Choosing Joy

Hawaii!!!!

2012-02-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

This year Craig and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary....in Oahu! I can't tell you how excited we are!!! We are the original definition of cautious and boring but we decided to go for it. We chose this island because we wanted to see Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the temple. If we ever get to go again, we will choose another island but for now we are just thrilled to go to Hawaii. We go in the fall so I am, of course, vowing to lose millions of pounds and have a bathing suit body....yeah right! Who am I kidding? I turn fifty this December, not going to happen!

If any of you happen to have great advice or ideas, please share. My heart is pounding just thinking about it!!!! Aloha:)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

This year at Thanksgiving we all met in Utah where Craig's mom and most of his family live. It seemed to be the most central meeting place for everyone. Morgan, Kristin's amazing sister-in-law, scouted out the location and took the photos. About ten minutes into the shoot it started blowing and hailing, crazy!!! I am thankful to have the great pictures, thanks Morgan!

Dave and Kristen and Kylie are still in Provo. Dave is working hard to finish his Masters in Civil Engineering. Kristen does hair at home and chases a very active Kylie!!!

Nate and Ashley-living in Glendale, AZ while Nate is attending Physical Therapy School. Ashley is working hard at a local hospital waiting to get into the Physician's Assistant program.

Ryan and Kristin are living the dream in Redmond OR. Ryan is in the apprentice program with Bonneville Power and in another two years will be a substation operator. Dylan is seven and in first grade, Leila is five and in pre-k, Cohen is three in January, and Eva just turned one. They are busy, busy and happy, happy!

Can I tell you how blessed I am? Love my kids, their amazing spouses, and adorable grandkids, not to mention my fabulous husband of almost thirty years! We need a party!!!

Summer Fun

2011-08-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

They let us take their picture before we left for home. Pretty good for a Sunday afternoon after sitting through church!

Water fight with the sponges! Thanks, Kathryn for the great idea!

The kids loved having Grandpa bounce them on the tramp.

We brought the energy level down for Eva J.

Eva cuddling with Grandpa and wondering why I was taking her picture!

Last weekend we went to Redmond to visit Ryan, Kristin and the kids. Dylan is now seven, Leila is four and will be five in November, Cohen is two and will be three in January and Eva will be one in September. Eva is walking and trying to keep up with the big kids. She is full of personality and fun.

We spent the weekend jumping on the trampoline, having water fights with sponges, putting handprints on pillowcases, having a tea party, eating yummy food and generally having a great time! Thanks for letting us come.

Sad times...

2011-06-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

My dad passed away today at noon... not sure what else to say. He is not hurting anymore and not missing my mom anymore. Wanted to say, Happy Day! but that sounds odd because I feel so sad. I guess I will just say, "Love ya, Dad."

Images of Autumn

2010-10-28T19:25:00.001-07:00

Kylie in the pumpkins....

Random pictures from this October. Kylie at Apple Festival. Loved those apples!

Grandpa and Leila reading Craig's favorite author, Mercer Mayer!

Cohen and Dylan... after decorating Halloween cookies, they simply must be tested for quality control purposes!

Grammyand Dylan testing the lights for family pictures. Great shot! Great kid!

Playtime with Grandpa! Here comes Cohen...

Ryan, Kristin, Dylan, Leila, Cohen and Eva. Love the plaid!

First day of church, Primary program, I think...

Blessing Day! My sister, Nancy made the gorgeous dress and bonnet.

How lucky am I? I missed seeing Nate and Ashley and Dave this fall... hopefully in the next few months... Nate graduates December 17 so we will go for graduation in Rexburg then on to Utah to see DAVE and Kristen and Craig's family before we come back to Spokane for Christmas.

Welcome Eva June!

2010-10-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Kylie and Eva making friends. I am sure they are making a play date or maybe plans to be roommates at college!

Cohen is full of fun! He played for almost an hour with a pound of butter. He stacked it, he made towers, knocked them over and thoroughly enjoyed the new "toy." I am not sure what he was doing with it on his very cute tummy!

