One of my Favorite Flowers!

A fun part of living in different parts of the country is seeing what grows in the various climates. You can grow just about anything in California, but I don't recall seeing peony bushes. It's also fun to see just what humidity does to everything outdoors. One of my peony bushes is so amazingly full of beautiful flowers this year. I could hardly wait until they all started opening up! So from this bush...

...you get such beautiful bouquets. When they open it's like they're made out of paper. Unfortunately they do not last very long. One of my earliest memories involves peonies. One of our neighbors we had while I was growing up, Mrs. Schroeder, had a whole driveway lined with peony bushes. She wrote this cute little poem and brought me a bouquet when I had my tonsils out. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but a sweet memory!

Another sweet memory was this old shoe. Several generations of my grandfathers were shoemakers. I'm not sure if this is one of their creations, but my mom had this shoe and always had flowers in it. It brightened my day when I found it the other day. I added some peonys and it sits in my kitchen windowsill.

One of the BEST parts of Summer!

OK, so I admit it...I'm a huge tennis fan...I love to watch and I love to play! I started playing again about 8 years ago when we were living in Bellingham, WA. We had a great indoor facility. In Edwardsville it's a year-round activity also. We have an awesome 5 court facility at our fairly new YMCA and then there's plenty of outdoor courts for summer play. Fortunately, too, it's a sport that Sarah enjoys as much as I do...we'll be out there a lot this summer. I have always had the privilege of meeting lots of fantastic and fun women in this sport. It is as much a social event as it is a physical event when we get together to play. By this stage of the game the "competitiveness" has mostly worn off and it's more about having fun and encouraging each other to do our best. To me there's hardly anything that relieves stress as much as hitting a tennis ball just right! Hope to be able to play a long time. I play with several women that are well over 60 and they are amazing to me. So, there's plenty to watch during the summer. Right now it's The French Open (May 25th till June 8th)...then it's Wimbledon...then it's The US Open. Too fun!

Miscellaneous Updates

Just a few miscellaneous updates on the family...here's a picture from Marshall's Seminary Graduation. Way to go Marshall! That's a great accomplishment...getting up early and to church by 6:15 a.m. all the way through high school. The Bowerman kids have been very blessed to have such good and dedicated teachers. Trent Sever, Bishop Coleman, Courtney Foust, Alec Raymond, and Dustan Barnard are shown with Marshall.

Marshall gave a talk at church on Sunday. He expounded on his favorite scripture, which is Jacob 6:12. Not sure if it's his favorite because it is so short or what. "O be wise; what can I say more?" Rich and I just looked at each other wondering how he was going to pull this one off, but he did an exceptional job. Sarah added a wonderful touch to the meeting also. She played a flute solo, "Love At Home", and I accompanied her. She's been working on this particular piece with Heather for quite some time. I'm amazed at how easy it seems for my kids to perform in public. It is very difficult for me to play when people are listening, especially a solo. I force myself to do it and it never gets easier. I've tried every trick in the book, but the fingers get cold and shake, my stomach hurts, and it goes on and on.

Marshall's last day of school was last Friday. He had worn himself out and was pretty sick by Friday with a cold that is still hanging on. He slept a lot this weekend, went to a party (of course), and worked a couple of shifts. The theater was busy with the opening of the Indiana Jones movie. Sarah's last day isn't until June 2nd, a Monday. How cruel is that??!!

We were supposed to have a "gorgeous" weekend over Memorial Day, but it rained and stormed and rained and stormed and rained and stormed. "Stormed" is my word, I guess, for lightning and thunder. As much as I don't like bad storms, Oreo has an even more difficult time. Poor thing just shakes for hours on end. Nevertheless, we have not had to endure the very difficult situaitons that Mother Nature can be known for. Even with the bad weather Rich was able to BBQ twice...love it! The bike ride on our new bikes will have to wait for later this week, though.

OK, that's enough for one day!

A Program That Works...

My mother and myself have been attending the weight watchers program since April 1st. No joke. Our leader at these meetings, Martha, is great, and very entertaining. The total amount of weight lost between us is about 30 pounds!!!! This program has been working amazingly well, and it really isn't all that hard to follow. Well, for me at school, it is a little more difficult, but my mom, eating the same breakfast and lunch every day, it is a BREEZE!!!!! hahaha. Well, we will keep you all posted on our success this summer!!!

Back to Mother's Day

I meant to write something about my mother when I was last updating. This is a picture of Mary Elizabeth Beesley, my mom! This picture was taken in 1937 when she would have been about 19. My mom was known as "Betty" to family and friends, except to my dad who called her "Liz". She was an incredibly talented and resourceful woman. I believe that the outfit she is wearing, at least the jacket, was made from some velvet curtains that were removed from a church building. I miss my mom. She passed away just over 9 years ago. Those of you who still have "mom" around to talk to, count your blessings. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to talk to my mom and tell her once again how much I love her, appreciate her, and listen to her insight. Make sure your mom knows just how much you care. I could write tons more about her.

If Only The Biker Could Fly Like an Eagle!

OK, so Lindsay decided that a bike would be a great birthday gift for her this year. Here she is riding through the aisles at Costco, trying it out!
And she's off...we still don't know if she's tried to conquer what Rich and I used to call "the diagonal" in Provo...University Avenue that takes you up to the mall. That's her goal...you go girl!
Last week Marshall had his Eagle Board of Review...and he PASSED! He's on the end, standing next to Craig Foust. Marshall's project included providing 72 hour Emergency Preparedness kits for a women's shelter nearby. Way to go Marshall! We won't mention the part about the incentive to finish this up was being able to have the cast party for the school play at our home a couple of weeks ago. Ah, what's a little procrastination...

Sarah's New Look!

So, recently I (Sarah) got some new glasses, and well, here they are. My mom refers to it as my "new look," and I guess I agree. At least I can see pretty well in them, and they are kinda cute...hehehe.

Fun week in Utah!

I got to go to Women's Conference in Provo on May 1st and 2nd. I met my good friend from Southern California, Jennifer. We had so much fun together. Great classes and 22,000 women...way too fun! We were pretty tired after very having had very little sleep over the previous 48 hours and running from one end of the campus to the other.
While on BYU campus we went over to the art building where there was a display of Minerva Teichert paintings. I was amazed to see a painting she had done of The Beesley Pioneer Band. Ebenezer Beesley was my great-great grandfather.
This is a description of the painting.
My sister Becky in Salt Lake is always doing crazy things, so Lindsay and I weren't surprised when we drove up and saw flamingos all over her yard. However, this was kind of cruel. She had been "flocked", and in order for them to be removed she had to pay $25 and designate the next house she thought they should go to. Some fundraiser...
The last night I was there I had dinner with two cousins from the Salt Lake area that I haven't seen for quite some time. They are standing in the back and my sister Trish is between Lindsay and I. We had a great time together...so fun to see family.

Catching up with friends!

Here I am with Debbie Coffey, Sherri Wilson, and Crystal Griffin at Debbie's house in St. Charles, Missouri. Debbie's son married Crystal's daughter and Sherri came from Southern California. This is Mike and Sherri Wilson. We lived around the corner from them in Huntington Beach a long, long time ago. I can't even remember how many times Sherri cut my hair in her garage. So fun to see them again.

We Have Arrived!

Sarah and I have arrived in the blogging world. I had to put this picture in. This bright yellow forsythia greeted us for several weeks as we turned onto our street. Yeah, spring is here!