May and Spring

We started this month with both of us seeing our podiatrist, Dr. Scott McKell. He is our dentist, Mark McKell’s brother. They are both very good doctors and we are happy to see them. I finally got my big black boot cast off and can wear shoes. After that visit we went to his brother, Mark for a dental appointment. No work needed. Yeah! 

I am not always going to say our temple dates because they are the same every week. Just know that we go and will let you know otherwise.

May 2nd we went to Troy Hulse’s son, JR’s, reception. It was in an old tin building down by the tracks. It was just so fun. They were married in the temple and the reception was wonderful. I dressed in the car after the reception so we could see the boys’ lacrosse game. They are so fun to watch and it is so fun to be with family. Both Camden and Jonny played and won by a whole bunch. Dianne had two beautiful children with her. She was helping out a family. She is always doing things for other people in need.

That evening we went to Riley and Bailey’s “May the 4th Be With You” party. They have such a cute little home and we were all outside until the rain. The food was all something Star Wars themed. Everyone moved into the house after the rain, but we went home because we were tired.  

Saturday and Sunday were our Stake Conference meetings.  They were incredible.  Every talk was right on the mark and so inspirational.  They filled our souls. We loved these meetings. 

We are now walking a mile every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at Nelson’s park. We love this. 

We finally had a Spring with blossoms on our Magnolia.

Clark brought our bees

 beginning garden

May 6th we went to Nixon's basketball team.  He is the tallest player on his team.

Scott and Dad put this little shed together

This is to give me room in my She Shed 

Inside Dad's Man Cave where he lives.

Friday, George served in the temple and later Ruth and Max came by to give us an old tub that we are going to use in the garden. It will be a place to wash the dirt off the vegetables so we don’t have to bring them in the house. We are so excited. We gave them a bag of carrots. 

Saturdays Erik and family come and mow our lawns.  It is such a necessary service.  We love it because we get to see them every week.

Somewhere in here Dad saw Dr. Larsen and he no longer has to do Ultra Sound because the bones have grown together in his shoulder.

May 13th we attended Brett Davidson’s funeral. His wife Kim worked at Timpview High School for a long time and did whatever Dad needed. She is so special. She and Brett had just returned from their 40th wedding anniversary cruise. What a shock for everyone. The funeral was so sweet and we learned so much about the good father and husband he had been. He was always there to help whenever needed and was a very intelligent man. He will certainly be missed.

Sunday, May 14th, was Mother's Day. I had flowers from Kristin and Tiffani, Dad, and Clark and Dianne.                                      

Cameron also brought flowers. Erik and Shanelle and Scott and Bethany brought hanging plants.

                                             Notice the beautiful tub in the background

That afternoon, everyone had a yummy dinner made by Dianne. This is the only picture we have of Mother's Day.  Dianne thought I took some and I thought she did.

May 15th Scott came to paint our shed barn red. He is amazing and so fast. He will do the trim another day and later put up the barn doors he has made for Dad’s shed. It made the entire yard look so much better. 

He is amazing.  He is building barndoors.

Dad even painted the wash tub red. Looks great. That afternoon we went to another one of Nixon’s basketball games.    

Days that we don't say anything, we are working in the garden and yard. We love it.

Sunday, Jeremy Richards came to church with us. He is trying so hard to take care of his parents and does everything around the house and yard. We love him. Bill and Carol Hoagland came for a visit. We are their ministering people. They love our garden and can’t believe how big it is. Cameron came for dinner and the game. We love it.

May 23rd Scott turned 44. He is so helpful to us. He calls and checks in several times a week. He is a good man and loves his family. They do so many things together and he loves his dogs and chickens. He can fix anything.

The next day was Camden John’s birthday. He is now 18 and going to graduate in a few days. He loves the Lord and honors his priesthood. We are so proud of him. He comes every Saturday to mow our lawns with his dad and Asher. They are very faithful. I think everyone loves him.

 That morning we went to Rowan’s kindergarten graduation. The kindergartners sang some songs and were so darn cute. You can’t help but love her. She is growing way too fast.

