May

I am enjoying these monthly overviews of our life.  I may miss a few things but it is easier than waiting for something amazing to happen to blog about.  Cause my life is pretty boring :) So as Blake would say, let's get to it.

One a beautiful May morning Emily got married. The Hatch's travelled down the day before and hung out with us.  Always love an excuse for them to come.  Leah was a bridesmaid and was involved all day.  She went and waited outside the temple and after the lovely couple came out and pictures were taken, her and Braydon visited with the G's.  We all then met at the family dinner.  It was a fun program and we enjoyed ourselves.  They are a cute fun couple and I'm glad Emily and Sam found each other.  Bean buddies got a few pictures together as their posse is growing.  This is original buddies picture.  The one with spouses and Jane, Jane was very upset.  That girl does not like to lay down. 

To messy of a dinner to have little girl eat in clothes.  But she loved it.

Cute all ready for the wedding, and a nap on the way over. 

The next day was Mother's Day.  We invited Myrna over to eat with us and it worked out good that she could see the kids too.  Hatch's did need to leave soon after church to get all the way back up home.  I am excited for them to move closer again for a bit. 

The next weekend was Victoria Day.  Since it was a holiday, the Barrett's came out to spend time with us.  Did some work on cars and looked at gun set ups.  Dave did some painting around the yard.  Dinner didn't turn out as expected but it was ok. A few days later Braydon had surgery on his knee.  It has been a long time coming.  We are hopeful that he will not have constant pain and that he will be able to bend his knee again with the growth gone.  He is recovering well so far.  Fingers crossed. 

Dave has been trying to get to the temple on Wednesdays when possible.  One week I was able to go down with him. 

We got out garden planted.  I found some rainbow carrots that I am excited to try.  Purple, yellow, and white.  Dave spent a lot of time getting the weeds from our lilacs and dogwoods.  They had not been growing well out in the yard where we planted them years ago.  So two years ago he moved them into the garden to help better nourish and water them.  They have been doing much better and we are hoping to retransplant them next year.  There was a lot of grass growing around them that he couldn't just rototilling that close too.  He spent hours doing that as I mowed and did some weed whipping.  He cleaned out the water tank and we hauled water.  It was a hot day and we got a lot done. 

This is my favorite little calf.  I look for her each time we go out.  2 years ago she had a sister that looked the same just a little lighter that Blake named peanut butter.  It fit her coloring.  I was happy to see the same dark nose and cute face again this year.  I was trying to think of a name but so far she is just my pretty girl. I think that is what is going to stay. 

We actually had rain!!  I know, shocking.  We had a good 2-3 days of it.  Even had puddles in the yard.  had to take pictures for prove. 

We did some roof maintenance on Myrna's roof as well.  Luckily just before it rained.  Much easier climbing around on this roof then ours. :/

Blake has not had as much data lately and the banks have been out of money a lot.  They don't have a debit or credit card.  Each week they are given an allotment of cash from the bank.  If the bank doesn't have it they travel to the mission home and see if they do or they just go without.  Which means no data and no food.  They keep a bag of rice in the apartment to eat when there is nothing else. This last transfer has been a bit rough.  Bed bugs are horrible.  He has tried everything to get rid of them and finally just accepted them.  He did say they are a little less now and they are managing.  His companion doesn't want to do a lot of work and for a few weeks wouldn't speak English.  Now there is and Elder from Nevada in the apartment which is making it a bit better.  At least he has someone to talk to at nights.  And this Elder has been doing Taco Tuesday.  Blake said he almost cried when he had a taco, bison taco, it was so good and has been so long.  He said despite this all it is amazing the blessing he has seen. 

They have been teaching a lot of potential priesthood holders.  That is what the ward needs.  And finding them has been some miracles. It is rainy season again.  They are forever wet and happy.

Blake was released as Zone Leader a couple weeks ago as well.  It was the first time on his mission that he has not been a leader.  He was looking forward to it at first, but said there was so much extra time on pdays it felt weird.  He is kind of missing it. He had a baptism last week.  A choice man named Henry.  As is usual in the country no water was delivered for the event.  Blake got on the phone and called the water people himself.   They said they would be there soon.  4 hours later they arrived.  Haha, it doesn't even phase him anymore. Just what it is. At the end of the month his MP goes home.  He has loved Pres and Sister Jarvis as his MP.  He will miss them greatly.  It will be interesting to see how different the new MP will be.

