A trip down

memory lane with pictures of Tiffany from 6 weeks to 19 years old.  Today is her 37th birthday.  What a wonderful, beautiful, blessing she is to us.

 

 
 

 
 

 

Once I get out of the habit

of blogging, it is hard to start back up.

But here is what has been going on the last week.

We spent last Sunday putting together a little card for Jackson for 

graduation.

 Wow, we've all aged in the last 17 years!

We decorated the graves on Friday with Gary and Lynn.

Gary wanted this picture taken so we can show the sexton at the cemetery that two of us really could fit in the space (that they are now saying only one can be buried in). 

On Monday we went to a movie 

and had a barbecue with Trent and Natalie. 

 Gary is still trying to graduate every year.

Today is the day!

I'm so proud of him!

If I had my wishes . . .

I would have been at the end of year award assemblies that the grandchildren are all involved in.   I would have seen Annie as an adorable Annie Oakley, Eliza at her honers night, Ashton with his winning story (which was amazing), and Lucy as she stood in front of her class and read them a book she wrote.

I would watch Harrison, who is 9 year old, as he plays baseball on a team of almost 11 year olds (and they usually put him in to pitch the tough games).  I would be there to hug Lydia when she was the only Freshman in her school to get 100% on her state language exam.   I would have seen Hyrum earn 4 medals in track last week, and given him a hug when he broke his toe while playing baseball.

I would have heard all the cute things Marshall says.   Things like he said to Misty after coming home from Bunny Hollow.  "Mom, you can't just leave and go to Grandma's  I like Grandma, too, you know."  Or when he said to Jackson (who was baby sitting him), "“I just love Misty.  Where is Misty anyway?”

I would be at Jackson's high school graduation on Friday and his graduation open house on Saturday.  These are really hard to miss.   If Gary were out of school and we could take a road trip,  or if we had the kind of money where we could just hop on a plane for a quick trip out and back, we would be there.  

And while we were at it, we would take an indirect flight home so we could be with my nephew, Jared, and his family as they are sealed in the temple.   That is such a happy event and one I am so thrilled about.  I know that his Mom, Jean, who passed away 2 years ago today, has been very influential in having this come about.    I know she will be there (in a different realm) and that they will be surrounded by family

who love them.

So those are my wishes, but I know that not all wishes are possible.  Not in this life, anyway.   I always try not to dwell on what I don't have, because there are so many wonderful things I do have.  Sometimes, though, I have to have a little cry and feel a little sadness.  

And then I get out of myself, and send my prayers and good wishes to those I wish I could be with. 

Connectiveness

I don't think that is actually a word, but I was thinking about that a lot on Saturday as we went to a funeral and then 2 wedding ceremonies, and finally a wedding reception.

Here's a very strange selfie we took in the car as we drove from one event to the next.

The funeral was for my Lynn's brother, Charlie.  Charlie had cerebral palsy and was physically and mentally handicapped.  But he was always so happy and lived a full life of 69 years.  At the funeral I saw the large extended family of Fechser cousins, who I remembered from events we had been a part of through the years.   Several of Lynn's cousins are also former neighbors of ours in Edgemont.

The first wedding was for my cousin, Kay's, granddaughter.  As we talked to Robyn, the brides mother, she reminded us that Gary had performed her marriage 25 years before.  We sat at a table with several couples who Gary works with at Timpview.  And I had worked with the woman when I did testing at the school. The bride was wearing the dress that her grandma, Kay, had worn as well as her mother, Robyn.

The second wedding was for our friends and neighbors, Gary and Eileen's, granddaughter.  We've watched all of the Roylance children grow up, and we love seeing them now as parents with their cute children.  The wedding was held in the back yard of the parents of one of our high school friend who live in the same ward Gary and Lynn do now.

The final wedding reception was for a wonderful woman in her 50's who has never been married, and everyone was so excited for her.   At that reception we saw people from just about every stage of our lives--  from childhood to current neighbors and friends.  As we greeted the bride and groom, Shannon (the bride) mentioned that she had just met Ross and Holly (Gary's niece and husband).  We asked how she knew them, and she said that the groom(her new husband) is Ross's brother.   Knowing that, we could see how much he looks like Ross.

Its kind of confusing to write and explain all the relationships, and probably very confusing to read.   But it does show just how all our lives are interconnected.    Sometimes in very surprising ways.

I've had such a nice Mother's day

weekend.  Yesterday was our Amies Toujours Mother's Day luncheon.  Natalie sang two songs for it, and she did a beautiful job.  I kind of forced her to do it, but I have her on tape saying that she was glad I did.  Yes, I have it recorded, so she can't deny it.   She won't, however, let me post it on the blog.  Here are a few pictures of the decorations from the party.

And then today Natalie and Gary made a wonderful omelet and pancakes for brunch.

And, of course, I've been ringing the bell.

My kitchen at

1: 30 am.   And I am sure it is probably upside down (It was, but I fixed it)

It is always hard to say

goodbye, but I'm sure the husbands and kids are glad to have them back.  

I took them to the airport yesterday.  We are so appreciative of Dan and Justin and all of the in-laws that watch the kids so we can have this fun family time.

A few of our

activities.

Breakfast with Gary and Lynn

Pedicures for the girls.

Daddy Daughter hike to the Y.

A well deserved breakfast after the hike.

Fun with family.