Let the Summertime Begin!

 Our Mansfield Thiots
Thursday was the last day of school for Mansfield ISD.  The girls were treated to breakfast at Chick-Fil-A as a fun tradition continues of breakfast out on the last day of school.  On Friday to celebrate, they took a Socially Distanced trip to the Dallas Zoo and had a great time meeting all the new baby animals who were born this spring.  What fun!  Then on Saturday, Harper invited her friends for an early birthday swim party at Nana and Papa's lovely swimming pool.  They had a blast.  Harper's actual birthday is June 4th this coming Thursday!  What a darling 8 year old she will be! Let the Summer Begin!

 Our Medford Ganges
In January, Penny signed up for a group that sings and dances.  She loved it and then the virus came to town and they could no longer meet together to rehearse.  Her teacher made YouTube videos to help the girls practice and it really worked.  This week was the recital and they did a wonderful job.  Each girl could invite two guests to the performance.  Tatia and Jake loved it and had such a fun evening.  The boys took a trip to Home Depot one day and had to wear their masks for safety.  Looking good guys, but when they took a hike in the mountains, no masks were necessary.  They all had such a great time.  Even Oscar learned that he could do hard things.  Just three more days of school and Summer is Here!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Per tradition, Callum lost a tooth on the last day of school.  The tooth fairy is very busy in Carmichael California lately.  Keelie and Callum are both delighted to be done with school for the summer! Charlie's family was invited to join Jen's family at her uncle's lake house on Lake Combi.  It's a beautiful lake, not too big, not too small, but just right for some tubing and skiing fun.  Everyone came home with giant smiles on their faces and plenty of sunshine on their noses. Keelie discovered some fun tricks with glow sticks. It made for some very fun photo shoots.  Bike rides are a very fun activity the Carmichael Thiots enjoy together.  They have lots of fun trails to explore and having Jen there makes everyone happy too.  Let the Summer begin!

Our LA Thiots

Pierce Jackson Thiot II celebrated his four-year-old birthday on Thursday. I think you would have to look long and hard to find a nicer and cuter and smarter little boy than our Jackson is.  What a fun day Pierce and Stacy planned for him.  He is an early riser and true to form, woke up early and was ready to open gifts.  He loved everything he got and is enjoying his new slip and slide and his bubble machine that makes a gazillion bubbles.  He got a new helmet for bike riding and boy can that guy ride.  His mom baked him the most amazing cake with four different colored layers.  He wanted four mountains on top and she did it.  What a sweet little boy.  Happy Summer Time!

 Our Oak Lawn Thiots
One of the first things to reopen with social distancing was the Dallas Zoo.  Miss Elie loves the Zoo.  She and Skyler go at least once or twice a week when it's open and it's been a long 3 months with it being closed.  She was thrilled to get to go twice this week.  Another thrilling moment was the launching of the astronauts on Saturday.  She has a NASA shirt and a Rocket shirt and she picked the Rocket shirt to wear to the launch party which was also a shirt packing/shipping party.  Skyler's new order of shirts arrived on Thursday and with Skyler managing and Kara's good help and a couple of senior citizen volunteers, we got the current orders packaged and ready to take to the post office in the morning.  The two seniors got to do a couple of local delivery's last night.  Let the Summer time begin!

We Plano Thiots
One of my favorite memories of the week was last Sunday Night.  We had a family movie night via ZOOM and each family prepared some "slides" to share with us.  We had so much fun seeing old videos and past vacations and some favorite pictures the kids chose.  Everyone popped their own popcorn and we loved being together.  This was the week I finally remembered to buy two cans of clams at the grocery store to make the recipe from Bratton Seafood Grotto that Aunt Jerry had shared with me.  Oh my goodness, Dick and I both loved it as did our neighbors who we shared some with too.  That took me back a few years to being invited to go with the aunts for special birthday lunches.  YUMMY!  Dick has loved some nice bike rides this week and even found a place in Plano that looks like a forest to ride too.  He loved getting a bunny tail on his head when he helped give Miss Elie a bubble bath on Friday night.  Such a fun Pay Paw as Miss Elie calls him.
I love the halo over his bike helmet as he truly is an angel.  Whenever I need him, he's not far away and if I remember to say PLEASE, he's more than willing to help.  Let the Summer Time Begin!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

