We kicked off the month by pulling our family together for a couple of days for the Dale Hansen Family Reunion, and then adding the Petersen Clan to our fun for a Petersen Reunion. Since I was in charge of pulling off the Petersen Reunion, I decided to combine them both and it turned out awesome!
We had Jason and Danica in the truck with us and we caravaned with the Mallory's, meeting up with Nate at the City of Rocks Visitor Center, where Garrett and Zandra joined us a bit later. For lunch, we pulled out our coolers and made up some sandwiches for a picnic and to get the kids wiggles out.
From the Visitors Center we followed Nate into the City of Rocks National Reserve. He led us to an area where we found a great spot to do some rock climbing. After getting out the gear, we headed out.
It was plenty warm, but we were able to find some shade and set up a couple of hammocks and get the ropes set up. With Nate and Jason’s help, all that wanted to tackle the wall harnessed up and gave it a try.
Nate headed up the wall first to check it out and the be belayed for awhile.
Jason makes it to the top Langston tackles the wall
Danica does a wall jump on the way down (a little excited I'd say)
Jason takes the ropes and belays --- Kennlyn tackles the wall
Amie shows us what she's got
Our two 3 year olds (Mazin and Jorie) even put on the harness and gave the wall a try.
With their bravery, Dale and I decided to harness up as well. Dale had no problem getting to the top, but I took the hardest route and needed a little encouragement, but I too made it to the top. I have to say that with this being my first true rock climbing experience it showed me that where there’s a will, there’s a way, and oh, what a thrill it was to be on the top of that wall!!
Dale looking like a pro & Me giving it my all and then celebrating that I did it
Matt finished up our family climbing experience by summiting the wall. So, after we had all had our “glory moment” we gathered up the ropes and headed back down the trail. Garrett and Zandra had left earlier because the kids were hot and tired and Garrett had been sick the night before and in the morning before coming, so they wanted out of the heat.
We stopped at Rock City Pizza for dinner (Garrett and Zandra and kids joined up with us). I have to say that their pizza was the best tasting pizza I have ever tasted! It might be that we were all quite hungry, but we all LOVED Big Rock Pizza!
We got settled into our “Wild Western” themed rooms at the Almo Inn and then headed over to the Dufree Hot Springs to soak and swim. It was a nice way to end the day.
The Springs four pools with different water temperatures. It was so relaxing.
Back at the Almo Inn those that wanted gathered in the Mallory’s suite and we played some card games.
Day 2: We joined up with the Petersen Clan for a “Blast from the Past” Reunion. We met in Raft River Idaho at The Steadman Ranch. It’s a family friendly area that has two big water slides, a big grassy area with a volleyball net set up and lawn games, three covered pavilions, a zip line, a playground, and an area for skeet shooting.
We all got our thrills by either participating in the fun or watching from the sidelines. We had family there from Larry’s Clan, Kim’s Clan, Danny’s Clan, Tanya’s Clan, and our Clan. It was great seeing new friendships being formed with second cousins as well as first cousins.
Danny and Terry's crew that came--Erin, Christian, Minnie, Hope, Vance and Sunny
Kim and Kathy's crew that came: Sandy and her girls,; Emmy, Bailey, Sara. Heather and her kids; Jess and Kate.
From Larry and Glee's family Joe and Denise showed up for some water fun and from Tanya and Greg's family Jonathan and Lacey and their kids; Cambree, Paizley, Denton, and Brigham.
A group got in some skeet shooting as well. We have a few sharp shooters in the family.
After getting our fill of the sun we headed to Burley, ID to check into our hotel rooms to get cleaned up for more fun. We met at Story Book Park in Burley , ID for a family picnic. Larry, Glee, Marci, and her daughter, Madison, joined us at the park. The Reunion Fund provided Fried Chicken and dessert with each family adding something to the meal. We added a birthday cake to celebrate Nate's birthday with the group. Happy 37th Birthday Nate!!
It was a nice evening where we all got our fill of good food and great company.
Once dinner was over Amie and Danica headed up games for the kids and the adults that wanted to played the card game 3-13 in honor of mom and dad. (A game we’d play at their house when we gathered together at their house). It was another great way to end the day.
Day 3: After breakfast we all headed to Oakley, ID to gather and were given a copy of the famous Rabid Bobcat story that has been shared with the Hadfield family throughout the years since it occurred at the William and Grace Hadfield family’s humble home. This was to be read, along with a brief history of Silvin LaMoyle and Amy Petersen’s lives as we caravanned on the dirt road into Grouse Creek, UT to visit where Amy Hadfield Petersen grew up.
We gathered at the Grouse Creek Cemetery where our mom’s parent’s, William and Grace Viola Jorgenson Hadfield, their son, Gordon and Williams parents John and Mary Hadfield, and grandfather, Christian Hadfield are buried.
