Eight Months Old

Shannon sent me the most darling picture of baby Ashton today, she is now eight months old hard to believe the months are all going by so fast she's such a darling little baby girl.

This Girl 🌸is 8 months old Ashtyn 🎀Nevaeh We Love ❤️💫you baby girl What a blessing you are !! You bring such light and joy in are lives everyday my Beautiful girl you are a Dream Come true !!💫🌟😘😘

Pretty Baby Ashton

Did a little round brushing on Ashtyn's Nevaeh's hair today !! She was good for me too !! Love her !! So much hair can't wait to do more fun stuff ! Lol  She has the most beautiful red hair!!

Landon's Birthday

Landon and Granpa Symes- birthday money!!

Grandpa & Grandma Symes with our Landon on his 9th Birthday

Landon Chaudry turned nine years old on Sunday, February 26 he's getting to be such a big boy we love him so much!

Hanging Out At The Cabin

We got another winter storm and it snowed all day yesterday we got so much snow and snowing again today lightly, Craig's out shoveling the walk and our stairs, Shannon posted a cute picture of the girls when they were young having ice cream at Bear Lake. probably about 1987 or 88, fun to see the old picture. I am getting ready for spring and summer to come.

Cousin at Bear Lake when the girls were young,  There is Shaun in the back with Raquelle, Shar, Melissa, Shan, Trisha and little Stacy Lee in the frount about 3-4 yrs old.

Two Days In Salt Lake

Craig and I drove down Wednesday night to Salt Lake in a snowstorm we had a huge storm come through, in Salt Lake got a lot of snow, Thursday night as well, Thursday morning meet with the bank to finalize our home equity loan for 500,000 so we will have that money to use if we need it, we ran errands and then went to lunch with Buck and Trish, I drove out to see baby Ashtyn and the Chaudhry family for a few hours it got late and I was tired and I knew another storm is coming in so I told Craig let's just stay another night so we slept over Thursday night, fun to hang out with the Burbidge family for a few days too, today we stop by to see Tasha before we headed back up to the lake and ran a few more errands, we're in Evenston now and heading our way back home. nice to have a little break,  I'm starting to feel better but not up to par yet and winter cold is not fun.

February Is Flying By

The month of February is flying by, can't believe it's the 20th already, We are keeping busy we're not bored living at the lake in the winter months.  We have had a lot of snow, we are enjoying less stress in our lifestyle living up here.  Enjoying the winter weather.  We do have so much snow more than it has been in years.

Presidents Weekend

We always come to the lake on Presidents weekend in the winter, this year we're already here. Sharlena and her family were coming up and Trisha and Buck and their family. The Noriega family was coming for the weekend but because of illness are not able to make it, the kids are not feeling well, Aubrey ended up having a staff infection on her head really bad and then I have been feeling so horrible I didn't feel up to any more company.  Trisha came down with a urinary track infection as well so she is very sick too,  so they ended up not coming.  We ended up not having any company this year for the holiday weekend.  The snow is not very good right now, it's been raining and melting a lot lately.  It was a big weekend at church for Craig with it being a holiday weekend we have lots of visitors come. Craig said it was like stake conference people clear back to the stage; his gospel doctrine class was huge they had to move in the chapel to accommodate the large crowd.   I really wanted to go hear Craig teach this Sunday, it was primary appreciation they were giving us a week off not to teach. I was too sick to go I had to stay home this Sunday.  I wanted to attend gospel doctrine and Relief Society missed not being able to attend,  Craig said it was challenging at first teaching and accommodating for such a large crowd, that is the Challenger in Garden City ward on the holiday weekend, people pour in to attend church which is good, it does put a lot of stress on a smaller ward to accommodate for everyone, I'm so proud of my husband, he's a great teacher and he's doing a great job teaching gospel doctrine.

Going To The InstaCare

Saturday afternoon I couldn't stand the pain any longer I had a terrible Friday night, I was running a high fever, I was in and out of the bathtub all night long.  I felt I needed to be checked, I wasn't feeling well last week, I noticed it on Wednesday so I started taking my antibiotic twice daily- today by Friday I was still so sick and sicker, I had Craig take me to the InstaCare in Logan,   They gave me and IV of fluids, I was dehydrated and a new antibiotic, it's much stronger, urinary track infections are miserable to recover from,  I have been so sick,  I had a really bad one in February- 2 years ago and it took me months to recuperate from, so I didn't go to church this week, I stayed home in bed this morning, I woke up with bad body aches and fever again, I can tell I'm feeling a little better, not quite as miserable, it is just a long process of healing from this infection.  Trisha called me yesterday and she has the same symptoms she was going down fast, she had to go to the InstaCare and start an antibiotic too, crazy, we are both suffering with the same symptoms and illness the same weekend. 

