My first Mother’s Day greeting was from my little brother and in the text he said “Your Brandon is a true HERO”. Intrigued I asked him to tell me more. Roger told me that Brandon had spent Saturday evening from 8:30 until midnight extracting water from the home of a little old lady in Roger’s neighborhood. Then Rog added that Brandon seemed happy to do it. I don’t think that I could have asked for a better beginning to my Mother’s Day. Every mom loves to hear about their children’s kindness.
Next I spent a fair amount of time in the kitchen just making some of my favorites. Angie had invited us to her home for dinner and had only asked me to bring rolls and dessert. Lately I have had this obsession with berry lettuce salad so I made that and I was craving Jill’s spaghetti salad so I made that too. Dennis teased me about bringing the dinner when we were invited to Angie’s but I only made what I wanted to so I felt like I was just spoiling myself for Mother’s Day. Kurt grilled yummy teriyaki chicken & Angie’s corn and bean salad was delicious! Great yummy meal! I believe my Tueller genes are true to form in me. I love to create, eat and even read & write about good food.
Hearing from each of my children was the best. I missed Ty’s call from Argentina but I told him I actually think it was better for me that I got his voice on voicemail. I miss my baby boy. Adam was the first of my sons I spoke with & he told me that Camden had something he wanted to tell me. I assumed he had done well at his T-ball game and was expecting to hear about a great hit or play. I was so surprised when he informed me that his mommy was going to have a baby. Literally not ten minutes later I got a call from Travis and as the call was winding done he said “Well mom I have some news”. For a moment I was worried that maybe his job had been dissolved. Then he told me that Heather is expecting! I am not sure if it was the surprise of the announcements, the timing or the sentimentality of the day but I was overcome with gratitude. Two more beautiful grandbabies, joy!
Brandon’s call was the last of my day and he reminded me of when he was in high school and playing soccer that I would make chocolate chip cookies for the team and take them up to his locker at school. What a fun memory for him to share. It made me feel loved that he would remember that.
Last but not least in church instead of giving us a flower they gave us Sees chocolates. I ate chocolate in Sunday school – Marvelous Mother’s Day? I think so!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
76 Trombones
One of my gorgeous granddaughters, Phoebe Jane Arnell, is currently starring as Amaryllis in the production, Music Man. Every time I heard the name of the title I would be triggered to thoughts of my father singing 76 Trombones and strutting around the house. I am sure my loved ones got tired of me saying “Music Man is one of my father's favorites” as if it was the first time I had said that. Little did I know what the play was going to do for me. Of course I was mesmerized by Phoebe's brilliant performance. Her lines were delivered with perfection and her duet with Marion the librarian was beautifully harmonized. With her long thick braids hanging well past her waist she really looked like she was from the era. Her costumes were cute and her two cousins who came with me that evening couldn't say enough times what a great actress Phoebe was. To say I enjoyed the play is an understatement. As each song was performed I realized how familiar it was and that was because dad had sung it. Whether a love song, such as, "Till There Was You", "Goodnight, My Someone", or one of the silly songs like, "Ya Got Trouble", "Wells Fargo Wagon", or the resounding "76 Trombones", each song flooded me with memories of my father.
I had realized before going up to the play that it was the six month anniversary of mom's passing and I had been a little reflective all week missing my parents, but that evening sitting in the theater I realized again what a loving, fun home I had grown up in. I lost my father when he was only 49 years of age and I was 17. I have experienced the healing of time but I also grow more homesick for my loved ones.
Loving and missing you mom and dad.
Love, (your baby girl)
Debbie Sue
I had realized before going up to the play that it was the six month anniversary of mom's passing and I had been a little reflective all week missing my parents, but that evening sitting in the theater I realized again what a loving, fun home I had grown up in. I lost my father when he was only 49 years of age and I was 17. I have experienced the healing of time but I also grow more homesick for my loved ones.
Loving and missing you mom and dad.
Love, (your baby girl)
Debbie Sue
Monday, March 2, 2009
Belated Birthdays
Three more birthdays come & gone. Will, Chloe & Torin celebrated birthdays in January and February. Chloe turned 8 this year & the 2 boys 7. I love watching my beautiful grandchildren growing & becoming independent little people.
