MAY 2025 Grimmett Blog - 75th Birthday, Family, Portland OR, Alaska Cruise

 

Utah Lake painting by Joshua Grimmett

May was a month filled from the first of the month to the last.  I am not sure how we accomplished all that we did - we just feel really blessed that we had so many special experiences and adventures.  Spring means a lot of yard work and projects and that has been worked in to all of the other activities we have been involved in.  The best part of every experience has been the family and friends we have been able to share the adventures with.  

We started the month by coming out of retirement and catering the Wedding Dinner for the daughter of our dear friends, Mick and Diane Smith.  Thirty years ago we worked together in Texas with CES in the Arlington Texas Institute.  We have stayed friends over the years and when they called and asked it was like family and we had to say Yes!  It was a beautiful evening and filled with so many memories.  

The next morning we headed to Layton, UT for the Baptism of Dean Youngs, my nephews son.  What a special morning.  When we arrived at the Stake Center for the Baptism, we were met by my sister, Pam with the news that the person in charge of filling the font had not arrived and that it takes 3 hours to fill.  Instead of having the Baptism and then a family Brunch we would meet at their home and have the Brunch while they worked out the problem.  So many people helped to make it a very special day for Dean.  We had a wonderful Brunch with all of their families - grandparents, great grandparents and lots of cousins and aunts and uncles.  In the meantime arrangements were made to meet just down the street in their Church Building for the program and some friends who lived across the street had a beautiful swimming pool in their back yard and they received permission for the Baptism to take place in the pool.  They were preparing for a wedding the next week in their back yard and said they needed an hour to clean up and then we could gather.  

Dean is 8 years old and had made the decision to be Baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We all went to the Church and had a Song, prayer and a talk on Baptism.  Leah, Deans older sister is serving a mission for the Church in Mexico City.  They had made arrangements for her to give the baptism talk via FaceTime  Above is a picture of her on the screen and Dean and his Dad participating in the talk.  She gave a beautiful talk on the blessings that come from Baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  She had Dean and his Dad, Matt act out some life choices that draw us closer to Jesus Christ and a few things that distance us from Jesus Christ when we make certain choices.  She showed how Jesus Christ is always there with his had outstretched ready to hold on to us.  As Dean made good choices he walked closer to his Dad until he reached his outstretched had and finally in a loving embrace.  It was very tender and a great learning experience.  At the conclusion of the talk we all walked across the street to the neighbors house for the Baptism.  They had to let all of the children know this was not a swimming party and to remember it was a baptism and to not get too close to the pool!  

It was freezing cold water but Dean was up for the adventure.  It was so special and filled with the Spirit as he and Matt walked into the water and the ordinance of Baptism was performed.  It is a day Dean will never forget.  We returned to the Church for a closing musical number performed by Dean and his sisters and a closing prayer.  So grateful to have been a part of this special day.

Just an hour later I was able to attend the Baby Shower for Sarah Young - one of the sweet missionaries we served with.  It was so fun celebrating with her in all things Winnie the Poo.  She is a miracle and will be such a great mother.  We are so happy for her and Taylor as they become parents and their family grows.  It is always a fun day when I get to see Sharon Lloyd - a fellow missionary and catch up with her and all of their travels.  

While we were in the Layton area we stopped by J&J's Nursery and had so much fun picking out flowers and plants for our garden.  I have always wanted to shop there but had not made it there.  So far all of the plants are healthy and growing so good.  It is worth the drive to get good plants.  

More Mission Family.  We had a great day with Kaja, Jesse, Makori their darling little boy and Kaleb Frome, Kaja's brother.  It is always a fun time when they come to visit. We had lunch and lots of catching up on their time in Everett, WA.  The city of Lindon decided to install a new power line and turned off the electricity from 9 am - 3 pm that day.  I had to get a little creative in planning the lunch and was grateful for a gas grill and lots of windows to let in light.  It was an adventure but the food turned out and it was a great reunion.  

MOTHER'S DAY

It was a special weekend to celebrate Mother's Day.  I had two of my children together and that made this mother heart very happy.  Josh came for a week to visit and we really enjoyed having him - he helped fix a few things around the house and he decided he needs to come twice a year just to help us with repairs.  Josh is also a talented artist and he went out one evening at sunset to the top of a hill and painted the picture at the top of this Blog in about an hour and a half.  It is an oil paint and he captured Utah Lake and the surroundings so beautifully.

Emily and I had our annual Free French Toast at Kneader's for Mother's Day.  The only day of the year I eat French Toast and it was sooo good.  We even ran into some friends from Arlington, TX who were in town for the week and were celebrating with family that morning at Kneader's. 

