Mallory gets her mission call!

It is Thursday, June 29, 2017.  Mallory text me with this message.  "IT'S HERE!!!!!"

Lynda Ann, Emmi, Abby and Hayley were all in the mountains at girls camp.  Mallory didn't want to wait until they got home to open her call so she and her dad along with Andrew and her friend Elli hoped in the car and headed to the mountains.  On their way they got a call from Annie, who had driven down the to get cell service.  She didn't know they were coming to the camp.  She asked them if the call had come and Jeff told a little white lie that it had not come.  When they arrived at the camp, Emmi was the first to see them and made a beeline for Mallory.  Much commotion and lots of hugs and then Mallory stood in front of the group to open her call and read it to all who were gathered.  The nice thing was that her Bishop and her Stake President were both there visiting the girls at the camp. 

Mallory read her call and she has been called to the Nashville, Tennessee Mission.  She was so incredibly excited and said the everyone cheered and Hayley ran up to her and gave her a big hug. 

I had not heard from her by 4:30 so assumed that she was going to stay up in the mountains and have dinner with her mom.  When I got home there was Mallory waiting to tell me the news in person.  Jeff had us play the guessing game and Neal and I didn't do a very good job.  But we finally got the news.  We are so proud, so excited and so happy for Mallory.

We decided to go out to dinner to celebrate.  We ended up at Woody's Drive Inn and enjoyed hamburgers, fries and a malt.  Delicious!!

Mallory dear, we love you and are so proud of your direction in life and your commitment to serve your Father in Heaven.  What an example you are to us and the whole family.  Mallory leaves for her mission on November 1, 2017 (Hayley Anne's birthday) 

Tucker meets up with Mindy in Texas!

These two met up in Texas of all places.  Tucker sent this darling picture of the two of them.  Love them both and love the picture!

Lynda gets creative

Annie is so creative when it comes to anything she puts her mind to.  She is the camp director and decided to build a cardboard, tinfoil oven.  She not only built the oven but baked cookies in it.  If I ever got in a situation where I needed to survive, I would want Annie to be on my team!  Way to go Annie.

 Then Abby did her own creation and built this dragon head out of a cardboard box and paper.  Clearly an amazing creation.  Nothing seems to stop these Gertsons when they get a challenge.

Temple Square Concert

Neal and I had an opportunity to go to the Millennial Choir Concert on Temple Square in the Tabernacle.  It was an amazing concert.  One that will be long remembered.  As we walked out of the temple grounds I glanced up at the temple and was brought to tears by what I saw.  I had to stop and take a picture.  I thought of the primary song, I Love the Temple.

Mallory's mission papers.

Mallory had her last interview with the Bishop and the Stake President so that her papers could officially be sent in to the church offices.  The stake president told her that her papers were sent in on June 15, 2017.  She already had a call from the Presiding Bishop's office medical doctor to ask her about her asthma issues.  She is so excited and it is all she can talk about.  The next two or three weeks waiting for that call to come is going to be torture for her.  These two pictures were taken at the temple in Langley, Canada.

We are so excited for you Miss Mallory Sue and love you so much!!!!  Can't wait to post your mission call.  What an exciting moment that will be for the whole family and especially for you.

Lynda Ann's projects

Annie is the camp director for her ward again this year and their theme is Mulan.  She, as usual, is going the extra mile to make sure camp for the girls is a long time memory and a spiritual experience for all who attend.  She sent me this picture of the Chinese gong she made from scratch.  She does have her Grandma Ross's spiritual genes.  She is very creative and doesn't hesitate to try and create whatever she wants.  Her creative nature continues to unfold every time she gets an assignment.

I asked her where she got the cymbal and she said she ordered a used set from e-bay and then asked her neighbor to drill the holes in it.  Amazing job Annie.  You never cease to amaze me!

Father's Day present

Every time Neal has a birthday or Christmas or Father's Day I struggle with what to get him.  He is nearly impossible to buy for because he either has what he wants and needs, it is too expensive or the last option of picking out clothing is out of the question.  This year I came up with the idea that I was sure I couldn't go wrong with.  He has always talked about a big shower head but has never bothered to make the arrangements to have one installed.  So I called Justin, our plumber, to see if he could get a large shower head installed by Father's Day.  He assured me he could and asked me to send him a picture of the fixtures in the bathroom so he could buy compatible fixtures.  I sent him these pictures.  You can see they have been in as long as we have owned the condo and the condo was new when we bought it in 2002.

