LOVE ONE ANOTHER

view from the back porch

February started right off with Ashley’s big 20^th birthday.  She is so happy as the wife of Tyler Johns.  They are a great couple.  She always makes the best of everything.  She studies hard, works and makes Tyler happy.  She has a strong testimony and loves that she is part of a forever family.  We surely do love her.

It was hard to go to YW’s today knowing it was my last time.  I love those girls so much.  They are a valiant group.  I was sustained as the ward Relief Society President in church and the call really hit.  I just pray I can do my best in helping our sisters draw closer to Christ and serve one another.   Dad bore a beautiful testimony.  He will be such a great help to me.

This week has been so full of meetings and learning my duties for my calling.  The past president has spent many hours with me and I’m still swamped.  The days are filled with learning.  Dad is doing a lot of the things around the house.
The 9th was Dave's birthday.  We are so glad he is a part of our family.  He makes Tiffani happy and is such a good father.  We feel like he is our son instead of our son-in-law.  Everything he does is with his family in mind. Their home is Christ centered. Tiffani did a good thing finding him.

As an example:  Wednesday we got a call to watch Nixon in that he was coughing.  No problem.  At 8 we took Lucy to Cliff to get her safety inspected.  While we were there we asked Clint to look for a leak under the front of her.  We got back in time for a meeting with the past RS Pres.  She walked out as a man came to tell us about new windows and Beth picked up Nixon.  We fixed some lunch and went to pick up Lucy.  We got home in time for the next man came to tell us about another widow company.  He stayed for 2 and a half hours.  I left him with Dad so I could fix some dinner because I had a Presidency meeting with the new ladies.  While I was fixing dinner I went to the garage and noticed Lucy was leaking.  Dad called Clint and he sent a tow truck to get her just as I was starting the meeting.  My ladies have such strong testimonies and are so willing to do anything I ask of them.  They are great.  I refuse to have a meeting longer than an hour so it was over at 8:15.  We were so tired.  It has been like that all week.

We started the next day with dental appointments.  When the men fixed Lucy an O ring rolled over.  They brought her back the next morning.  She feels much better now.  That day I spent working on the things I needed to get in ordered from our meeting.  I spent hours.  I had a meeting to go to the church and do the VT reports when Molly called to say she had a swim meet in 30 minutes.  I was so bummed.  Dad said he would go.  I’m the pres, so I called off the meeting and went to the meet.  It was great.  Molly was terrific .  She even took a third place.  We were all so proud.  Clark’s fam was there and Scott with the kids.  It was a great group.  It was just fun to be together.

 I hope this is Molly

 Lily  Jonny, Ava, Molly  Check 3rd place below

 Scott painted this entire rec center  He did this pool himself

Got home to learn a sister had misCarried at 4 and a half months.  We love the Lord and the small things we are able to do because of His goodness to us.  This is what happens when Nixon comes. 

While we were at the temple Tuesday, Granddad was set apart as a temple ordinance worker.  He is really excited.  We go Tuesdays and he works Wednesdays.  He will be great.
We went to Tucanos Wednesday for Valentines Day.  We didn't want to go when it was crowded.  We rolled home. 
Got news that Parker and his team took state in the Constitution Competition and took best of state.  We are so proud of him.  

We tied 3 baby quilts and 2 twins on our humanitarian morning.  That afternoon
sister Campbell picked me up and we went to the hospital to visit a sister who had gall bladder surgery.  On our way out we noticed a man in the back of a car at the entrance.  A woman kept raising her head.  We suddenly realized she was having a baby right there.  Immediately a team of doctors hurried out and the screaming began.  She was well into the delivery and the poor gal had no meds.  We have no idea how it turned out but hope all is well.
Went to Milts again and found he is doing so well.  The Lord continues to bless him.
Saturday was Valentines Day and dad gave me a great Corn Hole game he had made himself.  It's beautiful. 

