Brother to Brother

Little Samuel was born this afternoon and his brother got to meet him this evening. The photo, sent by Suzanne just resonated with me as little Chas meets his brother for the first time. You can see in Chas's touching the wonder of he has towards this special new person who is going to change his life forever. It is poignant to view and vicariously touches all of us. Welcome to life Sammy! Your brother will show you the ropes!

Where has the time gone?

It seems like just yesterday, or maybe the day before, that I was courting my beautiful bride in Modesto, California. But yet, it's been 44 years today. It was 107 degrees the day we were married and thank goodness we didn't take that as an omen. It would have been the wrong one. Our adventures over the last 44 years have wonderful. Who would have thought that all these years later we would have 7 children, almost 16 grandchildren, and lived in so many different and exciting places.

Neither one of us had a clue about where our life would take us, but the trip has been wonderful. I count my blessings when I look at my bride - and yes, she is still my bride - even if we both have a little time on our side.

Happy Anniversary Lover! It has been fun and I'm looking forward to the next 44 years. Maybe we can do it together on our own 4-wheeler!

Father's Day Hopes

It's Father's Day again, my 41st as a father. JoAnn and I were talking about father's days and this father's expectations for our children. As we discussed the topic she said there was a difference between what my expectations were for our children and what they thought those expectations might be. That was both interesting and a little disconcerting.

I do have expectations, but I think the better term is hopes. Hopes are desires and beliefs in what you might become. They are less judgmental. I do not want you (forgive the tense change) to have a pass-fail perception about what I think you do in your life. You need to live your own lives - and you all do - and not worry about what I might think. However, on occasion I've been willing to share my thoughts without you asking for it. I'm trying to get better about that.

What are my hopes? They are simple. First, that you love your spouse and children and make them the most important people in your lives. Second, that you love our Heavenly Father and honor Him in your actions and thought. Third, that you find joy in living every day. That's it. Everything else is incidental to those. Like my own father, I'm proud of each of you and your and families and what you are doing with your lives. Each of us lives a different life. It was meant to be that way. What binds us is our family and the love for one another. Knowing that love is unconditional and free of expectation strengthens our family and allows us to grow individually and together.

This may appear as a bit of a ramble, but at the end of the day, it's what we do in our homes with our families that ultimately is important. It's my joy as a father to support, sustain, and assist (when asked).

Thanks for being such great daughters, sons, sons-in-laws, daughters-in-laws, and grandchildren.

Love at First Sight

One of the wonderful experiences of having grandchildren, especially young ones, but even teenagers, is watching and receiving their love. About 4:30 am this morning we had the Bradley family show up for a short sleepover on their way to San Diego. We are still a destination (we like that in Las Vegas), but we've also become a waypoint as our children head to youngest daughter's new home in San Diego. At least we usually get to spend a night, or a morning in this case, with grandchildren, and enjoy the whole family.

The Bradley's brought 3 young ones with them. I don't even begin to guess ages any more, but none of them have started school yet, so loving grandma and grandpa is still very special. And when they come to town we get lots of hugs and then are asked, "Where are the toys?"

This morning I rescued the 2 youngest about 5:30 so the adults could sleep a bit longer. These 2 had slept all the way from Idaho and felt like they didn't need any more. If I left them alone I'm sure no one else would have gotten much more sleep. We started with a movie on my iPad, followed by a box of toys. I even taught them how to tickle grandma's feet (she didn't wake up for anything). We had a great time rolling a ball back and forth to each other. Love was expressed in being together, playing together, and having lots of fun.

Later as all of the adults were up and we were moving towards breakfast middle child noticed our big screen TV (they don't have one, but the other grandparents do as well as at least one of his aunts, so he knows what it is). What I didn't know was his infatuation with the big screen. He ran over and before I could catch him he spread his arms, placed both hands on the screen, and gave it a kiss! It was love at first sight, albeit, a one way love. And no, we never turned it on, but he let us know what was important in his realm.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday Krissie

Happy Birthday youngest daughter. You have brought a lot of light into our family and we love you for that. It seems like you are always at the center - but that happens a lot when you are the youngest. Have a GREAT Birthday.

Calvin, our Grandson

It is becoming a tradition to honor Calvin on the anniversary of his death as a reminder of what a great young man he was. There was so much we did not know about him until people came forth and told us. Even now his parents  occasionally discover someone else who was touched by him. He had a zest for life and a love of people.

We are honoring him with photos. JoAnn and I have gone through and selected way too many photos, so we reduced the number and have shared them between our blogs.

