What a Month!

Events and Activities

Every Wednesday -- Dinner for Dad/Grandpa
Region Tennis - 3rd Place
Stake RS Leadership Mtg.
Ross' Birthday
Meranda's Graduation (USU) AAU Basketball Tourney
Elliott T-Ball
Tux fitting for Senior Ball
Stake President/RS Presidency PI
Meranda Jordan River Temple
State Tennis Tourney (lost to Pleasant Grove)
Wyatt's Birthday #3
Senior Ball (all day event)
Mother's Day (dinner at Annie's)
Molly's Birthday #2
AAU Basketball (continues)
Stake Temple Night Meeting (in preparation for Stake Conf.)
Stake Conference Adult Session
West Valley City Council Meeting
Cyprus High Awards Recognition Dinner
AP Test Prep/AP Test
Homework for Finals
New RS Presidency Training (23rd Ward)
Annie's Birthday
Flower planting and yard work at Dad/Grandpa's
Memorial Day visits to graves
Petersen Family Get-Together BBQ and fun
New Baby Grandson -- Jack Wilford Binggeli
Last Day of School

If I didn't keep track of it all, I wouldn't believe it really happened!  Whew!  I am looking forward to June!

Visiting Graves is a Family Priority

 So many families have loved ones who are buried in places outside their community and/or too far away to visit on Memorial Day.  Not so for many of our deceased family members.  There are too many to count and there are some graves we never visit.  But, for as long as I can remember visiting graves and decorating them with flowers on Memorial Day has long been a family thing.  My mom used to call Memorial Day "Decoration Day".  Interesting . . .   My own family, (Karl, Annie and her family, Haley and her family, and Willie and I), we make the rounds together on Sunday afternoon each year.  We go with the Huber family group on Monday.

At any rate, our visits take two days and here is the routine we generally follow:
Sunday
Valley View Cemetery  -- Ardith and Dewaine and Cousin Scott
Bluffdale -- Great grandparents Jones and Huber
American Fork  -- Grandparents Chipman and Uncle Bevan
Larkin Sandy -- Cousin Steve, Grandparents Petersen, and Friend Judy W.

Monday
Elysian Cemetery -- Grandparents Eccles
Wasatch Lawn -- Aunt Reve, Aunt Evelyn, Grandparents Huber, Uncle Glen, Uncle George, Great grandparents Meranda, my Mom, Uncle Blaine, Great grandparents Petersen
Mount Olivet -- Clara (Used to be Aunt and now 2nd Cousin)
Salt Lake City Cemetery -- Cousin David, Uncle "Dee"
Mount Calvery (SL City Cemetery) -- Great grandmother Mary Dwyer

So that's quite a few mums and some nice travel time.  It's a time to reminisce and think about those now gone from this life.  It's actually pretty peaceful and something to anticipate.

Happy Birthday, Annie

5-25-78

Another year older and wiser and all that jazz! Happy Birthday, daughter #1!

Elizabeth Ann (Annie) is a very good daughter (most of the time). Annie was born about 8:00 a.m. on a pleasant May morning. I have always called her the "golden granddaughter." She was the first granddaughter on both sides of the family and her grandmothers always and forever have had a special place in their hearts for her!

Annie is a planner, organized, and efficient. She is amazingly talented in artistic and domestic areas and in being a mom and a dedicated wife. I never know what she will do or say because she is highly opinionated. (In fact, all of my children are highly opinionated.) She loves her boys (including her husband and the big blond boy who lives with me). I love to watch her with her boys as she teaches them and loves them and helps them grow and develop. Little Molly is so cute when she calls out her name, "Hi Annie."

Happy Birthday, # 1 daughter of mine!

