January 30th and before

June, Maren, Max, Landon, Shirley, Evan Front Brinlie, Gauge and Ellie

Well I am sitting here at Maren's still enjoying their company.  My plane was canceled twice yesterday.  A winter storm with a half inch of ice and about three inches of snow hit the south on Tuesday and Wednesday so everything is stalled and most stores closed.  We were making fun of the South and their closing of schools because of a storm of 2-4 inches.  But a half inch of ice under the snow makes it a lot more dangerous.  Luckily Landon has his big truck.  Also they have no snow equipment because it so seldom snows like this.  They did have a few snow trucks out on the major road last night when we tried to go to the airport.

I have been sick for several days and could not get myself to do much so I will attempt to finish out the week while I sit here watching the kids.

Gauge, Brinlie, and Ellie goofing off

Saturday was Binlie's baptism.  We went to Jacksonville to meet Evan and Shirley at their hotel so the kids could go swimming in their hotel pool.  Before we got there we met them at Sam's Club where they were buying things for the evening.  We also went to a place called Shoe Carnival to get Brinlie some shoes to go with her white dress for the baptism.  They had to get sandals because it is the wrong season for white.  But they got 2 for 1 on clearance because of that!!

Brinlie in her beautiful baptim dress

Everyone swam for about an hour but me because I didn't pack a swimsuit and I really didn't have time to go buy one.  I finally figured out I could walk around the pool for activity.  They really seemed to be having a good time swimming.  Brinlie was having fun jumping off the side.  Gauge was frustrated because he did not have his floaties.  Evan spent some time in the pool helping Brinlie know what she had to do when he dunked her for baptim.  I thought that was thoughtful.

Brinlie with Grandma June

We went to Chick-fil-A for lunch on the way home and by the time we got home it was time to change clothes and get ready for the baptism.  I forgot to tell Landon to order me a grilled chicken sandwich so I got the full fat.  I felt like I was getting a sore throat when I drank the lemonade.

Ellie with Evelyn

We drove to the church which is about a half hour away and got there about 4:00 so that they could get things ready with the Primary President.  We took some pictures of Brinlie in her dress before they got ready for the baptism.  Then it was my job to follow Max to make sure he didn't get lost or get into something he shouldn't.

Gauge with his friend Silas

Then they went to get ready for the baptism.  I did not get any pictures of Evan and Brinlie in their baptism clothes.  The program went well.  Shirley gave the talk on baptism and I gave the Holy Ghost talk.  Fortunately the spirit was with me and I think it went well.  Shirley did a good job as well. Ellie gave the opening prayer with Maren's help and Gauge gave the closing prayer with Maren's help.  Then they had cookies and water for after as everyone mingled.  I tried to get pictures of a lot of people there.

Brinlie, Maren, Max, Landon, Front Gauge, and Ellie

After the baptism Brinlie wanted to go to Applebee's to eat so we all went there.  Then they all wanted to go swimming again at the hotel.  They swam for about an hour and they really had fun jumping and throwing each other.  Landon dunked Maren and they just had a good time.  I wish I had some pictures but my phone was dead then.  I spent the hour walking around the pool so I got some good points that day but some of the other people in the pool kept looking at me like I was nuts.

Sunday morning after Brinlie's baptism I awoke with a fever and if I had been home I would have stayed in bed all day but I felt like I needed to go to church to support Brinlie.  So everyone in Maren's ward will probably be sick next week or in two weeks.

Brinlie with her frozen birthday cake

After church Evan came and made his famous steak sandwiches for lunch.  We cleaned some strawberries also to eat.  It was a great sandwich but not weight watchers friendly. Then later they had another birthday cake for Brinlie to use the Frozen Characters that Maren had ordered for her birthday cake but they came late.  They got a yummy cookies and cream ice cream cake.  They really looked cute on the cake and Ellie has had a great time playing pretend with them. Evan and Shirley had to leave that afternoon to get back to Texas to work.

Maren with her friend Tara

Sunday night Nathan's Bishop called me to say that he thought we needed to get a lawyer to help Nathan through the process of the divorce. We had a good talk I really like Bishop Alonzo. I texted my brother to ask him if he knew of someone who could do the job for us.

Monday Maren and I decided to hang out at home.  In the morning Ellie used the Frozen characters to tell me how to play her game while Maren did some cleaning and Max was asleep.  The Christmas trees were the die and she would tell me what I had to do after I rolled just like we do with a game.  It made me realize that sometimes we think that they understand what we are doing but they may just be as in the dark as I was about her game.

Ellie and Brinlie at Golden Corral

Landon had to work but he finished his work about 1:00 p.m.  We just had Ellie and Max at home so it was relatively quiet.  In the afternoon while Max was napping we played Maren's game of Life that has the spinner and the game controls on the IPad.  It was really fun.  Even Ellie could do it with a little help. 

Max enjoying himself after the baptism

We were supposed to get the money from our refinance loan on Monday and of course I thought that meant Monday morning so I had a major frustration when it was not there.  I spent part of the day calling Larry and the Finance Company and finally found out that the money would be deposited after 3:00 p.m. or on Tuesday.  Finally it was there about 4:00 P.M.

