17 March 2012

Top of the morning to all of you and happy Saint patricks day. Hello everyone I hope all is well with you. It has been a while since I last wrote. Since that time, much has happened. Diane is left on her mission to Spokane Washington speaking Spanish. It is hard to the that she has already been out for 5 months. She is loving mission. She is loving teaching about the gospel. She is also loving people. Eric is loving and mission as well. He has been out 15 month now and only as nine months to go. His mission has gone so fast. He has grown so much and is becoming a great young man. Don and I are doing well. Nichole and Peter had their fifth child in December. Thomas Michael Ivie. This is gives them three girls and two boys. They are happy and doing well. Mariah and Kyle are expecting their first baby the end of April. It has a little girl and her name will be Madison Elizabeth Stewart. We help the family is doing well. I wish Scott the best in his health issues. Let us all Keep him and his family in our prayers. I asked each of you to please feel free to make posts on this blog. I truly hope you are all well and happy. I love you all with all my heart. Jo Ellen

Dad 2011 Nov. 3

Over the past two weeks, I have found myself craving root beer (Dad's favorite soda) and wearing purple more than ever before. I gave out toys as well as candy this year for Halloween and the only 2 items left over were 2 purple rings that I am wearing on my finger. Strange because my grandchildren took me out for dinner and my neighbor gave out my candy for me. I have felt Dad more than I have in a long time and know he is happy.

Loved the pictures of Mom and Dad's headstones that one of Jo Ellen's friends took for all of us. They are beautiful and represent those attributes and favorite things of both of them. I wish I was close enough to go be there and feel again the peacefulness of the place. So beautiful.

Dad used to tease us and tell us that when he died to just put him in a burlap bag and dump him in the Mississippi River! He was somewhat serious about it, but we always knew that would never happen. We asked him about where he wanted to be laid to rest and at first he said Seattle but changed his mind and wanted to be with Mom.

Dad had a habit of going around the house at night without anything but his underwear and one of the funniest things that still makes me smile is when I got him some pajama bottoms and I misjudged the size and they went all the way up to his chest! He came out and acted like he was a runway model posing for us in various ways. I guess you had to be there, but Jo Ellen got it on her camera (is that right)? The 3 of us laughed for a good 1/2 hour over that. I had night duty most of the time and would end up watching the Golden Girls with him a lot of nights. He loved that show and was always laughing at their antics.

There are so many memories of the 9 months total that I spent with him in Illinois, and now is not the time to share them all, just know that most of the time, Dad was very happy and we took him on outings all the time. Sometimes, just him and me, sometimes Jo Ellen, Dad, and myself and of course at others with the entire family in Nauvoo.

I wish that all of us as the children of Mom and Dad, could have spent time together with Dad during this time, but understanding it was not to be.

My heart and my thoughts are with Mom and Dad, and thinking of Montana and their beautiful property there today more than ever. I also want all family to know how much I love all of you and hope that forgiveness of any past wrongs will bring us all together again. That is my wish.

Your sister, cousin, niece, friend,

Lee (Ann) Westergren Hopkins

2 November, 2011

Wow I can not believe how fast this last year has gone. Tomorrow on November 3rd. will mark the 1 year anniversary of Dads passing. I will be wearing Purple in his honor.



I miss Dad so much, I think of him daily and remember the precious times we had. How this horrible Disease was a blessings at times.

You see for me it was hard most of the time but beautiful at times because it allowed me to get to know Dad in a way I might not have been able to do otherwise.

Growing up I got to know Dad as my Daddy and Father, as an adult I got to know him as an adult, then as the Alzheimer's grew more prominent and Mom saw it, and asked me if I would watch over him and take care of him as he progressed before she passed away.

I got to know Dad as a young adult not just a forgetful man. I then saw him as he would have been a rebellious teenager,Wanting his way and trying whatever it took to get it. Those were frustrating days for me but we got through them. Then a child full of joy for everything especially the simple things. The laughter of telling me stories he told me so many times over and over again during this stage sometimes laughing so hard that tears would roll from our eyes and our stomachs would hurt.

