Reflections on a Grandmother

Reflections on Grandma Minnesota - which was how our children delineated between Rindy's Mom Bettie and my mom June.. I asked the kids to share their thoughts and determined that posting them might allow them, the memories to live longer. (if you want to edit let me know)

Mackey

One of my favorite memories of grandma is from when I was little like maybe ages 6-10. For some reason I'd be at grandma's for an extended period of time in the evening. No memory of anyone else being there so I guess you guys abandoned me for long periods of time as a child or something. Anyways, at these long nights grandma taught me how to play solitaire. First we started with just normal solitaire but each time this happened she changed what version of solitaire we'd play to make it a little harder. In retrospect, considering she's a gamer she was probably cheating and changing the rules but my mind didn't really gather that and it was still fun.

Most nights we watched the news but sometimes we'd watch Disney channel if I could build up the courage to ask to change the channel to 44. But since we mostly watched the news we saw a lot of weird stuff. I remember one night when something came on and the reporter mentioned the word "nude". I had to ask grandma what it meant and she explained it to me. And for some reason that's the night of solitaire I remember the most and it's not like I frequently forget the definition of nude so I don't know what my subconscious is trying to tell me but whatever.

Mostly though we talked about whatever tragedies my young soul was going through at the time. Probably wasn't that deep, but she listened to me nonetheless. Sometimes I'd ask her about her life and she'd tell me stories. My favorite story she'd tell was about the time she burned her hands cooking with her sister. I remember seeing the marks on her hands that were still there years later and staring in wonder. Anyways, it's still one of my favorite stories. 

Parker

For me it is just how much I connect with grandma when it comes to our humor and 
how we see the world. My favorite memories are the classic car rides to lunch or 
dinner where we would just laugh with each other and I turned her "ghetto" once. 
My most favorite memory was how she embraces my personality. Greatest example 
is her and I dancing in the kitchen. She is always checking to make sure that 
everyone had what they needed. Even when we moved she would bring home leftovers 
for me. Whenever we were there she would always offer food or anything. She is 
the perfect example of service, charity, and of course the extreme competitive 
gene that we all have. 

I LOVE GMA!!!

Brigham

I've thought about spending summer days in the pool, stopping by their home all the time during high school - card games, orange slices, and ginger ale - calling grandma every day while walking home from college, quick rushed trips from Chicago up to WI up to MN and back every time I was in the Midwest for longer than a week. 

I thought of how no matter which of the three houses of theirs I visited, they were always home to me. I always felt comfortable to take off shoes, give a hug, open the fridge, and flop on the couch.

She has been one of my best friends. Always asking about my dating life, yet in a way that never ever made me uncomfortable. Just felt loved, thought of, and dreamed over.

Today I wondered about how after she dies, how she will see Grandpa, Jodean, her parents, siblings, and friends and be so happy. Then, after while they'll give her an update on all of her children and grandchildren. When she gets to me, I pictured her going, "He's working for who?! doing what?! where?!" And then being told who my wife would be, approving of her, and then rolling up her sleeves and saying, "allright, you three grandparents have had your time to hook him up, now let's all four do this together, it's about time!"

Blair

Favorite memories....I'm just gonna start writing and see where it goes

1. Most of my memories of grandma are from ages 12-18 when we (usually Dad and I) would stop by G&G's house after some activity (mutual, basketball, etc...). I don't have a great story, but I remember always feeling welcomed and at home.

2. X-mas was always a special time of year in Plymouth. Seeing grandma on Christmas day and swinging by her house was always a treat. I can still think of all the decorations and trains. I think she always loved xmas more than any other holiday.

3. I'm very glad June met June. I can still remember her disbelief that we actually named our daughter June and she thought that was silly. Kinda the same reaction with Dean's name. I think and I hope she enjoyed having someone named in her honor.

4. We spend so much time at Grandma's pool. Although, I don't think I ever saw her swim once...literally. She was always outside on the patio watching, talking, maybe even having a snack ready.

5. I remember going to brunch in Chicago with Grandma on Sunday. I loved that brunch. I loved being there with the family. And I love the example that set for family first.

