Vacationing in Park City

Michael, Tara and The Small One came to our timeshare condo in Park City last night to visit, swim and go to dinner. It was fun to see them, fun to visit and fun to swim, but the "go to dinner" part . . . not so much! We selected a steak house across the street from our condo which was highly recommended by hotel staff and others familiar with Park City. When we saw the prices listed on the menu, Michael, Tara and I all voted to find another restaurant, but Dad overruled us because he didn't want to offend anyone.

Long-story-short . . . we ordered and ate our very good food. Then the 3-figure check came!!! With a gulp, I pulled out my VISA and paid, but not happily.

LESSON LEARNED: Always check the menu BEFORE you sit down OR don't let Ed have a vote!

Musings on Mothers' Day

Sunday, May 10, 2009 was a lovely day, filled with conversations with everyone of my six precious children - either face-to-face or by phone. There were flowers and everyone chipped in to buy me a digital camera . . . which I love, love, love! Jan Peterson Free Gardner was here with her husband Ron. They are talking about moving to St. George spent a few days looking around. Besides gifts and conversations, Mothers’ Day is also a time to reflect about the "good stuff" and I don’t need to go too far to find it:

Last week, after getting a pedicure, I spent the night in Pleasant Grove with Michael and Tara. When Lilly first saw me, she ran over, wrapped her tiny arms around my knees, then looking down, she said in her teeny, tiny voice, "Grandma, pitty toes!"

Whitney sent me a text message after her finals at the University of Utah, "I have now completed my freshman year!!!!" When I asked if she was having any fun in the process, she responded, "I wish I had more. I need to find a way to fix that!" Our beautiful Whitney is strong, focused and a genuinely good person. Her grandmother is very proud of her efforts to get an education and to make a difference in the world.

Kaytee makes me smile! She takes dozens of pictures of Adyn every day, as if she might miss a single minute of her life. Kaytee is a sweet little momma and Adyn’s developing personality reflects her mother’s gentle hand. It has been a difficult year for Kaytee and Josh, but they seem to be weathering the storm, though it appears the solution to their financial situation may mean a move to Ely, Nevada.

Kelly continues to amaze me with her hard work and drive to succeed in all aspects of her life. She is simultaneously working fulltime at Hill Air Force Base while also working fulltime toward a college degree and while also working fulltime to bring 10,000 Patriot Guard Riders to Ogden in June for a national "gathering of the guard!" Whew! Yep, she makes me proud . . . and tired!

Most of you have probably already heard about Kris’ "new" job. It seems her boss - "the doctor" - has been paying an independent contractor for payroll, bookkeeping and a whole lot of other services, until she decided to drop him as a client, in part because she thought Kris could do it. After stalling for several days, he gave Kris what he considered a substantial raise until Kris convinced him his substantial raise wasn’t nearly substantial enough! Don’t you just love strong, capable women? So does he, apparently!

Stacy sent me a text message on Mothers’ Day from her work at Dixie Regional Medical Center. "I know I don’t tell you enough . . . but I appreciate all you do for me and my girls. I absolutely could not do this without you! Thank you for the example you are to me . . ." I have watched Stacy’s efforts to make something more of her life. She has struggled through her first semester of college trying to stay focused. She has made some painful decisions about some of the men in her life and is striving to be good mother to her three daughters. In addition to everything else going on in her life, she has been spending nights with Allysa and Josh helping them paint the baby's room.

David, who "doesn’t get into the ‘gift’ thing" says Jan’L, nevertheless gathered his three small sons together on Mothers’ Day to fix their momma breakfast-in-bed. Kaytee later reported her big, strong, handsome oldest brother called to wish her a happy FIRST Mothers’ Day! She was so touched he had taken the time to do that!

And, finally Michael . . . my strong, faithful, resiliant and hardworking second son - with whom I shared this Mothers' Day in celebration of his 33rd birthday! No one has ever questioned how difficult this past year has been for Michael and Tara, but together they just keep putting one foot in front of the other and despite all odds, are managing to get through these tough economic times! I have also been so impressed with his dedication to the boys in his scout troop - 11 of 12 in his ward - who believe him to be the world’s best scoutmaster! Unlike most scoutmasters who spend an hour or two each week on planning for activities, Michael spends 10-15 hours every week organizing, planning, blogging and working hard to keep his boys active because he believes scouting is not about merit badges or camping trips . . . but is about building leaders out of teenaged boys!

