Building Our Ark

Our Mansfield Thiots
Ricky gave me the best explanation for the crazy rainy weather we have had of late.  Forty days ago, Blue Bell, our favorite Ice Cream Company in Texas hit a snag and their machines started adding something that was poisonous to the ice cream and because of that the production was shut down, closed, stopped.  Ever since, there has not been any Blue Bell ice cream in the stores to purchase.  Now you may say, well there are other brands of ice cream, listen, this is Texas and we are sure that Blue Bell is the only true brand of ice cream.  Ricky is sure that the reason for all the rain is that Heaven is in mourning and all this rain is actually tears from above.  Ok, that is enough.  This is the first time that I have regretted donating our boat to the Boy Scouts of America.  It would be comforting to have a boat with all the rain.

Our Charlottesville Granges
Tatia and Jake have had a busy week.  Jake is on call this weekend which always makes for a little more fun than usual.  His beeper keeps a beeping and Tatia is learning more and more to appreciate Jake's help when he is at home.  Tatia is getting good with managing 3 littles with only two hands. She is even feeling brave enough to fly across the country with 3 to come to our family reunion in two weeks.   Yahoo!!!!!  Jake and Penny and Max have planted a garden. they are growing tomatoes, green peppers, basil, carrots, sunflowers, and zinnias.  They love to spend time together gardening.  Your pansies are still beautiful too.  Well done gardeners!!

Our Carmichael Thiots
I simply adore this picture of Miss Keelie Christina waiting for her turn at swim team.  She is making the best use of her time by getting her reading minutes for the day as long as her exercise and her commitment to her swim team.  That is a triple combination.  Go Keelie! Callum gets to sit on the side lines and watch while his arm continues in his bright orange cast healing those two bone back to where they belong.  I'm so proud of Charlie for all the things he is able to do with his two little kids.  What a great daddy is he and oh how they love him.  I love you too Charlie!  I wish I was close enough to see those great swimmers too.  It won't be long and we will be seeing you again.  YippEE!!

Our L.A. Thiots
Pierce, Stacy and Lady have some exciting news.  They have found a darling home to rent and will be moving the first week of July.  It's not too far from where they currently live but will be in the same ward they are in which they love.  It has a back yard with grass for our little lady to play and a WASHER AND DRYER!  That will be so much handier to have right in their house.  It also has a garage which will have room for Stacy to have an office and have some storage room there.  The other night, I took a bike ride with Pierce and Lady to their new house.  Oh my goodness, talk about fun. I loved it.

Our Dallas Thiots
With the month of may coming to an end, Sky has been working on getting his car inspected and the new registration sticker acquired.  It's been such a crazy rainy flooding week, that he has thought about trading it in on a john boat.  Might be a good idea.  Hopefully it passed inspection and he was able to get the new sticker.  They are trying something new in Texas with having one sticker that is both inspection and registration.  Sounds like a great idea, but it's trickier than you might imagine.  Good Luck Sky!

