Fruitland or bust

When our niece Maddie announced that she was serving a mission, Jessica and I both resolved to go to her farewell. We had wanted so badly to support the family, so when the weekend of her report came, we hopped in our trusty 2007 Chrysler impala and crossed the border - headed for Fruitland, Idaho. 

We hit roadblock after roadblock all along the way. 

For example, 15 minutes into the trip, I realized that I had grabbed John's passport, not mine. Home we went.

Three hours into the trip, when we stopped to rent a car because we figured ours wouldn't make it all the way, we learned that there wasn't a rental car in all the land.  Well, atleast not in Great Falls. Forward we went. (We probably shouldn't have continued in our car, but we were determined.)

We LOVED stopping in Helena to see the new temple and we REALLY enjoyed Chic Filet. 

Somewhere, near the town of Dillon, well past dark, the check engine light came on and the car started to sound a little bit funny. Fueled by childhood memories of a similar vehicular situation near Dillon, I instructed Jessica to take the first exit she found and we drove straight to a hotel. For that night, we wondered and debated. Do we press on (we were only halfway through our journey) or do we head home? I did not want to risk going further south only to run into worse trouble with the car. 

By morning, I had decided that we would close the gap between us and hope and turn around. 

That said, we were 20 minutes from Rexburg Idaho, so we did go there and spend a few hours on campus, exploring the nursing floor and getting a sense of the area. It piqued Jessica's interest and put the thought of BYUI back on the table. 

As we finished up on campus, we said a prayer and asked for safe travels as we started for home. The car ran great for about 6 hours, the engine light only coming on again as we pulled into the parking lot of a hotel in Great Falls. I knew we'd make it home safely the next day. 

We were sad to have missed our chance to support Maddie, but I was sure grateful for the time spent in this dingy old car - with this girl. She's made life fun. 

I'm grateful for her. 

Random June

Oh June - you were medicine to my tired heart. After years of schooling, June 2024 brought some sunshine and rest. It was a beautiful spring!

Nate broke the front tire on his purple and green moped and quickly bought a used moped from a member of his baseball team. Turns out we got scammed big time and the moped has ended up being a total lemon. Such a bummer, but we have noone to blame but ourselves. We can be too gullible, sometimes. 

Because I'd been hired to work at the Junior high, the principal called me in often to sub. I got nervous each time (kids are often mean to the subs) but it did help me get to know the school and the students better. This is one of the school EAs who I got to know that month. 

Jessica really hit the books during those last weeks of school. She juggled softball and finals like a champ, but man, I got sick up seeing papers splayed over my kitchen table for days. 

Nate really stepped up at DQ (he'd been working there for a couple of months) and took a lot of shifts as the end of school drew near. He is such a fun young man. Happy, and engaging. I love him. 

Jess and Nate's teams did well, this past ball season. Jessica's team won zones, which wasn't surprising, but was fun. Nate's team had a great season too!

I really tried hard to soak up the evenings of ball. For years, I'd opted to attend classes or do homework instead. It was nice to not have anything looming. 

June brought the High School graduation of many of my former Young Women. I was so happy to get to hug some of them and congratulate them. Esther especially had worked really hard to achieve this. 

 Abby really works hard and June was no exception. While serving in Sibiu she had some great experiences and she reached her 1 year mark!

June marked 7 months in the field for Sam. He is growing so much and I have been so proud of the way that he has embraced his mission and resolved to serve. 

Towards the end of June, Brent and Rachel went on a trip together. We watched the kids for a few days. It was fun to have little ones around. We tried to be as fun as possible. 

We ordered fries and Chicken from every fast food spot in town and voted on the favorites. Oddly enough, I think KFC won for best Chicken AND best fries. 

We played lots of games!

We took the kids into Lethbridge to swim at the YMCA...

and finished our day in the city with a big order of Crumbl cookies.  So good!

On our final day together, we took the kids to Waterton for a walk and lunch at Beavertails. 

By the time Rachel and Brent got home, I had gained forty pounds and was exhausted, but it was fun to have them stay with us. 

Pomp & Circumstance

This day was big. For me, it was four years in the making. 