New Toy

Craig was able to pick up Jason's tractor today so he spent the afternoon moving snow around he's having fun playing with the tractor

Very Sick Again

I have a bad UTI infection I started feeling really bad yesterday body aches, burning stinging when I urinate and I feel horrible.   I noticed it a few days before Valentine's and started taking my antibiotic. I need a full course now, it is knocking me down, we were able to fill a prescription here at the Bear Lake pharmacy so I'm just laying low until I start feeling better, urinary track infections are miserable.  I hurt all over and have no energy, all I have wanted to do is sleep today.

Happy Valentine's Day

Our Baby Girl Ashtyn Chaudhry 7 months old

Craig and I drove down to see the kids on Valentine's Day, we picked up some yummy mint chocolate hearts in bountiful at the chocolate store there and made our rounds.   We went to Cole's wrestling match after school that afternoon and then headed down south to see Tasha & her kids, Shannon and her family and then we headed to Trisha's to see their family.  Cole did a really good job on his wrestling match, he lost, it was a tough match for him.  He held on to the very end.  Fun to see little baby Ashtyn she's so darling.

landon, Grammy, Grandpa, Ashtyn & Michael on Valentines day 2017

Our New Dresser

Yeah our new dresser finally arrived.  Craig and I ordered a dresser for our bedroom the 1st of December from Ashley furniture and it had to be shipped.  It finally arrived this last week, it took two months Craig drove to Salt Lake on Tuesday morning and came back late Wednesday in the wee morning hours about 2am.  We worked on putting it in our room filling our drawers which we needed desperately for our clothes to have more space.  We then took the hutch on the bottom that we had been using for the time being.  Craig cut the shelves and made it to fit our TV and placed it on top of our dresser,  It was a days project but it turned out really nice.  I'm very pleased it matches our bedroom set really well, nice to have a dresser in our bedroom.  We are trying to condense our clothes and find places to put things,  I spent the day Friday cleaning and sorting things.  We are making progress in making our cabin feel like home for us now.  We are really liking it here, I don't know if I want to buy a place in Salt Lake.  I like making our lives more simple, two homes is a lot of work to keep up with when you are doing all the work. 

A Wild Week Of Weather

This past week was a really crazy week at Bear Lake with the weather.  We had a huge snowstorm here on Tuesday and it knocked out the power lines from Lake town area clear up to Yellowstone. There were many people without power for almost 2 days and then it started to rain and warmed up to about 45° so lots of the snow melted.  We had flooding on Thursday it was a river coming down the street in Harbor Village and other areas, everyone in the community worked together to fill sandbags. Craig spent the day helping to fill bags, it was on the news all day showing pictures of the flooding at Bear Lake. Tuesday night Craig and I were laying in bed about three in the morning the whole sky just lit up like a big flashlight and our electricity shut on and off we didn't hear anything, it was just a strange flash of light, this has been an eventful past week with strange weather events.

Snow Skiing

Wednesday evening was our ward party a stake party at Beaver Mountain snow skiing. Craig really wanted to go I didn't know if I felt well enough to go, I took some ibuprofen and 12 hour Mucinex to get me through the night.  Craig had not been skiing for 25 years, we figured the last time was on a Christmas eve with our girls, Tasha was only about five years old.  It had been about three years since I last went skiing with Jan Avery who is 70 years old, she motivated me to stay more active.  I really do love snow skiing we had a great time.  Craig and I made about 10 runs down the ski slope it was fun to visit with our ward members and members in our new stake.  We are slowly getting to know the locals. We had so much fun skiing we want to go again on a warm sunny day.

Sick All Week

Last Sunday I felt my sinuses to start aching and it continued to get worse as the week went by Tuesday I had a full on cold sneezing and coughing all day I felt horrible we had a huge snowstorm come in and got lots of snow it is so pretty.  Craig left that morning to go to Salt Lake for the day I had to stay home I was too sick to go anywhere. Thursday I had a terrible migraine come on that lasted for two days it hurts so bad and then Friday I had a terrible stomach ache & nausea, Felt like I was going to throw up all day.   I didn't know if I would be able to speak in church on Sunday I had such a rough week with illness.  Monday morning and I'm finally starting to feel better after a long week of illness ,I still have a little bit of congestion but doing much better.  I did feel well enough to speak on Sunday.  We did a great job, both of us. we received lots of compliments.

