July 21, 2010

Dear Children,

One weekend of fun after another: tomorrow we leave for California and last weekend we had Blake Severson and Adrianne here visiting so we went to the coast. They arrived on Thursday evening just in time to visit with Grandma Maldonado before she left for Fresno. On Friday we headed to Gleneden beach. I like that place. It has beach access but you are still on a little cliff over looking the ocean and the pool and hot tub have a view of the ocean. I loved the tennis court also and it would be fun to use their huge open fireplace in the evening behind the recreation room. We should plan a gathering there. They only have four large units though. I am on a waiting list for one in January for my annual Young Women’s retreat. And, it is right next to Lincoln City so there is plenty of shopping and Mo’s close by!

Although it was windy some of the time, the sun was shinning and the weather was clear all the time. We put our feet in the ocean for just a second, walked along the beach, had a campfire on the beach, played tennis, Adrianne ran, played lots of games, ate lots of food (even BBQ linguisa) swam and sat in the hot tub, did a bit of outlet shopping and stopped at Tillamook on the drive home (well, we purposely drove out of the way to go to Tillamook. We packed a lot in a little bit of time.

Adrianne was anxious to show Blake the horse barn so they left for Sherwood shortly after we arrived home from the coast. They didn’t get far and her car broke down again. The same thing happened that she had just paid over 500 dollars to get fixed. She is so disappointed; she had to tow the car to a garage that night.

Blake and Adrianne helped me out by teaching the Sunbeams. They learned the night before that they would have both classes since the other teacher couldn’t find a substitute. They had their hands full since Sunbeams don’t warm up to new teachers so quickly. Adrianne invited several friends over and had a BBQ Sunday evening. They stayed and laughed forever! It was a good mix. Railee was invited but brought Reanna also since they came directly from the singles ward. It was good to see them both laughing. Risa and her family learned this week that the chemo treatment isn’t working which means that the doctors guessed wrong on the origin of the cancer. They knew it was a guess. The doctors gave the Whitakers the name of an organization that helps prepare a family for the last few weeks and months of life with a family member.

Blake wanted to meet Scott so they drove to Salem on Monday morning and had a good visit. Last week he had a great and very promising interview about the job for legal assistant so that is a light of good news for him. We haven’t told him everything about the newest turmoil over his children. Kyre involved the police again and kept Alina for almost a week infuriating her family. Wendi doesn’t let her be alone with Alina and reports (maybe exaggerates) any negative thing she can to the Lane family that is going on in Kyre’s home. It sounds like Adam is acting out terribly while Alina is there and Kyre does not know how to deal with him. I KNOW that he is more scared than angry. I am sure he has overheard other family members saying that Kyre won’t be able to handle more of the children and I bet he is afraid he will lose his home life again. He may have even heard the one Lane sister threaten to report Kyre until she gets all her children taken away if she continues to keep Alina. I am not sure that Adam is even getting Scott’s letters anymore now that he is at Kyre’s home. Kyre has told the judge that she wants no contact with Scott and wants him to have no contact with any of the children. It is all just more pain for Scott to endure. He would love to hear from any of you; even a short note would help. He loves to hear any of your good news or even normal day to day life details. It helps him escape for a moment into someone else’s happiness. Although he has been amazing to find some joy and fulfillment in the worst of circumstances that he finds himself in, he is paying a very lonely, long and difficult price everyday for his poor choices. Our love can help him through these lows. He will have lots of “fresh, new” visitors during the beginning of August with the Payne family reunion on the Oregon Coast.

As of this week, Alina is back with Janara and the Lane family has settled down. I asked if anyone (that Kyre trusts as she has been very cool to us lately) could convince her to get some counseling help for Adam so he can have some help sorting through his feelings. Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mickey have kept guardianship of Adam for this very reason (so Adam cannot be easily displaced again should there be problems with Kyre). Kyre is still talking with Aunt Lynn so she and Mickey have agreed to help Kyre understand that Adam may need some help. He is going to spend several days with us the week after we get back into town. It will be nice for him to get away from the drama. Although the distance we live from those grandchildren has been a hindrance sometimes through all the difficulties of the past three years, it has also been a huge blessing to the children and to us that our home is a safe haven for them to visit and get away when things are too much in the Albany area.

