Enticing

It was time to move cows again.  Down to greener pastures.  Well slightly greener as it is so dry.  This year it was decided that we would truck them instead of walk them down.  It was going to be yet another hot day, so we started very early.  Blake had to work at 9 and Emry at 10:30.  Blake left part way through, but we got the last load loaded before Emry had to leave.  It went smooth and pretty fast.  We had two trailers and just kept loading and hauling.  We each had a job and did our part well. 

To start we brought all the cows and calves out of the field into the corrals, in preparation to load them on the trailer.  The cows know the sound of the tractor and that it usually means food.  We often will grab a bale and drive ahead of the cows, as they follow it when we want to move them.  Dave was in the tractor and was encouraging them to come into the corrals, Jared, Emry, Blake and I were driving them behind.  They didn't like the gate very much, so Dave came just outside, turned around, lowered the bale right to the ground, and ever so slowly back into where we wanted them.  The cows thinking it was a good meal and barely had to move, ate and walked along as they slowly were lead into the corrals.  As I was watching this, I turned to Blake and Emry and said that right there could be your next youth talk.  I kept thinking how it perfectly represented the enticing's of the adversary.  He will every so slowly lead you backwards away from where we should be, away from the stait and narrow path.  So slowly and with something that looks enticing and great at the moment.  Then when we finally lift our heads and look around we find ourselves not where we should be.  Dave drove the tractor out and there they were, in a sense, trapped.  The tractor was no longer there to help them, just drove away.  Satan doesn't stay with us or help us.  Once he has gotten us where he wants us, he leaves and leaves us in despair. I thought of how important it is for us to constantly look up and asses where we are on the covenant path. "My...invitation is for you to do a thorough life assessment with the Lord...to ensure that your feet are firmly planted on the covenant path."  "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost" both from Pres Russell M. Nelson

Yet Another Update

I am still waiting for wedding pictures so I can do a wedding post.  I had assumed it would take a few weeks, so hopefully soon.  But in the mean time.

Cora is loving married life, highly recommends.  They are back in BC working again.  Still waiting on some product so they can finish the temple.  They are doing other projects while they wait.  It has been so hot out there, Cora said they start work at like 4:30 to beat the heat and go straight to the beach after work to cool down.

Blake has been starting work with one of his jobs pretty early as well this last week.  We would open every window at about 10 at night and then close everything up at 8 in the morning.  I even tacked up blankets and towels on windows upstairs to cover them all up.  Serves me right for hating curtains. But we managed to never get to hot inside.

Dave had last week off.  It started out with a trip to Edmonton.  Leah called Wednesday saying Morgan had died.  Again!!  Dave decided it was time to start looking for another car.  But he secretly loves running up to help her.  Said he would way rather do that then have her not call him.  She has a friend that was kind and very willing to take a look at it.  Thankful for the good friends she has. 

We left Blake behind this time.  Dave could have used his help, I am not much of a help with cars.  Blake had to work and had plans to go golfing with Gilbert, Quade and Anna.  He decided he needed a great golf outfit.  Socks and all, and found it in his drawers. Dave pulled out his clubs the night before and found a bird nest or two inside.  Haha it has been a while since Dave went. Blake had a blast and can not wait to go again. 

As Dave and I were driving to Edmonton, we were trying to remember the last time we had a trip just us.  I don't like to leave the kids behind.  I always want them to enjoy all the adventures with us.  We couldn't remember when our last trip had been.  This time fixing Morgan was a bit better.  Leah's new place had a nice grassy place off the road with some shade.  Not middle of the winter. We had to buy a part, pretty sure we got the last one in Canada, got it all fixed up and running again and picked up Leah from work.  I really wish I would have gotten a picture of her in her scrubs outside of her work.  I miss wearing my scrubs and she is so dang cute in hers. It was late and we still had a long drive, so we only saw her for about 20 mins.  Her roommates were very kind and offered help, water, and food if we needed it. Leah continues to have a 'blast and a half' in YSA.  She was just asked to be in the RS presidency and said she is a bit nervous since it is 'a big girl calling'.  But I know she will be awesome. With things opening back up she is finally getting the chance to go out and do things, which she has really missed.  And is really making up for it as fast as she can. We are happy she has some really great friends in Edmonton.  

