Tristian Spink's Mission Homecoming

Craig and Michael at Church in St. George

We got up early at 6am to drive to St George to attend sacrament meeting for Triston Spinks, his mission homecoming report.  He served in the Charleston, West Virginia mission.   He has returned serving an honorable mission. The past two years have gone by so quickly.  West Virginia has a love in my heart for all of my ancestors from this area on my mothers side of the family.   Michael came with us.  Nice to spend time with our oldest grandson.  In one year he could possibly serve a mission. We are praying for him to have a desire to serve when the time is right.  The theme in sacrament was the importance of the hymns in our lives, it is a form of prayer to our Heavenly Father.  We need to be better in singing the hymns in church and in our families.  Singing is a form of prayer drawing closer to the Lord.  Don't become lax in our singing of the hymns.  Music is an important part of worship in this life and the next life.  D&C 25: 12 "For my soul delighth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."  We need to sing the songs in church with more feeling and attention to the words.  As we do this we are saying a prayer to the Lord.  A great reminder to pay more attention to our scared hymns.  We wished that we could have heard more about Triston's mission.  Would love to have him come to our home and give us a  more full report of his mission.  This would be a great way to encourage our young grandchildren to prepare for a future mission.  Afterwards we all went over to Terrason's & Angela's home for a family luncheon.  Fun to visit with the extended family.   We dropped Micheal off  on our way home and were able to hold baby Ashtyn, she is such a beautiful little baby girl, the entire family is enjoying her so much.  Home sweet home.  We drove 3hrs Saturday night from Bear lake up early 4hrs to St George and 4 hrs home in the same day, that's 12 hrs on the road in less than 24 hrs.  I'm so ready for bed.  Thank the Lord for a blessed day to shared with family.

Last Summer Weekend At The Lake

Summer is over!! It has gone by all to fast!!   It has been a fun summer for the family.  Trisha and her family stayed 6 weeks.   We came to spend a few days and rest from all our family responsibilites, that only lasted a day.  Trisha & her family arrived Thursday evening.  They came to pick up their boat.  They are selling it.  It is a very nice boat.  They had it for two summers, They are wanting to build a new home and need the money from the boat to move forward.  The weather is cooling off,   Autumn is in the air.  There is a 1000 acre fire burning 12 miles outside of Garden City.  The Bear lake valley is filled with smoke from the fire.  Craig spent three days working on fixing things.   He backed the boat tower into the upper garage & then had another thing to fix.  He did a great job. Craig is thinking of selling our boat too.  We bought it in 2003.  It now is 13yrs. old- It is still a very pretty boat.   

Saydee, Boston, Karlee at Bear Lake 2016

Staying Home For The Weekend

Craig left for Bear Lake last night, he sold one of our Polaris JetSki's and wanted to take it up to the lake.  I had to take my mother to the dermatologist appointment today at 11:30, so I stayed home, she's just not feeling well from being on her antibiotic. She has a cellulitis infection in her elbow and her antibiotic is making her very sick.  She just wants to stay home, she doesn't feel like going to Bear Lake.  It feels good to just stay home too, I'm tired of all the business in our lives.  There is always so much to do.  This has been a very busy week.  I baby sat Tasha's kids all day Tuesday & Wednesday, baby sat Stacy kids a few hours while they took little newborn Enzo to be circumcised.   Thursday we had a showing on the house so I had to work hard to get the house clean and ready for the showing.  Today I'm just tired out it feels good just to stay home and rest a little.  I had to take mom to the hospital on Friday to have her arm looked at and then I took her to a doctors appointment on Tuesday for her elbow and then again today with the dermatologist, so I've been busy going to doctors with mom in the middle of our family life.   It feels sooo good to stay home and rest today from our busy life!!

Jude, Yael holding their new baby brother Enzo

Life Gets Crazy!!