We Plano Thiots
There are two fancy golf tournaments that are held back to back this time of year.  The Colonial is in Fort Worth and the Byron Nelson in Dallas.  This has been the craziest weather for playing golf in.  I've been told that you need to wear flippers instead of golf shoes and a snorgle and mask come in handy as well.  Dick was invited to go as a guest to both, and last Thursday attended one day of the Colonial and loved it.  This week with our little children here, he wasn't able to get away and besides that he couldn't find his swim flippers.  Dick has been the champ at running the morning car pool.  A family friend meets him in Rowlett and we switch Jetta's car seat into her van and off they go on school. Then I meet her in the afternoon and we switch the seat back into my car and we come on home.  It's been quite an adventure and we are happy to report that Jetta got a 100 on her spelling test this week.  Dick is a great homework coach and they have lots of car time to practice spelling words.
Saturday we had the Christensen's come over for a play date.  Oh my goodness, we packed a lot of fun into a couple of hours.  We made play dough and had such fun using all my old cookie cutters. Then Graypa built  us a fire in the firepit and we roasted marshmellows and made s'mores.  Let me tell you, with a back yard that feels like a sponge, it was fun and it was messy.  Only mister Luke wasn't interested in getting wet and muddy.  the rest of us had a blast.  I loved watching six little kids roasting marshmallows.  When we were done, we marched them into my bathroom and into the tub for a foot bath.  Lots of giggling and lots of fun.  We even had a talent show which was so much fun. Hey Miss Jetta, how do you do, show us something special that you can do...My goodness, Jetta did the splits and some fancy gymnastics for us along with some jump rope tricks. David did some amazing stunts and Hannah can also do the splits.  Kinsley was great at performing her upcoming dance for her Decades day on Wednesday and Luke, oh  my goodness, Luke is a dancing machine.  Owen had some great moves and we had such fun cheering for everyone.  My voice is a little hoarse this morning with all the cheering.  It was sure a fun way to spend the afternoon.
I hope your week has been good and that you are enjoying your rainy weather or hopefully you have blue skies.  Sure love you, Robynn  ps Prayers appreciated, keep them coming.  Everytime I feel like I am to the end of my rope, your prayers kick in and I am able to tie a knot and hang on.  Bless you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.

What a Week!

Our Mansfield Thiots
Ricky & Becky had a fun quick trip to Las Vegas.  They flew SPIRIT airlines which doesn't have the best on time record but without children, it wasn't too bad.  They loved getting to meet Baby Reegan and only wished they lived closer to be a help to that cute family with a brand new little one.  It's not easy being sleep deprived as we all know.  I'm glad they were able to go and I'm glad I was able to watch the girls while they were gone.  Thanks for trusting me with your precious little ones.

Our Charlottesville Granges
This has been an extra busy week for Jake at work and so it's been an extra special blessing for Tatia to have Jake's sister Tootie come for a visit.  She is most popular with Penny and Max and she fell instantly in love with Oscar.  They have had a fun week together.  The weather even cooperated so they could take a trip to a splash park.  There are a couple in Charlottesville and Penny ad Max are both quite thrilled with them.  By next summer, Oscar might find they are a great way to cool off in the nice warm weather of Virginia.

Our Carmichael Thiots
Last weekend was the Aaronic Priesthood Commemoration and so the Fathers and Son's planned a campout.  Anyone who is potty trained is invited and Callum was thrilled to make his second year in a row appearance there.  Charlie went with Grandpa Smith, and Jordan, Keltzies husband who is going to be a daddy the first part of June.  He will be a great one too.  They had a good time and Callum's cast didn't slow him down much at all.  Charlie told me if you were blind and couldn't see that he had a cast, you would not know he had a broken arm.

Our L.A. Thiots
Our Hawaiian Vacationers returned home early last Thursday morning.  They had a wonder week in paradise and missed little Adelaide but she did just great.  What a fun family she had tending her. I'm sure she missed her mommy and daddy, but I'm so proud of her that she could do it and that her parents could do it.  It's good to have some away time every now and then.  Stacy's niece came for a weekend get away with her Mommy.  Oh what fun they had.

Our Big D Thiots

Kara participated in the Shatterproof Challenge with some of her coworkers.  Shatterproof is an organization committed to protecting children from addiction to alcohol or other drugs and ending the stigma and suffering of those affected by this disease.  Kara, you have a big heart and a lot of guts to be 16 stories above the ground.  You are amazing!  Thanks for your goodness in making the world a better place.  

