What Have I Been Doing?

Playing with grandkids!

Dexter and I at Marina Park in Ventura, CA.

Making s'mores in the backyard,
 Jeremiah, the oldest.

Evelyn and Joseph
They're both going to Kindergarten in the fall.

Will - Age 3

Ammon - Age 3

Ryan

Eddie, the youngest,
 with his mother Wendy (Ricky's wife).

 All 8 of my grandchildren came visiting
with all of my children, except for Tommy
(Elder Blair) who's coming home Aug. 24th.

We Had Fun!

"Grandmas never
run out of hugs or cookies."
~Author Unknown

The Texan Missionary

Roll'n, Roll'n, Roll'n...

Move 'm on head 'm up

Head 'm up move 'm on...

Cut 'm out ride 'm in

Ride 'm in cut 'm out...

Roll'n, Roll'n, Roll'n...

RAWHIDE!

"Rawhide", 1958

Lyrics by Ned Washington

Composed by Dimitri Tiomkin

He left a Californian, but he's coming home a Texan. Yes! We have the official date - August 24th, Elder Blair will be returning.

We also have the date for a speaking assignment he's been given. Put it on your calendar:

August 29th,

9 a.m.

Sierra Ward Sacrament meeting.

Come Join Us!

Roll'n, Roll'n, Roll'n...

RAWHIDE!

Christmas In July

Each Christmas for the last two years we have submitted stories to our compilation titled, The Family from Yosemite.  Our gift exchange is the reading of these entries when we get together over the holiday. The boys (Rick and Bill) originally intended it to be a book of funny short stories about our family, but it has evolved with thoughtful writing of a more spiritual nature too like the one I submitted last Christmas.  Not that that's a bad thing, but we've talked and realized that a lot of the funny things that happen in our family are not stories per say, but comments.  Things that have been said in certain situations that end up earning a reputation in the family.  Some statements are even used again and again and then become, shall I say, BLAIRISMS, one-liners destined to be passed on through the annals of time.

The latest idea is to come up with a cartoon or illustration of an amusing comment or situation.  Billy sent me one to get the creative juices flowing.  Everyone in the family will be submitting a story and/or cartoon this holiday season.  This tradition has been an economical and thoughtful way to deal with Christmas gifts for our growing family, plus we're recording our family history one story/picture at a time.

I'm going to explain this illustration because if you're not in the family you probably won't get it.  If you know me, you know I can't hear.  And like my father before me would say, "I can hear, I just don't understand."  Meaning, he could hear something, but he didn't necessarily hear what your were saying.  I definitely follow suit.  There is plenty of fodder for mishaps having a conversation with me.  Here is Bill's illustration of one situation, my explanation follows:

One day Sammy had a little friend over to play.  After a while he came downstairs and asked if he could play on the computer.  I promptly replied, "No, we don't have any root beer.  Would you like something else to drink?"

He stood and looked at me with the funniest face and just stared for the longest time not knowing what to say.  I know I'm notorious for hearing things wrong.  It then dawned on me that I had made a mistake, so I started to laugh when I said, "You didn't ask for root beer did you?"    He shook his head.  I kindly asked,  "So what did you say?"

He said, "I just want to play on the computer."

I said, "Yes you may."  I then continued to explain my hearing problem to him.  He turned and happily skipped to the office where Sammy joined him - no root beer included. 

Billy asked if I was offended by his illustration of me.  NO, definitely not!  Billy has me looking right on with my crazy hair, hiking boots, sweats, and my beige sweater my mother's cousin crocheted for her many years ago.  It is so old and I still have it and as pictured I often tie it around my waist when I get hot.  What a life I lead . . . more to come in December.

"When someone in the family has a hearing loss,

the entire family has a hearing problem." 

Mark Ross, Ph.D.

WHAT THE HECK - A BUSHEL AND A PECK!

Wondering where I've been? Vacationing, gardening, trying to clean this house. Before we left on our little trip to see the cousins Hughie harvested all our peaches from our little peach tree. We were so surprised at our bounty. Good eating and I made a cobbler too boot.

