Missionary Monday - May31

Okay.  I'm finally ready to talk about D-Day, also known as dropping Ben off at the MTC.  The day went really smoothly.  We left early enough to stop at Subway in Orem for lunch.  Since Joey had come along for the ride, we used up our last few extra minutes at a park in Provo near the house where Mike and I had lived when we were first married.

The MTC at first appearance looked jam-packed with cars and people, but it was actually a very well organized operation.  The missionaries were standing in small groups waiting to welcome the newbies.  When Ben got out of the Jeep, they quickly asked him about the important stuff...like having his immunization record, NOT having house keys, and was he ready to go???  There was just time for a quick hug, and then, he was off to start missionary life.  Much better, IMO, than sitting there blubbering during the presentation for the families.  Mike and I were both a bit teary-eyed, and Joey kept asking "where's Ben?"  We all went and drowned our sorrows in some Creamery ice cream at BYU.

A pic of Joey and her missionary...

A couple of action pics of Joey at the park...

Thanks Joey for helping Granny and Papa through a tough day.  We couldn't have done it without you!

In the Garden - May 24

A picture is worth a thousand words...

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Don't know yet if it got cold enough to freeze these little fellas.  May have to replant about half the garden.  Oh, the vagaries of spring weather!

Counting down...

Four dozen muffins, two coffee cakes, double batch of brownies, enough fruit to stock Jamba for a minute or two and we're almost ready to host family and friends for Ben's big not-Farewell talk tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing everyone, getting a little emotional as the big day draws near.

Something lovely is happening in our yard, trying to distract me from the worry and work, I think.

My doublefile viburnum in full bloom.  Only happens like this every three or four years.

Bi-annual Maintenance

Had my bi-annual visit with my favorite doctor, Dr. Schaecher.  Good news:  I've lost some weight.  My meds are going to stay the same.  He's as hilarious as ever.  LOL!
 Less than good news:  my blood pressure and heart rate are a little out of whack.  When the doc asked me if I had anything new going on in my life, I had to laugh!  After I explained it a bit, he wasn't surprised at all.  The funniest part was when I told him that we had to get Ben ready for his mission in only about eight weeks.  Doc says he thought that new missionaries usually had several months to prepare.  Uh, yeah.  They usually do.  *snort*

Random flower picture...yay spring!

Payback Time

I have no illusions concerning my mothering abilities.  I'm the first to admit that I made many mistakes while my children were growing up (and even now!)  However, we all survived to their respective adulthoods alive and in one piece. 

Now, I'm finding that I'm being rewarded for all those times when I could have acted on the saying "I brought you into this world, I can take you out of it!"  *snort*  You know, the mud club, the standing appointment at the emergency room, the bickering, etc.  On Tuesday morning, I sat in the celestial room at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple with Mike, Sam and Ben.  It was so beautiful and peaceful.  I was literally filled with joy.  Suddenly, I realized that all those middle of the night disasters, the last minute school projects, the referee-ing of fisticuffs were stepping stones to get me to the quiet spot in the "pond" of life.  That place where things are beginning to make sense. 

So, this post is dedicated to you, beloved children - Josh, Carin, Sam, Ben, Nathan and Mandy.  You guys are made of awesome.  Thanks for letting me hang with you.  You've made it all worth it!

Trip in the Wayback Machine

After PJ got some Polly Pocket dolls for her birthday, I finally gave in and bought some for myself.  When Joey came to visit, we entered the world of all things very, very, very small.  Polly's clothes are quite easy to change, which was a pleasant surprise.  As we played together, I got to thinking about the last little tiny doll like that I had.

One weekend, when I was about eight, Ann Greer invited me to spend the weekend with her and her family.  We first went shopping, of course.  Annie loved to shop!  She bought me Little Red Ridding Hiddle.  LOL.  I was obsessed with her tiny basket and little shoes.  *sighs*  Good memories.