Our 60th birthday bash

Our wonderful children threw us a 60th birthday party a few days after Rick's birthday.  It was a lot of fun and we loved seeing so many family members and friends.  Courtney was in charge of the decorations and she did a bang up job as shown below.  Claire created and printed the invites and mailed them out to about 100 people.  Jord collected the RSVPs.  Andy and Chelsea prepared a slide show and all (including Dave, R, and Jake) helped contribute to the refreshments.  Our Moms came and many of our siblings along with some nieces and nephews.  Jord and Jake hadn't arrived yet, but we had the rest of our children and their spouses and our eight darling grandchildren in attendance. We loved seeing everyone and thank those who could make it. 

 It was a party to remember in our advancing years!

Goal report

I've been working away at my goals for the year, even if I haven't been reporting them here.  I have made a lot of progress in the last four months.  Here's my report:

1.  Attend all 15 temples in Utah and attend the temple twice a month.  What happens in temples?  Pictures of inside the Temple?

      January - 1. Salt Lake City with Stephanie as she received her endowment and Phoenix temple, February - 2. Monticello temple and 3. Provo temple, March - 4. Jordan River temple and 5. Bountiful temple, April - 6. Mt. Timpanogos temple and 7. Draper temple,  May - 8. Oquirrah Mountain temple and 9. Timpanogos temple,  June - Salt Lake City temple July - 10. Brigham City temple August - 11. St. George temple and 12. Manti temple

Oquirrah temple

Mt. Timpanogos temple

Draper temple

Logan temple

2.  read the Ensign every month
      January - check
      February - check
      March - check
      April - check
      May - still working on this one
      June - check
      July - still working on this one
3.  dejunk, clean and organize my home - almost done
In June I got busy and cleaned by garage and my home.  I washed windows, organized by garage and deep cleaned the rest of my home.  I hired Audrey to come and help me and we made a lot of progress.  I still have more work to do in the office, but that will be a good fall project.
4.  update all my photo albums, label and date them
While in St. George for a week, I started this process by organizing all the loose photos and starting putting them back in the albums where they belong
5.  start writing my personal history
6.  sew something for each grandchild
     made Lizzie an apron
     made Will a Superman cape
     made Charlie a Captain America cape
7.  sew my Christmas presents
8.  spend more time in my yard gardening, etc.
In May, Rick and I worked in our yard to get things cleaned up.  We hired his brother to remove some Aspen trees that were taking over the place and we planted flowers in our flower beds and we even planted a salsa garden in our neighbors yard.  It is a work in progress, but we have made great strides.  I love working outdoors!
9.  walk 10,000 steps 5 days a week (thanks to my new FitBit this will be measurable!)
    January -  I'm averaging about 6,000 steps over five days a week, thanks to my FitBit for keeping track.   February - I need to kick that up once I can get outside more.  Not doing as well as I would like to.  March - my FitBit stopped working, but I'm doing my routine and hopefully hitting my goal.  April - August:  I'm still making progress and walking as much as I can.
10.  Lose 15 pounds
     Lost the two I put on plus one more.  Moving in the right direction now. Slowly. March - slow progress, 1 pound lost, April - August - lost four more pounds
11.  Read 15 books
       Orphan Train
       Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
       Mary, the Mother of Jesus
       Letters of a Woman Homesteader
       Not Fade Away
12.  support and love my mother more in her advancing years
       January - visited Mom at her home and took her to the Hardware Ranch, a place she use to visit as a child,  February - called her several times a week, March - visited for the weekend, helped her set up her patio, went on some drives, helped her with her meds, etc. she attended my 60th birthday party May - visited and helped out over a weekend, June - she attended our birthday party and family reunion, July - visited her and stayed overnight
13.  strengthen the relationships with people I care about
January - went to breakfast with Kathleen, attended a concert with Shelley, Kevin, Marie and Cydnee, went to dinner at the Dixon's home, babysat for Adam and Syd so they could have a break, invited Cydnee over for a sleepover, visited Jordan and Jake and family, attended Kate's welcome home, went to the airport to welcome her, went to lunch with LaRita, February - attended a benefit dinner with the Lindleys, visited Claire and R and family, visited Sarah F., had the Densley's over for dinner, attended a bridal shower for Brooke, threw a birthday luncheon for Kathleen, attended and helped at Brooke's wedding reception, March - went to Sofia's thesis defense, enjoyed my mom, sisters and nieces at my 60th birthday party, met Mary R. for lunch, helped Dara with her finances and went to help her find a new place to live, had the Juan P.s over for dinner, went to lunch with Tiffany and Diane, went to dinner with Scott H. and Lori, spent time together getting a pedicure with my aunt Lorna and cousin Diane April - breakfast with my mission companion and one of our converts from Argentina and her daughter.  What a sweet reunion!

