Technology

Yesterday I got to email with Dallin and he sent me three videos! Then last night I got to facetime with Samantha and Afton. My kids are growing up and having their own lives but I find myself so grateful for the day in which I live.

The last 13 weeks I have been completely entrenched in the late 1800's in England. My class that I am taking has me researching one of my ancestral lines for all these weeks- the entire semester. I have discovered things that are sad and then had wonderful experiences as well. I know that in those days, if a family member moved away, you probably would never see them again. My Samuel Dunn immigrated to America with his family, making it possible for me to be here today. He died in 1914. He had only been in America for 21 years at that point. No records indicate he ever got to go back to England and see his mother before she died in 1910 and his father before he died in 1913. I am just so thankful that I live in a day and age where I can see my people even when they are so, so far from me.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons why I chose this time to come to earth.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving at our house has never been a huge affair.
We just hang out as a family and eat good food.
This year seemed so small with Sam and her family in Missouri and Dallin in California.
We started the day with a Nerf war.
That was a blast.
We decided to wear matching shirts that Matt brought home from Akutan where he was working last week.
We had our traditional table cloth that everyone wrote something they were grateful for on.
I drew a missionary tag for Dallin.

I find myself grateful for things ALL year long but this year I feel most grateful for the following:

• Family History work. I've learned so many cool things this year and found so many people. 
• Harvest Point Farm. This year of growing and working was a balm to my soul. I loved everything about digging in the dirt and picking food. I loved going out in the fields and just standing there taking it all in. I loved the smell of dirt and the taste of fresh green beans just picked from the plant. I'm so excited to do it all again this next year.
• Seminary. This year teaching early morning seminary has been wonderful. I feel like I am closer to Christ already and we are not even half way through the year. I've already learned so much. I hope the kids have learned something too.
• My family. I know it is a trite thing to say this time of year but I feel like I have been so incredibly blessed- beyond measure in this department. Each person means so much to me and I adore them all. 

Those are the big four right now. I love this holiday season!

Still No Snow!

Yesterday when I went to the bus to pick up Kenna this was my view.

This is the first Thanksgiving that I can remember us not having any snow.

It's crazy.

And this was beautiful.

Don't let the picture deceive you though.

It is crazy cold! 

Yesterday the thermostat on the truck said 9 degrees. 

But this morning there are no clouds and it looks like it is going to be another GORGEOUS day! 

There is so much to be thankful for in all seasons. 

Turkey Shoot

This morning in seminary we had a blast.
There were muffins and orange juice.
Sweats and yoga pants.
Paper turkeys and nerf guns.
Doctrinal mastery scriptures.
Lots of laughter.
No one sleeping.
I love seminary!

Tuesday with Corban

I spent the day with Corban today, but who am I kidding really? I spend every day with Corban. Today we went to Anchorage town. We hit Michaels and Costco. We talked about VR helmets and flying without a plane. He'sa  pretty cool kid.

On the way home I got video of him playing with his fart putty and the sunset was A.MAZ.ING! I remember when I hated Alaska. So many lost years of not recognizing how gorgeous everything was around me.

MIssionary Mondays

Having a missionary out makes Mondays worth getting out of bed for.

I am usually at my computer anyway doing school work most of the day, so I open the email tab and wait for the little red light to tell me that he has emailed.

It is usually around noon.

Then we email back and forth for about two hours. 

This week he sent a video. 

It was so good to see his face. 

He also gave me a tour of his apartment. 

There were some questionable things like a California flag his companion "obtained from a graveyard", rubbing alcohol they were lighting on fire in bottles and a sketchy baby mask.

Matt just reminded me he is still a boy. 

Sigh. 

Anyway, I love to hear from him and see how he is.

Last Monday was hard. Ugly crying after he told me he missed hugging me.

He's only been out 4 months. 

It already feels like I haven't seen him forever. 

I am grateful for my missionary and for Mondays!

Early Morning Seminary

Every morning at 445 I roll onto my knees and say a quick prayer and then get up and get ready for seminary. It usually takes me 15 minutes. Then I go and turn on the light in the girls room and tell them to get up. I come downstairs and get my bag ready with lesson plan and scriptures and sometimes laptop and then yell up the stairs for the girls to get up. I go outside and start the truck and on Tue and Thurs I start Bri's car. I come back in and yell up the stairs again for the girls. Makenna usually comes down ready for the day. Brittan sometimes comes down ready for the day. This morning was the BEST ever. I laughed out loud and then got permission to take this picture, which I promptly turned into a meme at seminary and then posted on social media.

