Aging- A Glorious Secret

"There's this youth culture...it really discards people once they reach a certain age.  I actually think that people are so powerful and interesting - women, especially - when they are older.  We've got so much to say, but popular culture is so reductive that we just talk about whether we've got wrinkles, or whether we've put on weight or lost weight, or whether we've changed our hairstyle.  I just find that shallow."  ~Annie Lennox

Not so in this neighborhood where I live surrounded by so many incredibly elegant, talented women. They are so beautiful in so many different ways.  It is because of how they have lived and what they have lived through.  Their beauty radiates through their eyes and in their smiles.  They have accumulated wisdom that only life can give you.  I find great comfort being around these lovely women.  

I have been walking in the early mornings with a few of these 'girls'.  

January can be cold when you live so close to the mountains, but we get up early and get ourselves moving!  One of our group has had a stroke, two have pacemakers, one of those nearly died before she got hers, and I couldn't breathe for three years.  

We have always cared for each other during those times, and also during emotional upsets.  

And so we marvel that we are out walking at all! 

 We notice the blue sky, the sun when it comes out from behind the mountains. 

 We notice every beautiful thing as we walk, because we have lived and we are so grateful for each other, for our surroundings and for the fact that we are actually walking!  Oh, what a wonderful world.  How much better to be on this end of things. To know what we know. 

 It's almost like having a glorious secret. We'd like to share it with our younger sisters, friends, daughters... but we can't.  

For they must live it. 

 Then they will know.

  "Growing old is a mandatory process. For women, for a period of time, we might even resist aging as we try our hardest to fight off wrinkles and hang on to the physical beauty of our faces.  Yet, getting old is a natural process where things are slowing down, and you'll begin to see that the sparkle in your heart and the twinkle in your eyes make you beautiful in a way that's not achievable in youth. 'Age' is the acceptance of a term of years.  But maturity is the glory of years."

Thanksgiving Point, Pictures and grandkids

Had a lovely Friday with Abby, Jake and Sam at Thanksgiving Point.

 They went down for some pictures and I decided to take a few of my own.  

The flowers are beautiful down there right now!

So were the kids!!!

I couldn't get enough of their cute smiles. 

 They cooperated for just about an hour.

  And when they were finished there was....

GREAT JOY!!!!

"Grandchildren, Sunshine to my Soul"

I was blessed with a heritage that continues to guide even as I grow older. 

 I am a grandmother now, and each day I think of my grandparents and the influence they had on me.  I loved being around them. 

 They taught me by their example.  

They were hard workers, they were funny, they were gardeners, they loved their families.  

They loved the gospel and taught me to love it too.

Nothing made my grandparents happier than when their grandchildren were around. 

We played in the orchard and among their flowers. 

 We sang and we were loved.  

We were taught values and what was right and wrong and why our pioneer ancestors came across the plains.

  We knew were we came from.

My parents continued that tradition. 

Showering great amounts of love onto their grandchildren. 

 They loved being with them.

 Showed them how to work how to play and enjoy life. 

 They too had strong testimonies that carried them through happy and sad times. 

 They would be proud of their posterity.

These are my darlings. 

 I try to be the grandmother like those who preceded me.  

It's a different world.  

Things happen so quickly. 

 I love these grandchildren so much and am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives. 

 I hope I can influence them for good as my grandparents did. 

 The most important thing is to love them.  

That part I have down!!

"Grandchildren..Sunshine to my soul"

Visiting the PA DeSpain Gang

 We've had a great time here in Philadelphia.

Becky and I hit the pavement, doing some serious shopping,
while the guys went golfing.

 We've been able to watch number 10 (Hogan) play some baseball.

 We've seen beautiful gardens

We've strolled through history.

The best is spending time with these guys.  Watching them as they go through their everyday lives.  It's so much fun seeing them come and go.  Love being with the eastern despain gang.  Sorry that our time with them is coming to an end.

I Love being a Mom

I love being a Mom. 

 How could a mother be so blessed to be given the opportunity to have such great kids. 

 Having children can be a difficult, exhausting job, but it is also the most noble and grand adventure that a woman can ask for.

  I chose to have five children. 

 I have been blessed over and over again with the birth and life of each child.  

What I have done for them is nothing  compared to what they have given me.  

I always felt it was important to give my kids a feeling of security and warmth as they moved forward in their lives. 

