THURSDAY'S VISIT

Thursday, we got up early. There is so much sunshine over here and there was a window at the head of our bed as well as one on each side. They had the pull down blinds like Gramma has but they didn't have the darkening part. When the sun comes up, it is BRIGHT!! Cindy and Ty were up earlier than us. I think they were awake at 5. We got up at 6. We had a nice breakfast of muffins, sausages and eggs and a breakfast smoothie. Their little 3 year old granddaughter was brought over while her mom worked cleaning a house. Her name was Shaylee. She was a bit shy at 1st but soon warmed up and was so cute and fun. After breakfast, Ty took us on a Ranger ride. He has two of them and he, Cindy and Shaylee were in front of us.

He drove us around their property and showed us all kinds of interesting things.

It was fun riding up and down country roads and off roading was even funner. lol We drove through mud and small creeks and got to see his cattle and crops. 

When we got back to the house, Ty showed me a bear skin, a wolf skin and several smaller furs from various critters. He put his Buffalo coat on me and let me tell you, it was HEAVY!! He had a friend who was dying, and he always wanted to shoot a buffalo. Ty got in touch with Ted Turner, the big Broadcasting Mogal, in Montana. He and his friend got permission to shoot two of his buffalo. (Not sure what that coast. lol) Anyway, his friend died the day after they got back.  Their was an old Shoshone woman who lived nearby and Ty said they were pretty destitute. He gave her the meat and paid 2 months rent for her, in exchange for her making this coat. He said he wears it sometimes in the cold winters and also in parades etc. 

Then we all got into Tys pickup and he drove us up to Messa Falls. They were just before Island Park and they were beautiful. 

It was an easy walk to them, although this old lady was still winded BIG TIME!!

Cindy, Ty and Shaylee

Gee, I wonder who these two old farts are?  lol

It was so much fun to see the upper and lower falls. These are of course, the upper.

I didn't even take a picture of the lower.  We then drove back to Ashton and went to a BIG JUDD'S restaurant and we bought them lunch. It was good and very filling. AND none of us had the famous burger. lol We drove to Deidre's to drop off Shaylee and then came back to their place and got ready to go to a couple of sessions at the Rexburg temple. 

We did two session's and it was still light out when we left. I got a picture of Ty Cindy and Tony.

And Ty took one of me, Tony and Cindy.

I took a couple of shots from the truck as we left.

A beautiful sky with the sun setting. It was so awesome to go.  This was the 1st time Tony and I have ever gone to this temple.

This is the new Rexburg temple that is being built. It is gonna be HUGE!  It will be a good excuse to come back to see Cindy and Ty in the future. lol 

The clouds and sunset were gorgeous on our way back to the ranch. 

There had been a very little rain and it made the clouds so pretty with the bit of pink in them.

We got back to the ranch and went to bed. It had been a long busy day but so fulfilling!!

TRIP TO EASTERN IDAHO

Tony and I left for a five day trip to Eastern Idaho. We decided to stop in Burley on the way to Ashton and do an endowment session. 

We had driven down for the open house but the wait time was 5 to 6 hours. Obviously, we didn't wait to get in. 

We got in this trip! lol

It was so beautiful.  We were happy to finally see it.  After our session, went directly to Cindy and Ty's house in Ashton. 

They have such a beautiful home out in the country. They have a 4000 acre farm/ranch. They added onto their home recently and it is incredibly gorgeous. They grow various crops, as well as cattle. They have horses and chickens and it was so fun to finally visit them. Tony had never been to their place either so it was great to go. Tony had given me SOLO MIO for Mother's Day and so after visiting with them and getting a tour of their home, we watched the show. We went to bed and rested for the next day.

TRIP TIME

Last Saturday, Tony and I served our shift at the temple, came home, packed the car and took off for Kennewick washington. Deedra had invited us to come watch three of the kids in a musical production they had been working on for several months. 

So after our shift ended, we went to Chick Fil A, grabbed a quick bite, then home to load the car and off we went. It was a nice quick 4 hour drive and we were there by 4 in the afternoon. Steve and Gaya were already there as they went over Friday and went to the Saturday afternoon show. We planned on the Monday show which was the finale. We had a nice evening with everyone. We played games and some went swimming and then we watched

 "THE FUGITIVE". I hadn't seen it for years and honestly couldn't remember a thing. lol  (The great thing about getting old and losing your memory.) It was fun.

