Tuesday, July 29, 2008

A good driving award?!

I guess the warning on Friday was an indication of what is to come. On Sunday I ran out to Pleasant Grove to see Ashley, Sam and Baby Benjamin. On the way home, I pulled on the freeway, and a half way between the next exit, I was pulled over by the State Police. I didn't think I had done anything wrong. The officer came up to the passenger side of the car and I said "What is the problem?", in a nice voice of course. He said the window tint on my new used vehicle was too dark for Utah and New Mexico. He had a devise that measured the amount of light the darkness let in, it measured 17 percent. Stupidly, I asked if I had to have all of the windows replaced, No he answered you just have to have this tint removed and replaced with a tint that allows 43% of light in. He took my drivers license and gave me a warning. I hadn't really noticed that the windows were tinted so darkly until he mentioned it. Anyway, I need to find a place that will replace the tint. I haven't been driving since. Saturday I just did Cinderella chores, for a change, I finished my ironing. Many people don't like to iron. I really don't mind, I like the smell of the hot iron on the material, (weird huh??) and it is calming for me to iron and think, besides the satisfaction of seeing all of the beautifully ironed clothes. You can sure tell how old I am when I think it is cool to have ironed clothes.
Saturday afternoon, my roommate came home from a camping trip with a friend. She was elated as a man she had met had asked her to the concert at the conference center and to dinner. She was so excited and happy, rushing around to get clothes, shower and dressed in one hour. The afterward, she was quite disappointed with the evening. The ups and downs of the dating scene, or highs and lows, mostly the pitts of that scene. You must admire her though, she has been trying for several years, I hope it works out for her somewhere along the way.
Now it is Tuesday, I am working on the Sunday School Lesson for Sunday, I am fortunate enough to get to teach it. I always learn so much more when I have to try harder. DUH!.
Take Care,
much love,
Zgranee

Friday, July 25, 2008

New Happenings.

Life has been very busy lately, extracurricular activities only. On assignment, I have been very slow. They tell me I do things too fast, I should take longer to do them. Anyway, I asked to be transferred to a place where I would have more work to do. One of the new managers wants to have a his own secretary so there wouldn't be room enough for me here anyway. I talked to our HR person and then to the mission president so I will have a new position soon. I told him I can come here and work for a half a day or so get my work done, and there will be an extra person to answer the phone. It will be kind of sad, I am just getting to know everyone in the departments and where they go and where they are located. Audiovisual is located on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 27th Lower level, temple, conference center, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and Motion Picture Studios in Provo. The temple studios have been working to have the temple sessions in all of the different languages that are spoken in all of the different temples dotted around the world. (Just in case you were wondering what audio visual was doing in the temple.) There are many exciting things going on. One of the men here in our department was assigned to the First Presidency and will be there anytime they are being filmed. (Kool assignment!!)
Yesterday was 24th of July Day Celebration. Traditionally called Days of 47. In 1847 Brigham Young first arrived here in the Salt Lake Valley with the pioneers. There is a huge parade and many activities going on. The parade is said to be second to the New Years Day Parade we have been watching for years. Anyway, Marissa ran in the 10K race (Approx 6 plus miles) and I walked in the 5K. I was able to cut off 4 minutes from the Lavender 5K so I think that was an accomplishment. Marissa has ran for the past 2 years and didn't want to miss it this year, just because she has twins coming. She said she ran the first 3 miles, walked one, ran one, and walked the last one, and stopped for 3 pit stops. I was very proud of her as she is getting pretty round and starting to waddle (don't tell her I said so). She was a bit tired and took 2 naps but she has survived it well. Yesterday, Mason fixed dinner and about 20 people came to their house. He is a darn good cook and made a mean potato salad. Tonight is a huge concert at the conference center with the Osmond's and the Tabernacle Choir. Bruce says it is going to be quite a glitzy show. I was lucky enough to get some tickets and we are going.
On Tuesday night, Linda Baldwin came by with two of Annette's kids and spent the night. It was great to see them, and the kids are young adults now and very fine young people. Annette had been a very good mom to them. It was great to see Linda too, we just chatted, a thing we haven't been able to do for a long time. It was very nice.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I was in the Family History Department in a training session on the New Family Search. It is really great, but I can see that I have much work to do on my Dad's side, looks like a good challenge for me. I was also trained on Indexing which anyone can do, even non-members of the church. All you have to do is sign up. (lds.org; Family History; Help to... indexing; click and sign up, easy as that) If you like sitting at the computer, it is something worthwhile to do while sitting there.
Yesterday afternoon, I went to see Ashley and Sam and Baby Benjamin. I found a cute fun thing for Benjamin to sit in and Ashley and I put it together. When we finished I remembered Marissa asked me to pick up lettuce and tomatoes for her. I took off from their house in a hurry, and half a block away was sitting a police man. I nearly got a ticket, instead I got a good talking to. Then I was really running late. Whew!!!!! You didn't know a person on a mission would be having so much fun.
I at least completed my preparations to go to Ruidoso, for my nephew Jordans' (Kathy's son)wedding in Ruidoso on the 23rd of August. I had to get permission to leave the mission. Now I have plane tickets and hotel reservations. It will be nice to see everyone.
The summer is passing by too quickly but I have enjoyed the warmer weather. The flowers around temple square are beauiful. They are now getting big and full and I am so happy to be walking by them every day. I hope you too are having a good summer filled with new sites, smells and lots of family and friends.
Love you,
Zgranee

