Monday, June 30, 2025

June is Bustin' Out All Over

On June 1, the girls joined us for sacrament meeting. It is so fun going to church with family.

Grandad, Kristin, Me, Tiffani
Me and my girls

After church Dianne invited us over for dinner. It was yummy fruit and steak salad. It was us, the girls, Clark, Di, Jonny and Riley. It was great food and conversation. 

Jonny, Riley, Dianne, Grandad, Clark, Me (sleeping), Tiffani

While we were there, we got a call from Shanelle. Erik was out of town grading AP tests in Kansas City. Some huge tree limbs had come down on their roof. We all went over there and a neighbor also came over. The men got out some chain saws and after a lot of effort, got the rooms safely off the roof. It was so great to see everyone working together to solve the problem so quickly. Shanelle, Asher, Kolton and Parker were there. Riley’s Baylie also joined us since she had finished work. It was wonderful to get so much family time. 

Clark on a hot tin roof
Jonny, Shanelle, Clark
Kolton, Parker, Riley, Jonny, Asher, Watts (the dog)
Kristin, Kolton, Parker, Jonny, Asher, Riley

Monday Clark came over to check on his bees on his way to FSY in Ephraim. He has a new job supporting the college counselors. 

Clark the beekeeper

I was dizzy so the girls went to the BYU bookstore without me while Dad went and helped cut up the tree limbs and haul them off. Later we had tacos and then went to see the construction on the Provo temple. We then went to the BYU Creamery for brownies and ice cream. We discovered that the creamery sells cheese curds for $2.50! We no longer have to go to Beaver for delicious cheese curds!

Tuesday the 3rd, the girls went with us to the Orem Temple. There is nothing as wonderful as going to the temple with family. It was a good thing I was there, because Kristin had some serious clothing issues during the session. 

Kristin, Grandad, Me, Tiff
Orem Temple
After the temple, we went to Zurchers, Costco and Walmart. We came home and took a recovery nap so we had energy for dinner at Cafe Rio. 

June Fird was also Parker's Birthday. He is such a good young man. He and Janessa will soon be headed to Washington for optometry school.

Jessa and Parker

Wednesday morning, June 4, I went to BYU with the girls. We went to the bookstore first and then to the creamery. 

After that we went home and got Dad for lunch at In-and-Out. 
Grandad and Kristin with her protein burger
Me and Tiffy
The girls left right from there to drive back to Vegas. It was hard saying goodbye to them because they are so amazing and practically perfect and really about as good as a person can be and one of them didn't write this sentence.
Kristin, Tiff, Me, Grandad

Thursday, June 5, we went to the Payson temple with the Seamons. Afterwards I went to a baby shower for the sweet sister in our ward. The baby is still in the hospital, but the sister is home now. There were several sisters from our ward there. We are all hoping her baby can come home soon.

On this day Tiffani had another meniscus surgery. This time was more painful because they found loose cartilage in her knee. She is already up and around and will hopefully be feeling better soon. Kristin was there to help.  What a great family we have.

On June 6, after his temple assignment, Grandad worked all day in the garden. It looks so good and he has added so many fun toys.

Grandad's garden with an alien shadow
Hummingbird buffet

Kristin left Vegas on a red eye flight Friday night and arrived in South Carolina Saturday morning. Baylie drove from Columbia to Charlotte to get her. It was the furthest she had driven and she was a little nervous. 

Baylie, Jalen, Kristin

When Kristin emptied her very much used bag, she found my lost jewelry from NYC. We had looked everywhere for it.   

Sunday was church, and then resting and recovery. We had waffles and scrambled eggs from Scott's chickens. We also had sausage. Nothing like a good old fashioned breakfast.

The 9th Dad worked so very hard in the garden. He put up more toys.

Lauryn and Clara spent three weeks in Africa on a service trip. They helped build a community center in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). They also got to zipline, go on safari, go white water rafting, attend church, and visit the temple in Johannesburg. They came home on Thursday, June 12. Sadly, their luggage spent some extra time in Africa. It did arrive eventually. 

