KAILEE'S GRADUATION LEADS OFF THE MONTH OF MAY

Kailee graduated from Utah Valley University on the 5th of May. We are so proud of her. She has accomplished this over the 5 years she and Todd have been married, attending some classes but mainly doing on-line studies. We have been amazed at her determination and dedication to getting her degree. On the day of her graduation, she found out her college was receiving their diplomas last. She and Todd had a big dinner party planned at their home for family, so she feigned an emergency. The graduation director let her walk with the first college receiving their diplomas - the foreign language department - so she could get to her 'emergency'. As soon as she received her diploma, she walked right off stage and out the door, instead of returning to her seat like everyone else. We followed her out and by so doing, we missed all the traffic and were to their home in Lehi before the actual graduation was even over. Pretty sweet.

                           Kailee's parents came down from Idaho so she had many 
                                     family members to celebrate with her.

On May 12, we had a baptism. Sandra Verbino, who has been investigating the church for 2 years, decided she wanted to be baptized on her birthday. She told us that 10 days before, so we had to hustle to get interviews done and program assignments made. She asked me to give the talk on baptism and I was thrilled to do it. Her baptism was a very special affair. Afterwards, we had Sandra and a few friends to our home for dinner. The Chapels, who started teaching her before us, were there as well as the Cottle's who have been wonderful to fellowship her over this past year or so. Two of Sandra's special friends and their husbands were there, too. She seems happy with her decision and we are so excited for her. We have been teaching her since November and had recently made some pretty direct challenges for her consider being baptized. The day she announced to us her intentions, we had come with a lesson on the importance of baptism, hoping to leave with a commitment for her to be baptized.  

Sandra at our home with her birthday cake

Sandra and her friends from
West Jordan

Other missionary happenings weren't so happy. Our recent convert, Rick, and his wife Carolyn decided to celebrate all the good things that were happening in their lives. The problem is that Carolyn took a drink of alcohol and, because she is a recovering alcoholic, ended up in the hospital, in ICU, fighting for her life. She couldn't stop drinking, once she started. Rick was a trooper to stay with her the whole 10 days of her hospital stay. The day before she was released, we drove Rick to Evanston, Wyoming to visit his doctor there and to get his prescriptions renewed. That was his downfall. As soon as he got his prescriptions refilled, he popped a few pills. By the time we got him back to the hospital to be with Carolyn, he was out of it....hardly coherent in his conversation and very drowsy. We don't think he ever dried out from then on. By the weekend, we got word that Rick was in jail and Carolyn had been picked up for a DUI (due to prescription medications) and was back in the hospital. We visited Rick in jail and all the light we had once seen in his eyes was gone. We attended his arraignment, for which he was very grateful. We thought he was going to be released until his sentencing date in July but, it turns out, he had an outstanding warrant in Summit County so was immediately taken to the Summit County jail. We think he will be in prison for a long time. He was arrested, at first, for possession of heroine and the warrant was for selling prescription drugs. These are second or third offenses so prison is a certainty. So sad - Addictions have destroyed these two good people. Carolyn is moving soon and divorcing Rick. She is facing life with no driver's license for at least 90 days and two court dates. They had it all together for so long and then they blew it. We are heart broken.

On this mission, we feel like we are always in a preparation mode. If it's not preparing for discussions, it's prepping for a district meeting assignment or a talk in church. It is good for us but there is not much down time after prepping, visiting, and doing personal and companion study. We are, too often, sad when we prepare and then the lesson is canceled. Such was the case after I had spent hours doing an over sized plan of salvation visual aid, complete with rice krispie treats. This was for an 'after baptism' lesson for a 10 year old and her family. As we were heading out the door, we got a text that the family needed to cancel. Oh well, such is the life of a missionary. We have upwards to 5 cancellations in a week so we get used to it. When that happens we try an fill in with other visits.

Our district - Halls, Gordons,
Wards, Ourselves, Barnes

We had to say good bye to an elder and a senior couple, one was transferred and the other released. The Halls finished up their 12 month mission so we had a special lunch for them at the Gordon's home after our district meeting. We will miss them and their great insight to the scriptures. Elder Hernandez was transferred to Price. He has been with us since the beginning of his mission,18 weeks ago. We will missed him dearly. Transfers are always hard as we come to love our missionaries.

Elder Hernandez will be missed

It has finally become Spring and things are in full bloom. We love the blossoms that come out on our trees - pinks and whites. We did have a late freeze that singed the leaves of a few trees so their leaves will be coming out later. We planted annuals at the end of the month, once we were sure there would be no more freezing. We have decided not to put in a vegetable garden this year as it takes too much time with the demands of our mission. Maybe next year.

Of course, we celebrated two holidays in May - Mother's Day and Memorial Day. On Mother's Day, I spoke in church in our ward and, then, Jon and Mindi and family came up for dinner. We always love having them come up to Heber to visit. They gave me a marble cheese board and two specialty cheeses.  I use the board continually as I do a lot with cheese in my cooking. Andrea sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and I thought of her each time I looked at them. It was phone calls for Todd and Ryan which are always appreciated.  

