We just had the privilege of a week with our son here in Ennis, MT. We loved every minute of that precious time together. While the skies were smoky each day (you couldn’t even see the mountains through the smoke), and it didn’t begin to clear until the day he was leaving, we didn’t let that deter us from having a good time.
Talking time in the living roomYummy time at Dave’s Sushi preceding time at the movies (Odyssey)
Sharing meals together was highlighted by great conversations
The mountains peeked through the smoke and the antelope showed up to say goodbye as we were driving Ty to the airport We stopped at Fiesta Mexicana for lunch before dropping Ty off at the Gallatin Bozeman airportMmm – great margaritas! And delicious food
Mouth watering!
Ty’s flight was delayed and he had a challenging set of flights and car trouble… but God made sure his needs were met and he was home that night safe & sound.
And our home has seen blue skies since then. Come back soon, Ty. And bring Monika!We’ll keep you up to date on the progress of the house being built in the field across from us!
This week my dear friend, Mona Durham, age 96, died peacefully with her family gathered round.
Mona’s family and the leadership team of our church decorated the sanctuary and fellowship hall beautifully for her memorial service today.
Her ashes, in a container under the purple cloth, were sent into the hands of God as Jesus and St. Peter must surely have welcomed her into heaven. She was a True Believer.
The floral arrangements were spectacular.
There was a beautiful display of photos depicting Mona with many of her beloved family. She had four children and seven grandchildren. Four of the grandkids shared stories about how her life impacted theirs in such loving, meaningful, lasting ways.
I took notes (as is my habit) as I listened to their stories. Here are my notes:
Mona Durham’s was a 96 year life well lived. She lived heartily loving and laughing; Tough, fair, sarcastic, always available, Humble, reliable, stable, and always hospitable.
Mona wasn’t delicate or sheltered. The last of three daughters, she was the son… The son her dad never had! How he loved her! Oh how she loved him, others, and this Madison Valley!
She was a woman of grit and grace, loyal and hardworking. Volunteered with church, History museum, blood draws, Elections, Women’s Club & Cattle Women’s Association. Her later years were less busy, but never less purposeful.
She gave her life to quietly helping others. Her strength, honesty, love, and strong values Were the glue that held the family together. Also the fact that she always had fresh cookies!
Mona’s strength was grounded and rooted. Her faith was deep, honest and clear. She carried struggles quietly with endurance. Her life will endure in each of us who loved her.
Following the service, there was a time of fellowship with beautiful trays of meats and cheeses (prepared by Deemo’s in Ennis).
Deemo’s also prepared this beautiful, tasty tray of veggies.
The family extended a special thank you to the caregivers at Home Park and Madison Valley Manor for the dignity, kindness, and care they showed Ramona in her final years. In lieu of flowers, they asked that donations be made to Madison Valley Historical Museum (where Mona was a faithful, treasured volunteer) or Bear Creek Schoolhouse (where she attended 1st to 4th grade and then later volunteered to help with fundraisers to maintain it – and organized pinochle parties every March). She loved playing cards, doing 500 – 1000 piece puzzles, and keeping in touch always with her family and friends. She will be sorely missed by us all!
Mona’s smile was infectious!
Mona’s granddaughter, Tori, summed up what most of her family would agree was an important take-away:
“I see so clearly that her impact isn’t simple or singular, it’s generational. What she has given us goes far beyond memories, she’s given us a way of living.”
“She never once told me how to live, but she sure as hell has shown me!”
Your shared love inspires us to pass it on. Thank you, Mona.
Weekly we are given an invitation to write a six-sentence story using the word prompt from GirlieOnTheEdge. This week the word prompt was “Fly.”
I had fun trying to write about as long a sentence as I could for each of the paragraphs today. And I enjoyed giving you, my faithful readers a glimpse of my childhood from kindergarten to sixth grade. What do you think?
Time flies… but I can recall when I was a little girl of about five, my sister Sally and I walked from Fig Lane (where we lived in a lovely little two bedroom, one bath home with our parents) to P Street School in Newman, California where I was a happy little kindergartener.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was six, my sister and I continued our daily walks (it was about a mile each way) to P Street School where I was a very happy, very outgoing first grader in Mrs. Awe’s classroom, my favorite primary grade teacher who kept in touch with me for the rest of her life, even after our family moved away.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was seven, my dad quit his job as a mechanic at Newman Garage and he sold our lovely little two bedroom house on Fig Lane and we moved into an old house next door to my paternal grandmother, about five miles out of town.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was eight, we moved to a remote house twenty miles from anywhere except the stinky Tallow Works that my dad owned with three sorta relatives who also had old houses moved onto the remote property and my sister and I walked about two miles to the bus stop every morning to go to Crows Landing’s Bonita Grammar School where Mrs. Yetter (who was almost bald and looked as old as Methusalah) was my 3rd grade teacher.
