Do You Hear What I Hear?

We woke up today, and I said, "Duff, listen to that!"

He rolled over and said, "What?"

"Do you hear that?"

"No."

"Exactly! It's QUIET! and STILL!"

We never got out of our jammies today. Just now brushed our teeth. Got the trees good and watered, light bulbs changed, napped, read. Ahhhhh. Sweet Divine Goodness!

Where Are We?

We got off the plane, headed up and over the mountain, stopped and got corn on the cobb, tomatoes, and Green River Watermelon for lunch at a roadside stand. De-lish-ous!

Yes, you guessed it! We are in Midway at the cabin. Just Duff and I! A little R and R after the wedding and some BYU football 'business'! Tonight we are going to a dinner with Bronco Mendenhall and Robbie Bosco. Duff is in heaven!

I'll report back later!

(Okay--I had NO IDEA! Yeah, we went to a football dinner all right. There is this new booster group at the Y called the Coaches Circle and Duff told me a while ago that he joined us up, but I just assumed it was part of the Cougar Club. Well, it is, but an additional part. I really didn't pay that much attention to what he was telling me about it at the time. Well,it was their 1st Inagural dinner last night and that is what we went to. There are only 148 members or something like that. There were about 100 of us there last night. We ate in the Blue Zone room under the west bleachers at the stadium. Tucanos catered. YUM!

We sat down, and a couple comes over and asks if they can join us at our table. We said of course! Turns out the guy was Oscar Mink and his daughter and he served his mission with Duff in Colorado! Boy did they have fun reminiscing! But I guess what I was not prepared for was that LaVell Edwards and his wife were there, Robbie Bosco, Tom Holmoe, Bronco Mendenhall, and Dave Rose (bball head coach) were all there sitting one table away. Oh, and also President Samuelson and his wife. You know, just an ordinary day in the life of Don and Cindy--NOT!! They had highlight video playing as we arrived on big flat screens all over the room. We got 'stuff' to take home too. And they even thought of us wives: Big Salt City candle jars! (which the candle lover in me was very excited about along with the football) They all gave speeches, updates, and then a Q & A where we could ask any questions we wanted. We learned some very interesting facts, information, and perspectives!

While we were in the buffet line, we met a man whose sister is a big time politician in our neck of the woods. Our boys all have recognition certificates for their Eagle Scout from her. Anyway--he asked us where we stayed when we come up. We told him we have a cabin here. He asked where, and it got around to the fact that we bought it from BYU/church. His eyes got wide and he asked us if it was Cougarhaven. We said, yes. He told us that he had been there before and loved it and that 'they' are really missing not having it anymore! He kept saying, so you're who bought it, so you're who bought it. He was happy that we were BYU fans and would carry on Cougarhaven!

So, what an evening! I guess I better pay more attention when Duff signs us up for things!

More Wedding Pictures!

My neighbor, Mary sent these to me today. How many guests do you know who take their camera to a wedding reception??? Thank You, Miss Mary!

The bouquet toss! Natalie faked them all out with a false start, but 2nd time around Melanie and Christine battled it out for the flowers. Mel got it, and in the end gave it to Christine after all because she didn't want to have to take it home to Utah on the airplane! So nice Mel!

Here is the ice carving. It is a beautiful vase. Sue did the gorgeous flower arrangement in the top. It had shrimp, lemon wedges, and cocktail sauce with appetizer plates and napkins. The lighting on it was magnificent.

Another one of them cutting the cake. This was the white with fresh strawberry layer. It was a beautiful cake. Try clicking on the picture to enlarge it to see the detail on it. She also chose: chocolate w/ chocolate mousse filling, white with raspberry filling, marble w/ chocolate mousse, and carrot cake.

Mary captured me dancing! The DJ did an awesome job. Natalie told him she wanted it fun but not to turn into a 'prom'. He blended some big band, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Earth-Wind-and Fire, Beach Boys, Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Natasha Bedingfield, Lionel Richie, etc. It WAS fun. Our guests danced until the bitter end!

The photographer couldn't resist with the Beach Boys and Beatles! Here he is dancing with my sister Lisa.

5.8 Earthquake!

HOLY CRAP! Just when I think things are settling down in my life since the wedding, we get jolted this morning with a whopper of an earthquake!

I DO NOT do earthquakes well! They absolutely scare the be-gee-bees out of me. It doesn't matter if they are big ones or little ones--I freak out. I am calm on the outside because I am the 'MOTHER' and need to hold it together, but on the inside I am jello. Even the dog was scared! Her little heart didn't settle down for quite a while.

It was at 11:42 a.m. centered in Chino Hills/Yorba Linda area. Not far from us at all.