 Our Mansfield Thiots
These are three very happy little girls.  There are only three days of school left to complete this school year.  They have Monday off for the Holiday and then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is the last day.  It's been a most unusual finish to school.  Online school has been challenging but they have found ways to make it work best for them.  I'm so proud of Becky for being a great Home School teacher and Ricky is excellent at the mathematics tutoring.  Way to go Mansfield Thiots!  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!  I got some great news from Harper this week, her smashed finger is better and she has set a date for her Baptism.  July 11th!  7-11 has a great ring to it!  I can hardly wait! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

 Our Medford Granges
Happy 12th Anniversary Tatia and Jake! What a grand week it's been in Oregon.  Jake's parents, Gigi and Bumpa have been in town and barely even sat down for meals.  They have been finding projects to help get the Granges settled into their new home.  Bumpa has laid sod in the backyard, and built storage shelves in the garage and Gigi brought some plants to transplant into their yard and has been a busy bee gardening all week.  What wonderful helpers they are.  The kids have loved having them with them.  I love these Summer Star Wars PJ's Tatia found in all the kids sizes.  What fun!  They make me smile to look at them.  The kids had a three mile walk-a-thon that they could earn a Shaved Ice. Oh my goodness, even though it was  a chilly day, no body was stopping until the shave ice was in their hands.  YUMMY!  The babies celebrated their 5 month birthday this week too.  They are soooo much fun!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie couldn't resist wearing his patriotic kicks on Friday to work.  I love his stars and striped shoes to celebrate Memorial day this weekend.  Keelie's box finally arrived with the blankets we made for her school service project for new mamas and their babies.  I hope she will be able to still donate those to mamas and babies in need.  What a sweet idea you had Keelie!  Tonight is our Family Movie Night.  We are all zooming in together to watch "Home Movies".   We are each to make a 5-8 minute slide show of family pictures we love of each other.  I'm looking forward to popping a big bowl of popcorn and enjoying the show!

 Our LA Thiots
On Wednesday, Stacy celebrated her birthday.  With things being different than usual, they picked up sandwiches at Stacy's favorite sandwich shop and found a nice shady spot to enjoy a picnic lunch very socially distanced.  We are sure glad that Pierce and Stacy found each other and that she is in our family.  What a fun mama she is and a great wife.  We love her dearly.  Adelaide got her Little Mommy book in the mail this week and she has loved reading it over and over.  She is amazed that the author signed her name on the front page in Adelaide's favorite color, blue.  Jackson boy will celebrate his 4 year old birthday this coming Thursday.  The LA Thiots have Mother's Day, then Stacy's birthday, then Jackson's birthday, then Adelaide's Birthday, then Father's Day and then finally Pierce's birthday all squeezed into May and June.  Party On LA Thiots!!!!

Our Oak Lawn Thiots

One of my favorite days this week, Skyler called me and we FaceTimed for a few minutes while he rested up from the first leg of his bike ride.  He held his phone up for me to guess where he was.  He was at one of my favorite places on the whole earth, the Dallas Temple.  Oh how that made me smile.  What a beautiful morning it was there.  The birds were singing, the flowers blooming.  It was just lovely.  Thank you Sky.  Another favorite was when his family came over for a swim in our back yard.  I loved having them.  Kara was even an extra nice angel and put hair color on my hair.  It was looking bad and I finally got the right stuff to mix up the dye.  She did a good job.  No more white streak down my part.  Thank you Kara!  Miss Elie woke up Saturday morning feeling really crummy.  Sky asked for some get well videos and what fun that was to see all the cleverness.  Graypa or P-paw as she calls him made a video with Clip Clop, our wonder horse speaking and giving her a ride.  I made our little chicken talk and wish her a speedie recovery and Jake helped their babies talk and it was sooooooooooooo funny.  Miss Elie couldn't help but get feeling better! 

