Can you believe we now have three missionaries staying downstairs? It's true. And to make it even crazier the third missionary, Elder Holt, is from DRAPER! His call was to Mexico on a Spanish speaking mission and he has been in the MTC the requisite time learning the language. Evidently there has been a serious hold up on visa's and everyone asking for entry into Mexico has to have a personal interview with someone in authority in the Mexican government. The process of getting missionaries in has slowed to a trickle. But since missionaries are still coming into the MTC room must be made. So I believe about 20 missionaries have been assigned to the Spanish speaking missionaries in the Utah mission. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to be so close to home. Elder Holt already ran into someone he went to school with and she had a hard time understanding how he could be serving in Lehi of all places.
He's quite the impressive missionary and it's been fun to have them all come upstairs at the end of the day and just visit for a little while. Talk about a good example...Elder Holt makes sure his bedding is folded and carefully positioned atop his air mattress every morning. His clothes are hanging from a pole stretched between two storage shelves and he seems to be adapting.
Water has been an issue because for the last week we've had clear indications that the water heater is ready to die. The flow of water has been substantially decreased because we keep getting lime caught in the faucet filters. Enough that every day we have had to clean the filters just to be able to wash your hands in the bathroom or do dishes. So Rick bought a 50 gallon water heater and is planning on installing it on Saturday. Then we can all have hot water when we shower, yeah!
We heard from Jill Heaps and the doctors are pushing for a bone marrow transplant for Emily in a big way. The big question is do they go to California to have it done or go to Primary Children's in Salt Lake. Already the little neighbor boy asked Emily if she would be taking medicine to make her hair fall out. Luckily Jill was within earshot and could answer her questions about it. Unfortunately she had to tell her that Caleb was right, her hair would fall out. But everyone would still love her just as much, because they love her not her hair. This experience will be a lot different for Emily because she is old enough to understand what is happening. I'm so glad that Matt and Jill are her parents. They seem to have the skills to navigate through this frightening experience.
Rinda Christensen and I took over a traveling bag for Jill and inside was the money we had earned from our little fund raising venture. She and I made cookies (oatmeal, chocolate chip, raisin filled, and almond crunch)and we packaged them in sealed cello bags. I brought them to work and every package sold! Can I tell you how great it was to fill an envelope with travel money for Jill. We're thinking of doing cinnamon rolls next time. I can't imagine an easier sell that the smell of fresh baking rolls (because we have an oven in our company kitchen)waifing through the air, especially around breakfast time. We'll have to see how that goes.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Miss Emily
I had a long chat with Jill Heaps several days ago and it appears that her youngest daughter Emily will be needing a bone marrow transplant, and soon. They sent lots of test information to a doctor in California and are waiting to hear his recommendation. She had a transplant when she was several months old but it has stopped providing what it was originally intended to provide. The doctors have been watching her progress very carefully and are now starting to sound alarms. To top things off she has stopped growing. So many things point to transplant that as a family they are now determining where it should happen instead of if. Several years ago Rick coordinated the completion of their basement at no cost to them to see if it would make a difference in Emily's health...and it did.
The most likely place is California because the doctor who seems to know the most about Emily's type of illness resides there. The process will take at least two months because they will be doing a series of tests, doing chemo to eradicate what little immune system she now has, and then the bone marrow transplant. Follow up will take place at Primary Children's here in Salt Lake.
Rinda Christensen, a neighbor down the street from the Heaps family, and I got together and baked almost seven dozen cookies, packaged them in two's in cello bags, and I brought them to work in a big basket to sell. It's our idea to provide Jill with some traveling money. Whether it's California or Salt Lake the money it takes to come and go will be sorely needed. We anticipated about $80 for our trouble and received over $100 in donations. Yeah for a good cause! We may be doing this again in a month or so, but it's a great start to help an incredible family. My surprise was when several people paid more than necessary for the cookies and said "keep the difference" because it's for a good cause.