The same lady who always comes on tv from Cal Tech earthquake labs is on right now--you know the one with the really short gray hair-- and I'd like to smack her. She is very knowledgeable, BUT she is kind of laughing and smiling and saying that "well, some people might say this is only a 'moderate' quake". I don't know where she was when it hit, but it didn't seem like that to the reporters asking her questions.

Finally A Few Pictures!

I don't have one dang picture of the wedding! Being the m.o.b. (mother of the bride) I was too busy greeting, mingling, overseeing, to use my camera for ANYTHING. So I am at the mercy of whoever took pictures and knows how to put them on the computer and email them to me! I know my sis and dad have some, but these are from Britta who sent them over today. Thank You, Britta!

The bride and groom coming out of the temple. Duff brought the wrong bouquet, so this is Christine's maid of honor bouquet, but it works! Just needed to let you all know that it was Christine's!

The daddy/daughter dance: Unforgettable by Nat King and Natalie Cole.

Auntie Lisa and Uncle Craig with Grandpa looking on. The room with the buffet was to the right. The tables were covered with two different shades of pink satin tablecloths. Ivory chair covers with the two pinks sashes alternated with the tablecloths: Medium pink with light pink sashes, light pink tables with medium pink sashes. Mirrors under the centerpieces, rose petals, and little votives all around. It was BEAUTIFUL!

The maid of honor, Christine with cousin Abby.

We surprised Grandpa! One of his most favorite songs is What A Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong. When Natalie and I were finalizing the music with the DJ, it came to us: we would have the DJ call up my dad and surprise him with a grandpa/granddaughter dance to that song! He was THRILLED! As grandpa does, he got quite emotional and they had a sweet chat while dancing.

Sunday A.W. (after wedding)

More tired today than yesterday. How can that be? Got Lisa, Craig, Mom, Dad out the door to head back to Arizona. Gwen decided to stay another day. She went to church with us. Natalie and Robert came and went to church with us and then we all came home and had leftover Wood Ranch for dinner. I made some rolls before we left for church, and then chopped up some vegetables and roasted them in the oven with onions and fresh garlic. It was delicious. We ate some leftover wedding cake for dessert.

Kyle Langenheim came for dinner and so did Mere's sister, Megan. We all watched Dan In Real Life after and played games.

Natalie and Robert opened their wedding gifts. People are so kind and generous. They have many lovely things to start their life. They leave in the morning for their honeymoon. They are going on a cruise to Catalina and Ensenada for the week.

Off to bed. Tomorrow is a big 'recovery' day and preparation day because Duff and I leave for Utah on Tuesday for some BYU stuff.

The Next Morning...

It was FABULOUS! We are T I R E D. I'll recap later. Quiet morning picking up the house, sleeping in, family over. Take out dinner from Wood Ranch--the wait was 2 hours so we got it to go. It felt soooo good to just get my house straightened up even if it will all get undone again until everyone leaves.

We watched the Pioneer Day Program on the BYU channel. It was really good. My mom and dad especially loved it. Helped Lisa and my dad start a blog.

They're Hitched!

It's official! They are husband and wife. Natalie was radiant and they were both so happy. The temple ceremony was extremely touching. One of the tips that the photographer gave us and we decided to do was to take bridal and temple pictures a few weeks before the wedding. 1--The lighting in the evening is much better for pictures, 2--The portraits can be ready to display at the wedding. 3--The wedding day is less complicated because you don't have to take as many. So they were married at 10am, freshened up, we had candid pictures as they came out of the temple, and group pictures, then we were done after we greeted the newlyweds. We were in the car and on the road to come home by noon! The great thing about that is that the emphasis was all on the ceremony and the importance of the temple sealing.

We came home, changed clothes, had some lunch, and rested. We took the flowers down to the club, the pictures to display, etc. Then came home and Elyse was there freshening up the brides hair and the bridesmaids. We dressed and went down for the pictures.

The party was phenomenal! I will give more details tomorrow, but everything went just as planned and couldn't have been better!

She's Getting Married In The Morning!

Yes, she is!

We are ready to go. We hosted the dinner tonight at our home with the Newell's bringing all the food. We had about 50-60 people here. It was delicious mexican food--who can resist enchiladas and burritos with all the trimmings?

Flowers are all done and absolutely G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! Meredith and I took off this morning to back down to Carlsbad to pick up the flowers they shorted us that we paid for. What should have been a 90 minute round trip, took us 7 HOURS. Yes, you read that right. We left at 10:30am and got home at 5:30pm. There was a huge wreck with a big truck that rolled in San Diego and started a fire all over both sides of the freeway. They had to shut the freeway down and we sat there. Then they opened up one lane and there was not even an exit open to get off and turn around on. It's a really good thing Mere and I have such a good relationship. We could have been to Phoenix, or Cedar City in that amount of time!

