Update over the last 3+ months

Well, it looks like I have some catching up to do - since my last poast was the first of May with Trey's mission call. A lot has happened since then. Most of this you have been updated by the children's blog. Trey moved back to Virginia right after school was out and I underwent cataract surgery on both eyes - a month apart. That kept me off work for a few days, and then we got ready for our trip back East, which lasted for 6 weeks. Our first stop was at Elizabeth and the fun time we had having all excpet Scott's family there (he was in school in Arizona) - and then on to visit with my brothers and sisters and their families. While there I got to see the only living sister on my dad's side, and 2 living sisters on my mom's side. They said I looked a lot like my mom, which is a great compliment to me. Wanda, my sister from D.C. joined me for 2 weeks of this trip - so a lot of the time, me and my siblings were complete. Then we visited Sande, Warren and Uncle Paul in Georgia for his 84th birthday - and enjoyed that visit. He is showing us all how to keep going, as we age. Hope we can apply those lessons. We got home the last of July just in time to drive to Salt Lake on the 19th of August to meet up with Trey, and check him into the MTC on Wednesday. He is soooo excited over his mission. We are happy for him. All is well back home, here in Cedar and Harley and I are back into a routine of going to the University Pool 4 times a week for a morning workout with other "older" people and it is fun. Will post a few pictures. Just check out the children's blogs for up to date pictures. Maybe next time.

May Update

It has been over a month since I blogged, and I am ashamed. Can I use the fact that I have had cataract surgery 2 days after the last entry, and the fact that I am scheduled for the other eye today - as a reason for another month's delay. Well, I guess I just did. I am so thankful that Ali is keeping up with her blog and I sure do enjoy the updates from all the kids. Not much happening in Cedar, except the cataract surgeries for Helen and eye drops every day. Finally learned that I could not use my computer glasses any more (they are too strong) - but that my regular glasses work fine for the computer. I am loving the fact that I can recognize people at a distance, and not just the fact that it is a man or woman (depending on what they are wearing) - and I am sure it is going to improve with the other eye, even more - then I will only need reading glasses. The first one was a piece of cake, except I could not go in the pool for 2 weeks, so no exercise and a little weight gain - and the next 2 weeks will be the same. But that will take us right up to the time we leave for vacation back to the East Coast, leaving Las Vegas on June 24th and returning on July 29th. We are looking forward to a great visit with family, and will spend Uncle Paul's 84th (I believe) birthday with him, before flying out of Atlanta for home.

I wanted to share the rest of the pictures that I made re Trey's mission call. Him opening his letter. Plus I have some darling pictures of Abbie concentrating on her turn at Chinese checkers. That was on Memorial weekend, when they got to visit. It was a fun time.

Rest of the pictures of Trey's Mission Call

Trey's Mission Call

By now, you have beeen notified that Trey got his call today - will be opening it in about 3 hours. But I just wanted to share some pictures. Know you will enjoy the excitement we have had here this past week thru the pictures. Trey sits by the window so that he can keep an eye on the mailbox with window open so he can hear the mailman pull up. Jenn is getting a video of him walking to the mailbox on Tuesday and Wednesday. All he gets is "junk mail". This is very tiring for Saige and Garret and they rest comfortably on Moma Thom's lap in the rocker. The day (today - Saturday - May 3rd - was the lucky day). Here are pictures of Papa Thom videoing Trey as he goes to the mailbox, the envelope we have all been waiting for, and then the big smile and then a picture of Trey with that envelope and an up close of "Elder Wesley Gormus, III" Enjoy the pictures, the conference call at 6 p.m. our time, and our excitement. Thanks for sharing with us. Love you all.

