Bear Lake Images 2011

 Ry Guy

 Jordan

 Laurie

 Marcie

 Nelson

 Ry

 Gary and his Fun hat

 Megan in the Fun hat

 Hayden and Ry

 My Sibs - Melinda, Adam, Me, Liz and Angela

 Rachel and Megan

 Lyle & Sheri

 Call Family

 Call Family

Hayden in the Fun hat and Nelson

Thoughtful Day

I just returned from the funeral of Eugenia Chapman. This sweet lady has been apart of my life forever. She cleaned Grandma Butters house and also our house until I graduated from high school. She was more than someone who came in weekly to dust and vacuum, Eugenia was family. In the last few weeks of Grandmas life she told me that Eugenia was one of her best friends.....at the funeral I realized that Grandma and Eugenia were kindred spirits. Eugenia helped us get organized.  I recall dreading when she came because she would not only work her guts out she would put us to work as well.  She was a hard worker and taught me that it is important to do the job right the first time. As a bratty preteen she would suffer with me through my bedroom....she didn't clean it but helped me keep at it until it was presentable. I know that she was a big help to my mom, especially when things were hard and when mom went back to school. She would not only clean up she would also make dinner, do the laundry and help us get the canning done.
After her years of cleaning, Eugenia went on to write a book with her daughter about her cleaning potions and ideas, called Cleaning Your House and Everything In It. She was then seen on TV nationally and had a radio program and a column in the news paper. It was always fun to say that I know her. There are things that I currently do while cleaning my own home that I know I learned from Eugenia. 

 

I say that this is a thoughtful day because thinking of Eugenia brings back so many great memories of my youth, my Mom and Dad and my Grandparents. (and not just cleaning memories). I think that summer also has a lot to do with it........swimming at Grandma Butters, the car trip with her and grandpa, flower planting, painting the cabana, the paint mess, goof balls, the sweet alohas and strawberry daiquiris.....I ate a bowl of strawberries for lunch today, that is how strong the memories are hitting me.  With Dad and Mom it's been the picking of morning glory.........I was trying to eradicate the morning glory from my flower garden this week and thought of the many holiday mornings we had to clean it up out of the bushes.......I  still hate it.  Working hard inside and out so that we could play hard. I still get everyone up to work hard on summer mornings so that we can then spend the afternoon playing.  Planting the garden, singing, boating, the motor home trips......so many memories all have to do with summer.

Thanks to my memory makers, you have made my life special.

MCC

WOW.......50 Amazing Years!

Tomorrow we are celebrating my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary....what an accomplishment! We wanted to hold a big shindig for them, to shout it out to the world that they have done the first 50 years and are still in love and happy. They wanted it a bit quieter, just their children and grandchildren to celebrate with them......they won. You usually do when you choose to foot the bill.

Lyle Nelson Cole and Sharolyn Butters were married on June 9th, 1959 in the Slat Lake City Utah LDS Temple. They were married/sealed together for time and all eternity by family friend Harold B. Lee. A garden reception was held that evening at Grant & Eulala Butters' home in Bountiful. Best man - Jay T. Cole, Brides maids - the Darlene Butters Ostlund, Lynette Butters & Diane Butters. Also in the bridal party Parents of the bride, Grant and Eulala Butters and grooms mother Bertha Cole.

They meet at BYU. Dad was moms home teacher......She says he dated all the girls in her apartment then finally got around to dating her. He says that he was saving the best for last.

My whole life dad said that it was Grandma Butters cooking that sealed the marriage deal......and she is a fantastic cook.

The weather was just like it is most early Junes in Utah, always a chance of rain. I asked mom this year if the weather was a problem? She replied 'we didn't know if our reception was going to be indoors or out until about an hour before the reception.'

Dad and Mom have had the ups and downs associated with any marriage, and survived!

Their example of how to give and take and stick it out through it all is amazing....especially in this world where the norm is disposable relationships. They both have expressed that they entered their marriage with the 'this is forever' attitude....that is, you work through it all and are committed to your spouse first and foremost, because your spouse is never going away.

I remember as a kid loving the whole anniversary thing....in fact when I was about 10, I made them a card that has survived all these years..... it was on plain white typing paper, I drew an odd sized bride and groom and a red rose......

I am so glad that I have had a such a wonderful example of what a marriage is supposed to look like inside and out. Mom and Dad never sugar coated it, as kids we got to see and hear it all......amazing considering the era. I knew from them that marriage was work, but that the work is always worth it......and it looked to me that it got easier and better over time......with age I and personal experience I too have learned that really does get easier, and better.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

MCC