SEPTEMBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

Week 1 ~ 9/3/2017

Sunday bulletin,

1)  I can smile again!  I wore these 3 yellow temps for 4 1/2 weeks.  Tuesday my smile brightened considerably.

2)  My cousins’ daughter had her 2nd child.  Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate. 

3)  I've maintained my 'stepping out' 6 out of 7 days each week for 7 weeks.  I get electronic confetti when I get 10K steps.

4) Except last Saturday…I sat too long at the Miami Marlin’s game and fell short of my 10K steps.  With 10 minutes before midnight Lane pulled off the freeway enroute home and told me to run .7 miles in my heels.  I replied with a dirty look.  

5)  Actually Lane has been teaching me to find some joy in baseball.  He took me to 2 games in 6 days.  I can name the first 6 batters in the batting line-up.  Gordon is my favorite player to watch.  And all eyes have turned to GianCarlo Stanton, 52 HR’s.  (The record is 62.)   Baseball's greatest players have one thing in common.  Each one developed the capacity to persevere in the face of chronic failure, abject criticism and occasional humiliation.

6)  If you walk upright YOU also need to develop perseverance to succeed in the face of failure and criticism.  The rock of our Redeemer is a stable and permanent foundation of justice and virtue.  Christ offers the unchanging law of God rather than being held hostage to the wrath of the unpredictable rules of social media.  Christ invites us to repent and rise to the gospel standard rather than to pretend there is no right or wrong.  

7)  How many of you can enjoy NO LABOR on Labor Day?  

Today is Jerry & Erin’s 13th anniversary.  CONGRATS!

This coming week!

Tuesday - Greg is FREE!!!  Monday his belongings will be inventoried in Gunnison.  Tuesday he’ll be transported by prison system to Bluffdale where his momma picks him up.  That evening he’ll enjoy a steak dinner at a BBQ hosted by the Hills - everyone else will eat bologna sandwiches.  Haha.  (Nope, they’ll be fed burgers and dogs.  And a tasty sheet cake we’ve arranged to have delivered.)

Friday - Justin will be 16 on the eighth.  Watch out 

Saturday - RayDean continues to get wiser per the anniversary of her birth on the ninth.  

WEEK 2 ~ 9/10/2017

Progenitor Pictorial,

1) News of the week!!!!!  Greg is FREE!!!

 

2)  Irma happened.  During Greg’s party we were packing up and evacuating to Orlando.  On Thursday we headed to DisneyWorld, er... SLC (Steph rescued us at a crucial time when flights were hard to come by).

3)  Once safely in Utah… I enjoyed treasured time with a mom, a sister, a daughter and g’daughters.  (too many photos of me, sorry)

4)  Saturday was Raydean’s birthday and a coincidental 9/11 memorial with Maggie-moo.

5)  Sept 10th - Sensational Sabbath. The food was first-rate, the family was fabulous, the Sacrament meeting was faith-promoting.

6)  Caden shared Elder Hales talk “Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World”.  Awesome conference address, Oct 2015.  I will remember Caden’s talk for two reasons.  First, his goofiest phrase came after he spoke of being shocked that he'd broken his arm.  After all, he had NEVER broken anything in his life…except maybe a few hearts.  ;o}   Second, his obvious enthusiasm for teaching the truths of Christ’s gospel restored.  Thank you Caden for being an incredible grandson. I am so proud of you, and your parents.

     In the aftermath of Irma I am more certain that in the gathering storms of the last days there is only one person who can pilot me to safety.  It is Jesus Christ.  I take refuge in the stronghold of His Church.  I seek the warning voice of His prophets.  I am fortified when I obey His commandments.  God is in charge - a comforting realization for me.

7)  Tomorrow (Monday night) we return to Florida.  We’ll send photos of HaRV.  No news yet.  It’s been a spectacular weekend.  Thanks for all who made time to visit with us in SLC.  Let’s stay in touch.  Thanksgiving is in only 73  days!

Coming this week…

~ Carrie’s birthday is Tuesday the 12th - fanciful!

~ Lane’s HALF-BIRTHDAY is also Tuesday the 12th - whimsical!

~ Brian’s birthday is Friday the 15th - wacky!

~ Tom & Shalaun will have cute baby #6 in early January 2018 - astounding!

WEEK 3 ~ 9/17/2017

Hello dearest and choicest family,

POST IRMA:  (I hope the photos don’t make this email too big to open)

1)  Monday - dinner with my siblings in West Valley Utah

We flew away Monday night. And arrived safely home Tuesday afternoon.