We got the email asking which airport we want our missionary to fly into.  Means it is getting real close.  He said the other day that he does not want to come home.  He loves missionary work.  He loves the country.  He loves the people.  

Abundantly Grateful

I went to work early in the morning with Dave last week.  Usually I do this when he is working a short day and I need groceries. I go for a walk around the lake, read, then grab my groceries and back to pick him up from work.  This day we had appts for vaccination and he was working a full day.  We also had a few errands to run after I picked him up and then grabbed a quick early dinner.  With all this we had a long day and when we got home still had things to do.  We got going on our chores and a few hours later as the sun was setting I sat down to read.  I have had some books I wanted to finish before Blake returned.  So for I have finished Jesus the Christ, Oliver Twist, and part of Saints 3.  I want to finish the Saints series before end of Sept.  Anyways...as I was sitting there reading I was filled with this amazing abundance of gratitude.  Here I was sitting on my comfortable couch in my beautiful home as a cake was baking, the dishwasher was running, the dryer was going, my husband was mowing the lawn, and all after a day of travelling to his job and getting groceries and vaccination so we can hopefully visit Blake's mission.  What a beautiful part of the world I get to live in.  Blake handwashes his clothes and dishes which takes a big part of his Pdays.  I don't have to do that. I didn't have to ground the flour to make the cake.  Dave wasn't out there with a scythe.  He had a great job to go to. I live in a free country, in a peaceful land. Also as I was sitting and reading I was texting my girls, getting pictures of the little girl and updates on Braydon's surgery from the day before.  A surgery that will hopefully help him not be in pain constantly . While I know that there are many talks and warnings out there about how we live in an instant world and we need to be careful.  In that moment with all the things I had at my fingertips, I couldn't help saying a prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father for all the little things that I don't think about most days.  The ease and convienance with which I live.  Modern medicine and doctor's knowledge.  Rain.  Green grass.  Jobs and transportation.  Loving husband.  Great kids.  I could go on and on. I am blessed.  I am grateful.

April

April was General Conference.  Always a great way to start a month.  I found a General Conference Fantasy game online and printed it for Dave and I to play.  I thought it was a lot of fun.  Fantastic messages, never disappoints.  

Leah and I went to Emily's bridal shower.  Dave came over with me and picked up a few groceries, ate at DQ, and then waiting with a book in the car for me.  I had just jokingly said he was welcome to come if he wanted, very sure he never would.  Then he surprised me and said that I have waited for him and the kids through things so many times that he would come and hang out with me as I travelled.  It was a fun shower and nice to see some people I haven't in a while. 

Leah texted and said they missed us and could they come watch conference with us.  Of course!  It was also Leah's birthday.  We had a little treat for her.  It was a beautiful day and they enjoyed checking cows with us. 

Calving started with a bang this year.  A bit earlier than usual and they have come pretty steady, which is awesome.  We only have 4 left to calf.

Dave and I got the fence set up for calving and the summer water ready.  We have been getting some things done in our yard as well.  We have a list of things we want to get done before Blake returns to make it all nice for him. 

One day I was out hanging laundry and saw something that looked out of place across the road.  I watched for a while trying to see if it was a goat or a ram.  When Dave got home I spotted it again and had him look.  By this time it had got in with the cows and they were not liking it.  Kept chasing it around and away from their calves.  By this time I was pretty sure it was a goat.  Working around the farm and setting up the fence and water the next day I didn't see it at all.  Assumed it had found it's way home.  Then in the afternoon as we came back I spied it in the barn.  Dave was behind me bringing the tractor back and I didn't have my phone.  So I stayed very still until he came then motioned for him to come take a picture.  It was pretty funny to see this animal running around. 

Blake got transferred to a new area.  He said it is not near as hilly as his last.  He is now in Allen Town area of Freetown.  If things stay as they have his whole mission this will be his last area.  He does get a new MP in July, we will see how he does things and if Blake gets moved.  Seems like it is a bit of a clean up area.  Some thing that needed to be changed in how they were being done.  He is still zone leader.  He enjoys his new companion and they are working hard to find as many people as they can and teach them the gospel of Christ.  He got to watch some of conference this time. 

Easter was fun to have everyone home. 

This little girl isn't walking on her own yet, but she sure love to hang on to one finger and go all over the place. 

 I had a few extra day of work this month.  Dave has had to go in most Fridays, but when he does he is usually done by 10-11.  To save a little gas and spend time together, some Fridays I will wake up super early with him and go to town.  I usually go for a walk around the lake. Go grocery shopping meet him back at work to pick him up. 

