CARDS, CAKE & BAPTISM

I'm trying to get rid of a lot of die cuts I've had lying around for ages. I made these gate fold cards with the Chinese writing die I had. I doubled up the letters so they are 4 layers thick. I looked up on the Internet to see what (if any) that these letters mean. Well, it means HAPPY NEW YEAR! Who knew! Not me!

I think I will make a tag that says Happy New Year, in English to attach to them. We attended the temple yesterday with Mom and Diana. We each did 2 endowments and then took Diana home. We then hurried to eat lunch at......you guessed it! 

CHICK FIL A  lol   Needed a fast place because we then had to run mom home and we had to be at the church by 3:15 to meet with the Elder's and Chris. We had his lesson and then Chris met with the District leader and got his baptismal interview. His baptism is tomorrow at 5PM. Tony has been asked to baptize him. Tony said he'd forgot to buy Chris shoes so after his interview, we took Chris with us and Tony dropped me off at home and he took Chris to DI and got him some church shoes. Then he came back to our house and Tony had new socks that were still in a package and he gave him them. Chris is set for tomorrow evening. He's excited! I had book club on Thursday evening and I picked up Klynn and Lynn and we drove to Effie's house. The Dickerson's are moving in 2 weeks to one of their rentals and selling their home to Brother Dickerson's sister. I hate to see them move out of the ward but it happens. 

Tony did not sleep well last night. He gets all worked up about things that he has no control over and he can't quit thinking about them so then he can't sleep. He ended up going downstairs to the couch and turning on a program he could fall asleep to it. When I got up, he was still sleeping so I went ahead and made the

TEXAS SHEET CAKE 

for the baptism tonight. It was in the oven and had 8 minutes left to cook as I was making the icing. Tony had gone upstairs to get ready to go to the gym and when he came down ready to go, I said 

"If you'll wait a few minutes, I can go with you" 

I had decided NOT to go the previous night because Pat was sick and not going to be there, but I was ready to change my mind after the cake was done. Afterall, it's a woman's prerogative to do so. lol

We went, I walked with Carol and Rena for 2 miles and they were done so I got on the elliptical for 5 miles. When we came home, we stopped at the church and picked up some plates and plastic wear and napkins for tonight. Then when we got home, we grabbed a quick bite. Tony went to his mother's to make sure her vitamins etc were filled and I started the dishwasher and then put in a load of laundry.

Tony's  going to trim the lilac tree today and when things warm up and we can put in a new shrub of some kind, he is going to take it out completely. It never has been a pretty tree. We are lucky to get a couple of lilacs on it. It's mostly leaves. The flag hangs above it and catches on the branches and rips all the time so we need to remedy that as well. Off to pick up Mom and Chris for his baptism.

Chris looked pretty good in his new pants, white shirt, black shoes  black socks and and tie.

Elder, Fenton and Elder Fritz with Chris! Chris wanted to be baptized on his birthday and he did. He turned 31 today!

Tony was honored to be asked by Chris to baptize him.

Before the baptism, Chris wanted a picture with all the missionaries who have worked with him. From the left: Sister Curtis, Sister Harris, Sister Fonua, CHRIS then Elder Fenton & Elder Fritz 

Sister Fonua is from Tonga and she taught Chris this hand signal which means TONGA! She said they had to do it. lol

The Elder's were the witnesses' and Tony baptized Chris. 

He had asked his sister  (Starla) to give a talk on Baptism and she did a great job. Chris was very happy with the turnout to his BIG DAY and we ended by eating cake. Chris is so funny! He said to me that the cake was "Surprisingly good!"  lol

It has been such a pleasure for Tony and me to be serving with the Missionaries. We have seen baptisms for Yeti, Liz and now Chris. Then Drue  (who is new to our ward) asked us if we would go to the temple with him next month when he takes out his endowment. We met him at the Emotional Resilience class and he was in 6th ward. He moved to our ward and is now living with Yeti and is going with us to the temple to do baptisms this evening. He has been over to dinner with Yeti and is such a nice young man. It is such a joy to see people accept Jesus Christ and the gospel and to improve their situation in life. I love our life!

GOD IS GOOD!~

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK!

