Our Beautiful Temple

 

The Correspondent

 

Modern Fiction Audiobook

Such a magnificent full-cast audiobook.  So very well done.  I loved this story of an elderly lady that prefers writing letters to other forms of communication.  The story of her life, her relationships, her sorrows, and regrets come out in these communications.  But you also see what a good person she is, as she helps so many.  It is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to.  So good.  A beautiful 5 star read!

Friesing, Germany

Waiting for our flight in St. George

 We flew out of St. George on  Monday, July 27th.  Our first stop was Denver, where we had a long layover, then an overnight flight to Munich, Germany.

The Munich airport is actually located in Friesing, Germany- about 40 minutes from Munich.  We had several choices of hotels there, but feel we were guided  to stay in a Marriot hotel in Friesing.  This became extremely important as we found out the next day.  We got to the hotel in the afternoon, got settled, took a nap, then went to dinner at the restaurant at the hotel.

When we were in Austria several years ago we had a spaetzle dish that was so delicious, so we ordered the spaetzle and cheese dish.  It really was just macaroni and cheese.  But it was okay.

Ken went out exploring Friesing and took some pictures.

It was a cute little town.

After breakfast the next morning, Ken went out birding (saw a new lfe lister) and to buy our unrefundable train and bus tickets for Friday morning to go down to Passau where we would get on the boat for our boat and bike trip down the Danube River on Saturday.  We had non-refundable hotel reservations down there for Friday night. After he came back to the hotel he had sharp pains in his abdomen.  He was really in pain.  He laid down for a bit and they subsided but then hit with a vengeance again.  He pointed out the window.  See that big white building across the street?  That is a hospital.  That is where I am going. He kind of knew it was diverticulitis as he had an attack three years ago.  He was hospitalized for a week then.

This is the hospital.

Ken insisted that I not go, but he would text me and keep me informed.  As you can see, the waiting room was packed and he was there for hours.  He did text, but for some reason it didn't go through.  So I was beside myself.  I wasn't sure how to get there, but I went down to the front desk at the hotel and explained the situation. I was near tears.  The quite brusque German receptionist(it's their culture) really was quite kind in her own way.  She gave me four chocolate bars and suggested I go to a church to pray.  She then walked me out the side door of the hotel and showed me where to go to get in the hospital.  Communicating with the reception desk at the hospital was a challenge as he spoke NO English, but I finally wrote out Ken's name and he told me he was in  Notaufnahme.. I don't know how, but I figured out that was emergency room and I walked through the hospital and found it.  I found Ken just as he was coming back after his MRI.  Sure enough, he was diagnosed with diverticulitis of the small intestine.  He was admitted into the hospital.  So you can see why it was such a blessing that the hotel was so close to the hospital, as we were to remain there for a week.

Waiting for results at the hospital

It was not like an American hospital.  Actually, it reminded us a lot of a Japanese hospital.  It was a no-frills experience.  Ken had three roommates, there was no air conditioning, no hospital gowns (unless you had surgery,) no towels in the bathroom.  But they did have food.  I know in a lot of foreign countries, they don't have cafeterias in hospitals. Your family has to bring you food.  The doctors all spoke excellent English, but most of the nurses did not.  But they were so cute and used Chat GPT to communicate. *see note 1 below.

The admitting doctor, Dr. Nesler, told Ken that he would be on intense antibiotic treatment three times a day in hopes that the infection would heal.  She told him that he would be there 3-5 days.  Ken said that he couldn't stay that long.  We had tickets to leave on Friday.  She told him this was a hospital, not a prison, and he could leave if he wanted, but she advised against it.  

When Ken told me that, I said, "No, you are staying until you are well and the doctor releases you."  Humbled, the next day he told the doctor that his boss said he is staying and he will do whatever she advises.  ** see note 2 below.

Each morning, about 10-12 people would come to see him, including several doctors.  When he was admitted his CRP blood level was 85.  Normal is below .5.

These were Ken's roommates.  Two of them spoke pretty good English as they both had worked for American companies. The only air conditioning came from the breezes that came through those windows.  It was hot in there.

