Thanksgiving suprise

We had the best surprise ever! Desiree and her whole family came to visit us Monday, November 21. They are on their way to Iowa for Thanksgiving and a Nebraska, Huskers game. They could only stay a few hours but that was OK! It was soooo good to see them and it was a huge side trip for them to come see us. We loved on them all we could. Then it was back on the road for the rest of their adventure.

Desiree and her wonderful family in Kansas!

We were invited, along with the McKinnons  to the Andersons for Thanksgiving dinner. We met Tiffany’s sister and her family. It was great fun as well as amazing food. We love the Andersons, they are the cutest family. The Hutchens went to Colorado and had  Thanksgiving with their two daughters who live there.

Lately I’ve only gotten to be a gopher for Randall, but the guys have done a lot on the house. They put up the siding and fake brick. Looks really nice! I should be able to do some sanding on the inside wood trim this next week.

House with siding and brick

Happy Thanksgiving,

Good Day

Oh Ye of Little Faith

I’ve always thought I had faith. And in some ways I do, like believing in Heavenly Father, believing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored gospel of Christ in these the latter-days. I know the Holly Ghost is always with me. I believe Joseph Smith restored Christ’s Church and translated the Book of Mormon with God’s divine help. I have faith in these things.

But when it came to believing Heavenly Father would be able to help me with a nasty tooth ache I found my faith sadly lacking. I know he can do anything. I know he can help me find lost keys, He uses the Holy Ghost for that but actually helping me with a tooth ache???????

Several weeks ago I went in with a tooth ache and Dr. Holman and I agreed it might just be my bite was off, making my tooth ache. So he made corrections but warned me if it didn’t get better I was going to need a Root Canal. I was so happy because I felt that would be the problem and I would escape the Root Canal (RCT). It was just fine until...

OK so Monday night before Thanksgiving it really starts to hurt.  Do you know how hard it is to get into a Dentist the week of Thanksgiving?  I know you do Cindy. Anyway, I left a message Monday night for my Dentist.  No one called me back Tuesday morning, so I called and left another message (I’m starting to get a bad feeling and it wasn’t just my tooth). I called his private number, no answer or reply. So I started calling dentists and enododontists to get an appointment. They all acted like I was crazy trying to get in the week of Thanksgiving (I am a little crazy) all the offices I called were booked or closing that afternoon for the rest of the holiday.  

I prayed and told Heavenly Father I was doomed, and in Kansas far from home. You don’t go through any weekend needing a RCT. I told him I had done what I could and needed his help.  I had a tooth ache it was something that happens, I really didn't expect him to help. 

You need to understand, being a former dental assistant I knew what was going to happen to me, the pain I was going to go through, the swelling and the abbess I was going to have in my jaw. I was scared to death because it wouldn’t be for a day or two but a whole holiday weekend! I was going to die!!!!!!!!! My tooth started to calm down, I figured it was the 20 ibuprofen I had taken.

I e-mailed Dr. Goldthorpe’s wife Karen because I didn’t have his e-mail (he’s my dentist in Idaho), my wonderful hero called me not even 5 min. later and I told him my story. He agreed with Dr Holman, I was going to need a RCT. He called in a prescription to control the infection, which I would need even if I did get my RCT. He calmed me down and I was feeling better.

That evening my dentist called! He said the tooth was definitely going to need a RCT. He said to call his office first thing in the morning to see if they had any cancellations. He said the schedule was full but maybe someone would cancel. He said he didn't want to get my hopes up. I was elated! The pain was hardly noticeable now. So now I’m worried I was going nuts, maybe I wasn’t going to need a RCT. I would still try for the appointment because contrary to some people’s beliefs, I’m not stupid.

I woke up the next morning with hardly any pain. I called the office and they said I could come in if I left right then. (It takes 30 min. to get to Ulysses were my dentist office is) So I brushed my teeth and hoped in the car and away I went. I was still a little apprehensive since my tooth really didn’t hurt anymore. As I drove to the office my tooth woke up, yea, nasty pain again.

Then it hit me, bam! I had prayed and as usual Heavenly Father came through. I hadn’t thought he would, me of little faith. He made it stop hurting, he got me an appointment even though all odds were against it, and he let me get drugs to control the infection. It didn’t even register until the pain came back. He had gotten me through, with very little pain. When Dr. Holman opened up the tooth he confirmed that the tooth was a goner and it was lucky I came in.

I have faith Heavenly Father will always get me from X to Y. I just need to have faith and remember how much he loves me!

Good Day!

Sorry, no pictures of my tooth.

Working Like Crazy

We have finished the inside carpentry, the electrical rough in, the insulation, the outside has been wrapped, the steps stairs to the basement were replaced, the front steps and part of the driveway removed, the window openings in the basement were cut out of the cinder block wall and all of the windows  have been installed in House #1. The sheet rocker has completed hanging the rock. The mudders/tappers will finish taping in a few days.  A lot has been accomplished!

Basement window

Wall in garage for mud room and storage

House wrapped and windows in

While the sheet rock was being hung and the mudding done, we took the chance to winterize our trailers. What a job! I was fortunate enough to be the one to crawl under the trailer since I have limited skills and Randall’s superior skills were necessary on the outside of the trailer. Good thing I’m not afraid of spiders.

Ann crawling under the trailer

Ann under trailer

Randall and his superior skills

Randall and more of his superior skills

Almost done winterizing the trailer

We have had several things go wrong with the trailer in the last week or so. Amazing timing since Randall had the time to take care of them since we weren’t needed at the work site. Our toilet died, the faucet on the sink in the kitchen was leaking under the sink, and our heater wasn’t working.  I got a new toilet and faucet (Yeah). The toilet has a duvet, you can see it off to the side. We're high class now! Randall had to hire someone to come fix the heater. He was able to watch the heater guy so if we have problems in the future he might be able to take care of them himself.

New kitchen faucet

High class toilet with duvet and pull flush handle instead of foot pedal

We are now starting on the siding. This house should be really nice when we finish it.  A lot of work but I don’t mind it. Randall has been a sweet heart trying to find jobs I can do to keep me busy.

Good Day!

P.S. How 'bout those elections!

Field trip

We had a field trip the weekend of October 29. We went to the Oklahoma City, Temple, a five hour drive. We went  with the Hutchins, McKinnons and the Shamps. The Shamps are Senior Couple from another site in Texas. It's the site the Hutchins and McKinnons just came from. Randall and I also know them from our Orientation in Salt Lake. It was sooo good to go to the temple; we haven’t been for such a long time. The Hutchins, were able to do the work for Dixie’s uncle and aunt. She was quite happy about that.

Oklahoma Temple

Left to right: Shamps, Vadens, McKinnons, Hutchins

Randall and I later went to the movies and discovered part of downtown Oklahoma City. The city is slowly renovating downtown and it is wonderful. Hundreds of people go hang out and you feel safe. They have a river running through downtown with grass, trees and walkways meandering around the businesses. Street performers set up on the grass and stages. It’s like a big party, without the alcohol and drugs. People were going out to dinner, getting ice cream or coffee just having a good time meeting with friends and getting to know new people.  It would have been fun to sit and watch for awhile but we were late for our movie!

Next day we found a ward close by (according to Dixie, we learned on this trip, Dixie’s close and our close are literally miles and miles apart) to go to church. We went to sacrament meeting and then came home. The McKinnons came with us in our car and the Hutchins drove by themselves, and the Shamps went back to Texas.

We all had a great time and needed the break. Looking forward to our next field trip!

Good Day!