We have a full plate around here.  I had to take mother to the emergency center last night, she fell on her elbow two weeks ago when we were driving here and it has progressively gotten worse,  it looked horrible yesterday, it was all red and a big huge black spot that is spreading on the bottom of her elbow.  The doctor said that it is bursitis she's ruptured it and it is infected.  We went from the emergency,  at the same hospital to go see little baby Towner.  Stacy and Chad have their hands full with four little ones now, Farrah won't be two years old until October and she is very challenging right now.  She kept wanting to take the babies Binky and was very temperamental at the hospital. Chad was shaking his head saying," How are we going to do all this?"  I brought their three kids to our home last night to sleep over and I'm taking care of them today till Chad brings Stacy here to rest. She wants to come here to have a break from the kids, so I'll have to farm them out today, Trisha said she could  help and Tasha said she could help as well.  Stacy needs some rest, peace & quiet away from her three little ones, so she can just take care of her and the baby right now. Tasha just called crying, having a meltdown.  Her new fridge of one week quit working, now all her food is gone, she so upset she's at her breaking point, moving in this house there's so much that needs to be done on the remodel still, it's just taken a toll on her emotions, on a weekends she's not going to get anybody out to fix it.  I told her I would bring her an extension cord to plug in the fridge that she has in the garage that was left with the house.  Bridger has been out of town all week and is now at school all day today, she is just frazzled.  She has had one challenge after another.  The remodeling on this house has not gone smoothly for them.   As a grandmother I'm just trying to lighten the burden for everyone, I'm being pulled in many directions right now.  Caring for my mother while she is in town, helping Tasha and her little family settle in their new home, and now caring for Stacy and her family, trying to keep the house clean in the middle of selling it.  There is a lot on our plate right now.

He's Here

He is Here!!!💙

Enzo Towner

   8/11/2016

7 lbs 2 oz and 19 inches

Our NewBorn Enzo Towner, our 19th Grandchild added to our family tree

Jude & Yael holding their new baby brother,  Stacy has her hands full with 4 little one, now under the age of 5 yrs old. Lord give her the strength to manage it all

Our 19th Grandchild Born

Our 19th Grandchild born, a healthy baby boy

Stacy delivered her 4th child today at 5:38pm.  I was able to be there for the delivery.  Stacy makes delivering babies look easy.  She was 8cm when she arrived at the hospital at 4pm.  She delivered her newborn an hour and a half later.  He is a healthy little baby boy.  It was alarming at delivery, the cord was wrapped around his neck and the baby was a blue color all over. He was not crying much at first.  It is a good thing that she delivered fast.  He was not getting the oxygen he needed.  He soon became a better color.  I rubbed his little blue feet until they looked better.  We are the proud Grandparents of 19 grandchildren now!! The gift of life is so very special.

Proud Grandpa Symes August 11th, 2016

4 Generations Great-Grandmother Shelva, Grandma Debbie Symes, Stacy and Newborn Towner

Happy Birthday

My sweetie turn's 61 today!! We went to Outback for lunch.  He had a massage this morning.  Born August 10th, 1955.  Still handsome as an older man!! 

My Handsome husband on his special day.

Craig Got Hurt

Friday evening Craig slipped on the tractor and fell on a screw.  It stabbed into his lower leg.  It looked terrible having a screw in his leg.  We took him to the Bear lake insta-care.  They were able to pull it out with no complications.  He is to keep it dry and elevated for several days.  It has been really sore for him.  He left early this morning to go home, and then drive to St. George for his mother's knee surgery.  From her fall over the 4th of July weekend at the Lake she has been in a lot pain, the doctors said her knee was really bad and she needed the surgery.  She is having a complete knee replacement at 81 years old.  Pray things will go well for her.  Mom and I are driving home today with the three Chaudhry boys.   We are anxious to see baby Ashtyn she is getting so big already 5 weeks old.

Ouch!!

Family Birthdays

We celebrated family birthdays for the month of August.  We had a family gathering at the cabin.  Natasha fixed us all a Yummy dinner!!  We sang happy birthday to my Mother, Craig,Winston and Austin.  Craig turned 61 on August 10th, Winn turned 4 years old August 8th, and Austin 11 years old.  We celebrated Gaga's 80th birthday July 20th.   We all had a nice evening together as family.       