Ellie in her boots

Monday evening Brinlie had dance so we all went to Jacksonville. My brother Larry had texted me a number for a lawyer that he thought would be good.  His name was Harold Zuflacht.  He wanted me to fill out a paper before a meeting on information about finances so I texted Nathan and Sara both to see if they would help me with the paper.  Nathan told me not to do anymore because he is still trying to find a way to win her back.  Sara was afraid that we were going to fight her.  I assured her that we were getting a lawyer to help Nathan through the process.  Then she told me that they were transferring Nathan to the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Facility that they have been wanting to get Nathan in.  She told me on Friday when we talked that they had approved that he be sent there but I was surprised it was so soon.  She told me she was helping Nathan pack as he was going tomorrow.  So I guess she is still wanting to help help but that also furthers Nathan's denial that she is leaving.  Here is a link to the Warm Springs website about the one that Nathan is in Warm Springs, Thousand Oaks http://www.warmsprings.org/our-facilities/hospitals/warm-springs-rehabilitation-hospital-thousand-oaks/

Gauge eating his ice cream

We had decided earlier that we would go to Golden Corral after Brinlie's dance so while she was in dance Maren and Landon went to a Thrift store to find some sea bags for him for the ship and then to a home decor store where they bought an omelet maker for Landon and a mechanical hot pad for Maren.  Then we went to Golden Corral.  That was basically family home evening.

Max at Golden Corral

While we were out Maren kept getting messages on her phone that school was closed and dance was canceled for Ellie. Ellie was devastaed as she thought she would never be able to go again.  Landon got a message that the base was closed for two days.  We stopped at the Grocery store so Maren could get her basics and it was basically being shopped out so Maren posted some of the empty shelves in a picture on Facebook.   When we got home no one worried about the kids going to bed so I think we watched the movie Frozen.

Brinlie starting to throw a snowball

Ellie and Brinlie with Lindsay their neighbor Maren with Gauge and Max

When we got up the next morning it was not snowing as predicted and it didn't start snowing until later in the afternoon.  Landon made us all omelets with his omelet maker.  We basically had a lazy day watching movies and playing games together.  The kids have a game called Xfinity from Disney that they like and We watched "Saving Mr. Banks" and "Wreckit Ralph".  Maren made a great Asian dish for dinner with edamome on the side.  When I talked to Larry at 7:00 p.m. he told me to go to bed because I had lost my voice and I fully intended to but then I went down stairs to finish my laundry and got interested in the movie and stayed up until 11:30 p.m.

Making Snow angels in the Cul-de-sac

Wednesday when we got up we had 2-3 inches of snow with a half inch of ice under it.  We all dressed up after breakfast and went out to play in the snow.  Gauge was really bummed because Maren and Landon had left the snow clothes in Utah that they had bought because they thought that they would never use them.  But they put on double pants and they did have coats and gloves.  I had to borrow some of Landon's coats and gloves.  It was really fun for them.  They still had the sleighs they had brought from Utah when they moved.  When they came out then the neighbors came out and their neighbors driveway was sloped so they could use that for the sleighs.  They laid down in the middle of the cul-de-sac and made snow angels because there were no snow plows.  It was about 20 degrees outside.

Snow angels resurrecting

I had no boots so I came in when my feet were cold and got dressed and ready to go to the airport.  Delta kept calling me to tell me my flight had been delayed but I thought it was calling about the first flight in the morning so I ignored it and did not go in and check the Delta app.  The app was not working very good anyway.

We played another game of Life with all the kids and me.  Maren was helping Ellie.  Landon took a nap. Ellie won the game so she was thrilled because she thought that she was losing because someone sued her and she got really mad when Maren wanted her to turn in her 100 dollar bills for a 500 because she thought she had less money. We had a good time and then I got ready to go.

Brinlie, Ellie, Gauge, and Bethany a neighbor

Landon and Gauge pushing Maren and Ellie

Landon and Maren took me to the airport in the Truck.  They were finally plowing the other side of the main road but not the side we were on.  The road to the airport is just two lanes and it had not been plowed so it was snow packed.  It looked like a little country lane.  When we got there there was a sign on the door that said that the airport was closed until Thursday.  So I looked at my app and it said that my flight had been changed until the 30th and I had not noticed the date change.  I felt bad that I had not paid more attention and they had to drive me out to the airport before we realized what was going on.  So I am here for one more day.

We were expecting our mission call Wednesday but Larry texted that it did not come so I was really bummed.

Landon wanted to have a movie marathon when they got home.  Maren fixed some great potato soup and biscuits and I ate more than I should but at this time I had no voice and was really feeling run down so I excused myself and went upstairs to bed about 7:30 p.m.  I texted a few people and looked at Facebook for a while on my Nextel and talked to a neighbor who called on the phone and then I finally went to bed about 9:00 p.m.  Ellie came in during the night to sleep with me.  I don't mind because I like to snuggle but she really needs a full size bed to sleep in with Brinlie because she likes to snuggle and she will not stay in bed.  I was so tired that I did not wake up until 5:07A.M.  And then I promptly went back to sleep until 8:11 a.m.  I could have slept longer but I decided to get up with the kids so Maren could sleep in one more day.

I have worked most of the day on this blog and trying to upload pictures.  Delta just called about 1:00 p.m. and said that my flight is cancelled for the third time so unless it gets warmer this afternoon I may be here for a long time.  I spent the afternoon tending the kids while they played outside in the snow and Maren and Landon went to Jacksonville shopping.  Now they are grilling steaks so that is one reason that I am glad I am staying for another day!!

