It's Been One Year

Today marks the one year anniversary of "Enjoying Life".  WOW ---- who would have ever thought I could journal that long or that I had a life worth writing about.  BUT ----- I did and I do.  When a person is blessed to have such great people in her life she has a great deal to share and be proud of.  Life is so good and I am so at peace.  I hope to continue on for another year in sharing my thoughts and feelings with those that I hold most dear.  Love Always

Number 26

Can't sleep for coughing so I will wish me a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.  Brad wanted to do something but my energy is kind of low.  Hope this soon goes away.  It has been a good twenty six years.  Many changes ---- some great and some not so great.  Brad has been a very sweet and patient companion.  I am so very grateful that I have been blessed to share life with him.  I pray that we enjoy many more that are filled with good health, happy family and a strong faith in each other and Heavenly Father.

Happy Anniversary

Mary and Todd

It is number twenty four for Mary and Todd.  They are celebrating in Park City this weekend.  That is where they went  on their Honeymoon those many years ago.  It was a very rainy cool day in 1986.  It was so rainy that pictures could not be taken on the temple grounds.  After the reception they headed for Park  City in a snow storm.  Mary and Todd have accomplished some good things in their years of marriage.  They are parents of three children - Heidi, Shaylee and Damon.  They have have many good and some challenging times in the years, but with faith and hard work they have moved forward.  I pray they have many more years and that they will always work, play and pray together.

They Have Arrived ----- We Have Started

Thursday morning was the delivery day for thirteen new windows for our home.  When they are installed that will make sixteen windows complete.  Just leaves the little bath and our bathroom.  Those will wait until we decide the fate of those two rooms. (Major work in the master bath).

Brad is such a trooper ---- between the two of us we are great at demolition --- a bit slower at putting it all back together.  Paul has been able to help us also during some of his free time.  (Thanks)

We have finished setting in all of the windows except the back room which is going to take some major demolition.  Going to work on it later today.  Brad has also been using the expandable spray insulation today for added weather proofing.  Don't know what I would do without him even if sometimes I get a little short on patience.

 Nope ---- not needed ---- did it by hand

 Home Depot Delivery - One Cent ----- Beats many trips to Logan

 Out with the Old

 In With the New



"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"

 OOPS!!! --- Practicing to be on Survivor ---- We can start a fire

 Looking Good in the Neighborhood

Now new boards and MORE PAINTING

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Kinley taking Kaden for a stroller ride ----  just like her dolly

I received this cute picture from Grandma Lisa.  As I look at these two darling little ones I think of the love and joy that they bring to family.  Pure love of Christ unsensored to anyone.  Big cousin serving Little cousin.  All filled with joy and excitement.  May we learn from them ----- and their example of what Christ would have us do.   Love these little ones ----- they are priceless.

Changes in Elwood Second Ward

With the changes in the stake and our Bishop being called to be the Stake President we have been waiting for the announcement of our new Bishop.  They had announced that it would be Sunday the 19th.  I was looking forward to this day and being able to sustain the new Bishopric.  BUT ---- the cold has been hard on me and Sunday morning was not good.  Couldn't breath and was so tired.  STAYED HOME  ---Brad went and had to tell me the news.  John Baxter is the Bishop - Greg Iverson is the First Counselor - Tim Nicholes is the Second Counselor.  The clerks are Brian Pali, Brother Keene and Brother Bywater.  Bishop Baxter was a great surprise.  He and Sister Dixie have just returned from their mission in the Congo and he is also a couple of years older than I. But he is like the energizer bunny and will really keep things HOPPING.  It should be great.

Traveling - Gardening - Canning

Beautiful Sky ----- Ideal Weather

Beautiful Fields

It was my sister Betty's birthday on Wednesday the 15th.  She was in Boise with her daughter.  After wishing her a happy 83rd birthday on the phone I made arrangements to travel to Boise on Thursday and spend the day with her.   Travel time was four hours and thirty minutes there and you guessed it four hours and thirty minutes back to Elwood.  I always enjoy a good drive with Brad and we really enjoy looking at the beautiful world that God has provided for His children.  We left home at seven and returned home at nine thirty.  Sharron served us a wonderful lunch of homemade pizza, fresh fruit and german chocolate cake.  We truly had a nice visit with my sister and her very sweet daughter.  I have added a few of the many photos that I take as we travel.  This is one of my favorite things to do.  It helps me to remember and focus on the beautiful places that we travel.  I find that even sagebrush is beautiful.  God has provided so many wonderful shades of green, blue, brown, and every other color.  Hope you enjoy.



