Checked

And quick as that, another item was completed on my list.  I had set a goal to attend the Lubbock Texas Temple, Hong Kong China Temple, and the Columbia River Temple because each of these temples were built in places that I had lived after I had lived there. 

I attended the Lubbock Temple a number of years ago with some of my siblings to celebrate my dad's birthday.  He and his wife were serving as temple workers there at the time so that was so great.  No digital pictures of that event.

In March of this year, I attended a session at the Hong Kong Temple.

 

On Thursday, I completed this goal by attending a session at the Columbia River Temple located in Richland, Washington.  Sweet!!!

The Columbia River Temple is one of the smaller temples so we had to have appointments although our session was quite small.  It was so amazing to be there and think about all of the wonderful people I knew in the Tricities area.  They certainly deserved this temple in their midst.

As a historical note, the Lubbock Temple and the Columbia River Temple were announced at the same General Conference.  I think I cried the entire session.  I never thought a temple would ever be built in these places.  Dallas Temple and Seattle Temple were an unexpected blessings when they were built being close to these places of my youth.  These smaller temples are a miracle where ever they are built.

(Lubbock was our stake center when I was a teenager and living in Amarillo, Texas.)

So my goal is completed...unless of course they build a temple in Amarillo, West Jordan, Springfield MO or Syracuse.  Then perhaps I will have to add to this goal.

For now...........Checked!

Working on #10

I was sitting and reading a magazine at a doctor's appointment and read an article about six of the greatest bridges in the US.  Immediately I thought I want to see those bridges.  One was the famous San Francisco Bay Bridge.  The others were unknown to me but I added it to my "Just for Fun Mortal" goals.

San Francisco Bay Bridge was probably why I like bridges (as well as the Umatilla Bridge on the way to my grandmother's house).  It is a beautiful bridge.

It happened that another bridge on the list was in Twin Falls, Idaho, on the route heading to Washington.  We decided to take some time and see it along the way.  Here it is:

 

The Perrine Bridge

 

Map at the visitor's center

The Perrine Bridge
At the time it was built it was the highest bridge spanning a gorge.
I think it was 1500 feet above the river.
It was been rebuilt once since then.
I think it was first built in 1927.
It is a beautiful bridge.

You can actually walk under the bridge,
so we did.
Small things make us happy!

The Snake river to the east

Jena and I on the bridge
while Gary drove the RV across

Jena walking the bridge--
happy girl

Shadow of the bridge on the Snake River

A hole in the golf course to the west

View from the southwest visitor center

Jena posing with Mr. Perrine--who was remembered in
the name of the bridge.  He was settler in the area.

Just shortly to the west was the spot where
Evil Knievel tried to jump the gorge.
He was unsuccessful but there is still a marker for him.

To the west, there are two golf courses around Snake River.

 

Four more bridges to go to complete this bucket list item is completed.  Watch for more to follow.

A Quick Trip

Wednesday morning started early as Jena, Gary and I hopped into our motor home and headed northwest.  Our final destination was Seattle.  A friend of ours had broken a leg while on vacation there and needed some transportation back to Utah.  We were happy to use our RV for a quick trip.  We were able to accomplish a few things along the way.  I got to finish up something on my bucket list and to start work on another one.  In the process, Gary and Jena got to see where I grew up and Mt. Rainer and I got to see old friends and remember growing up in Richland, Washington.  It was a very fast trip but a lot was accomplished and I was so glad we did it.

We headed up to Idaho and made a slight detour at Twin Falls to start something on my bucket list---luckily Gary either likes my crazy ideas or he is just a very supportive husband (I expect both are very true.)  See next post for details of our detour.

Twin Falls Temple
Another stop on our detour in Twin Falls

Gary got to experience a bit of Oregon when we stopped to get gas in Baker City, Oregon.  As we pulled in to the gas station, an attendant came hurrying out to the RV.  I remembered that Oregon has a law forbidding people from pumping their own gas.  He didn't believe me until the guy approached the truck and asked what type of gas we needed.  One of the fun things about traveling.  Each place has their own little quirks.

