JULY 2017
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)
WEEK 1 7/2/2017
Happy ‘I Forgot Day’,
1) We flew into SLC this past Tuesday and unleashed all sorts of crazy sick fun.
2) Biscuits are spoons you can eat!
3) Greg’s hearing was Thursday morning. An officer of the Parole Board drilled Greg while 30 family and friends sat respectfully in the gallery. After a few minutes it was over and he was ushered out. Today Lincoln drove Lane and me back to Gunnison and we enjoyed a 3 hour visit with him. We are all hopeful that he will receive good news this coming week.
4) To our delight Lane’s siblings already had a BBQ scheduled.
5) What you do if you are waiting for a hot waffle and your name is Lane.
You eat an upside down waffle.
6) I Forgot Day, by definition, today is not a day to remember. So, just what are you forgetting? Can you even remember? Is it important? Hopefully, not. Some days are days to remember and to cherish all of our lives. Others, like today, are ones to be forgotten. If you are having a bad day, it's just as well that today is I Forgot Day. I do hope that you are not getting married or having a baby today. The trouble is, if you forget something important tomorrow, you have to wait a whole year for the next I Forgot Day to arrive. I Forgot Day is closely related to I'm Sorry Day.
7) Other great family events included:
We passed the Oscar Mayer Weiner car. A hike up Bell Canyon with g'sons. A family pizza night. A water fight with g’daughters. AND our first ever temple session in the Manti Temple. It was like stepping back in time. When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before. The temple is about families.
8) David England had his 2nd chemo treatment on the 27th and his next one is the 3rd. His body is responding very well, so far. We all love you David!
This coming week:
- The Fourth of July
- Tyson’s birthday is the 7th!
WEEK 2 7/9/2017
Pham-ill-EEE Son-Dae-Knight-Chec-Inn,
Whoop! It was a fantastic week.
1) Family Night. 46 attended. Four row block. Several stepped out of the picture and my bad aim missed several others (like Darren & Steph H.) So sorry.
2) The actual 4th. BBQ at Lincoln & Carrie’s. Highlight: 2 varieties of homemade ice cream. Great party. Then fireworks overlooking the entire valley - 180 degree views. Tiny. Yes. But non-stop for an hour! Yes.
3) I found my earring.
4) Our first alpine slide. Snowbird visit to Judy & Steve’s timeshare. (Lane’s baby sister)
5) Energizer Bunny arrested: Charged with battery. ;o}
6) Sister Marriott- “I have struggled to banish the mortal desire to have things my way, eventually realizing that my way is oh so lacking, limited, and inferior to the way of Jesus Christ. ‘His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come’."
Family Headlines:
Today ~ Cameron is bewildered why he got picked to be a High Priest. “Don’t they have to be old-er?"
July 12th ~ Greg turns 45.
Speaking of Greg ~ no word from the BOPP yet. It appears they are one week behind on their parole decisions.
Let me hear how YOU are doing.
WEEK 3 7/16/2017
It's Sunday already.
1) Last Monday we received the super fabulous news that Greg's release is September 5th!!!
2) On Wednesday Harvey met g'kids
3) Thursday the Keys came calling
4) Friday the Bullocks joined us on our maiden trip to Cuba.
5) Havana highlights
6) Colorful, distinctive, exciting
7) the cars did not disappoint.
8) We met some mighty fine folks beginning with our host & hostess (who rented us their home) -- to people in the streets -- to fellow saints in the Havana LDS branch. This trip will long be remembered.
9) We met Ernesto, who at age 14 tried his first piece of gum, a gift from his Jamaican aunt. With a gleam in his eye he recalled placing that chewed piece of gum in the freezer and pulling it out to be chewed on weekends. Each time he would add toothpaste to refresh the flavor. It lasted him one year!
10) Our A/C flipped off last night without a possible recovery. We were miserable but knew that's how 85% of Cubans live. Our host told us if we wanted to experience life as a Cuban we should skip 2 meals a day. (Was he kidding?)
11) Lane had hoped to ordain Cameron to be a High Priest, now serving in his ward's new bishopric. Schedules were tight. Sorry Cameron.