Bishop Called To Ask Us To Speak in Sacrament

Moving Forward In Faith

Craig and I have been asked to speak in Sacrament this Sunday February 12^th, 2017 in our new Bear Lake- Garden City 1^st Ward.  We have only been here two months as full time residents, Craig was called our 2^nd week here as the Gospel Doctrine adult teacher and a week later I was called to serve as a Primary teacher for the 10-11 yr olds.  We are both enjoying our teaching callings.  Now it is our turn to speak in Sacrament. 

            Brothers and Sisters I’m thankful for this opportunity to speak today.   I want to say how welcome we feel being greeted by your friendship and looking forward to getting to know the members in this ward.  Craig & I moved in our summer home the 1^st of December,  as full time residents.   We sold our home of Draper Utah and living in the area for 36 yrs.  We have 5 beautiful daughters and are proud grandparents of 19 grandchildren.  We love coming to Bear Lake over the years, creating many memories with our family.  Craig’s family has a long history of coming to Bear Lake in the summer months.  His Grandmother and two Uncle’s bought lake front property in 1950  the family has now gathered here for nearly 70 years, we are going on 5 generations  of coming to this beautiful valley in the summer.   Craig’s Father Merlin Symes received one of the 1^st Coast Guard License for the state of Utah to drive his Showboat to the different resorts on Bear Lake in the 60’s  it was a very fun and exciting time for Craig growing up at Bear Lake in the Summer months.  He is an excellent water skier.  We when we got married we spent our honeymoon at Bear Lake.  Craig said you are a Symes now, Symes Ski one, I learned my first summer of marriage to water ski on one ski.  The tradition has been passed on to all our children and several of our grandchildren.  

I grew up in Texas, raised a Southern Baptist and converted to the LDS church at the age of 11yrs old.  I would like to Share my conversion story and a few stories about my life with you which ties into our message today of   “Moving Forward in Faith.”  What is Faith?  In the New testament- Hebrew 11 vs 1 says: Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true.  In the Book of Mormon the Prophet Alma taught in Alma 32: 21 : And now as I said concerning faith.. Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel, as we all learn in memorizing the 4^th article of Article of Faith.  Faith is more than just a belief, true Faith moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action.   Faith is a principle of Action and Power, by it one can command the elements of our earth, heal the sick and influence any number of circumstances in our lives as we exercise our faith.  Miracles in our lives do not proceed our faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The first Law in Heaven is obedience..  Faith grows by living righteously, by being obedient to the commandments of God.  Although faith is a gift from God, it must be cultivated, sought after until it grows, from a tiny seed planted in our hearts to a great tree strong with roots in the gospel teachings of Jesus Christ.   The effects of true Faith in Jesus Christ include 1- an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord,  2- A reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to each of us in this life, and 3- an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. 

These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge.   Where there is true faith in our lives there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his saints.  The lack of faith in our lives leads to despair, which comes because of iniquity, and disobedience to the commandments of God. 

