June 2023 - Weddings, Anniversary, Home Repairs - all in a days work!

 

MURDOCH TRAIL

We finally started back bike riding on the Murdock Trail after a long Winter break and getting back into a good daily routine.  When we finished riding in the Fall we were riding 10 miles a day.  I got a new bigger electric bike and only got to ride it a few times.  Wow!  were we out of shape after being in The Czech Republic for the Winter and no regular exercise!  We made it 3 miles the first day and have worked our way up to 6 miles this week.  It is so beautiful every morning as we begin our days on the trail.  

Russ is just relaxing and enjoying our back yard after a bike ride.

We have so enjoyed the changing colors and skies of Spring and the beginning of Summer.  We have had a lot of rain and stunning sunsets.  

We offered our home for a Wedding and Reception of two of our special friends from our Mission - Cooper and Ellie.  We have worked so hard the past two months to have our yard maintained and planted so it would be just right for the event.  It has been a work in progress since we moved to Utah two years ago.  This is our third summer and what we planted last year is coming in so good this year.  We have added a few new things and it is getting where we would like it.  

We replaced a few of the wood steps on our stairway to the garden and gazebo.  It is a constant job to keep the oak seedings from spreading and we finally found a solution that seems to be helping.  The stone walkway is finally looking good.  The Spring rains have helped everything to grow and the roses are beginning to bloom.

"When you are with the Grimmett's it is always an adventure".  That was a frequent saying when we were on our mission and has continued to be a motto in our life.  I have thought a lot about that recently as I have been a little overwhelmed this month with all that has happened.  It has certainly been an adventure!  So I decided to look up what it really means:  "an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.  an action involving unknown risks or dangers,  an unusual or exciting experience. "

My life has been filled with so many adventures.  I was asked the other day if retirement was less busy than in our working days and just a good life.  I laughed and said my life was way more busy in different ways and more challenging the older we get.  That is when I began thinking of the adventures in our life and what that really meant.  So you know when I say "it was an adventure" there was more to the story than just what is written!  Just when we think we have things in order and going as planned

DISASTER STRIKES!!!!!

In May we started smelling mold in our bathroom.  We looked everywhere to find where the mold was coming from.  I put treatments down the drains, looked for water in the bathroom, kitchen and mechanical room and found nothing.  We check upstairs by pulling the refrigerator out and found no water.  

FAST FORWARD to June 5.  It was 11:00 pm and I went into the mechanical/laundry room to check on a load of wash and the floor was full of water!  The water was coming from the ceiling but we could not see any pipes in the ceiling for it to be coming from.  I went upstairs and got Emily and we pulled the refrigerator out.  NO WATER!  

On Tuesday, June 6 I called the Insurance company and they sent out the Restoration Company.  They looked all around in our ceiling and could not find any pipes either.  They ran their moisture checks and found the Hardwood kitchen floor upstairs to be very wet.  They pulled out the refrigerator and it was 

full of water behind the fridge!  WHAT????  So they said we needed to call a plumber to find the problem with the fridge.  Then they went to work tearing out my walls in the bathroom, kitchen and mechanical room.  FLASH BACK - we just moved here two years ago and Russ and I had put those walls in, tiled the kitchen, installed the cabinets, put in the ship-lap on the walls, etc.  It was almost too much to take in watching it all torn out.  Then they brought in the BIG FANS and for 1 week we had to listen to the roar of the fans in our house.  It was so loud we could not sleep in our bedroom and went to the guest bedroom.  We have not had the use of our bathroom for the whole month.  The kitchen upstairs had mats with suction to draw out the water from the wood floor for a week as well.  The following Monday they returned and decided they needed to tear out more of the kitchen walls and tile backsplash.  

ceiling and wall removed

Backsplash attacked

    As I mentioned above, we were having a wedding and reception at our home on June 24th and this was NOT in the PLANS.  We had been working so hard on the yard and keeping up with both households due to Emily's Auto accident and divorce that we were not prepared to this.  WHAT DO YOU DO?  Start to rebuild.  The Insurance Adjuster came and told us the Contractor was about 6 - 8 weeks out or we could find our own and they would make an adjustment based on their bid.  I did not have 6-8 weeks to wait for a Contractor.  

I guess I needed a distraction from watching the flowers grow and stressing over every new weed that grew and needed pulled.

We began the rebuild.  Renovations are much more difficult than original builds.  You have to work around walls, appliances, cabinets that were not there when the original walls were built.  Ceilings are the worst to repair.  Do you know how heavy 5/8 inch sheetrock is?  We decided to put in Mold resistant board since it is the kitchen and bathroom wall with the refrigerator upstairs above it.  It took us all day to prep the area - take out all the screws, nails and leftover sheetrock that the Renovation Company does not worry about - and to install the sheetrock.  

