Uncle Scott's Letter to Doris

As I posted last week, we attended Doris Crabtree's funeral in Brigham City on Monday, and during the funeral service, Uncle Scott read the letter that he had written to Doris in 1998. He had asked her what he could get her for Valentine's Day that would be really special, and she replied, "Why don't you write me another poem like you did when we were courting?" So he wrote her this one, and I think it's remarkable, and I requested a copy from Cyndey. I don't know that it's exactly poetry, but the expressions show a great deal of growth for Uncle Scott in his recognition of how he should treat his wife. And Doris loved and appreciated him for that.

February 14^th, 1998

To My Valentine

Two years ago I asked you to be my Valentine. A few months later I asked you to nail your heart to this old Crab-tree.

I had no idea at that time the price you would have to pay to make that a reality. The pains you have suffered since our wedding day could have justifiably caused you to be angry towards me, but you were not.

I pledged my all to you then. I know it has since turned out to be so little. All I have really given you is my love. But once again, I pledge that love wholeheartedly to you, for the rest of our lives.

I promised to tell you how much you mean to me often.

I promised to never raise my voice towards you.

I promised to accept you as you are and in no way demand changes.

I promised to make you first in my life, and though it seems at times Rocky Point is first, I want you to know, it is not and never will be.

I promised to try and relate to your family in a positive way. I want you to know that this has been easy as they are all very special.

I promised to stay close by you and be supportive of you, although it seems you are the one who has been so understanding of me.

I promised to respect your past life and allow you to talk about it and keep the special memories of those years open for you to live and relive. I respect your love for Ray.

Doris, I now, once again, renew those promises along with any other good things I am able to do. I love you, I honor you and I support you.

You are truly my special Valentine.

Love always,

Scott

At last we get to see them

On Tuesday morning, Jed, Melissa, and the s( please note: my software filter refuses to allow me to type the word, g i r l s) flew in from Charleston, NC, where Jed was interviewing for his residency. They had a 10 hour layover in Salt Lake before flying home to Eagle River. So we finally got to see their little twinners.

I bought the s these little baby dolls, and I knitted two little doll afghans with which to wrap them. Elizabeth is on the right, and Noelle on the left.

Getting ready to leave the terminal for Lindsay's where we spent the day. Below are Melissa and, I believe, Lizzie.



I love these little bald heads.
Here are all my great-grandchildren...lined up according to age. Emalise, Ellyn, Elizabeth, Noelle, and Kaiyan.


In the evening we met Guenther and Nancy and her daughters for a birthday party at David's.


Ellyn turns two years old on Sunday, and Jennifer 23 on Wednesday.
Matt helps Ellyn blow out her two candles.


David, Tami, and the kids have finished the movie room in their basement. It's really lovely, and best of all, is the fact that they did most of the work themselves...starting by digging out with shovels the hole for the room. David did all the electronic stuff, as well as the walls, etc. I think it's amazing.


Summer and Emalise dance on the little stage in front of the screen.

Tami got a great deal on the theater seats, and purchased them before they even started building the house.

A Funeral in Brigham City

Today, Monday the 21st of January, dawned cold and snowy. Nancy called to say that the snow was so deep in Sandy that it covered the porch...I understand that they received 15 to 18 inches of snow there. We were concerned by the weather because today was Doris Crabtree's funeral in Brigham City.
Doris married Uncle Scott in 1996, twelve years ago. They have been through a lot...the total destruction of Rocky Point by a fire that took everything, including cherished photos...Uncle Scott's various serious illnesses...and finally his entering a nursing home two years ago.
During all this time, Doris has stood by his side. At the nursing home, she arrived each morning around 9 a.m. and stayed until around 5 p.m...leaving with "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Every day. I don't know that I have ever seen such whole-hearted love and devotion as Doris gave to Scott during the time they have been married.
Doris passed away with an apparent heart attack last Wednesday. Her passing is so very sad, because Uncle Scott has so needed her. Cydney said today that probably they will try to move him down to a nursing home in Salt Lake City where he will be closer to his own family.

Doris and Scott Crabtree in the fall of 2007. The funeral was very nice, and her children and grandchildren paid wonderful tribute to her. I appreciated the sentiments expressed in a poem that Uncle Scott read. He wrote it for her on the second Valentine's day of their marriage.

A Visit to our State Capital and Ellyn Mae's Tear Duct Operation

On Tuesday, the 9th of January, after our regular visit to the Salt Lake Temple, Guenther and I toured the State Capitol which has been closed for four years. It's been undergoing alterations which will make it more earthquake-resistant, and also it has been renovated to make the inside historically accurate. Since I have spent so much time there, both as a fourth grade teacher and as the president of the Davis Education Association during the legislative sessions, I enjoyed our visit.





