What Happened To July?

I know I was away from my computer in July, but it seriously went by like a flash. I'm glad I took a few pics of things I did, or I would have missed it completely.

I made some pioneer clothes for Jordyn to wear on her Trek this year. She and Taylor were experiencing their first pioneer trek in July. I made pantaloons, skirts, aprons, sunbonnets, and kerchiefs. Taylor wore an old pair of Papa K's suspenders and his outfit in large part came from Goodwill. Summer promised to send me pics, so I will update this post later with a more complete set of photos. All I had in my camera was one set of pantaloons. I wasn't very smart with my camera this summer.

Jordyn was asked to speak in Church the Sunday after their Trek. Grumpy and I were in Mesa, so went to hear her. I could tell she developed a soft spot in her heart for the pioneers that sacrificed so much so we could have all that we do now. I have never been on a trek, but felt that same reverence for all those who gave up so much when we visited some of the church history sites in Nauvoo, Kirtland and so on. We have no idea how brutal their experiences were. We can only imagine. I enjoyed Jordyn's sweet testimony of the things she felt.

It was a pleasure to sew for her knowing she would be touched by the spirit. I know Taylor was too, he just isn't very articulate about it. They are both great kids.

I am looking forward to hearing about her next Trek in a couple more years. This time Rylee will get to go.

My only experience with the pioneer spirit was the celebrations our wards did when I was little. I do remember my Mom's pioneer dress. She made it out of a black small print calico. It had yellow bias binding and white lace on the bodice. She had a matching bonnet too. I can't remember what I wore, or Tracy, but I know Curt had a cowboy hat, levi's and chaps. There was always a parade of various home-made covered wagons. Mostly a red wagon with some kind of domed white sheet. There was taffy and home-made ice cream. I so wish I had pics of some of that. Though all of that was fun, I am very glad to see the Treks happen for our youth. I know they take lots of time and money to organize, but I think it is a great way for our kids to be touched in small part by those amazing Saints. Most of us will thankfully never experience the events that put our ancestors on the trail for Salt Lake, but I am grateful they were up to it and endured.

Sacred, Honored Pioneer.

Days Gone By

The picture below is not Grumpy's mustang from long ago. I saw this one at Mattas the other day and it took me back to the good ole high school days. About the middle of our senior year Grumpy's parents were trying to decide what to get him for graduation. I of course felt the need to put in my two cents, so I mentioned what a great gift it would be if they could look for a car together and they could put in the down payment with Grumpy doing the monthly payments on his own. They thought that would be a good gift so they set about finding the right car. It was an icky grayish 1965 Mustang with a white vinyl top that was really dirty because it had been sitting under a tree for awhile. The price was right, so the deal was done. Grumpy got the vinyl top cleaned up and sanded down the worn-out paint. He got a quote for a new paint job and had it painted. It was '68 Dodge Roadrunner Red and the vinyl top looked brand new after being cleaned up. (not a convertible like this one) It was his car until he left on his mission. Lots of fun times and fun places in that car. Yes, we had our share of making out in it too. Awesome. Gas was down to 25¢ a gallon once in a while and that was really awesome too. Those were the days.

He wanted me to drive it while he was on his mission, but I didn't want to be responsible for it. He ended up selling it to his sister. Sadly, she was in a car accident in it and it was totaled while he was gone. She was okay, but the car was history. It will forever live on in his mind's eye though.

I still remember how excited he was to have his first real car.

I was pretty happy for him too. No more borrowing his Mom's car for dates.

It was the best.

Earthquakes and Tsunami's

I have been reading the various accounts of the terrible earthquake and tsunamis in Japan on news sites and on the LDS Living Daily newsletter. As my heart goes out to the people of Japan I remember so clearly my years on Okinawa. Grumpy was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base and we went over when I was expecting R.B. About halfway through our tour of duty there, we finally got assigned to a house on base. We were at Camp Kuwai, which was the Naval Base and hospital where Jade was eventually born. I was so grateful to have a house with central air. I had been anxiously awaiting our turn to live on base. I distinctly remember standing on the front porch of our little two-story duplex and looking to my right. There was the main highway that ran the length of the island and then nothing but ocean. All I could think about was what would happen if a tsunami hit the island. I knew there would be precious little time to do anything, and I knew I couldn't get all the kids to safety. It was a terrible feeling and one that was never really far from my thoughts day to day. I prayed constantly that we would be spared the devastation of tsunamis. We had our share of typhoons, tropical storms, the humidity of hot summer days and the normal things specific to tropical island life, but we never had to go through an earthquake or a tsunami. We were very blessed.

