OCTOBER AND FUN

Saturday, Oct. 1 Erik, Shanelle, Asher and Camden came to mow our lawns.  They are so diligent and we just love having them here. They hurried so they could be home for General Conference.

 Conference was wonderful as usual.  It was filled with such a strong Spirit and we listened to  beautiful music.  Our Prophet, Russell M. Nelson is filled with such love and truth.  It is so wonderful that we can listen to him and fill our hearts with renewed energy to improve.  Every speaker was inspired to give us words that we needed to hear.  We love that so many temples are in the list of ones to be built or finished.  We were encouraged to keep our covenants and follow the covenant path.

Monday the 3rd, George picked many buckets of apples and Clark came to check on his bees.

 6th, Bethany was finally 40 years old.  She looks 20.  She is amazing, especially with her full schedule. She teaches dance at the Dance Club.  She loves our son and those 3  wonderful and active children.  We love her.

On Wednesday, Dad substituted in the temple.  He served the same shift as he does every Friday.  He gets up at 4:00 and gets ready for the day.  He is at the temple at 5:00 to get dressed and ready for prayer meeting.  The sessions start at 6:00AM.  He loves this calling and subs whenever someone needs him.  He is such an inspiration to me.  When he got home at 10:30AM, he made some grape juice from grapes he had picked.  He also made granola, so yummy.

Friday, the 7th, we went to Ava’s dance program.  She moves so gracefully and just keeps us in a spell.  BYU Young Ambassadors and Folk Dancers performed. It was a benefit for a little girl, Gretta, who doctors have diagnosed with brain cancer.  It was a beautiful and inspiring program.  No pictures

                                                        Friends and family picked more apples

                                                  Everyone joined in to make the cider.

Saturday, Fall Harvest at Clark’s garage.  It was  filled with family and friends coming all day.  There was a homemade feast in the kitchen for when workers were hungry.  Many different soups with different kinds of homemade bread were available, with homemade donuts also.  It didn’t end until 10:00 PM.  Everyone was singing and laughing all day. In all of that activity.

                                                            Clark the honeymaker

 Lily went to the Homecoming Dance, dressed so beautifully.  The evening was just great until BYU lost to Notre Dame.

Sunday starts each week with inspiration to do good.  We love the feelings and knowledge about our Lord and Savior we receive there.  It’s true.

Tuesday, Dad took Nixon to soccer practice at 4:00 and stayed until it was over to bring him home.  Scott is working in Scofield and Nix needed a ride.  Dad loved the visits they shared and enjoyed all the knowledge he received.  That boy does not lack for energy.

My new cardiologist decided I didn’t need my (AFIB) meds any more.  He said I would know if I still needed them.  Well, two days later I did.  Back to more pills.  He also got my Eliquis, which is now $700. a month lowered to $700 every 3 months.  We are so relieved because that was going to be very difficult to do and I can’t do without them.  It is a very tiny pill that Dad cuts in half. I take one half in the morning and the other at night.  How can something that tiny cost so much and help?

The Seamon’s came to the Provo Temple Thursday because their temple was closed for cleaning.  We went to the Mall for lunch at Charleys’ for Philly’s Cheese Steak.

Friday was so special because Kristin, Baylie and Jaylen flew for the BYU football game Saturday.  Tiff and the girls came also. Too bad we lost to Arkansas.

Sunday, the 16th, Dad took  Kristin and kids to the SLC Airport, We flew to Vegas.  Everywhere in these last 2 blogs things are not as they were.  I blame it on my stroke, not.

They played on Thursday and won.  Later we flew home. Friday George served in the temple and we got ready for our trip.

Sunday, Oct 23, after the Sacrament meeting, we were so excited to go on a trip all by ourselves. Dad planned the entire trip and did an outstanding job.  Our first stop was late in  Dillan, Montana.  We were very disappointed in our motel so we changed to a Best Western.  It was perfect.  We found on this trip that we do not know how to do ROKU, so we got in a lot of good reading.

Monday we headed to Columbia Falls where Dad had reserved a cabin. He was so disappointed because it was itsy bitsy.  I loved it. There were 2 little rabbits in our front yard. When he found out how fun I thought it would be he relaxed and we had everything we needed.

                                                         Just the little front part is our cabin.

                         This was hanging next to our door.  It says "Bear Spray"  Worried? Hum!

Scott had told us about an interesting little place in the middle of nowhere after a long dirt road.  Polebridge. We decided to investigate.  We were not disappointed.  It was a little Mercantile in the middle of nowhere. We only passed about 5 cars. We stayed too long but we just couldn’t leave.  We bought some huckleberry stuff and just enjoyed the atmosphere.  When we walked out to our car we noticed it was so muddy from the dirt road.  We loved it.

