Grandpa J, EYE Hope your recovery is Speedie!

Stacy & Pierce were my hero's on Thursday. They were so sweet to delivery my Dad a little Speedie Recovery Package. Thanks you two!

Grandpa took off the pirate patch on Thursday and started using the eye drops and is feeling a bit better. He said he could even see the outline of Gram when she was sitting across the room from him. That's a good thing.

These are the cute Eyeball balloons Pioneer Party made for him. I love that place. Here is their blog address http://pioneerpartyandgift.blogspot.com/ they do the most fun and clever things even from across the miles.

Slick as a Whistle

Dad met with Dr. Howard on Tuesday and he showed him a model of an eye and just how this surgery should have gone and how he can fix it.

Laurie and Mom took him to the new hospital in Murray for the surgery this afternooner. The doctor came out afterwards and said that it had gone "Slick as a Whistle". That is one of those phrases that dad is known for saying. It's a very good thing.
Dad's nurse in recovery turned out to be the daughter of one of Mom and Dad's good friends. She took extra good care of dad which was very nice. He's trying to find his sunglasses in this photo. Thanks again Laurie for being so helpful this week.

Our Pioneer Week Edition

My Dad after his surgery last Tuesday. What a handsome Pirate you make Dad!

My Dad before his surgery last Tuesday.

Jake and Tatia did some dove tailing, Pool Time and Study Time.

Dick with Jakes help, was able to hang his TV on the Wall. He's one happy camper now.

Stacy and Pierce found a beautiful place to camp! WOWSERS!

Scary Jeep Trails..... Be CAREFUL !

Pierce and Stacy's amazing campfire and their yummy subway dinner

All Ready for Pioneer Tacos, yummy!

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Our little Addison had her first check up with her doctor this week. The doctor thinks she is wonderful and she is now weighing in at 7lbs 131/2 ounces and has grown an inch to 21 inches long. Grow Addie Grow!!!!! Becky is a GR-8 mom and Brooklyn is being a really extra nice big sister and Ricky is working hard at his new job. All is well in Mansfield this week. Hooray!
Our Upstairs Granges
Tatia has been in study mode this week and took her first test on Wednesday afternoon. She should get the results in the next day or two. She had studied and studied and felt good after she finished the test. She and Jake were able to join us for Ward Temple night afterwards and that was extra special to have them be there with us. Tatia takes her bi-lingual exam this Wednesday and so she is still studying like crazy. Jake was able to observe another Rat’s surgery this week. Always an interesting thing to watch. J
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
After spending the past few weeks packing, the Carmichael Thiot’s are waking up at their new address this morning. I remember when I have moved wishing I could be put to sleep for 2 weeks until it’s all done and all put away. When I talked to Charlie last night, they were all moved in except putting Little Miss Keelie’s crib together. Charlie had some great friends come and help them and only put 10 miles on the moving truck. We are looking forward to seeing pictures of your new abode.