With the new Calif. law of no cell phones unless it is handless, I conducted all the business I should've been doing at home through Meredith on my cell phone! Oh we laughed, talked, sang, got T.B., frustrated, etc. Bottom line: we finally got the flowers and an In-N-Out burger w/chocolate shake for the ride home. We deserved it after THAT trip!

Lisa and Grandma got everything else in order for the dinner and Lisa acted as my secretary to take care of the other little details. They finished the doily cones for the rose petals.

I'm off to bed!

Whenever I Think About Pioneers....

Stay tuned. I haven't forgotten about Pioneer Day with all the wedding stuff going on!

The Primary song goes: "Whenever I think about pioneers, I think of brave women and men..."

I am grateful for the pioneers and their bravery, courage, dedication, testimony. My own family heritage is full of 'pioneers'. Some who crossed the plains for the gospel cause, and some who were pioneers in different ways. Coming to America in the early 1920's from Germany to have the gospel in it's fullness for their posterity yet unborn. Children going to the school honestly in the boundaries we live in and being pioneers when everyone else is 'stretching' the rules to go where they want and justifying it.

I am captivated by church history. I love the pioneer stories. One of the best books I ever read was "The Price They Paid". I often wonder how I would have done as a pioneer crossing the prairie and living in their circumstances. I guess we all live in the time the Lord knew would be best for us.

I remember going to Pioneer Day celebrations in Westchester with my grandparents. Oh, how I loved the homemade bread, the rides, the booths, the RS room all decorated with handmade goods for sale. The men all growing beards for a contest. The contagious festivness of a simpler time. I guess it's just in my blood!

A Little "Flower" Preview

Good Morning! Even though it has only been 5 months since our last wedding (Mike and Adrianne in February), like childbirth, I forgot just how dang tired you get putting this event on! I was so tired last night but wound up so I had to sist by myself for a while in the quiet and unwind. Finally went to bed a little after midnight and I slept so soundly. When I woke up I hadn't moved all night! BUT today--I'm feeling it!!!

Here is a little flower preview. Couldn't get this done without my bestest friends and family!

Lisa dubbed the Koelliker gals our 'rose strippers'. These lovelies stripped the thorns and leaves of over 600 long stemmed roses in record time! They risked fingers, arms, legs, and feet to the thorns!

This is sweet Kristin. She is one of my visiting teachers. In our stake, to help with Laurel Transition, as soon as you turn 16 you become a visiting teacher with your mother and you visit one sister in your ward together. This program is having great success! She and her mom visit me and they are GREAT visiting teachers! So Kristin came straight from work at our famous Golden Spoon, and stripped roses until the deed was done!

Susan, Susan, Susan. Such a good neighbor! She arrived ready to go apron, buckets, coolers and all! She had the BIG job of trimming ALL of the rose stems after they were stripped. I'll bet her hands are really sore this morning.

The Flower Power Gals, and Grandpa. Sue and her dear friend, Becky putting the greenery in the centerpieces. We are having 3 different centerpieces: These in the silver vases, tall crystal ones, and wreaths with vases and floating candles. Sue's brain just sees things I have no idea about. She is really good at this.

Pink Peonies.

Antique 'green' roses

The 'stripper' group!


Flowers in every available container we have!
Just wait for the final product! Okay, off to the shower for the last day of prep!

Here We Goooooooo!!!!!

We are down to less than 48 hours until wedding bells time!

Sue and Becky were up early and down to Carlsbad to the flower mart for the 'big pick up'. The garages are full to capacity with everything pastel pink, greens, whites, creams, one can imagine.

We have neighbors and my visiting teachers in the one garage stripping thorns and leaves off of all the roses.

I think we are ready. Just a few more details for the DJ and mani's and pedi's tomorrow.

Lisa and Craig and Grandma and Grandpa arrived at noon. Newells are coming tomorrow.

Here we gooooooooooooo!

Can You Say: L-i-n-g-e-r-i-e?

Well, Natalie can say it really well after tonight! Adrianne and Meredith and Nicolle gave her a lingerie shower. All the guests had a 'room' assignment and were to bring an item for the particular room and 'something pretty' to go with it!

Oh, did we have a good time! And yummy treats too!

Happy Birthday Cameron

Cameron! It's your birthday!

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday Dear Cameron
Happy Birthday To YOU!!

and many more.......

How is New York? We send all our love and hope you have a fantastic day! It was so fun to come and take care of you and your mom when you came home from the hospital! Such a cutie! We will miss you at the wedding, but we know how hard it is to get work off when you are flying.

Love You--

In Shaun's Honor:

We heard this song yesterday on the radio when we were driving home and we all decided to dedicate it in Shaun's honor! He loved this song when he was 14 and played it over and over and over again. We could sing every word then and now!

Should We Not Go On In So Great A Cause?

I heard this in Sacrament meeting today. Duff and Arlen became close while serving together and so we attended SM ward today to hear he and Debi speak before they leave for Brazil again.

