SUCH A WONDERFUL SUNDAY

Today was a beautiful Sunday! It was warm and I slept so good. So much better than Friday night. I had all my meal prep done on Saturday so all I had to do was warm up the pulled pork before church. I did it in the crock pot.

Tony had an early morning meeting so at 11:15, I went to pick up Lynn for choir practice. Funny thing was, the ward before us went over their time and we had 10 minutes to practice our song for Sacrament meeting. It still went well. Tom and Shantel were our speakers and it was a phenomenal meeting. Shantel spoke on peace and how to get it. She is such an eloquent speaker and she is as beautiful as she is sweet. I really love her. Her husband Tom is in our Bishopric and he did an excellent job as well. Primary was fun today. Our music leader was gone to a funeral so with her gone, that also took 3 of our children. we had a total of nine children between the nursery, Junior and Senior Primary.  Brother Williamson took over for her and he was so much fun for the children. I had a good time myself. lol I brought Lynn home with me while Tony came home in his truck, I had the table set so as soon as our friends showed up, I got out the salads and we had a great meal together. 

We sure enjoy these friends. Such GOOD PEOPLE!

After dinner, Drue went to visit some people and the five of us played GOLF. Drue came back a bit later and joined in with us. It was a lot of fun. I came in 1st place which was a fluke. After they all left, Tony went to his mother's to help her get her computer back on line with the help of Colby in Salt Lake and over the phone. I cleaned up my kitchen and then the Jarrett's came over and gave me a $50 dollar gift card to CHICK FIL A, for watching their cat. I told them that was ridiculous but they insisted. SO, I told them that they are going with us to use it and I didn't want any arguments from them!! They stayed and visited over an hour and Tony was still gone. After they left, I sat down and put on a movie. I was about 1/2 hour into it when Tony got home and watched the remainder with me. Then off to bed we went. Didn't sleep near as well last night but sufficient.

Pat's granddaughter, Kenzie, was at the Rec Center today with the little girls she nanny's. They are taking swimming lessons. She took a picture of me and Pat walking and sent it to Pat. lol I told Pat that this was a different perspective. Of course ya can't even see Pat. I cover up her skinny frame real well. lol

After walking at the gym this morning, we ate a quick breakfast and then I mowed the lawn and got the sprinklers going!

Loving my lilies but I still haven't seen the yellow ones yet!

I was red faced and sweating and it was still getting hotter.  90 degree's and climbing! Tony asked me if I could help him with the horizontal boards on the fence so after resting a bit and getting my heartbeat back to normal, I went out to help him.

We got all the horizontal boards in place.

Now, just to add all the fence boards. What a job. I came in after we got this done and called the Pharmacy in Spokane. I found out I have Blepharitis. It's mites on your eyelashes and my eye doctor called this Compound pharmacy in Spokane Washington who made a eyedrop for it. I told them that I'd got a call saying my insurance approved it, but I wanted to know the cost. I'd read it was very expensive! He got all my information and then said, 

"Yes, your insurance approved it so your co-pay is $575.00!!"  WHAT??? 

 I nearly choked. I said, "There's no way I can afford that!" He said they had a group that worked with getting the payment lowered and they would call me back. I went out and told Tony and he said he knew it was going to be high because the medication was around $2000 full price!  RIDICULOUS!  I told him they were going to call me back and what should I be willing to pay. He said $30. So I waited and finally got a call. She asked if we were a one or two household. I told her 2 and that we were retired. She asked if we made over $100.000 a year and I laughed! We didn't make that much when we both worked!! She asked my social, I told her and she said give me a few minutes.  Then she came back and said, "You've been approved for the grant"  I said "what does that mean? Am I required to pay for it over a certain amount of time?" She said, "No, it's a non-profit organization that helps with expensive medications if your approved! So I pay absolutely nothing!"  Man, I was relieved but I'm thinking, BIG PHARMA is out of control!! And I feel blessed. If it was going to be more than $30 dollars, I was going to let the little buggers stay there. (Kinda gross though)

GOD IS GOOD!

I HATE KIDNEY STONES

Yesterday we went to the Boise Temple because Meridian is closed for cleaning. We picked up Lynn and headed into town. Brother Poulson was going to go with us as well but, something came up with his job so he was unable to. 

