New Years Eve 2019

We've been trying to do a little cleaning and packing the last few days.  I'm slower than usual and running out of energy fast.  Sunday we had to speak in our two Branches, then they sang Aloha Oe to us and gave us leis.  Sure is an emotional  experience, It's nice to be so loved by so many but sad to leave those you love.  As I often quote Winnie the Pooh.."I'm so lucky to have something I love that makes saying goodby so hard."

Yesterday we also had to speak at our Senior Missionary FHE and then they also did Aloha Oe to us, then we ran over to the Visitor's Center where they were waiting for us so they could also sing to us.  Cry, cry cry,  I'm wiped out.  I love these young people so much.  Especially the ones I've really gotten close to.  Elder Potter is transferred to Maui today and I wish him so much happiness and success.  We ran into the doctor for me today to see if I could get some pain pills for the plane ride home.  I am getting really worried about the flight and my pain.  I can't sit for any length of time and I know I can't stand up all night.  Dr. Christensen gave me a few pills and we'll hope they knock me out so I can sleep.

Us with the Tuituposm who are leaving a week after us

Sister Allen, us and Elder Allen

Tonight we are going into the Stake Center and President and Sister Walker will be there with us all to celebrate the New Year.  I sure love these people.  They are so sincerely kind and caring.  I wanted another time with some of my "Sisters" and am glad I get it tonight.  I cleaned the stove good today while Ramon cleaned the car.  Slowly we are getting things taken care of.

Friday December 27

Well, a busy busy week.  We went to the BYU game on Tuesday, Christmas Eve.  I borrowed a wheelchair and Ramon pushed around the huge stadium, not so good for him either.

At the Tailgate party before the game!

Then we went into the game.  We were able to sit in the shade due to being "handicapped"  some perks!  We only stayed until the 4th quarter and then came home.  BYU lost.

I made our usual Breakfast casserole for Christmas morning, only a mini size. It was pouring rain all day.

Our little Christmas joy, our real joy was talking with our children and grandchildren.
We even got to talk to our missionary Sam in Germany.

We had been invited to our friends that afternoon and waited for the rain to stop.  Finally we left when it was just a light rain.  We went over to the Nichols house and sat out and ate good food and watched the rain come pelting down again but we were warm inside the patio with a great roof.  We enjoyed visiting with them and when the sun finally came out about 4 p.m. we came back home.  We then got ready and went into Laie to the Stake Center where the Goo family feeds the Sisters and us each Christmas day.  It was soup and salads and just perfect for this gloomy day.

Monday December 23

Well, an interesting but annoying weekend.  We were taking tickets at the PCC luau Friday night and they allow us to eat there afterwards and I slipped on something wet and messed my right side up pretty good.  But the nice news is I heal quickly and am up and about now.  I broke my ankle, sprained my bad knee,...no problem there I'll probably get a new knee soon anyway, and wrenched my back.  That's the worst.  Never had back problems before but they kill!  After hurting it, I was so mad, but I took time to take pictures of our friend Eliu being the angel at the live nativity at the PCC while I waited for the first aid cart to drive us to our car.  We had planned to spend the rest of the night enjoying the things the PCC do for the Holidays.  We should have done this earlier in the month! (Side note February 22, last two months I've been in pain with my back, I found out I have a compound fracture and ruptured something or other that has kept in limited to what I can do.  They say it heals in 3 months.  I am 2  months into it now, we'll see.)  February 24 I was told I have to have back surgery or the consequences are dire.  But Ramon has to have his elbow surgery first, scheduled for March 3 and I will do my back after wards.  I guess that was a horrible fall to cause me so much grief! (I had back surgery May 5, in Payson.  This was the worst surgery I have had so far.  I wasn't free of constant pain until 6 weeks after surgery.  As of today, July 5, I only have pain if I do too much or get up or down.  I still walk slow and carefully and now feel as if my knee is next)

Eliu Matangi, a royal angel!
I had a miserable night and the next morning decided to head over to our tiny Kahuku clinic to see if I had broke my hip.  They X-rayed me from top to bottom and only found the broken ankle.  So I came home, cancelled our fun two days in Waikiki seeing the lights and going to the BYU game and just laid in bed for the whole weekend...boring.

This morning called an Orthopedic Doctor and they got us right in and gave me a walking boot and told me NOT to lay around on my back, that makes it worse.

