The Adventures of Grammy and Grandad: Wild, Wild, West and Medical Setbacks (September)

This month started with Jessa’s birthday, Sept. 1. She is a wonderful addition to our family because Parker Bayles fell in love. We love this addition.

Of course we were in the garden and doing our chores. We continue to do the same temple covenants each Tuesday and Thursday. We are so blessed to have so many temples close.

On the 4th Clark and the twins had birthdays. The girls are so sweet and have so much fun. The girls continue to love school and be with friends. They are amazing.

Clark is getting older, but you would never know. He loves his family and all the relatives and friends end up at his home.

The Bee Master

The Jennings family came for a BYU football game. It’s always fun when they come. Tiffy’s in-laws came for the game, which included a tailgate party with amazing food. Her nephew Carl is an amazing cook and loves to feed people. His relatives also come and paint their faces for the game. BYU won again.

On the 5th Jalen ran his first cross country race for the school. He’s quite the runner.

Dad went to see Dr. Healey, but he couldn’t find anything wrong. As we were leaving, he opened the door and said, “Wait!” He lifted Dad’s shirt and said you have shingles. It’s so painful.

We went to SLC the next day to attend Marilyn Valenzuela’s funeral. It was amazing. She loved to crochet blankets and the chapel was filled with people for whom she had made these beautiful quilts. The chapel was filled with them. It was a 2-hour funeral, but it was filled with laughter from the many stories the grandchildren told. When someone talked about music, everyone started singing the songs. What a beautiful way to say goodbye to such a great lady. The funeral was filled with stories and laughter.

The next day Riley and his wife, Bailey, invited us to a luncheon at Brick Oven. There was a fun group and the food was so yummy. We hadn’t been there for years and it brought back so many memories. They serve the very best homemade root beer. The feast was because Bailey graduated from nursing school. She is now on the payroll. YEA!

Sunday the 8th was a very special day because we were invited to go to a Sunday meeting to introduce a new YSA Stake with all young people. Erik was introduced as the bishop of one of the new wards. Every ward is new. It was a very special meeting and we were able to go to his setting apart afterwards. We were so humbled. He will be loved by his ward. The youth love him and he in turn loves them.

Thursday the 12th we went to Adriana Ojuka’s reception. WOW! It was in the Highlands and every house was huge and amazing. When we got there (the husband's home) everyone was so friendly. Everyone in the family was so friendly and huggy and introduced us to their children. It was a happy night. We just felt right at home. They are a beautiful family.

Friday the 13th was a special day in that Tiffani had her last cancer surgery. It was very difficult, but at the same time wonderful.

Erik and his family (Shanelle and Asher) continue to mow our lawn every Saturday. Dad took a turn one week and he immediately knew why he loves that they do this for us.

When Dad got out of the temple Friday morning, he felt different. He knew something was wrong. He slipped on the lawn when he got home and came in knowing something was different. He called the doctor, but he does house calls on that day so he couldn’t see him. When he didn’t feel any better on Sunday, he went to an Insta Care and the doctor told him he had bell's palsy. She gave him some pills and his eye was very drippy and painful. They suggested he buy an eye patch to cover his left eye. It was very uncomfortable and hurts.

Monday the 16th he called the doctor and the doctor sent in an order for some pills for bell’s palsy. We then left for our trip to Colorado and Silverton. We picked up the Seamons and headed for

Durango. I was really nervous because Dad had to keep that patch over his eye, which meant he could only use his right eye. We stayed in the Super Wyndham. We had ordered a place on the Silverton Rail Road. We had ordered a car that had no windows or a top. We wanted to be able to see the beauty of the area. It was an old steam engine train and absolutely perfect except it rained the entire time. It did not phase us at all. The nicest young man was doing things for us the entire trip. We knew it would be cold so we had warm coats. He gave the passengers rain gear so we were not too cold. We loved the sound the train made when the whistle blew as we stopped to add more water to the engine. We followed the river the entire way and were so excited. He offered us hot chocolate and hot cider and even warm cookies as part of our cost. He also gave us a bag to carry our coats etc. It was amazing. It took a little over three hours to get to Silverton.

Included in our package was a night at this old cowboy hotel. It was perfect. It was exactly like the one in the movies, The Great Imperial Hotel. The desk gave us each a $50 ticket to eat wherever we wanted. We thought we were in heaven. It rained the entire day and the town only had two streets that had running mud.

The next morning we just walked the dry streets and had a yummy breakfast while we waited for the train back. It was a beautiful blue sky and the day was perfect. The trip back to Durango was perfect.

We had a great time. Dad ran out of pills so they sent him some to Durango. We got to Wal Mart at 7:02 and they said they were closed and wouldn’t give him any. Crazy.

The next day we headed for Cortez and a fun antique store. We stayed at the Baymont Hotel, which was very nice and we were so tired. The Wal Mart there had been told about Dad’s pills. The gal there was so nice and got right on it. The company wouldn’t let her give them because we had tried so many times, they thought we were selling them. The gal would not let it go so she called and called and finally he got the pills. The antique store was a disappointment, but we had a good lunch there. We finally made the trip home with Dad being a great driver the entire time. We had a great time, but were very glad to get home.

Saturday Tiff and family came for the BYU/Kansas State game. It was very exciting because BYU won again. Dave’s cousin again fed everyone before the game. He’s an amazing cook. Dad and I stayed home and they used our tickets. No one wanted to leave the stadium because of the great game. The streets were so crowded and the food places were full even after midnight. Dave and Cameron didn’t want to leave so Tiff and the twins walked home. It was wild. They didn’t get home until after midnight.

After church everyone took a long nap and then the Jennings drove home.

Wednesday, Scott took us to the hospital for Dad’s hernia surgery. It was supposed to be a three-hour thing, but it was taking so much longer, we got very nervous. Finally, at 8:00 Scott was able to drive us home. The doctor said he would never do a surgery like that again because it was the hardest he had ever done. No lifting over 10 pounds. With the surgery and the bell's palsy, Dad had been through enough. Scott took me to Costco to buy easy food for dinners and then headed to his own home. I don’t know what I would have done without him. Dad is taking a lot of pills for the bell’s palsy because of the pain.

Home at last

One of the best things about all this is that Dad was too out of it to drive, so for the first time in 3 1/2 years, I drove to Walmart. I am now a liberated woman.

The 28th Uncle Mark had his 85th birthday. What a great example he is for our family.

Our missionaries are doing great!