MY BROTHER TOM

My brother Tom was born August 6, 1945 and passed away in 2002 from a massive heart attack. He was such a sweet man (as you can tell from the picture.) He had a heart of gold. When Irish eyes are smiling !!

Tom and me in Sioux Falls, SD. I loved my brother. He was good hearted and kind. But he did have a bit of an Irish temper, but then Mom was a true Irish lass, and Dad was of German extract. It is nice to say my brother was my "friend" as well as my brother.

The little horse with Tom is one I have. The horse is probably around 60 years old, and our great-children love it to pieces. All the pictures I have of Tom, he was always smiling. He did have his share of heartaches, but I can never remember him hurting anyone. Guess he just kept it all inside. As I age, I appreciate my family more and more. They were good people, kept to themselves, never broad cast their problems and as all families do, they had their share. Mom and Dad loved life. Our parents taught us to give to others, to take people at their word. The older I get, I find out how smart they were.

TROUBLES

"THE LONG JOURNEY"

A trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eyes and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.

Hold it at the proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.

Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway of life.

This is how I feel about life. Too many times when one has troubles, your troubles can take over your life, instead of you taking control over your own life. All the years I was growing up, Mom and Dad had a little plaque on the wall that read:

"SUCCESS COMES IN 'CAN', FAILURES IN 'CAN'T ' !!"

Dad and Mom were very wise. They taught my sister Sandra, brother Tom , and myself about life. They taught us to be honest, trustworthy, have carry through, and that our word was binding. These are positive character traits.

My daughter has Schizophrenia and this has been a difficult card to be dealt, both for her and our family. But it is alright.... I firmly believe that we are given obstacles in this life, to help us grow. These obstacles were determined long before we journeyed into this world. These difficulties, and how we handled them, how we treated people along the way, is how we will be judged on our journey out of this world.

Yes, life is like the title of my blog "The Long Journey". The STIGMA associated with mental illness is over whelming. Even agencies and people that should know better, throw in the towel when the going gets rough. They leave families and people suffering high and dry...is there possibly an element of self-service.

Answerable to a higher power some day.....oh yes !!!

This is the reason I am so dedicated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I guess you could say "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade".... One thing I have noticed is people with disabilities are treated differently. Some people are given loads of help, while others have to fen for themselves. I guess it depends on which way the wind is blowing....

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful father's past, present and future. May your day be special. You are the father's that have stayed with your children, not walked away when it suited you. And even if you did leave, you made sure your children knew they were loved. Many father's simply leave a family, mostly through divorce, and never look back. This is exactly what my first husband did. He left his two daughters without giving them a thought. This leaves a child with the feeling "what did I do wrong." The child didn't do anything wrong. It is just a selfish man that thinks only of themselves, their wants and their needs.

A father is so important in the life of a child. He gives them direction, guidance, knowledge and stability when the children are young , growing and developing.

My second husband Ned is the perfect example of a good father. He is hard working, loving, caring, supportive and always there when needed. He still worries about his daughters to this day.

A special thanks to my dad for the values and lessons he taught my sister Sandra, brother Tom, and me.

IT TAKES BOTH PARENTS TO RAISE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHILD

TO MY DAD ~ WITH LOVE~ON HIS BIRTHDAY

This is a picture of my Dad, sister Sandra and me. I am the one in the middle. You know what it's called...the middle child syndrome !! Dad and Mom would always take us on picnics (the simpler things in life) and we had a ball. Dad was always there for us kids. He was the disciplinarian and Mom was the buffer. My sister and I, and later on our brother Tom, had the best of all worlds with the parents God gave us.

Dad doing the thing in life he loved the most. His beloved flying. Dad taught pilots from all over the world how to fly. Flying was Dad's first love...and he was very good at it. One of his students ended up teaching at the Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO...then went on to reach the rank of General. Another was a Captain for Delta Airlines. Dad knew flying, and passed on his knowledge to his students.

Dad was born June 13, 1911, in Kanaranzi, MN. His parents were of German extract (in case you haven't figured that one out.) Dad was an only child, and began flying his very own airplane at age 16. Dad was born with flying in his veins. Dad left us on July 8, 1974.

There is a little poem I posted earlier in my blog about having good parents. The title of the post was 'My Mom and Dad', and the poem was: 'Blessed Are You Who Have Been Given Holy Parents'. The old I get, the smarter I find my parents were. Now isn't that life !!!!!

DOING GOOD

JoJo had his big cast taken off and replaced with a walking cast. This is his foot where the surgery was. Notice the pins and all that good stuff.JoJo sporting a brand new, blue walking cast. He will have this cast on through July. What a brave little boy to go through all this..

JoJo is doing really good. He was quite sick right after the surgery, but seems to be bouncing back quite nicely. He is in a full cast right now, and Matt and Dayna are having to pick him up and carry him around. In about four weeks his cast will be changed to a walking cast.

