A Wonderful Time Filled With Love

We started this month with our producer, Ashley Johns. We don’t know her age (29) but she has produced our 4 beautiful great grandchildren with the help of Tyler. She is on top of everything and does so much in the way of filling her home with children’s art work, singing, learning, love, and the Gospel of our Savior. 

Monday the 5th, we both visited our cardiologist, Dr. Luni, who passed us off with great reports.

Tuesday the 6th was the first time I had done a session in the Orem Temple. It is beautiful, but it will take me some time to get used to where everything is. I’m so glad Dad is there to help me. We did sealings after the session, which we love to do. The decor starts with the cherry vine and the top floor is the blossoms and the fruit. It all tells such a beautiful story of life. It was so good to see our friends from the Provo Temple serving in the Orem Temple.

Thursday February 8th we did two sessions in the Payson Temple with our friends, the Seamons. When we got home, Dad ordered four tickets for the July Rodeo. Erik’s and Clark’s families will be with us and we will have so much yelling and fun. 

The next day, Dad was serving in the morning session of the temple when I went downstairs to get a Valentine book. My feet were so soggy. Not good. I thought it was the rain barrel by the side of the house. I tried very hard to relieve the barrel, not realizing that the water was not getting lower so that couldn't be the problem. After two hours, I got tired and went into the house and brought out a butcher knife and just cut it up. Thirty minutes later, Dad got home and looked it over and realized that it was not the spot. He went downstairs and decided it was the cement around the laundry room stairs to the outside. He immediately got changed and went to Lowes and bought some sand and cement to fix it. He also moved the water from the basement and turned on fans to dry the carpet. He had called Scott earlier to look things over, and when he got there, he said it was not the right place, but was under the kitchen sink. He pulled out the garbage can and noticed that a pipe was loose. Problem solved!

That same day, February 9th, Dave Jennings celebrated his birthday. He takes great care of his family, especially Tiffani. He is a man of God. We love that we do things together.

Saturday the 10th, William Clark Johns was baptized. His father baptized him and afterwards he was confirmed with many male members present. There was even a live stream for Kristin and Tiffani and families to watch because they are so far away. It was a beautiful time and he was so ready for this time in his life. Afterwards, we all went to the cultural hall for a delicious lunch with many relatives and friends present. It was fun with so many there. Clark and I wore our Chinese clothes in honor of Chinese New Year.  

With Mimi and Gronke

Some of the many family members

with Grammy and Grandad

Molly, Cameron and Grammy

Sunday was a great day because when Cameron came for dinner, he was so excited to tell us he had a meeting with his bishop and his papers are in for a mission. We are anxiously waiting for the call.

Feb 13th was President’s Day. We stayed home and worked around the house.

We decided to have our Valentine's dinner this day because the 14th would be crowded with people. We had a lovely dinner at Olive Garden and enjoyed every bite.

George’s sister Julie Ann had a birthday on the 17th. She is such a special girl and has had a hard time with her heart. We hope that since her surgery she will feel much better.

George's brother Lyman, sister Julie, and her husband Bill Johnson

Sunday our ward divided the Elders Quorum because it was just too large. We have such good people in our ward. We fasted for Tiffani and many people in our ward. 

The 19th was Asher’s 16th birthday. He wanted to go to Vegas to see his Aunt Tiffani, which was so thoughtful of him. He is a very special young man who loves his family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love him so much and he loves to tease us. He always tells me I lost my marbles. It’s true. 

The 20th, Friday, Clark and Dianne surprised us with a visit and some homemade cheese bread. She is

 such a good cook and shares so often with neighbors and family. She took my air plant home to take care of her while we go to Vegas and South Carolina.

The next day we got notice that our AARP insurance had been canceled. My mistake. Dad spent all day getting it sorted out. He hurried and paid all the last payments and I no longer take care of that bill. Thank goodness for a loving partner.

 At 5:00 a.m. Friday the 23rd, Dad was serving in the temple. At 10:30 he had a haircut, at 2:45 he had a doctor’s appointment, and at 3:15 Cameron came to drive us to the Provo Airport to fly to Vegas to see the Jennings. Needless to say, he was very tired. Tiffani looked great considering all she has been through. She has no hair, but is still beautiful. The Lord has blessed her, and us because of her. We are so grateful for His many blessings. Dave’s brother, Steve, and his wife Carolyn were also there. We all went out to dinner. They are great people. They left for their family beach house in the early morning.

Sunday Dave gave a powerful talk on the Infinite Atonement. The man before him took so long that the meeting had only five minutes left when Dave spoke. He took seven minutes and I was teary because of the power he spoke with - such truth and feeling. It was so personal. After the meeting, I hurried to the back of the chapel to congratulate a young man who had just been baptized. I greeted the young missionaries and asked where they were from. Elder Mills answered that he was from Malad, Idaho. I was so excited because that is where my mother was born and lived her life before marriage. I spent every 4th of July there and loved it. Then I remembered that a wonderful couple from there served in the Palmyra Temple a few years ago. It turns out they were his grandparents! They were wonderful people and we love them. I gave him a hug.

