Sunday Thoughts

 I read this article and was so impressed that I had to post it.

"Steve Jobs dies a billionaire, with a fortune of $7 billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer, and here are some of his last words . . .

At this momet, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death.  You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you - but you cannot rent someone to carry the disease for you.

As we get older we are smarter, and we slowly realize that the watch if worth $30.00 or $300 - both of which show the same time.  Whether we drive a car worth $150,000 or a car worth $2000, the road and distance are the same, we reach the same destination."

Without Christ, there can be no fullness of joy.  Without His birth and His Atonement, we would have no Intercessor, no Advocate with the Father, and no Mediator who makes it possible for us to return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father and live together as eternal families.  I celebrate with you the beautiful and miraculous reality of the birth and mission of the Son of God.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

My Bathroom Project

 I've wanted a stand above the toilet in the master bathroom for ever.  I finally bought one at Bed Bath and Beyond and bought it.  Of course it came in a huge box and needed to be put together.  Now we all know that Neal isn't much of a handy man so I asked our neighbor Ken Leetham if he would come over and help me put it together.  He and Mindy came over Saturday and we had a few laughs while putting this stand together.  I had made home made bread so that I could give them a loaf and we also took them out to dinner at the Habit.  One of our favorite places to go.

Father's Day

I decided to invite anyone who wanted to come to wish Neal a happy Father's Day.  I didn't want to do a big dinner but did provide desserts of all kinds.  We had chocolate cake, ice cream, cream cheese cake and pies.  Maren, Greg and Brock and Boston came.  Lyndsy came with River.  They all stayed for a couple hours and then left.  Mallory came while Maren was there and then she stayed until her parents came about 5:30.  Lynda Ann, Jeff and kids stayed and played games until about 9:30.  It was a very nice afternoon and very little clean up for me and I loved that.  Before everyone came, Neal and I sat out on the patio and had a nice dinner.  He wanted steak and eggs and fried potatoes.  

 

Drought and Fires

 We are experiencing another year of drought causing a severe increase in the possibility of fires.  As we were driving up to the cabin in Scofield.  There were fires all along the canyon road.  We saw helicopters carrying huge water bags continually flying over to drop water on the fires.  

We made it to the cabin safely and as usual had a fabulous time.  Lots of golfing, games, and delicious food along with a movie every night.

Golfing at the Price Country Club.

Lunching at the country club after our first 9 holes.

Neal and Ron checking out the next hole.

I saw this bird sitting with his back side in the puddle of water.  Thought it was very funny and had to snap a picture of it.  I guess he was trying to cool off as well.

Judy making her famous tomato pie.  Her cooking is always amazing and delicious!

A little humming bird perched on the feeder.  He is on the right side as you look at the picture.  It is rare that you ever see them sitting still for a minute.

I'm always fascinated with the sparrows who build their nests in the eves of the cabins.  The owners are forever spraying the nests down but the sparrows are relentless.  If you look closely you can see a peak in the bottom part of the nest.  I'm assuming that was the mother sitting on her eggs.

Emmi's First Sunday

 This came from Emmi and even though I've already posted for this week I had to post this letter from Emmi.  She is on an air craft carrier, out to sea for three weeks.  This was her first Sunday on the ship.  These are her words:

"Church was good!  Only a few members.  There is a chief that runs it.  One of the pilots was there.  They said there are actually quite a few members on board, but a lot of them work in the reactor and can't get away for church.  That doesn't really surprise me.  Nukes really do stay busy buried in the ship.  The best part of church in the military is always singing the hymns.  We only had seven people, I think, and no instruments so it was just cappella but it was still great.  They had condensed hymn books.  It was also all dudes and myself but they sounded pretty good for a rag tag bunch.  Just glad there are at least a few people.  The chief who runs it said it is his actual calling to run church on the ship, like extended from the stake president.  My LPO and chief are right now like 'Hey Gertson how was church?'  I love that they are at least tracking that it is something super important to me.  Glad there are members.  Glad my chain of command is thinking about me."

Emmi, what an example you are to our family and all the people you come in contact with.  I am so proud of your choices and your commitment and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Sunday Thoughts

It was so nice to be back in church again.  To sit by people we know and love.  To hug, shake hands and see smiles.  What a good day today.  The sacrament meeting was great and relief society even better.  I'm so happy to be up on the Sabbath, dressed and ready to go and partake of the sacrament, renew my covenants with my Father in Heaven and feel the spirit of the meetings.

I think it would be and maybe has become easy for members to become spiritually complacent.  I know that I thought back on not having to get up and get dressed for church and for a while, kind of enjoyed the freedom.  But I also could see how easily it could become a habit of not going.  