Calvin took his first trip with Grandma and Grandpa to Boise, ID when he was
about 2 years old. Here he is with Suzanne.

The boys, just off the airplane in the Indianapolis airport at the Indy 500 Exhibit.

Calvin, Clayton & Cole on a "Giant Beetle" at
the St. Louis Zoo

Calvin, Clayton & Chris climbing a practice wall
in Terre Haute, IN

Calvin on a tank at the Fort Knox Armor Museum
in Kentucky

At the end of the day we can look back and see how special and how blessed we were to have this young man with us for a short period of time. Rarely a day goes by without me thinking of Calvin and how special it was for us to share time with us. We are thankful for all of the memories, the photos, and love that all have exhibited to Calvin and his family.

Wordless Wednesday

A Quilting Grandma

I've thought about this post for a long time and now that I'm flat on my back I've got time to write it. JoAnn is busy on quilting projects for our family. She loves to quilt and I enjoy watching her look for just the right pattern and then her creativity comes into bloom as she takes the pattern and changes it to fit what she wants to do. I've watched her do it so many times it has become second nature to her and to me. Yet, this week as I watched her go through literally dozens of quilt magazines looking for the just right pattern I was amazed a her ability to put it all together. She even asks my advice on colors sometimes. I always give it, but I'm never quite sure how helpful it might be. She listens politely, brings more material out, we look at it again, and finally she arrives at the colors and patterns that she knows will work for that person.

Right now she has moved from the quilting room to what I call the quilting annex, which is the dining room table. Since we never eat in there I think it is a great location. You can see from the photo below she has it all set up for her work. I've never noticed the ironing board down low before and right next to the table, but it seems to work. She is working on small blocks.

Quilting keeps JoAnn busy, requires her mind to be thinking, and she knows she is making something that will be well received. What more can you ask than that. It is the best mental health activity I think she can do. And the rewards are great. I remember when she made blankets for a family that had triplets. They weren't supposed to know where the blankets came from, but they knew and thanked JoAnn for it. Seeing someone smile when they get that quilt is awfully special.

Regardless of age. . .

Mars Strikes Again

Wednesday morning we were sitting in the hospital, me in my gown, and JoAnn just waiting for them to wheel me off for surgery. They had just taken my blood pressure and it has been a little high due to my pain. It was down to 138 so as we were talking I turned to JoAnn and said "I am at 138, how about you." Note how I cleverly neglected to mention what the 138 related to. I figure after all these years she should know exactly what I'm talking about. Back to the conversation.

"I am at 138, how about you."

"I'm 154."

"Your blood pressure is 154!?" I say with a certain amount of concern.

"Blood pressure? I thought you were talking about weight."

And so you have it - Venus and Mars remain in different orbits.

Happy Birthday Suzanne

It seems as if it was only yesterday that we moved to Manhattan, Kansas and JoAnn was 8 months pregnant. Don't ask and I won't tell. It was late evening, JoAnn was putting off going to the hospital since we didn't have any insurance. We were between schools and jobs. Not very good timing on my part, but we only lived 2 blocks from the hospital. In spite of the stress and challenge of moving and the 90 minutes JoAnn spent in labor in the hospital, we ended up with a beautiful little girl who today turns a little older, but I'm not allowed to tell you how much. Like all of our children she has been a delight to us. Enjoy a few photos of her early years.

Talk about precious, and new. She was just a few days old in this photo.

Please note that even at 1 year she couldn't keep her hands off. Without
JoAnn grabbing onto her hand it would be chocolate everywhere.

You can see she was into construction as a youngster, no wonder she
married a civil engineer.

Taken at Ledges State Park in Boone, IA, this photo of
our three little girls is one of my all-time favorites.

Little stinkers. When you are only 13 months apart you are best friends.

Sitting in the park in Ames, IA these two kept us busy just trying to keep up.

And as a mother of five. She has made us proud. Also, compare her
face with the previous photo - there is no mistaking who her.

Celebration of Life Monument

In today's blog by Donna she announced that this weekend the "Utah Donate to Life Coalition" is dedicating their "Celebration of Life Monument" to the living and dead who have donated organs. Their names will be on the monument. Calvin was one of those. Donna, Chris, and the boys are going to the dedication. Those of us who are family and many of our close friends know Calvin, whether they knew him or not, and how he impacted all of our lives. As Donna says, he continues to impact our lives and others, even today. We were all grateful for the 13 years we had with him. Not a day goes by that I don't think of Calvin or look at his photo somewhere in our home (there are several around) or in my office. The one below is a favorite.