I pray now for the people suffering the loss of family members, friends, homes and businesses. I feel so sorry for the things they have to go through now. I am so grateful our church is there helping with our humanitarian efforts and all those who are able to help those in need. Grateful all our missionaries serving there are safe and accounted for. I hope the people of Japan can feel the love of our members they strive to serve them now. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

The Art of Crochet

So long ago my patient Gramma Schnepf and my patient Mother taught me to crochet. My first lessons were in the cabin at Greer where there were no phones and very limited TV. I was maybe 9 or 10. I did chains and learned single and double crochet. I was "hooked" no pun intended. When I was about 11 Nana took me to the Showlow T,G&Y (a five and dime store of the past) and bought me yarn of my choice for my first afghan. It was lavender, pink and white. Wow. I crocheted on it for a long time, and I really can't remember if I ever completely finished it. I wish I had taken a picture of it, for it is long gone by now. The next time I began an afghan I was in college. I crocheted one in fall colors for Grumpy's Mom & Dad for Christmas while Grumpy was serving his mission. I did my first (and last) knitted afghan that same year for Nana and Papa. It was burnt orange, brown and mellow yellow. Again no pictures of either of those.

I made one that matched our apartment when Grumpy and I were first married. I do have a pic of that one, only because it has been lurking in a box or trunk for these many years. It was made from yarn bought at the supermarket as were my other previous projects.



In the next few years I was introduced to a better quality yarn at an actual yarn store. It is a bit more expensive, but wears so much better and retains a softness that the cheaper yarn does not through the years. My Mom was trying to guide my Gramma Schnepf into better color choices and better yarn for the many, many afghans she crocheted. She and my Gramma went to a yarn store and bought the better quality stuff. I could see the difference right away. She made some truly beautiful bedspreads and blankets for her kids and grandkids. I still have the ones she did for me and when I can unearth them from the boxes of storage I will get pictures of them.

When my kids started getting married, I decided to do afghans for them. I made Tawna and Nathan one in the zig zag pattern that I love to do so much. It's easy and fast and there is no set way. They have been enjoying it's warmth for about 14 years now. It's time for a new one for them.



I did one for Taya and her first husband Ryan about that same time in a different pattern. I later regifted it to Grandma and Papa H. as it matched their living room furniture perfectly. It was blue and rose and I hope I can get a pic of it one of these days. Summer was next and I did something different for her. I like making granny squares as they are small and travel well. I was going with Grumpy once in a while on his business trips, so I would take my yarn and hook along and do granny squares. I love the way they look when they are all put together. Stacie's afghan is made with granny squares also.




I started one for me and kept it going for several years. It's the one that went to hospitals, vacations, business trips and even some quiet nights at home. I treasure it for the many memories in it for me. I was determined to finish it before I started another one, as I had taken so long to get it done. Some of the yarn was even out of stock and I had to find alternate colors that would match well enough. I did get it done and immediately started one for Jade.



Jade's went pretty fast as I had two trips to Utah where I had many hours to work on it in the car. It was almost done and stayed that way for over a year. I finally got it out one night and just stayed up and finished it. She and her family get cozy under it for movies.



While we were staying with Taya's family, I needed a project to keep my hands busy. I went to the yarn store and got yarn for a new afghan for her. I finished it just after Christmas this year and was able to send it home with her when she travelled here in February. I know it is colder in California, and I know her family loves blankets. I hope it serves them well through the years.



I am doing a new one for Tawna now. I found a pattern that is called a YoYo afghan. It is very colorful and is made from scrap yarn. I have plenty of scrap yarn, but will add a few new colors as I know she has a bright color scheme in her home. I have to make over 1,000 yarn "yoyo's" and they go pretty fast. It will be a fun project. I am working on that and my baby booties/hat project, so am keeping my hands busy when it is quiet, or when traveling. I think a lot when I'm crocheting, and my thoughts often turn to the many beautiful handicrafts that Gramma Schnepf and Nana both made. I love the memories of those quiet hours spent learning the art of crochet from these talented women.

Good News and Some Crazy Stuff!

