AMY AMY AMY

I didn't get a chance to write about Amy's wedding so now that things are simmering down, I think I will take a moment and say a few things.

It was a beautiful day for the wedding and especially the reception.  We were worried that we might have rain but it was a perfect night.  Amy and Laura made most of the food and Amy chose to also have snowcones which were a big hit.  The colors were bright and fun and the Jensen's yard was perfect.  We had a good turnout of people although I have had many since tell me they were sorry they had to miss the event due to being somewhere else etc.  Well, we were glad for who could celebrate with us.

The temple ceremony in the big room off of the Celestial room, couldn't have been more perfect.  A son of Bruce R. McConkie sealed Amy and Dad.  He told them of some wonderful promises and spoke of the covenants they were making as man and wife.  Both Dan's family and our family filled the room.

All of our children and almost all of their spouses were there in the temple.  It was a sacred moment for me as their mother to witness their devotion to the gospel and commitment to covenants they have each made.  What a blessing that was for both Jim and I.  It was a tender mercy!

I am proud of Amy and the worthy life she has led to qualify her for a temple marriage.  She has always tried to live the gospel and has made a great effort to keep the commandments, to dress modestly, to attend and serve in the church.  I am especially pleased with her as a married woman.  We went to her house in Springville on Saturday and I think she has done such a great job decorating her little basement apartment.  Everything was so neat and orderly and her decorations were darling.  On Sunday we went back and had dinner with her and Dan as well as Laura and Nigel, Shey and Donnie.  We had one of our favorites, Shoyu Chicken and rice and she did a great job having everything ready and waiting for us.  There is a special, sweet spirit in her home.

I couldn't be happier for her.  I know that she is starting our her married life in a great way.  I am so glad that she and Dan are so happy and that they are both committed to their temple marriage!

Letter to Kathy Hellberg

Wrote this up-date letter to Kathy Hellberg after she wrote me a birthday card...

Kathy:

I am thanking you for several things.  #1 gift card to Amy and Dan. It was a delightful wedding and we had a good time.  I was so relieved to have it all done and that it didn't rain on the outdoor reception. 

#2 Birthday card and wishes to me and update on your family!  It was great to hear about your grandsons and your girls & spouses.  I intend to bring Jim out there one day so he can meet all of you and enjoy a vacation as I did (now long ago).
#3 Your email address which I believe is new from the one I had.  I had my email hacked about 6 months ago and although I wrote a letter to my email friends I never got around to mailing it.  Therefore I haven't had an email for you and like you do not spend time on facebook.
I thought I would fill you in on our latest:
We have opened a cute little shop and cafe in Cedar City.  It is a fun venture for me - I am patterning it after a New Hope kind of shop.  I take in consignment items that involve things from antiques to handcrafted items.  I never know what will come in next and my greatest fun is to decorate them on the shelves, tables etc. that I have.  I also make fudge that we sell in all kinds of flavors - maplenut, chocolate pecan, island rocky road, butterscotch penuche, pistachio... you give us an idea and we'll try it.  Jim is the inventor and he does very well in his creations.  I also make goodie baskets and have fun putting those together. 

Besides the shop is also the cafe which has been a huge success for lunchtime crowds.  We mostly make sandwiches and use a foccacia (seasoned) bread for things like pulled turkey w/ jalepeno raspberry jam, chicken salad, BLT, etc.  Or we do a variety of grilled cheese on sourdough:  3 cheese w/sliced asian pear, 3 cheese w/ bacon and guacamole.  We also do a lot of grilled sandwiches like The Thunderbird which is on a hogie bun with grilled chicken, bell pepper, mushroom, onion and cheese w/ lettuce, tomato and red onion; or the Philly which is similar accept w/ beef... plus several others like a Ruben, hot pastrami, loaded pastrami.
It has been fun to try new sandwiches out and see how people like them.  We have some great salads and wraps as well.  In a central Utah small town we are something unique and people are enjoying our menu.

So obviously that is keeping us busy, busy, busy. 

John is working with us.  He moved here from Florida when he and his wife were divorced 2 years ago.  She decided she didn't want to do the fulltime mom thing and went back to Alaska to go to school.  He brought his 3 kids here and is doing very well.  I am working hard to find him a new wife! He has one girl Natalie who is now 12, Jack who is 8 and Andy who is 6. 

