March 6, 2023

 I am worried that my devices are not updating as they should be and as result I am not getting all my messages. It worries me most with my Temple accounts and that I might not be receiving the updates on the Living Ordinances. Oh, the concerns we can have theses days when our devices are out of sorts. Trevor sent me a message that I did not receive and so did Kona’s groomer and my message site to Cindy went out. Communication used to be so straight forward.

I was so happy to have Trisha cut my hair last Monday. She had, had sickness, a flat tire, a meeting and various things come up to keep her from getting to me.. It had taken two weeks but she finally made it and gave me a good haircut and then I coloured it. I am a new person. Funny what a haircut can do for you.

We had a big snowfall the Monday night and I was told the roads were bad so I changed my Temple appointment to Wednesday morning. Carol, Camille, Daylan, Nova and Presley made it to my house in the evening as conditions had improved. Carol and I kept the girls and Camille and Daylan went to the Temple. I had made turkey burger soup for them and Carol had brought a Japanese rice dish for them. They are busy little girls and apparently I don’t have the right or even enough dress up clothes for Nova. Little Presley missed her mother. The whole family are still staying at Ronald McDonald house while Presley continues her cancer treatments. They will probably be there until June. What a challenge this has been for them. Daylan is not working right now and they all need to be together.

When I went to the Temple on Wednesday morning I cut my finger on the locker, I believe , and soon noted it on my Temple packet. I cleaned it up before the session and got a bandaid but the incident prompted me to wash most of my Temple clothes and my Temple robes. I do have quite a few. It takes a bit of time to get them washed, some hung, some dried and then all pressed but everything is in order now.

I committed myself to wash all the insides of my windows this week and I got that done too. 

We have been trying to get the next Stake Youth event in order. It is on March 11 and is a Temple and Family History Day. I don’t like to fly by the seat of my pants but it seems that is what we have been doing in pulling this event together. We have been in charge of the FH activities and have just this week brought Paul and Cindy’s niece Danielle on board as she did did a big FH event in Maple Ridge Ward. I ordered the food for the event and we have been trying to round up other people last minute and I feel badly. I am sure the Lord will help us as we limp along. We had a TriStake Fireside last night for Moroni’s Quest. I finished my talk to be given as a Stake representative in Chilliwack 1 on March 12. Ross is going to be my speaking companion.

My life is busy and I am trying to keep up and take care of this little puppy too. My heart still hurts everyday, sometimes every moment. It is hard to walk out of the Temple alone, sometimes hard to walk into and out of the church alone, although I have spent much of my married life doing just that but it seems to hurt now. I don’t want to be a burden or a bother but it sometimes feels as though I am. I am still  just finding my place in a world that has completely changed for me.

February 26, 2023

We had ten inches of snow last night and, after clearing a little patch of grass for Kona in the back, I tried the driveway but realized quickly that it was beyond my abilities. Angels soon arrived in the form of Jean first, followed by Lincoln Harvey and Roque Peralto is here resetting my outdoor lights after the power went out last night too. I have been so blessed by good people and am so grateful. I feel like I need to be someone else’s angel for a change. 

We had zoom church today and during the second hour the Bishop shared video clips of our serving missionaries and it was exciting to see and hear Jack. The missionaries all did really well and Cindy sent the family the extended version of Jack’s part. I have spent the day working on church callings and such. It has warmed up and the snow is melting, at least at this moment.

My week has unfolded in many ways. Trish has been trying to get here to cut my hair but one thing has happened after another - flat tire, forgetting, a group project etc. Charmaine messaged me that she and Cheyenne were coming home quickly during their school breaks and wondered if I could drive them to ICBC for her to renew her learners permit early Tuesday morning, so I made my Temple appointment for Wednesday rather than Tuesday and booked a meeting with the Rempels while I was there regarding the LOWs training cards. I did drive the girls Tuesday morning and they came over twice while they were here to visit and see the dog. Bela called me Tuesday morning as well and asked me to her place for lunch with Toese. She picked us up and we had a lovely time and enjoyed her new condo. I hosted the Stake YW training zoom meeting from Salt Lake for Marcy, Jessica, Junki, Cindy and Paul. Cathy has been very sick and was not able to make it. We had dinner after the meeting that we all contributed to as YW leaders. I made soup. I took Cathy’s place at Stake Council Wednesday evening and Bela drove with me as she needed to attend as well. I worked thru the week preparing my talk for the Stake YW Belonging Activity to be held on Saturday. The girls did baptisms in the morning, that I helped with, and then I gave the opening talk on The Centrality of Jesus Christ in the Doctirne of Belonging before the girls started into activities. I went home to walk the dog as I had, had her out early in the morning. I took her back to watch the girls doing their activities and the girls loved her. I just held her and did not put her down. A dog is one way to make connections with people and a good icebreaker. Mary Harvey took my Temple shift that day. And so my week went. Everyday bringing something exciting and changes.