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO RUSS              

The day ended with a family dinner to celebrate Russ' 75th Birthday.  It was pretty low key with Josh, Emily and her kids and my sister, Pam.  We had a Taco and Fish Taco dinner with his favorite German's Sweet Chocolate Pie.  

We will be celebrating his birthday and our 50th Anniversary later in the month on an Alaska Cruise.  

I am so grateful that Russ is healthy and such a hard worker and companion in all that we do.  He has worked really hard to be healthy and fit and to be able to enjoy this time of his life.  We both move slower than we used to and it takes longer to get things done, but it does not stop him from taking on new projects and keeping our yard so beautiful.  

We had a full week of activities with Josh.  He is all things Trains and so we rode the Front Runner to Ogden to visit the Ogden Train Museum.  Josh has had a fascination with trains since he was a young boy.  He knows so much about each engine and their history and all of the cars.  It was so interesting having him tell us about the train at the museum.  

We had lunch at a local Bistro and then finished visiting the other three museums at the train station.  So glad to ride the Front Runner back home so we didn't have to deal with all of the traffic on 1-15 during rush hour.  

We also took him to the UVU Library to see the stained glass window display.  I shared more about it a few months ago.  I learn something new every time we visit.  There is so much to see in each of the stained glass panels and I love learning more history especially with Josh who knew so much.  Highlights from this visit were the following two quotes:  "Lock up your libraries if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."

"It is the brain. THE LITTLE GRAY CELLS on which one must rely.  one must seek the truth within NOT WITHOUT."

HISTORY, ORIGIN AND CULTURE IS LIKE A TREE WITHOUT ROOTS.

We also got to take him to his favorite Brazilian restaurant, Pitada Brazil for home cooked Brazilian food.  He enjoys speaking Portuguese with the owners and enjoying one of his favorite meals from his mission in Brazil.  

ROAD TRIP TO PORTLAND OREGON

Our big adventure begins as we drive with Josh back to his home in Portland OR and on to our Alaska Cruise.  He drives a Tesla and that is an adventure in itself.  He has the self driving feature and it took me a little while to get used to it and trust the process.  It made for a very pleasant drive with quick stops along the way to charge.  One of our stops was in my hometown of Twin Falls, ID and we visited the Welcome Center on the edge of the Snake River Canyon at the Perrine Bridge while the car was charging.  The canyon continues to be one of my favorite memories of home.  

We arrived in Portland and Josh had expanded his train track in his home.  He buys, builds and restores the engines and cars and makes his own tracks.  He added a bridge while we were there.  He is so creative and takes his trains very seriously.  

We visited the Train museum in Portland.  They house some historical engines and their museum restores all of the engines and they actually move them on the tracks.  

Josh always makes our time in Portland fun and an adventure.  He drives a lot and has found some really interesting places to visit.

OLE BOLLE

This sculpture is part of the Northwest Tolls:  a public art project by artist Thomas Dambo.  The exhibition includes ten trolls across the US including six sites in the Pacific Northwest with five trolls within Washington state and this one on the Nordic Northwest Campus.  

These trolls are fashioned almost entirely out of recycled wood materials and tell the story of protecting nature and honoring our land.  In Nordic mythology and folklore, trolls are known to be fierce protectors of nature.  

Thomas Dambo the artist is known internationally for his troll sculptures that are a part of his project "The Trail of a Thousand Trolls" that are all made from recycled wood.

With over 100 sculptures all over the world, these trolls have begun to have a life of their own.  Thomas is considered one of the world's lead recycling artists, having learned from a young age the value of recycling, sustainability, and unlimited imagination.  

"In nature, there is no landfill.

       Nature is circular,

everything has a meaning

and everything is recycled.

                   -Thomas Dambo

TROLL BRIDGE IN PORTLAND, OR

This is a railroad trestle that has become a collecting place for all things Trolls.  It was just out in the forest in the hills of Portland -  you would never know there is a big city just a few miles away.  It was so beautiful and crazy at the same time.

Troll Bridge

It is not a trip to Portland without a trip to Salt and Straw for Ice Cream.  We ended the day on a drive and stop at this delicious Ice Cream shop.  

OREGON COAST

The next day we were off to the Coast.  We visited Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport and all places in between.  

We started at the Tide Pools  - first time I have ever seen them and it was a real adventure.  Walking on the rocks was the hardest but the colors of the anemone was beautiful.  People were collecting rocks, shells and digging for whatever they could find.  

We saw so many Star Fish and a few crab.  I have never seen so many muscles.  The ocean came alive to me and I had never seen it so living.  It was an experience I will never forget.

