Arizona Day 3 and 4

 

It's been 21 years since I was last on the campus of Eastern Arizona College.

So much has changed and yet it feels the same.

There is just something special about that place. 

I've said that many times before and maybe that is why Makenna has decided that she wants to have the same experience.

And I could not be more excited for her.

We toured the entire campus and even got to sit in on the Accapella choir class.

We ate lunch in the Gila cafe and walked through the grass in our bare feet.

I will always love that place.

Always!

We stayed with my friend Aisilyn and her family, which was such a treat.

I love those people so much.

I also got to see Ruth, who I haven't seen for at least 21 years.

She looked just the same, well a little older.

As we drove out of town I got a picture of Red Knolls where I met Janell for the first time.

We had the chance to walk around the Pima temple as well. 

Now I can mark another temple off my list!

It felt so good being there.

Thatcher will always have a piece of my heart!

 

Arizona Day 1 and 2

 

First order of business was to get massages on the chairs in the airport while we waited for our plane.

We were all so excited to take an adventure because it had been far too long. 

We spent Saturday and Sunday with my dearest, Janell and her family. 

Kristyn gave up her bedroom for us and I cranked the fan in there because Arizona is hot in May if you are used to Alaska weather!

We went and played mini golf and arcade games.

 On Sunday we went to church, took a walk with Kristyn to the bird sanctuary and then went and saw two temples.

It was nice to see the Mesa temple not torn up. 

They have been remodeling for a few years and they are almost done.

It was a beautiful evening to be at the temple!

 

He did it!

 

I was sitting on the bench in the hot DMV looking at my phone while I waited for him to finish his permit test.

It was the second time that he took it and he struggles with test taking.

I had already said a prayer asking that he be blessed to rememebr everything he studied, that he could concentrate on the questions and then added a simple, "And if You could help him pass the test, that would be great." 

A few minutes passed and he turned and looked at me.

I looked back and he gave me the thumbs up.

My heart flooded with those feelings that only parents get when they are so proud of their kids.

I wanted to jump up and down and dance.

He would have never let me do that. 

Instead, I just kept smiling. 

He was elated that it only took him two tries, which was less then his sister, who he promptly let know.

Then I made him drive home and we went really, really slow, but it's okay because we live in the middle of no where. 

I am still smiling that he did it! 

 

He can also turn his feet backwards behind his body. 

Kids got skills!

 

Lake Hale

 Matt invited me to take a walk last night to see how much the water was running over the road at the 90 degree turn in the driveway.

We walked up there and there was still not Lake Hale.

I thought maybe this year we would avoid it.

That's a laugh.

Corban took the walk with us and when we got there they had this brilliant idea to knock down snow that was holding the deluge back.

Well, we walked back home but came back out two hours later and there it was.

Matt decided to park his truck on the other side but I thought about how we have never not been able to get through.

That could have been a mistake.

This morning when I went to drive out there were several moments when my heart almost failed me.

Corban refused to be in the car as I drove across.

He put on his boots and walked around. 

I drove though with white knuckles.

At one point the car started to float and I kept telling myself to just keep the gas on.

I made it through but my hands were shaking SO bad afterwards.

Needless to say, I am parking on the other side until it goes down and I am going to find a way to get the driveway fixed so this doesn't happen next year. 

Always an adventure here. 

Some mornings

 

Some mornings, if you are paying attention, you get to see the Lord's handiwork and it almost takes your breath away!

I'm so grateful to live in such a beautiful world!

A Solid Afternoon

 

The sale of the farm fell through.
We actually felt complete relief. 

But one of the first things I thought of was that we get to have a garden this year now. 

So Matt and I spent the afternoon planting lots of seeds.

I'm so excited to have fresh food again.

After that we decided to clear the snow from the back deck.

That took a little while but it is done and beautiful!

 

Girls Night

 

Amanda decided that all the Hayes girls needed to have a girls night out, so her and Marissa planned it all out.
They got a AirBnB that we stayed at in Anchorage. 

There were 11 of us- Mom, Me, Brittan, Sam, Jessie, Brittany, Makenna, Robyn, Marissa, Amanda and Erin. 

We laughed and ate yummy food.
Marissa discovered DoorDash and there was a lot of food delivered to the house.

I was so 'there' that I didn't take a single picture until today when me, Brittany and my girls went to Snow City Cafe for brunch. 

We really had a good time.

While we waited for a table we took a walk and Sam, Bri and Kenna played on the swings and climbed trees all while yelling, "Mom, look!" 

People passing by thought it was hilarious.

I told them that kids never grow out of it. 

It was a nice break. 

 

It's a girl!

 

Andi is super excited about the latest family news.

She will not be the only granddaughter come October. 

Brittan and Dustin are having a girl!!!

We are so excited for them. 

 

Two Year Anniversary

 

Today marks the two year anniversary of my open heart surgery. 

A lot of things have happened in those two years.

We got two new grand babies, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law.

COVID shut the world down.

I got my dream job.

I definitely got a lot more grey hairs. 

And I got to do some fun adventures- like Spencer bench. 

There is still so much more life I want to live. 

I went and visited my surgeon today to thank him in person and give him a card. 

There is so much I would've missed if he had not given me a new valve. 

I feel blessed every single day that I get to be alive.

There is just so much good in this world to experience. 

Done

 It just won't go away!

Seriously.

Today I was at my limit. 

I got to the driveway after work and even though the snow was blowing pretty good, I thought I could make it. 

I did not make it. 

I had to call the neighbor to both tow me out and then plow. 

That was at 430 pm. 

But 830 Matt was on the driveway in the same predicament as I had been. 

So within 4 hours we had to plow twice. 

Seriously.
It was like the freaking Sahara desert sand storms but with snow. 

One good thing? 

We got an amazing sunset.

Easter and Conference

 

This year we got a bonus- Easter and Conference on the same day. 

It was fun to have the kids over. 

Matt got baskets for them grands and they were pretty excited at the colorful eggs. 

We ate yummy food and listened to the words of living prophets. 

I love conference weekend and I love that we got to spend it together as a family. 

 

April Fools

 

We're gaining light in droves but that means nothing, unfortunately. 

I believe we are on 3rd or 4th winter this year.

It has seriously been so cold. 

We haven't even gotten Lake Hale yet. 

I am started to wonder if the snow will ever melt. 

Regardless we thought we'd take a walk at Reflection Lake- Me, Afton, Emry and Sam.

We were frozen. 

Quickly.

But it was fun to be with them for a minute.