LN #6 Tell about proud moments of being a grandmother Part 16!!!!

Paige Christine D'Arbra
April 6, 2015

I'm a little bit behind the times, but here she is!!! Grandbaby #16; Granddaughter #7.

Due April 16th, Brooks got her doctor to agree to induce labor on April 8th so that I could plan my visit to be there with them to take care of the older kids. My work schedule was such that it made the most sense to fly in on April 5th. As soon as I arrived and the family picked me up at the airport, I told Paige that it was okay; I was there and that it was okay to come early. About 1:00 in the morning, Brooks' water broke and Paige was on her way! 

Brookie's easiest delivery by far with probably the most personable OB staff I've ever met.  They monitored her closely and gave tips to help move the baby into the birth canal and before we knew it, we had a new baby! I felt so lucky that Brooks had made arrangements with a woman that Josh works with to come sit with the older kids so that I could be at the hospital with them. I was there when Ethan (oldest brother) was born and Brooks thought it fitting that since I was there for the first, I should be there for the last, and it was wonderful!!!

As per their family tradition, Paige received one of her names just because mom (and dad) liked it; the other with some familial significance. So, they decided on their honeymoon that if they had a second daughter, her name would be Paige. Christine is for Christy Casper, Brooks' elementary/middle school art teacher who encouraged Brooks' artistic nature and gave her the confidence to embrace her abilities. Mrs. Casper passed away several years ago, so she doesn't know about Paige (well, she probably does), but I know Paige will know all about Mrs. Casper. So, that was supposed to be her name until December when Randy's mother passed away. Her name was D'Arbra (a family name) and it almost became Brooks' name. But Brooks decided to honor her grandmother's memory and add one more symbolic name.

A little later in the day, Josh went home to bring back the other kids. The boys were all pros at a new baby since Claire is only two, but the absolute most precious moment had to be when Claire met her baby sister for the first time.

Claire meets baby sister Paige
for the first time! 

Before we knew it, Josh brought Brooks & Paige home from the hospital.

Paige quickly earned another name from her grandmother. She was the squeakiest baby I think I've ever heard. And such cute little squeaks. So.... to me, she will always be my "Li'l Squeak." 

Before long, Paige was deep in the heart of the chaos of her new family and getting to know her brothers and sister... I was surprised Claire shared her daddy quite so willingly, but Brookie did tell me that Claire always seems to be smiling and laughing whenever Paige cries... Hmmmm.....

Sloan, Ethan, Mason, Josh, Paige & Claire
Enjoying some DS and television!

Before I left to come home Grandpa (Randy) Sloan arrived with Pat to meet the newest addition to the family and the next day, I had to bid a tearful good-bye to all! 

Since then, Paige has been introduced to her other grandparents and last Sunday she was blessed at church. (As Mormons, we don't baptize children until the age of eight when they are able to understand the commitment they are making to follow Jesus and always remember Him. So, as babies, Mormon children receive a name and a blessing. The name by which they will be known on the records of the church and a special blessing by their father to help guide their way through this life, until they return home to Heavenly Father.)

Paige wasn't enthused to be in the spotlight.
I think it was the hairbow!
May 3, 2015

And of course Brooks couldn't pass the opportunity to get a shot of all her babies on Paige's special day....

In closing today, as usual, I'm going to share a song that is special to most members of our church. It's called "I am a Child of God." It's a beautiful song with a little extra significance for me as it relates to Brooks. When she was very small, she didn't quite understand the words to the song. Imagine my embarrassment when she belted out in church "I am a child of God and He has sent me here. Has given me an 'awful' home with parents 'kind of' dear..." Have a listen... you'll know where she got it! 

Welcome to our family Li'l Squeak!

We love you!

WC #21: One is the Loneliest...

"One"

So... I was driving home from work tonight and the song I posted on this blog was on the radio. As I was listening and singing along my mind was wandering as it often does; especially thinking of times when a particular song was popular...

Like many of my generation, this was one of my favorite songs in its time. In fact, I liked a lot of Three Dog Night's songs. I liked a fairly wide variety of songs in my youth, although then there weren't as many genre's to choose from as there are now. Typically, though, I liked songs that were happy, had an upbeat tempo and "were easy to dance to," as they always said on American Bandstand.

Knowing that I typically liked happy songs, as my mind was wandering, I thought why on earth did I like this song? It's definitely not a cheerful song. It doesn't bring comfort. If anything, it even makes the number two a downer, saying that you can basically be alone even if you are a couple; a REALLY depressing situation to be in; to still feel alone when you have someone in your life!

And this time of year?!?!?!?!?  Sheesh! Could I get any more singles websites to send me special invitations to join? (Tried some of those and the best it's gotten me is a sure fire way of being able to spot a scammer!) Anyway, this time of year I'm always reminded of my friend Jim. He was one my photo center managers when I was a district manager over the state of Montana. I was talking to Jim before Christmas and asked him if he'd begun working on his 3 month merchandising plan for Valentine's Day. He got pretty upset with me and in no uncertain terms told me that there's nothing worse than being a single man on Valentine's Day and he refused to think of doing anything to promote the holiday. (Obviously, he'd never tried being a single woman on Valentine's Day!) So, I went to work. 

I talked to my counterpart over the Jewelry division, because I knew that she knew a single Jewelry district manager in Idaho who was about Jim's age. As we talked about the two of them, we really thought the two of them would get along well.  So, I gave Jim Kirstie's email address; Belinda gave Kirstie Jim's email address and we both went to work convincing them to give it a shot... Jim & Kirstie have been together now since about 2005! I've managed to bring a couple of other couples together as well, but Jim & Kirstie's story is my favorite!