Peaches galore from our little tree

Almost filling a laundry basket

Yummy, just like Grandma Cassie's,
my birthday cobbler instead of cake.

My mother use to sing this little tune:
"I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck
And a hug around the neck. . "
Words and music by
Frank Loesser

The Graduate

I'm late getting this info out - Janna graduated!  Also, about a month ago Janna received an award.  It was the Outstanding Female Drama Student 2010.  Here she is pictured with her drama teacher, Mr. Schmidt. She had drama all four years of high school and Mr. Schmidt was her teacher those four years. He was a big influence in her life and she feels she's a better person because of it.

  Lots of friends to say good-bye to.

The Indie crowd gathered once again for Janna's graduation
party a week before graduation.  It was at the Burgess house.  They supplied the place, we supplied the food, and Janna supplied the friends.  What a combination.  Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time and it was a nice prelude into her last week of grad rehearsals, saying good-bye, and the big day.

 
Khoa and Janna on the big day, May 27th.

Janna threw her hat before anyone else and must have screamed the loudest, "I've GRADUATED!"  We ended the evening as a family, out for dinner, talking.  The senioritis is cured.  Now it's time to move on to bigger and better things.

The BEST to you Janna! 

Janna after Seminary Graduation in May

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss 

"Who Am I Poppy?"

Teresa, our caregiver, comes to my father's home every morning and evening to take care of him. She does a lot of work tending to my dad.  He knows who Teresa is and is grateful for her care.  She is a great relief for our family.  In between, Cassie is there to assist my dad with his daily needs. She essentially "senior sits". We (Hugh, Becky, Janna, and I) rotate filling in here and there when needed, but Cassie is really the mainstay. Cassie also has her four entertaining boys to care for in the mix. What a household!  We are so thankful for her service.

Every day Cassie asks her grandfather if he knows who she is.  He doesn't or at least doesn't respond like he knows even though Cassie tells him every day. It is what it is; my dad has Alzheimer's.  Anyway, Cassie took a respite for a few days last weekend.  After she came home, my dad, who most of the time doesn't know who Cassie is, recognized her and even called her by name.  He seemed happy to see her.  She was so pleased by his awareness and energy.  They visited for awhile and Cassie took pictures of the happy moment.

Cassie with Poppy, happy because he knew who she was.

Poppy and Boys

“A true friend [/granddaughter]

knows your weaknesses

but shows you your strengths;

feels your fears but fortifies your faith;

sees your anxieties but frees your spirit;

recognizes your disabilities

but emphasizes your possibilities.”

 William Arthur Ward

Kate's Back!

My neice Kate is home from her mission.  Here's from her last letter:  I don't think it has quite hit me that this is all over and that I am entering a new stage of life. I am scared, but I am also excited to begin to exercise my faith and apply all that I have learned on my mission to my own life. I know that God answers prayers. I know he can give us direct revelation to help us. The more I ponder on the scriptures the more I know this is true. Nothing will bring us more happiness than the gospel. Something that Dad has always said is that the gospel is simple and as we do our best we will live with God again as an eternal family. I know that is true more now than any other time in my life. The gospel is simple. Gods plan is perfect! I love my mission with all of my heart and I will be forever grateful I made this decision. I know that my Heavenly Father is pleased with me. Thanks for all of your love and support! You are the best family and I will see you soon!

Here she is pictured with her parents, May 28th.  She's off the plane and into the arms of her mother.  What an exciting moment. Wish I could have been there, but we'll get to see her soon.  She'll be returning to BYU this summer. Can't wait to see her.  YOU'RE GREAT KATE!

A mission can serve as a standard for the rest of a returned missionary’s life. . . Almost daily, you can draw upon the experiences you had and the testimony you built during those days. . . Those who continue to nurture the personal growth that was so abundant in the mission field will one day be greeted by the Savior at the end of life’s mission with the words of divine approval: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:21.)

