Ten birthday dates with Cash...

Not many moments can compare to the day I found out I was going to be a grandma. The news took my breath away and the tears came. I was excited, so happy, and couldn't wait to meet Cash!

The past 12 years have been magical. I have had a front row seat to the best show in town, watching Cash grow up. I could not be more grateful.

I have loved having birthday dates with Cash!

Birthday dates through the years...

2013

We started at the shoe store, where Cash picked out a new pair of shoes to leave at Grandma's house. He wanted this cool pair of Thomas the Train shoes that light up.

Then it was off to Target to choose a toy, such a happy boy!

We had dinner at the Rumbi Grill.

Cash loved the sweet potato fries! 

Cash was so polite and had good manners at the restaurant.

After dinner we met Grandpa at the Big Toy.

It was a beautiful evening, so we played for a long time.

Sharing time and making memories with our grandson 

--what could be more fun!

Happy 3rd Birthday Cash, we love you so very much!

2014

Having a one on one date with my grandchildren for their birthday has been a dream of mine. Now that Cash and Colby are older my dream has come true. This is my second date with Cash and it was spectacular. I went to pick him up and he and Colby came to the door. Colby said, "Come in." He wanted to go with us so that tugged at my heart. But I will have a date with him next week!

I asked Cash what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to go to the Discovery Park. We call it Popsicle Park and it's in Pleasant Grove. So I drove there and when Cash saw it he said, this isn't the place. I said, this is Discovery Park. Cash said it's the place with the zip line and fish. I called Mark and he said he was talking about the Museum of Natural Curiosity. So I was happy to head to Thanksgiving Point where the museum is located! I haven't been to the museum so I was excited to go with Cash. He has been there a few times and was an awesome guide.

Planting a garden...

This place is amazing, there are more than 400 interactive experiences to choose from.

Depositing money in the bank, Cash really like this.

Drying some clothes...

This was one of my favorite areas, it was an open air market. Cash was the storekeeper. He liked selling me fruit, beans, and vegetables.

 

He made sure I gave him some money! 

Hanging like a sloth!

 Oh I love this birthday boy!

 

Spiderman has got nothing on Cash!

The fish tank was my favorite, 

we had so much fun feeding the fish!

We stayed at the museum for over 3 hours. It went by so fast, time flies when you are having fun. When we were leaving Cash said, I'm tired of walking. He thanked me numerous times for taking him to the museum!

 Photo booth fun!

We were hungry so we had dinner at JCW's, Cash calls it JCDubs! I love being a grandma and spending time with Cash is always so wonderful.

Perfect day... The End!

2015

Today is Cashee boy's fifth birthday. Five years of love, joy, and delight. We love him so much. He's smart and clever. Cash is a good big brother. He says really sweet prayers.

We had our annual birthday date on Wednesday. I love this tradition. It's great to have some one on one time. Colby was such a good sport, I know he wanted to go with us. His date is coming up this week! Cash chose to go the Museum of Natural Curiosity again this year. He loves it there, we stayed for over three hours. 

When we walked in some of the employees were sitting on the floor playing the game called Suspend. They invited us to play and Cash had so much fun. He balanced all of his pieces without one dropping!

Cash likes to build things and see how they work. He played at the Water Works for a long time. It's fun to watch him. 

He organized all the fruits and vegetables at the Market, and then a little girl came along a messed them up. He rolled his eyes... girls!

Isn't he so handsome?!

Cash always loves to to feed the fish. 

They are amazing and they always act like they haven't had anything to eat for months!

Oh I love this boy!

Cash wanted to eat at JCW's, he always wants to eat there! We had the best time visiting. It really was a perfect day. I was a little late getting Cash home, it was just one of those days you didn't want to end.

Happy Birthday Cash, 

we love you to the moon and back!

2016

The birthday date tradition continues and I am always so grateful to spend time with my grandsons. Cash and I went to Provo Beach and dinner at Malawi's Pizza again. (How did I not take any pictures?) He is growing up so fast. He really is so smart. He never demands anything and is polite and kind. He tries to do what's right and I adore this boy.

It was a dragon theme this year and Cash helped Tiffani make the decorations. Tiff wanted Cash's birthday to be perfect and it was!

What a cake!

Chris gave Cash some jelly beans that had surprise flavors!

Cash wanted to go up the canyon for his birthday. It was a little chilly, so it was nice to sit by the warm fire and roast marshmallows.

Happy 6th Birthday Cash 

2017

Waiting for Cash to get out of school so we can have our birthday date. I love this tradition. It was so fun to see him walk out of school and wave at me.

Birthday dates include shopping for a gift, a fun activity, and of course a birthday dinner.

Cash chose the original Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and a Mine Craft Lego set.

He wanted to go to Boondocks and play mini-golf. I can't remember the last time I played mini-golf. I couldn't stop smiling, it was a blast. Cash would check out the course each time before he hit the ball. He did really well, a lot of par 2 shots.

