AUGUST 2025 - Lazy Days of Summer, Friends, BYU, Recovery and Family

 

August Sky with Lindon Temple

August was filled with continued healing for Emily from her Clavicle surgery.  She began Physical Therapy with still no weight bearing on her left arm.  She is able to do most things for self care but I am still helping with cleaning, meals and Doctor appointments.  We are trying to catch our breath and get rested before her next surgery on Sept. 19 for her hip.  The first week she will not be mobile and then she will be on crutches for two weeks.  I am certainly getting my steps in going up two big flights of stairs many times a day.  

We began the month at the Lindon Days Parade with our neighbors, The Magelby's as the Grand Marshals.  They were honored for their many years of service in the community.  

Presley was in the parade with her Cheer Team and it is aways fun to cheer her on and give us a reason to go and support our little city.

It was extra special to see our friend from Cumorah Academy, Yevheniia walking in the parade with the school she teaches at.  She is the art teacher at Nahuta Academy, a private school in Lindon.  They were handing out books along the route and I receive the book, Matilda.  I was so excited to see her and to get a fun book I could read with my granddaughter Nora.  

I have started reading over the phone with Nora every night before she goes to bed.  It has been a really special time with her and we are both enjoying Matilda!

There is nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than going to Salt Lake City and listening to an Organ Concert in the Conference Center on their grand organ.  It is even better when it is with friends from Texas!  

David Pickering, son of Richard and Claudia Pickering was the guest artist for the performance.  He is a Professor of Music and Chair of the Keyboard Division at Kansas State University.  He is an Active recitalist, recording artist, scholar and author.  His career as a performer has carried him across the United States as well as to Austria, Canada, England, Finland and Germany.  A proponent for new music, Pickering has premiered new works by Daniel E. Gawthrop and Tyler White.  He performed 3 numbers by Gawthrop, a Bach piece and his arrangement of Come, Come Ye Saints.

It is always a nice day visiting with Rich and Claudia and we also met up with Sam Jones, a friend from Texas who now teaches at Salt Lake Community College.  

We stopped in for a visit with John and Denise Sivo while we were in their neighborhood.  Temple Square is literally their front yard.  The picture to the left was taken from their deck.  We really enjoyed our visit catching up on our families and just enjoying the time together.  It was a perfect way to end our day.  

I finally got to visit Sally Johnson while she was in Utah for the Summer.  I have always wanted to visit Max and Sally at their cabin where they would spend their summers.  It just never happened - until this year.  Max is not longer with us and their daughter, Margie has moved to Ogden Canyon just a short distance to their cabin.  Sally came and spent two months with Margie and visited the cabin a few times.  Oh how I love my special friend, Sally!  She was the first person I met 46 years ago when we moved half way across the country to live in Arlington Texas.  She was my second "mother" and she made my first year in Arlington bearable for me living so far away from family.  We had so much fun visiting with Margie, her son, Camron and Sally.  Their home is right on the Ogden River and it is an oasis away from the city.  Their deck literally extends out over the river and it is so peaceful and beautiful.  

At their suggestion, we drove home over the Mountain by Pineview Reservoir, Huntsville, Morgan, Park City, Heber and home instead of taking I-15 freeway through Ogden to home.  We had never been on some of those roads and it was absolutely gorgeous .  We were on "Top of the World".  We really had a nice day together, stopped in Heber for Dinner and watched the sun set over the mountain.  We enjoy the few times we get away and get to have new adventures.

Ogden River

August 13 was a beautiful cool crisp morning and we decided to ride our bikes to Bridal Veil Falls.  It is 5 miles further than our normal ride and we thought we were up for it.  What we did not expect were the canyon winds the first 5 miles.  They were brutal and I wanted to turn back more than once.  Russ kept encouraging me and it was worth the burn and stretch of my body to make it to the Falls.  The last two miles were so beautiful along the Provo River and then up through the trees that then open to the Falls.  We rested for a few minutes and were ready for the downhill ride home.  We will do it again in September when the Fall foliage will be in full color.  We love our morning rides together - it is a great way to start our days.  Whatever happens after that is a bonus.