We Plano Thiots
It's early and as I am typing Our Thiot Times, there is a mockingbird outside on the neighbor's roof just a singing away.  What a pleasant sound after so many stormy days and nights.  Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue blue sky, whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by.  Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by a lilac tree, I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me.  I love that Primary song.
While I was in Mansfield this week, Dick was busy busy not only at work but with helping with Lisa Manes funeral arrangements.  Dick has an incredible gift of giving of his time and talents.  He seems to be able to fit more into a day than anyone I know.  Everything went well and her family flew in and out just as quickly as Lisa left us.   Her Four Sisters Sang, her Dad spoke and read a talk her  mother had written and was not able to attend do to a recent foot surgery.  Her husband spoke and her two sons prayed..  Dick said he really felt that the funeral was just the way Lisa would have wanted it. Well done Dick Thiot!
When I got in my car after my Friday shift at the temple, there was a message on my phone asking me to call Dick as quickly as I could because there was an EMERGENCY.  Oh, how my heart started racing and every known emergency I could think of flooded my mind.  When I called him it was a relief that no one we loved was injured or dead or any of the other things I had imagined.  Dick's cousin needed help with his 3 little children while they work out some family difficulties.  Now think about it, who loves children more than Dick and I?  Who has a sleep over room upstairs just waiting for sleep overs?  Who happens to already love these three little ones?  Yes, we were picked and after passing a back ground check we traveled and picked up their stuff and their scooters and loaded three carseats into our car and came home.  OK, I 'm going to admit its a life changer.  We are hoping and Praying that things can be quickly resolved and that these little ones can go home soon. But until then, we are glad to open our home and our hearts to them.  Bye the way, I know why our Heavenly Father gives children to YOUNG Parents :) We would welcome your prayers.  Sure love you,  Robynn

Good Bye Sweet Lisa Mane

Lisa Rebecca Van Orman Calcote, Cummings, Mane
January 29, 1967-May 14, 2015
We are all mourning Lisa’s loss, but we also want to celebrate her life. From the very beginning she had a will of her own. She is one of two of our six children who were expelled from nursery school. Because her parents were head residents of a dorm at the University of Utah she didn’t have other children to play with. So, she played with the college students. They loved her and would borrow her to play on the grass and walk around the grounds. She knew her letters and began reading and writing before she ever got to elementary school. When Corrin was small Lisa informed us one day: My name is Buzina and this is my dog, Coco. Coco and Buzina were best friends for a long long time. I think Corrin finally became Cori to Lisa when Corrin was about two. Lisa’s first pet was a hamster whom she named Open Eyes because he slept all day. He managed to get out and climb inside the couch. We had to cut a hole in the back of the couch to get him out. When Lisa was four years old we moved to Brazil for a year. Lisa had long tow colored hair, basically white, and Corrin had long red hair. Wherever we went people were reaching out to touch their hair because it was so unusual. They became the darlings of the little branch we attended there. When we moved back to UCLA Jana arrived in our family. We also adopted a kitten named Cheena. When Jan finished school we took a job in Washington, D. C.. We raised our family there for the following 25 years. Lisa and Corrin once made a teeter-totter out of logs. Unfortunately, Jana, the littlest, took it on the chin and fell off of it and broke her arm. Lisa was a literal oldest child and was in charge of everything. When she was 14 years old she completed a 50 mile hike in 20 hours along the C&O Canal. She was a huge competitor. She and Conwey Casillas both ran the last quarter mile and both swore that they each beat the other to the finish line. Lisa loved music. She took piano for several years and learned to play very well. She sang, enjoyed gymnastics, relished her math classes to the point that she was always staying after school to work on extra problems with her math teacher. She and her dad built a beautiful mortis-tenon shaker bed from scratch as her project for her American Heritage class. She also designed, sewed and quilted the bedspread and sham. She learned to change the oil, check fluids and change tires on our family car and enjoyed teaching other young women how to do the same. She married John Calcote and they have two children, Joseph and Robert. They later divorced. Joe filled a mission to Atlanta, Georgia and Rob filled a mission to Uganda where he spent his two years in Ethiopia. She graduated from BYU with a degree in design engineering technology. Later she completed an MBA from the University of Utah. She married Martin Cummings. They divorced. She started her own plant business called “A Touch of Color” which she ran for several years. Lisa could repair anything. One phone call to her dad for a consult and she was bravely on her way. She more recently got into scrapbooking and card making. She had exquisite taste. She and her brother John became avid rock climbers and stayed in excellent shape. It took real courage to make the climbs they made. It is probably a good thing their parents didn’t know all the dangers they encountered. There is no one more kind hearted than Lisa. She was always looking for ways to serve others. She was so organized that there were times we couldn’t believe how organized she was. She adored animals and made friends wherever she went. She was an advocate for the downtrodden and underdog. Anyone could give her a sob story and she would go out of her way to help. She spent years working with Landmark Education and became one of their group leaders. This allowed her to make friends from all over the world. When she made friends she kept those friendships forever and I cannot imagine how many people we don’t even know who are mourning her loss.

