Christmas card and ornament

Here is the ornament for Myrna's tree and our Christmas card for 2023.  I went simple with the ornament and it will be my last one.  I did it each year until my kids were 18 and had a lot of fun doing it.

I loved my card this year.  And have gotten so much feedback on it.  It was fun to got through pictures from over the year and go down memory lane.  It is my favorite one.  As with the ornaments I have decided that one last family picture when Blake returns and I will probably be done with cards too.

Sorry they all loaded sideways.  Turn your head :)

Skipped right over November

Wow I skipped a whole month.  We have just been working away and enjoying the great fall that we had.  Blake has been asking for snow pictures and last weekend was the first we were able to send him some.  He misses the snow and weather changes, but for us, we fell very blessed that it has been general not to cold and not snowy, so we could work.   The girls came and went to my Super Saturday with me.  Which ended up being a waste of time.  They did the quilt way earlier than they said they were going to and we could have just eaten lunch here.  Ammon helped Dave with front of the shop.  We only have the back top section to do and it will be all enclosed.  It has been a couple weeks getting to it however with nativity practice and Dave's work stuff.  

After the Super Saturday we all went into a college basketball game. I miss watching Blake play.

Cora was wearing Blake's old cords that he long ago grew out of and grabbed his hoodie for the game.  Ammon was teasing her and calling her Blake, so we got a picture to send to him. 

Blake's mission is going well.  He is getting the language. Likes his companion and is learning to cook African food and live without power and water.  He only has a bucket to shower with and it is very very hot.  He says they run up hills all day long.  His companion is having him lead out more.  And a few weeks ago when the General YW's presidency visited West Africa, he was in the church news. 

He has had a few baptisms, said he felt a lot of pressure to get those prayers right, but it was all ok in the end. 

He really has seemed to adjust well.  I know some days are hard, but he just takes it all in stride and keeps going.  He seems to have the mind set that he was called for 2 years to SaLone and so he is going to suck it up and dive in. 

Leah and I went to Calgary with Cora to help her shop for maternity and baby clothes.  It was a fun day as we looked at all the cute little clothes.  We went for lunch and also got Starbuck.  Weather was good and it was a great day with my girls. 

Belated picture, but I think it's cool. 

Blake has always wanted a pet turtle. He found some the other day and was playing with them when he was told that they were for soup that night.  Haha, he was a little disappointed. Look at that good looking missionary. 

First part of December was the annual chocolate making.  We got Myrna to take a rest as Emry, Cora, and Rachel were dipping.  I said this is exactly what she has spent all the last years teaching us for, so she could pass the torch along. 

Finally snow for Blake. :)  We preg tested last weekend.  It was not a great result.  We had way to many open, 2 jumpers and one that got so stuck we had to cut the squeeze and reweld it back together so we could keep going.  But as Dave said we could have lost the whole herd to disease, it was beautiful snow  and not very cold.  Just very wet.  Besides the few mishaps, it all went pretty smooth. No one got hurt and we had wanted to reduce the herd anyways. 

Dave was in charge of the live nativity again this year.  It was not near as cold as last year and again it went well.  We had a great attendance.  He has also been in charge of some big changes at work that have taken a lot of time.  Moving people around and reorganizing equipment in a couple of the plants.  I have had a lot of extra days I have been working this month and will do so next as well.  As people are sick and getting in the last of their holiday days. We have been to a high school game and junior high to watch  Calum and Armin.  I definitely do not miss driving to all the practices, but I do miss the games.  Cora and Ammon have been back and forth to Toronto and Montreal and Cardston.  They are looking for a place in Cardston that will be a bit more permanent for when the kid arrives.  She is generally feelin good, just tired.  Leah and Braydon are also doing well.  They just renewed their place in Magrath and we are so glad they are sticking around down here.  It is fun to have everyone close.  Leah really likes her job and isn't minding the travel to much. 

Christmas is drawing near.  I decorate the other day and do enjoy reading a book my the lights.  We have no plans for Christmas with just Dave and I, except to relax and hang out.  It's going to be great. 

Well there is a quick catch up of some of the things we did in November and start of December. 

October So Far....

