A funny thing happened to me last week...a missionary friend and I met in a group of friends greeting each other and she said to me, "I have that same skirt! We should call each other next time so we can be twins!" (She is a very upbeat and fun person) Then I said, "That's so funny! You must have had this skirt forever like I have!" She did not even bat an eye and responded with, " Oh I don't know about that, I got mine at Desert Industries." I just didn't know how to respond to that....maybe I need some new items in my wardrobe. Maybe I'll go see what I can find at DI??? So many of the missionaries shop at DI it is a wonderful thing. When we first arrived we bought a lot of things there. I found some plates that I really like so I think I will probably bring them home but I think I will donate some of my clothes to DI. ^_^
This was not the funniest thing that happened however.
The funniest thing was Ed, determined to help out his daughter, going to the store to buy more nursing bras for her. She had written out all the specifics and showed him the kind that she liked. He took it and was heading out the door when I made him stop and at least put the bra in a bag to carry it into the store! "Ed!", I said, "You are wearing a missionary badge! You cannot go walking around the mall holding onto a bra!!" (I was holding Edison and I was laughing so hard I'm sure he was having trouble staying asleep.) Not long after Ed left the house the phone rang. Yep! It was Eddie at the mall, in the maternity shop with options. He had apparently walked into the store and promptly found someone to help him and announced, "I am here to buy bras for my daughter. She just had a baby." I am sure the clerk was very impressed. What a guy! He will do anything for his girls!
Last week was regular work for us. I did complete my part on Sister Mapu's book. We did a test printing for her and it wasn't finished until Friday when I was off so I didn't get to see her face, but Sister Latimer called me and told me that Sister Mapu cried when she saw her book... she was so happy. I am so glad she was pleased.
I also had several diversions during the week helping out my mother who has not been well. My cute 86 year old mom has been struggling for about 6 weeks now and I am so happy that I am here to be able to help her. I have other siblings in the area too but I am glad that I have the flexibility to leave my work and go help her out when she needs me. She has been in and out of the hospital but we think we have finally turned a corner and she is much better. It is very humbling to watch our parents struggle as they get older knowing it will be us in not too many years. I am so grateful that I was able to get up out of the wheelchair when I did. I am very blessed.
I also want to record a story from Sacrament Meeting today. One of the speakers told of some women in the Philippines who are so supportive of one another. When one sister has saved enough money to go to the temple all the women walk with her to the bus station. As she gets on the bus, the one woman wearing shoes removes the shoes and gives them to the one going to the temple. When that woman returns, she keeps the shoes until the next woman goes and then she passes the shoes on.
I was very touched by this story. What a sweet reminder of the sacredness of the temple experience and the tender mercies of the Lord as we help each other remember what is most important in our lives. I am so grateful to be here with a temple basically across the street where I can be reminded of eternal truths.
If we do our best, then the best we can do will get better all the time.
(Sorry about no pictures. I must have clicked something wrong because it won't let me add any now. There will always be next Sunday!)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Change in the Seasons
For those of us not from the Salt Lake area the weather hasn't seemed anything but weather. I have enjoyed seeing the snowy mountains for a long time this season but the little we hear from news and speaking with others the rain we have experienced the past few weeks is not normal and is annoying to the locals. Having 2-3 feet of new snow overnight in the mountains several nights last week (after most of the ski resorts had already closed)is also unusual. Today it was raining again on our way to church, but the sun has come out now and it is a beautiful, sunny, cool day. Paradise lost is found again.
We have made several trips to Provo to visit our new grandson and his parents (^_^) this past week. Autumn is recovering well and is a natural doing the mother things. All is well with little Edison. He is such a joy. It has been fun to hear from friends all over congratulating us on being grandparents. May of the missionaries we serve with are surprised to find out that we just had our first grandchild. One of our friends told me that her grandson told her that "the happiest place on earth was inside one of grandma's hugs." I hope that Edison feels that way someday.
