Wherever He Goes

About ten years ago, Julianne was finishing up her student teaching here in Tempe.   NAU was behind her and life was a clean "chalkboard".  Every Friday she would ride her bike home and despite being tired out, she had a surge of energy left, since the whole week end was ahead of her.   It was a pleasure to  take her out to lunch or shopping on those Friday afternoons.  I learned more about her life then than any other time during the busy week, since she was "free" and unusually talkative.

This was also the beginning of the Brenden era, and of course my antenna was tuned in; especially when I could see he might be a keeper.  One afternoon at the food court in Chandler Mall, we sat across the table.  Brenden was the topic, again.  As I listened to her, she spoke so unafraid, "Mom, if I marry Brenden I will have to go wherever he goes."

She could picture herself with him and she had faith to jump, knowing life would be grand.  I do think about that statement often, especially since they've been in Lincoln for 9 wonder full years.  She spoke prophetically then, even though I'm not sure either of us knew the reality.  She was safeguarded by faith and love for the man of her dreams.  Jump?  How high?  It was evident she was committed, no matter what.

That's all I needed to know.  Faith is a beautiful thing; especially for a mother to witness in her children.

This year is the year they were led to a great career opportunity in SLC, with a new home in Farmington.  A landmark year! This is also Brenden's birthday.  I appreciate him for so many reasons!  No wonder she'll follow him anywhere. 

Happy Birthday, Brenden!

My Heavenly Days!!!

Making Memories at the cabin (June 2013)

   

 

Just so I don't forget:

Peter on sleeping bag at the foot of our bed each night, and on our bed first thing in the morning
4 happy grandchildren running joyfully through beautiful mother nature
Hammock swinging
Backdoor banging, signaling the entrance or exit of "littles" in the wide open spaces
Henry, knowing he fits right in
All kids on the dock in swim suits and safety jackets with nets, goldfish, and pancake pieces in toe
Brave retrievers of current floating flip flops
Brave grandchildren!
Beautiful clear, cold river water
Performing at the gazebo band stand in Ennis
"Carianne's" beauty parlor for little girls
Behind the wheel, wide eyed kids take turns sitting in Julianne's lap, pretending to drive up the road
Sweet children praying at breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Grandpa and the "Boxcar Children"
Wearing little, carefully chosen Yellowstone t-shirts
Crafting, Wearing sweaters, Playmill, Mixed nuts and Fruitsnacks, Picnics,  Puzzles, Candy crush
     Sunshine, Mud, Howard Springs,  Canasta, Pink ice cream, Moose watching, Snoring, Bug collecting, Polka dot blankets, Mosquitoes
Community baths for kids
Bug repellent and sunscreen assortment by the back door 
Tent/fort beds for little girls
Craft night for big girls (thank-you, Vita!)
Open windows all night
June 23, supposedly one of the brightest full moons . . . it's always that bright
New trusts, love, and appreciation for each other
Caring Randy (Grandpa)
4 car seats in every configuration
S'mores and hot dog roasting nights, made complete with Jeff's jiffy pop trial
Canoe riding and raft floating
Fishing with Disney princess fishing poles
Wonderful food!  No one was ever hungry . . .except the "littles", right before bed.  :)
Hearing absolutely nothing but heaven when you lay your head down for the night

Quotes:

Peter:  "Go dah whay!" (as he "drives")
Henry:  "Da"  (Daddy)
           "Buh"  (Banana)
           "Ah?"  (Almost everything else)
Kate:  "Harold Believus"
Emmie: "Weenicorns"

     My mother (Grandma B) used to say " My Heavenly Days!"  
I'll never hear it again without thinking about the cabin.
These were Heavenly Days!

















            

What a Guy!

7:30 AM one recent morning.

I’m reading the paper at the bar.  Randy wanders in half dressed, almost ready for work.  He proceeds to wipe the bar down.  I’m confused.  Why would he begin cleaning, half dressed, this early, on a whim? 

Me:  What are you doing?

Randy:  Wiping the bar down.

Me:  Why?  (it’s 7:30, for heaven’s sake.  He finishes the bar and now he’s bent over, starting the floor!)

Randy:  Because I didn’t want to waste a wipee! (He holds up the soiled cloth from the floor, which is why he started on the bar in the first place!)

What a guy!  

Something On My Back?

Sometimes I relate to this painting -

 Caitlin Connolly – “Is there something on my back?”

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of god, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16

"Like the painting, we become so accustomed to having something weigh us down that we don’t even realize we are hunched over inhibiting our life and light with something on our back."  (Jenny L.  Segulla blog)

 

Happy Birthday, Emmie

Dear Emmie:

Have a Happy

Happy

          Happy

                                                             Happy

                                                                  Happy

Birthday!

I Love You!

Grandma Jody

Hollyhocks 2013

 I've got to hand it to hollyhocks.  I look forward to their performance every year - like Christmas!

And they never fail to delight!  They make me laugh, and I find myself hearing their dialogue.

  Who would burst out of dry ground all alone like this? 

Can't you just hear this beautiful trio? . . .

Coming from the same neck, that's gotta be tough! 

 Is this a wall flower, a leader of the pack, a teacher pleaser, a stalker,

or a short choir director?

 This has to be the cheering section, the choir, or the clique group.

 

The communicators, facing each other in support.

 Look how they guard the house in a standing ovation,
making sure their brilliant color is seen even from the windows inside!

(Applause!  Bravo!)

Thanks for the show, my hollyhock friends! 

Philosophobias

Writer's Group Assignment # 1 (for me...)

What Is Your Philosophy on Life?

I don't know that I have one philosophy of life, but many.  It's not like I wake up every day with a new one, either; I just believe and function on many that make me whole.

I think often about people.  I learn good things from so many, but I find myself thankful that I'm not like others.  Trust plays a big part in my philosophy of life, since I look for validation of it in others so much, it's important to me that I am trustworthy.  

Another philosophy is that I don't believe we are ever through learning or growing.  I always want to have a to do list, no matter how slow I go or how fuzzy the fine print is. 

If you pay your tithing first, you always have it and never miss it.

Another of my philosophies is forgiveness.  You never know what a person has been through, to cause them to react questionably.  So, I always give them a couple of chances.

If I stay away from caffeine drinks, which has been easy for me, I'll be better off.  I have plenty of other vices that, I might be a mess if I let that promise go.

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Never travel behind any sort of trailer; large or small.  You never know when that thing will unhinge.  Get in the other lane.
Also, never sit directly under a chandelier with a pointed stem.  It hurts to think about it . . .

I'll do better on the next assignment, I promise.  But for now, I realize my philosophies have melded into phobias.  And that's OK.   Give me another chance!