Then as a toddler Frustrated because he could no longer read or walk or do the things that he wanted. How he enjoyed the simple things that we all take for granted seeing the animals, smelling a flower, going for a walk a good sip of Root beer his favorite drink. Then as an infant when he could no longer speak or do anything for himself. It was then that I got to know Dads spirit. His loving spirit and longing to be touched and held and have his hair brushed. I LOVE YOU DAD!

I know we all have great memories of Dad and I would love to see some of your memories of both Mom and Dad on here please feel free to share them. I know everyone would enjoy them.



February 14th will mark the 11 year anniversary of Moms passing. I miss her also as equally. I have many fond Memories of Mom. I saw many sides of Mom as well. But above all she was a great Lady. So generous and kind and forgiving. She so wanted to help those in need as she was able. So concerned about her family and her children holding together as a family after she passed away. She expressed this to me so many times that last year of her life. She Loves you all so much. She loved the animals in nature so much. From her pet Skunk (Mr. Waddles) to the deer and the mountain lions. She loved and respected them all.

One thing Mom taught me was to appreciate the little things God created. The delicate petals and beauty of a flower, the tiniest of shells you find on the beach. To slow down and look at the beauty and nature around you, that you would see thing others might miss because you took the time to look.









So as I come to a close for this posting I want each of you to know How much I truly Love you all. I want you to know that if I have offended or hurt you in any way I am truly sorry and ask for you to please forgive me. I want us to be a family again to rely on each other to be friends to Love each other.

With all my heart and Love

Jo Ellen

19 SEPTEMBER 2011

all family member I have tried to include everyone of the family members that I have email addresses for in this blog. I have invited everyone to be authors so all can post on this family sight. I hope we all use this sight to keep everyone updated on each of our lives. I love you all so very much and hope and pray all of you are well.

Jo Ellen

September 12, 2011

Hello Everyone sorry it has been a while since my last entry. as I stated in my email to everyone I had intended to travel to Kalispell Montana to visit and take picture of Mom and Dads head stones at the beginning of summer.But unfortunately I broke my knee and thus was not able to travel. I am so glad I have good friends there and was able to ask one of them to go and take the pictures for me. Thank you to Marry Lue Heartman. I thought you would all enjoy having a copy of them.

Our summer has been busy with our restaurant. yes Ziggie's is alive and well We decided to reopen in May and found a perfect place in Nauvoo IL. with seating for 50. Nauvoo has a huge tourist season (around 500,000 per summer) and many missionaries about (600). Summer is always crazy in Nauvoo but now that the main tourist season is over things are slowing down. everyone loves our Pizza with our homemade dough for our crusts and Pasta and homemade desserts. it was a fun summer.

Wow there is a Lott in store for our family coming up. Diana is going on a mission for our church. She will be serving in the Washington, Spokane mission and will be speaking Spanish. She reports to the missionary training center (MTC) October 26th. she will be in the MTC for 2 months learning the Spanish language and the go to Spokane and receiver her first area around Christmas. She will serve for 18 months. She is so exited.

Nichole and Peter are expecting her 5th child in the beginning of December. Mariah and her husband Kyle are expecting there first child in April 2012. We are happy and exited for both of them.

Eric is doing great on his mission he is truly loving the people and learning about the Latin culture. you can fallow his blog here. http://ericzieglersmission.blogspot.com/ this is comprised of his letters home and some pictures he sends home. I hope you enjoy it.

Birthdays and anniversaries that were this summer that I know of. If there are any I missed I am sorry . please let me know so I can put them on. and since I did Dec. - March in the last post I did not include them on this one.

