Coming Home

I need to get this blog done before I forget everything.

We are now done with our mission and have been home for about a month and a half. We extended our mission for 2 weeks so the Wheeler's could replace us, and Randall could fill them in. Well it didn't do any good, the Wheeler's wouldn't communicate with us when they would be there so we left the 15^th of August before lunch and they came in the evening of the 15^th .

It was wonderful knowing we were coming home. I realized how it will feel being able to go back home to our Heavenly Father. I can't describe the feeling of happiness and joy knowing we were going to see our family and friends again. It was hard to leave people but we knew we would see most of them again. Plus no offense but I needed to see home, family, friends, mountains!

On the way home we went to Promontory to see Sister and Elder Gardener who served awhile with us at the Kuhn Ranch. We were able to go out to dinner with them and spend the night in one of the houses they were in charge of. I always think of Purgatory when someone says Promontory, now I know why. WOW! A lot of nothing out there, but at least they have mountains. It was a great visit, they are such wonderful people, we hope to see them again in the future when they travel through Idaho .

We made it to McCammon and saw Heath, Emilee, Peyton and Price. But it didn't hit me that I was home until I pulled around the corner and onto Vaden Street and saw our house, I started crying uncontrollably. I pulled into our driveway and there was Ivan. I hugged him wouldn't let go and cried, then Desiree came up and we all held each other in a group hug and I sobbed, I couldn't stop. See, it will be like that when we all die and go home to Heavenly Father, I just know it!

We spent a wonderful weekend with Desiree and her family, Ivan and his family, Jeff (Jason's brother) and his family, and Desiree's friend Rachael and her wonderful family. Heath and his family and Allison and hers weren't able to come. We were able to watch the eclipse of the century from our front yard. Mackay was one of the sites to be able to see the total eclipse, a world historical event right in Mackay. It was the best time ever.

Family and friends enjoying the eclipse. Just look at that overgrown yard! At least it is alive. Thanks to all who helped!

Eclipse for those who didn't get to see it
up close and personal.

A week and a half later we were on our way to see Allison and her family in North Carolina. Eli was baptized and we were able to be there. We were finally able to see all of the babies participate in sports, we are never there when they are involved so this was such a treat for us! Rylie and Abby in track, Sydney in volleyball, and Mr. Eli in football. Allison has such an amazing family they are kind, talented, beautiful, smart and everything in between. All of our children are raising fantastic family's, they are all so different but We can say We're so proud to say they are my ours.

Allison, Sydney, Rylie, Abby, Aaron.
Eli in the middle!

Abby and Rylie at the track meet both did
really well!

We're so grateful for the gospel and the joy it brings into our life's every day. We could not have been happy on our mission if Heavenly Father hadn't been with us always. We served an honorable mission (or so we were told by our Stake President and Presiding Bishopric). It was worth the hardships and trials. We did things we never thought we could at this point in our lives. We are grateful to a bishop (Bishop Teichert) who listened to the Lord's promptings to call us on this mission. We love Heavenly Father and have a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. Amen

Good Day! We are home and love it!

Critters of Kansas

Have you ever wondered how long it takes a grasshopper to dye once a frog has eaten it? (Deep thoughts) I have. They swallow it whole, have no teeth to chomp it up, so down to the belly it goes. So how long does the grasshopper sit there til it expires? Something to think about when you have absolutely nothing else to think about. This line of thought came to me because we made all the egress windows for the basement and frogs keep jumping into the holes, what can they live on? Grasshoppers of course! This year has been crazy with grasshoppers. So Sister Dustin and I have been herding grasshoppers into the holes for the frogs to eat; and you thought I could only herd cows and goats. Anyway herding grasshoppers isn't as easy as one might expect.

We were getting ready to fill in the windows which would kill the frogs, I couldn't live with myself if didn't try to save them, so I caught them and released them in our garden.

From one widow well.

This brings me to this posts topic, Critters of Kansas. Kansas has lots of bugs and I hate bugs! But it also has other critters. I have some pictures of the ones I like best but even then I don't have them all.

My first experience upon coming to Kansas where frogs (or toads) and cockroaches.

Beattl, better then a cockroach.

