Kirtland/Palmyra

Our anniversary trip this year was amazing! We saw some beautiful country and experienced a lot of history (my fave!).

Pumpkins anyone??

Or maybe some apples???

Or maybe even the best pizza in the entire universe!!!!!!

Hmm...I'm kind of hungry right now.

I love our October trips! Even though there wasn't as much color as usual, it was BEAUTIFUL!!

See?

We started in Kirtland, Ohio, where we toured the church history sites, including the temple, NK Whitney store and home, Joseph and Emma Smith home, John Johnson farm, and Isaac Morley farm. The Spirit has definitely not left that place.

Notice our jackets?? Cold and rainy!! Life was so good.

We then took a side trip to Palmyra, New York, and quickly saw everything...

Whitmer farm

Joseph Smith log home

PLUS, Hill Cumorah, Grandin Print Shop, Sacred Grove, AND Mark's Pizzeria!!

Seriously, it's delicious enough to post the photo twice!

On our last day, we visited Amish country, where we ran into some cuddly creatures...

The deer were all over!

They were so beautiful and friendly...especially if you fed them.

Hey there!

Mr. Giraffe and I did some bonding.

Look our for the horns...seriously, it was an issue.

So hungry!

More please!

Yep, the deer were my favorite.

Popping up to say hi.

Seriously, they could not get enough! And yes, I got licked a couple of times and no, I did not freak out which is really weird.

The making of a candle...

Lots and lots of layers.

Then comes the carving...

So cool! We got to bring it home!

Oh, and my dream pantry...so much work!

So most of the week it was COLD!! Can I just say it was such a happy time for me! I had a LOT of these...

Seriously, so happy.

We came home to 102 degrees...I'm ok though...seriously. 

We are now back to our daily/weekly/monthly stuff. I bought our Halloween candy so we're good! We're getting a little bit of a jump on our mission. I went to a meeting yesterday, and Scott is helping with vehicle inspections today. Just figuring out the routine. It's kind of nice that we're already here and can do that. Scott is busy with Elders Quorum, and the Young Women are in the middle of softball season. AND, it has cooled down into the 80's...life is so so so good!

Thought for the day...

"We did not come to this earth to gain our worth, we brought it with us" (Ardeth G. Kapp).

We love you!

 Ok so it's been a little while. I'm not proud of myself. I'll redeem myself with some super duper cute photos...

See? Isn't that beautiful?!? I can always get a great photo at  Red Barn.

We've had time with all of our kids and grandkids the last couple months for which we are so grateful ALWAYS!

And it's even more fun when it's rainy and cool!

Reading time is the best!

Play in the mud time is better than best!

And they meet for the first time! AZ/UT cousins!

Baby blessing time! And 4 generations all together!

Standing up! Also, crawling and rolling all over the place!!

These are the moments...

...that I cherish forever.

Lots of family time this month!

Also, lots of these kinds of days this month. Really? September?

I'm fine, really. It's almost October now so it's down to 102! Life is so good, actually. For those who haven't heard, Scott and I have been called on another mission to the beautiful state of ARIZONA in the beautiful town of GILBERT! We will have the exact same assignments as we did in Tennessee but we will be staying in our own home. We signed up for 12 months beginning November 27. We will also still be serving in our ward and in the temple. Speaking of temples...

St. George UT temple! Yes, it's really that beautiful.

They spent 4 years renovating it and I had the opportunity to go through the open house last week. Every room was breathtaking and also filled with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love to see the temple!

I also love to see adorableness! 

Love you, bye!

May/June 2023

So, I had no idea that I missed May. It doesn't surprise me, but didn't have a clue. So I'll hit a couple highlights in May and then delve into June...

Ashley and kids came down for a long weekend in May and we had a blast!

Toys!

Park!

Smiles!

Swimming!!

We love our time with them!

The Fathers and Sons campout is always in May and I have a tradition with Karina, Gurrie and Agnes of having a girls' night that Friday. This year we went to a place called Candle Chemistry and made our own candles with scents of our choosing. We then indulged ourselves at Cheesecake Factory, another tradition, and then went home and watched a chick flick while eating, yep, the best cheesecake ever. 

I love these ladies.

June started out with a bang with Sister Haltom returning with honor from the Tennessee Nashville Mission.

So happy...

...and so sad. Yep, that's how it is.

She was an amazing angel missionary and we are so proud of her.

Are you ready for this???

GRANDBABY #6 HAS ARRIVED AND HE IS ADORABLE!!!!!

May I introduce Griffin Jack Rogers!

He is so beautiful!

He is so snuggly!

We love him so much!

Corinne and Jordan are doing so great at the parenting, just saying! And we're so grateful everything turned out so well for mother and son. Don't worry, I'll show more photos later!

We took a trip up to Utah for our nephew's wedding and it was so fun. Family table at the reception...

It was so nice visiting and listening to family stories!

We also got to spend some time with grandbabies #1, 2, and 5!

Otto is growing!

Oh, the adorableness!

Yep, already reading.

It's what I imagine heaven being like.

Camden and Wes are doing great! We did lots of outdoor activities...

...basketball was the fave. I got reacquainted with HORSE or PORG or UNICORN or whatever we decided to name it. SO DANG FUN! We love these boys!

We also got a game night in with some of our favorite people!

Sneaking in another photo of Griffin, just like I promised!

We were also able to visit my parents in Payson as well as my aunt and uncle. We don't seem to ever get to stay as long as we want. But we'll be back!

We are so blessed to have continued relationships with our Nashville missionaries. Here are a couple of sister missionaries that we had lunch with recently...

So dang cute (the boy in the back)!

Can I just say that if you're ever in Panguitch, do NOT pass by Henrie's Drive In...you will regret it. 

Ok, ok, here's another one! If you insist!

We ended the month by taking a drive up to Prescott to have a play day with Ashley and kids...

The adorableness continues.

She is growing up so fast!

Super duper fun day!!

I have been so aware this month of the blessings I enjoy on a daily basis. I am also aware that God is aware. He is guiding us daily. It's easy to look at the world around us and see turmoil because there is a lot of it. But there is also peace when we have faith. We know how it all ends. So I hope I can keep the faith. I read a blurb recently from John Bytheway who said, "...when you see the world gaining yardage, (yep, it was a football analogy)...deep in your heart you can be at peace. When it appears we can't come back, you can remember the verses, 'Be still, and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10), and 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31). Yeah, it's a nail-biter. But 'there is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliv'rance is nigh.'"