Wednesday, March 1, 2023

FEBRUARY AND LOTS OF LOVE

Well I guess you remember that on December 23, I fell going down stairs and got enchilada soup all over the family room, especially the ceiling. We waited to have it cleaned, so that if the furnace people made a mess, it wouldn’t matter. They were very clean. On February 1st, the carpet guy came and finished the job.  It looks better and we are so glad to have a furnace.

Thursday is our Payson Temple endowment. The Seamons were home from their trip for two weeks (paid by their grandson) in Hawaii.
Friday the 3rd, Dad finally got a prescription filled for me after working on it for two weeks. Crazy.  Sometimes I wonder if I need all these prescriptions.

This is what our February front door looks like.

Sunday was so special. We went to Centerville for testimony meeting in Ashley and Tyler’s ward. Tyler gave little Rosemary such a beautiful blessing. It was amazing at how many youth bore their testimonies. After church, we headed to the John’s home for lunch. There were so many relatives and friends, but Ashley handled everything so well.

Many pictures were taken with little “Rosie.” Grandparents were there from both sides. It was a special day to say the least.  Dianne had made her dress and it was perfect. What a beautiful, snowy day.
Luncheon
Great Grandparents
families
Rosemary Johns
dress by Mimi Dianne
tatted booties by Grammy
NEW ETERNAL FAMILY
We drove home in a beautiful snow storm.  We are so blessed to have this moisture from the Lord.

Kelby Turk called to let us know his dad was being flown to the Provo Hospital with a massive stroke and the doctors didn’t think he would last out the night. What hard news. Katie, his wife and Mikki's daughter, headed by car to Provo. He took his last breath at 1:00AM. It will be very hard on this family. Larry was a good man and was loved by many.

Monday, Dad bought a modular shed to hold the two mowers, the snow blower, and other large objects.  After all, his Man Cave is overflowing.

Tuesday, the 7th, we sealed four couples, four sons and two daughters. Nothing gives us such pleasure as doing work in the temple.

The next day, George got a great report from Dr. Larsen and he doesn’t have to see him for three months. The bones in his shoulder are growing. Yeah!!
Dave Jennings turned xx on the 9th. He is such a good husband for our Tiffani and they do so much together. He honors his priesthood and absolutely loves his children. We love how he takes care of Tiffani and honors her. We sure do love him. I couldn't find a recent picture of him, so I used this photo of their cruise to Scotland and Iceland. This is Iceland.

The 10th, I fell again. George was serving in the temple and I was doing laundry to be ready for our trip to Vegas to watch the twins in the Youth of Zion Performance. It is one of our favorite things to do. We fly on Allegiant and get there in less than an hour and cheaper than driving because of the prices and the five hours it takes to drive. We go to both performances and love every moment. I was so afraid we would have to miss because of my fall. I don’t know if I passed out or just missed the cement step going into the back door. I landed on many parts of my body, but didn’t do much harm. I rested the rest of the day and everything went well. The next day was a little hurty. We took a late flight so all was well.  Clark and Riley came while we were gone to haul our treadmill out and take it to their home. Hurray!
Dave’s parents always go to this concert and we enjoy our time with them. That evening, Dave took us to Lucille’s for dinner. It is one of our favorite places and the food is sooo good. Mainly ribs and steak.

The next day, the 19th, was Sunday and the Stake Conference in Vegas. Amazing! Every speaker was right on with uplifting messages and thoughts. Tiffany had prepared a Thanksgiving meal in advance with all the trimmings.

That afternoon and evening we went to both concerts. These youth are so talented and sing and play with all their hearts. Clara plays the violin and Lauryn plays in the  percussion section. They performed The Lamb of God and many tears were shed, it was so good. Tiff and Dave had box seats so we were blessed to see both girls. 
The Grands and the Girls
everyone
Lauryn on top and Clara in front of her

The next morning, Larry and Camille left for their home in Arizona and we flew home that evening.

