Sunday Thoughts

My experience of Abby is that she has always seem a rather shy person.  She was always happy and smiling but not really aggressive or loud.  She was just always quietly there.  She has always encouraged service to others so not surprised that she decided to serve a mission.  

Every year, as far back as I can remember, Abby has always involved her mom in some kind of service project in the spirit of the Christmas Holiday.  Projects for hospital workers, homeless, families out of their homes because of weather or natural disasters, etc.  Abby does things under the radar with no one watching.  Now, she's serving her Father in Heaven quietly and confidently in California, Spanish speaking.  She is sharing His message of peace and hope.  Abby isn't serving a mission because it brings her attention or because she has nothing better to do.  She is serving because she loves the Lord and His gospel.  She is serving because she has a testimony of the gospel.  She is dedicating her time and talents to Him.  Abby is having the best missionary experiences and teaching that the Jesus is the Savior of the world.  

A couple cute excerpts from her letters:

"Our friends (investigators) are also learning and remembering who I am this week, which really helps in lessons.  One of our friends always has me say the prayer because they like how I say "querido padre celestial . . . "  they said they like my accent.  I think I just sound like a white girl from Utah trying to speak Spanish.  But I love teaching our friends and getting to know them and learning so much from them!"

"The LA ambiance is something special.  Its a mix of cars, barking dogs, thumping music, airplanes, sirens, helicopters and the occasional gun shots!"

"We also taught one of our friends today about the nature of God and that He is NOT an ominous energy ball that is far away, but that we know God is our loving Heavenly Father that knows each of us individually."

"I am loving the area I am in and the people I serve with.  I know that the Lord loves effort and that as long as we are trying our best in every aspect of the work, Christ will take care of the rest.  Los quermeos!!"

"This week has been crazy and every day is a little different, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  I have seen this week that God answers prayers, especially the ones you only say in your heart and in your mind.  We are not in this life alone and we were never meant to be.  There is a plan for each of us and a loving Heavenly Father that waits for us to come home again one day.  I am so excited to see what is in store for me every day that I get to give all of my time to serving the Lord."

And I add my testimony to Abby's that I know this gospel is true and that we do have a loving Father in Heaven who watches over us.  

Peyton

Tucker let us know that Peyton has the leading roll in Beauty and the Beast.  She is playing Belle.  We were so excited for her and decided that we want to fly to California and see her on stage live rather than have Tucker send us a video.  We are hoping to book a flight for the weekend of May 8th.  Mother's Day weekend.  The play is Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.  Here is a picture of Peyton that Tucker sent us.

Can't wait to see you in person, Peyton!  
 

Fun Vacation for Derek

 Derek told us about a fun vacation that he and Margo went on to a small island off the coast of Southern China.  Dong Ao Island.  These are some of the pictures he shared with us.  

So happy that they are having fun and seeing different parts of China and sharing their adventures with us by phone and in pictures.

Emmi and Mallory Make Moves

 I got pictures from Emmi and Mallory, a week apart, telling me that they had both moved.  Emmi was given permission to move off base, finally!  And Mallory was hired by a law firm in Provo as a receptionist and found an apartment near the Y and also made a move.  Emmi is excited to off the base and the random inspections of her tiny space and Mallory is excited to be in Provo with a new job, applying for entrance into BYU and on her own.  I had the opportunity to ride down to Provo with Annie and meet Mallory and Andrew who were moving boxes into her new apartment.  

This is the picture Emmi sent with her key to her new place.  She is so excited to have regular living quarters, a full kitchen with a regular size refrigerator, a stove and storage space.

Some pictures of Mallory and her new place of abode.  This first picture is a car with Queen Elizabeth in the back window.  Andrew spotted it and we had a good laugh!

Mallory putting Brinkleys kennel together.  It actually fit neatly under her bed.

Of course, she wanted the Tennessee Flag to hang in her room.

Andrew out on Mallory's little balcony with Brinkley.  Just chilling.  Andrew hauled all the heavy stuff up to the apartment, which is on the third floor.

Annie finishing up the bed and unwrapping a stacking shelf that ended up not working.

It was a fun two weekends for both of the girls to be able to move and get settled in to their new places.  I'm looking forward to the time when I can fly back to Emmi and see her new place.  

Sunday Thoughts

 Gorgeous blossoms bring a sure sign of Spring in the sir.  I couldn't help but think that we are like these blooms.  We emerge as a perfect protected bud.  

Like the blossoms we grow and open up and during that process, we have to face the wind and rain and storms that always come our way.  

But the rain and wind will help mold us, change us, make us strong.  And with the help of others and our Savior, we transform into a different kind of beautiful as we become sweet delicious and unique fruit.  I don't think we could meet our potential as sons and daughters of God without being exposed to the trials of life.  When I look around, I see many other types of blossoms all going through the same process.  While we are all facing different challenges we are all rooted together by the strong branches and fed through the love of our Savior.  

