Memorable May

It’s June 1st and I’m ready to write the May blog. I don’t know why, but things are just getting harder and take longer, but I still love doing this. May has been a beautiful month. The flowers are blooming and we are excited to get the garden planted. 

We were able to have Cameron in our home on Sundays for dinner and the evening.  We enjoyed how fun he was. We miss him.

I don't know exactly when this happened, but I'm putting it here. Cameron gave an incredible talk before taking the big step as a missionary. It seemed it was his homecoming talk it was done so perfectly. He used the scriptures like a pro. We were so proud as was the entire congregation. Lauryn gave the opening prayer, Clara also spoke, and the girls sang a special number with all of the young women. It was a tear-jerker and so absolutely perfect.

Notice his badge.

The Jennings

Thursday, May 2, Dad got out the garden tools and started plotting where to put everything. The peas are planted and doing fine - if we can keep the quail out. That evening we went to PG to watch Asher and Jonny play Lacrosse. We love watching with the families, even when we’re so cold. We must be crazy.

The next day we went to Utah Valley University to watch Vernon Law throw out the first pitch.  Truly a man of God. He is in his 90’s and going strong. He does his own yard work and loves people. He loves everyone and especially his family. He was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and even a Cy Young Award winner. He led Pittsburgh in their World Series win against the New York Yankees. He feels the best thing he ever did was marry his sweetheart Vanita in the temple. 

Saturday the 4th, Dad went to help clean the church and then we started our fast for Tiffani in that she was going to have some very difficult reconstruction surgery to put things back in place after her cancer. She is amazing with her positive attitude. 

Sunday the 5th was a beautiful Sabbath and we felt very positive about this 10-hour surgery. She will be just fine.     

Monday we left for Cedar City with the Seamons and headed to my brother Delbert’s Air B&B. He has made it into a very nice place. He would not let us pay for the nights. I love him so much. We had a fun time looking for antiques. His whole home is furnished with them. He is working on the back yard and loves having something to do.

 beautiful China cabinet

This is why we decided to get a new couch.

Huge bed with a patio on the left

The next morning, the 7th, we got up and headed for St. George to do a session in that temple. It is the temple we got married in. There was not a close temple in Ohio, so we went to the nearest one which was in Utah. I had always wanted to be married in that beautiful temple and so had George. He was captain of the Dixie College Rebels football team so it fit just right for both of us. Other friends and family had to drive, but they had a good time. We enjoyed the temple and then decided if we hurried we could also do another session in the Red Cliffs Temple. How wonderful to have three temples so close. Again we looked for antique stores, but not much.

 Red Cliffs Temple

Wednesday after spending time with Del, we got up and headed for the Cedar City Temple. The weather was brutal. It was very cold and windy. I was so emotional because my brother, Del, went with us. I love when family is with us. After the session we headed to the car with the wind  blowing so hard we thought we would fall over. 

Of course we stopped at Subway. What a wonderful few days.

The 11th Dad drove me to Molly’s wedding shower. It was at her aunt's home in Lehi. The backyard was filled with friends and family. It was a beautiful time. She is a special daughter of our Father in Heaven and has always strived to choose the right. I had made a quilt a long time ago from fabric my mother had. When Molly saw this quilt, she claimed it. I had saved it for her and she was excited. I also tatted a set of pillowcases for her. Kristin and Tiffani had sent me games to wrap for the shower. How fun. I also gave her a pearl necklace and earrings. She is a jewel.

The next day was Mother’s Day. George and I both had such giving mothers who taught us the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were so loving and giving. My mother made all my clothes from the beginning until I was in high school. They were beautiful. She read to us at night and taught us to be helpful and kind to others. She made sure we went to church and followed the prophet. She was a very quiet person and never raised her voice in anger. We knew what would happen if we disobeyed. She made our home a heaven on Earth. The love will never end. 

Being a mother was my happiest time and still is. Our children are wonderful and kind to me. They all greeted me on this special day. The grandchildren they have given us are incredible. There is nothing to replace grandchildren. They are the reason for life.

George: My mother was a unique lady. She had a love for reading and a hidden talent for creative writing. She loved the world and traveled through books because she was never able to travel in person. She always made me feel like I was special and could do anything I chose to do. She gave me a love for reading and a love for the gospel. She had a deep affection for the Lamanite people and the Jewish people. She always made me want to be better

We had a terrible wind storm which pulled the light next to the back door.  Dad tried to fix it but Brother Piggot in his youth climbed up and had it done. Thank goodness for good neighbors. He was at the house to borrow our tiller. 

 flowers from Tiff and Kristin

Clark and Dianne invited us for dinner and Erik and Shanelle gave me a beautiful pot of live flowers.