I do have to say that it was very humbling to see the state that the cemetery was in. It had tall weeds and grasses and was very dry. I got tears in my eyes as I saw this and thought of my mom and came to appreciate more her strong desire to visit her parents grave every year for Memorial Day.
It was a VERY hot afternoon, but we made the most of it. We pulled out our gloves, shovels, rakes, hoes, and buckets and cleaned up the area where our family are laid to rest. We also found any shade we could when needed to cool off and visit.
My cousin Gordon (who is my mon's brother), that was killed in a farm accident in Grouse Creek, has a daughter, Norma Jean Mecham (who currently lives in Grouse Creek), who joined us at the cemetery. It was great visiting with her and catching up on her happenings.
We all felt humility and had a better appreciation for the life our ancestors lived after doing our service project.
A short tour of Grouse Creek took us to see the house that mom grew up in. It was there that the famous Rabid Bobcat Story took place. The house has since had a room added on and had new siding put on, but it’s still standin, as well as the surrounding area that they ranched which is currently the Box C Ranch. We saw the Church, the school, and the gas station/store, and post office as well.
Then we gathered at the Rodeo grounds Pavilion for a catered lunch of BBQ sandwiches, mashed cheesy potatoes, tossed salad, green beans, a roll, lots of good cold water, and a brownie with ice cream for dessert by Robert Bell and his wife. They pitched in the night before because of a misunderstanding on the date with the gal we thought we had lined up to do the meal. We were VERY grateful for this, and for Amie who had connections because of living in Oakley, ID previous to their move to Providence, UT.
We all headed out of Grouse Creek a little more grateful for the live we have blessings we have and for the Roots that planted them for us.
Garrett and Amie’s crew along with Jason, Danica, Dale and I headed East for home and Nate headed West to go back on the dirt road to Oakley, UT to catch the Interstate for WA. When we got cell service we got a call from Nate and found out that his van had broken down on the dirt road about 10 miles out before arriving in Oakely, ID.
Luckily a nice lady drove by and gave him a ride to the park in Oakley. Well, Amie pulled through again for us and called a guy she knew that was a mechanic for farm trucks that lived in Oakley. The guy happened to be Robert Bell, the guy who saved us by pulling together our meal in Grouse Creek! He had just brought in the last load of unloading his car from being there and didn’t hesitate to say he’d be glad to go help Nate out. What a guy!!! In reality, there was really nothing we could do, and Robert knew that, so he took Nate to his van and got it on a trailer and took it back to his shop and then had Nate stay with them for the night and THEN he took Nate to Bosie, a three hour drive, so he could catch a flight out to WA at 8:00am!! I just can’t say enough about the love I feel for this unselfish, caring, Christlike man. There are good people in this world!
Luckily a nice lady drove by and gave him a ride to the park in Oakley. Well, Amie pulled through again for us and called a guy she knew that was a mechanic for farm trucks that lived in Oakley. The guy happened to be Robert Bell, the guy who saved us by pulling together our meal in Grouse Creek! He had just brought in the last load of unloading his car from being there and didn’t hesitate to say he’d be glad to go help Nate out. What a guy!!! In reality, there was really nothing we could do, and Robert knew that, so he took Nate to his van and got it on a trailer and took it back to his shop and then had Nate stay with them for the night and THEN he took Nate to Bosie, a three hour drive, so he could catch a flight out to WA at 8:00am!! I just can’t say enough about the love I feel for this unselfish, caring, Christlike man. There are good people in this world!
Our caravan stopped in Snowville, UT and ate at Molly’s to see if we’d be turning around and head back to Oakley, to help out Nate, but Robert had covered all the bases.
We were so grateful that Nate had someone that took him under his wing and was willing to go the extra mile. Angels are among us.
As we were all together the last three days we had Andrew, Lindsay, and Nora in our thoughts and prayers. Nora had surgery to have a double cochlear implant done at Primary Children’s Hospital. They kept us posted on the progress and Nora pulled through like a true trooper.
As we were all together the last three days we had Andrew, Lindsay, and Nora in our thoughts and prayers. Nora had surgery to have a double cochlear implant done at Primary Children’s Hospital. They kept us posted on the progress and Nora pulled through like a true trooper.
Her recovery went way better than they imagined it would as well. Nora handled it real well. It’s amazing what modern medicine can do. To think that Nora will have ears to hear is just amazing.