Just a couple weeks after Rylee made her decision to be baptized, Jamie followed suit. It was such wonderful news. I could not have been happier about his choice. He had been learning from the Sister Missionaries and decided this wonderful gospel was what he was looking for. The date was set and we all went on with the various things we were doing to finish up our move into their home. We were out of the cabin by the end of July and were trying to get wall painted and furniture moved around the house to make room for the items we were bringing with us. One night Robert and I were sitting on the bed upstairs talking about this and that and I went in to use the bathroom. Upon returning to sit down and resume our discussion, I felt the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. It was paralyzing. I couldn't breathe, I could barely get out one syllable words, but not easily. I told Robert to call 911. I was sure I was going to die at any moment. 911 came and got me into an ambulance and took me to Gilbert Mercy Hospital. The ER there got me somewhat stabilized and there was talk of surgery. Then all of a sudden I was ICU, (no surgery) and told I had suffered an Aortic Disection (?) type b. Basically it means my aortic artery split, but did not rupture. Lucky for me. Apparently I had high blood pressure and did not know. I spent a week in ICU at Gilbert Mercy and they did nothing but medicate me.

I missed Jamie's special day, and so did my camera. I'm so sad I did not get to be there for his baptism, but things are what they are. I'm so very grateful he made the decision he did and he is doing a great job learning so many new things. I also missed his confirmation a week later as I was in a better hospital (Banner Baywood Heart Hospital) having surgery to actually help me heal over all of this and hope to move forward. I have two 4.5" stents in my aorta now and hope they will heal well and do their job. I missed his ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood, and when he blessed the sacrament for the first time. I hate missing things like that.

He is doing well, I am doing better and I hope things keep improving for both of us. Taking each day at a time for now - that's all I can manage. I have had great helpers and support around me for which I am very grateful. My sweet husband is forever my mainstay and because he is gone so much others have stepped in to help me. My sister Tracy checks on me and even helps get me to Drs. as well as Tawna, Summer, Robert, Jade, R.B. who have all done such service on my behalf. I know Taya would be helping if only she were here, but she calls and I know the kids are remembering me in their prayers too. All the grandkids have included me in their simple prayers of faith. I love them all so much. They will probably never know how very much they are appreciated and loved for their help. I have such a great family. Everyone has been wonderful to put me in their prayers, call and check on me and even take the time to visit. Friends too. I love you all. So much.

Sweet Music

Long ago and far away Nana and Papa purchased a piano in California. It had once belonged to a cousin of Nana's who was a concert pianist. He actually had 3 pianos. It seems he passed away at a relatively young age and a few years after his passing his mother was selling the pianos. There was a baby grand that had already been purchased, a Kanabe 6 foot grand and a Steinway 9 foot concert grand. Nana and Papa went to see the pianos and decided to buy the 6 foot Kanabe grand. We had a Schnauzer dog named Tina that Nana raised puppies from and those puppies paid for the piano. She always told me that if I would keep playing I would someday inherit the piano. I took lessons for 9 years.

Through the years we moved a lot and never really had a place to put the piano. I had bought an upright piano from Nana's hair stylist, Ethel, when my kids were old enough to take lessons. That little piano has been everywhere. It had originally belonged to Ethel's granny and it only cost me 400.00. That's about all I could afford at the time. Tawna, Taya, Summer, and Jade all learned on that little piano. After we settled down in our home on 32nd Street I asked Nana if I could put the piano in our home there. She wasn't ready to part with it yet, so we continued to use the little piano. When we built our spec home in 2006/07 I made a special place for a big piano. Nana still wasn't ready to part with it. We had some money from a yearly bonus the year we had moved in that home and decided we really wanted a baby grand to enjoy. We intended to sell the piano and the furniture we bought for that house with the house when it sold. It didn't sell. The real estate market went to the bottom as we all know. When we left that home about a year after Nana's passing, we moved in with our Papa. I had professional piano movers come and move the big grand to a bigger room for it in the basement. Summer was going to live in the basement and I knew she would really enjoy playing the piano down there. I moved our baby grand into the piano room on the main level as it was a little smaller and looked good in that room. Meanwhile, Summer got married and now Jade and her family were living in the basement. She enjoyed the piano being a part of her family and now has a child old enough to start taking lessons.

