Don't worry about the flood at our house, family.

Myrna wrote: We will be home Tuesday evening. We have scheduled the same folks who put in the water heater to come and look at what went wrong. They will be there early Wednesday a.m. We love you and all the offers of help. Dad thinks that maybe some sediment built up inside the water heater and blew into the valve blocking it. He wants the guys who installed the plumbing to come and look at it. He is afraid that if we start twisting and turning we may end up in a lot of hot water. :) Literally.

Todd wrote: What flood?

Kimberly wrote: It's fixed. The relief valve failed. Shawn replaced it. Just washing some towels, Toren snow shoveled for you.

Myrna wrote: Wow! Thanks for all the work. We owe you big time.

Kimberly wrote: Not us. Julie did all the clean up. Blessed she found out when she did. Could have been much, much worse.


Myrna wrote: Julie went to the house to mail a bill for dad so that we could pay it from here. Our water heater had malfunctioned and there was water in the basement. It had made it under the stairs and into the family room but she was able to turn off the water heater and lift the carpet so that it would dry.

We certainly appreciate the work. Thanks for replacing the valve, doing the clean-up and shoveling the walks. We are certainly thankful to all of you and are thankful for all of your help. I think Julie was inspired to go downstairs and check the basement. It could have really been a major flood. It was another one of those "tender mercies." I think we owe you, Shawn, the cost of the valve. As I recall, I sort of left the house in a mess as well (the bedroom and office). I had to do news and put away the rest of Christmas from around the house. There were a few other things that HAD to be done as well as the packing. So I apologize for the mess.

Thanks, Kimberly, for the news. I didn't realize that it was you who relayed the good news. I thought, at first, that it was Shawn. Now I know, from Julie, that you worked to make things nice for us. So thank you. I need to apologize. I didn't realize that you and Sorina had also been here and worked. You, Kimberly, helped move that heavy carpet in addition to the other help you provided. I am sorry that I did not know and I would have sent you all a thank-you note. I do love you.

Thanks also to AnnMarie for meeting Julie and working with her earlier.

Sympathy for Kirsten

Erin wrote: I was reading about Auntie Kirsten with my grandma Barbra so she could explain to me what all these words meant haha. We both agreed poor Aunty Kirsten. And we both hope that she will get better soon. Its a good thing you were there though so she had someone to help her. Tell her i said hi and that i am terribly sorry she had to go through all of that. Its a good thing though too that they found out what it was instead if her going through that another few times. Anyways i hope you guys are still having fun with all of this excitement. Must be lots of exersize. Love you lots. 
Love
Your loving grandaughter Erin


Myrna wrote: You should be getting a Valentine package from us. We mailed it from Colorado.
How are you? I hope that you are doing well at school.

Gordon wrote: You are all in our prayers.   Wow!
Love,
Gordon and Roberta


Cheryl Utley, Friday Evening Shift Coordinator, wrote: Myrna 
Got your message, all will be fine at the temple. We will just keep filling in for you. So sorry to hear about all your daughter's  problems.  Love Cheryl

Olena Blackham Hunt wrote: Give Kristen my love. She will be in my prayers. I have allergy to certain medication and know what she is going through. I'm alergic to morphine plus others. Enjoy your grandkids while you are with them.

Annette Morely wrote: Dear Myrna,
It sounds like you have had quite the time.  We miss you, but will get along fine for however long it takes.  Good luck to all of you and especially poor Kirsten.  Love, Annette

Joan wrote: Dear folks,
We are so very concerned about your daughter and her health situation.
We pray that everything will work out for her and you very soon.
Don't worry about what is going on at the Temple.  Sister Morley and I
are keeping up with everything.  We miss you, but the sisters have been
good to help.  Just take care of your daughter and don't worry.  
Much love, 
Sister Joan Meade

Ann wrote: WOW! When it rain it pours.
Hope Kirsten can get some relief soon.
We will keep you in our prayers
Love
Ann Carter

Eileen Lofthouse, Saturday Afternoon Shift Coordinator, wrote:  Oh my, Myrna!!!  What an experience.  I am so thankful that you are there to help her and the children and you need to stay as long as you are needed!!!  I'm glad that you are healing as well.  I'm sure you fall into bed exhausted every night but the Lord does give Grandma's and Grandpa's extra strength to do whatever we have to do.  

Keep me in touch and let me know how everything is going.  We'll have a substitute for you as long as we need too.  Prayers for Kirsten and you and Leonard, too.  

much love,
Eileen aka Sis. Lofthouse
Lyla wrote: Myrna, 
You stay right there with you daughter who needs you more than any of us!!  Of course we will miss you and I will get detailed notes for you knowing you won't be here. Have you put her name in the temple??  I am sure you have.  Keep me updated and please be safe!! 
Love You, 
Lyla


Russ Bnder wrote: Hello Dear Friends,
We have missed you for the last couple weeks.  We hope all has gone well for Kirsten. 
I read about the Republican Dinner this month.  Are you going?
Just wondering about you.  If I remember right, you will be home sometime this week, right?
Love you,
Colleen and Russ

Deborah Woodbrey wrote: I am glad that you are alright, I was worrying about you the last couple weeks not seeing you at all. I hope your daughter gets better soon. Sounds like a scary thing to go through. Be safe in your travels. We are getting lots of snow right now and should be going through the next couple days.


EllaDean wrote: I am so sorry to hear about your daughter.  That is terrible that with so much pain , especially in her mouth, that she can,t take any antibiotics.  
My granddaughters husband is a Pediatrics surgeon at Memorial hospital, in Denver.
Hope and pray all wil  go well with her.


Russ Bender wrote: Hi Dear Friends,

We've been concerned all week about Kirsten.  How is she doing? Since we have not heard from you, we have been more than concerned.Let us know. We love you guys and your family.
Russ and Colleen

Copycat Thin Mints Recipe

Do you love those iconic Thin Mint cookies? Look no further than this recipe to make your own at home. These have too much sugar for the  Type 2 Diabetics like Myrna. If you can eat sugar, enjoy.

Ingredients
1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour 

1 C. sugar

1/2 C. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 C. butter or vegan margarine
3 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. pure peppermint extract
Chocolate Coating
4 C. semisweet chocolate chips

2 Tbsp. butter or vegan margarine 

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Directions
Use a food processor to blend dry ingredients, by pulsing. Add margarine, milk, vanilla, and mint extract and pulse until well combined. Scrape out dough, knead until all the ingredients are well incorporated, and chill in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, till mixture is firm.

Preheat the oven to 350° and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. When dough is ready, roll balls about as big as a heaping teaspoon, and press them, one by one, onto the baking trays, leaving about 3 inches of space around each. Flatten each to about a quarter inch thick and bake for 12-15 minutes. Roll a heaping teaspoon of cookie dough into a ball and place onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches in between each ball. Cool on rack completely.

Chocolate coating: Melt chocolate chips and margarine until smooth using a double boiler or microwave. Stir in the mint extract. Dip cooled cookies into thechocolate using your fingers or a fork. Arrange cookies plates lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until coating sets.