shots, anniversary, Alex, hair, Joy, and snow

Glen was eligible to start subbing in early December. He had his first sub job just a few weeks ago and seems to be enjoying it. He's subbed a little at the high school and more at the middle school. He still works on the farm occasionally, too. 

Made a King Cake because it's Mardi Gras season! Used a new recipe and really liked it. Though I don't know that I'll make another one this year as we are trying to cut back on the sweets, but it was really good.

https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/king-cake

As employees in the school district, Glen and I were eligible to get COVID vaccines (Moderna version) if we wanted. We wanted, so on the 20th we got our first shots. Barely felt it. Arm just a tad sore later. Doing okay. Looking forward to immunity.

The 20th was the 33rd anniversary of when we first met--we met playing Bunco, so, we played a 2 player game on the 20th to celebrate. I think I won (final score was 43 to  123, yeah, I definitely won).

The 21st was the 32nd anniversary of our wedding. I posted 2 photos to facebook--one from our wedding day and the other Eric took for us on our 32nd anniversary. We played 2 games that day...and Glen won both. We have changed our "you get a chocolate if you win" to "you get a chocolate if you lose." It helps to take the sting out of losing. I feel like I lose more than Glen, but it is actually a pretty even competition.

Beth and Glen 21 January 1989 St. George, Utah

Beth and Glen 21 January 2021 Fallon, Nevada

Alex was transferred to Holladay, Utah on Wednesday (a kind member took a photo of Alex and send it to us with the news of where he was going). We knew he would be near some cousins, but didn't know details. Thursday morning Kathy calls us to say that her daughter Becky had Alex and his companion show up on her doorstep--Alex is over her ward (along with other wards, too)! 

If you remember (did I tell you this?) that just before he was transferred to Wyoming a few months ago, he and Becky were living in the same apartment complex for a few weeks and didn't discover that that was the case until Alex was already in Wyoming. We were sad that they had missed the opportunity to see each other. Now we don't need to be sad any more. Too much fun!

Elder Townsend, Alex, and 2 other Elders made t-shirts this past week

just before leaving Rock Springs to go back to Salt Lake

And I got a new haircut on Friday. I had been letting my hair grow out and it needed reshaping. My sister-in-law, Debbie, who owns a hair salon, did a great job and I'm now embracing my wavy hair instead of fighting it... Of course, it looked better when Debbie did it, but I think I'll get better with more practice.

the back of my head after Debbie did my hair

The following 3 photos are after I did my hair and were taken by Glen.

And one last adorable photo...I stole this photo of our granddaughter, Joy, off of facebook. Isn't she precious?!

And we woke up to snow on Saturday morning! We've hardly had any this winter. It's soooo beautiful!

Saturday morning--it was still snowing a bit

Saturday morning

Only a little melted on Saturday, so we still have snow!

puzzle, jellyfish, grasshoppers, and 3rd ward

 Glen finished his puzzle.

We took down Christmas and put up my jellyfish (bought it at a yard sale when we were in Oregon)...it seems silly, but I love it and study in it in the mornings.

Made grasshopper crepes with the Sister Missionaries. I used to buy these occasionally at the BYU bowling alley back in the early 80s. Mint chocolate chip ice cream wrapped in a crepe with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cookies, and sprinkles. They don't quite look like grasshoppers, do they?

Switched from counting down Christmas to counting down to our anniversary (4 more days)...this Wednesday will be 33 years since we met and this Thursday will be 32 years since we married.

And, after 5 years of being the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric, Glen was released today. Our ward boundaries were changed and we are now in the renamed Fallon 3rd ward (1st, 2nd, and 5th wards became 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th wards). Time will tell what our callings will be. Glen will have something new. I might have something new...or I might be called to still be a counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. 

Glen's family has been in the 2nd ward since it was formed in 1967 (so I've been in it since I moved here in 1989). Seems weird to change. Exciting times. 

1 year

A year ago today we lost my dad. I have been thinking of him a lot these past few weeks partly because he loved Christmas so much and partly because I knew the anniversary of his passing was coming up. And, of course, that means I've been thinking a lot about my mother, sister, and brothers... But I want to say, I know we didn't really lose him. We just lost the ability, for a while, to have conversations with him and interact with him. He is not gone, but just temporarily slightly out of reach. We will be together again someday.

I thought it was a bit unusual how I felt about January 1st. I really loved it--I felt that January 1, 2020 was the last day we spent with my dad, so January 1, 2021 was a very special anniversary to me and it made me happy and I felt comforted. I'm SO glad that Glen and I traveled down to Vegas to be with my family there last New Year's. What if we hadn't gone? The sense of loss and regret then would have been so much greater.

I think that January 1st holds more weight and importance for me than the 2nd or the 9th--the 2nd being to me the day we really lost my dad since that's the day he went into the hospital and was put in a medically induced coma, and, of course, the 9th being the day he passed away. The 1st is the last day we spent together and I'm so grateful for that memory.

When he first passed away, I was sad, but I didn't really miss him as I wasn't used to seeing him often. As time has passed, I'm missing him more and more. He wasn't in Oregon the times I visited this past year. He didn't light his bayberry candle on Christmas Eve. Everytime we play 3 to 13 I think of him...any many other things remind me of him, too, of course.

Dad lighting the bayberry candle Christmas 2011

in the Jedediah Smith State Park July 2009

Why don't I have more photos of just me and my dad? That is one regret I have--that we didn't take more photos together.

Just as I ended my post last January, I want to say to my dad: You are loved. You are missed. You are awesome. Thanks for everything.