Chip off the Old Block!

Mother used to always tell me that I was a "chip off the old block!" Meaning my dad. 

That was a nice sound to my ears because I idolized my dad. He was big, strong, smart, a story teller, cracked jokes, positive, optimistic, kind, listened, a friend to everyone, great teacher of nature and God, and he loved me!

But what mom was referring to when she told me that... I was a "big dreamer, I thought big, I accomplished big, and I wasn't afraid to jump into an investment." That was dad! And that was me!

I always had dreams inside of me but it wasn't until I was single with 5 children that those dreams were able to bust wide open. When I think of those days in that way, my heart fills with gratitude for the opportunities that opened up to me during the most difficult time of my life. I was free to dream and I was free to grow! What a wonderful gift!

My first opportunity came when dad bought me the darling little Victorian house in Logan after my divorce. It put me on the path to dreams... big dreams. Oh... the possibilities ran wild! I was able to decorate and do some minor remodeling (where money allowed). My ideas ran wild! My little house became a beautiful piece of heaven for my children and I. We worked hard in the yard to give it curb appeal. We planted a beautiful and profitable garden. We hatched banny chickens and nurtured them as they grew. I was in college. I was working part time at the University. My kids were good and were a great help around the house. Life was looking up. 

51 East 400 South, Logan, Utah

The first time I realized I was very much my father was when I got an extreme amount of satisfaction out of improving my little home in Logan. Then 5 years later, was able to sell the little house, making a $56,000 profit. That is when the excitement of investing took complete control over me. I saw how a little work, pride in my house, and a little ingenuity paid off... and in a big way! There was no stopping my dreams now.

After I met Dave and we were married, I still looked for ways to improve my surroundings. Being independent for several years changed me. My dreams were not limited as I found ways to remodel a space or room in the house. I always did it when Dave left for a military assignment, so as not to bring him stress nor myself, in having to deal with him. 

After I sold the house in Logan, we bought a 5 1/2 acre parcel of land in Willard to satisfy Dave's dream (and my own) of owning an orchard. I quickly found out that he was just as energetic in investing and taking risks in the real estate market as I was.

Dave could not contain my independent spirit and soon I had him thinking about making some investments, after taking him around town showing him properties with possibilities. We bought a couple of houses next door to us. Renting had its ups and downs but it eventually paid off. 

Dave was called to support the war in 2002. His assignment took him to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. One day I was driving down the Fruitway and saw that the old Willard Grocery store was for sale. It sparked a great deal of excitement in me as I thought about the possibilities the store could offer. I had my son-in-law look at the property since he was in construction. His opinion of the place was... "no way!" It would require too much work. But my heart beat increased at the very thought of the property and I could not get it out of my mind. Dave came home one weekend and I took him to see the building. He bought it for me that weekend and I was free to remodel it. It was a huge project! But I was up to the task. I oversaw the entire remodel of the store front and apartment attached on the back. The remodel of the building greatly improved the desired appeal of main street. The city counsel often complimented me on the new look of the building and the improvement it brought to Willard City. We owned it for a few years until a local professional wildlife photographer came across it and had to buy it. Valerie Taylor, who has become one of my dearest friends, insisted on purchasing it until it was her's. We drew up a contract with a local title company. We sold the building for twice the amount we bought it for. But, even better... we are carrying the contract and earn 6.5% annual interest on it every year. The building is making us a handsome profit. 

Dave was deployed to Iraq in 2008. We put our house up for sale and I prepared to move into the rental property next door. I practically gutted the house and remodeled it, with the help of Dave's uncle, in a short couple of months. The little white house became very desirable as spectators drove by and stopped to see if it were going up for sale. We sold the house in 2010, at the completion of our new home in Willard.

421 South 300 West, Brigham City, Utah

For many years, one big project led to another one. Now that I am in the new house, I am older and more content to just enjoy. I don't have to have my hands in big projects anymore, although I am always finding a new space to re-do in the house. Every Spring comes around and I find myself itching to beautify another corner of the yard or add to Shaniel and Steven's gardens. I suppose it will always be that way! 