January 24th

My heart is broken tonight.  Sara called about 5:00 p.m. to let me know that she had just told Nathan that she was going forward with the divorce.  I had hoped that with serving Nathan all these months that she would learn to love him again but I guess that is not the case.  We have seen it coming.  Sara would not answer most of the family texts offering to talk or help her.  Nathan has been texting me for more than two months asking me how to get Sara to talk to him and love him

Max and Ellie on Koda

.  I probably gave him the wrong advice because I have been telling him how to talk to her so that she will feel loved.  I have been anguishing on how to help Sara see that Nathan needed a wife right now.  When we came down at Christmas it was evident that Sara was willing to work for Nathan's care but she did not want to be a wife.  She said that she still wanted to advocate for Nathan and that we were welcome to come stay at the house but I don't see how she can be Nathan's advocate when she is not his wife and though she has moved on in her emotions it will be hard for Nathan for a long time to be able to be with her without having a hard time. And though I know that I should be able to do that, I don't know how to say let's just be friends yet.  He has had a hard time with his emotions since the stoke anyway.  Jacob said that he cried and was upset for about 2 hours after she left yesterday.  Luckily Jacob had decided to go visit him this weekend because he had some time off and was there to try to comfort him after "she ripped his heart out" as Jacob said.  He said that the Bishop was there and that they were able to give him a blessing so hopefully that will bring Nathan some comfort but Jacob said Nathan pretty much felt like he had nothing left tonight.

It is hard for me when anyone gets a divorce.  I stayed with John when I could not find any love for him in my heart after he was unfaithful and rude and dishonest with me and I feel that if you have the Lord with you to help you and you turn to him for help when things get bad that he can help you do anything.  I learned a long time ago that commitment is more important to a marriage than love.  I know that some would disagree with me but I have also learned by observing others that a divorce does not help you to find the happiness that you are seeking.  It only complicates things for the couple and everyone around them.  But I have also learned that once someone decides that they want a divorce that you cannot talk them out of it.  If you want to work on the relationship and try to make things better that you can always work things out.  I know that if John had not been willing to work with me and stay with me that we would not have been able to hold things together.  I have prayed for so long that Sara would want to try to work things out and that she and Nathan would be able to work together but I know that she has her agency and so that prayer cannot be answered yes.  I am not so nieve to think that Nathan was perfect and that she doesn't have reason to want to leave but I thought maybe the stroke would humble them both enough to change things.,

June and Maren at Mike's Farm

For several months people have asked me how Nathan is and physically he is fine and progressing well but he has been stressing about Sara and he has not always been emotionally well.  He gets upset very easily and cries over lots of things.  He has improved with this over the months but often he would act like a spoiled child.  Lately I see the adult Nathan more and more but it is hard to see him have so many challenges despite how far he has come the last few months. I know that this will not help things but eventually if he turns to the Lord it will work out for his best.  I have a firm testimony of that.

Landon and Gauage at Mikes Farm

I am freezing on Maren house.  The keep their heat at 68 and when I am cold my fibromyalgia is worse.  I have a space heater in my bedroom but it is not enough.  My hands are cold and I am chattering as I write this.  There spare room it really cold anyway because it does not get much of the air and it come in from the ceiling and hot air rises so I think it never gets to the floor.

Landon, Gauge, Evan, Brinlie, Shirley, Ellie, June, Maren taking picture

Max with his knife at Mike's Farm

In the morning today I tended Maren and Landon's kids so they could go to a marriage workshop for the people in his unit that are deploying.  Brinlie and I worked on a pillow kit together that Maren had bought her.  She did a good job sewing but we need to get some different glue because it did not hold like it should even though we followed the instructions.  Guage wanted to teach me how to play the Infinty game they have but he ended up playing it by himself and with Ellie and Brinlie until they were fighting over it so mucy that I made them turn it off.  Ellie painted me a picture and made me a flower out of paper to have.  Max is a typical 18 month old that is into everything.  Throws his food on the floor when he gets done or doesn't want it and wants to be in the middle of everything.  I was trying to help Gauge with a flip track and he kept trying to pick it up or would jump on top of Gauge and grab him by the throat so that he could tackle him.  He thinks nothing of sitting on their dog Koda's head or back and Koda lets him do it with no complaint.  He just gets up if it is bothering him.

About three we tried to take a walk to the park when Maren and Landon got home and we made it but it was really cold so we just stayed a few minutes and then came home.  The park has a lot of the old time play equipment with a big tall slide and a merry go round type spinner.

Max on Koda

We came home and played with the kids for a while and then it was time to meet Landon's parents.  After Sara calling Maren and I didn't feel much like cooking and Maren is really stuffed up and not feeling well.  So we met Landon's parents at a place called Mike's Farm where they have a restaurant that serves a family type meal like they would have served to farm workers back in the early part of the 20th century they put it on the table and everyone pays one price.  There are no choices except for what you want to drink and what you want for dessert and what you decide to eat from the table.  They serve Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, ham pieces and biscuits with ham inside.  They have different desserts to choose from and you can have two if you want for the price you pay.  I had cheesecake but it was a different type of cheesecake.  It was a fun time with the family even though Ellie and Max got tired.  Max only wanted to eat jam.

