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THANKSGIVING POINT TULIP FESTIVAL
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We started the Month of May at our annual Melaleuca Convention. We have been shopping at the Melaleuca Store for 35 years and are so grateful for the Wellness benefits it has provided us. So many memories of attending over 20 Conventions with my parents. They left us a legacy that continues to give back to us.
This is the view from our Hotel of Salt Lake City and Temple Square. When we checked in we were assigned a room on the 13th Floor. When we got on the elevator another guest said, 13th Floor - I would not stay on that floor. Most hotels skip the 13th floor for guests.
We laughed together and thought it would be a fun adventure. We went to the room, put the key card in and opened the door. The lights were on and there was a backpack, neck pillow and a pair of jeans on the floor. Emily said, "Mom, someone is already in this room." It finally clicked with me that the room was not vacant and the curse of the 13th floor hit!
The Hotel was booked full and it was going to take some time to figure out the problem and get us a new room so we checked our bags in and went to our Convention to return that evening to a new room. This time we were on the 12th floor. Great view of the North part of the City and Capital Hill.
What a great three days with Russ, Emily, and my two sisters, Pam and Brooke. We learned about new products, celebrated successes of others and ate delicious food. We sat for hours in meetings and walked a lot - the joys of Convention. Russ is a trooper as he puts up with "the girl's". Emily is still not driving or riding on I-15 since her accident and so we took the FrontRunner Train to Salt Lake City. It turned out great! Our hotel was at a stop and the Convention was just across the street. We did not have to worry about parking or traffic.
It was fun to meet the Cowboys who manage the Ranches for the new Riverbend Beef that is now available for home delivery. We received our first order and it is the very best beef I have ever cooked.
I will share recipes as we experiment with the different cuts. It is USDA Prime or High Choice Beef from cattle raised on 290,000 acres on ranches in the Western USA. The Cattlemen are true Pros and it was a good experience talking with them and hearing their stories and histories in the business.
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Pam, Emily, Linda, Brooke & Russ
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We arrived home Saturday evening just in time attend our Church Cinco de Mayo Party. Emily was in charge of the Party and she did a great job. Thanks to our years in Texas it has always been a day to celebrate and friends like Dolores Richey who taught us how to make tissue flowers. We made over 50 flowers earlier in the week and it made for a festive evening. I cooked 15 pounds of taco meat, made homemade salsa and 15 gallons of limeade punch. (closest drink to a margarita)
Evening would not be complete without a Piñata. Russ got a turn with the bat as one with a May Birthday. He got some good hits but no candy on his turn. The food was so delicious and I think it was fun to bring a little history and culture to our Utah neighbors.
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| Sunset at the end of the Evening |
Sunday we had Kaja and Jesse over for dinner before they left for their Summer Internships in Seattle, Washington. We had a traditional German dinner of Schnitzel, potatoes, spetzle, salad and Swiss Chocolate. Always a fun evening with friends from the mission. We are so happy for these two who will be sealed in the Temple in September. It will be a great Party and gathering.
The celebrations continued. Russ turned 73 on May 10 and we celebrated with a few presents and a birthday cake. I made a chocolate cake with dark chocolate mousse. It was a good day and fun to celebrate this handsome man of mine. He finally got a freestanding tool chest to organize all of his tools. He was so pleased and spent the next few days getting it in place and organized. He is a happy man!
Thanks to everyone who sent him Birthday wishes on Facebook. It made his week.
THANKSGIVING POINT TULIP FESTIVAL
Our Relief Society had an activity to go see the Tulip Festival and Lunch at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Many of you know that tulips are one of my favorite flowers. I was so excited to get to see the beautiful fields of so many tulips.
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| Carousel with flowers |
One of the special areas is a park with life size Bronze statues from the life of Jesus Christ. It is called "Because We Believe" by Roger and Marilyn Victor. This is the legacy we give that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World is engraved on a bronze plaque as you enter the area. It was a place I wish I could have spent more time in. There are about 10 scenes depicted in the garden.
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| Jesus Christ with Women taken in Adultry |
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| Special Tulip developed just for Thanksgiving Point |
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| Spring majesty |
We finished the tour with a delicious lunch at the Thanksgiving Point restaurant. Emily got to take the tour riding on a golf cart and she had a great time. It is nice to get to do these things with her.
So much happening in May! Mother's Day Breakfast at Kneader's! The offered free French Toast to all women on Saturday. Our friend, Dixie invited us to celebrate with her. We had such a fun breakfast. We went really early before the crowds arrived. Grateful for the special Women in my life who have influenced me, been my mentors and lived their lives through their examples of Christ like living.
We were sent these two pictures of Cumorah in the Spring. We looked out on these fields all Winter in their green beauty. They are stunning as the rapeseed and canola fields are in bloom. This is at Stamberk, Czech Republic.
FRIDAY NIGHT DATE NIGHT
We decided to make it an adventure. We enjoyed taking the FrontRunner train a few weeks earlier and so we once again rode the train to Salt Lake for an Organ Concert in the Tabernacle at Temple Square. The Concert featured James O'Donnell currently from Yale University Faculty. He spent over 20 years as the director of all musical aspects at Westminster Abbey in London England. He also directed the music for the September 2022 State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In January 2023 he was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles III in the New Year Honours.
We really enjoyed the evening together. We had a nice dinner at City Creek and then went over to the concert. It was a free concert in the Virtuoso Performance Series that they host 4 times a year.