The most likely place is California because the doctor who seems to know the most about Emily's type of illness resides there. The process will take at least two months because they will be doing a series of tests, doing chemo to eradicate what little immune system she now has, and then the bone marrow transplant. Follow up will take place at Primary Children's here in Salt Lake.
Rinda Christensen, a neighbor down the street from the Heaps family, and I got together and baked almost seven dozen cookies, packaged them in two's in cello bags, and I brought them to work in a big basket to sell. It's our idea to provide Jill with some traveling money. Whether it's California or Salt Lake the money it takes to come and go will be sorely needed. We anticipated about $80 for our trouble and received over $100 in donations. Yeah for a good cause! We may be doing this again in a month or so, but it's a great start to help an incredible family. My surprise was when several people paid more than necessary for the cookies and said "keep the difference" because it's for a good cause.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Happy Feet
In the nursery we have discovered that if we sprinkle songs throughout the lesson time the children's attention span is lengthened and we can keep them interested. So there are songs to get ready for the lesson, songs during the lesson, and fun songs after the lesson. One of my favorite songs is "Happy Feet". I have a pair of striped socks that I put on my hands that fit up to my elbows and as I sing the song I touch the children with the socks. The words are: "I have two happy little feet to take me where I go. They hop me and they skip me, and make a noise I know. But in my Heavenly Father's house so softly do they fall, that though I walk you can not hear my little feet at all." At the very end I whisper the words so they understand about being reverent. Sunday we went to the home of one of our little nursery children, Ayala Hamblin, to give her mom a duck towel for the new baby they are expecting. Amy asked if I sing a song about feet. Umm, yes. Does it have something to do with socks? Umm, yes. She had Ayala (who's two) go downstairs and get her special sock and had her sing the song. She got it word for word, down to the part where you whisper the ending! Nursery rocks! These little children are listening and learning and even liking it. Yeah.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
CONCERT IN THE PARK
For a Family Home Evening with our Empty Nester's group we went to Brigham Young Historic Park last night and heard the Utah Nat'l Guard 23rd Army Band. It was quite the program. You would think we would just hear patriotic music, but we were thrilled to hear the "Instep" Barbershop Quartet from the band sing "Ghost Chickens in the Sky" a silly take off of "Ghost Riders in the Sky". We laughed and laughed it was so cleverly done. There was seating for approx 200 people as well as blanket room in the back. I've never been to the park which is kitty corner to the Conference Center. There is a small replica of a grist mill wheel that moves the water in a small pond. I didn't get to investigate too much but it looks like they have concrete areas where you can sit and picnic. We may come again because the venue looks pretty interesting and the price is right, free!
On July 11 they are having "Kindred Voices" who sing Celtic folk songs and original music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Every Tuesday and Friday during June, July, and August they present concerts. I am thinking on August 12 we should make a return visit. The program features "The Other Three Tenors" billed as a lighthearted musical parody of the world's most famous tenor trio.
Just as we were leaving the concert Rick got a call from the Elders, who had locked themselves out of the house. We have a key safe on the door frame to the basement that requires a code and the key drops out; that way you never have to carry the key. Unfortunately they left the key on the window sill the last time they went in instead of putting it back. They entertained themselves at the Duncan's until we arrived home almost 45 minutes later. The irony was the front door had been left unlocked, which we didn't realize until we got home, and they could have just walked in!
It's going to be a hot 4th of July. Considering gas prices and the heat maybe we'll just celebrate in the neighbor's kiddie pool.
On July 11 they are having "Kindred Voices" who sing Celtic folk songs and original music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Every Tuesday and Friday during June, July, and August they present concerts. I am thinking on August 12 we should make a return visit. The program features "The Other Three Tenors" billed as a lighthearted musical parody of the world's most famous tenor trio.
