THE LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE

Sunday we went to the Patriotic Program at the Marriott Center.  First Lady, Laura Bush, was the speaker.  We always admired her but she really outdid herself.  She was absolutely amazing.  She had a way of making everyone feel at home.  We are so glad we went.   She was inspiring.  What a great lady.  Someone in the crowd not far from us started yelling and she didn’t lose a beat.  The police quickly had him in tow.  The audience cheered.

The best thing Monday was that our good friend in Murphy, Jeff, is taking the temple classes.  We are so excited.  We will go out when the big day arrives.  YaHoo!
George finished the gate this week.  Ask Nixon and he'll say he did it.

Went to see Milt this week.  He is so much better.  The Lord is so good to us.  He was sitting in a wheel chair and had been for an hour when we got there.  It was the first time we had not seen him in bed. (in the bed as the NC say)  He has such a good attitude.  He had his 3^rd cast on.  They keep checking it to make sure all is well.  We’ll put in this picture ‘cause he looks so good.

Thursday we decided to practice our fly fishing again.  We love it.  It is just fun to be together.  I caught one with the fly and one with bait.  Dad caught one with bait.  

  While we were fishing a cute little fawn came out of the willows and walked right by dad and went into the water for a drink and to cool off.  He stayed for about 30 minutes and went back into the willows.  We just hope his mother was nearby. 

Got home and had our first BLT of the season.  Home grown tomatoes make all the difference, especially with corn on the cob as a side.

Dad saw our robin was off her nest so he took a picture.  There are now 5 eggs.  

That is very unusual because robins only lay 4 eggs.  If one falls out of the nest she will lay another to make 4, but they book says they seldom lay 5.  We are so proud of our little mother.  She and the dad are so much fun to watch.  The eggs should hatch while I am in SC.  

We tried to get rid of over 4 gallons of Bing cherries but with no takers we pitted them and Dad dried them for our granola and bars.  They were huge and I think we probably ate a gallon right there.  They will be good this winter. 

We got up at 6 on July 4^th to go watch Scott in the 5K Freedom race.  Well we thought it was the 5K.  We parked at what we thought was the starting and finishing place to find the 5K was about a mile away.  We had 10 min. to get there.  We trucked. We were at Kiwanis Park and the 5K start was by Brick Oven.  Took a picture of the balloons while truckin'

We got there about one minute after it started.  There were over 2,600 participants.  About 5 min. later Beth texted to ask where we were.  When we told her she reminded us that he was running the 10K which started and ended where we had parked so back we trucked.  We got there a few minutes before he came in so at least we got the see him finish.  

waving to his kids

He didn’t even act tired.  We went to Magelbys’ for breakfast.

Dad and I then went to a Revolutionary War encampment.  The displays and activities were wonderful.  It was a good time. 

 We so appreciate those Patriots did so much so that we can have the freedoms we do today.  We owe so much to them.  It was not by chance that all this history happened.  It was foretold in the Book of Mormon.  We needed a free country for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to come forth.  We are so grateful for the Prophet Joseph and for those Patriots who helped make this all possible.  Let freedom ring.  We love America.

This is the end of this blog in that I fly to Kristin in the morning.  I will put Saturday with Sunday this week.  We love this land of the free and the opportunity we had to rear our children in such freedom.

SOCCER AND WEDDINGS

pink perfection

Sunday was special in that the kids came after church for dinner and the USA soccer game.  The results did not dampen the fun.  Erik and family were first with their 4 boys, then came Ashley and Tyler informing us they had invited our son, Clark and his family.  What a bonus.  We didn’t invite them because they are usually not available.  They brought their 5 treasures and then came Scott and his family of Ava and Nixon.  What a fun group. 

At half time we had a bar-b-q.  Isn’t that what summer is all about?  We had hamburgers, hot dogs, kale salad, deviled eggs, fresh corn on the cob, chips, olives etc and watermelon for dessert.  We ate with gusto. 

I am so excited to watch this game

 After the meal we finished the game and then watched Night Crossing until 10:30.  What a fun thing it is to be with family and experience such love between cousins and their parents.  You just always pray that your children and their families will love one another and when they do there is such joy.

Our little nest has grown from 1 egg to 3.

Monday I worked in the garden and Granddad worked on the gate, fence and pavers on the West side of the house.  We worked a little too long in the heat but loved it when Shanelle and the boys came to mow the lawns.  It is always fun to have them around,  They don’t like all my rules but their dad had the same ones so I figure it’s fair.  They really are sweet and obedient.  They have great parents.  Scott and Nixon came later to bring a trim for Dad’s bathroom window.  It really looks nice'

new window trim

We are having our roof reshingled.  It is really going to be beautiful.. The man doing it is a friend of Erik and Shanelle’s.  He has done a wonderful job and was very reasonable.

The best thing about this week is that the Pages came.  The are a family from our first area, Caswell.  We loved it there and especially the people.  They try so hard to do all they can to live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sister Page taught me to speak my mission language.  I’ll never do it as flowing as she does.  We love them so much.  They brought back such wonderful memories.  We took them to JDawgs for lunch.

