The Temple

Mallory and I are going to do a session in the Salt Lake Temple in a couple of weeks.  We were going this next Tuesday but work has made us have to post pone for a week.  I have two ancestors that need their endowment work done and Mallory wants to go through the Salt Lake Temple before it closes.  The following is a quote that I have love about the temple.

"The Temple is the most sacred place of worship in the world - a place where Heaven touches the earth, a place where marvelous blessings are bestowed, and a place where we can feel closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and strive to become more like them."

My thoughts.  The temple is gorgeous and the inside of every temple that I've been in is stunning.  As I walk the halls of those beautiful edifices, I feel truth confirmed to me that the temple is a symbol of forever families, hopeful futures, endless peace and joy, and eternal life with loved ones.  I've thought about my children who have been married in the temple and hope they honor their covenants made there and realize and remember that  for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is where all of those goals and dreams of endless peace and joy happen.

One of my favorite things is to drive into the Salt Lake Valley after the sun goes down and see the Jordan River, the Oquirrh Hills and the Corner Canyon Temple all at the same time.  What an amazing sight.  My chest fills with pride and my eyes water as I view a beautiful American Flag waving in the breeze.  My heart fills with joy and my eyes fill with tears as I view these beautiful edifices.

Tucker talks Mallory and I into . . . . . .

Have you ever had an oyster?  Well, Mallory and I have not, nor did we plan on ever eating one.  We got home from shopping today and Tucker had saved four oysters on a shell.  He was so excited to have us try them.  Neither Mallory or I were interested but he finally talked me into trying one. So I did.  Surprisingly enough Mallory gave in and tried one as well.  I couldn't believe it.  Mallory's comment was, "What is in the ocean, should stay in the ocean."  When it come to oysters, I would agree 100 per cent with Mallory.  Here are some pictures of our adventure.

 The black spot in the shell is where the oyster used to be.  Mallory and I think it should have still been there!!!!!

Annie Saving Me Again

Neal and I are in charge of a ward Night of Thanksgiving for the adults in our ward.  I wanted to do something really nice and unusual for the table decorations, so of course, I called Lynda Ann for some ideas.  Her mind starts working and she comes up with the most creative and gorgeous center pieces.  We will use the big round tables with a white table cloth for each table and a square blue cloth in the center with the center piece on top.  Here are some pictures of what she has put together.  They are gorgeous!  Lynda Ann comes through and saves me yet again!

 Notice that some of the small pumpkins are made of cloth.  Amazing!

 This one has little lights around it.

Hosting a Dinner

We have a little bridge group that we get together with about every other month.  It was my turn to host the dinner.  The Fall is a perfect time to set a beautiful table.  I was able to use a very colorful fall looking table cloth and use my brown and white dishes.

I bought some cute little fall dessert dishes.  I served ice cream and cake.  

Time for a Laugh

When Mallory left on her mission I decided to do a counted cross of her mission field.  Of course I couldn't completely finish it until she was released so that we could be sure that all the areas she served in were recorded and that we had the exact date of her release.

It was finally finished and Neal and I took her to the framing place so that she could see what went into getting these projects framed.  She was able to pick out her own colors and the frame.  It was fun to watch her go through the process of making the decisions of how she wanted this to turn out.  You can see we had her missionary tag framed with the state she served in.  Neal brought it home yesterday and Mallory was very excited to get it.

Below a picture of her with her framed missionary service.

Time for Jam

It is that time of year when the berries are ready to be put into jam.  I decided to take a day off of work and stay home and do some raspberry, strawberry and peach jam.  I spent the morning getting ready, making sure I had all the bottles cleaned and equipment ready to go.  I went to Costco the minute it opened and bought sugar, all the berries and then to Macey's to get the pectin.  Annie was coming in at 2:00.  I wanted to get as much done by 2:00 as possible.  I was able to finish the peach jam and the raspberry jam and got all the strawberries destemmed and smashed.  Ran errands with Annie and then drove to the Front Runner to pick up Neal from school.

I told Neal and Mallory that they were on their own for dinner.  I wanted to get the rest of the jam finished.  By 7:30 I had bottled over 130 pints and half pints of jam.  I divided them up and asked Mallory if she wanted to go with me to deliver the jam.  We first drove to Mindy's and from their out to Maren's.  By the time we got home it was nearly 9:30.  I was exhausted and went right to bed.  It was a good feeling to have finished the jam for another year.  Lynda Ann's jam is in the freezer waiting for me to take it out to her on Thursday.

Jam takes tons of sugar!!

 Still using mother's old bent up metal funnel.  I shall use it until I'm too old to do jam.  I hope Lynda Ann hangs on to it for nostalgia sake!

