~chestnuts roasting by an open fire

January 10-27, 2018

Before:

We have loved and enjoyed our fireplace for many years!  We are planning on moving
back to Alpine for good (famous last words 😉) so we thought it was time for a change!

Had to remove the old . . .

Bill had to build up the empty space to hold the stones and the mantle piece.
We went out to Heber to track down the perfect old piece of wood that would serve as our new mantle. We purchased a 14' piece, had it cut down to 8' and hauled it back to Alpine.
It cost $140.00 but it was so worth it (and I'm sure we will find a use for the other piece)!

  This piece of wood is 100 years old and came from Alaska (and has a
number of nail holes that will be showing on the front side)!

Bill did such a great job!  He had to cut and measure and then lift the
big board up to place it on the very top all by hisself!  Quite a chore!

Then our Mason, Brandon, came and began working! After the big stone was placed
it seemed to catch my eye a little too much so I asked him to break it up a bit.
Unfortunately, the cool part was cut off and what was left was a square that I wasn't too fond of.

I really know how hard it is to make all the puzzle pieces fit correctly but it was still bothering me. I had already expressed my duress over it and told him I would just put my faith in him to make it right.

Thank goodness he made the pieces smaller as it makes a huge difference!

Almost competed!  Brandon was fast and efficient!  I'm getting so excited!

The "AFTER" which I LOVE!  Good job, Brandon!

Truly Amazing!

If you need a Mason I would highly recommend Brandon.
He was fast, efficient and cares about the customer and his craftsmanship!

#skymiles

January 23-25, 2018

Going to visit Billy in Thailand/Cambodia! Can’t wait to see him!

  I got up at 3am, Tuesday 1/23/18; picked up Robbie at 4:30am
and he took me to the airport (bless his heart)!
Arrived in LA for a 4 hour layover!
 
Left LA at 11:30am and had a wonderful flight to Shanghai Pudung, China.
Billy used his skymiles to upgrade me to a cozy, comfortable, spacious seat! 

 
#doesntgetbetterthenthis #sugardaddy #wontwanttogetofftheplane

I got a "pre" take-off drink (oj & 7up) and a goodie bag full of, well . . . goodies😊!
As we landed we were asked to remain in our seats because a quarantine crew was
coming on board.  I either understood incorrectly or everyone ignored the announce-
ment because they all began collecting their bags from the overhead compartments.  I
just stayed in my comfortable seat as I was going to have a 9 hour layover in China, so no
rush! Another announcement came on so everyone went back to their seats and sat back down
while they carried a person off the plane . . . Interesting!  Arrived a little early in China at 5:15pm (Wed) instead of 5:50pm (2:15am UT time). Got to my next gate and settled in for the 9 hour layover. Left China at 8:50pm (5:50am UT time).  Judy (my personal flight attendant 😉) explained the seat belt procedure then brought a delicious freshly squeezed glass of orange juice (of course!)!

#Diedandgonetoheaven
 
I'm all set for this flight! I've got my scriptures, nook, oj, headphones (brought the nicer ones from
the previous flight), moist washcloth (full size), and steroid drops (I've been instructed by Dr Faber, who I saw on Monday, to increase my drops to every even hour for the next two weeks - this
worries me just a bit cuz sometimes steroid drops will cause the eye pressure to go up.
Monday my right eye was 8 and my surgery eye was 11 - which is great as they
want it in the 7-24 range [a week and a half ago my surgery eye was 17]).

We arrived in Thailand Thursday (midde of the night) 1am (Wednesday 10am, UT time)!

Arrived!

 Lost luggage! So my luggage never showed up but as I was waiting for it I noticed how
they have these marked circular lines around the carousel that everyone is instructed to stay
behind so everyone can see their luggage and are able to grab it when it comes around (also
for those of us whose luggage doesn't show up they can see that easily too)!  I do love it!

Doppelganger - Jon Hamm

It's been a long haul - about 27 travel hours (6am SLC departure Tues. Jan 23 - 1am arrival Thailand Thurs. Jan 25 ~ 14 hour time change) - but with the amazing seats Billy got for me it just turned into a fun 2 day journey! I got a taxi to the Novotel Hotel at Siam Square.  Billy has been delayed and will be arriving Friday afternoon.  I arrived after midnight Wednesday (officially Thursday early AM). The taxi's have gotten a bit more expensive and the toll alone was $2.25 which is a lot higher then before.

Get On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man

January 21, 2018

Self Reliance Devotional (2nd Semester)

Setting up for the Devotional

Steve and Jeanne Anderson made the night a great success!

President Trumble gave the opening remarks

We've got a great group of kids this semester along with some super returnees!Yummy Roast Beef Sandwiches, all kinds of chips, cupcakes, carrots & dip and bottled water!

~Right Place

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Let's Facilitate Some Training
This is Bill and my 2nd semester working with Steve and Jeanne Anderson (who are the most amazing leaders over the Self Reliance Program).  Tonight was our first meeting with a few of our YSA's (young single adults) down at BYU; they're getting trained on how to be facilitators at the Wednesday/Sunday SR classes.

 

Billy and I bring refreshments (usually 20 kids on Sundays and about 150 on Wednesday night which include the Institute kids) and decorate the tables 

(that's mostly my part)! Tonight we had Ice Cream and Apple Pie!

This was at the end of the evening - the table didn't look too exciting by this time!

Jeanne was helping distribute the BYU Creamery ice cream!

There were only 5 kids that showed up tonight, a few had excuses and the others must have had something come up or forgot.  We'll have the huge kickoff Devotional this Sunday with, hopefully, about a hundred kids.

Kierren, our London Church Leader, asked if I got a new hair cut - 

I just pointed out a few of these split ends 😂😉😝!

~this Is the life

January 16, 2018 

This little Mia Maid, Brianna Phelps, is now all grown up, 
married AND a massage therapist.

We had so much fun living in Thailand and 

being in YW's with this adorable, spiritual and fun girl!

Almost 10 years later and now she has developed more of her 

God given gifts and talents!  And now I am the lucky recipient! 
And after the most amazing massage - relaxing and therapeutic ~ 

we were able to visit, laugh and reminisce!