Birthday Saturday

 It isn't officially my 77th birthday yet but I did get to celebrate a couple days early.  Today Annie, Hayley, Mallory and I met Lila Mae and Susan at Joe Vera's Mexican Restaurant for lunch.  This is a great Mexican food place in downtown Provo that we all love.  We each enjoyed a great lunch and got caught up and the happenings of the Maxfields, Johnsons and Gertson families.  Seems to be a lot going on in all three families and because we haven't seen each other for a while there was a lot to tell.  Our lunch was delicious and the laughter and conversation priceless.  I love these kind of days.  Susan is with us but we know that we are not allowed to take her picture and so we instructed our waiter not to include her.  You can see her arm :-)

I was spoiled with lots of fun surprised for my birthday.  Susan gave me a new Easter wreath for my front door.  I had mentioned to her this last Easter that the wreath I had, which was a carrot, was so faded that it needed to be sent to the landfill.  She remembered that and had her friend make me a new one.  Absolutely LOVE it.  Now I have to wait until the Easter month to hang it.  

Susan also gave me a Roxberry gift certificate.  Neal and I both love Roxberry!  And she gave me some licorice, which I love.

Mallory surprised me with a new phone case that I LOVE!!  There is a story that goes with it.  When she gave it to me, I unwrapped it and when I looked at it I thought it was a butter dish and I couldn't imagine why Mallory would give me a butter dish.  But my brain finally kicked into gear and I realized it was a new phone cover and I was so happy and so very excited.  Yup another funny moment with Gam that my grandchildren will have to remember me by.  At least I do have a good sense of humor and I recognize how clueless I can be at times.  But they all love me in spite of myself. :-)  Thanks Mallory, I love my new butter dish!!!!!!   jk

As we were driving home and just before getting on to I-15 to head back to Salt Lake, Annie spotted the new Orem Temple.  I quickly snapped a picture.  It is just West of the freeway.

Lila Mae gave me my very most favorite lotion from Bath and Body.  Maren is the one who first introduced me to it and I have love it and used it ever sense.  

This is the card that my sweet granddaughter gave to me.  She knows that I love Pooh and when you read the Winnie The Pooh books, you can find volumes of words of wisdom in them.  Thank you Mallory for your love and personal message to me.  

That concluded our day of lunching and shopping.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who love me and care about me.  What a wonderful day!

Sunday Thoughts

 This morning I was looking at some stitching I had just finished and picked up from the Frame Shope.  I was actually patting myself on the back and admiring my handy work.  I started to think about what I consider art in my life.  We use the work "art" in many ways and it rarely means the art found in museums.  Or precious painting by some famous artist.  When I think about art I think of how I chose to raise my children.  It's the way I treat my home by keeping it clean and organized.  It's the way I always set a decorative and often holiday themed table when my children and grandchildren come for dinner.  Its the food we eat around the tables.  Its the clothes I choose to wear that artfully shows my personality.  Its the different activities shared with our posterity.  Its Mt. Olympus that pictures our backyard.  Its the lakes and streams and mountains that surround us.  Its the beauty of nature that God has created to artfully color our world.  It is the way I see art everywhere.  In the grass and the flowers and the gorgeous sunsets and sunrises.  I realize that I am an artist who is painting my own colorful world and my life is a canvas.  As I look around my home and feel the quiet as I write this, I feel at piece with my life knowing where I came from, what I'm doing here and where I'm going.  The whole picture is a tapestry of my life!  I love being, feeling and seeing art.

My Surprise

 I had to post one more thing before this evening comes to a close.  Emmi surprised me with this card and money holder.  I was so excited to get this.  I just know that Tucker will be so jealous!!!  Thank you Emmi.  I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!  Notice Cosmo has a sailor hat on.  How fitting!

Last Day With Emmi

 Emmi has been on leave for the past 3 weeks and what a fun filled three weeks this has been.  The Gertson family has certainly packed in a lot of activities.  Neal and I have been invited to most of them.  Some we have chosen to just let them spend the time together as a family and other events we have enjoyed with them.  This Saturday was a stay at home with Emmi day.  Neal and I went out about noon and we played games and had a delicious dinner and then played more games.  It finally became time to bid farewell and I don't do that very well.  I just want to stay close to all my children and grandchildren and not have to say any goodbyes.  Hopefully, Annie and I will get to go see Emmi one more time the end of September before she is deployed for a long time on the aircraft carrier.  

This is a picture of Annie and Emmi on Friday when they were up the canyons on a family outing.  

The rest of these pictures are at the house on Saturday.  Oh, how I love this granddaughter and I am so proud of her commitment to her country, her church and her family.  We love you Emmi and pray for you every single day!  

This is the delicious dinner that Lynda Ann made.  Corn on the cob, fried chicken, noodles and a salad.  It was delicious!

The "twins" as these two sisters so lovingly refer to each other.  Such cute girls!  I'm proud to be their Gam.

Happy sailing my sweet Emmi Girl!!!

