Easter Dinner at Maren and Gregs

 The Friday night before Easter, Neal and I were invited out to Maren's for dinner and to color Easter eggs.  Greg had grilled some delicious steaks.  Maren made funeral potatoes, carrots and home made rolls.  Everything was absolutely delicious.  It was fun to spend some time with the Cutlers.  We had a nice visit with Greg and Maren and the kids.  So enjoyed the evening.  While we were there, Taylor decided that she wanted one of her ear rings replaced.  It was one that had to be screwed on and believe me was not one that could be changed easily.  It took Maren and Brock working with tweezers and pliers to try and get the little ball unscrewed.  Brock was the one who finally was able to get it off.  It was quite an ordeal and then he helped her put another ear ring back in.  

Derek called and we were able to spend about an hour or more talking with him.  He sounded a bit down and said that the last three months have been the hardest he has gone through.  He said China is shut down again and the circus is closed and the schools are closed.  He said he just has Frankie to keep him occupied.  He also said the Margo wants to come to the US to study the artistry of make up.  

Thanks Cutlers for a wonderful evening and great food!  

Mallory's Final

 Mallory had a final in her writing class at BYU.  She wanted to use Brinkley as part of her presentation.  She asked if I would come down and sit with Brinkley out in the hallway until it was time for her to have him come into the classroom.  I got to Provo and to her apartment just a few minutes before she did and while I was waiting, had a special treat.  I was sitting in my car and happened to glance out the window and there on the driveway was a Quail.  She was all fluffed up trying to stay warm in the cool wind.  I watched her for a few minutes and then noticed that she went under the car and I spotted another quail under the car.  It was so fun to watch them.  I show the pictures to Mallory and she was not impressed.  I learned something about Mallory.  She doesn't like birds!  Just like Susan.  I was so surprised.  Susan is terrified of birds and then I find out that Mallory doesn't like them either.  They fascinate me.  Those that walk along the ground and those that fly in the sky.

How can you not think these are the cutest sweetest little birds ever.  I just love Quail!  Mallory is loyal to Brinkley.  Her presentation went well and Brinkley was a hit.  After the class was over we drove through Jimmy Johns.  Got sandwiches and then I dropped her and Brinkley off and then picked up Neal at UVU and home.  What a fun afternoon.

The other day I got this cartoon from Mallory.  I'd seen it before but it has been a long time ago.  Probably one of my all time favorites!

You just can't help but laugh!!

Annie's Projects

 I benefited yet again from a project that Lynda Ann put together for Abby and her companions, and for Emmi and her little branch on the ship and for she and I to give to the sisters we minister to.  I took mine around to my sisters and the ooohs and aaaahs were great.  Annie gets all the credit for being amazing and serving others along with me.  The little lamb is accompanied by a talk from Dieter F. Uchtdorf.  Perfect for the Easter celebration.  Annie had it all packaged in a clear cellophane bag with green grass.  So dang cute.  Thank you!

Sunday Thoughts

 I got an email from Emmi and she mentioned that she loved my Sunday thoughts.  I was happy that she was able to get on my blog and read it and that she was enjoying my Sunday thoughts.  Not sure why I even started doing it but it just kind of became something I did each week.  I'm a little late posting my Sunday thought this week but I guess it doesn't matter if I post it on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, just as long as I get it posted.  So here is my Sunday thought for this week.

It has been fun to see the different temples being built in our area.  Neal and I have seen the one in Orem going up on the side of the freeway and also the one between Stansbury and Tooele.  It's fun to drive by to inspect the building and the progress.  There is so much progress, but we also know that building a temple takes a lot of time.

The temples can provide places for us to go to find healing, to be rebuilt and to be patched up, to find purpose and the reason for life.  The Salt Lake Temple is undergoing a huge changes and will yet undergo more changes before it is completed and functioning and thriving.  And the building, along the way, will probably has and will experience some setbacks.  But when it's finally done and completed, it will be majestic and glorious and resilient even though it has probably undergone heavy pressure and hardship.  The temple will be a sacred place once again for the many souls who enter.

Maybe the temple is like our own lives.  We are being rebuilt every day of our lives.  We undergo changes and more changes before we are completed.  We also experience setbacks in our lives but hopefully we can continue to move forward with resilience even through hardships.  

Friday Date Night

 Neal and I decided to go to Fire Station No 8.  This is the Mexican Restaurant that used to be in the old Train Station but because of the homeless issue and the homeless taking up residence by the entrance of the train station, the owners of Rio Grande Mexican Food had to make the decision to move to a new location.  Market Street Grill closed down and Fire Station No8 moved in.  They have renovated the building and really fixed it up.  The food was delicious and we would definitely go back there again some time.  It was actually warm enough that we were able to sit outside on the patio.  Oh, I do love the warmer weather.  However, tonight it is snowing again!!

Finding Pictures

 I was looking for Neal's birth certificate and had to go through a bunch of  books.  I never did find his birth certificate but came across an envelope that had a bunch of our family Christmas cards and a picture of Tucker's wedding.  Talk about a walk down memory lane.  Check these fun pictures out.  I think Jamie was the one who was given the assignment to put the cards together.  

