Jim and Pat Part Deux

Sunday, April 30, 2017

69 and holding

We made it through another winter in Orem. Each General Conference we have the opportunity to get together with Missionaries from our missions, Here we are with our French speaking missionaries. We love getting together with other couples who love to serve like we do. This first photo is with Sister Anderson from our Philadelphia Mission.

Jim loves working and most of this winter he has been working on his solar project.

Most of all we love being with grandkids.

Here we are with Nikki at the capital building

Early morning serving at the Provo Temple with Karinas kids

Celebrating with Austin Lunds new calling singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Brothers helping each other, This winter 3 of Karina's boys broke 6 bones within 5 days of each other, Andrew, Calvin and Peter are in casts for 6 weeks!

Jake helping Izaak.

Izaak helping grandpa in the garden.

Jim and I celebrating my birthday

Watching Mariah run in track

Missing Valerie's 39th birthday

Missing seeing Victoria as she advancing in her dancing skills, OH How I miss!

Trying to get all the family together is a challenge. We tried to get the Utah kids and grandkids together this Easter.

Most mornings, I love being in the Sunroom reading and studying, These are moments that I ponder all the blessings that I have. I thank my Heavenly Father that I can be here at this time being able to experience many wonderful times with family and friends.

Monday, February 20, 2017

How do we lose the winter blues?

January and February are much more fun when we share it with family. We were in Michigan in the beginning on January, visiting with the Mercados. Since then we have been able to see most of the grandkids in Utah. Jim helped Shelley while she and Heber went to Hawaii. We have been helping Derek while Missy and Jake went back to visit her brother at Harvard. When Angie returned from one of her trips, we got to celebrate Milos birthday. Mariah has been working hard at breaking records in swimming. This weekend we are headed to St George to see how she fairs in the Utah State Swim meet. Most of the older grandkids have been skiing when ever they get a chance.

Here we are with Kallies favorite---puzzles. See King Nik! He is so happy that he can do the hard ones now.

Reading books is my favorite

The hammock is even used in winter

Mariah on the right, preparing to swim

Watching movies

showing our flexibilty

Nattie and Layla are tumbling

Twister helps with colors and body coordination

All this fun and I need a nap

Jim and Derek share the latest news while I clean up and pass out!

The best news this month is the change in Pathways, It is now BYU Pathway International. I think! The name change means that all the church colleges will work together for students around the world in the Online college education program we have been serving in for the last 5 months. We love serving and helping.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Mostly Snowed-In in January

We get most of our work out clearing off our walks and driveway. In the process, we made a big snow fort.

The sun finally came out, but it looks like we will have our big pile of snow for a long while. We have learned that our North facing driveway doesnt see the sun. But, lucky for us our south facing Sun Room does get sun!

Watching Nik and Peter play dress ups

Mariah winning at Swimming

Pathway students who we also served with in Philly

The Provo Temple always brings a Refuge from the Storm

Here we have Izaak and Nik and Peter dancing before they get in the hot tub.

Making cookies is always fun. We love being here and being able to share our love with our family. This is our greatest JOY.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

New Year/ renew blog

Our visit to Canton Michigan with Val and Jason, Victoria, Karissa, Austin and Erik during Christmas 2016

At our first Family Home Evening for 2017 we set goals. One of mine is to get this blog going again.

Here we are with the grandkitties enjoying their new kitten Luke. Each of the kids have their individual strengths. We loved playing Cover your Assets with Austin, Erik loves his cars, Karisaa tried out for a play and got the flying monkey part. I loved seeing her cheers and cartwheels. Victoria is great at her dancing, she has beautiful arms and her lyrical moves are divine. We helped get her bedroom ready for an update with new paint and furnished. Jim, as usual worked hard finishing the guest bedroom floor with Jason,

For me, seeing Valerie at her teaching at Red Bell was the best, she let me teach her 3 year olds yoga/dance and surprisingly, they followed me! It made me feel like I still got it.

We got to celebrate Karissas 10 birthday, It was well planned. We all got to go to the local Radio station and learn how it worked and Karissa got to be on the radio.

So, All and all it was a great way to ring in the New Year and set goals for 2017. As always I love being with Valerie and her family. THANKS for the great memories.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Christmas 2016 Tra la la

Tis the week before Christmas, All is well Tra la la.
Returned home from our Family Search Mission in Philadelphia.
We rang in the new year at he Mummer's Parade in Philly,
And all the scanning at the Historical Society, which drove me silly.
Never the less, we reached our goal way before planned,
Jim estimated 7 1/2 million names on
1800 books,number of records scanned!
New York City, Statue of Liberty, Hershey, Liberty Bell & other places East,
Visited by many of our family along with a great many feasts.
After completing our mission, we thankfully returned to our Utah home,
Repairing, revisiting, Reunions, no more desire to roam.
The online college program "Pathway is our new service mission call,
Students attend Institute, a gathering, but, that's not all,
It is mingling with those who desire to learn, but didn't have a chance,
serving with other seniors and always learning the DANCE.

Merry Christmas to ALL