Quotes of the Week

What we choose to do here will determine the kind of life we have throughout all eternity. We are never living just for today.
--Russell M. Nelson

We should never look down on others. God loves each of us individually, as we are. We should show that same love to all people.
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf

In the school of mortality, the tutor is often pain and tribulations, but the lessons are meant to refine and bless us and strengthen us, not to destroy us.
--Richard G. Scott

We cannot change the evil influences that inevitably press upon us and our families, but we can increase our power to deal with them. We must try to carve out our own islands of confidence and serenity. In short, we should push back against the world.
--Dallin H. Oaks

No Car; Fourth of July; House and Yard Projects; Sarah Here for a Month

We had sold both our cars when we left on our mission. That meant when we came home, we had nothing to drive. The Church works with several dealerships to allow Mission Presidents to buy vehicles at a good price.

Glen had been working with one of those dealerships and had ordered a car, but then on the day we arrived back in town, we found out the car was on back order and it would be weeks before we could buy the car.

What to do...???

We thought of asking Dad and Mom if we could borrow one of their cars. When I called Mom, she said she had just been thinking about that very thing that very morning and very happily agreed to let us borrow one of their cars.

What a blessing!!!

We called Ben and Haley to see if they could help us get the rental truck returned and take us to my parents' home to get their car. Ben was a very good chauffeur. They were happy to be with us that day and especially happy when our time together included lunch.

We had so much sorting, organizing and putting away to do as we were moving back into our home. What a mess!! 

My goal was to get everything put away in the kitchen before the family joined us for dinner on July 3rd.

We were happy we were back in town in time for the North Salt Lake fireworks that always happen the night before Independence Day. It is a big family tradition to have a cook-out and then go up to the golf course to watch the fireworks. 

Abe and Klarissa surprised us by having a 24-hour layover in Salt Lake City on their way to Hawaii. Great planning for them to be here for the festivities. 

It was a good time to do a cousin photo with the youngest grandbabies born two days apart and both weighing in just under 10 pounds at birth.

Anyone notice the kitchen countertop is void of clutter and junk?????? I was patting myself on the back for accomplishing that little feat!

I was happy to get the photographer in the photo. Klarissa and Newland were missing as they were out running errands together.

While waiting for the right time to leave for fireworks, family members were biding their time by playing games together.

Haley had some help from Brooke and Caroline making the festively-themed sugar cookies we ate for dessert. (I am noticing I didn't get all the back countertop cleaned off before the dinner. UGH!! Moving in takes so much time and effort.)

Time to make popcorn--our treat at the golf course while waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Off to the golf course we went to claim the chairs that had been hauled up there a little earlier in the evening.

Meanwhile, Sarah's family was enjoying their own fireworks show with Jeff's family in Panguitch from the comfort of their van.  

We continued to work like crazy in the house all through the holiday. The next day we decided to give ourselves a break and went to the Jordan River Temple. It was beautiful and relaxing and a much-needed break from all the physical labor we had been doing. Our poor aching bodies!!

This was the view coming out of the temple. Look at those mountains!! So majestic!! I have missed them.

We had two of our former missionaries stop by to see us. They are now married to each other. We LOVE it when that happens!! Jared Hopkins and Lexie Skabelund Hopkins were very interested in Glen showing them how he used to teach as a missionary using his flip chart.

Work, work, work we did the next day until time to get cleaned up to go out to dinner with Glen's sisters. We met in Ogden at Longhorn.

While in Las Vegas, I was telling Sarah how sad I was that she has moved away and I won't get to see her as often as I used to and she said, "Don't worry, Mom, because I'm going to come live with you for a month."

True to her word, her family arrived the week following our arrival home and they are here with us while Jeff goes out of town on some work trips. Sarah says "everyone in Las Vegas goes to Utah for the summer" to try and escape the heat.

I am wondering where I can go to escape the heat because I have been DYING of the HEAT ever since we arrived home. It feels like the air conditioner has been running nonstop--and that is with it set much higher than I would like to keep it.

Now we have little people around as we continue to try to get our house (and yard) put back in order.