She married Anthony Mane and they loved traveling in their RV, entertaining, helping others, always being on the go and raising their two “puppies.” Our love goes out to Tony. At this point, his loss is the greatest. Lisa practiced yoga and became very proficient. She helped her parents do the yard at their home and now all of the beautiful flowers become a memorial to her talent and beauty.
During the last few days of her life she spent time doing genealogy, studying with the sister missionaries and battling a deep depression. She was in great anguish and pain. She took pain medication, bathed herself in a tub, lost consciousness and drowned. We miss her terribly but feel that Heavenly Father said to her, “Lisa, you have suffered enough. Come home.” We know she is happy, free of all suffering and with loved ones who have gone on before.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Written by Lisa's sweet mother and read at her funeral on May 20, 2015

Birthday Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
Brooklyn went to the Doctor on Tuesday and they took half of her cast off.  You read that correctly, they sawed it off and left the bottom half on with an ace bandage wrapped around it.  It can come off for bathing and then go right back on.   This is for another couple of weeks.  She has been a trouper and has adapted quite well to doing things with her right hand in stead of her left.  Addison and Brooklyn have only 3 more weeks of school and then it's summer vacation.  They are both kind of sad to have school coming to a close as is Miss Harper who has loved Preschool this year.  She is doing fantastic on the potty train and has only had one accident since climbing aboard a few weeks ago.  Go Harper.  Ricky and Becky leave tomorrow afternoon for a few days in Las Vegas.  They are going to visit Becky's new little tiny niece who was born a few weeks ago.  What fun that will be for them and even more fun for me as I  get to go on Grammy Duty for  few days.  Horray!

Our Charlotteville Granges
Max had his first dental check up on Monday and is cavity free!  Go Max  He did great in the dentist chair and Penny had prepared him well about how fun it was going to be.  The dentist them both have a token to choose a prize after his appointment.  Oscar did well by sleeping during the entire cleaning and check up appointment.  Go Oscar.  On Friday night Tatia's family had a fun sleep over guest.  Our friend Linda Higbee was in Charlottesville for her son Alex's MBA Graduation.  Linda got to have two sleepovers at Tatias and they all loved having her there.  Mister Max loved playing with her and Oscar enjoyed snuggle time with her.  She is going to be blessed as a grandma in a few more weeks.  She got some good practice time.  Penny loved calling her Aunt Linda.  That made me smile.

Our Carmichael Thiots
Tuesday night Callum and Keelie were at swim practice and while waiting for Keelie, Callum fell off the 2nd to the bottom row of bleachers and broke his left arm.  It's been quite the month for broken left arms in our family.  He choose his favorite color of orange for his cast and will be sporting it for four weeks.  His first swim meet proved to be his last for a few weeks.  Charlie said he is one tough cookie and has been a good sport with all the changes you have to make to have your arm casted up. We love you Callum.  Keelie had her school musical this week and did fantastic I am told.  While I was with her in March she was practicing all the songs.  Every time we got into the car, it the CD would play the music and we all loved singing the songs.  I wish I had been there to cheer her on! GO KEELIE!  What a great week for the Weather Program with all the crazy weather in this country.

Our L.A. Hawaii Thiots
This coming Wednesday is Stacy's 30th birthday and so Pierce wanted to do something extra special for her.  They packed up their bags and headed to Hawaii for a week in  paradise.  A good friend of theirs offered to keep Adelaide and so they went without her.  I have a feeling they are both missing her like crazy but are enjoying some together time and catching up on their sleep.  Oh how I wish I was close enough to watch that little angel.  Have so much fun you two!

