I am truly so blessed to have good friends in my life. Over the years I have had some of the best people in my life, people that have loved me when I have been pretty unlovable; people who still care about me even after long absences.
About 23 years ago our very good friends, Rod and Joann Taylor moved from Scenic Enoch to Gunnison, Utah. They had been such good friends, helping us become a better "us". They had 2 boys at the time, Jeremy and Eric. Justin is about 2 years older than Jeremy and Eric is a couple of years younger than that, so I guess Justin was about 13, Jeremy 11 and Eric 8 or 9. When the Taylor's moved we were pretty sad, I remember crying in Sacrament Meeting when we sang "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" and being so sad to have them leave.
Over the years they have been blessed to add 2 more boys to their clan; Rick (my Rick's namesake) who is 22 and Dillon who is 19. Jeremy and Eric are both married with families of their own. Jeremy has 3 children and Eric one. All 4 boys have turned out great, very responsible, good and kind.
Last week I got a call from Joann saying that they were going to St. George to see Rick, who's going to Dixie State and they wanted to go to dinner with us on their way. I have seen them a couple of times the past 3-4 years but my Rick hasn't seen them for about 10 years.
They stopped by the house Friday night about 6 and it was as if time had stood still. Where had the years gone? They still look the same to me and we didn't miss a beat talking and getting caught up on the past 23 years. They are still such wonderful friends and we will always so appreciate their guidance and love all those years ago.
We went to dinner at Wingers and visited for another 2 hours before saying good-bye and promising to stay in touch better. I really think we will do that. It's so great to have good friends that leave such an impression on our hearts.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Speaking of Blogs
Idleing away my Sunday (between sessions of General Conference) I've been reading some pretty interesting blogs. Check this one out. It's about customer service, dealing with the public and how they aren't ALWAYS right.
Just like the lady that was upset with the city in February. Seems we "mishandled" the money she paid for the Viet Nam Memorial, IN HONOR OF HER SON. We receipted the money just as she requested on her form, to the Korean War, and when we couldn't find it in the Viet Nam Memorial, she demanded we refund her $150.00. That's right, showed us, our fault SHE's not honoring HER SON. She really taught US a lesson, yep she did. We do weird, unexplainable things, eh?
Just like the lady that was upset with the city in February. Seems we "mishandled" the money she paid for the Viet Nam Memorial, IN HONOR OF HER SON. We receipted the money just as she requested on her form, to the Korean War, and when we couldn't find it in the Viet Nam Memorial, she demanded we refund her $150.00. That's right, showed us, our fault SHE's not honoring HER SON. She really taught US a lesson, yep she did. We do weird, unexplainable things, eh?
The blogosphere
I really need to get a life. At least a blogging life. I love reading a lot of blogs, but have a hard time deciding that I have anything interesting/fun/happy/sad to say.
I get started reading blogs and I could go on all day long. On Friday, Meganola sent me the address to her aunt's blog. Her writing reminds me a little of Debbie's. They both have fun stuff to say and a unique way of saying it, both have a great sense of humor and are very good writers. I always check out the other blogs they follow and have found some really good reading.
Well, after reading Meganola's aunts blog, I checked out her good reading and found this blog. This particular post is about my good friend, Pam, who passed away in January, after a VERY valiant fight against cancer. What an honor for her and her family. I wouldn't have known about this without the blogosphere.
I get started reading blogs and I could go on all day long. On Friday, Meganola sent me the address to her aunt's blog. Her writing reminds me a little of Debbie's. They both have fun stuff to say and a unique way of saying it, both have a great sense of humor and are very good writers. I always check out the other blogs they follow and have found some really good reading.
Well, after reading Meganola's aunts blog, I checked out her good reading and found this blog. This particular post is about my good friend, Pam, who passed away in January, after a VERY valiant fight against cancer. What an honor for her and her family. I wouldn't have known about this without the blogosphere.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com
Aren't we such a cute family? Do you have any idea how hard it was to suck my stomach in that much???
