March

The wind is pushing against the trees, He'll take off your hat without asking you "please", He rattles the windows and puffs at a cloud, Then scoots down the chimney and laughs aloud.  --author unknown



March 3

Nicole turned 10 years old today.    Amie said she is in a growth spurt right now and seems so grown up.  Her favorite color is purple.  She loves vanilla ice cream and Clint's cooking, especially buttery noodles.  Her favorite all time dish is Chicken Tortellini.  Nicole loves to dance, ride her 4-wheeler, play Charades with the family and go on camping trips.  She collects pretty rocks when camping and has a new hobby of collecting snow globes.  Nicole loves little kids and babies. She is a good babysitter. Her very favorite thing to do.... make sugar cookies with grandma!  Love you Nicole.  Happy Birthday! 


March 4

Shaniel turned 32 years old today!  She is such a delightful daughter.  Her characteristics have helped shape her into the positive and successful person she is today.  She is determined, persistent, energetic, compassionate, self motivated, positive, and dependable. She takes the 'bull by the horn', and gets things done!  Her gift of faith has helped her endure several hardships. And she is funny!  She finds humor in everything.  I love her laugh.  I can't tell her and Audrey apart sometimes.... they both laugh exactly the same.


She has come back to her all time favorite color.... purple.  She and the girls came up for a visit a few days after her birthday and she requested apple crisp for her birthday dessert.  She said that was one of her best memories of home.  Apple crisp and vanilla ice cream on Sunday's.

I am so blessed to have Shaniel as a daughter, and even more blessed to have her as a friend. Happy Birthday Shaniel!


March 9

Amie has been calling me lately with a request of her favorite meals growing up.  Her absolute favorite.... Grandma Bates' Goulash. It's not the wimpy kind you always hear about; the macaroni and tomato stuff.  It's Manly Goulash. It has always been one of my favorite meals, too. I made it for dinner tonight.  I added fresh baked rolls and green salad.  Delicious!

March 10

the princesses... Tera, Morgann, Hailie, Makaela, and Tinanna (Alia, below)

Alia meets Cinderella!

It was a Cinderella weekend with the granddaughters.  The live performance of Cinderella came to the Perry Heritage Theater.  Special treatment was given to the princesses to prepare them for the event.  An invitation to the play, treatment to a day spa (grandma's bathroom), dressing up, catered meal (courtesy of grandma), watching the play, meeting Cinderella herself, and pro pictures (by grandma) at the Tabernacle.  It was a perfect weekend.  Nicole and Savanna could not make it.... hopefully they can next time.  

March 11

Today was a special day for Riley.  He was ordained to the office of the Aaronic Priesthood as a deacon.  He is my first grandson to receive the priesthood.  I am so proud of him and the decisions he is making in his life. Congratulations Riley!  Grandma loves you.

March 12

December was the last time I went to Price.  It seems so long ago.  Since mom's passing, the trips to Price are less frequent.  But, duty called me to Price this week.  Shaniel underwent surgery to repair a hernia.  Poor girl!  Amie and I cleaned her house, and I helped with the kids.  Morgann and I planned a Gourmet Ice Cream Sundae Bar one night.  Shaniel wanted Cookies and Cream.  She got that and more!  We watched a movie and loaded up on ice cream and toppings fit for a queen! 

March 14

Amie invited me to Achievement Days.  Her class size is as big as a school class size.  She usually gets all 16 girls to come.  They all love her.  She is fun and makes the activities meaningful. She is also very creative. Today they played kickball at the school and wrote in their journals.  Amie handmade the covers.  She ironed their pictures on the front of some fabric I had given her years ago, and had the girls decorate the covers with flowers and ribbon. 

March 15

Kelley and I spent my last day together.  Ironically it was on March 15, the date of dad's passing.  We went to the house and rummaged through mom's tub of silk flowers, reserved just for the headstone.  I was taken back by the newness of the house.  As we wandered through the rooms, a little bit of sadness and a tear or two swelled in my eye.  The colors of the walls Bill and Alia picked out were so very beautiful..... but, the reality of mom not being there was a hard pill to swallow.  

