GRANDFATHER CUTS LOOSE THE PONIES

My thoughts have been on little boys today. What a pleasure it is to have children and grandchildren and a great-grand or two sprinkled in as well. I love all my grandchildren and think of them and pray for them constantly, but three of them have distinguished themselves this week in my reminiscences. The first is TJ--Thomas Jordan Jensen. TJ is ten, and he is becoming quite a wonderful young man. During my recent visit, I enjoyed TJ's quick wit, and I witnessed a sweet expression of TJ's compassion and sense of humor. I was at one end of the kitchen table clipping coupons, Toby, TJ's four year old brother, at the other building a lego airplane. (As you can see from the picture above, the Jensen men are gadget guys. The Eiffel Tower was built by dad, Eric.) TJ sat in the middle playing with his transformers. Toby was talking to me in a non-stop chattering that I was having a hard time following and responding to. TJ advised, "Just say um-huh and Yeah a few times, and he'll think you understand what he says." I wondered how many times TJ has had to say Um huh and Yeah as he's patiently listened to his little brother!! Suddenly, Toby burst into tears, having just discovered that Mom and Dad were gone, and he was alone with Grandma, who, at that point in our visit, was not his favorite person. No amount of hugs and kisses would persuade him that I was his friend! TJ tenderly took Toby's hand, leading him upstairs to the comfort of his favorite movie. Maturity and compassion in a ten year old!!

I thought of Vale, our twelve-year-old grandson, when we pulled into this mini-mart in Toppenish during a recent visit to my sister. The store is located on the Yakama Indian reservation and is rather non-descript when you approach it from this angle. When Vale was about three, he and I made a trip to Aunt Joan's and stopped at the Yakamart. Vale informed me that he'd been here before, but I was sure he'd been too little to remember any earlier trips. "No, no, Grandma," he stubbornly replied. "It wasn't a store then. I was here in my other life when I was an Indian warrior, and this was a field where I was taking care of my grandfather. He was the Indian chief, and he was dying. I fought for him." A lot to ponder, since Vale really had no way of knowing that this station is on the reservation.

As you drive around the Yakamart, the depictions of life among the Yakama Indians cover every wall of the building. Hmmm...On that particular trip, I took Vale to see this impressive monument:

According to an article in "The Oregonian" by Terry Richard, hundreds of drivers traveling on busy I-90, near the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River, have seen the rusted steel, life-size sculpture of 15 wild horses (1989) on a ridge above the Columbia River. The 200-foot line of life-size charging horses captures a mystical spirit from a time when real wild horses roamed the steppes. However few realize the horses are only half the sculpture planned by the artist, 57-year-old David Govedare of Chewelah, Washington. Govedare had plans from his conception of the sculpture to add a "great basket" to illustrate his vision of Grandfather (the Great Spirit) spilling wild ponies out of the basket as a gift to the planet.

Vale proceeded to tell me all about these ponies. "They're spirit ponies--see they don't have all their bodies. Heavenly Father gave them to us so we would have their help." Wisdom from a three-year-old!!

We witnessed a winter dusting of frost on Satus Pass when we came home from Joan's. A reminder that it is not yet Spring, and Old Man Winter was warning us that he isn't through with us yet!! As I write this blog, a new winter storm is drifting our way in spurts and fits. I'm counting the days until I wing my way to Guam!!

We are well. Life is very comfortable for us at this point in our lives. We laugh a lot; cuddle a lot, and remind ourselves of all that we have at the hands of a Beneficent God. Hope all of you are counting the "spirit horses" God has given you. Cheers. Mom

WHAT CAN ONE WRITE ABOUT ON A COLD JANUARY DAY?

One could write about grandbabies. Here's a funny picture of Miss Julianna at about 3am when she was supposed to be ASLEEP for Grandma. I exaggerate--it was nearly midnight, but it felt like 3am to this old lady. I had a wonderful vacation at Susan's with their family. I missed many Kodak moments because I couldn't get off the couch with Julianna and find my camera fast enough. I also had a dress rehearsal for traveling by myself, and I did great. I think I can handle my trip to Guam, but, if anyone has some advice for traveling by myself and for what to bring along, feel free to let me know.

