Loved This Book

After seeing these two families talk about their ordeal on Oprah, I got a chance to read the book. All I can say is "Wow." You'll be totally blown away by how these people handled this unthinkable situation that really happened in April 2006. It was truly inspirational.

"I Know .... I Will"

Memorial Day was always a special day in the family I grew up in. We would take a picnic and visit all the family graves in the area, putting pretty flowers on each one, flowers that mom had painstakingly put together, carefully making sure that each arrangement matched the person. We would stop at each grave and talk about that person, and what he or she meant to my parents. After we all left home, and dad passed away, we would sometimes take turns taking mom around to the cemeteries to deliver her flowers. Finally, it became impossible for mom to go at all, so she would give me money to buy flowers and take them myself. I was pretty careful to match the flower with the person, like she did, then report back to her when it was done. One particular day, about 5 or 6 years ago, I dutifully delivered flowers to the Sugar City cemetery where my grandma had bought a big plot when her husband (dad's dad) died of appendicitis in 1923, leaving her with 7 children to raise on her own. He is buried there, along with Aunt Amy, brother Verle, sister Marilyn, and baby niece, Monica, and several other cousins and relatives over the years. I turned to walk back to my car, and just before I got in, I suddenly turned around, and looked back at the graves, and said, "I know .... I will." It was as if my spirit had heard them pleading for help in getting more temple work done. If ever I need to be motivated to keep searching for family names to take to the temple, I think back on that day, and the phrase that unexpectedly left my lips, "I know .... I will."

Grandpa Skidmore

Aunt Amy

Sister Marilyn

Brother Verle

Reflections on Mother's Day

I know some women that hate Mother's Day. They say when they go to church and listen to all the stories about perfect mothers, they feel quilty. And when they look forward to having a special day and nothing out of the ordinary happens, it makes them cranky. I have been guilty of those feelings. But over the years, I have chosen a different way. No guilt trips for me during church. And I treat Mother's Day as any other day, then if nice things are done for me, it's a bonus! This is my second Mother's Day without my mom. How I miss her. No one loves you like your mother. And when she is gone, there seems to be a big hole, somehow trying to be filled. I know she is not completely gone, though. And I can feel her love whether I see her here with me or not. How great is that?

Tribute to Lataun

I've spent the last five days at Lataun's house taking care of her and the girls. She had to have more sinus surgery, and it's a pretty miserable recovery. I have to say, I agree with the old adage that the more you serve and sacrifice for someone, the more you love them. It's such a joy to feel the love of her and the little ones, and see them sad when I leave. Lataun is a great little mom. She's so organized and on the ball. She keeps scrapbooks on her girls that look better than the magazines. She has a real flare for decorating, I love it when she gives me pointers. We share a love for good books and scrappy quilts. She takes her church jobs very seriously, right now as Primary president. She's very generous and giving, and always sticks up for the underdog. She has lots of friends, and her friends love her. I can tell she understands me. She laughs when I laugh, and she cries when I cry. From the time she was a baby, I felt like we had been friends in heaven. And I'm so grateful to be her mom, and friend, here on earth.

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Cousins...and friends

Lucy, Millie, Cristy (in back), Di, Ruth, Karen, Myrna

My girl cousins on the Spaulding side have always been a close knit bunch. We have done quilts at each other's houses over the years, helped each other celebrate our 40th birthdays, had some fun overnighters, and generally stayed in touch with weddings, mission farewells, and funerals. This year, we thought it was important to get together before Millie and her husband, Alan, leave for their 3-year mission to Brazil this summer. We met in Pocatello for dinner, then went to Aunt Noni's house for visiting. Some had to go home at that point, but these guys came to my house to have a sleepover. It was a great time.... to get caught up and be reminded that even in our 40's and 50's, we still have a lot in common. Love you guys!

American Idol Wannabe

You can't tell in the picture, but little Jack-Jack is rocking out to the music. We usually get to watch him on Tuesday nights while Val and Meg are at YW/YM. We look forward to it. He's such a little ray of sunshine in our lives. BTW... Michael Johns, David Argeletta, Jason Castro or Brook White are my favorites to win. Too bad there can't be four winners.

April Fools!

April Fools Day 2008 in Bancroft

I'm reminded of an April Fools prank played on me lots of years ago. It was only about a month after my dad passed away. Gary called one evening and said "Mom has fallen and broke her leg really bad. I've taken her to the hospital and she's about to go into surgery." (I took the bait...hook, line, and sinker) I thought, Oh man, how unfair for this to happen to her, with everything else she's been through. "I'll be right there," I said, and hung up the phone. He let me have ample time to get changed and ready to go before he called back and said, "April Fools!"

And it seems like every year at our house someone falls for the old "rubber band around the kitchen sink sprayer" gag.

Does anyone else have an April Fools story to share?