Angie evens reports that Meeja is getting along better after her weeks staying at our home. Not that we did anything differently with Meeja but I think it gave all parties a necessary breather. Every time we have the urge to step in and try and “fix” their lives (if that truly could even be done), we realize the tremendous value it is to have our home be neutral and a loving, restful place for them to come to where they know they are unconditionally loved and adored (and pampered as they should be at their grandparents!). You all can help the children with your regular notes and calls. Most of them remember their aunts and uncles with lots of fun memories.

Cal and Cathy Crandall came home from their year in China last week. We had a dinner at the Chandler’s home for family home evening on Monday. They have some interesting stories; I hope we get to hear more of them when we are home for a space of time.

Adrianne and I were all set to pick tons of boysenberries or Marion berries on Tuesday morning to make lots of jam. But, we were disappointed in the ripeness and taste of the berries. We spent some time trying to search out good berries and finally gave up. I made only two batches of jam. That is too much time and work spent for making so little results. There were lots of people picking but they are picking berries before they get a chance to really ripen. Hopefully most of the pickers will lose interest and there will be some more mature berries next week before Adrianne has to leave town. Heidi said that she and the girls wanted to go pick berries so there will most likely be berries at the end of the week for them to pick. We will have lots of blueberries. This next week is going to be a big week for our bushes; I hope the birds don’t get too many of them before we have a chance to come back and pick them. Everything is very late and with less sun this year, things just don’t taste the same.

When I looked at the three containers of jam that our efforts yielded, I thought of a quote that I just read this week from President Monson. He said, “Time is the raw material of life. Everyday unwraps itself like a gift, bring us opportunity to spin a fabric of health, pleasure and content and to evolve into something better than we are at its beginning. Success is the ratio of your accomplishments to your capacities.”

We have enjoyed some great summer weather this past week. Dad and I enjoyed a beautiful evening at an outdoor concert at Bridgeport. They are always so nice and they are easy to get to which is doubly nice.

We are off to celebrate grandma Maldonado’s birthday in Clovis and then Shawn’s birthday on Sunday!!! Remember to take advantage of your opportunities today! I love you. Love, Mom

July 14, 2010

Dear Children,

This is a normal week in our lives; saying goodbye to some of our visitors, preparing for more to come and guessing which state Katie is in! As of this week, Katie is in Dallas, Texas. Sunday started her two weeks of training at headquarters. But, just the day before she left for Dallas, Satruday she was in Seattle; she drove there with a friend, Keli Maks, and then drove back just in time to catch her plane to Texas.

Sunhee and Meeja went back to Sweet Home Last Tuesday. The neighborhood has been much more quiet with them gone. They ended their stay here with a family home evening around the fire bowl as we roasted marshmallows and Dad gave one of his lessons from Primary about building blocks of the gospel. Both girls were very motivated to memorize Articles of Faith since our ward gives out a Starburst for each one passed off; plus they get to write their names on the big white numbers in the Primary room. It is so fun, and such a great memory of their visit, to look down at the big numbers on the Primary closets and my own grandchildren’s signatures!

On their last day here, Katie, Grandma, myself and the girls went to see Toy Story. It was cute but had a few scary parts (I thought). Plus it was sad as the little boy was going off to college. It made me realize how our family was changing with our last child already a senior in college! It reminded me of the fact that, when your children start leaving for college, things can never be the same again.

Dad and I enjoyed a zoo concert after we hurried the missionaries out the door on Wednesday night. The day was a hot one so it was nice to sit outside on the lawns and listen to music. Neither of us really liked the music but it was just fun to be out.

