Halloween

The Thursday before Halloween we had a Halloween Party for Thursday Night dinner. Here are some pictures Dave took of those who came. You can tell that each one of these pictures are taken from Dave's chair. So fun!

Good Books

I just finished a book called "Franklin and Winston, An intimate Portrait of an epic Friendship". It was so good. I never realized that President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill were such wonderful and loving friends. It taught me so much about friendship through decisions they had to make during war and peace. What an eyeopener of the experiences of these great men.

Then tonight I just finished a book "Faith Rewarded, A personal account of Prophetic promises to the East German Saints" from the journal of Thomas S Monson. It's just a short book. I just cried throughout this book of journal entries of all the red tape and experiences he went through with the wonderful East German Saints. It was published in 1996. If any of you would like to borrow either of these books, you are very welcome.

History is really beginning to be interesting to me especially of World War II which stands to reason I guess. I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father watching over his children and loving us no matter where we are. I learned through President Monson's book how important it is to be humble and also thankful for every little thing we are blessed with. One thing he kept recalling in his book is how wonderfully they would sing, with conviction and the love of the Lord. He said that never has he ever heard Saints sing like that in America which is really sad since we have the most of any country.

Just a little Life

Dave took pictures from the TV of the Governors Day parade at Rice Eccles Stadium. There were 6500 Soldiers marching on the field. What a wonderful sight that would have been to see in person. I told Dave it would have been so nice to be there among all the soldiers, cheering for them and feeling the army spirit again and he said it would have been too hard for him to even try to be in a crowd that big. Earlier in his life, he wouldn't have missed it. I feel bad to see him hurt. He's mine and I'm so thankful. Just wish I knew what to do to make his life more fulfilling. Breaks my heart.

I know, what the heck, right? Well, Hildi comes over sometimes after she's worked at the store all day and goes through e-mail I've gotten from some of her vendors. She thought maybe we should look at her e-mail since we haven't for a long time. She had 823 messages, UGH!!! We went through a few and deleted all the old ones. She's got some darling things she's going to order tomorrow. My cute Dave decided to take pictures unbeknown to us. He said we are in silhouette and there you have it.

Baptism for Kylie

Little Kylie Murdock was Baptized today. She's a sweet little girl and seems very grown up. Stephanie gave everyone card-stock to write a comment to Kylie on to put in her book to remember today. Also, a picture was taken of every couple or person to go with the note. Kylie had on a very pretty white dress to wear after she was baptized. It was a very nice service.

August

August is always a difficult month for me. My friend Kaye Derrick and I went for a walk the other evening. I took baby oil, clippers and a rag with me and off we went, the back way into the cemetery. It wasn't that long of a walk and it was a beautiful evening. I really appreciated her being there as I cleaned up Jeremy's grave and made it look all beautiful and clean. Her son Todd and my Jeremy are both the same age so we talked about what Todd is doing now. It was such a nice time.

I just so needed to feel the Spirit today so I went to the Temple in the morning and just loved being there. It felt so good knowing I was doing something right for a minute. I wished I could have looked up and could have seen Jeremy stand there but no that didn't happen. I'm just thankful he's in our family and that he'll always be mine.

Just a few minutes ago the door bell rang. There was a woman standing there saying that the flowers she was holding were for Ruth. They were from Ingrid and it just brought tears to my eyes that she would be so thoughtful. What a sweetheart. I just wanted to put the picture of the flowers in here because they are just so gorgeous. I have so much to be thankful for!!!

High School lunch

Here we are having fun at Mi Ranchito's. Me and my High School friends. So fun! You probably remember that Lyn, the one in the middle across from me, her brother is married to Gail Ottley's sister. Small world, huh?

19th Anniversary

On the 28th of June, Dave and I had our 19th Anniversary. I can honestly say that I love him so much more than I ever thought possible. I'm very grateful Heavenly Father helped us find each other. I have no pictures today just memories that helped us grow closer to each other every year. I love you my Dave and I'm so very thankful that we have eternities together.

Sally's homesick

When Jenni, Burke and the kids come to stay, they always bring little Sally with them. Sally loves Opa and loves to be with him. She runs into his room and lays on his lap to get away from the hustle and bustle of the day. Burke and Jenni took their kids to Hollywood Connection with Grandma and Grandpa Simmons and so Sally got to stay with Opa. I guess at first she had fun and let Opa take all sorts of pictures.

She had fun being on Opa's lap and playing with his beard.

Then she had enough and missed her family a lot spending the rest of the day waiting on top of the stairs for her family to enter through the front door...Cute thing!

Going to Beesley's

Today Dave and I drove to Arik and Juli's house to take Juli a CD I was supposed to give her yesterday BUT forgot. While we were there the kids rode their bikes. I learned a few days ago Sophie and Kaiya can ride a bike now and today I found out that Afton can too. That is a big accomplishment and I'm so happy for them all. Here's Porter on his bike. I'm sure he'll be riding without training wheels soon the way he was racing down the sidewalk.

Little Kennedy has the most fun bike. I can even ride it because it can hold a grownup. It is so much fun

And here is Afton on her bike. She's riding it like it's old hat. Fun summer days!

Thanks for letting us visit you. AND also thank you for the home-grown lettuce. Yum!

