Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fall.



This is My neighbors Tree.
It lives outside my office window. It is beautiful and vibrant this time of year and it got me to thinking about my own life as my joyous day approaches.

Spring comes in with such promise of what is to come Yellow and Pink pop out of the ground as the earth warms up. The sky turns blue and things start to smell alive and growth begins.
Of course there is rain and mud and muck and all that comes with new growth.
There is mess and hope. Joy and work.
But there is also beauty in the day if you look beyond the trial of the moment.

Then comes Summer. Joy and beauty everywhere. The Sun shines for days on end and everyone plays. There is great food and even better nights. The fragrance of summer is herbs and flowers, pink is the color, warm is the weather. Cut grass and slightly over-chlorinated pool water.
Hands and Hearts are sticky with love and smores.
Summer is LONG and Soft and Lazy and busy and wet and dry and everything you want in life.

Fall is the gentleness that reminds us that we are mortal and will be going home soon.
It is alive and vibrant yet somehow slowing down and beginning to show wear.
It is almost passionate about it's place in your heart.
Yellow bursting into flaming red then slowing, to turn into brown.
It is a time of joy and thankfulness and foods that warm our souls and implant themselves deep into the recess of our memory. It is a hint of cool that says "THAT Time" is almost here are you ready ? Then silently falling into dark it slips away and you wake up and fall is gone.

Winter is " That Time " when youth gives way to the cold of age. But not yet ! One more snowball one more party. Lights and Song and Oh such lovely memories of family. But still the cold bears down on everything and you know that only the strongest will survive to greet you in the spring. Winter.
That place we all know is coming, yet wish for just one more day of summer.

Fall is that one more day.
Enjoy each fall day

I love This tree outside my office window.


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Who Doesn't love a beautiful Bride.



This week, My little Sister was married in My parents backyard.
She was beautiful and the groom was handsome.
Several of our family were there and we got some great shots of all the kids playing and being kids.
I am reminded once again that our families are so important to us and
we should do all we can to hold them close to our hearts
and to gather often to mingle our lives and hearts forever.
Enjoy a few of the shots from our great week.

Dylan enjoying a quiet breakfast before the chaos begins.


My sister Amy and Larkin with Grandma one Morning



Dylan and GreatGrandpa mowing the lawn for the big party


Derek helping Grandma make the Cream Puffs



The Fabulous cake that Amy's Hubby Scot made, just waiting for the finishing touches



Friday, July 3, 2009

The Boys of Summer !














We had the boys over for a few days this summer, and BOY did we have a blast.
Ewan, Isaac and Dylan coming out the Door and Isaac, Dylan and Gary sitting on the step, singing Twinkle Twinkle.









We found Sonya's old slip and slide and that was almost as big a hit as the pools.





Ewan and Isaac love the Fast Water.
And BIG Thank you! to some great Photographers for our great water shots, Sejena and Kelly !









Dylan was A little shy of the slide part but loved the water none the less.








Even Gary found a pool he could call his own.












And not to be outdone,
We had some very brave Moms doing the SlipNSlide












Sonya and Kelly Being Brave !





And Some Moms ( Sejena ) spent all day
Taking the pictures. Holding the baby and cheering for everyone So we all felt like winners.








But what would a summer get together be with out Pappa at the BBQHe did us up right with all the stuff he can grill on that BBQ TOO
Thanks to all his kids for the wonderful Fathers day present that we will enjoy all year and for many years to come.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Hollyhocks and Eternal Lessons





Summer is here and with it the full bloom of my Nauvoo Hollyhocks. I was so disappointed last year when all they did was come up and never bloomed. My parents were serving in The Nauvoo temple at the time and mom sent me the seeds she had harvested from a cleaning day in the gardens there. I planted them with a great anticipation and then nothing. Well the Lord says we must be a patient people. Because they did not flower I thought I had lost my seeds as well. NO Flower NO seeds. But this spring they came back and started to grow. I almost pulled them out as they did nothing last year but held off to see if perhaps they were one of those plants that just takes a season or too. ( kind of like me sometimes I take a season or too to learn sometimes.)
This is what they look like today. I am so glad that I did not pull them out. I think that is how we must appear to the Lord sometimes. He plants in us the good that we can become and then he has to wait HOW MANY SEASONS ??? for me it has been ever so many more than 20 to figure out what we are and to " Bloom " in to that great person he sent to earth. If only we could see the picture on the seed packet so we could know what we are suposed to bloom into. :D Enjoy the flowers, summer is here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Family Temple Trip

This is the beautiful Columbia River Temple.



