Grandma Wood

Sunday, September 1, 2013, Grandma Wood passed away. It was a hard few days. She had been down before and had always bounced back. But looking back over the last few months, she had really started to slow down. She no longer wanted to crochet and she had stopped reading.

Saturday night we knew her time was short. As I said goodbye I thanked her for raising such a good son and told her to give my Mom a hug when she saw her.

The viewing in Richfield on Friday night was well attended - a pretty steady crowd - a lot of relatives and family friends.

Saturday's funeral was a tribute to her and her life. Her grandchildren all participated in some way and their talks/tributes were "spot on". They loved their grandma and she had an effect on each of their lives.

The flowers were pretty, the weather was perfect, the valley was as green as I have ever seen it.

I have some wonderful pictures - but for some reason can't get them to post.....maybe later.

Weirdness in the Air

When you really listen and look at people around you - there are some weird ducks out there.....

Yesterday on our way to the Utah/USU football game, we decided to take Trax. We met at my office in City Creek and headed to the game. We had to change trains at the Courthouse stop to get on the "Red" line (why there isn't a direct line from downtown I'll never understand). Anyway - we got off to make our transfer and there was this interesting young woman who looked like she had a major botox accident on the lips and she asked "Is there a game tonight?" "Where at?" "Do you need a ticket?" "I'm an alum of the U". Can I just say "weirdo"!!!!

Then of course people riding the Trax - let's just leave it at that.

At the game we had some random people sitting behind us - the voice of the woman sounded like she was older (40's) and the guy sounded a bit younger (of course I didn't look back to see). I don't think they were there to watch the game and their conversation was major WEIRD....from travelling to Costa Rica (they have the best surfing) to a Gay/Lesbian discussion about people they know to dating...WEIRD...they ended up leaving after halftime at which time I got a good look at them - MAJOR WEIRD!!!!!

Maybe it was the heat (it was major hot) - maybe it was because the summer is almost over - maybe it's just because people are WEIRD!!!!!

Junior Year

Wednesday, August 21st, was the first day of school for Parker. I can't believe he is a Junior!

As he left the house, I realized that this is the first year since 1993 that I haven't actually taken one of my children to school.

I'm feeling kind of empty and really old!

Summer Lovin

Today is July 31st - school starts three weeks from today - August 21st - where has the summer gone?????

When I was younger, I remember summers were pretty laid back. My Mom made sure we went and did something pretty much on a weekly basis - or at least it seemed like it. I remember spending a lot of time on the front lawn looking for four-leaf clovers - having our own "beauty pagents" - playing Barbies - going to the Great Salt Lake - laying out in the back yard lathered in baby oil - playing tennis in the street - going to Liberty Park - going to the Zoo - and the best part of all - school shopping downtown - picking out three outfits - and having lunch in Auerbach's basement - burgers, fries and cherry limeades. I loved summer.

Well - being a working Mom makes summers a little different for my kids. I've tried to make them special - we've usually gone on some sort of vacation - I've taken days off to do try and do some kind of a field trip - but it's just not the same as when I was growing up. It just doesn't seem as relaxed as the "olden days". When they were younger, their Aunts would involve them in activities with their kids and other cousins and there was a lot of swimming at Grandmas!

Well summer is almost over and it feels like we haven't really done much. We went on our vacation in March - we haven't been to the Zoo or Liberty Park (nor will we go) - I can't really play tennis any more - but I guarantee we will go school shopping and we will do lunch. In fact me and Parker have done lunch several times this summer (he loves coming downtown).

We've spent every Tuesday night at Cottonwood Complex with Fastpitch softball and dinner afterwards - we go on a lot of rides - we visit Ab's on a regular basis - we do yard work - we watch movies in our remodeled basement. Parker has done some fun things with friends (he is my most social child) - he got his Wisdom Teeth taken out - and he and Evan are at Lake Powell this week for Scout Camp.

Life is different in 2013 than it was in the 1960-70's - but I think that is okay.

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary

Well - the 20th of June came and went and I didn't post a shout out to my favorite daughter on her birthday - so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MERANDA!

This week marks the one week anniversary of her leaving for her mission in the Paraguay, Asuncion North Mission.  The year has flown by on my end.  A day doesn't go by that I don't think about MKW.  Her emails make Monday's something to look forward to. 

When she left on her mission, she was the first missionary in 18 months to leave from our Ward, which was quite unusual as we have always had a "bunch".  Now it seems like every week, someone else has received their call.  I would like to think that she was a good example to follow.

