29 Days...

This has to be my favorite picture of these two.  I love my grandkids so much - I miss them more than my heart can stand, but I know they are watched over and loved by their amazing parents.  I have a million things to do today - and yet here I sit blogging.  Sometimes it helps to just write those thoughts out.  It's difficult to find where you fit into life after your children leave and start their own lives.  I think I started to disappear within myself, feeling that I didn't have much to offer.  Every second is full of things that have to be done, but nothing that brings much peace.  Mission excluded - because there are always moments (or hours or days) of caring.  I recently read a book called, "29 Gifts"  about a lady with MS.  Her life was basically headed in a pretty sad state of being until she encountered a visit with someone that gave her insight about giving.  She was to give for 29 days - gifts, anything, some monetary (small), some gifts of time, or of self.  As she gave, her life became free, her mind opened, and her body responded by self healing what it could.  She did not overcome MS, but learned the great lessons of lessening the burdens that it carried.  I've heard of doing this before, but this book was a little more real to me as she explained some of her gifts, and how they effected her, and the receiver.  Learning how to receive was also part of the giving days.  I'm not one to announce, "Hey I'm going to be a do-gooder today and look out - because I'm just so amazing and lookie at me I'm doing this!..." - kind of person.  The gift doesn't count if the gift is announced.  There needs to be no return gift - you cannot say, if I do this, then I'll get that... it needs to just be given.  When I look at this picture of Princess Em and Prince Dbug, I see great things in their future.  Little does their mother know, that it was a gift to me on a very difficult day.  (she can count that as her gift for the day!)  I need to start giving more than I'm taking right now.  So I've started doing the things I've just read about.  If you miss a day - you must start over on the 1st day again.  I'm pretty sure that a 'higher being' or in my case, the feeling of all that is good from above.... will be more evident in my life.  But just for now - I need to find a little joy.   A quiet place where I can belong.  I need to be more observant of those around me instead of focusing on that person in the mirror with a heavy heart.  The last couple of days have included some eye opening moments, and a rare look into times that perhaps could have slipped away if I had not read this book.  It's not a religious attachment, but yet another way to try to change something somehow in my life.  I may comment on a few things, but personally I'm going to keep it private.  It's the smile inside that will count to me.  I think I'll stick with it... nothing to lose, lots to gain. 

Self Preservation... 'n stuff

As I was growing up (many of you already question that comment) my mother bottled everything moving.  She also painted everything that stood still - but that's another story.  She was part of the starvation era, kinda like the Obabma era we're having now (yet another story)... when sugar was rationed, and meat was scarce, and dinnertime was passed by for many (sounds like "if we get 4 more years).  I also know that there was a garden every single year of my life, and produce grown there like none other because my dad was a master gardener.  Nothing went to waste.  Most of it was given away.  Many blessings came and went in that garden of dad's.  So every year I pull out the larger than life preservation tools of the trade... dehydrator, food processor, steamer, canner, pressure cooker.  I also pull out all of the chick flicks I have on DVD and just line them up to play them.  I spread a big sheet on the kitchen floor because I have come to learn that you can actually rip a tennis shoe off after doing sticky peaches.  The bottles come out and are run through the scalding hot water and the lids and rings are counted up.  I can grow several things in my garden at my home - but our soil is 'sandy' of course, so most of my feastings come from the garden in Mendon.  The corn grows outrageously tall, the pumpkins are huge, and the tomatoes are as big as your hand.  There are raspberries, and cucumbers, sunflowers, squash, asparagus, apple trees and grapes. The cantaloupe would be set up on Pepsi cans to ripen, right before the stem fell off... and of course - Walla Walla onions make their home there too.  It's a bit haphazard during canning season - the kitchen fills up with bottled this and that - the freezer loses it's summer ice cream spots to frozen corn and squash.  But there is a peace about it all.  I've promised God every year that whatever he'll let grow - I will bottle - and someday I will use it to feed the masses.  He, as always, never fails me.  So far the corn is in the freezer, happy and yellow and ready to be salted a buttered.  Yesterday, 1 of 4 bushel of apples churned themselves into cinnamon applesauce and pie slices.  Frozen raspeberries from those amazing Bear Lake Bushes growing along the fenceline are freezedried for winter jams.  Beans are snipped and stacked in the basement, peppers are being dried, and soon it will be soup and chili making time.  How good it is to have a harvest - and to have been taught by my mother how to do it, and a dad who created it.  People think I'm crazy when I talk about gardening - and about my connection to my dad and the earth and the harvest - it's a lost art now to many - but maybe one day I'll pass it on.  Until then - I wanted to share my favorite idea for one of my least favorite items in the garden.  It didn't break my heart one bit to see this tragedy happen... in fact... I wish it would happen more!  Happy Canning!

Die tomatoes Die....