I believe this is a quote from Joseph Smith (?) When all is said and done, either the gospel is true or it isn't. It's one or the other. We pick ourselves up when we make mistakes or when mistakes have been made against us, dust ourselves off, square our shoulders, and move forward to build the kingdom of God here on the earth. 'So, should we not go on in so great a cause?'

Both Arlen and Debi talked about that among other things. There were certainly enough valid reasons for them to not go back to Brazil: 2 aging widowed mothers, already been there 3 years as mission president, health issues with kids and grandchildren, one member law practice, stake president, etc. etc. but when the call/assignment comes 'should we not go on in so great a cause' in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will miss them a lot. Good people, good friends, good examples. We have given much but have gleaned even more!

• 2 Nephi: 26--We are all alike to God.
• 1 Nephi--Trust in God's timetable. He has said, " I have heard thee...." Patience!!! The Lord knows we need time to get ready for the answer. He has not forsaken us. He is grooming us for the answer and how we need to act on it once He gives it to us. (I never thought about this that way before.)
• Alma 8-- Weighed down with sorrow and hard things. Do our best. IF IT'S HARD, THEN IT'S HARD! Stand our post. Keep trying.
• NO substitute for integrity. As we navigate life's trials, be true to the gospel and our morals and ethics.
• Miracles DO happen. (Oh ye of little faith...) The brick wall WILL move--even if only part of an inch-- if we do all we can as we approach it. Let the Lord do the Lord's work! He will accomplish what He needs to.
• "OPPORTUNITIES ARE PERISHABLE"--Thomas S. Monson. There is a season and time to every purpose. Don't let the opportunities pass us by that the Lord puts in front of us. They will not always be there.

Batman--The Dark Knight

This morning we were up, showered, and out of the house by 9am for the 9:45 showing of The Dark Knight. I have to say, it certainly lived up to all the hype and did not disappoint in that way.

On the other hand, it really was a bit too dark for me. We had everyone with us and I kept telling Christine not to look and to cover her eyes. Yeah... Heath Ledger as the Joker was amazing. He was probably the scariest villian I have ever seen. VERY convincing--not just a 'bad guy' in a comic strip. BUT---even though he gave an unbelievable performance, I had a hard time watching him. I couldn't even put a picture of him as the Joker on my post. It gives me the creeps.

If even some of the publicity is accurate concerning his untimely death, I can understand that if he really got into that role while filming it's not a stretch to realize why he was having a lot of hard times in his life and how easy a lethal combination of meds would have been. The role is pretty intense and he was probably looking for some kind of 'relief' being back in the 'real' world.

Where is the darling Heath Ledger I came to love in the tv version of The Patriot???

Maggie Gylennhall was great and so were the returning cast. If there was something positive to take away it is that mankind is inherently good after all.

Kennedy's Wedding Today!

Kennedy got married today in the San Diego Temple. Duff and I were off this morning for the trip down there. It was a beautiful July day. I sure hope next weekend is as nice and not a scorcher!

She was a beautiful bride. She was 8 when we all moved here. Where has the time gone? Christian's dad married/sealed them. In a 'people watching mode' it was interesting to see Elder Clayton as a general authority, sealer, husband, dad, grandpa, regular guy.

Kim did a splendid job on the reception. Kennedy chose black and 'pomegranate' with some white for her colors. It was very pretty. Fajita/quesadilla buffet with salad and fruit for dinner. Yum. They had it at the DCanyon Courtyard. It was a perfect night for it.

Now 3 weeks and then Matthew gets married. I know how Kim is feeling. She needs a REST! Good Gravy we've had a LOT of weddings this year!

(journal: One week to go for Natalie's wedding. One week from right now we will be done with it all. Cleaned up and home. Hard to fathom. One week ago we were working in the garden and they were in Utah getting an apartment. That went by fast! I have to get the guys ties, finalize the 'schedule', a couple of frames, candles. Sue will be here Tuesday and Wednesday all the other company starts arriving and the garages turn into a florist shop!

Natalie has been a GREAT bride. No meltdowns, agreeable, knows what she wants, accomodating, and all her 'thank yous' are current! I keep reminding her she will be so glad she hasn't procrastinated doing them. Rule of thumb: write it as soon as you get it! Christine has weathered all the change and upheaval unscathed for the most part. It's been a lot for a 13 year old. Adrianne and Meredith have been so helpful. We truly are blessed with these daughters-in-law so far. They volunteer to do things for me and if I need to ask them to do something they get going right away and get it done. I LOVE them.