Clara and Lauryn with new friends 
Working hard
Johannesburg Temple

Thursday we drove to a new temple, The Deseret Peaks. It is south of here in a little town called Urda. It is a few miles from Tooele. It is the same inside as the Orem Temple. 

Friday while Dad was serving in the Orem Temple, I changed the bed covers because it will soon be the 4th of July and we need to celebrate our wonderful country.  It’s so fun to celebrate our freedom and all the blessings we are free to enjoy every day. 

That evening Dad put hundreds of lady bugs in our rose bushes. He will put more in tonight. They are supposed to kill the aphids.

Can you see the lady bugs?

Saturday, June 14, Meghan Hunter took 3rd place running the 800 meters for the NCAA track and field championships. Her score was the 4th fastest in NCAA history and set the BYU record for indoor and outdoor track. She missed second place by just one step. She is a great example for our country and especially for us because she is our neighbor, friend, and an example for all girls. She was in a serious accident a few years ago and broke her neck. It’s a miracle she can even walk.
Somewhere in here Erik’s family flew out to meet him in Kansas City. They toured around a bit, including Nauvoo, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and other places. They have let each of their sons choose a place to visit and this time was Asher’s turn. 
Kolton and Shanelle - Kolton, Asher, Erik (not sure what they're looking at)
Crazy boys
Nauvoo Temple
Sunday was Father’s Day. We celebrated the day before with JDawgs (due to Will’s strong endorsement). On Sunday, we stayed home with just the two of us. We heard from each of the kids. Dad taught Sunday School that day. He had some technical difficulties with the projector so he just went old school with pencil and paper.

Tuesday the 17th we went to the temple, shopping, and to a wedding shower for Meghan. She got married on June 21 to a BYU baseball player. (She even raced her dad in her wedding dress!)

Thursday Tiffani’s family came to visit. We love having family come over.

Friday the 20th we all went to the Strawberry Days Rodeo. It’s always such a fun time. Everyone was there this time except for Kristin’s family. We missed them. Tiffani thinks she could win the steer wrestling. 
Our beautiful family
Back: Kolton, Jonny, Friend, Molly, Jayden
Front: Jessa, Parker, Bailey, Riley, Asher, Lauryn, Clara
Saturday was the annual parade at Erik and Shanelle’s. The whole ward turns out for breakfast. We took some fruit and vegetables to share. Ashley was there with her kids as well. They loved racing out to grab candy that was thrown. Ashley’s family is moving into a new home on Tuesday. So exciting!
Back: Tiffani, Grandad, Me
Front: Ava, Shelby Nebeker, Clara, Lauryn
Ashley, Dave, Jayden, Tiffani, Grandad
Ashley's girls Rosie and Bea
While the rest of the family was at the parade, Hailey was joined by supporters as she took second place in the Level up Games at Burn Boot Camp. Go Hailey!
Dianne, Molly, Hailey, Bailey, Riley
Sunday the 22, Shanelle brought us five flats of fresh strawberries, three for us and two for Tiffani. They were beautiful. Dad made ours into frozen pucks for smoothies and dried some for granola and froze the rest. Yummy!  

We went to an earlier ward on Sunday so Tiff’s family could hit the road and head home. We then went back to our ward for sacrament meeting.

Monday I learned what happens when two girls use the bathroom. MANY white washcloths get beautiful. I love doing this laundry for them. It brings many memories of my mother hanging clothes on the line.
Tuesday, I woke up and didn't feel well. I slept for the next two days. We didn't go to the temple.

The 25th Dad worked all day in our beautiful garden. He has filled it with many treasures. We are eating our yummy peas now.

On Friday, Dave came back to Utah to pick up a truck for the twins. Grandad had picked it up for Dave to drive back home. Dave’s truck had died and they need a truck to get to the cabin. Cameron will now drive the girls’ car and they will get rid of Cameron’s Subaru. 
Saturday Dad spent hours cooking smoked chicken bites and spare ribs for a ward party. They were delicious and everyone commented about how yummy they were. I agreed!

Sunday our ministering brothers came to visit. Later that evening Di, Clark and Hailey came over to pick peas, raspberries, and one big zucchini. 