Jade and Jeff just moved into a home of their own and Papa graciously let me have the big grand piano. She is storing it for me in her dining room. She is thrilled to have a piano in her home. It is a very old piano, over 60 years old, so she and her family have promised to take very good care of it. She will have it tuned and start looking for a teacher for both her and Jaxon to start lessons with the next school year. I hope the legacy of piano music will find it's way into Jaxon's heart as well as Jade's. It is one of the best therapies I know of when you are sad, grieving, stressed, even angry. No matter the reason you go to the piano, you always leave the piano in a better state of mind. Unless of course you are learning a new piece and are a little frustrated with the learning curve. All in all, it is a comfort and source of peace most times.

I used to think I was going to have to put a truckload of money into this antique to refurbish it. The man that moved it for me told me it was in excellent condition for it's age. I could do a little cosmetic TLC, have it tuned and be happy for many, many years to come. That set my mind at ease. The cost of totally refurbishing would be as much as a new piano. I don't have that in my budget these days. My little baby grand is still in the piano room at Papa's. I don't know when I'll be in a place I feel I can be stable enough to move it. Time will tell. It is in a good place and we all still go there to see Papa and play the piano there. Summer has our first little granny's piano and we are tuning it for her as her Christmas present. It's time her children learned to play. Taya and Kevin are looking for a piano to start their kids out on and Tawna has Grandma Dorothy's piano in her home.

I still play, Grumpy still enjoys sitting down to play and we are grateful we had parents who sacrificed some of their “extras” so we could learn to play the piano. Blessed are we to have such an opportunity for beautiful music in our homes.

The Magic Kingdom

Forever one of my favorite things to do. My first trip there was with my Mom and Dad when the park first opened. I was about 3 years old and remember nothing about it. I remember going in high school with Tracy, Mom and Dad, then again my senior year with the Mesa High School ACapella Choir (and Grumpy, since he was a member of the choir too). I went once or twice while in college and then once when en route back to Okinawa, Japan with Tawna, Taya (4 yrs old), Summer (3 yrs old) and RB (a newborn). Papa and Nana were there with me for that trip. I remember how Nana loved the gardens of flowers, the bushes at It's a Small World that were trimmed into animal shapes, and the wonderful detail Disney goes to in their rides and their park overall. We went many times during our years of residence in sunny California and have wonderful memories of those trips. I have been back with Tracy's family since then, as well as Tawna and Taya for Maddie and Faith's birthday a couple of years ago. Our most recent trip was with RB and Stacies' family, and we had so much fun. I had never been to California Adventure's, so that was a totally new experience. Grumpy was having as much fun on all the rides as the kids were. Me too. We had 3 day, Park Hopper tickets, and oh my. Shin splints, the sorest feet I have ever experienced, sunburned and a tired that only Disneyland can produce. The walking wasn't as bad as all the standing, standing, standing. The fast passes worked great, I wish we could have gotten them for everything. I wouldn't trade this excursion for anything. I can say that now since my feet have recovered and the sunburn is gone. I have a lot of pics to post, more that I am not posting to help us remember all the fun things we did, saw and experienced. Thanks Crazy Harmons for the invitation to go and have a great time at one of our most favorite places ever.




Main Street, Disneyland, USA. I love this place.



Sleeping Beauty's Castle. My all time favorite Princess.



Our first ride was Star Tours. Carson's favorite. We then went on to Space Mountain, one of my favorites. I am a roller coaster junkie. My new all time favorite is California Screamin in the CA Adventure park. So far my Ultimate!



I kept seeing different characters during the one afternoon RB and Stacie had the kids up in Toon Town. I snapped pics anyway, but not as fun as if the kids had been there to see them.






We did get a pic with Woody and Jess on our way to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. The kids loved it. They did get some pics with Mickey and few others in Toon Town that day.




The Jungle Cruise ride, The Matterhorn, and the Mad Tea Party.







One of the many gardens - this one in the Main Street area. The Unicorn of "It's a Small World”. I couldn't help but think of Nana and her love for pansies and the unique animal bushes in this beautiful park. I tried to remember all the rides we went on in Disneyland: Star Tours (twice), Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland Railroad, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, Jungle Cruise, Tarzan's Treehouse, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (not one of the kids favs), It's a Small World, Mad Tea Party, Matterhorn, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. We tried to ride the Monorail, twice, but both times it was down. Same with Splash Mountain. Technical difficulties I guess.

