farwell

This was a farewell party held at Northbranch Ward just before Mom and Dad left to move to Utah. I, Jeff, am the last on the left. We were all trying to blow up a balloon. I think that I went through my eye socket to get to the balloon...it was pretty funny to look at. With dad being in the singles ward bishopric, for a number of years before they moved, many people who came did not know dad all that much. Many thought mom was either a widow, or had an inactive husband. There were many traditional things done that night to remind the people of what mom and dad did in the ward for years: like dad doing his boyscout cheer/chant Vada 'n Choo, and what does a 500 lb canary sound like: I think he did both versions of screeming chirp, and "here kitty-kitty". We did dads version of: On top of old smoke-ee. It was a very nice night for Mom and Dad. Sister Cox, and Bro Disanza sung, and life was good.

Sunday Movies and Caramel Popcorn

Once a year, the movie Ten Commandments would come on TV. Another movie I remember coming on once a year that we would watch was Ben Hur. The plot to Ben Hur was confusing and I didn't understand what we were watching except for the chariot racing scene that we all thought was spectacular and the battle ships at sea with the rowers who had to speed up or die when the soldier yelled "ramming speed" and the drummer beat the drum even faster. But anyway, those movies came on TV on Sunday evenings. That meant family movie night and we really looked forward to the occasion. It usually meant caramel popcorn too! And we loved the caramel popcorn that mom made. Nice and gooey and it was especially good when still warm. One thing I remember was Mom would make it in the sink. I guess the idea was that "why mess up multiple large bowls and have to clean them, when you could use the sink.

Speaking of the sink, that's where little children got bathed also. Easier on Mom's back, I guess. Maybe some of you older children remember the sink doubling as the tub.

Scripture Chasing with Mom on Sunday Evenings

I don't know if the older kids will have had this same experience, but Ruth, Joel and I will definitely remember Sunday evenings sitting around the dining room table and Mom reading us clues to the 40 scripture references we were studying that year in Seminary. I bet we spent an hour or two each Sunday in the last 6 months of the Seminary year practicing our scripture chasing. Ruth and I were pretty evenly matched. Joel was overmatched so Mom tried to help him keep up with us by secretly giving him advance tips on what was coming. Haha, just kidding! Or is that true Joel?

But thanks to Mom's efforts those scriptures have really stayed with me over the years.

Thanks, Mom!