A country boy's

observations about city life.

It has been so funny to hear the comments of Harrison,
who is five, as he expresses the wonder of life in a neighborhood.

To fully appreciate it, you have to realize that Harrison has grown up on a farm.  His aunt and uncle, cousins, and Bishop grandparents all live what would amount to about a city block from each other. There are no other neighbors within view of their home

So, after Harrison had hit every wiffle ball we had into every neighbor's yard, we told him we could go to the neighbors and ask if we could go get them from their yard. He was absolutely amazed that we had neighbors over "this way, and that way." He exclaimed that "We're all neighbors -the Bishops (his family)- the Ashtons -the people over that way - and the people over that way." He was even more amazed after walking home from the elementary school with Gary. He came home with the biggest grin on his face and asked, "Guess What?'"We bought lemonade from the neighbors who were selling it at a lemonade stand. We both got cups of lemonade!" Since Gary had bought the lemonade on credit (since he did not have his wallet while playing ball with Harrison at the school, Harrison was even more excited to go back with Gary to pay up

And then today when we were walking out of a store,

he said, "Look at those mountains."

I think we can learn a few things from Harrison

First:  We really are all neighbors

Second:  We need to look with wonder at the world around us.

And that's just what I'm doing as I enjoy my

Bishop neighbors (aka grandchildren)

I have a greater

understanding of why my daughters don't blog very much.

No time.

Too busy with children to hardly even get on the computer.

But as we sit watching the third episode of "Pride and Prejudice" before bed, I'll give a little pictorial recap of our last day in Missouri and trip home.

Celebrating Jackson's 14th Birthday in Missouri

Monday Morning just as we are ready to head out.

A stop at Liberty Jail in Liberty Missouri

That is where Gary's sister Janice and Frank served a mission.

Train museum in Golden Colorado

I felt nostalgic as I looked at this sign.

Dad worked with the railroad at Geneva steel

for more than 30 years.

It was a very enjoyable trip. 

I had been somewhat apprehensive

about making the long trip with a a full carload,

but the kids were great and we had a wonderful time.

We actually pulled in on Wednesday,

which was Jackson's birthday,

so we had a birthday dinner celebration.

Today we had lots of fun playing ball here at home,

going to Toy Story, Nickel City, Costco,

and back home for more play in the back yard. 

I'm having a little down time

in Hays, Kansas.  But only for a moment.  Yesterday before church.

We're getting a taste

of what the Bishop family life is like.

Add together 3 very active wonderful all-boy boys

1 very beautiful and meticulous girl

1 very large and adorable 5 month old baby

a busy primary president mom

a working dad who is also a coach

baseball

scout camps

lots of car travel

sweltering heat

more baseball

two parents needing to be four places at one time

out of town guests in addition to us
a grandma that is very directionless
(Misty says that is worthy of a blog post all of its own
and that she'll write it)

lots and lots of love

lots of fun

no time to blog

no time to upload pictures until now

(even though I've taken tons of them)

I'm loving every minute of it.

I write this as Jackson is sitting next to me asking, "Are you writing, I don't know what to do about that Jackson, he's coming to Utah next week, what are we going to do with him?"  (He said it, not me!)   I can't believe my oldest grandson is going to be 14 next week.  Yikes!

I woke up yesterday

morning thinking about my experiences of the day before.  I was smiling about some of these remembered images as they came into my mind.

A new calling I have at church is to watch Ethan, a little 8 year old boy who was born with Fragile X syndrome. This condition, which I have limited understanding of, is an inherited chromosomal syndrome that affects each child in different ways. Ethan has a sister who was also born with it, but she is affected by it in a much less severe way. Their mom is a single mother, and for her to be able to come to church and attend Sunday School and Relief Society is such blessing for her. For two years I've watched as Caroline, a very sweet and loving woman who volunteered to watch Ethan, has walked (and been pulled) through the halls as she's taken care of Ethan.   I've been amazed at her.  She has learned how to understand and work with Ethan in such a way that she is teaching him and helping him to respond more appropriately socially.  So, I'm hoping that with more experience I can do the same thing in helping Ethan.  But yesterday was my first day, and in my effort to not make any scenes and to keep Ethan happy, we pretty much did what he wanted to do.  Which leads me to what I woke up smiling yesterday morning.