Our Orem Thiot’s
Pierce’s weekend fell during mid week this week. He had Wednesday off and so he and Stacy took a vote and decided that another camping trip would be fun. They packed up the Jeep, removed the top and headed up American Fork Canyon. It was much less crowded during the week and they had a really good time. Pierce build an amazing fire without lighter fluid this time, his scout masters would be so proud of him. They also got to go to the FC Dallas Soccer game when they were playing Salt Lake this weekend. I haven’t heard who won, but I’m sure he and Stacy had a lot of fun
Our Elder New York Thiot
“As time goes by, I’m realizing my mission is going way to fast. I can not believe it is already July, and I have been in NYC for almost 6 months. It’s too crazy to believe. Everyday goes by like a flash, and weeks are feeling like days right now. I feel like I’m writing this email every other day now. It’s crazy. But the Lord blesses those who serve, and I can see the blessings all around me.” You can read the rest of Elder Skyler’s weekly letter by clicking on his Blog.
We Plano Thiot’s
I feel much like Skyler this week. It seems like yesterday that I was writing the Thiot Times. This week has gone by in a flash. I think that is how busy weeks go. I’ve been blessed to be able to have kind of a serving week. I’ve been able to take some dear sisters to doctors appointments and tend some sweet children and serve in the Family History Center and the Temple too. I love weeks like this when I feel like I can be an instrument in Heavenly Father’s hands. We sure had a nice Pioneer Day on Friday. I had found an old photo of our kids on Pioneer day about 20 years ago. They were sitting in a covered wagon outside of Frontier Pies in Sandy, Utah. That brought back the memory of the Wonderful Navaho Taco’s that place served. Tatia and I voted that we would make them for dinner and call them Pioneer Tacos. Ooh, they were so good. I was wishing we could have invited all of you to come over too. We were able to have our sweet friend Jill come join us. YUMMY!
Dick has been busy this week as well. He and Jake went to see the movie Angels and Demons. Tatia and I voted to not go but to stay home and watch Trouble with Angels, an OLD movie with Hailey Mills that we both love. Kind of the same theme, he he he. Jake helped Dick install a wall hanger for Dick’s birthday gift of a new TV. I tease him when it’s on with the Ranger Baseball game on, that it feels like the life sized team is in our room. YIKES! He loves it! On a more serious note, my dad had surgery on his eye this week. When he had cataract surgery a couple of years ago, the new lens never worked. They went in to try to fix it and thought it had gone well. Saturday morning he woke up and could tell that it was floating around in his eye. Not good. Back to the doctor he will go on Monday. You are in our prayers dad. I hope you will be doing better soon. SLY Robynn

