Life is interesting

Life is certainly interesting..You think things are going well, then a screwdriver is thrown into the works and things stop for a moment.
I went to stay with Kelli when she had her 4th baby the first week of June. We always have a good time, and I enjoy being with her and her family.
Stu drove himself to Las Vegas ( where Kelli now lives) to pick me up and we took a nice road trip through California on the way back home.
The day he arrived, he told us all that he has aggressive Prostate Cancer. It was a shock to us, because he has never had any reason for worry.
Last September he was in that auto accident, and he was just getting back to doing what he wanted, and now this.
I think cancer is one of those words that strike fear into people's hearts, but in some
instances it is like any other long term disease- you deal with it and try everything that is available to live as normal a life as you can.
To this date, he is on a drug called Lupron, which is a hormone inhibitor. He will be starting radiation the end of October. So, for now, he is doing everything he wants to do before the "if"s start. He has been on three 50 mile bike rides with the scouts, recently because he is the 11 year old scout leader and also the merit badge counselor for this badge. All of the boys made it in the 8 hours required to pass . He also went on the two tens, two 25 mile rides with them, too.
I am always alittle sad when the weather turns and there are no more bike rides. I enjoy riding, but it is the only exercise that Stu likes to do.
We had a great time with all the family here, including my parents and my brother, Erik, for Jared and Sarah's wedding on August 2nd.

We filled the house and the camper and I had a great and busy time!
The wedding was beautiful and Sarah was even more beautiful!!

We had all the grandkids together and the weather was cooperative and they played outside in the sprinkler/baby pool most of the time.

What good memories!!
If I could change anything, it would be to eradicate the allergies that plague half of the family members that visit here. Oh well, we did all we could and I think they still had fun! ( Granny's café ice cream cones were one of the great and yummy memories, for me!)
Stuart and I also went to the Smith family reunion at the end of July. It was so good to see the families represented! I wish our kids could have come!
It was the first time we have been together since Mom died, and she was missed, but there were 5 expectant mothers, and Kelli's recent baby to have everyone feeling happy and blessed to be together.
He surprised them because we didn't think he would be able to go for doctor's appts, but we drove down anyway. It was so gratifying to see how much his family loves him.
We are now the older generation, and Kelli's cousin Boston put the family reunion together this time. Next time , Monta's daughter, Rachel is in charge of it. One of the perks of being older, is that you don't have to do EVERYTHING anymore!!
Well, till later!

Being a Grandma

 I am very blessed to be a Grandma. When I had little kids, I was so busy and thought often about having a vacation from the hurrying and scurrying!
Now that I 'm a grandma, I don't have to hurry and scurry so much and can enjoy little moments.
I remember being with my Grandma Binns during the summer and watching her bake wonderful cakes and bread ( and eating them!);watching her work in her rose gardens; and going with her to  drive the Falcon downtown for milk at the Jersey cow drive through.
We had some really fun times, watching Bonanza and Lawrence Welk on tv together, and sitting in their breezeway eating icecream with fresh peaches from the orchard next door , sliced and sweet in her stoneware bowls ....yum and yum!
She was always positive and supportive, and I am sure I was annoying with my crabbiness sometimes, but all she did was go, "ssssssss" in a kind of little chuckling sound.
I still miss her a lot, especially when I wish she were here to call and ask about what she would do in  family situations  and health related issues. I miss her little hugs, and the letters and cards she would send at birthday time. One of my most treasured possessions is a cookbook that her stake in Richland Washington made when they lived there. It has her handwritten favorite recipes stashed between the regular pages of the book. I have a section in my recipe box of "Grandma B. recipes".
 I love and miss her.
I hope I can be the fun and supportive Grandma that she was to me.
I try!