Back to Oregon to See Baby Jace

I couldn't stay away from Oregon. After being in Cabo, Mexico for a week I headed back while Steve flew off to Hawaii to spend the week with his sister. My turn in Hawaii will come next week.

I had a great time with Julie, Sheldon & Jace. Besides caring for a newborn, we managed to go to the Rose Garden in Portland. The gardens were amazing. They were actually blooming. All of the other times I've been there it's been too early or too late to see all the beautiful roses.

Jace had his first official "real" bath in the kitchen sink while I was visiting, and he had his first official photo session at a nearby park. I tended Jace a few times while Julie went to camp one day with the Young Women and when Julie and Sheldon went to the Portland temple one early Saturday morning. Besides that I was able to help Julie with some early morning feedings. What great fun to spend so much time with my newest grandson.

Sheldon sees patients every Thursday in the clinic at Pacific University, so I saw him wear his white coat that makes him look very "doctor" like. I thought it would be a fun memory to take a picture of him in his white coat holding Jace. It seemed like it would help me remember in the future when Jace came to Julie and Sheldon in relationship to Sheldon's schooling.

We also went on a nice evening walk a few blocks from Julie and Sheldon's house to a place called The Wetlands. It consists of seven or so ponds. We walked around one of them which was probably a good mile in distance.

It was a great six days. I'll forever remember how cute little Jace was when he looked at his new rain forest toy and discovered his mobile in his new crib. Definitely moments worth remembering!

Vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Becky and Craig invited Steve and me to go on a one-week vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Although we said yes months ago and had booked our reservations, it seemed like it was not going to work out with my mom's serious health problems, Julie and Sheldon's new little son's birth, and the swine flu circulating through Mexico. However, we must be living under a lucky star because everything lined up. We were able to proceed through Mom's funeral, make a quick trip to Oregon to see our newest grandson, and be on the plane from LAX bound for Cabo as planned.

What a trip we had! It was absolutely fantastic. Thanks Becky and Craig for the invitation and showing us the ropes in a new vacation spot for us. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we did. Steve and I came home weather-beaten and tired, but we had smiles on our faces. It was a great way to start the summer and relax after a very tiring and emotionally draining school year.

We enjoyed sailing on a New Zealand boat made for the American Cup in 1995. We raced against another sailboat also made for the American Cup. It was from Australia. We lost one race and won a race. We also went on a snorkeling excursion one afternoon and a dinner cruise the night before we headed for home. One day Steve and Craig fished for eight hours while Becky and I went out to lunch and shopped at a nearby mall near the marina. Steve got motion sickness because the ocean was really rough that day; but in spite of those problems, the guys caught three large tunas which we ate for dinner on two separate occasions at two restaurants. The restaurants in Cabo are agreeable to cooking fish brought in by their customers. It would have been impossible for us to eat all of the fish, so Steve and Craig even gave some of their catch to the captain as a way of saying thank you for his services.

We shopped, ate, drank fancy drinks, swam, slept extra long hours, walked, and played in the warm ocean and pool water. The resort had a five-star rating, so we had the best service imaginable. Wow, what's next????

Our Newest Grandson, Jace

A miracle happened this last weekend. Jace Sheldon Olsen was born on Friday, June 5th, in the evening in Salem, Oregon. Steve and I, being the proud grandparents that we are, flew into Portland the next morning. While we waited for Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. to roll around we occupied our time by wandering through acres of land and up and down what seemed to be an endless creek near the hospital. We also went on a five-mile hike by seven beautiful waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park. We further wandered around the capitol grounds in Salem never keeping far from our thoughts the real reason why we were in Salem. That reason being to pick up Jace from the hospital and bring him back to Forest Grove, Oregon where Julie and Sheldon's little miracle would live. It was the sweetest of moments and one that we will cherish in our hearts forever. We are so grateful that Julie and Sheldon let us be part of this special, sacred experience.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were full of loves and hugs and pictures galore as you can see from above. We love Little Jace, and he has found a place in our hearts already. We know he has fabulous parents, and we can't wait to watch him grow as he flourishes under the watchful, loving care of Julie and Sheldon.

Celebrating Mom's Life

On Sunday evening, May 24th, Mom at the age of 88 passed away from an untreatable blood disease known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome. I had been at her bedside along with many other family and friends for what then seemed to be an eternity. She had an amazing life full of family, friends, and church service. To celebrate her grand life and to honor her we all wore pink which was her favorite color. Mom wanted all of her children to speak at her funeral so all of us complied by delivering a message except Rich who gave the family prayer in the Relief Society room. Karen and I were able to veil Mom's face. LaRue Sutton gave the eulogy. She had been a personal friend of Mom's for 40 years.

After the funeral we drove in limos to the cemetery. Uncle Dick dedicated the grave. He is Mom's only living sibling. We then returned to the church where we had a delicious catered dinner. After taking a nap we then were all invited to Joe and Leslie Terry's house for a family party. Many enjoyed swimming and playing on the playground. Others visited and all enjoyed a pizza dinner. Sunday morning we went to Kim and Linda's house for breakfast before everyone departed for their various homes.

I am so grateful for my mom. I will miss her but I feel very comforted in knowing that she is finally back with Dad, Barbara, and Wayne plus her own parents and most of her brothers and sisters. She was an elect lady, and I am honored to call her my mother.

A Tribute to a Great Woman

My mom is very sick as you all know. She is terminally ill and has been in the Nathan Adelson Hospice. She is now at Linda's house receiving in-home hospice care. She will not live much longer. She has been fighting for years now a rare blood disease in which her bone marrow originally worked too hard and now it doesn't work hard enough to keep her healthy. The picture above was taken on the last day that Mom was coherent. I'm so glad that I could sit by her for six days in the hospice along side other family members and friends and share her final moments on this earth. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my darling mother. I will miss her.

Missouri or Bust!

Today, April 27th, Melanie and Joe began their trek to a new home in the Midwest. They are moving to Jefferson City, Missouri. This is a sad day for me, but it is a happy one for them. They are so excited, and I can't really blame them. It's an opportunity to live in a smaller town and to start fresh with new jobs. They also will be living close to Heather and her family and close to Joe's dad and sister. Joe's dad lives outside of St. Louis and his sister, Denise, lives in Arkansas near Branson, Missouri.

For the last two weeks we have been busy helping Melanie and Joe with the move and doing favorite things one last time. We helped them with a garage sale that they had at our house and we helped clean their apartment after the movers finished packing the big items in the U-haul. For fun we went to BJ's, Tony Roma's and Viva Mercados for yummy dinners, got one last pedicure together, walked around the soccer park near their apartment for exercise and our nightly talk, and had a family dinner in which we celebrated Natalie's 26th birthday in combination with saying a final good-bye to Melanie and Joe.

I've spent so much time with Melanie over the years that it is hard for me to let go, but I wish her well and hope that Missouri brings her every happiness that she deserves. She is a terrific daughter and has been a great friend. Love you, Mel!