They sell Christmas trees on the farm so they also have a gift shop that sells candies and baked goods and a lot of Christmas ornaments and throws and such.  It was really pretty but it was very cold when we went back outside.

Well have to go to bed to get warm.

January 23 and before

Today I flew out to Maren and Landon's in Richlands, North Carolina.  The day started out good when I got up but after eating, almost finishing packing and getting dressed Larry came home from his sleep study and I started getting nauseated.  No Larry did not make me sick.  I tried to settle my stomach but nothing worked and finally I was throwing up my breakfast.  I mistakenly took double of my pills last night and I don't know if that is what caused it but I had a bad stomach until about 1:15 p.m.  Larry gave me a blessing and told me I would get better so he took me to the airport and I got to the gate before I threw up again.  I was able to throw up quiet without much notice in the garbage can before I boarded the plane.  When I got on the plane I was able to sit for a while and eat some apple juice and pretzels that got electrolytes back in me and I started feeling better. While flying I was able to finish the Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt and start the first part of The Old Testament made easy by David Bridges.  So it was a fairly productive trip despite my stomach problems. By the time I got to Maren's I was fine but I sure was hungry tonight.  It was hard to feel full and Maren had a great dinner, Brown sugar and Garlic Chicken, cheese Rice-a-Roni, fruit salad and green beans with Girl Scout cookies for dessert.

We ate dinner at Maren's and then they put on the Frozen soundtrack to listen to while they all helped with the dishes and then we got ready to play a game called "Beat the Parents"  it is a Disney trivia game that the kids really enjoy.  Then they had family prayer and we all started for bed.  Ellie came down to sit in my lap while I called Larry so I had a chance to hug her.  It is good to be here with them.  They really had a good spirit in their home tonight.

I got word today that my Aunt Dona died today about 1:30 p.m.  She has been really sick for several weeks so it is really a blessing but I am sure that it is hard for Mom.  Dona is my mom's sister.  I called her tonight and she said that she was sad yet relieved because Dona had been so sick.  I don't know when the funeral will be but probably before I get back.  Hopefully Larry will go to represent us.

Just some highlights of the week.

Sunday was my niece's mission farewell in Bountiful.  Maryn Jenkins is going to the Laie Hawaii Temple visitor's center for her mission.  She gave a beautiful talk about how the spirit had prompted her on several occasions that she needed to go on a mission and that she needed to go now.  It was good to see her with her own testimony and conviction that she needed to go.  After we went to the house and ate way to many sweets and Hawaiian haystacks.  It was fun to see some of my family that I don't see as often as I would like and talk with them.

Monday I was excited to lose 4 lbs again at weight watchers.  It made me feel better because I had several slips with sweets last week like at Maryn's farewell.

Despite the fact that I got up and started going I could not get feeling better and was aching so much that I finally decided that it was not my fibromyalgia but the cold that has been going around.  I went to the gym in the morning for a while but then I went home and took a nap for most of the afternoon trying to get feeling better.  When Larry wanted to go to the gym for Family Home Evening I said not me so he stayed home too and we did some studying on the church website for Family Home Evening.  I went in and learned how to transfer sources from Family Tree to my Roots Magic files and downloaded the sources that I had put on my dad.

Tuesday we slept in but then my fever broke during the night and I felt better so after morning things we went to the gym.  When we got back we called to see if we were still going to close on our refinance loan and they finally said yes at 4:00 p.m..  So I worked on curriculum until we had to go about 3:30 p.m. and we went to sign the papers for our loan.  This will make it so our interest rate is 3.78 and it is a 15 year loan instead of a 30 year loan.  Because Larry has an abatement on the property taxes for the house because of his disability status the payment was actually less than they had quoted us so it did not go up that much more for changing to a 15 year loan. 

Kirsten wanted Larry to give her a blessing after dinner and then we went to the gym in the evening and we ran into the Bishop and his wife after when we stopped at the grocery store.  The Bishop was on the phone so we talked to his wife and told her now it would be wonderful if we got our mission call on Wednesday and she got all excited too but then after we got home the Bishop called and said that when he checked it online it said waiting to be assigned like last week so we were a little disappointed but at least he called so we did not have to anticipate it for one more day.

Wednesday morning we finally got paid and we got up and went to the temple in the late morning.  I don't think that I have seen the temple so busy ever in all the time I have attended the Bountiful temple.  The parking lot was full and we had to use lockers in the back of the dressing room.  They have a new temple film so I suppose that is part of it.  They just came out with a new one in the summer but now they have another one and they said in the Deseret News that they had two so that there would be variety.  It will really give variety too.  This film is different than some of the interpretations of the temple ceremony.

When we got out of the temple I had a text that Taylor was really sick and that Kirsten needed to borrow a thermometer and wanted Larry to give her a blessing.  So we went and got a thermometer at Smith's and went there as soon as we could.  Taylor had been coming down with the cough and cold type stuff.  Kirsten said that the doctor said that he thought it was RSV and that she needed to watch her temperature.  When we took it it was 100.5 but Kirsten had given her some ibuprofen and cough syrup while she was waiting for us so it could have gone down.  She had fallen asleep but Larry gave her a blessing anyway.