The 25th, Lily and Camden graduated from Pleasant Grove High School. Camden was student body president and Lily was student body secretary. They are quite a team. They are best friends. It was held in the Marriott Center. It was a great crowd and the program was amazing. They were part of a wonderful class and everything was well done. Camden gave some remarks and did so well. We are so proud of both of them. They will miss each other as they separate to do different things. They are both going to serve as missionaries and Lily will do a term at the College of Southern Utah before she goes. What wonderful cousins. We are so proud of them. 

                                            Student body  President  Camden John Bayles

                                                                  Some families

                                                                    Lily and Hailey

After the ceremony we joined the families for pictures. That evening Clark and Dianne had a huge dinner and party for them. It was a fun evening with food and games. Cameron joined us.

                                                                      big decisions

Watching basketball

Playing basketball

Games

The next day Dad cleaned the trailer so Scott could take it to Ephraim while he painted Bethany’s sister's new home. Her husband has taken a job as an emergency room doctor and has bought 10 acres and a huge home there. Scott is painting the entire place. It will take him several weeks. Bethany is excited to have her sister closer.

The next two days we watched the girls play volleyball on our TV. Tiff streams it. They played so well. After church we watched the finals and they took the championship of the whole meet. We love that we can see this live at home. 

Monday the 29th we traveled to Pine Valley, going through Beaver to get cheese curds and ice cream. It is so good. That is the only drawback for flying to Vegas. We have met Tiff and family in Pine Valley for 20 years now and love the camping. We usually go with the Jennings’ ward from Vegas, but this year because of volleyball we went a little later. The traffic was so much better than over Memorial Day. Cameron was already there and slept in his tent a few nights. The girls came late Saturday night. They insist on going here every year. Tiff had her best chicken and noodles with fry bread for dinner. Yummy.  

                                                           Leslie Nebeker, friend, Tiff and Twins

                                                          These deer just wander around

                                           The road is lined with these beautiful flags

After dinner instead of camping we went to St. George and got a motel. Smart! It is only a 25 minute drive. We had already walked a mile around the campgrounds. The next morning on our way back to Pine Valley, we stopped at Veyo to buy the best homemade pies in the entire world. They are so good. We bought three berry pies and one Key lime. We walked our mile and just enjoyed the mountains and the lake. It’s so beautiful.  The Nebekers camped in the next site. They are such fun friends. 

That night we had Tiffani’s famous tri-tip and Granddad’s Dutch oven potatoes for dinner along with a yummy salad. I made a very bad mistake by eating too much Sea Salt Caramel Chocolates and kept eating them every time Lauren offered it. We had our pies for dessert. I paid for the candy when we went back to our motel in St. George. I was up all night. In the morning Granddad went to the store for some Pepto Bismol. I was miserable. 

We went back to Pine Valley for a breakfast of Dutch oven potatoes mixed with scrambled eggs. I did not eat anything. Tiff and the girls had already taken down their tent and had everything loaded. We left at the same time and decided to go on the dirt road to Pinto, where the Sandstrom’s have a family reunion place. It was only 12 miles away. The road was a good old country road according to Dad, but it was very steep and narrow and he did not slow down. He was in heaven remembering all the times he had traveled on roads like that when he was a kid. I held on for dear life with white knuckles. Pinto was a thriving metropolis of maybe three houses, barns, and some metal sheds along with lots of hay fields with cows. The next section of road was much easier and not so high. I was very happy to get on a highway headed for Cedar City. Believe it or not, we stopped for ice cream again in Beaver. We made it home so tired, but had so much fun for a few days with Tiff, Cameron and the twins.

How blessed we are to live in such a beautiful country where we can enjoy freedom and worship as we please. We are blessed to have the true Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Missionaries pictures:

                                                Sister Molly Byles and companions 2023

Kolton  Feb of 23  children

APRIL SHOWERS AND MORE HEAVY SNOW

April1st was a special date in that Tiffani turned 51 and ran in the Red Rock Vegas Marathon - 26.2 miles. It was freezing cold. What a way to celebrate a birthday. 

