Romona Arrived

Romona and Robert arrived last night about 8:30 pm to our Draper home.  We drove down to greet them.  Our YSA activity was canceled which allowed us to drive down and be here when they arrived-  so fun to visit and get reacquainted.  It has been 10 years and feels like we have never been apart.  We slept in - I had a dentist appointment at 11:00 am and then we meet at a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  We are driving up to the lake later this afternoon- we are waiting for Bridger to come visit with us. He called this morning and asked to come visit.  I know it is about the marriage challenges they are having after my conversation yesterday with her - she opened up to me.  My heart is aching for them both and praying they will work things out.  Marriage takes work ! 

Emma Thomas Wedding

September 19th, Thursday evening Bridger's sister Emma was married.  Natasha posted the most beautiful pictures of their family on this special day.  I wanted to share in my blog.  We were not invited it was just for close family that evening - a family dinner.  They all wore Ivy City apparel. Praying for Bridger and Natasha to work out their marriage challenges.  They have such a lovely family.  Pray hearts can be softened and they will be able to renew their love for one another.  They look so prefect together in these pictures.  I have sensed that Natasha is struggling in their marriage and that things are not as perfect as they appear..  I know she was at the hospital when the kids went back to school.  Bridger was here at the lake with us for the week and should have been home helping her.  They told her the chest pain she is having is anxiety.  She has mentioned to me several times she is on auto pilot- just hanging on.  I've been there in our marriage and I can see the red flags waving for help in her silent manor.  I have put their names on the temple prayer roll and praying for the angels to surround their precious family.  Satan is working overtime on so many families in many ways to blind us to what is really important.  Hang on!!  Things do get better.  Marriage has it's up and down.  I pray for all my dear daughter’s and the marriages they have, that they will continue to build a strong relationship and not grow apart.  Marriage takes a lot of work and commitment to one another and the family unit they have each created.  Natasha doesnt know I can see her struggles. My heart goes out to her and pray for her to be strengthen in this challenging time in her life.  She has so much on her plate working and managing a growing company and keeping up with her growing family.  Life does take a toll on us all.    

                           Lincoln 14 years old and in 9th grade, Winn 12 years old and in 7th grade

Our adorable CoraRose love this picture of her- can tell she is learning to model with all the photo shoots for Ivy City.

YSA skeet Shooting Activity/YSA Sept Highlights

We arrived back to the lake late afternoon, just in time to rest for a bit and get ready for our YSA activity this evening.  It was a fun evening for us all we had a great attendance this year more than last year. We had Krystian Nelson, Brittany and Lindsey Walburg, Kyle Cazier, Jackson Pratt, Karen Barlow, Cody Pate and his fiancé, Jordan, and Rachel Wamlsey.  9 YSA in attendance this year for the same activity last year-we only had 4 attend.  It was fun visiting with the adult leaders, brother and sister Smoot had a couple here visiting from Kentucky and brother and sister Rasmussen had a couple staying with them. They just completed serving their mission at the Pioneer visitor center at Martins Cove. Brother and sister Carlsen are always a fun couple to socialize with as well. They made us a yummy chili dinner with homemade sweet rolls that sister Carlsen made they were so yummy.  It was a lovely evening out- come Tuesday morning Craig realized he had left his medication at our Draper house. He forgot to grab his bag so we were going to have to drive back to Draper to get his medication.  His heart doctor called and wanted him to come in Friday morning, which I’m sure is a follow up from our ER visit in the wee morning hours Sunday.  We were able to do a few chores before we headed out. We tried caulking the seams along our new concrete driveway and filling one of the areas with sand where the crack was too deep for the caulk. I was able to harvest the tomatoes that were ripe from my little garden and whipping them in the blender to make some spaghetti sauce.  I made some salsa, from our homegrown tomatoes, the little peppers that I put in are really hot! It gave the salsa quite the kick.  We packed up to make our trek back to our Draper home and hang out here till Friday.  It was a lovely drive and I enjoyed driving our new car. It got initiated the other night driving out in the country with the rainy weather and mud- I did not want to get our new car dirty but Craig said it’s going to get dirty sometimes so we need to drive it, we did drive up to the lake.  It does make me nervous, driving a brand- new car.  Krystian Nelson shooting and has asked President Symes to marrying him and Marley in the near future.  Cody Pate and his bride to be in a few days Jordan,  bottom picture is president Symes shooting.  We all had a great time.

