Beautiful Week

Monday, what a day. I had to get lab tests done this week and because of my schedule I had to have them done at a lab I do not like. By Tuesday morning my phone was ringing off the hook with bad news upon bad news from the doctors offices. I was not dealing well with the news and allowed myself to get into a very bad mood.

Then, I had 2 very special visitors that changed everything around for me. Thank you Colby and Michael!!

Colby Turner and Michael Tippery came over and said they would mow the lawn. It was a very big job with lots of dandelions and tall grass. I have been worried about it because I am not allowed to use gas engines or tools with electric cords because of the defibrilator I have. I did not know how I was going to get the lawn mowed as Sam is in Provo Utah, Phillip is working a lot of very late hours, and Don does not have the health to help at this time. What a predicatment and these two young men came to my rescue. I am so grateful for their help and enthusiasim. I am only sorry I am not very good with a camera. This surprise started on Tuesday and they came back on Thursday. What a blessing.

Wednesday started out a little grey but certainly looked up when I saw the sight below. I rode Trimet bus down to 30th and Division, then walked from there to the Colonial Heights (old Portland Stake House) building where the Family History Center is. I enjoy helping people there on Wednesday morning and usually feel real good walking to the building from the bus stop.

I was cold, the day was wet when I started and the weather was sort of super heavy misting as I walked. I was not in the best of moods when I looked up and saw that beautiful pink dogwood tree with the blue lithadora around its base. The grounds looked magnificient to me then -- what a joy.

Sam called and had some good news for us. He is well and I am much happier after hearing from him and hearing a little of the happiness back in his voice.

Just a little more about this very special place. This is the Stake House I went to as I was growing up.

We used to attend Stake Conference and between sessions have a picnic lunch on the grounds. Parking was very difficult around there, especially during conference -- we could not get home and back in time for the second session -- that was WHY we had picnics there.

I saw leaders of the Church there (usually sitting on chairs on the stage), attended lots of dances and activities there, was baptized there, bought our first house in the ward boundaries of that beautiful building, and now have the opportunity of helping people with family history in that building.

Pink dogwood is a favorite plant of some of the Garlick ancestors and BLUE is my husbands favorite color. What a beautiful memory the picture above represents for me.