IN MEMORY OF LITTLE LAURALYN EMILY..........

     Just a year ago we had our momentary visit from little Emily.  I still think of her often - as I'm sure Becky and Charles do.   Audrey still prays for her every night.   May the new baby girl that Becky is carrying now help fill the void left by Emily.  And may we always continue to love and remember the sweet experience of holding her, singing to her and then sending her back to Father in Heaven.



Emily's cousins singing to her at the graveside service

I will always love this picture.  

Noelle and Amaya were intrigued with being able to put roses onto Emily's coffin once it was lowered into her grave.   Shortly after returning to Idaho Colleen saw them "re-enacting" the occasion with their dolls, by showering them with flowers.

How nice that this early death/funeral experience was sweet to them rather than morbid as it is to some people. 

THE TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP PT 5 The Bucket List Goal is Met!

     Success!!  The sun shown brightly (almost TOO warmly);  Enough tulips were out to satisfy us and the Daffodil Fields were resplendent with yellow!    In fact one of the workers at the Roozengaarde Garden said that most of the tulips had only popped out in just the last two days.  So - Thank you for the Sunshine.  It made our trip worthwhile!

They'll be here another year too if we are ever up this way, but for now we are glad that Nana got to see them and enjoy this experience with us!    Let the photos speak for themselves!

Great Aunt Adele with Ada Hunt - She snapped as many pictures as I did!

Nana and Steve at the same spot.  Roozengaarde is Dutch for Rose Garden

Aren't you proud of me?   I learned to make collages!  Let's hear a "Yay" for computer grandma!

These last two sets were taken at Tulip Town - another large visitable garden.  You can buy their amazing variety of bulbs.  Here in Tulip Town they have an indoor, protected display of most of their varieties in pots etc. for ease in choosing what you might like.



We spent tulip day evening in Lakewood, WA - which we found out is NOT up by Skagit Valley.  Washington ha two places with the same name.  One is Lake Wood and the other is Lakewood.   We wanted to visit Kim Lewis Page and her husband but they turned out to be in the Lakewood that was 100 miles away - near Tacoma.    We enjoyed our night with them and their cute puppies and were grateful for the wonderful bed they let us have (while they slept on couches and blow-up mattresses much against our will!)

Next morning we started for home.... via Kennewick Washington in the tri-cities area where we spent the night with Kallen and Emily Kidder and cheerful little Madison.  Emily is expecting their son sometime in the fall.  We miss them here in Las Vegas...but I can see why they are happy in Washington close to her family and with Kallen enjoying steady employment.

Naturally at both houses I had cameras close at hand...and no good sense to take pictures!   I think by now, after being on the road for almost three weeks, I was in let-down mode and happy to be heading homeward.

Spent the next night in Boise with Nana, then on to Nathan and Colleen's in Twin Falls.   Good to see them again.  The girls seem to have grown even more since our February cousin camp.  How does that happen???    Tara, the youngest (that is spelled "T-R-A-uh" for your information!  Just ask her!) warmed up to us much quicker this visit.  At the restaurant (where we celebrated Nathan's birthday early) she really packed it away.  Ate almost a whole loaf of bread AND her individual pizza by herself.   When I put my hand on her tummy and commented on how full it was, she said, "No, that's Gideon."   She is sharing Colleen's pregnancy apparently!   

We made a trek together to the cemetery that is just three blocks from their house.  You know me and cemeteries.   I can't drive by one without wondering if I have any relatives there.   Turns out I do!!!    The son of great great grandfather Jensen thru his second, plural wife.   

  Bye kids.  See you again in June sometime - or when Gideon is born if it is just the right time!

THE TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP PT 4 - Seattle and environs

     With some concern we began our trek northward out of Portland.  Our scheduled day at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was to be Monday, April 9th.   The forecast for blooms was not positive, but here we were, 871 miles from home and determined to chalk this goal off our bucket list, so we crossed our fingers, offered a prayer and went forward.