*****CONGRATULATIONS JOSH! He just found out today that he is in the top 1/3 of his class and the firm he is internshipping for this summer is going to offer him a job when he finishes up next month to start when he graduates! Employment--a wonderful thing!*****

All Things Twilight

Edward vs. Jacob. What do you think? Even though the house is quite busy, it is definitely quiet with Natalie, Christine, and Meredith reading, reading, reading to get them all done before August 2 when Breaking Dawn makes it's debut! I like Edward, but I'm kind of rooting for Jacob too. Bella needs to have a family of her own, children I mean, even if they are werewolves! And she needs to keep relationships with her parents....???? The girls are all Edward fans.

They pace themselves with breaks of laundry, the garden, kitchen duties, beach, pool, wedding, etc.

So I got my laundry going, ordered the freeze dried rose petals to throw as the bride and groom leave for the honeymoon (makes for good pictures and doesn't hurt little birdies), got a weave and a haircut, dinner, cleaned the bottom of the wedding dress so we can take it to Donna for it's final steaming, talked to Shaun's doctors, worked on framing for the bridal portraits, tallied and gave final count to the caterer.

I'm ready for a deep night's sleep in the 'twi'-light of the silvery, full moon!

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday dear Ashley

Happy Birthday TO YOU!

Have a great day and we send all our love and wishes for a wonderful birthday today. Wish we were closer in miles!

I remember the day you were born! 25 years has gone by so fast!

(Today is also Megan Laura Duffy's birthday. She was born and had a lot of major complications. They life flighted her to Primary Children's Hospital. But she had been without oxygen for too long. They worked for weeks to help her develop a sucking and gag reflex. Finally it was time for Jack and Kathy to let her 'go'. After 21 days, she peacefully went back to our Heavenly Father. The hospital was wonderful as I remember. They let Kathy come everyday and dress her, swaddle her in her blankets, bathe her. It was their 1st baby. So Megan and Ashely were born on the very same day just hours apart. It was a whirlwind of emotions. One healthy baby and another struggling for life. We learned a lot!)

Getting It Together

Today we worked hard and got a lot of little seemingly insignificant things done that all combined totaled a big accomplishment.

Just the picking/straightening up was HUGE. Patriotic dishes put away finally, shower gifts organized and all in one place, garden and pots watered well, thank you notes done and mailed (!), Costco run by Mere, sheets changed on the beds,

It seems like we have 'piles' of stuff all over the place right now. So I got those taken care of.

Christine did a number on her closet! Whoa! It is so clean and organized and looks fabulous. The best part was that she initiated it all on her own. She is growing up and she took out many baby treasures and that she is ready to pack away for now and then others that she was ready to part with.

We made lists and sent Robert to do errands while we plodded along.

Christine made a yummy dinner for her night tonight. Chicken with rice and some gravy. It was a new one to her, but she wanted to learn so we worked together. It turned out well. She prepared the zuchinni all herself and did great! She is getting really good with her knife skills.

Counting Down

11 days.

Followed up on the bridal portraits. They'll be here next week to display at the reception.

Got all the shower gifts organized and cleaned up out of the living room to my room.

Laundry. Oh yeah!

Hot and HUMID!

Nats and Robert got home last night and they got the call they were waiting for this morning. They got the basement apartment they really wanted to rent. So now that is off their list. They went and got their marriage license this morning. And now that is also done!

Lisa called me today and I had to call her back more than once because I didn't have time to chat! When I was finally able to talk to her, she started laughing and asked me if she should make an appointment with me! Hahaha!

The girls have all started re-reading the Twilight books voraciously in preparation for the new book in the series to come out. So the sofas and big chairs are occupied with lots of reading going on! Mere and Chris took their books to the pool today too.

And when all was said and done, The Closer season started tonight with new episodes of who-done-its. I just love a good mystery to solve! I've read every Nancy Drew book there is and was hooked as a girl.

Drex and Marion

Usual Sunday morning. Duff up and out the door to meetings. Meredith tidied up the kitchen while I got Josh's birthday cake in the oven. Then shower time for the rest of the household!

My RS lesson went well. I also ended up playing the piano since all the usuals weren't there. THAT is almost scarier than teaching. We closet pianists don't get much practice in and accompanying is WAY different than playing for leisure! But I'm happy to say I got through it and was able to sightread my through without too much trouble. I probably should sit down at the piano for a few minutes each day just to practice some hymns and be prepared.

After RS Christine and I went into the back of the cultural hall while SM ward was ending. Riley Forkner was speaking as he's leaving on a mission next week. Amazing that this little boy is all 'grown up' now. But the real reason we went was to see his grandparents. Riley's parents are Pam Lym and Randy Forkner. Well, Pam and I grew up together and she was a baby Beehive when I was a graduating Laurel. Her parents were there and I got to talk to them after 35 years. That was sooo fun.

Randy was my next door neighbor my whole life growing up. I remember when he was BORN. We played on the swingsets and in the tree house in their backyard. We had ping pong tournaments in their garage during the long days of summer. He and Pam fell in love and got married. Randy has always been very supportive of Pam's membership and activity in the church. So we do see him from time to time.

