Lots of stuff

This morning I rode to Church with my son-in-law, Cliff, and my three grandchildren. I sat between Allegra and Isaiah in the back seat. On the way Isaiah pulled out a piece of gum and very carefully opened the stick and divided it into as close to three perfect pieces as he could do. Then he carefully refolded the foil wrapping to look like brand new. Would you call his exactness overkill? Would you say he is a bit over the top in the structured department? Perhaps I would agree. But I am so much like him! Yesterday, as I worked in the kitchen, I took open joy in having everything there organized just the way I want it to be. Almost the whole house is organized to meet my internal need for structure and order. Am I becoming an extremist do you think?

This week has been all about stuff as I pursued my non-people goals. I sewed, washed, worked in the yard and on the computer. I relished not calling or visiting anyone (with one very pleasant exception). I pushed my people goals out of this week and into the next. It was a nice change. As I grow older I find that my normally social preferences are being modified by a growing enjoyment of solitude. Now if I could just clear my head and use my meditating time to thoroughly ponder the deeper things of life without allowing it to become distracted by my tendency for multi-tasking and multi-thinking!

Saturday was the main exception to my week of stuff. We celebrated grandson Chase's actual birthday with a dinner of ribs with our Adams-Hart family. Chase turned 18. Today he was ordained an Elder by his father, Cliff. So now he is Elder Adams-Hart. He is a good-sized Elder, standing at least 6 feet 3 inches and growing! To his delight, he towers over his father and can look his grandfather in the eye. He has become a young man of integrity with the purest of hearts. I'm thankful for him. You can see him here opening his gifts from his other grandmother, who specializes in giving gifts of snacks. In the background, you can see our front yard, with some plants attempting to grow. With luck, if they take hold, we can plant more and, at last, have a yard of growing things. Life of all sorts enriches the soul!

Connections

In the people versus stuff war I often choose poorly. What I mean is, I am so very goal oriented that I let my various projects and assignments take over my life and thus miss opportunities for more important people bonding. But this past week was all about people.

I may have mentioned earlier that we have 5 family birthdays in close proximity in June and July. Most of those 5 took me up on my offer to shop with them rather than accept a gift of my choice. Monday was Audrey's shopping day. We hit gold with our efforts to find things that pleased her. It was a very satisfying shopping effort. And I didn't even buy a thing for myself, which I am often tempted to do when exposed to the array of things to purchase. I remember once again what a joy to my heart it is to please someone else. Especially someone I love a lot.

My son Gerald, the son who lives in Taiwan with his family, is coming to the States next week. He is bringing his own family and some exchange students from their English classes for a month's tour of the West. This time they are beginning their tour in Seattle. The problem is, his car is parked at our place. Getting it to Seattle in time for their arrival became the errand of Audrey and myself. We decided to drive it north on Wednesday afternoon, after my service in the Temple. Audrey loves to drive, so she drove the whole way. We had a lovely time together. We stayed in a motel Wednesday night, in Grant's Pass. Then comfortably on to Seattle, via a short stop at Salem, Oregon, where we visited a special couple named Max and Carol Chancellor. As we drove I marveled once again at the magic of it. It is amazing to be able to move through space at a speed we choose and a temperature quite apart from what nature offers. It was a hot trip, but, for us, in the comfort of a new car, the perfect climate control. The views and the company were lovely and our temporary stay in the motel was comfortable and pleasant. Isn't it an amazing time to live when we can move through our lives in such luxury and comfort?

The Chancellors lost two grown sons in death, within a month of each other. It happened shortly before we lost our own Carmen. Their deaths were a shock that will take some time to get over, as you may imagine. Audrey and I stopped to visit them in Salem on our way to Seattle. It was such a pleasure to spend time with them. You can see Max and Carol here, standing with their daughter, Becky, on their front porch. We talked our way into two hours and toured their beautiful home and yard. They are surrounded by green. I compared it in my mind to our own brown hills and must agree that I prefer green.

We spent what remained of Thursday and Friday with my daughter Jessica and her family in Seattle. Their little daughter, Peyton, turned 5 on Friday. I was happy to be there to celebrate with her. You can see her here opening one of her gifts. Family bonding is such a joy to me. We had a pleasant time living in their world for a day. I am grateful for sweet feelings with family. I appreciate each person and, especially on this Friday, the personalities of Chris and Jessica and their three children.

Audrey and I were blessed to catch an early United flight into San Francisco on Saturday morning. We even rode First Class. That is always a special blessing since we fly stand-by and are lucky to find a seat at all. Lucky we were. We spent most of the week together and it was such a pleasure. I find the company of my children pleasant, to the last one.

