August 12-19

Monday:  I guess bikes are like cars, they have to be maintained after so many miles. Ray and Elder Blocker changed the tire and took out a broken spoke and balanced the tire.  It took a lot of time. Elder Blocker was so nice to stop and assist. They finished what they were doing just in time to go to Keokuk for me a haircut at 11:30. She washed and cut and masssaged my head. And then straightened my hair. 😁. Wow!  It lasted that day, then the bangs first curled and then by the end of Tuesday, it was all crazy. Funny what humidity does.After we got home, we rode the bike 8.4 miles and while he was fixing the bike earlier, I had made baked beans and potato salad, peach lemonade with and we went to the park close by and had a picnic with Favero, Whittier, Whitney, Blocker, and Hartvigsen—all are temple missionary couples. 

Tuesday:  temple time 5:45 am  After 2:00 we ran errands, picked up garden tomatoes and potatoes and went to the missionary mail room for a package of hair curlers, water filters (we used our first ones out). And then our bike ride 9.32 miles. 

Wednesday:  temple at 6:45 am (much better time). We were the endowment leaders for the 8:15 session. After our scheduled time, we went on another endowment session as well as several other worker missionary couples and we all went up for the prayer circle.  That was pretty powerful.  At 5:00 pm we went for our bike ride 9 miles. We also picked up a package of miracle arthritis. Ordered for Rays hands. It was recommended to us by Sister Osterly, temple matron.

Thursday:  no more Arrival Center but we went to the baptistry. Not much happening there but we did our own proxy baptisms along with other workers in our group. Ray was baptized for 42 proxies!  After that, our coordinators released us to do an endowment session and I went through for Dorothy B Stokes from Middlesex England.  After the temple, biked 9.28.  At 6:30 I went to Relief Society simple personal history at the church.  At 7:30 we went to Whittiers place above us for game night. We played scum and some other group card game. Wilkersons, 

Temple Evans, our neighbor (Marianne’s brother in law) all came.

Friday:  biked 5.83 miles and ran out of power.  We walked 1/2 mile and went to Lions Drug. It was great. Outside we saw the arbor, the birch umbrella tree, and the buckeye bottle brush bush. The bottle brush looks more like it’s name earlier in the season.  We also went to Patty Sessions log cabin and Orion Hyde’s cram home with Miranda Johnson. At 7:30 we attended a music devotional.  This community really does a Terri’s job of including all ages of youth.  They had primary age children sing, grade school to adult in the orchestra, and older adults with young adults in the choir.  They put on a show on new hymns going in the hymn book.  They had refreshments out on tables through the whole thing to keep people busy, I guess😀. My grandchildren would have thought it was great!

Saturday:  biked 8.79 miles, walked .57 miles, served in the temple and had hoped to get to adult session of stake conference but missed that.  We’ll, we got there for the last half hour as we were next to the last persons to leave the temple at 7:30.  Conference was from 6:30-8:00.

Sunday:  we did get to stake conference 10-12:00. The theme was Jacob 5 dig, nourish, prune—as a stake, as a ward, as a family, personally.  When we’re young, we choose friends if they play our same sports or if they are “cool”. Popular.  The stake president joined the church when he was 19 and all of a sudden there were so many varieties in his ward and stake.  He grew up and chose friends who him to be good like our best Friend, Jesus Christ.  He said, in our associations, let the mix of variety simmer like a good stew until the flavor is just right.  “Let go” of offenses.  Be grateful for each other, “Each life that touches ours for good”.

At 2:00 we attended the new group of performing missionaries, “Our Saviors Love”.  It was still wonderful. There were a lot of our friends who had the same idea as us; we temple missionaries were probably 20 of us.  Elder Weed from Fallon Nevada fell face down as he tripped going down the stairs.  He was bleeding on his forehead, hopefully he doesn’t feel worse today..

We love you and are so grateful for our associations the Lord has blessed us with!  

