Back to the States

Saturday morning we departed Denise's home and headed to Niagara Falls.  We'd heard that the Canadian side was better so that's where we went.  We took the elevator down to the tunnels below the falls where you can look out and see the water pouring over the hole in the rock and just know there were tons of water crashing down.  We walked up along the side and got some good pictures of the falls from further away.  The heat had returned and with the humidity factor it felt really nice to pop in and get a late breakfast before hitting the road again on our way to Palmyra.  We made it in time for a temple session.  Love the stain glass in the temple and the window that overlooks the Sacred Grove. We stopped for dinner and went sightseeing to a few of the Church history sites like Grandin Printing Shop which is the Book of Mormon's historic publication site and the Martin Harris Farm which isn't owned by the Church so we couldn't go in.  We also went to the Hill Cumorah and Visitors' Center.

 

 

 

Sunday we went to a student single ward and were shocked by how friendly all the ward members were.  That's a sad commentary when you're surprised how people come up and say hello.  SO not a Utah thing which is too bad.  Of course, the small ward makes it so you actually know when someone is visiting or new.  We hit the Joseph Smith Farm Welcome Center, Smith Log Home, and Smith frame Home next.  Missionaries give tours of the site and one can't help but try to picture what it was actually like during the 1800's.  We finished up by visiting the Sacred Grove and Amy and I split up so we could have some alone time there.  I spent quite a bit of time wandering and listening to Church music on my iPhone.  It was very peaceful and a nice experience.

  

The next morning we drove back to Buffalo and it was POURING rain.  It was nice that we had the whole trip without rain and that it held off until the end, but it was a bit of a harrowing experience to navigate the roads in that much standing water and barely being able to see out of the windshield.  We made it home though and I arrived to my house door to find it standing wide open.  The door handle was broken and I had no idea if someone had broken in or what had happened.  I dialed 911 on my phone and kept my finger hovering over the call button while I went from room to room checking to see if anyone was there.  I checked through upstairs too knowing Lori had moved out the Saturday before.  All the doors upstairs were unlocked too, so I locked those and after making sure that no one was hiding in closets, I went back downstairs and shut and locked my broken door.  It was pretty scary.  I headed in and got ready for bed and then heard someone pounding on my door.  Scared me all over again.  It was Lori and she was upset that I'd locked the house doors.  I didn't understand why since I'd thought she'd moved out on Saturday and knowing my house door had been left wide open, most likely for two days since they moved out if they were the ones who broke the door handle when moving the couch I'd had down there.  At least I didn't have to call the police afterall, but what a homecoming!

Anne Fans

Amy and I enjoyed our time in Toronto, Canada and New York.  We flew to Buffalo, rented a car, and drove to Toronto to our home stay. The recorder at the temple there put me in contact with a sister ordinance worker who houses people for free when they're in town and want to attend the temple.  All she asks is that you donate whatever amount you want toward the missionary fund.  We used this as our home base to travel from each day.  We'd leave about 8:30 in the morning and not return until 9 or 10 at night.  I thought that there would be way more Anne of Green Gables movie interest than there was.  I guess most people just think of Prince Edward Island when they think of Anne of Green Gables even though the majority of the scenes were filmed in Toronto.  I'd mapped out our route ahead of time so we could go to all the places close to each other each day with a minimum of driving.  It was so strange to find these locations and have a scene be one particular camera angle shot and know that there was a warehouse on the other side or something like that.  You just don't get the idea of that from the movies.  Some of the locations we were able to see were:

• Diana Barry's home exterior
• The Lake of Shining Waters were Anne nearly drowns in the boat and the bridge
• The kitchen where Anne treated Minnie May Barry for the croup
• The parlour where Anne apologizes to Josephine Barry
• The bedroom used during the sleepover
• Green Gables (totally run down now!)
• Moody Spurgeon's house where Anne walks the ridgepole
• Carmody Town Hall where Anne attends her first ball
• Kingsport Ladies College
• Railway museum where Anne leaves on the train for college
• Hammond house exterior
• Rachel Lynde's house and the crossroads
• Avonlea post office
• General Store
• The covered bridge
• The railway station where Anne first arrives
• The sawmill where Mr. Hammond dies
• The window from the orphanage bedroom scene
• Captain Harris' Boston home
• Josephine Barry's home in Charlottetown
• Maplehurst
• Queen's Academy
• The log bridge in the sequel
• Avonlea schoolhouse
• Whitesands hotel

 

We drove all over Ontario and became pretty familiar with it!  We even drove as far north as Bracebridge Falls and got to see Lake Huron.  We also saw Lakes Erie and Ontario of course.  Apparently only die hard Anne fans go to these sites which I didn't consider myself since I've only seen the first two movies.  But as one lady said, I'm a purist because I stick with the originals and not all the spinoffs.  Who knew?!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides Anne sites, we stopped and had lunch with Norman and Sandra Hunt, some friends I met with mom, dad, and grandma on our cruise of Alaska.  Amy really enjoyed meeting them because they are so nice and easy to talk to.  We also went to the temple for initiatories and a session.  When we walked in to the temple, this lady I had never met said, "don't I know you?"  I of course responded no and said I'm from out of town.  She insisted she knew me though and said, "isn't your name Tammy?  Tammy Pack?"  Well that threw me for a loop!  Turns out she was a secretary in the office and had been cc'd on the email where the recorder had put me in contact with Denise Bourgeois (the homestay) and my picture was attached to the email as one of the recipients and she'd memorized my face.  Talk about a welcome!  The recorder came out and had a nice chat with us after that and it was a really nice evening.  Can't believe how much ground we covered in our drives around Ontario!