When I think about these inherited qualities from my dad, it makes me smile. I often imagine him right by my side as I tackled all these big projects. He loved remodeling and doing projects and investing. I found myself very much like him when the opportunity presented itself. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and looked at properties with "potential". It was the potential that excited me... that made my heart beat faster. Oh... the possibilities just made me so happy!

I remember talking to him one time, after one of my energetic projects, and he told me how when he would drive from Price to Monticello while working, he found himself dreaming and building the most beautiful ranches the mind could think up. 

I am a dreamer. I think big! I make investments... unafraid, because my father taught me I can do anything I want to do. I can become anything I want to be. I am my father's daughter. And I love it!

I've inherited many other wonderful traits from my father which I am very excited to share in another post.

Love Struck!

1952 - Mom and Dad meet and fall in Love

From my mother's  history...

"One day near the end of May I met the love of my life. I still can't understand why he even gave me a second look. Bonnie and I had been swimming. Afterwards we walked to the telephone office to meet Sharon and Liz Armstrong to go to supper. Our hair was wet and straight and stringy. We had baseball caps on, a big baggy shirt and pedal pushers. We looked like a couple of scroungy kids."

Liz, a girl mom worked with, was just getting off work. A gentleman by the name of  Julius Jones came to pick her up. He had another guy with him... Jim Bates... who would become my father.

"Jim was a tall, dark good looking guy with beautiful blue eyes and brown curly hair. They were going to Liz' apartment to have watermelon and invited us. I felt like three's a crowd so I told them that I'd go to our apartment and Liz and Bonnie could go. I didn't know Jim from Adam, but he got out of the truck, picked me up and put me in the back of the truck and said, "I'm going to marry you." I guess it was love at first sight!"

They went to Liz' apartment, located on 4th East in Price.

"When we got there we got out of the truck and whoever was carrying the watermelon dropped it and it busted. We really had a laughing spell over that. We went into the apartment and ate the pieces. I think we took Bonnie home. I don't remember. I guess I was too love struck by then. I know I had changed into a dress by then. Jim and I went to the park and swung in the swings and teeter-tottered and walked around. I think we were there til 2 a.m." 

In my father's words...

"I was discharged from the army in April of 1952. Julius Jones had met a woman that was employed at the local telephone office in Price. One night in early May he had a date with her and asked me if I would like to go along. "Sure", I replied. We pulled up at the telephone office on 1st West and 1st North to wait for Liz Armstrong to get off work from Ma Bell Telephone. As she came out of the office door, two other young ladies approached the door from the street side. Jones-e and I were standing with our mouths open- so Liz took the opportunity to introduce us, "This is Ellen Bentley and Bonnie Oliver, two other operators." Ellen was wearing a pair of blue pedal pushers, a baggy shirt and wearing a base ball cap. Boy or girl? There really wasn't any question as to her gender, but she looked like a typical tomboy."

"We were going up to Lizzie's apartment for a water melon bust - so I asked Ellen if she would like to go along. She wasn't sure - so I picked her up and tossed her into the back of the truck. Told her I was going to marry her! The melon bust was a real bust. Jones-e dropped the ball and the melon burst into a dozen pieces, all over Lizzie's patio. We ended up just walking to the park where we played on swings and other equipment. Exciting night!" 

I love the story of how my parents met. My favorite part is when dad picked mom up and tossed her into the back of the truck and said "I'm going to marry you!" 

And it did not surprise me at all how mom and dad had two different perspectives on meeting each other for the first time. Obviously mom was self conscious about the way she looked (we girls tend to be that way). Having been swimming earlier, she described her and Bonnie as "looking like a couple of scroungy kids." Yet, when dad saw mom come out of the side door his "mouth dropped!" Tomboy and all... love struck, I'd say!!! 

This daughter is grateful for that day in front of the telephone office! For the love that developed from the first time they met. Lucky for me!

My parents were an example of love and sacrifice throughout their lives. They loved each other and they loved their family. Being loved and seeing love in action brought with it trust, loyalty, peace, comfort, joy, and security. Belonging to a family filled with love was truly a gift that I never take for granted. Our parents are gone, but their "legacy of love" continues on in their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We love each other. Love is eternal.