Just as we were leaving the concert Rick got a call from the Elders, who had locked themselves out of the house. We have a key safe on the door frame to the basement that requires a code and the key drops out; that way you never have to carry the key. Unfortunately they left the key on the window sill the last time they went in instead of putting it back. They entertained themselves at the Duncan's until we arrived home almost 45 minutes later. The irony was the front door had been left unlocked, which we didn't realize until we got home, and they could have just walked in!
It's going to be a hot 4th of July. Considering gas prices and the heat maybe we'll just celebrate in the neighbor's kiddie pool.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Remembering
Rick, Marilyn, John, Diane, and I spent Saturday afternoon at Grandma Whittaker's house. Because there is a potential buyer it's important that we start going through things to sort out what we want and to,sadly, dispose of the rest.
It was kind of quiet as we began to collect the things we had given her over the years. It made sense to do that first and then we can see what is left and determine who has an interest.
I came away with some items for both Tricia and Christina. I hope they are things that will be worth keeping.
Rick and I now have a few keepsakes that graced his parents home for so long. We have the barometer, a clock, a gold leaf of the Salt Lake Temple in a frame, and some book ends. I have an etched glass sectioned platter that they received as a wedding gift. Diane said she saw work like that done in Scotland and it's quite a unique piece. I wish I knew more about it. The most exciting thing to me was to get the "real" silverware. It is so beautiful and I'm putting it in the drawer and using it everyday. I know that years ago the thought was to bring it out only when you were serving guests, but the one I love the most sits across the table from me everyday. I had her patio furniture recovered several years ago so we have that as well. It hurts my heart to believe that you can spend a lifetime collecting things and find that they are items not necessarily wanted by anyone else.
As we were getting ready to leave Diane spotted two lovely figurines that Rick's previous wife Karen had hand painted. Rick is going to box them up and send a note with them to his daughter Leslie. We think we have a current address (his ex-wife won't confirm or deny). Our hope is that she responds in a positive way to his thoughtful gesture.
It was kind of quiet as we began to collect the things we had given her over the years. It made sense to do that first and then we can see what is left and determine who has an interest.
I came away with some items for both Tricia and Christina. I hope they are things that will be worth keeping.
Rick and I now have a few keepsakes that graced his parents home for so long. We have the barometer, a clock, a gold leaf of the Salt Lake Temple in a frame, and some book ends. I have an etched glass sectioned platter that they received as a wedding gift. Diane said she saw work like that done in Scotland and it's quite a unique piece. I wish I knew more about it. The most exciting thing to me was to get the "real" silverware. It is so beautiful and I'm putting it in the drawer and using it everyday. I know that years ago the thought was to bring it out only when you were serving guests, but the one I love the most sits across the table from me everyday. I had her patio furniture recovered several years ago so we have that as well. It hurts my heart to believe that you can spend a lifetime collecting things and find that they are items not necessarily wanted by anyone else.
As we were getting ready to leave Diane spotted two lovely figurines that Rick's previous wife Karen had hand painted. Rick is going to box them up and send a note with them to his daughter Leslie. We think we have a current address (his ex-wife won't confirm or deny). Our hope is that she responds in a positive way to his thoughtful gesture.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Surprise Wedding
I have your attention, right? A surprise wedding. Who could it be? Well, Marilyn headed to Thailand to see her son Jeff and we all thought it was for a vacation. No, it was really for a Thai wedding. He has been gone several years, first working in Iraq, and now in Kuwait for a contractor of computer services. He will continue to be with them through next year. When his contract is up he and his bride may go to Australia or ... who knows. Marilyn said they are coming home for Christmas so we can meet Ammy. We learned of the wedding after Marilyn returned. I'm glad she could be there for such an important event. She said it was a large wedding with a lot of unexpected features. She came back six pounds lighter and anxious for his future. She has her doubts that Jeff will ever return to the United States. I guess only time will tell. My, don't our lives change.
Yesterday I went to a delicatessen on State Street for lunch. They have unusual items for sell that they bring over from Europe. It is mostly Italian food items, but I did notice some Kinder eggs. I picked one up thinking I might get a few for Heidi's boys until I noticed the price. What I paid less than .50 for in Germany was $2.25 here. Wow, now that's inflation.