About 10 miles down the road, we saw a bear right in the middle of the road.  How exciting!!! 

By the time I got my phone out the bear was gone; the scenery was so beautiful the whole drive.

We then found out that all roads to Glacier National Park were closed. No problem, we will just go next year, earlier.

We went back to the city to eat where Dad had a buffalo steak.  He said it was good.  When we drove to  our cabin, we found a flock of wild turkeys.  It just doesn’t get better than that.

         Along one of these highways, we came across several of these sighs written in Sioux.

The 25th, we drove to Great Falls and stayed at a Hilton.  We spent a lot of time trying to go to Mini Glacier but all the roads were closed, some with construction.

We then drove to West Yellowstone and stayed at the Stagecoach Inn.  It was built in 1943 and I have always wanted to stay there even as a small child with our family but it was too expensive for our parents.  Dad made the reservations and I was so happy.  It was way better than I ever imagined.  They have preserved it as it was years ago.  It has quite a history. 

 Of course we went shopping.  We ate dinner at the Hanks Chop House.  I thought it was a family name but it was named after the owner's son.

The only place we could go in Yellowstone Park was to Old Faithful Geyser and then back out. The scenery along the way as beautiful.

We saw the biggest buffalo we had ever seen.  Dad got out to take a picture but he didn’t go very close.  He figured it weighed more than 2,000 pounds.  It was huge.  

                                                Dad did not leave the pavement.

When we got to the geyser we put on warm clothes and just as we got close, Old faithful spouted. With how cold it was the geyser was beautiful.  What luck.!  On the way back to West Yellowstone we saw a smaller herd of buffalo and a little farther up the road a hug elk posed for Dad.  He was beautiful.  The ride to and from was so scenic and filled with birds, a river and such beauty.

                                                               the herd + one

                                 

We then headed for Star Valley, Wyoming and the Star Valley Temple.  As we were traveling down this 2 lane highway in Bynum, Montana, (a one horse town) Dad happened to see this old building with a sign “Blue Sky Pottery”  He turned around and went back because he knew it was a former pottery teacher at Timpview, Andy Watson.  He is known worldwide.  It was a great reunion.  Andy was hired to make 85 huge water jugs in 2 weeks for the movie The Chosen.  He also did some pots for the Book of Mormon series.  We visited Andy and his wife and bought some pottery.

Andy took Dad down to the basement to show him some of the antiques they had found uncovered of this old building that used to be a schoolhouse, they had purchased.  He then invited us to stop at his  shop and studio in Fairfield.  

The first entrance was his studio where he teaches many students his art.  He has over 20 kilns of all sizes. The next rooms held displays of his beautiful work for sale exhibited in glass cubicles.  Yes, we bought more.

No more beautiful scenery in Wyoming but we were just fine.  We got to Star Valley in time for our session.  The temple is so small and has such a strong Spirit.  Everything was perfect.  After some food we went back to our cabin. It was much bigger than the first one and very atmospheric. 

We still haven't been able to figure out ROKU so we read until we fell asleep.  Breakfast was included but the egg and cheese omelets  were made right there. They were so yummy and included all the extra things we wanted.  We checked out and headed home.

We pulled in our driveway just as Cameron drove in front of our home from the Provo Airport, with Dave and the family.  Unbelievable!

That night they went to the BYU football game.  I was much too tired to go.  Not sorry.

Saturday, Dave, Tiff and the girls went to the BYU Volleyball game.  They had a great time and BYU won.  The girls hung out in the cold back yard.

Sunday, after church Cameron took them back to the airport so they could fly home.   He came back to our house and spent the evening.  We love that he does that.  Somewhere Asher came with hi parents and mowed the lawn.

Halloween was the last day of the month and we enjoyed the children who came.  We loved that Scott and his family came and visited for a while.  We are so blessed to be in our warm home and have visitors come.  We love the restored gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ and know that it is true.  We have a Father in Heaven who loves us and wants us to return and be with him and our families.  There is nothing more beautiful than that.

We try to put a picture of our missionaries each month but as you can tell my skills are fading.

In the last blogs I have forgotten some pictures.  I am slipping them in now.  I'm sure this will be often.

                                                                    first day of school

                           We think this was a hard day for Scott and Bethany and yet wonderful.

                                                          Celebrating Clark's birthday

                                                       Celebrating Clark's birthday I think.

