Silver Gate, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole 2005

Steph asked us to add pictures to the Anderson Cabin Facebook page and it was then I

realized that the Silver Gate trip we took in 2005 were not in my published Blog book because I didn't start blogging until November 2005.  So here are some of the great pictures from that trip.

View from the Cabin window of the Amphitheater.

In Jackson Hole with Sarah, Linda and Tanner.

Beautiful view of the Amphitheater. Linda, Meagan, Mitch, Tanner and Sarah.

Mitch and Tanner try a little fishing.

Tanner in front of the Amphitheater.

Tanner, Linda, Mitch, Sarah, Meagan at the Canyon

Cafe where we eat our trout in Silvergate.

Waiting for Old Faithful.

It was a great trip!

Twins Go Hiking in Montana

The twins Raina and Sage looked pretty bored with that exquisite scenery. Mom, Bethany, and Dad, Jon, look pretty happy with it all though.  Great pix!

Childhelp

I was watching a true movie tonight. It was the founding of Childhelp 50 years ago.  Childhelp is especially for abused children.  They are taken from parents and raised in a rural type village with animals to love and caring teachers. Obviously it is a very affective organization but with child abuse being reported every 10 seconds there is no way they can save all the children.

I had to stop watching, I couldn't bear to watch the examples of parenting and abuse that they showed.  I only saw one instance of child abuse in my life when my neighbor took his belt to his daughter, but I never forgot that look on his face or the helpless look on her face.

When I see a child being yelled at or mistreated in a grocery store I walk over and stand nearby until they stop.  I remember when Johnny threw a tantrum in a grocery store and Richard just picked him up, yelling and screaming, and carried him out and walked with him till he settled down.  The cashier told me that was so refreshing instead of seeing the yelling at children she usually saw.  I am afraid I became impatient and yelled at the children, I am so sorry for that.  Richard only yelled once that I remember, when he was out of work and trying to do something in the little office he had set up in the playroom and the children were out of control.

Of course, the kind of abuse they were referring to in the movie was so much more than yelling.  It makes you sick to see defenseless children being so mistreated.  It appeared that so often the mother sides with the 'boyfriend' because she does not want to be alone and the child is not believed or taken care of.  So sad.

Johnny and Maria were both tantrum throwers and I did not know how to handle it well at all.  I've decided the most important classes they could give in high school are parenting, auto mechanics, meal planning and housekeeping, high finance (investing in stocks, etc) and money management instead of algebra and geometry and such,

I was one lucky child and so were my children, if you go to Childhelpusa.org and read the statistics you will know why I say that.

Good News--Maybe.

Saturday I was called by SBA and told my request to switch over to a Customer Service Rep from a Loan Officer has been completed and as of Aug 15 I am a Customer Service Rep under the Sacramento Office.

The chances of getting called out are increased but who knows, I am no spring chicken and they know it, so we will see what happens.  Of course, Customer Service Reps travel, no staying in one place too long.  The good part is the dress standard is our blue SBA shirts and jackets with jeans and slacks, so easy packing!! 

Also today President Meyers was doing Temple Recommends and he wanted to know where I lived and he said that was in the heavy duty snow area.  I was telling him about my no door from my garage and he made me promise to call him in three weeks.  He said he was going to be in my area and he would come by and see what he could figure out for me.  He has his own construction company so if he can't figure it out, no one can.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Girls Camp

We had a very spiritual Sacrament Meeting today.  Three of the girls and a leader bore their testimonies about Girls Camp.  Makes me realize I really did miss something by not being able to participate in such things when I was in high school.

Anyway, beautiful girls and beautiful leader--and we are all the benefactors by having them in our small Branch. 

The Branch President told us his daughter was 11 when her mother died.  He said Girls Camp helped her to cement her resolve to marry in the Temple.   He said she had not been successful in meeting the one who could take her to the Temple but she waited, and waited and this year at age 25 (old by LDS standards) she met the one and seven weeks later became engaged and they are going through the Temple December 18th.

A visitor bore his testimony as to the fact he would probably not have met his wife if not for Girls Camp.  She was a visitor at one many years ago and was so impressed it led to her baptism and eventually he met and married her. 