We stopped by Sister Rose, picked up our scooter we had loaned to a student of hers, and then stopped the VC for a wheelchair so maybe I can go to the game tomorrow.  You never know what the next day will bring so enjoy today.   We had to cancel our fun couples dinner we were hosting on Saturday night too,  but are still having it next Saturday!  No matter what!

Thursday

Yesterday we hosted our 9 Elders in a breakfast more like brunch...at our apartment.  The majority of them were late so we didn't get started until about 10:45.  But these are wonderful young men so all is forgiven.  We had a good time, shared spiritual thoughts with one another and ate til they were all full.  I forgot to take pictures of them but did take a before picture of the table set up.  It makes me so mad when I forget important picture taking events!

Today we are going to the PCC for a breakfast hosted by  PCC President Grace.   Then later we work a shift at the Visitor's Center and then are going to a Branch party at President Lee's house.  We have to bring two white elephants, which were hard to find here,  living so temporarily, so I just bought stuff at Walmart.  I am taking a few items to eat as I'm cleaning out the pantry these days.




Breakfast at the PCC.  It was really nice

Great time at the Visitor's Center but sad that it will be our last time there.  I had my picture taken with Sister Jentzsch, she's from Germany and the thought of never seeing her again breaks my heart.  She's a choice friend.  She's the Saxophone musician I love to listen to.

After we went over to our YSA branch Christmas party at President Lee's house.  It was fun and good food. and fun games but again I was sad to leave.  Tanner is going home to Canada for the holidays, I may never see him again either.  The Bowen's texted me and they leave Saturday and we may not see this little family for a long time.  Sad days.

Our party at President Lee's House

Taylor Lee and missionaries

Elder Potter, Sister Hensley and Felt

Elder Halsey and Godfrey, Potter and Sister Hensley and Felt

Bill, us playing a game

Monday

We've been waiting anxiously for this night all year. It's carrolling time again with the YSA branch.  We went to our VCTM meeting this morning then got out early, waited for a couple who was going  to purchase our  boogie boards from us, they didn't  show then ran to the BYUH bookstore to return a tie and then into Costco and Sams and home to make and bake 5 dozen cinnamon (chocolate chip) rolls for tonight.  Found out tonight that the couple we were waiting for, the husband had a stroke last night and is in Honolulu in the hospital. So sad.  Hope he is okay.  He spoke in our YSA Branch yesterday too and did a great job.

So we ran with our rolls over to the Community Center (where we used to have church meetings) and waited while everyone gathered.  The guy with the trailer didn't come so we decided to eat first.  Had hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, they were a hit, and then we sang some Carrols and then bore testimony of what Christmas means to us.  Then someone heard from the guy with the truck and flat bed, it was an hour after we were to start.  He was 20 minutes away.  We waited and then it started to pour ... rain...as only Hawaii can. So we left and came home, now it was 8:00 and we started at 6:30.  But we had a good turn out and it was fun.  Here are some pictures.  I had quite a few rolls left so sent a dozen home with the Sisters for their roommates and then we brought home a dozen and I froze them for breakfast on Wednesday with the District Elders here.  I also gave a dozen to the Hancocks upstairs.  All good.

Us with Sisters Felt and Hensley

Us with our Zone leaders (Potter, Godfrey, Halsey and Sisters

Friday

It's been a very busy week.  Yesterday we had a zone conference.  We bought a lot of the food, and I prepared sloppy joes, for the lunch.  We had a really inspirational conference.  I learned a lot and took a lot of notes.  We also received a very nice blessing from our Mission President Walker, he is such a great man and leader.  Afterwards we had a Branch Christmas Party.  We went into Lai'e and picked up Grace Miller from our Provo ward and took her with us to the party.  She was a good sport to come.  We didn't stay a long time as we took Grace into the airport.  It was a stormy night and the rain was relentless.  Kind of scary driving in the dark, no moon this night.

Ramon talking to Grace  :)

Monday

Today we went to our usual FHE at the Grant building with the senior couples.  They had this terrific choir and Leslie King was in it.  It was very well done and especially beautiful with Sister Reynolds accompanying with her flute.

After we ran over to our YSA Branch FHE and they played a version of Elf on the shelf, but it was more like hide and seek.  We all had a good time.  I'm sure going to miss these young people.

