we have not blogged in a long time.......

Disneyland

Chad and I were able to take all of our kids to Disneyland over Thanksgiving. I was worried the entire time that we would lose one of the little girls. Luckily, we didn't. We all had a great time!

Fall Blessings

I was blessed by these women. They are Stake Presidents wives, we got to meet together at Sun Valley for some training while our husbands were being trained also. It was a wonderful day. We were asked to memorized "The Living Christ" I tried once when I was serving in young women and failed....but I am determined to do it this time. Memorizing is not easy for me.
I was blessed by having my first grandson baptized (well, he is my only grandson). I remember being baptized by my sixteen year old brother. He told me he was going to drown me (maybe that is why I don't like to swim) the bishop wrote down the wrong words of the baptism prayer so he memorized them wrong. After the third time of going under I remember looking up at my mother crying, begging her not to let him drown me.
And of course, I was blessed this fall by being able to attend General Conference and to be taught by men of God. I am so excited to get my November Ensign so I can read and reread their words.

Moonlighting

After Chad and I were first married we did a lot of moonlighting jobs to just try to get ahead or to just try to pay the bills. It was a lot of long hours after work. I can't remember if I really enjoyed those times...it is kind of like having a baby you soon forget.
So when the boys thought it would be a good idea to do some moonlighting jobs....I thought oh what the heck. But just trying to find the time after work and church has been a great BIG challenge.
So when this project is over.....I hope I don't forget.....or I hope I'll look back on this blog post and remember how really fun or not so fun moonlighting is!

End of Summer

Before summer is over I wanted to remember some of the fun things we were able to do. So when someone asks, "What did you do this summer?" I don't have to say "I don't know" We did get to go up to Melcher with the Stake Presidency's families and have a cookout and go four wheeling. Actually I didn't go four wheeling I was cooking. This is a picture of President King's daughter, Kennedy and Ty Bodily's daughter, Marissa. We had a good time with lots of good food and company.

We were invited to go to stake girls camp. They had a wonderful camp. Hats off to the stake young women leaders, ward leaders and Bishops.
We went camping for Jones Reunion at Aberdeen Sportsman's Park. We all survived the thunder and lightning storm although I didn't fill very safe under a large tree in my tent with metal poles. We had a great time being together once again. Next year is the Chad Jones family's turn to plan the reunion.....any ideas?
For Labor day we went up to Melcher with some friends. We had a long ride going up some steep rocks. Kristi kept telling me she was done....but she survived and smiled once we got up to the top of the ridge. It was beautiful.

Happy Fourth of July

We celebrated this great nation with our Ward's annual 4th of July breakfast. We fed over 175 people. We had a great turnout. The weather could not have been better.
After the ward's party we came home and got ready for our family cookout. Chad got a new Tragger smoker, so he was all excited to smoke ribs, chicken and steak.
It was nice to have Dee's family home from Brasil to join us this year. They said more than once what a great country we live in.
The children had fun making smores.
And of course we ended the night with fireworks.

Reunions

I love summer time and reunion time. For our Beck reunion we went to Harris Pond. I love it here mostly because the kids love it here. There is boating, canoeing, kiddie train, zip line, and a fun little area for the little tots.
One thing I've noticed at our family reunion is when we eat the Garrard's sit by the Garrard's the Jones' by the Jones' and the Frank Beck family by the Frank Beck family. It takes everyone a little while to warm up and reach out of their bubble to go out and visit with other family members.


The kiddie train was enjoyed by all ages. Even Grandma. The other day I went over to Grandma Bernice's and I couldn't find her anywhere. Her car was in the garage so I went in the house and looked everywhere (kind of scary when someone is 90 years old) I called Sandy to see if she knew where she was but she didn't know. I went home and kept calling, finally Bernice answered, I said, "where have you been?" She said she had been home all day but she was out sweeping the shop because it was so dirty. She is amazing. I hope I can remain active and alert like her.
Check off one family reunion and get ready for the next.