Spent a lovely day with my sweetheart Saturday.

We had planned on going up to mom's to do a little work up there.
I looked out the back window and saw these beautiful Iris had just bloomed so Kelley picked a bunch of them to take to the cemetery.

We picked up Candice and went up to the Salt Lake Cemetery first to visit Maxine's grave.
Her headstone looked real nice. I think grampa must have been there recently cleaning and shining it.





We wanted to see Candice's new house so we drove over there...not too far from the capitol...memory grove area.


It's a real cute little house with a neat yard. (potentially) It's been neglected and from what Candice says pretty much trashed on the inside...so she will have her work cut out for her. I admire her for jumping in and tackling this huge job. (she could say a lot of negative things about the way things have transpired, but doesn't...I like that about Candice!) We are going up there today to help her move in.

When we got to Logan, we went right up to the cemetery. They must have come on Friday and put mom's death date on the headstone cause it wasn't there when we went there on Thursday.

I like how they put flags on all the veterans graves. I found out from my visit with my sisters the other day that Keith Watkins (who has owned Watkins printing there in Providence forever) started putting these flags on all the graves way back when...just out of the goodness of his heart. And now he is gone, his sons carry on the tradition. Nice!

We went over to mom's and Kelley went right to work on the bathroom. Alan had finished up some rough edges around the doors and it was ready to paint.

While Kelley painted, I cleaned and vacuumed. Lots of spiders!!!!! And I think there is a squirrel living back by daddys desk!

Mostly, I just liked wandering around the house, trying to take it all in.

I got a call from Leslie last week...she was all excited because she had gotten a call from Mardene Knowles. Well let me back up a little bit...

At mum's viewing, LuDene had mentioned that her daughter Mardene had always loved mum and daddy's place and had told her that if she ever saw it up for sale to let her know.

So when we were sending out our thank you notes, we mentioned to LuDene that we were going to be selling the place, so if she wanted to tell her daughter, that would be great.

So when Leslie got this call from Mardene, it was pretty unexpected...I just thought that was a long shot.

She told Leslie that her husband is getting ready to retire ( they live in Idaho) and they want to live closer to their children who are all there in Cache Valley. She said her and her husband both have always loved our yard and would want to have it stay like it always has been.

Leslie told her we were having it appraised this week so we would let them know what we come up with. She said her husband was going to come down and walk around their place on Saturday. I don't know what will happen here, but I feel like if it works out, it would be an answer to our prayers. The Knowles family has lived across the street from mum and daddy since I was a little girl. We grew up with their kids. ( all 10 of them!) Marlo was our home teacher forever, and LuDene played the piano for us when ever we sang. I can't really think of anyone else( besides one of us girls) I would rather have be there.

It still makes my heart ache to think of it not being ours anymore,..not being able to go there and find refuge in that beautiful peaceful place... ( it is a very real and tangible feeling as you pull in the driveway of leaving the noisy world behind, and entering a sweet quiet haven) Daddy's baby picture

His desk...it's fun to read all the little thoughts he has stuck under the glass and everywhere.

Just reminds you of his character...he was a perfect example of what these thoughts portray.

His hats....sigh....miss him.I could write a whole page about this typewriter and the memories I have of seeing daddy sitting there at it every night. Keeping a journal of their lives...plunking out the words day after day was an incredible gift our parents gave us. We went out and assessed the damage to the roof of the old house...it's leaking pretty bad. Kelley said he would need some help on this...still wondering if it's worth fixing. I imagine whoever buys it will want to tear it down.( although it is on the historic building registry) It's pretty much falling apart.Even with no attention or care, the rock garden still looks quite beautiful.
Kelley finished up the painting ( although he was not one bit happy about the way it looked..."this needs at least 3 coats! I can't leave it like this!" along with lots of swear words. I told him it doesn't have to be perfect... just make it livable. That is not in his nature. He does not do a job half-way...I wouldn't be surprised if he went up there and put another coat on there, just so he could sleep at night) I finished tidying the house and we locked it all up and left.

We went over to the Bluebird and had a nice meal. I love that place...full of happy memories of lunches with the girls and singing for Mother's day programs for mom's club ladies.

We stopped back by mom's place to get a old scythe Kelley had seen up in the wood shed, and Leslie and Alan pulled in the same time. We talked about selling the place...I think we all feel the same about it (ripping our hearts out) but trying to come to grips with it.

Treasures...

Spent a wonderful day at mums with my sisters...

I picked up Teina and Brenda and we met Leslie up there about 10:30.