The new girl cousin trio. I love these little girls! I can't wait to host a teaparty and play dress-up!

September 17, 2010 Kristin and Ryan welcomed their new addition, beautiful Eva June Wilkinson. She weighed 5lbs. 11 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. Unfortunately, I didn't get to make it for this one. I missed being there and watching the two of them work so well together. Dylan, Leila and Cohen love their little sister and take fabulous care of her! Kristin looks awesome, as always. She is amazing!!!

I feel very blessed to have such a great family. My own children married wonderful people who have wonderful families. Even though I wish we lived closer, it is reassuring to know that the other side of their families are supportive and awesome. tender mercies...

Oregon Coast...Heaven!

2010-08-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

This is their Minpin, Meecka. Such a cute thing! ALMOST makes me want another dog!

I know this isn't the sea perch but I'm not sure what it. Whatever it was it sure was good after Carie got through with it!

Okay, so this is Barbie (Carie) and Skipper (Carrie). She is tall, blond and gorgeous! My lot in life is to be the short, squat, brunette side-kick!

Lois and two of her five boys, Paul and Craig. She is one proud mama!

This is one homely fish! I was shopping in Seaside while these bad boys were being caught!

This last weekend Craig and were able to take his mom, Lois, to Astoria for a visit. We left her with Paul and Carie, Craig's brother and sister-in-law. What a fabulous time! Craig has really missed being close to is brother so this was a perfect trip. They fished on Cannon Beach, off the slough and crabbed in Seaside (I think!) Their lovely home is right by the water and filled with love and light. They hosted a family bbq on Sunday afternoon and cooked up a spectacular fish fry on Monday with the fish they caught that morning. YUM! I will need to ask Craig again what kind of fish they were. I know one was a sea perch but the other two were.... I know one had blue flesh until it was cooked!

Much love and thanks to Paul and Carie for the perfect weekend. We love you lots!

Clark Family Reunion

2010-07-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

Father's Day weekend we had a family reunion with all of my brothers and sisters and their families. The last time we were together was ten years ago when my mother passed away. It was fabulous!!! We had about 75 people in attendance and were missing about twenty. I know my mom was watching and laughing at the cute kids, the diverse personalities, and the fun we created and enjoyed.

We were lucky enough to have Nate and Ashley and Dave and Kristen and Kylie. Ryan and Kristin moved that weekend from the Dalles to Redmond Oregon and were unable to attend. We missed them but totally understood.

For those of you who don't know my extended family, I am one of six girls and two boys. I am number five. We range from fifty-seven years old to thirty-six years old. Each of us is strong in our own way and we make a great unit. I am blessed to be part of this family.

Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Ryan and Kristin, Dylan, Leila and Cohen for Easter. Here are a few shots of dying eggs, the hunt and random pictures of the kids. Note the picture of Cohen emptying the shelf of books. I know his dad has a similar picture in his scrapbook except it was albums. Oh, come on! You remember albums! The things we listened to before we had cassette tapes and then cds! The Ryan and Kristin Wilkinson family will be moving to Redmond Oregon the first of June so this will be their last trip for awhile. We appreciate the effort it takes to travel with three kids! Thanks, guys. You are the best!

Happy Birthday, Kylie Marie

2010-04-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

I am home and semi-settled so I thought I would add some photos of our newest little miracle, Kylie. It is an amazing thing to watch your daughter have a daughter. Kristen did so well and with Dave by her side they totally rocked! Thanks guys for letting me be part of the fun.

WE HAVE A BABY!!!

2010-03-25T15:59:00.001-07:00

Kristen and Dave welcomed Kylie Marie Young into the world March 24, 2010. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz and is nineteen inches long. She is a beautiful, petite blond who looks like a real mix of the two of them yet very much like a Young! I am not very good at guessing features! All I know is she is a keeper! We are tired and happy and ready to come home from the hospital! I will post a picture later, just picture dainty features, pink skin, blond eyelashes and big luscious eyes! Okay, picture the cutest baby in the entire state of Utah!

