Autumn Birthday Dinner

Here we are celebrating the October birthdays of Colin and JoLyn. The menu included dinner in a pumpkin, roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin biscuits, broccoli, pumpkin roll cupcakes, and caramel apple sundaes.

Shane: On the Hurricane

Elder Shane Washburn is serving in New York, specifically in Richmond Hill on Long Island. So I admit to feeling a little panicky as I listened to last week's news reports on the rapidly approaching hurricane Irene. Soon emails started pouring into my inbox from the missionary moms group I joined when Shane was in the MTC, and before too long I was reminded and reassured that our sons and daughters were in the very best hands possible (the Lord's) and that all would be well with them. After this, I watched the news with interest rather than with fear. But was I ever eager for Shane's Monday morning email, although I knew it might be delayed. Much to my joy, it arrived at about the usual time. This is how he started his email:


"Well, Dear Family,


Here I am, alive and well. I survived the storm, just barely. I was afraid it was going to wake me up during the night as I slept, but luckily it didn't disturb my sleeping pattern in any way at all."


He wrote that they had been instructed to remain in their apartment beginning at 5PM on Saturday until they were given the all clear, which came at 5:30PM on Sunday. They spent the afternoon looking for ways to help get people prepared to ride out the storm, but everyone they contacted was already prepared. He said that an Area Seventy, Elder Jeffery Olsen, had prophesied a few months ago that a hurricane would come to New York before the end of this year. He and his padmates stocked up on bottled water and canned soup, and borrowed a TV with Church videos from the church, and waited for the hurricane to come ashore. They were a little disappointed by the storm. When he ventured out, he said that the damage was minimal, just a couple of downed trees, 1 or 2 crushed cars, and a couple of blocked roads. All else seemed fine in his area. I expect he'll have more to say about helping with clean-up next week.





I posted part of his letter to the other missionary moms, some of whom were still anxiously awaiting word from their sons. Julie Bazzle, a nearby member of the group whose son is also in the NYNY South Mission, looked up her son's email from July 8th. She quoted from his letter:


"Wow... *so an Area Seventy pretty much prophesied that a hurricane will hit east New York around the end of next month.* It was nuts!" Those were his words. So we asked him what he was doing to prepare for it. (Never answered that question). By the way, I kept thinking they were given this knowledge for a reason. Sometimes I was worried that he was not going to heed the warning. So, praying one night that if this was to be, that my son would prepare and listen to their leaders, I got the distinct impression to send both of my missionaries flashlights and batteries. Although because of my New York missionary's wording (east New York) I did not think about VA getting hit. But I sent my D.C. missionary son one also. And yesterday, his email said, "Mom, I pretty much consider it a miracle that you sent me a flashlight last month, as we were without power along with thousands of others here in Virginia."

It was very cool to read Julie's email, and to have yet another example of the Holy Spirit''s guidance. For now, I do not know why some are spared and others are taken, but I am very grateful that Shane is safe. He will be flying home from NY on Nov. 23rd, the day before Thanksgiving, and I am so happily anticipating that wonderful day, and hoping other friends and family members will be able to spend some time with us that week as well. Another family, though, will not be able to have a joyous reunion with their daughter in this lifetime. A young sister missionary in the Utica NY Mission, Vanessa Bentley from Tucson, AZ, was killed in a car accident this week. Our prayers are with her loved ones, and with her companion, too. Always, always, during mortality, there will be joy and sorrow, good and bad, life and death. Through it all, we grow, one way or another. Our task is to grow closer to God, to become more like Him, and to learn to trust Him completely. We can't do it without The Holy Spirit's help. So we have to tune out the world, and tune into heavenly things, like love, service, repentance, forgiving (a hard one for me sometimes, and so on.. Can we do it? Yes we can!

One Last Fling Before the School Bells Ring

Actually, our Colorado grandkids' school is already in session. And I don't even know when the AZ kids begin. But our Washington grandkids start next week, and we were oh so happy to have them come for a visit while they were still unencumbered by their studies. :) Missy went to AZ to help her grandparents celebrate their 50th anniversary, and Ethan shepherded Brooklyn, Lilly, and Zaid over the mountains and through the turns to their grandma&pa's house, you know. We got to know Zaid better than we ever have before, and what a good-natured, fun-loving little adventurer he is! He wasn't at all shy, needed no warming up period before he would interact with us, and was always ready to laugh and play. It makes me grin just remembering how his little voice sounds. He went to bed both nights as easy as pie, too. His one difficulty that most likely only time and patience will mend is that he is a roamer. It's pretty hard for his Papa to enjoy picnicking in a large park or other outings because little Zaid is always looking for a chance to make a quick getaway in order to go exploring on his own! He just barely turned two, so self-guided park and playground tours are not an option. I felt bad for Ethan having to be on guard duty so much of the time, but he managed to handle it all quite well. Brianna tried putting Zaid in my lap at the park a couple of times to give Ethan a breather, but Zaid showed us he can squeeeeeeal and wiggle like a little piggy when he wants to. Once he got down to the sand and shallow water of the pond, he was a much happier little piggy. Eagle Island State Park just happened to be overflowing with guests that day. So much so that we couldn't find a site with both a table and a grill. So we spread out on a grassy spot with a grill, and cooked up hamburgers, hotdogs, and corn on the cob. Brianna was eager to do the grilling honors, and she did a great job with it. She brought watermelon, and I tried my hand at making Missy's fabulous strawberry lemonade. Everyone said they liked it, but I think hers is better. Dan and I each thought the other had brought the buns, so Colin kindly saved the day by hopping on his motorcycle and bringing back the necessary breadstuffs. The water was the main attraction though. We brought along the big inflatable whale again, and Brooklyn and Lilly thoroughly enjoyed playing with him. We sold our good old trampoline this year because it didn't get enough use to justify the space it took up in the backyard, and much to my relief, the ball and cars have filled the void wonderfully this summer.