Picture this if you can:  Me and Julie (a friend who I was so grateful was helping me), holding hands, turning in circles, and dancing as we walked around inside and outside the church.   We both felt so silly, but every time we tried to stop, Ethan would take both our hands, put them together, and start turning us until we turned circles and danced. It was hard to side track him from that, and even when we went in a classroom and played a primary song music video, all he wanted was for us to dance for him.  We finally got it so that only one of us was had to dance and the other could sit down.  Fortunately Julie is a fun and loving woman, so we let go of our inhibitions and just had fun with it.   We marched and twirled to the music and decided we needed to bone up on our dance steps.  It was a joy, actually. That first time, we allowed Ethan to teach us, but as I get to know him better, I hope I can teach him. 

There were a few moments where he sat still on my lap as we were in with the regular Primary.  But he is always moving and making loud noises and I worried he was being too disruptive to the other children.  But as I watched his expressions during that more quiet time, I felt such love for him and for the man he will be when he is no longer in his disabled body.   I thought of his mom, who deals with these issues everyday.  I thought of his Grandma and Grandpa, who have several other grandchildren affected with this syndrome.  I know these children bring much love into their lives, but I also know that it must be so hard both physically and emotionally.  They are the everyday people who do who serve and love and do what needs to be done, even when it is hard.   Bless them.

Today our adventures of the next few weeks begin.  I can't wait to get my hands on my Bishop grandchildren.  Seeing pictures and videos are such a wonderful, but nothing can compare to a real live hug!

Pictures from

the

"Once in a Lifetime Event," 

with Paul McCartney.

Which  I didn't go to.

And, I have only myself to blame for that. 

When Duke told us about it, he got two tickets for himself and his date, and we got two tickets for Gary and whoever his date would be -- me or Natalie. I did not want to spend money on 3 tickets for us, because we didn't know for sure if Natalie would be able to go because of play rehearsal. Natalie has been a big fan of the Beatles music.  When she was in high school, Gary took her and a friend up to see Ringo Starr in concert.  Anyway, when we found that Natalie could go, Gary was even willing to buy a more expensive ticket from a scalper to get me in.  But that would have been too expensive.  I did go up to eat dinner with them before the concert, but I wish I had not been so stubborn about spending the money.  They had such a great time. I'm not usually stubborn about spending money (Gary will affirm that fact), but I didn't want to waste money either.

Gary's self photo

Natalie and Jane singing along.  I would have enjoyed that.

Duke and Jane

Me and Natalie at dinner

I was about 10 years old when the Beatles had their big debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.  I remember Mom and Dad going out for the evening and telling us not to watch the show.  They were really not strict or restrictive parents, but they must have heard rumors about the boys from London, their long hair,and their wild ways.  What I do remember is that once Mom and Dad left, I went in and watched them, but that Charlene wouldn't.  I was really "sowing my wild oats" back then, I guess.   Other than that one time, I always obeyed my parents (That's for the benefit of my grandchildren)

Cousins

I had a very enjoyable few hours this morning.  I met four of my Hall family cousins for breakfast.  Four of us, Arna and twins Hilary and Holly, were all born within 3 months of each other.  The four of us spent a lot of time together when we were growing up.   Mom always said that, anytime we were visiting them in Springville, it was always a fight getting me home because I wanted to sleep over.  Diane, Arna's older sister, now lives in my neighborhood so it is fun to see her more.   A year ago Holly's husband passed away, and her twin had come up from Vegas to spend some time with her.  That is why they planned the breakfast.   I can't help but think that our Moms are happy that we are getting together.