Depoe Bay did not disappoint as we saw the waves crashing on the shore and the spray coming up to the road.  

A stop at Mo's for chowder and seafood was in order to round out the day.  I ordered fish and chips.  The waiter said I got two sides.  I picked chowder and green beans from the choices he gave me.  When my meal came I got the chowder with fish and green beans.  The beans were in place of the chips - I was a little surprised when the menu said Fish and Chips - it was fine. The beans were delicious and healthier than the fries!

We went into the visitor center to learn about the whales and harbor seals.  They had a sighting earlier in the day of Whales and she said there were 5 harbor seals just outside the door.  We went out and watched a mother and her baby and 3 other harbor seals play on the beach.  The photo below shows the mother and baby.

Harbor Seals in water

SEATTLE

And we are off to Seattle to begin the cruise.  Josh and Julie drove us to Seattle on Saturday and the adventures began.  We saw 3 State Capitols on our trip.  We went through Salem Oregon on Friday and drove by their State Capitol, then we drove through Olympia and stopped to see the Washington State Capitol.  We then saw the Alaska capitol in Juneau.  Each one is very unique and only the Washington Capitol looks like a traditional building.

We arrived in time to pick up my sister Brooke and her husband Kirt from the airport.  They are going on the cruise with us.  We checked into our hotel and then road the train into Seattle for a day of exploring.  We walked through town and ended up at the pier and Pike's Market.  It was a rainy day - but that is Seattle and we had a fun time walking in the rain.  We ate good food in a little cafe and headed back on the train to our hotel.  We said goodby to Josh and Julie and they headed back home.  

ALASKA CRUISE

I have been dreaming of going on an Alaska cruise for the past 10 years.  I thought we were going when I retired and we went on an even greater adventure and served our mission.  My next goal was for our 50th Wedding Anniversary.  We told our children two years ago to start saving and join us on the cruise.  Well, life happens and they had other priorities and so my sister and her husband asked to go with us.  It was everything I had ever imagined and more.  It will be a Photo Bomb and a little history lesson as well.  I hope you enjoy a little of our journey.

We took an Uber Sunday morning to Pier 91 and boarded the Holland America Westerdam.  Our State room was perfect and we settled in for the next 7 days.  We had lunch and then headed out tot he deck to watch us sail away toward Juneau.

Westerdam

Goodbye Seattle

           Sunset on the Puget Sound

A few hours after we set sail as we were watching the shoreline and beauty of the ocean, we saw this Pilot boat approach the ship.  It was actually exciting as we watched it approach and get closer with its lights on and then a man (the pilot) jumped on board the ship onto a little platform.  We learned later that he would be the Pilot that would take the ship from the Sound out into the Ocean and that we would have several Pilots along the way, especially in Alaska when we were navigating through the straights and fjords.  

Monday was a Sailing day and it was really rough water.  We could harding walk down the hallways of the ship.  We did not get seasick but it was an adventure.  We enjoyed the evening entertainment with a Soul Singer - she played Aritha Franklin on stage for several years and she sang a lot of her music.  It was great.  

One of the highlights of a cruise is the food.  I will highlight a sampling of the food here.  We ate in the Dining Room for Dinner and did the buffet for most of the other meals.  The food was so good and we could not believe how we planned our time around making it to all of the meal times!  The Ship has its own bakery and makes daily the bread and pastries.  We were really good and as hard as it was we did not eat very much bread or pastries.  We enjoyed many of the other desserts and did not hold back.

short ribs

We celebrated our Anniversary in the Caneletto Dining Room with an Italian Dinner.  It was the most delicious dinner of the whole cruise.  Russ had a sausage pasta that he really enjoyed.  

cheesecake and pistachio ice cream

Nutella torte

caramel cheesecake

The presentation of the food was so beautiful.  They were not large portions but we learned to order two appetizers, a main dish and always 1 or 2 desserts.  The Prime Rib was delicious and the fish dishes were also very good - lobster, salmon, fish and chips, shrimp, scallops and escargot.  

Lemon Tart

The final night we ended with a miniature Baked Alaska.

It looks like all we ate was dessert, but they were just presented to nice I took lots of pictures.  

We managed to get in lots of steps every day and worked off most of what we ate.  

I attended a cooking demonstration by the Ship Chef.  He was very entertaining and it was fun learning about the huge kitchens and all of the food that is prepared every day.  He demonstrated a grilled Salmon fillet and made it look so simple.  I look forward to making it soon.  

