Blues and Bothers

I have struggled this week with the blues and bothers----missing my kids and grandkids, worrying about Ben's deployment to Afghanistan next month, surprised to be missing preschool after 19 years, not to mention this empty nest of mine and the holidays approaching with so much uncertainty. . . .  Then I read this post on facebok from a dear high school friend ( from my Santa Rosa years), Greg Barsi :

Putting the blues and bothers of the past few days away -- Friday will be my day of joy finding! HAPPY FRIDAY to all you good people!! Blessings of Love, Joy and Happiness. ♥ :-D

It touched my heart and reminded me to count my blessings and FIND JOY.  Shame on me for needing the reminder, but so grateful to be able grab on to it and put those blues and bothers away for now.  Thank you, dear friend!

GIRLS 5 - BOYS 4

Nick and Renee just called with the news that they are having a baby GIRL in January!!!  We are so happy for them having their first baby and our 9th grandchild.  She breaks our tie of 4 girls and 4 boys.  They both sounded so excited on the phone.  I can't wait to quilt & shop for another newborn! We are so blessed!

Happily Ever After

Josh and Krista were married on June 5 and it has been a busy, happy, joyous time for our family. I'm still waiting for the photographer to send me the family group pictures.  Once I get those pictures, I will update the blog.  In the meantime, here are a few pictures taken by the photographer at the temple. [for more pictures, check my facebook page]. Despite the heat, everything went well and Josh and Krista were gorgeous and they are so happy.  My sister was here from New York, my brother and sister from San Diego, my parents and nephew from Utah, and my Aunt and Uncle from Orange all shared the big day with us.  We also had dear friends (that are like family) with us from Richfield, Utah and Las Vegas so it was a sweet time for our extended family to all be together.  Truly a glimpse of heaven!

The good news is that I have not crumbled with the departure of the kids back to Idaho, Utah and Louisiana. When the last batch of kids left, Craig said, "You're holding up remarkably well, Grama".  And I truly am holding up.  I will always want to be near our loved ones, but I recognize how blessed I am to have had them close by for 5 precious years.  I am so grateful for free cell phone calls and being able to skype!  Now I am trying to find a new normal with a quiet, empty house and calendar.  My only real committment left this summer is a road trip to Idaho in August with Melissa and the boys, and teaching my primary class.  So, sewing room,  here I come!

This is the picture I framed for the piano ---

It is such a great feeling to know that our family is complete.

This is my very favorite picture of all the hundreds taken that day.  It made my heart sing to see my 5 girls and know that they are all here at last!!!!!

The Invitations are in the Mail!

The invitations to Josh & Krista's wedding are finally in the mail. They had to be sent back to the printer twice, so the third time really was the charm. Sorry they are a bit late. Last weekend Josh & Krista went to Kentucky where she recieved her endowment in the Louisville Temple. It was Josh's first trip to Kentucky and he loved it. Krista also had a bridal shower and they had their engagement pictures taken. They had such a wonderful photographer --- all the pictures are great. I think the setting is beautiful. It reminds me of a setting in a country music video. June 5 is right around the corner, and the celebration begins on May 29 when Nick& Renee and Mark & Rebecca arrive. Ben has training until the 28th so Jamie is picking him up from the airport and they are hitting the road. They hope to arrive on Tuesday in time for Ben and the men folk to go to a Padres game. My sister, Dana flies in from New York on Wed and Josh & Krista will arrive that night. It will be a party!

Krista's gala birthday week begins!

Josh's fiance, Krista Huckvale, will be 22 on April 7, and so far the only negative part about Josh marrying Krista is that it gives our family another April birthday!!!  She joins Uncle Kirk, Melissa, Luke, Sarah, Cameron, Reese, Mark, Ben and my Mom! Since her birthday was just a few days away, we decided to start celebrating so that she could have a gala birthday that lasted all week long.

It is always wonderful to spend time with Josh & Krista and see how happy they are.  Their June 5th wedding is just 2 months away!  I was excited to find gift wrap that matched their wedding colors. We celebrated with funfetti cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for dessert.  I'm bummed these pictures are blurry, so hopefully my Mom's will be better.

Easter in Parowan

My Dad had knee replacement surgery on March 22 and the good news is that he is having a great recovery and physical therapy is going well.  The bad news is that he developed a staff infection while in the hospital that has proved to be a bit more challenging.  He is currently stable, but will have 6 weeks of anibiotic infusion treatments.  That entails a daily trip to Cedar City (1/2 hour away) and the treatment which lasts about 90 minutes.  Needless to say, we have all been very concerned, and since Suzy had Friday off for Good Friday, we decided to make a quick road trip.  We are so glad that were able to visit with Mom & Dad, check out the situation first hand and give Mom a little bit of a break. 

Suzy's daughter, Sarah had already planned to be in St. George for the holiday weekend with her boyfriend for a family reunion, so on Saturday after we got Dad settled for his treatment we went to St. George to pick her up so she could visit with Mom and Dad in Parowan ( about an hour away).  Sarah is holding the parts that were removed and replaced in his knee (this is his second surgery on that knee ).  

On Sunday morning Josh & Krista drove down from Provo bright and early to watch conference and spend the day with us.  Poor Josh inherited his blinking talent from me as well as his Aunt Suzy and sister, Melissa.  Sorry Josh, but it's a cute smile and how adorable is our Krista?

On our way to Parowan we made a short detour to rendezvous at Zion with our Schweppe cousins so that Suzy's son Trevor could camp with them for the weekend.  It is always so much fun to see Mark and Julene and thier families.  They stopped to drop off Trevor with us on thier way home to Kaysville and Liberty.  Aunt Remerice was there so we got to take a few quick cousin pictures.  Aunt Remerice is my Grama Buff's youngest sibling and she lives in Parowan.  She reminds us so much of our Grama Buff it always tugs at our heart when we get to see her and hear that voice and see that face that is so similar and so dear to us. 

Since Suzy was blinking in the first picture, here's the good one of her with me blinking this time.  I wish I had taken more pictures of Mark's cute family and my nephew Trevor.  Hopefully when Mom gets her film devleloped there will be some more.  It was such a treat to be together, even if it was for a short visit.
Can someone say "BUFFINGTON REUNION"???