The last shot he got a hole in one. He was so excited, he said it was "the best day ever."

I suggested a few places to eat, and he chose Zupa's. He ate a bowl of vegetable chowder and a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich.

We went back to our house and played a few games. I know I've said this before, but it was a perfect day. We talked, laughed, and held hands as we walked around Boondocks. What could be better?!

Doesn't the birthday boy look happy?!

We love Cash so much. I will always remember the day he was born. It was wonderful anticipating his birth. I will also always remember how it felt to hold him for the first time. He is as precious to me now as he was the first minute I met him. Love you so Cash!

2018

I have so enjoyed our tradition of going on a birthday date with you. I have felt a little emotional as you were approaching your 8th birthday. You are growing up so fast, and anytime I can be with you is such a treasured time for me. I like to make you feel special and let you choose where we will eat and what activity you want to do. It’s fun to sit across the table from you at a restaurant and talk. I also like to go shopping with you and to let you choose a birthday gift. We saw some things at the store that cost a lot of money and I said, I wish I had a billion dollars. You said, “sometimes people with a lot of money are greedy.” You are never greedy and always choose a toy or something that is not big or grand. You are content and happy with more simple things.

 

I have had many memorable and defining life moments, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. Becoming a grandmother was definitely one of those defining moments.

To say I was excited when I heard I would become your grandmother is an understatement. When you were born I wanted to shout about it to the world! I was thrilled beyond words. When we welcomed you to the family, my heart swelled with love. I thought about all the adventures we would have together.

It has been such an incredible privilege and pleasure to watch you grow the last eight years. I have seen you develop your own unique personality. You are a very kind and polite boy. You say “thank you Grandma” even for the smallest things I do for you. You are good big brother and so helpful. You are clever, smart, and not afraid to try new things.

I want you to know you can always count on me, I will always be here for you.

I hope you find joy in life and have lots of fun. Stay on the straight and narrow path, that will bring you the most lasting happiness. Do what you enjoy. Dream big and know you have to work hard to have the things your heart desires. Never betray your dreams for the sake of fitting in. I hope you believe that you are more powerful than the problems you may confront. I hope you will learn quickly from your mistakes. Ignore mean or unkind people, sometimes you will just need to walk away.

Remember to treat others like you would like to be treated. It may be difficult sometimes, but always try to be nice, always be caring. Give people the benefit of the doubt. I learned to do that from my Dad, he always gave others the benefit of the doubt. Don’t hesitate to give others a second chance.

Your parents will also always be there for you. Stay close to them and talk to them if you are worried about something or need advice.

Above all, know that you are loved. Love might be one of the greatest gifts you can ever give or receive. When I say I love you with my whole heart, you can be sure I do!

Happy 8th Birthday Cash!

Love,
Grandma

2019

I still can't believe Cash is 9 years old, but it really has been a little piece of heaven to be his grandmother. We had another very enjoyable birthday date last week. He is kind, polite, and he always says thank you. When I let him choose a few birthday gifts, he is never greedy, and would be happy with just a simple gift. He gets more handsome everyday.

 

I sure love you Cash.

2020

Thursday I took Cash on a birthday date to the Butterfly Biosphere. It's at Thanksgiving Point Water Tower Plaza. It's bigger than I expected, about 40,000 square feet and over a thousand butterflies from all over the world. There are also tarantulas, beetles as big as your fist, ants, and lots more creepy crawlies! Cash loved it and he knew just about as much as the staff about all the bugs. Our favorites were the ant exhibit and the butterfly exhibit. The butterfly exhibit was like being in a tropical rainforest. 

 Tarantula! 

Glowing scorpion

I love this picture. The butterflies liked Cash!

I got Cash his favorite sushi and we had fun the rest of night playing games, and watching a show. He slept over and I enjoyed having some extra time with our oldest grandson. Cash is so wonderful and we love him.

2021

Wednesday I had another birthday date with Cash. He is such a gentleman and is so polite. I've said this before, but he is never demanding and when I let him choose a toy he looks at the prices before deciding. He always goes for the less expensive one, even though I tell him it's okay to have one that cost a little more money. He also says, "It's okay Grandma" and says thank you. Cash is a young man now and is as tall as me. He's smart and builds and creates some amazing things. I've said this for years that I think he might decide to be an engineer. 

Will he really be 11 next week? He wanted to go the Museum of Natural Curiosity, the last time we went there was 2015. We basically had the place all to ourselves and from start to finish it was a wonderful day.

My sushi boy!

This was our favorite exhibit, it's was all about puzzles and mazes. Cash mastered all of them in no time! 

Tim taught Cash how to fly RC planes. We ended the day at the park and it was prefect to night fly their planes. For sure a day to remember. We love you Cash!

What a handsome boy, and that million dollar smile! 

Our 10th birthday date

2022

I wanted to take Cash somewhere extra special for his 12th birthday, so we had lunch at P.F. Chang's. He's still loves sushi but he also enjoyed trying the lettuce wraps.

