Moments with David

A birthday tribute to David! To have a son after three daughters was a special occasion. David was a happy, energtic and always busy little boy. Thank you, David, for the happiness you have brought us over the years.

David enjoyed working with his Dad from the time he was a little tike until the now when they enjoy woodworking projects together. Thank you, David, for wanting to spend that time with your Dad. It means a lot to him.

Raising a calf, Big Red, was a learning experience for David as the two of them bonded. David continues to enjoy animals though today that has evolved into salt water fish, corals, anenomes and other critters. Thanks, David, for your interest in and love of nature.

One of David's goals was to earn as many awards as possible as a Cub Scout so naturally when he turned eleven an Eagle was in the making. I was involved in Boy Scouting for many years and David was my biggest helper in setting up Day Camps and other Scout activities. Thank you, David, for always being willing to help.

David was a great athletic in school. He was involved in football, wrestling and track. Thanks, David, for remaining physically active After David returned from his mission to Calgary, Canada, he enjoyed outdoor activities such as exployering the ice caves on Mt. Graham. He also likes to get involved in our family rocket launchings. Being an electrical engineer should help your rocket to fly higher, shouldn't it?! Thanks, David, for all you do.
David is a loving and caring husband to his wife, Cindy. Together they have given us five wonderful grandchildren. David has always shown us respect and love and we are indeed grateful that he is our son. Just in case you were wondering, he is our favorite son!

Moments with Laura

A birthday tribute to our daughter, Laura Taunaha. Laura was so eager to get here, we barely made it to the hospital. She was a happy easy going baby with lots of smiles. Thank you, Laura, for adding sunshine to our days with your smiles.
Laura has always had a way with words. One day when she was just a little girl she came to me with a very serious face. She said, "Mom, I hope I never eat a poisoned apple." Of course, I replied, "I certainly hope you never do." She continued, "If I did, I would get the sleeping death and my prince might not come." Yes, Laura, we are glad you never ate that apple and your prince Jonathan did come!

Laura usually was a good little helper from doing the dishes while camping to organizing the spices in the cupboards. Thanks, Laura, for doing your part to make our home clean and neat.
Laura was always close to her grandmother. This picture of the two of them is before Laura left for her mission to Veracruz Mexico. The January before she left on her mission she stayed home to care for her dad after his heart attack. Thanks, Laura, for being so loving and caring of your grandmother and parents

I love this picture of Laura and me taken from the top of a pyramid in Guatamala. It was a joy to travel with Laura for about ten days visiting archeological sites. Thanks, Laura, for wanting to spend some special one-on-one time with your parents.
Laura has given us eight beautiful grandchildren and number nine is ready to be born any day. Laura is always happy, cheerful and so well-organized, one has to be with nine children but she was an organizer long before she had children. It has been a choice experience for me to have you, Laura, as my daughter, but also as one of my very best friends. Thanks for being such a loving mother, wife and daughter.

Congratulations, Courtney and Daniel

One year ago today our beautiful granddaughter, Courtney, married Daniel Chapman in the San Diego Temple. Best wishes to the two of you for an eternity of happy years.

August 14 Marriage Anniversary--45 Years--1964 to 2009

THEN Forty-five years ago we were young and carefree, looking forward to many happy years of growing old together.
NOW Forty-five years down and an eternity to go. What lessons have I learned during these years? A few quickly come to mind.

