Feb. Happenings

Last week a dear lady at Church, Lois Concannon, had her 95th birthday! When I asked her if I could stop by on her birthday and visit she happily agreed and let me take her picture. Lois led the music in Sacrament Meetings for many years (someone said 42 years!) and only stopped a few years ago. She still plays the organ in her home, and paints beautifully. To honor her, members of our ward put on "An Evening of Music" in Lois' honor. After each participant performed, they presented a yellow rose to Lois. At the conclusion Lois had a basket of three dozen roses. I organized a small group of women and we sang an arrangement of "As Sisters in Zion." I also matted and framed Lois' picture, had it on display on a table as people entered, and then gave it to her to take home with her.

Gayle and I have been thinking for a VERY long time about joining a fitness club, and on the last day of January, we signed up. We were ready to commit and chose the Liberty Lake Fitness Club, a 10 minute drive from home. Consulting with a trainer has helped us to develop a routine to follow understand the equipment that will help us achieve results. In the past three weeks we both suffered horrible colds that stopped our progress temporarily, but now that we have recovered and are getting our strength back, we are ready to start exercizing again. We went both Friday and Saturday, and boy am I sore...

Catching Up

Kayla with Heather and Keith, and in her Blessing Dress.

A Gift

Our son Matthew's birthday is tomorrow, December 7th. And because we traditionally give gifts on one's birthday, and Matt is not here to receive this gift, I would like to share it with all my family and friends in Matt's memory. This photograph I took while visiting "Glacier Gardens" in Juneau, Alaska last summer. Gayle spotted this eagle flying toward us, and there it was, magnificently flying over us. I held my breath and tried to get the best picture possible, and in a few seconds, the eagle was gone. Now all is left is this image and a wonderful memory of the place. Our son, Matthew, left us suddenly when he slipped beyond the veil and all we have left are our memories of him and the hope and faith that through Jesus Christ's atonement we will see him, be with him again someday. And so it is my wish to celebrate Matt's birthday, by sharing this image with all. He would like that. We'll place the wreath at his grave tomorrow, and hope that somehow he knows that we are thinking of him. Matt, we all miss you and love you. Happy Birthday, Love, Mom.

May Daze

May has come and gone so very quickly and I just want to write about some things that I believe are worth remembering.


May 1st was my first time and my LAST time playing on a co-ed softball game. It seemed like such a good idea, a fun way to get some exercize. Gayle purchased a glove for me, and we warmed up for an hour before we went to the field. In the game, I was a "designated hitter", batted twice and didn't play in the field. I was having second thoughts about playing, and nervous that I would injure myself. In the days following, I developed pain in my arm and shoulder that limit my range of motion. The top of my shoulder is very swollen.

On Friday May 8 Gayle and I went to see Celtic Woman in the Spokane Arena. They put on such a good show it was wonderful to be there. We had terrific seats. I heard them sing a song that I would love to use as an audio background for a new baby slideshow.

May 10 was Mother's Day.

I love being a MOM! I always look forward to receiving phone calls from our children, and talk

on the phone for hours. Cory moved home at the beginning of May for awhile. He is a joy to be around. His dog Rueger smiles as big as any dog as I have ever seen, and he greets me every morning by bounding down the stairs, tail wagging and big smile on his face as he runs to bid me "Good Morning!" One morning I surprised him by hiding in the kitchen and took his picture as he came looking for me.

It isn't the greatest picture as he was moving so fast, but you can at least see him smile!

May 14 was the day that my niece Elisabeth got married to Scott Tracy in the Bountiful Temple. It wasn't possible for me to be there, but I did create a slideshow for them to show at their wedding reception. I am trying to put a link here to open the slideshow but having some trouble with that.

May 16 was the Spokane Valley Camera Club's Annual Salon Awards Banquet. I submitted 10 each to digital and print categories. These had to be images that were judged in the monthly competitions, and were judged in Oregon by a panel of 3 judges. I received two Honorable Mentions for "Mother's Joy" in the portrait category, and "Marigold's Invitation" in the animal category. In addition, I received the "Rookie of the Year Award!" This award is given annually to a person who is fairly new to the club, has made notable improvement to their photography, and given service to the club. I have learned much from some very excellent photographers there since joining two years ago.

Marigold's Invitation

Mother's Joy


May 22 was Lisa's birthday, and we traveled to Kennewick to spend a couple of days with her and their family. They have a new puppy!

Corbyn and Oreo

Paige loves the new piano. Now she practices for her piano lesson without being told to!



And Dakota has learned how to ride a bike with no training wheels!

Newell is busy as ever with homework, Church and school activities.



May 20 I had my shoulder/arm x-rayed as it was still hurting after playing softball on the 1st. Nothing is broken. Then why does it hurt so badly?

