June to July Summer Fun 2023

A lot of my summer consisted of having family visit me (the Peterson Hotel was in full occupancy fairly often) or me going to visit them. I try to gather with my family as often as I can. What better place to give love and be loved than with family?

I took a picture of this to remember it.

The Saratoga Springs Temple was having its open house and shortly after I returned from my graduation tour, I went with my friend, Maxine, to tour the temple. 

Maxine and I in front of Saratoga Springs Temple
June 2023

Me and Maxine on the other side of the temple

Friends and family gather to celebrate a new member in the Adams/Martinson family. The baby girl had come early so baby shower happened at a later date.

Eva Marie, Ralene, Angela, Linda, Cecelia and
new little one, Shirley, Inga-lil, Susan, and me

I love flowers and this picture is one I took of my harvesting from my neighbor's bushes.

Beautiful roses

Getting ready for grandchildren

Bridal Shower for Karlie
Me, Ivan, K and Alisa

Portland friends gather for the celebration of life for Linda Stone that was held in Payson, Utah. We remember Linda fondly. She was my first counselor when I was serving as Young Women's President in the Sunset Hills Ward around 1972.

Oz, Hope, Carole and Me

Me, Ed Stone, Hope and Jennifer Fuhriman ?

My daughter, Jana, and I pose for her birthday picture on July 2nd. She is a hard worker, a good mom to her children and an important part of our family.

Celebrating Jana's birthday with a surprise Brunch 

It was so nice to have Rob and Tamsen and their kids up from Arizona. Burke was living with me, so with the exception of Hewitt, they all were here. A Dunning reunion was one of the reasons they came.

I love walking with my friends. The weather this summer was nice and not too hot (at least at 7 a.m. ) We walked on July 4th. I'm so grateful for the freedom we enjoy.

Me, Verla, Shirley, Maxine and Isabella

The next big event on my calendar was the wedding of Karlie and Ivan on July 18th. They were married in the Provo City Center Temple, had a brunch at the Timpview Building near me, and a reception in Riverton where Ivan's family lives. A few days later, we had another reception in Queen Creek, Arizona. It was a busy time with the Brewers coming to Provo and setting up for both the brunch and the reception. But everyone pitched in and it was a lot of fun.

Maxine helped me with table decorations for
the wedding lunch, as well as a friend, Laurel.
Friends are the best! Here's the mock up!

Maxine and me adjusting cloths for wedding brunch

Tables ready, bring on food and guests; thanks to
Maxine, Susan and Rhoda for helping to serve and just be there!

Bridesmaid sisters: Julie, Ivy and Lindsey Brewer

Colten helping August with his boutonniere

At the temple

Family and friends awaiting arrival of Karlie and Ivan

Karlie's family: August, Colten, Ivy, Sue, Ivan and Karlie,
Duerk, Lindsey, Julie and Kiefer

Karlie, the beautiful bride

Family and friends at the Provo City Center Temple

Reception ready to go

Karlie and Ivan on their way to temple
(out of order but I'm tech challenged
and couldn't figure out how to insert it)

Ivan and Karlie off on their honeymoon

A well decorated honeymoon vehicle

Home again from all the wedding festivities and getting back to a more normal routine. At least, that is, before the next round of family coming to stay for a bit. I so enjoy walking with my friends from my neighborhood. A few years ago, we did the 5K Temple to Temple run (walking was more our style) and so on this particular day, we both happened to wear our shirts, so had to have a picture.

Me, Shirley and Maxine and an early morning walk, July 25th

And that's a wrap on this month. So much fun! So much gratitude! So grateful for good health; for friends both here and wherever you are!

Winter, Spring, and Early Summer 2023

 Hello dear friends and family, it's been quite a break from posting anything on my blog, and I apologize to you and to me. Trying to remember what has happened the last eight months or so will be a challenge and my photo taking skills seem to have taken a break as well! Nevertheless, here goes!

A couple of observations: never miss an opportunity to express gratitude or love to those around you. Always be kind and willing to serve whenever and wherever you can. These things are building blocks for our souls, and we don't always know what's around the bend in the road we are traveling.

The loss of our dear Anna is incalculable, such a heartache for all of us. And yet life seems to continue on, and when you are over 80, the days go by really quickly.

2023 arrives and I'm still in Portland for a few more days. Just a few pictures of family and views of the first week in a new year.