Missing: One Giant of a Human Being

I have been holding off on my blogging.  I have been hoping to post some light hearted posts but my thoughts are still a bit in the blues.  This amazing person left this earth, he was my Bishop, my neighbor, my friend and the keeper of my soul.  Mont Garrett passed away leaving his wife Jan, and his children - whom I love beyond words.  The Garretts lived next door to us in Bennion when Del and I had just married each other.  Mont was the best Bishop ever and his main purpose in life was to take care of everyone - and I mean everyone.  He walked over to Del one day - before Del joined the church.  Del was washing his truck, in his shorts, drinking a beer and eating a sandwich - on a Sunday.  A full suited up Mont said, "Just what do you think you are doing?"  Del said - what does it look like?!  Needless to say - Del did join his flock of people that Mont cherished.  I remember when the kids were tiny - and Del was getting his Masters.... Mont made sure that I had milk on my doorstep.  Once when Del was traveling - I came down with some serious food poisoning in the middle of the night - Mont and Jan came over and kept me from dying... they were always there.  They had an open house for Del and I on our wedding day - it meant so much to us - we didn't want to have a big deal made about getting married, but they had other plans.  I remember the first time I met Mont - I was laying in a hospital bed - just out of surgery - from being run over by a motor boat and meeting the propeller head on.  He he had never met me as I had just started dating Del.  I remember having his hands on my head - and Paul Pratt was there also - another dear neighbor on Glenview Circle.  I specifically remember Bishop Mont saying, "I release your guardian angel" and at that moment - the pain for the entire accident hit me - and the monitors and the bells and whistles went off and the doctors and nurses came running.  Mont knew that someone had to be taking on that pain - and that now I would have to endure it.  As soon as that angel left - my body felt the full weight of it all.  I was pretty beat up physically - broken jaw, stitches all over my upper body - and the owner of one powerful guardian angel.  So you see, to lose Mont - and not be able to save him back was difficult for me.  He passed away of cancer - but not without a huge fight to live - and prepare life for when he wouldn't be there.  His children are amazing adults, living life to the max, close to the church, hearts as good as their parents.  Mont went on to be in the Stake Presidency, He served a Mission to Mexico under the Presidency of Robert E. Wells, later in life, Mont would serve as a Mission President in Mexico, and then came home to be the Chaplain for the Salt Lake Police Department.  A life of service, and of love.  I wanted to post about Mont Garrett - because the world lost a good one, and so did my heart.  I think that we need to make a point to share with the world - the stories of the good hearts.  Thank you Mont - for being one of mine.  I promise to never tell that you were part of the fire starting skills in the back yard when the firetrucks arrived and you jumped the fence into your own yard and pretended to know absolutely nothing about the blaze burning the weeds down!  I'm pretty sure you are forgiven.  xoxoxox to the Garretts - you have all my love forever.

The Wedding... Parties

After this amazing scene - I'm not sure that smiles could be any bigger!  I wanted to post this picture for Dianne - Katie's mom.  I wanted her to see how tender Laura's face is in the background.  I love that you taught your daughters to love one another.  Look at those bridesmaids - also in tears... Love this picture.  There will be more to post when I get them.. but until then...

There was a dinner to go to!

 

Del and I were in charge of making sure that all of these wonderful people were well fed after the big wedding.  Now - this wouldn't be a big problem for most people - but we have never ever ever been to this part of California - and we were at a loss.  Cute Dianne had a friend that sent out the word to her friends - to find just the right place and report back.  This was WONDERFUL and we looked at all of the virtual tours from each place and decided on Massimo's in Freemont.  We were a little nervous heading into this, but all fears were put aside as we walked into this quaint, beautiful, amazing place.  It was so nice and cool, and the room was set up so beautiful and the waiters were all standing there - and ohhhhh it was soooo good....

and the company was pretty awesome too...

 

Then it was PARTAE TIME!

 

THE RECEPTION

 

The Lowery's really put an amazing event on at the reception.  I was so impressed with all of their friends from their ward.  There were people coming out of the wood works to help and plan and follow through and help all night long.  I appreciated them so much and I know that the Lowrey's appreciated it and deserved  their support.  The backyard of their friends home was elegant and beautiful and perfect for everyone to enjoy the entire evening... It was... perfect.

I haven't even started on these pictures as a whole...

there are GOOD FOOD pictures... and GREAT PEOPLE pictures

Of course.. there are pictures to come...

but I had to jump the gun and post some.

 

The Hillary's (wow - that's us!) then threw a little

OPEN HOUSE in our hometown in UTAH!

 

Joni Hansen - made it possible for me to have all of my pictures - she seriously was a life saver for me.  I wanted to share some of her pictures - some of many magic moments she captured for Ryan and Katie.  We held the open house in the back yard - and the night after and every weekend after this one - was a display of horrific thunderstorms.  I think we were lucky in many ways - and here are just a few....

 

 

 

I know there are words that go with each picture.... I know that I could never really post and cover every single moment - but my heart has.  These two families have come together and we put our hearts out there for each other and this was an amazing experience for all of us.  We have met the most amazing family from California that we will be tied to forever, and we consider ourselves incredibly lucky in every way.  Thank you Bill and Dianne!  Thanks to the Lowrey Family and all of my crazy fun adorable new friends.  Thanks to Mandy for making 14 cakes that wow'ed everyone there.  Thanks for my kids, for hanging in there with me, and being so amazing for their little brother.  I'm going to post some pictures later - a few - the best of the best to keep it short.  But I wanted to post these last pictures because I think they are priceless.