His parents are Drex and Marion. They retired in Washington but were here to support Riley in going on his mission. They were at Sacrament meeting and Pam had called to let us know so we could connect! What a HAPPY reunion. I haven't seen or talked to Drex and Marion for 20 years or so. They haven't changed a BIT. I would have recognized them immediately!

Drex is 82 and still golfs 3-5 days a week. He looks fabulous and kind as ever. Marion is still a stunning beauty at 78. Sweet and still talks slowly with Princess Diana eyes. For some reason I didn't remember being taller than her and I'm sure she hasn't shrunk that much! They were our next door neighbors for 34 years. We couldn't have had better neighbors. All those talks over the fence! Holidays! Going to the beach in Marion's blue cadillac with the fins on the back from the 60's!

LOVED reconnecting with them after all this time. I have been blessed with good people in my life and I am grateful.

Saturday Summary

Duff and I were up and out of the house on our way to Lowes. He was bound and determined to get plants in the garden!

Not much left this late in the season, but it's a good thing we have mild weather most of the year so we will just do our harvesting late summer and fall. We got great tomato plants and sunflowers and then several herbs: cilantro, parsley, chives, rosemary, and more basil. Christine had seeds from her YW project so she and Duff are planting beans and zuchinni on Monday.

After Duff got everything tilled up, Miguel and his crew came and built us some planters and we put pea gravel around them. We wanted to try something a little different than just planting in the ground. Our soil here is very clayish and needs so much amending for garden growing. We understand that the snails won't slug across it to get to the veges. Now we just have to keep the bunnies out! I put new eyes on the owl that stands watch in the center scaring away any potential poachers.

Then it was car washing time. Christine and Meredith worked hard and the cars look fantastic plus the girls got some sun to enhance their summer glow!

Weekly grocery shopping. Enough said! But at least it's done for another week! I can't believe how much groceries have gone up.

Meredith and Christine went to the Dove pool to swim some laps.

I finished preparing the RS lesson for tomorrow. Then jumped in the shower and got ready for the get together at the Brennans to say good-bye to the Woffindens before they leave for Brazil.

Arlen is now the chief legal counsel for the church in Brazil. Annette made some delicious lasagne with all the trimmings. It was beautiful and we dined al fresco poolside. It was nice to be together with the previous stake presidency and also the new one. Arlen and Debi answered all our questions about their new assignment. It is very different than when they were the mission presidents before. They are salt of the earth people and we will miss them.

We are down to 13 days until the wedding. I'm hoping to have everything finished by the end of the week so we can just enjoy the week of the wedding. Haha! We shall see.....

To Have A Friend, You Have To Be A Friend

I've been blessed with good friends. I'm closer to some than others. Friendship can be like that. I have some friends that I don't see or talk to for months but then we can just pick up right where we left off. Some people that I was very close to once, life has taken us in different directions, but we will always have that bond. And then we always make new friendships.

Life is hard enough and would be even harder without family and frienships.

Today I spent most of the day being a friend. A dear neighbor is going through some hard times with her children. She called and I could immediately tell something big was wrong. I asked if she wanted me to come over or if she needed to get out and come here. No. She just needed someone to cry to and listen. So she poured it all out and I cried with her. We cried together. We talked for 2 hours and then hung up. By the time the day was done, we had talked about 4 different times each for quite a long time as she shared new details and her sorrow.

I didn't get much of anything done on my 'list' for the day, but what I did do was far more important. As I knelt in prayer in behalf of my friend and her child, I felt the spirit whisper of love and strength, sisterhood, helping to bear one another's burdens. Not that anything about the situation was changed, but that she knew someone loved her unconditionally and she could pour out her heart.

I am grateful for those who have been that friend to me.

Family Bridal Shower!

Stay tuned! Kristin and Lisa and Jenn--do any of you have pictures????? I just have a very FEW! But here are the ones I do have! HANG ON----THIS IS A LONG ONE!

One of the beautiful flower arrangements that Lisa and Kristin put together. We had these and candles all over the kitchen, living room, dining room, and family room.

Sisters: The Maid of Honor and The Bride

I host a family bridal shower when one of the kids gets married. I thought this would be something really fun to do as a 'new' family tradition! I just didn't think I 'd be hosting 3 in a year! But each has been wonderful. Some of the traditions have been the same, and some have shared different ones, but all have had a lot of thought and love put into them.

Natalie and Aunt Jan from Utah. Sorry for the closed eyes, Jan!

Cousin Heather with Nats. She is battling breast cancer for the 2nd time and just started a new round of some heavy duty chemo. We were so THRILLED when she walked in the door! She wasn't sure if it would be a good day or not and everyone was grateful she was feeling better. We love you Heather!

Natalie and Robert's mom, Tammie. She came from Sacramento!