This is from Lindsay's Facebook post:
One week post op and Nora has been healing beyond our expectations. We are grateful for the prayers, meals, well wishes and kind words. The common question we get asked is if Nora can hear now? No not yet. There is a four week healing process that leaves Nora completely def. After the four weeks we will take our back packs of gear (pics 1&2) to her audiologist, where she will activate and teach us how to use it all. This will be done in 3 two hour visits the last week of August. Then she will be able to hear fully. The next question we get asked is if Nora still needs hearing aids? No, but she will use something similar called a cochlear external device/speech processor. There is an on the ear and off the ear option for her to wear. Nora will be completely def unless the magnet of the external device is hooked to the magnet of her internal computer chip thingy. And lastly “why the implant?” Because the loudest hearing aids on the market were still only giving Nora 20% hearing and not even half the alphabet. With the implants, she will hear 100%! When I think of all she hasn’t been hearing I could just cry. But I won’t because she’s about to hear the whole world! I’m mostly looking forward to her hearing her name and “I love you” and the day she starts talking more than “bye bye, Da da, du (2) and dank ew “thank you”. God has been so good to our Nora bug!
A concert I did like was one Dale and I went to that was at Cherry Peak Resort here locally.
This is from Lindsay's Facebook post:
One week post op and Nora has been healing beyond our expectations. We are grateful for the prayers, meals, well wishes and kind words. The common question we get asked is if Nora can hear now? No not yet. There is a four week healing process that leaves Nora completely def. After the four weeks we will take our back packs of gear (pics 1&2) to her audiologist, where she will activate and teach us how to use it all. This will be done in 3 two hour visits the last week of August. Then she will be able to hear fully. The next question we get asked is if Nora still needs hearing aids? No, but she will use something similar called a cochlear external device/speech processor. There is an on the ear and off the ear option for her to wear. Nora will be completely def unless the magnet of the external device is hooked to the magnet of her internal computer chip thingy. And lastly “why the implant?” Because the loudest hearing aids on the market were still only giving Nora 20% hearing and not even half the alphabet. With the implants, she will hear 100%! When I think of all she hasn’t been hearing I could just cry. But I won’t because she’s about to hear the whole world! I’m mostly looking forward to her hearing her name and “I love you” and the day she starts talking more than “bye bye, Da da, du (2) and dank ew “thank you”. God has been so good to our Nora bug!
I got right back into the swing of things and served in the Youth Center at the temple by watching a 12 yr. old and a 2 month old that were being sealed to their parents. The 12 yr. old girl was SO thrilled to have this ordinance done. She understood the blessings that can come, and took it all in. It was a very heart warming experience for all there.
I took us awhile to get this pulled together, but Dale and I were finally able to take Titan on his birthday date (His birthday was last month).. He wanted to eat at Pizza Pie Cafe and go minature golfing. He got a couple of hole in one's (I got one) and when we added up the scores we knew why he wanted to go golfing, lhe beat both Dale and I !! This guy may have a future ahead on a real course.
We were reminded how important it is to make the most out of your time here on eart as we attended the funeral of my cousin, Kelly Hadfield. He fought hard, but the lost his battle with cancer. He was a kind soul with a big heart. Heaven gained a great man.
Dale and I headed to the South Jordan Soccer Complex to see Amie & Matt's oldest boy, Jaxson, play in a championship soccer play-off game with his competitive team for the Addidas Cup tournament. They played hard and Jaxson played great, but the other team came out on top. His team came in 2nd place, which is still something to hold your head up for in my eyes. Way to go Jaxson, you had a great season!
After the game we went to a Lantern Fest with the Mallory crew. We grabbed a bite to eat at the World's Greatest Corn Dog Food Truck, and then took in the music and vibes from the evening, decorated our lanterns and then launched them into the pond. It was pretty cool. Thanks Amie and Matt for inviting us to join you.
I ushered for Jared and the Mill at the Eccles. They were a Western Indie Rock Band that had a variety of different types of music. "A bit different and quite loud", is what the patrons had to say about it when I asked if they liked it. They summed up how I felt about it as well. I guess I/m glad I didn't buy a ticket to see it.
The band was Lifehouse, and the atmosphere was great, the music was great, and the food and company was great. We went with friends, Mike Bullen and Kathy Fishburn, and then met up with Amie and Matt in Richmond. It was a beautiful evening and thanks to some great friends we got out of the area a lot quicker than we have in the past because they let up hop in their truck with them. Thenks Shannon and Lori Follett, you topped our great evening off.
We also pulled those together that could come and we went to the Logan Temple and did 30+ proxy sealings from family names we'd found on Family Search. Thanks Danica, Jason, Matt and Amie for helping us out. Time spent in the temple always warms my heart.
I rode in a restored Model A car in River Heights' Apple Days parade with Kathy Fishburn because her dad was honored as an past mayor of the city, and her friend, Mike Bullen, was driving the car. I agreed to sit in the trundle seat of the car with her only if I could throw candy. Well, we got to throw candy. Riding through the streets of where we both grew up, and seeing people we knew as kids brought back a lot of fond memories. Thanks Kathy for the invite, and Mike for the ride in your cool old car.
