Number 22 and spring break

I remember when my Grandma Housley said she had visited every temple except some foreign ones (London and Swiss). She had even visited the Hawaiian temple and the New Zealand temple. I think she would have a hard time keeping up now days. I don't think I'll ever visit all of them, but I have fun visiting new ones when I have the chance.

Temples I have attended:

1. Portland

2. Oakland

3. San Diego

4. Boise

5. Twin Falls

6. Idaho Falls

7. Logan

8. Ogden

9. Bountiful

10. Salt Lake City

11. Jordan River

12. Mount Timpanogus

13. Provo

14. Manti

15. St. George

16. Mesa

17. Winter Quarters

18. Nauvoo

19. Palmyra

20. Washington DC

21. Altanta, Georgia

AND 22...

Oquirrh Mountain Temple, Utah

Tom loves the ocean and misses it. I miss the mountains. This was the view as we came out of the temple. I wish the picture had the mountains on either side of this one. Fantastic!

Spring break!

I was soooo ready for spring break this year. After school got out and I dealt with some Relief Society stuff, I decided I HAD to get out of town...fast. Our original plan was to wait until Thursday to go to Utah. But I needed to go relieve some stress.

So Saturday afternoon James, Hannah and I went to Twin Falls. We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting with Linda and relaxing. It felt so good to start unwinding. Monday we traveled to Salt Lake and stayed with Tom's sister, Christi. More sitting around, lots of reading and relaxing. I finished one book, read one of Christi's books and got half way through the Work and the Glory #8.

Tuesday I met my friend Carol and we went to the temple. My goal was to soak up as much spiritual strength I could before coming home, and the temple was a good start.

Wednesday we went to Provo and visited with my parents and my sister Leah and her kids. I finally got some sewing projects finished and had a good visit with mom. I also asked Dad to give me a father's blessing. Afterwards, mom, dad and I had a great visit.

Thursday I met Tom in downtown Salt Lake after he rode the bus down. We had some time alone for a date! Then Tom taught his sister and his cousin how to make Swedish pancakes and Grandma Myrberg's homemade marshmallows. That evening Hannah and Tom when to the All Star Weekend concert. They had a great time. James hung out with his cousins and I relaxed some more.

Friday we met the Grubers (less Sean) at the zoo. This was one of our favorites...

The baby elephant is about 18 months old now. Another favorite was the old orangutan. He was eating a frozen treat and would hold it in his mouth for a moment and then he would hold the treat on his lower lip while his mouth warmed up again. Every time he did that Gordon laughed.

Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed time with the Grubers and the conference. Finally, on the way home we met with Tom's family for dinner and started the journey home.

What a wonderful conference! So many of the talks seemed to be for me. I loved the overall message that I am doing ok, but I still have things to work on. I felt built up and encouraged to keep going. I loved seeing the hand of the Lord in the arrangement of the talks. There's no doubt in my mind that He is in charge.

And, of course, I'm excited about another temple being so close to where we live. I can't wait to add it to my list.

Temple!

This is what the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple will look like. It was announced in 2007 and I was sad to learn that construction had been halted soon after it was begun. Finally, the church decided to change locations of the temple site and construction was begun again in 2009. Members in Honduras had to travel by bus 12 hours to get to the temple in Guatemala. Mostly, they go once a year.

I lifted this photo off facebook. My friend Francis is in it somewhere. I was looking at it thinking, "Wait! That's not the Guatemalan temple. What temple is that?" It's the Honduras temple! I'm so excited for them. My friends there in the Teguc area will be able to attend the temple as much as they want!

Work, doctors, life, fence and temple

WORK…

It's been crazy since school started again and I've been hanging on. It always takes me a while to get used to spending 2.5 hours a day working...added into my regular schedule. This year we have a new assistant manager, and it's been stressful. She is having a hard time learning her duties. The other two of us are doing our best to pick up the odds and ends, and we are getting tired. Time will tell if she will be able to do this job. Add in Relief Society, food orders and more Relief Society…I’m going full speed most days. Enough said on that.