Then we went home to buy our tickets to come to Maren's.  We have been planning to come for a long time but because of various things we never had the money to buy the tickets.  We went in and they wanted $707.00 for a night flight but I had promised Maren and Landen that I would get there to babysit on Friday before 8:00 a.m and it did not land until 8:33 a.m.  The next tickets that came during the day were $834 per person round trip.  We decided that we could not afford to pay that much for both of us and Larry said that he would stay home.  I did not want to leave him home but knew that he was right that we did not have enough for both of us so I just bought the one ticket.  We had gone in on Tuesday night and looked for a minute and it was $739.00 per ticket then but we did not have the money until Wednesday so I was shocked when it went up $100.00

Larry had to go to a sleep study that evening so we ate and then got him ready to go and then I tried to pack after he was gone.  I took my pills and then I was going to pack my pills for the evening for today in a bag in my purse in case I needed them before the suitcase got opened.  I got them all in a cup and picked them up and took them again without realizing what I was doing until I had taken another batch.  They are mostly pain pills so I thought I would be okay.  It seemed that I had a hard time sleeping, I woke up every hour and I never felt like I was asleep most of the night, then this morning I got sick so I don't know what to think.

Well it is late her and so I had been get to bed even if it is only 9:30 p.m. Utah time.

January 17 and 18

This Friday was one of the first since we were released from our LDS Employment mission that we did not have to go when we were home.  It felt good to have the time to work on the curriculum.  Basically we went twice to the gym and ate three times and I over indulged in ice cream bars and worked on curriculum.

Today we arose at 7:00 a.m. and showered, read, prayed and ate breakfast before we went to the Family Search Center.  We were not busy for people who needed help.  Kate Billings was there teaching a class.  Larry was working on Diane's line and I started out working on Dad and adding sources of City Directories that are listed on Ancestry but then the computer I was on was giving me some problems so I started working on my own computer.  I could not work on Ancestry on my own computer because it does not have the Family History Center portal so I could use it for free.  I decided to put sources on a great-great grandmother Lucy Edwards.  When I went in to look at her on the 1900 census it said that she was a widow and head of household with several children at 40.  Having been a widow in my 40's I was curious when her husband died.  So I looked at him.  It said that he had died in 1932!! so I was hooked.  I had to find out what was going on.  I started looking at sources for him, William Nephi Casper.  I found several censuses for him through the years.  Most of the time he was with a wife named Agnes McFarland or McFarlane.  So I looked at him in 1900 and he was there above listed as the head of household for Agnes and listed as married for 31 years to her.  Lucy was below but she was listed as a widow.  As I got further down on the list of sources there were several sources on Fold 3 for him listed as a file for case 173 for the Territorial Court.  He was charged with unlawful cohabitation.  His second wife, Lucy,  was called as a witness and they were both in jail for about a month before they were able to post a bond of $500 for him and $250 for her.  It was really interesting reading and I learned something because I did not remember knowing that there were polygamists on Mom's side of the family.

We left the Family Search Center and then had lunch.  Then we went to Mom's.  Mom sounded like she had a cold and she said that she had not felt very good for a few days.  Larry did several errands she wanted done and she didn't feel like doing and I vacuumed.  Then Mom said that she just wanted us to visit with her.  She sent Larry to buy some dinner and she was as excited as a child when he brought back her kids meal from Culver's.  She said that she had been hungry for that for a week.  Larry and I got Subway because it was easier to find something to eat for Weight Watchers.  We had a good time talking while we ate and then we decided that we needed to get home.  Grandma needs visitors a lot.

When we got home I paced back and forth while we watched a couple of Bones on TV and recorded my Weight Watchers.  I was worried that I would have high points because I ate a bunch of candy kisses at the Family Search Center but it turned out to not be too bad.

We read from Preach My Gospel in preparation for our mission and said prayer and then Larry went to bed but I stayed up and made a jello salad for Maryn's missionary farewell and made the salsa I have been trying to find time to make all week and of course finished my blog.

Well best go to bed as it is 11:33 p.m.

Jan 16

We went through all the normal things this morning by 11:00 a.m.  We went to the gym and we were working out and all of a sudden Larry remembered that he had a dentist appointment at 12:10 p.m.  So we left quick.  They called him while we were driving there and took him in right away when we got there.  I went with and just stayed in the lobby to read while he was there because it was only a half hour appointment and it would take that long to drive home and come back.  While I was there I continued to read the autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.  I started that now that I have finished Les Miserables.  The dentist and his office help wanted to know if we had got our mission call but we had to report that it had not come yet.  Hope it comes soon.  It seems like we have so many things on hold until we know when we will leave and what we are doing.

When we got home we fixed lunch then we looked at what we had in our temple ordinance lists and in our cards for sealings in the temple as it is ward temple night tonight.  We had 4 cards and were able to print out 4 or 5 others for the evening temple trip.

Then I began working.  Not long into my work Kirsten called and wanted to borrow some money but I didn't have any except the $10.00 that I owed her so we agreed to meet at the Zions Bank by the gym.  I had left my jacket there so I needed to go get it as it is all I have since I left my coat in San Antonio.  So I went and got my jacket and met her.  Kirsten is really sick with a sinus infection and some kind of cold or flu. I hope she can get well soon and that it doesn't go through the whole family. Heavenly Father has really blessed Larry and I with good health lately.

