10/30/22 Hello Hermana

 How are things in Chile?!  

Things are going well here. SUPER busy and we made it through IRONMAN -- they shut down half of St. George for two days for it!

Fezzik and Butter cup from princess bride

Let's see...what's exciting here...Jenna's homecoming was nice...I think I already told you that. Julene made peanut butter bars...Julene HATES PB!!!! I made fudgy bars cause I knew she hated peanut butter. I asked her WHY? Why did you make PB Bars when you hate PB SO? She said...then she doesn't have to worry about eating it, cause she hates it! Silly girl!

Shelly and Theo Fink at church

Love my church baby!

Monday I had a "redo" on my mammogram. Failed the first one.   They found a little lump (after smashing my chest practically inside out.   Seriously, if you have to look that hard is it really anything to worry about?!  It wasn't!!! They did an ultra sound after a second mammogram scan and said I was fine. Just come back in 6 months and make double sure. I sometimes think they do this to get more money. Becky had that happen at her last scan and it happened to me a couple of years ago. 

Sadie Geary
Next door neighbor

Carnevale's were here for swim and pizza night Monday. Kids are growing up! They just barely started piano lessons two weeks ago. First lessons since you quit them. Their teacher is Jill Rae's mom. (Jill and Ben sold their house and moved to Minnesota or North Dakota or somewhere far far away and really cold!) Jill's mom had recently moved into the trailer park to be close to them. Hmmmm.  Sad!  Jenna started BYU in August at 17 years old and now has to travel a LONG way to go home!

We played pickleball on Wednesday night with the Casey's and dad pulled a muscle and has been in pain ever since. Boo!

Mindy (my replacement) and her husband and kid all got covid so she was out of the office this week. I got to go work upstairs for a couple of hours with Hana (a fairly new girl) and that was fun. Time goes quickly in the court. I don't really want to go back for reals but it's fun to "play" court every once in awhile!

Friday dad covered Dixie playoff football game and they lost in the final minute -- a tied game.  Snow Canyon lost too. So we're down to Desert Hills and Crimson Cliffs. The next games are at SUU next weekend so hopefully I'll get to go see Holly for 8 hours. (Sounds like she is going to be working so maybe I'll get to do laundry with her!!!! 

Saturday dad had a remote at Santa Clara Bucks Hardware. They had some yummy food and we spent 2 hours hanging out while he put some bits up on the radio. Ben and Laura came and hung out for about an hour with us. 

Amazing spread at Laura's house
Chili is not pictured

Dad did the announcing for the Ward Halloween Party last night. He went as Fezzig from princess bridge and I was Buttercup. It was fun. Our ward had lots of great games, food and prizes. They know how to throw a party. They invited the whole neighborhood - there were probably 500 people there.

I had an early morning meeting this morning and then church. Sadly, there wasn't anything real extra special to share with you!  Our lesson was "Is the gospel written in my heart?". The YW teach our lessons now. It is good for them. If they take it seriously.  But sometimes, it is challenging!  Today the girls had some fun cute ideas and games and such but their delivery was not real spiritual. They hadn't read the scriptures and didn't know what they said and it was just a lil off!  

We had the primary program today and the kids were super cute!

Our opening hymn was Israel, Israel  God is calling. I have summarized what we were supposed to learn today in YW, but I think the idea was majorly missed!

Jackson Squires
Playing car races and winning!

Israel means a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. Pres Nelson, 10/2020, gave a talk about letting God prevail. It says the gathering of Israel is for those who CHOOSE to let God be an important influence in their lives.  The gathering is happening now...as we do missionary work, temple work, family history - we are building faith and helping gather Israel. 

Expand your perspective and seek the eternal. There is room for everyone who wants to embrace the gospel.  He invites ALL to come unto him. Black, white, bond, free, male and female. 

Ask yourself, are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Will you follow commandments, keep covenants? Allow His voice to have priority? 

Once you decide, other decisions become so much easier. What to watch, what to wear. How to spend your time. Who to hang out with. You know what you want to accomplish and what kind of person you want to become.

Be consistent - personal habits - prayer, study scriptures, seek personal revelation. 

Challenge from the prophet: Make a list of all that the Lord promised to do for covenant Israel. You will be astounded. Ponder the promises. Live and watch for those promises to be fulfilled in YOUR life. 

You are amazing and I'm so proud of you for working hard and letting God prevail in YOUR life! You are a great example and I'm proud to be your mama. Love you lil Hermana! mom

Thomas Squires
What a cutie!

10/24/22 Ola!

 #Worst.mom.ever! (me, not grandma Laurito!)