Grilled Salmon

FIRST PORT - JUNEAU

We rented a car in Juneau and it worked out great.  We had to take a taxi to the airport and then picked up our car.  This gave us the opportunity to see more sights on our own.  Juneau is an isolated city that can only be accessed by air or ship/boat.  There is only about 20 miles of roadway.  

We started at The Shrine of St. Therese.  It is about 10 miles from the city in a beautiful setting on a hill overlooking the bay.  We thought we were going to visit this tourist spot and see a Catholic Church - we got so much more.

The gardens are beautiful  and we began the walk towards the little Church in the woods.  

The Shrine Chapel was built in the late 1930's.  It was originally intended to be a log chapel.  The stone on the exterior of the building was gthered from the shoreline around Shrine Island.  The first Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Christ the King on Oct. 26, 1941.  

Therese Martin, otherwise known as Therese of Lisieux was born in France in 1873.  She became a cloistered nun of the Carmelite Order at the age of 15.  She died nine years later at the age of 24. She was canonized a Saint in 1925. In her biography she wrote, "what really m atters in life is not our great deeds, but our great love."  She believed that the God of mercy had a special love for "ordinary" people, including herself. 

As we were walking up the trail, there was a small group of people we started talking with.  One of the men is a guide in Alaska and he told us we could see whales in the bay.  He knew what to look for and to hear their calls.  I did not get good pictures, but we were able to see a few whales and it was really neat to see it come out of the water and to see the tail in the air.  We had our own whale show that was a real bonus.

Mendenhall Glacier

We then drove to the Glacier and the Visitor Center.  It was fascinating learning about the glacier and what is happening to it.  When the Visitor Center was built the Glacier was right out the door and you could touch it.  Over the past 10 years it has shrunk.  This picture was taken from the Visitor Center.  and you can see how far back the glacier is.  

Next stop was the State Historical Museum and the State Capitol.  The building on the left is the State Capitol.  The museum was very nicely done and gave us a great overview of the area.  

We took the car back to the airport and the taxi took us back to town.  He recommended The Hanger for dinner.  He said it was where the locals eat and much better than the tourist places.  It did not disappoint.  Russ does not eat fish and it was one of the few places that offered other options.  I had the best fish tacos I have ever had.  

The walkway to the pier was lined with Tote Poles and the meaning of each Pole.  It was a great walk and nice to read about each of the Poles.  The designs on the L'eeneidi pole include four of their crests.  The top design features a Star, which derives form one of their clan houses known as "Little Dipper House."  Below that are Dog Salmon and Lucky Lady, which were obtained through supernatural encounters.  It also depicts a L'eeneidi clan member.  The lower design features Raven with the Box of Daylight.  Accordingn to oral tradition, Raven opened the Box of Daylight and released the Sun, bringing daylight to the world.  

Sunset in Juneau

DAY 4 SCENIC CRUISING ENDICOTT ARM/DAWES GLACIER

This was a sailing day and was the highlight of the trip for us.  It was a very leisure day on calm water - finally.  We dressed warm and got up early to get a good spot on the bow of the ship to experience the passageway and ultimately the Dawes Glacier.  We stood in the wind and cold for 2 1/2 hours for the experience.  You can tell we are in glacier waters by the stunning green water.  We went through an ice field and that was really beautiful.  Only 1/8 of the ice is above the water and if it is blue that means it is freshly broken off from the glacier.  When it is white or brown it is older.  Some formations were like lace and in very interesting shapes.  The waterfalls, like in the picture above were stunning.  So much water coming out of the mountain.  There were about 50 waterfalls along the way.  

large fresh piece of iceberg 

This is Dawes Glacier.  The Ship got as close as it could and then just sat for about an hour.  It was amazing to see smaller ships and boats in the area.  We even saw a 20 man open boat that went right up to the glacier.  I don't know how they did it in the cold.  It was a group that came from a small tour boat that did not come in as close.  We actually saw a large piece fall off into the water below.  It is a lot further down than it looks and it made a large splash.  

After 2 1/2 hours we were freezing and so we went inside and watched from the crows nest.  This is what I went to see and it was so worth it.  We spent a lot of time in the Crows Nest - 10th floor of the ship with full windows and nice seats to just enjoy the scenery.  We played a lot of card games while we watched the sights.  

SITKA ALASKA

Sitka was one of the most interesting cities filled with so much history.  

Russians first came to Alaska in 1741.  Motivated by both the lucrative fur trade and the desire to spread Orthodox Christianity, the Russian government sent fur traders and missionaries to Alaska, forever changing north American history and the lives of Alaska's Indigenous peoples.  The Russian era left a legacy thath remains today.  