While I was out I decided to go to Verizion to have them look at my phone because it is slow and will not pick up the internet.  They put in a new sim card and then said they cleaned out the junk and it seems to be working better.  I have had problems with people getting my text messages sometimes and it was impossible to see Facebook for very long..

When I got home Larry was watching TV but he probably did some house work also.  I started to work but by now it was after 3:00 p.m. so I didn't have a long time to work.  I spent some time trying to figure out how to write what I had learned yesterday about Social Media.  I was able to make some progress but I was not satisfied when Larry came in and said it was 5:00 p.m. and we needed to get ready to go to the temple.

We were able to have a sealing session with Gary J. Coleman one of the Seventy.  It was cool because we had brought enough of our own names between the others that were there that we did not have to use any of the temple names and had a full sealing session.  Larry was excited because we were able to seal some of his aunts and uncles to his Presser Grandparents.

When we got home Larry turned on the TV and flipped channels.  I was trying to pace back and forth to get more excersize while we watched that.  Larry wanted to watch Elementary but it was a rerun so we read our scriptures and said prayer.  I think he is in bed but I am finishing this and watching the 9:00 news.

Well praying that our refinance goes through tomorrow.

Jan 15

Life has been pretty normal lately. 

Monday we went to weight watchers and we both gained weight because we ate too many indulgent foods on the way home from Texas.  We went to the gym and then I had my hair cut and colored  and finally I spent the afternoon working on our finances.  Larry did a lot of laundry and some cleaning while watching Castle on TNT then he went grocery shopping while I worked on the finances.

Tuesday we waited for a termite inspector to come and check our home for the termites in the afternoon.  I worked on the curriculum for most of the day but we finally went to the gym last night at 6:00 p.m.  When I went to bed and read some of my emails I realized that I had forgotten Relief Society which was supposed to be at 6 or 7. As I had promised to bring a book for one of the classes I was not happy with myself.  Larry cooked a pork carnitas that he had bought that was really good.

Today was pretty normal too.  We got up and the termite man came to have us sign the papers that need to be sent for the refinance loan that we are trying to get finished.  He didn't find any indication of termites so that was good.  When we call the loan officer to find out when we were going to be signing on the loan, which he told me when we were in San Antonio that it would be on Jan 13th for sure, he now says it will be Friday or Monday.  I am feeling just a little frustrated about the number of times he has told us we would be signing and then we just need one more thing.

Nathan texted me quite a bit on both days be did not text me today.

We went to the gym this morning and I walked for 2.6 miles while I was cleaning out the emails on my Nextel, I also did .7 miles on the elliptical machine and did 5 machines.  We went shopping for a few more things at the grocery store on the way home.

We came home and ate lunch and then I worked on the curriculum again while Larry watched Castle and cleaned the house.  I spent the afternoon trying to find material for the objective, Understand the use of social media tools to communicate with targeted audiences.

We had fresh strawberries and fresh pineapple for dinner along with steamed potatoes and ham.  I love fresh fruit like that.

We went back to the gym tonight and I walked for 2.28 miles while I read from the autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.  Then we came home and I recorded Weight Watchers points and connected my active link while I watched Castle with Larry.  I got 4 points for all that work and Larry got 8.  Life is not fair when it comes to weight lose between men and women.  When I finish writing this then we will go read scriptures and have prayer and go to bed.

Jan 10 and beyond

Taylor, Brooke with Max on her shoulders, Ellie

Friday morning we got up and I called Maren to find out what she had planned for today because it was the only day left before she had to go home in the morning.  She still needed to get dressed and so did I so we agreed to get back with each other.  She said they were thinking of going sleigh riding and she wanted to go to see Mom.

Taylor and Ellie playing, Brooke and Max behind

Larry awoke with a whole list of things that he needed to do.  Not even thinking of Maren.  We had just drove together for 24 hours and he had not mentioned the things he needed to do at the VA and that a lady had been calling him for more information on the loan.  I told him I could take the things for the loan because he thought it had to go to Layton but he said no he could do it.

I got dressed and left to see Maren. On the way I went to pick up the mail. She was at her sister-in-laws.  When I got there my phone rang and it was the lady at the loan office.  She said that Larry had told her I was going to bring the papers in and it was in Draper.  She told me how to fax the papers and what she needed.  Meantime Brinlie and Ellie are running out to welcome me and then they feel stupid because I am on my phone and cannot hug them.

I went in to see Maren and all the kids.  Landon had just left to get sleighs.  It was so fun to see them all.  The kids really seemed excited to see me.  Maren hugged me and said, "Mom, you are so skinny"  I was excited that she could feel it.  I visited with them for about 20 minutes.  Then I told her that I needed to go fax this stuff.  I also wanted to look at the mail to see if we had received our mission call yet but was disappointed that it was not there.

Taylor, Brooke, Brinlie, Ellie and Max in Front

When I got home Larry was home from the VA with his medications.  He had also gone to the county to get a paper verifying that we do not have to pay property taxes because of his disability status.  We worked on getting the things together that we needed after calling the lady again.  I had to type a letter telling what we intended to use the payout money for.

