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.