Happy Pioneer Day Ya'll!

You don't have to push a handcart,
Leave your family dear...
Or Walk a Thousand Miles or More
To Be a Pioneer....
You Do have to have Great Courage,
Faith to concour Fear
And work with Might for a Cause that's Right
To Be a Pioneer.....
Happy Pioneer Day Ya'll!!!!!!

An Univited Sunday Dinner Guest

This is Frank. He is a falcon. He came over Sunday for dinner, no we didn't invite him, he just came. He also brought his own food. We aren't sure who that food used to be.

This was all that was left after Frank the Falcon departed. That was some lunch Frank!

What a great surprise!

I went to my mailbox and what did I see, a big brown box, just for me.

Have you ever seen such darling red shoes? I almost wish I could wear them inside out. They are just as cute inside as outside. Thanks Laurie!

Visitors, Hula Dancers & Miracles

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
We had a visit on Saturday from the Mansfield Thiot’s. It was Addison’s first visit to our home. We loved it as you can only imagine. Brooklyn was nervous when she arrived and was afraid she was going to be left at our house and it took her a while to remember she likes coming to our house. Aunt Tatia and Uncle Jake took her outback to the swings and they blew bubbles and had a good time. Ricky started his new job on Monday and Becky’s parents went home on Tuesday, so Becky had her first week with the girls alone. She did wonderfully. Addison goes for her first check up tomorrow. I think that doctor is going to be crazy about her. She is so sweet and darling. We all love her.
Our Upstairs Granges
Tatia finished her certification training on Wednesday and has spent the rest of the week studying for the exams that are this Wednesday. I’m sure she is going to do great. We have spent some time playing Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Practicing the questions which could be on the content exam. That was a lot of fun and No, I am not smarter than a 5th grader. I’m glad to report that Dick, Tatia and Jake are all Smarter than 5th graders. I’m more like a 2nd grader which is probably why I like 2nd graders so much. Jake has been working in the rat lab this week. He got to help perform surgery on a few delightful rats and we are happy to report the surgery was a success and they are healing up nicely with their thyroid pumps.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
This week Mackenzie and Charlie posted a short video of Keelie dancing on their blog. Oh my goodness, I think I’ve watched it 48 times. I love watching that tiny girl dancing. She has got some sweet skills and is such a little doll. I can hardly wait to see her in September when they are planning a trip our way. Horray!!!! She has surely grown up a bit since I’ve seen her in April. I can’t wait to have all 3 of these little granddaughters together.
Our Orem Thiot’s
It’s been a good and busy week in Orem for Pierce and Stacy. Pierce has worked both lunch and the dinner shift at Red Lobster on most days and Stacy has enjoyed spending time with family and babysitting sweet cousins who live so close by. She’s had fun making frozen strawberry jam which is the very best jam in all the world. I’m watching for a good sale on strawberries to restock our supply too. Yummy!
Our New York Elder Thiot
This week was truly miraculous! I am starting to believe it is impossible to write everything I want to when I write these emails, so I will do my best, but so much good stuff is happening, it will be pretty much impossible! I can hardly believe we are midway through July now, time is flying by way way waaaay to fast. This week was filled with learning opportunities, chances to grow, miracles, and amazing miracles. Everyday of the week was memorable, and so I think I will go and tell the story day by day:
Monday: It was p-day and so we went and played soccer with about 15 other missionaries, and while we were at the park, we ran into a group of guys who wanted to play. It turns out they has meet missionaries before, and they were interested in finding out more about the church, pretty amazing. If you would like to read about the rest of the week, check out Elder Sky’s blog.
We Plano Thiot’s
We’ve had a good week. One of the highlights was Saturday night when we were able to attend the wedding reception for Jordan Taylor and his beautiful bride Charissa. She is from Hawaii and the reception was very Hawaiian, hula dancers, roasted pork and even some fish and poi. YUMMY! Dick and I both loved seeing so many people we loved and decided this is what heaven is going to be like. It was a very fun evening. Now onto a brand new week. I always love the beginnings of new weeks and look forward to making many more good memories. I hope you have a super one too. SLY Robynn

