A Weekend Visit

Tucker popped into town for a very short but fully packed visit.  He arrived Thursday afternoon and Neal picked him up at the airport.  The drove from there to a ski rental place so Tucker could get outfitted for skiing.  When he got to the house we were all hungry so headed to the Habit for dinner.

The next morning he got up early and picked up Grayson and the two of them spent the day on the ski slopes.  Grayson snowboarding and Tucker skiing.  Tucker took a bunch of fun videos of Grayson and is going to put them together and send them to him.  They had an incredible time.  The weather certainly cooperated with Tucker's visit because it had snowed all week and snowed that day.  They couldn't drive up the canyon so they hitched a ride rather than wait for a bus they could get on.  Apparently everyone who wasn't working on Friday was headed to the mountains.

That evening Maren and her family came over and we played games and had the usual laughs.  Nothing much better for this family than gathering around the table for food and games.

 As you can see from the picture below that Tucker had Mallory, Maren and Greg spell bound with whatever he was telling them.  Well maybe spellbound is not quite the right word, maybe bored?  Just kidding.  I have no idea what the conversation was.

 Just wanted to add that I won the game.  Below would be the proof.

While Tucker was here, he and his dad went to a U of U basketball game on Thursday evening and then Saturday afternoon and evening Tucker met up with his friends from high school for dinner and another U of U basketball game.  

Sunday morning bright and early, 6 a.m., we said our goodbyes and Neal took Tucker to the airport.  It was a whirlwind visit but I'm always happy to have any visit from my son and his family.  

Some Fun Dance Pictures of my California Girls

We are so proud of all you have accomplished and continue to excel in dance as well as life!  We are looking forward to great things from all three of you.

Emmi Leaves Florida

Emmi has officially graduated from her training in Florida and we should add here, did so with honors.  She has now begun a new adventure in her life and will be living in Georgia.  From all of her emails and texts she has certainly taken advantage of all the sites in and around Florida and now has a new state to explore.  I love this picture of her with the battle ship behind.  She was on one of her many weekend adventures to see the sights of Florida.  I believe this was Blakeley Island.

This next picture is her officially release from Florida with her graduating honors papers.  She is packed up and ready to go.  I would add here that she had a new roommate the last few weeks she lived in Florida and it was the roommate from . . . . well, you can guess.  She has never been so happy to be out of that apartment and away from the psycho!!!

She sent this picture of her arriving safely at her new destination.  She found out that she has her own private apartment with no roommate!!  that made her very, very happy. 

Congratulations, Emmi on all your achievements so far and happy trails!   I know very little if anything about Georgia so I'm hoping there will be a visit from your Gam sometime in the next couple years!!

Stitching Project

I'm making progress on my stitching project.  I like posting my progress at the beginning of each month.  It's fun to look back and see how much I've done.  This is a really, really hard project but I know I'm going to love it when it is finished.

February come in with a bang!!

This is what we woke up to this morning.  We had about 18+ inches of snow in our happy valley.  They closed the county offices so I got a paid day off!  Mallory pretty much couldn't get out of the driveway and so she was able to stay home too.  It was a good relaxing day for both of us.  I did go out mid morning and shoveled the snow.  Just the driveway and then when Neal got home he finished the whole area off.  This is Mallory's car before we cleaned it off and shoveled the driveway.

 Notice the huge pile of snow!

A few random pictures of the Super Bowl Gathering.

I think the three girl spent most of the evening playing some crazy game with Emmi instead of actually watching the game.  They had a great time.  It was fun to hear them laughing and talking together.  

 Annie in the kitchen preparing all the food for the gathering.  She always does an amazing job.

 Neal watching the game the way he usually watches games.  I have to admit that I took a picture and sent it to Tucker to add to his collection.  He must have a gazillion pictures by now!

 Eating good food.  Annie had every kind of snack food, including candy, that anyone could possibly want.  Thanks Annie for inviting us out.

Sunday Super Bowl

The Chiefs and the 49rs played and the Chiefs won.  It was actually kind of a boring game but we had fun out at Annie's.  She invited us out for snacks and to watch the game.  She had a ton of finger foods and soup.  I brought a vegetable tray and some grapes.  We had a fun evening.  We got a picture from Jamie of their group gathered for the game so, of course, we had to send one back.
Mallory is in this one.  She did a great job getting all of us in the picture.

And I think this one if me giving directions - just being a grandmother!!

 Jamie and Tucker's group.

Blakeley Island

Emmi was visiting Blakeley Island and some of the huge battle ships.  She is having so much fun traveling around and seeing the sights and I love that she send pictures.  You look beautiful Emmi Girl!!