Blake spent 2 weeks at the Provo MTC.  He was made District Leader when he was there.  He said it was fun and horrible at the same time.  He got to do lots of temple trips and have some neat firesides with church leaders and sang in the MTC choir.  While he was there, we got told he was going to be temporarily reassigned to Toronto.  We were confused since he had a visa.  In the end it was a misunderstanding.  Blake got is cleared up and Thursday evening he and 4 other Elders left for their long flights to Sierra Leone. From SLC they flew to NYC, had a 12 hr layover and finally on to Paris.  Another long layover, 8hrs, and finally on to Freetown.  It was a long 2 days, he was tired and hungry and a little overwhelmed when he got there.  He landed at a small airport, found the ferry, and they all made it to the mission home.  They stayed there for 2 days then met his trainer and was assigned to Wilberforce.

He has been there just over a week and is really loving it.  Very different world.  He has picked up some of the language already and likes his trainer.  He is in a apartment with 4 elders.  They teach 8-12 lessons a day and walk up and down hills, through the rain. We look forward to hearing from him and all his stories.

I love fall.  It is such a beautiful season.  We have had a lovely one this year.  Dave and I are madly working on getting the shop enclosed before the snow.  And we have had some great warm days. We have been working late hours and are getting close to finishing the roof.  I love being up high in the dark with the stars out. Dave had a business trip to Iowa.  They toured the John Deere plant and had some strategy meetings.  It was a good trip. Cora and Ammon had been staying at our house, waiting to see when they would be going to Montreal or Toronto.  Cora was making another batch of sourdough bread when they got the call that they were going to Montreal.  They booked flights and threw some stuff together and were out the door.  But Cora was promised that she could come back for Maycie's wedding,  she was not going to miss that. :) 

Conference was fantastic.  Since Blake had reset the internet stuff, it took us a moment to set it all back up again.  During one of the seasons it suddenly did a jump and we say Pres Monson sitting on the stand.  Dave and I just looked at each other and kinda laughed.  Back in time. 

Cora and Ammon flew home for Maycie's wedding.  They arrived late Friday night and left again early Sunday morning.  A quick visit.  They got to go to the temple and be there for the sealing.  Later we all went to the family dinner and then the reception.  It was a great day.  Maycie looked beautiful and the wedding was lovely. I wanted to get a picture of the Bean Buddies together with how they have grown.  Cora, Leah, Maycie, and Emily have had so many fun years together.  Sarah was good friend of Maycie's and quickly became great friends with all the others as well.  These cute girls roomed together, ran together, laughed, talked about everything and nothing, travelled, and went on many adventures.  They have grown and expanded and it's been so fun to see.  And I love to watch these now beautiful women go out into the world and make it a better place. 

After the wedding everyone was at our house for the evening.  I had seen a small gift that I thought would be fun and it ended up being a quick celebration together.  We did Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's all in 30 mins.  Cora and Leah are both at their in-laws for Christmas this year.  So it will be a quiet Christmas for Dave and I.  Even though we miss all the kids, Dave and I have been having fun.  Working on the shop, hanging out, dinner dates, and just being the two of us. We still like each other, haha isn't that fun. 😄

Whirl wind

Sept 8th: Blake had wanted to plan one last cheesy date before he left.  He went all out.  He wanted to dress up and make it special.  He stopped and got flowers and then picked Natalia up.  They went to the temple to do baptism, stopped in to say hi to the grandparents, and then back to town for a fancy dinner.  Blake had gotten a little gift for her.  After dinner they went to Marble Slab for dessert and a walk around Henderson.  It was beautiful weather and they had a blast.  Back to her house where they changed and just hung out. Natalia made him a really cool notebook of all their dates and fun activities.  It was a very late night.  I took a screen shot of my very last late night waiting up for kids.  By the time he got home and we chatted about the evening, it was 2:56 am.  I did it, made it through waiting up for kids for years.

Sidenote:  Many many people have told me I was crazy for waiting up for my kids when they are out.  Even Dave thought it was a bit crazy at first.  But over the last year, all my kids have said how much it meant to them, and how it really showed how much they meant to me.  Dave said he thought it was the best thing.  He saw how much they are open to talking about their day right then rather then then next morning.  The kids have even said they totally plan on doing it with their kids.  It was not a wasted effort and despite the exhaustion the next day and long evenings, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

While Blake was away on his date, Braydon and Ammon also had to work.  So the girls and I, and Dave :), had a girls night.  We had hot chocolate and some treat and watch Two Weeks with Love.  A classic that if you can find, I highly recommend.  It's a wild show that is hilarious.  Leah had to leave right after the movie as she worked the next day.  Cora stayed up with me for a bit.  It was a fun time hanging out with my girls. 

