OK...Here's the answers you've been waiting for...

I know you've all been waiting "with baited breath" for the answers to who's who in the Willow Tree Collection. Well, here is what I picked. I gave each one a great deal of thought because not only did I have to consider their individual poses, but also their titles. Each one of you could have qualified for any one of the titles, and that's no lie! But, there was just something about the individual ones that I thought were so fitting to that particular child of mine!

Kim, you hit the nail on the head with Mark! How could I not give him the "Inquisitive Child" title. We all remember how he was always "tinkering" with things to see how they worked! As for your guess on yourself -- yes, definitely "kind", but I felt "Thoughtful" was the best title for you, and besides I loved the demure pose of that particular one. She is so "Kim!"

Jacki, thank you for your guesses. You got it right with Billy as the Imaginative child! He certainly lives up to that title and always has been able to use his mind and imagination to create some extremely interesting music. I like your title, "Joyful" for your mom, and she certainly is that, but still I liked "thoughtful."

Heather, you also got Billy right. I guess we all know him pretty well. I agree that Kim is definitely a spiritual child, but I guess I know your beautiful spirit that lives inside you the best and so that is why I gave you that title. I also agree that JerriAnne is an extremely thoughtful child, but "kindness" hit me right between the eyes when I saw that girl holding that cat! That is JerriAnne! Yes, Debi is also kind, but she is a most "joyful" child and I loved the "tomboy" look of that particular statue. Hmmm -- Mark, joyful? I guess he is, for the most part and heaven knows he never complains, but "inquisitive" fits him the best.

There you have it. You are free to agree or disagree -- that is the beauty of indivual thinking. For me? I don't think I am going to change a thing. I love looking at my little collection and seeing each one of you mirrored in their "non-faces!" I love my Willow Tree!

Saying Good-bye to Barbara...

It seems like the older I get, the more opportunities come my way to say "Good-bye" to loved ones, friends and people who have touched my life along this journey. I'm sure there will be more of these opportunities coming in the future.

When Gerry and I moved to Salt Lake City in 1961 because of yet another transfer with the California based company he worked for, we only knew a handful of people there. Some of them were Gerry's roommates at BYU. Others were friends from Idaho. Me? I didn't know a soul.

One day, Gerry came home from work and said we had been invited for dinner at another couple's house who lived in Rose Park (on the northwest side of Salt Lake City). Ron Swenson worked in the office for Interpace as an Accountant and Gerry had gotten acquainted with him. That was the beginning of a 48 year friendship. Barbara was delightful! I remember how energetic she was and what a phenomenal cook! We were close to the same age and we both had two children. Sherilyn was their oldest and she was the same age as our Kim. Kent was their youngest and he was the same age as our Mark. In the years to come they became playmates whenever we visited with them or they visited with us.

Over the years, Barbara and I would spend a lot of time together, whether it was just out "shopping" (she loved to shop for the bargains!) or just visiting in each others homes so the kids could play together.

Some of my memories include working together when Barbara was the cook and organizer for the YMCA banquets. She would do all of the cooking and I would set up the tables and help serve. Clean up was a joint effort! I loved working with her -- she was so organized and an amazing cook.

Barbara was the friend who rescued me when I went into labor with my 4th child. Gerry was out of town and she took the kids so I could check myself into the hospital. She was always there to help whenever I needed a friend.

When she went into the bead business, I used to love to visit her shop and buy her beautiful beads and make necklaces and earrings. I even bought some to sell at my dad's restaurant in St. George. I still have quite a few of the beads I bought from her.

Ron and Barbara were frequent visitors to our home in California or St. George. I always loved it when she came, but always appologized for my cooking! There was no way that I could measure up to her expertise.

I shall miss my friend. It has been hard over the past several years to watch the decline in her health due to Parkinson's. Her husband, Ron has been her rock and has been there every minute of her illness. He took care of her at home, never checking her into a nursing facility to take care of her. I told him recently that I wish I could have been there to help -- if just to hold her hand and tell her how much I loved her.

There is peace in my heart now, knowing that she is in a far better place and is no longer suffering from her earthly woes. She is having a grand reunion with family and friends who have preceded her in death, including a daughter (who would be just younger than my own Debi and a little older than JerriAnne). I can smile when I picture that reunion.

