Dear Funny Cousins.....

I have no idea who these people are - I just thought

it pretty much represented my post today.

Sorry random Google family people

 

So... still no camera - I know a picture is worth a thousand words but I only have a limited bank account.  I had a trip planned to see my mom yesterday and check in with Eric's family and the home where I love to be.  I was running a bit late and thought I would stop and get a sammie at 'The Old Grist Mill' in Logan.  (if I ever die before I'm planning on dying at 65 - would you please serve treats from there?)  I walked in and there sat my cousin Beverly and her family snarfing down random menu items.... I LOVED seeing them - and we talked so loud, and laughed and probably spit food as we talked but who cares.  I love my cousins - my Hill cousin side are all totally crazy people.  Our lives were full of insane vacations because the Aunts were nuts.  They would pile people/kids/dogs/food/lawn chairs in the back of any truck/car/tractor they could find and we would go somewhere Bear Lake/Blacksmith Fork Canyon/Grandpa's Land/Aunt Elda's back yard - and we would be crazy.  We all talked loud and over each other and we belonged to a huge circle of love.  Most of my childhood memories come from the Hill side but I do have a few shout out's to the Bowen side of life - loved them too.  But there was nothing more magical than my memories of playing in the cement ditch in front of Grandpas house watching Penny Bugs and being told (right before we would fall into the ditch) that we were going to fall in the ditch.  I loved the names of my cousins - we were all weird.... Richard, Randy, Darwin, Cindy, Beverly, Geraldine, LuAnn, Craig, Tamra, Shelley, Janet, Kent, LaDawn, Lennis, Caroline, and Eric and I.... we all had a bit o Wellsville twang in our talk because of our parents.  Some settled in Mendon, Logan, Hyrum, and Benson with their parents and then scattered all over the place and then multiplied and made more funny people.  (just wait until I start on my 2nd cousins) We have memories of reunions and actual pictures to prove how crazy we were.  Oh - and please forgive me but heavens sake we were all the most homely looking bunch alive.  But we were HAPPY.  As our parents all have passed away except for my mom - I hope that our cousins will carry on with their children the Bear Lake stories, the Hyrum Parade stories, and the stories told as the Aunts quilted and the kids played underneath those quilt frames.  Sometimes the world can be a lonely place and it only takes a little moment in time when the stars align and you meet your cousin in a small café - and you remember - you belong.  I love all of you first cousins - you carry on the strong genes of life, and love and .... crazy.  xoxoxo  Oh - and just to rub it in... I am the youngest.  (:  (they saved the best for last - even though you tried to shut my head in a suitcase in Vegas and as I was screaming out to the Aunties who were in the kitchen and they shouted back, "There's extra toilet paper in the cupboard!")  Life - live it, love it, pass it on.  Thanks for making my day Beverly and Company!  (BTW - you were the weirdest bunch..... never Eric and I - we were the perfect cousins...... )     (:

Erma Gherd... back to the Jorb...

So this little princess's mommy has to go back to work tomorrow after an amazing Maternity Leave.  Today - I spoke with the mommy that was having a bit of a tough time with what was going to happen tomorrow... I just wanted her to know that daddy's make good mommies too, and that Dusti's make good mommies too.  Little Missy here will be in great hands - loved and protected.  Her mommy is an amazing Chemical Engineer... and little Macadamia will be able to tell her mommy how proud she is of her mom and her amazing talents.  Besides... mommy has the macguffies.... Good Luck tomorrow Ashley - it's ok - you're amazing, she's amazing, Mike's amazing.

It's all Totes Fab.. xoxoxo

Proud of you!!! (:

(so is she)

LOVE YOU ALL!

ok - busted - I love my granddaughter

more than I might love you two (;

maybe...
(kinda not sure how to tell you this,
but this post is my 666th post - should
I have perhaps chosen a different child
to blog about?)
(ha - I think not! xoxox)