I think that the next generation is in good hands.

 

Happy Wedding Day

 



My favorite suprise...

This is a picture of Elder Hillary and his companion, Elizabeth Giebler, and Jessie Doyon - in front of the Gila Valley Temple in Arizona.  Elizabeth had just received her endowments and Elder Hillary's Mission President granted him permission to go attend the session.  Ryan has many stories about Elizabeth in his Missionary journals, but most of them are tucked securely away in his heart forever.  Liz is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because Elder Hillary knocked on her door.  She always says that he saved her, but in truth, she saved him.  Her love for the gospel is amazing - she is a wonderful mother, wife and true blue Military hero.  She promised Ryan that on the day he married his sweetheart - she would be there in the temple... when Ryan and Katie walked into the sealing room - Ryan looked around at everyone and then spotted Elizabeth - she had traveled from Texas to be there for only a day.... but she was there, as promised.

There wasn't words for this particular moment in time - just a picture, captured forever.  There she was, and we all cheered - and we all fell absolutely in love with her.  She will part of our families lives for ever.  yes... thumbs up Elizabeth - you are on your way to greatness.

 

From Far and Wide....

I'm waiting at this point to post all of the wonderful pictures of my kids that came and supported their little brother.  My camera - was ?????  and yet I know that many will come forth from different sources to fill these spaces..... but until then I have some sweet thoughts about all of them....

 

 

My son Matt and his beautiful wife Bethany, along with their (my amazing grandkids) kids drove the miles and miles and miles and games and toys and entertainment activities and songs and bathroom stops from their home in Washington State.  It was worth the drive as they added so much fun to the wedding.  You have to realize that this is an amazingly beautiful family - and I loved being able to let everyone meet them.  Bethany was amazing with the video of the cute couple and I will post it later in a blog - it was much appreciated and seriously cute.  Matt was the Best Man - and a best man he was, and always has been.  I loved seeing the little ones at the Temple - they are being taught by their parents that it's important to work towards this goal.  Today as I am posting this - Matt and Bethany have been married for 7 years now - they were married in the Jordan River Temple.

I appreciated all they did to make this trip amazing...

 

 

My daughter Ashley and her handsome husband Mike made a wise decision and flew into California.  They were the smart ones!  Their texts to us were just as fun as the driving crew on the ground.  Their jobs kept them until the last minute and we were lucky to even get to have them there.  Mike and Ashley have been married for 7 years also - they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Yes folks.... that's 2 weddings in one months time... yep... it's kinda like that.... (:  Mike was one of the groomsmen and Ashley was over children entertainment as the grandkids were crazy about her 6 inch heels.  I appreciated all they did to make this trip amazing....

 

 

My daughter Mandy and her handsome husband Ryan also were on the driving range with us.  The Yaris carried extra special cargo with their (my amazing grandson) son in the back - singing, eating cheerios, eating books, and playing with toys.  At 17 months - he was a really amazing traveler!  Ryan was a groomsman and Mandy flirted with him the entire night.  They have been married 5 years on the 30th of August and just celebrated being married in the Salt Lake Temple on a little get away.  I appreciated all they did to make this trip amazing....

 

 

My date was pretty handsome too.  Del and I started out driving in the 4Runner - all packed and ready to go - filled with gas, and the oil changed, and shined up all nice and all - until the 'Check Engine' light came on just past Magna... and we had to turn around, load everything up into the huge Dodge Truck - Diesel loving, road hogging, non California vehicle - and start driving again.  Actually - it was like flying in first class - room to stretch, room to load everything that needed to go and the extra that needed to come back, and not too shabby through the drive through at McDonalds!  I actually appreciated all that Del did to make this trip amazing also... except for the ride home, the last 2 hours of any road trip turns the Hillary men into some sort of maniac zombie road hating monsters.

(which usually can be cured by a cold Diet Pepsi from the cooler)
FYI - Del and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple - coming up on 30 years in April 2013

Bowen Genes....

A note to my Family

 

My brother Eric, his beautiful daughters Erin and Betsy made sure to bring my 83 year old mommmmmio to the wedding.  The texts we received as we were all traveling together are histerical and I will post them as part of my blogs one day.  I would never have dreamed that I could have my mom and my brother and niece in the Oakland Temple in California for the life of me - but my brother never fails me - and he and by sweetheart nieces made it happen.  Yes, she had no idea where she was, yes, she was unaware what was going on, but yes - she brought the strength of the Bowen family with her.  A deed, my dear brother - I will never forget.  Thank you...

 

The next day they ventured out into the San Francisco Bay onto a boat,

where I was slightly amazed that he didn't throw her overboard before

the 18.5 hour drive back to Northern Utah.

You are a good son!