Andrew turns 12

Today was a wonderful day for us as grandparents and Jeff and Lynda Ann as parents.  We were all busting our buttons.  We are so proud of Andrew and his choices that have led him to this point in his life.  He was ordained by his father and give the Aaronic Priesthood.  It was a proud and spiritual time for all who were there.  Emmi didn't think she would be able to come but she was able to work her schedule out and drove to our home and then drove out with us to Stansbury, surprising her family.  It is a family time and good that Emmi could be there.

Here are some fun pictures of the events at the church and then celebrating Andrews birthday at the house with a delicious dinner prepared by Annie.  Notice that Andrew is now taller than his grandmother.  Nice bonus for 12!  He's been waiting for a long time to be taller than me. 

Jeffrey gave Andrew a beautiful blessing.  I wish it had been recorded. 

 From left to right Neal (Pa), Jeffrey (dad), Brother Turpin (1st Counselor in the Bishopric), Andrew (the new Deacon), Bishop Clawson and Brother VanStam (2nd Counselor in the Bishopric)

 We had a delicious roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.  For Andrews birthday cake was the cookie cake that has become the favorite of the Gertson children.  They are delicious!  Thanks Annie for a wonderful dinner and an evening of games.

 This picture was taken just before we went in the Bishop's office for the ordination.  Cute family.  Proud of all of you.

My new office

We are doing all kinds of reconfiguring in our offices and one of the changes was to put all the ER team together in one area.  They needed to put me in an office instead of a cubicle because I am the one who pays the county bills with a credit card and it is hard to have it be secure when in a cubicle.  Consequently, the only space they had available in that area was an old storage closet.  Yes, a storage closet.  They went in, clean it out, took all the metal racks off the walls, took off the accordion door and repainted the whole area.  By the time they were done, it ended up being a perfect office for me.  I love it.  One of the girls had a plaque made me and I had the workers hang it above the door.  Picture below:

 She had her put a hanger on it because she said that I had an endless closet full of clothes!  Clever, don't you think?  I love it and love my new office.

Some fun times

Remember I made two quilts for Susan to give to her roofers.  When I delivered them to her she handed me a wrapped gift with a thank you card for my hard work.  When I got home I opened the gift to find this pillow.  I love it.  I have it sitting on my cedar chest.  It matches perfectly.

The next day I had Lynda Ann and her family and Mindy and her family over for dinner.  I was feeling in the mood for Spring so I set the table with Annette's china.  I love it because it adds a splash of color and beauty to the table, plus it reminds me of Annette and how much I miss her and love her.

 Sorry that pictures is upside down.  One of these days I need to figure out how to turn these pictures around!  Notice the new lace table cloth. 

St. Patrick's Day and Easter

One of my co-workers and I went to Kneaders to grab some soup for lunch and I found these salt and pepper shakers calling my name.  Never seen a St. Patrick's Day set of shakers but there they were and I couldn't resist.  I also saw some darling Easter ones.  What a find!

 Even found some bunny shakers and a butter dish to match.  How cute is that?

Valentine's Day

Neal surprised me with two bouquets of roses.  One for home in yellow and one for the office in red.  He said that he did two so that he could do his favorite color and my favorite color.  He also gave me a box of chocolates keeping things pretty traditional.  The surprise was the "J" wax stamp and some sealing wax to go with it and a sweet note.  The bonus was a package of sugar wafers that he knows I love!

 The red roses and cookies were delivered to me at work.  The yellow roses were waiting for me when I got home from work.

Neal had to work on Valentine's evening so he took me to dinner at Market Street Grill.  Our traditional eating place!  Food was delicious and being with him was, as always, perfect.  He is a good husband, father and grandfather.  I love you Neal.  Thanks for a wonderful Valentine's Day!

The last stitch!

I finally finished the last stitch in the last quilt for Susan.  I feel good that I was able to do something for her.  She does so much for others.  I was going to have Annie bind the quilt on the machine but decided to stitch it myself by hand.  Didn't take that long and it is a completed project.  Now I just have to get the other one from Annie and I can deliver them to Susan next Saturday.  I do have to admit that I'm glad they are done and my basement is back to normal. 

Bloom where you are planted

When Jeffrey died, I had two visitors that came to our home.  Both, I realized later, that were people I needed to see.  One couple was President Parry.  He was the Stake President who called me to serve as the Stake Relief Society President.  I grew to love this man and his wife.  The other was the new Stake President, President Mike Little and his wife Jan.  It meant a great deal to me that both of these couple took time out of their horrendously busy schedules to make a call of love and concern.  President and Jan Little brought an orchid that was blooming and absolutely gorgeous.  It has been a little over a year since we lost Jeff and I went by the orchid the other day and noticed new blooms!  I've never been able to get an orchid to re-bloom once it has lost all of its blossoms.  I don't know how many I've given up on and thrown away.  I looked and smiled thanked the Littles and this little plant for blooming again.  Just as this little plant is in full bloom again, so is Jeffrey.  He is well and happy and living.  Isn't there some silly saying in the YW program about blooming where you are planted?  My thoughts go to you Jeffrey and I hope you bloom where you are planted.  That you are embracing the gospel fully surrounded by so many people who had gone before you.  I look at the orchid every time I walk by, which is numerous times a day, and I think of you.

Neal's accident

I got a call from Neal as I was walking out the door to teach my relief society lesson.  He informed me that he had been involved in a car accident.  He said he was fine but had rear ended another car on the freeway at 10600 South.  He said the other guys car was hardly dented but you can see by the pictures below that Neal's car will probably be totaled.  The police found out that the other driver didn't have any insurance and had a license that was a year over due for renewal.  We will have to wait until tomorrow when the insurance company makes a decision as to what they are going to do with Neal's car.  I'm sure our insurance premiums are going to sky rocket.  This is the second wreck for Neal in the past three years.  Insurance companies don't look fondly on too many wrecks.  I'm just thankful that Neal and the guy he hit are alright. 