I have reflected about my own life in preparing this talk to see how my faith has grown over the years by moving forward in faith, I have truly been blessed!!  In my early years I have fond memories of attending my Baptist Faith. I loved my first bible at the age of 4, I remember coloring in with a purple canyon, I wanted to make my bible pretty, I did get a spanking for coloring in my bible.  I loved attending Bible School, memorizing all the books of the Old and New Testament and many scriptures.  I was baptized at 9 years old in the Baptist Faith, I remember going to Billy Graham revivals in football stadiums, Girls camp and walking down the aisle to the preacher in dedicating my life to the Savior Jesus Christ.  My favorite song singing,- “ I’ll go where you want me to go dear Lord” The light of Christ had strongly touch my heart.  I remember thinking about the Godhead, as taught to me, God and Jesus being one in spirit without body parts or passion, this spirit so large as to fill the universe, yet so small as to fit in my heart, seem very confusing.  I had many questions?  Often I thought about  Where did I come from? How did I get here?  And how did the Indian’s come to America?  The things I learned in school about the Indian migration did not satisfy my curiosity.  My mother and I read about this gift of the Holy Ghost in the scriptures and learned there is a spiritual power in receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 8: 12-17 talks about the saints that had been Baptized in Samaria, yet had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost, until the apostle’s Peter & John  laid their hands on their heads to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We wanted this gift to be a part of our lives.   We began visiting other religions in search for the gift of the Holy Ghost.   We attend a church that claimed in giving us the Holy Ghost.   A plate was passed in gathering a certain amount of money donation you come down before the minister and be blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The minister laid his hands on each individual, blessed them, they would pass out laying on the floor with a red blanket placed over them.  Too my astonishment my mother was blessed and nothing happened.  She was still standing and had not past out like the others before her.   I was so embarrassed as her daughter and wanted to crawl under the church pew and hide.  She was told she needed to cleanse her soul in order to receive the Holy Ghost.  We left this church feeling discouraged in our quest of receiving the Holy Ghost.   My father at the time was attending the Baptist Seminary –preparing to be a Baptist minister.  Our visits to other religions caused much contention with my parents.  My mother decided to give up our search and support my Father in his ministry.  One morning as she knelt in Prayer to Heavenly Father pouring her soul out to him as to what she should do?   She no more than got off her knees when the doorbell rang.  There stood two Mormon Missionaries.  They said, they had a message of Jesus Christ to share,  she told them she was not interested, and closed the door, as she closed the door, she had the scripture go through her mind, “ When ye do it unto the least of these my brethren, ye do it unto me.”   She found herself running down the sidewalk in her house coat inviting the missionaries back into our home.  We learned later that the missionaries had prayed that morning to find one seeking the gospel message and felt guided by the Holy Spirit in walking down our street to knock on our door, a totally different street than they had planned for the day.   The missionaries taught my mother and I several lesson’s.   My heart leaped when I learn about the plan of Salvation, explaining why I’m here, I learned about the Godhead, that God does have a body of flesh and bones yet immortal, he is not just a spirit, I learned that we can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, thru Baptism and by one holding priesthood authority to bless me with this Gift of the Holy Ghost..   The missionaries gave me a Book of Mormon to read.  I felt a strange power in my hands as they presented the book to me.  I read the Book of Mormon at 11yrs old and knew with all my heart this is a true book of God,  I had this burning in my soul as I read the book.  It was like the light was switched on in my soul and heart as I learned about Nephi and his family coming to America, this book told about the Ancient American ancestors, questions I had in school left unanswered.   I knew the Book of Mormon to be the work of God.  I believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God called to restore the church of Jesus Christ in these latter-days.   My mother and I wanted to be baptized!!  This did cause much contention with my father, each time the missionaries came, My Father left the house slamming the back door.  One day the missionaries caught my Father home and he was not able to escape.  In conversation they noticed that we had a large pile of top soil in our backyard that needing spreading in preparation to grow grass.  They asked him how many hours it would take to spread the topsoil.  My Father told them the estimate hours, Elder Harker and Elder Buteruss said they would spread the topsoil for my father if he would spend the time reading the Book of Mormon.  My Father kept his agreement with the missionaries and read the Book of Mormon, finding out for himself the book is a true book of God.  Members in the ward came with the missionaries to spread top soil, we were very touched by their love and service to our family.   My parents,  younger brother and I were baptized July 12th 1968 in Denton Texas.    I loved my new found religion with all my heart and it has brought such joy to my life as I have strived to live the gospel principles in faith.  I love attending my church meetings and the many activities fellowshiping with the saints has given me a solid foundation to grow in my faith.    When I was 14 yrs of age my family moved to Florida.  This was a challenging season in my life moving from a small county town of Texas, to a turbulent environment. This was a season in our American history of change in our society, trying to integrate the Black race into the white public schools.   Everyday there were fights breaking out, a scary time to attend school.  It was the early 70’s with lots of political unrest, the sexual revolution of women, free love and lots of drugs introduced into our community.  I felt like I had been thrown in the Lion’s den.  There were only 2 LDS students in my entire school. 

I needed protection from the evil influences of the world.  I felt guided by the Holy Ghost to receive my Patriarchal Blessing.  My blessing was given by Patriarch Joseph Charles Rich, who I later found out is a great- grandson to Charles C Rich- who was called by Brigham Young to establish a settlement in the Bear Lake Valley.

