December 18, 2024

 Nearly a month has gone by since I have done an update. I guess my life has been busy so let’s have a look at what has been happening.

Jean is still in China and will not be returning home until January. Charmaine and Cheyenne are back in school and are staying where they are for Christmas. Cindy and I sent a little Christmas tree and twinkle lights to Cheyenne. I wish I could do more for Charmaine in Austria. I am trying to gather cards from church members and neighbors for Jean when she returns so she has a box of love waiting for her. Her home has had some problems with the fire alarms and the washer and dryer downstairs. Her friend David has changed all the alarms after Marie and I dismantled one and he fixed her security cameras after Kirk, Krista and I had a go at it. We have new sister missionaries in her basement and I had them for dinner last night.

I had scratched my car trunk and bumper when the garage door hinge caught it on the way down. I made an ICBC claim on that and had it repaired last week. I am now having to replace the HOV decal that was removed during repair. 

We have been trying to visit Wagner Hills each week to see Jeff. He is doing well and has now passed the one month mark and is able to come out. We had him for a family dinner on Saturday. Jennifer and Nora came to visit me when they attended the Taylor Swift concert. It as an exciting event and they were all dressed up and bedazzled when they left. I am still cleaning up sparkles around the house.

My home has been decorated for Christmas and I am enjoying my new flocked tree and other decorations. I am kept busy changing batteries for all my candles and twinkle lights. I had ordered all the Christmas gifts at an online site supposedly selling Roots clothing. Things have not seemed right and after communicating with them and not receiving my order, I gave up. There had only been a small charge put thru that I had the Visa company remove and I got money from the bank for everyone as gifts, Canada Post has been on strike and are now being ordered back to work so my Christmas cards have just been put in the mail.

Trevor was working in Seattle and was able to drive up and spend a few days with me last week. That was lovely. We had lunch in Fort Langley and saw Brooks Finley, visited the grave, did some shopping, went to the Temple, went to see the movie “Wicked” with the Hardy family and had the family dinner on Saturday with the Hardy family and Jeff. I was going to have the dinner here and  I had ordered a turkey roll, made carrot cake and layered salad but we had a terrible wind storm and my power went out and after cutting up my vegetables, we took the party to Cindy’s house. We had a big surprise when Max, Jacqui and Aksel appeared. They had made a surprise trip for Christmas and only Cindy and Sam were in on the secret.

Cindy, Paul and Sam took me to see “Miracle On 42nd Street” at Granville Island Art’s Club for my Christmas gift. It was lovely and fun to go at Christmas.

I have been making and distributing my Christmas nuts to neighbors and ministering people and receiving gifts from neighbors. I still want to pop in to see my ministering people somehow even though I have given them my nuts. I did take a plant to Esther Lai and had a visit with Joshua Lai. 

I have visited with Jeannette and Carolyn in the last little while and got caught up with them. Mary Harvey had some of us for a nice Christmas lunch and she has over to see me and talking to me on the phone, keeping me abreast of her health concerns with cancer. I am praying for her and others in their needs.

I have been trying to prepare the dog and I for our Christmas trip to Montana. I think I have things almost ready. Jack’s new girlfriend Annika Orr will be staying with me when I get back. She is the Rempel’s granddaughter. The Burgess family may be arriving at that time too and then Joanne, Dave and Jennifer will be here to see Jeff. I think Jennifer’s family is staying with Jenn’s friend.

Oh, it is busy but I don’t want to lose sight of that precious baby boy born in a stable long, long ago. Love for that baby in our Nativity Manger when I as little became the base for my testimony of HIM. I love Him and adore Him.

I am busy my Tom always has my heart and is always in my thoughts.❤️❤️

November 20, 2042

 I am getting ready for our LOW training this evening and then we are repeating it again tomorrow morning. We are doing two meetings to accommodate all our LOWs. We have some new procedures and a new video for our first time patrons and President Leavitt will be presenting those things. I have been making food and getting organized. I spent last Friday baking and my house smelt wonderful!

The Holt Family had Randall’s funeral last Saturday. His sudden passing, as a result of going septic from a liver infection, has been a shock to the family and their whole community. JayLynn’s mother had been unable to get to him before he passed and I am certain she had no idea how seriously ill he was. They will have some hard days ahead. Thank goodness for the Lord’s plan and the comfort it brings. I am praying for them and for Jean and her girls. Jean is still in China trying to sort their affairs out there. I fear that it will be another transition when she returns home in the new year. I am trying to think of how I can help her now and then. Both these men left so suddenly and their families are reeling as a result.

