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!

Happy Day to Damond!

Harry made a friend almost immediately upon our arrival in SoCal!  And he turned out to be the best friend he could have found.  Lots of good times with Damond and his family!!

 

Harry and Damond share September birthdays that are only 6 days apart - this could look like a post for Harry's b-day almost!! 

I keep track of Damond and his family on FB - and keep vowing to have a get together some time!

If we keep talking about it, it will happen!

Remembering a good friend!

12 years ago today our dear friend Charlie Graham died.  We miss him still. He was always larger than life, and we are grateful for that, because it helps us to remember him.

The last time he bore his testimony in church, he said, "Why me?" and we all thought he was talking about the unfairness of his cancer diagnosis.

Then he said, "Why me?  Why have I been privileged to be on this earth with my wonderful family?  Why was I so fortunate to find the gospel?  Why is there so much love for me and my family?"

Charlie taught us all well!!

Good friends - what a treasure!!

Our good friends - from BYU days actually - are in Palm Springs for part of the winter, so they came up to Monrovia this afternoon for a visit - as Tom would say, "A great old visit!"

We went to Sesame Grill for a very nice dinner - and lots of great conversation.  

 So glad they came!

 

Couldn't resist the comparison to the last time we were together - and it included lots of meals - including this one at a very out of the way place in Bolivia in 2000 - the Moores went with us to the Cochabamba Temple dedication.  This restaurant had some tasty food - but they also had guinea pig on the menu - and some guinea pigs running around the place too!

It was an experience!

Hopefully we won't wait another 15 years for our next visit!!

Saying good-bye to an old friend!

We were saddened today at the news of the passing of our dear friend Hal Card Sr., shown here with his wife Blanche and their son David.

Hal was truly "the salt of the earth."  I can't think of a kinder, gentler, more considerate, faithful friend.  He had suffered a fall some weeks ago and had not been rallying well.  He visited with family this morning, and then told Blanche she should go home and rest.  And then he left the mortal frame we call earth and home.

Blanche said, "He was telling me good-bye.  Telling me it was time for him to go.  I'm glad he is no longer in pain."

What good people!  So grateful to call them friends.

A good-bye for now

Got word via FB that Karen Livingston died today.  I'm sure family members recall how closely involved we were with her and her boys for several years.

After she moved to Utah, we would visit her whenever we were up there.  Our reasons to be in Provo and that area diminished over time, and we didn't see her as often.  We did often run into Nathan or Danny at Target or Wal-Mart, where each of them worked.

She often called us - Karen prided herself on her ability to remember phone numbers!  I always sent cards.  In recent months, I noticed her "likes" on FB postings of mine and exchanged a few messages with her.

But the closeness of years past, the inter-twinings of our lives, had pretty much been supplanted by the current situation.

But my relationship with Karen was a rich and full one.  I learned compassion from her.  I learned to not take things for granted.  I learned how to serve willingly.  I recall her saying, whenever I helped her with something, "If you needed some help, and if I could help you, I would!"

I like that idea.

Lazy summer days continue!

The lazy summer days continue - and I love them!!  Time to do things like go and visit Jenny and her new baby boy John Raymond!!  Got to hold him for an hour - what a treat!!  And visit with Jenny - so great to see all the young women from days gone by with their babies - we go way back with Jenny and her family.

And the fun with Rhoda continues - she's such a willing subject when I have my camera in hand.

 

And lots of fun to have Katie join us for dinner.  I have said it before and I will say it again, but the worst part about having your kids grow up and away is that you don't get to see their friends so much anymore!!

In other venues, I'm busy sewing aprons - trying to "clear the deck" of unfinished projects!!

So I can start some new ones!

The weekend that was - and will soon be here again if I don't get hustling!!

A little entrepreneurial adventure for the Terrill kids!!

Harry W.'s pal was making loop bracelets and necklaces to sell too!

 

Perhaps Deacon's role as to supervise?  He might be taste-testing a cupcake though!!  (j/k)

 

Porter  rode around - maybe hustling customers??

 

Dad and Harry discussing something besides lemonade I'm sure!!

 

And Sunday Brian Furuya and his wife Kate and kids Daniel, James, and Elizabeth came from Flagstaff and visited our ward.  They came over after for lunch and we had a great visit.  Unfortunately that was the day Helen fell again, so Harry was involved all day with getting her taken care of so he missed the visit.  (He had been speaking in the Arcadia Ward when it all happened.)

We hope this coming weekend is a little less eventful on that score!!

Saying good-bye to an old friend!