Sorry you made it to pday morning and no letter was in your box. I thought of it a ka-jillion times but never stopped to take the time to write this weekend. I'm gonna try to hurry and get it done before my walk this morning!!!

It is October 24, 2022. Gma Deanna Jane Laurito would have been 82 years old today. Happy Birthday to Grandma in heaven.  Sure love that lady. I know you don't have many memories of her but she was a talented wonderful mom. 

She got up for early morning seminary with me at 4 a.m. and drove me to church - which wasn't particularly close. She often had a hot breakfast ready. She would sit and wait an hour all the years I couldn't drive myself. Which was a lot because you can't drive until you are 17 in NJ. 

She made me prom dresses (that had mixed reviews...one I loved, the other was TOO big and I didn't love...but she spent hours trying!  haha)

She was so talented...she painted, stain glass windowed, cake decorated, sewed, did calligraphy, sang. She figured you could do anything you wanted to do. Just try it. And if it didn't work try it again until it did. Cause you could! 

She was funny and smart and loving and generous and kind and patient. She waited her whole entire married life for my dad to convert to the gospel. And then several years after her death he finally got baptized. She had heartache about that. She wanted the priesthood in her home and she never had it except for visits from ward members. 

She dealt with so much heartache with my brother David and his shenanigans. He was born addicted and even though he was adopted at a week old he already had big problems that she struggled with for years and years and years. Imagine a child that fails to thrive (he was tiny and wouldn't eat and grow as an infant); fussy; etc. Figured out smoking by 5. (Cousin Danny taught him and then he would steal them). Drinking and drugs to the point of addition by 10. In and out of rehabs by 12. Violent. Anti-social terrorist. All the while grandpa worked in other states and countries so she had to battle him on her own. 

She struggled with depression and loneliness but most people would never know because she always smiled and laughed and made things happy and better for everyone.

So today think of Grandma and her quilts and the love that she would wrap around you and the laughter that would fill your ears and the encouragement and pride you would feel from her. She was so sad to get cancer and have to leave us all. She wanted to be there for your growing up and your weddings and your grand babies. And I suppose she is. Just not where she wanted to be. Now she is your angel grandma that protects you from afar. She loves you so much. And so do I!!!!

Cancer sucks. #Breast Cancer awareness month. 

We had a pretty fast week last week. All the usuals - pickleball, chamber luncheon - with Senator Chris Stewart. I had several meetings. One of them was going to the 222 National Guard breakfast and recruiting some guys for my veterans day program. They are getting old -- these guys were all 45-85 (more toward 85, there was probably only a couple under 60). They really love that they are getting honored. 

Yesterday we went to Jenna's homecoming. She did a great job. They had a nice luncheon afterward and then we came home and two and half hours later we had dinner. So stuffed!  haha

My spiritual thought for the week comes from Julia Fink's talk in church yesterday. I got to have my church babies without mommy or daddy yesterday - they spoke!!!  Their grandma and aunt and cousin came but they mostly wanted to hang with me. 

10/17/22 Double trouble coming again soon! 👼👼 !!!!!!! Fun week!

 It's Sunday afternoon already!  I hope your week has been a good one!

We had a busy week with some fun mixed in.  Monday was Columbus Day -- which means I got to stay home from work (but Dad didn't!!!)  I did lots of chores and things and then Dad got off work early to hang out with me. We went for a drive in the convertible -- well kind of. We went out and got it washed and the sky looked really ominous toward Pine Valley...which is where we were planning to go. Decided against it and instead went to the bread store in town and drove around Washington Fields before dinner at Riggatti's with Gpa. It was a fun little excursion...different than our usual day for sure. Monday was also Sandy Casey's (59th) birthday and she chose to spend the evening with us playing pickleball!! Yeah!

Tuesday we had a potluck at work...only since it was a holiday Monday just about everyone forgot!   So it was like a super LAME potluck!  haha.  (I was one of the ones that forgot!)  So when I went in and realized I saw that they just had potatoes and chili and nothing else and went home and grabbed some steamed veggies, smoked shredded pork, french fried onion, cheese, and half a cream cheese cookie pie. Lunch was about 40 minutes late...but we had a little variety anyway!

Tuesday evening there was a free concert at the Dixie Center associated with the Senior Games...the Million Dollar Quartet Concert -- so not the show but just all the fun music from that era. It was actually really good. Grandpa came with us. And Kelly and Sandy too. 

Wednesday Dad went to Zion Diagnostics to have an ultrasound of his chest -- this was for AG Approved, not cause he was worried. But it did give him peace of mind. His heart is in perfect health! Yeah!  

