I love my neighbor. I'm not speaking metaphorically. I'm speaking literally. My neighbor across the street is the sweetest friend. She came over for some help a couple of months ago after she found out I sew when I graced her garage sale and rummaged through her masses of material. Ever since we've been popping back and forth.
I sent Jessica over last night to help her put up her Christmas tree. With problems in her family all around, she almost didn't want to put one up at all. So I was happy to lend her my little helper to make sure it happened. Anything to liven up her spirits. Jess got to play with their Wii in exchange for her services and is anxious to go back and finish "helping".
She came by this afternoon again needing help. I was so pleased she trusts me enough to ask. She offered to pay me - I'm getting tired of that. How am I to get any blessings when people keep trying to pay me to help them? I guess it's hard to ask and accept help these days.
I may find a way to refuse her money. I don't want it, really. I'm happy to have a friend, that's all.
When my mom had to go back to work, we moved into town. Around the corner lived a girl who was in my first grade class. Just so happened she was also a member of my church. We became best of friends. It also worked out that her family had a sibling to match in age almost every sibling in my family. Four out of Five of our kids became best friends with theirs.
Since Mom worked, we ended up at their house after school almost daily for years. Luann graciously took us in, no questions asked along with her 7 kids that she already had. Imagine up to 12 kids or more running around under one roof, all playing their own games. Sometimes, Luann would let me and her daughter help her with the various crafts she was working on. She taught me how to crochet and a little bit how to knit. Back then, it wasn't a play date. It wasn't day care, and it was rarely announced. We simply dropped in whenever our hearts desired.
It wasn't until almost nine years ago when we learned that Luann was killed in a car accident that Mom expressed to me her gratitude for Luann watching out for her kids when we were younger. I'm sure Mom would have paid her if she could have, but she really didn't have it and Luann never asked for it. We were friends and neighbors. I miss those days. I miss Luann and I hope she is being justly rewarded for her kindness and service on the other side. She may not have been a perfect woman in some regards, but her door was always open to me and my family. For that I am truly grateful and I love her dearly.
I think sometimes it's hard to find a good neighbor. One that you feel so comfortable around that you can just drop by anytime. Or at least it seems more rare than it once did. So this Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for good neighbors.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The first step to Tae Kwon Doe. . .
. . .is learning how to coordinate the kick and the hie yah!
Okay, so Gavin did roll over by himself. He did it yesterday for the first time, but I missed it! Today he did it 4 times, but I only saw the last one. I put him down on his back and turned around to find him on his tummy. Then while I tried to observe him, he wouldn't do it. When I did catch him in the act I was pretending not to look. Way to go Gavin!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The hearts of the children. . .
My family has a young gene. We are and feel much older than we look. My Mom could be my sister and often has been mistaken for such. I decided I must get it from my Grandparents who seem and act much younger than they are.
Grandma told us that the eye doctor told Grandpa he had pretty good eyes for a 61 year old. They paused and said they had kids who might take offense at that. The doctor said, "How old are you?" He replied, "81." She said, "Well, you've got REALLY good eyes for an 81 year old!"
I'm still amazed that they packed up their car and drove the two days down here from Idaho at their age. I kept calling my parents to ask if they REALLY were coming this time?? They really did and it was so good to see them.
They came with my parents to see Jessica in the primary program. I was playing the piano for it, so technically I was involved as well. Jess amazed everyone by reading her parts all by herself. For 8 kids, they did a fabulous job and we couldn't be more proud of them.
After church, the grandparents came over for dinner. We had a full house and the visit was much too short. If only I didn't have kids and other interuptions. I would have enjoyed sitting around all day and night just chatting with them and enjoying their company. I'm sure their days are numbered although it's hard to believe. They seem just as young and full of energy as they did 30 years ago. It will be a shock and a sad, sad day when either one of them passes on to the other side.
In Sunday school today (the brief ten minutes I was there for) we were talking about Malachi and Elijah. I thought about the hearts of the children turning to their fathers and the fathers to their children. As I sat cherishing the time with mine, I know the feeling. . . I love my family and my roots. I wonder if Grandma and Grandpa feel like roots. I can tell they love their branches. All 7 children plus spouses, 43 Grandchildren plus however many spouses and soon to be 40 Great Grandchildren. They know them all. In fact they have this huge tree in their house with little windows for pictures of their kids and grandkids. . .needless to say it ran out of room for everyone years ago.
Just as they were leaving Grandpa came over and almost with tears in his eyes he hugged me and paid me compliments. I could tell he was proud of me. I'm not so sure I was so deserving, but I'm humbled by it. I've heard this from my other Grandparents as well. Though I sometimes think they see a grander version of the real me, they do inspire me to live a better life and honor their heritage and faith. I want to make them proud. It's nice to hear it and see that they sincerely mean it. I wonder if that's what Malachi means by turning our hearts. . . I'm so blessed to be a twig on this family tree. I hope my children will come to know how blessed they are to share this heritage.
Grandma told us that the eye doctor told Grandpa he had pretty good eyes for a 61 year old. They paused and said they had kids who might take offense at that. The doctor said, "How old are you?" He replied, "81." She said, "Well, you've got REALLY good eyes for an 81 year old!"