I get to spend an hour every morning teaching and learning from 7 incredible people. We talk about firkins and avengers and the Atonement and Jesus doing sign language and climbing trees and children of light and agency and parables and not burning down the village and poop brownies all while sipping hot cocoa. They have my heart in the early mornings and I don't believe there is a better calling in the church. I love seminary and I love these kids!

Especially if they come to class with bed head!

Hayes Thanksgiving 2016

We all gathered at Rissa's house this year. There was a TON of food, like always, a ton of people, like always, and some unexpected events. Kasen swallowed a rock from Ruby's rock collection and the paramedics were called. They ended up taking him to the hospital, even though he was breathing fine, they were worried he wouldn't be able to pass the rock. I made Austin hug me, because he was the closest thing to Dallin in the room...or the skinniest! There was a flying rubber chicken and lots of talk about politics. Poor Brittany is so frail from being so, so sick with her pregnancy of twins. Mom's pumpkin cookies were the bomb. My dad told me it always makes him happy to see me. I splashed butter on my favorite shirt. There were tiny babies to hold. It was a pretty successful night!

Next family dinner is going to be at our ward building though. I think we have mostly outgrown everyone's houses. Except Garic's but he is selfish and won't share.

Sleep overs with Jamie and Corban's last Primary Program

A little while ago I had the thought that it would be good to have Jamie come to our house once a month for a sleep over. She loves coming to the farm. We pick her up on Saturdays and then she goes to church with us on Sundays. After I picked her up we went to the fabric store and both her and Corban picked out fabric for blankets. She picked out this adorable fox material and we made a blanket for her.

Then on Sunday Corban took part in his very last Primary program. I think he is completely fine with that. He has a hard time going to primary as it is. Next year he will be a deacon. Life is really going so quickly. This picture is awful because I was so far away but it is something!

Upheaval

Tuesday the United States voted for a new president.
Donald Trump won over Hilary Clinton.
I voted for him.
It came down to choosing the candidate that didn't support murder.
It's a sad state of affairs when that was the only redeeming quality I could find about who I voted for.
Our world is in serious commotion now.
Before the election most of my friends were pretty quiet about who they were voting for.
After...oh my goodness.
There is a serious division in our world right now.
I kind of feel like people believe the president has more power than he does.
I feel like God is STILL in control.
I feel like this presidency is going to usher in several prophecies that have to occur before the 2nd coming.
That's another thing,
People keep saying to me they are ready for the 2nd coming.
I do not believe that having some savings, being out of debt and having food storage makes you ready.
Although, those are good things.
I think the only way any one will ever really be ready, is if they are ready spiritually.
Anyway, back to the election.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 4 years.
But no matter what, I will continue building my faith by keeping the commandments.
That is the ONLY protection that any of has- ever!

Also, I will do some ice skating on the lake.
That's important too.

New Driveway

Matt spent the entire weekend taking down trees, cutting them up, and making way for our driveway.

We always planned on having a circular drive

but time and money ran out when we cleared for the house.

Travis came over and helped. 

We now have a lovely front yard area

that is going to be covered in grass and have birdhouses in every tree.

Plus we have a TON of firewood! 

 

Another week

It surprises me how quickly time goes by. 

Dallin has been out in the mission field for 5 months now. 

I cleaned his dirty socks out of the couch yesterday.

It felt like it was time. 

Living on the farm affords me some incredible blessings

namely sunrises and sunsets.

The picture above was from the other day when Matt came in and said you have got to see the sunset. 

We drove out to the pumpkin patch and just took it in.

 Last night Matt and I got to go to the temple. 

I put several people that I love on the prayer roll. 

There was a direct answer that came to me while there.

One that made me rejoice at Heavenly Father's goodness.

How grateful I am that there is a place where heaven touches earth. 

There is no place on this earth like the temple. 

I feel like I can breathe easier when I am there. 

I am grateful that it puts all of life into perspective for me.

A reminder that Heavenly Father is there and aware.

 This morning Corban put on his snow gear- it's finally snowing- and went out to help his dad.

Matt rented an excavator and is moving trees and cutting them up

Yesterday he knocked down all the evergreens in the front yard and it opened out view up a lot. 

I'm excited for our little park in the front yard next summer. 

Lots is happening! 

 

My Incredible Life

Once upon a time there was this girl who had an incredible life. 

In every way! 

It wasn't perfect but it was incredible.

Tonight Kenna and I laced up our skates and took to the lake.

I started with a metal chair until I got my skating legs. 

No judging.

I'm an old lady! 

 

I loved it so much I hope to spend more time out there.

I also may have almost done the splits. 

Good times! 

 Also today I got to hold Ryder. My newest great nephew. 

He was only 5 lbs 14 oz. 

He is Eden's baby.

I love the new babies!