Another cousin sent up this cute pin cushion cupcake for me.

Then tonight when the Idiart cousins came by (to make flower pins, of all things),

they brought me this perfectly titled book from Eliza and Rachel in Oregon.

.

I firmly believe in the wisdom of this title and love

and very cute notes inside.

What is a shoe that represents

a part of your life?

That is our theme for our RS Activity this Thursday.  We hope that by everyone sharing a shoe that represents something about them, that we will get to know each other better. I had lots of fun making the shoes with my cricut machine. I do love the fancy shoes, but at this stage in the game, comfort is the number one thing for me.

I'm taking this shoe.

because it represent the projects I do and the

messes I make while I do them.

You'll notice paint specks,

 

and the mud on the bottom.

They are the most comfortable shoes I have,

and they are now my gardening shoes.

Once when I was out gardening,

Gary came out and watched me for a minute. 

Then he said, "You kind of garden like you cook." 

Since I'm known for the messes I make when I cook,

or when I do projects,

or even when I'm cleaning,

I knew exactly what he meant.

And, I could not disagree with his observation.

As the saying goes, "If the shoe fits, wear it."

That's why I'm taking that shoe.

What shoe represents a part of you?

The significance of Butterflies

to me.

When we were playing "Table Topics" at the Anderson reunion last year, one of the cards said to share a spiritual experience.   The one that came to my mind was an experience I had while we were "Wilderness Youth Conference" leaders more than 20 years ago. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a camper.  I like the comforts of home and do not seek out challenging outdoor activities.  So when we were called in by the Stake President and asked if we would be group leaders to 10 girls and boys, I was honestly filled with much trepidation.  The more I read up on what we were to do, the more anxiety I felt. 

These were things like:  Meeting the youth, who we didn't know, at 9:30 at night and then leading them on a 5 mile night hike to our campground.  Having only one orange to share for breakfast.  Doing activities like "fireman's net"  and other various obstacle courses and games all day, and then preparing our first meal in the evening.  Those things might not invoke fear in some people, but it certainly did in me.

The week before the youth conference, we had a training day.  On that training day we made the 5 mile hike, and I honestly thought I would die.  I remember standing on the trail in the baking sun wondering if a helicopter would be able to come and get me.  After that training day and during the following week, my anxiety was even worse.  I wanted to call and bow out.  How could I lead the youth when I couldn't be a good leader?  But, I've always believed, and followed my belief, that if I am called to do something that I will do my best and that I will be blessed the rest of the way.   I was blessed. 

The night of the hike, it was like my feet hardly touched the ground.  In fact, at the end of the conference each of us wrote something nice about everyone in the group.  One of the comments made to me was "she is a good hiker."  Ha!  Little did they know.

So, this story is a very long set-up as to why the butterfly has significance to me. 

The last activity of youth conference was to have everyone go off alone for a half hour.   We were to ask God a question and listen for an answer.  That was also somewhat of a new experience for me.  While I often ask God questions, I seldom have the patience to stay still, meditate, and wait for an answer. 

My question was, "Why does there have to be such sorrow and pain in the world?  Why do some people have to go through so much?"  That was very much on my mind at the time, particularly because of my nephew and niece, Chuck and Christine, who lived with such excruciating pain with EB.   As I sat in silence in the mountains, a beautiful butterfly flew right in front of me.  As I watched it fly away, my heart lifted and I felt such peace.  What came into my mind was the thought that "without sorrow or pain we would not recognize or appreciate the opposite, which is joy and love and goodness."    I knew that my question had been heard and that I had been given a greater understanding.  The whole wilderness experience, from beginning to end, was one of the hardest and one of the most faith promoting of my life.

After I had shared that experience last year, Lynn (Chuck and Christine's mom), asked me if I knew that the symbol for EB (Epiderolysis Bullosa) is the butterfly (They have skin as fragile as a butterfly wing which can blister at the slightest touch).    I had never known that, and hearing it gave me an even greater appreciation for my experience on the mountain.