We Plano Thiots

This was my first week with no Seminary.  It was kind of different not working on lessons and studying.  I've read a couple of great books this week.  We had a fun evening with our ward missionaries.  They taught us the missionary discussion about the Plan of Happiness or the Plan of Salvation. It was fun to have them over at our house, kind of.  We took them an ice cream to enjoy after our visit.  We love Missionaries.  Dallas had a set of quadruplets  born last month and they went home this week.  What cute little tiny boys.  They named them Hank, Hudson, Henry, and Harrison.  I loved that.  Dick has been riding his bike inside on rainy days.  Miss Elie has been working on learning to ride her bike.  It's a bit tricky to get the peddling and steering down together.  Dick fixed my bubble machine this week by putting new batteries in it.  It has the tiniest screws and was mighty tricky to get them out.  He figured it out and got it running again.  I just had a phone call from my cousin Chris.  He calls quite often and it's always good to visit with him.  He used to call my dad every single morning at 7:15.  He was much like an alarm clock.  I think Dad liked him calling to check up on him.  I was texting with Ricky this week and Harper's birthday gift had just arrived.  I told him #39 had arrived and he thought I was talking about a new great grandchild of my parents.  I had to make a list to count how many greats they have now.  Tatia's Simon and Grace were numbers 38 & 39 and Jordan's Savannah #40 and Chase and Morgan are expecting #41 next month..  Skyler suggested they name the new baby Dirk Nowitzki Birks after our great Maverick basketball player who was #41 and just retired.  I love how Dirk Birks sounds.  Good Suggestion Sky!   I hope you all have a nice Memorial Day Weekend!  How blessed we are to live in this land of freedom and how we love those that Gave SO MUCH!   SLY Robynn

Trust Him!

  Our Mansfield Thiots
This was week 1 of Ricky being able to go back into dental offices for his work.  That was quite a wait, and we are so grateful that this week came.  The girls have one more week of online school until Summer Vacation begins.  We are not sure what summer vacation will look like as we are still staying home and staying safe with a few things opening up to help the economy.  Brooklyn and I had a fun visit about How to Train a Dragon.  She asked me which one I would like to fly with.  I have not watched any of their shows and we promised when we can get back together to do that very thing.  I love Caroline Leaf's quote this week and I totally agree.  Trust Him!

 Our Medford Granges
Gigi and Bumpa are finally feeling better after a short bout with Covid 19.  They've both had two negative tests and are so relieved to get to visit with grandchildren.  They are at Tatia's this week and brought some furniture to help fill up their new home.  Penny will get a bedroom set that belonged to her great grandma.  She's exited about that.  Everyone loved learning to draw Olaf yesterday with a fun video and Penny for science this week learned about volcanoes and got to make her very own and have it erupt multiple times.  What fun home school is! Baby Gracie and Simon continue to grow and get more fun each week.  Such good babies! It's been a chilly week in Medford and Tatia loved getting to have a fire in their fireplace which is right in their dining room.  So cozy and fun! Enjoy your company!  Trust Him!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie enjoyed some bike rides this weekend and yard work.  Yard work is always something there is plenty of when you have a nice big yard.  I love Keelie's new swim cap that Callum fashioned by giving a beach ball a great big kick.  Oh my, I think even Marge Simpson could fit all her hair inside that swim cap.  Good Work Callum!  Just a few more weeks of on line school for these two.  They are looking forward to being done! Trust Him!

 Our LA Thiots
A trap was set to trap some naughty raccoons who have been destroying the garden of the LA Thiots.  Those little stinkers are smart and some how tricked a little possum to get trapped instead of them.  Pierce has a camera on his patio and they watched this little gal, named Petunia Possum walk right inside and feast on some chicken.  Hopefully next time, the Raccoons will be trapped and shipped our of town to where they won't bother them any more.  I loved getting to read the book Little Mommy with Adelaide this week.  You see it's a rhyming book and Adelaide is great at rhymes and could complete each ending rhyme.  I loved it.  I met Sharon Kane, the author of Little Mommy last fall and was able to order copies for my little girls.  It was written in 1966 and is darling!  Check your mailboxes soon little girls! Trust Him!

 Our Oak Lawn Thiots
Dick got a Happy Birthday wish from Skyler who was on a bike ride over by the Jarrell Company which is the company Dick's Uncle Buddy and Uncle Melton owned and his mama worked at too.  Such a sweet Happy Birthday wish!  Kara had snuck some of her heavenly frozen croisants in our freezer the night before his birthday and I popped them in the oven to rise overnight and baked them on his birthay morning.  Our home smelled like a bakery in Paris.  YUMMY!  They melted in your mouth.  SOOOO GOOD!!!  We've had some raining days this week and Elie loved splashing around in her rain boots, coat and umbrella.  I love this picture of her enjoying a snack of some peanut butter in her lazy boy recliner.  What a fun girl you are Elinor.  On sunny days, she and her daddy loved taking some bike rides in her sporty bike trailer.  FUN!  Trust Him!

