Thiot Tender Times

Glenys Brown Birks
1935 ~ 2014
Our delightful Wife, Mother, Grammy and Gigi returned home to our Heavenly Father in her sleep early Thursday morning, June 26, 2014. Glenys Rae Brown Birks was born the first of five children to Archie and Elaine Brown on February 12, 1935 in McCammon, Idaho. She graduated from East High in 1953 and then went to Beauty School. Her sweet aunt introduced her to one of her favorite BYU students, Jay Birks, who lived in her basement and they were married on June 3, 1955 for time and eternity in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
She and her loving husband Jay of 59 years are the parents of 5 children. Laurie (Mike) Cline, Robynn (Dick) Thiot, Ric (Kathy) Birks, Elaine Lawrence and Jeffrey (Jenn) Birks. Glenys was blessed with 15 wonderful Grandchildren and now has 23 Great Grandchildren. Glenys had a way of making them all feel like they were her favorite.
Home was Glenys' favorite place to be surrounded by those she loved. Nothing would make her happier than to have unexpected visits from her family. Grandchildren always knew right where her treasure baskets of toys were and would head that way after a tight squeeze.
Glenys was very talented and crafty. She had a love for making everything beautiful around her. She enjoyed making porcelain dolls, sewing and crocheting.
Glenys was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and loved serving in the church. She served in multiple callings but her favorites were Cub Scouts, Homemaking and serving as an Ordinance Worker in the Jordan River Temple. She and Jay served a mission to the Indiana, Indianapolis Mission in 1990-91. This mission proved to be a legacy for missionaries in her family. All ten of her grandsons and two of her granddaughters also served missions and could count on a weekly letter from her with a crisp $5.00 bill.
Glenys' family will be her legacy for generations to come. She had a strong testimony of the Gospel and a Love for our Savior Jesus Christ. She always knew how to find the best in us all. She was one classy and sassy woman and would never be seen without her lipstick or her beads on.
There will be a viewing on Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Goff Mortuary at 8090 S. State and again Monday from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Sandy Hills Ward Chapel on 8600 South 1500 East in Sandy. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. www.goffmortuary.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=glenys-birks&pid=171516686&fhid=10581#sthash.ygbs3MlG.dpuf

I was hoping I would never have to write this post telling that my sweet Mom had returned to our Heavenly Father.  Some how, in my mind, I thought mom would be here on earth forever with me.  She was one remarkable woman and my life has been brightened every single day by her. She has moved on to her new chapter and new adventures.  I know she isn't far away as I can feel her close by me. I love you mom! SLY Robynn

What a great lady!!!!

Mom's favorite color was pink.  Anyone who walked in her house would know it immediately.  Years and years ago, when they got new carpet, she chose mauve.  When they got new furniture, about 10 years ago, she wanted something that would still go with her carpet.  At her funeral we all wore pink, the guys had pink ties, and the little girls had pink dresses and most of us had pink sweaters or skirts.  It looked beautiful and I'm sure mom loved it!  The ladies in her ward decorated the luncheon with pink tablecloths and pink flowers.  They brought in all the flowers and displays we had set up and the cultural hall looked beautiful. 

My son Jamie wanted to make it a good memory for the little kids, so he and Krista came up with the idea to do bubbles at the cemetery, and then send off pink balloons with messages on them at the church after the luncheon.    Here are a few pictures, it really made it something nice for the kids. Laurie Cline, my big sis

Surprises and New Appliances!

Our Mansfield Thiots
Becky's dad was having a Jensen Family reunion this last week.  They were going camping and had rented a Tent with wheels as Brooklyn described it to me.  They were having a great time but were sad that Ricky wasn't able to be there.  Ricky decided to work some magic and with Dick's help and miles, he secured an airplane ticket and flew early Friday morning to Las Vegas and drove with Becky's brother and his wife to the reunion and Surprised Becky and the girls.  I wish I could have been a fly on that tent with wheels and seen the excitement of those little ladies when their daddy arrived unexpectedly.  They have packed a lot of fun into this weekend a favorite was visiting a Gold Mining Ghost town.  The girls loved hiking and exploring and I can't wait to hear more about it.  Ricky flies home monday morning to get back to work. I'm so glad he was able to go.