Baby toad, he's soo cute!

We had pet rabbits. There are also lots of Jack rabbits (no picture) I got up close and personal to one and was amazed at how truly beautiful they are. Their coats and eyes are amazing. You don't see that when they are running away from you.

Out our front door. You have to realize
I'm standing not 10 feet from them taking
these pictures.

Lounging outside our front door.

Baby bunny took up lodging in the pallet we use for the
front step of the trailer. He didn't last long, he got to big.

Then we had KeeKee the Anderson's cat which died under my supervision.

KeeKee, she was a sweetheart.

Then there is James and his adorable family and all their pets.  I love this family. The boys and James always answer you with Yes Mam, No Mam, Yes Sir, No Sir, it's so cute when the little ones do it.

Top row: James, Amanda, Camdon, Bailey and Tatortot.
Bottom row: Moose, Patrick and MoJoe.

Tatortots 6 kittens.

Snakes, I love snakes, I've seen and caught garden snakes, and seen bull snakes which look like and mimic rattle snakes (hence I haven't tried to catch one, you cant' tell until you get up close) I did see a smashed rattle snake and the rattle from a freshly killed rattler one of the ranch hands had just killed.

Pet garden snake, between our trailer and the Lodge.

Bull snake

Smashed Rattle snake

Lots and lots of steers. Steers, Steers everywhere but not a one to eat! The price of beef here is astronomical! We have eaten lots of pork and chicken.

Feed yard, smell all that money!

These 3 adorable baby swallows are looking down from the front window of house #1. I wouldn't let demolition start until after they left their nest.

You can just see their little faces peeking over the edge of the nest. Too cute!

Swallows, I thought this was a fun picture.

The bird population is Robins during the spring and fall. Lots of sparrows, those fake dove pigeons. They have several different types of hawks. The National bird of Kansas is the western meadow lark. They have grouse, pheasant and plover (I call them Killdeer). Barn owls, swallows, finches and juncos. My favorite bird is the Grackle, it is iridescent black-green, with a strange tail, instead of going horizontal it goes vertical. They make all kinds of noise, it can mimic and I swear one here has heard a cell phone, now you can hear all of them calling through the trees. They are kinda like a Magpies, smart, social and annoying. I guess that's why I like them.

Here is a baby gopher, I say she's a little girl. I was walking around the corner of the garage and she was walking around the corner coming the other way, I almost stepped on her. Instead of trying to run for it, she tried to dig herself away. Unfortunately she was digging into the cement foundation of the garage. I was able to pet her. I finally let her go to sleep.

Gopher trying to dig herself to safety. When her little butt was facing me I could pet her.

Looking out from her hole. That was as far
as she could dig before bumping into the footings

She fell asleep, digging is hard work!

I came out of the lodge one day and luckily had my tablet. (I don't get alot of shots because I don't have my tablet)  I saw this spider with a ginormous grasshopper. The spider was kinda ginormous too.

Ginormous grasshopper with ginormous spider.

They have coyotes, we get to hear them every so often, they even come in around the houses. Elder Dustin almost had a run in with a badger while riding his bike. They have deer and some antelope surprisingly enough. Mice and rats. I'm starting to bore myself.

So there you have it, Critters of Kansas. Pretty cool except for the bugs, I don't like bugs.

Love all of you, Happy birthday Ryder, Truman and Eli. Eli gets baptized this year, Yeah!

Good Day!

So Where Are We

I haven't written for so long I don't know where I am.

We have been very busy going nowhere it seems. Things have taken so long because of waiting on others to do there job (electrical, heating and cooling system etc.). We have finished the sheet rock, taping, texturing, cutting out basement windows, putting in basement windows and window wells, most of the siding, sofiting, upstairs doors, molding, and new garage.

Upstairs Dinning and Kitchen

Upstairs Living area

Much needed Union Break.

Not only has it taken forever but the weather has been a bear!!! Hot 90 to 100+ degrees and humidity higher then usual. The cooling and heating guy has been off doing other jobs leaving us without air-conditioning. It just hasn't been pleasant. The Dustins are great people but aren't craftsmen so Randall has spent most of his time teaching Elder Dustin what to do, so things have gone slow. Sister Dustin is more receptive and knowledgeable then Elder Dustin. Kinda funny!

