RASPBERRIES

It is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting at the kitchen table having some lunch. Grayson is in his high chair next to me, squealing with excitement while eating his lunch too. Lilly is upstairs taking a nap and Matt is at a Baptism that was at the Stake Center right after church today. I am having a nutritious lunch. Avocado, Cottage Cheese, MultiSeed crackers, and fresh raspberries! Yum! Raspberries have always reminded me of being at Grandma & Grandpa Perkins' house. In their back yard they had a great garden and my favorite thing to pick with Grandma were the delicious, juicy raspberries. They were always so perfect! I have such good memories of my Grandma & Grandpa Perkins. While they died when I was only around 9 years old, I still remember how much they loved me. I remember having sleep overs at their house and sleeping in a "big bed" all by myself, which was such a treat since I always shared a bed with my sister Makelle.....only until I was like 13! haha! Their front yard seemed huge, and I remember many times playing "Simon Says" and "Red Light, Green Light" out there with my sisters. I remember playing with the toys and dress up clothes that Grandma always had stored in a closet in the hallway. My favorite item to try on were the fancy red high heeled shoes....I guess I can blame Grandma Perkins for my shoe obsession! Today is Father's Day, and while I am thinking about my own father and how wonderful he is, my husband and how he is such an amazing dad to Lilly & Grayson, I am also thinking of Grandpa Perkins and what a good father he was to my mom. My mom was adopted when she was a baby. Grandma & Grandpa were older and had always wanted children. I'm sure that when my mom, little Marsha, was brought into their family, that Grandma & Grandpa had every bit as much joy in their lives as I did the day I became a mother. They were able to adopt 2 more children - boys named Layne & Gary. I am very grateful to my Grandma & Grandpa for the way that they raised my mom. She is absolutely the nicest person that I know and I am blessed to have her as a mother. From what I know, they had a simple life. My Grandma was a school teacher and Grandpa was a long-haul truck driver. It makes me sad today to think that my mom lost both of her parents at such a young age...she was not much older than me when they both passed away. I will never take for granted the time that my children are able to spend with my mom & dad. They are wonderful grandparents, and do their best to make my children and all their grandchildren feel loved and important. I feel blessed to live only a few miles away from them. We see them often, almost weekly, and I am so glad that my children will have happy memories of their time with their Mum & Bepa. We should be seeing them sometime later today. I found a book this week that I am giving a copy to both Matt and my dad. It is called "What Are Little Boys Made Of?" It reads, Every great man was first a boy. What are little boys made of? Snakes & Snails & Crazy Tall Tales...and hopes and Dreams...And Strength & Courage...& Imagination & Daring...and Gifts & Talents...& Yearning & Learning...and Faith & Optimism...And Purpose & Meaning...& Warmth and Tenderness...& Adventure & Enthusiasm...& Caring & Understanding...& Honor & Integrity...And Family and Friendship...& Love and Loyalty...And Joy and Laughter...& Moments & Memories...& Success and Satisfaction...& All Things Possible. That's What Little Boys Are Made Of.