 YSA September 2024 Highlights

September 1st had been a special Sabbath day for the YSA Bear Lake Branch.  The summer season winding down and many YSA members returning to their various homes and to school, sadly to say leaving us.  We have created many new friendships and hard to say good-bye to those many summer YSA members.  Fond memories to cherish.  We had 64 in attendance for our fast and testimony sacrament meeting.  Many shared inspiring testimonies.  After sacrament we gathered for our linger longer dinner. Sister Smoot prepared us a yummy spaghetti dinner.  Everyone enjoyed visiting and saying goodbye for the summer season.  Bitter Sweet!

 September 4th - We had a fun YSA activity this week.  We gathered at the Garden city community pickleball courts.  Many playing for the first time.  President Symes is a great leader in teaching how to play.  We had 4 courts full- total attendance this week- 20- those attending Jona and Chole Negus, Austin England, Ryder Rasmussen, Kyler Rasmussen, Makala Tingey, Brandon Snow, Katlyn Green, Karen Barlow, Kyle Cazier, Jackson Pratt, Christian Nelsen, April Merritt, Lindsey Walburg, Brother Dale Brower from the Garden City 1^st ward came to assist in teaching how to play.   President and Sister Symes, Brother and Sister Rasmussen, Brother Smoot and Brother and Sister Parkinson were in charge of food, serving us hoagie sandwiches and chips.  We enjoyed the cool crisp fall air, socializing and learning how to play pickleball. 

September 8^th-This has been a blessed Sabbath Day- we were few in numbers this week with 26 in attendance. Our numbers have dropped considerable.  This is our last meeting at 5pm for Come Follow Me lesson time and our Sacrament at 6pm.  We will be moving to our new fall and winer schedule next week meeting at 10:30 am.  Kaya Wright gave her farewell mission talk. She shared a touching message as she expressed thoughts about preparing for her mission call.  She has been called to serve in the Northwest Mexico City mission.  She begins her home mission training on Monday September 9th, she will be missed.  She was one of the first sisters we meet at the first of the summer season and we have all enjoyed her bright smile and sweet spirit.  Wish her the best serving in Mexico.  Our Branch Relief Society Presidency was released today- thank you for your service sister Fairbourne, sister Tingey and sister Puzey, wish you each the best in your educational pursuits.  Logan Muirbrook was also released serving in the Sunday presidency. 

                                                                  Kaya Wright

September 10th weekly YSA Activity-our activity night has been changed from Wednesday evening to Tuesday evenings for the fall and winter season. We had a great time this week meeting  YSA: 7pm at Epic RV Park & Marina 2410 S Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City Paddleboards, kayaks, campfire, hotdogs, smores, Bring a swim suit.  We enjoyed roasting hots dogs, gathering around the campfire while Ryder Rasmussen and Christian Nelson sang and played songs on their guitar, they are really good.  Many enjoyed an evening paddle board ride, and just visiting with one another.  In attendance this week were Jackson Pratt, Kyle Cazier, Misha Bayley, Geffory Taylor, Christian Nelson, Ryder Rasmussen, Lindsey and Brittany Walburg, Karen Barlow- 9 local Ysa members now that the seasonal group has left us. We enjoyed visiting with Brother and Sister Rasmussen, President and Sister Symes, Brother and Sister Smoot, Brother and Sister Daun our activity committee members.  It was a warm fall evening, enjoying the warm weather before the cold arrives- Krystian Nelon and Ryder Rasmussen playing their quitars, we all enjoyed listening to them, had no idea they played so well.  