We said we would stay another 2 weeks so the couple replacing us could get up to speed since the Dustins wouldn't know what will be needed in the future. So we still have a few weeks left, we are expecting them to come sometime around August 15. I wish we could be here when this house is finished but I do want to go home.

I have gained a great respect for my husband and the things he can do. I always knew he would be able to do anything we needed as a family, but watching him work is amazing. He really should have his own reality TV show. Elder Dustin is an outdoors man and likes to bike, hike and climb. He is put out because he keeps saying he can't keep up with Randall. Between the work and heat we have all been having a hard time! Elder Dustin keeps telling Sister Dustin “I can't keep up, it makes me so mad, I'm in shape and I can't keep up”. Rand kicks butt, even for a younger man, which he's not. Another impressive thing is how he always knows what needs to be done. He can put in a beam to hold up the house and act as bearing wall. He knows how to extend roof-lines, build staircases, cut basement windows, he knows what can be replaced and what can't. The list goes on and on. He gets it done and is 67 yrs old, and works like a 30 yr old. He's amazing to me. I just hope in this heat he doesn't over do it and keel over on me because he is also stubborn and won't stop when he needs to.

I also love my dear sweet children for all they have done for us. Our house has had some major issues since we have been gone and the kids have had to deal with them. I know it's been hard since they live so far away (We had to go through that with my parents). But we have appreciated everything they've done. Gordon had also been wonderful taking care of things while we have been gone. Going on a mission is more than two old people leaving home for awhile. There are so many other things involved, most people aren't even aware of. It will be nice to get home and give everyone a break.

Add on to this going to church and church jobs! But God keeps us going, we would not be doing this if not for him. I think our health would have given out long ago without all his blessings, I have to admit. With him around I can do anything, it may take awhile but I have done things I thought I was way to old for. I have more confidence in myself with the blessings he has given me. My testimony of the gospel and in Heavenly Father has grown since I have been out and of that I'm very thankful.

Love you all, Happy Birthday Ivan! ann

Good Day!

Parents are Parents

We called some of the kids this weekend because Uncle Gordon called and said we needed to start mowing and watering the yard. Gordon has kept a good eye on the place for us and has already mowed the lawn several times. So we called the kids to see if they could turn on the water for the house /yard and get the sprinklers going. Jason and Desiree went up and got things going and mowed the lawn (last Sunday, maybe not the best day but the only day they could). In the process of thanking all the kids over and over again, (without them we could never have come on this mission) we were talking to Ivan and he said it was payback for all we had done for him. We told him we loved him and paying us back for being his parents wasn't necessary.

I remembered when we came on this mission, people would say all the blessings we would get. All I wanted to do was pay back Heavenly Father for the life full of blessing and love he has given me. Being here has made me realize you can't pay him back, he just keeps heaping blessing on. It still bothered me though until I heard Ivan say he was trying to pay us back, and we said he didn't need to it was part of being a parent. Then the Holy Ghost whispered to me and said, “just like Heavenly Father is your parent”. You can't pay parents back. It doesn't work that way. All we can do is try to be the best children we can and follow his commandments. He will always love us and heap on the blessings. I'm so grateful to have my Heavenly Father. How people live without acknowledging his hand in their lives I cannot fathom. Thank you Heavenly Father!

Now, on to the progress of house #3. We got the footings done and everything ready to pour the garage floor. Took about a week. The cement truck came and started pouring at about 9:00. I didn't get there until about 9:30, (early for me but I wanted to watch and help if I could). They were about ¾ of the way through and the cement was already starting to set up. On top of that there wasn't enough to finish the job. So we all went to work trying to get a finish on it and by about 10:00 it was to hard to work. So we had a very expensive mess on our hands. Randall was sick, we all were ready to cry.

Out of Cement! Isome, Elder and Sister Dustin, James, George and
Randall hanging on the truck.

Trying to smooth cement. Isome, James, Elder Dustin , Randall's back
and George.

Elder Dustin's opinion of the cement.