We did two endowments and then went to CHUCK A RAMA for lunch afterwards. It was a beautiful day. When we got home, I got a package for the Jarretts off their porch and took it into their home. I had taken care of the cat before going to the temple. I was glad of that because the said they were on their way home from McCall, and we wanted to go to the gym. We met Pat at the gym and walked our 4 miles. I have been feeling very lethargic and just not up to par. We sat on the couch and watched HUDSON & REX in the evening and around 9, I started having low back pain on the left side. It persisted and I knew I had a kidney stone trying to pass. I've had enough of them, so I know what's going on.  I tried sleeping in bed, but it just wasn't happening. I ended up pacing the floor downstairs and sitting on the toilet half the night. I finally put a heating pad on my side and was able to drift off for a bit on the couch. It was awful. Such a lousy night and not one I want to repeat tonight. I was glad we didn't have to get up early this morning and serve at the temple because I wouldn't have made it. Tony came down at 7am, so I got up. I fed him breakfast and then he headed outside to work on the fence. I took an Aleive and started drinking lemon water.

Patrick came out to help Tony and they got the old part tore down and the posts dug out.

They hope to get all the new posts cemented in and will put the boards up on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

I got busy making a potato salad and then a macaroni salad for dinner tomorrow. When I finished with those, I made a rub for a pork roast and got that in the slow cooker.  Then I came up and started going through my drawers and getting rid of clothes I can't wear.( well, I could if I lost weight) Tony had taken down all the tubs that I had things stored in as well so I got rid of a lot of the clothes in them too. He did the same thing a few days ago. He said if we lose weight, we'll just buy new things. lol 

Well, I guess I'll go rest before Tony comes in.  I think I passed the stone because I'm feeling much better. AND glad I got some things accomplished today. 

Posts are cemented in and they be putting the fence boards on Monday or Tuesday! 

It will be great to have a fence that is not sagging.

WISHING I FELT BETTER

We went to bed last night  and I slept pretty good but not as well as Tony. We had an Electricians Brunch this morning at JO MOMMA'S in Meridian at 10 am. I didn't get up till 8 but I've been feeling so wore out lately. I think it's a combination of allergies,  this cold and generally feeling yucky. Nonetheless, we went to Lynn's before going to Meridian. Tony's trying to get her computer working again. He finally figured out that somehow, it got a child protection app put on and he doesn't know how to get it off. We are expecting a call from Colby later this evening and I'm sure he'll be able to help.

We went on into the brunch and enjoyed visiting with the electricians and their wives. Tony and I shared an omelet and hashbrowns and a pancake the size of TEXAS! It was huge!!  I'm sure glad we shared the breakfast and we are both still full! 

We came home and I went to take care of Katy Kat and put the Jarrett's trash cans away. Then we picked up Lynn and went to the gym. Pat was waiting for me and we went in and walked our 4 miles. How, I don't know. My legs don't want to move.....

After dropping off Lynn, we came home and grabbed the cookies and candy for Carol Ross.

I tried delivering it yesterday only to find out she had to stay in the hospital overnight. So, we did it today. We had a brief visit with her and her daughter Debbie, and then came home. Tony has one more Priesthood interview tonight and then we are going to rest.  Guess I'll work on cards till he is ready to watch some TV.

HOME AGAIN AND WORK TO DO

We got home Saturday night around 6 and went immediately to Costco for gas and we grabbed a hotdog and a drink. Tony and his mom got ice-cream. Then we took Lynn home and got her all unloaded. Then we repeated things at our house and I immediately started on laundry and emptying suitcases.  We had Stake Conference on Sunday and Tony and I had a 7am Leadership meeting so we went to bed and got some rest. It was hard getting up Sunday morning but the meeting was worth it. We then went to pick up Lynn and bring her to our house. We had waffles and sausages for breakfast and then we watched conference on zoom. After conference, Tony had a meeting at our house with his Presidency and so Lynn and I stayed in the back room and watched COME FOLLOW UP. When Tony finished, we went to Carol Ross's apartment to meet her daughter and play games. Carol was having shoulder surgery on Tuesday and she wanted us to meet her daughter Debbie. It was a nice evening and before leaving her place, Tony and Brother Barker gave Carol a priesthood blessing. 

I try and water my plants on Monday so I'm on a schedule and when I went to water my PEACE LILY that Pat gave me when Joyce died, I noticed it had a bloom on it. COOL!~

After the gym, I worked on a card while Tony was helping his mother with several things. It's not done but I wanted to try the die . Now I need to do some inking and it'll be complete. 

I got the lawn mowed on Monday because Tony had a chiropractor appointment and then had to take Lynn in for one as well. So Tuesday, we got out our owls and put them up.