Steve and Gaya chose to get a motel so Tony and I slept in Garrett's room. We all went to church together Sunday and Steve and Gaya left for home right after Sacrament meeting. We stayed for Sunday school. When we got home, Curtis cooked smoked pork chops on his TRAGER and Deedra made roasted oven potatoes and a salad. It was a delicious meal.  We relaxed the rest of the day and the kids wanted to watch WONKA  later. Then we hit the sack.

Monday, Curtis went to work, Jack to high school, Garrett was studying his scriptures and learning Japanese on Duo Lingo. Then he went to do his bread run which is one of the services he does for his Service Mission.  Deedra did Charlotte's hair and off to school she went. It's right across the street and dow a little ways so she walks.

Alice leaves last, so Deedra did her hair and then we walked Alice to school. She goes further away but it was a nice walk for the four of us. Then the three of us went the long way home so we got our exercise day.  When we got back, I took a shower and Deedra did a fisherman's braid on my hair. It was so nice! Wish I had her around daily to do it! lol Tony took a shower and then we went to the store. Deedra picked up a few groceries. She also bought some Gorilla tape and glue so Tony could fix Garrett's dresser drawer. She also bought some needles that had a curved one. Then I put buttons on three pair of pants so Jack could wear button suspenders with them.  Tony also fixed a light fixture problem. We ate chicken salad sandwiches and then left for Richland, where the show was.

The program was started by the Haw's (last name)  He and his wife have 10 children and she is expecting another in 6 weeks. The kids are homeschooled and they are an incredible family. All of the kids in this CHORAL FUSION are LDS except for two. 

Alice was in the 1st group of young performers. They were so cute! There was singing and dancing and they were helped a little by the older group. 

Alice was a little shy but it was adorable.

Charlotte was in the 2nd group. The songs they performed were all number's we knew, which I loved!

Charlotte was a lot more confident and she did so well.  Once the little girls were finished performing, they came and sat with us and then the older kids took over.

Jack was in this group and he is multi talented. Singing, dancing, playing his horn, being a comedian! You name it, he did it!!

Some number's were with all boys and some with all girls and some all of them together!!

They did so many fun numbers.  From Star Wars to Singing in the Rain. Irish numbers, cartoon numbers etc.

The  2nd to the last number was a Valentine's song. The kids were so cute. As the song progressed, a young man and a young lady, date. Then another couple, proposes, it progressed  to marriage, a baby, a graduation etc and the last was Jack and a cute gal as the old married couple. They did a cute dance with the walker as they continued to sing the Valentine song.  It was awesome! The program was so good and I was so impressed with the couple who produced it. The time love that went into this was incredible. I am so impressed with the community the Butterfields have moved into! It's been so good for their family on all accounts.

After the show, we got a picture together. It was such a fun evening. So entertaining. Just a great weekend.  We came home, went to bed and got up early this morning and were on the road back to Nampa by 8 our time. Home by noon, ate lunch at ....you guessed it....

Chick Fil A. Then we came home and unloaded the car. Tony mowed the lawns while I did laundry and a few things here in the house.  We repacked, took showers and relaxed for a bit before bed. Tomorrow, we head to Burley to the temple and then on to Ashton. I'll blog that trip next week. 
GOD IS GOOD!~

LAST FOUR DAYS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE

WOW!! What a weekend and a couple of days!! Saturday after our temple shift, I baked some cookies and took them over to see Jan Poulsen. She just had hip surgery. We had a nice visit and while I was there, Brother Rice called me and asked if he could come visit me. I told him I was at Jan's and then we were going to Joy's baptism. He said he was going to the baptism as well and could he come to my house at 5:15. I said "sure" and we finished our visit with Jan and then went home. I told Tony he was probably going to ask me to speak in Sacrament meeting. However, when he got to our house, he told me they were releasing me from Relief Society and wanted to call me to serve as 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency. Of course, I accepted!! I've been serving in the RS for 6 plus years and I am looking forward to a change. After he left, Drue came over and the three of us went to the Orchard Care Center for the baptism of Joy Bridgeman. Joy is bedridden and partially blind and a large woman.  Special arrangements had to be made to perform her baptism. It took a while but it was so worth it. The Rec Center told us we could use the pool with a lift chair after the center closed down Saturday night. A few workers had to sat a little late but they didn't mind. 

