September Sodality

 Sodality means --  association, fellowship, comradeship and we had a lot of that going on this month. 

We started out the month with a bang, literally. Danica and Jason hosted a baby reveal event at Jason's sisters in South Weber. Family and friends were invited. By looking at the pictures can you guess what gender was revealed? We're happy for them and hope all continues to go well.

It showed it being a girl!! They are pretty excited and so are we.

Dale and I loaded up the 4-wheeler and trailer and headed over the mountain to Bear Lake to spend the Labor Day weekend at Blue Water. We got in a razor ride and got a glimpse of the changing colors of the leaves before the Mallory's joined us. 

The town of Garden City was hosting "Carve Wars" so after the Mallory's joined us, and we had dinner, we stopped to take a peek at what was created during the event after it was over. Pretty amazing to see what a piece of wood, a chainsaw, saws and other tools can do to a big chunk of wood. If I had the money I might have bought one of these creations for our yard.

We played games, the guys got in some fishing, and Dale, Matt, Jaxson, and Kennlyn went golfing while Amie, Langston, Mazin and I hit a bucket of balls and honed our putting skills in the practice area. 

We also went to Bloomington and hiked into Bloomington Lake. It was a fun weekend and it ended with a bang as well because Blue Water hosted a Fireworks show to kick-off the end of summer.

We slept in some and attended Sacrament Meeting in Garden City with the Visitors Branch, played more games, and had a nice Sunday dinner before heading home. Bear Lake is a great place to unwind.

I served in the Youth Center in the temple. A two year old and 8 month old were sealed to their parents for time and all eternity in two different sealings. Dale and I were also able to do our first endowment session for the dead since COVID, and I was able to do Initiatory work for some sisters. It just feels so good to be back in the temple doing service for others again.

Our area held "A Day for Caring" where the residents could volunteer to help different non-profit organizations with projects they needed help with. I chose to help with the weeding and clean-up of the Dansante Buildings grounds. 

I chose the Dansante because I usher for the Festival of the Opera and it was where my mom and dads love story started. The Dansante is currently the home to the Festival of the Opera headquarters. Early in it's day it was a popular dance hall. My mom met my dad there when he was on leave from the war. His sister, Maxine, worked with mom at the telephone company and introduced them. Well, I guess they danced the night away because they ended up getting married and having me along with six other kids!  Pretty cool, huh?

Dale and I took Kennlyn on her Birthday Date to a show that was at the Eccles Theater, called "Air Play". The did dancing, acrobatics, and aerial stunts with air/wind as the energy used to add the flair. It was quite entertaining.

After we went to Artic Circle and got ice cream. Kennlyn waited almost 3 weeks to go on her date, but she said it was worth it. We think so too.

Dale and I headed over the mountain to the "Caribbean of the Rockies", aka Bear Lake, again to spend a weekend with the "Golden Girls" and their spouses. We ended up pulling an enclosed trailer that had our friends, Kathy and Mike Bullen's 4-seater Razor and our 2-seater Razor in it, while they pulled their camping trailer. We stayed at Blue Water and stayed in their trailer with them. We went on a Razor ride up in Hodges Canyon and the Peter Sinks area. With the fall colors changing it was even more beautiful, but still real dusty due to the dry conditions. The lake is the lowest it's been in a LONG time. We need rain!!

The Bullen's headed over the mountain to go to a USU football game and we stayed at the trailer and waited for Jeanette and Mark Petersen to arrive with their trailer. We played games and visited and then went to Pickleville Playhouse's "Adams Family". A high school friend, Andrea Larsen Davis was in it which made it more entertaining. When the Bullen's came back the next morning, the guys went fishing at Dale's "special spot" and caught a fair amount of fish. The gals went on a walk, visited, and played games while they were gone. Then we all went to dinner and visited and played more games. The next day, Sunday, the Petersen's joined us for Church and then we played games while dinner was getting fixed. After dinner we all left for home. It was a good relaxing weekend.

I joined up with Amie and Danica and we went to Logan's "Vintage Days" at the fairgrounds Events Center. It was a nice outing and gave us some ideas for fun decorating.

I ushered at the Eccles for the "Air Play" matinee for the schools, "Sound of Music" (put on by Music Theater West), and "Son's of the Pioneers" (The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups. Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting, they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music performers and remained popular through the years. Since 1933, through many changes in membership, the Sons of the Pioneers have remained one of the longest-surviving country music vocal groups). The son of the famous Roy Rogers was in the group we heard. 

All the shows were very entertaining and had pretty good turn outs. It's good to see things getting somewhat back to normal. 