We have been getting several gifts from our missionary friends. One couple gave us a "brag book" with this picture from our outing on Monday evening while little Edison was being born. Red Butte Gardens is a fun place to visit. This picture was taken at a spot called "Granny's Garden". We particularly enjoyed the many things for children to do, including this little schoolhouse, the birthday cake planter and the children's flower "bed"....hahaha
Again this week we had devotionals that stirred us. One in particular was from a new missionary couple Elder and Sister Excell. Max Excell was the principal of Cokeville Elementary School in Wyoming in 1986 when a man and woman held the students and teachers hostage demanding $2 million for each child at the school or they would set off a bomb. Interesting that he and his wife gave their 3 minute talks on the anniversary of that event. He bore his testimony of divine help that day which saved all of the children and teachers. Only the "terrorists" died that day. Some of the children told of angels being with them, telling them where to go and some of them saying they saw an angel over each child. Elder Excell made the statement that whoever thinks prayer should not be allowed in school has never been in a hostage situation.
Every week I am humbled by what I learn about the people with whom we serve.
The seasons may be changing, but the gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. Christ is my Rock, my Redeemer. He loves me and has giving His life for my sins. He knows all that happens in my life and I trust Him to comfort me and give me peace when I need it. I am so grateful I can serve Him and that through my service my family is blessed. I don't see angels like the children saw that day, but I work with angels and I know when I need it there are those working from the other side to give me a gentle nudge, a prompting, to head in the right direction. I just have to listen.
What a great "season" of life this is!!
To see the changes in the planting beds on The Square I am including the pictures I took today. The tulips are basically gone and I am looking forward to what will be put in their place.
This bed was full of tulips last week, but the crews yesterday cleared out all the beds surrounding the fountain in front of the South Visitor Center. Can't wait to see what will come this week!
The crab apple trees by the Assembly Hall are beautiful right now.
This lovely purple flower caught my eye today for the first time....don't know what it is, but I really like it, do you?
I also like seeing the vegetables around the cabin begin to come up:
We have made several trips to Provo to visit our new grandson and his parents (^_^) this past week. Autumn is recovering well and is a natural doing the mother things. All is well with little Edison. He is such a joy. It has been fun to hear from friends all over congratulating us on being grandparents. May of the missionaries we serve with are surprised to find out that we just had our first grandchild. One of our friends told me that her grandson told her that "the happiest place on earth was inside one of grandma's hugs." I hope that Edison feels that way someday.
We have been getting several gifts from our missionary friends. One couple gave us a "brag book" with this picture from our outing on Monday evening while little Edison was being born. Red Butte Gardens is a fun place to visit. This picture was taken at a spot called "Granny's Garden". We particularly enjoyed the many things for children to do, including this little schoolhouse, the birthday cake planter and the children's flower "bed"....hahaha
Again this week we had devotionals that stirred us. One in particular was from a new missionary couple Elder and Sister Excell. Max Excell was the principal of Cokeville Elementary School in Wyoming in 1986 when a man and woman held the students and teachers hostage demanding $2 million for each child at the school or they would set off a bomb. Interesting that he and his wife gave their 3 minute talks on the anniversary of that event. He bore his testimony of divine help that day which saved all of the children and teachers. Only the "terrorists" died that day. Some of the children told of angels being with them, telling them where to go and some of them saying they saw an angel over each child. Elder Excell made the statement that whoever thinks prayer should not be allowed in school has never been in a hostage situation.
Every week I am humbled by what I learn about the people with whom we serve.
The seasons may be changing, but the gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. Christ is my Rock, my Redeemer. He loves me and has giving His life for my sins. He knows all that happens in my life and I trust Him to comfort me and give me peace when I need it. I am so grateful I can serve Him and that through my service my family is blessed. I don't see angels like the children saw that day, but I work with angels and I know when I need it there are those working from the other side to give me a gentle nudge, a prompting, to head in the right direction. I just have to listen.