Independence Day is important to me. We spent most of Saturday morning preparing for the arrival of the local family and a celebration of our freedom. We ate, played, talked about our Independence and raised a brand new flag in our yard. At the top you can see our littlest granddaughter, Abigail, sporting a patriotic hat. We also celebrated those 5 birthdays I mentioned earlier. It was a joyful time. I hope our grandchildren, and the rest of the rising generation, will catch the importance of our country's system of government. At least the system that was put in place by our inspired Founding Fathers. There is much change on the horizon and it worries me a great deal. We have been so blessed as a nation. Will it continue?

The Best Laid Plans

Layne and I returned home from delivering Mom to Colorado late Monday night. Tuesday I spent the day lounging about and feasting upon the notion that I didn't HAVE to do anything. Wednesday we served in the temple and did catch-up errands in the afternoon.

Early in the week I felt euphoric about the time that loomed before me. It looked like several weeks of delicious openness. So I planned what to do with this gift of time. I have quite a backlog of activities that need addressing. It was such fun to schedule them into the few weeks that I will be away from Mom. I began working on my list in earnest, but, alas, others in my life had other ideas for the use of my time!

The end of June brings with it 4 birthday celebrations; one daughter (Audrey) and three grandchildren (Allegra-14, Scott-13, Jacqueline-7). In addition, the beginning of July brings two more (Chase-18, Peyton-5). You can imagine the shopping nightmare this represents. I have taken to offering to buy the local grandchildren a gift, or taking them shopping and letting them choose for themselves. This year Scott and Allegra wanted to shop. So I spent Thursday shopping with them. It was lots of fun, I will admit that. Then Isaiah approached me with a vision of a gift he wanted to make for his sister, Allegra. Well, actually, he wanted me to make it. And buy the materials for it. Hum. So, Isaiah and I also went shopping and he stood over me while I made his vision a reality. I will admit, he contributed to the cost and he also did some of the sewing. But Friday was filled with that project. Except for one more activity.

Chase talked Isaiah into letting me cut his hair very short. I am seen as the major hair-cutter in the family at this particular time. So out came the clippers with the correct attachment, and I did the job, quite well if I do say so. As I looked over my work, I noticed a stray hair or two on the top of Isaiah's head that I missed. So I took the clippers back out and, forgetting that I had already removed the attachment for cutting the right length, I roared through the top of his head with the unadorned clippers. Can you picture the result? My perfect job now had a stip of totally bald head, right in the middle of Isaiah's head! It happened in an instant! Isaiah was shocked, and so were Chase and I. I colored his head with felt tip pen so it would blend in and cut the rest of his hair as short as I dared. But he has worn his baseball hat ever since. Hum. So much for my expert barbering. I wonder if he'll ask me to cut his hair again. Stay tuned.

Saturday looked good. We helped a friend move in the morning, but the afternoon was looking wide open and full of possibilities. Then Ben called wondering if he could drop off three of his babes while he did some needed things of his own. Who am I to pass up the chance to have my babies with me? "Of course," I said. So on they came. We spent the rest of the day together. I loved it, of course. But another day passed without my goals even being started. "People over stuff" I always tell myself. And I believe that. Perhaps I am lucky after all. There are so many people in my life to love and spend time with. Maybe that really is the best goal to reach for.

At the top you see the Thursday shoppers, Allegra and Scott. Farther down is Isaiah, and, if you look closely at the bottom picture you can see my major hair faux paux.

Colorful Colorado

We spent the last 10 days with my mom in Colorado. What a beautiful place! We arrived on Saturday of last week and entered a clean, cheery little house (hers). In spite of being empty for the past several months, the house and yard never looked better. It is an embracing little house. Perhaps part of its embrace lies in the memories associated with it. But as you see it here, can you deny its charm?

Mom was undeniably happy to be home. But since she broke her hip, her demeanor is noticeably diminished. She is coming to the conclusion, I think, that she will very likely not be able to return to her former life of full activity. I believe she will need us from now on as well. She finds that idea very difficult to swallow. Her home therapy is in place and all seems organized for her comfort and growth while she is there. Maryanne and Bob arrived on the weekend and will take over her care for the next few weeks. I think it will be a good experience for Maryanne and Mom both to be together. It has been Mom and me for the past 7 months. Mom was worried when we left and I think she will miss us, but I also think she will enjoy the coming weeks.

