Friday, November 5, 2021

CIDER, HONEY AND SPOOKY FAMILY


Started this month off with Dr. McKell and each a filling.  So much fun.  Watched the BYU/USU game with our 3rd quarterback.  It was a tight game but BYU won.  They are undefeated.

Vernon and Vanita came for a visit and they looked so good.  They visited for quite awhile.

Dad and I decided to take a drive over the mountains and see the beauty of the canyons.  It was so breathtaking and so beautiful.
Between sessions of General Conference Saturday, Scott's family came over to finish our work between our home and the Anayas'.  Bethany bought 4 beautiful plants several weeks ago and Dad and I started getting everything ready.  They worked so hard.  Rowan and I just had a great time.  



                                I can't believe how many bags of bark they hauled to the plants.

                             There is one more bush and in the spring they are going to be beautiful.
The next session was just as good as the first and so comforting and filled with the Spirit.  Our mission president's wife gave the closing prayer and was just perfect.  She is in the Young Women's presidency.

On Tuesday, the fifth, we went to the Provo Temple to do initiatories.  They let me do 5 and I was so excited.  One of the names was even a Sackett.  that was fun. When I finished I went to the desk and asked if I could do more.  The sister said I had a few more minutes left so I could do 2 more.  I asked if I could do 3 and she said to see what time it was after I had done 2.  So we did and when I finished the 3, I said there is still time and the sister in the booth rushed to the desk and asked if I could do 2 more because there was still time it that booth.  We did.

The next day was Bethany's birthday.  What a wonderful addition to our family.  Scott struck the pot of gold on that one.  She loves him so much and they are great together.  She is a very tender and loving  mother.  She is hard-working and does so much for us.  She's a jewel.

Thursday, the 7th, we attended the Provo City Temple, and got some sealings done.  That temple is amazing with all the beautiful wood and paintings.  The staircase is magnificent and huge.  I had to take the elevator which was not as fun.  It is always peaceful to be in a temple and we savored the experience. 
While we were there Dianne came and picked the garden and then cleared out many tomato vines and put them in huge piles.  She worked way too hard but the garden certainly looks better.
We're excited because Cameron is coming on a shuttle from Utah State and we just pick him up.  The problem was that Tiffani was given the wrong address from the company.  Cameron's phone was out of time so we could not get with him.  We finally just turned the address around and found the right place.  We were lucky because he was just walking hoping to find our address.  He had no idea where he was.  We were blessed that we found him.  

Saturday Tiff's family slept in their cabin and then headed our way.  It was hard getting off the mountain because of the snow and then many cars were off the road in Santaquin because of icy roads. They got here just in time to get Ava and go to the BYU Women's Volley Ball game.  They killed Gonzaga.  I went with them.  We hurried home to get warm coats and then went to the BYU/Boise football game.  That one was not so good.  It was also cold and rainy.  During the game our neighbor called to say the Jennings' dog, Titan, was in the driveway.  He took him to the back yard and noticed that the dog had broken the gate to get out.  We love that dog!!!


After the game we came home and Scott and family came over and we had a great dinner of homemade chicken noodle soup, and broccoli cheese soup.  We had rolls from Shirley's  and always homemade spud nuts from the Mennonites.  It was very tasty and we had leftovers for Sunday.  It was such a fun evening and of course the twins slept at Scott's.
Sunday, the 10th, Dad thought it was stake conference so the Jennings didn't bring Sunday clothes and we just watched our meeting on line.  It was a good meeting.  After church Dave, Tiff and I took Cameron to his shuttle stop.  He enjoyed his time with family and Titan.  It was so fun to have him.  He is loving Utah State.
Monday morning, the 11th, Dad worked on cleaning more of the garden because it is going to freeze tonight.  We are blessed because it had rained since Thursday and we need rain so badly.  What a great blessing rain is.

Wednesday, I scrubbed the living room wood floors and the next day we went to the beautiful Timpanogos Temple and did sealings.  My blood pressure was 175.  Oops.
Friday, Dad finished cleaning the garden and Clark's family came and picked our extremely beautiful apples and some grapes.  They finished anything that was left in the garden.



                                           Some friends and family picked from other trees.
                          
