:Family Matters

I have pride in my children.
I am proud that Jordan was thoughtful when he put together his “quiet bag” for church today. He packed his crayons and a coloring book for himself, but he also made sure to put in a coloring book for Kendra too. Eventhough he was doing this partially for himself so that she wouldn’t be coloring in his coloring book, it still required him to think ahead and try to do something his little sister would like. Turned out that she still wanted to color in his book, but I’m still proud of the effort he made. I’m proud that Kendra let me put her stockings on without a fuss this morning. I’m proud that when I came back from being out in the hall with a crying Kendra, Jordan had the hymnbook open to the rest song and was doing his best to sing along. He did this completely on his own! I’m proud that Kendra made it through the second half of nursery when Mom had to leave her there to go play piano for the Primary. I’m proud that Jordan was reverent during sharing time, eventhough it was very loud around him. I’m proud that Jordan made his bed this morning and I didn’t even have to ask him to. I’m proud of the work he did to clean his room for the required “hour” last night - it looked much better when he got through.
I have pride in my husband.
I’m proud of Justin for working crazy hours selling sunglasses to try and make us some extra money and relieve me of some stress. I’m proud of Justin for giving Jordan three hugs the day after they had a fight. I’m proud of Justin for being in the positives on his comments to Jordan (emotional bank account - our goal is to have 5 positive comments for every 1 negative comment or direction) the day before he left on his most recent show. I’m proud of Justin for talking.
I have pride in myself.
I’m proud of myself for coming back with a plan the day after my squad got chewed out for our clean-up area being “unsat” this week. I’m proud of myself for having goals and striving to reach my full potential. I’m proud of myself for sticking it out during church today without my husband there to help with the kids. I’m proud of myself for teaching Justin’s primary class because I really didn’t want to, but after I did I felt really good about it and the whole church experience today left me smiling instead of scowling.
I have pride in my parents.
I’m proud of my Mother taking on the challenge of a widow with 6 kids. I’m proud of my Mother for always believing in her children and for seeking out the best that we each have to offer on an individual basis. I’m proud of every stitch she has ever sewn on any of her many projects, most of which she has given away to someone in need (including her children), or to brighten someone’s day. I’m proud of my Mother’s love for reading. I’m proud of my Mother’s love.
I’m proud of Dad for being faithful. I’m proud of my Dad for teaching me integrity. I’m proud of my Dad’s “glory days”. I’m proud of my Dad for his work ethic, and for taking care of his family. I’m proud of my Dad’s love.
Why I chose to write this.
It seems really easy to get down on myself, my situation, my relationships with others. So I have wanted to start writing down things that happen that I am happy about, or that show the positive things that go on. Maybe this will be the place that it happens, maybe it’s not the right forum, but at least this is a taste of some of the things - the little things - that I am proud of today and that bring me joy.
From Joy - a Daughter, a Sister, a Mother, a Wife, a Friend, a Musician, a Marine.

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Success, at least I am hoping I have been successful in putting together part of the quilt top I have been working on so diligently for the last several weeks. There are 8 14 and a half inch squares of intricate piecing intercepted by six side triangles and four corner triangles all of which are cut on the bias which means they stretch very easily out of shape so therefore must be handled with great delicacy. They also have to be trimmed to size after all the pieces have been sewn together with the corner pieces being 90 degree angles. I have been dreading the whole process probably because of the really dreadful mess I managed to make out of the quilt I did for Marie’s daughter Callie’s wedding several years ago which was also full of triangles that managed to go out of shape on me which meant I spent more time picking apart then I did sewing. sigh
I have, therefore, been determined to put a quilt top together correctly. So even tho the instructions said for experienced quilters only I didn’t let it stop me. Nope, not me. I just closed my eyes and went ahead and purchased it anyway. Fortunately, the directions have been quite clear. My understanding of what needs to be done is okay its just that my execution is lacking. For you see, in order for the quilt to turn out as pictured one must sew with great exactness. But alas, perfection in an imperfect world is difficult to achieve. For one thing I have found that even though a quarter inch seam is required what is really meant is a ’scant’ quarter inch to allow for the stitching and the folding back of the material all of which take up space and must be allowed for or what should have been and inch border soon turns into seven eighths which if done often enough sends ones hard work quickly round the bend.
The day has been gray with snow falling in lazy showers now and again. There was enough that the ground was covered for awhile and I decided the mailman could take Devin’s letter, which his grandfather had so carefully written in reply to some questions Devin had, to the postoffice. So I carefully made my way through the white covering on the driveway over to the mail box. Carefully because I really fear slippery spots now and have ended up in a very undignified manner in a nano second whilst attempting a similar errand several years ago. While my memory might not be the greatest that is one thing I have not forgotten!
Don’t get me wrong. We need the moisture and we are very short of it so far this winter so I am not complaining about that. I’m just saying that unless there is a real need, anymore, I’d just as soon wait to go out when the pavement is dry, which, thank goodness is most days here in Southern Utah.
Hard to believe that it has been ten years since we left Wisconsin. I realized I was going to have to stop saying I was new when most of the people I talked with in our ward had been here far less than I had.