We have a full schedule of youth activities in the next while but with ward changes in Abbotsford last week and everyone being released, we have two wards missing leaders and we are considering cancelling our leaders’ dinner and Temple activity next Friday. We really did get zealous with event planning.

The sun is shining at the moment and I am hoping the snow curtails itself and Trish can make it in the morning for my shaggy hair to finally get cut.

February 19, 2023

 I am kept busy with my church callings with Stake YWomen and coordinating the Female Live ordinances in the Temple. The Temple is busy these days with people coming to see the new presentation changes. Ladene Rempel says they have been in the slow lane as a presidency and are now in the HOV lane. It is challenging for them and President McKenzie asked if I had any suggestions. I told him to let me think about things. It is hard when they have to work out things we all worked out previously. You don’t want to interfere but you feel like asking if they would like some insight. Tom would be quiet and probably tell me to do so but it is hard to see them struggle. I helped with one is the Leavitt’s granddaughters yesterday and Ian Taschuk was on the same session going thru for the first time. Mom and Tom would both be thrilled with that and I am sure they were there. Ian was also sealed to his parents afterward. Now he and Rizza have to be sealed.

John and Chawna Volken came to visit me on Wednesday and I appreciated their love and kindness. John brought me his new biography and Chawna brought me a lovely plant. The book is interesting as John has had an interesting life. I am grateful for my family and their love and support and recognize how blessed we are to have acquired friends as we pass thru this life, friends that stay with us thru the years, Allison Volken has recently married Robby Jensen,

The three Abbotsford wards were combined into two wards today and they asked the Stake leaders to help out with classes as everyone was released. Cathy Comb was not feeling well and Aaron Christensen has covid so Marcy, myself and one YM leader took the youth on. Cindy and Sam came today too to be with Ross and Sarah and I made cookies for the YMYW and because it was Sam’s birthday.I made Sam stand and announced his birthday! Poor Sam with Gramma in with the youth.

I worked a couple of days this week on a presentation for our YW activity on Belonging to be held next Saturday. The girls will be doing baptisms at the Temple and activities at Temple View Chapel.I will get a substitute for me at the Temple that day to allow me to be available for the activity. I am trying to get to know the girls and trying to make sure I can be relevant to them and there generation.

I think the Lord is trying to keep me busy and perhaps Tom is pushing for it too. Whatever the case may be, I am busy!

February 12, 2023

 I have felt that something was not being completed all week and finally realized that I had not written Jack or done my blog, so the letter is now written and I am here with the blog.

It was a memorable week throughout the church as a new Temple presentation was introduced on February 6th. New schedules were being put into place by February 6th and some physical changes were needing to be made in the Temple by February 6th and I even questioned the office as to what the importance of February 6th was. I went to the first session on Tuesday morning, February 6th and I was thrilled to be there as almost the whole morning shift attended the session. The presentation is lovely and meant to help increase understanding and help members see that the Temple is all about the Savior and his atonement. I knew Tom was there and I knew he was excited about what was happening. 

It has been a busy week with my Temple callings and my Stake YW calling. We have our meetings in the evening, often on zoom, and I am tired by that time of day. I am trying hard to keep up. We had a TriStake Valentine Dance on Friday that our Stake hosted and that we had been planning for. It was held at our chapel. I picked up food for it and found that I had accidentally ordered 4 Costco platters of shrimp instead of meat and cheese platters. I felt so badly that I took 2 shrimp platters and then bought sliced meat and cheese to make the other platters. Aaron Christensen, who is over the Stake YM, said no one under 70 eats shrimp but we proved him wrong as the youth dove into the shrimp platter. We had lots of food leftover again. Poor Sam is attending dances now with his Grandmother there as a leader. He liked the dance but not the music. It seemed fine to me but what do I know.

I had been invited to dinner on Friday too at Joanna and Chen Hao’s. I bought flowers and arrived at their door to find that they were not expecting me. They had thought I was going to email if I was planning on coming and I had misunderstood. They invited me in and Chen Hao quickly completed the meal he was already cooking and served me some beautiful Chinese food. I felt badly but they sincerely seemed happy to have me and Chen Hao told me today at church that Joanna needs me. I think she needs a church mother. I hope I can help.

