July

How many songs, O summer wind,
How many songs you know
Of fair, sweet things in your wanderings,
As over the earth you go?

July 3 - A special gift

What's so special about Hailie's birthday this year? She is getting baptized! 

She turned 10 years old today and made a conscientious choice to hear the discussions and become a member of the church... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so thankful for the sweet spirit that was taken into Steve and Misty's home by two special missionaries... Elder Kirby and Elder Jensen. 

I gave Hailie some scriptures, a quadruple combination. I also bought her a skirt and blouse for her baptism day.

I am so proud of Hailie and love her very much. Happy Birthday Hailie!

Fresh picked zuchinni - yeah!  

Today we picked our first zuchinni out of the garden. I couldn't wait to slice it up and fry it up for breakfast. There is nothing better than squash, mushrooms, and onions served up first thing in the morning. Yummm!! Yeah for the beginning of squash season!

July 6 - Zinnia's

The Zinnia's have been my favorite flower this year. I planted them in an old tool box and they haven't disappointed me in the least. The blooms are big, colorful, and vibrant. They make me so happy to look at. They have kept their blooms longer than any other flower I have planted. Going on 2 months now!

July 8 - Grandchildren

So silly! I just love these little guys. Ben woke up from a short nap... and then disappeared. I discovered him in the corner behind the chase in my sun room. He was so quiet and still. I thought he went back to sleep. Audrey informed me he was likely taking care of business. Oh... the thoughts of growing up and having to use the toilet can be pretty rough! 

Alia and Emilee are enjoying play time on grandma's bed. My room... my bed... watching movies, eating popcorn... playing hide and seek, running... it's their favorite place to be!

July 9 - Oatmeal

I love oatmeal for breakfast. I bring water, with raisins in it, to a boil. Add oatmeal and cook for a couple of minutes. I pour Almond Milk over top and sprinkle it with cinnamon. Yummm!!

It's one of my comfort foods. I think of Grandma Bentley and her blue willow bowls filled with hot, steaming, fresh cooked oatmeal. Mornings were filled with the hearty smell that came with cooking oatmeal. I can still see grandpa Bentley sitting at the small table underneath the kitchen window that separated the kitchen from the front foyer, gumming away at his oatmeal. Sweet memories!

July 10 - Shaniel's plant

It's been 5 months since Shaniel left us. It seems like an eternity, yet only yesterday. I don't know how that happens, but it does.

The African Violet that Leslie gave me at Shaniel's passing sits on the end table in my sun room. It is so happy! It is growing, thriving, vibrant, healthy, is beautiful, and reaches upward continually. It brings me so much peace and joy every time I look at her plant. 

I liken it to Shaniel. I have no doubt that she is also growing, thriving, vibrant, getting healthy, is beautiful and also reaches upward continually. The purple violet is so beautiful. I love that it is purple... that being Shaniel's favorite color. I know Shaniel is so anxious to move forward, to progress, to be fully engaged in the Lord's work. I know she is there on the other side to help aid us and teach us spiritual things we don't understand here. Her sweet and abiding spirit will always be with us. I feel it every time I look at this beautiful African Violet. I can't wait to go to the temple and do her ordinance work. Even though it is still several months away, I feel so humble and grateful for the opportunity to do her work. I feel an overwhelming sense of sacredness. My heart can hardly contain the emotions I feel right now. I can't even imagine what it will be like when that day arrives.

July 12 - So BIG!

Emilee is 10 months old today. She is so BIG! or so she thinks she is. She crawls, climbs the stairs, pulls herself up to anything she can, walks along furniture and stair rails (as you can see above), and she plays with older brother and sister as if she is their age. She loves to dive on Ben and wrestle him. She loves to laugh out loud and is constantly doing so. When Audrey and I were traveling to Price for the Bates Reunion, Emilee all of a sudden started laughing out of no where. All I could think of.... what in the world is this little girl thinking about! She laughed all the way to Price. She is a total crack up. Always has us smiling, guessing, and laughing with her. I love her so much.

July 15 - Baby Birds

The baby birds are taking flight! It is fun to sit on the back deck and watch them fly from their nests and practice their new found flying skill. They don't venture too far from home. They like to perch on the deck rail. There were eight babies perched on the rail at one time. It won't take long for them to take off and venture far from home.