DOCTORS…

What else is up is my blood pressure…again. Ugh! It was just borderline high at my doctor’s appointment, but she was worried about it. (The question I have, which no one can answer satisfactorily, is why when my bp was at this level for 10 years they didn't worry about it, but now they get all worried.) She gave me a new prescription (not the one that worked…that would be too easy!) The results were headaches during the night and generally not feeling well during the day, weight GAIN and an INCREASE in my blood pressure. Next I talked to the naturopath about my bp problem. He discovered I am detoxing heavy metals (aluminum and tin in particular) and said that would cause my bp to go up.

WHAT! YOU MEAN THERE'S A CAUSE FOR WHY MY BP WOULD BE GOING UP?! ONCE AGAIN...the doctor was prescribing meds to cover up a symptom while ignoring possible causes. FROM HERE ON OUT THE NATUROPATH IS IN CHARGE OF MY INSIDES AND THE DOCTOR IS IN CHARGE OF EMERGENCY ACCIDENTAL CARE ONLY!

LIFE…

James finally got his Life badge in scouts! He is excited to get working on his Eagle and wants to finish it before he turns 17.

FENCE…

Our poor fence has been sagging for a number of years and we decided it was time to fix it. We took out 11 posts…8 of which were so rotten they weren’t even supporting the weight of the fence anymore. The only thing that kept it up were two rebars, one telephone pole and one bush.

The poor, sagging fence

The three "good" posts

Cementing in the new posts...we decided we never want to do this again!

The new posts are looking good!

Taking out our frustration...

The new fence

Next summer's project...

I can't forget to mention the help we had yesterday getting the fence finished. Kirk Banister and the boys came; each had a hammer. The boys were so cute and pounded away for as long as there were nails to pound. The elders, one of John's friends, our home teacher (Ron Wright) and one other man from the ward also came to help. The fence was finished in less than two hours. Thanks everyone!

TEMPLE…

We traveled to Twin Falls for another family temple trip. Our friend Carol had more names ready for baptism and asked us to meet her there. We did 95 baptisms. I had heard over and over through the years that the people we did the work for would greet us on the other side and thank us for doing their work. I never believed it. I always thought they would greet other people, but that I would be overlooked like I was here.

Two things that happened recently helped me to understand how they really will be waiting for me and wanting to thank me when I get there. The first was meeting the Honduran family online again. They looked me up! They remembered me! They thanked me over and over for the efforts I had put into my mission and teaching them!

The second thing was the Spirit. As they told us that these people would be waiting to thank us on the other side, I knew it was true…even for me!

Twin

One of the things I am grateful for is how my parents provided good experiences for us when we were kids. Tom and I have tried to do the same with our kids. This trip to the Twin Falls temple is one of the experiences we wanted to provide for the kids.

Hannah, James, Tom, Tim, Ann, Linda

We spent a wonderful day at the Twin Falls temple. Our friend, Carol Strayer came up from Salt Lake to meet us. She has now been in 16 of the temples. So we started counting. I've been in 21 of the temples. Linda has been in the one furthest from home...Sao Paulo Brazil. Tim will be able to attend the Halifax Canada temple while on his mission.

We started the day with everyone doing baptisms. Tim was able to serve as a baptizer, which was really neat to watch. Then James and Hannah stayed in the waiting room while the rest of us did sealings. That was a neat experience for Tim, too. He got to be a witness, a son and a man/father. When Tim was the man and Carol was the woman, the officiator stopped and said, "You know, I've never had a primary teacher and a primary student being sealed before." LOL Carol told me later that as she was preparing the names for our trip she kept getting the impression that this experience was what Tim needed and that it will come in handy while on his mission. It will be interesting to see what happens. We did the work for 96 of Carol's family. Doing family file names makes it so much more personal.

After the temple we went to lunch at Cafe Rio, and then we went exploring the Snake River gorge. On the way home Sunday we visited some friends who lived in our Salt Lake ward and now live in Jerome.

Here's one happy boy and dog!

