A birthday wish from My Little Missionary

I got this card in the mail from Mallory and it brought me to tears.  She is so thoughtful and so dear to me.  I could tell this card was made with love and that is why it means so much to me.

Birthday Lunch

I had a fun Saturday!  Lunda Ann and Hayley came to Salt Lake and the three of us drove down to Provo to meet Susan and Mary.  Lila Mae couldn't come because she was changing to cable from Dish and had to wait for the guy to come to her house.  We met Susan and Mary at ShopKo and from there went to Seagull Book and then headed to Black Bear Diner for lunch.  We had a new waitress and a couple funny things happened.  Susan had made the comment that she was so thirsty and needed a Pepsi quick.  Well we ordered our drinks and the waitress came with everyone's drink but Susans!  We laughed and laughed.  She reminded the waitress that she had ordered a Pepsi and she finally got one.  When our lunches came, everyone got their lunch except Mary who had commented that she was starving and couldn't wait to get her food.  The waitress had not even put in Mary's order and so while we started eating, Mary had to wait for her order to come.  While she was waiting she had finished off her lemonade so asked the waitress if she could get a refill.  The waitress informed her that they had run out of lemonade!  It was 12:30 and they were already out of lemonade?!!  How could that be.  We also told the waitress to divide the bill in twos.  When we got the slip it had everything together.  My goodness.  What a comedy of errors!   We did have a great time and lots of laughs.

Susan gave me fun presents and so did Lynda Ann.  Annie gave me this cute apron and a grease screen, that I've wanted for a long time and forget to get one every time I'm out.  Great gifts.

 Susan gave me these cute Americana candle holders along with a gorgeous necklace and earrings.  She also gave me $50.00 to spend at Talbots or where ever I chose.

 Love this card that the $50.00 came in.

 And, of course, a bag of licorice.  Love licorice!!

We had a fun day.  On the way back from Provo, we stopped downtown and took a picture of Jeffrey's name etched on the memorial wall of organ donors.  This was the first time that I had seen it.  

It was a fun and memorable day.  One filled with laughs and happy memories.  I will be turning 74 this year!  Goodness 74!  

Cutler's new home

Maren invited Neal and I out to her home on the 24th for hamburgers and hot dogs.  It was nice to be in her home.  We were fed well and had a good visit.  After lunch Neal and I along with Maren and Boston drove over to the lot where Maren and Greg are having their home built.  It was nice to see the progress.  I think when the framing goes up then you feel like things are really starting to happen.

July 17th

It has been one year since Taylor was in her accident.  Neal and I had celebrated our wedding anniversary by having dinner at Market Street Grill.  We had just arrived home when we got a call from Maren telling us that Taylor had been in a serious accident and she was being transported to ICH Hospital at State and 5600 S.  A few days after the accident it was confirmed that Taylor was paralyzed from the chest down.  Very sad news.

But it has been a full year and Taylor has grown mentally, physically and emotionally.  She is determined and aggressive with her situation.  We are proud of all she has accomplished since the accident.  We love you Taylor and are proud of what you have done so far and know that you have many positive adventures ahead of you.

A present from Mallory

I came home from work and happened to glance on the front porch and there was this little package waiting for me.  I wasn't expecting anything and those are the best kind.  Such a fun surprise.  I noticed that it was from Mallory.  Couldn't wait to see what she had sent me.  There was also a darling note from her that went along with the gift.

Darling salt and pepper shakers.  I love them!  Thank you, my little missionary. 

July 17, 2018

Neal and I celebrated 28 years of marriage by going to Market Street Grill.  We love that place and it holds good memories for us.  We walked in and went right to the bar and ordered a great dinner.  I had a hamburger and fries and Neal had fish.  We also shared a huge piece of their famous chocolate cake.  It was delicious.  And we enjoyed every single bite.  I meant to take a picture of it and completely forgot.  But we did get our waiter to take a picture of us.

We've had good times and lots of memories.  Some memories are better than others, but on the whole most of them are good.  You'll notice the cake with only a couple bites left.

The Book of Mormon

I've been reading the Book of Mormon every day faithfully since Mallory left on her mission.  I love this book more and more and learn so much every time I pick it up.  Don't know the author but love these words:

"Each individual who prayerfully studies the Book of Mormon can also receive a testimony of its divinity.  In addition, this book can help with personal problems in a very real way.  The Book of Mormon will bring you closer to the Lord and His loving power.  He who fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes - He who helped the blind to see and the lame to walk can also bless you!  He has promised that those who live by the precepts of this book 'shall receive a crown of eternal life."

