SEPTEMBER 2025 - Fall Beauty, Surgery and Healing, Our Beloved Prophet

 

Ashton Gardens - Thanksgiving Point

September has been a whirlwind - mostly survival mode.  

We spent the first two weeks getting things in order around the house in preparation for Emily's surgery on her hip.  We knew she was going to be immobile for at least three weeks and so we deep cleaned, had a garage sale, grocery shopping, and took care of getting Emily's cars their yearly inspections and license renewal.  It is interesting to see the things you do when you are not sure what the future brings.  

80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY - IDAHO

George Haney III

Pam, George, Irene, Linda & Tad

We took my Sister Pam and drove to Twin Falls, Idaho for our Brother, George's 80th Birthday Party.  We were missing our sister, Brooke but it was a great reunion with my brothers and their families.  My brother was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer single cell neuro sarcoma this month and began Chemo just after his party.  

George and his wife Irene 

All of their living children came and put on a grand party.  They served a few of George's favorite things:  popcorn, chips and salsa, root beer, and homemade Dutch oven Cobblers.  It was perfect for celebrating his 80 years of life.

Russ and George - two good looking men.  

Marsha & Carolyn Hall

  It is always nice to return to my hometown and to 

  see childhood friends.  Carolyn was one of my best 

  friends and continues to be a special friend.  I called

  her and she and her sister, Marsha came over to the 

  party so we could visit - it was so fun catching up and

  reliving memories.  

   Idaho Moons are Amazing.  We left to drive home 

   and the moon was coming up and it was so big and       beautiful the first hour of our drive.   

UTAH STATE FAIR

After living in Texas for 42 years we got spoiled and realized there is nothing like the State Fair of Texas!  We decided it was time to go to the Utah State Fair.  We took the Front Runner train and Trax that takes you right to the Entrance of the Fair.  We were going to make a day of it.  We walked in and started at the 4-H Building.  I participated in 4-H in Jr. High and I have always enjoyed seeing the entry's.  It was a very small building and it was a lot different than 60 years ago when I participated.  Lots of Lego creations and very few homemade clothing items.  

The highlight of the agriculture building was this display on Pumpkins.  The place molds on the young pumpkins and they grow into the mold into these figures.  It was fun to see the different molds and what they produced.  The rest of the displays were wilted and over a week old and not really much to look at.  

The biggest surprise was how entertaining it was to go through the goat and sheep barns.  We were there during the sale of the cows and sheep.  These two little kids on the left were so cute and handled their sheep like pros.  

Watching the judging and the awarding of the winners was truly and education.  The young people work really hard with their animals and are all winners.  I was so impressed with the judge who explained to eah one what they needed to improve on the be the champion.  He was looking for muscle in all of the right places - and it did not take him very long to know what animal had it and those that did not.  We really enjoyed the exhibition.  

The food at the fair was also nothing like in Texas.  We decided it was not worth eating at the fair knowing that one of the top Mexican Restaurants in Salt Lake City was walking distance from the entrance to the fair.  We walked to The Red Iguana and enjoyed a delicious lunch of Chile Relleno en Nogada.  It was a fresh roasted poblano pepper stuffed with ground beef and pork, pine nuts, dried cranberries, apricots, raisins, apples cooked with chopped celery, onions and carrots dipped in egg batter and fried golden topped with a walnut, almond, goat cheese Spanish sherry room temperature sauce sprinkled with pomegranate                                                              seeds and cilantro.  

I think we spent as much time eating lunch as it took us to walk through the whole fair.  We returned home on the train and can say we have been to the Utah Stake Fair - don't think we need to do that again.  

THANKSGIVING POINT - ASHTON GARDENS

We are so fortunate to live close to Thanksgiving Point and the Ashton Gardens.  September was $5 Tuesdays and so we went to see the Gardens in the Fall - we went last February and while it was amazing, it did not compare to seeing the gardens in their Fall Beauty.

CONNEXION 2017

Utah WOMEN'S WALK recognizes and shows gratitude for the significant contributions of notable Utah women from 1847 to the present.  It encourages appreciation for the variety of work Utah women engage in and demonstrates cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity in Utah.  The "Connexion" bronze statue by Utah sculptor Ben Hammond, symbolizes the interconnection of women across generations as well as the diversity of Utah women. The sculpture reminds us of how despite divergent roles women can feel supported, sustained, inspired, and encouraged by exploring the stories of Utah women.

THE FAIRY GARDEN

This area was magical and filled with many fairy houses created from tree trunks.  It was so creative and beautiful amid all of the different flowers and foliage .  There was a writing desk and mailbox to write letters to the fairies.  What a fun place to enjoy the magic of the fairy world.