2)  HaRV was waiting.  He must be perturbed with us for abandoning him, as he is withholding AC.  We are hot and tired.  Power should be back on this Tuesday night.  

3)  Not all trailers were as fortunate as HaRV. 

4)  We’ve spent as much time as possible at the stake center or driving the car — two places we have AC and the ability to charge our devices.

5)  The Church sent 3 truckloads of relief supplies to help our stake…most particularly the Keys.  The missionaries competed in building the wheelbarrows.  There must have been 40.

5)  Today and yesterday we joined hundreds of our friends to lend a helping hand in Key Largo, Marathon Key, Big Pine Key and Key West.  

A senior missionary couple evacuated the home below.  We drove them back to find it today.  It was decimated.  The hurricane shutters tore open allowing seaweed to swirl inside, and spitting out their refrigerator.   Pillows and seat cushions decorated the trees. New ’seaweed mulch’ covers their backyard.                                                                                                                                                                  

Our group of 30 was an efficient source of debris removal.  After only clearing his driveway Ed said “This means everything to me!”  Erika, a german woman, residing in Big Pine Key 45 years, cried and cried.  Maria, thanked us profusely between tears as her husband recovers from chemo treatments.

Over the course of the weekend we were fed 4 free meals by local restaurants.  Everywhere, restaurants offered their menu items for free. Free water and ice were handed out roadside.  Burgers and dogs were thrust into the windows of moving cars driving on highway 1.  Grateful recipients ordered pizza for us.    

6)  The famous Southern Most Point marker was sandblasted during the 150 mph winds.  Robbies Marina was wiped out - where feeding tarpon was always a pleasure.  The Post Card Inn (where we rented boats to sit on a sandbar) no longer exists as we knew it.  Sombrero Beach and Bahia Honda beaches are shadows of themselves.

6)  If ever life doesn’t make sense this is how I get calm.

Please let us know how you are doing.

This coming week:

September 19th - Randi will be 31!

WEEK 4 ~ 9/24/2017

Late night greetings!

1)  Today Helping Hands strikes again — but only after the earliest and shortest sacrament mtg ever in my life.  No talks, no musical numbers, just the sacrament…because that’s the focus of the meeting.  

2)  Tonight we took a road trip.  But it didn’t start until we flew to Newark New Jersey.  ;o}

We’ll be here for one week enjoying a mountain retreat.

3) Last night’s General Women’s meeting…crisp and sweet.

 

4)  Six days until General Conference!   Are you ready to be inspired?

5)  I love receiving your emails, texts or phone calls. 

Coming soon:  Not one birthday or anniversary this week.  Shocker.

  

Remember we love you forever!

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

Momma, Momma C, Carolyn

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994

August 2017

AUGUST 2017
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

WEEK 1 8/6/2017

Weekly wrap up to wacky waifs,

1)  In his effort to repair the leak underneath our bathroom sink Lane gifted me a new sink and faucet yesterday.  My hero!  Running water can be so under appreciated.

2)  Our off-site storage facility is closing (we’re gonna miss Uncle Mac) so we are forced to cram 13 more tubs of “stuff” into Harvey or throw it out.  It’s interesting what little we actually need.  

3)  Once again you can thank us for sorting through fragile papers, dusty books, and assorted memorabilia.  It really was your future job you know.  ; )

4)  I spent some time this week helping youth prepare decorations for a Western Dance in the far reaches of the Eastern states.  Ha!  We were paired with Key West branch.

Interesting that the “HOMESTEAD” & Key “WEST” church youth decorated the entrance together. ;o}  My favorite part is the crate of TNT and sticks of dynamite tucked into the set.  “Have a blast!"

5)  While sorting through my 1990’s files I found my sketch of dancing cows - used originally on a bulletin board at Northridge elementary.  

6)  Life is very good.  We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

7)  Overcoming the world does not mean we live a cloistered life, protected from the unfairness and difficulties of mortality.  Rather, it opens the more expansive view of faith, drawing us to the Savior and His promises.  ~ Elder Neil L Andersen  

8)  One month from now Greg will be FREE!  Yesterday we received a VINE message “…9/5/2017. This date may change, depending upon a number of factors.”  What!?  Earlier?  Later?  We’ll keep you posted if we learn anything new.  You do the same…

[VINE = Victim Information Notification Email service]

9) Fifteen days until the total eclipse of the sun.  Rumor has it that the best viewing is in Albany Oregon…no wonder it’s called Scenic Drive.

Coming soon:

Tuesday the 8th Katie X marks 28 years circling the sun.