Flat Tires & Free Slurpee Edition

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Ricky has been home for the past two weeks on Paternity leave. He starts his new job on Monday morning. What a blessing it has been to have these two weeks with Becky and Brooklyn and Addison. He’s been a great help and has really enjoyed getting to spend more time than ever with his girls. Becky’s Mom and Dad are here until the 14th and they are surely enjoying getting acquainted with Addison and loving spending time with Brooklyn. We met them for dinner last night and it was so fun. The only bad part was that Addison slept through the whole time and just stayed in her little car seat. I so bad was wishing she would wake up and need her Grammy to hold her. I will get plenty of chances I know. I will be patient. Dick and I were talking on the way home about how blessed our married kids have been with the wonderful in laws they have who love them like their own. I can understand that as we have sure been blessed with the sweet daughter in laws we have and our son in law too. It’s a lot like adding a new baby to your family, the love for them comes with them.
Our Upstairs Granges
Tatia has had a really busy week. She’s taking a class to become certified to teach elementary school. The class is at the Arlington Convention Center which has some great perks and some not so great. The great perks are that it’s right by six flags over Texas and the Ballpark in Arlington and the Little League ballpark. She has enjoyed eating her brown bag lunch over there and watching those kids play ball. The not so great part is the fact that it’s 45 minutes away and she comes and goes in traffic. On Saturday, when she was ready to leave, her car was driving badly, a fellow classmate rolled down his window and told her that her tire was VERY flat. Oh great, it was only 105 degrees out. She was grateful that Jake and Dick and I were just across the street at On the Border waiting for her to come join us for dinner. Thank heaven for Cell phones. Jake and Dick were able to change her tire and we stopped at Pep Boys on the way home and had it repaired. Not to be down on Pep Boys, but when we stopped at Walmart on the way home and looked at the tire, it was almost flat once again. So another changing of the tire, this time Tatia got to help and get her hands dirty too and on Monday we will try it all over again. What a tender mercy of the Lord to have help so close by.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
On Saturday morning, I called Charlie to remind him what day it was. He said it was July 11th. I said, Ok that’s right, but say it differently. Why, it’s 7-Eleven, or otherwise known as Free Slurpee Day all across America! Horray! Charlie was out with his friend Bryce on a new mountain bike trail. Charlie loves to ride his bike and has found a friend who loves it too. Early Saturday mornings have become a fun tradition to find a new trail to explore. The Sacramento area has some beautiful spots and they are enjoying finding them. I think Mackenzie and Keelie are pretty smart to enjoy sleeping in on Saturday mornings and staying in where it’s cool. I hope you 3 found a 7-Eleven who still had some slurpees left.
Our Orem Thiot’s
Pierce is back to work full time at the Red Lobster in Orem. He was made the Professional Server on Friday nights shift. I’m not sure that is the real title. Anyway, his job was to go around to all the tables and make sure everybody was satisfied with their meals and that they were being well taken care of. I can’t even think of anyone on the planet who could do a better job of working the crowd than Pierce. Stacy’s had a busy week helping her mother in law, (Me) try to learn how to do a BLOG. Dick who is light years ahead of me technologically, has been thinking the Thiot Times would be great on a Blog. Then you would have to have your inboxes filled with them and could just look if you would like to. So we are going to give it a try this week. Cross your fingers and Thank you Stacy! You are a great helper.
Our New York Elder Thiot
This was one amazing week! I don’t know where to begin, or end, but it was stink in' amazing! This week has been one filled with running all around Brooklyn, and even a trip to Queens. We taught people all over the place, and delivered a lot of DVD's and Book of Mormons as well. We stayed very busy. Also, we went to Brighton Beach to deliver a Russian Book of Mormon to a man who ordered it, and it turns out he is a professor of religion and is a genius, and had heard a lot about the church, but never meet any members. We brought him a book, and talked for about 30 minutes, but he wants us to come by again, which is really exciting. Very cool man.
We Plano Thiot’s
This has been a mighty speedy week at our house. We had a fun dinner date with four little boys who Dick home teachers their family. We went to Cici’s Pizza buffet. Need I say more, lots of pizza and games, it was a hit. We all had a good time. Tatia and Jake tended four little kids on Thursday and Friday. They were four very nice kids. I was thinking when Tatia came with them, that maybe in a few years, she and Jake will drive up with their own kids who will be equally as nice and equally as well taught and trained. It was fun to get to know those kids better. Tatia bought a wading pool this week which we have been loving. Truly the best way to stand the heat of Texas summers, is if you are soaking wet. Thanks Tatia and Jake! I had a miracle this week that I need to share. I go walking in the mornings with 3 other fun gals and I was walking closest to the curb and stepped in some slippery mud. Instead of falling like I was afraid I was going to, I could feel somebody holding me up. Thankfully, there must be angels assigned to follow behind 52 year old women out walking in the mornings. For that I am most grateful. Have a good week ya’ll. SLY Robynn

