May 28, 2024

 I have taught Jadyn three Temple Prep lessons in two FaceTimes and she is doing really well. She is planning on moving to the St. George area the end of the summer to live with a roommate and she will be completing her university about Christmas the. I am proud of her. Breya had her high school graduation and she looked beautiful. She has a scholarship to UofA in the fall. Sam’s graduation will be next month and he will be attending Quantlan University in the fall. Jack came as my plus one to dinner at Chris an Minna’s. (They wanted ideas for decorating a room for Chris to give Patriarchal Blessings in with his new calling.) Jack will leave for Calgary in July to work as an FSY counsellor for the summer and then on to Lethbridge for his first year university at Uof L. Justin and JayLynn are moving bravely on, Zach is in hockey playoffs and working on his MBA, Trey is working on football and going into grade 11. Max and Ross are enjoying being new fathers. Wyatt and Colton are enjoying skiing, hockey and baseball. Keaton is growing and doing his sports and Sayde is loving her writing and being in musical productions. Bryson is doing well on his mission in the Netherlands and is in his second transfer. What beautiful outstanding grandchildren and then I have three precious little greats - Treyson, Aksel and Hansen. How blessed am I. I love the granddaughter in laws JayLynn, Monica, Jacqui and Sarah too.

I met with all the women in the family via zoom to discuss the possibility of helping instigate a Worldwide  Women’s prayer day for our - families, lands, leaders and liberties. There may be groups doing similar things already and I want to know so we can join or help. Mom used to tell me about days of prayer that the countries would have during the war. I just feel like we need to help the world in some way and maybe uniting in prayer might be all we can do. I am a great believer in the power of prayer and I feel that united prayer can be extra powerful. I was nervous to present the idea because I realized  that they all might think I was crazy and who am I to suggest such a thing but I felt if I left the idea and the feeling I had, that I would regret it and feel guilty, The girls did have concerns and questions but we will continue to look into this further. 

Mary asked me to help with her RSociety lesson on Sunday regarding Temples and covenants. I love talking about those things and prayed that what I said would be appropriate. Camille and her family stayed with me Friday evening as they were down for Presley to get more treatment for her cancer. Daylon actually attended the Temple to do work for a deceased friend on Saturday too. Liza, Breya and Sayde were at UBC this past weekend for a wheelchair tennis event and they stopped by for awhile on Sunday while enroute home. 

I went to a session at the Temple this morning and I just going to go back to help Dolly McMullin with her first living endowment patron.

Rain has been falling which is good for forest fires but not for getting my new turf laid in my backyard.

Camille’s children.

May 16, 2024

 I have learned in the past two years that the most overwhelming PAIN can live in the same house with the most overwhelming PEACE. The Lord in His marvellous mercy blesses us, sustains us and offers us both compassion and grace as we pass through the greatest sorrows of our life. I believe understanding the Eternal nature of our Father’s Plan opens the door for that PEACE to rush in. I have been surprised and extremely grateful for this unanticipated gift and expression of His LOVE and I marvel at my feelings almost daily and what I am able to accomplish and what I have been able to accomplish. I do not feel alone. I feel the Lord’s spirit and I feel angels very near - especially Tom. Our relationship has expanded in new ways and his support and influence are always with me. I miss Tom with every cell of my being but I also feel the security of his love constantly and strive to live worthy to be with him forever. Oh, how great the Lord’s Plan, His Love and His miracles which surround us.

I felt I needed to express and record those feelings and insights along with my day to day activities.

Brendon had what seemed to a heart attack on May 3rd while driving. He pulled over feeling dizzy and experiencing rapid heart beat which did not subside. Liza went to pick him up and drove him to the hospital emergency. They kept him overnight and have done numerous tests on him but have been unable to determine exactly what happened. As of now, he is carrying on as normal. JayLynn was diagnosed with blood clots and put on blood thinners so we have been praying for both of them.

I have been working on my yard getting new flowers and plants in place. I painted the back patio and walkway with sealer to help maintain the color of the bricks and the patio itself. I had to put two coats on. I got my covid spring vaccination. Myrna brought me a flower for Mother’s Day. Cindy took me out for dinner last Saturday and had me for breakfast Sunday morning for Mother’s Day and my children have ordered me fresh flowers from a local grower for five months. How special! Ryan, my landscaper, will be replacing my burnt turf next week but I will have to pay cost of the turf. It has been a difficult experience. 

