Tucker Comes to Visit

 Neal and I picked up Tucker on Thursday night at midnight and then sat up until 2:30 talking and catching up him and his family.  I have to add here that when we pulled up at the airport to pick up Tucker I text him to tell us when he was coming out so we would know when to move forward in the line of cars.   He was waiting for his luggage that was taking a little longer than expected.  Finally I get this text:  "Squirrel has the nuts.  Heading to the treehouse."   Yup, I laughed right out loud.  

Friday, Tucker spent the day with Maren and her family and Neal spent the afternoon getting a massage and running errands for Lyndsy.  That evening Neal and I met Tucker, Maren and Greg out at Bonsai Japanese Steakhouse in Sandy for a delicious and very fun dinner.  I would recommend it to anyone. 

Saturday Tucker had a photo shoot up Millcreek Canyon but his model didn't show up.  He was irritated and disappointed that he had spent so much time getting all the props and camera equipment to the sight for the photo shoot. The girl apologized and said could they do it the next day.  Tucker and Neal got home about the same time and got ready to go to the U of U basketball game.  Tucker was going with all his buddies and Neal had been invited by Norm.  Norm did invite me but I most graciously declined the offer.  No interest in basketball and especially the Utes.  Neal and Tucker helped me set up the tables and chairs before they left.   While they were gone, I finished the table settings, peeled and cut the carrots, scrubbed and foiled the potatoes and made sure I had plenty of barbecue sauce for the chicken and then settled in to starting my new stitching project and grab a little TV.  

Sunday Neal and I attended our church meetings and then home to get all the food cooking so everything would be done promptly at 4:00.  Tucker made his famous bacon bits, which I might add were delicious!  We had a full house (I think 19 people) only missing Maddie, Grayson (who had just had his wisdom teeth out), Jaden and Desmond along with our California family and CJ and Justin.

After dinner and the table was cleaned up and the first load in the dishwasher, we played What Were You Thinking.  That is always a game of laughs and fun.  After that game the Gertsons headed by to Stansbury and Mallory back to Provo.  Taylor, Brock and Boston headed home so the rest of us play a game of Reds which I lost miserably.  Tucker loved that I lost and he beat me.  It was such a fun evening.  After everyone left we finished putting the final touches on cleaning the kitchen and then Tucker and I sat up until 12:30 talking.  

Neal and Tucker got up at 4:30 and left at 5:00 to take him to the airport.  I got up just before 5 to give him a hug and send him on his way.  I was so good to have him here for the weekend.  He always brings lots of fun, laughter and energy.  

Finished and Starting

 I finally finished my Repeat the Sounding Joy project.  This will go down as one of my favorites.  I put in the last stitch and now need it press it good and take it to the Framing Establishment to get it framed.  I'm very excited about this one and what it will look like when framed.

This gnome Christmas is my next project.  I've been anxious to finish the above project so I could start on this one.  This project came in a series of three.  One of Spring, another of Halloween and the last of Christmas.  The thing I love about this series is the all that is going on in them.  You can't just glance at it and think you've seen it all, you have to look at each individual item to see everything that is there.  

Just beginning.  Always at the very center.

Emmi and Mallory's Awards

 Emmi finished all the paper work, study, testing and interviews to get her Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist Pin.  This was her comment when she sent the news of her achievement.  And I quote:

"It's possible to do this several months long project in six weeks.  I have learned that I can work harder than people expect me to.  thank you for the prayers and support as I knocked this beast out."

Congratulations Emmi Girl!  You are a rock star for sure and we are so proud of you!

Mallory also received a notice from BYU telling her that she received an academic achievement from PHI ETA SIGMA National Honor Society.  3,5 and above grade point.  Way to go Mallory!!!

Valentine's Day

 Valentine's Day.  One of my very favorite holidays.  Well, I guess we are stretching it to say it is actually a holiday but it is a fun day recognized by most people.  I've already told how my mother always made it such a special day when I was growing up and I guess those memories have always stayed me.  I loved my childhood and that love mostly because of a mother who, as poor as we were, did everything she could to make any special day memorable.  I shall always love her for that.