Presient Meyers bore his testimony to the fact these leaders of the girls are prayerfully called and pore their hearts into providing a spiritual and enjoyable experience for the girls.  The girls had told us about the Devotional Hall which resembled a quiet cave far away from the present world.  The girls would go in there as a small group and talk and pray together.  President Meyers said it was actually transformed from a tool shed but appeared inside like a cave with a warm fire of light (christmas tree lights in tissue) which reflected light and warmth on the 'cave' wall.  The girls really were impressed with their lone time there with just the girls from their own branch or ward. 

Anyway very inspirational meetings as the girls testified of their love for one another and the Gospel.  Unify the youth and you unify a ward, that is for sure.

Oh, Deer, NO...

Last night I had a feeling the deer might come for my lilies so I sprayed deer repellent on them--I hope I missed this one.  Some deer had a grandiose breakfast and I would hate to think the repellent didn't work.

This is all that was left this morning... 

Seven Deadly Sins

Saturday I watched a four hour movie on the Seven Deadly Sins in a modern high school setting.   It was taken from some books written by an author I was not familiar with and so have forgotten the name.  However, it was extremely well done but certainly could not have been made in the 40's or 50's when I was in high school.  I don't believe we had so much evil and mischief in our hearts.  Or the writer was just exaggerating all the weaknesses of the youth today as the writers exaggerate all the weaknesses of men and women in Desperate Housewives.

Anyway it made me curious to look up the history of the Seven Deadly Sins and the one that surprised me was Acedia/discouragement.  This is "neglect to take care of something that one should do."  It is translated to apathetic listlessness, depression without joy.  It is similar to melancholy.  In early Christian thought, the lack of joy was regarded as a wilful refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world God created..."

"Despair is the precipitating cause of suicide.  Feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and impending doom...Since sadness often results in acedia, Pope Gregory's revision of the list subsumed Despair into Acedia."

 "Sloth --Gradually the focus came to be on the consequences of acedia, rather than the cause, and so by the 17th century the exact deadly sin referred to was believed to be the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts.  In practice, it came to be closer to sloth.  The modern view goes further, regarding laziness and indifference as the sin at the heart of the matter...more a sin of omission than of commission." (Wikepedia)

In other words we need to avoid Acedia and follow the admonition of Paul:

"We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after those things." (13th Article of Faith)

We need to be "UP in a DOWN WORLD.".

or as Charlie Chaplin wrote in his song called SMILE:

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky

you'll get by.

If you smile through your pain and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun shining through

For you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying.

You'll find that life is still worthwhile-

If you just smile.

"We don't smile because we are happy, we are happy because we smile."

My Beautiful Lilies and a Lesson from St Matthew

"And why take ye thought of raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, niether do they spin:  And yet I say unto  you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?


Therefore take no thought, saying What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Maria's Blog

I was just reading Maria's Blog of her trip.  I didn't think she was going to have access to a computer so I had not even checked it all weekend. 

What an inspiring and uplifting experience she is having, very interesting to see the place and hear about the activities.  Sounds like what I need to lift me out of these doldrums--except I have no inspiration or imagination for writing--so wrong place for me.

But yea for Maria--another interesting experience this year of her reaching out for joy and fulfillment.

Another Project Bites the Dust

Some time ago I decided to 'save' my granny afghan.  I have had it since forever but can't remembe who did the crocheting and giving it to me.

Over the year some of the yarn has worn thin and there are holes.  I intended to find matching yarn and mend or recrochet all the holes.

I did find matching yarn but tonight when I started working on it, I thought, why?  Is this really how I want to spend my time?  And who would want it anyway?

So off to the Thrift Store I will go with it tomorrow.  Someone might want to use the yarn.  I even started a little afghan because I had the yarn to use.   But I don't like the yarn colors or textures so why spend all that time making something I (nor anyone else) would want?

In fact, I am questioning a lot of my time lately.  Watching a time consuming tv show I am bored with?  I just run ahead to see the ending and then zap it.  Started a book that doesn't keep me interested?  Give it away, let someone else read it.

Today I had the hardest time sitting in Sacrament Meeting.  I was as restless as a teen ager with other things on my mind.  But I didn't have other things on my mind, I was just bored with the talk being given and had to strain too hard to hear the quiet voice giving it.  It took all my discipline to not get up and go home.