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Ooo-rah is a word used by Marines to say lots of different things. When said it comes jam packed with motivation and life. Ooo-rah is said to greet fellow Marines, to show support, enthusiasm, or as an acknowledgement. It’s a great word.

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Any members of the greater Andrus / Gano family who would like an account allowing them to post on the familiynetwork blog should leave a comment with their name below please send an email to Joanne Andrus with the following information:

• nickname (if any)
• first and last name
• email address

If you would like to post pictures of your family on this blog, please set up a Flickr account. Flickr is an online repository which allows you to store and manage pictures and it also post pictures directly to this blog.

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January 8, 2006

Yesterday I went into Cedar two times which is not efficient, I realize, but it happened like this. Dawn, having made several attempts to get my chair to me on her own steam by virtue of her taking the chair apart, which it is meant to do so that it can be placed in a room that would otherwise be impossible because of a too small door and stuffing it into her two door black Ford Focas a feat considered by many to be impossible but Dawn with her rather be drown’ed than done mentality was determined to do even if it meant six months recovering from back spasms or other more exotic strains that contort an over 50 year old body that is no longer as young and supple as it once was into positions not meant to be in an effort to accomplish her purpose, a recliner-thank you of my very own which was a gift from all the children to me this Christmas. (How’s that for a run on sentence–shows I can still do it in spite of my advancing age.) Therefore, I was much relieved when she called me and told me that she had arranged for it to be delivered on Saturday. Whew, I was relieved and excited so when the call came on Saturday from Eric, saying “Grandma the chair will be there between 12:30 and 2:oo today I danced a little jig and becan to plan my busy schedule (ha) to make sure I was home at the appointed time. I needed to be at the post office to send Joy the mail, which after two months has mostly dwindled to credit card offers, that was piling up on the counter and I needed to do that before the post office closed at 12:30 as well as run several other errands one of which was to Roberts the craft store which was offering a 50% off coupon, couldn’t pass that up could I? Well I spent longer in Robert’s than I should have but I still took time to stop at Hursts to sign up for the quilt which I told Brooks about which I am excited about starting for him. At that point I had run out of time so I dashed home without getting my groceries and wouldn’t you know it I had missed the excitment of my chair’s arrival. You must understand that it a Retirement Home you have to take your stimulation where you can and therefore this would have provided the excitment for the week. I no sooner walk in the door than your Dad, from his chair, says to me, “hope we got it in the right place for you”. Which is why I made a trip home for nothing as I had missed the reason for the season you might say so then I still had to go back to get my groceries. However, it was not totally wasted as your Dad finished up the last of the Christmas cards and we got them in the mail before the postage rates go up Monday. So if there is a moral to this story it is that sometimes things have a way of working out for the best even if we don’t know this to begin with. So anyway, I fixed supper and then your Dad went donwstairs and watched a cowboy movie. He seemed fine while he was sitting there. I know this because Jewel called and I went downstairs and turned on my computer so I had something to keep my self occupied while she told my of her trials in her new home. Would you be surprised to hear that she is not happy where she is? Then I went back upstairs and enscounced myself in my new chair and began to happily read. That’s when I heard the most awful noise which I couldn’t tell if it was outside or sound coming up through the vent from the nether regions below me. It was such a strange noise that I decided it must be some unknowns outside on the side walk horsing around so I ignored it. About a half an hour later I heard your father breathing heavily as he came down the hall. He paused and opened the door and told me, “I’m really sick.” He then proceeded into the bathroom where he spent some more time being sick. The only thing I could figure out to do to help him was to get a large bowl and place it on the bed in case he would need it later on as he doesn’t move as fast as he used to. Boy, was I glad I had as he no sooner got to the bed than he started retching again. He spent a horrible night finally falling asleep toward morning. I, however, left him too it and slept in the sewing room finally falling asleep toward morning. He has been miserable today, staying home from church can do that do you, but spent the day in the front room. Which is why I must repeat myself, “Being sick is no fun.”

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January 2, 2006

Brooks without you and Sherman and Joy gathered around the piano belting out the songs from Fiddler On the Roof our New Years is very very quiet to say the least. Listen I am working on a quilt top for you. You can see what it looks like by going to Lynette Jensen Pansy Park (the name of the designer and the quilt). If you think it has to much color look at this years club pattern/kit which is much darker but also very nice. The problem with it is that it costs 250 smack a roos which I don’t have but if you like this one better than the other and want to spring for it then let me know. The next step would be to cross my palm with silver. Guess I also need to know how big your Bently is. The Pansy Park quilt is 112″ long by 92″ wide which means it is designed to fit a gueen size bed and therefore a tad small for a king. However if you had in mind hanging the quilt on a wall for display purposes or drapping it over a couch then I guess size is irrevelant. Let me know. love Mom

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