Quote for the Week - Prayer

Sometimes we expect million dollar  

answers with a ten-cent prayer. 

~ Unknown

The Joy of Being Grand...

a grandmother that is!

Someone said to me the other day that my blog posts about Cash make me sound like I'm his mother, and that kind of hurts my feelings. But the things I write here, are an extension of my journal.  And, after all, he is my first grandchild. I take a lot of picture and share my feelings about him because I want to remember every precious moment. I know I'm not his mother, he has a wonderful, loving, tender, patient, fun and caring perfect mother - our sweet Tiffy.

Yes, I talk about how much he weighs and all the new things he does. He is four months old now and Mark and Tiff invited me to go with them to his check up last week.  He weighs 16 pounds 4 ounces. He has gained nine pounds since he was born! He is one healthy, happy boy. He had to have his next round of immunizations, but he took it like "man" (just like his dad does). Thankfully he didn't have any side effects. His pediatrician Dr. Glade, is the same Doc that took care of Christopher and Mark. At one point during the check up, he turned and looked straight at Mark and Tiff and said, "I hope you know how important your role as  parents is." I know they do, and I'm so proud of the way they care for Cash. Cash smiles every time he catches them in is line of sight - especially when he sees Tiff.  His whole face just lights up.

When I get to be with Cash I hang on to every smile and expression his sweet face makes. I am watchful and anxious about any little new thing he does, like holding onto his toys or rolling on his side. I know how fleeting the precious moments from infancy to childhood are, and I want to take them all in.

I love Cash so unconditionally, I am afraid I'll drown the poor little guy. So I try to spread those overflowing feelings of love to Tiff and Mark and Chris and Tim. 

I look into Cash's eyes and see Mark and occasionally his expressions remind me of Tiffani. He is so perfect. I love his fingers and his chubby toes. I love it when he falls asleep in my arms. I love it when he coos and laughs.

I have heard friends say that becoming a grandmother makes them feel old. It makes me feel young, it makes me know what matters; it wakes me up and enlivens me.

Grandmas are for stories
about things of long ago.
Grandmas are for caring
about all this things you know.
Grandmas are for rocking you
and singing you to sleep.
Grandmas are for giving you
nice memories to keep.
Grandmas are for knowing
all the things you're dreaming of...
But, the most important thing of all,
Grandmas are for love.
~Author Unknown

Quote for the Week - Simplicity

"...we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Ensign, November 2010)

My favorite talk from the last General Conference ~ Of Things That Matter Most, President Uchtdorf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w1zMRJ-Sq4

Moments with Cash...

Sometimes I sing to Cash or we sit at the piano together. He sings along with me, it's a cute sound. You're never to young to learn a little music appreciation. Mark and Tiff play music for him also. He loves a song from the movie "Up."

Sweet moments happen every time we're together! 

Grandma LOVES Cash!

Quote for the Week - Martin Luther King

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.' "

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

The Party...

 

 flowers by Eileen

balloons by Lee

cake

and more cake

and the birthday girl herself, now we're ready to celebrate Johnnie Belle's 90th!!

our favorite picture, gorgeous

more memories

Grandma meets Krew! Julie and Tucker made it safely from Wyoming.

Johnnie Belle ~ Julie ~ Krew

Bry Nelson is a dear friend from Cheyenne. Bry and his wife moved to Orem several years ago.

More Cheyenne friends who have moved to Utah, the Dewitt's.

So many ward members came to wish Johnnie Belle a happy birthday. The Fuller's were neighbors when she lived at Temple Shadows.

Jodi and Rose made the trip from Arizona. Oh that Rosie is cute. 

 Bry Nelson ~ Eileen ~ Cash ~ Tim

Bry was my Bishop after I was baptized. He was so kind and took time to make me feel welcome and loved. After 30 years, he still holds a very special place in my heart!

 Chris ~ Julie ~ Kennan

All three cousins born in 1982

September ~  November ~  October

Connie Lamoreaux ~ Sully ~ Bob

So nice of Bob's parents to come to the party.

Cali enjoying her some cake!

Great to spend time with family

Judy Brown, another dear friend from Cheyenne ~ so sad that Richard couldn't come.

Mark ~ Krew ~ Cash ~ Julie

My family, Mark ~ Tiff ~ Chris (skinny)

 Pam ~ Eileen

I love spending time with my sister-in-laws.  Pam, Holley and I got things set up for the party Friday night. Despite Holley's bump on the head and my smashed hand, we got 'er done! Thanks to Tim, Tim and Cheyenne for helping us set up chairs and tables!  Thanks to Robyn who also stopped by to help us.

Cash and Grandpa

Tim ~ Tucker ~ Chris

 more dear friends

Lon Wardrop ~ Mike ~ Carrie Wardrop 
Lee ~ Tim ~ Judy Brown ~ Mark

 Robyn told is to say "money"

Our family with the birthday girl!

Cash is sleepy!

Johnnie Belle ~ Lee ~ Holley

Johnnie Belle with her children, we miss Jeff

 

Mark ~ Tim ~ Mike ~ Lee

Holley ~ Johnnie Belle ~ Terri

Surrounded by her loving children, what could be better?

Daughters and daughter-in-laws

Eileen ~ Pam ~ Dianna

Terri ~ Johnnie Belle ~ Holley

Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate Johnnie Belle's birthday.

More thanks to Robyn Kennan, Brooke and Pam for the yummy soup (and me)! Thank you Jodi for helping me do the dishes. Really... thanks to everyone who helped especially to Holley for organizing the open house and working so hard to make it a perfect day!

Celebrating 90 years...

 Nobody's "old" anymore - 

they've just been around for a long time. 

~ Abigail Van Buren

Wow ~ You've reached your 90th birthday! That's definitely something worth celebrating. Ninety years is a long time and there are many interesting events and times that you have seen or lived through. How wonderful and rich your life experiences have been and how you have enlivened and blessed our lives.

You always say to me that I don't know what it's like to be old. You have grown older with grace, never loosing your desire to gain knowledge and be involved in the business of living life to its fullest.

Big party tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Johnnie Belle!!