We were on a deadline - just a few days until the Wedding.  We also had to go find replacement tile and shiplap.  That took a whole day of shopping as styles were different from 2 years ago when we purchased the materials.  People kept saying - well now you can change anything you did not like and do it how you want it - I liked everything and really did not want to change.  In the end, I do like the new wall board and I like the backsplash tile better as well.  It is about the same but just a little nicer quality.  

We had to reinstall the kitchen cabinets - not an easy job.  When they were originally installed, they did not leave any margin of space and we ended up having to plane and sand on side of a cabinet for the vent hood and stove to fit back in.  We are also two years older and that has been a challenge.  I am holding the cabinet up with my head and shoulders while Russ was going to screw them in.  It took him 4 min. to get the first screw in because he could not get the drill and screw to cooperate - all while I have bearing the weight of the cabinet!  We laughed and cried all at the same time.   Another day to install the tile backsplash, install the vent hood and install the stove.  

We finished everything on Wednesday which gave me two days to get the food prepared and ready for the Reception.  The Bathroom and Mechanical are for after the Reception.  

That was just one of the diversions to our month.  In between all of the Renovations life continued on with Weddings, Anniversaries, Baptisms, Surgeries, reunions with good friends and taking care of family.

WEDDINGS

Leisel (we served with her on our mission) & William were married and had a reception close by.  It is always fun to gather with friends from our mission and celebrate with them.  

Leisel singing a song she wrote to her new husband

Ellie and Cooper (friends from our mission) were actually married at the Courthouse in Provo, UT on June 8 and Russ and I were the witnesses.  There were just 5 people and Coopers family watched on ZOOM.  The official who performed the ceremony for them made it a special time and we were glad to be a part of their day.  

Wedding Day

BAPTISM DAY

June 10th was a special day for Evheniia Zinchenko (Ginger) one of our special Ukrainian friends from Cumorah Academy.  She started attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Prague after the semester ended and she got a job in Prague.  She is a dynamic young women and will be an influence for good in the world.  We got to attend via ZOOM and were so grateful for that experience.  Kelly and Stacey Shepherd  spoke at her Baptism.  She has a huge support system in Prague and Cumorah Academy.  

When Jesus Christ was risen on the third day and visited with many people, he gives a Commission to his Apostles as found in Matthew 28:  "  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the. Son and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  

We have gone to other nations and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are so grateful to have been a part of Ginger's life for three months,                                                           shared our Testimonies and felt her special spirit in our lives.  

OREM PARADE

The first of the Parade Season began for Orem Days.  It was one of the most entertaining parades I have been to.  Lots of candy, give-aways, and bands.  Russ got a free neck tie, a UVU car window flag, free ice cream and 

Chick-fil-A coupons.  It was a beautiful night; even a little chilly.  I think the ambiance of a night parade is what made it so fun.  Preslee was in the Timpanogos Cheer Squad and had a great time.  She is on a new team and is doing really good.  She loves the energy of the Cheer Team.

Preslee in the Parade

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARY

We have had an unusual Spring this year with a lot of rain in the atmosphere that has created amazing sunsets for the past month.  On June 13 it was an especially interesting sky.  It had been a busy day and as I was coming home from the store I looked up at the sky and a flood of memories came into my mind.

The Heavens were so beautiful that night reminding me of the darkest of days and the brightness of a new day.  Forty-four years ago my first daughter, Jaime was born. We were so exited to have a daughter join our                                                #1 Son Joshua in our family.  I am so grateful for her and the wife and                                                            mother she is today.

Eric Grimmett

Jaime Ruth Zuis

As the dark stormy sky was above I thought of this day forty-one years ago when our #2 Son, Eric returned home to Heavenly Father to begin his mission there.  My life was forever changed as I celebrated the birthday of my 3 year old daughter and held my 6 week old baby son as he took his final breaths and returned to his Heavenly home.  I am so grateful for the sure knowledge I have of Eternal Families.  The sky on this night reminded me of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He died that we might live - not just in this life but with Him for Eternity.  The brightness of a new day shines bright and gives me Hope and brings Peace to my soul.  I love the lessons learned in nature that bear witness to me that there is a God in Heaven watching over me.  

ANNIVERSARY!

Russ and I celebrated our 48th Anniversary on June 20.  We took a break from all of our work and went to Salt Lake City.   We visited my Sister, Pam and then went to one of my favorite places to eat - TEXAS ROADHOUSE.  

