Papa's Little Helpers

If Papa is doing it, then Preston wants to do it too.  That includes digging ditches.

He's not all that bad with a shovel...

He does a little more 'watching' than digging.

Looking at some of the finished work.

Time to burn some backyard trash.

Those who 'observed the work being done'.

Uncle Joe has 'the goods'...candy.

Everything ends with a big flame!!

Everyone gets put to work when they come to our house...from the youngest to the oldest and even those expecting babies have to do their part...even if it's only holding the littlest workers shovel when he needs a rest.  But we try to make it fun and exciting, so it usually includes food, candy and fire...We don't disappoint.
But every bit of help is appreciated.

Utah: Day 7

September 5, 2012 with my parents Von and Sheila Packard

 

I leave Utah today.
It has been a wonderful trip, a wonderful week and I have some wonderful memories.
My parents look good.  My expectations were both confirmed and met in many ways but most importantly, I was able to see for myself what I will need to expect over the next few months.
Yes, my daddy is currently stable...good days and bad days.  The good days are sustaining and hopeful.  The bad days are 'iffy' and give me cause for concern.  But at least I now understands what it means when i hear that he is having a 'bad day'. 
My predictions of the future are...?  Well, I don't think he will pass this year.  And we could even get lucky enough to have him for a family reunion next summer.  But, he's also not sick right now either.  He gets a cold or pneumonia this winter and I have no doubt, it will take him in a heart beat.
So the next 6 months will be crucial in keeping daddy healthy and regulated on his medications...and a lot of prayers and hopeful wishes.  I am so glad I came...and could see for myself the condition of both my parents.
Now, I leave in an hour and return to my family in Texas.  I've missed them but will probably not be doing any more traveling until next year when we all come to reunion together.
Back to my family, back to work, and back to Texas I go...

Utah: Day 6

playing with my nephew's 2 daughters, Addie and Keira.

I named this man...Paul Jr...became PJ.

Hema Heimuli..Former BYU Football player.

Brother Heimuli speaking to the Young Women in Becca's ward.

IPod Karaoke...

Rebecca had a Young Womens presidency meeting this morning so I decided to drive in to Lindon to my old stomping grounds.  Not much different but a few changes.  Our church building was no longer a church but had been changed to the Lindon Community Center, which I thought was really interesting.  A lot of the members lived in the same houses and the home which had owned was slightly run down and the yard was mis kept, but it still was holding it's own.
After touring Lindon, I stopped at a local church bookstore and then picked up a few groceries for the lunch we were having at Becca's house and then went home.  While she and I made two salads and dessert, my niece Loralee and her daughters, my sister in law Ann and my sister in law Sherrie and her daughter Sarah all arrived for lunch.  We had a great time visiting before my nephew PJ, his wife Hailey and their two daughters also arrived for the afternoon.  PJ is Sean's oldest brother and used to be my favorite until...well..until Sean and I became close...BUT, I still adore PJ...a lot..  and his wife and daughters are the cutest.  Another niece Emily also arrived and we spent several hours just visiting and laughing.
Tonight was Becca's Young Women's night..and they had a guest speaker talking about courage.  It was a former BYU football player, Hema Heimuli form back in MY days at BYU.  It was great to see and listen to his comments.  He gave an excellent message.  Then the girls followed into a music IPod Idol singing night and I took a picture of Rebecca's performance.  She did a great job and the girls were quite proud of her.  Me too.
I'm going to call it an early night tonight.  I leave tomorrow around noon and I'm tired.  Can't believe I go home tomorrow.  It will be nice to be back in Texas although I have had a wonderful trip to Utah.
Until then...

Utah: Day 5

Jennifer, Becca and Me at the softball game.

Austin helping his cousin Sophie at bat.

Packard Family softball game....

Mike and his sweet daughter Shayla

Family barbecue/picnic after the ballgame.

Eric (just returned from mission) and his sister Rachelle.

Always games to play.

