Happy Birthday Grandpa Wimmer

Duane serving in the Army 1963-1964, stationed in Germany.

For my children, for my sweet niece, and anyone who reads this after you,

It is his birthday this week and I wanted to remember him here and record a few of my memories of him for myself and for you. Eleven years ago grandpa Wimmer returned home to that God who gave him life.  Eleven years is over half of your lives as his grandchildren.

Your grandpa, my dad, had the most charming smile.  I remember that more than anything else about him.  He could make me feel special with just a smile.

My daddy and me picking mom's beautiful flowers.  1967

Grandpa Wimmer was a very hard worker.  He left for work early before 7am.  We lived so close to where he worked at Arizona Public Service that he could leave close to when he had to be there and was home around 3:30 in the afternoon every day.  So, as kids we would get up when we heard him, wait for him to open the bathroom door for us and watch him shave every day.  (At least that is how it seemed.)

Dad shaves while Tricia and Kim watch.

After his job at APS grandpa would come home and begin a full days worth of chores at home.  There were pigs and cows to feed and when I was really young there was still the Wimmer Hatchery to help my Grandma and Grandpa with.  That means a whole lot of chickens.  Grandpa had gardens as far as the eye can see for a small child.  He and grandma worked very hard in those gardens and we had delicious food from them.  Grandpa had an alfalfa field which he harvested hay to feed our cows from.  There was also an apple orchard with what seemed like endless tasty red apples.  I think there was even a pear tree or two.

Grandpa and Uncle Darren on the tractor.

I remember that my dad could fix or make anything.  He was always repairing and building.  I remember that he took classes to improve his fixing skills, now remember that I was a little girl in the 70's, these classes meant circuits, technology, sodering  guns, and all manner of cool things to watch him do.


Your grandpa loved to go camping.  We had a Ford truck with a camper on it from the time they brought Aunt Tricia home from the valley.  I remember my parents went to Mesa to get me a sister and they also brought home a new truck with a camper on it.  He loved to cook camp food and enjoyed being outdoors very much.  He went to the Fathers and Sons outings with you boys when you were very little.

I know that it has been difficult for my children to understand why we weren't close to him for most of their growing up.  I know that it has been difficult for the the cousins to understand why everything had to be the way it was, and why we couldn't all be close.  I am not good at pretending or acting so our family did not participate in most of the extended family functions after Mollie was born. 

I want you all to know that I know this the way I know the Sun will rise and the Savior will come again,
 Things work out, They ALWAYS work out.
Someday you will understand.
Someday the Savior of us all will touch the 
Broken Places
in us all.
He is the great repairer of the
Breach.
His love is infinite and we are all 
Children of a Heavenly Father 
who Loves us and wants nothing more than for our family to be eternal.


Happy Birthday Dad.

Today, I made a wish with a little help from this very insightful human Amy Krouse Rosentehal.


I wished... to follow through.


She said my wish was granted, she is very powerful that way.


I am off to figure out what "follow Through" looks like to me.

Stephen King Quotes

" Hearts can break. Yes. Hearts can break. Sometimes I think it would be better if we died when they did, but we don't. "

-

What will they say about me?

Yesterday my married kids came over in the afternoon.
This is a pretty regular Sunday activity.
A treasure.

My son was a little tweaked about what had happened in church that morning. With tact and tenderness I would like to share because it fits with a post I have been toying with for some time now. The original title was going to be What my kids will never say about me...

In my married kids Sunday meeting a family had been asked to give a presentation.
I am sure they are a lovely family with many gifts and great closeness. Unfortunately instead of having the desired effect of encouraging and lifting my kids to want more, they felt that uncomfortable feeling I have felt before. How do I explain it? Do you know the one? "Well look at them aren't they perfect?" Followed by a quick, "I can never be like that."

I listened I gave knowing nods I gave love, I know for sure I have had those kinds of experiences and I wanted my children to know I understood how that felt.

A few minutes later 2 of my sons got in a heated argument and my married son was trying to help them cool down. I looked at my daughter in law with what I hope she recognized as a twinkle in my eye and I said,
"I don't think they will be asking us to give one of those "How to be the perfect family " presentations in church.

There was so much love in our home yesterday as we all gathered
I wouldn't trade my family for anything in the whole world.

So here is the LIST

What my kids will never say about me...

1. I never heard my mom raise her voice to me in anger
2. My mom was always on time
3. My mom came to every game, every practice, and every performance
4. My mom had dinner on the table every night
5. I never heard my parents argue
6. My mom never said a negative thing about anyone, ever!
7. My mom made me practice my instrument and I am grateful for that now
8. My mom was always there for every thing I needed
9. My mom never complained or nagged
10. My mom always put our needs before her own
11. My mom was the best listener

I am sure I can add to this list many times over.

Here is what I want my kids to always be able to say about me.

My mom was honest. She really cared about my feelings and I always knew she loved me NO MATTER WHAT. My mom did not pretend life was always going to be fair or work out the way I wanted but she taught me that Things Work Out, They ALWAYS Work Out and I can trust myself. I can trust my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

My mom was real.

♥