Moving Forward

Sometimes we (people of the world) get hung up on the events and things of the past that keep us from moving forward.  You know, the person who offends you and every time you see him/her; it ruins your day and then you let yourself think of all the people and experiences that have upset you; and, you let your thoughts ruin another day.  Well, I have been trying very hard not to do that.  I have been trying to keep my thoughts and actions "moving forward".  I have been snowplowing right through to the next opportunity the future presents.  And guess what, it works!  It feels better and helps me be more pleasant and get more things done. 

(Snow plough is the metaphor here because it is a little stronger image that a plow a farmer uses.  I know you appreciate the explanation.)

Mother's Day

So, it's "mother's day"!  You know it well -- the day you get breakfast in bed and all that jazz.  Well, I haven't had breakfast in bed since my girls were very, very young.  And, to be honest it's not really something I would generally look forward to on this day or any day. 

To me, every day is my day!  You see, I am lucky enough to be the mom to three amazing kids and they make just about every one of my days the best.  They are getting older and growing up to be pretty much more than I could have expected or anticipated.  They are smart, strong, healthy, beautiful/good looking, responsible, fun to be around, and a little kooky at times.  When we are all together, we laugh and giggle, and talk about crazy things, and it's all good.  I hope my kids know that I love them; that I feel so very blessed to be their mother; and, that I will try to be a good mom forever and always.

My role is ever changing!  By September, I will have two new grandchillins -- actually two new grandsons!  Haley will deliver a little one in June and Annie in September.  Grandmotherhood is basically indescribable, and it is genuinely a "grand" experience.

I think the best part of my "mother's day" is remembering my mom.  I think I can understand the whole celebration best when I think about Mom.  She was the miracle worker when it came to her role and function.  Juggling eight kids whose ages spanned nineteen years was no easy feat.  But she did it; and, she did it well.  Thinking of Mom brings tears to my eyes, warmth to my heart, and a tender images of her caring for me, my kids, my brothers and sisters, the grand kids, Dad, and really most everyone.  She will live forever in my thoughts and feelings.  I am proud to be her daughter and hopefully I can do justice to the seriousness with which she approached every day as a mother.  Happy Mother's Day!

Region Tennis



Willie and Eric @ Liberty Park

So, last spring Willie missed the Region II Tennis Tournament because he was trying to recover from a concussion sustained in a basketball game.  He couldn't think, focus, and had no energy.  I will never forget the symptoms.  Crazy!


This year was much different.  Not only did Willie make it to the Region II Tournament, but he and his doubles partner Eric took 3rd place in #1 Doubles.  Pretty cool!  All in all, the tennis team has had a great season!


The tournament was held at Liberty Park -- beautiful courts and seating for spectators.  The kids on the team are fortunate to have an excellent coach, Mr. Cummings.  He is efficient, organized, nice, and really cares about the kids.  He's one of those rare educators who kind of restores your faith in the education system.  We just need 71 other teachers just like him at the high school.


If you look closely at the photo, you will see Eric's eyes looking toward his mom's camera and Willie at mine. 

(PS -- Parker took 2nd in JV #1 Doubles.)

Influence

I did my student teaching for French at Bonneville Junior High School.  My cooperating teacher was Mlle Kron.  She was amazing!  Beautiful, articulate, feisty, chic, endearing are only a few of her amazing qualities.  She taught me so much about teaching and kids and French language and French culture and more.  I do not hesitate in giving her well-deserved credit for the kind of teacher I am today.  She taught me how to look at a chapter or topic and make it come alive; to think outside of the box (if you will); to look beyond what is and think more of what can be. 

While working at the Utah State Office of Ed, I was assigned to do a NW Accreditation visit to Bonneville JHS.  Very early on the morning of the accreditation visit, I walked into the school's media center and someone in the far corner called out my name!  It was Mlle Kron.  She was so excited to have me in her school; to tell all of the teachers there that she had trained me.  It was a powerful compliment!

Sad to report that Jean passed away early in April.  You can read her obituary (Jean Kron Crompton Falsone); she wrote it, of course!

The power of her influence is with me today in all aspects of my work.  Merci bien, Mlle Kron!