Kindergarten Notebook for Journaling

     Jaime had the most awesome kindergarten teacher.  We both loved Miss Webb.  She had the ability to teach all the children on their own level.  Of course it helped to have parents volunteer whenever the children were put into groups.   and would have liked to finish the year.  Jaime was in the learning advanced group.  She was in the top three academically. Miss Webb had given those children a composition notebook which they used to communicate.  Often she would comment on what they had written or use a prompt to get them started.  Jaime rarely ever needed a prompt.  What an imagination my child has!

Sadly we moved and put Jaime in another school. Miss Webb continued to communicate with Jaime via my facebook account – or so I’m guessing.  There is evidence of conversation but all in my handwriting instead of theirs.  It has been a fun treasure to explore.

I scanned this check list.  Lisa Webb succeeded on all three check marks.  What a remarkable individual!

More Nostalgia and Photos

          I have created so many scrapbook pages – some by hand, probably more on the computer.  It’s not the same.  And I do like the tangible die cuts and stickers and perks of hand scrapbooking as opposed to the computer. The computer also has perks such as changing sizes to make it fit – though not as polished.  Especially over the years as the photos start to fade.

Throwing away photos has always been hard for me but does seem necessary. I had packed away three small boxes of photos with the intent of sitting down with Jai to scrapbook though she has seldom been interested.  She enjoys talking about photos and strolling down memory lane – for a time at least.  I had cut shapes on some of the photos but did not have them in order.   

Did not work out to my expectations however.  I think in the last 8 years I may have just added photos and never looked at them until yesterday. Many of the photos I had scanned but seems like I may have missed others.  Thus I have some work cut out for me as there are some photos she would like to save.  Others I have thrown away – which was hard but necessary.

I did set aside some photos to send to Tony and his family as I’m certain that my grandkids will get a kick out of seeing them.  Neither Biff nor Randy have that nostalgia built in though I think Biff would like to try.  He was the only one who held onto his baby book and does enjoy looking at pictures.  He has many years of building up items and needs to let go.  He may hang onto whatever I give him though it will get neglected and end up in the trash at some point during his life anyway. 

Currently I have sorted piles  - one to send to Tony, one to scan. It will take time.  We haven’t even finished the first box and we still have two more to tackle. More to come. ;)

What I Don’t Miss and Gratefulness

It’s been a week since Biff and his clan moved out and we brought Jaime home. 

I don’t miss having the washing machine and dryer going constantly

I’m grateful for the quiet.

I don’t miss their car in our driveway when I’m backing out

I am grateful to have more width.

I don’t miss the open butters on top of paper wrapping near the toaster.

I’m grateful that Richard and Jaime know how to use the butter dish.

I don’t miss seeing open doors revealing what look like storage closets instead of bedrooms

I’m grateful her college experience has taught Jaime to keep up a tidy appearance in her room  and not the sty that Biff and Claire vacuumed only once a month – if that.

I don’t miss the long showers that each of them would take.

I’m grateful to have hot water when I just need to wash my hands.

I don't miss the procrastination or seeing them waste time.

I'm grateful that we all keep the same hours - early risers.

I don’t miss their weird food or searching for things or duplications of open items

I am grateful that we are all more observant and less wasteful.

I don’t miss the constant disappearance of dishes

I am grateful to have a dishwasher and dishes to wash.

I don’t miss Ally’s loud voice and obliviousness toward other household members.

I am grateful for the quiet.

I am so grateful that they finally have their own place.  

I'm certain that they are too.

Reminiscing June 19th and Father’s Day

           We moved to Oregon on June 17, 2015 and attended the South Umpqua ward for the first time on June 21which happened to be Fathers’ Day.  I remember thinking how it felt like such an odd meeting as both speakers seemed to be promoting social media.  There was absolutely no mention about Fathers’ Day.  Jaime was disappointed as the ward we had come from always provided light entertainment to those who were fathers. Perhaps the primary children had sung to the men during priesthood? 

