~My Mother~~

Approximately 17 yrs old- 1945

Today is a tribute to my mother. She was born April 30, 1928 in Emporia, Kansas. Yes, she was a Kansas farm girl that went city. Her words, "I love tar and cement, never want to live on a farm again". Well alrighty, then!! Her favorite song though, is Kansas City.

She is still living, however Mom has been declining these past years and lives at assisted living/convalescent home these days. She lived a vibrant life and enjoyed her 5 children. She worked hard and her only "outside" profession was that of a waitress. She loved interacting with people and was quite good at it.

Mom has 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Mom, how she looked at her Assisted Care Home - 2006

Our weekend getaway!!

This past weekend Ron and I celebrated our 39th anniversary. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We stayed in Pacific Grove, about two hours north of where we live near the beautiful Monterey Bay. We stayed at this charming B&B and was well taken care of. We didn't make any reservations before we left and we just sort of "happened" on this hotel and it was lovely. Gourmet breakfasts each morning. We felt truly "loved".

Centrella Hotel

We had a great time walking the small, quaint town and checking out small thrift shops and antique stores. We found a few fun things. We had our anniversary meal at an "international restaurant" and it was pretty good. Very healthy food and nice atmosphere. We had a nice romantic table by the window.
On Sunday, as we were leaving, we couldn't resist driving the 10 short miles to Carmel-by-the Sea and take a couple of pictures of the church we were married in 39 years ago.

Church of the Wayfarer

We had a chance to visit with the present minister (our minister, who married us, we learned from our last visit, had passed away about 10 years ago). Pastor Norman was a kind and caring man and showed us around and how little the church had really changed. We had been inside a couple of other times since we had been married. Thomas Kinkade had painted this very church and Ron and I had obtained it last year and shared our excitement of owning it with Pastor Norman. He said that Thom had come to the church to unveil the one they have in the foyer when he painted it 4 years ago. We thanked him for the time he spent with us and he invited us back anytime.

~~Happy Anniversary to us~~

Our Wedding Day - 4/25/1970

We were married on a beautiful, spring afternoon in Carmel, California. We were married at a Methodist Church half way between his parents, then living in San Simeon, California and my family in San Jose, California. We had an indoor wedding with most of our pictures taken outside in the gardens. Those were hard days when a couple starting out didn't have much money to get married on. No professional photographers, we counted on our family to take the momentos of the day. So the pictures are kind of "rugged". Also "to save money", I transformed my white prom dress into my wedding dress (a short version). Not an uncommon thing to do of those days. Ron purchased my special bouquet for the day and I wore keepsake jewelry as I walked down the aisle with my father. Also included in my wedding ceremony was the bible given to me at a young age. This had always been a "wish" of my mother. If I could have changed anything for my wedding day, I would have wanted a traditional long wedding dress and a professional photographer. It doesn't matter now, all things work out, but that was just a silly girly girl want. (It's funny I made sure both of my daughters had that for their special day!)

We had a wonderful day and are still "best friends" after 39 years. We do most everything together or at least consider the other and enjoy sweet time together. Ron and I share a very special love and always have. We met for the first time when he returned home from Vietnam and I was finishing up my senior year of high school in April, 1969. We dated for the first time in June, 1969 after graduation and I believe "loved at first sight". We were inseperable after that and he asked me to marry him August 7, 1969. I was 17 at the time and wanted to wait until after my birthday (turn 18) and the holidays before we married.

My beloved and I today...holding our Grandson.

Earth Day

~~This was shared by the Kovel's~~thought it was interesting and so true~~

Collectors Celebrate Earth Day 365 Days a Year!

As collectors we have been “green” for years—ahead of the crowd when it comes to recycling and reusing. If you’re like us, congratulate yourselves for being “correct.”Look at how collectors recycle. Flea market dealers wrap our purchases in old newspapers. No delivery truck is needed; we haul our own great buys in the same car we came in. We search for parts of old buildings that used to be thrown away but now are marketed as “architectural antiques.” We use old, not new, cookie jars and dinnerware. Look around your house and admire your “ecological footprint.” If you bought everything new instead of old, how much extra electricity, gasoline. Earth Day celebrations encourage us to be "green." Collectors are. We recycle furniture, saving trees and power, and we buy old (not new) pottery, silver, jewelry, cookie jars, and even doors and fireplace mantels. Keep it up! And teach the younger generation to turn off lights and computers when they're not using them.

April is OUR Month!!

Yes...I have showed alot of family posts this month and I have a couple more to go. It seems most every special happening in our family is going on in April. Kind of the way God decided it needed to happen. We are thrilled, but tired with all the activity. Hopefully after the first of the month, I can show you some things in the white romantic and lovely items I like with a touch of pink. I should be able to post some pics of how part of our home renovation went before too long.
Lovin' the spring time...very warm today!

~Today our oldest daughter turns 36~

Today we celebrate the birth of our oldest daughter, Shellee. She was born on Good Friday the year she was born. She is 36 today. We all met this morning as a family to enjoy Starbucks and gifts!! A truly lovely and giving daughter... We love you dear daughter~

My baby turns 30

This particular post today is dedicated to my second born who turns 30 today! I really can't believe it...she has grown up very quickly and is now a beautiful young woman.

I thought I would share a bit about her and take you on a short picture journey of her at different times of her life.

She was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 15, 1979. My husband was stationed at the north end of White Sands Missle Range at a small radar site. When we moved there I was 6 months pregnant and had to find a new doctor. We found one in Albuquerque, 70 miles north of Socorro, where we lived.