Happy Birthday, Win, Craig, Austin center and my Mother-Gaga.

August Is Here

The summer is going by fast.  It always does.  Trisha and her family have spent 6 weeks at the lake this year. They have had a great time.  Her Ward hosted girls camp at our cabin.  Gary & Karen McDougal came up Monday afternoon and stayed till Thursday afternoon.  Fun to see all their family. Christy & Rick Dixon, a couple from our ward, came and stayed the weekend while I was in Texas with my mother.  They loved our cabin.  Note from Christy:

"We had such a wonderful time! Craig, Trisha, and Buck were so gracious and fun! They made us feel just like family, although I sensed some mischief in Craig when he enticed me to ride the wave blaster. I think he was disappointed when it didn't buck me off", ha ha!

How blessed you guys are to have that property and I could tell your family is all so close! It was so special to be a part of your special family if only for a short time. You and Craig are the best home and visiting teachers ever, hope all is going well with your mother, you are a very special daughter of God Debbie! Have a beautiful day, please tell Craig thanks so so much, we love Bear Lake! Debbie your cabin is amazing! Thanks so much for inviting us, you are such a talented decorator! Fun to share our lovely cabin this year with family and friends!! 

Winston Broke His Arm

Little Winston fell off the neighbor's swing yesterday and broke his arm.  Broke his radius and uina bones. Going to be setting it shortly. Won't need surgery is what they are saying at this point. Getting ready to put him to sleep while they set the bones.  Craig sent me a message from the hospital.  Poor little guy.  They were coming to the lake last night, but that all changed fast.

Our Poor Little Winston, he looks so sad

Our Week at Bear Lake

Craig, my mom & three of the Chaudhry boys Michael, Jaxson and Landon rode up to the lake with us on Sunday evening.  We have spent the entire week enjoying this beautiful summer weather. Monday, Craig and I rode 30 miles around the lake, that was all I could do.  Yesterday Trisha and I rode 15 miles down to Ideal beach and back.  I'm enjoying my time bike riding this year.  Tuesday Craig, Trisha, Buck, Michael and Jaxon hiked down from the top of the mountain.  We drove up to the backside in Logan canyon they hiked all the way down to our cabin.  They were all dead tired when they got back.  While they were gone I spent some time playing in the water with Boston and Landon they love playing in the shallow water of the lake. It is very warn this time of year. Thursday morning Craig left to go watch Alec play soccer in Park City, he's coming back sometime today. We went to the Rasberry Fair.  We had a full afternoon.  They had fun shopping, eating snowcones, & playing on the bouncing toys.

Gaga Meeting Baby Ashtyn

Baby Ashyton 1 month old she is so adorable

Great-grandmother and Grandmother Debbie meeting Ashtyn

Sunday we drove out see the baby, she is so darling.  Such a special time to hold her   Hard to believe she is one month old.  She is doing really good.  They have been home one week since she got out of the hospital.

Great- Gaga meeting baby Ashtyn for the first time

Our Drive to Utah

Mom & I left Tommy's home Thursday morning to drive to Utah.  I let mom drive a few hours until she got a speeding ticket.  At 80 years old she is a fast driver.  I took the driving over after getting a ticket.  We drove 10 hrs and stopped to get a hotel for the night.   We were both really tired.  We hit the pillow and we were out.  Watch a little of the democratic convention.   It is a very interesting year of debate's, who is going to be our new president?  We had a nice breakfast and on the road again.  Another long day of driving.  Mother talked the entire 9 hours of driving. It was not a bad drive.  I actually enjoyed it!  It felt so good to be back in mountain county.  It is so flat in the panhandle of Texas.  Fun to see the mountains appear as we drove further north.  The drive became much prettier to look at, even in a desert.  The landscape is so unusual. It feels so good to be home.