April
Anniversaries
Don and I had our 28th anniversary
Birthdays:

Peter Ivie my son in law
Would have been Grandpa Beryl L. Westergren

May
Nichole and Peter's Anniversary

June
Birthdays:
Dawn's

July
Birthdays:
Bethany My grand daughter
David Hopkins
Beck my grand son

August
Birthdays:
Would have been Grandma Leona Westergren
Would have been Dad's Jerome Westergren
Diana's
Mariah's
Mine ( Jo Ellen )

September
Birthdays:
Jon's
would have been Mom's Dorothy Westergren

October
Birthdays:
Brianna's
Mark (Terri's husband)
Eric's

November
Birthdays:
Heather's
Amber's
Terri's
Mariah and Kyle's Anniversary

Well for now all my Love to you all. I hope and pray you are all safe and well.love you all so muchJo Ellen

15 February, 2011

Hello Everyone!!!!!!

Life here at my home is settling into a routine and getting somewhat back to normal. I am still looking for employment. Don is currently working in a Bakery in Quincy. This bakery has been around since 1929. http://www.underbrinks.com/historymap.html
I am glad he can put his schooling to work.

As for Diana she is going to school and working. This keeps her busy and that is a good thing for Diana.

Eric is doing well on his mission. He has been at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah for the last 2 months. Normally Missionaries are only there for 2 weeks unless you are learning a foreign language then you are there 2 months. Tomorrow Eric leaves and goes to Canada. He will be able to call home for a short conversation while he is at the Airport. I am so exited. After that it will be only letters. They are required to call home 2 times a year Mothers day and Christmas. and they are given a time limit. Other than that they are required to write home once per week.
I am keeping a blog on his mission there is a link on this page. Feel free to view it any time. here is the web address as well. http://ericzieglersmission.blogspot.com/



I hope everyone took a moment yesterday to think of Mom. it was 10 years ago yesterday that she passed away. I know I did. I miss her greatly and can not wait for the day when we will meet at Jesus feet in a joyous reunion.



We had a blizzard here on February 2 it was crazy how much snow built up in only 12 hours. we had 3-4 feet of snow. we could not see across our street in daylight because the snow was blowing so hard. it was all powder snow so it was not to slick. but when you have that much it hangs on for a long time. We still have quite a bit on the ground but we are beginning to see patches of grass. wow I can not wait till spring.



Don is chomping at the bit to get our garden in. he already has blue Hubbard squash, Lots of Tomato's (several kind) and eggplant started. and he can't wait to see the 1,000 tulip bulbs and 300 hyacinth bulbs sprout and bloom. He planted those last fall.

As for me I am sprouting the flowers for our hanging baskets and flower boxes so they will be big enough to replant in a month or so.

Let me see other news..... Our oldest Granddaughter turns 6 on Saturday the 19th. Our youngest granddaughter Miriam turned 3 in December. Don and I will be celebrating our 28th Wedding Anniversary in April. Terri and Mark Have an Anniversary in March as does Scott and Tracey and Lee Has A birthday. I hope I am not forgetting anything. sorry if I did let me know so I can update my lists. I will try to post up coming events on here so all can be reminded.

Well until next time Know I Love you all and miss you much.
Jo Ellen

22 December,2010

Yesterday was our grand daughter Miriam's 3rd. Birthday Happy birthday sweetheart. It was fun having cake and watching her open presents.

Miriam was over the other day and was helping Grandpa make a German Chocolate cake.

I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year. I unfortunately did not get cards out this year. Christmas this year is a hard one for me. I am just not in the mood to do much.

Well any way I just wanted to let you know what was going on in our lives. Diana is still working at Dairy Queen and in January will start a new semester of collage. Don is working between part time and full time depending on the week. I am still looking for employment. I am keeping my knees bent in prayer and my fingers crossed that I find one soon.

Eric is doing great in the MTC.

Mariah and Kyle are both working and loving being married. Kyle is Loving Culinary School.

Nichole, Peter and there 4 little ones are busy, busy, busy running everywhere and getting ready for Santa to come in a few days.

Well I hope you are all well. and know I love you all.

Jo Ellen