Hosted Chelsea's family who came to town for their graduation, celebrated Audrey's graduation by going to lunch, went to AZ to help out the R family after Jake had surgery May visited Dave and Courtney and children in North Carolina for a week, hosted two lunches for the professors who helped A & C at BYU, took care of my friend Sue who had a stroke in my home for a week, June helped Dara with her finances, celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary with Rick, attended Jake's homecoming, went to Rupert for a visit with the Smiths and attended Robert's funeral, went to Yellowstone with Claire and her family, celebrated our 60th birthdays with a party hosted by our kids July hosted 75 people for the 4th of July BBQ, enjoyed a family reunion with our children and grandchildren, enjoyed the visits of our children and their families for most of the month, went to Bear Lake with Rick and his family,
14.  serve at UVU in the Women's Success Center board
Met for two board meetings and contributed.  Signed up to mentor three college students, got training and met with them individually (one widowed mother of five, one 18 year old, one 20 year old from a troubled family) to help them work towards receiving a college degree, attended more meetings and met with my mentees and provided breakfast, attended a talk by Sheri Dew sponsored by the Women's Success center, met with my mentees during the month, attended the closing social with my mentees, helped set up a meeting with some potential donors to the WSC,
15.  finish visiting the rest of the 50 states I haven't been to including: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma

A weekend to celebrate 36 years

A romantic dinner at The Roof.

Our get away to the Grand America hotel.  Lovely!

Our annual visit to the SLC temple where we were married.

What did we know when we started out on our marriage on June 16, 1979?  We were babies!  We loved each other and we were ready to join our lives together, but we really had no idea that we were in for the ride of our lives.  Through the stress of graduate school, birthing and raising our four babies, deaths of our loved ones, sicknesses, cancer, travel, home buying, financial struggles, compromise, time demanding church callings and service, relationship challenges, community service, extended family interaction, idiosyncrasies, employment, individual interests, ideas and ways of doing things ...our lives have forged into one.  We are truly two parts of one whole.  He is still a man and I am still a woman with our own God given talents and abilities (think Mars and Venus here), but we have survived and even flourished through it all.  Are perfect?  No.  Do we disagree on stuff?  Yes.  Have we learned how to deal with differences.  I hope so!  We are still standing.  We are still in love.  We are still a couple and we still love, respect and support each other in all we do.

Happy birthday little 7 year old

My blog turned seven years old on July 27.  She has been a faithful friend and she has been a good listener and therapist for me.  She and I have been through a lot these last seven years and we've gone through some experiences that we've shared here on blogger.  Most have been happy, but some have been about hard experiences.  Many blogs only tell the story of the good things that are going on and of the happy experiences.  My blog and I have also shared some of the hard stuff too over these past seven years.  That feels more real to me.  Life isn't just a bed of roses (to coin a phrase.) There are plenty of hard things too.  My little blog and I have had the chance to think through some tough stuff and process what is going on in our hearts and minds and try to come to terms with the hard stuff and put into words some of our thoughts and feelings.  I've been told that this has been helpful to some people who follow.  I hope so.  I appreciate my friends and family who love me and encourage me to keep writing.

I've given my blog various birthday treats over the years.  She and I aren't big chocolate lovers, so she has received some delicious non-chocolate treats.  2008 was her birth, 2009 she received a birthday cake, 2010 a caramel cheesecake, 2011 a lemon cupcake, 2012 Key Lime pie, 2013 Creme brûlée with fresh fruit, 2014 a rootbeer float and this year for her birthday I gave Vonnierom some delicious caramel corn.

This recipe is my favorite. It is the only one I've made for years.  It's soft and chewy and very addictive.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

• 1 cup (or so) popcorn kernels, popped (I usually pop three batches on my stove top or in the microwave. I don't use bagged microwave popcorn.)
• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups light or dark brown sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Get out the biggest bowl you have. This makes a large batch.  If you don't want a large batch, cut the recipe in half.  As the popcorn pops, pour it out on a dishtowel and separate the old maids from the popped kernels.  Everyone who eats the caramel popcorn will thank you.