I had loaded all of mum's things I had down here to take it up there so we could all go through it together.

We started going through her things, each taking a turn to pick something. Unfortunately, I am about twice her size, so her clothes wouldn't fit. I was glad my sisters could use some of her things though, she had some pretty blouses.

Mom was funny about getting new clothes....and she rarely did it.

We would meet in Ogden and go shopping with her...trying to help her pick something out.

She had a real hard time deciding (This explains a lot about my problems) and would try on a million things....nothing was quite right...neck too low, (this was usually the problem...it was funny, going through her things upstairs, we found about 8 dickeys...all ones she had made herself...she was really serious about not showing her moles on her neck!) Then after much coaxing from us, she would break down and buy something.

Then the next day, she would take it back. We found several gift cards from places she had bought things, then returned it.

After we finished up with all the stuff I had brought, we went upstairs and started again where we left off last week.

We surely found some treasures...pillowcases embroidered on by mom, then the fancy edge work done by either aunt Kate, or grandma Tibbitts.

The work on these in unbelievable!
We decided we would take back all the things we had given mum and daddy over the years.

This was one of my favorites...I love this picture
It will always remind me of how I felt in mum and daddy's yard.

This was a table cloth Kelley and I bought in St. Thomas when we were on a cruise years ago.
I asked mom several times why she didn't get it out and use it.
She said it was too pretty.
(still in the bag...un-opened)

More pillowcases...can you imagine the hours spent?

We got to talking about how important it used to be to have a truseau...you had to have all your pillowcases, dish clothes(all embroidered on with cute designs or animals or monday...tuesday...), quilts, china, and pots and pans before you could even thing about getting married.
Not so much anymore. It really is a lost art.

Amazing doilies and quilts...

This was a cool latch hook that daddy did. He would get stir crazy in the winter when he couldn't work outside and would never just sit around or watch tv, so he would do things like this.

This was the cook book I grew up with...all the recipes from ladies in the ward....some real classics. I have one that I've used all of my married life and it looks like it!

(no cover, the first pages gone...lots of drips and rips on my favorite recipes)

This is the picture she has had on her dresser for as long as I can remember.

We were all wanting this one....some of daddy's bead work.

I felt guilty when my name was drawn...wish we could all have it!

Daddy had a fascination for Indian artwork...there are lots more pictures. I guess it was the cowboy in him. Very cool frames on this set.

There were enough afghans for us each to have a nice one mom had made.

It was really neat to see these old treasures that had been hidden away in the back of a closet for years and years.

About 1:00 Deloy came over to talk to us about a tree that was tipping over and was close to an electrical wire. He said he had called the power company and they were going to come over and

take some branches off. He is a kind man with not a lot to do, and we appreciate him watching out for moms place... but sometimes, he just goes a little overboard.

We talked to him for a while, then it was time to meet with mom's attorney.

I couldn't remember him till we went in his office...then it all came back from when we had met with him with mom after daddy died.

Mom had decided at that time to put daddy's life insurance policy back into her life insurance policy instead of cashing it out....that's so like her....unselfish and wanting for our happiness and well being before her own.

The attorney helped us fill out all the important papers and we were done.

We went to the cemetary and put our flowers on all the graves, then just kind of wandered through the cemetary, looking at headstones of people who had touched our lives as we were growing up and remembering....

We went to lunch at Costa Vida ( very fun!...I so enjoy spending this time with my sisters!)

Then we went back to mums to take up were we left off. We went through stuff till about 8:00...we got a lot done, but it's still just the tip of the iceberg. We aren't in any hurry though.. I think we all need this time together... reminiscing, laughing and loving. I know it's been therapeutic for me.

A few things from these past few days...

Loving the beautiful plants and flowers that were given to us...

