We have an engagement!

Yes, we the Gadbury family, place of famine for feminine influence on our grown up sons, do, with GREAT pleasure, announce the engagement of our oldest son, Bret, to the beautiful Niki from Belgium....Belgium Wisconsin! They are getting married on October 16th! Isn't it just the best!????? We share it with the world! They are adorable together! Don't you agree?

Our 3 sons

All our boys are home for the moment! I'm sure a few of them would rather be somewhere else...we know how hard it must be to have been on your own for awhile and have to end up at old mom and dad's. But we love having them here. One thing we've noticed for sure...our food bill has doubled!

Here's a pic of Lyle's truck and trailer all loaded up with Bret's stuff. We went out to St. Louis to help him move home. (Sweet jeep eh?)




Blake purchased a newer truck and probably has put a bazillion miles on it in a month or so going back and forth to Colorado for work. He loves his job! How lucky is that????
















Last but not least, Bart is enjoying 'time off' and the highlight so far this summer has been a baseball game to see the Rockies play the Marlins....luckily his fav' team won! If you don't know who his fav team is, you can visit his blog! Or simply check out his shirt below!

Curtis, Bret, Lyle and Bart

Pictures of the heart

The boys were all home the last two weekends. Yeah, I know, Blake lives in Cheyenne, and so does Bart at the moment, but Bret was here. Do you think I could get one stinkin' picture of all of us together? Nada! But I have pictures in my heart.

Like, on Mother's Day, when Lyle and I left to go to church, hoping that they'd all get up, get showered, and come to their old home ward on time. I can't even express the joy my heart felt when they all came in and sat down. That picture will indeed be in my heart forever!

Eating together again. How rare, how fun. I miss the little things that go away when your children do. We had roast, and hearing, "Mom, this is good," made me smile. Lyle bantered back and forth with the boys about 'stuff'...like he always does....and I think there was an attempt at a joke in there somewhere too....What a great picture all of us at the table that would have been.

Then, Bret and Bart took off for a week for a road trip. Utah, California, Oregon, and Idaho! Seeing them pack up and drive off in that car that wasn't even Bret's gave my heart a stir. What an adventure for them. What a worry for me. (am I EVER going to stop worrying about these grown up men of mine? don't count on it.) This is indeed a picture you would have liked to have seen! And I am pretty sure Bart has pictures of their trip that I haven't even seen yet!

Saturday was wash the vehicles day! All 6 of them! We talked, laughed, vacumed, scrubbed, cried, hugged. That is one great picture of one fun afternoon. Thanks guys for all pitching in!

Sunday was stake conference....how I enjoy sitting with my family! How I enjoy our friends making a big deal about seeing our boys. How my joy is full when I feel complete because they are with us.

Horse rides, dogs running in the yard, sitting out in the front, soaking up some sun and warmth, and showing off some pretty dang white legs! Whose are whitest, I'll never tell, but those are some nice pics AND legs! (whistle) Too bad there aren't any REAL pictures!

Bret packed up his car again today and headed back to St. Louis. Not such a good picture of me here. He wasn't even here long enough. How I hated seeing that old beat up car leave my drive way again. And now Bart is probably going to pack up and head back to Utah soon.
Can you see my wrinkled forehead and the tears welling up in my eyes in this picture?

Lyle give me a hug of comfort. Great pic here!

I wish I could show you this final picture I've taken of all of us standing outside today, in the sunshine, smiling, and joking and enjoying the day...I can't show you, but it's all right here in my heart.

A wedding!

Well, it's not what you think! Nope, it's not one of the boys!



It was grandpa!

Harold and Marlene were married on Saturday May 2, 2009 in Boulder Colorado.

I have to be very honest and say that the idea of Harold getting married again was very tough for me. But seeing them together calmed me and I realized that Harold and Marlene are well-suited, and that they will be able to take care of one another in their golden years. Being alone is something neither of them wanted for themselves.

There were moments of sadness as I realized that he was moving on with his life... And, There were moments of understanding... It seemed that Harold was letting go of my Mom, but I now understand that the love they shared will always be there, just as the love he has for Margaret, his first wife will always be there.

Harold was very good to my Mom. He took good care of her, and protected her, and loved her. He took on her whole family, and became a grandpa to her grandchildren. He will always be the only grandpa our kids will ever remember.

I know he will always love my Mom, and us kids, and our children. How fortunate is the man who can be married 3 times in a lifetime to 3 VERY magnificent women. Most of us are lucky to have that happen once in a lifetime!

The music during the ceremony was especially sweet. Dave and Lyle did a fabulous job. How they remained calm I do not know!

As they sang, "A lady like you." (sung by Glen Campbell) I could not help but think of my dear mother and the Lady she was and will always be. (Happy Mother's Day Mom!)

"Here I am....just an ordinary man, my virtues are few.

And I'm amazed....every morning when I wake...with a lady like you.

You're all the good things God put on this earth...

And you're so much more than I deserve.

What did I ever do, to win a lady like you?

Look at me, I'm as common as can be...but you make me shine.

and look at you...you're a lady through and through, so gracious and kind.

And when you're sleeping softly by my side

I look at you and I'm mystified...

