Thank you for being a friend...

Well - the Florida sun has set for one Golden Girl.

Estelle Getty - best loved by me as Sophia - died today at age 84.

The girls at work were so nice about breaking the news to me.
Then both Annie and Heather sent me a text to let me know they were feeling my pain.
I have such good friends.

You could say they're a lot like these ladies...

Watching the Golden Girls has provided more laughter in my life and so much fun with EJR.

Some favorite Sophia lines...
Dorothy and Blanche are both in Sophia's bedroom
talking about Rose.
Sophia wants to be going to sleep but can't since
everyone's in her room.
Then Rose knocks on the door and Sophia's had it.
Rose says, "Sophia?"
Sophia says, "Hi. This is Sophia. I'm not in. Leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you. Beep."
Rose says, "Hi... This is Rose..."

Rose comes in with some very smelly catfood.
When Sophia walks in she smells it and says,
"Is that seafood medly?"
Rose says, "Well, yes it is!"
Dorothy says, "Ma! How did you know that?"
Sophia says, "They used to feed it to us at Shady Pines."
Dorothy says, "Ma - they did not force you to eat seafood medly at the nursing home."
Sophia says, "No they didn't. You could go hungry."

Have any favorite Golden Girls moments?

Which one's your favorite?
What made you laugh today?

Those Golden Girls have made me So Happy.

Isn't her home beautiful?

Images of one of my most favorite places to be....

So beautiful.
So comforting.

"The Blue Chairs"

I made that afghan!

Yum! I love cake!
And it's so light and fluffy in this house because you don't hit the
side of the bowl with the spoon to get any extra batter off after you've whipped it up!
It takes the air out of the batter!

What images bring comfort to you?

This beautiful home and its wonderful residents make me
So Happy.

Feliz Cumpleanos!

Quisas el hombre mas amado de mi vida es
mi Presidente de mi mision.

One of the most beloved men in my life is my mission president.

El es un hombre increible. Tan amoroso, tan inteligente, tan dulce, y le encanta comer helado!
Yo creo que el sabe todo en cuanto al Evangelio de Jesucristo.
El fue uno de los primeros misioneros en Mexico.
Tambien fue sellador en el Templo de la Ciudad de Mexico.

He is an incredible man. So loving, so intelligent, so sweet and he loves to eat ice cream!
I think that he knows everything about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He was one of the first missionaries in Mexico.
He was also a sealer in the Mexico City Temple.

Y el es mi Presidente.
And he is my Presidente.

Yo fui tan bendecida poder tenerle como mi Presidente.

(Y la Hermana tambien - como podria yo decir bastante para describir sus dones y calidades?
Ella tambien es increible. Le encanta las flores y puede hacer chocolate (para beber) que yo creo es magico! Nunca pudimos hacerlo como ella! Puede cocinar una cena como para un rey con dos papas y una zanahoria! )

I was so blessed to be able to have him be my Presidente.
(And la Hermana also -- how could I ever say enough to describe her gifts and qualities?
She also is incredible. She loves flowers and can make hot chocolate that I think is magic! We never could make it like her! She can cook a meal fit for a king with two potatoes and a carrot!)

En Augusto ellos van a celebrar 50 anos de casados.
Yo he sido tan bendecida por su casamiento.

In August they will celebrate 50 years of marriage.
I have been so blessed by their marriage.

Esta es una foto de cuando fueron casados!

This is a picture of when they were married!

Los dos son una bendicion tan grande en mi vida.

They are both a huge blessing in my life.

Y hoy es el cumpleanos de mi Presidente!

And today is my Presidente's birthday!

Les visite dos veces en Mexico - en 2002 y 2005.
Les extrano muchisisisimo!

I visited them twice in Mexico - in 2002 and 2005.
I miss them so so so so soooooooo much!

Me encanta esta foto! Que chistoso! Zona urbana --
parece urbana a ti?

I love this photo! So funny! Urban zone -- seem urban to you?

(Estas son fotos de mi visita a Mexico. Viajamos por las montanas y encontramos a un pueblito y estas mujeres eran muy amables con nosotros. Pues - Presidente y Hermana Huerta no han encontrado a personas que no son sus amigos - o no quieran ser sus amigos entre algunos minutos!!!