Valentine's Day, Dad did a session at the temple and then we left for Blanding and the funeral. We were very tired, but wanted to get there. When we got to Moab, we noticed a little snow. A few miles down the road, it was a blizzard. 
It was getting dark and George could hardly see the road. He followed a semi truck the rest of the way to Monticello. Many trucks and cars were off on the side of the road. Some trucks were even jackknifed. Our only hope was to keep following the red tail lights of the trucks. When we got to Monticello, we pulled over mainly because our right front tire showed it was very low. George put air in it and asked a man how the road was to Blanding. He said it was the same. Kristin talked us into getting a motel and she canceled our room in Blanding. It was the right decision and we felt good about it. We got a room in the only motel available and got some rest. The next morning we headed onward. The roads had been cleared and we hurried on to Blanding. When we got there, I realized I had left my coat home. It was very snowy and cold. Mikki loaned me one of hers. We went to the North Chapel and waited for people to come. The viewing was for the family at 10:30 and the room was overflowing.  Brother Turk, Larry’s dad, gave the prayer. The casket was closed and then a beautiful, huge American Flag was draped over it. Then the room was opened for the many people who came to give their love and respect to the family. 

Larry had served three deployments in war zones overseas and was honored. He loved his country and worked in the National Parks until he retired. He was only 59 when he died. He was a wonderful “PaPa” to his many grandchildren and loved his family. The chapel was full of people. The service was completely done by his family. The sons talked and the grandchildren sang a song. Katie was the closing speaker and all was comforting.

We then went to the cemetery for the burial. The military and the police were in great numbers to honor him. They gave a 21-gun salute, which was so impressive. All was well. We left and then went back to the church for a well prepared luncheon given by the Ward Relief Society. It was a special time to see friends and relations and have a visit with people we hadn’t seen in years. Funerals like this one are so important to bring friends and families together.  
Michael, Jackie, others, and Mikki in the red coat
Stephen, Sherrie, and Justine
cousin, Annie, Amy, and Lyman
Alisha, Jean and Steven
Ann and Bill
Justine and Shawn

We changed clothes and headed back to Provo.  Thank goodness the roads had been cleared but the truck traffic was forever. We were so happy to get home and rest.

Thursday, February 16th, we headed to the Payson Temple to do a session with the Seamons. We were very tired but the session was great. We then went to I-Hop for breakfast. It’s a thing we always do after Payson. When we got back home we flopped on the couch and took a nap. I don’t know when Dad woke up, but I didn’t wake up until 6:00 PM. I just knew I would never get to sleep at night, but I don’t even remember getting in bed.

The next morning we were still tired, but Dad was at the temple by 5:00 AM.  After he got home, we called and sang Happy Birthday to George’s sister Julie Ann Johnson. She is such a loving and wonderful woman. She just knew we would not forget to sing to her. Whew!

Saturday, the18th, was a free day and we cleared out shelves in our kitchen and got rid of some things we hadn’t used in forever. We boxed up a set of bowls and dishes for Kristin and felt very good about the space we now have to fill again. I didn't even know I could buy Kool Aid like this any more.
Hall closet
One of the best things I found in all this was these little books filled with pictures of when the 
Grands were so little.   
Bethany and Rowan brought Leah, the dog, for us to tend for a few days while they watch Nixon in a soccer tournament in St. George.
Sunday we came home right after church because of Leah. She didn’t have a leash and she’s a runner.  All was well.
That afternoon, we took Asher his birthday present and sang to him. He is such a sweet boy and loves sports. He knows all the teams and has his favorites. He is now 15 and we are having a hard time with that. He has grown up way too fast. He loves his family and especially his brothers who are so good to him. He lives in a home with lots of love. He honors his priesthood and life. We took carrots and potatoes to Clark’s house from our garden.

When we got home, Cameron came just to be here. We love that he likes to come. It’s a Sunday thing.  Later that night, Brook Adair came just to be in a home. She's a friend from the Jennings' neighborhood in Vegas and we have done many things together. She’s a student at BYU. Dad made cookies and served ice cream. We are still very tired.

By the time I got up on Monday the 20th, Dad had cleaned the entire house, vacuumed, steamed, and even did the toilets. Words cannot even come close to say how much I love him.

Tuesday, the Seamons came to Provo because they couldn’t get into their temple. We did sealings and then went to Charley's Philly Cheese Steak. So yummy.  

Wednesday, the 22nd, was a blizzard with 12 inches of snow.  It was so beautiful and Dad was out with his snowblower. The roads were dangerous going anywhere, but we just hunkered down in our cozy, warm home. Snow makes everything so beautiful and we are so blessed to have this moisture in this very dry climate. We depend on snow for the coming summer to fill the lakes, rivers, and pastures for the livestock and homes. It snowed over a foot which meant Dad had to get out the snowblower and do some clearing. He did a beautiful job. Snow makes everything so beautiful. We are so blessed to have this moisture.
Friday was a day I had time to work on my life history. I am finally in my sophomore year at BYU.