Dave and Dad went to Elder’s Quorum where Dave gave the lesson. Tiff and I went home. What a wonderful morning. That afternoon we all went to enjoy the Zion’s  Youth concert. They perform twice a year for two concerts on a Sunday. It is always packed, even the balconies. It is a different concert each year and filled with the Spirit of our Savior. I was so sorry that I hadn’t asked the young missionary to take a picture with us to send to his grandparents. The missionaries always come to one of the showings so before the doors opened, I looked all through the missionaries waiting to see if he was there. They said he would be, maybe to the next showing. He was, and I was able to get the picture of the three of us. I immediately sent it to his grandparents. They were so excited and thankful. 

Lauryn is the very back and Clara is first violin on the left. 
This is just a small section of the orchestra.

Both sessions of the concert were completely full. The topic was the life of our prophet, Joseph Smith, in music. The orchestra and choir were all young high school students, over 200 of them. Our Lauren was in the percussion section and Clara was in the violin section. Tiffani had made a little lunch for us between the sessions and everything was perfect. I have not missed a performance in three years. It completely strengthens my soul.  (Maybe more.)

February the 27th, Tiffani had her chemotherapy. Only three more to go. She will have had a total of 12 treatments and will have a full year of estrogen blockers. It is very hard and awful. She is a trooper and just keeps on going. She starts her reconstruction on May 16th.

Wednesday the 28th we were supposed to fly to Columbia, SC, but we got bumped. They only had one seat left and there were two of us .Fortunately, there was a flight to Charlotte, NC, that was delayed so we were able to try for that one. Unfortunately, it ended up being delayed several hours so we didn’t get in until very late. Kristin drove to Charlotte and picked us up. Thank goodness for such a thoughtful daughter whom we love.  David and Kristin gave up their bed and bathroom for us which was so nice.  I love all the things she had on the walls in their home and these pictures made me very sentimental because I had tatted them years ago. 

We found that one of Kristin’s little chicks had been killed by a hawk and she couldn’t find the other one. Our first morning in Columbia, Jalen went outside and I saw a little chick run for the coop.

We were all so thrilled and blessed to find this little scared chick. It had been missing for two days. That same morning we drove to Rock Hill, SC, so Baylie could participate in the All State choir. Only three girls were chosen from her school. Kristin got us a VRBO to rent and it was perfect. 

We dropped Baylie off where she practiced until 9:00 at night. We went and visited a nearby park where Kristin  had taken baptism pictures of Baylie when she was eight and then  we rested at our VRBO. 

I am including the first two days of March in this post because they are part of this trip and concert 

Baylie practiced with the choir from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday. In the meantime, we went to Charlotte, NC, to see the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Jalen’s choice). 

I was not excited, but I didn’t want to be alone. When we got there, everything was hands on. I was so surprised by all the hands-on activities. We were there most of the day. We got to get in cars and drive a simulator. I ended up on the grass and in the crowd. 

Dad was a pro!

The others did great. Kristin and Jalen got to change a tire and put gas in on a simulator. 

We walked on the road that showed the steep angles the drivers take on the turns. Amazing! 

The whole thing was so fun and educational. 

We spent hours and never got tired, but did get hungry. Kristin had packed sandwiches. She had all the meals for the trip prepared so we never had to eat out. (Although Kristin did buy some amazing donuts Saturday morning.) David drove up after work on Friday night to join us.  

Saturday we went to Historic Brattonsville, which is a large row of houses that were lived in during the Civil war. In 1819 it had 775 acres with Scott, Irish and African people. Dr. Bratton owned 152 slaves and 8,000 acres by the end of the Civil War (1861). The place was amazing and many of the buildings are still there with some improvements made according to the history. The history included a movie about the Battle of Huck’s Defeat that was fought there. It was well done and opened our eyes to that time in history. There were homes, slave quarters, and a country store. 

Original house - later a school for girls

Gardens

Barn

Union soldier demo

"New" house and general store

Slave cabin

We walked over a mile and our favorite sites were newborn piglets, lambs, and chickens. 

 Somewhere in here we spent time at a park with a beautiful fountain that changed in many different styles.

Baylie again practiced until 4:00, which was her concert performance time. The main concert hall at Winthrop University was under construction so the concert was held in a long hall that looked like the dining hall of Hogwarts. It was not a good venue for a concert because it was a long building and we could not see the musicians. (It was also very hot.) The music was wonderful and Baylie had a great experience.

We had already packed up, and headed back to Columbia right after the performance. We were all so tired. Fortunately their church isn’t until noon so we were able to sleep in on Sunday! We enjoyed testimony meeting in the Irmo Ward. Dad said their ward was just what the gospel should be, full of diverse people that testified of Christ.

Monday we just relaxed while everyone adjusted to being back on a normal schedule with seminary, school, and work. We did take a nice walk through the beautiful forest near their home.

We headed back home on Tuesday morning - very early! 4:30 a.m. wake up! Everything went smoothly and we were back in Utah by noon. Everything was fun and enjoyable.

I must add something very important here. I could never do a blog if it were not for Kristin. She does so much for me and I never remember what to do from blog to blog. She teaches me all over again each month. She also puts the hard back books in a beautiful way and has them printed. I hope some of you are printing from your computers. Dad and I love this family so very much and love these reminders that I read often. Thank you Kristin for making this possible.