Projects old and new

I finished another project and started a new one.  Be Ye Thankful is one that I just finished and will be taking it to the cleaners to be blocked and pressed.  I'm anxious to have this one framed.  It will be beautiful.

This next project I'm doing for Jamie's mom.  Apparently she has sung this song to her grandchildren from the time they were little.  I am excited to be able to do something for her that has some meaning.

123 and Me

Maren gave her dad his Father's Day present.  It is 123 and Me.  This is where you spit in a bottle, send it in analysis and you get the results of your ancestry and what countries you hale from.  It will be fun to see how Neal's turns out.  What a great gift!  The funny thing is that Maren is a nurse and yet she can't handle spit.  I'm the same way and we both had to turn away while Neal spit in the little tube.  Maren made him put the lid on.

I'll fill in the results when we get them.

4th of July

This is a holiday that I love almost as much as Thanksgiving.  I am so grateful for our blessings of being a citizen of the United States.  So thankful for the freedoms that are ours to enjoy.  I love going up to Lila Mae's and celebrating.  This year Neal and Jeff played 18 holes at Wasatch Golf Course.  I dropped them off and went to Lila Mae's.  I wanted to go to the cemetery so Lila Mae went with me.  I always get teary as I stand by her grave.  I know she isn't there but I feel her spirit with me.  It is always a very tender moment for me.

From there, we went to get a drink and then to the store to buy some ice.  By the time we got back Lynda Ann and family had arrived and the party began.  We played some hands of What Were You Thinking and then we fixed lunch.  Lynda Ann was appointed the cook.  Of course, Hayley always has a book to read during the quiet moments :-)

 Every year I have my picture taken with Lila Mae on the 4th.  Another fun picture with my sister that I love dearly.  She will be 88 years old this year.

 Annie cooking hamburgers and hot dogs.  The standard 4th of July barbeque.

About this time we got a call from Jeff and Neal that they were done, so Annie and I ran and picked them up.  We had a great lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, veggies and fruit and Lynda Ann made her red white and blue pinwheel cookies and a raspberry dessert that was delicious.

Of course the traditional bingo game was played and Lynda Ann won the black out this year.  So far, the Gertsons have dominated the black out wins.

We had an incredible day and love being in Midway for the day.  We all left about 6:00.  Annie had to be to work at 7:00.  We've found that it is easier to leave a little early and watch the fireworks in the valley rather than in Midway and then have to fight the traffic getting out of the canyons.

Here is another picture of Lila Mae and I.  Not taken on the 4th but a long time ago.  Don't you love the long hair, Jane Fonda look!

Back in time

Maren sent me this picture.  I figured out it is in front of the home on Lynwood and it appears that I'm carrying groceries out to the car probably in preparation for going to Bear Lake.  Don't know for sure, just a guess.  Fun picture.  Thanks Maren for sending it.  Great find.

Neal's Deal

This is how the story goes.  Neal goes into Chase bank to withdraw some money from the ATM.  He walks out and there is a guy sitting in a car who gives Neal a shout and asks him if he can direct him to the airport.  (First Red Flag.  It's the middle of the afternoon and he is sitting at a bank with an ATM in view).  Of course, Neal goes over and show him on the guys phone how to use his map and get to the airport.  (2nd Red Flag.  The guy has a phone and doesn't know how to ask Seri to direct him to the airport?)  Then the guy proceeds to tell Neal that he is a salesman from Italy and has been at Nordstroms selling leather coats and just happens to have a bunch in his trunk and needs to sell them and wouldn't Neal like to buy some?  (3rd Red Flag.  Why would the guy be sitting in a bank parking lot selling leather coats he is supposed to be showing as samples to Nordstroms?)  Then the guy tells Neal he can have all of them for $500.00.  REALLY??!!  Neal tells him he only has $100.00.  So the guy gives him 3 coats for $100.00 and drives off.  Oh my gosh.  So Neal brings home 3 leather coats that he hasn't opened from their packaging, has no idea what size they are and if they will even fit anyone!  End of story.  They won't fit anyone in the family so Neal ends up giving two of them to Ron Stanfield.  They fit him perfectly.  Neal keeps one.  Do I ever see him wearing the one he kept?  Probably not.  Here is a picture of the coats.

Neal, Neal, Neal!!!!

Emmi's Miracles

Emmi has had quite a journey since joining the Navy.  She was taking her big fitness test and had pain in her legs that nearly stopped her from finishing her run.  But, Emmi was determined to finish that test and not only finish but pass it.  She has seen many people dropping out, passing out and throwing up.  She wasn't about to give in.  When she had finished she was in so much pain she could hardly walk.  But, she finished and she passed.  The next day she was taken to the hospital in an ambulance where she found out she had stress fractures in both her legs.  Her calves were swollen larger than her throat.  The enzymes reading in her muscles were off the charts.  They kept her in the hospital for three days and then released her.  She had to wait a week to have another blood test to determine if the enzymes had gone back to normal.  If they didn't, she would be sent home and her career with the Navy would come to an end.  Lots of prayers were sent to Heaven in her behalf along with having her name on the prayer rolls of the temple.  Do miracles happen?  Yes.  Are prayers answered?  Absolutely.  She not only got a reading that was normal but was also told that she would be able to move forward with her group.