 We Plano Thiots
For Dick's birthday, we had the siding repaired on the back of our home.  What a project these guys had.  In only 1 1/2 days, they had it looking like new again.  Thank you Elite Exteriors.  We did have a bit of extra excitement when the next door neighbor called the police as they had parked their trailer in front of our neighbors home.  YIKES, a bit more excitement than I like.

 We received our first graduation announcement in the mail this week.  Nicki McKay, Aunt Jerry's darling granddaughter is graduating.  what a crazy year to be a Senior. Not much pomp and fuss when you can't have a graduation ceremony.  I loved seeing what a darling young lady she is.  Aunt Jerry also called this week asking if I would like a copy of Brattons Clam Chowder recipe.  She found it while sorting through some things and it brought such fun memories to us both.  We loved going there for special birthday lunches and enjoying that yummy chowder.  She reminded me that they had to trick us girls to think it was potato soup, and the clams were chicken.  Silly girls we were.  I've got clams on my grocery list to make it this week.  Poor Dick tripped over his bike stand and broke his baby toe on Saturday.  Funny how such a tiny toe can cause so much pain.  OUCH!!! Before he tripped, he helped me make a few jars of strawberry jam.  So much easier with a buddy to help stir.  Thanks Dick!

This was my last week of teaching Seminary this semester.  I'm hoping to be able to teach again in the fall.  They may have had enough of Sister Thiot,  we will see  I loved teaching Alma 14 about how to TRUST in the Lord!  Skyler's t-shirts were printed at a company called TRUST and I loved borrowing a few boxes to help emphasis our lesson topic.  I've loved teaching seminary at home for the past six weeks.  ZOOM Seminary may be my best.  Right in my own home.  It's so fun to feel like my class is all here with me.  Sky made a card for me to send to my class and Stacy's magic printer is printing them for me.  Thank you both for sharing your expertise with me.  Our final day, Friday, was supposed to be the Bishops Breakfast.  Without being able to be together physically, we had a spiritual feast instead.  It was so great as the Bishops bore their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and as our class had a chance to do the same.  WOWSERS!  how I love those kids and will miss them this summer.  I'm trusting that you each had a good week too.  How I love you!  Trust Him!  SLY Robynn

Our Treasured Thiot Times

 Our Mansfield Thiots
Ricky and Becky called me on Thursday wanting to make a plan for Mothers Day.  We voted that it would be fun to get together at a park and have lunch. I voted for Cane's Chicken fingers and they made arrangements with Dick and Sky for the rest of the plans. Dick picked up the chicken fingers and fries, and Ricky brought Strawberry Lemonaide, Fruit Punch, plates and napkins and Sky and Kara brought the most heavenly Kolaches ever.  Kara has loved having time to bake.  Even the fillings were homemade.  SOOOOOO good.  We had such a fun time even though the playgrounds were roped off and closed. Ricky brought his kite to fly and we brought our corn hole game and it was the best couple of hours.  Only one thing would have been more fun and that is if ALL the Thiots could have come.  We missed Tatia, Charlie and Pierce's families!  Thanks Ricky and Becky for the fabulous afternoon! I will treasure those memories and Treasure my new Insta-Pot from everyone!

Our Medford Granges
As you can tell from the photos this week, a mighty change has happened in Medford.  No, the beauty shops didn't open, so Jake opened his own.  He got his clippers and was able to buzz cut Max, Oscar and Charlie.  It seems that Simon was already in style with no cutting necessary.  Penny and Tatia also got in the mood for shorter locks and Tatia took care of Penny's and then Tatia's friend came over and cut Tatia's and shaped up Penny's.  Miss Gracie is just getting in her top hair and refused a trim.  They look great and are loving the short hair for swimming.  The weather is warming up and they are loving having a pool in the back yard.  The fence men came and completed the security fence on the pool and everyone is resting better.  What a treasure a security fence will be. Whew!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie and the kids had a fun Saturday morning helping Grandpa Steve lay sod in his back yard.  He was planning to do it himself, but was delighted when Charlie and the kids showed up to help.  Charlie has always been a great worker man even as a little boy.  Steve had a few pieces of sod left that Charlie took home and planted in his back yard in a few bare spaces.  What a great day and it was fun that the kids got to swim in the pool to cool off after the hard work.  Later that evening, they met up with Fun Jen and took a bike ride to watch the sun go down.  They came across a whole heard of sheep who luckily weren't on the bike trail.  Charlie was always the shepherd in our Christmas nativity story and I'm sure Treasured shepherding those sheep for a few minutes!

