Celebrating Lydia's 19th

So happy we were able to celebrate

with her this year.

Love you, Lyd!

I'm sitting here

at Tiffany and Justin's house feeling grateful. 

We arrived at the airport on the 9th to a welcome sign for all the grandparents flying in to stay with the kids.  All the Idiart couples are traveling in France and the Basque country where their grandparents immigrated from.   A wonderful opportunity for them and a wonderful experience for us as grandparents.

  

All the Grandparents.  It has been fun to get to know the Nadalds and Gardners better.

Then we had more special greeting gifts.

 Since we've been here for the last 9 days, we've been to soccer games:

Gymnastics:

Powder Puff football for Eliza:

Taken Ashton to his Eagle Scout interview, which he passed with flying colors.

Gone to Football games:

Had a sleepover with lots of cousins bouncing around on the mattresses placed in the living room.  Why did I not take pictures????

As Gary and I were hanging out on the bed with lots of noise and activity going on in the living room, Luci walked in and said, "My parents would usually be asleep by now."  So, with that endorsement, we decided to go to sleep.  They are such good kids, that I had no worries.

Sunday morning before church we had a lazy day.

After church and dinner we went to their cousin Elise's birthday party.  Again, why did I not take pictures?  The Idiart family is very blessed (and, yes, I admit I am a little jealous) to have all their children and grandchildren live right here in the same ward and neighborhoods.  Just about every Sunday they get together for dinner and the cousins are best of friends.  I am so grateful they have that, as that is how I grew up with my aunts and uncles and cousins, and our daughters grew up surrounded by grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins.

Tiffany left this schedule for us:

 And the kids have done all their parent's requested without us even having to look at this list.

And the couples have been having an amazing time.  I'll post some of their pictures tomorrow.

Can't believe it's

Been 42 years.  She is everything we ever hoped she would be.

Lydia left today

But it's softened a bit by the fact that the Idiarts are arriving tonight.  Here is a picture of us at breakfast with Lydia and of Luci on July 2 when she made the Utah Countdown chain.

Tried some new

Dishes today.  Yummy.

The Significance of Butterflies

This morning I was feeling weighted down with worries and uncertainties.  It is hard to watch people you love go through hard things, and there seems to be a lot of that going around.   

I didn't really feel like going for a walk, but once I pulled myself out of bed and Gary suggested we go, I figured I should.  As we were walking and observing the demolition of the old Edgemont Elementary, a very large monarch butterfly kept circling us.   I was a little annoyed and said, "What is that butterfly doing?"

Then I remembered, and realized, that perhaps I was being sent a little message of inspiration.

What came to mind was an experience I had while we were "Wilderness Youth Conference" leaders about 30 years ago.  I knew I had written my experience down and was looking through some journals, but then remembered that I had blogged about it at one time.  I searched the blog and found this entry from July of 2010:

"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.

Later, when I shared that experience with Lynn (Chuck and Christine's mom), she 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."   (End of previous blog post)


So, when the butterfly was working so hard to be noticed, I did get the message.  My heart has felt lighter.

And, symbolically, the change (or metamorphosis) of the old Edgemont School being replaced by the new beautiful one, was not lost on me either.

We had a fun

time at the Trunk or Treat up at the church.  It worked out perfectly for us, as we got to see the neighborhood kids from 5 to 6 pm, and then we drove to Salt Lake to pick up Gary and Lynn at the airport at 7 pm.  We stopped by to visit Richard on the way home, and I thought once again how grateful I am for family. 

Then on the way home, Misty texted that Jackson was at the hospital getting a Cat scan.  He got hit hard playing football and was out for a couple of minutes.  In his facebook message Dan said,
 "Cat scan just got back, he doesn't have any brain bleeding, but the good news they did find his brain:).  We are relieved on both counts.   Here is the accompanying picture:

I don't like seeing my grandson hurt. 

Another relaxing

conference weekend.   We had our traditional sticky buns, but got to share them with Justin's brother Damien, and family.  I feel very blessed by the families that both Misty and Tiffany have married into.  It has expanded our circle of people to love and be loved by.   

Natalie came over at 10 am,  and we had our second round of sticky buns with her as we watched conference.   There were many wonderful messages this time.

Yesterday, a major change was announced about the missionary program.  They have changed the age requirements.  Young men can now go on missions at 18 (as opposed to 19) and young women at 19 (as opposed to 21).  This has a great impact on so many people and the plans they have made for the future.  They don't have to go at those ages, but it is now an option. 

I haven't talked with Misty yet, but I'm wondering how Jackson is feeling about it.  He's been dedicating so much to his baseball and is in line to get scholarships.   The age change gives him different options on when he could go on a mission. 

This weekend Jackon had a game in Florida on his super league team.  He pitched a 7 inning shutout, striking out nine, giving up only 4 hits, and averaging 85 mph.   He has been so a dedicated, and I'm proud of him.  We are really, really hoping that he gets a scholarship to BYU or UVU, so we can watch him play ball here for 4 years.  That would be so wonderful and fun!

The countdown

chain for Disney World!

 

 

The next big event we have coming up is our Disney World vacation with the whole FAM!   We are going to be there over Thanksgiving.  I'm very excited!