 I had that growing up and I wanted them to have that same sort of childhood.  

My thoughts wander to summer time.  

(The best time to make memories)  

We spent many longs days at the racquet club.  Oh, those lazy fun days when we'd pack up a lunch and a few snacks and be gone for hours.  

Swimming, getting their little bodies warm by laying on the hot cement, that creamy frozen yogart. 

 Packing up to go home just in time for little league or a game of kick the can.  

I've never done anything that noteworthy, I've never been in the limelight.  

But I have rocked and sung to my children. 

 I have taken them swimming, played with them and watched them grow in to adulthood, 

cheered and encouraged them.

  I have loved them.  

I have been a mom. 

 I would rather sing and tell stories to my kids and grandkids than to any audience in the world. 

 When I feel my little grandson's arms wrap around my neck, 

when they cuddle in my lap and entertwine their little fingers in mine and say "hold me grama polly", I think my decision all those years ago.

 That of being a mother.

 It  may have been the hardest, most exhausting, most heartbreaking, ..most rewarding experience. 

 I chose wisely.

Easter Egg Hunt, Darling Grandchildren..Family..I am a Blessed Woman

What a wonderful Easter!  And so fun to celebrate Jim's birthday on this special day.  Nothing better than to have these cute kids over for the annual Easter Egg hunt.  Just wish we could have the other half..Well later on in the summer.

We watched the kids hunt for eggs, play and have fun.  We can't get enough of our new little addition.  We are so grateful for all of these precious grandchildren.

And of course it wouldn't be a summer gathering without a little baseball.  Hey, PA Gang, we need a little coaching here.  

What a lovely Day.

Happy Birthday Hogan

This good looking young man is my grandson, Hogan. 

 He turned 13 yesterday! 

 He loves all sports, but baseball is the one he loves the most. 

We love to go back east and watch him play along with his brothers each spring. 

He's got what I like to call his Grandma DeSpain's

 "twinkling brown eyes." 

 Whenever she smiled her face lit up and her eyes twinkled.  

There are a few of her kids, grandkids and greatgrandkids who have that same look. 

 Hogan has it! 

Happy belated birthday Hogan. 

love you.. grama polly

Comings and Goings in February..Sunbeams, Grandkids, Birthdays, Arnold Friberg

It's almost the middle of February and the days never seem to slow down.  

I teach the Sunbeams in Primary. 

 Last year's class was a mix of two boys and three quiet little girls. 

 This year there are six little boys.  Such cute little boys, but full of it as all boys that age are!

I am constantly trying to think of new and creative ways to get their attention.

  Am so grateful for the internet and all the great ideas people are willing to share. 

I am also grateful for a team teacher who helps as we try to teach these little boys.

This last week the lesson was how Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. 

 What could be a more perfect lesson the week before valentines?  

I based a lot of the lesson on the song "My Heavenly Father loves Me." 

 They went on a hunt trying to find the pictures that went along and then they were able to put them in their heart envelope. 

 Hopefully they will remember they are loved.

Days are never dull when spent with Jake, Sam and Dylan. 

They keep me moving!

I love getting up to see Whitney and Wren for a little shopping at City Creek.  

We celebrated Melanie's birthday last week with Whitney's coming up!

Am missing this family, and hoping the snow stops back east soon.  

Otherwise we may not see them this summer as they will be in school til August with all the snow days they've taken. 

 Hopefully

 "The Sun will Come out Tomorrow!"

The perks of retirement!  At 3:00 pm today,

 Jim came downstairs and said "lets go see the Arnold Friberg exhibit!" 

 We jumped in the car and went to Gateway and totally enjoyed his beautiful paintings. 

 He painted in watercolor, oils, pencil sketches..everything.  There were paintings of his I had never seen before.  Loved to see the ones he did as young as seven!

  I loved reading the history behind his work.  

What a gifted artist.  

So there's our mid winter wrap up!  Have a Happy Week.

Pause..and be Happy

I wear a small necklace with the word "psala" engraved on it.

 In Hebrew it means "to pause."  I look at it often as I put it around my neck. 

 It reminds me as I go about my daily activities to stop and recognize what I am grateful for, to be more aware of the beauty  around me.  

In the summer, as I water my flowers it reminds me to stop and look at each one and be grateful for its different shape, color and height. 