Eating in the RV

One of the first signs of "arriving home" was crossing the Umatilla Bridge.  This was the bridge which we crossed every time we went our grandma's house in Portland.  It became one of the highlights of our trip and made it into a song my mom wrote called "Are We There Yet?"  (If you ever have traveled with children, you probably can guess the general theme of the song.)  She would sing it to us during our trips.  This bridge was a toll bridge when we were growing up, but now the bridge has been expanded and is no longer a toll road.

Freeway to the bridge

The dam right above our bridge

THE BRIDGE!

A boat traveling on the Columbia River
It headed under the bridge as we drove over.
Notice all of the power lines.
It is amazing what the power of the river can do.

The dam up river from the bridge

Although this trip was not planned much in advanced, it happened that I am currently reading a book about the Lewis and Clark trip across the country.  Their goal was to cross the country and document all that they saw.  They headed up the Missouri River looking for the head water and then cross the mountains and find "The Great River" as it was called by some of the local Indian tribes or the Columbia River.  Some of the very area they crossed we traveled by.  That was "neat".  I loved living by two rivers--the Columbia and the Yakima.  I thought everyone got to go "over the river and through the woods " to their grandma's since we really did.

Heading down Exit 102 towards Richland.
New freeways and new ways into town.

We arrived in Richland, WA, around 5:00 and I took Jena and Gary on a quick tour of some of the important places of my childhood.

Our house on Agnes Street

Jadwin Chapel
Where we attended Church most of the time
we lived in Jadwin.  I was baptised in this building.
It has been remodeled since we lived in Richland..

Jena and Gary sitting by the Church.
We had a lot of Easter egg hunts and other
activities in this lawn.

Although it has changed around the outside, the town inside was the same.  As we drove around, the names of the streets were all familiar and memories just flooded in.  We saw the rebuilt junior high, the bowling alley, the high school stadium and other buildings.  Some things were different as the ponds we played in during the summer and caught polliwogs during the spring had been emptied and built on.  Boring for Gary and Jena but great for me.

We spent the night at a RV Park in Kennewick.  Most of the park looked like they were permanent residents.  I took a picture of the trailer across the way with its lighted grapes hanging out front.

Wednesday evening we visited with Kathy and Scott Corbaley.  I first called Kathy my "oldest" friends but then I reworded that as she is actually just a few months older than I was.  She is the first memory I have of a person other than someone in my family.  I remember playing under quilts when at RS work days with her.  She and I were close friends throughout my time living in Richland and kept in touch off and on over the past 40 years.  We assume we were friends since we were two or so years old.  Forgot to take pictures, however.

Thursday morning my good husband dropped me back off at Kathy's and he and Jena headed up to southern Seattle to pick up our friend and her husband.  They passed by Mt. Rainer and saw some beautiful scenery along the way.  I spent the day with Kathy and visited some old friends.  Gary and Jena along with our friends picked me up on the way home.  I got to spend a few hours with Kathy and it was a sweet experience.

Jena's pictures along their trip to Seattle
She must like bridges, too.

Treats--without Mom!

Mountains and trees--the Washington
which most people think of

RV at a view site

We then drove home and with one stop for taco salads and a short sleep break, we arrived back in Syracuse this morning.  Nice---did I mention what a great husband I have!!!!  I told Gary I had wanted to go to Richland for so long..now I am not sure why I waited.  It isn't that far away.

Brigham City Temple

Picture taken in May
It was so hot we didn't really have a chance to
take outside pictures during the Open House

Jena and her friend Meggan
hanging out at the Church before we left

On Tuesday I was able to be a "driver" for our YW/YM trip to the Brigham City Temple.  It is the newest temple in the area and it was a great privilege to go with Jena and others to enjoy the sweet spirit of this temple.  If you ever have a chance to go--to the open house or afterwards, take it.  It is one of the smaller temples and it is beautiful.  The art work and the furnishings are amazing and certainly feels perfect for Brigham City.  It was nice to walk (in my case hobble) through the rooms and share my feelings with Jena.

