100 Years

Several months ago as I was reminiscing about my life, my parents, and my life it dawned on me that my cherished dad, who had passed away 17 years ago, was going to be turning 100!!

I have wanted to pursue Family History seriously so I decided this was the time to focus on my dad and his life and what better way to do it than to have a PARTY.  

I want my children and grandchildren to know my dad so I thought maybe my siblings would feel the same way but they weren't quite as excited about my plan as I was BUT

I decided not to let them damper my excitement or plans so I enlisted my 

two wonderful and talented daughters to help me out.

They came through wonderfully and we planned a beautiful evening.

I sent out invitations with my Christmas cards that I mailed to my brother, sister 

and all my nieces and nephews. 

Jessi designed this adorable invitation.

It was an entire month in advance so I hoped to get a good turnout and we did.

The final count was close to 40 and I think everyone that could of come did come.

Hopefully his children, in-laws, and grandchildren learned something positive about him that night.

These pictures are randomly in here and I'm going to take them the way they come.

I decided we wanted to serve his favorite treats that evening

 and we decided, even if it was the middle of the winter

 on an Ice Cream Sundae Bar with Chocolate Zucchini Cake.  

(It was also my nephew Troy's birthday the day before the party so we used the cupcakes

 to celebrate his birthday also.)

We decorated the serving table with brown shipping paper and tin buckets 

to keep it looking authentically rustic and old.

 We also served 7 layer Mexican dip and chips so we didn't have a sugar overload. 

No pic but you know what I mean.  Just imagine it.

Amy had a friend who designs these Family Trees.

This photo doesn't do it justice but it is amazing.

Darwin and Della's children, spouses and their children are on the tree.

Great grandchildren and in a different color Great Great Grandchildren was written around the sides.

 I found several wonderful old pictures of him.  

I scanned them and sent them to Costco to be blown up.  Most of them had a warning on them that the resolution wasn't good on them but I had them printed anyway.

So glad I did because they turned out wonderful.

This one is actually a 16x20 that was awesome.  

You've just got to love Costco Photo.  This huge picture was $5.99

 More pictures along with mixed nuts which Dad always liked to snack on.

 The pic of the two little boys is my dad and his younger brother Dennis.

Yes boys wore dresses in those days--it is his brother not a sister,

That picture has to be over 95 years old.  Priceless.

 Of course a picture of his truck which was his livelihood when he retired.  

He owned 29 just like that one.

A place to record a remembrance and a beautiful picture of my mom and dad.

 Amy was in charge of our Jeopardy game only she called it

THE MANY DIMENSIONS OF DARWN.

Just like everything else she does it was over the top wonderful.  

 Each square would open into thirds. 

 The first flap was the question and the second was the answer.

This was the lamest question we had, we were getting desperate by the end,
so I'm not sure why that is the picture I took.  

We had a couple of T or F, a couple of multiple choice and the rest were fill in the answer.

 My family are not great game players but everyone did get involved and I think each person learned many things about this amazing man.

We passed out Almond Joy candy bars to the winners and actually everyone else 

because that was his favorite candy bar.

I forgot to take a picture of these cute water bottles at the party so I set up the few left over when I got home and snapped a pic so we wouldn't forget.

The highlight for me is that I decided to write a children's book about my dad.

I've always wanted to write a book and so I guess now I can cross that off my list.

I want my grandchildren to know him, know some stories of his life

 and appreciate the legacy he left behind.

I also figured not many would read a long wordy book 

but almost everyone would hopefully read a short children's book.

I loved doing it and am quite pleased with it but as I wrote I realized that he has too big of a story to be condensed into a children's book.  

Now I need to start a true biography of this man before his story is lost.

 Here are a few random pics of family at the party.  Of course I didn't get many pictures. 

 I need to learn from Carly to take many many pics because too many memories are missed.

Dale and some of his family 

 Amy and Logan 

 Callie

 Some more of my brothers family

 Marc and Jeff

Dani and Niki

 Derek and Jeremy

Cheryl and Derek

Bringing In The New Year

New Year--New You

Isn't that what it is supposed to be?  A time for change, renewal and resolutions.

Last night as we were doing the dismal act of putting away Christmas decorations, 

I snapped the lid on the last container with a sigh of relief.

To my dismay, I took one last look around the room and there hidden on the table 

was one last Christmas decoration.  

The bins were full and yet there it sat with no where to rest until I wanted it next season.

It immediately came to my mind what my resolution for next year would be.

HAVE LESS--BE MORE

There it is in four words.

I want my house purged of stuff this year.  I'm taking a few weeks or months or whatever time it takes and I'm going through every container, drawer, box, closet, pile and get rid of anything and everything I have that I don't have a definite need for at the time.

Anything I keep I'm hoping to have organized and in its specific place.

There is no reason to own all that I own.

As I'm doing this I want to Be More:

Be more knowledgeable about the scriptures

Be more close to my Savior

Be more forgiving

Be more compassionate and loving to others

Be more service oriented

Be more of a friend, mother, grandmother and especially wife.

Be more whatever the Lord has in mind for me.   

There it is--Four little words

HAVE LESS--BE MORE

Wish me luck