It's Birthday Time Again!

Happy Birthday to Beth! Having a birthday on December 30th can mean that you may get overlooked nearly every year. We wish her a successful, fun filled year. We love you, Beth. Beth is the best sport in every aspect of life. She takes Sophia's attitude that she inherited from her dad. He's kind of full of nonsense sometimes, and the rest of the time he's fairly opinionated, so she is a good sport, if you know what I mean.

Beth has the nicest parents in the universe, which is where we think she got some of her fabulous traits. They are supportive, loving, kind, and accepting. She's like that too.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Beth, Happy Birthday to you. (Now, let's sing it again, while you blow out the candles, only it will be an octave higher.)

What are the chances that Beth will get a Jones nephew on her birthday? Maybe they will name him McBeth!

Picture This

We're so glad that Chris, Beth and Sophia came for Thanksgiving. It totally made us happy.

There have been several times this past month when I wished I had my camera because one picture is worth a thousand words. But because I either didn't have my camera or didn't dare pull it out at the appropriate time, here you have a very wordy post.

Word Picture#1= I was riding to a doctor's appointment with my wheelchair bound friend. I was in the front seat of the transport van with the driver. As I turned to chat with my friend whose wheelchair was strapped to the floor facing backward, I noticed a large red sign. It read "Seating positions in front of vehicle are for the physically challenged." Please make seats available to those who wish to use them. Now I ask, what does that make the driver and me? And who is the sign quoting?

Word Picture#2= Mel and I were standing in the check out line at Costco when I got the whiff of a long time familiar aroma. Could it be perm? Looking forward there was an older man with orange very tightly curled (I'm guessing red rods) wet hair. Looking at his orange shirt, I noticed a red jaggity wet ring at his neck line, the culprit of the aroma. One interesting side light is that his back hair matched the color and curl of his head.

Word Picture#3 = Oakley ate his ham, grapes, orange and carrot without spitting them out. I was so proud of him for cleaning his turtle bowl so well. Suddenly it all returned to the bowl in minced form. I do have a picture for this one, but the picture will never do it justice.Lastly, and we do have pictures for this performance. Noelle and Marissa played their piano recital pieces so well today. Recitals are so nerve wracking, aren't they? They not only played well, but looked beautiful at the same time. We're so proud of them.

Babies!!!

Reese Melvin: AKA Baby A: 2 lbs 7 oz - 14 3/4 inches long

Reese has been the strong one who pretty much tried to compensate for his little brother. I think he is the peacemaker and calming influence and even though he is bigger he wasn't quite as ready to come. We're so grateful for wonderful smart doctors, who confer with other wonderful specialists and then act on their plan. Reese has a blood clot in his leg that they are hoping to be able to dissolve. Thank you for your continued prayers.Nate Jeffrey: He has been known as Baby B until this time. 2 pounds 2 oz. - 14 inches long

This is the little guy that caused the doctor to sprint into the room and announce that the babies were on their way. Previously his heart rate had been low, then high, then okay. He had reverse blood flow issues and just kept the doctors consulting and wondering. Monday afternoon his heart rate had been around 200 for an hour and things weren't calming down. Sara called Jason who was dutifully coaching at basketball practice. Jason made it to the OR with 30 seconds to spare. He is such a caring, concerned and loving husband and dad. We, as parents are so grateful for him. The "heating pad" on his head looked to be a 4X4 pad.
Oakley has been a trooper too. Last week when Sara was first in the hospital (again) he and I were riding home from the ball field, and he said, "I want to go home." I told him that we were going home. He said, "NO! I want to go home! Mom! Dad! I want to go home." He seemed so happy to sit next to Jason in the hospital chair and play games on his dad's phone, then talk to Sara and see that she was at the "docker." He has done pretty well all week long, but yesterday was another "I want to go home day" at Debbie's and then with Grandma Roberta. So in that way, "normal" will come soon, little buddy. Here's a picture of him at birth. We thought he was so little. He truly is the big brother. In about 2 1/2 months, Reese and Nate will look somewhat the same. You'll see.
Sara is looking forward to when things are back to normal. I'm thinking "normal" won't ever have quite the same meaning. We are so proud of her and Jason.

Random Review

Tonight we went to the adult session of stake conference. Edith Haws was the first speaker and gave an excellent talk with the message: Learn from the past and live for the future. There are so many things to learn from the past. Some we would love to repeat daily, or maybe yearly as traditions while others we just hold our breath and hope we never have to struggle like that again. I'll review some things I have learned from the past. My grandchildren have amazingly strong parents. These are parents who, even in hard times, make it good for their kids. This was ten days after Parker was born, while he was still in the hospital. Even though Natalie spent all of her time at the hospital she had already made the Peter Pan costume and the Wendy outfit, bought the swords and had everything ready for Halloween.