Time flies, but I can recall… when I was nine and ten we still lived out there in the sticks by the smelly Tallow Works and we still had that long walk to the bus stop every morning – and walked back at the end of the day – but my life was much better because Mrs. Horwedel was my 4th and 5th grade teacher and she was a wonderful square dancer who taught us all to square dance and she let me be the “caller” – – – I was in 7th heaven!
Time flies, but I can recall … when I was eleven and twelve Mrs. Marlow was my teacher and she let me fly to my highest potential by recognizing and rewarding my talents by letting me go every day during spelling time (because I didn’t need it) to the kindergarten where I volunteered to help the teacher … and learned early on that I wanted to be a teacher, too, someday.
First February Festivity: the 11th for our 64th anniversary- A reason to celebrate and share a fabulous memory. The year was 1961 and Bob was stationed in Germany I was teaching a 1st grade in CA; he was in the US Army.
I married that handsome fellow when he flew home. I left my darling first grade class in Stockton, CA to go roam. Left my apartment, my language, Suzie, my roommate, My family and friends… all that was familiar. Not great!
The wedding was spectacular and the reception would make Family and friends smile & cheer us on and marvel at our cake. At our 50th anniversary we asked a bakery to duplicate it for us. One after another they said “Impossible” in an incredulous chorus.
I landed a job on the army base school in Germany, a first grade class, And finished out the year joyfully, learning a new culture. It was a blast! Back in California, I continued to teach the little ones in Turlock And then in San Francisco & Hillsborough… while Bob graduated from SF State.
We started our family during those SF years… a boy, Ty, and girl, De. They were a delight to us then … and still are a blessing each day to me! Here’s a picture of Bob & me with Ty when he was a sweet little babe… And one of DeAna with me in matching dresses I made!
As the years have gone by and our children have grown We moved from the Bay Area back to the place we had known As children and young adults; Bob joined the family with bees While I continued to teach and moved to principal and District Office with ease.
Our 50th anniversary was a time to gather five decades of friends & family For a weekend in Palm Desert where we golfed, ate, and reunited happily. The memories of that grand occasion are alive and well in our hearts, And we continue each February to connect with friends from our life’s parts.
When we retired, we continued to celebrate our February dates with flare! But we’re doing it in Montana. Twenty years ago we moved ourselves there. We love living in Big Sky Country, Ennis Montana, where the antelope roam. We celebrate life every day and invite you to come share the joy in our home.
February 11th is a day each year to celebrate the joy of being together. Valentine’s Day we celebrate at a Wine Pairings dinner – regardless of the weather. It’s at Madison Valley Ranches, a beautiful setting for sure, with great food and friends. Come join us if you wish… spaces are available … right out here where the river bends.
Time to celebrate! This February Festivity is my favorite one. Having you here to join us would make it extra fun. Call Manu at 406-660-2959 for your Valentine’s Day reservation. It’ll make us so happy to see you! Come share in our celebration!
Today’s Prompt was: What positive emotion do you feel most often?
My Response: Gratitude
I’m grateful for the neighbors who came immediately last night when I called them. I was frantic! Kenny, our pup, was crying. We could hear his barks and his whining, but we couldn’t find him. It sounded like it was coming from under the house. Maybe he went under the deck and got stuck on something. Maybe a rattlesnake bit him (years ago we had that happen to our Boston named Angela). We searched high and low for Kenny. No luck!
We were frantic! So we called our friends. They came. Four of them! We all searched. Still no luck.
So, we went into the house (we’d already searched there thoroughly).
When we walked in through the back door, there was a black and white nose sticking out from under Bob’s chair!! Kenny had squeezed under to fetch a toy – and he got stuck!! Whew!!!😥 We lifted the chair to release him. Gratitude? Ah yes!! 👏🏽
Thank You, Jesus!
Thank You, God, Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for neighbors, for answered prayers, for the safety of our pup! Whew!!
Remember that first picture up there of Kenny lying on a quilt? I’m grateful for it, too. Do you have a memory quilt?
I love mine! And no, Kenny doesn’t usually get to lie on it! It was a retirement gift from my teaching colleagues when I retired back in 1999. The sentiments on it and the remembrances are so precious!
Marta Garcia did the stitching and each of my colleagues at school added a piece with their name and sometimes a sentiment. “Stitched with dreams of traveling forever,” Marta wrote.
If you live in Ennis, Montana with the Madison River running through it and the spectacular Rocky Mountains as your backdrop, and people from all over the world coming here to fish and to just relax and enjoy the peace, the open spaces, the wild animals, and the proximity to Yellowstone, then you live daily with an attitude of gratitude, and guess what? Traveling forever is not a daily prayer. We are grateful that you come to us! Keep doing it!
God bless all those who sacrificed their lives that we might live in freedom. I never take that for granted. Have a blessed Memorial Day🥰, my fellow Americans.
