JJ, my joy

Here's our special "JJ"- Jonathan James Provost. "J" could also stand for "Joy".

Born nine years ago. Hard to believe how fast times flies! He's our first grandchild, and so special in so many ways. He's almost always happy and helps me to be more optimistic.

"J" and I have always had a special bond. When he was a baby I felt a little like Sally Fields- "He likes me, he really likes me!" I don't know why that amazed me, but it did. We got to spend lots of time together, especially when his aunt and uncle were on their missions. His mom was an only child for awhile then, and JJ was the only grandchild. As the family started to grow with siblings and more aunts and uncles, we didn't get as much one on one. But that doesn't diminish the bond I feel with him.

Because Jonathan is so special, we celebrate all of his accomplishments. Every one is a milestone. His life reminds me daily that I want to be a better person- a better grammy and mom. I know I have much work to do. But his life encourages me to keep trying, to never give up, to keep up the effort. J always gets an "A" for effort!

I love you JJ! I'm so proud to be your grammy! I was blessed the day you came to our family! Happy Birthday, my special joy!!!

Home Made for Christmas

Christmas was home made this year. It started when Jessica, Clint , and Owen came in to town on Dec. 18. The first thing we did was borrow Tony's truck and go to Home Depot for a real tree to decorate as the "kids' tree". For years I have had 2 trees- one for me that's pretty, and one that has all the kids' ornaments....some homemade, some as old as Mique that we had our first Christmas. (Mique was a newborn.) The tree even included the string of cheerios garland that Jessica made while we were still in the Green Orchard house before her mission. Jessica and I had fun decorating and reminiscing.

.Christmas eve was spent here with the Gunderson family joining us for a turkey dinner and a fun game of Hand and Foot. Then it was time for bed.

In the morning we got up and opened presents with the Ericksons. Owen was getting the hang of opening presents, and loved the stuffed talking, singing dog he got. I especially loved the sweater Jessica appliqued for me.
At around noon Mique and fam joined us. We opened more presents. I think everyone loved their gifts. I know I did. Every gift was thoughful. I especially loved the "Chill" picture Mique embroidered for me. An inside joke.

And the necklace from Tony and Erika is just so me! (It's the first pic of this posting because I don't know how to move the pictures around. You know me and technology!)

The best part of this Christmas was the fun we had playing games and spending time together, grandkids playing together and with Grammy and Papa. That is what is truly homemade.... the love that we share! May we have many more.

I love you all.

Thankful

Just a quick post before I leave town for a few days......

This morning I saw a picture of my # 1 grandson as a 2 year old that reminded me of the close connection he and I have. What made me think of it is that from the nose up he looks soooo much like I did as a child. Those big gorgeous blue eyes remind me of looking in the mirror when I was so much younger. Anyway, I got to reflecting on how much I love this beautiful boy!!!! He has been such a special blessing to our family, particularly me. He makes me face things that I would not have chosen to face, teaching me about unconditional love. That's something he shares always. His ready smile... Wow! I can't think about him without tearing up. (I know; it doesn't take much to make me tear up.) But my JJ is so special to me. I just hope I am worthy of his love.
I am so grateful for him.

I love you, Jonathan!!!

My 2 Girls

31 years ago my life changed forever. I had gone to Dr. Nanni 2 days before and he said "Honey, it's going to be a LONG time before this baby is born." Well, my tenacious # 1 had other things in mind. Labor started, and 33 long hours later, at 2:33 in the afternoon my beautiful, milk chocolate baby girl was born. Although her head was a "banana head," that changed quickly, and everyone thought she was perfect. We didn't know we were having a girl, as that was before cenograms were readily done. We had chosen to name her after Randy's sweet "Grandma Mique"- or Micaela.

Mique has been a wonderful daughter with many admirable attributes. She has always done everything in a big way. She lets her feelings be known- if she loves something or someone everyone knows it. And if she's unhappy, well, it's obvious. She loves to share her artistic talents and is very generous in her giving. She's a really good writer, and should publish a book someday. Her photography is beautiful, as well as her scrapbooking and blogging. She's a computer wiz, having no fear in figuring out any piece of equipment. If there is a problem, she tackles it head on, and makes a difference! And she's a true friend.

She has taken being a big sister very seriously since the day Jessica was born. She's a terrific mother who inspires others to be better, always advicating for her three kids. And she's a wonderful daughter who makes her parents proud every day!

Happy Birthday, our # 1!!!!!