What a great "season" of life this is!!
To see the changes in the planting beds on The Square I am including the pictures I took today. The tulips are basically gone and I am looking forward to what will be put in their place.
This bed was full of tulips last week, but the crews yesterday cleared out all the beds surrounding the fountain in front of the South Visitor Center. Can't wait to see what will come this week!
The crab apple trees by the Assembly Hall are beautiful right now.
This lovely purple flower caught my eye today for the first time....don't know what it is, but I really like it, do you?
I also like seeing the vegetables around the cabin begin to come up:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Special Post: Welcome to the World
As the sun was setting on Monday, May 16, 2011 our Autumn was laboring to bring her first baby and our first grandchild into the world. It was a fabulous sunset and a wonderful way to end the day.
Edison Byron Gibelyou made his entrance at exactly 10:30PM. Edison weighs 7.7 pounds and is 18 inches long. He spent the night with both his parents and we were able to welcome him to the family this morning not quite 12 hours after he was born. It is quite the event. We are so grateful that all is well and that he is now with us.
At first Ed was hesitant to hold his new grandson, but finally agreed to hold him as long as he could sit down. (He is afraid he will break him.) Proud Dad Derrick in the background is getting a kick out of his father-in-law but is keeping a close eye on his son as well.
Last Christmas Autumn and Derrick gave Ed a Grandparent Toolbelt. A sign on the front stated, "Great Parents get promoted to Grandparents". Ed wore it proudly to the hospital today. He was fully prepared with the "Bio-waste Collection Units (diapers); Protective Hand Armor (plastic gloves); Odor Avoidance Device (clothes pin for the nose) and other essentials.
We are so excited to be close enough to visit this little bundle of joy while we are serving on our mission. Autumn and Derrick are doing so well in managing their changing lifestyle(no pun intended on the "changing" word). They are ready for this new adventure in their lives! It will be great!
As we officially join the ranks of "The Grands" we are so excited to get to the "spoil the grandchildren" part of family life. We have been told it is the most fun part of parenting and we think we may find that to be true!!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A Shock on The Square
We haven't been on Temple Square through a season of planting and flowering so I was surprised today when we went to Church and saw what had been done on Saturday by the crew of young people we saw gathering on The Square. My goodness!! Look at what they did!
In all fairness, the tulips have been running their course and it was time to pull them up. It doesn't look good to have entire beds of tulips withering away and turning ugly. The amazing thing about The Square is that while many are dieing many are just beginning to open like these:
I like the picture of Brigham Young walking. He is walking through the gardens headed for the temple which we enjoy every week also. It is such a blessing for us to be close enough to walk over any time. We went last week on Wednesday evening. The sun goes down so late now that I was able to get a nice picture from the temple grounds. During the day there are wedding pictures being taken in this part of The Square but that night it was just Ed and I and, like always, he was very patient with me while I tried to get some good pictures.
Wednesday was a special Church Service Missionary devotional at Noon. We always go because the choir sings at all the devotionals. The speakers are always so uplifting. This particular speaker was Joelyn Curtiss, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Church History Department of the Church. She was wonderful! She used a General Conference talk about "Building Bridges" with our past. She reminded me how wonderful it is to know that the work we are doing every day matters eternally and for that reason we should be aware of what we should/could be doing in our own lives to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. She reminded us that every family has valuable stories to tell and that even things that are insignificant can mean so much to those who come after us. Our struggles and challenges and how we deal with them, even if it takes a long time, can help to strengthen our children and grandchildren in their own struggles in unique ways. They will always know us as old people if we don't record what it was like to be young and the challenges we had to overcome and things that brought us joy or how we gained our testimony of the Savior and His mission.