One more item from last week

I forgot to mention about Jena's little puppet show which she performed for Gary, Grandma Hall, and her aunt and uncle.  During the summer, we had a tutor come and work with Jena on school stuff.  Her name was Holly and Jena loved her.  They performed on their last time together.  Ben and I were sorry that we missed it as he had an appointment down in Salt Lake.

Here is "Beauty and the Beast.":

The puppet makers:  Jena and Holly

Jena's summer of fun keeps on going......

First we headed to Clearfield High to pick up her first HIGH SCHOOL schedule.  She is so excited and after having to wait in line to correct her schedule she is officially ready to go.  Theatre, seminary, science, history, and choir plus her functional skills classes.  She thinks it is a great schedule.

It is not all fun of course....we then headed down to her orthodontist appointment where they put another band and new wires in her mouth plus spent about 20 minutes trying to band one final tooth which still wouldn't cooperate with them.  She doesn't complain but it didn't look fun.

It was okay because we left Salt Lake and drove straight to Pineview Dam for an afternoon and evening of boating and tubing and eating for the MiaMaids and Teachers.  Jena had a great time.  It was her first motorboat ride since she was less than two.  She went off on the boat and the MiaMaid leaders were asking me if I was okay with Jena trying the tube (they had a three person tube) if the boat went slow.  I said I wasn't sure since I couldn't go with her (a broken foot does interrupt some fun).  Then I thought it might not matter since she is already out on the boat.  I decided that I guess I will just have to trust Jena's judgement if she wants to go or not.  When the boat got back, Bro. Robbins announced that Jena had taken two rides on the tube. And Jena had a huge happy smile on her face.  Sometimes it's just better not to ask the mom. 

Here is Jena coming into shore on her third tube ride.  Thanks to Bro. Robbins for sharing his boat and doing an awesome job and to her Young Women's leaders.  All of these things happened on Tuesday.

The next morning Jena and I got up early (6:00) which for Gary is a more normal time to wake up than my normal summer time....and headed to the Utah Open.  It was being held in Kaysville about 15 minutes away.  The Utah Open donates some of the money raised to Utah Special Olympics so Jena and I were volunteers for the day.  We were assigned as "Hole in One" spotters for the 15th hole.  If someone gets an hole in one at that hole they won a free cars.  No luck on Wednesday!!  We had a beautiful spot under some trees and enjoyed our day.  We did a few other tasks as well and now own nice blue Utah Open shirts and white caps.  Gary wants to go with us next year.

Hanging out at the 15th hole

Jena showing her brand new Clearfield High ID card
I have had my phone for over 3 years and I am just learning
that it has different effects (such as above) and figured
out how to send pictures from my phone to
my computer.

Jena then went bowling on Thursday with Gary, had a birthday party/swim party for a friend on Friday afternoon, had friends over (Club 21) for swimming at our house with a hot dog BBQ, and swimming on Saturday at 7:20 a.m. and then she and I volunteered for "Shop for a Cause" at Macy's in the evening (again for Special Olympics).

She might be glad to go to school.  Her life might slow down a bit.  I think mine might!!

This week promises to be another week of fun and special times!!!!  Watch for details next week.

Our fence within a fence

In an effort to put into place my long-term gardening plans, we had a fence installed around our swimming pool.  It comes complete with an arbor "to no-where" according to Gary and our fence installers (it goes into our side area where someday will be my "grandmother's garden".  I admit it doesn't look like much yet.  Give me 5 years or so....)

Our long-term goal is to build a garden train in the area within the fence that isn't currently the pool.  More details to follow but it is nice to have the fence in so we can start on the next project---our doggie path.

You can see the arbor on the west side of our house.



I know--another sunflower,
but they are so awesome. This is
my tallest one this year.

It is on our east side and is about
nine feet tall.