Combine, the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture should turn a darker color. Remove from heat and add the sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Pour over the popcorn and stir to evenly coat the popcorn. The caramel popcorn is best served immediately, but you can also store it in an airtight container for up to several days.

My husband turned 60

1955 was an important year in the lives of the two people who live in this home.  My husband and I both turned 60 this year.  Rick's birthday was June 24 and even though I'm a little late, I wanted to give him the recognition and praise that he so justly deserves.  Here goes...

He was a great little kid and a darling little boy.
He was obedient, smart and planned
on being a cowboy when he grew up.

He grew into a handsome lad and continued his dutiful ways.
He did tease his little sisters at this age (and even older),
but managed to grow up to become a great young man
who was carefully brainwashed into loving all things that
had to do with BYU sports, especially football.

The 70's left their mark on young Vernon, but he survived his
freshman year at BYU and went on to become a great scholar.

He loved serving his LDS mission in Peru and considered
serving there on of the great highlights of his life.
His companion David C. became a life-long friend.

After some persuasion, be dared to go to a place he
had never been before and take a chance on Vonnie.
They were married on June 16, 1979.

Rick has so many qualities that I LOVE.  So many attributes that I ADMIRE.  So many characteristics that I VALUE.  Here are a few more :

This is one of his signature looks.  If he gives you this look,
something fun is about to happen.

He was by my side through a year of cancer treatments.
Literally by my side and he saw me through so many rough patches.
 He helped me to endure and to find the courage to go through it.

He loves to play tennis and currently plays several times a week.
 He loves to run and has run seven marathons.
He loves to do hard things and exercises every
 morning,  six days a week.  He loves to "prove" himself.

He loves the Mejia family and values their continued
friendship since he taught them the gospel in Peru.

He loves to laugh.  He makes me laugh.
He has a great sense of humor and loves a good story,
a good joke and finding the ironies in life.

He loves his grandchildren, all eight of them.
 Lauren was the first, but he loves each and every one
of them and enjoys playing with them and
having a great time.  He is a WONDERFUL grandpa.

He is so proud of Andy and his mission service in Mongolia.
He loves him so much.
 He is a wonderful father and finds ways to spend time with
each of his children supporting them and building them up.

He has served faithfully in the LDS church over many, many years.
 He was worked with youth, and has been a leader in
more bishoprics than I can even remember.
He was a wonderful Bishop.
Our service at the MTC was a highlight for us
and I loved to watch him in action.
He has a true and abiding testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rick has always helped me around the house.
 He has probably done more dishes than I have.
 He cleans the bathrooms every Saturday.
 He helps me with anything around  the house that I need help with.
He is a hard worker and gets the yard work done
early every Saturday morning.  He has a lot of energy.

He is a great date.
We have traveled to almost all 50 states together
and have gone and seen so many wonderful plays,
sporting events & movies, and I simply love spending
time with him. He is a handsome devil.

Rick was so happy when Dave returned from serving in Portugal.
 He loves V IV and they are kindred spirits,
sometimes having the same thoughts and feelings about things.

Our oldest daughter Jordan was the first to leave the nest.
 Her dad loves her so much and is proud of her missionary
 service to Venezuela and her marriage to Jacob.
He has always supported his children and everything they were involved in.  

He loves his mother and he is a great son to her now
that she is a widow. I'm proud of how he cares for her
and how he treats her.  She is a lucky mother.

He loves to play the piano and is very good at it.
He was many talents that have blessed our lives.

He loves our daughter Claire and enjoys spending time with 
her and her family whenever he can. 
 They have a wonderful relationship.

He loves BYU Football.  It brings him so much joy to follow them,
especially if they are having a good year.
He is a Cougar fan through and through.

He had great love and respect for his father Vern II.
 He really misses him but he is glad for the legacy of faith
and courage that he left for all of us to follow.
He is his father's son and is a credit to his memory.

He loves his family.  Even though there have been some heartbreaks
and some challenges, he is a loyal family member.
 He is a loyal person to those he loves.

He is a great provider and has worked hard to provide for our
family and to take measures to be sure that I have all
that I need and want.  He has put 30 years in at his job,
but loves it so much he doesn't want to retire.
I love him for his kindness,
consideration and goodness.
 I love him for who he is.
I just love him.

Happy 60th birthday to the man I love, the man I chose and the man who is my everything.