Pranks, Allowance, and more

This past week has brought final exams for Jessica. She has set up shop at our kitchen table, that is now covered in stacks and piles of study notes. It’s okay though, we have grown accustomed to eating on the floor.

Grayson has joined her for a few study sessions this week. They obviously squeeze in a moment to take care of Nathan’s room. They are a thoughtful couple.

Nate is broke. He has a balance of $4 in his account and most places don’t seem to be hiring right now. Jessica snapped this first picture during our most recent heart to heart, which involved Nate making all sorts of promises for an allowance of $75. (haha) He’s on the brink of new independence. All he needs is a job and good weather for moped driving. 

Vivian was baptized yesterday. It was a great service. Dad officiated, which was sweet. It’s moments like this when the absence of Abby and Sam is especially noticed but it was still nice to be together.

After the baptism, Jess and Nate rushed into Lethbridge for an afternoon of shopping (hence the cash advance) and came home with supplies for Jessica’s fish tank and a gift for Lexi Shaw. Sigh…

I met up with a former student, this past week and took her out for lunch. I worked with Raquel five years ago and it was her (and a group of six others) who made me want to go back to school to become a teacher. It was really fun to catch up with her and hear how she is doing and see how she has grown and changed. 

 

A cold snap and the best sandwich ever!

The cold snap that engulfed Alberta last week, continued into Sunday. We all enjoyed a Friday off of school and on Sunday- church was cancelled too!  Dad gave the sacrament meeting talk and then I led the family in a Sunday School lesson. (1st Nephi 1-5)  It’s been a harsh and bitterly cold week, but it has been nice to circle the wagons (so to speak) and hunker down. #covidvibes

The cold snap continued this week, but this past weekend brought some warmth. It was almost magical, getting to take radar for a walk again. I could hear the sound of melting snow and little birds out in the sun.

Aren’t we lucky to have seasons?!

You guys, I did it. I finally made the most delicious sandwich ever. John said it was “restaurant good.” And…it was. Here’s what you do:

1: Toast a yummy kind of bun. Chef’s choice.

2: Spread a layer of Herb and Garlic seasoned cream cheese.

3: Place a layer of ham, a layer of pastrami, on a bun. Add pickles and a slice of tomato. 

4:Put a pile of brown sugared onions on, and place cheese on top of that. 

5: Add lettuce and your top bun. 

CHEF’S KISS!

Nate and Jessica both had basketball tournaments this weekend. Neither of them won but it's fun to watch them both work hard.

As you can see, Nate continues to make us extra proud.

We got an email from the Wolff's, who are down in Arizona. (Lucky snowbirds!) Apparently they are in YUMA and heard Sam speak in sacrament meeting. How fun to get this picture and a note about how well Sam is doing. I am just so proud of the guy!

Last Monday, he reached out (PD chat) to inquire about what he should do about a pain he had in his leg. He began to wonder if it was a blood clot again, as symptoms seemed similar to his experience a year ago. After some phone calls to our insurance company, he was advised to go in. Thankfully, he did go in, because it turned out that it was a series of blood clots in his leg.

He was immediately given blood thinners and began a course of treatment. I am just so grateful that he was able to get this taken care of. It was pricey, but I am hoping to be reimbursed by our travel insurance. And really, nothing matters more than his being safe. I keep reminding myself of that. 

I feel sorry when I think of this Factor 5 condition that will always be a part of his life, but I know and trust that he is capable of managing it safely throughout his whole life. 

I am in awe that Sam's mission call was to a place that would be able to address his need so quickly and efficiently. I am grateful that we are still in the same time zone so that we could talk together throughout that day at the hospital. I am just so thankful that Sam listened to the feelings of concern that he had.

I am so grateful to God and his loving, protective care over my family!

Barbed Wire fences and Arctic Temps

First things first, the car! Jessica and I had an experience this past week, while driving home from Calgary that was quire scary. At one point, Jessica, who was driving, hit a patchy strip of ice and lost control of the vehicle. At first, things seemed manageable, but as Jess tried to remedy the situation, we found ourselves fishtailing and almost spinning down Highway 2. Eventually, w did hit the ditch and came to a crashing stop when we landed in a farmer's barb wire fence. The fence was toast, it's post wedged between our door and front fender. Luckily, I could untangle the stray strands of barb wire and was able to back us out, around the broken post and up onto the road again. We continued (slowly) home, feeling very thankful for how things turned out.