I have to admit to having a really bad senior moment !!! Ned and I gathered up lots of goodies for both Joel and Emme, and I sent the package. Well, guess what.....and guess who !!! ..put their prior address on the package. ME !! I put the address for Colorado Springs CO where Matt and Dayna were stationed prior to their transfer to Las Crusas NM. Needless to say, the package sat in Colorado Springs for about a week before it got routed properly. It's a good thing there weren't any perishables in the package, just toys and other goodies. So much for having a serious senior moment !!!

Sorry JoJo and Emme...but enjoy the package when it arrives this coming Friday, June 19th. Love you lots. G & G

TO ALL PARENTS

" I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine He said.

For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.

It may be six or thirteen years or twenty-two or three,

But will you, 'til I call him back, take care of him for me?

He will bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,

you'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down here I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over in search of teachers true,

And from the throngs that crown life's lanes, I have selected you.

Now will you give all your love, nor think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done!

For all the joy Thy Child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll have him while we may,

And for all the happiness we've know, forever grateful stay.

But should the Angels call for him much sooner than we'd planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

MY BROTHER

This is my brother Tom. He had a heart of gold and he was a sweetie. Can you see the Irish in him !!! He was ten years younger than me. He loved to fish and was an expert at tying flies. He worked for Dan Bailey for one summer in Montana, and Dan is who taught him to tie flies. Tom left us in 2002, and I miss him lots. Love you Tom.

MOM, SANDRA AND ME

This is a picture of my beautiful Mother, Margaret Elizabeth (an Irish lass for sure), cute sister Sandra and me as a baby. Mom was so beautiful and was such a good Mother. Believe it or not, I was baby of the year for 1939 in the small town in Minnesota, where we lived. Mom always told me I had a happy heart. Mom and Dad were always there for us kids. My sister Sandra is a Nurse Gerontologist, and is still working in her profession at the age of 73....I also had a younger brother Tom. I will post a picture of him next. He came along 10 years after I was born, so I guess you would call him the "caboose". Tom passed away in 2002 at the very young age of 54. He had serious heart problems. Guess you would say his 'heart was just too big.'

LAS CRUSAS, NEW MEXICO

This is dedicated to Matt and Dayna. Soon they will be moving to their new post of duty. May they enjoy many hours of exploring and learning about their new home.

MORE OF THE CLAN

Kort is our grandson that served two tours in Iraq, and his wife Laura served one tour. Little Autumn goes to pre-school and loves it. I love all my pictures this year.

ANOTHER FAMILY

Danny, Brinley and Sariah. Danny and Brinley just moved into their new home, in fact right before Christmas. They are happy to be in their own home.

ALYSSA, MATT, CAMERON & TESSA

Alyssa is going to college in Washington, Matt is skiing (his first love), Cameron is playing basketball and Tessa is just being her darling self. I am sooooo happy to receive the beautiful pictures.

A HAPPY WEDDING DAY

Scott and Charlotte on their wedding day in September. Charlotte was a beautiful bride, and Scott is her prince charming. May they always be as happy for the rest of their lives.

THE WORLD TRAVELERS

Nate and Tonia at Lake Louise. Nate is busy traveling with his company and so is Tonia. This past year it has been hard to keep up with them. They travel with their jobs, and also for pleasure. They are a very special couple and keep me in my beloved pictures. We wish them both a beautiful Christmas season, and a New Year of the best of everything.

OH HAPPY DAY !!!

Troy and Kelsey

On November 5th, 2008, Troy and Kelsey were married in the Bountiful Temple. They are a beautiful couple and are so happy together. Kelsey is attending Weber State University and is applying for the nursing program in 2009. Troy keeps busy in the building industry. They are happily settled into their new home, and soon will be moving their horses onto their property. What a fun day we all had on the 5th of November.

HAPPY FACES, HAPPY HEARTS TOO !!

RYAN, HOLLY, LYDIA AND VIOLET

More of our family. This is one special family as the parents are both so musically and artistically talented. Ryan is teaching music, after receiving his degree from Utah State, and Holly is now attending Utah State majoring in art. Their complete family is so talented. They are very special. Holly painted a picture for us for Christmas and we will treasure is forever !!!!!

MORE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

Trevor, Brooke, Ethan and AshtonWe have been fortunate this year to receive all these beautiful pictures. I am really into scrap booking and believe me, I am kept very busy. I treasure each and every picture we receive. Trevor is very busy in the building industry and Brooke is following in the steps of her Mother with her eye for beauty in the building industry.

MORE REASONS TO SMILE !!!

Joel, Tegan and Peyton

This is another wonderful family of grandchildren that live in Boise. Joel has been in Tucson, but is going to Virginia after the holidays to study for his new job. Tegan is both Mom and Dad right now, but the sacrifice will be well worth it when Joel finishes his training. Joel will be arriving home Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with his family. We wish the very merriest and happiest Christmas of all. Love you lots...............

MATT, DAYNA AND CHILDREN

We are starting to receive the most priceless gift that can be given, and that is pictures of families. The smiling faces in this picture are Matt, Dayna, Joel and Emme. What greater gift can be given........

CAPTAIN MATT

Alright everyone.....heads up to the most handsome Captain in the United States Air Force. I just received this picture and I must say I am thrilled to death to receive it. Thank you Dayna !!! Thanks Matt for defending our country and freedom.