A Birthday Day!!

Today is the 17th birthday of the lovely Miss Ella Sophia!!  She looks pretty sober in this photo - but she was a happy little girl most of the time.  For awhile, she and Ara were "the Terrill grandkids" and how we loved being with them!!  We still love being with them, but there are quite a few more now.

The perky smile - and perky ponies too!!

She certainly was a classy little miss - still is for that matter!!

It's certainly different with Ara gone to college - Ella has handled the "oldest" role quite well though!

Looking forward to our Grandma's Birthday Weekend - always fun with Ella - she's up for mani/pedis, games, puzzles, cooking, shopping, sewing, creating!!

Not sure how I will be feeling next year when she's off to school too!!

For now we will enjoy this 17th year!!

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

Happy day to Taylor!!

We celebrated Sunday night for these two lovely ladies - Taylor's birthday is today and Ella's is tomorrow.  September is a big birthday month!!

Happy day to you Taylor - and may the year ahead be the best ever!!

Women's Broadcast - Fall 2015

The Women's Broadcasts are always great - I can hardly remember not having them - so glad we do have them.  I especially love how the women in our family feel so connected by them.  We discuss them often - text threads, email threads, photo-sharing - sometimes we are lucky enough to enjoy them together!!  Like I did last night with Dawn and Eve.  And then Dad came down from the stand and joined us - a veritable treat!!

 

Phoebe shared the fun of sharing the broadcast with Agnes for the first time.  Oh the joy of a daughter!

 

And Ara was able to go to the Conference Center - with some good friends and some pretty good seats!!  I recall going to General Conference for the first time when I was a freshman at BYU.  I didn't realize or appreciate it at the time, but at the session that I attended, Thomas S. Monson was sustained as the newest apostle!

We loved hearing from Linda Reeves - beloved former member of Arcadia Stake.  Mormons are so good at connections, aren't they??

I loved the closing choir number.  The worldwide audience sang along while the choir sang an accompaniment - I felt like I was singing with the choir. For a non-singer like myself - who loves to sing anyway - it was a real treat.

Let's hear it for the general auxiliary presidencies who put it all together!!

(And on a male note, I always love President Uchtdorf - who did not disappoint!)

The Circle of Life!

Sue Cornwall brought over the clip from the Church News with Helen's 100th birthday greeting - I had sent in the info for them to do it, so I was glad to see it got there!  

I left the page sitting on my desk, and later Harry told me "See the man at the bottom, Elden L. Ord, well, he was the first president of the Covina Stake, which was formed in 1956.  And my mom was a member of that stake when it was taken from the Pasadena Stake in '56."

I'm pretty sure that when Helen sat in the meeting forming the new stake she wasn't thinking that in 59 years she'd be sharing billing with the new Stake President on the Centenarians list!

But it is a nice coincidence I think!!

Eve's Birthday Weekend!

I am way behind in my blogging - not sure why - I think it has to do with the fact that I'm still a bit awkward about getting photos from my phone to the computer - so I Instagram and FB more than I blog sometimes.  But that doesn't mean I don't have it on my "To Do List" to catch up!

This weekend was Eve's Grandma's Birthday Weekend - and hers actually got done in a pretty timely manner - we are on hold for some July birthdays!!

Of course the big items are lunch, shopping for the birthday gift, a manicure, and time with Grandpa!!

 

We've pretty traditionally done Target, Marshall's and Kohls - but Eve wanted to go to Old Navy - we were wishing we had Phoebe with us too - for her discount!! We found some cute things for Eve - and we ran into her 2nd grade teacher - who left MUSD the year after she taught Eve, so it was a nice surprise!!  Eve said Ms. Rodriguez was her favorite teacher!  I'm impressed they both recognized each other!

 

I might have been tempted to do the mani/pedi route, but I broke my little toe last week, so I wasn't up for it - and Eve was more excited about the manicure and the little flowers on her nails!!