And then there were 2......


Exactly 2 years (by calendar days) our life changed again. Even though she wasn't due for another week, Jessica appeared. I know she had just seen how much fun Halloween was and wanted to participate. She made thing so much easier on Me, coming after only 8 hours of labor. Her thick black hair and pretty face added to our milk chocolate family. (I know, you girls don't like chocolate! But you have to admit, it is a pretty color!) She was easy going from the start, which helped a frantic new mother of 2. After 2 major surgeries, she was good as new.

Jessica was alway pretty smart, and challenged herself to learn as she saw her sister go to school. When she finally got there, she surrounded herself with smart people and did very well. (Of course we thought our kids were geniouses.) Jessica always loved the arts, and earned the nickname "Lupdy" as a way of describing how she danced around the house. She took ballet, and was in theatre and singing groups. She is talented in drawing and figuring out how to make anything she wants to.

Her dimples have always been visible as she's generally happy, looking for the joy in life. Her bother and sister have always relied on her to be level headed, being what I have always called " a wise soul." Her spiritually has been evident since she was a very young teenager. It was no surprise to anyone when she decided to go on a mission. Her scriptures have always been WELL used.

And now she is also a wonderful mother and wife. We are so proud to call you our daughter.

Happy birthday to you, Lupdy!

I love you both more than you could know.. well now that you are mothers you might have a good idea . But until your children are parents, you'll just have to wait to see how much you love and admire them. It's SOOOOO much!!!! I am so blessed!!!!

A coincidence?

I usually go to the temple on Wednesday mornings with a group of friends. We have been attending weekly for about 2 1/2 years. It has been a real blessing in my life.

This week I went on Friday morning by myself, as we attended the funeral of another friend's mother on Wednesday morning and couldn't find another time to go together. While changing into my white clothes the thought occurred to me to take my reading glasses so I could read both the info about the person whose name I was "doing" and the Book of Mormon before going into the endowment room. I have never taken my glasses with me before.

While sitting in the waiting room I picked up the scriptures. I decided to look up scriptures to support my upcoming Primary lesson on talents. I went to the B of M index and found only 1 scripture reference- Ether 12:35. In that scripture it states that if we don't have charity our talents will be taken from us. I had never thought about the need to share our talents in that way before. I decided to go to the beginning and read the whole chapter. Wow! It is a beautiful chapter on 3 important principles of the gospel...Faith, Hope,and Charity. What started out as looking for ways to support a lesson on talents turned in a whole different direction. As I read and pondered this chapter, I was impressed with a renewed thought. That Faith precedes the miracle. That hope and faith go hand in hand, and I should strive each day to live with both.

Throughout the following temple endowment session, I was filled with renewed hope. I had put my dear JJ's name on the prayer roll as I arrived at the temple, and he was on my mind throughout the session. I kept pondering the verses I had read only minutes before, and had very strong impressions about faith and hope. As time for the prayer circle approached, I felt the urgent need to join, knowing that I would probably cry through the whole prayer, but I needed to be a part of that prayer. After the session, as I prayed in the celestial room, I was filled with gratitude and love for my family, for Jonathan in particular, and for a loving Heavenly Father who knows us and our wants and needs. Mique's last blog post about celebrating the small miracles was everpresent! I was (and am) filled with a new hope and faith for the future, especially for our special boy.

Then I watched General Conference thes morning. Elder Uchdorf's (SP) talk was on the very same topic! Same scripture! Coincidence? I think not! A tender mercy? You bet! My heart is filled with...Hope, Faith, and especially Gratitude!!!

Look who's one!!!

We went to Rexburg for Owen's 1st b'day. He liked the ribbons and the presents.
Then next day Jessica showed me around Rexburg while Clint was at school. She wasn't kidding when she said that Rexburg is a small town in the middle of nowhere. But there are some cute parts of town, and the school resembles BYU Provo- on a MUCH smaller scale.
(I know... not a very flattering picture of Grammy, but then, who's looking at her?)




















Friday night Owen modeled his cowboy boots. He loves his boots as much as he loves walking!
The boots were his daddy's when he was the same age. Way cute!!!





Saturday was party day. Jessica had made some cute decorations, including this hat. Owen actually liked wearing it! I'm sure she will have some fun blackmailing him in the future.

Papa got some much needed Owey" time.
And a fun time was had by all at Bear World. Doesn't Owen make a cute little cub?!

Happy b'day, little O!!!!!