JUNE 24TH RECEPTION AND RING CEREMONY

Ellie and Coopers Sister just waiting for the signal to come out for the Walk up the rock stairway.  It was a very tender moment for me seeing Ellie so happy and beautiful.  My first thought was how much her mother is missing out on.  She is in Germany and not very supportive of Ellie getting married.  I am grateful to be her friend and to be a part of making this day very special for her.  It was so touching to see her relationship with Coopers family and their love for her. 

Cooper seeing Ellie for the first time in wedding dress

Bridal Picture

Walking up to the Gazebo for the Ring Ceremony.  Cooper's best friend from childhood - who also introduced the couple to each other - performed the Ring Ceremony.  He shared some really nice memories of each of them and then they exchanged thoughts and feelings towards each other.  

THE FOOD

Vegetables, fruit, hummus, crackers, 

The Couple are Vegan and Gluten Free and so we planned food with those parameters.  It was a first for me and it turned out so delicious and beautiful.  We served Mediterranean, Sweet Potato, and regular Hummus with Pita Bread, Pita chips, gluten free crackers, and pretzel chips.  Chips and Salsa; Falafel with tzatziki dip; stuffed grape leaves, a variety of vegetables with dip; apples with caramel dip ( a favorite of Coopers from the mission) and a fruit tray.  

Ellie did not want to have a gluten free wedding cake - just didn't seem to fit so I made gluten free granola bars, strawberry and peanut butter Protein Balls.  I did some searching for an alternative for the cake and decided to do a Watermelon Wedding Cake.  It was a surprise to them and it turned out so beautiful.  I was so glad the Watermelon I bought was bright red and so sweet.  They loved it and Ellie was so happy to have a "Wedding Cake".  They ate the whole top layer!  It was so good for a Summer Wedding.

Emily made the Centerpieces for the tables.  They were so nice with the 

Garden Theme and the beauty of the outdoors.

Cutting the Cake

The Lommatzsch family - friends from Freiburg Germany moved to Saratoga Springs, Utah last year.  They came to the Reception and it was so good to see them.  It was special to Ellie for them to come.  

Happy Day!

BACK TO THE HOUSE PROJECT WEEK 3

Monday morning bright and early we started working on putting the bathroom back together.  It took us most of the day just to do all of the preparations of removing all of the nails, screws and remaining drywall of the the walls.  Once it was done we were ready to put in the insulation.  

Insulation installed

Now the HARD work begins!  5/8 inch sheetrock installed.  It is soooo heavy 

We finally realized we could cut it in half and it was much easier.  Learning the tricks of the trade for "old people".  

Next step is the shiplap siding to cover the sheetrock.  We decided after all of the work we have done the past few years with marginal tools for some jobs, it was time to get a new jig saw to get this job done.  Why did we wait so long - it made the job of cutting outlet holes and other holes so much easier.  This does not mean that I want to do any more renovation projects.  If by chance they come along - we will be ready with the right tools.

Siding all cut and ready to install.  We got the first piece all set and then remembered we forgot to put the glue on the wall.  Start over.  It went on pretty good - it just takes us a lot longer to get these jobs done.

Siding all in and ready to be painted.  We painted on Wednesday and it was looking so fresh and new.  We worked about 10 hours each day - on top of taking care of everything else around the house.  

Paint finished

Hanging the medicine cabinet was so easy thanks to IKEA Technology.  Oh how I love the genius install designs they have for most of their items.  Hang the screws first and then fit the holes on top and tighten.  Much easier than hanging the Kitchen cabinets!

Now for the final tests of ability.  We thought about calling the plumber - I had his number out and ready to call if needed - but we were anxious to have it done and did not want to wait.  Two weeks earlier in the kitchen the plumbing was a very frustrating job until we realized we were mission two seals - amazing how a $1 seal can make such a difference.  So Russ began the process of reconnecting all of the lines and drains.  Buckets and towels ready just in case when we turned on the water.  FIRST TRY a Success.  No leaks and No water dripping. 

On to the Electrical. We thought that would be the easy install.  SCREWS - where did the Restoration company put them when they took it off the wall.  We had a bucket of things they removed, but we could not find the right screws to make the fixture go on the wall.  YouTube to the rescue.  We watched a tutorial on how to install the electrical box with a vanity mirror.  It worked and we found some screws that fit.  1 hour later and it was installed.  Yes, it takes longer than it should but free labor comes with a price.