Shopping With Neal

 Today is Friday the 23rd.  Because tomorrow is the 24th, which is Saturday, I had today off from work.  We had decided that we would just relax and watch the 24th of July parade on TV.  I think this is the first time that we have been home on the 24th.  About 11:30 Neal came in and said that he wanted to go shopping.  I was surprised but said that would be fine.  So off we went.  He had in mind that he wanted to buy some trivets to go with our different sets of china.  I guess when Tucker and family were here he was scrambling for some trivets and all we had was one or two that went with the Americana dishes and then a couple that go with our Spode Christmas dishes.  We went to Dillards and found four different trivets and a couple other items in the china area.  We also found some Godiva Truffles and bought a couple boxes of those.  From there we stopped in the men's clothing area where he bought a three shirts and a pair of golf shorts.  We also came across the big and tall department and found Jeffrey a couple t-shirts.  Everything was on sale so that made the decision to buy a little easier.  Then we went to Macey's and on to Roxberry and got a smoothie and then home.  It was a fun day to be out and about and nice to have the mall open again.

We also bought some flowers to replenish our dining room table center piece that Maren gave us.

Now we are cooking steaks on the grill and will be having a delicious 24th of July steak dinner out on the patio where we will probably melt in the 93 degree weather!  

Grateful for the pioneers who made the trek to Utah and sacrificed their lives to settle in this beautiful valley.  

31 Years

 Neal and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary.  It is amazing that we have actually had 31 years together.  We are both in our retiring years and are looking forward to next year bringing a close on our working years.  Our actual anniversary was on Saturday but I had made plans to spend the day with Lila Mae and Susan and we knew that Market Street would be packed on a Saturday night, so we postponed our annual dinner at Market Street for Monday evening.  The restaurant was still crowded but we got there about 5:30 and easily had a table available for us.  We both ordered salmon and enjoyed a delicious dinner and a fun evening together.  We came home and watched a movie before calling it a night.  I love that we always go to Market Street every year and celebrate.  Neal bought me some BYU products.  I'm sure it was a bit hard to go in the BYU Bookstore and spend money there but he did a good job and I love him for it.  

Neal bought me my own BUU chair, a 32 oz. container, and a 24 oz. container and a pack pack that lined to keep food cold.  I guess if I wanted to take my lunch to work I could use it.  That is what Neal had in mind when he bought it.  I thought that was very thoughtful.  Not sure I will ever have a need to haul my sandwich and drink in it but maybe it will come in use if we were to go with one of our families up in the mountains for a day and we needed to take our lunch.  I'm sure it will come in use.

We've had lots of fun and lots of hard hills to climb through our 31 years but we've made it this far and will continue to tackle the fun stuff and the hard stuff.  We are both very healthy so hopefully will have lots more time together.  Happy 31 years!!

Sunday Thoughts

 Abby has been having some challenges on her mission.  Her first companion wasn't the best for her but now she has been transferred and has two new companions and apparently everything is going fabulously for the three of them.  The other issue is that Abby is having trouble with her hearing.  She has been to a hearing center in California and is schedule for an MRI this week to see if they can figure out what is causing her hearing loss.  I can't imagine what it must be like to go on a mission.  You leave everything you know and love behind to venture into the unknown, get used to a different climate, food, companion and people.  I'm proud of all young people and older couples who have the courage to put in their papers and accept their call.  But I will speak to just Abby.  How proud I am of her for overcoming any fears she may have had and doing it.  I hope she knows that she has the encouragement and support of all of us.  I am so thankful that Abby has the testimony and strength to trust in her Heavenly Father and take the missionary challenge.  I know she will be grateful and proud of the hardships she may endure. 

Here is a quote from Ronald A. Rasband.  "At this time in your life, a mission call from the Lord, my young friends, is the most important work that you can do."

If that statement is true, and I really believe that it is, then I can't be anything but happy for Abby.  She is in my heart and my thoughts and prayers ALWAYS!!  And she is doing it for Jesus Christ.

Midway Excursion

 Saturday Lynda Ann, Emmi, Mallory and Hayley and I drove to Midway to visit with Susan.  Susan has had a rough go of it for the past month and we had not seen her since she had surgery and a little complication after.  This was the first year in years that we didn't spend the 4th of July in Midway with Lila Mae.  With Susan's surgery, we decided that she need the time to rest and get better and didn't need a crowd of people coming that she and Lila Mae would worry about.  While we were there I had Emmi take a picture of Lila Mae and I.  I've had a picture of the two of us every 4th of July and needed to capture one for 2021.  This picture was taken on her front porch.  

Now this is a photo that I would be in huge trouble for taking.  Susan does not allow people to take pictures of her.  We have so few and there may come a time when she isn't around to sneak any so I had to take advantage of this moment.  She thought I was taking a picture of the stuffed "uterus" that someone gave her.  That is why she is holding it way out away from her.  I included her in it but she didn't know I did.  Oh I should say that her surgery was a hysterectomy, thus the uterus!  Susan is 65 in this picture.  Just for posterity sake.