I love spring - rebirth and new life!

See you back in Spokane this next thursday.

Coming together

2010-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

As you know, I am not the best at importing pictures and having them actually go where I want them to go but I will make a valiant attempt!

We have a before picture of the kitchen(with the wall already down), the new floor with the first coat of sealer (it has mellowed quite a bit!), and the new cabinets without the counter tops and hardware, hmmm or appliances. I chose the cabinet hardware yesterday and they will be installed soon. They come this weekend to make the template for the counter tops, black granite with chocolate flecks, and they will be installed next week. We are finishing the recessed lights in the kitchen and dining room. The pendant lights over the island are on the to-do-list, as well. We have lots of patching of walls, painting of patching and trim work to complete before they do the final coats on the floor. We still don't know if we can keep the current backsplash. I am looking forward to having the dishwasher, microwave, frig and sink back in the kitchen. The back porch and downstairs are very crowded with kitchen paraphenanlia. (sp) We aren't uncovering the new floors until all of the construction work is finished!

Now I have to say, my heart is bursting with gratitude. NEVER did I think that we could or would do this to our little split-entry house! When the cabinet maker came and installed the new cabinets, it was all I could do to not break down in front of him. After they left I went to my room and bawled and thanked my Father in Heaven for all of these great blessings that are being poured out to us. Tithing blessings, tender mercies.... All I know is my heart is full. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who works so hard during the day and then works so hard with me in the evenings to accomplish this transformation. What a man!

So maybe it won't be done by Thanksgiving...

2009-11-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

Still not able to place the pictures where I wanted to place them, I finally gave up and posted my October post anyway!

Ryan and Kristin and the kids came from the Dalles last weekend and helped sheetrock enough so they could install the garage door tracks and openers. Thank you, thank you for making the sacrifice to come, guys! Hope the thumb is okay, Ryan...

The doors were put on last week and they look fabulous. Craig installed the back man-door but still no electricity. The gable was put up yesterday so we can move onto wiring. After electricity, we insulate and sheet rock (including framing out the wall next to the house) and finish the soffit(sorry for the spelling). Somehere in there we move the Avista meter from the outside of the house (now in the garage) to the outside of the garage. This is the part that concerns me the most...

We cannot express the deep love and appreciation we feel for all those that sacrificed their time and many talents to help us get this far. The list is long and we are grateful beyond words. This has long been a dream for us, especially Craig, and we appreciate all of the help. We have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Good friends, good family, Good News. (the gospel)

Work in Progress

2009-10-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

We are in the middle of a grand adventure, building a garage! We began in July by removing the bushes and fence from the side yard. What a difference it made! It opened up the entire yard. Hmmm . . . only to close it up again with a 28 x 28 foot garage! Crazy! Unfortunately, sacrifices had to be made. I lost my only east facing window, my dining room window. I love the morning sun so you might see me sitting on top of the garage roof with cereal bowl, facing east.

We had an amazing crew of eight men come last saturday (this was written in the middle of October!) to help frame and put up the trusses. I can't begin to express our gratitude. We are doing most of this ourselves with help and encouragment from those who actually know what they are doing!

After Craig finishes a few things we move on to roofing (ok, so done!)and then electrical, YUCK! Not looking forward to that! We are looking at lots of moisture this week and were hoping to get the roof up before it hit but... it is not to be! You know, life happens! We just feel very blessed to be building this at all. Here is a look at the progress, so far...

Craig is so excited he can hardly sleep. It is like Christmas Eve everytime something new happens on the garage. It is fun to watch! We hope to be completed by Thanksgiving.