Here's little Hedwig........

And here's BIG HEDWIG!

My white lilies are blooming and I love them.

BUT, I love the colored ones even more!

I should have a yellow one opening up soon but so far, the pink and orange are all that's opened. I sure enjoy flowers and I'm very pleased with our yard. Tony emptied one of the sheds today so he can start rebuilding the fence on the right side of the house. I'm cat tending for the Jarretts so have been going over to clean the litter box, feed her and of course pet her. She loves that!

It's been very windy today and a lot cooler than usual. I had an eye appointment to get a prescription for progressive glasses. I can see fine far away but still need glasses to read. I found out that I am starting to develop a problem on my lids and eyelashes. It had a big name but basically, it's a small mite that gets into the eye. She said it has nothing to do with hygiene and I have no idea how I got it. She has a special pharmacy in Spokane that makes an eye drop to kill the critters. I will have to put it in my eye two times a day for 6 weeks. I guess it stings but once they die, it should be fine. She said if we don't take care of it, they can make you lose your eye lashes eyc. 

I WANT THEM GONE FOR SURE!! 

NEW TEMPLES TO ATTEND

We drove out to Syracuse Temple on Friday morning. It's where the GREAT SALT LAKE  used to be. The lake is drying up and getting smaller and I guess it won't be returning because the Lord wouldn't have a temple built there if it would be a problem. 

There was a lot of housing there as well and schools, a Costco etc. Man, the Salt Lake area is growing!!

It was a beautiful temple (as they all are) and the grounds are gorgeous.

I loved the shape of this one and it reminded me of the Rome temple minus one steeple. lol We did an endowment session with Alivia, Diane and Mom Norton and the 2 of us. 

Cory came to pick up Alivia  and then we drove to the Linder temple at the other end of the valley. It's past the point of the mountain. It was beautiful as well. Jess joined us with this one and then we went to APPLEBEES and met with Colby and Cindy for dinner. Why I didn't get a picture is beyond me. OOPS!  We had a nice dinner and a good visit and then and then we said our good byes and Tony and I headed back to Debbie's house. We didn't stay up late as we were leaving for home on Saturday morning. 

We had mom Norton with us and were taking her home after being gone nearly 2 months.  We weren't able to go through the Pocatello temple while we were in Eastern Idaho a few weeks ago because it was closed for cleaning. So we decided to go home on Saturday by way of Pocatello and take advantage. So, we did. We'd gone through the open house with Mom and Joyce but we wanted to do an endowment there. We have now attended      temples. 

BUT WHOSE COUNTING! LOL

GOD IS GOOD!~

MORE UTAH TRIP

We love going shopping in downtown Salt Lake and we went to Deseret Book. When we visited Colby and Cindy on Monday night, Cindy showed me some wood puzzles that Colby had given her for Christmas. They were so pretty so when I saw them for sale in Deseret Book, I had to have one....

It was hard to choose which one I wanted.

SO, I chose two. The rose for me and the Sunflower for my friend Pat. Now, I'm anxious to see if they sell them in our Deseret Book here in Boise. I may get more. lol

I have always loved this picture of the Savior running to save a lost sheep.  It's a small 5x7 but it's perfect.

Then, Tony asked if I wanted the picture of the Savior by Kristen Yee. We loved her conference talk on how she painted this picture and then applied the finish before it was completely dry. The paint ran and she thought her painting was ruined. She called her mother and she gave her great advice which was: 

AND she created this painting. It is so good, it looks like a photograph. It's amazing. We looked at several and chose this one because we liked the frame the best. 

As we were getting to go into the Church Museum, I saw this man walking towards us and I knew immediately who he was. I said "Brother Brown,   from Jamaica?"  ..."YES",  I told him how much I loved his Conference talk on Testimony in 2024!  He was such a wonderful man. I asked if we could have a picture with him and he said "Of Course" and then he asked a young man who was doing some gardening if he would take our picture.  It made my day! After he left us, Tony said, "How do you do that?"  .......

It's a gift! lol  We went into the museum and went through the art exhibit and the others pertaining to church history.

We ended our visit the in the store and Tony got me this Tree of Life necklace. I LOVE IT! I've been wearing it non stop. So pretty!

GOD IS GOOD!~

OUR UTAH TRIP

We left for Utah around noon on Saturday.  We went to Boise and filled the car with gas at he Costco there. It was cheaper than Nampa. We had a tailwind all the way to Bountiful and got tremendous gas mileage. Tony was elated. We got to Debbie's between 5:30 & 6.