Wordless Wednesday - 43 Years

17 Years? It Seems Just Like Yesterday

It seems just like yesterday that JoAnn and I were flying from Indiana to Utah to meet our soon to be "first" son-in-law. There is something special about a first son-in-law. They are all special, but that first one has the opportunity to set a standard, which he did.

It was summer and the wedding was still a few weeks away and we wanted to meet the young man that dazzled our oldest and, at the time, most eligible daughter. Our function was to meet him, approve of him (that was our only option given by Donna - come to think of it, when the other children married we had the same single option), and make sure we came back for the wedding with the rest of the family. Once we met Donna's beau it was clear they were madly in love. That was good enough for us.

JoAnn & I both thought it looked
like Donna was holding on for dear life.

Seventeen years later we see a family built on love, hard work, and the gospel. They both chose wisely and have worked hard to build a family. I'm sure there have been moments, but Olaf (not his real name, thank goodness) is the most patient person I have ever met. If I had 1/100th of his patience JoAnn would spend a lot less time frustrated with me and my children might be kinder and gentler, but I'm digressing.

What sealed 17 years ago in the Manti Temple has blossomed into a wonderful eternal family. We send all of our love, hopes, and knowing that the next 17 years will be even more wonderful than the first. In fact, I expect to write a blog for that one too.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Today is my wonderful wife's birthday. She is the most fabulous person in the world. We have been together for 45 years and married 43 of those years. I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos of her. She is wonderful mother, grandmother, partner, and lover. Enjoy the photos and wish her a Happy Birthday. I pulled all of the photos from my flickr account where she has 458 photos and growing.

On the ferry between islands on the Outer Banks, NC with our youngest daughter.

With our 3 oldest daughters in Manhattan, KS when we were going to KSU. Even then she was a magnate for children.

With our oldest grandson, Calvin, and he was showing how he was almost as tall as Grandma. It was our last photo of the two of them together.

Grandma is all about sharing and Bonnie loved the sun glasses look.

She was a 70's girl with the hair, Ajax, dish towel, and a lot of flair!

With all of our daughters and one daughter-in-law in 2010 for Sister's Weekend.

Our marriage in 1967. Just a side note. It was 110 degrees the day we got married. We survived and continue to survive and flourish!

And finally, us last year in Breckenridge at our family reunion!

Wordless Wednesday

Venus & Mars are Still Functioning

It's good to know in our world that some things don't change. JoAnn and I went out to dinner tonight for ribs. As usual we shared a half-rack, and got hush-puppies and corn on the cob as our sides. That means we got 5 hush-puppies and 1 piece of corn on the cob.

Since we always share the sides (unless it's something I don't like) I told JoAnn, "Let's divide it, each eating half." If you are a guy, what does that mean? "You eat the right half and I'll eat the left half."

If you're a woman what it means is located below:

The photo says it all. When I looked at it and looked at JoAnn and said, "I meant half each," and she responded with, "That's half." And then I laughed as she said, "I always eat all the way across." While I always eat all the way around.

It's good to know we still communicate and can still laugh about it. We still speak in terms of gender. You would think after 42 years we would have it figured out. I guess not, but that's okay because we love each other. Thanks JoAnn for keeping me on my toes.

The Cartoon Father's Day Card

Imagine my surprise when Mike sent me an email directing me to his Minidove comic site. I was even more surprised when I saw his work. He warmed my heart. I love my children.


Thank you Mike

Happy Birthday Jeni

Daughter number 3 inspired me when I saw her blog congratulating Jeni, daughter 2, on her birthday. And, like any good father I'm not telling anyone how old she is. So, enjoy the photos, with no specific date, so you still can't figure out how old she is.

At any age a child is cute and while she isn't very old, but at least 3 months, because that is how old she was when we moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. And she's in the crook of my knee.

In Provo, Utah at BYU Jeni is closing on 2, but look at that determination. That hasn't changed one little bit.

At Grandpa & Grandma's house with Spunky, the dog. Now you know where her love of animals comes from.

This is a classic pose and one that I've seen on at least one of her kids. Who says things don't come around. She is 2 years and 3 months old and still at BYU.

Wow, 10 years old and in Ames, IA standing out in the back yard. No, that's not all of our backyard. We lived in a townhouse and it was a common area.

Jeni with her then brother and sisters. 1982 in Ames, IA

Happy Birthday Jeni!