junior prom 2017

Zeej was so excited to come home to Will's dozen donuts with a note that said, "I donut know what I'll do if you don't go to Prom with me!?"

We went dress shopping the next day and had the best time together, laughing as she tried on about twenty dresses.  I fell in love with a black one but she'd worn black to the Homecoming dance, so she wanted to have color this time.  I was so pleased that she chose only modest dresses to try on.  It was an awesome afternoon date for the two of us and she ended up selecting one that made her feel fabulous, which made me as happy as could be!

But, this was the dress she ended up with... a royal blue beauty!

 

They had a fun time with a fancy formal dinner, then the dance, then a latenight viewing of Shrek.

Group dates are always more fun than one on one!

Zeej with her two best guys, Chad and Will.  

Prom 2017.  Score!  I was really proud of Zeej and Lydia, who wore their prom dresses to church the next day.  The younger girls could see that you can look classy and beautiful and still be modest!  Several comments were made about it.  Good girls, good choices!  Life is good!

special guests

We had been excited for a couple of months, since Doug had received the announcement in one of his YSA Stake High Council meetings that his cousin, Larry Corbridge, Elder Lawrence Corbridge of the First Quorum of the Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, would be speaking, along with his wife, Jacque, to all of the YSA students on March 18th.  As soon as I'd heard this news, I was on the phone to Larry, who is Doug's first cousin, and invited them to stay with us, have dinner with us, whatever would fit into their schedule.  We have looked so forward to having the kids spend some time with "Uncle Larry" and "Aunt Jacque".  Larry is one of Quayd's biggest heroes!  As it ended up, they spent Sunday afternoon between meetings with us.

On Sunday morning, Doug's meetings beginning at 7AM and mine at 9.  We finished church at 2 and Larry and Jacque arrived at 2:45.  We had also invited Aleece and Dee for dinner (Doug's youngest sister.)  There was visiting while I finished up the gravy and rolls before we gathered around the table and had a lovely meal with even lovelier company.  The conversation was uplifting and positive.  We talked family, gospel and even shared a few "how we met" stories and experiences, which left me blushing and lots of laughs.  (Thank you, Doug.)

I made a simple meal, the traditional Utah Sunday dinner.   Dutch Oven Pot Roast, Potatoes, Carrots and Onions, Homemade rolls, Strawberry Spinach and Feta Salad, and then dessert.  The dessert was my favorite new thing ever!  Of course, it involved cream cheese and heavy cream, so what's not to love!?  It was fabulous!  I can't wait to make it again.  I'll share the recipe in another post.

We enjoyed some tabletalk and then gathered around the fire for some more time listening to Larry and Jacque share their thoughts and experiences on family.  What a blessing to have married into such a remarkable family who love all unconditionally.   It's pretty amazing! We had Dee and Aleece's children (who are all married) join us for the last hour.  We were all strengthened by the thoughts that were shared. Quayd, who swears that the closest he'll ever get to marriage is marrying a white corvette in the temple parking lot, said, "I can't wait to share this with my kids one day!"

The fireside at the Spectrum for for the entire valley of 18-30 year old singles.  Larry and Jacque's talks were awesome.  And the music at the end of the program, by the LDS Institute Choir was remarkable!  A fabulous day!

Honestly, as I've thought about that afternoon for the past week, I can not say enough, how blessed I feel to be a part of Doug's remarkable family.  They are unique and accepting and just plain wonderful.  I grow every time I am around them!  The gospel and Doug's family keep me grounded and make me want to be a better person each and every day!  Enough said!

ZJ is 17!!!

This post has taken me a while to write.  It's hard for me to even contemplate the fact that this beautiful young girl is seventeen.  Zeej is my right arm, literally, as I've stated many, many times.  She's remarkable.  She is "Wise beyond her years", much like her older sister, Liza. I love her more than words can say.  She keeps us all together in our home.  She cooks, she cleans, she organizes, she keeps our heads level and she makes us laugh!  She is truly an amazing young woman.  A few stories of Zeej from recent weeks....

I asked Zeej what she wanted for her seventeenth birthday for weeks and weeks.  She kept saying, "I don't know."  As the week before approached, I got more serious, "Zee!  Tell me something!  Anything!!!  What can we do for your birthday!?"   Always, "I don't know."  Finally, she mentioned in conversation, that Will had asked her on a date for her birthday, but she "didn't know what to do".  As we got closer, I started listing options.  Always, "I don't know."  I suggested a party, a dinner with Will and a few friends, taking Will along with us as a family to her favorite place, ANYTHING!?  She always said, "I don't know."  The night before he birthday, she said, "I don't know... dinner with the family, friends here for Mama Sophia's cooking, Will wants to take me on a birthday date, I don't know."  We knelt around the bed for family prayer that night and it hit me!  She wants to go on the date with Will, but she doesn't want to make us feel bad that this is what she wants to do!

