October 19, 2022

 Kona has had a busy week. I took her for grooming on Monday and in her eyes that should be enough for the entire week but Tuesday, which was yesterday, she went to the vet for her spay surgery. She was shaking before she left home. I think she knew this was not going to be a joy trip. She doesn’t like riding in the car period but she doesn’t usually shake before we even get going. Things went well. I took her in about 8:30 am and picked up a very groggy puppy about 2:30 pm. I went to the Temple while she was in her surgery and picked up a few groceries. I took care of some business as well. When she was being groomed I picked up a lab test at the lab and went to the notary for some business. I have planned on being home for most of the week to keep her settled and healing. Her favorite place is on my lap and I tucked a shirt in my pants last night and put her down my shirt while I made dinner. She was acting a little drunk and trying to walk so I thought it best to confine her. She is on pain meds and has a little red “cat” onesie on to keep her incision safe generally and her from licking it. She woke up once fussing last night and I took her out to bathroom and get a drink but she is eating and was even wanting to eat yesterday.

My new calling is daunting and Cathy asked me to take her place at the Tri-Stake YMYW leaders’ zoom meeting on Sunday evening. I knew many of the people in the meeting. Kona was upset and barking and they put me on mute for awhile, probably where I should always be. I have been reading the YW manual and other material connected with the calling. The current program and recent changes are all good. Navigating the digital aspect of everything is new for me and proves a challenge. I keep wanting paper copies of things, something I can hold in my hands.

The Temple opened again last week and I attended a session on Friday morning and my shift on Saturday. I am still dealing with my cold and Shauna Humphreys gave me a short assignment list on Saturday. Kona can stay in her crate while I do a session but a shift is too long and Cindy and family came over to take her for a walk and wash their new car at the same time. They got a hybrid. It was nice to attend the Temple yesterday with my usual Tuesday morning workers and patrons. The gold leafing on the ceilings of the sealing rooms that Tom had worked so hard to have completed while we were in, has been done. Brother Smith, our FM fellow from Seattle. had promised Tom that one day he would look up and it would be there. That day has arrived and I am sure Tom and other angels were rejoicing in Heaven. He worked to get approval for the perimeter fence and that gold leafing and received approval for both before our release in November 2018, as well as approval to have a local FM fellow called (Sean Sugden). Now finally all are in place. I see the Savior everywhere in the Temple. It is all about Him but He has allowed Tom’s fingerprints to be there too, blessing me and others too.

President Nelson, his wife and the Renlunds were to come to Lethbridge this past Sunday and do a devotional for Alberta and BC. They were unable get here but broadcast instead from Salt Lake. We shortened our meetings on Sunday and then either stayed at the church to watch or went home to watch online. I came home. It was very good. Both the wives have Alberta connections. Wendy Nelson is from Raymond and Sister Renlund has family from Alberta - Cahoons and Lybberts. Sister Nelson said the leaders had experienced extreme opposition before October Conference and she would tell us all about it in the next world. Satan is working hard as he knows his time is short.

I work at trying to get business items completed that I need to keep a handle on. When you live together for 52 years you develop a life dance and when your partner steps away, you tend to stumble, falter and misstep. I never have wanted to be a soloist. I don’t operate at my best but I am trying and I miss my partner on every level.

October 12, 2022

 I am late writing this on Friday but am still dating it as this past Wednesday. 

Liza’s race was last Thursday and Brendon and I got up in the early hours to drive into Kona with her. There was a steady stream of cars going in at that time and I am certain most cars were filled with athletes and the entourages. The highway shut down shortly after we got to town as the race itself took place largely on that Queen K highway - the biking and running. We dropped her off, got parked and made our way thru the crowds to get a view of the bay where they would do the swim. It was electric with excitement. The Hawaiian drums were going and so was my heart. We ended up standing by Liza’s age group. I moved my way down so she could see we were there and when she looked up to see me, she got a little emotional. They swam out, then lined up treading water until the starting horn blew. They swam into the oncoming ocean swells and out in front of our beautiful hotel where Tom and I started our honeymoon. Who would have guessed we would have our baby girl out on that ocean doing this swim 52 years later. So glad Tom could experience this with her. He loves Hawaii, he loves adventure and most of all he loves Liza and I am certain he didn’t miss a minute of the excitement. 