This truck still is irritating Dave and Blake.  There really is not much he can't fix and nothing on this seems to point to what the actual problem is.  Everything they test is working, but it will not start.  The other day I went out to see how it was going and saw that Blake had literally gotten right in to help.

We finally got out on the lake. We used to go every Friday, but since Blake has school on Friday's now we haven't been able to.  We left at 6:30 Wednesday morning.  Early in the morning is always the very best.  No one is out, the water is like glass.  It is beautiful.  And this week is was already stinkin' hot. We had breakfast on the lake and then Blake got skiing.

This year he was trying to get up on one ski instead of dropping it.  Dave got him cutting.  He always said that once Blake got a feel for it, he wouldn't look back.  He got it and loves it. We only stayed a couple hours, as we had to be in town by noon.  It really was the perfect morning.

We didn't do much for July 1st.  I miss going to HillSpring, bridge jumping and the 8 min parade both sides.  We loaded a bull up and Jared tookit  over to Buck's.  The other one went through the fence, so that was fun.  Then Dave and Blake did some work on the corrals with Jared in prep for moving them on Saturday.  Cora said she had the day off.  They enjoyed a nice sleep in, beach, and a great dinner.  Leah was the only one that did much.  Sounds like it was some fun parties she went to.

I had a great analogy while we were moving cows. But this is getting long, so I will have that be another post for another day.  Life is good, our kids have good friends and fun things going on.  We have been told basketball is starting again soon. Masks are off and things are open.  All is well. We were able to sing again in church on Sunday.  We sang O Canada.  As we were standing to sing our national anthem I was standing between Blake and Dave.  I looked up at my 6" son and to the other side at my 6"5' husband and felt very small.  I still marvel sometimes at the man he is becoming. He talks of his mission often and is getting excited.

Catch up and Wedding Prep

Blake is done Grade 10.  Another year accomplished.  He has been having lots of fun dirt biking and doing some soccer.  Two of his friends have their license, so sometimes they will meet in town and go for ice cream or kick a ball.  They have made a great walking path around our town and paved it.  He and Leah finally got a chance to try it out with their long boards last weekend.  Leah had Cora's in the car.  I tried it.  It was really fun.  The stake YM sent out a challenge for each ward.  There was a list of items to accomplish, pixie a senior, mow lawn in under 12 mins, do a 10 foot jump on a dirt bike, to name a few and also an ice bucket challenge.  They were to involve as many of the YM in the ward as they could.  Bishop thought it a great idea to have the boys dump the water on the bishopric.  We went after Blake's soccer one night.  Bishop was in an old suit.  He said if the boys were going to dump on their Bishop he should look like one. :)  But the deal was he got to dump just one bucket on the boys.  They were a little surprised when he pulled out this bucket.  But it was fun.

Blake has started adding up how much he will need for his mission.  He is a little worried he won't make is and is planning to work as much as possible this summer, while still getting to see friends some.  And of course some water skiing.  It is supposed to be stupid hot next week, and Dave has the week off, I am sure boating is on the list a few times next week.  Blake is excited for summer and not being in school.  Fingers crossed that next year is no masks and sports.

Leah has been finding her grove. She has moved to another house and is loving it already.  She is on a hiking group chat and goes when ever she is free. We had a bit of a scare when we thought she drastically failed her midterm, turned out the computer at the school glitched for a few weeks.  Not cool!!  

