Asparagus, School & More

Of course I took asparagus with me to S. Carolina.  After all, I have a reputation to keep up.  Not only would it go to waste sitting in my fridge back home, Jeff and the kids happen to like asparagus.  So together with chicken, fresh corn and watermelon, it made a tasty meal.
Last Monday night was the open house at the brand new elementary school.  It was difficult for Libbie, but she wanted to meet the kids' teachers and see their classrooms so we all went to see the new school and find the classrooms, library, gym, music room, cafeteria, etc.  It helped to eliminate the fear of the unknown but there was still a bit of apprehension about all the adjustments the new school year will bring.  Sadie found her seat, the hook for her backpack, and the cubby for her lunch box.  She was ready to go.

Benson met his new teacher too.  She seems very nice.  He will have other teachers also in his accelerated math and reading programs. 

After Benson and Sadie had checked into all of their various activity rooms and met the teachers, they were rewarded with ice cream bars.  They both chose fudge bars.  Sadie loved hers so much that she not only ate it, she wore it.

The next day was the last full day of summer vacation.  We were lucky enough to hit the pool between rainstorms for one final swim.  Ah!  It was loverly.

Wednesday morning, everyone was up early so they could get to school around 7:20 a.m.  It makes a long day for a new kindergartener to have school until 2:20 or so.  Here Benson and Sadie carry their lunches and school supplies to their classroom.  Sadie was VERY excited.  She was feeling so grown up.

We found out later that Benson had been interviewed by the local TV station about the first day of school in the new building.  Jeff was able to find it on the news so we could see a link.  I don't know how to post that.  Maybe Jeff and Libbie will.  Congratulations, Benson.

They rode the bus home from school, and I walked down the street to the corner to meet them.  They had a great first day of school.  Sadie loved helping me bake banana chocolate chip cookies.  The kids liked them because of the chocolate chips so the cookies were their lunch treat for the rest of the week.  Good job, Sadie.

Friday morning we had one last picture together before they left for school.  It was hard for me to leave but I felt that Libbie had made a lot of improvement and the kids were doing well with their school routine. Keep working hard at eating and drinking, Libbie. Good luck, Jeff!  Hope all goes well these next few weeks.  I flew home on Friday afternoon.

Carolina Summer

South Carolina summers seem to be a mixture of hot sun and quick thunderstorms.  We've been having both events almost daily while I have been here.  I came to help Libbie but mostly I'm playing with Benson and Sadie, having fun while Libbie remains in a persistent state of misery.

 I take walks with the kids while they ride their bikes.  We go swimming most days, play some games and read lots of books.  We've done a little school shopping, a little cooking, laundry and cleanup.

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 Jeff drove us to the beach early on Saturday morning.  The tide had washed up a stingray, some flounder and most likely a baby snapper.  Libbie watched over our explorations for about 20 minutes and then we headed home. Libbie tries to get out but then the next day she pays for it and spends most of the time in bed. Sitting in bed is pretty boring.  My crochet projects haven't worked out too well but we've at least had a few laughs over them.

 We all wish for an instant recovery for Libbie but so far it is slow.  We are grateful for her progress as she is working very hard to eat and drink the small servings I bring her. I'm enjoying the kids but feel badly that we are "sitting in the sun" while she's caught in the thunderstorm so to speak.  As my grandmother told me during my first pregnancy.  "This too shall pass.  You'll live through this".  I didn't like her answer but it was true.  Hang in there, Libbie. You are doing a great work!

Happy Birthday Sweeheart!

 August 21 is Steve's 64th birthday! Congratulations, Mr. Wonderful.  Above he proudly displays one of our first tomatoes grown in the new planter box he built for me.  I love it that we will have delicious home grown tomatoes and zucchini for a couple of months. A couple of weeks ago we purchased Steve's birthday present.  Our friend Mike told us about a neighbor who wanted to sell her deceased husband's Shop Smith equipment.  It takes up about half of our garage until we can get Steve's shop/barn built and then we will move it.  I hope that he will have a ball learning to use his new woodworking tools.  He has always dreamed of having a woodworking shop.   Here's wishing him well in his projects.  Yahoo!  Happy birthday, Steve!!!  May your dreams come true! Mine come true every day with you.

This Little Piggy...

