Okay, my "bummer" about watching football must be taken as sarcastic. I hope that's completely understood. I did not miss it. But I know Grandpa likes to watch and Corky will watch with him, but generally I don't. I did, however, watch parts of the Utah-BYU game and cheered in all the appropriate places. And of course, we were wearing RED and screamed and yelled at the end of the victorious game. But that's another story.
And--I failed to mention another thing. I started telling about the belt on our car, or in our car--whatever. A couple of winters ago, it slipped every time it got wet outside. Nasty deal. Gratefully I was pretty close to home and not trying to get home from work in the middle of the night. So, last week we replaced the tensioner and the idler pulley--they work with the belt. But we had to put on a belt that had once been in our car, but not for a long time. So we'd just kept it in the back, just in case. Well, when all these other things were replaced, we used that belt because I neglected to purchase a new one. It squeeked and squeeled. So Wally, my handy-dandy mechanic neighbor, who I pay in cash but tip in pies, said we should get a new one. Didn't happen before we left for Idaho. I had the newly-purchased belt in the car awaiting its proper place, but alas, was not in its proper place. We got home and Corky decided to get gas and wash the car since it was filthy. He went through the car wash, and guess what--belt slipped off. I called Wally and told him I'd been praying for that belt, but here we were, safe and sound at home and ready for his services--once again. Can I say how grateful I am for a guy who knows how to fix my car? Corky and I are totally happy to know Wally. Sounds like that's the only reason we like him--don't get that idea. He's a great neighbor. And he likes my pies.
So, I am thankful that the belt stayed in its place while we were travelling and that we didn't have to be towed someplace and pay tons to have it replaced (even though we had a replacement belt--one guy wanted to charge me $50 just to put it on). Perhaps the belt slipped off because Corky went through the car wash on Sunday evening? I don't know about that. But I am grateful that it happened when it did (not counting the trip), but because Corky was there to help. I hate dealing with the car but I usually have to, since I'm the one home and the one driving it. These things always happen when Corky's at work, so this time, he totally took care of it for me. Thanks Corky. Thanks Wally. Thanks especially to One who was looking out for us on our trip. I am truly grateful for that.
Oh, P.S. We had a great fireworks display at Grandma's house. For those of you who remember Thanksgiving there, I hope you remember the fireworks. On Friday evening, there is a huge display. It's great because we just go outside, set up the lawn chairs on Grandma's patio, bundle up, turn up the music and watch. I was at the store earlier that day and heard someone ask another person if they were "going to the fireworks." Made me do a double take because we don't have to "go." We are already there. Thanks for the fireworks Grandma!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Over the River. . .
As we drove to Twin Falls for our traditional Thanksgiving feast this year, I started thinking about how many times I have driven that road. Innumerable. I can't even begin to guess. I lived in Provo for two years before I went on my mission--I drove to Idaho many weekends and all holidays available. After my mission I lived in Salt Lake for another two years before I got married. Same deal. I don't think I can even count how many friends I took with me. My parents were always gracious to let me bring my friends to spend a weekend--male and female. Now I've been married for almost 23 years. I must admit that since the kids are here and older, we probably don't go as many weekends as we used to, but we still go for several holidays: Presidents' Day in February, sometimes Mom's birthday in March, Memorial Day in May, once or twice in the summer, Labor Day in September, Thanksgiving in November. That's about seven times a year. Our horse knows the way for sure.
Dante and Jake were in school on Wednesday--Jake had his Thanksgiving Feast that afternoon so we certainly couldn't leave early. Dante's was on Tuesday. Dante's was great--all the kids were assigned different items and they just shared--just like the Pilgrims and the Indians. Then they played this silly turkey feather game. They had feathers (the construction paper kind) and two people played at the same time. They each choose two feathers, hide them behind their backs and have to try and see (name) the feather colors of their opponent. It's pretty goofy--they actually look like turkeys because they are arching their backs trying to keep their own feathers hidden while discovering the color of the other person's feathers and dancing all around. Dante challenged me--he thought he'd whoop his mom. Ha! I had him beat in no time.
