summer vacation week #6

We didn't go out and do a whole lot this week, but it was kind of nice just being home. Monday Rachel brought over water balloons for the kids to play with, she came up with all kinds of games to play with them, they had a good time we will have to do it again this summer. One night while I was feeding Lydia Katie came up and said that Nicole had cut her hair, sure enough, Katie now has bangs. Friday Kyle went with the scouts to the movies they saw Despicable me. Saturday we had a pioneer breakfast at the church, the girls dressed up, but I didn't get a picture. We went with a friend from church that afternoon and watched him fly his remote control airplanes, it was pretty neat, there is even a runway and the get the planes doing all kinds of tricks. That night we had some friends over for homemade ice cream and pickle ball.

memories

I have been wanting to write down some of my memories of Marcs mom so that my kids can have them to help them remember their Grandma. I feel like I got to know her much better when we moved here 5 years ago. When we first got married I really liked her and thought she was really nice but we didn't see her often enough for me to feel like I knew her very well.

Marc and Anna wedding Dec. 29, 2000

The summer that we moved here she started coming to my house every morning and we would go walking together, it was a lot of fun to talk to her, and Kyle and Hailey got to know her better to, I remember she would always bring them a treat it was usually either a bag of fruit snacks or a little orange. It was fun living close enough to go over for dinner on Sundays when the family all got together. I loved it when they would start telling stories. I would just sit back and listen and watch everyone, you could really feel the love that she had for her children and you could tell how proud she was of each one of them. I also loved watching her with her Grand kids. She loved each one of them also.

I love this picture, she looks so happy, she loved all of the babies so much, I remember her holding all of my babies, and you could see how much she loved each one

I remember the day that I found out I was having twins, she had been watching Kyle and Hailey while I was at the doctor, I came in and showed her the ultrasound picture and told her that there were two babies, she was so excited, she wanted to hurry home so she could call everyone and tell them. When the twins got a little bit older I remember her sitting on the floor playing blocks with them, she would build a tower and they would knock it over and she would say "boomie doomie" and the girls would laugh and she would laugh and they would do it again. I also remember her teaching the kids a song about lady bugs, it was a favorite at our house for quite awhile.

Haileys 6th birthday, she loves this doll, I know that it will always be something that she treasures.

She always made holidays special, some of the things I remember the most are a cute game she made for valentines day, homemade sparklers for 4th of July, and gingerbread houses with the grand kids at Christmas. This last Christmas my kids couldn't go when everyone else went to make their houses so we went out a few days later and Grandma sat with them and helped with theirs, they had such a good time making them with her. When Lydia was in the hospital a month ago my kids got to spend the week at Grandma and Grandpas house, I am so thankful that they got to do that, they had such a good time, I hope that they always remember that special week that they spent there. I asked them what they remember most about Grandma that week and they all said they remember the yummy food that she made, they loved the mashed potatoes and the homemade bread. And it sounds like each one of them got hurt at some point while they were there and they all remember Grandma making it better. She was truly a wonderful person, I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to know her and that my children have her for a Grandma. I know that we will all remember her as a wonderful mother, mother-in-law and Grandma.

Murdock Family July 2006

Murdock Family December 2008

Linda Lee Murdock

Marc wrote the Eulogy that was read at the funeral, this is what he wrote:

From the moment Linda Lee Murdock was born you knew that she was here for a reason. Born premature on April 3, 1949 she only weighed 3 lbs and quickly dropped to 2 lbs. Still not fully developed she was in dire need of an incubator. It just so happen that the hospital where she was born had just purchased one; so recently in fact, that it was still packed inside its box. She would spend her first 9 weeks in the hospital. She was small enough that she would use a shoe box as a bed and was dressed with doll clothes. Although she started life out small, she would make a lasting impression on everyone and everything she touched.

Linda enjoyed learning, she liked school. As a young girl she played the violin and viola in the school band. She also served as an artist for the school news paper. In church she attended seminary and participated in speech competitions. Her goal to be a teacher was fulfilled as she taught her many talents and shared her knowledge with her children.

Linda became acquainted with her future husband while he was on his mission. They both attended Brigham Young University and after a year of dating they were married for time an all eternity.

Linda was one who believed in developing ones-self. She began early on in life developing the talents that she is well known for today.

