Still Learning

I can't ever remember the order to put things in so that they read correctly. Perhaps you, the reader, can pretend it is a puzzle that you are putting together ^.^

A New Life for the Trailer

Steph was right by Art the whole time handing him things, measuring and helping tear out and clean. I think they did a fantastic job. I can't wait to get a mattress that fits and new curtains then we'll be ready to "sail"

Trailer After Trashed Floor - Before New

The summer that we left for China we decided that we did not need the huge 32' 5th-wheel that we lived in on our mission so we decided to try to sell it and get a smaller trailer that we could pull behind the truck while the 4-wheeler could ride in the truck bed. We didn't have any luck with a sale so decided we would trade for something of close value. It ended up that a local couple had a 1999 trailer that they wanted to trade for our 1996. Theirs was worth a little less than ours but we knew that the value of the 5th wheel would go down while it sat while we were in China so we decided to make the exchange. They were not at home when we went to see the trailer but they sent some pictures and it looked nice and cared for. (They must have been pictures that the previous owner had sent to them because when we got it it was trashed in many ways.) The water heater didn't work and they said nothing to us about it although we were just installing a new one in the 5th wheel as they arrived to pick it up. The original carpet had been torn up in the living area. It looks from this photo like they had just planned to paint the floor but a cheap, rubber backed navy blue rug had been stapled in place. The vinyl in front of the bathroom had been torn and patched and the carpet in the bedroom was so filthy that I spent over an hour on a 1' x 5' section to even feel like it was clean enough to use. It was faded and dirty still. The 24' trailer was white vinyl, navy carpet, torn and patched white vinyl and a faded blue carpet in the bedroom.

We were able to hire Art to come down and ruin his knees. Hopefully it was good for them financially and it certainly was for us with work and projects done. He did a wonderful job of tearing out the old and putting in the new.

New Awning

Last Fall we purchased awnings for our east and west windows in the kitchen. It was so close to winter that we decided to wait until spring to put them up. It is still too muddy in the back to put up the big, motorized one but Art and Mike hung the east one this morning. I am going to love being able to have all of the natural light in the room without the sun glare and when we get the big one hung it will make an amazing difference with the heat in the room in the summer.

It Was Fun to Get to Have the Boys Here

They spent lots of time upstairs playing in the toy room and watching videos but did get to enjoy some other activities, too.

Things are Looking up in the Yard

I don't have a picture for the final, wonderful project but Art, Steph and Mike (with a little help from me) gathered all of the cement that our builder had left in piles in different places in our yard and Mike and Art took it to the dump. The yard is really getting to look better already!

Mike put netting up in the ceiling above the porch and we no longer have birds leaving their droppings and I have recovered the seats for the redwood swing and it now has blue and white pillows.

A Special Gift

Hawthorne Trees



Friday two of my friends came by with an envelope with a sympathy card and quite a bit of money. Six couples in our Ward had donated and told us that instead of giving us a plant they wanted us to buy a tree to plant in rememberance of Mom. I immediately thought of the tree in Mom and Dad's back yard that they loved so much because it had three beautiful seasons. Today the name of the tree came to my memory and we will buy either one or two of these trees and plant in our front yard. Every time we look at them we will not only be able to remember Mom and Dad but also the dear friends that were so thoughtful at this time. Mt Pleasant has been good to and for us.

A Cute Picture of My Sweetheart

Although I don't like this picture of myself I think it is so cute of Mike that I wanted to post it anyway.

My Beautiful Mother Leaves Her Earthly Existence

The girls in the family after a wonderful "grandma memory" meal of Danish dumplings, Swiss bread, and chocolate bundt cake.

The Funeral Program

Click on images to enlarge.

Mom's obituary was published on the back of the funeral program.

Dad, Margaret, Ralph and Mom

The most difficult time of the funeral for me was leading the grandchildren's choir. I have lead choirs in front of the Prophet, a govenor, and thousands of people but I felt more uncomfortable leading for my family. Along with being a very intelligent and talented group of people they are also vocal and opinionated. A few things were said that made me feel pressured and then just before my talk Charlotte told me that the composer was in the audience. They did a great job. The song is beautiful and I felt it was a lovely tribute to Mom from all but two of her grandchildren. Music was a wonderful way for them to pay tribute to her.

The composer is Ralph Woodward, Jr. (Chip). Mom and dad were very good friends with his parents Ralph Woodward, Sr. and Margaret.

The only picture of the five siblings that day was after the dedication of the grave.

The weather gave us a wonderful break for the day of the funeral. You can see that my beautiful daughters have light coats and sweaters on and the grass is green behind them. (That wouldn't have been the case had we been in Mt. Pleasant.) We were very blessed.