Sunday Thoughts

I'm still on a spiritual high.  I keep thinking about how beautiful the whole day was and how incredibly blessed I am to have the knowledge and the testimony that I have.  As we were leaving the temple, I didn't think I could feel any more deeply than I did.  I thought my testimony had reached a new high.  But, as we were leaving our sweet sister serving as our escort said that she wanted to take us a by a picture.  We followed her through a hall and around a corner and there on the wall was a picture of Christ kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane and a man dressed in white (who I personally think was Adam) with his arms wrapped around the Savior.  It was the most beautiful picture and the most spiritual moment imagined.  To think that Christ suffered ALL for me and you.  We cannot comprehend the pain and anguish he must have gone through for such as I.  Last Tuesday's experiences will be forever burned into my memory and the feelings not forgotten.  

Because the temple is the house of the Lord, standards for admission are set by Him.  One enters as His guest.  To hold a temple recommend is a priceless privilege and a tangible sign of obedience to God and His prophets.  Russell M. Nelson

Everything that occurs in the temple is uplifting and ennobling.  It speaks of life her and life beyond the grave.  It speaks of the importance of the individual as a child of God.  It speaks of the importance of the family and the eternity of the marriage relationship.  Gordon B. Hinckley

To Abbigail Jeannine Gertson, as you embark of this new adventure in your life "be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful".  President Gordon B. Hinkley

Endowment Day Continued

After we took all the pictures at the temple we were all hungry.  Abby had a favorite eating place in Logan called Angies.  So we headed to downtown Logan for a bite to eat.  The food was delicious and their fries were to die for.  We noticed, while we were eating, that the hail, rain and snow all came down but as soon as we were done and headed out to the car the storm stopped.  I have to say that it was a day of little weather miracles the whole day long!  

 We were stuffed to the gills when we left but we still had to go by Crumbl's and get some cookies to munch on, on the way home.  As we were driving out of Logan canyon we saw the Brigham City Temple.  I'd never been by it and so we took a quick detour and drove over by it and took some pictures.

Beautiful temple.  It was fun to drive by it and take some pictures.  From there, we headed home.  All of us feeling filled physically and spiritually.  

Endowment Day for Abby

 I know that I can't possible begin to express in words what an incredible and spiritual experience I had at the Logan Temple this past Tuesday.  Abby invited Neal and I to go along with Annie and Mallory to the temple for her to take out her endowments before leaving for her mission.  With COVID still raging through the world, the temples are still closed and only open for special occasions such as this.  We were to be at the Logan Temple at 12:30 sharp.  We were there at 12:20 and the security came out and opened the doors and let us in.  Besides a few temple workers to preside at the endowment, we were the only 5 people there.  It was the most quiet and peaceful experience I've ever had.  Neal and I were asked to be the witnesses, which is always a blessing.  I will add here that we did miss Jeff.  Because of some circumstances that had come to light, Jeff and Annie decided that it was best for Jeff to stay at home with Hayley and Andrew rather than go.  We certainly missed him.

After the session we were escorted outside and had a really fun time taking lots of pictures.  I can't decided which ones to post and not post so I'm just going to post them all.

Here we are on our way.  First time for Annie driving after her surgery.  

Gorgeous picture of the temple with the stormy skies. 

Just before we went in.

Yes it was windy but we didn't get rain or snow on our parade!  That was a miracle we had prayed for.

The next group of pictures are all the fun ones we took after the session.  We had so much fun!

Mallory and Abby having fun.  The love of sisters!

Me and my Little Name Sake Missionary.  I love this granddaughter and I'm so proud of her choices.

Proud grandparents.

To be continued . . . . .

A Visit to Midway

My niece, Susan, has been very ill.  Enough that she had to be taken to the hospital and have 7 pints of blood pumped into her.  We apparently were close to losing her.  She is also have problems with her legs and other issues as well.  We haven't seen her since she got home from the hospital so Annie, Mallory and went to Midway yesterday morning to get caught up on what the problems are that Susan may be facing.  We had a wonderful visit with both Lila and Susan and had Jimmy Johns for lunch.  We did find out that Susan may have cancer of the Uterus.  They did a D&C and will let her know the results of the biopsy tomorrow.  We are praying that what ever is the problem will be diagnosed and taken care of so that she will be back to full health and well again.  We love her and Lila Mae so much.  I am not allowed, nor is anyone for that matter, to take pictures of Susan but I sneaked one of her and Annie.  It is in the distance but at least it's a picture.

This is a darling picture of Mallory and her Great Aunt Lila Mae.  Notice all the flowers in the back ground.  One knows how Susan is loved.  I've never seen so many bundles of flowers for one person.  Susan laughed and said that she thought maybe she had died!  Let's hope not for a very, very long time.

 

Derek's Humor

We got this text from Derek with these pictures.  I busted up laughing.  I love that Derek finds humor in the simplest things.  Derek's post was "In the world I see faces everywhere.  I'm happy this time I could do something about it and bring it to life.  My students love it."  Your mom loved it too and I'm so happy you shared it with us.  How very clever!  Imagination is a wonderful thing!!