Joanne called to let me know that Jonathan and Jeff were coming to stay with me in order for Jeff to enter a one year rehab program. They arrived on Sunday November 10 and stayed Sunday and Monday nights. They celebrated Remembrance Day with us on the North Shore with a visit to my parents grave and then brunch at White Spot before they did a North Shore remembrance tour for Jeff and we came home. Jonny took him to the rehab location in Langley on Tuesday and Cindy and I were able to visit him at Wagner Hill on Saturday evening. We did not think he could have visitors the first month but Jonathan found out differently when he dropped him off. It is a lovely farm sitting on a hill overlooking the Fraser River and valley. We went to the main hall where they eat and have church and we were very impressed. Right now he is living in a room in connected trailers but there is a beautiful new facility being built that they should be moved into by Christmas. He looked good and he seemed happy. He seems to know the other fellows and they know him. Joanne is coming in December for a visit. We are praying for his success.

It was Trevor’s 52 birthday yesterday. How the years have flown. He told me he is coming to visit in December and I am excited about that. I ordered everyone’s Christmas gifts the end of October and it says they are on a boat from China right now. I hope they get here before Trevor so he can take them home with him. I can take the Bull’s when I go to Montana for Christmas.

I have been trying to get ready for Christmas slowly. My cards have arrived, gifts hopefully on the way and Paul and Sam came over Monday evening to help me get my outdoor lights up. I had to hold the spotlight so Paul could see what he was doing in the dark. I bought them A+W for helping me. Cindy was out with her friends. I have ordered a new flocked Christmas tree and it should arrive by December 2.

I am busy with callings, Kona and my home. I am grateful for friends that show their love and concern for me and I hope I do for them in return. My family is my greatest gift and they are constantly on my mind and in my prayers. They all have their challenges and I hope my presence and prayers are of benefit. I know their father is helping. He is always here for me.

November 7, 2024

 Our sad news since my last post is that Wayne Yang, Jean’s husband passed away suddenly after a very brief illness. Jean came over on Monday, October 28 to inform me that Wayne was in a coma and she was leaving for China. Charmaine was already on her way from Austria and Cheyenne was flying in to meet Jean and carry on to China. I arranged for Cindy and Paul to drive her to the airport that night. She was meeting Cheyenne around midnight and then remaining in the airport to fly out first thing in the morning. Unfortunately Wayne had passed before any of them got there. The girls have since flown back to school and Jean will remain in Shanghai until the new year. My heart is breaking for them. Charmaine had been to China to visit him recently and Jean and Cheyenne were going for Christmas. They had not been with him since covid. Jean and I have been communicating and I am watching her house and mail. Our neighbors Kirk and Krista have been helping with the car battery and trying to help me get Jean’s outside cameras operating. We are going over again this evening to try once more but this time we will have Jean on a video call. She is worried about her house as they have joint ownership but no will. I have been trying to look into that for her. I am concerned for Jean and the girls. We are all praying for them.

Rissa had a bike accident with Colton on with her and she broke her cheek. She has had surgery and a plate put in her cheek. She has been taking it easy and trying to recover from the accident and surgery. Friends have been bringing food and helping with children. I am grateful things were not worse.

Kona and I have both had our hair cut and her’s cut is much more expensive than mine. My hairdresser had experienced a fall and was having a struggle standing. We have also had Halloween and Kona made it thru all the children at the door and the fireworks afterward. We had a bad storm Sunday night and Monday and lost our power for most of Monday. Kona had to deal with the noises and drama of that too. Her life has been exciting and traumatic lately.

I went to a memorial for the Bill’s son who took his own life in Tasmania. He had sever emotional struggles throughout his life and had coped by travelling and biking all over the world. He was a talented photographer and capable and creative young man. He left some beautiful memories but a heartbroken family who will miss him. He will be fine now.

I went to visit Helena and also went to meet with Kayleen regarding our ministering Fireside in January. I have made the outline for the evening and need it approved.

Liza, Brenda, Keaton, Sayde and their exchange student from France came down for the weekend so the student could see Vancouver. The weather was not the best but they did get home before the big storm hit and I was grateful for that.  

