WHAT IS WORSE THAN FOOD POISONING?

4 June 2017

Happy Happy Birthday to our sweet little grandson Lincoln, who his Grandpa Ron affectionately has called ‘Abe’ from day one. He is three years old today and we couldn’t love him more. When Hannah was born last year and we were with Alisha’s family in Texas for a month, Lincoln became our little buddy, especially Grandpa’s.

Happy Birthday also to my cousin Michelle, my friend Joyce, and our Aunt Verla. If I miss wishing you a Happy Birthday in my email, please forgive me! I always think of someone that I should have acknowledged AFTER I hit the SEND button. You know how it goes. And congratulations to all my friends/family that were part of the Primary Children’s Hospital Telethon over the weekend. Good to have behind you, and I’m sure a success! I still feel like there is no better way to spend discretionary time than helping children in need. Bless all of you!

We have loved seeing all the graduation pictures on Facebook. What a fun time. Dr. Seuss’ book “Oh the Places You’ll Go” always come to mind. It’s hard to believe that the little children that were just toddlers when we moved into Kaysville are graduating. And nieces and nephews and cousins . . . a wonderful time of life.

So Monday, still in Ireland, we visited the Blarney Castle in Cork, and we did it . . .we kissed the Blarney stone, and we have pictures to prove it, although not very flattering. You feel like you are standing on your head in an awkward acrobatic position while someone shoves your face into a stone that millions have kissed. I prayed I didn’t end up with impetigo or something worse. Nevertheless, I have been blessed to “go forth with the Gift of Eloquence” by Sir Charles St. John Colthurst of Ardrum, Inniscarra, says the certificate and legend. I hope it comes in handy with my many writing assignments! We also visited The Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle, and even drove to Tipparary. . . . Whew! That was a long way . . . J

Blarney Castle

Kissing the Blarney Stone

Beautiful Gardens!

The Rock of Cashel Castle

Monday evening, as we waited at the Dublin Airport to fly home, we grabbed a quick bite to eat. We were so glad to be back to our nice, clean, comfortable flat, as the accommodations in Ireland were not our favourite. We were also anxious to get back to the office and get back to work. Not long after we arrived at work Tuesday morning I began not feeling well. I made it until about 3pm, then we went home. I thought I had a flu bug of some sort. We were only home a couple of hours when Ron said, “I don’t feel well either.” Long story short, without the unwanted details, we spent the next two days in our flat suffering from food poisoning which we are sure was from the airport food. So, what’s worse than food poisoning? When you and your spouse both have it at the same time. ARG! A TRIAL OF PATIENCE for sure! We passed. We are still speaking. 

When we mentioned Ireland in last week’s letter, Dan and Tana Luke mentioned a favourite movie of theirs filmed in Ireland, “Leap Year” with Amy Adams. So whilst not feeling well and bored out of our minds and looking for things to pass the time that didn’t take any energy, we Netflixed the movie and watched it. It was fun to see the sites in Ireland that we had just visited. And, it’s a cute movie! For Dan and Tauna, remember the first room she rented in the hotel that was upstairs in the Pub? Well, yup. That’s Ireland. That’s why we were so glad to get home. And we won’t be eating jacket potatoes with bacon and cheese again anytime soon, or EVER! It was probably the bacon that got us.

We were so glad to go back to work on Friday. We didn’t feel 100%, but we had a bad case of cabin fever! Malcolm happened to be on holiday with his family this week, so it was a good week to be sick if there is such a thing. We were able to monitor emails from home and postpone what we needed to. Just another little tender mercy.

Also Friday, we woke up to a Facebook post that announced another missionary coming to our mission from our Kaysville ward in October! We will be excited to see Bradley Wheeler in Birmingham!

Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael and Michelle Allen and their family. They drove from Oregon over the weekend to Salt Lake City to say good-bye to a sister-in-law who’s time here on earth is very short. Sister-in-law will leave behind a husband and two young children to be cared for by family. Not a fun way to spend your birthday Michelle! But it is typical of their family to reach out to those in need. It’s what they do, and they are great examples to us. Once again, the ugliness of cancer rears it’s head. I HATE CANCER! Can I get an AMEN on that?

Saturday we had the flat cleaned and the sheets in the washer by 10 am. We planned our errands around a 1pm Baptism of a cute little Primary girl. Ron made it, and finished the errands, but I guess I wasn’t fully recovered. I only made it to the first two stores, then he brought me home and finished the rest of the errands and baptism without his companion.

Today I am finally feeling better and have a little appetite back. The Primary children were cooperative, because I bribed them, so that was helpful. The two counselors in our Bishopric were released today and two new ones sustained. The new first counselor and his wife returned just two weeks ago from a mission in the Philippines. They reported to the High Council the next Sunday. As they were walking out of that meeting, the Stake President asked to meet with them and called him to be in the Bishopric. Not even a week to rest! The second counselor has been serving as Executive Secretary. He is a newlywed, I doubt he is more than 25 or 26 years old. The mission field!

In Fast and Testimony Meeting today, we had two baby blessings. One was a darling tiny girl that had the darkest skin ever! I think her dad is from Africa and her mom from China. After the blessing, Dad sat down, and then stood up and went over and handed the baby to Grandma. I never know when “the flood” is going to begin, but that started the wave of homesickness and the tears. I remember when Hunter was blessed, and after the blessing Zack sat down and then they turned around and handed Hunter to me . . .deja vu. We sure do miss the kids, oh yes, and their parents too. J Sundays are the best, because we get to Facetime with them all.

We love and miss the rest of the family and our friends too! We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve, and for our safety and protection. We appreciate your prayers for us, and pray for you too.