 In my Blessing I was counseled to choose friends with high ideals that love and serve the Lord.  This was challenging in my youth at times I had to walk alone with very few friends.  I was blessed with the gift of Faith, and a deep love of the gospel, with a desire to serve my Heavenly Father.  I was promised the Lord will hear and answer my prayers as I strive to serve him and keep the commandments.  I was counseled to study the principles of the gospel, read the standard works and particularly the Book of Mormon.  Let the prophets of the Book of Mormon, their words and their doctrines, become a part of my knowledge of the church and of the scriptures..  Also be inspired by the words, instructions and admonition of our Latter-Day Prophets.  I was told I was a member of the Kingdom of God on the earth the Lord is pleased with my choices and a candidate for the Lord’s riches blessing.  I was blessed, I would come in contact with a worthy young man who could take me to the temple and be sealed in marriage by the power of the priesthood.  I was promise I would have children, with a healthy body and blessed with a full, useful, busy, life.  By Keeping the commandments, I will have more joy, happiness, and satisfaction through activity in the church with my Husband and children than come to me in any other activity in all this world.  None of the Honors of Men or the Wealth of the world can compare with living in Harmony with the teaching of our Heavenly Father.

As I grew older to seek out my ancestors and my name will be blessed in the hereafter for the work I do, being a savior on mount Zion.  I was reminded that Satan is abroad in the land.  He would lead you astray and will tempt you.  Pray for guidance, my guardian angel will watch over you and protect you when dangers threaten.   Develop a testimony of the truth of the gospel and live for these blessings. 

These are highlights of my blessing that have been huge stepping stones in my life to follow, by moving forward in faith.   I read my blessing over and over in my youth, my blessing was a great strength to me and protection from the evil forces, especially in the critical stage of my teen years. 

I attended Seminary at 5 am in the morning before school to learn and grow in my knowledge of the gospel, reading my scriptures often,  the knowledge I gained in four years of seminary was a great strength and foundation of my knowledge of the gospel as I study the scriptures my faith grows. 

I was blessed to meet my future Husband at Seminary.  This was a time to gather as saints in the gospel daily, before we went to our different schools, to deal with the challenges of world.  We bonded in our fellowship as members of the true church of God on the earth even though we were few in numbers, we gained great strength.

Craig and I only associated with each other for 6 months in our ward.  My Family wanted to move to Zion as newly converts, which was coming to Utah.  We arrived at Bear Lake and lived in the Symes cabin for the summer.  I have fond memories of my first summer at Bear Lake in 1972.  We found great strength with the fellowship of the Saints in Utah. 

My family was sealed as an eternal family in the Fall of 1972 in the Ogden Temple.  This was a time in my life that had a profound influence, kneeling at the sealing alter with my family all dressed  in white and hearing the scared words binding our family as an eternal family as we strive to live righteously in faith.

Cupid’s arrow hit when I was 14 yrs old Craig was 16 years of age when we meet in Florida.  Our courtship was long distant when my family moved to Utah his family stayed in Florida and did not return until after his mission.  We wrote letters for long 5 years.  It was a time when we waited weekly for a letter from each other, send a tape recording talking about our lives and talking on the phone only once or twice a year.   I married my dear Husband and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple after he had served an honorable mission. Our love had been transform from longing to belonging.   The tears flowed as I knelt at the sealing alter to begin my marriage.  I’m a first generation ancestor to begin my marriage and sealing in the House of the Lord.  What an honor and a great responsibility.   From this experience I developed a strong faith of the importance of attending the temple in my life and to search out my ancestors, so I could provide the temple ordinances for many that are waiting.  

This has been my life’s work in searching out my ancestors.  We have joked in our family at times I have spent more time with the dead than the living.  I feel the urgency to provide as much temple work for my ancestors as I can.  My faith has grown in many miracles, where the path has been opened up to my eyes to find ancestors waiting for their temple work.  My faith has grown leaps and bounds as I have worked hard in this great cause.

Raising 5 daughters has been a great source of joy and happiness as we have strive to live the gospel in our home teaching our children the gospel plan and now watching them teach our grandchildren.    It took much Faith and prayer on my knees as a mother in Zion to raise

our daughter’s.  A task I could only do with the help and daily guidance of my Heavenly Father.  My favorite quote I read often while raising our children…… Read……  has given me much encouragement and the faith to keep going when challenges arose…   

Serving in the Draper Temple for 5 years as ordinances workers has strength my faith I have learned even more of the importance of Temple attendance and going as often as we can, to receive guidance and peace from our Heavenly Father.