Ethan took the children to the neighborhood park while I went to a couple of wedding receptions on Friday night. And Lilly especially wanted to go for frozen yogurt, so we did that on Saturday after we rested up from our big park/picnic/swimming outing. Brooklyn is always my little bookworm, so she and I had some reading fun at night. Little Lilly tried to listen, but sleep overtook her before we finished the first chapter. Both girls liked making pizza toast - toasting the bread, sprinkling on mozzarella cheese, next spreading pizza sauce, adding even more cheese, then popping it all into the oven for a little more crisping and melting. Brooklyn wanted it on Sunday, too, so we did it all over again just for her. She's the oldest, and I want to give her a little extra consideration when I can, because being the oldest is sometimes a bit of a hardship. Just ask my sister Becky. I remember my Grandma Jennie telling me that once when our parents were taking all seven of us on an outing to someplace or other, that Becky told them she had a stomachache. So they left her with grandma. As soon as our car pulled away, Becky said, "I'm not really sic, Grandma, I just needed to get those kids out of my hair." I imagine we also fell into the trap of piling too much responsibility on Ethan's shoulders when he was a little boy. I hope that playing in Grandma Miriam's huge yard gave him the chance to just be a carefree child for awhile, without having to worry about looking after his little brothers. As much as I can, I want to find ways to let each child know that they are special, unique, appreciated, and loved, just the way they are.

Brooklyn's Baptism

I'm honored to have been asked to talk at Brooklyn's baptism on her special day, Aug. 6, 2011. I didn't write anything down, so here's my best recollection of what I said.

Well, Brooklyn, Grandpa Dan and I just finished spending a wonderful week with you and some of your cousins. The fun started last week at Riverside Park in La Grande, OR, at a birthday picnic for your Mom and Zaid, where we picked you up and brought you home with us for a few days. I think you found out that Grandma can do lots of things, but that I need to call on others for help sometimes, too. For instance, remember when I was making rolls, or actually pigs in blankets? After I oiled the cookie sheets, I couldn't find the lid to the bottle of olivve oil. You were playing a computer game with Tori and Juli and Christian, but I needed help, so I called you to come find it for me. I certainly didn't want to spill that big bottle of oil all over the place! I needed your keen eyesight again when I was making cupcakes. Two bottles, one for almond extract and the other of red food coloring, felt exactly alike. Ah sure, I would've sniffed them to tell which was which if no one had been around, but then I might have tinted the end of my nose red, and that wouldn't have been too cool. So I asked you (or was it Tori?) and I used each of them at the proper time in my recipe.

Over the years, I've made a few rules to help make it easier for me to try and keep my house safe and clean. You know that I always remind people to eat in the kitchen, or in the dining room, or outside on the patio. Someone forgot that rule, and Uncle Greg had to vacuum up a crumbled up granola bar he found in the fairy room when he was helping me get ready for my Primary class's cupcake party.

Another rule I want everybody to follow is for people to drink all of whatever's in their cup. Too often I've been clearing or wiping the table or the counter, and suddenly, kerplunk, there's a bump and a splash, and somebody's leftover juice is spilling all over my hand, onto the table, and down onto to the floor. Oh no! If we just follow a few simple rules, things stay much cleaner!

Heavenly Father has given us a few rules, or commandments, too, that will help us keep our lives safe and clean so that we can live with Him again someday. I think He misses us and wants us with Him, pretty much like Grandpa and I miss you. Baptism is the gateway into His kingdom. We make promises to Him when we're baptized, and He makes promises to us. I have to ask your Dad to read some verses from the Book of Mormon for me, because even though I grabbed this big volume of the book of Mormon to read, (which is only 1 of 6 volumes) the page I need is missing. So Ethan, will you please read Mosiah 18 : 8 through 10?

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Did you hear the promises we make? We'll help other people, and keep the commandments. And what does He promise to us? That He will pour out His Spirit upon us even more than before, which your Grandma Vickkie will talk about, and that we'll come forth in the first resurrection. That's really really good. When the people Alma was teaching heard this, they clapped their hands for joy! That's how I felt when I heard you wanted to be baptized, too!

