Mother's Day 2023

 A quiet but very pleasant Mother's Day for me!

Mark treated Mary to a nice dinner which they enjoyed on their deck.

So glad that she is Jackson's mom!

Unfortunately, Matt was sick and didn't get to come over.

He and Cady have been giving me lots of eggs from her chickens so I used 13 egg whites and made a 'from scratch' angel food cake in the tube pan that was my grandmothers.

I was kind of impressed with myself.

It tasted even better than it looked.

John and family came over and gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. 

We feasted on Papa Murphy's pizza and then went for a walk in the rain.

Isabella loves playing in my closet with me.  I think it is because she has my undivided attention.

We have an animal school with a misbehaving snake and various other animals.

I love it!

I don't want her to grow up and out of this fun stage.

Scott was in Hawaii for a friend's wedding on Maui but first he stopped in Oahu to visit his friend Brandon and family.  Brandon and his wife Lindsay have 4 adorable children.

Including a baby that is about 2 weeks old. Awwww...

These 4 'kids' have blessed my life.

Taught me things that I needed to know

Given me joy beyond measure

I am so glad to be their MOM!

What A World!

 My good friends the Schwendimans were in London the week before the coronation.  I had asked them to bring me a commemorative mug and a tea towel.  They did!  I have mugs from Charles and Diana's wedding, William and Catherine's and from the Platinum Jubilee. 

The most amazing thing is that on Tuesday morning May 2nd I was sitting at my computer in Eagle, Idaho while I was

Texting with the Schwendimans in London to pick out a mug

Watching a funeral over Zoom that was being held in Salt Lake City

Following a soccer game in Spain on my I-Pad

and 

Receiving photos over What'sApp from Kenya!

What a world we live in!

Long Live King Charles

Ok I admit it!  I was one of those people who stayed up all night to watch the Coronation.  Truthfully I had been excited for weeks just thinking about the ceremony and the clothes and the cute kids so I just got comfortable on the couch and watched the preliminary documentaries and pre-coronation coverage.

And I loved every minute!

What a spectacular show!

I guess there is a part of me that wished it could have been the beautiful Diana being crowned.  

I wish that their marriage had been happy and that they had stayed married and in love until this day. 

BUT

both of them cheated in their marriage.

They separated in 1992 so 31 years ago.

They divorced in 1996 - 27 years ago.

And Diana died in 1997 so 26 years ago.

I would not have wanted Charles and Diana to have stayed all those years in a loveless marriage just for the sake of her becoming queen.  

Charles and Camilla have been in love for decades and married for 18 years.

She seems to work hard and be good at her job.

And most importantly of all, she supports and loves Charles.

That counts for something in my book.

Perfect people?  No of course not.

Things to be sorry for....many.

But 'he who is without sin, cast the first stone'.

The coronation ceremony was a deeply felt, religious experience.  I was impressed that King Charles said that he came not to be served but to serve.

So many references to grace and mercy and service.

He seemed genuinely moved by the experience.

The music was spectacular.

I was touched by the grandeur and the history behind all the elements.

Even at 5:00 in the morning!

A highlight for me had to be the Wales kids.

Prince George as a page to his Granddad the King. 

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis walking so sweetly behind their parents.

Their behavior was impeccable.  Louis got a little restless but then 2 hours is a LONG time for a barely 5 year old to sit still and be quiet.  His nanny took him out for a planned break but he rejoined his family for the recessional. 

I am sure the Prince and Princess of Wales were so proud of their children. As they should be!

From all I read and have observed they are excellent parents. 

This coronation seems like a bookend to my life.  Daddy was in England for Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 when I was born.  Now nearing the end of my life, I witness this one.  With a little luck, I may live to see Prince William and Catherine become King and Queen.

That would make me very happy.