I have been cleaning the yard for winter and also cleaning up leaves after the storm. I have my Temple shift on Saturdays and my sessions on Tuesday mornings. We zoom as a family most Sundays. I have been meeting with Bela to practice the Hula for the Stake talent show in January. I am also planning the LOW training meeting with Ted Streibel for the end of the month. I am busy but that is good for me. I miss my boy. ❤️

 

October 25, 2024

 Cheyenne was home for fall school break. She was able to get her little kitten from the Cardno’s and Cheyenne and kitty are getting adjusted to each other.. I took them out for lunch one day to celebrate Jean’s 60th birthday. We went to Saba’s and somehow Jean would not let me pay.

I did my Relief Society Activity Day presentation on the 16th. I entitled it “We’ll Ascend Together - The Mountain of the Lord”. Melanie Leonard kindly discussed the influence of angels in our lives. Cheyenne, Cindy and Kristen came with me for support.

We had an atmospheric river pour down on us for a couple of days and we had some flooding on the North Shore and elsewhere. One woman lost her life. Liza, Brendon and Sayde drove down in the middle of it to attend the Temple. They only stayed for one night and had to get home to Keaton and the arrival of an exchange student from France.

Cindy did our Thanksgiving dinner and it worked best for Ross and his schooling to do it a week late. I made ambrosia salad and brought rolls. Cindy had taken me out for a lunch sandwich on the weekend of  Thanksgiving so that was nice.

Ted Streibel and I had a meeting at the Temple with President Leavitt regarding some upcoming changes and now we have booked two training dates for later in November as we need to get our LOWs up to speed.

Bela has me dancing in an Hawaiian Dance Group at the Stake talent show in January. Oh dear, I am feeling old and have trouble getting my hand/hip coordination together more than I did in my old dance days.

I have been working to get the yard ready for winter and cutting things down. I fill my green bin up quickly so have to spread work over time and wait for the waste people to empty my debris before doing more. My ginkgo tree in my front yard has been dropping leaves since August and it keeps me busy cleaning leaves almost daily. I think it may have a disease and I am trying to get to the bottom of that. I have a returning big bird making messes on my back deck so I bought a helium balloon today to try to discourage it from coming.

Rolfsons drove me to Adrian Toolson’s funeral which was lovely for a lovely man. It was nice to see so many wonderful people from our Vancouver Stake. I miss them. I helped Rosemarie clean her house up before her move back to the Burnaby Ward with her daughter and family. We will all miss her too. She has been very kind to me and many others.

So things carry on. I have booked flights, with Cindy’s help, to go to Montana for Christmas so that will be nice. 

I appreciate and love my children, grandchildren and good friends and I really appreciate and love my angel friend.

,

October 10, 2024

 The Burgess family arrived on Friday, September 27 in the evening and got settled in. It was the Emergency Expo the next day at the church and I walked thru it before going to my Temple shift. I hated to miss it but my three display people were ready to go and I felt like I needed to be in the Temple. As it turned out there were two people I needed to see - Joana who is having some personal struggles and Kelly Groom who was hit by a car while walking at the ferry terminal on their way home to Sechelt and seriously injured. I needed to touch base with both of them and I am praying for both. Liza and Brendon did a session and then brought the children back to do baptisms. They left the children at the house later while they toured Vancouver gathering up equipment for Liza’s clinic and picking up a new stove for their kitchen. 

We attended church on Sunday and then got ready for our return trip to Kelowna. I made the decision to take my car. Liza drove it for me while Brendon and the children drove together. The car was down to 13% power when we got to Merritt requiring us to find a Tesla charging station. It took less than a half hour to recharge and cost $21. My concern in taking my car to Kelowna has been the need to stop for charging and my having to drive one way alone. Tom always did all the driving on our trips, though I have made a few trips with children and I believe one or two trips on my own. I am older now too so I prayed for good weather, capacity to do the driving and Tom to be with me. When I returned a week later on Monday, it was a beautiful fall day, I felt fine and I knew Tom was there with me. I was blessed. I stopped again in Merritt to charge. Kona travelled well too and didn’t get car sick.

