Thanksgiving in Idaho

How funny is it that I decided to update my blog after much time has passed and the very thing I'm going to blog about it another road trip to Idaho. Hey at least I'm consistent right?

A few months ago, we received a cute e-mail from our daughter in law Abby asking us to join Rory, her and her family for Thanksgiving in Rory and Abby's new home in Idaho. We bit the bullet and decided to go. Neither Brian or I had ever been away from our families for Thanksgiving (well except the two years Brian was serving his mission). I told Abby I would furnish pies, noodles (its a family tradition for my family) and a fruit salad. I baked four pies the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Pies!!! Lemon Meringue, Pumpkin and Cherry!!!

Our traditional noodles that we love over mashed potatoes!!!

We were quite upset when a major storm closed I-84 Tuesday evening. We didn't know if we were going to be able to get to Boise or not. Turns out where there is a will there is a way.  We made it and enjoyed a great dinner with Abby's parents, Gene and Julie; her brother Jesse and his wife Melissa and their family and her sister Katie and Katie's friend Kim.  Lots of good food and lots a good conversation.  The highlight of my time was the oranament exchange that is a tradition of Abby's family.  Abby's niece Lauren wanted the ornament we had brought that was a hunter dressed in camo.  Hahahaha!  No matter how much they tried to get Lauren to trade for a different oranament she wanted the hunting ornament. 

Road Trip to Idaho

Rory and Abby recently purchased a home and Brian and I thought it would be fun to take the weekend and go visit with them. We haven't been back to visit them since we moved them up there after their wedding. We left early Sunday morning and after about a six hour drive we arrived there just in time to see Rory leave for work. Abby was a very gracious hostess though. She kept us busy the rest of the day. She took us to see the new house and also on a tour of downtown Boise (where we had never been). We visited a place called the Westside Drive Inn where we experienced an ice cream potato. Seriously, this thing looks so much like a baked potato if you didn't bite into it and find out it was ice cream you wouldn't know. It was yummy!!!!

We had a great steak at Texas Roadhouse for Brian's birthday. We helped put new tile in the master bathroom and fix a few light switches. The house is really cute and it will be nice for them to be buying something rather than throwing money away on rent. It was fun to get away for a few days and spend time with them.



The famous "ice cream potato"!


Rory in front of the new house.
(I never did get both he and Abby there at the same time.)

My youngest son. . . .

Just wanted to share this darling picture of Kade, Tyla and Haydee. He loves these little girls so much. This is after Church one Sunday in their sand box. As you can see he is still in his Church clothes. Tyla didn't care....she grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at him anyway!!!


So I haven't really updated my blog for awhile now but today for some reason I feel like I need to write about Kade. I haven't written anything on my blog about him coming home from his mission in New Zealand. I guess its really not a big secret....everyone knows he is home. I've written pages and pages about it in my journal but those comments are really not for everyone's eyes. As a parent you just don't anticipate this turn in life. You expect when you send your son on a mission that he will be gone for the entire two years. Life has a way of surprising us! Heavenly Father gives us these trials in our life so that we can learn and grow and while I would rather not have experienced this particular trial I am thankful for the blessings our family has received because of it.

Kade will be fine. I know that. Kade was gone long enough that he was able to recognize the Spirit touching his life and the lives of those he served in New Zealand. I sent out a boy.....but in those few short months.....a man returned. A man with a strong testimony....a man that knows the power of prayer....a man that wants to return to live with his Father in Heaven someday. I'm proud of Kade and that he did what he needed to do (even if it meant coming home from his mission early.)

Kade I want you to know how much your dad and I love you. We will always be here for you no matter what happens in your life. Stay strong and keep your head held high! Make wise choices and decisions that will keep you on the path back to your Heavenly Father.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.........

Today was one of the happiest days of my life.  I was able to be in a sealing room of the Logan Temple and watch as my son was sealed to Abby Shai Avery.  Yay!!!!  I finally have a daughter!!!!  It was a beautiful wedding and Rory and Abby had lots of family and friends there to share their special day with them.  Abby looked beautiful in her white dress and blue shoes.  Of course I thought Rory looked very handsome as well.  We had a wonderful wedding breakfast after the ceremony at Hamilton's in Logan and then drove home to Woodruff where Rory and Abby were honored at a reception at the Woodruff church that night.

One week from today. . . . .

my son Rory will be a married man. Where have the years gone? It really does seem just like yesterday that Brian and I brought him home from the hospital. Life threw us a few curves with Rory. I honestly have to admit that there was a time about 20 years ago that I didn't know if he would live to see his next birthday let alone a wedding day. Thanks to a loving Heavenly Father and the prayers of many many family members and friends next Wednesday (September 9, 2009) we will all meet in the Logan Temple and watch as Rory and Abby are sealed together for time and eternity.

Several years ago I came across the lyrics to a song and I saved them. I share them today:

I don't know where the time has gone
since those little boy days doesn't seem that long.
Yet here you are it's your wedding day and there's one thing darling
I'd like to say...

Be kind, be sweet, be a gentle man,
care and share and always be fair.
And remember though you now have taken a wife
You will always be my son my loving son.

You filled my life with so much joy
As I watched you grow from that little boy
Now I'll try not to cry as you walk away
And just once more darling I'd like to say...

Be kind, be sweet, be a gentle man,
care and share and always be fair.
And remember though you now have taken a wife
You will always be my son my loving son.

From the little boy you were 26 years ago

to the man that you are today

its been a pleasure to share this journey with you as your mother. May the future hold much love and happiness for you and Abby as you walk through it together as husband and wife. I love you today and forever :)

"For behold the field is white already to harvest...."

Elder Bell, Todd and Elder Call
An excerpt from Elder Bell's e-mail on July 26, 2009:

We had a great week here in New Zealand. Our investigator Todd was baptized and confirmed!! Elder Call baptized him and I confirmed him and gave him the Holy Ghost. It was pretty much an awesome experience! Todd couldn't stop smiling the whole time. He bore his testimony at the end of the baptism. It was pretty powerful experience for me!!!

Yes, I read!

I decided I needed to broaden my horizons a little bit so this past month I read three different books.

I first read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Its about a young shepherd named Santiago who goes on a quest for a dream and the fulfilment of his destiny and basically finds out things weren't so bad exactly where he was. It was a good book (even though I told Rory and Abby I didn't like it much because they wanted me to love it) and I would recommend it.

The second book was My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It is a novel about a young girl who sues her parents for the right to make her own decisions about how her body is used when a kidney transplant is planned in order to save her older sister's life. I liked the book although I'm not sure I really like the author's writing style (if that makes sense at all).

The third book was The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards. It tells the story of a man who abandons his newborn baby, who has Down syndrome. I enjoyed this book also.

In the past my reading has pretty much been limited to church books like the Work and the Glory series and romance novels. It was fun to branch out and little bit and read something that I wouldn't normally read because, yes, I do read!! (Sorry an inside family joke of sorts!!!)