So, in case you didn't quite get the message . . . here it is! You all make me very, very proud to be your mother and grandmother!　

She's a Blast from our Past

The doorbell rang on Saturday afternoon and there stood Meretta Adams Barnes, our friend for more than 30 years - and the kids' babysitter during the years I worked at the hospital - now living in Houston, Texas. While visiting Quincy (and Sunnie), Lance (still unmarried) and Andrew (a Las Vegas cop), in St. George, she also enjoyed a visit from Tiffany and her children. Meretta reports she is happy in her second marriage to Scott; and, enjoying retirement because it affords her the opportunity to travel with her husband on his business trips. She is also enjoying Scott's children and grandchildren, as well as having Camille and her family nearby in Houston. Shown here with oldest son, Quincy . . . not Nolan, who he eerily resembles, Meretta is slim and trim, blond and still has her robust happy laugh! She says "hi" to all the Sappington clan!

Meet Sophie

Stacy came home from work the other night to ask if we were interested in getting another dog "papered and free to a good home!" Seems a friend of a friend of hers is going through an ugly divorce and the husband is being a putz about the dog! The lady in question sent photos by e-mail and suggested we could take the dog over the weekend to see if things would work out. We agreed and a few days later during dinner, the doorbell rang. When we opened the door we were shocked to be standing face-to-face with a friend we have known for many, many years! She was probably more shocked than we, considering all the "horror stories" she had shared about her "idiot husband!" We've had the dog for a couple of days and she seems to be settling in with Stacy and the kids. I worry a little bit, because for all of her 7 pounds Sophie is pretty darned protective, particularly of Stacy.

Let's Hear It for America

Usually a 1st grade musical program is about as much fun as . . . . . . . (you fill in the blank) but last week, the four 1st grade classes at Bloomington Elementary School WOW-ed their parents, grandparents and classmates with the most creative and high energy show most of us have ever seen on any stage! This 40-minute "Salute to America" brought down the house and left everyone humming, tapping their toes and grinning from ear-to-ear! We’ve been hearing Taisley singing the songs for the past month, but did not realize how outstanding she and her 75+ classmates would sound and how cute the show would be with props. This was another of those times when we wished Jan’L had been there with her video camera! Kudos to the amazing teacher who went "above and beyond" to put this delightful show together!!!

Taisley Runs for Stanley

Taisley and friends took part in Bloomington Elementary Schools mini-Relay for Life on Monday, April 20. Knowing she was going to be "running for people with cancer" really freaked our little 7-year-old out and she was hesitant to take her running shoes to school, until Grandpa explained that she could run for Uncle Phil who died of cancer or our friend Stan Blackett who is currently in treatment for cancer. At that point, she asked Grandpa to set up Grandma’s treadmill so she could practice and invited him to join her on the school track to run - or walk - for Uncle Phil, but she was going to walk for Stan Blackett because she really likes him and wants to help him get better! When Grandpa got to school, Taisley and her little friends had already worked up a sweat so he obliged them by spraying them down with a garden hose - probably the most memorable part of the event for her!

On the evening of the Relay for Life, Taisley really, really wanted to go down to the Hansen Stadium at Dixie State College to run in the real event. Guess who we ran into? Neal Maycock, a lean, mean running machine; Whitney's dad and a devoted best friend to Bill Miller who died in February from brain cancer.

