Calling all Sisters

SO?
What a great meeting last night. As always, it was exactly what I needed to hear. I left with a renewed ambition to be a better visiting teacher, to be a champion of motherhood and to be a more loving wife and mother.
I miss Sister Parkin, but I am excited for what this new presidency has to offer.
If only they had these once a month!

Happy Day Miss Ella!!

It's been a busy day, but as I have been sorting photos in my famous "sorting box" I came across these and wanted to post them on Ella's day! So here they are!

Here's the new Miss Ella - with Ara and Dad! You can see a bit of Bonny in the corner!
I remember being there - how the years fly by!

And here we are the Christmas we spent at Laguna!

And the Christmas we went to San Juan Capistrano!

And this was just last week - and it was the photo that prompted me to see other photos of these two lovely girls together!

They are so grown up now!

Hope it was the best day ever Ella!

Cha Cha Cha

Happy Birthday to my sweet Ella - may the festivities continue!

Update on Grandma Mary

We visited Grandma Clayton for our FHE activity this week. She was in pretty good spirits.

And when I called tonight, the doctor had pronounced the shoulder healed enough for her to begin physical therapy - so she's feeling good about that.

The lap robe is from her Visiting Teacher - who said every invalid deserves a new lap robe!

Mom discovered a batch of lectures by Sidney B. Sperry in some papers from my Grandpa Clayton. She is excited about his approach to reading the Book of Mormon. So she read the Book of Mormon through during her convalescence!

And she read quite a few other books too! I keep saying that I need a nice, mild injury that has no pain or inconvenience - but requires "staying down" - so I could read to my heart's content.

Won't happen I'm sure!

'79 was fine - ultimately!!

I was just scanning pictures in somewhat randomly for this post - assuming I would put them in order later - but this one ended up at the beginning - and seems like a good place to start!

In 1979 - at least in the fall of 1979, our three kids looked like this! The smiles look pretty genuine, but the months preceding the fall had been somewhat tumultuous for our little family!

In January of 1979, we had moved into our new house - the one we'd been building for a year - the one that as we planned it we'd said, "Are we going to be here forever, so let's customize it just for us?" or "Shall we build it to be sellable?" and the answer had been, "We are going to be here forever!"


We lived across the street from the church - a giant parking lot for Harry to learn to ride a bike! Neighbors that Dad had built houses for were all around us. We had a peach tree in our backyard. Bonny had pink walls and green carpet - just like she wanted. We had a "country kitchen" before they were all the rage - and a Jenn-air range.

Harry watching Dad finishing the concrete walkway.

Bonny, Harry and Phoebe pose in front of the new house.

We had the swingset in the front yard because the backyard was still "under construction!"

Preview

We celebrated my birthday in May.

The cousins come over to play. (The house was livable but in a fairly unfinished state.)

We had an Easter egg hunt at Charley and Jeanette's place in Riverton.

Lyn giving instructions before the "hunt!"

Enjoying some "cousin time."

But in February, when it's gray and cold and slushy in Utah, Dad flew down to California to get some business advice from his dad. And while there, Pop had offered Dad a job working with him, to essentially take over the business. In your dad's words, "The sky was blue, the palm trees were waving, it was very appealing."

I went to pick him up at the airport - excited to tell him about the things I had done to decorate the bathroom in our "master suite!" My heart sank when he said, "Barb, I've been thinking."

Before I knew what was happening, the decision was made to move to California. We wouldn't sell the house - we'd rent it out - just in case. Dad had been put in the bishopric back in 1978, and the bishop wanted him to continue serving, and suggested that we not tell anyone we were moving until just a month or so before, so Dad wouldn't be a "lame duck" counselor.

That was tough. I was upset and unhappy about moving - and couldn't say anything to anyone except Dad - and pretty soon he got tired of what I was saying!! He knew the house was more rentable if it was more finished, so he started getting stuff done - everyone was saying things like, "It's so great that Harry's doing all this finish stuff. And I love your new dishwasher!" And I'm sure they wondered why I didn't act more thrilled! I just got more irritated - he couldn't get it done for me, but could for some yet to be secured renters!!