This weekend, Scott and his family traveled to Arizona to do a Half Iron Man.  They took in many beautiful scenes in Utah and Arizona.
                                                           
                                              



                                                        He did great and bettered his time.

Saturday, the 16th, we were also blessed to be in the Jordan River Temple when Molly Bayles received her Endowment.  Many family member from both sides of the family were present. 

It was wonderful and she was so beautiful.  I was able to do Adeliade's name.  I loved it. It was just a very special day. 
We then went home, changed clothes, and went to Clark's to make cider and honey. 
                                                                           cider

                                                                             honey
Tyler spent the day making yummy grape juice in a small juicer.   

                               Beatrice was in charge of the apples and Granddad and Ashley helped.
                                                   


                                                            The boys were great help?


Dianne had many loaves of different kinds of  bread, vegetable trays, and 6 crocks of homemade soups.  There were several desserts. She is amazing and is always helping others.  It was a full day but we left at 6:00 and there were still hours left to do.  The youth were working and laughing the entire time.  We don't know when they finally finished.

We found a picture of the twins in 30 years.

Sunday, the 17th was Stake Conference on TV.  Our new Stake Presidency spoke and it was filled with the Spirit and truth.
Monday, Dad mowed he lawn because he wanted to.  Dave freeman sent a zip drive of my dad speaking at his farewell and he also spoke and it was amazing.  He was  a little short of a year being a member and he was on fire.  He was from Piqua, Ohio.
The 20th, we learned that Camden broke his arm 2 weeks ago.  We are now praying for a nice recovery but we would have been praying all along had we known.
We got two trips to the temples this week and we loved every minute.  We are trying to go twice a week now.  Dad sits by the baptism door and asks if anyone needs names and we are getting some done.  My Cardiologist visit was positive so that's good.  We are finding my pills are $400 dollars a month.  OUCH!
Sunday, the 24th, was a good meeting.  Brother, Bleak gave a talk on keeping the fast and we really needed it.  We will work harder on that beautiful invitation.  It is such a blessing. 

Clark invited us to Hailey's Birthday dinner.  It was amazing and so fun to be with the family.  The menu was huge pull- a -parts and turkey chili.  It was yummy.

Hailey just lights up a room whenever she enters,  She is so much fun and does so much for others.  We love when we are around her.  Her real birthday is Wednesday.

Dad found a name of a baby who was born in 1586.  The family's work was all done but he had never had the initiatory, anointing, endowment or sealing done.  I'm sure that was a very happy reunion.

Thursday, the 28th, we continue go to a temple twice a week and after the Payson Temple, we hurried home to change clothes and then went to the SLC Airport to pick up Kristin and the kids.  It was so fun to see them. 

After we loaded their baggage we went to Gardner Village to see the witches and all the decorations.  It's a fun place at any time.  On the way home we ate at IKEA.  We had a fun time.




The next evening Dave, Tiff and the girls came.  Baylie didn't think they would ever get here.
Saturday was a very fun Halloween party.  It was at Clark and Dianne's home.  We played Pin the spider on the web, I have a bat and he won't bite you, made decorations out out tin cans, and other fun games.  We then ate Navajo Tacos that were so yummy.  We won't say how many we ate.  Clark had  witches cider with the dry ice and all.  Everything was so great.  We laughed and laughed. 
                         


                                             
                                                                   donuts and Navajo tacos

When we got home Scott's family was there to go Trick-or-treating. 

When they returned the kids changed clothes for the BYU-Virginia game at 8:15.  It was so exciting.  We got worried at half time but they came through and won by a whole bunch.  


                                           Kristin has not been here for a very long time.







After the game the kids tried to get some sleep.

 Sunday, the 31st. we filled one big row in the chapel.  We love that. 

It was a good meeting.  We had  Campbell's soup right from the can and homemade biscuits. 




We were just too tired to do anything else.  Tiff's family left much later than they had planned but we loved it.  This was the end of a great month.

We continue to be so blessed with the family the Lord has given us.  The restored gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ, is so true and has everything we will ever need to return to our Father in Heaven.  It just doesn't get any better than that. We must continue to be faithful and follow the doctrine of Christ.