Cash also wanted to go the Museum of Ancient Life. I've never been there and it was incredible. Cash is old enough to appreciate the extensive research that has gone into studying and discovering the many species of dinosaurs and other ancient life. I enjoyed walking around with him in the museum.

The light tunnel was beautiful!

I am too short to be in the selfie with Cash! 

We thought the shadow of the 

dinosaur on the wall was very cool!

Yikes! 

We stopped at Harmon's for some gelato. Cash got chocolate and I had grapefruit flavor, it was tasty!

We also got Cash a new pair of shoes and he did a little shopping on Amazon, he chose a fun drone.

We stopped by to see Grandpa and played a few games, then Grandpa took Cash to the park to fly airplanes. I loved being with Cash, we had a wonderful day. I love our first born grandson so very much.

Happy Birthday Cash! 

Live life...

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Happiest memory with Cash...

What a fun birthday date with my Cashee boy.

2015

Cotton candy skies...

Beautiful cotton candy skies when

I left for school this morning.

 

Still beautiful when I arrived at school.

Waiting...

PC to me, sunrise walk

 

In Acts chapter 3 we learn about a man who was born lame and “whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.”

The lame beggar was over 40 years old and had spent his entire life in a seemingly never-ending state of wanting and waiting, for he was dependent on the generosity of others.

One day he saw “Peter and John about to go into the temple [and] asked an alms.

“And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

“And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

“And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

“And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Oftentimes we can find ourselves, like the lame beggar at the gate of the temple, patiently—or sometimes impatiently—“wait[ing] upon the Lord.” Waiting to be healed physically or emotionally. Waiting for answers that penetrate the deepest part of our hearts. Waiting for a miracle.

Waiting upon the Lord can be a sacred place—a place of polishing and refining where we can come to know the Savior in a deeply personal way. Waiting upon the Lord may also be a place where we find ourselves asking, “O God, where art thou?”—a place where spiritual perseverance requires us to exercise faith in Christ by intentionally choosing Him again and again and again. I know this place, and I understand this type of waiting.

I spent countless hours at a cancer treatment facility, united in my suffering with many who were yearning to be healed. Some lived; others did not. I learned in a profound way that deliverance from our trials is different for each of us, and therefore our focus should be less about the way in which we are delivered and more about the Deliverer Himself. Our emphasis should always be on Jesus Christ!

Exercising faith in Christ means trusting not only in God’s will but also in His timing. For He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. When we submit to the will of the Lord, we will ultimately receive substantially more than that which we had desired.

Christ Heals That Which Is Broken | Amy A. Wright

April 2022 

Jackee boy...

Sweet doggy!

In the line...

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.
We are all in “the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.
So while we wait in line -
Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.

I've seen this message posted on social media several times. It reminds me of all those who where waiting in line, and then their turn came. When my Mom was so sick, I would tell her "it's okay if you want to go." She replied one time, "But I don't want to cut in line." It's true about life, we can't cut in line, we can't move to the back of the line, step out of the line, or avoid the line. "To every thing there is a a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;..." Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Dad was waiting in that line, and twenty-nine years ago today at about 5:00 in the evening, his turn came. I was holding his hand. Twenty-nine years, he told me a few times after he found out the melanoma had metastasized, that he wished God would give him a few more years. He had finally met the love of his life, sweet Alice. They were only married for about two years and were so happy. They had dreams of traveling around the United States in Dad's camper. When he passed at the age of 66, did it shake my faith? You better believe it did. I still feel that deep heartbreak often, I miss him.

Dad really was one of kind. He worked so hard to provide for us. He loved his Mom so much. He made sure after Grandpa died that the ranch that they had since 1910, did not go into disrepair. He gave all the benefit of the doubt. He was a true disciple and would always be the first to roll up his sleeves and help out. He had great faith and an unshakable testimony of the gospel. He was handsome and witty. I remember his strong hands, that were always banged up from laying brick and stone, and from doing chores at our ranch and his parents ranch. 

"Irrespective of age, we mourn for those loved and lost. Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love. Eternal perspective provides peace “which passeth all understanding.” (Philippines 4:7.)

We who tarry here have a few precious moments remaining “to prepare to meet God.” (Alma 34:32.) Unfinished business is our worst business. Perpetual procrastination must yield to perceptive preparation. Today we have a little more time to bless others—time to be kinder, more compassionate, quicker to thank and slower to scold, more generous in sharing, more gracious in caring.

Then when our turn in the line comes, we can say as did Paul: “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6–7.)

Dad... Ivan Lester Federer, did indeed fight the good fight, and I believe we can see him again. I look forward to a joyful reunion. 

As I wait in line, I am committed to make the moments count, to make the change, to keep trying not to have regrets, and to make sure my people know I love them with all my heart, ALL my heart.

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Coppertone baby...

These pictures will always be some of my favorites of Grahm!