Sept 9-10th: Stake Conference.  It was nice to have Blake join us for the adult session.  I was thinking of the progression in the church.  Dave waited years for his son to be old enough to attend Priesthood Session with him and then just a few short years later, here he is attending adult stake conference.  We grow and progress and move line up on line, on step at a time towards eternity.  Where hopefully we all end up together.  

Cora and Ammon were there as well.  The visiting seventy was really nice.  He stood down in the audience greeting everyone that came in.  Blake got a chance to talk with him. It was a great conference, as always.  Saturday, Blake was hungry after so we made a quick stop at DQ.  Pierson's saw us through the drive through window and came in to chat.  It was so nice.  Has been a long time since we spent time with them.  After the Sunday session there was a group of kids that came to say goodbye to Blake.  It was so nice to see this wonderful bunch of friends that wanted to see him on last time. Sunday evening the Stake President came out to our house to set Blake apart.  Just before he was supposed to come his good friend text and said he wanted to take Blake for one last right in his car.  This was something he had wanted to do for a while.  As a missionary he would not be allowed to drive it and we debated for a few minutes,  did it look worse to put the stake president off a half hour or to say no to these dear friends?  In the end he decided to go for a quick drive and say good-bye. 

It was a nice setting apart.  We wanted to keep it very small with just our kids there.  They all came out for dinner and hung out until it was time.  Blake started Home MTC the next morning, bright and early. 

Sept 11th: There was a funeral for a dear lady in our ward on the Monday.  Her husband had passed away a month earlier and Blake had stay hours with us to help out.  This time I didn't want to leave him alone, so Cora and I just went in quick.  Which again turned into hours.  We had no way of letting Blake know that we ended up helping in the kitchen and clean up.  He would have liked to be there to help if he could have.  The Saturday before the funeral we went to set up chairs.  Cora was making bread.  We told her we were going in and she could come or stay.  She grabbed a water bottle and jumped in the car.  When we got to the church she was surprised we were just going into town.  She thought we meant set up for stake conference.  An hour drive vs 8 minutes.  We had a good laugh, but I thought what and awesome girl, she was totally in the middle of things and was just willing to jump in and help no matter what.  She has a good heart. 

Sept 13th:  Blake had been getting emails asking him if he needed to request a flight or when he was arriving at the MTC.  I finally decided to call and ask if we just request or wait until he has his passport back.  They were confused and needed to call me back.  After 4 different phone calls someone was like wait he is in Canada!  That is what I had been saying the whole time.  His passport was waiting at the Provo MTC for when he arrived.  When it got all sorted they booked a flight right then and overnighted his passport up to us.  But not to a box number.  Rachel kindly let us use her address and let us know as soon as it arrived.  The same day in the mail he got his name tags and his mission handbook. Which was not in English.  Blake looked at it and checked his name tags quick to make sure they were in English.  Haha it was kinda funny. 

His Home MTC was not to bad.  He did not love sitting on a computer for hours each day, but we tried to fill his down time.  Unfortunately it ended up being the same week that I was required to be at work all week.  We are implementing a new system and the clinic was closed all weed for training.  We all needed to be there every day.  Leah came and was with him one day, Dave was home one day.  We would go for walks in the dark every evening right after his last class. 

Sept 16th: Leah had been wanting to have a girl's night to Earl's.  The day of Maycie's bridal shower ended up being a good day for all of us.  Dave and Ammon were home with Blake, so Cora and I went and meet Leah. Love doing this with my girls.  Love when they are all close enough to do it.  I also love how they already plan to make sure Blake's wife comes with us all the time.  The are excited to have another sister and include her in everything. Earl's was delicious as always, Maycie's shower was fun.  The girls chatted with everyone for hours.  Again they closed the place.  It was so fun to see the 4 girls that had been so close together again and catching up. 

Sept 18th:  I was Blake's companion as we made one last trip to town to make sure he had everything.  We came home and got everything packed. He had a few classes in the evening and had to email the stake president.  He finished his last class and had a quick companion study.  Right after we were trying to scan his blessing to make it small enough to fit in his scriptures and suddenly nothing was working.  Blake had renamed the wifi so we would not forget him while he was away.  Turns out when you do that, it kicks you off everything that was preciously signed in.   Including his bank that he was trying to pay of his card before he left.  It took us hours to sort some of it out. He said I better post about it since he had been planning that since he got his call.  So this is what I put up. Dang kid.

