Reflections of a Perfect Birthday Weekend

It was a wonderful weekend! Dean outdid himself (as always) in making my day a perfect one. The cards and remembrances that I received took my breath away -- I'm including only a few here. Thanks to all! Then, we went to see the "Traveling Viet Nam Wall" which was hosted by our local Indian Nation Casino. We have visited The Wall in Washington, D.C., so we were already prepared for the emotion we would be feeling and we weren't disappointed. Though it is just a replica, none-the-less it was a humbling experience. Along with the Viet Nam Wall replica, there were placque after placque of remembrances of fallen WWII, Korea, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom names. When you look at the amazingly long list of our fallen heroes (and they truly are that!) and look around us at the freedom that we enjoy as American, it is most humbling. We shed many tears. We spent 2 very emotional hours there.

After The Wall, Dean took me out to dinner at one of our favorites, here in Lincoln City -- the Sunflower Grill. It was yummy! And for desert, they treated me to a delicious Marionberry Cobbler that was out of this world. There goes my diet!

After filling up on delicious food, we went to the movie, "Nights on Rodanthe." We were prepared for a love story with Richard Gere and Diane Lane, but had no idea just how emotional this movie would be! It took our breath away. So many truths about relationships and getting to the bottom line of what a real love feels like. We loved watching a mother and daughter heal their badly fractured relationship through a loss; we cried as a Doctor shared the grief of a husband who lost his wife in surgery; we felt the deep anger and hurt of a son who had alienated himself from his father; and we were amazed how deeply touched we were when in the end it was love that got them all through each individual crisis -- not self-centered love, but the deep, caring kind of love that Christ offers each and everyone of us whenever we are hurting. For my emotional day, I can honestly say this was the frosting on the cake!

God bless you all and God bless America! We are so blessed to live in this great land!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yes, it's true! Today I am 69 years young! (Yes, Kim it is hard for even me to believe that I have reach such a landmark.) When I was a little girl, I didn't think I would be alive even to see the turn of the century, let alone live to be such a ripe old age! Back then I thought anyone over 50 was ancient and falling apart! Ah! The misconceptions of youth! I feel better than I have in a very long time and plan to just keep on going. Life at this end of the calendar is actually better than I ever could have imagined it to be!



I want to take this time to personally thank all of you who have expressed your greetings on my Birthday. And to all of you who come to visit me for a little while here in my little blog and leave with me your wonderful comments, a great big THANK YOU! You don't know how wonderful it is to read what everyone has to say. It warms my heart and keeps loved ones close. And to those who can't figure out how to leave a comment -- not to worry, I appreciate your visits, too.

I have to share a wonderful card that I got from my little sister, Patti! It is one of those Hallmark "talking, music" cards that you can record your voice on. When I opened it up I heard Patti's voice wishing me a happy birthday. I cried, it was so neat! Now, whenever I miss my little sister and want to hear her voice, all I have to do is open that little card. It is a keeper!




Again, THANK YOU ALL! Now, I'm going to go out and enjoy my day!

Debi and Brian's Amazing Project Nearing Completion!

From concept to completion, the building of Debi and Brian's mountain cabin has been exhausing, exhilerating and downright chock full of love! I got to see it put up on the side of their house in Orem, before they took it all apart and hauled it on the back of Brian's flatbed trailer up the mountain. Huge kudos go out to those two for all of the hard work and love that went into its building. It looks great! Debi tells me that there is still some work to be done to finish it, but it amazes me that they could do such a project. I can't wait to go back and see it in person. Way to go Debi and Brian (and Randi, who also helped!)

This is how I feel today!

"Old Age, I decided, is a gift

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother/father!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

"I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

"I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.


"I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

"Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

"I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love I will.

"I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves w ith abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .

"They, too, will get old.

"I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

"Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

"I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver

"As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

"So, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)"

The foregoing was sent to me by a dear friend via email. I do not take credit for its writing, but agree with it 100% (well, maybe 99%, I don't go to the beach in a swim suit!) Life is good at this end of the spectrum! I have done all, seen all, and hope to be able to do and see more!

