Favorite Photos from the Funeral

We had not taken any official photos at the funeral when a cousin of mine asked if we would like her husband to take some for us. We all agreed but after a bit of being lined up we wondered.  Actually we are very grateful Merrill took them for us. I did have a couple that I really liked that I wanted to share.

This is a photo of Grandpa and his younger sister Marilyn and his younger brother Garry. It was so sweet to see them together like this.

We had taken maybe 14 or 15 shots of this one pose. Steve rested his head on mine and said he thought we were done!  It was just nice.  We loved being together.

These flowers were on the top of the casket during the service and at the cemetary. Maurine had placed this little ballerina figurine in the upper corner of the casket during the viewing. Grandma did not want it to be buried with her so Maurine took it out and placed it in the center of the flowers. So much was said about Marilyn dancing down the streets of Paradise that this seemed so appropriate. 

Thoughts of Home

Although I went back to Utah to attend my sister's funeral it was a joy to be in my own home and surrounded by my own things and to be with some of my children. On Tuesday night before I left on Wednesday Carrie and I went out for dinner. We had spent so much time together during the week I was there but the majority of it was spent dealing with and taking care of and arrangeing for Marilyn's funeral. I loved having her with me and so appreciated her help. It was nice, however, to have a night to talk and think about other things.

As we came out of the restaurant I noticed the mountains. Now some of you know that I love beaches but I also love mountains and sunrises and sunsets and snow storms. They all bear witness to me of my Savior and the love of my Heavenly Father. So, seeing a beautiful mountain spoke peace to my soul. I wanted to share it with you.

A Heating Pad?

At times New Zealand is really old school and sometimes it drives me nuts. Michael has been having trouble with his neck and shoulders lately and I really thought he would benefit from a heating pad. Well, their idea of a heating pad and mine are pretty far apart on the spectrum. When we first arrived I had notices that we had a hot water bottle on the shelf. Given I thought it would be a good idea to have some heat sooner than later I would fill the kettle (an electric one that boils water in less than two minutes) bring it to a boil and fill the hot water bottle. It made an acceptable alternative, sort of.

It is smooth on one side and the other side has ridges all over it I guess to help it stay on whatever part of the body it was on. It is very heavy rubber and stays warm for a good 20 minutes or so.

Well, the new building across the parking lot from our apartments that used to be a bowling alley turned medical building has a chemist (pharmacy) so I went over there to see about getting a proper heating pad. Again I was amazed at the alternative. It is called an electric hot water pad!

It is filled with some sort of gel that heats up and stays hot for about 6 hours. The biggest problem is that it take about 6 hours to heat up and then it is not very hot at all. Oh, what I would do to have a nice, flat, plug-in heating pad like the one I have at home on my shelf.

Have you missed me?

I cannot believe it has been nearly an entire month since I wrote last. I do have a couple of excuses but now it is time to rectify that situation.

One thing I have found fascinating that I keep forgetting to mention is public transit here. There are many people that ride the bus each and every day. And there are just as many that ride the ferries from one part of the island to another. We were told when we first got here that seniors get a major discount to use mass transit. Only problem is we are too young!  You have to be 65 but then there is a great discount if you take advantage of it.

The thing that I think is great is that at each motorway (freeway) exit there is a big bus station. They all have huge parking areas. The terminal, if you call it that, is covered so you don't get wet waiting outside. There is a covered bridge that goes across the motorway because the station is only on one side of the road but buses go both directions from the one station.  The neat thing is, when the bus leaves that one terminal it has its own road to travel to the next station. They do not even get on the motorway.  They are never in traffic jams!

I know it is a bit different when you cross the harbor bridge but it is still so much faster than driving a car here. And they really don't want you to use your own personal car. The environment is sacred to them in a totally different way than it is in the states. That is a topic for another post I think though. At the office we have very limited parking. There are maybe 22 spaces under ground. We are one of three senior couples that has a space. There are less than 20 spaces above ground. There is always discussion on who gets a space and who gets to use your space if you are not there. The one sure fired way to have a space is to carpool. If there are four in a car they will have a space for sure.

A new piece of art!

When I made the post of Bradley and his nap pillow I realized that I have not told you about our newest piece of artwork that will be gracing our walls in Provo when we return.  I was in the welfare office having a meeting with my friend Naomi when Elder and Sister Reynolds came out of the storage room that they were cleaning out. They had a painting with them that they had been told to dispose. I saw it was immediately asked if they were really going to throw it away was it possible that I could have it. They suggested that before I took it I should probably see if Elder Bertasso would be happy to have it a part of our decor. So after the meeting I went up to our office and brought him right back down to see it. And yes, it is going to hang in our home.

It is by an artist in Papua New Guinea and represents some of the tribes that are there. It is a bit hard to tell but there is great depth perception to this painting. It really in interesting to look at. We have it at the to office right now and it has received very mixed reviews. Most like it but Tessa mentioned that it would give her nightmares if she had this in her home. I am quite excited to see what your reaction is to this work of art! 

Anyone for a nap?

We have this crazy British friend here named Bradley James.  I have mentioned him before. He is in charge of buying property for the area. He also bought the new mission homes and offices etc. He is always so happy and so fun to have visit our office. He stopped by the other day to show us his latest purchase. It is called a nap pillow!  You take it with you and can use it on a plane, in the car, at your desk or wherever. It is made out of those very soft pillow animals that are silky and all. When he put it on we laughed so hard we had to close the door.  Check out his photo!

Elder and Sister Brown

We have some friends serving here in Auckland with us. It is Elder and Sister Brown.  They live two doors down from us. They park two spaces down from us and they work six doors down from us as well. Elder Brown is the assistant legal counsel here and works with Arthur Edgeson. Sister Brown works sometimes at this and at that but she really does not have a specific assignment and has always seemed to struggle with what she was to do. She asked to visit with me one day about something she thought should be happening here in Auckland in regards to the Chinese members and investigators. She wanted to know if I thought she should ask to visit the Elder Hamula (Area President) and share her ideas. She asked what I suggested she do. I said that if I were in her place I would ask for an appointment with President Lekias, the mission president and tell him that she was willing to serve wherever he suggested and then tell him that you would love an opportunity to work with the Chinese. She looked at me and said: I would never do it that way but I can see you doing just that!  I took that as a compliment but I am not sure that was how she meant it though.

She is a wild lady on the roads. I went with her the first time she drove. When we got in the car she suggested that we have a prayer first. I thought it was because she was driving for the first time. I have since found that she does that every time she goes anywhere.  I am certain it is a very good practice!  She loves traffic circles because "you never have to do anything but drive!"

Two weeks ago she called the office in the middle of the day to tell her husband that she was fine but had been in a car accident. My first thought was it has been in a traffic circle? But it was not. She was coming out of a car park and could not see to the right so she pulled out a bit more and a big truck took off her front bumper!  I could not resist taking a photo of their poor little car.

Nothing else was damaged other than the bumper and it broke all the little clips that hold it on, But we could not help but laugh, and we laughed very hard at this, when we saw what she was transporting in her back seat.

You guessed it...her bumper! 

They have repaired the car and she is back on the roads again. Maybe we all need to pray before we get out on the streets here in Takapuna!