LIVIE'S HOME FROM HER MISSION

We met some of the family at the airport Thursday evening at 5 to welcome Alivia home from her mission. 

I got a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Cleaver with their little granddaughter. Evelyn is such a little doll!

It was so fun to see Livie come out of the airport hallway and to see her expression as she was greeted by her family and friends!  She was so happy to finally meet the baby and get to hold her.

From the left: Melissa, Nathan, Livie and Evie, Ellie, Joe, Gravce and Blake. Grace is due to have her baby in July.

Aunt Alivia and Baby Evelyn

The three Cleaver siblings and their spouses and  baby Evie.

Me, Livie and Tony

AKA: Grandpa & Grandma Norton

Margie (Melissa's best friend) came to see her home as well as her Grandma & Grandpa Cleaver. 

It was such a fun evening and it didn't end there. We went home for a bit while they went to eat and get Livie home to settle in. She had never seen her parents new home so that was fun for her. We were invited up to their home because she was getting released from her mission at 8 PM. We still had Lynn with us and we drove up at the assigned time. President Wolstenhulme and his wife and Brother Bossen came up and we had a very spiritual get together on the new patio. It was a beautiful evening and Livie told us things about her mission as the President asked her questions. He had each of us tell Livie what we learned from her while she was on her mission. It was such a wonderful experience.  When she was released, she had Ellie video her taking off her Missionary tag and she went and jumped in the pool, dress and all!  It was so fun and her siblings and spouses  joined her soon after. She wants to send it to her Mission president.

The pool was a warm 87 degrees and what a view!

It was a Great day!

GOD IS GOOD!

WHAT A GREAT SATURDAY !

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY

Saturday, our temple day was so awesome.  The trees along the sidewalk were all in bloom with their snowy white blossoms. We had a wonderful day serving and I was so excited to see Ellie and Alivia. They came to do Initiatory and I was in the main hall so I got to see them come in. Then I was at new name when they left so I got to see them again. It's always wonderful to see family at the temple.

They took this picture as they left. Beautiful girls.

When we left, I took a picture of the flower bed and the bulbs are all coming up and the grounds are lovely!!

We drove back to Nampa and guess where we went?? YEP,

Chick Fil A! We had to eat quickly because we made an  appointment to come back at 5 for baptisms. We ate and visited with our neighbors across the street for a bit about our yards. They are thinking about giving up their garden area like we did so we had a nice visit in our back yard. Then we came in and rested for a bit. We picked up Mom and Liz at 4pm and Drue picked up Christopher. (Yeti had to back out because he needed to get a new part in his car ) We called Tammy and Chris and they were on their way with the little boys. When we got to the temple, we were thrilled to see Elder Fenton and Elder Fritz as well as 6 Sister missionaries. 2 of which had served in our ward recently. Sister Curtis was dressed to do baptisms and so were the Elders. Sister Fonua and the other 4 sisters sat in the baptismal chapel and watched. 

These are the Elder's and the Sister's who helped us and Christopher is in the middle. Christopher has been a member a month now and he was so excited to attend the temple. He blessed the sacrament for the 1st time last Sunday and he was able to baptize for the 1st time on Saturday. He did a great job. He was nervous but he relaxed the more baptisms he performed. Our grandson (little Tony) had Christopher baptize him. It was sweet. There was a temple worker who came up to Christopher as we were getting ready to leave and told him how much he could feel the spirit as Christopher baptized. It made Christopher feel good and he said he felt it too.

We were able to get 89 baptisms and 89 confirmations completed with the group we had. It was an awesome evening.  From the left: Drue, who just took out his endowment last Saturday,  Elder Fenton, then Elder Fritz (little Tony in front of them) Liz, a convert almost 6 months. Christopher in the middle and he's been a member a month. Sister Curtis and Sister Fonua and me and Tammy in front of us. Mom and Chris on the right and Corbin behind us on the fountain. We were so grateful to the Elder's and Sisters who came to support our new members and to help us with our names. Drue and Elder Fenton each did 4 of their own family plus helping us with family names. It is such a joy for me and Tony to be able to help the Missionaries as we go on visits with them and get to know friends who are investigating the gospel and coming unto Christ.

