Then and Now

As we posed for this picture, twenty years ago, we thought our family was "complete." Little did we know, we will never be complete.  Our family is constantly growing; we're adding, subtracting, and multiplying. (I should have been a math major)

As each year goes by and we enjoy new additions to our family (whether the additions be big or small) we experience lessons of love, joy, sorrow, laughter, tolerance, tears, and hope. 

Our "completeness" will take all eternity because we will keep changing and growing (more facial hair) and learning...

...and becoming more crazy!  

I love my family!

Bitter Sweet

It has been two months since Grady left us.

This beautiful head stone (a generous gift to his parents) is now in place.

It used to be, after holding Grady for a while, our arms would ache because he was so big!

Now our arms ache to hold him.

Soon, Grady, soon.

Mother's Day is Party Time!

Ahhh, Mother's Day! 

 I love that day!  

I have a wonderful Mother who deserves honor and praise!  We took Mom and Dad out to McGrath's Fish House for dinner Saturday night.  
I'm impressed with my parents' color coordinating outfits.

Me, Andy, Sister Nancy, Steve, Mom, Dad, Cherrie, Brother Gerald

Sunday evening ALL my children (except 2 sons-in-law) and my grandchildren met at Candice and Andy's home for dinner, visiting, gift giving, and a scary pinata! (If you could see the face of that Cinderella, you'd understand the scary part)

If you really want to have some party fun, include a pinata filled with goodies; a group of children hitting the pinata with a stick...

...and a half-naked, bearded man using his kicking skills to break through the pinata! 

I didn't know he had removed his shirt until he got in the camera range!

Thanks, David, for the shock and the fun!

My daughter, Camille, featured mothers every day last week on her blog.  I was featured yesterday. You can go here to read it.  You'll be able to pick out David in our Christmas picture on the blog. 

Ahhh, Mother's Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Healthy Habits Competition

Who's up to a Healthy Habits Challenge?  

I know I AM!  My daughter, Jill, is hosting this competition.  Go here and check out the fun!  You'll be glad you did! It starts Monday!

We know how important it is to eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, drink enough water and have good mental and emotional health.  Sometimes we just get too busy and don't think about taking care of ourselves.  Well, here's the opportunity to be healthy AND join with a group of people AND report our successes AND earn points AND earn prizes!  Want in?  (You know you do)  Check out this site for the rules. 


The last one to 50 points is a couch potato!

Things Worth Tending

I have an elderly friend who grows beautiful African Violets. She told me that African Violets take a lot of tending.  They need the right soil, light, temperature and humidity.  They must have the right amount of water, fertilizer and lots of TLC.  However, she insists that all the tending is worth having beautiful blooms on the plants. 

We have had this African Violet plant for years!  It had flowers when we got it. The flowers eventually died and the plant was neglected. We decided to tend to it with the TLC it needed.   We were excited to find blooms on the plant once again. 

There are things worth tending. 

I need to tend to my relationship with my family. It requires time and effort and lots of TLC but it's well worth it!

(This picture was taken 3 years ago.  We have since added 7 more people to this group)

My relationship with my Heavenly Father needs tending.  Thankfully he's forgiving and understanding.  (We're now in Proverbs!)

Tending to relationships with friends is a blessing and a must, even though many days my friends are just thoughts and not actions.

So now I'm wondering about this blog. 

 Is it worth tending? 

The past couple of weeks this little space on my computer has been sorely neglected, thus neglecting all of you! 

If I own it, I should take care of it. 

I'll try to do better.

What a Loser! (and other good things)

This is old news but I haven't shared it yet. 

Our school had a "Biggest Loser" contest.  

We weighed in January 9th and every Monday since then. Our final weigh-in was March 15th. (our anniversary).  I lost a total of 18 lbs and WON!!!  I had lost the biggest percentage of weight!  Woot!  Woot!  The sad things is, it's the STP! (Same Twenty Pounds)  
You're probably wondering what the winnings were. Well, you know that on the REAL Biggest Loser show, the winner gets a quarter of a million dollars!  I won a quarter of a thousand dollars!  That's right, $250.00!  I think I'll retire and buy a condo in City Creek! 

Here are a few pictures of our annual Easter egg hunt.