Me with my sweet daddy -

Me and my mother...twinkies (look alikes)

Daddy is more often a spectator now, but we do try to get him to play when he can.

Daddy was showing me some exercises he does for physical therapy.  I'm pretty sure I ripped my right shoulder out of it's socket during the morning ballgame, so these exercises actually HURT!!!

Our mother showed Rebecca and I her 'secret stash' in the refrigerator she saves for ONLY us girls.

Today was Labor Day...and as tradition dictates, we had a Packard softball game starting at 10:00 at the designated park by Rebecca's house.  We didn't have as big a turnout as we have had before but those who came had a really good time.  What was most shocking and disturbing to me....I was the oldest one there!!!  I WAS THE OLDEST!!!  But did that get me out of batting, running the bases and stuck out in left field???  Not on your life!!  No compassion in this family for the old and feeble.
My right shoulder had already been killing me, so let's just throw in a couple of hard hit fly balls out my direction and my ridiculous attempts to throw them in field to Mike and yep, I'm pretty much 'JACKED UP' on my right side.  On one throw in particular, I honestly think I ripped my shoulder out of it's socket.  I even screamed out in pain.  Still no reprieve from my next 'at bats' though.  I had a few solid hits and made it to base every time...but, I finally cried 'foul' and took my place on the sidelines in a nice comfortable camping chair.  There has to be SOME rule of 'grandmothers' playing softball on the holidays...or ANY day for that matter.  But it was fun.
Everyone brought yummy food - more than any of us needed but that none of us had a hard time putting away.  Then over to mom and dad's to play games and have more fun.  We stayed there for a few hours before everyone was needing to go home to get kids to bed for school the next day.
I took a nap - a 2 hour nap before coming upstairs to have a small dinner with Becca and Lance, watching some t.v and doing up the dishes.
Now, I complete my day with blogging.

Utah: Day 4

Fast Sunday.  I had had a terrible night...sick tummy all through the night and so had very little if any sleep.  I finally fell asleep at about 7:30 a.m. and then was up at 10:30.
Lance and Rebecca got home from church after which Becca then went right in to a Young Women's presidency meeting.  I decided that in order to have the dinner ready by 5:00 when everyone would be coming, I was needing to get the stuffing made and the turkey in the oven.  I had it done by 2:00.  Then I went for a nap.
Mom and dad came over to dinner at around 5:00 and we had a great dinner, played games and then Becca and Lance skyped their whole family/children over all parts of the states.  It was fun to see each of them in their own little homes and Rachel (my sis) arriving in San Francisco to spend a week with Jenna in her hospital room.  I then decided to help clean things up while Becca visited with other company that had arrived earlier so I started in on the dishes.  People started to filter out the front door for home, and just as I was helping mom and dad out to their car, Becca, Lance and Austin called me in to the house to see some happenings in the kitchen.  Becca said I would want my camera.
She even came up with the post title for this blog entry -
"Thanks, but NO THANKS".
I guess I'm being asked NOT to help with the dishes anymore.  Used the 'dish' soap instead of the 'dishwasher' soap.
OOPS, MY BAD!!!!

Utah: Day 3

 The day started off with a bang....literally.  There was thunder and lightening and pouring rain starting at about 4:30ish.  I knew Del would be awake in Texas so I texted him all about it and he asked me to send some of the rain his way.  But I wasn't about to go outside and do some kind of Texas rain dance at that time in the morning, so I went back to sleep and was out until around 8:00.  First thing on the days agenda was more peeling and slicing of peaches so we could make peach cobbler for our family dinner at noon that my sister Rachel was coming to.  There would be cousins too, so Becca and I ended up making three cobblers.  I was exhausted by 11:30.

 Rachel arrived around 1:00 and we laughed for hours.  She brought a very yummy lunch with her that we all enjoyed, then we just gabbed and played around for the next 4 hours.  Cousins arrived with their children.
Below, we have Janene's daughter Savannah on the left and Loralee's daughter Olivia on the right.  They were adorable playing with each other, almost as cute as their mothers in the following pictures.