Virginia Towers and her husband Alan lost their emotionally handicapped son to a drug poisoning. So sad. I attended a reception for them at Laurel and Aaron’s which was lovely, after my Temple shift on February 4th. Virginia is ready to help me work on the improvements needed at the Fort Langley cemetery as their son is now buried there in their plot. There is much to be done and I need to put a group together and get organized to move forward on that project. I want to get our headstone in place. It is taking so long.

Cindy and I ended up at the animal emergency last Saturday/Sunday for hours with Kona as she had been trying to poop and just couldn’t get it out. She tried for an hour as we were preparing to go to bed and I knew I couldn’t leave her that way. We were at the emergency for hours because they were busy and when they finally dealt with Kona, they told us that her fur and accumulated poop were holding her movement in so they shaved her bottom and helped her get cleaned out. We were all done in, the dog included. She had a sore looking bottom and has been hesitant to poop this week. They told me that I need to keep her bottom trimmed. The groomer can help me with that. She has just completed a week of probiotics. Poor little pumpkin. What else can happen? 

We have a number big YMYW events coming up and I have assignments to fulfill. My Temple LOW calling is keeping me busy too. Ted Streibel and I had a meeting at the Temple this week to chart our course as we move forward with living ordinances. I am charting courses in every area of my life.

February 1, 2023

 I felt good about getting the Land Titles in order last week and this week I went to Henderson’s Funeral home and organized and paid for my funeral. I am not planning on leaving anytime soon but I just wanted things paid for and in order so that the children do not have so many concerns when I do pass. Tom and I had wanted to have a plot and things in order but all we were able to do was have Tom’s name pencilled on a plot in Fort Langley Cemetery. We were grateful that Trevor found that pencilled name on the cemetery’s yellowed and torn maps that are the only records available for that cemetery. Tyrus, who helped me yesterday at Henderson’s, is kindly offering to help with my efforts to improve of the running of and maintenance of the cemetery. It has the potential to be a very lovely little cemetery but changes need to be made and I am hoping that I can put together a group of  individuals that can help make that become a reality. It always pays to think big. Tom and I dreamed of and prayed for a Temple and it came, so surely the cemetery can be beautified.

Joanne and Dave finally got over to Lethbridge after an overnight delay in Calgary. She called on Monday and is exhausted, discouraged and not wanting to stay in Lethbridge. They are at Jamie’s home and will be getting into their own place, hopefully today. Winter is not the best time to move to Lethbridge as it doesn’t show it’s best side at this time of year. She loved Victoria and her home there and just felt, with Dave and Jennifer’s encouragement, that this would be the best step to take and put them closer to Jeff.  She needs a rest as she has worked so hard to make this happen. I am praying for them.

I am working on both my church callings in the Stake YW and the Temple coordinating of the LOs. I am working to get both callings under my belt and organized in my respective books. 

Justin starts his new profession as a PT this week in Richfield, Utah. JayLynn’s health has not been good thru the move. Zach was awarded a full scholarship from the hockey commissioner allowing him to receive his MBA from a University in Nebraska. He will have to do it online while he continues to play hockey. Jack just got transferred to a new area, with a new companion and Bryson is overcoming injuries from doing his wrestling at the UofA. I am proud of our grandchildren and children, as they work hard at their schooling, missions and professions. We are very blessed.

We received a little snow yesterday and I bathed the dog today so I am trying to get her as dry as possible before having to take her outside again. She is having an afternoon nap at the moment. 

Life goes on with church meetings, Temple sessions, callings and family. I am trying to go to the Empty Nester’s FHE too but it is not something I feel eager to do. Sometimes I just want to be home and nest. It is safe and comforting there and comfort feels good.

January 27, 2023

The month of January has gone quickly, as have the last months since Tom’s passing and I am grateful that time is not dragging by because that would make things even harder. I have been busy and that pushes me and time forward.

I hit a milestone this week! I had a list of business affairs that needed to be taken care of as a result of Tom’s death. Tesla slowed their part up considerably and it took me until this month to get the lease just in my name. We never had leased before - just bought cars for cash  - and I will never lease again. Tom thought it would make the servicing easier. Tesla was extremely confusing and difficult but it is done. However, the last thing on my list was getting our home transferred to my name alone. We had it in both our names. I was dreading filling out the paperwork and going to the office in New Westminster. Cindy printed the paperwork for me, I filled it out, Lincoln Harvey reviewed it (he worked at Land Titles for years), I made the appointment and drove to New Westminster this week. It took approximately 5 minutes and was done! I almost cried. Tesla took months to do something that should have also been done in minutes. The lawyer took a couple of days to change one of our companies from Tom’s name to mine. Even hard things can be done quickly. I need to pay for my own funeral services and get the headstone, which is ordered, in place and then those things will be taken care of too. There will always be business and other concerns but these, that have been most pressing, are and in the near future will be done! I can do it!

