Psst....here's the Buzzz

My Dad is more famous than your Dad.


...in Snohomish, at least. The Everett Herald posted this cool video , starring him.
I think we're celebrities by association now. (His entourage?) We were just in his store, checking out that very observation hive!
...and doesn't he make you want to try something new?

So Loved, So Missed

This has been a rough month. I haven't really felt like blogging about it. I've been crying enough without seeking additional opportunities. Really, I've been avoiding any activities that let me sit down and process my thoughts. ...and if I let myself forget about it, I feel like she's still there and I'll see her the next time I visit.

For those of you who aren't "in the loop", my little sister Becky left this mortal life on October 8th. She was recovering from her brain surgery (of all things) - doing great in rehab. She was doing better than anyone thought possible (neurosurgeons included). Then, the day before she was supposed to go home to her kids, she got a serious headache. None of the medications could make a dint in it. When they finally got her an MRI, they found that her brain tumor was back with a vengeance. Bigger than before her operation.

We all hurried to the hospital to say goodbye. My sisters and brother, my parents, some good family friends, and Becky's husband and older kids. It was the saddest, most tender moment of my life - not just because I was losing my sister. I was watching my parents lose their second child to cancer. My little nieces trying to process the loss of their mother. My awesome brother-in-law saying goodbye to his beloved wife. It was heartbreaking in so many directions.

Becky was an amazing woman. She was such a fun sister. She always wanted the family to get together (and that's love! - it's a big family, with many more hooligans than just mine!) Becky remembered the kind things you did for her and seemed to forget your thoughtless mistakes we all make.

She was the funnest, most cheerful cancer patient ever. (I would've been the whiniest, crabbiest ever. I'm like that with no good excuse all the time.) The only time I saw her cry about it (which - given - I wasn't always around) was when she tried to tell me that someone donated their frequent flier miles so a relative could come up and visit/help out. Then...and any time she saw a loving shout-out supporting her on facebook. She was so touched by all of the support and love people gave her family.


This post is super-inadequate, just like I knew it would be. ...but I'm out of tissues...and I need quit wallowing and go to bed.

conference, quilting, and cartoons

Wasn't this conference session wonderful! ( I think it usually is.)Even James and Cozette were captivated...


...but not by the wonderful talks. They watched Winnie the Pooh, so that the rest of us could listen to the words of the prophets. (See my bald head in the bottom of this picture!)


My favorite talks were the ones that reminded me of the Little Britches books. I loved President Monson's story about the family with the farm, celebrating Thanksgiving on one of their leanest years.

...and who wouldn't want to hear a talk in which someone exclaims, "You stupid cow!" (...to a cow, of course, otherwise it wouldn't be funny.)

I also found a project to keep my hands busy while listening.


It's a pre-printed cheater quilt, but hand-quilting it makes up for that, right?


Church in jammies - that's what I'm talkin' about!