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.