In a Sad but Peaceful State

I stopped by and visited the home where I grew up this morning. My siblings and I helped our mother move out of this home and into assisted living in November of 2015. It was very hard on her; she did not want to leave the home she had lived in since 1970, the place where she had raised her children and enjoyed the beauties of living on the Wabash River and its surrounding woods.

But she could not longer care for herself, her shower and dishwasher were broken beyond repair, and the home needed to be entirely rewired for electricity. Moving her to a safe, clean, secure place where people would help her throughout the day was the right choice, but it was hard on us all.

Last January, the preservation group, Wabash River Enhancement, bought her home. Nearly nine acres of woods and pastures, with the river bordering the entire eastern boundary of the property, it is a key piece of property in their plans to purchase land along the river and allow it to return to its natural state. My mother very much supported that plan, as do I.

Still, it is difficult to see the home where I grew up, where I had my first horses, abandoned and falling into disrepair.

My view as I drove up the old glacial moraine that our home sits upon. The woods are definitely beginning to take back the property.

Vines now are taking over the barn where I stored my tack, grain, and hay. My father also used this as his workshop.

Because the floor was concrete, we never brought the horses into this barn. They used another one in the main pasture. It's become totally overgrown and the roof and sides have collapsed and fallen in.

The paddock and main pasture were in a sheltered ravine and down and at the base of the moraine. (The name of the home is actually "Morainewood.") One of the reasons the home never flooded when the river ran high was the fact that the home was built at the top of the moraine - we could not get out as the floodwaters covered the highway and our driveway, but we remained dry.

See that hand banister? There are concrete steps that go from our driveway and down the ravine to the gate. The times I hauled hay, grain, and water (when the pipes froze) up and down those stairs! More than once I fell down them when they were covered by ice and snow in the wintertime. Now, you can barely see they are there.

I drove back down the driveway which runs alongside the ravine and the paddock. This was once a nice, grassy pasture.

Parts of the original fence remain. But the woods have encroached upon and overwhelmed the paddock and pasture, too.

This old fence post was at the base of the driveway and marked the southeast corner of the main pasture.

We called it "Gossip Corner" because our horses used to stand there and call to a couple of horses that our neighbors owned down the road. More than once a car lost control and barreled through Gossip Corner, taking out the fence and setting our horses free. (Fortunately, none of the horses were ever hit by a car.) Those reflectors that remain on the post were to help drivers see the fence.

One of our pastures, the one right alongside the Wabash (see it behind the trees?) is being kept mowed. I don't know why as I know their goal is to let nature take over.

Although our fences have been removed, this pasture looked very much as it did when I was a teenager and had it full of horses.

As I drove home, the highway was deserted and so I was able to go very slowly and take a couple of more photos of the old main pasture.

 It is hard to believe that five horses used to graze in this place!

Wabash River Enhancement plans to eventually raze the home and barn. I don't know when, and I really don't want to know. As I said, I truly do support letting nature take back the land.

But there are so many memories wrapped up in that place, of family, of horses, and other things, that I do feel some sadness at what is coming.

Like my old home, I am in a sad but peaceful state.

Miscellaneous Fun Photos

The last of the Hurricane Irma photos, these didn't really fit anywhere or as their own blog post. Still, I liked them and wanted to include them in my blog. Enjoy!

 Mila helps Aunt Ashley play dominoes.

 Visiting Grammy's school and having a seat in the gigantic camping chair.

 Playing on the witch's hat at Hershey.

 Grammy's closet becomes a bedroom when family is in town!

 Aunt Vanessa leads the kids in some dance moves.

Uncle Curt helps prepare a meal.

While I am sad for the damage Irma caused for so many people, it was a treat to have Ashley and the kids for a week-long visit.

A Visit to Columbian Park

While the Hurricane Irma evacuees were here, one of our activities was to head to Columbian Park.

 We saw, Sue, the Galapagos Turtle who is older than me.

Aunt Lisa went though several dollars worth of quarters so her nieces and nephews could feed the goats kibble.

 Braden with some buddies.

 And more quarters...

 Corinne.

 Whitney looks like she is surrounded by Oreo cookies!

 And more quarters...

 Boompa did double duty.

And then we did the time honored family tradition of riding the train!

 Ashley, Corinne, and Whitney chose to be in the very front of the train...

 While everyone else went to the back.

My grandparents brought my mother to Columbian Park, my parents brought my siblings and me to it, I brought my kids, and now it is fun to see them bring their children. Five generations of my family have enjoyed this place!

And I hope more do in the future.

2017 General Women's Conference

This evening is the General Women's Conference - my most favorite Church meeting of the year! Lisa came over to watch with me (we'll have French silk pie in a little while.)

Sharon L. Eubank, 1 Counselor in Relief Society General Presidency
Born on the very day President Monson was called as a General Authority.

She quoted quote from President Kimball in 1978 about how the example of the women in the Church would trigger major growth in the Church. (He was in the hospital; his wife, Camilla, actually gave the talk. I remember hearing it live.)

1) Be righteous..
2) Be articulate about our faith to others.
3) Be innovative and different.
4) Be distinct.
5) Do #1 - #4 in happy ways.


Neill F. Marriott, 2nd Counselor in Young Women General Presidency
The earth was created for our growth. Christ died for our salvation. The Church was restored for our blessings.

Our challenges can pull us off the path of happiness if we let them. We need to hang on. What matters to us? What is lasting to us?

Cleanse the inner vessel. Sins and pride create a breach between us and Heavenly Father. Only the atonement can close that breach.