I was home during most days in Kelowna so I helped with laundry, got some new artificial trees for their front door and set those up and worked on my upcoming presentation for the Relief Society activity. Liza and I climbed a little mountain while the children went on a biking activity for Sayde and friends. I took them out for dinner that night and made dinner for them another night. I approved of Liza’s paint choses and bought the paint for her clinic. Brendon. Liza and Sajia did the painting in the clinic. I did a little painting and hung the artwork. The family all stayed at the clinic Friday evening to insure that things were ready for the Saturday Open House. They also went to Costco to buy the refreshments. Liza has worked so hard and the clinic looks great. I like Kiana, the other PT she has brought on to work with her. I pray for success as she deserves it. The Open House went well with family, friends and colleagues attending. A mother drove from Penticton with her sweet little girl hoping she might do some intensive sessions with Liza in the future. I helped drive the kids back and forth to the clinic when necessary.

We missed General Conference on Saturday but saw the evening session and then the Sunday sessions. We were all tired so I am sure we will get more from the talks during the next few months of listening to them. Three of Carolyn’s grandchildren sang in the children’s choir who sang “Gethsemane”. Ted came over for dinner Sunday night.

I jumped back into things when I got home. I helped with a Live Endowment Tuesday morning and helped  Rosemarie Wednesday morning do some packing for her move to New West Minister. I went to minister to Sam Moore on Wednesday evening and had a nice visit. I have been trying to get things done in my callings, especially my Temple calling as I am short on LOWs right now. We have Adrian Toolson’s Memorial service tomorrow. I sure Tom is happy to have his dear friend. I am driving with Marilyn and Cordell.

September 27, 2024

I have been checking in on some of my good North Shore friends the last couple weeks to see how they are doing. Lois is living in a senior’s home in White Rock. She is happy but her memory is not good. That being said, we had a nice visit. She misses Bob so. Shirlene is living in her own apartment in Maple Ridge but will be moving to Cardston soon as Rob and Sarah Lyn are moving there to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Shirlene is not happy about the move but is resigned. She misses Ross terribly. Colleen has had some recent health concerns with her lungs and spent some time in the hospital. Her daughters have been here with her. She has just turned 91 and will now have to give up serving in the Temple as the Tuesday morning female coordinator. She is marvellous and has a good attitude. They are testing her for cancer. I phoned my sister too and she seems to be in good spirits and making friends in Lethbridge. Jonathan just made a solo trip to the Arctic Ocean. Everyone is having their own challenges and we have all lost our dear companions but we are still standing. I will be missing Theresa too as she has been released from the Temple.

The Temple is open again. I tried to get a few extra things done while it was closed. I had the Sister missionaries for dinner, visited Helena in the hospital, made cookies for my neighbor who helped me with somethings, had Cindy’s family for dinner, worked on my visiting teaching calling, helped Jean pickup food in our neighborhood for the Food Drive and tried to visit my new ministering sisters. Rosemarie had Ruth and I for dinner before Rosemarie moves to New Westminister. I have been working with the emergency preparedness committee and the event takes place tomorrow. I will be serving in the Temple but will go tonight to help set up. The weather has been all over the map but fall is definitely here.

The children and grandchildren have all been busy. Cindy made dinner to celebrate Ross’ Birthday on Sunday and invited me over. Liza has been working to get her new clinic set up and is having an open house next Saturday. They are coming this weekend and I may go back with them for a visit and to help out. Trevor has been travelling and Rissa and Scott have been working to get as much done as they can on their Koocanusa place before winter. The grandchildren are busy with work, school, and growing up. I love them all and pray for them ALL.

The wind blew last night and the power went out so I have been getting things readjusted and leaves raked in the aftermath. The world is in turmoil with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and volatile elections on the horizon. There are great storms and natural disasters but I feel calm and blessed and at peace. I miss my boy so much but feel him near.

Received the last of five monthly bouquets from my children for Mother’s Day and placed Tom’s shirt quilt on his chair in his office.

September 13, 2024

 It has been a quieter week as the Temple is closed for maintenance and will be next week too. I miss the Temple when it is closed but I always feel that I have a little extra time to get a few things done that I have been needing to do. I washed all my Temple clothes this week and got them ironed. I ordered and received some new Temple shoes but I am feeling they might be a little too small. I pulled the weeds out behind my back fence by the walking path. I took the dog for a grooming and cleaned some cupboards. I have worked on my callings and business affairs and  have more to do in all these areas. I have made cookies to give to my neighbor who took things to the dump for me and to give away to others as well.