          I hadn’t made the connection of Juneteenth holiday being today.  Each year facebook reminds me of our move to Oregon, our return to Utah in 2017 and our trip to New York in 2020.  And this year of regaining possession of our house as the other three have moved out and they are NOT going to return.  I am grateful for some of the experiences I had as a result of their living here but honestly am more grateful having them gone. So Juneteenth will always have another meaning for me as these are the memories I have recorded.

I Don’t Think it was Worth 60 Dollars but she does

                Jai has always wanted to do a yard sale and got her chance today.  She had set it up nice, but the availability seemed quite lame compared to other yard sales I’ve seen.  If the buyer had a heart set on stuffed animals or cos play head gear, our yard sale was exceptional – but for the more mature lookers our yard was a huge disappointment.

          Richard told us to label all the items but Jai didn’t wish to do that.  She did wish to haggle – which I personally don’t like to do.  Perhaps she would have made more money if I hadn’t been there to “assist” – I was all for cheap and free but Jaime seemed to overprice things.  But she also had a sign that said “Make Me an Offer”  It wasn’t her fault that the signs continued to blow down. 

          They had belonged to her and she finally parted with them so the money is hers.  She has put it toward camping.  Another hoo-rah with her high school pals.  I think that’s great they have kept connected as they have. 

          Anyway, we had the yard sale today figuring it was great weather.  Cool enough that we didn’t feel scorched.  Yet at the same time the wind did a number on me.  I am tired.  But not as tired as I was the first day we attempted to clean the shed.  We have made more than a dent and have room now.  I like that.

Well I am Ready to Die

                Biff and Clair have moved but failed to take all their stuff with them.  Meanwhile Jaime is moving in.  She has belongings in one shed and is going through all the stuff that was thrown in the other shed before Biff and Claire moved in.  We have organized both sheds to a degree.  Camping and tools is one.  Christmas, memorabilia and other miscellaneous items in the other.  Plus stacks of crap items belonging to Biff’s family though I think there is more on the deck than what’s in the shed.  I want it gone.

               I was so exhausted and soar yesterday.  Today was much easier.  We did 30 minutes of work and break and work again.  Yesterday was overcast and 60ish until about two.  And we stopped – at least outdoors.  Jaime went through many of her stuffed animals yesterday and is going through other bins today.  Today’s highest was 69 and we were blessed with cool winds as we worked.  I think we stopped working at 2:00 outside but still have loads to go through from what we brought in –

               Meanwhile I have discovered a few items that I had made reference to but figured got left in West Valley Utah as I didn’t remember seeing them again until this afternoon and had Jaime take some pictures that I could post.

Why Do It Now When You Can Put It Off Until The Last Minute?

           I have always been a “get it out of the way as soon as possible” type of gal.  I HATE procrastination.  Always have.  There are many things I am willing to do spontaneously but not calling upon others to assist or attend without warning.  Such as getting married or being advanced in the priesthood or attending the temple for the first time (see here). 

           Perhaps Richard and I had not set the finest example by giving everybody just eight hours or less.  Everybody knew that the day was coming. I wasn’t expecting anybody to put their lives on hold for us or getting the turnout that we did. 

          Biff has always kept things to himself and will casually announce his big plan for “tonight” – I need more notice than “oh, by the way . . .”  They said they’d be moving out today – but I had been hearing that for two weeks.  Saturday.  No Wednesday.  Even when I saw the bed frame on the porch I had my doubts.  They slept on the mattress(es) for the last three or four days.  Is that all?  It seems as though it had been longer.

          I heard them up early – well, for them.  Biff was gone when I had returned from the first water fitness class – but Clair and Ally were in the front room watching some program on the Disney Channel.  Biff had already taken a few carloads to the rental they’ll be moving into tomorrow.  But I didn’t see anything to fulfill the promise of moving out today.

          At 2:00 they left the house as Ally had an appointment.  I don’t know when they made the time (or expense) of getting the truck.  But it is now in our driveway.  Biff, Clair and Richard are loading.  I offered to help and decided my contribution would be with keeping Bonnie in the room with me so that she’s not in the way.  Good luck with their own dog.  That could be Ally’s job . . .