Then because it's fall break this week for the school he had Wednesday night football. So he went and did a ball game. YW was canceled due to fall break so I had a free night with nobody to play with! haha.  The next-door neighbor kids came and asked if they could play in the pool.  So after dad left I entertained 5 little boys for 45 minutes. They LOVED it. They don't come over often so it was a real treat for them. Once they left I went for one hour and played pickleball with dad's Wednesday night group. 

Thursday evening we stayed home and took it easy - Dad was tired from the game the previous night. So we just hung out in the pool and hot tub and had quiet dinner and games etc.  Dad had BYU tickets for Saturday...and AJ really wanted us to come up...so we decided to see if we could muster up the energy to go north!  We invited Gpa -- and surprisingly he said YES!!!!  

Thursday afternoon Holly called and said she was experiencing tummy troubles again so I told her she could have my big bottle of Miralax.  I set it out on the porch and Erik was in town and was going to come by and grab it. 

Friday morning I got up and my weights were gone off the porch. (I have two sets that Julia and I have been using every day in conjunction with our walk.) I couldn't figure out what the heck happened to them. I texted all the neighbors and put a post up on the neighborhood page. About half an hour after I posted on the neighborhood page Holly texted me that SHE had my weights!   Erik thought they had been put out with the medicine for her to have as well!  

On the bright side, it got me texting with all my neighbors and we had friendly conversations on all sides. The mom of the boys next door thanked me for letting the kids swim and we talked back and forth for quite a while. 

After work on Friday we all got in the car and headed north. We stopped and picked up Becca and AJ (they drove to Bryce's and then left their car there). B&M didn't want to go anywhere so they didn't join us as we went further north to visit the babies and D&K. You know what happened there!    -- We will find out for sure on Tuesday but they put two babies in so if all goes well there are two babies in still and we're having twins again by June 10!!!!! What?!  I'm so glad you answered the phone and could share that moment with us!!!!  So EXCITING!  And it was funny cause dad and gpa didn't get it about the shirts at first!

We headed back to Provo and spent the later evening with B&M and then headed to bed. Had a little time with them in the morning and breakfast. Then they went to a baby fair they'd been planning to attend and we (AJ, GPA, DAD, AND ME) went to the BYU game. Our seat was only one row away from the very back row!!!! That was a LOT of climbing!  I thought we were gonna wipe out GPA and DAD -- but they made it!  AJ and I went back down a couple of times to get drinks and buy dad a hat. We went early and by the time the game ended, we were there 5 hours! And BYU lost.  Boo.  But it was a fun excursion and I'm glad I went.  Dad found a great place to park (a handicapped lot) and so future trips should be easier if he decides to go again. 

After the game, we got B&M and went to Don Chuy's in Spanish fork and had a yummy dinner before heading home. Stopped in Cedar City to see E&H and pick up some weights. And then got home after 11 p.m. last night. Whew!

Had an early meeting this morning so left at 6:30 to walk to church this morning. Talked to Dallas part of the way over there. 

All in all a really good week. 

Our lesson today was taught by Rebekah Francis. One of her questions was Why do you believe in Christ?  She seemingly had everyone stumped.  She is a very patient teacher and lets everyone think about it for quite a bit. Then she moved on. At the end of the lesson, she ended 15 minutes early and didn't know what to do next. Since I'm the grown-up in charge I figured we shouldn't wrap it up just yet and I told the girls I'd asked google why Google believed in Christ...isn't that what we do with all our problems now?!  And I'd found an article and wanted to share it with them. I highlighted the 7 reasons the author had stated for believing in Christ and then bore my testimony that I also believed in Christ and was thankful for the peace and joy that Christ's influence had on my life. I asked if anyone had any experiences with the blessings of having Christ in their life. Dani Blaser had sepsis last year and was really really sick (like Dad...she got it BEFORE him but the same illness).  She talked about how she had blessings and the peace and healing that they brought. She then talked about how she had gotten her patriarchal blessing and how it told her things about herself that she didn't see or know...and we talked about how the blessing might help her to have those traits as she strives to be like Christ. It was a really neat 10 minutes with the girls and the spirit was strong. 

We encouraged the girls to prepare and get their blessings and to remember to put Christ first in their lives to keep the peace and joy but that if they forgot and hit rock bottom...sometimes that is what it takes...to remember to turn back toward Christ and seek the light. 

Tonight's dinner is with Randy and Kay, Dad and us. E&D are off on an Elderhostel trip this week. Next week Carnevale's are coming for Monday night dinner!  YAH!!!! 

Carter Pollock did his mission farewell today and he is headed to Puerto Rico

. So that's cool!  He starts home MTC Nov 1. 