Nuff said.... said I

Well - it's the last week of our Mission - it's been a long long did I mention long haul?  We are speaking in our Mission Ward tomorrow - my topic is "Be Ye Not Moved".  Most people would think that would not be an issue - but you don't know the Bishop in my Mission Ward.  If there is anyone trustworthy, virtuous, and doing good - it's not particularly me - I have learned that I kill first ask questions later.  I'm the stubborn missionary.  The one that when something really awful needs to be done - he would look over at me and smile that really sneaky smile.  Turkey.  But I have appreciated his trust in me - he knows that I'll only speak the truth to the people I serve - I have never ever blown smoke up their skirt telling them wonderful things - I have told them exactly what is going on - and how they can change it - if they don't want to change it - they are wasting my time and the Lords...... now remember we are not talking about the gospel - because EVERYONE can change that for the better.  We are talking about rent, food, safety, child abuse, probation, visiting hours at the prison, robbery, assault, child abandonment, life threatening moments and rape.  So - you can see where I'm coming from.  It will be interesting to return to my home ward.  I am not that person that left here 2.5 years ago - I hate crowds, and social things (I totally hate social things), I do not want to go to lunch or for a ride or shopping together - I MAY go to a movie because I don't have to talk to anyone - but I MOSTLY want to just hide for a while.  Things that happened over the past few years have been extremely difficult to say the least.  I don't know quite how to explain that to people that just say - OH I'll bet you're so happy to be done, or, I'll bet you're glad to be back.... no.. and no.... because all of that Hellatious stuff is still going on - and I'm going to be back in leisure city pretending it isn't happening.  Not.  So if you see me in the next few months - with my head in a hole like an ostrich (you'll recognize me by my big biking butt sticking up) please give me some time.  I promise I'll come out someday.  I'll write fluffy things about my mission later but for now - I'm just trying to gag myself through a talk tomorrow - trying to say good bye to people that changed my life, and set me on a better course, one without guile, and judgment, and one filled with hope.  I don't want to sit on benches with people that casually attend church, complain about the talks, and leave because they are bored - I want to sit on the bench with people that WANT CHANGE, and are trying to MAKE IT HAPPEN.... so if there is a bench in my ward like that - save me a place - and there better be a cup holder for my McDonald's Coke.  Peace out - I got concentrate of spiritual stuff now... be ye unmoved stuff.... and pack a few Kleenexes.  nuff said....

Post Floaty Info - or perhaps TMI..... ?

(post amazing picture here)

(Not - because of my stupid camera)

 

Just in case you thought we didn't have any fun over Labor Day weekend....

We did!

We took our 2 college students, our Musician, our Chemical Engineer, and our Rocket Scientist, and the BOB, and floated down the Provo River.  We only killed ONE fly fisherman - a record!

After we passed by - there were NO FISH for miles no doubt...

Although there were several moments of hysterical laughter,

sun burnt legs and arms,

and several dunkings....

The winner winner chicken dinner was...

Mandy...

Standing up in her tube singing,

'Just around the river bend'

from Pocahontas.....

In her bright pink tank top,

and her arms in the air...

we all peed..

wait - ok - not in the Provo River

I promise.

Then we ate JDawgs

in our wet clothes,

and smiled at our choice of activities

and giggled.  a lot.

xoxoxox

The Corn Fest... and Dad.

My family camera has become my worst enemy tonight - but my story is still my friend.  It was corn weekend at our house.  My brother Eric planted 17 rows of corn in dad's garden and he shared them with our family, it is always greatly appreciated.  The timing of getting to Mendon and getting everyone there at the same time - was off - so we went to plan B, or I guess I should say plan C for Corn eh?  He delivered it 1/2 way and we loaded up the back of the car with all of those glorious cobs of Ambrosia corn.  Labor Day - years past has been spend on a lake in the boat with gale force winds rocking us to and fro... and it would have done so this year again - if we still had the boat, and we were actually on a lake.  The family traditions  on the Bowen side have been to gather up the corn harvest, shuck (love that word) the corn, bring it to a boil, and plunge it into the cold water, then cut it off and freezer bag it before it even knows that hit it.  Everyone helps, everyone goes home with a share of the golden pile of freaking yum.  Sure - Pinterest would make you believe that there are 400 ways to do it better - but we don't repin those.. (:  We all have our special knives, and cutting boards, and techniques... just ask anyone that was there. Afterwards, without having to dock the boat... or the nonboat.... we break out the grill and cook up some kind of burger fest and eat.  Del and I looked at each other after our beautiful children left that night - and said - "That was the best day ever" and it was true.  One by one they all got it - the importance of love, and family, and precious time together.

