It's "Springtime in the Rockies" when one day it can be sunny and 75° outside, and then  the next day it snows, but the one thing I do love about this time of year are the  crabapple and plum trees that blossom and make our street look so pretty.  

And speaking of blossoms, I know this looks pretty sad, but I couldn't resist last week when I walked into Sam's Club and they had Gardenia and Hibiscus plants for sale. I picked a blossom off of one of the gardenia plants (it was not in the best shape and I thought I could help Sam's Club in their presentation) and brought it home so I could smell it all week 😀.   Neither of these plants do well in Colorado, but I love gardenias.  I have such fond memories of the gardenia plants in our backyard when I was growing up.  Mom would always have some in the house, which would smell so good. In the "old days", whenever we would go to San Francisco, there would be flower vendors on the street corners, and my Dad would always buy a gardenia for me to pin on my coat.  

 We also found gardenias in Italy last summer.  It is funny how one small thing can trigger so many special memories. 

 Kim and I are having a nice three-week break from classes and will be starting a new term on May 5th.  Apparently, I skirted around a basic Humanities class years ago (even though I took art and dance classes), and it has caught up with me, so that is what I will be working on.  It should be an easy, STRESS-FREE class. YAY!!!  

During our break, I have been substituting in Human Resources at the District 20 office, learning new things, and seeing old friends.  Dad and I also substituted in the Addiction Recovery Class, and loved every minute of it.  It was so great to connect with people who are trying so hard to make their lives better.  On the days I was home, we worked outside in the backyard- moving rocks and trying to get some basic clean-up done.  Dad bought a gazebo, and if the weather cooperates, we hope to get it put up in the next couple of weeks.  

 

HAPPY EASTER!   We had a wonderful Easter, and loved so much having family for dinner.  Dad grilled some delicious chicken, Adam brought a salad, and we added "green" rice and rolls to make our meal complete. 

      

After dinner, we went to the Living Christ presentation at the Lexington Stake Center.  They did an amazing job of depicting Christ's last week - much more meaningful to me than the Creche.  

 This is a photo that Dad took of the Last Supper.   

  

  This short quote is something that Kim sent to me and I love the thought that we can't give up when life is hard - The Lord's timing is everything ❤

Kate also shared this photo of Sayre - 

 Remember when we used to do this? 😁

This past week, I stayed super busy decluttering the office - more specifically trying to find a place for all of our photos, letters from my Mom, letters I wrote to my Mom and Dad, letters from Kim, Josh, Adam and Kate to my Mom and Dad, etc.  I found more than a few gems that made me smile - 

From Kate to the Toothfairy - 

From Spencer - 

Now that I have a place for everything, my next job is to sort by date and by person - I think I'll be working at it forever 😊

This week Dad and I did some shoe shopping - I wasn't successful, but Dad found some great hiking (or dog walking)boots at REI - while there, he had to try on some hats.  He has taken on an assignment to help other Institute instructors with tech and Zoom issues and this has kept him very busy.  

  Dad has also been extremely patient with Cooper, our friend down the street who rings our doorbell at least twice a day and sends Sendai into a frenzy.  He needed his lawnmower repaired so Dad took care of that for him, then he needed the blades sharpened, and he needed oil . . .

    Dad when the doorbell rings 👉

I also got to have lunch this week with Emma.  She continues to amaze me with her work ethic and financial accountability.  She has her car paid off, and a healthy savings account.  After lunch she took me to Rita's Italian Ice - a place I had heard of but never been to - and we indulged in slushy ice (I can't remember the flavor) and ice cream.

 Thanks Emma!❤

  I wasn't the only one who enjoyed my time away from classes these past couple of weeks.  Kim and Chris took a short trip to Washington D.C.  - such a fun place to visit - and I'm sure they enjoyed revisiting some of their favorite places.  

More Proms this week . . .

Remember when ??????

  

Both Blythe and Paul celebrated their Junior Proms this past week 

Love these kids so much!

Senior Photos

The end of the school year is right around the corner, and this year, both Samantha and Eilis will be graduating.  It doesn't seem possible that time has gone by so quickly.  Cory shared Samantha's senior photo with me  - 

 All of the photos she had taken were amazing, but this is my favorite!