The following weekend, we went to Ruth Chris's for dinner, kind of in celebration of Mother's Day. We chose Ruth Chris because Todd and Kailee had given us some gift certificates for babysitting Aria for a week while they were in Hawaii in March. 
We ordered a porterhouse steak for two and it was huge. It was a filet on one side and a sirloin on the other. Both sides were very tender and delicious. It was more than we could eat, though, after we had a salad, asparagus, and scalloped potatoes, too. Ruth Chris is a very expensive restaurant so our total bill, for two, ended up being $150 plus tip. Thank you Todd and Kailee. The bone was appreciated by Alice, Jon and Mindi's dog. We took it down to her the following Monday.

Paul trying out Jon and Mindi's
Traeger grill.  It is amazing.

On Memorial Day, we planted the annuals and then took dinner down to Jon and Mindi's. Todd and Kailee joined us and we enjoyed ribs, potato salad, spinach-strawberry salad, watermelon, and rolls.  Mindi made a delicious frozen lemonade dessert. It was fun to just relax and visit with everyone. We are excited that Jon and Mindi's home is finally taking shape. They even had furniture in their family room for the first time since moving in the first of February. As soon as the kitchen is done, this house will finally feel like a home. Earlier that week, we had put flowers on Paul's parents graves. 

While at Jon and Mindi's, we noticed lots of weeds in the back of their yard and decided to help them get their backyard cleaned up. Wednesday, the 31st, Paul and I, and Todd and Kailee spent several hours weeding the back area as well as the garden areas. Except for the the pile of weeds left, it all looked a lot better when we left. They are hoping to put the house on the market by August and finding another one that better suits their needs. If they want to get top dollar for this home they are remodeling, the yard needs to look great, too.

Clark, Olivia and Carly helped a bit too.

Also this month, we finally were able to take the April birthday boys out for a birthday dinner. Schedules are so hard to coordinate, hence the May birthday dinner for April birthdays. It was fun to be with them at The Sukiaki House.

AND THEN THERE'S ARIA.....

as

our little graduate

and

loving the slide in Jon and Mindi's backyard.

APRIL BRINGS A HINT OF GREEN AND THOUGHTS OF SPRING

3 inches of snow on April 25

Pear tree blossoms trying to
survive in the snow

This month, the weather has been crazy - beautiful and warm one day and snow on the ground then next. This is the time when we get so anxious for the leaves to be out on the trees and the blossoms to show forth their incredible beauty. When we drive to Provo, we are always amazed at how green it is there compared to Heber.  We are about three weeks behind them so, only now, at the end of the month, are we seeing leaves and blossoms. Patience in all things - even waiting on Spring.

Despite the unpredictable weather, we have had some great things happen this month. It was General Conference April 1 and 2. Ryan and Katie left on April 1st, right after the Saturday afternoon session. We had the privilege of attending the Sunday morning session at the conference center with one of our investigators, Sandra Verbino. We had a lovely visit as we drove to and from Salt Lake and the conference was wonderful. We went early to hear the Tabernacle Choir broadcast which was delightful. Hopefully Sandra felt the spirit of the meeting and gleaned an increase in testimony from the messages presented.  

The beautiful conference center with the Tabernacle Choir
 in their seats ready  to perform.

On April 10, we attended the funeral of Neil Hilton, the husband of a couple we had visited a couple of times. He was struggling with diabetes and it finally took his life. The week after the funeral, we visited with Nancy, his wife, to see how she was doing and if there was anything we could do for her. She seems to be adjusting fine, actually glad the ordeal she has been dealing with for months was finally over. Once Neil's family stops bothering her about the estate, she will be much happier and more at peace. We will keep in touch.




Later that week, we had the privilege of meeting with one of our Russian young single adults, Inessa. She attended our institute and pathway classes for two semesters before leaving on her mission to St. Petersburg. She hadn't returned before we left so it was so great to visit with her again. She was on a break from Rexburg, Idaho where she is attending BYU-I.  She hopes to come to Provo this summer, work, and then attend BYU in January.  She is a special person so we hope things work out for her.

It was Olivia's birthday in March and we finally got around to taking her out for her birthday dinner. With Spring break and a trip to Arizona, she was not available until into April. She turned 12 and looks so grown up. We took her to Texas Roadhouse which was where she wanted to go. She loves their ribs and rolls of which she ate many. We enjoyed our time with her.

And then it was Easter Sunday. We attended three sacrament meetings that day. We went to the Old Mill Ward to witness Rick and Carolyn Kinsie partake of the sacrament for the first time in 40 years. A joyous occasion and so appropriate for Easter Sunday. We also attended the sacrament meeting in the Heber 6th ward, in the North Stake. We wanted to hear Ruthann and Shawn Galuska sing in the choir. Her brother, Jim, was there so we also got to see him in his new suit. I had hemmed the pants for him during the week.  