Meranda has never been one to "toot her horn".  Most the time you have to literally pull information out of her and even then you don't always get the whole story.  So her being thousands of miles away makes it even harder to find out what's going on.  But, she is having a great mission.  She has had some great companions and some not so great companions.  She had not seen a "North American Hermana" until last week.  Her spelling has gotten worse - which I'm guessing means her Spanish is really good.  She is down to one pair of shoes (a new pair is on the way). She misses carpet and vegetables.  She loves what she is doing. 

Some Monday's I get to do a little "email" exchange back and forth with her today's exchange when something like this....

Momma Bear - "Did you get your package?"
MK - "No...i'm waiting..maybe this week..did you send me shoes?"
Momma Bear - "Yes I did - I hope you get them."
MK - "Did you guys watch the little training thing yesterday that was broadcasted? In the cyber that I'm in the man running the place is cutting his fingernails...it is kinda gross..but what do you do!!!!"
Momma Bear - "We didn't make it to the training - it was when Grandpa came for dinner and he didn't want to go".
MK - "We could have watched it in the house of member if they invited us but noboday invited us so we didn't see it".

Then she was gone until next week.

This is last July in the CCM in Buenos Aires - the Hermana with the short hair is her companion now - as "Sister Training Leaders".

This is her just a few weeks ago - they love her hair and blue eyes. 

The School Year in Review

Another school year comes to a close as Parker finishes his Sophomore year at HHS.
The year was filled with ups and downs, good times and not so good times, but we did survive.

As always, the year started with great anticipation and excitement hoping for good things. Parker is my most social child and he did not disappoint. He can basically talk to anyone, which is both good and bad.  He turned 16 and went on his first date - Sadies - with a Senior and then finished the year at Senior ball.

As a member of the Swim team we hosted the team Halloween Costume party at our house.  Parker's costume as "Momma June" will go down in swim team history.  Just after the season started, he came up with a sore shoulder and had to take it easy for a while - kind of.  The swim coach decided that if he couldn't swim, he could run and run and run until he could get back in the water.  Having Cousin Emily on the coaching staff helped him get through the season and his times did improve.

He was once again invited to Chula Vista to work out with the USA 19-Under National Fastpitch team - it rained the whole time and he spent his time in a crappy indoor practice facility - but he did great at the camp!

Tennis started in March and he was named to the Varsity #2 doubles team.  He got to go to St. George with the team and he and his doubles partner, Easton Batt had a good season.  But then came the fall....and missing region....and state.....definitely a downer!

His favorite class was AP World History taught by Mr. Newman.  His least favorite class was a tossup - Honors English (the teacher reminded him of the secretary in Monster's Inc.); Chemistry (where the teacher was amped up on caffiene most the time and always lost his assignments) or Seminary (he says he had the two worst teachers in the whole seminary and won't have to have them again).

He learned how to deal with disappointment.  I learned what a "ginger" is.  He learned to always be honest and kind to others.  I learned more patience. 

A Bump in the Road

Life is a continual challenge.  There are ups and downs...highs and lows...and bumps in the road.

A couple of Friday's ago, Parker was met with a bump in the road.  He was at tennis practice and through a freak accident, ended up rolling his left ankle, falling and catching himself with his right hand.  The coach gave me a call and there was a sound of concern in his voice.  I left work and went and picked him up and headed to Instacare. 

Good news - no broken bones - bad news - something could be wrong with his hand.

Major bad news - it would probably mean Parker not competing in the upcoming region and state tennis meets.  Something he had worked for all year!  Something he was so excited about!

Ice, ibuprophen, taking it easy was how the weekend was spent.  A blessing was given - and he tried to play on Tuesday.  Again a call from the coach, he was going to pull Parker from the match.  He said Parker is a gutsy kid, but he could see there was a lot of pain.

On Friday, we went to see a hand orthopedic specialist.  The news was that no broken bones - however, there was a severe sprain between two small bones in his hand.  The only way to let it heal was complete immobilization - aka a cast...for up to 8 weeks.  Another bump in the road.

Parker's passion is fastpitch softball.  He has been on the radar of the US 19-under national team for the last two years - and has attended the last two winter pitching clinics in Chula Vista.  The summer camp is July 8th in Michigan - he is a pitcher - and he uses his right hand!  Major bump in the road!!!!!

When making the decision of whether to cast or not, the consequences of chronic hand pain and early onset of arthritis, it seemed like a no brainer.  The possibility of missing the summer camp in Michigan, made the decision difficult.  In the end, the main concern is fixing his hand.

In the eternal perspective of life, this is just a bump in the road.  I doubt we will ever know the reason for the injury.  I've always said that trials in life are to help build character.  I know that we aren't given anything that we can't handle.  I know this will make Parker a stronger person.  I know things will be all right. 

I know he will get over this little "bump in the road"!!!!