It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

I can't describe how great it is to wake up and feel so good!!!!!!!!!!! The small things seem like so much fun. I'm cleaning out drawers and cupboards, doesn't that sound fun? I walked to two of my neighbors homes without huffing and puffing. I drove to Draper and on the way home looking up at the mountains, made me greatful for living so close to them. Bad health is a great blessing (providing you don't die of the bad health). It wakes you up to all the beauty around you and feels you with gratitude for the family, friends and neighbors who have suffered right along with you. I have always been a person who felt gratitude and even kept a gratitude journal. But now my gratitude list is long and takes me quite awhile to write each day. You are all part of my gratitude journal and I love you all.

Becky's Birthday!!!!

On October 9th it will be Becky's birthday. We are all so glad she is in our family and the mother of the 4 most beautiful boys in the whole world. We hope that you have a great day! Becky is one of those mothers who loves what she is doing..she knows the importance of bringing up kids these days and she does the bringing up to perfection. Whatever Becky decides to do, she will do it. She is very self motivated and seems to me like she has boundless energy. If she decides to become a runner, she runs. If she decides to bike, she bikes. She loves to play games and is always good at whatever game she is playing. I will always be grateful for that day that Jamey had been playing golf with mom and dad and they stopped at Cowboy Grub for dinner. Becky had worked there for a long time...Jamey even took her out before his mission. She keeps her kids busy, a talent that will go a long way when they get older. Because they aren't just busy, they are having fun being busy. They have about 30 cousins on the Sieverts side of the family and I can picture it being like Grama Lundgren's on a Sunday afternoon...with all the kids running and playing and the adults enjoying each other's company as they watch their kids. Becky has 8 sisters if you count the in-laws. She is lucky to have that many girlfriends. She is the Scout leader in her ward in Pennsylvania and with her group of boys, she will probably enjoy that calling for many years. She has a great sense of humor, she loves my son and her boys...she makes sure they go to church and learn about the Savior's love for all of us. I couldn't ask for a better daughter in law. Jim and I have said many times that we would like to clone Becky for Tyler and Nick..But I'm sure that some day they will be as lucky as Jamey is. We all wish you a Happy Birthday..Your gift will be there soon, because for some reason it got mailed back to me... You are the best daughter in law that we could ask for and we are grateful that James refound you after his mission and grateful that you had those cute boys. They are perfect in their grama's & grampa's eyes. Have a great day and year. We love you lots!!! Love, Jim and Paula