GOD IS GOOD

FRIDAY AND ALL IS WELL

We went to the gym and walked our 4 miles. I've seriously got to do something more. I am not getting thinner but I'm still upright and walking.  I guess that's something. lol

When we got home, I was in awe of my flowering cherry tree. It is starting to bloom and it's beautiful! 

I love this tree so much. I just wish the blossoms lasted longer!

I needed to use my sourdough starter and feed it again, so I made a loaf of bread. I had to pull and stretch it every 30 minutes for 5 times. It takes a while to make this bread but it's sure good when it's done. I got it to the point where it sits in the dutch oven for several hours in the fridge. I didn't have room in the fridge and it's not cold enough outside anymore to set it on the back step, so I set it in the back room and let it sit and rise. Planned to cook it Saturday, after our temple shift. Then I went to my craft room and worked on 3 cards.

I used some of the words that I'd cut out. I glued several together to make the word rise and look 3 dimensional. Then I placed them on a gatefold card. Something to do before turning in Friday evening early. We went to bed early because we serve in the temple Saturday. We were in bed a short time when our doorbell rang. WHAT!! I practically jumped out of bed. Tony quickly did jump out and put on his pants and ran downstairs. HOWEVER, not quick enough. It was Clint, coming to pick up Joyce's mail but he drove off before Tony could get to the door. Tony called him and asked him to come back, which he did. THEN, we got to sleep. lol

My tree blooms a little more each day and this was it on Saturday when we got home from the temple on Saturday. Saturday to be continued.

IT'S A GOOD LIFE

It has been another busy week and now that the weather is getting warm, it's gonna be non-stop!! Of course, Monday, we did the gym thing and then celebrated with Mom Norton for her 94th birthday. Tuesday was our temple day. Starting by picking up Lynn and Diana Brown at 8:45am and ending at 2PM in the afternoon. It was such a productive day serving our ancestor's, so it was great!  Tuesday night was Relief Society and it was our yearly "PAINT NIGHT"... I'm terrible and didn't do any better on this one than I did on any of the others. Jon, my son in law will get another canvas to paint over and make something worthwhile. lol

We did an ocean sunset scene. My palm trees look like "FEATHER DUSTERS" ... LOL  BUT, check out some of the other sisters work!

I was really impressed with some of them!! These Palm trees look great!!  I need to start over!!!  But I won't! lol

This is Beanna Edge. Now married, and I don't know her last name. She came with her mom, and used to be one of my Young Women when I was Young Woman President.  So cute!

Val Jorgensen used to be another of my Young women. She's still in the ward and is a school teacher now. She did a mountain scene and did a great job!

Sister Wilson did a mountain scene as well and did a great job!!

I love this one!! Beautiful all the way around!!

JoHanna and I sat together and we had the best time laughing at ourselves and our master pieces! lol

Daniela and her mother, Chabuka sat with us as well. Daniela added birds and stars and a hammock on her painting. It was a fun night and a GREAT turnout. After putting up all the tables and chairs (thanks for the help from Val Jorgensen) and some other sisters, but mostly Val, I came home and went to bed. Dead tired!

We went to the gym, Wednesday morning, walked our 4 miles and Pat gave me this beautiful pot and the stand. She said she wasn't using it anymore and wanted me to have it. I put the plant (she gave me when Joyce died) in it and I love it higher!!

It really looks nice!

Even Tony said it looks better than just sitting on the floor. It's been a very healthy plant in this location so I hope it continues to thrive.  We ate a quick breakfast and then I had my yearly eye appointment. My eyesight is horrible! I have 3 cataracts in my left eye (I didn't even know there were different kinds) and one in the right. She said I needed to get them removed so they are making an appointment for me to meet with Dr, Barrett from Hollingshead.  Not sure when they will remove them but she said I will be amazed at how well I can see when they are taken out. YAY!! We went straight from the appointment to Robin's to put her "CAT HOUSE"  lol together.

