Celebrating Bonnie, a great mother and grandmother

Today in my neighborhood we attended a birthday party for a sweet friend, Bonnie Young. It was fun to see all the evidences of her many talents and contributions throughout her life. Bonnie toured with the USO during the Vietnam war sharing her love for song and dance to entertain our troops. She has become a favorite in my life since moving into our ward about 15 years ago. A couple of years ago Bonnie was struck with ALS (Lou Gehring's disease) which has taken away her ability to sing, dance, and talk. Even in her present condition, Bonnie remains a bright spot in my life. Bonnie, you are so loved!

Don't move a muscle!

I've decided to stop getting any older. No I'm not going to die, nothing THAT drastic. I'm just going to go the other way . . .no, not to HELL . . . the other way in age! I'm going to start today to get closer to my grand kids, not moving in with them, but closer to them in age. Why? Because they have more fun than I do.

I think I spent all my growing up years thinking that I'd have more fun when I grew up. Things like having my own room, staying up late, and eating all the candy I wanted occupied much of my young years as I longingly looked forward to future years. I could hardly wait until no one would tell me what to do, how to act, or when to start or stop certain behaviors. Now I realize that it may just have been the best time of my whole life.

Kids are too young to understand how much fun they are having. Like today when my grand daughter Jane lead me to her room to show me around. She was so excited for me to see what was in there and had obviously forgotten that I unpacked the moving boxes and lovingly "decorated" her shelves, made her bed, and hung up her pretty dresses just a few short weeks ago. I say "lead" me because I was walking behind her and giggling at her bare bottom peeking out from under her shirt (she's potty training) all the way to her very own fairyland she calls her room.

We played and played with all her soft glittery, sequined, boa-feathered princess items. Then she apparently got hungry and ran off to get something to serve for tea. Afraid of losing her audience (me) she immediately ran right back and commanded "stay right there, don't move, remember, stay right there, don't move." Afraid of committing some crime against the kingdom, I did as I was told.

Frankly, there wasn't much threat of me going anywhere because I was deep in thought regarding the reversed aging idea that I had been pondering while playing queens of the castle. I can't say that I've come up with a positive course of action to accomplish that. It seems that the more I think about it, the more complicated the whole theory is. So, until I come up with something (two heads are better than one so I'm soliciting your help here) I think I'll just keep working on the next best part of my life - being her grandmother. She calls me Mimi!

Bibbidy....Bobbidy ... Boo!

Today Grant asked to hold "lil buddy" aka Drewbug aka Drew Michael Croshaw. I sat him in a big chair in Vanessa and Andrew's bedroom and laid Drew in his arms. With in a couple of seconds Grant knew something new about his brother that was completely cool in his book. "Look, Mimi, Drew is doing what it took me 9 years to master....come here and look." He was right. There sat the two of them looking cross-eyed at each other with Grant giggling hilariously. The kid has a killer giggle!

Talking about giggling. Go to http://www.caramelapplesandmore.com/ a have a giggle over these delicious confection my friend makes and markets as Forbidden Fruit in Cleveland, UT. You'll love them!

How do I wov thee, let me count the ways . . .

#1 Abbie, you make me so optimistic about the world. You are always looking for a way to serve in your family. If every 9 year old cared about their family as much as you do, many of our familial problems would become extinct over a period of just a few short years. You are always thinking about others.

#2 Grant, you always run to give me the biggest and hardest hug no matter how long it's been since I last saw you. Two minutes ago I left the room, but surprise! I'm back and you're at my side again. I wov (translation: love) that. Out of the blue you'll start a conversation with something like this: "Mimi, do you know that in deep space traveling at mach 13, you can......."

#3 Christian, I'm still laughing at your antics in the movie we did last summer. Just thinking about your energy and your unique contributions to our fun makes me so happy. You always find the humor in every activity. Every family should have a "Christian"!

#4 Faith, I love it when you have a story to tell. You go into great detail and make sure I know not only what is happening in the story, but how everyone felt and what everyone said. Evening the tiniest of details are important. I love the enthusiasm in your voice when you do that!

#5 Jack, your never-ending creative juices remind us all that there is still a "child" in each person. Watching you make a space station or a super hero costume from some paper, three rubber bands, and five paper clips is an exercise in imagination. Your industry and dedication to inimitable ingenuity inspires us all.

#6 Clark, oh how I love to see those fast little legs carrying you towards me with a favorite book in hand with the look of anticipation on your cute face! Do you still remember that "a human head weighs eight pounds?" I love it when you say that to me.

#7 B. J., you are fun to eavesdrop on when you don't know people are listening because you are so entertaining! You act out whole scenes and carry on both sides of the conversation complete with sound effects. The good guys (that's you) always win in the end!