Today was a very special day. Arlin and Cindy were going to the Temple and took me along. It was a great trip. It is so peaceful in the Temple and once you enter, you feel like all the troubles of the world have disappeared. I love that feeling. The Spirit of the Lord is so strong there you feel so close to Him who gave his life for all of us. I feel a special help from the Lord while there while meditating upon the problems I encounter in daily life. I came away with a feeling of greater strength and a more positive attitude about solutions and what I need to do to bring them about.
Garth and Julie were there also. We were able to have lunch there in the Temple with them. That was a special treat.
Garth leaves for WA DC next week. Julie will not be going along. The Army told him she could not be present at the ceremony. Garth told them he didn't want to go along if he couldn't take his wife and they said "You are going!- You are the Platoon Sergeant!" So he is going.
I have a cousin back there who retired from the Army as a Lt. Colonel and is now in the CIA. We have made contact with him and hopefully they will be in contact with each other while there.
It was a nice trip today but I am glad to be back home again.

Aaron & Emmylou Visit

Aaron had a meeting on Monday, Jun 16th in Seattle so he and Emmylou and the kids decided to make a visit over here Sunday evening and spend the night. We had a great time playing games and eating and eating and playing more games. Some of the photos are prior to the visit,

My Bookshelf

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Life around here

These pictures are of a variety of people and things:

The Graduates - Party Time

Garth's Welcome Home

It was a great Homecoming! So many people from the community and church showed up to welcome him home.

Daddy's Tree

I'm glad I took this picture. The wind is blowing so hard today (6-9-08)we are having a snow shower of yellow blossoms.
Fourteen years ago we planted two trees - Pictures of Daddy's beautiful Golden Chain tree below.
The tree we planted for Sara will bloom later and I will get a picture of it then.

The Fence & Garden

We added some more pictures to this post - the Garden is growing and I have planted a few more plants.

Because we had a few problems with animals in the neighborhood getting into our garden, we decided yesterday to put up a fence. It had to be with materials we already had on hand so in looking around I found some fencing material that once belonged to the Beehive which they decided not to use so gave it to us. I found some old rusty metal posts and decided that would work.

I went to work dragging the materials over and had started putting the posts in when suddenly Arlin appeared and drug the rest of the materials over and took the post driver away from me and started in. We made pretty good progress, with Ellsworth cutting the wires, and me trying to do something to help and then Cindy came over and chipped right in, helping with tying the wires (we had to put two rows and they had to be tied together). Soon Neil came over and between them it wasn't long and we had a fence. The gate is one of our old pea vine fencing that we used.
They were kind enough to leave their own projects and help us out. We appreciate them very much.

Garth is going to Washington D.C.

Well, Garth did go to WA DC and is there as I write this. They had the awards program and he will be heading home in the morning. I don't know much more about it. It is a frustrating thing that he cannot tell us more than he does.

Yes, it is true. Here is an exerpt from Garth's letter:

"The DIRNSA (Director of NSA) gives out an award every year to the unit that has the best and most siginificant impact on the military through Signals Intelligence. Well, my Platoon won the award this year. Its usually given to a Battalion or at least a company size element so we are the first Platoon sized element to win it. Anyway, the award will be presented in Washington DC. Anyway, its a pretty prestigious thing and not too many people can say they have won it. Its pretty exciting!! I hope to get something for each member of my platoon as a commemorative gift for the event. If you have any ideas let me know. Well, it wont be too long now. I am brimming with anticipation mixed with severe anxiety. I miss and love you guys. Will see you soon."

Garth will be home in just a few days - we are waiting to hear when - won't know the exact day or time until he is on the plane. He called a few days ago and we got to hear his voice for a very few minutes but we loved hearing from him.

Name in Paper

Hello There:
A month ago we sent a little blurb to the local newspaper - hoping for a little free advertising. They finally decided to print it yesterday.

More about Gardens

Progressive Garden 2008

May 27th - Well, guess what! Ells took another look at the corn and said the sprouts had grown quite a bit more than he thought and we needed to plant it tonight. I whined a little but then got ready and we both went out and went to work. We planted 400 corn seeds - 8 rows. Ells dug and covered the rows. I planted them. It was gratifying to have it done and a good feeling to know we will have food to eat in a couple of months. (so what if we can't walk for a few days) In a few days I will post another picture.
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May 27th - Arlin came over yesterday afternoon and tilled up the rest of the garden. What a great neighbor, son-in-law etc etc. He and Neil are both busier than bees and yet they find time to squeeze in a helping hand when they know we really need it.
Both Ellsworth and I were too bunged up to do any planting yesterday but today I was able to plant quite a few things. The corn is sprouted about an inch long but Ells feels we need to wait a few more days before planting. Our pole and bush beans are the same way. We will wait a little bit longer. I will get some winter squash plants tomorrow (I hope) and put them in.
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May 24th I am sooo excited! The potatoes are coming up! The red potatoes that we planted last year and saved a few for seed - they are delicious and kept so well all winter out in the old chicken coop despite the fact that it leaks and needs to be torn down.
We didn't have to buy potatoes all year long and I canned quite a few also to be used in stews etc. I think I will be able to make scalloped potatoes out of them - we will see. The corn is in a tray starting to sprout so as soon as the rest of the garden is tilled for the second time, we will plant them.