Our own Adrianne with the Bride. Our living room is a step down, so since Adrianne is so TALL she stepped down and Nats stepped 'up'!

Above: Cousin Jennifer from Utah
Below: Aunt Ann from Utah

We start with appetizers as people arrive. The guests sign in at a small table in the entry on a slip of cardstock, and then are asked to take a card and pen and write down what their family tradition is and why the couple should carry it on or tweak it to make it their own. As the bride opens their gift they tell the story of the tradition they brought. I take a picture of the bride with each family member 'guest' and later make a book of the shower for them.

Sign in Please, table. The Traditions book is always given to the Bride. On the right is the toss bouquet she used for her bridal portraits a couple days before.

One of the pretty tables.

Our own Meredith and her mom going through the buffet. We had two different bruscettas, Caesar salad, penne with meatball marinara, fusilli with shrimp scampi, bow tie with alfredo and asparagus, artichoke hearts, and chicken, foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was de-lish-us!

Gathering of the 'traditions'.

When Josh and Meredith got married and we hosted the 'rehearsal' dinner the night before, Lisa had made all these cards with different verses about love on them to put on the tables. We now have used them for the family shower as well and place them strategically throughout the house.

The Proclamation on The Family done in a horizontal style from Adrianne and Mike and her family. She and her family are graphic artists and they have asked the church if they could sell this style but they were told they couldn't because it is copyrighted. It really is beautifully done and the picture can be changed out as their family grows.

From The Robertsons: Adrianne, Alisa, Autumn, Apryl, Bernadette and Diana. Movie watching! Popcorn popper, popcorn, toppings, movie and a popcorn bowl. Yes, a good one!

Christine chose one of our traditions of English Trifle on Christmas Day. She got her the trifle bowl from her registry along with the bundt pan to make the pound cake, and the rubber spatulas.

Aunt Julie, Bethany, Brooke, Katie, and Melanie chose the Duffy tradition of Angel Food Cake. This is a time honored tradition in the Duffy family for birthdays! Especially with Auntie Coy glaze on it! So here are the cake pan, mixes, measuring cups, rubber spatulas and a beautiful cake plate and dome for it. The cake plate and dome turn over and become a small punch bowl too! A generous gift card was also enclosed.

A handmade Special Day Plate from Tammie, Robert's sweet mom! In their family they use this plate to celebrate everything from spelling tests to big occasions and everything in between.

Now, it's Auntie Lisa's turn. She has done the same tradition for all 3 of the married ones so far. She makes them a special Christmas Holiday book. It is quite a work of art. She scrapbooks the pages, types, copies, etc.

Here is the title page with a personal message to the couple.

The story begins.....

The first section is dedicated to lots of different Christmas stories. Some from the scriptures, and some good old favorites, and some new ones too.

The next section is lots of holiday songs and music, with the sheet music and lyrics. I forgot to take a picture of the last section about Christmas activities. It is darling.

Auntie always gives a HUGE storage box with the makings of a kitchen pantry. It is filled with EVERYTHING you can think of. We were all a little jealous. Could someone come fill my pantry????

Kristin kept this one a BIG secret! When we were all little and growing up, we spent Christmas Eve with each other. I don't know how old we were when this started, but one year my dad led us all in singing The 12 Days of Christmas. He made a flip chart out of a large tablet of paper with stick figures and drawings. He and my mom still sing it every year using the same old and taped together pages.

So her tradition gift was their own flip chart of the song The 12 Days of Christmas! Natalie was thrilled because she has really fond memories of singing that on Christmas Eve at Grandma's and Grandpa's family room steps. Here is the first 'day'!

Here is the 3rd day of Christmas--Three French Hens. The whole thing is just as cute as these two pages. Now on to the 3rd generation.

One of the traditions I chose was that of counted cross-stitching. I learned how to do it 30+ years ago when we were soooooo very poor and I needed to make some christmas tree ornaments. I cut out stars and doves from the white styrofoam that hamburger and chicken are wrapped on and used string and thread to hang them on the tree that we dug out of the dumpsters at BYU complexes after students went home for the holiday after finals. My sister-in-law, Julie's, mother took pity on me and gave me some aida cloth, thread and a pattern for little angels that I could stitch. I saved all our change and bought gold plastic round frames for them and they completed our tree. I still have them and use them every year even now.

I taught Natalie to cross stitch when she was 11 for a Merry Miss project (now it is Activity Days). A few years ago she had mono for the summer and picked it back up for something to do while she recuperated. She did the two pieces above and I found them in her room one day and had them framed for her. She had no idea. It was a GREAT surprise! And it's always nice to have some 'art work' for a home.

This is their wedding invitation framed. Aaron Bros. was having their one cent sale and with my coupons I was able to get a fantastic deal!