Sugar Beets ---- Dale grew our last fields in 1978 - factory ran last campaign in winter of 78/79

Snake River



Trees for Sale

Dairy Farms



Amazing Road Construction

Windmill Farms ---- Everywhere we travel we see so many of these --- magnificent

Twin Falls Temple ---- a long way from freeway

Many Mesas

Early Friday morning we headed to Kents for the grocery shopping.  Many items on sale that we wanted for our food storage, plus --- PEACHES and RASPBERRIES for jam and freezing.  Groceries bought, seperated and put away --- we are blessed.  I always think of the story of the Grosshopper and the Ant this time of year and truly hope that I am the one preparing and not the one playing.The rest of the day would be spent mowing, mowing and more mowing ----- the park needed to be prepared for a wedding reception and our own yard needed some love and care.  Brad had put out the fall fertilizer the first of the week before the rains came.  The nourishment, cooler weather and water is doing wonders for a yard that has endured the summer heat and lack of rain.  I really enjoy looking out at my gardens.  Flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables and what ever else I can grow are amazing to me.  I love their beauty and their individual personalities.  I was also able to do a bit of fall cleaning --- beginning with the washing of our bedding.  Love to know that it is all fresh and clean.  Was a busy day and my cold progressively got a little worse.  Did make it through the day.





Beauty by our Front Door  ----- Makes me Smile

Saturday Morning ---- Oh! I do need to get going ---- but the night was so long and cough, cough, and more coughing.  Maybe I will just sit in my chair today ------ maybe a fairy will come and take care of the PEACHES and RASPBERRIES.   Nope she forgot to come ----- so I began the job.  First on the list was two batches of freezer peach Jam.  (Danny, Brad and I really like this).  Then it was sliced peaches to be frozen for crepes this winter.  (Learned to love them at the Sorias)  Then two batches of cooked Peach/Raspberry Jam (Brad's sister recipe that he really likes) which has to cook for a total of 50 minutes plus a processing time of 10 minutes.  With that much work and time it had better be good.  Then the last of the raspberries would be frozen for Salads and cakes this winter.  The freezer and cupboards are full and we are blessed.  Just need to get the winter supply of flour.  One of those happy tired feelings.   

Happy Birthday to Jeff I.

Jeff I ------ Always makes you smile

He may be a long way from home but our thoughts and prayers are with him not just on his Birthday but every day.  How I miss his fun sense of humor.  "Lighten Up" a favorite phrase for me.  Jeff has brought many fun new and exciting experiences to my life.  Always an adventurer he is unstoppable..   Even when I try my hardest to stop him.  I still keep praying that the perfect job in UTAH will be his.  But if not then we will enjoy the central United States area.  Again, another new adventure.   Jeff is a wonderful husband and father.  His four sons are very blessed to have a dad that loves and cares for them.  He is always setting the example ---- his latest grade at school is an "A" in MATH.  Knowing that this is his hardest subject it says alot.  Jeff is an honorable Priesthood holder which is the greatest blessing he can give his family.  I truly hope that his sons will follow his example and serve and honor our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes I wonder if his "Energizer Batteries" will run down ---- he has just one speed and that if high.  Can be a worry for someone who also gets such bad headaches.  May Jeff take good care of himself and find success and joy in his life.

Happy Birthday to Paul Wood

Paul

Another year has passed and new changes have come to Paul.  Schooling is complete and a new job in Logan is going great.  It has been  wonderful having Paul as a member of our family.  When Teresa indroduced him to Brad and I we had such great joy that she had found someone so kind, dependable and sensible.  We have especially enjoyed having him and his family live next door to us.  (Sometimes we are afraid that perhaps he gets just a bit tired of us depending on him)   We truly do appreciate his help and support.  Paul is a Grandfather now and it is fun to see how much enjoys Baby Garrett.  We are sure that he will enjoy Baby Tyler too.  We hope great things for him and that he will have many more birthdays.





