What!!! When Did That Happen? Marc, our baby, is 40 years old!!!

I still remember with great clarity the Christmas eve day when we did last minute shopping and I'd have to stop in the middle of the store to have a labor pain.  Then the night of wrapping presents, oh, stop another labor pain.  This can't be happening.  Finally we called my parents who drove down from Morgan to spend the night with Adrian and Curt so we could go to the hospital.

All night one labor pain after another until finally at six in the morning, the doctor came in and said, let's have a baby.  He was the father of teenagers and told me they were still in bed until noon, so he had lots of time. 

That event happened 40 years ago, Christmas Day.  It's difficult for me to think we are all that much older.

Marc, dad and I love you.  Happy Birthday.  You make our family complete!!








The ugly sweater party gave us a chance to have a family picture.  Yup, this is our family.  Couldn't be more proud.

It Looks Like Christmas - 2019

Christmas is now one of the best holidays for me. It hasn't always been that, growing up there were some pretty sparse gift Christmas' but they just weren't the happiest of times that I remember.  I do remember Grandma Inez would always give us new pajamas and Freida would wrap her presents in the most lovely of wrappings - bows, trinkets, and fancy paper.  Our Christmas' weren't organized, at least I don't remember, we just grabbed onto packages and if it wasn't ours we would toss it aside until we found one that was ours.

Then we had children and my heart burst at the sight of smiling eyes and anticipation of what Santa would bring.  I liked our tradition of opening presents one person at a time rather than digging in and having a tear and throw fest.  The family skiing trips were some of my favorite times.  Theron and I made a lot of Christmas presents during the early years - the rocking horse, the tables and chairs, a large Barbi house and an entire kids kitchen.  As I recall, our kids did not want for much and we didn't go totally overboard either - we had a nice balance.

Now with grandchildren Christmas is delightful.  Each family does things differently, but that's just building their traditions.  This year was again a special family Christmas.  We spent Christmas eve and morning with Curt and Melanee.  The kids walked down the stairs with anticipation of what they would find.  Jesse saw the large basketball hoop right off, stockings were a big hit with hatchables, and then the presents.  The story this year was about Brooke's "Yite up unicorn."  That Santa had not brought - at least by the parent santa's.  Aunt Adrian knew how much she wanted this and so late Christmas eve we went shopping and found the only 'yite up unicorn' in the town.  We wrapped it, attached a note from Santa (the note consisted of cut letters from magazines and looked like a ransom note) and hid it behind the tree.  When Melanee handed Brooke her first present, her classic comment was, "I told Santa I wanted a yite up unicorn."  Melanee was chest-fallen and didn't know what to do.  Fortunately, we high-fived and knew it was going to be okay.  The very last present was finally put in view of the parents and as the kids quickly opened it, the sparkle and yipees began as the yite up unicorn was revealed.  Christmas was saved.  We are so glad Melanee and Curt were good sports about this present.

 Tyce received his motorcycle and Ali proved her agility on her hoverboard.  Kacy received everything Frozen and Mason loved the Foosball game.


Cameron and Taylor, our favorite Paschal grandsons, were gifted electric razors from Grandma and Grandma.  Just a hint to them to do a little trimming of fuzzy mustaches and perhaps the long hair.


Theron had a little put it together present - a new workbench for the garage.

We enjoyed Christmas night with Melanee's family and the re-enactment of the Christmas story, complete with sheep and children singing.  This was the heart of Christmas.

What a wonderful time of the year!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Okay, we moved to St. George to avoid the snow and cold.  So far we have avoided the snow, but not the cold.  I swear every cold front that has ever existed has come through this year.  The cloud cover has kept our solar production to minimum levels and our heat production in the house has kept our gas bills high.  But, I can't really complain, I have loved living here.  I love the red rocks, the palm trees, and the smaller town atmosphere.  But, it has been cold.

The kids are writing their Christmas lists and it's fun to hear them express their desires for the upcoming Christmas gifts.  Kacy had a dance recital and as her mother said, "Nailed it."  She's a sweetheart with a strong will.

On the 14th, we had our annual Spendlove Christmas Party at the Henefer Fire Station.  Mom took control this year as Janeil is suffering with lung cancer.  She arranged, in secret, to have a Santa Claus come for the little kids.  It was such a sweet surprise.  This is the only time we get together as extended family and the only time we learn all the happenings.  Garrett is getting a divorce, sad to hear.  Alison is doing well after her divorce this year.  All Dawain's kids are back home.  Cherry and Lucy are going to have a baby.  Not sure about a father in this case, but it's definitely a baby that Lucy is carrying.  Jennalyn and Casey are doing well after losing a baby this year.  She said it was a very spiritual experience for them and I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation.  Janeil is dying from lung cancer and her two daughters have stepped up to take care of her.  This is a miracle in and of itself because there has been so much dysfunctionality among them over the years.  Denzil is still Denzil and Rodney is still Rodney and Linda is, well Linda.  Lisa's daughter, Heather, was able to come down from BYU Idaho and we enjoyed visiting with her.  All in all, the family keeps growing and we keep coming together for at least one day of every year.