We were reminded of the influence Pres. Hinckley had on so many young missionaries several years ago when he told of the discouragement he experienced on his mission. Many missionaries struggle today and I recall hearing the words of Pres. Hinckley's father ("...forget yourself and go to work!") being quoted on more than one occasion here in our mission by our young Elders. I'm sure when our Pres. Hinckley wrote that letter to his father he was not thinking that it would be important to anyone later on in his life. The same may be true for us. Who knows how much our words may influence one of our descendants. Sister Curtiss said to us, "If one person reads your story and finds one word of redemption it is worth it."
She quoted Pres. Kimball who said, "Sometimes I don't feel like writing (he wrote every night)but I'm glad that for my posterity I recorded those things that needed to be recorded." Then she said, "Reading (and recording) diaries builds a bond of friendship with those who we plan to spend eternity with." This struck a key with me. I have been thinking about who might meet me and help me when I die and go to the other side. I want to know them and to feel comfortable with them when we meet. I want to recognize them and be able to say "thank you" for the legacy they left me.
Sister Curtiss closed by reminding us about the event recorded in the Book of Mormon when Christ visited the Nephites. He asked for the records to be brought and then asked why certain events had not been recorded. She quoted President Eyring who asked us all, "How would you like to be the one reprimanded by the Lord? If you think you've been embarrassed before, try this one?"
I know from my own research how important a personal history is. I am enjoying reading the histories that my mother has about her family as I scan them for my family. They were colorful, talented, well read, highly regarded and faithful individuals. I am so grateful that I can know some of them. As I mentioned, this devotional was on Wednesday and then we went to the temple Wednesday evening so it was impactful for me. I hope I can be better.
The rest of the week was full also. Our Monday devotional was especially good because our mission president, Dennis Simmons, spoke to us and read us a book by Carol Lynn Pearson called, "The Lesson". I had to find it on the internet that night to buy it because it was a good one.
We are working hard to get more records up online. I have been working on genealogies from the Cook Islands and the Austral Islands. We don't have many of these so the files are small and I should have them finished by next week. I am still working on Sister Mapu's personal history and helping with the Ghana redo. (Yes....we have to correct missing locations and names in the 1100 Ghana records we have put up to make them better. )
We also have a set time for our 4 hours of personal research time that we are supposed to take each week. Ours is now every Friday afternoon. It is great to have the time to find sources for my ancestors. Each thing I find helps me become closer to them. I especially love it when I can find a picture! (I have confirmed that my missing jaw and too many chins is a Mumford family trait! ^_^)
Ed took the time to get a haircut. He has always wanted to wear his hair shorter than I liked so he had a huge grin on his face when he came through the door on Friday evening after visiting the barber. I told him that it was too short and that I thought it made him look older (which Autumn totally contradicted when we saw them on Saturday) but he quickly came back with the response that the barber told him to use....."tell her that I cut Elder Todd Christofferson's hair last week just the same way so you have a General Authority haircut!" Yeah....I didn't think that made it any better either, but what is a girl to do. (For the record: I asked to take a picture of him for the blog to show the haircut but I was refused!)
Saturday we went to lunch with Autumn and Derrick in Provo. Still playing the waiting game for this grandson but it is all good. We enjoyed being together. Autumn is such a cute pregnant person.
So....that is a my week. The rose bed looks great and the cabin plants are growing quickly. The North bed looks the same with the tall tulips and the Museum and FHL beds are probably next to be changed out. The beds with the Forget-me-not's was totally stripped yesterday so I am happy I took the picture last week. I am excited to see what will happen next.....
Actually I hope that by next Sunday I will be able to post a picture of our grandson!!
In all fairness, the tulips have been running their course and it was time to pull them up. It doesn't look good to have entire beds of tulips withering away and turning ugly. The amazing thing about The Square is that while many are dieing many are just beginning to open like these:
I like the picture of Brigham Young walking. He is walking through the gardens headed for the temple which we enjoy every week also. It is such a blessing for us to be close enough to walk over any time. We went last week on Wednesday evening. The sun goes down so late now that I was able to get a nice picture from the temple grounds. During the day there are wedding pictures being taken in this part of The Square but that night it was just Ed and I and, like always, he was very patient with me while I tried to get some good pictures.