                                                             

                                            I stepped out the back door and this is what I saw.

                                                            

                                                            WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!

SEPTEMBER, HARVEST, FOOTBALL, TEMPLES, GARDENING, DISNEY WORLD,AND MUCH MORE

As you know we started Disney World last month but we are recording the entire trip this month because  we were in August for only 1 day.

MAGIC KINGDOM  started with some of my favorite rides (one of them) “It’s a Small World”.  It was much longer than the other Disney Park.

I didn’t take pictures because I had Miss Photographer on board. (The good pictures are the ones Kristin took) I am not talking about all the rides because Dad and I did not ride all of them. You will have to look at Kristin’s blog to see those.

Another one is Buzz Lightyear. I always beat Dad but this time he buried me.

I love the Haunted Mansion and it was not a disappointment.

The things they do are amazing.

Jungle Cruise is always fun and relaxing and after that we took in Mickey’s Philharmagic. After that was another favorite, Pirates of the Caribbean. It was a glorious and fun day.

                                               
Sometimes I get really tired.

Thursday was “DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: . Oh my gosh, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was so fun. I didn’t do this before but I decided I was going to be very brave on almost all the rides and I was not disappointed. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was so real. Kristin had purchased many rides for Lightening Lane access, so we never had to wait in a long line. We never could have done all the things we did had she not done this. Star Wars: Galaxy’ Edge Land was another.

Mothers and Daughters

We rode on these gondolas to one of the parks.

I have lost the order of things we did so I'm just going to o this.

Every day it rained.

Friday was DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM. We got in some of these days because we stayed in the park hotel. Avatar Flight of Passage I can’t even describe. It was AMAZING. I could have ridden it many times. It was like Soaring but in another world. There was a ride after that through this future land. Na'vi River Journey (Avatar) It’s Tough to be a Bug is a relaxing, fun movie. Kali River Rapids was no fair. We went through these wet rapids and just before it ended we hit a waterfall and I got drenched. We laugh our heads off. The Kilimanjaro Safari is always a delight. It’s just fun to see these animals in their natural habitat.

                                               We were drowned by the River Run.

                                                              Kristin's Family

                                 Don't have any idea when this happened.

Somewhere in all of this we went to EPCOT and Soarin’ Around the World, then a live play, Frozen Ever After which was so fun and lively. We chose a beautiful French Restaurant and had Crepes which were so good.

Every day around 4 it rained. It didn’t stop any of the people. They just ran from ride to ride with water over their shoes like it was nothing. We were soaked and even had raingear on but it was all fun just the same. There was a restaurant at the group of motels where we ate for two nights. It Was very good and like a cafeteria.

running in the rain

Last night Disney had an amazing HALLOWEEN PARTY in Magic Kingdom. Dad and I were just too tired but Kristin and family loved it. Kristin did movies during the parade and we didn’t see them until she put them in her blog. Best parade ever. You must watch it. They even had Trick or Treating and the kids came back with tons of candy.

We ate breakfast in the motel room because Kristin had brought food. Sure saved on the wallet. She also had food for lunch which we added to with pretzels, nuts, chips, etc and park treats.

The next day was the big football game. We needed to rent a car to fit everyone in. It took a little over an hour to get to Tampa and the Tailgate party but we were late because Kristin wanted to shop at a special Disney Store. It was humongous and glad we saw it. We got the last of the food which included our tickets to the game. I was at the Tampa Bay NFL Field.

The game was to start at 4:00 but they wouldn’t let us in our seats because of the rain and lightning. We sat on the mezzanine where all the concessions are and waited for over 2 hours until we could go in.

The place was such a disappointment because it was very old and run down.

There was not even a cover over the field and the Buccaneers ship was not as big as we had expected. Brady could have insisted on a better field with all his influence. BYU filled so many more seats than South Florida and we tromped them. It was a great game.

We got back to the motel very late and had to get up at 4 AM to catch our flight home.

Sunday we headed home on Clark, Lauryn, and Clara’s birthday. We were so tired.

Who knew COVID would make your hair fuzzy?
Clark is now 53 and holding his own. He is an amazing man who loves the Lord, his Savior and his family. (and his dog, Watts). He has 2 children married and 3 missionaries. He is industrious, likes to learn new things, a farmer at heart. He also has 3 grands and another one on the way.

                                                     Clark and his treasure, Dianne

Dianne invited some to come over and share dessert. We came and left and then Scott and family came. Can't copy the pictures.

Lauryn Dora loves to paint and is so good. She loves volleyball and especially because she is good and can be on the same team as Clara Camille who is also good.