Jake's feast was a little different. Taylor, Moni and I picked up a fully cooked turkey from a grocery store and took it back to the school. Of course it leaked turkey juice all over the car seat. Hm. That was the seat Simona had chosen for the ride to Idaho. We soaked up as much juice as we could with school paper towels--not very absorbent. She sat on a towel and smelled like a turkey. Anyway, we helped divide the turkey between three 2nd grade classes. The kids brought other items to share. It was so fun. Jake's teacher had the kids make paper pilgrim hats and collars. They looked great. She also plays the piano, so the kids were singing their Thanksgiving songs while they ate. It was great fun. It was funny to see the kids in the class and their reaction to Taylor. He has been helping in the class on Thursday after he gets out of school, so they know him. They love him! They totally surrounded him and joked with him. They thought it was so funny to put their hats on his head, especially the girls. He just plays along. Younger kids have always been drawn to him.
So as soon as we got home, we quickly packed the car and . . . waited. Corky wasn't quite ready to go. When he called, we hopped in the car and hoped for the best. We've had some car troubles but thought everything was taken care of. Our wonderful mechanic neighbor Wally was on the ball. We have a belt that keeps slipping off, but I prayed that belt would stay put. Our tradition is to pick up Corky and then get a hamburger on the way out of town. It was getting a little late, so we opted to get out of the traffic and down the road a little before stopping. Jake wasn't totally thrilled with that option, but he survived. He's a hamburger boy. I think he'd bleed burger blood.
We decided to pull off at Tremonton to get our burger--we've done that before, but in the dark we took the first exit and couldn't find a burger place. We did see a road that went to the left and both Corky and I decided that it would probably eventually lead to our destination, which is more like a truck stop with several burger choices. Wow--I'm so glad we took that exit. We got to drive right through downtown Tremonton. I don't know that I've even been there before. In all my trips to Idaho, I never went through Tremonton, why would I? Quoting Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Doobie says, "All you see on the Interstate is Interstate," he's right. I've always driven right by this darling little town. The main street reminded Corky of what Twin Falls' main street used to look like. There were great stores, lit up for the holidays. There was a King's "dime store" as my mom used to call it. I wanted to stop and walk through the town. I can't wait to make that mistake again, only the next time it will be intentional. Simona decided she liked it enough to live there. Jake said--okay, I'll live there too and we'll be neighbors and sisters! It took him a minute to correct that statement.
I started looking out the window--actually on the way home since it was pitch black on the way there, but for our purposes here, we can pretend it was on the way to Grandma's house. I love looking at all the fields, in every season. In the spring they are plowed and planted, but if you hit it on the right day, they are also flooded. Grandpa says the farmers love to have as much water on those new seeds as possible to help them sprout. In the middle of the summer, I love driving by each field to see what is in it. I know it's Idaho, but there really aren't that many potato fields where we go. They have quite a few potato fields closer to Idaho Falls (my uncle Rone is a real live Idaho potato farmer), and closer to Twin Falls they have potato fields in a little town called Murtaugh. (The kids from Murtaugh I knew put the accent on Murt-totally holding it out. Well, they were the farmer kids, but we loved it when they would come to the church dances in Twin Falls--they had cute boys. Problem was, they always said, oh, I have a cow named Sally. Yeah. Thanks.)
The fields I can name are beets, corn, alfalfa, peas, grain (wheat), beans, and I can't think of any more. There is a sugar beet factory in Twin and there are some places where they come up with new varieties of beans, etc. A lot of the crops in Twin Falls are used for seed. I didn't know that while I lived there. Had to move away to find that out.
I live here in a valley--mountains all around me. I love the mountains, Wasatch on one side and Oquirrh on the other. But I also love the flat flat of the landscape going to Grandma's. You can see forever. At certain places in the trip, there are some small mountains, and their peaks and valleys are very familiar and comforting to me. But the flat scenery of home has a special place in my heart. I remember standing out in the back yard watching the sun go down. It took a long time. This weekend, however, Corky called me out to the back yard and we could see Angel Moroni on the Twin Falls Temple. That was so cool. What a blessing a temple in Twin Falls is. There are houses overtaking the fields around Grandma's and Grandpa's house and soon I probably won't be able to see Moroni, but he's there now.
