Church at Bear Lake

Grandpa Symes with our grandkids at Church -Bear Lake- Cole, Alec, Jaxon Craig, Debbie, Aubrey, Austin, Landon, Jacob

Craig and I came to church with several of our Grandkids.  They all look so handsome.  6 boys and one girl, our Aubrey girl.  So happy to have them in church with us today. One Sister talked about the importance of service in the simple things in life to help others.  We all wear the the name of Christ.  Memorial weekend we honor those that have died to give us a better life and keep us free in a beautiful country.  Grateful for the Savior and the life he gave freely to each of us.  Let our light be a standard for the world!!  Be not afraid to share the gospel with others.  1 Corinth talks about the body of Christ, is one body in purpose of sharing the gospel with the world.  We do live in a very wick world, the gap in becoming wider and wider between those that follow Christ's teaching and those that do not.  Back row, Cole, Alec, middle, Jaxon, Craig, Debbie & Aubrey, front row, Jacob Landon, Austin.

Memorial Day Weekend

Grandkids hanging out at the Lake Memorial Weekend 2016

We arrived Friday night with three of the Chaudhry boys Alec, Jx, Landon.  Trisha & her family were right behind us.  Trisha bought a new bed set for their bedroom and a new dresser.  She wanted a king bed to sleep in.  Tasha & her kids arrived a few hours ahead of us.   Saturday was on the cool side, in the low 60's too cold to get in the water.  We kept busy. Trisha & Buck moved things around &set up their new bedroom set and moved the other set in the garage.  Taking to our house. I'm giving Aubrey the bedroom set that was mine as a little girl and Shar used it as she grew up- so now I'm passing on to Aubrey.  I've love the bedroom set we are taking home to set up in the empty bedroom.  The first set we bought for our St George home.  It will look good in our guest bedroom at home. Decorating a boy room for now-  Way over due.  Michael is planning on living with us for the summer.  After that project,  Trisha & Buck started working on a fire pit at the Lake.   It is going to be really nice.  We had a full day.. Sharlena and her kids arrived at about 9pm last night and Bridger arrived about midnight Saturday night.  We have a cabin full this year.  Enjoying our family so very much!!  

Aunt Ruby Bailes Died

 Aunt Ruby Bailes Brown just passed away on Tuesday May 24th 2016.  She was a dear Aunt that lived in West Virginia, I have fond memories of her as a little girl, she will be missed.  She is the oldest sibling in my mother's family and was a great caregiver to her entire family, very kind and loving to others, she had a very simple heart, she worked as a surgical nurse at the Charleston hospital for many years,  She was so good that the doctors would say, "Ruby take over".  She had a massive stroke five years ago and we were all amazed that she continued to live.   Her latter years was a great struggle, she was not able to talk or walk & needed 24 hour care, her dear daughter Judy took care of her 24 seven.  She is resting peacefully now and is having a great reunion with the family that's on the other side.  My mother wrote this message about her sister on Facebook.

"Today has been a very sad day for me, my oldest sister that lives in Orlando Florida with her daughter just passed away and I already feel the void in my life.  She had a stroke and went peaceful, I know in my heart she is in a better place and it's my great loss- is why I'm so sad, I'm so very grateful for her love and her kindness that she gave to all our family members, she was a real jewel and was deeply loved by all who ever knew her .. I only have one sister left now and may we endure life's journey with joy and gladness in our hearts until we all meet again."

Aunt Ruby Bailes-my Mother's oldest sister

Sacrament Meeting

High School senior's speaking in our ward today, They all did such a great job.  I remember those days of uncertainty.  Trying to figure out the path to follow in my future years.  This is a very important time in our lives that effects so much.  Making wise choices is critical.  I remember praying to my Heavenly Father for the direction and guidance I needed in my life at this season.  I do know the Lord answered my prayers and guided me in my life choices.  I'm so very grateful for the power of prayer!!   
 "An education is worth the sacrifice and will bless you your entire life. Because of our sacred regard for human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religion's responsibility."
-  Elder Russell M. Ballard -

Shannon's Baby Shower

Hosted a very nice baby shower for Shannon, Stacy, Karlee, Saydee, Aubrey, Sharlena, Trisha

Darling Baby Bedding that Trisha made for baby Ashtyn

Trisha  hosted the baby shower for Shannon tonight, she has worked so hard getting ready, she made the cutest baby bed set for Shannon, it's so darling!!  We had a great turn out for the shower.  Trisha is so thoughtful and caring for her sister Shannon.  A good healing time for sisters to reach out to Shannon and let her know that we all love her very much!!  It has been very challenging with hurt feelings for the many years.  Letting go of the hurt is so important to not tear our family apart.  Trisha has reached out and I really appreciate her loving kindness in hosting this baby shower.  She is so talented.  She went all out for Shannon.  She made the most darling shower cake out of diapers, I love it.  The baby bed bedding is amazing, Trisha worked hard in making it all and it has turned out so beautiful.  I bought the baby bed for her at a Stacy's friends garage sale.  We have her all set up for her new baby girl to arrive.  Shannon has been so ill this pregnancy she has not been able to do much to get ready for her.  We are ready and waiting for this beautiful baby girl to come to our family!!  So excited!!  Shannon is due in June and Stacy is due in August with her little one.

