Some More Number FUN

 2-22-2022 was a pretty fun day but let me point out another day of "fun" number play!

On 03-03---

we celebrated our 

44th

Anniversary

When we were married, Gary and I were both

22 years old.

As we celebrated our 44th anniversary,

no surprise but we are both

66 years old!

And that is a lot of fun double numbers if you like that sort of thing...

and we do!

Our engagement photo

photos from our reception in Amarillo, TX

From left to right:  my siblings-Mike, Valerie, Robin, mom, dad, Gary, me Gary's parents, and his two younger sisters, Vonette and Charon

front row:  Rick Lynette, and Scott  (my siblings)

Missing was my brother, Todd, who was serving a mission in Brazil and Gary's sister Valerie who was married and remained home in Utah with her husband and son.

We actually only have one photo from the day we got married of Gary and I in front of the Provo Temple.  It was a blizzard that day so no family photos and group shots around the grounds of the temple. I can't find that photo on my computer so will have to add later.  We also had a reception up in Syracuse that night, but no photos from that either.

We celebrated by attending a play at the Hale Theatre with Jena and Sister Marianne Jones, a missionary in our zone.  It was a fun night...although I won't call "Treasure Island" a great 'romantic' type of play!

I don't know how to sum up 44 years of marriage to Gary, but trust me, it has been a great adventure.  We have been so blessed! Looking forward to the next 44 years....and many more!  Love you, Gary, to eternity and beyond!

Happy Birthday, Allan!

Allan (Gary's sister's husband) turned 66 on February 29--but since there was no February 29th this year, we headed up on the 28th to share some time with him at Chancellor Gardens where he is living in a the memory care unit.  Our plan was to bring him his favorite ice cream treat-  A very berry banana split from the Burger Barn in Layton.  However, when we got there, they told us that they no longer made them.  Gary had the great idea to try Pace's and at least get a sundae but they actually had a banana split and could add raspberries and strawberries to it.  It wasn't quite as big and no blueberries, but Allan liked it.  He was more alert and talkative than we have seen him in a year.  When we walked in, Allan told Gary, "It is good to see you, Gary."

When we left, the staff showed us the cake they got to celebrate his birthday with the unit:

Mis-spelled his name but I am sure everyone will love it!

As we walked out of Chancellor Gardens, we caught the last of the sun over Antelope Island.

There is something calming and refocusing about pausing to admire a sunset.  I needed that moment!  It is heartbreaking to watch Allan as his body and mind continue to decline due to dementia. We are grateful for the staff who provide him care during this time.  I don't think we could have found a better spot for him to be.  But it is still not what he wants for himself.

Oral Histories

We did oral histories of mission leaders on Feb. 23rd (Mullens-Washington Spokane), Feb. 24th (Southwards-Idaho Pocatello), Feb. 25th (Strongs-Arkansas Bentonville) and March 2 (Funks- Alaska Anchorage) plus two more pre-interview phone calls for oral histories coming up in the next few weeks.  They have been so different and yet similar as you hear how the Lord helps these mission leaders guide, teach, and love their missionaries.

No pictures to post or stories to tell.  The histories will make their way into the Church History Catalog and become a part of the permanent records of the Church.  In the Doctrine & Covenants, the church was told in Section 21:1 : "Behold, there shall be a record kept among you;" then later we read in Section 82:1-2 "It is the duty of the Lord's clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion, .... And also their manner of life, their faith, and works;..."

As we take these interviews, we are adding to that store of history of God's dealings with his people.

Of course, those directives can be applied to us as well as individual people.  Watching parts of the ROOTS TECH 2022 on March 3-5th with many other sessions still to be viewed on my playlist, we are all been reminded that there is much that we can and should do to help remember the stories of the past, document our own lives, and prepare our stories to be shared in the future.  It is an amazing world we live in and so many ways to capture stories and images of our lives--but we still need to actually DO IT!  

Those we have interviewed frequently thank us for the opportunity to share and to record some of their precious experiences.  They get a copy for their own records.  Each time, I am reminded that I too must do better to record the important experiences of my life.  The blog is clearly a piece of that and I am grateful for the tools that have made this possible.  However, there are other stories to share and photos to see.  Since I haven't yet accomplished that goal of being a journal keeper, I need to find another way to make that happen.  Stay tuned!!

February 22, 2022

I didn't know when I woke up on Tuesday, February 22, that it was going to be a Taco-kind of day!  

But when we headed for the COB cafeteria for lunch, it was all decorated for this unique Tuesday of "2/22/22" and tacos were on the menu!  "Twosday-Buy one, Get one free."

I had a delicious shrimp one (so good that I didn't even get a picture) and pork.

A look at "Elder Hall" with his two taco lunch as well.

We then had to hurry home to our apartment to catch our dinner between 3-6.  And you guess it, more TACOS!  We had seen the invitation posted in the elevator that morning and were curious to try more tacos...

The building complex had arranged for a small food truck to come off the South Temple entrance of our building.  It was a very cold day so waiting in line wasn't fun, but .....

The food was great.

How did you spend 2/22/2022?