Ashton is 15!

When Ashton was little, he was very particular about how I rubbed his back.  It was either, "scratch up" and "rub down," or vice versa (as he demonstrates in the photos)  He was very serious about that, so I always tried to do it right!

One of my favorite pictures of him is this one.  He would go into the pantry (with a chair or without) and eat to his heart's content.  He definitely didn't like it when one of us opened the door and interrupted him.  This was probably the situation where I've seen Ashton frown or scowl.
 

Now he's a handsome and wonderful young man of 15 

(who still likes his food),

but never scowls, 

and who we love very much!

Happy Birthday, Ashton!

Throwback Thursday - 1966

Pictures from January so far . . .

View yesterday from front porch.  Loving that view of Timpanogos 

Yesterday Trent dropped in and made us french toast with the homemade bread.  That was a nice treat.

First Costco outing yesterday since December 30.

Gary was in charge of Trent's birthday party on the 14th and had an "interesting"
 experience going to Costco to get the food for the dinner without me.

Lydia, Jackson, Ellie, and Carly jointing in the birthday celebration.

Welcome back to me

I feel like I need to welcome myself back to a somewhat normal life.  (Is my life ever normal?)

I've obviously by-passed all of the December memories and activities, and just as I was ready to start a new year, with new goals, and new focus, I came down with a cold that turned to pneumonia,

So, since January 1, I have been seriously derailed.  Like so derailed, that I'm making my first trip back to Costco since December, and have only ventured out of the house about 4 times (two for medical reasons).  I really don't know if I am emotionally equipped to re-enter society.   Fortunately it came at a time when I didn't have any big commitments or was not really needed.   I don't know how I would have coped had all this happened a month earlier.

Gary was very impressed when he got home from church yesterday.  I had made soup, 8 loaves of bread (doubled the recipe), and chocolate cake, and when he walked in he was shocked.  My mixer has never been so unused.

Then my Jehovah Witness friend, that always seemed to stop by when was baking, came by for the last time today.  I guess they are starting a new program where they don't go door to door and rather seek out people who they know are looking for hope.  The main lady, who has been the mainstay over the last few years, had told her companion that they could go visit the house around the corner, and that there was usually something baking there.  We had a good visit.  I was so glad that I could send them off with a final loaf of bread.

It feels good to feel good.  It gives me such empathy for people with chronic or fatal illnesses.  I've been thinking about last year at this time when I was helping Gary with his history.  He was so courageous.  When I would show up to work with him, he was often so weak, yet he put everything into pushing forward with a good attitude and a desire to do accomplish what he could.  It would be very easy to give up and sink into a depression.  But both Gary and Richard never gave into that, and that is a great example to me.

Eliza

This beautiful little girl is now 17! 

Eliza is beautiful inside and out.  When we were there in October, she was throwing away these notes that she took from General Conference.   I told her I wanted to keep it, as it was a work of art.  I look at it often and think of her. 

Love you, Eliza!

Richard

There is much I want to share, but I'll wait until I have more time to think and write. 

Charlene wrote this beautiful obituary for Richard.  

Richard Brian Anderson February 10, 1942 - November 27, 2017 

Richard Brian Anderson, age 75, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and teacher passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 from complications of a stroke. Richard was born to Golden and Charlet Anderson in Green River, Wyoming on February 10, 1942. He lived in Green River until he was 2 years old when his family moved to Provo, Utah where he was raised and graduated from Provo High School and BrighamYoung University. Richard was married to Carol Anne Day from1963 to 1985. They had two daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson, and remained life-long friends. He was married to Laraine Sharpton from 1996 to 2013. 

Richard moved to Salt Lake City after graduating from BYU where for over 30 years he taught English at both Skyline and Granger High School. Ten of the 30 years were spent teaching in the Home Instruction Program. He loved and was so proud of his chosen profession, and felt blessed to be able to enrich the lives of his students. 

During the years he was teaching he also obtained a Master’s Degree in Literature from the University of Utah. Richard loved to write poetry, histories, and short-stories. His writings were beautiful, soulful, honest, and inspiring. He had a few of his poems published for which he was very honored. He was a veracious reader, which is evident in his library of books. 

Fishing at Mirror Lake, hiking in his treasured red rocks of Southern Utah and the Wasatch Mountains, and traveling with his family were some of his greatest joys. He and his family traveled to Europe several years over summer breaks, primarily to England where they walked in the shadows of the great poets, playwrights and authors. 

Richard is survived by his beloved daughters, Cheryl Hollinger and Jan Anderson; his grandchildren, Kylee Edwards (Spencer) and Mason Hollinger; his great-granddaughter, Jordyn Edwards, his sisters, Annette Anderson Ashton (Gary) and Charlene Anderson Rynders (Greg); brother, TomAnderson (Lynn); and sister-in-law, Lynn Anderson (Gary). He was also loved by his many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary; and his parents, Golden and Charlet Anderson. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel, 4760 S. State Street in Murray, Utah. Visitation with family will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of his life at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Events VISITATION 2 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 CELEBRATION OF LIFE 2 1:00 PM Dec Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home - Murray 4760 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 

Richard

This was the view from the car on 

the way home from visiting Richard tonight,

It was comforting through my tears.

 

 

      My thoughts went to the poem written by Richard the summer of 1994 when we went as a family to the beach house (the year after dad died and the year before mom died).  It was very bittersweet at the time, and even more so today.  

Richard's thoughts as he watched Mom looking at a Sunset

The sun slowly sinks

Beyond the sea

Parting with the day

In radiant display

She’s done her job well:

Given light,

Held us all snug within

Her arms, kept us warm

And spared us endless night

Within the sojourn

Of her day

She chased away

The darkest shadows

Of our grievings

And our fears

And brightened

Children’s faces

In their laughter

And their play

How like us to notice most

When she’s about to go

But then, at her summit

All were busily engaged:

She the energy

Of our lives

We converting it

To work and play

She’d have it no other way

How ripe she now stands

Full of maturity and age

Poised on the horizon

Set to launch to other lands

Benediction of those beyond

Beatitude for waiting hands

Darkness for us then

But we’ll make it through

Sustained by resilience

Of her love and the truth

That she’s eclipsed only

For a while from view

But for this time

For now

Let us rejoice

In the fullness of her being:

Golden crown above the sea

Abiding Mother of mankind

How full of wonder

And woe

Her odyssey

How dazzling

In poignancy

And awe

Her departing

Curtsy

by Richard Anderson

      On Tuesday, I got the call that Richard had fallen and was being taken to the hospital.  It turns out it was more than a fall.   Once at the hospital, the doctors quickly confirmed to Cheryl and Charlene
that he had had a stroke and brain bleed.  They told us he would not be able to recover. 

      It has been so sad and heart wrenching.  I went up on Wednesday and spent the morning at the hospital.  They determined they could send him back to his place at Legacy and could have hospice care come there.  Charlene and his daughters, Cheryl and Jan, have been so good to him in all these transitions.  

     I went up this morning after the Bishops left (more about their visit and Thanksgiving later).  He has not been conscious since the stroke, but it was comforting to see him in his room, surrounded by the things he loves --  His Monet prints on the wall, the desk dad built, many pictures of his family.   He looks so much like Gary and Dad that it is haunting.  It is so comforting to know that they and Mom will be there to greet him.   

     I take comfort in Richard's words, even if I am having a difficult time processing that this is really happening.

"How ripe she he now stands

Full of maturity and age

Poised on the horizon

Set to launch to other lands

Benediction of those beyond

Beatitude for waiting hands"