 

Doing corn - has always been a part of our lives growing up.  My dad would have loved this year just as he did all of the other 65 years of family corn fests.  Losing him at 84, might have almost broken the corn chain, but Eric, and I refuse to let it get us down.  My kids were raised on Grandpa's corn - and the stories of doing it each year never change.  It was a little melancholy this year, just knowing he was gone.  But deep down - this day was not about corn to me - and I'm pretty sure that my dad knew what he was starting years ago when he planted that very first corn seed he stole from the Del Monte field on the other side of the road (shhh.... don't tell)  Realizing that he knew that after he left - he could still be a part of our lives.  He taught us to work hard, to gather as a family, to share the harvest, and to teach our children about the wonders of nature around us.  He never wasted food, or time, or a quick reminder to 'cut as close to the cob as you can'!  As we gathered on Monday, there was more going on than just corn... (enter 12 amazing pictures of the day here - dang it)  There was a beautiful little baby girl making her first corn appearance, and she was passed around from loving arms to loving arms.  Jake was getting the hang of potty training down - and had earned a car.  Ryan M was enjoying NOT having to go to school the next day, but Ryan H and Katie were contemplating the early morning alarm to start another college year.  Mandy and Ashley were on comic relief, Mike was serving his duty to his country, Del was in charge of getting his turn with Baby Mack, and I was just watching the magic of my Dad come to life.  It's not about the corn... it's about  this beautiful family, who had a million things that could have been done that day that was more fun, more exciting, more fulfilling - but chose to carry on something we all treasure.  Corn Day. Dad, I know you were grinning over there quietly in the corner.  You haven't come to talk to my heart yet since you left, but your presence was everywhere on the hearts of my children, my family that I love, and that I know you love too.  Until next year, please pass the butter, the salt and those stupid things you stab into the ends of the corn so you can eat it without 3rd degree burns on your fingers..... harvest memories, and your shelves will be full always and forever. 

Abundance.....

Seriously folks - have you ever seen anything so dang cute?

My cute daughter in law, Bethany (currently harboring my next

beautiful grandchild due in December) took the cutest pics for me.

This just has to be my favorite.

Don't touch me

She's breathing on me

I'm being so perfect

Is anyone holding my head up?

 

Moments in life that

make Life worth while

right here folks,

In Abundance....

 

 



Some good 'Old' news... (:

Hello there.... ya it's just me.  I'm missing my blog and the opportunity to write from my heart.  I thought I could take a huge chunk of my blog and explain my feelings but I have found them to be extremely personal and quite painful still.  But there are such wonderful things going on around me that it's important for me right now in my little corner of the world to freaking start cheering for life again.  So I made some changes... and I like them... let me share what's been going on.

 

I have always felt like I was just a seriously loser mom in the fact that all of my kids have Bachelors and some even Masters Degrees from a Major University (BYU and UofU)(We bleed both colors).  It was joyful and painful to see them walk those stages, knowing that I would never get the chance to do that.  But perhaps I could at least make an effort to make a difference in the world somehow.  I've worked retail for 12 years - and I became totally numb to the fact that this was just how it was going to end for me.  Then one day I got really really mad.  I took all of my money I'd stashed away and paid for my CNA/Phlebotomy/BLCPR certifications.  I was prepared to move on - and then my dad died and it all stopped just after completing the courses.  3 days after the funeral, I took my state exams and nailed them - shocking even myself.  I applied at several assisted living centers - turned down Hospice Care, and was hired by a wonderful little place close by my home.  I fell in love with all of the people that took the time to show me the ropes, help me complete my Med Tech training, and give me the courage to quit my retail job.  I will certainly miss my sweetest ever friends from the store, and the memories of crazy times there - but it was time to move on.  In one week - I was hired, quit my job, started a new one - made the shifts I needed desperately, and started my new challenge.  I haven't killed any old people yet - but I'm sure there will be plenty of chances to do just that.  I didn't say anything to many people - because I thought I would fail.  I'm not one to be yahooing too much about succeeding.  But that old cliché, "When God closes a door - he opens a mall somewhere else..." really fit the bill here.  I'm kinda really freaking old - and I don't have a great desire to rack up a 13,000 school bill for my nursing degree just to be too old to work it - but until that day comes - I've felt more love from 60 over 80 year olds that I've ever felt before.   Just as you turn out the light after you've tucked them into their beds they say, "Nicole, will you be here tomorrow?"  I remind them that I wouldn't miss being here - because I've waited forever to do just this little thing I call, mattering.  Thank you mom and dad for teaching me all of those old songs - they are like golden nuggets of comfort for little old people that no one comes to visit.  Never felt so old - never felt so happy, never felt so good.  Now... every time I see the little old lady walking down the hallway with her purse waiting for her family to come, it's my mom to me - and I cry like a baby.  Somewhere - someone is taking gentle care of her I pray.  I promised my kids I would never get old - but until then I'll care for those that didn't make the same promise.  Sorry... I should have made this "Brief" but how about from now on we get off the pity party posts - and have some good old fun eh?  Thanks for your patience.  I'm back.