We pray for you each daily.  Love Teresa, Mom (Dad). 

Bike troubles; a living church

I’m still enjoying the thought:  Heavenly Father is in relentless pursuit of us. (It must be a happy thought for me because my blood pressure has been down for a week without medication😇

August 12:  biked 8 miles; visited 3 homes—William and Caroline Weeks, Edward and Ann Hunter and.             It was interesting that their homes all face the temple; they assisted in drawing up the plans with Joseph Smith.

August 13:  the prophets, seers and revelatory in the Lords church continue to receive and reveal changes as we prepare to receive instruction. Looking forward to conference.

We went to Burlington to a bike shop for a new chain and ate at Culver’s.  No bike ride😩. Emma returned from Europe. Welcome home. 

August 14:  Ellie returns from a well served mission in Reno Nevada, Spanish speaking. So happy to have you home, Ellie!  7:05 was our prep rep meeting before the recommend desk assignment during the regular meeting.  After our assignments were finished for the day, I had prepared us lunch to eat at the temple so we could attend a proxy endowment at 2:00 without changing clothes twice. 

August 15:  we were at the Arrival Center for our assignment, gave lots of directions to single adults trying to find their buildings for their classes. Afterward we biked 7.96 miles—back in business!  After we returned to Burlington to have our bike chain replaced.  We had game night with Whittiers. 

August 16:  biked 10.5 miles. I’ve been reading all the talks requested of us for the upcoming stake conference in Bountiful—praise to the man, Ballard; put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, sister Dennis; covenants and responsibilities, oaks;  all will be well because of temple covenants, eyring, rejoice in the gift of priesthood keys, president Nelson. Brother and Sister Blocker came by with some wood he made into exercises for my knee.  He had the same surgery while they’ve been here and he’s been going to a physical therapist and he’s doing great.  So I’ve added some exercises and I think they are helping the area that was weak.

August 17:  biked 8.75 miles. Then listened to the memorial for Scot Henri Stokes.  It was a wonderful reminder and tribute. How much family support means.  We got home from the temple around 8 pm.  Saturdays are baptistry for us. We were exhausted as usual.  

August 18:  we taught our Sunday school class Alma 43-52. Jody and Kevin were there. We were so happy.  Ray gave an overview of the chapters and I talked about how these chapters relate to me personally— live it, show my joy, be grateful, do not criticize or find fault. Turn immediately from temptations, we get poisoned little by little, one pod cast, one criticism, one little bit at a time until we find ourselves out, deceived by degrees. I remember a conference talk about the bikers in England and how they were so terrible. Then in 2003 they hired a new coach that encouraged them to do 1 per cent better every day in one thing. (For me that meant reading the Book of Mormon every day even when we were studying the New Testament, consistent day in and day out repentance, an incremental small and steady change.  ). Britain is now number one in Tour de France.

After church we came home and listened to Ellie’s church😊. Ellie’s great reminder:  we need to feel loved first and those who desire to serve are called to the work.  Thanks, Ellie, for making yourself available to do His work—first helping others feel loved no matter how far or how close, even our parents, our siblings, our in laws….

To keep my spirits up knowing I was missing the celebration with family, I invited the Blockers over for dinner (Bonnie Pinegar style—waffles on Sunday) bacon, juice, fruit, whip cream on waffles.  It was filling.  

There is plenty to think about this week—healing relationships among family members, love and serve.  We love you all and appreciate all you do for each other, for being there.  Mom, Grandma ….

Week of Aug 5-11

August 5:  Raymond III and Rachael. Happy birthday!  

Biked 8.99 miles. Went with Elder and Sister Kroger in their electric car to the Dutchman’s store run but Menonites, we heard. A very old fashioned store with everything in it in Cantril, Iowa.   We purchased peaches 3.  Oh we wished we had purchased a box. They were so yummy.

Tuesday:  Darrin birthday. Happy day! 

