A Day With Andrew

 Andrew and I have been trying for weeks to get together so he could take me for a ride in his new convertible.  We finally settled on Friday.  What an amazing day we had.  I made reservations at the Cheesecake Factory.  Andrew said he had never eaten there.  The funny thing is that Andrew had never been to Fashion Place Mall and had no idea where the Cheesecake Factory was located at the mall.  He ended up parking down by Nordstroms and then walked into the mall and circled the wrong way.  He finally asked someone where it was and met up with me.  When we left the restaurant and went to his car, we had a good laugh.  He was actually steps away from the restaurant but the route he had taken took him in the opposite direction.  About the time we got to his car we got a call from the groomers that Sprout was done being groomed and ready to be picked up.  So we put the top down on the car and drove over to get Sprout.  Picked up Sprout and drove him home and then drove back to the mall.  We sat in the parking lot and I shared a very personal story with him about a time in my life that was very dark.  A story I've only shared with Annie.  The point of my sharing with Andrew was that I wanted him to know that we all have a journey and struggles in this life.  But we also have been blessed with guardian angels and ministering angels to help us along our journey.  We are children of a loving Heavenly Father.  We both shed tears and hugs and love.  Thank you Andrew for an amazing day and for a fun ride in your new convertible that total screams Andrew!!

Andrew pointed out that air caps on his tires were skulls.  I had to take a picture of them.  Never seen anything like these.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

 I like to put up my Christmas tree the first week of November.  Thanksgiving and Christmas come and go so quickly and I do love the decorations.  I have to combine my Fall decor with my Christmas decor and it seems to work just fine.  I now have a little Thanksgiving, a little Fall and a little Christmas.  The house looks very nice.  This year was a bit of a challenge as I just don't have the room I've had in the past.  The new furniture and placement of the piano and furniture have eliminated some areas for decorating.  And I needed a change this year on the tree.  I decided that I would like to try all white decor on the tree.  So Neal and I drove to Modern Display to get some ideas and ended up spending - well, let's just say a lot - on white decor for the tree.  We didn't buy as much as we really need because we wanted to make sure it is what we really wanted.  When we got home we put what we had purchased on the tree and we love it.  Nice change from the all red and gold.  We may do this for the next few years.  I will have to go back and buy some more large white balls and a couple more white leaves.  There was also a wreath at Modern Display that I want to hang off the balcony but will have to wait for pay day to purchase that.  Everything is so expensive.  Here is a picture of the tree that isn't quite finished but close.

I also put up the Jim Shore Nativity set that I got from Lila Mae.  I love looking at it and thinking about my sister and all the amazing memories we created and had together.  Whenever Annie and I get together with Susan I always feel like I need to pull up another chair at the table for her to join us.  I like to think that she actually does join us every time the three of us have lunch.  Love her and miss her so much.

Neal's Back

 For the past three weeks Neal had been experiencing back, hip and leg pain.  He said he just got out of bed one morning and the pain hit.  I was in Hawaii at the time.  He finally went to doctor Sikora and had an MRI and they found that he had a pinched nerve in his back and that was causing the sciatic nerve pain down his lower back, hip and leg.  

The x-ray shows that the spine is pinched between the L4 and L5 vertebrae.  Dr. Sikora suggested that we make an appointment with the Spine Clinic to get steroid shots in his back and hopefully that will relieve the pain.  We were able to go this last Friday afternoon for the shots.  We are praying the steroids will do the trick so we don't have to look at the possibility of surgery.  

Halloween Surprise

 Neal and I became great grandparents on Halloween.  Ryan and Izzy became parents to a beautiful baby boy on Friday morning, October 31st.  He was born at 2:15 a.m. coming in at 9 lbs and they named him Logan.   Could not believe how much he looks like his grandpa, Jeffrey.  Here are some fun pictures that Ryan sent:

Lynda Ann pulled out this picture of me and Jeffrey.  One can't help but see the resemblance.  It makes one a bit teary that Jeffrey isn't here to enjoy his first grandchild.  However he sure put his 'looks' stamp on Logan.  

Congratulations to Ryan and Izzy.  Sure love you both!

