10 April 2016 - Home Again

Last Sunday found us driving into Provo, later than we wanted but in time to talk about the great conference sessions that we had just heard. What a lovely reunion to see the Provo clan at Juan and Jessica's place. We had lots to do while there so we got to bed early after saying "Hi" to everyone.
Monday morning Stephen took me to the BYU laundry where we dropped off a suit, a dress outfit, a wedding dress and cape at the dry cleaners. The prices were less than half of what we pay here in the Kent/Covington area. We were pretty pleased.
Later that same day, we went to the Mall to check out the prices on suits for Stephen. He needs a new suit in his calling and a grey one for the reception so we thought we could get one item to fit two bills. We checked out Macy's, Mr. Mac and several other stores. The fit was OK but the price was tough. We also saw a store that sold paintings of Christ and with religious themes in the Mall. There were some beautiful paintings but we didn't get any.
Next we checked out Seagull Book. I only purchased a garden trowel that was cheaper than at Smith and Edwards. We next checked out Missionary Mall where we found the perfect suit for $99 with alterations. It was a great buy. By then Stephen had been on the phone several times so I asked him what was going on and he said that Nancy wanted us to come see her that night. I suggested that we see her the next day when we were going to visit Richard and Leonard in  Kaysville. He said that she needed to see us that night. OK. I thought. I was worried about Jessica and Juan making plans around us but I couldn't say anything else. We stopped by  Sister Missionary Mall and I found 2 pair of low heeled shoes to wear for Seminary and church that actually fit...yiipppeeee.

Helena, Nancy and Richard

L-R, Lisa, Michael, Jessica with Christian, Juan above her, Sarah
across from Michael and Samuel at the end.

Lisa and Tom Leake

Selfie with Sarah

Richard had been in the hospital for 24 of the last
36 hours for a TIA (mini-stroke). They let him out
and told him he could still drive...scary.

Marty and Leonard

Jessica and Juan

Helena and Nancy

Ben and Carli

Hadlie loves her brother Christian.

   We drove the country roads to get to Nancy's place. I remembered passing by one road when we were going to Sarah's reception and a herd of mountain goats were jumping over the fence by the road, so I knew we were headed in the right direction. I only got us lost once and just for a 100 yards or so before we figured it was the wrong street. When we got to Nancy's place there were cars everywhere. I figured they were having some kind of meeting but I couldn't see anything. Stephen parked the car on the side of the road where the walkway went up to Nancy's place but he didn't want me to go to her place. He just grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the activity building. I started to get suspicious when I noticed a dark blue Mazda parked by the building. It was a fast glance and I was pulled into the building where Leonard jumped up and said, "surprise".  When the lights went on there was standing in the room, Jessica and Juan, Hadlie, Christian, Sarah and Michael, Leonard and Helena, Richard, Nancy, Marty, Lisa and Tom Leake. They sang happy birthday to me and had me in tears. I was not expecting anything at all...what a lovely surprise. There was an "over the hill" cake, veggies and strawberries, chips and a bean dip, balloons, presents and games...What a lovely surprise. Ben and Carli showed up later and so did Sheila. I really appreciated everything that they did. Stephen and Jessica did most of the planning it appears....
   Tuesday since we didn't need to go to Kaysville, we were able to go to the BYU Wilkinson Center and talk with people about the dinner on the 21st. It was so nice to hear what they had available and to order the meal and the linen and most of the settings. I was so very grateful that I didn't have to bring anything down for the reception. It will make it so much more peaceful for me. Later, Stephen and Juan worked at the duplex cleaning out the trailer and getting things organized there. Jess and I played a little Qwerkle and waited for the babies to wake up.
   Wednesday morning we took Hadlie and Christian to the Provo Rec Center Pool and had a nice time playing in the water. Jessica seemed to enjoy that also. Later, Stephen and I drove down to St. George and met up with Wayne and Mayrene at the Golden Corral Restaurant for dinner and conversation. After 4 hours of talk we departed to our hotel and went to bed.