Woke up at 4:20 am😩. Alarm goes off at 5 am so no reason to not get up, shower, dress, fix and eat breakfast  usually I don’t have time for that last part . Arrived at the temple at 5:45 am. Biked 8.2 miles

Wednesday:  our regular temple schedule 7-1. After dunch and a nap, we started our bike ride—1.78 miles; my knee could not do it.  Here is one of those tender mercies from God. Elder and Sister Booker saw me on the elevator and asked if they could come over after their temple schedule. He recently had the same surgery I had and he’s doing very well.  He had it done somewhere in this area and goes to physical therapy. He gave me some of the exercises he does that were different. Their temple schedule and ours never are the same. Any way, I am working on recovery again.  

Thursday was in the Arrival Center again.  One family came from Rigby and were watching two grandchildren while the parents were in the temple. Another family came to use the bathrooms; another family came from Pleasant Grove.  Jane, I understand “nothin” kind of days.  

After our assignment, we took out the bike again. 7.1 miles👏🏻. Progress again. We stopped at Brother and Sister Carrolls house. They have a beautiful garden. We purchased some red potatoes and huge tomatoes. She had a noise going off in her garage that Ray tried to fix but he couldn’t find the battery. We tried to help her. Trying counts😇

Friday:  biked 8 miles. We were the leads for the 5:15 endowment session. 

Answer to each of my challenges:  increase my faith and trust

1-study the scriptures

2-choose to believe in Jesus Christ

3-act in faith

4-partake of sacred emblems

5-ask Heavenly Father for help

Saturday:  biked 8.25 miles, made sour dough crumpets, apple crisp with green apples Amy left at our door, and exercised before going to our temple responsibilities.  We went to our meeting at the baptistry and not many were signed up.  We assisted one family of five with a recommend missing and Ray walked them over to the temple and then our coordinator said we could go to an endowment session with a family name. I had one and we went and then were sent home as there were no patrons for us.  It was great to go to a session and stand in the prayer circle and come through the veil with someone I knew.  Just imagine how it might be if I knew Jesus Christ and through Him I am able to enter our Fathers kingdom.  

Sunday:  I woke up with a thought of covenants and my next thought was how grateful I am for my marriage and the confidence Ray has always had in our covenant relationship. Sometimes his confidence in us has kept me holding on. Then in relief society the lesson was on two talks about covenants by President Oaks and by Elder Soares from the last general conference. Then in sacrament meeting we listened to a return missionary who gave a practical and powerful talk on doing those things that keep our covenants active and meaningful. Then two sisters sang, “A Window of His love”. And by now the tears are streaming.  What a blessing to look at our  eternal companions and see into their hearts and remember the many times he or she has been a window to the Lords love for us.  Those occasions when I have been thoughtless or unkind or whatever and ray has been totally forgiving and fully accepting—a window to His love.  Eternal marriage and families are such a grand blessing from a Father in Heaven who shares His love with those who desire and keep covenants. I love you all!  Mom and Grandma, Sister Robinson

11th Ty’s birthday

Two weeks have gone by, just so busy: highlights

Monday July 22:  biked 10 plus miles, grocery shopping, washing clothes

Tuesday:  10.11 miles ; made best chocolate pudding ever pie

Wednesday:  earlier temple, biked 10.17 miles, sang at the end of the British Pageant—“called to serve, oh say what is truth, Redeemer of Israel”

Thursday:  Andrew’s birthday,,we served in the Arrival Center, biked 10.57

Justin Ward, Texas youth came for baptisms. Their ward was just split. They had 75 youth!

Friday:  Sarah’s birthday, biked 10.77 miles, Mike was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Nathan arrived in Nauvoo, we sat with him until it was time for us to go forward and sing

Saturday:  biked 10.48 miles, took a ride along the Trail of Hope—Boyd was the boy who dressed as a girl to go with the saints; he did hid part so well, we were laughing, we served in the Arrival Center again

Sunday: Nathan left😔, we watched and cried in “Our Story Goes On”. I guess as we get older, we’re like meat hanging, we get more tender.  Tears flow more easily. 