Now this is where we can be thankful that we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that with that membership come miracles and answers to prayers and added little tender mercies.  Annie, of course, has been anxious about Emmi.  Lynda Ann got a phone call today, Sunday, from either the relief society president or the branch president (can't remember which).  The call was to let Annie know that Emmi had been had church that day and was doing great!  I guarantee you that this would only happen in our church. You have to know that the branch leaders are well aware of concerns from parents and that call came to reassure Annie that Emmi was well and happy.

So grateful the we belong to a world wide church that has people all over who care about their flock!
I love this gospel.  I KNOW it is true.  I am so thankful for that knowledge and my testimony!

I will have to write a note of thank you to the person in the branch who recognized the need to make a call home to Emmi's parents.

We love you Emmi and we miss you!!!

Young Love

Abby took these pictures in Star Valley, Wyoming while they were all watching the fireworks.  This is pictures of Tyler and Mallory cuddled up in a blanket watching the explosions in the sky.  These pictures could be used as an advertising picture.  I loved them.  When I saw them I thought of an old 40's song that I grew up singing.  It's called Young Love.  It goes like this:  Young love, first love.  A love with true devotion.  Young love, first love.  A love with real emotion. . . . .   The words may not be exactly right but close enough.

This first picture was taken that day while in Jackson Hole.

So exciting watching this friendship blossom into a romance and love.

A Fun Saturday

Neal and I went golfing Saturday morning and had a great game.  I even parred a couple of holes, which is always a good feeling.  The funny thing that happened is on the last hole I was two shots away from making par.  I hit the ball and it flew directly toward the green.  I could see it hit the ground and start rolling toward the green.  Just as it was ready to roll on the green it hit a "no carts" sign and stopped right under it.  What a bummer!  We had to take a picture of it.  I couldn't do a shot like that again if I tried.  So funny!

After golfing, Neal had bought tickets to a 4th of July barbeque so we stayed and ate and then ran some errands to the mall.  Neal wanted to get his phone looked at and I wanted some socks from Stance  .  Then we stopped and had an ice cream from Farr.  Such a fun Saturday.  We topped off the day by Ron and Judy stopping by to play a few hands of bridge.

Neal's 129th Eagle Slide

This is the latest of Neal's Eagle Slides for the boy scouts.  However, this one was done by someone who paid him $100.00 to do a log and hatchet.  Neal work many hours on this one and it turned out amazing.  He delivered it to a gentleman by the name of Miles Romney who was thrilled with it but didn't bother to give Neal any money for it.  Believe me, the hours and hours of time Neal puts into carving and painting these slides, they are well worth that much and more.

My Little Surprises

After we said our goodbyes, shed a few tears and gave lots of hugs, we waved goodbye to our California family.  I went back in the house with a sad feeling that it would be a November before we would see each other again.  As I rounded the corner from the kitchen to the front room, I spotted these cards on the table.  Jamie always has the girls and herself write us a thank you.

 The next morning I went to the cupboard to get my vitamin pills and Metamucil.  There was another thank you from Jamie.  How I love this family!

I also got another surprise in the mail when I got home from work on Monday.  Tucker and Jamie had ordered a new Hydro Flask for me and I love it!  Best ever!!!

The Day to Leave

The day for my California family to head home always comes way, way to quickly.  Monday morning brought those moments of saying 'goodbye' and shedding a few sad tears.  Just before they left I told them that we needed to have family prayer and then a selfie.  Those two things are a tradition that I shall try and push every time we are together and are at the point where we have to say 'goodbye'.

Cute picture!

Here are some pictures that Jamie sent me.
Mom and Dad and children.  Left to right:  Lyndsy, Jamie, Tucker, Lynda Ann, Maren and Mindy.
Back two:  Jeff and Greg.  If you don't know the two people in the front then maybe you are reading the wrong blog!

Gam and Pa and he grandchildren.  We are missing Desmond because he was having a tantrum and wouldn't be in the picture.
I'll try and tell you who they are from left to right:
Back row:  Maddie, Jaden, Mallory, River, Andrew, Hayley, Ryan, Grayson, Peyton and Abby.
Front row:  Taylor, Boston, Brock, Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Abby and of course, Digby!

 The kids playing games.

 Jordyn Lyn and Lexi playing scrabble.

Sunday Dinner

Sunday we had the whole family over for dinner.  I counted 26 all together.  I think I must have done about 3 full loads of dishes, silverware and glasses.  Lynda Ann stood out in the hot sun and barbequed marinated chicken.  That was out of this world.  We also had corn on the cob, baked potatoes, carrots and grapes.  Maren brought a delicious pasta salad. I know there are a lot of pictures taken that day but I haven't seen them all yet so I will post what I have and post others as I get them.
Me and my cute little missionary - oh, returned missionary!

 Playing our family favorite, What Were You Thinking game.

We also played 6-handed Rook until late into the night.  I might add here that I won!

Saturday Night Adult Dinner

We planned a night to have all the siblings with spouses meet at Tres Hombres for dinner.  It was so nice to be able to quietly visit with each other, enjoy good food and just relax around the table.  We had everyone come along with Robert (Mindy's fiancé).

This was a cute picture of one of our waitresses.  She was fascinated with Jeff's height.  Just couldn't believe how tall he was.

 She was having so much fun standing by Jeff and comparing her height to him.

 I told the waitress that it was Maren's birthday so they surprised her with singing happy birthday to her and putting a sombrero on her head.  She also got a free dessert that she passed around for all to share.  Happy birthday Maren!

Just so you know, we didn't forget the kids.  The cousins were at Gam's house and pizza was brought to them by Jamie.  We also had all the grandchildren each write a letter to Emmi.