May 25 we enjoyed one last meal with Bob, Sherie, and Joe. They are moving from Fairchild

AFB as Bob has a new assignment at Shaw AFB in South Carolina. I am going to miss having my sister here and it is with sadness that I have to say good-bye. Yet I know that she is looking forward to living closer to her children, and I am happy for her for that. Today I also planted a lot of the garden. We are growing tomatoes, green and red peppers, green beans, cucumbers, beets, lettuce, yellow crookneck squash, cantaloupe, acorn squash, and carrots. I also have an herb garden.

May 27 was Bob's Change of Command Ceremony at FAFB and was very nice. Bob received a special "decoration." Being family, we had been given "reserved" guest seating in the front row. After the ceremony, he was required to exit quickly, so we said our Good-byes and they started their 5 day trip across the country.

I am in the process of creating a slideshow with all of the pictures taken. And all the pictures are in my picasa web album.

May 29. This morning I awakened with a strange infection on my left arm: A red ring with a big blister in the center of it. By the time I got to see the doctor at 11:30 a.m., there was a welt that was quite big on the outside of the red ring and was enlarging hour by hour. The doctor did not know what it was and prescribed an antibiotic. I went back to work and worked at a Symphony concert that night, arriving home exhausted.

May 30. The blister and swelling continued to get larger, so I called the base and they authorized a visit to a 2nd doctor. The doctor at First Care took a viral and bacterial culture, not knowing what it was. We'll see what it grows in the next couple of days. I am very curious. He recommends that I do not leave town and must postpone my trip to see my granddaughter. The swelling had increased to my elbow by Sat. night.

June 2. The mystery is solved...I have shingles. (That is why my arm has been hurting so severely!) I have the ok to continue to work, just keep the blister, or "lesion," as the doctor called it, covered, and try to keep my distance from anyone pregnant or those with compromised immune systems. I call Heather and Keith, and they and I decide I will not travel to see Kayla, and I postpone my trip by one week.

So maybe when I heal, I'll be able to use that baseball mitt again afterall...

Focus!

Last week I felt very good about accomplishing two things that have been on my "To Do" list for a very long time - months for one, years for the other.
Don't laugh now, but I am very proud that I actually went geocaching by myself and found a cache that I could deposit the travel bug that I got from Jeff D. last summer. OK, I wasn't totally by myself. I had my son Trevor on my cell phone who was very excited for me and giving me as much encouragement as a new father in the labor room who's wife is about to "deliver!"
The cache was hidden under rocks near the Spokane River Falls. When I approached, marmots started crawling out of their hiding places in the rocks and stared at me. Good thing I had Trevor on the phone to protect me... Never mind that I lost my balance, fell over backward, dropped my purse and my phone, and screemed...as Trevor is yelling, "What happened?" I am sure the riders in the Gondola overhead were getting more for their money that day in entertainment.
Wow! I hit the jackpot, or the travel bug "hotel" as there were 5 travel bugs in there. OH, I couldn't help myself. I deposited one...and yes, took one. So now, I'm off on another adventure...
Now for the 2nd goal accomplished: We painted our kitchen on Saturday! Yes, Lisa, it's all done! I love love love it! It's cream on three walls, and a nice warm brown on an accent wall. We also picked out new backsplash tile. Our home teacher, who is a contractor, came over Sunday morning and talked to Gayle while I was getting appropriately dressed, and by the time I came out they had decided that we also should get new countertops and a new sink before we put on the tile! Well, it makes sense... I'm kind of sad to see the yellow sink go though...It's sort of grown on me. Anyway, I walk into the kitchen now and say, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh..."

Rejoice! Happy Easter

My heart is full of gratitude for our Savior. I know that he is my Redeemer, that he was resurrected, and because of Him, we all will be resurrected. He has made the way possible to eternal life, now the rest is up to us.
A scripture that describes my feelings today is:

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26:16)

Day Twelve: The Gift

in Bryce Canyon National Park

Come and See The Giver of Every Good Gift
Luke 17:11-19 tells the story of the healing of the ten lepers. Of the ten, only one returned, fell down on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks. For a leper, becoming clean was an impossible dream. There was only one who could make that happen, and that was Jesus Christ. I know that, like the leper, I have turned to Christ when I have needed his outstretched hand. And though I cannot fall down at Jesus feet, I can kneel in prayer and vocally show my respect and grateful heart. What impossible dreams do I have? How about you? There is nothing that the Lord cannot help us to accomplish or to fix, or change. Then which of the lepers will you be like? This week we celebrate Easter, and I reflect on the great incomprehensible gift of Christ's atonement. Because of this, we can overcome physical and spiritual death. Our bodies will be reunited with our spirits (be resurrected) and we can return to our Heavenly Father and Jesus, overcoming spiritual death and live with them in celestial glory. This is within the reach of ALL of us! I am so filled with gratitude to my Savior for this wonderful gift.