Monday, July 29 we went to Lewis and Thurston’s house to make smothered burritos. They are yummy. I have the recipes!  Biked 10.72 miles

Tuesday:  early preparation meeting again 6:05 dressed in temple attire. We were the leads for the 7:00 am endowment session. There was a sideways thunder and lightening and rain storm as we were going and entering the temple. We had never experienced a sideways storm. Umbrellas don’t work; we were soaked just getting into the temple side handicapped door.  Later rode bike 10.18 miles and watched Susan in “Women of Nauvoo”. She is so versatile, she looks like a woman and she can look like a youth. But whatever she is, she does it all so beautifully!

Wednesday:  more lightening and rain. Biked 10.64 miles, enjoyed feeding Amy, Ava, Portia, and Cole fish tacos and lemon truffle pie. It’s difficult with our schedules to get the chance to see them except on stage. 

Thursday: Arrival Center again, it’s our regular Thursday assignment. We met some people to get together with when we get home, they also served in the Philippines. Biked 8.39 and ate at the BBQ place in town—recommend it as a good place to eat here, ribs fell off the bones.  Thinking of our posterity gathering for a reunion.  So happy they pulled this off without us. That’s success.

Friday:  I had a text from the coordinator requesting that we come early.  I said yeS, but was dreading it.  Extra early mornings are killing me. Then I double checked to make sure we would be at the right time👏🏻. I forgot we go at noon on Friday and Saturday so it was no big deal. We had to be there at 12:45 instead of 1:05 for preparation meeting before the regular meeting.  No big deal. Whew. I’m glad I didn’t expose myself😇. I served in the celestial room during the meeting.

  biked 8.25 miles, walked . 72 miles, sang at the British pageant, bedtime 10:45. The family at home is enjoying Bear Lake today. 

Bike 10.84 miles. The baptistry was so busy:  up/down stairs over and over…I thought I was doing so well with my knee that I just did everything instead of trading with someone on the things that put stress on my knee.😩. I wasn’t that good, I guess—my knee just collapsed and I couldn’t walk out of the temple so I was pushed in a wheelchair😩that was embarrassing, but not until the end of the shift; I just couldn’t stand on it at all.  When I got. Home, I iced it, took ibuprofen, then heat and went to bed.  

Sunday:  I was better in the morning, fast Sunday.  Ray helped me make the chocolate Oreo pie for break the fast dinner at 5:00 at Inmans so I didn’t have to put weight on my knee for all that crushing, stirring time.  At church we taught our new member lesson and we had Macatells and Sister Squire and Kevin, one year member). We covered Alma 32-38.  It turned out good.  I love the chapters where Alma is speaking to his sons individually with the love and counsel and pleading of a father.  So wonderful how the Lord gives us family to experience such exquisite love as we are capable.  We are so grateful for each of you and love each of you so dearly. We desire you to have all the joy possible and we know that comes from family experiences as we love and serve each other along the path of happiness.  The Lords way is the way but we are each at a different point of learning how that is and how to be humble and how to check our pride and be meek and lowly of heart in the power of God.  Sounds like an oximoron.  Did I spell that right. If not, I’ll blame it on auto correct😀. Anyway, we are thankful for your participation in testimony meeting and the talent show etc.  thank you for taking care of each other.  6:30-8:30 was an ice cream social at the pageant head quarters for being part of the missionary army at the end of the British Pageant.  As if we needed any appreciation; it was such a privilege to get to be part at the end. 

We love you !  Mom, Grandma and Ray who gives me this privilege.😇

Halfway mark

Jack wanted to know if were coming back to Bountiful. 😁

Monday

Rode our tandem 10.53 miles this morning. Made bread and pizza and spinach artichoke dip after we went shopping. And Aunt Ranae sent me four pictures to give away of the Nauvoo Temple with a rainbow at the top that Uncle Lance took. 

