Moved Some Old Blog Posts

Misc.

 Secretly washed Tom's car for him as a treat and then 

spelled out a love note for him using the hose!

Brother Webb sporting a bedazzled tie for Father's day

Got Tom a recharchable back scrubber for the shower-he liked it!

Another cool twilight SpaceX launch!

Nice to meet up with Maren for lunch; she's so uplifting!

Curtis passed the reins to the new Coordinators of the FS Center. 
We made him a pop-up book to show our appreciation for him!

We had a rather low-key 4th of July this year, staying home.
The fireworks can be triggering to Tom's PTSD sometimes,
so instead, we closed all the windows and put on white noise!

 

Church & Misc.

       Mostly church events

Went to Levi's baptism-I always go for the toes photo!
(Bishop's toes on the left).

Visited Elder AJ and his family before he left for the
Provo MTC, then on to the Philippines!

                                               

Also went this little guy's baptism

Made an impulsive purchase,

but, kinda had to since our game for the Ward Trunk or Treat
centered around zombie hands picking up trash!
When you pull on the string, the zombie fingers clench.

Zombie trash

                                

                                                                                            

Great photo opp

Kimo projected Mario Brothers on the wall and let the kids 
have fun playing level 1.

This is a screenshot from a 1998 video-
Kimo was the cutest baby! Look at those eyes!

Kimo made me some duck tire valve covers!

Funny

Also funny

Kimo made this rock guy and I thought he looked like
mustache man from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Sure enough!  Add a tie and some hair and he's almost a twin

My calling makes me close friends with the vacuum!

Aptly applies to our house...

Lastly, here is Kimo going in for his second interview.
Happy and grateful to say that he got the job!

 

Coast Guard Drill

 

Boat owner reached out via PL Connections asking for help to complete a Coast Guard mandated drill.  They needed 41 people on a weekday morning to help with the drill, so I rambled down to the waterfront to help.  CG needed to time us exiting the boat using two different routes and we passed the test.  I was rewarded by meeting up with Michelle, a friend I haven't seen in a few years---nice!

Michelle in the dark

Everyone was treated to donuts and drinks and then they did a raffle for additional prizes.  I didn't win anything, but did get stung by a bee that got tangled in my hair!

Nice mingling with other volunteers!

Building the Tabernacle Experience

 Volunteered to help build the tabernacle of the Tabernacle Experience, a life-sized replica of the Tabernacle of Moses.  It was a long day and slightly hard work, but interesting to see how it was put together. Cathy and I drove together and we saw several folks we knew from our ward and stake.  I sure was glad to take a shower that night and get cleaned up after all that dust and sweat!

Cathy helping stake down the posts.

Don staked down posts, too.

Fenton up high putting the tabernacle together.

Dave putting the tabernacle together down low.

One of the missionaries trying to see if he could accurately space out the posts
using his body length as a measure-funny.

 

Tabernacle Tour Training

 Volunteered to be a tour guide for The Tabernacle Experience and attended training to get ready.  Dr. Parry gave an interesting lecture about the tabernacle and took us on a sample tour.  Tom came along with me, which was a treat!

Dr. Parry

Tom and I got photo bombed in the Tabernacle!

Ark of the Covenant reproduction

Note!  These are the vestments for a high priest. who were the only ones allowed into the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept
 and that, only one high priest, once a year!

Noticed that this painting!  This fellow is a high priest,
but he isn't wearing all the vestments of a high priest.
To be in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant,
they wanted to symbolize humility, purity and repentance before God, 
so they dressed more simply.

Tabernacle was covered with four layers, as shown

Shiny recreation of The Holy Place.

 

Epic Last Trip from Rexburg

 

Tom is good at planning these trips we take to help Kimo drive 

either to school or drive home and this, being his last drive from Rexburg, was no exception.  Had a good, memorable time 

visiting family, friends and beautiful sights!  Well done, Tom!

Tom waiting at our hotel for signs of Kimo 

Awww, sweet photo 

Showing us the "Potato Loader", his capstone project

Class of 2025

                                           

Kimo was chosen to give the invocation at his convocation!

                                          

Made Kimo a money lei and a Idaho potato lei,
complete with potatoes, butter, S&P~

Showing us the machine shop

Left Rexburg, then on to Richland to see the Smith's.
Sure miss them!

On to Oak Harbor to visit Paula.  
Love, love, love taking the ferry!

Tom advising Paula about drywall...

Hard to fit all of us in one car, but we did it!
We traded places periodically!

I get all nostalgic for Whidbey.
Love it here in the summer

A Whidbey right of passage-Kimo found an agate!

Love experiencing Whidbey with Tom

Another Whidbey right of passage; making pies from 
blackberries you've picked yourself

Daisy

Also love finding rocks, especially at Rosario Beach

Beautiful Rosario

Another ferry ride

Saw a herd of Elk on our way thru the Oregon hills

California Coast

Made it to Glass Beach by Ft. Bragg

After being on the beach for such a long time, 
the glass here is getting worn smaller and smaller

Friends at Glass Beach

Tom feeling friendly at Glass Beach

Made it to Gilroy to visit Tom's family in his hometown.
Tom and Aunt June

Three generations of Katashimas

Ice cream wheel

Tom wanted to visit the Ronald Reagan Library--it turned out to be cool!

An exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls was extra special

Piece of the wailing wall and a live feed of the wailing wall

Piece of the Berling Wall

Impromptu speech

Airforce One plane inside!

Cockpit of Airforce One

Kids practicing their ever-ready political smiles

Piece of the Twin Towers

Photo opp reality-Horse with no legs

We were all tired after two weeks of traveling