Heroes

Yesterday, I posted on social media about my Grandma Delilah Mae Asay Wasden Robb.

Grandma was born May 10, 1916.

Grandma was raised in a loving home, with lots of siblings.

Grandma was married to James O. Wasden.

Together, they had three children.

Phil, Marlene and Jim.

James was killed in a fire, leaving Grandma a very young widow with small children.

At the sugar factory, in Lovell, Wyoming, Grandma met Grandpa.

Soon, Walter Simmons Robb and Delilah Mae Asay Wasden were married.

Together, they raised Phil, Marlene, Jim, and added four more children to the family:

Rick, Georgia, MaryLou, and Dean (my dad).

The family lived on a large farm, in a very small home.

I remember this home, and the property, vividly.

The home had three VERY small bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a front room.

There was a dinner bell set up outside of the front door.

Grandma used that bell to gather the family all the way up to the day they moved.

There were acres and acres to explore.

As children, we were never inside the home.

Instead, as soon as we woke up, Grandma would feed us, then hurry us outside to explore, discover, play, and be children.

Cowley, Wyoming was where my brothers and I spent many summers.

Grandma was a wonderful baker and cook.

She kept a tidy home, where the Spirit was always felt.

In the 90's, Grandma and Grandpa moved.

There was a home that met their needs, that didn't require a long, dirt road jaunt to get to the house. 

They no longer had to worry about the huge piece of property either.

They were still in Cowley, right where they wanted to be.

Grandma's ability to take care of the home and do the cooking deteriorated quickly.

Grandpa was also in poor health for many, many years.

However, Grandma's demeanor never changed.

She was pure love, the essence of dignity and charity up to the time she graduated from this life.

Grandma was beauty.

Her wrinkles and fine lines were stunning.

She loved to have her hair and her nails done and would tap her puffy hands on her recliner arms, and often glance down at her nails in gratitude and a bit of girlish joy.

Grandma never spoke an ill word about anyone.

Ever.

I mean, ever.

Grandma loves her family.

Eternally.

All of her family.

There was never a mention of "step" or "half" in our family.

We are just a family.

Grandma's faith in the Savior, and her ability to see only the good in this world was contagious.

I have been so blessed for the last 20 years to feel Grandma often.

I have had precious, sacred moments when I have seen her, heard her, and felt her.

She is never far from her family.

I am so grateful to have her as my grandma.

 

Junior and Senior, COVID Style

Colton is a Junior at Layton High School.

Kaydon is a Senior at Layton High School.

Covid has brought all kinds of changes.

We are all just rolling with the punches here.

The boys are in school, along with all kids with last names that start with the letters A-K, on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Kids with last names beginning with the letters L-Z are there Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The other three days of the week are done online.

They started yesterday.

Kids wear masks all day.

The hallways are one-way.

No lockers have been assigned.

No drinking fountains.

Desks are X'd out, or moved six feet apart.

All students now have a "homeroom." 
This is to allow them to have a teacher/mentor.

The idea of this is to make sure that students are being checked in with on their mental health, food needs, help with the hybrid schedule, etc.

Why weren't we doing this all along??

It's a new world.

There are new ways of doing everything.

And, it's all going to be okay!

 

My Little Adult

Meet the newest adult.

My Jackson.

21 years old.

You guys, I seriously don't know how that happened.

This boy is my first born.

He is funny, sensitive, self-aware, smart, hard-working, goal-oriented, loyal and handsome.

He has always been the very best big brother to his siblings.

And, the just the very best to his mama.

Jackson was a hard baby.

Colick for months and months and months.

It was so trying, and something I really thought he'd never grow out of.

He didn't sleep well.

He cried all the darn time.

Then, he just kind of grew out of it all.

He struggled a lot with several issues until he was about 10.

Then, he just showed how resilient he is.

Jackson has a strong testimony.

He loves the people of Chile who he served.

He has goals to go into psychology and work with people to help them.

I can't wait to see what he accomplishes!

Love you so big, Jacks.

 

Shooting

Yesterday morning, Michael and the four youngest awoke VERY early to head to the West Dessert.

They had a plan of shooting guns.

Kaydon had wanted to do this last week, before he goes back to school.

He and Colton had the BEST time.

The guns were a little too big for the littles.

Dang it.

I'm so grateful that the boys are able to do these fun activities that I never did with them!!

Eagle

Kaydon's Court of Honor was Saturday night.

It was perfect.

It was held in the Krum's backyard which is #goals!

There were three other boys getting their Eagle Scout Award as well.

When the program began, a man came out with the most beautiful Bald Eagle.

They were standing about five feet away from us.

It was spectacular.

When Liberty would flap her wings, she would fan us!

Did you know that eagles can see rabbits from three miles away??
I swear, whenever Liberty looked at me, she was staring through my soul!

She was amazing!

It just so happened that they also gave Jackson his missionary plaque.

These two, though!

Mike gave Kaydon a knife as a gift for getting his Eagle.

It was such a great night.

I am so proud of my KK!

Peanut

I will not ever not love this picture of Braxton.

THIS is a perfect illustration of Braxton as a baby.

He had a bald head, big ears, and the best little smile.

He was the sweetest, most easy-going baby.

Of all my boys, he was my "easiest" baby and toddler.

And those cheeks...

Oh, how I miss kissing my all of my baby's cheeks!

Braxton and Mia are darling.

We love having her at our house.

National Besties Day

Last night I got a message from T.

Usually around that time of the evening, our messages back and forth are about exhaustion, poop or dad jokes that are not funny.

Instead, she was telling me that it was National Best Friends Day.

I hit the jackpot with this one.

She is beautiful.

Smart.

Organized.

Funny AF.

Logical.

Loving.

Empathetic.

Hopeful.

Loyal.

She is a great mama and a fantastic wifey.

Everyone needs a sister and a daughter like T.

She is committed fiercely to her family.

This girl saved my life.

When things got real... and real bad... this girl was right there, just as she always has been.

She became my sponsor.

She became the person I was accountable to on the daily.

She became a go-betweener.

She has been deeply involved in my treatment.

While being a wife, mommy, business owner, and employee.

This is love and life.

I love her to the moon and back infinity and I am so grateful she is in my life!