Wednesday was a special Church Service Missionary devotional at Noon. We always go because the choir sings at all the devotionals. The speakers are always so uplifting. This particular speaker was Joelyn Curtiss, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Church History Department of the Church. She was wonderful! She used a General Conference talk about "Building Bridges" with our past. She reminded me how wonderful it is to know that the work we are doing every day matters eternally and for that reason we should be aware of what we should/could be doing in our own lives to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. She reminded us that every family has valuable stories to tell and that even things that are insignificant can mean so much to those who come after us. Our struggles and challenges and how we deal with them, even if it takes a long time, can help to strengthen our children and grandchildren in their own struggles in unique ways. They will always know us as old people if we don't record what it was like to be young and the challenges we had to overcome and things that brought us joy or how we gained our testimony of the Savior and His mission.
We were reminded of the influence Pres. Hinckley had on so many young missionaries several years ago when he told of the discouragement he experienced on his mission. Many missionaries struggle today and I recall hearing the words of Pres. Hinckley's father ("...forget yourself and go to work!") being quoted on more than one occasion here in our mission by our young Elders. I'm sure when our Pres. Hinckley wrote that letter to his father he was not thinking that it would be important to anyone later on in his life. The same may be true for us. Who knows how much our words may influence one of our descendants. Sister Curtiss said to us, "If one person reads your story and finds one word of redemption it is worth it."
She quoted Pres. Kimball who said, "Sometimes I don't feel like writing (he wrote every night)but I'm glad that for my posterity I recorded those things that needed to be recorded." Then she said, "Reading (and recording) diaries builds a bond of friendship with those who we plan to spend eternity with." This struck a key with me. I have been thinking about who might meet me and help me when I die and go to the other side. I want to know them and to feel comfortable with them when we meet. I want to recognize them and be able to say "thank you" for the legacy they left me.
Sister Curtiss closed by reminding us about the event recorded in the Book of Mormon when Christ visited the Nephites. He asked for the records to be brought and then asked why certain events had not been recorded. She quoted President Eyring who asked us all, "How would you like to be the one reprimanded by the Lord? If you think you've been embarrassed before, try this one?"
I know from my own research how important a personal history is. I am enjoying reading the histories that my mother has about her family as I scan them for my family. They were colorful, talented, well read, highly regarded and faithful individuals. I am so grateful that I can know some of them. As I mentioned, this devotional was on Wednesday and then we went to the temple Wednesday evening so it was impactful for me. I hope I can be better.
The rest of the week was full also. Our Monday devotional was especially good because our mission president, Dennis Simmons, spoke to us and read us a book by Carol Lynn Pearson called, "The Lesson". I had to find it on the internet that night to buy it because it was a good one.
We are working hard to get more records up online. I have been working on genealogies from the Cook Islands and the Austral Islands. We don't have many of these so the files are small and I should have them finished by next week. I am still working on Sister Mapu's personal history and helping with the Ghana redo. (Yes....we have to correct missing locations and names in the 1100 Ghana records we have put up to make them better. )
We also have a set time for our 4 hours of personal research time that we are supposed to take each week. Ours is now every Friday afternoon. It is great to have the time to find sources for my ancestors. Each thing I find helps me become closer to them. I especially love it when I can find a picture! (I have confirmed that my missing jaw and too many chins is a Mumford family trait! ^_^)
Ed took the time to get a haircut. He has always wanted to wear his hair shorter than I liked so he had a huge grin on his face when he came through the door on Friday evening after visiting the barber. I told him that it was too short and that I thought it made him look older (which Autumn totally contradicted when we saw them on Saturday) but he quickly came back with the response that the barber told him to use....."tell her that I cut Elder Todd Christofferson's hair last week just the same way so you have a General Authority haircut!" Yeah....I didn't think that made it any better either, but what is a girl to do. (For the record: I asked to take a picture of him for the blog to show the haircut but I was refused!)