Our Dallas Thiots
Skyler and Kara were able to join us on Wednesday night to celebrate Dick's birthday along with Ricky's family too.  El fenix is kind of in the middle of Plano and Mansfield and close to SKy and Kara's.  It was a great spot to celebrate.  We all enjoyed singing to graypa and wishing him a happy day. It was fun to see Kara at the temple on Saturday.  It was 3rd Saturday and it's always extra fun to have two Sister Thiot's on duty.  When I was leaving the temple, Sky was there to pick up Kara and was using his Fit something or other to log some steps around the temple.  It was fun to see him and get a hug.

We Plano Thiots
For Dick's birthday, Ricky scored some great flights to Chicago on Spirit airlines and took Dick to the Cubs Baseball game.  The Cubs were kind enough to win making the trip extra fun for the two of them.  Dick was wishing he could have organized and had all the guys go along.  He said he tried to have enough fun for all of them.  When he returned he got some sad news that a sister in our ward had passed away earlier in the day.  Her father called to tell Dick and he has been busy helping her husband and family make arrangements and plan her funeral.  What a good man you are Dick Thiot. While he served as bishop he grew to love this family and they loved him.  Life is fragile.  We never know how long we have in this world.
One of the nicest parts of my week was on Saturday while serving in the temple.  We had a 12 year old little girl come to be sealed to her parents in the temple.  Her name was Leslie and she was so sweet and so cute.  I loved getting to spend time with her as she waited for that special time.  I've also enjoyed time preparing for our Family Reunion this week.  We are down to the 3 1/2 week count down.  It's been fun getting assignments made and things checked up on.  My dad and two sisters went to the Camp  yesterday to scoop things out and came home more excited than ever.  Me too.  It's going to be such fun.   Have a good week!  SLY Robynn

Happy Birthday Dick!

Dick and his Dad, also Dick Thiot in 1958

Today Dick celebrates Fifty Eight Years of being on this planet.  He has done much with his 58 years and gets more out of his 24 hours each day than I ever thought possible.  I hope you have an extra  nice day and that you know how loved you are by your family!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday dear Dick

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Sure Love you,

Happy Mother's Day

Our Mansfield Thiots

Our Charlottesville Granges

Our Carmichael Thiots

Our L.A. Thiots

Our Dallas Thiots

We Plano Thiots

Thirty Six Years

Thirty Six Blessings in 36 Years

1.      May 3, 1979 Married my best friend Richard Wylly Thiot IV  for Time and All Eternity in the Salt Lake Temple

2.      August 1979 Was hired for a teaching position at Orem Junior High just a week before school started

3.      March 31, 1980  Added Richard Wylly Thiot V and became a family of 3

4.      May 1981 Dick hired at DECADE for an internship and when school was out, we packed up ½ of a U-Haul, shared the other half with the Jeff & Paula Martin Family and moved to Texas. 901 South Coit Road apt 1010 Dallas, Texas

5.      Sept. 1, 1981 Added our beautiful baby girl Tatia to our family and became a family of 4

6.      August 1982  bought or beautiful home at 1432 Camilla Drive in Plano, Texas

7.      Oct. 2, 1982 We became a family of 5 with the birth of our Charles Jay Thiot, (Charlie)

8.      October 1984 our sweet Charlie was hospitalized with Pneumonia.  We were so blessed that he recovered quickly.

9.      April 1985 Dick was hired by WYCAT in Orem, Utah.  We put our home up for sale and moved to Utah.  We stayed with my parents until our home sold and then moved into one of my dad’s rental homes on 1390 East 8850 South Sandy, Utah

10.  June 27, 1986 Brought home a sweet baby boy, Pierce Jackson Thiot and then there were six

11.  October 1986 Pierce takes a dive off the counter top and is miraculously saved from brain damage.  Pierce keeps his guardian angel busy.

12.  February 1988 bought our home at 9316 Sunrise Park Circle Sandy, Utah

13.  April 27 1988, Dick’s sweet mom passed away after a mighty fight with Lung Cancer.  She is so missed by all of us. We know she is watching over us from heaven.

