5 June 2016

Hi everybody!

   It's been a super busy week, but now that I sit down to write, I can't remember much about it... Hopefully it will come to me as I ramble.
   First, the picture below. I was taking Moose for a walk the other evening, first we had gone south from our road, and had just turned east toward Dan Weaver's house, when way off in the distance I could see someone coming toward us, also walking their dog, and I could see it was a pretty big dog...much bigger than Moose. But as they came nearer, I thought to myself, that dog walks pretty funny!  Then finally I could see that it was McKay Cardon WALKING HIS SHEEP!  They were half a mile from home. I suspect this sheep is his 4H project this summer. Ellen, McKay is almost 13...just thought you might want to know for future reference ;). 
   I'm learning to do Indexing on Family Search. I really enjoy it too. Bradley, I think it could be as addictive as Angry Birds!  And you know how quickly I became hooked on that! That's why I never played it again! 
   Yesterday we had our 40th class reunion picnic. It was so nice, not too many came, but all who did really enjoyed it.  There will be a big reunion in Draper, Utah on July 16th, which was organized by all our classmates who now live in northern Utah. 
   Today is also the 40th anniversary of the Teton Dam flood. We graduated from high school just 10 days before the flood. I was actually in California. John and Lynne had just gotten married. Granddad, Gran, Jocie, Jake, and Jane were on their way home when it happened.  I ended up staying with Lynne's folks for a few weeks, then went to stay with Jim and Shayne right after Joseph was born. I was there to help, but I'm not too sure how much help I really was. But both visits were good experiences for me.
   Dad has been in Boise most of the week. He had meetings, a POST graduation, and was an Alternate at the Republican Caucus. This morning he flew to San Diego for other meetings, and will be home next Saturday.  Then after that he won't have much traveling to do until September.  I'm ready for that, and think he is too! 
   Gran and Grandma are both doing well.  Memorial Day weekend, Dad took Grandma to the Grant Cemetary to visit Grandpa's and Alex's graves, and also to the one where Uncle Kay, Kayson, and Jonathon are burried. I took Gran to Parker to visit Granddad's and Howard Moon's graves, and to the Rexburg Cemetary to visit Shaynie's and little Hyrum's graves. 
   Nothing else is coming to mind...but I'm sure something will as soon as I hit SEND.  Oh well. I love you all, I miss you, and I think about you ALL THE TIME. 
   Mom/Johanna/Nana

Hi Everyone!

I'm going to hurry up and do this!  Before the week gets away from me again!

Sam!  Thank you so much for that amazing email!!  (I know it's been a while since you sent it now.)  I have actually struggled with Elder Rasband a little bit.  I don't really know why, something just didn't click with me.  But hearing you talk about him in such a wonderful way has really helped!  My favorite part was his definition of failure in the home.  Wow!  I needed to hear that!!!  I also loved the quote from President Hinckley.  Thank you for sharing Elder Rasband's very powerful testimony and yours as well!! 

While I'm on the subject of testimonies, I want to thank you Dad, Sam, and Dixie for bearing your testimonies that Sunday after Grandpa's funeral.  It meant so much to me!

Ben! I really enjoyed hearing about your trip and I LOVE that you got to have dinner with the Farmer's! 

Mom, I feel the same way you do about being so busy, but then can't think of all that you were busy doing.  I guess it's just the regular, everyday stuff that really adds up. 

Only 3 days of school left here!!!!  We are so excited!!!!!  This weekend has been, and the next couple of days will be quite warm.  Around 90.  But, once school is out, it will be back in the 60's and low 70's.  I'm excited for that!

Stephen has been spending more and more time with his friends.  They are good kids, so it is fun to see.  On Memorial Day he and his friend Andrew left early in the morning to take bait out to the bear bait site for James.  They came back, ate lunch, then grabbed Andrew's older brother, Jason, and took off to go fishing.  They didn't catch anything, but had fun!  Last night, we all went to a going away party for a couple of families from our ward who are moving.  Just as we got home, Stephen got a text from his friend Ashton then left to go play night games and hang out at the Skinner's house.  (Mom, Stephen's friend Jackson is Lynn Skinner's grandson.  For the rest of you, Lynn Skinner was Uncle John's band teacher in high school at Madison.  He then came up here to work at the UofI and was very influential in getting the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival to what it now is.)  Stephen is going to start working for a brother in the ward this week, once school is out, shoveling out horse stalls and whatever else he can do on their small farm/ranch.   

Annie is taking a drama class and we got to go to her play the other night.  It was about pirates.  She was a pirate named O'Malley.  She had a lot of fun!

Naomi participated in the school district elementary track meet on Friday.  She did the tug of war and the jump rope relay.  Her team got 4th place in both events but she was very happy to tell everyone about getting 4th place and showing them her two green ribbons!  The track meet is an annual event, and this year they named it after Doug Fisher who was the PE teacher at our elementary school for 38 years.  He got cancer and passed away a couple of months ago.  All of our kids, Stephen through Noah, really loved him.

James' new job is going really well!!!  He looks forward to going into work in the mornings now and has good and interesting things to work on all day long.  It is wonderful!!!

Sorry, long email, as always.  Can't wait to see all of you soon!!!!!

Love you,

Aimee