 I think how each bloom adds to the beauty of my garden.  

The word reminds me to see the differences in my grandson's as I spend my days with them,

 or the little boys that I teach in my sunbeam class. 

 They all have unique personalities, with different things they want heard. 

 Everything these kids say makes me laugh,

and there might come a day when they will find their friends more interesting than their old grama.  

So I soak everything they have to say and do up.  

It is nice to "pause" and be grateful for these quieter, sweeter days.  

It's been cold and snowing quite a bit. 

 I so want to lay in the sun and feel its warmth on my skin,

yet the snow brings a greener garden and sweet smelling grass. 

 So when I spend my days in the pursuit of happiness it is good to just stop pursuing, 

to pause and just be happy.

DeSpain Family 2013 What a Wonderful World

To my family. Thanks for a wonderful year.  You have Blessed my life.
Love, your mom and grama

Winter Days, Grandkids, Fun

Had an extra fun day with these kids. 

They went sleigh riding in our backyard...

then inside to decorate a gingerbread house,

run around and be crazy and have hot chocolate and toast.

Dreams of having a little nap! 

 Not happening with this bunch. 

 (I'll have one later..the minute they leave). 

 

Happy Birthday Taylor

Can you believe that this handsome young man is my oldest grandson?!?

  He turns 17 tomorrow. 

 He's  smart, he's athletic, he's good, just the right kind of kid to head up all the boys that follow him in our family. 

 (A grama  could brag, but I'm just telling the truth, of course!)  

 What a great day that was all those years ago when Taylor arrived. 

 It's been nothing but fun ever since. 

 Happy Birthday Taylor. 

 Love you tons, 

 Grama Polly

A Quiet Moment by my Tree- Merry Christmas

After a fun day with Dylan I sat down and enjoyed a quiet moment by my tree.

  It's a lovely time of year.

  Merry Christmas.

Christmas Decorations, Parties and Sam's Birthday

It's only December 4th, and already the month is moving along with activities.

  Got the house decorated over the weekend.
 Jim got the lights up just before the big snow hit,
 which spread the holiday spirit..inside and out.

Got the trees decorated.  Love getting out all the old decorations. 

They remind me of Christmas's past. 

 Love our Golf Club, my crystals I purchased from Harrods when I visited with Nick in London. 

 The old sleds mom had painted for each of the kids,

 ornaments purchased from places we have visited

and my very special Bonnie Blue Butler, given to me and signed by the real Bonnie Blue!

  What treasures!

Put my beautiful Nativity on the Mantle.

  I love the simplicity of this nativity and love that my family gave it to me. 

All ready had a party. 

We had Jim's family over for dinner last night.  It was fun to get together with Tam, Kevin, Kathy and Lanny.  We visited and enjoyed great food.

  Love seeing family over the holidays.

But the most important day so far was yesterday!

  My little Sam turned four years old! 

 He couldn't wait until it was his birthday. 

He is the most fun child.  So expressive.  So determine, so ACTIVE!!! 

 I love his smile, the way he talks, his hugs. 

Today he asked me if I would stay even when his mom got home. 

 He put his little arms around my neck and had tears in his eyes and said please stay grama, please. 

 I almost did..almost. 

 I love you Sam.  Have a happy year. 

You are my sunshine!

love, grama

So goes the first week of December.

A Tuesday With Wren

I went up to see Whitney and Wren today.

  Had a good time seeing them, watching Wren play,

walking and having lunch at City Creek.

Took this picture of the Temple as we walked by. 

 

What a lovely Tuesday.

"Why God Made Little Boys" And Adding Another to Our Gang

"Why God Made Little Boys"

 

God made the world out of His dreams

Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,

Prairies and plans and wooded land,

Then paused and thought "I need someone to stand

On top of mountains, to conquer the seas,

Explore the plains and climb the trees.

Someone to start out small and to grow,

Sturdy, strong as a tree.."  And so,

He created boys, full of spirit and fun,

To explore and conquer, to romp and run.

With dirty faces and banged up chins,

With courageous hearts and boyish grins.

When He had completed the task He'd begun

He surely said "A job well done."

 

~Author Unknown

 

 

We've got a houseful of boys in our family. 

They love to climb, explore..they are full of spirit and fun.

They do stand tall, are courageous and I love their boyish grins.