 Rachel had mom show her how to sew some of the 'delicate' stitches on a temple apron that Rachel is going to attempt to make.  This was, of course, AFTER  Rachel finally got the needle threaded.  It appears Rachel is quickly coming to the age of needing glasses....

 We did have some fun times together today...Rebecca, me and Rachel.

 Rebecca's daughter Jenna, is in California staying in a hospital in San Francisco after having surgery on her baby boy that is still in the womb...details to come later.  So all of us convened around the computer and skyped Jenna while they were here.  Her female cousins gave her a really hard time about a few things and it was comical to hear them laughing and giggling amongst themselves.

Apparently, at around 1:45 a.m., my daddy fell on his way to the bathroom and banged up his right eye pretty badly.  This is how he arrived at Becca's house today.  It is swollen and red but I'm sure, will turn black and blue within days.  He had a rough night and was having a hard time staying awake today during all of our activities.  So we had my mother take him home for a much needed nap and then after dinner tonight, we had her take him home early so he could go to bed.  I worry about his being able to get up and down without tipping over, especially during the middle of the night.  It seems that this fall was caused by tripping over his own cane.
We were talking before dinner about 'BUCKET LISTS' and what those were.  After explaining the meaning to daddy, I asked him if there was anything he really wanted to do, that he had never done before, before passing away from this life.
He was thinking for quite some time but never did answer.
I don't think he could come up with anything.
There WAS NO answer.
I was glad.

Utah: Day 2

Rebecca had to go to Salt Lake this morning and so for the first few hours of the day, I visited with Lance and did some blogging and face booking.  Then when Becca got home, we decided to have a quick lunch before running out to the BYU bookstore up on campus.  I was in HEAVEN....

 The Cougareat and cafeteria area where the students still do all their hanging out and 'scoping out' of the freshman possibilities.

 And of course, my sole purpose for my visit to the BYU campus bookstore is to stock myself with the newest years football posters and shirts.  I purchased a new pair of BYU shorts, two football posters, a BYU puzzle and stayed all within my allotted budget.  I was so proud of myself and my self control and restraint.  Trust me, I could have and wanted to buy a LOT more!!!

 We came home and prepared a nice steak, potato and asparagus dinner for the family and my parents and then we started our evenings projects.  We had more peaches to peel and slice and we had the big project of extracting Becca's honey.

 Yes, this is Rebecca's husband, Lance...pictures explain it all....

 My daddy chose to help us peel a few of the peaches with his bare hands...no knife.  I love my daddy's hands that I have watched as a dentist for years.  Now, they struggle with his Parkinson's Disease.

 Rebecca was showing daddy the techniques of spinning the honey in the extracting machine.  It really was quite fascinating to watch the whole process...from Lance preparing the honey comb trays, to Rebecca spinning and then bottling the honey. 

 After the peaches were finished for the night (we still have three more buckets to do tomorrow) and the honey project was complete, we decided to play a few games.  Daddy got hold of some candy, Smarties, and started flicking them across the table trying to keep them rolling to the other side before they would drop off.  He would giggle as Becca and I teased him about playing with his food and we finally gathered them all together and made him eat them, even if they had fallen to the floor.

As I was giving him the last of his candies, I noticed the calendar/appt book he had in his shirt pocket.  For as long as I can remember, my father has carried a pocket calendar in his shirt pocket.  For many years, it was the lifeline of his every day comings and goings and was the ONLY way he could be where he was supposed to be WHEN he was supposed to be there.  Speaking engagements, assignments, patriarchal blessing appointments, temple assignments and weddings to perform.  He had to write them down to remember them all.
Now, he has no appointments to be at, except doctor appointments...but there the calendar was; in his shirt pocket, with probably not much written in it.  But just case he is needed somewhere or by someone, he has his pocket calendar handy, ready to make note of where he needs to be and who needs him there.
I hope he has my name in it.