Bio For Raspberry Princess Pageant

Debbie Symes grew up in Texas.  Her family moved to Utah her sophomore year of high school.  She graduated from Weber High School of Ogden, Ut. She attended college at BYU majoring in Psychology.  She meet her husband Craig Symes in Florida as a young teen, they wrote letters for Five years and later married in the Salt lake temple.  They raised 5 daughters and she is the proud grandmother of 20 grandchildren.  She entered her first teen pageant at age 15. She has been active in the performing arts and singing.  Her favorite leading role as “Belle” in Beauty & the Beast at the promise valley playhouse downtown Salt Lake City.  She serve 6 years on the Miss Draper scholarship pageant program as executive director, teaching and training many young teens. Also serving as a board Member of the Draper Coummunity Foundation Debbie - stresses “One” can make a difference in the community through the spirit of Volunteerism.  

Lesson 6

We had a great lesson in the personal finance class-  I’m teaching a 12 week course. We are to practice what we learned this week.  work on our homework assignment this week - Ponder: Why is time one of God’s greatest gifts? Gift Of time, we are to practice the example in the video this week - “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.”Alma 34:32-  

Activity Step 1: With a partner, read the five steps you can take each day to use your time well.

Commit to do the following actions during the week. Check the box when you complete each action:

    Practice these steps every day to use your time more wisely. Report each night to Heavenly Father in your prayers. Share what you’ve learned today about using time wisely with your family or friends. We are to make a daily list and then place in order of importance’s. 

My list for Monday Daily list- Monday 

1. Say morning prayers 

Read scriptures , invite the spirt to abide with me for the  day -  text sisters missing class- contact Dolly ministering companions, contact Mariah , Claudia , Shauna , Pray for Shannon - exercise , watch what I eat healthy,  

 Bio for pageant written sent to sister Parry -  House Chores - basement windows, water plants - vacuum, clean master bath room/ mop floor, clean kitchen - dishes, tidy & dust   prepare for family this week- Report to my Heavenly Father of my daily progress in my evening prayers. 

Beautiful Sabbath Day

It is a beautiful summer day.  It is going all to fast as always.  Craig and I had fun playing Pickleball with several couples last night at the Bower's home. They have a lovely home on the lake too, with a pickleball court on their driveway, so it has been fun to play pickleball there.  Craig is conducting sacrament today with the Bishop out of town.  I’m subbing for primary today so I need to review my lesson and be on time for church today.  Craig said the morning sacrament had over 1400 people, it is a big weekend for the summer lots of people in town.  Praying for our Shannon today that her heart can be soften toward her parents and that she will open up and know that we love her very much.  

Birthday Lunch With Annie- Gunn

Our little Annie turned 5 years old on the 14th of July.  She is such a sweet little girl.  We picked her up and took her to lunch and shopping for a birthday gift.  She wanted to go to Chick-fillet for lunch.  We then took her to Ross to pick out a birthday gift.  She looked and looked at all the toys for about 30minutes.  She finally made her choice.  It was so fun to watch her -checking out all the toys.  Special to spend time with our Annie.  She’s so excited for her new baby sister to come in January.  Their planning on naming her Penelope Rose, such a cute name.  We love our Annie Gunn's.  A nickname her papa gave her.

  

Back At The Lake

We spent two nights at our new place in Draper we are going to really like it there I think.  It does feel strange in a new place and will take time to get used to it.   Will feel more cozy when we can move our things in.  I invited Shannon to come over but she never responded, the other girl showed up that live close by Trisha and Tasha.  Shannon has a burr up her butt- so to speak right now, she has totally isolated herself from her parent's.  Which is uncalled for- everything that we have done for her over the years she has an attitude of being ungrateful and flat out rude to her parent's.  I have invited her out  many times to come see us at the lake and she just does not even respond.  I had a conversation about three weeks ago on the phone and she got upset with me because I was not agreeing with her in our conversation and started attacking me and Craig.  She feels like we don’t listen to her which is not the case.   I have spent countless hours listening to her and the challenges that she’s been going through this past year- she is so stubborn. Just have to let things play out- I guess I don’t know what else to do.  Craig is going to try talking to Ryan and see if things can be smoothed over.  I don’t know what we’ve even done to offend her.  It’s just so sad that she isolates herself from her entire family- she has created this drama.  I’m getting so tired of it, just don’t have the desire to even deal with it anymore.  I just want some peace and harmony in our family and get along with one another Shannon seems to cause the drama  because she’s missing in action and  isolates herself from the family.  Sharlena and her family,  Burbidge family and Thomas family are all coming up this week for raspberry weekend, I’m going to enjoy my time with them.  

