Not A Typical P-day!

Saturday, as I mentioned in an earlier post, we did a oral history with President and Sister Funk in Mountain Green, Utah.  We needed to be in Mountain Green at 10:00 which meant we were up and getting ready at our usual weekday time (if you know me, you know that I like to sleep in on Saturdays.)  And we had to wear Church clothes!!!

We had a delightful time with the Funks, both on and off camera as they shared their stories but also some of the things which they had collected.

Sister Funk had made this quilt out of the bottom part of the elders' ties
when they left and the sisters selected a block for them.

Because we were close, we asked Vonette and Gary if they were up for a second Saturday of game playing (they had come the previous week to Salt Lake and we had played games then as well.)  They thought it was a great idea, so we headed over their direction.

Things weren't quite "green" in Mountain Green at the end of winter, but the Funks told us that it was beautiful the rest of the year.  They had just moved to the area a year ago after finishing their service as temple president and matron of the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

However, it was passed lunchtime when we finished at Funks' so we were debating about our lunch options in Morgan/Weber country when we saw a food truck and decided that corn dogs sounded good--

They were about 12 inches long and covered in a delicious fried cornbread covering.  The staff had asked if we wanted ketchup, mustard, and/or honey!  I had never intentional put honey on my corn dog before but I tried it with mustard and it was quite tasty.  Give it a try sometime. 

We then headed the rest of the way through Ogden Valley to Vonette and Gary's house, had an afternoon of game playing and then Vonette served us some yummy French dip sandwiches for dinner, more game playing, and then headed home about 8:30 with a stop for gas and groceries...

A great day although I still do need to clean the bathrooms, finish laundry, and other P-day stuff---but it all waits to be done another day.

Saying Goodbye To One of Our Former Missionaries

On March 9, Jerrad Pierpont passed away due to complications of old age and diabetes.  He was in our zone until last summer.  He and his wife, Sister Carol Pierpont, lived in the Eagle Gate Apartments near us and we were able to share some meals at a variety of local restaurants as well as joining them to watch the 24th of July parade on their balcony.  When we first met them over the phone (due to Covid), he told us that he was willing to do anything at the Church History Library including taking out the trash and cleaning the bathrooms.  As we grew to know them better, we learned that he was serious.  All he wanted to do was serve the Lord in any way he could.

He was "famous" for carrying tootsie rolls in his pockets and handing them out to people throughout the day.  Before the library closed in 2020 for Covid, he sat at a reception desk and welcomed people to the floor and if you were lucky, you would get a tootsie roll with a big smile.  He loved everyone.  He was a convert to the Church and loved to tell his story of change and testimony.  He and his wife served several missions until finally moving to Salt Lake City from New York 2 12 years ago to continue to serve in the Church History Library.

The tootsie rolls were passed out at his memorial service on Friday.  Tootsie rolls were so connected to Elder Pierpont that the person giving the closing prayer mentioned them in the prayer---words to the effect "We know paradise is a little bright with Jerrad there and hopefully he can be passing out spiritual tootsie rolls...."  Elder Pierpont would have LOVED that!

I am so glad that we got to know them even though it was hard for us as zone leaders to be a part of their release due to health and other difficulties.  That was a very hard thing for them and not what they wanted.  Getting old is not easy.  I hope that my desire to serve remains as strong as his when I am 83.

Til we meet again, Elder Pierpont!

Side note:  Sister Pierpont is an amazing pianist and she played for the memorial service--the opening and closing hymns and for two musical numbers.  She is experiences early dementia yet she still retains her amazing skills at the piano and wanted to honor her beloved husband in this way.

I leaned over and told Gary that I wouldn't be able to do that for him (implying I couldn't be that composed) but he ruined the mood by pointing out that I didn't play the piano now.  True. 
 

Oral Histories

We had two this past week--on Friday afternoon and then on Saturday morning.  The first one was on Zoom and the second one was in person in Mountain Green.  Oh, how sweet they both were.  They had all served as mission presidents and companions in the Washington Spokane Mission, both when the Tri-Cities area was in the mission.  They loved that area of the mission as well as all of eastern Washington. There is no way to convey the joy of these histories unless you listen to them yourselves on the Church History Catalog.  The experiences they share reaffirm the reality of our Heavenly Father and His tender care of each of us in all of the seasons of our lives.  It is such a privilege for us.

One interesting connection-- the Heatons have a son with Down syndrome and the Funks have a granddaughter with Down syndrome so they all really LOVED having Jena be a part of their experience.

Two more this upcoming week......

We also got two new missionaries this past week-  Elder and Sister Nelson from Cedar City, UT.  They will be taking over for Elder and Sister Barker doing oral histories as well for US/Canada.

Silly Homework Assignment

When Jena got in the car after Institute last Wednesday, she told me that her teacher had given them a silly homework assignment:  to eat an Oreo cookie.  Fortunately, I had some oral  cookies--mint --which I had gotten for St. Patricks' Day (but I forgot I had them so she didn't eat them until March 18---sometimes the story of my life--a day late)---but she enjoyed it and wanted a picture for the blog and her teacher.

