A busy week

I keep wondering when I'm going to get around to all the posting I need to do to get past 1994 - but I can't get life to put itself on hold!

This is the week that was - started out with Founder's Day last week - Brenda did a great job, but I didn't get any good photos. Suffice it to say that Marcie was a dynamite "Supergirl" in a dance routine featuring Clifton teachers! And Buffy Daignault was awarded an Honorary Service Award - or maybe it was Lifetime Achievement - it was a biggie, whatever it was!

Buffy is now Program Director - we miss her in the classroom, but she does a great job as an administrator.

Then we went to the temple with our friend Dana - she shares a birthday with Eve and Grandma Terrill and we've all become great friends. She joined the church 13 months ago.

Then we had Ward Conference with the Chinese Ward - it was great - I love those women!

We also had Ward Conference in Duarte 2nd - and I finally have a secretary to take Brenda's place - maybe you girls remember Yukari Fautz from Girls' Camp days! I have a great presidency - we have a great time together too!

Dawn's good friends - who are also now neighbors - both became foster moms - we are loving the babies - two little boys, just two weeks apart in age. Their mom now lives with them too.


Beth and I were selected as "Employees of the Month," an honor the Chamber of Commerce bestows each month.

So I guess I can say that I've seen my name in lights now!

There was a presentation at the school board - Dawn came with the kids - and Porter was a very entertaining fellow - asked my V.P. if he wanted to come over to the house after!

Dawn, ever thoughtful, brought flowers for both of us - and York Peppermint patties too! (Dawn is a woman after my own heart!)

Porter persuaded Randy Medina to play with him - I think he wore Medina out! (Porter is now into his superhero capes - I took over the old ones that had been Harry's as a boy - and Porter is thrilled!)

So tomorrow we are off to the temple again, there's a bridal shower for Michelle Moore on Saturday a.m. and I have to work at the temple again Saturday night for the woman who is subbing for me when we go to Moab, and I'm subbing in Gospel Doctrine on Sunday - and spending moments in between combing the internet for the perfect Mother of the Bride dress - and before I know it, it will be Thursday night again - and I will be at the R.S. Birthday Enrichment that Temple City is doing with Mountain View!

And we are getting ready for the annual Ides of March celebration!!

It never ends!

Thank goodness!

Backwoods Barbie

Is anyone as excited for this new album as I am?
Cick here to listen to samples.

More on 1994!

From 1992 to 1994, we got great letters and photos from Harry - he was having a great mission.

Here he is teaching a lesson.

Here he is preparing for a baptism.

I think the p-day dress rules were a little different back then!

Harry had a guitar on his mission too.

And this was probably a branch Christmas party or something.

The time finally came to come home, however, and we went to the Burbank Airport to get him. We had the van then, so we all went together - it was a fun ride.

We couldn't just greet him though - we engineered a scavenger hunt so he found us one at a time.

He ended up finding us last.

Together again. We rode home together to a meal at our house where we spent the rest of the evening talking and listening to more great stories about Bulgaria and Harry's experiences there.

I'm thinking I look awfully young here - but then again, it was 14 years ago!!

A generation passes away

Bruce's Grandma Dorothy Bolander died today. She had lived a long life and was ready to go, but it is always a little sad to see a time come to an end.

I think I only met her at the wedding, but any relative of Bruce's is a friend of mine! I know Bruce had many good times with his Grandma Dorothy. We extend our condolences.

Juxtaposed with Hannah and Robbie's good news, it is easy to see the so-called "cycle of life" and how it all just keeps on going on!

(Bruce's dad Bruce Sr. is the other person in this picture.)

a fiance... i haz one

Well, in case you missed it (or didn't see it coming already), last night Robbie and I became officially engaged to be married in the Los Angeles temple on June 28th.

So now I hope that you all will refrain from leaving hinting comments on my blog.

:)

For Esme with love and . . .kisses!!

And best wishes for a happy day today!!

This is Esme's 2 year picture - and it's one of my faves!!

She still has the great smile!!

Old Photos - Old Memories

Getting ready for his trip to Oakland, Dad got out his mission slides. We really need to get these digitized so you can see them - they tell a great story.

On the last day of his mission, Dad and his comp visited with some gypsies to give them his old suits he wasn't taking home.

And a gypsy fortune teller read his palm - "You are going on a long journey. You are going far away. You are traveling with a beautiful woman!"

Two out of three isn't bad!

(note: Dad is not wearing old baptismal clothes. He is wearing a white tee shirt and khaki pants - that show white in the photo - these are old, remember!!)