Quotes of the Week

Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves us. He knows and loves you. He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears.
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Many are praying to Heavenly Father for relief, for help in carrying their burdens of grief, loneliness, and fear. Heavenly Father hears those prayers and understands their needs. He and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Jesus Christ, have promised help.
--Henry B. Eyring

The world sees birth and death as the beginning and the end. But because of God's holy plan, we know that  birth and death are actually just milestones on our journey to eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
--Weatherford T. Clayton

Sarah's Family in Las Vegas; Homeward Bound; Welcome Home!!

As we were leaving Carlsbad, Glen took a little bit of a detour to drive up our street and turn down Chestnut so he could see a view of the ocean one last time before heading north to Las Vegas.

There he is--the professional mover--driving, driving, driving...

We stopped in Barstow to eat lunch.

Then more driving, driving, driving until we reached Las Vegas, Nevada.

We spotted the Stratosphere Tower--a definite sign we were driving past the Las Vegas Strip.

We found our hotel and invited Sarah's family over for a swim. This is how they greeted us.

Time for a swim!!

We took the family to a Japanese steak house where we were entertained while our food was being prepared.

We went to Sarah and Jeff's home and got a tour. Sarah was very proud of the checkered wall she had painted in Eli and Carson's room.

Lincoln was showing us the toy room/loft area while Jonah was playing with the toys.

Lincoln and Jonah's room.

Jeff and Sarah's room.

It always warms my heart to see children enjoying reading books.

Next day the Excell family was ready and waiting for us to go to church with them. But first--family doorstep photos!!

I was feeling very pampered when Sarah fixed me a beautiful sugar-coated-nut-covered salad for lunch. I felt like I was dining at a fine restaurant.

Glen was exhausted and stretched out on the couch for a nap. Jeff also took advantage of nap time.

Lincoln wasn't feeling like a nap.

Sarah, Carson, Eli and I were feeling like it was game time.

We ate a delicious Sunday dinner.

Then it was time to gather together for Come Follow Me--or Night Light as they call it.

Glen was teaching the lesson and had the children acting out the Bible story he was telling. Money was part of the story--he wasn't bribing the children with money.

We always had a family cheer at the end of Family Home Evening and the Excells have a family cheer that ends with their hands all piled together at the end.

Then popcorn and family movie time.

Glen did a little house cleaning while Eli was working on a paper he got from Primary.

The next morning we stopped at Sarah's house to pick up some freezer and refrigerator foods we had left with her before we left town and kept on our homeward trek to Utah.

Eli did a great job taking this photo--complete with his finger in the photo.

Sarah had fixed the boys a crepe breakfast

But no time for dawdling--Glen was in work mode and was anxious for us to be on our way. He was checking the mileage and there were a lot of miles to cover until we arrived home.

I had so much enjoyed the ocean and palm trees while in California, but I was definitely admiring the mountains and rock formations as we got closer to home.

 We stopped in Beaver for gas and I was enjoying the Beaver bench at the gas station.

There's the Payson Temple.

 And more mountains.

 Glen's heart swelled with happiness as we were driving past the BYU exit.

 And then he spotted it--Y mountain--when he pronounced he now feels like he's home again.

There's still snow on the mountains.

We had to make a stop in Orem to deliver some stuff to our mission nurse's son. It's the least we could do after all the service she rendered to us.

There's Salt Lake City!!

 There's our exit sign, but we were in the HOV lane and couldn't get out...

...so on we drove to the next exit.

The extra few minutes were making the grandchildren crazy with excitement to see us.

 Dallas and Rebecca's family were there to welcome us home.

Grant and Diane Stewart came from across the street to greet us.

Todd and Kim Brimley had brought over a little treat and some beautiful flowers.

 

Caroline and Madison were happy Ben and Haley joined us so they could play with baby Kade.

Everyone got busy carrying in boxes and unpacking them. Brooke was a little worker bee!!

Rebecca made a delicious dinner for us and Haley had brought dessert. 

It was nice to have the helping hands. We appreciated all the love everyone had shown to us upon our arrival home.

Home, sweet home!!!