Four Grandparents and a Graduate

We recently traveled to Denver to attend Kaler’s graduation from Prairie View High School. On Friday, May 26, 2017 our 18-year-old grandson – David and Jan’L’s firstborn - donned cap and gown and joined his 375 classmates for ceremonies at the Coors Event Center on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

According to statistics relating to this Class of 2017:

*  48% plan to continue their education at a college or university
*  37% plan to study at a community college or trade school
*  11% are going to work
*  4% plan to or have already enlisted in a branch of the US military (the largest group of military in the school’s history)
*  $3.6 million total scholarships awarded

After the festivities, mothers of 4 ward member graduates from Kaler’s class organized a party at the church. Kaler wanted his own party, but a surprising number of his friends and ward members showed up for the evening … and Jan’L, in her usual amazing way, had helped organize an impressive celebration.

And then there are the other three Denver Sappington boys:

Fifteen-year-old Kole didn’t graduate from anything, but he is moving up from a freshman to a sophomore at Prairie View High School, making him next-in-line for graduation at the Sappington house. He plays percussion in the PVHS marching band and concert band – including during his brother’s high school graduation - and next year he will be a member of the symphonic band.

Eleven-year-old Kyle is on track to becoming an academic all-star, as well. A recent graduate of Henderson Elementary School, he and two other students were selected from among 84 students in his class to present his “Influential Teacher Speech.” He was also recognized with the “Math Excellence Award” (he was up for Reading Excellence as well, but was told he couldn’t get them both … so he had to chose); for “All A’s and B’s All Year” and as the “Most Valuable Computer Nerd” awards.

In addition to graduation, G-Ma Linda enjoyed spending time with the boys (all 4 of them). We shot baskets at the nearby – and nearly finished – park, just a half-block from their home; playing Phase Ten and/or Uno on the front porch and just catching up! It was a really lovely weekend and – except for the 22-hour / 1300 mile roudtrip drive – I’m really glad we went!

On another note: I had been suffering (should be capital “S”) for about three weeks with sciatica before we left for Denver. My right knee has been killing me … but the rest of the story is David’s left knee has been causing him pain for about the same amount of time. He thinks it is a torn meniscus which might require surgery … so both of us limped around for the entire weekend. But he has also been – in general – feeling lousy with intermittant fever, back pain and nausea.On the day we left, he finally felt bad enough to go to a doctor who diagnosed a urinary tract infection and a “massive” kidney stone (1.1 centimeter) which will require the care of a specialist, including lithotripsy!!! His medical team is going to try to smash the stone into small enough pieces so he will not suffer too much while passing them, but he’s been told to expect more before this is over!

Mother's Day in Idaho Falls

On Mother’s Day weekend (May 11-13, 2017) we met Kaytee and her three darling daughters in Idaho Falls – not quite halfway between our two hometowns – primarily to attend the Open House of the newly renovated Idaho Falls LDS Temple before it is re-dedicated on Sunday,June 4. In addition to spending time with Kaytee, Adyn (almost 9 years old), Skylar (an emphatic 6) and our adorable Thoryn (who is two) our other reason for the trip is because this temple is the one where Ed and I were married. In the tradition of this remarkable church, it is another of 155 breathtakingly beautiful and currently operating temples.

During our time together, we also visited the Idaho Falls Zoo, a nearby Funland park,the nicely done Museum of Idaho, drove to Heise Hotsprings for lunch and “walked down Memory Lane” with Grandpa Ed as he relived his youth in Ririe – a time he considers, to this day, the best of his life. We also enjoyed spending some time with Michael on his birthday (May 10); the hospitality of friends Tom and Merna Summers who provided us with a bed and a hot shower for a couple of nights as our “base camp” and with whom we will vacation in Branson in early November.

The only downside of this mini-vacation was my terrible bout with hay fever. Where our St. George community saw spring a couple of months ago, Idaho Falls was just beginning to leaf out … and it was deadly – at least for me – made worse because of a lot of wind. Thankfully, rain fell on Friday evening and part of Saturday giving me a little respite from my misery, including running nose; itchy, watery eyes; a loud barking cough and losing my voice.

This was the first trip of our very busy summer. Watch for lots more to come before Labor Day!

The Party's Over ... Simeon Moves to Provo

Well, here it is … the end of an era! The party is over after almost four years of having Simeon and Selwin Lovell in our home, two fine young men from Guyana, South America who joined our family on October 30, 2013! Both went on to serve missions – Selwin to Jackson, Mississippi and Simeon who served in Atlanta, Georgia before returning to St. George to attend Dixie State University while also working part time at Wild Coyote Foods.

Soon after his mission, Selwin married Brianna Teddie Bair on November 26, 2016 and since she is a hometown girl, I have high hopes they will remain in St. George at least for a few years.

But, Simeon has now relocated to Utah County where he will be working during the summer months before he and Stephanie Shipley of Springville are married on August 5. He will also attend Utah Valley University toward a degree in Information Technology.

I will miss our late night runs to “Wally World” for milk or to CostCo for whatever. I will miss his look of total delight at finding both jello and a full can of whipped cream in the fridge at the same time; and, his calling me “mom” even though I know I’m not his mom and knowing he and his identical twin brother call all “mature” women mom (with a lower case “m”). I will miss him asking, “what’s for dinner” even though its only been 2 hours since we last ate! I will miss our discussions about essay topics and the gospel; his devotion to his Heavenly Father as demonstrated by his insistence on wearing his white shirt and tie all day on the Sabbath; his amazing prayers, talks and Family Home Evening lessons.

I have been so pleased with how easily my six kids have embraced these two exceptional young men as family members; and, how easily most of my neighbors and ward members have befriended them, as well. And, loving them both has been very easy for me, too.

Like my own children, I knew when they first arrived, they would leave one day to make their way in the world. I just didn’t think it would get here so quickly.

I have been in charge of my ward's Empty Nesters group for the past couple of years during which time several ward members have "questioned" how I could be in charge, but not be an Empty Nester. Seems I am now official!!!