 

We had an evening of games - with short breaks to check on the status of the BYU vs UCLA game and to be jealous of the Bolanders and Aunt Donna being at the ABBA concert at the Hollywood Bowl!!  We played Chickenfoot, RummiKub, and Quiddler.  Eve won the first two - and Grandpa cleaned up with Quiddler - not surprising since Eve dealt herself a hand with 9 consonants and one vowel!  

Of course we had chocolate milk and Milanos - and the personal Grandpa Bob story!!

 

Our studious, high-achieving Miss Eve had homework too!!  Some things never change - especially during the school year!

Always fun to hang out with this lovely young teen!!

When paths cross - and re-cross - over time and years!

My mom and I went to a graveside funeral service on Wednesday of this week for an old friend of hers.  The Strands moved into the Granada Hills Ward in the late 50's.  Belle became expert at floral arranging and ran a business from her home.  Ken was an amateur photographer and took the pictures at our wedding.  Ken died in 1983, and Belle died on September 8th of this year.

 

The Strands had 7 children and their ages intersected with several of my younger siblings - and the oldest daughter was a year younger than me.

But that isn't what stuck in my mind when I read on FB that Belle had died.  Instead I remembered a long ago road trip that I took with my mom and 2 women from the ward - and one of the women was Belle Strand.  

Mom and I drove Alice up to BYU.  I was staying  home one semester to earn the money to go to France on a Study Abroad program.  The two women rode home with us.  I sat in the back seat with Belle.  I'm sure I dozed - I was 20 and didn't really have a true care in the world, so I could fall asleep easily!!

I did wake up but didn't indicate I was awake, because the women were talking - and I was intrigued listening to their tales of life and love and pregnancy and child-rearing and getting along.  They eventually figured out I was awake and became more guarded in their conversation.  I guess they thought 20 was too young to hear adult themes spoken out loud!  (You need to remember that this was 1965!)

Belle began addressing her conversation to me, and I appreciated her interest - and her commendation to me for going on an adventure!  All three women in the car had married early with little or no college and had had children early and in often quick succession.  (I learned about Irish twins from Belle!)

So when I read about her passing, I was glad of the opportunity to attend the service, re-connect with her children, and remember a long-ago road trip.  It was a lovely service.  She lived a rich, full life, and the stories they told were heart-warming and insightful.

And you really only need one good photo from your wedding reception!

Helen turns one hundred - let the party begin!!

I can't say that I've attended very many 100th birthday parties - I've attended exactly one now!!  And that was the one we held for Helen on September 5th at the Lemon Avenue Building.   

A few caveats and disclaimers before you peruse this post:  Doug Teeples was the camera man - and he forgot his camera.  So he used mine.  And he took a lot of photos.  But he didn't take some photos I might have taken - he was busy doing the many "group" shots that were requested.  So if you're wondering why there are not shots of the set up or decor or food or Polly, it's because Doug is Doug - and not me!!

But we thank him for the many great shots he did take!

 

For example this great shot of Harry, Barb, and the Terrills with Helen.  It was a real treat to have all our kids in one spot at one time!!

 

Noah is always happy to be with Grandma - and he often helps with her transport and care - and we appreciate that!

 

Hannah was enjoying her time too.

 

As was Bonny!  Harry, Eliza, and Phoebe enjoyed it too - but I didn't tell Doug to take a photo!

 

  

It was my idea to take an in-laws - famously called "The Outlaws" - photo - after all, none of this posterity would exist without us!

Chuck Taylor made an appearance after battling some extreme traffic.  Jack and family came too - but once again I didn't tell Doug to take a photo!!

 

From the minute she heard about the party, Emily was on board.  "I can get a 5 generation photo!!"  Those don't happen often!

 

Phoebe, Amy, and Hannah - it was pretty fun to see all the cousin love going around!!

 

My favorite part was not being in charge - so I could sit and eat and enjoy!!

 

John and Gloria Wilson came - so great to see them - John is Harry's cousin - they hadn't been together since 1991!  John is from the Terrill side - whereas the Taylor's are on Helen's side - in case you don't know that!

 

Helen made off with Chris' hat I think - and it does become her nicely!