Whittiers invited Alveys, Littles, Wilkersons, Shultz and us for games. Rick Whittier made a Nauvoo Jeopardy game that was very good. And we played one lie/2 truths. That was difficult. Ray and I both wrote down 3 truths—terrible at that game we are. They served us pizza, toss salad and gluten free cake.  We all laughed and laughed. It was a great time..

Tuesday

I was notified to be to the temple early—by 6:05 dressed in white and at the ppmeeting; then Rays phone showed up that he was to be at the temple dressed in white at the recommend desk by 5:30 so we were there at 5:00 just as security arrived. I was ready in five minutes headed down to the recommend desk and coming up were Elder Cornish and Elder DAE. They asked why I was there so early and I told them that ray was told to be at the recommend desk with Elder Cornish. They both looked at each other. Turned out. For some reason the phone showed that message but it was from back in May.😭😂. Joke was on us. After our shift we rode 10.5 miles.  Wilkersons brought us a dozen ears of corn from a farmer. It was so good.  And we received a water heater pitcher from Tim in the mail.  I need to be more careful about my speech. It is really nice to have foe oatmeal and dandy tea etc. so thanks Tim.  

Wednesday 

10.3 bike miles and saw the group gathered by the mansion house so we stopped and listened to Parley P Pratt and wife sing (Jake and Susan Slader). It was over too soon but was so lovely.  We went at night to the British Pageant and sang in the finale with the missionaries.  The crowd always cheers for the missionaries.  It’s fun to be part of that group!  Before it began, we met the Omans from Ogden—a senior couple that were so nice, their granddaughter was in the band and one of their families was in the blue cast, I think. So we had bragging competition😂. No.  We let them win and let them enjoy their posterity memories. 

Thursday

We were at the Arrival Center, rode the bike 9.8 miles And we walked from our apartment to and from the pageant!  First real walk since arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscus tears. It was a little much but ice, heat, and ibuprofen helped.

Friday

Biked 10.5 miles. Saw Nathan Rockwell at the beginning of his Scottish bagpipers practice and got a hug.  Listened to a talk be Elder Gary Stevenson from Education Week, I think 2022 about the Book of Mormon. It was so inspiring. Temple started at 1:00 today. When we finished we walked again to the pageant to sing with the missionaries again at the end and walked back to the apartment. This time I didn’t need ibuprofen, just ice and heat.  Awesome.  I’m progressing still.

Saturday

Biked only 6.44😔. And crashed after fulfilling our temple assignment in the baptistry.  It was so busy.

Sunday 

No one showed up for our class so we went to the teachers instruction class.  The instructors 14 year old son died 8 years ago and we talked with him after.  It 2as one of those moments with the Spirit.  We enjoyed our family call and thank everyone for participating. It feels so good to hear your voices and see you and know of your ups and downs as we all cheer on each other.  

Alma 31: …continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that (you) might not enter into temptation.  :32. Alma set his brethren apart as missionaries …:34 O Lord wilt Thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.  It’s wonderful to be set apart as a missionary and we’re grateful to be in His service for our brothers and sisters in this special temple in Nauvoo with so much of our heritage in the gospel.  True to the faith that our parents have cherished ..faithful and true we will ever stand.  We love you each so much!  So glad He picked out our favorites for us!  

Visitors distracted—2 weeks email. Stop reading when you are through before I am😀

July 1:  8.6 miles on the bike. Temple missionaries family home evening (talent show). Thought about telling a mole but one Elder here is so funny, I didn’t want to waste time.

