The Birthday Girl!!

On October 2nd, the matriarch of the Lambson family will be 80 years old - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOM/GRANDMA!! We all got together and surprised her a few weeks early - because of scheduling and because, well, it really surprised her! She had not one idea that this was happening - I can't believe we pulled it off. Those that could gathered together and yelled "Surprise" when she opened the doors to the cultural hall at church and boy, was she!! The whole fam damily pitched in and got her a 42" LCD television. She was very shocked and very thankful. She is one of the most generous people I know - she'd give you anything she had if she thought you needed it, and sometimes just wanted it! It was so nice to see her get something really nice that she needed for once.


She also got a big surprise when son Gail showed up from Oregon! The picture of all 4 of her boys is the best one of the bunch - they never all look the same direction when a camera is pointing at them!!

A big thank you to Kim, her granddaughter, for the wonderful photography job and for sharing the pictures. Her help was so appreciated!! (Check Kim's blog every now and then - you might see pictures from the party appear. There were some great shots of the kids!!)

Jack Jack Attack!!

I got my fix for my Jack Jack attack today!! I got to stay with him while Mom and Dad had a few hours of play time today. The best part of it was - I got to feed him twice (normally Teresa has had to do that when I've been there!) and he was awake for a few minutes (normally he's been sound asleep when I've been there!). We got to talk about life, about how he's getting so big and how he's such a good eater, about what a great Mommy and Daddy he has - and he was attentive - for a few minutes.

I do have to say that his awake time was very limited. Right after feeding him and having our conversation, I put him in his bouncy seat so I could get some good pictures of him. Well, I had to snap fast because he was heading off to dreamland quick!!

Called to Serve....

no, just called to dinner! We just fed the missionaries this evening and it reminded me of the feeling we had when we had our own missionaries in the field. We tried to sign up to feed the missionaries whenever the list came around while our Elders were serving in the hopes that like kindness would be shown to them. Now, when we have the Elders (or Sisters) for dinner, we just wax nostalgic about our missionary experiences - vicariously, of course!
These young folks in our area aren't likely to relate to raw hamburger, or ketchup and rice, or not eating because you paid for people to get married, or any number of other reasons why food wasn't as plentiful for our boys - but they have the same job to do.

So, here's to all the missionaries in our family - past, present, and future - you are awesome!!

BLOGGING RULES??

I have been informed that one should not post more than once a day - that it confuses the masses when there are more than 2 posts in a single 24 hour period. Guess seasoned blog stalkers whip through their list of blogs and look at the recent post and go on to the next one. Well, my last postings (yes, that's plural) were done on the same day, which illicted the blogging reprimand. So, I publicly apologize for my blogging ignorance and vow never to do it again.

That being said, don't you wonder what other important things I would have said if I could have done another post today?

THE "LODGE"

While in the Show Low area, Dave and I took the opportunity to visit the cabin/lodge Jim and Karen are constructing. The pictures are somewhat blurry, but enjoy the "aura" of the structure anyway!

Yes, that's a picture of Dave in there. He's coming in from shooting his gun holding a "bullseyed" target. His eyes are closed, but if he's trying to tell us he did that with his eyes shut, I'd have to call him on it. He's good, but not that good!!

Another thing...

I was thinking about - you really don't know the impact you can have on someone's life. Our Sunday school lesson brought out the point that a seemingly small decision or act can have larger consequences. Now, immediately, you are probably thinking of bad acts or bad decisions - yes, those can have serious repercussions; the impact being felt by entire families or communities. But what I was thinking about was the acts of kindness or the decision to befriend someone with whom you might not normally hang around. While at a funeral on Friday, there was a man who spoke of the departed and how he became friends with him just a few short years ago. They bonded over music and enjoyed playing their guitars and singing together. This man had a genuine respect for his friend, you could feel it. He hadn't known him that long, but there was sadness at the loss this friend's passing brought. I guess the point is, it's never too late to touch the life of someone - for the good. Sure would like to have a friend like that when I die - someone to say I was a good friend, too.

What a Difference a Week Makes!

And that's not the half of it! I had a "play date" with Jack a week ago and it had been almost a week since I'd seen him then. Now, add another week that's gone by and I'm thinking - why did they sell the house in Chandler?? They should have just moved down here so we could be closer to Jack! I think maybe I'll stage a "live-in" - I'll go up with bags packed and just "live there" until they decide to move closer! (Don't panic, Teresa, right now it's only an idea - BUT, just so we have a frame of reference here, would that even bring about a remote chance of coming closer?)