This year, Lynda Ann, Mallory, Hayley and I met Susan at Joe Vera's for our Valentine lunch and gathering.  It is always a fun time to be with Susan and fun to have something a little extra to celebrate.  I think we are all still feeling a bit saddened that Lila Mae isn't with us anymore.  It is still a bit of a shock to meet for lunch and not have her there.  But each time we get together,  the sting of her absence becomes a little less.  Doesn't mean that we don't think about her just as much and miss her intensely, but time does allows us to smile and remember the good times without the sadness that has accompanied those memories in the past months.  

When I got home from this fun day there was a gift delivered to our front door from the California Maxfields.  Always a welcome surprise!  Chocolate Dunford Donuts, Godiva Chocolates and a beautiful Valentine flower arrangement.  What a delightful surprise and gift.  

Again, this year Neal and I sent out our Valentine's to the grandchildren with the traditional $2.00 bill enclosed.  Two people sent me pictures when they received their Valentine.  Of course cute Brinkley displaying the card and the bill.  

I'm assuming everyone received their Valentine's except Justin Hintze.  Sadly his came back.  I've text him asking for his new address but haven't heard from him yet.  

Neal and I made our annual Valentine dinner date at Market Street.  We had a delicious dinner and loved spending the evening together reminiscing about past years together.  Glad that we always do something to make it a special day for us.  

Happy 2023 Valentine's Day everyone!  We love you all.

Temple Work

Last week I had the opportunity to do some sealings at the Jordan River Temple.  A group of us were sealing couples together and sealing children to parents.  As I knelt at the alter in proxy for a girl being sealed to her parents, I felt an overwhelming joy come over me.  I thought about the time, when I was a little girl, and we traveled to the Manti Temple to have Annette and I sealed to our parents.  

The temples provide an opportunity to do ordinance work for our kindred dead and for others.  It is an opportunity for us to serve those who have past on.  I believe that doing temple work helps us develop a kindship with our Heavenly Father and that brings us peace and happiness.  In the temple there is an influence and spirit that touches our minds, hearts and souls of those present.  

It is truly the House of the Lord.

 

Stitching Progress and Bridge with the Ladies

 I had to show an update on my stitching project, Repeat the Sounding Joy.  This is definitely going to go down as one of my favorites when it is completed.  I still have a long ways to go before it is finished and ready to be framed.  I already love it.

I also wanted to mention that I hosted a bridge afternoon with Judy and a couple other ladies.  I loved my table setting.  Notice the table cloth and the little Valentine favors.  

Moving Day

 It was moving day for Lyndsy.  She has been living in Tremonton for the past couple years and is now moving back to Salt Lake.  Maren, Greg and Neal left Friday morning about 10:30 and spent the day packing all of Lyndsy's belongings.  Maren brought two large plastic containers and Neal brought 4 large containers.  All the containers were filled and everything packed in the back of Maren's truck.  The project took them all day.  Maren dropped off Neal about 6:30.  

Maren loved her dad's expertise on knots and had to take a picture.  

Truck loaded and ready to leave Tremonton.

Nice of the three of them to give up their whole day to help Lyndsy move.  Maren's new truck certainly came in handy!  

Valentine Saturday

 Lynda Ann and Hayley and I drove to Provo on Saturday to meet Susan and Mallory at Joe Vera's for our Valentine gathering.  We all love the Mexican Food at Joe's.  It is on the Center Street of Provo.  It is fun for me to drive down Center Street and remember my growing up years and the hundreds or thousand times I walked that area going to and from high school and then BYU.  We had a great time visiting and filling our tummies with good food.  It is always fun to get together with Susan and continue the tradition.  It is always a bit sad not to have Lila Mae there.  She was our anchor.  So now I guess it falls on Annie, Susan and myself to make sure that we continue the tradition of getting together for all the holidays and all the in between holidays that we can.  

After lunch we headed to University Mall to look around and pick up a couple items.  Then we dropped Mallory off at her apartment and headed home.  It was such a fun day and I love getting together.