On October 18, 1867, Americans, Russians, other RAC staff, and Alaska Natives gathered in Sitka to witness the formal transfer of Russia's claims on Alaska to the United States.  At 3:30 pm, Russian and American troops marched up to the Chief Manager's residence, joing dignitaties and civilian spectators.  Double gun salutes were fired alternately from the U.S.S. Ossipee and the Russian battery as the Russian flag was lowered and the United States flag was raised.  "By authority from his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, I transfer to the United States the Territory of Alaska."  Rousseau accepted the transfer, and the Americans gave three cheers.

Historic National Park

The Tlingit came to this coast by following rivers from the interior before the end of the last Ice Age.  They made a home amid these mountains and islands leaving a mark on the world with potlatches, totems, and symbols of clan and kinship. They have survived contact with the Russians and Americans.  

The master carvers of the Tlingit were trained and talented professionals.  Theirs was an art of rules and discipline, yet innovation.  Cedar bark templates were used to lay out the precise designs.

Canoes, totem poles, house posts, boxes, bowls, masks, and many other wooden items attest tot he skills of these masters.  This artistic legacy has helped define the culture of the Northwest Coast for visitors since the earliest traders.  

The Chilkat weaving technique used here originated with the Tsimshian of southern southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia.  Through intermarriage, knowledge of this type of weaving traveled north to the Tlingit.  By the late 1800s, weavers of the Chilkat Valley were renowned for this style of weaving hence the name "Chilkat".  The Tlingit name is naaxien which may be interpreted as "fringe about the body".  This refers to the swaying motion of the border fringe as a robe is worn in dance.  Robes are used only for ceremonial occasions.  These robes were woven of mountain goat hair and cedar bark, and dyed with copper, lichen or hemlock.  This piece took 2 years to weave.

What is a Totem Pole?  It is a public record of the lives and history of the people.

Tlingit life is based on the rich natural resources of Southeast Alaska, on respect for all living things and on a unique and complex social structure.  Totem poles reflect these ways, making pubic record of the lives and history of the people who had them carved.  They represent pride in clans and ancestors and mark the success and renown of their clans or families.  

They have burial Totems, Family or Clan, Wedding, etc.  

How to Look at Totem Poles:

The most common method is to identify the human, animal and bird forms.  

The Human figure at the top of the pole is the Village Watchman.  It warned the people of approaching danger or reported a thief in their mist.

The Raven in human form is a transformation figure.  A strong straight beak distinguishes Raven.

The Bear - the base figure is a Bear, distinguished by a protruding tongue and large claw feet

The Tlingit people today are trying to preserve their language and culture.  Their land was taken from them and they were forced to live in a way very foreign to them.  They were successful in their way of life.

THE ALASKA RAPTOR CENTER

Linda's Wingspan

Russ's Wingspan

We really enjoyed the Raptor Center.  It is a refuge for injured birds.  Their goal is to heal and return them to their natural habitat.  The currently have 8 Bald Eagles, Falcons and Owls.  It was really interesting learning more about Raptors.  They are birds of prey, but not all birds of prey are raptors.  A raptor is a meat eating bird that hunts for its prey.  They all have forward facing eyes with keen sight, a hooked, curved beak and strong and powerful talens.  We learned a bald eagle is born all brown and the head turns white in 1-4 years as well as the beak turns orange.  They are instrumental in the eco system of Alaska with the lifecycle of the fish and bears.  

We saw a lot of Eagles in their natural habitat as well.

The Cruise Port is about 2 miles from the city center and so they transport you by bus into the city center.  We walked along the Sea Walk, walked through the Totem Park - a place where they are trying to preserve Totems as part of the Historic National Park.  We walked to the Raptor Center and then back into town.  We toured the Russian Bishop House that was the home of the first Bishop and later used as an orphanage.  We toured the Russian Orthodox St. Michaels Cathedral - a landmark in the city and shopped in the Russian Christmas store and the Alaska Pure Salt Company.  We got some great salt flavors to try.

We ended our visit with lunch at the local Food Trucks.  I had great Fish and Chips and Russ had a really good Cheeseburger. We were ready for the bus back to the ship - it was a full day of walking and amazing sights.

KETCHIKAN

Totem Heritage Center

Totem poles are carved for many reasons.  They commemorate important events, honor the legacy of ancestors and relatives, and recall stories of clan histories.  Each step of a totem pole's creation is marked by protocol and ceremony from choosing the right tree to raising the totem pole.  The process of creating a totem pole takes a great deal of preparation, skill, strength, and coordination.  Carvers are held in high esteem.  Traditionally, an individual or clan would commission a carver and describe the purpose of the totem pole and the designs to be carved.  After selecting a suitable western red cedar, felling and trimming the tree, and transporting the log to the carving site, the carver is ready to begin.  