THE TREE OF LIFE                                       

THE GATHERING

 The Gardens feature 130 individual statues as a symbolic representation of the hope and redemption found through the love of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

 In light of all that has happened this month it was so peaceful and even sacred to walk through the Gardens and feel that Hope and Love.

 The Gathering represents people across the world.  The statues symbolize Heavenly Father's love for all people and his invitation for them to Come to Him.  Billions of people live on our planet, each with their own stories, experiences, and realities.  Yet God's love extends to all.  His greatest hope is for everyone to find happiness, love, and peace.  

The Tree of Life comes from the story of Lehi, a prophet from ancient times.  In one of his visions, he saw a beautiful tree filled with fruit.  Leading to the tree was a rod of iron and a path alongside it.  A river in the mists of darkness ran next to this rod and on the other side of the 

Defenders of Faith

river stood a great and spacious building.

He shared the vision with his family and they asked what the meaning was of the vision.  The tree symbolizes God's love, and the iron rod represents the Word of God, which guides people to His love.  The mists of darkness stand for the temptations of the world, while the great and spacious building represents the pride of the world.  

   Captain Moroni on the left was a courageous military leader who fought to protect freedom and peace.  He led by example, unwavering faith, and devotion to God.  

Great and Spacious Building

Every day, humans face a struggle between good and evil.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings light, love, charity, and goodness.  The opposition is darkness, pain, betrayal, and evil.  People in the building actively mock and ridicule those who are holding to the iron rod and partaking of the fuit of the Tree of Life.  Sadly, the pride and temptations of the world can lead some of us away from what truly matters, creating shame and blinding us to what is truly important.  Even when the false promises and pressures of the world seem overwhelming, it's important to remember that there is still good in the world.  Jesus Christ ad His Gospel offer hope and a clear path through life's challenges, guiding us no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.  

Emanuel Swederborg

"Our Love is our life itself.

What our Love is like determines how we live 

and therefore everything about what we are 

as human beings.

It is, However, Specifically our ruling or dominant

Love that makes us who we are."

"And the world because of their iniquity,

shall judge him to be a thing of naught

wherefore they scourge him,

and he suffereth it

and they smite him,

and he suffereth it.

Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it,

because of his loving kindness

and his long-suffering towards the

children of me.

1 Nephi 19:9

Through your journey in this exhibit, you've learned how holding tightly to your faith and the word of God will bring you closer to God and His happiness.  Now, your journey brings you to the ultimate symbol of God's love - THE TREE OF LIFE

Standing as a beacon of purity and beauty, the Tree of Life represents the fullness of God's love He has towards us.  God's love for us is manifested in Jesus Christ, with the fruit symbolizing His Atonement.  God invites us to partake of the fruit, or the Atonement of Jesus Christ, so we can draw closer to Him and find peace in hard times throughout our life.  This invitation is open to EVERYONE.  

Our Beloved Prophet Russell M. Nelson passed away this past week at the age of 101.  He urged Latter-day Saints to be peacemakers who "build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire - no matter how difficult the situation."

"Brothers and sisters, we can literally change the world - one person and one interaction at a time.  How?  By modeling how to manage honest differences of opinion with mutual respect and dignified dialogue.  If you are serious about helping to gather Israel and about building relationships that will last throughout the eternities, NOW is the time to lay aside bitterness.  NOW is the time to cease insisting that it is your way or no way.  NOW is the time to stop doing things that make others walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting you.  NOW is the time to bury your weapons of war.  If your verbal arsenal is filled with insults and accusations, now is the time to put them away. You will arise as a spiritually                                                  strong man or woman of Christ."  

THE PARTY IS OVER!  

We have continued caring for Emily and her children this month.  She continued to heal from her clavicle surgery - weekly visits to Physical Therapy and Doctor appointments.  

On September 19 Emily had a hip reconstruction surgery and IT band repair.  

She has been in a brace that goes around her hips and down her right leg to her knee. It is attached to a continuous ice machine.   She was not able to put any weight or pressure on her right leg for 10 days.  Once we got her up the 15 stairs to her bedroom she was there to stay.  I have definitely gotten my steps in every day as I have taken care of her.  The ice machine has to be changed out 3 times a day.  We bought a countertop ice machine that we put upstairs and that has been a huge blessing.  

It has been very hard to use the crutches as her clavicle is still healing and too much pressure on it would cause it to hurt.  I am grateful to be here to help Emily but it has been very taxing.  It is 14 stairs to the main floor and then another 15 stairs to her room that I navigate all day long and into the night.  I also fix the meals for everyone, clean, laundry, and all of the taxi service getting Preslee to school and all of her activities.  Neighbors are bringing lunch to Emily 3 days a week and visiting her.  This has given me a little break on those days and I am so grateful for their service and time with her - it brightens her day.  

