The Dad's in My Life...

I never knew my Grandpa George...he died right after I was born. I wish I had...I have heard many stories about him. He was always portrayed as a mean old cuss. He was actually a little bit of a scary figure in my life because I knew he used to take my dad and his brothers out to the barn when they'd been up to mischief and in their words, "take a 2X4 to our rear ends". But I'll bet he would have been a softy with his little granddaughters.

My Grandpa Durham wasn't really a part of my life. He and my Granny Opal divorced before I was born. He didn't come around much...I think I only remember being with him one time. I was pretty bitter about it and told him so in a letter when I graduated from high school. But after my dad died, my mom went to his house and brought him back into our lives. I saw him a few times after that before he died a couple of years ago. We had some good times together...although there never really was a connection. My mom, sister and I went to see him as he lay on his death bed. He was not responding to any of us and we had pretty much resigned ourselves to just being there...when he opened his eyes and looked directly at me and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry." I burst into tears and felt his love for me. I'm so thankful for that experience.

As I mentioned above, my Granny Opal divorced my grandpa before I was born. She married another guy in between that I didn't know. But after that marriage failed, she met my Pa Jerry. Pa Jerry has been there my whole life. He really adored me when I was little. You can tell by looking at the photos. And of course, I remember. He's the reason I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up! On one of our moves out to Utah from Tennessee, he drove the U-Haul and I was the passenger. He brought along his CB radio and gave me a "handle". I was "Blondie" and he was "Guitar Picker". Granny Opal's handle was "Little Pixie". So, he would talk to all the truckers about what was going on out there on the highway. And when we stopped at truck stops, I got to see the big rigs and the cool little apartments they had in their trucks. I had a blast on that trip...all the pop and treats I could eat. Pa Jerry has been a wonderful grandfather to me. He was a witness at my wedding in the temple, standing in for my own father. I couldn't have picked a better man for my Granny to spend her life with.

My dad. I cried a bit today...it is always bittersweet to think of him. I love him dearly, although he wasn't a perfect father...but who is? Although I have forgiven him of his mistakes, they sometimes creep up in my thoughts and make me cry. But really, his life was one of service and of love. My memories are full of times when he was helping others. He loved to share the gospel...with everyone! I remember a time when he brought a hitchhiker home. Mom was not happy and I can understand why! He gave him a good meal and a bed for the night and then drove him back to the interstate the next morning. That was after he gave him a Book of Mormon. He may have even had him come to church with us before going back to the interstate...I'm a little fuzzy on the details! Dad was always so proud of us kids and our accomplishments. He was always right there with his camera...much to our dismay sometimes! Dad was a dreamer and I have inherited this quality. Dad was always hard at work on a project...either on our house or a church event or something personal. Anything he touched was going to be done right and he expected that out of the people around him. I love him and I miss him. I wish he could see his grandchildren. When I am at one of their events, I often think of him and how he would have absolutely LOVED to be there too. I hope that Heavely Father lets him look down on us every once in a while. Somehow, I believe He does...

Don Jordan...my step-dad. It's weird for me to write that! I don't really think of him like that...maybe it hasn't been long enough but I do think of him as one of the most caring and wonderful men I know! He has a reputation around these parts for being a hard worker and someone that would do anything for anyone. His thoughtfulness always makes me smile. Our kids love him and always want to be around him. He is a great Grandpa! And what's better yet, he is the best thing that has ever happened to my mom since my dad died! She waited a long time for him and I'm sure she would agree that it was worth the wait! I can hardly express the peace that I feel when I think of her with him. I know that she is happy and loved. What more could I ask for?

Jim Weston...my father-in-law. It was so easy to call him Dad right from the beginning. He brought me right into the Weston family with his southern accent and charm. Oh how wonderful he can make me feel when he starts bragging about my cooking or whatever it is he is talking about! I was the first daughter-in-law but it wasn't hard on me. Dad gives the best hugs...nice and tight. He is always there for us when we go to him for advice. But won't give it unsolicited. He is a man who isn't afraid to show his emotions. He loves his family fiercly. He raised the best man I know...and I will be eternally grateful to him for that.

Rance...my husband and the father of our five beautiful children...is the love of my life. I thought I knew what love was before I met him but I didn't. And I'm still learning what love is every day with him! What a blessing it is to be in a marriage that continues to deepen and expand as the days go by. I met him while he was serving his mission to Tennessee. He had been on his mission for about a year when he came to our ward in Clarksville. He knew my brother LaMonte from a "Mini-Mission" that LaMonte had served earlier that year down in Knoxville. I remember LaMonte coming home from that experience and saying that I would really like Elder Weston because we had the same taste in music...and so Elder Weston came to Clarksville. LaMonte was right...I did really like Elder Weston! He was one of the cutest guys I had ever seen! But as our family went through the trajedy of losing my father and my youngest brother, LaMar, in a housefire, I learned of an even better trait of Elder Weston's than his looks. I learned that he loves people and shows that love by his actions. He loved our family through that time...he and his companion would come to the dark, "old lady" smelling rental that we had to move to after the fire and pick my brothers up for P-day activities or tracting. They helped out at the big yard sale that our church held for us...mostly as comic relief by trying on crazy outfits and modeling for us and just being there for all of us. Rance hasn't changed over the years...let me take that back. He has changed...for the better if it is even possible!! He used to drive me crazy by asking what he could do to change for the better and I would always draw a blank! But he is always truly trying to improve himself. He shows all of us just how much he loves us by his actions every day. I think Scott's Father's Day card to Rance says it best:

