Musings for the Week

Musing #1: Here is what I can do now that I have a sewing machine:

Megan has grown like 3 inches in the last couple of months - okay, so maybe not 3, but she has shot up like a weed, so most of her shorts and summer dresses are now way too short and I will not - I repeat - refuse to buy shorts that will only last another month. So, Wa-La! 18-month old pants that are too short for her, I converted into shorts.

While I was at it, Kimberly asked me to turn some capris of hers that had holes in the knees into shorts. Why Yes Kimberly, I can do that - instead of the previous a) wait until we make a trip to Grandma Rimington's to borrow her sewing machine or b) wait for Grandma Lynn to visit who was always so sweet to take home my items needing loving attention from the sewing machine. Now I can just whip my baby out and sew away as needed.

Musing #2:

In case you were wondering and just didn't have the heart to bring it up with me, yes, I do let my kids gnaw on anything unhealthy when I'm sewing. It keeps them occupied and away from me while I work my sewing magic.

Musing #3:

While I was busy sewing, (and the two youngest chowing away), John and Kimberly were working on her bedroom downstairs. He is having her help, since it is her bedroom. She was balking at the idea the other day, so John turned to Alicia to start asking if she'd like to help and then it could be her bedroom...Kimberly got the idea and quickly turned over her services.


We have the first wall up (I get to say we because I did 'help' hold some boards into place while he nailed away.) It is a rather slow-going process because we're buying stuff as our budget allows each month, and when John has time to work on it in-between business trips. Don't worry - it will get done and it will look fabulous.

Musing #4:

I have taken a brief hiatus from blogville as I have been madly trying to read my library book 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand, the same gal who wrote 'Seabiscuit'. I absolutely love reading, but unfortunately, I am a slow reader, which doesn't normally worry me, except this is a two-week check-out. I still have a couple hundred pages left and it's due back on Wednesday. Can we say Stress!!

Of course, it doesn't end there because I need to start reading 'The Help' that came in the same day as Unbroken and though it is a 4-week checkout, I have spent the last two reading the Unbroken. I put a hold on those books awhile ago - who knew they would come at the same time (this after I just finished reading Water For Elephants, also a long hold).

Musing #5:

The 3 oldest girls finished up a round of swimming lessons this week and are definitely little fish. Now we are just trying to hang in there until school starts in 3 weeks - YAY!! The girls have officially had it with each other and Natalie can't wait to start preschool...even better. Just Megan and I chillin' for 3 mornings a week. Sweetness.

Okay, I think I have just passed my limit of words for this post, so adios for now!

To My Meldrum Clan - This One's for You...

It was to be a historic reunion, one that had never happened before in my lifetime that I could remember, other than a handful of weddings and funerals. One thing we all agreed on was that we didn't want to have another 'reunion' at a funeral anytime soon.

It all began with two people,
my Grandma Lucy and Grandpa James Meldrum.
Five kids later, my dad being the youngest,
and 31 grandchildren from them, me included,
all came to be a part of the Meldrum Clan.

It really wasn't until after my dad passed away two years ago that I realized what it truly meant to be a Meldrum. When I was looking for some comfort in my Grandma Meldrum's history (since my dad didn't leave one behind), I was reading her last paragraph that says this:

"My prayer is that I can live to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoy their love. I love my children very much. I think as one grows older, one begins to understand what love really is. I love my grandchildren and great grandchildren. I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful family."

It was then that I felt my grandma's words of love reach out and engulf me. At that moment, I realized being a Meldrum meant being a part of an entire family filled with love more than I had known. I was important to my grandma - someone who had passed away in my teen years, but she knew me and loved me.

So, needless to say, I was greatly looking forward to this reunion to feel of that love again from my uncles, aunt, and cousins. However, what I gained from the reunion ended up being much more than I expected - something so special and wonderful that I wanted to share it with you.

When my cousin Ronnie set up the reunion, she had felt numerous promptings that our family needed a reunion. She brushed the thoughts aside, knowing full well how much work such a task would require. Finally though, she could no longer ignore the relenting promptings, so a year ago, she began the proceedings for getting the 100 plus clan together. I can tell you that this reunion was most certainly meant for my family - I'm sure I'm not the only one, but this was my experience -

As we traveled to the reunion, I was looking forward to the usual reunion things - seeing my dear uncles and aunt who are always so loving to me, and of course catching up with my cousins I haven't seen since my wedding 14 years ago, and some even longer since the days of hanging out at grandma and grandpa's farm in eastern Washington. I have always loved the Meldrums and knew we would have our usual Meldrum fun.

