The Beginning of the End (of this mortal life only)

Who knew when I had the inspiration to have this photo taken on March 2, 2025, that it would be our last family photo together on earth. 

 

On Monday, March 31st, Dad lost strength in his legs, and we put him in bed.  

Hospice came on April 1st.  What a blessing they are.  By Thursday, April 3rd, the nurse said he probably wouldn't make it through the weekend, and sure enough, at 3:40 am on Saturday morning, April 5th,  Dad went home to heaven. It was very peaceful, and he just slipped away. 

What a reunion it must have been.  Lance, Tonya, Ambure, Tenzin, his parents and sisters.............

Click here to hear Dad's testimony 

Happy 86th Birthday Grandma "D"

Notice the heart shaped pepperonis on the pizza?
We made a pizza for Grandma and Grandpa in honor of her birthday. 

The kids made homemade cards for her, it was so sweet. 

 

Little odds and ends - trying to play catch up.

Left over picture from Thanksgiving I think.  Here is Cam with her Arizona family.  All (or many) of the cousins on her dad's side.  Love that cute girl front and center :)

Christmas Gifts for the ward from the Relief Society (TP and hand sanitizer)
As 2020 comes to a close, we may wish to FLUSH all trials of these past few months away.
Hopefully we can remember the lessons we have learned, and most importantly,
that we can rely on the Lord's protection as we strive to HEAR HIM daily. 

We had a visitor at our place

I love to capture memes from the internet and share them. 

Thatcher got braces !!

So many people participated in the Prophets call to flood social media with thankfulness #givethanks, and now we are Lighting the World for the month of December.  Loved to see this post !!!

Roger would say this is TOTALLY TRUE

Special post by CJ that took Morgan Moms Facebook by storm !! 

Love my beautiful Poinsettia that we got through Brightyn's fundraiser for tumbling.  It was used extensively in our Ward's Christmas Devotional which was filmed last Sunday, and will be broadcast on the ward's YOUTUBE channel NEXT Sunday, the 20th. 

I bought The Forgotten Carols, and have been passing it around to anyone who would like to see it.  It is wonderful :) 

Love my little CHRISTmas tree.  Krista Adams built me the box to put it on.  So happy !

Our Relief Society Presidency - Me, Vicki, Jody, & Sara
This is what is looks like in the year 2020

We have sure seen alot of changes in the 3 years we have served.

Councils in Relief Society (once a month, in a circle)
Ministering instead of Visiting Teaching
2 hour block change - Relief Society only 2 times a month
COVID - No Church (March-July)
Social Distancing - get together at the Property
COVID - Sacrament only (July-Oct)
COVID - Zoom RS meetings 2 times a month
What is next !?!?!?

We were able to get together last Sunday (Roger, Gwen, Mark, Carrie, Erika, Aaron and Tiana) with mom and dad and present them with our Christmas present.  It turned out so well. 

Bright finally got her tooth out with a little help from her dad !
She is a BRAVE GIRL !!

After putting it off for weeks (of warm weather), we braved the 19 degree temperature yesterday and got the Christmas decorations up to the cemetery. 

 

Last but not least - Manda texted me this picture.
Apparently the story I told the kids years ago, about Stephen King's story of THE MIST is still freaking her out (haha) - Love you Manda !!! 

Thanksgiving 2020

This year we went to Zac and CJ's for dinner

I made 3 pies, the stuffing, the ham, and slush

Everything was decorated so beautifully, and CJ and Zac had things totally under control.  Much calmer than at our house in the past. 

Zac was the master turkey carver

The boys were all groaning and full on the floor after dinner

Grandma Ben got down with Thatcher for a little Bae Blade action

Zac ate too much also !! 

It's been a great week, remembering what we are thankful for.  I'm grateful for our prophet, who led us to flood social media with all things we were thankful for.  

Even Cam got in on the action !  

 

Happy Birthday to my Dad - with a surprise Heirloom Radio Restoration

This is a 1939 Zenith (9-S-367 Console Radio    
It was my Grandpa and Grandma Dickson's radio, and I remember as a little girl, playing with the fun spinning dial, and pushing the buttons, in the "back bedroom" of their home.  I never remember it working though.  After they died, my dad got it, and was always going to get it fixed up  and working himself.  He had the knowledge, being an electrical engineer.  As things tend to happen, it never got done, and now with his Parkinson's and failing eyesight, I knew it never would.

It was eventually moved to the shop, with an old sheet covering it.  Dusty and forgotten, I would occasionally look at it with sadness. Then I had an idea..........  What if I could fix it up?  How hard could it be?    Well, it turns out - pretty hard.  But I found "a guy" in Salt Lake (small miracle) - and within a matter of a couple of weeks, he had it FIXED and WORKING !!

He has restored 4 (5 now) of this exact model, and he said this was by far the best sounding, and best shape he's ever worked on.  He said it was a PLEASURE to work on such a good old radio.

Me being me - I couldn't wait till the 29th to give it to Dad on his 83rd birthday.  So about a week early, on the day we picked it up from Salt Lake, we took it to their home, and turned it on. Surprise, Surprise.  Dad was very pleased.  

Happy 83rd birthday dad........... with an 81 year old family heirloom radio to keep you company.  Love YOU !!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day from Manda :)

Sweet Grandkids

Thatch with Grandma "D" and Grandma BEN

This was a first........... cute puppy...........cute girl...............
Treyson, why are you lookin' at me? 

Don't these two EVER smile? 

With Grandpa Jim and Grandma Shirlee

This will be a fun one to re-create in a few years
Bright, Pays, Tagg, Thatch, Bex, and Treyson

It was such a nice day (in the sun), and we had a good time being together.  
This was Saturday before Mother's Day. 

Don't you just want to eat her up?
I think she takes after her Daddy - muggin' for the camera

Payson, Brightyn, and Bexlee

Payson tried out Thatcher's bike, and did great on it. 
All in all , it was a wonderful day at the Property.