In fact, my canal where I used to hunt asparagus with Tad Haney is gone. Tad was cute and I loved asparagus. What could be better--walking up and down a long field with a cute boy finding good food? I remember sleepovers (only we called them slumber parties) in my back yard--not with Tad. With the girls my age. There were ten girls and two boys. Tad Haney, Eric Jacobsen--me, Kathy Evans, Kathy Jones, Darla Thompson, Kayleen Galley, Lori Christensen, Jeni Christensen, Kelly Miller, Jill Gerdes, and somebody else. I remember one night we slept out in the front yard, which was strange because it seemed like it was generally in the back. Anyway, I remember we had gone to sleep and all woke up at the same time and there was a meteor shower. I have thought about that all these years, and then started to wonder if maybe I'd made it up. A few years ago I ran into Lori Christensen and she said--do you remember that time when we were sleeping at your house and there was the meteor shower? I was so happy. It was a real memory!
I am thankful for the home where I grew up. I am thankful for the yard and the fields where I played. I am happy to be an Idaho Spud. I love planting seeds and seeing things grow. I'm glad my parents planted a huge garden and I got to taste of the wonderful food grown from the earth, from our own garden. I'm glad my dad was so generous that he planted much more than we needed and gave away many vegetables to neighbors. I'm glad my mom was industrious and taught me to can fruits and vegetables. I still carry on that tradition--I always think of the scripture that says "I shall lay up the fruit against the season unto mine own self." Makes me think maybe I'm actually doing something for my family, something I should do.
My kids and I planted squash for Grandma this spring. In the summer I saw some of the plants growing with vigor, all over the yard and up into the lilac tree. I saw about 6-7 large Hubbard squashes. When Ron helped Mom harvest them, there were 16--4 plants each bearing 4 squashes. One was a monster. Mother saved it for us, but it wouldn't even fit in the car--I would have had to leave a child. (But who?) We brought home a smaller one, which was still very large. I didn't think to take a picture of the giant feller, but it was at least three times larger than the "regular" guy.
Thanksgiving was good. I cooked. I made great rolls. Ron and Sharalee and Alan came, and Sharalee was surprised to know that I made the rolls and not Grandma, as well as the dressing. I guess she hasn't paid much attention over the last several years, because I've cooked the meal for quite a while now. Well, Grandma probably still did the rolls, but I did them this time. I've been practicing. We had three bags left over--they were gone by the next night. My kids chow down rolls.
I'm glad I was there with my mom and dad and my husband and my kids. These are the people I love best. It was a thankful day.
Funny, we didn't watch a single football game. I didn't even notice until the day was done. Bummer.
Dante and Jake were in school on Wednesday--Jake had his Thanksgiving Feast that afternoon so we certainly couldn't leave early. Dante's was on Tuesday. Dante's was great--all the kids were assigned different items and they just shared--just like the Pilgrims and the Indians. Then they played this silly turkey feather game. They had feathers (the construction paper kind) and two people played at the same time. They each choose two feathers, hide them behind their backs and have to try and see (name) the feather colors of their opponent. It's pretty goofy--they actually look like turkeys because they are arching their backs trying to keep their own feathers hidden while discovering the color of the other person's feathers and dancing all around. Dante challenged me--he thought he'd whoop his mom. Ha! I had him beat in no time.
Jake's feast was a little different. Taylor, Moni and I picked up a fully cooked turkey from a grocery store and took it back to the school. Of course it leaked turkey juice all over the car seat. Hm. That was the seat Simona had chosen for the ride to Idaho. We soaked up as much juice as we could with school paper towels--not very absorbent. She sat on a towel and smelled like a turkey. Anyway, we helped divide the turkey between three 2nd grade classes. The kids brought other items to share. It was so fun. Jake's teacher had the kids make paper pilgrim hats and collars. They looked great. She also plays the piano, so the kids were singing their Thanksgiving songs while they ate. It was great fun. It was funny to see the kids in the class and their reaction to Taylor. He has been helping in the class on Thursday after he gets out of school, so they know him. They love him! They totally surrounded him and joked with him. They thought it was so funny to put their hats on his head, especially the girls. He just plays along. Younger kids have always been drawn to him.
