Per Perkins Perhe: Gathering More Comfort From Family and Friends.

This pack week was much less intense, but full of memories of Ben, and acts of service from many who showed us great love in our sorrow. This is Scott's cousin Kathy who brought us dinner.

Then Dad was off to help Davin finish up the remodels on a couple of apartments, so that he could get renters in.

I meanwhile had light duty as I got to go to lunch with Hannah, before heading to the bank to close out an account that Ben opened after his mission with Dad and I as signers.

Look who just happened to come by the bank while we were there. Yes, it is a small world.

Here's the star quality work party at Davin's four plex that night. Thanks everyone, I think they had a lot of fun.

Everyday and everything brings memories of Ben. He gave me the striped petunias for Mother's Day. Loving red and white I loved them, though it may have been Hannah's idea. I'll never see red and white striped petunias without thinking of him.

I went to the Jordan River temple with Arlene. It was lovely, my first time to see it since it reopened. We went to lunch at Zupa's afterward.

Dad, meanwhile, kept an eye on Davin's kids at the house. Sarah Barrus, one of our oh, so sweet missionaries, came by with a loaf of Zucchini Chocolate Chip bread, and the sweetest, most heartfelt note I've ever gotten from someone of her age. What a dear girl.

He also managed to cut up the huge, 12 inch in diameter branch, and others, that had been blown from the trees Monday night. A great big thanks to Trevor for helping him unload at the dump. Then they both went over to work on the four-plex some more. While he was gone, Ruth Clayson came by with a quote she'd had made up and framed, that has been comforting to her in dealing with her poor son Wesley. "Sometimes God calms the storm, sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child." She is such a dear friend, I just love her. We also received more flowers, this time from Dad's cousin Christie Dyett-Bartolic.

We later found out that Tami had her sweet baby,Lucy, that night. I love this picture of four generations with four beautiful girls.

On Wednesday I went to work, and had a pretty good day. I had lots of hugs from coworkers and customers, which was comforting. Dad finished up a few details at the Four-plex before picking me up after work to go to Ashley's who had invited us and Hannah for a quiet evening. It was our first time to see the apartment, and it was good to see Ashley and Andy, as well as ...

Kim and Zach ... it was fun to share more memories of Ben, and what he means to us all. On the way home there was a horrible rain storm, Dad and I stopped by and I got to see the two apartments he'd been working on. They look beautiful, with lots of great upgrades.

When we got home we went through the mail, finding more letters and cards of condolence. There have also been many sweet messages on FB and Messenger, that have meant a lot to us. One sweet mother who had lost her son when he was in high school, said that having him in heaven made it feel like the door between our world and heaven had been left ajar. Its exactly how I feel. I was so touched. We miss him so much.

On Thursday, when Dad was off for his temple shift, and I was working at Treasures, Clark and Ruth came in. I was so surprised, I would never have thought Ruth would buy second hand. They found this cement sleeping guy in a sombrero for their yard. It was interesting to hear that Clark is now a vegetarian. A doctor told him to give up meat and cheese. He looks soooo good.

After work I picked up Dad,who had been busy making dinner, and we drove to Hannah's house to eat together. She is such a dear girl, again, its nice to be able to talk with other people who love Ben, its definitely comforting to me. I'd told her about a friend's husband who is having cancer treatment which has caused nerve damage in his back. I'd heard that a very expensive essential oil was helpful for nerve damage, and she gave me some to take to my friend. Bless her good heart.

After that I dropped Dad off and headed to Book Club where we discussed 82 Charring Cross Road, one of my very favorite books. This picture was taken after a couple of the gals had left. Do you know this is the 20th year for The Walden Ladies Book Club? The name is a joke of sorts, Walden is the only book we chose and never read. Actually every one of us started it, but not one of us made it through.

Friday was crazy. It started for me with another book club meeting. This was the second meeting for our ward book club. We were to read and compare Wuthering Heights, a book actually written in the 1800s with Blackmoore, a period romance set in the 1800's. Both included a setting on the English moors and made for an interesting discussion. I had read both of them before, but it had been a few years since Blackmoore, for me, so I spent a couple of hours scanning it that morning. One of the other gals wore this shirt, which I thought was perfect for a book club meeting.

Next I met my sister Joyce for lunch in Salt Lake. We exchanged birthday gifts ... I love the polka dot sun glasses as a bow on the package ....

But look how well she knows me. We did some Junking afterward at DI and an antique store.

Dad had brought Spencer's car to Salt Lake and spent much of the afternoon visiting with former co-workers at Associated, before meeting up with me, and the Broughs for dinner, our first time to meet up with them since our mission. I remember that we met up with them both before and after their mission to Australia a few years back.

Then we took the car to Spencer and Brit's before heading south and meeting up with Barb and the Heuers for Robin's birthday. Oh how we love these people ... Randy was in transit from China, so we missed him. Happy Birthday Grandma Robin.

On Saturday morning Kathy came over and got me and we went off garaging. This gal must be such good luck for me. ... I found 2 of my favorite 1940's folding chairs ... Happy Day!

After I put away my goodies, including a giant mushroom for my garden, Dad and I headed south.

We went to Rick and Wendi's and visited with Cheryl for a while. It was a down day for her, but it was nice to see her. Rick and Wendi have done so much to make her life better. She even has a golf cart that she goes OUT and drives around at least once every day.

We met up with Katie and her husband, Mason, for Mexican food, and it was so good to get better acquainted with him. Katie looks soooo beautiful, her baby boy is due the beginning of November.

We headed to the wedding reception for Sister Cain, and ran into Sister Peterson as soon as we walked in the door.

Sisters Margetts, Harris, West, me, Carilli, Kehr, Miles and Peterson. So fun!

Here's the former Sister Cain.

This morning I worked on making pennant banners for Becca's birthday party ... I could not get all the glitter off, so I pretty much sparkled all day.

Right after church a family from the ward brought their three children over and they all sang us a medley of Primary Songs, it was so comforting. What a darling family.

Later we headed to Trevor and Nell's to help celebrate some birthdays. Scott's was last week, and Davin's is today. I realized for the first time that Trevor and Nell had gotten a new couch, and even though I spent something like 8 days on it over the last couple of weeks, I did not notice. How crazy is that?