This Saturday Camberly or Kimeron (haha) celebrate 21 years.  Did you see what I did there?

 We think of you everyday but we know that our love for you is forever!  Even short emails, texts or calls are pretty cool to receive.  Stay wAcKy!

WEEK 2  8/13/2017

Greetings treasured family!

We are rushing to get a flight to Seattle so this will be short.  We will wake up at the Hansen’s home!  

Church meetings on Marathon Key this morning.  The Marathon branch is so awesome.  I was able to attend RS, all 3 of us.  The president and counselor and ME.  They prepared a lesson just for me!  And I loved it.

The tiny church building is on a deep waterfront lot.  Priceless!

Cool undergrowth near the waterfront dock.

Yesterday we attended a wedding and reception for a land-lover gal and an island guy.  The bouteineers and the bride’s bouquet were made of seashells. So cool.

Is it possible to be totally partial?  ;o}

WEEK 3  8/20/2017

Hi y’all,

A recap…

1) We left you last Sunday night as we were boarding a plane to Seattle.  Here are a few photos of our time spent with Britni’s family.  it was super fun!

2)  Highlights included a picnic on their hilltop property and a reservation to ride the ferry for a beach day on Jetty Island.

3)  We be jammin’!  A summer trip to Washington wouldn’t be complete without some blackberry jam — our favorite.  We can’t transport any to Florida in our carry-on bags so we left most with the Hansen’s and hoped for willing recipients in Jerry, Cam, Sam and X.

4) Friday we headed south of Portland to Cam & Kim’s home.  Enroute Lane agreed to a detour to my childhood town and some reminiscing.  An unexpected find after 40+ years.

My childhood home has been bulldozed to make way for a tulip nursery.  The tulip farmers also purchased my grandparents cattle farm next door and preserved their home.  A public garden has replaced the strawberry patch on the side yard.  Lane and I walked the cemetery and located my grandparents graves. Later we met Jerry near his work in Wilsonville, OR for a quick lunch. I love to dip my fries in a frosty! 

5)  Eventually we made it to Albany.  We found Sam & Jamie’s family and X & KC (with hedgehogs) already at Cam & Kim’s a few days ahead of the eclipse.

Saturday Sam took the boys to see the sea, Justin dug a sandy hole halfway to China, and Cam & Kim cheered us on.

6)  Meanwhile…Lane, Jamie, X & KC took a 5 hour fishing/crabbing charter.  They returned with 20 fish and SEVENTY-TWO CRABS.  72!!!  We’ve eaten it for 2 days and wonder if we should cancel plans to crab again mid week.  Hmmm.

Kim, Cam, Anissa, and Justin have been really wonderful hosts to a group that has swelled to 27 on Eclipse Eve.  The Hansen’s joined us late last night, and friends from Portland tonight.  

7)  If swimming is so good for your figure how do you explain whales?

8)  Can you guess who doesn’t like to pack Sunday shoes?  ;o}

TODAY (It’s still Sunday in Oregon) marks Meredith & Tyson’s 13th anniversary!  Congratulations.

Jon & RayDean celebrate their wedding anniversary on Wednesday the 23rd!

Darren Hill turns 24 next Sunday.  

WEEK 4  8/27/2017

Saturday morning we arrived home after a quick 6-hour direct flight, Seattle to Miami.  We loved seeing 5 of our kids and their families (grand-hedgehogs included).  But now it’s time to settle down and await our next get-away in 29 days.  

Pictorial of profound phenomenon:

1)  MONDAY  — 100% Total Eclipse

2)  August 21st was also the prophet’s 90th birthday.  President Monson’s wish…find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely and do something for them.  That’s all I would ask…follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable.

3)   Other scenes from Oregon - games, hiking, fishing, rafting, family time, tapioca

4)  WEDNESDAY — Crabbing, the sequel (Nehalem Bay).  Topped off with Tillamook Ice Cream factory.  Justin excels as boat captain.

5)  Time spent with Jerry & Erin’s family — Tigard.  Games, hiking, arcade, cherry-Jerry, candy sushi.

6)  Portland points of interest:  Temple, Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden, Pittock Mansion.  (Thanks for the top travel tips Erin.)

Important dates:

Today (27th) Darren is 24!

Next Sunday Jerry & Erin commemorate 13 lucky years together.  Congrats!

NINE days until Greg is FREE!!

We love you forever!

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

Momma C & Dad Lane

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994

July 2017

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!

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

Momma, Momma C, Carolyn

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994