Home for dinner but no interest in creating anything the least bit interesting so I just eat what is my fridge.

What is wrong with me?  How can I get enthusiasm for doing something?  Anything?

At least the lillies are blooming, they interest me.  I will take their picture tomorrow, and work on my muscles but what else????   Hmmm, see the movies I have been missing in Susanville?  Would they hold my interest?  Get a much needed pedicure?  Can I sit still that long and do I want to travel to get it-in the heat???

And how can I get to sleep tonight.  Even all my old songs sound boring and I have listened for an hour trying to get them to put me to sleep.  What now?  Hmmm....

Physical Therapy for Strength

I just came from my neighbor Barbara's home with a list of physical therapy exercises to do for muscle atrophy.  It will take me about 45 minutes a day and I am anxious to get started.  My legs are just not doing their job after being off of them for so long with this metatarsal problem.  This should get them going again, I hope.  Thanks, Barbara!

Are We Having Fun?

I was talking to my daughter Maria about our family being so task oriented that we don't know how to do 'fun' very well.  I know I used to know how to do fun because one of my teachers in high school told me I looked like I was always having fun...I think I was.

I decided to google 'fun' and see what it was and what 'fun' there was around here.

Guess what came up!  The place I live with a description of what it is is listed under FUN!  Here it is:

The Lake Almanor Country Club (LACC) consists of 1832 large single-family residential lots. This beautiful community is located in a natural forest setting of mature pine and fir trees on the peninsula of Lake Almanor in the Cascade/Sierra Nevada Mountains of northeast California. Lake Almanor’s elevation is 4500 feet and has a water storage capacity of over 1 million acre feet. It is a beautiful drive around the 52 miles of lake shore with views of Mt. Lassen to the west and Dyer Mountain to the east.

Rich with amenities, the common areas include a nine-hole golf course, seven tennis courts, three boat launches, two recreation areas with barbeques and picnic tables, a bandshell for performing arts programs, twenty-five miles of private patrolled roads with staffed, gated entrances, a clubhouse, administration building, and maintenance yards. There are approximately 400 lots that do not contain residences. Summer is our busy time, especially from Memorial Day through Labor Day with member “snowbirds” returning and the many vacationers who have discovered Lake Almanor and its many water accesses for fishing, boating, and skiing.

So how many of these 'fun' things am I doing??? 

Our main fun in our marriage was going to the movies. (When not taking the children on outings.) We would often stop at the Hilton and go dancing and then go home and make love.  That was our fun, entertainment, relaxation, etc.  Date night was always honored in our marriage, no matter how crunchy work was.

Hmm, now my fun is checking to see what is blooming, watching the birds bathe, watching one of my favorite tv shows or movies, crocheting, reading, walking, dancing--anything you can do alone.  Forget the golfing, swimming in the lake, sunbathing, boating, skiing, etc., all in the past.  Am I still having fun????

Blessed "Bandito"

If you spell Bandido with a d it means Bandit in Spanish and with a t it means Blessed. Today he was Bandito with a t. We had not had our morning walk because I had to go in for an early morning blood test. After we came back I hurried out to do some watering before the "no watering time" and I left the screen door open. Bandito took the opportunity to walk around the house and across the street to do his business. He likes to do it in the empty lot with lots of weeds on it.

I heard this piercing scream but thought it couldn't be him as he was in the house. I ran around to the front just as a green truck slowed down and then I saw Bandido in the middle of the road. My worst fears had been realized. The green truck man told me the dog had run out and he couldn't avoid the hit but he thought he was just nicked. What a nice man to come back and check on him! Bandido immediately got up and hobbled away as we approached him and the man said that was a good sign and told me to go get my leash. Nice to have a man in charge.

Dr. Bob. the Vet, confirmed nothing was broken but a couple of his sores had bled and Dr. Bob discovered he had eye infection and his mouth was bleeding. He was training a young man to be a Vet so was giving instruction while he treated him. He said he would probably be very sore tomorrow and that he was one lucky dog.

Lucky, Blessed, whatever, that was Bandido's day today. As you can see, he does not look too happy. For the examination, two kinds of pills, eye cream and a disinfectant. It only cost $74 which wasn't too bad considering the alternative. Too bad dogs don't get Medicare.

