In the early hours of October 1st, 2007, my dear mother passed away. Today is the first-year anniversary of her death.

Of course, my memories of Mother are flying around in my brain, and they are not in any particular order or sequence. Maybe I will write just a few lines of early childhood, teenage years, marriage and grandchildren years with my sweet mother.

I see my photos taken as a baby, and I usually had a smile on my face. Mother was holding me, and she looked proud and grateful. I looked happy and contented. Mother made my baby clothes, rompers, quilts, and even my petite, beautiful coats. I have early memories of delicious dinners, a clean and organized house to bring my friends to, usually an offer from my mother for the young visitors to stay for dinner that evening. At a very young age, I was taught by my mom how to write my alphabet and form words at home before I started elementary school. Even as a small child, I knew that I was very lucky to be with such a great mom and dad.

When Kent, Allen, and I grew into the teenage years, we presented our challenges, for sure! My mother was the most amazingly calm person I have ever known. She may have been frustrated with our antics; however, she sat down with us and just talked--no yelling, no accusing, no belittling. Mother was rational and listened to us to try to see our side of the story. Some of the escapades we children got ourselves into were: Marilyn going on a date to the show on Sunday when she knew she shouldn't have done it. Kent and his friends throwing lighted firecrackers down the book chute at the high school library, and Allen and his friend spraying the hose full force with their target being my Dad. Both parents showed a great deal of patience and love while disciplining us.

My mother really shined as a grandmother. My two daughters looked forward to the day we could go to Spanish Fork to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma McKell would take the girls to the grocery store and let them buy extra (not-so-nutritional) goodies to eat. She loved to play those boring board games kids like so much: Candyland or Shoots and Ladders. She would like to buy new Easter dresses for Natalie, Melanie, and cousin Melissa.

My mother was my friend. I didn't have a sister, so I was glad that she would be there to listen to me. Mother was a friend but she was just as much of a role model. I watched the way she dealt with difficult situations without falling apart. She kept her cool and stood up strong and confident; she could tackle any situation. When I am in a very stressful situation, I always think of Mother and how she would handle the challenge. My mother was a great role model in giving her perspective of life situations. By watching her choose whether to see the glass as half-full or half-empty when challenges were put before her, she would invariably choose the half-full glass.

I remember the wonderful aroma of bacon cooking when we were staying overnight at Grandma's house. Mother let me sleep as long as I wanted to. Then she would fix a big breakfast for the girls--singing while she worked.

What a fortunate woman I am to have had such a wonderful mother. A piece of my life is now empty that no other person can replace. Only a mother thinks that her child is almost perfect. She thinks the child is incredibly intelligent, pretty, clever, funny, etc. Will you ever get another cheerleader in your life quite like your wonderful Mother? I know that I won't.


Marilyn

Derek Ryan Peterson

Derek Peterson is my ten-year-old grandson. He is a fifth grader in elementary school and especially does well in math class. He is a very social young man and has lots of friends. He would also be called a "girl magnet". Derek certainly doesn't lack for attention from the opposite sex!

Derek looks very much like his dad, Alan. He has Alan's similar even temperament as well. His mannerisms are so much like his dad that I had to smile when I saw him today participating in his LDS Primary Program. He looked like a young "Alan" as he spoke his parts and sang the songs.

Sports is a huge part of Derek's life. He knows all about the players' lives on his favorite sports' teams and the statistics surrounding their performances. He plays on baseball and basketball teams in West Jordan and has been on winning All-Star teams at the end of the season. Derek has played catcher and pitcher as well as an outfielder. Lately, he has much improved his batting average because he has starting wearing glasses and can now see the ball more clearly! He looks very sharp in his new glasses.

Derek has been taking piano lessons from his Grandma Moore for several years. He especially likes to play lively pieces for our recitals, "Star Wars" being one example.

Some unusual things about Derek are: He doesn't like chocolate and he doesn't like going on rides at the carnival or Lagoon.

Derek is a joy to be around. He is polite. He is enthusiastic. He is a model student. I am proud that he is my grandson.

Megan

Megan is the daughter of Natalie (my daughter) and Alan Peterson. She is six years old and in the first grade. Megan is a good reader, and she loves school. She is very social and makes friends easily.

Once a week, Megan attends tumbling classes. She really likes to do cartwheels and is quite good. She loves candy and mostly anything sweet (like her Grandma Moore).

Megan is a very optimistic child. She seems thrilled to start each new day. She also always tells us "thank you" when we have done anything nice for her. One day I was with her when she was trying on clothes at a store. She said, "Grandma, isn't this special, just the two of us together. Thank you for bringing me here!"

Megan just lost her first tooth. She thought the Tooth Fairy was kind of stingy because she only got one dollar for the tooth! (I remember getting 25 cents when I was a young girl.)

If you go into Megan's bedroom, you are at once assaulted by stuffed animals. She loves them. She also likes to play board games.

One of Megan's favorite people in the whole world is Aunt Melanie. Aunt Melanie invites her over for sleepovers and takes her fun places. Megan also likes Melanie's cat named Loser.

