February 26, 2023

We had ten inches of snow last night and, after clearing a little patch of grass for Kona in the back, I tried the driveway but realized quickly that it was beyond my abilities. Angels soon arrived in the form of Jean first, followed by Lincoln Harvey and Roque Peralto is here resetting my outdoor lights after the power went out last night too. I have been so blessed by good people and am so grateful. I feel like I need to be someone else’s angel for a change. 

We had zoom church today and during the second hour the Bishop shared video clips of our serving missionaries and it was exciting to see and hear Jack. The missionaries all did really well and Cindy sent the family the extended version of Jack’s part. I have spent the day working on church callings and such. It has warmed up and the snow is melting, at least at this moment.

My week has unfolded in many ways. Trish has been trying to get here to cut my hair but one thing has happened after another - flat tire, forgetting, a group project etc. Charmaine messaged me that she and Cheyenne were coming home quickly during their school breaks and wondered if I could drive them to ICBC for her to renew her learners permit early Tuesday morning, so I made my Temple appointment for Wednesday rather than Tuesday and booked a meeting with the Rempels while I was there regarding the LOWs training cards. I did drive the girls Tuesday morning and they came over twice while they were here to visit and see the dog. Bela called me Tuesday morning as well and asked me to her place for lunch with Toese. She picked us up and we had a lovely time and enjoyed her new condo. I hosted the Stake YW training zoom meeting from Salt Lake for Marcy, Jessica, Junki, Cindy and Paul. Cathy has been very sick and was not able to make it. We had dinner after the meeting that we all contributed to as YW leaders. I made soup. I took Cathy’s place at Stake Council Wednesday evening and Bela drove with me as she needed to attend as well. I worked thru the week preparing my talk for the Stake YW Belonging Activity to be held on Saturday. The girls did baptisms in the morning, that I helped with, and then I gave the opening talk on The Centrality of Jesus Christ in the Doctirne of Belonging before the girls started into activities. I went home to walk the dog as I had, had her out early in the morning. I took her back to watch the girls doing their activities and the girls loved her. I just held her and did not put her down. A dog is one way to make connections with people and a good icebreaker. Mary Harvey took my Temple shift that day. And so my week went. Everyday bringing something exciting and changes.

We have a full schedule of youth activities in the next while but with ward changes in Abbotsford last week and everyone being released, we have two wards missing leaders and we are considering cancelling our leaders’ dinner and Temple activity next Friday. We really did get zealous with event planning.

The sun is shining at the moment and I am hoping the snow curtails itself and Trish can make it in the morning for my shaggy hair to finally get cut.

February 19, 2023

 I am kept busy with my church callings with Stake YWomen and coordinating the Female Live ordinances in the Temple. The Temple is busy these days with people coming to see the new presentation changes. Ladene Rempel says they have been in the slow lane as a presidency and are now in the HOV lane. It is challenging for them and President McKenzie asked if I had any suggestions. I told him to let me think about things. It is hard when they have to work out things we all worked out previously. You don’t want to interfere but you feel like asking if they would like some insight. Tom would be quiet and probably tell me to do so but it is hard to see them struggle. I helped with one is the Leavitt’s granddaughters yesterday and Ian Taschuk was on the same session going thru for the first time. Mom and Tom would both be thrilled with that and I am sure they were there. Ian was also sealed to his parents afterward. Now he and Rizza have to be sealed.

John and Chawna Volken came to visit me on Wednesday and I appreciated their love and kindness. John brought me his new biography and Chawna brought me a lovely plant. The book is interesting as John has had an interesting life. I am grateful for my family and their love and support and recognize how blessed we are to have acquired friends as we pass thru this life, friends that stay with us thru the years, Allison Volken has recently married Robby Jensen,

The three Abbotsford wards were combined into two wards today and they asked the Stake leaders to help out with classes as everyone was released. Cathy Comb was not feeling well and Aaron Christensen has covid so Marcy, myself and one YM leader took the youth on. Cindy and Sam came today too to be with Ross and Sarah and I made cookies for the YMYW and because it was Sam’s birthday.I made Sam stand and announced his birthday! Poor Sam with Gramma in with the youth.

I worked a couple of days this week on a presentation for our YW activity on Belonging to be held next Saturday. The girls will be doing baptisms at the Temple and activities at Temple View Chapel.I will get a substitute for me at the Temple that day to allow me to be available for the activity. I am trying to get to know the girls and trying to make sure I can be relevant to them and there generation.

I think the Lord is trying to keep me busy and perhaps Tom is pushing for it too. Whatever the case may be, I am busy!

February 12, 2023

 I have felt that something was not being completed all week and finally realized that I had not written Jack or done my blog, so the letter is now written and I am here with the blog.

It was a memorable week throughout the church as a new Temple presentation was introduced on February 6th. New schedules were being put into place by February 6th and some physical changes were needing to be made in the Temple by February 6th and I even questioned the office as to what the importance of February 6th was. I went to the first session on Tuesday morning, February 6th and I was thrilled to be there as almost the whole morning shift attended the session. The presentation is lovely and meant to help increase understanding and help members see that the Temple is all about the Savior and his atonement. I knew Tom was there and I knew he was excited about what was happening. 