Dale and I supported Nate in the Bear100 race that starts in Logan and ends in Fish Haven, ID by Bear Lake. Nate and his girlfriend, Diana, stayed here and then they took off early in the morning where Nate met his buddies, Brody Hatch and Jon Bennion, near the Dry Canyon area in Logan where the race started. 

Dale and I hooked up the trailer again and headed over the mountain again to stay at Blue Water again, but we didn't mind because it's SO pretty with the smoke from fires gone.

Andrew and Lindsay and the kids joined us for the weekend and stayed a night in the trailer. Andrew met up with Nate around 1:30am at around 61 miles in the race and stayed with him for around 20 miles. 

Nate struggled some because his stomach got upset and he couldn't eat or hold anything down for awhile, but with Andrew's encouragement and support and Diana being a nurse who knew how to get him back on the trail, we were able to meet up with Nate at Franklin Basin and at Swan Flats. He was still a little down, but Diana ran the last 20+ miles with him and he came in strong, in better spirits and looking better. 

What a great accomplishment for all involved. What a feat for a guy who had been in an avalanche and broke his fibula and had some other issues to run 100 miles 3 1/2 months later and finish!! His buddies finished as well. Brody improved on his time from last year, and Jon who had never run a 100 miler did great. They all went home winners in my eyes. 

Another great accomplishment went to Dale. He officially retired as the Business Administrator after working in Logan (8 yrs.) and Cache School District (30 yrs.)  for a total of 38 years combined. Pretty impressive, and hard to believe that he really did it.

The District Office hosted a nice Open House. The room was all decorated with a fishing theme and they served ice cream.  Co-workers Tim Smith, Scott Rigby, and Supt. Steve Norton shared some memories and tributes to Dale. 

Family, work associates, and Business Administrators from other school districts came to bid him farewell and wish him the best. It was very nice.

The District Office gave him two beautiful pictures; one a mountain and lake scene, and another with a fisherman fishing in a river. Various co-workers also gave him cards, treats, gift cards, and even some shirts and a hat he can wear to show he's officially retired. The members of the school board gave Dale a bobblehead of him with a fun poem Kathy Christiansen (the Boards current Vice-President and past Pres.) made up entitled "Dale Hansen - Getting Ahead". It was very clever. I have a feeling they liked working with him. I'm sure the feeling was mutual as well.

Dale's replacement, Jared Black, will have a hard time filling Dale's shoes because he's a VERY tall guy, but I'm sure the District will be in good hands. Maybe Kathy will write a poem about Jared entitled "Jared Black - A guy you can look up to"!! 

After the Open House we told Dale that the kids wanted to meet at Chuck-A-Rama for dinner to celebrate. However, there were more than just the kids there to greet him when he walked in. I had invited local family members and friends to join us. It was a surprise, and a great way to end his big day. Here's to fun times ahead for us (I hope, anyway)!!

Nate and Diana drove from Seattle to Logan for the Bear100 and on their way they stopped at the City of Rocks to get in some rock climbing. I don't know how he does what he does. He's quite the guy.

Amie's quite the gal. For a Youth Fireside in their ward she learned about the power of the mind, and by controlling her thoughts she was able to walk bare-foot on some hot coals. Jaxson did it too! Goes to show mind over matter.

                                             

Andrew and Lindsay have been patiently waiting for a hole to be dug on the land they bought. Well, it finally happened...they got their hole dug! Pretty exciting. Let the work begin!

Garrett celebrated his birthday this month. He shares his birthday month with his Petersen grandparents. It makes the month even more special for him in my eyes. Happy Heavenly Birthday Dad and Mom and Happy Birthday Big G!! Love you all! 

Danica and Jason celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary at Park City. They were married on mom's birthday. An easy one to remember two special days. Happy Anniversary Jason and Danica!

Danica had a ultrasound done and it confirmed that all's well with their little baby girl. Baby June is growing. Danica will be soon too.

Jason's brother, dad, and Danica all went to the St. Anthony sand dunes in Idaho and had some fun dirt biking. One of the guys that was supposed to go bailed, so Danica jumped in with a smile.  She might be needing her own bike soon.

They also went to Bear Lake and helped celebrate Nate's Bear100 run. We ended up meeting them at LaBeau's for dinner and visiting. 

For what's been going on with COVID in the area--our school district saw a general decline in the schools and in the cases across the state. Good news for Utah. We sure hope it continues. Right now, masks are recommended, but not mandatory while inside most buildings. 

I'd say their was a lot of association, fellowship, and comradeship that went on this month, wouldn't you?