We moved to another location so we could see her start the bike portion of the race. Her swim was ten minutes longer than usual which they said to expect. We were able to see her go passed us twice as she moved thru town and headed for the highway. She had done a short swim in the bay, a short bike on the highway and a short run on the route. She and I had driven up to Hawi on the mountain where the bikes turned to come back. She was acquainted with what was to come and I knew the highway and area well so somehow that calmed me a little. It was the heat and sunburn potential that I feared. We picked up Ted and Alyssa’s boys and brought them back to our place and kids and all the children played at the pool and the pool area. I made them lunch and we drove down to the highway to see her pass by on her return bike ride to the town.

We packed everyone up and taking the back roads, due to the highway closure, made our way closer to town and another location to see her on the run. She passed us and the kids ran along beside her for a bit and then she was off out onto a flat hot area. When she returned she was walking but got running again as we cheered her on. We took Ted and the kids home and made our way back into the middle of town and the finish.

We parked again and walked thru streets and then thru crowds to reach the finish line. It was not long before we saw her coming, still running, and we cheered her in. So exciting and well done. She had thrown up near the finish which dehydrated her but she made it to the end, requiring IV to get fluids back into her before she could get to us. She was burned and she was dehydrated. The Hawaiian sun and heat had done their thing but she was in good spirits and finished in the 50 percentile of her group. A great feat at the world level. We were all exhausted.

Liza’s sunburn was the main thing bothering her the next day but we went shopping for the children to get the things they had hoped for on their trip. Liza and Brendon took Breya and Keaton to swim with the manta rays later that night. You have to wait until dark and they take you out in the ocean.

Liza and Brendon were up early again to see Alyssa’s Patrick off on the men’s race Saturday morning and the kids and I stared packing up and trying to eat up all the food. We got to the airport, again on back roads and following a lineup of cars. We checked in separately as we are on different flights. I stayed with them after checkin until they left and I then went to my gate to wait for a few hours. I had to help a confused little lady who had missed her flight and was now taking mine. I sat by two young adult girls to Denver, one from Toronto and one from Salt Lake. I changed to my Vancouver plane in Denver and sat by another young adult girl. I felt like the Lord blessed because I was feeling lonely and those three girls were alone as well.

Cindy was there to pick me up in Vancouver. I didn’t go to church as I had only a half hour to get ready. I unpacked and showered and Ross and Sarah brought my puppy on their way to Sarah’s father’s. Kona was so excited to see me so that made me happy. Cindy, Paul, Sam and Bryson brought Thanksgiving dinner over to my house later which was so lovely. Bryson is here for Thanksgiving. Paul set me apart for my new calling.

I have been trying to get business and other things done this week. I had my first meeting with with the Stake YW Presidency on Wednesday. I have so much to get up to speed on - all the changes in the program, all the digital information available etc. I will do my best. Breya and I both have colds this week. I guess it came from sharing a room and bathroom.  What a week!

October 5, 2022

 

I am in Hawaii this week with the Burgess family for Liza to participate in the World Championship Ironman Race. We are on the Big Island of Hawaii as the race headquarters are in Kona. I love this island as this is the first place Tom and I came on our honeymoon and we have returned a numerous times since the Temple was built in Kona. Tom loved Hawaii. It was where he felt at home but it has certainly changed a great deal since his family came in the ‘50s and ‘60s when he was a boy and since he started bringing me here. Kona was a sleepy little town in 1970 and our beautiful Kona Hilton was the landmark of the area. It was the most romantic place I had ever seen. Who would have guessed at the time that we would have had a remarkable little girl swimming in the ocean just off our hotel balcony 52 years later and biking and running all over this side of the island. Amazing and she is amazing! 

