France - Here She Comes!!

 Lynda Ann threw a surprise going away party for Mallory who is doing a semester abroad in France.  She leaves this coming Tuesday.  Annie and Abby made a cut out of the Eiffel Tower which was amazing.  The funny story (and there always is one when Annie is in project mode) is that she didn't know just where she was going to spray paint this huge cardboard structure.  So she took it out in front of her house and laid it on the street to paint it.  Apparently this was like 11:00 at night.  The next day, Mallory happened to notice the street and wondered who had painted an A.  At this point, I think she might have begun to be suspicious that something was up.

But, everything worked out perfect, including the Eiffel Tower and the surprise for Mallory.  Abby and Mallory left the house about 3:00 and drove over to the new temple sight to take some pictures for Emmi.  While they were gone Ellie and Neal and I arrived and helped Annie and the kids get the food and decorations set up for the party.  

Ellie, Hayley and Neal strung the lights and got it all set up.

All the food was French themed.  

Just me fooling around a little bit before the party begins.

Mallory and Abby came in the house just after 4 and the party began.  We took some pictures, then we all had delicious food and then Annie had some French related games to play.  One was guessing common French phrases that we Americans use all the time.  That was hard!  Another one was she had a whole bunch of pictures of famous places in France that we had to guess.  And then we had to put a piece of paper on top our head and draw the Eiffel Tower!  The drawings were hilarious.  After that we played Telestrations and had some great laughs!  

Cute Abby posing.

BON VOYAGE dear Mallory!  Have an amazing time, see the sights of France and learn the language.

We love you and wish for you many fun adventures.

One Quick Stop

 After we left Lila Mae's, we headed home making one quick stop at the Loco Lizards for lunch and then to the outlets.  We wanted to run into Bath and Body.  They had their candles on sale for $10.00 off, which is a good price.  Of course we all found other stuff we just had to have - isn't that always the case?!

Lunch was fun and delicious.  This picture was taken at the outlets.  Mallory and I sitting on the bench that is way to big for me and just right for Mallory.  Yes, we all had a good laugh.

Emmi, remember how you always had to run out to the car to get my sweater when we were in restaurants because I always got cold.  Well, you will notice that I remember to bring my sweater with me and I put it on the minute we were seated!  

What an incredibly fun day!!!

Our Last Goodbye

 Lynda Ann, Mallory, Abby and I left the festivities of Swiss Days and drove over to Lila Mae's home.  We all knew that we wouldn't have Lila much longer and wanted to see her one last time.  When we got there, the house was quiet so we just went back to Lila Mae's bedroom.  It is always sad and heart braking to see someone you love lingering between here and passing.  Maybe it is just as hard for the person leaving us as it is for us having to lose them.  Maybe that goodbye for them is something they don't want to face either.  

The four of us spent some very quiet and very tearful moments with Lila Mae telling her how much we loved her.  As we were getting ready to leave, Abby asked if she could say a prayer.  So we closed the bedroom door and Abby offered the most beautiful and spiritual prayer that I think I've ever heard.  I know it was heard by Lila Mae and those waiting for her on the other side.  I wish it had been recorded.  The two things that stand out in my mind were comments about the love between Lila Mae and I and the example we set for sisters to love each other.  She also mentioned eternal families and adopted children into those families.  I should have stopped sometime after and written down what I could remember but the emotions were too raw and too spiritual.  Maybe those beautiful words were only for the 5 of us to hear and share in that room.  I will long remember the feeling of love and the spirit that filled the room. You could almost touch it. Bless you, Abby, for your spiritual awareness, knowing that a prayer was needed at just that moment.  I think I felt a touch of the love the Savior has for each of us.  So overwhelming you almost want to fall to your knees and weep tears of joy.  I have tears flowing down my cheeks as I write this and remembering.  

Swiss Days

 This last weekend was the annual Swiss Days celebration in Midway, Utah.  I can remember going to Swiss Days as far back as my memory can go.  Lila Mae and Max were always involved in the events of this two day marathon!  Lila Mae always made bread and Bratseli cookies.  She was famous for both.  Max was busy helping with setting up booths and helping with all the building and electrical challenges that come with an event this size.  