Yo soy gigante en Mexico!)

(These are photos of my visit to Mexico. We traveled in the mountains and found a little village and these woman were very friendly to us. Well - Presidente and Hermana Huerta haven't ever met people that aren't their friends - or who don't want to be their friends within minutes!
I am gigantic in Mexico.)

Mi Presidente me enseno a ser obediente, a trabajar fuertemente, a amar a otros, a tener fe, a ser fuerte y a amar a Nuestro Padre Celestial mas que senti antes de mi mision.
My Presidente taught me to be obedient, to work hard, to love others, to have faith, to be strong and to love our Heavenly Father more than I felt before my mission.

Me dio muchas bendiciones durante y despues de mi mision. Me encanto poder vivir cerca a la casa de la mision por casi toda mi mision y estar con ellos. Comi mucho helado en su casa, cante en su casa, ore en su casa y pude escuchar a el orando - que fue hermosismo cada vez. Pensaba yo que si abri mis ojos hubiera visto a Nuestro Padre Celestial en la sala con nosotros por que yo se que El escucha cuando Presidente Huerta ora.

He gave me many blessings during and after my mission. I loved being able to live near the mission home for almost all of my mission and be with them. I ate a lot of ice cream in their home, sang in their home, prayed in their home and got to listen to him praying -- which was so beautiful every time. I thought if I opened my eyes I could've seen Heavenly Father in the room with us because I know that He listens when Presidente Huerta prays.

Cada dia pienso en ellos y ojala que viviera mas cerca!!!
Each day I think about them and I wish they lived closer!

Saque esta foto cuando visitaron a mi casa en 2006. Fue la cena mejor de mi vida al tener Presidente y Hermana Huerta, Hermana Jack y Presidente y Hermana Rasband a la vez!
Mis preferidos de todo tiempo!
I took this photo when they visited my house in 2006. It was the best dinner of my whole life to have Presidente and Hermana Huerta, Sister Jack and President and Sister Rasband all at the same time!
My favorites of all time!

Son personas tan celestiales.... Les amo con todo mi corazon.
They are such celestial people... I love them with all my heart.

Feliz Cumpleanos Presidente. Le quiero.

Yo se que el quiere solomente que yo sea feliz -
y el con la Hermana Huerta me hacen --
Tan Feliz.

I know that he only wants for me to be happy -
and he and la Hermana Huerta make me --
So Happy.

I have a family tree... with branches by the dozen or half dozen anyway!

Last weekend we had a fun family reunion!!!
Some of the cousins from CA came as well as Utah cousins and Laura from Ohio!
It was so great to be together!
I'm excited that the other CA cousins are coming to Utah soon!

Trying to get it together...

"Say Rear!"

Alright, ELJ, you're right. My legs really are white.
Wow.
I'll put that lotion on them, I promise.

This was one happy grandma!

I was so happy to get to meet little David!
We're glad he's a part of our family and I'm so happy for
Valerie and Will!
He sucks on his fingers just like Noah used to!

The Johansen's

Mike, G, Walt
It was Grandma and Walt's 8th Anniversary on the
day of the reunion!
We are so glad Walt is a part of our family!!!
He makes Grandma (and us) SO Happy!

The Reid's/Knowlton's

Such a sweet little Agnes!
I couldn't have fallen in love with her any faster!

Such a proud Papa and his little guy Grant -- adorable!

It took Grandma Cheryl to get all the great-grandkids together for a picture with Great-Grandma G.

The newest little cousin - Eliot

Ryan is an amazing boy -- so good and kind and
watching out for the other little guys.

I'm anxious to see everyone else's pictures!
I don't know how I didn't end up with a Lystrup family picture!
Or pictures of me and Bekah!!
What were we thinking?!

This is apparently the largest bag available! Hilarious!
They were great for holding all the leftovers we took home from Grandma!


It was so fun reminiscing and sharing stories!
I say we have a Disneyland reunion next!

We sure missed everyone who wasn't there!
I made everyone take pictures of me by myself to represent the Springers!

Being with my family makes me So Happy!