Dave also works for us while going to school.  I think he has one more year because he keeps changing his major. Dani works for a dentist here in town - she got her degree in business two years ago.  Amy worked for us as well but will move to Provo Utah while her husband finishes up school there at UVU

Laura and her family are in Salt Lake where her husband is getting his MBA at the University of Utah in finance.  They have two cute little kids - Sheylani who just turned six and will go to first grade and Donovan who will be two in October.
We enjoy seeing them as often as we can and Amy and Laura will just be about 45 minutes apart...they are very good friends so this will be great to them.

Mike is in Wyoming and still going to school.  He drives a school bus and I think would love to do that the rest of his life if he could... He is aiming towards and degree in business as well.  His wife, Liana, is the sweetest thing.  She also is working on a degree in family therapy and works at their local hospital.  She would quit it all in a minute if she could get pregnant but hasn't been able to yet.  They will have been married 4 years in August.

Jim is still in North Las Vegas where he still works for the same law firm he has been with for 8 or so years.  His kids are growing up:  Marien 15, Clayton will be 14 in August, and Kathryn is 11.  Clorinda keeps busy tutoring math and getting the kids to all of their activities since Las Vegas has a school system where the kids can go to magnetic schools that focus on certain curriculums - Marien goes across town to a Rancho for medical prep. something or other.  Clayton went to another special school in Henderson which is in the other direction... Kathryn will start middle school this year but I believe that both she and Clayton will be staying in their "neighborhood" schools this year.

Pete is in Houston.  I went to visit them in May.  Pete works for Shell Oil.  They just had their fourth baby this last month - June 26th. He was 3 weeks early so it was great he came and Pete and their daughter Abbie (8) were able to come for Amy's wedding. They have 4 children:  Jeremy (10), Abbie, Ben (5) and new little Oliver Charles.  Pete's wife Tara is amazing and takes great care of the kids and their home.  It is always fun to visit them - she takes such good care of us!  Abbie will be baptized in August and the baby will be blessed so both Jim and I are going for a few days.

Jay is finishing up at animation school (online) where he has been working for the last 18 mos.  He is hoping to find a job in animation anywhere!  He has been designing t-shirts since he got his degree in fine art 8 years ago for a tshirt company called Duck Company.  He has also taught classes at the university here in Cedar but wants to move into this new opportunity.  They are looking forward to a move somewhere.  He and Sara have 6 children:  Mackenzie (12), Tara (10) twins Jaykob and Jayson (9) Anna (4) and Tommy (2)  Sara is a great mom and does all the homemaker stuff like great desserts, homemade bread.  I like living by her, we have a good time together - got pedicures for my birthday even!

Might also mention that I hear from Kelly now and then.  She is living in Iowa now and managing a museum.  She said she is working 60 hour weeks but I think she likes it.  Both of her girls live nearby.  Cammie and her husband, and Bronwynne and her baby, Taryn, who is about 8 mos. old - I think she lives with Kelly and Mike.

So look what your letter brought you....  Thanks for writing. 

Let's keep in touch!!!

Love you forever - Kathy 

Big #62

Received this email from Kelly for my birthday.  Thought I would publish it and my reply...