I got a call from Justin on Friday before Father's Day.  He said he had everything and had a window of time that he could come and put in the new fixtures.  I happened to be at the hospital with Susan.  She was having cataract surgery.  So I told Justin our garage code and told him to just go in and replace the old with the new.  He has been in our home many times so he would know his way around.  In the mean time I called Neal and told him that he needed to get home as quickly as possible and why.  This was the first he heard about it and was happily surprised.

Now this is where the funny story begins.  I texted Neal and asked him how the plumbing was coming.  These are our quoted texts back and forth:

Jeannine to Neal:  "How is the plumbing project coming?"

Neal to Jeannine:  "Justin pulled up, opened the garage, opened the inside door.  Then left!!!!  Can you get him back?  Maybe he left because he saw my car and did not want to spoil the surprise???  I do not have his number or I could call him."

Jeannine to Neal:  "No, he knows you might be there and he knows that I've told you.  that isn't why he left.  He must have forgotten something and gone to get it.  His phone number is xxx xxx xxxx."

Neal to Jeannine:  "Thanks."

Jeannine to Neal:  "So did you get him?  Did he come back?"

Neal to Jeannine:  "Well, when I heard him come, he was actually leaving.  I must have dozed off at my computer and did not hear him say 'hello' or come up the stairs or leave.  The garage door closing woke me up.  It was weird when he did not come in and was gone!! When I called him, he said he had finished in 15 minutes including fixing the drain.  He heard the radio in my office but did not want to interrupt me!"

Oh my gosh!  Neal was at his computer and slept through the whole thing!  Never did here Justin come and put in the whole new appliances.  Gracious.  We could be robbed blind with Neal snoozing in the chair!

This is the picture of the new  fixtures:

I also gave Neal a new patio clock with a barometer, weather and time. 

Maren gave her dad a container of coconut candies and this card:

 Lynda Ann made some tags for Neal to put on his Dutch ovens so when he loans them out people will know who they need to return them to.  Clever Fathers Day present.

A time to celebrate

Neal informed me that he paid the last payment on an $88,000 equity loan from years ago.  So we went to Woody's and had dinner to celebrate being free from that long time debt.  Now we just have to work on our home and we will be free of debt. 

The Gertson family mourns the loss of a young friend

Lynda Ann called me and was very saddened by the fact that a young boy, Andrews age and Andrews friend, had committed suicide.  It was a rough time for the Gertsons and other ward families who knew this family and grieved for them.  Annie felt helpless for this family.   I felt emotional on many levels as she shared the knowledge of what happened and having to talk to her own children about this tragedy.

There was a talk by Shayne M. Bowen that I had to look up.  Here is a part of that talk that gives me solace when I think of people suffering from the loss of a loved one:

     "I have learned that the bitter, almost unbearable pain can become sweet as you turn to your Father in Heaven and plead for His comfort that comes through His plan; His Son, Jesus Christ; and His Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost. 

     I testify that because of Him, even our Savior, Jesus Christ, those feelings of sorrow, loneliness, and despair will one day be swallowed up in a fullness of joy.  I can depend on him when He said: 
"I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.  'Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:  because I live, ye shall live also".  John 14:18-19

Christmas choir program

When the bishop called me to be the choir director last September, I nearly fell off my chair in fits of laughter.  If there was ever a person unqualified for a job it was me for this one.  My musical abilities stop shortly after being able to read music and carry a tune.  I have put in my time as a primary chorister but that was all fun and games, nothing technical.  My head spun in circles for about 5 days as I tried to wrap my head around the idea that I was not only the choir director but would certainly have to come up with a Christmas program!  Having to write the program and having to lead the choir!  Good grief!  What was the bishop thinking.  My gross lack of experience led to conclude that the program needed to be very basic with MUCH participation from the congregation.  Amazingly enough the program was a success and I breathed a big sigh of relief.  But now it is June and time to be thinking about the Christmas program once again.  Interestingly enough, ideas have begun popping in my head.  I shall keep you updated.