July 2:  heat of the day bike ride 7 miles only, ice knee when we returned home

July 3:  11:15 we were endowment leaders; bike ride 8.66 miles; Tim and Dallin came in a Tesla rental car at sometime after 10 pm

July 4:  our assignment today was Arrival Center—for baptism groups.  I don’t know if I’ve explained what we do here but it is across the street from the temple and we run everyone’s recommends so we can fix any problems before they get to the temple like reported missing recommends so they don’t work, or expired recommends so bishops have to be contacted, or recommends left at home or the hotel or wherever and then ray calls the recorder and gets them cleared.  Then those who want to print family names can do that at the Center and cut them out.  They can get drinks, use the restrooms etc.). 

We rode the bike 8.38 miles

We had a practice for the British pageant at 8 pm at the stage for the ending of the British pageant. 

July 5:  9.55 miles.  Filled our temple assignment. 

July 6:  Tim and Dallin went home; rode 9.65 miles, Angela and Darrin, DJ , Hunter, and Jenny arrived.

July 7:  fast Sunday, I taught the lesson; it was nice to have Angela’s family to participate; Kevin also came, a member less than a year.  Attended “Our Saviors Love “ concert at the visitors center. Later Darrin and Jenny played Chinese checkers with us.

July 8:  10.27 miles, Ossians first birthday, soaked in epsom salts bath at Amy’s condo. Saunders went to sites and Carthage, Ty called from his mission, went to the pageant stage to watch dress rehearsal for British pageant. 

July 9:  early preparation meeting 6:05 am

July 10Saunders did an endowment session at 11:15, Family did temple baptisms at 4 pm; 5:00 we all went to the Nauvoo Hotel dinner buffet with Saunders. Ray and I had the salad buffet only.  6:30 Ray and I sold snacks at the concessions stand for the ward young women and young men activities fund raiser..

July 11:we left for our AC assignment and Saunders left for home.  I saw Dr. Grant at 4:00 and we rode the bike 9.75 miles. 

July 12:  biked 10.29 miles out to the Villas after we picked up Amy’s kindle. Sang with the missionaries at the end of the pageant. Interesting story…when we were at dinner, a man saw our name tags saying ROBINSON.  His young boy asked him twice to see if we knew an Amy Robinson.  Her name was written on the kindle and it had been lost.  It showed up at this man’s house. Ray said , “yes, she’s our daughter in law”. He said a kindle showed up at their house with her name on it. Ray texted Amy and she told him that her and Cole were just praying to find it when we texted.  God really does care about us and our seemingly unimportant wants.  

July 13:  we rode the bike 10.14 miles. I cut my own hair; all I can say is that it looks better😊. Ava went to pick up Rock at the airport while we were at the temple.  

July 14:  we went to the 9:00 sacrament meeting for the visitors branch so we could tune into Dallins talk before he leaves Tuesday for the mtc. He spoke of the JOY of the gospel life with examples of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He used a combination of sense of humor with a depth of testimony and honest understanding of joy.  After we had tacos for dunch, we kept our spirits up as we were missing family gathering, by going to visit Wilford Woodruffs home and Heber C Kimball’s home with an addition by his grandson.  And we went to the Seventies Hall and a sister missionary was there who was a full-Mongolian, her parents had moved to the states from Mongolia and she had Jane on her tablet. Small world, always connections🥰. 

The Lord is in the details, Love Grandma, Mom Robinson

Nauvoo begins to come alive

Monday the core cast for  the Pageant arrived.  We rode our bike 7.5 miles.  We were blessed to get to feed Amy and Ava, India, Portia and Cole.  We went to see Sunset on the Mississippi again.  It is better than the first time.  Some funny advertisement was included this time. They have so much energy and fun in the Nauvoo performing missionaries.

It is such a blessing to serve. There is nothing like it—a continual reminder to look to Jesus Christ and Live! 

Tuesday after our early morning shift, we biked 7.6 miles, we’re inching up😳. We ate with the Thurston and Lewis couples from Cedar City. They made smothered burritos.  They were amazing with relish on the side. Wow!  And then we played one round of “Five Crowns”. 

