Gratitude

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I love this painting by Norman Rockwell. Whenever I see it I wish I were at a table with my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins etc. My grandpa Smith died before I was born and my grandpa Sorum died when I was young. I do remember him--but I was always afraid of him. He didn't really care for kids much and my two memories of him are when he would stand out behind the back yard next to the brick wall and smoke, and then also when I would get up really early and sit at the table with him for breakfast-- just him and me-- and grandma would put a big bib on both of us and then serve us breakfast. Kind of a funny memory. I don't think we ever spoke to each other during breakfast. . . just ate and stared at each other. Any way, I have so many things to be thankful for. Here are a few:

Family is #1 of course! Kyle--working hard and making it on his own. Kevin--being such a good daddy and working hard to pay bills and provide. Faith--working so hard and being so patient as a wife and mommy. Jessica--such a good mommy and keeping such a fun record of her daily activites! Mark-- working so hard so that Jess can stay home with the girls.

Snow (we just got a little today).

The new heater that makes our home so toasty---- thanks sweety!

My girly friends who I can totally be myself with. (they are either being really nice or they are as crazy as me !?)

Hot showers.

Diet Rite. . . all flavors.

Sotto Pelle (it's wonderful to finally be hormonally

balanced) :).

Small handprints everywhere once again.

The hug of little arms around my neck.

Good books.

Really good movies.

A wonderful job.

A husband I can count on, talk to, play with, cry with,

laugh with, travel with, sit and do nothing with.

And most of all, my Heavenly Father who knows my needs and my wants, and who has showered me with tender mercies.

My cup is filled to overflowing and I can never ever return in kind what has been given to me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Horrible Silence\

Dear Addie and Callie,
Our house is so quiet since you left. We sit and listen and cannot hear a sound.

The bathtub toys are waiting for water and bubbles and little hands to splash and play.



The little stool in the bathroom has no little feet to lift.



The peoples are waiting to ride in the car, eat their yummy lunch, ride in the little red wagon and go to the peoples park to play.



Your beds are empty (except for bear)



And baby waits for someone to hold her in their little arms and sing pretty songs in her ear and take her on walks through the house in her stroller.



Our house is horribly silent. We can't wait to see you this weekend.
Love Always and Forever,
Mimi and Papa
xoxo

Catching Up

It has been one year since I set this blog up. The problem was. . . Jessica doesn't live here to show me how to do it. She is teaching me today, and we'll see how I do.

In the last year:

I went to school at Pima Medical and became a Phlebotomist (vampire).

I took a job at Summit Health Care--which i LOVE!!

Kevin married Faith (who we all love!)

We have a new grandbaby - - - Ellery Lynn Walker

Addie turned 3

Callie turned 1

Mark graduated from ASU--Woo Hoo!

Jessica is her wonderful, talented, crafty self!!!!! (her blogspot: http://mhig36.blogspot.com/)

Jeff and I visited Seattle, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Palmyra, Kirtland, and Niagra Falls

I visited more of my "birth" family that I had not met yet.

Kyle moved to Huntington Beach, California and is working at a debt consolidation firm.

And. . . . .

Jeff sold the business and then had to take half of it back. So much for retiring :)

Here are some pics of our trip to NY:

Leaving the valley. . . I hate flying, but the view is amazing!

We landed in Buffalo and drove to the Canada side of Niagra Falls.

We decided to stay at a Bed and Breakfast -- never have before--It was o.k. but I don't think we will do it again. We are not huge breakfast eaters, and they fed us an enormous amount of food!

This is my Uncle Ron and my Aunt Vinnie. Ron is my birth mom's older brother. We had such a nice visit with them. Vinnie has more energy than the Energizer Bunny!!!!

Vinnie makes these Banana Peppers and cans them. She pulled a jar out to have with lunch, and Jeff could not get enough. It was embarassing :) He just loved them! She gave me the recipe and I came home and bought all the stuff I need to make them. I think I will stick a jar in Jeff's stocking for Christmas! ho ho

My Uncle Ronnie is such a sweet man! He has been through so much with his health, but he is in good spirits and is a delight.

Ron and Vinnie took us to a Pumpkin Farm. It was fun. There were lots of interesting things to see--animals, pumpkins galore, and some pretty interesting squash too. . . .

Yep. . . it's a Butternut!

This is the store that Uncle Ronnie used to work at. It is very nice. Kind of like an A.J.'s in Arizona--but bigger.

Niagra Falls. SOOOOO Cold!!!! The weather was bad (sleet and rain). If we got close enough to really see down, we would get soaked. The spirit was willing but the body just couldn't do it! We found a road that gave us a pretty good view out of the way of the mist. Kind of frightening to hear and see it.

We went to dinner with Ron and Vinnie, and my cousin Bill and his girlfriend. It was a great place with huge fish aquariums. It was a wonderful night. Bill is a musician and works at a historical production theatre in Buffalo.

This is Ron and Vinnies daughter (my other cousin) Mary Kay and her husband Paul. We visited them for a day. What a wonderful time we had! They are WONDERFUL! They are AMAZING! They are huge hunters. Mary Kay hunts with a bow. They have two boys; Ronnie and Paulie. They live on 40 wooded acres and Paul built their home. They were married on Halloween and they dress up every year and go to a party. I hated to leave. I felt like I had known Mary Kay all of my life. I do wish I lived closer to her--we would have a great time!

So easy to talk to. So easy to be with.

Mary Kay grows these fun flower pods in her yard. She calls them Jackolanterns! She gave me some cuttings to bring home---I hope they grow!

This was the B&B we stayed at near there home--- it is very old, and very awesome!

The Kirtland Temple. Just in awe to be where the church began!

Jeff inside the Newel K. Whitney store.

The fall view from the window of the upstairs room used for the "school of the prophets".

The kitchen that Emma used. This was here favorite China!

In Palmyra-- this was the upstairs bedroom of the prophet Joseph Smith, where he was visited three times by the angel moroni and shown where the ancient record was buried nearby.

Jeff and I were the only ones in the Sacred Grove. What a peaceful, beautiful experience.

At the Smith farm with the Palmyra Temple peaking through the fall trees.

What a wonderful trip! Family, Church History, Beautiful fall leaves.

Ellery

Meet
Ellery Lynn Walker
4 months old
cute as a button
getting bigger every day!
the apple of her daddies eye
a sweet little blessing

This hat definitely has "daddy" written all over it!!!!
I am pretty sure Kevin wore this style of hat his jr. year???!!!
Well, it wasn't pink though :) and it didn't have a tassle on top!! :)



"We are a happy fam-i-ly"