Monday - the last day of the month - Brother Seamons taught Grandad how to weld. He is excited to make new projects.

We continue to be so proud of our missionaries.

Lily is embracing the humidity in Alabama.
Camden takes more pictures of the country than himself in Poland.
Cameron is getting ready to wrap it all up in Las Vegas.
Missionaries - the early years.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

The Month My Perfect Daughters Came to Visit

(headline written by Kristin)

What a beautiful time of year May is. Everything looks so beautiful with flowers and grass and green trees. We started this month going to the temple. We love that we can do this together.

On the 2nd, we celebrated Parker and Jessa's graduations from UVU. We spent the evening with Erik’s family having a yummy curry dinner. I had never tasted this food and was so surprised with how delicious it was. We spent a lovely evening with them.

The 3rd we worked in the garden. Dad put up many fun toys in the garden. They are so fun and at night they glow. 

We enjoyed stake conference for two days. We love these meetings.

Tuesday I went to see Dr. Bergeson, my hip doctor. He said I have spurs, but he wants to wait six months and see if it gets worse. He was not in a hurry to operate, which I love.

Sunday was Mother’s Day and Clark and Dianne invited us to dinner. It is always scrumptious. We love the time we spend with them. The girls sent me flowers. Erik and Scott's families gave me flower baskets. My kids know how much I love flowers. Grandad got me grape soda - my favorite!! It's so hard to find.

Monday we planted our garden with Clark’s family, including Ashley’s four blessings. They are so fun and this year they found the cherry tree. They all found it, even 2-year-old Rosie. She climbed to the top all by herself! What a fun day. 

Can you spy all four kids?
Rosie

We were so tired when everyone left and then got a phone call saying Jonny had received his mission call and was ready to open it. We hurried to their home and such a crowd was already there. It was a very spiritual evening. He announced that he is going to Seattle, Washington, in September for two years. We are so excited. That will be four grandchildren serving at the same time. Wonderful.

Saturday the 17th Scott came and painted our back fence. It has changed the entire back yard. He is going to paint the other fence when he and George fix some places. 

Wednesday the 21st we went to Jonny’s high school graduation. He was a student body officer. It was an amazing program with amazing musical numbers. Afterwards we went to Chubby’s for dinner.

Erik, Parker and Asher came to mow our lawns. Dad watered our garden.

On the 22nd we helped a sweet sister from our ward look for a place to live.

Friday the 23rd was Scott’s 46th birthday. How can our baby be 46?! He is our personal handyman and is so willing to help us with anything we need. 

The 24th was Camden John’s birthday. He continues to serve the Lord in Poland where he not only works with people from Poland, but also Ukraine and Russia. He is close to the border of all three countries. 

That day we helped clean our church building and then Dad painted my clothesline BYU blue.

Monday the 26th was Memorial Day. We are so grateful to those who gave their lives serving our country, including my brother, Milt.

Tuesday was another day working in the garden. It is already looking so good. 

Monday and Tuesday we watched the twins play volleyball in California thanks to technology. They won the tournament!

Wednesday the 28th, the sweet sister we had helped look for an apartment went into early labor. Her baby was born a month early and will need to stay in the hospital for a while.

Thursday was our date with Seamons at the Payson Temple. We look forward to this every week.

Friday was a rough day. I wasn’t feeling well while he was in the temple. When he got home, he took me to the emergency room. While we were gone, Scott came over and cleaned up some things so that when we got home it was all nice. 

Saturday morning we helped the same sweet sister move in to her new apartment. Hopefully soon her baby will join her.

Saturday evening I got the biggest surprise. I opened the door and there were two women on my porch. I couldn’t figure out who they were. Then all of a sudden I realized they were my daughters! Kristin and Tiffani had driven up from Vegas to surprise me. It wasn’t a surprise to Dad because he knew they were coming. I’ll finish talking about their visit in the June blog.

In addition to Camden, our other missionaries continue their service to the Lord.

Lily in Alabama

Cameron is serving in Las Vegas (picture at Spokane temple)