What a Wonderful Week

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Monday was such a great day for our family. Little Addison Mae arrived at 3:44 in the afternoon. Ricky and Becky became parents of two darling daughters and Brooklyn became a big Sister. She is way impressed with Addison as is their dog Rocky. After 24 hours in the hospital, Becky was released to come home. Hospitals are not a place to get rest with a new baby. She is getting much better service at home with Ricky. Brooklyn got to stay at Grammy’s for a couple of days and as you can imagine, we loved it over here. It’s been lonesome with her gone. On Friday night, Ricky’s airconditioner quit blowing cold air. It was 102 outside and the house was warming up quickly. He called a service man and told him, there was a 4 day old baby there and could he hurry. He was 10th on the list and by 9:00 in the morning, the service man arrived and made the repair and they are back in a nice cool home. Thank Heaven for service men who work so hard. We took a July 4th picnic to Ricky and Beckys and Ricky grilled the yummiest burgers and delicious grilled corn on the cob that Becky makes the yummiest topping for. We all got to take turns holding the girls and there was even a swim party out back in their fun swimming pool. Becky’s mom, Nana Diane arrived on Saturday night, just in time for the fireworks show in Mansfield. She will be here for the next 10 days. What fun she will have getting to know our little Addison. As soon as they placed her in my arms, she had a very special spot in my heart. Having 3 granddaughters is GR-8!!!!!
Our Upstairs Thiot’s
It’s great to have Tatia and Jake back home after a wonderful time at Jakes little sisters wedding. Jake came home on Sunday evening and Tatia came home on Wednesday evening. Tatia was a big help in both the pre wedding preparations and the after wedding clean up fun. She knows how to help and is such a good worker. We missed her but I’m glad she was able to go and help. It was fun to have them as part of our July 4th Celebrating this year. We started off the morning with a flag raising at the chapel. Then Brother Memory spoke about America and the blessing it is for us to live here. He served in Viet Nam and did an excellent job of sharing his love for America. When we came home, Tatia and Jake made the most patiriotic waffles you’ve ever imagined. They made flags out fo them using strawberries and whipped cream for the striped and blueberries for the stars. YUMMY! Thank you so much.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Charlie started off the week by getting his new contact in the mail. I’m glad it got their so quick. Charlie has gone to the same eye doctor since he was 9 years old. We have followed doctor Bunch around town and I think we kept going there because he has such an easy phone number. 422-2020. He was kind enough to order a new lense without Charlie having to see an eye doctor. Thanks Dr. Bunch! It’s been a lot of HOT in Northern California. Thankfully, Mackenzie’s family has a lovely pool and love to have them over swimming. Keelie loves the water and is a happy girl playing in the sprinklers or swimming in the pool. Charlie sent some new pics this week. You will enjoy them in the smilebox.
Our Orem Thiot’s
Pierce is back on the schedule at Red Lobster and enjoying being back to work. He had Friday night off and so Stacy and Pierce took advantage of their newly acquired tent, one Pierce used to use on Scout Camp outs, and headed up American Fork Canyon for their first camping experience. They were sure glad they drove the Jeep as the camp site was on the other side of a “river”. They had to drive through the river to get to the camp spot. Pierce LOVED it and they had a fun time. How wonderful to have those beautiful Utah mountains so close by for camping adventures. They are getting settled into living in Stacy’s Aunties basement apartment. They live in a culdicac with LOTS of Stacy’s family. Pierce loves going outside and always having lots of kids to play with. They love him a lot.
Our New York Elder Thiot
How is everyone doing? Today is a beautiful day in Brooklyn, NY! This week was amazing! I can’t believe all the cool things that happened this week. We were able to have lessons and talk with all of our investigators, and they all continue to be amazing. Some of the highlights were on Tuesday night we had a super good lesson with Mendy and Falis and her daughter. The spirit was so powerful, as we read from the scriptures and talked about the gospel. She is doing so much to change and become what Heavenly Father wants of her, and she knows how important it is to do! I’m really excited to see the change that is going on in her life. On Friday night, we watched the Testaments with the Russians, and it was so powerful! I love that movie, everyone should invite some friends over, find a copy and watch it. The end is so powerful.
We Plano Thiot’s
This has been an especially wonderful week in our family history. When a new baby joins your family, it brings a little bit of heaven right to earth. I got to hold her when she was only a couple of hours old. Heaven was very close by as I could tell how much our Heavenly Father loves her and how much trust He places in us to care for and teach these little ones all they must know to return to Him someday. Becky makes being pregnant and delivering babies almost “fun”. She is darling and does so well. What cute parents she and Ricky are. We had a fun July 4th we had. It started early with a flag raing and ended late with the fireworks show with lots of fun in between. Our ward had two little boys baptized with made it wonderful. Dick let me choose what we would do to celebrate. I chose a family picnic and going to the Ranger Baseball game and fire works show. Dick got us seats in the shade and with a great breeze blowing all evening as it was warm. The fireworks were spectacular and the company wonderful. And now we have a new week before us. I hope you all have a great one. SLY Robynn