Grandma Honey

A few years ago I was looking through a memory book my Mom had made for me. In it I found this:

A Primary Report card? Inside:

For those who may not be familiar with this, Primary is an organization in our church for children ages 3-11. We would meet once a week for about 90 minutes...or was it an hour?... We would learn about very tender subjects such as family, being honest, being kind, etc.

I noticed the signature, Linda Jaeckel. Then I remembered that we had a Linda Jaeckel in 2nd ward, the next ward over from ours. I talked to her and sure enough, she remembered teaching me nearly 50 years ago!



She said one particular Primary day we all had red crepe paper around our necks. I think they must have been attached to a hat or collar we were wearing for a program perhaps. She said I was chewing on mine and I got red coloring all over my dress. My mom was the Primary President at the time and this was Linda's very first Primary class. She was worried my Mom would be upset…

I realize I have selective memory as I get older.I tend to hold on to the good and conveniently forget the not so good.I have my journals to help balance it out:

November 3, 1987“Today Tyler (almost 2) threw every bit of make up I own in the toilet, threw a bucket of dirt on the couch, threw a handful of spoons at me, turned the backyard water on and flooded the yard and himself,-----I dressed him again and he stripped himself. He also poured a bucket of water on the dining room floor. McKay whined most of the day (and screamed).”


September 19, 1988“Brock (11 ½ ) had an enormous amount of homework so I asked Logan (9) to clean the family room by himself (they usually do this together each night). Logan was very upset and said this wasn’t fair. So I told him---“Why don’t you make a deal with Brock? Tell him you’ll clean the family room by yourself tonight if he’ll do it alone tomorrow night.”
So Logan staggered out of the room to tell Brock the plan and came back a few minutes later …

Today we had our semi-annual stake conference. That is where several wards meet together to hear messages from our leaders. We also have a semi- tradition (in that we don't do it every time) of meeting afterwards at our house for lunch with Brock and Logan and their families, which include little less than 1/2 of our grandchildren:

Thank you Brock for taking this picture. He does a much better job than I.


We had one foot injury that was cured by a brownie.


Cami loved watching the video all about herself. She even does the hand signs at the right time...copying herself in the video. Too cute.




We wish ALL our children and grandchildren could have been with us today but then we'd need a bigger house.

For the first time in 5 years, my two youngest sons McKay and Tyler, are living together. There was about a 4 year span they were apart as their 2 year missions overlapped. Then one by one they went to BYU where they still are. Tyler's apartment complex is being renovated so McKay invited him to come live with him for the summer. Moved in yesterday.


Dennis thinks I should leave this event off my blog.


I, however, love this event. I love the thought that they are together again living under the same roof. A mom thing I guess.


I hope I don't embarrass them, but I don't think they read this blog anyway. And so what, they know how I am. I just have to say, they were so inseparable growing up. If we were looking for one in the house, the other one would be right there. Always together.



No, this was not their room. They often consider our bed, their bed.















I know at 22 and 24 they do not look like this anymore. Still to me, they always will.



A journal entry of mine, Dec. 18t…

I've been gone most of the day due to a wedding. It is now after 10pm, just got home and called my sister Peggy. Hosanna has been moved out of ICU! She is able to have a parent with her at all times so Enoch and Carly take turns. Tonight I hear she has her arms wrapped around her daddy's neck and won't let go.

Turns out, the Drs think she has a virus that went into her ears and then into her brain. So they have ruled out a bacterial infection (which is good) and they are now leaning towards a virus of some kind that will just have to run its course. They will know for sure what this is on Monday, they are told. She may even be able to go home on Monday!

Thank you all who are praying for our Hosanna and for her family. I am going to sleep better tonight. We are leaning towards happy.


Hosanna jumping from a tree with little brother in Carly's back pack and 3 year old Rivy near by. Picture taken last month. Beautiful country, huh?

I just talked to my sister Peggy about her granddaughter Hosanna. Enoch called her and said she is still in ICU having seizures and partial blindness. They have a top neurologist trying to make a diagnosis. Carly of course is having a very hard time. This is difficult on Peggy too not being able to be there to help. All we can do for now is pray but prayer is powerful. Enoch also sent this email to me and others today Thank you Enoch. We can't be with you but so many of us are with you in spirit:


Dear all,

Most of you have heard that Hosanna has some ailment that the doctors here in Panama are currently trying to diagnose. It began from what we thought was a bacterial meningitis infection but then was complicated when she fell from her bed and got a large egg on her forehead. This all began Tuesday morning when she suddenly lost her vision and became very lethargic with a slight fever. It seems like we have driven over half of Panama in ambulances now but she is in stable…

Papa and Chickie (aka her grandparents) picked up Hailey from our home yesterday afternoon about 4pm. They were driving her back to be with her Daddy. Hailey had been with us for a week. Jason, her Dad, was here too but he went back home on Sunday.



Bye bye Hailey.




We are going through withdrawals. What a delightful little girl she is and how we love her!

She took Headie home with her. Headie use to hold her Mommy's wig. Here is Headie with Chickie and Hailey:




You know those ugly rotten looking teeth that people wear on Halloween? A few days ago Hailey and I were visiting Dennis at his office. One of the investigators, "Funny John" as Hailey calls him, quickly put in his Halloween teeth before we entered his office. When I saw him open his mouth I was worried that Hailey would be frightened. Instead she looked right at him and said in her very soft spoken serious way, "My daddy could fix your teeth. He's a dentist."