Those are the top 5 that come to mind.

Humble Pride

Humble pride

Sunday, a friend of Parker's described how he perceived I should feel about Parker's labour as a missionary; Humble Pride - a very apt description. Proud of what he did, how he did it, and who he became; and intensely humble and gratefully that he had the opportunity, that he took advantage of it, that he  had presidents, leaders, missionaries, members, and non who loved him, worked with him and watched over him. And mindful of a god in heaven who was in the details.

Each of the boys served well and honorably. Their missions had much in common and all grew spectacularly. All were as unique and differed as Spain, Greece, Chicago and Paraguay do from each other . We have been fortunate to have met there ending Mission Presidents. There are few things as humbling  as learning /observing the power of your son(s). There are few things that make you more grateful than witnessing the love of adults for your child and knowing the energy and effort they willingly sacrificed and put into forming, shaping, and supporting your child's growth. There is  a strong emotion when you observe others looking at your son in adoration and witness that to them what your missionary had done was of vital importance.

I am indeed humbly proud of all my children. I am extremely grateful for the transformational power of a mission. 

1,051,897.53

how many minutes are there in two years

Two years looking forward seems like an eternity.
Two years looking backward seems like a dream.

The speed of each son's mission in turn has accelerated - the first two years were relatively long compared to the subsequent missions. As such, Parker's was indeed quick and I imagine by the time Mac goes it will be a blink of an eye.

What do I like about missions:
- the blessings that come to our family
- the spirit of the work that enters our home
- the transformational nature of the experience on the missionary
- the road to conversion and life's journey that it launches the young missionary on as they hear, see, and know and do for themselves.

I am thankful for my mission and the pathway it put me on.
I am grateful for the mission of each of our boys and the pathway it put them on.
I am grateful to have Parker home again.

Mother's Day

Every Mother's Day is a wonderful tribute to the key, delightful. and wonderful Mothers in our lives. One would then think that all Mother's Days were created equal - WRONG.

The most important Mother's Days are those when a son or daughter is serving a full time mission and it is one of the two times (the other being Christmas) that you get to speak live with your missionary.We are no different than the thousands of others, we eagerly awaited and then savored each of our 40 minutes with Parker. Skype is a newer addition to the communication that we didn't have with the other boys and it certainly was a treat. It takes mere seconds to recognize how great he is doing and how grateful we are for what he is doing.

Happy Mother's Day indeed.

Best Christmas present

This morning (saturday) at 8 am we opened our best christmas present for this year

we opened up Skype and had 40 minutes with Parker.
It was great.

Farewell

Sunday was just as Sunday's should be a full of friends, family, and The Spirit. We went early to church to listen to Parker perform a song he had been rehearsing with Sisters Halling and Hatch. That was followed by Sacrament meeting where Parker was the concluding speaker - his subject the Plan of Salvation. He speaks with conviction, in a genuine tone and vocabulary and owns the moment. He is prepared to serve. He goes under the power of his own light but with the reserves of so many who have contributed to him being the man he is today. To those many who have taught, nurtured, guided, supported and helped along the way Rindy and i say thank you. We are very mindful and thankful for the contribution of so many in the development of our children.

(the boy cousins aren't the only ones who like to stand on tiptoe)


Church was followed by a rib dinner and gaming until the visitors arrived. We had a small gathering of friends from our Ward to share truffle (it didn't seem right to not make P3 his own) and wish Parker well on his mission. We are truly blessed to belong to a wonderful and supportive Ward full of many dear friends. After the last had left came the pinnacle of the evening and the weekend. President R. Peterson set Parker apart as a full-time missionary in The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints during which and after came a pouring of the Spirit.