It took us awhile and Tony did most of it but I helped some when I made some suggestion's he didn't see. He told me "good job" Laverne.  lol He also hung a beveled glass thing she wanted hy=ung up and then we came home and ate a quick lunch before heading out to do yard work. Yes, it's that time of year!!

We cleaned out the berm in the front yard and cut back bushes, pulled weeds etc! Tony blew off all the leaves and whatnot and I mowed it up.  My cherry tree is budding out!

We moved to the back yard and did the same. A lot more trees and bushes in the back to trim and clean up!  WHAT A JOB!! It's gonna be a dry summer, because we didn't get a lot of snow so we are cutting back on planting. We pulled up the raised garden too and I have a bunch of carrots to give to Pat for her rabbits. Not sure they will be good to eat. Maybe!  

I cleaned out my flower pots and then mowed the back yard. We were both so stiff and sore when we came in. The temp was 81 and beautiful outside. We showered and got ready for bed. Watched an episode of NCIS Origin and then came up to read our scriptures and go to bed. It's a good life! 

GOD IS GREAT!~

LYNN TURNS NINETY FOUR TODAY

Last night,Tony finished this puzzle and he's already started on another. A  2000 piece Star Wars one. 

That should take him some time....  lol

We went to the gym this morning and I walked with Pat. We always have so much to talk about and thoroughly enjoy one another's company. After we finished we went to Walmart to find a thumb drive to put the pictures of Gary Popes funeral on, so I can present it to his wife, Janet. MAN, WERE THEY EXPENSIVE!!

I've never seen thumb drives go for so much money! One was three hundred and something!! The cheapest was around 40 dollars.   I did pick up a skein of yarn. I would have gotten more but they only had one in the colors I wanted,SO, I'll check the other Walmart on Garrity soon. We came home and Tony ordered a thumb drive off Amazon for $10.  It will be here tomorrow and I'll download the pictures I took, and take it to Janet with a sympathy card. At 2:45, we picked up Lynn, and took her to TEXAS ROADHOUSE for her birthday. She turned 94 today!

She and Tony split a full rack of ribs and two sides. I got a 6 ounce steak and 2 sides. We also got a BLOOMIN ONION for an appetizer. I gave my green beans to Tony after I'd had a couple of bites. Then he gave me some of the corn they had. It was good and Lynn was happy to have a good dinner.

I took a picture of Tony and his mom after we'd eaten. Lynn is exactly 20 years older than her son.  Then a lady and her husband were leaving and she offered to take one of the three of us. 

After leaving TEXAS ROADHOUSE, we took Lynn to COLDSTONE for some ice-cream. She and Tony split the FOUNDER'S FAVORITE and I got a drink. I think she enjoyed celebrating a 2nd time. (We celebrated on Saturday night in a joint birthday party) and she is going to celebrate again in Utah in a few weeks. She said she got several phone calls today and so she feels pretty good. We brought her home and now I'm finishing up laundry (I washed our sheets) and Tony just left to put Lynn's washer & dryer into her downstairs bathroom. Yeti is home from work and helping him. We were asked to set up tables and chairs for tomorrow nights Relief Society activity so I asked Tony if he and Yeti would do it after they get the washer & dryer job done. He said they would. Now I'm going up to put my bed back together. That's a job all on it's own.   A BIG OOPS!!  While I was upstairs, putting the sheets back on my bed and taking a shower, I had my phone on the charger down stairs in the living room. Tony tried to call me to tell me he needed help, as Yeti had to go to a singles activity and couldn't help with the table and chairs. By the time I got to the church, he had all the tables set up and I just helped with the chairs. 

SORRY ABOUT THAT!! 

I swear, it's always something.  But, it's done and I'll have to be the one to take down tomorrow night after the activity. A couple of the younger sisters help but 90% of us are my age, so there's that!!

