Flag Day, Mom's Birthday and a Shout out to all the Fathers!!!

It's a beautiful June 14th.  Flag Day.. also my mother's birthday. 

Missing her and wishing her a Happy day. 

 I am so grateful for her loving ways.  She was thoughtful, unselfish and kind

Always putting others before herself.  What a great example for all of us.

She lived a full and happy life.

 I am so blessed to have her for my mom.

I am also blessed to have Jim as the father and grandfather to my children and grandkids. 

 I couldn't find anyone more dedicated or loving to his family. 

 He loves them and wants nothing more than to spend time with them. 

 He has and continues to work hard to serve us.  

He's also the most handsome grampa around!!!

I am amazed at the dads in our family.  

They are totally involved in the raising of their kids.  

are such great fathers.  So grateful for their commitment to their families. 

 They love them and are raising a bunch of great kids!

I was also blessed to have the world's best dad. 

He was so much fun. 

 He taught me so much about enjoying life, overcoming obstacles, and staying positive.

  I think of him everyday.  

Happy Father's Day to all these incredible men!!!

A Letter to my Parents

A letter to my parents,

Well, Mom and Dad..It's been quite a while since you've been with us.  Lots has happened.  You taught us so well by the way you lived.  You were loving, funny and unselfish.  You were devoted to the gospel and to your family.  You made a mark on so many lives.  Mom, you in your quiet, graceful, loving way.  And dad, you as the leader, our funny, positive, full of fun dad.  How were we so blessed to be born to you guys?  Since you've been gone, the children have grown, making lives for themselves.  You saw two of Jamey's boys, but since then he and Becky added two more and convinced them all that baseball and golf were the best ways to occupy their time.  

You would love watching them as they excel in their activities.  They are such good boys.  Tyler finally found his true love.  He and Melanie have two beautiful boys, as beautiful as their mother. Tyler treats her just as you treated mom.  (He was trained well).  Abby and Mike are busy with their two boys..(can you see a pattern here?)  They are a busy happy family.  Abby reminds me so much of both of you.  She is talented like mom, and has the drive of you dad.  What a combination.  Nothing stands in her way.  I am able to be around Dylan, Jake and Sam a lot of the time and love getting to know their personalities, and what makes them happy or sad.  They are amazing children.  Nick is our professor, touching the lives of many young cadets at the air force academy.  Whitney and Jason are the greatest, as they presented us with our only granddaughter, Wren.  How we love and cherish our little beauty.   

Everyone is busy with careers, raising children, and good works.  They are all successful and happy.  Jim, James and his boys have been back to the Masters once.  We go out once a year to watch the boys play baseball and there's nothing better than watching them for two weeks.  We've travelled, we've enjoyed concerts with music that always makes me wish you were there with me, loving the music as I do.  We've made improvements on our home, always grateful for the talent mom past on as I make something out of nothing.  Jim is serving in the Bishopbric right now.  He is so patient and kind with the issues that come before him. We are most happy when surrounded by our kids and grandkids.

Our lives have not always gone as we would want them to.  We've had health issues, retirement before we expected..other problems that get in our way.  But because of the things you taught us we move forward with faith and a knowledge that all will be well.  We are blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren and a knowledge that the gospel is true.  Thank you for leading the way.  I love and miss you every day.  Thank you for being my mom and dad.  love, polly

Happy Birthday Jason!

I'm a day late in wishing my son in law, Jason a Happy Birthday.

  He always seems to be reaching skyward. 

Whether he's climbing mountains or flying. 

 He may fly through the clouds, but our little Wren always brings him back to earth. 

 She certainly has him wrapped around her little finger. 

 Hope you have a great year.  Love you! 

Happy Birthday. 

 Love, polly

Happy Fathers Day!

I have been preparing my primary lesson today. 

 I am teaching the little kids about Superhero's. 

Well, these guys are certainly my Superhero's. 

They are the best at what they do. 

 Just like Superhero's they help us, they care for us and they always save the day! 

 

I am so grateful for these guys, for all they do, especially for their kids!

 

"Any man can be a Father,
but it takes someone special to be a
Dad!"

happy father's day.

Giggs Bagley-Lessons learned from my dad

I've had the flu the last couple of days.  As a result I'm laying around in bed, thinking a lot. 

 Last night I started thinking about dad.  I thought of all the things he taught me. 