12) We return from this Cuban escapade tomorrow.
This coming week:
18th Jerel Bullock's b-day
21st Jerry Adams' b-day
23rd Taggart Kelly's b-day
Happy birthday boyz!!!
(Due to weak wifi in Cuba this may arrive Monday)
WEEK 4 7/23/2017
Felicitations fabulous family!!!
1) I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented…I forgot where I was going with this.
2) This week I lived vicariously through these adventurous daughters. Callie, Britni, and Jerry’s Erin each loaded up their kids and took 6-7 hour road trips to meet at a Super-8 in Baker City, Oregon and had a 3 day cousin get-together. They enjoyed the pool, a nearby park for games and crafts, an Oregon Trail museum and even had a talent show in the town pavilion in true Creek style. I am so proud of you amazing girls and your marvelous children.
3) Forty-four days until Greg cashes in his GET OUT OF JAIL card.
4) I think I’ll just put an “Out of Order” sticker on my forehead and call it a day.
5) I recently read about Sister Sharon Eubank’s meeting with Pres Eyring. The one where she was called to serve in the RS General Presidency while maintaining her work as director of LDS Charities. Her reaction? “My head exploded. My brain shut down. The phrase that kept running through my head was ‘How am I going to do that?’ “ She later gained courage and calmness when she learned who the new General RS President would be. And again as she reviewed advice she had received earlier from Julie B Beck (a former RS GP).
“When you are with people, remember they are each filled with troubles. Lift them to a higher plane. People come to be lifted. Build. Bring comfort from the Spirit. Don’t bring new programs or duties. People need lifting.
“Remember to keep your own kingdom intact. This is your first stewardship—mother and father, brothers and sisters, children, husband, friends. These are eternal and they are given to you first.
“When you can’t give more, when you’ve gone beyond your ability to give, then sit still. Call on the Holy Ghost and angels to come to you. Be still and get full.”
6) Dearest children, you are in my daily prayers. God brought relief to Sister Eubank as she prayed for answers, He won’t forget you either.
Today Tagg is NINE!
Tomorrow Luke is TEN!
Tuesday Maggie is EIGHT!
Saturday there is a fish fry in the Key West Ward. Join us if you can…wishful thinking.
We miss you. Keep us appraised of what is happening in your life. Hearing from you is a bright spot in my week.
WEEK 5 7/30/2017
Dearest dynamic descendants,
1) We are trying to walk 10,000 steps a day, minimum.
2) We spent the weekend in Key West. The branch fish fry was incredibly scrumptious!
3) Only in the Keys - The Conch Train, Key Lime Pie on a stick (frozen and dipped in chocolate), a parrot on a bike, 95 degrees feels like 107.
4) So far, my favorite talk from April Conference is by Elder Gary B Sabin.
- his granddaughter scored all 3 goals during her soccer game. The score was 2-1. He didn’t dare ask who’d won!
CONFERENCE IS A TIME OF REDIRECTION
- one of his scouts chose to sleep in the cold to avoid having to unroll and reroll his sleeping bag.
IF WE DON’T TAKE TIME TO PRAY EACH DAY WE WILL BE UNPROTECTED AND GROW SPIRITUALLY COLD
- when we are out of sync with God ‘there is, in the Star Wars vernacular, a disturbance in the force.’
IN REALITY, IT IS MUCH EASIER TO BE “ALL IN” THAN PARTIALLY IN
- his dad lived to be 97 and always responded positively even when he should no longer stand, sit or barely speak “on a scale of 1-10, I’m about a 25!”
WE MIGHT NEED TO JUST LET SOME THINGS GO SO WE CAN HANG ON TO THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER. (standing, sitting and speaking really matter to me but complaining about my lack doesn’t help anyone)
Coming soon:
David England is 86 TODAY!!!
Chloe will be 5 years old tomorrow - sweet!
Slater turns 6 on Saturday - hurray!
We love hearing from you. You are sprinkled throughout our daily prayers. As we count our blessings, you are there. As we ask for health and guidance, you are there.
I love you forever!