  Our LA Thiots
Pierce and the kids had a fun surprise morning making a mother's day card for Stacy. I know she will treasure those hand prints forever.  You might think that painting your kids hands and placing them on paper would be a simple activity.  It was a bit tricky and while the hand prints were drying, they loved getting to do some painting on paper.  I LOVED these beautiful pictures Pierce took of them painting.  Another amazing thing that is happening in LA is the Bio-luminescent Waves.  It's the craziest thing that the red tide algae.  At night they glow and with the full moon this week, it's been quite amazing and remarkable.  The beaches are currently closed for social distancing, but they loved driving by on Friday night and seeing the glowing waves.  WOWSERS!!!!

Our Oak Lawn Thiots
A couple of yeas ago, Kara made a wall hanging to go above their couch.  She has been wanting to hand dye it ever since and finally this week felt like the right one.  Sky called to see if I had a bucket she could borrow and I found a snappy Home Depot bucket that was available.  She came and mixed up the dye and went to work.  It turned out so cool.  I loved watching her do her magic.  Elie and Sky took a swim in the pool as it was a very nice warm day.  Sky caught the hair cut fever and cut his hair and he looks great!  Sky also on Giving Tuesday gave all the profits of the sale of his Dallas T-shirts to the North Texas Food Pantry.  He was able to raise enough for 12,000 meals.  What a gift to the food pantry.  So  many are depending on them for meals.  Way to go Sky! We are waiting for a new order of shirts to come in to ship all those out.  I treasure being on his shipping team.

We Plano Thiots
Happy Mothers Day to my sweet Daughter today.  My grandchildren are sooooo blessed to have such great women in their lives.  How I love them! Skyler sent me this photo from Mothers day 1992.  I loved looking at those five little Thiot's who I treasure.  Those twenty eight years went by pretty fast!  Last Sunday Night, we had a Thiot Family Zoom Reunion.  What fun it was to see so many of Dick's cousins on the screen together.  Dick has some great ideas some times and this was surely one of them.  We decided that we need to do this more often and so we are going to try to meet each 1st Sunday of the month.  We are hoping even more cousins can come next time and share stories of things they remember from our Big Thiot Family.  Thank you Dick! On Friday, Dick got a picture texted to him from our friend Cathy Taylor.  They had found this picture while going through a box of family photos.  It's a photo of Dick at the airport waiting to board the plane to go to the Language Training Center in Provo Utah.  Daddy Taylor went with Dick as he was his Bishop and very special family friend.  I loved seeing this picture and remembering that was the guy I fell in love with so many years ago.  How I love you Dick Thiot! I made a trip to our Church Book store on Tuesday and loved getting copies of the Conference Report for all the sisters I minister to.  It's so fun to have your own copy and a brand new highlighter pen to mark and remember your favorite parts of talks.  One of my ministering sisters, Alice Chen, brought me a surprise after I had been at her home.  Some flowers,  yellow carnations, a big container of beautiful red grapes and a lovely Mothers Day card.  What a dear thoughtful friend.  It has made me smile every time I eat a grape, look and smell the flowers and read the card.  In seminary on Friday, we took a field trip to Provo Utah via ZOOM to Moon's Rare Books Bookstore and Museum.  What a wonderful morning we spent there with Brother Reid Moon, a former member of our stake.  He told us that he always wanted to be a treasure hunter as a young boy and that is what he is.  He travels the world looking for treasures.  He was so kind to share the stories and the treasure with us on Friday.  I loved it.! That is just the kind of week it has been, a Treasure Hunting week here in Plano Texas.  I treasure the phone calls, text messages, pictures, face time calls I have had with many of you.  My uncle Mike celebrated his birthday on Cinco de Mayo.  I loved thinking about him on Wednesday and what a treasure he is in my life.  My mom adored her little brother and I treasure him too.   Mothers Day is a day that I treasure.  I love thinking about my mom and I love thinking of Dick's mother too.  We were both blessed with great mothers in our lives.  We miss them a lot but feel them close by watching over our family.  I hope you too have found some treasure in your life this week.  I sure treasure our friendship.  SLY Robynn

Are you finding things that make you HAPPY?

