My First Born

Today is Preston's Birthday. I vividly remember the day he was born. I was working at Coopers & Lybrand (one of the Big 8 accounting firms in the day). I think I was the first pregnant professional they had ever dealt with. It was the 80's - kind of a weird time - though at the time we didn't know just how weird. I had worked out of town during my pregnancy - mainly in the booming metropolis of Price, Utah. I worked up to and including April 28th. There was a retirement luncheon that day for the Office Manager - a woman named Ruth Gonet. It was at the Salt Lake Country Club. I was feeling pretty miserable.

For some reason after the luncheon, I ended up in the office of Dick Goode, the Managing Partner. I must have also looked miserable, because he asked me what I was doing at work. I don't remember what my answer was. I intended to go to work on Friday, the 29th and got up, felt kind of crappy, had a shower and then asked Evan to call work and let them know I wasn't going to be in. Of course, I had never been in labor before and didn't quite know what to expect. Well, I was in labor.

We went to the hospital at around 1:00 p.m. It was a beautiful spring day. I delivered Preston at around 7:30 p.m. It was interesting and was the hardest delivery of my three children. Two days later, on May 1st, we took him home in a total blizzard. Typical Spring in Utah! The days following were a blur, but were quite an adjustment to a 31 year old woman who had been able to come and go as she wanted. I remember Mom appearing at my door every day for a couple of weeks around lunch time to help me get my act together. She was an angel!

Being a mother is a blessing. Preston was/is a good "first" child. He is loving, kind, smart, ambitious, competitive, respectful, and a little feisty.

Now, 26 years later, Preston is going to be a dad. The circle of life is amazing. I'm so thankful for Preston. He is going to be a great Dad and I can't wait to see his life change as he welcomes his child into the world.

 

 

My Dad...now there is a man!

Today is Dad's 85th Birthday. He is not spending it where and how he would have liked.

We had gotten his approval to have a Birthday Bash (of course he was a bit hesitant). But then in an instant...his life changed.

A fall resulted in a broken neck. The surgery was a success---it's just that everything else hasn't been.

He is a strong man. He is a determined man. He is a great example of never giving up. I can't even imagine the pain he has been in and continues to go through.

I have a great family. We have not even thought twice about not being there for him. I feel for those people who don't have the support system that Dad has. We don't always see eye to eye but we are all willing to help when needed.

As my niece Haley said, "he the last of the old wise people" in our lives. He is loved by his children and their spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, ward members, neighbors. He has had such an influence over so many people. Preston moved to Magna a little over a year ago and he now understands and realizes how many peoples lives his Grandpa helped in so many ways as their bishop, neighbor and friend.

He loved our Mom so much and did everything he could to help her as her health failed. I have felt my Mom's presence many times over the past three years and I have felt her near this last 2 1/2 weeks. The veil is thin...life is fragile...I'm grateful for my parents and the great examples they have been in my life.