned, but the photo had this caption,

"Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held . . .

Peace, peace and farewell . . ."

Dad and I commented how much we have enjoyed seeing more of our nation's capitol - I find myself feeling more and more like it is part of my heritage too. I think everyone ought to have a chance to feel that way.

Why I love being Granny Babs!

There is just nothing quite like a new little baby!

And our lovely Miss Isla is not disappointing us at all. She is a sweetheart.

Guess I'll go over tomorrow and take some more photos!!

"I sigh that kiss you, for I must own, that I shall miss you when you have grown."

November 22, 1963

If you are a certain age, and someone says, "And what were you doing when you heard that President Kennedy had been shot?" you can tell them exactly where you were,

and what you were doing. And you've never forgotten it!

Oh this busy, busy week!!

It has been a busy week at school and at home, getting ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Our district is giving us the whole week off! I'm not sure why, but I'm not questioning my good fortune to not have to use up my "no reason" days to take a trip to see Eliza and Hannah.

Robbie sent this photo - called it "Theo, waiting for Grandma and Grandpa to come."

But the days before a trip always seem to be hectic and crazy - and this week is no exception.

But there was a quote on the daily "Need to Know" at work today that I thought I would share with you. It made me stop and think - especially after I'd gone to Marshalls and bought a new Christmas tree skirt!!

"You can't have everything - where would you put it?"

Someone named Steven Wright said that. And he's got a good point. Especially as I'm trying to pack for 8 days using one carry on bag only!!

Memories

Memories are funny creatures. Odd events trigger them. They are usually different for everyone. And they are often random.

I was thinking that I should post something on my blog. I couldn't think of much that needed saying - at least that needed saying into cyberspace! So I grabbed the top photo in my "to be scanned" box - and this is what I found.

It's obviously in the '80s. We are living on Lime. We have Bonny's bird Hiccup in his/her cage. (Can't remember the gender!!) Damond and Harry look like they just wanted to smear Halloween make up all over the place. Maybe this wasn't even Halloween??

We still have the copper plate that's shown hanging above the fireplace. The jacket Bonny is wearing was one I bought at Bullock's Wilshire when I was in college and paid more than it was worth, probably. It was camel's hair - and I was so impressed at owning it. I actually never wore it much - I kept thinking the perfect occasion for wearing it would come about - and it would be there in my closet, ready to do its job! (Those were the exact reasons it took me so long to actually get rid of it - once it made it to the dress up bin, I figured it was time to let it go!)

And do you notice how many LA Dodger hats are in the family photos from the '80s? (And the basket below the birdcage was around until just last year, when I finally gave it the boot as they say!)

And the pottery pitcher on the mantel - purchased from a U of U Art Show - met its demise in the earthquake of '91. (But I actually still have it in its damaged form - I really don't know why either.)

How's that for funny, odd, different - and random?

Kids Say the Darnedest Things!

I should take pictures of Dylan and George, so you can envision this exchange.

Ray, reluctant new kid in my Study Skills class: "I'm working as fast as I can." (He wasn't!)

Dylan, apparently trying to show solidarity with his new classmate: "You know we have slow brains, Mrs. Terrill, that's why we're in this class."

Mrs. Terrill: "You don't have slow brains. You might have processing disorders, but no one in here has a slow brain. Stop making excuses."

George, random as usual: "Someday we'll all have gills anyway."

(Mrs. Terrill guffaws heartily - much to the amazement of the rest of the class.)

Maybe you had to be there.

The Way I Remember It

I was going through photos in preparation for doing a blog post for my dad's birthday coming up, and came across this photo of Mom and Dad.

It's dated December, 1971, and it really is the way I remember Dad.

Funny how a photo takes you back, not just to the occasion of the photo - this was the family shot we had taken that Christmas - but also to a place in time that is full of events and memories. I can't explain and quantify them all - but they are there!

My Town

I fell and hurt my knees a little over a year ago. And I had surgery a little over 6 months ago. Prior to the fall and the surgery, I had been in the habit of walking to and from school on most days. But I have not been walking to and from school for 9 or 10 months - it just got too painful.

So today I walked to and from school. And I really enjoyed it. I was thinking about how much I love this town. I love the old houses, I love the beautiful flower gardens that seem to abound, I love the many trees that flourish here, and right now I love the brilliant blue skies that weren't even diminished by the fires that hit Diamond Bar today.

(The above photo was taken a couple of years ago, but today looked just like that.)

And as I walked home, I loved browsing in the storefronts on Foothill, stopping in at the wonderful little apron store, and checking out the goods at Country Cottage. I also eyeballed the windows of a new store, Victoria's Cache - which apparently isn't open yet - it's in the spot formerly occupied by the antique store that was mostly junk - and overpriced junk too!

I am teaching a high school student at his home on lower Primrose 2 afternoons a week, so I headed there. By the time I was walking home, it was 5:30 and night was falling fast. But I love that I wasn't a bit nervous about walking up Primrose in the dusk - even if Dad was coming home at the same time and gave me a lift at Greystone!

Hannah posted about loving Monrovia too - and I was thinking that it's truly a little "Gem City of the Foothills!"

I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning's walk!!

Young Women - and Relief Society

I have been busy this weekend and have not finished my posts on the great meeting we had on the 17th. But I was at a Stake Council meeting this a.m., and Celia Reed shared some of her impressions from their session with Sister Dalton, Young Women General President.

New Beginnings - January 1997 - The Grahams!

She talked about how Personal Progress was supposed to be just that, personal, and as a consequence, many girls were not achieving it. Apparently if the items don't get done at YW meetings, they just don't get done for some girls.

Celia said that she thought of the many young women she knew who do not have supportive home lives, or whose families deal with so many difficult issues that Personal Progress just goes under the radar. Sister Dalton had suggested that Relief Society sisters might be recruited to mentor some of these young women.

I was struck by what a great suggestion that is - and want to work out the details to see about implementing such a plan. Of course it would require prayer and direction - but I believe that carefully structured, such a plan could benefit the lives of young women - and the Relief Society sisters who could help them.

There are exciting times ahead for all of us!