John William Arnell, born January 18, 2002, was my first grandchild to create deja vu for me. He looked so much like Brandon as a baby and toddler that I often felt like I was looking at my own son. Will is an agrarian from a former era. He knows more about gardening than most adults. He helps Pop, his maternal grandfather, with one of the most amazing gardens you will ever see. Will takes great pride in his produce and loves eating the bounty almost as much as nurturing his crops. Will and Pop have been best buds for as long as I can remember. They are two peas in a pod. Pleasant, kind, hard working, serving others, a fun sense of humor & focused would be words I would use to describe Will & those words can be applied to Pop & to Brandon as well. They each are great examples to me of what I would like to become. Will, Pop & Brandon - three of the sweetest peas in a pod!
Our little Chloe entered this world on January 25, 2001. Chloe is an energetic, beautiful girl. She is a dancer, a singer, a performer. It is hard to be objective as a grandma but I sure think Chloe is very talented! Like Adam, her dad, everything she does she does well. Chloe’s Grandma Warnick is very involved with the organization, Mother’s Without Borders, and she hosts an annual boutique as a fund raiser for that organization. The bracelets Chloe makes are one of the hottest items there. She makes more each year just to try and keep up with the demand. What a wonderful compassionate granddaughter I have! Chloe is a polite, appreciative young lady. She always remembers to say thank you and I love the cute thank you notes she always sends. Chloe is a great big sister and a wonderful big cousin. She loves helping with the smaller cousins and is a great help at our family parties and sleepovers.
When Torin Argyle Anderson, was born on 2/22/02, he had a little rocky road. Torin was born with fluid in his lungs so he had to come home from the hospital with an IV. That rough start hasn’t slowed Torin down in the least. He is as active as any 7 year old can be. To watch him play the Wii you would think that it is a contact game. He can dribble a basketball, pass a football & hit a baseball with the best of them. A few years ago when he had just turned 4 I went up to Sundance and got to see this little guy come skiing down the mountain. Thankfully, he had a helmet on because for what he lacked in skill he made up for in speed. Torin has always had a very tender heart. After Michelle’s first hyper guy she was thankful to have a more mellow fellow in Torin. She was even able to get Torin to sit down and learn how to read before going off to school. He is a sweet, smart young man.
I love my grandchildren. I know of no greater joy than to see your children become wonderful parents to the most amazing young people. I am thankful for the gift of being a grandmother. Thank you.
John William Arnell, born January 18, 2002, was my first grandchild to create deja vu for me. He looked so much like Brandon as a baby and toddler that I often felt like I was looking at my own son. Will is an agrarian from a former era. He knows more about gardening than most adults. He helps Pop, his maternal grandfather, with one of the most amazing gardens you will ever see. Will takes great pride in his produce and loves eating the bounty almost as much as nurturing his crops. Will and Pop have been best buds for as long as I can remember. They are two peas in a pod. Pleasant, kind, hard working, serving others, a fun sense of humor & focused would be words I would use to describe Will & those words can be applied to Pop & to Brandon as well. They each are great examples to me of what I would like to become. Will, Pop & Brandon - three of the sweetest peas in a pod!
Our little Chloe entered this world on January 25, 2001. Chloe is an energetic, beautiful girl. She is a dancer, a singer, a performer. It is hard to be objective as a grandma but I sure think Chloe is very talented! Like Adam, her dad, everything she does she does well. Chloe’s Grandma Warnick is very involved with the organization, Mother’s Without Borders, and she hosts an annual boutique as a fund raiser for that organization. The bracelets Chloe makes are one of the hottest items there. She makes more each year just to try and keep up with the demand. What a wonderful compassionate granddaughter I have! Chloe is a polite, appreciative young lady. She always remembers to say thank you and I love the cute thank you notes she always sends. Chloe is a great big sister and a wonderful big cousin. She loves helping with the smaller cousins and is a great help at our family parties and sleepovers.