Russ just kept the party going for his Birthday. He gets a free dinner at Tucanos Brazilian Grill every year in his birth month. Festive lunch with Emily as we continued celebrating Russ' 73 years.
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Birthday Lunch
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END OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND GRADUATIONS
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| Dance Festival |
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| Preslee's Graduation 6th Grade |
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| Emily and Preslee |
Preslee graduated from Rocky Mountain Elementary 6th Grade. She is off to Jr. High. She is wearing my mothers formal dress that she wore in her early 20's. It is over 80 years old and is in mint condition. Amazing that it fits Preslee - and it gives us an idea of how small my mother was when she got married.
Logan Graduated from Ignite Academy 8th Grade. He will attend 9th Grade at the local Jr. High. We are not sure what that will look like as he has had a very special Team of teachers and aides the past three years. Will, Sarah and Aspen have made a significant difference in Logan attending school and completing the last few years. They will be greatly missed.
Aspen was married the last day of school. Logan has been excited about attending her wedding for the whole school year. He NEVER wears a suit or dress pants. He told us he had to have a suit and be at his very best. They rode the FrontRunner Train to Layton and had so much fun. Logan even went up in front of everyone and gave words of wisdom for a toast. So proud of him and fun to see him growing up.
SCHOOLS OUT - LET SUMMER BEGIN!
It is time to put up the swimming pool. Russ and I get the job of preparing the area by bringing in a load of dirt to level the ground better. I filled the wheelbarrow with the dirt and Russ dumped it on the site. It took us about an hour and many sore muscles.
We then spread out the dirt and prepared the area. We spent all day on Memorial Day putting up the pool. We feel good about how it came together. It took 24 hours to fill and now the real work begins of keeping it maintained and clear. The grandkids will enjoy it all summer. It's Party Time!
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| swimming pool installed |
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Logan & Preslee
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Always a special day to meet with family at the cemetery to honor those who have lived and died and hold a special place in our hearts. My Sisters husband, father and grandfather, Mike; our parents, grandparents, our brother, Chad; my son, Eric; and Uncle Bob. It was nice sharing some memories and stories. Some of the special stories are of my grandfather, Father and Uncle who served in the military. I think it is important for the younger generations to hear and learn about their service and patriotism .
As we finish the month of May we reflect on all that we have had to do, the sacrifices, service, work, driving, etc and we are so grateful that we have been blessed abundantly to be able to do it all. The events and activities in the Blog are just the highlights of our month. Taking care of two households, yard work, doctors appointments, grandchildren games and activities, is our new norm. I enjoyed my time with Logan taking him to school every day the past 4 weeks but the 50 minute drive and early start to my day was wearing me out - so glad we have summer break!
As I studied in Matthew 25 this week I was touched by the new insights I learned about the Parable of the Talents. I have taught this Parable many times. I used it in the Personal Finance Class I taught at Cumorah Academy and yet this week I learned in a completely new way. In the Biblical text Talents means a sum of money. In our day it means Gods gifts to us. The message was not about the amount of money as the first two servants each were given a different amount of talents, both multiplied them and in verses 21-23 The Lord tells them, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . ." The third servant did nothing with his Talent out of fear of the Lord. It is not what you are given but what you have done with it. We need to not look around and compare to others but do something with what we have been given. I have had to ask myself, "What are you doing with what you have been given? What have I become by my doing? " I have pondered on those two questions this week. We have been so blessed in being in Utah at this time of our life. We thought we knew why we needed to move and yet new things are manifested to us all along the way. It has not been the retired life of leisure we envisioned - that would have been boring after awhile. We have had challenges and amazing adventures and through it all we have been lifted, supported, magnified, strengthened, and loved every step of the way. I continue to work on DOING with what I have been given. I delight in the process of becoming in my doing.
One of my greatest joys is watching the flowers and plants grow in our yard and the beauty of the Mountains this Spring. There is a God and the Creator of this beautiful World, Jesus Christ. Oh, how I marvel at the grandeur of their creations.
The Grimmett's
We laughed together and thought it would be a fun adventure. We went to the room, put the key card in and opened the door. The lights were on and there was a backpack, neck pillow and a pair of jeans on the floor. Emily said, "Mom, someone is already in this room." It finally clicked with me that the room was not vacant and the curse of the 13th floor hit!
Our Relief Society had an activity to go see the Tulip Festival and Lunch at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Many of you know that tulips are one of my favorite flowers. I was so excited to get to see the beautiful fields of so many tulips. 
Russ just kept the party going for his Birthday. He gets a free dinner at Tucanos Brazilian Grill every year in his birth month. Festive lunch with Emily as we continued celebrating Russ' 73 years.
Aspen was married the last day of school. Logan has been excited about attending her wedding for the whole school year. He NEVER wears a suit or dress pants. He told us he had to have a suit and be at his very best. They rode the FrontRunner Train to Layton and had so much fun. Logan even went up in front of everyone and gave words of wisdom for a toast. So proud of him and fun to see him growing up. 
It is time to put up the swimming pool. Russ and I get the job of preparing the area by bringing in a load of dirt to level the ground better. I filled the wheelbarrow with the dirt and Russ dumped it on the site. It took us about an hour and many sore muscles. 
We then spread out the dirt and prepared the area. We spent all day on Memorial Day putting up the pool. We feel good about how it came together. It took 24 hours to fill and now the real work begins of keeping it maintained and clear. The grandkids will enjoy it all summer. It's Party Time!
