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. 

R.I.P. Morgan

Ten years ago when we moved out to the farm we decided to get a car that would be better on gas then our Tahoe.  We found this Saturn second hand, decently cheap and Cora promptly named her Morgan.  It stuck. She was a great little car.  A few years later when Cora graduated and went to Edmonton, we didn't expect it to last the year she was going to be there before her mission.  That was 7 years ago.

Last Thursday Dave texted me and asked if I wanted to go on a date.  He said Morgan had finally died and could I please come get him.  I was able to leave work a bit early and we had a lovely dinner at Burger King after rescuing Morgan from where she had given her last ride.

Dave made 3 separate day trips to Edmonton to fix Morgan on the side of the road.  Loading all his tools and any possible parts that could be needed after grilling girls about what was happening and the sounds it was making.  Pretty clever if you ask me.  He always deduced correctly.  Finally bringing her home a few years ago as she needed his constant care.  Again we were sure she wouldn't last the winter.  But she did and just kept going. 

Dave was pouring oil into her every day, he had to install a fan switch so she wouldn't over heat.  Morgan was often dying at stop lights, but she kept plugging along. Then a belt ripped out, Dave repaired it.  He know that soon there would be a repair that would not be worth the cost.  The girls asked that when Morgan died, Dave save them a bolt from her to keep.

Well Thursday the belt ripped an even a bigger hole and Dave said with sadness it was time.  Luckily his work had a trailer free to load her on and take to the wrecker.  He stripped down all we could use, including the hood for future hooding so her legacy will live on. 

All 3 kids passed their licenses with Morgan.  Lots of memories made in that car for them with friends.

To tell the kids that Morgan had died Dave wrote an obituary and put it on our family group chat with a few picture.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Morgan at the age of 27 years on Feb 27, 2025 after a lengthy illness.  Morgan dies doing what she loved and worked diligently right to the end.  Born in 1998 little is know of her early life as she never spoke of it, but she joined our family in June of 2015 and quickly became an important part of the family.  She loved adventure and could often be found at the ski hill or out on outings.  She was there when all three kids took their drivers license and spent some time with the girls in Edmonton.  This was a particularly joyful yet stressful time for her I am sure.  She was involved in a near fatal shooting and barely pulled through.  She carried her scars of this close call until her death but it never slowed her down.  Towards the end she spent most of her time with dad and was nursed along by him.  Despite her ill health she kept going, finally putting on over 505 000 km, truly noble for a humble Saturn.  She is survived by her current owners David and Charmaine, drivers Cora (Ammon, Jane), Leah (Braydon), and Blake. We are truly grateful for her unselfish and tireless years of service.  She will be missed."

Thank you Morgan for all the memories.   You truly will be missed.

January 2025

Good start to the year so far.  Blake has been doing service projects on his pdays.  This family is clearing land to build a house in his ward.  I would be very interested to see what this house looks like when it is done, but I don't think Blake will be in the area that long.  You know you have a picture pop in your head when you say building a house, especially if you have built one.  A Salone house would be very different. He keeps saying his hands are getting ripped up with all the cutlass (like a machete) clearing they are doing and the roots they are pulling out.  No machinery, all by hand.  One call I was like did we not send you gloves.  He laughed and said they do not wear gloves in Sierra Leone. 

Work is going well.  He enjoys his companion and he really loves the country.  He will be very sad when he leaves.  He was telling us last week that all his sock have holes, as do his pants.  He has completely worn out 5 pairs of shoes and is having a hard time finding new ones.  He has cut pieces of cardboard to put in his shoes so he can wear them for now.  The area he is in now he said is like going for a big hike every day. As Cora said he has just taken everything in stride.  No water, no wahala, no electricity, no wahala, thread bare shoes, socks, and pants, no wahala. He really might be coming home in his socks. Holey socks. I love his attitude.

January was a good month for us.  Dave's birthday came and went.  I made him some homemade Joe Louis, which turned out amazing. And he decided to go ahead at get the drone that I had wanted to get him for Christmas, but he thought maybe he wouldn't use much. This summer when Cannon asked if Dave wanted to fly his drone he was a little hesitant. But ended up having a lot of fun.  Not at all like the cheap one we got Blake a few years ago.  I was glad he got it and he has been loving it. We can check cows from our kitchen. 

January was warmer than usual, so we went for walks in the evening and hung out.  Caught a few high school basketball games.  Celebrated 26 years of marriage. I made a special dinner and we watched a movie.  Had Leah and Braydon come for dinner to celebrate my birthday and their anniversary. 

Barn picture cause why not. 

Went out and spent a day with my parents and sisters (minus Kita :( ) Mom made a lovely lunch and Natalie did a demo at the villa. Just hung out and chatted for a bit before and after.  Nice day. 

Myrna took Dave and I out to eat to celebrate all our January events. It was so good.  Best steak ever. 

Besides that, not much.  We work, we hang out.  I enjoy meeting Leah for lunch when I grocery shop and she is free.  Most often if Blake calls Cora and I will stay on after everyone else hangs us and chat.  I love it.  The girls and I have started sending voice messages instead of text because it is easier as Cora is taking care of Jane or Leah is driving (safely, hands free)  Cora named it the So Boring Podcast.  Which I love.  We will get episode 1 of Leah's Banff trip and episode 3 of Cora's thrifting for example. Or recipe ideas.  Nothing the guys care about, although I tell Dave all about them even if he doesn't want to know.  But he does. ;) We didn't have much snow this month. Did some cleaning and rearranging.  Just doing our thing. That's it.  We are a pretty boring old couple without our kids to run around.