Leah really enjoyed her old roommates, but this new house is a blast for her.  They go out more and just have a lot of fun.  She is feeling very blessed in her life right now.  Things are starting to open, she has a bunch of great friends, and a new job.  Leah loved Moxie's and was really looking forward to working there. One day a month or so ago, Cora was in B.C. at her boss's house chilling after another 60 hour week, when one of the people there chatting mentioned a friend or something (not sure of the connection) that was an optometrist in Edmonton and how he like to get people right out of school to work so he can train them they way he wants. Cora mentioned that her sister was in the Ophthalmic Assistant program at NAIT.  Cora got the Dr. number, called Leah right away and said you should contact this guy.  The next day, Leah sent off a resume and explained that she would be done school end of August etc.  He messaged right back and said great, come meet me and then we will see what we have in Sept.  She wasn't nervous, it wasn't a job interview, just meeting him.  She called me 45 mins later and said she had the job and would start in 2 week.  We were like what job?? He decided her liked her and wanted her to start as soon as she could give her other jobs notice.  We were not expecting that at all.  She has been working about 3 weeks now.  Absolutely loves it.  So she is in school full time and working full time.  Long days, but good.  Working helps her to remember concepts and proper wording.  It is truly a blessing. And she gets to wear scrubs ;)

Cora had been trying to get back here for a while to plan the wedding.  We would have a few short phone calls every few days.  Sending lots of pictures back and forth trying to make decisions. First part of June she finally got here.  We went to the distribution center and got her temple clothes.  She tried on two of the dresses we had ordered.  One more was still on its way. She tried it on the day before her wedding. I got the flowers ordered, she did not know what they looked like until I picked them up the day before. She had a really neat idea for her bouquet.  Her and Leah got the same one, then Cora asked everyone coming to the temple to bring something green or a white flower.  She then would put it all together.  I loved it. We went to the fabric store to pick out the material for the ties, she didn't feel there was a lot of selection, but finally chose some. 

We got all that done in one day.  Sunday relaxed, Monday I took her to Edmonton where she spent the week moving her stuff to her new place, cleaning new house, seeing friends for last parties, and hanging out with Leah. Then she took Ammon's car and drove back to Kelowna. We finally had  things sorted ready.  I got busy sewing.  Dave had a crazy week before the wedding.  He is getting very frustrated that he can't figure out why the truck won't run and is working on that, they are in the middle of some big planning and redesigning at work, he was seeking inspiration as to who his councilors should be, and it was our week for cows. Plus he was trying to get the yard spiffy as I was getting house all cleaned.  It was an insane week for him.  But we made it.  When the ties were done I decided to see if I could finish the quilt she had wanted. Cora brought all these tea towels back from her mission and wanted a quilt.  I had started working on it before she got engaged, but then put aside for wedding prep. A lady in the ward lent me her quilt stands, my mom and Nicole came up Saturday for a few hours and Myrna spent 3 long days helping me.  I finished Monday morning before the wedding.

Ammon and Cora drove back to Edmonton on the 15th, had a fire with friends that night, drove here the 16th and hung out, worked, cleaned, and rode the dirt bike.  They were hoping to take the boat out but it was too windy. We got the food and flowers and were ready to roll.

Keeping Up

I am getting a little tired of setting up this table for school online, but not near as tired as Blake is.  He was NOT happy when they announced that school was going back online for 2 weeks. 

He has been able to start soccer.  We had thought it might be shut down as well.  We got him new shoes and he was excited to go break them in.  Just before he went outside we heard there were more restrictions coming.  I told him not to go outside with them in case we were going to return them.  Haha poor kid, he did not like that either. He is just allowed to do drills, but it is something and he is hanging out with Gilbert and Quade, so all good.

He was quite the help last week, well really he always is. Dave has modified the Jeep so it starts now, just have to know a few tricks.  Blake got us started after church in his Sunday clothes and we thought it was a cool picture.

Blake and I check cows after school our weeks, and feed if needed.  Blake has been helping to tag for years, but decided last week that he could do it on his own.  We had 4 new ones that day and he got them all done.  Later when Dave and Blake went out it had started to rain and Dave was so glad he didn't have to still tag in the rain.  We have a small cage that we catch the calves in then tag.  This one was on the other side of the fence and the mom was super gentle.  Blake decided to tag right there.  Mom did not even move, I kept a close eye and Blake was watching.

