I hit my limit in not being able to see Our Mansfield Thiots on Friday. Dick checked with them to see if they might happen to like to Meet and EAT at What a burger for breakfast on Saturday morning. It was sooooooooooooooo good to see them. The food was great too, but the company was the best! What a great start to our Saturday. Thank you Mansfield Thiots for meeting us with us. Becky said their days are going well as the girls each have their own spot in their house for school work. Ricky's job is conitnuing to have training sessions which is keeping him busy. He is counting his blessing that he switched to this company and said he knows Heavenly Father is really watching over their family.
I don't know if any move is fun, I'm sure it's not, it's something we just plain have to endure, but these Medford Granges made it look fun. We had a virtual moving day with our big family. All day, we would send out messages of how we would like to help, what we could do to make it easier and do you know what? I think it helped to keep Tatia's spirit a little lighter. I loved reading everybody's suggestions and how Tatia's brothers came to her rescue over cyber space. Jake is the hero too. He worked soooo hard and what a blessing it was that his work was cut in half and he had the perfect time to get them in their new home. This week, elective surgery are supposed to be starting back on the schedule so their lab will have more work to do. Half time work is done, which will be good. I loved how quickly Tatia is making her new home look like HER HOME! She has a gift and plenty of energy to get it done! I love seeing how great everything is looking. I love that four friends came on Thursday to help her clean her Bentwood home. Go Tatia! Go Granges! I'm proud of all of you! Miss Penny's birthday is coming on Saturday. WOW! 9 years old!
While I am typing, Charlie just sent me a text that has great big crocodile tears running down my face. He was going through his missionary pictures to share with some one special and came across one that melted my heart. It was a picture of my Dad, Charlie's grandpa at the Salt Lake International Airport the day Charlie left the Missionary Training Center and headed to the Philippines. It used to be that people could go and tell Missionaries goodbye, but with the heightened security during the Salt Lake Winter Olympics of 2002, that was put to a halt. Guess What? My dad, who was very much a keeper of rules, thought that was merely a suggestion and drove himself to the airport to give his Charlie Boy one more hug and wish him well. You see, those two had been best buddies Charlie's whole life. Dad didn't think he could miss that opportunity. Thank you Charlie for sharing that with me. Sorry about the tears, but I just miss my dad as does Charlie.
What a way to get woken up on a Wednesday morning. When you fill your bed moving a a bit of rattling going on, somehow you know just what it must be. We are sure grateful it wasn't a bigger number and gratful for all the trampoline jumping which has made bouncing seem like fun, that it wasn't too scary for anybody. Whew! Now on a funier note, Pierce has been doing a lot of work via video conference. He was working out side as it was so nice one day and here came our sweet Jackson out to jump wearing only his big boy pants. When you have a very private back yard, and you are very comfortable jumping in big boys, it's not an unfamiliar sight. The unfamiliar site may have been to the person on the video call who caught site of his big boys. We all nearly died laughing when Pierce shared with us. I came across this photo of Pierce at college graduation. Pierce as asked by a dear friend to help her up on the stage for her to receive her diploma. I had forgotten about that privilege Pierce had until finding this picture last night. He told me that she lives in LA and she attends a neighboring ward for church. That made me smile!
Something that we loved this week was a curb side chat with Miss Elie and her parents. Oh my goodness how t hat made my Thursday. They couldn't stay long, but I loved it. The next day Sky asked if they could borrow our back yard and cook some Jdawgs! You bet was my reply and I invited miss Elie to bring some fresh panties and a nightie ad take a bubble tubby after her swim. Oh my goodness, she loved it. She would often have tubbies w hen she was my Tuesday buddy but it's been a while and this was just extra sweet. Speaking of sweet, Kara made Tatia's new choco chip cookie recipe with brown butter and sea salt on top and brought 13 cookies to bake at our house after the swim. Now you all know, that 12 cookies is all a cookie sheet can hold, what do you do with the extra one, please don't ask, but I can tell you this, cookie dough is delish with brown butter. Thank you Kara, Skyler and Miss Elie for makign Grams day twice in one week. I found this funny picture of Sky and Kara on one of their first dates going to this fun color festival where you get blasted with colored chalk, they loved it and discovered they loved each other too. Great Move Sky!
My co teacher in Seminary, challenged our class to keep a journal during this most unuasual time in our history. I wish I had done it the first day she gave the challenge, but it took me a while to figure out how to I wanted to do it. Can I just tell you what a blessing it has been to me. I love watching for the tender mercy's of the Lord each day and may I share just a few this week has brought.
On morning, Dick looked out the window and said, "Is that a newspaper out there on the sidewalk? " I went out to see and lo and behold, it was three white daisies, three lovely little rocks, and three sweet twigs and two precious leaves.. I have no earthly idea where they came from but can I just say, it was the nicest way to feel loved. It reminded me of the bouquet of balloons that landed on our front sidewalk last year on Dick's birthday. I was sure his mama had sent them from heaven above to wish him a happy birthday. And now someone sweet is delivering flowers, rocks twigs and leaves. Thank you whoever you are! You made me feel Heavenly Fathers Love.
Another Tender Mercy happened to my friend Doretha. Three years ago, her mama Winona was in the hospital with pneumonia . She was very very sick and when I went to visit her, I took with me a hand ful of pins that say I AM LOVED. A jewelry store was giving them a way years ago and I had loved them and loved passing them out to people who I loved and who might just need a reminder that they are loved by God Above too. When I went in Winona's room, her daughters were there and some grandchildren. I simply pinned a button on them all and reminded them that Heavenly Father was aware of them and their sweet Winona. Well, it's been nearly 3 years and guess what? There is a nest of Robin's in Winonas beautiful Magnolia tree which she planted when she moved in about 15 years ago. This family of Robins has hung one of those buttons, I am Loved from the nest. If you look closely at the picture, you can see it's attached to a piece of twine. The pin is rusted and aged from being out side but the message was sweet and strong. "I Am Loved" Doretha's granddaughter found it and came running in to tell her grandma, my friend. She snapped a photo and sent it to me. That put a smile on my face to see that Heaven is close by and sending love our way.
We have some water damage on our siding in the back yard. I've been worrying about it and this week we found a company who can come and replace it. They had been working on a neighbors home and I went down and got a business card. I'm so glad they can fix our home. It's been 30 years this month t hat we moved in. I'm glad we can get it fixed.
In Seminary this week we taught about the blessing it is to be able to BEAR one another burdens. I couldn't resist making Rice Crispy Bears to remind our claas about Bearing each others burdens. I get to go deliver them this afternoon. I love my seminary kids.
My brother Ric said he was needing a boost and so he had a car show on his front yard. He called it a CAR LOVERS Virus show. He has been working on all these sweet cars. What a great brother he is.
Our friends and neighbors Craig and Vicki Nelson called on Saturday afternoon saying they had just cleaned their boat to get it ready to go to the lake in the summer time, and wanted to drive around the neighborhood in a parade with their grandchildren on board. Dick and I ran down to Sandy Trail with a handful of candy to toss at the parade float. Oh my what fun it was to see them. The little kids were thrilled with left over Easter candy. and we all had a great few minutes waving to the parade!
It's been a good week for us here. I hope that is how you are doing too. You are in our thoughts and our prayers. We love you dearly. SLY Robynn