They are such good friends and enjoy many of the same things, especially Titan. They are excited to be in high school and freshmen on the varsity volleyball team. They love so many things but especially their family, and Seminary. I wrote this in the same blog because they are both so wonderful and focused. September 5th through the 8th we were so tired from having so much fun. We worked in the garden, washed clothes, went to the temple twice and again tired but so happy. September 9th Tiff and family came for the BYU football game.

We started the next morning by watching Nixon play soccer. He is such a good player

. After the game we all went to Mo'Bettah’s, where Cameron Works. It is very good food and we just love being together as a family. That night everyone but me went to the BYU-Baylor Game. It didn’t start until 8:00 and that is just too hard for me to do. I watched it on TV and enjoyed every minute because I could see the players up close. We won in double overtime. It was so exciting.

Scott, Nixon, Riley, Bailey

Happy Dave, Cameron, Granddad
The family didn’t get home until after midnight. The next day was the Sabbath and Granddad was speaking in the 5th ward so we went there. He did such a very good job and presented it so well. He’s a great speaker and stayed within his time. The subject was keeping covenants and serving missions for elder couples. He hit the nail on the head. The Jennings left after dinner. Cameron stayed with us. Monday, the 12th we started off with seeing my neurologist. Dr. Chung Whang wanted me to see him because he said my brain looked like fireworks. It always looks that way. Dr. Langford said I checked out just fine but wanted me to do a sleep test. UGH! We are so blessed with so many good doctors in the valley.

Wednesday we had our piano tuned so that maybe Cameron would one day play something. After the Payson Temple with the Seamon's, we took some of the veggies to Dianne and Scott. While we were there Cameron called to let us know he was at a gas station and needed help to pay for the gas. Someone has hacked his card. It’s too bad there are some people who just are not honest. Friday, the 16th we took bags of produce from our garden to many neighbors. That’s why we have a garden. We are so blessed to have such good neighbors and enjoy sharing our garden. Sunday we were at church and reminded of the wonderful neighbors we are blessed with in our meetings. We love partaking of the sacrament and feeling that Holy Spirit with these friends. Monday, the 19th we made our first zucchini bread. It was so good and we had such fun together. Scott brought Leah over for us to tend for a week while they go to Florida and play in the beach and water. Cameron is very ill and has strep throat. He went to a doctor so he wouldn’t lose his job. He has had a few rough days. We are so glad we are close and can help him. He is a great kid. Wednesday, the 21, was David’s birthday. He is finally 40 and is looking for a new job. We wish him luck. Fun treats with family.

Dad serves in the temple every Friday and I get up early before the heat and weed the 15 rows in our garden. I love doing that because I can. Well I tried to get off my cushion and when I stood up I couldn’t move. I knew dad would be home any minute so I just stood there. I couldn’t even move my left foot. I heard his truck drive in so I started calling his name. I just couldn’t wait any longer so I laid down in the dirt. It really scared me and when dad got out to the garden he helped me up and I shuffled into the house. I was out for the rest of the day but did much better the next morning. It’s getting better every day. I’m not going to weed any more. Saturday Dad went to help clean the church and I stayed home with Leah. We had a day of getting a lot done.


Erik’s family was so busy they couldn’t get the lawns mowed so we did it. It was actually fun and it was a cool day so not too hard. We are so blessed that they come every week and do this mowing for us. We are so blessed with all of our family who do so much for us. The Lord has blessed us with such a beautiful home, garden and lawns. We love our Savior and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Scott came and got Leah. She was so happy and so were we.

Several times the boys have been very busy so Erik and Shanelle come. They get it done so fast. They are such troopers.

We are thrilled that we have the health to go to the temples often and do this sacred work. Tuesday we did a session and then had six couples sealed for eternity. When we got home we made another garden trip to our neighbors and friends. They love fresh food. We then processed and froze many garden treats.

Tuesday the 27th was George’s brother Mark's birthday. He is an amazing man and loves his family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a great leader for our families. At 8:00 PM, I was at the Sleep Center with 26 wires stuck to various places on my body. So Fun!. I finished at 6 AM and George came to take me home.

I had an hour to shower and get ready for the Provo Temple. That evening we went to the BYU/Utah State game. We won and had so much fun with the family who were there. They found I do not need a CPAP. Ya Hoodie. Friday we rested. Knowing that all is well with our families. We love the knowledge that we can be together forever. What a blessing that is. We love this amazing family we are a part of and pray continually for each one. What peace this brings. August was a very busy but wonderful month.