Happy Birthday Josh

Today is my #2 son's 23 birthday (this make me feel so old). We are very lucky to have Josh in our family, he has a contagious smile that always lights up our home. I feel very lucky to be his Mom and am very proud of him and the good choices he makes in his life.

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

JOSH

We love you!!

What's the real meaning of success?

"To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the

affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure

the betrayal of false friends;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy

child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because

you have lived;

This is to have succeeded."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Westergard Reunion 2011

We had our first Wayne & Sherry Westergard reunion here in Arizona, it turned out to be perfect weather, the first week to be in the 70's, so we heated up the pool for those cold Utahns, I think they had more fun bragging to their friends that they were swimming and in 70 degree weather than anything. We went back and forth from my house to Carrie's house for meals and activities, we had a special luncheon for Sherry with just the ladies while the men were at my house, we had a bowling night, went to see the Dutton's perform, they now have a show here in Mesa. We went to the Temple Saturday morning, what a special time for me to be in with my kids and husband and his family, that was probably my favorite activity. We had a special family night and everyone wrote down two things that they thought nobody new about them, had a good lesson and played some fun minute to win it games. We ended by going to see JaKelle cheer at ASU on Monday night, I know that meant a lot to her. We also managed to also fit in shopping a couple of times. This is the first time in about 6 years that we have all been together, we had lots of laughs and even tears. Hope we can continue these reunions, its so important to keep family together.

the four kids with their spouses and mom & dad

Lynn & Jana Westergard family

Allen & Sylvia Westergard family

Todd & Karin Smith family

Richard & Carrie Westergard family

cousins

two cute cousins Josh & Kaitlin

more cute cousins

Bill and Alisa

Sylvia and Allen

playing games

Devin

Lynn stacking ding dongs

Kell

Lexi

Balloon game

cookie eating game

Memories of my Home

This is a painting that my sister got for Christmas from her husband. It's the house that we grew up in, as I sit and look at it, so many memories come back of us six girls growing up there. I picture myself pulling up in the driveway and opening the door where my Dad would be sitting at the kitchen table either eating or doing the bills, and my Mom would be putting on her makeup or checking her blood sugar, we would sit there and talk and watch out the window Dad would always say he needed to cut down the bush in front, Mom wouldn't let him touch it. I remember the apples trees all around our house and how I couldn't wait until October when they were ripe and Dad would sit down with us with a bowl of apples and peel them for us. I look at the window of my bedroom that I couldn't wait to have when my sisters all left, it was the coldest room in the house but it was upstairs and I loved it. When my Dad died and we had to move my Mom out, selling it was one of the hardest things to do. When I go home to Utah I like to take a run and go by to see my house, I sometimes wish I could stop and tell the family that is living there now how special this house is to me, and even though they bought and live in it, it will always be my house.

There is a song by Miranda Lambert called "The House that Build Me" the words explain how I feel about my house.

I know they say you can’t go home again

I just had to come back one last time

Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam

But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom

Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar

I bet you didn’t know under that live oak

My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it’s like I’m someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around I swear I’ll leave

Won’t take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years

From Better Homes and Gardens magazine

Plans were drawn and concrete poured

Nail by nail and board by board

Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it’s like I’m someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around in I swear I’ll leave

Won’t take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can

I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it’s like I’m someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I walk around I swear I’ll leave

Won’t take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me