Megan is a sweetheart and a bright shining star in my life.

Ladies' Getaway

What a fun weekend I just had! A group of ladies and I celebrated our book club's 25th anniversay by getting away from it all. 25 years in one book club really dates me, doesn't it!! The common thread we all have in this book club is (at some time in our lives) teaching English at Butler Middle School.

Friday morning four of us left for St. George to meet up with two more ladies who already have homes there. Besides reminiscing about all our memories of book club, we attended plays at Tuacahn Theater on each evening. The plays were "Big River" and "Les Miserables". It was interesting to see them produced with the backdrop of the St. George red cliffs and massive rock formations.

We also drove out in the desert on Saturday morning to see Indian petrogliphs. It was quite a jaunt (on unpaved roads) to get to the spot where the petrogliphs were located. They had been carved by Indians many years ago. On one set of petrogliphs, we could imagine a story being told (probably of an animal attacking an Indian along a trail).

It was great fun to be with these ladies. They are some of the most intelligent people I know. They also love to talk!! In addition, it was refreshing to be with women who don't "primp" for hours to get ready for the day. We had no bossy leader in the group and no whinners. What we did do is laugh a great deal! Since we are (most of us) kind of old, we compared ailments and various pills we are presently taking. Our youngster in the group (Catherine) was kind enough to drive us around and tolerate our "old-lady talk". All in all, it was a fabulous weekend!

Keaton

Keaton is my adorable four-year-old grandson. He lives with his mom, dad, and brother in Salem, Oregon.

Remember how I told you about Keaton's brother Sully and his blue-blue eyes? Well, Keaton has those same gorgeous eyes as well. He is one of those kids who you see on the street and think, "Wow, that kid is really cute!".

There are lots of fun things to tell about Keaton. He likes to match his clothes with what his dad or one of his preschool friends might be wearing. He is a great speller. The last time we went for a visit in Oregon, Keaton spelled many, many words for us. His method is to say the word and spell aloud the letters as he writes them with his finger in the air. Sometimes, with long words, he runs out of "air space" and needs to shift his body over to finish the word! It is really fun to watch this process!

A recent milestone in Keaton's life was a visit from the Tooth Fairy. He proudly traded his first lost tooth (in his special Tooth Fairy pillow) for great loot and money. He tried to listen for the Tooth Fairy while sleeping, but that clever Tooth Fairy slipped in and out of his bedroom undetected!

Keaton is starting his second year of preschool. He will be five years old on December 16th, the same day that his cousin Bryce also has a birthday. In October, Keaton will come to Utah to see his cousins. He loves to play with all his "Moore" cousins.

Mark McKell's 90th Birthday

Hi there,

I am trying again to compose a blog. I had some luck with the first one although the text and the picture were not connected to each other. So.......this one may be the same way, or it may not even have the pictures at all!! I am still going to try.

Yesterday my family had a birthday party for my 90 year-old father. We held the party at a converted LDS Church that is now a reception center. This old building is the same building where my father attended church as a child. It is also the building that my dad's dad was in charge of building when he was an LDS Bishop. It took 14 years to build (during the Depression of the 1930's).

We had a lovely dinner and little speeches from Dad's three children and 12 grandchildren (speeches that Grandpa loved hearing about himself!) It was a great party!

My dad, at 90, is remarkable. His heath is phenomenal for his age. He is very active. Some of his activities are: feeding cows on his farm, playing the organ (which he learned at age 79), handling all the work of six rental properties, and in general, just keeping a very positive attitude.

Happy Birthday to a wonderful dad! How lucky I am to still have him as part of my life.

(I just previewed this blog, and the pictures aren't there!!!! Help, Jake!!)
Oh, well, I will publish it anyway.

Grandpa McKell's 90th birthday party

Sully

This is Sully's two-year-old picture. It doesn't do justice to his gorgeous blue eyes.

A New Beginning

My grandson Jacob Peterson taught me how to set up this blog. He is 12 years old (13 in October) and is very good with the computer. I am an old grandma who is "computer challenged"!! However, in spite of my limitations, I do want to try this. I love to write, if only for myself, so I can keep a type of journal that I have never kept before. So.......be patient with my stumblings.
I thought that to start with, I would introduce all of my 13 grandchildren. For this blog, I will start with the youngest. He is Sullivan Patrick Moore (more commonly known as Sully). Sully turned two in July, so he is a busy little fellow. He has a very sweet, contemplative nature. For instance, I have seen him looking at a toy his older brother Keaton is playing with. Sully will sit and just watch until Keaton tires of the toy and puts it down, and then he will quietly swoop in and take the toy--no altercation involved in the exchange! Sully has beautiful blue eyes that are really quite arresting. It is the first thing people notice about him. He has beautiful, thick hair and light skin. Some of his favorite things are blueberries, airplanes, his snuggly blanket, walks with his mom, playing in the indoor play park, and anything invloving water! Sully is adorable, and we can't wait to see him and his brother when they come for a visit to Utah in October.
(P.S. When I learn how to import pictures, I will post one of the very handsome little guy named Sully.)