President Nelson said that "We must realize we are at war.  the war began before the world was and will continue."  So if you and I are at war then we need to know who our enemy is.  Satan wants to drag us down to be miserable and Christ wants to lift us up to be happy, feel joy and belonging.  Satan wants us to forget who we are and Christ wants us to remember.  We have been reserved to come to earth now at this specific time in history for a purpose.  There is a great work for each of us to do.

In some ways it's taken less sacrifice to be a member of the Church during the pandemic because temples have been closed, church has been at home and church assignments have not been needed.  but I believe that Satan has not taken a vacation.  He would like to convince us all to opt out of formal worship and service with others.  But I believe with all my heart, that we need each other.  We need company and conversations.  We need to hear talks and testimonies to help our own testimony grow.

I am so grateful to be back to church and fellowship with ward and stake members.  How blessed we have been through the pandemic and how blessed we will continue to be if we will but stay true to the gospel holding fast to the word of God.

Prince and Princesses

 Lynda Ann sent me these pictures showing us what we would look like if we were a Disney Princess or a Disney Prince.  I'm just going to post them and you can guess who is who.  Actually I wish I really did look like a princess instead of a 76 soon to be 77 year old lady!

Don't you just love the head of hair on this prince!!

God bless America and all who serve!!  

The Big Surprise

When I got home from the Northwest trip and we drove in the garage I could see that Neal had started a long overdue project.  Our garage has not ever been painted and Neal had said on numerous occasions that the garage needed to be painted.  He wasn't teaching a summer class this first semester so he decided this was the time frame to do it.  While I was gone, he emptied the garage by himself.  I still don't know how he did it all alone without breaking his neck, but he did.  He said it took him six hours to haul everything off the shelves and outside to the patio.  He had check the weather and saw that we had a 7 day window with no rain.  He worked on the garage for a week until he had it completely painted.  He called me at work and said he was ready to start putting things back.  I came home at 1:00 and we worked until 6:30.  I went through all the holiday bins and weeded out decorations that I never use anymore.  Mostly decorations that were on the big Christmas tree.  Neal actually threw away boxes and boxes of old tax stuff and factory stuff.  It was hard for him to do it, but he managed with a little pushing from me.

Painting the ceiling

This is the best picture of all.  Neal said that when he bent over to get more paint he felt his pants rip.  He had no idea how big the rip was.  I laughed so hard I could hardly hold the camera still to take a picture!  He was sure they could be mended and I just smiled and they are officially at the landfill!!

The garage looks really nice and right now it is very organized.  How long that will last remains to be seen but at least it is nicely painted!

Sunday Day 5

Sunday was raining the whole day and a perfect day to be in the car traveling back to Seattle.  We were really blessed to have such perfect weather the whole time we were there.  Glad the rain waited until Sunday.  I notice that all this week it is supposed to rain.

We made it to the airport and turned in the car in plenty of time.  Hayley bought a knife for her friend, Toby, and we knew we needed to get it in the mail before going through security.  We walked through that airport from top to bottom a dozen times before Annie finally realized we weren't going to have any success getting stamps.  She addressed it and put it in the mail box hoping that it will make its way to Stansbury and they will get a notice to come pay the postage and pick it up.

I won't go into details but after going through security and Annie having a small incident with a total jerk who made a comment to her and she making a comment back she was beyond mad for a few minutes.  I just had to take a picture of her moment of frustration and this is what I got.  When I looked at it, I busted up in uncontrollable laughter for I don't know how long.  Again, no breathing, just silent hysterics every time we looked at the picture.  It pretty much captured her moment of angry.

After she had calmed down and we were on the plane headed for home.

What an incredibly fun adventure!  Thanks Hayley and Annie for inviting me along.  I had a marvelous time and am looking forward to more adventures in the future!  Love you both!!!

PS  Our airplane shaped crackers that made us smile.

Saturday Day 4

 Saturday morning we got up at our leisure and headed to Cannon Beach.  It was probably the coolest temperature day of the week.  In fact, there was a drizzle now and then.  We wandered the beach and also wandered the shops.  It was a fun day but a rather cold one.  

I was very cold.  Can you tell?

The rain started coming down hard just as we were leaving.

The beach visited and the shops all taken in we headed to Astoria for our final night in Oregon.  Annie arranged for a ocean view.  It was so nice to have the wall of windows and a sliding door out onto a balcony.  The ocean and salt air were so refreshing.

After we had settled in to our room, we headed to the Astoria Column.  The tower was closed which was disappointing but we were still able to wander around the grounds and Annie spotted a gorgeous rainbow.

If you look closely toward the bottom right of the picture you can almost see a double rainbow starting to form.  It was beautiful and the first rainbow of the year for me.  I do love this creation.  One of my favorite things.

Saw this robbin hunting for worms.  

Me freezing yet again!  

We also went by the John Jacob Astor Elementary School where Kindergarten Cop was partly filmed.