Francene at her place.

   The next morning we were up to late to get breakfast before we dashed off to make the 8:00 session at the St. George temple. Stephen had never been there before and though I had it had been a very long time ago. It was a lovely building and a peaceful spirit. I'd love to go to all the temples that are built now. What a fun adventure that would be (especially since they announced one for Zimbabwe). We took a few pictures of the outside and then drove to Francene's place for lunch with her, Mindy (Jay's wife) and her kids. It was nice to talk with Francene but she didn't seem like she wanted to talk about anything serious. When we left, Francene walked outside to get her mail. I walked her back to her apartment before we left. She was shuffling somewhat but I didn't think that was abnormal for someone her age that doesn't get up off a chair too often.

Mindy Langford and her kids.

First the haircut, then lather up.

The clean shaven look.

   We drove back to Provo in time to go to Sarah's TBI round table meeting. She had a classmate are in charge of the group that meets every month and talks about Traumatic Brain Injury and what is being done or can be done for and with the patients. The person that spoke was an avid bike rider, in great shape and should have been killed when she was hit by a delivery truck while riding her bike on country roads in Moses Lake, Washington. She had a great story to tell with pictures and she discussed her symptoms and what she was doing about them. She said that 1 in 10 people live after being hit by a car going 40 mph and she was hit by a truck going 60 mph and thrown 30 feet landing on her head. She doesn't remember anything prior to or a month after her accident but she has a great sense of needing to help others. When we got back to the condo, Samuel was grinning like a Cheshire cat...he was cleanly shaven with a hair cut.

   Friday, we picked up the "laundry" and the suit, packed the car and got ready for Ben & Carli's dance concert. In the afternoon, Stephen's old missionary companions came by to talk about old mission stuff. It was a real treat to hear how much the respected Elder Ralph.  There was some stories that I had not heard about. Such as the pig that the missionaries named "Arnold" or the drunk parrot that cussed, or the trip to find the "waters of Mormon" where they had to spend the night in a hut because it was too dark and raining to go on but that inspiration saved them from heading off a cliff. It was also fun to learn that one of the men was a brother to Jessica's friend Peta's husbands uncle. The church makes the world very, very small.

Elder Greg Leach, Elder Sharm Smith and Elder Stephen Ralph

   That night was a real treat. We could see where the PBD gets their production ideas and themes. It was so fun to try to pick Ben and Carli out in the groups of dancers. Sometimes it was obvious. Other times you couldn't tell at all. During the "Pac Man" dance where everything is in a black light it was so fun to see them use technology to make a great performance. Ben danced his cabaret piece with Kayci Treu which was beautiful. He also did another cabaret piece with 8 dancers which was cool. Carli was in several without Ben but they danced together at the end. It was so fun to see. I want to come to the Tour Kick-off in May... ;-)
   After the performance, we talked with lots of people and then went to Jessica and Juan's place where Lisa and Tom came with Michael W (their son-in-law) to have Stephen help give Tom a blessing. Michael has CP and it affects his speech so it was a little difficult to understand but it was a nice blessing even though he told him he would not be healed at this time.

Ben and Kayci

Carli in the back.

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   We got to bed late and we were up early, before the alarm and off by 6:00 AM on Saturday since Samuel really wanted to go to the youth dance in Maple Valley. We stopped at Susan's house for about an hour but that was it except for gas. We made it home by 7:30. the dog was alive, the chicks were alive and most of the plants made it too. Samuel went to the dance via his mother driving him there and Rebekah kindly offered to pick him up.
   Today Stephen had early morning stake council meeting and he was conducting. I was asked to sing in a double quartet so I stayed after church and Derek Welch brought Samuel to his house to give him some more clothes (not like he doesn't have any...lol) and then he brought him home. I have spent the rest of the day working on this post and now I need to work on the Seminary lesson for tomorrow. I so look forward to seeing all of my children in just over a week's time. It will be so wonderful!!!