Monday

Another Monday- this past week went by so fast- tomorrow will be October 1st,the month of September just flew by for us.  It was a time to move into our new home and set up house in Draper.  We just about have everything moved maybe one more load.  We still have Craig‘s desk and my desk from our offices that are too large, so we’re not sure what we’re going to do with them. There is storage underneath our two car garage that needs to be finished so we could convert that into a craft room office space for me but we will see how it goes.  The weather is on the cooler side today only about 48° I have enjoyed looking at our beautiful autumn colors out our bonus room window today.  Woke up at 7:30 this morning and started cleaning the windowsills from the dust and bugs.  I didn’t last long  I was so tired by 10:30 am  I had to take a morning nap and I have spent a couple hours updating my Blog.  I’m just not real energized today I need to go over and pick some more apples across the street but I want it to warm up just a little bit more maybe tomorrow will be a little warmer.  

Sunday Dinner

We invited ward members for dinner after church today.  I fixed a yummy roast, potatoes and gravy.  I made broccoli, corn on the cob and fresh apple crisp from the apples I picked across the street.   It all turned out so yummy -a home-cooked meal.  We enjoyed visiting with the Taylor family and Sister Jackie Meads, Craig Home teaches the Taylor’s and I minister to Sister Meads.  It was still a lot of work and I was tired after cleaning up but glad we invited them over we had a nice day at church.  Craig conducted all month of September he did such a great job today and opening our fast and testimony meeting and sharing his testimony.  He shared about the importance of the eternal family and talked about the New Year’s program that they will be discussing the last hour.  He shared how he is grateful for his family and his wife that he loves dearly.  All parents and children -eight and up attended the fifth Sunday meeting.  I helped in the nursery so that those parents that had children could attend we had quite a few visitors this Sunday which I was so surprised.   More visitors than ward members.  I guess because it was parent teacher conference in Salt Lake we had lots of visitors come up for the three day weekend because the kids are out of school on Friday.  We had only three ward members in the nursery and seven little visitors. It kept the primary president and I busy the entire time caring for them they were also sweet, I enjoyed my time serving in the nursery.   After dinner we cleaned up I took a nap and then we spent the evening watching TV with our new TV entertainment, we really like the gas lighted fireplace we bought for our Christmas  present early. 

Our New Fireplace Entertainment

Craig and I bought a fireplace entertainment we found at Costco for our bonus room at the lake.  We have been wanting something nicer than we had.  It it just a table we had making due for now.  I got a bid this summer from one of the locals that lives here to build us something and he wanted $12,000 which was way to high.  So when we saw this at Costco for $600.00 we thought was a great replacement.  We bought it on Friday while shopping.   I wanted to go see Shannon and the kids and their new puppy Penny before we headed back to the lake.  Their new puppy is so darling looks just like our family dog Pepper when he was a puppy.  We got to see all the boys while there.  We headed back to the lake Friday night.  I was beat from our fast pace the last few days.  We stopped by to see Trisha at their new home but they weren’t there.  Their new home has turned out so beautiful!! Home sweet home at the lake.  Wow ! The Autumn leaves have changed fast while we were gone three days. It is so beautiful.  I love autumn !!   We spent the day Saturday putting it all together.  It rained all day long too.   It was a good day to stay inside.  We love our new TV entertainment with a gas fireplace.  

Picking Apples

This past week flew by for us.  I have enjoyed the apples I picked last Monday.  Good ole Bear lake 🍏 apples. The yellow ones are so sweet and make the best apple juice.  I got out my juicer that I have not had out for years.  It still works.  I peeled and cut up several bags of apples to freeze for making apple crisp.  I made apple crisp for Sunday dinner and it turned out yummy.   I want to go over today and pick some more apples. There is a tree with small red ones that taste like Granny Smith apples- sweet and sour.  They say the first freeze the apples should be ready for picking.  The weather has turned cool it is about 48 degrees today.  The leaves are turning fast.  The mountains behind our home are ablaze with color.  

Our view out of the bonus room upstairs. This picture does not show the real beauty of our view, it is stunning right now with the show of autumn leaves.  