Brewer Family (Colten, Lindsey, Karlie, Julie, Ivy
Kiefer, Duerk, Ashley, Sue and August)

B

Rob Peterson Family (Tosh, Hewitt, Rob, Tamsen, Liv, Burke, 
Truman, in front) and me

Lovely home observed on my walk in Portland

Lots of steep hills in JaneAnne's neighborhood

Cute yard decor, lets have a tea party!

Holyoak Family (Henry, Jane, Lucie, Josh,
Melissa and Margot) at the cemetery (end of year)

Mt. Hood, iconic symbol of Oregon

My tennis friends gave me this beautiful planter
 in memory of Anna upon my return to Provo

We had a lovely luncheon with all my Oregon Soiree friends (most of us are widows, except Hope and Ruth) Oz is taking the pictures and Shirley Nelson hosting.

Janet, Hope, Me, Mary Gail, Carol, Ruth and Shirley

So fun to enjoy lunch together

I took this picture with Oz in the middle

My sister Kathi, her husband, John, and I decided it was time to get out of the snowy weather of Nevada and Utah and traveled to Florida. We arrived in time to help Julie (plus husband, Jeff) celebrate her birthday. They have a lovely place, walking distance to the beach, and a beautiful neighborhood. Besides which, she is an awesome cook and we enjoyed wonderful meals.

Jeff, John, Kathi, Julie, and Me enjoying dinner out in Del Ray

Love my sisters, Julie and Kathi

The birthday girl

Sisters on the beach

Lots of beautiful flowers in Florida

I loved the beautiful clouds along the horizon

Another beach stroll and a little wading

I found myself taking lots of pictures of Mount Timpanogos. We had Soooo much snow this winter. Broke all kinds of records and because of the way the snow fell and melted in the spring, we avoided most flooding and increased water levels as a result. We are still considered to be in a drought, but it eased some.

A view of Timpanogos from in front
of my house, looking North

A view of Timp from University Avenue near
the Provo Town Center Mall

Another view of Timp

I have wanted to have a dirndl ever since I returned home from an Experiment in International Living to Germany back in 1963. My friend, Barbara facilitated this acquisition:

I love family get togethers whenever it can be arranged. This is a visit from John, Julie and Emily in February. Burke and Karlie joined us for the occasion.

Peterson Family

Family celebrations continue with Merit's 12th birthday!

Stuart, Mike, Kate, Burke, Merit and friend,
Davis, Me, Ivan and Karlie

As many of you know, I still enjoy playing tennis a couple of times a week. A couple of tennis playing friends, RaeAnn and Chris  invited me to go with them to Indian Wells to watch the professionals play tennis. It was a fun experience to see great tennis, enjoy a lot of warm (hot) sunshine in March. On the way down, we stopped in Las Vegas for the night, took a look at Kelso and stayed at a place in Palm Desert that was known for it's hot springs. We did go swimming, or soaking as it were, but no photos taken (thank heavens!)

So many slots

RaeAnn and Me at Kelso

Chris and RaeAnn

Entrance to Indian Wells facility

My hat and sunglasses were life savers

Hundreds of red geraniums inside Indian Wells

Outside view with storm clouds brewing
We did experience some rain delays

Me, Chris and RaeAnn

John and Julie came to Provo in March and I was included in several activities hosted by friends of Anna's and/or friends of Julie and John.

Me, John and Julie, Anna's bishop and his wife

Julie and John with Arizona friends

Church with family and friends of Anna's at BYU

My walking and everything else friend, Maxine, celebrated her 90th birthday and we were able to pull off a surprise brunch for her and about 30 friends. It was a challenge to keep it secret, but WE DID IT!

Maxine was so surprised

Kris (hostess for the event), Mary, Maxine, Me and Shirley,
helpers

Susan, Kris, Shirley, Mary, Me

March 24th, it's still snowing!

My backyard

Good friends from my mission to Federal Way, Washington, Sue and Mike Smith, came to town after their mission to Dominican Republic. It was so fun to see them.

Me, Sue and Mike

Long-time friends, Diane and Reynold Brown, came to town from Missouri, where they currently live. Their children helped them celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Fun Party! Happy Anniversary!

Diane, Me and Reynold

April Happenings: the snow is all gone!

Early morning walk on April 1st...no snow
except on the distant mountains to the West

It was fun to have a bunch of BYU kids over to watch Conference. They were like peas in a pod.

Karlie, Ivan, Joseph, Burke and friend (they were mostly 
awake, but some of those grins were a little sheepish, like they might 
have closed their eyes for a "moment" )

The next weekend, I was off to Arizona. Truman turned eight in March and he was baptized on April 8th. While I was there, I was able to walk the neighborhood, catch Truman's soccer game, and spend some time with Petersons and Brewers. So proud of Truman!

