Games Over, New Grandbaby

I made it through another busy week and lived to tell about it. Tristyn had her last two volleyball games and is now moving on to college ball next year. She has played on the Varsity team for all four years and had over a thousand kills. For those who don't know what a kill is, it's a spike that isn't returned by the other team. I love watching her play because she is such a team player and tries really hard every game. She has had some challenges in her playing career. Some of her coaches tried to ruin her self esteem, but she rose above that and hopefully is a better person having gone through her trials. Trace had his last football game and it is fun to watch him play. Sometimes it seems like we are starting all over again watching the grand kids. It brings back lots of memories that's for sure. On Wednesday I got a call that Annie was in the hospital having their baby. She finally delivered a nine pound baby girl in the afternoon. She is one of the prettiest babies I've seen in a long time. I only wished they lived close enough for me to go see her but with them living in Montana it may take a while before that happens. This makes an even twenty grandchildren for us and I think all my kids are done having babies. Twenty is a lot and we are so blessed with every one of them. Today is Halloween and it's my favorite Grandma's birthday. I was hoping Annie would have her baby on Grandma Fern Turley's birthday because with all the grand kids, not one has been born on Halloween. She was a special person who had a very hard life but never complained. I strive to be just a little bit like her. She passed away while I was at BYU in 1974, boy how we've missed her.

Halloween With Grandchildren

I've been home from California for a week now and have been working hard to get my house back together again. I've been busy doing laundry, ironing Rich's shirts, and trying to catch up on my sleep deprivation. It was extremely hot in California and I slept in an upstairs room with no air conditioning, so it was good to get home.  On Thursday afternoon Mindi and Dave left for a Conference in Utah. They have five children from the ages of 17 to 4 so it's not like they have a bunch of little kids. I got up really early yesterday morning to get the kids off to school. One did make it to school but the other three complained of everything from sore throats to unknown maladies. I was so stressed out that I texted Mindi and said, "you need to deal with them because they don't respond to me." All I heard back was "ok". After I went in my bedroom and had a good cry, I returned to her house and started a mandatory "pickup drill." They were pretty good to help me with the dishes and laundry before I finally gave up and went to my house to try and get something done there. Can I just say that I sure admire those grandparents that have had to raise their grandchildren because of situations they didn't expect. I will just be glad when their parents get home tomorrow so they can deal with their children. I don't like the responsibility and hate having to get upset with them before they will help. It hasn't helped that the girl that helps me clean my house hasn't worked for almost a month because she has a bad foot. Yesterday Ethan invited us out to his Ward's "Trunk or Treat". I thought it would be fun to take the kids somewhere since they were feeling MUCH better in the afternoon. Ethan has always wanted to be the scary clown from the Steven King's movie, "It". I've never seen it because I'm a chicken but he had someone make his costume after I refused to. He filled up lots of balloons and gave them to the kids, which I thought would be too scared to even go by him but they weren't. This Halloween has been fun so far spending some time with the Wootans at Disneyland and then last night with Ethan's family. I will be glad after next week when we move on to pomegranate picking and Thanksgiving, if it would just cool down so I can get in the mood for the holidays that would help.

Home From California

I had so much fun in California last week but boy is it good to be home. I was running out of clean underwear and that would be horrible if that happened.  We left at around noon yesterday and pulled into Phoenix at around 6:30. The weather had been horrible at the beach, hot and humid and it didn't start to cool off until we were getting ready to leave. This summer has been a doozy for me.  I had surgery in July and then left for Montana, where I stayed for almost three weeks. I suffered through the heat up there too and then came home for a couple of months. Then I went with Candi's family to California. I've had such a fun time with my kids and grand kids. I have felt a little guilty leaving Rich here to work but he got his own vacation when he went to Italy in May for eleven days.  We probably should have gotten to know each other better before we got married because it just seems like we don't enjoy the same things in life. I love animals and my family and he loves to work (to support the family) and his church callings. Maybe we balance each other out a bit but someday I hope to be able to go on a trip with him that doesn't involve airplanes or foreign countries. Rich is a mover and shaker and has to be busy doing something all the time.  He would have hated just relaxing on the beach and watching the waves.  The third time we went to the beach we went late in the afternoon and stayed until almost dark. The life guards pulled up behind where we were sitting and put a wooden stake in the ground. My son-in-law B.J. went over to see what it said. He came back and told the boys to get out of the water. I guess earlier in the afternoon they saw a ten foot hammerhead shark just out from where we were sitting. The sign said, "Due to aggressive shark activity the beach is closed." Okay they didn't say anything to us and I sat there and watched surfers for hours in the water wondering if I would see a shark attack at any minute. While I've been traveling and staying with family I have really learned a lot about myself and gained a better appreciation for this country we live in. The beauty of it amazes me and I wish I knew more about the oceans and mountains. Yesterday as we traveled home it was cloudy and raining as we entered Arizona. The skies were black and it looked like we were going to get in a really bad storm. It did rain a little bit on us but as I looked over there was a double rainbow so I had Major take a picture through the window. I'm glad to be home and probably will be staying home for a long time.

