Happy Birthday Mam

Today is my Mam's birthday.  She would have been 68.  I just wanted to acknowledge her on this day.  I miss her every day.  I miss her when I'm sad and I miss her when I'm happy.  I really miss her when I'm having any type of disagreement with my parents because she had a way of talking to me that was completely unpatronizing but helped me see others point of view.  She treated me like a adult but she loved me with the kind of true and unconditional love that only a grandma can give.  I miss her laugh.  She had the best laugh.  The last time I saw her she spent some time with us in the summer.  We spent an entire day while the family was gone just watching movies (Connie and Carla was her favorite....it was hilarious to her) and eating Chex Mix.  She made her potato salad which is still to this day the best potato salad I've ever had.  No one has ever been able to make her same recipe the same way she did.  She fought for the people she loved.  She stuck up for my Mom to us kids and she stuck up for me to my parents.  It makes me the most sad when I think of how my future children will never get to have her in their lives.  Will never know the power of her hug or the contagious sound of her laughter or hear her wise advice and grow stronger from her perfect words of encouragement.  She was still to this day, the best friend I've ever had.  She was gone from my life far too soon.  I just live hoping to make her proud.

Happy Birthday Mam
I love you and miss you.

Papa

Today is my Papa's birthday (grandpa on my Mom's side).  I guess I should say it would be his birthday.  His 72nd birthday.  My Papa passed away when I was 6.  I still remember his funeral.  Papa was the greatest man in the entire world.  I thought I would share some pictures and stories about my Papa.  Most of these were taken from my Mom's blog- I wanted my friends to know all these things about this amazing man as well.  This is the account my Mom shared about her Dad.

72 years ago today, my Dad was born in Wichita, Kansas. My Dad had a pretty rough childhood, moving to California at some point while he was still fairly young.  He was the only child of a second marriage, having 4 older sisters and one older brother. He lived in San Fransisco as a child and had to get a job to help support his mom when his Dad died while is San Quentin. My Dad was 12.

He was a hard worker who loved his family. He was in the Air Force as a policeman. He became a salesman. He loved sports. He was once offered a "loan" by an acquaintance who was in the mafia in Detroit. He once had a phone call from Magic Johnson's mom. She wanted to build a swimming pool. He thought it was a fake so he didn't take her seriously. No pool.
He was involved in Indian Guides (Anybody remember that?) and hockey with my brothers. He was involved with my drill team.

When I was 21 I fell in love with Kevin Bacon and I had  seen "Footloose" 3 times in one weekend...it was true love! Shortly after that I came home from work and taped to my bedroom door was the PEOPLE magazine with Kevin Bacon on the cover...my Dad had bought it for me :0) I still have that PEOPLE magazine.

My Dad had several reversals in fortune. He was in a car accident that left him permanently disabled--the other driver was at fault and had no insurance. He started his own business with a partner who then ran off with all the money leaving my Dad severely in debt. He was trying to go back to school and support 3 kids. It was very difficult, but only now do I appreciate how difficult.
When I got married, I wanted my best friend to be there as my Maid of Honor as I had been hers. She was a young mother of 2 children and not living in the same state. She would have to fly, but that would be a hardship on her tiny families' finances. Without much fanfare, my Dad sold our camper and bought her ticket so she could be there.

 My Dad's legacy lives on...he was a terrific and generous man who loved to laugh and be outside with his family eating a good meal.
I love my Dad. He left us too soon. I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel and the promise of Eternal Families.

I would like to add to this and say that one of my favorite memories of him is that he used to work at Christmas time as a mall Santa.  He was the only Santa whose lap I would sit on as a kid and not scream.  I'm so grateful for this man. He blessed everyone he was around. It used to make me so sad to think of him not being around as I grew up. As I've gotten older I've learned a lot of things that him and I have in common.
We both loved to put ice in our milk to make it nice and cold and we both stuff TONS of saltine crackers in our tomato soup so that it's more cracker than soup. I like learning these little things and hearing all the stories about what an incredible person he was and I'm sure...is.
So Happy Birthday Papa. We miss you terribly.

Papa when he was young...he was very handsome.  He's always reminded me of Johnny Cash

I love this picture because I can tell they both really love me...

I made this video one time when I was really missing my grandma.  I like knowing that the 2 of them are together.