All through this, we were texting with our daughters.  Michelle got on the Internet and researched everything for us.  She researched the hospital, finding that it was an excellent hospital- a university training hospital (that is why a team of doctors and training doctors and nurses would come each morning) and that he would receive excellent care there.  She researched his disease and found that the doctors were right on with their treatment and advise.  She researched the bishop of the area and recommended calling him to get a blessing.  But the town he lived in was 1 1/2 hours away.  We just didn't feel we could ask him to come that far. She got us the email address of the Munich mission office.  I emailed them and got a very kind, caring senior sister missionary serving there.  She said she would send elders to give us blessings.  You know, the first thing you want in a situation like this is the priesthood.  That sister was a lifeline to what we needed most.  She wrote back later that day and said that two elders would be there at 3:00 pm.  Sure enough, they drove the 45 minutes to give us blessings.

These were such precious young men.  They gave us beautiful, comforting blessings.  I couldn't believe those powerful words were coming out of 19-year-old's mouths.  It was such a sweet experience.

Ken was in the hospital for a week.  There were ups and downs.  He had antibiotic treatments three times a day: 7am, 3 pm, and 11pm. We fell into a pattern.  After his soft lunch, he would sneak out of the hospital and come to the hotel room.  He would shower there and take a nap in the air conditioning.  His room was hot and he didn't sleep well at night.  The first day he told them he was leaving and caused all kinds of problems.  They told them not to tell them he was going, to just go.  

I would go over to visit him in the hospital each evening.  That was a highlight of the day for both of us.  We so enjoyed visiting, reminiscing, and laughing together.

On Sunday, the lead doctor told Ken that he wasn't progressing as he should and that they would need to do surgery on Monday.  His CRP number was still too high.  We asked family to pray and we prayed.  When they checked his blood the next morning, it had come down to 25.  They decided to continue treatment and test again on Wednesday.  We were so grateful that, at least for now, he would not have surgery. *** See note 3 below.

The view out his window.

I ate breakfast every morning at the hotel.  We paid for a buffet breakfast (about $25).  Some days, that is the only meal I ate.  But when I went to dinner, this was my favorite dish.  I think I had it three times.  Chicken, with mushroom gravy, beans and a potato casserole.  Ken was on a soft food diet all week.

I think it was on Monday morning, I got ready and was heading down for breakfast.  When I got almost to the door of the hotel room, my toe caught on the carpet and I fell.  I hit the door with my right shoulder and head. My wrist hurt and my left knee.  But the worst was my left hip.  I tried to turn over so I could stand up, but it was excruciatingly painful.  It was a blessing that I had my phone in my hand.  It flew out of my hand, but I could reach it.  I texted Ken. 

He was having his antibiotic treatment but asked  the nurse to unhook him as he had to go help his wife.  He came quickly, only to discover that the deadbolt was still on the door, so he couldn't get in.  He got a maintenance guy to come, but he couldn't get it open either.  So he got another guy to come with a powered saw.  It was noisy and sparks were flying like 50 sparklers. Ken was so afraid we would start the hotel on fire.  "How am I going to get Kay out if that happens?"  Luckily it didn't and they got inside.  The hotel employee and Ken got me up, but I couldn't even take one step without excruciating pain.  They got me to the bed and our helper ran to get a wheelchair.  I was in shock, shivering.  I got in the wheelchair, and Ken wheeled me to the hospital.  He had just gone through the whole process so knew where to take me and get me registered.  Luckily, the waiting room wasn't quite as full as when he went, but it still took all morning.  After seeing a team of doctors, I was taken to xray.  That was so painful. "Turn this way, turn that way." was so hard.  We then waited for another hour or hour and a half for the doctor to read the Xray.  Nothing was broken.  She said I probably had a torn muscle and that it would just take time to heal.  Ken wheeled me back to the hotel.  They made me an ice pack and Ken took me back up to the room and then hurried back to hospital to finish his treatment and have his lunch.  I sat there or laid there all afternoon in pain.  

Ken came back that evening and wheeled me down to the restaurant (I hadn't eaten all day) and sat with me while I ate, then took me back to the room.  Ken took this picture while we were waiting for the dr. to read the Xray.  You can see that many others were waiting too.

Wednesday morning Ken's CRP number had come down to 11 and they released him.  Throughout all of this, Ken was in contact with the boat company- a really nice lady who helped us.  It really wasn't safe for Ken to fly home yet, so we decided to go and join the boat which was now in Vienna, Austria.