                               President Symes standing next to brother Derk Rasmussen

                                                 Lindsey and Brittany Walburg at the beach 

                          along with Sister Linda Rasmussen, Sister Daun, and Sister Chris Smoot. 

                                           Having fun visiting and enjoying our time together.

 September 15^th, 2024 Our new Sacrament schedule changed to 10:30 am following our Come Follow Me lesson time and linger longer afterwards. We had about 100 members attend which were mostly visitors.  Nice to have the visitors they add to our meeting and bring a special testimony to share from the different walks of life.  We all enjoyed our linger longer visiting eating fresh bread and jam

 September 17^th YSA Weekly Activity- Come learn to shoot!  We are meeting at Brother and Sister Carlsen home located at 182 Crystal Springs Ranch Rd. Ovid, Idaho at 6pm they will be serving us hot chili and sister Carlsen’s yummy homemade sweet rolls.  We had a great activity! Learning to shoot a gun for the first time and learning from the experts in the group.  Attending tonight were Christian Nelson, Kyle Cazier, Jackson Pratt, Karen Barlow, Bittany and Lindsey Walburg, Rachel Wamsley and Cody Pate with his fiancée Jordan. Brother and Sister Smoot and they invited friends visiting from Kentucky that brother Smoot knew, from when his father served as mission president 47 years ago living Kentucky.  Brother and Sister Rasmussen also had friends come who just returned from serving a mission at Martin’s Cove and Willie Handcart company visitor site in Wyoming. It was so nice to visit and hear about their mission experiences.  President and Sister Symes also in attendance.  It was a memorable activity for us all.  Congratulations Cody and Jordan, they make a darling couple, soon to be married in one week and President Symes will be officiated their wedding.

                                                               Jordan and Cody Pate 

    - President Symes shooting-

  - Rachel Wamsley-

              Krystian Nelson we have enjoyed getting to know him and his girlfriend Marley who he baptised in July.  Wish them both they best- He announce they are engaged!

Cody Pates Wedding

September 23rd, 2024- President Symes preformed his first wedding today.  He did a great job! Serving as branch president has given him many new experiences in this calling.  Cody was one of the first YSA members we met at our first YSA activity.  He is a handsome cowboy.  He has found a beautiful young women to share his life with.  He asked Craig to perform their marriage.  It was a lovely setting up the mountain canyon called Tony Groves.  It was a small wedding with just Cody’s parents and 6 siblings, the bride, her parents and her three siblings.  They make a beautiful couple.  This has been a beautiful fall day.  The autumn leaves are in full color on the mountian sides.  It was a beautiful autumn drive to enjoy our amazing surroundings not far from our home.  This is a beautiful picture of the view from our upper deck looking at the mountianside in full fall colors.

Craig and I at the wedding of Cody Pate and his new bride Jordan, it is an amazing backdrop for their wedding.  

Decorating for Halloween

I started decorating early this year. Ramona and Robert arrive on Tuesday and will be here for two weeks leaving on October 5 and it will be the month of Halloween so I wanted to have all my decorating done by the 1^st of October so I can enjoy the month.  I plan to have a fun family Halloween party and a party with some of our friends at our Draper home that we haven’t seen for many years it would be fun to host a couple’s party - I decorating my fireplace mantle to make it look fun with my Halloween decorations. I went to the dollar store last night and bought some Halloween flower pics to make a Halloween flower arrangement to place on the mantle. I got the idea on one of the decorating channels on Facebook using a noodle to cut and fit on the fireplace mantle and then fill-in with the floral pics that I bought for a Halloween theme.  It turned out really fun.  I have the basement family room area all decorated so today I need to finish working on the lights in my Halloween storage room.  I left it all up from last year. I did take the lights down that I needed for Christmas so I need to pull them out and reconnect them all, that will be my chore today to finish up my Halloween decor- in the storage room-for a fun Halloween party in October.  I’ll be all decorated for Halloween and I can enjoy my time with Romona while she’s here in town.  I love the holidays. They are fun and I really enjoy decorating for them. I have the upstairs of our Draper home all decorated for autumn and it’s turned out so pretty. I spent time decorating all my autumn decor at our Lake home too, it feels warm and cozy this time of year.  I love all the autumn and the leaves are popping out fast. We just had a cold snap this weekend with the weather dropping down in the low 50’s, so the leaves are turning fast now.   I want Craig to take me for a rhino ride when we get back at the lake to enjoy the fall colors, we’re going to hang out here accouple of days, until Friday or Saturday morning and then we gotta head back for church on Sunday. Craig is actually marring Cody and his fiancé on Monday afternoon. Cody asked him to officiate their wedding so we’ve got to plan for that and then Romona will be arriving on Tuesday evening.