I completed teaching my YSA students the Temple Prep classes on May 5 and they are ready to receive their endowments. Two have already booked at the Temple. I had also been thinking about Jadyn going to the Temple so messaged Tammie to see what she thought. Tammie asked if I had talked to Trevor as Jadyn had been discussing the possibility of doing so with them as well and had told them she felt Grampa had been encouraging her. I was so thrilled and realized that Tom and I were still involved in our family’s lives together. We will begin, with her Bishop’s permission, Jadyn’s Temple Prep lessons today via FaceTime.

Clark, my neighbor Marie’s dog, had to be put down after experiencing cancer. That is sad for Marie but Clark was very attached to Marie’s husband Gene, who died of cancer a year before Tom, so the puppy and her (yes Clark is a girl) master are together again. Marie is feeling comfort in that and she still has her dog Finn.

May, 3, 2024

 I will begin by mentioning our family health concerns. We have been hoping that JayLynn would have some positive days health wise but she developed pneumonia which has delayed her sinus surgery.  She has since had a brain scan which showed blood clots and they now have her on medication for that and it looks like the sinus surgery is further detailed. Brendon had some dizziness today with rapid heartbeat. He pulled over while driving and kept in touch with Liza and finally asked her to come. She got him to the emergency and he has been there since. The doctor was not concerned at first but test results are showing possible muscle damage. I am praying for both of them.

I have had a busy couple of weeks. Hansen was born on the 16th and on Wednesday the 17th we held our LOW annual training. Ted Steibel conducted and I did the training. I took carrot cake and cookies and he brought vegetables. Ladene Rempel hosted all the former, current and new Temple Matrons for a luncheon on the 18th and I took a salad for that. It was a fun experience.  I attended the funeral for Abigail Faye Carlton on the 19th. It was sad but lovely and very well attended. Breya was dropped off at my house by her bus carrying her soccer team on their way home from the Island that evening. Brendon and the two other children arrived the next day and they all did baptisms. They drove home that evening. My YSA Temple prep students are all at different spots in their course progression so I had Autumn and Cayden over to my house on Tuesday and we did a marathon lesson to get them completed and I am going to do the same with the boys this Sunday.  I went to Ann Anderson’s funeral this past week. I have been attending one funeral a week for the last three weeks. Jennifer and her family came to stay this pastweekend while they attended the Temple and Norah competed in a dance competition. Spenser and their two dogs stayed with friends the first night and I told them to bring them here the next night. Kona wasn’t too sure about having two other dogs for a sleepover. I got the flowers out to the Stake Center the Thursday before conference and they looked nice. The conference was lovely and Paul gave an excellent talk. We got to go visit our new little baby after conference. He is pretty special. Russel and the kids went home Sunday and Jennifer stayed with me Sunday night so she could spend time with a friend on Monday. I have done my Temple shifts and visits and I also subbed at the Temple Wednesday evening this week. I got the car washed, the dog groomed, the garage cleaned (all by myself), the driveway power washed, the back deck and patio washed and deck furniture set up. We had a couple of sunny days this week which helped me expedite these outdoor activities. I am trying to get the things done that Tom would be doing. I am sure they are not being done as well as he would have done them.

The dog looks beautiful, the car and garage are clean and all those things help me feel good but I am worried about Brendon and JayLynn and will be praying for them. Life gives you every emotion, often simultaneously. Peace and pain at the same. That is what my life looks like and that is my reality but I believe it is the reality for most of us. The most important thing is to recognize that peace has been extended to you by a loving Father and Savior and then the pain becomes able to bare.

April 16, 2024

 Another great day! 9lb 7oz Hansen Thomas Alder Hardy was born. He is a handsome looking fellow arriving about a week late and having to be delivered by c-section. We are so glad he has arrived safely. We now have three special little great grandsons. How blessed are we! I know Tom is rejoicing too. Our immediate family numbers 33 which is remarkable as we started with just the two of us. I need to update my family history.