P. S.

I forgot to mention that I had two girls from the primary sing the first verse of I Am A Child Of God.  Madison Jackman and Reese Ewing.  I wanted to do something special for them so I had Annie find a necklace to give them.  She ordered them for me and I gave them to the girls after stake conference.  They did a beautiful job.  I was so proud of them.

These are the necklaces that Annie ordered.

Stake Conference

Stake Conference was amazing.  For some reason, the older I get, the more I love stake conference.  I remember when Jeff and Annie were little that often we would count stake conference as a 'vacation' from church.  We did go to stake conference often but we also skipped it often as well.  Shame on me!!

So fast forward 45+ years and I found myself speaking in stake conference often as the stake relief society president and now leading my ward choir (that I refer to as my little tabernacle choir) in stake conference.  Before I left for conference that morning, I knelt in prayer and asked Heavenly Father for help for me as the director and for my choir that He will accept the songs we sing.  What an amazing a spiritual experience that was for me.  The two songs that I chose for the choir to sing was I Am a Child of God and The King of Love My Shepard Is.  Both beautiful and very moving spiritual songs.

My confidence began to diminish as stake conference started and then an amazing thing happened.  President Little had already announced the first half of the program.  He sat down, I lead the congregation in the opening song, we had the opening prayer and all of a sudden President Little stood up and said that he needed to say something.  He talked about how our Heavenly Father accepts everything we try to do.  And it doesn't matter if we fail at what we try, it is that we tried and he accepts that and rewards us.  I wish I had recorded it.  It was the most amazing little sermonette that touched my heart and gave me the confidence I needed to lead the choir.

After stake conference I had so many people tell me how wonderful the choir sounded and one gentleman even said that he had been a choir director and sung in ward choirs for over 16 years and had never heard a ward choir that sounded that good.

I don't take credit for any of it.  I know that the choir was blessed from beyond.  I even think Annette and Mother were there.  Annette was probably singing with them.  What an incredible spiritual high I experienced.  I came right home and found a quiet place and knelt down and thanked my Father In Heaven for hearing and answering my prayers.  How I love the Gospel and the challenges that every calling in the church has brought to me.  The growth that I have experienced is amazing and beyond anything I ever thought I could do.

Yup, THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!  And don't you forget it.

January 28th

This is a day that I will always remember.  As time has passed the memories are pleasant and more happy memories come to mind that sad ones.  Do I miss Jeffrey?  Absolutely, but sad memories seems to creep into my mind less and less as the time goes on.

You set eternity in my heart.  We were together and I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity.  Until we meet again . . . . .   I love you!

Mindy posted a great message of face book that I want to include here.  And I quote:

"4 years.  I can't believe it's been 4 years.  Facebook reminded me how heartbreaking this date has been to me in the past.  Today is a little different, and I'd like all of us to do a few things today that we might not normally do.

First, let us celebrate Jeff's life rather than grieve his passing.  Jeff loved to serve others.  So today, I ask that you do an act of kindness for someone else in Jeff's honor.  Keep in mind, that one of the ways Jeff showed his love for others was with memes and practical jokes.  Make someone smile in honor of Jeff today.

Second, should you feel inclined to do so, have a shot of fireball, or your own favorite drink.  7 pm MST is when I'll be raising my glass to Jeff.  Will you join me?

And finally, share a story of Jeff here or on your personal page and tag me, please.  My kids love hearing stories of their dad and we talk about him all the time.  We need more stories.  (she then tells a personal story here).

And with that, dear friends, I leave you.  May you find peace, love, and happiness today."

New project

I've started another sewing project.  This is one that I saw at the Craft Center and just had to put it on my 'to do down the road' list.  I'm finally doing it and it is a really hard one.  The tree may drive me nuts before I'm done with it.  This one may go to Lila Mae.

Grayson celebrates 16!

Grayson had his 16th birthday and wanted to celebrate it by going to dinner with family members at the Asian Star.  Neal and I were thrilled to be invited to this momentous occasion.  The food was delicious and the company fun with lots of laughs.  Here are some pictures of the evening.

I have to add here that after dinner (which was paid for by Mindy) we all opened our fortune cookies and read our fortune ending with "under the sheets".  Lots of laughter!!

Happy 16th Grayson and many, many good, fun years ahead of you is what we wish for you.  Love you!!!

Emmi

Emmi sent pictures from her visit to New Orleans.  She visited the cemetery where part of the movie, Double Jeopardy, was filmed.  Emmi said she had never seen the movie and I told her she needed to watch it.  Here are some great pictures of her trip.