Joy and her roommate, Betty Ostin, were both transported to the center by a medical transport business. We were told we had till 7:30. This is a picture: from the left,  Brother Bishop, our Ward Missionary Leader, Elder ?  Elder Fritz,  another Elder I don't know, Elder Fenton, another Elder I don't know and Brother Barker. He and his wife are assigned to the care center and meet with the LDS members who are there and have Sacrament meetings with them on Sundays. 

Joy had a canvas mat under her in her wheel chair and several of the missionaries and our Bishop Parish, (on the right) lifted her from the wheelchair to the hydraulic lift chair at the pool.

She was lowered into the pool and there was Brother Barker, Brother Bishop and four Elders were in the pool with her.

It was an incredible service. Brother Barker performed the baptism. 

After she was submersed into the pool, they brought her back to the chair and she was lifted out of the pool and placed back into her wheel chair.

It was such a tender moment watching the Elder's pat her hair dry with a towel and wrapping her in the blanket. She was taken back to the care center by the transport in her wet clothes. It was quite an ordeal dressing her and so they left the wet clothes on and after she was confirmed, the care takers, dressed her.

The joy on Joy's face was so sweet. She was so happy and thanked everyone for helping her to make this important ordinance possible. 

Brother Rice, gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and it was wonderful. He is so dynamic and such a good speaker. After he finished, we sang THE SPIRIT OF GOD" and with all the Elder's and Sister Missionaries singing, it was incredible!! It was an incredibly spiritual baptism. I am so glad we went. Sunday at Sacrament, I was officially released from being 2nd counselor in Relief Society and sustained to be the 2nd counselor in Primary. I led my last RS discussion. After our meetings, Tony and I went to the Bishop's office and I was set apart. We came home, ate lunch and relaxed for a bit.

At six o'clock, we went to the Floyd's for Corbin's birthday party. 

Corbin got several gifts from his family and the measly card and $10 dollars from us. lol 

Anna is home from Utah and it was good to see her home again. Praying things go well from here on out.

We got a family picture but I couldn't get Corbin to look at me in any of them. lol We didn't stay long after we had cake and ice-cream. Katie wanted to go driving and Chris had to go with her. Anna went a long too so we came home. 

It was Charlotte's 12th birthday as well and I stole a picture off her mom's Facebook page of her BIG DAY!  

Monday: 

We went to the gym, walked our four miles and then we drove out to Pat's. She gave me an Egg Chair for my patio. 

We got home and Tony and I put it on the back patio.

I LOVE IT!!

Monday is our yard day! Yep, it's that time of year. lol I am having cataract surgery on Thursday and Tony said I shouldn't mow the lawn. I told him I didn't want him doing it all plus his mother's so he made me wear goggles to protect my eyes,

CUTE, HUH?  LOL

I sat in it after mowing the lawn and it is pretty darn comfortable!

Thank you Pat!!

Tony and I then got our sprinkler's working. Tony had to clean out a few heads. It's nice to have the water on and my new flowers are doing well. YAY!!

Tuesday:

We picked up the Brown's this morning and went to the temple. We did 4 endowments between the Brown's and us. Then we did 35 Sealings and then 20 Initiatory. It was a good day. We took the Brown's home and then came home, changed and went to the doctor for Tony. I sat in the car and read my book but it got too darn hot so I went into the offices and read and waited for Tony. When he finished, we went to the gym and walked. I also rode the elliptical. When we finished that we went to Chick Fil A to eat. Then to COSTCO to pick up some prescriptions. When we got home, Jorgette came over and picked up the chair I got from the lady at the temple. Tony stubbed his toe on it one day and so we decided it was not a good fit for our house. I wanted it so bad it seriously was too big for our bedroom.  So Jorgette wanted it and came to get it. 

It's time for bed now and it's been a very busy past four days!

GOD IS GOOD!