So, for the next little while, I am a free woman. I spent today relaxing and making plans for the time up to our return to Colorado. And I have such plans! I am bubbling over with enthusiasm for all that I hope to accomplish. I'm very good at making plans. Carrying them out is my downfall. But I have my weeks all scheduled out, so we'll see how I do.

Pictured you see the front of Mom's home, Maryanne already on the job in the kitchen and Mom sitting in her chair in the kitchen.

A Graduation!

I almost forgot to mention, with all the recent events, that a very important milestone has been achieved by our grandson, Chase. He graduated from High School! It is official. Here is a picture of him in his post-high school state. No more seminary either! He is busy finishing up his Scout Eagle Project and then he will be ready for whatever future he wants to create. His Eagle Project involved collecting money and goods for the Family House, in San Francisco, where Dorothy and Carmen stayed, for free, during her cancer treatments. It is a wonderful way to pay them back for the service they give to so many families struggling with disease. I am so thrilled with, and grateful for, this bright, good-hearted grandson!

Keeping a Promise

We had to talk Mom into coming home with us last October. We promised her that if she would spend the winter with us in California, we would take her home to Colorado for the summer. Our promise should have been fulfilled before now, but she broke her hip, which put off the move. After spending almost a week with her at our home, we packed up and drove her home to Colorado, using her red Envoy to transport us. Mom sat in the front seat with Layne and I was relegated to the back seat. We started out early on last Friday morning and drove to Reno, where we lunched with one of our Mongolian daughters, Bayaraa, and her husband Ryan Hopkins, and their two little sons. It was a sweet pleasure to see one of our girls so happy!

We arrived in Salt Lake late Friday night and went to son Gerald's home in Draper to spend the night. Gerald and his wife Frances have two homes in Draper. One is rented out but the other is empty; fully stocked and saved for their visits to the States. Right now no one is there, so we enjoyed a large, empty but fully stocked home for the night. It was way better than a motel! Except that we had to maneuver mom up several stairs in her wheel-chair. That took some doing but we managed it. The accompanying picture shows Mom in her car, in Gerald's garage. She looks pretty good for 11:00 at night, don't you think?

What I must say about Gerald and Frances' home is that they have an amazing "theater" room in the basement. It was created for them by a very artistic contractor who wanted to practice his art before offering it to the general public. So they got a deal on the project. In the accompanying picture you can see the front of the room, where a projection TV will focus it's images on a screen, lowered over the scene you see here. The whole room is like a step into the red rock country, complete with a tree in one corner. He created it all out of concrete. Wow! I've never seen anything like it, especially in a home. Wouldn't it be fun to create something like that in your home space? I'm thinking about that.

On Saturday, after a brief visit with my sister Maryanne and her husband Bob, we drove to Cedaredge, arriving in the afternoon. Walking into her home felt so natural; like we were gone only to the store or on a short drive. Her place has never looked better. It is clean and straight, and the yard is beautiful. There is a special feeling about this place. I'm sure it has nothing to do with my own sentiments. It is a nurturing place. I'm happy to be here. Layne and Mom are too! And so, at last, our promise is kept. We are home.

Catching Up

Sometimes things happen so quickly that one must pause for awhile to catch up. A week ago our daughter Jessica (to be distinguished from our daughter-in-law Jessica) came for the weekend, bringing her daughter Gemma with her. I would love to say that she missed me so much that she simply had to come. But, actually, she came to attend the wedding of a dear friend. But I rather think she wanted to see us too! It is always wonderful to have family with me once again. To add to that pleasure, there was a full moon that weekend. I have a thing about full moons. They must be basked in. So we took pictures outside under the moon and I kissed Layne under the moon as well. That is a tradition with me; I must kiss him at each full moon. Oh, and I kiss him other times as well! In the picture here, Gemma is standing on our front porch with the moon behind her. Lovely, isn't it?

Daughter-in-law Jessica and kids came to visit daughter Jessica during that weekend. After their chat, we took a 4 generation picture of Jessica (mine), Gemma, me and Mom. Also included is a picture of Jacqueline and Lexie with Mom. It was fun to be all together for a short time.

I almost forgot to mention that I brought Mom home from the nursing home on Friday of last week, just before Jessica came! She and I agree that the workers at that place are universally fine. They took very good care of her and did their best to offer her the therapy she needed. But she has returned home in much weaker shape. Of course, she broke her hip and that explains that. She is now afraid to use that side. But we are working on that. I exercised her right up until this past Friday, when we brought her home to Colorado. But that is a different story, which I will tell in the very next post.