This month started out with Dianne and the girls picking the garden. Of course I didn't take pictures. We love it when family comes and we can visit for just a short time. Because of the Covid we don't see family often. We have Lily, and Erik's family in quarantine for 2 weeks. It's certainly not fun. I finished our reservations for our trip to Mt. Rushmore this month.
Thursday we tended Scott's kids while he finished a project and Bethany was at dance. Ava left for dance right after we got there. It was a fun time.
Friday was Clark's 51st birthday. He is such a good man and does so much for other people. He works hard and loves his family and leads them in righteousness, The best thing is the example he sets for all of us as a man of God, living the Doctrine of Christ. It just doesn't get better than that.
It was also the twins 13th birthday. It was especially a fun time because we went to Cedar City and the Jennings' cabin on the mountain. Lauryn Dora is the older and such a fun girl. She has her nose in a book most of the time. She loves to read and her Granddad loves this. She is an amazing cook and has been making delicious dishes from an early age. (She even cleans up her messes) She can start a fire in the wood burning stove in the cabin, in a heart beat.
Clara Camille is also fun. She challenges herself in everything she does. She wants to serve a mission in Russia and is trying to learn the language. She loves anything to do with family.
They both look for the one who is all alone and try to include that person or persons in what they are doing. They love helping other people.
They have been begging for a puppy for 10 years, when their dog died. They opened a huge bird cage before going to the cabin. They were confused and then realized it was for Flappy, Cameron's bird and realized that Flappy would need a bigger cage if they had a dog. They screamed and cried. They were given a picture of the puppy.
They named him, Titan.
We went to Cedar City that day to celebrate in the Jennings' cabin. We went to my brother Del's home to wait until the Jennings arrived to show us how to get there in case we had forgotten. We had such a great visit with Del and his wife, Brigita.
Dave drew the plan for this cabin and has been working on it in the summer weekends for a long time. We tease him about it but he has done an incredible job. It is so beautiful but is not finished. This trip we had solar power, hot water, a refrigerator, stove, microwave, beautiful counter tops (Dave finished himself) and toilets that flush. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 lofts for sleepovers.
Lunch was yummy.
Scott's family had been staying in St. George for a soccer tournament with Nixon. We met them Saturday at Nixon's afternoon game in Cedar. They won.
After the game we out to where the puppy was so the girls could show them their pup. They played and played. The farm has goats sheep, horses, chickens, cats and the dogs.
It was a haven for the kids. We then went to Pizza Factory and met Del and Brigita for dinner. We did a little shopping for the puppy and then went to the 7:30 game. They lost. We went back to the cabin and played lots of games. It was just a great day.
Breakfast was yummy.
Sunday was a great lesson on Samuel the Lamanite by Tiffanni. She had a paper for each child and as she read from the Book of Mormon she had them write things that would show the birth of Christ and then on the other side she had them write what happened at His death. They talked about their ideas. It was so well done. On the wood stove she had made a brick wall out of Rice Krispie treats with Samuel on top of the wall made of or miniature marshmallows. Each child took a handful of marshmallows and threw them at Samuel. They were very close but not one could hit him. What a vivid and powerful lesson for both children and adults. It was amazing.
Before Del left we had family prayer. While Dad was deciding who should say it Rowan said "I will say it!" The prayer she offered was tender and incredible. It was not short and it contained everything we needed to feel the Spirit strongly. It was silent when she finished. What a way to close a beautiful day.
Scott was going crazy without something to do so he attached several light fixtures so we would have more light. He loves doing things like this and is very good at it.
Somewhere in here some relaxed and Nixon caught a baby horny toad.
Del and Brigita were not there so we went down the mountain to see about them. They had spent hours trying to find the cabin but is is very hard to find so we met them and they followed us up. We just visited and played games.
love the fireplace
We cooked hamburgers and corn on the cob for dinner. After dinner we had S'more's. Brigita had never had this.
Happiest ride home ever.