Saturday we went to lunch with Autumn and Derrick in Provo. Still playing the waiting game for this grandson but it is all good. We enjoyed being together. Autumn is such a cute pregnant person.
So....that is a my week. The rose bed looks great and the cabin plants are growing quickly. The North bed looks the same with the tall tulips and the Museum and FHL beds are probably next to be changed out. The beds with the Forget-me-not's was totally stripped yesterday so I am happy I took the picture last week. I am excited to see what will happen next.....
Actually I hope that by next Sunday I will be able to post a picture of our grandson!!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day Flowers....I am loved!
Flowers and chocolates from Aubree
Flowers from Ed
From Autumn and Derrick 
Flowers and balloon from Ashley
Nora and Autumn exchanging Mother's Day gifts.
Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day!!
A week into May already and Mother's Day is basically over. What a grand day today. Actually it started last night. We had dinner with friends in a condo up on the mountain just at the mouth of the canyon to the Alpine Loop. The condo's were great and the conversation and meal were wonderful. Before we came home we stopped by Autumn and Derrick's house in Provo to take her a little gift for Mother's Day and she had a gift for me too. It was a lovely pot of plants, geranium's and another plant with little white flowers that I don't know. It is large and looks wonderful on our balcony. As Ed was hauling it into the apt upon our return last night we got to the door and there was a box of flowers from Aubree and an arrangement from Ashley! I was so surprised! They obviously didn't coordinate together this year. The flowers are all gorgeous. Ashley's came with a balloon and Aubree's with a little box of chocolates (which are mostly gone).
Today after church meetings we went up to mom's place for dinner. Mark had prepared a wonderful slow cooked roast beef with potatoes. I prepared the orange jello salad with mandarin oranges, brought Lion House rolls and root beer to add to the meal. Mark had his friend Mike with him for the week so Mike was there also. He is a funny guy. Lyle and Susan came later for dessert which Lyle brought. Strawberries over angel food cake. It was all yummy. We shared stories for a while and then we left mom. She looks like she is feeling better and she ate well so that is good.
I made her another salmon steak to put in the frig so she could have it tomorrow and Tuesday. I hope she continues to get good sleep so she can feel better.
Monday evening we had a Pie & Ice Cream Social for the Elijah Choir. It was fun to be with these people with whom we share so much with our music. Most of them we don't interact with during the week because we are scattered throughout the 22+ zones of the mission so this was a nice event. I provided two pies purchased from the Lion House Bakery...rhubarb and "very berry". Both were excellent but I was a little surprised at how serious some of the missionaries were about their pie eating!!
The week has been an especially good one for me because I have finally been feeling better and have found out the probable cause of the pain I have been experiencing for about the last 3 months. Without an MRI it cannot be determined but it seems to be most logically that I have had a herniated thoracic disc. This has probably caused the pain in my right upper abdominal area which was why it was easy to mistake as a gall bladder issue. This cannot be confirmed without and MRI which I really don't want to do and the confirmation would not change anything anyway. At this point it is a pain management issue and it will heal itself over a 3-4 month period (which is why I have had a good week this week....there had been little pain). The other possibility is internal shingles (which I didn't know you could have)which is the same course as for the herniated disc so it really doesn't matter to me. I am just happy to have this narrowed down! Knowledge is power!
We had an exciting event at work also this week. Cute Sister Mapu is back again for me to work more on the corrections she has found for her book. Well last Tuesday, most of the zone was over at the Church office Building (COB) for a department meeting while Sister Mapu and I stayed to work on her book and there was a fire drill in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Our instruction as missionaries is to wait by the fire door for instructions from the employee floor captain for instructions. Well.....most of the employee's were over at the COB for the meeting so there was a large group of missionaries who didn't know what to do. Finally some employee's came (I could tell they were employee's because they had their computers tucked under their arms)and told us that they were going down the stairs but we could choose to do what we wanted! We all left. As we snaked our way down the stairs (Sister Mapu is very quick and agile) we laughed and joked. Finally we were out on the street and saw our friends from other floors and just chatted for a while. I felt like we were in good company because the Mission Office people were there. I'm sure people driving by were wondering what was happening!