We said "amen" and I said, "Zeej!?!?  You want to go on the birthday date with Will, don't you?"  "I don't know?"  I said, "You don't want Dad and I to feel bad, so you aren't deciding."  FINALLY, she said, "Well, yeh."  She wanted to make everyone happy.  I said, "We'll be happy if YOU are happy!  Go with Will!  Have a memorable seventeenth birthday with your cute WillYumYum!" (As my friend, Susan in Ohio, named him.) (She actually calls him Willis and his name is actually Will.) Zeej said, "Really?  You won't feel sad?"  That was all she needed ... she didn't want us to feel bad.  They had a wonderful birthday date, going to her favorite restaurant for sushi, a drive and then Will gave her a sweet and thoughtful gift... a nice anklet and a hardbound copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, which was super thoughtful because she'd mentioned that she'd never read it before but loved the movie.

I took her to lunch that day during school at her favorite sandwich place and we talked and talked and talked.  She was so excited about the big birthday date that night.  It really was a perfect, for her, birthday!  

Zeej and Will are "officially" boyfriend and girlfriend, which is just cute.  They are not touchy-feely, which makes her dad happy.  They tease each other and seem to be growing together in good ways.  He brings out a lot of her strengths.  I love watching her in her first real "relationship".  It's a joy!  I asked Zeej if they have said the "L" word, and her response was "Mom, we are in High School.  The "L" word isn't even a real thing in high school.  I don't know why kids think it is.  We aren't old enough to know what love is yet."  Wisdom beyond her years.

Zeej has missed Grace since she began dating Ben.  But, Zee is forgiving and kind and loving, even if she does get a bit fiesty when she feels the need.  Recently, Grace chastised her with "You are not my mother!  Stop acting like it."  I had to chuckle because Zeej does act like a mama bear ... sometimes, even reminding Doug and I when we need to have an attitude adjustment!

Zeej has been helping a friend through a specials situation for several months.  I've been amazed at her maturity in handling what I consider to be a very adult matter.  She's caring and compassionate and protective.  I love this about her!

She's a make-up guru.  She has mastered the art of eye make-up and even does her own on-line tutorials.  She recently received a shout-out by a "famous" make-up blogger, who has tens of thousands of followers.  That means absolutely nothing to me, but to a seventeen year old, it was pretty awesome, and since she's my seventeen year old, it was even moreso!  I love to see the things she comes up with on her face!  She expresses herself very well with this talent, owning more makeup than most department stores having in stock, but she does the most with her favorite $50 Naked Eyeshadow Pallet!  Who'd have thought something like that could make a girl cry when she opened it!?

Zee on a regular day...

somedays, freckles are a plus...

trying out prom eyes...

mirror image...

experimenting...

valentine eyes...

"Animals are people too!"  Zulu is her baby and she spends so much time loving on this dog.  She, literally, reads aloud to him every night.  He doesn't even greet me at the door anymore, but when he hears Zeej come home, he's as happy as can be!  She has earned some good money this past few months, caring for a neighbor's dog and animals while he visits his family in Canada.  When he returned, he told us that his dog sits at the door waiting for Zee to come in the mornings.  She's a dog whisperer.

A few months ago, ZJ was very nervous about being called into the Stake Presidency Office, having no idea why they wanted to meet with her. While she was inside, speaking with President Jensen, I stood outside, visiting with the Stake Executive Secretary.  He explained to me that she was being called to to serve on our Stake Youth Committee.  He commented that she was a pretty impressive gal.  We talked about how she is "wise beyond her years" and what a great gift she is to our family. Moments later, President Jensen opened the door and invited us in for Zeej to be "set apart" as the newest member of the Stake Youth Committee.  As he began her blessing, he said, "Zyanne Jentry Corbridge, Heavenly Father loves you and He recognizes that you have wisdom beyond your years."  The blessing was beautiful and very accurate.  I told Zeej about the previous conversation that President Jensen had no way of knowing what we had said.  When we came home and sat down for dinner, I shared this story with the family.  Since then, ZJ's "wisdom beyond her years" is a frequent tease, reminder or comment.  BUT.  It's so true!