We had it almost finished when I talked to Maren again.  She was frustrated because they still had not gone sleigh riding and Landon was backing out of wanting to take her to see Grandma Jenkins again.  I suggested that I could go get Mom.  She liked that idea.

Kyle

I finished up the paper work things and then I called Mom and asked her if we could pick her up because we had to drop off some paperwork in Draper.  I was surprised that she agreed to come.  I told her that we would be there in an hour.  Then I called the lady at the office and asked if we could bring the papers in.  She said yes.  Then I called Maren and said that I was going to get Mom and I would be back in about two hours and then we would get together and get some food at Olive Garden and visit.  She and Landon agreed to that.  We left to deliver the papers and to get Mom.

Kirsten

We got back about 4:30 p.m.  We were late and so I tried to call Maren.  They were not answering their phones and not at our house.  We had come home to about 5 inches of snow in the driveway and had not thought it was most important to shovel the snow until when we got home with Mom.  Larry suggested that we go to Olive Garden and eat there because of the snow.  Just then Maren called and they were just finishing up with sleigh riding.  I told them to meet us at Olive Garden and we took off for the restaurant.

Landon

At the restaurant we asked for a table and then Maren called and said that Landon did not want to take the kids to the restaurant and he would shovel the snow if we would get food and go home to eat it.  So we cancelled the table and got take out at Olive Garden.  Then we headed home.

When we got home Larry had to shovel the front walk so we could get in.  We went in through the garage because when he got done the door was locked.  Kirsten had called and wanted to come down but did not want to go to the restaurant because of expense.  So I called her and told her to come if she could.

Larry took over and made sure the dinner got on the table while I was trying to clean up some of the Christmas decorations that he had taken down and put in a chair.  Landon had to go to get Ellie from Skylar and Gina and so we were waiting for him but I finally decided we needed to eat because Mom likes to eat early and it was about 7:00 p.m. by then.  I got a few picture while we were waiting.

Maren and Grandma Zina Jenkins looking at Taylor at the last minute

It turned out to be a great night.  We had a ton more food than we needed so it was good that Kirsten came with most of her family.  They kids had fun playing their electronic equipment together and Landon and Larry got the snow shoveled for us.  And Grandma and Maren and Kirsten and I had a great time talking and visiting.

Finally we decided that we needed to take Grandma home because it was getting late.  We got everyone in their cars and said goodbye to Landon and Maren and their kids as we would not see them again because they were leaving in the morning.

On Saturday I woke up to a text from Maren that they did not leave because Max started throwing up at about 2:00 a.m.  They had scheduled their flight for the next day.  I texted her that I had to go to the Family History Center and then to Rob Benton's Funeral and then I would call her.

Sad looking Taylor

Marion Peterson the supervisor for the Family History Center came and had another person with her so that Larry and I could go to the viewing and the funeral.  So, we were only at the Family History Center for about 1and an half hours.  In that time I spent my time trying to figure out how to change the portrait picture for Joseph Thomas Murdock and was not successful.

Rob Benton has been our home teacher for about 2 years now and he has been our neighbor for 15 years.  We were shocked when Maren called while we were still in Texas and said that he had been killed in a car accident.  Later we learned that he was run over by a truck from the other company that shares a loading dock with his company.  He was run over on Monday morning and died early Tuesday morning.  He had massive internal chest injuries and they said because he was on blood thinners for his heart that they could not get the bleeding to stop.

We went to the viewing at 9:30 and then we went to the funeral at 11:00 a.m.  It was a good funeral.  He was a well loved man and had lots of family there.  His first wife died and the last two wives he had he was divorced from so his married kids were leading the show.  They said that he was coherent for the morning but that they had put him in a drug induced coma when he got to the hospital.  He did not look like himself at the viewing.  There was a lot of swelling in the face. I learned that he had been a great fisherman at one time.

I volunteered, when they called me while I was in  New Mexico, to help with the luncheon because I didn't feel like making food.  I was surprised that I was there helping until about 3:30 p.m.  But I got a good lunch.  Not Weight Watchers approved.

Larry wanted to go to the gym when we got finished.  So we went for an hour and a half.  Then I called Maren to see what she wanted to do.  She asked if we could come over to Evan and Shirley's house.  So we went over there.

We had a good time talking and playing with the kids. Max seemed to be feeling okay now. Maren was frustrated because I kept trying to answer Nathan as he was texting me about a problem so she thought I was ignoring her and playing with my phone.

Maren with all the kids piled on top of her playing.

Larry got a shot of Maren playing with her kids.  They were all on top of her.  They ordered some Chinese food and even though we should not have eaten it we did have some and it was good.  Again we said goodbye to them. Their plane was to leave at midnight so they were keeping the kids up hoping they would sleep.  This time they left and there were notes on Facebook about their travel.

So today was Sunday.  We had church time change for the first time today.  We are now on the 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. schedule.  It was a good three meetings but nothing that stood out to me today.

Our other home teacher came home teaching today as he and Rob would come today but life has a way of being fragile.  It was good to talk to Winston Freeze.  He said that he had lived by Rob for 37 years.  Even knew him before he became active in the church.  He said that he just blossomed when he became active.

It snowed about an inch last night so we went out and shoveled after lunch.

The rest of today I have been trying to catch up on the blog and watching television with Larry.