Our neighbor, Mike Judson hosted an Evening in the Garden.  He is a master gardener and shared his garden with us.  It was a beautiful evening and he taught us what has worked for him and how he plants and maintains his garden.  At the end of the evening, he shared his abundance of green beans, onions, cucumbers, zucchini, garlic and the most delicious cantaloupe.  

His flowers are as impressive as his garden.  One of his secrets is Chickens.  They help to fertilize his ground and enjoy eating all of the scraps of food.  

Fresh garden picks

August means it is time for BYU SPORTS!

We went to the Pre Season Home Opener of the Women's Soccer Team.  It was another beautiful night with a nice size crowd.  It made it especially nice that we came home with a 2-0 win.  

We went to the Pre Season Home opening Tournament of the Women's Volleyball.  It is going to be a great season and they won the tournament as well.  It is so exciting watching the precision and execution of the players.  They have a new freshman from Euless Texas and she was                                                              awesome.  BYU Football is off to a great start.  

Soccer Evening Sky

BYU EDUCATION WEEK

One of the Best Weeks of the Year!  This was our 5th year Hosting at Education Week and it is one of our favorite uplifting, spiritual, enlightening, exhausting, and rewarding events of the year.  It was a little more challenging this year with Emily's needs, but it all worked out.  We had Sherry Neaves from Arlington, TX stay with us for the week and she also hosted and attended with us.  We saw many friends from Texas and Utah during the week that made it even better.  We just wish there was more time to spend with friends but the days are filled with so many good classes you barely have time to eat.  I want to share with you some of the highlights that were meaningful to me.

THE LIFE, MIRACLES, AND PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST AS PORTRAYED IN THE

ROME TEMPLE VISITORS' CENTER STAINED GLASS WINDOW

Created by Holdman Studios

Jesus Christ IS our Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Deliverer, Mediator, Advocate, Creator, Messiah,

Good Shepherd, Great Jehovah, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, and the literal Son of God

He did the will of the Father.  He is the light and the Life of the World.

The central figure in the window, He is the central figure in the salvation of mankind.

This life size mural was on display and we attended a class by Tyler J Griffin, Gayle Holdman, Anthong R. Sweat and Bradley R. Wilcox.  They each talked about a different area of the Stained glass and their personal experiences of helping with the creation of this piece that is on display in the Rome Italy Visitors Center on the grounds of the Rome Italy Temple.  The Holdman's were the creators of the Stained Glass Windows at UVU  that I have shared in earlier posts as well as many Temples including our new Lindon, UT Temple.  

Take some time to study the mural and see how it speaks to you as you think of the Parable or story as told in the Scriptures.  There are many meanings and personal to each person who views it.  

Look at the center with Christ:  "Because of the necessity of agency and choice, we must be the one to grasp, figuratively or literally, the extended hand.  It is that outreached hand that we call grace." Elder Cecil O. Samuelson

Look in the middle of the outstretched arms and see the Olive tree and the press

"Through the agonizing events of Gethsemane and Calvary, atoning Jesus is already familiar with our sins, sicknesses, and sorrows . . . He can carry them now because He has successfully carried them before."  Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"The world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is JESUS THE CHRIST."  

James Talmage

"Don't you see?"  Jesus could have said to the amazed servants afterward, "I can take dirty things and make them clean.  I can take everyday elements and make them exceptional.  I can take things into my hands and change them.  And if you come unto me, I can do the same for you.  I can take you and transform you from a natural person into a heavenly saint.  That's why I am here.  That's what I have power to do."

We were able to attend a class in the new Music Building and this is the Organ in the main Recital Hall.  It is so unique and stunning in its setting.  

LOSING HISTORICAL MEMORY by Cindy Kern

This was a class that talked about the Lack of Historical Knowledge and enlightened Patriotism.

Ronald Reagan Mar 20, 1961:  "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

Young people are not being taught Western Civilization Courses today.  Very few even know the history of our Country 

Our Founding Fathers did not unite as a Country - Their State was their Country.  The Declaration of Independence UNITED ALL

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "We have a sacred obligation to defend and promote the Constitution and the American way of life."

