Found this post from June 11, 2008

After umpteen hours of trying to get where I am now I am finally ready to BLOG !
We had an interesting week end. First we went to Lisa and Mason's house, listened to her struggle with her job of making stuff for Bo's Boats (they didn't tell her one of them was due to ship out that day) so she was in a panic to get things finished.

Also she had Ethan there visiting and if you are acquainted with kids, you know how many interruptions can be created by them in any given day. So, aside from interruptions, lunch to prepare for Ethan, turning on the TV for him, trying to untangle Rose, the dog, and not succeeding with that, back to the cutting board and sewing machine.

Well, it's all in a day's work.
Instead of getting on the road by 6:30, it crept up to almost midnight. Well, not quite.
Pack the car, put in the dog carrier, suitcases, etc. and take off. We arrived in Umatilla at 4:30 a.m. and, they had to dump us off at Joann's before heading on to Karen's. All is well that ends well, and we slid into bed for a few hours sleep.
Ben's graduation was at 11 am, and we didn't leave any extra minutes in getting there. With Grandpa's problems with stairs, a high school student opened the elevator and we were escorted upstairs in time.
School band music played, the processional of principal and teachers and graduated filed in. The flag salute accomplished according to protocol and everyone settled in for the program. After all the kudos, etc, Ben and 12 of his classmates lined up and it was announced that they had passed a certain test that gives them a 'leg up' on their certificates. I'm not sure what this all does for them or to them but it must be good or they wouldn't have made a special thing of it.

Then on to Pilot Rock for the wedding of Jon Carr and Amanda. Togged out in the usual 'wedding splendor', the couple were duly 'hitched' by the preacher and then the entire group went to Pendleton for the reception, More pictures were taken, congratulations were exchanged and given freely, 'best wishes' flowed like a mountain stream and the couple were sent on their way with many happy wishes. The evening that begun with a lovely dinner ended in dancing until late and everyone was happy to just go home. Our best wishes for the new couple!

The next day being Sunday, we stayed for the blessing of Beth and Daniel Banta's baby. Then on to their new house is Hermiston for lunch with family and friends. A good time was had by all and we saw their new house which they had just moved into that week. In a housing project in Hermiston, it had 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, play/family room and a large lot to be developed partially by them. It will be a very nice place, on a cul-de-sac so it will be safer for the kids to play. Beth is a good Mom and housekeeper, but she will have her hands full. We wish them the best of luck with their family.

Next day after we got home Bob had a doctor's appointment in Port Orchard to look at his ear. He had a crusty something-or-other that turned out to be a non-cancerous deal, but since she found a lot more on the left side of his head (where the sun would naturally shine as he was driving the car) that were pre-cancerous, she decided that she would remove them all. Took but a few minutes to do the deed, he was duly 'frozen' and sent home. In about 2-3 weeks you'll never know it was there and gone.

I am so tired from trying to get this written that I think I will find a new way to blog.
Grandma Palmer

Frustration

I typed in a blog twice yesterday and both times it just disappeared!
Joann said that if I push the shift button or the space bar that it might do that but I'd like to know for sure so I don't do it again.

I was talking to Paul and he was telling me about a lady in his apartment complex that fell down and even though there were several people there, she could not be raised. Finally they got her husband there and she, still lying on the ground, said,"well, don't just stand there! Lean down and give me a kiss!"
I thought that was pretty cute, but one thing led to another and we got to talking about the regulars in his complex. Of course, they are all seniors and thinking of their coming demise. He said that it is really amazing to see how frightened most of them are. Most are religious, of one faith or another, and you would think that that would give them some hope of the hereafter and faith in the things they have been taught about heaven. But maybe it just didn't sink in or they decided that it was not correct.
As we talked, I was thinking of my own situation and I said "Dying is fun!" thinking of my own situation with all my children showing me such loving care, such concern, such a desire to give me opportunity to do all the things I want to do. Visiting me, going on trips, taking multiple pix, and showing me in multiple ways how much they care. Maybe if your children did not live close or you had none, then it would, indeed, be a lonely hard time.
I read some of Tami's blog to him about the things I had to look forward to: Seeing Mama and Papa, my sisters, especially Jane who I was closest to and all the friends I've known over time. And it will be interesting to see all the people I have done geneology for, I'm sure I will meet them and they can remind me of the mistakes I made in the records!
I guess I will not always feel that dying is fun as I progress with the future, but I can certainly appreciate the fact that I have a loving family to assist me along the way.
I do love you all so much!!! Mom

life goes on

Well, it seems that anything I do is not enough. Enough to tell my children how much I have loved having them as part of my life. Enough to do to impress my grandchildren that they have been the best ever possible--that they are are beautiful spirits and could not be better and that their chilren will be an extention of them that I would like to see. I begin to see how our heavenly parents could and do love each of us because I cannot imagine having a child I could not love.
Reading Cheryl's blog and her struggle with cancer makes me feel for her. But she is doing a great job of hanging in, using her wheel chair to go places and enjoy life as it is available to her.