Ken spent the afternoon Wednesday making arrangements and purchasing plane tickets to Vienna. I actually walked down to dinner on Ken's arm that evening.  So I was getting better.  The kind waiter, Irving gave me two more chocolate bars and was so solicitous. 

It was an ordeal on Thursday getting to Vienna.  I was still in quite a bit of pain.  I had to walk about 1/2 mile from terminal 1 to terminal 2 at the airport.  We got a wheelchair to get to the gate, but I had to climb down three flights of stairs to the tarmac and then up a flight to get in the plane with luggage.  But I made it!  We took a taxi to the port and were so grateful to get on the boat.  They were expecting us and grabbed our luggage and got us to our room.  We were exhausted.  But it was so nice to be there.   Ken had booked a room on the top floor, very close to the dining room. We had such a beautiful big window in our room.  It would be our home for the next week and a half.  The doctor had told Ken that he shouldn't ride a bike for at least a month, so he would be floating with me each day.  The next post will tell and show our trip down the Danube River.

* Note 1: One nurse did speak English.  I commented on it.  She said that it was because she was from Amsterdam and they learn English in school there.  She said they do not teach English in German schools.

**Note 2:  All the doctors were very kind and especially interested in having an American patient, but Dr. Nesler took a special interest in Ken.  They connected, I guess you would say.  She and her husband had traveled to America and had gone from Las Vegas to the north side of the Grand Canyon.  Ken told her that she would have passed through our town.  She went home and confirmed with her husband that they had and even brought a picture of them at our Iceburg drive in having dinner and one of their HUGE milkshakes.  She would come and check in on Ken throughout the day.  She was very kind.

*** Note 3:  At this point sweet Kristen texted and said that if Dad had surgery she would come to help.  She said she had a current passport and had always wanted to go to Europe.  She started making preparations, just in case.

Wild Dark Shore

 

Modern Fiction   Audiobook

The fact that the word dark is in the title is no accident.  This book has a dark feeling from beginning to end.  It is beautifully written and has a powerful them of family.  It is a mystery that unfolds little by little throughout the book.  It has received much attention and critical acclaim and I understand why.  But I really can’t say I enjoyed it.  Though it certainly kept my interest, I was glad when it was over.  Coming full circle- it was dark.

The Rosie Project #1

 

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Modern fiction audiobook
What a delightful, entertaining book. The characters are so not perfect, yet so lovable. I think I will pursue the sequel. I want to know what happens next!


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Stop Complaining

I saw this quote and had to laugh.  I thought it was the perfect post after my complaining post yesterday.🤣

 

A Trip of Trials

 Each year, Ken goes on a biking trip with a group of fellow bikers.  This year they wanted to do a bike and boat trip down the Danube River in Europe.  It would go through six countries. They chose to go over the fourth of July, which is the time of our family reunion.  Family is our priority.  So he couldn't go with them.  But he really wanted to go, so he talked me into going on the same trip with him on a later excursion in August.

Several weeks before our scheduled July 29 departure, I had a very dark feeling about the trip.  I talked to Ken.  I think he thought it was just my normal trip anxiety.  I even mentioned it a lot in our prayers, asking Heavenly Father to protect us on the trip.  I really did not feel good about it.

Let me tell you some of the trials faced on this ill-fated trip:

Changed flight:  A few weeks before the trip, we were informed that our flight out on Wednesday, July 29th was cancelled.  We would have to leave on Monday, July 27th.  We had to find substitutes for our Tuesday night temple shift and change our plans.

Low water levels in the Danube:  A few days before we left we were informed that the water levels in the Danube were low.  We were supposed to go down through six countries: Germany to Romania, and then back up to Germany.   We now would not be able to go through the lower Danube countries.  The water levels were just too low. The cruise would still be two weeks, but we could only go as far as Bratislava and then turn around.  They said we could cancel, but if we chose to still go, we would get a 10% discount and get free drinks throughout the cruise. We, along with others from other countries, chose to go as we had paid for expensive, non-refundable flights.  Most Europeans who had not paid for flights, canceled.  