     First stop:  Gig Harbor, WA to spend the night with Victor's high school friend Bruce Blakemore and his wife.  Their daughter Tammy served here in Vegas on her mission and we grew to love her dearly.  She is now in Germany with her Army husband, but we enjoyed the time with Bruce and Louise and Bruce's mother Ruth who is living with them.  Ruth is in the early stages of Alzheimer's but she also was glad for us to be there and just sat and pleasantly listened to our chatter.  

Bruce was part of a group of young people that were very important in keeping Victor active in the church and oriented toward a mission and BYU.  They all played a bigger role in who he is today than they know.  (Our evening with them was also our 33rd wedding anniversary). 

Bruce and Louise Blakemore

The Mutt and Jeff of Glendale High

     The sun was shining warmly when left Blakemore's Saturday afternoon headed for Kent, Washington. 

A year ago I began a valuable e-mail relationship with Jean Tyson, a distant cousin in our Forsgren family who provided me with invaluable photos and memories of a branch of the family I had known almost nothing about:   Sarah Christine Forsgren, the first white girl born in Brigham City after its settlement by early pioneers in the 1850's.  She was the eldest daughter of Peter Adolph Forsgren.   Jean is Sarah's great great granddaughter.   She has been my fan and cheerleader as I have worked on the Forsgren blogs and I am indebted to her for so much.  Simply could NOT come to Washington without getting to meet her.  Sometimes there are just kindred spirits.  She is one of them. Her optimism and honesty and cheerfulness have uplifted me often as we have shared information back and forth!

After leaving Jean's home we decided to check in at the Rendezvous Place - the home of yet another nephew (this time MINE), Stephen and Tara Hunt.   My step-mom and step-brother and wife had arrived from Boise the night before and we all planned to spend Easter Sunday together and then make the trek to the Tulip Fields the following Monday.  As it turned out we spent Saturday night gathering as well, chatting, playing with their cute daughters and taking a little excursion out to see the Seattle skyline from across the Sound.   

Victor, Stephen and Stephen Hunt gazing at the sights from the nippy look-out point

Mt. Ranier during the break in the cloud cover that left it visible!

Tara and Franklin Hunt

Odessa and Ada Hunt

     We were glad to be with them all Sunday morning.  As it turned out Stephen (the son) was called into the ward Bishopric that day so his father was able to be there to ordain him to the office of High Priest before they set him apart for the calling.  I noted the look of panic in Tara's eyes and felt I knew her thoughts:  "Oooh!   How ARE we going to manage three little kids on a Sunday morning when I am supposed to be conducting the music and Stephen now will be sitting on the stand."    I'm sure they will work it all out.  Many a mother has had those thoughts and then found the way!

     Had a nice time hiding eggs for the girls and some neighbor kids from Eritria, Africa -- I think it was an activity they had only had once before.

Stephen Hunt and Mildred Hunt Manwaring - part of my second family

(Take note.  It is warm and still sunny!  Seattle has just set a record for 4 days without rain in April.  Our hopes for tulip blooms are soaring!)

Had an amazing Easter dinner.  Tara is a dietition and loves to cook.  So we ate well and had the enjoyment of family and thoughtful gratitude for what Easter really means to all of us.

(Franklin, Nancy Hunt (his grandmother and Steve's wife) and Odessa)

Since we couldn't be with our own grandkids on this family day we loved that Steve and Nancy loaned us theirs for bedtime stories.   I wish Steve and Tara could move back to Boise so they would be closer to Nathan and Colleen.  Their girls would love playing with each other.   Time will tell.  Young Steve works for King Co. Transit dealing with moving people around Seattle in a safe and efficient way.  Surely Boise's Bus system needs his training and planning skills too!

Tomorrow is the big day!   Tulip Fields, here we come!!  Goodnight all.