We had twins!  At first we were not sure they were both hers.  So we finished checking the rest of the cows and then sat and watched for a while.  The mom was totally letting both eat and licking them both off.  They were pretty new, so we made note of mom's number, text Dave to let him know for when he got home, and then I took Blake to soccer.  Later Dave tagged them and at the bottom put Thing 1 and Thing 2. The mom is still keeping a close eye on and feeding both.

Blake and Dave have started building our sidewalk.  They did some work last summer and have gotten back at it again.  Hoping to have it all poured and done by mid June. It is going to be nice and wide.

Leah really loves working at Moxie's.  She was getting really great hours and was starting to feel like she was getting ahead and building up her savings.  She was walking out the door to give her notice on her first job when Dave told her to maybe just wait a bit as more restrictions were coming.  Sure enough, the next day they announced that even patios were closed on restaurants.  So dumb. But she has found another apartment for the fall.  Some fun girls and lots of light.  It is going to be fun for her.  It as been warm enough for longboarding. 

School is still going well.  She has midterms the end of this week.  She finds the information fascinating and loves what she is studying. She surprised us Saturday night and came home.  Picked up flowers from all the kids for me for Mother's Day.  It was an awesome surprise.  Blake and Cora helped her pull is off.  Because she doesn't have many work hours, she is home for a few days.  Blake set up a table in the front room besides his and they have been doing school work together.  Blake is very happy to have a school friend. :) 

I love that they love spending time together.  Watching clips,checking cows, or just laughing and talking together.  It is fun to see them grown up and the joy they get from being with one another.

Cora is engaged!!  Ammon came home with her middle of February and we instantly really like him.  We like how Cora is herself and very comfortable with him.  I was pretty sure then that that trip was a meet the family trip, even though Cora was in denial.  They are so great for each other.  She went up the next week to Valley View to meet his family.  Cora had been roomates with his sister before her mission and had attended a family reunion with her.  She loves his family and was excited to go again. They are working together in BC and having the best time. 

Even after they were engaged they took a few weeks to announce it.  Both of them don't really do social media and were just working and hanging out.  Leah said she was getting sick of all the questions and would they please put something up. 

Both these pictures were taken of them on a hike early February, by Cora and Leah's roommate, Lindy Bectell.  Lindy will take their wedding photos as well.  She does such a great job.  If you need pictures, go check her out.  It has been interesting trying to plan a wedding over the limited phone calls we have.  Photographer booked, temple booked (June 18th), temple interviews done, a few dresses on order (fingers crossed they come in on time) for her to try. Cora is suppose to fly back sometime in the next couple weeks to pack up her stuff and move it into Ammon's house, pick out material so I can sew ties, and look at flowers, and buy her temple clothes and a few other wedding things. She will be here for 4 days then fly back. And then hopefully come back at least the day before the wedding. For a girl that has never really wanted a wedding, has been scared to get married and never wanted kids, watching her with Ammon and how at ease she is has been really fun for us. We are very excited for them both and very please to welcome Ammon into our family.

Easter Break

It is always nice to have a break from school for a bit.  Monday was Leah's birthday.  Again we had our first calf that day.  She was very excited when we sent her pictures.  Both the girls miss being around for calving season.

Tuesday Blake and I got up very early and went to Edmonton.  Leah had a few plans on her birthday, so we went the next day to exchange cars with her and treated her to Opa's.  She has been talking about Opa's for a while.  I am not a huge fan of greek, but she really wanted us to try it.  Blake was very skeptical, he wanted a burger.:) Leah order her favorites for us.  Decided to take Blake to the water park as we were up there.  That was great fun. 

The kids decided to go to the temple grounds to eat. It was actually really good.  It was a beautiful day.  We sat outside and enjoyed the sun for a while.

