Six Times Four

A) Four places that I go to over and over: Wal-Mart, Distribution Center (work), church, Hobby Lobby
B) Four people who e-mail me: Richard, Janet, Mother, Jenny
C) Four of my favorite places to eat: Alamo Cafe, Mi Tierra, Olive Garden, Cha Chos (I do live in San Antonio and love Mexican food.)
D) Four places you would love to be: Utah, San Diego, Nauvoo, The British Isles,
E) Four people I'm almost sure will respond: I'm probably one of the last ones to respond.
F) Four of your favorite TV shows: We haven't joined the HD world. Some favorites from the past, Wheel of Fortune, The Price Is Right, Little House on the Prarie, Knight Rider

2 Steps Closer

Our living room is nearing completion. Last week we found a rug for the floor. Today I finished the curtains. Richard hung them this evening. All that is left is reupholstering the wing chair - that eyesore in the top picture.

In Utah - briefly

I got to spend some time with Austin (and his parents) this month. I flew out to stay with Austin, Mike and Julie while she had jaw surgery and to be there during her first week of healing. Austin is a little tiger.

Mom and Austin playing "Squish" (Pre-surgery)

Bubbles are okay.

But the bubble blower - now THAT is fascinating.

Helping Grammy crochet.

(Who knew yarn was so fascinating?)

Yogurt - good to the last spoonful - or smear.

Quiet time - missing Mom?

Ensure is pretty good and I can eat faster than Mom.

WHAT A GUY!

WOW!

Doesn't the chair on the right look good!?!
On Monday Janet and I found and purchased, because it was on sale for half price (and the only way we could afford it), fabric to cover the dining chair seats and the wing chair. We also found coordinating fabric to make curtains for the living room. Since Richard has worked so hard on redoing the living room I thought I should get started on the chair seats. What a difference! The fabric is reversible. Over Thanksgiving break Janet and I plan to recover the wing chair with the lighter side as the right side. I had to special order the curtain fabric because they didn't have enough on the bolt. Time for one more seat before I need to move on to other things.

A Thing of Beauty

Alright. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But if you've suffered through the driest two-year period on record and spent hours hand watering in hopes plants would survive and not even considering their thriving, this is a VERY pretty picture. This was today's rainfall. When the picture was taken we were getting another few sprinkles of rain. More rain is predicated for Thursday and Friday.

Another delight for today. Today's high was only 88 - the first time the high has been below 90 since May 23rd. For most of July and August our highs were in the triple digits.

I might even enjoy this September!

Oh! By the Way...

On August 16th I was released from the Stake Primary Presidency. On August 23rd I was extended the calling of Ward Relief Society President and sustained on September 6th. For those who are thinking "haven't you done this before," the answer is yes. This will be the third time for me to serve in this capacity: first time in Shreveport when Julie was a baby, and here about 17 years ago.
I have spent much of the past quarter of a century working in the Primary organization - either in Scouting, Nursery or the Stake Primary presidency (with Scouting or Nursery responsibilities). This will be a change!

My third time as a den leader was probably the most rewarding, as was my third time as nursery leader. I'm hopeful the pattern will continue.

As notes of interest:
1 - In San Antonio I was called under Neil Jorgensen. He was released and Roger Davis was the new bishop and I served under him. This time I will serve under Rod Davis - Roger Davis' twin brother.
2 - There are now 3 Lawrences in the Ward Correlation -Janet as YW President, Richard as HP Group Leader, and yours truly.

Happy Birthday Grandma Harmon!

Elizabeth Thomas Shaw Harmon, known to many as Bessie, was born today in 1892. I don't have a digital picture of Grandma handy but did want to recognize her birthday. This is a picture of the sugar bowl that was a wedding present to her parents. In this picture it is on a doily her mother, Elizabeth Thomas Shaw made. The sugar bowl is something she probably grew up using. Guess it wasn't in the large tub of dishes she was carrying between the dining room and kitchen and dropped. Her comment over the broken dishes, "Thank goodness they weren't washed!" Apparently doing dishes was not a favorite chore. For awhile she succeeded in avoiding doing the dishes by visiting the outhouse - until her Grandma caught on and made sure it didn't happen again.

I had always known Grandma Harmon as a very refined, gracious woman. That is until her mother came to visit us for several weeks in the fall of 1962. Grandma Shaw told us stories that have entertained generations. From trying to convince the Indians mud was a very effective soap for hand washing to fleeing from the dentist's office raising her hands high over her head, "Minnie (her older sister) saved my life! Minnie saved my life!" There were the baby buggy (occupied by infants) races - of course always sedately walked in front of the home. One lunch time when asked to fix a bite to eat for her mother and grandmother, Grandma did just that. When she called them in for lunch they found a bite of bread on each plate! At Grandma's viewing the night before her funeral one of her teenage friends told me the story of how Bessie did her best to embarrass this friend when she was the queen of a parade. One of my favorite stories is how as a newly-wed, her brother-in-law challenged her to an Indian wrestling match. Grandma demurred saying she hadn't brought any pants. Then she went home and practiced with her brothers. The next time this brother-in-law challenged her she accepted - and promptly flipped him. And who doesn't enjoy the story of her scheme to get her father to re-hitch the horses and head back into town to get her some chocolates - the only thing that would make her feel better.

Grandma certainly had a sense of humor and enjoyed life. She was also compassionate and charitable. When she was in her 50's she volunteered to take care of her younger brother's infant son when his wife died in childbirth. She took care of Larry for several years and made sure to send letters and pictures to his father (Byron) so he could be part of his son's growing up. Later when her parents needed more care than they could provide for themselves, Grandma brought them to her home and lovingly cared for them. Grandma served for many years in Relief Society and was a faithful temple attender. Towards the end of my freshman year at BYU I was a little concerned about going home for the summer and having to give up my "freedom" I had enjoyed while living away from home. I asked her advice and she gave good counsel.

Grandma was my escort when I received my endowments. When Grandma passed away in 1984 Mother chose to buy new temple clothing to bury her mother in and gave me Grandma's temple clothing. They washed up beautifully and I have enjoyed using them for many years. They were what she wore when she was my escort and in a sense Grandma came to the temple with me every time I went.

Happy Birthday Grandma! I look forward to being with you again.