Two sister's pregnant
Stacy & Shannon

A Busy Week

Just got home from the temple, tonight was very busy night, lots of patron doing temple work.  The days go by all to fast.   Last week I spent time working in the yard.  Finally got all the flower beds cleared out.  Just have the one more up by the upper garage left to do.   It all looks really pretty.   We went to the cabin this last weekend.  Trisha & Buck went up too,  We washed all the windows for the summer season coming up.  It felt good to have them sparking clean.  I still have the garage and bonus room windows to wash.  We have lots of windows.   Excited for summer!!   We are hosting my mother's 80th birthday party in July this year.  My brother and sister are coming, it will be fun to get us all together this year.  

Alec's 15th Birthday

Alec & Grandpa Symes

Tuesday night we took the family to the movie to see the new American Hero Civil War movie, that's what Alec wanted to do for his birthday and he wanted his cousins to come. We went to Thanksgiving point and had a great evening out. Hard to believe that Alec is now 15 years old, he's gotten so tall!!

The family gang that could attend, Mom, Michael, Craig, Alec, Jaxon Trisha, Saydee, Shannon, middle Karlee, Landon, Boston and Lincoln.  They all loved the movie.  Fun evening out!!

Karlee June 10th Birthday

Tuesday- Trisha and Buck invited us to go out to dinner with them to celebrate our Karlee's birthday. She is now 10 years old, she's such a darling little girl, we all went to a fun restaurant for dinner, we ate at Freddy's, her favorite place to eat.  We had  yummy hamburgers and fries, we had a fun time sp with the Burbidge family, this is our birthday week, Alex's birthday was on Friday May 3rd, Karlee May 6th and Trisha's birthday May 8th and Sunday Mother's Day.

Taking Care Of Shannon

Shannon's got to lay low until she gets this little baby here, her heart is in a very dangerous state, she has fluid around the heart which makes it work harder.  It is a virus attacking her heart that can do damage to her heart, so she has got to be very cautious about her care right now. The doctor is wanting to try to get her to 34 weeks and then see how the baby is doing.  I took her to a doctor appointment on Friday, we spent the afternoon together shopping for the baby, she hasn't had time to even get the baby room ready for the baby yet.  She's going to need lots of help until she gets this baby here, so that definitely changes my plans.  Going to have to shift gears in helping take care of the Chaudhry family for a month or so.  Pray that things will go well for our Shannon and the Baby.

The Tulip Festival

Wednesday grandma Lavon and Chris came up from St. George to go see the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point Gardens, they invited me to go with them, I had to have a quick change of plans for the day.  I knew I wouldn't be back in time for my temple assignment and also they brought Shannon home from the hospital to rest here at our house for a few days so I had to get a sub to fill in for me a my temple shift.  I had such a delightful time.  I love flowers.  The garden is just beautiful to see.  It is breathtaking!!  One of my favorites to do.  The weather is warming up and we had a beautiful spring day adventure.

Mom LaVon and Debbie

Mother's Day

My Lovely Flower's for Mother's Day,  My Hubby Surprised me!!

We had a very special Mother's Day celebration.  Craig spoke in Sacrament and he did such an awesome job, so proud of him, he invited all the girls and their families to attend Sacrament meeting with us and then come back to our house for lunch the girls prepared everything and it was so yummy they all spoiled me this year.  So nice to be honored by my family. Craig gave me a new swimsuit and the most beautiful roses, the girls gave me a 12 pack of Coke zero, some darling earrings and an Alex & Andi bracelet, we had a fun time visiting with one another.  I gave each of the girls a gift bags with bath soap and lotion.  Each of our daughter's are such wonderful mother's.  We are so proud of each of them.

Shannon At The Hospital

 " Was the scariest night of my life to this point !!"

I came down sick with what I thought was a  cold earlier in the week that got progressively worse fast.  By Sunday I was having a hard time breathing or just catching my breath, then turned into a nightmare,  I felt I could not breath, we where on are way to the hospital, when I lost control and could not breath at all I felt like I was suffocating !!! Something you never ever want to experience trusts me ... Ryan called 911 and they meet us on the side of the road to work on getting me breathing and to get me to the hospital fast,  for me and our baby girl!!  It was a long and terrifying night . We are doing better but I'm still struggling to breath well.  The Diagnoses is that I have fluid around my heart and have ammonia in my lungs, so I was basically drowning in my own fluid.  I'm still in the ICU and the Doctor's are still trying to figure out the best option's for me at this point. We are hoping and praying for things to get better, it's been a very scary time for me and my family.  Just trying to get this little baby girl here safe,  it's not been without major challenges though.  For those of you who are calling and wanting to know what's going on, I still don't have much of a voice at this point so talking is very difficult for me still . Will keep you up dated.

Our Shannon June, Praying for her and the baby

Going For A Ride

Bridger, Tasha and the kids stopped by last night in Uncle Bob's limo.  I went for a ride with the grandkids and the neighborhood little boys, we all had a fun time going around the block, they were all so excited!! Lincoln and Winston were so excited to have their little friend riding along.

Grace Poulsen Baby sitter for Nixon, twins Tate and Tanner with their brother, Lincoln and Winiston standing by Grandma Symes

I've had an eventful weekend, I'd stayed in the most fabulous cabin more like a private lodge and then I come home and had ride in a limousine, living the life of the Rich and Famous. Ha, Ha!!  It has been a fun weekend.