Barbara Campbell, Ruth Ann, Jimmy, and Shawn

After church, we had a houseful for dinner. Jon and MIndi and family, Todd and Kailee and family, as well as Jake and Nicole and family all joined us for cordon bleu, rice pilaf, green beans and homemade rolls for dinner and crepes for dessert. There were 14 of us so I had to sit the two girls on their own little table. They loved having their own special place to sit. After dinner, Olivia and Carly played Easter bunny and hid candy filled plastic eggs all over the backyard for Aria, Eva, and Sadie to find. With Todd's help, Aria really got into to finding them. 

Elder Abbot on the right

As for missionary work, we continue to very busy with appointments from 6 to 9 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday, we have our district or zone meetings and then we attend the temple. During the day, we plan and prepare lessons as well as visit those who are home during the day. We attend several sacrament meetings each Sunday as well as, at least, one ward council meeting. We, also, feed the missionaries every Tuesday. This month was transfers and we lost Elder Abbot who was transferred to the Spanish Fork area. He will be missed.


 Our new elder is Elder Thompson from Wisconsin. He is really sharp and will be a great asset to the area here in Heber. He reminds us of Elder Hoffman, one of our favorite elders from Moscow. These elders told us that their district now consists of a former assistant to the president, a zone leader and 2 former district leaders as well as the sister trainers. We're thinking that President Hodgeman is really expecting big things to happen here in Heber.

Sister Mason and Jay Todd

One special thing that happened mid month was a Curtain Time USA reunion. This was a group I performed with in college, touring the Middle East and Europe on a 4 month tour with the United States state department. I had missed the 50th reunion because we were in Hawaii with Deon and Gary right after our mission so this was the first time I had seen everyone for many years. When I walked in I wondered who all these old people were but soon began to recognized them, realizing that I probably looked just as old. We had a great time visiting but the highlight of the afternoon was a Sister Mason, whom we had met in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, over 50 years ago. She is now 92 years old and recalled with us the answer to prayers we all experienced on our first performance night in Ceylon. We were to perform to 10,000 people on an outdoor stage and the rains were threatening. We all prayed as did Sister Mason for the rains to hold off so we could perform. The rains didn't come until we were singing our closing song at which time we all felt a drop of rain on our heads. We had just enough time to leave the stage and then it poured. At the time, her husband was not a member of the church but was impressed with our show and the wholesome character of the performers. It planted seeds deep enough that, when they returned to the U.S., he was baptized. They have since been married in the temple and sent several sons out on missions. One never knows when what you do or say plants a seed that will someday blossom into a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jay Todd, Glen and Kim Overton, Glenda Gardner and Janet Todd

Roger Call, Carolyn Beasley, and Michael Bollingbrook.

Tanya Hale and Linda Smith and myself.  We were a dance trio on the tour.

This month, we also babysat Aria again, but this time for only 3 days. Todd and Kailee met her sisters in Las Vegas for a Backstreet Boys concert. Todd went for the golf. We loved having Aria with us and were sad when it was time to take her back home.

Aria loves pulling these blankets off the ottomans at the foot of our bed.
This time she discovered they were silky and fun to play on.

At the end of the month was my birthday. It's hard to believe I'm 72.  The spirit doesn't feel that old but my body often does and, then, when I look in the mirror I realize I'm no spring chicken anymore.  Oh well, it's all in the plan. We had a district meeting on my birthday so Sister Gordon made me a birthday cake for all to share. It was so sweet of her to take time out of her busy week to make a carrot cake, with a temple on top. After the meeting we went to the temple and visited a brother at the hospital whose wife was in intensive care. At 5:30, we met Jon and Mindi and Todd and Kailee for dinner at Pizza Factory. A great day for sure.

Aria at Pizza Factory

The day after my birthday, I drove to Provo to do some shopping. Chico's was having a 40% off everything sale so I wanted to take advantage of those reduced prices. I found a couple of skirts and a pair of black dress pants. I also stopped at a couple of other stores and found a jacket, a scarf, a blouse and a knit top. Finding clothes for the summer that look good on this old body is no easy task. That evening, we picked up Kay and Marv Rust and drove back to Provo for dinner at LaJolla Groves and a musical at the Orem Hale Family Theater. We saw Betty Blue Eyes. It was hilarious.  A wonderful evening.


Also, in the last week of April, Don and Dana came to stay at our home. They came in on Thursday evening and stayed till Monday afternoon. They came to watch Bryce compete in a track meet for UVU at BYU. He is a triple jumper. When they come they spend most of their time in Provo with Bryce but we had some good visits in the evenings when we all got home. Sunday, after church, we ate dinner on the blue Lenox china of Mom's. It was a time of remembering for Don of our life growing up in Bakersfield.  Fun to be with family.

A couple of interesting items to conclude this month:

Dad posted this on Face book - complete with an emoji. Amazing at 100 years old...............................

For Christmas Jon and Mindi gave me 8 place settings of china to match my Mom's china. One Sunday, when Jon came up to dinner with Braydon and Jaron, I set the dinner table with the china complete with new placemats and napkins.  It looked beautiful





Of course, we can't end the month without more pictures of Aria....

New hair do - a bun!!!!

Aria loves to climb up on things

At JCW's for lunch and a milk shake