When Torin Argyle Anderson, was born on 2/22/02, he had a little rocky road. Torin was born with fluid in his lungs so he had to come home from the hospital with an IV. That rough start hasn’t slowed Torin down in the least. He is as active as any 7 year old can be. To watch him play the Wii you would think that it is a contact game. He can dribble a basketball, pass a football & hit a baseball with the best of them. A few years ago when he had just turned 4 I went up to Sundance and got to see this little guy come skiing down the mountain. Thankfully, he had a helmet on because for what he lacked in skill he made up for in speed. Torin has always had a very tender heart. After Michelle’s first hyper guy she was thankful to have a more mellow fellow in Torin. She was even able to get Torin to sit down and learn how to read before going off to school. He is a sweet, smart young man.
I love my grandchildren. I know of no greater joy than to see your children become wonderful parents to the most amazing young people. I am thankful for the gift of being a grandmother. Thank you.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
2 Tag
2 Favorite Names: Amelia & Steven
2 Favorite Months: November & December
2 Favorite Foods (and you can't say pizza): Shrimp & Soup
2 Favorite Nuts: Pistachios & Cashews
2 Favorite Stores: Chicos & Macys
2 Favorite Activities: Shopping & Pedicures
2 Favorite Huggers: Make that 16 favorite huggers, my grandchildren - Collin, Torin, Brianne, Riley, Abby, Phoebe, Will, Lucy, Owen, Chloe, Camden, Alec, Nikki, Christian, Faith & Landon
2 Favorite Conversationalists: Debra & Lianne
2 People to tag: Michelle & Angie
Becky did this tag & I thought it was fun. So I chose to do it too. Thanks Becky!
2 Favorite Months: November & December
2 Favorite Foods (and you can't say pizza): Shrimp & Soup
2 Favorite Nuts: Pistachios & Cashews
2 Favorite Stores: Chicos & Macys
2 Favorite Activities: Shopping & Pedicures
2 Favorite Huggers: Make that 16 favorite huggers, my grandchildren - Collin, Torin, Brianne, Riley, Abby, Phoebe, Will, Lucy, Owen, Chloe, Camden, Alec, Nikki, Christian, Faith & Landon
2 Favorite Conversationalists: Debra & Lianne
2 People to tag: Michelle & Angie
Becky did this tag & I thought it was fun. So I chose to do it too. Thanks Becky!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Montage
Since I don't know how to put captions by the pictures yet they are as follows bottom to top.
1. Phoebe Jane announcing the performances.
2. Will & Nikki singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"
3. Abby playing the keyboard with Faith, Brianne & Will intently watching
4. The Angels - Lucy, Brianne & Chloe
5. Joseph with baby Jesus & Mary - Collin, Rylie & Nikki
I really do have the most beautiful grandchildren!
Merry Christmas
This Christmas has been full of picture perfect moments. I have mentally cataloged many highlights from the fun festivities I have enjoyed this holiday season from school programs, piano & dance recitals to Christmas parties.
Our family party could not have been better. Angie & Kurt graciously opened there beautiful home for our get together. They had created a picture perfect Christmas atmosphere from the massive fresh tree with over 1,800 lights to the stockings hung by the fire. Thank you Angie & Kurt for letting us enjoy your home! Gifts exchanged, children playing, adults visiting were all great but I loved seeing my beautiful grandchildren portray the Nativity with such reverence. It truly left me in awe.
Attending the Syracuse friend party is always something I look forward to. Good food, good friends and an abundance of laughter are all part of the reason this is such an annual favorite. This year was doubly fun because we got to go to two friend parties. Thanks Tami & Steve for making it in from Issaquah, WA!
Abby & Phoebe had a piano recital the end of November and I absolutely loved being able to hear them perform. My favorite was when they played a duet. It was great! They both are very good pianists. Do all grandmothers think that their grandchildren are the best one at the recital?
I had a moment of deja vu when I was watching Chloe perform at her dance recital. I remembered watching Jenny at the basketball games & thinking that she had such grace & talent as a dancer. Daughter like mother.
I was able to attend Collin & Torin’s, Nikki & Christian’s singing programs at their schools. I LOVED going to these this year! The children are all so adorable. It is fun to see their different personalities come out as they perform. Christian kept his head down the entire program looking like he wished the audience would just go away. I was so surprised when at the very end of the preschool program he jumped right up went straight to the microphone and said with such enthusiasm & glee “Merry Christmas”.
