January 3 Our Farewell date....:(

We've spent the morning trying to get things ready,  It's taken us over a week of cleaning and purging.  Then we still had to purchase four boxes from the Post Office to send home stuff.  We gave tons of stuff away and still have so much.  But time is almost here to say goodby.  It's 1:30 p.m here, I'm waiting on Ramon to finish up his sorting and packing.  All our suitcases are at 50 lb.  Hope we make it.  Still have to vacuum the floor and mop and he has to shower and I have to wash the towels, we can leave them in the dryer drying.

Kathryn Zant stopped by,  then Emma McCullough and then Brother Ruel and then Peggy.  Sad to leave dear friends that feel like friends from forever ago.  They had a small party for us at Geranio's last night.  Shy, their daughter,  was sad, Nick was tearful, it was a sad goodby.  Nick had called and asked what my favorite food in the whole world was...he'd make it.  I told him I loved everything, couldn't he tell!  Anyway, he fixed wonderful steak, salad and great chocolate cake.   I made Snicker Bar salad, to get rid of my Coolwhip and snickers!  Pictures of us with the Sister Missionaries and Nick.

Sister Carter and Sister Fata and  ...Soren

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  :)