Our Charlottesville Granges
I'm happy to report that Tatia and Jake are the proud owners of a new fridge at their house and that they are  no longer camping with an ice chest for a fridge.  We take so for granted conviences like refridgerators until they are no longer working and then we come to appreciate what a luxury item they really are.  I'm grateful the landlord was pretty quick to help them out.  Max quite liked having the ice chest as he could easily open and shut it which he did frequently and even reach his sippy cup out for a drink as needed.  Jake completed his last day of being a first year resident last Thursday and Friday started year number two.  Yippee!  Tatia said second years have more responsibility and different schedules but Jake is looking forward to the new things he will be learning.  Jake had his first Elders Quorum Presidency meeting today and is enjoying that new responsibility of serving in their ward.

Our Carmichael Thiots
This was Keelie's first full week of Summer Vacation.  She and Callum LOVED getting to hang out together and she liked getting to sleep in a bit longer in the morning.  Here is a picture of them celbrating at McDonalds with a happy meal.  Keelie and Callum got gift cards Keelie for her Kindergarten Graduation and Callum for being a very cooperative car pool buddy.  What cute kids.  Grammy can hardly wait to see you in less than two weeks!  Yipee!

Our L.A. Thiots
Here is a twelve month view of Pierce and Stacy's little Adelaide.  I love that she is posed in the same chair each month.  Your mother must be a famous photographer Adelaide! Her first birthday party was on Saturday and I can hardly wait to see pictures from that fun kite flying party.  I bet she loved eating birthday cake. Yummy!

Our Dallas Thiots
Skyler reported to me on Wednesday, that he and Kara have reached the "Grown-up" status as they are now official owners of their own washer and dryer.  We've been watching on Craigs List for a sweet deal and Wednesday was their lucky day to find one.  I got to be the carrier pidgeon on some financing and was able to have an adventure all my own.  I got to ride the red line to Dallas and meet Sky at his office at the St Paul stop.  I kept thinking of my Uncle Paul to remember the name of the stop.  Sky was right their to meet me.  I felt like a drug dealer, dropping off the funds and then Sky walked me across the tracks and put me on the orange line heading back to Plano.  I really enjoyed my train ride and felt so brave.  Sky, thanks for giving me the courage.  I love your new appliances and can't wait to bring a load of laundry to your house to try out those sweet front loader machines.

We Plano Thiots
Here I am with my two hour transit pass and my handsome son Skyler.  What fun.  I can't wait to go visit them again on the train.  Dick spent the week in Salt Lake and enjoyed the cooler temps. It even snowed in the mountains while he was there and he loved seeing the pretty mountains dusted with snow.  Then he was glad to come home to our nice and warm temperatures.  He is a Texas man all the way and loves it the hotter and more humid it gets here. It's good to have him home.  Rocky and I missed him a lot.  I had a fun thing while he was gone.  I had signed up earlier in the month to feed the elders and then realized Dick wouldn't be home so I invited a cute young man who just graduated from High School and his mom to dinner.  He has always loved my rolls I made and even requested to take home some left over rolls.  He knows how to make me feel good.  I enjoyed it.  I hope your week has been a good one and that you have looked for the joys in life along the ride.  Sure love you, Robynn

Happy Birthday Adelaide!!!!

Our California girls enjoying Nana's pool

Our Top Golfers

Our Mansfield Thiots
Early Saturday morning, Ricky picked up Skyler at the train station and then they came to our house for an early fathers day celebration.  Ricky got over to the train station a bit early and had time to do a drive by in our old neighborhood.  He said our darling little home was showing its age as was the whole neighborhood.  He also did a little drive to where the K-Mart was, where he and Tatia took a little hike many years ago.  That's another story for another time.  The guys went to a place called Top Golf which Dick says is a combination of golf and bowling.  Lots of fun was had by all.  Ricky enjoyed getting to face time with his girls on Fathers Day but is sure missing them.  One week down, Five to go.

