A Wonderful start for the new year.

I've been in Mesa for most of the last three months and have loved it here. You would think for a old gal like me that i should be setting at home in the rocking chair remembering the good old days. But I still reflect on the old days but I'm enjoying learning and experiencing new adventures.I'm so grateful for my health and the fact that I'm still able to do any of the things I want to do. I'm still thinking of my bucket list and the things I want to still get done in this life.

My biggest joy at this time is getting ready for the opening of the new Gila Velley Temple. Open house is April 23 -15th of may Deditication is the 23rd of May

2010 What will this year bring??

Dec was a very busy month as the family had lots of act ivies. On the 10 of Dec Bo was operated to correct a curve in his back and the Doc put a long rod in his back he was in the hospital about 15 days and is home now recovering well he won't be able to be very active for about a year. On the 17 I traveled down to Mesa to help Decorate for Shannon's Wedding. It was beautiful and Uncle Henry was the person doing the sealing so that was special. She was married on the 18th and had the reception that night. I also made 66 aprons for my girls grandchild and great grandchildren,25 Marshmallow gun's and a calender for each of the family. On the 26 we had a family reunion at Rhonda's ward in Gilbert and then on the 27th we were invited to attend Tony's home coming report to the High Council. It was a wonderful meeting and then Tony gave his home coming report and the spirit was very strong. He is a very good speaker and you could tell he really loved his mission. On the 31th Pam was operate on for a knee problem and Seems to be doing fine if we can just keep her from doing to much. I believe everyone in the family has now had the flu and I pray that our family can all be healthy for a while. The family all seems to be well and happy and we are so grateful to a kind Heaven Father for the many blessing we have all received this year.

Trip to Portland

Pam and I flew up to Portland for Morgan baby shower. The weather turned out as it all ways does when I go there,cold & rainy But at the same time it was so enjoyable because we had not seen rain for a while here in Arizona. . The leaves were all in full fall colors and it just made you want to find a rake and put them all in a big bunch to jump in, like when you were a kid. Brandon & Morgan have a beautiful hill top apt in Beaveraton .

Cape Cod home again.

On Friday Pam and I flew into Philadelphia and then had to set on the tar mack for 3 hours because of storms in the area. Then we flu into Boston and rented a car and drove to Cape Cod and spent the night at a really nice Motel near the Bourne bridge. The next day we went to Buzzards Bay and visited the towns of Sandwich where we used to live and then on to Falmouth and found the Branch that Paris was the Branch President in about 1962-64. at that time the members of the ward raised half of the money to build the ward building . The small ward worked very hard to get the money and bought a beautiful piece of land that was on a hill overlooking the water. When we had raised enough money by selling 140 dozen eggs a week and cleaning houses on base. We contacted church headquarters and they told us we had to get other land as the place we had was too small to build a 3 phase building on. The people of the ward were really up set by this and Paris was really worried about the church being built in the right place. We found a beautiful spot and we had at least 3 different trips where we took the mission president, the official from Salt Lake and each time as we traveled the road to see the property, the property was not recognized and then they would go look again and it was the same spot that had been looked at before but not recognized. What I'm trying to say is that when we are asked to do something by the church leaders and we do our best to follow the Lord will guide us to the right place. The building was built on that piece of property and its a beautiful building.We went to church there last Sunday.

Mexico I'm checking out town after town.

This trip was to Cancun and we arrived there on Tuesday and then on Wed. we traveled by bus to visit the Maya Temple Runs and we were so blessed to have an LDS Guide and he told us about the area as we know of the area from the Book of Mormon. It is beautiful there and we had a wonderful day it sets on the ocean and if you know you bring your bathing suit and have a wonderful swim. We were able to go to a all inclusive resort and it was a great time . Loved my Tan

Miss Arizona what a fun time

On Tuesday the 18th picked up our new cars from Nissan that they loaned us (Rhonda & I) to pick up the judges and take them around for the week of the pageant . What fun. We took them out to breakfast each morning about 9 and then out to dinner about 4:30 as we had to be at the pageant by 6PM. And they picked a beautiful Miss Arizona ( Savanna Troupe Miss Maricopa County. For those who don't know the judges pay their own way here and are not payed for their hard job of finding the right girl. The pageant could not take place with out all the volunteers and their work. I'm so proud of my family who do so much. The gifts for the judges made by Pam, the Decorating by Pam and Vanessa, The Goodies made by Chef Devon, and his crew of servers for the VIP reception, who where my Grandchildren and their husbands. In this picture the 3 young girls are daughters of the judges. Can't wait till next time.