 

We are about to add another boy to this group.  Tyler and Melanie told us this week that Dylan is having a little brother.  He will be well loved by this group.

 

And so.. our beautiful Wren..

remains our little princess.

loved and taken care of by her army of cousins.

 

 

 

God made the world with towering trees,

Majestic mountains and restless seas.

Then paused and said, "it needs one more thing..

Someone to laugh and dance and sing.

To walk in the wood and gather flowers..

To commune with nature in quiet hours."

So God made little girls

With laughing eyes and bouncing curls,

With joyful hearts and infectious smiles,

Enchanting ways and feminine wiles.

And when He'd completed the task He'd begun.

He was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.

For the world, when seen through little girl's eyes

Greatly resembled Paradise.

 

~Author Unknown

Being a Grandmother, Autumn Days, Grandkids

"I loved their home.  Everything smelled older, worn but safe; the food aroma had baked itself into the furniture." 

 

~Susan Strasberg

 

This is how I felt about my grandparents and their homes. 

 Both sets of grandparents lived close by and I visited them often. 

 I loved the feeling I had as I entered their home.  The homes were old and worn,

 but I felt safe and secure there. 

There were delicious smells and certain objects that stand out in my mind. 

 My Grandma Lundgren's old stove and her black phone in the hallway. 

I loved her big front yard with the roses that ran along the sides.

  Grandma Bagley's home had an old hand washing machine in the basement and a laundry shoot.  They had a huge garden and a fish pond. 

 

I am a different kind of grandmother.  I tend three of my grandchildren on a regular basis. 

 I sometimes worry that they will think of me as a babysitter rather than a grama,

 so I try hard to have fun, rather than discipline. 

 Plenty of hugs and loves, but I want them to learn from me as well. 

When we pick up Jake from school, Sam always points out the Temple, so whenever he sees it we start singing

"I love to see the Temple" 

 when he can't see it we stop..then when he sees it again, we start up again. 

 

Yesterday it was Veterans Day. 

 There were lots of flags waving as we drove along.  I explained to my young audience that their great grandfather had fought in a war to keep them free.

 Sam's reaction to this was

 "You've got to be kidding me!!!" 

 I said

"NO, I am not kidding!!!"  

 I told them, " That's why the flags were waving"

so, they started counting the flags. 

 

When we got home Mike had raked up a lovely pile of leaves..

he should have put them in bags and carted them away, because we had a lesson on how the leaves fall during the autumn..

 

Jake said, as he usually does 

"It's a beautiful fall day!"

 

And then the leaves got spread all over the yard!

 

Sam and Dylan love jumping in the leaves!!!

Wren came over..she wasn't so sure.

Jake likes the leaves,

 but would rather climb a tree.

 

 

So whatever kind of grandmother I am, my relationship with all of them is simple. 

 I don't know what they will remember about me, but I will remember days like these. 

The beauty of an autumn day.  Their smiling faces as they play and ask questions, and learn, their arms around my neck,

 and that I love them. 

Happy Birthday Dylan

Dylan turns three years old today! 

What a fun little boy he is. 

He loves Cars and trucks, he loves to climb, run, ride horses,

and play with his cousins. 

He's got the best smile and laugh. 

Had the best time today watching him drive his new tractor around down at the farm! 

 Sure love you Dylan. 

Have a Happy Day. 

love, grama

The DeSpain Gang's Halloween Party

We invited some kids over for a Halloween Party. 

Before we knew it there was a Ninja, Superman, Dash and a little Indian in our pumpkin Patch! 

 They were all looking for just the right pumpkin to carve!

It was the perfect evening to sit around a fire and roast hotdogs.

Then onto carving our pumpkins! 

What a great evening...

wish the eastern gang could have found some brooms to fly out and be with us! 

 Missed you all.

Happy Birthday Jake!

Happy Birthday to Jake!  

 Jake is my helper as I spend my days tending three busy boys. 

We have a saying.  " couldn't do it without you."  I say it to him constantly throughout the day. 

He says it to me with a wink!

 I love his beautiful smile, his thoughtful ways as he plays with his younger brother and cousins. 

 He loves to figure things out, loves to build, play minecraft, and swims like a fish. 

He has a great imagination.

  Can't believe you're six years old! 

Have a happy day. 

 love you tons. 

Grama Polly