Second Half of May

My garden is trying its best.  It's my fault it's not flourishing.  I fertilized them late, and I should have mixed in some fresh garden soil before I even planted.  I had each kind of seed sprout, but they are slow growing. So I decided to pull up the carrots and beets.  I'm still holding out for the peas and brussel sprouts.  Hopefully I can get some before it is just too hot outside and they give up and die.  I planted three kinds of tomatoes in another box with some marigolds near them.  In the box where the carrots and beets were, I will fill with flowers like the previous owner did.  

My pink peonies are blooming! I've been cutting some and bringing them inside to enjoy.  I wish I had a couple of varieties, so maybe I'll have to find another place to plant more next year. 

I hosted a bridal shower for my nephew Steven's wife.  Her name is Saylor.  They married in November and are about to be sealed in the Rexburg temple.  They didn't have a reception or a shower yet, so I offered.  Since she has extended family in the Herriman/Draper area, I held it at my old stake center's outdoor pavilion in South Jordan.  It was a beautiful weather day except for the wind that wanted to disrupt my decorations.  But all turned out well enough, and we celebrated Saylor and showered her with gifts to help her set up her new home.  I did a citrus theme in my decor, desserts, invitations, and game prizes.  The game was a Scatergories type game with the letters L-O-V-E and categories that had to do with getting married.  

Here are all the ladies on my side of the family that were able to come. 

First Half of May

May started off with a lovely lunch in one of my neighbor's backyard.  All of the ladies on our street were invited to attend.  Most were able to come.  They are all so very sweet, and I look forward to getting to know them better. 

I also went to our monthly ward relief society "field trip".  We went to the Thanksgiving Point tulip festival.  The ladies who went were fun to be with.  And what a beautiful place this was to walk around.  Tulips have always been a favorite of mine.  Unfortunately,  I didn't take any pictures at all! One of the women, Senah, who is probably nearing 80 years old, was such a hoot to talk with.  I pointed out a hill we were approaching and said that it looks like a fun hill for kids to roll down.  She proceeded to walk up it and then roll down! She got up and said to me, "Okay, now it's YOUR turn!"  How could I say no to that after she just did it? My friend Jill, who is probably in her early 60s, joined me.  So funny!  Senah had videoed it, so I took this screen shot.

A few nights later as I was trying to fall asleep, I had a feeling that I should go back to Michigan and help Chelsea again.  She had gotten worse since I had left her a few weeks earlier.  My poor girl.  She was miserably sick.  The next morning before getting out of bed, Chelsea texted me and asked if I'd come again.  I was on a plane 48 hours later. I got there on a Sunday afternoon, and the next day, she and Spencer went in for her first doctor's visit including an ultrasound.  The very sad news was given that there wasn't a heartbeat anymore.  Of course, she was devastated.  She miscarried two days later.  I'm so grateful that I was able to be there for them during that hard time.  It turned out that instead of me taking care of my sick daughter that week, I was able to watch her "come back to life" as she made a complete turn around and wasn't sick anymore.  She got her appetite back, was able to play with Piper and do things that she hadn't been able to do for two months.  She even mowed the front lawn several days later and registered herself and Spencer for a mud run later this summer!  She's also able to help Spencer with their kitchen renovation.  It is so very sad that the pregnancy was lost, but I'm so happy that Chelsea isn't suffering anymore.  

At the nearby library to check out some books.  Piper loves her pajamas.

I took this picture out of their front window.  They got to leave their house and go on a walk ALONE for the first time in a long time.  I was happy to be there to allow that to happen.