Temple Celebration !

I had the marvelous opportunity to see both Temple Celebrations Friday and Saturday. First, from the youth in the 25 stakes in the Draper Temple district, and Sat night, the youth from the 26 stakes in the Oquirrh Temple district. I loved seeing my grandchildren, Danielle and Braden, dance in this last one, Saturday night, for the Oquirrh Temple. I cannot say enough about it all. It was breathtaking with all of the music, the talent, the singing and dancing, and the exuberance of 7,000 youth each night. They were "on fire" with their love for the gospel. What a fabulous display, fitting for the House Of The Lord. The spirit filled the Conference Center, testifying to us of the truthfulness of temple worship. I am thrilled for the 14,000 wonderful young people who performed in this magnificent celebration. I know they will carry the memory and the spirit of this occasion in their hearts all through their lives. We are so blessed to live now when the gospel has been restored to the earth. I can hardly wait to tour the Oquirrh Temple, and also go there to serve occasionally. Early this year I set a goal to go at least twice a month and it has been a tremendous blessing in my life. I LOVE the Lord, I love his word, and am so privelaged to have made covenants in His holy Temple.

The Giant Redwoods

Brian treated me to a little trip for Mother’s Day. On Memorial Day at 9:00 PM, I boarded the flight where he was working as flight Attendant. It was fun to watch him working. He does such an amazing job. He is so personable and friendly. He received many compliments as people left the plane. Same on the way home. When we arrived in Arcada, CA, we drove to the hotel in a rental car. After a good night’s rest, we were off to breakfast at a little family restaurant. We stopped at a visitors center to get maps and some information about the Redwood National Forest, where we spent most of the day. Even the scenery on the way there was fabulous. Beautiful trees on both sides of the road, lots of greenery, dotted with wild flowers.
The giant Redwoods were amazing. Beautiful, huge, TALL trees, some over 2000 years old. We studied about their life cycle, resistance to disease, and other qualities as we went along in the forest. They supplied us with a pamphlet that we read from as we came to different markers on the trail. I was fascinated with the many opportunities for photos. Every inch on the ground, except for the trail, was covered with beautiful ferns, moss, flowers, and decaying logs that were also covered in plant life. The wonderful cool air was so nice, and smelled wonderful. There were no sounds in there at all, except for the birds. I did not want to leave. We drove to another forest where we saw the "Big Tree". I had to take three shots of it, bottom, middle, and top, because I could not get the whole thing in my viewfinder!
On the way back we stopped at several Lagoons on the seaside. They were very interesting too. Brian waded in the icy water. I was not so inclined. We saw an interesting sight, hundreds of dead trees, now Redwood drift wood, that had been washed up on the shore line from the ocean. We read that there are sometimes violent storms, capable of Tsunami strength in that area. Who knows how long ago these trees were fallen and taken out to sea, and then returned some time later on this shore.
When we got back to the Hotel, we went to Sizzler across the street, for dinner. Brian returned the rental car and took an airport shuttle back to the hotel. We got up at 4:30 AM in order to meet Brian’s call time for work. Again, he was the flight attendant on the return flight and we were back at 9:00 AM. Brian helped me to the car with my bag and Ralph picked me up. Brian returned to work. Ralph and I picked Gracie up at the Puppy Lounge, and she was so delighted to see us. She was so tired, and slept all the way home.
I have many photos that are all beautiful, but here is a little sample of the wonderful things we feasted our eyes on in the Forest and a few of our other activities.

This tree was burned out in the center and up most of the way but it was thriving at the top

Looking up from the ground. The photos do not

begin to show the height. They are incredible!


Looking up again

Flowers are everywhere

Wildflowers by a Lagoon

About 1/4 of the Big Tree

The driftwood from the ocean

The plane we left for home on

Brian greeting passengers

The Kitchen is Almost Done !!

Jeff and Heather came over on Thursday to put up the

border and to caulk around the sink. Danny was here with Cameron

and Livvy at the same time. The kids sure had fun together. Several days

ago, Randy was here working on the roof. He got our horrible old swamp cooler off the roof and also repaired the leak that was around it.

Danny hauled it off. this is the third time he has take a bunch of ugly junk away for us. I LOVE this Christmas gift of service! I also love that I have four sons! The Lord sure has blessed us in the children department.