I'm kind of making this up as I go along but I think you get the message.  I don't think there is a time of year that I love more than late Spring in Utah.  We do get all four seasons during Spring.  Snow, cold, wind, sleet, rain, warmth and every vibrant color imaginable.  I'm feeling very thankful and very happy today! 

Spring is in the Air

 I love the April showers and the excitement that comes with nature waking up.  I also love it when the ducks come out to waddle around like they own the place where they are.  These two ducks were right outside our office door just quacking and pruning and picking up worms and other items out of the garden and off the sidewalk.  It would have been even cuter if there had been some chicks following them but I think it is a bit early for that.  Just had to run out and take a picture of them.  Besides mother earth waking up and the ducks out parading the other thing I always watch for is the first rainbow of Spring.  Haven't seen one yet.

Silly ducks!

The Music Man

Neal's older brother, Nelden and his son Russell are performing in the stage production of The Music Man.  It is one of my favorite musicals.  Neal's family all decided to go see the production and were able to get tickets at a small (very small) discount.  Neal bought 4 tickets and invited Ron and Judy to go with us.  We all met at Chili's for dinner.  While we were eating, I happened to glance out the restaurant window and notice the Bountiful Temple centered right in the window and way up on the hill.  I love that we can almost see temples place we go.  Of course, I had to take a picture of it.  We are blessed to live in this gorgeous valley along this majestic mountain range. 

After dinner we all walked over to the theater and had a very enjoyable evening watching the play.  Nelden and Russell were great.  Nelden was part of the crowds of people and Russell was Harold Hill.  That was the part Nelden used always play, now his son is playing it.  After the production they took a group picture but I haven't seen a copy of that yet.  

 

The Penny Song

Last week,  Lynda Ann, Mallory and I picked up Susan at the Huntsman Center and drove her home to Midway.  It was a blustery evening but we made it safely to Midway, visited and came back safely.  While we were there Lila Mae handed me the words to the penny song that we had all tried to remember all the verses.  Apparently, as the old saying goes, you can find anything on the internet and I now believe it.  Susan was able to find the old Primary Song.  As you can tell by the final verse of the song, that it was to collect money for Primary Children's Hospital.  That was the other part I couldn't remember why we did it.  So happy that I now have the words to the song.  More memories now recorded.

Five pennies make a nickel

Two nickels make a dime

Ten dimes will make a dollar

Oh how we'll make it shine.

It's for the crippled children

Who cannot walk or run

Who have to be a bed all day

And cannot join the fun

So let us be unselfish

And bring our pennies here

To help the crippled children

Become better year by year.

Sunday Thoughts

 As I was driving through the canyons yesterday on my way to Midway.  I was, as always, humbled by the beauties of nature and the world around me.  I love Spring and the feeling of a new beginning each year.  I love that Conference, this year was welcomed by beautiful warm sunshine weather.  The blossoms are gorgeous and all the trees slowly unfolding their tiny leaves.  It was such a good time of reflection as I drove.  I thought about the atonement of our Savior and the a comment that Dieter F. Uchtdorf made in conference.  He said "Our failures do not have to define us, they can refine us!"  What a wonderful message of hope.  I am so eternally grateful to my mother who taught me the gospel and to love it.  I'm grateful for my testimony.  Brother Jan Eric Newman said, "We cannot give the oil of our conversion to someone else. We have to provide a nourishing enrichment for the testimony seed to grow.  Conversion is a personal journey.  I am so grateful for my journey and pray that I will always stand true and faithful.  

One of natures beauties as I was out walking in the wee hours of the morning.

Memory Lane

Saturday I drove to Midway to deliver some items that I had purchased for Susan at Costco and to spend some time with her and Lila Mae.  It was a beautiful Spring day and I needed some thinking time) by myself so the drive was good.  We visited for a little bit and then Lila Mae and I drove to the bowling alley and bought cheeseburgers and fries (and of course a diet coke) for lunch.  After lunch we started talking about conference, church and going back to our years growing up and how much has changed over the years.  It was fun to hear what Lila Mae remembered about living in Seattle and being a member.  She said that for us to attend a meeting we had to get on a city bus, make a few transfers and that it was a long bus ride to get to the meeting house.  Certainly different now when you think there is a chapel on almost every corner!  She and I don't remember attending the Mormon church very often.  She did remember that a Brother John A. Widtsoe was visiting Seattle and was going to speak and that we all got on the bus and traveled the long distance to hear him.  But, it wasn't until we moved to Provo that mother began attending meetings every week and taking Annette and I with her.  

We talked about Primary and Mutual (Young Women as it is called now) and how the names have changed over the years.  I grew up in Primary as a Blue Bird, a Lark and then a Seagull.  I still have the bandelo (sp) from primary and one from my Beehive years in mutual.  

