Seattle

Layne has been feeling better and better this week.  Whatever made him sick last week really took it out of him.  Today is his third blessing (I know I'll stop counting at some point, but not today) and he is feeling a little dizzy.  I think it is because he is fasting for the blessing.  But he will not compromise himself by taking a drink.  He has a steel will about those things.  His philosophy is that his body is not in control; HE is.  I admire that.  It usually works well for him.  Here's hoping he will make it through the blessing without swooning.

We left our temple shift early on Wednesday to catch a flight to Seattle.  For the first time ever on the flight to Seattle there was tons of room; so much so that even we standbys had not a worry of getting on.  Our visit with Chris and Jes was great.  She has just about the neatest used book store I've ever seen.  I promise that this is not a biased view point; the girl has a knack for making things look inviting.  Her little shop appears to be gaining a following, which is a very good thing.  She is no longer in the red.  But, as she says, she could not make a living at running it.  Profitable or not, she seems to love it.  She has a serious thing for books.  Perhaps I have a little of that as well.  I managed to find 6 books that I could not resist buying.

It is good to feel good about family.  Chris and Jes both have good hearts and a desire to do what is right.  Their three children appear to be doing fine.  I'm looking forward to visiting more often and getting a better read on these cute blond grandkids.  Jes and I spent an hour or so in their hot tub.  Wow.  I want one of those.  Not only do they warm you up on the outside, but somehow promote communication that warms up the inside.  It's cold in Seattle.  But after our hour in the tub all was warm and cozy.

Here's a crazy picture of Chris and Jessica's three children:
Peyton, Gemma and Miles, posing for me.

We are home again, blessed once again with a flight to San Francisco empty enough to fit us comfortably within.  What an amazing time of year for standbys to travel.  I'm glad to live at a time when it is all so easy.  And now, let the holidays begin!

Our Newest Grandsons

Jonathan, born in September, with Allegra

Bruce, born in January, with Layne

Home

These past two weeks have provided me with 14 days at home with no distractions.  What a gift of time!  I can't help feeling a bit heady about it.  I'm making all sorts of plans for getting projects on their way to being done.  My mind is exploding with ideas.  The trouble is, I get started on one idea and then get another, and so it goes.  When I actually finish something it is a joy.  So I'm hoping that I can do more of it.

Layne gave his second blessing a week ago.  This time he began praying about the person way ahead of time and got lots of inspiration during the preceding week.  What a help it was.  I think he is beginning to get the Patriarch thing into a more comfortable place.  He spent lots of time rigging up a contraption to hold the recording microphone in just the right place when he gives blessings.  I'm amazed at how he can maneuver things to serve his needs.  In this case he took a desk lamp with a moveable arm, cut off the light, adapted a part from something else that would hold his microphone and  put it all together in just the right way.  The moveable arm can place the microphone just where he wants it, leaving his hands free.  He has such a knack!  I love that about him.  Perhaps all those boxes of extra parts from various things he has saved are worth the space they take.  It seems so!

Sometimes, among all the friends one collects over a lifetime, a few emerge that become "kindred spirits".  These friends have a direct road into my thoughts and my feelings.  They do because their roads are so very much like mine.  I have several friends like that.  One of them is Trudy Ostler.  She and her husband have been on a mission in Fiji for three years.  So I was excited when she said they were coming here for a visit.  Their plan was to come this past Friday.  As serendipity would have it, another of my kindred spirits called and visited on that same day.  Jody Jensen and her husband Jerry had lunch with us.  Bill and Trudy Ostler came for dinner and an overnight.  What a feast of intimacy that day became!  It has been sad for me to see all of those special friends come in and then out of my life, as they move away and settle in other, far away, places.  But on Friday, my plate was full.

Layne took me on a date last week.  It is worth a blog mention because it rarely happens.  We have become quite the stay-at-homers.  But BYU's Ballroom Dance Team came to town last weekend.  I talked Layne into taking me.  He will usually bend to my dancing wishes as he knows it is such a passion for me.  He's great that way.  So we went.  We were both dazzled by their performance!  Even my non-dancing Layne loved it.  It just goes to show that there are a number of things well worth coming out of the house for.  But first we have to get out the front door.  That seems to be the hardest part of all.

Jody and me

Our front view early in the morning

Speaking of Layne, he got sick today.  This is also worth mentioning because it rarely happens.  But it seemed to have passed quickly.  He is now sleeping peacefully with high hopes of feeling pretty normal by tomorrow.  There is nothing like feeling miserable to remind us of how great it is to feel good.  I'm grateful that good is how we feel almost all of the time.