 

Around the World

After work on Friday I drove up to Heber for the family bday party.  Lisa's family is in town before heading out to Indiana, and Dana, Jon, and Lori's families drove up for dinner and games.  The adults played Around the World ping pong and even Jon joined in as his hip is doing so much better.  Then we started playing doubles and finally singles.  Brett scored the most during the group game winning four times.  Doubles and singles I had a good showing.

I spent the night along with Lisa's family.  Since Nate and Jer were still away for their High Adventure Scout Camp, I slept in Nathan's room.  The spider trap was a horrifying find.  Especially right before going to bed in that room!  Brett, Lisa, Steven, and I went to play racquetball on Saturday.  Brett and I played two games against each other first, and though I won them, he gave me a run for it on the second game with the final score being 16-14.  His early morning games have been paying off!  When we went to play doubles next against Lisa and Steven, Lisa said that Steven thought they were going to kill us.  Eleven to zero later and I still wasn't worried.  The final score ended up being 15-5.  It was so hot there though!  I felt like I was purple and my internal cooling system just wasn't working.  Seriously sweaty.

Amy came over last night and we finished watching Anne of Green Gables.  We are officially ready for our trip now.  During lunch today I interviewed at doTERRA, then headed to a dentist appointment, followed by racquetball with Melissa, waxing nose hairs with Steven, and finishing my packing.  Toronto here I come!

Called Out

Grandma called me out this week for being too busy in the evenings.  Hey, I only have a small amount of time allotted each day to get things done.  I've got to fit everything in!

I dropped my car off by 7 in the morning on Monday for an oil change.  They said I wasn't scheduled for my next one (they're free the first three years) until September (even though I bought my car in July).  So I had them do the emissions inspection instead and it was discovered that my oil and coolant something or others were leaking (covered by warranty), so I left it there for the day and picked it up after work just in time to make swimming in the Avenues with the Pacinis where I spent the night.  Brittany and I also watched the VM movie which officially finished the series out for us after a year and a half of watching.

Tuesday was racquetball, followed by my new-to-me couch being delivered by a co-worker and her husband from Bountiful.  They are moving and getting new ones and since Lori has signed on her house and will be taking the one I've used, I needed a new one and fast.  My visiting teaching partner came over after that to pick up the stuff I bought to deliver to our ladies this month.  She's going out of town this week and I'll be out next week so we are dropping something off to each of them instead of a full-on visit.

Tonight was our Book Club at Thai Drift.  We read the Fault in Our Stars which made me cry, but not excessively.  I thought it was pretty good.  Rachael joined us since she's home from her mission and Kaylee came too so it was kid friendly and fun.  I couldn't put it off any longer though when I got home, knowing I was going to be gone all next week, so I caved and weeded and cut roses until it was too dark to see.  Two additional hours after our dinner where I was already tired.  But now I don't have to worry about it again for a little while!  Emphasis on the little...

Video of a Video?

Items of Note:

My pulled back muscle was stretched out really well before racquetball on Thursday and I crushed Melissa!  She even had to sit down against the wall to rest for a bit because we were playing so hard.  My athletic friend.  Yes!  Saturday when we played, it was pretty even and afterward I followed her to her house in Saratoga Springs (still love the view from the west side of Utah Lake up toward Timpanogos. I would buy a place out there just for that view!) for a haircut and color.  She also has bought shellac nail polish and the UV machine to bake the polish so she ended up doing my fingers and toes.

Today I drove down to Genola for Rachael Johnson's homecoming.  She just got back from Russia and bore her testimony in Russia.  She's a very cute girl.  There was lunch afterward at Shauna's house and travel of course was a topic that came up.  England possibly in three years for some of the Ervin Pack kids?  And maybe me of course?

Ari called me upstairs tonight.  She stands at the top of the stairs still and calls for T, and then says come up, or whatcha doin'?  I can't resist it.  She saw my phone tonight and kept saying Cheese!  Cheese! until I brought up the camera feature.  We watched two previous videos I'd made of her, and as she watched, she would say along with her recorded self, the same words she was prompted to in the video.  I wished I had another camera to video her watching the video!  She also talked me in to making another one...