Support from the twins

Birthday at Lucilles

Dave gave her a trophy,  Outstanding Linebacker (go figure)

April was also wonderful because it started with the General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every talk was especially for us. Every message went straight to our hearts. I took notes. I can’t read them, but the feelings are still there. Every year they just get right to our souls and we can read them in the Church News. Our prophet, Elder Russell M Nelson, is 98 years old and so powerful when he speaks to us in a very tender voice. He loves us and wants us to do good. It was so wonderful that it was Easter Sunday and the love of our Savior was felt in every talk. We love our prophet. Sunday he announced 15 new temples were in the making. This is definitely a worldwide church and he wants everyone to hear the beautiful message that is for the world. I am not taking the time for each talk, but I have notes and the Church News gives us the talks. It's wonderful.

A new thing Dad and I are doing the bills together so when I go off track he will know what to do.  Scary.

Again on Tuesday, we sealed three couples and 10 children. There is such a special feeling when you can do this for others beyond the veil. It snowed all day. AND IT'S APRIL!!! But we are so blessed to have all this moisture. It will help our lakes and reservoirs fill up.

Dad is digging carrots in the snow. He covers them when its cold.

The 6th, Seamons joined us for Thursday’s temple. The Payson Temple is being cleaned for two weeks. We had Cameron come and babysit Leah because she hates to be alone and can get into many things.  We went to Charley's Philly Cheese Sandwich for lunch and brought Cameron a large sandwich home.  He loved it and loves Leah. When he left, he found a huge box from the mail on our porch addressed to him.  It was filled with so much candy and Easter eggs with money in them. His mother is so good to him. He was so surprised and happy. That evening I broke my pinky toe. Wow-but that hurts! I tripped on Lea’s bed.

Leah loves rolling in the snow

Friday night Scott came to get Leah after their fun time in Disneyland. They had such a fun time and all were happy. Saturday, was finally a warm day. We left the back door open all day.

Easter Sunday was so special. We only had Sacrament, and the Primary sang along with beautiful talks and music. It was filled with the Spirit of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We must never forget what He did for us so that we can live as families and our Savior after death. What beautiful knowledge we have to calm our hearts and try to always do better. The Plan of Salvation is a redeeming promise from our Savior.    

Clark and Dianne invited the families for dinner. There were 27 people at tables and we had a feast as usual in their home. I don’t know how they do it, but it is always so wonderful and fun. The grandparents gave their testimonies after the meal and then we just enjoyed the Spirit. We are so blessed to have families and friends.  We can’t even say how much we love them all.  Cameron joined us also.  He loves to be with family.

getting food

eating

games

visiting and games

                                      

Lily, Dianne, Clark, Jonny

friends and family

We continue to walk a mile three times a week, but it is a little hard with my broken toe. Dad is ready for the garden. He tilled the entire plot and pulled some weeds. Scott came over to give us some ideas on our new shed. My She Shed does not have room for anything I need. He is always here when we need him and he gave us some good ideas. I’m sure he will be here when it is finished. He knows how

to do everything.

Thursday the 13th  we went to the Payson Temple with the Seamons and went to their home after to make final plans for our Arizona Temple trip. We are so excited.

Kolton is now 20 and loving his mission in Kumasi, Ghana. He is a good missionary and loves the people he serves. We don’t hear from him very often, but we know he is a good missionary. We love him and the fact that he is serving his Savior obediently. We have no idea when this was taken, but we love it.

Friday we went to the Salt Palace to watch the twins in a volleyball tournament.  Daves’s parents and some relatives were also there.  We had so much fun watching, talking and yelling. The girls are such good players and we thoroughly enjoyed everything.  After the games Tiff and Dave came to Prove to see Cameron and cut our hair.  We were so tired after all that watching but enjoyed it.

Clara

Lauryn

The next day we did the same thing. After the games we took Tiffani to the SLC Airport so she could fly home for some YW stake meetings. She is the YW stake leader. She loves it. The traffic was horrible and it took us hours to get home. When we arrived home, Erik, Shanelle, Camden and Asher were there finishing mowing our lawn. They are so good to do this.