I don't remember when the tradition started but after the blessing we sat in the living room and spoke words of sharing with Parker concerning his mission. Nearly all the cousins and all the aunts and uncles shared an insight. Some were physically present in the room and spoke their own words, while I read from others who had emailed their comments, or some just were there like Dad. Was their a favorite or a best? I was deeply moved by Julie's, and Dale's, and Mackey's, and Jen's, and Eric's and >>> they all were great. What a great tradition, what a powerful way to send someone out in the mission field knowing there were / are many who go with him. Again it makes one very grateful for the many in a family who contribute to the raising of a child. The day ended earlier than other's as Parker now had to retire at 10:30 pm and did. What a glowious day. Thanks. Keep Parker in your prayers

Count Down

Saturday was a great day as we gathered, and gamed , and ate We held a scone Sunday on Saturday and feasted roaylly

Mission Prep

This week was the first time for Parker to go through the Temple. Though we missed Julie and Mackey we enjoyed the company of our Home Teacher, Bishop, Stake President and their wives along with Robert and Laura representing the extended family who were there in thought and spirit. Beyond being a sacred place the Temple is truly a place of love and beauty. There is a serenity and peace that are not easily replicated in the world. I'm grateful we were able to be there with the boys.

An additional highlight was being able to join with a couple Parker and I have home taught as they went through the Temple for the first time on the same session , which was followed by their Sealing and the Sealing of their three married sons to them as well. It was a total experience for Parker and made for a delightful day.

The CallI Its really here

We have been anxiously awaiting the day (ok maybe with less than perfect patience) and what a glorious day it is. We are grateful that another of our children is worthy, ready, and able to serve the Lord as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.It is truly one of the landmark events in a family's life-cycle. And we are no less excited for the fourth than we were for the first. Perhaps even more given we have seen the impact the opportunity to serve has been on the others and on us.

Each opening of the Call has had it's own flavor.
Blair, we were all very eager. His arrived during the day and opened it and celebrated to go back to where we had lived, to return to Madrid. He waited almost 5 months from Call to departure.

Brigham, was going to school in Alexandria, Egypt at the time and the letter came to our home in Plymouth, We drove over to Grandparent's and looped people in by phone, including looping in Brigham by phone and we read it to him. He was living in his mission boundaries at the time, and returned where he had visited the year earlier to Athens, Greece and Cyprus. His wait was similar to Blair's before departure.

Evan was living at home with us in our  home in naperville - we had barely lived here then. We gathered in his bedroom and once again looped people in through multiple phones. It was incredible that he was being able to serve a proselyting mission, live full-time with the missionaries and fulfill his dream by serving in the Chicago South Mission.He left quickly thereafter.

Parker is the first to receive his call and open it away from us the parents. Thanks to skype we are all able to virtually be there - more than just a phone call. It was a crazy gathering of skype and cell phones, dropped service - interrupted calls. Gathering of friends and family at Brigham's.Though different than the others his will be no less an adventure and wonderful service experience as he reports to his mission on March 2, 2011.

Oliver also served there and Parker is going to: here.

We are incredible grateful and thrilled to see him go and can't wait to get him back.

Happy Birthday

We miss not having him around everyday but we love our Parker.
Thought you'd enjoy seeing his dashingly handsome self.

Happy Birthday

Graduation Dance

If they were in a room together they would be celebrating for sure

Graduation

This is the BIG week.
Parker graduates from Naperville North High School
He had a great start at Armstrong and a great finish at North.
Ceremony will be Wednesday - hopefully no rain.


The booster club does this fun thing by posting customized sign in front of every graduates door - nice touch.

UnSung Hero

So today Naperville North celebrated and honored a handful of students for their quiet contribution to the school community through the students personal efforts and generally service to others - those who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution. Parker, whose birthday is today, was one so honored as an unsung hero.




Laura and her kids dropped by for a birthday dinner and little celebration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Parker - we love you!

Scrabble

I know, I know, Quiddler is the word game du jour in the Wilson family. Candidly, it is the word game we most frequently play; however this evening we had a few more minutes and so we pulled out the scrabble board. It was a vigorous and engaging game with excellent word choice and combinations BUT . . .

Parker who was in a competitive mode trumped the game by posting the accompanying photo to demonstrate - DETAINED - for 83 points. It turned the course of the game as he won: parker - 213, tim - 208, rindy - 163.

Ouch, losing in hockey is one thing but losing in scrabble is quite another.