It has been an ongoing, something to do everyday.... Monday we went to the gym at 7am. Actually a little earlier than that. I had to be done because Tony and I had to set up tables and chairs for a funeral luncheon. The funeral was at 10 and Tony and I got things taken care of. I then stopped at Shelly's house, picked up her funeral potatoes and headed home. Shelly had a dentist appointment so I told her I'd bake her potatoes and get then to the church. Lynn was supposed to make a salad and she needed a cabbage. I had one so Tony took it to her while I did laundry and baked the potatoes. Then at 1:30, I went to the church with my brownies, Shelly's potatoes and Lynn's salad. 

Shawna, (the deceased's daughter) had come in and put up a table with pictures of her mother and some flower pots on the tables. The sister's and I put tablecloths on the tables and centered the flower pots again. Then we set up the food table, put water cups, water picture's and salt and pepper shakers on the tables.  Then we put the food on the serving table.

The funeral party showed up and we had the get their food , sit down and visit. I would have stayed to help clean up but Tony was at our tax appointment and Melissa had a cancelation so she asked if Lynn could come in for her haircut. I left to go pick her up and take her to SALTY BLONDE. I dropped Lynn off and then I ran to Walmart for some nylons and cough drops, then back to pick her up. I was scheduled to get mine down on Tuesday. I needed it bad. It's been 8 months or more since I got my hair done. After taking Lynn home, I went home and did some laundry. Then Tony and I relaxed  watching some TV before going to bed and to read our scriptures. We are studying the Old Testament this year and have been reading about Noah this past week. So interesting, and I appreciate how strong Noah was to do what the Lord asked him to do as he took so much ridicule from all the wicked. Great example to follow.

We got up Tuesday morning and again went to the gym early. I had my appointment to get my hair colored from Melissa. 

I wasn't going to get it cut but she told me the ends needed to be taken off because they were split and dry. SO, I had her take some off. I absolutely love the color!!

I wish I could make my hair look like this on my own

I took the picture she took of us and put it into CHAT GBT and it did this! I sure don't look good next to Melissa but I sure like my hair color. I told her I wanted to grow it out because I'm basically lazy and want to be able to put it up in a clip in the mornings when I go to the gym or after baptisms at the temple when I need to get dressed and out to do confirmations.  She just took off the ends. I finished up and headed home. I was happy to see Will was there waiting.

He had been waiting for about 10 minutes. Tony was still with Chris after his discussion with the Elder's in preparation for his baptism on Friday night. I had Will come in and we had a great visit for half an hour.  I tried to get him to spend the night as the skies looked ominous. He said he had to get home because he needed to work. I tried to feed him a chicken salad sandwich as well but he said he had cheeseburgers in the car. I said they would be cold and he assured me that a cold cheeseburger was good. lol I'm not convinced. 

I did an AI of the two of us because it's the CHINESE NEW YEAR. 

Anyway off he went. He said he'd keep me posted. Tony got home. He had taken Chris to get some new clothes for his baptism. Chris was very appreciative. Sweet of Tony! I had to pick up Lynn and go to the church for our Relief Society activity.

We were doing a baby shower for "JUST SERVE" and donating the gifts to the program who will distribute the items gathered to babies in war torn countries, or disaster areas etc.

We played shower games and had cakes, mints, veggies and crackers etc.  The games were fun but it sure proved how much I've forgotten.

One was about nursery rhymes, one was to name what baby animals are called, There were 15 animals listed and I only got one right. 

One was to blindfold someone, and then another sister directed her to a poster of a baby who needed a diaper put on it. It was fun and pretty cute. There were all sorts of prizes for the winners. When we finished, we bagged up several bags of items and took them out to Liz's car. She works in Boise and was taking the items to the location that will ship them off. We had so much baby stuff that she had to lay her seats down in her SUV so we could fit it all in. Pretty cool!

When I left the church, it was snowing (which we need desperately) but I was worried about Will. Just before bed, Will sent me a text and said the roads closed down from Baker to LeGrande. He was going to have to spend the night in Baker. He sent me a text today and said he was able to hit the road. He was thinking he might have to put chains on for THE BLUES  but sent me another text later and he got over them and they were clearing them so he didn't have to chain up. We got snow as we left the gym this morning and some stuck but then it quit. We need more.  Just gonna relax today till my Presidency meeting tonight. 

GOD ID GOOD!

