Merry Christmas 2024 and Happy New Year!

Christmas was wonderful, fun, and busy as it should be.  Too much food, late nights, lots of laughing and chatting.  More memories made.  The first part of December was the Smith get together.  We had a great meal and white elephant exchange. Good times. Dave and I again served at his work party. We came, we saw, we served, we ate, and we left.  Home by 9.  Perfect. We had our ward party.  The EQ was asked to do one of the numbers on the program.  They got a cooler and some mugs like they were sitting around a campfire and told dad jokes.  It was well done with little prep. Food was good as always. The next day Hatch's came in.   We got to spend a lot of time with them. 

Cora made us all some neat advent calendars this year.  She got Dave a puzzle, put it all together, then separated it into bags with a date on it and a Lindor inside.  He really enjoyed doing the puzzle.  I had socks and drawings for my cookbook that I had wanted for years.  Cora drew them and I love them.  Leah and Braydon got flavored hot chocolate and little trinkets that Cora knew they would like.  It was thoughtful and very Cora. 

Once Hatch's got here we were pretty chill.  Took some 4-wheeler rides and Cora made us some great pumpkin red curry soup. We played a lot of games this weekend.  I had wanted to get through all our games and see what we wanted to keep or not.  Cora decided she was going to help with my goal.  So every day we would play a few round of a couple games.  We got through a lot.  There were some that we didn't even get through reading the instructions and we were like nope. 

We had our Christmas dinner and Christmas Eve appetizers on the 26th and 27th.  Barrett's were up at the in-laws before Christmas, then had spent Christmas day at their house just the two of them.  So Christmas eve was not much.  Had dinner, more games.  The next morning slept in and then we opened presents.  Cora said it was probably the last Christmas she would be able to sleep in for a long time. :)  Easy lunch and chicken dinner.  Barrett's got there that evening.  We opened stockings after they ate. They always get great games from the in-laws, they brought those with so we could all play.  We stayed up way to late just hanging out and chatting.  Boxing Day morning we got ready to do cows.  The steers needed to be banded and the cows needed Ivermectin.  When we had preg tested the Ivermectin was frozen and slushy and we were not able to spray it on them. Cora bundled Jane up and over we went.  We had lots of help this year.  Emry had a friend over and then all our kids.  Made for fast work and the kids were happy they got to be home for it.  They have missed working with the cows.  It was great that it worked for both families on a day that they were all there.  

That night was our appetizers.  So much food was prepared the whole week.  We were running out of room for leftover storage.  Had a cooler in the garage and stored some things outside. We had a lot of appetizers and they were all amazing. Cora had wanted specific pictures of Jane's first Christmas and had asked for Leah to help.  After dinner I told the girls to go work on the picture as I did dishes so we could watch a movie after.  Dave, Ammon, and Braydon helped me and it went fast.  Leah got some cute pictures. 

One the 27th we had our Christmas dinner.  I invited my parents up so they could see the girls.  It was a good meal and we had fun again chatting and hanging out.  I really love hanging out with my kids and their spouses.  They are so fun and they married great people. That night we did a quick nativity program.  Guess who played baby Jesus this year??

Saturday afternoon was spent at Myrna's for the Puzey Christmas do.  Great food, fun games, nice time.  Barrett's had to leave the next morning to teach their primary class and back to work on Monday.  Cora had some friends over and we pulled out all the left overs. Monday they had a work Christmas party and were checking out some of the projects down this way.  Then they left early this morning to return home. 

We got the Christmas decorations all put away and everything cleaned back up and laundered.  I was supposed to go to work today, but they texted and said there was only 2 drs in and did I want the day off.  Tonight we are going to decide what we feel like for dinner, watch a movie, ring in the new year early and finally get to bed at at decent hour. 

We got to talk to Blake on pday and Christmas day this week.  He has been in a trio the last 2 weeks after his comp went home.  He has loved this companionship and was hoping to stay for a while.  It has meant a lot of extra travel as they are covering two zones and multiple areas.  Two weeks left in this transfer and Pres Jarvis called him Monday morning asking him to switch companions the next day.  He is a little sad, but said he would do whatever president needed him to do.  Sounds like it might be a tough one.  Send a few extra prayers his way. 

