One Sweet Weekend

Long past due for a visit to Arizona, last weekend we took a flying leap and landed there within a few short hours.. Kimball and Jessica could not have been more gracious hosts, making us feel comfortable and welcome the whole time. Jaxon, Kade, and Sophia melted our hearts like butter on a couple of piping hot Idaho potatoes. Amid our comings and goings, we actually found time to play several games - Crazy Eights, Hearts, and musical hot potato - with them, take in a Star Wars movie at the theater, read a little, and listen to Kade practicing on the piano. My brother Johnny lives nearby, and he hosted a big barbecue to prove to his friends that he really did come from a fairly normal family. He told his neighbor that he didn’t see his family often, and that one of his sisters had never even seen him at all. Um, that would be yours truly. My sister Jamie from Florida and her daughter Sarah, and her granddaughter, almost 15-month-old Josilyn, were there, as well as my sister Becky and her husband Ray from California. Becky’s son Brandon and her daughter Annette and Annette’s family were also able to attend the barbecue. Our sister Julie was scheduled to fly in on Saturday, but on Friday night her husband Lonnie was found to have two brain tumors. It was good to be together to absorb this difficult news. Usually, we’re far apart, and it was easier to draw strength from one another when we could talk, and hold hands, and pray together. We also went to the Mesa temple and were able to do the work for some of our family members that Julie had provided for us, and put Lonnie’s and Julie’s names on the prayer role, where many people will be praying for them for the next two weeks. Our sister Jenny was busy with her new job as a Trailways bus driver, but we hope to get everyone together again for fun times, sooner rather than later. We don’t want any more members of the Bonnie-Johnny-Lonnie club though, please! Johnny has polycythemia vera, Lonnie has had surgery and will be doing radiation soon for the tumors, and I have active CLL, a sinus infection, and two ear infections. Stay healthy, everybody!

Jessica put on a lavish brunch for all of us on Monday. She made it look effortless, but I know it wasn’t. She’s a great organizer and knows what she’s doing. Would that I had those talents and skills. It was fun to see Jaxon and Kade lending a hand by cheerfully cleaning their rooms, and picking up and vacuuming upstairs. Kimball, like his dad is at such times here, was a great help in the kitchen. I am so thankful for our ever-expanding family! Our sons have chosen well! And I always think of how happy our parents must be when their adult children and posterity get together and enjoy each other’s company like this, too.

Sophia was always at the ready to grab my hand and take me to wherever I needed to go. What a cutie shie is. No, make that what a beauty she is. She told her mom and dad that she likes to wear beautiful clothes, not cute clothes. She has a loving, caring nature. Jessica said that when she was taking ballet when she was just a toddler, she would help the other little girls get their outfits on whether they wanted her help or not. As we walked upstairs holding hands one afternoon, she told me, “Grandma Bonnie, you should eat carrots. I eat carrots and my eyes work really good.” She didn’t stop there though, she added, “If you don’t have any carrots, just tell us and we’ll get you some.” Precious child!

I have to include one more sweet, funny comment from a child. Just yesterday, I got a nice email from Shauna, Greg’s best friend. Shauna’s children call me Grandma Bonnie, having picked it up from Greg’s little ones. Shauna wrote:
“I have another silly kid moment to share with you. This morning, the kids
and I were reading a blurb in an old Friend magazine about a 10 year old
girl in England who had had cancer. After we finished our reading we talked
a little about how you had it, and the subject of chemo came up. I
explained that more than likely the little girl would not be able to have
children of her own. My 9 year old, Alyssa said, "Oh, how sad! Grandma
Bonnie won't be able to have another baby!" I had to giggle at the thought
of you adding one more boy to the mix of things.”
And with that, I’ll sign off, laughing.