A Tug On My Heartstrings

 Mike and Kylie are moving their family to Florida.

Yah, I'm heartbroken.

But, Mike's new job takes him there for three weeks, then one week home - two weeks there, one week home - etc etc.  And Kylie just can't do it by herself when he is gone.  So it will be so much easier on their family if Kylie and the kids just live there so Mike can just return home every night and be with his family.  But that means the move.

I love them.  And even though there have been recent struggles the past few years over Kylie leaving the church, the love I have for her is still as strong as ever.  She is such a calming force for me when there is conflict in other areas of my life.  She is able to handle situations with calm and a clear head that tend to rub off on me.  I love conversations with her - about life and her family.  I'm just going to miss her terribly.

And the kids?  They have grown up so much over the past few years.  Preston is now as tall as I am - smart kid and just a very great personality and sense of humor.  Madi is very tender lately - loving on me and her Papa all the time.  She is so very thoughtful of others feelings and always wants to make sure we are happy.  Lucy is Kylie all over again - her hair in just tight little ringlets - laughing and giggling all the time and loving life. A little mischievious but mostly kind and loving.  

They will leave behind some very sad hearts in Texas.  But we have already planned trips to Florida, with the first one being for Christmas.  That will be a fun experience - Christmas on the beach!!  It will be a nice vacation spot, now that we will have family there.

They move June 23rd.  Their house should sell for a nice profit and they have already found a home to rent for a few years until they find something they really want to buy.  In the meantime, we will spend as many spare moments with them as we can, help them pack up and then say our sweet goodbyes in June.

This Nana will shed a tear or two....

I Could Hear It

I'm not one that likes to talk on the phone.  I'm an 'in person' communicator or by letter or text.  My mother loves to talk on the phone; mainly to Elaine, cause Elaine doesn't mind the phone.  But once every other month, I'll actually call my mom to visit, just so she knows I love her and haven't forgotten her. I did that last week.

My mother will be turning 91 in May.  She doesn't look that old and she certainly doesn't act that old.  But it's not like she exercises every day or takes multi vitamins or has any secret to her youthful existence, it's just that she doesn't carry the look of a little old lady.  But for the first time, she sounded old.  You know how the voices raises a higher pitch or two on some older people?  Well, that's how she sounded, and it put off guard for a minute.  I actually even told her - of course, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but I told her that for the first time, she actually sounded old to me.  She jokingly reminded me that 'she IS turning 91 this year'.  I was well aware of that.

Her mother, Grammie, passed away at age 93.  President Nelson is actually 97 years old - some other General Authorities are into their 90's also.  Uncle Floyd is 93 - Uncle Ron is 90.  What does it all mean?  I guess their time here on earth is short.  Not to say that mine isn't also - I could go any day for any reason.  Anyone could.  But for these sweet people that I love so dearly, it will most likely be in less than 5 years.  If mom had her way, it would have been a long time before now.  Since daddy's passing, she's only longed to reunite with him.  And you can't blame her; he is and was her whole life.  

I really need to try harder to be more of her daily living - aware of her daily.  She doesn't have much else but to hear from and see her children and grandchildren.  She really is quite a lovely person, my mother.  Sometimes, I really wish she still had her British accent.  That would have been so cool.  It's so sad that my mother hasn't even met some of her great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.  There are too many.  And everyone seems to be too busy to find it important to have that connection.  But a blood relative like that??  I can't imagine never having met my mother.  But Lucy hasn't.  Peyton hasn't.

Oh, I'm rambling.  Family relations.  My mother has quite the lineage.  I'm so proud of who she is and everything she had endured and overcome in her life.  

I think I'll call her.

Now THAT was lovely. 

She Was Missed

 

I had lunch with my twinkie on Wednesday.  I'm still sad she wasn't able to go to Mexico with the rest of us but I understand her reasons why.  But it was so nice to catch up with her on her visits up to see mom.  And she was excited to hear all the details about Mexico.  She did say that every time she saw a picture of me and Becca, it would tug at her heartstrings and make her get teary eyed.  That wasn't our intention, but I'm glad to hear she missed us too.

Maybe next trip?

The Garden Is In

There are a lot of things that Del and I do really well together.  But gardening is NOT one of them. 

It's almost impossible to agree on anything when one of us insists that his way is the only and right way to do things and I just haven't figured that out yet.  But with a lot of patience, love and laughing a lot, we were able to get the garden planted in 2 days.  Plus, we had Peyton to keep us entertained.