Reading and Studying my Scriptures over the years has been a great source and strength in going forward in my faith, when I feel discouraged. It has literally been my iron rod to hold on when dark clouds surrounded me.  The gospel is true!!  I pray the things I have shared about my life journey- of walking in faith- will give you strength in your personal journey, may we all strengthen each other in our fellowship in the gospel, serving one another and in building the Kingdom of God on the earth.  Faith is the 1^st principle of the gospel and is the life source of returning to our Heavenly home as an eternal family.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Fast Sunday

Craig shared his testimony.  He said some very inspiring words.  So proud of him.  I enjoyed listening to the members testimonies.  I wanted to get up and say mine, yet the time was up before I knew it, This sister missionaries got up and shared their testimony.  We had them for dinner a couple of weeks ago, I have grown to love them both so much in the short time we have known them.  Sister Tenny leaves to go home on Valentines day, we will miss her, she says she will come back and visit us in the summer.  On her mission she has never seen the beautiful Bear Lake in summer only the winter months.  We told her how pretty it is.  She promise to come back for a summer visit.   This has been a blessed day to renew our covenants with the Lord.  I'm so thankful for the gospel in my life.  I went to Craig's class this week, he does such a great job teaching..

Editing My Blog

I have been lazy today just resting from our trip I have spent the day editing my 2016 blog so that I can get it ready for print I finally got it all completed now I need to have Tasha show me how to get it printed in a book, I have really enjoyed having a blog,  It is a great way to keep my journal and I no it it will be saved on line.

Home Sweet Home

Feels good to be back to our mountain resort home, we had a quick little trip down south.  Trisha help me take down all the Christmas decorations while she was here this last weekend so it felt good to come home and have things nice and clean... it's February now soon to be Valentines.  The month of January flew by for us.  We have kept busy, enjoying all the snow this year.  We are enjoying our slower pace of life and time as Empty-nesters. 

Annie

Annie is our little two-year-old granddaughter, she is sunshine in our lives, Tasha posted the cutest picture of her on Sunday all dress in her Sunday best.  So Precious,  She is truly sunshine in our lives!

Our Annie Girl 2 1/2 yrs old Jan 29th, 2017

Yael

Our little Yael Towner turned four years old on January 24th, he is such an adorable little boy and so smart!!   Stacy FaceTimed  us on his birthday, so fun to sing happy birthday to him. They are now living in California, so it's really fun to Face time this way we get to see the kids and talk to them..

Yael 4 yrs old, Happy Birthday

Our Stake President

In our sacrament meeting last Sunday, we took Michael with us.  Our stake President got up at the end of the meeting saying he felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to say a few words.  He said he felt there were those in the audience that needed to know that Heavenly Father loves them,  we have trails that come and do not understand why at time, know the the Lord is aware of their challenges,  there are those struggling with very important decisions in their lives at this time, the lord is aware of them and loves you!!  The spirit was very powerful,  We have been praying for our Michael Boy and so glad that he was able to be in our sacrament meeting with us to hear the message of our stake president.  I pray Michael heard and felt the spirit too!  Craig sent President Robinson a thank you text for his comments of love and concern shared on Sunday.  Something we needed to hear as grandparents for our love and concern for our grandchildren.   Especially heart felt concerns for our Michael boy with the critical decisions for him at this time in his life. 

Quick Trip to Mesquite, Nevada

Monday we drove down to Salt Lake and dropped off Michael.  He came up with us last Thursday after our time at the Capital.  He had time off from work and wanted to come up and enjoy the snow.  We had a cabin full with the Burbidge family and Michael for three days.  The weather was going to be in the 60's down south, so Craig wanted to take off for a few days.  We dropped Michael off and headed south.  We arrived at Shelly's new home in Mesquite Monday evening about 9pm.  It felt nice to have break from the cold and snow.  We spent two day there and drove home Thursday.  Shelly, (Craig's sister), bought a small home there, to stay in the winter months.  LaVon- Craig's mother, came over Tuesday for lunch and spent the afternoon with us.  Wednesday we had nice big breakfast at a Casino there.  I really hate the smoke smell in the casino's.  We did enjoy our breakfast.  We took a ride in their Rhino for the afternoon exploring the dessert countryside.  I love the palm trees they have in the south.   A big switch from the landscape of snow.  I'm not a huge fan of the dessert landscape, but it is fun to have break from all the cold weather.  By Thursday morning Craig was ready to pack up and head back north... home.  It is a long day driving from one end of the state to the other, about 8 hours driving.  It feels good to be back to our mountain retreat home in the snow.  Craig is preparing for his Sunday Lesson today.