April 30, 2026

 Days rarely turn out as planned. I had my day planned in my head when I got up today. I always have a day plan and always have things to do but I received an early morning call from a tearful Jeanne Arnold this morning saying she that was struggling and had not left for Alberta yesterday as was planned. We have been helping Jeanne for the last couple of weeks to get her small coach house packed up and cleaned in preparation for her move to Cardston. She is about three years younger than me and she has allergy and other health concerns that tend to limit her. She has only lived in the ward for a short time and she seems to move quite often. I have been lining up people to go and assist her almost daily. We scrambled today again and Cindy, Jack, Sam, Melanie and the Sister Missionaries and Elders rallied to her aid and got her car packed and her apartment in final order. The boys all helped give her a blessing. I am praying that she manages and lands safely.

We had Jeff’s graduation from Wagner Hill’s last Friday and Cindy, Sam, Jenn, Russ, Nora and I all attended. We are so proud of him and are just hoping and praying for his future success. He is flying to Alberta today to pick up his truck and his dog Gertie. Jenn and family stayed with me.

I have been working on Relief Society Activities with Sharon Hara and we have the year planned with Four Main Activities and Interest Group Activities. One of our main activities will be a Temple activity with the Vancouver Temple Matrons and I have been busy inviting all of them and asking them to save the date in October. I have been working on other calling related responsibilities as well, both Temple and Relief Society.

Liza and family came, along with Liza’s coworker Kiana, on the weekend of April 11. Brendon and the children did Temple Baptisms and Liza and Kiana attended a PT workshop and stayed an extra couple of days completing that.

I have got my taxes in, completed and paid. I have been setting up a new doorbell camera security system with Telus and I am ready to purchase a new printer as no one can get mine working. I had the windows and house washed, spread bark mulch in the flower beds and ordered flowers for Stake Conference held last weekend. I also attended book club at Marilyn’s this week. Somewhere, along the line, I have pulled my right shoulder and I am hoping I can get that feeling better.

Jack is here this week and Breya is home too. Both are returning for summer school as Bryson is doing too. Trey will be attending BYU the fall and Sam hopes to attend BYUI next year sometime. Everyone is busy.

Blessed and busy too.

April 8, 2026

 I have really let the time lapse since my last post. I am discouraged because I cannot seem to figure out how to add pictures but I will try to have one of the children help me sort it when they have a minute with me.

The last month has involved going to Kelowna to attend Sayde’s play, receivng a new calling, getting taxes together and celebrating Easter along with numerous other events but these are the highlights.

The week after we got back from Alberta I flew to Kelowna so I could attend Sayde’s play “Beetlejuice”. I asked Mary and Lincoln to drive me to the Vancouver Airport early in the morning on March 13. It was dark and raining and I felt concerned for dear Mary who was doing the driving, with Lincoln in the back and me in the front trying to help Mary find her way. Mary told me later, as I drove her to book club one evening, that both she and Lincoln felt Tom near encouraging them to take good care of his wife and that they would be kept safe on their drive home. I am always happy when people say they have felt him near because I feel him all the time. I am grateful for their kindness and Tom’s ever present love. Sayde’s performance was wonderful and she played one of the leads. She was the father and did marvellously well singing and dancing in her wheelchair. I just stayed two nights and we were able to celebrate Liza and my birthdays by going out for dinner Saturday evening with the family.

The Bishop asked to speak to me on Sunday March 9th and called me to serve in a new Relief Society Presidency with Melanie Leonard as president. I am happy to serve with Melanie, who is remarkable, and with Karen Chen and Cinthia Miranda, who will serve as secretary. I feel more comfortable in this calling than any calling I have had in a while. We have met several times, provided a missionary lunch, organized a Palm Sunday Linger Longer and made some home visits to sister’s homes. Melanie has been down to Salt Lake twice in the last month and we are still moving full steam ahead.

I have wanted to make more of the Easter Season this year as our church Leaders are suggesting, so I got  more decorations, kept my permanent outdoor lights shining and followed along the happenings on each day of Holy Week. The Ward and Stake Palm Sunday events were lovely. We, the Relief Society Presidency, decorated for and organized the Palm Sunday Linger Longer. General Conference happened to fall on Easter weekend and that event, along with it being a Solemn Assembly conference as we sustained a new Prophet and President, made it very special. We had our Easter Dinner on Monday with Cindy’s family, Jeff and Jean here at my house.

It has been an eventful month. I also changed my phone plan to Telus and got a new phone which I am still getting used to. I have collected and got our taxes into Phil our accountant but I am still receiving some more in the mail and will have to get those special delivered to Phil. I gave Cindy Tom’s laptop for her schooling and I am looking to get a new, smaller one for myself. I am wanting to use up Avion points and thought they could go toward a new laptop.

Liza, Breya, Monica and I had our birthday’s in March. Kona had her 4th Birthday April 2 and Sarah had her’s two days later. My family, Joanne, Jean, Melanie were all good to me on my Birthday. I am blessed.