One of our traditions is to make homemade ice cream for all the spring and summer holidays. So a White Mountain Freezer found it's way to the shower along with the Barefoot Contessa cookbook with the Flag Cake recipe in it! In 30 years, we've had many ice cream freezers and our favorite is the White Mountain. Heavy duty motor and taller so more surface area freezes the ice cream faster and firmer.

Grandma Sigie always gives a white or ivory Sunday tablecloth with 12 napkins and taper candles. She taught us all the importance of setting a 'proper' table and enjoying Sunday dinners on it. I remember being a young girl and every Sunday she gave Lisa and I lessons on how to do it. Where to put the plate, how far away the silverware should be from the plates and the bottom edge of the table, how to place the water goblet at the top of the knife, etc...... She also makes ivy topiaries and did three for them. Along with crocheted hot pads that her mother taught her and she taught me and one of my cousins, Jenn. It really is becoming a lost art. I'm glad I know how to do it. Thanks, Mamo Minnie, sweet little German grandma in heaven!

Jennifer gives the brides a basket of handmade treasures that has to do with the month they get married in. So for 'July' there was a Patriotic oven mitt, towel, knitted dish cloths (the best kind ever), hot pads, and water balloons for a good old fashioned water balloon fight. Then a cookbook with family favorites from all the aunties and cousins. We were all begging her to make us one too! So much love in every stitch.

The thing to remember though is this: the name on the recipe is who it was submitted by because that is one of their favorites!

Meredith LOVES this one! She does a Family Home Evening starter kit. A nice storage box to keep supplies in with a big, spiral bound hymnbook with the family name engraved on it, and book of lessons with a CD for visual aids, and probably the most exciting part: some lingerie to put the 'family' in 'Family' Home Evening! Way to go Mere!

The Luedtke gang: Auntie Coy, Heidi, Heather, Cherisse, and Carol gave camping gear. Every year they go camping to the High Sierras. Coolers, sleeping bags, lantern, and all the goodies for making s'mores including roasting sticks! Heidi made sure we all knew what her favorite tent is: A hotel room!

The Peterson's: Patti, Megan, and Katherine, chose the tradition of General Conference. Such a good one! A conference issue of the Ensign and a waffle iron for those special breakfasts!

Grandma Newell, Robert's grandma, sent a list of several traditions the Newell's have shared for many years. One of them being the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. Grandchildren use triangles and sandpaper blocks to accompany. Nice idea --a family band and concert!

Grandma Duffy was with us in spirit especially when Natalie opened the everyday silverware she had gotten for her before she passed away. Jeaneen LOVED collecting the points from Betty Crocker products and buying from their catalog. Like her father before her, she loved a good bargain! When the grand-daughters get married she got them their everyday silverware. Service for 12 with all the serving pieces.

A separate gift from Patti was an English tradition that she has carried on in her daughters wedding gowns and in the wedding dresses she makes for others. They put a horseshoe charm with a piece of old lace from someone who has been married for a long time for luck somewhere inside the gown. Patti got a piece of lace from my wedding dress and a silver heart charm with blue crystals and sewed them together to put on the underside of the skirt of Natalie's wedding gown! She doesn't care for the horseshoe for luck because it takes more than'luck' in marriage, so she chooses a different charm.

She wrote a poem to go with it:

Something old, something new,

Something borrowed, something blue...

Something fashioned just for you,

Something old...your parents' love, tied with white ribbon,

Something new...a silver heart representing your new love,

Something borrowed...lace from your mother's wedding dress,

Something blue...blue crystals which symbolize loyalty.

What is this? Potato Pearls? Okay good for the food storage and a graduate student's budget.

No, surprise! It's a medicine cabinet and first aid box! Grandpa gets his 'nose bent out of shape' every shower because even though he enjoys going out with the guys to dinner and a movie he'd rather stay and party with the girls. So he's a good sport and hangs with the men, but has his own tradition. In our family he was always the 'boo boo' fixer. He was gentle and thorough. He could clean a wound, blow on a skinned knee while putting on the merthiolate that stung like h@*!#. He could get a sliver out and broken glass the first time without much fuss.

Jan and Ann carried on the tradition of egg gravy and the best soft sugar cookies ever in this world. Measuring cups, spoons, cookie cutters, cream of tartar, Watkins vanilla, egg slicer, cookie jar. They also make holiday and seasonal pillowcases. So they made a pair for Halloween and 4th of July with pillows. Look at the cute aprons Ann makes! Great-grandma Thain always wore an apron.

A small wedding cake for dessert! White with fresh strawberries on the bottom and chocolate with chocolate mousse on the top. It was a fitting close to a great party and Natalie got some practice cake cutting.

We loved, laughed, listened, cried and enjoyed each other all while passing on memories and traditions. Thank you to all of you who were here and those of you who couldn't be. WE LOVE YOU! Keep up the traditions that keep your families close and strong.