Missionary Parents

Dad had called me on Sunday to let me know he had a talk with President Jerry Callister, Fresno California Temple President, on Saturday.  President Callister had put his arm around dad and they proceeded to speak with an ordinance worker about yours truly and how great I am. :-)  I emailed President Callister on Monday to say I'd heard he'd seen my parents and to say a few other things.  I got his response tonight and it definitely made me a little teary-eyed!  This says right there how dad and mom magnify their calling and what an example they are.  President Callister said:

• Sister Pack,
  
  
  Yes, we spoke with your parents on Saturday.   However,  that is not an infrequent event.   They have been coming to the temple almost weekly.  They bring with them new members going through the temple for their own endowments or performing baptisms.  They also bring members who haven’t been to the temple for a long time or who just recently received their own endowments.  And, of course, they come when their missionary zone comes to the Temple.   We love seeing them.  We are witnesses to the wonderful work they are performing. They are dearly loved.  They have taught, loved and strengthened many wonderful people.   
  
  
  Last Saturday I told your Father that we just would not let them leave us!   I know their mission is drawing to a close in September and you are probably really anxious to have them home again…but we will really miss them.  Your Father serves as a veil worker, which is a great help to us.  Most of our Temple workers know them by name now and they have surely won the hearts of everyone here.
  
  
  It is great to hear from you.  I hope you are enjoying your new assignment.  Sister Callister and I are doing well and are loving our call.  We think of you often.
  
  
  With much love,
  
  
  President Callister

Pain

Jenny recently had a miscarriage.  She had gone in to be set apart for a new calling in January and was told in the blessing to basically listen to what the Lord wanted them to do.  So, she and Brett stopped preventing.  They're going to keep trying.  Although I know she wants a little girl, their boys are so cute that I can't help wanting another one!

Totally hurt my back in racquetball tonight.  I went to make a return and pulled a muscle on the side.  While I kept playing, it hurt every hit and I babied it.  So, after the last two times I've played against Melissa and won every game, I lost.  All the games we played.  It didn't help that she hit me so hard in the face with the racquetball that I came the closest to crying that I've ever done before on the court.  I cringed every time she did a return...which didn't help my back.  Not cool!...except, it did give me a good excuse not to pull weeds and prune the roses when I got back home...

Fourth of July Fizzle

Sometimes, I feel like I don't have any time to myself:

          - Wednesday after work I went straight to grandmas, changed quickly

             and went to my stake Primary presidency meeting, drove directly from

             there to Marcel and Edna's and watched a few mystery shows with them

             and fixed their iPad and earbud problems, then drove home quickly to

             be there in time for Max and Kim to stop by and catch up as they're 

             driving through from their move from Washington to Nevada.  They

             left close to 11 p.m. and since I drove the van pool the next day at work,

             I definitely didn't get enough sleep!  But it did feel good helping and

             taking care of so many different things.

Sometimes, my time is spent just right:

          -  We left early from work Thursday to beat the holiday traffic so Melissa and I

              went to our racquetball game an hour early and I was so excited about

              the long weekend that I was bouncing all over the court with so much

              energy that we played HARD.  Then we grabbed some dinner and frozen

              yogurt, then went to see the movie X-men.  Perfect evening of work, fun,

              and socializing.

Sometimes though, I go overboard and have too much time to myself:

          -  Finally being able to get some sleep on Friday, I slept in and then lazed in bed on

              the 4th, not getting up til noon.  Amy came over and we watched a little

              VM, then when she had to leave for a family party, I picked up a late lunch

              and dessert for when she came back later that night for more VM.  No

              fireworks, party, or family for me this 4th.  I've discovered now that most

              holidays are just another regular day.  The next day I slept in again then

              took grandma to Wingers.  Sherry and LeRoy showed up as we were

              leaving so grandma invited them too.  After was more VM with Amy.

              Sunday I spent by myself again and it turns out you really can have too

              much of a good thing - although it did make me glad to go to work on

              Monday.

Swimming was cancelled again today so instead, Sarah Mayfield picked me up from work early and we went to racquetball at 5 p.m.  She came in when I stopped to see grandma and met her before we headed over.  Sarah has only played twice and is just in the learning stages so I made myself run to get all her balls for my exercise.  She is thinking of buying a home in Alpine which would be AWESOME to have her close. We went and looked at it after.  Ari talked me into playing with her tonight too.  We made a few videos...

Fireworks Season

Jon had another court appointment yesterday morning and Dana wasn't able to attend.  He does really well going to all of these supporting Jon.  I went in his place (my 2nd time there).  It's always strange to be sitting back behind the room divider as during my Child Protective Service days I was always the one up in the chairs at the tables.

I finally got to play racquetball hard again tonight!  I probably should have taken it a little easier on Melissa as she was sore from doing the trapeze while on vacation last week, but when you are winning all four games, right and left hands, by over 10 points each?  It's hard to take a step back!  After, I went to work pruning the roses.  Can't wait to hear from grandma and what she and Sherry thought of them, I'm bound to get an earful as I gave them a big haircut!

It is Tiffany's birthday today so Dana's family invited everyone over for cupcakes and fireworks to celebrate.  She opened presents out on the driveway where we had the chairs set up and got all Elsa items from Disney's movie 'Frozen.'  I can't believe the fireworks that are legal now.  They are great and inexpensive.  One of the big ones for the night that did about ten giant plumes and explosions only cost $7!  It was a fun night.

Happy Birthday Tiffany!