COUNT DOWN in Cedar

It has been a whirlwind of count downs for us, here in Cedar City, for the last nine months, since our grandson, Trey, has been with us - going to school here at Southern Utah University. First, it was count down for Christmas break and his going home to visit with family (this being the first time away from home). Then we all work on our count down on the scales to try and lose some weight for Papa Thom, Moma Thom (for health reasons) and Trey to make sure he is under the limit for his physical that he has to do before sending in his mission papers. I wish I had had my camera or a video to capture the dance that he did after his physical. We celebrated - you guessed it - went to IHOP for breakfast. But we ate wisely - so all was well. Then it was count down for meeting with the bishop and Stake President (as they were out of town during spring break) to get the papers processed. Thank goodness for online submitting of papers now - it went smoothly. Then we get to the count down for the mail to deliver that call - and at this moment - we have a count down of maybe an hour before the mailman comes. Needless to say, he is sitting by the window, listening for the mail truck, wrapped in a blanket, while the rest of us freeze (just kidding). Yesterday little Saige learned a new word - relating to Trey - anzy (sp) It is very exciting in our home. Exams were today and tomorrow - today was an A's.

We have had other count downs - waiting for spring, hoping that last snow did not kill the flowers already in bloom, waiting for the cough that I got 2 months ago to go away - finally got a prescription for an antibiotic and on the way to recovery. We had an eye appointment - Harley has to see the doctor every year due to diabetes and I had not seen him for 3 years - at which time, he told me I had cataracts forming - so this time, I am in need of surgery and the countdown for that surgery - scheduled for May 5th (my mom's birthday), for the right eye. Then we will schedule the other eye. I have had some great examples undergo this before me - Victor and Charles in the immediate family - and Vic assures me that I am going to be able to see "the branches on the tree", after surgery, and not just the outline of the tree. Quinten says, he is not so sure, he wants me to see that well - because I might see the side of him that he has tried to hide all these years. But it is something that needs to be done and this is the time for it.

We have had a great visit this week with Jennifer, Saige, and Garrett. I got to hold Garrett on Thursday morning, when Saige was visiting with Britney. When Saige came, she wanted Moma Thom to play with her and someone else to hold Garrett. I loved, all this love and feel much better, recovering from that cough and tiredness. I had chest x-ray done and blood work and all was normal. So all is well.

Pictures posted will be Trey at the window, at the mailbox, spring time in Cedar, my holding Garrett before leaving for St. George, helping Saige cut Barbie's hair, after she could not untagle all that hair, and Saige enjoying the flowers from the garden.

Will post Trey's pictures tomorrow. Still waiting for the mail delivery. You just have to feel the anticipation with us - so here goes my post and will update it as the countdown continues. Love you.

Enjoy, and hopefully, I can get caught up again before another month goes by. I do love all the blogs and appreciate Trey's getting us started.

"ON THE ROAD - AGAIN

Well you can see from the pictures the reason why I have not posted for a while. I left Salt Lake City Airport on Feb. 26th to visit Paul, Isabelle and Seth in San Ramon, Calif. Laura went down to visit with her family in Las Vegas for a few days, then I got to visit with her and Cooper at the end of my 9-day stay. We had lots of fun, as you can tell from the one picture, I posted. But other pictures include the beautiful neighborhood that they live in, the park where Seth and I walk to, and the beautiful view of the mountains. This was a very beautiful time of year to vist, red bud in full bloom, flowers and the most "lush" greenery I have seen in a long time. We had family movie night, with "dinner on the floor" (growing up I was familiar with "dinner on the ground (church meetings) - which was pizza, as we sat on a blanket and enjoyed a movie together. Laura introduced me to sushi (a brown rice vegetable roll - low point count for Weight Watchers and very delicious and addictive. I learned how to drive Laura's car and the GPS system that told me how to get to Isabelle's school and dance class and Seth's swim class - and I even ventured out more - because no matter where I went, I could always hit HOME and it would get me back home. It was fun, and I was like a little kid learning a new toy - and reporting in to Paul often to report my progress. He had so much patience with me.