Moving In/ Sleepin Over

We officially moved a few things in our new place,  We drove down Wednesday the 24th of July. Trisha and Tasha came over with their kids to see our new home.  Michael and Saydee were really surprised how much room there is inside.  Saydee said she wanted to move in the basement.   Trisha brought us one of their blow up beds to sleep on our first night.   We slept ok.  It is a little too hard for us.  Thursday we cleaned up for the day.  Took a hot bath in our new tub.  We then went to Kneaders for breakfast.   After breakfast we headed out to see Trisha & Buck's new Home.  It's coming along. They are painting now.  They are planning on moving in by the end of August.  It is going to be a lovely home.  We headed to the chiropractor for Craig a neck adjustment.  His neck has been bothering him for weeks - from there off to Costco to by a few things.  We are all out of food after the grand kids spent last week with us.  We needed to stock up again and buy some supplies for our new place- like toilet paper and misc. things to start setting up house.   We only brought pictures this trip that were under beds at the cabin the past two years.  That was all we could fit in with driving grandkids home. When the weather cools off we will move our things out of storage to our new place. I think we are actually going to fill it up better fast with what we have left.  We leaned things out a lot when we moved.  Our master bedroom set is too large for our master bedroom, we are going to have to get something new, which will be fun, I loved the decorating part.  Excited to do the fun part.  Our master bedroom set will fit nicely in a basement room,   There is one large bedroom in the basement thinking painting it white, I’m tired of the yellow gold oak wood.  We will slowly figure it out.  We do need to create an office.  There is one up stairs, but I want to keep it open for a guest room for my mother when she comes to visit, if she does come.  There is also another full bath on the main level across from her room which will be nice for her, since stairs are really hard for her now. Got to get her feeling better.  I don’t see getting up her up here until after summer.   We went and got our king bed mattress at Tasha’s home and brought it to our new home.  We slept much better last night on our own bed.  We enjoyed our day in the Valley.  It feels so good to have our own place again.  I was getting really tired staying with the kids when we came in town.  It is an adjustment being in a twin home with a small garage.  We literally have no yard just a small deck and small front yard.  We are connect to an elderly couple.  Our new place is roomy inside - great room feel which is nice.  The master bed room area is smaller than I would like, but we will be comfortable.  Our master closet is small, so will have to be selective with what clothes we keep.  Right now I’ve gained weight and very little of my clothes fit me.  I need to get 20 lbs off.  It just feels so good to have our own place again.   It is an adjustment to retirement years.  

Enjoying The Summer

We have had a nice summer since July started.  Summer was slow coming but July has it been a beautiful month.  It's supposed to be about 89° here today which is probably the warmest day so far -it’s over 100° in the Salt Lake Valley.  Michael, Landon Saydee, Karlee and Boston are enjoying spending time with us at the lake this week.  It seems I’m in the kitchen constantly feeding them- no more than get breakfast over with, cleaned up and it’s time for lunch and then dinner.  I spent the morning in the kitchen cleaning things up and making a new grocery list we are going through all our food.  When we go to Salt Lake I need to stock up on groceries.  We are planning on leaving later tomorrow afternoon to head to Salt Lake we’re excited to see our new place and start moving a few things in.  