The memorial service today for Don Johnson was very nice.  Centre Stage was in attendance and did some great performing.  Jenna gave a lovely eulogy, and Robbie sang some numbers with Kevin Rose and Keely Milikin that were very nice.  There was a bagpiper doing "Amazing Grace" and "Danny Boy."  And a 21 gun salute and "Taps."

Afterwards there was a reception at the house - lots of good food and plenty of familiar faces:  Kristin and Charlie Mendel, Tony Tedei, Mrs. Rittenhouse, Sandee Gray, Maria Gray, Margaret Mira, Sue Wiliams, Kip and Judy Gomez, Jo and Bailey Porter, Robin Sieverling, and others I recognized but didn't know their names!

Eliza, Erin mentioned that your note was very sweet and she truly appreciated it.

Thinking about Don brought back memories of Girl Scouts and Brownies and Mayflower and Clifton and train trips and Mammoth and Girls' Camp - all the aspects of our friendship with the Johnsons.

Friends are indeed precious.

Wedding Announcements

I came across this photo quite by accident.  I knew of its existence and hunted for it a few times, but then gave up.  Recently I came across a box of magnetic pages from albums that I had intended to dismantle.  I am so good at starting projects.  I guess I need to work on finishing them now!!  As I browsed through them, I found the pages from when I'd started a book of photos from Christmas cards that we'd received over the years.  (See how good I am at starting projects!!)

And lo, and behold, there it was!!

It was a wedding announcement - Ry had written on the back that it had finally happened and he'd gotten married in Norway.  

That's how we first "met" Sarah and Wade!!

Just a little historic trivia for you.

Happy Day to Ella - and Sue!!

I did not find many photos of Ella all by herself - I guess that's what happens when you are grandchild number 2!!  But it was indeed a happy day when Ella joined our family - and it keeps getting happier!!

 

Grandpa playing with Ella - at the house we rented one Christmas season.  It was great fun to celebrate Christmas with a baby in our midst!!  Especially such a lovely baby as Ella!!

 

And then there were three!!  This is one of my fave photos of the charming Miss Ella!

 

Hanging out with Grandma - I have such great times when Ella and I get together - sewing, manicuring, shopping, cooking, talking - the fun never ends!!

 

And now there are four - and they are their own "Little Women!!"

 

I did find one solo shot of Ella - probably playing Golf on New Year's Eve or something!!

Have a great day Ella - and a wonderful year ahead!!

 

And we can't forget Ella's "Birthday Buddy" - Sue Cornwall!!  (It might be more accurate to say that Ella is Sue's "Birthday Buddy.")  Happy day to one of our favorite friends!!  (This photo is from 1997- Sue with Margaret Miramontes and Terri Parson)

Saying good bye to an old friend -

We got word last week that our friend Pat Johnson had died unexpectedly.  It was quite a shock - I had last seen her a few months ago - and she'd greeted me with her usual smile!  Pat has been there for the Terrill family many times - for one thing, she was the workhorse in the kitchen at Phoebe and David's reception - she had volunteered!! And many of the Terrills had the opportunity to perform in shows and roadshows that she directed.

 

Her funeral services were today.  Many were there,  and it was a lovely  celebration of her life.  Cassie and Jason spoke, Cassie sang, and Mike Parson delivered a wonderful talk on the plan of salvation.

It was really nice also to see Mike and Helen Moore - and Todd Jorgenson!!  It's too bad it takes a funeral to get folks together.

Our condolences to Cassie and Jason - may good memories bring them comfort and peace.

A birthday kind of day!!

Happy 97th birthday to Grandma Helen - still going strong!!  I will post photos from her birthday celebration!!

The charming Miss Eve - already a decade old!!  What a lovely young lady she is becoming!!

A quarter of a century old!!  As Hannah used to say, "Happy Day to Andrum!"

And felicitations  to our good friend Dana!  I need to take a photo the next time we visit so I can fete her with a photo entry next year!!

September 4th is indeed a day to celebrate!!

Family Fun!

Visited with an old friend from the neighborhood - the neighborhood I grew up in that is - and she has 2 kids and a younger sister from whom she is estranged.  She has one nephew too.  She has a great relationship with her two kids and good friends, so she doesn't feel abandoned, but she commented about how she loved coming over to our house as a kid - there was so much activity she said - and everything was lively.  Not perfect and sterile like her house.  She commented that her mother never gave her chores - didn't want anyone else doing things in her house - wanted them done her way.  She even remembered how long it used to take me to clean the bathrooms - my eternal chore growing up.