Neal teaching Maren the art of Dutch Oven cooking

Maren is getting ready for girls camp and wanted her dad to come and give her some lessons on cooking with a Dutch Oven.  She sent me these pictures.  Neal called and said he spent about 4 hours out at Maren's and had a great time visiting while cooking.  Maren also text me and said how much fun it was.  Glad they had such a good time.  They did peach cobbler, sliced potatoes with bacon and cheese, cubed potatoes with pork strips and my barbeque sauce.  It was a delicious dinner for her family.  Good luck, Maren, cooking for 30+ girls and leaders.  You'll do great!

Welfare Square

Linda Knight and I volunteered to go to welfare square and slice and bag bread this morning for 4 hours.  We had a fun time and I had to snap a couple pictures.  We aren't supposed to take our cell phones or any personal items in the processing area, but I had to sneak a couple pictures.  The first picture is from left to right:  Suzanne, Wendy (our RS President), me and Linda.  We were on our 15 minute break.

 Obviously me holding a loaf of the bread we sliced and bagged.  Totally reminded me of the chocolate days standing on the line with those stupid hair hats on!

This last picture is of Linda catching the loaf of bread as it comes through the slicer.  She then slides it on a metal flat scoop into the plastic bag that has air blowing in it so the bread can slide in easily.  Then I take the bread, twist it closed and put it on the conveyer belt.  It was a fun day and a fun experience.  We figured (by counting the bags) that Linda and I did about 600 loaves of bread.

Maddie has a little fender bender

Got this picture and text from Mindy saying that Maddie was in a car accident.  Maddie was okay but her car wasn't.  And Maddie was mad.  Not sure what happened.  Haven't had any details.  Don't know if she hit someone or someone hit her.  I'm just glad that she is okay.

Cute picture of Desmond

I thanked Lyndsy for this picture of Desmond.  She said it was sent by accident, but I'll take a picture any time accident or no.

On the way home

We got to the airport about 6:30.  Turned in the car and got through customs and waiting to board our flight to San Francisco.  While we were waiting, Annie decided to see if her bag would actually fit in the basket that represented the overhead space.  With great effort, she was able to stuff it in!

Just fooling around a little bit while waiting for the plane.

 We arrived home at 3:40.  It was a wonderful trip.  Well planned and so many fun things to see and do.  Annie planned a perfect vacation. 

Some funny things that happened.  Annie forgot she had a little pocket knife in her purse and of course got nailed as we went through security.  She had the option to mail it back to her.  The guy in her ward works at the security and is the one who found it.  He loved that.

We had prayer every morning before we left the hotel.  One morning in particular we were glad we did because Annie made a left hand turn on the green light but went down the wrong side of the island.  We probably won't let her forget that any time soon.

Thanks Annie for planning a perfect trip.  You will have a hard time topping this one when Abby graduates!

The Water Taxi

Annie got us all day passes for the water taxies.  You can get on a water taxi at designated locations around the bay and get off and on where you wish.  It was really fun and I watched many of the people who live there use the water taxies frequently.

 We wandered into a store that had what they call Stuffies.  These stuffies were of the body organs with cute sayings that went with them.  We had to take a picture of each one.  The colon:  You move me.

 The ovary:  Ova achiever

 The liver:  I'm a liver not a fighter

 The bladder:  Don't stop relievin'

 The spleen:  Lymphin the dream

 The appendix:  Feel it in your gut

 Skin:  In the flesh

 Brain:  All you need is lobe

 Gallbladder:  Gall of the wild

 I absolutely loved this sign.  It was on one of the science displays for kids.  It was great!

 Annie and Mallory resting on a bench and watching the dogs chasing sticks in the ocean.  You can actually see some blue sky!!

 Another incredible waterfall and river. 

 Trail through the woods.  Beautiful!

 Annie kept saying it smelled like a Christmas tree lot.  She was so right.

 Walking across the floating bridge.  A little bit creepy but the view looking down was breath taking!

 One of the hardest things we had to do was find a place to eat.  Nearly impossible to find places.  I'm sure they had them but they were well hidden.  Mallory and I had remembered seeing a pizza place and we finally found it.  It was called Boston Pizza.  Hey Mr. Boston, you didn't know they had a pizza place named after you!  The food was delicious and a great change from hamburgers!