Paul and his mom  --- and his twin sister Pam and her husband Mark

Always a Good Sport

Grandson Garrett

Family in 2009

Happy Birthday to Dusty Dansie

Dusty

Our family has so many wonderful new members and Dusty is one of them.  He is such a great young man.  Always dependable and serving others. Dusty and Kelsey are going to do great things together as they go forward in life together.  Today we wish him a great birthday and hope the years bring peace, happiness and all your desires

Got All but two!!!!!

Said it was a good day!!!  Twenty-two not so bad

Okay - So Grandma still sucks at Mario Brothers ----- and most other games

Brad and I arrived at the Despain home at about eleven a.m. on Sunday morning to spend the day and the night with Jacob.  His mom was asleep since she had worked the last two nights at the hospital and was working again on Sunday Evening.  Danny was at work on Sunday and would not arrive home until six.  That is the time that Amy leaves.  They got to say "Hi" and "Goodbye".  Jacob is very good at keeping himself occupied when mom is asleep but Amy knew that this would be an extra long Sunday so she had asked me a couple of weeks ago if I could come down and spend Sunday and then get him to school on Monday.  He was anxiously awaiting Grandma and Grandpa to come. The WII was ready and he was so excited that I would play with him.  He is a real good sport about it.  I am sure that I must  the worst player but  he just smiles and keeps encouraging me.  My driving sucks, my shooting is horrendous,  but I could catch a few fish.  It was fun and we laughed a whole bunch.  We put together the nice supper meal that Danny had prepared the night before and Amy, Brad, Jacob and I enjoyed it together ---we put Danny's in the oven to keep warm.

Evening chores were done, baths gotten and off to bed for us.  Danny left for work before we got up and Amy arrived home just after we got up.  I admire their faithfulness in work and maintaining a sane and happy home.  We were carpool Grandma and Grandpa for Jacob and then we headed for home.  It is amazing just how many places we can get to in such a short period of time.  We are glad we can share special moments with family.

Jacob's favorite sandwich for his lunch ---- Whole grain bread, peanut butter, sliced banana, and sliced almonds

Ready for school --- killing a bit of time reading the funnies  --- real cute because he was giggling so much

Sleep Over with Heather and Sam and of course Mom and Dad

Heather has been waiting for us to come and sleep in "OUR BEDROOM" at her house since it was finished.  She had "The Plan" ----- Grandpa and I would sleep in the bed and she would sleep on the floor in her new ballerina sleeping bag on the floor by us.  It was such a fun time. Heather and Sam are such happy little ones.  They really love their new play room.  They can play and play since it is all right there.  With mom and dad close by in the media room they have a great time.  Heather and Grandpa do tease each other and baby Sam copies whatever sister does. I think that he is getting to know us a bit more.  That evening Heather wanted to count the money in her piggy bank. When we got done I spelled out her name in money.  HEATHER   I kept saying the letters over and over hoping it would be of some help to her in learning the letters in her name --- after several times she said "Grandmother, you are wearing me out".  Her dad got a real laugh out of this one.  We all know that keeping up with a four year old wears older folks out.  After a great deal of planning and setting up of Heather's bed she and I headed to bed. With the busy day that we had had I thought she would fall to sleep the minute her head hit the pillow.  Nope, not Heather,  she had a million things to talk about -----I really was tired so I just quit talking ----- she soon fell asleep.  We would continue the conversation in the morning.

Sid and Natalie prepared  a wonderful Sunday breakfast of Breakfast Burritos and Crepes with peaches and whipped cream before we had to leave for Stansbury Park.  Thank you so much for letting us come.

Just getting ready for winter sleigh riding early

Special Family Times --------------------Heather's other brother Max ----She is quite serious about this!!!