Our local mechanic was willing to just bend the front fender back into shape, just enough to allow us to open the driver door. Worked like a charm and only cost $160! 

We also asked him to look at the muffler system. Apparently a certain (beloved) missionary of ours cruised over a massive pothole before leaving which has caused the car to sound like a combine ever since. It’s all well. The part has been ordered and soon, that too will be fixed.

It is much too tiny to sound so loud.

John seems happy and fulfilled as he adjusts to this new role. 

It was well after midnight, on Monday night, before he came home from a meeting! He didn't seem exhausted though, rather he seemed enthused and inspired. John would deny this, but I think “meetings” are his love language. 

Maybe it is just that he finds joy in serving. At any rate - he seems happy.

You know that wonderfully mild winter we have been having?  It’s gone. 

This week we have been braving arctic temps, with nighttime lows and windchills reaching -46 degrees celsius! 

Radar won’t go outside to pee. 

When I try to walk him, even just for a minute or two, he HOPS! Haha.

School and all sporting events have been cancelled for today (Friday) and it is expected that things will start improving on Monday. Yikes!

Last night, or rather this morning, seeing as it was 1 am, Jessica and I decided to take advantage of the -46 degree temp and see how quickly we could freeze our hair. We quickly ran our hair under the faucet and raced outside where we bent over, upside down, only long enough to allow our hair to stand on end. We feel happy with this use of time. Just livin’ the troll life!

 

Nate and I are spending some quality time in front of the TV. He was letting me play video games with him but he says I slow him down. He lets me sit beside him though, tea in hand, and watch. I marvel at his skill and bring him popcorn and  he tolerates my presence.

It’s a symbiotic thing we have going on here. I'll take it.

Finally, just a pic from my two missionaries.

They are well.

Both working hard. Both feeling inadequate in their own ways. Both being led.

We are blessed.

A life changing start to 2024

 New Year’s Eve was spent eating WAY too much food, reading predictions from last year and playing games. Brent and Rachel’s families joined us. We did an early countdown, which wasn’t bad, either!

On New Year’s day, John, Jess and I set out to hike in to Crandall Lake. Just as we were approaching the crest of the hill, we came across a family, experiencing difficulty. The mother had fallen and broken her ankle. Dad and Jess stayed with them and tried to stabilize her foot. I took their two young daughters, and their dog, Diva, and we hiked down to the vehicles.We drove to the townsite and called 911. For the next 3.5 hours, the girls and I ran point in communication, driving up and down the mountain relaying information. Around 4:45 pm, we were finally able to help paramedics remove her from the trail. She ended up needing surgery. We will meet up with them next week!

Grayson has joined us for border games, a few times, this holiday and it has been SO much fun getting to know him better and seeing him relax more. 

One day, Grayson, Jessica, John and I all came home at the same time to find that Nathan had done some work to Jessica’s room.  Note to Self: Never leave Nathan unattended.

Our Lord of The Rings marathon has come and gone. 

We had an AWESOME holiday. We struck a balance between eating, resting, exercising, watching movies, and missing Sam and Abby!

Yesterday (Thursday), we made a plan to drive out to Waterton and walk into Cameron Lake, together. We spent a good chunk of time convincing Nate to come with us. We got to the Cameron Lake trailhead only to find that Nate was dressed in nothing but a hoody. (Gah!) Not wanting to deal with the blustery wind, when underdressed, we revised our plan, and instead settled for a walk around Linnet Lake and hot dogs at WoW. As you can see, it was a pleasant, peace-filled stroll. 

Finally, John and I were called down to the Stake offices on Friday morning and notified that the Stake Presidency has had to make a change in the 3rd ward and they needed to make it soon. After a tearful meeting, John was extended the invitation to become the next Bishop of Cardston 3rd Ward. We are trying to process this. John has such trust. He will always do what God needs Him to do. We feel so unbelievably blessed as we consider our lives and our family and we pray often that we might know how to serve God, with gratitude. It feels as though supporting John in this work he has been asked to do is how I am to best serve my Father in Heaven.

