There's No Place Like Home!

After spending 8 weeks with Suzi, it feels great to be home. I can't even begin to describe her strength. The surgery and radiation were devastating to her physically, emotionally and mentally, but her spirit lives on! Her sense of humor wore a little thin, but I loved when it popped out. We spent many, many quiet days, while she slept and slept and slept and I read and read and read. On her good days I taught her how to dance the Shuffle and we danced away! We made several friends who are suffering from cancer too, the bubbly gift shop lady and finally won over Dustin, the parking garage booth person, by giving him cookies and candy. I know he will miss us, or at least the candy and cookies anyway! I left Utah with a desire to become a much better person by being more attentive to the important details of life that seem to get lost in the everyday shuffle. I will always be thankful that I was blessed to share this experience with Suzi, it was very difficult to watch her suffer, but how powerful her example was as she gracefully accomplished all that she could do so that she will live longer and bless all of us with her life. The Lord has been kind in allowing us to have her here with us, it is a special blessing. So here's to Suzi, in the words of Spock may she, "Live long and prosper."

This Is a What?

This is an Aplet.



This is a Cotlet.

I know they look alike,
but Aplets are sweet.

and Cotlets are a little tangy.

Dad loved them,

but, as a child, they weren't on my list of favorites.

I had forgotten all about them until last Thursday, when Shane came home with a box of Aplets and Cotlets from Bishop Carlin. Stating, "He said you would know what they are."

It was a magic moment.

And instantly memories of Dad loving them filled my mind.

So, to honor Dad's memory,

I ate one...it was better then I remembered!

So I ate another one and then throughout the week

another and another...

In fact, I have acquired a taste for them.

And I ate them all!

One of the great things about them according to the box:

"One reason to love Aplets and Cotlets is

because they have a third less calories than chocolate!"

I would still take chocolate over Aplets and Cotlets,

but Dad would be proud of me for enjoying all of these for him.

I Wish

Mom holding me. Isn't she beautiful!
She loves so completely, so tenderly.
She is a bit of heaven on earth.

I have always known if I talked to Mom, everything would be alright...and it was.

I wish Mom could hold me one more time so I could feel the familiar assurance of her arms.

I wish when she hugged and kissed me good night she knew who she was kissing.

I wish I could sit in the kitchen and visit with her as the smell of baking bread filled the air, or eat one of her hot-out-of-the-pan scones, or any of the good food she use to make.

I wish I could hear her ask, "Are you hungry? Would you like a bowl of fruit and a piece of toast?" And I would say, "Yes" and watch her butter her love all over that toast for me.

I wish I could empty my troubled heart to her and hear her loving compassionate words, because I know her love for me is ever present and constant.

I wish I could listen to her talk and soak in all her wisdom.

I wish I could see her smile, hear her laugh and experience her zest for life the way it use to be.

I wish I could love as openly as she does.

I wish when she said, "Kay Marie" she understood I am her daughter and the light of recognition would sparkle in her eyes.

I wish she didn't think I am a nice lady that comes to visit her.

I want my Mom.
I need my Mom.
I miss Mom.

And I wish.

For Katie

I'll be home for Christmas...

You can count on me...


Your Heart is the Highest!


Um hmm. You better be good!

MeRRy ChristMaS!

When I Was Young: Episode 1

I was thinking about how long it has been since I have written a post and thought to myself it's like I dropped off a cliff...

When I was young whenever I would say, "Dad I'm hungry." He would say, "I'm cliff, drop over sometime."

Number 1: I thought "Cliff" was a person that Dad knew and I was ready to go to Cliff's house to eat. I would plead in my little girl voice, "Let's go to Cliff's house, I'm hungry." Dad just laughed.

Number 2: It wasn't until years later that I understood that "Cliff" was a mountain cliff, and why would I want to "drop over sometime."

What a witty guy! He loved to tease and had a great sense of humor. Now I laugh when I think about "Cliff," but I'm still convinced Dad knew "Cliff" personally and he had really good food...

Some days I really miss him. Dad, not Cliff.

Lydia Time

Lydia fed the ducks.

She would toss a piece of bread and say,
"Here you go ducks! Here's some bread for you!"


Old Goosey Lucy and Lydia stood eye to eye.



This is a Chuck, a cross between a chicken and a duck.
Kidding! I made that up, but he did look part chicken with the red on his head. He was a little intimidating because he was hissing instead of quacking.
Poor Chuck, he was really ugly!

Lydia had a great idea: "Let's go to McDonalds!"

She ordered a Happy Meal with chicken nuggets, french fries and chocolate milk. When I asked her if I could have a french fry she said, "No, not one!"

Lydia noticed the spots of tar on my car and said,

"Grandma, I love the polk-a-dots on your car. They look really good! When the rain washes them off, you can put some more on!"

Lydia was explaining the grandparent situation to me.

"There is Grammy, you're not Grammy, you're Grand-MA.

Then there is Grandpa."

I asked, "How do you know if you're talking about Grandpa Barber or Grandpa Cruze?"

Lydia: "Grandpa is Grandpa, but we can call Bacca whatever we want."

And by the way, pink is her favorite color!

Fun in the Sun

The yard looked soooo good after I raked the leaves!

The streak of sunshine caught my attention,

So I got my camera...

Stepped into it...

And had a lot of fun!