Lynda Ann, Mallory, Abby and I drove to Midway Friday morning and parked in Susan's driveway.  Susan's home is about two blocks away from the fair grounds.  

We spent a couple hours wandering up and down all the isles between the booths, looking and searching for just the perfect purchase of the day.  I actually found the book that Neal and I will give the kids for Christmas and the best find was the pillow that you can change the front according to the month, season and holiday.  Annie and I both had to have one of those.  All the extra panels fit inside the back of the pillow!  How very clever.

We had a great time and were glad we were there in the morning because as the morning sun got higher in the sky so did the temperature!  And there were masses of people to contend with.  We did run into Jill Thurber (Annie's friend) and Sandy Mack (Bobby Mack's daughter-in-law).  As we were leaving I noticed that Mallory had a darling sweatshirt and I decided that I needed to get one and Abby and Lynda Ann wanted to go back and find a booth, so we split up to make our last minute purchases before heading back to the car.  Dang, I should have bought one for Tucker!!!

Such an incredibly fun time with my daughter and granddaughters at Swiss Days.  Would I do it again?  Yup, absolutely.  

Welcome Home Abby!

 What a beautiful day we all had yesterday.  It was Abby's welcome home.  Her day to report on her mission.  She gave an amazing talk and had us laughing, tearing up and feeling the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  From her report, you knew that she had a wonderful mission filled with challenges, blessings and highs and lows.  I sneaked a couple pictures.  This is her laughing with the high council who were speaking with her.

The Bishop giving her, her missionary plaque that hung on the wall while she was gone.

Abby giving her incredible testimony.

Obviously I cannot put her whole talk in here but I can give some of the highlights.  Her talk should be published for all the family to read.  It was amazing.  Here are some highlights:

"Today I want to talk about the difference between a testimony and a conversion.  Of the many great miracles and blessings I experience or witnessed on my mission the one I hold most dear is the change of heart that I experienced.  It is not a mission that changes someone, it is the Savior.  On a mission we are able to focus on the gospel full time but each of us in our lives are given the chance to learn, exerciser faith, repent, and hopefully live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our lives will improve and we go from having a testimony to being converted to the Lord . . . .

One of the greatest ways to become converted is to learn of Him.  It is very difficult to have faith in someone you know nothing about . . . . Conversion is hard because it requires a change. . . .

One of the great tools that we have that is too often overlooked is the opportunity to partake of the sacrament each week.  This is a time to reflect on our efforts to be disciples of Jesus Christ during the last week and commit once again to try and try to be better. . . .

I once listened to a talk by Elder Bednar in which he invited those listening to study the entire Book of Mormon with one question in mind.  I wrote down the question WHO IS THE SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST?  I remember wanting to know so badly who he was, who he was to me more than just stories and pictures.  

When we are converted unto the Lord we know him, we love him, and he knows we love him.  Conversion is not easy but neither was suffering for us in the garden of Gethsemane.  Brother and sisters I promise you it is worth the effort.

We are not converted when we are baptized, when we graduate seminary, when we serve a mission, when we accept a calling or attend the temple.  That all play into it and strengthens our conversion, but we cannot forget who we are trying to become converted to.  We want to become converted unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and it will come throughout our lives, and we consistently keep his commandments, partake of the sacrament each week, and make daily effort to pray, read our scriptures and repent."

I cannot possibly do justice to this amazing talk but hopefully as you read the excerpts that I have jotted down you will feel the spirit with which it was given.  I certainly want to do better and better every day.

After the meeting, we all went back to Jeff and Annie's for refreshments.  Yogurt, cut up fruit, granola, orange rolls and cinnamon rolls.  

Mindy and Robert came.  It was great to see them.  Cute picture of the two of them.  I know Lynda Ann and Abby appreciated their support.

A very happy Abigail Jeannine

We sure missed Emmi.  She is coming in to Norfolk on the 12th of September!  Can't wait to be there and greet the ship and see her come off the her ocean home!

Sunday thoughts?  Words can't describe how much I love this beautiful granddaughter of mine!  Welcome home dear Abbigail Jeannine.  

Sunday Thoughts

 I love this because it is true.  We all need to be accountable for where our lives have taken us - good or bad.  Our choices - our responsibility!