Monday we had breakfast, cleaned the cabin and said good-bye. No one was anxious except the girls and Dave. They could not wait to see the puppy. Tiffani noticed Uncle Del had left his camera case so we stopped on our way home and gave it to him. On the way we experienced a huge mountain fire near Santaquin. The planes were dropping fire retardant on it but it didn't seem to help. There are many fires around the West now.
The big win was BYU defeating Navy 55-3. YaHoo!
Monday I did my favorite thing, a Mammogram, Ugh! The girls came and picked the garden while I was gone. We have so much food. I wrote to our missionaries and Uncle Jay and mailed a package to Kristin.
Thursday Dad got the first maintenance on his truck as in a year it only has 3,000 miles. That evening we went to Camden's game but he didn't play because he was in quarantine for the last 2 weeks. We like to support him anyway. They won 26-7. Game over at last TD so didn't even go for the extra point.
Friday and it is still in the upper 50's. We love it after all those days of over 100. I decided to put in these 2 pictures because I am so proud of Kristin and Dad.
this year 2 years ago
Friday, the 11th, we were so excited to get a phone call from Angela Outz and her daughter, Ashton. They were just a few blocks away. Ashton is now a student at BYU-Idaho. This family were so good to us on our mission in North Carolina. They fed us and welcomed us in their home so often. We feel like they are family. It was so good to see them.
Sunday, the 13th we went to our building for church. It was good to see friends but we really missed being with our family on Zoom. It was Rick and Kim's McCloskey's mission farewell so we were happy to hear them. they are going to Taiwan and will be such good missionaries. After the meeting we loaded the truck and headed for our trip to Mt. Rushmore. We have wanted to do this ever since we missed it when we went 53 years ago. We had been in Dayton, Ohio visiting my parents and Karen, my sister, had a medical problem and needed my mother in Malad, Idaho. We added her to our car and hurried on after a great visit. We went 1000 miles to see the monument hoping they lit it at night but we got there after midnight and there were no lights. We have wanted to return ever since.
Our first stop was the night in Rawlins, Wyoming. There is nothing between here and there and nothing for miles after that. We checked into our Fairfield and drove around. They do have an old territorial prison still standing from the 1800's. We stopped at a store and bought some salad for dinner because there were no restaurants that had salads, so we were told. We are being so careful because of
dad's diet and he has lost over 25 pounds.
Monday we drove forever with not really anything different to see. We did go to Martin's Cove just for the memory of our family trip years ago and I just love to remember my heritage because of my great great grandfather, Ephraim Knowlton Hanks who rescued that company. Everything is closed but we saw adult missionaries working on the grounds. We loved the view of Devil's Gate. That is where the handcarts went through on their way to Zion.
We then went a few miles to Independence Rock, where many people traveled to get to the West. Some of them carved their names and dates on the huge rocks there. We walked the entire path around it.
This is a very tiny replica of what it will look like when finished on the mountain.
We got to Mt Rushmore in time to enjoy it. We were so thrilled with what we saw.
We stayed until the night show and a wonderful program honoring our Veterans.
We then went on to Rapid City. My cousin David Baker said we would like this city and we did. They have several corners on Main Street where each president of the United States is a statue in all 4 corners. You just walk down the street and can see them all. No pictures of course. We stopped at an antique shop that was 2 stories and huge. I could not pass up this buggy. Where in the world am I going to put it?
I love this little pack the twins gave me. It has been a life saver.
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Wednesday was home and Dad working in the garden. It was just a great trip filled with fun and love.
Thursday the 17th, Dianne, Ashley, Lily, Jonny and the Greats came to pick the garden. William and Simon love doing this. It was a fun time and they worked hard. 
That evening we went to Camden's football game. We are so glad the boys are out of quarantine.
Saturday we spent the morning preparing boxes of produce for our ministering assignments. We love these good people and love doing things for them. We also took peaches to Clark and Scott because they wanted more. There is no way we can eat all of our garden. I put up another batch of raspberry jam and gave some to Sister Hunter for watching our house while we were gone. She did a great job. Dad and I prepared 4 quarts of peaches for the freezer so he can eat some when his diet slows down. They are so good. dad also made cider with the apples that had fallen or had been pecked by the birds.