Anyway, I digress... back to "One."  So, why did I like that song? It's kind of "the chicken or the egg" type thing. I've always hated being alone or doing things alone. At least as long as I can remember, but would I be as bad as I am if it weren't for this song? Most people I know are fine being by themselves. They enjoy going to dinner by themselves. They love going to movies by themselves. I HATE doing anything by myself! I feel like I'm wearing a big neon sign on my forehead that says "Loser! Look who couldn't find anyone to go ____ with her!" Of course, I know no one else probably even notices that I'm alone, let alone CARE about it!

My good friend Barb has always told me that when I'm traveling for work, I need to just go up to a man sitting alone at a table at a restaurant and ask if I can join him! She says that's how I need to find a man! Or, I should go to a movie and scan the seats, find a man sitting alone and go sit by him! Seriously?!?!?!? Who does that? And I'm not even desperate to find a man! Yes, companionship would be nice.  Someone to retire with. Someone to travel with, but seriously? Could you do that? Well, I know Barb could. That's just how she is! She talks to anybody in any place and has no filters. If she wants to know something about someone, she asks. Not me. I play the whole thing out in my head first and if anything leads me to believe I could offend, the conversation is just NOT going to happen! I frequently wish I was as uninhibited as she is!

But, back to the chicken... have I always liked the song because it reflects my feelings? Or do I feel the way I feel because my dislike of being a "1" was reinforced by the song lyrics? Wow! All that just because a song came on the radio on my way home from work! I think I'm disturbed...

Anyway... let's end this with a much happier, enthusiastic, popular hit also performed by Three Dog Night! I always did like frogs... but do I like frogs because.....

Joy to the World

Three Dog Night 1971

WC #20:Happy "Surprise" Birthday to my Buddy!

If we're REALLY lucky in life, we find one really good, true loyal friend. I've been blessed in my life to have found quite a few through high school, college, church and my career. But one stands out above all the rest. She's that one, who even when you haven't seen one another for months or even years, when you do, it's like all of the missing time disappears and it's just the two of you.

Lanie & Me
January 9, 2015

A couple of months ago, Lanie's kids reached out to as many of her friends and family as they could to invite everyone to a surprise birthday party to celebrate her 60th birthday!

 At first I thought that there was no way in the world I'd be able to go! I had a vacation planned over Christmas to spend with Meg, Sami and their families and I knew I had a new class beginning on December 29th! No way could I take time off! But, I remembered how much fun it was when I planned and carried out her surprise party on her 17th birthday and REALLY wanted to be there. Could I make it work?

Sweet City Woman by The Stampeders

One of Lanie's favorites from our high school days!

Then I realized that it was already going to be my one long weekend off that we have during each class! I could fly into Milwaukee, see Bart, see my brother Al and maybe even get him to drive to Aurora with me for the party!

"Country Roads" by John Denver

It couldn't have turned out better! Well, except for the fact that Bart's wife was stuck in Salt Lake and he had to work and the temps were sub-zero and I had to drive through a white-out to get to Al's in Watertown and Al and I passed at least ten cars in the ditch and a jack-knifed truck and we beat Lanie and Lisa back from their massages.... but somehow, Lanie didn't have a clue that anything was happening!

"What are YOU doing here?!?!?!?"
I ask you, is that any way to greet your best friend?

After the initial shock, came the tears and the hugs... and Lanie's photographer daughter, Lisa, caught it all on camera!

Going in for the hug!

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"

Hugs for Al... not quite as long!

Lisa's boys were so excited about Grandma's birthday, they couldn't wait to give Lanie her special birthday sign!

Between conversations with Lanie through the afternoon, we still needed to work out how we were going to accomplish getting her to the party that night! She thought I was her big surprise!

"Midnight Confessions" was the first Christmas 

present Lanie gave me. We liked The Grass Roots!

Over my cousin, Norm's (also Lanie's husband) objections, I promised Lisa that her mother would come to "dinner" blindfolded. She was very trusting with him to lead her and me not far away. She thought she was going to end up at a family dinner.

Lanie and I are both so blessed to have children and grandchildren who are happy, healthy and love us! Here are hers! (Oh, and Norm too...)

L-R: Part of Lisa's family, part of Michael's family, Brian's family,

Lanie with Lisa's oldest daughter & son, Laura, 2 of Michael's sons & Norm!

In spite of the freezing temperatures and the hazardous roads 72 people showed up to celebrate Lanie's  birthday (2 days early)!

An added blessing for me was an opportunity to spend more time with my brother, a chance to see my niece Gail with her husband, Rick, and an opportunity to visit with our old high school friend (and my college roommate) Maria and her husband, Terry!

Rick, Gail, Al & Me
Behind us: Terry & Maria

Through this post, I've not only shared some of Lisa's pictures of that FUN evening, but I've also shared several music videos. They may seem random to you, but each of them has a special memory connected with Lanie to it for me! Bear with me through a few more....

The Pushbike Song by The Mixtures

It was a great evening that came to an end much too quickly, but not before Lanie and I had yet another opportunity to stay up 'til 3:00 AM with chatter, laughter and tears. Norm has long given up on trying to get us to go to bed when we get together... but like I said at the beginning of this post... She's that one, who even when you haven't seen one another for months or even years, when you do, it's like all of the missing time disappears and it's just the two of you. 

Happy Birthday, Buddy! I love you!

"I remember when rock was young... me and Lanie 

had so much fun...."

(And a special thank you to Lisa, Brian, Michael, Laura & Norm for including me on the plans as well as a BIG thank you to Al for being my weekend chauffeur!)