PS

Gary has a new calling.  I just reviewed the posts and realized that I hadn't mentioned that last week.  He was sustained as the assistant executive secretary in our ward and his primary job is to arrange appointments for the two counselors in the bishopric.  He is also in charge of arranging prayers for sacrament meetings.  He added a few meetings to his week--Tuesday evening Bishopric meetings and also Sunday morning Bishopric meetings at 6:30 am.....his first Sunday one was this morning which unfortunately was also the switch to Daylight savings time. He was a bit tired when he got home today.  I know if I needed a secretary/clerk type of person, I would want Gary on my team, too.  He is organized and follows through on his assignments with diligence.  The executive secretary is Craig Pessetto, one of our closest friends and neighbors so they will have fun working together with the other bishopric members. Randomly, Craig and Michelle are heading to Australia the week before we leave for New Zealand. They took a vote in last Tuesday's bishopric meeting and everyone wants to go with us to New Zealand over Australia.  The world is an interesting place and I am excited to hear about their adventures in Australia.  I don't think we will make a trip there (although we are flying to Brisbane to catch our plane to Christchurch, but that doesn't really count.)

Do you think we will get to take vacations in the eternities and to visit the cool places on earth we didn't get to see?

Snap Shots From The Week

Early in the week after some mountain snow, I took a shot of the mountains to send to one of the young adults in Arkansas.  She has never been to Utah yet.  Arkansas hills are beautiful and Utah mountains are as well--each in their own way.

And later glancing at my sideview window, I caught a glimpse of the setting sun---the pinks against the clouds was so beautiful that I had to stop and get a picture.  Luckily, I was in a parking lot so stopping was okay.

Then on Thursday night, Jena had to go to her stake center and have her temple recommend interview with a member of her Stake Presidency.  She met with President Bair.  We had never met him before, but it was a sweet experience for all of us since he invited me in to her interview with her permission. She then attended an Institute class and stayed for food afterwards.  She is so brave.  She just walked into a room with lots of people and found a seat and enjoyed herself.

On our way home for her Stake Center--more "perfect" views....

Our Syracuse Temple.....

We pulled over to get a good photo

How great is that.  This temple is a tribute to all of the good people who settled this part of the state many years ago.  Three more months until the temple is dedicated.

One more shot from the week---My white blood cells have been off a bit over the past few months, so my doctor sent me to a specialist who took 14 tubes of blood and ordered other tests and we will see him again AFTER our trip to New Zealand.  No worries from our end at this point, because I have few symptoms to be concerned about.  However, I did like this sign posted at the lab.  14 isn't much according to the lab tech.  She once took 54 tubes from one person at one time.  I can't even imagine that. 

Hope it makes you smile, too! :)

Look around and enjoy the beautiful things in your world (and also the quirky or funny things, too.)

Painting....

 takes central stage in the remodel this week, although the fireplace surround was installed as well as the hand rail for the stairs.

Jena's new blue room.  It reminds her of the blues inside the Bentonville Arkansas Temple.  How sweet is that.

Her bathroom is a couple of shades lighter of the same blue family....

The sweet yellow of the front room or "library" as Gary calls it now...

And although this is very close to the same yellow we had before, it has been covered with primer for a few weeks.  When I came upstairs and saw it painted this bright yellow, it made me smile!  I love yellows, because they are bright and really make me smile.  We will be staining these walls again (with what Gary describes as dirty water) although it is a bit trickier these days because it isn't a popular style any more so there a fewer products to consider.  Fortunately, our contractor had done it in his home 15 years ago and is familiar with the technical aspects of it and we think we have it figured out.

Our railings got their first coat of stain.  It is a pretty cherry wood like our cabinets and I love it.

Yesterday was spent getting this part of the house ready for paint.  Things were all wrapped up and primer applied on the walls.  Our stove is now out of commission. 

This is our new fireplace surround--taken from a picture on the internet.  The sides and under the mantel are white, but on top (covered with paper in this photo) is a cherry wood mantel.  I can't wait to see the tile go in!  It should be beautiful.

Fortunately, they ran a power cord to the fridge so we can still use it for food.  Our washer and dryer were all wrapped up, so we unwrapped them this weekend to do laundry and we were also able to use the utility sink still for washing dishes.  However, that is likely to be removed tomorrow as part of the process of prepping the laundry room.  Our contractor and workmen have done such a great job in allowing us to use things for as much as possible during a remodel.  It has been inconvenient, but not impossible to continue to live here during the remodel.

Getting excited to have things done and to move back in.  I am loving everything so far.

Throwback Monday

Since Monday was our anniversary, it seems good to throw in some "throwback" pictures--I hope to write our family history over the next few years and then these and other pictures will be together in a more meaningful way, but here are a couple--

I had very strong opinion about announcements--1. the focus should be on the wedding and where it was taking place; 2. although I wanted yellow announcements the printer suggested that this ivory was better for pictures, etc. He was probably right; 3.  I wanted the "new" style folded casual announcements rather than the two envelope formal announcements which were still popular then I am not very formal; 4.  I didn't want to use Judith but that is the one thing I regret because from a family history point of view it would have been better to have my complete name; and 5.  Ever since I heard this quote as a teenager, I wanted it on my announcement---and I also hope now that it will be on our gravestone-- "Thou lift me and I'll lift you And we'll both ascend together."

my parents, Gary, me, Gary's parents
Not sure why we took the photo this way,
but I like it.  Our parents supported both of us
from the very beginning.

The cake eating part of the reception in Amarillo.

As we were talking through the day about what we remembered from 47 years ago, one thing I mentioned to Gary was that from the moment we got engaged in December of 1977, I never doubted that this was what was next for me and that it was right.  I didn't have a powerful witness of that until shortly before we got married, but I had a confidence that I was moving in the right direction.  That has been proven true over and over again in the past 47 years.  We are so lucky God directed our paths in specific ways to make the timing, the place, and the connections to be right.