Wannabe Athlete

2009-08-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

So, I have always been a walker, not a jogger or a runner, a walker. Last week in preparation for the Trek, Craig and I were walking some major hills. As I am huffing and puffing up these hills, I am thinking, "If you can do this, YOU CAN JOG!" So on Friday I jogged about 1 1/2 miles of my walk. I was feeling good except for a little twinge in my hip that night after sitting in the truck for an hour. Not bad, I am thinking. Saturday afternoon we hiked around Round Lake with our boots on so I figured I better skip the jogging! This morning I jogged about the same amount, a mile and a half and walked the rest.
Here is my question: Do I continue like this for a few weeks? Do I add more jogging each day, week, month? We have the Trek this Thursday, Friday and Saturday so I don't want to add too much this week. I also don't want to injure anything so I can't do any type of exercise. Any suggestions from those who know about this stuff? I am forty-six and getting kind of old!!! Too old to start?
To tell you the truth, I am excited about this. I never thought I could be a jogger but I have always been a jogger wannabe!

July in Utah

2009-07-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Last week Craig and I were able to go to Utah to visit his family and Kristen and Dave. Fabulous time! I don't think we sat down very much but it was fun. Craig's mom put together a family dinner for Monday which really helps us. We love to see everyone but it is impossible to get around to everyone! We did get to see all of Craig's brothers and sisters that live in Utah at this party so that was great. Besides there are all of these cute nephews and nieces that we love to see but who wants a visit from Uncle Craig and Aunt Carrie! So can't fit it in the schedule! Throw in food, a pool and a little old fashioned parental guilt and a few of them will show up! Thanks, Goodrich clan! Love to see you guys!
We got to divide our time between Dave and Kristen and Grandma. That is a tough choice, let me tell you! My A-list when we left was - a shaved ice, fabric stores, and walking a canyon. All of list was accomplished, whew! I don't think Craig ever did get his BYU Creamery, bummer!
We had a great dinner with Kristen and Dave and his parents, Brian and Sheri. It was probably one of the highlights. Great people, great conversation! Sheri ran the Deseret News Marathon last week with a killer time. She is crazy, gorgeous and in unbelievable shape,but crazy!
Too many great times to write but it was just fun to be in Utah and with such fabulous people. Thanks for letting us come!

p.s. again, the camera stayed in the glove box the entire time! I need Kristin to snap pictures. She is the best!

4th of July with Family

2009-07-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

We had a great Fourth of July with all of our kids here. I wish I had great pictures but.. I don't think I took the camera out once. We did have someone take some family pictures so I will post some when I get the disc. Kristen and Dave came the farthest, Provo, Utah. Nathan and Ashley came the next farthest, Rexburg, Idaho. Ryan and Kristin came the least but with the most people! from the Dalles, Oregon. We had a good time visiting, playing cards and other games, and eating yummy barbeque. One morning we went to Post Falls and played on the beach and in the FREEZING water.

Our family has always played games for entertainment, sometimes board games but alot of cards. Poor Kristin, Dave and Ashley! Not only did they marry into the strange Wilkinson family but now they have to play games. Ooohhh... BUT! Dave always finds the best games. This time he brought BANG! It is a card/cowboy game. One person is the sheriff, one the renegade, three deputies, and two outlaws. You can guess the strategies that go with this game since we don't know who anyone is but the sheriff, poor guy! Fun game.

Everyone was kind enough to come back this year for our 4th of July bbq. Susan and Bob's family came along with the Rosenbaum's and my kids. Kristin's sister, Kaylee and her husband, also joined the fun. There was lots of great food and Bree's pasta salad was killer with the curry!

The slip 'n slide was a big hit! The kids kept themselves occupied for quite awhile and the adults slipped in at the end. Sorry if you missed some of the crazier Wilkinson adults enjoying the water, as well. It was too great!

Craig and I so enjoy our family and miss them when we are apart. It looks like 2010 sometime is the next time the Wilkinson family will invade Otis Orchards. We can't wait!

Thank You notes

2009-05-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

I am going to write a short editorial because I feel the need. A few weeks ago I loaned a book to a cute fifth grader at my school. This is not an unusual occurance. I lend many books. But this WAS the first time I have ever received a note of thanks. I was so touched that beautiful miss CL would take the time to acknowledge my deed. It caused me to think of my own actions and whether I show enough gratitude for the kindnesses shown to me. My note-writing, thankfulness skills have been sadly lacking. I am determined to be better. Thanks, CL for showing me the way!