For four years, I had stayed up layed, poured over books, hunched over my computer and juggled every schedule. I often dreamed about being done and graduated, and I wondered if I would actually attend my convocation. I debated going, right up to the very day, but ultimately, I wanted to see this journey through to the very end and I was SO thankful that John and Nate were able and wiling to join me. 

I did not realize how many graduates I would be attending with. 

I loved walking into the auditorium and finding Nate and John in the crowd. (Jess had a softball game that she felt she needed to be at. I respect that, but she was missed.)

There was so much pomp and tradition associated with the graduation ceremony. I was impressed with the procedure and protocols. 

After the ceremony, we stopped by Burning Bird, a favourite Louisiana Chicken shop that has become a family favorite. I'm pretty sure that was the highlight of Nate's day and the only thing that made the two hour drive and the three hour ceremony worth it.  

To each his own. 

 

Random May

May was a treat. A real special month.

With no more school work and only a handful of subbing days each week, I felt blessed with both employment and time to catch my breath. 

Of course, I got to enjoy my weekly phone calls from my missionaries!

We got lots of sunshiny days in May and radar loved having someone home with him, full time. 

Jess and Nate both played ball all month long.  Jess loved her team!

Radar and his ol' buddy reunited. These little encounters made for the sweetest spring walks. 

3rd Ward participated in Youth Days. 

My one job for the day was to stir the taco meat, which I think I did a very good job of.

I miss my calling as Young Woman President, but I'm grateful for those who lead now. 

May brought my favorite Sunday afternoon routine - FatDog! 

It involves eating and then sleeping. Last one up is the fattest dog of all.

Nate kept us on our toes in May, breaking his moped, buying a new moped and not knowing how to park our vehicles. In his defence, he would say that he does know how to park properly. He just insists on not doing so. 

May also brought the BEST Northern Lights show that I have perhaps ever seen. It was magical. 

I did not want the night to end and at 2 am, I was still driving around town, trying to capture it all. 

We planted our garden in May.  (Always a fulfilling feeling)

Jess and her friend Macie grew quite close as their boyfriends are good friends. There were a lot of fun dates in May, for these four, including a spring formal dance. 

And John was asked to give the Teachers replay at CHS' graduation ceremony. 

He was sweet and candid and hopefully something he said resonated with the young people. 

It's crazy to think that next May...it will be Jessica we will celebrate!

Pretending for a day

My brother and sister in law went away for a few days in May and we signed on to watch their kids for them. For the most part, Nate and Jess both had other commitments so it often fell on John and I to keep our three visitors company. 

One day, we ordered chicken strips and fries from the four fast food chains in town and rated each one. 

I think we determined that KFC had the best chicken and the best fries. Who knew? 

We took the kids in to the wave pool in Lethbridge. It's been years since we did the YMCA. It made me wish I had little kids again. 

We stopped at Crumbl for some more sampling fun. 

And on our final day together, we went to Waterton where we window shopped and snacked on poutine and beaver balls. 

Despite the fact that John and I were a little tuckered out at the end of those few days, they were such good kids and we enjoyed having little ones to look after again. 

Perhaps a glimpse of what it might be like one day, with Grandkids to love and entertain!

(From my lips to God's ears.)

 

Soup Kitchen Service

The day I finished my practicum, the kids, John and I went into Lethbridge to serve at the Lethbridge Food kitchen. I remember feeling so grateful that I was being blessed with a degree and I wanted our family to serve others who had far less than us. 

The Lethbridge food kitchen was new to us but it was a really remarkable place. 90% of the food served is donated by people and businesses in the Lethbridge area. Though the lead chef each night was a paid employee, everybody else that helps to prepare and serve food 3 x a day, 365 days a year, is a volunteer. It was fun to be a part of that, for just one evening. 

Nate and Jess handled the drinks, John cut the meat and I ran plates from those dishing up, to those who were receiving. Everybody had a job to do. I was a little surprised/impressed with Jess and nate's coffee making abilities. Who knew? 

It was so very humbling to witness so many homeless. At first, I was trying not to stare at them, not to make them uncomfortable. Partway through the evening though, I realized that what I wanted was for them to know that I did see them. They were seen and known and their place in that chair was important. 

 It was a great experience and I can't wait to take the family back around Christmas time to do it again. 

Though we aren't considered rich by worldly standards, I am thankful to God for giving me a life that is free from addiction and isolation.