It has been a sad week of loss as well. Melissa and Tom Carlton’s little 9 year old girl died suddenly in her sleep after waking up with a tummy upset through the night. Melissa is Melanie and Chris Leonard’s daughter. They are grieving but standing strong in their faith and have already been to the Temple a couple of times. Her funeral is this Friday. I attended Jeff  Guenther, Debbie Wood’s husband’s funeral last week and Ann Anderson, Beth Kearl’s mother, passed away too.

Bela had asked me to help with some artificial flower arrangements for Stake Conference and I had agreed. She bought some supplies for two small ones and asked if I would put them, as well as get supplies for a large one too and put it together. I have those ready for Stake Conference which is the end of this month.

I have been baking for and preparing for our annual LOW training which will be held tomorrow evening at the Temple. We are having a luncheon this Thursday for the serving and past Temple matrons. Ladene is hosting it. I am making a salad. I am back teaching my Temple Prep class for the YSA so life is back into full swing following our Spring Break Trip to Utah, Easter and General Conference.

JayLynn was back in hospital being diagnosed with pneumonia. I keep praying for them. This couple needs a break. I feel that perhaps the pneumonia came as a result of drainage from her sinus infection.  She is home now and Jack was able to have breakfast at a diner with Justin and Treyson while Jack was in St. George for his Utah/Conference trip. Jack is home now too.

Life is full of joys and sorrows as I guess it was meant to be. Aaron Christensen talked in church about what it means to share your testimony and how to bear testimony and then asked Len Jahn and I to share our testimonies before turning the time over to others in the meeting. Pressure yes, but I do joy in my Savior, I love Him and lean on Him thru my sorrows. He has taught me that PAIN and PEACE can live together in the same house. He lives and He gives me hope.

April 4, 2024

 This has been a very busy last few weeks and my lack of posting is proof.

I am home now but I have been coming and going. I drove up Kelowna on March 13 with Liza after I picked her up at the airport upon her return from her course in the St. Louis area. I was able to attend Sayde’s wonderful play “Matilda” Thursday evening. Sayde played two parts in the play and she has not been able to stop talking about it since. She had such fun. Brendon kindly got me in for a dental appointment on Friday and the three children, Liza and I drove back down to Vancouver in the evening as Breya had another soccer tournament in Vancouver this weekend. They celebrated my birthday with me on Saturday and I appreciated having them here. Back to Kelowna they went on Sunday. Crazy!

I worked on my business affairs, my callings and preparing for our trip to Utah during the next week and on Thursday the Burgess family drove down yet again and spent the night. We were up early Friday morning to get down to Bellingham in order to catch our flight to Las Vegas. Kona was now off on another adventure. We picked up a rental car and drove to St. George and right to Justin and JayLynn’s. We had dinner with them and Liza and Brendon left to get set up in their accommodations. I spent the week with the Walker family.

We soon learned that JayLynn was not doing well. She had recently had a spell where she could not remember what was happening and who people were - everyone that is but except for Justin and Treyson. She remembered them. She was having trouble with her sinuses and ears when we arrived. Liza’s family travelled to Hurricane, Kolob, and Zion to hike and see the sights. I stayed with JayLynn and the baby some of the time to help out but went with the Burgess family to see local sights as well and one day we took Treyson with us. JayLynn was feeling well enough on Sunday to attend the Temple Dedication of the new Temple in St. George. I stayed with Treyson. On Wednesday JayLynn was not doing well and I suggested she needed to see a doctor or go to the hospital. Her sister, whose wedding was happening in a couple of days, drove her first to the GP and later to the ENT. The specialist drained her ears and Justin gave her a blessing that evening. She slept better that night and was much better on Thursday. She was able to care for the baby and I went with Bob and Pat James. I had such a nice time with them. They took me to see their new home, to the Golf Course for lunch and drove me around to see sights. They are such good friends. I appreciate them so much. JayLynn was doing well on Friday when the family wedding took place. I took the Burgess family for brunch, I as it was Liza’s birthday and we went to DB store before the Burgess family left to do ATV driving. They have great adventures. What a family! We left early Saturday morning to retrace our steps back to our homes. Kona had adventures with Justin’s dog Hope.

After arriving home on Saturday, we picked up groceries for dinner and for Easter the next day. I was exhausted but the older two children decided to go to a Drive In movie double feature with Jack and Sam. The Hardy family had arrived back from Australia the day before. We attended a lovely Easter sacrament in the morning and had Easter dinner before the Burgess family headed for home.