Mother Moved To Rehab

Mom was moved to a rehab facility this afternoon so she is slowly doing better.  They are moving her there for a couple weeks to help her try to get her strength back so that will be good- hopefully she will keep improving.  She needs to get into a specialist because she has arthritis really bad in her joints and they’re thinking that’s what’s causing her inflammation.  There always seems to be something.  I was hoping to get her up here this summer but she has just been too sick.  She is very attached to her doctors in Texas so it’s hard to get her to go anywhere anymore- which I do understand it’s hard changing doctors and she seems to have so many things that she has to go to the doctor for.  She was hoping to get a knee replacement surgery but I don’t know if she’s healthy enough.  I was thinking I would bring her up here if we can get her healthy enough and keep her for a little bit so time will tell.

Our New Home/ Summer Fun With The Grandkids

Our new home is officially ours as of today.  I’m so excited to go check it all outt- the previous owners moved out now and see what we need to do.  It’s the Fourth of July weekend and we have the Burbidge grandkids, Michael and Landon here for the week.  I want to enjoy my time with them while their here.  I do need to take the Burbidge kids home this week by Friday so we’ll probably head down maybe Thursday or Wednesday we’ll see how it goes. The water levels are up high this year, up to our wall.  The Kids are having fun fishing off the rock retaining wall.

The grandkids are enjoying boating at the lake- Craig has them out right now and I need to fix a nice lunch for everyone while they’re out boating.

Mother Still In The Hospital

Mother is still in the hospital that’s been a week today.  She has had a rough go but is improving they didn’t have to re-shock her heart today the medication they gave her over the weekend got her heartbeat regulated which is good. They said that when she gets to feeling better maybe tomorrow they’ll move her to a rehab facility for about two weeks to help her get her strength back.  Wednesday night I was really upset with the elders quorum's president in her ward.  I called Pat her only friend that I know in Canton to let her know that my mom was in the hospital and asked her to contact someone to give her a blessing.  Later that evening the elder quorum president from the  Ward called me.  He began lecturing me and telling me that my mom was not active in the church her records were not in the ward and it was not their responsibility to look out after her- he was very rude and sharp with me which I was so surprised.  When all I was asking for was a blessing.  He made me very angry by the tone of his voice.  I could not believe he was behaving this way as the elder quorum president.  I finally said I had nothing more to say to him and I hung up.  It's a good thing I’m an active member of the church.  His approach was not good for anybody else that was not be a member.  And still it was very upsetting to me- I was boiling mad.   I found out who Mom's Stake President was and I know that he knows her history very well and called and told him what had happened- he told me he agreed with me that he was out of line.  I told him that her records need to be in the Canton ward because that’s where she lives that’s where she goes to all her doctors and she needs to have ministering sisters and the elders quorum look  should be looking after her while she is an elderly woman in their community.  I know that if someone would care for her and take her to church she would go when she feels well enough.  Since her and Quentin got divorced she has had a lot of challenges.  She is not done well living on her own.  It has given our entire family a lot of grief and stress.  I texted the Stake President yesterday and said that they still had not given her a blessing so I guess later that afternoon the bishopric did show up to give her a blessing which I’m sure it has greatly helped- we said a prayer for her as a family last night that she could begin to feel better.  So I’m glad to report that they didn’t have to shock her heart today and that she is starting to feel better since her blessing.. Pat her neighbor in the ward called to let me know that they have transferred her records back into the Canton Ward which I’m glad to hear.  They were up in Decatur where my brother lives- she hasn’t been staying up there this whole last year she’s been in Canton.  I am hoping that when she gets to feeling better I can bring her up here for a little while with our new home -I’ll have a place to put her.  Just have to get her feeling well enough to travel.  I can see that my mom should not be living alone she needs to live with one of us.  Tommy and Richelle are always gone working and the boys are grown up now- not living at home She has a bedroom there but it’s upstairs and she just can’t do stairs anymore- it’s really hard on her and she’s not happy at Tommy‘s, that’s why she keeps going back to Canton. Challenges- changing her doctors she’s very attached to her doctors in the area which is been hard for her to switch- I do understand.  Pray that she will continue feeling better each day and get her strength back.  