Temples I have attended:

Portland

Oakland

San Diego

Boise

Twin Falls

Idaho Falls

Logan

Ogden

Bountiful

Salt Lake City

Jordan River

Mount Timpanogus

Provo

Manti

St. George

Mesa

Winter Quarters

Nauvoo

Palmyra

Washington DC

Altanta, Georgia

(Tom is 2 behind. He hasn't been in the Portland or Palmyra temples.)

Fantastic day!

Today Tim went to the temple for the first time. The worker took us into the session room before everyone else and as soon as we sat down the water works started. I quickly learned that I wouldn't cry as long as I didn't think about things like:

This was Tim's first time at the temple

Both my sons were there

Tim's mission starts April 28

and how much Tim has looked forward to this. Back in 2004 we went to California and while there we took the kids to walk around the grounds of the San Diego temple. Tim told me then, "I can't wait until I can come to the temple any time I want."

John, Ann, Tom and Tim

John, Grandpa Bright, Tim, Grandma Bright

Second mom (aka...Aunt Linda), John and Tim

We have been so greatly blessed!

New Temple Announced

I'm pretty excited about this one because it touches my past. I spent 5th through 9th grades living in Payson, Utah. We moved to Cache Valley for my high school years and my parents moved back to Payson right before my sophomore year of college. They lived there 10 years that time.

The new temple will be just down the street from the second house my parents owned in Payson. It will be 1 mile from the first house and only ONE QUARTER MILE from the second house.

Payson is a nice little town. Next to Provo it's one of my favorites. I consider Provo to be my hometown. Since we lived in so many towns I figure I'm allowed to choose mine. lol

I'm excited that the people from Spanish Fork to Nephi will have a temple closer to them!

Last Visit and more

Of course we couldn't stay that close to East High without visiting the filming location of High School Musical 1, 2, and 3!

James found an old typewriter and was in heaven!

Whenever I saw a picture or statue of Christ I was overwhelmed by a profound feeling of gratitude for everything He did for us...For his atonement and for the very fact that He made it possible for us to be resurrected and together as families in the future.

Salt Lake Temple

At the viewing...

Janet (my mother-in-law in blue) and her sister Nedra


What a handsome group! Tim, John, Carl and James


Before the viewing started...


At the cemetery...


The Disabled American Veterans performed the 21 gun salute and taps. It was very impressive.


Janet is accepting the flag.


All 22 of the grandchildren were in attendance.



I was thinking today about the last real visit I had with my father-in-law. It was last April/May when I went to BYU Women's Conference with a friend. We stopped in to see Mom and Dad on the way home. Dad was already in bed, but was happy (as always) to see us. Although I could tell he was struggling with the Alzheimer's, dad was quite lucid that day and we had a good visit. I stood by his bed holding his hand as he asked about my family and how we were doing. I think that was my chance to really say goodbye to Dad...the time I really felt closure.

Here are a few things from the funeral that I wanted to record.

He got his nickname of Bud because one of the boys in his group of childhood friends said, "I know. We'll call you Bobby Gene." Dad replied with, "Just call me Bud" and it stuck.

Dad's friend Meeks told about a time when 6 of them got together after a football game. Dad was on the team, and after the game he suggested they go to the movie at the Utah Theater. On the way there Dad suggested they stop and get "used" pies. Those were the pies that were stale and hadn't sold at the venders and had been brought back to the bakery. They could buy them for 10 cents each. So each boy bought one pie and they went to the theater. Each boy handed the usher his pie and pretty soon the usher was holding 6 pies stacked one on top of the other. They sat in the balcony and started eating their pies. Suddenly one of the cream pies flew over the railing of the balcony, and then they heard swearing from below. Meeks said to Dad, "Come on, Bud. Here's the door. Let's get out of here." We don't know if Dad was the one who threw the pie. I guess we'll have to remember to ask at some future date.

The next story happened when Dad was coaching a Little League team. They were planning a trip to the Little League World Series (1954) and decided that the two teams of the coaches who were being decided on would play a game. The winning team's coach would coach the world series team. They got right down to the end of the game and one of the other team members came sliding into home. The ump hollared that he was out, but the catcher went to Dad and said, "What do I do? I missed him and the ump didn't see. He was safe." Dad told the boy to tell the ump what had happened which he did. The ump changed his call and the other team won. Dad was an assistant coach to the World Series team instead of being the coach. He was able to film the trip because of that.

