Remembering Grandma Jones--1 year anniversary

 

On September 23rd, all of the Jones family got together at Ann's gravesite.  It was an amazing experience.  Steve wanted everyone to come prepared with a memory to share.  It was a beautiful day!

 

 

 

Steve asked Aaron to be in charge of the "program."  So Aaron welcomed everyone and then Steve took a little bit of time talking about his own memories of Ann.  Steve gave us all a copy of what he talked about, and I'm going to type it here, so we can always remember what he said that day.

GRANDMA'S TREASURES

 

Grandma is a very rich person.  She has seventeen treasures.  I remember how she loved to talk with each of them and snuggle them, especially when they were first born.  One day she told me this story.

 

She was talking to one of the grandchildren.  It could have been anyone of you.  She said, "Oh __________, (put your own name in the blank), do you know how much Grandma loves you?"  And the grandchild answered, "Oh yes Grandma, we know.  We're your treasures."  Grandma loved that idea.



So Grandma got an idea one day:  why not get pictures of all the "treasures" and put them up on a wall.  If you have noticed in our house, most of the pictures on the wall at our house are pictures of those Grandma loved best:  pictures of Jesus and pictures of family.

 



 



 

About once a week Grandma would ask a question:  "How did we get to be so lucky?  What have we ever done to deserve such wonderful children and their spouses and the grandchildren?"  And then she would almost cry and say, "Every one of them is a treasure. (actually that means that Grandma and I have 27 treasures.  Very few pirates or even kings and queens ever had so many riches).

Grandma sometimes said that when she got to the Spirit World she had lots of questions she was going to ask.  Maybe now that she is there Grandma has an answer to her question:  "How did we get to be so lucky?"  (and that's what Grandpa said...)

 

Most of us were in tears by this time.  Aaron then invited the family to share their own memories of Ann/Grandma.  It was very sweet.and tender, something she would have absolutely loved and enjoyed.  But I think she was there that day, listening.  We could definitely feel her close to us. 

 



After the visit to the cemetery, we all drove to Grandma and Grandpa's house to have dinner together.  I think it was the first time we were all together in that house again since Grandma passed away.  We've had family socials, but not at Grandpa's.  It was the perfect place to gather.  We did see all of our pictures on the walls, and the pictures of Jesus, and we felt her love for us and for Him.

 



 

It really was such a nice day and it was awesome to all be together.  (I had a headache later that night from all the crying I did....but it was worth it).  :)

 

 



We miss you Grandma!  We miss your hugs, your laughter, your smile, and even your advice!  :)  We think of you everyday and even though we know you are ok and in a better place, we still miss you tons!  We love you!

 



Our New Pet

We got a new pet recently....can you guess what it is?  Here's a hint...(it's not the dog).

 

 

But, Ziggy can't stand it that we have a new pet.  He really wants to "meet" this new little guy!  And by "meet," I mean, "destroy."  :)

 



 

"Please, Mom, I'll be good, I promise."

Uh, huh.....I see how it is (and how it would be if I let the pet out).  Ziggy is not to be trusted!

 



Introducing Jenny, our new hamster.  Yes, it's a girl!  Imagine that!  And she's a fiesty little animal.  I think she could take Ziggy down quite well and show him who's boss....if we let her (which we won't)....

 

 

Jenny is a cute little thing, but she is NOISY at night.  She runs in that wheel like she's being chased by something fierce!  She wakes me up most nights and I have to go into Kyle's room and take her wheel out.  Why can't she be like that during the day?  It's because she's "nocturnal, Mom."  Oh, gotcha!

 

One night when I took the wheel out, she chewed through one of the plastic plugs at the top of her cage.....and ESCAPED!  She was not in her cage the following morning.  We finally found her tucked between the wall and the dresser in the back corner of the room.  She looked quite comfy there.  Todd duct taped over the hole, so she couldn't push it up.  Still, if I take the wheel out, now I always put a book on top of the hole she chewed through, just to be extra safe.

 



Welcome to our home, Jenny!  You are a lucky little hamster!  :)

Brandon's flute recital

Brandon started taking private flute lessons this last summer.  This was his first recital.  He did totally AWESOME!!

 

 

His first song was about 7 minutes....very impressive!

 



His second song was only about 40 seconds....still, very impressive!

 





We are so proud of you son!

 



Grandma and Grandpa Johnson came to support him too.  It meant a lot ot him.

 



 

Way to go Brandon!  You are one talented, fine young man and we love you!!

Keep up the good work!

 

 

 



How's Eric doing at college?

How is Eric doing at college? 

Is he surviving? 

Does he like it? 

Is he getting settled in? 

What about his roommates?

How are his classes?

