Tulip Time

After spending three years on a mission on Temple Square, tulips became part of our lives. Just as soon as they started coming up in the spring we would walk through the plaza at the Church Office Building just to watch their progress every morning and then take strolls through the tulips on our lunch break. I always liked tulips, never grew them, didn't know much about them. Now I grow them, love them and can hardly wait for them to make their appearance in early spring. I didn't know before how many kinds there are, now I am noticing that it is a LOT. I am not studying them, just enjoying them. They have become one of life's simple pleasures to me. They make me smile. They make me happy. One fun thing that we have done is to go to Thanksgiving Point after the season is over and buy the bulbs that they have taken out of the ground. You have no idea what kind of tulip they are and it is so fun to watch when they come up which ones you ended up with. We have ended up with some really pretty ones, heck they are all pretty ones.

Lois on a beautiful mission

Tulips in the snow

Michael with the tulips on Temple Square

The rest of these are our very own tulips, growing in our front yard. I am so excited that so many came up this year and are doing so good. I stand at the window first thing in the morning and watch the sun come up over the mountains and shine on my tulips. I just love my tulips and hope to add more this fall when bulb planting time comes around.

Yes, this is a tulip too,------------------- Purple tulips by the front porch

I had no idea we had these

I love these pink ones

This lone yellow one is so pretty


Brilliant orange too

The inside of a tulip

I knew spring would come

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Although our official release date doesn't come until the 17th of October, the Temple Department gave us a wonderful farewell luncheon yesterday. It was so nice, a special event to top off our three years of serving in the Temple Department, a dream come true. Donny and Christi surprised us by showing up to take part in the celebration. It was so neat to have them there. We were so thankful for their support. It was difficult saying good bye to all the great people we have met and served with. We have learned so much and are so thankful for the safety we have had. Rarely does a day go by that there aren't several accidents on the freeway and we have had some really close calls. It is not easy getting up at 5:00am and commuting in the snow and rain. Then walking from the Conference Center to the Church Office Building. It is a breeze and beautiful in the spring, but winter is another story, but we would not trade it for the world.

These two pictures of us are with our companion couple. Joyce and Chris Layton, what a wonderful couple to serve with and spend three years with, in close quarters.

Some dear friends we have met and served with

And with an angel to lend her support and a big thank you to all of you for your support.

Since our official release date is the 17th we have decided to have an Open House that evening. We have never really retired, we went from running the business and working in the Fresno Temple to serving a three year mission, so now we are going to celebrate with our neighbors in Stone Hollow and some from the ward.

I could never begin to tell you how much this mission has meant to us, so I guess I won't even try. I know we were prepared for this for a long time. I know that the Fresno Temple was a big part of that. My gratitude is just so overwhelming sometimes. It will be exciting to see what happens from here. We still have a two year mission in our future, I am just sure. It will be a little while before we do that, but we are excited and eager for the opportunity. We love you all, thank you for your encouragement. Time to take a little time for ourselves.
Well, if you can call going to the temple more often, doing our genealogy and digitizing our journals, working on our pictures, home and visiting teaching, serving in our ward, working out at the fitness center, serving at the Humanitarian Center, etc. as taking some time. You know what I mean, you all have full lives. We send our love to one and all.

Camping II

Here I am back with camping again. I guess I just have to do it, because we loved it so much and it brings back so many happy memories.
I forgot in my previous camping blog to mention the clock. Yes, a clock was always hung on one of the trees. I didn’t like to wear a watch camping, but I always wanted to know what time it was. In some of the following pictures you will see the ever present “clock on a tree”.
Most of the pictures in this part were taken on a special camping trip to take Lisa and Jared camping one more time before Jared left for his mission. We had a beautiful camp site in Dorabella campground at Shaver Lake in California. Of course we set up everything to make it truly our own. Dorabella is where we camped most while the kids grew up. It was only about 45 minutes from home.
This time we rented a wave runner, played many games, talked a lot, hiked, had lots of great food. There was always a lot of laughter while camping. We often did camp crafts. Seems like everyone has a better attitude at camp. Even the "chores" don't seem so unpleasant. Gathering firewood, hauling water, doing the dishes, sweeping the ground cloths, straightening the tent, cooking, all of those things just were part of the camping experience. Didn't seem like work at all. We went for quiet night walks and could see all the campers preparing for the night or sitting by their campfires. And oh those stars, so many and so bright up there in the mountains. We would often see shooting stars, what a thrill. I still long for it now and then.

Michael - Lisa _ Jared

Notice the "clock on a tree"
Dorabella Campground site

Lois and Michael, this time a woman driver

Biking in Yosemite

Girl's Camp, this time a "clock on a shed"

Me & some of my Laurels

I just had to add this last picture. This was the last year that I went to Girl's Camp in California. These are the cooks, joined by our Priesthood Leader doing our skit, danced to the words. "Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans" It was great fun and a wonderful topper for all my Girl's Camp years there. Well, maybe not so wonderful when a group of last year laurel's "brigade" attacked us with water hoses almost in the middle of the night and in the kitchen of the lodge. And not so wonderful when we found a rattle snake in camp right by the lodge where we slept. The snake was on a rock right by the head of one of my Laurel's (Krista Gage). It was wonderful that Lisa was at this year of camp with me. Not so wonderful that she was part of the water brigade and we won't mention that I was the one who started it all with a can of whipping cream. Well, maybe just a couple more pictures.

1982

Abt 1995
Frances Ashcraft, Sharon Holden (my niece), Margo Loftus, Lois Tanner, Becky Jackson


As the sun sets and we get snuggled in our beds, the camp cooks will say good night.

Father's Day

It turned out to be such a nice day. I was not able to attend Church because of this strange illness of mine. More about that later. Sunday evening Donny and Christi and the kids brought dinner for Michael and Donny for Father's Day. It was great and we had such a nice evening. The weather was perfect and we sat outside on the deck just at dusk. I felt such peace and love and comfort. This has been an especially tough couple months for me. With busy schedules and such active grandkids we don't get to spend as much time as we would like just being together. So it makes it so special when we can just slow down and enjoy each other. I don't think it should have to take a special appointed day to recognize our father's and husbands, but I guess it is good that we have one, so that we will take that time to reflect on our love for them and their sacrifices for the family. We have a group of mighty fine men in this family and I am so thankful for all of them.

Christi & Lois

Donny & Michael

Looking Back

Just a quick look back.
High School graduation and Wedding Day

Our Trip to Arizona

Our trip to Arizona was fabulous. It was so fun to see Lisa perform Joseph again. It was great having all of us under one roof and the trip to the Mesa Temple was wonderful. We had such a nice day, the weather, of course, was perfect. I was able to see all three performances and enjoyed them all. Sunday Gavin was blessed and we had a great brunch with

Steve's side of the family.

My Strawberry Masterpiece

Mesa Temple

Missionaries

This picture was taken by L. Tom Perry

Service Missionaries

We continue to serve our mission in Salt Lake City at Church Headquarters in the Church Office Building. We are serving in the Temple Department and have been there for over two and a half years. Our expected release date is 18 October 2008 this has been one of the most rewarding experiences in our lives so far. We park under the Conference Center and walk to the Church Office building at least three days a week. What a privilege and a blessing to serve in this capacity. We are on Temple Square everyday that we are in Salt Lake City and are having fabulous experiences.

Elder & Sister TannerAt our computers, in our office

With Elder Lawrence

In the lobby of the Church Office Building
Christmas 2006

Buddies
Michael & L. Tom Perry

Leaving Arizona AGAIN

After two trips to AZ we prepare to head back to Utah.