Love you and am excited to hear from you tomorrow!  

10/09/22 Tales of Woe...haha

I 'm gonna start backwards this week with today!  Tongue and cheek tales of woe...meaning...it's a sad story but also not really. It's mostly funny. 

Holly just texted me that the guy before her was "sick" and didn't do his portion of laundry at work today so she's got quite the pile to do. (picture attached).  She asked if I wanted to come up and help her!  (It's Sunday and we have company coming in a little bit but I'm considering it. I have off tomorrow and it would be fun to see my Holly Dolly. But I'd likely have to drive to Cedar and back alone because dad has to work in the morning and doesn't want to be out late. 

Church was a little wacky today. Last week was general conference and they decided to make today fast Sunday...not a big deal, really. But then they also decided to switch all the classes to Sunday School instead of YW.  Only we didn't know!!! So we had girls prepared to teach today and they couldn't since it was Sunday School. AND they are busy next week and out of town with family so they can't just do it next week instead! So now we have to find all new teachers for next week too!!!! Sigh!  

ALSO...whenever there is fast Sunday there is no ward council meeting. Somehow I didn't get the memo on that either. SO I walked 2.7 miles to church to find it completely empty and closed. SO I sat down by the dumpster (I don't know why there?! haha) and ate my granola bar and yogurt and then walked 2.7 miles home. To find Dad wasn't feeling well and didn't go to church. (He switched medicines from his pramopaxil to stop the jumpy legs to gabapentin and the gaba isn't working well at all. So his legs jump and kick and keep him up all night. He switched Monday so we've had a really rough sleepless week!)

I enjoyed church anyway...my Paul and Nicole came and sat by me. I had the Amazon Christmas Catalog and they LOVED looking at the toys. (What kid doesn't love that? Seriously I remember looking at the Sears catalog when I was a kid!)  About half way through I told them to start picking out what they thought the other one would like. It was so cute to see them seriously consider their sibling and then pick something. And then the other one's face would light up and say OH YES!!! I LOVE IT!   Adorable!

I'm making bread and potato wedges for Sunday dinner and they look delicious. Dad's working on steak. Having Eldon and Diane and Gpa. E&D are then gone for several weeks. 

We've had a really fun busy week -- Played pickleball Wednesday and Saturday.  Wednesday there was a pretty big crowd and "extras". What that means is that 3 people sit every round. The people that sit are the ones that just won on the king's court. I figured out that if I won my first game and got to the second court and then lost every time I would never have to sit.  So that's what I did. 

Our 34th Anniversary was Tuesday. Dad was the emcee of the senior games pre-opening ceremony dinner. So he played music and talked and hung out from 5-7 p.m. There were about 1000 people there. They served icky hotdogs and chips so we didn't eat but then went over to Angelica's afterward for dinner. Everyone was like...oh that's such a bummer you have to work on your anniversary.  I was like...what are you talking about?!  They threw a party with 1000 people to celebrate us!!!!  And there are fireworks afterward too!!!   I'm including a picture of me and Mrs. Senior Universe. She is so tiny!!!!

Wednesday I went to the dr to get checked out cause I been feeling a little off. They ran a bunch of tests and the results are I'm going to die.   Well, I mean we all are, eventually, right?!  So, me too!! Just not any time soon.  My hormone levels are low (menopause) and my sugars were slightly elevated. Dr. might put me on some meds to help with the first thing. I need to behave better on the second. Otherwise I'm fine. Just getting older. 

We had a fun activity for YW/Primary Wednesday night - they did an indoor carnival and it was pretty well done. I had fasted all day and was so hungry I ate dinner and then two menchis ice creams before the activity. TWO!!! I never do that!   It was 6-7:30 so that's why I could play pickleball afterward that evening!

Thursday Diane and I went to Lin's market and made freezer meals together with a group called citrus pear. They charge you a fee and then you assemble healthy dinner stuff. It was fun. We'll see if we like them and how far they go -- I may or may not do that again. 

Friday I was supposed to take Sheryl out for her birthday and she cancelled an hour before. And asked me to reschedule 3 weeks from now. I was pretty frustrated. I had heated the pool all day and not arranged anything else. By telling me so late I didn't have time to find another activity. She said she didn't feel good (She's mad at her neighbor and it's making her sick). I'm trying to be understanding but I'm not gonna lie...I was kind of ticked off.  The day before she had cancelled her food order from Walmart after calling me multiple times to set it up because she didn't have money. I told her I was not comfortable with fronting her money every month and she could only buy what she had money for. (Now this sounds very heartless and mean since I can very much afford to help her out...BUT she is sitting on a completely paid off home and two cars that she doesn't drive. A little refinancing and she would have more than enough money to last a lifetime and she won't do it. She just keeps having others assist her with no compensation crying poverty. But it's just not true!!!) I told her I would be happy to help her figure out how to access her money but I'm pretty sure she will never take me up on it.  SOOOOO yeah. Sorry to unload on you on that one!  I want to help and I'm happy to help but she makes it so. dang. hard!