Time for the new border! It looks awesome.

The colors all fit in so well, just like I imagined

The countertops are gorgeous.... This

photo doesn't do them justice.

I LOVE the new stove. It looks so pretty with the red cabinets

New curtains finish it all off nicely


Livvy and Cessna rolled down the hill a number of times.
They are always so delighted to be together.


Sweet little cousins, and my precious granddaughters

I have been doing a lot of yard work this Spring. Danny came several times to weed and help with the heavy stuff. The planter on the porch, is coming along nicely. This year I did a different variety of flowers

This little spot in the front yard was so beautiful last year, so
I did it very much the same this year. It should fill in fast.

The front flower bed under the window was dug out and
replanted mostly, last year. It feels good to have more perrennials coming up. My roses look awesome. The pink one on the far right is 40 years old now and was a third anniversary gift from my parents. It is my favorite, and gets blooms a good 6 ins across! These are all wonderful roses. The other three winter killed three years ago, and mom repalced them for us at that time. They are big and healthy this year, with long stems and huge buds

Friday, I placed flowers on my parents graves. I miss them both so much

Saturday, Danny and Brian came and put up the BIG pool !
They had to clear weeds, because it was not up last year.

It is not too easy to put up, but they laughed and had a good time

doing it. Livvy came along with Danny and she was excited.

Silly Brian.......practicing his back stroke for Livvy

She was quite amused! All of the children love

Uncle Brian

Danny and Livvy wading in the water as it is running in

Everyone wanted to see what Gracie would do in the water. She stepped

really high, and drank a lot, and got water up her nose!

While Danny and Brian were working on the pool, Livvy helped me

plant two planters, and get some other things done in the front yard.

She is a great little helper. We had fun!

Tending Rory...........

This past Friday and Saturday, Becky had the opportunity to judge at the Western National’s Dance Competition at Lagoon. SO.... 18 month old Rory, and I, had two play days at my house.
She is nuts about horses, so I brought out three horsies that I have here. One is a Beautiful solid oak rocking horse made by the Amish. My cousin, Darlene, found it for me when they were camped right by an Amish community while on vacation. The big furry one is one I spotted on a shelf behind the counter at Kid To Kid. Poor thing had come in with open seams and looking pretty bad. I asked how much for it “as is”. I got him for practically nothing, brought him home and stitched him up and he is like new. He’s a great photo prop. He is also Rory’s favorite. She doesn’t understand why he doesn’t whinny and make galloping sounds or rock like the one her grandpa Shober gave her for Christmas last year. But, because he is fat and comfy, soft and loveable....He is her favorite. Last but not least, is the horse that my little children had when they were young. He has wheels and actually can move along when the child bounces on him but Rory is not strong enough for that trick yet. These are not all....we also have a horse tire swing that we found at the State Fair a few years back. He hangs from a big tree in the backyard. He is a favorite with all of the grandchildren , but Rory simply will not get off without weeping and wailing and knashing of teeth! Following are some cute photos I took while she was here.

Rory is fascinated with busses presently. She loves this Little People school bus....all of you get in your seats now, we will leave soon!

"Ohhhhh" This little girl fell out the door, here let me kiss you and hug you

Bye bye!



Hat on! Pony saddled up....All ready for the Wild Wild West
adventure with Elmo. It's a good thing Grandma is here to move me
from horse to horse about every 2 minutes!

What fun! I'm riding with my good friends
Bear and doggie

It's been a long hard day riding the range!


It's enough to wear a cowgirl out!


Maybe a "nack" (snack) would be good. Yum! Graham Crackers,
apples, and Slim Fast in whole milk. These adults are always
trying to fatten me up.

Surprise! My Grandma Burge dropped in at Grandma Hubrich's house.
I am so happy that she is in town. We played and had a great time.
Do you like the cute dress she bought for me?



Here I am showing my Grandma's how fast I can go on my new car!
Thank you Aunt Heidi for handing it down to me. Grandma H and me gave the car a bath in the bathtub. It was so funny! I learned to drive really fast, because I am so smart! Really........she was backing up the incline in the driveway and lifting her feet up and bumping into the fence at the bottom over and over again. Great fun and a good excuse to stay outside!