 

When Tiffany was here, Misty sent a package with a DVD of some home movies showing the kids, her garden, and Lydia's new bedroom.  She also sent us each a set of papers to make into this countdown chain.  Every day I get to cut a chain off, and that means we're getting closer. 

 

Apparently Lydia thought the chain was a silly idea, but I don't.  I feel like a kid again!

 

 



Happy 35th

birthday, to Tiffany! 

 Here she is at 6 weeks old!

She was beautiful then, and she's beautiful now

(in every possible way).

We love you, Tiff, and feel so blessed to be have you as our daughter.



There hasn't been

much time to blog this last week.  More and more I realize how fast and fragile life really is.  The funeral Friday was beautiful, with very fitting tributes given by Stephanie, Jenni, and Jared.    I was so proud of them, as I'm sure she was.  Friday afternoon, we took flowers to the cemetery for Memorial Day and then went to my niece (Leslie's) son's baptism.   

Gary had bought, at a baseball auction, an overnight stay at a courtyard Marriott, so we went to Salt Lake on Saturday.   It was a very nice get-a-way.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and shopped a little at the City Creek Center.  Then we went to "Men in Black 3."  (I figured that since Gary was patient with me shopping, that I would humor him and go to that movie).  It was actually pretty entertaining.

On Sunday morning we went to the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, had a late breakfast, and then came home.  Yesterday and today, in between a barbecue at the Roylances, a retirement open house for my friend, and a dinner date, I've put in a total of about 20 hours of work.  We are getting very close to getting the new website up, and there is a real time-crunch on getting all the products entered.  So the rest of this week will be much of the same.   

I've taken a few pictures of all the activities this last week, but I'll post those later.   It's time for bed.

Last night

we had Jean's family over for dinner, and as I told Tom on the phone, he should be very proud of his kids and grand kids.  They are wonderful people.    Here are a couple of cute pictures.  Two of Bree leading us all in "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and the other of Jared's boys with their take home treats.

It is so hard at times like this to do normal things, because life seems like it won't ever be normal again.  But, what I learned from Mom and Dad's passing, was how important it was to just keep going.  To do things you have always done.  In this case, we have always gathered together when family was in, reminisced, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a blessing to us and Gary and Lynn to have the family over, because (besides pray for them) it is the most normal thing we can do. 

And, as I hugged the kids, I was giving them a hug for Jean, too.  I know she would do the same for me.

I am

feeling, very deeply, the loss of a very loyal and caring friend.   My friend, Jean, passed away Sunday morning.  It was very sudden, unexpected, and unexplained.   My heart is hurting for her family and for all of us who love her.  She was only 62,  She adored her children and grandchildren.  They were literally the light of her life.

Jean and I have been "partners in crime," so to speak, on countless projects, parties, and crafting classes through the years. In fact, I was last with her just two weeks ago when we went to a card making class.  I try to think back to all we talked about that night, and what I remember is very sweet.  It makes me realize how important it is to cherish each moment.   I have been so very blessed to have her as a part of my life for 40 years, and I will really miss her.

Jean was married to my brother, Tom.  Though they later divorced, we have all remained close.  We have shared the common bonds of love for my parents, of watching our children grow, and for the special relationships of the Anderson cousins.

Some people have expressed surprise when I have explained our relationship and the friendship and family ties that we have continued.  Truly, a great credit is due to Tom and his wife, Lynn (who is another very cherished friend), and to Jean and her husband, Ross.  They have been very gracious in wanting their children to feel the love that extended family ties bring.  They have done that in situations when, no doubt, it was not always comfortable.  I remember the love that was felt three years ago when we planned a family baby shower for their daughter, Stephanie.  Jean wanted to have it when Tom and Lynn were in town, so they could share in that time with Stephanie and Bryce.  Lynn and I had fun together as we decorated and made desserts, and then Jean brought in all the rest of the meal.        

My heart is with Ross, Jenni and Ryan, Jared and Sara, Stephanie and Bryce, and her adored grandchilren.  She loved you dearly.  Losing those we love, especially a parent, is so hard.  

I have no doubt that the spirit continues to live after the mortal body dies.  Frankly, I don't know how people make sense of life if they think that death ends it all.  But that knowledge doesn't stop us from feeling a great loss when our loved ones are no longer with us.   I guess that is what it is all about.   The more we feel the love, the greater we feel the loss. 

All it needs is

bunnies!

Tiff sent these pictures today with this message:

"This is what I've been working on the last week! We transformed our boring weed infested corner (I should have taken a before picture) to a little sitting/firepit area. The kids have had so much fun hanging out back there!  The nice thing is that by about 3 p.m. it is nice and shaded from the surrounding trees. Now we just need to get a few resin bunnies to make it like grandma's garden."

I am very impressed by her garden spot!  I have a feeling her rocks were not as hard earned as Misty's were last year's (see Ill Fated Creek Experience if you've forgotten that fun experience).  

 I was going to send Tiffany money for her birthday, but now I feel inspired to send her some bunnies.   But I will do one better than resin ones, I'll send the real thing!  Then it will be perfect.

Natalie's 28th Birthday

.

on April 25th

Isn't she beautiful?

We really enjoyed our dinner at Carrabas with Nat, Trent, Gary and Lynn, and us.  It seems appropriate to be celebrating with Gary and Lynn, as it was Gary who flew her in at 1 day old 28 years ago.  That was a truly blessed day in our lives, and she has blessed our lives every since.