EVERYONE NEEDS AN AUNT JOAN

Almost from Day One, Vale had been asking to go visit Great-aunt Joan. Finally, we got the opportunity to spend six days with her. Of course there are lots of cousins, "kinda" cousins, a big trampoline, Scnauzer puppies, fresh corn on the cob, pvc pipe swords, bikes, unlimited candy dish, etc., etc. at Great-aunt Joan's, but that's not the big attraction! The BIG attraction is that since Uncle Steve was in eighth grade or thereabouts, Aunt Joan has been a player of video games and of one game in particular--Zelda. In spite of a heavy workload, many, many interests, Joan has conquered almost all of the Zelda cames on the market; she admits to being a bit compulsive about it! So, the scene in the picture on the left was enacted many times. If Aunt Joan was not with Vale, his cousin, Marissa was. It made for a week of total attention for Vale.

Everyone needs an Aunt Joan. Joan patiently got Vale out of the pitfalls and snares that the little character in Zelda found himself in. Sometimes, she made him read and re-read the cheat sheets to find the solution; other times, she gave broad hints of solutions, and at times she gave him the answer immediately. She didn't judge Vale nor demean him while they spent their time together. Most of all, she was interested in what Vale was doing. All of us need someone like that to be in our corner, cheering us on. When there isn't a real person--a spouse or a good friend, there is always our Father in Heaven who is our constant cheerleader. He only needs our invitation to walk with us through the pitfalls and snares of our lives.

All is well here. The summer is winding down. Dad has built the first stage of a very impressive sun deck. Now, he has wood to stack and rocks to gather. Vale goes home on Saturday, and it's none too soon for him. He says he must be very sick because he wants to go to school. I have a new assignment--a temple assignment--and am privileged to attend the temple all day once a week with a group of ladies from the ward!! Yesterday, I was sitting in the foyer of the temple, daydreaming, and I heard a voice say, "I know you. You're related to me. You're my aunt." It was my niece, Nadine, who was on a romantic getaway with her husband! Life is full of the tender mercies of God. We must look for them and then pass on our tender mercies to others as Aunt Joan did for Vale. Love from here. Mom

Of Rescued Birds, Taut Strings, and Painted Rocks

I know that you're wondering why I took pictures of my sewing machine, but I wanted to make a point. For a number of months now, I've been struggling with my sewing machine--irregular stitches, clogged up bobbin, etc., etc. I've been using the size spool you see in the first picture. It seemed to be working well. I took the machine in for a cleaning and a repair!! The repairman carefully explained to me that the spool I was using was not compatible with my machine even though it fit correctly and seemed to be working just fine. "Too much tension, too much pressure on the bobbin, etc., etc. Too tight," he told me in broken English. $140 later for cleaning, repair, a new bobbin case, and the simple wire gizmo you see in the other picture, I now have a happy sewing machine and a point well taken. Sometimes in this modern world, even though everything seems to be going all right, fits fine, looks good, our priorities have wound us up too tight! Somewhere and sometime our too tight tension will manifest itself in ways we don't like--tears, illness, poor decisions. We need a wire gizmo like my machine got--a way to release our tension, loosen our taut strings. I know of many wire gizmos for life--Prayer, singing a song, lending a neighbor a hand, a good, deep down in the belly laugh, and an expression of love from someone who cares.

We are once again in Project Mode. Dad is re-doing the deck, which he's thoroughly enjoying--living out his dream but scares the pea wad out of me! I'm painting rocks and little items for the garden. Some of the rocks painted during the reunion were painted with the wrong kind of paint and had already faded and needed a re-paint. Once I got started, I painted some myself and benches that have been sitting around for years, and a bench or two. Look out world. I'm wicked with a paintbrush!! In the past six weeks, we've been to three wedding receptions, a baby shower, two bridal showers, and a 50th anniversary open house, so I've been busy making gifts. The "Warby" sampler is for a darling bride named Sara Lee who is a friend of Marie's and was our Institute student several years ago in The Dalles; the "horse" welcome sample is for Kelsey Torrey--yes Kelsey--who'll be married on Saturday; and the "Warren" sampler is for Mindi Brandt. It's always such a personal fulfillment for me to sit beside your dad in the evenings and stitch SOMETHING.