Heather called me on the 20th to tell me that our Uncle Rex had passed. He is the youngest of Grandma and Grandpa’s children and his passing closed the doors on an era. He has been in care and not well for awhile. His funeral was in Barnwell today. Joanne, his wife has not been well either and she and Tom’s Aunt Helen are our only remaining aunts - no uncles. We are left standing next in line.

Joanne and Dave are packed up and ready to fly out of Victoria today for their new home in Lethbridge. I hate to see them go and Joanne has been shedding a lot of tears. She loves her home and Victoria but felt they needed to be near children. It is a difficult time of year to be moving. I am hoping they land in their new nest safely and are happy with the decisions they have made.

I carry on with my callings in the Temple and YW and in both areas I am endeavouring to conquer my online communication challenges. Cindy drops in to assist in those efforts and in other ways. 

I am grateful for so many things and very blessed.

January 19, 2023

 I have had a week slip away without doing my blog so I am catching up now. I think I have been catching up - period - since my return from Australia and the end of Christmas season.

I have gotten back to the Temple and also taken over the duties Sandy Anvik had as coordinator for the “living ordinances” . Tom and I called Sandy to the position and oriented her, so now, with the tables turned, I have to determine if it is harder to orient to or to do the calling. I already know that doing the calling is harder. I spent part of yesterday in the Temple with David Bigler helping me get set up with rights to access TIS on the computer. The computer part of every calling is the hardest for me and I now have to commit to conquering those fears. 

We had the first fireside for our Stake YMYW with the Stake presidency speaking and us serving the youth banana splits for refreshments. Things seem to go well. I really need to get to know the youth but that will come I am sure. I missed our first ward conference visit as I had Justin and JayLynn here visiting but I have two more to attend this month and these conference visits should help me become acquainted with the ward leaders and the girls.

Tesla said my lease transfer had gone thru and that I needed to go to their downtown location to complete more paperwork. I made my way down there on Wednesday, January 11th only to find the facility to be nearly empty but I located one sweet young man who had no idea as to what the company wanted him to do for me but he was determined to help. He finally determined that they wanted to get the insurance changed and he got permission from his boss to go ahead with that detail. His insurance people took care of those things, he changed my license plates and they sent me on my way. It appears that it is now complete. I certainly hope so because it has given me anxiety as it has been a very confusing process.

I took the dog for a much needed grooming and am still working with her on potty training. I am trying to confine her to the kitchen and family room as she seems to be fine when she is in those rooms. Her favorite accident spots are the front door area and the loft.

Justin, JayLynn and Treyson flew up on the 12th to visit me and I really appreciated their kindness. I just assumed they would be coming into the Vancouver airport and set out late on that rainy day for Richmond.  Traffic was bad and I began to ponder the logistics of them coming into Vancouver rather than Bellingham. I called Cindy and she checked into things and found that Bellingham should indeed be my destination. I did not have my passport but I did have my Nexus and Cindy looked into that as well and determined I could use it to get in and out of the USA. She also messaged Justin. Now my only problem was getting turned around and I was unable to do that until I was almost to the ferries. Remarkably, I arrived at the Bellingham airport about 20 minutes after their flight landed and we got home safely. I was exhausted but luckily had made soup and scones before leaving home, so dinner was ready. We went to the cemetery the next day and to WhiteSpot so Treyson could get a “pirate pack” and then to Costco to get some things they wanted. The next day I had Temple duty and orientation to my new calling. Cindy and Paul watched the baby and dog so Justin and JayLynn could attend a Temple session. I found Camille and her husband Daylan just ready to leave the Temple and was able to connect them with Justin and JayLynn for a quick visit. That was a miracle, as Justin and Camille have always felt close as 2nd cousins and Justin was concerned about them and what they are experiencing with Presley’s cancer. We went to church on Sunday and then I kept the baby so Justin and JayLynn could go to a fireside given by Charlie Bird and another gay church member, with Cindy’s family. They were able to spend some time with Ross and Sarah at that event. I had dinner ready when they got home and Treyson was fine. Justin had spent time studying for his PT board exam while he was here too. They packed up Monday morning and I drove them down to the Bellingham airport for their return home. They are now packing up to move to Richfield, Utah for Justin to start his new job. Tammie and JayLynn’s parents are coming to help out. I so appreciated having them but I do worry about JayLynn’s health. She is very thin and cannot gain weight with her Crohn’s disease. 

I have since been cleaning up and working with puppy’s training, as well as looking at information connected to my new Temple calling. I am trying to develop skills I do not have and accomplish things I would have had Tom take care of. Oh, how I miss him! I love him so much and just work to be worthy to be with him always.