Last week was busy as I worked an extra shift on Friday at the Temple for Virginia besides my own shift on Saturday and my Tuesday Temple day. I had a very long meeting with the Relief Society presidency while we reviewed and made further changes to the ministering lists. We had our ward corn roast Saturday evening. I had encouraged Barb to come to the Temple on Saturday and stay for the corn roast which she did. She brought her friend Jan. I made a fruit pizza of the event. I was tired by the end of the week but everything was good. I also went to the hospital to visit Helena Toth who is waiting for surgery. I was needing a little slow down this week.

The children are settling into school and we got to see both Jadyn and Breya on our family zoom. They seem to be doing well. Jack got to see Justin’s family and Jadyn while he was in Utah for his friend’s wedding. He got back to Alberta Sunday evening and a friend picked him up in Calgary and drove him back down to Lethbridge. I pray for them all and worry about them all,  just wanting them to be safe, happy and productive. They each have their challenges and that is part of life and I cannot pray everything away but I do pray that they have joy and that they handle things well. My nephew Jonathan is on a solo driving trip in his little reworked school bus up to the Arctic. He is having alone time and working n his MBA. I pray for him too.

Life is an adventure and I have been very blessed to have a wonderful adventure with my husband, children and grandchildren. I am grateful also for my parents and extended family and all who have blessed my life in small and great ways.

Miss the Temple! Miss my husband!

September, 4, 2024

 Somehow the summer flew by and we are now getting into fall and the children are getting back to school. Liza and Brendon, along with Keaton and Sayde got Breya over to Edmonton and settled in her duplex house with roommates. She will be taking engineering on scholarship. It was hard for them to let her go. Her Bishop is Blair Bennett’s son. Sam will be staying here and taking business at Kwantlin University. He is now attending the YSA. Tammie drove out to St. George with Jadyn and got her settled in an apartment with two roommates. She will be finishing her online BYU Idaho program this fall with a practicum. She is living close to Justin and family. Max is back to work at his office but will also soon finish his graduate program in accounting. Ross is carrying on with his bachelor’s degree preparing for accounting. Jack is in St.George this week for his friend’s wedding and his classes start in Lethbridge next week. He is thinking of dentistry. Zach is not playing hockey this year but working for the same team in upstate New York and finishing his MBA. Treyvn and Keaton are in High School, Sayde and Wyatt in Middle school and our dear little Colton in Elementary school. Justin is our only one completely finished and is a Physiotherapist - Dr. Walker. They all work hard and I am so proud of them and I love them and I pray for them.

I finished teaching my YSA Temple Prep group and three of the boys are going thru the Temple this Friday. The Bishop has a ward group he wants me to teach this fall. I have, however, been called just last week, to be the ministering secretary for the Relief Society and I meet with the presidency for the first time this evening. I would love to continue with Temple Prep but that is up to the Bishop.

The Temple has a new shortened Endowment Presentation and that will be of help to many as well as allowing for more work to be accomplished. The schedules of all Temples will need to be adjusted. We have a two week closure starting next week and that should facilitate time to make some changes. Brian and Brenda Leavitt have just started their term as Temple President and Matron serving with the Goeders and the Userys. The Rempels did a great job under some difficult circumstances. Lots of changes at the Temple but I carry on as an Ordinance Worker and Coordinator for Female Love Ordinances.

I work on my yard and my home and keep myself busy on many levels. I had the car serviced this morning and try to stay up on the maintenance of things - so many things Tom used to do. I am doing my best. I am grateful for family and friends and grateful for Tom as we just celebrated our 24th wedding Anniversary on August 26th, the date he had picked out and booked before he even proposed. Oh, how I love him and oh, how grateful I am for The Plan. 

August 28, 2024

 I am listening to Hawaiian music as I write. Fifty-four years ago we were in Kona on our honeymoon. It was my first time to Hawaii but Tom had been there many times before. It was his favorite place on earth. They had spent a lot of time there when he was young. They would go each winter for a few weeks or months. They even put Tom into school there a couple of times. The music, the people and the islands themselves were very special to him and now he was sharing it all with me. If ever there was a prince charming taking his bride to his beloved kingdom, this was it. I loved it, he loved it and we were so in love with each other. Hawaii will always hold my heart. We first visited Kona on the Big Island, went on to Maui and then Honolulu before reluctantly leaving.