We played some games with Deb and Danae. Alivia came over in the late evening and she looks fabulous. She is losing weight and she looks amazing. Kudo's to her. Sunday, we went to church  with Deb and Danae. Man, their ward looks like our Stake Conference. Our ward is shrinking like crazy so it was something to be in a ward that size. We were envious. lol Around noon, we drove to Bluffdale . Diane had invited us all out to dinner. Alivia, Danae and Deb took their car and Tony and I drove out in ours. Deb was trying to avoid anyone who was sick because she was having hip surgery in a week. Jess had caught a cold on one of his trips and was on the tail end of it. Deb decided to eat out in her car and she and her girls left immediately after dinner. I took advantage to do the same. I was going to Heather's to spend the night and the following day with her. My poor baby is having a real struggle and I wanted to be with her. Jon had taken the kids swimming so after Tony said hello to Heather, he left and went back to Dianes. Heather and I visited until Jon and the kids came home briefly and then left for his sister's home to have the monthly family dinner. Heather and I continued to visit and she poured her heart out to me. Oh how I wish I could do more than just listen. My heart hurts for her. Once Jon and the kids got home, we all went to bed and Heather and I continued to visit in bed till around 2am. We finally drifted off and started our day on Monday early. I made pancakes for the kids and then we got busy cleaning house. We picked up clothes, did laundry, folded clothes, put them away, cleaned Mara's room and the loft. It took us all day but it was good to be busy. We went to the store and Heather got a few items to make dinner. I went out to check on the kids.

Mara was skating in the driveway.

She posed for me in the grass. 

Sawyer was in the backyard picking weeds so I helped him until Mara came out and told us to come in for dinner. Jon was home and thanked me for helping in the yard. We ate dinner and it was delicious. Heather can cook like no other. I wish I had her talent. 

Tony came to pick me up at 7PM. Jon had been out mowing the lawn  but finished and went for a walk.  I told Heather I wanted to get a picture of her and the kids on the front porch. Jon  came around the corner, so we waited till he got home and took a nice photo. Carol was coming to visit Heather on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday. I told her to stay in touch. I called her Tuesday and she said she had decided to drive to St. George with the kids and stay at her in-laws condo. She didn't want to be home on her anniversary.

Tuesday, we went to Temple Square. We had been able to get tickets to the Visitor Center's tour. We parked in the Nordstrom parking lot below City Creek Mall and walked over to Temple Square.  Part of the square are still sectioned off , as they are still working on the temple but soon it will be open for 6 months for the open house. There are new statues on display on the grounds.  

They were beautiful. The grounds are going to be so wonderful when it is all done. 

We went into the New  Visitor Center and the stature of 

THE LIVING CHRIST 

is now on display with the temple in the window view.

We saw another beautiful statue of the Savior before we took the elevator to the basement to start the tour.

There was also a model of the SLC Temple with a picture of the temple in the background of all the scaffolding around it when it was being strengthened, reinforced and upgraded. We started the tour, which was fantastic! I wished I'd known we could take pictures from the start but I didn't so I missed a picture of the entry to the temple. The church has made this tour with life size rooms of what it's like in a temple. Such a brilliant idea! 

There was a baptismal font on a smaller scale. BUT, it let people know what one looks like and the Sister missionaries explained why we do baptism for our dead ancestors.

They explained that all our font's in the temples are supported by 12 oxen, which symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel.

We went into an endowment room and the stained glass windows were beautiful. 

The sisters explained what we do in an endowment room and explained that the endowment is a gift from God 

We then went into a Celestial room. The furniture, lights, flowers, vases and windows were all gorgeous.

The chandelier was beautiful as they all are in the celestial rooms. 

It was such a wonderful tour and I am so glad that people can see what the inside of a temple looks like and what we do in them.

They also showed us a sealing room and explained how we can seal our ancestors to us through the sealing ordinance. 

After exiting the main part of the tour, there was a BIG model of the SLC Temple and it was cut away showing all the rooms inside. 

It was really cool but I had the hardest time getting in front of it as there were so many people looking at it.  SO there is a bit of a glare and it's hard to see the rooms clearly. But, it was a cool thing to do and we were so happy to have gotten tickets. While we were on the last leg of this visit, I got a call from the dermatologist saying that the spot on my nose that they took the biopsy on is clear!!   YAY!~

GOD IS GOOD!!