Sunday our young Primary boys sang for the musical number and they were in full volume. They sang with all their hearts and we were blessed. The next day Judy Sandstrom brought us some yummy chili for dinner. She is an angel and does so much for other people.

The month of February is over and I am caught up. We ended it by going to the temple and doing a session and then sealings. No better way to end a month. We have had much snow and are so grateful to our Father for this gift. Many prayers were answered.
Jalen ended up in the hospital with a serious infection and we were so worried. Many prayers were again offered and a priesthood blessing. He is home now and doing so much better. The restored gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ is so true and offers us eternal life as families with our loved ones and our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. Life doesn’t get better than that. It is a perfect plan.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

                                   JANUARY AND NEW BEGINNINGS  2023

 This new year has been filled with many wonderful blessings in that we have had so much snow, which we so badly needed.  It’s more than we have had in the past few years and we are hoping to have enough to help with filling the lakes and reservoirs.  We hope the same happens next year.

The best thing was that the new year started with the Sabbath.  What a day to help us make new promises and be with families more often.  We can look back at the past year and remember the many blessings we received.  We look forward to many blessings this year and are working very hard at doing our best.  We still make mistakes but we are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ,  who has given us the opportunity to repent each and every day.

Monday we started very slowly on putting some of the decorations away.  We are very slow but by the end of the month it will all be done.  I don’t know if this is a picture of Clara taking down ornaments or putting them up.  Either way it was helpful.

We continue to go to the temple every Tuesday and do 2 endowments or 1 endowment and 1 sealing or 1 initiatory. Thursday we do an endowment at Payson with the Seamons and then go to I-Hop. We love that we can go with our friends and that we are so close to many temples.  Just know that I will not put all of them in here. (You just know it)


The 4th, Scott started taking apart our bedroom bathroom.  He decided we needed a bath that we didn’t have to lift our legs to get in.  He is making a beautiful walk-in shower.  (No more chair in the tub and a great place to put our shampoos and stuff in. It took him the entire month but what a miracle of beauty it is.  I will enter pictures of his progress all month.  It’s amazing.


                                                   Dad is making sure he does it right.
The next day I had surgery on my nose.  It was a Mohls process named after the man who developed this procedure.  I had already had a scrape and burn done on my left forehand.  This was very intense.  Dr. Tristani did my eyebrow a few years ago and she is amazing.  I was in her office for 51/2 hours with all the waiting and staying in a waiting room for the results.  She had to do it 2 times to get it all and then more waiting.  She put in 23 stitches.  The bandage looked like a golf ball on my nose.  It was so uncomfortable.  Tiffany  flew in from Vegas.


The 6th Tiff and Dad went to Traverse Mountain to return some things.  Tiff loved the snow.  That evening she and Cameron flew to Vegas for the Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City  Chiefs game.  They used their Christmas money so the entire family could go.  Great way to spend the money.  They had a blast. Tiff helped Dad take down the Christmas lights,  helped with a few things for me and then took hold of my pantry and completely reorganized it.  After a few days I knew where everything was and didn’t miss a thing she threw away. Amazing!!!

putting in the bench
January, Sunday the 8th we picked up Cameron at the Provo Airport.  We love that it is so close and only takes a 56 hour flight, not to mention it's only $45.
Monday we both saw Dr. Bell and it was a good report. 

Thursday the 12th I got my stitches out.  Wonderful day.  I now have many layers of steri strip and will see the doctor in 6 weeks.  I cannot shower facing the shower head until the strips fall off.  It feels so good not to have those big bandages on.


Dad took Cliff Bush to the dentist.  They enjoy being together.


Scott has worked very hard on our shower and it looks so good.  Friday the 13th, Beth and Rowan came to help.  The dogs are such good help? 




On the 14th, Beatrice had her 2nd birthday.  She is so enjoyable to be around.  She is in charge and loves everything.  She thinks she is in charge of Rosemary and just loves being around her.  She loves her brothers and just enjoys life.  She’s a little spitting image of her mother.




