Annie's Project

 Lynda Ann had this idea and went about creating it.  She found a huge mirror that someone was selling on KSL.  The bought the mirror, took off the frame around it and built her own frame, glued, attached and painted it.  Then she bought all the materials for the wreath and made the wreath that would hang on top the mirror.  There were no pictures take of how it got put up on the wall above the staircase but they did send me a picture of the finished project.  All I can say is the talent streams from Lynda's fingers and I don't think there is anything she couldn't do if she put her mind to it.  You can see the size with Andrew standing just to the side and below it.  

California Dancers

I grabbed these two pictures off of instagram.  The Maxfield girls are getting ready for their dance recital.  I don't have any more information that what is on the picture itself but was excited to see them.  I can hardly believe how much Peyton has grown!

  

An Official Missionary

 Abby was set apart Tuesday evening as an official missionary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

She is assigned to labor in the California Los Angeles Mission.  She was blessed to have all her doubts and fears taken away and replaced with faith and hope.  She was blessed with protection and knowing that her family will be taken care of while she's gone.  She was blessed to have the gift of tongues and be able to communicate in her assigned language.  She was blessed to be bold, lift up her voice and have confidence in her calling as a missionary.  

$2.00 Bills

 Every year - and I have no idea how many years we have been doing this - Neal and I send a $2.00 bill in a Valentine for each one of the grandchildren.  I don't even remember why we started doing it or where the idea came from.  Apparently it has become a tradition with the grandchildren that they are not willing to let go of.  No matter how old they are, they anxiously wait for their Valentine with the $2.00 bill inside.

I assumed that the money was quickly spent on some treat that was wanted.  Emmi sent me this picture and made the comment that she has saved every $2.00 bill that we have sent her over the years.  I'm sure they don't add up to much but fun that she saves them.

Finished Project

This is one project that I've never been so happy to be done with.  This pattern was taken from what they call a Pic and Stitch.  You take a picture and send it to a company.  They load it on to a computer program that changes it into a counted cross stitch pattern and shades in all the colors.  When I got this pattern back it had over 150 different shades of thread!  I spent most of my time taking a couple stitches, then changing to another color, taking a couple more stitches and changing to another shade.  This is a 1929 old pick up truck that Judy Stanfield's brother owns and loves.  She asked me if there was a way to put it on fabric.  That is when I did some research and learned about Pic and Stitch.  I hope I never have to use that program again!   I will for sure have to take a picture of it all framed.  The framing will make it really pop.  And then, that is the last I ever hope to see it!!!!

This is my next project and I'm excited to get started on it.  I would much rather to a fun picture.  This particular one will be so simple after doing the truck and there are only 12 different colors.  YEAH!!

 

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

 We haven't had hardly any snow this year.  February comes and we get the biggest snow storm of the year.  In fact the weatherman said that we got 2 months worth of snow in one day.  Here are some pictures of Neal out early in the morning trying to get a head start on the storm.  The weatherman had sent out a storm warning so the Mayor asked people to stay off the roads until 11:00 so that the plows could clear the roads.  Our County Offices were closed until 11:00 a.m. Thank goodness.  I'm not sure I could have even been able to get out of the driveway!

I think this last picture was taken from Annie's back porch.  

Sunday Gathering

 After Abby's farewell in Sacrament Meeting the family gathered in the YW room where Annie had tables set up and a delicious potato bar set up along with sugar cookies and brownies.  The only family who came to the meeting and the gathering after was Mindy and Maddie.  It was so fun to see them and to be able to visit with them and catch up on their lives.  It was especially nice to have them come and support Abby.  

Dan, Jill and their daughter Ainsley came.  Two of Abby's friends from Logan came.  One of the girls is a member but not active in the church and the other was a non-member.  They surprised Abby and I know she was pleased that they made the effort to travel that far for her.  

Here are some pictures.  I'm afraid I got busy talking and didn't take very many.  But I did capture a few.

Annie going the extra mile to make everything as nice as possible.  I love the flower garden effect on the tables.  Beautiful and creative.

This is the buffet line.  I feel bad I didn't get a picture of the Valentine sugar cookies and the brownies.  You will just have to trust that we had them.

I also noticed that I didn't get a picture of Mindy and Maddie.  I spent most of my time visiting with them and didn't take a picture!  But, they were there and very supportive of Abby.

Abby and her two room mates.  So sweet of them to drive up from Logan!

Jill, her daughter Ainsley and Annie.  Long time friends of the Gertsons.  Dan (Jill's husband) was at the meeting and came in for a minute to the dinner but had to leave early.  He is a Bishop and had meetings he had to attend to.

Sunday thought?  Goodness I have so many of them swirling through my head that it is hard to just center on one.  But thinking about Abby and her choices throughout her life that has led her to this point - this is the thought that I share today:

"Stand out; be different from the world.  The Lord needs you to look like, sound like, act like, and dress like a true disciple of Jesus Christ." 

This is Abbigail Jeannine Gertson.