Love this Arizona garden

Soccer in Chandler, Arizona

Truman and Hewitt

Me and Truman at his baptism

Rob and Tamsen and Me plus all kids
(Burke, Hewitt, Tosh, Liv and Truman)

Arizona grands, Ivan, Colton, Hewitt, Liv
Julie, Ivy, Tosh, Kiefer, Karlie, Truman,
Burke, me, Lindsey and August (Ashley on mission)

Bff at lunch in Salt Lake
Mary Kaye, Ann, Me, Janie, Ginger and Trell

Mount Timpanogos in April

Visiting with Cole and Natalie and the newest of
Dave and Connie's great grandchildren

A family reunion as we celebrated the life of Jan Burton, my husband's older sister. These are a few of the Olsen Cousins who came. Family is so great

Jannae (a niece), Megan (grandniece), Brian (nephew)

Debi and Krehl (son of Jan's) at family luncheon

End of school at BYU and John and Julie came into town to bid farewell to a lot of Anna's friends who were going to be leaving on missions soon.

I love Emily's smile (we're at church)

Some of Anna's BYU friends with Petersons in the middle
Jack, Ty, me, John, Julie, Emily, Emma, May, Anna, Alyssa, David

Stuart's 18th Birthday, about to graduate from Timpview

Oregon friends at funeral services for Marianne Buchanan
Shirley, me, Mary Gail, Ruth, Janet and Carole

Davis's 16th birthday playing some ball with
Burke and friends

Burke celebrating the big "21"

Mother's Day, hats and crowns
Barbara, Shirley and her granddaughter, Mars, and me

Alice, Paula, Barbara and Me

One of my former primary kids, Gavin Smith,
came by to wish me a Happy Mother's Day

Next on my docket was a bunch of graduations and I was able to be part of all five graduations. A great cause for celebrations. The first graduation was in Provo where Stuart Maughan and Josef  Larsen both graduated from Timpview High. Then on to Arizona for Hewitt  Peterson(Hamilton) and Lindsey (ALA Queen Creek). Last was Leif Olsen (Lincoln in Portland, Oregon).

Me and Stuart

Me and Josef

Sofia and me at graduation

I had a surprise visitor the night of graduation. One of Rog's priest quorum members in Salem, and his first assistant, Steve Anderson, was in town and came by for a visit. It's one of the "small world" experiences. His daughter was marrying a mission companion of Burke's, Logan. Burke was Logan's best man and once the connection was made, I had the opportunity to see Steve again. So fun!

Me and Steve Anderson

Arizona time and there were lots of activities, foremost of which were the graduations and going with  Hewitt to the temple for the first time.

Me and Hewitt with his Lay (lei)

Beautiful flowers seen on a morning walk

The very next day was graduation for Lindsey from ALA Queen Creek. She was the Valedictorian and we're so proud of her. She works hard at both school and play and we're proud of her. She'll be leaving soon to attend the University of Alabama.

Lindsey and me after graduation

Lindsey giving her Valedictorian address

Lindsey is one happy graduate

Fun dinner out for Colten, me, Kiefer, August, Ivy and Julie

Burke, me and Hewitt attending the Gilbert Temple

Tosh is almost 16 and now taller than me

A few days after I returned from Arizona, I was off to Portland and the last of the graduations. Leif had a lot going on and it was fun to be there for some of it. I arrived just in time to catch the final concert of the year. I'd say that Leif is Mr. Music for Lincoln High School. I was also able to spend with John and Julie and family.

Wes (my one and only great grandson), Julie and Me

Wes, Julie and Me in Portland

Attendees and participants at Concert: Bob, Bill, David, Jody, 
Anders, Berit, Leif, Me, Emily, Joseph and JaneAnne

Leif Senior picture

Leif is another happy graduate! Soon off to St. Olafs
in Minnesota

Leif's graduation dinner: John, David, Berit, Anders, Jody, Leif,
Bob, Bruce, Me, Julie, Emily, Delaney, JaneAnne and Joseph

Because I had missed Memorial Day in Provo while I was in Portland, I took the opportunity upon my return to take flowers up to the cemetery. I was just mediating and thinking about the eternal nature of our lives when I heard a noise and turned around to see a white dove land nearby. I felt that heavenly messengers are watching over us all and everything will be all right.

Love you dear family and friends! Stay turned for the odds and ends of the rest of my summer and early fall. Life has its ups and downs, but God is good!