Mother's Day

2009-05-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Once again my life is transitioning. This was my first Mother's Day with no children at home. Hmmm, what's the purpose of celebrating if none of the kids whom you mothered are here?!? My sweet husband and kids stepped up to the plate and made it a great day. I received a card on Saturday from one son and two more on Monday, they were trying to spread out the celebration! Good job, kids! All of the cards made me a little teary but one in particular caused me to sit right down and weep. Ryan and Kristin made some great cards that the kids helped with. One had little pockets with tiny cards that they recorded specific things they were thankful for. How cute is that? I was thankful that the pocket wasn't too big. That could be embarrasing to have to come up with too many kind things to say! Look at who there mother is, HELLO!

So, thanks kids for making my Mother's Day weekend a special time. Being a mom is one of my choicest blessings. I am so proud of all of you and your choices. I always wanted more children and my prayers have been answered, three of each! Thanks for being patient with me, for teaching me and loving me. My cup runneth over...

ps - Craig made the day great, too. He gets his own blog next month!

I Spy

2009-04-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

For my birthday my sister, Judy, made a beautiful lap quilt. It is an "I Spy" quilt. Well, I tried it out this last weekend when we went to the Dalles to visit Ryan and Kristin and the kids. It was a hit! The kids sat on the couch with me as we searched for Popsicles, dragons, soccer balls and more. Later we spread it on the floor and discovered more great treasures. When we were packing to come home Dylan said, "next time you come, Grammy, you can bring your I SPY quilt." It was so fun to sit and discover together. Thanks, Judy, for the great treasure!

If you look closely at the picture my sister found random fabrics and created pictures within the quilt. You know the books where you say, "find a crayon, or a clown" and they search the pictures. The concept is the same. The quilt itself is beautiful and timeless and the colorful patches catch the eye and the imagination. This gift will certainly get lots of use over the years.

WICKED

2009-04-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

Last week Craig and I were able to travel to Portland via Sammamish to see the play Wicked. It was fabulous! Can I say that too many times? It was amazing! We drove with Judy and Beau, who was a great sport since he had major surgery the day before. When we arrived in Portland we checked into our hotel right on a beautiful river downtown. Craig and I went exploring while Beau rested his sore leg and back. Walking through downtown Portland was so much fun, wet, but fun! They have beautiful little parks and interesting shops. We had no immediate timetable or restraints, the gift of empty-nesting!

Room service delivered a yummy dinner while we prepared for the eight o'clock show. Of course, there has to be a glitch. I forgot my black tank top and had to use a safety pin instead. It didn't look as cute but there was no time to run to a store. As Craig and I were finishing our last minute preparations we received a phone call. The play didn't start at eight but at seven thirty! Yikes! It must have been hilarious watching us run down the sidewalk pushing Beau in a wheelchair trying not to miss the opening.

The play was beyond wonderful! Even though I missed the first number of the second act, that's another story, it totally exceeded my expectations. The cast was superb, including the understudy for Glinda. Awesome

The next morning we were able to attend the Portland temple before we headed back to Sammamish. Stunning! I love going to different temples.

Because it was General Conference weekend and we didn't need to be back for meetings, Beau and Judy had to put up with us until Sunday afternoon. Poor Parnells... We came back relaxed and rejuvinated. What a great Spring Break! Dare I say, we had a wicked time!

That's good. No, that's bad!

2009-03-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to blog for awhile but didn't have a cute picture. Oh well, here is a blog with no cute picture where everyone says, "oh, sweet!" I am blogging in the style of one of my favorite children's books.

Ryan and Kristin are moving to the Dalles Oregon on Monday. That's good! NO! That's bad. None of our children will be living in Spokane! They didn't even ask if they could take the grandkids with them, rude! Who am I going to babysit now? What excuse can I make up to make cookies now? Who can I cuddle with that still fits on my lap? Craig is cute but he doesn't fit on my lap! I will miss them more than I can say. There is comfort in having some family close.