He told us of this golden family they are teaching right now.  Blake said he was feeling like he needed to go to the top of this mountain and doing some finding, but his comp didn't want to and they had so many other areas to cover.  A couple days later they got a call from another set of missionaries and said they had a referral for them.  They had invited a man to a baptism and he showed.  So Blake gets his info and low and behold he lives at the top of that mountain.  When they first met with him the man said he thought he was going to his baptism, he was all in from the beginning with out even knowing what he was jumping in to.  The missionaries explained that he needed to have a few lessons first and he has been very eager.  One day they gave the family some things to memorize and the kids told their dad they needed him to help them as the elders would be coming by that night.  They had memorized everything and read all the scriptures.  This man, Joseph Bambosa, has brought 5 other families to church with him the last few weeks.  The are set on date for mid January.  If the water shows up.  It was been a problem getting water during the dry season.  Blake is hoping he gets to stay in the area to see this family baptized. 

2024 was Elder Puzey's black out year.  He is loving every minute, says he is not homesick and said he is working his butt off to get done as much as he can.  Loves the people and the work.

We have had a great year.  Had some changes and we love it all.  We enjoy being empty nesters and love when the kids come to visit.  We fill blessed beyond measure and are thankful for the kids we have and the decisions they make, the contributing members of society they are, the jobs they have and the love they have for each other.

Happy New Year!

November and more

I may have mentioned that I really do not like the new way that blogger is set up.  They put all pictures backwards, but here we go.  The girls and families came to visit the last week in November.  It was fun to see, as Cora says, 'all Jane's new tricks',  We had fun hooding, hanging out, decorating for Christmas and as usual it went tooast.  We carried on the tradition of lifting someone up to put the star on.  This year we did Jane, with a bit of help from Cora :) 

Leah had wanted to go see Wicked and we heard Earl's was closing.  She was going to make a girls night of it but Cora couldn't make it down and boys wanted to come so we all went. Always enjoy being with my kids.  Adult kids are so fun.  I truly love every stage I get to go through.  I always think I'm in my favorite, then life will change and I love that one just as much.  The Giving Machine was in the mall.  We went there as well.  I had Dave chose what we were giving this year, but I still picked fresh water.  With Blake in Africa I have become very aware of water and how blessed we are.  Movie was good, Earl's was delicious, and company was the best. 

Got of picture of Blake teaching at zone conference.  He loves being a zone leader and going to MLC.  Whenever he does get released as ZL, he will be sad as he has done that almost his whole mission and has had some really neat experiences. Blake is training again, which was his hope.  He loves training.  With his old companion he had Elder Ojediran come and do comp study with them.  Elder Ojediran is in the West Africa area presidency.  He is from Nigeria as was Blake's companion.  They got a call the night before and said since he was there for a mission tour he was going to join them in the morning.  It was kinda neat.

It snowed so much a few weeks ago.  As I was gearing up to go shovel our little walk, I asked Dave when were were on to shovel the church.  I didn't want to be surprised last minute and wanted all our turns on the calendar.  It was a good thing I asked cause we were on that day.  It was thick and heavy.  We went 3 times to the church.  Many hours.  This year the snow blower was fixed which made it easier, thank goodness, but still so much work.  And it hasn't snowed since. :/

 Dave has been worried that the barn was going to blow over for a few years now.  So a couple weeks ago he did some bracing on it and got the important stuff out in case it did go.  One of the things we pulled out was this old tractor.  He wants to get it running so it is useable on the farm.  It is in pretty good condition considering it has sat for like 40 years. 

We got the cows moved back to the home quarter.  It was a lot more fun this year as we finally had our own quads.  We could zoom around and be helpful instead of on foot. I did miss the exercise, but it was much better.

I guess those are some of the highlights since I waited to long to post and I can't remember everything that happened over the last 2 months.  My poor posterity, I am slacking. 

Northern Lights

Last night Leah sent us pictures of the Northern Lights that she had taken.  I had seen several posted by so many people over the last week, but kept missing them.  We paused our movie and went right out.  They were really neat. We had a bit of cloud cover, but could see a little red and some greens.  It was a little chilly. Dave was sure they would be better later so we finished our movie and got all bundled up, grabbed our lawn chairs and headed back out.

