Friday, November 26, 2010

A Bountiful Thanksgiving


How fun it was to be in Arizona for Thanksgiving. We had a great time together. I'd have to say the highlight was our traditional extended family gathering for pie. Any of our children who are having Thanksgiving elsewhere, still bring their families in the evening to share pie and play football in the backyard. Last night, however, my brother, Stuart's, family was also gathering in Arizona and all of them came, loaded with pies.We figured we had over 80 people in the house, eating pie, playing, visiting, laughing and just enjoying being together. This is the family we stayed with most spring breaks when we went to Utah to ski. Sweet Uncle Stuart and Aunt Helen with their six children welcomed us
with our 9 children year after year and our children cousins became like beloved brothers and sisters. Yes, there is a price to pay for that kind of family closeness and I'll be eternally grateful for the welcoming attitude of that sweet family. They enriched our life!
We saw our cousin, Brian, for the first time in several years. Fun to see him and his cute children again. Angela, Heather and Kara catching up!

Josh and his girlfriend, Leah, came for dinner. It was great to meet her.


Brimley's cousin, Lauren, came from Tennessee to join their family for the holiday.
She was a great sport and it was fun having her.

Kara's sister, Kaytlin, spent the weekend with us. She attends BYU Idaho but is working in Tuscon this track. Great to see her again. She'll be back with us soon in the cold north country.

Friday, November 5, 2010

A New Granddaughter!

Ella has a new baby sister, born in August to Seth and Julie.
Isn't she beautiful? Can you tell Ella likes having a new sister? Her name is Macie Jane Parkinson and she's a petite little gal! That's grandbaby number 34!

Bob and I were headed for Southern Utah to attend the Shakespearean Festival when she arrived a couple of weeks early, so it was a few days before we could make our way to the Parkinson home to help the family make the transition from 5 children to 6, three boys and three girls. Bob kept the older children entertained with golf and other entertainment while we did our best to get Macie started in life. She's a good baby, but a newborn none the less. Her older sister, McKenna, was the only girl until about 3 years ago and now she has two little sisters.

What a joy these sweet little grandchildren are to us. We'd love to have a dozen more...not sure that's in the cards but each baby is so very welcome in our family. We all love babies! I know, that's hard to tell.

Treasure Husbands

A longtime friend lost her husband recently very suddenly. About a year ago another dear friend lost her husband. Both were there, fully active and seemingly healthy one minute and gone the next. Yes, I know I'm at an age when I should expect such things, but it is still such a shock to see people I love and have known for so long either no longer be with us, or lose their eternal companion for the rest of this life.

I remember a woman in our ward in Arizona who lost her husband. As we visited she said, "Be nice to your husband". This latest friend had the same advice. Do we really treasure our husbands the way we should? Do we realize how empty life would feel without them? or are we focused on their failings and take all those sweet blessings for granted?

My husband is out of town today. I have to admit I enjoy a day all to myself once in a while, but, boy oh boy, am I glad that he'll be home again in just a few hours. I love that man dearly. He truly is my soul mate... not because we each found our soul mate when we met and married but because we have shared life, looked to each other, loved each other, suffered together, rejoiced together, and become one. That's what a good marriage is all about.

Life together on this earth will never be long enough. Only eternity will do. How grateful I am that I have that to look forward to. We often say that we want to go together. Neither of us wants to be left behind... even for a little while. Reality is, however, one day we will be parted. It's hard for me to even think about that. What if I didn't know that it would only be for a little while, and that I would still be able to feel his spirit close by? I just pray that it will be many many years before that time comes. We both yearn to grow old together.

My heart is with those dear friends who have had to suffer this great loss and I hope I can bless their lives in some way while they await their reunion. Also, I hope that I can treasure my sweet husband every moment of every day and remember what a gift it is to have him by my side. If I can, I will have the added blessing of no regrets.