Layne's First Blessing

Layne ready to give a Blessing

Busy-ness does not lend itself to meditation.  This has been another week crammed with activity, including some more time with Ben and Jes.  I enjoy that.  In fact, I enjoy all the rush of things.  That is my trouble.  I fill my time with all sorts of things that must be done, but that I also like doing.  Time rushes by and I worry sometimes that I'm missing time to make sense of it all and use it better.

We have had a major rain storm already!  Cloudy skies are my favorite kind of sky.  The ground is now soft and workable.  I've been spending time digging in it, trying to get our front yard presentable.  What fun it is to play in the dirt.

We have been asked to perform in Nutcracker, on Temple Hill, again this year.  Practice has begun, with a new director.  She is a no-nonsense kind of girl with big ideas about how we should appear on stage.  More grace in movement and heads up at all times for best stage projection.  Hum.  Layne's part has also expanded a bit.  He is the grandpa, if you remember, who has a dance centered around him and a small solo part where he dances and hurts his back.  I can't help giggling to myself when I think how we wandered into this experience.  This man of man who doesn't like performing, or dancing is doing it...again!

And speaking of this man, Layne gave his first Patriarchal Blessing today.  He was one stressed guy, but it worked out just fine.  He did a great job and the young woman he blessed loved it.  So it all worked out.  He is greatly relieved and will be much calmer for the next blessing.  At least I think he will.  We will soon find out as he is scheduled to give another one next Sunday.

Conference Weekend

Layne watching Conference with Jonathan

Food and paper work keep Jacqueline and Tim entertained,
at least some of the time.

 There are times when I have to think to remember what day it is.  Lots of activity does that kind of thing to me.  I spent some time with Ben and Jes, as planned, early this week.  This time I had more clothes and a better plan.  lt was fun spending time there and figuring out how to organize things in a pleasing way for the kids.  Somehow organizing appeals to me.  It has taken me some time to figure out how to do it but I'm making progress.  I find, though, that the busy household at Ben and Jessica's takes some getting used to.  My own household was once busy but I'm used to quiet times now.  I guess that is the old lady in me.

So it was sweet to return to my fairly quiet husband and home.  Finally, after a couple of weeks, we harvested the garden.  Layne has figured out how to grow vegetables here, at last.  So our garden is really putting out this year.  So tempting a place is it that the local deer have figured out how to slip their way under the garden fence!  But Layne is philosophical.  The garden is big enough for them and us now.  So we'll share.  Our garden haul was big.  I spent two days bottling and drying its bounty.  Standing on my feet all day is an exhausting activity.  I guess I'd be happy to not have such a garden haul, for a little while anyhow.

Church General Conference was this weekend.  We loved doing activities that put us in front of the TV for each and every session.  I found it very inspiring.  Sunday found all the local kids sharing it all with us.  I tried to provide Conference activities and goodies to keep the little ones busy.  It worked some of the time.  I know it sounds crazy, but after conference I dressed the kids in nativity clothes for Christmas photos.  I'm planning ahead you see.  I have plans for the photos, come Christmas.  I'm determined to be ready this year and enjoy the season without stress.  What do you think; is it possible?

Daughter-in-law Dorothy and Bruce Galbraith

Mary (Jacqueline) and Joseph (Vincent) with the
baby Jesus (Jonathan--isn't he perfect for the part?)

Jonathan Henry Galbraith

This past week began as a nice normal week; the first one we've had for awhile.  But by Wednesday night that all changed as we were awakened by a call from our son, Ben.  His Jessica was in labor and they needed me to come and stay with the children while she went to the hospital.  This is baby number 6.  I decided that I best not hesitate.  So I threw a few things together and headed to Palo Alto, arriving sometime after midnight.  They headed out and I fell on top of their bed, clothes and all, and attempted to sleep through what remained of the night.

Five little kids were surprised to find me instead of their parents Thursday morning.  But, following Ben's written instructions, we got through their routine and delivered the school kids on time.  A healthy 9 pound plus baby boy arrived that morning!  Each anticipated child brings prayers for health and strength.  Our prayers were answered yet again with this little boy.  You may imagine the excitement that followed as the children found out about their new little brother.  Ben drove all of us to the hospital Thursday night to visit and see the baby.  It was a wild time as all competed to hold him at once.  But patient parents gave each child their special time, in turn.

Jonathan, one day old

The kids visit mom Jessica.  Jonathan is in
there, somewhere.