It may not be cool enough to hike on Christmas day in Arizona. Also note, all of the boys in our family make a certain face when they are telling a BIG story. Don't believe a word they say. On the other hand, I don't know a more honest pair than my parents. My mother is always True! Proverbs 22:1- A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Some get or make more hype for their birthdays than others. Would you believe, the Primary music chorister still remembers Melissa's birthday? How many years since Melissa was in Kachina ward Primary?

Miracles still happen! God still loves his children and we are so grateful.

Kevin is the favorite. Don't know how it happened, but it is evident.

Live for the future. It will be amazing!

Halloween - what are you going to be?

Abby Normal

Just in time for Halloween please see our science projects. Fetal pigs? Brains in a bottle? Pretty much looks like it. Lately we've thought that it was cool enough to pressure can a batch of something a couple of times a week. As I cut up the chicken, I thought how this was just like cutting through flesh. The scissors made the same neat sound as when I cut through my own hand. I am thinking of going back to school. I'm wondering what the chances are that I could become a hand surgeon.
A brain surgeon?
Maybe I should become an architect. Wait, I just provided the box and the girls pretty much did the architectual design work. This is a very cool house though, they even decorated the inside and made a decorative walk up to it.

Or should I become a school teacher? Is it normal to be wondering about this at this age ? What am I going to be when I grow up? Grow up? That might be a key phrase.Here's the man who allows me to have so much fun being a grandma and playing at all of these fun pastimes. He is the one who doesn't call me Abby Normal (out loud).
If I were a brain surgeon, an architect, or a school teacher I might miss out on times like these. I wouldn't care if my brains were in the bottle labeled A B-normal.

STAND

I pulled out the long standing zinnias. Green bulb shoots are coming through the ground. I'm excited for new flowers.

Thought for the day: Stand together and lift where you stand! Thank you friends for doing just that.

Golden

My kids said that this birthday, recently past, was my Golden Birthday. How? I asked. Well, you were born in '54 and you are 54 years old. Wow! So my day was filled with goldness! Many thanks from me to each of you who made it so golden. You are all the BEST!

One golden memory was provided by my sweet sister Elaine. The golden bag with golden tissue paper, produced golden apple cider and two snorkel cups. Now there is a GOLDEN memory. When we were kids we each had a yellow snorkel (straw built into the side) cup with our name written on it with permanent marker. We loved these cups. They were a little difficult to clean, especially after making chocolate milk in them, and drinking homemade lemonade or orange juice was tricky with all the pulp and sometimes a stuck seed, but oh the fun we had with them. We would blow bubbles in our milk until the bubbles came over the side of the cup, and Mom would tell us to stop. I also remember when it was my turn to do the dishes of using them to make great bubbles in the dish water. No wonder it took a couple of hours to do the dishes. Thank you dear Elaine, for the golden memory.

Alan, Marie and Grace, is it a golden day for you?

more than sleep walking

My friend and I speedwalk for exercise nearly every morning of the year. Recently we had an experience that has caused much deep thought and prayers since. This morning I read a scripture that applies: "Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries, that I may be merciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them." (D & C 101: 92) So please know that I share this experience, begging for you to teach your children correct principles.

It was dark at nearly 5 AM as I approached the corner where my friend and I meet. I thought I could see her sitting on the sidewalk tying her shoe, but as I approached I became aware that it was a young woman sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, curled in a ball, dressed in only a tank top and panties, loudly crying. What was I to do? My friend was not there yet. I said a quick silent prayer, then approached the woman. I asked if I could help her. She stopped wailing and stated that I could help her by calling 911 because her boyfriend abused her. After repeating her instructions to me she resumed her mournful crying and I did as she requested. As I was talking to the dispatcher, giving her discription and our location (a busy street corner) she stood up, looked around and started walking. The dispatcher asked if I could still see her so as my friend joined me, we followed her at a distance. She stepped on something in the street and because she was barefoot, had to brush it off. That seemed to trigger something in her and she started running. Following her to give directions to the dispatcher became more difficult as she ran through the dark neighborhood streets. Suddenly she turned on us and began charging at us yelling filthy words, hitting my friend as she told us to stop following her. Luckily, the dispatcher got the full effect of her instructions to us as the police arrived.

The young woman seemed relieved that the police were there, as were we. She talked to the officer, and my friend and I resumed our walk, having ready made conversation. We decided that it would be a total bummer to have a bad dream and then sleep walk out to the busy street, although neither of us believe that is what really happened.