He was part of the "greatest generation,"  growing up during the depression. 

He wrote,

"I consider it quite a blessing that we had no money.  We had to scratch.  When I finally got a dress coat, I was out of high school.  We were always in deep trouble with money.  We did any old thing to make ends meet. We picked strawberries, we picked cherries.  We couldn't wait until June and July when the fruit came in.  When we picked it we could get a quarter per case.  One summer we went up there to Mount Olympus and picked worms." 

 He learned  a hard work ethic and sticking together as a family from those early years.  He fought in WWII as a young man. 

I learned from him a deep love of this country.  To never take for granted all the wonderful opportunities and blessings this great nation has to offer. 

After the war he married our mom.

  A woman he cherished throughout his life.

  He was a devoted family man. 

He loved his June and us kids more than anything and gave us everything, not just monetarily. 

He gave us a magical childhood.  We had fun growing up. 

 There was lots of laughter..much joy.

He taught me about persistence. 

One of his favorite quotes was by Calvin Coolidge.

"Persistence

Nothing can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not:   nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not:    Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not:    The world is full of educated derelicts.

 

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

He certainly lived this. 

There were many examples where he taught me this principal.  While he worked as an optometrist, coached, approached any problem, but one in particular comes to mind. 

He always wanted to build a golf course. 

As a young boy, he would caddy for "a dollar a loop,"  at the Salt Lake Country Club, hoping for a dime tip so he could buy a hamburger. 

 When he got older and had some land in Parleys Canyon, he could just see a world class golf course rolling through those hills.

  It couldn't be just any old course, it had to be the best.

  So he just called Arnold Palmer and made it the beautiful world class course that it is today.  Every time I drive up that canyon  and see that golf course I am reminded of the lesson of persistence my dad taught. 

 Also, that one of following a dream. 

 

He certainly followed his dreams. 

Which leads me to another thing I learned from him. 

 Dad became very successful.  He always told me that all the" things" he had were nice and even fun to have, but they were just" things". 

 The trick was to remember that, and to be just as happy if you didn't have those things as you are when you do have them.

He proved this to me, when one day he lost most of what he had.  During that time he became great to me, because he lived what he preached. 

 He was as happy as before. 

 He continued to work, to be joyful, because he had what was of most importance to him. 

He had his wife, his family

 his faith..he could work. 

The challenge was before him, and he was no quitter.

 

I learned faith from him. 

 He had an unwavering faith and was a positive thinker. 

 He knew things would work out, as the scripture says.

 

"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly."

 

D&C 90:24

 

I learned about imperfections from him.  For all that he accomplished, he was not perfect.  No man is.  Jesus Christ is the only person who has ever been perfect on this earth.  But I learned that you can always keep trying, I learned to not let imperfections get in the way, to strive to be better, to learn and to move on striving to be a better more compassionate person. 

 

Mostly I learned from my dad, that family is the most important thing this world has to offer.  For all the trials he overcame, when he lost his June, I think that one was just one that was too big for him, yet he did have his kids and grandkids to surround him with their love and that was the greatest blessing to him.  Because of his love for them, those grandkids circled around him and poured out love unimaginable. 

 

Thank you dad for these and many more valuable life lessons. 

love, polly

 

 

(just a little of Giggs and June's posterity-still having fun and carrying on as they would have us do)

Christmas Memories

After this last week, I've been remembering Christmas's past.  About the second week of December my mother started decking the halls of our home.  Everything was beautiful, warm and welcoming.  My dad's day off was Thursday, and usually on the second Thursday of December I came down with some illness or another, knowing he would be home and usually spend part of the day shopping for my mother.   If I suddenly felt well enough he would take me with him.  I loved going shopping with him for mom. 

 He spoiled her so.

Classy outfits and coats were always on his list.  He loved to see her in red or orange.  I loved a particular store where there were models who were the size of the person being bought for.  They came out wearing this outfit or that, until the perfect one was decided upon.

Many years there was lovely jewelry or a luggage set. 

And always Estee Lauder. 

 Makeup and Fragrance gift baskets were also under the tree. 

When we girls were older we usually got a perfume or something special picked out especially for us by dad. 

