Froot Loops and Pacifiers

                On Sunday Danny had set up the Monitor so that our Valiant class could watch "No Ordinary Shepard" here.   She passed out Bingo cards and Froot Loops to use as markers.  There were various pictures or words representing shepherds, sheep, the baby Jesus, prayer, love, peace, etc.  that would be mentioned in the video.  All that we had to do was listen and watch in order to mark.

            I smile whenever I see Froot Loops as I think to a time when I was watching my niece who would sometimes be rewarded with Cheerios.  For those of my readers who may not know,  Cheerios is like a staple of LDS parents with tykes.  The Cheerios are mostly for keeping the little ones quiet during the meetings.  Sometimes it works, but not always. 

            I did not have the Cheerios that she may have been used to, but had given her Froot Loops to tie her over.  It appeared that in her mind she was eating the most delicious Cheerios that she had ever tasted.  The actual Cheerios that she was given at Church did not measure up to the cool tasting "Cheerios"  that were in my cupboard.  Truth is, I don't even like Froot Loops.  I suppose they make an okay snack when they are dry.  But I think they are disgusting in milk as they become mushy tasteless circles surrounded by sickenly sweet blue liquid that no tastes like milk.

            I remember attending a baby shower several years ago.  One woman had brought her baby who was walking but still sucking on a pacifier.  One of the favors that each guest had been given were candies (white Lifesaver and a pink jelly bean) made into the shape of a pacifier.  They were cute. 

            I remember the baby taking the real pacifier out of her mouth and inserting the jelly bean.  Her eyes lit up.  Wow!  It was small but definitely the best tasting pacifier that she had ever had in her mouth.  So good in fact, that she wanted to share.  She kept on extending it out so that other people could have a taste.  She didn't use words yet, but I could see it in her eyes, "You've got to try this.  It is so amazing."

            I knew if I posted the bubbled syringe trigger here, I would be able to think of more triggers that make me smile.   

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

          Martin Luther King was born on January 15, but as with so many Federal holidays, his birthday or MLK day is celebrated on the third Monday in January.  

The first year for this nationwide holiday was on January 20, 1986.  I happened to be on my mission at the time, but I do remember receiving a letter from my mother that the holiday had been created after quite an ordeal here. 

          Whenever I think of MLK day, I think of my sister, Kayla, who (according to mom) was ecstatic about having the day off from school as it was her birthday.  Mom said Kayla felt that the holiday was designed especially for her.  Funny.  

My niece, Ellen, thought it was for "milk" day and will celebrate MLK with dairy products here.

          MLK was designed as a day to promote equal rights.  Many have been encouraged to volunteer their services for citizen action here.  How blessed we are to have this reminder as "we all have a dream".

         

My Baby Girl

                I can remember my mom taking pictures - many pictures.  She wasn't much of a photographer.  But she did her best to preserve memories by taking photos. 

Patrick, my cousin Michelle, me and my cousin, Ross

Corey with Grandpa Ralph

many of mom's photos make it seem
like the background was her focus

The painting (or at least parts of it) above
has made it to several photographs

brother Patrick, me, Corey's head, Great Grandma, dad
 behind her, great aunt who recently past holding Kayla

Kayla and Corey at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.
We do not know the people in the background.

I must have picked that up from her and added to it - so I would take pictures of material things as well as people. 

Patrick with his oldest two Ellen and Kimball

I love this picture of Biff reading to Jenna

when Jenna was in 6th grade

Roland at Umpqua River

Riddle Library

graham cracker houses

                After a while my mom no longer took mounds of pictures.  She relied upon me to take the photos - which I did.  Neither of us had ever attempted taking selfies.

Kayla, Anna and my mom

Christmas in July 2009

                When we first got to Oregon, I took hundreds of photos. 

Over the years they have all seemed to blend together.

                 Both Jenna and I had taken pictures to enter into a contest here in town.  The winning photo would be made into a postcard.

I took this one - the boy found a rock we had
left on the trail.  I thought he was cute about
finding his "treasure"

This is the one I selected of the many that Jenna had taken

                Neither of our photos won, but I was later contacted for permission to use in the Myrtle Creek calendar.  Jenna brought home a brochure last night.  The brochure gives a calendar outline of community activities.  On the cover is the picture that she took.  I am so proud!

                Now it's Jenna's turn to hold the camera and take millions of photos - including selfies

and my turn to sit back and let her. 

                 

Good-Bye to my Aunt Gertrude

Aunt Trudy passed away on Monday night. 

Her funeral service is today and

I am unable to attend as the funeral is

in Utah and I am in Oregon. 

My thoughts are with my family today

along with my sweet aunt who lived a long

and beautiful life. I wish I could be there for

all of my family and show my support to a dear

woman whom I truly do love and will miss -

and have missed.

Dementia became a thief in Trudy's life after

our move to Oregon. I was

unable to put in time in helping to

take care of her and Uncle Ted. 

In a way I felt bad that I wasn't

there to participate.  Yet in another way

I was grateful for the excuse to not have to

go through that again.  

Should it rain today (which I am told the

sky has been doing - and is doing here

in Oregon) I hope that my family members

think of the drops as tears of joy at the

reunion that must be taking place.

I had believed that Ted and Trudy would

outlive us all.

Perhaps they already have.

How many of us will live to see

97 or 100 or even older than that.

What a legacy.

Well written and such thoughtful

words on her obituary. 

Thank you to those members who were able

to provide the time and emotions to

care for her in Utah the way

that I could not from Oregon.

I wish I could be there for every one of

them today.  Thank you Ted and Trudy

for your wisdom and your love.

Thank you to my Heavenly Father for

allowing me to feel all of this love.

Love you all!