It was then that Lynn gave me the necklace with the butterfly and EB etched on it.  And that is why why I felt so sad when I lost it on Wednesday (Lost Necklace).   That is why I was so relieved when I was able to order another one.

If you saw two people

with flashlights looking under cars in the hospital parking lot,

that would be me and Gary. 

To make a long story shorter, I went in for my annual mammogram (fun).  As I was putting on the gown, I took off the necklace I was wearing and put it in my purse.  It is just a little necklace that has a small silver disc and hangs on a black cord.  As I put it in my purse, I thought to myself  "you shouldn't put it there."  You know how sometimes you're doing something and a little warning thought comes, but you do it anyway?  That's what I did.

Well, I got dressed and was on my way to the dentist (more fun )when I realized that I didn't have my necklace.  After the dentist, I went back to the hospital, retraced my steps, went to the lost and found, etc.  No necklace.  What I figure is that the necklace must have caught on my keys and flipped off when I got them out.  That is what led to me and Gary going back later with the flashlights.

The reason I treasure that necklace is because my sister-in-law gave it to me.  On the little silver disc there is a butterfly etched on it.  I didn't realize it until she gave it to me that the butterfly is a symbol used for EB, the skin disease my nephew and niece, Chuck and Christine, had.   It is used as a symbol because of their fragile skin.  Here is a picture of the necklace  http://www.ebkids.org/shop/satya.php  

I just ordered another necklace.. 

More later.

I finally got my

kitchen cleaned up after all the baking and partying.  It took me several hours, and by the time I was done I was exhausted.  I don't know what should be so exhausting about it.  I think it is more mental exhaustion because I know there are many other things that need to be done.  But for right now, I'm just going to appreciate what I have accomplished and not stress about what I haven't.   And go to bed because I feel so exhausted.

I have Gratitude for

those who serve our country and preserve our freedoms. This morning at 6:30 we went to a patriotic service at our chapel.  I know sometimes I take for granted the freedoms and blessings we have and forget the sacrifices that have been made to preserve them. One phrase that stood out to me was that sometimes we have to do 'the right thing during hard times." Many people have done just that. I honor and appreciate them.

After the service we were too tired to go to the parade but went down a little later to enjoy some of the festivities and get into the spirit of it. They were having Colonial Days at the Crandall Printing Museum, and we saw how they printed a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Then we stopped by the carnival block.  It was during that 4th of July carnival, in the summer of 67, that I remember standing right in this area. I made the decision that I would like Gary because he was cool, but didn't drink or smoke.  Here's that "cool guy" 43 years later.

Here we are in our very patriotic red shirts against

a very red patriotic wall.

Then I had a fun time at Jeans with her

two daughters getting wonderful massages

and making flower pins. 

It has been a fun and inspiring day.

This morning after the fireworks event,

I have a sugar and adrenaline hangover.

After making about 18 dozen cupcakes

and sampling at least one from each batch.

After being on a happy high from seeing so

many good friends, neighbors, and family.

After feeling sick in the pit of my stomach

when the two uninvited vehicles pulled up.

Well, those are the reasons for my
sugar and adrenaline hangover.

As for the last one,

all I can say is,

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell,"

I guess that's not all I can say about that last one.
I will also add,
"No More Reasons for the two uninvited vehicles to come by!"

Here are just a few pictures from the evening. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pictures of everyone who came because it got too dark and too busy. But, we had many friends from the old ward, new and old friends from our neighborhood, and family.  My niece, Jennie, and her family left early enough yesterday from Arizona so they could get here in time. Now that is dedication.  I wish I could have gotten pictures of everyone.

I think another reason I feel so out of it this morning is that we lost our little week long visitors.  We've enjoyed having them so much.  But off they went this morning.  Here are a few pictures before they left. (In a very messy kitchen because we were too tired to clean it up last night.)