Never Enough Time

We have been to Utah and back - way too quick and we wish we could have stayed longer. Grandpa and I rode down with Dean and Laura. We all wanted to visit Alice and see for ourselves how she was. We took Dean's car because it got much better gas mileage than ours, but in the end it would have been worth it to us to be able to stay and visit longer. We were happy to get to visit with Kathy and Karen. Our main purpose in going was to visit Alice and her family. The first afternoon there was very disappointing because Alice could barely open her eyes and did not speak. We felt she knew we were there - she cried when we told her who we were, but when we lef for the evening we all felt she would be lucky to survive for very long. When we went on Wednesday she was quite a bit better and we felt encouraged. Yesterday I called and she was able to talk on the phone and was sitting up in a chair and laughing at things. Now today she is right back where she was, sleeping all day, not talking barely moving around.
Keep her in your prayers, please.

Tomorrow we are going to Cody's birthday party. I got him a card but figured his birthday present wants were probably way beyond what we could do so his card will have a little money in it.

We enjoy having Muffin home and to us she seems MAYBE pregnant - but she is supposed to have these alleged puppies in about 7 days or 6, so we'll see what happens. It has turned hot so now we walk early in the morning. I bought tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloup and marigolds to plant - the marigolds, of course, go in with the tomatoes to keep tomato worms away. I also bought a chocolate mint plant - it smells wonderful - like chocolate and mint. Oh, I also bought some green pepper plants. More flowers will follow next week but must get all this planted first. My columbines are blooming and I have one poppy bud coming along. Maybe I will have some pictures to post next time.

Sorry some of you weren't here!

Well we had our empty nesters family home evening last night and it went very well. I worried because I didn't have lots of room for everyone, but they don't really care - they just have a good time eating and visiting and playing games. Our dinner turned out well. I didn't have time to make rolls so bought Mrs. Rhodes texas size whole wheat rolls. They were wonderful and I have some left for us. The pulled pork was great and we had good salads and 3 wonderful desserts. We don't pick and choose - we just all eat some of everything. I put Muffin out on the rope while we ate and when I remembered her I went out and she was not on her leash. I was afraid she had run away, but she was sitting right on the step waiting to be let in where all the fun was. She came in and entertained us for awhile and one of the guys suggested that next time we just all bring our little dogs and let them entertain us all.

My sister, Alice, is very ill and in the hospital in Provo. This is her second time in there in a very short while. Don't know what's wrong with her and they are still running tests and doing what they can. I know her family is very worried. Ruth has added me to her email list for regular updates. Kathy went to see her this morning and Aunt Alice didn't know who she was - and yet it is not alzheimers or dementia that she has.

I am continuing my daily walks with Muffin. Don't know yet if she is going to have puppies. She doesn't look very pregnant and yet sometimes she does, and her habits have changed. She gets in bed with us about 6:00 in the morning and gets up when I do or shortly after. Lately she has stayed there and slept after we are both up. This morning she didn't leave the bed until almost 8:30. Living the life of Riley!

Hi

I notice from the date of my last entry that I missed the entire month of April. Well, we didn't really miss it, but I got nothing written. Grandpa is doing well and can walk around again and wear shoes to church, etc. - I mean regular shoes. He was wearing his sandals for awhile. I can't remember what we did in the month of April but I'm sure it was exciting and important and I'm sorry I missed getting it down in writing. The last week of April was repair month. We had to have the furnace repaired. Now usually I would figure it was getting warm and we wouldn't be needing it, but as you all know, the country has refused to warm up, so we had to spend for that. Then when it warmed up a little bit we could not get the mowers started and had to have both of them repaired. So Grandpa finally got the front and back lawns mowed, I spread the fertilizer on them and have set the water. The raspberry plants are planted and I have to get the water to them so I can quit watering them by hand. The gardener on TV said not to put any veggies in until May 15th and that is fine by me

We are hosting the Empty Nesters Family Home Evening on Monday night. We have a lot of fun, and much much good food. I am fixing barbecued pork tenderloin, shredded up with the barbecue and teryaki sauce in it. It is delicious and I just have to decide whether or not to make rolls or buy them. Everyone that comes will bring a salad or a dessert and we will drink ice water. So that's our dinner. We will play a game - sometimes we play pictionary, or charades, or a trivia game and once we played "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" We talk a lot and enjoy one another's company, pay no baby sitters and have no special time we are needed at home, so there are compensations to having an empty nest.

My sister, Alice, has been ill and has had a stroke. She is not physically affected but her mind is kind of confused and her thinking is slow. The doctor assures everyone that she will be just fine with a little time. I talk to her on the phone but her voice doesn't sound the same. My sister, Wilma, is coming for another visit this summer during the month of June. We hope she does not fall and break a leg again and will do all in our power in ensure her safety.

May all of you mothers have a wonderful Mother's Day. Enjoy your families and the babies especially. They don't stay that way for very long.