Bruce L. Olsen,
"Home from a Mission", Ensign, June 1991, 46

Good Citizens

 This month for the Student of the Month awards the emphasis was on Citizenship.  Mr. George, our principal, was happy to see some boys on the stand.  There were a handful of them with two times as many girls.  Sam and his classmate were two of the boys selected today from Mr. Nelsen's class.  Hugh and I were able to attend and enjoy the ceremony.

"This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened." John F. Kennedy

Catching Up!

Becky's Birthday last February

Becky looks a little peaked here.  It was soon after her birthday we found out she was anemic.  She's been through a lot, but doing better on iron therapy.  She's got some pink in her cheeks now.

Janna, Cassie, and Becky
Out-on-the-town for Janna's 18th B-day.
A belated, but fun party in April.
Us Blair girls and the Burgess girls
all rendezvoused for an Italiano meal.

New Awards
Sam's first Court of Honor as an 11-year old Scout

Dexter, getting too big too fast.  He's scooting around.

Ammon's 3rd B-day in April

Janna's friends at school decided to pull together their own prom.
I was impressed with their ingenuity.  Janna had a great time.

 

Janna and Alex off to spend the evening
with friends at the Indie Prom.
(Indie evidently means, Independent.)

Sierra Ward Laurels ready to head out to Mormon Prom

Janna and Mistie at the Mormon Prom

Joseph graduating from Jane Reynolds Park Preschool.
He's a big kindergartener next school year.

Here's some real scary!
Me before "The Ten Virgin" production in March.
I was a greeter.

"Time is what prevents everything
from happening at once."
John Archibald Wheeler

Growing Up!

Janna went to her final stake dance last night.  When she got home I asked the usual, "Did you have fun?"

Her reply was an automatic enthusiastic, "Yeah, it was great!"

She promptly walked out of the room, but then quickly turned and stepped back into the doorway.  Now she looked down and spoke with a melancholy tone, "No, it really wasn't.  I'm so old."

She is older.  It's time to move on.  Tonight was Seminary graduation.  This week is high school graduation and next Sunday she starts attending the singles ward.

"Growing up is a process, not an event."

Paul B. Jamison

Janna, Seminary Grad
Growing Up!

Happy Mother's Day For The Rest of Your Life

We've been looking for a car, but we weren't feeling pressured to buy one immediately. We knew we'd need to get something by August or so. We've been test driving, educating ourselves, and mulling over the pluses and minuses of a number of models. We'll the day finally came that we found what we were looking for, a 2008 Toyota RAV4. We're pleased with our purchase. I'm happy not to be driving our little red truck. Hugh's going to take it to work now. His car was totaled in March. Thankfully no one was hurt and Hugh wasn't driving.

Our New (Used) Car

Hugh and I don't give gifts to each other very often, but when we do get something that's a little over the top we say, "Merry Christmas or Happy Anniversary, etc. for the rest of your life." Anyway, with our purchase coming the day before Mother's Day, of course we're saying:

"Happy Mother's Day for the rest of your life!"

Wasting Money?

I always come prepared with filler as a substitute. Lots of times the work assigned by teachers is review, busy work which the children get through very quickly. Then I'm left hanging with nothing to do and as far as I'm concerned, nothing to do means an out-of-control class.

It's springtime! My latest project is an easy birdfeeder; peanut butter on a toilet paper roll, covered with birdseed, yarn for hanging and VOILA! - instant birdfeeder. Add a bird coloring page and we're filling time constructively plus I have some bird songs to boot. (It doesn't sound like much, but you would be surprised at what a thrill this gives a kid. The children might know how to do video games, but there are so many children who are unexposed to simple activities like this.)

Yesterday when we were making the birdfeeders an astute 4th grader said, "Mrs. Blair are you wasting your money on us?" I knew and she knew I was spending my money to do this activity, it obviously wasn't on the school district's tab, but I said,
"Well . . . I wouldn't put it that way. I'm providing you with an educational experience."