In case you wanted to know....

we know someone who swam across the English Channel!!  Isn't that amazing  (not that we know him but the fact that he did it.)!!!

He is Gordon Gridley, our of our friends, neighbors, and a Primary teacher.  Here are some of the banners and posters on his house welcoming him (and his wife and  2 oldest children) home from England.

Our Senior Primary poster
Hard to see but there were about 50-60 signatures of kids on it.

Three of the four ward/neighborhood banners hanging on their garage door

One of the people had signed the poster, something to the effect of:

"Bucket list:  Know someone who has swam the English channel--Checked"

That is how I feel.  I never in my life ever dreamed of swimming the English channel or swimming across any significant body of water.  It is great to know someone who has and to be so proud of his accomplishing this huge goal even from the sidelines.  It took a huge effort on his part and his family to have this dream happen for him.  And it was fun to share it in the neighborhood as many of us watched his blog in the days leading up to the swim and then during the swim as his mom and wife sent update.  We actually could see his progress on the swim through GPS updates every 15 minutes.  He made it in 11 hours and 30 minutes.  We learn and are inspired by his achievement.

I didn't want to swim the English Channel but I knew that I would someday see the Great Wall of China, see a water buffalo in person and observe a Buddhist monk in Thailand.  These things have happened and my bucket list (which I have called my "Just for Fun Mortal Goals"--before I even knew the term "bucket list") still has items to do, see, or accomplish.  My last one accomplished was "building a pinewood derby car."---see my goals are less spectacular but no less important to me.  They are targets of fun or goal setting that add an additional purpose beyond just getting through the day or achieving eternal life.  So make a list and get to it.

And if "knowing someone who swam the English Channel" is on your list, I am happy to introduce you to Gordon!!

(His wife, Cathi, has run in the Boston Marathon....in case that turns up on any one's list!!!)

What did you do on Saturday?

If you own a home, your Saturdays are like ours and if you don't have to go somewhere, you have a long list of things to do in and out of your house.  And if you have a "crazy" wife like Gary has, you are in the middle of a major redo in the backyard---one of those projects that started out with one thing and now has mushroomed into something else completely different.  (Sorry, Gary!)  I keep telling him in 10 years it will look great.  It is just getting it from here to there that is such a lot of work.

After the deck work at our house and Gary's sister's home last summer, we had collected a lot of old redwood because I thought I might want a wooden path around the edge of our house for our dogs to run on (they like to "patrol" our fence line and totally ruined the grass in that area.)  However after having a new fence put around our above the ground pool, we have wandered down some other options and decided to do a wood chip type of path for them.  Then we had to get rid of the wood.  Now Gary doesn't just want to throw the wood away (that is a waste, of course) so we decided to cut it up to use for our firepit.  So that is what we did on Saturday----hauled and cut redwood planks and also cut some logs from trees we cut down last year.  Here is our finished firewood pile complete with redwood base.

Now the amazing thing is not our finished wood pile but how it came to be cut.  We decided to borrow Gary's dad's table saw.  Gary went off on Saturday morning to pick it up from the garage at his mom's.  A little while later he returned with the saw in the trailer, then he tells me how heavy it is and he is not sure how to get it off the trailer.  (He should never have put it in the trailer in the first place by himself. I am not sure even now how he did it.)
He puzzled about it for a bit and then came up with these ingenious plan.  By using pullys already
 installed in our garage ceiling (due to prior years activities with Webelos Scouts--another benefit of Scouting in our life--see prior post), Gary tied a rope with a series of knots (which he learned in Scouts) and then attached the rope onto the truck. As he drove the truck forward, it lifted the table saw enough so that we could place the stand underneath it and get it ready for use.  It was a work of art.  Gary is one smart guy and very handy to have around.

Using brains instead of brawn for this job.

The rope was tied to Gary's pickup truck.
As it went forward it pulled the saw up.



Putting it on the stand.

Our Webelo pullys

Scout knots come in handy!

Now if it will only work so well to get it back safely to Gary's mom's house!!!!