Linda had very good penmanship; this was a talent that she began to develop in the 3rd grade when she set the goal of winning the school penmanship contest. She spent many hours after school practicing her letters. The practice paid off, she not only won the contest, but gained a life long talent. Over the years she has received many complements on her hand writing and many a school secretary would comment to Linda’s children on how nice the hand written tardy note looked.

Linda loved to tell stories. The stories she told always had the same theme, her children, and she could tell the same story over and over. Linda loved to have her family together. Sunday was often a time family would gather to laugh and tell stories about each other. You could imagine that with nine kids there were a lot of good stories to tell and you could count on Linda to set the record straight or add in any details that were left out.

Linda loved arts and crafts. She truly had a talent for this. Her creations were always unique and carried an old country style. If she wasn’t sewing, she was painting. If she wasn’t painting she was making something with paper or molding something out of clay. For Linda crafts were a family affair. Either her children were involved in the activity or they were the purpose for the activity. Almost 100% of the gifts Linda gave to her children, grandchildren, and others were homemade. Just look around her home or the homes of her children and you’ll see a piece of her everywhere. One of her children recalls how her crafts would often end up in their school lunches. Every holiday lunch had a theme, for example: On Valentines Day everything would be red (including the bread), St Patrick’s Day everything was green, and on April Fools Day you ate your lunch carefully knowing that what you see wasn’t what you would get.
The truth is; if Linda made something for you, it was because she loved you.

Linda exemplifies the saying “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”. Popsicle sticks and crystal light cans were often saved to make fun games. Mid-week meals often consisted of leftovers from the last three days mixed together and baked with cheese on top. Linda’s older children remember the time she took down some old fuzzy curtains and turned them into tiger costumes. She was definitely someone who didn’t waste anything.

Linda was a great cook, but like most she got there over time and with practice. As a newly wed, Linda decided that she would surprise her husband and father-in-law with a pan of cinnamon rolls. When they came in from their activity that day, her husband came in first. Linda gave him a cinnamon roll and he said, “This cinnamon roll is as hard as a rock, I bet if I drop this on the floor it would crack a tile.” Lucky for Bob his dad walked in just then and said, “Oh boy, cinnamon rolls”, he picked one up, dipped it in some milk and thanked Linda for her delicious cinnamon roll. Linda later told Bob that if it wasn’t for his dad, she probably would not have tried making cinnamon rolls again. Thankfully she did. Some of her children’s favorites include: Bierocks (rolls stuffed with cabbage), Homemade frozen yogurt, Oatmeal Cake, Dinner rolls, but nothing tops her cinnamon rolls.

Linda had a strong knowledge of Gods plan and how Family is a central part of that plan. Not only did her faith give her hope, but it gave hope to others as well. Prayer time in the Murdock home is family time. Each night a different person would be invited to say the prayer, but everyone knew that when it was Mom’s turn you better grab a pillow from the couch to kneel on, because she never gave short prayers. She would pray for each one of her children individually and in detail.
Her kids say that they would tease their mom at the time, but it was something that strengthened them as they got older, because they were a witness to her love for them and knew that in their joys and struggles their mom was praying for them.

Linda was great mom, beyond her own kids she was mom to 2 Son-in-laws, 3 daughter-in-laws, and grandma to 18 grandkids. Many of her children had friends that grew to be part of the family and would even refer to her as their second mom. One child remembers the time that he came home from school and saw one of his brother’s friends from up the road zonked out on their couch. He asked his mom why he was there, she said; “he got sick at school and since no one was at his house he came here.”

Linda was a devoted wife. She loved her husband dearly. Bob was never left out or put second in her busy schedule, she made sure his pants and shirts were pressed, breakfast was on the table, and a lunch was packed each morning. She always took care of him before she spent time on herself. Her children are a witness to this as they often saw their mother each morning, still in her night gown and sporting a hair-do only a pillow could style. She never let him leave the house or come home without out a kiss and an “I love you”. They recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary.

In closing I will read a poem that Linda wrote, you will find it on the back of the program. This was part of the latest handout she was working on.