California Adventure

I have had the best time with Candi's family in California. Yesterday we went to Disneyland for the Trick or Treat with Mickey Party.  I have been worrying for a while how I would do with the crowds, long lines, and the heat.  We were lucky that everything worked out and we had a great time.  We didn't get home and in bed until 1:00 a.m., and I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a truck.  I have to admit I went into the night pretty naive to what was about to happen to me. We started out on an easy ride, Buzz Lightyear. Then next we headed to Star Tours.  How hard can that be sitting in a enclosed area watching a movie with 3D glasses.  Oh my heck, that ride made me know why I don't get in an airplane.  We then went to Space Mountain where during and after I truly thought I was going to die. Being in the dark going 30 miles per hour was terrifying to me and is definitely off my bucket list. After we went to the Pirates of the Carribean and the Haunted Mansion, we decided to get something to eat, rest and watch the fireworks which were amazing. We finished the night off by getting candy and going on our final ride, Thundermountain Railroad, which sealed the deal that I will never go on another roller coaster in my life.  I feel like I need a chiropractic adjustment and a day of rest.  We are going on a Duffy boat ride in the harbor tonight and then heading home tomorrow.  It has been extremely hot and humid this week but overall it has been a blast.

A Fun But Emotional Week

This week has flown by just like the others lately.  I visited my sister in the hospital after her knee replacement, went to three of Tristyn's volleyball games and was with her and her parents when she received her patriarchal blessing. It's been a busy and emotional week. I know I'm getting old because my grandchildren are going to be going away to college and someday, hopefully not too soon, I will be a great-grandma.  Ugg! Tomorrow I will be leaving to go with Candi, B.J. and the boys to California for a week.  I usually go with them in the summer but because Candi and I both had surgery, they invited me to go with them now. I plan to relax on the beach, celebrate B.J.'s birthday and go Trick or Treating with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland.  I have woken up a couple of mornings  in tears, worrying about whether I should go or not. I had such a hard time with homesickness while visiting Montana this summer that I'm almost afraid to leave home again. The good thing is that it's not too far away and I have an exit strategy this time. Sometimes I feel guilty leaving Rich here alone, but he will be working his fifteen hours a day six days a week anyway, and I don't think he felt bad at all leaving me for ten days when he went to Italy this summer. I'm kind of a tit for tat person. While listening to Conference last weekend I've decided to try and make some changes. Sometimes I have trouble with my mouth and say a few cuss words.  I am going to try really hard to clean up my language as suggested by one of the speakers.  I also am trying to do better with not judging others and trying to see them the way the Savior does. At times that is really hard for me as I wonder why people are the way they are. I know I'm far from perfect but it's hard sometimes for me to just accept people the way they are. Candi called me last week while she was turning her hair pink. I know she is a hairdresser and the big thing it to change hair colors all the time. I know I'm an old fuddy duddy but the thought of walking around California with cotton candy colored hair is a little bit embarrassing for me. Anyway, it is California and I'm sure there will be some weird looking folks over there too, we will fit right in.

Mell's Knee Replacement and Angel Mother

I just got home from the hospital visiting my sister who had knee replacement surgery yesterday morning. My nephew's wife Victoria picked up Mom in Scottsdale, came by to get me and we went to see Mell. She looks better than I thought she would and seemed to be feeling okay, probably with help from the painkillers they have been giving her. We stayed for a while, helped her wash her face,  brush her teeth and when some other family came we left and went to lunch. The only time I'm sure Mom eats is when she is with one of us kids. I wish I never had an appetite and could starve myself, it would be way easier to fit into my clothes. Unfortunately, I got my Dad's genes of always being hungry and enjoying a good meal.  As I looked at my sister in her chair with her pale skin and glasses on she reminded me so much of my Dad.  When I mentioned it to Mom how much she resembles him, she agreed.  I really enjoyed listening to Conference this weekend. I took notes the first day and had two pages of things I wanted to remember. There were several talks that made me cry, especially Elder Holland's talking about mothers.  I don't think many moms feel they are doing everything right and I know the feeling of being "not good enough" has lived in my brain for many years. I do think most mothers really do try and do the best they can and that should be good enough. I know I was blessed with an angel mother and will forever be grateful for her. Almost every time I talk to her about my worries and trials she always says, "things will work out." Someday she will join Dad in Heaven and I will sure miss her encouraging words, so I will just enjoy everyday she stays here with us.

More Games and Conference

I've spent the last week going to volleyball games of my grandchildren. It gives me a change of pace and out of the house. Last week we played Mesa High where my cousins children have all gone. It was fun to have them come to Highland and they even picked up my Mom.  On Tuesday we played Queen Creek so Jen brought her seven kids and we watched Tayler play.  This is Tristyn's senior year so this is her last season unless she decides to play in college. Rich is leaving for Utah in the morning to go to his missionary reunion. He was suppose to leave this morning but he needed to stay and work today.  I'm excited to stay home and listen to Conference. I'm hoping to get some inspiration to some of my concerns, we will see if that happens for me.