Heartfelt Tribute

My sweet Mother-In-Law passed away just over a week ago. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for the privilege of having her with us for as long as we did and for the plan of happiness- We know we will be with her again.

It just seems right to add a few things that I admire about her.

She NEVER complained...she had every right to, but I never heard a complaint from her about anything.

She always had a smile on her face.

She was always happy to see me.

She loved the gospel and we watched many BYU devotionals together.

She loved spending time with her family and it didn't matter what we were doing-

Disneyland vacations- her favorite ride was Soarin' Over California

Family dinners

Horse races

ball games

She loved doing puzzles and spent hours completing variety puzzle books.

She loved flowers- all of them. One of the first things that she would mention when we'd visit were her beautiful flowers that her friend brought her every week.

She had a great sense of humor. I occasionally saw that side of her. After Wes and I were engaged, I was in the kitchen with her while Wes and Reed did chores. She asked me when we were getting married. I told her I wasn't sure. She let me know that she hoped it was soon because she was getting tired of doing his laundry. When she was able to come see our new home just before we moved in, she said something really funny- and I think I'm the only one who knew she was joking. When they wheeled her into the library- and told her what room it was before she went in- they turned her toward the bookshelves that make up the entire wall. She looked right at the shelves and asked just where the books went. Hysterical!!

She was a FANTASTIC cook! (Self made I later learned) Some of my favorites that she made were:

Homemade bread- she made THE BEST!

Chocolate Chew cookies

Chocolate Cake- she always cut out the middle of the cake for Wes.

BBQs

Jet Oven chicken and Parmesan potatoes

Revel Bars

Rolls

and she taught me the best way to make turkey steaks!

She loved all of her step grandchildren as much as her blood grandchildren. As a matter of fact, I don't think I ever heard any mention of "step". They were all her grandkids and she was so proud of each and everyone of them. This means so much to me. A few years after Wes and I were married she let me know that we better hurry and have some more grandchildren for her while she could still hold them. She was so excited to find out we were having twins! When she finally got to hold them, her face glowed!

She was able to see each of her children become grandparents and held each of her great-grandchildren. The same glow was on her face each time.

She was always more concerned with others than herself.

She always served others. When Wes and I were dating, I remember spending the night multiple times at their home the evening before horse races. Reed and Yetta always left with the horses before I got up. Without fail, she always fixed something for Wes and I to eat. She left pancakes or she would cut a bowl of peaches for me to have (she loved them as much as I do). I'm sure this was not easy for her to do, but she did it because she loved us!

She loved old movies and love stories. Some that I watched with her were:

An Affair to Remember

Sabrina

Paint Your Wagon

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

She was always kind.

She had the courage to create her life story for us. The nice people from hospice helped her do this and we have it on DVD. What a special treasure it is.

She and Reed have the sweetest love for one another. It is a treasure, true, unconditional and eternal. I know that's how Wes and I are too. I am so blessed to have a husband that grew up in that kind of home. I am his treasure and he is mine.



A few weeks before her passing, I was able to spend a few hours with her. She told me that really soon she would be able to get up and come to our house. She knew that they'd find a way for her to do so. She also asked me if I wanted anything of hers. I refused and she still was insistent that I choose something to take home with me. I finally got up the courage to tell her what I had wanted to for a very long time. I told her that I already had the one thing that meant the most to me and that was greater than any other thing that she could offer. I told her that I have her sweet son as a husband and that she had done a wonderful job raising him to be the great man he is. She was a perfect mother.

A Snippet of the Past

Littles- literally...

OK- so these aren't too old. Almost seven years...where does time go??? I told some friends of mine at work that I would post these so they could see how small the littles were.

I can't get Ryan's picture to load- I'll try and update later and include it...

The Last Piece

Ryan called me at work yesterday- just devastated. He and Katelyn had been working on a puzzle together. She got to put in the last piece. Apparently this was enough to send him over the edge and call me to be consoled. I suggested that he remove a piece and put it back in. This was not good enough. He called it a "redo".

It's funny how the last piece is such a big thing...

Tripping for Work

I had the opportunity to travel to Minnesota about a week ago to attend a HACCP training at the new Malt-O-Meal technical center. I had a lot of fun traveling with my co-workers and I have to admit the class was OK too.