Sometimes, good teachers can be silly, too---and Jena loves that!
 

Grandma Day At Bluff Ridge

How fun it was to go to Bluff Ridge Elementary School and have Grandparent Lunch with Liam!

He has the same first grade teacher as Jena so we got to talk briefly.  Liam even attends 1st grade in the same classroom Jena did--

We loved this school.  It opened in 1999 and Ben, Tosha and Jena all attended here.  Jena attend from pre-school for three years and then Kindergarten through 6th grade.

We are glad that Liam is enjoying his time here as well.  He was saying hi to so many kids while we walked in the hallways and attended the book fair.

We did pick out a book at the book fair.  Jessica sent this photo this morning and told me that Liam is loving the book!  Nice!

I love watching kids reading books!  I guess because I love books so much and I know that reading opens up so many wonderful things.  I hope he loves reading like his mom and grandmother and great-grandma!

March 14- National Pi Day!

I had a salad on March 14-Pi Day at the COB cafeteria because it was PIE day and they had their cherry pie which I live.

One of the advantages of our mission is that the COB cafeteria does a good job providing us with "appropriate" holiday foods---turkey at Thanksgiving, Tacos on TWOS-DAY and pie for Pi day!

Evidence of spring is coming....but soon to be covered with snow---at least that is the forecast.  It hasn't arrived yet.

 

Salt Lake Temple Renovations Continue

Last Monday, we took a short detour as we walked through Temple Square to see the progress of the temple renovations.  They are doing work for a number of purposes--renovations needed to keep an old building in excellent repair, completed significant modifications for earthquake proofing, and to restore the building and its finishes to a more "true" to the original finishes of the building completed in the late 1880's.

They have updated the signage around the eastern viewing area of the temple---

This is dugged down at least 40 feet in this area and more to the north side.

Scaffolding covers the entire face of the temple now.

The words on the signage.....

I loved these quotes and it is powerful to be looking at the actual foundation of this amazing building and read these words.  How great to have Jesus Christ as the foundation of your life.

The north area.......

I am in awe at the scope and complexity of this huge project and the thousands of people involved to make it move forward.  I know people at the Church History Library are very involved in the process of trying to determine the historical details of finishes and furnishings for the inside of the temple.

On a side note, we recently had a lunch and learn called the "Feeding and Caring for Our Historical Churches" where one of the Church historians talked about this process of using journals, photos, and scientific equipment to determine paint types and colors, molding designs, and other details when restoring a building.  Of course, they don't use lead paint any more but they do try to match other vintage details.  It was very interesting!

 

Ben's Christmas Quilt

With the help of my friend, I completed Ben's Christmas quilt-- it has stripes of some of his favorite things.  I thought he might like it with him at the state hospital for times when he was homesick.  However, he decided for now he wants me to keep it for him. Hopefully that will change but it is up to him.

Ben continues to struggle. The team and his doctor continue to try their best, And we continue to pray and provide support.  He feels like the medication is poisoning him so it has been hard for him to consistently take medications which causes other problems for him.  He recently agreed to a long acting shot so we are hoping that will give him some relief for his fears and anxieties and help him get back on a better medication schedule.
 

A Peek At The Temple

I was getting gas in the car while Jena was at her Institute class in Bountiful, Utah when I stopped to admire the lights of the Bountiful Temple on the hill.  Although it was beautiful, it was more the feelings that came as I just stood and admire the view (and took a picture.)  How grateful I am to know that marriages and families can be together forever!  We are taught that truth about temples since we were very young in the Church.  More importantly though, I am grateful for all of the covenants and truths I have made and learned there and in temples in many places. I am so grateful for the feelings of peace and heaven that I feel when I entered into those sacred places.

Truly, "I love to see the Temple...."

The History Of Peeps

Have you ever wondered what Church Historians due for fun when they are not collecting, interviewing, writing, and attending so many meetings! Well, for one of them, he has developed a "Peek Show for Historians!"

Scott Christensen, who is the manager of the US/Canada team where we serve, has done a collection of "peeps" related stuff and a PowerPoint about their history which he has presented for a number of years until the pandemic stop gatherings.  He reprised his presentation for the US/Canada team.

His collection includes a variety of things produced about peeps which were on display....

I didn't get a good picture of his collection of odd varieties of peeps over the years which are the boxes you see on the lower left of the above picture.  There are some weird types of peeps.

The PowerPoint of the History of Peeps

I had to make this one bigger so you could appreciate--the fake peeps from China-----they are really smashed from their long trip to the US.

Food items made of peeps--

art work with peeps---

Religious reference--

Scott then had us all get a peep and he taught us "the right way" to eat a peep---I still do not like how they taste.  He said the perfect one is to open the package and let it sit for 48 hours before eating them.  I don't think that would make them better.

Trust me--this was hilarious.  I took pictures more to remind me of this fun(ny) event.  I love people and the ways that they share their lives and make others laugh.

Seriously--have you ever thought of making a "Peep Show" with peeps!!!!