September 27, 2023

 I just reread the blog I posted over a year ago. It was written mainly for me and my family so we could remember all that had transpired around Tom’s passing and the sacred yet difficult experience that had been. It was and still is the most difficult experience of my life but it was also filled with miracles and a great deal of love. I have learned that great loss and pain can live side by side with peace and comfort. Life is a challenging experience but the Lord never ceases to love and support us on this bumpy path back to him.

I attended a Muir luncheon and information session last Wednesday held at the Morgan Creek golf course in the White Rock area. That was the first one I have gone to alone. I work pretty well daily on my church callings and I am getting ready to teach another Temple Prep series of lessons to two sisters in the ward. I review the Temple schedule regularly to check for upcoming live ordinances and then make the necessary LOW assignments. I attended the TriStake Youth dance held at our building on Friday evening and hosted by the Vancouver Stake. Dear Sam attends his youth dances with his grandmother there but he seems to handle it well. Fall has certainly arrived and I am trying to get my yard and outside prepared. It has been cool and raining and I have even turned the heat on. Robert Kearl referred me to a lawyer to help me rewrite my will and power of attorney. I have forms to fill in now for that to be accomplished. Kona is adjusting to the rain and cool weather and has been having some more accidents inside. Little scamp! Tammie and Trevor were out to visit Justin and JayLynn last week and JayLynn seems to be making some improvement. Max and Jacqui called as I was leaving the dance to inform me that they are expecting a BOY! They are excited and I am excited for them. Ross and Sarah have not formally announced their pregnancy yet and do not know what they are having. Zach and Monica are preparing to move to upstate New York for Zach to play hockey this year. Jack is nearing the end of his mission as Bryson prepares to leave. It has been a bit of an adjustment for Jack with his new mission president. I made muffins for Mary and Lincoln and Jean and I had the Hardy family for dinner on Sunday. We will do Thanksgiving here with the Hardy and Burgess families. This is my week in a nutshell so to speak. I attend the Temple every Tuesday morning and serve every Saturday afternoon. My days a generally full and filling.

September 20, 2023

 I talk a little about my feelings and how I am doing but today I thought I would elaborate a bit more. Tom’s passing has been and is the greatest loss and sorrow I have ever experienced in life. No one can fully explain it to one who has not gone thru it but perhaps also one has to have a Tom Walker in their life to completely understand. He is special and unique and I have never met a man who could, in my eyes, compare. I am certain there are couples who love each other as much as we do but I do not believe anyone can love each other more. I have been so blessed in this regard and I have always been fully aware of it. I still and will always feel, during this earthly life, a tremendous loss but along side it I also feel a tremendous peace and comfort knowing that even this will pass and we will be together again. As Alma and his people who were under bondage in the Book of Mormon, my burden has not been removed but my shoulders have been strengthened to carry the load. In true Tom form I am fully aware of his concern and his love and even now he is never far from me and I in turn pray for him always in the work he has been called to do. We are still a companionship and developing our relationship on another level. I am so grateful to our children who supported and loved us in great ways and literally ran to us to carry us thru this sorrowful and sacred time even when their own hearts were heavy. Tom wanted them to know of his love for them and his love for the Savior before he left and they showed Christlike love in return. We have marvellous children and grandchildren and we want to claim them for eternity. Eternity, eternity and blessed future day when we will all be together again! 

This week has been full of my callings, my family with Bryson popping in after a trip to the Temple with his friends and celebrating Ross’s birthday with dinner at Cindy’s on Sunday and full of friends with Sandra returning dishes and bringing me muffins, Mary sharing her cancer challenges and Jean sharing dessert and personal worries with me. Sharing, caring and serving one another, that is what life is all about.

I got the car washed and serviced this week and helped the Hardy family distribute bags for the BC food drive, an event which Tom helped get going first in the Vancouver Stake, then the community and finally all of BC. His influence is still being felt by many and especially by me.

September 13, 2023

 Fall is here with a few cooler days but we are still in need of rain as we are really in drought conditions. This day started cool but has warmed up considerably.