 

 

These are all very good questions.....questions I'm still trying to find the answers to.  Okay, that's not entirely true.  I do know he likes it.  I know he's working really hard in all of his classes.  I think he is settled in, for the most part.  He likes his roommates a lot, and for not having known any of them before moving in, that's wonderful!  And he and the the guy he rooms with get along great....another big plus!  I know he's meeting lots of new people.....some of whom are girls!  Will he share any names, you ask?  NO, he won't.  We have skyped with Eric once since he's been gone.  He has been home one weekend, and I don't talk to him every single day.  I do text him most days.  He has called a couple of times, and both times I have answered the phone, he has asked for someone else (Kyle and Dad).  I'm still trying to get over that one (or both)!  In a nutshell, he seems to really be enjoying himself.....staying up too late, laughing hard, being independent, and loving the "country life."  :)

 

 

Of course, college isn't all flowers and roses either.  Eric wasn't getting fed regularly the first couple weeks of school because the college was doing some construction on the dining hall. Before you jump to conclusions like I did, and complain that, "hey, we paid for you to get 3 meals a day.  You'd better be getting them," in reality they were still serving 3 meals a day, but in a slightly different place and only at certain times throughout the day.  I had to call the school and ask what was going on with the meal/food card.  I saved my son from starving.....and did I get a thank you?  Nope.   :)

 

I sent Eric some bug repellent after the first couple of days of school, because he was getting bit by mosquitos, and he usually swells up pretty bad.  He doesn't have a car, so I thought it would be easiest just to mail him some.  That was roughly 4 weeks ago.  He still hasn't gotten his mail because, "I don't know where to get it and I don't have time to find out."  To that I say, enjoy your bug bites!

 

And here is a text conversation between us that I need to share with all posterity....preface:  Eric had a sore throat a couple of weeks ago.

 

Eric: (6 pm)  My friend gave me this lemon herbal tea stuff for my throat...can I drink that?

Mom:  (6:34 pm)  Yeah, if its just an herbal tea, that's ok.

Eric: (7:55 pm)  I didn't know we weren't supposed to open the tea bag and dump the leaves into the drink..

Mom:  (8:46 pm)  (me, hysterically laughing while texting)  Thanks for the laugh, Eric.  That is hilarious.  Did you drink the leaves?

Eric: (9:22 pm)  No, I just dumped it out...I ended up just using honey and lemon instead.  Mitch bought onion for his sinuses, too.  I don't think that'll help my throat, though.  :/

Mom:  (9:24)  Honey and lemon is probably the best for u.  U can take some tylenol too, but don't take more than 2.  Hope u feel better. (and then more laughing just for the fun of it)....

 

And here's another one:

 

Eric:  Okay, I have no idea where my suit pants are! D:  They're gone!  They must've fallen off the hanger, or something as I was coming back home on Monday.

Mom:  You lost your pants?  Could they be in Jayme's car?

Eric:  Ya, probably.

Mom:  Well, check first and see if they turn up.  I'd hate to have you go buy another pair.

Eric:  Ya, I'll still be looking for it.  And uhh..I don't wanna have to buy new pants..how much would they cost?

Mom:  At Walmart, you might be able to find a pair for $25 until we can get you some nicer ones.  Or could you borrow some from a roommate for a few weeks?  Or maybe I could mail you a pair?

Eric:  I could maybe do that.  I've got a pair, but they're gray, not black, so they don't match.  :/  But if you could send me some, that'd be great.  (like that's gonna happen...I'm still waiting for him to get his bug spray)

Mom:  You have another pair there with you at school?

Eric:  Ya

Mom:  Then why can't you just wear those?  

Eric:  I need a black pair for my vest, though too. :/  If I don't find them anywhere else soon, I'll probably just go buy a pair.

 Mom:  Can't u wear your vest with the gray ones?

Eric: Maybe, it looks weird.

Mom:  Why do u need black pants for your vest?  It would go with gray.  Don't just go buy some yet...wait a little to see if we find them.

Eric:  I'll wait a bit. 

 

Never a dull moment.  And he never found his pants, by the way, so when he comes home next, I have a new pair for him here.  I did get a thank you for that one!  :)

 

And there have been other random things happen on occasion, to which I say, "Good luck Eric.  This year is going to be soooo good for you!  You are learning so much!"

I am proud of how hard he is working in school.  He is putting a lot of time into his classes and I am grateful for that.  I think Eric is coming home this weekend for a missionary farewell.....it will be interesting to see if I get to see him at all.  It sure is different having one child out of the house...I'm just trying to slow down the "growing up" of my other children.  It's going way too fast! 

 

 

 

Dallin turns 13!

Well, it's official.  We now have 3 teenagers!  Oh man, seriously?  How did that happen? 

 

Dallin turned 13 last Sunday on Sept. 2.  It was a fast Sunday and he was so good about fasting on his birthday.  What an awesome kid!  He fasted the whole day until his requested dinner too....all-you-can-eat roast, potatoes. and gravy, fruit salad, rolls, veggies, and for dessert?  White cake with strawberry-flavored frosting and play-dough ice cream!  Delicious!

 

Dallin loves Moon Pies.  I couldn't find the actual brand of that, so I bought him Marshmallow pies....they are the same thing and he loves them...But really, that is just cruel to give on a fast Sunday, isn't it? 

 

 

 

Dallin loves building things together....anything creative and artsy!  So for his birthday, he got a model airplane, with a set of paints to create and put together.  He will have a blast doing it!

Look at those killer blue eyes?  :)

 



 

That evening we had the grandparents over for cake and ice cream...

 

The brothers.....

 

Grandpa Jones, Dad, and Eric

 



Grandpa and Grandma Johnson, and Jacob

 

 



 

 

You're never too old to blow out candles, are you?  I think not!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dallin!

 



We love you!!