We went to the Wellington City cemetery, washed the headstone with mom's shammy, placed the new red silk flowers in their proper place, and pondered on the memories we had with mom and dad.  It's so hard to take it all in.  I don't know how we got to this place already.  It was just yesterday that we were going to the cemetery with mom.  I can hardly think about it... the tears won't stop.  I miss her so much.

Before I left for home, we went to the Main Street Grill (is that right, Kelley?) and had lunch.  Just like we would have with mom.  We both had fish and chips and a green salad... mom's favorite!

Now I understand what mom used to say.   After grandma and grandpa passed away, she missed them so much.  Her sisters helped fill the void and they were the closest of friends.  I feel that way about my sisters.  I hope we get together and do things together often. I enjoyed my day with Kelley so much.

March 19

Alia called me on the phone this morning all excited, and said....

"SNOW IS EVERYWHERE!  IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!"

March 20

I had Book Club tonight.  We read a classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this month.  Now I know why I was never interested in reading it before.  Weird!!

March 21

Today is Kelsey's birthday.  I can't believe she is 36 years old!  She is as old as I was when I married Dave.  We spent the day in Logan yesterday for her birthday.  We had a blast shopping at Dress Barn.  She bought an Easter outfit; and it is so pretty on her.  We went to Chili's and ate lunch before coming home.  I always have fun with Kelsey.  We are such good friends.  I baked Kelsey her favorite cake.... German Chocolate. She has requested that cake for as long as I can remember.

Her life is a little crazy and busy right now.  We don't get together as often as we used to, but still manage to find time for a day adventure or talk on the phone once in a while. She is finishing up her B.S. degree and will continue on to get her Nurse Practitioner.  She is also still working at IHC as a Home Health Nurse.  I am so proud of her!  Happy Birthday Kelsey!

March 22

Apricot blossoms came out today.  Can't believe it!  This is the earliest on record.  I love Spring!

March 23

We're off to see the Wizard....

Kelsey, I and the kids went to the Old Barn to watch a live play, Wizard of OZ.  It was the best play I have ever seen.... hands down!  Makaela and Brayden get their picture taken with Toddo.

Another phone call from Alia....

Alia:  Hi grandma!

Grandma:  Hi Alia!

Alia:  I'M GOING TO THE DENTIST.  I'M SO EXCITED!

Alia was prepared!  Mommy and daddy had been reading her a dentist book to help her be at ease, especially since this was her first visit.  She finally consented to have her teeth cleaned after watching mommy get her's done.  No cavities.... thanks to Audrey's persistence in brushing the kids teeth from the time they get their first tooth. Alia was such a big girl!  She definetly earned a prize from the prize drawer.  She also got a princess toothbrush, toothpaste, and some floss.  I'd say her first trip to the dentist was quite successful!

March 26

Yet, another phone conversation with Alia.

Alia: Hi Grandma!

Grandma:  Hi Alia!

Alia:  What are you doing grandma?  folding clothes

Grandma:  What are you doing Alia?  (she told me what she was going to do with her dad when he got home)

Alia:  my daddy's name is Michael Mecham

Grandma:  What is mommy's name?

Alia:  my mommy's name is Audrey Mecham

Grandma:  What is your name?

Alia:  my name is Alia Dawn Mecham

Grandma:  what is Ben's name?

Alia:  MY SON BEN.JER.BEN!

I could hardly hold back the laughter, but I did hear Audrey laughing in the background.  She is so stinkin' cute!

March 29

End of Month -- went to Y.W. General Conference with Kelsey and Makaela on March 24th, and attended the Logan Temple on March 29th.  I promised myself this year that I would attend the temple once a month, and since it was right before General Conference, I thought this was the perfect time to prepare for it.  

I had an interesting experience.  I walked in the temple and even though there were a lot of people there, it seemed to be more quiet than usual.  That was nice.  I got dressed in my whites and sat down in the chapel. I picked up the Book of Mormon to read like I always do.  I hadn't been reading long when the officiator excitedly entered the chapel, with a few men following him.  He turned off the piano, came up to the pulpit, and announced that they had just had a very spiritual experience!  I had a witness that it was, indeed, true.  I had goosebumps for several minutes.  But... he left us hanging.  He never did share what it was; just that they had had one.  Now, I will probably never know.

Month in Review