Grandma Hubrich had fun doing my hair.
She says my curls are "to die for"

May 11, 2009

My sweet mother passed away one year ago today. This is the 365th day without her. There has not been one day that I have not missed her. I am so grateful for her sweet love and example for all of her family, and the legacy of faith that she left us. The good news is that she endured to the end. She was prepared to meet her maker. This photo was taken one week before she died. She was always so beautiful. I love this picture and am so glad that I took it. She was smiling at me and I just grabbed a picture of her. She was at the birthday party for great Grandaughter, Olivia who turned 5.

She was carried into the house, and up the stairs in her wheelchair. She never liked the idea of a wheelchair, but it gave her some mobility the last few weeks.

This afternoon, Becky walked in with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a card. Heidi had the idea for each of them to write a little note to me, and give me some flowers. Thank you Heidi, and Becky! I have the sweetest most wonderful daughters in the world. Their sweet sentiments brought a lot of comfort to me.


Friday afternoon, Brian came over with some lilacs for me, and we added a few of them to a bouquet that I had purchased for moms grave. It was a Mother's Day tribute, as well as marking the anniversary of her passing. He drove me to the cemetery. It looked nice, Everything was well groomed and they had trimmed around all of the stones. There were flowers on a lot of mother's graves, and I felt compassion for everyone who has lost their mother.

Kitchen update

My kitchen is coming along. It is very exciting for me. Yesterday, Jeff came and tore out the countertops. New ones are coming Monday. He also removed the old stove that literally blew up a few weeks ago. It was scary to see the scorched area behind it when it came out. Thank goodness we did not have a fire at that time. My new stove arrived yesterday morning. It looks great, but still mostly in the box, in the living room, until Monday when the countertops are finished. I opened the top of the box for a sneak peek, and a measurement to make sure it is the right one.
In the evening yesterday, Dan and Becca came over with the kids. I enjoyed their visit very much. Christmas just keeps coming. I love that Christmas service gift from our children! I have been ill, and even for weeks before, did not feel good, so I have not been able to do the yard work I generally do. Danny pulled up a ton of wild grass in my little floral spot in the front yard. It is all ready for planting now. He and Ralph also loaded up the old stove, the countertops, the dishwasher, and other assorted junk from the yard and hauled it off for us. That feels good! While I have been down, Ryan and Becky have gone shopping for me. They also rented DVD's for me to watch, and Becky made me some soft food to eat. She's taken dogs out, and come over and kept me company for a while every day. I'll be using her kitchen now and then until next week. Good thing she's close. I have loved that. Thank you everyone! I love you! I am feeling a lot better now, and expect to be back full steam soon.

Who are these people?

Who are these people? They look slightly familiar. She cannot be the same women that I look at in the mirror, and him....is that the man I see across the table every day? What happened to us? I guess it is just the 43 years that passed over us.

Today has been filled with memories of the past 43 years, and all of the joys, as well as the pain, and sorrows. Every life holds some of each. Another anniversary....and how did we celebrate it? It started off with a "banana smoothie" for me....sounds good huh? Another name for this concoction is "contrast fluid", in preparation for a CT scan to check on an aneurysm, and hopefully to pinpoint the abdominal pain I have been experiencing for the past two weeks. At least the girl who did my IV was very good!

When we finished up with my tests, we headed out to go to lunch, but I began to feel sick, so we went home to let me get that nice stuff out of my system. There is a silver lining though....Ralph found those bottles that held the banana smoothies to be of "high quality" and just right to put away for some useful purpose. ( I could name the people who are laughing right now). When I was certain that I would be alright, we went to ChinWah for lunch. That was a good decision, bringing back some good memories of our wedding breakfast at the "Hawaiian". It is no longer in existance. Too bad. The atmosphere was so nice there. You felt like you were in a grass hut on a beautiful island during a rain storm. We loved that place, and went back there often for many years until they closed.

Over our lunch, we discussed various memories of our wedding day, and the early weeks of our marriage. We have not laughed so hard in a long time. It felt good. Here we go again......what's over the hill or around the bend? Who knows? One thing I do know.....we are both very grateful for our six wonderful children, their spouses, and our ten grandchildren. In our eyes, they are the best in the world. Whatever lies ahead, we are up for it. Bring it on!