Sunday Thoughts

"The Lord loves effort, and effort brings rewards.

We keep practicing.  We are always progressing as long as we are striving to follow the Lord.  He doesn't expect perfection today.  We keep climbing our personal Mount Sinai.  As in times past, our journey does indeed take effort, hard work, and study, but our commitment to progress brings eternal rewards."

"I testify that the Lord knows your desires and loves you for your faithful devotion to Him.  He has a plan for you, whether it be in this life or the next.  Listen to His spirit.  Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.  In this life or the next, His promises will be fulfilled.  If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Two great quotes to live by.

Mallory Moves

My Little Missionary now has a new member of her family and moved back to Stansbury until she can take her new puppy and move out to Georgia to live with Emmi.  She was supposed to go the first of September, but because of the COVID issue, Emmi has been delayed moving off base so that has delayed Mallory going back.  But with her new little Brinkley, she had to move back to Stansbury until she can get to Georgia.

She moved out while we were in Scofield and when I came home this was waiting for me on my kitchen table.  I sat down, read the note, looked at my Happy Bean Plant that she left for me and shed many tears.  I will miss having her around to laugh at my Gam Moments, help me with computer problems, help me with TV problems, run countless errands, drive throughs for dinner and trips to Provo and shopping.  I'll miss her insight on the gospel and her deep thoughts about the gospel, life and sharing her testimony and mission experiences.  I will miss her sad moments and her happy moments.  I'll miss her standing in the kitchen and talking to me as I get dinner going or as I'm making chocolate chip cookies.  I'll miss sneaking downstairs to fold her laundry and surprise her.  I'll even miss her coming in the kitchen and making me jump because she was so very quiet.  I'll miss our times watering Pa's patio plants "our way"!! 

But, mostly I will miss her presence in my life daily.  How I love my Little Missionary.

Tomato Pie and Scofield

Neal and I were invited to Scofield for the 24th of July celebration.  We had an amazing time.  We love it up there.  We played lots of bridge and as always had delicious food.  Judy makes an incredible tomato pie, which she made up at the cabin. 

The first picture is the pie ready to go in the oven.  It was a combined effort, but I have to give Judy most of the credit.

 This is when we took it out of the oven.  Believe me, mouths were watering!

 Enjoying a delicious dinner of fresh baked tomato pie, corn on the cob and a hamburger.  OMYGOSH!!  Soooooooooo good!

I love going up to their cabin.  A cabin in the mountains.  Perfect.  I took a couple pictures of the squirrel who kept coming to visit us while we were playing bridge on the patio.

 This was a nest in one of the pine trees right behind the cabin.  I took a picture to send to Emmi to see if she could tell us what kind it was.  I'll post it again, if she knows.  Do squirrels build nests?  I don't know.  I'll have to investigate that.

Emmi gets a promotion!!

Emmi has been in Georgia ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic hit.  She has not been able to do her job, train, take the classes she needs, etc.  She has literally been on hold since March.  For a while she was confined to the base.  She lives in a little apartment with no kitchen.  She made the comment that there are only so many microwave dinners that one can stand.  She isn't allowed to have a toaster or an electric pan.  But, we finally got word that she received a promotion.  She is now Petty Officer Third Class!  She said she even gets a small raise in pay. 

So proud of you Emmi.  Keep up the good work.  We love you!

Therapy

We spend a couple hours in the morning and a couple hours at night doing therapy on Neal's knees.  I feel like I've spent more time on the floor pushing Neal's knees back than I would like count or remember.

Neal puts his leg straight down and then I have to push it back bending the leg as far as he can stand.  it is very painful for him, but he is determined to get the scar tissue lose and flexible so that he can walk, sit, golf and kneel.  I have to admit that it is an exhausting process for both of us.  But, I will report here that we are making good progress.  He is able to move is leg way back by himself before I have to lean in and help.  This too, shall pass - I think?