I have to say that she's a beauty inside and out.  Her spirit is wise and strong!  Her attitude is positive and upbeat!  She's beautiful but real.  As real as can be.  I love that about her.  A while ago, she sent me a selfie that she'd taken, wearing my wedding dress!  I was slightly blown away by her beauty but mostly by the fact that she does not appear to be seventeen, in mind, in body or spirit.  She's growing up far too quickly!  BUT!  As long as she is making good choices, we are happy!

Yesterday, Zeej was one of five youth who spoke at the High School Seminary Assembly.  I was very proud of her talk, which she gave confidently, after having two cavities filled a few hours earlier.  She opted to have her cavities filled with no shots, so that she wouldn't have "droopy lips".  She said it hurt but she was glad she did it that way.  Her talk was pretty awesome, and as always, fearless!

How I adore this youngest child of ours.  She swears that she is never moving out, that she and her husband will live in our basement forever, raising their family so that she can take care of Doug and I in our old age.  She's doing a pretty great job of taking care of us in our middle age!  She's strong, she's faithful, she's fearless!   Keeling it real...she is still seventeen... she forgets to do her dishes, leaves laundry in the washer too long, isn't always on task on her school assignments and spends far too much time texting.  But, she's making great choices, is a dream child for a parent and is a total joy to Doug and I!  Happy Seventeen to the most amazing seventeen year old I've ever met!

Happy Birthday, Mr. C!!!

March is a busy birthday month for our family.  But, this guys birthday always is fun to celebrate.  He's so simple.  Buy him socks and nuts and he's thrilled to death.  Feed him salmon and he's even happier!  This year, we kept it as simple as could be, simply because we were all going in several directions on the days surrounding his birthday.  So, on Monday night, his birthday eve, I asked what we could do to celebrate.  Doug said, "KFC and a drive up the canyon."  KFC and a drive, it was!  Check!  And then, fifteen minutes later, we were off in our separate ways.

Tuesday, on his actual birthday, he came home from work and cooked about five pounds of catfish, one of his favorites, outside on the grill, while I prepared for a major presidency meeting.  Then, Zeej went off to a dance, so Doug and Quayd went to a movie together.  Again, not much of a birthday celebration, but he was in heaven to eat all the fish he could and then to spend time with Quayd.  What a birthday. 

That's one of the things that I love most about Doug... he's so easy to please.  Always, easy to please, always happy, always accomodating to everyone and never putting himself first.  What a good man he is!

I'm thankful for our life together and that I get to live with this easy-going, happy, helpful and friendly to everyone kinda guy!  He rocks my world in his own simple and quiet ways.

A few facts about Doug, of recent...

• Doug finally upgraded from his i-Phone 5 to a new one and he's learning to text, to get on Facebook more than annually (more like once a month now) and he even learned to put a gif in our family group text!  He's hysterical!
• He's still serving in the YSA.  Three years is coming up soon.  No word of him coming back to the home ward yet, but he loves the calling more and more every day!
• Doug has become more outspoken this past year than ever.  He has opinions and expresses them, although, ever so kindly.  Even if he disagrees, he states it gently.
• Nothing lights up Doug's eyes like when he sees his cute granddaughters.  It's so fun to watch him facetime with Aylabelle and EdieAnn.  Edie seems to really recognize his voice when he walks in and always leans to look for him.  It's adorable!
• He's reading family history books this past year and learned and captured many many stories of his mother's heritage.  He shares the stories often with us and in his talks at church.
• Doug does not like the hotttub.  OR actually, the hottub does not like him.   No matter what the Ph levels, or amount of bromine we add or don't, the hot water makes him itch for days.  So, he only gets in about once a month with me, usually when he feels that I'm needing some extra attention.  It makes me sad to not be able to share that with him every day!  But, swimming pools don't bother him at all!  It's the heat, not the chemicals.  Doug loves to swim!
• Doug is my silent counselor in the RS Presidency.  I often share things with him and ask his opinions, without names or specifics.  He's very patient and understanding of the time that I have to be gone, due to my current calling.   I love that he's always so supportive of anything I do!
• Doug is not aging.  He still is as physical as ever... cross-country skiing, riding his bike, hiking, working hard.  He's in great shape and every single day, I give thanks for that and pray for it to continue.  

I adore this good man that I get to call my eternal companion.  He's exemplary, he's wise, he's wonderful.  And I get to call him mine!  

life

I really and truly haven't got much to blog about.  Here's an average day in my life...