                                                                     















Friday, October 1, 2021

SEPTEMBER, FOOTBALL and the TEMPLES

The first great things this month were a triple birthday, Clark, Lauren and Clara, and a family trip to the Jordan River Temple for Kolton to receive his Endowment and for the baptisms done after.  That's a full Saturday.  It was absolutely a full wonderful day.  We love being n the temple with family.
                                         

                                                            baptisms (notice Asher's feet)
                                            Baylie, Riley, Camden, Asher, Jonny, Lily, Kolton


                                                                        Kolton and Hailey
                                                          Hailey, Shanelle and Erik
     Dianne and Molly went to Spectrum, where Clark is the counselor.  Hailey's class sang to him.  It was so sweet.  It is a special school for students who are under the autism  umbrella.  Clark has been invited to do the World Half Iron in St George this month.  What an honor.  He is just a good son, friend, father, Gronky, sibling, spouse, etc.  We can't even say all the things we love about him.  He is a man who is centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The same birthday is Lauryn Dora Jennings who is amazing in every way.  She loves her family and especially Titan, who she spoils rotten. She is gifted in many ways with school (when she gets to go) piano, volley ball, and making friends.  She loves to read, cook, go to the ocean, Hawaii, Maine, Provo, and anywhere her parents take her.  She loves the Lord and lives a Christ like example.
                                         
Well I just have to say ditto for Clara Camille Jennings.  It's seldom you see one without the other.  They are definitely soul buddies.  They team up on most things.  Thank goodness they have their own bedrooms now.  One room just couldn't hold all their stuff, not even under the bed.  They go out of the way to include the one left out , which is a great gift.  They love to do things with their mother in that she is so much fun.  Clara is an incredible violinist and plays in church often.  She definitely has a gift in music. 

These two thrill our hearts.  They love being home and love their brother, Cameron.
When they come to visit us, they really come to have fun with their cousin Ava. (middle)  Poor Baylie gets left out because she lives in SC.
September 8th, was very hard therapy.  It was longer than usual but it is helping.
Thursday Dad went to Camden's football game.  He loves to go and support the grandchildren.

Friday, Sept, 10th I finally got to see my cardiologist, Dr.Hwang.  He is amazing and renowned throughout the country.  There is no hole in the upper chambers of my heart.  The Eliquis took care of the clots.  Amazing but I know it was the Lord.  Now the doctor is putting me on some pills to get my blood pressure above 100.  I am always dragging and dizzy.  It's working.

Sept.11, Tiffani and family came late as usual. They always do.  They had an appointment with a realtor to look for a home.  They want to move here.  Yeah!  Nothing.  
Camden and Kolton came and mowed the lawn.  They always do such a good job.
                                                                      It was pouring rain

At 8:30PM they went to the BYU-Utah game.  I stayed home.  It was a wild game and so loud.  BYU won for the first time in 11 years.  The stands went crazy.  I watched it on TV.  I'm still not ready to tackle the stadium.  We gave our tickets to Scott, Ava, Nixon and Kolton and 3 of his friends.  They were all crazy.  They got home after 1:00 AM.  The house was rocking.
Sunday morning, the 12th, were were blessed to hear Lauryn and Clara play on the piano and violin because they were headed home to play in their sacrament meeting.


                                                                   A little bit of heaven
Monday, the 13th, Kolton enters the MTC on his computer at home.  This is perfect because he will only be one week before he goes to the MTC in Provo and Parker gets home from his mission in Japan, Friday.  They will be together for 3 days before he leaves for his training in the MTC.  What a blessing.

Tuesday we were able to go to the temple to do an endowment and I didn't even take my walker, Charlotte. (That's what Jalen named her.)  It was wonderful.
Wednesday was my last physical therapy.  It has been hard but so helpful.  They were very kind.  I felt so good I weeded the back yard between us and the Richards.

The 16th, I weeded where the bricks meet the cement and dad was able to go to another of Camden's games.  Before he went he pressed the apples that had fallen on the ground into cider.  All week he picked up many, many gallons of peaches that had fallen each day and froze, dried or pureed them.  He is quite the canner and homemaker.  I am amazed at how he loves doing what I don't love.  He works at it all day.
Today was a long, long day because Parker will fly in at 5:00.  I weeded in the garden so I wouldn't think about it.  Didn't work.
Clark and his entire family are in St. George for the race.  We are so excited and proud of him.  We can watch on our computer by following his number on the race map.  He beat his last record.  He's amazing.





