May 1st - Our greater family gathered at the Portland Temple for the marriage of granddaughter Whitney to her fiance' David. This was followed by picture taking among the tulips and lunch for 64 people at an Italian Restaurant. I'm challenged at remembering foods with Italian names, but it was a tasty meal served family style. There were two appetizers, five entrees and three desserts. Terry and Linda sat next to us at the table and they didn't want to go back to Milwaukie and then back to Vancouver again, so we invited them to spend the rest of the afternoon at our place. That evening we went to a reception held at the Marshall House on Officer's Row. Everything looked delicious from the chocolate fountain, fresh fruits, beautiful cupcakes with swirled frostings in pink and orange, to the wedding cake--two tiers, chocolate and vanilla. More family to visit with.
May 2 - It was our stake conference and eight out of ten wards were given new boundaries. Our ward lost about 50 people and gained at least 150. We remained in Salmon Creek.
May 3, 4, and 5th - Merle and I packed boxes and some furniture to send to our new place in Arizona. And we went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch on Wednesday.
May 6 - Merle and friend, Greg, left for Arizona in Greg's pickup and pulling a covered trailer. They called that night from Stockton, CA. I had an appointment to see my eye surgeon and she was pleased with the results of the cataract surgery. I also saw my regular doctor and he was pleased that my blood sugars were still in good control. I talked to Steve in NC and received a Mother's Day gift in the mail from Karen.
May 7 - I had to go get a fasting blood test before I could eat this morning. It was finally a warm, sunny day! I bought some flowers for my flower box and planted them. Merle and Greg called from Arizona. They went east via I-10, stayed at a motel in Peoria.
May 8 - This was the day I was by myself all day. I wrote a piece for my blogspot and found some more history on my James Stephens Brown family to type into my notes, and watched my favorite TV program, The Wind at my Back. I had one visitor, son Ben, who brought me a beautiful bouquet of pink, white and purple cut flowers for Mother's Day.
May 9 - I went to our newly reorganized ward today. All the benches were filled and we had six to eight rows of chairs filled in the cultural hall. Jayman K. gave a wonderful talk about her mom, and Bryce C. gave a very good talk about missionary work. It was his farewell talk before leaving for his mission to Washington DC. After church I went to Mark & Sherri's and had dinner with the family--Brandon, Nathan and KayCee (who just came back from a national gymnastics meet - got 5th place in floor exercises and 15th in vault). David & Kristan and family came over in the evening and brought me a beautiful flower basket to go in my front flower bed. TJ was ordained a Deacon today (delayed due to conferences etc.) Merle called. They were approaching Las Vegas--left AZ about 2 pm. Mike and family called and gave me the details of Merle's brief trip. He made arrangements to have the two trees watered and fertilized, so we can have good oranges when we get back down there next winter.
May 10 - Now I'm doing catch up with emails and checking out blogspots. My second surgery is scheduled for May 18th. At church yesterday I WAS FULL OF WONDER. I COULD SEE THE NUMBERS FOR THE HYMNS, I COULD SEE THE FEATURES ON THE FACES OF THE SPEAKERS, I could read the hymnbook that the next person was holding, and even the individual knitted stitches on the sweater in the row in front of me. I even drove home from church without wearing any eyeglasses, and read the street signs clearly! It was truly a miracle as I have lived a good part of my life in a fog and faking it if I didn't recognize someone. And it will be even better when both eyes are working together. What a GREAT MOTHER'S DAY!