Since Troy and Aly are the youngest egg hunters, they got to have a head start.  Look at that determined look on Troy's face!  Aly had a hard time maneuvering around that huge basket.  We later switched it out for a lighter, more versatile, woven basket.

Keiti's checking out her loot.

Kelsey had no problem finding her eggs. 

Izzy wants to check hers before putting them in the basket!  No one wants a rotten egg! (An egg with jelly beans)

Uh...Corban...look behind you!  

See, this is why we have that yucky lava rock on the house! One day, we're hoping to have that stuff removed!  But until then, it's a great hiding place for eggs.

Uncle Dan hid most of the eggs.  Here's Em trying her hardest to get that lone pink egg in the huge apricot tree.  Notice all those dang blossoms?  (Sigh)

Cy's back up in the walnut tree to find his eggs.  

Real funny, Uncle Dan!  

Baby Langston couldn't care less about the hunt.

 Baby Neil looks like he made a haul when all he did was sit in the front room and wait patiently.

Another good thing:

  I've been doing Indexing and am enjoying it!

  Do you want to try your hand at it?  Go here and see what you think!  

 (I've learned to greatly appreciate good handwriting.)

Last, but not least, I have signed up on Facebook! 

(Never say "never!")  

I feel like a fish out of water!  I'm trying to figure out the proper etiquette of Facebook and have asked my daughters several different times how it all works. I'm a slow learner - so be patient with me.

Wait! One last item of business!  Go to Camille's blog to enter to win a body contouring treatment.  

OK, I think I'm finished!

Spring Break - Heading South

It's Spring Break for us peeps so we decided to take a trip to help us along our healing process. 
What better way to spend the week than to be cooped up together with family in an 8 passenger Excursion for 5 days!
 (Every seat was filled but Aly wanted to sit in ANY seat but hers.)

A stop in St. George to cover ourselves with red sand

was therapeutic.

We'll be finding that sand for the next few days!

Back in the Excursion for the next jaunt of our healing trip. 

(I could post another shot of Aly's discontent but you get the picture)

The Grand Canyon is amazing! And yes, I was watching Aly like a Grandma Hawk!

As we pulled in to Phoenix, this beautiful sunset was the perfect ending to our day. 

This is the main reason we headed south...to be with Grandparents (I didn't get a picture of Andy's Mom.)

and to play with  cousins.  

A good game of Red Rover is the best way to get reacquainted.

When was the last time you played London Bridge?

It's good to get away.  It's good to be with family...even if Aly doesn't like her car seat!

Cell Phone Saturday - Easing Back in to Life

Joining Gigi for Cell Phone Saturday: 

Getting on with Life through:

Adventure

Mr. Cy at the top of the walnut tree!

(Sorry, Candice)

Love

Langston ~ he loves his bath and his sister.

Comfort

Thanks to all of you for your cards, prayers, and love sent our way.

 And if all else fails...

 The Hard Stuff!

I Have Seen and Met Angels...

...wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives. Tracy Chapman

This past week has been a hard week, filled with countless emotions and many tears as we muddled our way through the many events that need to take place after the death of a loved one.  

If it wasn't for the Angels who look like ordinary people, I'm not sure how we would have gotten through this week. 

At the grave site~notes to Grady, written by siblings and cousins, tied to balloons.

I have been amazed at the outpouring of love that my daughter and son-in-law, Candice and Andy, have received during this time of Grady's death.  Their church members and neighbors have been there to offer prayers, hugs, words of encouragement, comfort, food, flowers, house cleaning, cards and notes filled with words of love, and providing service during and after the funeral.  They truly know how to "mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort."  

(Mr. Cy, blowing "Kisses" to his baby brother)

I thank each of you for your words of love and encouragement to me and my family. I felt comforted and buoyed up as I read your comments, emails and cards.  I need that strength to not only heal my broken heart but to help Candice and Andy as we rally around them and their little family to help mend their broken hearts.

(Aly - blowing her kisses)

One regret Candice had was that they hadn't taken a family picture since Grady was born. My son, Dan, took care of that with his airbrush, paints, prayers, tears and countless hours to present them a family portrait that includes their sweet baby Grady.  

I am at peace knowing that Families are Forever!