May 26, 2020

We completed planting the annuals in the yard this week and went to the nursery to buy a new tree to replace the tree we took out in the backyard. I managed to convince Tom that the grandsons could carry it to the back and plant it, so Cindy, Ross and Sam came over on Wednesday and did that for us. It is just nice to have them around.

I sanded and primed a chair to go with the desk I am painting and I put the second coat of paint on the desk and little table. I wait a week between every coat to allow the paint to cure properly and that drags the process out but I think it is going to look nice in the end. I don’t know, however, know if I will ever paint furniture again without  a spray painter to assist to me. Perhaps I will just leave it to the professionals from now on. Getting older.

We try recipes and different food options and that brings variety into our lives these days. We do, however, feel very blessed as we have each other during this isolation period, as well as our home and many interesting things to keep us remarkably busy. Tom does indexing, puzzles, exercising and reading. We try to phone or check in with other people and we are in constant contact with our family, more so than we would have been able to do had we still been in London. The church leaders told us that we needed to be home closer to our families at this time.

We hear from our friends and fellow missionaries from England daily. Some of the British missionaries have remained in their apartments on the Temple complex and they, along with others, who have returned home send us pictures and updates. We see pictures of the London Temple grounds, people’s own yards, their new baby grandchildren and hear reports of their activities and even their medical procedures.

Our neighbour next door has been diagnosed with cancer and he is awaiting needed procedures and surgery. Hopefully we can help them somehow. Perhaps that is one reason we are home. Our other neighbour Jean is preparing to go to the Temple and she has not wanted to go without me, so perhaps we will be able to do that when the Temple is more fully open and before we go back. Maybe that is another reason we are here. Our grandson Max is wanting to marry his Australian girlfriend Jaqui and, if airlines start flying again and she can get here, perhaps Tom can perform that sealing before we return to London too. We are certain there are reasons for us being home and we are hoping we can do all that we need to accomplish and then return and complete our mission.

We enjoy watching all the various church broadcasts and love our family Sunday services and hate to say it but we will be sad to see that come to an end. We love the “Come Follow Me” supplements. They are wonderful and we are learning so much.

We feel very blessed and are keeping ourselves busy.

Another Puzzle

Missing London Temple

Linda Painting Furniture

May 19, 2020

The weeks are all similar but different. We are walking everyday, doing our house and yard work and going for groceries once a week. This week we went shopping for plants and removed all the tulips out of the beds and planted the new annual plants. We have a few more that we need to buy and we need a tree to replace one we took out of our backyard. We never anticipated being home and doing our yard work this spring and summer but here we are. Lincoln Harvey had been commissioned to do our yard as we didn’t want the Northcotts to be worried about doing it. We felt our home was enough for them to deal with during our mission.  I put my first coat of paint on the primed furniture and finished reading the second volume of “Saints”. We try to meet with our families on Sunday via FaceTime and give them a short message from us. We stay in touch with them regularly too.

Temples are beginning to reopen for “live sealings” of previously endowed couples. It is a start but it will be still a long way to go before they can be fully running, we are pretty certain, as the virus is still raising its ugly head. They are also talking about starting church meetings for smaller groups and using “social distancing” and other precautions. We have enjoyed our private sacrament meetings in our home and meeting with our children and in someways hate to see it come to an end. The church is remarkable in that we were easily able to step into at home meetings as we had been prepared for such a time in advance and also had priesthood holders in many homes to provide the administration of the sacrament. We know, however, that many people are alone and will welcome being in a group again.

Ross arrived home from his mission in Winnipeg on Friday and we had a “welcome home” drive by parade of family and friends. I think he was surprised and appreciated the love and support offered him. He was able to surprise Sarah, his girlfriend, in the evening as she had not been told exactly when he would be arriving home. He will have to regroup and decide what he is going to do now. We love him and appreciate his desire to serve and giving his all under difficult circumstances. We are proud of him.

Cindy had me make orange rolls for a special soufflé breakfast for Ross’ return so I made a double batch so we could have some too. I decided to make a small soufflé for us and it was like having Christmas breakfast in May. I have never made such a small soufflé before as it is usually made to feed a crowd. We missed the crowd but enjoyed the breakfast.

Well, my clothes hang in the closet, my shoes sit on the shelf and we realize that life can be very simple and still be just fine. All we feel we need, it seems, is not as necessary as we thought. The atmosphere is cleaner, oceans are  cleaner, families are spending more time together and children and parents are becoming more creative in their play, their schooling and their entertainment.  I hope we are learning the lessons this experience is meant to teach us and more importantly that we remember them when things are able to go back to normal.