I’m not sure if this picture adequately conveys our trepidation, but alas, this is the picture we took immediately after the call. I look more scared for John, which is par for the course.

God is good and I will trust in Him.

Christmas Adam, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

We knew that Christmas would be a little bit different without Sam and Abby, but we were determined to maintain as many traditions as we could. We did manage to embrace a few surprising twists and changes. 

First, we gathered with my family on Dec 22nd for a quick supper together (bacon and tomato sandwiches, soups, etc) and gingerbread house making. Nate first made a Nativity scene, which I thought was awesome. Then, he took another stab at it, which he called "Bears Gym." Picture a bunch of gummy bears working out in a gingerbread weight room. Good grief!

Christmas Eve was spent with John's Dad and his sister and her family. The Stevens family always bring yummy food and fun, when they come. My family usually insist on doing Christmas Eve alone, but this year we were glad to have the extra company, filling spaces around our table. 

Christmas day was spent eating breakfast pizza, living in our jammies, playing games, AND....something new...jumping in the icy cold waters of Waterton Lakes National Park! 

That's right, our very first Polar Dip!  

Born out of the need to do something different this year, we decided to channel our inner "Wim Hoff" and give it a try. It actually felt really good (after the fact) and was definitely memorable. 

You saw it here first- the birth of a new Christmas tradition. 

Most importantly, it would not have been Christmas without hearing from our two missionaries. 

We spoke with each of them individually and then for a few minutes, we were able to catch them both together. 

How grateful I am for their services, for their daily reminders to us of the Savior, His atonement and Gospel, and for the real reason for this Christmas season. 

 

Life with Two Missionaries - A December update

It's been an exciting couple of months as we have adjusted to life with two missionaries. 

I live for Sunday evening and Monday evening, when I get to hear from both Sora Hardy and Elder Hardy, respectively. For the most part, they both seem to be doing well and I am so grateful for that! 

Sam's mission companion is Elder Assissi, who is from Tonga. Sam speaks highly of him and seems to really admire him. I have been grateful for sisters in Sam's ward who send me pictures and updates of Sam when he visits their homes. What a nice thing to do! I've gotten a few texts now, and each one is like mana from heaven! Sam is currently serving in Yuma, AZ, which is right near the Mexico border. Sam said that there is a "wall" erected in the town to keep illegal immigrants away from the line. He says that that the people there are very kind and that he is well taken care of. His mission president is President Michael Phelps. He and his wife seem to be amazing people. 

Sora Hardy has been transferred to Iasi (pronounced Yosh), and she seems to be adjusting to the change. She has noticed some new challenges and has seemed worried that her motivation is dwindling, as a result of those difficulties. Romania is a difficult country to serve in. There isn't a stake in the entire country, which tells you how established the church is there. Abby has a lot of faith and so much to offer. Every day I pray that she will feel comfortable with the hard parts and that she will see the potential in herself that I know her Father in Heaven sees. She is so very capable. 

Here at home, we are just trying to keep up with our missionary people. 

Jessica had an entry in the school art show. As a "foods" student, she made a gingerbread house/"UP" recreation and that was entered as a piece in the show. Jessica showed up long enough to let me take her picture and then she was out of there!

I completed a six week practicum in Mountain View, Alberta. 

I was more difficult than I could ever convey, but I was grateful to be placed in a school with supportive staff and leadership. It's a charming little place, with excellent students, a remarkable AG program, and a beautiful view of Chief Mountain, just outside my classroom window.  A large part of my practicum was spent watching the students and staff prepare for the Christmas concert/play titled "A Pirate's Christmas." 

It was a great way to kick off a Christmas break!

Tempe Bound!

Well, it finally happened. 

The family event that we had been anticipating for months, came and went, and it was every bit as hard as I expected it would be. 

On November 19th, Sam was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We had Brent and Rachel over for dinner, and then President Ferguson came over later that evening to make it official. For a little over a week, we enjoyed having Sam home, as a missionary, while he experienced home MTC. Because of American thanksgiving, Sam was given an extra day off, during his week, which seemed difficult for Sam. He definitely preferred to be kept busy. 

On Sunday November 26th, Sam spoke in the 5th ward and gave a phenomenal talk about sacrifice. I was incredibly proud of him and touched by his testimony. He had grown SO much over that initial week as a missionary, it was hard to deny that this mission would be amazing for him. 