Heather the photographer --- she loves taking pictures with Grandma's camera

Sealing Blessings for the Howell Family

Saturday, September 11, 2010 ----- A special day at the temple.   Dan, Amanda and Baby Garrett were sealed together in the Mt. Timpanogas temple for time and ALL ETERNITY.  The sealer in the temple gave such wonderful thoughts and advice for us all to think about and apply in our lives.  The Howell family has now been blessed to partake of God's greatest blessing to us. Eternal marriage in His holy temple by  a worthy Priesthood member ----- but---- this is only the beginning ------ after having this great ordinance in our life we must now strive each day to live Gods laws so that this sealing can be validated.  It is just not going to the temple it is an ordinance for living.  For living an eternal law to become an eternal family. A sweet kiss across the alter for Dan and Amanda is a special reminder to always show love and affection to our companions.  Then as baby Garrett was brought into the sealing room his sweet and pure spirit was so close.  It was just a bit frightening for him but he did well.  It was a beautiful day for all.

Happy Little Boy

Before

After

The Support Team

Family

Anniversary Day for Danny and Amy

Danny and Amy

Time just flies by so fast ---- it is number nine for the Despains.  It was  a very beautiful day at the Joseph Smith Memorial building when they were married.  But it was even more beautiful the day that the family went to the Logan Temple to receive Heavenly Father's blessings.  Danny and Amy have done well.  They have a terrific son, Jacob, a lovely home,  college degrees, jobs, and strong testimonies of the gospel.  May the coming years bring many more wonderful days.

Family Party 2010

What a wonderful four days.  During this time we were blessed to have everyone of our forty nine family members be with us at one time or another.  It is so hard with work schedules now to plan on everyone.  We were glad that DelRay, Todd, Heidi and Shyalee would come after or before work. And even though Danny drove clear to work in Salt Lake City on Saturday morning we were glad they told him that he could leave and return to Elwood.  Just  a lot of diving for him. We have a terrific family and it is so fun and gratifying to watch them mingle and support one another.  One of the greatest surprises was when Jeff I. showed up from Minnesota.  He had driven nineteen hours straight to get here.  Nichole had told me that she suspected he was coming when she saw a debit card transaction in South Dakota.  She wanted it to be a surprise for the boys so"MUM" was the word.  I was so very grateful when he showed up Friday Evening about 8:30 p.m.  He had left Champlin, Minnesota, that morning at 1:00 a.m.

Hunter literally climbed through the car window to give his dad a hug when he got their.  Hunter told me that his dad would never miss the Labor Day Party.  He is a wonderful support to his sons and to Nichole.  Thanks so much for coming. 

The weather was ideal, the food is always the best, the games are always plentiful and the wheels go around and around. 
Each year as the time for the family party comes I try very hard to think of something extra special to share with my family that will let them know how much Heavenly Father loves them and how much he is aware of them and their joys, sorrows, hardships and success.  This year I had asked Sid if he would please share with the family his story about his conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What a wonderful spirit came to our family as he shared his story.  He likened it to a pot of water.  For him his pot of water simmered for quite sometime before it came to a full boil.  He shared how his good friend Jeremy was a young Latter day saint and the fine example that he always was to Sid.  Then he met Natalie and again the example she was.  Then he met our family and again another influence was added that instilled in him the desire to have the missionaries come to his and Natalie's home to teach him the gospel.  Soon his pot of water was really coming to a boil and his testimony was becoming strong. He said that perhaps the hardest part of his conversions was telling his parents.  Sid is of Jewish heritage.  He was born of a Jewish mother and so will always be a Jew.   A very tender moment that he shared with us was when he found out that he and Natalie were going to be parents he knew that he did not want to be on the outside of the circle when she was blessed.  We can sit at that simmering point in our lives for along time but when true conversion comes you really want to partake of all of Gods choice blessings.  We are grateful for Sid's influence and his great love for us.  Thank you

Some stayed at the Hilton

Some at Motel Six

Yummy Breakfasts

Tasty Suppers

The Last Little Grandchild

The Newest Little One - Darling Great Grandson

Cute Little One --- Takes it all in stride

Not quite two ---- but OH!! can she ride TOO??

Girl Power as MacKenzie slides into home

And two little boys who really loved to roam ----(have a great hideout)

And this little Princess looks kind of tired

Wheels are always so much fun and a part of our family

Trap shooting on the River is a Family Favorite

Dusty and Nate