flowers in heaven

I thought he'd be around forever, or at least another decade. When I stood in front of his headstone, lacking only a death date, reality hit me. This precious man, our prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, would be with us only a short while longer, after having served the church and the world for many decades . That was this past July, when I unexpectedly found myself standing by his gravesite. We were in Salt Lake City locating the graves of of Carl's pioneer great grandfathers, the Fishers, who are buried in the same cemetery.
The picture I didn't take with my camera, but which is firmly imprinted in my mind, is that of his departed wife's grave. By her headstone, stood a vase filled with water and fresh flowers. I was told by someone who lives in back of the cemetery, that President Hinckley places flowers in that vase every week. It was nothing fancy, just an ordinary glass vase containing fresh flowers. It was, however, an eloquent expression of love, which touched me to the core. Pondering the beauty and reality of eternal love, I forgot to take a photo of that grave.
After a lifetime of service to our Savior Jesus Christ, our prophet passed away on Sunday night, January 27. We'll miss the twinkle in his eye, his marvelous sense of humor, and his inspired words, lovingly encouraging us to be better than what we are. My sorrow turns to joy as I think of the flowers he must be giving his Marjorie every day now in heaven.

kids say the funniest things

This weekend, Kyla (4) told me, "Grammy, I want a pink wig for my birthday so I can wear it to church and look pretty."

Little Ava ( 1) loves Aunt Courtney's blog with all the animal pictures. She makes funny little growling noises while looking at Akira(the dog), and Butters and Callie (the cats).

our last eagle scout project!

The best part was pizza! I was the pizza delivery lady.

The guys stripped and refinished several of these nasty benches in Friendswood Park.

Carl B. can now join his 4 older brothers in the rank of Eagle Scout -- thanks to members of the troop sacrificing a beautiful day of Christmas vacation to come and help!

survived (just barely) the holidays!

Christmas wouldn't be the same without little ones. Emily and Brian's little ones joined with the other grandkids for a Christmas day full of laughter, noise, sticky fingers and faces. (See Jessica's blog for more photos of the little ones.)

Dan and his girls present a Christmas Eve program and with songs and telling of Christ's birth.

We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Ever since the kids were babies, they sat at this same table, eating the same Christmas soup and rolls -- now their babies are doing the same.

Our girl, Courtney (Mark's wife), is formidable with her pink controller!

Andy flew in from Utah. Let the party begin! I've decided to post a reward for anyone who finds his great masterpiece (a sculptured head of himself ) in the Provo River.

Grandpa Carl (in the middle) had fun with his Texas siblings during a holiday party at Aunt Sharon's house in League City. (we're all getting older)

One of the highlights of Christmas day (and my best presents) were the phone calls from our two missionaries. Both are doing great. Elder Jeremy ("eskimo Jo") is facing another challenge in the arctic wilderness -- Due to very little snow (in spite of frigid cold) , the wolves' favorite food, moose, has been able to easily escape. The starving wolves are invading the town, devouring family pets. I'm glad Elder Philip is in the more civilized state of Washington.

this is my last birthday!

a new running shirt for my birthday! (didn't get the neck transplant I had asked for)

a few days after my birthday,

older, but more limber.

This month I had a birthday I hope none of my blogger buddies ever have to experience -- the big 60! I hoped I could avoid having a birthday this year. But it just happened, along with a few more wrinkles. How did I ever get to be 60? The only consolation is the following: all of you out there will also experience this traumatic event, and to some people, like folks in their 80's, 90's and 100's, I'm still a young chick. The other day when I was grocery shopping in Krogers ,I was horrified to find the store filled with senior citizens (I won't ever go back on a Wed. morning). In every aisle, old retired men hanging on to shopping carts followed their wives around the store. The worst thing was the realization that I was now in that age group. The only good thing about being 60 is that I have a 10% off Kroger senior plus shoppers card (you have to be 60 to get one). The only things that lightened my mood were the realizations that my husband was still at work, and that I could outmanuever all the retired folks down an aisle.

Now that I am a senior citizen, I have a few gems of advice for my blogger buds : 1. scarf up on all your antioxidents (blueberries, etc. -- if you were to visit me at 8:00 a.m. you'd notice that my fingernails are stained blue from all the blueberries I put on my high fiber bowl of oatmeal) 2. excercise is the fountain of youth (if I tell myself and others that often enough, I'll believe it). Take another look at the photo above to see not only how much I've aged since the big birthday but how limber I am! If you were to visit me at 7:00 a.m., I'd tell you to bring along your running shoes and excerise mat, handweights, balance ball, etc. On Mon, Wed. and Fri. I'd take you along for my grammy run (it's taken almost 2 years to build up to almost 3/4 mi. non stop running -- the rest, a run -walk (I'm in training for the age 80 and over ladies division of the senior olympics held in St. George, Utah). If you visit me on Tues. and Thurs., I am doing weight training and yoga with the slave driver excercise lady on BYU T.V. Well, I hope this motivates you. My motivation is pure despiration!

update on our missionary sons

Elder Philip Ellis (on the right) has been recently transfered from his first area, Longview, Washington to Vancouver. "I love to testify of this beautiful and wonderful message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and of His atonement which heals the broken hearted."

Elder Jeremy Ellis (in the ice telephone booth) is in Anchorage Alaska, and is entering the last 6 months of his mission. Nov.19--"I made it a goal for myself this week to talk to 70 people that I ran into even though it is cold and no one is out anymore. I was able to talk to 76; it was hard and I had to go to the extremes, going up to people sitting in their cars or at the stores and at the gas station....Well I'm doing great out here. I'm loving every minute of my mission and I love and miss the family."