Dad,

Happy Father's Day! You are such an awesome dad. I couldn't ask for a better one. You are a great example to me. I never see you being rude or mean to anyone (besides the Blockbuster dude!) and if you are, you always say sorry. I want to be just like you when I am older. You are a perfect example to me on how to be a great father. You are active in the church, you read your scriptures every day, you work hard at your job to provide for us and most importantly, you love your family and show it all the time. Thank you for being such a great father to me.

Love,

Scott

Recent Happenings

Third Grade Field Trip to Conner Prairie

We discover an old curling iron...

This was Liv's favorite part of the day!

Scott practicing for his driving test...which he passed with flying colors!

LDS Prom!

Sam Fuller with Chloe!

Scott with Christina Hamner!

The best chaperones EVER! :)

Mother's Day!

Scott surprised me with breakfast in bed...even after his late night at the LDS Prom!

Now that's love!

Quick photo after church with my brood!

Mother's Day dinner at Mom & Don's.

Liv has fun at home!

Jake gives his all at the Shelbyville track meet.

Jake Runs

Jake warms up!

Ready, set...
GO!!

Jake has impressed his coach this year. He started out running the 800 and has now been moved "up" to the mile.

I love Jake's love of life...you can just see it in his face!

Trampoline Fun

I'm so thankful the weather is nice! Liv & I played outside after school!

Love that static!

Memories of Grandma & Grandpa - Supplement

Since I was traveling yesterday I didn't get to participate with the others in FHE. I did write my thoughts down in my notebook while on the plane though. So here is my contribution to our memories of our grandparents.

Grandmommy
My favorite memory of Grandmommy is so prominent in my mind that I have a hard time picturing her in any other way. Whenever I think of her my thoughts instinctively go to her greeting us as we arrived from our long drives to her house. I cannot remember a time that she was not waiting at the door to greet us when we arrived. We would drive into the driveway and go in through the side door. She would be in the kitchen there next to the stove as you stepped up into the kitchen from the doorway. She always required a hug. Regardless of my age or how far down I had to stoop to hug her with her crooked back, she would wrap me up in her arms and tell me to give her some sugar, followed by kisses on the neck and cheek. Once the embraces were done, our attention would turn immediately to what she had on the stove to eat. Hot or cold, fresh or from the day before, there was always some kind of food on the stove - always tasting better than it should simply because it was on her stove. The love I feel with memories of the heartfelt welcome in Grandmommy's kitchen can only be surpassed as I think of a similar welcome she will give me the next time I see her.

Granddaddy
I don't remember why our whole family didn't go on this trip but as I remember, it was only Ryan and I that went with Grandmommy, Granddaddy, Uncle Curt, Lunts, and Paramores to a reservoir fishing and camping. Uncle Curt hauled both the tent trailer and the boat behind his truck. My favorite part was out on the boat trolling with Granddaddy. I was always amazed at the incredible assortment of silver, gold, and red tackle on the end of those lines. I don't think the fish were actually any bigger or fought harder than others I had caught but it always seemed that way when we were trolling. On the shore we fished with wads of very stinky cheese that was specially prepared for the trip, or with some of the Georgia Jumpers from Granddaddy's worm farm. We caught more fish that trip than I had ever before or probably ever will.

Other memories of Grandmommy & Granddaddy
Granddaddy sitting in his chair over by the window with the air conditioner watching TV.
Chinese checkers.
That shiny leather couch in the basement that folded down like a futon couch.
Climbing the big tree in the back yard.
Playing the car game sitting on the curb in front of their house.
The make-shift shower on the wooden pallet in the basement.
Grandmommy's hands as she mixed and kneaded biscuit dough in the wooden bowl with the flour.
How fun it was for us kids and how angry it made Dad when Granddaddy was drinking.

Grandma
When I think of Grandma in the Sacramento house I think of her sitting at the table in the dining room just off the kitchen playing scrabble with Mom and with us. When I think of her in Spokane I think of her standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes as we came home from school or wherever. No matter how much noise I tried to make as I approached, she would always get startled and jump when I finally made it to her to say hi. After she died, I loved going to visit Aunt Midge just because I could see and hear and remember Grandma again.