Sept 19th:  Flight day.  The day had come. We were pleased to see in the end 7 other missionaries that were flying down with Blake.  When he was checking in his luggage he asked the guy at the Delta counter if he saw a lot of missionaries.  He said yes, every Tuesday they had a bunch flying out.  We thought that was pretty cool.

Cora and Ammon jumped in with us on the way to the airport.  Leah and Braydon were able to come for a short bit as they had an appointment in town as well.  I felt very blessed to have every one of them there. 

We talked for a bit before it was time for him to leave.  We all said good-bye and off he went.  Ammon and Cora headed up to his parents for a few days and Dave and I came home.  It was a little weird how quite it was. That evening we got an 18 second call saying he had arrived safely. 

That ended up being a really long post, but so much happened in just a few short day. We look forward to hearing from him and pray for him every day. 

Another Perfect Sunday

We had just a lovely day this week.  Blake invited all his siblings to dinner Sunday.  It was a very last minute invite.  Saturday he said he wanted to spend as much time with them as he could before he left and wanted them all to come every Sunday.  We went through our pantry and freezer and came up with a pretty decent meal idea, which turned out amazing.  Ammon, Cora and Leah spiced up the potatoes that we roasted with beets and carrots.  Dave was sure he was not going to like the vegetable but ended up very much enjoying them.  We did have to wait a bit to eat as most of us had meetings after church.  Natalia told us about a Come Follow Me app that she does daily a few weeks ago.  Since then we have all downloaded and started doing it.  There are daily check ins, messages, short video lessons, and a game.  They were all checking their CFM to see who had the longest streak.  I love that that is what they are concerned with, not Snapchat or other videos.  I have some pretty great kids. 

Waiting for dinner the boys had a bonding brother moment as they called it.  Blake has gotten lucky with his brothers.  They all love him fiercely, tease him, support him, and get together with him as much as they can.  It is so great to see. 

It was a very low key day.   We ate, we talked, we played lots of games, did dishes, had a snack and loved being with one another.  It was another perfect day.  The most important people in Blake's life were there.  We are literally squeezing in as much time together these days as we can. 

After Braydon, Leah, and Natalia left the rest of us went on a night time walk.  It was so so dark.  I stuck close to Dave.  I don't like the dark at all.  :/  But it was a beautiful night.  No breeze, just a slight chill after raining.  We ended up walking for over a mile before turning around.  And only because I had to go the bathroom.  I loved it.  I thought in May that my family would not be together again for 2.5 years minimum.  We somehow keep getting blessed with these little carved out moments of time. This is my crew and they are the best in the world. 

Blake's Farewell

Sunday Aug 27th we all got together for Blake's farewell.  The evening before Ammon and Cora arrived back from BC and Braydon and Leah came.  Blake was caving.  Everyone got in and did so much work.  It was awesome to have so much help and willingness on hand.  We washed chairs and table, cut up fruit, rolled luncheon meat and go completely set up for the next day.  Lalainia came over and the girls practiced their song.  Since Cora had been away this was the first time they had been able to practice together.  Lalainia was so good and helped so much.  She had written an alto part for Cora and went over and over it with her.  We finished up very late and were very ready for bed when Blake got home and told all of us about his day.  He also still had to finish his talk. 

The next morning we were up early to finish the prep.  We put all the cut up fruit into individual cups and made sure everything had a final clean.  Then headed to the church so Cora and Leah could practice one more time.  As we pulled up to the church there were some familiar unexpected faces.  When I realized it was Kita and Steve, I was so excited I tried to jump out of the moving car.  Safety first:)  They totally surprised us and came all the way up for Blake.  It was the best surprise ever.  And so fun to see them. 