Oar

Ketchikan is home of the Salmon Walk.  The Salmon usually arrive in July.  You can see a large area of the Salmon walk on Creek Street.  It is a fun shopping area with shops on stilts over the Salmon Run.  We saw a lot of local art in this area.  We then walked to Mission Street - a shopping area.  We only had 4 hours in the city and the time went quickly.  Time to get back to the ship and get ready for Dressy Night.

Brooke & Kirt, Russ & Linda

Dressy Night

The cruise is coming to a close.  We enjoyed the fun touches of a swan and pig towels and even chocolates left by our Stewards.  Life on the ship was so relaxing and we were spoiled.  Our favorite entertainment was Music Trivia every night and a few game shows.  I was even a contestant on one of the games shows.  We had to guess what profession we were by asking a yes or no question of the audience.  I was a DJ.  It took me a hot minute but I finally guessed it.  

Our last Port of Call was Victoria Canada.  We were really looking forward to seeing Victoria but we only had 2 hours and unfortunately our ship was an hour late arriving and so we decided to stay on the ship.  It was 9:00 at night and not really a lot to see.  We will got back another time and see Victoria.  

Below is one of our favorite views from the Dining Room Table we ate dinner at. 

                                                 This was our last night watching the setting sun.  

We docked back in Seattle on Sunday morning and then we were off to the airport.  That is always an adventure for us and we finally made a flight in the afternoon on Alaska Airlines direct to Salt Lake City. We were home just long enough to unpack our bags and get a good nights sleep.  

Monday my Sisters arrived for our next adventure to St. George, UT

Dale & Genevieve Lay  

My 88 year old cousin, Dale Lay was sealed in the St. George Temple to his High School sweetheart,  Genevieve on Tuesday.  This is a true Love Story.

They both grew up in Salt Lake City with Dale graduating from Olympus High School and Jenni graduating from Granite High School.  Dale had proposed marriage to her after graduation but she decided she was too young and eventually served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  When she returned, a friend told Dale that she had a new boyfriend and not to contact her - He walked away from her and the Church.  They both married and went on with their lives never having any contact with each other.  Dale lived all over the country mostly in Arizona and Nevada and she had stayed in the Salt Lake area.  Both had had two marriages and both spouses had passed away.  Dale decided one day to try and locate his first love.  

He tried several numbers with no success.  One day a number appeared on his phone as a contact and he called it and sure enough it was Jenni.  They reconnected and decided to marry and relocate in the middle in Mesquite NV where she had two children and their families.  Dale returned to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and they were able to be Sealed together for Eternity in the St. George Temple.  

It was such a special experience being with them to share in their Joy.  At 88 they are beginning a whole new life together.  It is never too late!  

It was a nice time being together with family and spending the night together in St. George. We know our parents were shouting for Joy in Heaven today.  

Brooke, Pam & Linda

May 2025 is certainly for the family memory books.  We look forward to June and having family come to visit and celebrate with us.  

For Friends in Utah or those who will be in Utah

SAVE THE DATE

50th Anniversary Party

Saturday, June 21, 2025

7:00-9:00 PM

Grimmett Residence

1064 E 140 N

Lindon, UT

APRIL 2025 - Easter - Spring Projects and Wichita Kansas with family

 

LINDON UT TEMPLE

I begin this month's Blog with a picture taken on April 30 at 6:30 AM of the Lindon Temple.  I am usually not up and out at that time of the morning but I needed to take Preslee to an early school choir practice and as I came around the corner to turn to the school I was overwhelmed with the Temple all lit up - it is still in construction phase and the lights are not on every day yet.  What a beautiful way to start my day!

We started the month with a quick day trip to Twin Falls Idaho.  My brother, Tad needed a part for his Razor (recreation vehicle ) and so we picked it up and then it needed to get to him in Idaho.  It was going to be a beautiful day and we decided it would be nice to get out of the house - and one of our favorite Breakfast Dives is in Twin Falls - The Buffalo.  We planned to arriver just before noon so we could have lunch, visit with Tad and Kris and then we stopped to see my other brother, George and hit the road to return home.  It was worth the eight hours of driving just to spend time with my brothers and to have a delicious lunch.  

I joined MWEG - Mormon Women for Ethical Government this month.  One of the events for this month was making a quilt square that would be collected and made into quilts for all of the Senators and Representatives from each State receiving a completed quilt.  It was to portray constructive advocacy of the Constitution and the initiative was called PEACE BY PIECE.  

