March Mania

Mania has two definitions, the first one is madness, frenzy, lunacy and insanity. That's pretty much how the month played out locally and nationally.

We got a little snow, and a lot of cold, a little rain and some pretty decent warmer days this month. We REALLY need the rain, and snow in the mountains so we'll take that anytime, but those days when the suns out, the sky is blue, and the birds are chirping are definitely my favorite. I saw this sign in the grocery stores floral area and thought it was very fitting for how a lot of people in our area probably feel. It's been a LONG cold winter.

The frenzy, lunacy and insanity of the month is that Russia is still trying to take over Ukraine and bombing a lot of the areas bad enough that people are fleeing into countries that boarder Ukraine to get away from the devastation. It truly looks like a war zone and a lot of innocent people have lost their lives due to this insanity. It just breaks your heart to hear what the Ukranian people are enduring.  

 

A. B.

A-- A living room is destroyed by pieces of falling missile shot down over the Obolon district in Kyiv, March 14, 2022. Family photos remain hanging on the wall. It's unknown if the family had fled before the attack.

B -- