Memory Lane - Library Treks

I wish I had a picture of us sitting at the big tree between our road and the library on Eastman road in Midland, Michigan. But, I don't and I haven't been back to Midland since 1990.

However, that tree holds lots of memories because we would often bike or walk to the library (around 1-1.5 miles from our home) to get books during the summer months. We would spend time looking at books or at those little film strips in the children's area and then select those that we actually wanted to check out and bring home.

By the time we started walking home we were a little tired and anxious to read the books we had checked out. Often we would stop and sit under that tree. My sisters and I would often start reading a book while we sat there and then the discussion would turn into decision making time. Do we keep walking home or do we return to the library to return the book (or books) we just read while sitting under the tree. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. Most of the time we just kept going home, but I think there were a few times where we went back anxious to return the so-so choices and gather more options to take home.

Even if we didn't read any books it was still fun to stop and sit at that tree. I think we felt like we were on a little trek or something.

Either way, it was good times and I still remember it. Still wish I had a picture.

Memory Lane - Rebecca Doll

My sister, Renaye, informed me a few years ago that I was different. Ha. Well, at least in the doll department. She noticed that I never played with dolls growing up. I'd just put them on display around my room. I do remember getting really excited about dolls, but after holding them for a minute I would just go find a place to display them. To this day I still have the Geisha doll in a glass box on display in my home. I've had that since I was about 9-10 years old.

A week or so ago I was going through my cedar chest and found the first real doll (plastic with make-up and an outfit as compared to the pillow type) that I received for Christmas when I was around 5-6 years old.

It's name was "Rebecca" which was most fitting. We were at my grandparent's home in Idaho and I was excited about having such a beautiful doll. I remember getting really sad when we had to go do an errand in town and my parents made me leave the doll at the house. Urgh! I like having all of my stuff by me at all times. When we came back from the errand my grandmother had made a cute little yellow checkered dress for the doll. I was so happy! To think she could have whipped up an outfit so fast for my special Rebecca doll.

A few months later I received a package in the mail from my grandmother and it was another dress for the doll. This time it was a wedding dress. It was amazing! I put it on the doll and it's been on her ever since! I still have the other dresses for the doll, but this one stayed on the doll while it was displayed in my room and then as it was moved from box to box and in and out of the cedar chest over the years.

The dresses faded, but the doll still looks pretty good. I don't plan on letting anyone play with it any too soon and so it will probably stay as is for the rest of my life unless I become less possessive. Perhaps I will have a daughter someday and it will force me to do something I'm not good at - SHARE. By then, I hope that I can just let it go and let someone else get real joy from it. After all, I now have pictures and can put the pictures on display instead.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!

It's Mother's Day today and I just wanted to thank all of the mothers out there that make all our lives possible.

I was just able to talk with my mother and one of my sisters (who is now the mother of six!) and express to them my gratitude.

When these occasions come about (mothers day, Christmas, mother's birthday, dad's birthday, father's day), most of us always ask the question - "Mom, what do you want for ....?" and the answer is almost always "we just want happy children."

So, since we are primarily happy children, we created a blog - http://dianne-online.blogspot.com/ so share our happy thoughts about years past. Sometimes it is happy for both the giver and the recipient. Well, I guess that is how it goes most of the time actually. It brings back a lot of memories when you write down feelings of gratitude for someone that you've known for a long time. It also reminds me to keep family and friends as a priority regardless of what else gets in the way in the daily grind.

Mission Call - Mr. Brett goes to Washington

Brett got his mission call on Thursday, February 28th. He is going to the Washington Kennewick mission. Very cool. I thought he would go to Portland like me, but it's just as well because the new mission boundaries actually include one of my areas in eastern Oregon.

All of my brothers, and sister, went to central or South America. I just couldn't see that continuing. The odds were against it. So, the oldest child and the youngest child got/get to go to the pacific northwest.

My brother Chris called us all and set up a "gotomeeting" on Thursday and so all eight brothers and sisters were on the conference call while Brett opened the envelope with the mission call. What a neat experience! Half the time we couldn't tell who was talking because very few of us have distinct voices, but it felt like a mini-reunion. We're going to start a tradition as a result of it and set a call up for every couple of weeks.

Anyway, here's to Brett on the next two years of his life! And, here's a picture of me those many years ago and the link to my mission book.

P.S. You must check the link called "Chris." True to the name of the blog, it has not been updated in a while. (-: