A cute message from Emmi

Ashley and I ran an errand and were gone for about 15 minutes.  During that time, Emmi dropped by my work to see me.  She came up from Provo to work at the theater this weekend.  I felt sad that I had missed seeing her but smiled at the darling note she left on my desk.  Thanks Emmi, I love you too!  The sad thing is that I didn’t even take a lunch today.  I was at work the whole day except for that few minutes running an errand.  Dang.

Abby makes it on the front page of the Tooele Newspaper

Abby helped out with the Teddy Bear Clinic at the hospital health fair last Saturday and had her picture taken while putting a caste on a bear.  Way to go Abby!  Cute picture!

Annie saves me yet again!

We are having our Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting the second week of October.  Our theme is “Seek to Minister” and then we had a little saying about hands.  I knew that Annie could come up with something for the invitations so I volunteered to do them all the time knowing that I would be calling on Annie to create something for me.  Usually I steer completely clear of creating stuff but figured Annie would come up with something clever and sure enough – she did.  Everyone loved them and they were a big hit.  Thanks Annie!

I’m still laughing!

The weatherman has been predicting rain in the valley ever since the first of the week.  Starting tonight at 6:00 it was supposed to start raining and we were going to have rain all night, all day Saturday and all day on Sunday.  Well, it is 10:30 p.m. and still no rain to speak of.  We have had some thunder but nothing falling from the skies.  So Neal has been kind of waiting to water his flowers hoping that the weatherman would get it right and the rain would fall.  He finally gave up and headed outside to take care of his flowers.  As he was going out the door he said, “This storm reminds me of what Freda used to say when she would hurry into the bathroom and then come out a bit later, “Well, a lot of wind, but no rain.”  I’d completely forgotten and we both laughed and laughed.  Just had to record it.  Have a happy weekend!

A simple white hanky can have so much meaning!

This morning Neal and I attended the re-dedication of the Ogden Temple.  It was a beautiful and tearful experience that I shall remember for years to come. 

President Monson has said:  “In the temple, the precious plan of God is taught.  It is in the temple that eternal covenants are made.  The temple lift us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all to see, and points us toward Celestial glory.  It is the house of God.  All that occurs within the walls of the temple is uplifting and ennobling.  As we touch the temple and love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith.  As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation.  The temple provides purpose for our lives.  It brings peace to our souls – not the peach provided by men, but the peach promised by the Son of God when He said, ‘Peach I leave with you, my peace I give unto you’.

As I sat in the meeting I was happy for our children and grand children who would be attending the temple dedication today.  And my heart was heavy thinking about our children and grand children who would not be participating.

In the proclamation from the church it says, “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

I want my children and grand children to be grateful and happy.  I want them to serve and be proud of their heritage and never be ashamed of their Mormon faith and testimony of Jesus Christ.

I bear witness to all my posterity that I know I am a daughter of a loving God.  He directs my life and I will always try to listen and obey the promptings that come to me.  I am not ashamed of my Mormon faith and it’s beliefs.  Every day I see the sign above my back door that says, “A S A P” and underneath the letters it says “Always Say A Prayer”.  It reminds me to get on my knees every morning and offer my thanks for all I have and enjoy, to bless my children and grand children and ask forgiveness.

I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I KNOW it is true.  My contentment and happiness lies in that knowledge.  My ability to go through each day and battle the storms in my life lies in that knowledge. 

Bragging one more time!

It’s not only nice to have your work recognized but to have two of your pieces considered for the Sweepstakes prize, I think, is a pretty big deal and an honor.  I have no idea what the judges are looking for and what is considered to be ‘sweepstakes’ worth needle work, so I was a bit surprised that one was considered and another wasn’t.  I was sure that the one I did for Derek would be a possible sweepstakes winner.  I had a feeling that the Christmas one had a chance but didn’t even think that “Home of a Needle Worker” would be considered.  I’m just very happy that my work is good enough for blue ribbons!  These first two were considered for Sweepstakes.

Derek, I still think yours deserved the sweepstakes because it was by far the hardest one I’ve ever done!

I’ve already decided what I’m entering next year.  One of them I just finished and another one I’ve just started.  Oh yes, I got my $24.00 from the State Fair for winning.  This year I need to actually cash my check! 

My next project started.

I had two that I wanted to do but starting two at the same time is not a smart thing to do.  One at a time shows more progress and for me to start a project and not finish it before starting another one is just not my style.  I was trying to choose between a Halloween one and a family tree one.  The more I thought about the family tree I kind of had to chuckle because it’s obvious that our family tree does not look like a tree, it is more like a thicket!  But I couldn’t help but think that love does exist in that thicket.  Not all of Heavenly Father’s children come to earth through a typical family or stay in a typical family and this is part of our test to understand each other as God’s children and to love each other.  Anyway, after much deliberation, I decided I just wasn’t feeling like doing a family tree so went to the Halloween counted cross instead.  This is a picture of what the finished product will look like.  It is done on a light green very tiny linen weave.  This will be a tough one, that’s for sure.

Tucker’s 70 mile bike ride–completed!

I asked Jamie to send me some pictures and Tucker to send me some details about his ride. This shows the important stats.  Ride time, distance, my average speed and the graph shows the elevation.

Tucker said the ride was called “Tour de Fresno”.  It went through Fresno, Sanger, Parlier, Kingsburg, Selma & fowler.  This was the longest ride he has done.  His previous one was 50 miles.  He mentioned that his next step is the “Century” which is 100 miles.  Another map show better where he went.  The skinny lines up in the top right are when he went up in the hills.  The green dot is the start and stop.

Great pictures and details of your accomplishment.  I can’t imagine riding a bike that long.  There are two rides that would interest me.  One going from Salt Lake to Salt Air and the other biking around Bear Lake.  That would be a fun activity for the whole family.  What do you think?  Tucker led us to the top of Mt. Olympus, why not on a long bike ride. 

Four Blue Ribbons!

Yesterday I went to a required seminar in Provo.  Ashely and I thought we were supposed to be there at 8:00 and found out after arriving there at 7:45 that we didn’t need to be there until 10:30!  We found another girl wandering around who was from Tooele and thought the same thing so we all jumped in my car and went to Mimi’s for breakfast.  The seminar went from 10:30 to 4:30 but at 3:00 Ashley and I decided we had heard all the information that we needed and what they were talking about didn’t apply to our job so we slipped out the back.  I called Emmi and had her meet us at the WalMart just off the freeway and she rode back to Salt Lake with us.  We dropped Ashley off on 90th South where she had left her car and then Emmi and I headed on to the fair grounds to meet her family.  Of course the first thing we did was go see the exhibits and see what the judges thought of our work. 

Emmi scored big time.  She entered 7 pieces and got blue ribbons on all the pieces plus three of them were chosen for the Best of Show.  She was a very happy exhibiter.  She mentioned that she would probably get about $50+ dollars for her ribbons and was going to buy some BYU sweats to celebrate!  Way to go Emmi!

Mallory also entered two pieces of pottery for the first time and she got a 2nd and a 3rd.  It was a happy celebration for both the girls.  We hadn’t gone to the fine arts building yet to see how I faired.  I have to admit that I was a little nervous.  Even though our entries are entirely different categories, I certainly didn’t want to go home from the State Fair without a ribbon!

Lynda Ann and the kids had already seen everything because they were at the fair a couple hours before Emmi and I, but Annie didn’t give the surprise away for either of us. All four of my pieces got blue ribbons and the alphabet Christmas and Home of a Needleworker were considered for Best in Show but didn’t win.  Not sad about that.  Glad that I can still stitch up a storm and that the judges recognize good work!

You notice they displayed Derek’s picture totally wrong.  The specifically asked me when I brought it which way it should hang and I told them, but . . . . . there it is.  I don’t suppose anyone but the family would notice but it sure looks funny to me.

The food was so expensive in the fair grounds that we all walked across the street to a McDonalds and had dinner.  The cow stamp was our ticket back into the fair.  We wandered some more while the kids ran from ride to ride.  About 9:00 Emmi and I headed home.  I didn’t want to put her on the train at night so I drove her back to Provo and then home.  It was a very exciting evening.  It is always a good feeling to have your work acknowledged.  Way to go, Emmi, Mallory and me!!!!

HALLELUAH! Finally done!

For some reason I didn’t think I would ever get this particular counted cross stitch done before I tore my hair out or threw it in the trash.  It isn’t that I didn’t love it, it was that it wasn’t one I would ordinarily pick out to do and it had a MILLION color changes and the outlining took FOREVER!  All in all, I am very happy with it and will be happy to get it cleaned, pressed and in Neal’s hands to take to the framer.  It is for sure one that I will consider entering in the State Fair next fall.  Speaking of which I have four entries this year.  I’m going tomorrow night to see how I did.  Wish me luck!  Derek’s is one of the entries and if I don’t get a blue ribbon on that one I will be disappointed and very surprised.  I’ll let you know.  In the mean time, here is the finished product before going to the cleaners.

Brock’s baptism

A baptism in the family is always a fun and spiritual time for all who attend.  As I sat at Brock’s baptism I realized that we will probably only have two more grandchildren to be baptized.  Peyton and Boston will be our last two.  It was kind of sad and I felt a bit older to realize that we are at the tail end of the baptisms.  Our grandchildren are growing up and soon the mission cycle will begin in the not too far distant future.  The baptism program started at 9:00, followed by Brock being baptized by his dad.  He was then confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and given a beautiful blessing by his grandfather, Dan Cutler.  Just a few pictures that were taken just prior to the baptism.  I don’t know the names of all the Cutler family who attended (I hope Maren records that somewhere).  The Maxfield family was represented by Neal and I and the Gertsons.

After the baptism we were all invited over to Maren and Greg’s home for a very nice brunch!  She had cinnamon rolls, a variety of muffins along with fruit, drinks and Sylvia brought two breakfast casseroles.  It was great to sit and visit and relish the time together.

Maren had just completed an all night shift at the hospital and got home just in time to change and be at the church at 9:00.  I don’t know how she could look so refreshed and be able to host a gathering at her house but she certainly did a beautiful job.  Thank you Maren, for hosting everyone.

Neal and Jeff G. had a golf time at Thanksgiving Point and Lynda Ann and the kids were going down to Provo to see Emmi and let Emmi’s siblings see where she lived and have a chance to walk around campus.  I jumped on the excursion and enjoyed the afternoon visiting with Emmi and seeing the campus sites.  On the way home we drove by the home where I grew up and then drove past the new Provo Temple that is still be constructed.  It is amazing how they have been able to rebuild the old tabernacle and change it into a temple.  They have kept the outside looking almost exactly as it was before it burned down.  I was surprised to see the Angel Moroni atop the building already.  For some reason I thought he was placed on top at the very last.  Obviously, not so.

It was a spiritual and fun day.  Thanks to all who participated in making it a special day for Brock.  As I reflected on the day of Brock being baptized and then seeing my oldest granddaughter beginning her college years, I thought that we all would want a Pollyannaish family.  We want to hold on to our kids’ innocence as long as possible – we want to prolong their childhood.  I’m so grateful to my children who are teaching their children about Jesus Christ, His gospel and the gospel principles.  I believe it is the only way they can be protected from the carnal world.  I am so grateful for my mother who helped me gain a testimony of this great church and encouraged and taught me to hold fast to my beliefs.  Thank you mother!

A fun picture from Derek

Derek sent this picture with the explanation that the shoe belongs to Kevin Garnett.  Tucker asked how in the world Derek got Kevin’s actual shoe and Derek said that there is guy there in China who designs them.  He is  shoe designer and Kevin has his shoes made there.  I just searched on the internet and found out that Kevin is a 6’11” center with the Brooklyn Nets.  I’m just not into the NBA players so I had to cheat and look him up.  Derek, you are a combination of Tucker and your dad in this picture!  Both your dad and Tucker are very good looking so you must be twice as good looking!!!

Neal’s study group

Tonight we had study group at the Olive Garden in Sugar House.  Thought it would be fun to take a picture of all the ones that were there.  Boy, some of us are looking pretty old!  Maren and Tucker, how many of these people can you name?  I think you two would be the ones who would know and remember most of them because their kids were more your ages as teens.