I wake up at 5:30 with Doug.  Some mornings, I get up and read.  Others, I roll back over and listen to him while he's in the kitchen making his blender drink.  I doze in and out until 7 when ZJ comes up to let Zulu out and then I do my makeup while she does my hair (every other morning). (Will I ever be able to do my own hair again?!)  Usually, by 8:30, I'm dressed and my morning house routine is done and I'm free for breakfast or a Sonic run.  If I have appointments in the morning, I do Relief Society visits.  Usually, if I have one appointment, I manage to drop by and visit someone else randomly.  Lunch at 11 and an afternoon of more visits on most days.  Somewhere in there, I prepare dinner and have it ready for Doug when he gets home from work.  Evenings are filled with meetings, visits and some nights, a date with Doug.  I am usually home when Zeej comes in from school and spend some time with her and Quayd.   We manage to squeeze in fun times most every day.

Quayd has been dying for me to go and see The Maze Runner with him.  I had put it off for weeks and it's about the leave the theater, so we had a little lunch date and movie afternoon this week after my presidency meeting.  He loved talking about the book and how different the movie was.  It's always fun to "play" with Quayd because our interests are so different.  He and his Dad do much better with things in common, like movies, outdoors, dreams...  But...Quayd and I always find things to talk about, even if it's just, movies, dating (or his determination not to right now) and food (which he is always interested in!)  I heart this manchild of mine!

Lately, Zee has been with Will a lot.  They do homework together, hang out at our home or his, tending his little brothers, or "hanging out" with their best friend, Chad.  They keep plenty busy, doing creative and fun things.  I'm enjoying this relationship, which, is apparently now "official" or "a fish", as we joke.  It's fun to see her so happy!  I'm seriously impressed with both Chad and Will, as friends or date.  Last night's date was Zeej doing stage makeup at the middle school for all the kids in some musical.  It started out as just Will's brother's make-up but ended up a ton of kids.  She was in makeup heaven! Tonight, it's movie night on a double date.  They do keep busy!

Chad, Will and Zeej in Chad's car apparently, because Zeej is in the front seat.  They are like the Three Muskateers.  And this photo really says it all..they do have fun together!  She sends me pix often of their fun and it always makes me smile!

Seriously, every time Will comes around, we like him more!  Seeing Zeej making great choices makes us happy! 

I manage to find time once or twice a week with "my ladies" for hand and foot, lunch with Denise, a coke run here and there with Carol and a movie some afternoons, even alone, all myself for the escape.  (Thanks go Movie Pass, I've now seen Greatest Showman twenty times in the past three months. It really is my escape!  And best of all, I've only paid to see it once!  I believe it's my modern-day Phantom of the Opera!)  I spend more time than I could count preparing for presidency meeting each week, visiting with sisters in the ward, listening and a lot of time praying and reading and studying.  I have never loved a calling as much as this.  It's 100% opportunity to love and serve and enjoy these wonderful ladies!  Who could not love that!?

Zeej is amazing help.  Quayd is awesome to do whatever he's asked.  He's working and spends a lot of time writing on his computer.  We all keep plenty busy.  Doug's calling is less demanding on the High Council than it was in the Bishopric, which gives him a more time for the family.  He and Quayd are pretty close.  I love watching him be such an awesome dad to both Quayd and Zeej.  It's just plain amazing to see his relationship grow with each of them every single day.

Our home is peaceful most of the time.  We are all pretty "chill" and get along well.  There's very little drama and it's beyond wonderful.  I would have to say that this really is a great time in my life, in spite of the challenges that we face.  But, that's what we are all here for, is to grow from those challenges, so we are doing our best!

Being that I've not mentioned the bigs much lately... Dale is loving living in Hawaii.  We miss him.  He continually invites us to visit, but that's not in the budget at the time.  Aylabelle also invites me almost daily to come to her house.  That is more affordable, but timewise, right now, not possible.  Liza and Buddy love their home in Arizona.  His job is going very well.  They love their ward,  The girls love library storytime, walks to their park and as the weather gets warmer, the pool.  I miss my girls and can't wait for a little R&R in AZ!   Kelly and I went to lunch last week and will again soon.  She seems happier and healthier than she has been in years.  We are glad for that.

So, life is good.  I don't slow down much and I love that!  Keeping busy makes me happy!  Being busy with other people makes me even happier! 

first week of march and it feels like January!

A wonderful beginning at winters end! These storms have been fabulous!  SO Beautiful!  And so much snow!  It's been crazy for the past two weeks.  Today is beautiful with blue skies.  One day it's blue, the next it's grey with lots of white!  I'm loving it!