Tom and I have been here and all over this island but Liza has managed to find beaches, waterfalls and donut shops that we have never seen and known about. Our children are curious and explorers like their father and constantly seeking for the next adventure. I probably have held Tom back a bit and he always sought to please me. I gave him roots and he gave me wings and certainly did push me. The Burgess children have enjoyed boogie boarding and snorkeling and the older children and Brendon hiked into a waterfalls to swim. They hiked to see other falls and crawled into a lava tunnel. We have spent time at the condo pool and the older children have been playing games at the pool site. Alisa’s boyfriend Patrick is racing as well so Ted, Alisa and her boys are here with him. The children have done some activities with them but Alisa has the flu and has remained isolated at the place where they are staying.

I spent last week trying to get things in order and ready for the trip. I took Kona over to Ross and Sarah’s later on Thursday and got her settled. I went for an interview with Junki Huang on Thursday evening at the church. Junki is serving as a High Councillor and he called me to be a counsellor in the Stake Young Women presidency. I said yes immediately and am happy to serve and hope I can be of help to the young women and the leaders. I am old BUT I will do my best and I think this is what I need to do.

This trip is a bittersweet experience for me. I am grateful to be here but miss Tom. I have never been here without him but I do feel okay because he taught me how to get around and to feel at home here. I miss him but see his handprint and feel his influence everywhere. I know he is excited because, for this particular race, he can be with Liza the whole time and not only is she in the World Championship but she is racing in Kona!  He loves his daughter and he loves Hawaii! What more could he ask for! I am so happy for him and so happy for her!

September 28, 2022

 The sister missionaries popped over today to say goodbye as they are both being transferred. We have loved them both but wanted Sister Rivera for one of our grandsons. She is very cute and very hilarious.

Kona graduated from her puppy class last week and Sam accompanied us. She has not been the most cooperative puppy but she has entertained everyone and I think endeared herself to others there. Why not,  because she is so cute. When it was her turn to do her requirements our doorbell sounded on my phone and Kona knows that means, we have to bark and get to the door but where was the door and how do we get there. She is a funny pup! 

I made an effort to get to some church activities and participate this week. I went to the Relief Society event on Wednesday evening where we shared our “life stories”. I participated in the Ward progressive dinner Friday evening and I hosted the appetizers for the Haras, the Chans and Helena Toth. We then went to the Hara’s for the main course and dessert. The Chans brought dessert. The Shirleys were suppose to host dessert but Karen had a TIA recently and was not up to having us come. We are praying for her. It was the BC food drive on Saturday and Cindy had asked me to help with the volunteers’ lunch at the church so I was there for a couple of hours. I also attended the Empty Nester FHE on Monday at the church. Paul Christensen spoke about his volunteer projects performed around the world. Kona does not like my participation in any of these things as she is left in her crate and that does not make her happy. I am trying to do my part though it is not always easy or feel right for me. I would love to just stay home with Kona.

I leave this Friday for Kona, Hawaii to be there for Liza’s Ironman race next week. I will be leaving little Kona with Ross and Sarah so we drove out on Sunday after church for her to become acquainted with their place. We went for a walk around their area too after the family zoom and Ross held her leash. I will miss her and I hope she will be okay and that Ross and Sarah will enjoy her.

I am discouraged about the melting turf in the backyard. Each sunny day I put towels and sheets on the grass to protect it from the burning glare of the windows. I remove them so the dog can use the grass too. I had a window fellow come and he left quickly not knowing what he could do to change the windows and prevent the problem. I am also discouraged with Tesla as they cannot seem to correct my car lease. We have never leased but Tom wanted to try it. Both our names are on the lease and all I want is for them to remove Tom’s name and they make me feel that it is a major legal situation. I had Tom’s name on one of our companies changed to mine and it took only about two days with the lawyer. I love the Tesla but the company is not customer friendly or even considerate.

I am blessed and if I lose a little sleep over these other matters, I should not complain.

Years ago Tom wanted our Stake to do an annual service project. He was told that Calgary was doing a food collection for the Food Bank and so we started the food drive in our Stake. When the coordinating counsel wanted suggestions for a BC service project Tom put our project forward as an option. It was selected and has continued to grow through the years, now including the community of BC beyond the church membership. Grocery stores, fire stations and the whole of BC know about it and can participate. His influence is felt. What a quiet, precious man. Oh, how I love him and miss him.