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Moanie Monday
Do you ever have days where you wake up weird? I mean I'm not totally ornery but not happy either. I wonder what the heck I was dreaming last night. I didn't exercise this morning and I don't even care. I'm kind of ticked at everybody. Now understand that I realize nobody has done anything to me this morning, it's my weird mood alone.
It would be a good day to hibernate with a good book and Baxter. Seems like he's the only one I like today, including myself. I'm praying for an intervention so I don't alienate everyone in the office. Not to mention poor Rick.
I'm getting a pedicure at lunch with my little mom, that should help. And if CERTAIN people in the office will stay out of MY office, I think I'll find my way back to sanity before Rick has to deal with me. We don't want a "silence is golden" evening.
That's subject matter for another blog, Hawaii, silence is golden. Will be something to laugh at.
Have a "Meaningful" Monday.
It would be a good day to hibernate with a good book and Baxter. Seems like he's the only one I like today, including myself. I'm praying for an intervention so I don't alienate everyone in the office. Not to mention poor Rick.
I'm getting a pedicure at lunch with my little mom, that should help. And if CERTAIN people in the office will stay out of MY office, I think I'll find my way back to sanity before Rick has to deal with me. We don't want a "silence is golden" evening.
That's subject matter for another blog, Hawaii, silence is golden. Will be something to laugh at.
Have a "Meaningful" Monday.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Happy Life
My childhood was a happy time. We, my 2 brothers and I, were raised on 1150 West in Cedar City, Utah. Our parents were loving and supportive, we didn’t lack for much of anything. That’s not to say we had a lot of money, we were comfortable and had a happy life.
Our street, still today, has big, full trees lining both sides of the street. Most of the neighbors who were there throughout our younger years are still there today. Our mom still lives in the home where we were raised. Our dad passed away almost 22 years ago at the young age of 64. Wow, all three of us are getting close to that.
Growing up on 1150 was quite an experience. All families were somewhere close in age, so there were friends close to our ages to play with. In fact right across the street was the White family. One daughter, Deb, was one year younger than me and we were good friends; she is now married to my cousin. Another White daughter, Barbara, was 3 years older and is now my sister-in-law. There were the Ence girls, the Esplins, Holmes, Sanders, Irons, and I was really lucky to have some very good friends in the Ott girls.
We used to play night games, Simon Says, Hide and Seek, I don’t remember playing kick the can. We would stay out way past dark, feeling and being totally safe. We had enough “mothers” on the street, that our real moms knew where we were all the time.
I was really a wimp, kind of a mama’s girl. I remember sleeping outside with some of the girls on the block. Sometimes we would sleep behind the White house, where there was a big open field. Sometimes we would sleep in the Ence trailer. It didn’t matter where I “planned” to spend the night, I always ended up in my own bed, safe and secure. I would lay awake after everyone else was sleeping and either see big bad things in the field or the trees scraping on the trailer were going to tip us right over. Mom and dad learned to just leave the front door open because I would be home to sleep. Good friends, I don’t remember them ever being mean to me because I was such a baby.
The big field behind the White house is now part in Interstate 15 and a trailer park. My brothers used to build huts in the field, along the ditch bank, using willows. I remember playing in the fields but not actually digging a hut, just using the willows for our shelter. When we were teenagers we went from making huts in the fields to “snipe hunting”. We would take any newcomer to the area out into the field with a paper bag and have them watch for the nearly invisible “snipe”. Now we know they never really existed – or did they?????
Up the street, on the corner, was my very bestest friend, Diane. We hung out together from around the 5th grade clear through high school. We used to play dolls, imagine that, 2 young girls playing dolls. We always had boy friends – another imagine that – and she ALWAYS picked Elvis to be her boyfriend and I was always STUCK with Ricky Nelson. What a bummer. We had “Kitten” dolls, little baby dolls with soft bodies and I remember being mad at her for wetting and curling the hair of my doll and making it all kinky and yucky. Never was the same.