This was the quilt square I submitted. 

FAMILY

Grandkids bring out the best in me and certainly make life better.  Logan likes finding new recipes and we have a great time trying them out.  He reads the recipe to me and I do most of the cooking.  This was Italian sausage Marinara sauce with three eggs poached in the sauce.  Oh my goodness - it was so good.  The fresh herbs, peppers, onions, fresh parmesan really made a delicious sauce.  He was so happy and ate the whole pan!  Logan likes his Grandma time.

Preslee started a SILKS class this year and is loving it.  It is not easy and takes a lot of skill and energy.  She comes home from class sore every week from learning new moves and using parts of her body she is not used to using.  She had her first recital and we loved watching the different levels of classes climb and swing from the "Silks" in a beautiful performance.  

Brian and Beth invited us to come to Wichita for a full weekend of events with their family.  It did not take much convincing to say yes.  I needed a hair cut and the flight to Wichita means a stop in DFW as a connection.  I got a hair appointment called our friends, Tii and Mary and they were our Uber for the day.  We started with hair cuts, refrigerator shopping, lunch at Fuzzy's Taco Shop and back to the airport.  Our flight was delayed to Wichita - happens almost every time and so we got to spend a little more time with Tii and Mary and then off just in time to arrive for Brian and Beth to pick us up after their school carnival.  The kids had a great time and enjoyed their green and pink hair and fun faces for. a few hours.  

Nora started violin lessons about 8 weeks ago and had her first recital.  She has already accompanied her school choir on a number and then played that song at her recital.  It was a delightful morning hearing the young students and how accomplished they were.  So proud of her.  

The day was just beginning - off to soccer.  We usually like being at the soccer field but Spring brings all kinds of weather and it decided to drop 20 degrees with wind and pouring rain.  Nora and her team did not skip and beat and played their hearts out.  They won by one goal and it was a good game.  

Off to Menards - like Home Depot but better - and then to my obligatory visit to Aldi.  

While Brian and Beth worked on a home project the kids and Russ and I settled in for a movie night and watched WICKED.  We loved the music and the story.  Nora and William know every song and most of the dialogue and made for a fun night at the movies at home.  

Will got a new toy at Menards - a Bubble gun - it is actually a really cool toy and att he end of the movie when the screen went black he blasted the bubbles and it made a really neat picture.  Hard to see but it was a fun conclusion to the night.

We went to Church with them on Sunday, listened to them sing in the Stake Choir practice and then home for dinner.  The weekend went so fast and we loved our time with them.  

SPRING PROJECT

We finally decided to build a path from the patio to our stairs up to the gazebo.  No grass would grow there and it was just a hard dirt path.  I found a great sale at Lowe's on the paving stones and we loaded 30 stones weighing 35 pounds each on the cart at the store, then we had to load them in the truck, unload them from the truck and then prepare the path by digging it out, leveling and adding a layer of sand before we laid the stones.   We realized if we had ordered online, they would have loaded them in the truck and it would have saved us a lot of lifting - my morning chair exercise lifting 3 pound weights doesn't hold a candle to that little exercise!

It turned out really nice and we are glad to have one more project completed in our yard.   

Every sprinkler head was working when we turned them on this month when the irrigation water came in.  That is a Win 

We had two extra paving stones and decided to put them at the entrance to our path to the shed - we haven't been able to get grass there either.  I started digging to prepare the area and level it and I hit a green box.  I kept digging and found the backyard sprinkler box buried  under 3 inches of dirt.  I dug it all out and cleaned off all of the wires and mechanisms.  We covered it with a reinforced metal plate and put the paving stone on top so if we ever need to access the box we can.  We would have never found it if we had not decided to put those stones there.  Tender Mercies when you least expect them.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

Easter has become the most spiritual Holiday of the year for me.  I love decorating my home with images of Jesus Christ, lambs, bunnies, and all things Spring.  In the past few years we  started a new tradition of celebrating Holy Week beginning on Palm Sunday.  This year a neighboring Stake (group from our Church) had a Palm Sunday Walk along the Murdock Trail close to our home.  They all gathered at the Park and walked with Palm fronds and sang songs of praise to Jesus Christ.  Over 200 people participated.  

We found out some dear friends from Germany, Henry and Elke Kosak, would be participating in the Walk.  We wanted to see them and so we went over to the Park and found them among all of the people and were able to say Hello and get a picture together.  Henry is the Director of Pathway International for Europe and they had come to Utah for General Conference, His Masters Degree Graduation from BYU and to see their daughter and her family.  Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor" - the Kosaks are our German neighbors and are making a difference all over the world to so many people.  