Of course, the usual thoughts of wishing my dad could be there lingered in the back of my mind, and as I tried pushing the sadness aside for what seemed like the umpteenth time, a new thought began forming. I began thinking about what I would do if my dad were given the chance to come back for a brief visit.

If I were given such an incredible opportunity, after the initial shock, tears, and hugs, I would want to relive life with him and visit with our usual style - but then, ultimately, I would want my kids to get the chance to play with him and spend time with him, something they always enjoyed and to this day, tell me how much they miss.

Knowing obviously, that this won't happen in my lifetime, I came to the reunion and got the next best thing - a part of my dad was there at the reunion, right then, with me. It was a precious gift that I hold dear to my heart, for there at the reunion while visiting with my dad's brother, Dave, I realized with startling clarity how similar they look in their facial expressions and mannerisms. I discovered that I was given a precious gift during the reunion - the opportunity to be with someone who not only knew my dad so well, but to also get the chance to visit with someone who had so much of my dad in him. I was given a rare opportunity to be with my dad again so to speak and I cherished every one of those moments during the reunion.

On the left is my dad, in the middle is my Uncle Dave, on the right is my Uncle Bob - two of my dad's siblings.

Here is Uncle Dave at the reunion - compared to the picture of my dad below:

Okay, so they aren't identical twins, but since I don't get to see my dad in person anymore, it was an uncanny resemblance.

We visited extensively throughout the reunion, complete with a big hug from him, reminding me of my dad's ever-present love for me. Of course, it wasn't just Dave, it was all of my dad's siblings who went out of their way to express their love to me and my family, even spending time visiting and playing with my children.

The ultimate moment at the reunion that melted my heart was when after most everyone had left after one of the lunch get-togethers and I was cleaning up my craft table while the kids played next to me. Uncle Dave came up and gathered up my kids and proceeded to take them for a ride on his wife's wheel chair thing. It was almost as if my dad was there doing what he loved best - being with his grand kids.


Words cannot even express how grateful I am to have had the experience with my dad's brothers and sister. I needed the reunion more than I knew. Now that I know it, I am thankful we took the time to share those moments with the Meldrum clan this last weekend.

Now I am thinking about the fact that my dad always teased me about my lengthy blog posts, so in memory of him, I bid adieu to the novel and move forward with the pictures:

Here's the green - aka Glen's portion of the Meldrums, that attended the reunion, just a fraction of the much larger clan:

Over 100 of us - about 75 percent of the entire Meldrum group came out for the reunion.

I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but we traveled up to Wallowa Lake in Eastern Oregon for the reunion. Beautiful, huh.

We couldn't pass up the usual touristy things like the go-carts:

Alicia went just the right speed for her grandma.

John on the other hand here passed them a few times:

The deer were extra friendly in this part of town, coming up to visit us at our cabin.



and to my utter displeasure (I did NOT take this photo), the kids can now say they have pet a wild deer.


Anyway, now that the reunion is over, I have memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thanks again guys. I'm proud to say I am a Meldrum.

BEACH!!!

You all know that one of my most absolute favorite places to be is on the beach, sooo, since we were in charge of my family's Meldrum reunion this year, bet ya' can't guess where we took them?


Why, Bear Lake of course. This was our agenda for the 4-day adventure:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:


and Sunday (i know, i know, not the most Sabbath-appropriate activity, but we did just go to the freebie beach, not the charging one):

Now, I do love the Oregon Coast beaches where we do our reunions most years, but there is one s l i g h t difference between the beaches. See:

Manzanita Beach - without swim suits

Bear Lake - with swim suits

We decided we wanted to actually SWIM in the water - with bathing suits, without freezing. What Bear Lake gives up in ocean wave action it gives back in swimming warmth.

Okay, so we didn't just swim in the lake and hang out on the beach the entire time. We also hung out at our rental house and played games, enjoyed the fabulous view from the deck, and looked forward to the nightly thunder storms that moved in each evening.

our traditional game of Scum after the kids go to bed

We even checked out the Minnetonka Cave, which is just north of Bear Lake:


All-in-all, a very fun time had by all. Now on to Meldrum Reunion #3 later in the month up in Eastern Oregon for the mother-of-all reunions. Meldrums will be everywhere!! Stay tuned.

Dear Old Friends

1997

Once upon a time, just a few shy years ago when John and I were first married, living in a dinky apartment up in Logan, we made some dear friends in our married student ward, the Mickelsons.


We hung out with them all the time, even teaching them how to make our famous Halloween fingers.


I am grateful that no matter where I live, I am blessed with dear and true friends, Layton City included (our current place of abode). Logan was no exception. Thankfully, we have been able to keep in touch with our dear friends over the years when we have all been in the same vicinity - and even more impressive, the fact that we accomplished this even before facebook became popular.