Now, as we've established, Grandma Bonnie can't see well at all, so I often need to ask for help. But our Father in Heaven can see everything. He can see the past, the present, the future. He can see into our hearts and into our minds, while we can only see one another's face. He is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful. When you need help with anything, anything at all, you can call to Him for help, Brooklyn, just the way I called to you for help last week. I pray that you will keep His commandments, that we will all keep them. But because He is all-wise, He knows that sometimes we might make mistakes, or be tricked or tempted into getting off the straight and narrow path that leads to true happiness. He's given us repentance so that we can get back on track if we lose our way. Through His love for us, and the Savior's atonement, obedience, and repentance, we can be safe, clean, and happy forever. I love you, Brooklyn, and I am so happy that you are being baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. I was baptized when I was about your age. The gospel has helped me have a happy life. I know its true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Ladybug Ball

The Ladybug Ball capped off a week of supercharged fun with 4 of our 11 grandkids, Brooklyn, Tori, Juli, and Christian. On Monday, we took our first trip of many to come to Sandy Point at Lucky Peak State Park. Here we'd thought Pineview Reservoir in UT was great, while all along we had an even better swimming hole only 10 to 15 miles from our front door! Colin and Macey made a special pizza delivery to our patio that evening for dinner. On Tuesday, Greg took the kidlets to the movies while I hosted a cupcake party for our Primary class. Our cutest in the world co-teacher, Kylie, is flying out to teach English in Korea, and we wanted to give her a sweet send-off. I always, always gets stressed right before any dinner or party we put together, so I'm grateful for the help Dan and Greg gave me in getting ready for this one. It was a fun success! That evening, Grandpa Dan took us to the Greenbelt for a hike. We found his favorite tree there. On Wednesday, we did more cupcakes with the grandkids, and Greg took them to enjoy the many delights of Settlers Park and then to the pool, both in Meridian. Then we all gathered for a meal at Pizza Hut, where Macey was our hostess with the mostest. NO wonder she keeps getting promoted there.

On Thursday, our friend Ally came over and got the kids ready for the main event, the Ladybug Ball. She didn't even know she could choriograph, but she did it, and she also outfitted the girls in very cute costumes, picked roses from her own garden to put in their hair, and was kind and patient throughit all. She's 12-years-old. and she's just so amazingly kind, compassionate, and aware of what needs to be done, and then she does it. I am so lucky I got to know this great Primary class of girls (and boys).

So, we started off with a light summery supper of ladybug skewers attached to a honeydew melon leaf, topped by a peach flower, straight from the kitchen of Brianna and Jason. Pigs in a blanket and Mr. Crazy Hairdo salad-on-a-stick took us from the sublime to the not so sublime. Later, after the big show, we served up blackberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream.

But the show, the show! It was sho' 'nuff worth the drive. We sprung the big surprise on the kids first off, a jumbo inflatable ball they could roll around in. Kudos to Greg for blowing it up! He also blew up the big orka whale they played with and rode on at Sandy Point. The ball almost upstaged the show, but order was restored at last, because, you know, the show must go on! First number featured Grandma Bonnie and the little ones singing a catchy repeating song called Out in the Woods.. Second up was Miss Brooklyn energetically clogging to the zippy I Want Candy. Jason then wowed us with his juggling prowess. Next up, it was Allie's turn to somersault her way into our hall of fame with her gymnastics. She's good! Brianna's yoga moves, poses, whatever they're called, defied gravity, leaving us wondering how she does it! And then, the cutest act of the evening, a rare visit from the fairies. Fairies are quite remarkable, you know, they learned this new fairy dance, Fly to Your Heart, in just one day.

Afterward, Christian put on a little warrior flute dance for us, and Greg was a verry, very good sport by being a willing target for the kids' water bombs. Aunt Jamie made the colorful sponges for just such an occasion. Hey, Colin was supposed to be a target, too, but he forgot and joined in throwing them at his brother instead. So that's a wrap up of the fabulous week we're just finishing up today. Tomorrow we'll be happily attending Brooklyn's baptism.

You Know How I Feel

I had a birthday, shout hurray!

Yep I turned 60 yesterday!

One year older and wiser too,

Birthday wishes came true!

It's so great to loveand be loved. Thank you, thank you all!

Memorable Toast

Our good friends, Rick and JoLyn, paid us 2 visits this month, on their way to and from Utah. We devoured the killer coconut brownies too quickly to snap a picture, but here's part of our patriotic breakfast, all-American toast.

Spread the toast with cream cheese, then raspberry or strawberry jam. Then add a field of blueberries in the upper lefthand corner with a few stars of cream cheese on top, and red and white stripes of sliced bananas and jam. Yum! I also served red, white, and blue boiled eggs, and little meat sticks (sausages might work better) with a toothpick inserted in one end to resemble fireworks.

And why is there a hanger on the table? Well, I didn't realize it was there until Julie mentioned it. But, it just may be a reminder of Benjamin Franklin's statement, "We must all hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately". This was in reference to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Brave patriots, our founding forefathers!