If that wasn't exciting enough for this week, the very next day (Wednesday) Ed and I left the apartment and didn't make it to the elevator before realizing that neither of us had our keys! What a pain. There we were, 5:30pm in the evening and we had to call the emergency night number to tell them what we had done. Fortunately we found friends who were home and they let us use their phone and wait in their apartment for the person to call us back and arrange to meet us at our door. We got in and grabbed the keys and headed up to the gym to work out. It is a helpless feeling to not have the keys. In our building with a security door we didn't even want to chance going out in case we couldn't find someone to let us back it! But it all worked out in the end and we were only waiting about 20 minutes. It could have been so much worse!
Signing class this past week was fun for me. I am practicing finger spelling the alphabet. Sister Barnes took me aside and worked with me one on one as the long beginner in the group. I need to practice my alphabet to be able to do it fast on Thursday this week!
On Tuesday this week I was able to meet two former roommates (Shari Fullmer and Trudy Swenson Shipp) in the Draper Temple for an endowment session. Trudy and Bill work on Tuesday's as ordinance workers and Shari and I wanted to surprise her but we finally thought we should let her know so we would be able to find her. It turned out to be a good thing and we were able to share a wonderful reunion in the temple together....it was a first time event. Not the last I hope.
Yesterday I had a great surprise as I was doing a little exercise walking around the downtown block of T.Square. (Outside the gates, not inside as I was in workout attire without my badge) I ran into friends from The Woodlands! It was great to see them and find that all is well back home.
The weather was beautiful this week. It has rained today, but the week was really very nice. The flowers on the T. Square that have bloomed first are now being cleaned up and pulled out. There are still so many flowers coming up it is such a pleasure to be here. I'm sharing with you the spots I have been tracking plus some other close up photos I have taken of the flowers. Hope you enjoy!
The rose bushes.
Facing the North Gate.
Facing the South Gate.
Family History Library and Museum Photos:
The little garden in front of the old cabin is starting to appear also!
I had to take a picture of the beautiful flowers between the Administration Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building because of the the forget-me-not's......I hope that you do not forget me!
A week into May already and Mother's Day is basically over. What a grand day today. Actually it started last night. We had dinner with friends in a condo up on the mountain just at the mouth of the canyon to the Alpine Loop. The condo's were great and the conversation and meal were wonderful. Before we came home we stopped by Autumn and Derrick's house in Provo to take her a little gift for Mother's Day and she had a gift for me too. It was a lovely pot of plants, geranium's and another plant with little white flowers that I don't know. It is large and looks wonderful on our balcony. As Ed was hauling it into the apt upon our return last night we got to the door and there was a box of flowers from Aubree and an arrangement from Ashley! I was so surprised! They obviously didn't coordinate together this year. The flowers are all gorgeous. Ashley's came with a balloon and Aubree's with a little box of chocolates (which are mostly gone).
Today after church meetings we went up to mom's place for dinner. Mark had prepared a wonderful slow cooked roast beef with potatoes. I prepared the orange jello salad with mandarin oranges, brought Lion House rolls and root beer to add to the meal. Mark had his friend Mike with him for the week so Mike was there also. He is a funny guy. Lyle and Susan came later for dessert which Lyle brought. Strawberries over angel food cake. It was all yummy. We shared stories for a while and then we left mom. She looks like she is feeling better and she ate well so that is good.
I made her another salmon steak to put in the frig so she could have it tomorrow and Tuesday. I hope she continues to get good sleep so she can feel better.