I have a testimony of the truthfulness of this great book and am so grateful for the example my own mother set for me.  I never remember a time that I didn't walk into the kitchen that the Book of Mormon wasn't sitting, opened, on the kitchen table.  From the time she joined the church until she left her home, the Book of Mormon was the center piece of where she read.

Happy Sunday!

Remembering Jeffrey

Mindy text me a note that she received from a donor and I asked her if I had her permission to post it on my blog.  Here is the letter:

"I know what a special gift it is to receive the donated tissue and I appreciate it very much!  I needed bone tissue because of a removal of pins in my foot from 1989.  The pins did damage to my cartilage and bones.  I am now healing fine.  I am 3 weeks out, but wanted to offer my thanks as soon as possible.  With the help of this bone tissue, I am hoping to cross something off my bucket list.  I would like to run my first 5K when I am healed with the help of your loved one.  You and your family will remain in my thoughts.  Gratefully, Gina"

Very touching and I'm sure Jeffrey would be pleased to know that he has been able to help someone else.  I also told her that I had gone to the temple that day that she sent me the note and that Jeffrey always seems to make his presence known and it always makes me happy.

Quote:
"Who are we?  We are children of God.  Our potential is unlimited.  Our inheritance is sacred.  May we always honor that heritage - in every thought and deed."

Lynda Ann and Camp

When I was out at Annie's doing projects she showed me her camp projects for this past girl's summer camp.  Annie is the ward camp director and I suspect will be until the end of time.  She actually created a sink for the girls to wash their hands and the dishes in.  I was amazed when she showed me.  If you look closely at the picture you will see two buckets under the table.  One is for the fresh water and the other for the dirty water.  There is a hose that runs from the clean bucket to the spout that goes into the sink/bucket.  You will also see a foot pump that pumps the water from the bucket to the tap!  Incredible creation.  From what I understand the boys used it at their summer camp.  Annie, you are amazing.

 Their theme had whales as part of it so she made clothespins with a fin and painted them black and white to look like a whale.  They used these to hang up notes.  She also made a whale costume for the Bishop to wear on a specific evening.  She also made fins for all the girls to wear on their heads and she made a special camp shirt for each of the girls.  Is it no wonder that all the girls in the stake want to be a part of the Lighthouse ward at camp.  Great job, Annie.  You are amazing.  Wish I could take credit for some of your creative talents but there were no spiritual genes to pass along to you from me.

A Saturday of Projects

I gave my sewing machine to Annie a long time ago, thinking that I wouldn't ever be using it again - those days of pajama making were behind me now that my grandchildren were too old for grandma's pajamas.  Well, I have one more project I'm working on for the grandchildren for this Christmas.  I saved all the scraps from all the pajamas I've made the grandchildren over the years and I'm making using all those scraps to make a "pajama quilt" for the grandchildren who were recipients of pajamas that I made.  It has become quite a project.  The hours and hours of cutting all the squares, sewing them in to 12 inch blocks and now sewing the sashing in between is countless hours of work.  I spent 9 hours yesterday, at Annie's, just sewing and was able to get 7 of the 15 done.  I still have 8 more to go.  It takes me about an hour to sew the sashing in each quilt.

While I was busy sewing, Annie had her own project that she and Abby were working on.  Abby is going to Oregon for a couple days and will be selling these bags to raise money for the guide dog program.  Lynda and Abby designed the pattern on their Cricket and then Annie has a press that permanently sticks the pattern on the material.  The bags are absolutely darling!  

We did take a break about 3:30 and all of us drove to their favorite hamburger place and had hamburgers and fries.  It was a very fun and very productive day.  I brought the sewing machine home with me and hopefully this week I can get the rest of the quilts ready to be put on the quilting frames.  My hope is that the grandchildren will catch the love that went into the quilts and will look at the different materials and remember what ones they had pajamas made by their Gam.

An Evening at Log Haven

Last week we decided we wanted to have dinner at Log Haven and listen to our friend, Wayne Egan, play the piano.  He play up at Log Haven every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.  He is a Jazz man so when I requested Can I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life, he laughed and said he would see what he could do.  Wayne can play anything and is amazing at the piano.  I also requested Love Is Wonderful the Second Time Around.  He played them both and Neal and I left a healthy tip for him in his tip jar.
This is a picture of Wayne play the piano.