This one was my personal favorite!

Found this cute picture of CJ, Justin and Madeline

I believe this was our Christmas at the beach house and we were all in Disney Land.

Tucker and Jamie's wedding day.

Pictures are priceless and so fun to look back on.  So don't anyone give me any nonsense about taking pictures.  So fun to look back on.

Sunday Thoughts

It is General Conference Weekend for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous.  Spring in the air, tree blossoms busting out in full bloom and so many bulbs waking up from their winter sleep.  I love the Spring.  I love the warmth it brings.  I love the sunshine.  I love the smells.  

  As I listen to conference I remember something that one of the apostles said a couple conferences ago, 

        "When you stream general conference a window on a laptop becomes a window to God's love.

        A pair of headphones becomes a line of inspiration.

        An afternoon drive become a path to teach.

        Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, take time to listen."  

Our past and present circumstances do not determine our future.  The power is in us to be anxiously engaged and out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  Jesus Christ is the anchor to our lives.

Mindy and Robert Tie the Knot

 Neal and I were invited to be a part of Mindy and Roberts marriage celebration.  We left Friday morning and drove to Las Vegas.  Six hours, but we made it to the Bliss Chapel on time.  There were about 50 people total.  Maren and Greg, Tucker and Jamie and Neal and I represented the Maxfield side of the family.  Lynda Ann just had another blood patch and couldn't join the celebration.  She was very sad.  

The wedding was an Elvis Presley affair.  He conducted the wedding, sang songs to Robert and Mindy and pronounced them man and wife.  It was a gala affair.  Mindy made the comment, "Who knows how to put on a party?!"  We all agreed that she certainly was at the top of the list for fun celebrations.  After the wedding ceremonies and many pictures being taken, we all drove to the restaurant for an incredibly nice dinner hosted by Mindy and Robert.  

Here are some fun pictures of the evening events.

So much fun with these two girls!  How I love them.

The man - Elvis

along with Mindy and Robert

Serenading the newly married couple.

Left to right:  Grayson, Domoni, CJ, Robert, Justin, Ryan and Maddie

These pictures were taken at the dinner.

Sharing a cup cake.

This series of snap shot were taken at the Wedding Chapel.  Just fun pictures.

We wish Mindy and Robert a happy and blissful marriage.  

After the dinner, Neal and I drove back to St. George where we spent the night.  We arrived in St. George about 12:30 and fell fast asleep until 6 a.m.  Out of bed, dressed and on our way back to Salt Lake by 6:30.  Arrived safely here by 10:30.  A lot was packed into two short days.  Had a wonderful time and were so happy to be a part of it all.  It was so fun to visit with Tucker and Jamie and CJ, Domoni and Justin.  

Found the Pictures

 The pictures are out of order but I can tell about each one of them.  This first one was a rather funny one.  I went to work early one morning, parked my car, got out and nearly stepped on this Mallard.  He was not about to move.  Believe me, he yelled at me in duck language.  Scared the living daylights out of me.  Silly duck.  We think the hen that wanders with him is nested in the herb garden laying on some eggs.

Neal had his left eye cataract removed last week.  Came through with flying colors.  The nice thing is that he doesn't have to wear glasses anymore.  Amazing.  He went to school the next morning, but couldn't drive or go on the Front Runner so I drove him down at 6:00 a.m.  Came back to work until 9:30 and then drove back down to Orem to pick him up and bring him home.  Back to work and then I left again and drove him to his follow-up doctors appointment.  I didn't bother to go back to work after that.  

Here are the pictures of our lunch for Susan's birthday.  We had such a fun time.  

And these pictures are at the eating place that Neal and I discovered in Sugar House.  Certainly good, but different.  Not in my top 10 list of places to go back to.

Catching Up

 I'm a little behind in my blogging.  It's been a busy past couple of weeks so this post will be kind of a hodge-podge of things that have happened in the last little while.

First of all.  Neal and I had our Friday night out last Friday night the 26th.  We found a place is Sugarhouse called Oubergine.  The food was interesting and good.  Not sure I would make a trip clear to Sugarhouse to eat there again but it was good for a try.

I can't even begin to pronounce what we had or even remember what it was called, but here are some pictures.  The interesting comment made was that the place had been open for years and it was very crowded.  

I actually took a couple pictures but I can't find the dang things.  Loaded them, I thought, but they are no where to be found.  So, just use your imagination.  

Also, it is April so I will show the progress I'm making on my Santa face.  The hardest part on this has been the Christmas tree, but it is finally finished.

Also, it is April.  Easter is late this year.  April 17th.  I got out my Easter wreath and hung it on the door.  That is about as much as I've done so far.  I did buy two Easter bunny's bags full of three different kinds of popcorn and sent one to Abby in California and Jan and Mike Little who are serving in New York.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to their faces.  Everyone needs a a package in the mail now and then.

Mallory, Lynda Ann and I met Lila Mae and Susan in Provo to celebrate Susan's birthday.  We met a Joe Verta's - a favorite Mexican place of ours- had a delicious lunch and laughed and talked and talked some more.  From there we went shopping at random stores and then home.  Very fun day.  Good grief!  Can't find those pictures either!!  I give up.