September 21, 2022

With the weather still sunny and warm and me not yet having a solution to my bedroom windows focusing the sun downward and melting my artificial turf, I find it necessary to place sheets and towels on the grass each day to protect it. Yesterday while picking up stones to hold the sheets down, I picked up this heart shaped stone that I had never noticed before and I decided it was a little love message from Tom encouraging me on as I deal with this frustrating yard challenge. I miss him being here to discuss such  things with and in this case I realize he would probably be handling the whole situation. I am learning and becoming stronger than I thought I could be but I still appreciate messages of love and support.

I was able to complete a number of things that I had wanted to get done this week. Kona and I got the inside of the car cleaned and vacuumed and then took it to the car wash to get the outside done. I got all my Temple clothes washed and ironed. The lawyer completed the probate paperwork for the one BC numbered company that was in Tom’s name and Cindy and Paul helped print out my copies of the changes. I had lost my gmail account while trying to print the copies out myself on the big downstairs computer. Cindy thankfully helped me retrieve that lost account after a mandatory 48 hour waiting period. I taught the resurrection portion of Myrna Olson’s primary lesson on Sunday. I made cheese and ham scones this week and shared them with the Hardy family and Jean. I also gave Jean soup left from Tom’s service as she is busy with her schooling and new job doing childcare at the Richard Bulpitt school. I took Cindy’s family A+W for dinner on Monday after Paul and Sam trimmed my dogwood tree in the back. I have enjoyed my sunflowers given me by Rosemarie and so I bought and delivered sunflowers to Jillian Collingridge Peralto as a gift from Cindy and myself as Jillian just had a new baby girl Nella. I also finally was able to have Ryan my landscaper view and discuss my burned backyard turf. He said it would get taken care of but I am still left trying find a solution to it happening in the first place. The installation of the film has not helped the problem.

My sweet ministering sisters came to visit me yesterday and dear Laurel Christensen invited me to lunch on Friday with her mother and Virginia Towers. It was very kind of her and fun to be with all those ladies.

Kona is doing better at her classes and just overall. Paul came with me last week to help out. She seemed to have injured her paw on Saturday evening as we were preparing to go for Ross’ birthday dinner. We ended up in animal emergency but she miraculously seemed to be fine by the end of the night and $200 later. Good thing she is so cute. Everyone loves her and thinks she is so sweet and she is.

Warm weather continues and I am starting to prepare for my trip to Kona to support Liza’s race. I miss Tom always but I am trying my best and have been greatly blessed even by rocks in our yard.

September 14, 2022

 I have had a week of loss and recovery. While trying to get onto the downstairs computer to print off some papers from the lawyer, I tried to reset the password etc. and I lost all my gmail. Cindy tried to help me and we were told to wait 48 hours for a code number. We received that number and she was able to retrieve it on the phone but not the IPad. She stopped after school today and got it back on the IPad too. I also had not been able to get onto my blog site and she was able to get me on that too as you can see. So grateful for all of this retrieving and for Cindy’s help.

I had been excited to get the window film put on the windows to help prevent the turf burn and the need for me to put towels and sheets on the yard every day. The two fellows came on Tuesday and I left the the yard bare that day and found a new burn stipe on the middle of the turf later on indicating that the film had not worked. I was just sick but I still have to pay for the work done. I am at a loss with this window/turf burn situation. I messaged Ryan my landscaper and asked if he could come and have a look at the situation. I feel the turf company must have some knowledge of the possibility of this happening. I would like to talk to them. I at least will not have to shut the blinds as the new film will protect my floors and furniture. 