What did I ever do, to win a lady like you?

Heaven knows I'm less than perfect, yet I have found the very best.

But it's a mystery, how someone like me, was chosen to be blest With a Lady like you.

You're all the good things God put on this earth...and you're so much more than I deserve, and what did I ever do, to win a Lady like you?"

(See what I mean.....!)

Then...

Dave had a surprise up his sleeve when he sang during lunch, acapella, "They think we're too young." (sung by Nat King Cole) Tender and sweet for sure.

You know, when Mom married Harold all those years ago, it was hard. But my love for her, and not wanting her to be alone for the rest of her life, over-rode all my emotions. It wasn't always easy...but, most importantly, I will always be grateful for the kindess and love Harold showed to my Mother and that she was not alone. And for the very same reasons, I am sure Marlene's children are accepting this marriage for the same reasons, as are ALL of us in Harold's family trying to do the same. 2 people are not alone any more.

Maybe this post seems odd to you, and I suppose it IS pretty odd. But I sure have learned that life doesn't turn out much like we planned it.

mission impossible complete!

Well, the new living room is pretty much done. Here are some pics. Let us know what you think! For those of you who've visited our home, you know that adding this space was much needed! Eating at our house was kind of hard with the table and counter so close together. But no more! We have space! And it only took us 15 years! Ha! Just kidding, but Lyle is the man! Thanks honey! thanks Bart! And a very special thanks to Mike Butterfield who laid the carpet with a very sore arm!

Did someone say it was SPRING?????

Ok....so this really isn't our house...but it COULD be! We have been under a winter storm WARNING since last night and it doesn't look like it's going to get much better until tomorrow.

But, we've had a good day today staying warm and snug in the house, watching conference, and the guys, Bart and Lyle, have been laying tile in our new family room (the old garage/shop) I think they are doing a super job! Don't you!!!!!

Motherhood, second edition

At my age, which is 53 (how in the world did THAT happen?) you start to think about your life up to this point. You start second guessing all the things you thought you did right early on as a Mom, and now wonder if it was right. A friend of mine just wrote me such a great email about how she has loved being a mother, but that she knows she made mistakes and hopes her children can forgive her and know that she did the very best she could with the information she had at the time. I couldn't say it any better than that. It not only brought me to thoughts of my own family and sons, but it brought me to thoughts of my own parents, and how UNforgiving I have been at times, and how UNkind I have been to them. They are gone now, and I cannot ask them to forgive me for my lack of respect and love for them. I wonder if they knew that I loved them? I often think about how much I thought they DIDN'T love me, but I am pretty sure in this deep reflection that is upon me today, that maybe they may have wondered if I was ever going to stop just thinking about myself and give them a passing thought, a gentle word, or a genuine thank you for all they did for me. I hope it's not too late. "Thanks Mom and Dad."

What did they do? Some pretty important stuff. Let's start with MOM:

Mom joined the LDS church alone. That took some bravery! She was a young mother whose husband was not interested in church. She struggled to get us kids to church each week as she sat alone in a pew with 3 little kids that she loved. Why else would she do that? She took care of us and we never were in need for anything. Ever. Mom didn't feel well most of the time, because of her MS, but she would still mow the grass, clean the house (which was immaculate) cook the meals. She took care of a dog that a friend gave me when I was 16. She didn't want a dog, but she took care of that dog because she loved ME. She later had to go to work because she became divorced and a single Mom. She didn't want us kids to go without one thing. and, We didn't. She's always been there to talk to, complain to, whine to, argue with and look to for advice. Of course, my mother was not perfect, but she was a good Mom, and she did the very best she could with what she knew at the time. I look back at the times I disappointed her and feel sad. Did I ever apologize? For anything? I can't remember.
I watched her leave this world in 2007, and I remember whispering to her, "I love you Mom. It's ok to go, we'll be ok. Fly." I hope she somehow knows how much I love her and miss her and how much I need her in my life. Forever.

Next is Dad. Dad was fun but dad expectations that were mostly unspoken. I just knew. Dad taught me to work, and to work hard and to be the best at whatever I did, even if it was just bagging groceries at the grocery store. I never wanted to disappoint him, but I did many times in my life. I suppose he would say, that he had disappointed me also. That's just how he was. He worked hard all his life. I never went without anything. He provided well. He joined the LDS church when I was senior in high school, and our family was later sealed in the temple. My family then had 3 years of pure joy. At least it was for me. I will always be grateful for that little glimpse of heaven before it all fell apart again. I had never been so happy. Dad wasn't perfect. He himself, thought he was far from it. But He was my Dad, and I will love him forever. I am so sad he chose to leave the world the way he did. Why couldn't I have done more for him? Why didn't I?

So, where are these thoughts taking me that will benefit me and my own now grown children?
I don't know other than to say, as my friend did, that I love being a Mom to my sons, that I would do anything for each of them, no matter the cost, and for those times when I have been wrong, which have been too many, I do apologize.
Even though the 'apron strings' have been un-tied as you've gone on to live your own lives, and you will someday have children of your own, just remember that YOUR mother loves you. And I've tried to do the very best I know how, and I'll keep trying.