Steve and Deidre have invited Rick and me to go with them in August for their Whittaker Family vacation to a place in Idaho called Stone Fly Lodge. The lodge is all ours for the week and there will be fishing, kayaking, biking, and hiking at our leisure. We'll be cooking our own meals and each family is invited to provide a dinner. My plan is to do CHICKEN TACO FETTICINE. I hope I can make it taste like Tricia's because hers was sooooo good.
Just a bit of local news...there was an accident at Bonneville Junior High. A boy was spotted up on the roof by a soccer coach, and because he knew he had been seen he turned and ran. Unfortunately he fell through a sky light almost 40 feet down to the gym floor and was killed. What a sad turn of events for what he must have thought was just some great fun. When we are young little do we know the price we may have to pay for our poor choices. While I lived in Brigham there was a boy in our neighborhood trying to get his kite down from a power line with a long pole. Bad choice; he was electrocuted. The friends that were with him had all taken turns trying to get it down and he was the one who paid the price because he connected with the line. Oh, the things some of us have missed by the skin of our teeth.
Here's hoping all your choices today are wise ones!
Yesterday I went to a delicatessen on State Street for lunch. They have unusual items for sell that they bring over from Europe. It is mostly Italian food items, but I did notice some Kinder eggs. I picked one up thinking I might get a few for Heidi's boys until I noticed the price. What I paid less than .50 for in Germany was $2.25 here. Wow, now that's inflation.
Steve and Deidre have invited Rick and me to go with them in August for their Whittaker Family vacation to a place in Idaho called Stone Fly Lodge. The lodge is all ours for the week and there will be fishing, kayaking, biking, and hiking at our leisure. We'll be cooking our own meals and each family is invited to provide a dinner. My plan is to do CHICKEN TACO FETTICINE. I hope I can make it taste like Tricia's because hers was sooooo good.
Just a bit of local news...there was an accident at Bonneville Junior High. A boy was spotted up on the roof by a soccer coach, and because he knew he had been seen he turned and ran. Unfortunately he fell through a sky light almost 40 feet down to the gym floor and was killed. What a sad turn of events for what he must have thought was just some great fun. When we are young little do we know the price we may have to pay for our poor choices. While I lived in Brigham there was a boy in our neighborhood trying to get his kite down from a power line with a long pole. Bad choice; he was electrocuted. The friends that were with him had all taken turns trying to get it down and he was the one who paid the price because he connected with the line. Oh, the things some of us have missed by the skin of our teeth.
Here's hoping all your choices today are wise ones!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Looking Back
My sister turned 60 last week and we had a family party at her house. It was fun to reflect back on things that have happened over the course of the years. I remember when we lived in Midvale during the 50's and mom had a three wheeled Harley that she would crank up in the winter. It took about three or four cranks to get it going, but once it got started she would slowly drive around the block and there were kids at every door, ready with their sleds. The first person had a rope to hang on to, but all the others would just grab the heels of the person in front. We had quite a long line of kids as she circled the block and it was so much fun. Unfortunately everyone didn't see it as just good fun and she was instructed by the police not to pull us anymore. There were a lot of sad faces on Cornell Drive when we heard the news.
The missionaries have been a delight. They are careful to put things away and clean up after themselves. I do their laundry and it feels good to wash and fold their clothes, knowing their shirts will be white and their slacks mended as they tend to their service. I think I enjoy the evening the most because I can hear them downstairs laughing and talking with each other. I so miss the noise that comes with young men in our home and now it is back again!
Elder Orton is from Florida and Elder Tueller is from Texas. Elder Orton was out shoe shopping yesterday, it was his year mark and more than time to replace his worn out shoes. A woman happened to see him trying on shoes and volunteered to buy them for him, on the condition he got exactly what he wanted. He ended up getting a real nice pair of Doc Marten's as well as some new socks, with more socks on the way.