Cusmal Mexico

What a beautiful busy week I have really enjoyed so much. Pam, David ,Shannon and I left early morning and flew to Mexico it is so beautiful and green . We went to a very nice all inclusive resort called Reu on Wed we went by bus to the MiaanRuins We were very blessed to be able to get as our guide a man that is LDS and he was able to tell us the LDS versoion of the people and the lives they lived. It was a great day and we were able to get many pictures .

A few weeks in Mesa

pictures jace,judd,Chelsey, JD, Jace

Went down to Mesa to be with Vanessa and Joey as he was so sick and I arrived on Thursday and he died early Friday morning. As most of you know by now that Joe had cancer and he was a very brave man who always thought of others and even in the last 5 weeks he was still thinking of others and helping them through his Illness. What a strong man he was. His Funeral was on May 23rd and he will be missed by many as we set at the funeral Vanessa and there Children did a wonderful job of showing love for Joey and also to the people that had come to honor him.There was 500 people at the viewing and 1000 people at the funeral. Now comes the hard part and that is learning how to live with out him and what it is that is the waiting for Vanessa to do. She is strong but will miss him like crazy.. I stayed and tried to help but I felt she needed some time to grieve. She is back at work and work will help. One day I felt that Vanessa need to get away and I kidnapped her and we went to Sedona and Jerome. I drove and we were on a high mountain and had to turn around . So as I pulled forward a high drop off was in front of the car so Vanessa screamed, then I had to back up with another drop of behind us and she screamed again and she said the trip did her a lot of good because she found out she could not cry and scream at the same time.

Rachel and CJ and family have now moved into my house and will probably live here for a while . CJ is hoping to get a job for the Border patrol . They will live here while he does his training. The children all love living next to there cousins Ron's family)This is working out so well as I'm spending a lot of time in Mesa and other places. I have more traveling to do.

This last week end we had a sisters reunion and we stated at a nice Inn in Tempe and played cards and went out to dinner and then played more games. Mostly we talk and laughed about the past memories. We were loud with all the stories that can't be repeated (what was said in that room must remain there.) Our room was at the very back of the place , maybe because when they saw 8 sisters going into the rooms they decided they we should be isolated. We never did receive the usual (be quite call ). Of course much Chocolate and diet coke was consumed.

Womans Conference in Salt Lake City

Rhonda Christal and I flew into Salt Lake on Tue night. and then met with friends and were able to go to a friends home and spend the night.

Wed we toured Salt Lake City and had a wonderful day. Rhonda's friend Tami and Christal's friend joined us and we spent the night in Lehi at Tami's sister home and Thursday Morning the conference started. It is really remarkable to see 22,000 sisters in one spot. As we traveled from one class to another it looked like a group of ants going along the sidewalks. I loved the talks and the spirit that was there. On Thursday night we went to a concert and I loved the Music. There was seven of us and we had a great time together. Came back home on Saturday

March & April 2009

the Month of March ended with a trip to the Mountain Man rendezvous up by Payson. Joey had invited me up an;d since the word "man" was In the title I decided to make the trip. Now I had never been to a get to gather before and when got up there it was boys, boys and more boys or I guess they would like to be called young men. Here and there were a few older men but they all looked so strange because they were mountain men and had Long hair cared tomahawks and black power guns. It looked like a dangers place to be. Really it was a great time and I'm glad I got to go and spend those few days in the mountain with Joey and Vanessa. Little did we know at that time that our wonderful Joey was sick with cancer..He is loved by so many and I guess Heavenly Father needs Trader Joe to help him on the other side.

Then in April the Ashcroft reunion was held and there was about 120 of us there. It was really nice just needed more time to renew are love for one another. After the reunion Shannon, David ,Pam and I were going to Paris but because of the spring break we could not all go together on stand by we were forced to go to Maui its the first time for me to go to Hawaii we had a wonderful time and stayed right on the beach. As we got off the plane I told the pilot that it was the bumpiest ride I had ever been on and he said" That's OK honey we don't charge extra for that.

