Quite the Storm

I was admiring the dark clouds out west and knew they would reach us soon.  I was in my room when the  shooting started....I mean huge hail started pounding the windows and popping up and down in the grass.  It was a sight to see.  It was powerful.  It came fast and hard.  It only lasted a few minutes here but made it's point!  I guess just east of us, in Riverdale, they were also treated with a tornado. A friend of mine had her windshield break and saw another guys shatter. We have had the strangest weather the last few years.  The power is out all over Ogden...we got lucky this time, our's stayed on.

The cows can move quick.  I watched as they ran across the field over to where they get fed.  I felt bad for them.  I bet all that Hail scared them.  I can't imagine how it would feel to be hit with those hard balls of ice being forced down so hard. (ouch)  I"m glad it passed quickly

Just after we were hit a tornado went through Riverdale and Washington Terrace. (just east of us)  It spun with a vengeance. It ripped off roofs, lifted up vehicles and uprooted trees and retaining walls.  The power lines fell and thousands were without power.  It broke windows in homes and cars...it was mean.  My mom was lucky.  She ended up with someone's shed in her backyard and lots of broken branches but nothing broke and she was able to stay home.  Her neighbor two doors east and across the street was evacuated.  Donna (neighbor) lives on a corner and her retaining wall was tore out and the police didn't feel like it would be safe for Donna to stay.  Trees were uprooted and laying all over these two little cities.  Crazy weather....I kept thinking "we're not in Kansas anymore".

Debbie's Birthday

Debbie turned 60 yesterday and so our team celebrated her today at bowling.  I made a cake and brought a card and party hat for her.  Carla brought balloons and a candle to add to some lotion that Shirley was bringing.  It was fun!  Debbie is fun!  Debbie does a lot at bowling.  If anyone has a question or a problem they go to Debbie.  I'm not certain why that is?  Debbie is the secretary but pretty much does it all.  Sometimes we laugh at all she has to do.  The President and Vice President don't seem to have responsibilities.  Debbie is smart and works hard.  She is happy and kind and everyone likes her.  I'm so glad that we lived in the same ward for many years while we raised a few kids together.  Debbie has taught me a lot over the years and I really admire her.  It's been fun having her in my life all this time.  It's because of Debbie that I started bowling eleven years ago.  She ran into me at a wedding reception and asked me to sub for her friend.  I've been bowling ever since.  I love seeing and being around Debbie ever week.  She's pretty wonderful!

My View

I love living in the country and looking out our windows.  It's so pretty and peaceful.  The cows get to come graze in the hay field now and so they are like in our back yard.  Before I had to strain to see them way out in the field.  It is such a peaceful sight and feeling.  I love looking out my kitchen window.  I'm glad our poplar trees had to be removed a few years back...I love the view.  I love having a little space that we call ours.  I love that we have been able to raise our family here.  The country is a great place to raise kids.  Kids learn to work hard and play hard.  There is plenty of room to explore without getting into too much trouble.  My kids have hunted in our fields.  (pheasant, geese, turtles) Braxton and his friends built a few forts and one is still out there.  They spent so much time in the field and had lots of friends over.  They called it Kamp Kaboom!  They had lots of fires and liked to blow up Sobe bottles filled with gas.  They were away from everything and so it was pretty harmless.  They were all lucky and blessed not to get hurt.  One gal did get hurt on a zip line that the boys built and immediately Braxton took it down.  It was after his mission and it scared Brax enough to get rid of it.

The sports court entertained  the kids as well.  We often had kids out there playing basketball, dodge ball and tennis.  They could play all night with the huge lights.  Now a few of Larry's friends come and use the sports court to practice jumping.  (I think high jumping)  Fun Memories living in our little space.

Temple

I was super excited to go to the Temple today.  It has been closed for a few weeks for cleaning and I had grands those weeks so I didn't make it to another temple.  I miss it when I don't go once a week.  I believe I might just be addicted!  A very good thing to be addicted to!  I love watching the grounds change and by going once a week we often see workers making those changes happen.  Today they were planting bulbs.  It's  a lot of work to keep the temple grounds looking so nice.  I always enjoy watching the workers to see what they do, it fascinates me!

No big story to share.  No unusual names.  There was a name that got changed from Bugg to Bigg.  I bet that person was tired of being "bugged" about his name.  I did feel the spirit.  I believe I even noticed my dad there today for a minute or so.  I did feel him close.  Oh...it's such a good feeling to be in the temple doing the Lord's work.  I love the Temples!

Another Grandson

 Woo Hoo ... Braxton and Kelsi are having a boy.  Sadie is getting a little brother.  We will have 5 grandsons by March!  His name is Jack Braxton and we love him so much already.  What little miracles these babes are!  To announce the gender of the baby Braxton and Kelsi filled a balloon with powdered paint and attached it to a board.  Braxton shot the balloon with an arrow and poofffff.....blue powder appeared.  I'm excited but would have been just as excited if the powder would have been pink.  Every baby is a blessing and it really doesn't matter what gender they are.  I did feel that our family needed a few more boys though and we are getting them.  Woo Hoo!  OH My Word....I love getting grands!

Celebrating Robin

Today the Sista's went to lunch to celebrate Robin!  It was such a fun day and I'm so thankful that Robin is around to celebrate.  Her health hasn't been to great the last few years and her heart attack gave us all a big scare.  Robin is hilarious!  She is so sarcastic and always has us laughing out loud.  She's a beautiful soul...inside and out!  I feel so blessed to know her to be able to spend time with her.  I really like her and all my sista's.  These sista's like and appreciate me too. (much more than my birth sister)  These gals enrich my life and fill it with so much happiness and fun!  What a blessing they are to me.  A new gal came today that I hadn't met before.  Her name is Ranae and she is Leann (Burch)Whitely's sister in law.  She is really nice and it was enjoyable talking with her.  We have some people that we both love in common.

After a wonderful lunch we went to Fundaze and bought some pirate stuff so we could dress up and get some free donuts at Krispy Kreme.  We waited in line for an hour and it was warm outside.  It was fun though being with each other.  When we got our donuts the line was at least 3X as long...poor people.  My family enjoyed my sacrifice and their donuts.

After waiting for the donuts we went to Sew and Save because Carla and Robin needed to pick up their quilt square kits.  The kits weren't ready which is dumb.  If you belong to a group and have paid then I think they should have your name on your quilt if you are not able to pick it up on the day assigned.  Needless to say we waited again for their kits to be cut.  Robin was not a happy camper.

I got home just in time to greet Larry and Jared as they pulled in right behind me.  Fun Day!

Game Day

It's been forever since I have been able to attend our Monday game day.  I watched kids all of August and have had other things as well as being sick.  I'm glad I was able to attend today.  I love these gals and have such a good time with them all. Debbie is the Queen of Games.  She knows a lot.  I have played a lot over the years but forget how to play them.  That is why I am explaining them on here.  Hopefully it will help me remember!

Today we played Nertz!  I thought it was just like solitaire with the exception being you got to play on everyone's cards.  That was not the case.  It was similar but different.  Nertz is a fast paced game.  You need to keep your eyes moving all the time, playing as many cards as possible.  It was fun and Debbie was our winner!  In the picture she has a chicken on her shoulder with Lorrilee and they each have a Lucky Duck..that's how I remember who won.  Nertz was too much for Lorrilee today and so we pulled out 5 Crowns.  Lorr won that!  We had a good time.

I signed Debbie's book for her and Lorrilee bought one.  I love that Debbie got emotional while reading it.  I hoped that our feelings would be expressed and I guess if it brings someone to tears it was a success. (not that you have to cry...I'm just glad it touched her soul)