Wednesday 7:05 prepreparation meeting because of my position at floor 1 chair 2.  We’re looking forward to Raymond III coming this afternoon. We rode 7.96 miles today.  Riding bikes is my favorite exercise.  We got to fe3d Raymond tonight and cute Amy and the four children came by too.  This is great!

Thursday we worked at the Arrival Center. It was a crazy day.  A bus came in with 70 youth who wanted to be baptized—no appointments. We had just sent a group of 25 over and three families were scheduled soon.  I told them that we would process them (meaning, run their recommends, take names and birthdays of those without their recommends and then call the baptistry for permission to send them.)  We got permission to send 10 at a time in intervals.  Ray walked the first batch over.  Then three families came that were scheduled so while I processed them, Ray took another group of unscheduled youth over and returned to take the families over. We were just waiting for a phone call to get in trouble😩.

A Smith family came in from Preston, ID—-yes, they are related to us, third cousins.  Yes, we had a phone call, but not what we expected. Not because we sent too many youth over but because someone was turned away by someone and it was perceived that it was us at the Arrival Center.  Not us, but no questions were asked so Ray actually received THE phone call.😢so onward, ever onward as we glory in His name🥰. Elder Larry and Sister Larson invited us to ride with them to Carthage for the 180th Anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.  It was really wonderful!  The performing missionaries sang for 30 minutes beautiful hymns of the Savior and then Sister Meir spoke and I thought “we’ll, it won’t get better than that”. Then Elder Joseph Monsen spoke and I wanted a printed copy.  Then President Meir spoke and he was amazing.  Yep, I wish I could hear it all over again!  How we love the prophets seers and revelatory from Old Testament-latter-days!  How full we feel to know we are Gods children and we want to be like Him.  Step by step, then a trip or fall, and get up again.  He still loves us all!  

Friday 8.22 bike miles. We prepared papers for baptisms for India, Boyd, and Ava which they did at the baptistry today.  We didn’t get to watch but we so appreciate their service for our ancestors. We started serving in the temple at 12:20-7:15 pm today. This is our regular schedule except when we go until 9:15 pm but that won’t happen again until pageant is over.  The core cast for the pageant came for the 2:00 endowment session so that was so nice to see our friends and some of our new temple friends got to meet Raymond and Jake and Susan so that was a treat for me to hear about or be part of.  We were the leaders for the 5:15 endowment session.  After the temple we watched some of the pageant rehearsal on stage but left as the temple schedule makes us pretty tired.

Saturday 8.2 miles, 40 minutes, done by 7 am. I had signed up for the ward “Get to Know You” and then didn’t have time to go before temple assignment😔whoops. I wanted to go.  12:30-8:00 pm baptistry—it was a big day!  

Sunday—sacrament meeting, actually 5th Sunday meeting—both were wonderful!  I was moved to tears.  It seems to happen every Sunday😇. No time for emotions. We hurried to our apartment and set out the food I had been preparing all week:  5 cup salad, potato salad, cole slaw, pasta salad, toss salad, baked beans, pizza strips, fried chicken and cherry cream cheese pie and lemon aid   Raymond and Boyd came, Susan and Jake and Amy, India, Portia, Cole, and Ava.  They sang happy birthday👍❤️ to Ray. They had meetings after and dad took a nap, I cleaned up and put away.  At 8:00 we went to “Our Story Goes On” with many of our new temple friends attended.  I had warned them to bring Kleenex so everything was just right.  Afterwards, many of them came up and told us thanks for telling them about it so they could attend.  Susan, Jake, and Boyd were great, of course as were the other participants.  It’s a moving story.  How we love the Plan of Happiness with the Joys of posterity.  There is nothing that even comes close to being part of the family of God and the love He shares with us as we multiply and replenish the earth as families!  We thank God for His plan of redemption, change, and eternal life as families!