My Mother’s 83rd Birthday

My dear mother is celebrating her 83rd birthday today, sad she is not here with us and in the hospital this year.  Got to get her feeling better.  She has had a rough year being in and out of the hospital this past year.  Happy birthday mother!! I made a birthday video for her and sent it to her on this special day.   Michele and John Wesley visited Mother at the Hospital this afternoon.  She was greatly surprised with John coming to see her.  Michele made her a beautiful cake.

  

Moonlight Ride

Wednesday we took a moon light ride at midnight with our Bear lake friends Lynhart’s and Caldwell’s.  It is fun to be out on the lake and see the moon rising.  It was a beautiful night.  

Funny Picture of Me!

Summer Time With Family

July is going by fast as it always does.  I spent the past week cleaning windows and doing some summer chores.   Burbidge family arrived Thursday night for a couple of days of summer fun.  The weather is really hot in Salt lake 100 degrees.   We went to Café Sabor for the Thursday night special, it was pack with so many visitors in town enjoying the cooler summer weather too.  Michael and Landon arrived last night and are staying till Thursday the 24th of July.  Need to take the time to enjoy them while they are all here.  I get tired and do have to take a nap along the way.  I worked really hard last week getting a few things done around the here.  I still need to finish washing the basement windows and cleaning up the tree branch’s on the south side of our cabin.  No one sees it but I like it cleaned up.  My rock garden has turned out really pretty this year, my flower pots are just lovely this year.   They have filled in nice and full of flowers.  Wish I could get Shannon to come visit us, just can’t seem to get her out of her house.  Glad Michael and Landon came up for a few days.  

Our Annie's 5th Birthday

Our little Annie turned 5 years old on Sunday July 14th she is such an adorable little girl and such a blessing in our lives.  

She is all girl and looks so much like her mother Natasha growing up- they are clones of each other. She is so excited for her new baby sister to arrive.  Tasha’s gender revel this week and it is official they are having another little girl.  We are all so excited !!

Biking With The Ward Scouts

We got up early this morning 6am to get ready for our bike ride with the scout. Meeting at the church 7am.  We rode our bike south and around the lake on the east side.  I survived!!  I rode my bike 31 miles today.  I had to push myself to finish the last few miles.  Going up the hills was really hard for me in the end when I was already tired.  But I did it!!!   We all stopped at the North beach for lunch and to rest while the boy played in the water.  Craig and I headed back to the church to get his truck so he could help drive the boys home- we had 9 of them.  It taste so good to get a cold coke after our long ride.  I enjoyed being outside, feeling he fresh cool air and the beautiful scenery.  I stopped by the secret nursery to rest and see all the pretty perennial 💐 flowers I want to plant some in our yard when I can get the soil added in the places I want to plant.  Their garden areas inspired me.  I’m so tired!! But so proud of myself- I did it!!! 

Elder Moldenhauer

Elder Brennen Moldenhauer returned from his mission to Toronto Canada.   He is speaking in sacrament today.  Brother Peterson has been his companion speaker.  Their messages the Doctrine of Christ. Faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of our sins and enduring to the end, staying faithful.   The doctrine leads us to the atonement of Christ.   Covenants of Baptism is the beginning, enduring to the end - following the covenant path our entire lives....Remember the experiences that lead and guides us and strengthen us along the way holding on tor the iron rod of God.   We are having dinner after church today called linger longer to fellowship with the saints.  It was lots of fun to visit after church.  I had just enough time to head home get my teaching materials and off to my stake calling- teaching the personal finance class.  This week are learning about living a balanced life,  the importance of building a budget and follow our plan.  The lord will bless us as we are faithful in being self reliant.   Putting the Savior first in our lives.  