So as soon as we got home, we quickly packed the car and . . . waited. Corky wasn't quite ready to go. When he called, we hopped in the car and hoped for the best. We've had some car troubles but thought everything was taken care of. Our wonderful mechanic neighbor Wally was on the ball. We have a belt that keeps slipping off, but I prayed that belt would stay put. Our tradition is to pick up Corky and then get a hamburger on the way out of town. It was getting a little late, so we opted to get out of the traffic and down the road a little before stopping. Jake wasn't totally thrilled with that option, but he survived. He's a hamburger boy. I think he'd bleed burger blood.
We decided to pull off at Tremonton to get our burger--we've done that before, but in the dark we took the first exit and couldn't find a burger place. We did see a road that went to the left and both Corky and I decided that it would probably eventually lead to our destination, which is more like a truck stop with several burger choices. Wow--I'm so glad we took that exit. We got to drive right through downtown Tremonton. I don't know that I've even been there before. In all my trips to Idaho, I never went through Tremonton, why would I? Quoting Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Doobie says, "All you see on the Interstate is Interstate," he's right. I've always driven right by this darling little town. The main street reminded Corky of what Twin Falls' main street used to look like. There were great stores, lit up for the holidays. There was a King's "dime store" as my mom used to call it. I wanted to stop and walk through the town. I can't wait to make that mistake again, only the next time it will be intentional. Simona decided she liked it enough to live there. Jake said--okay, I'll live there too and we'll be neighbors and sisters! It took him a minute to correct that statement.
I started looking out the window--actually on the way home since it was pitch black on the way there, but for our purposes here, we can pretend it was on the way to Grandma's house. I love looking at all the fields, in every season. In the spring they are plowed and planted, but if you hit it on the right day, they are also flooded. Grandpa says the farmers love to have as much water on those new seeds as possible to help them sprout. In the middle of the summer, I love driving by each field to see what is in it. I know it's Idaho, but there really aren't that many potato fields where we go. They have quite a few potato fields closer to Idaho Falls (my uncle Rone is a real live Idaho potato farmer), and closer to Twin Falls they have potato fields in a little town called Murtaugh. (The kids from Murtaugh I knew put the accent on Murt-totally holding it out. Well, they were the farmer kids, but we loved it when they would come to the church dances in Twin Falls--they had cute boys. Problem was, they always said, oh, I have a cow named Sally. Yeah. Thanks.)
The fields I can name are beets, corn, alfalfa, peas, grain (wheat), beans, and I can't think of any more. There is a sugar beet factory in Twin and there are some places where they come up with new varieties of beans, etc. A lot of the crops in Twin Falls are used for seed. I didn't know that while I lived there. Had to move away to find that out.
I live here in a valley--mountains all around me. I love the mountains, Wasatch on one side and Oquirrh on the other. But I also love the flat flat of the landscape going to Grandma's. You can see forever. At certain places in the trip, there are some small mountains, and their peaks and valleys are very familiar and comforting to me. But the flat scenery of home has a special place in my heart. I remember standing out in the back yard watching the sun go down. It took a long time. This weekend, however, Corky called me out to the back yard and we could see Angel Moroni on the Twin Falls Temple. That was so cool. What a blessing a temple in Twin Falls is. There are houses overtaking the fields around Grandma's and Grandpa's house and soon I probably won't be able to see Moroni, but he's there now.
In fact, my canal where I used to hunt asparagus with Tad Haney is gone. Tad was cute and I loved asparagus. What could be better--walking up and down a long field with a cute boy finding good food? I remember sleepovers (only we called them slumber parties) in my back yard--not with Tad. With the girls my age. There were ten girls and two boys. Tad Haney, Eric Jacobsen--me, Kathy Evans, Kathy Jones, Darla Thompson, Kayleen Galley, Lori Christensen, Jeni Christensen, Kelly Miller, Jill Gerdes, and somebody else. I remember one night we slept out in the front yard, which was strange because it seemed like it was generally in the back. Anyway, I remember we had gone to sleep and all woke up at the same time and there was a meteor shower. I have thought about that all these years, and then started to wonder if maybe I'd made it up. A few years ago I ran into Lori Christensen and she said--do you remember that time when we were sleeping at your house and there was the meteor shower? I was so happy. It was a real memory!
