February 25, 2024

 I filled in as the LOW last Thursday evening for Erika Leavitt as she received her OE. She is Brian and Brenda’s granddaughter and a cute girl just feeling ready for the Temple. As it turned out I knew her other grandparents the Johnson’s . Georginna Johnson is from the McConnell family from Schelelt and Tom was their Bishop years ago and we had attended their wedding. Fun to make those connections and be part of this special evening for their family.

I made food in advance for Liza’s family coming last weekend - bran muffins and lasagna. It was nice having them here. Liza and. Brendon got to the Temple to do sealings with Cindy and Paul and then the girls all went to Sarah’s baby shower while I served in the Temple filling in for Minna as assist coordinator. They all came over for dinner afterward and the Burgess family had the chance to see Jack and catch up with him. He has had a cold since going to the YSA conference in Edmonton. The Burgess family headed home Sunday afternoon.

Cheyenne was home for reading week this week and Jean had me for dinner on Monday evening and we enjoyed a Chinese “hot pot” which was new to me. Cheyenne spent much of the time working on an assignment that was due but finally sat down to eat. She came back home with me to visit Kona.

I went over to Rosemarie’s home on Tuesday afternoon to help her with some redesign. We had lunch then I hung pictures, moved some furniture and redid one shelf. I will need to return and she wants me to consult on some furniture decisions she is making. It was fun but crawling around and up and down wears me out more as I get older.

Our niece Annie’s husband Kyle has stayed with me this week from Wednesday to Sunday. Their daughter Reece has been involved in university basketball playoffs at UFV. They did well and came in second to University of Saskatchewan. Annie and Kyle had five girls and just recently a little tail end baby boy. Kyle brought Reece over to see me one day.

The ward had a progressive dinner on Saturday and I had signed up and volunteered to do dessert. With Kyle and Reece coming and going I told them I had better not go to the first part but wanted them to come to my home for dessert. Kyle got home to join with dessert party and I invited Jean and Cheyenne before Cheyenne flew back to school last night. 

Bryson arrived in Holland this week and has been struggling but they realized that his medications need some serious adjusting and we are hopeful and praying that makes a difference. He has so been looking forward to this Dutch Mission and we want him to enjoy it.

 This is a memory picture from Tom’s memorial service as I sat and talked to people after the service all the while being surrounded by loving angels.

February 14, 2024

 Today is Valentine’s Day. I am remembering Tom and my very loved family members. I made a list this morning of all our family members with their names and their numbers according to the order in which they became part of our family. At the moment, including Tom, Halle and Anderson, there are 31 of us. That number will change in about a week and will continue to change but they are all loved and special to me and to Tom and we want them forever. It makes me realize how loved, numbered, named and remembered we are by our Heavenly Parents and our Savior.

My week has gone along with regular responsibilities and activities - Temple attendance on Tuesday morning,  Temple service Saturday, church on Sunday, family zoom on Sunday, a hair cut thrown in and hair colouring, making food to be frozen for the family, ordering Valentine flowers for friends, working on callings, paying bills, buying groceries, caring for and walking the dog along with cleaning, cooking, listening to church podcasts and conference talks almost daily and studying the Scriptures and “Come Follow Me”. I was to go today to help Rosemarie with home decor but she is a little under the weather and we will reschedule for next week.

Bryson is concluding his time at the MTC and is scheduled to fly with his group to the Netherlands tomorrow. I am praying for him. Jack flew to Edmonton on the weekend with friends for a very large YSA conference and he is getting school applications completed and in. Sam and Breya are also applying for school as they head toward High School graduation. Jacquie and Max are planning for the baby boy’s arrival within a week. The Bull family have returned from their Cancun spring break trip and the Burgess family are planning on coming down for the weekend. Trevor and Tammie have been in Utah to visit Justin and family.