This experience made me so very grateful for the values that I choose to live by. Several lines in The Family - A Proclamation to the World come to mind: "we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." May we each, today, do those things that would "promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." I truly believe that "happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Fritos

Jake visited this weekend and before he left he trimmed Mel's toenails. We loved having him here. These are NOT Mel's toenails, but Jake told us some interesting facts about feet and nails.

Reassuring thoughts...

This morning at 6 AM I received a text from Sara saying "Jim and Tom Ewald were identical twins and I could tell them apart. We'll be fine!" Now I know Sara hasn't been sleeping well since she found out that she's having identical twins, but honestly, it's a stretch to think this gave her reassurance. So today I have been thinking about things that reassure me because I haven't been sleeping well at night either. It is reassuring to me that Sophia and I can wear the same type hat and we're both so cute. I am reassured when it rains now that a sheet of water isn't going to drench us as we walk out the front door because Melvi's birthday present from the kids, the Japanese water spout drainer dealiwhacker works like a champ. It's amazing.I have loved the rain of late, haven't you? But it seems that after every storm we have scorpions, ants coming out of light switches and a ton of crickets. Bugman DeRayEarlHarold says that will happen. Not real assuring! I guess I can rest assured that we haven't been evacuated from our home and the bugs haven't taken over 100%.

Oakley is two. He's been trying to figure out how everything works. He knows how to turn the hose on now and apparently isn't quite sure how to turn it off. Look at Sara's face, everything will be okay.It seems that nothing is serious around here. That is probably good because you either have to laugh or cry, and crying always gives a headache.

Rest assured the chair legs we just got were not labeled in the USA but then how do you want your leg cooked?

This WAS in the USA so rest assured that English is a difficult language.We're going on a pioneer trek on January 1,2,3rd and I am trying to get in shape so that my heart won't give out during the trek. Caleb is my motivation. Do you think I can be in as good of shape as he is by then?
Also, we are hosting a wedding reception in our back yard the first part of October. I am a little worried about what to do with the swing set. It is not going anywhere. Should we use it as a backdrop or just part of the line? There are two swings, should we use them for the pictures?

Come on, give me some reassurance here. I'm not sure what to do. Maybe Jim and Tom can come over and we can guess which one is which.

Even Steven!

Dah-dah-dah-dah!!!!! These boys get a new brother in January.And this boy gets two new brothers in January.

We feel blessed to have three more grandsons joining our family in January. That pretty well makes an even tie, girls vs. boys. Six of each makes for two first string basketball teams, doesn't it? With all of our athletic abilities, don't you think Jason could do something with them?

Mud

...a picture story.

Whine and tattle!

Stop whining Jake! We're busy. Not with anything that is blog worthy but maybe I'm busy walking my cat! On the tattle note: I saw Kurt K today, walking along Broadway. Looks the same only worse!

Do you ever feel like this?

I've been feeling like I don't get anything accomplished and that everything I do has a catch in the get-along and requires the spending of way too much money. Anxiety! New church calling. Stress! And not enough energy. Do you ever feel this way?

This month we have been working on our house a little. Here it is fairly put back together, before the drip system cap came off and power sprayed the paint off the front of the house (RRRG!). Salvador came and put up shutters. They keep out the heat very well. They also keep out the light and when you close them, it is DARK. Our answer to saving energy.
Then we had a brisk wind that blew our Chinese Elm tree so hard that it split and broke some of the roof tiles. Our front Queen Palm is hollow with a very cool woodpecker circle in the front, and our mesquite tree in the back also broke. Tree Doctors are on vacation - don't blame them, so sweet Mel spent two days working on our broken limbs. We'll have to have them take a look at our woodpecker haven. Roofer is also on vacation. Does anyone know a plumber for the two toilets that keep running?
Beth and Chris invited us to a concert at Red Butte Garden for Mel's birthday so we took a welcome vacation from our problems. They helped us find Mel's new favorite restaurant EVER and people at the restaurant commented on how good Soph Soph was.

Soph loves her Gramps, especially his glasses and his mouth. She may be our next hygienist.
Beth made a great picnic dinner for us with the birthday cake surprise. He did blow out all his candles, each of which represented 28 1/2 years. He wasn't so lucky when he got home and had to perform to the tune of 57 wax nubs in a cake.
I wondered why Bruce has been having a little trouble with his digestive system, but he seems happy. We have sure enjoyed kids having lunch and swimming.Today I walked, read scriptures, took Kev to the airport, took in Mel's lab case and banking, painted a tree on a day care reading nook wall, watered the zinnias, started to cut out a dress for Leslie and talked to my friend Arlene on the phone. Although invisible work, I guess I have accomplished something AND I didn't spend any money. Zinnias make me happy and with the fresh coat of paint behind them, life is good. Do you ever feel like this?