Decluttering My Home

Since I saw all the packing and cleaning going on at Marjorie's house, I have been inspired to clear out, clean out, and simplify.  I love it but it has taken me three days and I still have my closet and bathroom to finish and the garage.

It reminded me of when Richard and I would get into a cleaning out mood.  I would put a whole lot of things in the garage from the house and he would put a whole lot of things in the house from the garage.  I just throw those kinds of things away or take them to the Thrift store now.  I have three piles--Garbage, Garage, and Thrift. 

I have unearthed umpteen projects to work on and thought of some new ones so I do not plan to be bored any time soon!

For some reason I have ended up with so many more quilts and blankets than I will ever need in my lifetime.  Question is: Gargage, Garage, or Thrift?  Can't decide so they stay piled on shelves and floor of closet, hmmm.

Anyone know what happened to my small fan which I used in my office.  Did I lend it, or give it to someone or??????

Marching Ants

I have been around ants and anthills all my life but I have never seen what I saw two days ago.  I didn't have time to take a picture as I was too busy trying to destroy them.

It was marching red ants--the column was tight and moving extremely fast.  The column was about 13 inches wide and about 8 yards long!!!  I am not kidding.  I do not know where they were headed or why but I did not want them marching in my home and since I was watering I put the strongest spray on and started squirting them hard.  Then I got the Ant Raid and sprayed the tree stump they appeared to have come from and all stumps in the surrounding area and any stray ants I could see.

They were not out there today but I will keep checking.  I could not find anything  specific about marching ants like that  on the internet but it was in the evening and it appears that if ants move their colony it will be at night.  Anyone know about ants??? 

Meagan

I finally got a picture of Meagan in my backyard to prove she was here!!! Yea.  She almost made it to a two week trip which is a real milestone.  I really enjoyed having her here and hope she can bring Matt some day.

Farewell to Marjorie!

Farewell to Marjorie and Bear.  Marjorie moved here one year after I did.  She was a widower who had lived in the Bay area for about 43 years.  A few years ago she bought a home near her daughter's home in Vancouver, WA and that is where she is going now.  Just in time.  She may have to have some medical work on her back so it will be good to be near good medical facilities and her daughter.

It was a few years after Marjorie moved here that we were talking about her conversion while treadmilling at the local gym.  What a small world--Richard's cousin Joanna Wells was one of the lady missionaries instrumental in her baptism into the Church!

Her son John is currently living in Corning and taking care of Marjorie's Mom who is now 102 years old.  John will drive the truck up to Vancouver and Marjorie will drive her car with Bear and her cats.

Bandido and I will miss Marjorie.

What's New at Lake Almanor in 2010

Yesterday while eating at the Frosties we saw a Flag which would go well in my yard.  'The Right Stuff" store had one left--except for dipping a little low, it is perfect.  I am sure Matt can move it up when he comes back someday.  My mountain one was torn beyond belief that last two seasons.

It is now more comfortable to sit and read on the deck.

 

The round table bit the dust so Matt brought up my work table and it works just fine as a place to eat, computer, or do my decopage.

Matt made a couple of little benches out of the fallen cedar tree from my neighbor's yard.

Another hammock ( the last two were destroyed by the squirrels) and it is a Mayan.  It is very comfy as it encloses you snuggly.  My only problem is that it is so low I have a hard time getting out.  Solution--hold on to Bandido's dog run rope and pull myself up and out!

 

Wireless Working!

I need to get a good picture of Meagan before she leaves but one thing she accomplished is to get my wireless connection working again.  So she is 'working' from the table and surfing from the couch.

First Lily of Summer 2010

The first lily of the summer bloomed today! There are lots more ready to pop out if the deer don't discover them first.

Soon, All Alone!

I can't believe I haven't written in here since July 4th.  Meagan has been here and I have enjoyed that so much.  I picked her up in Reno, Tuesday, the 6th, and now she will be leaving on Sunday the 19th.   It is almost two weeks, but the time has gone so fast I really hate to see her go.

Meagan dressed for a party some place in the world.

Suddenly I am feeling very alone.  My best friend Marjorie will be leaving for good on Saturday, moving near her family in Vancouver, Wa.   Then Meagan will leave on Sunday and I am realizing I will not have any family up here and my best friend will be gone, too.  How will I manage and what will I be doing?   So sad.

