Short Update

I really enjoyed my time with Uncle Ralph. He didn't feel well enough to work on his life story, and he is concerned that his memory might betray him and allow in some inaccuracies. I guess as a Quality Control guru, he is much more bothered by the fear of "mistakes" than the rest of us! It was a lovely time with him. It rained most of the days, which I relly enjoyed.

I decided to come home a few days before doing to Libby's. I really needed to just crash for awhile at home, and it was good for me to be here. I was able to pay some bills and take care of some time-sensitive mail, as well as straighten the house a bit and feel more in control of my life. Amanda and the kids pulled the weeds in my back yard while I was gone. It really looks nice out there. I guess they enjoy doing it, so I'm suggesting they come over every couple of weeks. They can weed and I can take them to lunch or fix breakfast or something. The roses are bushing out and blooming and are beautiful! I'm glad I finally pruned them, and I'm glad I didn't ruin them! I have no other flowers around in pots, either in front or on my deck. Maybe when Reed's boys are here I can do a few! Jens is anxious to do some weeding and other work. Maybe I'll get them to help me clean the garage!

I will be with Libby in Indiana until June 16. I have a very busy June coming up and am glad to be over my neuropathy flare-up. The next few weeks should be a lot of fun!

Unexpected travel to Washington State

My Uncle Ralph Halterman, who lives on Camano Island, Washington State, had a stroke and took a fall right before Easter. I told him that when he was ready to leave rehab and go home I would be so happy to come and stay with him until he can see what he needs to do, whether he can take care of himself or want someone there. He has been alone for several weeks, with his daughter-in-law's mother checking in on him. He called me today and I guesss the pain and memory loss and other weaknesses he is experiencing are kind of hard for him, so I will be flying there on Monday morning to stay at least until I go to Libby's in June. Monday gives me a few more days to get better from my own ailments!

I'm happy I'm going to get to spend this time with him. I should be able to finish his life story--at least up to this point--and I expect I can help him go through photos, family history things, etc. Debbie and I are sort of partner on this. She is such a family history fanatic and I am her willing accomplice. She really feels like our Halterman family (am I revealing too much that it was a poster child for "dysfunctional?") is very busy on the other side of the veil and are counting on us to facilitate some healing and tie up loose ends.

Uncle Ralph has the same kind of neuropathy I have but he has had it longer, and I hope I've been able to get earlier interventions with it so it won't deteriorate as much. He's having a lot of pain. He's just 9 years older than I am. I remember how much my dad suffered with his peripheral neuropathy the last years of his life. No feeling at all in his fingers, and only pain in his feet.

I'm going to miss Link's pre-school graduation and Echo's birthday. I need to get her pillow case done before I leave! I expect to have a busy couple of days.

Mothers Day

Mothers Day was sweet. All my (local) kids and grandkids came over on Saturday night. I did my first ever--and absolutely last!--take and bake pizza (from Costco.) Burned the first one, the second one dripped grease and the house was filled with smoke. Plus, I had thought they were only $5, should have just left when I saw they were $10. My brain wasn't working too well on Saturday, apparently. And everyone else brought a dessert. Now, why would we need 3 desserts??? (Thanks, Kevin, for the suggestion--"everybody else can bring dessert!") Two yellow cakes with chocolate frosting (family faves) and Carrie's famous pound cake. Kevin went out after 2 (3?) more pizzas and some breadsticks. Oh, my, it was crazy. But I love having everyone together. Handmade cards, lots of hugs, some Lindt truffles--what could be better. Libby gave me a really fun box of commonly used French phrases (c'est la vie, affair du coeur, etc.) for me to throw into my conversation when I want to imagine I'm in France. Davey sent a card and called, as well. He is always so thoughtful. Reed called me on Mothers Day to wish me happy day. I am looking forward to going to Tucson in June and bringing his youngest 3 boys back with me. Libby also called, but I had my phone off so I could sleep. Thanks, kids! I love you all!

Sometime during the night on Saturday a neuropathy gremlin took over my body and I awoke with a migraine in every joint and nerve, including my head. So I spent the day in bed on painkillers. Ironic because just Thursday my doctor was commenting how well I have been doing! My neck and head pain aren't actually connected to my neuropathy, so I don't know what that's about. Anyway, I am much better today, and I shouldn't complain because the last big flare up I had was before Christmas. That's pretty good!

Yesterday afternoon I watched the first episode of a program on the History Channel that I have been DVRing. I highly recommend it. It's called America: The Story of Us. It is always inspiring and humbling to be reminded of the huge challenges that had to be overcome in order for us to become a country. There were many victories that were clearly brought by the Lord's hand. And there was inspiration in military strategies and various innovations that Washington and others devised that were unheard of at the time. Oh, what a bloody war it was. I don't think I had known about the small pox break-out at Valley Forge and the experimental "innoculations" that they did to try to duplicate what was being done in Europe with vaccine. As if Valley Force weren't hardship enough as it was. I have to smile when I think about those patriot rebels and their distrust of govenment and fierce desire for independence. So many of our cultural values started way back then. We have a pretty impressive story! No wonder the Europeans think we're so strange!

Beautiful flowers from my sweet David

This spring--again!--I have loved seeing the tulips and pansies that David planted. I suppose I can look forward to having them every spring, at least the tulips, for awhile. I plan to plant some daffodils in the fall. Then I'll be very happy next year! However, you may notice a big leafy plant in the background in the second photo. David planted rhubarb in our front planter. I wasn't terribly happy to have it planted there, and had no idea how big it would get! I hate to encourage it by using it, and besides, how much rhubarb can one person use!!? I guess I'll wait until the community landscape watchdogs tell me to pull it out, and in the meantime treat myself to occasional strawberry-rhubarb pie. (Major YUM!!)