Then back to Leah's.  Her roommate had made her a cake and they had some of that.  It was a cute cake. We left after as Leah had to get to work and I didn't want to be super late getting home.  I found it interesting that we could leave one hour after Dave did, drive all the way to Edmonton, spend 3 hours with Leah and drive all the way home and only arrive home 30 mins after Dave.  You know your husband works long hours when.....

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Blake and I worked. (And Dave of course, Dave always works)  In between we played frisbee, homework, cleaned, and had a nice relaxing week.  He was not greatly thrilled to go back to school on Monday.

Leah really likes working at Moxie's.  She said the management is great and all the people are friendly.  So far she is getting great hours and desperately want to quite her other job.  But is worried about restriction and if Moxie's get shut down.  This thing is so stupid.  I am so done with lock downs and masks. But that is a side note.

Cora is having the time of her life in BC.  She loves the long hours and hard work.  She loves the crew and just everything.  She will send us a few pictures and vidoes sometimes of what she is doing. Right now they are taking the grout out of the temple walls and replacing it with caulking.  

She said none of them had done it before, so they started at the top of the temple to learn.  By the time they work their way down to where people can see it they will be experts. I think someone on the crew took this picture of them in cranes.  She is in the smaller one on the right.  Cora also told me about the company's Instagram page, which I like to check out each night.  Whoever runs it is hilarious and I like to see what my girl is doing throughout the day. 

Weather is starting to warm up and life is good.

19

Leah has wanted a surprise birthday party for  years.  But with various things we were never able to do one for her. Last year the fire department coming was a surprise, but not a party with all her friends.  A few months ago I called Cora and asked her if she could put one together for her.  Cora did an amazing job, and pulled off a great party last Sunday.  Leah was completely surprised. 

Cora got all her friends contacted and found a location they could meet at.  She got a DQ cake and stored it in a friend's freezer. Went a little before and got a fire ready, games, and waited for everyone to arrive.  Leah said at least 3 people actually wrecked the surprise, but she did not clue in because is was a full week before her birthday.  She thought they were all just asking her random question.  Cora even had someone else post about a fire that night and invite Leah.

When Leah finally did realize it was a party for her, they all kinda laughed.  They sang to her, ate cake, played some frisbee and hung out by the fire. They stayed for a couple hours and Leah had a blast.  She was very happy with the party Cora gave her. It was a great way to celebrate.

Today is her birthday.  Most of the kid went home for Easter. Leah had to work over the weekend so didn't have time to drive home and back.  Cora is in BC working, so Leah didn't have any plans for today. She has had lots of well wishes and ultimate frisbee tonight.  She didn't have to work today, which was nice. Blake and I are going up to switch cars and treat her to lunch tomorrow.

Leah said she has had a wonderful day.  Her roomate made her a cake yesterday and they stayed up way to late talking. For her first birthday away from home it has been really good. Life is going well for her and she has lots of wonderful friends. 

This girl is sassy, quirky, beautiful, and tons of fun.  If you are good to her, she will be your friend for life.  If not she gives way more chances than I would, but if you cross a certain line, that is it. Loyal to a fault, but very caring if you treat her well. She is strong in her convictions and will not be swayed. Love her tons. She is one of the best of the best.

Happy 19th Birthday Leah!!

Prairie Fire!

A couple weeks ago, Cora and Leah came home for appointments.  We drove all over Southern Alberta fitting everything in. First the dentist, Cora was super ticked that she had a cavity.  She has never had one before.  But with her mission and work it has been a few years since her last appointment.  I told her it was just the British teeth from the last 2 years coming out. Next eye dr.  Leah's eyes barely changed this time,which was awesome.  They are finally slowing down.  Blake's are still the same, dr said he didn't necessarily have to wear glasses to drive if he didn't feel like it. I asked Blake where he sat for class and he said at the back, and proceeded to give me a demo of where every group sits, and why he needed to sit at the back.  I asked how he does his school work if he can't see, apparently he just asks his friend Gilbert what everything says. (eye roll) Poor Gilbert!

