Stake YW Presidency

 

It's a blurry shot but it is us. 

We all got called recently and had our first meeting tonight. 

Micah Dahl makes cheesecake and she graced us with her creation. 

It was really good. 

I like that this picture includes Jesus. 

There is a lot of commotion in the world and we each have our own unique experiences and opinions. 

It is going to be a growing experience.

I am grateful for the chance to serve with these women. 

 

Hammock Town Destruction

 We had major winds a few night ago and lost one of the main trees for Hammock Town. 

It was a sad morning when we discovered it. 

All the trees in the front yard are actually dead.
The guy that did our dirt work broke all the roots as he was cleaning up the front area. 

We knew that they would have to be taken down and we would have to plant new trees. 

I made Matt promise that he would wait to take them all down until the end of summer so we could still have Hammock town.

Well, the wind decided to help it along. 

However, we just couldn't live with out it today.

The weather was so nice so we strung one of the hammock between two other trees and relaxed for a while enjoying the weather. 

Soon they will all come down.

It will be sad but I will remember Hammock Town until we can build it somewhere new. 

Alaska State Fair

 

With COVID shut downs last year, we did not get to experience the fair. 

But this year we did!!!

I finally got my spinach bread, Denali cream puff and funnel cake.

We enjoyed time together with Kenna, Kyle and Marissa and her family. Corban got to enjoy several rides with Matt and his cousins and got his dippin dots!

I love the fair. 

I don't love how many people were there though. 

There were so many people. 

The count for the day was over 60,000 just for today! 

We'll be going one more time if we can swing it with our schedules. 

 

His Hand

 

Today was hard. 

I learned that a friend from college passed away. 

A missionary that once served here is not expected to live.

An elderly sister that I have known for a long, long time is in the hospital with COVID and has basically given up her will to live. 

A student in seminary was incredibly rude and disruptive in class.

There were bombing in the middle east killing lots of people. 

People are attacking a prophet of God for his address to staff and faculty of BYU. 

 

I was very out sorts when I got home. 

So I went into nature. 

It helped so much!

I picked raspberries at the neighbors and then came home and harvested stuff from our garden. 

Then I turned around and saw this beautiful rainbow that told me that God is still in the details.

He is still aware. 

Eyes on Jesus!  

 

 

Baby Shower

 

We gathered to celebrate the expected arrival of little Penelope. 

It was good to be together. 

Of course, Marissa went above and beyond with the decorations. 

It's her thing. 

She loves it and I love that she loves it. 

Brittan got a ton of really cute things for the baby and we ate some good food and visited with people we love. 

I am grateful to celebrate babies and people. 

We will meet her soon- about 6 weeks! 

 

Wedding Prep

 

With a wedding and two babies on the way, there has been a lot going on. 

We met together, all us Hale girls, Marissa and Kyle and made some decorations for the reception. 

The temple dates are set and I am so excited for Makenna. 

She is going to be a beautiful bride. 

We also did a cheesecake testing for the wedding cake. 

Nothing was decided on, but it was delicious! 

 

The Mountains were Calling

 

Autumn is coming in with a vengeance of late and the days of hiking weather are coming to an end. 

I had to get out, hopefully not for the last time and sit on the mountains for a moment. 

I drove up to April Bowl. 

There were SO many people up there enjoying the sunny day. 

I hiked to a spot where I could sit and look out. 

I thought it was off the trail enough so I could meditate a little but it wasn't. 

There were just so many people! 

It was nice to be there for a minute though.

I am grateful to live in such a beautiful state and thank Heavenly Father all the time for it. 

 

Big lake Camp Out

 

We've reached an interesting evolution in the Hayes family make-up. 

It used to be that everyone that was around got together and enjoyed being with each other. 

Now, it seems we can only get a few here and there to get together. 

But I am grateful for those that do still gather. 

I think gathering is super important. 

The more times that we can gather together, the more unified we become. 

Things I want to remember from this trip:

• Corban putting the hammock 6 ft in the air
• Riding on Clinton's boat
• Rissa getting me Harvest Cadbury eggs :)
• My nature adventure with Afton
• Clinton and the gas on the fire...and outside of the fire pit
• The sunset
• The sunrise on the bench over looking the lake
• The stars at 3 am when I went to the bathroom

It was low key this year, but still so good!

 

Jesus

 

Years ago Brittan painted this picture of Christ. 

I don't remember what it was for.

Maybe she was just painting, but I fell in love with it and asked to keep it. 

She obliged. 

Ever since then it has hung at the head of my bed above my nightstand.

About a month or so ago, I was having a particularly difficult time falling asleep.

I had tried for hours to will myself asleep.
There was a lot on my mind and my heart was aching a bit from the choices of others.

I had the idea to move the painting to the wall across from my bed so when I was laying on my right side, I could see it.

I got up and moved it.

I laid there thinking about the Savior for a minute and then promptly fell asleep. 

He makes everything better. 

I am so grateful that I have come to know Him.

I am grateful that He has never left me in my times of sorrow and struggle. 

I have felt His love for me so often and I am grateful for reminders of that love. 

Like a little painting across from my bed. 

 

Mowing

 

 

Wonderful things are happening at the farm.

Matt got a mower so he could mow the back yard and field and as a bonus, they left the bucket attachment as well.  

He took down the two trees in the back yard that were dead and flattened it out so we can finally get grass there. 

I am so excited about this project. 

I have been wanting the backyard done for a lot of years. 

He also mowed all along the driveway and it just looks so beautiful.

I am thankful for this property every single day.

I am so glad I live here. 

 

At the Farm

 

I don't think that I will ever really be able to find the words to express how grateful I am that we did not sell the farm. 

This summer has been filled with so much peace. 

I have loved gardening on a small scale and not having to deal with too many weeds because I planted in the black ground cover. 

We have a huge harvest right now. 

Just yesterday I picked tons of broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, cauliflower and basil. 

The carrots are growing well too.

We enjoy sitting on the porch swing and visiting and also enjoying hammock town. 

We've been swimming in the lake often because the weather has been so warm. 

The wildflowers keep taking their turns coming and going. 

It's just been wonderful. 

I am so grateful for this place of safety and peace in a world that is in turmoil. 

 

Wedding Dresses

 

I didn't get to go dress shopping with Sam because a friend found her the perfect dress right away. 

And I didn't get to go dress shopping with Brittan because there was a pandemic happening and she made her dress. 

So it was fun for me to go dress shopping with Makenna.

She actually only tried on two dresses before she decided on one. 

I won't say which one it is of these just in case Kyle reads this blog (which I don't think he does).

But she is going to have lace sleeves added and she is going to be so beautiful in her dress! 

 

 

More Hammock Town

 

Matt and I were in Hammock Town when the kids started showing up for Sunday dinner. 

Afton joined me and Sam hung another hammock. 

I love hanging out there. 

I am sad that we have to remove all those trees because they are dead. 

I told Matt he had to wait until Fall so I could enjoy it at long as possible. 

He has a lead on quaking aspen's to plant in the front area because they grow 3 to 4 ft every year. 

I will definitely miss Hammock Town next summer but hopefully we will have it again the following summer. 

For now, I will enjoy every bit of it that I can.