HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN.

We knew the name JOHN PAPA for
alot of years before Jill became Mrs. JOHN PAPA.

When Jill blew out her knee (take your pick of which one ~ since she tore the ACL of both in high school) her PT guy, Lynn Johnson said he wanted to introduce her to John Papa because he thought they were alot alike. Didn't happen.

Then she became good friends with his sister, Laura, when she was going to EA. He was on his mission then so Laura got them writing each other because she thought they were alot alike.

Well...this isn't the story of how they got together .... it is a Happy Birthday wish to John. But I do want to say that I also think that they are alot alike.

I am happy Jill married John. He is a good man. He takes care of her and their children. He loves them. This past year when their baby, Paisley, was born with heart troubles it was so pleasing to see him hover over her.

Quinn and Parker refuse to sit by anyone else if their dad is there. One on each side.

And then there's Jill. I love that she loves him.

Happy Birthday, John.....we love you, too.

FRANK

My cousin, Frank, passed away this week. He was 69. He was 15 years older than me so I didn't know him very well. But he lived down the hill from me. That is my house in the top left hand corner. I remember this motorcycle he had. I thought it was cool and he was cool too.

He always treated me kindly. He was a kind man. I don't think he had an enemy in the world.

It was told how he would give away corn in the summer. There was a member of our ward there who told us that he would always find a 5 gallon bucket of corn on his porch and he knew it would be from Frank.

THE WEEKEND

The older I get the more I believe it

is all about family. We had two family

events this weekend. A funeral of

one of my cousins and a BBQ at the home of the Westover's. Both enriched our lives.

This is a picture of Marielle. Looks quite pleased to me. She is due in October.

This was taken at the funeral of my cousin, Frank. The guy on the left is

Frank's younger brother, Greg. Then me, then my cousin, Chris and then Monica, Greg's wife.

Chris, Greg, my brother, Jeff and I all grew up together in Show Low. Greg lived about 150 yards down the hill from me. Chris lived about 2 miles east ~ across the highway.

Chris is waiting for a kidneytransplant. He is looking pretty dang good right now. He is in dyalisis and they were taking too much blood out of him per trip and it was about to

kill him. That got straightened out and he looks better but he has to have the

kidney replacement. It might happen in less than two weeks.

Aunts and Uncles

I found this picture in the pile. These are my aunts and uncles on my dad's side. Uncle Max had already passed away when this picture was taken.

They are all gone now. There was a time that these faces (and personalities) were such a big part of my life. Life gets in the way sometimes.....in this case....40 years of my life. I never had the same association with them after I left home. Kinda sad I think.

I wish I could describe in depth the personalities and traits of these good people. But I should probably keep it short.

Starting from the left:

~

That is Uncle Joe and Aunt Ruby. They are Greg and Frank's parents. We lived about 150 yards from them. They had about 4 acres right in the middle of town. Great place(s) to play....chicken coop, apple trees, irritation ditch, barn, animals....all kinds of stuff. Uncle Joe also had alot of land west of Show Low. We used to go with him when he would need to take care of cattle or farm land. He had a big tank (always muddy) that we used to swim in. Aunt Ruby had this loud voice and she would call to Greg to get home. She worked at the Post Office. I must have done something to make Uncle Joe mad once because he picked me up and dropped me into the irrigation ditch. I do remember that you never said anything bad about one of Aunt Ruby's children....she would hunt you down.

~

Next is Uncle Carl and Aunt Lucy. They lived in Phoenix and Flagstaff. Although I can say I knew Uncle Carl pretty well I hardly associated with him. He was around alot but not engaged with the children. He was the world class hunter of the family. He shot one of everything and eventually gave it all to BYU. I have told this story many times: he always talked about himself "me", "my", "mine", etc. Once while driving through Miami he mentioned to the passengers that this town was called Miami. One of his sons who was in the car said, "this is your Ami, dad?" Aunt Lucy was a tiny lady who loved my mom. She was kind to all of us. When she passed away she willed my mom some money. She just

loved my mom.

~

Of course, the next couple would be my dad and Beverly. Looking at this picture I realize once again that Beverly gave my dad not only a life but civility. He had her and could be comfortable with his siblings because they were all "couples". Beverly expected them to all get together and do things. I think my dad loved that. I think they all loved it.

~

OK, next: This is Uncle Lee and Aunt Irene. They lived in Snowflake and are the parents of one of my favorite cousins, Vickie. We were the same age and I spent alot of time in their home because of her. I think I looked to them for help more than any other aunt or uncle...maybe. When my parents divorced all things Brewer kinda became ackward. I didn't expect things from any of them. (I think that was just immaturity on my part) So they surprized me by coming up to Manti when David and I got married. They just showed up. I didn't expect that but so much remember that and love that they came.

~

Last but not least: Uncle Harry and Aunt Esther. Uncle Harry baptized and confirmed me a member of the church. Wait...the history is even earlier....he drove my mom to the hospital when I was born. (dad was in Colorado) and then he would sometimes be my "dad" for Daddy daughter Dates. I had to kiss him on the top of the head at one of those events and he was bald and I didn't want to but I did. I think he liked it. Can you imagine this man...he had a big family himself and he took time to fill in for my dad....for me. He made good taffy. He was jolly. Aunt Esther wasn't. She was stern. She looks a bit stern in this picture. She was the town librarian for years. She called me "Patricia". Now that is my full name but I didn't get called that unless I was in trouble. So I always worried when she called me by name.