Our New Home Paid in Full

We finally got our money out of the annuity today and transferred it into our home Equity account to pay our new home off in full.  We did not want to have to go through the process of getting a lone.  So glad that is done.  Craig was really stressing over it all.  He does not do well when we are paying interest.  It is a good feeling to work thru this and have it behind us now.  We are looking forward to actually moving In our new place some time in August.  I want to enjoy our summer here at the lake.  We are playing pickleball this morning with friends.  It feels so nice to have some quite time from all our kids which won’t last.  Cole is wanting to come up next to go boating with his friends which we will look forward to spending one -on- one time with him.  We are so blessed !! 

Brother and Sister Menlove

We are going to miss them so much but so excited for their mission in Egypt.  

Set apart to serve in Cairo, Egypt in the Middle East/North Africa Area. Thank you you President Shane Roberts. So blessed to have all our family with us. What a sweet miracle!  I cried knowing they will be gone from us.  They have been a special couple in the Ward.  Brother Menlove served with Craig in the Bishopric as 1st counselor.  Craig was called to take his place serving in the Ward now.  

Craig Officiating His First Funeral

Today was Craig‘s first time to officiate a funeral, the bishop was not able to attend.  Craig was a little nervous but he did a great job on his closing remarks, so proud of him and his preparation.   I made a salad from the leftover broccoli that the kids left and stayed afterwards to help feed the family after the funeral and then to clean things up, I didn’t get a home until about 3:30  pm in the afternoon. I was really tired. We have had a full day serving in the kingdom of God on the earth today.  Craig is at bishopric meeting for the evening so I’ve had time to blog in my journal for a bit.  I have felt sad from our conversation with Shannon yesterday I have tried to lift my spirits by reading my scriptures and studying the conference talks of our prophet.  I do know that this is the true and living church of Jesus Christ on the earth and that we do have a living prophet that leads and guides us today -with my conversation with Shannon yesterday. it has encouraged me to dig deeper into my beliefs and to reinforce what is really true by reading the Scriptures. There are so many voices in the world that clamor for our attention and can deceive us if we are not careful.   I’m so grateful for the scriptures that helps give me inspiration and direction and for the conference talks of our modern prophets that give us direction in our own time.   I read three conference talks and they have given me great courage and strength and reinforcing my faith that there is a true prophet on the earth today.   Somehow I have got to get Shannon to come to this concept.  I know that her life would be much better if she could understand the true principles of the gospel and if she could go to the temple and receive her endowment- it would give her power and strength against the destroyer which is a temple blessing.  We are blessed in the temple when we receive our garments and to wear them day and night as a shield and protection against the power of the destroyer until we have finished our mission on the earth and I have a great testimony of the protection of my holy garments.  I’m so grateful for that knowledge it is a blessing in my life and  I'm striving to keep my covenants.  I can see that by being obedient -the Lord does bless our lives.  

