A Fun Week!

Last week we went to Bear Lake and joined Lydia and Ted for their vacation with their kids and grandkids. There are now 57 of them. They had T-shirts made-- kind of like the Heinz 57 logo, but called Gibbonz 57. They rented a 15 bedroom cabin in which they all fit. This cabin was a block away from our condo, so we joined them for noon and evening meals and played lots of games.

We arrived on Tuesday, the day after they did. On Wednesday and Thursday it rained, but Thursday afternoon several of us went down to the lake. We provided life jackets, boogie boards, and sand toys for everyone to use, which made it a lot better for them. It was windy and chilly and the lake had had whitecaps earlier, so Kayaking was out. Several of them played in the lake, anyway, and made the most of their vacation.

On Friday, they left, but it was the best day of the week--sunny and warm. We took our kayaks out and then went on a four-wheeling ride into the foothills above the lake. We got into some nice areas with trees. The more open areas were lush green from all the rain with lots of wild flowers. Every so often we came to a lookout point and could view the entire lake and houses below. It was great!

Came home Saturday and helped Derek get his elk packed up for the trip to Denver to deliver it.

Father's Day has been nice. I made rolls and pork chops for dinner and set the table with china. Derek made breakfast for Ed before he took off. Talked briefly with Bryce before he, Kate, and Kimball flew to California to join her family and a cruise. Amber has called, and we talked to Texas on Oovoo. Eddie is supposed to call any minute.

Mini-vacation

We are heading for our condo at Bear Lake. Lydia and her family are renting a 15 bedroom cabin, so we'll hang out with her. Ed will take Ted on a 4-wheeler ride. It's going to be rainy and cool, but, oh, well. We'll play lots of games.

An Inspiring Evening

Tonight was the Empty Nesters Home Evening. It was very inspiring as the author of the book, "Tell My Story Too", Jolene S. Allphin, came and spoke to us. The has spent the last nine years gathering stories about the Willie and Martin Handcart companies. She had many prints done by the artist, Julie Rogers, who paints scenes of many of these stories. You can check it out on www.tellmystorytoo.com.

Anyway, it was a beautiful evening and Ed and I came away feeling much lifted in spirit.

A nice weekend

June 13, 2009

Today seemed to go fast. We tinkered in the 5th wheel and I did another web search for a TV for the trailer. I found one, finally, in Salt Lake and so we arranged to pick it up later in the day.

Ed spotted Kenny and Lloyd coming back from their mission. There was a big banner and balloons in front of their house. It reminded him of our aborted mission, and it made us feel kind of sad.

I called Nancy to wish her a belated birthday. She reminded me that some couples serve six month missions, some serve for 12 months, others for 18, and others for 23. We served a six month mission. When she put it that way, it made me feel better.

Then Ed went to Salt Lake to get fittings changed on the propane tanks while I colored my roots and prepared dinner. When he came home, we drove to Bryce and Kate's with the dinner and ate with them. We had a really nice time with them and played a partial game of Settlers of Catan. We had to leave at 8:00 to go buy the TV, so no one really won, but Bryce, Ed, and I tied with 6 points each.

June 14, 2009

It is Sunday. Today Kenny and Lloyd reported their mission in Sacrament Meeting. Afterwards we were invited to the open house. The meal was really good and it was fun to visit with some of the other ward members who were also invited.

We decided to call Brazil. We talked to Pres. and Sis. Frei, but couldn't get hold of Pres. and Sis. Johnson. They will leave Brazil in two more weeks. Then the Belo East Mission will be dissolved and two new missions created further north. A mission in Rio will also be dissolved. The cities in those two missions will be redistributed in these new missions and part of Belo East will be put in the Belo mission. These changes are part of the Church's effort to ease the financial crunch and make things more effective.

We also called Elder and Sis. Call, who replaced us. It was good to find out how all of our Brazilian friends are doing. The Calls are doing really well with the mission. We also learned that there are two other couples in Brazil who have been called to be S&I coordinators, and the Calls have a replacement for themselves when they leave. That was gratifying to learn. I guess we started something that will become very important to the Church in that country as time goes by.

Sunny Day!

June 12, 2009

Hooray, the sun came out today! We took advantage by going on a morning bike ride (for exercise), came home, packed a lunch, and took our four-wheelers into the mountains. As we left, we could see clouds gathering in the distance. The ride up Farmington Canyon was cloudy and we approached the top, we rode back into winter.

We saw snowdrifts that were six feet deep and the temperature chilled right down. Brrrr... we had to put on jackets and I layered with my cashmere wool sweater. But, it was wonderful to be out and the view was magnificent! The trees had all greened up and water was flowing in the creek that ran along side the rode. It was a really great ride.

We ate our lunch in the Sunset campground and then headed home. I forgot our camera, so I have no pictures to post.

The machines were pretty muddy still from our last visit at Bear Lake, so Ed washed them and I headed for the stores to get items we need for the 5th Wheel so that we can move in, like slip-proof shelf paper, silverware holder ( yes, we have a drawer big enough to house one, in fact there are three of them in the kitchen,) and there is room under the sink for a real waste basket.

I've been searching online for a 26 inch TV, but I've just about had it. I can't find the resolutions I want, and all the new technology is confusing. I found one that seemed perfect, it is advertised in some places as a TV, but sells as a monitor. I've got to find out if it does both. Ed learned that the propane tanks on the trailer need new valves--one more expense and thing to deal with. Will we ever be ready to take it out?????

Like the iron

The new iron is great. I'm glad the old one broke. The weather keeps changing. Still, I called today and informed the committe that I'm not going on the trek. Weather in Moab isn't looking good, now. Maybe we'll stay home and watch movies.

Drove to Sandy and Ed had an MRI done on his lower lumbar. Visited Ed's Mom's house and saw the eco-friendly bamboo floor Dennis installed in her bedroom. It really is beautiful!

Now, it's the iron

Today was supposed to be D-day as far as the cleaning of the 5th Wheel. I was almost through ironing and hanging all the curtains when the iron quit. I couldn't believe it! So I had to go out and buy a new iron. One has to be careful what one says aloud. First our washing machine went out on us last month--$660 (with two $50 rebates, only one of which has come back). Next we got a nail in the sidewall of a tire on our car coming back from Portland--$800+. Last week the disposal got a hole in it--$100, at which time I said, "What else is going to break?" There you go, I said it, and sure enough something else stopped working. At the least I got the iron on a good sale, $45, marked down to $29.99+tax, and then I will get another 20% off tomorrow when I go back with my coupon. But this time, I'm zipping my lips!

I will say, as we move things back into the trailer, it looks very nice--like new! All our hard work is paying off and we feel very rewarded.

I am having second thots about the trek next week. The weather is going to be stormy half the days and I've heard that those people trekking this week are miserable. It has rained every day, is muddy and cold, and their tents are blowing down and they've had to run for cover under the picnic pavilion. I must say that they are getting a true pioneer experience. Maybe Ed and I will take our trailer and 4-wheelers and drive to Moab where the temperatures are higher.