Speaking of being out, Dad and I did a couple more bike rides this week and then Dad did his age in miles, 64, on the bike on Saturday. He went out to Hagg Lake and back. He watched a triathlon while there. And, speaking of watching, Spain won the World Cup! Woo hoo!!!

Adrianne is happy to be single and childless after watching Blake sister’s children while they were on a trip. She realized how exhausting it is. It sounded like they had a lot of fun going to Seven Peaks Water Park twice and another amusement type park in Lehi. She also went overboard in cooking and cleaning while she was there. I hope she has that drive in her while she visits here!

Adrianne and Blake are coming here tomorrow, Thursday. We will go to Lincoln City (Gleneden Beach) early Friday morning so Blake can see our coast and go to Tillamook of course. I guess that Blake will have to sleep in our guest room with the queen bed since we don’t have any twin extra long beds!

Heidi celebrated her birthday this week. It sounded like she did what all mom’s LOVE, getting treated to dinner out! This has always been one of my favorite pictures from Heidi’s childhood. Can you believe this picture? And we thought that Jenna was Lil’ Bill! Heidi sent dad a belated Father’s day slide show with a surprise ending: a picture of an ultrasound. They are having a baby; due January 19.

This weekend Dad and I were busy with some SendOutCards meetings; they were very good. I also was able to help with a wedding in the ward. The food for the Rilloraza wedding reception was all from the Philippines. It was fun to be taught by their native relatives. I copied one of their family recipes that was so tasty. Oh course, it is not low fat though! On Saturday we also went to Danielle Traynor’s wedding in Battleground Washington. It was good to see some old ward families that we hadn’t seen for a while. I don’t think that many of you knew Aaron and Stephanie Tobacco. He made the most amazing cake that looked like it was covered with a satiny ganache but it was really a thick, smooth butter cream frosting that both looked delicious and tasted that way (unlike ganache covered wedding cakes). We also had a chance to visit with the Uhls family and Johan and Alisa Knight. I just adore that couple!

My Auntie Carmen passed away this weekend. She has been very sick and I think she is very happy to be gone. Uncle Tommy died a little more than a year ago. That is the last of Grandma’s peers in the Maldonado family. I was wishing that my Southwest parent privileges was up and running so Katie, being in Texas, vigilantly watched out for me and I was cleared yesterday! Katie booked me on the morning and evening flight today so I can fly down and attend the funeral and family luncheon and be back home for my Thursday appointments and to prepare for Adrianne’s arrival. Isn’t that the coolest thing? This is so incredibly amazing. THANK YOU Katie!

The funeral was very nice. The priest spoke quite a bit about death being a beginning. He said that death means a butterfly to a caterpillar and it meant eternal life to God. My cousins Johnny, Alice and Johnny Maldonado were there at the funeral and Bud and Juanita Garrigan were there also. Most of the people there were Alga relatives. The luncheon afterwards was typical Maldonado style; lots of food and conversation.

Last night Dad remarked how we could fly down to go to an A’s game with Shawn and Aubrey some night now! I talked to Shawn and he had one all planned for us to go to; one with fireworks the first week in August but the Brady family, Adam and Adrianne will be coming and going that week here. We will just have to find another time; it sounds like fun.

I love you. Enjoy your week and be your very best; keep progressing forward! Love, Mom

July 4, 2010

Dear Children,

Happy 4^th of July! We are having a more quiet 4^th with a trip to walk around the temple, lots of games, a BBQ, roasting marshmallows on our campfire and neighborhood fireworks, most of which we have done earlier in the week. Sunhee and Meeja say we are having three days of fireworks since we saw a huge fireworks display at the St. Paul Rodeo on Friday night lit of some of our small fireworks after we roasted marshmallows last night and tonight we will light the rest of our fireworks and watch the neighbor in the cul-de-sac.

