Grandma Ree's letters

Dear family and friends,       Although this is April Fools Day, there's no fooling about the things that took place during the month of March, as follows: True, my live-in care-giving daughter, was gone for three weeks from mid-February to early March, and was able to witness the birth of her granddaughter Aubriella in Spokane before returning home. My son Dan flew out March 1st after spending two weeks taking care of me.     While he was here, Dan succeeded in helping me make the conversion to sending my monthly letters in a more modern format. He observed how involved and expensive it is to send everything out via "snail mail" with almost 80 letters going to the post office, so we decided to use email and update a blog online each month instead. He convinced me it was necessary to make the change. I hope you like it! So, please be sure to give us your email address, to either grandmaree27@gmail.com (mine) or mundelldan@gmail.com (Dan's).     Dan too...

The stack of Grandma Ree's letters to mail out March 1st Dear friends and family members, Each of you should have received in the mail my mother's latest letter to her family and close friends. Hopefully, this will be the last one you will get via snail mail. I've had the privilege to spend the last couple of weeks with Marie, and I observed first-hand the time and effort that goes into this. While I admire her dedication to this undertaking she feels an obligation to accomplish each month, the time and expense involved are just too much for her to continue doing things the same way she always has, especially since there is a much easier and efficient way to communicate with you, either by email or a monthly blog entry. If you prefer to continue receiving a copy of her letter to you in the mail, please let me know in the commenrs section. Otherwise, True, Linda and I will assume an email version will be okay with you. My mom does have an email address, which she...

Dear Family and Friends,       February has been a very unique month, small, but full of birthdays, events and surprises for me, which I would like to share with you.      For birthdays, in addition to Lincoln and Washington, there was Preston Jarvis, now 18 years old and a prospective missionary, and the 19th birthday of Levi Pennington, serving a mission in Yakima WA, born exactly one year apart. They've received financial help for their missions since theday they were born. It gives me such great satisfaction now to see this special dream fulfilled. Other birthdays included my late husband John, my father, great-granddaughter Makayla, my neighbor Shirley, my grandson Clint’s wife Lindsey, and we welcomed the birth of their daughter Aubriella on the 25th. Valentine tokens of love were shared by making a word-search puzzle, sending it out, and getting much love back in return. Dan’s wife Cathy sent me and both my daughters a box full of special Valent...

Dear family and friends,      W e had some beautiful snow at Christmas time for a few days, but no sign of it since; just our typical rain and chilly weather. True’s indoor orchids are doing very well and we’ve even had a blossom already on the camellia bush outside, with many, many buds waiting to blossom out in February. I love their beautiful pink color and the perfect symmetry of their petals, and have, in past years, shared their beauty as boutonnieres for our ward bishopric, young priests, and even the deacons serving that day. It makes them feel so special! I may still be able to do that again this year, we’ll see.       We've been cooped up here because of the cold weather, but a few days ago in the afternoon, True said I should try using the motorized wheelchair that had sat on the back porch for months. So, I got all bundled up, then sat down and took off down the ramp and onto the street. I went around the corner and started down 1st street ...

Dear Family and Friends,       It has been just over one year since the amputation of my right leg (Oct. 15, 2020), and nearly a year since I began writing in longhand to those who seemed interested to know about my new situation. Then, when I hurt my right hand, I changed to typing, learning to use True’s laptop, and found that allowed me to print many copies, so I began sending a copy to all my family members, just in case they might be interested, too. Thus, this soon became a sort of monthly “newsy letter” to family and friends. I really do enjoy writing to all of you, and I appreciate your calls, letters and visits more than you can ever know!       Closing out this year, I’d like to give a recap of the past year’s doings. After the surgery and a month’s time in recovery (and a weeks stay in the ICU due to several infections), I returned home at the Riveria Mobile Park, and saw the marvelous renovation taking place inside of it. I came home e...

     Well, another month has come and gone along with most of the beautiful fall leaves that have been such a joy to see; October also brought several days of welcome rain after a long hot summer. Now the cold winter months will soon be upon us. Each season is a gift from God and meant to be enjoyed.       Among the many things that have occurred recently, was the temple sealing of the marriage done last year in Florida, of my son Dan Mundell and Cathy Meyer. Since Cathy’s family was already planning a family reunion in Utah, this sealing ceremony done in the Draper Utah temple, fit right in, and allowed most of her family members to attend. We here in Oregon were not able to go, but I heard that many of our family members were there too. I appreciated the pictures Sandy sent to me, so I could see all who had attended the sealing ceremony. I was amazed and grateful for those who had made the effort. Even though Dan is retired now and would like to trav...

 Dear Friends and Relatives,       My, it seems as if time is flying by - summer is over, kids are back in school, leaves are turning color, and it’s been almost twelve full months (Oct. 15) since I lost my leg. In June, after it had sufficiently healed, a cast was made of my stump (thigh and hip) in preparation of using a prosthesis. However, the prosthesis has needed several adjustments since receiving it, so I haven’t had too much time for actual use of it. Plus the fact that there are nerves in the stump that are still active and sting me whenever I stand and put pressure on it.       After losing my first physical therapist, Joey, who moved to California, I now have Steve, who is older but very experienced. He is concentrating on strengthening the hip muscles and breaking down scar tissue, so as to relieve the nerves and stop the stinging so I can stand on the leg. I call my new leg “Buddy” because he will be my constant companion from n...