Last week Leah came out to do some printing.  She is throwing Emily a bachelorette party.  We then drove together to go vote, came back for a quick bit to eat and Dave looked to see what was making a strange noise in her car. 

 We have had hot days and cold snowy days this month.  I wrote Blake and told him that Mother Nature was having mood swings.  It was been another fantastic month. 

Easter

I was trying to take to heart the advice that Elder Stevenson gave about making Easter more important in our lives.  Leah had purchased a beautiful ceramic tomb from Cora's old roommate.  I looked around for something similar and found this wood one that I really liked.  It was our center point through the season. 

Leah had let us know that she was going to come hang out with us for the weekend since Braydon was away on a business trip.  Her plan was to sit in the sun and get tan before Emily's wedding and eat lots of gluten :).  A couple days before Cora said they were coming too.  

By Friday lunch everyone was there and we found out that Braydon was coming in a day earlier than we had thought and was going to meet us at the farm.  Everyone in the country was going to be home.  I love it.  I didn't even make a plan this time.  We just decided what to eat before the next meal.  Sun came out in the afternoons and we got to sit on the porch and hang out.

Dave had been needing to transplant 2 trees.  Ammon helped him get that done.  Lots of checking cows.  Saturday when Leah went to meet Braydon at the corner, she came back in a little later with no Braydon.  He had seen the boys outside and went straight there to check cows with them and do some other chores.  Calving was a highlight. 

Cora has been wanting to have a topsy turvy party for years.  She has this whole plan when her kids are older to celebrate The Feast of Fools. She had tried to describe a Crazy Dinner to Ammon.  My mom did this for us often at Halloween when we were growing up and so I did it for my kids as well.  I thought it would be fun to do for dinner when everyone was there so they could see what it was.  Cora and I came up with a menu and started naming things.  We were really trying hard to make it Easter themed.  Let me just say that Christmas and Halloween is much easier.  One item was hilarious.  We made Jell-O with oranges in it and called it Peter's Faith.  I thought I was very clever, as Peter sank when his faith failed just like the orange segments.  As dinner was being served, Leah totally guessed that one.  Ammon and Braydon were like How!!.  Braydon always thinks it is so funny how much us girls think alike. It went well and I think everyone had fun. 

Little girl went to check cows every time.  She loves animals. I had got her a few plush animals to play with a well.  At one point she had a lamb on the coffee table and she would walk around it, give the lamb a kiss and walk around again. 

Helping Grandpa check cows with the drone. 

Saturday night Dave got the guns out.   Barrett's had boughten Dave some targets for Christmas.  One was a battle ship game.  Seemed like it was fun for them to do.  Hatch's had brought pop for sun downers.  It was something that someone had left at their house.  Haunted Apple was the flavor.  Yes it was as horrible as it sounds.  :)  I'm not sure anyone finished. 

Sunday was Easter dinner with the Puzey's which was great.  Hatch's had to leave right away.  Long drive home.  Barrett's not to much after as Braydon had not been home for a week.  I was very pleased that they were able to make it.  Every moment we get to spend with our kids is a joy.  Even just sitting in the front room and doing nothing.  They are great humans.  Love them all more than I could ever express. 

March

March was not to eventful for us.  Heard from my favorite Elder each week.  Still killing it in Salone.  They went on a hike on pday.  Had a goal to find 1000, teach 1000, baptize a 1000 and have a 1000 new members at church last week for the mission.  Transfers will be this week.  Blake is thinking he will be transferred as he has been in the same area for 7.5 months, and if he is, it will probably be his last area since they usually stay in one place for 6 months.   But you never know. He does get a new MP in July. 

Little girl turned one this month.  Getting so big, yet still so small.  Ammon and Cora are so great about sending us lots of pictures and videos almost daily. 

Had a fun girl's day with my mom, Natalie, and Nicole.  I drove down early with Dave to work and then did my shopping.  They came and picked me up from Dave's work and we went to the mall and out for lunch.  Dad surprised us all and payed for our lunch.  I had a great time and enjoyed being with them.  To bad Kita couldn't just beam up and hang out too.  

We had stake conference and ward conference this month.  I travel with Dave and just wait in the car during his meetings.  It is a great time to write Blake a letter.  No distractions and we save on gas. 

Weather has been all over the place.  Snow, summer days, rain, crazy wind, snow again.  It's March in Canada. 