So anyway! That's my tales of woe for the week! Honestly it was a really fast good week and it was fun to have interesting things to do each evening last week. And it felt good to get lots of walking in this morning too!

Can't wait to talk to you tomorrow. I'm off so let me know what time you'll call!!!

Pictures (not necessarily in order)

Me and dad and the KDXU car, senior games parade, LOTS of garbage from the senior games dinner, Dad and Bill his old basketball buddy, me and Mrs Senior Universe, our wacky leadership from church, overflowing shopping cart (24 bags of candy and 2 waters for work plus some stuff for Sheryl); a cool picture of bad weather in blanding, freezer meals, tonights dinner and a pix on my long walk to church and back this morning. And holly's laundry. 

10/02/22 Good Evening! Another Marathon in the books

 Somehow all of Sunday got away from me and it's almost bedtime and I'm just getting to write a letter!

It was a pretty busy weekend with conference -- 9.5 hours of church is A LOT!  

Kelly Campbell

Did you get to watch? How do they do that there? I think AJ watched it a week later or something because of time differences. I can't remember. Something different like that!

Dad announced the marathon yesterday morning and had a ball game Friday night so he's pretty tired. 

Seems like the week flew by pretty quickly but I'm struggling to remember what caused it to feel that way. 

Wednesday we had a different activity -- the Haymore's put together a deal where they gave GPS coordinates and sent you around the neighborhood to find notes with scriptures on them. It had, for example, Mosiah 5:1: 14. If that were the scripture you would go to it and count 14 words and then write that word down. There were about 10 words/locations total and then you unscrambled those words to get the answer which was basically-- Go to the Haymore's back yard. Then they had icees and popcorn and cookies etc while they did a little fireside. 

Miss Senior Universe 2022
Marianne Hamilton

It was really well put together. Our ward is doing really well at getting kids out.  We probably had more than 50 at that event. Crazy?!  

Mayor Michelle Randall

What did you decide to do with your tooth?  I really think you should go get it finished correctly now and not mess with it anymore. You don't want to have to try to find a dentist again while you are on your mission and it will likely cost more once you get home anyway. I'd just feel better if I knew you were all put back together again!

Reverand Jimmy Kestin

Dallas sent me a tik tok on how to swallow a pill.  I'm going to try to send it to you. Basically you stick a pill in your mouth. Take a big drink of water. Put your chin down to your chest and swallow. And voila. It's gone. Interesting.  The girl did it and it worked!  Did you ever take tylenol or were you a tough girl again? 

We had dinner with Randy and Kay and Gpa tonight - haystacks. They were yummy. Basically it's like - empty your pantry and call it dinner.  Rice, meat, cream of chicken soup, pineapples, peas, crispy onions, cranraisins, seeds, queso.  I don't know...just lots of stuff. I made fudgy bars too and they were delicious as always. I love those things. And I hate them too. Because I can't leave them alone. So good!

As I was listening to conference I got the message that we need to live to always have the holy ghost in our lives. We need to read the book of mormon daily. The way to always have the holy ghost in our lives is to read the BoM, pray, go to sacrament meeting, repent, keep the commandments, attend the temple and do family history work. 

The other message I got is that the truth is the truth and it doesn't change.  Sometimes the noise of the world makes you second guess...but you don't need to, cause the truth that was correct yesterday is still correct today. 

Which takes me back to the previous paragraph.  The "primary answers" are still the answer. If we will just continue to do the basics, we'll have peace and joy. Things might be hard but we'll have the power of the holy ghost and the lord to sustain us. 

Several people said they felt like President Nelson's talk was a farewell talk.  I didn't really get that but now I'm going to have to go back and listen again to his final talk and see if I see what they were seeing. He was propped on a chair to help him but he is 97 years old!  So that didn't really phase me. Also I guess I shouldn't be surprised if it was his last talk...because he is 97 years old!  

I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. I felt like last week was too chaotic when we finally got to talk because we had company and babies and it was just hard to chat with you. Hopefully we can find a few quiet minutes tomorrow!

Hope all is well there and you know that we love you and are proud of you and so happy that you are having a good experience.  You make my mama heart swell. I am so impressed with your goodness. 

Keep up the good works! xoxo Mom and Dad.