I am thankful for the home where I grew up. I am thankful for the yard and the fields where I played. I am happy to be an Idaho Spud. I love planting seeds and seeing things grow. I'm glad my parents planted a huge garden and I got to taste of the wonderful food grown from the earth, from our own garden. I'm glad my dad was so generous that he planted much more than we needed and gave away many vegetables to neighbors. I'm glad my mom was industrious and taught me to can fruits and vegetables. I still carry on that tradition--I always think of the scripture that says "I shall lay up the fruit against the season unto mine own self." Makes me think maybe I'm actually doing something for my family, something I should do.
My kids and I planted squash for Grandma this spring. In the summer I saw some of the plants growing with vigor, all over the yard and up into the lilac tree. I saw about 6-7 large Hubbard squashes. When Ron helped Mom harvest them, there were 16--4 plants each bearing 4 squashes. One was a monster. Mother saved it for us, but it wouldn't even fit in the car--I would have had to leave a child. (But who?) We brought home a smaller one, which was still very large. I didn't think to take a picture of the giant feller, but it was at least three times larger than the "regular" guy.
Thanksgiving was good. I cooked. I made great rolls. Ron and Sharalee and Alan came, and Sharalee was surprised to know that I made the rolls and not Grandma, as well as the dressing. I guess she hasn't paid much attention over the last several years, because I've cooked the meal for quite a while now. Well, Grandma probably still did the rolls, but I did them this time. I've been practicing. We had three bags left over--they were gone by the next night. My kids chow down rolls.
I'm glad I was there with my mom and dad and my husband and my kids. These are the people I love best. It was a thankful day.
Funny, we didn't watch a single football game. I didn't even notice until the day was done. Bummer.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Giving Thanks
Okay, I've been tagged by Anna to tell what I'm most grateful for. Wow. Right now it's kind of hard because there are so many things. Everything that I'm so thankful for seems to be magnified--I guess that's normal when life has been topsy-turvy in the last few weeks.
I am grateful for Ed Richardson, my father-in-law, for the life the lived and the love that he so freely shared. I always felt loved by him. He always told me that I was beautiful, and he made me feel beautiful. I am grateful for the example he was to his son, my sweetheart.
I am so thankful for Corky. He is so good to me--he showers me with affection and makes me feel beautiful--I guess he got that from his dad. Corky is truly my favorite person in the whole world. A long time ago a bishop told me that someday I'd meet somebody who would make "my socks roll up and down." Every date I went on I thought about what my socks were doing. Corky makes my socks roll up and down. I am so thankful that we are married and have a family. We have been married for over 22 years--it still seems like just yesterday, but we're just more comfortable. I am thankful that he let me be a part of his life.
I am so thankful for my kidlets. I love being a mom. My kids make me smile and laugh and cry and go crazy. I love the goofy things they say and do and I love their sweet kisses and hugs. For all you who worry about having teenagers, don't. Certainly there are challenges, but they are a lot of fun! I love having kids of all ages. It's so great when you see them work together and help each other be happy. These are the current school pictures.
I am thankful for my Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters and all of their spouses and kids--and their spouses and kids! I have felt an outpouring of love from each of them during this past month, and for that I'm grateful. It's wonderful to have people who care about you. I am amazed at the generosity and love from each. Thank you! They sent us a cookie bouquet that arrived the day before Grandad's funeral. My sister Arlene (in the picture with me) kind of spearheaded the whole thing--she said she wanted something that would make us smile. Smiles were kind of lacking, and this truly did make us smile. Here's a picture of the bouquet. It was delicious! Thanks to all of you.
I am grateful for Ed Richardson, my father-in-law, for the life the lived and the love that he so freely shared. I always felt loved by him. He always told me that I was beautiful, and he made me feel beautiful. I am grateful for the example he was to his son, my sweetheart.
I am so thankful for Corky. He is so good to me--he showers me with affection and makes me feel beautiful--I guess he got that from his dad. Corky is truly my favorite person in the whole world. A long time ago a bishop told me that someday I'd meet somebody who would make "my socks roll up and down." Every date I went on I thought about what my socks were doing. Corky makes my socks roll up and down. I am so thankful that we are married and have a family. We have been married for over 22 years--it still seems like just yesterday, but we're just more comfortable. I am thankful that he let me be a part of his life.
