Grandma Honey

Did any of you catch the 90 minute special about President McKay's life on the BYU channel this month?  I finally saw it yesterday and it was outstanding.  Loved it.  But then I love President McKay.  He served as President and Prophet of our church most all my growing up years from 1951 (at the age of 77) until his death in 1970. 

On the program I got to actually see him make his famous quote, that I heard often while growing up:

"...No other success can compensate for failure in the home.  The poorest shack in which love prevails over a united family is of far greater value to God and future humanity that any other rich.  In such a home God can work miracles, and will work miracles." 


Yes, I did name my son McKay after him.  When he was 9 years old, his father and I took McKay to San Franciscoto get his heart fixed. I had made 2 trips to SF prior to his surgery date to talk to his surgeon and to MAKE SURE I could stay with McKay in his hospital recovery room.  I was ass…

Trying to figure these out...

Was it just luck that while someone was taking my niece Sam's picture inside, 
her cousins outside just happened to jump their peak at the same millisecond?  (not sure the year...about 1996?)

 Is that Richard?  And who are those pile of children?
Not sure of the year (early 1960s) but many many moons ago.


Sept 12, 1957 My brother John on his first birthday.   I remember this being a rather shocking picture growing up, that Mom let his hair get that long.   Really, we would find this picture and say in horror, "Look at how long Johnny's hair is!"  Look, he had the same massive shoulders he has now. Notice Richard's antique trike in the background?  
The question is...this was 1957...how could he have a personal name plate back then?  
It's not like there was another kid who went by that name.  


I recognize my child hood friend JoAlice Weeks on the far left, but who were all those other kids?  Don't worry, I'm sure no one knows.  I d…

My sons' Grandpa is not feeling the best these days.   He just had his 87th birthday and while he was able to come to California for the Open House for McKay and McKenna, he had to go back to his home in Arizona. 
A few days ago he thanked me for the picture I put on my blog of him and his 4 grandsons back in 1987.   He loved that picture, so I went looking more for him to enjoy. 
Here is what I found so far. 

Brock and Grandpa back in April of 1979.

Christmas back in the days when we had to keep the tree inside a fence, thanks to baby Tyler.   I think this was 1987.
I remembering catching Grandpa sleeping with baby Tyler.  I've always loved this picture.
The day Grandpa went to school with Logan so he could read a story about his cat.

With Logan and Brock Disneyland, I think.
Here he is video taping Brock's arrival home from his 2 year mission, in 1998.

My boys at their Dad's grave in 1998, with their grandparents.
Some more recent ones, taken about a year ago.  With his great gra…

This is what our youngest granddaughter does now every time her diaper is changed. 
If they forget and do it for her, she cries.  




Like mother like daughter. 
If you go to the link above, just scroll down to the bottom of that post.

Anyone else read this book?
I recently finished reading this book.
I purposely found myself taking my time, trying to make it last, savoring all the moments.


I loved it.  When I finished it a few nights ago, I was sad, like I was saying good bye to my new friends.


The storyline is through the eyes of black maids serving white families in Mississippi back in 1963.  My most favorite maid is named Aibileen.  I love her!  I found myself going back and re-reading her southern black dialect.  I couldn't get enough of it.  While it broke many English rules, it had a beauty all it's own.  


I was not too impressed with the white families.  Of course this is a novel and who knows how much is accurate but it was written by a white woman who was raised until she was 16 by the family's black maid. 


This book was captivating, very funny in parts, and I just loved the people.  Well most of them.  I want my friends back.  The ending left me wanting more, so I suspect a sequel is in the makin…

I love this theme idea I found on my friend Natalie's blog today.  
She learned it at a Relief Society meeting recently.


The speaker's main idea is to have themes for each day of the week. 
Natalie said it went something like this: 



Monday:Work Day. Chores, things you'd do on Sat, Teach kids to clean. Then have 
chips at the end and thank them for "chipping in and helping you get things in order."
Tuesday: Water Day. Explore a different pool in the area each week or have water games at home. Wednesday:Movie Day. Watch old movies. Teach kid's to appreciate musicals. Spread out blankets and have fun vegging. Pop popcorn. Thursday:Park Day. Explore different parks each week. Invite other kids to go with as long as you can still spend quality time with your own. Friday:Science Day. Explore museums, plan science experiments. Plant something and track progress. Saturday:Family Fun Day. Do things as whole family. Chores are out of the way on Monday so you can play.…

The best solution for me when I am worried about something,  is to bring distraction along.   So she arrived the night before. 

After her book, she decided her tummy hurt and she needed to fall asleep on the couch.

The next morning she didn't even remember Grandpa Dennis carrying her back to bed.
While waiting for Grandpa Dennis to get admitted, 
Elora announced that she was SO HUNGRY 
and could not wait any longer for breakfast. 

Elora explained while eating,   "The reason I was so hungry is because once when we were at Sam's Club, I had to wait til 2:53 to eat lunch.   So now that I know what hunger is, I get more hungry.... When you hear me complaining, I'm not ever kidding." 
Glad she cleared that up for me. After she ate nearly ALL of this food,  she said,  "That was the best breakfast I have had in years!" So does that put her back to about age 4?  


So with all the new energy....
Our girl needed to run some laps! 

Worked out great because as you can see there…

I solved a mystery in my life yesterday. 
 3209 E. Hammond in Fresno This looks like just an older house, right?  We only lived here a short time in my childhood.   Just 1 1/2 years from 1954-1956.   I was 2 years old when we left so I don't remember this place at all.   (btw, this picture was taken yesterday)
So why did my Mom talk about it so often?  
Yesterday I found out.

Here is the driveway of this same house in 1954, 
the year I was born. My Dad this past week ran into Carline Bock who use to live right across from us there.  
So he suggested I go visit her. 
More on that in a sec.



Back in 1956, I'm standing on our front lawn. I know, my pathetic hair cut, but my Mom must have liked it.

And this is the house Carlene Bock lived in...how it looks today. 


Again, here's the one we lived in, as it is today, showing more of the neighborhood.
Of course after all these years, this neighborhood is not the best.   Yet, look at this house (below) just a few houses down from the one we use t…