Monday

 This weekend has been a very busy one.  It seems being MLS missionaries we are really busy or slow.  Never a happy medium.  Saturday while taking tickets at the Luau, I went and picked a fragrant white ginger flower to put in my hair.  About five minutes later I got this terrible burning sensation and we determined later I had been stung by a fire ant!  He took several jabs at me and I was in a goodly amount of pain.  I rushed into the bathroom and pulled down the top of my muumuu and couldn't see anything, but washed good and dressed.  I only got relief when I pressed hard on it.  I told Ramon if I was home I'd put ice on it.  My friend Ubah talked to me and then ran and got me an zip lock bag with ice that I stuffed down my neck.  It offered relief and the pain lasted about an hour.  I had talked to Leslie who was also there and she thought it was a fire ant as the PCC had been invaded by them.  That's what I get for stealing a flower!

On Sunday we were so busy.  I ended up cooking for the Break the Fast for seniors and then teaching the Temple Prep class and making cookies to take to that.  We baked our dish in the church oven while Sacrament was on and then left to go to Break the fast.  I sat next to a Sister and her husband who work in the garden center and she verified that I had been bit by a fire ant.  I guess you rarely see them as the pain kick in a few minutes after biting you.  She said they are invested with them and can't bring any plants into the PCC anymore until they get rid of them and that takes permission from the State.  They wear protective coverings and she said she had been bitten quite a lot.  Poor soul.

My friend Alan and his wife Dawnne, She's in red and he is behind her

After Break the Fast with the couples we headed over the the Visitor's Center for our Fireside that we were having at 6:00.  We changed into our VC clothing and visited with people a while.  The musical concert went very well and these girls have got to be the most talented in the world.  Everyone was in tears when it was over.  We heard remarks from our beloved Mission President and his wife.  We are so fortunate to have them

President and Sister Walker

Friday

Here is a picture of my cousin Michele and us after doing a session at the Laie Temple on Wednesday.

On Thursday we went into the VA hospital and Ramon saw a doctor and had some tests done.  I saw this neat craft decor and happened to ask the very man who made them about them.  He just used paper and scotch tape.  They were beautiful.

This one he called a crown

After the VA we spent the day in town having lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and then walking around Honolulu looking at Christmas decorations.  Then we had too much time to kill so went to the movie, Charlies's Angels and then to the concert at the Blaisdel Concert hall.  We saw this new young singer, Lauren Daigle.  we were early by about an hour, but that was okay.  When she finally came on it was really good.  She is a Christian singer and every song was about God.  I don't think I've ever heard rock and roll done with definite messages about  our Father and Jesus mentioned.  She was very entertaining, full of energy and really cute.  She had a great band and singers with her.  It wasn't at all like a revival or Gospel singing I've ever heard.  It was a nice concert with no one drunk or out of control.  It was packed and everyone there seemed to know the words to every song.  I really enjoyed it.  It was late getting home, in the dark and rain but we made it safely up and over the Pali.  Here are some pictures but they are from far away but I still wanted to show them.

Wednesday December 4, 2019

This morning we are going to the Temple with my cousin Michele.  This past week has been busy with so many things.  We had our "Thanksgiving" dinner Saturday night and had Michele and her family as well as two girls from our home ward and Tom's niece, the girls are all here at BYUH.  Had a good time visiting with them all and turns our Will knows Maggies two older sisters!  Sunday was usual meetings with Break the Fast YSA after that meeting.

                                 This is Jordan, and Brother Tayor and daughter by Ramon 

Monday meetings, and Tuesday meetings and a long doctor appointment yesterday afternoon for Ramon.  After the Temple, we'll come home and I'll fix food for the Geranios tonight.

Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2019 + 11/29/20

Early his morning we went over to SunSet Beach to enjoy the beauty of the Earth where we live.  I have a new camera and took some practice pictures of the waves.

Good 
new camera!

Great zoom!










Later at noon we attended the annual Thanksgiving Day Feast Junior AhYou puts on for all the missionaries and elderly people.  We took my cousin Michele and her husband Ben and son Will with us this year.  Here are some pictures.

Will, Ben, and Michele

Leslie King and others playing Ukelele

Tonight we went over to the Temple grounds to participate in a Temple Walk.  We were to walk up to the temple passing groups of people singing and it was to be all dark, with just the Temple lite up.  Well, we parked at the VC and walked down to Laie school but no one was there, they had all congregated in the middle of the length of the walk.

