The Ellsworth Family: 2009

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Current Pix

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN FAMILY REUNION August 6-7, 2009

(NOTE, THE ABOVE IS NOT A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY) I noticed I had already posted pix from Steph's graduation and thought I oughta post something more current. Here are some pix from our family reunion at Signal Mtn. in Grand Teton National Park. We've been going there off and on for something like 35 years. These are pix Brandon our son-in-law took and they are maaaaaaavelously pretty! (Well, the first is a pic of all the Moss siblings...I wouldn't call us ALL pretty...ha)

This is the whole gang ALL TOGETHER! (Well except Brian, and he is with us always as we know).

Mt. Moran and it's signature glacier. I love this mountain...happy memories under it, while it stands tall and majestic above...that glassy lake is what many of us swam across ...about a mile I think (not me..too cold and I'm a wimp). But I rowed in my little blowup raft like a real champ! (I was on lifeguard duty)

The OTHER Tetons...that's the Grand on the left. Can you believe how beautiful it is there?

Even in a sudden storm...wow.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Hello again!

Can you believe it? Rebecca is finally writing in the blog again! We haven't been writing for awhile...been busy yet not too much has changed with Joe's condition. But I miss it, and wanted to share some of the neat pix and such from this summer plus catch up a bit. First, Joe is continuing to progress through his "stroke journey"...it's hard to know daily if he's improved but when we think back to how he was at Christmas, even during all the winter, he has made amazing progress! He still gets VERY TIRED, easily, and his eye bothers him, yet the eye doc says to be patient, so we are trying! Meanwhile, he is home doing great "househusband" things at home, and I have to say I am enjoying it, and I feel spoiled. He has always liked to do laundry and vacuum, as all of you know, but he has also organized some things, done some yard work, kept up on some cleaning, etc. We sure appreciate everyone's kind words and encouragement and love!

Meanwhile, here are a few pix from our doing this summer:

Steph and I on her graduation day from BYU!

All the fam is proud of Steph!

Lindsey, Mike and Britt after the Bolder Boulder!

Back to Steph's graduation, playing at the Penny Arcade with Sis Angie and Fam in Provo!

Girls' Trip to Vegas in June!

That's all for now...I'll add more later! Love to all!!!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Joe Update and Steph's Graduation

STEPHANIE ELLSWORTH MARCUM GRADUATED FROM BYU APRIL 24, 2009!!!

Well it's about time I wrote! Sorry for the delay...we've been up to our eyeballs, well at least I have! Joe is doing somewhat better, but the noticeable changes have slowed down. His eye still bothers him a lot and I don't think his peripheral vision is improving. He constantly blinks which bothers him but he can't seem to stop it. He can read or look at the computer for about an hour and then he's wiped out. He still gets very tired, and one thing we are noticing that is a big cause of concern is that he "blanks out" once in awhile...forgetting conversations or names or places that he has always known...they are just gone. Of course I have had this malady for a long time now, but I know mine is for lack of concentration not a stroke. ha. They say this is a very normal thing for stroke victims but it is still very disconcerting. He is now officially not employed by JM, but not at all ready to go back to work, so we are waiting to find out about long term disability. One very nice bright spot, though, is that he has been feeling better during the day and he is really doing some great "honey do" things....got all the weeds out of the front planters on Thursday! He can't do anything strenuous, but he sure does what he can! I like it! BUT, ON TO THE NEXT BIG NEWS: LOOK HOW HAPPY HE LOOKS WITH HIS DAUGHTER STEPH AT GRADUATION!!!!!

Except there were some tired moments.....

That's her name.....!!!

The proud hubby..

Steph's buddy Morgan at the Cougar

The Moss proud grandparents!
The Ellsworth proud grandparents!

April and Sue.....BFF's...they drove all the way out from Colorado!

Partying with the nieces and nephews....

(They love Brandon)

Cinderella is an advertising major!
The night before we had Sub Zero Ice Cream...

Temple Square the Day Before...

Celebrating at Mimi's after...

And of course we had to go to the Iceberg...love those shakes and fry sauce!And we played at the nickel arcade with Angie and Fam!
All in all we had a great time in Utah celebrating. We want to thank all the relatives who came for the festivities, and especially Mike and Kathy for providing the beautiful house for us to meet, and we love you one and all! We now have two college graduate daughters!!!! Happy times for the Ellsworths....a few more pix....we love pix.....!!!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Brian's 21st Birthday

Brian's Cake...Reese's Cup Blizzard

We decided to do something a little different for the milestone that was Brian's 21st birthday, last Friday, April 3. We usually invite anyone who is in town to Fazoli's (one of Brian's favorite eateries) and we have pizza and cake and set off balloons in his honor. This year, as Steph and Brandon live across the mountains in Utah, we decided to meet somewhere in the middle and spend the birthday together. Joe isn't in much shape to travel very far quite yet, but we have had a little spring fever, plus we haven't seen Steph or Brandon in so long, that we thought it was a fine idea to meet not too far away, in Glenwood Springs. It turned out to be pretty fitting because right away when we got there we drove by the baseball diamond where Brian played in a tournament with the Rattlers (or was it Yard Teal?) so it was a nice little trip down memory lane for me. In fact, our plan was to let off the 21 balloons we filled with helium at that field, but it turned out to be pretty snowy, so we let them off at the delightful Hampton Inn & Suites parking lot, after everyone recalling a happy memory of sweet Brian.

I got to blow out the candles...

We almost thought we wouldn't be able to make it Friday because of an impending blizzard; in fact, we turned around to come home when the highway signs said that I-70 was closed past Georgetown. We came home, saw that it had opened up, and decided to go anyway, especially since Mike was driving and we trust his driving skills. What do you know, it wasn't that bad at all...just a bit snowy and slushy and low visibility through Eisenhower, Frisco, Copper, etc.

Steph and Brandon had quite a bit farther to drive, but clear roads all the way, so we met about the same time and had a super fun time going to dinner, playing games *(yahtzee is pretty fun we found out), and sitting in the warm mineral pool most all day Saturday. We watched the final four on tv, had ice cream cake, watched a little of conference on our computer, ate free breakfasts, and in general talked and laughed lots and lots. It was good to be together! Sorry to all those who usually take time out with us to go to Fazoli's....hopefully we will go back to that next year. It's hard to believe Brian would be 21. It's hard to believe he's been gone 6 years. It's hard to believe we've survived this tragedy for this long. It isn't hard to believe that we have done it because of the love we have for each other as a family, the love all our friends and family have shown to us, and because we know we will be together with him again someday.

Here are some assorted pix of our weekend. Steph has more on her camera (of course) so I'll tell her to add some if she can. Thanks all who read this! Joe's progress continues to be slow but sure. I am still very worried about his eye and his vision. Also I worry that he is constantly tired, and especially tired after he tries to do very much. He has his doctor appointment this week so we'll let you know the results of his MRI and all that he says. We remind ourselves that it has only been four and a half months. But the future is so uncertain that it is hard not to worry. I guess we'll just pray....