My Journey in Rowland Heights ~ Heather!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Heather came into our lives on a beautiful summer day, August 2, 1972. Actually, she was born at 10:30 at night in St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, California. She was an adorable baby (but then, all of our babies were "adorable!") She was also an answer to many prayers. You see, there was an 8 year stretch in our household with no babies! JerriAnne was 8 years old when Heather joined our family.

One interesting little tidbit -- on the night Gerry took me to the hospital and waited for Heather to be born, he returned home late to help our little Poodle/Poo "Bridget" deliver three little puppies! We kept one of them for Heather!

Heather was never without an abundance of attention in our household. All of the kids adored her -- well, maybe Mark wasn't too crazy about her because he wanted a little brother! Poor Mark! It seems that he will never get his little brother. He is 12 years old, and actually losing interest!

Heather grew up all to quickly, but we all enjoyed her immensely. She did all the fun things that little babies do, like crawl, then walk, then get into everything she could possibly think of to get into! She learned to ride a tricycle, and then a bicycle on our hilly street. I remember one time, she ran into a parked car going down the hill, because she didn't know how to coordinate stopping with peddling! (Not to worry, Heather, your big brother ran into a picket fence in Salt Lake City, doing the same thing!)

She loved her dolls! and on any given day, you would see her cuddling one or carrying it around the house. There was something else that she loved. She loved her thumb! Whenever she would suck her thumb, she would rub on her nipple on her bottle with the other hand. It was funny to see her carry that bottle all around the house by the nipple. Later, she discovered that grapes on our coffee table were soft, just like her nipples. Then, she would stand next to the table, sucking her thumb and rubbing on a grape. It didn't take her long to discover that the grapes came off of the cluster, so she would pull one off and walk around the house with it.

Those grapes turned up everywhere, and the cluster grew skinnier and skinnier over time until I had to throw them away! We would find them under the couch, under the bed, outside in the yard, and once when I was going to the drug store, low and behold, I found one in the parking lot! Heather was there! And I had to smile!

Heather spent the first nine years of her life in Rowland Heights. When she was eight years old, her father Baptised her into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was so excited to have that day come. We are so blessed to have Heather in our family.

These are just a few of our memories of Heather in Rowland Heights. Come back for the next installment of the journey that has been my life.

Oh, Johnny!

Ever since I was a senior in High School, I have had this crazy "love" for Johnny Mathis and his wonderful, smooth music. I have seen him in concert twice in my life. The first one was way back in the 60's at the Greek Theater. That was an amazing experience. Then, in the 70's Gerry took me to Lake Tahoe to see him at Harrah's. Johnny and I share the same birth month. (His birthday is the 30th, and mine is the 27th!)



Well, for my birthday present this year, my sweet husband got us tickets at the beautiful Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium in Portland for "Johnny Mathis - Returns!" It was an amazing evening, (coupled with the Oregon Symphony,) of his all-time hits and a few songs that I had never heard him sing before! He closed with a medley of songs from Brazil and an upbeat "Brazil" that was done only as Johnny Mathis can do it! (You would have loved that one, Al!)

All in all, it was a birthday present that I shall not soon forget! He sounds and looks just as wonderful as he did 51 years ago! His voice only gets better and better with "maturity!" He is and will always be my all time favorite male vocalist!

One Amazing Hospital!

On Saturday, September 14, 2008, we had the privilege of attending the ground breaking and corner stone laying ceremony presented by the Shriner's of America for the new addition to the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Portland. Dean was inducted into the Shriner's last year and it was a privilege he had been looking forward to for a very long time. The Hospital is an amazing philanthropic enterprise supported solely by the Shriner's of America. Every child who goes through their doors has an opportunity of hope given to them and it doesn't cost them one single penny.




After the ceremony, we were taken on a tour of the Hospital. Everything is "State of the Art!" The Shriner's have spared no expense to see to it that the children are taken care of. At this particular facility, they do Orthopedic (Musculo-skeletal) surgeries and repairs. And they have recently added a Cleft lip and palate section to help children with those problems. I couldn't help thinking how far medicine has come over the past 50 years. If they had had these surgeries available, my grandmother would not have had to go through her life with a cleft lip and palate!