30 Years

Neal and I celebrated our 30 year wedding anniversary.  Quite an accomplishment for us.  It hasn't been an easy journey, but has been full of adventures, surprises, fun, heartache and lots of challenges.  We started out by selling my home on Cumberland Rd. and using part of the money to remodel his home on Lynwood.  We also used part of the money to finish the cabin at Bear Lake.  We enjoyed a few years with the newly remodeled home and the cabin at Bear Lake.

Unexpected and cruel events made it necessary to walk away from the cabin and turn it over to the Maxfield children, who later sold the cabin to the Sealy family.

After Derek graduated from High School we sold the home on Lynwood and bought our present townhouse in Murray.  We have loved living here and enjoying many callings in our ward and stake.

We've seen 5 children married, another moved to China and another to Colorado. We have 20 grandchildren to boast about.  Our life has been full, that I would have to admit.

Neal took me to Market Street for dinner.  We have gone every year on our anniversary.  Haven't missed a year.  The night before we got married we were at Market Street having a snack and spending our last night as two single people.

Happy 30 years!!!!

Andrew Carves a Winner

Andrew sent Neal and I these pictures of his carving that he did for a scout contest.  He was supposed to pick a hero and then carve something that had to do with his hero.  He said the Emmi was his hero and so he carved a boat because she is in the Navy.  He won 1st place for his carving and won a wooden watch that he really wanted.  Way to go Andrew.  Pa was impressed and very proud of what you did. 

Sunday Thoughts

Today we asked Mallory to give the lesson for our Sunday Meeting.  She gave a beautiful lesson and the spirit in the room was strong.  I remembered the scripture "When two or three are gathered in my name there will I be also.

 Mallory gave us some thoughts from three different talks given by the general authorities.  Her theme was remembering and forgetting.  Her thoughts came from a conference talk Always Remember Him, Forget Me Not, He Will Carry You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home.  She shared some missionary experiences along with thoughts from these talks.  She talked about the five points from the talk Forget Me Not.  They are:

1.  Forget not to be patient with yourself.

2.  Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.  Commit your time and energy to the things that matter most.

3.  Forget not to be happy now.  Look for the simple, elegant beauties of every day.

4.  Forget not the WHY of the gospel.  The gospel is a joy and a delight.

5.  Forget not that the Lord loves you.

She ended the lesson with a statement by Elder Gong.  "With God, there is no point of no return."  What a beautiful and reassuring statement. 

We will surely miss having Mallory in our home.

I will add here some thoughts from Elder Gong as my Sunday Thoughts:

"Jesus Christ reaches out to each of us.  The living Christ, asking, inviting, calling to us in His own name and in His own voice, knowing that we're never lost. we're never alone.  There are challenges, to be sure.  But He's always there because He lives and because He loves us.  These are some of the most precious and sacred moments we have when we feel the Lord encircling us in His arms of love.
During this period of social distancing and COVID-19, I have felt the Savior beckon, 'I see you, I know you, I love you.'  When you truly know that He sees you, He knows you, and he loves you, you can understand that you are not isolated.  You could never be isolated because you have a knowledge of and a relationship with the living Son of God sending love and peace to you all."

Some COVID-19 Humor

Jordyn Lyn Graduates

I think I already posted that Jordyn Lyn graduated but I wanted to put her announcement on the blog.  Such a cute picture of her on a special day.  Wish we could have been there for you and also wish you would have had a normal graduation ceremony.  We love you and are proud of what you have accomplished.

4th of July Celebration

It has become a tradition to meet at Lila Mae's for the 4th of July.  I thought this year we might have to cancel the gathering because Hayley could have been exposed to COVID.  But, after tests were done and all came back negative, we were able to go ahead.  Our usual gathering went without a hitch.  We had a delicious lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs with fruit, potato salad and always Lynda Ann's fancy dessert.  Lila Mae had made bread that morning so we all got to take home a loaf of fresh made bread along with all the fun prizes we won playing bingo.  Bingo is also a tradition.  Jeff won the grand prize for the black out game.  What a fun day.

