Another Musician!

Ava performed at her first concert last night!  It is so neat that her new school has a band program.  I think you can tell from her smile that everything went well.  Good job Ava!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I believe this was in his CCC uniform when he
was 18 years old.

Your great grandfather (Grandad) would have been 95 years old today!  He would have been so excited by all of the wonderful things his grandchildren and great grandchildren are doing.  In fact, if he was still alive he would probably be in Lincoln's garage working on his Datsun with him.

Birthday Visit

Travis, Rozi, Scott, Elaine, Heidi

We were invited to TJ and Renee's home this evening to celebrate his birthday.  We didn't stay for long but I was glad to see all of the family we hadn't seen for so long.  Grandpa was able to see his sister Rozi as well.

We did it!

It took one fail, one okay, and finally one success.  I had wanted to get back to at least Sacrament meetings when we moved here but the 9 a.m. start time wasn't going to work for us.  When our meeting time changed to 10 a.m. I was ready to give it a try.  The first meeting we attended lasted until about 9:58 when we had to leave because Grandpa was getting louder and louder and refused to sit down.  I had an idea that we would try to go to Christian and Amy's ward where there would be people he knew.  As it turned out he had quite a melt down when I was getting him dressed, which involved taking his suit coat off and throwing at me a number of times--but I persevered.  We got to the meeting as they were singing the opening hymn and although he was a little loud the music drowned him out.  He did really well throughout the rest of the program.  This week I wanted to take him to our ward and try again to get him in the habit of the process.  I scheduled it so that the meeting was already started and we sat in the back by the exit door.  He did great.  He doesn't have a low volume but we didn't seem to disrupt those sitting around us.  Probably because there was so many little children who kept the noise level at a comfortable and drown out Grandpa level.  As the last speaker bore his testimony in Japanese he told me he wanted to go.  Perfect!  I am happy to deal with a Sunday melt down if we can get him to church and I can partake of the sacrament!

Advantage of Arizona

Duncan and Ruth--saving the World

For our family in North Dakota and Utah just thought I'd show you the advantage of coming to visit Arizona in January!  The Whitneys have family visiting and they went hiking in the desert today.  It certainly looks beautiful right now and the Spring should be stunning because of all the the green we are seeing.  I will hopefully get out and take pictures of that in the next month or so before the heat hits and everything dries up!

Beehive Jane!

Ruth and Eden

Spelling Bee Champ!

Congratulations to Peter who placed 2nd in his school's Spelling Bee.    The top five spellers in his school will now participate in a county wide Spelling Bee in February.  Good job grandson--I'm not a bit surprised!

Update on Grandpa

I smile as I think of what I have to tell you about grandpa.  For those of you who have been around the last six weeks you are aware that Grandpa can be loud.  Today I took him with me to the Arizona MVD (CA's DMV) so I could get an Arizona driver's license.  I was prepared to leave because I expected it would be the nightmare of the DMV.  I was pleasantly surprised that everything seemed very organized and not particularly crowded.  A great part of getting a new license here is that I wasn't required to take a test!  In 30 minutes I had a new photo  (terrible looking picture--although I was smiling) and showed all the proper ID which included a birth certificate and paid my $17.00 fee.  Everyone in line (in every line!) knew that Grandpa did not like being there and even yelled at such a nice gentleman who was trying to distract him.  I know it is my own fault for putting him in that situation but sometimes I just need to get something done and this was one of those times. 

In spite of this challenging situation Grandpa is doing so much better.  He is mellowing out each day.  He is sleeping until at least 5:30 each morning and still goes to bed at 6:30 each night.  Throughout the day he takes little cat naps but he doesn't insist that he has to get in bed any more.  Because of the injury I realized that it was time to switch over to Depends and that has been such a great decision.  When he does have the occasional accident it isn't everywhere and clean up is much less stressful for him and for me.  Another thing that Bev helped me realize is that he will eat better if I sit with him while he does.  His appetite has increased and it takes little coaxing to have him finish his meal.  He follows me around which is fine and although television doesn't hold his attention most of the time he will watch it for short periods of time.  Taking his pills are hit and miss.  I have learned to not rush everything.  Slowing down the start of our day has made a huge difference.  Although you know he loves all of you (even if he doesn't remember that) he functions best with a quiet environment.  Now that we are on our own it is easier to provide that sense of calm with him.  I continue to try different things and I listen closely to the promptings I receive, in answer to prayers I give, so I can do what will help him the most.  All in all he is doing just as expected in the process of the disease.