She has the best smile ever ❤

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Last, but definitely not least, this cutie will be celebrating her birthday this week.

  Hollie will turn 17 this Wednesday, April 30th.  We will be celebrating with dinner on Thursday.  

 

As sad as it sometimes makes me to see our grandchildren growing up and moving on in life, it makes me so happy to see that they have grown into responsible adults who value family, who take care of themselves, and who are kind and respectful of others.  Dad and I love nothing more than when they stop by for a visit (long or short), stay for lunch, drop off a beverage, play with Sendai, spend the night, or just call us to keep us up-to-date on what they are doing.  We love you all so much!!! ❤

 

 My vision of retirement -

 However, reality is 👇 

 

I will be the first to admit it is totally all my fault! I always feel like I need to be busy and am not very good at relaxing, reading a book, or taking a nap.  This week's weather was so delightful that I did slow down and ate breakfast outside while reading the newspaper a couple of times - so I am learning 😀

Monday, I took Shannon to get a haircut, and afterwards, we went to Wade's Cafe for lunch.  Wade's is famous for their french toast so I ordered Shannon a plate of three slices and I had an omlet.  My omlet was delicious, however, I really wanted a bite, just one bite of Shannon's french toast with just a little butter and syrup on top.  It is one of my favorite things in the world and I can't remember the last time I have had some BUT she ate every last bit of it 😢.  On the bright side, she saved me from some sugar!

Shannon has struggled more over the last couple of months as Alzheimer's has taken its toll.  We were told by Lark Springs that she may not be able to stay there after this month.  She has become aggressive to the point where she has pushed other patients down.  Her medication has been adjusted twice, and we feel like that has helped.  She has a "babysitter" with her every day, and Dad and I have gone over every afternoon to spend a little time with her. I am not sure what the future holds, but will keep you all up-to-date ❤

 Angella made her big move this weekend, and this photo does bring back memories of packing and unpacking boxes.  Thankfully, Josh was here to help, and she said so many people came from their Ward that they had everything moved in just a couple of hours.  

 It didn't take Ben long to find the box with what was really important (his train set) and also how smart is he to find a place out of the way of everyone else where he could "work" on his computer and not have to run errands for anyone. 

Tis the season for the end-of-school-year activities, and Prom was just one of the ways our kids are celebrating this month.  

Hollie and her friends enjoyed their Prom night, and afterwards, Emma to Hollie to the Minecraft movie, still dressed up in their fancy dresses. 

  

  Paul also went to his Prom with his friend Maren - at least he asked her to prom

but I don't have any photos to know if she actually said yes 😁.  Send me some pictures this week, Paul - I know they will be great!

Hopefully, next week, I'll have more end-of-the-school-year photos to share.

SOMEBODY lost a front tooth this week, because the tooth behind it pushed it out - so no empty space 😀. Way to go Sayre!

 

 Kate also sent me this great video of Sayre "dancing in the rain" just like Gene Kelley 🕺☔

And then there is news from the Chicago 1st Ward.  I really love going to Church with Kim and Chris - their Ward is so friendly, so diverse, with really great people. Today, however, it was apparently a "full moon risin'"kind of day - it was their Fast Sunday today because of General Conference last week, but Chris said when he was getting ready to go into Sacrament Mtg he could smell something really good coming from the kitchen - which is really close to the chapel. He peeked inside, and a Ward member was sauteing some onions, and pasta and pasta sauce were boiling in pans on the stove. When he asked what she was doing, she said she was making some mastacioli for a Linger Longer HOWEVER, Church policy has always been that the kitchens should only be used to warm up already prepared meals; it was Fast Sunday, and there was no Linger Longer scheduled. 😊 

AND then, the organist got up to bear his testimony, which Kim said was a little unusual, and he mentioned that he knew the Bible had been translated correctly, and that (I can't remember the name) there was another Church that also used a Bible that was translated correctly, then he said "Amen" and walked down off the stand and out the back door.  And he never came back!  Chris texted another person in the congregation and asked if he could play the closing song, and when he got to the organ, he found it had been locked, and no one had keys to unlock it, so they sang their closing song with the piano. Really, Chris needs to write a book. 😊

Two closing thoughts tonight  - Dad is just finishing up his 1st Term teaching The Divine Gift of Forgiveness in his Institute class.  I love when he shares with me, and we have both learned so much. Sometimes, I think we "tune it all out" when we hear the words "atonement" or "repentance".  One of the quotes we talked about this week comes from Elder Packer, "Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke, and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ. When your desire is firm and you are willing to pay the "uttermost farthing" [see Matthew 5:25-26], the law of restitution is suspended. Your obligation is transferred to the Lord. He will settle your accounts."