July 18 - New Addition

The new guest room is finally done! I love it, and I think our guests will enjoy the new space, too. I've always wanted a blue bedroom. And now I have one. The new room is on the second level, above the main floor family room... where one designed to be in the first place. When you look out the west window, you get a beautiful view of Willard Bay. The flag is at eye level, too. A window in the east wall has shutters on it now and a window box will hold some of the plants from Shaniel's funeral. 

Bonus additions.... a blueish gray painted wall on the west wall of the main floor family room. It adds depth and character to the area and makes it much more inviting. And I love the lowered ceiling in the room. It gives us much more light and makes the room cozy. The red wall in the bay window breaks up the monotony of the beige walls on the main level. It really grabs your attention as you enter the house. I love our new addition. Audrey and Mike were the first to use it... they lived with us for... ONE WEEK.

July 19 - Fresh Picked Peaches

They are the first of the season. It didn't take me long to peel and slice up a bunch. Delicious!

July 20 - Bates Family Reunion

Steven was host for this year's Bates Family Reunion. It was held at Pioneer Park in Price. It was so enjoyable visiting with my siblings. Amie, Audrey, and Steve came from my family. Most of Kelley's, Leslie's, and Steven's family were represented. Natalie and Josh came. And of course... lot's of little children. Our family continues to grow! We missed Patty and her children. Keosha and new husband surprised us with a visit, as well.

Pot luck was good. I brought fresh peaches, cut up and ready to eat. Big Hit! Potato Salad, too. Some thought it was mom's recipe because it was so good. 

I remember watching mom making Potato Salad. The potatoes were cooked just right... tender crisp. I would watch her add milk to mayo in a the jar it came in and whisk it up until it was smooth; the dressing slightly runny. She added salt and pepper, and sometimes pickle juice. Onions... I think she used green onions mostly, were tossed in with the eggs and potatoes. Mom's Potato Salad was the highlight of any picnic, potluck, or bbq.

I haven't been able to duplicate mom's Potato Salad. I couldn't get the dressing to work. So... for my dressing, I mix straight mayo (light), about a half teaspoon of mustard, and salt and pepper. Sometimes, pickle juice. My Potato Salad is a little thicker than mom's, but I have learned to make it so it is just as yummy... just in a slightly different way.

Most of the kids, with young families, took to the Wave Pool. The temps rose to over a 100 degrees, so us older folks packed up and went to Kelley's house to finish out our visit. Meriam gave us a lesson on Family Search. com. How to attach a source to an ancestor. She got me all fired up on family history... again. I just need to find a good time during the week and commit to doing it. The whole idea is a little intimidating, but I know I will love it once I get going and keep at it consistently. 

Cleveland Days

The small rural town of Cleveland knows how to celebrate! We started out the day watching the parade. Greg is Fire Chief and there are advantages to that... any of the grandkids that want to ride on the fire truck, can. They are the candy throwers. They look for their cousins who didn't ride on the truck, waiting anxiously on the side of the parade route and throw lots of candy their way! 

The kids parade is first. All of them sported a 4-wheeler, go-kart, or bicycle. It was so much fun watching the grandkids race and pedal down the road. 

Alia has her princess wave down. Tera rode on the Primary float. Ben doesn't venture too far from grandma. He is my little Buster!

Ping Pong Ball Drop

The best part of Cleveland Days is the Ping Pong Ball Drop. Right after the parade, the town's people gather at the park for the anxiously awaited ball drop. Two old fashioned two-seater airplanes fly low over the park dropping hundreds of balls. The kids race to grab one. If they are lucky enough to get one, they get to cash it in and get an ice cream sandwich. Alia and Ben found broken balls... but they still worked! 

Little did we know that just across the street... Amie was gathering up dropped balls that landed in Greg's yard. So, there were plenty of balls to go around and all the grandkids were pleasantly surprised and treated to ice cream.

Just before the ball drop, everyone stood on a previously painted shape on the park's grass for an aerial shot. Fun! Hailie is standing next to one of her favorite people... Elder Kirby, who is teaching her the missionary discussions.

Shaniel's Heart

Before heading home, Audrey and I stopped by CNS and was greeted by this permanent sign painted in the front window. Oh... my heart! Shaniel was so special to so many people. What a lovely tribute to such a lovely daughter. 

I can't think about her being gone. And when someone asks me about her or offer their condolences, I immediately tear up, can't talk, and it takes me to a place I would rather not go. I can't even write this without crying. My heart starts to race. I feel panic rise in my chest. I can't think about it. I miss her so much. 