I am so thankful for my kidlets. I love being a mom. My kids make me smile and laugh and cry and go crazy. I love the goofy things they say and do and I love their sweet kisses and hugs. For all you who worry about having teenagers, don't. Certainly there are challenges, but they are a lot of fun! I love having kids of all ages. It's so great when you see them work together and help each other be happy. These are the current school pictures.
I am thankful for my Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters and all of their spouses and kids--and their spouses and kids! I have felt an outpouring of love from each of them during this past month, and for that I'm grateful. It's wonderful to have people who care about you. I am amazed at the generosity and love from each. Thank you! They sent us a cookie bouquet that arrived the day before Grandad's funeral. My sister Arlene (in the picture with me) kind of spearheaded the whole thing--she said she wanted something that would make us smile. Smiles were kind of lacking, and this truly did make us smile. Here's a picture of the bouquet. It was delicious! Thanks to all of you.
I am grateful for parents who have taught me the gospel and who have lived it their whole lives. 
I am thankful for the temple and the peace I feel when I'm there. I am thankful for some wonderful friends--women in my neighborhood and ward who like to be with me! We have a girls' day and watch a chick flick. I love that. I love having someone I can talk to and cry with.
Life is good.
Friday, November 7, 2008
November 6, 2008
Tonight at 6:15 p.m., Edward Milton Richardson, my sweet father-in-law, passed away. I am so sad. He was such a wonderful man; I truly love him. I met him before I met his wonderful son, Corky. When I came home from my mission, I went to a Singles' Ward and Bishop Richardson made me feel very welcome. He reminded me so much of my dad, and it was always a comfort to see him smiling at me, along with everyone else, from up on the stand. He was truly the "Father of the Ward."
We got a phone call in the early afternoon that Grandad wasn't doing very well, so I took care of things at home (missing my first day as a new Cub Scout leader), picked up Corky and we went to the VA Nursing Home where Grandad has been a resident for almost two months. We were so lucky to be there with him during his last hours. He was so ready to go. His poor, frail body looked nothing like the man I had known. I could not believe the difference in him from the last time I had seen him. A week ago, Grandad was doing okay. He had fallen out of bed twice in the past week and cut his head open. I think the second time really was what sped things along. He hadn't eaten since about Monday, and his body didn't want to be there any longer.
Corky's brothers Steve (and Kim) and Tim (and Alisha) and I were all there along with Grammy, Andrea Richardson. I am so blessed to have been a part of it. Corky gave his dad a blessing, telling his spirit that it was okay to let go. He had done his work here on earth, and really with Alzheimer's disease, he was gone a long time ago. Corky has said goodbye to his dad more than once, and has missed the dad he had known for quite a few years. I was glad that he got to give this blessing and tell his dad how much he loved him and how much he had meant to all of us.
Even when you are preparing for this moment, and know that it is imminent, I don't think you can ever really be ready. I have never been with a person before when they passed from this life to the next, but it was very sweet. We knew he was gone. And once he took his last breath, the look on his face was actually much more peaceful than it had been for the several hours prior to that fateful moment.
I miss you Grandad. I love you. Thank you for being such a wonderful man. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the understanding we have of what life and death is all about. Death is just as big a part of living as is birth.
This Wednesday, the kids in our ward are doing baptisms at the Temple. Ed Richardson was the only member of the Church from his family. We have hundreds of names of his ancestors for which we need to do temple work. On Wednesday, we will bury the body of Ed Richardson at just about the same time the kids in the ward will be doing baptisms for his ancestors. Do you think he will be there with them as they watch this event? I hope so. It's because of him that we have these names; because of him that their work will be done.
Again, I am so grateful to have been able to partake of the goodness of this wonderful man. We lived at their home for a few months, and while we were there, I could see that he always wanted peace around him. He did whatever he could to make everyone happy, sacrificing his own wishes. He knew when to stay quiet, but also when to speak up. He was always happy and friendly, kind and well mannered, right to the end. What a blessing he has been to all of us who knew him.
I love you so much.
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