They were truly awe inspiring.  I have never seen them like that before.  We stayed out for over an hour.  We were surrounded.  No matter what way you looked was a show.  Lights dancing and colors.  Really one of the neatest things I have ever seen.

My phone wouldn't take pictures so all these are from what Leah, Ammon, and Dave sent.  As I sat there all bundled up, watching this amazing show from God, in this beautiful word, I was sure I was witnessing one of the signs of the last day.  

Conference 2024

A couple of months ago they announced in church that conference tickets were available if anyone wanted them.  I thought to myself, 'we should go again sometime'. Just as Dave turned to me and said, "we should go."  We both kinda laughed and went on with church.  That afternoon he had meetings and I started browsing, just out of curiosity, how much it would be to fly rather than drive and hotels.  It really wasn't to bad.  After his meeting I told Dave what I had found out.  He got tickets from the stake and just like that we were going to conference.  We left on the Friday and my only stipulation was that we had to be back across the border by the time Blake might call.  It was a beautiful short flight.  Dave decided that we are never driving to Utah again, this was so fast, even with the drive to the airport.

Taylor picked us up and took us to our hotel.  We had free shuttle, but it was the only time we were going to be able to see him that weekend.  I had got a place that was only a 20 min walk from the conference center.  And later found out that we were in the free Trax zone also.  The Trax was only 2 blocks from our hotel.  We checked in and then walked to Nacho Daddy, which Cora had recommended.  It was really good.  

Then continued on to temple square.  We walked around for a few hours looking at the buildings and some museums.  We went and sat in the Tabernacle to get out of the heat.  Years ago when we took the kids we had discovered that at the Tabernacle there was a standby line to get into the conference center with overflow seats.  Last time we missed getting in by 2 rows.  But when we asked a senior sister missionary working in the Tabernacle told us that they were not doing that and that we also needed a ticket for the Tabernacle and that they no longer had speakers outside to listen.  We were disappointed because we had planned to spend the whole weekend on temple square, but that wasn't going to work if we couldn't even listen to it.  Next we hopped on the Trax to the Delta Center to watch the Jazz play.  It was a fun game.  So much going on and things to watch.  People watch, fun half time shows with these little 3-4 yr old kids etc.   We got a hotdog there from Dawg, which Tay recommended.  He told me the secret order ;), for hotdogs it was pretty good. 

 Our seats were on the side behind the basket.  When the opposing team was shooting they passed out bangers for us all.  That made the game even more fun.  

After the game we took  Trax back to the hotel.  Saturday we had breakfast and got ready, but were in no hurry.  We had afternoon tickets.  Decided to walk to the bakery that Kita has told us about and get a few things for our conference snack.  It was a good long walk.  Through some sketchy areas and a few beautiful buildings. 

Back at the hotel we watched the first session, had a snack for lunch then got on the Trax.  We still were not totally convinced with the info we had been given and wanted to check it our for ourselves.  Good thing we did.  You can totally do standby in Tabernacle for Conference Center.  So we made a plan to get up early Sunday and get in line. Then went to our session.  The kids choir was so good.  And it was fun to watch all the behind the scenes going on with them and all the speakers. All the session were great.  That is almost all Blake wanted to talk about when he called Monday. After the afternoon session we went to the Church History Museum and then to Seven Brothers.  Another recommendation from Kita.  We had great food ideas given to us for the weekend and we were thankful. This was a really good burger place.  I would have like to go again and try a salad they had. Looked really good.

Back on Trax and to the hotel to watch evening session.  Then a soak in the hot tub, watched a Forensic Files and sleep.  We wanted to be in line very early for the Tabernacle.  We were at breakfast right when it opened at 7 and walked to the Trax.  In hindsight we should have just walked to temple square.  All weekend the Trax had been coming 7 mins apart, Sunday was apparently 20 mins.  We saw the train pull away as we were crossing the street but were not concerned thinking another was coming right away.  We finally got on train, rode to temple square and got in an already long line.  Again we missed conference center by 2 rows.  Dave has made a list of conference hacks that we will remember for next time. It was fun all weekend to have strangers walk up to you and just assume you were going to conference.  Any white shirt and dress, they would talk to you and ask what session you were going to or say see you up there with out even asking where you were going.  I loved it. 