Thomas Primary Program

Craig and I managed to get our selves dressed and to church despite the lack of sleep.  They little girls did so well.  The kids are going up it felt odd with just the two performing now Anni and Cora- Lincoln and Winn moving up to young men’s and passing the sacrament.  The boys stayed home not feeling well.  Yesterday after the dealship we did stop by the insta care for Licoln to be checked out- he was not feeling well.  Bad sore throat, aching and mild fever.  They said he didn’t test for strep- and just sent us home telling him to rest.  They have seen a lot of respiratory type viruses especially with the all the smoke in the air last week.  We had two fires in the state and the smoke in the Salt Lake valley was really thick on Wednesday when Lincoln was playing at his football practice. They had to end the practice because the smoke was so bad, which is when his symptoms started.  So he didn’t come to church. He stayed home.  Little Ani and Coco did well on their little primary program. Coco was not wanting to participate much and she was glad to Ani every time they got up and down between songs she made sure she was standing by Ani. She finally the last two songs began to do the motions and participate, it was fun to watch them both. Ani is very animated and she knew all the words to all the song. Tasha and Bridger had gone to St. George on Thursday so they watch them on zoom not arriving home until late Sunday evening.  They need a little time away and spend some time together. I’ve been worried about both of them. I can sense that things are a little rocky and they’re married right now. Bridger is gone a lot on his hunting adventures and I know this put a lot of stress on Natasha I can see that they’re growing apart, and they need to regroup in thier marriage. Hopefully their time away this weekend gave them time to talk and bond with one another,  I have been very concerned and can see the warning signs and have been praying for them both I have written  Natasha and Bridger‘s name on the temple prayer roll  this last month. The last two times we went to the temple because I have sense that things are not going well.  Monday morning we followed up with our new car appointment at the dealership to learn the end and out of our new purchased car from there we were able to go to our family doctor and the chiropractor.  Our Family doctor was able to write out a prescription for prednisone, which seems to help the inflammation. It worked well whenhis ribs were hurting really bad during the winter months.  We also took him to the chiropractor, and he was able to make an adjustment.  Craig does have some bad herniated disc, in his lower neck and back area from previous injuries over the years.  Things just flared up. I’m sure from all his activity last week. He waterski played pickle ball for several hours, and then he shoveled rocks in our flower bed area, which I’m sure really flared things up for him.   It’s just getting harder with us getting older. Our bodies are wearing out. We can’t do the things that we used to do all the time without having pain set in.  We slept over Monday night at our Draper home and then out the door by early afternoon to head back to the lake. We had YSA activity that evening that we needed to be there for hopefully the medication will start giving Craig some relief.