Update on the Twins!

Sage and Raina Fuqua

Happy 4th of July!

What a wonderful day.  Forgetting to take Aggrenox really helped!!  We had a great lesson in RS about the founding of our country followed by a good SS lesson on the Psalms and then a very spiritual Testimony meeting.  We had so many visitors who shared their feelings about God and America, it was very exceptional.  One group was a singles group from Berkley.  What a bright group of young people.

Marjorie and I drove through Chester which was filled with people.  Bro Goolsby said they signed up over 500 people for the Fun Run--and of course, this was the big 4th of July Parade which was great.  We missed it, however, as did all our visitors at Church, as it was the same time!  Lots of people at the Craft Fair but we did not partake in any of that, just had our usual Sunday Faire at the Happy Garden.

It was a beautiful Lake Almanor day and the lake looks bigger every time we cross the causeway--truly the highest I have ever seen it.

At night I skipped the Lake Almanor fireworks again and went back and forth between the Macy's and Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular--so excellent.  Then I had recorded the Capitol 4th which was over the top.  David Archeleta, Gladys Knight, Reba McEntyre, Hewie and the Blow Fish plus lots of fancy bands and flags.  Very impressive.  It was the first time I had seen and heard Lang Lang, the pianist. Wow, so amazing.  The celebration was very God and patriotic oriented and the President of the US was not there. 

It was a great night for a couch potato.  Oh yes, I had a wonderful Miller's Hot Dog, sweet watermelon, potato salad 4th  of July celebration as well.

As a culmination I watched '3,2,1 Fireworks' which shows how these spectacular pyro shows are made from start (China) to finish.  Each of those beautiful rockets is made by hand!!!  Imagine, but what an industry for China.

Congratulations to Kathy Hardy, who won the 5K in her division in the San Jose area.  She is so amazing--older than me and so fit, I am truly ashamed for being such an old, unfit, lazy person.

It was such a great day for bringing home again how blessed we are to live in America and what a God blessed nation we are and we better not forget it.  God Bless America.

ReMeet Your Relatives, Children.

This is a picture of my sister-in-law Mary and her daughter Kathy.  Mary is the wife of my brother Dick, who passed away in the 70's.  Mary lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she lived with her Dad until he passed away.  She has had grandchildren living with her from time to time (Kathy's children).  Kathy Bishop is on Facebook and lives in Wyoming with her husband Myron and unmarried children.  She was raised in Glendive, Montana, my hometown, where Dick and Mary lived with their children Roddy, Cheri, and Kathy.  Roddy passed away in his early 50's.  Cheri and her family also live in Wyoming.

This is Matthew and his son Ayden with Mary and Kathy.
Four Generation picture.

Kathy, Ryan. Matthew and Ayden, Mary.Courtney, Nicole, Kayla and Myron.
The Bishop family visits Grandma Mary in Albuquerque.

A Reminder to Stop Worrying...

What is truth? The life you think about when you are depressed, stressed, and sad or the life you think about when you are rested, relaxed and happy. Same event, different attitude can change your vision of reality amazingly. Last night I had a dream which I think was a wake up call to stop worrying about things that are not my responsibility and over which I have no control and know nothing about.

I was tending a baby (I thought) and it turned into the size of a finger and rolled into a fold in the covers and could not be found. I took the bed covers carefully apart and yet could not find the baby. I was distraught and fearful that the baby would smother or get hurt because I was clearly negligent. In my dream there were other children in the house but I did not involve them in the search so they would not know how negligent I had been.

In my dream a friend came to the house and I confessed that I had lost this baby who I had been tending. She wisely suggested that I may not have been tending the baby at all. Maybe I only thought I was tending the baby, which was not my job anyway. Maybe I only imagined I was responsible for the baby. We could find out by calling the mother.

Just then the mother walked in with the baby. I had worried myself into a frenzy over something that was not even true. How many times have I worried over something that I had no control over and may or may not have been reality.

I remember so well that last time I saw Marta, my friend from college. We were discussing something I was concerned over. She asked me if there was anything I could do to change the situation. There was not.  "Then you have got to stop worrying about it,” she said.