Though the purpose of my visit to Salt Lake City was a sad one, I came home feeling assured that my decision to go was the right one. I so enjoyed hugging the family that I have come to love so dearly over the years and making them promise to stay in touch. Though Barbara will be missed, she will never be forgotten and I look forward to the day when I, too, can reunite with her in the forever after.

So, for now I say, Good-bye Barbara, but I will see you again!

My Dad!

James Harvey Davenport, b. September 5, 1914, d. June 23, 1989.

My dad was a humble man! He was generous to a fault and the only negative thing he ever said about anybody was when he observed laziness! He was a hard worker and never could figure out why everyone couldn't see what needed to be done and do it! I learned my work ethic from my dad. I was trained at his side in the Restaurant business to be honest, courteous and above all, "the customer is always right!"

My dad had a deep and abiding love for his Savior and the power of the Atonement in his life. He was committed to his Testimony and never faltered -- not a day in his life! Even in my early growing up years, when mom and dad were not active Church goers, and they had a Word of Wisdom problem, still he taught us right from wrong and a love for our Savior. He taught me to read from the scriptures and study what I read. He always encouraged my activity in Church activities -- first before any thing else.

My dad loved my mom and never hesitated to show it. He respected her as a woman and as the mother of his children. He would not tolerate disrespect of his wife! He always bought mom beautiful gifts, even though he waited until the very last moment to shop. He had an amazing knack for picking out just the right gift for his sweetheart and she loved each and every one of them.

My dad was an outdoors man. He loved to hunt and fish and just be outdoors. Sometimes he would take one or another of us fishing and hunting (I never went hunting) and taught us to love the outdoors, too. He always had a tanned face and farmer's tanned arms. He also had skin cancer because of so much sun exposure, but I suppose that is just one of the side effects of loving to be outdoors. Every chance he got, he would head down to the Colorado River with his boat and fish until he caught his limit. In the fall, we could always count on venison to stock mom's freezer.

I love my dad with all of my heart and treasure his memory. I miss that he is not with us anymore and I miss him every day. If he were here, I would tell him just how much I love him and "Happy Father's Day, Dad!" But, he has "gone fishing" in that great, abundantly stocked fishing hole in the sky, and I am assured that one day we will all be together again as a family. "I love you, Dad!"

Can You Guess Who You Are?

Debi sent me this amazing collection of Willow Tree children, called, "The Roses In My Garden." I was given the challenge to decide who should be who. I am enclosing the pictures here, and perhaps you can guess which one is which. Please excuse the ones turned sideways -- I tried everything to straighten them up, but to no avail. I guess there are still some things this old grandma has to learn! Next time I will do them as a collage -- Ah, well experimentation is an amazing part of learning.

"Joyful Child"


"Imaginative Child"


"Kindness, Above All, Kindness"


"Thoughtful Child"







"Spiritual Child"












"Inquisitive Child"






We shall see if you all agree! I have already passed it by Debi, and we agreed 100%!
They are a beautiful addition to my ever growing collection! Thank you, Debi!

June 14th, "Flag Day", Another Birthday for Billy...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

As I contemplate the life of our son, Billy, over the past 25 years, I am both astounded by where he has come, and overcome with nostalgia over the adorable little boy that he was. Billy was born on Flag Day, June 14th, 1984 in the small eastern New Mexico town of Raton, New Mexico. He wasn't supposed to enter this world for another two weeks, but he must have been in a hurry to get here, yet hesitatant at the same time, because he was born 2 weeks early and the labor was over 24 hours long! As I reflect, it seems to me that he was perfectly aware of what would lie ahead for him in his life.

His first birthday was celebrated in Raton and we took him down to the City Hall, where they "planted" flags for all of their lost Veterans in various wars on the front lawn. It was a wonderful Kodak moment!

Shortly after his first birthday, we moved back to Taos, New Mexico and into the home that we had built there 3 years earlier. Billy had lots of room to grow on our 2 1/2 acres on the mesa.

His formative years growing up were divided between New Mexico, Utah and California, culminating with a "reunion" of mom and dad in Oregon. All of these life's experiences have shaped Billy and given him deep inner feelings of introspection.