She really was my best friend. We had so many great times together. There were some pretty stupid times as well. I remember when we were in junior high and I was “pumping” her on the handle bars of my bike. She was kind of freaked because I was going fast, she kept asking me to slow down. Being the obnoxious teenager that I was, I just went faster. Finally she realized what I was doing and ask me to go faster, at which point – you guessed it – I slammed on the breaks sending her off the handle bars and onto the roadway, right in front of my bike. Things happened so fast, the next thing I knew I felt a “bump, bump” and realized that I had run right over her. Still cracks me up – nasty aren’t I? Anyway, she survived with just a little road rash, and she still spoke to me. We used to go swimming every day (to see my boyfriend) and her banged up knees kept her away for a while. What a brat I was! She is still a very good friend. We don't see each other much at all. She's in California, I think good thoughts, but don't dial like I should.
There are so many great memories from my childhood. Amazing parents, brothers that I truly love, respect and look up to, especially today. The feeling of love that abounded in our home was the best ever.
Our street, still today, has big, full trees lining both sides of the street. Most of the neighbors who were there throughout our younger years are still there today. Our mom still lives in the home where we were raised. Our dad passed away almost 22 years ago at the young age of 64. Wow, all three of us are getting close to that.
Growing up on 1150 was quite an experience. All families were somewhere close in age, so there were friends close to our ages to play with. In fact right across the street was the White family. One daughter, Deb, was one year younger than me and we were good friends; she is now married to my cousin. Another White daughter, Barbara, was 3 years older and is now my sister-in-law. There were the Ence girls, the Esplins, Holmes, Sanders, Irons, and I was really lucky to have some very good friends in the Ott girls.
We used to play night games, Simon Says, Hide and Seek, I don’t remember playing kick the can. We would stay out way past dark, feeling and being totally safe. We had enough “mothers” on the street, that our real moms knew where we were all the time.
I was really a wimp, kind of a mama’s girl. I remember sleeping outside with some of the girls on the block. Sometimes we would sleep behind the White house, where there was a big open field. Sometimes we would sleep in the Ence trailer. It didn’t matter where I “planned” to spend the night, I always ended up in my own bed, safe and secure. I would lay awake after everyone else was sleeping and either see big bad things in the field or the trees scraping on the trailer were going to tip us right over. Mom and dad learned to just leave the front door open because I would be home to sleep. Good friends, I don’t remember them ever being mean to me because I was such a baby.
The big field behind the White house is now part in Interstate 15 and a trailer park. My brothers used to build huts in the field, along the ditch bank, using willows. I remember playing in the fields but not actually digging a hut, just using the willows for our shelter. When we were teenagers we went from making huts in the fields to “snipe hunting”. We would take any newcomer to the area out into the field with a paper bag and have them watch for the nearly invisible “snipe”. Now we know they never really existed – or did they?????
Up the street, on the corner, was my very bestest friend, Diane. We hung out together from around the 5th grade clear through high school. We used to play dolls, imagine that, 2 young girls playing dolls. We always had boy friends – another imagine that – and she ALWAYS picked Elvis to be her boyfriend and I was always STUCK with Ricky Nelson. What a bummer. We had “Kitten” dolls, little baby dolls with soft bodies and I remember being mad at her for wetting and curling the hair of my doll and making it all kinky and yucky. Never was the same.
She really was my best friend. We had so many great times together. There were some pretty stupid times as well. I remember when we were in junior high and I was “pumping” her on the handle bars of my bike. She was kind of freaked because I was going fast, she kept asking me to slow down. Being the obnoxious teenager that I was, I just went faster. Finally she realized what I was doing and ask me to go faster, at which point – you guessed it – I slammed on the breaks sending her off the handle bars and onto the roadway, right in front of my bike. Things happened so fast, the next thing I knew I felt a “bump, bump” and realized that I had run right over her. Still cracks me up – nasty aren’t I? Anyway, she survived with just a little road rash, and she still spoke to me. We used to go swimming every day (to see my boyfriend) and her banged up knees kept her away for a while. What a brat I was! She is still a very good friend. We don't see each other much at all. She's in California, I think good thoughts, but don't dial like I should.
There are so many great memories from my childhood. Amazing parents, brothers that I truly love, respect and look up to, especially today. The feeling of love that abounded in our home was the best ever.
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