It has been a busy week with my Temple callings and my Stake YW calling. We have our meetings in the evening, often on zoom, and I am tired by that time of day. I am trying hard to keep up. We had a TriStake Valentine Dance on Friday that our Stake hosted and that we had been planning for. It was held at our chapel. I picked up food for it and found that I had accidentally ordered 4 Costco platters of shrimp instead of meat and cheese platters. I felt so badly that I took 2 shrimp platters and then bought sliced meat and cheese to make the other platters. Aaron Christensen, who is over the Stake YM, said no one under 70 eats shrimp but we proved him wrong as the youth dove into the shrimp platter. We had lots of food leftover again. Poor Sam is attending dances now with his Grandmother there as a leader. He liked the dance but not the music. It seemed fine to me but what do I know.

I had been invited to dinner on Friday too at Joanna and Chen Hao’s. I bought flowers and arrived at their door to find that they were not expecting me. They had thought I was going to email if I was planning on coming and I had misunderstood. They invited me in and Chen Hao quickly completed the meal he was already cooking and served me some beautiful Chinese food. I felt badly but they sincerely seemed happy to have me and Chen Hao told me today at church that Joanna needs me. I think she needs a church mother. I hope I can help.

Virginia Towers and her husband Alan lost their emotionally handicapped son to a drug poisoning. So sad. I attended a reception for them at Laurel and Aaron’s which was lovely, after my Temple shift on February 4th. Virginia is ready to help me work on the improvements needed at the Fort Langley cemetery as their son is now buried there in their plot. There is much to be done and I need to put a group together and get organized to move forward on that project. I want to get our headstone in place. It is taking so long.

Cindy and I ended up at the animal emergency last Saturday/Sunday for hours with Kona as she had been trying to poop and just couldn’t get it out. She tried for an hour as we were preparing to go to bed and I knew I couldn’t leave her that way. We were at the emergency for hours because they were busy and when they finally dealt with Kona, they told us that her fur and accumulated poop were holding her movement in so they shaved her bottom and helped her get cleaned out. We were all done in, the dog included. She had a sore looking bottom and has been hesitant to poop this week. They told me that I need to keep her bottom trimmed. The groomer can help me with that. She has just completed a week of probiotics. Poor little pumpkin. What else can happen? 

We have a number big YMYW events coming up and I have assignments to fulfill. My Temple LOW calling is keeping me busy too. Ted Streibel and I had a meeting at the Temple this week to chart our course as we move forward with living ordinances. I am charting courses in every area of my life.

February 1, 2023

 I felt good about getting the Land Titles in order last week and this week I went to Henderson’s Funeral home and organized and paid for my funeral. I am not planning on leaving anytime soon but I just wanted things paid for and in order so that the children do not have so many concerns when I do pass. Tom and I had wanted to have a plot and things in order but all we were able to do was have Tom’s name pencilled on a plot in Fort Langley Cemetery. We were grateful that Trevor found that pencilled name on the cemetery’s yellowed and torn maps that are the only records available for that cemetery. Tyrus, who helped me yesterday at Henderson’s, is kindly offering to help with my efforts to improve of the running of and maintenance of the cemetery. It has the potential to be a very lovely little cemetery but changes need to be made and I am hoping that I can put together a group of  individuals that can help make that become a reality. It always pays to think big. Tom and I dreamed of and prayed for a Temple and it came, so surely the cemetery can be beautified.

Joanne and Dave finally got over to Lethbridge after an overnight delay in Calgary. She called on Monday and is exhausted, discouraged and not wanting to stay in Lethbridge. They are at Jamie’s home and will be getting into their own place, hopefully today. Winter is not the best time to move to Lethbridge as it doesn’t show it’s best side at this time of year. She loved Victoria and her home there and just felt, with Dave and Jennifer’s encouragement, that this would be the best step to take and put them closer to Jeff.  She needs a rest as she has worked so hard to make this happen. I am praying for them.

I am working on both my church callings in the Stake YW and the Temple coordinating of the LOs. I am working to get both callings under my belt and organized in my respective books. 

Justin starts his new profession as a PT this week in Richfield, Utah. JayLynn’s health has not been good thru the move. Zach was awarded a full scholarship from the hockey commissioner allowing him to receive his MBA from a University in Nebraska. He will have to do it online while he continues to play hockey. Jack just got transferred to a new area, with a new companion and Bryson is overcoming injuries from doing his wrestling at the UofA. I am proud of our grandchildren and children, as they work hard at their schooling, missions and professions. We are very blessed.

We received a little snow yesterday and I bathed the dog today so I am trying to get her as dry as possible before having to take her outside again. She is having an afternoon nap at the moment. 

Life goes on with church meetings, Temple sessions, callings and family. I am trying to go to the Empty Nester’s FHE too but it is not something I feel eager to do. Sometimes I just want to be home and nest. It is safe and comforting there and comfort feels good.