Our Flowers

May 12, 2020

We have had some hot sunny weather this past week and it has felt good. However, the warmth also brought an infestation of ANTS that literally marched from our back deck door into our kitchen. As Tom was cracking eggs for breakfast Saturday morning, he found the compost bag in the sink full of ants. Needless to say the bag made a quick exit and we, after a valiant battle which  involved vinegar water, ant poison and the death of many ants, brought the infestation under control. We have been on the alert ever since.

The good weather also allowed us to bring the desk and last drawer needing priming out into the backyard to complete the preparations for painting. The desk, however, was heavier than we anticipated and, because it was in an upstairs bedroom, we decided to turn it over and slide it down the stairs and then onto a towel to the back door. The sanding and priming were completed and, when it dried, we carried it around the house and placed it in the garage with the rest of the furniture awaiting painting. My back has been acting up ever since.

We have also been working in the yard, setting the back deck up after cleaning it, sorting thru drawers and reading the second volume of “Saints”. Tom is a few chapters ahead of me.

Sunday was “Mother’s Day” and a lovely day for me, thanks to Tom, the children and our neighbour Jean. Tom made me a beautiful breakfast and dinner and sent me an e-card. My favourite breakfast is eggs Benedict and Tom always makes it for me on Mother’s  Day and sets a beautiful table. Larissa had Cindy buy me some flowers and she and Paul brought them over on Saturday, Trevor posted an old picture of he and I on Facebook and paid a nice tribute and Cindy, who helps us always, phoned on Sunday and talked for a long time extending her wishes. Last, but never least, Liza emailed me a lovely tribute that we printed out. Our dear neighbour Jean also brought me a gift of treats and visited on the  doorstep with me. I felt very loved and very blessed. We had a “zoom” church meeting in the morning with the ward members but we still continue our own administration of the Sacrament where that is possible in our homes.

Some states, provinces and countries are beginning to lift virus restrictions and in a few of those areas virus numbers are on the raise again. People are flocking to beaches and other areas excited to be free again and authorities are trying to keep things under control. This is not like a normal flu season that comes to an end when summer approaches and not all are using the  caution they should. Several Temples are opening just for “live sealings” and with strict guidelines in place.

Due to his depression and anxiety, Ross will be returning home from his mission in Winnipeg this week. He has been working with medication and personal effort to deal with it but Cindy, Paul, the Mission President and Ross have made the decision that he best come home and work on it here. He has had a great desire to serve his mission and has given his best and we are sure that the Lord accepts his offering. He has been out about fifteen and a half months. We love him and appreciate his mission service.

Our days are full and we feel blessed in so many ways and realize that the Lord knows our desires and needs and is mindful of all at this time.

Mother’s Day 2020

May 5, 2020

Another week has  gone by and not a lot of  change in the world of the corona virus. Some countries, states and provinces, where new cases are decreasing or have never been too significant, are beginning to lift isolation restrictions as they are concerned about the serious affects the shutdowns are having on the economy. Tennessee is one of these states and Zachary is planning to fly to New Jersey to visit his girlfriend Monica. He will wear a mask and gloves and I believe any planes that are flying right now are required to be half full to maintain social distancing guidelines. Montana is also lifting restrictions and businesses are opening slowly and carefully Larissa tells us. Schools are still closed in most places.

We are trying to make sure each day has us involved in meaningful activities and so, along with our walks, regular household chores and yard work, I have been reading “Saints”. I finished the first volume and am part way thru the second. I have been sorting thru more drawers and pictures and I have also sanded some painted furniture, ordered paint from Benjamin Moore, which they delivered for free, and have been putting the primer on preparing for the new colour. We work hard to have three good meals a day and not snack more than usual.  Tom has his own exercise routine as well as our walking and he does a lot of reading and indexing. We try to keep touch with our family and friends daily via email, messaging, FaceTime and phone. We also have movie night every night.

Our oldest grandson Justin started graduate school in Utah to become a PT  but the classes are only online for the time being. He still is required to dress nicely. His brother Zachary is graduating from Boston College, where he has been on hockey scholarship and where he received the college male award for athletics, academics and service combined. Nice award to receive. Our grandson Ross, who is serving a mission in Winnipeg and serving in the office at the moment, sang “There is Peace in Christ” with his companion playing the piano and they posted it on Facebook. It was very touching. His older brother Max is graduating with a Bachelors degree in business, preparing for Accounting school and is also trying to get to his girlfriend Jaqui who lives in Australia or bring her here. The kids are funny and fun. They brighten our days and we are proud of them and love them all.

We continue to pray for the improvement in world conditions and we long to get back to the Temple and to our mission in England.

Linda’s Projects 2020