I remember seeing missionaries in the grocery store when Brian had first gone out, and I started to cry because I was hoping that someone in Venezuela was thinking the same thing I was ... I wonder what I can do for these young men so far away from home. I admit when I see young men in our ward that remind me of either Cory or Brian I pay particular attention to them; to see what they do, how they talk to their wives, how they treat their children.
We are planning on going to the Ward camp out that will take place this Friday and Saturday. It's up American Fork Canyon so there should be families who can come up and enjoy the community meal without having to spend the night. It's fun to get together in an informal setting and just enjoy each other's company. I plan on roasting lots of marshmallows! We went up to check out the campsite and it was pretty chilly. Glad we have a trailer with a heater.
Shelly Beatty (my neighbor) and I are going to get together on Wednesday to plan our own little fund raiser. The plan is to provide Heritage Care Center (the facility Grandma Whittaker was in while in American Fork) with some new bedding. That was something I noticed they were lacking and our hope is that we can provide them with something that can help quite a few of their residents. We will begin with a dollar amount in mind, determine how much we are willing to invest, see who can help sponsor our cause, etc. We already have an idea of sorts to work with so I'm anxious to see where we can go with it. I keep thinking of the positive experience I had with the first fund raiser for the Literacy Center when we took $50 dollars, saw a $500 profit and then with matching funds from Wal-Mart changed it to $1,000.00 I'm not sure if we can do quite the same, but it will be worth the effort.
I read the post by Tricia which included the remarks by Margaret Nadauld about Women of God. I was so impressed by her remarks that I posted the quote here at work so I can look at it often. Thanks!
The missionaries have been a delight. They are careful to put things away and clean up after themselves. I do their laundry and it feels good to wash and fold their clothes, knowing their shirts will be white and their slacks mended as they tend to their service. I think I enjoy the evening the most because I can hear them downstairs laughing and talking with each other. I so miss the noise that comes with young men in our home and now it is back again!
Elder Orton is from Florida and Elder Tueller is from Texas. Elder Orton was out shoe shopping yesterday, it was his year mark and more than time to replace his worn out shoes. A woman happened to see him trying on shoes and volunteered to buy them for him, on the condition he got exactly what he wanted. He ended up getting a real nice pair of Doc Marten's as well as some new socks, with more socks on the way.
I remember seeing missionaries in the grocery store when Brian had first gone out, and I started to cry because I was hoping that someone in Venezuela was thinking the same thing I was ... I wonder what I can do for these young men so far away from home. I admit when I see young men in our ward that remind me of either Cory or Brian I pay particular attention to them; to see what they do, how they talk to their wives, how they treat their children.
We are planning on going to the Ward camp out that will take place this Friday and Saturday. It's up American Fork Canyon so there should be families who can come up and enjoy the community meal without having to spend the night. It's fun to get together in an informal setting and just enjoy each other's company. I plan on roasting lots of marshmallows! We went up to check out the campsite and it was pretty chilly. Glad we have a trailer with a heater.
Shelly Beatty (my neighbor) and I are going to get together on Wednesday to plan our own little fund raiser. The plan is to provide Heritage Care Center (the facility Grandma Whittaker was in while in American Fork) with some new bedding. That was something I noticed they were lacking and our hope is that we can provide them with something that can help quite a few of their residents. We will begin with a dollar amount in mind, determine how much we are willing to invest, see who can help sponsor our cause, etc. We already have an idea of sorts to work with so I'm anxious to see where we can go with it. I keep thinking of the positive experience I had with the first fund raiser for the Literacy Center when we took $50 dollars, saw a $500 profit and then with matching funds from Wal-Mart changed it to $1,000.00 I'm not sure if we can do quite the same, but it will be worth the effort.
I read the post by Tricia which included the remarks by Margaret Nadauld about Women of God. I was so impressed by her remarks that I posted the quote here at work so I can look at it often. Thanks!
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