As Billy grew, he discovered that he had a love for music and has expressed himself in several different genre's, including rock, blues, jazz, and a little dabbling with the classics. He picked up a guitar at the age of 12 and "flew with it" from there. Since that early beginning, he has self-taught himself to play drums (several different kinds), clarinet, piano (keyboard), saxaphone, upright bass, and his latest love, cello. Music is in his head and his heart and he is devoting his current life to the expression of his inner music and sharing it with the world.

Billy won't be home for his birthday, because he is currently on the road somewhere in Wyoming or Montana, heading up to Glacier National Park. We will see him next weekend, when he ends his tour in Portland and comes home after that performance.

Happy Birthday, Son. We love you and hope all of your dreams reach their ultimate conclusion in your life. Remember "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -------------- MOM and DAD

In The Face of Hope for New Life, There Is Loss...

I have been following an amazing story of a young musician out of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is struggling to stay alive while he is waiting for a Heart Transplant. Irony struck this young man's life this past week in the form of the untimely death of his brother, Brian, just outside of Hurricane, Utah. The Cardall family is an amazing family, and have accepted this death with dignity and the strength of their faith. They are pointing no fingers and are placing no blames. We could all learn from their strength. I have posted a link to Paul Cardall's blog so you can also follow his story.

My prayers are with this amazing family at this difficult time in their lives. They are also with Paul as he awaits news that they have a heart for him -- meanwhile, he grows weaker and weaker with ever passing day.

Anniversary Month...

My computer is doing some crazy things, so I don't have access to all of my pictures, so I can't post pictures of all of the happy couples who are celebrating anniversaries this month; but I did want to write a little bit about each couple and congratulate them on yet another year together.

First on the list, celebrating an Anniversary together in Las Vegas, is Rich and Heather Tusko. They celebrated seven wonderful years together yesterday, June First. (You'll let me know, Heather, if I have the number of years correct, won't you? I do get forgetful in my old age!) I have watched this couple together and realize everytime I see them and am in their company what an amazing love they have for each other and for their blended family of 6 beautiful children. God has worked his miracles with these two, and though Heather says "Eight is Enough" I would like to add "Eight is a Blessing!" Being a mother of six myself, I know how my heart swells with each and every one of those beautiful, individual spirits and am so blessed by them. I know Heather and Rich feel the very same way!

Next on the list, are Dean's parents, Bill and Betty Mickelson, who will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary on June 6th. Theirs is a life that I would love to emulate. They are not only a couple, but a unit that blend so wonderfully well together; and they finish each others thoughts. I love that couple. They have been my second parents for the past 10 years, and I have grown to love them so dearly. They are (amazingly) going to spend their anniversary with us this year, traveling (bravely) from their home in Lakewood (Tacoma), Washington to our home in Lincoln City. Mom is a miracle to us right now, because at Christmas time, she was on her death bed and we were sure we were going to lose her. But prayers and good doctors have given her more years to celebrate her life with us.

On the same day, June 6th, Ken and Kim Messick will celebrate 28 wonderful years together in Southern California. Oh, what a wonderful love story theirs has been. They were High School sweethearts who found each other again after Kenny served his mission in Ohio -- a match made in Heaven survives all kinds of separations! I have so loved to watch their story unfold and the blessings of 4 amazingly beautiful children grace their home and their lives. God will certainly continue to bless this union with many more years together.

I am going to include just a short side note here to mention that on June 7th, I quietly celebrate my own anniversary date. It was a day that I shall never forget and will forever celebrate as the turning point in my life. It is my own anniversary of the day that my eternal sweetheart, Gerry Henderson and I entered the Temple in Los Angeles to be sealed for all eternity. This anniversary marks 51 years since that date. There will be a time when we will mark eternal years -- won't that be glorious?

On June 12th, my brother Darell and his lovely wife Joan will celebrate yet another year together in Utah. This has been a wonderful companionship for both of them and I rejoice that two people found each other when life was so empty for them both. I have forgotten exactly how long it has been, but I think it has been 12 or 13 years together.

A couple of other anniversaries worth mentioning are anniversaries of good friends that Gerry and I used to celebrate with in Southern California -- namely, Lennis and Carrol Clark and Roger and Peggy Berg. Ah! The memories are wonderful and comfortable companions when you are growing old!

Happy Anniversary to all of these amazing and wonderful couples. I pray that your celebrations will renew in your minds and hearts just how blessed you are to have each other and will pour forth all the love that you can possibly muster for each other on this day and always! I love each and every one of you!