We always like to attend classes based on the CHOSEN Series.  John Hilton III taught a course this year.

"It is hard to fall away from Jesus when you're falling at his feet."

What does it mean to Fall Down?  We looked at many scriptures that referred to followers who "fell down" at Jesus' feet.  

"The intent of the Father's great plan of happiness is your happiness right here, right now and in the eternities.  It is not to prevent our happiness and cause you instead worry and fear."  Elder Patrick Kearon April 2024

TUESDAY DEVOTIONAL was with Elder Garret Gong

It is always a blessing and special time hearing the words of one of the Twelve Apostles on the earth today.

He spoke on 5 Topics:

1.  Search scriptures for Wisdom (354 times in scriptures) and Understanding (435 times in scriptures).  

2,  Be careful to trust man's wisdom more than the Lords's. Jacob 4:14

3.  Heavenly Father blesses us with Wisdom and Understanding

4. Instructive verses teach us:  Proverbs 3:5,  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."     Proverbs 9:10; James 1:5, 3 Nephi 11:3

5.  When we receive - we begin to understand.  D&C 76

He then talked about AI in relation to scriptures:

1.  We can be clear - society needs to understand - AI is not GOD.  It cannot become GOD - no moral guidance.  

2.  Choose AI as a tool for good. - 

3.  We need to align faith based and moral based in our studies

JESUS IN GETHSEMANE:  Archaeological Perspectives with Matthew Grey

Olive Trees

After 4 days of intense studies of 1st Century Gethsemane I want to be an archaeologist in my next life.  We learned so much and it strengthened my Testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. John 18:1

Greek Translation:

Gath:  "Press"

Shemen:  "Oil"

Hebrew Translation:

Gethsemane:  "Oil Press"

The oil had many uses:  Light/Illumination, Healing (ointment/salves), Food, dining, banquets (on the table to dip bread), Hygiene/hospitality/embalming; Temple Ritual (lamps of Menorah, offerings, Priestly anointings) Royal Anointing, Messianic "Anointed One",   Jesus in Gethsemane 

1.  Why did Jesus and the disciples go to Gethsemane?  What was it like for them there?

2.  How often did Jesus and the disciples visit Gethsemane, and what was the significance of the site to the group?

3. How can the site's first century setting help us reimagine the events of Jesus's final night?

1.  They were in Jerusalem for pilgrimage - Festival of Passover from Galilee.  Thousands in town for the pilgrimage.  Housing was tents, encampments, Hostels, family houses, some had to go to nearby villages.

After the Last Supper they then left the city to seek lodging.  Vineyard and Olive Press would not be in use in the Spring.  

2.  Typically Jesus stayed in Bethany.  It is required that you stay in the same city on Passover night - Bethany would be too far.  In John 18:1-2 and Luke 22:39-40 it says the twelve went often to the Mount of Olives.  

3.  The drawing below by artist Anthony Sweat is a rendition of what is thought to be how the Garden and Olive Press were at the time of Jesus.  It has so many meanings.  The Apostles were left in the Garden to wait and to sleep while Christ went into the Olive Press - He suffered for all mankind - literally was pressed with blood coming out from every pore.  

GETHSEMANE BY ANTHONY SWEAT

This Agricultural site changed that night to a historical place - or went back to normal operation for the next 40 years (AD 70). Tenth Roman Legion besieges Jerusalem.  Judah revolts against Rome - destruction and abandonment  of Gethsemane Orchard and Grotto.  Romans close off city and destroy.

Romans cut down every tree in Orchard.  All Olive Trees - once beautiful city was now desolate - deserted wasteland.  A DESERT! until 19th Century.  Christian Memories of Holy places in Jerusalem tried to be located or recreated.  New discoveries are happening every year and new places identified.  

There is so much more but these are my highlights of the week.  We hosted for Family History classes and I learned a lot and am anxious to use the information to help me locate more family members.