The other day while at the store
I noticed some seeds stacked near the door:
“Forget-Me-Not” is what they said
And in my heart, I bowed my head.
Is not that what the Savior meant,
When the message, “do this in remembrance” was sent?
Touched, I purchased that package of seeds
And I went home to extend the deed.
Now, I share a few seeds with you
Perhaps you will feel in your heart the way I did too.
….. Linda Murdock


Linda will be remembered for many things, but she will be most remembered as: a Loving Wife, a Selfless Mother, and a Caring Friend.

This is the Obituary that was in the paper:

Life Legacy

Linda Lee Murdock, 61, of Selah, Washington
died at home July 13, 2010. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother and a gifted homemaker. Linda was born in Rock Island, Illinois and was the second of 14 children. She studied education
to be an elementary school teacher.
On June 3, 1969 she married Robert Wayne Murdock
in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. She was a wonderful
mother of nine children and a grandmother of 18. She
loved to play the game Yahtzee and laughing with her
family. Linda was always very active and involved in
church service throughout her life and shared many of
her talents with others; recently serving as a Service
Missionary in Cle Elum, WA. She kept her craft room
well stocked and her dinner rolls were always delicious. Linda was preceded by her son, Benjamin Murdock and her parents, Walter and Violet Hendrix. Survivors include her husband, Robert Wayne Murdock of Selah; children, Saralee (Alan) Boschker, Robert (Melanie) Murdock, Jessica (Tony) Wyatt, Marc (Anna) Murdock, Richard (BreAnna) Murdock, David Murdock, Kimberly Murdock and Sean Murdock; two brothers; 10 sisters; and 18 grandchildren.

Summer vacation week #5

Monday was a really nice day. We spent the morning picking blueberries together, it is one of the things that my kids were most looking forward to this summer.

When we got home from blueberry picking we did some yard work and then our neighbors invited us over to swim. I didn't swim, I held Lydia but I could tell that everyone had a great time, and I had fun watching.
NicoleHaileyKatieKatieKyleMarcKatieKyleKatie and Nicole

On Tuesday we found out that Marcs Mom passed away. Marc spent the rest of the week working for his Dad and helping prepare things for the funeral. We spent a lot of time with Family the rest of the week. My kids spent time with Rachels family they played quite a bit together and she watched them one day so I could help with Marcs family.

Kyle, Katie and Hailey

Lydia
Lydia
Nicole, Hailey, and Katie
Nicole, Garret, and Kyle
Kyle, Garret and Spencer
Garret, Spencer and Kyle
Katie, Hailey, and Nicole practicing their cheer leading moves

We also spent a lot of time with Marcs family out in Selah, the kids enjoyed running around with their cousins. My Mom and Leah came out on Friday to go to the funeral and to help with the kids so we got to spend time with them to.

Hailey loves helping out with Naomi

summer vacation week #4

We had another busy, fun filled week. Kyle had another camp to go to this week. He went to his school and attended a sports camp. It was from 9-4 everyday and they got to play all kinds of sports, and play on a big slip and slide. It sounds like he had a lot of fun. On Friday the families of the kids got to go and play with them, so Marc and Hailey went, they did the Chinese Yo-Yo, bowling, and dancing.


The girls and I spent the week at home swimming, going to the library and playing together. We also had fun trying different kinds of homemade Popsicles, I think the favorites were lemonade, and yogurt.


Saturday Rachel and I had a garage sale, we were able to sale quite a few things and each made a little money, I think that we might try another one in the spring. After the garage sale all the kids played on the slip and slide all afternoon.

Nicole on the slip and slide

Hailey



Kyle

Katie

Happy Birthday Marc and Spencer

Today was Marcs 32nd birthday and Spencers 3rd birthday. This morning Hailey made muffins for Marcs breakfast and Kyle made some special juice, so we had a nice breakfast together. After breakfast Rachel and her family brought over Cinnamon rolls and sang happy birthday to Marc, they were very good. Rachels family invited us over for cake and ice cream for spencer later that morning. His cake was very cute and it was fun being able to celebrate with him.
Marc wanted to wash his truck today so he and the girls spent the afternoon washing his truck.


Marc had wanted homemade ice cream for his birthday but we decided to wait and do it another day because we had already had so many treats today, so instead we got pizza for dinner and we put candles in the pizza and sang happy birthday.

To end Marcs birthday he and Kyle and Hailey are watching Percy Jackson. I hope that he had a good birthday, we all love him lots and are so thankful for all that he does for us.