34 Years

Today is our 34th wedding anniversary. I wonder where all the years have gone. And then I look at the pictures of all of my kids on the wall in their senior picture and the wedding pictures that are hanging on the walls now along with grandkids of the those that are married and I know where the years have gone. It has been a great journey with Russ and our kids and grandchildren. We haven't always agreed and liked some of the things that we have done but we have loved each other like no others. I am grateful that Russ has been my companion and best friend and may we have another 34 years together.

Receive these little ones

I'm teaching the New Testament this year. Last week I was reading Matthew 18 where it talks about becoming as a little child. I read verse 5 that says, "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." I thought about how we need to teach, help, and bless little children and was ready to read on when I wondered about the word "receive." What does it mean to "receive" little children? How do we receive them? It occurred to me that one way we receive them is when we welcome them into our families. And I thought about my children who are now young parents and are in the middle of the challenges of raising young families. Thanks for receiving these precious children into your families. Thanks for loving them and teaching them. The Savior said when you receive them you receive Him. This adds new meaning to the verse "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ... ye have done it unto me" (Matt 25:40). Love, Dad

Love Letters

Today in Relief Society the Joseph Smith lesson 'A Heart Full of Love and Faith: The Prophet's Letters to His Family was taught. I was touched by his words of love and devotion he had towards his family. I was thinking how we know that we love one another but do we truly express it to one another. Yes, we call often and say "I love you" but do you really know that I pray for each one of you daily. That your success in the world and in the gospel and for your safety and my grandchildren are always in my prayers. I name each of you by name including my grandchildren. I pray that my children are teaching my grandchildren about the gospel of Jesus Christ. That you are teaching them who God the Father is and that He answers prayers. That Jesus Christ is their Redeemer. I pray that you are doing all you can in your church callings. I pray for your safety in your jobs, that you will be good mothers and fathers, you do well in your schooling. I pray that evil men and women will be kept away from my children and grandchildren that you will not be harmed by them. I pray that you are serving where you see a need. I worry about each one of you. My prayers have been heard by a loving Heavenly Father because so far each of you seem to be doing all that I ask for in my prayers. I am grateful for each one of you. I appreciate who you are and the things you are doing in the world and in the church. You give my heart great joy when I think of the good that all of you are doing. Please know that I know that Heavenly Father lives! He knows me and He knows each one of you by name. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that he did atone for my sins. That by Him and only Him can I return to be with My Father in Heaven. This is a first of a "Love Letter" to each of you.

Come to the Pumpkin Patch with Gamma and the Bosted Girls

On Saturday the 18th of October the Bosted Granddaughters went to the Pumpkin Patch with Gamma May at the Hatch Farm. Grandpa Hatch had planted a pumpkin patch as big as can be with some of the biggest pumpkins I have seen in a long time. We got to ride on the trailer with hay bales and Grandpa Hatch pulled it with his oldtractor. I think they have had it since they started farming 40 years ago. Anyway we had a delightful time picking out pumpkins and riding out to the patch on Hatch property. Happy Halloween everyone:)!! I hope everyone gets their packages that I sent out this past Saturday. Please let me know when they arrive.















All on an early afternoon in October we went to the Pumpkin Patch and had such a good time.

So, slow at blogging

I keep checking Susan's and Matthew's blog to see if they have done any updating and I wish they would. Then I realized I haven't done any on my own. And the only comments I get is from some crazy lotto that I don't even play or like. So what is that with the comments. It is now October and school has been going on for a month and a half. We have two school days off this month and one half day of school. I think it is so crazy that they give us all these piddly days off. Why not do all of the teacher days off for what ever at the beginning of the school year and let us go to school with out interruption so that we can get out earlier in the spring. It would be so nice if they would do that. Last Friday was a no school day so I got to go to Seattle with Dad. He had some meeting in Seattle and so we left Thursday evening and went to Seattle. He had some bishop thing to do so we got out of town late. But we stopped at the little girls in Yakima and Nom fed us dinner, pizza, she makes great pizza and we were stuffed. We then stopped in Ellensburg at the Grovers to drop something off for someone and then on to Seattle. We stayed in the University district. I had gotten us a 31/2 star hotel for $64.00 on priceline.com it was a nice hotel. The next day I was suppose to go to the institute to sew because I have some quilts that need to get done. I instead to the advantage of having no husband with me and went to IKEA. I spent 2 and half hours just wandering through the store. I did not hear once, "are you done looking", "have you seen everything you want to see", or my personal favorite, "do you really need that?". I loved every moment of just wandering around at my own pace. I finally got back to the institute and went to this Mexican restaurant for lunch and then met up with Russ there. Hope everyone is doing well. Love, Mom

School back in session

I started back to school today. I am glad to be back in a routine. Maybe I can accomplish some things now. I hate it when all I have energy to do sometimes is sit and stare at the TV, how boring. Susan asked me if I got any new school clothes. I bought two new pair of shorts that were on sale and 3 new aprons that I made. I was excited to start school again. We have a brand new cafeteria and commons area 3 million dollar addition to the old one that we are working out of this year. It is beautiful and spacious. The kitchen must be a mile long. The cooks are really getting a work out. I hope all those who are back in school grandkids, Sariah, Charlie, Sabrina and Cajsa, Jackie 1st year college, Chris last year of college and Joey first year of law school have a great school year. Learning is fun. Have a great year students. Enjoy your time Mom's they will be off for Christmas break sooner than you realize. Love, Mom, aka Grandma.