We had another such get together this last weekend with a few of those friends from Logan -

Left to Right: Mickelsons, Hurds, Rimingtons, and Woods. Shout-out to the Southwicks, who we miss terribly, but alas, they are all the way on the east coast, and the Mathews in the mid-west: if ever either of you guys are in the Utah vicinity and have a spare minute, you are always welcome here!

...and a few kids later.

We even brought home a souvenir. Yum.

One With Nature

We finally made it out camping this last weekend - our first time since before Megan was born. After our last couple of experiences camping with babies, I vowed never to do that again, so now that Megan isn't so little, we decided to give it a go. Success!!

This time the camping was with John's family for our Rimington family reunion.

Here's some of the phase one originals - left to right: Mike, Justin, Mom, Dad, Keith, John. We're missing Marian (who lives in New York), and Kevin and Tammy who are both on missions in California.

We had a grand ole time.

We did some singing -

We did some hanging out with cousins -

We even did some game playing -

Kubb is the name of the game we're playing here - basically a stand-up version of chess.

We did some hiking -

And sadly, the camping trip ended with this cute little gal puking up her socks -

Here she is sleeping between rounds of puking. We used the time to quickly pack up our camping gear so we could head home a day earlier than originally planned, which ended up being a very wise decision since Natalie joined the fun a few hours later with Kimberly and I getting sick the next morning.

Other than the sudden end to the camping trip, it was a lovely time. We even celebrated dad's birthday with a dutch-oven peach cobbler.

And a few of us adults got to stay up after the kids had gone to bed and enjoyed a kid-less visiting session, something we rarely get to do these days.

We just might have to head back out again before summer ends.

To Everything There Is a Season --

-- and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ... and a time to love. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, bits and pieces from 2, 4, 5, and 8)

As the dreaded anniversary of my father's passing two years ago approached last week on the 18th, with aching sorrow still coursing deep through my veins over the loss of someone so dear to me, I was thinking of these verses in the Old Testament, favorites of mine since my teen years.

I certainly had my time to weep on this particular day two years ago, but this year, on this marked day, was a new time -- a time to laugh and embrace with my siblings and mom as we reunited for a special time to love, that of my brother's wedding to a beautiful gal named Liz. Theirs is the story of second chances with a bright future.

Brice and Liz

...and their kids, Jimmie (Brice's boy, age 3, and Gracie, Liz's daughter, age 4)

Yes, there were some tears shed on such a special day for my brother with dad so poignantly missing, but we simply continued on with the good times and laughter that always accompanies our get-togethers and knew he probably wasn't too far from the fun. I have learned an incredible lesson over these last two years in that I now recognize the hands of heaven that touch our lives, impeccably placed at opportune times.

Here's all of us - top , Shannon and Brice - bottom, Christy, my mom, and me.

Shannon, Me, Christy
You'd think we were sisters or something.

The trip up to Seattle and Portland was a pure luxury for me. See this ---

That's right, not one Rimington girlie in sight (other than me). Blessed silence.

With all of John's business travels of late, we decided I needed a break from motherhood, so John and the girls loaded me up on the plane with just my small suitcase and some good books and off to the Northwest I went.

Shannon and I gulping in the sights of the sound and soaking in rays of Seattle sunshine at Ivars, one of the most heavenly places to eat seafood.

When I arrived, it was beautiful, sunny skies with trees as far as the eye can see. For a couple of days, I was wondering why I had left such a beautiful place. Then the rain hit on Saturday, and I remembered - clearly - why I fell in love with Utah. When I first moved to Logan, I was thinking how beautiful the sunshine was. Then I awoke for the next several weeks asking myself, "Is that really the sun up again? How did I not know such a place existed?" Hence the reason I do not want to budge from this sunny state (albeit a little cold in the winter, but the blessed powder skiing makes up for it).

If you don't believe me on the whole tree thing, here's proof:

Even the freeway is surrounded by trees (just try and find a sliver like this in Utah):

But, you can see the miserably-looking overcast/rainy skies and you know what I mean about the payoff for living in such a beautiful place.

Anyway, now that I have severely digressed from the main topic at hand, let me get back on track.

Before the wedding, my sister, Shannon and my mom decided to travel over to a town north of Seattle known for their whole German town feel. We even had German food for dinner.

Leavenworth, WA

After the wedding, I zipped on down to Portland with my sister, Christy where she fed me, entertained me, and I didn't have to cook a single meal, or discipline a single child. It was divine. Truth be told, I did start to miss John and my girlies, so I enjoyed returning home to their love.

Thanks Meldrummers for a most incredible weekend. I miss all of you already. Good thing I get to see you all in just a couple weeks for Meldrum Reunion #2 and #3.