 Seems to me that she said this was her favorite house that she saw.

Emmi is seeing parts of the United States she may have never had the opportunity to see.  Way to travel around and take advantage of seeing the area you are in.  Love the pictures.  Keep them coming.

My first lesson

Yesterday I taught my first lesson in Gospel Doctrine. The Book of Mormon is our course of study for this year.   I taught the first 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon.  We usually have two classes but one of our instructors didn't show up and so they combined us into one.  The room was crowded with every seat taken.  The hardest part about teaching a class that big is that there just isn't enough time for all the people who want to make comments.  You would think that an hour would be a long time to teach but believe me, the time is gone before you hardly get started.  I am not a natural at teaching but the one thing I love about this calling is that I have to study and be prepared and my knowledge and testimony of the gospel grows with each passing week.  I love the Book of Mormon and find peace as I read and study it.

"My brothers and sisters, without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord.  There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

To my posterity I will add my own personal testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God given to us in these latter days.  It will and can provide answers, assurance and peace to all who read it.

A new 'do'!!

Neal went to Dave for a hair cut and on his way home called me and said he was going to come by and would I meet him outside at the back of our office.  He text me he was there so I went out and he showed off his new 'do'.  We laughed.  David did it just like he would do his hair if he had the head of hair that Neal does.  Needless to say, the hair do only last until the next day when Neal washed it.  You can vote if you like it or not but it won't matter because Neal and I already voted it down!  I have faith that most of you will agree that it has to go!

 Yup!  Not going to happen!!!
I also have to add here that my Christmas Cactus finally bloomed this year.  For some reason I didn't get any blooms for the last two years.  I thought may be was finished but it rallied and had lots of blossoms on it.  Gretta McPhee gave this plant to me when we lived on Lynwood.  It still reminds me of her.  Interesting how a little gift from the heart to a neighbor can last so long and bring so much joy to the receiver!

Gift from Tucker, Jamie and the girls

This is one of my favorite things that Jamie does for us every once in a while.  When we got home from St. George we got this box delivered to us.  We opened it and it was full of items that we use.  Diet Coke, fruit juice, lotion, lip balm, wafers, snickers, toothpaste, etc.  Seriously, it is box full of surprises and we love it.  Jamie seems to pay close attention to the items we frequently use.  I should also mention that Tucker bought me a fun winter jacket that I've worn almost every day since Christmas and it keep me warm and I love it.  Thanks Maxfields for our Christmas.

If All Of Our Troubles . . . . .

I finished another stitching project and have started another one.  I I've loved doing these counted cross stitch with sayings on them because Mother used to quote them to me all the time.  When I spotted this one, I just had to have it.

"If all of your troubles hung on a line.  You would take yours and I would take mine."  I would get that from mother when I would come home from school and complain about the usual school / friends issues or come home from mutual and complain about something going on and would often hear myself say, "I wish I didn't have this problem."  Mother would smile and I would hear that saying.  Mother was full of quotes and sayings that she would use on me often.

Of course it need to be taken to the cleaners to be pressed and then to the framers to be framed.  Can't wait to hang it in the house.

Here is my next project. I've always loved this little song.  Just another sampler to hang somewhere on one of the walls in my house.  This isn't the finished project, just a picture of what mine will look like when it is done.

 This is the started project.  These smaller samplers work up quite fast.  Usually only take me a couple months.

We also got back the two that I did for Jamie and her mom.  Jamie's is the dandelion and her mom's is a song that she always sang to her granddaughters.  I thought it would be fun to do it and have Jordyn, Lexi and Peyton give it to their grandmother.  Hope they both like them.

Ghost Music

Neal and I got a new fancy clock for Christmas.  We didn't get it hung up until after we got back from St. George so Mallory didn't know anything about it.  This clock chimes every hour on the hour and lots of parts move.  Mallory was sitting at the kitchen table in a very quiet house.  Neal and I had already left for work.  All of a sudden Mallory heard this loud music and couldn't figure out where it was coming from.  She quickly notice the clock hanging above the grand piano and said she was fascinated with all the moving parts.  I've wanted one of these kind of clocks for a long time.  We got this one on sale and even at that it was $400.00 but worth every penny.  It only chimes when there is light.  When it gets evening and it's dark in the front room it won't chime.  That is good because you can hear it all over the house.

Sorry Miss Mallory.  Should have told you.  But it is kind of funny that all of a sudden you hear music and you know you are by yourself and haven't turned on anything. :-)

Meet our new addition.