Saturday we shopped for accessories for Dad’s bathroom.  It is getting so beautiful.   We have purchased towels and rugs and now Scott is going to paint his vanity. 
This is a very hard working helper.

We continue to have Cameron for dinner every Sunday.  We love that he feels comfortable here and we enjoy his company.  Elder Darley is home and gave a great talk.  He was in Baltimore and did much speaking in Spanish.

Monday was Martin Luther King Holiday.  He was a great fighter for racial equality.


Thursday, the 19th was Jalen’s 13th birthday.  How can he already be a teenager?   He is learning so much more by being a stay at home student.  Kristin is amazing with the things he is learning.  He loves his family and doing things together.



The next day was Dianne’s birthday.  She is so excited because she is schooling at the birth center and getting paid.  She has missed being there and will soon be a midwife.   She is a hands-on mother and loves her family.  She and Clark are a perfect match.  They are always ready to help others.  She is a perfect Mimi. (grandmother)


Well it’s my birthday today,21st,and 79  I'm just getting younger every day.  It’s so fun.  I love this man I am married to more that I could ever explain.  He just gets better every day.  I can’t even imagine a day without him.  I am so grateful the Lord set him in front of me and said he’s yours.  Best decision I’ve ever made.  There is no way to describe his go



Scott finished the shower and Dad helped.
                                                                         BEAUTIFUL


Scott finished the shower, Kristin and Tiffani gave me a Delft Nativity, Erik and Shanelle gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers,(still beautiful) Clark and Dianne  shared a birthday.

William Johns is now 7.  He is so full of information.  He loves school and is really learning to use Chinese. He loves books and loves his Mimi to read to him.  He loves his brother and sisters.  We love that  he is such a good boy and happy most of the time. The entire family dressed in Chinese clothing for Chinese New Year. 
 

The 23rd Dad took me to Outback for a very yummy dinner.  We even had a Chocolate Thunder down Under.

Tuesday we couldn’t get the furnace to come on.  We called Wrights Furnace Company and they told us what to do but nothing happened.  Scott came over to see if he could help but no luck.  The company told us they could come Monday because they were so filled with work. The next week was cold but bearable.  Dan Williams built us such a good home that we just put on sweatshirts and hunkered down.   Dad built a fire in the woodburning stove downstairs for the evenings and then we had a little heater in our bedroom for the night.  It really wasn’t too bad.


Wednesday Dad had an appointment with Dr. Hunter about his CPap  Everything is good.


Carma Bush and Karen Rhodes took Annette Nordgren and me to lunch at Leatherby's.  They are such caring sisters. I had never been there and it was so good.  We laughed and laughed.  It was great fun.  There were 4 missionaries eating next to our table so we all went together and paid for their meal and dessert.  That is such a fun thing to do.


Friday, the 27th Scott finished the bathroom by painting the entire room.


The next day was Aunt Mikki’s birthday.  She is amazing and knows everything about the families dead or alive.  She loves her people and cares for them.  She is an amazing woman with a tender heart.



I finally pealed my strips off and was very surprised and how good they looked.

Yea!  Monday we got our new furnace.  The men did such a clean and wonderful job. They worked so hard getting the old furnace out and the new one in.  We do not have an entrance in the basement so it was a tight squeeze.  They left everything clean.  The new furnace is very loud but it is because it is more powerful than our last one and it pushes the air out through littler vents which causes the noise.  We could have new vents made, but no way.


                                                                    a day later

Tuesday was the last day of the month.   Of course we were at the temple.  When we left home the temperature was 10 degrees.  It was so cold.  Every chair was filled in the session.  We love the missionaries that come to the sessions.  They are so refreshing and just have a glow about them.  When we got back home I realized I had left the gloves Tiffani gave me from Scotland.  They are wool and so warm and so special.  Dad hurried back to the temple and I actually got out almost running.  There they were in the dressing room on the counter.  We are so grateful for honest people.


January was a very cold month but hearts were warm and people were so thoughtful and kind.  We live in such a beautiful place where we can often feel the Spirit. I know I shouldn't share this note from Kristin but it really helped my heart to know I affected this precious girl in Blanding.


Speaking of Blanding this page was sent to Dad from Jess Cornwell


Our missionaries help us so much in feeling the love of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


                                                                             Molly
                                             I can't remember if I used this foto before. Kolton