The Nightmare House

Outside work in progress.




In the fall of 2007 we found an older home near Poppa's old assisted living apartments and Kelli's family's home. We felt like this could be a wonderful home for all of us.

In November Eric sent me to sign the papers to purchase. We had only walked through the home once and felt that we could make it our winter home. It wasn't until sixteen days after the previous occupants moved out that I discovered it was really a "Nightmare House". When they took their belongings out we found the wall in the living room wet and mildewed and standing water in the kitchen and hall from the inside air conditioning unit. If that wasn't enough, when they took down a conveniently placed picture off the wall it was quite apparent that they had replaced a square of wallboard and behind it was black mold. Of course, we called the real estate agent and she had two mold inspectors come out. Naturally, it was the "serious mold". Instead of being able to have the jungle yard replaced with a lovely landscaped yard and a swimming pool, we had to totally have the inside torn out and redone... including and expensive new outside air-conditioner.

In retrospect, I feel blessed that it happened as it did. The inside and outside are starting to shape up. I don't know if we still have photos of the before.... but I would like to share the "in the making" and the "after" photos. Too, with Poppa with his severe Parkinson's and dragging his feet, plus now that Eric isn't comfortable anymore, this floor plan is very good for us. It is almost all new inside and easy to watch the golfers outside (Poppa's old past time that he enjoyed so much not too many years ago).

THIRTY YEARS AND HOLDING!!

On the 28th of May in the year 1979 we were united in marriage in the backyard of my parents home in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a beautiful day with a very simple ceremony and yet very meaningful vows.

Five children and years and years of special treasured memories.... and here we are...
headed towards... "ALL OF TIME AND ETERNITY" together!
Thank you for the wonderful life you have given me! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
Happy Anniversary Honey!!
Brenda

Finally after .....Twenty consectutive years of College

13 May 2009
There had been much to do.... about the main speaker for the Spring Commencement at the Arizona State University this year. Did they want him to come.... did they want to award him with an honorable degree?? Our newly elected President Barack Obama wanted to give the commencement address to all the graduating seniors. There were questions about how many tickets that you could get for your family.... and then the question of who would be able to attend. Every night on the news there were comments about all the preparations being made and many of the restrictions that would apply. Just a few days before the event the weather changed... it was in the 3 digits and expected to be 108 degrees the day of the ceremony in Phoenix in an open air stadium. The day before we learned that people would be expected to sit in the hot sun from 3pm until the program began at 7pm. They also expected that President Obama would not be speaking until 8pm. They would have water and food but you could not bring any of that into the stadium.

I must admit that Popee and Memee had really been looking forward to seeing the entire program. After all, Kelli had worked for twenty years consecutively to receive this degree. We had imagined this day years ago and looked forward to not only being in Arizona but to have well enough health to attend. Finding out that Popee would have to sit in the sun all day was out of the question... we then considered possibly allowing our Carl to go in his place. At the last minute the graduate suggested that we forgo that event and go out to eat to celebrate instead. It was a wonderful idea... We went home after dinner and actually watched the address from the comfort of our air-conditioned homes. We even were able to see the President's plane on the ground at the Phoenix airport and watch him close up.
Because we didn't use the official tickets to go Kelli allowed David to go and to take some of his friends. The seats were on the first row closest to the President. I understand that the kids had a marvelous time and that David was able to get some great photos. This will be one of David's biggest memories... especially since most of President Obama's address could be an address given at his High School Graduation Ceremony.
On Friday, 15 May 2009 at 5 pm all of Kelli's family, plus Popee, Memee and our Carl all went to the Phoenix Convention Center to watch Kelli "walk". The auditorium was totally packed and we sat up in the bleachers so that we could possibly see her. After a long progression of students filing in we were able to see her because of her large gold sash, burgundy and gold Honors Cord plus a large medallion which she more. Out of the thousands of people waving all at once it was rather exciting when we realized she knew it was us. We raised and lowered each arm individually and she did the same. It was so comforting to watch as she received her diploma for BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK.

After the program we went downstairs and outside to wait for her to greet us and to get those photo opts!! Once the photos were over, Popee needed to go home to rest. Memee went to grab the car and there was a huge line all the way to the top floor of the parking garage trying to get out. It took forever to get down and checked out but Popee and Kelli waited... I know that Popee was REALLY glad to see me. We drove a couple of blocks and then Kelli and I went with her family and our Carl out to eat at an adorable Mexican style restaurant in a downtown square.... The soup that Kelli had was to die for!! I brought an order home for Popee and he loved it too.

Kelli has a couple of weeks off and then back to the college grind. She was accepted to do her Masters Degree.... Yipee, she should receive it before Josh graduates from High School!!
CONGRATULATIONS KELLI!!