Neal and I at the piano with Wayne.

Picture of Neal and I and Susan and Gary as we were leaving Log Haven

We noticed this water fall as we were walking down the path toward our car.  Our canyons are absolutely beautiful and no matter the season you can all find unique beauty if you just look up and look around.

It was a delightful evening and one that will be long remembered.  You know I don't like Jazz, but Neal, being the good person that he is, bought a CD from Wayne as we were leaving.  I've played it and it is beautiful but just isn't my kind of music.  I feel like I'm in an elevator or a lobby somewhere.  Don't tell Wayne.  He would feel bad :-)

A trip to Midway

Lila Mae needed a picture hung and so Neal and I hoped in the car for a Saturday afternoon ride to the outlets and then to Lila Mae's.  We stopped at the outlets and bought a few things a Tommy Bahamas and Talbots.  Then on to Midway where Neal hung the picture for Lila Mae.  We stayed and visited for a little while and then headed home.  We stopped at the Kholer Cheese Factory and got an ice cream cone to enjoy on the way home.

 When we got home there was a package from Alex of his new game.  He is hoping that Neal's students can help him market it.  Alex's company is called Lethal Chicken Games and the game he sent is called What The Film and the other game is Sasquatch.  It will be interesting to see what Neal's students can come up with.  Notice the Lethal Chicken.

 Neal and I got a call from Tucker telling us that Sam's Club was selling some Utah stuff so we headed down there and . . . well I can't tell you what we bought because it is for Tucker's birthday.  This picture is Neal sitting on one of the couches at Sam's Club talking to Tucker.

It was a fun and full day!

Lila Mae's old home

As we were driving into Midway and coming down River Road I had to stop and take a picture of the area where Lila's home used to be.  It was sad to not be greeted by the blue roof as we came around the bend and down the road.  This is a picture of the area now.  Everything has been leveled.

Looking down the road at Max's parent's old home.  It's amazing that it is still standing.

God Bless America!

God bless America.  Land that I love!  Stand beside her and guide her!  You all know that I am so in love with America.  No matter how bad things seems to be, I have to look around and see how free we are to move about the country and to worship where and how we choose.

Neal and I along with the Gertsons spent the 4th of July in Midway.  This seems to be a tradition and one that we look forward to every year.  This year Neal and Jeff went golfing up at Wasatch Park.  The actually golfed 27 holes.  The golf 18 on the Mountain Course and then did 9 on the Lake Course.  They had a great time and enjoyed their time together.  Neal and I picked up Jeff at the mouth of Parley's Canyon.  I dropped the boys off and then headed to Lila Mae's.  Lila, Susan and I had a great visit and then we drove to Kholer's Cheese Factory and got grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream cones.  Lynda Ann showed up with the kids about two o'clock.  We barbequed hamburgers and hotdogs and had fruit and potato salad to go with.  About the time we were finishing dinner Jeff and Neal got there.  We finished dinner, cleaned things up and then started the Bingo game.  Susan had all kinds of prizes and we had such a fun time.  Annie played a card for Mallory and Mallory won almost every time.  The final game was the black out which awards the winner a special piggy bank with money.  I won!!!  I gave the bank to Lynda Ann and told her that I would donate it to Mallory's mission.

 Playing Bingo

Mallory's BINGO card

 Abby made some delicious cake bites on a stick.  Annie accidently dropped them but was able to salvage most of them.  They also brought rice krispie squares that were delicious as well.

 Abby holding one of the cake bites.  You can see they were decorated in blue and white for the 4th.

 We played Bingo for a couple hours, visited, laughed and had a marvelous time.  The change this year was that we decided not to stay for the fireworks.  With the location of Lila's new home we can't see the Memorial Hill from her yard and would have to go to the neighbors or over to the school so we opted to head home early and not have to deal with the crowds trying to leave Midway.  I talked to Lila later and she said the fireworks didn't start until after 10:00 and we were pulling in our driveway about that time.

Lila Mae also made (well she made me make them while she watched) cinnamon rolls that were to die for.  Man oh man, they were delicious.  I forgot to take a picture of them.  But I sure remember how they tasted!
It was an incredibly fun day and we will all look forward to next year when we continue the celebration.