GREEN IS IN

                                                                      MARCH MADNESS

 We were driving and I had to take this picture of the Provo Temple.  

looks like a cross on top

March 1^st was Fast Sunday and we had  wonderful meetings.  The best part of the day was when Hailey and her roomie came for a visit.  It was so much fun to have them.  We love her so much and again I forgot to take pictures.

Tuesday I did 9 initiatories and Dad did 10.  We love going to the temple.  It’s a great way to start the day. (Better than walking 2 miles)  

Wednesday we went with the Seamons to the Payson temple and did a session.  We love that temple because of its beauty and such simplicity.  I always think of Shanelle when we go there because she helped in sewing some of the curtains. Danece Mosley and her husband were in our session and we were the witness couple.  Of course after the session we went to Charlie’s for steak and cheese.  It’s become a tradition.  

That evening Scott invited us to meet them at JCW’s for dinner.  It’s been forever since we have been with them so it was a special treat.

 sharing

 good food

 only view of Nixon

 yummy hot dog

milk shake to the last drop

Thursday, after our 2 miles Dad very patiently taught me how to do genealogy.  I can’t believe how excited I got.  We found this sister, her parents and her siblings along with a sister-in-law.  We are going to do more together.  We can now complete their work.  They are on my mother’s side.  I’m so into this.  

                    We love our 2 missionaries:

 A man in the bishopric does the news for the Pentagon. ((Elder Bayles)

Elder Bayles, Japan(back left) in quarentine.

Friday we went to Black Bear for a 25% off dinner.  We ordered the steak and were so surprised with how huge the meal was.  It was very yummy with all the trimmings.  After dinner we went to Kolton's Lacross game.  They won by many; maybe 20-6.  It was fun to watch him.

#7

Dad and Camden after the game.  The team went right to the dressing room.

Sunday, the 8th, was a great ward conference.  President Gagan gave a great talk and even used Tevia's song "Do you love me?" in it.  The RS and priesthood was together and was also very good.  They showed a wonderful video on the birth of Christ that we had seen but was so filled with the Spirit.  That evening we changed our clocks ahead for daylight savings. UGH!

Monday Dad decided to smoke the last of our Alaska salmon. 

That evening we went to a play in Spanish Fork which was directed by one of Dad's ministering families.  It was good to support them.

We spent Tuesday in the temple doing a session and some sealings.  We love it when we can spend time doing things for our kindred dead.  When we got home. Dad tasted the salmon and said it was good.  He wants to try more things now.

March 11^th was Molly’s 17^th birthday. 

 She is so amazing.  She is truly a follower of Christ.  She loves her family and reading the Book of Mormon.  She is always fun to be around.  We miss going to her games now that basketball is over  She is a beautiful young woman and is kind to others.  We love her so much.

Thursday morning we left for the Star Valley Temple with the Seamons.  We went by way of Evanston, Wyoming.  Not a real fancy ride but dad did get a rock chip on his new truck window.  Ouch.  We got to our Kodiak Mountain Resort in time to get changed and do the 3:30 session at the temple.  It was even smaller than Palmyra.  The session and the Spirit were perfect. 

 before the session

after the session

We loved it.  We ate at Subway before the session and then changed at went to a restaurant after.  Each room at this resort was a different cabin with very beautiful décor.  It was one of the cheapest places I looked up and the most beautiful.  It even had a gas fireplace in each cabin

with a most comfy king bed.  The town is called Afton.  The high while we were there was 32, a little different than Provo.

 toward breakfast

 the lobby

Breakfast was included and after we ate, we did the 8:30 session.  We loved that temple and will probably go again.  The snow was very deep which made the mountains so beautiful.  We changed clothes and Max asked us if we could go through Logan on the way back.  That drive was so much more beautiful than Wyoming.   The mountains were so steep and there were snowmobile tracks everywhere.  It was just a wonderful drive.  We went through Montpelier, Idaho, which is where I was born, so that was a real treat.  It is by Bear Lake where we are going for this year’s immediate family reunion.  The lake was beautiful with frozen ice in places.  Of course the fresh raspberry ice cream places were closed. BUMMER!

We got to Logan in time to stop and have dinner at Chuck-a-Rama.  It took us 30 minutes longer to go that way but it was so much prettier.  Dad was very tired by the time we got home but it was a great trip. We left in beautiful weather and came home to this.

When we looked on our computers, we found that all church meetings would be cancelled due to the Corona virus.  We also learned that all temples were to be closed Monday .  What a blessing it was that we could be in one.  Again, this trip only took 1 tank of gas with some to spare.