FANTASTIC SATURDAY & SABBATH

What a wonderful  Saturday and Sabbath! Sacrament meeting was SO SPIRITUAL! I was so glad to have been in attendance! In this world of chaos and unrest, it is so amazing to go to church and the temple and feel of God's love. Sister Christy Watson, from the Stake spoke and she is simply GREAT! Her brother used to be our Stake President when we were in West Stake. Her whole family are incredible people. she has the absolute BEST personality and is funny and spiritual and incredibly friendly and kind! After she finished, Elssa got up with her violin and Jessica on the piano (which I was expecting) but then Conner Preece came up to the podium! I didn't know he was going to sing because he is in the young singles ward. His parents just bout a new home in the North Stake and will be moving. Conner in on the spectrum. He went on a mission and came home early and finished serving as a Service missionary. He is shy, has a hard time communicating with people, has some quirks and is somewhat awkward in front of people. BUT, the music started, he gripped the podium, closed his eyes and started to sing, 

"SAVIOR, REDEEMER OF MY SOUL"! 

The congregation was still as he sang with so much emotion and incredibly beautiful. I felt the spirit so strongly as I know everyone did! There was not a dry eye on the stand, including the Bishop, his councilors, Christy, the High Councilman, or in the audience, as I could hear sniffles in the congregation all around me. It was the absolute best performance I have ever heard in church and I've heard a lot!! I hated for it to end. A moment to reme\mber for sure!

After church, we drove Drew home as he was without a car. He lives with Yeti at the end of our street. Then Carol came over as well as Liz to enjoy lunch with Tony, mom Norton and myself. I made chicken salad sandwiches, carrot stix, chips and Valentine cookies. It was so good, if I do say so myself. lol Scott called me to check in as we were eating and I was so happy to hear from him.  After dinner, we played games and at 3:30, Tony left for a two hour Stake meeting and us gals kept on playing. We finished GOLF and I won surprisingly, and then we played TRASH, which Liz won. Tony got home just as we were finishing up. I asked if thy wanted to play another game and they all said it was time to go home. Liz drove Mom home as she just lives around the corner from her. Carol was so sweet and gave me some book marks.

I thanked her and said I would hand them out at Book Club next Thursday. They are lovely. After they all left, I cleaned up my kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and then made homemade Brownies for the funeral on Monday. 

 I got a recipe from Jenni Preece and it is every bit as good as a boxed Brownie mix.  When I got them in the oven, Tony and I watched some Hawaii 5o.  Then to bed to read our scriptures and sack out. Had to get up early Monday morning.We got up at 6:15 and went to the gym early as we needed to set up tables and chairs for a funeral which was going to be at 10 am. We got to the church as the ZEYER'S was bringing in the casket. 

Wanda Sickels passed. 

Her husband used to be our Ministering brother and he has been gone several years now. Her daughter, Shawna lived with her and will now be moving to Boise to live with her brother.  We got the tables and chairs set up and headed home. Lynn called and said she needed to go to the hospital. Said she was having trouble (like Joyce was having). Tony said he would change his clothes, eat quickly and come get her. He did and evidently, she changed her mind and said she was fine when he got there.He took her to COSTCO anyway to cash her rebate check and pick up some things. I've got the potatoes in the oven and getting ready to take things to the church for the funeral luncheon. Now Tony said Melissa had a cancelation and cn cut Lynn's hair at 3:15 so I will have to take her because Tony has to go to our tax appointment. Man, plans change in a hurry. 

VALENTINE'S WEEKEND 2026

I got a text from my nephew, Wiliam, on Thursday evening. He said he was heading to Rexburg on Friday and was wondering if he could spend the night. OF COURSE. I did tell him that we were Veil Coordinators on Saturday so had to be up at 4am and gone by 4:45. He said he would try to get here by 6PM. 

I got a text from him around 2 in the afternoon saying he got tired and had to pull over for a 2 hour nap. He was smart to do that and I told him I would leave the front door open and made up a bed for him in the back room. I didn't even hear him come in. We got up at 4am and when we left, he was still asleep, so unfortunately, we didn't see him. However, he sent me a text when we got out of the temple and said he would stop on the way home next Tuesday and visit for a half hour or so. Looking forward to that!

It was a wonderful day in the temple. We parked on the front row this morning.Snapped a picture and then entered.  We love to work at the veil and we had a very spiritual experience today. It was beautiful and totally sealed the day!

I got out to the car before Tony. It was a hazy day but the temperature was warm. 60 degrees today!  Our engine light came on AGAIN this morning before we left so when we left the temple, we went to Les Schwab and they ran another test. Now they are saying it might be our alternator or something to do with the air intake. We have to go have it checked at another place but we're doing it Monday. 

