OUR Temple

(November 18th, 2023)

It has been so fun to see the Orem Temple slowly built so close to us. This will be our temple, the one we go to. It will be the one I serve in come this January. I've really enjoyed going to trainings and I can't believe how soon I'll have a weekly shift. The Temple is so beautiful. Whenever I make a run to Walmart, I stop and look at the temple. I've seen it in many settings. Tyler often catches lovely views as he comes home. This one is pretty spectacular.

Having a new temple built actually requires a LOT of planning and help. Most things are planned well in advance, but sometimes they need more spontaneous help. Pearl went to help one evening when they asked for volunteers to come plant flowers. She didn't know anyone, but she went willingly and helped quite a bit. She was there as it got dark and she got some great pictures of the lit temple.

The open house started at the end of October. That requires a lot of volunteers as well. Our Stake was assigned the last three days of the open house, Dec 14-16th. Most of us signed up for at least one shift, others took a couple. We'll get to that in a minute. 

First, we went to the open house ourselves in November. We planned a day that Granny V was in town, so that was fun to have her with us. There isn't a lot of parking at the temple; the Orem temple is quite small, so they had several shuttles going to and from the temple. We took one over and I got a shot of us on the bus.

We also grabbed a couple shots outside that evening. The extra face is Matthew, who came with Analena. I believe he is no longer in the picture. I mean, he is physically IN the picture, just not in Analena's life anymore. You got that, right?

It was really fun to go through and see the temple. It is really lovely. There are lots of greens and pinks. The theme is cherry trees because the land where the temple is built used to be a cherry orchard. On the bottom row of windows, you can see marshlands and find wildlife in the stained glass such as a hummingbird, a dragonfly, and a heron. The second floor windows show the blossoming trees and on the top floor, you can see the bright red cherries. So pretty.

I walked with Ivory and we were able to talk more about the temple since she will go through within the next year most likely. It wasn't a very long tour. A half hour later, they spit us out the back. Not a bad looking group. (Oh, June is absent since she was out of town.)

As for our volunteer days, those were really fun. They were short volunteers and so they announced on the Sunday before to sign up for more times. Pearl and Daisy took a shift on Thursday morning during school. The Bishop gave them permission to skip school. ;) I took a shift driving the golf cart on Thursday night. It was so fun but beyond cold. Like mucho frio. It was worth it to meet so many awesome people and drive them around to the front, but it took a while to feel my feet again after the event.

Friday, Ivory and Daisy took a ushering shift and June, Pearl, and I did ushering on Saturday. Actually, Pearl was too young, so she could only do foot coverings. Three hours of bending over to put booties on people's feet is intense. 

Ushering was quite enjoyable. I saw people I knew and smiled a lot. I got asked a lot of random questions and could only answer about half. But I'm so glad we got an opportunity to serve. It was a wonderful experience and once again, I'm thrilled to have our temple so close. 

Oh, I almost forgot. June got to attend the open house later with Isaac. He came back from his mission just days before it ended. Don't worry, you'll see more of him I'm sure. 

Books are Apple-Solutely the Best Pick!

(November 3rd, 2023)

Doing the library displays has been more fun this year. More people are invested and helping me out. Whether with time, or ideas, extra help has come from the library gang (the girls who are always there) and my kids as usual. We opted for a pretty simple display for Fall. It's surprising how much work is still needed when you aren't even filling up the windows.

June came in and helped with my large sign, and Beau was right there creating artwork that is beyond me.

I like to hang things (as you know) so I ordered a bunch of Chinese lanterns that looked like apples. They were so fun.

When we finished up, the windows really were sparse, but if you look closely, there were fun things.

The sign, of course.

There was a little hedgehog reading a recipe book.

Another little guy had an apple stuck on him. There were apples in most of the windows and those were my favorite things to make.

This little guy was getting cozy for the season. Beau does such a fantastic job. Look at his little claw on his paw.

I wanted to get some hedgehog art for my desk shelf. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, but when I found this hedgehog crystal growing kit on Amazon, I knew that was the thing. The little guys take about a week to grow, so they didn't join the library until the end of the month.

Everyone who sees them loves them. Emily grew the green one at her house. He has a little mohawk. They all are unique in their own way. The blue one...well, I dropped him by accident in the sink, so his quirks are not his fault. Then we had a lot of fun naming them. Meet Pecan, Neutron, Crouton, and Toby.

Don't worry, I couldn't bare to get rid of them when I took down the fall decorations. Look for these cute guys to show up with the Christmas display as well. :) 

October Chatbook 2023

October was a great month. I already miss it but that is probably because it is snowing right now and I'm not ready for winter, even if it IS December. So let's look back at those lovely fall moments.

At school Emily helps make my signs to go outside. It started as something for her to do during lunch, since she doesn't like to go to the lunchroom, but after seeing her art and penmanship skills, she's hired. I haven't done a sign yet this year.

Four of us went up to see Catch Me If You Can. This play has nothing to do with the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. It had a twisty ending that I didn't see coming. Don't worry, I won't spoil it. You'll have to go yourself.

I love when teachers go above the normal requirements to make things fun for the students. For the orchestra concert, they played some music from The Nightmare Before Christmas, so Mrs. Tippetts dressed up as Jack Skelington. Props!

I got these cute donut earrings. They are so realistic. But you'd have to eat like 50 donuts that size to get a good bite.

Beau and June continue to make dinner together now and then. Sometimes it looks truly scrumptious! And sometimes I send food home with them. I'm always more than happy to share food.

Daisy is found in her Comfy more often with the colder weather settling in. Sometimes she looks very strange in it. This first picture is NOT photoshopped. Daisy is holding herself up and she tucked in her legsShe does look very ghosty.

I don't like the creepy tiny babies. But I do appreciate the humor of putting one in the spider's maw. :)

Utah, you so beautiful. Between epic sunsets, wispy clouds, and even foggy days, it never is boring around here.

Since June works at the MTC, she sometimes runs into people we know. Her recent run ins include Elder Densley, Elder Bates, and Elder Nield.

Can you see the creature lurking under Beau? I think she is protecting us from it.

Sunday Selfie!

Not a bad impression of Cousin It.

Uncle Tim and Erin came to visit for a couple days. They were looking into a device that might help Erin communicate better. It was such a pleasure to see them, even for a brief time. We don't get nearly enough time with our CA family.

I went to another of Jorri's concerts. They are so lovely. This one was in a new city building by the library. It was a nice location. What really made the evening memorable was leaving the truck lights on and having to ask Jake for a ride home. He was so kind to drive me and Pearl and pick up June on the way back. 

Last chatbook, you saw Jafar. Here is one of the other friendly snakes that Mr. Longson has. Her name is Marvel. She is smaller, but still a handful.

The kids had a glow party for a mutual activity. That sounds like a good time and I love how Pearl attached glow sticks to her glasses.

Beau dyed her hair blue, purple, and pink. Very fun and cheerful.

We went to see Wait Until Dark at BYU. It was SO GOOD! I was worried about not liking the characters as well as the movie, but those students smashed it. For some of the kids, it was the first time seeing it. What a great show.

These two look so cute. It looks like Christmas morning, but Tyler's a bit old to be waiting at the top of the stairs.

Guys! That's it. Kind of a short chatbook this time around. Time to jump into November.