Happy Veteran's Day!

Karst' helped me post the colors this morning.

Last night at family home evening, we discussed how it's important to remember those who protect our freedom. We also made a wicked awesome pumpkin turkey -- we wrote some of the things we're thankful for on his tail feathers. Taeg' said she was thankful for googly eyes. Profound. Maybe she was thinking of this.


I'm enjoying the fact that federal employees get the day off.

Taeg' and D.D.

Taegan and her cousin Lydia (who Tyler and Ashley have affectionately dubbed "D.D." ), enjoyed a crisp Fall evening together at Pioneer Park in Pendleton.

Mom

My Mom passed away last week. It was not a surprise; she had been battling a very aggressive cancer for the last few years. I am glad she is not in pain any longer. I have had many restless nights wondering what it will be like without my Mom. It has been the hardest for me when I think about my kids, they are so young and will probably not remember their Grandma Wood and that thought makes me crazy. I have come up with a few ways that I can be like Ardythe Wood so my kids will know her through me.

Always remember Him. My mom was a devoted Christian. Always serving even if it inconvenienced her.
Read. My mom loved to read, even if it wasn’t a good book. I can remember multiple times when I would hear her tell me what a dumb book it was and then see her pick it up and read it to the end. She could recall things that she read in high school. I am not sure I even read a book in high school. I probably gave it to my mom so she could dumb it down for me and tell me the cliff note version.
Duty. When my mom was called to do something, she did it. She had a wonderful sense of duty to her family, church and community. You don’t show up for the basketball team unless you are going to stick it out all season and you definitely don’t tell the Relief Society president that you will visit teach if you are not willing to do it (even if it means you write a letter from your hospital bed to 3 perfectly healthy sisters you haven’t seen in only 3 weeks).
Yummy. Wow, could my mom cook. And she liked to do it. Don’t be surprise if I show up with a Christmas bread wreath thingy, just smile and tell me that it will be yummy and then toss it in the trash when I leave. I do not have my mother’s talents in the kitchen. That is the most dreaded room in my house when Travis isn’t around to save my bread.
Teach. She loved to teach and was great at it. It didn’t matter what the subject or age was: gospel doctrine, making cookies, or sewing maternity pants that you will wear for year(s) after the pregnancy.
Happy. Mom loved to laugh and wasn’t afraid to be laughed at.
Economical. Mother was always worried about money, even when she didn’t need to be. She would buy the cheaper product even when she knew it wasn’t as good. The woman bought a Toyota Camry as her luxury car, need I say more.


We will be at the funeral this weekend.

Mom you are missed. I hope you have time to visit Paris, Mount Rushmore and hunt down Great-Great Grandpa so Kim and Leslie can finish our genealogy!!

Did my daughter get spoiled, while I wasn't looking?

Taegan is currently sitting in the corner of the room wrapped in a soft blankey, weeping, and wailing.

I asked her to pick up her toys and put them in the toy box. I didn't realize that it was going to be such a sad task.

I thought she was just being a booger and left her alone so she could get it out of her system. I walked by and listened to what she is mumbling...."where my Grandma.....I want go to Grandma Todderds... I need my Grandma...whah.....Grandma...whah....whah"

What can I say... Shirlene, she loves you. Or she just wants you to come pick up her toys. Probably, both.