Our Darling Ashtyn

She is growing so fast.  She is a smart little girl she knows all her colors, yellow is her favorite color. She is talking so good.  She is counting and learning her abc’s which is really good for three years old.  

Chaudhry’s New Family Dog

Ashtyn and her BF Penny Girl.   Shannon got the family a new puppy.  She look just like Pepper did as a puppy- our family dog growing up with our girls.  So cute, puppies are fun.  They have an all black kitten too named Neo.  Ashtyn is loving her new friends to play with.  Ashtyn is only three years old and she is counting and talking really good for her age.  She knows her colors.  She loves yellow. Shannon said she is reading abc letters too.  She is a smart little girl.  So adorable!!

Monday My Fruit Picking Day

We stopped by to see the Stokes family Sunday evening.  They had been out picking elderberries to make a syrup for the winter months that keeps you healthy and build your immune system for the cold & flu season.  When we saw the fruit/ I said wow we have that tree growing in our yard with the same berries. All these years I did not know I had an elderberry tree growing, I wondered what the fruit was.  So I came home and cut some of the berries off the tree and made a pint of juice from them.  I want to make the elderberry syrup for healing now that we are baby sitting  little. Annie has a Cough and I can see she could use the syrup.  I will bring them some the next time I'm in town,  Gwenda Hansen called Sunday night to see if she could pick the elderberries on the bush across the street from us by the big red barn.  I told hey it would be fine. We then went and picked apples on the old orchard next to the big red barn.  It is the old family property of Gordon Symes who died this year at 94 years old.  I came home and made the best fresh apple juice with my juicer .  It is so good the yellow apples are so sweet  they don’t need any sugar. Fun to harvest the fruit. We had to stop by Dale Brower’s.  Craig had played Pickleball earlier in the morning and left his things there. Dale was running out of time to leave for their winter home in St George.  He asked if we would pick his raspberries.  They are beautiful of raspberries.   Huge in size and yummy.  Today has been my day of harvesting the fruit growing at the lake.  It is very rewarding.  

Baby Sitting Thomas Grandkids

Tasha went on a hunting trip with Bridger.  Craig and I are baby sitting the kids for a couple of days. We took Lincoln to his football games last night for s couple of hours to Big Bear Park.  They have a great play ground area.  It has a zip line that Annie and Winn loved to play one.  Enjoyed watching Lincoln playing football.  We home got at 8pm.  We had a bowl of cereal for dinner, brushed our teeth and off  to bed.  Tasha just posted this of Annie on Facebook, she is so darling / I just wanna bottle this girl up!!! I love her so much it hurts!! 💕 I couldn’t help but share these photos  @ivycityco shoot!! Ani loved shooting with all the other grown-up models. Just strutting her stuff! 🌿 @ Utah State Capitol

High Council Speakers

Another Sabbath Day, a beautiful fall. 1st speaker-   Sister Anderson grandson speaking- highlights conference talk from sister Ubank at last general conference about the light in our lives.  What am I doing to follow the light?  What keeps us going.  It is the love for our Savior and our family.  Some of us say we don’t fit in The LDS mold.  The Savior reached out to those that do not fit in the traditional mold.  She served In Dallas, Tx mission.  She to come home early from to high anxiety. Gods knows us and will help us,.  Don’t worry about what others say about you.   - doubt your doubt and not your faith.   The Savior is the light in our darkness. Great talk... Darin Caldwell 2nd speaker- 9 years moved here to the Bear Lake. Feeling depressed and wondering if they should move in their home here.  They had many problems the day moving in. The next day about 30 people from the ward showed up to help them move their things in.  Topic how do I know my Redeemer lives?  Luke 24-  read did not our hearts burn inside as he spoke to us?   This is how I know things are true I feel a burning  in my heart.  Invite us to gain a sure knowledge of Jesus Christ - read quote from the Prophet who knew the Savior-very touching as he bore his testimony that he knows the church is true and loves the Savior and knows he lives.    