          They started loading at 5:30 I guess.  5:30 p.m. That seems an odd time to start loading up.  Richard suggested I call the missionaries to what?  Drop whatever else they have going to come assist?  If they had had warning they could have penciled into their agenda.  It’s 85 degrees outside but at least there is a breeze so that will be helpful. 

          We’ll be picking up Jaime from Ashland tomorrow and she will be able to have her room back.  Richard will be able to move his desk from the back room into what was his office since we moved in.  And we’ll be able to find the back room and go through the sheds.  Guess we all have a fun summer ahead of us.  I would still like to go to Salt Lake and visit my sibs and Tony and his family.

Yard Sale Rats

           You know that it’s summer when neighboring lawns become littered with household goods and florescent colored poster boards come out to advertise great and big yard sales (which usually are neither great nor big) and arrows to point the way to mostly junk with hidden treasures.  Richard and Jaime will spot yard sales from a mile away – I rarely notice even if I am standing in said yard. 

Yard sailing each weekend doesn’t appeal to me – though we had a specific hunt and hit 5 yard sales yesterday – making an unnecessary purchase at four – spending the most at the estate sale.  No refrigerator though.  We don’t need one but Biff and Clair will be leaving and are in need of something bigger than the 20 inch fridge that they purchased specifically for Ally’s shot medicine.

Yesterday seemed like a good day for yard sales.  Heavy clouds with the promises of rain – at least that’s how the sky read.  There was no rain, but the air wasn’t unbearably hot.  It was a good temperature.

Looking Forward to Having Space Again

           We’ll be picking Jaime up on Tuesday.  The other three should be out before her return.  They were supposed to move in today but a water line broke.  Always something.  I have really been trying to let things go and apply the scriptures to my current situation.  Sometimes I am successful but only sometimes.  More often I find myself irritated with all these little bits of ember that add up into a fiery blaze.

          I didn’t wish to focus on my irritations but at the same time knew that I needed to write things down as a reminder why they are never coming back to live under the same roof as me – smiling as I do it because I think about their also keeping a list of reasons why they will never return.  I’m guessing they are more excited by the move of finally getting out on their own than I am to see them go. I personally don’t believe they are financially prepared. We have tried to tell them but there are some things that need to be learned through experience.

          I see scenarios with our treatment toward them and our Heavenly Father toward us.  We may ask Heavenly Father for blessings but rarely does he grant us those blessings right away – at least in my experience.  He sends me the tools that I may obtain the blessing with His guidance. Sometimes the blessing I thought I wanted turns out to be something greater – but always in His due time though there have been a few that have been in mine.

          Richard’s solution has always been to provide – give, give, and give some more even when there is nothing left to give.  He still hasn’t been able to cut the apron strings.  It’s not that I wish to see Biff and Clair suffer.  I would like to see them grow.  I would like to see them find other resources – which perhaps they already have.  I don’t know.  They have slowly allowed us into their lives but for the most part have attempted to do everything without saying a word to us.  They have tried to do it on their own.  But really we can’t do everything on our own.  We all need others to draw from and to confide in. We need to rely upon our Maker.

          I wish they were moving away further than they are.  They wanted to be closer to Portland but are going to be ten minutes further – not that big of deal, but it would be nice if they could be only an hour’s drive instead of three – how they make it in just three, I’ll never know. That is the amount provided by Google.  Google doesn’t take into account the congestion of traffic or detours due to construction.  Apparently neither have they. 

          I wish them well.  Looking forward to having my space again.

Liking Those McDonald Straws

          Before 2020’s pandemic the governor of Oregon put a ban on plastics – namely plastic bags and straws. That year came with the price of five cents per plastic bag (which is still way cheaper than paying sales tax) and asking for straws – many (such as Costco) which offer those crummy paper straws  which ruin the taste of whatever drink I may have ordered.

          A shopper is always asked if he/she would like a bag or bags and will be charged five or ten cents per bag.  Many  stores (including Walmart see here and here) have have done away with plastic bags and may offer alternatives such as reusable (which may be made of 100% plastic?) I would think for less than three dollars.

