The end of November!

I was a little over-zealous this Thanksgiving season.  I attempted to post daily on two blogs, Instagram, and FB. Last year, I had a little book about gratitude and I tried to respond to each of the pages daily.  I think that was a better exercise.

And I'm not sure why I felt compelled to do so - I don't have that many blog readers - and all of them read either IG, FB or both!

Sometimes I don't express myself unless I have a "format."

Perhaps I should get over that.

I'm grateful for at least the focus on gratitude - it was helpful to me over the month.

I'm not "ready" for the upcoming Christmas season - but then I seldom am.  But it happens anyway - and it's usually a nice experience.

Love seeing my kids and grandkids all in one place. Love celebrating our anniversary together. Love trimming a tree. Love the carols and the Sing-along-Messiah. Love getting Christmas cards and packages in the mail.

Grateful for all there is to look forward to!

Happy Birthday Harry W!

Harry W. was born while Harry and Dawn were living with us - when their house was being remodeled.

 

It was a good few months - we enjoyed having a new baby in the house.

 

Eve enjoyed it too I think!

 

I always think I won't ever forget things, but I probably will - although I seem to have taken lots of photos - and they trigger memories.

But sharing a household has blessings and drawbacks - but I'm only remembering the blessings.

And now here's Harry W and he's 12!!

Behind - alas!

Had a great time spending a week with Alice and Dale in Guatemala - we do go way back - and it's nice to spend time with people you are comfortable with.

So grateful for happy relationships!

Grateful indeed!

I am grateful that I learned to crochet many years ago.  And that I was able to make a blanket for baby Jonah. And that Dawn and Harry wanted to wrap him in it in his little coffin.

It was the only concrete task I was ever able to do for him - and so glad I could do it!

More gratitude

Grateful that Bonny and Bruce's home continues to be spared - one more day is all we can ask for - til the next day!

The Smiles We Count On!

Grateful to Dr. Fong - and the lovely smiles he guaranteed for the Terrill kids!

Grateful for the love!

Bonny was - and still is - a wonderful big sister!

And I am grateful for her diligence at her post!

Gratitude

Grateful for the beautiful beaches in California.

 So many good memories are there.

 

Grateful for those who strive to protect our beaches and beautiful state from the ravages of fire and man and nature!

Passing the candle -

I'm grateful to be old enough to have witnessed a few "candle passings" in my life.  It was a big deal in the dorms where I lived - and it was fun to think about how it would be if it was you.

I never passed the candle - was out of the dorms - and actually not even at school when I got engaged.

But it was a fun time - and there are lots of happy memories connected to those years.

*****

I wonder if I should have used this photo to talk being grateful that we don't have to wear rollers to bed anymore!!

Still feeling grateful!

Harry and his sister Frances have a close, loving relationship.  I haven't seen too many siblings who disagree so little. And apparently they have always been that way. When Jim was alive, he was on board too.

I am certainly grateful for the good example this group of siblings is - and for Frances and all her love and attention.

Grateful for a great Grandpa!

Today is my dad's birthday. I am grateful that my children knew a wonderful grandpa.  I am grateful for his love for children.  I am grateful that he showed that love in so many ways:  making doll cradles, soothing fussy babies, telling stories, being a good man and a good example.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Day 6

I am grateful for the Maeser years at BYU when I taught freshman English and shared offices here with other grad students.

I don't remember a lot about teaching - those are pretty vague visions in my mind. But I do recall the conversations and the laughter and the camaraderie in the offices.

Sharing and caring and not having any idea about what lay ahead!

Forging ahead in the month of gratitude!

I taught school for over 20 years - and I mostly enjoyed it. If you have to work, I think teaching is a good gig!

You get all the school holidays, your actual work day is not real long, if you plan it right, you can be on the job with your kids, and, as Beverly at the Nursery School used to say, "It is work worth doing."

18 of those years were in the Resource program at Clifton Middle School. I had lots of experiences - and I should write them down I suppose.

But I came across this photo of Jonathan - whose Newton Scooter won the race that year.  Jonathan is on the spectrum, and was a good student.  He was usually co-operative - his difficulties were more unapparent to others. But he did get teased. And one year, he fell skateboarding and broke both arms! Just imagine the ordeal that was for a kid who didn't like anyone paying attention to him!

During the 8th grade year, the science classes had a Newton Scooter Competition - your car raced on gravity alone.  I did some research and supplied my students with a  lot of info that could help them make a winning car.  Jonathan was the only student who even looked at my suggestions - and ended up making one of the suggested vehicles. The other kids poked fun at him - and me I guess too.

Jonathan's car won! Hands down!

I am grateful for poetic justice!!

P.S. Jonathan works at the local Von's market now - I see him often - he is still delightful - and still remembers winning!

