Good Bye To Some Old Friends!

 

Today, as the snow blew sideways, and the last of my beautiful leaves were ripped from the trees, I decided it was time to say "good bye" to two dear friends of mine!! Their names are Flip and Flop!! They have been the truest of friends, always protecting my feet from scorching hot pavement. Like all good friends, they are protective without being smothering. You see, they still allow the tops of my feet to obtain the cutest little tan lines!! They have been with me through some great memories--Chicago, Nauvoo, San Diego. They are always just waiting for me to slip my polished toes through their little straps and away we go!! So for the next six months they will sit in my closet. About February I will start looking at them, and long for the carefree days of shoes with no laces. But before you start feeling too sorry for me, let me introduce you to my new friends---fuzzy and warm!

 

Senior Night at Westlake High!

Friday night was a "big deal" here in Saratoga Springs!! For our last game of the season we played our rival Lehi High, and it was Senior night!! After a tied score of 0-0 at the half Westlake rallied in the second half ending the game 21-3. Alex was recognized at half time, not only as a senior football player, but also for making academic all-region--which means he has some of the best grades of all Varsity athletes in our region!!! As Darren and I walked off the field hand in hand, I said to him "I don't like having a senior--that means I am old!" He agreed with me--then I said " But if I have to have a senior, I am glad I have a senior like Alex!" He also agreed! Old or not, it makes me feel like I have spent my life doing something right, when I look at Alex. Way to go Westlake!!--I will miss sitting in those bleachers under the Friday night lights!!

Final Score!

Like Father--Like Daughter

So yesterday, after receiving the news of my grandmothers death--I was still processing exactly how I was feeling, when I realized it was time for my wonderful children to come bounding through the door--home from school, and ready for snacks and help with homework and piano and ready to tell me the stories of their day! I just was not quite ready to be "mom"--so as the kids walked in, I walked out and told them I would be in the backyard raking leaves--they could find a treat, and I would be in soon!! I put my I-pod on to some of my favorite Hillary Weeks music, grabbed a rake, and entered my own little world. The music reminded me of my faith, and being outside in the cool fall air renewed my spirit!! I was delighted to be raking up so many leaves--delighted that my trees are getting big enough to shed leaves!!! I thought of my grandma, my grandpa, my grandma Smith, mom and dad Forsyth, my own earthly father, and my Heavenly Father--I shed tears as I raked, but the more I raked the better I felt and for some reason being outside was so delightful to me I stayed even after the raking was done. I felt the wind blow through my hair and watched the pile of leaves I had raked begin to blow away! I pondered the "give" and "take" in life. Now I was ready to go in and be "mom".
Later that night,while making a yummy dinner for my family, I was talking to my mom. I asked her how dad was doing. She proceeded to tell me that not long after grandma died he told mom he needed to go walk in the woods. Mom asked if he was going to go hunting, and he said no, he did not think he would be able to hunt through his tears. I smiled, as I realized I am more like my dad than I know. He was walking and crying. I was raking and crying--but we both were dealing with our sadness, and somehow being outside made it a little easier. I had to have Zach take a picture, mostly because I was so proud of my pile of leaves, and I want to be able to compare it in the future to what is sure to be mountainous piles of leaves--but now I am especially grateful for the picture because it will forever be a reminder to me of how me and my dad dealt with the sadness of this day.

Today my sweet grandma Clark departed this mortal life surrounded by her family. My thoughts and feelings this afternoon have made me smile from recalling the happy memories, and cry from visiting the sweet, tender ones. When I was young we lived right next to my grandparents, and even after we moved to Alaska, my grandparents followed, and lived next to us for a few years, once again! My childhood memories are filled with images of my grandma. As I look at my life now, I can see so vividly her influence. My grandma babysat me for a while when I was young--I remember her listening to country music for hours--is that why I am a Kenny Chesney freak?? My grandma loved to bake. She always had homeade chocolate chip cookies in the freezer!! Is that why I am a chocoholic and love to freeze my homeade chocolate chip cookies?? My grandma loved nature--so much that she would get upset when the grandchildren would shake the cherry blossoms from the cherry tree in the spring!! Is that why I love the trees in my yard so much I get upset when my boys throw footballs at them and break their limbs?? I found myself feeling sorry for myself as I realized I do not have a living grandma anymore--but then the comforting whispers of the Holy Ghost reminded me that yes I do have living grandma's-- they just are not living with me here on earth anymore. I am grateful for my faith, my heritage, for memories, and for being a grand-daughter of Donna May Clark.