March 14, 2024

  Brendon left for home on Friday evening. I had subbed the Friday morning Temple shift for Leslie Clarke and later picked Brendon up at the West Coast Express station in Maple Ridge. I brought him home, packed him a quick lunch and he was off. I worked my own Temple shift on Saturday and then Liza drove down and arrived Saturday evening using the same car Brendon just used to drive home with. She was heading out for a PT course near St. Louis in Jefferson city. We both forgot the time change Sunday morning but luckily our cell phones woke us up at the new 5:30. I got her to the airport, went to our sacrament meeting then  down to the YSA building to teach the young adults the first Temple Prep lesson. I had six students and Renee Mitchell came in with them. I am looking forward to teaching them. I love that age group and love the subject matter. I went to an emergency prep meeting for our May event and finally returned home for our family zoom. Busy week and weekend.

I got my hair cut on Monday and Kona had her groom on Wednesday. According to Gabriella Kona’s hair was matted and she had to shave most of it off plus charge me an extra $30 for doing so. I feel terrible. I need to brush more often a with a stiffer brush. Kona hates being brushed and hates using a stiff  brush. I need to be firmer I guess. I had no idea that it was that bad. 

I picked Liza up from the airport after Kona’s grooming dilemma. I had packed up and we left for Kelowna after we got things in Liza’s car and got my house locked up. It was still light when we started out and we got along fine with little sheered Kona snuggled in my lap.

Liza is back working today, Brendon at his office, Keaton and Sayde at school and Breya in Vancouver with a soccer team. Sayde has her play “Matilda” this evening and that is the purpose of my visit. 

Trevor, Tammie, Jaydn and Treyvn are in Hawaii for Spring Break and Cindy, Paul, Jack and Sam leave for their Spring Break trip to Australia to meet little Aksel tomorrow. All are on the move and busy. The Bull family had their Spring Break trip to Cancun a couple of weeks ago. I leave with Liza’s family next weekend for their Spring Break trip to Southern Utah. I will stay with Justin and JayLynn. Pretty lucky children and grandchildren. They have inherited Tom’s love for travel.❤️❤️

March 8, 2024

 I subbed in the Temple today for Leslie Clarke but wasn’t there too long as my last assignment was to attend a session and they allowed me to leave instead.  I have been concerned about Kona this week as I am away from her for longer hours for a few days in a row but it worked out fine today and she is not neglected. 

Brendon stayed with me Wednesday evening before going downtown to the Vancouver Dental Conference. He is back today and I will be picking him up in Maple Ridge as he is taking the West Coast Express that far. He left his car here and I am uncertain if he is planning on driving home tonight or not.

We all got to experience little baby Aksel on the family zoom on Sunday. He is very cute but I think his parents are a little tired as they learn the ins and outs of parenthood. He is doing fine. Cindy, Paul, Jack and Sam leave next week to fly to Australia to meet him during their Spring Break Vacation. They are excited. 

The Temple Closure was over March 4 and I was back at the Temple for a session Tuesday morning. Ruth Boehmer took me to a Vietnamese Restaurant for lunch on Tuesday and that was fun. Cindy and Paul to me and Wendy McKinley to the movie “Cabrini” last night. It was a true story about an American/Italian nun who accomplished much in America during the time of great immigration, as she established orphanages and hospitals to provide for the needs of many. She took her work throughout the world and the Catholic Church made her a Saint. I had never heard of her before. I took dinner to the Hong family last night as they have a new baby.

I have my own Temple shift tomorrow and church, teaching YSA Temple prep and an Emergency Prep preparation meeting on Sunday. Life is busy and that is good. Hopefully my busy is of value.

Renee Gallant sent me a picture of her progress on Tom’s shirt quilt.

March 1, 2024

 Well, it is March 1 today in Vancouver but it is March 2 in Australia and that is the date upon which our little Aksel Reid Hardy was born, weighing 7lbs. His is so cute and both his grandparents and his GG have been crying. Isn’t is wonderful how each addition to the family is greeted with such excitement and love. I went out to do some shopping and returned home to find Max had sent a message and I knew what that meant as Jacqui was past her due date and we knew what the birth was eminent. This has been a first for Tom from his new vantage point and I know he was joying along with us and many others on the other side of the veil.

This has been the second week of the Temple closure and I am trying to use my extra time doing things I sometimes feel need to be put off. I have washed all my Temple dresses and Temple clothes and have them ready to go again and yes I have quite a good number of Temple dresses. I wrote the mayor to discuss the need for improvement to the Fort Langley cemetery, cleaned my stove and oven which I have been nervous to do, dealt with some banking concerns which Tom would normally take care of, called my sister Joanne and Tom’s sister Carolyn, hosted Annie’s husband Kyle, took Carol Jensen out to lunch before her move to Lethbridge, hosted the dessert portion of the Ward Progressive dinner and just tried to get a few others things done that were needing to be done. I need to make an appointment for my hair to be cut and for the dog to be groomed. I also received a calling, with Stake approval, for me to teach the YSA Temple Prep class. All my callings are Temple Centered and I love it. I still teach Temple Prep in the Ward, coordinate female LOWs and server as an OW.

Bryson is doing some better and wrote me separately this week. I am praying and hoping that increased medication will eventually be of help to him. He was on a child size dose and Liza didn’t realize it. He said he is just trying to get thru one day at a time and I agreed that that is the best method to use. Missions are a challenge as is life and we all truly need to work at it one day at a time and pray for the Lord’s help in doing so.

Camille is in town for a hospital appointment for Presley and Cindy and I will try to get up to see her, Presley and new baby boy Tell. We have some things from Carol to give them and a few gifts from us. Carol has made her move to Lethbridge and messaged me today to say she was just arriving and that the drive had not been perfect. Glad she has arrived safely and we wish her all the best.

Excited for these angels from Heaven being sent our way.