Watch:  If you know me, you know I love my smart watch and am obsessed with the step counter.  The first day of the trip my watch died and I have been unable to fix it, though I have spent much time troubleshooting.  I am still watchless, but I just ordered a new one.

Ken very ill:  The day after we arrived in Munich, Ken became very ill with an attack of diverticulitis.  He was hospitalized for a week in a hospital in Friesing, Germany.  

I fell:  While Ken was in the hospital, I fell in the hotel room and injured my leg/hip.  I am still trying to heal.

NO biking:  When Ken was released, he was told that he should not bike for at least a month.  There goes the biking part of the cruise.

Flight to Vienna:  When Ken was finally released from the hospital, we had a decision to make.  The doctors advised not to fly back home yet.  The air pressure change could cause the bowel to perforate and there would be no help available for many hours. We could just stay in Germany and heal or we could join the cruise. We decided to fly to Vienna to catch up with the cruise there.  The airport experience was incredibly painful for me.  Let's just say it wasn't America.

Ken came down with a cold:  When we finally got on the cruise, Ken started to come down with a cold.  But, thankfully, it turned out to be very mild.  I think we prayed it away.

Incredible Neck pain:  The day after we finally got on the cruise, I experienced extreme neck pain in my right back neck.  I changed some medication after that, and was able to control it.

Rash:  I also experienced a very itchy rash on my arms, neck, and back.  Maybe because of the change in medications?  

Bus and train trip back to Munich:  When the cruise completed we had to get from Pasau, Germany back to Munich.  That involved a bus ride with a four-minute transfer to a train.  Could I do it?  We asked our family to pray. We were blessed and did it with not much trouble.  I really shouldn't list this as prayers made this doable.

Missed flight:  We got to our gate in Munich airport to board our flight to Denver, CO, then home. Our plane arrived, but was unable to park at the gate as there was thunder and lightning, so no ground crew were allowed on the tarmac.  That delayed our flight so that we didn't make it to Denver in time to make our connection to home.  We had to spend the night in Denver and come home the next morning.

Garage won't open:  Ken's brother Mark picked us up at the airport on Tuesday morning and took us home.  I punched in the code, but our garage wouldn't open. Luckily, Ken found our hidden key to give us entry into our hot house.

Broken picture:  When we left that evening to go to the temple to serve our shift, we discovered that a picture of all of Ken's family taken years ago at a family reunion that hangs on the garage wall had fallen, shattering glass all over.  Luckily, the picture itself was not damaged.

Computer:  Something went wrong with my computer while we were gone.  I have not been able to download pictures on blogger since.  I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting and have figured out a way around the problem, but it is difficult.  I think I will have to buy a new computer.

Jet Lag:  I have had an extreme case of jet lag since this trip, waking at 1 or 2 or 3 am.  I am finally starting to feel human again.

Power outage:  Not related to the trip, but to the extreme heat.  There was a massive power outage in our county.  The power was out for about 5 hours.  It almost was that proverbial straw!

Okay, enough of the negative.  It really has been one thing after the other.  But there have also been some good times and some very sweet miracles along the way.  If I can get the pictures to load 🤞, I will post about our trip and tell the positive things too over the next little while. (Trips always take me a long time to blog.)  So stay tuned- if you dare!

Sweet Gifts from Gabe

Just before our big trip that I will be telling you more about, Ken took a quick trip to Logan for Blake to do some oral surgery.  Sweet Gabe had a gift all wrapped up for Grandma for Ken to bring home to me.

It was a sweet little manger with Jesus and licorice flavored taffy What a sweet little boy.  It melted my heart.

 

He Knows the Silent Pleadings

 

My Name is Lucy Barton (#1)

 

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Modern Fiction Audiobook
I may have found another favorite author. I loved this story and her writing. It is a lot like Ann Tyler’s. This was a simple story. It was told subtly; yet so profoundly. Even someone from a completely dysfunctional family. Maybe ESPECIALLY someone from a dysfunctional family, longs for the love and acceptance of her mother.
This was beautifully read in the audio version.
I will be looking for more Strout books. I understand that this book is the first of a series. I did not know that when I read it. I usually am not a fan of series (they are so confining,) but I will probably make an exception in this case. 5 stars.