THE TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP PT.3b - Portland (more family & friend visits)

More nephews....with a beautiful niece thrown in for good measure:

After our hour at the Woodenshoe Tulip Farm we traveled on over to Salem where we met up with nephew Steve Deming and his kids at a local buffet. Wife Kelly was home hostessing a book club so it worked out well for Steve to take the kids away while she had guests - tho we missed visiting with Kelly.

Former pole vaulter, now dentist:  Steve Deming with youngest daughter, Jana

Jessica Deming

Jacob turned 13 when we weren't looking

Jonathan - a real cutey whose vivid memory of our house in Las Vegas is that we have a pool and a hot tub that doesn't work.  "You should get that fixed!" he told me. 

Here he is with his Grandma Elaine and Great Aunt Pat

When you are this far from home you go visit everyone you can think of in the area.  Among friends we got to spend time with were Dorinda and Ned Sands.  Dorinda and I went to High School together in Boise;  Ned and I met at the Genealogy Library in Los Angeles before either of us were married.  It was so fun to meet over lunch and see where we now were in the retired/semi retired stages of our lives.  Captain Sands is an ex Navy man who teaches fencing, stays active in his business and (to quote him) works at "cultivating wider external ecclectic interests in an effort to re-invent and reinvigorate life.  ....there is a comfort too in being this far along: a tendency to be more accepting and settled. "  I saw that in him.  Things that were frustrating and unsure for him 8-10 years ago he now seems at peace with.

Dorinda is, as she always has been - a rock, faithful and giving.  Though we did not have the same friends in High School I always admired her and relate to her happiness at grandparenting since it seems the same as mine.   We go through growing stages at ALL changes in our life.   Growing older and  less vigorous in body are not fun things.  Our mindsets seem to be the same as they were in our early college years, but the body doesn't respond like we want it to.    But with age comes some wisdom too...and in some ways life is infinitely more simple because we have finally weeded out all the unnecessary for that which has the most value.

We also got to spend an evening with some dear friends from our Chilean Mission, Russell and Connie Jackson.  Elder Jackson was the area psychiatrist (for Chile and other countries!)  He put in long hours over the telephone helping missionaries cope with all kinds of problems:  frustration over their own unmet goals, fear of returning home (often to a country that would put them back into a situation of poverty or uncomfortable family circumstances),  companion problems...and of course, more serious matters which might require him to accompany a missionary back to his home in the United States or Peru or wherever.    They were amazing people.  Connie worked long hours at studying and trying to dominate Spanish - and still does.  They are working still as missionaries from home - as the current Itinerant Bishop couple.     It was so good to catch up with our mutual contacts and see one another again.   I envied them an incredibly beautiful back yard with a mini forest!!!   How blessed we are to have such dear friends.   And how amazing it is that one can pick up where you left off months or years earlier!

Connie & Russell Jackson

     The last reacquaintance we got to do before leaving Portland behind was meet with Jim and Elaine's second daughter, Julie, whom we have not seen for several years.  She has grown to such a beautiful person and is sweet and kind.   A former women's basketball star she is now an MRI Tech and happy with the career choice if not totally thrilled with the hours of her current employment place.   She is at least close to home at last.  We had a great Hawaiian lunch together before we bid everyone farewell to head on up the next phase -and end goal - of our trip:   Washington.

Julie and mom, Elaine

Jim, Elaine, Adele, Pat and Victor

(Hmm.  No, those are not dangly earrings I have...just a reflection off the helmets behind me!)

 

On the way back to the car we passed what must indeed be Portland's favorite "postin pole"!

 
Goodbye, Portland!  See you again in some warmer, not-so-rainy season !!



TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP PT. 3a - Portland

     It has been too many years since we got up to Portland where Victor's sister Elaine and her family live.  They are empty-nesters, but most of their kids are close enough to get together often.  It is always so comfortable to be with Jim and Elaine.  Jim has always been my personal Adele fan, mentoring my genealogy enthusiasm and having faith in me.  Elaine is loving her golden years (isn't that a stupid term???) as she sings and tap dances her way thru program after program with a group of other local Seniors.  She won't let us attend the programs personally but we did get to watch a video once after the fact!