With that new experience, and accomplishment, Scott felt I was up to witnessing the delivery of their son - which I did do (didn't think I could - but did, and glad I did). Harley was in Mesa for a week before I joined him because Lori started having early labor and they needed someone to be there. But they waited for me to get there before having the baby. I got there on Thursday night and the baby came on Monday morning. Baby Brigham and his new family are doing well. As you can tell from the picture Scott did get to help deliver the baby. It was good to spend time with them and let the boys get to know us a little better.

Since we were so close to Yuma, we went on down there on March 13th and Harley played in a golf tournment with Patrick on the 15th. It was good to visit them in their new home and Saige was so excited to see us. Garrett is really growing.

We did not want to leave Tripp and his family out of the loop and even though we knew they would be at church, we stopped by on our way home, and dropped off Chili Pepper for him.

We certainly have many blessings and we are so thankful. We got home to snow in Cedar and then some beautiful spring days with flowers blooming, and a snow shower last night, that has melted now.

Scott's Family

I thought that since Gavin had a birthday this week, 2-year-old, and Lori has one coming up this coming week (we don't mention age - even though I would be glad to be that age again with all the vitality that youth brings), I would post some pictures made at Will's baptism the last of September and his birthday party, afterwards. We all had a great time and visit. I am sure you agree that this is one beautiful little family. The kids had a ball with the water slide and it kept the dad's busy standing at the bottom to make sure no little ones drowned. They were too excited over the fun of it all, to be careful. But grandma and grandpa got to sit back and enjoy it all.

This week we were surprised by a snow storm that hit us on Weds. night, left us with about 8 to 10 inches with drifts in places because of the winds that accompanied the storm. But we survived it all and still went out to our Stake High Priest dinner that night with about 250 people. The guys got to serve their sweethearts. It was fun. Hope all of you had a good Valentine's Day. Until next time - LOVE TO ALL

Addendum to Feb. 8, 2008

Sorry about that wording by the pictures. Will try it different this time. Here are a few more of the precious pictures we got from a wonderful weekend.

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008

This has been one busy week, with the blessings on the weekend, going by way too fast. For more details check the other blogs. I got to ride down the road on Friday with Jennifer, Saige, Garrett and Belle and Saige threatened to "put me in time out" if I laughed out loud again and woke up Garrett. She is a very protective sister. We will miss them as they left Sunday for their home in Yuma, but glad that they can be together as family again. Lorenza and Dale flew in to be with us, on this special occasion. I don't think they have missed very many of the blessings of our grandchildren. We love them dearly, and they are so much a part of our family.

The pictures are as follows, Moma Thom and Garrett, Daisy in her blessing dress in her swing, Kyle and Daisy on Saturday, Trey and Cooper and Paul and Cooper. I will make one more post for a few more pictures.

One more picture

Just to practice putting up pictures - plus Uncle Paul would like the one with Harley in it. So here goes. Enjoy

Explanation of pictures

I was soooo excited about blogging, I forgot to explain pictures. First two were made in S.C., where we met with other family members - first one was Sande, Harley, Charlotte, Victor and me. Second one was Harley and I with Elizabeth, Elijah and Emily. Third one was at Sande's in Georgia with Sande, Uncle Paul and me. Fourth one was me with our newest addition - Garrett or Little Par (as I understand Patrick is calling him) The the fifth one was the view from our front door, across the street of our beautiful snow. Love you all.

Entering the BLOG world

Here is my first post from our vacation and new addition to the family. Trey is sitting by my side and tutoring me thru this process, so my entry will be small this time, so I can learn to post pictures too. I am way excited on doing this and really appreciate all that my children are doing on their blog. I feel so connected as I read their blogs and see their pictures. Thanks for setting a good example for me. Last picture is whaat we came home to - SNOW. More to come.

Home Sweet Home!!!

I started this blog before they got back from Georgia so that Mamathom and Papathom can share with family whats going on in their world. I've done my job, after this its up to them to post. I think that they will really get into it once they figure out how to work it. Well, Enjoy!!!

Trey