July 19, 2025

 Well, our big news is that we have a new baby - suddenly but gratefully - we have a beautiful baby boy Jaxon Randall Walker 8lbs 6 oz born July 16 in LasVegas, Nevada!!! He is being adopted by Justin and JayLynn and they are over the moon. They just recently put their names out for adoption as JayLynn has been advised not to have more children due to her medical concerns. This little guy’s parents chose Justin and JayLynn and they, in turn, hurried down to meet him. In Nevada the adoption can be finalized in a week so they are staying in Mesquite so Justin can go to work from there. His parents are both black but already have three children and did not feel they could financially manage another. He is very cute and already very loved. Wonderful blessing for all our family and especially for Justin and JayLynn. I don’t think they expected this to happen so quickly.

I stayed up in Kelowna until Tuesday, July 8. We got Sayde up to her camp near Vernon on Monday and Liza felt that the older children didn’t need me after that, so I packed up and left Tuesday. It is hard to walk away after you have been taking care of the children because you worry about them and think about them all of the time. We got Sayde ready for camp while I was there, I got the front door painted, took her to her clinic appointments (she had pool appointments too), did lots of laundry, made meals and anything else that needed to be done. Ted had the girls and their families at his home so he slept in our basement each night. Luke and Matthew spent time at our house and the girls and the rest came over for swimming one night. We went to a BBQ at Dave and Jeannie’s one evening too. Breya and Keaton really wanted to go to the Burgess family camp, so after Liza and Brendon got home and Sayde was home from her camp, they drove up alone. George Goeders said they had a terrible storm while they were up there, causing a tree to fall on a car. I just wanted to make sure my grandchildren were okay. Liza and Brendon got back on Saturday, July 12. Alyssa picked Sayde up from her camp on Friday, July 11.

Cindy and Paul left for Finland yesterday. Max, Jacqui and Aksel are there now too, Aksel got RSV from daycare just before they left and ended up in hospital but the doctors gave him the all clear so we are praying for him.

I have been trying to get things done since I got home. I have checking with how friends are doing, power washing the stairwell (on a very hot day), doing banking and yard work, painting the driveway grate that Tom always painted, getting Kona to her annual vet appointment and getting back to the Temple. I always have things to keep me busy. Mostly though, I  been feeling grateful for my children, my grandchildren, my life, my heritage, my husband and the Savior and His gospel. All combined - I am very blessed. We are not perfect but I am very blessed! 

July 3, 2025

 I am in Kelowna right now staying with Liza and Brendon’s children while they are in Germany for Brendon’s IronMan race. They have been in the Netherlands too and able to visit with Bryson. I am hoping that they have a good time and that they are able to relax a little. The children and I are doing fine. Sayde has pool therapy everyday, as well as clinic therapy. I drove up on Friday and managed well except for traffic getting out of the lower mainland and getting thru West Kelowna. Kona got a little car sick which was disappointing. Liza and Brendon left on Saturday and I drove them to the airport in the large handicapped van as Brendon had his large bike case to transport. We went to a Stake youth activity at the West Kelowna chapel on Sunday. The youth had their own sacrament meeting, Sunday School and then ate lunch together. Sharon Hara was there with her daughter and grandson. Breya came too. We all went to the pancake breakfast at the church on Canada Day. Breya went to the beach with friends and then shopping with Keaton and other friends, They brought Michael and the Harper children over for a swim and I fed them all hotdogs before they went to watch the fireworks. Sayde stayed home with me. Big day! Keaton has been golfing with Ted and his Burgess cousins the last couple of days. He and Breya went to play pickleball with their cousins this morning. Breya keeps herself busy with friends and on her own with crafts and sewing projects. I am busy getting Sayde to her therapies, doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning up to be ready for Ted moving in downstairs when his girls and their families takeover his home. He will only come to sleep here at night. I have washed the front porch and back deck and I am now painting the front door. Keaton’s came Costco shopping with  me and is a good helper. Busy days! I will be leaving on Monday after Sayde gets off to her camp next week.

I spent the week before getting ready for my trip here. Kona was groomed and I got a pedicure and coloured my hair. I took Wendy and Cindy for Japanese food on Cindy’s Birthday. I drove Wendy for dialysis and ministered to Sam and Jaqui and got all my property and personal taxes paid. The week before that I worked on getting the Tesla ready to return. I cleaned it inside and took it for a car wash. I took it to the dealership when all was in order and Jean picked me up to get me home. I am glad to have just one car and I am happy with my Lexus. The difference in the breaking system has been the most difficult element to adjust to and remembering to lock the car, as you just walk away from the Tesla and Lexus requires actual locking,

Summer is in full swing and I am busy and blessed. Just FaceTime with Liza.