The spring Orem Temple grounds were killing me! 
I mean, C'mon!
Paul Foster July 5, 1972 — April 20, 2025
Funeral, May 3rd, 2025
Matt traveled to St. George for the funeral of his lifelong friend, Paul. They met as kids and were each other's best man at their weddings, but boy, did they choose different paths.
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| Our Wedding Day, August 26, 1994 |
This was something I wanted to support him in, but it seemed to be something he needed to do on his own. Maybe it was just as well I stayed home. Ivy had a volleyball tournament in Heber, and she and Ashley stayed the night at our house. Or, it could be seen as perfect timing for me to be in St. George, since Callie would not have been home alone. However, Callie and I went to the Rec. Center the next day and watched Ivy's team take the title!
(Course, I also might not have gone hog-wild at TJ Maxx, either.)
A Mexican dinner with Callie—just the three of us. Our chiropractor was sitting at a table near us, we chatted with him on the way out. He served his mission in Barcelona, and though not currently practicing the faith, you could tell that his stories were still so much of his life. His wife stood patiently, with a faint smile, listening to stories she has no doubt heard multiple times.
Namaskate
Matt came home to the rugs rolled up and me whizzing out from the hall, he said, "What in the world?"
I was determined to learn to skate backwards. After the teacher worked with me during two classes, I thought, "I can't keep hogging the time!" Something was just not clicking. I found videos on YouTube and practiced at home. I would practice in my socks or with my feet in the air—trying to get the movements. Every now and then, I'd feel a little click in my brain, the synapses trying to connect. They finally did! Brains are amazing. I felt like Olga with her new wooden shoe at my next skating class. I got there early. When the teacher said, "K-Abby, we are going to get you to go backwards today!" I showed her that I could." "Abby!" We were all so happy. Going backwards is my favorite.
Toward the end of May, I went to skate class, but no one was there. I strapped on my skates and had the place to myself...but for only a moment. I saw a school bus pull up, and moments later, middle schoolers started pouring in like roaches for a field day. I rolled to the side, unlaced my skates, and gotta outta there!
On a different day when I was doing a lunch activity at the high school, all I could think was, "This floor would be amazing to skate on." It happened to be the day they were passing out graduation caps and gowns for Graham's graduation class. It was killing me,
till I realized they weren't solid black and that I would have had to spend $90 on a new one. They were also giving out graduation tickets. I grabbed my allotted tickets and figured I would give them to people who needed them. As I was talking to is friend, Noah, he mentioned that he was one ticket short. I was happy to reach into my bag and give him one, "Graham would want you to have it."
Other people didn't know he had graduated early and was on a mission. Callie said that sometimes people say, "Aren't you Graham's sister? Where is he???" SPAIN.
Whenever we go into Costa Vida, they give us free food. He is loved!
Cool at the pool with Callie
We had a work event so she came and said, Hello. Look at those clouds reflected in the glass.
I brought her a sweet little lunch on another day.
The CAPS Students, in conjunction with Wasatch Behavioral Health and Parents Empowered, had a ribbon-cutting for the new murals at the Aquatics Center (the pool). I go there multiple times a week, so I was excited to see them. They look great, but I was surprised that they covered ALL the windows! I knew my old lady water aerobics friends would have an opinion on that. They sure did. Callie said the lifeguards also complained that it made it seem hotter in there. I watched over the following months, as the murals were slowly removed till only the messaging remained.
You didn't have to go to the pool to get wet, though.
Wa, wa, waaaaa. The kids' fair, held in May, is often rainy, windy, or cold. We boxed up everything we brought and handed out plastic frisbees to the few who braved the wet. The co-worker who put it on said, That's it, I am moving it to June next year. Yay!
Every other day in May was gorgeous. My porch stayed this happy till July.
Mother's Day Brunch
Though it was listed as all day on the website, it was just the regular menu when we got to Capitol Grill. They still showed us some love. They have great service and great food.
We were walking the grounds of Temple Square when Graham called from the MTC, "Where are you?" he wondered. He and his roommates had been up to 18-year-old shenanigans. They made a Christmas tree out of chairs in their room and replaced a picture in one of the halls. Ya know, kids' stuff. He had requested the lights, saying the overheads were too harsh to wake up to at the crack-o. We also dropped off his robe, his Minky, and other things I thought he'd need, as well as another suitcase. I had BYU bakery donuts delivered to him and his district. Once in Spain, no more drop-offs.
It was a lovely day. There were so many missionaries sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine. I wondered if Graham was one of them. Looking through the bars made me feel a little bit like I was at the zoo!
He arrived in Spain the following Wednesday, May 14th. So was so good to finally see him there! It felt like the last of what seemed to be one hundred steps since opening his call eight months ago.
On the flight there, the pilot let him sit in the cockpit:)
"You got this!"
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A Garden Party to Celebrate Kate!
Ashley had her orchard picturesque. We buzzed around without much deciding about what should go where exactly, but it just worked!
Boy, did it work!
Still, "If I hit my head on that branch on more time..."
Henry and Solly walked over to the food table and couldn't seem to find one thing they would want to eat.
We are so excited for Kate and Adam! Ashley is absolutely the hostess with the mostess.
