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.

Time Flies

I can't believe it's March already. I am ready for Spring. Looking back, I'm trying to think what we were busy with????? I guess that's why it's good to keep journals.

We did take a quick vacation over President's day to the D-Land. The weather was perfect, the crowds were not perfect. But it wouldn't be Disneyland if there weren't crowds right? A lot of the rides were closed or down from time to time - and a lot of the crowd seemed to be Californian's - with the good weather I guess they all decided to visit the Park

It was so crowded on Saturday, that Evan and Preston spent a couple of hours locating Survey Monuments in the Park. Evan had heard about them, Preston found an app, I think they found 4-5 monuments - people kept asking if they had lost something. Preston and Katie had also mentioned that the U played UCLA on Saturday and maybe they would go. Well, we all went. It was a great experience to be in Pauley Pavillion even though the Utes didn't show up to play. I decided that the Huntsman Center is a great place to watch a game. We also visited the Bookstore and the softball field. On our way back we made a detour to our favorite Huntington Beach.

Our lives continue to be busy. We are blessed.

What a year.....

I can honestly say that I'm not feeling too bad that 2013 is in the "books". It was a crazy roller coaster ride - but we made it over the last hill!

We took trips to San Diego (January), Disneyland (March), and Mount Rushmore (August).
We were called to be the Ward Nursery Leaders.
We cheered Parker on in Swim and Tennis - he lettered in both sports at HHS.
We dealt with a broken hand-a freak accident for Parker-that caused him to miss the Region/State Tennis Tournament and the USA Softball Camp in Michigan.
Preston and Katie bought a house.
We remodeled/finished our basement - LOVE IT!!!!!
Parker moved his bedroom to the basement.
Evan started his own business "Pioneer Land Surveying".
Evan and Parker spent a week at Lake Powell with the Scouts.
Grandma Wood passed away September 1st.
We had a run in with an Elk on I-15 in October and totaled the Durango - poor "Rango".
Parker became an Eagle Scout in October...(still need to have that court of honor)
We bought a new (used) car (thanks to the ElK) - footnote - I never thought I would buy a FORD!!!!!
We bought a truck for Parker - affectionately called "Doug" "Alfredo" and now "Pedro".
We went to Denver in November to watch the Broncos - "Happy Birthday" to Evan.
Preston graduated from the University of Utah in December.
We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary on December 19th
Meranda returned from her mission on December 19th (happy anniversary to us) - she loved her mission - we love that she is home!
Grandpa Wood passed away December 28th.

WHEW..........what else can I say!!!!!

Grandpa Wood

Grandpa Wood passed away sometime between 3:00 - 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 28th. His passing was just as I would have wished for James - passing in his sleep - no drama - no doctors - no ambulances.....

Even though his health problems had been a challenge, he seemed to be accepting of the current state of his mental and physical health.

He had days when you weren't sure he would make it through the night and then the next time you went to visit him you thought he would live another 10 years.

It is an absolute blessing that he as able to return to the presence of his loved ones as I'm sure they were waiting for him. James wasn't a big church attender - but he was an honest, hard working man and loved being a rancher and farmer.

When Grandma passed away in September, he cried and said that he had never felt so bad. He truly loved his wife. They were a couple and had been together since they were just teenagers. I can't even imagine their first years of marriage - diving into their lives - starting their family - acquiring land, cows and permit - and they never wanted to stop doing it.

He might not have always been the easiest guy to get along with - but in the end he was a proud Grandpa and Father!

Welcome Home Hermana Wood

I am extremely late posting a shout out Welcome Home to Heramana Wood.

She arrived LATE on the 19th of December. The airport was insane. Tons of missionaries - don't know if it was planned or it was because the weather in Salt Lake had been ridiculous all day - even closing the airport at one time.

She was wiped out - but still had that wonderful smile and put up with all of us as we snapped pictures.

When we got home - one of the first things she did was open the refrigerator doors and gaze in at the abundance of fruits, vegetables, milk, diet coke, caprisuns, etc.

She was glad to see carpet and was in "heaven" as she laid on our bed between me and Evan talking until about 2:00 a.m. It was awesome!

The Big Day

Tomorrow is the Big Day - the day our missionary returns from the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission after completing 18 months of service!

Meranda has had an incredible experience. She has learned a new language, lived in a new country, taught a variety of people, eaten strange food, served with companions from Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Arizona. She has see people accept the gospel and change their lives. She has grown to love the people. Her testimony of the gospel has been strengthened. She has learned to be a leader and example to the other missionaries serving in her mission. She has been able to travel the mission and return to prior areas and visit with the people she taught. I'm thinking that her beautiful red hair and blue eyes and wonderful spirit will be missed in Paraguay.

Monday's have been a day to look forward to because of the opportunity to hear from her and the experiences of the week. I know it is hard to leave all of that beind. So much work yet to do. So many people yet to teach.

But as she said this week in her email...

"I will miss the mission, but I know there is another phase of my life waiting to begin. At every end there is another beginning."

I am so proud of her. I am so excited for her to return to us. I am anxious to see her continue to grow and start the next phase of her life!