The weather has definitely been turning colder and looking more like fall. There has been some residual warmth of summer thank goodness. I have started doing a little fall yard work in preparation for the season to be fully upon us.

Cindy and Paul celebrated their 30th anniversary by staying at a Tree House in the Bellingham area for few days. I had Sam for Sunday dinner and phoned him each day. They had been planning on going to Hawaii but decided they best drive Jack over to Alberta in preparation for school instead.

I did a condensed Temple Prep course for the YSA as President Vermeeren wanted some of them Temple ready quickly. I did the last lesssons on Sunday and now our Bishop wants me to start with a group in our ward. I am meeting with him tonight.

I had my blood pressure doctor’s appointment by phone after recording my own blood pressure for three days. It’s the new medical way of doing things. My blood pressure was fine. I already knew it was.

Cindy took me to IKEA for a shop and I took them to C-Lovers for dinner that night. I hadn’t been to IKEA since being in Australia and to C-Lovers since I had picked some halibut up for Tom and I the day before he went into the hospital.

Toese brought dinner over on Sunday for us to share. It was fun to visit and Siona and her family FaceTimed while she was here and I was able to say hello. Mary Harvey somehow remembered our wedding Anniversary on August 26 - so kind. Renee Gallant brought me Tom’s completed shirt quilt the day before our anniversary. Perfect timing. She had won first place with it at a fair and I was thrilled. 

Busy days and good family and friends.

My latest flowers from the “five months of flowers” the children gave me for Mother’s Day.

August 16, 2024

 Renee Gallant took some of Tom’s shirts and pieced together a quilt for me. I paid a women Renee suggested to do the quilting. I had no idea that Renee displayed it at BCNE fair in the recycled category and won first prize. I had been wondering when she was going to get the quilt to me but I guess it has been on display. I am thrilled that it was judged to be #1 because the man that wore the shirts was and is #1!!

Bob and Pat James came to visit me yesterday and I was so thrilled that they took the time to do so. They wanted to go for lunch but I decided to make them lunch instead and had it ready for them. We had a great visit. I love them dearly. Pat is so brave with her MS health challenges and Bob the perfect supportive companion for her. They are always fun.

Cindy and Paul drove Jack over to Alberta this week to get him settled for school in Lethbridge this Fall. They stayed with Jamie and Brooke and had dinner with Joanne, Dave and Jeff. They visited with Carol and Danielle and Tom. Jack now has a YSA conference in Calgary this week and then a trip to St. George for a friend’s wedding before school starts. Jack was a counsellor at the UBC FSY last week and Sam was a participant. I kept in touch with Sam while his parents were away this week and I took Sam, Ross, Sarah and Hansen to A+W for dinner on Tuesday. Max, Jacqui and Aksel left for Nashville last Saturday where they spent a few days with Trevor’s family before heading into downtown Nashville for Max to attend an accounting conference. They are on their 38 hour journey back to Australia today. I had the family for dinner before they left. We will miss them. 

Liza and family were with the Burgess family last week on their annual family camp. They will be packing Breya up soon to get her to Edmonton for school this fall. Tammie and Jadyn will be heading out for St. George the end of this month to get Jadyn moved over there to live with two roommates. She will complete her university online this fall and be living near Justin and JayLynn. Zach has taken a job in upstate New York with the team he played with last year but will now be working in the business part of the team. He is also working on his MBA online and Mo nursing.  Sam will be going to university locally and the rest of the children heading back to school soon as well.

I attended the Temple on Tuesday as usual and found we have a new shorted endowment presentation. It is about an hour long now. I first went thru the Temple 54 years ago and thru those years the presentation has changed and evolved. The basic ordinances never change but the presentation around them changes according the needs of the time. What a wonderful church and gospel we have.

Bela kindly invited me to her family BBQ last week while her children were all in town. It was so nice to see all of them. I made cookies to share with them. Jonny, Amber and her two daughter were passing thru and stopped to visit with me and they got more of the cookies. It was nice to see them. They had been camping on the island since Josh’s wedding. Jonny is helping me post the Grandpa Tanner pictures Tom has had responsibility for. There is a special family site where they post pictures and such. Jack came over with Sam to say goodbye and the Hardy’s got the rest of my cookies.

