Everything is better at Grandma's house

Tonight (March 28th) I called Grandma Barton on the phone while I was driving back from my PhT classes.  A- it made the 45 minutes FLY :) and B- it made me really miss my home away from home.  The past two summers I got to work in Bryce Canyon for the Natural History Association as a cashier in the bookstore. While I was working at BC, I got to live with Grandma and Grandpa Barton, which was one of the best experiences of my life. :) But seriously.  I have at least a dozen hilarious conversations between G&G in my journal, and lots of new catch phrases.  (one being "dabber scooper". In a sentence: "Would you like some Ice cream?" "Maybe just a dabber scooper." "... Now I believe that a dabber scooper is a little more than a snorkle." :p) I won't ever watch a ball game without giggling thinking of Grandma's patience with Grandpa's endless supply of ball games to watch on tv. And his dimples getting him out of trouble. ("I can be pretty put out with him, and all he has to do is grin and everything's ok.")  I learned from my grandma that you should never stop trying to learn. She is always reading books or articles and telling me about the things she's learned from them. I don't think she ever got to go to college, but I really consider her to be one of the smartest people I know! She's also the best cook ever! I hate eggs. Like really, I can't remember ever being over favoring of them. I'd much rather have pancakes and sausage, or captain crunch. However, if my grandma makes scrambled eggs, I'll willingly dish them up. (She must put magic into cooking them or something ;) ) And her pumpkin dump cake? To die for. Breads, and potato salads, and fresh garden vegetables... mmm. I think I ate better those two summers than I ever have! (Mom, I promise you're a close tie! ;) ) Grams has always been such a great source of advice. :) Like tonight, talking about concerns for those you love, she just said, "I talk to the Lord about it. I have my devious ways." And we chuckled over how contradictory that sounds. So we decided it was being righteously devious. ;) I love to laugh with grandma. We've had some good giggle sessions over the past few years. (Like that one commercial about "how to fix plumber's butt" :p It made me giggle watching how amused grandma was with it. :) )

From Grandpa I learned how to work hard, and what it means to have integrity. That's always been the highlight of stories my mom would tell: how grandpa was always honest to a fault. He always makes sure he's giving people the best deal on buying his hay. Grandpa was in bed by 7, and up by 5 all summer, and he'd be out at the farm working his tail off all day. He's also so cute with little kids. It's one of the sweetest things to watch when he's got one of the great grandkids on his lap. :) (Once when little Ashton was grunting being 'Buzz Lightyear' grandpa chuckled and said, "Are ya constipated kid?")  He's got the most witty sense of humor. :) He can get out of anything! My grandma and I talked about how nobody can back him into a corner. He's so quick on his feet with funny comebacks. :) Grandpa has such a quiet but strong presence. Even if he's not saying a lot, you can feel what he believes, how much he loves his family, and his love for working the farm. :) It was such an amazing experience to get to spend two summers with just the two of them. :)

Grammie Marilyn is the most Christ like woman I know. She has a gift to love without judgement, and I learned to see everyone the way Heavenly Father sees them from her. Grandma is also one of the busiest little bees ever. :) If you stop by just to say hello on your way through town, she'll have a 3 course meal complete with dessert ready by the time you get there. In fact, the hardest thing to get her to do for you is sit down. :) She's happiest when serving her family, which is another thing I aspire to have in my arsenal of good qualities I need to find. :p My habit of picking up 'pretty rocks' came from her too. The best part is she would always be genuinely excited when I'd bring yet another "caramel rock". :) (Now that she's got the rock polisher everyone else can see what she saw all along! That's actually exactly how she is with people. When other people don't always see the best in others, Grandma always does.)

Over the years when I've had time to make little trips to Hatch, I'd spend the evening helping gram clean up and then curling up on the porch swing and talking about all the people we love and worry about, the gospel, and how gorgeous the moon and stars looked. She always had a way of making me feel like I knew what I was talking about. She's a careful listener, and you know you've got her full attention when you talk with her. She makes everyone feel like they're the best at what they love to do. :) 

Grandpa Wallace. :) "Big of the muscs" and big of the heart. Grandpa is very well known and well loved wherever he's been. He's full of wise words, and lots of awesome quotes. He's our leader on the range, and at our family gatherings. :) Grandpa is also one of the hardest workers I know. When he tells stories about growing up, I admire how much he had to be responsible for. Grandpa has worked hard his whole life to keep his family comfortable, healthy and happy. He's had callings in our church as the Bishop and has helped so many other people outside of family. He's got a sweet testimony of the gospel, and I love when he teaches and shares what he knows about the gospel. I remember when he dressed up as Captain Moroni(? right gram?) and all the grandkids took pictures with him. I thought he was the strongest guy I knew! And he still is! Just in different ways. He will always be one of my heroes for the way that he keeps going even when things get hard. Grandpa also has a funny sense of humor, especially when he's feeling great. He's kind of a show off ;) but it's my favorite! This year for my birthday I got not one, but two verses of Happy Birthday! Did you know there was a verse two? Grandpa did! He also knows a tap dance to go with it, so one of these days we'll have to get a video of that. (That reminds me of his skipping adventure with Brianne a few years ago. :p) He's also educated in the subject of farm animals gestational times, and although it's actually a really good thing to know if you work with livestock, it can be used for stand up comedy too! ("Pop, pop, pop!" complete with hand motions ;) ) I've learned so much from grandpa and our talks together, and I'll always be so grateful for how much he cares about us and how safe he makes us feel. :)

I've got so much catching up to do after our week of media fast, but I started this one before, and I really wanted to finish it today! I've just felt so blessed to have the family legacy that I do. :)