Monday Frustrations/ Our Shannon

It felt so good to have the weather cool off, it was a very pleasant morning with cloud cover and a perfect temperature. I wanted to get out in the yard and tinker.  I still need to clear out on the south side of our home all the fallen tree branches and spray some roundup on the raspberry patch where I have cut down all the grass.  I was wanting to be outside.  Craig was cleaning the boat up from the weekend.  I came in to change my clothes and go back out when Shannon called.  I happened to be in the house when I heard my phone ringing.   Our conversation lasted over two hours and didn’t end well, she got on the defense. .  She goes on and on what she wants to talk about and I have been a Listening ear for countless of hours this past year.  She had sent Craig a text yesterday trying to get some dialogue from Craig about all this she is going thru at this time in her life. Craig sent a thoughtful reply back.  We talked about it and just asking question ourselves?  She says she keeps seeing spirits and flying Orb’s.  What is the purpose of all this I don’t know or understand, to the point she thinks we should.  I can see that she is so consumed with it that she is reaching out for the secular Learning,   There are so many things out there clamoring for attention and so many different opinions that Craig and I both feel that she is being misdirected- we have to be so careful about our information and where we find it on the Internet.  With her supposedly seeing spirits- through her camera -capturing and spending so much time analyzing- trying to figure out why- I can’t tell her why.  I do believe that the veil can be thin and that there are times when the spirits will communicate with us for a purpose that is beneficial for us and our lives or a can be deceiving us if the spirits are angels of the devil which is one of their purposes to deceive mortal man- they’ll never have a body so they’ll do everything in their power to keep us from keeping our covenants and coming closer to our Savior Jesus Christ even if it’s telling us a few truths to keep us going down that path.  That is my concern as her mother.  In our discussion  I asked her a few doctoral questions and she became very defensive with me.  I can see that she does not understand the gospel principles as they should be.  She does not believe that the prophet speaks for God’s church on the earth today and doesn’t know if baptism is really that important.  She started saying how frustrated she was when Landon was being taught the missionary lessons, she let him be baptized and that she felt pressured. The ward missionaries and the sister missionaries were teaching Landon.  I can see that it was such a blessing in their lives for Ryan to be able to baptize his own son- how amazing that was for their family and I felt a special spirit there and then for her to keep lingering on about how she has anxiety and then it was so hard for her and still is.  I made the comment that it’s not all about her -she needs to think about Landon and how he felt- she sacrificed to get to that point for Landon.   Well she blew up at me and thought I was attacking her, how dare I put guilt on her. She started crying and going off about things as a little girl and it’s taking her all these years to learn from her brain damage from her accident- which I do agree she has had  many challenges herself that she has tried to overcome and we are very proud of her efforts- she has grown leaps and bounds.  This whole experience that she has been going through this past year and in some ways has appeared to be a miracle in her life but I’m only knowing and seeing what she is telling me.  She says she’s feeling better and is able to do much more than she has for years- which I’m so happy for her and I have thanked Heavenly father for this blessing in her life.   I can just see that she is not grasping the gospel principles that need to be understood for her progress.  She doesn’t think that it’s important to go to the temple or to put that effort in to even try to accomplish this for her and her family at this season in her life.   She is far from that- we need to get her just going to church and partaking of the sacrament weekly.  I tried to stress to her that there is a power and a blessing by attending sacrament weekly and partaking of the sacrament it’s not just going through the motions.  She needs to do it for her family and to help strengthen Ryan- he was making such good progress now Shannon is the one holding him back it appears she makes excuse that it’s anxiety that keeps her from going.   But she’s just not organized or even puts forth the effort to try.  Landon’s baptism was very frustrating for me as her mother. I had to just step back and let it happen.  She didn’t have to do anything the Ward and Trisha and I did the decorations and all the food- the ward had everything  prepared for after the baptism.  The family was all very supportive  -we all waited for over 30 minutes for them to finally show up at the church- everybody had the same address - but for them which seems to be the case for anything they attend- they’re always late no matter what -I have to patiently wait and not say anything.   I helped clean up and put everything away and then she’s complaining to me- I just don’t get it when she didn’t even have to do anything- so I don’t know what all the anxiety was about- we all tried to make it as simple for her as possible so that our Landon could just get baptized- which is something he wanted to do for himself and for Ryan.  It was such a blessing to be able to have him baptized Landon.  She’s just fighting against what is really true and I can see that she doesn’t have a true testimony of  the gospel of Jesus Christ and is looking in other areas that she thinks are answers to the things that she’s going through.   It was clear to me after our conversation yesterday that she is being lead in the wrong direction and is being deceived.  How to tell her that ?  She just gets defensive and mad at me- I have tried to be as gentle as I possibly can in our conversations to gently guide her in a more positive direction.  She is just so consumed with it all.  I know that we had Landon up here for almost 2 weeks hoping that they would come up and visit -I know that Landon was sad that his family didn’t come up this year for the Fourth of July- which was sad to not have them here again- She hasn't been up for three years.  I can’t get her out of the house- since she had little baby Ashtyn.  It is frustrating because they don’t offer to give any money and here Trisha and Buck help pay for things for Landon and then I have them upset with me.   I can feel the tension and Shannon and Ryan are just oblivious as to what’s going on.  I’m trying to keep our family together and allow all the cousins to have time together and to build a relationship with one another- it’s just really hard when you don’t have the parent support.  You hurt my feelings and she called yesterday and she never even thanked me for the effort and the time that we took Landon she seems to take it all for granted.  And it has been that way year after year, we have taken the kids many times, she doesn’t call or give us any money, she doesn’t check on  them, She doesn’t know what is even going on.  She is just missing in action so to speak and it does cause contention in our family.  She calls me and tells me she feels so alone with everything she’s going through and that her sisters have deserted her.  When in reality she is the one that has deserted all of us she doesn’t want to spend time with any of us.  I’m just so frustrated with her and she has totally exhausted me.   I seem to give and give and give and she just keeps taking and taking and taking.  Lord give me strength and answers how to handle my daughter Shannon.   