We attended a Palm Sunday Sing - a-long at our Church to begin our week of honoring Jesus Christ.  It was a special day as we studied Christ's Triumphal Entry.  

Monday we studied more about Christ cleansing the Temple when he found that His Father's house, a "house of prayer," had become a "den of thieves."  His act of bravery can inspire us all to do what is right, whether it is popular or not.

Tuesday we learned more about the Parables he taught of His Second Coming - He taught about the need for preparation, including the story of the Ten Virgins.

Wednesday Christ is anointed with Oil by a woman in Bethany.  She was one of the few that understood that Jesus must die. Her silent actions demonstrated her complete devotion as a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Our Youth had a fund raiser for their Summer Camps and I made a Lamb Cake to be sold at the Auction.  In Texas my baked goods were a hot item at the auctions and brought in a good amount of money.  I don't have the same track record here and chocolate chip cookies sold for more than the cute Easter cake.  The Joy came from the young boy who won the bid and walked around showing his friends "his Lamb".

Thursday Jesus spent the last night of His mortal life observing the Passover with His Apostles.  He instituted the sacrament.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, He began the atoning sacrifice, where, in agony, He took on the crushing weight of our sins, infirmities, and sorrows.  Partaking of the Sacrament every week brings me closer to the Savior.  

Friday we studied The Crucifixion - there on the cross, Christ felt the pain, sins, and suffering of the world again, including the agonizing separation from the Father when He cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark15:34)

We started  the day attending a session in the Timpanogos Temple.  As we had studied the time from Christ's Cruscifixion until His Resurrrection we wanted to share the blessings of his gospel with those who have lived and departed this life.  In 1 Peter 3:18-20 we learn, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; . . .For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

In a vision given to President Joseph F. Smith, October 3, 1918 as he was pondering on the scriptures in 1 Peter he wrote the following of what he saw: " . . .spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus Christ that lived in mortality; and who had offered sacrifice in the the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God; and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer's name.  All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand."  

Saturday Christ ministers to the Dead.  After Jesus died, His body was dressed and laid in a tomb.  But while His body remained in the tomb, we learn from modern revelation that His spirit ministered among the dead and organized His followers there to continue preaching the gospel to those who had not yet received it.  

Ruth and George Haney graves

Eric's Grave

On Saturday we visited the graves of my grandparents, parents and our precious baby, Eric.  There is no greater time than Easter to feel the Peace, Hope and Comfort that we will be united as a family in the morning of the First Resurrection because of that Easter Morn when Christ broke the bands of death for All Mankind and appeared in his resurrected body to Mary, his Disciples and many others fulfilling the promises of Isaiah - "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must "rise again from the dead." John 20:9

Jesus Christ Himself declared, "I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live," John 11:25

I have not ever shared a photo of Eric publicly - I only have a few photos of him.  He was only with us on earth for 6 short weeks and returned to Heavenly Father.  Christ's Resurrection has given me Hope that comes with the knowledge  that we will all be resurrected and our family will be together forever.  THIS IS REAL.  Easter has more meaning to me than any other Holiday of the year.  

Sunday we studied more about the scripture in Matthew 28:6, "He is not here, for he is risen, as he said".   His Resurrection broke the bands of death for all mankind.  Jesus Christ Himself declared, "I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."  John 11:25.

As I attended Easter services on Sunday I had the opportunity to partake of the Sacrament as instituted by Jesus Christ.  "I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.  And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.  And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you.  And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me.  And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you."  And then he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it.  And Jesus said unto them, "Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you."

I am so grateful to weekly partake that I might always remember Him and be a witness of Him to others.  

"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."  D&C 19:23

Emily always does nice things for Logan and Preslee on Easter.  After Church they opened their Easter baskets - No Easter Egg Hunt this year- missed having little ones around.  

Easter Scene

Easter Dinner

We invited Ryker and Yevheniia Webb - friends from Cumorah to dinner.  It is always such a special treat to have people over for dinner - to all my Utah friends who have huge family dinners on Sundays - you wouldn't get as excited as I am to have company.  I like to have people enjoy the food I fix and not just have the three of us eat after all of the effort.  Emily is the master at setting tables and creating a warm atmosphere and I provide the food.  It was a delightful afternoon and we loved having them in our home.  A very special way to end the week and conclude our Easter Week - just as we started with "loving our neighbors" - near and far.  

It is blooming at our home and Spring is finally here.  I am already looking forward to sharing our May adventures with you - it is going to be Great!  We are off to a great start!

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU - Enjoy your day!

The Grimmett's