We finally walked back up to where they were.  This was to start at 6:00, the opening prayer was at 6:35 and took 10 minutes.  By then we were resigned to leave. It was very disorganized and we were frustrated.  Michele and her family were with us. Each group of singers was going to take so long to get through all their songs they had prepared.  I walked into the VC to get my purse and Gerald Cause, the Presiding Bishop of our church was there visiting.  He is nice and it was nice to see him.  We then decided to forgo the free luau and go to McDonalds.  Every thing was closed so we came back home to eat leftovers.

Sunday November 30,2019

Yesterday I spent an hour or so at Turtle Bay Beach visiting with my cousin Michele who is here for a week.  What a nice time that was.  I find as I mature that family is so important, and those years when we didn't see each other because of various things, mostly raising our children, just slip away and we are still close family forever.  We reminisced about our Mother's and the role they each played in the other's life.  Little did I know my mother was such a wise person to give good advice to a newly married niece.  I so loved Michele's mother, my Aunt Rayma.  What a blessing she was in my life when I needed her so.

After I came home and finished up the preparations for our "Thanksgiving" dinner I had planned for this night.  We had two young BYUH students from our home ward come, Maggie Christensen and Grace Miller, as well as Tom and Shahara's niece Mckenzie, along with Michele, husband Ben and son Will.   We had a great time all together.  McKenzie is from where Michele's daughter lives in Arizona and will knew Maggies two sisters.  Small world in the church, as they say.  It was good food, and I think the girls enjoyed being there even if they didn't know each other or our family.  McKenzie gave them a ride back to Laie.  Then we oldies, played SKYJO, a fun game Ryan had given us last Christmas.  Was a fun night and Michele did all the dishes, as I put stuff away.  I sure love this cousin of mine.Yesterday I spent an hour or so at Turtle Bay Beach visiting with my cousin Michele who is here for a week.  What a nice time that was.  I find as I mature that family is so important, and those years when we didn't see each other because of various things, mostly raising our children, just slip away and we are still close family forever.  We reminisced about our Mother's and the role they each played in the other's life.  Little did I know my mother was such a wise person to give good advice to a newly married niece.  I so loved Michele's mother, my Aunt Rayma.  What a blessing she was in my life when I needed her so.

After I came home and finished up the preparations for our "Thanksgiving" dinner I had planned for this night.  We had two young BYUH students from our home ward come, Maggie Christensen and Grace Miller, as well as Tom and Shahara's niece Mckenzie, along with Michele, husband Ben and son Will.   We had a great time all together.  McKenzie is from where Michele's daughter lives in Arizona and will knew Maggies two sisters.  Small world in the church, as they say.  It was good food, and I think the girls enjoyed being there even if they didn't know each other or our family.  McKenzie gave them a ride back to Laie.  Then we oldies, played SKYJO, a fun game Ryan had given us last Christmas.  Was a fun night and Michele did all the dishes, as I put stuff away.  I sure love this cousin of mine.

Tuesday

Very busy week for us this Thanksgiving week.  Yesterday we attended our two Family Home Evenings after a busy day getting ready for the week ahead.  Our YSA Branch didn't disappoint with the usual night of fun games.  This game was called YSA Olylmpics but really should be called "flip the slippers across the cultural hall", our Oliver came up with this unique idea.  We had a smaller group tonight but we love them all so much.  Already tearing up thinking of leaving these young friends of mine.

We're at the start of the "Vans Triple Crown" surf competition now at Sunset Beach.  Took a minute to  run across the street and check it out.  The Hancock's dog Ellie decided to follow us.  Naughty dog! We had to bring her back.

Today we had a District meeting and
then went to the Temple.  It is the 100 year celebration of the dedication of the Hawaii Temple on Thanksgiving.  We have a huge celebration that day.  After having a lunch furnished by a local Football Star Junior Ayou, we will have a "walk" after dark from the elementary school up to the Temple.  All lights will be out except the Temple will be as usual.  There will be singing along the way and at 7:00 pm a free luau is offered to all who attend.  My cousin Michele and her husband and son Will will join us this day.  Everyone is really excited about it all.  I have a new camera, I just hope it lives up to my hopes for the evening pictures in the dark!

We saw that it was 15 degrees in Utah today, can't complain at 88 today.  Although, a little snuggle on a cold night in a warm bed sounds pretty  good after all this heat for 17 months.