We met a boy named "Walker," who was walking with a contraption connected to his head with a halo. He was so neat! He was about 12 or 13 years old and had had scoliosis since birth. And he was walking straight as a pin! Amazing! Another young girl, maybe 12 or 13, was from Korea and played the piano beautifully. Her mouth was full of wire contraptions while her cleft lip and palate were being repaired. I love that I am a Health Care Provider and can appreciate all of the amazing things that are being done in today's medicine.

All in all, it was a memorable day and I am so glad we were able to go and participate.

9/11 Concert -- A Huge Success!

I wish everyone could have been at our Concert Thursday night! There were NO dry eyes in the place, including the participants. We opened the concert with a beautiful rendition of "Hymn to the Savior" by Edward Kremser. Prior to the singing, our most able and humble conductor (and the composer of the 9/11 Requiem), Dr. Robert Herman, read from my poem "After the Dust Has Settled," which I wrote on the eve of 9/11/2001. He did a magnificent job of creating the feeling that I felt on that awful day. I have never heard it read with so much emotion!

We then presented Dr. Herman's work, "Requiem 9-11" and though it was sung entirely in Latin, the meaning and understanding of the emotion of the piece came through loud and clear. It was a most moving experience. After the Requiem, we paused for a moment of silence to remember all those who lost their lives on that day seven years ago and those who have given their lives for the cause of Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. We closed with another Robert Herman piece, "Christ is our Light."

After the performance, the choir filed out to greet the audience as they left. The looks on their faces told the story of what they were feeling. And then I saw my son, tall and magnificent, with tears streaming down his cheeks, walking out of the hall and I ran to hug him! Billy had driven 2 1/2 hours to come and see us perform in this concert and I was overjoyed to see him. We all caught our breath, greeted some more friends and then walked out of the building to see two spotlights facing skyward, side by side, just as they did in N.Y.C. all those long years ago to light the area of the missing twin towers. More tears flowed.

Do I need to tell you that this was a successful concert? I think you get the picture! I will long remember this day.

September 11, 2008/SEVEN YEARS!

Dean and I have the privilege tonight to be a part of an amazing Requiem which is going to commemorate the needless loss of lives that took place on 9/11/2001. In my heart, I don't believe there is a single American alive today, who was also alive on that awful day, that doesn't pause and reflect on their individual memories of that day. Where were you? Do you remember exactly what you were doing? I do, as though it were yesterday! I have not forgotten!

"Those awful moments of 9/11/2001 are forever emblasoned on the hearts of every American. Our hearts were broken, but our spirits were left intact. Americans are a proud nation, and we are pulling together like never before. I examine my feelings over the past several days, and recognize a handful of emotions that I am sure every american has been experiencing. SHOCK -- ANGER -- LOVE -- CONCERN -- PAIN -- COMPASSION" -- These are all the emotions I felt and still feel. (From my poem and writing of 9/11/2001)

"God help us treasure our freedoms and meet each new day with resolve. And help us protect and defend our country, firm in the commitment to be better Americans. Lest we forget!" (From a poem I wrote on 9/11/2002.)

I pray we never forget that awful moment that made us all pause and reflect on the American way of life as we know it. Today, many have forgotten and are as complacent as ever, and that is a shame. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful program tonight. I wish everyone could be here to witness it.

Fly your flag today! And God Bless America!

Time to Pray, Vote, and Pray!

I have made my choice! It doesn't really matter who you choose for yourself to vote for -- but it does matter that you vote! We have two months to watch, listen, pray and then decide. I pray that the entire country will prayerfully and carefully choose who will be our next Commander in Chief. And, not only that, we need to choose wisely those who will serve in Congress and the Senate.

Voting for our leaders is a privilege that we enjoy in this country. Few countries share that freedom. We should pray for them, too!

Dean and I wear T-Shirts that say "PRAY" and underneath the Scripture reference: 2 Chronicles 7:14; "VOTE" and underneath a quote by Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing!"; and finally, "PRAY" and underneath the Scripture reference: 1 Timothy 2:2. I looked up those scriptures and the first one refers to praying for our country to be healed. The second scripture refers to praying for our leaders to lead us in all "godliness and honesty!" It is so important that we do just this!

God bless you all, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!