At The ER Again / New Car

This seems to be the story of my Dear husband’s life going to the ER more than he would like. His left shoulder and neck area has been aching and he has complained the past few weeks stretching in bed first thing in the morning and pulling his neck- pinching a nerve with it hurt for several days.  Saturday the pain increased and was not going away- I had to go to Walgreens and buy him an ice pack.  We did not have one at our Draper home.  We had drive down from the lake on Friday and staying a few days in Draper so we could attend Winn’s football game Saturday and their annual primary program on Sunday. The dealership called Friday to say our new Lexus has arrived and Craig made an appointment Saturday morning at 10:30 am to pick it up.  We are excited for our new car.  While closing the final payment of the purchased Craig’s neck and shoulder started really bothering him.  I thought is was the stress of buying our new Car, when it seemed the pain was coming on more intense.  We were at the dealership longer than we were told and had to leave by noon to pick Winn up and get him to his football game in time.  We told them we would just have to come back to finish up on the paperwork and learn how to operate our new vehicle. Out the  door we hurried  driving our Acadia Cat which we ere trading in for thr Lexus.  Love the look of our new SUV Lexus- we hurried off to pick Winn and Lincoln up and off to his Footfall game for a few hours.  The weather eas warm yet pleasant to watch Winn.  Their team got killed by the other team scoring 5 touch down and Win’s team O - it was a tough team for them to play.   When we arrived I ran into Jessica Kehl and her parents.  They were on the winning team.  Jessica’s husband is one of the coaches that played NFL football-  fun to visit with her mother Pam- we worked together in my pageant days- Jessica one of our Miss Drapers.  Pam had just came across an old photo of us at her home at a pageant event - she sent to me.  Fun to see - I look so young wish I was still that young looking back in my 50’s-  after the game we went ba k to the dealership to finalize things on our new car.  We had to take Linc and Winn with us there.  Well that took way to long  - another couple of hours- they were trying to sell us an additional car warranty which $ cost over $5,000.00 which we were not prepared to spend any more money- paying $62.000.00 for thr car, that included trading Craig’s corvette for $40,000.00 and our Acadia they were only going us $6,000.00- we still had to come up with $12,000.00 cash.  Spending another $5 grand was not feeling good.  Craig’s shoulder area started throbbing-  we were in no mood to spend any more money.  Finally after two hours declining the warranty.  By then we were tired and stressed just wanting to leave.  The boys were restless too and had been sitting around the entire time.  We told the new car new orientation would have to wait it was 5pm and we needed to get our grandkids home.  We scheduled to come back on Monday morning to learn the new features of the car.  Out the door I drove our new car to the Thomas home and dropped the boys off.  We hung. Out there for a bit while they watched the BYU game.  I was beat and just needed time to chill.  The whole dealership experience was stressful.  We arrive about 9pm at our  Draper home ready for bed.  I was beat. I had just crawled in bed sleeping only a coulolemif hours when Criag woke me up to take him to the ER.  He was in a lot of pain.  His atm was going numb and tingling on the entire liege side which is a sign of heart attach.  Off to the ER we go at 1:30 am.  We were there the entire wee morning hours.  They tested him for all the heart attach symptoms and everything was ok.  That was ruled out-  I toild him he had a pinched nerve and some swollen disc in his lower neck back area which does cause the symptoms he is feeling.  They were able to give pain medication while in thr hospital which is concerning because his heart rate drops really low and his oxygen drops with they pain medication they have given him the last two times we have been in the ER-  Craig was afraid to go to sleep which his heart rate would drop even lower.  It was a long wait in the ER-  they sent us home by 6:30 am-  no sleep I was not feeling very well myself- we arrived home to just sleep an hour and then have to get ready for church to attend the Thomas grandkids primary program- we both were feeling to tired but were able to make it.  

Heading To Our Draper Home

Craig and I have kept busy this week doing chores at the lake.  We complete the rock flower bed along side our new cement steps.  It looks so nice.  I finished decorating the cabin for autumn.  It has been fun to get out my autumn decor and find just the right spot to place.  I was able to finish cleaning the inside and got all 6 beds changed and put back together for the next guest to arrive.  The Thomas grandkids are preforming this Sunday for their Primary annual program so we are heading down for a few days so we can attend Sunday morning.  We also plan attending Winn’s football game tomorrow afternoon.  Natasha and Bridger went to their St George home for a few days.   Craig is picking up Winn to get him to his game.  It will be fun to watch him play.  We  have not seen him play yet this season.

Our new cement Step and flower bed area.  Craig and I shoveled the rooks in the flowerbed area.  It has all cleaned up so nicely.  We are so happy with how it has all turned out.  Finally complete with our projects for the season.  We have accomplished alot this year. 

