DAVID OSMOND-DANNY BOY ON MEMORIAL DAY

i look out my window...

the flag is posted and waving.

i reflect on the purpose of this day 

away from work.

REMEMBERING.

a day to remember

those that have lived great

and have moved beyond their earthly home.

in a years time,

stephen garff marriott

and

maxine rice garff

are on my list of thoughtfulness.

this was the day

MEMORIAL DAY

that i would meet grandma garff

at wasatch lawns

to place flowers on grandpa's headstone.

now she joins him

and as much as i wanted to honor her

and reminisce...

* i just wasn't quite ready.

rick golfed with friends

noah went to seven peaks

and i cleaned

cleaned 

like a madwoman

and there is still more to do

later we celebrated

and 

barbecued.

grandma and grandpa

joined

and we

REMEMBERED

mom and dad,

with great efforts and persistance on their part

made sure that grandma garff's headstone

was there on wasatch lawns

for this day of

REMEMBERING

photograph of Ray Hart

this video was presented

to me.

most fitting for the day of 

REMEMBERING

happy MEMORIAL DAY

lyt

*on may 28, 2014,
on the return trip from heber city,
i stopped and had a moment

 kisses to my grandma garff

a moment for grandpa royal
and grandma marba,
another to breathe in the beauty of the surroundings...

expressions of love 

and hopes for forgiveness

to

teva

I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD

i became acutely aware

that in grandma's passing

the home on devonshire

would soon be a memory in my mind.

i felt desperation to quickly

capture a few

signature items

on sunday

march 9, 2014

i paid a visit

to 2975 devonshire circle.

for one more moment

i was

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Personalize a slideshow

WOODEN ROSES

from the archives and files of the mixed UP granddaughter rebecca

 

FIFTY WAYS TO DO FIFTY

FIFTY ways to do FIFTY

1.  hit the snooze at least three times...maybe four

2.  put a screen shield on your brand spanking nifty FIFTY i phone 5s

3.  take my morning “walk”and feast upon the word of christ

    (the one thing I missed 11 years ago...exercise on the stationary bike)

 4.  sing happy birthday to noah and record it on the old cam...

5.  make noah a birthday breakfast of french toast and stick a candle in it

6.  pass on the black and white granny sweater for a more hip purple one

7.  don the princess sparkle crown earrings...treat me like royalty, 

why? i am ½ century young

8.  blast it ! remember i forgot to charge and activate the phone

    (say out loud “get out of your head and into your heart...no raptors allowed”

    make sure noah’s favorite pants are washed and what only semi dry???)

9.  take a birthday photo of the birthday boy as he hurries out the door in his semi dry pants

    with his little debbie birthday treats (also celebrating FIFTY years) and

    be thrilled the house is a mess...it is actively lived in

10. bask in the fact that last year’s snow has melted into a balmy 45 degrees at 8:55 a.m.

11. make plans for a “triple double” birthday party at grandma garffs

grandma hart-double digit birthday (3/4 century plus one)

moi double-digit birthday (1/2 century)

noah double-digit birthday (1/10 century plus one)

12. thank the ela angels for acknowledging my special day,

     put on the birthday crown and try not blush as the birthday song is sung

     and have someone take a picture.

 13. accept the uncompliment with a smile from my new besty “i love to poke your arms

     because they are so jiggly”

14. take my calcium, my vitamins, my probiotic

15. break time...check out all the FIFTY nifty FIFTY plus FIFTY more

iphone cases

16. disrupt Mrs. O’s class...nice deflection “let’s all sing to Mrs. G !”

17. sit in a corner with multiple students writing essays on the movie verses book “the outsiders”

    (perfect, a chance to reconnect with the crushes of my younger years...matt dillon,

     ralph maccio, patrick swayze... and tom cruise???? who knew?)

18. hang out in the pride class and discover what  “a BEAUTIFUL Person is!!!!!”

19. attend a department meeting sweetened with deliciously delectable homemade

     chocolate cupcakes

20. receive and open a gift of sunshine--”PRICE”less...especially the wound bandages

     (savor a sunshiney card from little miss sunshine)

21. relish in a sweet email and birthday wish from a childhood friend

22. delve into "ersperanza rising" accompanied with a documentary on “surviving the dust

     bowl” someone knew I am an active wannabe storm chaser.