Tuesday- Fall Day

Fall is here the weather has changed fast- this past week is cooling off.  It is only 45 degrees today. Starting to see the leaves changing colors. One of my favorite times of the year.  I love the Autumn colors. Craig and I got up early and drove to Montpellier to play pickleball this morning.  It has been raining this morning.  I  love the smells after it rains, it smells so good, the clean fresh air.   The sun is peeking out slowly it is going to be a cool day today.  Glad I got some outside chores done yesterday with the lovely day we had it got up to about 75 degrees yesterday.   Slowly going through things in the cabin leaning stuff out and taking things to our new place in draper.  I have my piles sitting in the garage until we head south later this week think we're heading down Thursday.  Trisha is moving in her new home this week so excited for them.  I bought our plane tickets for Texas for the girls and I.  We are flying out on the 15th of October and coming back the 22nd.  Hopefully it will be a fun week with my daughters. We have not done anything all together since Halloween two years ago 2017.  We all went to Trisha’s house at their St George home.  It will be fun to see my mother and support Natasha at the exposition in Waco, Texas.   My mother is so excited for us to come spend a week with her.  

Sacrament Singing Duet

Dale Brower and I are singing a duet today in Sacrament.  It is a beautiful song.  I have practice all week long learning a new song.  A sigh of relief, I was really nervous at the beginning of our song. I lead out with the the first verse.  My voice wasn’t as clear as I wanted it to be in the beginning.  Dale and I sang great together.  We received lots of compliments for our lovely duet.  Many were touched  as we sang together. 

Our meeting schedule is back to 11:30am for the rest of the year, now that summer is over.  I had my last personal finance class today.  Every one wrote a letter from what they have learned and shared for our last class.  Sad to have it end webhave all gone close together and will miss the association of seeing one another weekly.  Wishing them all the best as they apply new skills in their personal finances.  

Our Natasha Pregnant

A lot has changed since my last 16 week bump photo!!! Here we go coming up on 24weeks!!👏🏻 It’s so fun feeling my babe kick and grow inside my belly!!! ❤️

We are so excited for granbaby 20.  Natasha lots so beautiful pregnant! 

Fall Sabbath Day

Craig is conducting this month.  So proud of him, he looks so handsome up on the stand.  It is raining today and fall is coming. It feels so good to have the cooler weather.  

Sacrament meeting message “I know that my redeemer Lives.”  How do I know that my redeemer has been resurrected and that he lives?   What is a miracle ?  Definition - she shared the guidance of the spirit in our lives.  Heavenly Father is very aware of our needs and involved in our lives.  She shared Miracles in her own life that has made her aware the Lord is there and aware of us.  The. saviors is aware of us and he lives we to be will be resurrected - we are given miracles daily to make us aware our Redeemer loves.  

Sister Dolly Murphy 2nd speaker- she did such a great talk,  her first talk she has ever given in Sacrament. Love her conversion story.

Relief Society message- Bishop W. Christopher Waddell. Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric- sister Marea Holman taught today-  ministering to one another -  Russell M. Nelson for each of us to care for our brothers and sisters in a “higher, holier way.” Speaking of the Savior, President Nelson taught that “because it is His Church, we as His servants -will minister to the one, just as He did. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness.”  Reach out to our ministering sisters- fellowship them too-  so they can get to know us and them knowing their life story.  We need to make connection with our sisters.  

Our New Home

Craig and I pack our things in storage Tuesday evening and heading to Draper we arrived at 2am in the morning.   Wednesday I had a doctor appointment and Craig met with our accountant for our taxes. We started unloading the truck and finding places for our things.   We don’t have a lot left from our move. We have gotten rid of a lot of stuff giving things to the kids and grandkids.  We were excited to hang the wedding pictures of our daughters up.  We put them in our dinning room.  We kept our China hutch and smaller table in the kitchen- we sold the large dinning table set with the house, wish I had kept it. But this look good for now.  

Our new dinning area love our Bridal pictures of the girls.  

Setting up what we have left from our other home in Draper.  This new place is just right for us at this stage in our lives.  We will have room if we want to have some of the grandkids over.   I gave a lot  to the kids so unpacking what is left and can see I’m still going to have to weed out more stuff.  Each home is different and colors have changed a lot.  I want to up date my colors as I figure out what to keep and get rid of.   That will be the fun part for me.  I love to decorate.  Things now are a modern decorating decor and I’m so glad I have kept the traditional things I do like.  I have an empty basement.  It will be fun in time to decorate it.  We have been working hard the past 4 days putting things away and sitting up house.  We are comfortable for now.  We are loving our new place.  I have got to wrap things up today and head north by 2:15 pm going to Ogden for Dienna Havens temple sealing to her new husband and then we will head back to the lake for our Sunday callings.  It feels so nice to have a place back in the valley again.   We are going to love it here.  