Lehi Days and Santa Barbara California

Just spent a few days with Rachels boys while Rachel, Chelsey and CJ went to the dunes to play for a few day

We all had a good time and Rhonda and her boys came and helped me with the little onces. Then on Monday the 2nd Florene, Glenna, Rita & Myself went up to the dam and then on to Payson for lunch and back home. It was a beautiful day.

I went to Mesa early Thursday morning March 8th and visited with the kids. Went to Vanessa and we went to the Church early in the evening and a group of ladys were at the church filling small BBQ Cups for the BBQ. At the BBQ they feed 2,500 people. This event was so much fun. I went with Vanessa & Joeys family and I spent most of the day with Lance we had a great time. They had a life band there that night and the music was great. Sunday went to meeting with Vanessa family and then the family got together for dinner and then games.

New Gila Valley Temple

Gila Valley Temple Groundbreaking

Eastern Arizona Courier


New LDS temple breaks ground
By Jon Johnson Assistant Editor

Construction for The Gila Valley Arizona Temple officially began Saturday when local and world leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints overturned the ceremonial first shovel of dirt.
With a snow-capped Mount Graham serving as a picturesque background, the leaders, including Safford Arizona Stake President Mark Herrington and Pima Arizona Stake President Mark Bryce, struck their golden spades into the ground. Bryce also conducted the ceremony.
More than 1,700 people braved the crisp morning air and attended the event, while another 1,530 viewed an Internet simulcast at various stake centers throughout southern Arizona and western New Mexico.
Temples are sacred buildings to members of the church and differ greatly from the church's meeting houses.
Elder Neil L. Andersen, the senior president of the Presidency of the Seventy, was the featured speaker at the ceremony and gave a dedicatory prayer.
Andersen said it was fitting the ceremony was taking place on Valentine's Day due to the special link with God members receive inside the temple, allowing them to be with their wives and families forever.
"What does Valentine's Day mean when we think of these great words of the Savior to Peter, and again said in our day, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven," Andersen said.
Temple Department Executive Director Elder William R. Walker said the temple is scheduled to become the 137th operating LDS temple in the world. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
According to Walker, the temple will have two sealing rooms, one large and one small, and will be set up for a progressive presentation of the temple ceremony.
"It will be a magnificent, beautiful temple, just perfect for this part of the Lord's vineyard," Walker said.
According to a news release from the LDS Church, the temple will be 18,561 square feet and will feature steel and concrete, architectural precast stone and cherry and natural maple woods. The temple will serve approximately 32,000 members, according to the release.
Elder Andersen told the Courier that temples are a positive addition to any community. Whenever a temple is put in place, good things happen<” he said. I’ve seen it around the world. It will be a good thing for all people whether they are members of our faith. or not.” Saturday Feb 13. The grand day is here and I have just returned from the groundbreaking of the soon to be the Gila Valley Arizona Temple. My Granddaughter Shannon was here and we dressed up nice and warm and walked over to the Stake Ball park where the temple will be built and we were able to set up front and really see all that was going on. Seventy Elder Neil L Andersen cam and shook our hands and even though it was cold and we could not feel our feet this handshake was warm and his smile was great. It was so beautiful there with the Eastern Arizona Collage Choir singing and the snow on the Mountain. I’m so happy I was there on the spot and was able to feel the great Sprite that was there. Something that was really great was we were able to look up a prophesy that had been spoken in 18978 by the Apostle John W Taylor when he was at a stake conference e here in the valley and he prophesied that one of the most beautiful temples ever to be built among the saints in the Rocky Mountains would be built in the Gila Valley. That just give me chills? What a wonderful blessing comes from the Lord. I can still fell the presents of all those good people who have gone on before cheering the fact that the temple is coming.’ I'm happy to be living in this wonderful valley. Just a little personal note about 6 months after Paris passed away I had decided this place was to much ;work and I should sell. I put the place up for sale and showed it to a few people and one night I had a dream that I could here Paris talking on the phone. He was saying Lilly should not sell this is our home and we have worked hard for it. .I thought about the dream all morning and could not get it out of my head about noon that day a couple from Tucson came to give me an offer and I had to tell them it was no longer for sale. What a wise man Paris is. Looking out for his family from above.

