Our Family
Mike's Graduation May 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Many are asking where Mom and Dad moved to, well that's a long story! They were in the process of finding a home large enough for them and the Skinners when they put their house on the market. Since Monty was just called to be Bishop of our ward (Fair Oaks 5th), they thought it would be best to look in the ward boundaries. Mom and Dad's house sold before they could find another one to move into so they are currently at Annie and Monty's home. (Which is ten houses down from mine). So I'm not complaining. They are eagerly looking for a large enough home for them all. Because of the housing market, most of the homes they are looking at are either in foreclosure or a short sale so the process can be a long one. It's a little cozy but the kids are enjoying the company. It's one big party at the Skinners. Dad recently went to the doctor and we found out that he has been drinking way way too much water. Duh? So, limiting the salt intake and cutting way back on water has made some dramatic improvements. And less work for all of us. Dad sometimes gets confused of where he lives but still seems to find the salami where ever he is....Mom seems relieved and it's nice to be able to see her daily and really help in Dad's care. We appreciate your prayers as this isn't an easy task for anyone. I personally appreciate the Skinner's taking on this responsibility and know they will be blessed for it. This is a new chapter in the DeGruccio's life, and it's going to be a good one. They are surrounded by family and in an awesome ward with a loving Bishop. I know they will be loved and appreciated in our ward! They have an offer on one home and are looking into making an offer on another since they haven't heard back from the original one. Keep for fingers crossed and keep them in your prayers!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Goodbye 2524 Stansberry Way
In October of 1965, Eileen and Richard Barbieri (now DeGruccio) moved from North Highlands, California to a two story home at 2524 Stansberry Way Sacramento, California 95826. Our phone number was 363-7003, that's my phone number please call me. (That was my song I sang to remember it!) They had two children Kathy (4) and Ricky (2). They were given a house warming present soon after when they discovered baby number three was on it's way. This was a new four bedroom home in a new development called Larchmont. The neighborhood was filled with children along with an Elementary School (O.W. Erlewine) just down at the end of the street. They had no idea that they would spend the next Forty-Three years and raise all five children there. That next June, I was born. Followed by Michael, Five years after in February of 1971, and then Annie Laura 7 years later in June of 1973. This was a home filled with love and laughter. Many congregated there. Whether for pool parties, free counseling, needing a place of refuge or a home cooked meal. Mom did a lot of entertaining even if it was just for us. My favorite was the Japanese Dinners. She would go all out putting a table low to the ground so we could eat sitting on the floor just as the Japanese do. We would cook tempura right there at the table in the living room. We never did dive into sushi...who would of thought Japanese Food would be one of my favorites to this date? Dinner time was always a favorite, you never knew what the conversation would be. I have to admit, I loved to shock everyone. It was a rare occasion to not have a homecooked meal every night. We also barbequed a lot and hosted many swim parties. It was a tradition to feed the Youth on New Years Eve after the dance so they wouldn't all be out al night driving around. We fed lots of missionaries and many singles from the young adult ward. Two of my favorite relatives lived with us for a short time, along with many others. I recall both Grandfathers living with us at some point. We were always taking in strays. My own little family lived there for almost a year while Chelsea was three, Alyssa was 1 and Emily was still in my tummy. Emily came home to Grandma and Grandpa's house and spent her first five months of her life there (which may explain why she's so sweet). Alyssa's damage to their upstairs has been covered with paint (her pencil drawings all over the upstairs hallway) and the water damage from closing the drain and leaving the water running in the upstairs bathroom, there is no sign of that either. My Mom didn't even get upset over that! In fact there aren't too many signs off how it was as I remember, so much has changed yet the feeling I feel as I drive up to my childhood home remains the same. The love and the spirit that always permeated the walls of that home. It was a place you could go to feel accepted for who you were, to feel loved and to feel "at home". This is what Mom and Dad created in those 43 years. Nothing can change that. The best thing we can do is to carry that spirit into our own homes. I invite those who have memories of 2524 Stansberry Way to share them and I will add them to my post. Goodbye running around the house while Daddy played the piano, goodbye Christmas Eve's sitting on the stairs peeping through the bannister waiting for morning to arrive, goodbye backdoor that Sugar, GiGi and Poppy scratched at, Goodbye swimming pool I practiced holding my breath while I swam two lenghts of the pool, Goodbye stairs we slid down and snuck down, Goodbye Kitchen where so many wonderful memories were made, Goodbye front door that so many wonderful people came in and out of our lives....
-Thanks for the blog. I hadn't gotten to emoitional about this until now. And yes it brought back alot of good memories. Let me think about those memories for a few days and I will share them with everyone.
Kathy
9:41 PM
-so sweet. Well Put. Even made me shed some tears and think about my own home and how I want it to feel.
You have been blessed to have such a wonderful heritage. Love you person!!
Tammy
11:42 PM
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