Week of January 22 - 28, 2023

Spiritual

We enjoyed a great Sunday at Church. A missionary returned home and we were able to hear his report. He served in Billings Montana. The rest of Sunday was spent reading and studying, talking via FaceTime to the girls, and preparing for the week. 

Dee was able to attend the temple this week. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 1015 records and reviewed 651 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

I spoke via Marco Polo with Allison this week. The family is doing well, even with a scattering of ups and downs. Allison took a pretty bad fall from a scooter a couple of weeks ago and is struggling with tailbone pain but she is improving daily. Mike continues to seek employment. Adam continues at his job and is thinking about starting a mobile oil change business. Grace is one busy girl with her heavy school load as well as church. She was speaking at another stake's youth fireside as Allison recorded her Marco Polo. She hopes to get her drivers license this week, if the car passes inspection. 

Joshua is doing well and is eager to be ordained a teacher in the aaronic Priesthood. Sam is doing very well at school and is enjoying everything. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan traveled to Pennsylvania for work again this week. Cameo worked from home and kept the kids busy. Kaylee has been struggling with a cough and cold and is on new medication. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber, Kelsie and Kooper are well and had a good week. Doran tried his hand at jam making and made both blueberry and mango jam. Everyone thought it was very tasty. They came for a visit on Saturday. 

Morgan

No news from Morgan this week. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work. 

The Nathan Rice Family

The girls sent me some wonderful pictures this week in the mail. They facetimed and all are doing well. Annie is always working on some creative project as she speaks with me. Ellie and Emma were happy as always. 

Dad's Garden

We have had the most temps in the 30's in years. We have kept the plants covered all night but some are struggling and we lost a few. We are harvesting snow and snap peas and lettuce and chard. 

Family History: Nano Slides

My grandmother, Etta Lucille Taylor Kew

Rastus Moore, Etta Lucille Kew, Muriel Kew, Barbara Marsh Kew and Grace Moore

Parent's Honeymooned at Oak Creek Canyon at Todd's Lodge (Later Garland's Lodge where Dad and I honeymooned.)

Mom and Louise Amelia Wolf Marsh Hart Tutu

 

Other highlights

Unusually cold weather this week has led to fires in the fireplace and even running the heater in the morning. Kayty lived in her electric blanket and was enjoying every moment. The garden is covered and hopefully surviving. 

Dad traveled to Long Beach California on Tuesday for work. It was another quick there and back trip and he ended up sitting by the same gentleman both ways and was able to share a Book of Mormon with him. 

I had a good dental appointment with no work needed in the next six months. As dad nears retirement age, he will be able to be on Medicare and get dental insurance but I won't be able to for years. We have a plan to pay into a Health Share for my insurance but it has no dental so I am grateful for every single good appointment. 

Week of January 15 - 21, 2023

Spiritual

We enjoyed Ward Conference on Sunday. Sadly, all the adults were together in one meeting so I could not see my primary kiddos. 

We were able to attend the temple this week. I attended an endowment session on Tuesday morning and Dad attended an endowment session on Thursday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 566 records and reviewed 345 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins Family is well. They enjoyed their extra time off taking an adventure to "The Seven Magic Mountains". 

It was so windy but they had a great time! Grace participated in a talent show last week and created the cutest comedy skit with a friend of hers. Absolutely fun and hilarious!

The Ethan Rice Family

This family is doing well.

Wade celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up. His only comment: "Oh, my aching back!"

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber and the kids had a very busy work and school week. All are healthy and doing well. 

Morgan

No news from Morgan this week. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work. She had a glucose low that left me terrified. I check her often when she is asleep and thought all was well until I heard banging. I went in and she had fallen out of bed and was having seizures, hitting her head on her refrigerator door. I called Dad to help me get her laid down and got some soda down her, but I have not left her for very long the rest of the week. 

The Nathan Rice Family

The girls contacted me via FaceTime a couple of times this week. They are doing well. They have already practiced what to do if the tornado sirens go off (Jessica, you are by far one of the bravest women in the world!!!!! Tornados are most certainly a deal breaker for me). They have a nearby friend who raises goats and the girls were able to go over and visit. They so enjoyed holding the goats. 

Annie said they were so warm and soft. They are doing well in homeschool and enjoying their larger surroundings. We Facetimed a bit on Thursday evening and the girls were trying to put together a gymnasics show for me, since one of the extra bedrooms is now a gymnastics room and they have wonderful tumbling mats. More on that to come later. 

I love still getting FaceTime calls from the girls! 

Dad's Garden

Dad's garden has adored all the rain we have had and we harvested more romaine, chard and collard greens. Our poor little tomatoes are hanging in there with all the cold weather this week and next. Dad started basil in the seed starter in the laundry room. 

Family History: Nano Slides

I am assuming this is a picture of the rental on Almeria in Phoenix, their first home.

 

Other highlights

Lots of rain again started our week. It is rare that I cannot jog one morning for rain, but this week I lost two mornings. Jogging around the living room and family room were not as fun though were much warmer. 

Week of January 8 -14, 2023

Spiritual

We enjoyed a lovely fast and testimony meeting this Sunday and primary went better. We had a quiet Sunday of study and preparing for the week ahead. 

Dad was able to attend the temple this week. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 333 records and reviewed 129 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Happy Birthday, Sam on Friday.

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan returned to weekly traveled and spent Monday through Thursday in Allentown. The kids returned to school and had a good week. 

The Doran Rice Family

Happy Birthday Kooper on Friday. He had a wonderful birthday party with some friends on Saturday which included water bead gun shooting, coloring, pizza, cake and then a game truck came for some fun. 