Carolyn told a couple stories about how devoted her dad was to her. When she was 11 years old, the two of them went to the county fair together. While they were there they saw the Miss Teen USA riding on a golf cart. Carolyn really wanted to shake hands with the girl, so Dad took off running after the golf cart. He flagged them down and asked if his daughter could shake the girl's hand. He was about 64 years old at the time. I can just see him doing that!

Then when Carolyn was graduating from college, Dad was determined to be there. He fell and cut his head quite badly on the step of Carolyn's house, but wouldn't let them take him to the hospital. So Carolyn's husband and her brother put bandaids on Dad's head and they went to the commencement exercises. After that they still needed to do the smaller graduation ceremony. Carolyn wanted him to go to the hosptial, but he wouldn't. He sat front row and center, wiping blood from his forehead just so he could see her graduate. No one had attended his graduation and so it was very important to him to be at his children's graduations.

That's all I can think of right now. I'm wondering if I needed my boys to hear the story about the pies...

This was the view as we left the family dinner.

Reunion

Every year we go to the Bright Family Reunion. It is the one reunion we look forward to, and actually the only one we attend every year. This reunion is for the decendents of Hazen Wesley and Leah Merrill Bright. Their photos are the first two photos on the slide show above.

For decades we have been meeting one weekend a year and camping for a couple nights. The two most common locations for this reunion is Willow Flats Campground near Preston, Idaho, and the Malibu Campground in Logan Canyon.

Every year the group gets bigger and bigger. Some people are campers like us and others only come for Saturday and go home after dinner. It works no matter what you decide to do. When everyone is there the parking lot is completely packed. It's a challenge to find a parking space sometimes when you're the last ones to arrive! This year, for the first time, we were FIRST to arrive.

After we said goodbye to the Grubers at the Sunrise Campground, we headed into Logan for Linda to get online, to pick up a "few" groceries, and to wait out the storm. When we saw a break in the clouds we headed to the campground and set up camp. Later we returned to Logan for some rainy day activities.

First we visited the Logan temple grounds. My great great grandpa was the first Logan temple president, and my grandparents on my mom's side worked as officiaters there for several years. Grandpa was the only officiater over the age of 90 working at the temple. Grandma and Grandpa Housley's photos are also in the slide show above.



Later in the afternoon we found a cheap movie theater and watched a movie.



Logan Temple in the evening
------------
We camped in the Malibu Campground Wednesday and Thursday nights. Then it was time to move to the group site for the reunion. We just picked up the tents and walked them to the group site.








Moving the small stuff...



Hanging the tarp...again...







After the work was done, the kids tried drinking from the thermos without a cup.

Then we waited for people to arrive...

There's a baby moose in our camp!

This photo sums up Saturday...

My cousin, Sherwin saying, "BRRRR, IT'S COLD!"

It rained ALL day!

The afghan I made for the raffle

The doily I tatted for the raffle

I also knitted some crazy socks, but didn't get photos of them.

During the day Saturday, Tom decided he needed to go somewhere for some excitement (and warmth). I laughed to see 4 of my cousins directing him out of the parking lot!

Sunday we packed up to come home. This is a view of the temple as we came out of the canyon. Every time we visited our grandparents in Cache Valley while we were growing up my sister asked mom and dad to drive around the Logan temple on our way to their house (and on the way home, too).

There was one other memorable story from this trip. On the second day, Shellece's camera battery was dead so Linda and I kept taking photos and planned to send them to Shellece later. We mentioned that we should download them onto Linda's laptop at the end of our time together...that didn't happen. On Friday I was messing around with my camera and accidentally reformatted my memory card. Later that evening Linda was messing around with her camera and erased all her photos.

So how did we get so many photos?! I came home, found a recovery program I could use for free and managed to save most of the photos on Linda's card. Mine was hopeless. At least we ended up with a good selection of photos anyway! But lesson learned...never mess with your camera until all the photos are downloaded!