Her birth day was a beautiful, crisp, spring morning and it was Easter Sunday. There were hot air balloons all over the sky. From the first constant labor pains we headed to the hospital as we had at least an hour or so to drive there. We made it and Laurel Anne was born 4 hours after we arrived at the hospital. How's that for timing.

Our 6 year old daughter took the first pic of Mommy and Daddy with the new baby. I know, at least she got her Daddy's beautiful smile in the pic. Awful pic of me, but who looks great right after giving birth!

Back in the days of 1979...ultrasounds were only for mothers that were having difficult pregnancies. At least that was the way they were with the doctor I saw. Well...the doctor predicted she would be a boy and our poor baby daughter came home in all blue.

She has always been a joy. Very easy going. She could always make us laugh with her antics and her humor was priceless and her heart always helping others. I have been so very happy to be her mother and she is a wonderful daughter. It's always special to experience the "firsts" in your childs life and I thought I would share some of those special moments of Laurels.

Lost her first tooth - 4 yrs. old

First Day of School

Here with her Daddy on her 13th Birthday

She has always had a special love for her family and time spent with us has been an important part of her life.

Family vacation up near Yosemite - 1992

Family picture - Dec. 1995

Education was important to Laurel and she did well in school. We were pleased that she completed her studies through college and graduated 3 different times. Once from High School, then received her AA from Cuesta College and then her Bacheler's Degree from Cal Poly University. We are so proud of her accomplishments.

Graduation from High School -1997
Graduation from Cal Poly

Other special times for Laurel: Laurel and I at the Fresno Temple

Engagement picture - Treviner and Laurel

Laurel on her wedding day

Becoming a mother for the first time

Laurel with her second son and how she looks today.

We will be spending the day with her today and celebrating her birth having lunch out at one of her favorite places...Olive Garden! We feel truly blessed to have Laurel in our lives and thank God everyday for his kind blessings of having a daughter so unique and loving as her.

Happy Birthday, Laurel. With love, Mom and Dad

Easter Sunday with family

My Sweet Grandchildren

We had such a great Easter Sunday with our family...after church we all gathered at our youngest daughter's home for a wonderful sit down ham dinner and with all the trimmings. She lives in a lovely, spacious home built in the late 1960's. It backs up to one of the golf courses in our town. It makes her back yard seem enormous. She was always our "activities director" when she lived at home. She loved to plan fun things to do for our once a week Family Home Evening. They always included scripture time, a hymn and a wonderful thought to carry us through the week. She is VERY talented in so many ways. Easter Sunday was no different. Her sweet husband started off with a message he shared with all of us about the "true" meaning of Easter and of the crucifixtion and later the resurrection. The way it was presented was even easy for the children to follow. Everyone was on the edge of their seat listening and learning. Truly inspired.

After our lovely dinner together the kids were ready to go "hunting". They had such fun hunting for easter eggs and our daughter even had them color coordinated so they could look for their own and then help the others once they found theirs. Everyone had a good time, even us grown ups just watching and taking pictures.

Our newest "easter egg hunter" this year was Grant and he was having fun. He's pictured here with his Aunt Shellee (our oldest daughter) finding an egg in the birdhouse.

He was skipping along and having a fun time!

He is getting some help from my husband, his Pop and really getting into it!

Afterwards, Laurel had picture creating time with chalk on a part of her back step. All the grandchildren 2-11 years participated and everyone was a winner!

I love the thought each one put into their pictures.

We feel truly blessed to have both our daughters and their families in close proximity to enjoy these special times together. God is good.

Aubree, Tess and Brennen

Chase and Grant with our daughter, their mother, Laurel.

He is Risen!!

I love this picture from Greg Olson...Happy Easter Morn!

Happy Easter Weekend!!!

Looking forward to the weekend with my family...as it should be at Easter. Have a great weekend.

Treasure Hunt from our recent trip!

Thought I would post some recent finds from our excursions while we were out of town. Some are local and most were picked up while we were in Arizona visiting.

Found this gorgeous white metal lattice tray with handles...very good condition...Also this lovely vintage apothecary jar. I couldn't believe the price...it was incredible and heavy thick glass. Among the linens I found the lovely tablecloth and crocheted doily. At another place I found the vintage dresser jar with metal lid. I walked by it once and almost missed it. Also at this location I found the beautiful light pink detailed damask napkins in spectacular condition.

The handpainted rose buttons were also a find there along with this exquisite vintage rose celluloid pin. The sparkly vintage rhinestone button is a beauty and I found it at the same place as the damask napkins.

Little by little we are getting some of our renovations completed and getting things put away. I hope to post a couple of before and after shots in a week or so. If I'm not too embarrassed about the before shots. Things got ugly before we got rolling with the remove and replace. Ugh! Learned something about replacing carpet and still living in the house. It is worse than moving...everything needs to be moved off the floor so the new carpet can be installed. I never did so much back and forth with my stuff. Did some review on what I don't need to continue lugging around and moving. Ha!

It was nice to take a break and look for some pretty little finds for my home and new sewing studio.

Sunday Morning....

Our church has just finished for this morning and my heart is very full. I can hardly comprehend the amount of love our Father in Heaven has for us. Can you imagine giving your son up for the sins of others? As we walk through life, our struggles, our happiness, our everything is through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We cannot comprehend what He went through in the Garden of Gethsemane, but through that, we have the hope that we will someday meet Him and live a better life incomprehensible to us now as mortals, if we live the commandments. We are a "work in progress" and constantly work to aspire higher. He says, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it".

Today is my little grandson's birthday, Happy Birthday Brennen, and as our family meets in celebration of his special day, my hope is that Brennen and all my grandchildren know that their Mimi has a testimony of the goodness of Jesus Christ and the only path to the Father is through His Son.