Pappa Hardy's Musings on Life.

Well, we were at home most of the day today, except for a visit in the evening to a couple of shopping establishments. First, I have to get new glasses. One of the unfortunate side affects of growing older is the sight growing dimmer, the eyes not focusing as well as they used to, and then I just plain don’t see. So, I had to go get glasses approved by the wife.

Then it was off to the mall, the Provo Town Centre. I ended up being the grandpa and carrying my grandson around the mall, trying to enjoy myself while keeping the circulation going in my arm and keeping my aching back from failing. That is another wonderful by product of aging, is that aching back. I can’t, and don’t think, it was as bad when I was a brand new father. Thank heavens I don’t have to carry them all the time. Still, children and grandchildren are fun.

The amazing thing was all of the people. There were a ton of people out shopping. It reminded me of just how much I hate shopping and walking in malls. I do hate those places, and tonight all of those feelings were reinforced. Let’s hope, for the economies sake, that Black Friday was also a Blacker Saturday so the merchants do well, and we don’t fall into a recession.

We had a nice dinner as a family. I do love the kids and being with them. I guess that is what life is all about. I do hate the darkness coming so early, as has been the case as we rush towards the winter solstice.

We have a visitor this week. A visitor and his parents. Braxton is in to see us, and we also have along his mom and dad. It is so fun seeing a young infant when they are old enough to smile and know who you are. I love being a grandpa.

I now claim the title of World’s Greatest Grandpa. Yup, that’s me. I am all around baby sitter, nice guy, changer of dirty rotten stinky diapers, and holder of kids while typing at the computer (tiny hands make great help). Our Braxton is helping me compose this so if he endorses this I must be wonderful. I love being a grandpa.

What a day is has been. The best, on Tuesday November 6 at 5:53pm, we were presented from God with a new baby grand daughter, Miranda Elizabeth Hardy, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, 19.25 inches long. What a wonderful gift. It was a tough day for Christie, but she did good work.

On a second front, while I wasn’t in the final election, the slate of candidates I supported, Jo Lynn Ford, Brad Daley, and Kim Hancock, were victorious in the Payson City Council election. I wish I had been there, but this is the next best thing. The results as reported were:

PAYSON CITY COUNCIL 8 of 8 precincts reporting: 100%
Brad D. Daley
19%
1,704
Brent Burdick
15%
1,312
H. Kim Hancock
18%
1,630
Jo Lynn Ford
21%
1,832
Larry Skinner
14%
1,270
Steve Hanson
13%
1,179

It was a great day.

Well, we have spent the last several days in Laramie with our son Gordon and daughter in law Christie. We have had a fun time with all of the kids, and while the event that we came for hasn’t happened yet, it was still a great time. We are waiting on the arrival of Merinda Elizabeth Hardy. It will be great when she finally arrives. At this point, if it doesn’t happen before Tuesday, it will happen Tuesday.

Couple of things tonight made me think about how scary the times are right now.

1-National Credit Problems-Well, we could be on the verge of a recession. It appears that the mortgage credit problems that have started to plague the economy could be worse than it appeared originally, and we could be heading into a recession. Oh how I hate recessions.

2-Christie Hardy, my daughter in law, is sounding more and more like she may be close to going into labor. Our problem, well, we are 8 hours away by car. We are getting scared we won’t make it in time.

3-The election for city council is less than two weeks away. While I am no longer in the race, I am still involved and it makes me scared to think about the what could happens. I am glad, and then not glad, that I am not in the race. I hear all types of rumors, including that the primary election was somehow not totally above board. I doubt that, but it does bother me.

Having said all that, I am happy with who I am, who my children are, and where I am at right now. I love my family.

Well, we spent this last weekend moving the second oldest of the Hardy Sons, and his darling wife. I won’t say that it was incredibly fun, but it was incredibly satisfying to have almost all of the family there, helping each other. I guess I am really proud of my family. They are a “bunch” of wonderful people. The trip to and from Wyoming, was as always, long, and not so satisfying. However, we were kept safe from harm, so I am grateful. For the Grandpa of course, one of the highlights was seeing once again my grandson. Braxton is so cute. Anticipation is running high that we will soon have a new granddaughter. We were grateful to see all the family.

Well, Bonnie and I made it up to Wyoming to attend the wedding of a friends child. The children will all be there too. Therefore, yesterday we had a chance to get together with the kids.

I can’t help but say that I had a good time with the family. This time in an adults life can have a lot of payoffs, and this was one of them. We had a family picture taken of us and all the kids, we had two meals together, and of course, we got to fawn over and hold our new grandchild. It is so fun to have this type of a reunion. It wasn’t an official reunion, and it was better than an official reunion. We had a lot of fun.

This week has been full for me. I have had my wonderful family here. While Bonnie is the mother hen of this group and loves them here all of the time, I manage to hide my feelings better than her and therefore I don’t voice them as often. However, I loved having all of my children here, save one who could not make it. We wish he could have been here with us.

Today was special. We had the whole gang in the house this morning, and we ran off to church for a double header. We had the blessing of Braxton Bennett Hardy, and then we had the opportunity to hear Elder Michael Hardy report on his mission.

He did good. He took 30 minutes or more and taught the gospel. That was special. I was so glad that he was such a good missionary. I am so proud of my boys. I am proud of that new grandson, and I am proud of my sons. They have done us good, each and every one.

We had lots of family there, and friends too. We were doubly and triply, and more blessed today. It was a wonderful day.

It was a wonderful morning, full of more and more blessings.

As Julie would verify, a lot of times when things haven’t gone the way they should during the day, I have said to her, Bad Julie, Bad, Bad, Bad. Well, I must confess, it has been a couple of weeks since I made any kind of post here, and I guess you should say Bad Grandpa, Bad, Bad, Bad. I have been somewhat distracted by new grandchildren, work deadlines, church responsibilities, but nothing important. We have been waiting to see that new grandchild again, and I am hoping that soon we are going to go see the newest Hardy in the Legacy.