 

Finished Projects and New Projects

 I will always have a stitching project of some kind going.  Doing counted cross stitch is the most satisfying and rewarding thing and the most relaxing thing for me to do.  So on that note, I will always have some kind of project at my bedside to help me wind down from the days activities.  I've had a couple projects done and finally took the time to take them to the Frame Shop.  Here are my finished projects.

V is for Valentine is a series of small alphabet projects.  Each one is only about 8X10 and very fun to just put on a stand for the appropriate time of year.  I have A is for Acorn, T is for Turkey, O is for Old Glory.  The lady who designed them hasn't done the whole alphabet yet but I hope to collect and do them as she posts them for stitching.  

This is one that is specifically did for President and Sister Little.  They have a cabin in Oakley and we were invited to spend an afternoon with them at their new cabin and I thought this would be perfect to hang in their second home.  President Mike Little was our Stake President when I was serving as the Stake Relief Society President.  Sister Little has been a good friend for years so I thought it would be appropriate to give them this as a "thank you" for their service to the stake and their friendship.

This is a hand painted picture that Abby did for me.  I had it framed with a soft gray wood to accent the temple and the beautiful spring blossoms.  I love this painting and will cherish it always.  I know the love and hours of time that went into such a project.  Thank you Abby, it is beautiful and will always remind me of you.

This project is one that I started a month ago.  Mallory saw it and immediately laid claim to it.  I'm always happy when someone notices something I'm doing and asks if they can have it.  Makes it much more fun knowing that it isn't just a project but a project that is actually going to someone.  Obviously, it still needs to be pressed and framed.  

So now begins my next project.  The saying on this is a song that the Tabernacle Choir sings and it is one of my favorite songs.  When I saw that it had been put on a sampler, I just had to do it.  I will start it this week.  This one will probably take me a long time to do.  I'm excited to get started on it.

Sunday Thoughts

 Crazy Utah weather.  We are supposed to be experiencing the first week of Spring this week and so are we have had wind, cold, sunshine, warm temperatures, freezing temperatures and this morning snow!  Goodness.

This picture was looking up at Mt. Olympus.  Completely covered by the clouds.

We need the moisture in our mountains and in the valley so there is no complaining coming from me.  However, I'm praying for good weather on Tuesday so that we can get to the Logan Temple for Abby's special day.  So happy and excited that she was able to invite her grandparents to go with her.  I love the temple and have so missed not being able to go.  Oh happy day for Abby and her family and her grandparents!!!

I remember my mother ironing her temple clothes every month in preparation for her excursion on the bus to the Salt Lake Temple.  That image has remained strongly in my mind.  I remembering sitting at the kitchen table and talking to her as she carefully ironed her clothing.  What an incredible example she was to me and continues to be from the other side of the veil.  Oh how I miss her.

One of my favorite primary songs:

I love to see the temple, I'm going there some day, to feel the holy spirit, to listen and to pray.

For the temple is the house of God, a place of love and beauty,

Can't wait for Tuesday to be there with my daughter and two granddaughters.  How blessed I am.

Finished Project

This has to have been the hardest and most difficult project I've ever done.  Looking at it you wouldn't think it was that big of a deal but believe me, it was really, really hard and I'm so glad it is done and out of my hands.  Judy and I took it to The Frame Shop to get it framed and this is the finished project.  I'll never do another Pic and Stitch as long as I live!!  It is a gift for Judy to give to her brother, so it still has the plastic over it, but you get the picture!

 

Derek Comforting Little Ones

 It has been so great talking to Derek each month and catching up on what is going on in his life.  He has been hired as a full time teacher and is very happy with where his future is heading.  He sent us these pictures of him comforting his little students while they were have their fingers pricked for blood testing.  I totally feel for them.  I would rather have a shot than have my finger pricked!  I hate it and think it hurts worse than a shot.  So proud of Derek for showing his tender side to these little people that he has a lot of influence with.  

Another Set of China

My good friend Linda Knight is moving back East.  She knows how much I love china and to my surprise came over to my house with this set of china.  She said she didn't want to haul it back East and she never used it and she wanted someone to have it who would use it and she couldn't think of anyone but me.  So, I now have a new 12 place setting of very formal china.  She said it has rarely been used.  In fact she couldn't remember the last time she used it.  She laughed and said that it didn't seem right to serve Wendy's and Cafe Rio on fine china.  That comment was good for a hearty laugh!  I noticed that it didn't have salt and pepper shakers and a butter dish.  You all know how I love salt and pepper shakers.  Can't have a set of nice china without having salt and pepper and butter dishes!  So I got on line and right now can't fine either of those but will keep looking until I find them.

 

A Surprise Thank You

 I went to work on Wednesday and one of my co-workers came into my office and gave me a home made quilt that she had made for me.  I remember her asking me what my favorite colors were.  I had told her pastels and especially blue and pink.  I had no idea what she had in mind or why she had wanted to know.  This quilt was the surprise of my life along with this very nice 'thank you' note.  The quilt took me back to my youth and sitting in the sewing room doorway on the floor and talking to mother while she did piece quilts.  This pattern was one of the patterns she put together often.  Oh how I loved those talks with her and how I miss them.  The quilt is a double bed size quilt.  She spent a lot of time and money putting this together.  I feel very unworthy.  And I say again, one never knows how we are affecting another person.  I had no idea.  what a surprise.