Update on Grandma

On Friday it will be 7 weeks since I had my momentous fall.  It is hard to believe all that has happened in that period between then and now.  I wrote earlier about all of the wonderful help that Grandpa and I received.  Now I will update you on what has happened to me.  I went to the Doctor last week and he said that I could take the brace off at home but that I should keep wearing it out in public.  The freedom of no brace has been wonderful and although I am not 100% yet I am finding that I can do a little more each day.  I go to the Physical Therapist twice a week and the doctor extended the therapy for eight more sessions.  It does help and I am always excited at how much I can do. At home I am not quite so agile but I hope that will come.  Every time I have to do something I think of my brother David who has spent most of his life adapting to using one arm and I think to myself "how would David do that?"  I quit taking the Oxycodone after about two weeks and only took over the counter Motrin when I needed help dealing with the pain.  It has been a couple of weeks since I needed even that.  I am on the mend.  I am humbled by many  things that others had to do for me.  Just standing up and sitting down created agonizing pain for a while.  I so appreciated Bev and then Bill (son) who helped me get into the bed at night and covered me because I couldn't reach the covers with my right hand.  I can do it myself now but unfortunately, I often wake Grandpa as I maneuver myself into a comfortable position.  The biggest challenge I now face is my own fear.  The thought of falling again is almost overwhelming to me.  Hopefully that will get better in time!  Amy gave me a wooden sign years ago that says--ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE, FOR ONE DAY YOU MAY LOOK BACK AND SEE THEY WERE THE BIG THINGS.  How true that is!

Backwards

I wanted to share with all of you something that happened today.  Aunt Amy watched Grandpa for me while I went to Physical Therapy.  We ate lunch together when I got back.  Most of you know that Aunt Amy took Duncan out of school to work with him because he isn't reading.  She took him for an assessment for Dyslexia (which the school refused to acknowledge) and then she spent months reading everything that she could do to help him overcome the challenge.  The first thing she had to do was teach him the alphabet which when she did the first assessment he knew about half of the letters.  From that point she started the program of having him know each letter.  Not by singing the song!  The goal of the program was to teach him the letters and have him be able to say them from Z to A.  Amy works each day with him and today I asked him how things were going and he showed me by first reciting the alphabet from z to a!  Duncan LOVES being read to and I know it has bothered him that he wasn't reading as well of the other children.  I believe that the "light bulb" is about to come on.  Good job Duncan and good job Aunt Amy.

Brothers

Jeremy

Owen

Abigal--December 2018

Margaret Joy--January 2019

South Mountain Museum

After driving through the park area we stopped at the museum.  I was excited to see that they had a small display about the CCC program that developed the park.  They had two pictures of the group but I will need to bring my glasses to see if Grandad Lambert was in either of them.  I had a hard time explaining to Meg that it isn't a good idea to "hug a cactus!"

Sharing Memories

Behind Meg is the Valley of the Sun

Today we took Meg to South Mountain Park.  I wanted her to see what had brought her great grandfather to Arizona where he lived the remainder of his life.

Grandpa and Meg

Grandma and Meg

Background Activities with Cousins

While the cousins were around all kind of things were happening.  Abby built a bed for me. Bruce did some cooking. Abby and Ruth attended the Gilbert temple for baptisms.  Aunt Amy did photo shoots for Ellis and Abby.  There was some serious golfing for Perry, Ellis, and Lincoln.  And some scooter riding for Bruce and Lincoln.  Car repairs, rock climbing, ice skating, and just a lot of laughter and fun which made me feel even better.  Mary Poppins movie for some and Spider man for the others.  A wonderful late night visit with Meg talking about mission call, school and daily activities.  I think that nicest blessing of such a difficult time in my life is just experiencing such love for cousins and best friends!

Scrapbooks

Games

Car Repairs

Photo Shoot

Play at the Park

Ice Skating

Helping New Skaters

Rock Climbing (Scary!)

