A very special day for 85 years

There are no pictures from my parents' wedding. The pictures I do have of my parents as young adults are of my mother's days as a WAC and my dad's as a college student and missionary. Family pictures from their early marriage are of us kids only. So life was good when I discovered this picture of Alfred and Winnifred Ricks' extended family on a CD compiled for the Thomas E. Ricks family reunion four years ago (in Marjorie's file.) There are my young, beautiful parents in the upper right hand corner. I used to love playing in their clothes closet amongst their stylish clothes; wide, colorful ties, taffeta skirts, tailored suits and high heeled shoes. It's a mystery why they were so camera shy. My guess is that Velva was wearing a maternity top in this picture and that my little sister, Janis, is on the way. My brother Farrell and I occupy Velva and Gary's same positions in the front row. The date, 1954 or 1955.

These are the faces from my childhood. I grew up near Sugar City, Idaho surrounded by my great aunts and uncles, father's cousins and my second cousins. I knew that all of these people loved and cared for me. AND even more important, they loved and respected my mother who had married into the family. Their love and respect only grew as she had six children while being a farm wife, laboratory technician at the new hospital in Rexburg, and often times nurse to a husband prone to health related issues. When no longer able to farm due to those issues and now living in Arizona, she would drive her family to Idaho every summer for a visit. Most of the people in the picture above would be personally visited by Velva.

Mom has been gone for almost 10 years, but July 7th will be forever special to me. On that date 85 years ago a beautiful baby girl was born in a wood frame house on a hill with a view of the Grand Tetons on a stunning rolling farm in Eastern Idaho. She would grow to bless the lives of EVERYONE she met with her quiet, giving manner and her ability to love unconditionally. My discovery of a picture of my beautiful young mother is my gift to you on her birthday.

And, yes, that girl in the middle with glasses and an attitude was my least favorite baby sitter, Jane Davis. If we had been the same age I think I would have wanted to be her best friend. Doesn't she look interesting?

Your homework for Utah trip, part 3

This is where you will be one week from today.

What is the name of this temple?

What special feature does the decorative water fountain have?

Which temple is the smallest? This one, the Mesa Temple, or the Twin Falls temple.

What is unique about the baptistry?

What unusual thing happened to the Angel Moroni atop the temple on June 13th?

Answers: Here and Here

I left my heart in San Francisco

Gary holding 3 month old Laurel at the Nyborg Home in Ashton

Today as I climbed into a pre-cooled car (thanks Glen) to come home from church, the radio played "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" sung by Tony Bennett. Suddenly the memories flowed. I certainly love and honor my father, but I've often felt cheated that I never had the opportunity to know him adult to adult. Our normal father/daughter relationship ended before my second Daddy/Daughter Date when Grandpa George had to fill in for his ailing son. As his health declined, roles changed and soon his family, especially my mother, became his caretakers and protectors. He lived until I was married (a wedding he could no longer attend) and had two little boys. He died days after Ryan was born. Eighteen month old Eric, who was being cared for my mother and sisters, was perhaps the last person to see him alive.

My siblings, however, may envy the memories that I do have as eldest child. I'm almost certain that none of them even had a Daddy/Daughter Date or Father/Son Outing. I hope that I am wrong. The song by Tony Bennett brought back one of my most vivid memories. It is a cold December day with snowflakes flying and I am sitting in the back seat of the car, just me and my dad taking care of errands. Tony is singing this beautiful song and I am so happy to be with my dad on this crisp,cold day getting ready for Christmas. I feel so full of love and happiness. Somehow, this seemed like a tender mercy today as I left the church, where fathers had been praised, to have this special reminder of a day with mine.

This year's trauma and drama

Remember last year's trauma and drama. This year it only got worse AND occurred after hours of cleaning and trimming and getting everything ship shape this morning. Oh, it was worse, much worse. There was even yelling and screaming and eventually some apologies and cleanup. There was even talk of taking those palms down altogether. You should see all the flustered birds looking for their homes.

Eric's First Birthday Card

Upon Eric's birth, this was the first card which he received. It was a card created by his newly made Ostler aunts and uncle. I think they thought they were pretty funny and I must admit that it has its own charm. I've been sorting through stuff all week and came across this over 30 year old masterpiece (I won't reveal his real age but the card includes a clue :) and since the tape holding together its accordion shaped self had disintegrated over time, it was easy to scan. I thought it was perfect to share on his birthday!

I also came across some pictures returned to us from Glen's mother's photo albums. They are very faded, but I wanted to share.


Our own "American Gothic" on Eric's blessing day, July 4th.

Eric was fortunate enough to have five generations attend his blessing in the Provo. Glen shares his first born son with Eric's great, great grandma Smith.

Shortly after birth, he attended his first Jensen family reunion at Murray Park. So cute!

This is my favorite picture of Eric during his first week of life and one that his father shot on an outing to Cascade Springs. Since I was a first time mom, I took pride in the fact that I was bouncing back fast and maybe I was. I also remember attending church a week after his birth.

There is nothing quite like having your first baby. New babies help one define what is really important in life. My mother used to tell me she was sorry that I had to be the one who was her first child as she parented through so many experiences for the first time. Thank you for letting us practice on you Eric. Your father and mother love you very much and wish you all the best on your special day!

Happy Birthday!

Red hot chili peppers

This year the Anaheim chili peppers that I planted last September have been very happy. Last season they were full of bugs which I think tagged along from the nursery and ended up in the trash. This season, once they got more Spring sunshine, they have exploded. I decided to let a bunch turn red on the vine so that I could make a chili ristra. A month or so ago, I roasted a cookie sheet full of green ones which were very yummy. Those six plants really have been prolific.

I didn't sew mine together. I used red crochet thread to kind of slip knot and tie them together with a slip knotted loop at the top for hanging.

Because I love all things RED, I am very happy.

Your homework for Utah trip, part 2

Who will get up early to watch the inflation of the hot air balloons at the Balloon Festival in Provo? Who will be the sleepy heads who just wait for them to float by the windows at the condo? Which ever camp you may fall into - lets see how well you know your hot air balloon trivia?

Quiz, Part I:
How many years have they been inflating balloons at the Freedom Festival?

What do they call the special game which balloon operators participate in?

How many mornings do you have a chance of waking up early enough to go see them inflate?

Answers

Quiz, Part II:
What year was the first hot air balloon flight in the United States of America?

Where was the first hot air balloon flight in the United States of America ? (Nate and Nichelle should get this one right:)

What was the nationality of the first hot air balloon operator in the United States of America?

Who was the unexpected passenger in the basket of his balloon?

Why would so few buy tickets to see this unusual feat?

Answers