And then I came home to an email from Larry Steimle with this photo from Youth Conference of 7 or 8 years ago.  We certainly have always had plenty of family around.  And even though family can sometimes seem to take up a lot of our time - what better way to have our time taken up??

Life and loss

I received word from Bruce today that their good friend Anne Andrus had died at 10:30 this morning after a long, difficult battle with cancer.  I did not know her well - mostly through Bonny - but as her struggle ensued, she shared her spirit and feelings with many via her long, thoughtful emails.  It was an honor to be included in this sharing of experiences.  I found myself wondering how I would stand up to such trying conditions.

She sought the prayers and faith of all who would contribute.  What a generous soul - to give so many the opportunity to grow spiritually as we strove to be faithful and prayerful in her behalf.

Her husband commented that it was a blessing to see her released from her pain and suffering.  But it was also wrenching to have this half of his union gone from this earthly sphere.  Their family blog is called "Six in the world," and now is called "Five in the world and one in heaven."

Our prayers will continue as the family moves forward in the world while such a big part of their world is in heaven.  How wonderful to know that families are forever!

Happy Day to the lovely Miss Ella - and our good friend Sue!!

Happy day today to our own Miss Ella!!

I had fun this summer spending time - and traveling with her - she is fun to have around!!

She's creative and hard-working, along with her other accomplishments!

Popular with all the relatives too!

She is the birthday queen today!!

Along with our good friend Sue C. - shown here a few years ago - goodness, it doesn't seem like time has flown until you look at a photo!!

Have a great day ladies - and a wonderful year ahead!!

A special treat!

Came home Sunday night to a voice mail message from Dawn Dequer!! She was in town and wanted to see me!!

She came over for lunch - and it turned out that Harry Dad, Bonny and girls were here too - we had a great visit!!

(I had been recalling on Sunday that 32 years ago this week we moved to Monrovia - and when we went to church that first Sunday, the Dequer girls were getting confirmed!! I also recall Sharon taking Jenny out of the chapel! Funny the "snapshots" that come into your head at times!!)

Nothing beats wonderful friends!! (Which would include all the Dequers!!)

"Time to say good-bye . . ."

One of the first things I noticed about teaching, when I was employed full-time, is that from year to year, nothing stays the same - ever. I don't recall being aware of that so much when I was a student myself. We left when summer began, came back in the fall, and though some things had changed, the sameness was being back in school. The rest seemed like details.

Things are really changing at Clifton these days - for starters, there were a slew of pink slips and job eliminations. One of them was Jan Marlia's job. Since she has seniority, she will still have a job, just not a job at Clifton. Sharon Socha has been back and forth at Clifton; she seems to get a new assignment every time I turn around.

But the big surprise today was Anna May's announcement that she is retiring!! I just can't imagine the main office without Anna May. Harry didn't seem to share my sorrow. I guess he doesn't really realize how often she has rescued me, consoled me, befriended me, assisted me, and generally been a wonderful friend and co-worker!

The "Girls of '45" are now down to Sandee Gray and me. And her job was cut down to 3.75 hours per day.

Nothing so constant as change. But that doesn't mean I have to like it!!

Celebrating the Day!

Maybe having to go to work on your birthday is not so bad - especially if you work with my good friend Marcie!!

She actually bakes cakes for everyone on our lunchroom crew on their special day - and she takes orders!! Mine was chocolate - yum!!

And she remembers details like my love of Circus Peanuts!! And I scored her special sugar cookies too!!

Good thing the fire marshall was not around!! I managed to blow all six out with one breath!! Not too bad for an old lady!

I may never want to retire - it would mean not having lunch each day with Marcie. She not only bakes, she provides scintillating conversation too!

The b-day crown says "Queen of Words!"

Amber Burdick stopped by with flowers from her mom and the fam - they did that last year too - came to school with flowers - now that really brightens up the old workplace!

After all that sugar, I opted for Chicken Noodle Soup at Panera's - with Dad and Noah.

And we went and saw Cave of Forgotten Dreams - a documentary about the cave paintings in France - a good film - one we'd heard about and wanted to see - we even stayed awake for most of it!! (A long day at work, a soft seat, a dark room - it's not always easy to stay awake for pre-historic art!)

That was me - Queen for the Day - with a throne even!!

Came home to voice mails from Hannah, Eliza, Phoebe and family, Bonny and family, and my brother Lyn. Three of them were musical voice mails - and brought a smile to my face indeed!

The living room is awash in flowers and gifts from my friends - and the piano is covered with cards and Facebook is full of messages.

Joy sent me a fun gift - needs a post of its own - which is coming.

A good day! Thanks to all who helped make it so!!