Fair Days

 

The fair is always more fun when it is with people you love. 

Tonight we went and saw Andi dance and several of our kids were there with their kids. 

Rissa and Dave were also there and we got to hang out with them for a bit as well.

I got my yearly Denali Cream Puff and Matt got his pork chop on a stick.

He didn't last long though.

It's his first outing since the last surgery and it's taking him longer to bounce back this time.

But the time we got to spend was wonderful and I'm so glad we got to do it with grand kids. 

Fufilled

 

Dallin came into the house tonight all excited to show us something. 

He pulled out his baby journal that I had started when he was born and read the entry from Feb.12, 2000:

"Dear Dallin- In your dad's patriarchal blessing it says"...faithful posterity, who will be church and temple builders and attenders..." We received a little glimpse of the truthfulness of this statement the other day. We were sitting in the living room and you brought in two blocks and stacked them together and said "Look, I build a temple!" I looked at your dad and he looked at me. I hope we can make all the correct decisions to help you fulfill this blessing! I love you Mom"

Well, it took 26 years but our boy has fulfilled this part of his dad's blessing by working on the temple. 

I love that so much. 

Patriarchal blessings are true people!

Melon Success!!!

 

I am so excited about this.
We have been trying for years to grow melons successfully and we have finally done it. 

We grew three types that were successful: prescott fond blanc, farthest north, and itsu (I think that was what it was called).

The farthest north is so sweet like candy and I love the look of the prescott fond blanc.

It's a melon that looks like a pumpkin (swoon).

And they are heirloom so now we have as many seeds as we want. 

Filled With Love

 

I had the most beautiful experience at the sacrament meeting in Anchorage. 

I was sandwiched between Vivian and Zach and all these kids from all the years came into the chapel.

 I saw Jared who I saw in Hawaii on his mission who came home sick and then got better and was able to go back out.

 I saw Luke who never really paid attention in class, he was always drawing funny things, with a full beard like a grown man. And who is attending Ensign college since his mission in Japan.

There was Ella, Ellie, Bella, Kolter, Kya, Bobby, Korovin, Ransom, Ammon and Sam and even some of my current students.

Then Robert walked in with his new bride. 

Robert. 

The one who stopped going to church his senior year and dropped out of seminary. 

The same Robert who was now married in the temple. 

And as the sacrament was passed, I was filled with love for these people. 

So much love, it began to leak out of my eyes. 

Then the Savior came to my mind and His love for us. 

And my mind made a connection. 

I sacrificed so much time, money and tears on those kids and Jesus sacrifice everything for us.

 Part of my love for them is because of all I sacrificed for them. 

And Jesus' sacrifice is so much bigger than mine. 

Of course He loves us! 

And I had forgotten until that moment how much I loved each of those kids, but thank goodness, Jesus never forgets how much He loves us. 

After the meeting I tried to make it around to every kid and squeeze them and tell them that I love them. 

What a blessing those Anchorage kids were in my life and continue to be. 

Free Labor

 

One of my favorite garden chores is shelling peas.

And one of my favorite grands got to help me today. 

I think she got tired after the second bucket was about half way through, but she was a trooper and helped get so many peas shelled. 

I love that I have such cute free labor around this place. 

Surgery Success

 

The last surgery is complete. 

It took longer than was expected but the doctor let me know that he was able to get the bicep muscle back in place, which was good. 

It took a while for Matt to wake up fully. 

And now we do the recovery part. 

There have been lots of prayers that will go smoothly.

He thinks he is going to go back to work on Monday. 

This guy! 

Seriously.

But for now he will be sleeping on the couch to keep his arm in the proper position and need to wear the sling for at least two weeks.

Possibly more.

But he feels like he can finally get through this chapter now that all the surgeries are over. 

Farm Days

 

Our summer is winding down here.

The trees are not changing yet- thank goodness, but we are having some foggy mornings.

I go back to teaching shortly so I am trying to soak in everything that I can here on the farm while I can. 

We're finally harvesting things and have been having extra help with the littles. 

August and September are my favorite months because of the harvest and how fall starts to show up with the smells and the cool mornings. 

The Calvary Arrived

 

Last Friday, I sat in the field feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.

It was just too much. 

I ran through my mind how I could get help.

The weeds were taking over and I was not enough to handle the project.

I thought about people who offered help. 

It never feels comfortable asking for help, but I was reminded of a talk from Pres. Oaks where he actually tells us to seek help from others.

SO I posted an SOS of sorts and people showed up in droves.

Over the course of this last week, more people came than I could keep track of.

Some mornings it was just me and one other person, which was beautiful because we weeded and talked.

And on Tuesday there had to be at 50 or more people in the field.

There were people I didn't even know out there. 

Yesterday the missionaries showed up. 

At least 14 missionaries were here.

This morning Sam's Logan is out there before anyone was even awake.

As I talked to my friend about it all and how grateful I was, she said that people just love us and she thanked me for giving them all an opportunity to serve our family. 

She told me how much we are loved. 

I am in awe of the goodness of people. 

A huge burden was lifted this week.

And I am learning that there is power in asking.

In fact, the Lord told us to ask and we will receive many times. 

I wonder who I can ask for $50,000.... :)

A Kenna Day

 

I woke up this morning and decided that I needed a break from my regularly scheduled life. 

I decided that I wanted to go get a sweetie pie from Friday Fling and it just worked out that I got to spend the day with Kenna.

We thrifted and ate yummy food.

She introduced me to AK's Best Philly and it was so good. 

Their fries might have been my favorite in the whole Valley. 

It was good to just not worry about all the things that have been on my mind for a bit.

I love this girl! 

Finally a Harvest!

 

How has this summer been garbage?

Oh let me count the ways.

But seriously, we have had the worst growing season that we have ever had. 

All the farmers are in the same boat.

This week people are finally starting to harvest which is over a month late. 

We are almost out of summer up here. 

I am grateful for all that we have been able to harvest this week.

And I guess like all farmers, we hope for a better year next year. 

Here are just a few of the goods we got.

August Appreciation

 

I feel like we all need just a minute to appreciate this perfection that is August Matthew. 

Seriously though. 

How cute is he with his blue eyes and bond hair. 

I love this one!

Makenna says that he wakes up saying "Ninny?"

But then she will facetime me and he will be happy for 2.5 seconds and then lose interest. 

I think I am pretty much the most blessed grandma in the world. 

Just saying. 

Family Dinner

 

I found out tonight that our fun might be coming to an end and to say I don't care would be a huge lie.

Dallin and Jessie are looking at a house in Fairbanks and I am really sad about that.

But for now, and for however long we have, I will try to enjoy these cute little people. 

Our family dinner was fun.

We didn't get everyone out, but it was fun to have those who we did. 

We had salmon bowls and pulled pork sandwiches.

We took a walk and picked strawberries and raspberries. 

We played Mastermind and just enjoyed being together. 

I just really love these people. 

And I really love them all being so close to us. 

The Roof

 

The week that Matt had his accident was the week that we were going to finish the roof.

It has been a big problem. 

There was one storm that we had three buckets in the kitchen where the water was coming in.

And this last storm it was coming in the garage area and causing mold issues.

It was not good. 

I figured it was time to get it done.

I asked people to loan us their roof harnesses and we got three of them. 

Dallin and Corban helped. 

But we chose the hottest days of the year.

Seriously.

It took three days to get it done because it was so hot and we ended up renting a lift after the first day.

But it is done except for two pieces and they are not going to make anything leak and I feel so much relief over that. 

I am grateful for my boys and for the people who loaned us harnesses. 

And the funnest part was I finally got to get my weather vane attached to the house. 

Thanks to Corban!