After church we got ready for our temple trip. The next day we headed out for the Seaman's home to pick them up. George drove and we took our truck because it has so much room. He has a hard top for the bed of the truck so we were never crowded. We love doing things with them because they are so much fun. We certainly laugh a lot. We showed our friends the Horse Head on the Blue Mountain. It was a perfect day for it.

On our way to Snowflake we drove through Blanding. We didn’t even stop because we had so far to go. We did stop to show our friends our old home there. We loved it. Brother Black, the first owner, made the bricks out of the mud in the ponds. It was on an acre of land and we enjoyed our time there. We were only the second family to live there. It had not been taken care of so we were very disappointed.

Monday we got as far as Snowflake Arizona. I was in charge of getting all the rooms for the trip. I chose places that were close to the temples. This one was so special. It was a home, Heritage Inn,  which was so wonderful. It was an old cottage made into a hotel. It was perfect. It took 8 hours to get there so after we checked into our rooms we headed to this old time restaurant for dinner.

We had not been able to see the temple so we asked our waitresses for directions.  There was not a sign or any way to know.  We followed up a little road and thought for sure we were wrong but suddenly there it was.  Up on a hill and so beautiful.  We headed back to our rooms for the night.  The rooms were so vintage.  In the morning we went to a cute little room that had some things for us for breakfast and then went to the 9:30 session

Everyone was so kind.  The temple was beautiful with a beautiful array of Lamanite beauty.  We loved the Spirit and everything about it.  Dad loved the way they incorporated the beauty of the Lamanite culture.  It was a small temple filled with love.

After the session, we drove to the Mesa Temple.  3 hours. We checked into the hotel at 3:30.  It was a Days Inn by Wyndham.  We attended the 5:30 PM session.  I think it was this temple that had a painting of a Lamanite mother getting her son ready to join Helaman’s army.  She was putting  a leather helmet on his head and just hit me so hard.  She had taught and prepared her faithful son for this battle.  I just stood there and cried. It filled my heart.  Later I learned that the same painting is in the Saratoga Temple.  I can hardly wait.   

The grounds were so beautiful and serene.  We loved the palms.

                                 Sorry you can't read the sign but it says its the Mesa Temple.

Wednesday, the 19th, we did the the 9:00 AM session in the Phoenix Temple. It is a beautiful, white temple. There was a long, forever stream of water leading to it. The landscape was all beautiful, desert plants.

It was big and beautiful inside and the people were so kind and helpful as all the temples are.  Everything was perfect.

At 2:00 we were in the Gilbert Temple. We ate wherever we could find a close place to the temple.  Again, the temple was so beautiful and filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

Gilbert Temple

After the session we drove 2 1/2 hours to the Gila Valley and checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites in Thatcher, Arizona. The next morning April 20th, at 10:00 we went to the Gila Valley Temple.  It is a tiny temple in the middle of nowhere.  It is behind a railroad track in the middle of a field.  It is perfect. 

Gila Valley Temple

It is filled with a strong Spirit and we were so welcomed and felt right at home. Because of not much water, the plants were limited but still beautiful. We enjoyed everything about this trip. We love Max and Ruth and the fun times we have together. We were not even tired from all the traveling. Dad did all the driving and we just enjoyed the view. 

On the 20th, we drove to Tucson, 2.5 hours, forever hoping to find the temple there. We did find a Route 66 sign.