 They loved it.  I just can’t describe how great it was to have them here.  They took such good care of us in the mission.  When they left Granddad said, ”I am so homesick.”

Scott and Nixon came at 5 to help Dad with the gate and fence.

The next day we went to Logan for Christianna’s wedding.  It is always a sacred time when you can be in the temple with some of your family.  Christianna is the daughter of Gary and Deb. 

Ky and Christianna

                                         

 They had a beautiful luncheon at the Blue Bird.  We didn’t stay for the reception because we were just too tired.  We had to wait 45 minutes on the way for an accident.  We were relieved that we made the sealing.

always boots

Our roofer finished in time for the Direct TV guy to put up our dish.  We love the look of the new shingles.  It was $4,950 for the roof and is warranted for 30 years.

front

back

                                 At 7:00 we went to the Page reception in Lehi.  It was a beautiful setting and continued to visit with those good people.  We just hated to say good by.  They are leaving right after the reception to go to St. George for another grandchild’s wedding.  What good people.

Saturday we got up at 6:30 to go to PG to see Kolton do a triathalon.  He did very well.

Dad, Kolton, Granddad 

 We had donuts and eggs afterwards and then headed to SLC to see Milt.  He had a very hard week and didn’t look so good.  I fed him a milkshake while George went to get him a hamburger and fries.  The doctor said that would be alright.  He is mending but it is a long road.

When we got home Erik and Shanelle had taken the old dish washer out of the kitchen and were starting on the new one.  It’s nice to have help.  I can't remember if it was this day or Monday but one of the days Shanelle ran from her home in Pleasant Grove to our house, 14  miles.  What a woman.

We are so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and our testimonies of the importance of families.  We love our family so much.  We know that Our Heavenly Father is in control and knows each one of us.  We know he has a body as does our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is our brother, Redeemer, Savior and has atoned for our sins so we can return to our Father and families and live forever.  We know the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit and that he testifies of all truth.  He is a definite member of the Godhead but without a body.  We are so grateful for the direction he constantly gives us.  We know the boy Joseph saw this in a vision and was instrumental in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness on this earth.  We know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we love it.  President Monson is a prophet of God who leads us in truth and righteousness.  He wants us to keep our covenants and return to our Father.  Of this we know and love.  We just pray that we can live so that we can be a forever family for the eternities.

RODEO AND PARADE

sunset over the rodeo

 Sunday was fun because it was Fathers' Day and church was so good.  Michelle Isom gave her mission farewell speech and it was so good.  She is going to McCalland Texas.  She will be a very good missionary.  I think we have 17 out now. After church Erik's family invited us for dinner  Scott's family came too.  It was so fun to be with family.  I think that's what we missed most on our mission.  We had a great dinner and dipped chocolate, caramel and white chocolate for dessert.  It was all yummy. It was also Kristin and David's 15th wedding anniversary.
Monday was so cool I worked in the garden for 5 hours.  Not a weed to be seen now.  I'm sure 15 seconds later there were plenty.  The boys came to mow the lawn and watch the US soccer game which we won.

 We had a taco dinner and just enjoyed being with family again.
The next morning Erik came to help Dad build the fence and gate by the garbage cans.  They got the 3 posts dug and set in cement.

rhino man

We then left to see Milt in SLC.  He is amazing in his speedy recovey.  He's got months to go before he will be better but he has such a good attitude.  On our way home it was 41 degrees and there was snow on the cars coming from the canyon.  What a thing for June.

We went to visit Leonard Hurst, George's cousin, after the temple.  He is iving at the Seville and invited us to have lunch with him.  It is a very nice place for a assisted living place.  It's very fancy and hi-cotton. Uncle Leonard was just fun to be with.  He brought back so many memories of past times for George.. After that we picked up Ashley at work and went to Erik's for dinner and then the Strawberry Days Rodeo.  We love that rodeo.  It is a tradition.

oldies

 great Norman Rockwell pose  Erik and Shanelle

Friday morning found us practicing our fly fishin' skills.  Boy do we ever need Jeff Frady.

We had a great time though and plan to do it often.  Sure did give our wrists a workout.
We came home to find a robin's nest in the front maple tree.  It had only one egg but we are going to keep an eye on it.  The mommy and daddy are always close by or on the nest.

  Dad spent the rest of the day  cleaning the area around where he and Erik had worked on the new fence and gate.  There were boulders and you can imagine the rocks.  I should have taken a picture.

Saturday is our favorite parade day.  It is the Pleasant Grove Parade  and runs right in front of Erik's house.  they have a big breakfast for the entire neighborhood.  It is just a very good thing they do for their ward as everyone is in their ward.  It is always a good morning.

Scott's family

                               

Nixon in Tyler's bike helme

Parker holding sign

Patriotic Shanelle

We love this time of year when we can pay special attention to the fact that we live in such a wonderful country where we can enjoy so many freedoms.  It is indeed a blessed land above all others.  We just need to keep the commandments of our Father and do our best to spread the restored gospel..  We love our family and each other. 

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