David's sister Alice died last week and I went with Doug to S. Utah for her funeral on Monday. All agreed that as difficult as it was to lose Alice, we are all quite excited that she has been able to join her mother, whom she never knew. And of course David must have been waiting, too. Apparently she mentioned to her family that he had come to her on 2 different occasions as she was dying, and she also saw her mother. David's family has been very sweet to me. It has been a pleasure to be part of them for a little while.

I am now quilting Marina's quilt. It's very bright and cheery. I hope to have it finished before she goes to Florida to work at Disney World.




I have had occasion recently to contemplate the difference between a "weakness" and a "sin". My cousin Debbie came over for lunch today and we discussed it a little bit. It helped me to think of a weakness in terms of the Lord's giving it to me, whereas, a sin is something I willfully choose to do. But I think they can get a little muddied, so that a sin may also be a weakness, but a weakness isn't necessarily a sin. Sin requires repentance, but a weakness will be made strong through the Lord's grace. Thoughts, anyone?

Rain, rain, come again!

We are having lovely thunder showers this afternoon, with some fairly strong bursts of rain. I love it! The louder the thunder, the better I like it. So---bring it on!! Growing up in the mountains of western Montana I was used to lots of summer thunder storms. Since my grandmother (Nana) spent many summers with us, she had a great influence on my life. She loved thunder and lightning, and would glory in the storms. "Come and watch!" she'd say. "Oh, listen to that thunder!" she would clasp her hands and exclaim. I loved the storms in Tucson, where they really do have real thunderstorms with spectacular lightning, and really miss them.

Joel came over this afternoon so he could have a bath in my big tub. Maddy got to have one the other night, and he was very disappointed that his parents came for him before his turn. We also went to WalMart and got a few action figures and some Legos for kids to play with. I'm really trying to find things that will entertain them when they come over. So far the Netflix movies don't hold their interest except when they have sleepovers.

I am ready to quilt Marina's lap quilt. I bought the backing yesterday and am really excited to finish it. I have it on the frame downstairs where I can watch movies while I quilt. There is a problem, however. David's big rear projection TV is going out. It has yellow and blue stripes on the picture. Jenny says it is probably at least 15 years old, which is about what I imagined. So I guess I'll get rid of it. If Andy and Amanda move in with me I won't need my own downstairs, so I'll just wait and see. I really don't want to have to buy a new TV, and just might have to move my quilting frame and mess upstairs! Oh, my!! Don't I have big problems in my life, though!?

On the other hand, I could get a new TV for down there and if Andy and Amanda move in, I could put it in my bedroom...And they won't stay forever, so I'll need a second one eventually...But I'm trying to save $$ for a trip in the fall, and the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland has reminded me that unforeseen events can quickly decimate carefully made plans...

A new "pain reliever" is going around our (retirement) community. It's called AMized Fusion Technology and it seems to have miraculously helped several people who were literally debilitated by pain. I searched the Internet, and pretty much the only information out there is from the company that makes the "wand." It sounds to me like a "magnet" thing. My Dad was so into that. But whatever works for somebody, hey, good for them.

I'd rather be in England, but...

I love England in the spring, with the daffodils sprinkled on the hills (how did they get there, anyway??) and the tulips that come shortly after. (Although my best tulip memories are of the tulips in Munich--I haven't spent that much time in Holland!) So every year at this time I long to be there...

But Leah has some beautiful daffodils, and she had a lovely little bouquet in my room. (I think I may be allergic to them, but that's another story.)





I didn't have the energy or interest to plant any bulbs last year, and apparently whatever David had planted were pulled up sometime. But since daffodils and tulips and pansies are my three favorite flowers, I think I'd better make sure I have some for next year.

It's nice to be home, but I did have a wonderful time with Leah. I'm spending today catching up on errands and just debriefing myself!

2 Quilts Finished at Leah's in Richland

I arrived at (sister-in-law)Leah's on March 25 with the quilt previously pictured and Libby's quilt that she machine quilted. Leah (Peterson Baird) immediately put up the frame in her living room and we went to work, wondering if we could get them both done before I went home. Well, I knew we could! We had both quilts done before Saturday afternoon session of Conference was finished! Leah's portions can be recognized by her small, regular, close stitches. My parts can be recognized by their not small, nor regular, nor close stitiches. But at least this time I did more than one square! The first quilt I did with her (last year) she did 11 squares while I did 1! See, I'm getting better!

I won't write much. I'll be going home in the morning. It has been a wonderful time with Leah and we have talked and laughed and quilted and read and watched TV and Netflix movies and eaten (and eaten and laughed and talked and eaten!) and it has been great. I really appreciate her help with these quilts. She is the Quilt Queen, as far as I am concerned. She doesn't know quite how to introduce me. I am her sister-in-law, yes, but my last name--Shadoan? Peterson? Stuart?--which one to use--is a bit confusing. Since she's no longer Peterson, and neither am I, the relationship isn't obvious by our names!

I hope I remember to take photos of her daffodils and tulips tomorrow morning before I leave. I'll post them when I get home. But this has been a fun few days with her and I feel very refreshed and rejuvenated.

She and I are thinking of taking another trip together. It will depend totally on my financial situation. If I can teach several sections at UVU this summer and fall, or get a little extra from someplace else, I might just make it. You all know that somehow I will try to squeeze out money for travel even if I'm down to my last $$. It's such a pity they won't take either my blood or my plasma, or my savings would be growing already...