Learning the how to's

I am just learning how to put things on this blog and I have run into a few snags. Hopefully you will enjoy what I have put on and be able to get the right words with the right picture. Maybe next time I will have done it right. Love, Mom and or Dedie

Reunion on the Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes

This past Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we (Russ and I) did a small family reunion with the Ludwig family (Geno, Sharon, Heather & Robbie, Mary and her little boys Shade & Miles and Scott's boy Christopher) on the Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes. We had such a wonderful time. Great company, Great food and a Great time riding our bikes on the trails which originally were for the train from Chicago to Seattle. I believe it was the Milwaukee. They have have paved the rail road bed and it is all down hill. The scenery was beautiful and the ice cream in Wallace was so yummy. On Thursday we closed our camp at Osburn and went to the "Route of the Hiawatha". It is this amazing bike trail down the mountains starting from the Montana Idaho border to this place which use to be a town called Pearson. The first thing you do is go
through this two mile tunnel. It is scarier than all get out, because when you first get in there you cannot see anything till your eyes adjust and you get use to the little light that is on your bike. You have to have a light to go on the trail, it is required. I was pretty freaked out. I am a little claustrophobic and was having a hard time. Russ was behind me and I asked him to sing. His voice was so soothing in all that darkness. Besides the beauty of his voice the tunnel really made it sound so amazing. I calmed right down and was able to make it through that first tunnel. It made think that when we feel like we can not get our breath or feel like we are lost that if we just listen to the voice our prophet or read the scriptures they will lead us to the light. That is what his voice did for me. There are 9 tunnels in all and you have to go through the first one twice, that makes 10 that you go through all together. There are also 7 train tresses that you go over too, the highest one is 230 feet high but you don't even notice the height part. The scenery is breathtaking. The trek down is about 14 miles down and you ride a bus back to just before the first tunnel and you have to go through the two mile tunnel again which makes the trek about 16 miles in all.

The whole gang on the trail from Mullan to Osburn

Heather

Sharon and Christopher

At the head of the trail of the Route of the Hiawatha

The Two Mile tunnel

Train tresses

Russ had every one eating out of his hand with all of that singing he was doing for me.

Our transportation to the first tunnel we went through.

3 Fold Trip to Utah

I am finally finishing this blog that I started on the 24th of July. We went to Utah for several reasons. First, was to take all of Jackie's things down so they would be there when she arrives to go to school. Auntie Barb has graciously let us store them at her house till she gets there. It was also Hattie's second birthday. And thirdly Joey and Kimmie are moving to Omaha Nebraska and we said good bye to them. It was a busy three days. We spent our last morning visiting the market that Susan sells her wares at. Chris, Susan's husband went down with us. The day before he had driven up here with his little sister Sarah and he needed to get back down to SLC. Lucky for him we were going his way. We have made tinfoil dinners in the past and put them on the manifold to cook while we drove down the freeway and Chris wanted to that. We had some delicious dinners about Baker Oregon. It is really fun to do.

Hattie enjoying her Second Birthday!!

I didn't know that we were related to Popeye. Clark looks like him in this picture. Sorry Joey and Kimmie but it is so cute!!

Joey, Kimmie and Clark

Susan's booth at the Pioneer Market in SLC

We've moved for now

I guess I'm not a very committed blogger. And the other problem I have is that when I decide to post something I have to wait until the desktop computer at home is free since the filtering software on my work laptop blocks out all blogs. So I set up another place I can post things it's here:
http://www.myfamily.com/Home.aspx?mfsid=34735932
It's not as fancy as blogspot (ok well maybe it's a little lame) but it works for me for now.
Dad

Dad, "Update your blog!"

So Katie & Susan have been bugging me to update our Blog. My problem is that between Jackie being a diligent student and mom working on her Geneology, I can never get on the computer to do it. So I got up early on this Saturday morning before the rooster was even up and posted a few pictures. Hope you like them. Dad.

Bath for Sadie

Here's mom bathing Sadie in our sink that is more accessible now that we re-did the Utility room.

January trip to Utah

Here are some pics from our trip to Utah in January to see "the kids" and to bless Savanah.

January Snow Storm

Here are a few snow pics from our big snowstorm at the end of January.