I have worked at completing some business this week with Phil and with the lawyer regarding the probate on the BC numbered company that was under Tom’s name. I got my personal books and tithing up to date and all my Temple dresses and clothes washed. Alan Herrington’s funeral was on Friday and Paul accompanied me. It was very nice but was hard on me, more than I had anticipated. I mourn and hurt every day and I do not know if that will ever change. On Saturday I did a workshop on Temple Symbols for a Stake Primary activity for the 8-11 year olds. I repeated it three times and I enjoyed doing that. The Temple is one of my favourite topics. Rosemarie Schiemann came to visit me yesterday and brought me sunflowers and homemade pesto. People have been so kind to me. The frozen meals Joanne and I ordered for Camille and her family living at Ronald MacDonald while little Presley has her chemo treatments, finally arrived safely as the first delivery was misplaced by the RM receptionist by mistake and ruined. Batch Foods kindly replaced  the order and redelivered. 

Kona is doing better at her classes but still has the odd accident at home, does not like riding in the car and gets upset when I have to leave her in the crate when I go out. She seems to be enjoying her new hair and looks very mature and cute. She loves to sit on my lap now and really is sweet and a good girl in many ways.

The children are all back at school and getting settled back into their routines and activities. I am grateful for all of them and feel so blessed in many ways. I love our Sunday family zooms, FaceTime calls and regular phone calls. How could I ask or want for more?

September 7, 2022

 I took Kona to the groomer for the first time today. There was a mistake made and I went looking for it in Maple Ridge when it was just close to Cindy’s home. As Kona and I drove around and around trying to locate the groomer, Kona got car sick and I had to stop and clean that up. However, I finally realized the address must be in Langley and we ultimately arrived at  the correct destination 20 minutes late but she kindly took her anyway and Kona now looks a third the size but very cute. The groomer, Gabriela, told me she was good and she seemed to be fine when I arrived so I hope things went well. She was very happy to see me though. I was able to run an errand and plant some fall plants while she was getting beautiful. I have my hair cut today too but it will not cost as much as Kona’s.

Liza took the bus back to Kelowna on Thursday and she and Brendon headed out with a trailer full of furniture for Bryson who is now in Edmonton and preparing to attend UofA. They spent the weekend getting him set up and seeing that things were in order for him and his three roommates as Liza and Brendon are leasing the apartment and renting out to the others. Liza then flew back here on Sunday and drove home with the children on Monday. Breya had taken the bus here on Saturday after her work commitments were complete. The Hardy family took the two youngest for a hike and to IKEA on Friday night and the two oldest to see “Jaws” on Saturday evening while Ross and Sarah came to visit Miss Sayde and myself. They visited with Kona too. We had the Hardy’s for Sunday dinner with us.  It was a long, eventful and tiring week for Liza especially when you consider that it began with her running the Penticton IronMan race. 

Puppy classes are really not going any better. Keaton and Sayde accompanied me this last Thursday. You need more than one person with each puppy as you have to carry the crate and deal with the puppy. Plus more sets of eyes and ears can be beneficial. I just feel the instructor feels that Kona is a nervous little shy puppy that has high anxiety but I don’t think she is as bad as she thinks. She really is very sweet.

Mary Harvey quickly notified me when President Alan Herrington passed away on August 30th. He has not fully recovered since his heart surgery before Christmas and had been in the hospital for months. He had finally gotten released and then developed pneumonia. I am not certain if it was covid related or not. His body was just weak after months of illness. My heart is aching for Janice and her family. Janice wrote me that time would mend her wounded heart but I am not certain that I agree with her as you manage but you do not heal from this wrenching loss.

I am anxious to get the film on my kitchen and bedroom windows so I do not have to keep putting towels and sheets on the turf each day to prevent it from burning further when the sun is shining. I put it on and take it off the turf so the dog is able to use the grass too during the rest of the day. Ryan, my landscaper, will come and repair the grass when the windows are done.

I ordered Camille and her family five “Batch” meals to be delivered to Ronald MacDonald house where she and her family are staying while little Presley is receiving her chemo treatments at Children’s hospital. Joanne and I went together on the meals. These treatments will take several months.

Cindy met me at the bank yesterday as we closed our safety deposit box and reopened it under my name with Cindy as a signer too if needs be. I took some paperwork to a lawyer today to probate one of our numbered companies that was in Tom’s name. So much to be taken care of and I still have more to do. I do miss Tom’s great contributions to our life together in things that he took care of but mainly I just miss him. He was and is my everything.