Sacrifice your personal agenda for the eternal plans of God. Christ has the power to bring us into loving fellowship with the Father and with each other.

How can we become repairers of the breaches in our earthly relationships? We must make the connection with Him now to learn what really matters, to love like Him.


Joy D. Jones, Primary General President
Discover your worth. Learning that we are daughters of our Heavenly Father changes us. We are special. "The worth of a soul is its capacity to become like God." (President Monson.) Knowing we are daughters of God can give us peace and courage.

God is our Father and, with Heavenly Mother, values us beyond measure. Our fullest potential is eternal progression and potential Godhood.

Worth is determined by God, not the world. Worthiness is achieved through obedience. We may sin, but we are NEVER worth less because of our sins.

Comparison is the thief of joy.


President Dieter Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor, First Presidency
Story of the three sisters - one sad, one mad, and one glad. Why surrender our happiness to someone who cares little about our happiness? Don't let others influence how you feel about yourself. Remember who you are! You are His.

We must stand for what is right, but not with anger or hate in our hearts, and not when we silence or hurt others. What did the Savior teach? "Love your enemies... Do good to them that hurt you... That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

It doesn't matter if our enemies love us back - we are responsible for our own discipleship and that has nothing to do with the way others treat us or feel toward us.

How do we keep our vision focused? Lehi's dream. Why did people turn away from the tree? They lost their focus. The world's promises are unreliable; God's promises are true and unwavering.

Rejoice that you are a daughter of God. Fill your heart with gratitude for the limitless love of God. You can do this. Make the choice to press on toward the tree of life. Thrive as a daughter of God.

Stepping Stones!

Years ago a tradition began during Groompa Camp with JC and Trinity - we made stepping stones of their handprints. They enjoyed that so much that, every Groompa Camp after that, we made stones to commemorate being together.

I have made one of every grandchild's hand- or footprint since except for Whitney, and so when Ashley and the children stayed with us during Hurricane Irma two weeks ago, I took the time to get that done.

The other kids clamored to make one, too, and then Addie asked to make a family stone while Braden wanted to do a Hurricane Irma one, too, so we ended up making six new stones for my garden. (That brings it to 26 stones!)

 I set the decorative tiles, stones, and marbles out for the children to choose from.

 And we got to work!

 Addie was able to use the letter presses to put her own message into her stone.

 Braden went for the orange and blue colors. (Kyle has trained hm well, haha!)

 Whitney wasn't sure she liked getting her hands dirty but I got a good print of her hand.

 Corinne liked using the letter presses, too.

Boompa kept busy making batches of concrete. (Thank goodness I had purchased extra boxes of concrete - we used all but one of them!)

 Braden's "face with fangs" stepping stone turned out well.

As did Addie's. She put the date on hers - it kind of looks like we are commemorating the anniversary of September 11 with this stone.

Whitney decided to decorate her stone by putting things into her handprint. I tried to use a knife and outline what was left of her handprint. It's hard to see, but it's there.

 Corinne really liked the glass letter ones (the "J" shaped pieces you can see.)

 Braden's stone commemorating Hurricane Irma.

Addie's family stone with a decorative piece for every member of her family, Boompa and Grammy, Aunt Lisa, and Millie!

I love this project and would like to someday make a walkway to a fountain or something in the back yard using them. And, as I write this post, I realized that I do not yet have a stepping stone commemorating Kate's birth.

Something to look forward to!

Entertaining Ian and Mila

After celebrating my mother's 89th birthday tonight at the MCL, Ian and Mila had an unusual way of saying goodbye to me.

I could not have done this prior to having my spine fused!

Happy 89th Birthday, Mom!

Today would've been my mother's 89 birthday. My local family got together for dinner at the MCL, her favorite restaurant, to celebrate.

Vanessa, Mila, Curt, Lisa, Ian, me, Jenny, Leslie, Rick, Steve, Cindie, and Eric. (Craig couldn't join us as he had said he would sub in the genealogy library this evening.)

Something else special happened today, too. 

Sarah completed Granny Slash's temple work in the Denver Temple today. Now I can be sealed to my parents!!

Lunch with the President and Sister Price

Our dear friends from Illinois, Ray and Stephanie Price, were called to be in the Indianapolis, Indiana Temple presidency two years ago. They spoke in this weekend's stake conference, and came over to our home afterward for lunch.

The Prices with Addie, Whitney, Braden, and Corinne. The kids were thrilled to meet the Prices, who were delighted to hear that they had come up from Florida two years ago to attend the open house for the Indianapolis Temple.

 Craig, Ashley, and me added in to the photo.

And Lisa!

It was lovely catching up - although we seem them often in the temple, that is not a place to chat, and so we finally had that opportunity. 

And what a treat for the grands to get to meet the Prices, too!

Braden's Tenth Birthday

Braden and his mom and siblings arrived on Friday, September 8; the next day was his tenth birthday. That was an unexpected bonus for us to have him here to celebrate!

Aunt Lisa began the day off by bringing Mary Lou Doughnuts for breakfast.

 Braden had never been able to eat them before due to his severe milk allergy.

 He thought that they were delicious!

We spent much of the day at Prophetstown's Country Fair, and then we opened gifts and had brats and hotdogs cooked on the grill.

 Some of his gifts and been mailed to Florida, but he did have a few to open.

Ours had arrived before he left for Indiana, so Ashley packed it so he could open it here. As you can see, he really liked it!

A skateboard!

Never did I expect to get the chance to spend Braden's birthday with him, and while I am sorry it was due to Hurricane Irma and his need to evacuate, still I am glad we were together!