Last 80 degree Day

Looks like today will be the last 80 degree day we will have here at the lake this year.  it has been a lovely fall so far- Since the month of September rolled around the weather had had a calmness in the air- our August this year was really windy- so it had been nice ti have the wind calm down- not for long- we have a cold front rolling in on Thursday and bringing high winds our way.  Going to enjoy this lovely day while it last.  I spent all day in the house doing laundry washing sheets and bedding.  I changed all 5beds in the house with fresh bedding and made them pretty for the fall season added a touch of fall where I can.  I stil have the red boat theme room to finish up to day just waiting for the duvet to dry- I’m going to help Chris pack her things up this moneing- getting her home ready for thr parade of homes showing for two weeks she has to move all her personal things out-  that is a huge chore for her with her already living in Her home the past year.  She has a lively home. 

Come Follow Me Lesson

September 9–15: “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”

Helaman 13–16-  I’m behind on my personal study I. Thr book Mormon.  Going to strive to do better this week and keep up with this week lesson material.  We are studying the story shared of Samuel the Lamanite Sharing the gospel message to the once active fillers of Jesus Christ the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla yet have be come hard hearted and falling away from the teachings of Christ- Samuel calling them to repentance.  

Thought for the Day - Trust in the Lord By Elder Paul B. Pieper Of the Seventy

“ Our relationship with God will grow only to the degree we are willing to place our trust in Him.”

“ God invites us to grow by trusting His spiritual tutoring through soul-stretching experiences. Therefore, we can be sure that whatever trust we may have demonstrated in God in the past, another trust-stretching experience lies yet ahead. God is focused on our growth and progress. He is the Master Teacher, the complete coach who is always stretching us to help us realize more of our divine potential. That will always include a future invitation to trust Him just a little bit more. 

Verse for the day - But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth Helaman 13:11-  daily repentance is so important in our life journey- I want to do better and draw closer to my Heavenly Father- 

I’m striving this week to be better- I have gotten lazy and let the cares and chores of my mortal life take over and not spiritually feeding my soul as I should.  With our family time coming to a close for thr summer season- I now have the time to regroup and re- focus on how I spend my time, taking the time daily to read and study our. One come me lesson in my daily home environment.  I have take the time today to feed my spiritual soul! 

Monday Morning

This is a beautiful fall day- the weather for ast is goi g to be in thr high 70’s which is a prefect temp to enjoy not much longer before it starts cooling off.  The leaves are turning fast this past week.  I kept busy all last week slowly cleaning up from our family guest over the Labor Day weekend and decorating for the fall season.  I love my autumn decor and fun to get it out and decorate our lake home.  I tinkered all week long creating and finding just thr right spot to place.  I still have beds to make today and it will feel nice ti have it all cleaned up and ready for fall.  I made a fun fall tree to place outside our front door.  I pulled out a tree branch from our burn  piled- perfect for the project.  I then hot glued autumn leaves on the branches sparsely place in one of my large standing vases- pacing on the deck by of front door.  It turned out so fun.  They asked me to decorate for the stake gratitude dinner this year Nov 7th- so getting my creative ideas going around in my head and then fun to create what I have envisioned. I’m happy being creative.  I got ready for the day early.  I had planned going to Chris Smoot’s home today to help backup her personal things from her home that is in the Cache Valley parade of homes this year.  So I was ready to go early.  Craig went golfing this morning.  I just got a text from Chris and she asked that I come tomorrow morning- so this frees up my day to finish up my work inside- I finished fall decorating so I can now finish up my cleaning.  I started my Come Follow me study time for this week- I’m getting so sleepy I’m going to have to take a break and get myself moving. 

Sabbath Day

“Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.”

