New Digs

It's official. The Mandate is on the move again. In our five years since inception, we've moved 6 times - each time to a little larger space. I have a feeling this building will fit everything just fine - at least for awhile.

My grandma, Bobbi, passed away yesterday. I cannot tell you how much I am going to miss her. She was such a huge part of my life. The thing about her is that all of her grandchildren feel the same way. We all feel like we are her favorite. Because we are.

She would always want to know the latest in our lives. Always make sure we were keeping in contact with our cousins. She was always armed with a stack of pictures to fill us in on everyone's lives. You could tell she was genuinely proud of each one of us.

She was famous for her arm-scratching. We would fight to sit next to her at church so that we could be "scratched" and play with her sequins purse. (I am realizing how strange this sounds if you are not one of her grandkids, but it was so normal for us.)

Every birthday we would get to go on Bobbi's Special Day. She would come pick us up at the house, feel our arm and say, "Hmmm, what do you feel like?" The rules were that we had to eat somewhere we'd never been before. We'd see a movie (the last one I remember seeing with her was Stand and Deliver), and pick out a birthday present. I would look forward to that every year. She would call me and say "Palos Verdes calling!" and talk about "My two oceans" (they lived on a peninsula). I am going to miss her voice.

She and Chief were married for 67 years and loved each other to the end. They are such a great example to me.

I love my Bobbi and am comforted knowing that she and Chief will be together again some day.

Mandate Pit Stop

I accidentally drove past our shop because I was gawking at all the motorcycles lining the business park. I was driving super slow trying to get a look into a doorway jammed with Harley riders.

It wasn't until I turned around that I realized they were in our shop. What?!

My head hurt trying to figure out what they were doing there.

I walked in and Jeannie was giving an overview on letterpress and a tour of our shop.

Turns out - a Harley group tours the valley visiting all things print related. Our shop was the last stop on the tour. Ben was still at the U teaching class and missed the entire thing, but I'm glad I caught the tail end, even if it was by accident.

To Tonga! (literally)

We dropped my mom off at the MTC Monday morning. She is a nurse and will be living in Tonga for the 18 months as a medical missionary. We are so proud and excited for her.

Ben still had four years of school left when we got married. Every year I would make him cupcakes on his first day of school. Now that he teaches up at the University, he still gets his cupcakes, only these are made by 8 hands instead of just 2. That's Toren back there singing Ben's praises.

The Breakfast of Champions

If only a cupcake from Carlucci's and a Capri Sun could bring her this much joy forever.

Really?

A visit to Ben around noon is actually a kid-break for Briar disguised as lunch.

Happy 9th Birthday Téa!

Tay's birthday dinner choice: Cheesecake Factory