Saying goodbye to a dear friend

We got word today that our dear friend Sue Adams died yesterday.  About two weeks ago she posted on FB that the doctors had informed her that her last round of chemo had not worked.  She chose to go home to hospice care, and yesterday morning, with her family around her, she left this earthly vale.

Sue was a good friend.  They moved away quite a few years ago, but we stayed in touch with Christmas cards and she came back to Monrovia often.  Her daughter Emily was a good friend of Phoebe's, so we were often in touch with her.

With the advent of social media, seems like I could see Sue and her happy life in living color frequently enough that I felt like she was still just around the corner.

When we first moved to Monrovia, I wasn't very happy about being here.  I made friends in the ward and got involved and all seemed to be well.   Then they shuffled the ward boundaries and a few of us were sent to the Monrovia East Ward.  I was aghast - what would I do now?

One of the first people to come and see me was Sue Adams!  She was friendly and cheerful - you could not be gloomy in her presence. I knew it would be all right in this new ward.

There was a brief period of time when we walked together. I enjoyed getting to know her better. The ward was very social, and we interacted frequently. When they moved away, I was sad indeed.

When I fell in Albertson's and cracked three ribs, I was given a settlement.  I decided to use part of it to buy a Bosch mixer - something I had coveted.  Sue was a dealer and I got one from her.  It was fun to have her come and show me how to use it - and when I use it, I think of her.

When I walk in the mornings, I go past the house they used to live in.  In all these years, it has not changed.  I like that aspect - it means when I go by, I can think of Sue and remember all the good times.

Goodbye sweet Sue - heaven is a little brighter today - and the light here is a little dimmer.  

Godspeed!

Hangin' with the sisters!!

The ward Relief Society Christmas party was a fun evening.  In the first place, we were told it was a pajama party - and to come in pajamas.  And they served "breakfast for dinner" which is right up my alley!!

Amber B. serenaded us with some lovely harp music.  Truly angelic.  And her robe was pretty sweet too!

 

Marjorie and Yvonne - belting out the carols!

 

There was a white elephant gift exchange too - a rather hilarious event.

Nice way to start the holiday season!!

The Week In Review

Tonight was our fall Relief Society meeting - and Dawn is the R.S. Meeting Co-ordinator in our ward, so you know it was a great event!! We made school bags for the Humanitarian program of the church, so there was a school theme - right down to the cafeteria ladies who served up dinner. It was worth going just to see them in hairnets!!

Angela is moving away, so it was a kind of "swan song" for her - we will certainly miss her!!

Monday night was Porter's b-day - celebrated in fine style at Cherry On Top, the frozen yogurt place her in Mo-Town. Miss Isla is becoming the very vraiment party girl it seems!

And Porter was one happy boy to finally reach the big day!!

Sunday - 10/10/10 - the very happening 40th Birthday Bash for Bonny Brae!! The young people enjoyed congregating on the front porch for their meal.

And the teenage boys in the group loved playing Star Wars action figures with Harry W. and Porter.

The designated clean-up crew members were hard at work. Dad says Dawn's happiest when she's bringing order to things!! Mary always pitches in too!! And Dad feels like if he hasn't been in on the clean up, then the clean up hasn't happened!! (Me, I take photos!!)

The lovely Miss Ara, growing up and growing lovelier by the day!

Grandma T. gave Bonny a lovely piece of china from Grandmother Taylor.

The long tables are so useful for these Bolander gatherings - that always include ward members, neighbors,and family.

Opening the gifts! Always a hit with kids!!

More front porch action.

Harry had to work, but Dawn and kids made the trek.

40 candles - and the fire marshal didn't even bat an eye! By request, the cake was a "Stake Visitor's Cake." That was interesting explaining to the non-members present! But I think I did it justice!!

Great Grandma Terrill

Great Grandma Clayton

With Favorite Aunt Donna!

Dad with his "Terrill Women!!"

Ah, the happy pair - host and hostess with the mostest!!

The weekend promises some activity too - watch for updates!! (and pray for cooler temperatures!!)

Celebrations of one sort and another - and just some fun too.

Ara came for her birthday weekend - nearly six months later!! And she spent it mostly with me because Dad was working. We had a mighty long to-do list, but she not only helped me get the items done, but she kept track and crossed them off as we did them. We finished up the marketing at Von's and she said, "Well, Grandma, that's the last item on our list. They are all crossed off now!" (She is truly her mother's daughter - Bonny too loved order and organization and the sense of getting it all done!)