Another lesson learned this summer!! In our hurry to get Vale to his swimming lesson, we left the front door slightly ajar, and a little hummingbird flew into the house. The frantic bird was pecking at the window when we arrived home. It had amazingly knocked over one of the decorative plates on the dining room window valance. We tried several stratagems which only served to frighten the bird--a towel thrown his way to wrap him in, a blossom to lure him outside, gloved hands to hold him. Finally, Dad caught him and took him outside. There've been times that we've been like the tiny bird--out of our element, frightened and lonely, thinking there was no way out and not realizing that the help I needed was close at hand!! We need to look around us--Help, in many forms, is there. Am adding a wonderful quote I stole from Joe Gunter's blog site--Parting shot...Throughout our lives we will often miss our childhood home. We eventually realize that it is not our childhome home we miss...It is our childhood. Love to you all.....Mom

REUNION FINALE, WATERFALLS, AND THE END OF AN ERA

I snapped this precious picture just before the last of the troops headed home!! We still reflect on fun moments of the reunion. I packed some boxes to send to Tobin and Susan with the last of the gifts from Aunt Marie, and I tucked in some of the unpainted bird houses for their families' artists to finish!! I have a few rocks to paint! I still marvel at the diversity and beauty of the garden rocks. Some of the rocks have been placed in the garden, and some are waiting for a load of beauty bark to be spread so they can be placed. I hope we'll all reflect on the beauty of the garden always, but, even more, on the beauty of the bonding time we had as a family. Yesterday, we went to a 50th wedding anniversary open house for Dewey and Bettie Lafevers, and she mentioned that she hoped we would also dance at our 50th--which couldn't be far away. It gave me pause for reflection; our 50th is 13 years away!! Hopefully, we'll be able to polka at the celebration. Life does have a way of marching on. We must savor the moments one sage called "the moments that take our breath away." Family moments do that for me.

Poor Vale has had a rather boring time since the reunion, so Thursday, we decided to go on an outing. We thought we would visit Mark's favorite spot--Wahclella Falls near Bonneville Dam. The brochure describes the Falls as: "This is a nice family hike for any one with the ability to walk a mile, rest, and walk a mile back. The trail starts out very broad and easy, climbs a bit and has one or two steep spots, but overall it's quite easy. " For me the easy hike wasn't too easy, and we were often passed by other hikers, but we had a great time. We capped off the day with lunch at the "Mommy/Daddy Indian" restaurant in Cascade Locks.

Friday Dad started a project that he's just been itching to get to--the sun deck. I honestly couldn't watch!! My knees got weak every time I watched your seventy year old dad leaning over the edge to pull off another board!! I had more fun watching Vale watch Dad; he was a one man cheering section. He hoorahed for every board thrown into the junk pile and cautioned Dad if he got too close to the edge. It is odd to look out the window and not see the familiar railing--the end of an era.
Life is beautiful and wonderful. This has been a nostalgic week. We've attended a bridal shower, a 50th open house, and a wedding reception. In each case, we were able to visit with friends we haven't seen for a while and reminisce. Dad keeps saying, "I think I'm getting old!!" Our second mission ends officially on September 15. Although we've been asked to extend, we've declined. We're tired, and we feel that we can best serve the Lord by rejuvenating and resting. Of course, we won't stop. The ward needs people to fill callings, and there's always genealogy and temple work to do. Onward and upward, Senior Birdmen, as they say. We could serve the Lord every minute of every second of the rest of our lives and not repay Him for the rich and abundant blessings which He pours out to us!! Each of you is one of those blessings we have in such abundance. Take care. Love, Mom