I have to admit that Gam's jam is amazing, especially my peach jam which I did for the very first time this year.  Mallory even said that she thinks it may have just moved up to her favorite!  

Annie Celebrates her 48ish birthday!!

Annie had us out to her house for her 48th birthday celebration.  I bought some candles that said 48ish.  I thought that was really funny.  We had a delicious dinner and ended the day with cake, singing Happy Birthday off key and playing Shanghi.  Fun day, fun times, fun family!  Happy birthday Annie.  We love you!!

Remembering September11, 2001

We will never forget.

"Today, the world remembers the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  we are still shocked and dismayed a the infamy of those cowardly attacks.

During the past year, we have come to know the heroic acts of men and women whose courage and selflessness were manifest on that terrible day.  So many lost their lives.  So many friends and families have been deprived of dear ones.  Today we pause to remember and join in tribute to those whose lives were taken and to those who have carried on so bravely in their absence.

We know that much good has come of these dreadful circumstances.  From the smoke and ashes of New York, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and other areas of the world has arisen a greater sense of unity and purpose in ridding the earth of evil and providing for the freedom and security of all people.  We endorse the righteous efforts of God-fearing people everywhere in this important endeavor.

May our Father in Heaven smile upon us all, comfort those who continue to mourn, and guide the leaders of nations in the quest for justice and liberty, is our sincere prayer."

-Gordon B. Hinckley-

I still remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news come across the airs.  I don't think I will ever forget that day.

A Pedicure for Neal, Mallory and myself.

Neal decided he needed  pedicure so I decided that I wanted to come along and I text Mallory to see if she wanted to join us for a fun evening.  We were delighted when she said she would.  She told me that she had never had a pedicure.  We had a great time and very relaxing.  Mallory got blue toes, I got pink and Neal just plain.  He wasn't brave enough to go with some wild color.

Beautiful people, beautiful toes!  Can I just say that we love having Mallory with us for a few months.  She is delightful.  Love her tons!

A Trip to Scofield

Neal and I were invited to Ron and Judy's cabin in Scofield.  It was over Labor Day weekend.  We had such a great time.  Judy loves to cook and always makes incredible dishes.  This is a picture of just one of our dinners.  She doesn't just make spaghetti, she makes delicious meat balls and garlic bread to go with.  Dinner is always a treat with Judy.

 We don't have any service at the cabin and have to walk up the hill to get service.  I had to take a picture of Neal, Judy and Ron all on their phones, making calls and answer texts.  Judy always claims that rock she is sitting on.  If you look closely you can see the Scofield lake behind them.

Another delicious meal outside on the patio on a Sunday after church.  

 Judy making a delicious dessert.  So typical of the cooking she does on a daily basis.

 When I was out walking I notice this hornets next on one of the cabins.  This is the biggest nest I've ever seen!  Believe me I kept my distance.

 Took this further away so you could see how really big it is.  I feel sorry for the cabin owners who are going to have to deal with this nest when they come up.

We had a great time and came back down the canyon Tuesday mid morning instead of fighting the traffic on Labor Day evening.  We did that once and won't do that again.

President and Sister Little's Cabin Party

Neal and I some a few other couples in the stake were invited to an evening dinner at the Little's cabin in Oakley.  We drove up there with the Knights.  Had a little hard time finding it but after circling the area twice and we realized we had been past these same places already, we finally saw a sign that said "Little's Cabin".  We turned up a little dirt road and there it was.  It is more like a summer home and it is beautiful.  We had a delicious dinner, great visiting and laughs, played a fun game, walked down by the river and threw some rocks and then finally headed home.  Here are some fun pictures.

 Brother and sister Elder.  It is fun to call him Elder Elder!  Always makes us chuckle.

 This is a picture of Linda Knight and Neal sitting by the fire.

 Our walk down to the Weber River.  Pres. Little is walking toward me.  His wife, Jan, sitting on the bench.  She says she comes up here and reads.  It is very peaceful.

 Elders snuggled up on a bench.

 Linda and I horsing (excuse the pun) around on some saddles in the cabin.

 A group picture of everyone but me.  I was taking the picture.  It was a really fun group and a fun party.

 Neal and I on the backyard swings.  I can't remember the last time I was on a swing.  Almost made me sea sick!

 Linda and I again.

Finished Project and a New Project

It has been so long since I've blogged that I can't remember where I left off.  I'm not sure if I've put a picture of my projects on the blog, so I'm going to post them now.

This one is at the cleaners being blocked.  This one is for Jamie's mom.  Jamie said that this saying is what her mom chose for her quote for the year.  She doesn't know that I'm doing this for her.  What a nice coincidence!

This is my new project.  I'm doing this one for Jamie.  I'm hoping to have it done the first of October.

 This is what the finished project will look like.  It is a Dandelion.  All done in black, gray and a soft brown.