Two Eagles Fly in Arizona

After days of unusual weather we were blessed with a beautiful Saturday for a special event. Kelli and Carl hosted a wonderful Eagle Award Ceremony for their two oldest sons in their backyard.
They decorated the backyard with red, white and blues patriotic flag streamers from around the patio porch and around the lit glass picnic table umbrella. Kelli found two almost perfectly formed apples and placed small American flags in them and placed them on the center of the table on each side of the umbrella stand. This accented the cake which had edible pictures of both EAGLE SCOUTS. On the raised portion of the patio, Carl placed the ping-pong table half up, making it a makeshift video screen. Chairs for the EAGLE NEST, the men conducting, the two recipients all had chairs on this elevated spot looking down to where the guests sat in lawn chairs on the grass.
The program was as follows:Conducting:
Introduction by Scout Master (Brother Durfee)
(EAGLE SCOUTS in attendance were asked to sit in the EAGLE's NEST)

Flag Ceremony:
by Scouts in attendance (Ben, Ammon, Justin, Oliver)

Opening Prayer: by Memee
Father's comments:

Eagle Projects:Joshua tells about his Eagle Project-
Feeding the Homeless a Thanksgiving Meal

David tells about his Eagle Project-

Making a Video about Veterans for the Library of Congress .

Scout Thoughts: Popee reads his personal remarks

David's best qualities at living the 12 points of the Boy Scout Law

Joshua's best qualities at living the 12 points of the Boy Scout Law

Eagle Challenge: Grandpa talks about the importance of becoming an Eagle Scout.

Eagle Awards: Bishop presents Joshua and David with their Eagle Awards.

Mom pins Joshua and then Joshua pins Mom and Dad.
Mom pins David and then David pins Mom and Dad

Parent Presentations:
Mom and Dad give both boys Boy Scout rings and plaques with Eagle Scout Certificate & ribbon
(David inherits Carl's ring, and Josh receives a 1920 vintage ring)

Slide Show Presentations:
Video of Boy's throughout their Boy Scouting experience
(Mostly outdoors photo

s and BSA ceremony photos)

Mom presents both Eagle Scouts a small book with photocopies of all the written
(What Boy Scout law best describes them- individually)

Closing remarks: by Scout Master

Closing prayer: by Grandma.

Cake and Lemonade were served on patriotic plates....
The quests ate cake and drank Lemonade around the deck with flaming Hawaiian torches

around the pool. There was also a campfire burning.

It was a formal but a very simple ceremony to commemorate the service and diligence that both Eagle Scouts had accomplished.

DAVID 'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION -MAY 21, 2009

21 MAY 2009

Here we are in Arizona land of heat and sunshine..... but not today! It started out a little overcast and 85 degrees. By the time we left the house to drive to David's graduation ceremony it was just starting to rain. Fortunately, when we were leaving I grabbed some kitchen trash bags to bring along .... "just in case". " Just in case", quickly seized the the moment and we were scrambling to get covered up so we could enjoy the ceremony in the outdoor football stadium. With in a few minutes we were wishing for a little heat and sunshine!!

Kelli had reserved four seats in the handicapped section for us to sit in since Poppa was in his wheelchair. We were truly blessed as our section was on the track field which was next to the seniors and podium.

There was a long procession of seniors marching in..... probably around 800 seniors. Since David was one of the 6 speakers for the entire program he was in the very first row facing the podium, and much to our delight on our side of the field!! Within a few minutes he glanced over to look for fans and there we were! Just in case we blended in, I took off my bold flowered silky top and flew it around a few times..... immediately he recognized us and gave us a big smile and wave! That was so comforting to know that he knew we were there with all those thousands of people looking down on the seniors.
Many wonderful people offered us tender kindness as we sat in the rain. I tried to cover up Carl and Poppa with the kitchen bags to hold their body heat. Several sweet spirits shared their personal wrap or blanket to help keep Poppa warm. Fortunately, Dad had brought his light weight jacket with a hood, but soon he was also drenched. The people behind us wanted us to take their only umbrella but when I refused it, they sweetly leaned over the fence to make sure that we were blessed with a little protection from their umbrellas.

Shortly after the program began David, the official "Student Body Videographer", was introduced to the audience. He quickly approached the stage and he stood before thousands. He was confident and spoke with great enthusiasm as he introduced two of his female classmates as the Salutatorians of this class. Once again he showed NO FEAR!!