Day 4 of the Month of Gratitude

You have to look very close to see my dear friend Annie Burnham in the middle of this photo. My mom is at the end of the table - and I think Debbie is at the other end. The occasion was Noah's blessing and the location is our back yard.

I was assigned to visit teach Annie - and at first she would not let me in. But her grandson would come out on the porch and chat with us. I guess I wore her down, but one day she opened up the door - and I guess after that she figured she couldn't very well not let me in anymore!

Over many years I was with her for illness, the death of her son, the treachery of her daughter, her struggle with faith. Eventually we came to understand and trust each other. She had a great home teacher too, and together we got her back to church. (I suspected at one point that she didn't own a dress and was reluctant to come in pants - although no one would have looked askance. But sweet Brother Keller - her home teacher - had the same thought and went to Mervyns and bought her two dresses! What an insightful man!)

I grieved when she died.  In retrospect, I realize now that she was only 63! But I thought she was old! The happy ending is that I still see her grandson on occasion - he is an assistant manager at the local movie theater.

But I do regret that the above is the only photo I have of her!! Be sure to take pics of your friends.

I am grateful that we are assigned to serve others - others we would not serve otherwise!

"When the family gets together . . ."

Every other year - as we are driving to the Clayton Family Reunion - I swear that I'm not going to ever be in charge again.

But I suspect it wouldn't happen if I wasn't the one who made it happen.

And the few - or many - depending on the year - who come - seem to enjoy themselves.

I'm certainly grateful for the idea of family reunions - and that I have so much family to re-unite with!!

What to be grateful for?

I generally overkill! I thought I'd do a daily gratitude post on FB, Instagram, the Terrill blog, and my own blog. And I'm not even sure anyone even reads the blogs!

But that means coming up with 120 different things to be grateful for - unless I want to duplicate! I suppose the exercise is more for me than the possible readers - so let's see what I can come up with!

We just got back from a great trip to Chile - with Jim and Tina - unless you count the theft of our luggage - and that was at least a learning experience! We have not often traveled with friends - but we did 18 years ago to Peru and Bolivia.

And traveling with friends can be fraught with peril, but it can also be a lovely learning and growing experience.

Like our trip to Chile last month and our trip to Bolivia in 2000.

I am grateful!

Starting off the Month of Gratitude - thankful for friends!

I had 4 friends die this year. 3 of them were contemporaries - and the other one was much too young to die. As I scrolled through my photos, I thought that I had far too many friends to post about on one post - so this is just representative of the great blessing that friendship has been in my life.  And also representative of the fact that I don't actually have photos of all my friends!

Connie died in August - and I grieve for that loss. She came into my life at just the right moment - we shared books and children and church and the workplace and walking and road-tripping and a beach house and lots of great conversations - I will always miss her.

After I had known Norma for many years, she commented, "You're the first Mormon I ever met that I liked!" So glad I managed to be that! I still enjoy her friendship. In spite of our many differences, we share a lot of ideas and positions in world - and we have some great conversations.  I truly value her presence in my life.

 

I do not miss working - but I do miss my colleagues. Teaching for over 20 years was a career - but more than that, it was a place to connect and grow and share - and I miss that element.

 

Friends that started out being friends with your spouse - and the friendship grew to include their spouse too - it's the best - and the Nebekers are the epitome of that genre! We miss Ry so much. But are grateful to still have a friendship with Sarah.

Tina is much younger than me - but we had kids the same age when we got to know each other - and I was pretty sad when she moved out of our ward. But the friendship continued - and we even survived traveling to Chile together - we passed the test with flying colors I would say! And Jim is included in the package!

 

I walked each morning with these two women for over 10 years. And I learned so much. They were there when we moved to Monrovia - and they were just what I needed! The Lord does provide. And Polly gets all the credit for the pianists in our family!

 

Kay and I went to France on the same study abroad program. And we taught Freshman English together at the Y. And we have stayed in touch over the years - and everytime I see her, I feel like the years apart never were. That's the best kind of friend.

 

Linda brought Andrew over each day for 7 years and we were his "daycare." But it was much more than that - I feel like we are "family" - and that's another blessing of friendship.

 

Ah - the BFF! Joy and I go way back - and we were college roommates too - I could write a book - but I won't until I get a look at her journals!

 

Friends since Kindergarten - we hardly see each other now - but Marguerite came to my mom's funeral! She once said, "We could not see each other for years and years. But if you call and need me, I will be there." 

A pretty good definition of friendship.

 

My college roommates are dear friends still. Some of them are not good at keeping in touch - but when we do get together - and fortunately we do - the years melt away.

Friendship - I could go on and on - no wonder it is number one on the gratitude list!

Treasure your friends - and be sure to take photos of them!!