Mom doesn’t that look 👀 like me on the right- is just in black and white so you may be able to see it better . Can you see it ??  This is another text from her that is just crazy.  She spends so much time taking pictures and trying to see spirits around her and then she sends a video of the flying Orbs in her laundry room.  I can’t make heads or tails out of it and I can see that the light shining it can make you see shadows- she thinks our spirit forms.  And she’s the only one seeing it and capturing it on her phone camera.  Again the question is what is the purpose of all this ? is it leading her closer to our Savior Jesus Christ?  if they were good spirits there would be a real meaning from all this- a message for her that Heavenly Fathers wants her to know.  I have tried really hard to be open minded about all this but at this point it is frightening me I fear what is happening is not right it is something very odd and strange for the average person.  

Cleaning Up

Last week was a very busy week with all the family here.   Sunday I was so tired I could hardly move.  I started cleaning up downstairs from the Towner family putting things back in order.  I had to push myself to get it done.  I couldn’t seem to get myself dressed for the day.  I ended up staying home from church this week.  I just wanted to enjoy some peace and quite and get our home back in order.   I had to take a shower and get myself cleaned up to teach the personal finance class in our stake at 5pm.  I manage to get myself there and had a great lesson.  I was so glad they called another gospel doctrine teacher to teach this week, there was no way I could have done it this a week. I had no time to myself to prepare a lesson. Getting to my stake calling was my challenge this week.  It feels good to get things back in order.  I still need to clean my bedroom and bath.  I need to start washing our windows out doors, I have not been able to get to them yet with June being on the cold side of weather this year.  Finally it feels like summer.  We did have a another cool spell roll in on Monday with lots of wind.  We were going to roast Hot dogs up the canyon with Leondhart’s but the weather turned cold, stormy and raining so they had to cancel.  It felt good to just stay home and rest.  

The Towner’s Heading Home

Stacy and Chad left today about noon. I’m so tired I just want to go back to bed.  I have lots of cleanup to do - just going to take it slow.  The kids did pretty good tidying upstairs.  Craig vacuumed and I finished fine tune things up the way I like it.  It has been much quieter with just one family here this morning. Craig went golfing with Steve Mcpherron, they are in town this weekend, they have been friends since our early marriage years.  I’m so tired I don’t know if I can entertain anymore.  I’ve got to take a nap and rest before I do any more cleaning.   

Cute picture Chad took of little Enzo on the 4th, jello cake Aunt Trisha made, it was so yummy.  Love hearing Enzo talk he has the cutest little voice.  Such a sweet little boy.  

Our Natasha

Tasha is becoming quite famous with her clothing bouquet.  She had several people come up to her at the 4th of July Parade in Paris, Idaho saying how they love her Blog and clothes she designs,  they have over 85,000 Followers now and are making over $100,000 on many days in sales.  They have their own clothing line.  The Mommy - Me movement is really big with the younger mothers and they have found a great niche for marketing, so proud of her, all her hard work.  Our little Annie is great modeling in many of their photo shoots.  They take such darling pictures. 

Tasha 13 weeks Pregnant

We are all so excited for Natasha’s new baby to arrive.  She is now 13 weeks along.   Starting to show a little.  The new little one is due January 6th 2020.  This will be # 20 grandchildren for us, and most likely our last grandchild.  We are hoping for a baby girl for the last one.  Annie says she is a baby girl!! 