Scott and family gave me gloves so I won't bleed when pruning roses.

The next say Ashley brought her 4 to help plant our garden.  They were so fun and never gave up or got tired.  

Lily always plants the potatoes. We always have plenty of spuds. They love to do this. Ashley’s kids range in age from 1 to 8. They worked so hard and did such a good job. William helped them know where the petunias should go by white and purple in a row. They are beautiful. They also planted tomatoes and other vegetables. They worked so hard. Clark was working on his beehives and getting them settled for the summer. William decided to help him. Clark put him in a bee suit so he wouldn’t get stung. He spent the rest of the time helping his Gronky (Clark). I was amazed at how long he stayed with it. We all ate honeycomb when they were through. It was just a very fun day.

We have wanted to change our couches because I can’t always go down stairs. We searched at RC Willey and found the perfect one. We just hoped it would fit in our tiny TV room.( It did!) We also decided it was time to get a new stove. I just hate cleaning the stove, so we found a new one. 

Our sons came to move furniture around, including up the stairs and over the railing. I didn’t even take one picture of these muscular men.

Somewhere in here Asher and Jonny were voted in for Student Council. We are so proud of them.

Also Jayden Spencer proposed to our special granddaughter Molly Bayles. They will be married in the Orem Utah Temple on June  21st. Pictures will be in the next blog.

We decided to go to the Manti Temple on Thursday the 16th with the Seamons. I love that temple because it was the first one I had ever been in. I was able to do baptisms with my ward at BYU. I was overwhelmed with the beauty and sacredness of that moment. I knew I would always choose to be married in a temple. It is the Lord’s house and the only way to be together forever. Bethany's sister greeted us as we came in. We just hugged. It is such a beautiful temple and we were thrilled to be there. 

After the session, we stopped in Birdseye to visit with Ruth's mother. She is in her 90’s and has a hard time seeing. What a wonderful woman. She lives all by herself and is quite far from anyone. She loves it there. It’s where Ruth grew up. She can make hangers with yarn and loves to do this. She gave us an armful. It keeps her busy and doing something for others. We love the hangers.

Tuesday the 21st I had my last visit with Dr. Tristani. I'm through with everything and feel so blessed to have such a caring and careful doctor. She is amazing.

The furniture was delivered Wednesday the 22nd. That night, I got up to go to the bathroom and ended up with my cheek hitting the toilet. It scared me, but I am doing fine. We have ordered a life alert necklace and wrist band. I will be more careful in the future.

Thursday the 23rd Scott turned 43. Our baby is not a young pup any more. We are not getting old, but he is. Gosh, but we love him. He is a hard worker and a loving father and husband. He works very hard and loves his family (also the chickens). He does many things that we can’t do and is always ready to help. He loves his dad.

We love going to the temple with the Seamons and Dad has given a copy of the Book of Mormon to the two girls who wait on us at I HOP. We love them and one day they will read the book.

Camden, our Missionary in Poland turned 19 on the 24th. He loves his mission and the people he visits with. He also loves his companions. He is serving and loving everything. We are so proud of him. He is so filled with the spirit of missionary work.

Sunday, the 26th, Tyson and the girls came to show us some pictures they had put on a thumb drive. Tyson has put thousands of pictures and old letters on an external hard drive. They are such hard-working people. Every time they come, they have to show me again how to use my sewing machine. I am always so embarrassed, but they are so fun and kind. I showed the girls how to tat and they will probably come knowing more than I do. They are so sweet and we love them so much.

Monday was Memorial Day. We are so proud of the many people who served so hard and even gave their lives so we can live in this wonderful country. We are so blessed with everything we have because of the sacrifices they made for us.

Tuesday we went to the Saratoga Springs Temple because it was the closest one we could get in. It is wonderful to know that so many temples are so full. Blessings!

Wednesday we bought garments and books at the distribution center and Deseret Book.

The last day of the month Dad got up at 4:00 a.m. to serve in the Orem Temple. I am so blessed to have a husband who is willing to do this every Friday. We have had another wonderful month with many blessings. We strive to serve and live the gospel plan of our Father in Heaven. We love our children so much and are blessed to be their parents. Our love for each other continues to grow constantly.

We are proud of our missionaries - Camden in Poland and Cameron in Las Vegas

(The beginning of Cameron's mission call is listed at the beginning of this blog with pictures.)

Again, I thank Kristin for all the time she spends with me to do my blogs. I couldn't do them without her. She gives up time with her family to help me.