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER!   Are we still allowing those?? Well, have a happy day anyway. I often think of you and how much you taught me growing up. Thanks for being a great "big" sister.   I hope things are going well for you. Congradulations to Amy and hubby - He looks like he will fit right into the Fontano Clan. (I can find the picture but not the invitation!) Kath, you and Jim should be proud of your kids - all married in the temple, all knowing what i smost important and going forward in the gospel. I am sure yesterday was a beautiful day for you.   what is going on with the rest of your bunch? I thought you were beating me in the grandkid count - but now we are at 18 and 1 great due in December. Davydd and Candace are expecting in August  (18) and Tosha (oldest granddaughter) is expecting in December. (I love these kids, just wish that they would get the marriage taken care of first!) Kami & Seth are not able to get pregnant and it is very depressing for her. Of course having Taryn in my life is a blessing I am grateful for every day. I keep praying that her mother will catch on to the gospel. She goes to church with us all the time, but really doesn't allow herself to be a part of it. It is an unusual situation, but as long as we live together, she will go, but she won't pray with us or study scriptures or discuss the gospel at all. She just got a job, so that wil help me out with the financial struggle - I hope. With the way things are set up, you never know if getting work will help or set you up to lose benefits like WIC and medicaid for the baby. We are hoping that this will allow her to keep medical coverage for Taryn and WIC but allow her to pay off school debts and get a car. I am teaching RS again. It is about all I can handle with work which is taking about 60 to 75 hours per week. Of course, since we are in a branch - that means that I teach almost every week and lead the music. All I didn't do in RS today was say the opening prayer and conduct and this was my week off! But we have a great group of sisters and I love it. Mike has been called as 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. It is his first leadership calling since we've been married and he is terrified. I think it will be great for him, but quite new and different. He is most comfortable teaching. He is looking for work still. This economy and not having training in a business setting and being too old to do physical labor is really hard. Ah well, life is still good and happy. God bless you and all yours. and have a Happy Birthday. Make Jim take you somewhere else to eat besides your own place!! Love you. Kelly

Well I already ate lunch at the LBH and I know he will take me to the Garden House for Prime Rib which is my favorite!  So no worries for Birthday dinner.

All the kids were here and in the temple for Amy's wedding so that is the best birthday present ever!  Yes they are all active and have strong testimonies - don't know what we did right but they have all chosen well.  We are at grandchild #19 as Pete and Tara had their baby boy , Oliver Charles, last week (3 weeks early) and that was great because Pete and his little Abbie were able to come to the wedding.  I feel very blessed!

Jim and his family will be coming to Nauvoo in a couple of weeks... do you live near enough for him to come and see you or you to meet him?  I don't know what day for sure but this is his email:  jimfontano@yahoo.com and if you will contact him perhaps he can make arrangements.  He definitely wants to see you if it is possible. 

Big Jim's sister Judy passed away with a brain tumor last week - she found out on Mother's day and so she went quickly.  It was a bitter sweet day of course - seeing relatives but also saying goodbye to a very good woman.  

We are busy at the shop - I bet we are actually doing similar things only you know what you are doing and I just guess most of the time.  I love the arranging and coordinating - it is something that I have loved since we were little and Mom and Lucy were both so into antiques.  I feel blessed to have this opportunity but I do know that my age plays a part in what I can do or not do.  I met a lady today who is celebrating her 55th anniversary this week and she looked fantastic and the thought crossed my mind that I hope I am strong like her when I make it to her age... if I do.  This business will either keep me young or kill me so we'll see!

You mentioned teaching and everything else in RS - you go girl!  They have put me in YW again as a MM counselor to a 25 year old amazing girl.  All the other workers are also in their 20s and I am sure they just as soon leave me alone but I am doing okay with the girls (they think of me as their grandma) and so I guess some of my experience helps out.  We have girls camp this week and I have gotten out of going all week - just Weds and Thurs.  I am afraid of the 7000' altitude and what it might do to my heart so I have just bowed out of sleeping over.  I have never been to a better camp in my moving around than Liahona - I think we were so lucky to go up there...who knew I would still be going to girls camp at the age of 62!

Jim and I are doing okay.  Keeping busy at the shop.  Today he made chocolate and carrot cake big cupcakes as well as Chocolate satin pie.  He loves to do all that but whines about it at the same time.  He struggles with his back and hips and all of that but is an asset to the business because he is such a people person and drums us up business etc.  We will miss Amy being there (she is moving to Orem) but on the other hand there has been a lot of family involved in making decisions and having differences of opinion so perhaps one less "family" member int he management might not be too bad.

Well, thanks for my email, it made my day.  I love and appreciate you.  Some day I hope we can spend some time together.  It would be a delight.  Congrats on all your grandchildren - especially having a little one living with you is a blessing (although Donovan - Laura's youngest is now 20 mos. and is already in his terrible twos)  He spilled bleach on my carpet and lost my remote on his last visit.  Whew, glad she is able to take him home!

Love you so much, Kathy