Arrived September 22, 2011:  Jonathan Henry Galbraith    

These grandchildren are an energetic bunch but were very good at following their grandmother's instructions.  They were all mine Thursday and Friday.  I cleaned, washed, cooked and organized in an effort to have all ready for our new little boy.  I somehow didn't foresee spending this much time away from home.  I only brought one outfit, which I wore for three days.  I got pretty sick of it!  On Saturday Ben and Jes returned home, with their special bundle.  Later in the day I finally returned home, so happy for the safe arrival of the baby and also happy to be able to return home.  Home.  It seems like such a long time since I've spent much time there.

Today (Sunday) Ben and Jes asked me to come back and help for a couple more days.  This time I'm taking more clothes.

My Husband the Patriarch

Colorado Monument, located close to Grand Junction
and visited by Elaine and me.

Brynn Jansan and new husband Roy Long

Buddy Elaine Conlon in front of part of Gateway Canyons,
a get-away near Grand Junction.

I wrote this entry a week ago but had endless problems inserting the pictures.  I am settling for this format a week later.  So the entry 
below is actually dated
SEPTEMBER 18, 2011


Sometimes life is too full to be captures by a few words.   I've been gone for 2 1/2 weeks. It has given me a special appreciation for home.  Colorado was my home for those few weeks.  I spent some time with Colorado friend, Elaine Conlon.  We had tons of fun together, driving around the show spots of Grand Junction and watching a movie each night before going to bed, early.  The early to bed thing was necessary, as Elaine is a very early riser and walker.  So, for a couple of weeks, was I.  The Colorado stay ended in Cedaredge, where I helped my sister Maryanne and hub Bob clean out Mom's home and hold a two-day garage sale.  We got rid of lots of stuff.  Bob and Mar stayed on another week to finish the clearing out, making Mom's home rather a sterile place, with most signs of her life there removed.  The result left with it a sadness, particularly felt by Bob and Maryanne as they pulled away and headed for their home.  I won't return there now until, possibly, spring.  We can take our time sorting the remaining of Mom's possessions.  The renters move in October first.  It is hard to say how our relationship with the Ranch will go.  I'm not sure how I feel about being there with Mom and Dad removed from it.  Perhaps it will not call to me; or perhaps it still will.  Time will tell.

I came home a week ago tomorrow.  How sweet it is to be home!  How wonderful everything looks.  Being gone from Layne for such a long time gave me a longing for him.   I was especially happy to see him and feel his arms around me once again.  I believe that absence is often a good thing.  It makes me appreciate the people in my life even more.  It's nice to find friends in family.

Just a couple of days after my return, Layne and I headed to Arizona, where our Mongolian daughter Brynn Jansan, got married to a man named Roy Long.  We went with some reservations.  Roy is a very nice man, but much older than Brynn and not a member of the Church.  They seem to have nothing in common.  But the wedding was lovely.  Roy made arrangements for us to stay at a vintage hotel in Tucon, where they were also married.  It was a beautiful place, full of interesting history.  We met and enjoyed Roy's family, who all love Brynn and were very supportive of the wedding.  So I feel a bit better about their chances for happiness.  All that family support can only be good.

Son Ben's second daughter, Alexis, was baptized on Saturday.  All the local family gathered for the occasion.  It was a lovely time seeing the excitement in Alexis' eyes and then enjoying Ben's chicken, cooked with his special vinegar and tomato recipe.  Yum.  Ben's Jessica is very pregnant with their 6th child.  It is scheduled to be a boy.  That will give us 21 grandchildren!  I'm thinking that is all we may get.

Here's the special news:  Layne was ordained to be a patriarch today!  Can you imagine it!  It still cannot.  Never in my wildest thoughts could I have anticipated that he would do this.  His ordination was pronounced by the Stake President, Kendall Cooper.  He covered just about everything imaginable in his comments and blessing.  I was set apart to assist.  So there you have it; our lives are forever changed, or soon will be.  How is a patriarch supposed to live?  Behave?  I guess we'll soon find out.  In the meantime, Layne has decided not to watch his favorite TV program, NCIS, anymore.  Yep, he's cleaning up his act.  Here's hoping that all will work as it should and he will feel the Lord's inspiration as he blesses members of the stake.  As the stake president said, he is now a prophet, seer and revelator to those who come to him for blessings.  But no pressure.

Son Ben and daughter Alexis
on her baptism day.

Layne's ordination to Patriarch, with family members present:
James, Layne, me Cliff, Reed, Scott, Rayne, Allegra, & Audrey