Saturday, the 14^th, we stayed in because that is what the Prophet advised.  We did have to go to CostCo for my prescription and it was horrible.  The line was longer than the building and the store was so crowded.  The line for drugs was very short so we were very fast.  It was a zoo.

That evening we did go to Vernon and Vanita Law’s 70^th wedding anniversary and Vernon’s 90^th birthday party.  We were the only ones there outside of their family.  We love them so much and they are very weak so we just had to go.  They served cracker jacks, peanuts and root beer floats with some yummy cookies.  It was so good to see the family.  They all said to say hi to the family.  We did not hug or get close.

Sunday was so special because of Kristin.  No church meetings were held because of the virus so she contacted everyone and set up an online experience for our own meeting.  It was amazing and so filled with the Spirit.  Clara and Clark gave talks, others prayed and we all sang.  We are going to do again this next Sunday and just trade who is in charge of assigning things.  We were all there but Erik’s family and they were so missed but they had their own meeting.  We need to do this internet thing more often just for fun.  We can’t wait for next  Sunday.

Monday, March 16, Dad ran the tiller over the garden plot.

  It hurt his shoulder but we hope it will be okay.  We then pruned and weeded the raspberry patches.  They look beautiful; so much better than this time last year.  Dad and Max went to get fertilizer in Max’s old truck that has a lift on the back.  It’s almost a Mater.

They got 2 loads.  Dad helped shovel the droppings that again, he shouldn’t have.

The next day was St. Patrick’s Day and Clark, Molly, Lily and Jonny came to help.  Those kids spread the  2 loads of fertilizer over the entire garden. 

                                           Molly tilled the garden after that.  What a woman.

The kids also took wheelbarrow loads of fertilizer and spread it over the 2 raspberry patches and over the lilacs. Clark and Jonny pruned while Dad supervised.

Everything looks so good.  While I was helping I also baked a batch of bread which we ate with honey and jam hot out of the oven.  Dad and Clark ate the smoked salmon Dad had made.  Not so much the rest of us.  It was just a great day filled with the help of family.  Scott was working so he couldn’t come with his family.

We woke up Wednesday to a phone call from the Anayas asking if we were all right because of the 4.7 earth quake.  We didn’t even feel it.   Clark’s family felt it and Salt Lake really got it.  The worse place was around Magna.

 The trumpet was knocked off of Moroni on the Salt Lake Temple.  The airport was closed and the front-runner train service was stopped.  We took some things to Clark’s and while we were there Riley contacted them on the computer.  We were so glad we could see him and listen to him.

What a great thing technology can be.  He is great.  We have even heard him teach a lesson on face book.  At 2:00 Dad left to have his shoulder X-Ray.  Yes, he is in a brace for another 4 weeks.  The doctor thinks a stress fracture.  As it turned out they had him do a MRI thee next day and they can't find the fracture so it is very small.  The doctor still has him in tht brace for 4 weeks and then they'll see how it is.  He's left handed again.  Ugh!
Thursday, the 19th was really special because it was Baylie Anne's. (12) and Simon's, (2) birthdays.  Fun that they have a 2 in each date.

Baylie Anne is a direct gift from God.  Kristin and I were in Kohls buying baby stuff because Kristin had flown the birth other to SLC to deliver.  We just couldn't decide what sex to gather things for so we got some of each.  When we got to the counter and were checking out, Kristin's phone rang and she just started bawling.  The people in line were very confused.  When she got composure she just yelled "I am the mother of a baby girl!"  Everyone cheered, especially me.  I asked the cashier if we could return the boy things and get more girl things.  We headed to the baby department, so excited.  Baylie has been such a blessing to all of our family and we love her so much. 

She is now a young lady with many gifts and talents.  We are so blessed to have her in our eternity.
Simon Johns is a jewel.

He is such a happy little boy with huge smiles.  He loves everything and is loved by everyone.  He is self entertained and loves to march on the bleachers at Molly's games.  He makes everyone around him happy.
Friday Scott came because our chain saw from the repair shop still doesn't work.  He cut some huge limbs out of our cherry tree.  His kids came earlier and delivered some candy and coloring pages and Nixon even drew Spider Man and sent a note.  It so brightened our day.  They put them on the porch and hurried back to the car so they wouldn't touch us because of the virus.  Ugh!

The city put a huge dumpster in front of our neighbors with instructions that they were to fill it.  They did but there is still more to put in it.  The police continue to come by and search but we are through showing pictures.
Sunday was another great Sabbath with some of our family.  Erik still does his with just his family.