 Our Mansfield Thiots
With our weather warming up this week,  water balloons on the trampoline have become a favorite pass time to make our girls HAPPY!.  Ricky is first to admit, that the girls, all three of them, can soak him in a jiffy.  It fills good so no worries.  I'm not exactly sure the story behind the red neck cowboy and the lion in this first picture but it did make for some fun.  I loved this photo taken at the visitors center in Salt Lake City almost two years ago.  What a beautiful family you are Mansfield Thiots!  I loved the photos Brooklyn sent me this week of all three of the fun felt friends we've made together and I loved your drawing too Brookie!  Thanks for sharing your talents with me., they make me HAPPY!

 Our Medford Granges
Yesterday was Miss Penny's 9th Birthday!  What a great day she's been planning for months now.  She was sure a Swimming Birthday Party would be perfect.  Little did she know when planning, that the weather may not cooperate and being sheltered at home would prevent friends from coming.  They still had a VERY HAPPY day, starting with Donut Cuntry and ending with home made pizza and angel food cake smothered in strawberries and whipped cream.  And a polar bear swim with family in between.  It was cold but still fun! Miss Penny, you make me Happy!  It's been a good week in Medford.  Getting all settled in to their new home.  Tatia even took a trip to Target all by herself.  It was her first time into a store for six weeks and I loved when she face timed me and we got to shop together for a few minutes.  I loved the thank you posters they made for the first responders. I'm sure that will make them HAPPY! All your happy faces make me HAPPY Too!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie's family enjoyed a back  yard movie night and bike rides to the American river reservoir. Charlie has also been busy making some more t-shirts.  This time Keelie was the winner with a new bYu shirt.  She was happier about it than this photo shows.  Sometimes you just don't feel like having your picture taken.  I understand.  Thanks Keelie!  Charlie and Callum spent some time planting some flowers in their flower boxes on Saturday.  That's always a wonderful thing to do in the summer time and makes you HAPPY!  Charlie has been very busy at work processing as many PPP Loans as they possible can making lots of small business owners HAPPY!  WOW!  Lots of extra hours at work this week.

 Our LA Thiots
Pierce said ever since their new Super Bounce House water slide arrived, it's been non stop fun at their house.  They have loved it as you can tell by their faces.  I'm so glad Pierce got the back yard finished just in time for this long staycation at home.  It's been a wonderful place for these two to play and be HAPPY everyday.  They did have plans for an out door movie night at their friends Kathleens ranch on Saturday night.  They love to take their bikes and just get to explore on the beautiful piece of heaven on earth.  Thanks for inviting them Kathleen! I'm sure you had a HAPPY time!

Our OakLawn Thiots
Skyler did a bit of detective work this week, when he saw an add on Craig's list  for a bike much like his that was stolen a few months ago.  After a few more phone calls, he discovered HIS bike and was able to get it back.  Hooray!  A few things like lights and cell phone holder case had been removed and Miss Elie's trailer had been damaged quite a bit, but he got it BACK!!!  That is really good news to make you HAPPY!  He's looking for a new helmet as that was not returned with the bike.  Happy Day!  Something fun I discovered this week after I posted this fun photo of the picture frame with Dick's mom's photo in it, is that Miss Elie is currently calling her mama MomMom.  I loved that sweet connection.  This  year on April 27th marked 32 years that Dick's darling mama Jetta Belle Jarrell Thiot has been gone from us and returned to heaven. She would have turned 101 this year.  How she must love watching all her grandchildren and great grandchildren from heaven above.  We miss you Mom Mom! I LOVED getting to read Elie's favorite book at my house to her on face time this week. That made me HAPPY!