Morgan

No news from Morgan. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work and spent her off time reading and watching crime dramas. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Happy Birthday, Nathan on Saturday. We now have no children in their 20's. Nathan started his new job this week. The family is getting back to the normal routine and doing well. I face timed with the girls on Thursday and they were so excited to get together on Friday with a new Homeschool group. How exciting for them to get to make new friends in their new home. 

Dad's Garden

Dad spent the week getting the oval garden ready and then planted his tomato starts. We are sharing a lot of citrus with work friends of his. Garden is still doing great on the lettuce and radishes, plus his collards and chard are great. I also picked a bunch of snow peas and snap peas. 

Family History - Nano Slides

4130 W. Tuckey Lane
Phoenix, Az 85019
My parents' first home they purchased

Other highlights

Village took three brutal days but it is all put-away. My entry closet is packed from bottom to top with buildings and my hut has no more space in it. 

It took months but I finally got Mom's phone service canceled. She can no longer use the internet or speak on her own and thus it was a huge waste of her money every month. So, the use of 939-4030 is done...the phone number since my childhood. 

Week of January 1 - 7, 2023

Spiritual

The bishop's wife and the temple president spoke in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. Both gave wonderful talks. I just loved the counsel of the temple president to attend the temple each time with the question, "What do you want me to learn this time?"  First goal for this year! Primary was sure different teaching little ones but with the inspiration of the Lord, I made it through. 

We were able to attend the temple this week. I attended an endowment session on Tuesday morning and Dad attended on Thursday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 183 records and reviewed 73 records so far this year. Indexing is much more challenging and has been for months, with fewer records even available to work with. 

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins family enjoyed their holiday break and were ready to go back to work and school. Allison also began the next semester of her Master's Degree program

The Ethan Rice Family

Happy Birthday, Cameo on Saturday! They had a good week. 

The Doran Rice Family

Back to work and school for this family this week. They visited on Saturday to borrow tables and chairs for Kooper's birthday party next weekend. 

Morgan

Morgan came by on Friday morning. He and Cassie are doing well and are living near Cornville now, which is nearer to their jobs. They may be relocating for awhile to Tennessee to follow tourism work. 

Kayty

Kayty had a shorter work week. She had one major low on Wednesday that took me almost an hour to get her back. I almost called the fire department again. Then the rest of the week, it is easier to go low so I slept little and checked her frequently. On Friday, she needed a day off and achieved a dream: a hot air balloon ride

Two major and one minor low this week. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Nathan, Jessica and the family are doing well. They arrived at their new home and are adjusting to the new surroundings. The girls called me on Thursday evening right after the family moving container had been delivered. They gave me an awesome tour of their house, their rooms, and bathrooms. They love the stairs and they love their backyard where they enjoy playing soccer. They also facetimed me on Saturday and showed me everything set up in their home. Nathan has been super busy and has set up beds, created pantry storage and gotten a table set up. This house is looking more and more like home. 

Dad's Garden

Doing well! Lots of rain sure helps a garden!! Lettuce, chard, radishes are flourishing and he is enjoying the citrus off our trees now. 

Family History Nano Slides Continue

Back to my first year of life

Perhaps my christening/baptism in the First Congregational Church in Phoenix Arizona. Present from Left to right are Grandfather J D Bill Hart, Uncle John Hart, Great Grandmother Nano Irma Zelia Pratt Wolf Leiber, Grandmother Tutu Louise Amelia Wolf Hart, Dad, Mom, Me, Grandmother Etta Lucille Taylor Kew, Aunt Muriel Kew, and perhaps Uncle Clyde Taylor

 

Other highlights

I completed my annual holiday assessments. I have a notebook filled with information, recipes, shopping lists, activities, and then what went well and what didn't for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This year I again had way too many cookies left over. I feel like the cookie party won't be a go in the future. I might bake a few favorites but I gave away or tossed a ton. It just wasn't a good idea. 

I visited Nano on Thursday. No change. She is pleasant but doesn't recognize me. We sit, I chat, share some television time, and then I leave. 

I think this sums up what the year has been: change. First, I went to print this annual blog book. I did as I always do, using Blog2Print...and it would not work. I tried for days and finally contacted the company. Seems Blogger, owned by Google, is not sharing the blog info any more so no one can print it. I searched and found a very costly option .... in the Netherlands no less... and I paid since I had the book ready to print. However, I had to honestly look at things. My books are not looked at on the shelves. I have years and years of individual and family photo albums plus all these printed ones. I had to determine that the book I paid nearly $200 to print would be the final printed one. Change.

My holiday plans: well they all came out great and I was happy, but again, I had a smaller group than I ever had and that is not likely to change much. Holiday plans have always had to be altered due to obligations of other family members...for many many years. So I need to make decreases and alterations. Change. 

We are entering the stage where grandkids are either older or far away and cannot be in constant contact. That is absolutely okay but it does involve change. I've done it a few times now so it's not so hard. I am looking at getting rid of things I don't use that someone else might need. I am looking at the food we once purchased that no one will eat. Change.

I am no longer a "word of the year" person, but I think one of my goals should be to focus on embracing change. Not easy. When I go over just the past three months, so much change! and as time goes on changes will continue. Dad will choose to retire. We won't have as much money as we do. The money we saved for years doesnt go as far as it once did. I will need to pay for health insurance on my own for three years. Lots and lots of change. I am just trying to accept and perhaps embrace the changes while holding on to what is normal.