Jan 9th

Larry and I slept until 8:00 a.m. and then went to the hotel breakfast.  We ate everything we should not have eaten on Weight Watchers and it was fun.  We got ready and left about  9:30 a.m.  we drove for several hours and stopped somewhere for lunch then took off across the desert.  We drove to Shiprock, New Mexico and then headed north.  We had fun being together and we took some pictures of the landscape in New Mexico.  It was a beautiful day.  It was 44 degrees in New Mexico.


We stopped in Price to eat dinner and then we continued on.  It was really dark now and it was getting colder in Utah.  It started to snow some in Price and it was icy all the way down Spanish Fork canyon.


We stopped at Mom's and talked to her until about 9:30 p.m.  We had a good time catching up on our different lives and then we went home.  We got to bed about midnight.

Jan 8

This morning we almost slept in because I did not make sure my phone was off of charging so the alarm did not go off.  Sara had to send David to wake us up so we could tell the kids goodbye.  So we had to quickly hug and then let them run to school.  Maggie even had to go to preschool that day.

Larry and I stayed up and got ready to go home.  We had to pack up and get ready to go soon.  Before we left Sara came home and was looking for some papers for a review of Nathan's status.  We talked to her for a few minutes and packed up everything and then left to go tell Nathan goodbye.

Nathan was in his room and we talked for about a half hour about many things and then we said goodbye.  It was hard to leave but he was in good hands and we had to get home.  We are hoping to be back there soon.

We drove to Ingram to see Judy and John Trolinger, Larry's sister and her husband.  It was good to see them as we did not get to spend as much time with them as we usually do.  We were invited in and welcomed so well.  Judy had gone and bought fruit for us and the kind of soda that she knew we liked and she had a chicken soup in the crock pot. 

John was sick with an ear infection but was getting better.  He had been to to the doctor the day before and had a bad experience of having to wait most of the day because of a problem with paperwork and a lapse in communication but he now had the medicine that he needed to get better.  He had had a bad week because the weekend before they were going to come to San Antonio to visit with us but he had a small stroke called a TIA.  He joked about it but it is still worrisome because that can be a sign of another stoke coming up.  I am sure it is not pleasant for Judy as he has not been in good health for some time.

We had a good time talking and visiting about a variety of subjects and had a late lunch which was wonderful.  Judy is a good cook.  It was really fun to be there but we finally had to go so that we could get on the road.

We drove for about 10 hours.  Larry drove until we reached the New Mexico line and then I drove.  We stopped off and on to eat and get gas.  But finally when we got to Moriarty, New Mexico I was too tired to stay awake and I knew that Larry was not rested enough to drive so we stopped there at a Comfort Inn.  It felt so good to have a bed!

January 7th Nathan's birthday

Nathan all decorated

Tuesday was Nathan's 40th birthday.  Sara got up early and took the kids to school and took Nathan a decoration, some crazy glasses and a dozen donuts.  She came back about 9:30 a.m. and brought Maggie to us.  She had to get some errands done and get ready for the party that evening.

In Nathan's room before the party.  Sara, Maggie, David and Nathan

Maggie was all excited to go to the gym because she had such a good time the day before, but Larry was worrying about getting some things done on the car so we could drive home the next day.  So Maggie and I went to visit Nathan while Larry went to get the oil and tires checked on the car.  Nathan was at the Care Center with his wheelchair decorated with balloons from the care center and the glasses that Sara had brought him.  He said the care center had also brought him a cupcake and sang Happy Birthday to him.  Maggie and I visited for awhile, all the while she was telling me that she wanted to go to the gym.  We finally went to lunch.

In Nathan's room.  Nathan, Larry, Isaac, Sammy behind David

Maggie wanted to go to Chick-fil-A for lunch so I went and bought her the menu she wanted, Chicken nuggets, French Fries and Root Beer.  She tried to get me to take her inside but we went home to eat.  When we got home she did not want the Root Beer.  Said she did not like it! She must be four.

We went for lunch and then we decided to go to the gym.  Maggie was so excited and when we got there they told us that they do not have the day care from 1-4 there.  She was so disappointed and so were we because we couldn't go to the gym.  Larry went to get some things done before we left the next day and Maggie and I went to see Nathan.

Sara, Nathan, Melinda Steadam, Bishop Alonzo

That evening Sara bought Pizza for all of us to eat at the care center and they brought the presents that they had for Nathan to open about 5:00 p.m.  They had bought him a bunch of comic books to read.  They were not typical comics however.  One was a book in comic format.  Sara had also got cakes and water and stuff to decorate a little so when dinner was over about 6:30 p.m we started getting things ready for the party that Sara had planned for him.  Nathan's Bishop Alex Alonzo came a little early and helped us carry things to the dinning room.  They party started at 7:00 p.m. It started slow but it was steady all night and there were about 30 people.  Nathan seemed to be enjoying the party.

Lighting the candles on the first cake.

Nathan blowing out his candles on first cake

Second Cake lighted with big 40 candles

Friend from mission brought a Portuguese Calvin and Hobbs

Friend from the ward that Nathan had helped.

Teresa Johnson from the ward with Nathan

The Hoffer's from the ward talking to Nathan

Mike Trolinger giving Nathan a card

Friend from Social Work Master;s cohort

Sister from the ward talking to Nathan

Sarah Christensen talking to Nathan