Memorial Day Celebration

Yesterday turned out to be the greatest day! We had close to a hundred people here for the flag raising ceremony, music, talks, and breakfast. It was the greatest! It was especially nice because there were a number of people here from the community and several of our dancing friends.
Jim Sibbett provided some wonderful music and stories. Arlin was MC and Jesse, Neil, and I read the information that Garth sent to us. Four different people read the list of 54 names of those who had given their lives from his brigade. It was very touching.
Next year, somehow, we must have a sound system. Too many people were unable to hear. We will work on it.



























Sunday Ells was trying to finish up with the weed eating etc. and Jesse came over and offered on his own to do whatever we needed him to do to help us get ready for the next day. We were so grateful to him. He has grown into a fine young man - only 3 years old when they bought our property and moved next door to us. Now he is ready to make his way out in the world.
Sunday night Cindy, Arlin and Garth's 3 oldest boys, Neil and Maddy spent the night down in the campground. In the morning, they all helped a lot with the various things that still needed to be done. Neil put up flags all over and made it look festive and patriotic. He always thinks of the extra things.
Yesterday turned out to be the greatest day! We had close to a hundred people here for the flag raising ceremony, music, talks, and breakfast. It was the greatest! It was especially nice because there were a number of people here from the community and several of our dancing friends.




Of course, one of the most important things to me was having my family there. This year we had Cindy, Arlin and Jesse Burbidge; we had Neil and Maddy Newell; we had Julie and six boys: Kesley, Dallin, Joey, Elijah, Ammon and Nathaniel. {Garth will be home in a very short time. We were sorry that he just missed this event.) We also had a surprise because Grant and Ronda and Krista came. It was great to have them here.
I so wish all of our children had been here.

Progressive Garden 2008

We Love Our Gardens
06-10-08 Planted some more today - Just a little space left now.

I have really only gotten into gardens since Ellsworth was not able; he has raised a beautiful garden(s) every year that we have been married until he went to the hospital. Now he is gradually getting back into it. He spread most of the mulch and I am doing most of the planting.
Neil did the rototilling the first time through which we greatly appreciated. His time is very limited but he helps us whenever he possibly can.
Ellsworth did the second tilling.
My parents were a wonderful example of hard work and diligence in so many ways including gardening. My dad always had a beautiful garden. One of my fondest memories was taking the salt shaker down to the pasture behind the barn where daddy had the garden. I loved to eat fresh onions and carrots with a little salt on them. Mom did all the flowers at our various places of abode and still has beautiful flowers plus she does vegetables now in her tiny place (Whatever she has room for).
My Grandmother Harris had wonderful gardens until she moved to the mobile home out to Mom's. I'll always remember her out hoeing when she was past 80 years old.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day can be both Happy and Sad
I love getting cards, phone calls and gifts from my children on Mother's Day.
It is so enjoyable to hear from all of them (in one form or another) within that short period of time. I only feel a little sad (which is silly I know)if someone forgets to call or write but then I think of motherless children or women who are single or barren or have lost children and how they must feel on that day; and then I am ashamed of myself.
I have been blessed with 12 wonderful, beautiful, healthy children. I am so thankful. I love each of them so much and I love their spouses and my grandchildren and great grandchildren. How blessed we all are.
I love the plants and bulbs I received. They are all planted now and doing well.
The fan was perfect for the heat wave and cleaning products and gift card were all very special to me.













The biggest surprise this year was Sunday morning when I got up about 6:30 and went outside to my office. I was making a few changes on the bulletin before I went to church. All of a sudden the phone rang and I thought 'who would call at such an early hour' It was Grant Arthur. We spoke for a little while and then he said "Why don't you look out your window Mom". I did and there he was. He said "I brought you a surprise" I love surprises! I went running out there (well, walking really-barely) and lo and behold he had a whole pickup load of rich, black mulch for the garden and flowers. See pictures above and below.


He unloaded it all for us and had to leave soon after but it was great sharing with him a little and just loving having one more of my children here.
Monday Morning we started in spreading it and just finished this morning. What a fun surprise!



Gardens are wonderful and this is the beginning of ours this year

My Genealogy Link

Brain Training

This site is to help us keep our brain cells stimulated (what we have left) with an assortment of cerebral games & exercises that will keep our minds sharp - hopefully. Give your gray matter a vigorous workout by participating in some of these mind-training exercises.

Ralph's Accident Video

Here is the video of Ralph's accident or rather of his car.
They will be moving him to a rehabilitation facility as soon as they can get everything working okay. He has suffered from a great deal of pain- we pray that will ease off soon.

Ralph's room Phone number at Tacoma General Hospital is 253.403.1000 room J-516 bed 2.

Reflections of Christ

Home and Gardens