Labor Day Weekend

This has been the warmest Labor Day weekend we can remember in our life time this year at the lake. We invited the Idaho mission president and his family to spend the weekend with us.  Tasha and her three children were the only ones in Our family coming up this weekend.  It worked out great for us to have them this weekend.  I spent the two days cleaning the upstairs part of our lake home for them to stay and be comfortable.  It needed a good cleaning.  I dusted all the baseboard and doors, fans and each bedroom with a white glove cleaning. It was ready for our guest.  They arrived Saturday late afternoon.   They attended the Pickleville theater that evening.  Sunday they attended church in Lake town.  We all gathered after our church meetings late Saturday afternoon.  Tasha arrive late Sunday afternoon with her little ones.  We had fun sitting around a campfire Sunday evening visiting and roasting marshmallows.  Today we all went boating and had a great time.  

President Steve Southward surfing behind our boat.  Sweet note from him: We had such a great time getting to know your dear family this weekend,  so happy your family could share it with us, here are a few pictures I took....From the bottom of our heart we thank you for such a Spirit filled weekend. Your family is so giving and I hope we continue to have many wonderful experiences together!   I replied back - We fell in love with your family and adopt you as one of ours, Bless you as you continue your service to the Lord in this wonderful missionary area.  We are so bless to have you and your special family as our Mission President.  

Craig with their oldest daughter Massey and President Southward.  He is a young mission president 42 years old.   We loved his sweet wife, she is so special.  We had such a great time.  Heather and Tasha hit  it off visiting.  Come to find out she has seen Tasha’s business on Instagram and one of her Nieces an influencer of Tasha’s clothing line, they have pictures of her wearing their dresses. She is from Indianapolis, Indiana.  It can sure be a small world at times in the lives that connect our lives to others.  President Southward has such amazing strengthen- you can just feel it reflect in all he does,  he has a great missionary spirit and can see why he has been called to serve as a Mission President.  They are from Oklahoma with three children,  two girls Massey 14 and Emmy 12, one son Trey that is 9 years old.  Trey and our Lincoln had a great time playing together.   They all blended well.  Anni loved hanging out with the older girls even tough she is only 5 years old.  Our Anni is a crack- up, love that little granddaughter so very much.   Sad to see them all leave this afternoon.  Things are quieting down from our very busy weekend.  It was crazy busy at church.  In attendance with all the visitors at 9am sacrament 2,500, 10:30 am meeting there were 1800 and our ward there where 1000 in attendance.  That is a lot of visitors.   I enjoyed subbing for primary.   I love teaching-. Our primary was few in attendance, the locals leave and visit their families over the holiday weekend.   I cancelled my personal finance class on Sunday evening so I could stay home and cook and visit with our company.   The lake is calm and quiet now everyone is going home.   The highway has been a steady stream of cars driving up and down,  going back to their homes and to school tomorrow.  Sad to say Summer is over.  Fall is in the air, I see a few autumn leaves changing colors.  We have had a great summer.  Not as much family came up this year.  They were all crazy busy with their family activities.  Noriega’s have been working hard redoing their back yard.  Burbidge’s went to Lake Powell this weekend with their St George friends.  They should be moving in their new home about one more week.  We have had a blessed summer season living at the lake and enjoying serving in the Garden City 1st ward.  I have enjoyed teaching my stake calling personal finance class a 12 week course.  Only 2 more weeks left.   I taught relief society once in July and have sub two times for primary this summer.  I do love teaching and so blessed to have the opportunity.   I need to gear up to teaching gospel doctrine this coming fall my new calling in the ward.   

Towner Grandkids

At the beach this weekend.  Love those darling grandkids.  Enzo is potty training such a darling little boy.  He has the cutest little smile.  They love the beach living in California.

 

  

They built a great sand castle!