Dave got the Tahoe running.  He as saying one morning that we need to name it after having Morgan for so many years.  We landed on Rhoda.  And then decided that the Civic shouldn't be left out.  Dave always said that the Civic was a delicate car.  He was trying to talk nice to her and not call her wimpy so she would keep running for us. :)  So he picked Violet, which I thought was hilarious and perfect. 

Dave has been enjoying checking the cows when he gets home without leaving the house.  He can see if there is new calves, water working, calves in feeder, all the things.  It is great.

Last week we had a little more going on.  We took calves to auction, fingers crossed that they sold well.  Prices looked very promising. Dave has had some very long days at work.  I picked up a few extra day which is always fun. This month we had 2 last minute moves to help with. It is amazing how our little ward just comes to help even with just a few hours notice.  Small in numbers, mighty in heart. 

And just to document: I perfectly folded a fitted sheet this week;)

Happy March y'all!

February

Blake is still in Mount Aureol in Freetown.  He told Dave it was like hiking Crowsnest every day in dress shoes.  He said one day he was so tired they called every appt to see if they were still on so he wouldn't have to hike if appts were just going to bounce. :)  But he loves it.  He loves the country, his companions, the experiences.  Everything.  We managed to successfully get a package to him, which was fun.  We didn't tell him incase it didn't make it.  He was surprised and enjoyed it. 

One of the elders in his compound had a birthday.  They all bought him a Salone jersey and cake. 

Elder D Todd Christofferson visited Sierra Leone.  They bused everyone from the Bo mission to Freetown and brought all the Freetown missionaries in.  Blake said it was neat as Elder Christofferson shook every single missionary's hand and talked about the Book of Mormon.  Blake also got to see some of his old compions that had been transferred to Bo mission when it opened. 

Blake also met the only other Canadian serving in Sierra Leone.  An Elder Leavitt from Lethbridge.  He is in the Bo mission.  These two were pretty excited to find each other.  His mom sent me the picture. 

We took another trip up to visit Hatch's.  They had a lot of mail accumulated and so we made a quick trip.  Ammon gave us a tour of the church building, it is coming along great.  The ward up there is going to love it being finished.  Then a hike to an old train bridge. It was really neat.  It is part of Iron Horse Trail, which is 300 km long.  It is the old train tracks.  Really neat, we only did a tiny bit. 

We went into Cold Lake and saw the lake, went with them to get groceries and then had dinner.  We left after Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.  Got home to feed and water cows in the light.

Dave and I went to a Pronghorns game, met Leah and Braydon there.  Dave and I just both happened to be wearing our Southland sweaters.  (I bought mine as a Christmas gift last year) So Leah took a picture of us under the Southland banner. 

It was a good game.  Unfortunately in overtime they lost. 

We had a very cold few weeks.  The water was freezing fast for the bulls and they had started running over when Dave's car pulled up as they knew what he was there for.  One day it was a little warmer, Dave had an evening work event to attend.  I decided to be brave and go break the water.  I also got a calf out of the feeder and checked their water and cows feed, but none of that is scary.  I walked in and one bull started over.  I got ice broken and one big chunk out, then he was too close for my comfort.  I got out of there.  Then waited to see if he would leave after a drink so I could finish.  Sure enough, he took a while, but had his fill and I finished getting all the ice out and was very proud of myself. 

We bought oranges from Natalie and they were perfectly sweet and juicy.  I took the rinds and have them soaking in vinegar to make my own cleaner.  I now have an orange, grapefruit, and lime jar going. 

February was our usual Super Bowl Puzey's way.  We made lovely appetizers and watched a sports movie.  Just a little amount of each item as we didn't want tons of leftovers.

Dave and I have also been part of a group that is doing the emotional resilience class on Sunday evenings.  We have a good group and it has been interesting.  We are almost done.  I think it could be helpful for us to go through to help others if the need arises.

During the cold week we had beautiful hoar frost.  I have been going for walks on my lunch break.  One day in -32 it was pretty chilly.  I bundled up good and only my legs were cold.  My coworkers thought I was crazy.  They may be right. 

This little girl is getting so big.  We took an early birthday present up for her.  Cora and Ammon are great at sending us almost daily pictures and videos.  It's funny to think that Blake hasn't even met her yet.  

 

I know I say it all the time, but Dave and I often talk about how proud we are of our kids.  The things they are doing and making a difference in their wards and communities.  We love to watch and cheer them on.  Fun to see where life takes us. Sometimes scary as things happen, but mostly it's a joy.