July 23 - Aunt Colleen

Kelley and I visited Aunt Colleen today. I took her out Grandma Bentley's cookbook and had her go through the pages and identify recipes that grandma made on a regular basis. I took my trusty recorder, recorded and listened to Aunt Colleen reminisce about days gone by, grandma's cooking, making, and baking, and all the happy memories of home. It was such an enjoyable visit. What I thought would be an hour or so, lasted a few hours. It was time well spent! 

Aunt Collen's fingers were wrinkly and bent... a Bentley trait. I love those old bent fingers. They reminded me of mother. I love Aunt Colleen. She reminded me so much of mom today. We knocked on the door. She couldn't hear us. We called her on the phone to wake her up. We saw her through the door, pattering as quickly as she could, holding on to her walker, oxygen tubing in tow. Oh... that was so mom! And look at her... looking so much alike.

Earlier in the day, I attended Bishop Allred's funeral at the Spring Glen church house. He was a small man, but a giant man in my eyes. He was extremely patriotic and was very much involved in community. He was my geography teacher in Jr. High (and that opens up a whole other story!). He and dad were such good friends. Our families went on many fun adventures together. I will miss him.

Alisa related an incident that the Relief Society President told her. The night of Jack's passing, with family gathered around, Bishop Allred told his family that Jim Bates was here! That does not surprise me one bit. My dad loved this man. Of course he would be there to meet him!

Remembering Dad

Before going home, Kelley and I went out to the Wellington City Cemetery to visit mom and dad's grave. It was a beautiful evening and very peaceful, as usual. Since dad's birthday is on July 24, it was fitting to spend a few moments at his resting spot and remember back on all the fond memories I had with him. 

He was such a good example to me. When I think about things and put them into perspective... I think... what a miracle it was for dad to be the person he became! The odds were not in his favor. His life... our lives... could have been much different. His upbringing could have dictated a much different outcome. But... he was touched by the spirit. He listened. He trusted the Lord and made good choices in his life. After his conversion, he spent his entire life in the service of the Lord. He raised his family in the gospel. He learned and practiced gospel principles, and passed his testimony on to his family. I am forever grateful. I can't even imagine a different way of life.

July 24 - Buckwheat and Matilda

  

Bywater's have two more additions to their ever growing family... goats! Buckwheat and Matilda. They have a job to do... keep down the weeds and unwanted grass. I think they will do a good job!

They also bought a new trailer house. A nice addition for camping trips. 

Pioneer Day Celebration

What's more important than watching the Days of 47 Parade, having a bbq, being with family, and setting off fireworks on the day we celebrate our pioneer ancestors entrance into the Salt Lake Valley?

Well... there is one more thing. Celebrating Dad's birthday! Every time we light a sparkler, I think of dad. Whether is is cake, cupcakes, or brownies... the sparkler IS the candle! It all started with a sparkler in his cupcake while on a trip to Alaska. The R.S. President had us up for dinner, fixing us fresh crab and all the yummy dishes that go with it. The evening was topped off with a sparkler in dad's cupcake to celebrate his birthday. I love the tradition that was started so many years ago. It's a great way to remember all the fun memories with dad. Happy Birthday Dad!

Moving In

Ben helped daddy move in some beds today. Big Boy!

July 29 - Cleaning

I helped Audrey finish packing and cleaning. The house looks spic and span and just like new! I met Audrey's landlord as we were leaving. She came to inspect the house and get the keys. She paid the highest compliment to my kids... that "they are the cream of the crop". That did not surprise me at all... I knew it all along!

FHE

What better way to start off in a new place! The Mecham family enjoyed a short FHE lesson and then went out in the yard to play ball and Frisbee  It makes my heart happy to see the kids play and enjoy the space the yard has to offer.

Our Yard in July

Geraniums, roses, daisies, cone-flowers, day lilies, zinnias, sunflowers, petunias, and wisteria

The flowers were all in full bloom. We saw only a couple of days of a few sprinkles of rain.... nothing much. The puddles seen in the above picture is about all we have gotten all summer long. Wish the Carbon and Emery County storms would push a little further north. We need some rain in the worst way.

July Birthdays

Hailie turned 10 years old on July 3. What's so special about this year... She is taking the missionary discussions and will be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in August.

Tera and Tianna... our sweet and very spunky twins turned 8 years old on July 14. What's so special about this year... They, too, are getting baptized. 

My heart is happy! 

Month in Review