I'm still amazed that they packed up their car and drove the two days down here from Idaho at their age. I kept calling my parents to ask if they REALLY were coming this time?? They really did and it was so good to see them.
They came with my parents to see Jessica in the primary program. I was playing the piano for it, so technically I was involved as well. Jess amazed everyone by reading her parts all by herself. For 8 kids, they did a fabulous job and we couldn't be more proud of them.
After church, the grandparents came over for dinner. We had a full house and the visit was much too short. If only I didn't have kids and other interuptions. I would have enjoyed sitting around all day and night just chatting with them and enjoying their company. I'm sure their days are numbered although it's hard to believe. They seem just as young and full of energy as they did 30 years ago. It will be a shock and a sad, sad day when either one of them passes on to the other side.
In Sunday school today (the brief ten minutes I was there for) we were talking about Malachi and Elijah. I thought about the hearts of the children turning to their fathers and the fathers to their children. As I sat cherishing the time with mine, I know the feeling. . . I love my family and my roots. I wonder if Grandma and Grandpa feel like roots. I can tell they love their branches. All 7 children plus spouses, 43 Grandchildren plus however many spouses and soon to be 40 Great Grandchildren. They know them all. In fact they have this huge tree in their house with little windows for pictures of their kids and grandkids. . .needless to say it ran out of room for everyone years ago.
Just as they were leaving Grandpa came over and almost with tears in his eyes he hugged me and paid me compliments. I could tell he was proud of me. I'm not so sure I was so deserving, but I'm humbled by it. I've heard this from my other Grandparents as well. Though I sometimes think they see a grander version of the real me, they do inspire me to live a better life and honor their heritage and faith. I want to make them proud. It's nice to hear it and see that they sincerely mean it. I wonder if that's what Malachi means by turning our hearts. . . I'm so blessed to be a twig on this family tree. I hope my children will come to know how blessed they are to share this heritage.
Lily cried as they pulled out of the driveway saying, "Where are they going? I want my Grandpa!" she wasn't ready for them to leave either.
I'm afraid we stayed up a bit late tonight playing and laughing after our visitors had left. How great is it that these relationships will last forever? And someday we won't have to say goodbye?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Just for Ginger and anyone else who cares. . .
Mexican Chicken Chowder my way.
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken chunks (large can size) (Or cooked chicken)
1 package taco seasoning (I use half of it)
3 cups chicken broth (water and boillon cubes work for me)
8 oz sour cream
Tortilla chips and Cheddar Cheese (We use fiesta blend) (optional)
You can add green chilies or onions and stuff, but my kids won't eat it with that.
Mix all ingredients except for the sour cream, tortilla chips and cheese in a pot (or crock pot) and heat through. Stir in sour cream with a cup of soup and then mix in with the rest. Heat through and serve with tortilla chips and cheese. It can be cooked up pretty fast or done in the crockpot to be prepared earlier and used later.
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken chunks (large can size) (Or cooked chicken)
1 package taco seasoning (I use half of it)
3 cups chicken broth (water and boillon cubes work for me)
8 oz sour cream
Tortilla chips and Cheddar Cheese (We use fiesta blend) (optional)
You can add green chilies or onions and stuff, but my kids won't eat it with that.
Mix all ingredients except for the sour cream, tortilla chips and cheese in a pot (or crock pot) and heat through. Stir in sour cream with a cup of soup and then mix in with the rest. Heat through and serve with tortilla chips and cheese. It can be cooked up pretty fast or done in the crockpot to be prepared earlier and used later.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Trees are falling all around. . .
The young men and Elder's Quorum have been planning to come and cut down our dead Walnut tree for some time. At last the project was realized this morning after a long evening of Halloween celebrations. The men were gracious to sacrifice sleep and their time by arriving promptly at 8:00am to start the tedious job of chopping down a tree and hauling it off.
By why stop at just one? Our neighbor had a chat with Jhonny this past month about tree cutting. He had a guy who quoted him $1200 to take out his two pine trees and would do ours for $600. Jhonny politely declined the offer saying that though it was a fair price, we had a better deal. He asked, "How much?" "Um, free," he replied. "Well you can't beat that," he said shaking his head.
After sharing this story with me, I wondered why not cut the neighbor's trees, too? Why should we be the only beneficiaries, here? Let's take it a step further shall we?
So after getting the okay from our laborers, I knocked on the neighbor's door and asked if we could take out their trees for them. Mrs. Neighbor looked at me in unbelief when I told her it was a free service by the men from our church and her eyes teared up as she gratefully accepted the offer telling us it was a Godsend.
It would have been great had it ended there, but they insisted on giving us a donation for the church. Okay, rob us of our blessings why don't you? JK. The men and boys worked hard for donuts, drinks and pizza.
It's kind of amazing the attention we drew from the neighborhood. People slowed down to see the action, one car stopped just to watch one tree fall. Our neighbor from the other side came out of his house and talked to me for the first time since we moved in a year and 1/2 ago. The neighbors across the street came out to observe as well. I noticed a kid come out of his house just to watch. It was quite the event. Even Gavin didn't want to miss the action.
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