Happy 4th of July

It has been a busy day for me keeping up with everyone.  We went to the parade in Paris, Idaho with the younger kids. The older ones went boating.  The Parade is not as good as the Garden City parade for Raspberry days but they had fun and got some candy which they love.

Happy 4th of July Grammy & Annie at the Paris, Idaho parade July 4th 2019

L

Bridger took this darling picture of Tasha & Annie, modeling their matching outfits today.  While we were walking a girls came up to Tasha and said she was a follower of her clothing website.  She had a another girl say out loud as we were walking down the sidewalk, pointing  "That is that Famous Blogger Girl"- Her business is growing!!   After the parade Craig and I had lunch at my favorite burger place at the north beach, the Big Bacon Blue,  it is yummy.  It started to rain on us this afternoon.  The weather has cooled off today in the low 60’s.  It was perfect parade weather.   I had to take a nap when we got back.  I played cover your assets with the our grandson Winn, Jude and Yael they did such a good job catching on to the game for how young they are.  I then had to clean up the messy kitchen and start cooking.  We had a late dinner 8pm with everything going.  It has been a yummy 4th of July dinner.   I’m beat cooking and cleaning up.  I’ve got to rest before we have our firework show.   It is crazy with all the younger grand kids running around.  Craig has been busy with the boat driving the older grand kids and putting the boat away for the night.   We both just fall in bed so tired.  Blessed to have a family to love and share our lives with,  Thank the Lord for all our many blessings!!! We ended our night with a firework show for all the grand kids had fun with sparklers.   Trisha made us a yummy 4th of July jello cake.  Craig and I are enjoying sitting by the fire and listening to patriotic music on our outdoor speakers.  The weather is cool this 4th of July night.   It has been a full day for our family.  

Landon

Landon has grown so much the past two months.  He has gotten taller and skinny like his older brothers.   He had spent the past week here with us at the lake.  He is such a sweet boy- 11 year old. He is grandpa’s buddy like Michael.   He looks so much like Craig as a young boy.  

Friday

Shar and Dave stayed home this year they have to be in Cedar City today for a softball tournament for Aubrey today.  We missed having them here at the lake, Shar posted a fun picture on Facebook - Noriega’s on the 4th 

Bridger took this darling picture of Tasha at the 4th of July Parade yesterday 

Darling picture of our little Enzo ,we have enjoyed him so much while here visiting. He has the cutest little voice our sweet little 2yr old.  We had a fun and busy 4th of July.  I’m so tired today I can hardly move.  Having family here for the week is taking a toll on my energy.  I’m getting slower and slower and aching all over it has been a lot of work for us to host them all.  Burbidge and Thomas families are leaving later today.  Towner’s are planning on leaving tomorrow to head back to California.  Pray for the energy I need this day.  So glad I’m not teaching gospel doctrine lesson this week I don’t know when I would have had time to prepare with all the family here.  Each night I have just fallen in bed dead tired.  I have tired to read and study and I just fall asleep in the process not getting much study time in.  So glad they called another couple to team teach with me.  I do need to take time tomorrow to prepare for my 3 personal finance class tomorrow.  

Our darling Grandkids that have spent the past week with us.  They have had fun playing with their cousins. Back Saydee holding angel our grand dog, Yael, Landon, Karlee, front row Lincoln, Boston, Jude, Winn,  Farrah, Annie, Enzo.  

Tuesday/ Enjoiyng Our Summer Fun

I have kept really busy hanging out with the kids and cleaning things up each day,   Craig and I got up early yesterday morning and played Pickleball with the Brower’s for three hours.  I was beat.  It was a full day with the family boating.  Today another fun day.  The Burbidge family arrived last night.  I have been so tired each night at bed time.   My ankle is really aching tonight.  I’ve had to put a ice pack on it and just elevate my leg.  Craig has Bishopric tonight.  We both had such a busy Sunday we were in our church clothes until 8pm.  We have both been tired each night- just going to bed early.   We have had great weather.  Finally feels like summer up here in the 80’s this week.