 He still has to put a finish on it.  Can't wait to beat him.  We'll see.
At 1:00 we were at Thanksgiving Point for Asher's birthday party.  Erik and Shanelle treated the family to the Museum of Curiosity.  All but Kristin's and Tiff's families were there.  That is an absolutely amazing place. 

 fun thigs to do

 making a hurricane

 help

 buds

 apple doesn't fall far

 pirates

 way up

 tornado

trying to weigh as much as a hippo

Nixon making water shoot up

in the net

Camden

 Kolton

Parker

Molly at the squeeze pole

Don't know what happened to Di and Hailey.  Never did get a picture of them.

We stayed until 4:30.  We had so much fun we bought a Grandparent's yearly pass.  We went to Erik's after and Asher opened his presents.  Afterwards we had Shanelle's famous cookies and milk.  It was a great day.

Sunday evening I hemmed George's temple suit pants.  I was so proud until I held them up.  For some unknown reason the left leg was 5 inches shorter than the right. 

 That's what happens when you do something when you are so very tired.  Monday morning we headed to the distribution center to buy a new pair and hem again.
Tuesday we ate Roscoe (Clark's pig's pork chops)  They were delicious.  We used Shanelle's recipe and broiled asparagus.   So yummy.
 I have the best presidency to help me do the things I need to do.  They are wondeerful sisters.

Christine, me, Marianne, Cynthia

The 19th was Asher's real birthday.  We called to wish him well and he was so fun. It is definitely his day.  He made us laugh.  His pictures are posted earlier in this blog.

Dad went to the doctor on Friday.  Dr. Taylor was not in but his groin was hurting so badly that he would see this other doctor.  When he got there he found that the doctor was Austin Healey, one of my third grade students.  Are we really that old.  He thinks Dad has a hernia.  He will have tests done Monday.

Saturday I decided to make some fudge from a kit I had.  When I got it out and ready I read that it had expired in 2006.  I was so in the mood that I went to the store and bought all new ingredients.  Yummy, yummy. (the sweetened, condensed milk was solid and brown.)
When the kids came over Monday we dipped chocolate marshmallows and crackers.  Nixon just ate the marshmallows.

We had a dear sister die in our ward so I had my first funeral as a Relief Society Pres.  It went very well.  Our luncheon leader was in Cal. and even so it was good.  I was gone from 9 until 4 and then had our youth missionaries for dinner at 6 and a lesson.  I put dinner in the crock pot but forgot to add the Italian packet spices.  It was so bland and probably the worst meal I have cook in our entire marriage.  On well.  Blessings of being so busy.  The lesson ended at 7:25 and at 7:30 my presidency had a visit with a sister who just moved in with her family.  Wonderful addition to our ward.  i got home at 8:30 and dad had the dishes all done and the kitchen clean.  I was going to ask him to put some lavender on my feet but then I woke up the next morning.

The kind of snowman you build in a Vegas blizzard. Tiffani found him in the freezer the next day.

Friday we went to Ava's very first solo dance competition.  Bethany was so nervous we all thought she would lose it.       

                                                                  Ava was great.  She took first place and was in the top 5 highest scores of the day. 

 Dad and I went to IKEA between dances. Shanelle joined us for Ava's trio where again first place was given.  It was fun to have Shanelle there with us.  The competition was as Thanksgiving Point.

Saturday, Scott called to say he would pick us up at 11:00 to go to the Outdoor Expo and the convention center in Provo.  Clark's friend, Tony Abbot was in charge of the whole thing.  It was amazing.  Erik's family met us there.  When grands get together it is always fun.  They had free ice cream cones and many exhibits.  They even had a live alligator and many huge snakes.  The kids could touch the snakes and the tortoise.  They even got in a cage with birds like at the zoo and fed them. 

 It was just a great day of adventure.  face painting was a must.

At 5:00 we went to Orem to watch Kolton play indoor soccer.  He is on a very good team and played well.

At 6:30 we went for milk shakes and on to SLC for the Grizzles ice hockey game where Parker sang the National Anthem with the PG Jr High choir.  Wow.  They were so good. 

 The team won and we were right by the goal net and got to see 3 fights up close.  Best part of the game.

We love being with family and doing fun things.  We pray for all of you constantly and love the love you show each other.  The restored gospel is so true.  We still love each other and have fun times together.