We had a great time having lunch together and visiting for a while.  We headed back, making a stop at the Park City Outlets where Annie and Emmi found some treasures and Mallory, Hayley and I 

More Fun Pictures

 So, I finally figured out how to get all my pictures transferred on to my computer.  Often I get pictures from someone else and when I load them on to the computer they just come out white squares.  Very annoying and frustrating.  But, now, I think I have it figured out how to make it work.  We will see as time goes on.  So, here are some more fun pictures of our time with my California family.

On Tuesday, Maren and her family met us at Hires for lunch.  The dynamics of our family are changing as the grandchildren get older.  We no longer have babies to worry about, little kids fighting and we even noticed that there is no more running through the house.  Brock even commented that no one went downstairs this time.  Everyone wants to be where adults are and involved in adult conversations.  I noticed at Hires that all the grandchildren congregated to one end of the table and the adults at the other end.  We had some delicious food and then headed back to the house for games for the rest of the evening.  One interesting thing that became a bit of a puzzle and a head scratcher, was the bill.  I hurried over to the counter to pay for the meal and Tucker and Maren came right behind me, telling me they were going to pay for it.  Tucker grabbed my credit card and kept it until the lunch was paid for.  The puzzle came when the girl rang up the total bill and it was $185.00+!!!  All three of us were totally surprised at how expensive it was when no one ordered anything out of the ordinary.  We talked about it when we got home and none of us could come up with an explanation as to why it was so high.  We all just shrugged our shoulders.  That is an incredibly high bill for hamburgers.  We may not be visiting that establishment again for a while.

Neal and I walking toward the lake carrying equipment and supplies.  Notice how clean m shirt is.  Believe me it wasn't that clean when we left the lake.

Jamie taking a selfie of the two of us and then 

Of course I had to photo bomb this family picture!

My water mellon ice cream dessert that I only make during July.  

I have no idea what I was laughing at but someone got the picture.  The next picture is much better and I'm obviously more focused!

I mentioned to Jamie that I wanted a wireless mouse and needed to get one when we went to purchase my new lap top.  The very next day this brand new pink mouse came in the mail.  Thanks Jamie!!

Jamie spending countless hours getting my new lap top all set up.  Can't thank her enough!

This is it folks.  It was $799.00.  I only put that amount in there because it will be fun in years to come what new inventions people will come up with and the cost.

Another picture at Hires.  Jamie took this one.  Great selfie of the group.

This was Jamie and I getting our pedicures and flowers painted on our toes!  We had such a great morning and so much fun just talking and talking and talking.  Of course we were solving all the world and family problems!!!!  NOT

Monday - day 3

 Monday was a non family gathering day.  I went to work for a few hours.  Tucker had arranged for the girls to take a self defense class and then from there they were going out to visit their friends in Bountiful.  Lynda Ann and her family left in the morning to head for Wyoming for a couple of days.  Neal went to school and I to work.  We had a nice quiet meal together on Monday.  Tucker and Jamie didn't get home until about 11:00 that evening.  So there wasn't much to report for Monday.  

Tuesday morning Jamie and I headed to a couple stores to see if we could find a battery for my lap top (with no success) so we went to Costco and I bought a new lap top.  We also had pedicures and a Swig drink.  It was a very fun morning.  This is Jamie literally taking my computer completely apart to get to the battery!

There were 10 little tiny screws holding the computer together.  

Jamie took a picture of us at the salon but for some reason they didn't transfer to my phone.  I do have this picture of Neal's toe, my toe Peyton and Jamie's toes.  Look so nice and feel so good!

After our errands, we headed to Hires to meet up with Maren's family and the kids.  We had a delicious hamburger lunch and stayed there for some time just talking.  Then home to hang out and visit for the evening.  Somewhere during the evening it was decided that Tucker wanted to get a Swig and visit Fizz and another place to compare drinks and cookies.  While he and most of the group were gone, Greg, Jamie and I stayed home.  I did some cleaning while Jamie worked on my computer to get it all set up for me.  She is amazing and so willing to help me when she can.  It took her most of the evening to get everything set up and ready to go.  It wasn't an easy task because there was so much going on and she was continually interrupted.  But she persevered and I'm happily typing and blogging on my new lap top!  THANK YOU JAMIE!!  Sadly, again, some of the pictures that Jamie took on her phone and transferred to mine won't transfer to the computer.  that is a mystery. 

We stayed up until after midnight playing games and reminiscing and laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.  The story of Neal thumping Derek on the head with a pen and Maren losing her tooth while saying pickity-pass.  Along with many other stories.  I did not want the evening to end as it would bring about the morning hours when 'goodbyes' would be said and my California family would head South once again.  But as the old saying goes, "All good things must come to an end" and it did.  This morning at about 7:30 we said our sad goodbyes and I waved as the tail lights disappeared down the street.  I tried my best not to cry but I just don't seem to be able to say goodbye with out some tear in my eyes.  Can one cry happy and sad tears all at the same time?

I do LOVE this family!

They were half way home!  And I just got word that they arrived safe and sound at around 8:30 our time.  Just what we prayed for :-)

What an incredible fun, active and busy time.  Lots of memories that will stay with all of us for ever.