It's Hard to Say Goodbye

This is the time of year that our ward starts to deflate.  All of the students that have been attending the various schools on the Navy Base, are finishing up and leaving in the next few weeks.  It is a very bittersweet time.  We watch the young naval officers leave ready to go out into the world to make it a safer place.  On occasion we get to know their families.  It is hard to see them go.  I get so attached to so many of them that it is like losing family.  The only thing is that since the Newport Naval Base houses so many of the schools, on occasion we see some of them again and that is pure joy.  This is also the time of the military transfers so our families that are up for new duty stations are leaving.  That is hard too.  So for the next few months - except for the influx of military students that are  here for short courses - our ward will have the numbers of a branch.  It happens every year.  We will miss the families and students that leave.  Those that come and immerse themselves deeply in the ward (and most do) will be remembered with fondness and will always be a part of the Newport Ward.

Happy Birthday Andy - A Day Late!

In the middle of the night it hit me that I had missed Andy's birthday.  I am sorry.  My only excuse is that my dates are lost because of being so sick with this cold that Dutch gave me.  I have now share it with Clyde and yesterday we both literally slept all day and felt miserable.  The only good thing is that we will probably be feeling better about the same time!

Happy Birthday Andy.  We hope you had a wonderful day with your family and this year is a year of promise and dreams come true.  We hope that as you move forward with you education that you feel the Lord's hand and promptings in your life and see the good you are doing as you are fulfilling your dreams.  Lots of Love

Reading

I come from a family of readers.  One of my earliest memories is seeing everyone reading at my Grandma Tuttle's house and wishing I could too.  One of my Grandma Tuttle's favorite books while growing up was "Lavendar and Old Lace".  It is a sweet story and I could download it free on my Kindle so very early on, when I first got my Kindle, I read it.  The other day out of sheer boredom, I decided to see if Myrtle Reed had written any other books and she had.  I just finished reading "The Master's Violin" and thoroughly enjoyed it.  You have to get used to the old fashioned language and rhythm at first but then it flows pretty quickly.  According to Amazon this not available on the Kindle but it is - because of the Guettenberg Press and Mobi, as are most of Myrtle Reed's books.  If you want a fun read - go to one of her books.  They are a bit like Francis Hodgson Burnett's books but not nearly as tragic (and not about children).  Both the books I have read so far are about the class system in the US - even though we supposedly don't have one - and how we dwell on it.  They were written at the turn of the 20th century.  Quite interesting.

The Last of the Pictures

These are pictures of Dane and Thomas.  They are a week apart and were about a pound apart to start off.  Thomas has also started stretching in this picture whereas Dane is still very curled in the fetal position.  It is interesting that by the time I left, Dane was starting to stretch out too.  Carianne is now with Pam and I am sure they are having a wonderful time.  This is probably the time that Pam needs someone more than when I was there but I still had wonderful time.

Dutch - My First Day and My Last

The top two pictures are of Dutch my first full day in Utah and the bottom pictures were my last full day.  Dutch has a tool set his Grandpa Neal gave him and he plays with quite a bit.  He had spent the day playing with the tape measure and the goggles.  That is what the last 3 pictures are - Dutch playing with the goggles.  

Our Visit With Sara

We had a really fun visit with my niece, Sara, the day before I left.  She stayed for several hours and it was a wonderful day.  She gave Dutch some time just for him and he loved it.  He thinks Sara is just his anyway.  She is such a sweetheart.  When it is her and Dallin's turn to start their family - they are going to be such wonderful parents.  Pam had been on kind of a adrenalin rush for the first few days I was there.  It was wearing off by the time Sara arrived.  My visit was wonderful.  I loved every minute of it.  I am not sure how helpful I was but it was fun to be a part of the first days of Dane's life.

Everyone Admiring the Babies

When I was visiting my sister, Marianne's ,  we put the babies side by side and took pictures.  Then we stood around and admired them.  These pictures tell everything.  They are of Annemarie, Julianna, my daughter Pam, Christina and my sister Marianne.  The daughter that is missing is Sara.  I will feature her tomorrow.

Today, I received my Mother's Day gift from the Bahlmann's.  It was pictures of the family.  When I was growing up, I remember my Grandma Brugger being thrilled when she received pictures from family members.  In fact I remember her saying that was the best gift ever!  I remember rolling my eyes and thinking she was crazy!  Now I understand that it is the best gift ever.  I really don't need anything else.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing my family every morning as I get up or as I am preparing a meal (I have pictures in my hall and on my refrigerator).  I love the fact that a long distance phone call is not a special occasion anymore like it was when I was a child but can be just on a whim.  And now we have our blogs.  Everyday I can see what my family is up too and that is a blessing too.  I am so thankful for this time I am living in!  Thank you Bahlmanns.  I love the pictures.