Remembering Dad

"For they all knew it was all Great Grandpa Bunny Bunny's plan."

This quote was taken from the Golden Book titled, Walt Disney's Grandpa Bunny. It was first published in the early 1950's but was just published again last year. It was my favorite childhood book and the favorite of my brother John and my sisters, LaRae and Cheryl. I would encourage you all to find this book and read it to your children. It reminds us of the miracle of Grandpas and the greater miracle of Life Eternal.

My father, John Robert Oleson, was born October 9, 1918. He died October 25, 1999. He is not forgotten. His life was an example to us all. He loved us and his farm and his country. He believed in family, honesty, keeping the Sabbath Holy, the word of God found in the Bible, and observing strictly the Ten Commandments. I will always remember Robb's prayer at Dad's funeral. It was beautiful and comforting. I remember he expressed his gratitude for his Grandpa's example on how to treat a wife and children. My father was a gentle man, a kind man, a man you could count on to help when help was needed.

The picture above is a beautiful sunrise taken at my home last Saturday. I remembered Dad. He was a Great Grandpa Grandpa!!!

Tagged by Jill

4 things I love about my life:
1. My great... fabulous husband!
2. My adorable daughter and handsome son-in-law!
3. My perfect granddaughter!
4. My home

4 things I love about my husband:
1. He's loves me as much as I love him!
2. He helps me do dishes and laundry and will even vacuum!
3. He listens to me!
4. He loves and serves the Lord when and where called!
5. I must add he loves being a father and grandfather!!

4 movies I would watch more than once:
1. The Saint
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Ever After
4. Camelot
5. Fiddler on the Roof (I know, that is five movies)

4 books I would read more than once:
1. The Book of Mormon
2. Marley and Me
3. Pink and Say
4. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

4 jobs that I've had:
1. Speech Therapist
2. Medical Clinic Receptionist
3. Book keeper
4. Truck Driver (beets, beans, barley, corn, etc., I wasn't a long haul driver)

4 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Caring for my Mother who had Cancer
2. Watching my daughter, Jill, play volleyball
3. Watching my son, Matt, play football
4. Participating in the community play, The King and I

4 things I hope to be doing in 10 years:
1. Watching Grace and my other grandchildren play and learn
2. Growing and canning fruits and vegetables from my garden
3. Serving the Lord
4. Helping my husband with his herd of cattle!!

4 people I'm tagging:
1. Cheryl
2. Amy
3. Suze
4. Lynette

Rozella's Birthday

Chuck, Ken and Rozella

Rozella and Ken shared a dinner of baby back ribs at Famous Dave's.
We traveled to Billings to help celebrate Rozella's birthday. She is my mother-in-law and I love her very much. She is kind and supportive of us and cares about us very much. She raised a wonderful son whom I am blessed to have as my husband and father to our children. Ken reflects often on what a wonderful mother she was when he was small and how wonderful she is now that he is grown. We pray that the coming year will be a wonderful one for her and that she will find many blessings awaiting her!

A weekend in Salt Lake City

September 20, 2008 - the sweet hands of our Grace.
Ken and I enjoying dinner with our family at Tepanyaki.
Jake, Jill, and Grace joined us for our weekend of fun. They rented a car and went to Logan to see friends and have lunch on Saturday.

It was fun to share the week-end in the company of Cheryl, Glenn and Suze and family, and Robb, and Jen and family. What a great family they are and we sure enjoyed being with them. On Friday we had a girl's morning out. Cheryl, Suze, Jen, Jill and I went out for pedicures! We have beautiful, smooth, and colorful feet! We visited the Cabella and Ikea stores and Rod Iron Works. Oh... The shopping was good!!

We watched Robb and Glenn in action in their new, growing, very prosperous business.

Congratulations to them in their lawn care business.

The busy moments were fun but the treasured moment was time spent snuggling with our baby in the early morning hours when Jill brought Grace in to cuddle with her Grandma in bed!!!

I wasn't the only one wanting to snuggle with Grace! Here we see Caleb and Micah holding her.

Ken's favorite spot to eat is in Jordan Landing at Iggy's. He always has Coconut Shrimp and thinks it is just the very best.

Grace made a grand entrance to Salt Lake and was given the keys to the city by the loving family who awaited us there. We appreciate their hospitality and the wonderful time spent with them and hope to be able to do it again soon.

Birthday Memories

It was my birthday on Monday, September 15, and it was a good one because I shared it with those I love. I remember Mom and Dad telling me that on the day I was born my Dad finished threshing the beans. Mom knew she was in labor and waited until the harvest was completed. LaRae and Cheryl were in the catalogs cutting out paper dolls and the living room was cluttered with bits of paper but Mom didn't mind because they were safe and playing together. I print the canning picture because I did can on my birthday as my mother often did! Peaches are ripe on September 15. Jill came for the week-end and we spent time together canning peaches and pears. I love the look of fruit and vegetables in jars!! I am grateful for another lesson taught me by my mother!!

After an afternoon of canning we went up to Shell, Wyoming and ate supper at Trapper Creek Lodge. It was a beautiful and memorable evening.

Jake, Jill and Grace were able to join us and we returned for the first time to Trapper where Jill and Jake were married. Jill stopped and introduced Grace to the spot where the wedding took place.

Our Three Generation Picture! We wish it could be a Four Generation Picture! I am missing my Mother more since Grace has been born than I have for awhile. She would have loved to watch Jill as a Mother and would have loved to hold and care for Grace.

Jake and Jill gave me a beautiful gift. It is a necklace I will treasure wearing! Birthdays are welcome when we have so much fun together!!

On Sunday, September 7, 2008 we were in Buffalo, to help Jill and Jake celebrate in the Naming and Blessing of their daughter, Grace Edith Wright. Ken was able to do this ordinance and it was just a great and wonderful day!

Jake, Jill and Grace on September 7th, 2008.

Grace was just a wonderful baby! She is perfection. I made her Blessing Dress, slip, booties, and cap. She is also wearing a little pearl bracelet and little gold ring we gave her. She is truly all decked out!!
Jill was busy and I got to give her a bath and dress her for the special occasion! She was so patient with her Grandma Francie!! I was busy tieing on the bracelet and ring with white ribbon so that they would not get lost or swallowed!

This week my thoughts have been of my sister, LaRae. She was a very important part of my life. She died on Labor Day six years ago. The coming of Autumn is always filled with nostalgia

as we remember LaRae, Dad, Matt, and Mom who passed away in Sept, Oct, Nov, and Jan.

We are fortunate that our memories are wonderful and such treasures. I am attaching a picture of LaRae in the dentist's office. It was taken in March of 2002. The dentist is her son, Sam, and his assistant is her son, Clint. I was priviledged to be seated at her feet reading her the story, "The Daughter of a King". It truly is LaRae's story. I am so grateful for that memory and the opportunity I had to be with her that day.