Like Riding a Bike. . .

Years before being grandparents friends and family would tell us how being a grandparent was superior to that of parenting. They said things like "you enjoy the children for a period of time and then send them home with their parents".
This summation of grand parenting was lacking for me. My experiences have affirmed to me that you most love those that you can serve. I miss the day to day bonding that's jam packed into parenting. Its the single hardest thing we get to do because it is the most important.
I am so glad that I have had opportunities to take care of most of the grand kids while their parents aren't around and hope to have more.



The few days we spent together were fun and he was very happy to be "on vacation"! His enthusiasm reminded me of Dano, and we all had a great time playing and having fun.



Sophia's was not thrilled with the long trip!(boring!)But she did love being the center of our attention and we loved it too!

We had big plans for our week with Sam and Jack and all that changed because they were sick and then I got sick too. Rather than fun in sunny Arizona with cousins and Aunts and Uncles we made the most of the opportunities to cuddle with Aunt CA and Uncle Rhett Dizzle.






We joked that Jack's extreme behaviors were a bit like Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! The wonderful thing was that once Jack felt better he was delightful and we all had fun with him.

Samuel started sick but healed faster and once he felt well he came into his own. He played well with all the family and shared well with his brother.

When we went out on outings he was obedient and cooperative. I naturally started doing some things I hadn't done in more than 20 years!
My kids may not even remember how I would make up a song about whatever we were doing with a tune that would pop in my head. IE "Oklahoma theme song". The little boys seemed to like how I would sing to them and make up funny lyrics involving them and what we were doing!


I hope to have more opportunities "go on vacation" in the future. Maybe even when the grand kids are older and all of them will go on adventures with Pots and I. and we can do more than console then and help them to feel safe. They may enjoy having a break from their parents.

Sorting through feelings. . .

This week has been an emotional challenge for me. . . when first receiving Dano's call on Sunday night. My tears came quickly and my prayers were simple. Monday morning I was so grateful for all my family, everyone was wanting to know what was being done and what they could do to love and support Kayla, Amy, Dano and the little boys. Prayers, Prayers and more Prayers because gratefully all was according to Heavenly Father's will and lessons were in store.
These opportunities for growth are "Faith building" and so challenging. Again many reasons to count blessings and see miracles.
On Tuesday my visiting teachers lesson was much more than the usual lesson. Sister Christiansen broke down the message on Self Reliance and we searched the scriptures. We pondered on the purpose of self reliance, "to be like our Savior". Gaining knowledge, gaining skill, having ways to support and provide for our own needs so we can then care for and help others, "Charity". She made a point of bringing out how our Faith, Hope and Charity will move "mountains" and then she qualified that by reminding me of how that might mean personal mountains. I really appreciated her special preparation and the message because I know that my faith can always grow.
Wednesday I went with Isis and Mamina to visit Orchard Park, a care center. We have come to believe that my mother will be needing professional care, she is very forgetful and some of her needs are more than we can provide in our homes. We never thought that she would need to be in the care of strangers and this is hard for her and us. She called me later to let me know that she agrees that we have done the best we can and that she is prepared to follow through with moving to Orchard. The interesting thing about this is that she has not called me for any reason in about 5 months. She also surprised my sisters and I when at the hospital 2 weeks ago. . . we were translating what the ER doctor had said about the value of family support. He said how sad and difficult it is for him as a physician to have folks who's family is estranged or who have "no family". She then said I have said many things to discredit you girls especially Nina, she looked at me and said that she knew that she had said many hurtful things to me and about me. It didn't really hit me until the next day when I was saying my prayers . It was validating on one level and also terrible to know that she meant to hurt me. I was thankful for the responsibility she took and know this didn't come naturally to her because she has never wanted to be seen as capable of anything bad. "We are all capable of anything." I have Daniel to thank for always reminding me of this truth. His example has also shown me that along with being capable of good and bad we are worth loving. He has forgiven me much and loves me.
There is a lesson for me that I want to share. Sorry about the rambling,sometimes I don't feel like my children judge me according to "who they know me to be". I was doing that to my mom and I can do "Better" I will treat her according to what I know about her both the good (which there is much about her and her life that has been good) and the bad, because after all she is human and flawed. I hope that my family will love me, know that I am flawed and let me know how I can repent and be better. Unlike my mother I have time and resources available to right my wrongs and show all of you that I want and will be better. On Modern Family the moral taught was about being able to change and I am really glad that my resolution to "Be Better" is being supported by my a fun sitcom!

A Mother's Legacy. . .

Mother's Day 2009, Amy and Dano gave me a lovely gift and asked that some time I would return it to them. The gift is a book titled "A Mother's Legacy", it is a book full of questions about me and my life experiences. I thought that with technology I could answer the questions in this book and in this blog, and it would help be to work on my resolution for 2010 "be better"(work on personal history). Hope you all enjoy getting to know me as I recall my life. . .


Personal Portrait
I was born July 22, in Havana, Cuba. My given name is Erundina Maria Sanchez. I was named by my father, he insisted I be named after my mother. Her name is Monica Erundina and she preferred going by Erundina because she was teased about her first name. Children called her "Mona monica" (mona means monkey in spanish)her family called her girl (in Spanish as a nickname). My father called her Erundina and I was an adult when I learned my mother's true first name.
I was nicknamed Nina, in honor of my Maternal grandfather, who had recently passed away. His name was Saturnino and was called Nino. Later in life I had other nick names; my sister would call me "baby elephant" when I was a little child, my very kind friendly neighbors called me "little bit" when I was about 6 and learning English, and as a teen my friends called me "little Cuban".

My Parents
My Mother's full name is Monica Erundina Catalina Rubio. She was born February 28, 1923, in Manati, Cuba.
My Father's full name is Aldo Pastor Alfredo Sanchez. He was born April 30, 1922, in Tuinucu, Santa Clara, Cuba. They were Married June 17th 1954 after a 12 year long engagement.




My sisters were both born in Havana, Cuba.
Their names are Maria Angelica Sanchez born April 15, and Isis Sanchez born October 22,

Maternal grandparents
Angelica Catalina del Carmen Valdes born 17 July 1896 in Sancti Spiritus, Las Villas, Cuba.
Saturnino Rubio De la Cruz born 16 June 1892 in Sancti Spiritus, Las Villas, Cuba.
Paternal Grandparents
Natalia Leonela de la Concepcion Diaz born 1 December 1889 in Jibaro,Las Villas, Cuba.
Abel Victoriano Sanchez Valdivia born 19 December 1890 in Cambaiguan, Las Villas, Cuba.

This is a picture of them with their adult children. The picture was taken in 1961.

My Husband
Daniel Duke Dayton, born February 3, in Payson, Utah.



Our Children
Daniel Duke Dayton II, in Miami, Florida.
Bradley Scott Dayton, in Orem, Utah.
Adam Wesley Dayton, in Orem, Utah.
Rhett Aldo Dayton, in Orem, Utah.
Olivia Leta Dayton, in Orem, Utah.
Catalina Erundina Dayton, in Orem, Utah.