S,M,L

Me: So how was Sunbeams? Did you have fun with Porter?

Annika: Porter didn't go, he was having a nap.

Me: A nap?

Annika: Yeah, mumble mumble was holding him.

Me: Who?

Annika: Uhhhh, Medium Harry?

Me: Ahhh, yes.

"A long time ago . . ."

Dad flew up and back to Oakland, CA today.

Maybe I should back up and mention that a couple of weeks ago, Dad got a letter from a woman he baptized 40 years ago May 21st - when she was a 12 year old girl in Iquique, Chile.

In this photo she is the shorter girl between two taller girls in what looks like the back row. I'm sure you recognize your dad! The man in the brown suit, opposite Dad in the picture, is Elder Puerta, Dad's last companion on his mission.

When President Hinckley died, Elisa Castillo, that was the girl's name, called her mom to tell her about it - her mom, dad and other siblings who were old enough were also baptized that same day. The mom is the red head in the picture. Somehow the conversation led to talk about how they had joined the church, and Dad's name came up. The mom said she still had his address.

So Elisa wrote and fortunately there are still Terrills at the address Dad had when he left his mission so the letter got to him. Elisa said, among other things, that she had a daughter on a mission in Oakland who was having a birthday this week and could he go see her?

Well, one thing led to another and Dad flew up and back today - the above photo shows Elisa's daughter Carla - Hermana Sierra - at the Oakland Temple Visitor's Center.

There is so much more to this story - and I couldn't get out of work to go, so Dad told me all the details at dinner - and he must share them with all of you.

So entreat him to do so - my nagging isn't very effective anyway!

Suffice it to say it was a wonderful, rich, full, spiritual, emotional day!

And I feel privileged to have heard the story.

Happy Birthday

to David!

Late Breaking News!

President's Day Weekend was a busy one here in Monrovia - if you weren't here - we missed you! If you were here, maybe you'll see yourself in the pics to follow!

Hannah and Robbie got in just a few minutes before we got home from our shift at the temple on Friday night. Saturday a.m., Bonny brought the girls over so the B's could have their anniversary weekend!

Jake and Amy were at Harry and Dawn's - they came last weekend to escape the cold!

As is often the case, when we go to Harry and Dawn's, we enjoy their own personal backyard at Rec Park!

Jake helped Harry "demo" the old front yard, in preparation for the "new" front yard to go with their new house.

Here's Amy - looking like a soccer mom!

Jake getting it all on film!!

Indoor activities included coloring!

Hannah was pretty serious with her cat picture!

Hannah and Robbie do some supervising. Annika insisted in sleeping in the crib - and sitting in the high chair!

Saturday night Dad, Hannah, Robbie, Harry and I hit the Chinese New Year Celebration at the Stake Center.

Food and some fun entertainment was enjoyed by all.

Sunday found us around the table(s) since there were 22 of us all together! The group included Hannah's friend Dane, who came with Karl. Also Susanne and Ellie came with Grandma T.

Greg and Noah were there.

Mary, Grandma C. and

Donna were there. Harry, Dawn and kids came too.

Tried for a grandkids' shot - with uneven results!

Also tried for a "Great Grandmas' Shot" with even more uneven results! But they were all having a fine time!

With two pianists in the house, it was inevitable to have "Heart and Soul" ringing from the rafters!

Monday a.m. found Hannah and Robbie heading back to Utah - Hannah wasn't eager to go - I said, "why, there's really no one here for you to see," and she said, "40 degrees are here" - meaning I suppose that there are 40 more degrees here than there are in Utah!

After Hannah left, the Ogilvies came to play - and a fine time was had by all - as is usual when the Bolander and Ogilvie girls get together!

The girls juiced oranges, cleaned out the play house, drew with chalk on the sidewalk, colored, ate snack, swung on the swings, found a million reasons to run the hoses and get things wet, and had a fine time!

Dawn had worked the night before, so Harry came over with his kids - the grown ups visited while the kids played - a nice way to spend the holiday.

Annika was the queen of the snack brigade!!

And I have to tell you the funny story that will live in the annals of Terrilldom for a long time - at dinner on Sunday, Hannah and Robbie came in and sat down, Robbie put his arm around Hannah and said, "Hannah and I have a little announcement to make. (Pause by Robbie) Be sure to keep your silverware, because we are having dessert."

Dawn was beside herself - she came rushing to the doorway of the kitchen - she was in supervising the kids' table - and was obviously not satisfied with Robbie's announcement! I wish I had a picture of the look on her face!

We had a lot of fun - and if you weren't there, we did miss you!!