Cracker Barrel Gathering

Abby came in to town this past weekend to work with her guide dog students and the puppies they are raising.  She wanted to get everyone together for dinner on Saturday night.  The Gertson family drove to  Springville to meet Abby for dinner.  Abby had wanted to go to the steak place but we couldn't get in until after 8:30.  So we settled on a change of place and ended up at the Cracker Barrel instead.   Such a fun evening and so fun to see Abby and catch up a little bit on her life.  She is a busy, busy woman.  I sure hope she doesn't wear herself down too much.  She certainly has a lot of responsibility and a lot going on with her job.  Such a fun evening.

After dinner we all wandered into their gift shop area and did some shopping.  They had all their Christmas and Thanksgiving decor out so there was lots of stuff to look at and, of course, to buy.  I spotted a pair of acrylic reindeer that I fell in love with.  I gave it a lot of thought and finally ended up getting them.  They are beautiful and will look gorgeous on my grand piano.  I may have to get some little tiny white Christmas lights to put around them.  I've got Annie working on that.  My projects always end up being hers!  

I just noticed my Halloween spider candy dish behind them!  I know it is a week early for the reindeer but I couldn't wait to unpack them and put them on the piano.  They are gorgeous, right?

Hawaii and Home

 The evenings were filled with movies and games if we got back to the house soon enough.  We did realize that the four of us can play Shanghi without any issues.  The game always ends with smiles and laugher no matter who wins.  So we decided that it is Jeff and Neal that bring the tension to the game.  Friday morning we were all up by 6 and getting packed and ready for our journey home.  We were able to help Emmi get all the air mattresses down and put away and most of her apartment put back together.  Emmi was the best hostess you could ask for.  She drove us all over the islands, never complained, just totally accommodated our every wish.  I'm sure that most of these places she took us to, she has been a dozen times with other visitors she has had, but I always felt like she acted like it was her first time there.  Like she was enjoying it for the first time herself.  Emmi had to go to work that day so she was in her uniform and looking very official.  We had prayer each morning before we began our adventures and this mornings prayer was the most peaceful and reverent and the hardest to say.  I sure hope Heavenly Father knows how very blessed we all felt and how very grateful we were for our time spent together.  These pictures tell it all.

I can't thank Lynda Ann enough for making all the arrangements for this trip.  The flights, the hotels, the tours, etc.  A huge thanks to Emmi for hosting us and taking care of our every needs and for purchasing the tickets for our tours and arranging the times.  Thanks to Mallory for being with us and for all the many laughs even though she was sick a few days of the trip.  She is a delight.  For me to just be there with this family was beyond words of appreciation and love.  How very thankful I am for families and that we can be together forever!!  I sure hope there are many more fun adventures in the next 10 years!!!  Love you all and big hugs and thanks.

Mallory spotted this plane with the turtles on it.  

This was our plane.

Another fun turtle pattern.

We touched down safely in Salt Lake at 11:39.  Andrew was waiting to pick up Mallory and Lynda Ann.  Neal was waiting to pick me up.  An added note here.  Andrew stayed in Orem at Mallory's apartment and tended Brinkley.  Jeffrey was in charge of Truman and Neal took good care of Sprout.  Thanks guys!

Hawaii - Day 7

 Wednesday evening we flew back to Honolulu.  Thursday morning we were up and off for our last day of adventures.  Our first stop was at Leonard's for some Malasadas.  A type of doughnut that was beyond delicious.  

Our next stop was Kaneohe - Kualoa Ranch.  This is where the movie industry has made hundreds of movies.  The ranch also grows all kinds of Hawaiian fruits and cocoa beans for coffee and chocolate.

On the train for our tour.

During WWII bunkers were built on this ranch and they have turned them into display areas of the different movies and also items left over from the war.

Part of the Lost series.  Emmi and Mallory love all the Lost displays.

Beautiful ranch and valley.

More Holliwood sites

Pictures of Turtle Rock

Chinaman's Hat

We left the ranch and headed to our final time on the beach.  Emmi took us to Bellows Field Beach Park.  Very secluded and very few people there.  

Lots of crabs on the point.

Walking back to the car.  Hard to wave goodbye to this beautiful part of the world.

We headed home to pack and get ready to leave the next morning.