        The McDonald’s in Myrtle Creek still gives out the fat McDonald’s straw though  these three articles (here, here and here) imply that there has been a change to paper in the UK and possibly California – so why would Myrtle Creek have the privilege of passing out the plastic straw?  Doesn’t matter.  My post is not to fault the McDonald’s or point fingers but to recall a memory about why I love the McDonald’s straw (the big fat plastic ones). I think of my dad whenever I see them

My dad had had several strokes in the last two years of his life.  With each stroke his brain was affected with the lack of controlling his muscles. He had to have assistance with walking, and slowly lost the ability to eat, drink and talk.  We used to buy thick liquids (peach nectar was the thickest we could find at the time) and look for straws that were thick like McDonald’s because those were the best straws.  I was grateful for the times that we were able to obtain extra straws.

Thank you for your fat straws. Good luck with another solution.

How Dare You Call That Bacon!

I don’t mind turkey bacon but Richard dislikes it. And I dislike the thick bacon he buys mostly because it does not taste like bacon. The first thick bacon we tried tasted like ham. If I wanted ham I would add ham not a slice of bacon that tastes like ham. This morning’s bacon was even worse –

 pork chop flavored. Nothing wrong with pork chops I guess – but they do seem dry and lacking in flavor. Bonnie was okay with it. I think she relished the thought that I really didn’t want it. 

 I remember my mom fixing pork chop only one way. She would add potatoes, carrots and cream of mushroom soup. I told Richard that is what we need to do with this sad version of “bacon”.

Birthday WOW (that's MOM spelled upside down)

           I know I make worse of situations inside of my head than how they really are – especially if I haven’t gotten a proper amount of sleep.  I know I shouldn’t be uptight and I know I shouldn’t dwell on what I can’t change – like missing dishes that have made their way out of the kitchen and haven’t been returned.  My imagination runs away with me and I get carried away – which reminds me this skit of Ernie returning a vacuum cleaner. 

        Often when I allow things to get out of hand the real life situation will have the opposite results and I find I have worked myself up for nothing.  Yesterday I had gone to the temple though Satan had done his best to keep me away.

 After the session had ended Richard and I continued to Ashland to collect Jaime to bring her home for the next four days.  She presented me with a cup that has an owl on the side.  She said it was for my birthday (which is today).  After lunch we hit a vintage store where Richard purchased a pin and a cute bag for me as well as a pig bank for himself. 

Before we pulled up to the house Richard stopped by the mailbox.  Inside was a card from Tony and his family.  That was cool.  Receiving the card right before my birthday.

When we arrived at the house the other three were in the room and were waiting for us.  Ally greeted me with “Happy Birthday, Grandma.”

            How did she even know it was my birthday?  Claire had baked brownies which she spread with a peanut butter frosting.  Ally had wanted one but Claire made her wait until we got home.  I hadn’t even noticed the banner hanging over the door.  

As soon as all of us were gathered in the room they presented me with a bag which I had assumed was from all of them, but the card in the bag was from Richard.  I pulled this gift out first and anxiously pulled out more in hopes of finding the other two wise men. 

I found a box of chocolates and a big foot paw (more chocolate) but no more kings.  

I don’t recall ever having received a Christmas ornament on my birthday before.  Before I was able to remove the ornament Richard told me that the other two kings were on each side.  Oh, wow!  What a cool idea.  I love it! 

  

spoiler alert: Christmas card this year has same pic

Claire told me my card and gift were in the kitchen.  Heavy brownies in the form of cupcakes.  Yum.

 Turned out to be a really great day which was totally opposite of what had been running through my head the day prior.  And I'm grateful that I was mistaken with my worked up thoughts.

Today I was presented with more gifts from one of my ministering sisters.  Garden stones, dishtowels. Another surprise.  Wow.  

In addition I have heard from all three of my sibs.  I received Shelly's card earlier this week.  We have emailed back and forth and she left a birthday wish on facebook (along with 25 others) and Steven texted a birthday wish.  Keith and Nat sang to me in voicemail and Tony just called with his troop and sang to me.  Life is good. 

    Our dinner for tonight will be along a Thanksgiving theme. What an awesome birthday 2023!