The Valedictorian was a young woman named Megan. They introduced her as beautiful and exceptionally smart having a 4.7 GPA. They also said that she had received THE THOMAS S. MONSON scholarship to BYU. Several times during her address I was touched by the spirit and fought back tears... she not only did a marvelous job at speaking to her peers about their accomplishments, but she also gave great counsel and shared a tremendous amount of wisdom. She spoke about adversity and that through our examples we can changed others lives. I told Dad when the speech was finished that she did a "Brilliant Job" of connecting the kids and their futures to her speech. Later Kelli would share that this was the little girl she had taken care of when they lived in Chandler. In fact, Kelli had taken her to breakfast a few days earlier and she had given Megan a starfish necklace and shared the story associated with it. In Megan's address she read the starfish story. It seems that in retrospect, she might have been referring to Kelli when she spoke about... "through trials just one can be touch another to make a difference....." Since she told Kelli that she had been like her "second mom", it is highly possible. Could it be that the spirit that was so strong and tender during her talk, unknowingly could have been more of an eternal connection to David and Kelli which I felt??? I remember looking down and seeing my "goosebumps" standing tall!! The Lord does work in mysterious ways!! It is awesome to see that the Lord does have a plan... even when we don't hear HIS voice or see HIS hand.

The High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble sang "Shining Star" and before long most of the seniors were up dancing and having a wonderful time with the music. It was great to watch as 3 students started and as no one else stood they sat down.... just as others got up.... and then more and more. We all clapped, with and for them.

The Introduction of Graduates then began and DAVID ERIC was soon announced.
We were all cheering and grateful for his many accomplishments.... He was in the top 10% of his class and exceeds in all area of AIMS TESTING which noted that he would be receiving a Medallion.

Once the diplomas were given to a third of the class, Kelli found us and asked if we wanted to leave. At first I believe that we wanted to stay, but thinking of being in the rain.. longer, and standing in lines trying to leave, leaving early did have a ring of desire to it!! Kelli said that the Houghton side of the family had already exited and that she would stay to greet David. It saddened me that we weren't there to do that... but Poppa and Popee certainly needed to be out of the weather. I know that David realizes that we would have waited under other circumstances. We are so proud of him!!

Tomorrow morning there are plans for a game place. From 4 pm until 8 pm Carl and Kelli are hosting a graduation party at their house for David. Italian meatball sub sandwiches, salads and tater tots were served for dinner and Kelli's delicious Oreo cookie ice cream cake was the dessert! .... We can't wait to give him a hug and his presents....can't share yet.... It's a surprise!!

April Showers in Texas

Eric is going to Dr. Burzynski's Clinic in Houston, Texas. He is doing so much better in such a short time!!

While we are in Houston, we decided to take a trip up to Conroe and see if we could find any information in their Courthouse. While doing genealogy over the years we found a document which named my grandparents and her sister and brother in-law as heirs of property. However, something happened, and they never received anything from the estate. In fact, my mellow uncle traveled there once trying to find out what became of the estate and was arrested. It was interesting to drive up there and to try to put two and two together. We believe that we have a really good idea how it vanished but we need to find the documentation that was altered before we can really pass judgement. We definitely will have to return to do some more research if Eric is up to it.

The weather has been crazy here. I grew up with hurricanes in Florida but the rain we experienced the other day was even worse than I have ever experienced during those. In fact, just around the corner from our hotel 8 cars and an ambulance were totally covered in an intersection of a major highway. It appeared as if they were traveling and suddenly there was a flash flood. Just up the road in the other direction, a car was swept into a drainage ditch with the driver in it. The following day, after the crews of divers could go into the drainage system under interstate highway 10, they found the driver and car. Unfortunately, the driver had not survived.

For more excitement, there is an alert out for the Swine Flu in this area. The first USA death was right here in Houston. They have closed many of the schools in the area but there still seem to be many people out shopping.

We've met many new people here. There are George and Barbara from North Palm Beach. They use to live in Manhattan, Long Island, now they live right across the inter coastal waterway from where my aunt and uncle use to have a condo, and property in Ocala, Florida and Vermont too! We have had many interesting conversations with them. Then there was a great Amish Family of seven from Ohio that we really enjoyed visiting with. In fact, on the night of the torrential rain storm three of them rode with us to the Clinic for an evening group meeting. The storm started as we were in the meeting and when we went to leave we had to wait a while to be able to access the car. Mind you, we were driving a Toyota Prius as we began our journey home.
I am afraid that these poor souls will never ride in a car again since we literally plowed through the swelling streets. The grand-father told us, that in their carriage the horses could go through the water with the high wheels easier than all of us in the car. I am sure that the grand-mother in the back seat was saying many a prayer!! I have no doubt that her prayers were answered and that is why we didn't go our normal way back to the hotel where there was so many serious situations and so much intense flooding. All these memories of our new friends will always be treasured.