• If there is a choice between being married and single, marriage gets my vote.
• Some of the ideas you shared early in marriage about raising children just don't work out in the real world. We were going to have perfect little children--what happened? You know the kind who sit quietly and never make a peep in church. Who always do their chores the first time they are asked with cheerful, happy faces. Who never make a mess. Who never would make a fuss in a store because they were told "no" to an item they wanted. No, our children weren't perfect but they loved us and their siblings and we have build wonderful memories together.
• It is important to have goals, expectations and consequences for your family. Children do usually rise to the occasion.
• Patience is not only a virtue; it is a necessity in a marriage.
• There are worse addictions than BYU sports.
• Be grateful for a snoring husband; he is there beside you.
• The twilight years are good because the light is dim, and eyesight is not as sharp so the wrinkles are not as noticeable.
• When you look in a mirror, you wonder who that old person is. You still feel young inside.
• White hair is dignified-looking.
• Age spots are just large freckles and freckles are cute.
• It is okay to leave the bed unmade some days though that still is one of my pet peeves.
• Making a house into a home is a mother's privilege as well as a responsibility. What a joy it is!
• Grandchildren are one of the great rewards for having children.
• My greatest joys and heartaches have come from being a wife and a mother. The bitter with the sweet--how blessed I've been to have more joy by far.
• Working together on a project is more fun than doing it by yourself. Even woodwork classes!
• An empty nest can be filled with activities, projects, family history research, missions, quiet reading together, walks, exercise and trips that you never had time for while raising a family.
• Count each day you have each other as a blessing; not every couple is blessed to share 45 years together on this earth.
• The blessings of the temple add peace, joy and hope for an eternity as a couple and family.
• Last but not least, I have learned and appreciated over the years, just how much Fred loves me. He is patient with my imperfections, loving me despite them. He has always encouraged me to grow, to learn, to become all that I can be. He expresses appreciation for me and those things I do for him. He is truly my companion, helpmeet, best friend, and husband in every sense of the word. I love you, Fred, forever and always.
  
  

Rain and Sunshine

Along with the rain (see next post) comes the sunshine! While we were in Utah we drove up to Idaho for Fred's 55th high school reunion and then spent some time with Fred's siblings (they are pictured above). After returning to Utah, the Gibson Family was having a family reunion so we stayed in our condo in Salt Lake City. While there we invited our granddaughter, Courtney, and her husband to spend a few days with us. It was quite a contrast to spent a few days with those in their seventies and eighties and then spend a few days with kids in their early twenties! We thoroughly enjoy being with them. It keeps us young.
It was a special priviledge to attend a session at the Salt Lake Temple with Daniel and Courtney. We found the perfect picture taking spot.Courtney and Daniel came up and spent the night so we could get up early on the 24th of July and get our spot to watch the parade. A game of Phase 10 was in order to pass the time until the parade started. Another evening we went to the Red Iguana for Mexican food. This is some of the best I have ever eaten. Try it if you get a chance while in Salt Lake. It is on North Temple just west of the freeway. Don't be put off by the exterior of the building though.

This kind of picture only comes around once in a great while. Gary Hunter is the oldest of the grandchildren of C.J. and LaVern Call. Cheryl is the youngest grandchild. Gary is 35 years older than Cheryl and is a plastic surgeon in SLC. We spent a lovely evening at their home. Family is great!

Home Again

During the months of June and July, we have been away from home more than we have been home. Some of it was planned, other was necessary to support Cheryl and the "saga of her leg."

This is what her leg looks like at the present. On June 3, the onocologist orthopedic surgeon did a biopsy (non-malignant). A few days after removing the stitches her leg was swollen, red, and very painful--this time she had an infection caused in part by leaking synovial fluid. On July 8, they did a second surgery to clean out the incision and put in a Picc line to give her antibiotics three times a day. Several weeks later on July 29, they decided she needed a muscle relocation and skin graft because the incision was not healing and her leg was literally dripping with fluid, but after opening the incision up again they wanted to try this fairly new approach which is less invasive. One of the reasons, her leg was not healing was because the synovial fluid was keeping the wound too wet so now she has a Vacc pump which keeps pressure on the large and wide incision and sucks out any excess fluid. All the black area you see in the picture is a sponge dressing that fills the open incision. The idea is that it will heal from the inside out. There is a 50% change it will work so please keep her in your prayers. She still has the Picc line in her arm and will for weeks as she keeps receiving high dosages of antibiotics.