I am always busy with my church callings. We had a Moroni’s Quest fireside reunion on Sunday evening and I went to Costco and bought over 200 individual chocolate milks for that event. I trained Brenda Molnar on Thursday evening as a LOW at the Temple and I taught Cohen his last Temple Prep lesson on Sunday and he is now waiting for his mission call and is ready to go to the Temple. I love all my callings and I don’t want releases from them. 

I have been trying to clean up the falling leaves that are starting now off my artificial turf which is a different experience. I have partly trimmed my dogwood tree but I need help doing the upper branches that are a little beyond my reach.

I was desperate for a hair cut as Trish has a frozen shoulder and it is not getting better, so after my Temple session on Tuesday, I stopped at Great Cuts and got a cut there.  I feel much better and she did a pretty good job. Kona on the other hand went to Gabriella on Monday for a grooming and looks beautiful. No trouble getting her done. 

I had trouble with my car on Saturday when I came out of the Temple. My phone would not open it and I could not find my key card. Rosemarie drove Mary and I home and, once there,  I went more thoroughly thru my wallet and found the card. Rosemarie drove me back for my car but it continued to need the card for being put in gear. I stopped by Tesla on my way to get the car washed and they fiddled with the phone and it is working now. I am getting the car serviced tomorrow.

Everyday seems to fill up and life goes on. Mary called me today to tell me that her cancer is back. I will pray more fervently for her. She is a dear friend. Life has its challenges all along the way. I am grateful for better days ahead.

September 3, 2023

 Liza and family left for home later this afternoon. I was happy to have them visit again. Brendon, Bryson, Keaton and Sayde arrived Friday evening as Liza was working that day and Breya at a friend’s home. The two of them came down Saturday morning with some other ward members for youth baptisms. Brendon took Bryson over to The Distribution Center in the morning to acquire Bryson’s Temple clothes and garments. I got Sayde showered and dressed ready for baptisms and insured Keaton as ready, then walked the dog before leaving for my Temple Shift. Liza met Brendon in the parking lot and they went back for the younger children. I had a break and was able to slip down to the baptistry in time to see Keaton help Sayde into the water after Sam had baptized him, then watch Sam perform the ordinance with Sayde and Breya assist her out of the water before Sam baptized Breya. What special grandchildren! Brendon and Bryson then left with Brother Streibel to prepare Bryson for his endowment. Ted had driven down and was staying with George and Bev. Just before the session for Bryson was to start, Ted began having heart problems and they got him down resting in the Bride’s room. I had asked to be the sister OW on the session so I could be with everyone. Cindy, Paul, Ross, Sarah, Bev, George, Liza and Brendon were there for Bryson. It went well and Ted met us in the Celestial Room at the end. We had everyone over to our house afterward for pizza except Bryson who flew immediately out to Edmonton to spend the week with friends and George, who had to work on his SS lesson for the next day. We went to church today and I taught Cohen his Temple Prep lesson with his Dad. After dinner and the family zoom the Burgess family left for home. I always feel lonely after the children leave.

August 26th was our 23rd wedding anniversary and the children were very kind - the girls all sending messages and Trevor and Tammie calling. Cindy brought some flowers over for me too. They are so good trying to fill in for their father and helping me thru difficult days. I was blessed with an amazing husband and he still is influencing my life everyday. I feel him near and I am grateful for that. He left me amazing children too. 

I was surprised when I returned from the Temple on Tuesday, after a session and then giving Sister Clarkson some specialized LOW training for our Spanish upcoming sealing, when I was upstairs changing and heard someone in the house. It turned out to be Cindy and Sam. Their complex’s water system was cut off suddenly and she and Sam were here to shower. Sam was already in the shower before I determined who was in my home. They had already been here earlier with their neighbor getting some water. All goes to show we need emergency preparedness.

Week went on with regular YW Zoom, other church callings, making cookies for kids coming and changing my summer flower pots to fall mums. Always busy and I know that is good for me.