 

Francis was his charming self!!

 

There are grandkid photos on Instagram and FB - these are a portion of Helen's 57 great-grandchildren!

A wonderful time was had by all!!  If a 100th birthday party is in your future, I'll be glad to lend you my banner!!

A new chapter begins . . . .

A year ago Harry was called to serve in the Arcadia Stake Presidency.  At the time of the calling, President Magnusson said, "I don't know how long this call will be - could be a year, could be six months."  (Since the call was to be second counselor, replacing President Steimle, who was moving.)

When the letter came a few weeks ago announcing that there would be a new stake presidency called, we figured that the year was up - just as President Magnusson had predicted.  Harry was glad for the year of experience with President Magnusson and President Cornwall, and was busy thinking of names to recommend for consideration for a new stake president.  We were both pretty certain that they would be looking for a "younger" man!

We took the usual ribbing about how Harry had better watch out or he'd be called - an LDS phenomenon of predicting calls to certain positions in the church!  (I recall many years ago when we had only been married for a few years.  I told Harry to watch out - that someday he'd be called to be Scoutmaster.  His response was that would never happen - there were too many men who wanted that calling! I can't recall the context for such a remark, but I'm sure there was one!  At any rate - fast forward to 1979 and our move from Utah to Monrovia - and Harry's call as Scoutmaster!!  Got some chuckles and "I told you so's" from that one!)

Imagine my surprise - and Harry's too based on his demeanor - when we got a call Saturday to return for another interview with Elder Falabella of the 1st quorum of the Seventy and Elder Sabin of the 5th quorum of the Seventy!  

After the call, Harry commented that he was taken by surprise - was sure they would be looking for someone younger.  I love Elder Sabin - who said, "The Lord doesn't look on the stature of a man, but rather on his heart!"  That certainly rang true with me!

Saturday night's meeting was great, we enjoyed dinner with the visitors and members of the stake presidency.  Sunday morning we had some great teaching and counsel from both of these men, and then we had a great Stake Conference.  Noah came and brought Helen, which made it easier and less stressful for Harry and me.  Bonny came too, and of course Harry, Dawn and family were with us.  The setting apart was a sweet experience - Bruce and the girls were able to join us too.  After we enjoyed some great family time for lunch and dinner at our house.

So we've had a couple of days of intense thought, prayer, feeling, emotion - and now it's Monday - the start of a new week.

We'll keep you posted!!

Happy day to Harry F!!

Happy day today to Harry - and to Bernie also - the young man who spent a year as a family member - and who shared a birthday with Harry.

 

Harry was and still is a very important member of our family.  First is was Bonny and Harry.  And 5 years later came Phoebe - and 6 years after that, Elizahannahnoah!!  We are so glad we are a family!!

 

He takes his role as the oldest son - and the bearer of an old family name -  quite seriously!

 

May the year ahead be the best ever!!

Happy Birthday Helen and Eve!

Eve shares her birthday with her Great-Grandma Helen - Helen was 87 the year Eve was born.  

In the above photo, Helen is 13.

 

This photo is from Eve's 13th year, and I'm feeling like this is pretty special!!

Happy day to  the new centenarian - and the new teen!

A soon-to-be Centerenarian!

We are busy getting ready for Helen's 100th b-day party on Saturday.  Tuesday night we had a little shindig for her at the Gardens - and about 30 friends and ward members came.  It was a nice evening - a little confusing for Helen, but she put on her game face and did her best!!

The party Saturday is essentially a family reunion and promises to be a great afternoon.

 

These photos were found as we have been going through Helen's things as we moved her out of her house.

 

These are of a younger, single career woman and UCLA grad!!  As we took Ara up to BYU, I was imagining that Helen's college years were certainly different than even what I experienced - but I'm sure it was all exciting for her.

A long life, well-lived - and we are grateful that she is with us so we can celebrate this milestone with her.

I just hope her birthday card from the White House, which I ordered 6 weeks ago, comes in time!!

(In case you are interested, just google "birthday greetings from the White House" - they do wedding and birth congratulations too!!)