I feel at peace but miss my Valentine. He has and will always have my heart. ❤️❤️

February, 7, 2024

 I am having Ruth Boehmer for lunch today and thought I should work on this and then take the dog for a walk before she arrives. I have everything ready for the lunch. Ruth lives near me with her daughter and family. She is fairly new in the ward and wanting to make friends.

I have been kept busy with my LOW calling as the Vancouver Spanish Ward Bishop has nine individuals ready to receive their OE and eight of them are sisters. He has wanted them to come in groups together and that has caused me to scramble to get together Spanish speaking LOWs to serve at one time to assist the new sisters. We were to have three sisters come last Saturday but one got sick and we only had two, however, I had all three LOW sisters I had assigned come anyone and had Katherine Turcios take the lead over the other two and organize things as her assigned sister was the sick one. We have three Spanish ladies coming in a week and a half and I have assigned the same three LOWs to assist with them. I have just submitted two names to the presidency for additional LOWs.

Bryson has almost completed his time in the MTC and is hoping his visa is in order to move on to the Netherlands. He believes it may not be ready for Belgium though. He seems to be doing well and even ran into Cohen Rulman there at the the MTC. I taught Cohen Temple Prep here in our ward and I also taught Bryson Temple Prep for that matter.

Jack is busy with work. He helped teach Bela’s friend the missionary lessons and assisted with her confirmation on Sunday after her baptism on Saturday. He has been called to serve in the Temple and is going to a YSA conference in Edmonton this weekend. He has been acting with dignity around Sianne and Caleb and I am proud of him. It is difficult when they and their engagement are right in front of him much of the time. 

I attended my emergency prep meeting on Sunday. I have the assignment to help with this event and we are just trying to determine what it is going to look like as the scope of it has been scaled down. We are thinking perhaps two smaller events twice a year would work. We adjusted our family zoom time Sunday to accommodate my meeting.

It is Paul’s birthday today. He is the oldest of the children and turns 52 today. I must be old as Trevor will be 52 this year too.

All is well, carry on!

February 2, 2024

 It is already February and it seems like the year just began. I am grateful that time does not drag and my days are generally full

I have still been working on going thru Tom’s clothing and my own. Renee Gallant is making some of Tom’s shirts into a quilt and is kindly doing her part for free as an act of service for me. I have received so much service and kind acts since Tom’s illness and passing that it is quite overwhelming.  Cindy’s family came over and brought dinner Saturday after my day in the Temple and I had them select shoes and items of Tom’s clothing they wanted and they helped me with some digital concerns. I took several bags of clothing to thrift yesterday but I will always keep some of Tom’s things with me, 

Tessa Harvey Russell,  Lincoln’s sister, is in town visiting and Mary had a lunch for her on Monday and kindly invited me. Virginia and Laurie were also there and it was a fun time. Mary let me know that her cancer has returned and they will not be treating it. I am praying for her. Mary is a dear friend and I appreciate her so much. She and Lincoln have been so good to us.

I went with Rosemarie last Friday to support her in buying a new sectional for her place. I am her professional consultant. We picked up some lunch afterward and brought it back to my place to eat. Rosemarie is a kind friend as well.

Our released Stake YW presidency, Cathy, Marcy and Jessica, wanted to get together so I told them that they could come to my house  on Wednesday and I made soup while they contributed the rest. These are great girls but each has their challenges. They are the ages of my children but I love my friends of every age. It was fun and Kona always loves any company we receive. She thinks they have come for her. 

I have struggled thru the week getting LOWs organized for three Spanish sisters receiving their OE tomorrow. One OE sister is sick and we have had to take that into account. They only booked last Saturday and I didn’t get LOW requests out until Monday morning. I needed 3 Spanish speaking LOW sisters and one of those sisters did not see my email request but gradually I have been able to communicate with everyone involved and we have pulled things into place. I am praying now that the Lord takes over where needed. I have kept 3 LOWs serving with only the now 2 OE sisters but Katherine Turcios, one of the LOWs, will serve as a corrdinator for it all. I am certain it will be okay.