TUESDAY THRU FRIDAY HAS BEEN BUSY

Tuesday, Tony and I subbed at the temple for the Stringham's. We started at 7am and worked till 11am. Then we did Initiatory. I was only able to do 5 but Tony was able to do 10. We then did an endowment and left a little after 2. We went to CHICK FIL A for lunch and then came home. I got out a bunch of scrap paper and some word dies and started cutting. I got a lot cut. Words like love, hope, hugs, birthday, thanks, happy, you,  etc. Then I had to untangle them and place them in separate containers. I should have been a little smarter and done that from the beginning. lol

I'm now gluing about 5 of each word together to make a thick word that will stand out on a card. That's gonna take some time, but it gives me something to do while watching TV.  At least until I get more yarn to crochet. lol 

I was expecting Chris and Norma to come back through Nampa, on their way home from Bellingham. I was in contact with Chris and  he was thinking they would arrive around 9 or so Wednesday night. I got busy and made 17 breakfast burritos, and a batch of peanut butter cookies. I figured they might be hungry when they arrived. WELL, it wasn't to be. Chris got a hold of me later and said they let the kids sleep in while he and Norma looked at a place where she might start her business. Then found out the Susquehanna pass was closed, due to a bad storm and several slide off's and crashes. They were rerouted through Portland and he said don't wait up for us. He thought they might have to stop somewhere before they got to Nampa.  As it was, we went to bed and got up at 6am to go to the gym.  I looked at my watch and there was a text from Chris. They got to Nampa at 2:30 in the morning. I felt so bad that they didn't come and stay but they didn't want to wake us up, so I let them sleep till he called me. They came over at around 10 am and I was at least able to feed them breakfast before they took off. Scott was able to come by as well, so those 17 burritos  came in handy. That and some fruit and fresh grape juice, made a good breakfast.

It was so good to seem them again.

I still had three left over and we gave them to Lynn so she could eat them when she needed a quick meal.

I got out the cookies and bagged up a bunch of them to take on the road.  Ari wanted to do a picture like the one I have on my watermelon wall, but with a cookie. lol Mau said he will have to get a picture of him eating watermelon so he can be on my wall too. I told him, I would love that and I need updated ones of all my grandkids. They are growing so fast!

I sure love this sweet couple!! It will be great to have 

them somewhat closer.

They stayed about an hour and then we quickly took some pictures in the yard before they headed to Utah.

 CHRIS AND SCOTT

After the kids left, Tony and I went on a visit with the Elder's.  It was a short one and then we came home and I went back to cutting dies and gluing some together. Tony had visits to go on in the evening.  Thursday was the Electricians luncheon and they were going to meet at the SUNRISE CAFE in Caldwell but we didn't go as we wanted to spend time with the kids. Don't get to see them very often. Later in the afternoon, we went to a viewing at Zeyer's funeral home for Brother Pope. He passed away last Sunday. In the evening, I picked up Lynn and Tammy and we went to the Stake House to watch the General Relief Society Broadcast. It was so good. I gave the opening prayer and then we heard from the General RS Presidency and Elder Quentin Cook. We had cake afterwards and then home to bed. 

Friday morning, (today) Tony had to take Lynn to an eye doctor appointment at 8:45am. So, Pat was good enough to wait to go to the gym till we finished. Lynn has  macular degeneration in one eye and both eyes are cloudy. It was a visit to find out her problem and we are waiting to hear when they are going to do a procedure to clear it up as best they can.  After the gym, we came home, changed clothes and went to the graveside service for Gary Pope.

It was a Military Service with the guns, a bugle and the servicemen and women in attendance.  

It was very emotional as they gave Janet Pope the flag. So much respect and precision as they did the folding and presenting. It reminded me of my dad's service. After it was over, we went home, changed again and headed to pick up Lynn and take her to COSTCO to get some eye vites that the doctor recommended. We ate a quick lunch there before we shopped and then, walked through the store picking up some items. Took her home, came home and showered and now we are getting ready to read our scriptures and turn in.

We have to get up at 4am to be to the temple for an early prayer meeting help for all coordinators at 5:30. GOODNIGHT!

GOD IS GOOD!