Remembering Grama Lundgren

Grama Lundgren was the sweetest grama in the whole world. She left me the most precious gift I could ever get. Letters and writings about her grandchildren and her thoughts on world events. I love them, they are in her handwriting. They are like little messages from the past, but remind me how some things just don't change. She made a scrapbook for me when I was little and it is very ragged, but I keep it safe and bring it out sometimes so I can visit with Grama just for a little while. Here are some of her writings. "We were to dinner on Father's Day 1956 at June and Gerald's. Marty, Tommy and Paula put on a show. It beat all the television shows we ever could see. Marty takes dancing lessons so she of course was the star." Another entry, "Paula's sixth birthday was a lovely day. I had just gotten home from the hospital. The RS President and her counselors were visiting me when in came two of the most lovely little girls. Paula had a pretty green silk formal on. She had a necklace, a ribbon with a big card-board six hanging on it. Jolyn was dressed up too. They both had their pretty blue Easter Jackets, They looked so sweet and I was so proud of them." One more entry " Feb 10, 1956.. One of those wonderful (quiet) days when the three little Indian Bagley's were here. If you have gotten into a rut and the house seems a morgue, just have these little kiddies over and you come to life at once. Marty and I made valentines. It's fun to live the old days over again. After Tommie had had his rough and tumble till we forgot about his nap, he settled down to the TV Paula had a lot of phoning to catch up on, so for about an hour, she sat by the phone pretending she was phoning. She chatted and chatted. If any one tried to disturb her, she gave them a look that meant "Don't bother me now, can't you see I'm busy" One night the whole family came in with hats of many lands. Jiggs wore a scotch hat, Marty and Tommy had Mexican hats, June had Jigg's straw hat, but Paula would have none of such foolishness. She was prim in her best bonnet. What a life and what would we old foggys do if we didn't have these livewires around. Mr. Bageley (she really spelled it like that) was counting on Paula's fingers how many days till their vacation time came. He counted her thumb in. She said, "my thumb ain't a day". One night Paula decided she wanted a new bed. She got her pillow and blanket and made a bed on the floor. That didn't suit her so she made her bed in a long drawer below the closet in the hall. There she fell to sleep. During the night she stirred and her Daddy thinking she was awake, got up..there she was still asleep with her legs hanging over the drawer. What a fine picture it was. Gerald put her in her bed. Next morning she was mad as could be because someone had moved her out of her drawer bed. At one point Grama writes " June can see herself growing up if she wants to". That's enough for now, but reading this reassures me that life doesn't change that much..We still feel the same way about our families, our kids, sisters and brothers and our grandchildren that grama Lundgren did. It is that part of life I like to think about. To know those wonderful people before us, loved us just like we love ours. In the very beginning of the scrapbook Grama write's words to live by: "You can't describe love; you can't define it. Only it goes with you all your life. I think that love is more like a light that you carry. At first childish happiness keeps it lighted and after that romance. Then motherhood lights it and then duty, and maybe after that sorrow. You wouldn't think that sorrow could be a light would you dear? But it can. And then after that service lights it. Yes, I think that is what love is to a woman. A lantern in her hand." She wrote this quote down when I was very little. It is from the book "A lantern in her hand". Funny that years later that book would become one of my favorites..it's where I got the name Abby from.

Happy Birthday to Mike!

Today is Mike's birthday. He has been married to Abby for a little over 6 years. I would like to tell him how greatful I am that he took Abby on. (Not an easy task) and being with you, she has blossomed and grown and turned into a beautiful mother to be. I think Abby was looking for you all her life and when she found you, you didn't have a chance. You also fit into our family perfectly. You are best friends with Jamey and when the 4 little DeSpain boys come to town, they want to see you fast! They always say "Where's Mike"? As soon as they come in the door. (I think they think you live with us). I still want to see you play dance dance revolution with them. You play golf, which is very important for the men in this family, you love sports. You are a perfectionist in everything you do. Your house and yard show how you and Abby work together so well to create a beautiful home. I can't wait to see Abby and baby Jake together, but for some strange reason I am most excited to see you with that new baby! Your life will never be the same! Thanks for whisking Abby off to Hawaii (I've almost forgiven you) and making my daughter happier than she has ever been. You are a great son-in-law, and Jim and I love you. Happy Birthday.....

Gratitude

I was looking at my journal from last year at this time. One of the things that pops up regularly is that I love my yard. An entry last fall says "I looked outside in my backyard this morning and marvelled at all the beautiful colors...red, gold, yellow, orange, purple and green all wound around each other like ribbons running through each leaf. I thought of all the time, hard work and money I put into planting flowers last spring, and don't get me wrong because I love the selecting process of which flowers would look good and where to plant them. I even love the planting and watering and then sitting outside and enjoying the beauty in the summer. But I couldn't help but think that now that it is fall, nature takes over and the beauty and color is there in even brighter glory than anything I could produce myself. Of course Heavenly Father know what He is doing as master gardner, He created this world, so everything He does is perfect. He know what looks beautiful." I read or see on the news almost daily all of the horrible things happening somewhere, but even with all the heartache, emotional and physical illness and all kinds of other strange goings on, there is still so much of Heaven everywhere. The contrast for me is so strong, beacause when I get down or falter or go back a step or two, what keeps me going is the army that Heavenly Father chose to bless me with. He didn't just send a few people to help, he called out the troops and those troops include all those that I live near and all my family members. My neighborhood is like a little bit of heaven right in the middle of a world in crisis. Here we have some peace. We all have problems, but we take care of each other. I found a quote in a notebook of mom's that said "The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose." That is just a little of my gratitude journal from last year. Greater things are about to happen. Feeling well, looking forward to Abby and Mike's new little boy, seeing the other little boys during Thanksgiving, watching Whitney and Abby create beautiful handcrafted items. Being able to watch Luke play soccer on the computer, going to a show and dinner with Jim. Hearing stories of Nick's teaching experiences (they are lucky students) Seeing and hearing from James, Becky and Tyler now and then. They are all busy doing great things. Being greatful is good for the soul. You all have been giving me roses for the past few years, so your hands must smell wonderful.