Tiffani flew to SLC and then rented a car and drove to Logan to visit Cameron and bring him back for the BYU game. Granddad, Scott and Nixon, Erik, Shanelle, Asher, Camden, Parker and a friend all used our tickets.  It didn't start until 8:30 PM and it poured heavy rain.  They are all crazy and had a great time.  Their blankets were soaked when they returned but they were never cold and we won so that's all tht matters.  I stayed home.  You will recognize many in this picture.  It was a great crowd, and loud.

                                                                Cameron and Tiff
Sunday was a powerful day.  We went to church in Erik's family's ward.  The building was bulging with members and friends.  Even the cultural hall was full.  This family does so much for other people and the boys are so good and helpful to everyone.  The reverence was thick. 

Parker was the first speaker giving his homecoming message.  It was powerful and filled with the Doctrine of Christ.  He reported on his mission to Oregon and Japan.  It was filled with the Spirit.
Kolton was the next speaker (last) and he talked with such conviction and positive thoughts.  He will be such a great missionary.  All of our families were there except Kristin who lives in South Carolina.  We missed her and her family.  Dave and the twins could not be there also.  It is so wonderful to sit in church and see so many of your family.  The Spirit was so strong and yet peaceful.
After the meeting I think the entire ward and PG high school came to Erik and Shanelle's for an amazing lunch.  The food just kept coming.  I don't now how they managed that much food and no one left hungry. Shanelle's mother and father and a sister and 2 of her kids came from Washington.
This missionary is going with such a strong testimony of his Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a bright smile.
Cameron got a ride with a friend of Kolton's who also is at USU.  Tiffani flew home the next morning.  It was  just a wonderful weekend.
Somewhere in here Erik's family took pictures at the Provo Temple before Kolton entered the MTC.


Tuesday was David Batchelor's 41st birthday.
 He loves teaching music in his school and is very good with the students.  He loves his family.  They live so very far away and we don't get to see them often. He's a good man.
We did sealings that morning.
I can't remember when but Ashley came with her little family and picked grapes, raspberries and tomatoes.  The boys loved climbing trees and Beatrice was just amazingly easy.

I just had to put this picture in; they are so darn cute.  What a poser Beatrice is.
We have been working hard in the garden the last few days and are so grateful for such a good crop.  George has canned everything he can get his hands on.  He is such a good man and help me every day with everything you can imagine.  I could not progress as I have without his constant help.

Monday, the 27th we went to Paul Jones's funeral.  He is George's first cousin and suffered his entire life with severe depression and bad health.  His children spoke and it was not pretty but the message was strong that he will now be free of his trials.  He was a very gifted man with his ability in creativity.  Jean was an angel wife.
Tuesday we went to the Provo City Center temple and did another session.  That is such a beautiful temple and we are so glad that when it burned, they rebuilt it into such beautiful place where we can feel the Spirit and do work for those who have gone ahead.  That afternoon I picked 7 gallons of tomatoes for us to deliver to our ministering families tomorrow.  We get such joy in doing that.

Today we started by delivering the tomatoes, got our flu shots, we then went to Crumbl Cookies and bought cookies for Kolton and his companions. (maybe 6 comps)  We then went to Post Mart to have them deliver them.  When we got home I made Granddad some less sugar, raspberry/peach jam.  He was outside pressing apple juice for dinner and storage.  It was a full and wonderful day.  I did rest several times but not Dad.
We were able to go to the Provo Temple this morning and do a session.  What peace we feel there.  I counted my initiatories and I only have 49 to do.  It's so hard to find an opening.
Granddad came home tonight with these little additions to my bale of hay.  I love them.
Kristin has worked so hard on making our blogs into a book every year.  It takes her hours and is so professionally done.  They are hard back and filled with our blogs and pictures.  She has done this ever since our first mission.  They are treasures.

Granddad decorated the porch.  He's amazing.  I am so blessed.

There is no way to express how much we love our family and the wonderful people they are.  Each family is so precious to us and they are growing in such blessed ways.  We love every one and those who are yet to come.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so true and has everything we need to return to our Father in Heaven as families.