 Was roasted in a great big hole in the ground between Kelley's barn and Grandma GG's house.  Ann's friend from the temple recruited her sons to cook the pig like the Southsea Islanders do.  It was quite the process and turned out to be very tasty.

 Kelley and TJ joined in the process.  I don't know how they handled everything without gloves because the steam was just pouring out of the hole.  They cooked a few chickens and yams too.  It was really delicious.

There were games and bouncy events for the great grandkids.  Steve Kerr made 3 freezers of home made ice cream.  That fabulous ice cream was the highlight for us.  Thanks everyone for a nice reunion on August 11th.

Tribute to An Angel

Sometimes through life's journey, we meet true angels.  I've known one since my high school days.  Of course, at the time I didn't recognize all of her angelic qualities but I've gradually come to realize just how much of her life she spent thinking of and serving other people.  She loved children and they loved her.  She devoted her life to helping children and adults with special needs as a licensed practical nurse.  They all felt a connection to her and she communicated her unconditional love for everyone.
She kept track of us throughout our many moves and usually contacted me several times each year.  Often she called me around my birthday.  I kept her on my mailing list and sent her a little birthday remembrance each year. She followed my kids on facebook and remembered everyone's birthday.
I was saddened to hear of her recent passing at only 61 years of age. She had her bags all packed for a trip from Oklahoma to Idaho for a family reunion.  I'm sure she was there for the reunion but her presence was felt instead of being seen.
I wanted her to know how much I admired her dedication and her amazing charity so I drove to Blackfoot for her memorial service on August 3, 2012.

  My friend, Delene Mortensen, thanks for your angelic example of charity.

42 Years!

On July 30, Steve and I celebrated 42 years of marital bliss.  Well, actually Steve was out of town so we celebrated the next evening and he flew home just to use the tickets the kids gave us and attend the Broadway production of Wicked.  Thanks, everyone!  It reminded us how much we enjoy the theatre, especially musicals, so we bought tickets to two productions at Tuacahn, Aladdin and Hair Spray, in October.  As for the bliss part, if you add up all the blissful moments, we've probably accumulated at least 10 years of bliss.  I will say this, however, the longer we're married, the better it gets.  Maybe it's true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" because most of the moments we have together nowdays, are extremely enjoyable. We are starting to look forward to Steve's retirement so we will have more time together.  We're not enjoying his travel schedule.
Thanks for the memories!  I love you Steve!!!    

We've Been Grow-ing!

Little did I know when I married Steve that he was a descendant of pioneers who sacrificed much for their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ by joining His latter day church. His parents were part of the missing generation.  Not only does he have pioneer ancestors, he has famous ones.

 On July 27 & 28, we joined with 2500 of his closest cousins in the Grow Family Reunion.There are over 9000 descendants who claim him as a father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.  Henry Grow had four wives, and Steve comes from the first wife, Mary.  Henry was a bridge builder and was asked by Brigham Young to build a tabernacle for worship.  He was probably the only Mormon man who had the expertise to build this amazing building.  It is one of the architectural wonders of the world for its time.

 1500 members of the group met in the Conference Center on Friday night for dinner.  Each person could choose between chicken enchiladas, lasagna or salisbury steak.  Most of the kids preferred the chocolate cake or cheesecake.  Who needs salad?

 It was fun to have Steve's sister, Kathy and her husband, Brent join in the group.  After the dinner we attended a special family fireside in the tabernacle.  We heard from several family members including general authorities, Marlin K. Jensen and C. Scott Grow, both of whom assisted in getting the facilities reserved for this special event.  We also heard a fabulous piano solo and several numbers from the Grow Tabernacle Choir.  It was very memorable.

 The next morning Steve, Heather and Hilary attended family history presentations down at temple square.  They loved all the information they gathered about Henry and his experiences building the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.  Meanwhile I had fun taking all of the kids swimming--all except Jameson that is. We were also missing Tanner as he stayed in Idaho to attend camp.

 That afternoon before everyone went their separate ways, we had a special "behind the scenes" tour of the Tabernacle.  It truly is an amazing building.  And I found out that I married into an amazing family. 

 The kids enjoyed the fountains in front of the Conference Center while our geneology buffs reviewed some of the historical information from their morning workshops.
  Let's keep the Grow-ing going!