Grandpa
I have two favorite memories of Grandpa. The first is putting walnuts out on the fence beside their house in Sacramento, then waiting and watching for the squirrels to come and get them. The other is going with him as he collected newspapers and took them to the recycle center for the church. He impressed me with his willingness to serve and the work he did.

Other memories of Grandma and Grandpa
Sleeping out in the screened porch off the garage in Sacramento, playing with the old guns on the wall.
Going to the park down the street to feed the ducks.
Grandma with one foot in the canoe at a lake near Spokane and the other on the rock, the canoe sliding further and further out, Grandma going straight down into the water, then seeing nothing but her hat floating on the water.
Building a fire in the formal living room in the Sacramento house.
Looking at Grandpa's coin collection in the trunk in their basement.
Picking fresh grapefruit from the tree by the driveway.

Memories of Grandma & Grandpa

We each wrote in our journals tonight our favorite memories of Grandma & Grandpa Weston for Family Home Evening. Rance's mom is compiling all of her grandchildren's memories for us all to read and share. She is also compiling her children's memories of their grandparents. I love this idea so I wanted each of our children to write their memory in their journal first, so their children can read about their great-grandparents. We love them so much.

Grandma Joanie

Scott: One of my favorite memories of Grandma is a couple of years ago we went out to Utah for Christmas. We went skiing for the first time. Grandma came with us and helped teach us how to ski. I really liked watching her ski because she was so good and I was proud that my grandma could ski. She is so cool!

Chloe: My favorite memory of Grandma was when we lived in Utah while my dad was in Japan. I was five years old. I remember coming home from a soccer game and her giving me a big hug and she told me she was proud of me.

Sophi: My favorite thing about Grandma is her big hugs when we come to visit. I get so excited as we are driving up the hill before their house because I know she will be waiting at the door.

Jake: One thing I remember about Grandma is when we went to Utah for Christmas and Grandma and Grandpa didn't know we were coming. When they pulled up in their driveway, my family ran downstairs except me. I sat on the couch with all of my cousins. When they got in the house, Grandma came in the room and said hi to everybody. When she got to me, she realized who I was and got very excited. We all laughed and my family came upstairs and we all hugged. So far, that is one of the best Christmas's I've ever had.

Olivia: One thing I love about Grandma is that she never gets mad. I've never seen her with a mad expression on her face. She writes us letters every year that tells us how great we are and how much she misses us. I love her cooking too. She makes the best meals.

Grandpa Jim

Scott: One of my favorite memories of Grandpa is how he took me driving a lot the last couple of years and taught me how to drive a stick shift. It is something I will always remember and how much fun I had just driving with my grandpa. Another of my favorite memories is going on the boat with him. I still have a blast going on rides with Grandpa, even though the boat isn't very fast. Seeing him take every one of his grandchildren shows me how much he loves his family and me. I am very grateful for both of my grandparents and how much they love and care about their family. I love them very much and wouldn't trade them for any other grandparents in the world! They are the best.

Chloe: My favorite memory of Grandpa was when we went crawdad fishing at a lake. I remember coming back to their house and cooking them. I asked why they turned red and he told me it was because they were nervous in front of me because I was so pretty.

Sophi: I remember grasshopper hunting with Grandpa. He would help us and then give us a penny for each grasshopper we caught in their yard or the empty lot beside their house. One time, we microwaved some of the grasshoppers...but Grandpa didn't know about that!

Jake: A favorite memory is when Grandpa took us out to a lake to go fishing. We didn't catch any fish but we caught lots of crawdads. Grandpa taught me a trick to catch crawdads and it worked! The crawdads liked our bait so we used our fishing poles just like you would for fishing. The crawdad would grab on and we'd reel them in. I love Grandpa so much and wish I could see him more often. He is so fun to be around.

Olivia: I remember something about Grandpa that I will never forget. I was seven and we went to Grandma & Grandpa's house for Christmas. It was the worst Christmas ever...because I got very sick. Not just cough, sneeze sick. I mean bellyache, puking up anything I ate or drank...16 times...that kind of sick. The day I got sick was Christmas and every present I opened wasn't even exciting because I was so sick. But that night, Grandpa and Dad gave me a blessing and the next day I was better.

LaDawn: I am so thankful for Mom & Dad. Dad made me feel so special when I first joined the family. He was always talking about me being a southern girl and would rave over my cooking. Mom is alway interested in my activities...whether they are creative projects or my callings. She is a wonderful example to me...mostly of patience...which I have struggled with my entire life! I can't relate to people who have trouble with their in-laws because I don't really feel like they are my in-laws, but my second parents. I love them very much. Below are some shots of a visit from them back in 2005.

Trying To Keep Up

It's always fun when Carla is in town...too much fun for this old lady!

Carla had a great idea of hanging upside down on Joanna's couch for fun photos...and as you can see above, I don't possess this skill. Now a day later, I am so sore that I think I'm going to need to see Doc Griesemer!

Thanks for a fun Girls Night!