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.