New Digs!

 Katie has moved into her new apartment and she sent me a few pictures to share.  Can't wait to see it in person!

Check!

When I signed the apartment lease for another year I decided I would treat myself to a new bedspread.  I love how it looks but my yellow chair was definitely not blending into the new color scheme.  I have recovered two couches and a chair in my younger days so I decided I would tackle this chair.  Once I found the material I started taking the chair apart and putting it back together.  I think it turned out really good--unless you look close and see all my mistakes!  

BEFORE

AFTER

Happy Birthday Caleb!

 11 Years Old

 

There's nothing like a 

Grandchild to put a smile

on your face, a lump in your throat 

and a warm feeling in your heart.

Happy Birthday Ruth!

 18 Years Old

A Granddaughter

is a

Miracle

that never ceases

to be

Miraculous.

Bless Her Heart!

 

I really do try!  When Aunt Amy left for Utah with Lincoln and Ruth I was more than delighted to help out until she returns.  She went out of her way to have everything ready so I wouldn't have to go up and down the stairs and the kids have been WONDERFUL.  I couldn't do it without Jane's help.  The real challenge for me and has been since Aunt Amy was a little girl.  I don't do hair.  Well I do it--but no one would believe that anyone could do such a bad job.  Down Eden came this morning all dressed and ready to go with the exception of a new hairdo.  I did my best but when I picked her up at the end of today this is how she looked.  Believe me--it didn't look much different than when I fixed it for her this morning.  But bless her heart, she smiled, thanked me, and went out the door!   You know why I love being a grandma--it's because you are the most wonderful and forgiving children ever made.  You are perfect for me!

Owen's Sermon

Aunt Becky sent me a link to the services that Owen was a part of today.  He was so amazing.  Good job Grandson!  I wasn't the only one impressed.  The congregation clapped when the minister complimented him on a job well done!

Goodbye France!

The wonderful summer adventure for Lexi and Ellis has come to an end.  From the pictures that we saw it is easy to see that they met many wonderful friends, saw beautiful scenery and an incredible amount of history.  I'm sure they had a great time and miss the many friends they made, but I'm glad they heading back home.  They have been missed!

Did you Know?

Today is my sisters 66th Birthday.  I realized that many of my grandkids (probably all of you) didn't know that I had a sister.  I thought I'd take some time to share some memories I have of her.  Just before she was born I was told that I could choose her name.  I wanted to name her Cathy Lambert and that apparently wasn't what my parents were hoping for so they convinced me that Kitty Sue was a better name.  I was okay with that.  She was our pride and joy.  She always had a big smile on her face and was adored by all of us.  If you will notice in pictures of her she had really small eyes.  By the time she was three she started wearing really thick glasses.  For me she was like a baby doll.  We shared a room and she often ended up in my bed before the night was over.  I was six years older than her and so I was in high school when she was in elementary school.  She had a problem with other kids bullying her and it was so bad that eventually my parents took her out of the school and moved her to another one.  Once a boy pulled the chair away as she went to sit down and she ended up with a broken tailbone.  When I was a senior I heard her yelling and I went to see what was wrong.  There was a group of kids following her, throwing things at her, pulling her hair, shoving her, and kicking her.  I went out the door ready to beat everyone of them up but when they saw me coming they all scattered.  She had spit in her hair, scraped knees and elbows.  In high school she seemed to have a nice group of friends.  Many of them from church and she was always involved in something.  Kitty married three times and sadly everyone of them were pretty much creepy, useless men.  She had three children Stefan, Kanaiah and Geoffrey while married to her first husband.  In about 2005 she met a woman and they moved to New York and have lived there since then.  When gay marriage was legalized they were married.  Grandpa and I went and saw them while we were on our mission and she seemed to be doing well.  I have had no further contact since that time. 

Forever Friends!

Almost four years ago when I brought Grandpa back to Arizona, one of the many blessings of coming was reconnecting with Erik and meeting Sonja and their family.  How grateful I am that even though it was for a short time, we made a connection that continues today.   They now live in Texas and I recently got a text from them with pictures of the boys starting back to school and Hannah at the Houston Temple where she received her endowments.  Sonia said that they were able to go to Ohio and visit Dave and see Brooke, Emily, and Brooke's four children who are all officially adopted!! And also a stop in Kentucky to visit her brother.  I thought I'd share some of the pictures they sent.

Benjamin 3rd Grade

Isaac is a Senior

Daniel is in 7th Grade

Erik and Hannah at the Houston Temple

Erik with Dave in Ohio

Miley 15 Years Old

Roman is 10

Owen is almost 4

Ethan is 2 (and a grandpa's boy!)

Happy Anniversary!

 6 Years

Austin & Rachel August 16, 2016

Did You Know?

Earlier I wrote about your great grandmother Betty Jane going to live with her Aunt Grace.  I mentioned that I would share a story about her.  She would be your great great great Aunt on my family tree.  As I mentioned earlier she was a very devout Catholic.  My Grandpa Hickey was her younger brother.  She married Bill Ellis in 1917 when she was 29 and he 27.  They had one son named Robert.  The story goes, according to my mom, that she wanted Robert to be a Catholic Priest and when he finished high school he left to a seminary in California.  Aunt Grace was so proud and excited but Robert didn't share her passion and after a short time he called his dad to share his desire to return home.  He sent Robert money and he returned home.  Aunt Grace was so angry with Uncle Bill that she packed all his clothes and put them on the door step.  Forgiveness was not to be given and eventually Uncle Bill sued for divorce and married another woman.  Aunt Grace was Catholic so of course she considered his marriage invalid, but she had to also deal with the reality of her decision.  By this time she was  her early 50's and needed a means to support herself.  She decided to go to school and eventually became a nurse.  Much of her time after becoming a nurse was in McAllen, Texas.  She worked into her late 60's and then came back to Arizona and eventually lived with Robert and his wife and their two sons until she died.  I used to love listening to the stories she told about being a nurse.  Aunt Grace was very unique and I, like my mother, loved having Aunt Grace around.  She was a good woman who had a interesting outlook on life.  She died in 1969 at the age of 82.

Happy Anniversary!

 22 Years 

Christian & Amy August 11, 2000

Happy Anniversary!

 26 Years

Andy & Angela August 9, 1996

The Florida Duncan's

Evangeline and Owen are now Florida residents in Plant City.  They left St. Louis and stopped in Atlanta on the way to Florida and visited the Georgia Aquarium.  Swimming in the picture behind them are some Beluga whales.  Evangeline wrote that they have settled in their new apartment and now are exploring the area.  In a nature preserve they were able to see their first alligators in the wild!  

Junior High School!

Duncan is now an official student at New Way Academy!  With a mascot no less.  He is now one of the Bulldogs!  

NYC!

Last weekend the North Dakota Duncan's headed to New York City to bring Miriam home.  It was a quick trip but they managed to get a lot in during that time.  Miriam is home until she leaves for Spain for her semester abroad!  While in New York they got her packed up, visited the 911 Memorial, took their lives in their own hands as they rode on a New York Subway, and visited other areas of New York.  I have to compliment Miriam.  She found a place in the car for her houseplant to come home with her.  I'm not sure if she plans to leave it in her parents care while in Spain.  That is a lot of pressure to put of them!