Secondly, Dad has been reading a book called The Power of Stillness.  In several of the classes I have taken over the last couple of years, we have often discussed the value of mindfulness (the same as the power of stillness) and how it can impact us as individuals.  We often do things so we can check them off a list, but in doing so, we lose the value of the experience.  Mindfulness can help us to slow down - enjoy the quiet and peace, it can help us to think and see clearly when making important decisions; it can help us be more patient and understanding in our important relationships.  

I challenge you (and myself) this week to be more mindful of your thoughts, the things you say, and in your reactions to others.  Be Kind and Help Others, Find Joy ❤

 What a week!  It has been a busy one, with challenges here and there but that is how we learn and grow, right? 😊  I was just thinking the other day what life would be like if - you had the perfect family, the perfect husband, the perfect wife, perfect children, the perfect boyfriend, all the money you need in your checking and savings account, a car that never breaks down, the perfect job that comes with annual promotions, a house where all the laundry is done and neatly folded and put away, a swimming pool in the backyard, no dust to wipe away, or yardwork to do . . .  It sounds great but it is not how things really are.  I think Heavenly Father allows us to have those "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days" because those are the times when we reach out to Him. Those are the days when we can rely on the Savior's Atonement and the power it can give us to endure the "messiness" of life.  A couple of quotes I really enjoyed from conference this weekend - 

Elder Tai - "Please know that your every effort matters, and as certain as the stars above us, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know, hear, and love you". 

Elder Cook - "In a world of great beauty, there are also enormous challenges.  As we turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, He rescues us from the storms of life through His Atonement in accordance with the Father's plan". 

  Angella had one of those days yesterday, as she was driving to work when her car suddenly quit - she was able to pull off to the side of the road near a service station, and someone helped her push it the rest of the way in.  She called for a tow truck, and then Eilis came to take her to work.  As they were making a U-turn to get back on the highway, the car hit a curb, and the tire went flat 😲.  So, back to the gas station where someone helped Eilis put on her spare tire then she drove on to work.

I don't remember if Angella ever made it to work, but her Roadside Assistance gave her a voucher for an Uber, so she was able to make it home.

When Angella called to tell me this story, she was actually laughing.  It would have been so easy to have felt angry, frustrated, depressed, and to just want to give up - but she was trying to look at the bright side of things.  This was a great reminder to me  - sometimes we just need to have faith that everything will work out - and it always does. 

  School is over for Kim and I this Wednesday - I'll be doing some studying tomorrow and Tuesday, and then I'll take my final either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.   We will have a nice break until May 5th, and then it will be another 7-week class before I am through for the Summer. YAY!

I just want to tell you how much I love each and every one of you! And I am so thankful that we are a family.  I love that Josh, Angella, Emma, Eilis, Hollie, and Ben, and Adam and Cory, Sammi, Paul, Lily, and Jake all live close by so we get to see them often, go shopping together, eat dinner together, celebrate birthdays, cheer at soccer games, and have occasional lunches together. 

I love that Kim and Chris, Spencer, Grant, and Blythe, and Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre all live in places we love to come visit - and the adventures we have had at Target, Portillo's, the Chicage 1st Ward, The Jewel, Trader Joes, Aldi, the Amana Colonies, Clementine, and Gracie, and (now Ralphie), Pedicures, and fireflys. 

I love that Max is at BYU!  What a great place to be with good friends ❤

And I love that Kevin is here with me - always an adventure - Friday bagel dates, walking Sendai, the Temple, working on the house, and always sharing his Institute lessons with me, and lately, it has been visits with Shannon.  We continue to learn and try to be better.

You are all my greatest blessings!  I hope you have a wonderful week ❤