And now, we have rain - and a lot of it. it will most likely flood our beds, but...oh well.

 

Building Our Backyard Paradise

 

Along with going to Mexico for a weeks vacation, working full time, being husband, father and Papa, Del managed to make these 10 gorgeous raised beds for our garden.  Jordan came over several times to give much needed help and by the time they were done, we ended up with this beautiful backyard paradise that has now become my favorite place in the world to be.  Del says our firepit looks like a helicopter pad in the dark.  I say it looks perfect.  Everyone loves it - Peyton plays out there every day.  Next, will be planting the garden and filling the flower bed.

A Labor of Pure Love

 I had arranged that while we were in Mexico, Jordan and Lexi were going to build a firepit and flower garden area for our backyard.  I left money for it to be done, with extra in my top drawer, for them to do a masterpiece of their choosing.  I knew it was a lot to ask, but I knew they were up for the task.  Del has been talking about doing something for the full 10 years we have lived here, but he has just never had the time.  So, I took matters into my own hands and made the decision to have it done my way, but it would at least get done.

And beautiful it is.  It took them the full week of really hard and long days but they finished it the night before we got home.  And it's stunning.  I'm told they both worked on it, but Lexi truly did most of the hard work.  I am beyond thrilled with the finished product and Del loves it too.  I can't even begin to find the words to thank Jordan ad Lexi.  This act of kindness was really hard for them.  They were exhausted and weary from the hard work.  And they planned and designed it all on their own.  I will spend the next week getting flowers for the flower bed and Del will finish the 10 raised flower beds he's making for our garden and then we will be ready to completely enjoy this new piece of heaven at our home.

Mexico Day 8 - Going Home - JUST KIDDING

A whole bunch of mixed emotions this day.  Glad to be going home to kids and grandkids.  Sad to be saying goodbye to Becca and family after a memorable week.  Anxious and concerned over the LONG lines at the airport with little time left.  Happy to finally get our boarding passes and seated IN THE LAST ROW OF THE PLANE.  Anxious again as we are on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting.  Totally stressed out as we are told that Becca's flight was the last one to make it out as they were having air traffic control issues.  And finally, ALL emotions as we are told that we're staying in Mexico for the night and American Airlines will be putting us up in a hotel and feeding us.  So I have oe sister they won't let IN to Mexico, and then there's me, that they won't let OUT of Mexico.

The lines were herendous trying to get all of us passengers taken care of. We didn't get to the hotel until way after 10:30.  And I tried to not compare this hotel to the magnificent resort we had just stayed at for 8 days.  There WAS no comparison.  But I could not complain.  It was free

Up way early the next morning to be on the flight for 9:00 am - take 2 - and we got home around noon with panicked Kathryn to greet us with our sweet little Peyton.

Home again home again jiggidy jig.

Great trip.  Great memories.  Full heart.

 

Mexico Day 7

 

Shop 'til you drop day!!  Today was our last full day in Mexico and so we all decided we wanted to go down to the Boardwalk, which is the open ferria and shopping area of Puerto Vallarta.  We had agreed that we were going to try and get some joint pictures of all of us as a group first, and then we would break off into groups of who wanted to shop the longest, where and who was going to be returning to the resort after just a few hours of shopping.  

The pictures were fun - then, off we went.  Becca and I, with our hubs, went to get a few things for some of our grandchildren.  We then met up with Garth and Annette and we all did some other shopping before we decided we were done spending money and done seeing all we wanted to see.  Reminded me a lot of Chile in the open markets - buying souvenirs and little trinkets.  I gave a little money to a few beggars that tore at my heart and a few little children trying to help their parents make money.  I also observed  a few school children being let out of school and smiled at how interested they were looking at me as I was looking at them.  Remember; I was the tourist - the foreigner - the stranger.  The 6 of us caught a taxi and went back to the resort where Del and I roamed around the resort grounds and bought a few more things to bring back home - jewelry, picture frame and some painted tiles. Then we had a nap before the evenings celebrations.

That night was a special Mexican Mardi Gras Celebration - great food - music, entertainment - dancers, singers and fun!  It was like the finale of a wonderful week we had enjoyed in Mexico.  There were more games to play, drinks to be had and then, of course, Mexico graced us with yet, another beautiful sunset.  It couldn't have been more perfect.

Tomorrow, we would be going home!!