Friday, July 18, 2008

Guess what?!!!

I had the privilege of going to Fetal Films with Marissa yesterday, what a great thing to see those two babies moving everywhere. Their hearts beating was what really got to me. It was sooo special. Well anyway, what you really want to know is what is baby A and baby B. We have one of each. Marissa is 17 weeks along and we are hoping to stay put until at least Thanksgiving. This is quite exciting. Will write more later.
love to all,
Granee
PS: shopping here we come .

Monday, July 7, 2008

Post Holiday Letdown

Today seems awfully slow and dragging. Many of the employees here are on vacation so my work is extremely slow. July seems to be a vacation month in Utah. Most of the General Authorities are on vacation. Today, we did have a surprise visit from E. Dickson and the Mission President. Mission Presidents (MP) don't get vacations. My Houston MP was released the end of June and I am sure is home by now. He is waiting until his son returns from his mission on the 16th of July to have their Sacrament Meeting report. We (our small Houston group) are planning on going to Provo for the Sacrament Meeting and a short luncheon afterwords. I have been on my mission almost 9 months. The time has passed by so quickly. I told Marissa, that her time pregnant would pass by very quickly too. I am sure she doesn't feel that way when she is miserable. This week she is going to Phoenix to spend a couple of days with her dear friend Sarah. She and Sarah have been friends since middle school, I think it is great to be able to keep a school chum that long. When I left high school, I never saw many of the people I knew again. At class reunions I would see many of my class mates, but not the special ones that were my friends.
Weekend before last we went to the Lavender Days south of Provo. Marissa and I ran in a 5K, I came in under one hour, I was amazed. Now Marissa wants me to do the 10K on 24th of July, I think I'll opt of the 5K and try to get in better shape and do a 15 minute mile rather than a 20 minute mile. Mason took pictures of Marissa and me at the finish line, maybe I can get him to give me one to post, so you will know for sure I was there. Anyway, it was fun and we were sure tired. Marissa did run and then walked back to where I was, we ran down hill, ha! ha! ha!. The same day that we ran the 5K, was the day of Sam's Golf Tourney. Chuck drove up from Silver with Jeff and Katie. They played and had a good time. Katie won a lime green golf bag. I don't know what the dollar amount was they made but I think there were about 25 teams. It was a very generous thing that gentleman did to help the kids. BY the way, I think they are doing better all the time. They are finally getting used to the schedule, and as you might guess, it is difficult to find reliable help on a consistent basis to come help with bath and dressing in the AM and PM. There is also someone to take him to therapy daily. Whitney has been staying there helping, this has been good as Ashley can get a good nights sleep occasionally. Whitney will wake up in the night and turn Sam so that Ashley can get some uninterrupted sleep. Their baby boy is so precious and is growing in leaps and bounds. He is so alert and so cute.
This past 4th we went over to Bruce and Vivienne's for a delayed birthday party. It is so fun to go there and see all of the little ones. They are all growing and learning new things. Marissa and Mason took turns holding Heather/Daves new baby boy Eli. He is still quite small, and they loved it. It is good practice for the two coming.
I was able to talk to Taylor, he was having dinner with LH and Jean. He is in Silver working again and staying w/Aunt Gertie. I was feeling bad because he would be alone on a holiday, so I was happy to hear he was with family. Helen had to work so her 4th was mostly tiring. She is doing well though and I am so pleased with her progress. Denise and George are still not quite sure what the future will bring for them as the restaurant thing didn't pan out, I am sure they will find something else. Not much exciting just a little lull. Tomorrow, Marissa and I are going to get a manicure for her birthday present. A manicure for me and a pedicure for her. I think I would prefer a massage as I awoke in the night with a cramp in my left foot, I couldn't remember when the last time I had a leg cramp. Poor Aunt Gertie, she was getting them nearly every night. Be Happy!!
Love,
Carroll
PS Karen, take care of yourself first, we can have a long blog later.....