I love this scripture - God is incharge- despite the challenges that are happening in world.  This a quote from brother Bednar conference talk in April 2024- our Confernce talk to study this week for our Sunday School hour- “Be Still, and Know That I Am God”-By Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 “We can be still and know that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior.”  I liked this quote also- Today I repeat a principle I previously have emphasized. Our homes should be the ultimate combination of both sacred time and holy place wherein individuals and families can “be still” and know that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior.  As a grandmother I have strived to make our home a peaceful place- for all family to feel our love and know our home is a place of rest from the challenges of the world that they are each faced with.  I like keeping this thought in thr forefront of my life- we had a great discussion during our class time. 

We had a lovely sacrament meeting- few in numbers this week- only 26 in attendance. 

Kaya Wright one of the local YSA sisters spoke today -her mission farewell to the Branch-  She has been called to serve in the Mexico City Northwest mission.  Before she spoke we were asked to share a favorite hymn and tell us why. “I believe in Christ” is a  favorite hymn  brother Smoot shared as he conducted the meeting- we all them sang this beautiful song.  It is also one of my favorite hymns.  Kaya’s mother - sister Wright share her favorite hymn she would sing to her children at night time - pg 86 -How great thou art - this is a lovely hymn and tender memories to my heart as I sang this hymn -a solo for my grandmother Beatrice Sparks Bailes funeral.  it was one of her favorite hymns.  The next hymn shared  was by Brother Wright -“God be with you till we meet again” he shared an experience from his mission - when a sister died and the husband ask him and his companion to sing him.  They sang this hymn which brought comfort to his morning loss of his beloved wife.  This hymn also tender memories as we sang at the closing of my Mothers funeral.  Singing these sacred hymns brought a special spirit to our meeting.  Kaya then shared her thoughts in preparing for her mission call.  She is excited and scared at the same time as she begins her mission the very next day.  We have been blessed as a branch to have Kaya attend.  She was one of the first YSA sisters I meet at the beginning of our summer season.  She had a bright smile and kind ti everyone.  She is well prepared and will serve will on her mission.  God be with you till me meet again in 18 months.  We will be still serving in the branch presidency and can greet her when she returns 

Autumn is Here

The leaves are turning colors on the hillsides.  Craig and I took a drive to Logan on Thursday this week to pick up some more sealer for our driveway.  The drive is so gorgeous. The leaves are starting to turn colors in the canyon. We had breakfast at Angie’s went to Costco, the concrete sealer store and back home. I’ve been decorating for autumn in the house, fun to get my autumn decorations out and move things around- the last couple of days slowly cleaning from our big Labor Day weekend. I washed about four loads of towels and washing sheets-I have two more beds to make up, and cleaning along the way. It’s so fun to get my autumn decorations out and figure out spots- a little different each year moving things around. I bought some new season al pillow covers which are fun- the Weather‘s gonna be nice for the next four or five days. Craig wants to put the boat in and enjoy this nice weather -so I guess we’ll enjoy the weather while it’s here. today is going to be 80 for our Friday afternoon.  

Labor Day Weekend

We had a nice weekend.  The family has all just left and I’m so tired. Need a day to recover before I start cleaning up- The Thomas family arrived late Friday evening, Cole,Chase and two other couples arrived at about 3:45am.  We had lovely weather for our last holiday weekend for the summer season.  Sad it is over! It all went by too fast!  Autumn is coming.  The leaves started turning colors on the mountain side just the past few days.  It is so pretty riding in the boat and looking up on the mountainside seeing the autumn leaves appearing.  I love this time of year too.  We enjoyed eating our last time a Zips for thr summer season, riding in the Thomas new boat, eating a shake and playing cover your assets, roasting marshmallows by thr camp fire, gazing at the night sky and seeing all the stars shaking brightly. This has been a fun last weekend for this season.  We were few in numbers.  The Burbidge family started moving in their new home in St George this weekend.  Noriega family busy working unpacking in their new town home and getting Aubrey settled in.  Austin leaves for his mission in a month.  We had a nice fast Sunday for our YSA meetings-  this was our last big sacrament with 64 in attendance.  Our numbers will shrink.down by next Sunday.  Excited for fall.