It was still neat to watch in the Tabernacle.  I needed to use the bathroom as the first session was ending, so I told Dave I would slip out during closing song and go get in line for afternoon session.  We decided to try one more time.  But when I got out there it was way longer than the morning, so we just walked back to the hotel.  We got an Uber and went to Texas Roadhouse, one of Dave's favorites.  We thought lunch would be better than dinner since we knew I would have left overs we could eat for dinner.  Uber back and final session watched at hotel.  Monday was up very early and caught the Trax to the airport.  Apparently the free shuttle was not available, which was fine, the Trax was easy and cheap. We made it back through the border half hour before Blake called.  So we just pulled over and had a great chat with him. It was so fun to see how much our kids enjoyed conference and to discuss the different talks and what they got out of it.  Another quick trip.  Very nice to get away.  We walked for miles, spent time away from phones, heard inspiring uplifting messages and had a wonderful time.  

Farthest North Ever

We finally got all the bales hauled.  Months after we are usually done.  There were so many equipment break downs this year and as lovely as it was the rain just kept coming, making it hard to get in the field.  Our grass is greener in October than it has been for years.  It is great.  But we got it done.  And we have more bales than we have in a long time.  Also a miracle of fasting for rain.  We have definitely been blessed this year. 

We would spend every spare minute hauling, sometimes only getting one load in a night.  Usually hauling bales is my least favorite thing.  To me it feels like walking down stairs picking up one toy, going up stairs to put away, then all the way back down again to get one more.  Really we load the truck as much as we can, so I don't know why it feels this way.  This year I almost enjoyed it.  Maybe because we were later it wasn't so hot, or we didn't have activities to run to, whatever it was, this year was almost fun. 

We took a trip up to visit Hatch's.  It was the farthest north I have ever been. We always enjoy seeing the projects they are working on.  It was supposed to be a 6ish hour trip.  Dave was a very law abiding citizen and it took us 7. We did drive a little faster on the way home until we started seeing a lot of deer on the side of the road and my car lights suck.  Back to being good citizens. It was fun to see where they live and attend their ward.  Interesting how many people Dave knew in their ward.  Even some cousins and people he grew up with. 

We went on a little hike.  More of a big hill and went right to the Saskatchewan border.  Ammon drove to the dump and parked.  At first I thought he was kidding.  We walked along a fence and through this ward members field that had told them about where to go.  Through the cows, it was an interesting way to start a hike.  Ammon even called the guy before we left to make sure no bears had been spotted in the area recently.  On the way Ammon was telling everyone which mushrooms were safe and how to spot them.  Nobody died after so I guess he was right.  They all enjoyed quite a few.  I don't like mushrooms so wasn't eating them, and was glad I didn't have to haul all the sick people out. :) 

It really is a beautiful place.  So many trees and everything was green.

There is a bear that was in their back yard.  It comes up and eats the crabapples.  We never saw it close and it always ran away when we tried to get a good picture.  But it was fun to watch Cora.  She is just living in her best element there.  They have a ward member that they get raw milk from, she had all this space, lots of trees, husband is home in the evening again, and a cute little girl.  Hanging her laundry to dry and the landlord has a huge garden that he asked them to help eat.  Sunday for dinner she just walked out with a big pan and gathered fresh things to eat. 

The project is coming along nicely and we really enjoyed being with them.  Cora made her pizza for us and Ammon did a seafood boil.  We had to head home right after we ate on Sunday, but have more to see next time we venture up. 

 

Airport Doors

You step through the airport doors,

my young son

Going to a country we had never heard of,

until God called you there.

Sierra Leone the paper said, 

as you paused in shock and bewilderment.

We jumped right into visas and vaccines, 

gathering the things we thought you would need

hoping it was enough.

All to quickly the day arrived. 

We gathered at the airport to say good-bye.

You, my young son, were nervous and scared

but trying not to show it.

But I knew, I could see it in you stance and in your eyes.

And because I know you, only as a mother can know their son.

My young son who has never liked change or the unknown.

I also saw the almost imperceptible 

straightening of the shoulders

the resolve and determination in your eyes

as you trusted God's plan.