Cheyenne has also left to return for school. Kona I will miss her visits. She studied hard all summer and wrote her MCAT exam just before she left. I am glad Jean is here.

I am so blessed with a remarkable family, wonderful friends and a little sidekick named Kona.

August 2, 2024

 After getting home from Tennessee I started preparing for our family reunion at the Elton’s Lake House on Lake Whatcom. It would be our fourth visit there and our first without Tom. The girls and their families were all planning on coming and Trevor and Tammie were preparing to be there too. However, JayLynn got sick just as I left after my visit with all of them and she tested positive for covid. Fortunately I did not come down with it as I had last summer but Trevor, Tammie and Jadyn did. Justin seemed to get it too and Zach and Mo felt a little bit under the weather. Trey and I were the holdouts. Tammie made the decision not to travel to the Lake House but Trevor had business in Seattle so made the trip anyway but when still testing positive while there he and I made the decision that he needed to get home and rest. Everyone else made it including Jack who surprised me by taking the week off from his FSY job as a counsellor.

I got to the Temple for a session and served my Saturday Temple shift the week I was home. I went to Burnaby to meet with Eric Muir and Sherri and Sherri brought some papers the next day to have me sign. I attended the Relief Society Pioneer activity with Cindy, Jacqui and Aksel. I shopped for groceries and other supplies for the Lake and made cookie sheet chocolate cake and prepped chicken salad for dinner the day we arrived. I also got my house ready for Joanne, Jeff and the McCues as they would arrive before I got back to be here for Josh’s wedding in Abbotsford. It was a busy week. I loaded my car with everything, ALL BY MYSELF, and after church on Sunday we headed for the Lake. Jack drove with me and we had a nice visit. We arrived first and Jon Elton was waiting for us. Rissa and family and Cindy and her group followed soon after. Sam had to work and they went back for him on Tuesday. Liza and the children had difficulties as there was an accident with a truck left on fire and they had to reroute. I stayed up until they arrived. Brendon drove down on Wednesday after work to join us.

We had a great week and I really enjoyed it. I felt Tom near and the children were all so good to me. The girls all went shopping for groceries and helped with the meals. Liza cooked two dinners and Rissa and Cindy one each. My children took me out for dinner on evening and we ordered pizza for the rest. We had some cloud one day but the rest of the weather was pretty good. The boys took care of the boat and took the children out for water activities. They played games and did numerous puzzles which Tom would have loved. We went cliff  jumping one day and on numerous walks. Scott, Rissa, Wyatt and Jack played golf one day and we all loved and cared for our babies Aksel and Hansen. We ate a lot! Sayde slept with me in the master bedroom so she won’t have to go up and down the stairs as often. They canoed and paddle boarded and Liza swam across the Lake with Cindy and Breya paddling along with her. The kids all enjoyed being together and the older children and the younger children had fun together. We have a wonderful family and I know Tom was enjoying them along with me. Jack had to catch a plane to get back to his assignments so Sam drove home with me and they left early. The Bulls had left on Friday and the rest on Saturday. I had cleaners come in but we got quite a bit done ourselves before leaving. Kona was with us all week and got a lot of attention.

Joanne’s family were at the wedding when I got home so I was able to unload and unpack before they got back. The wedding was a big success and they all left Sunday morning. I spent Monday cleaning and  changing sheets etc. The cleaning went into the next day or so. It rained early in the week which was good. 

I bought ice cream sandwiches on my way to the Temple on Tuesday and left them in the freezer for the workers as it was Tom’s birthday and that was my Random Act of Kindness. They seemed very appreciative. Barbara drove out that day and attended a session with me. She came over for a late lunch afterward and unfortunately left her phone behind and had to return the next day to reclaim it.

Wendy, Virginia, Robert Kearl and I met with Mayor Eric Woodward at the cemetery on Wednesday along with the fellow over cemeteries and we discussed our desires and ideas for improving the Fort Langley Cemetery. We will hopefully move forward in positives ways from here.

Kona had a grooming on Wednesday.

Cindy, Paul, Sam, Max, Jacqui and Aksel have gone up to Liza’s for a few days. Liza has opened her new clinic and is busy with that and also has Brendon’s family there and Ted staying at their place. Busy time. I went today to water Cindy’s outdoor plants. It is hot. 

Kona and I are busy here with yard work, business concerns and church callings. 

I am busy and blessed!