On to California Adventures. As this park is supposed to represent a little piece of the California beach, etc, some of the ambiance is lost as the “harbor/beach area is drained of water. Disney is adding a water/light show that I'm sure will be spectacular, but in the meantime leaves a little to be desired. I hope we can go back and visit again when the water is back with it's new attraction.



Bear Peak. It crowns the park and is by the river/rapid ride that we went on first and got totally soaked. We did that ride twice since we like getting wet so much. Below, we are waiting in line to get wet.





Here we are on a street in “Hollywood”. Can you tell where the street stops and the paint starts?



The Maliboomer. Straight up and then drops you. Waaaaay fun.



California Screamin. The most fun ever. Wow. I love this ride. We went twice, some of us four times.



California Soaring. We all had to do this one twice. It was a great experience. This is one of the pics from the walls going in. It is a shot of an F86 like Papa flew in the Thunderbirds. I loved this ride and the history displayed in the building. An era of time that is gone now, and I hope we don't forget.

Now for the Toy Parade. If you go, especially with small children, a must. It was fun to see the imagination at work with the characters from the pixar movies. The kids loved it. Me too. I also love the detail in everything and am amazed at the costumes, etc. that we saw. Below, the kids are waiting as the parade starts.




A little side note about our clean up man here. He was about mid fifties, and really was cleaning up. Along the way he was dancing and had some great moves. Fun to watch.










Hope the kids had as much fun as we did. We loved every minute. Even when Carson and Rylan were sick. They were troopers and did really well for being little and living on Motrin and Triaminic Thin Strips. Grumpy got it after we got home and needed a Z-pac to start his recovery. He is still fighting off the tail-end of it.

All in all, a treasured memory. Can't wait to go again.

A Year of Birthdays

Last year about this time I posted our first of many birthday posts. Appropriately for our first kids, Tawna and Taya. It is their birthday again, but instead of the pics and favorite things about them I want to do something different this year for birthdays. I want to post a little bit about how our kids came into our lives.

When we became parents long ago (not meant as a dig) we were still in college and struggling to get our lives figured out. Richard had just begun his junior year, and I was just finishing my junior year. My due date for our first baby was May 11. I was planning on taking my finals and then having our first child with the summer to recover before my senior year commenced in the fall. In the latter part of March Richard went to a conclave in Kentucky for R.O.T.C., leaving me alone in Provo for a week. He left on a Sunday morning, and I lost all nerve to stay by myself. I called my Dad to see if he could fly up and get me so I could stay with them for the week. (Yes, I am spoiled and blessed with awesome parents). His friend had a Cessna 210 my Dad could borrow from time to time. He said he could, and by noon that day my friend Nancy (with her newborn) and I were on our way home for a week. We planned to drive back to Provo the following Sunday in a car she was picking up in Chandler. I was still six weeks away from my due date, so no problem, right? This picture was taken a month before I delivered. I was huge.



It was nice to be home. My Mom (as always) had wedding receptions to do as she was still in the catering business. She had two on the calendar on the following Saturday. There was also a baptism to attend in between decorating for the receptions, and going back to work at them that evening. A very good friend of my sister's was being baptized, so of course we were all going. We went and decorated for the reception (the other booking was for a cake only) Saturday morning. It was at a bank facility on Main Street in Mesa, and happened to be downstairs in this building. Wow. Everything had to go downstairs, and that was a lot of trucking up and down. I of course was not lifting and carrying, just doing the lighter stuff. We got everything under control and returned home to get ready for the baptism. I decided I was too tired to go, so I laid down to rest while the rest of my family went to the church. After a while, I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I came back to get back on the bed, my water broke. I didn't know quite what to do, so I went back to the bathroom and just sat on the toilet. Meanwhile, my Mom was at the baptism and somehow knew something was amiss. She turned to my Dad and said, “I think we need to go home.” They did. When she saw that my water had broken, she got on the phone to her Dr. and he agreed to meet us at one of the local hospitals. She had to go finish the wedding cakes and get them delivered, so she couldn't take me. My Dad was the transport and boy, was he nervous. My brother's birth was really, really fast, and my Dad was not wanting to deliver a baby in the car. I had a very fast ride to the hospital and I don't blame him a bit for wanting me there quickly.