Randall called the cement yard owner and told him what had happened. He said he had poured lots of jobs and never had this problem. Randall said he had it now. The owner sent his son out to look at it and his son agreed there was nothing we could have done. So the owner said he would make it right. We still aren't sure what that means?

Sooooo, we then proceeded to rip out all the cement. Keep in mind we had already done this when we tore down the garage. Nothing like doing things twice. Hopefully we wont be going for the best out of three. Anyway, what a job, but we did it, and all in one day. Again, 4 old people rock! The next day we formed it up again and are now-waiting to get it poured. Randall has some ideas this next time he hopes will help. We hope so too, we're all really tiered of picking up big chunks of cement and loading them into the backhoe bucket.

Ripping out the cement again!

We have the upstairs windows of the house put in. The plumber has finished with the plumbing. The heating/air conditioning guys are almost done working on moving the ducts and the furnace. We have found an electrician. Randall and Elder Dustin are building closets in the rooms of the lodge. The rooms had no storage so the Managers decided they needed closets. Life is good. Now what to make for dinner.

Closet in one of the rooms in the Lodge.

Love and miss you all. Happy Birthday Rylie!
Good Day!

Busy Week

This last Sunday was fun. We went to church at the Guymon branch as usual, Jade Wilkins (He's the oldest of the Wilkins kids) Had received his mission call but hadn't opened it. He wanted to wait and invite the branch to his house to share in his excitement. So we went to their house at 6:30 to witness the opening of Jade's mission call and have ice cream sundaes. He was called to the San Jose Mission, in California (Spanish speaking). Almost everyone in the branch showed up. It was so cool because that would not happen in a ward. Everyone in a branch is so close and supportive of each other. They have to be, otherwise the branch would just dry up. We truly do become family. Plus it was Mothers Day! We were able to talk to the kids on the phone. I missed Ivan because we were in the middle of Jade opening his mission call. Sorry Ivan, but I saw your awesome instergram.
.

Jade Wilkins

While we waited at the Walker's apartment till it was time to go to the Wilkin's, we had our usual lunch. Later Elder Walker gave a demonstration of how to play the saw. The younger missionaries had not seen him do this yet. Also one the the little sister missionaries made some wookies for us, they are cookie dough made on a waffle iron. They were really, really good! Cameron, a new convert who always has Sunday lunch with us at the Walkers, birthday was today! Happy Birthday Cameron. It will also be his last Sunday here in Guymon. He is going to get a job elsewhere and go to school at BYU Idaho this fall. When he has been a member long enough to become an Elder and finished a semester he will be going on a mission. You rock Cameron, you will be an awesome missionary!

Wookies, Yum!

This week we have finished the new stairs to house #3, tore out the carpet in the basement, tore out all the old pluming, mowed all the lawns, tore up all the concrete from the garage, steps and sidewalks, went to town three times, and took care of our garden. We have planted several types of tomatoes (Sister Dustin loves tomatoes), crook neck squash, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelon, tomotios, hot and sweet peppers. We aren't expecting to much with all the rabbits, gophers and weather changes. But it's fun to try and amazing to watch how fast it's growing.

Elder and Sister Dustin laying sub-floor.

Sister Dustin and new stairs.

New stairs!

To top it off, Sister Dustin and I went to quilt club Tuesday. Sister Dustin joined the club, she's really into quilting. She has a long arm quilter at home. Next meeting we will be working on the bull's eye quilt.

Love you, miss you!


Good day!

Keeping Busy

What a week! Elder and Sister Gardner left for the rest of their mission in Promontory,Utah. They will be ranch sitting for the summer. The cows are all hauled off to greener pastures during the summer so they will fix things up and make sure the ranch survives. We're going to miss them, they are great people.  Elder (Al) and Sister (Marilyn) Dustin have come to replace the Gardners. The Dustins will be here until October. They will be replacing us. We don't know if anyone will come to help them when we leave. We hope so because we will be in the beginning/ending of house #2. Hopefully we will be done with house #3 when we leave.

House #3 is moving right along. We've gutted it, torn off the stucco and demolished the garage. Sister Dustin is amazing she has been acting as Randall's secretary. She has been calling around to get bids for electrical for house #2 and #3, as well as someone to do the cement work for the basement of house #2 and the slab for the new garage of house #3. She has taken a load off of Randall. They are both amazing workers. They get out there with Randall at 8:00 and keep going all day long.