We flew down to California in the spring - took Phoebe with us - to check out locations. Eventually Helen found us a place to rent in Monrovia. I flew down alone to check it out.

On a hot August day we finished packing and drove a U-haul to Monrovia. It was a long, hot, miserable trip. We were welcomed by everyone - I believe I've posted about that before. And our families were delighted to have us close by. Phoebe stayed with Alice and then flew home with Mom - who was up there for some reason that I cannot recall.

Dad immediately flew back to take care of things - and was gone for a month - a long, miserable month for me. If it could go wrong, it did! But we did have fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa Clayton - who helped me refinish a table and some chairs for the kitchen. And we swam at Grandma Terrill's and hung out with Frances and her kids. And I had great visiting teachers and the ward was wonderful and welcoming. But I did more complaining than just about anything else!

Dad came back in September- just in time for Grandma Terrill's birthday in fact. And we went to Marineland one Saturday.

And Bonny made a friend, Krissy, on the street. This photo is actually from 1980, but I couldn't find one from '79. Lots was going on, but I didn't think much about taking pictures.

And Harry made a good friend too - Damond - this is also a 1980 picture.

Harry had his 7th birthday soon after Dad got back.

And Bonny had a birthday too.

And Phoebe

It was fun to have so much family around - I think I was starting to adjust - at least on good days!

And Dad too! (and he sure seems to have his eyes closed in all the birthday photos I could find!)

Dad was called to be a scoutmaster - boy, I guffawed at that one - he used to say, early in our marriage, when I told him one day he'd be a scoutmaster, "Oh, there are so many men who want to do that, they'll never pick me!"

He was a good scoutmaster too - always had scout weekends - and took Harry along too.

We enjoyed trick or treating in fairly balmy weather.

Jim and Trudy welcomed Lorie - and we attended the blessing.

We celebrated Grandpa Clayton's birthday. Note the apron - from the "pattern!"

We attended the Terrill Christmas Party for the first time in many years. And Leslie coached Harry about an outfit at the mall that I was coveting - I was truly surprised to open it and see just what I wanted. Your dad said, "It's a good thing Leslie told me to get it - I'd never have picked it!!" Of course I don't have a photo - but it was burgundy slacks and a two-tone burgundy blouse with an off-white sweater - I felt so "California" when I wore it!

And it was great to be there when Leslie left on her mission. I remember going shopping at Hinshaws with her - she was looking for shoes - and it was December - and it was 90+ degrees and I kept wondering when it would get cold. (Although after one winter in California, I was ready to stay for the duration!)

I don't think this photo is from '79, but I needed a photo of her!!

In retrospect, the move to California was inspired - and the right move - and I have learned much from the experience of questioning decisions unfairly. If I could do anything over again in my life, it would be moving to California with a glad heart!

Winding Up the Weekend

Like all good things, the weekend came to an end. But there were some shots on the camera that I missed when I posted last night - so here are the wild parrots that Grandpa pointed out to Ella - and let her shoot some photos of them.

And while I was on the phone with someone, Grandpa showed Ella just how to enjoy a fire on a rainy evening!



Sunday a.m. brought another waffle breakfast - and then it was off to church, where Ella enjoyed being in Primary with the Ogilvies.

When it came time to pack up to go home, Ella found herself really loaded down! And it wasn't just purchases - there's always a bag of laundry when you go away for the weekend!

Our trek to Malibu was pretty speedy and uneventful - until we came to the road up the mountain - there had been a wreck- but the delay was short. We were glad to see the girls and to visit and have dinner with Bonny and Bruce.

Ara is on the mend - her school friend brought over her math book so she can catch up! And Ella was happy to see everyone.

Of course, Bruce was on the phone and Bonny was taking pictures - he's the bishop and she's the bishop's wife - that's what they do, I guess! But he and Dad did get to go visit his work sites.

It's always great to spend time at Chez Bolander - and today was no exception!!

(And if the Terrill Girls want to plan a Sister's GetAway - I'll treat for the pedicures!)