Family reunion in Wisconsin

Last year Brenda invited us all out to her farm for a family reunion. She gave us a year to figure things out. Then Covid hit and plans changed. A lot of us were up in the air if we could make it. Calls were made and plans finalized and a miracle happened. All eight siblings made it out. Timing was different. Carl left the day Gena arrived. But for a few hours we were all together. 

We were in the middle of digging post holes, but I dragged our dirty selves over to the same area and we snapped a picture or two. 

When at the farm, it’s all about working together. Tim has all the man toys, and Pete and Ivan brought some of theirs and the fun happened all week. 

Digging the hole. The posts were old telephone lines they got for free. They just happened upon a crew who were replacing poles and were able to claim them. 

In this picture you can see the auger that dug the holes. The pokes were massive. The auger arm slipped and Pete rushed in alone to save the post. The others were in stunned immobility for a minute and then every male rushed in to help him. Willa was not too happy, but no injuries to report. 

Joe is the master of chain saws. He’s used them as a fire fighter for over a decade. 

Using all tools and manpower available. This is true team building. 

The best part of the day was a turn in the outdoor shower. 100 gallon tank of water on top heated by the sun and a small stock heater (used to keep water troughs from freezing in the winter). 

The handle hanging down to turn on the water. Deb was too short to turn it. Someone found her a stool. The square shower head. Tim had seen something similar when serving in Afghanistan. 

Seriously the most loved part of the trip. I will have dreams about that shower. We all raved about it. 

One morning we did sunrise goat yoga. 

The goats were way more interested in causing mischief than in zen-like behavior. 

Handsome was all about eating the mats, clothes, and stepping on people. That or head butting other goats without regard to people proximity. 

My warrior pose. I’m proud of this picture. 

Craig got to drive a tractor for days. He loved it. 

Kade lived on the four wheeler. 

Notice my head is as tall as this horse’s whither. We watched Pete learn how to hitch a team. 

Lucy towered over me. 

The men working on harnessing the team to the wagon. 

Pete and Willa hauling hay bales back to the barn. 

The hay ready to go up the elevator to the maw. 

Craig and I am the old Polaris. 

I found a friend on a dusty walk. 

A hummingbird nest fell out of a tree. We didn’t find any eggs or babies. I hope they were okay. 

Every dinner was cooked out in the fire with Dutch ovens - the last night we did tin foil dinners. My dinner was pot roast. I had never cooked a meal in a ditch oven before. Stupid. But my dinner turned out yummy. A big relief. Ivan did beer butt chicken - we will have to try that. He used the bbq. But veggies were cooked in the ovens. Pork chops and veggies one night. Pete’s famous thousand mile stew on night. 

Just sitting around the fire and chatting. 

Boaz stayed home to work. We missed him. We were happy to come home to him. We are so glad we went and got to work on the farm and play on the four wheelers and tractors. 

We are grateful for family. We are grateful for the gospel that teaches us the importance of family and what our family can be. We love family prayers. We are grateful that we were able to all make it out and for Brenda who provided us a place to meet. 

Families can be forever. 

Returning to church

Today we went back to church for the first time in 4 months. I was looking forward to it. We saw dear and familiar faces. We sat in our lovely chapel. 

But I forgot. 

I forgot to pack my Kleenex’s. 

I didn’t even make it past the opening song. The organ music filled the chapel and the song filled my heart. 

We have sung as a family these past four months. 

But the Spirit conquered my soul and I couldn’t finish the song. I couldn’t finish any of the songs.

My full heart crept out of my eyes and washed my face clean of any makeup. 

And there I was without any Kleenexes. Sniffling and wiping my face in public during the Covid outbreak.  

It’s always the music that gets me first. 

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Baby quilts

I have two more completed quilts. The babies are both here. 

Baby Josie Jane was born July 2nd. 

I love the greens. 

This is Birdie Lou’s quilt. She was born July 10th. 

I love the butterflies

I almost chose a lighter thread, but I’m glad I went with the dark. 

Bundled, ready for delivery. 

Happy birthday dad

July 9th was my dad’s birthday. He would have been 87. He died when Boaz was 6 months old. Josh was just 4. They have no memories of him. 

I worked Thursday and Friday. I sewed Saturday. So today I made a lemon meringue pie in memory of my day. It was his favorite. 

Happy birthday Dad. I miss you. 

Covid part 2

Craig has been fully employed as an essential worker. He works at the hospital. I have been considered an essential worker as well. I work as a pharmacy tech in training. I started this new job the beginning of March. The timing was amazing. 

Once school was canceled, Boaz started working mornings at the stake president’s ranch. He has been moving pipe, learning how to drive, learning how to repair and maintain sprinkler lines, fixing fence and other worthy tasks. When Josh was home, he joined Boaz. 

That little job was instrumental in Josh being reassigned as a missionary. He was able to tell the Stake President repeatedly how much he wanted to go back out. We had to transfer Josh’s records from Colorado to Idaho to manage that particular miracle. I think he was a week away from being told no. 

So I just listed out the first blessing. Josh and his mission. 

Another blessing would be home church. We have been having wonderful discussions in the Book of Mormon. This week I noticed particularly the main emotion of the Lamanites - anger. And their focus was on had offended them in the past. They looked for ways to maintain their anger. Huge parallels to what is happening right now in our culture. It’s line we are living in the being offended olympics. Anger consumes people who mob and riot and destroy anything they can get their hands on. Conversely, covenant keeping people focus on joy and looking forward with faith. It is too easy to fall into the trap of anger. We must choose joy. 

Another blessing is having the sacrament in our home. 

These are two handkerchiefs I got years ago for a solemn assembly. They have become our sacrament cloths as well. I can’t describe the joy in our home as our men unite to prepare and administer in the sacrament. 

Today we got to talk with Josh. 

Another blessing. He is able to teach his high school friend, Vicki, over social media. Covid has challenged missionaries to teach in new ways. Josh and his companion are now teaching one of Josh’s dear friends. Never would have been possible without Covid. 

Another blessing. Josh is one of the rare missionaries who has had three mission presidents. Today he told us about something Elder Cook said during a question answer with stake presidents. Mission calls are always a result of revelation. 100%. Sometimes it has to do with where a missionary needs to be. Sometimes it is about a person the missionary needs to find. But it is mostly about the Mission President the missionary needs. Josh has had three amazing mission presidents who have impacted him in eternal ways. 

Another blessing we have been able to have investigators in our home. I guess this one is not directly Covid related, but the missionaries and investigator has witnessed and participated in our home sacrament and Come Follow Me discussions. 

Another blessing. Craig’s brothers and sisters have a weekly Zoom meeting to keep updated with everyone. 

So for the irritation of the masks and social distancing and closed schools and canceled church meetings and all the other stuff. Today I am looking at blessing that have come. And the blessings are magnificent. 

Again

The badge is back on. 

He is ready to finish strong in SLC South. The land of the aunties. He has two aunts, a cousin and a great uncle in the mission. Two uncles are in the valley, but not in his mission. We will be six hours away. It only four or five months. He was super happy to put the badge back on. He put it back on in the stake president’s office. He is in full missionary mode. 

I am so proud of him I could burst. 

Fishing lures

A guy in line at my work saw my earrings. He said they looked like some fishing lures he has. He said he wanted to bring me some lures and I could have new earrings. 

These are some of my favorites. 

Too funny.