Monday evening we had a Pie & Ice Cream Social for the Elijah Choir. It was fun to be with these people with whom we share so much with our music. Most of them we don't interact with during the week because we are scattered throughout the 22+ zones of the mission so this was a nice event. I provided two pies purchased from the Lion House Bakery...rhubarb and "very berry". Both were excellent but I was a little surprised at how serious some of the missionaries were about their pie eating!!
The week has been an especially good one for me because I have finally been feeling better and have found out the probable cause of the pain I have been experiencing for about the last 3 months. Without an MRI it cannot be determined but it seems to be most logically that I have had a herniated thoracic disc. This has probably caused the pain in my right upper abdominal area which was why it was easy to mistake as a gall bladder issue. This cannot be confirmed without and MRI which I really don't want to do and the confirmation would not change anything anyway. At this point it is a pain management issue and it will heal itself over a 3-4 month period (which is why I have had a good week this week....there had been little pain). The other possibility is internal shingles (which I didn't know you could have)which is the same course as for the herniated disc so it really doesn't matter to me. I am just happy to have this narrowed down! Knowledge is power!
We had an exciting event at work also this week. Cute Sister Mapu is back again for me to work more on the corrections she has found for her book. Well last Tuesday, most of the zone was over at the Church office Building (COB) for a department meeting while Sister Mapu and I stayed to work on her book and there was a fire drill in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Our instruction as missionaries is to wait by the fire door for instructions from the employee floor captain for instructions. Well.....most of the employee's were over at the COB for the meeting so there was a large group of missionaries who didn't know what to do. Finally some employee's came (I could tell they were employee's because they had their computers tucked under their arms)and told us that they were going down the stairs but we could choose to do what we wanted! We all left. As we snaked our way down the stairs (Sister Mapu is very quick and agile) we laughed and joked. Finally we were out on the street and saw our friends from other floors and just chatted for a while. I felt like we were in good company because the Mission Office people were there. I'm sure people driving by were wondering what was happening!
If that wasn't exciting enough for this week, the very next day (Wednesday) Ed and I left the apartment and didn't make it to the elevator before realizing that neither of us had our keys! What a pain. There we were, 5:30pm in the evening and we had to call the emergency night number to tell them what we had done. Fortunately we found friends who were home and they let us use their phone and wait in their apartment for the person to call us back and arrange to meet us at our door. We got in and grabbed the keys and headed up to the gym to work out. It is a helpless feeling to not have the keys. In our building with a security door we didn't even want to chance going out in case we couldn't find someone to let us back it! But it all worked out in the end and we were only waiting about 20 minutes. It could have been so much worse!
Signing class this past week was fun for me. I am practicing finger spelling the alphabet. Sister Barnes took me aside and worked with me one on one as the long beginner in the group. I need to practice my alphabet to be able to do it fast on Thursday this week!
On Tuesday this week I was able to meet two former roommates (Shari Fullmer and Trudy Swenson Shipp) in the Draper Temple for an endowment session. Trudy and Bill work on Tuesday's as ordinance workers and Shari and I wanted to surprise her but we finally thought we should let her know so we would be able to find her. It turned out to be a good thing and we were able to share a wonderful reunion in the temple together....it was a first time event. Not the last I hope.
Yesterday I had a great surprise as I was doing a little exercise walking around the downtown block of T.Square. (Outside the gates, not inside as I was in workout attire without my badge) I ran into friends from The Woodlands! It was great to see them and find that all is well back home.
The weather was beautiful this week. It has rained today, but the week was really very nice. The flowers on the T. Square that have bloomed first are now being cleaned up and pulled out. There are still so many flowers coming up it is such a pleasure to be here. I'm sharing with you the spots I have been tracking plus some other close up photos I have taken of the flowers. Hope you enjoy!
The rose bushes.
Facing the North Gate.
Facing the South Gate.Family History Library and Museum Photos:
The little garden in front of the old cabin is starting to appear also!
I had to take a picture of the beautiful flowers between the Administration Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building because of the the forget-me-not's......I hope that you do not forget me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)