The older I get the more you just accept people as people. These were "just people" but that is what life is all about....the people that you live your life with. I enjoyed thinking about these aunts and uncles....sorta like another life time but very real. They were the salt of the earth.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HEIDI ~

Well, I got out Heidi's baby book today. So I thought I would post a couple interesting things about her little baby and toddler life.

Heidi was born on Tuesday 17 July 1984 @ 2:43 a.m.
She weighed 7 pounds and 11 ounces.
And was 21 inches long.

She was born pretty fast. And she was quite blue. We found out later that she had too much blood in her. I remembered the doctor saying that he couldn' get very much blood from the cord and he was a bit puzzled. But it was about 24-36 hours later that I took her into Dr. McBride because she just cried and cried and was sooo red. He did a blood test on her and she had too much blood in her so he opened her cord up and used a needle and sucked out a determined amount and she got happy.

She was blessed on 05 august 84. Her dad, Grandpa Merrill, Uncle Neal Westover, Bishop Danny Wahlin and Sheldon Webb stood in. David blessed her to have a healthy mind and body, to marry in the Temple and to be an inspiration to her parents.

Heidi had a dimple on her right upper chin. Do you still?

She rolled over for the first time in the 13th of Nov 84. She got her first tooth the 19th of December 84.

Also in December I was holding her and eating stew. She strained to see what I was eating so I gave her a slip of broth. She grunted little staccoto grunts so I gave her more. She loved it. She cried when she smelled food cooking.

Those are just a few things. I really enjoyed reading what I had written. She was a sweet baby. She is one of my favorite people. And she is an inspiration to us. Happy birthday, Heidi, we love you.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TIM AND CONNIE

Marriage has less beauty

but more safety

than the single life.

It is full of sorrows

and full of joys.

It lies under more burdens

but is supported by all

the strengths of love.

And those burdens

are delightful.

~

May your marriage truly be full of joys

and delightful.

RUNNING

I am still running. This is week four. Last Saturday morning I ran by myself. My trainer and friend, Patty, was out of town and Kathy, our third runner spent Friday night with a bear in her yard so that just left me. I liked it. At the beginning of the week I wasn't sure I could do three minutes....in a row....but by Saturday it felt good. I have been wondering if it was because it was just me or I'm getting stronger.

Anyway, I spent the rest of the weekend preparing for four minutes, two minutes, four minutes but on Monday morning Patty says "it's a five minute, two minute week". Arguing was pointless. But I have done it for two days. The first five minutes made me feel like barfing but that was the only time. Today I even thought I could run the last five for six minutes. My muscles are sore tonight but I am mentally ready for tomorrow.

I can't say I am in love with running but this is a good thing for me. I know it is only five minutes at a time (Patty says to think of it as 15 minutes now) but I never thought I would do something like this. I am taking baby steps but each week is an accomplishment. I am glad it has been five minute intervals and not four. I'm at five!

OK, I keep forgetting one of the first rules. Don't talk about running....it bores people. Sorry

didn't mean to bore anyone.

I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN GRANDMA.

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

This is how I feel today. Well, not hunting for a drink.....but in the mire. Tomorrow will be the 15th of July. That was once a milestone date for me. It meant that school was around the corner. That meant that once school started I could get our family's lives back on schedule. but with all of our children gone it might as well be an endless summer. Just this week I made a grid to help me stay on track with home and office....it has already failed. And it is just Tuesday. There is just something wrong with having more ability to control my daily activities and not being able to do it!

Enough of that....my point about the 15th of July really is that this has been a biiizzzy month. Most of which I have LOVED~It is best told in pictures

Boo went to the Vet. She has an ear infection,
which I found out in common in Labs and she
inherited that directly from her mother or father.

The Westovers are up on the mountain camping. They invited us up for dinner. This is Jessica's husband, John. Nice guy. Then there is Jessica and Marielle.

We ran into my niece, Becky, and her husband, Kyle, in Show Low. She had come home for her 15th high school class reunion. She is looking sharp. (Got ready for the reunion she said). They are doing good. It is the middle of the farming season right now in Grace.

David and I took the Quads up into the Mountains last Saturday.

I know this picture isn't the best it is so beautiful and green

up there.

I loved this grove of trees.

I wanted a Marboro man picture of David. Doesn't work

with gates. But he was a gentleman just the same.

He opened and closed six gates. I opened one and he closed it.

Laine~

Sad baby faces just kill me. If I pulled a face like that as

an adult people would laugh at me. OH......I laughed at her.

Bode drew this picture of his dog Stat.

Megan~

I can't help but think that the trike days are almost over

for her.

Jett~

The Little Man.

Jett and Laine~

What?

Paisley, Jett and Laine.

The whole family standing when the first flag went by.

I just liked the thought.

Camp ground in our front yard.

John~

Good dad.

Boo~

In.

Stat~

Out

MMMM......CAN YOU SMELL THAT?

I hope my family is here on a day that it rains. I'll make them cookies!