When my dad retired, we threw a big party for him. I wrote a poem in tribute to him and read it at the gathering. He lived a difficult decade after that retirement with one health issue after another slowing him down. But, his hearty hugs and sweet nature were always alive and well… and remembered with love and gratitude.
Here’s that retirement poem. It tells you a lot about my hard-working, loveable dad.
A Tribute to Dad on His Retirement
Tonight we’ve come together To celebrate the start Of the Third Phase in my dad’s life. In the Second, most of you played a part.
The First Phase was in Newman Where Salvador came-a fraum-a. His childhood was filled with girls, Five sisters and his mawm-a.
“My Salvador can-a marry anybod; So all you girls look out-a!” He picked and chose an outta-state blond. “No Catholic? No Italian?” they shout-a.
They bought a house in Newman. Dad delivered milk and bread. But then he went to Frank’s garage And worked on cars instead.
My sister, “Saleen”, came along, And then before you knew it, “Gaetano” was expected next, But “Janet” came and blew it!
So, what-a you think? My Salvador Izza back where first he start-a… Heeza surrounded by girls-a, a wife and kids. Mama Mia! Life, sheeza hard-a!!
To make things worse, the war began. Mom worked at the Bomb Plant And Dad got into this Plant here. Now life took a new slant.
The Second Phase had just begun: Joe, Leo, Melio, and Gene Had pooled resources with Dad To sweep the valley clean.
The Tallow Works was something new. They chose the name Pacific. We moved out to a barren field And a smell that was less than terrific.
Our home said, “Office;” the phone rang From early morn ’til night. Business boomed while Dad drove truck. He treated the farmers right.
I used to go with Dad in summer To Stockton’s butcher shops. We had a blast together then. With me, Dad was always tops!
The plant-a, she grew-a; the family, too. We needed a change. You believed us. So we moved to Turlock, into a new home. And Merle came and relieved us.
Through all the years Dad drove the truck, The wheel and road were part of him. And then Pacific sold to Petersen. Don’t you think that was smart of him?
Now he could reap the Union checks, And get a feel for the other side. He left the headaches, but kept the friends And the route; so he’d have to ride.
But now the ride will go new routes. The Third Phase has begun. Dad’s ready for a well-earned rest, ‘Cuz his Second Phase was WELL DONE!
Do you think he can rest? Has he learned how? I’ve never seen Dad sit and shirk. I’ve never seen Dad happy doing not a thing. I’ve always seen Dad at his work.
Of course there were times when he had to slow down: God tapped on his shoulder and said, “Here’s a wrist break, intestines, something one wrong. Now rest for a while in your bed!”
The message came through that thick head of his, And he slept for a moment or few. But (praise be to God) he enjoyed Bocci Ball And had time for a play day or two.
So Phase Three will have to be free To play at some things old and new. Free to learn how to just come and sit And simply admire the view.
He’ll still need his friends (you folks sitting here), And he’ll still work and get behind the wheel, But he’ll have time to do and go where he wants, He and Mom … in their new automobile.
I hope that you here will join me now: Stand! Let’s toast to my Dad; he’s our friend: “May retirement bring health, laughter and joy, May you live to a-hundred and ten!”
God Bless You, Dad! Thanks for being YOU!
Rest in Peace Salvador DeAngeles May 14, 1911 – April 8, 1995
Happy Father’s Day! Have a Lovely Sunday… And I hope you remember your daddy with love and kindness and fond memories. If he is still with you, treasure his hugs… and give him an extra hug from me.
Where are you looking? Let’s forget the former things – Don’t dwell on the past.
Remember the good, Learn from all of your troubles, And focus on the now.
Strength and Grace, a daily devotional from Guideposts, is one of my morning rituals. My last post, “Whatever is Lovely,” also was inspired by this publication.
Today I am exploring the subjects of love and memory, and asking myself, “Where ya lookin’?”
I am remembering the time I was lookin’ to the right when I shoulda been lookin’ straight ahead. I walked into our car’s hatchback. It was comin’ down – and obviously I didn’t realize it!!
I am remembering the time I was dashing out of the car to go into a local restaurant to meet my granddaughter and her children. I was looking ahead when I should have been looking down … at my feet … at the curb. I tripped over it. Broke my pinky finger big time!
Ouch! I am remembering the time I was stepping up into the house from the garage and I didn’t step up far enough. I fell backward and hit my head on the metal hitch of the trailer. Eight stitches later I shoulda been lookin’ where I was steppin’!!
There’s a time to look up. There’s a time to look back. There’s a time to look ahead. But ALL THE TIME we should Look out! Look at the NOW. Live in the present – And look to live longer, healthier, happier, safer.
Father, in Your mercy, rescue me from myself, from my carelessness. Help me look to You for guidance and help me slow down, live in the now, and watch where I’m goin’! Amen