Dawson picked Leah up after the optometrist and Blake and I went grocery shopping. We had taken separate cars to the dentist and Cora came home after since she didn't need an eye exam.  Dave had just gotten home from work, so they worked on the yard and getting Morgan fixed and ready to go.  Wheel barrings etc. When we were done shopping Leah decided to stay down and Dawson would bring her home later that night. Blake thought it was a little funny that his sisters had come all the way down and he still ended up grocery shopping with mom by himself. 

The next day they all went skiing.  We knew the snow was not great, but they all wanted one last ski this season anyways.  

Sunday we all went to church together.  Dave stayed after and the helped the Primary with their Zoom meeting.  We got dinner ready as Blake had YMs, and started eating as I did my RS Zoom and then Dave got home as the girls tuned in for their Stake Conference. It was a silent meal as we had head phones in trying to listen to our various meetings.  I had thought about inviting my parents up,  but it would have been boring as there was no one to talk to, since we were all in meetings. Right after the girls stake conference was done, we got Morgan loaded up and then Dave gave the girls blessings.  There were a few things that Dave had wanted to fix on the car but didn't get time, right after the prayers I said what about the girls taking the Mazda and we keep Morgan till it can be fixed.  So we transferred everything over and off they went. Leah is loving the stick and is not anxious for us to get Morgan fixed and back to her at all. :)

Blake and I have been trying to do the chores for Dave as much as we can.  He leaves at 4:45 in the morning for work and gets home usually around 6 that night.  So if we can get them done, he gets to have a somewhat relaxing evening and go to bed early.  Blake is fun to work with.  He puts in Jared's Def Leppard tape and sings away. He is a hard worker.  He said the other day that he loves being in the tractor, he would love to be a farmer all the time. 

Last Sunday afternoon we went downstairs to watch our weekly movie. A few minutes into it, Leah called.  I came back up to talk to her since we were making plans and the sky looked very dark and smoky.  Just after that Dave and Blake came up saying we had gotten an emergency alert. There was a huge prairie fire south west of us. And the wind was ripping over 100km/hr. We listened to the news and found out that we were on notice for evacuation. Dave and Blake went out to get the discers ready on the tractors.  They had to get batteries ready and everything hooked up. I got a few things on the table ready to grab in case we had to run.  Then sat down to watch news bulletins. When they got back, Myrna had come over and we just talked for awhile.  The smoke was thick.  Once it seemed to pass a little we relaxed a bit.  It was time for my family weekly Zoom and suddenly we saw 6 fire trucks go past our house. We live out in the middle of nowhere so if something goes by our house it is not really on the way to anything. Again I started to wonder. About 4 hours after the first alert we were told the fires had been contained and people could return home.  Thank you firefighters.  Blake has three friends on their local departments and is thinking of joining when he is 16.  Cora loved it and has got Blake interested in doing it. Monday we went on a drive to see the damage.  The fires were actually a lot farther away then we were lead to believe. But still scary at the time.  Maybe since I have been evacuated twice in the last 15 years I was more worried. 

You can't tell from the picture at all, but I will remember what it looks like.  It went right through the backyard of our friend's parent's house.  Dave had a truck break down there on Friday and the fire was a 100 feet from the truck.  And the next day was a blizzard, school was cancelled.  What a world. 

Leah is balancing both her jobs.  As soon as her first job found out she had gotten a second they gave her a lot more hours and a promotion. Kinda makes her mad, if they would have done that all along, she wouldn't have needed a second job. So she is working a ton, which is good, but also trying to figure it out as school is getting more involved as well. 

Cora absolutely loves working on the temple grounds.  She went out two weeks earlier than expected.  It is hard, long hours and exactly what she loves doing. She has started sending us videos each day since she doesn't have time to call.  It has been great to see what she is working on.