Sunday School Lesson

I am suppose to be preparing my SS lesson, but I got carried away into blogworld. I was hoping I would get some wonderful ideas for my lesson by reading about you. The lesson is on gifts of the spirit. And guess what???? I did get some ideas from you. The lesson talks about taking the wrong path instead of being like a train that vears off in the wrong direction. I read about 5 general authority talks on the subject, before I switched to the blog. As I read through each of your comments I realized that we have been given a great gift. It is our family and friends and even though some of us go off for awhile we get back on the right track. We have fun together. The second generation girls are all talented and get together and are happy when fun events happen to each other, and sad if something goes wrong. I have been given many gifts of the spirit this last year and a half..benefitting from your calls, prayers, your concern and love. I could (and did go off the deep end sometimes), but because of you I hung on and feel a great peacefullness that I will be well and be able to join in more enthusiastically. I love you all and am so glad we keep in contact with this great new invention called THE BLOGGING WORLD!!!!!!! It is so fun to see what you are doing. Have a Good Sunday..

I love my Home

I'm rereading a book I read as a little girl. Mom gave it to me in 1966, 41 years ago!! I've always loved it because it was about a mom who expressed her joys, sorrows, worries, happiness. She recognized the value of giving children a good start in life. Here is a quote from the book that I read yesterday. She's getting a little older and her children are trying to get her to move to a smaller place. This is what she thought of their suggestions. "Everything looked familiar,-friendly. There would never be another real home for her. Home was something besides so much lumber and plaster. You built your thoughts into the frame work. You planted a little of your heart with the trees and the shrubbery. It was the only old home the children had ever known. There ought to be a central place, to which they could always bring their joys and sorrows, - an old familiar place for them to return to on Sundays and Christmases. An old home ought always to stand like a mother with open arms. It ought to be here waiting for the children to come to it, like homing pigeons." As she looked beyond the poplars, stared for a moment beyond the Lombardy poplars into the deepening prairie twilight. No, she said quietly, you wouldn't understand. It won't be lonely here." I loved this passage because it is how I feel about my home. It is not a big house, There are many things that need fixing and updating, but I love to walk around the rooms and the yard. I do love to travel and see new things, but if I can't, I can vacation in my own backyard, laying on a lounge chair. I am grateful for these simple pleasures.

Happy Birthday to Mod!

What would I ever do without my sister Marty? She has been with me since the beginning. I remember going into her room downstairs in our Twinview house..for some reason this seemed special. Marty taught me all about style..when we got older we would have terrible fights over her clothes. She always had the greatest clothes and when she left for school I would go and take something out of her closet, so I could be as cute as her..I always got caught, but it was worth it. I think we really got close when Marty went to BYU. I remember staying there with her for a weekend and being so excited to go to Provo to stay with my sister. Later, both young married moms, we would talk on the phone for hours. It was contact from the outside world for us as we stayed in and took care of our babies. Her kids were mine and mine were hers as we traded tending all the time. I learned many of my mothering skills from Marty. She is always there at the end of the phone line, with cheerful advice, loving concern and lots of laughter. I'm grateful we have been together all this time. Nothing replaces sisters. I love you and have a great year!