Callie wasn't quite ready to call it a day, so I took her to some shops. We went inside Planted Earth and took our time browsing the crammed store of unique items upstairs and down. She picked a teenie pendant to buy. It had to have been the smallest thing in the store.
Callie wanted a new dress since in one week, she would be seeing Wicked, having an LAX Banquet, and cousin Kate's wedding. After SEVEN stores and a bit of exhaustion, we went to the mall. Still nothing, and we were nearing the end of the shops. I went to the bathroom and asked Heavenly Father if we could have some help finding a dress, if it was meant to be, because it had been a long day, and I hated for our search to be in vain. At the next—and last—store, we found not one, not two, but THREE dresses that would work, for about half the price of one! I was reminded, once again, that when we include prayer as part of our everyday lives, we will see His hand abundantly.
My Turn!
Last year in my 40s
May 18th, 2025
Unexpectedly, to Sunday dinner, Grayson brought a piñata!
We enjoyed snacking on a gigantic bowl of saltwater taffy the rest of the summer. After we'd finish Sunday dinner, we'd plop the bowl on the lazy Suzan.
Even more unexpectedly, I dragged Matt to the backhoe tournament at the Event Center the next day, May 19th. I had heard it is cooler than it was... Matt said, "I am glad I wasn't the one who suggested this." Still, he appreciated the spontaneity.
We celebrated Matt the next day,
May 20, 2025
The card attached to the Junior Mints reads, "Matt, your last year as a JUNIOR—before you become a SENIOR!" I love it when I can tie something in that I already have;)
Wicked
May 20th, 2025
Eccles Center, Salt Lake City
Callie and Grayson have only seen the movie, which is just half of the story, so they were excited to see how it ends!
Girl's Lacrosse Banquet
May 21st, 2025
May is as busy, if not busier, than December, and yet none of our events conflicted with each other. Granted, we were busy almost evening, but there were no conflicts.
Wedding Day
May 22nd, 2025
Logan, Utah
I have never been inside the Logan Temple. I was happy to see it before it is restored. It sure is a beautiful castle on the hill. A happy day for Kate and Adam.
The luncheon was at a church in Providence. I was touched to see the love that had gone into it, which was a last-minute addition to the day. Someone had known we would all be hungry after our travels and wanted us to have a place to enjoy a meal together. The thought of someone reserving the building, setting up tables and chairs, preparing and serving the food, and providing centerpieces gave the sweetest feeling.
Many family members were headed to the Syracuse Temple open house. Matt asked what I wanted to do. I said, "I am going where Eliza is," which was Ogden, to get the reception together. Because the luncheon was halfway between the two cities, we got to drive through the most beautiful countryside of northeast Utah.
The reception was at a lovely venue. Eliza had only seen it once when she checked it out in February, when it was sad and dead—as most things are in February. But now, now, it was green and blooming, and just lovely. She had outdone herself with handmade details. And she baked! We couldn't believe all that she had done. We were happy to be the hands that brought her vision to life.
We all adored the cake made by Eliza's friend, Angie. Completely wowed.
The night was full of precious moments, from dancing to cake-cutting to the send-off. It is a rare occasion that all six siblings and our spouses are together—we were able to make a photoshoot happen.
And you know we had to taste that beautiful cake.
We helped Eliza load her car with platters and stands. I checked the dressing room trailer to see if anything was left. Kate's wedding dress!
Memorial Weekend
May 24th-25thHelping Binnie Move
Graham had an arm wrestle with Matt sometime before his mission began. Matt beat him. Matt was surprised since Graham works out so often. Graham said, "Yeah, but you've got old man strength."
Matt and I used our old man and old woman strength that day and the next to move sectionals and furniture up and down flights of stairs. Ava moved from Orem to American Fork. She has a great brand-new space. She also had an amazing spring in PARIS!
Matt and I used our old man and old woman strength that day and the next to move sectionals and furniture up and down flights of stairs. Ava moved from Orem to American Fork. She has a great brand-new space. She also had an amazing spring in PARIS!
Enjoying some much-needed rest on Memorial Day at the Provo Cemetery. Matt and I had represented the Ray and Leslie clan at the SLC Cemetery the Saturday before. We then headed to Utah County to meet up with my siblings for MI8 Final Reckoning! The movie was loooong. Nearly all of us had to take a bathroom break during it. As I hurried back to the theater, I quoted a line from Seinfeld in my head, "Oh maaaan, I'm missing the death blow!" We ate at Chubby's afterward and chatted till closing.
We had lunch at Texas Houston Hot Chicken. There was a bar under the table that my thigh ran into when I stood up. All that moving and not a scratch, but lunch turned me black and blue. The ladies at the pool had questions. Not about my bruise, but about the chicken joint!
It didn't stop me from enjoying my morning walks. I see the horse's head on Timp. Time to plant.
And by that, I don't mean face-plant!
I had to snap a picture of Matt trying to power wash the fence. Living off a main thoroughfare, we often get honks and waves as we are out working in the yard. Matt seems to get a lot of people stopping to chat. A simple task can take an hour!
We don't take for granted the community we have built over 25 years.
Bright and beautiful.
