Happy Birthday Angela!

Having Aunt Angela close by for so many years was such a great blessing.  One of the things I have come to realize about her is that she continually does good and sees needs in others that many would not notice.  She doesn't wait to be asked she steps up and offers a kind word, a forgiving heart, and a listening ear.  I have loved living back in Arizona and the only regret I have is that I had to leave my California Duncan's behind.  I am so proud of all that Aunt Angela has accomplished in her life.  She has an amazing eye for design  and it is reflected in her home and yard.  She can turn a party into an enchanted event  She is an amazing cook and such  good and kind mom.  She is always learning and making sure that her children have the desire to learn because of her example.

Utah Updates

Although there are still things that need to be done Aunt Cathy is able to start putting everything together and I think it is turning out really nice.  Hopefully the long awaited couches will be arriving soon!  When the stove was connected Katie celebrated by making a batch of cooking in their new oven!  I think everything is looking really nice!

A California Summer!

I got these pictures from Uncle Andy.  They have had a busy but productive summer. Caleb built a really complicated Lego creation.  Ava is sporting a new hairdo.  Caleb with some Thai Roll Up ice cream.  The new car the recently brought home and Andy's birthday dinner.  

Best Neighbors--and Friends!

This morning I got a text from my sweet neighbor Robyn.  She wanted to know if she and her son Grayson could come over and wash my windows.  Only minutes before I had thought that I needed to figure out how to clean the windows after the storm left a dusty mess.  While Grayson worked outside Robyn was on the other side.  She cleaned the glass but also the frame around each window because they were full of dust from our big dust storm.  I can't express the gratitude I feel that Robyn moved in across from me.  She has become a wonderful friend!

My Original Hairdo!

This picture was taken in 1950.  Your great uncle Bill was the oldest grandchild and I was the first girl to be born into the family.  According to what he tells me I was quite bald until I was almost 3 and then my hair was a lovely blonde!

Latest Redo

 

Hooray!

 We have the newest driver in the grandkids pool!  Even more impressive was she took her driving test in the big white tank!  Way to go Ruth!!!

Now You'll Understand Amy!

Having a daughter was such a sweet blessing for me.  Probably not such a great blessing to Aunt Amy.  I now have proof to justify my inability to send her to school each day with a cute hairdo!  Believe me, I tried, but fortunately for Amy we lived next to the Palmquists who had a mother who did beautiful hairstyles and included Amy in the process.  I can't tell you how many people complimented me on how cute Amy's hair looked and I smiled and thanked them without mentioning that Sister Palmquist had fixed her hair!  I found this collection of school pictures to prove that fixing hair was a recessive trait that my mom passed along to me!

In the Beginning!

 Hard to believe these three are all in their twenties now!

The Real Story

I loved these pictures!  When we look at family pictures, especially when you were all little, they don't tell the story of the perfect outfits, everyone gathered together paying attention of the photographer, big smiles on each face and a perfect end result.  I thought you'd enjoy the reality as much as I did.  Click on each picture to see more detail.

Treasure

When Grandpa was working for the City of Victorville he was asked to participate in a "Read Across 
America" in a classroom in Victor Elementary School District.  I found this picture as I was looking through some old pictures I had.  Little did he or I realized that he would become a teacher and get the opportunity to read every day to students.  This was a thank you card from the teacher.  She included several thank you notes from the kids in her class.  

Six Years Ago!

 This picture just came up on my Facebook page.  It brought back some sweet memories!

Quote

“The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience.” We should honor the Savior’s declaration to “be of good cheer.”

Orson F. Whitney

Brigham is Going on a Mission

Brigham received his mission call this evening!  He has been called to serve in the San Jose California Mission.  From what I understand he will do his MTC at home as many missionaries are now doing.  This assignment begins in November 2021.  I'm so proud of Brigham for being willing to serve.  I don't doubt that he will learn as missionaries do that it is one of the hardest things he has had to do but one of the most rewarding experiences he will have.  You got this Brigham!

  

Happy Birthday Andy!

What a blessing you have always been to me. I have always admired your ability to fix anything and have loved how much you have helped to fix me!  As a child your were drawn to the beach where you could spend hours looking at the small creatures that others would miss.  As you grew you expanded your love of nature to include birds and your examples has expanded to others in our family.  You are such a hard worker and it has impressed me how you can start a new job and adapt your abilities to fit the needs of the companies you have worked for.  You are an artist and I still wonder where that hidden gene came from but you have generously shared it with Ellis and Ava. Thank you for all you have done to help dad and me before we moved to Arizona.  Leaving your family behind was so hard but I know that each week you will take time to give me a call and listen to my complaints and adventures.  Thank you Andy.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Next!

 Before

After

Newest Project

I have decided to do some changing in the apartment as I begin my second year here.  I'll share pictures as I work through the various changes in the coming months.  I extended my lease for another year and then at the end of my lease next year I am going to put everything in storage and submit my paperwork to serve another mission if that is possible.  This time it will be for just a year and I hope that I can find something that will work in the Salt Lake area.  I think with my background in digitizing records there will be a place for me to share that experience.  If it works out I hope to come back to this complex but if not I may look into a senior living complex that is not far from where I am now.  In the meantime I will enjoy tweaking my decor and enjoying the wonderful ward I am in right now.  My first project was to retire my chickens and roosters (except my mother and baby and Ellis's rooster drawing!)  and use some of my bee collection to give the kitchen area a new look.  

Before:

After:

Bathroom Redo

Aunt Cathy said that the painters did the touch-up downstairs and repainted the ceiling in the existing living area yesterday.  They can now empty out the sewing room and put the furniture in their newly remodeled basement!  The project she was working on in the bathroom was to refinish the bathroom cabinet with several fresh coats of white paint and to redo all the faucets and handles.  She finished that up and all that is left is putting the handles on the cabinet and adding towels and other decorations.  

The Boss Baby 2

I was invited to go to the movies yesterday with the Whitneys.  The movie was Boss Baby 2.  It was a fun movie with a theme about never outgrowing our family.  In one part it had the two brothers who were now grown up but are called back to help save the world from an evil baby who wanted to destroy the family unit.  The brothers had gotten caught up with life and drifted apart.  In the process of stopping the evil villain the one brother got a copy of a letter his older brother wrote to him in which he told him that he always wanted to be there for him and that he would always love him.  Go see the movie so you can find out if the letter helped them mend fences!   The movie had an affect on Duncan and I smiled as we walked to the car when we left the theatre.  As they were walking Duncan walked over to Graham and put his arm around Graham's shoulders and they walked the rest of the way to the car--together.  It was quite sweet!