Sunhee and Meeja came to our home on Wednesday and we have been going full seam ahead ever since. The first thing that they wanted to do was pick raspberries. That night, after our barbeque and playing games with Grandma Maldonado, we enjoyed our fresh berries over ice cream. Our raspberry plants have done really well for being so young. Actually, they aren’t really young since they were transplanted from the Jones family yard before they left on their mission.

Our yard is weird this year because of so much rain and the lack of sun; everything will be late. If we get blessed with lots of sunny days, we will have great blueberries since many are so plump this year. By July 4^th we usually have lots more ripe blueberries although; Meeja has found some ripe blueberries. She is a big fruit eater.

The sun wasn’t out much on Thursday so it was a perfect day to go to the zoo. It was the first time Sunhee had seen the new African exhibit. They had fun with the African drums and Sunhee did well at racing the cheetah; one of the interactive exhibits that tests your running speed against the normal speed of a cheetah. We always send a picture of the Sun Bears to Adrianne when we visit the zoo but they weren’t out that day so no picture! The bird show was open so we ate our lunch (that the girls made) while waiting for that. It started raining just as we left. We had planned to stop at the Chandler’s and pick snow peas so we put up our hoods and still accomplished that. We had planned to use them in our stir fry; they were so good.

We spent most of the day on Friday at Grandma Maldonado’s home. While I cleaned her place and organized one of her closets, she kept the girls busy playing Racko and Uno. Plus the girls helped me with some smaller organizing projects to finish the closet. In the end, she treated them to Taco Bell for lunch.

That night we drove to St. Paul for the rodeo. The girls had fun picking out dinner from among all the greasy, salty, fat laden fair-type foods there at the rodeo! It was a grandchild’s dream. We drew the line to cotton candy; I hate that stuff. Maybe it is because I begged my parents for a cotton candy maker and we got it one Christmas. Every time we would use it, you would get a sugary sticky face and hair. If I remember it being a mess not worth the candy, I wonder what fond memories Grandma Maldonado has of it!

The rodeo was great, lots of variety. I think the girls enjoyed the most watching the clown on his motorcycle and the wild horse race where teams of three huge men tried to capture horses that weren’t saddle broken. They had to catch it, saddle it and then race it from one line to another. In some cases, all three would hang on and get drug all over! After a great rodeo, there was a huge firework display to patriotic music.

Saturday we spent the entire morning weeding and spreading a trailer load of bark dust. It looks great. Even Eden Whisenant was one of our workers since she wanted to “play” with the girls. We had an ice cream sandwich break just once for energy to finfish the job. We walked to the fireworks tent at Haggen to buy fireworks but after Sunhee and Meeja saw what little their money could buy, we decided to shop else (after buying Pop Its to defend themselves from all the little neighbor boys). It was sunny enough to put the sprinkler under the tramp on the slide so the girls got in some fun water time while Dad and I harvested out huge crop of garden weeds that the rain gave us.

The girls enjoyed Noble Whisenant’s baptism and picking up fireworks and pizza on the way home. After pizza, Sunhee made a beautiful teepee fire in Dad’s metal campfire and we roasted marshmallow and made s’mores with Grandma Maldonado. The girls shot off a couple of their fireworks.

The girls were excited when Aunt Katie was able to be at sacrament meeting with us. She also made some blueberry cupcakes for us so we decorated them with pink frosting so they were “red”, white, and blue! After church we went to walk the grounds of the temple. We filled the afternoon with games and another barbeque before the neighborhood fireworks where Sunhee wowed the crowd with her amazing jump rope skills with a glow jump rope! The girls lit off all the fireworks that they so carefully picked out and enjoyed all the other neighbor’s loot! Ken Chung and his fiancé, Diane, were up from California for the week. They are getting married next July 15 so they are busy picking out the place they will have their wedding and reception. His teaches English at Mt. Eden High School in Hayward!!!

We hope you enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend. The girls enjoyed calling all of their grandparents and great grandparents (for whom we had phone numbers). Grandparents love being remembered on holidays. I love you! Love, Mom