Or one could write about missing an important birthday for January. Our Ann Margaret was born in January; in fact, on this day in 1981. She would be celebrating her 28th birthday. We have only one tiny picture of Annie which can't be copied very well because Grandma W. used a camera with tiny negatives. This lack is a real lesson for all of us. TAKE PICTURES! Cameras and, particularly, film is cheap nowadays, and pictures of loved ones are priceless.

Another opportunity for a cold January day entry is Dad's love for his critters--birds, squirrels, quails...I tried to get some pictures this morning as he faithfully filled the many bird feeders around the yard, but they were too blurred. About a week ago, we were standing in the kitchen watching the fat little quails waddling around the yard, barely able to walk, when a huge hawk swooped down and grabbed one. The swoop was so instantaneous that all we could do was scream and yell. Fortunately for the little quail, the hawk was thrown off balance and fell to the ground, losing the quail. Hooray!! In fact, Dad even confided that he may have found a good substitute for the dog he's been wanting for the last few years. These critters don't have to be babysat if one wants to go off for a small vacation, and they don't bother the neighbors or foul up the yard.

So, life is calm and quiet for us. The snow is gone, but it's cold and very windy. We're hearing there's a snowstorm coming in on Sunday. We're so grateful for all of our blessings and pray for each of you!! Keep your sunny side up!! Love You, Mom

"Life is like a Rolls-Royce on a rocky country road, it's full of bounces and lurches, but you can't really complain about the seat."

January Birthdays, Trees of Life, Quilts, and Deaths

January Birthdays is actually a misnomer. There's only one family birthday: Heather's. Heather turns seven. All of us enjoy this sweet, outgoing little charmer. If you haven't read her blog, it's http://heatherchoosestheright.blogspot.com/. Especially read the wonderful entry called Story!! (You'll need to contact Susan for a password for Heather's blog.) Heather is also a budding book reviewer. See her very first book review at: http://blogginboutbooks.blogspot.com/

Trees of Life is the Mutual activity that Dad and I helped out on for New Year's Eve. In spite of being "murdered"???(I think he didn't understand the whole Book of Mormon Tree of Life analogy), Vale made it blindfolded through the great and spacious building,taunting from "the world," and mists of darkness by holding onto the rod of iron. He met Grandpa and Grandma at the Tree of Life!! If Vale's reaction is even a tiny, tiny reflection of what our greetings from loved ones will be in the hereafter, it will be worth being good. He was so glad to see us.

Quilts After months--maybe six--Harmony's quilt is winging its way to Guam. Grandchild number four's quilt is done. Ethan's is next; then Heather's. Both of those are in the planning stages!! Remember, this Grandkid Quilt Project is as much or, maybe more, fun for me than for the kids.

Death of an old friend. Our otherwise quiet winter days have been disturbed by the demise of an old, faithful friend--the kitchen stove. We figure that the stove is 20 years old, so old that there are no replaceable parts!! We're waiting three weeks for our chosen new stove to go on sale. The refrigerator is now rumbling, rumbling...will it leave us soon??

All around us, we hear of illness, difficulties, and financial woes. For those remember her, Mandy Richerson died a few days ago after a long battle with cancer. BUT, Dad and I are doing well. In fact, my big news is that, thanks to Dad and Ben and Marie, a trip to Guam is my Valentines' Day present!! It's almost too much for my old heart--Thursday I leave for Mesa to spend some time with Susan and family; then February 9, I'll get to see Marie and family!! I wonder where my summer clothes are!!? Off to pack. Love You All, Mom

My dear grandma used to say, because she was a bit of a worry wart herself, that "I know that worrying works, because 99 percent of the things I worry about never happen"