Friday night we hit the MHS production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," and it was great - but I didn't think to take any pictures - especially when they tell you "No Flash Photography!" And then on Saturday night she went with me to Scott Card's Eagle Court of Honor. We took Molly both nights and saw other friends from the ward - whom Ara knows from her visits here. (A note here: Scott's dad Troy was one of Dad's Scouts when he was the Scoutmaster in the Monrovia Ward back in the day!!)

On Saturday morning, we had breakfast at the Nano Cafe - I'd been wanting to check it out - it's pretty good breakfast food - and pretty good smoothies. Then we hit the stores - I had to get things together for the Young Women Transition to Relief Society, and Ara was a big help. We also shopped for birthday items for Ara - made some fashion finds - perhaps Ara will wear them sometime when I'm sharp enough to take pics of her in them!!

Dad made it home in time to enjoy some "Golf" with Ara and me. We each won one game - then had a final round - which Dad won. Maybe it was "male" luck!!

Once again Ara helped me get ready for the big event - it was on Sunday afternoon. She set up chairs, distributed hymnbooks, carried stuff in, and even did prelude music for us! Nora Graham Koch was our keynote speaker - our theme was "There Are Never Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen."

It's always fun with the Ogilvies!

After we cleaned up from the activity, we headed out to Malibu and enjoyed dinner at Chez Bolander.

Everyone seemed to have zeroed in on their favorite game!!

Soon it was Monday morning - and we know what that's like. Although the students were pretty mellow today - maybe it was the cool, gray, overcast day. I could have this kind of weather all week - just sunshine for the weekends!!

Ara is lots of fun to spend time with - thanks for a great time Ara!!

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And here's the "official" birthday celebration shot for Dawn!!

May is really a big birthday month around here!!

Birthday Celebrations in the morning/Women's Broadcast in the evening

Dad worked at the temple, but Noah and I went to Jenny and Allen's house to be part of the Dequer Family Birthday Celebration for Wayne and Christian, Van and Wendy's son, who turned 12. Wayne didn't mention what age he was turning - but Jenny gave him an iPod that you can use while swimming! (We gave him a Jerry Garcia tie!!)

It was a Birthday Breakfast - better than IHOP too!! Maybe this can be a new trend!! Lots of good breakfast food - and lots of good company!

Here are Van and Wendy with their kids. They live in Lancaster and had come down Friday night. Allen and Jenny bought a house in Sierra Madre, so there was lots of room - and a big new dining room table - and a new billiard table to break in !!

This is obviously Wayne with Noah and Scott - it was fun to see Scott again - sounds like he's some sort of favorite uncle!!

And me with the Dequer Women!! I have always loved all the Dequers, but I especially enjoy maintaining a relationship with Dawn, Wendy and Jenny - in spite of years and distance.

Speaking of years and distance, we had our now traditional dinner before the Women's Broadcast - prepared, served and cleaned up by the Stake Presidency and High Council!!

And Melissa and Mary Grace came - Helen did too, but I didn't get a shot of her - I thought this group photo would make some of you smile!! All those long-ago Young Women are now some great Relief Society sisters!!

The busy brethren in the kitchen. John H. is moving - to Yosemite - so we are now scrambling for a replacement!! He has been the key player in getting these meals to happen - the hunt starts now!

The broadcast was great - I'm thinking that the new buzzword among the women of the church just might be "Mind the gap!" If you didn't hear the broadcast, go to LDS.org and you can view the meeting.

But "Mind the gap" will be quoted often I am sure - and for good reason.

Maybe we'll meet at some Relief Society meetings one of these days!!! (speaking of "meeting" - got several emails from the new Stake Relief Society President in Phoebe's stake - we shared notes - and I sent her a photo of Phoebe so she could pick her out of the crowd - and we all know Phoebe is a real stand out - so that should be easy enough. Phoebe really manages to "connect" with everyone!! It's a gift.)

Note: Eliza successfully completed the Ragnar Relay she ran in this weekend - we will look forward to a report from her soon - maybe I will wake up to one even! (She usually wakes up before we do!!)

And of course, we will be interested in the new ward configurations that will be taking place in her stake this Sunday too.

The news never stops around here!