Ryan and Kristin are moving to the Dalles on Monday. That's bad. NO! That's good. They are making great choices for their future. Ryan is continuing with his schooling so he can provide well for his family. It will be a great adventure for their them. Kristin will get to live by her mom, the normal one! From what I have heard the Dalles is fabulous. It is warm and sunny and right along the Columbia river which is beautiful. It is only four and half hours away, not the East Coast!

To tell you the truth, I miss my kids. Everyday I wish we lived closer. I know they are all their own families now but this transition stuff is difficult! You would think it would be a breeze by now. We have been saying good-bye to Ryan since he was eighteen, both of the boys served missions and Kristen went away to school. Get a grip, Carrie!

I guess Craig and I will be spending alot of time traveling. . . Sorry kids. Blow up the mattresses!

Grammy time

2009-03-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

The weekend after Valentine's Day we were lucky enough to have Dylan and Leila over so Ryan and Kristin could have a little bit of time alone. Okay, so they still had Cohen but at least he doesn't run around yet and he eats everything put in front of him!

Dylan came with his recipe book of nutritious foods. He was determined to make Chocolate Peanut butter Banana Smoothies. Dylan is a big fan of snacks and treats. After much measuring, blending and taste-testing, they slurped up their movie treats. We watched "the Incredibles" and snuggled on the couch. Before bed we read books and snuggled some more. Dylan had his "boogie-boogie"(the green creature on the couch) and Leila had her fuzzy monkey. I have to tell you, Kristin is an amazing mother. Those kids go to bed sooooo well! We used to have to put a gate up to keep Ryan in his bed and it still didn't work! Kristin is fabulous!

We made letter pancakes for breakfast and played until Mom and Dad came to break up the fun. Being a Grammy is the best! We will babysit grandkids any time guys!

ps If anyone can tell me how to remove a picture once I have put it on the page, let me know. I tried to get rid of one and couldn't! I shrunk it but that is all I could do...

2009-02-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

So this Valentine's Day was my turn, we trade off years. I bought an empty paint can and decorated it, red of course! I put in certificates and menus and plans of what we were doing that day. We had a great day which included a chilly walk on the trail, hawaiian kabobs, huckleberry cheesecake, a movie and other fun things. But I have to tell you, Craig really won this year! I am spoiled, I know. Sometimes he heats up an old rice pack and puts it in between the sheets where my feet go. Well, it died a few weeks ago and I thought nothing of it. Craig, my cute husband, bought fabric, went to Noreen's quilt shop and sewed a new heat pack for me. He spoke to a few people and they recommended filling it with flax. It was such a surprise and sooooo great! He wins husband of the year! Am I lucky, or what?!?!

Last weekend we spent in Rexburg visiting Ashley and Nathan. We had a fabulous time. Kristen and Dave surprised us by coming up from Provo. Thanks, Dave! I can't tell you how blessed I feel everyday to have such a great family, not perfect, ( who can blame them, you know who their parents are!) but absolutely wonderful! All of our birth children have chosen spouses who are perfect for them. "Thank You" just doesn't seem enough sometimes.

2009-01-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here goes my first attempt at blogging. Be patient, be kind! Although I teach writing at school, I rarely apply it at home. My journal is not very exciting. I am hoping I get eternity points just for keeping one! Do we get eternal creativity points? I better work on that!
Craig and I had an amazing Christmas with ALL of our children and grandchildren home. We played cards, shoveled snow, ate yummy food, shoveled snow, sat by the fire, and enjoyed our time together. I so enjoy my family!
We welcomed a new grandbaby on January 11. Beautiful Cohen Glade Wilkinson made his first appearance at 10:07 pm. Craig, being the wonderful grandpa that he is, was watching Dylan and Leila at home while I was at the hospital. I cannot tell you what it feels like to watch a mom and dad work together to bring a baby into the world. Although Kristin did the truly hard work, it was great to see them work together. We love all of our kids and applaud their choices of spouses. We really do look forward to the years we have to get to know them better.