I think there is a song that compares memories to faded photographs. Sometimes in looking back, we pick and choose what we want to remember but while this Christmas 2008 is still vivid & bright I want to say that this Christmas was indeed very Merry!
Our family party could not have been better. Angie & Kurt graciously opened there beautiful home for our get together. They had created a picture perfect Christmas atmosphere from the massive fresh tree with over 1,800 lights to the stockings hung by the fire. Thank you Angie & Kurt for letting us enjoy your home! Gifts exchanged, children playing, adults visiting were all great but I loved seeing my beautiful grandchildren portray the Nativity with such reverence. It truly left me in awe.
Attending the Syracuse friend party is always something I look forward to. Good food, good friends and an abundance of laughter are all part of the reason this is such an annual favorite. This year was doubly fun because we got to go to two friend parties. Thanks Tami & Steve for making it in from Issaquah, WA!
Abby & Phoebe had a piano recital the end of November and I absolutely loved being able to hear them perform. My favorite was when they played a duet. It was great! They both are very good pianists. Do all grandmothers think that their grandchildren are the best one at the recital?
I had a moment of deja vu when I was watching Chloe perform at her dance recital. I remembered watching Jenny at the basketball games & thinking that she had such grace & talent as a dancer. Daughter like mother.
I was able to attend Collin & Torin’s, Nikki & Christian’s singing programs at their schools. I LOVED going to these this year! The children are all so adorable. It is fun to see their different personalities come out as they perform. Christian kept his head down the entire program looking like he wished the audience would just go away. I was so surprised when at the very end of the preschool program he jumped right up went straight to the microphone and said with such enthusiasm & glee “Merry Christmas”.
I think there is a song that compares memories to faded photographs. Sometimes in looking back, we pick and choose what we want to remember but while this Christmas 2008 is still vivid & bright I want to say that this Christmas was indeed very Merry!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thanksgiving Memories
Thanksgiving 2008: Grandma Bev's 82nd birthday and the first year without her. Bittersweet. I have had loss before so I know that the hard part comes the months after the loved one is gone. After all of the caring concern quiets. It comes when least expected. While stirring a batch of caramels, shopping, sitting in the front rows at church, in mom's empty home, sharing Thanksgiving with mom's posterity. I love and miss mom.
As we went around the table this year saying what we were thankful I was touched by so many who shared. Jillary said the most wonderful things about myself and each of my siblings - it was very thoughtful. Joan seemed very grateful that we returned to her home for Thanksgiving. She always makes the most wonderful holiday celebration! Velma brought birthday presents from Bev . They were treasures from Bev's home. It was fun to get a surprise. What a wonderful day spent with family. A day filled with love.
Probably the highlight of my day was when my 6 year old grandson Camden said what he was thankful for. "Heavenly Father and Jesus and my three Grandmas". Melt my heart. I never realized how mom felt about my children until I became a grandma. It is as if you can see the hope of the future in your posterity. You see all that is good and wonderful about these young people who call you grandma.
Mom lived a good life. She taught me to love. She was a good teacher & now my grandchildren continue to be my teachers. Grandchildren really do complete the circle of love.
As we went around the table this year saying what we were thankful I was touched by so many who shared. Jillary said the most wonderful things about myself and each of my siblings - it was very thoughtful. Joan seemed very grateful that we returned to her home for Thanksgiving. She always makes the most wonderful holiday celebration! Velma brought birthday presents from Bev . They were treasures from Bev's home. It was fun to get a surprise. What a wonderful day spent with family. A day filled with love.
Probably the highlight of my day was when my 6 year old grandson Camden said what he was thankful for. "Heavenly Father and Jesus and my three Grandmas". Melt my heart. I never realized how mom felt about my children until I became a grandma. It is as if you can see the hope of the future in your posterity. You see all that is good and wonderful about these young people who call you grandma.
Mom lived a good life. She taught me to love. She was a good teacher & now my grandchildren continue to be my teachers. Grandchildren really do complete the circle of love.
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