Yes, Mrs. Blair does spend her money in an attempt to make her subbing days go better. (I'd like to think I'm frugal about it.) I want it better for the kids, but I also want it better for me. I don't like being in situations I can't handle and I have had many a learning experience because of them. My theory is - Always Be Prepared!

Maybe it's just semantics, but I didn't like the word "wasting". It was eating at me as the day went on. I don't doubt that someone has said to this student that they didn't like "wasting their money" on her. I talked with the class at the end of the day and privately with the girl who had said something to me earlier. I made it perfectly clear that even though I'm a substitute I come prepared to give them the best educational experience they can have for the one day that I am there and yes, I may spend some of my own money, but I'm happy to do it.

I believe that every human soul

is teaching something to someone

nearly every minute here in mortality.

M. Russell Ballard,

“Teaching—No Greater Call,”

Ensign, May 1983, 68

The Truth Will Go Forth

We received our Mother's Day phone call from Elder Blair yesterday - 40 minutes worth. It was the best! It was so good to hear Tom speak of his missionary doings. I have no doubt that our home is blessed because of his missionary service. We felt it as our other sons served too.

Tom has returned to an area he served in earlier, Pearland. He's currently training a new companion, an already enthusiastic hardworking elder. And, he's on a bike which he hasn't rode much during his mission. He has about 3 1/2 months left of this wonderful experience of being a full-time missionary. Great things are happening in the Texas Houston South Mission.

I can't wait to go on a mission! The testimony of Tom and oh so many others, inspire me to go; and the missionary experiences I have now uplift and enrich my life. I love it!

We need increasing numbers of senior missionaries in missionary service. Where health and means make it possible, we call upon hundreds more of our couples to set their lives and affairs in order and to go on missions. How we need you in the mission field! You are able to perform missionary service in ways that our younger missionaries cannot.

What an example and a blessing it is to a family’s posterity when grandparents serve missions. Most senior couples who go are strengthened and revitalized by missionary service. Through this holy avenue of service, many are sanctified and feel the joy of bringing others to the knowledge of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ezra Taft Benson,

“To the Elderly in the Church,” Ensign, Nov 1989, 4

A Better Mother

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

You're the BEST!

I share this little story on what I hope is a Happy Mother's Day for you. Being a mother is certainly the hardest job ever and yet brings the greatest rewards.

Over the years as things have gone awry in my home for one reason or another, I find myself in the quiet of my room disturbed and crying; thinking somehow I must be a terrible mother, no doubt the infamous - worst mother in the world ever. But in spite of problems, I have always moved forward, pressed on, prayed, and hoped for the best.

A tender mercy has distilled upon me from heaven (April 11, 2010 to be exact). I'm always amazed and grateful for such blessings. I didn't even ask for it. I wasn't looking for it. And yet it came one Sunday morning, very, very quiet and very, very still. Really it had come during the aftermath of some recent turmoil and family concern. Again, during those times I'm always questioning myself, wondering if I had done and said the right thing. I'm in constant check, making sure my heart is in the right place and wondering, "Am I doing as Jesus would have me do?"

The Spirit whispered as I readied myself for church, "You're a better mother than you think you are." I paused. Can you imagine the peace that filled my heart, knowing full well from where this quiet declaration came. With my new found affirmation I savored each word, "YOU'RE A BETTER MOTHER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE!" I took a deep breath of relief with quiet happiness and satisfaction. Again, the gift of the Holy Ghost has brought me comfort and I continue to move forward, press on, pray, and hope with even greater confidence, happiness, and peace.

"When things go wrong in our lives, it is easy to lose all sense of perspective. We forget our divine inheritance, when we should remember that we come from heavenly parents who love us. We are impatient for instant solutions, when often it is the passage of time that will allow things to work out. We ignore or downplay our strengths and abilities, just at the time we should be recognizing and applying them."

David S. Baxter,

“Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy,”

Ensign, Aug 2007, 10–14

"You're a better mother

than you think you are."