We had a small luncheon afterwards for family and friends. 

It was a wonderful day, celebrating this remarkable man. 

On Tuesday November 28th, we loaded Sam and his three suitcases into the truck and headed for the Calgary airport. There was a tangible knot in the pit of my stomach, one that I had not felt since we dropped off Abby, months before. It hurt my heart to consider the nervousness Sam surely felt. He didn't express that much, but I saw little signs. He hadn't slept much that night before. There was now an eagerness and concern to get to the airport in time. When we stopped to grab breakfast, he ordered something to eat, but never did take a bite. He reassured me several times to just have confidence in him. 

Yes, he was nervous, but was determined to be brave. 

I wish I could have adequately conveyed to him that I felt completely confident in him, I just didn't know what life would look like for us- without him! I was sad. So very sad. 

When the time came for us to say our goodbyes, Sam pulled us all into a family huddle and told us all that he felt very calm. He expressed that he wasn't afraid, in that moment. Then he looked at us all, said, "Well, I'm going to go figure this all out," and he walked away. 

He didn't look back. 

He didn't turn and wave again.

He moved ahead, through the line, and after awhile - out of sight. 

My heart skipped a beat or two as we walked out of that airport, in the moment. Half of my family gone on missions. Jess and Nate had heavy hearts too, I could tell. When we reached the parkade, we found a note he had written John and I, resting on the drivers seat. We would later find that he had thoughtfully left a note and gift for Nate and Jess, at home. 

Nothing like personal gifts to get the tears flowing again. 

It took a few days to adjust to a home without Sam in it. 

A week later, we were thrilled to finally get to hear from him. 

That first messenger call will forever be one of my favorite memories of Sam's mission. What a relief to see a smile on the other end of the conversation, to hear confidence in Sam's voice, and to witness even more growth. He is changing, right before our eyes!

Sam's first companion was Elder Thedell, and Sam really hit it off with him. I was grateful for this friendship right out of the gate as I am sure that made a big difference for Sam in those first days of the mission. He would often report that his MTC district had gotten really close and that there were friends he'd made there that he will always be grateful for. 

So, that is that. 

Elder Hardy is taking on Tempe, AZ and is off to a great start!

 

And so it begins... {Basketball}

The kids are a month into a new sport season and both Jessica and Nate seem to be enjoying basketball, yet again. This year, Uncle Kendall is Nate's coach. Nate has had a few opportunities to learn how to be a better leader, and for that I am grateful. He also got to play in a tournament that his cousin Deacon was also playing in! Jessica is playing on the varsity team this year and seems to be enjoying it a lot.  It is SO much nicer having only two kids playing. John and I can actually make it to their games to watch!

John has been in heaven, making it to as many of the kids' games as possible, filming every minute of their time on the floor. I think he likes' not being tied down to his own volleyball team and the coach in him loves being able to consult with the kids after every game.  Coach Hardy, always and forever;)

The Day we almost caught the first snowfall

Every fall, when the days start to shorten and the leaves have almost all fallen, Jessica and I begin watching the sky...and the forecast. 

We have had a couple of lucky experiences together, driving the Waterton to Glacier highway, searching for and catching the first snowflakes of the year. It's a little bit magical to get up to higher elevations (when you know snow is coming your way) and meet winter where it is at. 

This year, we had the same goal. 

We waited for a day when both the forecast called for snow and Jessica's schedule permitted a drive and we crossed the border, hopefully that we would, once again, find fresh falling flakes along the way. 

Unfortunately, just as we passed into the US, the clouds parted and the sun began shining. Our hopes of finding snow were diminished, but we did find a lot to feel joyful about. (This larch tree, for example!)

Wouldn't you know it, later that evening, the snow did begin to fall. We were just a few hours late in our attempt. Snowfall or not, I'll never turn down a chance to enjoy a drive with Jessica. 

 

The fall that just kept on

For years to come, I will remember Sept and Oct 2023 as the most perfect autumn months we've ever seen. I mean, truly perfect!

What a treat it was to enjoy the fall colors clear through to November, almost. 

We got extra time in our backyard and I even managed to squeeze in a fall photo shoot with family.