Jan 1 Happy New Year

Had a wonderful time at Pam's for Christmas with first visiting with Rachel's family and watching the kids open there gifts. So much fun then drove to Mesa and visited with Pam. Rhonda Tom and kids and Nita & Dale came over to play games. 6AM on Christmas morning went to Jennifer's and Jason for breakfast and watch those kids open there gifts. Then back to Pam to make pies and pick up the missionary so they could call there folks and have dinner with Pam's family. Brandon came in about 1pm as he had not been able to make the flight home the day before because of weather. Came back home and stayed home until new Years morning and went to Mesa. Vanessa and Royd's son had planed a nice new year Eva party and we played came ate and had a really good time. About 12 PM we drove around and watch all the legal fireworks going off and Joey help with that. Came home and play games with Vanessa family. New Years day visited and stared upholstering some of Vanessa chairs and that night had dinner and games with Royd. All in all we had a good time and I came home on Friday.

Merry Christmas 2008

I'll take a few minutes to bring this up to date. Life is so different for me now. With out my love. It's hard to explain until you are in my place. You keep as busy as you can and that helps a lot. The family and friends are all ways near by . But for the first time in my life I'm alone and it is not fun. I miss my man like crazy. I have tryed going out a few times and it is so different than when I was young and did not have a family. So what this next year will bring is a ?? unanswered as it always is. So now it's time to stop feeling sorry for my self and get on with life. I Love my family and I am happy working with the Family History Center and we are looking forward to the new LDS temple that is coming here to Central. We are all trying to get ready to be Temple workers and I'm find great joy in doing Indexing . If you also want to get involved in this it is a great service to others and I'm sure that The Good Lord will bless us for this work.

Wedding !!! Not mine!!!!

Oct 1st Pam David and I flew to Fort Lauderdael Florida to take pictures and help with Julies wedding. What a busy few days we had, it was so much fun. We were able to visit with all the family. and get to met John and his parents. We liked them at first sight and thought John is really a great guy. The day before the wedding was a beautiful day and we were in hopes that it would not rain on the wedding day. But it rained most of the day so no pictures on the beach. But all went well and they are such a cute couple. Fred and Lucy where wonderful and my Sister Nita and her daughter Tina where there helping out so it was great to be together and a beautiful day.

North to Alaska

It's Sunday July 27 11;00 Am and I'm getting on the Star Princess Its a beautiful day here in Seattle and I'm looking the boat over. So far Mary and Martha have not arrived. So I like to look over the ship and see where everything is. It's exciting to see how it's layed out. The girls arrived around three and at 4;00 we had the lifeboat drill. Then 150 LDS saints meet with John Bytheway for Church service. We had a wonderful Sacrament meeting we also were able to visit with John and Joan and Joan's brother Chuck and his wife Judy. Then we meet for Group Dinning at 5;30. On Monday meeting with John Bytheway at 10.00 Am and also at 4:pm These meeting were held while we were sailing to Ketchikan. On Tuesday we tour the Totem Heritage Center which is a collection of ancient totem poles. Some of the these totem poles are 42 feet tall they each tell a story of ravens, eagles, whales, and the legends of the land and its people. We were able to go into the clan house where we could view how the natives actually lived in the 1800s. We went through the rain forest where the roots of the trees were standing on top of the ground. It was something to behold. Wed. 30 of July Now we are in Juneau and this is where we went on a 4 hour excurson whale watching small boat to watch where the wales were feeding. We were able to see about 10 different whales but found it very hard to get a picture as they played in the water. Thursday 31 We went to Skagway and went on the White Pass and Yukon narrow gage railway and it travels up to the White Pass Summit the international boundary between Canada & the US. It was beautiful and we were able to see a 3000' waterfall It was a foggy day and everything looked fresh and beautiful. Friday was another day on the water, 2 meeting with John, shuffleboard the hot tub. and of coarse every night was the show time performances and they were great we usually went to two shows a night. I loved it. On Saturday night we arrived a shore about 4 and then traveled by bus to the Butchart Gardens and they were the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen and there is know wasy to tell you how beautiful they are. Also they had the most beautiful fireworks you have ever seen. I hope you enjoy my trip. We then had to be back on ship by 11;30P.M. and up and off the ship by 8AM on Sunday Morning.