April 30 2023
Dear Family:
Kenlee’s birthday is today and according to her posts she
had a great time with family and friends.
It looks like Riley and Cole joined the party.
I had a surprise visit this morning from dear friends, Kim
Barlow and her daughter Paige. They
moved to Colorado 6 years ago and my heart was broken when they left. But today it was like no time had passed. Yes I’m older and Paige is a grown up beauty –
not a little girl. Kim hasn’t changed a bit. I’m grateful for friendships and for activity
in the church that makes these friendships possible. Actually it is because of Kim that I started
teaching piano. That suggestion has given
me financial security the last 9 or 10 years and I will forever be grateful
that that suggestion and the wonderful memories of being included in their
family activities. That financial security has made it possible to afford to
pay for repairs and replacements on my house and auto and not have to go into
debt. A blessing for sure!
I want to thank Taylor and Tanner for being a huge support
to me this last week. Taylor for helping
me make a decision regarding bad news dental wise. In spite of being a busy dad, husband and
dentist he had time for me and I appreciate it greatly. I will have a tooth pulled and Taylor will
put in an implant in the next while.
Tanner has been a help to me as a homeowner. He spread “Moss B Ware” on my roof and came
another time to help me figure out if I have a roof leak. Thank you Tanner for your generousity! Unfortunately my great granddaughter prefers
my sister Glennda to me, but maybe in time that will change. She didn’t much like me this trip but she is
still cute as a bug.
Hayden will be happy to know that I solved a huge (to me) computer problem without having to call him and say "Help." I deleted my email program and reinstalled it and didn't lose any data!!!!!!
I also want to thank another member of my extended family –
Haley. Losing your parents is a tough
time. After losing her dad a few years
ago, we all recently lost her mom Sally very recently. She inspires me because she is an “I can do
it” kind of gal. No matter how
difficult, how sad, how disappointing….she rises above and takes the “high
road.” These past 2 ½ years while
reconnecting with Sally, Haley and her family has been a huge blessing in my
life.
We had a dance gig with my 5 piece band in Keizer OR last
night.
If you look closely you will see that my 5 piece band KANSAS CITY RHYTHM KINGS is actually on a billboard. (For some strange reason I thought that getting the flag pole in the photo was important. I've changed my mind now.
I think this is the first time our band has been on a billboard!! I met my band partner, Brad Davis, in Tualatin and we car pooled so that I didn’t have to drive home in the dark. We have become friends during the past 13 years with our band businesses. Last night driving home from Keizer, OR with him I had an opportunity to tell him about the great advantage I had being raised as I was…as a Mormon, (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), by parents who were down to earth people, with standards (no coffee, no smoking, no alcohol, etc.) and moral expectation of us children. I wasn’t an ideal daughter. I’m sure they would have wanted me to make some different decisions, but all in all I am grateful for them. We were raised to be hardworking, honest, and to keep our word – if we said we would do something, we did it - and to treat others as we wanted to be treated. (Brad Davis was raised in tough circumstances, became an alcoholic, had really tough experiences as an adult, but has been sober for 24 years.) I frankly was surprised that he opened up and told me about his life in such detail.
However, the thing I’m trying to convey to you is my
gratitude for my upbringing. It wasn’t
perfect by any means. We had very
little. Dad had a terrible car accident
when I was six that changed his personality, and we moved a lot. But between mom and dad they tried their
best. There were there every day, we had
meals on the table 3 times a day, our clothes were clean, we went to church, we
went to school, if we had school
difficulties Mom tried to help us, dad made sure that we did our share of the
work as soon as we were old enough, and on and on.
I look at all of you and I am so grateful for your lives,
your goals and your dedication to your families. Brad Davis is trying to help his nephew
straighten out his life after being released on 3 years’ probation from jail. We are a blessed family. I feel so grateful that I have 3 children and
their spouses who care about me and help me.
I feel grateful that my grandchildren are thriving.
I’ll sign off today with another inspiring message from
President Hinckley: “You can be excellent in every way.
You can be first class. There is
no need for you to be a scrub. Respect
yourself. Do not feel sorry for
yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things
other may say about you. Polish and
refine whatever talents the Lord has given you.
Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face,
with great and strong purpose in your heart.
Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be
loyal to the Church.”
I send my love to you all.
Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, sister and Aunt Suzanne
PS I’m getting a
little too old to leave 2 hours before a gig, play a 3 hour gig and get home at
11:30pm. But I did it last night.
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