August 13, 2023

 I am late writing the blog this time and I actually was forgetting as the week went on. 

Sam’s mysterious illness has continued. He was unable to eat without vomiting for a number of days and now he is able to get a little bit in, mainly fluids. He has been to emergency and received IV for hydration a couple of times. He has been to the doctor twice and also on the phone with her. He has lost a lot of weight and though we have improvement, we do not have recovery or a certain diagnosis. His bowels have been blocked up and probably causing the nausea. They have considered a virus, ulcer and today Cindy was suggesting a parasite. I am certain we will get it worked out but he is exhausted and so is Cindy. Ross came one day to try to lift his spirits. When he has been bad, he really hasn’t even wanted to talk, watch TV or do anything but he did play video games with Ross. We fasted for him last Sunday.

I have been teaching Bryson and working on teaching Keidis, Cohen and Thomas Temple Prep lessons. I teach Bryson on FaceTime and I taught Keidis one night at my place with the Sister missionaries sitting in and then Keidis and Thomas another evening. It is difficult to pin them down long enough during the summer to get them prepared for their Temple Endowment when the Temple reopens. They are all preparing for missions and three already have their calls so insuring they have some Temple time and experience before they leave on their missions is important. I am working at it. I taught Willoughby YW today for Cindy as she has been consumed with Sam and his needs. I took them dinner one night and I am taking the Hung Family dinner tonight as Junki’s wife is pregnant and very sick. I took Marie bran muffins this week as both her dogs have had medical procedures and they are taking things slow over there.

Jack and Jeannette returned from their Alaska cruise on Monday and took me out for dinner that evening. I made them bran muffins the next morning for breakfast before they left for home. Bran mufffins are Grandma Tanner’s recipe and Jack enjoyed them as his mother made them too and they reminded him of home. It has been nice having them spend time with me as they were coming and going and they enjoyed Kona too. Everyone loves her.

I drove out to Surrey to pay Stefan for the completion and placing of the headstone and to pick up the Temple granite on which they had carved REMEMBER - our family mission statement. I love it and have it sitting on the shelves by the fireplace.

The summer has been busy and flying by with still more to come but busy is a blessing for me and keeps me going.