The Perfect Day

Yesterday was one of those days you have to put in your memory as "perfect days". Started out remembering Ty's birthday..then got ready for a lunch with Marty,Tom, Julie, and Jo. We had a nice long lunch, good food and lots of talking about our families..Marty brought copies of her fun Oma newsletter and copies of the Midway histories. Always fun to be all together and catch up. Then I met up with my golfing (former, hopefully to resume next summer) friends as they were clearing out their family home, because of parents passing away...they have been working for the past 6 months to get the house ready to sell. I walked in..nothing was out of place, the fride fully stocked and they were out on the porch drinking cokes and laughing and remembering. Their whole lives had been spent coming and going from that house. The house will probably be torn down, because it will be sold as commercial property...but those fun family memories that all families have can never be torn down..they just get carried to different places with new faces that add to the mix. Finally at the end of the day Abby, Mike, Whitney, Jason, Nick, Jim and I came together to celebrate Ty's birthday. (he came too) We had pizza and cake, admired Jason and Whitney's new short haircuts (courtesy of Megan Bagley) and watched Abby's stomach jump around. Very relaxed and fun. We missed the PA DeSpain gang..but look forward to seeing them around Thanksgiving! I felt tired at the end of the day. I'm doing what I'm calling "A leap of faith" (got the idea from Taylor, who continually is taking leaps of faith on the baseball field) Prednizone every other day..A whole week! Got a cold, conquered it! Also, heard that Marie might be joining the blogging world soon, so welcome, hope to hear from you soon.

Happy Birthday to Tyler

What better way to come out of my sabbatical, than to talk about Tyler..Thursday August 30th, he will be 33!!!!! Can't believe it! It has been such an interesting and fun experience to watch Tyler, because he has always had that easy going personality. He's the only child that I didn't experience morning sickness..He was born in one hour...He slept when he was suppose to almost from the beginning..for the first 6 months he didn't do much moving around. I had been in a car crash before I knew I was pregnant and we were getting a little worried that the medicine given me, might have affected Tyler, but that turned out to be false..I learned that he just does things in his own time, and he usually gets it right. He was a fun little kid, with just a few weird hangups. When he was around six he had to play in a piano recital, and then Jim was going to take him to a jazz game. I guess I didn't prepare him properly, because he got to the library where the recital was held and looked at how many people were there. All the piano students were sitting in a row in front. Tyler was there one minute and then I looked up and he was gone! I found him crawling under my chair, with his hands around his throat, like he was having some sort of seizure or something..Jim said if he didn't get up there and play he couldn't go to the jazz game. It still took Ty about 20 minutes to get up the nerve. Luckily his teacher was a very easy going kind woman who said whenever he decides he can come up and play. When he decided he jumped up, went and played his piece and was out of there. Tyler continued to be shy as he grew. When he was a scout and they had a joint activity I had to bribe him to do square dancing. He was my partner and on one turn when I faced back to my partner..he had disappeared! He ran home! One place he wasn't shy was on any kind of sports event. He knew from a very young age how to think while playing any sport. He always knew what the other guys were going to do. I loved watching Tyler play basketball in High School..sometimes when they were in timeout and getting the game plan, he'd look up and wink at me..I remember yelling "get the ball". He said to me later..."Mom, what do you think I am trying to do." I quit yelling after that. Ty loved being with Grampa Jiggs. They were best friends and had so much fun together. I know that grampa had a huge impact on Tyler..Tyler remembered all that love and support when his grama died. Moving in with Gramps and generally watching over his best friend. We are all grateful for what he did. Ty, you continue to do well in whatever you put your mind to...To any girls out there reading the blog, he would make a great catch (Sorry, Tyler, I couldn't resist). Anyway I hope you have a Happy year. We love you lots.