I traveled with a Line Manager from the opposite shift and really enjoyed getting to know him better. We had four others from Tremonton in our group as well. We had a great time and they even humored me and we went to the Mall of America and they let me go to the Disney Store. I hurried and got Ryan and Katelyn each a valentine, (cute pj's) and didn't even look for myself. I was afraid that they'd get bored really fast if I took too much time- kinda like Wes would!


We ate at a really great restaurant called Molly Cools. It was recommended by one of the big guys at the Tech center. I had blackened salmon and mashed red potatoes and fresh steamed green beans. WOW! was it ever good. I should have taken a picture of the presentation too- it even looked good. I can't say I've ever had better salmon anywhere else. As a bonus to me, a few of the guys I traveled with are on weight watchers- I had an opportunity to learn a little about the points system that they use. Sounds pretty good- and I don't think that those guys ever went hungry. They ate more food than I did!


We went to the Cabela's store one night too. (I know, so not me! But they did go to the Disney Store!) One of the guys we were with mentioned that he wanted to look for night vision goggles- thought that they'd be cool to have. Another in the group wisely asked what he's do with them if he had them. He replied that he'd use them to look at cats. The cats may be surprised that someone else could see at night too. OK- this was too much for us- Like the cats would know someone could see in the dark- AND cats????? Why not the deer or even to play jokes???? But Cats?????? This was too funny and some laughed until tears were in their eyes. Everyone also told their most embarrassing moments at the table that night. WOW! It was pretty funny. I work with some fun people. The best was from Ryan (the cat guy). All I'll say is never send a 19 year old for a physical without a little bit of knowledge first. Oh my! Some of the other stories had to do with embarrassing yourself on the radio- and saying too much. Or there was even the crazy old aunt who got into bed with her newlywed nieces' husband. My embarrassing moment wasn't that good- I seem to have a swiss cheese memory and let those things fall right through the holes.


After we went to Cabela's, we programmed the St.Paul temple into the GPS and went for a drive. (GPS' are way cool! Gotta get one of those!) Anyway, the temple was really neat. It was quite small- built in the same lot as what I think was the stake center. I took the picture with my cell-so it's not to great, but still beautiful.



I got home safe-It's always nice to go home. The house was in a little bit worse shape than I left it in, but the kids were happy to see me. It's strange how much they change in just three days!

Mystery Giver Strikes Again!

Ryan and Katelyn were elated to find out that their mystery giver knows our new address. Last week, yet another box of treasures arrived from our generous benefactor. It was just like Christmas all over again.

The new treasures include Zhu Zhu Pet Beds, a whoopie cushion, a cool wooden train set, sea creature capsules, candy!!!!, a princess night light, Valentine's Day stuffed animals and glow bracelets just to name a few.

The whoopie cushion was a fun joke on Mom, overplayed if you ask me!! The Train Set was Ryan's favorite, and Katelyn loved the Zhu Zhu pet bed. Jilly has been warm every night...

We tried (again) to send a thank you note to the address on the shipping box, but it was returned to sender (again). THANK YOU MYSTERY GIVER! You make two little children very happy!

Ryan's Growing Up

A few weeks ago Ryan asked me to help him with his MP3 player. It seems that he has outgrown the likes of The Wiggles, The Backyardigans and the Wonder Pets. When I feigned sadness over this milestone in his life, he told me that he guessed it would be OK to keep Disney and Elmo.

He had me add a lot of "Cowboy" songs. Added to his Disney and Elmo he is now listening to George Strait, John Denver, Styx, Chris Ledoux, Brenn Hill, and Santa's Using Zebras!

Interesting choices...At least he didn't ask for Iron Maiden, Metallica, Madonna or Van Halen!

Miss Kris Rules!!! Just Ask Katelyn and Ryan!

Miss Kris sent home special prizes for Ryan and Katelyn. They were so excited!!!! They bounced like Tiggers all over the house. Both of them have decided that Kris is their favorite "bigger than they are person that I work with". ( I think that's the same as five star, five diamonds, five Mickey's, a big box of crayons, a coke with their kids meal, etc.)Here they are with their new Jazz Bear umbrellas...you'll have to imagine the multiple choruses of "Singin' in the Rain". They tried to dance just like in the movie. (Wow! I really need a digital camcorder... You had to see it to appreciate its laugh factor!)AND, just as I predicted...here they are bouncing the nerf mini basketballs down the entry way. They laughed and giggled doing this fun thing, UNTIL Dad got home. They hid the balls after that! Thanks Kris! You're the best!