Which leads me to the email Maria had passed on today in which we are encouraged to turn our worries over to God and ask Him to watch over our families. Good advice.

There are so many good quotes on useless worrying. These are just a few.

I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number. ~Edith Armstrong

You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. ~Pat Schroeder

Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed, so is the body. ~Martin Luther


He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears. ~Montaigne, Essays, 1588


Love looks forward, hate looks back, anxiety has eyes all over its head. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~Theodore N. Vail 

And a real favorite:

For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe. ~Author Unknown

Or I could buy myself some Worry Dolls!

According to Guatemalan legend, worry dolls have the ability to remove worries from sleeping children. Children tell one worry to each doll when they go to bed at night and place the dolls under their pillow. In the morning the dolls have taken their worries away.

This could be an excellent addition to my Doll Collection, ha.

She is My Heroine, Too.

When I was newly married and living in an apartment in Pacific Beach, Jean Tippetts and her children picked me up and took me to Church.  We only had one car and Richard went to an early Priesthood Meeting.  She and her children were always so kind to me and she became my idol.  You will see why when you read this.  She just passed away and this is the beautiful tribute written by one of her children.

Jean Hulme Tippetts Smith

April 27, 1924 - June 25, 2010

Our mother is our heroine. She was totally dedicated to our individual sense of fulfillment and happiness. We did not discover this in hindsight, we knew it all along. Friends who came into our home couldn't help but be envious of our good fortune. They were welcome to stay a night or a month. The food would be great and the activities, fun. Whether it was the rowdy play of her twin boys or the messy "projects" of her creatively-minded girls, she was not one to put a damper on any of the things we enjoyed. Our dreams had her full support "she was both our mother and our fairy god-mother." How many times did she save the day by catering our weddings, making our prom dresses, financing our missions and being a faithful correspondent to each of us, writing weekly after we left home? Her magic letters helped us through our hard times.

Jean Hulme Tippetts Smith was born in Bloomington, Idaho, the only daughter of Ben and Louise Krogue Hulme. She was sandwiched between two older brothers, Harold and David and three younger brothers, Russell, John and Paul. She lived in the following cities, all located on Highway 89: Bloomington, Logan, Panguitch, Paris, Manti, Ephraim, Orem, Salt Lake, and Provo. She lived for 33 years in California.

Jean graduated from Manti High and Snow College. At Snow, she was the first female student body president and valedictorian, earning her tuition by playing piano accompaniment for the college orchestra. While teaching at Manti High, she met her husband Joyce Tippetts, a recently discharged naval officer from Ephraim who was the son of one of her favorite professors at Snow College. They both played in Lenny Myer's dance orchestra, he on bass fiddle and she as pianist. They were married on September 3, 1946.

Joyce's career in campus planning took them from Berkeley to UCLA to BYU and then to UCSD. While in San Diego, she graduated as one of the top three students at San Diego State in 1963, earning her the privilege of shaking President John F. Kennedy's hand, who spoke at her graduation. Jean started teaching elementary school that year, later earning a master's degree as a reading specialist. Jean's first marriage lasted for nearly thirty years. After their divorce, she found enjoyment in her children, church assignments and teaching, but she was thrilled to open a new chapter in her life after being introduced to Don Smith, whose wife Evelyn had died in 1980. They were married in 1981 and had nearly thirty happy years together, embracing each other's families, traveling, and enjoying BYU cultural and athletic events. Jean loved her involvement in Literary League, BYU Women, DUP, and Kiwanis. She always asked us "What would I ever do without Don?" She never had to find out, dying unexpectedly just 10 days after his funeral.

She is survived by her children: Leah Smith (A.J.), Laura Harmon (David), Tom (Lisa) Tippetts, and Tracy (Elizabeth) Tippetts; and step-daughters Karen Griggs and Susan (Byron) Purves. Don and Jean together have 28 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2010 at the Pleasant View Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 650 Stadium Ave., Provo, Utah. Friends are invited to visit with Jean's family at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 E. Center, Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 and at the church Thursday from 11-12:45 p.m. prior to services. Burial will be at the Provo City Cemetery.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Don and Jean's wonderful ward neighbors. In lieu of flowers, any donations could be made to the Humanitarian Fund of the LDS Church.