Grandpa Bean, Grandma Bean, John, Rob, and Mary Grandstaff !


John and Grandma Bean.


We were so blessed this last Saturday to be able to go to the Temple with John and his parents and our friends. Here are some of the faces we were blessed to see in the House of the Lord. We are all so excited as John prepares to leave for the Baltimore Maryland Mission. We know he will serve the Lord well. Good luck To all. :D

President and Sister McCracken



Bishop and Sister Clark
Rick and Susan Garrett



Tom and Patsy Young

Larry and Linda Johnson

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Oh what do you do in the summertime !


The other day Kelly and Jesse bought this little pool for Dylan to play in. They brought in over and filled it up and we were all having a great time. I decided that if pictures were going to be taken all summer of Nana in the pool with Dylan then I NEEDED a new suit to play in. Thank goodness for the overstock section of Land's End. Screamin deal on this suit and I love the way it fits. Now for the funny part. ( and Dyl you can hate me later ) Kelly came over and we were having a great time but Dylan had no swim suit at my house that day so we put him these little potty training pants. I think this is classic little boy in the summer stuff. enjoy, cause this is one of the things we do in the summer time.

Saturday, June 6, 2009





We had a Great storm roll through the valley on thursday night and it was such a pleasure to stand and watch the power of nature. Dennis tried to get some pictures ( because I asked him to and he seems to enjoy humoring me ) But as everyone but me already knows it is almost impossible to get really great lightning strikes. So he got these instead. Some show how bright it got and some are not too bad . Dennis is amazing at telling where the lighting will strike next. So enjoy my silliness and his great indulgence.The rain was coming down in such big drops it hurt to stand out in it. So lucky for us we has a little overhang out the back to keep out of all that water. My hubby rocks !

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

So Benny knows this guy see... and he said hey Benny wanna take my bike out for a ride. and this is what happens when you let a car salesman talk you into taking it out for a ride. :D

Sunday, April 19, 2009


What could be better than a great sunny day and the flowers and spring. I think there is nothing better that to see God's handiwork in action. This is my spring joy and the thing that is a visual symbol that God really does renew all life. Think spring :D

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Let The SUNSHINE IN :D

Sunshine and more sunshine seemed the order of the day today. Truly this was a great Palm Sunday as we were able to walk through the warmth of the sun to hear the words of our great Prophet and Apostles. I love spring time and all that comes with it.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Fishing with Papa



Ewan and Sejena came to visit with us for the weekend and Ewan and Papa went fishing. We have a great kids pond where you have be under 14 to fish there. Too bad there were not any little fish to be caught and they had to settle for this big rainbow trout. Ewan caught it all by himself and Papa only had to help him get it up from the shore. He is going to be a great fisherman just like His Papa. Way to go Ewan.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Is it Spring Yet?

This morning as I was out with Benny on his way to work I see bank reader. It read, Are you ready for this 22 DEGREES I know I know those of you still in Idaho think that IS spring weather but for here in sunny Walla Walla That is winter time stuff. Now I know that winter still has a week or so to hang on to our hearts with it's icy grip but I can't help but long for spring to come and blow way all this cold. If we have to have Daylight savings time it should be spring. I love seeing the crocus and the tulips bloom and am so excited as My hollyhocks are returning from last year and perhaps they will bloom this year. SO Once again I plead with the mighty heavens to bring on the spring weather. And if that does not work I will relish the snow in the mountains and enjoy one more mug of that nectar of winter HOT TANG !
This is Derek at the Bonfire last week up at our friends who live up in the mountains


Nettie

Sunday, March 8, 2009







What Joy our Family is for us. We love it when all our kids come home and bring their sweet children home.
We had such a great time with Isaac and Dylan's birthday that we are going to do it again in august for Ewan and Gary. And what could possibly be more fun than a giant truck party. With tonkas everywhere including the cake we were sure to construct a great time.



Most of you know that I love chocolate. It was evident that the chocolate loving gene was passed on to yet another generation with Dylan digging into his first birthday cake.

Isaac was no less appreciative but he was a lot cleaner. The blessing of being 2 I guess. But it was a great party and everyone got to take home a little something to remember to toot your own horn every now and then.

I love a great Birthday party :D