We came home, changed our clothes and then went to 

TEXAS ROAD HOUSE for our Valentine's Day dinner. I got a steak and Tony got salmon. It was delicious. 

When we got home, I made chicken salad for our dinner tomorrow. I have invited Liz and Carol to come over and have dinner with  Tony, me and Lynn. Then we're gonna play games. I sure love my chicken shredder. We liked it so well that we bought all the kids one for Christmas last year. Hope they like it. After I got it done, I put some in a container along with a couple of croissants for the Taylor sisters. Then I out ours in the refrigerator and headed to deliver to the sisters and to drop off a calendar to Robin. Then home again. 

Check out my amaryllises !It's about ready to bloom a 2nd time. Looks like it will have 3 blooms.

This is so me. I do love working with paper.

I made Tony's Valentine card. 

It was a fancy fold one. Fun to make. Now, we are relaxing and waiting for the new Elder's to come visit at 6PM. Just gonna hang and watch TV till then. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY YA'ALL! 

THURSDAY DELIVERIES & ELECTRICIANS LUNCHEON

Deb called me last night to see how my bread turned out. I told her we hadn't even cut into it yet but that I thought I didn't make deep enough cuts in the top. She said to send her a picture so I did. She said it looked good but maybe next time to cut the top deeper. She also asked me what kind of flour I used. I told her All Purpose. She said she uses bread flour. (I'm not much of a baker because I didn't know there was a difference.)  lol

So, after the gym this morning, I cut it in half, wrapped up one half for Robin, because she loves sourdough and I cut a slice from our half and toasted it. It was good. I sent a picture to Deb and she gave me a thumbs up. lol I'll use bread flour next time, cut deeper slits in the top and see what difference it makes.

I got five plates of cookies make up and went to Robin's and to the Taylor sisters to deliver their card and cookies. Had a good visit with both homes. I was going to see Wendy but she was not home, so I told her I'd come after our Electricians Luncheon.

The luncheon was at CASA MEXICO in Meridian. We've been there before and it's OK but not my favorite place to eat. There were 20 of us there. 

I couldn't get a picture of our side so it doesn't look like that many but there were.  When we got home, Tony went back to his mother's. He and she went to buy a toilet after the gym and while I was making two of my visits. Her downstairs toilet was leaking and so he had to put in a new one. Anyway, he didn't get finished so he went back to her house and I went to deliver to Wendy. When I finished with her, I went to ROSS. 

For our Relief Society on the 17th, we are having a

"BABY SHOWER"  JUST SERVE is a sight we go to to see what service we can render within our own community or around the world. The one we chose is to buy baby needs to be sent to various places within the US or around the globe. We are asking the women to bring an outfit, socks, diapers,  wipes, toys etc and after we  gather them all, Liz (our newest member9 has volunteered to deliver them to the place in Boise that collects them and ships them off. 

I got three onesies and a toy.

We will play "Baby Shower " games and have refreshments as well. It will be a fun evening.

I have one more plate and card to deliver to Liz and then I'm done. she works and is not off till five. She works in Boise so I won't be going over till 6 or so. Then I'm done for the day. which has been a good day! GOD IS GOOD!~

SWIG FOR THE WIN!!

Tony and I went to the gym a bit late this morning. Didn't get up till 8. Pat was not going to be there so no big hurry! lol  It had been raining before we left but had stopped. BUT, it started up again as we left the gym. SO GRATEFUL for the moisture. 

We can sure use more so I hope it continues.

Got home, and I made us a blueberry banana smoothie and a slice of cinnamon toast for breakfast. Noticed my Christmas cactus is blooming nicely. After we ate, I made myself a few templates for some quilt cards. Then I started folding. Tony had to go to an eye appointment at 1:30, so I started making the dough for some VALENTINE SWIG COOKIES.

Got 5 dozen made and then whipped up some butter sour cream icing

I had to frost one to try it out......OK, then I ate another!

Mmmmmm, so good!

Between baking batches, I folded circles for this quilted card. Got it put together and decided I liked it so much.......

I made another.  Finished my cookies and put them in a couple of containers and refrigerated them. I will ice them as I deliver to my friends. Now to get 3 more cards done and get ready to make some visits. Gotta go to the Preece's home at 6 and help move. They are moving to the North Stake after 26 years in their home in our ward. Boo! So hate to see them leave.

Got five cards done. Not perfect but they will do. It's time to go to the Preece's to help them move some things.

It's been a great day.

GOD IS GOOD!~