We Plano Thiots
Today is  May 3rd and marks the 41st anniversary of our marriage just a few short years ago.  To celebrate, Dick gave me his Saturday morning to complete some honey do's.  We've needed some sod in a couple of spots in our front  yard after they removed our tree last year.  So off to the sod farm Dick went bright and early Saturday morning, along with everyother landscaper in Plano Texas.  It was a crazy long line and by the time it was his turn, the sod was gone.  Uggg.  not to worry Home Depot has sod, not as nice and not as good of price but when you have a job you want to do, you go for it.  Dick got 35 pieces of sod and six bags of top soil and made things look much better.  Thank you Dick!  Now for the 2nd honey do.  My car spent a few days in the shop this week and now with a new oil pan and new brakes, it was in dire need of a car wash.  The inside and outside.  Dick spent lots of time vacuuming and shining it up.  He found a treasure in Miss Elie's seat. Two acorns and a heart shaped rock.  Thank you Miss Elie and thank you Dick for not tossing them.  They made me HAPPY.  The drivers seat has come unstitched, ok has worn out from a rather large seat that sit's upon it.  Dick and I brainstormed how to fix it.  He said we would take it to an upholstery shop, which are currently all closed, or find another Tahoe in the junk  yard with the same seat, or I suggested some duck tape or then this crazy idea entered my brain, Heck, I've got needles and thread, why not try to sew it up.  At women's conference on Friday a sister taught us that sometimes our perfectionism prevents us from doing things we could if we just tried.  It doesn't need to be perfect.   That came into my mind and I got an upholstery needle from my sweet needle collection I got from my sweet mama and some strong button and carpet thread and off I went to work.  I had to get a pair of pliers to help grip the needle but guess what?  It's not perfect, but it looks much better than it did.  Thank you Women's Conference.  If you missed it, you can still watch on the churchofjesuschrist.org web site.  It made me HAPPY!
I Loved that with my big oak tree gone, my magnolia tree Dick planted there is growing and this morning is covered in lots of blooms.  Is there a better smell than a magnolia blossom?  I think not.  What a wonderful Anniversary gift Dick!  Thank you Thank you!  Magnolia blossoms make me HAPPY!
Dick also gave me one more gift.  I've been lucky enough to help Skyler in his tshirt shipping department.  Orders have typically been coming in about 5 or maybe 10 at a time.  On Friday the order was more like 50 and was a bit overwhelming to this Shipping Department worker.  Dick offered his assistance and helped me package up the orders.  We have a few left to go, as we ran out of packaging, but Sky will replenish us on Monday and we can finish the orders.  WHEW!  Thank you Dick!  Your help made me HAPPY!
Rocky, Dick and I have enjoyed taking walks after dinner these past few weeks.  As we walked this week, one of our neighbors had a beautiful peonies bush growing in their yard. It made me think of Aunt Jerry who also grew peonies in her yard in Rose Park.  I remember her always hoping, wishing, praying that they would bloom in time for Memorial Day so she could take them to the cemetery to place on the graves.  What I didn't know until this week, was that Peonies are my Grandma Elaines favorite flowers and that is why Aunt Jerry loved growing them to take them to the cemetery to her mama.  Dick snapped a photo of the peonies bush and I texted it to Aunt Jerry.  She shared that with me and it made me smile.  I Loved getting to visit with Aunt Jerry on the phone this week too.  It's almost like a visit from my mom when I talk to her sister.  I love you Aunt Jerry!
I also got to talk on the phone to my Aunt Marie, who is my dad's sister.  Aunt Marie has a harder time being happy and it was good to visit with her and try to cheer her up.  I also got to talk to Uncle Bud my dad's youngest brother and my dad's youngest sister Aunt Ila Fae.  Lot's of good conversations to make me HAPPY!
I loved the BYU  Women's Conference on Friday and I loved teaching Seminary this week and I loved when I heard a little giggle in my back yard on Thursday and discovered it was Elie Rae and her daddy.  What fun to get a quick visit with them.   I also loved having a Zoom call with Tatia and we went through some of Penny's baby clothes and Miss Elie's baby clothes to send a package to Miss Gracie for some cute summer time baby clothes.  Oh my, it was nearly as fun as having Tatia sitting right beside me.  Loved it.  I hope you have found things this week that you love and things that make you happy.  As I've visited by texting and on the phone to my ministering sisters this week, that is the question I've asked them, Are you finding things to make you happy?  I loved visiting with my friend Mary who was preparing for her granddaughters 16th Birthday Parade.  Yes, she was making posters to be a part of a drive by Birthday Parade.  I loved it and that made me HAPPY too.  I hope you are all finding things too.  You surely make me HAPPY and I love you! SLY Robynn