Hydrangea are my favorite...remind me so much of mom. Kelley was talking with Will Cotner on Sunday and offered to watch their little boy, Colton while they went to the temple Tuesday night.
OK...that's cool....I just needed to bubble wrap our house before he arrived.
This is not your normal two year old. He has gotten a reputation in our ward, not only from what we see in sacrament meeting, but from the things his parents tell us. He is extremely active...ok, pretty normal for a two year old boy, but he is pretty destructive too. He smashed their new flat screen tv in with his dad's golf club. Then when Will was detailing Dianes car, Colton was "helping" his dad with all the sprays, and got hold of the acid cleaner and sprayed it on the tires. So he put Colton inside the car so he couldn't get into any more trouble...Colton found a ball point pen and scribbled all over their leather seats. These are just a few examples.
He is so darn cute though, I couldn't stay mad at him. He always has the biggest smile and is really friendly and smart.
Anyway, I was happy to have him over...just knew we would not be letting him out of our sight for a second!
When he arrived, he couldn't wait to go see the fishies...they had been over a few weeks ago and he remembered. So we went out to the pond. I think he would have jumped right in...did not even slow down when he got to the edge of the pond. I got a good hold on one hand and Kelley let him feed the fish with the other one.
He had fun running around with Lizzy and swinging. Then we came inside and he climbed up on the couch like he wanted to watch tv. I asked him if he wanted to watch a movie and put Tangled in. He sat and watched for a while, then he started saying shrek, shrek. I said
I'll put shrek in when this is over. I went upstairs to answer the phone and all the sudden I notice there is no noise coming from the tv. I run down there and he had gotten into the cabinet with all the movies in it and had found shrek...had taken Tangled out ( don't ask me how he figured that out...It took me about 3 months to get it to work) and put Shrek in. He had put it in upside down though, so it wouldn't play...he just kept saying shrek, shrek.
Seriously, I couldn't believe it! He is only two! When his parents picked him up I was telling Diane about it. She said they use the play station for dvds so it's not even like ours. She wasn't surprised though. That's one smart little guy. When we were outside with Colton, the relief society presidency came over and brought me this beautiful blanket. We had a real nice visit. I love those ladies.



That's something I will cherish.

The week went by like a blurr...not nearly enough time for all the snuggles, hugs and kisses
I needed from this little guy.

What a joy he is! All you have to do is look at him and he busts out in the happiest smile!
And.....

he's super snugly! He will just lay right against you for the longest time. Ahhhhhhhh
right now, if I shut my eyes, I can remember how good it felt.

And this little sweetheart just melts my heart.




When they first got here, she came downstairs and looked around. "Where's great grandma?... you know, your mom?...where is she?"


hmmmmmm .... I pulled her onto my lap and we sat there looking at the empty green comfy chair.


"Well, Olivia... do you remember last time you were here, how hard it was for great grandma to get her body to do the things she wanted to do...she couldn't walk, and had a hard time even talking or eating anymore. Grandma's body was old...91 years old, and very tired....so Heavenly Father came and got her spirit from her body and took it back to Heaven to live with Him.


She is so happy now and can run and skip and dance and is with great grampa again."


Olivia just sat and thought for a minute, then she said "I liked when she would play the Tinkerbell game with me and when she would read me stories"


I'm so grateful for the time she was able to spend with mom...when we first brought mom here, I think Liv was a little bit afraid of her...but after a few days, she warmed up to her and would sit next to her and snuggle on the big chair and grandma would read her stories.Then Saturday morning when Camille and Kellen were packing up and getting ready to go home, Olivia came upstairs and sat on my bed. She had the little stacking doll Josh had brought us from Russia. She loves to play with it. I came and sat with her as she separated all of the little dolls and stood them in a row. She set the biggest one up first and said " This one is Great grandma, the next one is you grandma! Then this one is mommy, and this little one is me.
The tiny one is baby Sam." then she put them all in a circle and said " Let's play a game where great grandma didn't die". Then she buried her face in the pillows on my bed.


I held her and we both cried for a minute. I told her that I missed great grandma too, but If we think about all the good times we had together and remember that we will be together again someday, then it won't hurt so much....that is what Great grandma would want us to do.


Olivia is a smart little girl who thinks about stuff a lot....I know she has been thinking a lot about great grandma. I'm so grateful her parents are teaching her so well about Heavenly Father's loving plan.Dinner at Texas Rhodehouse...can Sam get any cuter? I don't think so.
When we got home, Merrilee came over with a wonderful dinner. She is such a dear.
Camille had just laid Sam down, but got him up so Merrilee could see him. She held him and he snuggled right up to her. We talked for a while and caught up on each others lives. She is one of those people who you know will be your friend forever.Two bald guys snoozingTrying to delay their leavingPlay us one more song.... Pretty tough to say goodbye.

After a week of rainy cool days, we decided to just brave the weather and go down town to see the flowers at temple square.

It actually stopped raining, but Olivia got a big kick out of carrying the umbrella.

The tulips were amazing...when I came here with the Young Women a few weeks ago, they were all in full bloom. I was wishing then that I could bring mom down here somehow so she could see them. I'm sure what she's seeing now is beauty beyond anything we can even imagine.

Strolling around the gardens with Camille's sweet family was so nice. Sam was smiling and Liv was skipping and dancing and babbling on about everything we saw.

I think this is about as close to heaven as you can get.