School Begins

 Maren sent me these pictures of Brock and Boston on their first day of school.  Her comment was that they didn't want their pictures taken but they were good sports and let her take them.  They will appreciate it when they are older.  I wish there were a lot more pictures taken of me as I was growing up.  There are actually very few but happy I have what I do.  I know sometimes the grandchildren get tired of hearing the adults say, "Let's take a picture" but I know the day will come when they will look back at them and be glad we all insisted.

Great picture of both the boys.

Birthday in Midway

 Susan invited Lynda Ann and her girls and I to come to Midway for a birthday lunch.  Because Lila Mae's health is declining rapidly we knew it would not be possible to meet at a restaurant for our usual celebration.  Susan and Mary fixed a nice lunch of, what they call "Jeannie's Dish" and Annie and I call a taco salad.  There was Annie, Mallory, Abby, Susan, Mary, Lila Mae and I around the table.  Lunch was delicious and then Susan brought our a birthday cake.  I snapped this picture and didn't tell Susan that she was in it.  If she knew, I would be dead!  She hates her picture taken.  We decided that 8 candles was perfect for 78 and that Annie's birthday is on the 8th of September.  

We opened presents and Lila Mae gave me a beautiful card that she had written in that said, "Remember that I love you.  Always have and always will."  I looked over at her with tears in my eyes and had the over whelming feeling that we weren't going to have her too much longer.  I was feel such love for this sister of mine and at the same time such sadness that she is getting so frail.  

Susan gave me this beautiful hand made cut of the Salt Lake Temple and mine and Neal's wedding anniversary on the bottom.  She also gave me a Swig gift card, a Beans and Brews gift card and a Roxbury gift card.  I'm all set now for a while.

Lila Mae gave me these earrings and a bottle of Giorgio.  Funny thing is that I was right down to the last few drops in the one I had so was thrilled to have another bottle.  Lila Mae said, "Don't you dare say that you are just about out."  I told her it was the truth, that I was just about out.  We had a good laugh over that one.  Her timing was perfect.

When we were ready to leave it started raining.  Annie was driving and when we got in the car she pushed what she thought was the brake release and she popped the hood open.  So Abby and Mallory got out to close the hood.  While they were doing that, Annie pushed another button and opened that gas tank door!  Needless to say we were all laughing hard.  But to give Annie credit, she had never driving the Nissan and hadn't figured out were all the bells and whistles were on the car.  

We made a few stops on the way home.  All in all, it was a perfect day and a fun but kind of sad one.  Just don't know how long we are going to have Lila Mae with us.  Glad that Abby was able to see her.

Dave and Linda Knight

 Dave and Linda were such good friends of ours.  Linda served with me in the Stake Relief Society Presidency as my secretary.  She was amazing.  They moved to DC to be closer to their three children and grandchildren.  I was sad to see them go.  They came back into town for a quick visit to see Dave's father who is in a care facility and then they were driving on to Colorado to see Linda's mom who is also in a care facility.  We arranged ahead of time to have dinner with them.  We met up at Market Street Grill and had a fabulous dinner and amazing visit.  The restaurant was not crowded so we were not made to feel like we had to hurry.  We sat at the table and visit for over three hours.  So much to catch up on.  What wonderful friends.  We miss them greatly.

Some fun random shots taken by our cute waiter.  Sure miss these guys!

Abby's return cont. . .

 After we left the airport, we headed to Tooele to drop off Brinkley and then to Applebees for lunch and more visiting.  While we were there Emmi was able to call and talk with Abby and her mom.  It was a tearful time for them because Emmi couldn't be here, but thank goodness for modern phones that allowed Emmi to reach across the world and visit with her sister.

Cute picture of Maggie and Charlie greeting Abby.  We all wondered if the puppies really remembered.  But, remembered or not, they were instantly loved.

At Applebees

Neal needing a little nap.  Yes, I sent this picture to Tucker for his collection.  Sorry Neal.  Just couldn't resist.

We played a game later in the afternoon and then all of sat in the front room to hear stories of Abby's mission.  Her stake president was coming at 9:00 to interview her and official release her as a missionary so Neal and I left just before that.  It was an incredible day and one that will be long remembered.  Thanks to the Gertsons for letting us be a part of this joyous occasion.  We love you all.