Random weekend...Birthdays, Anniversarys..and more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLYN!!

70

Wow!!!

This is my sister Carolyn. Saturday was her Birthday.

I love her very much. She has always been my hero.

She just gets more amazing every year.

She is the glue of our family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS

"Sister Love"

Stay tuned for more weekend events:

This weekend was also the celebration of my cousin

Elaine and her husband Mark's

60th Wedding Anniversary.

They have a daughter Janine that is a year younger than me

and they used to invite me to stay for a week or so every summer

at their house in Layton.

Here are some reasons I love them and loved to go here.

• The spirit was always in their home....you could feel it.
• They had a large family [6 kids] and something was always going on.
• Elaine churned her own butter and ground her own wheat.
• They had a "Turkey" Farm and raised feed for them.
• Their Grandma Morgan lived on "Gentile Street" by the Feed lot. They had a little party house there which is still there. She had beautiful white hair. She was always so kind to me. We used to walk to her house.
• I loved to sit on their lawn and watch the planes from Hill Field fly over. Their house is on the flight path. I even saw one when I visited her on Friday.
• They had a piano and played it. Elaine taught lessons.
• They had family prayers and prayed at every meal.
• They made homemade ice cream the old fashioned way with rock salt and lots of people took turns turning it.
• Mark was a tease and liked to put sugar on my cereal when I was not looking, I blame him for my sugar cravings to this day.
• They played games and NEVER watched TV.
• To this day when I am with their family you can feel how special they are.

Elaine and Mark have served many missions. Their first one was to Africa, then they went to some islands in the Pacific, Spain, and Canada. They are amazing. They got married 2 days out of High School.....and have the most wonderful marriage. I love them. I am so grateful I was able to visit with them on Friday and catch up. While both have had health problems, they are living with what life has given them. Mark is going in for an Ankle transplant soon, and Elaine suffers from Neuropathy on the right side of her face and has lost her hearing on that side. Still they are faithful to the end. They were working in their garden when I got there. Hugs to Mark and Elaine. Thank-you for the wonderful example you have been to me.

There is still more to come and it has to do with this:

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO PATRICE

My friend Patrice celebrated her 60th Birthday party

at the Union Station on Saturday.

It was a great party.

There were over 100 guests.

Her daughter Michelle and her friend Amy did a fantastic job planning the party.

Her son Chad did an amazing and tender job of being the Host.

They roasted and toasted her.

The theme was :

"Where in the world is Patrice?

We were supposed to dress like "Tourists".

The best I could do was a Hawaiian Shirt.

Doug dressed like he always does when we travel......

just like he does every day. [Minus the suspenders]

The party planners did an amazing job down to the little details.

The centerpieces were travel bags with Post Cards from all over the world.

There was a wonderful Buffet by the Union Grill and little "thank you" favors.

My favorite were the multi colored cupcakes.

I don't know where to start to tell you what an amazing person Patrice is.

She has volunteered her time to many "Charities" over the years.

Red Cross, Christmas Box House and many more.

She has rescued many of us in times of trial whether it be divorce or death of a loved one, or someone just needing a friend. She has provided many trips to Lake Powell in the most amazing house boat you have ever seen. She has invited friends to Deer Valley for the weekend, provided a house for a 40th year reunion, and a 60th Birthday party. She has been thru divorce, near death, the loss of a husband to a heart attack, heartbreak, and sadness, but always comes out of it with a cheerful heart. She has given so much to others and has been my friend and has rescued me many times. She tells it like it is and opens her home and heart to everyone.

Thanks Patrice for the memories.

I love you and appreciate all you have done for me.

HUGS!!!

I can not leave the weekend without mentioning Doug's "highlight".

Casey Scott of KUTV 2 was the Disc Jockey at Patrice's party.

I took their picture.

Doug is a fan!!

And that is a wrap!!!

THE END