Iris Blooms!

Last year Mary Anne gave me a lot of Iris to plant and three of them have actually bloomed. I have very little sun in my yard so this is quite an accomplishment.

Lovely Linda has a Birthday!

 I think it was during WW II that this song became famous.



Beautiful Linda Sue.

When I go to sleep
I never count sheep,
I count all the charms about Linda.


And lately it seems
in all of my dreams,
I walk with my arms about Linda.


But what good does it do me for Linda
doesn't know that I exist?

Can't help feeling gloomy,
think of all the lovin' I've missed.


We pass on the street,
my heart skips a beat,
I say to myself, "Hello, Linda."


If only she'd smile,
I'd stop for a while
and then I would get to know Linda.

But miracles still happen
and when my lucky star begins to shine,
with one lucky break,
I'll make Linda mine.

I knew exactly what I was going to name our first daughter.  When I lived in Glendive, there was a college girl who lived a block away and her name was Linda and she was so pretty with long pretty hair.  I was just in grade school but I always loved the name Linda because of her.  It was so much softer than my name Janet.

Linda was one of those remarkable children who always wanted to do the right thing.  She enjoyed sleeping, she enjoyed eating, and except for always wanting her Binky with her when she was a baby, she enjoyed being anywhere we went.  She didn't have to be at home to sleep.  Johnny never liked to sleep anywhere.
 So this was most refreshing.  

She was always ready to do whatever Johnny wanted her to do.  In fact, I remember so well when I asked her what she wanted and she said, "What does Johnny want?"  Linda was always sweet and eager to please.  John was often obstinate and wanting his own way but Linda was thoughtful and accommodating.  At fifteen months she was the wonder of the hospital ward as she trotted herself to the potty.  (They found she had a double kidney on one side.)

From the time Linda was a tot she was a little homemaker as well as a peacemaker.  She helped with the cleaning, dishes, baby tending, willingly and well. She always liked to make her own things and began to sew and cook at a very early age. 

It seemed whatever Linda tried, cooking, sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting, whatever, she could do it and do it well without a lot of supervision and she had the desire to do these things, always busy.  We always knew Linda would be a great Mom and housekeeper.  What we didn't know is what a wit Linda had.

So many time she would quickly say the funniest thing.  And then in college the letters she would write home, I would just laugh at laugh at the things she would say.

Linda would be the one who would tell everyone when something on tv was inappropriate to watch.  Linda always gravitated to the good.  She was never drawn to the baser side of life.  She also likes to see the good in others and always tries to say something kind, she reminds me of my mother in that way.

What a blessing Linda has been in my and Richard's life, from day one, and also to her husband and family.  Always so dependable, so kind, so sweet.  "I count all the charms about Linda".  And as Craig said, she is really Christlike.  She is also very capable in the office, in the home, in the church, in the community.  Happy Birthday, Linda, you are loved1

Good News?

Wesnesday I had my blood tested to see how I am doing on all my medication.  Cholesterol was lowered to 188--lowest I have ever had it!  Everything else looked good except blood sugar was up!  Too much carbs???  Will see how it checks out next month.  My blood pressure has been lower also so guess the meds are working.  The newest medication is Aggrenox to prevent a major stroke.  I will only know if it works if I don't have one.

Friday I woke up feeling so great, so I fertilized, watered, and then came in and cleaned the house thoroughly.  I thought, wow, I must be getting used to the meds, I feel good.  Then I noticed my pills were still sitting on the cabinet where I had left them when I forgot to take them the night before.  No wonder I felt so great!

My meds definitely make me feel achy, lethargic and gloomy.  Which does what I am not sure but I don't like it.

Jeanne told me she is on 80 mg of lipitor.  That is so extremely high I cannot believe she tolerates it so well.  Amazing!  And Marilyn says she is on 80 mg zocor.  I must not tolerate meds well at all because I really react to them although, Marilyn says she has the achy legs also.

Oh, well, time to read my good book "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" and forget about the pits of old age.

What's New?

Oh, Oh, here comes Bandido!

I better have a quick drink...

And then get out of here fast!

I can't believe it, for the first time since the rhododendron was planted it actually has blooms on it!  Wonder how long before the deer discover them.