23. a birthday wish from kjar plastic surgery...am i the new target audience FIFTY and

older? are they trying to recruit me?

24. hear about the short awaited proposal...congratulations friend

25. hit the floor for a code black with 8 students

26. review area and perimeter and then apply it to a dining table...what do i know about that?

     very little.

27. google 11  11’s to commemorate noah’s special day

28. activate my nifty FIFTY iphone with the tutelage of the techno savvy

29. remind students of the appropriate use for a measuring stick

30. quality time with noah during traffic over memories of his birth

31. pause a moment to capture a beautiful sky and sunset on film

32. battery exhausted...no not now...we’ve just arrived

33. remember the nifty FIFTY gifty i received has a camera...i am safe

34. oops i guess i only set up the iphone (  allow rick the grand opportunity of activating mine)

35. celebrate the news of nathaniel’s acceptance to BYU as well as the eagle scout   

     announcement that arrived, andrew’s win of the pinewood derby and all the cars bryan helped

     with... placed, and a week of birthday bashes (grams, paul, peter, stephen, noah, mallory and

     moi)

36. lovely ladies present a little compact mirror with words reminding me

    i was born to be queen

37. show and tell my new crown of candles and sing a little ditty

38. let noah have a chance to look like lady liberty

39. have the traditionally annual mother son birthday photo

40. now the grandparents birthday person photo

41. visit with grandma garff

42. hug and kiss grandma garff

43. tell her things we used to do together...remember to read “a place far away”

44. climb up in her bed and massage her head and listen to her breathe

45. dine on moochies and meatballs thanks to my handsome hubby

46. sing happy birthday to the “triple double”

47. open cards from mom and dad… "MMMooommm DDDaaaddd...the computer is my gift”

48. one last memorable moment as a family with grandma garff

49. open presents from chelle…”WICKED !” Are you kidding me?

 50. be grateful for a happy day

METANIA IN 2014 !!!

new year's eve 

at the groendyke home

is simple.

never out to late night parties,

getting gussied up to welcome 

in the new year.

we prefer

home.

cozy.

rested...

maybe a party hat or two.

this year

mom and dad

planned to celebrate

with grandma garff

on good ol' devonshire circle.

an invitation was extended

and we gladly accepted.

the marriott

had prepared mini reuben, tuna, 

and egg salad sandwiches

cheese and crackers

fruit and veggie platters

wonderful desserts

so it took us two trips

to deliver the goods,

it was well worth it.

grandma's home

looked festive.

we speak a bit louder

and the visits

filled with laughter.

the word of the year

METANIA 

meaning change.

chelle issued a challenge

via phone

"come unto christ and be perfected in him"

dad poured the sparkling cider

and each took a turn toasting in the new year

HAPPY 2014

GRAPPY HATITUDE DAY

how many ways can you say

THANKSGIVING?

 the GRATEFUL groendyke family

had an invite

to the ellis family home.

we GRACIOUSLY accepted.

our assignment ,

the appetizers

(THANK goodness)

our kitchen was busy...

but not stressed

we prepared

a cheesy looking turkey

made of a cheeseball

crackers and fruit

chilled shrimp

grape tomatoes

sweet pickles

savory meatballs

muddy buddy snack mix

the ellis home
was decorated
perfect for the season of THANKS

noah REJOICED at the sight of
BOYS and TOYS

the scent of homemade rolls
roasted turkey
and marshmallow topped yams
cascaded through the home

we APPRECIATED 
the hugs,
the visits,
the beautiful prayer,
offered by uncle mike
everyone's efforts
and filled tummies
from the vast buffet of food

jodi had made gorgeous autumn pies
carly came with a clever
hair bow
that she had crafted
but we missed

grandma garff
she took a topple the other day
and sported a magnificent
shiner
that would be the envy of boxers
that fight for a living

aunt linda
had a gigantic get well card
for all to sign
THANK YOU for the thought

certainly we were BLESSED
to be surrounded by
good people,
our family

we felt deep GRATITUDE
for our freedoms
to have food to eat
and the warmth of shelter

we felt APPRECIATION
for testimonies of the gospel
and the love felt
from and for our
Savior, Jesus Christ
PRAISED be his
Holy Name

GRAPPY HATTITUDE