We gave you one last hug and you stepped through those airport doors

into His hands.

A whirlwind few weeks of classes and learning

study and pray. 

Another airport, and a day and a half later 

you stepped into a world so foreign to all you had known.

Dirt floors and poverty

Unreliable water and electricity

Learning a language or three

Bartering for food, brooking clothes

Keke rides and walking for miles.

Sometimes they laughed at you 

and called you 'white boy'

These humble and happy people

Every day you give it your all,

working sun up to sun down.

Military coop, killing rats, gunshots and lockdowns.

Hot hot days and unrelenting rain and mud.

You continue to search for the souls God sent you there to find.

Some companions you have to learn to love

others it comes easily.

Service and lessons, filling fonts by bucket, malaria, and cooking food over a fire

You continue to teach of God's love.

Most weeks we get to talk to you

by email or video chat. We laugh and discuss.

Pray and marvel at every experience and opportunity you are given.

And every week we see you, my young son, 

as your testimony grows.

I anxiously await the day you walk back through those airport doors.

When we can give you a hug and see you face to face.

For the day that God releases you back to me.

 

Yet knowing He will not return you as my young son

but as a man, a bit of a stranger.

One that who, as he walked through the fire, 

took one step closer to becoming the person God wants you to become.

 

 

General Update

Blake is doing well.  He has had some really cool experience's.  We look forward to when he has enough data and time to call us.  He does most weeks.  He is currently training, his comp is from the DRC, he is zone leader and his a councilor in the branch presidency.  A while back he had fun finding his own ride to Freetown.  It is about a 3 hour drive.  He goes every few weeks for MLC. The MP was in Makeni visiting and asked if he wanted to have the mission bus sent for him.  Blake thought it would be fun to travel Salone style.  They got to a road crossroads and there are lots of people and cars shouting out where they are going.  Then you pack into a car, way over what we would be allowed to have here. and off they go.  Once he got to Freetown, the got a keke and make it to the mission home.  He said it was a blast.  On the way home they paid extra to have back seat to themselves.  He has done this a few times now and thinks it is great.  He really gets along with the other zone leader.  I think they will be good friends for life.  It is rainy season and it is flooding most of the time. He got malaria, but is recovered now.  Had horrible headaches but it didn't stop him from working.  He said he was there to work and not stay inside.  He put on sunglasses and a big hat and went to work. They have a rat kill count going in the apartment.  Up to 22 now.  They just beat them with a stick until they are dead.  It is the same stick that they prepare food with.  Just labeled it rat bat on one side and pepe pounder on the other. Oh my!  His zone had the highest find rate in the mission last transfer, he was pretty proud of that.  We love to hear his experiences.  It is a different world and he is just taking it all in.

I love this picture, so much about it.  The inviting hand held out, the elders under umbrella in the rain, the font outside, so much in this picture.

All African service project.  He was excited to get to work with a machete.

Surviving malaria.

Cute kid holding hand.

These next are all out of order.  

As I was helping Cora pack we found Sunpuppy, her childhood toy, and Black Bear, Ammon's childhood toy.  Cute picture with her parents toys. 

  Dave, Cora, Jane and I hiked Wall lake end of July.  It was a hot day.  With all the trees burnt down there was no shade and hotter than I remembered.  But it was fun and glad we got one hike in this summer. 

Shakespeare in the park was fun as always.  We meet the girls and Natalia there.  This year they did Twelfth Night. 

Canada day we spent with Leah.  Everyone else was gone, we met in town and went to a car show, food truck, had lunch, walked around the lake, watched a movie and then had some treats.  It was a different Canada Day but still fun. 

End of July was Magrath Day.  We went and spent it with the girls and Ammon.  Parade, Pancake breakfast, Wally's beach, some cool BMX tricks and dinner and ice cream I finally got to try at Blue Goose.  Was worth the hype. 

 Baling has been slow this year.  Lots of equipment break downs.  It was been nice having fewer cows as we haul water.  Don't have to do it as often.  I have got to be MOA a lot this summer.  Even a couple days all on my own.  I like doing MOA.  It has been a fun fast summer.  Fit in what we could and just enjoyed being with the kids.