The Batchelor family was in charge and Granddad was the presiding authority.  David conducted, we sang a hymn, Baylie prayed, Molly gave a wonderful talk on Jacob 5-7, Lauryn played a musical number on the piano, and then Scott gave his thoughts on Jacob  which oped a new idea of those scriptures for me.  I am finally getting Jacob's message.  We were so blessed that that Riley was able to join us from his mission apartment.  It was so good to hear and see him and feel the Spirit when he bore a strong testimony.  Ava gave the closing prayer which ended the meeting with a strong family feeling of love.  I don't know if I got the meeting straight but we love this way of worship while we can't go to the chapel because of the virus.  When everyone left the call, Dad blessed and gave us the sacrament.  I really needed it and it was wonderful.
Tuesday the 24th was Cameron David Jennings' Birthday and he turned 17.

 Our grandchildren are certainly getting older and we are not ready for that.  It does beat the alternative.  This birthday has come way too soon.  He is a smart, and talented young man who plays the piano like a college student.  He has a very tender heart and loves his twins and parents.  We don't know who he loves the most, BYU or the family.  It's a toss-up.  He can name almost all the golf courses in the US and has played on many.  He has a very strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and tries to do what is right.
Beth and the kids came over for some brown sugar and it is always makes our day when family comes by.  It's hard for Rowan because she doesn't understand why we have to be so far apart and not hug.
That evening we went to Vernon and Vanita Law's 70th wedding anniversary party.  We were the only ones there outside of their family because of the virus. It was also Vernon's 90th birthday party.  They are such admirable people and we love them and the family.

Wednesday  we woke up to much snow. Vegas seemed like a nice idea but we are still on a huge quarantine.  Snow in late March is not a happy thing.  Erik called to let us know that Elder Parker Bayles is now home after 3 weeks of quarantine and now his whole family is on a 2 week quarantine.  This is all because of the Coronavirus.  It is hard for him to be home but safer and he will be reassigned when is is safe to leave Utah.  I baked bread and we took it over with a bag of candy.  We honked the horn to let him know we were there and put the stuff on the porch.  Asher got the stuff and Parker waved from the front window along with Kolton.

We are all glad that he is where his family can take care of him and keep him safe.
Thursday we woke up to snow again.  At least that will help our water supply this summer which we are very grateful for.  We decided to walk at the old Provo High track.  It was good to be outside and still alone. This was our favorite view.

School will not be opened until May, if then,  The colleges are not even open.  I spent today going through pictures of when I was little; Alaska through Dayton.  It was so much fun to remember things  I had forgotten.         

 Juneau in 1948

Juneau 1945

Mama made my coat and Karen's was real which an Eskimo made. 1947

                                  Scott and his family came by and waved to us from the truck.I put up some Easter decor because I just needed to do something fun.

This was made by Ava and Nixon before Rowan.

Erik's family for some fresh air; still under quarantine.

Dianne loves her job wearing this mask for safety.

Sunday the 29th was our favorite worship with family.  This is so special for us.  Clark was conducting.  I can't remember who did what so I will try to keep notes. Humn, Opening prayer, Baylie, then William's talk, 4 years old, so precious, a primary song about Noah,everyone, Clara played a beautiful number on her violin, Dad gave a great talk about prayer from our home study, Elder  Riley Bayles shared a thought, our closing hymn was Ere You left your room this Morning, and closing prayer by Bethany B.  It was so wonderful and up-lifting.

 Can't decide which picture is the best.

Will giving his talk which was precious

Tuesday, I measured the grass in parts of our front lawn and found it to be between 10 and 11 inches in places.  Dad can't mow because of his shoulder so I decided I could.  I was shocked when I found I was able to start the mower by myself.  Even got a little prideful.  I made it around the yard one time and the Piggot's across the street came pouring our of their home.  They are such wonderful neighbors and always there when we need them.  They are not even in our ward and he was the bishop of that ward at one time.  Their senior at Orem  High, London, took over the mower and made it look eezy peezy.  She's just a tiny thing but tough.  She mowed, her dad trimmed the edges and then mowed again to make it look cleaner.

                               
                              
 What a great help.  We usually have Erik's boys do the mowing but we knew the entire family was on quarantine because of Parker coming home from his mission in Japan.

When the lawn was finished we picked up the trimmings from Clark's prunings in the back yard and finished our HARD puzzle after dinner.

It was a hard month but at the same time it was a fulfilling testimony that the Lord does send revelations to our loving Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.  Because we follow his promptings and try to do good, we know that we are led in the right path.  We know he prepared us to handle this horrible virus and be able to do the things we need to at this time. We must not fear because we have the pure gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us in everything we do.  Me must follow Him. We are so grateful for our children, their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren for living righteous lives and striving to follow our Savior.  We are filled with love for this great blessing.  We love each and every one of them