September 22, 2020

We are excited today because the Funes’ are here painting our new trim work and the baseboards we had repaired.  We have waited since July for this project to be completed. Our first painter was a “no show”, so we turned to Brother and Sister Funes who we knew we could rely on. We should have approached them first. The painters are all busy despite the covid concerns. They are all wearing masks in our house.

We feel very blessed because, after about a week of smoke filled skies and the inability to go outside very much, some rains came and the skies are clear. Clean air and blue skies are more appreciated at this time but should be always.

We taught Max two more Temple Prep lessons this week and he and Jacqui have decided that they will each go thru the Temple in their respective countries when they are each prepared. When the borders finally open they will be ready to be sealed and hopefully Tom will be able to perform that sealing.

We have been going thru Tom’s mission box this week and reviewing memories. We are realizing how many letters nearly three years apart adds up to as he was on his mission for nearly 2 1/2 years and we were engaged and apart for nearly another half year. He also has letters from his family, friends and people such as Mary Romney their “nanny” who became a third grandmother to them and Ches Pierson our seminary teacher.

We have done work in the yard this week with air cleared and our work now seems to be more fall oriented than summer as the seasons are changing. Tom trimmed the cedar hedge again as that has been bothering him. We also got his hair cut, reinsuranced the car and got other errands done. We have not wanted to insure the car for a full year just in case we go back on our mission. I went to have my eyes checked with Dan Davies as my eye that has been infected this past year has been bothering me a little. He has me putting eye drops in and cleaning it thoroughly. My knee still continues to heal slowly and Tom is healing from a strain in his back. We have constant need of repair these days. We have been asked to help give Carol Jones to post baptism lessons and we are happy to do so.

We were ready today to drop off our bags in our neighborhood for the BC Food Drive only to find that someone had already done it. This happened last year too so Tom is checking into it. We don’t want to upset the neighbors by approaching them with extra bags. The whole community and BC are now involved in the Thanksgiving Food Drive. This began about a decade ago when Tom, while serving as Stake President, had our Vancouver stake doing this service project and then suggested it as an opportunity for other Stakes in BC as well. The Area leaders had asked for suggestions and this was Tom’s. He had learned of it from Calgary. It has expanded since and hopefully helps the community.

We keep busy each day and still hope for a return to complete our mission at the London Temple in England. Tom watches the announcements regarding covid and keeps watching reports on the status of the Temples.

Reading loft updated and trim work painted

Front entrance trim work painted