Dr. Elliott came in to check out the progress and upon touching my belly made the comment, “Well, we have at least two babies in there, and maybe three since they are very small and I can't feel through to the back.” I remember thinking that I would be okay if there were two, but I didn't know how I would handle three. For months I had been asking my Dr. in Provo if it were possible that I could be having two. His answer was always, “Everyone always thinks they are having two.” Funny, some of us actually DO have two! This was before sonograms. (I'm that old). Next thing I knew, I was in the delivery room, getting an epidural that barely had time to kick in before the show was in full swing. I remember watching the delivery in the mirror above the bed and marveling at how tiny these babies were. Dr. Elliott told me he had named my babies for me. He said they were “Baby A, and Baby B!” Baby A was born at 6:10 (or something like that) and Baby B was 5 minutes later. She was very high and the Dr. had to literally go up and get her. He was concerned that she needed to come as quickly as possible as they were small and may need extra attention. (Her head was that really hard lump I had been feeling for months, right under my rib cage. I would go for my check ups and the Provo Dr. would always say the head was down. I would ask what that hard thing was up so high. He would just say probably the placenta. I don't think he was a very good Dr.) I was very upset that Richard was not there, but things were moving pretty fast and there was no way to contact him. (no cell phones yet either!) We had joked that he would go on this trip to Kentucky and I would have our baby while he was gone. Little did we know.

The babies went immediately into incubators. Their lungs were okay, all their systems seemed to be okay, but they could not maintain body temp, so had to be warm. Baby A was 4 pounds and Baby B, 3 pounds, 13 ounces. So little. My Mom got to the hospital just after the babies were born. From my arrival, until the births, it had only been about 3 hours. I went to my room, my body got the shakes (pretty normal) and I threw up. After that, I felt pretty good. Mom had to go and handle the reception, and I'm sure Tracy and Bob were helping with that. Papa was very glad he didn't have to deliver babies, and we still joke about the wild ride to the hospital.

I called my friend Nancy, and explained I wouldn't be riding back to Provo with her. She came to see the babies and we had a good laugh about the whole thing. I called Richard's parents and told them I wouldn't be there for dinner, and they of course were very surprised and came right away. My sister-in-law, Jacque was due any time, and was in fact going into labor about now. She had Ali the next day making her parents grandparents of 3 in a very short time. I had “frosted” my hair the night before I delivered, and it was really a mess. It took me hours to comb out all the tangles. Funny, the things you remember.

Still no contact with Richard. He was due back in Provo on Sunday, so I knew I wouldn't be able to talk to him until then. When Sunday came, I called home every few minutes until he finally answered. I knew he wouldn't believe me if I told him I was in the hospital and had just had twins, so I gave it to him slow. (This, because of all the joking about it ahead of time). I finally convinced him I was indeed in the hospital. I did in fact have our baby. Okay, time for the shock of it all…we actually had two babies. Now he was convinced I was kidding, so I said I would give him awhile to think about it, and call him back. We hung up and he immediately called his parents. They said, yep, it was true. He called me at the hospital to make sure all was well, and we discussed names. I told him I wanted to name them Tawna Lynn, and Taya Lee. Tawna, (the name of a friend's older sister), and Taya after a friend I had when we lived in Germany. Lynn, after me and Lee after my Dad and sister. He agreed. No more Baby A and Baby B. He made plans to take a bus to come see us in a few days. I went home to my parents house, but not the babies. I could hold them to feed them, but then they went back into the incubators. They were so very small. We called them our spider monkeys. I would go to the hospital for a few hours everyday and was so sad my babies were not at home with me. It took 10 days to have Tawna released to me (now back at 4 pounds) and 2 weeks for Taya to come home, now at almost 4 pounds. Babies always lose a little weight right after birth, and they wanted them back at birth weight to come home. They were eating every 2 hours around the clock, so we had a master schedule that I got a lot of help with from Mom and Tracy. I could never have handled this on my own. Richard made plans to drive down and pick us up after about 6 weeks. That's a whole other story. This picture was taken on their blessing day, right before we returned to Provo with our little, little babies. (Whoa, we were such babies ourselves. And so skinny!)



I will take this opportunity to wish Happy Birthday to Ali too. I have always loved that you girls came so close together. You must have been close before this world to get to come to us all within hours of each other.



The above picture was taken at Easter, on the Temple grounds a year later. One of the few I have of Nana with the twins.