Blake's talk was so good.  The girl's song was beautiful and it was a lovely Sunday.  So many people came out to show love to Blake.  We had just over 60 people come.  I thought it was fun the the Stake YM's Presidency came and brought there young 12 year old sons.  They both said that Blake was such a good an amazing kid they wanted to bring their kids to see what a good example he is.  Lots of his friends came.  Gilbert was even able to come.  He was supposed to have already left to go to University, but there are fires and everyone was evacuated, so he was still around.  It was so nice to have him there.  Dave had asked me the night before what I wanted to make sure he told everyone, like where garbage and bathrooms were etc.  We also had a jar with papers in case anyone wanted to receive Blake's emails.  As everyone was coming in I asked Dave if he could also do a quick intro, and not just people's names, but how they were connected to Blake.  As Dave was giving the spill he turned the introductions over to Blake, without any warning.  He did a great job.  It was funny and entertaining, not just a 'this is my mom Char....' but each person had a little tidbit.  When Gilbert walked in he said and this is Gilbert he literally got me through high school.  For being put on the spot it was great. 

Gilbert and Avery have been great friends to Blake.  So many times we have said how different High School would have been with out these boys.  I will be eternally grateful to them and their friendship.  They kept Blake sane.  

Food was good, company was great and it was a day that I could relive over again and be perfectly happy.  It is getting real.  He leaves in 5 day.  We did just hear from mission travel and the stake president today.  Blake's visa has not come in yet so he has been reassigned to the Prove MTC.  Since he doesn't have a passport with him he will have to do Home MTC until it arrives.  Hopefully that is soon.  None of us are really looking forward to Home MTC.  So keep the prayers coming for his visa.  We need a miracle. 

August Catch Up

We have had a fun filled August.  Much much work has been on the shop.  I will be very happy when it is finished.  It seems to be taking most of our time.   Ammon, Cora and Braydon have helped when they come as well. 

But we have fit in a few fun things.  Myrna took Dave, Blake and I to Silver Slate.  It was delicious as always.  And such a fun experience.  Blake had never been and enjoyed the whole evening.   Leah had a few weeks off and came shopping with us to give her expert input on Blake's mission list. We did get most of the big things I was worried about finding.  Oddly wrinkle free short sleeve white shirts has been the biggest hurdle.  Leah and I went with the Puzey's to see Daddy Long Legs.  It was well done and Leah and I had a grand time driving down together.  After many things kept putting it off for us, we finally got to Shakespeare in the Park this year.  On the very last day of showing.  Braydon got sent to Vancouver right before we were supposed to go and was not able to come.  Because of the heat and smoke in the air they had it in a building close by.  Play was entertaining as always, but half the magic is being out in the park.  Still good time with all. 

We always go for Frosty's after Shakespeare.  This year for some reason only the drive in was open.  So drove through and got our frosty's and then sat on Dave's tail gate to enjoy them together.  Tradition is important. :)

Blake went through the temple that weekend.  Cora, Ammon, and Braydon were in Vancouver still and unable to make it, but everyone else that could were there.  It was so nice to have so many family members come and be with us as he took this important step.  It was a little more difficult as we went to Calgary instead of Cardston.  But was fun to visit another temple.  The night before I was getting ready, Dave and Blake were out working on the shop, so I decided to get Blake's clothes ready for him.  Long story, but neither of the girls had new clothes when they went through and everything was already packed.  No need to prepare it.  It was really neat as I checked everything and went through his bag.  To help my son take this step to make the covenants that he has prepared to make.  It is hard to describe the emotion I felt since it isn't something we really talk about, but it ended up being a very neat, special, and sacred moment in my room by myself as I preformed this task. Blake is truly a great kid.  Very special.  

We had a very early session.  Leah stayed with us the night before and had bought us all pizza. Since Blake and Dave needed to go in ahead of us, we had a beautiful walk around the temple and a nice talk. Lunch at Jerusalem Shawarma as it is a favorite of Blake's 

v

Blake was invited to do the Gargantua Caves.  We have all thought for years that Dave went through these caves when was younger.  As Blake was preparing to go the kids and I were all shocked to discover he had not.  He has done a lot of hiking around the outside and tops of them but never in.  It is a long hike straight up to get to the caves and then a deep plunge in.  Involving 5 repels and a very narrow climb out that you have to lay on your stomach and inch along pushing your back pack ahead of you, called the birth canal.

It was another very early morning for him to get to the base of the mountain.  And ended up being a long late night, but loved it. He said is was a really neat experience and he was so glad he had gone. 

All the repels he dropped down into darkness and had to find his way.  He went out to Raymond a few days before to practice repelling and loved it. 

Blake has found a new passion in bouldering and repelling.  There is a place in town that he can do this as well and he plans to go often after his mission.