Valentine's Day and February

February 4th was the third anniversary of what I like to call Rebecca's heaven birthday.  A couple days later, Dallin (Elder Price) messaged me this picture and asked me if it was Talmage that had his arm around him.  I responded that it was.  Dallin said his tears had frozen his eyes over and he never knew who it was that helped him so much that day.  He had seen this picture for the first time that day and was trying to identify the "angel."  It warmed my heart.  

After a day at seminary with James, we had salmon to celebrate our favorite Valentines.

We had an amazing sunset show recently.

One of James's friends happened to be in Norwich and took Talmage out to eat.

From February 20, 2022 letter to Talmage:

It’s very quiet here today.  Hyrum, Rex, and Lyle are at Hayden’s house in Yakima.  It’s President’s Day weekend and they have been looking forward to a cousin sleepover for quite awhile.  It seems to be the motivating factor here and at Hayden’s house.  Friday, before I drove Rex and Lyle there, they were doing dishes, sweeping the floor, and being super helpful and pleasant.  I think when we did the math and they realized it would be about $30 in gas for the trip they were feeling a little guilty.  I’m just so grateful we have cousins close enough that they can have times to be together and make memories.

Hyrum has had an especially busy weekend.  Thursday night he stayed at Specht’s because there was supposed to be AAU basketball practice that night and it happens quite late in Connell.  He wanted to go and Dave helps coach so he was just going to go back to Specht’s with Dave.  Well, practice got cancelled but Hyrum wanted to go to Jhett’s house anyway.  He got here off the bus Friday just in time to shower and changed his clothes before he headed off on the Deacon overnighter to Immigrant Springs down by Pendleton.  Bryant did a good job of organizing that outing and I think they had a good time.  When they planned it 6 weeks or so ago they were thinking that they would be sledding and playing in the snow, but it’s been fairly warm this week and Hyrum said he didn’t even use his snow clothes.  He came back smoky but not wet.  He went with us to Mattawa for Sariah’s game and we met up with Dax and Hyrum headed to Yakima to join the party.  

Our last zoom call with Elder Hales.  

James had a busy week in seminary.  He had the "Rebekah Challenge" as well as pottage.  His classes actually liked it okay though our kids thought they were going to die due to the smell.  Sariah said she was dry heaving as soon as she woke up.

Russia invaded Ukraine.  James and I watched the news with tears in our eyes on Wednesday night while all the kids were gone to activities.  James work the traditional Ukranian costume to school on Thursday.

Thursday, we finally actually opened Rex and Lyle's mission accounts.  Their earnings from several years have been piling up in ziploc bags and we finally made an appointment.  They each started out with about $1500 towards their mission funds.

This was two years ago on February 26th.  A few tears that early morning and a very quiet ride back from the airport.

This was Talmage's post on February 26th this year:

Two years today.

In two years, the world changed. In two years, MY world changed.

To all those I have met in my service as a missionary, I express my gratitude. How I hope to remember the things I've learned and the experiences we have shared.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He saves, and I know that He heals. I bear my witness to the world that His church is true and I want to follow Him.

Yesterday was Sariah's "Galentine's Day" party with her girlfriends.  She did a lot of work to get everything clean and ready and she looked so pretty.

The kids and James and I ate in the utility room.  Lyle made it "fancy" for us.

The last Sunday before he comes home, his plaque finally made it to the display case.