We also got 20 dozen ears of corn and did up some freezer corn for the Hassells, Mallorys, and Dale and I. It was a full day of service in one way or another for all of us with the temple, the parade, and the corn. Nothing can beat that feeling, especially when you help others on the veil to have an opportunity for exaltation, you get to put a smile on a kids face, and when you open up the freezer and see the profits of your works.
School started and with that the Back to school testing begins. The name of the literacy test we give changed to Acadience. I guess we're no longer called the DIBELS Darlings.anymore, oh well, our testing team is still pretty awesome.
With Andrew's only son turning 8 years old last month, he's full swing into scouts now and loves it!
After wearing her "new ears" (cochlear implants) for two weeks Nora showed us how she can hear. It was SO touching to see her respond to sound. They've been working with the "Sound Beginnings" program that is on the USU Campus. The worker would knock and Nora would turn her head and then put her hand by her ear to tell us she heard something.
They have a pre-school that Nora will be going to the help her learn verbal skills. Modern technology is so amazing.
Lindsay shared Nora's journey on Face Book. Here it is.....8-26-19 was a life changing day for Nora. Her Cochlears were turned on and she can hear! She got a little emotional and cried at the audiologists. At first I though she didn’t like it but on reflecting about it, I think she was overwhelmed by all she could hear and maybe she’s happy tears too. Today she has absolutely been loving hearing music and dancing away to it. Tv has also become a whole new adventure for her as well. Just when we thought Mickey Mouse Club house couldn’t get any better.. It’s surreal to say something to Nora and have her look at me or shake her head yes or no. Sometimes she will point at both ears to tell me she heard something. I cannot wait for the many conversations to come. We love this girl and are so grateful for this gift and a God who loves her deeply, who guides us to her needs and helps us provide a way to meet them.
Titan started 3rd grade and Eloise started 1st grade, so Nora and Arwyn will be spending a lot of time having tea parties and fun together. Mom will be busy chasing them around too.
While Andrew was home from his work tour he and Garrett got together and they tested out Garrett's new bike he got as an early birthday gift. They went trail riding up Snow Basin. It was a beautiful ride and in good company. I'm so glad our kids like to get together to hang out when they can. Nothing beats brotherly love.
Garrett also got out on the golf course and did some golfing for "work" with the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors in a golf tournament. His team got the highest score! Is that good or bad? I guess it depends how serious you play the game, to get better, or just have fun, or maybe a little of both. I'd dare say Garrett enjoys those type of "work" days.
To remember one of "the boys" that Garrett and his buddies lost in a tragic boating accident in Lake Powell six years back, most of the gang got together and went to breakfast at Herm's, a local restaurant, and visited their heavenly friend, Dave Hinton, at the North Logan cemetery. They also got together for another buddies wedding, Logan Harmon. This group of guys has a great bond that will last forever.
Zandra and the kids got in on some of Garrett's "work" fun as well by going to the Ridgeline Realty client Appreciation pool party. Who can turn down a fun, free way to cool off in the summer?
Jorie, who will be 4 the end of Oct, took to the road on two wheels this month. She learned to ridie a bike all by herself without the training wheels and loves it. Luke's loving trying to keep up with her on his bike. It's a good thing they have sidewalks, a church parking lot, and helmets for these two. Watch out, here they come!
Zandra had the kids in the kitchen helping her make donuts. They love helping mom cook and I think she's a pretty good teacher. Starting them young to make it fun.
They also took advantage of their great location and had some fun in the sun at Pineview Reservoir with the kids. I hope Garrett got some sunscreen on that fair skin!
Garrett's dream came true when he found the right deal at the right time. They bought a used 2008 Toyota Tundra truck that is in great condition. Now he can really get in the outdoors. Maybe camping will be their next new family adventure? I'm sure the kids would love that.
Danica and Jason got outside too. They joined Jason's family and went and enjoyed a Raptors Game. Warm summer nights under the lights with the smell of hot dogs and popcorn. They also went to see the World Nitro Games. They do some pretty crazy stunts on those motorcycles.
With the hot summer days they got out on their two wheels and hit the road as well. They enjoy taking the motorcycle for rides up in the canyon to see the sights. At this time of year a cool breeze hitting your face is just what you need.
Danica put Valerie Versa that got her through her last year of college and a month shy of the first two years of marriage up for sale. They felt it was time to get something was a bit better in the snow because of the travel she has to do for work. They ended up getting a steal of a deal on a used 4Runner that's in great shape as well. Danica should be able to tacke any storm that comes along now. Dreams do come true.
It was quite the month for our clan, but I'd say we all approved of how it turned out.
Life if good.
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