Hailey and "Funny John"…

Thank you for the prayers concerning Hosanna. The Drs have ruled out meningitis. Then they thought she had some kind of poisoning, perhaps from pesticides. They have sort of ruled that out since she appears to be getting better. She was having convulsions but those seem to have stopped. She was also unresponsive but that is improving also.


However, Hosanna was put into ICU and Carly and Enoch, with their other two, have been sent back to the hotel they are staying at, which is just a few blocks from the hospital there in Panama. They were told they cannot see her til 8am tomorrow morning and only for 5 minutes. Of course the big question is, if she is getting better why have they put her into ICU? And why can Carly no longer be by her baby's side? It is especially difficult because only Enoch knows Spanish, so he has to interpret everything to Carly.


We should know more tomorrow after their 8am visit.



This was taken last month. Rivy, Hosanna, and a neighbor girl:

This morning I got this message from my sister Peggy. Carly is her oldest daughter:

"I believe in strength in numbers so I am asking for your prayers in behalf of Carly's little Hosanna. She is in the hospital in Panama, they are not sure what is wrong but they are testing for meningitis. Carly is absolutely beside herself with worry, she has no support system there so she had to stay behind on the island while Enoch is going by ambulance 3 hours away. I am so far away all I can do is pray and I ask the same of you my family. thanks Peggy"


Rivka on the left and Hosanna on the right, wearing the Easter dresses Peggy sent to them.

click to enlarge

Just outside our front door under our shaded porch is a mama bird keeping her baby eggs warm. I am always amazed at the devotion of these birds and what they will do for their "children".




Last year same thing happened. Den was so worried that our cat would get the bird before her eggs had a chance. So he went to Lowes and bought a piece of wood and sawed it down to size. Then he ever so carefully put it in such a way on the tree underneath the bird, making it nearly impossible for Alex our cat to climb to get to the nest. Well in the process of doing this, the bird freaked, flew off and hit the garage door. She was injured and then limpingly flew onto the roof.


Next morning not only was the bird gone but so were the baby birds that had just hatched. We found their remains....oh, never mind, I'll spare you the details. Dennis felt just TERRIBLE about it.


Hailey is very intrigued by this year's bird and wants to go check her often. Here she is in her jammies holding he…

Before Robin died she wanted to make sure she bought clothes for Hailey to wear this spring and summer. She bought them all in the same tones so Jason could mix and match them and they would all look good together. So today Hailey and I put them all over the bed so we could take a picture. One of the main reasons I am writing this blog is to preserve history. Someday when Hailey is older I want her to remember these outfits her mom so lovingly chose for her. I can't even imagine the physical and emotional strength it took for Robin to do this for her daughter.



One of the little shirts says, "I Love Mommy" and on the back it says, "...And Mommy Loves Me!" 

Hard to believe that this little baby, Colt Kennington, who is my sister Peggy's son, is now serving in the Georgia Atlanta Mission.
Above he is seen in 1989 with sister Carly and brother Jake. He was born on January 13 of that year...Friday the 13th, also the 13th hour and the 13th minute. Lucky boy. He actually made a small clip in national news because of his interesting birth time.


So on April 8th, he left the Missionary Training Center and arrived in Atlanta. Here he is with the mission president, Warren Mathusek, and his wife.
If you would like to write to Elder Kennington, here is the main address:

Elder Colt Kennington
112 Governor's Sq, Suite A
Fayetteville, Ga 30215

We are so proud of you, Elder Kennington!!

Our granddaughter Macie:
likes to eat Popsicles as soon as the weather starts warming up. She called them "Poppa-sicles" last summer so I labeled them that way in our freezer. She is 7 now so we are hoping they will still be "Poppa-sicles" this summer, too.

Look in the upper right corner: (And I promise we don't eat the corndogs.)

Click to enlarge

Click it so it will come up more clear to read.

29 years ago today, at exactly 11 pm, I gave birth to this little guy:
(Note: I am having much trouble with this post. The pictures keep disappearing. If anyone has a clue what I am doing wrong, please contact me.)


It was a very windy night. Earlier that afternoon, about 3:30, my sister Peggy drove me to Sanger for my weekly check in with Dr. Heinrichs. He surprised me by saying, “I think I’ll see you tonight. My daughter has Indian Maidens so I hope it’s after that.” I told him not to worry since my first baby was 3 weeks late, and we were only 3 days past my due date this time.
My parents were in Boston as my Dad had just run the marathon the day before. Bill was working late in Laton, about an hour away. Since my sister Peggy was with me I asked her to take a picture of my pregnant belly. Back in 1979 this was a rather daring thing to do. So we went into the bedroom, I lifted up my blouse and she quickly took a picture. She was so nervous that I don’t think she even got my…

Last Mementos Of Cancer Victim Stolen From Family Car

When you get to the link, press "watch video" not the words above it, or you won't have sound.

Jason and Robin



My son Logan with Robin
This was taken in 1993. My parents with all the grandchildren at the time. Robin standing right behind my mom. Click to enlarge.


My oldest son Brock with Robin

Christmas Eve 1979 with her parents and baby sister Natalie
Brock and Robin
Aunt Peggy and Aunt Robin holding Brock, Robin, Logan, and Natalie. The very first grandchildren.
Having dinner in our home last Fall

Robin and Hailey in our playroom last Fall



Logan's wife Amy and Robin last Fall



With the love of her life