Victor and Elaine's sister Pat flew up from Reno for a few days to be with us too and that is always fun for the observer as they argue about their memories and outdo each other with stories of their childhood. 

The tulip part of the trip was to begin here.  Unfortunately the weeks of rain, snow and cooler-than-usual Spring have delayed the bloom time.  Thank goodness there were enough varieties out that the whole purpose of our trip was not thwarted.  We managed to get to the Woodenshoe Tulip Farm with a short break in the rain.   There were dark clouds to the North and dark clouds to the South as we hurried out to see what we could see.  Then the heavens converged and we were pelted with freezing winds and hail for about 30 minutes while we took cover in the Gift Shop  (Hmm...an expensive decision!).    When the elements had spent themselves the temperature returned to a more comfortable 56 degrees and the sun broke out again.  Worth the short drive from Portland to Woodburn to see it all!

The yellow field just after the storm.

The shoes were just sitting there begging for a photo-op!

The wooden shoe tram was at rest, but we got a short ride on the cow tram down to another end of the fields.

Everyone needs to give in to his inner child sometimes!

Why are Victor and Elaine wearing sunglasses???  Good question!

Elaine and Betsy, Pat chose Elsie & we added in our congenial Tram driver

And now just some random shots of the colorful blooms:

So many varieties and colors!

What a wonderful world!

TULIP FESTIVAL TRIP - PT. 2 Eugene, OR

     Left California over the famous Golden Gate bridge in a mist which turned to pounding rain that did not let up during our whole day of driving.  Next stop, Eugene Oregon area.  Victor has called this the "Trip of the Nephews."   With the visit of Mike and Kevin behind us in California we moved on to Deming nephews: 

Patrick and Heather Deming and cute family in a wonderful, charmingly decorated house were great hosts who fed us good food, let us watch General Conference, and let ME hold their newest little addition, Austin Jett Deming.  (I'm getting all warmed up for my two new grandbabies due later this summer!)

Patrick was more attentive to Conference than Victor I'm afraid!  (We have a LOT of these kinds of pictures of Victor - which doesn't mean I don't nod off from time to time too!)

Patrick when Jett was born with Marcus, Jana & Elaina

Austin Jett Deming all full of smiles  (half the family call him Austin;  half call him Jett).  I just hug him!

Patrick and Heather (pre-Austin's birth) on the day of Markus' baptism

 

Had a wonderful visit during our time in Eugene with our long-time friend Carolyn Flatley Gilkey.  Carolyn is always a fascinating conversationalist.  She creates incredible quilts, sings complicated music with local groups, plays ancient instruments, attends story-telling conventions, weaves her own yarn and makes sweaters, travels fascinating places, collects depression glass, has a dry imaginative wit, volunteers her time for the local branch genealogy library and generally loves her life.  (Though I love MY life too it seems unimaginative in comparison!)

Out her back window we watched the deer eat blackberry bushes while she regaled us with stories of her recent visit to France with her daughter Emily (who creates intricate scissor-cut artwork).  

My camera somehow malfunctioned and the following photo got cut in half!  Sorry, Carolyn!

One of Emily's works of paper cut art on Carolyn's wall

What are the chances?  Later in the trip we visited the little tourist town of La Conner, Washington.  Victor pulled to a screeching stop so I could photograph this for Carolyn!

While in Eugene we also visited with our "not exactly relatives" Wade and Marie Bell.  (Marie Deming Bell is Jim Deming's sister.  Jim is Victor's brother-in-law).  We have spent lots of camping and visit time with the Bells over a lot of years so they are like family.  Wonderful people.  Sat with camera in hand and forgot to take their picture of course.   (And the fun coincidence was that the Bells live in the same ward as Carolyn's daughter Emily.  Small world!)