We all have out problems--mine is Dad at this point. I am trying to convince him that he should get married but he says I'm nuts. Probably, but he might live to 95, his siblings did. And what a sorry life that would be. May as well live it up while you can.
Then I tell him that it is either the Lodge or Umatilla or living alone and he says he will get a dog!
Puppies are great but they eat a log and have to be taken for walks. So he needs better weather than Silverdale. Besides, he'd have to do all his own cooking, and even though he does it now, it would get very old. All for today Love ya' Mom

you're not home

After much work on the part of Joann, Karen and kids, the bunnies finally got loaded onto the car, they cleaned at the house, and finally got in the car to leave at 11 am. They wanted to leave at 10 but didn't make it.
Joann had made arrangements for a lady to meet them somewhere and go to her house so she could have her bunny bred before going home, so itwas going to be an interesting trip.
After you left we spent one day copying all of the pix I have on my computer and Joann...

Just wiped out what I wrote. Don't even know how.
Do you have any idea what happened to the dark glasses I picked up from the mail? Dad is having a tizzy because we can't find them anywhere.
I tried to get on skype but you were not home so all it did was squeal at me.
I signed up for hospice friday. The lady was here for 2 hours and went through it all with us. Stan flew up to the cabin and Paije is coming back. Parrii is having friendds for a BBQ this evening and said she will be over after they leave.
Dad tried to clean but he is a basketcase when it comes to that. He got the broom and sort of stirred up the dirt.
Guess I'll try again later. Love ya' Mom

whirlwind

Some time just goes faster than other times. It seems that Tami just got here.

byu talks

Listenint to TV today I heard a fantastic talk from BYU by Dzniel Ludlow on Aug. 17, 1989. It was all about the spirit world and the world we live in and the fact that if you were able to see them there are spirits here on earth among us.
I would like to get hold of that talk, so if anyone knows how to do it. let me know. I want to copy it off if possible. Ruth

another day

Each day seems to roll by with no real purpose in it.
On the 3rd we went to Poulsbo to see fireworks which gave us something to do.
On the 4th we went to Jack and Jacki Miller's and traded strawberries for rhubarb and I came home and made a pie that was delicious. Went to Poulsbo to buy Bob some cayene pepper. Gotta have that! So much for our days. Ruth. Love ya.

Wow!!

Nothing like having a daughter that knows everything ! She made me an official banner for my blog complete with picture. She even had to tell me what that 'official' banner was called. I'm learning so much it scares me !
Today was the second day of the bombshell dropped on me. Well, not a bombshell really , because we all are aware of our vulnerabilities. But to be confronted so firmly with not so great information is a little mind-boggling.
We went to Jack and Jackie Miller's this morning. They have been on the yes-no see-saw for a couple of weeks. Do we move to Vancouver, WA or do we not. So today she told me that Jack has finally put his foot down and the answer is NO. Too much of a problem to pack up and move. That is nice for us because they have been such good friends. He and Dad have so much to talk about they can never get it all said.
We traded produce--I gave her strawberries, she gave me rhubarb. So now I can make another rhubarb strawberry pie. My favorite along with blackberry.
Carla, Stan, Parri, Paije and kids will all be at the cabin over the 4th and for another week. They enjoy it so much and the kids swim like little fishes. Wendi goes to SLC a lot when they go to the cabin because that is where her family is.
Dana will be at camp ensign this week for their girls camp. Lisa will be there , or maybe is home now--can't keep track.

I talk to my brother, Paul a lot and it always turns to things we did as kids.
One such day was a Hide and seek day.
Having open fields around the house does not give a lot of hiding space, so I slid under the house, ignoring spider webs and bugs, and crawled under a big tub that was there.
The game progressed normally until I could not be found anywhere !! I could hear them calling my name, but heaven forget giving up the best spot I'd ever found. No way was I coming out from under that tub.
Then I heard mention of "THE WELL" Everyone in the neighborhood knew about that! It had stood in the back yard of a neighboring house. Long since the house burned and the people left, the well was still an open hope in the ground, a danger everyone was aware of and cautions taken to avoid. Should I now reveal my hiding spot? What a shame it would be. I debated a little too long--panic was in their voices. I'd better go quickly because retribution would be sure and swift if they were angry.
I came out from under that tub, covered with dust and goo and said as sweetly as was possible, "here I am." I was immediately 'attacked' by sibling from every side. Well, they didn't kill me and so I guess everything that ends well is okay.
Seeing the danger and what could happen, a wooden platform was built by someone and place over the offending hole in the ground.
Love you all, Ruth