Our Charlottesville Granges
Tatia has been busy making the funnest aprons for Dick and for Jakes dad Jeff and secretly one for Jake too. She embroidered their names on the top and they turned out way nice.  Good Work Miss T!  Jake came home from church with a new calling.  He will serve as Elders Quorum President in the Charlottesville 2nd ward for a while.  What a lucky quorum of Elders to be lead by Jake.  It's a huge job, but I'm sure the Lord will bless him with the time he will need to serve well.  Just as a little bonus on Sunday, when Tatia opened the fridge to make breakfast, the fridge was warm instead of cold.  Ugggggg, they have been sort of "camping" all week using their ice chest as a fridge and are grateful for close friends who shared some space in theirs.  Hopefully, fingers crossed, the landlord will be taking care of that sooooooon. Penny started her ballet lessons on Monday morning.  She LOVED it and when she came out of class, Tatia asked her how it was and she said, "Just Perfect" .  I loved that!

Provo Canyon, waiting to start the race

The map of the race, Run Charlie Run

Our Carmichael Thiots
Several months ago Charlie won a free entry to  a half marathon race in Utah Valley.  He thought it sounded like something he would love to do and so they made plans for a marathon driving weekend.  Charlie, Mackenzie and Callum, left Friday in the early afternoon and drove and drove arriving in Provo about midnight.  He got a few winks of sleep and then boarded a bus at 3:00 in the morning which drove him up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls for the start of the race.  What a wonderful morning it truly was.  Charlie has loved running in the past few years and he said it was so beautiful running down that gorgeous canyon.  The last few miles, he was able to see the Angel Moroni which was recently put on the new downtown Provo Temple.  He said he seemed to give him inspiration to keep on running. Charlie was pleased with his finishing time!  Run Charlie Run! Keelie wasn't able to go, she had a swim meet and I am happy to report she took first place in her back stroke and free style.  Go Keelie!

Pierce and Anthony, what a great surprise!

Happy Fathers Day Pierce!

Our L.A. Thiots
Happy Birthday dear Adelaide, Happy Birthday to you!  Just one year ago today, our sweet Adelaide was born, a bit early, a very tiny, but Perfect in every way.  We have loved you everyone of your 365 days this year little Lady!  What a blessing you are in your family and in our Big Family.  We all love you dearly.  I hope you have an extra special day today and a fun day on Saturday when your friends get to celebrate with you too.  Pierce left on Saturday for a quick trip to St Louis for the weekend. While Pierce served as a missionary there he met an incredible man who has blessed Pierces life with friendship and an amazing example ever since.  Anthony was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and is struggling.  Pierce spent the weekend with he and his wife and was able to help him with a few projects he had been wanting to do but hadn't felt well enough.  I'm sure it was a great blessing for both of them to get to spend time together.  Way to go Pierce!  Anthony, you are in our prayers.

Our Hole in One Man!

Our Dallas Thiots
Sky's photoshoot for work last week went quicker than planned, which is an extra bonus and Sky said he learned a lot and had fun.  Way to go Sky! It was great to see him on Saturday and it was so fun to have Kara join us for lunch after her early Saturday morning shift at the Dallas Temple.  She is one busy lady these days with her new job and her Saturday morning temple shift too.  She is enjoying both.  I'm looking forward to this Saturday being the 3rd Saturday of the month and getting to serve in the temple with her too.  It was fun to see 2 sister T.O.'s on the schedule!  Saturday at top golf, Sky hit a HOLE IN ONE!  I always ask Dick when he golfs in a tournament if he did and so far, no luck, but Sky pulled it off on Saturday.  Way to go Sky!

Happy Fathers Day Dad! What a lucky girl I am to have you

What a Gr-8 Day my kids have too!

We Plano Thiots
I got to wish my dad a Happy Fathers Day early Sunday morning.  He is a wonderful dad and I love him. Early Sunday morning, Dick and I had a presentation to make in our Ward council Meeting about the Single Adult Missionaries who we serve with in the Plano Stake.  I had promised Cinnamon rolls so I got to start real early making those.  Dick did a super job presenting and hopefully, things will start picking up in our missionary efforts.  Dick enjoyed spending time with RIcky and Sky and wished Charlie, Pierce and Jake could have been here too,.  It won't be long before we are all together again.  I can hardly wait.  Dick left on Monday morning for a week in Salt Lake.  He showed me a photo last night of SNOW on the mountains and said it was only 48 degrees outside.  We are in the 90's so  that sounded kind of wonderful to me.  Work Hard and Hurry Home Dick.  Rocky and I miss you!  SLY Robynn

Our Weeks Comings and Goings...