Our sweet neighbor, Brother Doug Hart, passed away last week.  His funeral was on the same day as my cute niece, Shanna's wedding.  This wedding was the first of Dee and Aleece's kids that I didn't get as involved in. I went from wedding coordinator to consultant because I have so many other things going on.  I told Aleece in January, I didn't dare because, "for all I know, I could have a funeral that day and I'd hate to have to divide myself for both."  As it was, I told last Tuesday that Brother Hart was not doing well and there was a possibility that we could have a funeral on Saturday but I was hoping not.  No sooner than the words left my mouth, my phone dinged.  It was the Bishop letting me know that he was gone.  And the funeral was on Saturday.  Is this not the most awesome hearse ever!?

I spent the day going to the church at 8AM for the set up of the funeral dinner, then to the temple for the wedding, to the church to help get the food and tables set, to the wedding luncheon then back to the church to assist with clean-up and the delivery of the leftover food to ward members.  Then, we cleaned up a bit and headed to USU Alumni Center for the reception all evening. It snowed all day long.  It was a lot of in and out.  But, the funeral was a wonderful tribute to a remarkable man and the wedding was beautiful.  I think that my nephew Tyson's wife may be my replacement in the family wedding department. She did a marvelous job with the few ideas I'd suggested and many more of her own.  It was lovely.  And Shanna was beautiful! We absolutely loved Casey's family, who are from Washington State.  Just a great and wonderful day!

One of my favorite things about the day was watching Zeej and Will at the wedding.  Will is her friend.  They've been friends for a while and are now dating, which according to Zeej,  "Today, dating means going steady" and ""Going on dates" is a totally different thing.  So, they have been going on dates.  But, they are kinda "dating" too.  HA!  Either way, we like him.  He's a nice boy from a good family and he has the same values and standards that she does.  I was impressed that he would choose to spend a whole night dressed in church clothes, sitting at a stranger's wedding reception over skiing with his friends that night.  Brownie points for Will!

My wonderful neighbor Julie has been in the hospital a lot lately with her cancer.  We love her so much and she has the thoughts and prayers of our ward every day.  It's been hard.  She's my friend, my neighbor, my secretary.  This is hard.  I hate that she is having to endure such pain and so many medical procedures. But, I have never seen so many positive thoughts and vibes!  Layne and Julie are my heroes!  I love them so much! I hate cancer.

Zeej has had some brochitis thing happening since December and has missed so much school. There's a lot of bronchial stuff happening at this time of the year, but with such a mild winter until this past week, it shouldn't be so!  This week, she was in class and had a coughing spell.  She texted me and said that she'd just been completely humiliated by her teacher, who said, "Stay home if you are sick, so that I don't take it home to my kids!"  I told her to walk out and if the teacher asked what she was doing, tell her, "I'm leaving.  I'm sick."  That happened.  I called the attendance secretary and told her why I was checking her out for the day.  Twenty minutes later, the Vice Principal called to apologize.  I questioned... what do you want us to do?  She has been on antibiotics twice, she's missed so much school, she is coughing but not contagious.  He admitted that it's a tough call but 24 hours on antibiotics and no fever, she should be in school.  Okey dokey then.  Zeej loves this teacher and didn't want her in trouble, but seriously?

Zeej was been "ProMposed" to by Will.  She was so excited!  We bought him a bunch of treats and she had a cute response for him, then we went prom dress shopping!  She tried on about a dozen dresses.  We narrowed it down to three and fell in love with all three but she ultimately decided on a royal blue dress.  I preferred this black one but she wore black to the last dance and wanted a change.  It's beautiful and we can't wait for the big day of being a princess!

Speaking of princesses, Grace is happily in love.  She's not had much to do with the family since she moved out.  We have all felt kind of abandoned, but these are her choices.  She did, however, take a roadtrip to visit my mother for a few days with him. As far as we know, they are planning a temple wedding in May or June.  Sadness.  Nothing more to say about this.  I've been "asked" not to.

Quayd has been doing well!  He is working for a local company that manufactures circuit boards here in the valley.  He works graveyard, which isn't my favorite thing, but he's so nocturnal, it's a good fit for him!  We had a lunchdate at last week, where he ate 22 breadsticks, 10 pieces of pizza and four salads.  The boy (MAN) is a bottomless pit when it comes to food! 

Doug had a health scare this past week.  He had a vetrious detachment, where there is some tearing near the retina of his eye.  He thought Zeej was playing with a laser light.  It's something that is very common and normal according to our eye doctor.  Doug and Dave had more fun and took more time looking at Dave's recent cycling trip through Viet Nam than doing the eye exam.  Doug was pretty excited for that!  I was just thankful that all was well.  It's always frightening to me when my Granola-man isn't 138% healthy!

That's it so far for the first week of March!  I've been making visits, having meetings, planning some upcoming future events and loving my calling, my family and my life!  It's good!