Monday this week she went to her first Physical Therapy for her hip and can now put a little pressure on her leg and that has made her mobility so much better.  We are hoping next week they take the brace off so she is more comfortable and more mobile.  Logan, her son has had a hard time with Emily having surgery and not being able to take care of him.  It has been a hard week and we hope we can get the help we need for him.  Special Needs bring many challenges of processing the many changes in his routine and life.  

We got a Handicap Permit for the car and that is very helpful.  I took Emily to the store today and had to go get the electric cart for her.  I had never driven one and people were looking at me like why are you waling into the store and then using an electric cart?   I drove it out to the car and then she drove it into the store.  A lady came up to me and said, "Oh what a miracle, you are walking on your own so quickly". She had seen me get the cart and we had a good laugh.  

I am grateful every day for good health and the ability to do what needs to be done.  I know I am being blessed.  

Some days I take Logan out for Lunch or Dinner just to get him out of his room and out of the house.  He picked MOD Pizza the other night and really liked picking the toppings for his pizza just like he wanted it - and then he ate the whole thing.  Just keeping Logan fed is a full time job!  

THE BEAUTY OF FALL

Russ and I continue to ride our bikes on the Murdock Trail most mornings.  We ride a 10 mile round trip and it is good for both our bodies and our souls.  We marvel at the beauty of the mountains and the lake every day.  It is a nice break from the rest of the day.  I continue to play Pickleball every Thursday morning and I really enjoy that time with other ladies and learning to play better.  

One of our Annual Traditions is to take a drive South to Rowley's RED BARN.  After Emily's Physical Therapy we drove her to The Barn for the most delicious caramel ice cream in a fresh apple slush drink.  It is so worth the trip.  It is just all things Fall food items and is so fun.  

Our Mums are in full bloom this week and they are brilliant in their many hues.  Our flowers are so beautiful this year - Russ keeps the yard up and I take care of all of the flowers.  Emily got some of her Halloween decorations up before her surgery - it is her favorite time of year.  

I cut my daisy's down after they bloomed and this week I have all new blooms - even better than in the Spring.  This is a double flower on a single stem.  

I have the opportunity of teaching the Adult Sunday School class in our Church.  Teaching is one of my favorite callings to serve in and I enjoy studying and preparing for the classes.  This month I taught a lesson from  Doctrine & Covenants Section 101.  This section is a Revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833.  At this time the Saints who had gathered in Missouri were suffering great persecution.  Mobs had driven them from their homes.  Threats of death against individuals of the Church were many.  

This lesson was very timely for what has happened in the last few weeks within our Church community in various areas of the Country. In this revelation, the Lord was Chastening the Saints for not doing what they had been directed to do when they settled in this new area and were now suffering persecution.  

I had to ask myself if I was doing what the Lord wants me to do today.  Are there "empty lots" in my life - things left undone or forgotten that I have covenanted to do?  

They were told they are The Lords people and will be his when He returns to the earth in His glory.  They are precious to Him like jewels.  

"Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them.  I will not utterly cast them off, and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy."

He was filled with compassion.

"And all they who have mourned shall be comforted."

"They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting Joy, to build up the waste places of Zion -"

"Wherefore, fear not even unto death, for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your Joy is Full"

The Lord does not abandon us in the day of our afflictions, even when they are the result of our own choices.  He is The Way, The Truth and The Light.

I ask, Who are you choosing to follow today in your life?  I choose to follow Jesus Christ and His teachings.  We need to show up with compassion and caring for each other.  We each have a role and a responsibility here.  We can chose dignity over division.  We can disagree better.  We can heal together.  

In a Tribute to Pres. Russell M. Nelson - a Prophet to the World - the following thoughts were shared:

He is a Prophet of Love for All of God's Children.  He showed the meaning of Love to billions of people in the world.  He preached the gospel of Love.  John 13:35. The Savior commanded:  "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have Love one to another."  

He was a Peacemaker.  The Gospel Net is the largest in the world - Room for everyone.

No Sin is so serious that you are beyond the Saviors Saving Grace.

He had a true Shepherd Heart.

Family meant everything to him.  He was a living Temple.  He loved, built, dedicated, attended Temples.

"Trust in the Lords revealed guidance to his servants."  Remember to Love.

"Come unto the Savior"

Mt. Nebo 

This month has been exhausting, hard work, challenging at times with two teenagers to take care of and filled with long days and short nights.  Amid all of this we are trying to keep balance in our own lives.  I know we are being blessed with good health and the strength and energy we need to take care of family.  I am so grateful for the guidance and blessings of Jesus Christ in my life through His Prophet on the Earth today.   Through Him I do not live in fear but with Hope.  We hope for continued healing of Emily - I am thinking we need to plan a nice long vacation in January.  

With Love,

The Grimmett's