Our Mansfield Thiots
After a wonderfully busy week, Ricky's girls got all packed up and headed to the airport at six am on Saturday morning and boarded a plane bound for San Francisco where they were met by Becky's parents and got to spend some time with Becky's Grandma (GiGi) and then made the drive to Reading (six hours).  I'm happy to report that they made it and the girls were good on the long flight and long drive.  Way to go girls.  I miss you already.  I bet Ricky is missing having his home filled with laughter and fun.  Last summer when Becky went to her parents for four weeks, her fun dad told her that was simply NOT long enough.  To plan to spend six weeks this summer.  I'm so glad we will get to see them part way through as I don't think I could stand six weeks.  Have so much fun girls.

Our Charlottesville Granges
It's been a good week in Virginia.  Lots of work for Jake, lots of work for Tatia and lots of fun for Penny and Max.  Penny has a job for the month of June of tending her friend Leah's little pink beta fish named Leah.  Penny is taking it all very serious and makes sure he gets all three of his fish food pellets each day.  Penny is very responsible and loves to watch Leah swim, swim swim. Tomorrow morning at 9:30, Miss Penny will have her very first ballet class.  She was given ballet lessons for her birthday and has been trying to be patient, waiting a whole month to begin.  I can't wait to hear all about it Penny.  Maxwell continues to be a delight.  He is still taking walking cautiously.  He is really a curious little mister and LOVES checking out Tatias desk drawers.  He is quite handy at getting them open and unloaded before Tatia can stop him.  Go Max!

Our Carmichael Thiots
Saturday morning my cell phone rang with a face time ring and it was my sweet Callum Jay on the phone.  I LOVED getting to talk to him while he and his Daddy were taking the top off his daddy's jeep.  It was going to be too nice of day to drive around with the top on.  Callum's jeep always has the top off as it's a topless model and he did a bit of driving to show me how well he can drive.  There isn't much I love any more than talking on the phone with little grandchildren.  Keelie was off to a swim meet.  Charlie said she has really improved since last summer and he was looking forward to watching her compete.  Go Keelie!  I can't watch you swim when I see you in a few more weeks.  This is Keelie's last week of Kindergarten.  She has had a great year and is looking forward to being a first grader next year.

Our L.A. Thiots
This week in the mail came a darling invitation to Adelaide's first birthday party.  They are going to go to the beach and fly kites.  Doesn't that sound like so much fun?  What cute parents to plan such a fun party.  I can wait to hear all about it.  Pierce sent me an article about a young boy being run over by a garbage truck and it took his young life.  Pierce wrote that he has always felt very lucky and extra blessed that his life was not taken when he was hit by a garbage truck when he was a tiny little guy.  Things like that surely make me stop and count my blessing and thank Heavenly Father yet again for sparing Pierce's life.

Our Dallas Thiots
This has been a good and busy week for our Dallas Thiots.  I've loved that our paths crossed 3 times this week.  Monday, I was at the Disney store in North Park Mall and heard someone call my name.  I looked up and there were Sky and Kara.  Dick had called them and  they came and met us for dinner.  I loved it.  On Wednesday we went to Harper's birthday and they were there and then on Saturday, a friend of ours was married and they came and had dinner with us and then went to the reception with Dick.  It's sure fun to have them just 30 minutes away.  Thanks for all your efforts to get together this week.  Kara had her last day at work on Friday and she said her boss was teary eyed when he told her good bye.  He was hoping she would stay, but the commute was too long and far.  Kara found another position closer to home and will start tomorrow.  I hope she will enjoy it.