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The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season

 

The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Modern Fiction Physical Book
I loved this novel. It is a story of family, regrets, forgiveness, trauma, and love. Aunty Peggy takes in her obviously abused niece and her daughter as they flee escape from an abusive man. They all work hard to harvest the cherry crop while little by little the nature of their past relationship unfolds. You don’t really understand it all until the traumatic and very exciting conclusion. It is well-written and intriguing. I miss the characters and would love her to write a happy, joyful sequel: The Joy of Apple Season.


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The Bodyguard

 

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Romance Physical book
I like Katherine Center books. This was a clean, light, and entertaining story. Predictable? Yes, but that didn’t make it any less fun. It made a great vacation read.


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49 Years!

 Ken and I recently celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary.  Next year it's the big 50!

I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and for the life and family we have built together. 

What Alice Forgot

 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Modern Fiction Physical Book
This is my third Moriarty book. I really like these all about women novels set in Australia. This story was especially intriguing as it makes me wonder if my younger self would like what I have become. It kept me turning pages to its satisfying ending.


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Give Me This Mountain

Joshua 14:12

From a talk by President Spencer W. Kimball when he was first sustained as a prophet:

 "Caleb concluded his moving declaration with a request and a challenge with which my heart finds full sympathy. The Anakims, the giants, were still inhabiting the promised land, and they had to be overcome. Said Caleb, now at 85 years, “Give me this mountain” (Josh. 14:12).

"This is my feeling for the work at this moment. There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, “Give me this mountain,” give me these challenges.

Humbly, I give this pledge to the Lord and to you, my beloved brothers and sisters, fellow workers in this sacred cause of Christ: I will go forward, with faith in the God of Israel, knowing that he will guide and direct us, and lead us, finally, to the accomplishment of his purposes and to our promised land and our promised blessings."

I have to admit that this is not really my mantra.  I want to avoid challenges and hardships.  But I love the attitude of Caleb and President Kimball.  If they can do it at their age, I also need to say, "Give me this mountain!"

Nighttime Reading

 

Seven Questions to Ask Kids This Week (One a night)

 Here are seven questions to ask your children as you tuck them in bed at night.  For the next week, ask one question each night.

1. What made you happy today?  

     This builds the habit of finding joy in small moments.

2. If you were a hero in a fairytale, who would you be and why?

     This activates the imagination.

3. What did you learn today that you didn't know before?

     This helps children see learning not only at school, but in everyday life.

4. How would you help a friend if they were upset?

     This is how empathy and emotional intelligence begin to form.

5.  If you had a superpower, what would it be?

 6. What could you do tomorrow to make the world around you a little better?

     This nurtures responsibility and care for others.

7. What is the most important thing you realized over the last seven days?

     Helps see personal growth.

Anxiety

 

Dating

 

And Here We Have Idaho- at Temple??

One evening when serving in the sealing waiting room at the temple , I had some downtime.  It was slow that day.  One of the sealers had performed a wedding and had a couple of hours until his proxy shift started.  He and I were visiting.  He has been the president of the San Diego temple and he and his wife served as mission presidents.  He mentioned he was from Idaho and I said I was too!  I told him that the other sister working that night was also from Idaho.  We went into the office and talked about Idaho- the identifying license plates, the agriculture, the beauties.  He then asked, "Do you know the state song?"  Sister Lemmon and I immediately started singing, "And here we have Idaho . . .' with quiet gusto.  We and he knew every word.  He said when he was mission president and was interviewing an elder and  found out he was from Idaho, he would ask them ,"Do you know the state song?" and EVERY time they would start singing it.  He said they also have the tradition in their family that whenever they cross the Idaho state line they sing the song.  I told them I taught it to my family at the reunion and challenged them to sing it when they crossed the state line.  

He then said, "Sing the Utah state song."  Nobody knew it.  I really think the Idaho song is the best and it is instilled in our hearts in fourth grade. When Idahoans sing that song, they get a sweet, nostalgic look on their faces.  As the song states, "Singing, singing of you. All proudly too.  All our lives through."

That was such a sweet experience in the temple.

That night, when saying my prayers, I said, "I'm sorry I sang the Idaho state song in the temple.  Then I said, "No, I'm not.  It was a sweet, happy experience.  In my mind, I could see a smile on my Heavenly Father's face.  He was okay with it.