I have always been grateful for the circumstances (blessings) surrounding their birth. The Lord was watching out for us and we had a great Dr. that knew I had twins coming and all was well. We have always been so thankful for Tawna and Taya and their sweet spirits, unique talents, considerable abilities and willingness to serve their families, us, and others. They have brought joy, worry, experience and blessings to us and we are better for them. I have always been so appreciative of the help I received with them. My Mom, and my sister Tracy were such life-savers while they were babies. Everyone helped us, and watched out for us. Countless hours of service. I missed my finals that year, took incompletes in all my classes, but oh well. I had healthy babies, 6 weeks early and that was the most important thing.

Happy Birthday to our twiners. We love you so very much.

Sweetheart State

That would be Arizona. The last state in the continental United States to be voted into Statehood. Grumpy and I have lived in a few states and even another country. We live in Arizona because we love it here. When I went away to college long ago and far away, I would drive several hours to get to school. On those long drives through Arizona and up to Utah, I got my first clue about how much I really love this state.


I never would have thought about it in those tender years, but because I was away I think I gained an appreciation for the things I love here. Of course my family was here. My mom's for a couple of generations back. Many of her ancestors came from Utah to settle in the Gila Valley. From there to the Valley of the Sun. Her mother attended, but did not graduate from good old Mesa High. My mother did graduate from that old high school, as did I and my siblings, and my kids. Those roots run pretty deep. So family was a big reason to love it here. Mom and Dad met at Williams AFB (now Gateway) and ultimately Dad was stationed at Luke AFB where he and some other fly boys started the Thunderbirds. They now call Nellis AFB in Nevada their home, but they began here.



After his tour with them, he left the service to farm in Queen Creek. I remember many, many lunches in the barn with Dad. I worked in the potato sheds as a teenager and drove back and forth across the many farms that now grow houses instead of crops. I can't think of Arizona without thinking of cotton fields, lettuce fields, corn, alfalfa, potatoes, and so forth. Fourth of July celebrations in Queen Creek with cousins enjoying corn on the cob and watermelon. Memories I love.



Later in life after we had been a few places and worked our way back here, I began to appreciate some of the other wonderful things we have here. When working for a local printer I did a lot of designwork for golf courses. Arizona is the perfect place to golf in the winter. People come here from all over to enjoy our beautiful balmy winters. We eventually got our own major league baseball team and Grumpy again, got to experience one of his dreams. To buy season tickets for an Arizona Baseball team. We enjoyed them until they priced them out of our range, but still keep tabs on the Diamondbacks. He played baseball in high school and is still an avid fan. The stadium is amazing and it was fun to go watch them make a little history.



I am better acquainted with our lakes than our golf courses on a personal level. Grumpy and I bought our first boat several years ago and began to enjoy the refreshing, beautiful lakes around us. We soon sort of claimed Canyon as our lake of choice here. I love to be on the water and relax to the wake of the boat, the scenery around us and being rocked by the water when are stopped. Then there is the mother of all lakes, Lake Powell. Even though just the tip of it is in Arizona, it is the most majestic end to see. It is the experience of a lifetime, and we enjoyed it as often as we could. I love it there. Eventually, we sold our boat, (the second one) and I miss going to spend time on the water with my honey and our kids.





One year Grumpy called and said he bought me a surprise for my birthday. He was calling from a shop in Safford. A quad shop to be more specific. He was so excited about his idea to learn to ride, I couldn't put a damper on it. I learned to ride a quad. Not a pro by any stretch, but to my surprise, I really like to ride. We spend a lot of time with our kids at the dunes now. Although it isn't in Arizona, it is close enough that I think of it as Arizona. I have to constantly remind myself we are actually in California when we are there. As we travel through the state going here and there I love driving through the dessert. In just a few weeks the desset will be blooming if it isn't already. It is so pretty, it has a unique beauty all it's own.




In all the years of going back and forth and in and out of this state, the one single thing that brings me the most comfort are the skies. I know the smog level is worse than it used to be, but all in all the gorgeous blue expanse of sky is pretty amazing. Even if you have to drive a few miles out of the cities sometimes, you will find skies so blue it almost hurts your eyes to take them in. It's like a balm, or a really deep cleansing breath to just relax for a few seconds and look up to find such perfection. I would lay on our trampoline when I was young and just watch the skies. I love it with clouds, or without, with thunder and lightning and yes, I even like the dust storms. I am leaving out the forests and our snow country, but love them as well. For the many different things Arizona is known for, I love that I was born here and learned to appreciate it's beauty. The summers from hell are a small price to pay, because we all know you can't have everything, right?