We Plano Thiots
Dick got to spend Friday at Camp James Ray on Lake Texoma.  He was there as technology helper, not a scouter. He was setting up Wireless connections for scout leaders when they come to camp.  He was hoping it would just be a few hours but it turned out to be an entire long day.  I think he enjoyed it as he loves Boy Scouts and all the things that go along with it.
I got to take two trips to Mansfield this week.  First, early Tuesday morning,  I got to attend  Brooklyn's first grade awards assembly.  She was the recipient of 3 first grade awards.  One for Reading, One for excelling on the new 1st grade Computer reading program, kind of the the SRA reading when I was a kid, and the one I was most proud of was being a Great Citizen.  Being kind and nice to others scored high in Grammy's book.  Way to go Brooklyn!  I had a bonus on Tuesday afternoon, when I was ready to go home,  I got to bring my Addison with me.  What a delightful 24 hours we had together.  We went swimming, to the park, we did puzzles, we watched Sophia the first, we just enjoyed being together.  Addison will be five at the end of June and she is so much fun.  Thanks Ricky and Becky for sharing her with me.
I hope your week has been filled with some special moments that you will never forget.  Sure love you, Robynn

Our Thiot Times Today

Notice anything missing. Congratulations Brooklyn!

Our Mansfield Thiots
Dick and I had the blessing of having 3 little Mansfield Thiot's for a sleepover on Friday night and we loved every minute.  What fun little girls.  Becky and the girls are leaving this coming Saturday for six weeks at her parents home this summer and we needed to store up some fun memories so we won't miss them so much.  This is going to be a busy and fun week at their home.  Our little Harper turns 2 on the 4th and then Brooklyn finishes up her 1st grade year on the 6th and they depart on the 7th.  Lots of good times to look forward to this week.

Our Charlottesville Granges
Tatia has had a busy week in Charlottesville.  Jake is on a new rotation which requires LOTS of hours.  He leaves before the sun comes up and isn't home until the moon has been up and at it for a while. Penny and Maxwell are trying to remember what he looks like.  Not that bad, but almost.  Mr. Max is the star of the Grange home this week.  He has decided that crawling is for babies, and he is ready to kick it up a notch and walk.  Tatia sent me videos that I have watched over and over.  He is just as steady as can be like he has been studying walking and is now ready to give it a try for real.  Go Max Go!

a page in Keelie's Journal

Our Carmichael Thiots
One of my favorite moments of my week was when Charlie sent me a photos of the journal that Keelie kept while on their Memorial Day vacation to Nevada for fossil hunting.  I loved reading her words and looking at her drawings.  Char took some photos but I have to say, Keelie's drawings told the story even better than actual photographs.  Keelie, I see a book in your future.  I always wanted to write children's books, but perhaps that gene was given to you instead of to me.  You are awesome.

Do you think we need a new family photo?

Our L.A. Thiots
Stacy has been a big help to me this week on getting some plans together for our family vacation next month. Oh, how fun it sounds to say next month.  July seemed so far away when we started making plans last November.  Now we can say, next month.  Stacy is going to take a new family photo.  It's been 2 1/2 years since we have all been ALL TOGETHER.  My family picture in my living room has the three new babies that have joined us in that time glued on.  I'm ready for the real deal.  Thanks Stacy!

Our Dallas Thiots
Sky's had a busy week as his presentation to Dannon Yogurt was chosen for their new ad campaign and now the real fun begins making it all happen.  Congratulations Sky!  Kara has sure made their apartment look amazing.  She stenciled the walls in their laundry room and it was way cute, and now she did the kitchen which is amazing.  It's multicolored and multi wonderful.  I just loved standing in there and staring at the cuteness.  Kara, you are amazing.  Well done!

Meet the "Sams" 

We Plano Thiots
Last Sunday, Dick and I met with our Stake Single Adult Committee and discovered some things we could be doing to make things work better.  We've been invited to visit each ward in the stake and make a presentation to their Missionary committees and Ward Council Meetings about SAMs  Single Adult Missionaries.  On the table for the centerpiece, I jokingly put My Uncle Sam and his wife and said we had invited the Sams to join us.  Lots of laughs, he he he.  Dick has been working in his spare minutes on a power point training for these meetings.  My job is to make cinnamon rolls to feed the masses while they watch the training.  You know the saying,  Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.  I'll keep you posted on how that works out.  I hope you've had a great week and that this coming one is something you are looking forward to.  SLY Robynn