My Sweet Grandpa Jackson

Grandpa passed away early this morning. In a sense I am so very sad, but I also have been crying tears of joy. Grandma left almost seven years ago, and I know he has missed her so very much. He has been wanting to go home for a long time. These last few months he has not been doing well and I have been so sad to think of him suffering. My last memories of him were last August when I went to visit him with my family. I didn't want to go because it was such a long drive with my baby. I am so glad that I did. Grandpa was so cute with Parker. He loved him so much. He kept asking to hold him and told me what a good job making him I had done. I am so thankful for the man that he was and for the boy he has raised to be my father. I love you, Grandpa J. Thank you for all the mule rides to the 'Grand Canyon' and for all of the stories and laughter you shared with us. Thank you for letting us destroy your garden so we could make a roadside 'Grandpa's Garden' stand. Thank you for the millions of toot-sie rolls you pulled out of our ears. Thank you for all the memories you left for us to cherish. Love, Sally :)

Goodbye to a Horrible Week!

Well, I really am glad to see the end of this week...
Monday - Our GrandAm dashboard went out. Apparently Nathan's Explorer sent a back charge when Matthew jump started it for him.
Tuesday - A visit from Mother Nature.... I guess it is better than the alternative though.
Wednesday - No comment!!!
Thursday - BeefCake (a.k.a. our walking food storage) ran away. We did locate him and his brother Dinna at about 9p.m. It was too dark to catch them.... They are black.
Friday - Went to catch BeefCake and he ran onto the Fort Hall Indian Reservation's sacred burial grounds. We can go there if we don't mind being arrested.... The Fish and Game talked to the Tribal committee and on Monday we can PURCHASE a permit, and with their assistance we can go try to locate BeefCake and Dinna. If and when we catch them they are going straight to the auction and finding a new home. Hopefully we will be able to find another suitable 'food storage' that will stay in It's pasture. Also, our Trailblazer decided to have issues.... So far the tally is up to $300+ and they still don't know what is going on.
Did I mention we have been paying our tithing? Good thing! I hate to think of what would happen if we weren't!
Yeah, I'm glad this week is over!

My mom....

.... is the best mom in the whole world! I want to tell you a little bit about her. She has taught me so much. When I had Parker, she was there. She hurried down while I was in labor and held my hand through delivery. (Matt was down 'in all the action.') I was probably squeezing her hand so tight that she was loosing feeling in it.

After he was born she stayed at my house for awhile and taught me so much. How to feed him, bathe him, change diapers, dress him.... everything! And most of all, she let me sleep! I am sure I could have figured all of this out on my own, but it was so special for me to have her there to help me. :) She has even driven down to babysit for me because I couldn't find a sitter and had to work.

My mom taught through example. She sacrificed so much for us when we were growing up. We didn't have a new, flashy car or a huge amazing home, but she never complained. She drove that blue Aerostar stick shift van for YEARS! Our house was always decorated cute and clean. She did without so much so that we could do the things we wanted to do. She came to our track meets, swim meets, volleyball games, basketball games, cheer competitions, everything. (And I'm going to level with you. I'm not a very good athlete, so it couldn't have been fun to watch me sit on the bench.) She was right there cheering us on and telling us we did great. She is the best mom ever!

Everything I've learned about how to be a mom, she taught me. I love her so much. And someday (YEARS from now) when I'm a grandma and know just what to do, I will know it is because of my wonderful mom who showed me how it's done.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you.