Angels

After the fall my ability to take care of myself, let alone Scott ended.  I am in awe of how quickly the people I love stepped in and filled the void of my disability.  The first two weeks were truly agonizing because the pain level was so high.  I basically went from the bed to the couch.  Getting up and down was a major task.  It seems so long ago but tomorrow will be six weeks.   The first night after the accident Christian spent the night with us and then Bill and Bev came and spent the week.  They left and Bill, Bruce, and Abby came for the week.  When they left Bill and Bev were here.  Bev cleaned, cooked, encouraged, and loved and encouraged Scott when I didn't have the strength to.  The following week Andy and Angela and family were here for us.  At that point I thought I could probably do it on my own but Bill and Bev again stepped up and managed to get us through another week.  They left on Wednesday and Bill and Meg came.  Through this whole process Christian and Amy were continually here helping, feeding, and serving.  How can I ever thank all of them?  So many scriptures come to mind about those who serve others.  Scott and I have been the recipient of unconditional love and I am eternally grateful for their kindness.  I plan to get back into our daily routine without people here in the coming week.  The best part is that if I can't do it my angels will be close by.

Ellis is Going on a Mission!

We are so excited for Ellis.  He reports to the Missionary Training Center on April 17, 2019.  He will serve for two years in the Canada Halifax Mission!  I am sorry we didn't make it up to that area while we were in New England!

I don't doubt that Ellis will do a great job.  He has prepared well all of his life to accept this wonderful assignment.  Can't wait to hear all of the missionary experiences he will have.

Happy Birthday G-son!

Owen
 is 
21 Years Old
                     today!                                        

Happy Birthday G-son!

Jeremy 

is

12 Years Old

today!

It's Here

My medical alert system has arrived.  I haven't needed to use it yet because Uncle Bill and Aunt Bev are here now.  It does make me feel much better knowing that if grandpa or I have a problem and can't get to the phone I can press the button on the watch and will be connected to help. 

December 7th

The Cabinet!

The day started as so many had since we moved to Gilbert.  I had a few projects to do.  I was excited when a package arrived with a new cabinet I had ordered and after dinner I opened up the box and began putting it together.  Unfortunately, I forgot the "cardinal rule"-- Clean as you Go!  I was in the last part of the building project when Grandpa made a panicked plea that he had to go to the bathroom.  I got right up and went around to get him to take him to the bathroom.  As I lead the way I stepped on a piece of packing material and in a quick second I hit the ground and heard a bone break.  Then the 2 hour nightmare began.  Grandpa was soaking wet, I couldn't get up, and he couldn't bring the phone to me.  In one of the irony's of life a commercial came on the TV with a feeble older woman crying out "Help!  I've fallen and I can't get up."  Next the announcer says, "Don't let an accident turn into a tragedy."  For the next hour I tried to get Grandpa to bring me the phone which was sitting on the kitchen counter to no avail.  I kept praying that someone would come by.  I knew that I wouldn't see Amy until the next day because they went to Ruth and Lincoln's band concert.  The thought of laying there for hours was absolutely overwhelming to me.  I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me know what to do and after a number of times making that request I knew the only thing that would work was for me to sit up.  I then began to pray that He would give me the strength to sit up and not faint.  After making the request for help I received an impression that I should sit up now.  I asked Grandpa to help and he came over and did exactly what I told him to do.  I sat up on the first try and then I began to shake uncontrollably for a few minutes.  Once my body relaxed I gave Gpa directions to the counter by describing what was on it.  Before he had kept saying, "I don't know what a counter is!"  Once he got to there I then asked him if he saw the phone.  He said he didn't.  My next idea was for him to bring me what he saw sitting on the counter.  First came a almost empty Diet Coke cup!  Next was my wallet and then finally he brought me my phone!  At that time I was able to call 911 and within minutes our house was filled with firemen, police, paramedics, and ambulance drivers. After a ride in the ambulance to the hospital I realized that my battery was almost dead on my phone so I called Andy in California and told him what had happened and asked him to please keep trying to reach Amy for us.  She had turned her phone off during the concert.  When it was over she received a text from one of the firemen that I was in the hospital and then Andy called her.  Once X-rays were taken and read I was sent home with a sling on my arm and an appointment to see the orthopedic surgeon on Monday morning.  The recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks and I am now beginning week five.  The first two weeks my pain on a scale of 1-10 (10 is the worst) was a solid 8 to 10.  Now it is holding steady at a 2 unless I do something stupid!  I started physical therapy on Wednesday and it went well.  I will have 9 more weeks of that and I have another Doctor's appointment on the 15th with the orthopedic surgeon.  He told me I would probably not get full use of my arm back but I will do all I can to prove that wrong!  Stay posted for more updates on what has been happening since that fateful day!

Happy Birthday G-son!

Ellis is 

18 years old

 today!