Randall cutting the last piece holding the
Garage to the house.

Garage demolished! Yes! Score one for our side!

Sister Dustin and I have just planted a small garden. How I wish my Son-in-law Jason was here. He's the best gardener in the world! As I was digging, I dug up a little toad. He was really cute and fat. I can't believe I didn't cut him in half with the shovel. If our garden does nothing else, it should feed our bunnies. We have two baby bunnies living under our front step! They are so cute. I hope they don't move out.

Our garden!

One of the baby bunnies under our porch. Is he not the cutest?

 I went to Dillon's market, or my Dilly Billys market (Dillon's has the most beautiful produce, Walmart's is absolutely disgusting), and they had artichokes for under a $2.00 dollars. I have a deal with myself, if I find artichokes for under $2.00 dollars I can buy them. OK, so they were $1.99 it still fits the deal. They were wonderful!

Are these beautiful or what!

Our branch in Guymon, has started a Book of Mormon 90 day challenge. You can read it, have it read to you, listen to it, anyway you want as long as it's finished in 90 days. So Randall and I are listening to it at lunch time. It's been fun because we can talk about it as it goes and it has helped me understand some parts of it better. We should be done by the first of August. The Wilkins will have a BBQ at the conclusion. The Wilkins are the best little family, really love them and their kids. I hope we will still be here. We are suppose to leave the first part of August, can't believe it.

Is anyone interested in this chandelier? It is an original from house #3.  I think I even have all the crystals to go with it. Let me know I can bring it home, other wise I'm stripping the crystals and D.I it. I've seen cute things done with these on Pinterest.

It needs some work, but it is all there, I think.

Love you, Miss you!

Happy Birthday Dilly, Allison and Price!

Good Day!

Messed Up Weekend

This last weekend was nasty.We had snow and wind something awful. It snowed about 1 foot and blew around 30-40 mph. We had drifts 3-4 foot high. The results were closed roads, downed branches, and no electricity. We were the lucky ones though because we didn't have trees close to our trailers but we were still protected from the worst of the wind and our electricity wasn't affected.

From our trailer. You can't really see how hard the wind is blowing.
It's supper wet snow. It started melting when you walked on it.

Look at the trees, you can see how hard it is blowing. This is looking from the trailer.
It was blowing so hard we almost couldn't open the trailer door. Once it was open it was hard to get out
or in without being smashed.

Church was canceled so we stayed home and had fun together. We brought all our food to the Lodge and had a nice lunch. The rest of the day we relaxed. It was really good for the Gardners and Isome, they had been asked to give talks Sunday, needless to say they smiled all day long.

Randall, Elder and Sister Gardner and Isome having Sunday lunch together. Isome
is the Ranch intern he lives in the Lodge. (in case I haven't mentioned him before)

Monday we had to go into town to buy things for the job and the devastation was horrible. Tree branches everywhere, deep snow, it was a mess. I felt bad for the homeowners, their yards were destroyed. They had tree branches down the size of my thigh (pretty good sized). They had smashed fences, houses, shrubs. Plus the amount of water running everywhere was incredible. The Arkansas River even had water in it, it's like the Big Lost River (always dry), but the Arkansas runs even less often.

Garden City Snow plowed off the streets.

Arkansas River with water in it. I'll bet there are people who have lived
here for years and not seen water  in this river. Happy to have been
here to see this.

Elder Gardner walking to the Lodge the next day. See the drifts?
Beautiful Day!

We continue to work on the house. Randall is making a new stairway and Elder Gardner has been working on new back windows and doors. I have been tearing out all the molding and ceiling tile metal thingys downstairs.

Elder Gardner making new window in kitchen.

The other hole is for the new stairs.

Hole where the new stairs will be.

In our tearing out we have found many, many unpleasant things. Good thing is the house will be much better without them. I only took one picture of the yuck and am posting it just for remembrance. So if you don't want to see the type of yuck skim past the next picture.

Dead Rat.

Well that's it for now. Love all of you!

Good Day!