April 16, 2024

 Another great day! 9lb 7oz Hansen Thomas Alder Hardy was born. He is a handsome looking fellow arriving about a week late and having to be delivered by c-section. We are so glad he has arrived safely. We now have three special little great grandsons. How blessed are we! I know Tom is rejoicing too. Our immediate family numbers 33 which is remarkable as we started with just the two of us. I need to update my family history.

It has been a sad week of loss as well. Melissa and Tom Carlton’s little 9 year old girl died suddenly in her sleep after waking up with a tummy upset through the night. Melissa is Melanie and Chris Leonard’s daughter. They are grieving but standing strong in their faith and have already been to the Temple a couple of times. Her funeral is this Friday. I attended Jeff  Guenther, Debbie Wood’s husband’s funeral last week and Ann Anderson, Beth Kearl’s mother, passed away too.

Bela had asked me to help with some artificial flower arrangements for Stake Conference and I had agreed. She bought some supplies for two small ones and asked if I would put them, as well as get supplies for a large one too and put it together. I have those ready for Stake Conference which is the end of this month.

I have been baking for and preparing for our annual LOW training which will be held tomorrow evening at the Temple. We are having a luncheon this Thursday for the serving and past Temple matrons. Ladene is hosting it. I am making a salad. I am back teaching my Temple Prep class for the YSA so life is back into full swing following our Spring Break Trip to Utah, Easter and General Conference.

JayLynn was back in hospital being diagnosed with pneumonia. I keep praying for them. This couple needs a break. I feel that perhaps the pneumonia came as a result of drainage from her sinus infection.  She is home now and Jack was able to have breakfast at a diner with Justin and Treyson while Jack was in St. George for his Utah/Conference trip. Jack is home now too.

Life is full of joys and sorrows as I guess it was meant to be. Aaron Christensen talked in church about what it means to share your testimony and how to bear testimony and then asked Len Jahn and I to share our testimonies before turning the time over to others in the meeting. Pressure yes, but I do joy in my Savior, I love Him and lean on Him thru my sorrows. He has taught me that PAIN and PEACE can live together in the same house. He lives and He gives me hope.

April 4, 2024

 This has been a very busy last few weeks and my lack of posting is proof.

I am home now but I have been coming and going. I drove up Kelowna on March 13 with Liza after I picked her up at the airport upon her return from her course in the St. Louis area. I was able to attend Sayde’s wonderful play “Matilda” Thursday evening. Sayde played two parts in the play and she has not been able to stop talking about it since. She had such fun. Brendon kindly got me in for a dental appointment on Friday and the three children, Liza and I drove back down to Vancouver in the evening as Breya had another soccer tournament in Vancouver this weekend. They celebrated my birthday with me on Saturday and I appreciated having them here. Back to Kelowna they went on Sunday. Crazy!

I worked on my business affairs, my callings and preparing for our trip to Utah during the next week and on Thursday the Burgess family drove down yet again and spent the night. We were up early Friday morning to get down to Bellingham in order to catch our flight to Las Vegas. Kona was now off on another adventure. We picked up a rental car and drove to St. George and right to Justin and JayLynn’s. We had dinner with them and Liza and Brendon left to get set up in their accommodations. I spent the week with the Walker family.

We soon learned that JayLynn was not doing well. She had recently had a spell where she could not remember what was happening and who people were - everyone that is but except for Justin and Treyson. She remembered them. She was having trouble with her sinuses and ears when we arrived. Liza’s family travelled to Hurricane, Kolob, and Zion to hike and see the sights. I stayed with JayLynn and the baby some of the time to help out but went with the Burgess family to see local sights as well and one day we took Treyson with us. JayLynn was feeling well enough on Sunday to attend the Temple Dedication of the new Temple in St. George. I stayed with Treyson. On Wednesday JayLynn was not doing well and I suggested she needed to see a doctor or go to the hospital. Her sister, whose wedding was happening in a couple of days, drove her first to the GP and later to the ENT. The specialist drained her ears and Justin gave her a blessing that evening. She slept better that night and was much better on Thursday. She was able to care for the baby and I went with Bob and Pat James. I had such a nice time with them. They took me to see their new home, to the Golf Course for lunch and drove me around to see sights. They are such good friends. I appreciate them so much. JayLynn was doing well on Friday when the family wedding took place. I took the Burgess family for brunch, I as it was Liza’s birthday and we went to DB store before the Burgess family left to do ATV driving. They have great adventures. What a family! We left early Saturday morning to retrace our steps back to our homes. Kona had adventures with Justin’s dog Hope.

After arriving home on Saturday, we picked up groceries for dinner and for Easter the next day. I was exhausted but the older two children decided to go to a Drive In movie double feature with Jack and Sam. The Hardy family had arrived back from Australia the day before. We attended a lovely Easter sacrament in the morning and had Easter dinner before the Burgess family headed for home.

I have cleaned the house, attended my Tuesday Temple session and worked on the Bank Transition from HSBC to RBC which took place April 1 with RBC buying out my bank HSBC. I am tired but I am slowing getting things done. I miss Tom every moment and I feel the weight of all these things when he is not with me. I marvel that I am lifted to accomplish the things I do get done. I am blessed and Tom is near and supporting.