It is a huge city. I knew I had found hotels near each temple, but we  were worried about Tucson. I had reservations at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, but no temple. I was really worried. We looked up and saw a huge Jerusalem-like mosque up on a hill. “Well, that’s not it.” I said. Max answered, “Then why is the Angel Moroni on top?” Well low and behold, it was the temple! It is so different and so beautiful. The Fairfield was not even a mile away. We were so hungry. We found a place to eat and went looking for antique places.

don't have a close up of  the sign

The next morning, the 21st, we were outside the temple and were trying to get a selfie of the temple sign. I looked over near the temple and saw a group of children with a mother so I went to ask if she would do that. She was happy to. When we got close to her group, she cried out, “Doctor Bayles, what are you doing here?!” Wonders never cease! She was one of George’s favorite students at Timpview High School in Provo. Miracles! She gave him a big hug and we talked for a few minutes. She lives with her husband and children and they attend this temple. We entered the 9:00 session and enjoyed every minute. It doesn’t matter which temple you attend, they all have a strong feeling and spirit of our Savior and Heavenly Father.

All in all we did 24 endowments. It was just a full week of blessings with wonderful friends. We have gone to all of the Utah temples, but will have more to do after all are finished. We plan to do many of the Idaho ones this summer.

After our session the Fairfield let us have a late checkout so we could change clothes. We then left for Flagstaff - 4.5 hours away. We stayed at the Comfort Inn on Lucky Lane. The boy at the desk could not find our reservations. I had booked the wrong day. I won’t mention who told me the date and checked it. We were worried because they charged us for not checking in. The boy called the big guns and we did not have to pay for the wrong date. He was so nice. We took in many antique shops. I had to use my walker because those other three looked at everything. It was so much fun. Ruth bought turquoise rings for both hands. Max bought license plates, Dad bought Lamanite weapons and I bought an antique phone just like the one we used in Portland. We had party lines and would try to listen in on other people's calls. I think there were four people on our line: Tuxedo 8-2961. Again, we had so much fun.  

Well, this is where we got mixed up. Our trip home, the 22nd, was supposed to take 7.5 hours. We looked at a few more antique stores and were on our way. We drove up through Arizona and stopped at the Navajo stands to look at more souvenirs. Of course we bought things. Then we were off again. We came to a sign in the road that said Page to the right. We took the road, drove about a mile, and Dad thought we were on the wrong road. He remembered you don't go into Page. Thinking that was the road into Page, we turned around and took the road that headed north. It was very different in its beauty. It was open country, no life, and very barren - but a different beauty. There were huge boulders that had fallen from the huge mountains. The fallen rocks were bigger than a car or truck.

When we crossed Navajo Dam, we realized we had gone the wrong way, but it was too late so we just continued along the same road, which took us through the Kaibab Forest. We followed a very slow trailer for miles (35MPH). Thank goodness it was beautiful. We finally ended in Kanab, Utah. We stopped at a very tasty ice cream shop and relaxed.

What fun. We finally made it home at midnight. We laughed all the way. What fun it is to be with these wonderful friends.

Sunday the 23rd we went to sacrament meeting and were so tired. When we got home, we watched the twins at a club volleyball tournament. We were so tired, but it was fun to watch.

Monday we took two of my sewing machines to the repair shop and did lots of laundry.

Tuesday we went to the temple, but were very tired. It was very hard, but we love going.

Wednesday the 26th we went to our dermatologist for a check-up. The cancer on my wrist was good, but he burned some on the top of my head and cut a small one off of my lower eyelid. Fun! 

April 27, Kristin is now 55 years old.

That just seems impossible. We are not that old. Sometimes I think she feels she is my mother. She is such a blessing to us. I can’t do a thing on my computer without calling her for help. She is a great teacher with a talent for home schooling. She has a beautiful touch for home décor and loves shopping at Aldi. She loves her children. We can’t ask for anything more.

The fashional 50's

The next day Dad served in the temple and Saturday did a shift for Brother Martin. He might just as well put a bed there. He loves serving. He is a great man who loves the restored gospel of his Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so blessed being his wife. Sunday he renewed his temple recommend. I am so grateful he is never without one. It is so important to never be without one. He is such a wonderful man.

This has been such a blessed month with so many blessings.  We love our family so very much and pray every day for each one of them personally. They are a constant blessing.

We love hearing from our missionaries. Kolton sent us a personal email and Molly sends us letters and pictures. They are both so obedient and work so hard. We are so blessed to have them serving our Savior.

These are older pictures

These are April of 23.