Zac Pays a Short Visit

It works really well to be midway between the coast and the Wasatch Front because we get to see grandchildren from time-to-time. This weekend, Kris asked her family to pick Zachary up at the airport in Las Vegas - after spending a week in Sonoma with his "mommy and sissies" - then bring him back to St. George to connect with his dad and Tai on Sunday morning for the drive home. Stacy, Kendi and Tais made the 250-mile round trip to pick him up at McCarren Airport. Once in St. George, he and his cousins - along with some of the neighbor kids - played Night Games in the warm spring evening. We set up a bed for him in the office, but on Sunday morning we found him sleeping comfortably under Taisley's bed and when he woke up, he requested - what else? - "Grandpa's waffles." He is so full of energy, he wears us all out . . . but it was great fun to have him here, even for just a few hours. He is planning to go back to Sonoma for the summer . . . and perhaps, if his dad approves, he will move back to California permanently!

My Victory Garden

Yesterday, I planted tomatoes and strawberries. It felt really good to be outside in the 78-degree sunshine, and I am looking forward to next weekend when Taisley and I will plant cucumbers, pumpkins and watermelon. But in talking to a couple of my neighbors and friends, it seems in 2009 - as it was in World War II - digging holes and planting a few things in the backyard is now considered a political act.

Historically, victory (also called liberty) gardens were planted to help the United States cope with food shortages during the war years. By 1943, Americans had planted more than 20 million victory gardens -- at home as well as in schools and parks -- which produced 8 million tons of food.

Today, in backyards like mine all over the country, a new victory garden movement has captured the attention of people who want to lessen their reliance on mass-produced or imported food, reduce their carbon footprint, foster a sense of community or save on their grocery bills in a fractured economic climate.

Aside from the political aspect, I have some concern about my garden - not because of the possibility of tomato worms or birds eating my produce. My biggest worry is that I will come home from work to find a "For Sale" sign on the front lawn. As my kids know, it is a long standing family trend . . . whenever Mom plants strawberries, Dad sells the house!

Tax Day Tea Party

The numbers are not in yet, but Washington DC had better be listening because millions of the "silent majority" from every race, creed, color, ethnicity, religion and yes, even political persuasion, stood up today in an estimated 2000 cities across the United States to say, "we are fed up with the way this country is being run . . . and the tax burden which has been placed on the people and we're not going to take it anymore!"

Here in little old St. George, Utah approximately 2500 residents gathered on the college campus tonight to send a rallying cry to our government "leaders" (a little joke). The main stream media is going to have a hard time turning a blind eye to this tremendous outpouring of irate citizens.

Our country is in a terrible mess!!! Is it Bush's fault? Yes? Is it Obama's fault? Yes, but its also Roosevelt, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton's fault. It's the fault of the Democrats . . . and the Republicans, the President (whichever one you want to name) and definately the fault of our Congress! And probably I'm even partly to blame because I voted for some of these guys who call themselves leaders! Including Obama's stimulus package(s), our government has now indebted (or is it indentured) the next ten generations of Americans, even if they don't spend another cent.

Another indicator of the mood of the country . . . (conservative) Fox News now has more viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined!!!

Not sure where this energy will go from here . . . but I don't think its over and it sure feels good to finally have a voice, because hey, I thought I was the only one who was "tea'd off" by all this insanity! I think we should dump all our congressmen and senators "overboard" and start over . . . and if Glenn Beck wants to run for president, I would vote for him in a heartbeat!!!

Larry and Grandma Doris Visit

Larry finally got his Christmas trip to St. George - postponed from December due to ice and snow in Seattle - when last week, he flew into Ontario Airport, rented a car and drove with Grandma Doris to spend a few days catching up with family and soaking up the warm spring sunshine! They have been here many times - in fact, Larry lived here for a short while - so there wasn’t much they wanted to do, other than see everyone and relax. Michael, Tara and Lilly came for the weekend - a chance for them, too, to get out of the cold and snow of northern Utah. On Sunday, after the final session of General Conference, we celebrated Lilly’s 2nd birthday with a bar-be-que. It was the usual noisy gathering of Sappington’s with Kaytee, Josh, Adyn, Stacy, Kendi and Taisley around the table. Bruce and Georgia came for dinner on Wednesday - a chance for "the cousins" to reminisce about "the good old days" before we played a rousing game of "Golf!" And, we had fun taking Larry around to look at condos although Grandma Doris would have preferred us to dote more on her rather than on the grand kids and Larry . . . who was very glad to be home to Seattle.