Friday, Dad, Scott and Bethany went to Gunnies to shoot guns. I got to stay home with Rowan. What a treat. She is so easy to have because she is self-entertained and loves everything. It has been a week and dad still can't hear out of his right ear. He wore plugs. Kolton's game was that night and they lost for the first time this year. We still have to watch it on KSL live.
Saturday the 19th, we made 7 boxes full of veggies from our garden for our ministering people. It was so fun to deliver them and know that they love the freshness.
a few of the carrots
Sunday was Tiffani's turn for church. I was on 3 Nephi 8-11. Cameron gave a great talk on chapter 11 and Tiffani also talked. When she was finished anyone who wanted could give their thoughts on these chapters. It was a very good meeting. We love 3 Nephi. After church we took more peaches to Clark.
We found these 3 eating all the dinner.
Monday, Dad went to a throat specialist because his voice is really weird. Doctor Stevenson is sending him to a therapist and is that doesn't work he will go in the throat to fix it. The boys came today to mow and the lawn was really high. They do such a good job and we love when they come. They don't go in the house and we stay our distance but it is still good to see them. We put a load of veggies in their truck to take home. Monday was a hard day for me.
The next day we took a truck to Clint's to get checked out because something was wrong with the cooling system. It is a truck Gary found for his dad, Uncle Mark, so he can easily go check the fields. They found the problem. We picked the truck up in Lehi and took it to the shop in Spanish Fork. I followed in our car. Just before we got there a huge truck flipped rocks and put a chip in the truck's windshield. We will have to fix that. We are waiting on the owner to tell Gary if he will lower the price because of the radiator repairs.
Wednesday evening we went to Nixon's football game. They won and Nixon ran for a TD. Camden was one of the refs. 
Yes, we have football on Wednesdays, football and soccer on Thursdays and football on Fridays. We love it. That evening we watched the PG Homecoming Pageant on KSL live because Molly was in it representing the girls' basketball team. She didn't win but was so beautiful.
Thursday Camden's team won their game and he got to play. 
Camden is left tackle
Coach Bayles in white hat, Camden in mask (obedient)
Friday, the 25th Clarks family came and picked apples and gleaned the garden. There is so much food and they put it to such good use.
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That evening we went to Kolton's game but they lost. We love watching no matter what the outcome.
We love reading the Book of Mormon together every night. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so true and no matter what happens in this world, we feel great knowledge from this truth. It is true.
The next day, Clark, family and friends, including Dad, picked apples and did cider and honey. This is a day's hard work but so rewarding.
the group
Dad and Clark
Hailey and Dianne
Dad and Clark
The great grands did the testing.
Monday Kolton and Camden came to mow our lawns. They do such a great job and it's just good to see them. They are obedient, upright young men and are going down the right path.
Tuesday, a couple, the Tanners, came and gave us some peaches. they are on their second marriages and are so happy. They lost their sweet companions and are happy not to be alone. They came out to the garden and filled some bags with veggies. We love tht we can share with others.
Dad ran some errands and came home with a cute surprise. He was so excited to set them up.
We also have some cute friends on the porch.
The last day of the month found Dad making zucchini noodles and me doing more raspberry jam. We bumped into each other a bit but had a fun time. 
7:00 found us at Nixon's football game. They won but the fun thing was that his cousin, Stockton, Jen and Cory's boy, was on the other team. They were so cheering for each other.
We also made the seat for the chair Scott refinished . We love it.
This has been a wonderful month filled with good feelings because of our Savior. We know we will be together forever with those we love and nothing beats that. Families are the main reason we are on this earth and the most beautiful blessing is that we can be sealed together for all eternity. This Covid19 is difficult but it will end and blessings are always coming. We just need to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and do everything we can to serve Him and others. It's true. It's just that simple. We are blessed by the missionaries who are serving the Lord at this time and pray for all of our family constantly. There is no way to put into words our love for our children and their children. The blessings we receive because of them are not possible to write. We just love them and the Lord for giving them to us.
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