Sam spent the month working for Blackcard Construction. He learned a lot from Gord Oliver and his crew and got to develop some new skills. In his off time (when he wasn't at work or at the temple) he plugged away on mission prep.  I think his bags were loosely paced early in October!

October definitely consisted of a lot of Volleyball. 

Nathan's team took first in zones, bringing home the banner. I was proud of Nate. He was a great player!

Jessica really played well too. She had a great team that she loved playing with and got to attend her first LSL tournament, which the kids always seem to enjoy. 

I see that I included a repeat photo of Sam in this collage. That's okay. It just gives us another opportunity to admire what a hard worker he is. In other news- October marks the month in which I retired from work as an Educational Assistant. I started as an EA back in 2015 and for the past several years have been at the Cardston High School. I had to end my employment as it is time to shift gears and focus on my student teaching practicums that will last from now until the end of April. It has been a fun, hard, rewarding, stretching opportunity to work at CHS. I will miss it very much. 

These picture of our home gym don't really belong at this point in our journal/recap as it wasn't really established until Sam left for his mission, but alas - here it is. Maybe I'll circle back to this and explain it in a later entry, but just know that when Sam left, I grieved by turning our now spare room into a gym, sauna and all. (Workout therapy is better than retail therapy, I hear.)

The High School's Sadie's dance came and went, this past fall. Jessica and Grayson have an ongoing joke that Jessica (who is a few months older than Grayson) is his cougar." When it came time for Jess to invite Grayson to the dance, it only made sense that she would play on that joke. So, Jess had Nate and Merick (Grayson's brother) dress up in the school cougar costumes and deliver an invite to Grayson while he helped score keep Jessica's game. Well, those two brothers did such a good job at it, that when it came time for Grayson to respond, he drew on them for assistance again. 

Would you know- after all of this effort, inviting and replying, these two little turkeys ended up not even going to the dance! Sillies!

Halloween was fun, if you like rushed days, frantic searches for costumes, unpredictable birthday celebrations and late nights. Nate and John ended up being the only two to dress up. I'll admit, I felt a little useless having to help only two family members. Thankfully, Radar complied and allowed me to get him a Halloween costume as well. 

John turned 48, on this day, and celebrated in the usual chaotic way - snarfing down ghost cake amidst the ringing of the doorbell. John actually seems to really enjoy handing out candy to the trick or treaters. He's always a lot of fun to watch. Jess and Grayson took a few turns of it too. 

And finally...my missionary. Oh how I love this girl. 

I love her updates, her smile, and her willing heart. 

I pray that she will continue to learn and grow as she serves the people of Romania. 

That time we almost spent Thanksgiving alone.

In keeping with the theme for this year, John and I found ourselves spending a large part of our thanksgiving weekend- alone. Sam and Jess were both still working long hours and Nate had a newfound autumn schedule of his own. Determined not to let the stunning fall weather pass us by, John and I both resolved to make the best of it and visit both Waterton and Glacier, over the span of two days. 

While in Waterton, we walked the trails around the Prince of Whales Hotel. We had Radar with us and couldn't go far, but it was fun to see these shades throughout the park.

Glacier National Park was a lot of fun to visit, in part because it had been years since we had really ventured into the park. Not since COVID had we thought to brave the crowds and the difficult permit/ticket process for entrance. We learned that the requirement to have a day permit had ended the weekend before. That, combined with the great forecast, convinced us that this was the perfect time to head a few minutes south and reconnect with a place we used to come often. 

The day could not have been more lovely!

We drove the Going to the Sun Road, checked out Sunrift Gorge, walked to Baring Falls, lunched at Lunch Creek, and hiked a portion of the Garden Wall Trail. In short, we tried to squeeze in every part of the park we've always loved. We didn't have the kids with us, this time, but we carried memories of hikes past and laughed about some of those as we walked. 

Oh, Glacier was good to us, this day!

On day three of our Thanksgiving break, I simply stayed close to home, walking Radar along the nature trail close to our house. I was equally in awe and filled with gratitude that this autumn season had treated us so kindly. What a beautiful world we live in! 

Of course, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving, without a dinner with family. Thankfully, John and I didn't spend the entire weekend alone, enjoying nature. We did mange to gather for a turkey dinner, or two, with those we love most!

Turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings? 

It was the perfect way to end a stunning weekend!