Relief Society Lesson handouts

Tonight I taught my lesson at the retirement center.  It was on the pioneers and faith.  A great lesson but so much material that had to be condensed down into about 10 minutes.  That is pretty much all they can focus in on.  There is always such a sweet spirit there and those sisters and brothers are wonderful people.  Because Valentine's Day is next week and I won't see them, Annie helped me put together these little Valentine wishes.  Everyone loved them! 

 This play dough and saying went along with my lesson on faith.  Thanks to Annie I always have something extra to go with my lesson and believe me, they look forward to it.  Thanks Annie for always coming up with great ideas.  You are my creative genius!!!

I also kill two birds with one stone because I make enough extra that I can take them to my inactive sisters that I visit each month.  Great way to do accomplish two needs. 

Super Bowl

We were invited out to Annie's to have dinner and watch the super bowl and she was going to help me with my handouts for my relief society lesson.  We had a great evening.  I was cheering for the Patriots and they won at the last second.  This is a picture of some of the fun snacks and food she had.

Food was delicious and company was great.  Thanks Annie for all the preparation and for the invite!

Taylor's Drill Team Competition

Neal and I were invited out to Taylor's drill team competition.  It was held at UVU gymnasium.  It was fun to see her perform and to spend some time with Maren and Greg.  We found out later that Herriman High came in 3rd.  In our estimation, they should have been first, but we weren't the official judges.  Congratulations Taylor.  Fun to watch you and we were very proud of you.

We also ran into Nadine who was there watching Adam's daughter perform for her drill team in Payson. 

The Olympic reunion

Hard to believe that it has been 15 years since Salt Lake hosted the Olympics.  This is our second reunion and it was held up at the Olympic Park Ski Jump.  Lots and lots of people came.  Most of them wearing their Olympic jackets.  I never like the purple jacket and didn't want to bother to dig it out.  I noticed Judy didn't bother to wear hers either.  We had a good time talking with all our co-workers that we got so close to and then all of a sudden it was over and you never see them again. 
Mitt Romney spoke and said that he thought we should have a reunion every five years.  It was a fun evening.  Even had our picture taken with Mitt.  Judy and I on his left side and Sherry Sohm on his right.  Children, do you remember that dad dated Sherry? 

 This is Ron Stanfield and Neal with Mitt.  Poor Mitt, he must have had a million pictures of him taken that night with people he knew and many, many that he didn't know.  The Olympic Committee was way too big for him to have known everyone working there.  But he smiled and acted like we were his best friends.  Great man.  So sad he didn't become the President of the United States.

 Of course, there is always one of the stupid signs around that you can stick your head through.  Just had to have one of Neal!  Go ahead and laugh all you want.  We did!

 The evening ended with us going back to the bridge center and playing bridge with Ron and Judy until about 10:30 and then headed home.  Fun evening.

Quilting project

Remember the story I told about the miracle that happened to Susan.  Her roof needed to be replaced because all the shingles were curled and rotting and she didn't have the money but the roofers did the labor for free and all she had to pay for was the shingles and low and behold people secretly and silently donated money to the roofer and Susan ended up not having to pay one penny!  All this around Christmas time.  A time that is stressful on many bank accounts.  Well, Susan wanted to do something special for the two men who put the roof on and she asked me if I would be willing to make two star quilts if she bought the material.  Of course I told her I would.  I got the material last Saturday and finished the last 40 stitches today.  I'm taking it to Annie to have her stitch the edges up on her machine and while she is doing that, I put the second one on the frames.  Probably won't get the second one done quite as fast.  My fingers are a bit sore so I can't go quite as fast, plus I have things going on a couple evenings this week.  But I will work as quickly as I can because I know Susan will be anxious to give them to the roofers.  Here is a picture of the beginning and the ending of the first quilt.  The second quilt I'm going to do the star in white and border in red.  The first picture is the material on the frames.

 The second picture shows where the pins are that outline the start in the middle of the quilt.  The white stitching is the border all around the star.

 Below is the pattern that you follow to know where to put the pins for the star.  Everything has to line up exactly or you could end up with a lop sided star!  Who every heard of a star being lopside?!!!

 Back side.  Star doesn't show up as much on the red so that is why we are changing to a white star on the second one.  That way the roofers will have each a different quilt.  The roofers have names but I don't know who they are.  Just know they are GREAT people doing wonderful things for people in need. 

Saturday shopping

Last Saturday, the 28th of January, I met Lila Mae and Susan in Orem.  We did some shopping and then off to have lunch at Mimi's.  It was good for me to sit with Susan and Lila Mae and reminisce about Jeffrey and Max.  Lila and I basically raised Jeff and Mary at the same time.  Mary was born in September of 67 and Jeffrey in May of 68.  So we had lots of memories of those two and also talked about Max and what an incredible influence he was on my life.  The weather was perfect after a long week of snow and cold.  It was still cold but the air was clear the sky a gorgeous blue and there was no wind.  As I was driving home I happened to glance at the mountains, which I always do, and caught sight of Mt. Timpanogus.  What a beautiful mountain covered with pure white snow against the gorgeous clear blue sky.  Just had to snap a picture and thank Heavenly Father for the millionth time how beautiful the earth is and that I have the sight to see and experience it.  You can really see the indian maiden laying atop the mountain.