I had a really special experience with some friends from Texas - Liz and Bob Lawler.  Two years ago they were at Education Week and they told us they had recently moved to Sparta, WI.  I told them I was just there the month before visiting the graves of my relatives and trying to find new ancestors.  They asked my maiden name and I told them - Haney.  They said they had friends who were Haney's.  They invited me to come back to Sparta and they would show me around.  We are Facebook friends but had not talked in the last two years,  This year they returned to Education Week and contacted me that they had some information for me and wanted to meet up.  We arranged a time and Liz had sent me 3 pages that their Haney friends had given them to give to me.  They did not have any idea how I was related to the Haney's but the three pages they sent me were of my Great Great Grandfather and his family.  It has so much information about children, deaths, births, marriages, land and farm information down to how many pounds of butter was produced that year.  Some of this is information we have been searching for years.  Another amazing thing is this family still lives on the original farm.  They gave me their contact information and they want to talk with me.  I look forward to reaching out and hopefully visiting Sparta, WI again and meeting them and seeing where my Grandfather was born.  Tender Mercies happen every day and this was very special to me.  

As part of Education Week we were able to attend the Evening Performance with Cherie Call, Kenneth Cope and Michael McLean.  It was FANTASTIC.  We have had a connection with Michael McLean for over 20 years and Oh, so many memories as he sang his signature songs.  We left so uplifted from the music and the wonderful evening.  

CUMORAH ACADEMY

We were invited to attend a Cumorah Connect Event.  It was for anyone associated with Cumorah including former students, staff and mentors.  It was so nice connecting with people who were with us at Cumorah.  They showed us what Cumorah has done in the 3 years that it has operated.  It is amazing to see the lives they are touching, improving and helping to have a better life.  

The latest numbers:

20. Weddings                    12 Baptisms

11 engagements                31 missions

16 children

Patrick Sedivy - owner and Director presented the Financial Status

He has goals to establish 15 campuses around the world with 200 students at each campus.  We currently have 60 students at Cumorah

They launched last year ZIVA - a worldwide staffing agency that is growing and helping to support Cumorah Academy.  

Beginning in 2026 they will launch HYPE - a youth humanitarian program (ages 16-19) designed to strengthen core values, beliefs, and skills in young people through meaningful global service.  The first group will go to Peru.  

We are grateful to be a part of this organization and the global reach.  

KANSAS

In the Air again

The month is almost over - I was exhausted from Education Week and feeling I needed a few days rest.  Sherry, our guest was leaving early Saturday morning.  Friday night we received a phone call from Brian and Beth letting us know there was a family crisis in Beth's family and she needed to fly to Utah Saturday morning.  They did not ask me to come, but I knew they needed help.  I thought about it all night and when we woke up Saturday morning - still in bed I told Russ we needed to check the flights and see if it would be possible for me to go to Wichita for a few days.  Russ checked the flights and said the only flight all weekend that has open seats is at 12:00 today.  I got up and started packing, fixed breakfast for everyone, said goodbye to Sherry and left for the airport.  

As I have said many times, a phone call can change your life.  

Brian and the kids were so glad to see me.  I arrived Saturday afternoon making my connection at DFW and on to Wichita.  I was able to help Brian on Sunday as he had Church responsibilities and was able to have dinner ready.

Monday was a very busy day - school, Dr. Appointments, play practice, violin lessons, soccer - it took both Brian and I to get it all done.  It was a special day for Nora - she got her braces off - at least for a few months until  all of her permanent teeth come in.  This is her Braces picture and below is her new look - braces free!  

Nora and I started reading Matilda each night and now I read to her over the phone at bedtime.  I am really glad I was able to go and be with them and help with all of their schedules.  I never pass up an opportunity to shop at ALDI while I am there - Oh how I miss shopping there.  

I returned home Wednesday night so I could help Emily with two Doctor appointments on Thursday.  

I am so grateful I am able to be there for family and help them when needed.  I am also grateful that the flights worked out for me and that everything went as planned.  It was an emotional week for Brian and Beth and the kids and I am glad to be Grandma in these trying times.

As August comes to a close I am glad to welcome in Fall.  The flowers in our garden are in their prime and the garden is producing tomatoes, zucchini and peppers.  The picture below is my front porch - Sunflowers ring in Fall.  

Life is Good!