I have cleaned the house, attended my Tuesday Temple session and worked on the Bank Transition from HSBC to RBC which took place April 1 with RBC buying out my bank HSBC. I am tired but I am slowing getting things done. I miss Tom every moment and I feel the weight of all these things when he is not with me. I marvel that I am lifted to accomplish the things I do get done. I am blessed and Tom is near and supporting.

March 14, 2024

  Brendon left for home on Friday evening. I had subbed the Friday morning Temple shift for Leslie Clarke and later picked Brendon up at the West Coast Express station in Maple Ridge. I brought him home, packed him a quick lunch and he was off. I worked my own Temple shift on Saturday and then Liza drove down and arrived Saturday evening using the same car Brendon just used to drive home with. She was heading out for a PT course near St. Louis in Jefferson city. We both forgot the time change Sunday morning but luckily our cell phones woke us up at the new 5:30. I got her to the airport, went to our sacrament meeting then  down to the YSA building to teach the young adults the first Temple Prep lesson. I had six students and Renee Mitchell came in with them. I am looking forward to teaching them. I love that age group and love the subject matter. I went to an emergency prep meeting for our May event and finally returned home for our family zoom. Busy week and weekend.

I got my hair cut on Monday and Kona had her groom on Wednesday. According to Gabriella Kona’s hair was matted and she had to shave most of it off plus charge me an extra $30 for doing so. I feel terrible. I need to brush more often a with a stiffer brush. Kona hates being brushed and hates using a stiff  brush. I need to be firmer I guess. I had no idea that it was that bad. 

I picked Liza up from the airport after Kona’s grooming dilemma. I had packed up and we left for Kelowna after we got things in Liza’s car and got my house locked up. It was still light when we started out and we got along fine with little sheered Kona snuggled in my lap.

Liza is back working today, Brendon at his office, Keaton and Sayde at school and Breya in Vancouver with a soccer team. Sayde has her play “Matilda” this evening and that is the purpose of my visit. 

Trevor, Tammie, Jaydn and Treyvn are in Hawaii for Spring Break and Cindy, Paul, Jack and Sam leave for their Spring Break trip to Australia to meet little Aksel tomorrow. All are on the move and busy. The Bull family had their Spring Break trip to Cancun a couple of weeks ago. I leave with Liza’s family next weekend for their Spring Break trip to Southern Utah. I will stay with Justin and JayLynn. Pretty lucky children and grandchildren. They have inherited Tom’s love for travel.❤️❤️

March 8, 2024

 I subbed in the Temple today for Leslie Clarke but wasn’t there too long as my last assignment was to attend a session and they allowed me to leave instead.  I have been concerned about Kona this week as I am away from her for longer hours for a few days in a row but it worked out fine today and she is not neglected. 

Brendon stayed with me Wednesday evening before going downtown to the Vancouver Dental Conference. He is back today and I will be picking him up in Maple Ridge as he is taking the West Coast Express that far. He left his car here and I am uncertain if he is planning on driving home tonight or not.

We all got to experience little baby Aksel on the family zoom on Sunday. He is very cute but I think his parents are a little tired as they learn the ins and outs of parenthood. He is doing fine. Cindy, Paul, Jack and Sam leave next week to fly to Australia to meet him during their Spring Break Vacation. They are excited. 

The Temple Closure was over March 4 and I was back at the Temple for a session Tuesday morning. Ruth Boehmer took me to a Vietnamese Restaurant for lunch on Tuesday and that was fun. Cindy and Paul to me and Wendy McKinley to the movie “Cabrini” last night. It was a true story about an American/Italian nun who accomplished much in America during the time of great immigration, as she established orphanages and hospitals to provide for the needs of many. She took her work throughout the world and the Catholic Church made her a Saint. I had never heard of her before. I took dinner to the Hong family last night as they have a new baby.

I have my own Temple shift tomorrow and church, teaching YSA Temple prep and an Emergency Prep preparation meeting on Sunday. Life is busy and that is good. Hopefully my busy is of value.

Renee Gallant sent me a picture of her progress on Tom’s shirt quilt.