Annie's famous 4th of July pin wheel cookies.  They were gone almost before we even had lunch!

 Jeff golfed with a friend at Soldier Hollow.  He didn't have Neal to play with.  Neal was very sad.

 Just chilling out on Lila Mae's patio.

 My annual and traditional picture of me and Lila Mae.  Love this picture.  Lila Mae will be 89 in October.  She is amazing.

 Playing the famous Bingo

We left Lila Mae's about 5:00 and headed up to Scofield to Ron and Judy's cabin.  We had a wonderful time and stayed up there through the weekend, coming down the canyon Tuesday morning about 8:30 so we could get ready for Neal's therapy session at St. Marks at noon.

 Had to capture this picture of Ron out on the patio, reading and watering the lawn.  Now that is the relaxing life we all dream of!

 Judy jumped in the picture with her shirt that summed it all up.  "Busy doing nothing!"

Judy loves to cook .  She was making a rhubarb upside down cake.  It was delicious as all of her cooking is. 

 Neal coming down the road.  He is walking great!

 My car parked in front of the cabin with the flag flying.  Love our country!!

 Another creation by Judy. 

Some thoughts to leave on the 4th of July.

"As we walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days, we must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom.  We already know that Satan does not want this freedom to be ours.  he attempted to destroy moral agency in heaven, and now on earth he is fiercely undermining, opposing, and spreading confusion about religious freedom - what it is and why it is essential to our spiritual life and our very salvation.  Some are offended when we bring our religion into the public square, yet the same people who insist that their viewpoints and actions be tolerated in society are often very slow to give that same tolerance to religious believers who also wish their viewpoints and actions to be tolerated.  The general lack of respect for religious viewpoints is quickly devolving into social and political intolerance for religious people and institution."

Sunday Thoughts

Every night Neal and I listen to the news and we hear about the sadness and pain of our divided country.  Someone is hurt, someone is disrespected, someone is in trouble.  There is oppression, racism, corruption, and even our religious rights are being attacked and suppressed.

So during this time we must remind ourselves of the good things that are going in our lives.  We need to remain close to each other, to the gospel and to the Lord by focusing on things that bring joy and peace.

"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."   Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Father's Day Gifts

I posted a blog about Father's Day and failed to add the pictures of the gifts that Neal got.

Maren gave Neal this sacrament plate.  It is beautiful and we love it and have already used it.  Thank's Cutlers for remembering Neal on this special day and for the beautiful gift.  Ben Behunin went to school at Highland High with Maren.  He makes beautiful pottery. 

Lyndsy came by and gave Neal this painting that she did herself.  It is significant of his days at Maxfield Candy Company.

Tucker sent his dad some amazing and colorful socks along with a card that made Neal laugh until he had tears running down his face. 

I'm sure all the Maxfield children will read this card with "Neal Sayings" and will get the same happy memories of Neal saying them. 

Tucker's Humor

Tucker always manages to find something negative about BYU and then graciously share it with me.  I have to admit that COVID-19 has brought out some very funny things, giving us needed moments of laughter.  Here is Tucker's contribution.

DON'T BE ASHAMED TO WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WEAR BYU SHIRTS.

Another moment of COVID humor:

Brinkley

Mallory sent me these pictures of her new puppy, Brinkley.  He is the cutest little puppy and we are all excited to get to meet him in person.  I ask Mallory how she decided on him and her comment was, "He was the perfect balance between playful and calm.  he kept coming back to me and falling asleep on my lap or trying to eat my hair.  The other two kept wiggling away from me when I'd pick them up.  he kind of chose me." 

How sweet is that. 

Reindeer Games

I know.  It isn't Christmas but I just finished the Reindeer Games counted cross stitch.  What a fun project and I'm excited to get it framed and see it hanging during the holidays.  This is one of my COVID-19 2020 projects.  It always was one that I worked on during the hours sitting in the hospital by Neal's side during his two knee replacements.  I'm happy it is done and to be moving on to another project.  Not Christmas themed this time.