With all these seemingly material gifts given, the thing I remember most is the love felt in our home.  My Mom and Dad loved each other and showed us, their children. They cared for us, loved us, made us feel secure and happy.  I am so blessed to have grown up in these circumstances and only hope to pass that great love on to my children and grandchildren.

Veteran's Day

From way back in the beginning...

I am grateful for those who had a vision and a dream of Freedom.

 

For those who battled to keep us together as a nation.

 

 

And through the years kept fighting to keep us free.

 

 

For these soldiers...

 

and these...

to those currently serving.

What a debt of gratitude I owe, as they serve me and my family.
They continue their watch to keep us safe.

Helping preserve this beautiful land.

To the Father's in My Life

It all started years ago, with the example of Leo and Jiggs.  They were the best fathers ever. They taught by how they lived. 

I was fortunate enough to marry a man who is not only good looking, but to him, family is everything.  He would do anything for his children and his grandkids.  They have him tied around their tiny little fingers.  Or in some cases not so tiny anymore.  He taught his children to be hard workers, honest, to have integrity and to love their families. (along with hunting, fishing, golfing and a little baseball.)

Our oldest, James, is the father of four sons.  He spends every spare minute coaching, teaching and loving these boys.  They are growing into great young men. 

I love watching Mike with his boys.  He loves to play with them, teach them their ipad games, take them to Disneyland and the beach.  Jake is a miniature Mike.  They love to be with him all the time.  I admire the way he takes over when Abby leaves town or is busy with work.  He doesn't miss a beat.

Same with Tyler.  These are modern day dads.  Their wives work, and when they're gone, the dad's take over.  Ty is an expert at taking care of Dylan when Melanie is out of town.  I love to see him smile when he's with his little boy. 

Jason's been preparing himself for his role as a dad by being the best uncle ever.  He's known as "Uncle Fun" to our little ones.  I have never seen bigger smiles than when Jason is around.  Little Wren is a lucky little girl.

How grateful I am that Jim leads by his example. He quietly goes about doing things for all of us. He makes our home beautiful, as well as my garden.  He can fix anything and is always willing to do so. He serves his neighbors as well as his family.  Who else would carry my fifty pound suitcase all over England for two weeks and never complain? 
As we get older and the grandchildren come, it is so much fun to watch Jim's love multiply for each new addition. 

How blessed I am for these beautiful five children, for the families they are bringing up.
 For their Father.
 He is a blessing in my life.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

 I am truly blessed to have wonderful Father's in my life.  To have a good dad who is fun and supportive and takes time for you is the greatest. Especially if you are a girl. I loved listening to my dad tell stories of his growing up years, during the depression and then WWII.  He learned so much that he wanted to pass it on to his children.  He took me to basketball games and taught me the game. He taught me to work and to play, how to have fun and how to dream. He was the best dad anyone could ask for.
Most of all - I felt his love
and he taught me to laugh.

 Jim is the father of my five kids. Couldn't ask for better.  He has always been there for them.  Supported them. Never missed a game or any kind of activity they were involved in. Worked hard all his life to support them.  He is an example of honesty, integrity and hard work.  He loves his kids more than anything, and can't get enough of his grandsons.

 We couldn't be happier with our oldest for starting out our baseball team ~ only two more to go~ He is the dad of our first four boys. They are so lucky to have such a great dad.  He teaches them by his quiet example. He is with them always, helping them with their athletic skills, teaching on and off the field.  Lots of life lessons are learned there, and they are learning them as a family with James as their coach.

 Our quiet Mike lights up whenever his two boys run into the room.  They are numbers five and six on our little team.  He loves those boys, is an old softy, who plays legos with them,

 teaches them everything about computers -

Sam's 18 months and knows how to work the IPad better than I do.

Gets them to takes naps, teaches them to ride bikes, jumps with them on their tramp,

and teaches them how to swim.

He's a great dad and we're happy Abby found him to be the dad of our little boys.

Ty finally decided to join the club.  Along came number seven. It is so much fun to watch a son become a dad. To become responsible and loving and sweet to a tiny baby.  Tyler is very much into being a co parent with Melanie, I am very impressed at how he takes care of Dylan.

 Of course he, as all these guys have had good examples.

The best things about these dads is, they are all so hands on.  They take care of their kids right along with the moms, as it should be. These seven little boys are truly blessed to have such dads. 

They are loved and I am grateful for men who love and care for their kids.

Happy Fathers Day!