The funnest thing that came up was we remembered an old primary song called Five Nickels.  The sad thing is I can't remember all of the song.  But I remember taking pennies and nickels and as we sang the song we would put the money in a can or box.  I'm not sure if the money was for a temple or if it was for Primary Children's Hospital.  But this is how the song went - anyway, what I can remember:

"Five Pennies make a nickel

Two nickels make a dime

Ten dimes make a dollar

. . . . . . .  make it shine."

Lila and Susan and I tried to remember the rest of the song but just couldn't come up with that last little sentence.  Anyway you can see the need to write things down and record them somewhere.  I'm sure that little song was just made up for the time we were raising money for something.  

Lila also took me around her house and showed me all the counted cross stitch stuff I have done for her over the years.  Some I had forgotten about.  And these aren't all.  The Christmas ones she has put away.

This was Lila Mae, Annette and I.  I love this one.

It was a wonderful day!

Hermana Gertson

 I received my first letter from Abby.  Her current assigned area is Reseda, the northern part of the San Fernando Valley.  She and her companion do a lot of online teaching but are also slowly being able to go meet people in person.  She said they already have a baptism date set for April 25th for an investigator.  Abby says she is working really hard to learn the language and to be able to share some in lessons but finds it still a bit difficult.  She mentions that she loves California and the weather is gorgeous.  Abby sent these two pictures.  This is where she and her companion go to study.  

Jordyn Lyn

 These are pictures of Jordyn Lyn's nineteenth birthday that were sent to me!  Can't believe Tucker and Jamie have a 19 year old already.  Her main activities at this point in her life are going to college, dancing, teaching dance and trying to get through the COVID pandemic to achieve some normal life again.  Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!!

Nineteen years ago we prayed for the life of this tiny little Jordyn Lyn.

And here we are today.  19 years of joy and happiness that she has brought to her parents, siblings, grandparents, family and friends.  Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Brinkley

 Brinkley says "Happy Easter - Woof woof"

Hermana Gertson

 Abby was able to send a little up date.  To quote:

"We went on a tour of the temple grounds and the temple, got some paperwork done and ate dinner.  Its been a super busy but amazing day!  The temple is gorgeous and I get to be companion with Hermana Perry for the day, which is fun.  I also had a meeting with President Cordon and he's so nice!  I LOVE it here and love the people I have met today!  I love you guys and miss you, but I'm so excited to get going!!"

Her new companion is Hermana Katelyn Jones

Can't wait to hear more about Abby's new adventures.  But, we will have to wait until Monday for her P day and then we will hear more about where she will be assigned and what she has been up to.

Easter Celebration

It was a small group this year.  Maren's family was in St. George for Boston's baseball games and Lyndsy chose out.  This was our last year doing the egg contest.  Each family can carry on this tradition if they choose.  I've found there are many things that I thought would bind the family with wonderful memories but have discovered that not everyone feels the same.  Consequently each family will need to come up with their own traditions and develop them as they choose.  

I will say that we did have a good time with the egg contest for those who were there and Andrew ended up with the winning egg, which means that the Gertson's will keep the trophy egg.  It was a fun tradition while it lasted.

Picture of the little special needs chicken at the center of the table.

Traditional dinner of ham, baked potatoes, carrots, green salad and a 7 layer jello salad made by Lynda Ann.   Ryan brought his girl friend Callie and Maddie brought her girl friend Sophia.

Ready for the egg contest.

Mindy and I

Lynda and Robert

Pa and Mallory

Hayley and Andrew

Andrew come out the winner with the winning egg!  Congrats Andrew Man.

After the egg contest we had cake and ice cream and then everyone headed home.  I was so happy that we were actually able to be together and hug and laugh and talk.  So grateful that vaccinations are available now to all.  

The Easter Chick

Neal was running errands on Friday, yesterday.  He had to run to the Salt Lake Clinic to pick up his medical records and transfer them to his new eye doctor.  While he was downtown, I asked him if he would stop by Granite Bakery on his way back and pick up a dozen Easter sugar cookies and a cute cake to use as a center piece for the table.  I was at work and about 1:30 p.m. I get this text from Neal - and I quote: 

" Hi!  I picked up the cookies and the cake.  Dropped the cake - some repairs needed.  Cute cake though.  It was a little taller than the box and the lid curved and the lid got caught on the top of the door and splat!  Cake upside down in the box.  Scooped up the cake, put it upright in the box and drove home.  You will see evidence of my fingers where I tried to get a hand hold - it worked but left a 'personality' mark or two on the head.  We can fix the leg with a toothpick.  "Resurrected" the leg.  You will smile at the cake!!!"

By the time I finished reading that text I was laughing so hard I could hardly see to read the text.  People at work heard me giggling and had to come in and I shared the text with them.  Well, everyone laughed and laughed.  When I got home I took pictures of the cake.

I touched it up as best I could and it looked okay sitting on the table.  I shared the story with the family and everyone got a laugh out of it.  Poor little chicken!

It was also noticed and caused some serious laughter that the little chicken had his feet on upside down!  How sad is that.