Abby's Day

 Yesterday was Abby's missionary farewell.  She spoke in sacrament meeting and her talk was amazing.  It was based on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Here are three thoughts that I wrote down from her talk:

"One of Gods greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again."

"Our Heavenly Father cares more about who we are becoming, not about who we were."

"Results and changes in our life doesn't come all at once, it comes little by little."

I wish I could have recorded her whole talk.  It was amazing.  For someone who isn't comfortable getting up in front of people, you would have never known that she was the least bit uncomfortable.  She gave a beautiful talk and my heart was touched deeply by her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and her commitment to serve her Father in Heaven for 18 months.

Some beautiful pictures that Mallory took of her little sister missionary.  You can tell from the pictures that the two of them were having a very fun time.

Because of COVID, which seems to be running our lives right now, Abby will be doing her MTC at home.  She will be set apart as an official missionary tomorrow evening and will from that point on be in the service of her Father in Heaven.  She will follow all the missionary rules just as she would if she were in the MTC.  For example, Ray's wife Gloria died and her funeral is this Thursday in Wyoming.  She is not allowed to go and cannot be left alone.  She has to have a companion with her at all times.  So one of her siblings will stay home with her while the rest of the family travels to Wyoming.  Another interesting thing is that while she is experiencing her MTC life in her home, her Mission President is her Stake President until she leaves for California.  Abby has already been assigned a missionary companion that she has already talked with and now will be studying with and learning the Spanish Language together.  Try as it may, COVID has not stopped the progress of the missionary program.  Interesting how the church has been able to adapt and move forward.

I have seen miracle after miracle and blessing after blessing as Abby has made the choice to serve a mission.  Abby finally received word from the Logan Temple that she can go through for her endowments on March 5th.  Because Lynda Ann will still be recovering from her surgery, she will not be able to be Abby's escort.  But what a blessing that Abby has two older sisters who have both been endowed and could step in and take the place of her mother.  Mallory will be going with Abby.  

Another blessing is that Lynda Ann will have Abby with her to help with her mother's recovery.  It will be a wonderful time of service for Abby and a bonding between her and her mom that will be cherished.  And when it is time for Abby to leave for California, Annie will be completely healed and so Abby and her mom will be able to say goodbye knowing that all is well with Abby, Annie and at home.

I've already seen so many blessing and I know the Annie has already felt some peace and calm amid some serious stress during this time.  It has been fun to listen as Abby has already begun to have the ability to speak Spanish in such a small amount of time and seems to do it with such confidence.  It is truly a miracle.  

I know that Heavenly Father will protect their home because they are housing one of his beautiful daughters who is preparing to go and do the most important work that can ever be done on this earth - His work.  I feel so honored to be Abby's grandmother and to be able to see her grow and mature in the gospel.  

"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God with a voice to shake the earth and cry repentance unto every people."  Alma 29:1

The Super Bowl

I love football and so look forward to the big final game.  This year the the super bowl was anything but exciting.  Lynda Ann and Jeff invited us out to their home for finger foods and to watch the game.  About half way through the game most of us lost complete interest.  However the food was delicious.  Annie always goes the extra mile when it comes to having treats and foods during the football game.  We had all kinds of finger foods during the early afternoon and then after the came she did fondue with steak and chicken along with baked potatoes.  I was so full from all the vegetables I had eaten that I just couldn't do more than try the meat which was delicious.  We had a very fun time.  

This is a picture of the different dips and chips and vegetables we had to eat during the game.

Miss Mallory Sue who really isn't into football :-)

Getting ready to fondue.

 Very fun day.  Thanks Gertsons for inviting us out and letting us be a part of the Super Bowl - even though the game sucked rocks!!

Sunday Thoughts

 I'm a week behind but there is never a lack of quotes from the twelve Apostles.  This quote is from President Henry B. Eyering:

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest time in life can be a blessing.  You and I have faith that the way to rise through and above trials is to believe that there is a 'balm in Gilead' and that the Lord has promised, 'I will not forsake thee.'  I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life.  I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment.  One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop.  But the Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up.  AND HE ALWAYS KEEP HIS WORD."

Abby and Emmi

 Jeff and Lynda Ann gave Abby and Emmi their birthday presents early by having Abby go back to Georgia to spend a few days with Emmi before Abby leave for her mission.  From all reports, they had a fun time together and saw lots of sights.  These are the three pictures that they sent me.  This was the sunrise in Utah when Abby's plane took off.

These next two pictures of of Abby and Emmi in Savanah obviously having a wonderful time together.

Happy birthday, girls!

Vaccine

 Yesterday at 10:00 I went to the EXPO Center to get my second Pfizer vaccine.  The county has the system down pretty efficiently.  it only took about 45 minutes by the time I checked in and was vaccinated.  Today my arm is very sore but I'm not having a lot other negative side effects.  However this is only the second day so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Last night was pretty rough.  My arm ached so much that it woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep for a while, but it finally subsided and today we are doing much better.