Wrap Up 2012

There were a few things I forgot to blog about.  After Dad passed away, we took mom with us to Les Miserables in Boise.  I had purchased the tickes earlier in the year and Harold was planning on coming with us but after dad died Harold wanted mom to have his ticket so   Aubrie, Jes, Clinty, me and mom went together.  It was FANTASTIC

I bought a new fridge and range from Clinton in Logan, he is working at Sears.  So the first trip I took Aubrie and the kids and went to pick up the Fridge.  The second time was last week,  we took Jes and the girls and Harold drove us to Logan.  We got a few minutes to have a late lunch with Clinty and Rachel.  Then off to Idaho Falls.  The roads were great!

Dan's son Taylor just came home from his mission in California.  Mom wanted to be home for that so Mike and Kathy picked her up and they all met him at the airport.

Aubries home burned down in August.  They are rebuilding and it is almost enclosed now.  They just got the windows in and are working on the duct work and electrical  now.  They are renting a home nearer Ririe.  Brian hit 2 dear in 4 days time.  One in their new car and the second in the rental car.  Just glad they are safe and have insurance.

Curtis and Kalen are engaged and are getting married on Jan 26th.  Excited for that.

I have spent most of the time since Dad passed away with mom, splitting our time between her home and ours.  She has had some time there alone.  I worry about her but I know its good for her to have time to herself learning to be independent.  She is doing well.  She feels very much comforted by Father in Heaven.  I am grateful for that!!!!

Welcome 2013

News Year Eve and Aubries birthday.

We had planned for me to go back with mom after Christmas, but I couldn't stand to miss our tradition of spending New Years Eve with Aubrie and our family,  Its our annual crab and shrimp night!!!  I had been over to visit Onda Smith and asked her if she had plans for Christmas and she did so I then asked her about New Years Eve and she didn't so I invited her to join us.  She came over at 7 and we ate until we were STUFFED!!!!!  Clinton had come home and surprised us by bringing Rachel.  We got up and played a Ninja game after dinner and never laughed so hard.  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!  The boys had us all laughing throughout dinner and we had such a great time.  My camera battery was dead so I didn't get pictures.  I will have to steal some off of Jes' blog.  Heeheehee

Christmas 2012

Christmas was so WONDERFUL this year.  Mom was here and we wanted to make it very special for her first Christmas without dad.  I also wanted to keep up the tradition of Dad's, to get her a precious moments figure.  So I had Clinton pick out one for her.  It was a snow globe.  It was SO cute.  Then I got her a toaster, a tiny slow cooker, a new rolling pin, and a bottle of perfume, a box of chocolates and PJ's for Christmas EVE and some lotion and bath salts.  We had such a GREAT day.
Harold and I made crepes AS ALWAYS!!!!  Then we made our traditional prime rib for dinner.  Aub and the kids came and so did Curtis and his family. OH and of course Clinton.

GREAT DAY

Mom visits for December

Mom came home with Jes and I on  Dec 6th and stayed until Dec 27th.  She did amazingly well!!!  She got really homesick by the end but we had a GREAT month with her.  We had Robin and her mom over for COOKIE DAY and baked so many cookies that we couldn't count them.  But we ATE them!!!!  MMMMMMMMMM  They made GREAT home teaching and visiting teaching gifts!!!!

What a great day.  We are going to have an annual Cookie Day with Robin each year.  Last year we made bread but this year we decided to do cookies and we liked it so much its going to be our new tradition!!!

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving together.  We took lots of great family pictures and laughed A LOT!  Food was terrific, we had turkey, ham, yams, all the fixings!!!!!!  We were stuffed!!!

Visit from Andy Lovell

After we got back from the Temple Open House we were all sitting around the table and Andy called and came out to visit mom.  I don't know why he loves her so much, it must be because of Jennifer!  He has good taste.  We had a nice visit!  LOVE ANDY~~~~

Busy with mom

Well since dad passed away I have been with my mother except one and a half weeks.  I brought her home with me in September for 6 days then again on the 10th of October.  I knew she wouldn't last the rest of the month.  We went home to attend Haylee's baptism and finish out my last 3 weeks of work.  We closed our Farmers Insurance office so I can stay home with mom.  Lou and Charlie Weber came up to Idaho Falls for a soccer tournament and mom made arrangements for them to drive her car home.  So I finished up work, my last day was last Wednesday.  That night Dave got to my house at 9 and the next morning we were on the way to moms again.  Harold and Sherie came Friday and we all went to the Boise Temple Open House Saturday.

On the way I wanted to ask Dave in such a bad way if Dad's death had changed his life but I just didn"t know how to ask it.  I have never wanted to push him for answers so I didn't ask EVEN when he opened the door by asking me if I had anything I wanted to ask him.  I was chicken I guess.  But that night Dan came over and he told mom and I that he had been attending church and paying his tithing since dad passed away and is wanting us to all go back to the temple with him in a year.  I cried and cried.  I still have to pinch myself.  Just earlier in the day mom and I had gotten dads patriarchal blessing out and was reading it, and hers when it mentioned that she would live to see her children strong in the gospel as adults.  I mentioned to her she was going to be here for a while longer.  Then Dave dropped that news on us the same night.  It is such a miricle!  There is such a great change in him, he is so soft and loving and the spirit just radiates from him!  I haven't seen that for more than 20 years!  It gives me hope for my own precious children.  Although I hope it doesn't take them 20 years to return.  The Lord is so mindful of us!  We were talking at the kitchen table about the gospel and the Prodical Son popped into my head and I shared a time in our Sunday School when they were discussing the story and were missing the most important part about how the Father saw the son when he was yet a ways off, how we as parents NEVER give up and never stop praying for our children and how there are members with the attitude of the brother but how we ALL need to be like the father and find JOY in the return of the son.  I know that Dad is so proud of Dave, they saw him softening a long time ago but I don't think mom was thinking he was so close.  THANKS DAD for helping such a wonderful son and brother find his way back. 

Dave and Harold went back home this morning.   It was really hard to see Dave go again, he lives so far and we are going to have to take the time to go see them in Havre,  BUT NOW I  DONT work and can do that anytime we want!!!!!!!   Havre here we come. 

I am so grateful for such a supportive family.  I don't know how long I am going to be here with mom this time.  A couple of weeks at least, but my family is wonderful and supportive!!!  Mom thanked Harold this morning before he left and asked him "are you sure you can do without your wife again?"  and Harold answered her with  " if she comes home I am going to kick her butt".  He loves my parents and they both sure love him.  He  is such a great blessing from a very loving Heavenly Father,  I am so lucky.

Pictures of my Daddy