What are you going to tell Santa you would like for Christmas?  I loved watching at Kacy and Tyce both whispered in Santa's ear.

These are the memories we will always hold dear!

 Lori and Jared are in the background.  Dad always wears his Christmas hat; I think just to keep his head warm.

Linda and mom haven't had a good discussion in years.  Wonder what is really being said.

A November Catch-Up on the Family

November is a month of thankfulness.  I am so thankful for our family and extended family.  We were able to visit with Norm and Elynn one day on one of our trips up north.  Elynn has suffered many years with MS and Norm is now being treated for prostate cancer.  However, I never hear them complain.  Elynn still makes fun of her condition and can laugh about life.  I'm thankful for them.

Kendall turned 86 in November and we had a great visit with he and Denae on his birthday.  He is still out trying to improve things around his house, taking out old asphalt and putting in pavers and grass in the old driveway.  It was a delight this year to have him come visit and take a rzr ride in the canyons.  I'm thankful for his testimony of the gospel that was such an example to me.

Curt had nose surgery just a week before Thanksgiving and they were able to make some needed repairs so things drain better and he can breath better.  I hope this helps his ears.  While there, we attended the kids soccer games.  I'm so thankful that these kids are healthy, so many things could have gone wrong, but they didn't.

Curt, Melanee, Lauren, Brooky and Jesse came for Thanksgiving this year.  It was cold, but we made the best of it.  Craig and Judy Christensen couldn't go up north because Craig was scheduled for open heart surgery and had to stay close to home.  We invited them to dinner.  I'm grateful for family - all of them.  My mother called one day and she said something that made my heart swell.  She said, "I called your kids and asked them to bring salads to the Christmas party because I know I can depend on them."  That is one of the most precious things I can remember my mother telling me.

My dad turned 89 this year in November.  He is old, but hanging in there.

I'm thankful for Theron who is my life and love. 

Life is worth being grateful for as I share it with others.  Love to all.

An Honor to Dubby and Carolyn Johnston

Carolyn published this family picture on Facebook and I'm taking this post to honor her.  Carolyn and Dubby (Darwin is his real name) were with me as my only family to escort me through the Temple when we were married.  They have always been a special family to me.  Dubby was one of our witnesses and Carolyn was my escort.

Carolyn is the daughter of Elvira and Golden Harris, my first cousin as Elvira and my grandmother Inez are sisters.

Her sons are Mark  on the far left; Lanny, the youngest was a Colonel in the Marines; Carolyn and Dubby; and Craig is on the far right.  Craig works at Hill Air Force Base.  This is a special family.  Thank you for all you have done for us over the years and for being such a good example to me.

A NEW RZR

This year Rich and Brett bought new rzrs with all kinds of "bells and whistles" such as Ride Command and new suspension.  Well, our rzr was getting old, you know we had it two years.  It did now have 5000 miles on it and needed new tires.  Well, my stand-off was that Theron had to sell the Corvette to make up the difference in price from our trade-in and the cost of a new one.  Well, Theron is kind of a wheeler and dealer and sold the houseboat share instead.  Wall-a a new rzr it is.

So the first of November, we traveled to Heber City (after Rich and Brett helped Theron get a discount price at Karl Malone Polaris).  This machine is a 2020 Rzr Turbo, with Ride Command and the new suspension system.  A totally redesigned machine.  Now Theron is in first place with the new rzr.  It's a poll position for men's toys.

Merry Christmas Theron.  It is a sweet ride.  Hope to be able to use it much in January and February when we go to Parker and Yuma.

A Friend's Passing - Bruce Brighton

In August of this year, we traveled to Roosevelt for Theron's 50th class reunion.  We had dinner with Bruce and Deanne Brighton, Lynn and Susan Lemon, and then went to Bruce's house and talked for several hours about the good old days.

Bruce and Lynn are two of Theron's dearest friends and we have kept in touch with them for all these years.  I first met Bruce when I was teaching in Roosevelt.  He was working in the oil fields and was part of our single adults.  He had an infectious laugh.  Tall and lanky, with a swagger and positive vibes, he was a delight to be around.  He was a Roosevelt farmer at heart and was always working at something.

So it was a sad day for us on November 13, 2019, that we received a call from Lynn telling us that Bruce had died.  He was at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, and riding his mountain bike up Queen Creek talking with his son on the phone.  No one knows for sure what happened, but his son simply said all at once the phone went silent and no one answered his calls.  Bruce was found by his bicycle with blunt force trauma to his head and neck and died instantly.  He had swerved for something and went over his bicycle handles.  In this case even his helmet did not save him.  We are saddened and so aware of the precariousness of life.

We attended the funeral in Roosevelt and spoke briefly with Deanne, his wife, and his three children.  Deanne is not doing well with this sudden turn of events in her life.  It makes me wonder how I would handle a situation like this.  Even though I don't fear death, it's such a separation from someone you love for an extended period of time.  Loneliness is something I fear.

I guess these occurrences will be in our life from this point on because we are aging.  Bruce, we loved you and thank you for being part of our life.