Then on Thursday morning, I drove to Layton so that I could watch Emalise while Matt, Lindsay, and Kai took Ellyn in for outpatient surgery on a tear duct. She needed to have a tube inserted so that the duct could drain properly.
Does this look like a little child who is not sure if she's been betrayed by all the grown ups? The surgical center presented her with this cute little bear.


This is Lindsay's new couch. I love how she has decorated the top of the divider wall.


And this photo is to show all the cute little knick knacks that she's placed on top of her kitchen cabinets. Sorry, Ema..I caught you just as you were changing expressions. I was impressed with Emalise. The surgery took place early (7 a.m) so I fed Ema her breakfast when she awoke. She informed me that "first we say the prayer, and THEN we pour the milk on our cereal." She chose to do the praying, and she included the request that the Lord bless her little sister...with no prompting from grandma great.

Kaiyan Matthew is Blessed Today

Nancy picked us up in the Expedition today, and we drove to Lindsay and Matt's for a get-together before Kaiyan's blessing. Lindsay had everything well-planned, and it was very nice.

Katherine and Jordan also rode with us. David and Tami came a little later. I appreciate how everyone supports each other.

A shot of Matt and Kai. He is such a good baby.


Here's Lisa and her first grandson in the hallway of the chapel after the meeting. Ellyn Mae is frowning in the background. I loved how Ellyn wanted to sit on my lap during church. Her little Olenslager cousin, around the same age, came over to us, smiled, and whispered for me to "put her down"...I guess so that she could play with Ellyn. But I didn't do it.


Lindsay is showing me some fun yarn...she's knitting a scarf.


Terry is talking with Carolyn Olenslager, Matt's mom. Both she and Lisa (who, of course, are also Lindsay's kids' grandmothers) teach second grade.

A shot of Lindsay and the Olenslagers. Matt's folks live in Cedar City, and they had a cold, snowy drive to Layton. What wonderful support.


Matt's dad, Terry, and Todd Weight. Jocelyn, Todd's wife, is in the foreground.
A shot of Jocelyn.



And here's Todd. He and Jocelyn both drive new Altimas, and they love them just like we do.






McCall.




Summer shows off her fingernails that she got at the Mall yesterday.
This is David helping Katherine walk across the parking lot of Lindsay's chapel.

A Close-Up. The snow was really coming down.


On the drive home, I took photos of the clouds covering the mountains.


We are grateful for all the snowfall and moisture we're now receiving.


West Kaysville...from the freeway.

New Year's Day with the Crabtree Family

We had the Booth Crabtree family for New Year's Day Lasagna. We had everyone except for our Englishmen and most of our Alaskans. Rohn and Felicia Crabtree and Brian also dropped by, and it sure was nice to see them. Rohn told us that Aunt Beryl remarried last October...to a fellow (last name, Wiseman) that Guenther and I met last spring when he and Beryl first got together after sixty years and met in Salt Lake to attend conference. They knew each other from the time when he was a missionary in Australia, before Beryl married Scott. She now lives in Barstow, CA, and I talked with her last night. We are happy for her.

Mike and Jordan.
A hot Scrabble game.



Matt, Jordan, Terry, and David were watching the Bowl game. Guenther humored his back by stretching out on our temperpedic mattress and taking an afternoon snooze.

The Shoes. On behalf of my carpet, I thank you all.
A nice shot of Terry.
Jordan, Drew, Nancy, Tami and David.
Our precious little Kaiyan. (rhymes with Ryan). He will be blessed next Sunday, and it's neat that Lisa and Terry were able to fly down from Eagle River.
Kai looks at his cousin, Summer. Notice her cute hairdo. She and her sisters returned last Monday from a Caribbeans cruise with their dad. They had their hair done then.
Our Katherine.

Emalise, Summer, Terry, Lindsay, Kai, and Matt.
Jen went snowboarding earlier in the day, and here she's showing the place on her leg where she was hit by someone's ski pole as it dropped from the lift above her.
Jen got her braces off..I love her pretty teeth.
Jen makes a Scrabble move.
Summer reminds me of Katherine when Kath was younger...she always took charge of the younger children.


Guenther says that my lasagne was the best he ever ate. Wow!


The David.


Ellyn Mae. I am wondering if Evy and Jackie recall playing with this doll when they were younger. I remember that I took it to Las Vegas when Doug and Mary Ann were house-hunting, and the twins played wooden-dolls while Booth and I babysat them in the motel.