Porter's graduation

Porter graduated from Pre-School on May 24th and Opa, Omi, and his other grandparents were all invited. It was fun seeing all the things the cute little kids had learned during the year which was a lot. I had to put this picture here because it reminds me of Arik. This is probably what Arik looks like when he pulls someone over for speeding. Little Porter is so darling and very animated. What a fun time we had watching him.

This is Porter after graduation. He even got a graduation cap he got to keep. You're a cutie little Porter and congratulations again. We love you!!!

Visiting Graves

Robyn and I went to Jeremy and Tante Dora's graves today and put flowers on their graves for them. Robyn took pictures at Jeremy's grave. Her 3 little ones stood up flower pots that had blown over because it was pretty windy and got worse during the rest of the day.

I picked up Dave after that and Dave and I went to his grandparents, his uncle Paul and his dad's graves in Draper and then to Bob Kaufman's in Sandy. From there we went to Oma and Opa's on 33rd South and 13th East then to Clinton to little Eden Beesley's grave. That's the only one we took a picture of. It was pretty busy at most of the places even being 3 days before Memorial Day. It got cold and rainy so I'm glad we're home. I love all these wonderful people that passed on and I can't help but talk to them, as Dave fastened flower pots to the ground with hangers, and hope they know they are loved and remembered!

Jeremy's Birthday

Today Robyn and I went to Jeremy's grave and took flowers and a balloon along with Jared, Emily and Amberly. Later in the evening Ryan, Erin and Quentin took Dave and I out to dinner and to Jeremy's grave. Looks like Robyn went back and left roses in the vase and of course Ryan put down a guitar pick which is a tradition with him. I love that. Jeremy would be 36 years old today. He is very missed but I have know doubt that he is doing a great work.

When Jeremy had his mind set on something there was no stopping him. He wanted to be a senior in a High School and graduate which he did after going to 7 periods a day plus night school and BYU correspondence. He did it all and graduated with the Class of 1992 from Bingham High School. I remember sitting in the bleachers with Dave with a prayer in my heart the whole time thanking Heavenly Father for helping him with his goal. The following year he passed away. I'm so thankful knowing that we'll be with him again someday, if I pass the test in this school.

News

I couldn't find Mama's sister, Lena. Her information was nowhere listed in the "new.familyresearch.org". I was really sad about that so I asked Hildi, Gitti and then finally Ingrid. Ingrid has some of Mama's papers and Lena's information was in it. I guess Lena's real name is Helene ANNA Drews. Mama's is Margareta ANNA Drews, and her youngest sisters name is Dorothea ANNA Drews. Funny, huh that they all have the same middle name. Anyway, I wrote Lena's son, Ingo, and am hoping to get information from him about when she died. I don't think she ever married but she does have 3 sons. I am so anxious to find her death date so I can be baptized for her and have her work done. She was baptized but then was excommunicated because she had sons but was never married. I wish I knew how to do more in Family History but I'm still learning. It's fun to see my family in a new way. I just pray I can find this information about Lena or she'll be waiting a long time and I don't want her to wait any longer than she has to. This picture is of Mama on the right and Lena on the left. Such cute sisters. What would we do without family?

Reflections

This is a picture of us in Germany in 1949

Our Papa and Mama in America. I don't know the year but I'm guessing right around 1960 because it looks like we are still in our home on 10th West and 4th North in Salt Lake City.

This is my Papa's Mama. Ida Elisabeta Becker. This is our Oma Becker. I remember her bringing us candy wrapped in white paper which had a picture of the fruit that it tasted like on the wrapper. I remember dusting the benches at the church we were living in while in West Berlin before our departure to America. Oma Becker came and we took our last pictures with her.

This is Mama and her Mama in 1910, Anna Emma Wilhelmina Bruckner

This is Mama's father, Johann Friedrich Drews.

Mama's parents. Probably their wedding picture. Her mother was 18 and I believe her father was 26. They were married on September 26, 1909. Well I just got surprised.....as I am counting months, I do believe Mama was born 3 1/2 months early OR...YUP! Don't you just love surprises? I asked Hildi about this and she already knew. She said that it was common for young men to go on a "Wanderlust" for 2 years and just sew their oats and become a man so he was going to leave even though he got young Anna pregnant. He told his mother he was leaving and she said to him "if you leave after what you have done, you are no son of mine." Hildi said the children back then had great respect for their parents and so Johann listened and married Anna.

Family Research

This is totally ridiculous. I haven't blogged forever. Well, I have some exciting news. I signed up for a Family Research class during Sunday School and it is SOOOO exciting that I can't even put it in words. I did not know where to start so I just got registered and then started looking around in my families records to see what has been done and what needs to be done. Mama did quite a bit, Papa did some on his side and other people I didn't know did some work also SO I e-mailed a man who has Mama's maiden name who had done a lot of work and asked him some questions. I e-mailed him on March 9th. Yesterday I received a letter from someone who is related to my great-great grandmother on her mothers side. The letter is dated the 8th of March. I have no idea how she found me especially since my name changed from Becker to Ottley to Grangroth.

I just keep getting chills and feel so blessed and also that I finally get to have grandparents even though everyone is in heaven. Dave said he can't imagine life without grandparents. I'd never really thought about it until now. I knew my dad's mom but we came to America when I was four so I didn't know her very long. Anyway, if you ever have a chance to take a Family Research class I know you'd love it. I sure do.