Russ installed all of the outlet covers while I ran an errand with Emily and had worked really hard to make them fit and look good.  I am too OCD on some things and I redid a few of them - Not a good idea if you want to keep your hired help happy.  What solved the problem - A trip to Home Depot - our current favorite store and a stop at Culver's for lunch.  We were both ready to return home and finish the job.

Last job was putting in new molding on the ceiling and floor boards.  Mitre the ends - really??  It took a few try’s - we don't do it enough to remember how we did it the last time - even with our nice table saw!  We got all but 1 piece cut and installed - I will wait for my son Josh to come for a visit and cut the last remaining little piece - too tired to try and figure it out.  While Russ cleaned up all of the tools I caulked all of the seams and joints - the perfect finishing touch.  I am a "finisher."  The job is not done right until the last little job is done and caulking is one of those things.  It makes all the difference.  Mop the floor, put the furniture back in place and add fresh clean towels.  

So, these look just like the pictures taken two years ago.  If they look familiar they are.  Just have to bring my ferns in from outside and hang them in the window and it will be all done.  I have had the ferns outside the past three weeks on the deck.  I brought then in and hung them on the rod in my bathroom window. A little while later I go in and there are yellow wet spots on the windowsill.  I clean it up and wonder where that yellow water came from.  Then I start to smell pee.  Where would that have come from.  Then I look closer and realize CHIP - the family dog had been using the plant on the deck as his new place to relieve himself when we let him out.  Apparently he had just done that before I brought the plant in.  REALLY!!??  Gave the plant a shower to clean it off.  Now, So glad to have my bathroom back to use and no longer a construction zone.  

We have the mechanical room left to put in some insulation and a few small pieces of sheetrock.  That will be another day - maybe next week after the 4th of July Holiday.  

A walk down memory lane as we met up with Chuck and Karen Spitzer while they were attending the MTC for two weeks preparing for their Mission to the Rome Italy Mission assigned to the island of Malta.  We are so excited for them and the many "adventures" in-store for them.  We had a delightful evening - one that went way too fast.  The arrived in Malta safely and have begun their service 

I love this Mountain we live on!

Russ taking a break on our bike ride.

Sunset

Path to our front door

Flowers blooming for the first time.  

EMILY UPDATE

Emily continues to recover from her auto accident last November.  It has been a very long process and ongoing in her recovery.

After months of therapies, injections and Doctor appointments, she had her first back surgery On June 15th.  She was completely down for the first week and now she is up and moving with minimal activity.  She is healing and hopefully will be free of back pain in the next few weeks.  We hope this will allow her body to put its energy into healing the other areas that need work - her shoulder, neck and knees.  She has taken a month off of all therapies to let her back heal and then she will begin back working on strengthening the other areas.  I am her caregiver, and take care of the household including helping with Logan and Preslee.  They are pretty independent so I am more their maid than anything.  

It has been a very hard month keeping up with everything.  The home renovation was not in the plans and made it especially hard with everything else going on.  The good thing is that it is completed and we survived the month.  We actually do best when we are busy and have a purpose to each day.  We are not sure what the future holds for us but we do know that we have been blessed and that our Father in Heaven is mindful of our needs and desires.  Family is our priority  - we hope we can keep up with the grandkids and all that summer brings.  Fun Times!

RECIPES

Riverbrand Ranch Beef - 1/4 lb. Cheeseburger with grilled onions, mushrooms on a bed of lettuce with dill pickle on the side.  My favorite way to eat a burger.  

PROTEIN BALLS

WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY

2 Scoops Vanilla Vitality Elevate Protein Shake Mix

1 Cup Peanut Butter (or nut butter of. your choice)

1/2 Cup Freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries

4 Tbls. Honey

2 Tbls. White Chocolate Chips

1.  Mix all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until completely

     blended.

2.  Form mixture into bite-size balls using a small cookie scoop.

Keep stored in refrigerator in air-tight container up to 2 weeks.

SALTED CARAMEL CREME BRULEE

1 Scoop Caramel Creme Brulee GC Control Shake Mix

1 Cup Pitted Medjool Dates, Softened *

1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

1/4 Cup Coconut Flakes

3 Tbl Peanut or Almond Butter

1 Tbl Chia Seeds

1/2 Tsp Sea Salt

1/2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Optional Coating:  Shredded Coconut

*to soften pitted Medjool Dates, Soak in hot water for about 10 minutes

1.  Pulse dates in a food processor until they start to get creamy but small pieces remain.

2.  Add all other ingredients to food processor with dates.  Pulse until well combined

3.  Form mixture into bite-size balls using a small cookie scoop.

4.  Optional:  Roll protein balls in shredded coconut to coat well.