Week 35

7 April

Lenscrafters guarantees that the customer will be satisfied. This was take 2 out of 3 to get my computer glasses to work (the first pair I could see through only at about four inches). It was closer this time but still not very good. I wanted computer glasses because my neck was tired of bending back at work to see through the right part of my bifocals.

8 April

Petite Maya can easily slip her entire hand into an empty spice bottle—when was the last time you could do that?

9 April

Junola and I are wearing hats once belonging to Grandma Nielson for the BYU Women luncheon. Junola was made an honorary member of the organization this day.

10 April

Lynette, Mother, and I are all wearing varying shades of green on this day: hunter green, sea green, and celadon (yes, I did have to cheat online to find individual names for these colors).

11 April

I came to Ohio to help out with the new baby. Here Marc and his three oldest boys enjoy a rare treat—watching Shaun the Sheep episodes on the computer.

12 April

Who me? Gabe looks back questioningly to see if it really is him who is supposed to get down from the wall at the library.

13 April

David John with daring bravado checks out the slide before he fearlessly slides down (feet first this time, but not always). The teenage girls who checked out the slide decided it was too scary for them and backed out.

Week 34

31 March

We visited Chuck in the Neuro Shock Trauma ICU after he experienced a stroke.

1 April

Baby Benjamin (admittedly, this picture was not taken with my camera) was born on April Fool’s Day. His dad tricked us at first by saying they had had twins (Joshua and Benjamin) and then sent another text saying it was only one boy.

2 April

After parking a few blocks from the library, Stephen and I walked out to the Orem Library early one morning so he could return a video.

3 April

We are getting snow again this April—this was a beautiful snow pattern on a gate.

4 April

These are the mailing materials from Stephen’s one-day haul of books . . .

5 April

. . . and here is the pile of books. This happens almost daily.

6 April

I stopped by Junola’s house after learning that Chuck had had a second major stroke—I just couldn’t go to work without giving her a big hug and crying with her a while.

Week 33

24 March

We had a lot of fun with Rebecca’s family at Universal Studios (despite the drizzle and the fact that BYU lost its game in the Sweet Sixteen). The children were old enough to enjoy the rides and not wander off.

25 March

We often get a chance to stay at the patron housing at the Los Angeles Temple and then take advantage of the opportunity to attend a session at the temple.

26 March

My sister-in-law Holly turned 50—we are all getting older (and wiser?).

27 March

When I visit my mother, she appreciates my attempting to play hymns on her keyboard—it’s difficult for me to play on a keyboard, and besides, I’m rusty on the notes.

28 March

We are excited for this planned use of the former Meridian property—a facility that will house 48 bishoprics and 4 stake presidencies as well as provide a place that seats 2,000 for stake conferences and at least four areas for receptions.

29 March

Our Relief Society presidency was able to go to the Tabernacle on Temple Square for the annual Relief Society leadership training—I got this view of the Assembly Hall.

30 March

Maya, with her adorable pigtails and apron, is sitting on the counter to help me make dinner.

Week 32

17 March

Stephen and I made it up to Benihana’s in Salt Lake to celebrate my birthday (we’re stretching it out as long as we can). Stephen’s salmon is in the paper packet, and my steak is alongside it. The shrimp and vegetables were also delicious.

18 March

I now have the towels and fabric for one of my next projects. Now to find time to do it . . .

19 March

Jennifer went shopping with me at Christopher and Banks—spending those birthday dollars wasn’t all that hard.

20 March

My new Relief Society presidency consists of Mona, myself, Carrie, and Ashley. Serving together forges eternal bonds of friendship and love.

21 March

This is a very tidy deli display at the local market—not that I buy anything from this section, but it is attractively displayed.

22 March

This early variety of crocus is the first harbinger of spring in our garden. The weather is slowly warming up.

23 March

I managed to put this pillow together for Camden on our trip down to southern California. I gave this Cougar symbol to cheer him up since he had broken his arm.

Week 31

10 March

Cayelle loves being the big sister to Cassius. Children’s grins are so infectious.

11 March

Linda brought me to Legends Grille for my birthday lunch—we both got salads and enjoyed being together.

12 March

I made the big decision to move from my Franklin planner purse that was getting worn out to use a real purse. Now my family is suggesting I get an iPhone to keep my calendar on, but I haven’t quite made that step.

13 March

My sister LaRae loved serving in the Riverside California Mission. We met at my mother’s and enjoyed hearing some of her faith-promoting experiences.

14 March

Gloria, Alison, and I—Gloria made a birthday dinner for me (a Chilean potato pie), and we invited Alison to join us. It was Alison who introduced Gloria to us.

15 March

Our Relief Society celebrated the history of our Edgemont 5th Ward—we had 17 of the 20 presidents present (two have died, and one was ill). This was indeed a memory-making evening.

16 March

Paula took the picture of Don, Sandra, myself, and Alison—we’re celebrating the completion of the tree of life volume at the restaurant Communal.

Week 30

3 March

The textures on these balls truly fascinate me—the bowl is sitting on a table at Jean’s house, where we had book group.

4 March

Precious Cayelle has that little smirk on her face as she is pretending to sleep.

5 March

This is one of the projects I helped Junola with—we were cleaning out her bathrooms and sorting items into piles to throw away, send to Deseret Industries, give away, and ask Chuck.

6 March

This is perhaps an early, self-selected birthday present—I’ve wanted a lightweight coat that would also be rain repellant. This has a zip-out lining, and I am quite pleased with the coat (thanks to Sandra for the tip).

7 March

My birthday was filled with lots of love—a gift from my walking partners, breakfast at our devotional at work, a birthday lunch with the girls at Lora’s, dinner at PF Chang’s with Stephen, and phone calls from well wishers. So despite the fact that I have hit another significant decade, I am so grateful to be surrounded with love and to enjoy good health so I can serve others.

8 March

These are just a couple of birthday gifts I received yesterday.

9 March

Cassius is a very sweet little boy—he is great as long as I don’t go out of his sight. It won’t be long before he is scooting and crawling everywhere.

Week 29

24 February

Scattered here are a stake directory, a BYU Women book, a regular phone directory—all tools I’m using to research the history of the Edgemont 5th Ward Relief Society. Since the ward was created in 1965 and I didn’t move in until 1984, I’ve had to rely on memories and records from early members.

25 February

Cash is the only boy of the recent four babies born in our ward. The girls are Gabriella, Lise, and Merit (just to give a flavor of current naming practices).

26 February

Wanda speaks with Christian at an open house honoring his mother, Cecile, a longtime German neighbor and friend to all, who just passed away. She was our resident Catholic.

27 February

Tom (Stephen’s friend and best man at his wedding) and Ruth come to Provo regularly to check on his father, who lives not far from us. We are always grateful when we get to spend time with them.

28 February

This cute little girl Mia lifted up a doll in a high chair and actually got it up on a table. She was very persistent. She was one of the six children I watched in a nursery during a funeral for ward member Jack Smith.

1 March

Oh, yes, I already mentioned that I was working on a timeline for the Edgemont 5th Ward Relief Society. After numerous hours, phone calls, e-mails, etc., I decided to call it quits and just turn it in for the booklet we are preparing for the Relief Society birthday celebration.

2 March

This is the Mojave chapel where we attended church when we first moved into the ward in 1984. Then in 1992 our ward was moved to the Timpview Drive chapel for a few months, but it really didn’t accommodate the size of our ward well. Finally, early in 1993, we moved into our stake center on Canyon Road, where we have been ever since. So we actually attend church at a chapel that is by no means the closest to us (although it is still within easy walking distance down the hill).