14.  August 31, 1988 Skyler Winslow Thiot joined our family and we knew we were complete.

15.  May 1990 Maverick Systems is Born.  Dick commuted to Dallas for a year getting things ready for us to move.

16.  June 1990 Pierce was run over by a garbage truck and was miraculously preserved. Not one broken bone.  Thank you Heavenly Father

17.  October 1990 My parents, Glenys & Jay Birks were called to serve a mission in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission and started a tradition of Missionary Service.

18.  March 1991  Put our house on the market for sale and we had an offer in 3 days.  We had to be out in 3 weeks.  YIKES,  Some blessings are hard to take

19.  March 1991 took a quick trip to Dallas and found a home that could be ready in 3 weeks.   YES!!!  5205 Coachman Court  Plano, Texas

20.  April 12, 1991 Packed up and headed south to Texas.  We left in a snow storm and made it only to Price when we stopped for the night.  We made it fun having a girl car and a boy car and fun mixes too.

21.  April 15, 1991 Arrived and stayed in Dick’s tiny apartment for a few days until we closed on our new house.

22.  Got Kids signed up in school Ricky in 5^th Grade at Wells,  Tatia in 3^rd Grade at Wells,  Charlie in 2^nd Grade at Wells Elementary.  What a great school!

23.  Became members of the Plano 4^th Ward and we felt right at home

24.  December 1993 Charlie had his appendix removed in an emergency appendectomy.  Gemie Martin recommended Dr. Piga who was truly a blessing in recognizing the symptoms when our other doctor did not.  Charlie was so tough and didn't complain nearly enough for how serious it was. Charlie truly had angels watching over him.

25.  May 1998 Ricky graduated from Plano Senior High and headed to BYU Idaho for college

26.  May 1999-2001 Ricky served in the Missouri Independence Mission  Had a Gr-8 Mission

27.  May 2000  Tatia graduated from Plano Senior High and was headed to BYU in Provo

28.  May 2001  Charlie graduated from Plano Senior High and headed to BYU Idaho

29.  January 2002-2004 Charlie served in the Philippines Bacolod Mission

30.  October 2002-April 2004 Tatia served in the Argentina Salta Mission

31.  May 2004 Pierce graduated from Plano Senior High and headed to BYU in Provo

32.  December 18, 2004 Ricky married Rebecca Ann Jensen in the Salt Lake Temple

33.  August 20, 2005 Charlie married Mackenzie Anne Smith in the Salt Lake Temple

34.  August 2005-2007  Pierce served in the Missouri St. Louis Mission

35.  January 27, 2007  Brooklyn Ann Thiot born to Ricky & Becky #1

36.  September 16, 2007  Dick was called to be Bishop of Plano 4^th Ward

37.  May 2007  Sky graduated from Plano Senior High and headed to BYU in Provo

38.  April 3, 2008 Keelie Christina Thiot born to Charlie & Mackenzie #2

39.  April 2008-2010 Called to serve in the Russia Rostov Mission and finished in the New York South Russian speaking after recovering from a bad bug he picked up in Russia.

40.  May 24, 2008 Tatia married Jacob Stuart Grange in the Salt Lake Temple

41.  August 16, 2008  Pierce married Stacy Elizabeth Brinkerhoff in the Salt Lake Temple

42.  June 29, 2009  Addison Mae Thiot born to Ricky & Becky #3

43.  January 15, 2011 Callum Jay Thiot born to Charlie & Mackenzie #4

44.  May 2, 2011 Penny Elaine Grange born to Tatia and Jacob #5

45.  December 30, 2011 Skyler married Kara Neaves in the Dallas Temple

46.  June 4, 2012 Harper Grace Thiot born to Ricky & Becky #6

47.  April 2, 2013  Maxwell James Grange born to Tatia & Jacob #7

48.  June 18, 2013  Adelaide Elizabeth born to Pierce & Stacy (what a miracle girl she is) #8

49.  August 2013 Dick Released as Bishop

50.  March 22, 2015 Oscar Henry Grange born to Tatia & Jacob #9

2 + 36 = 21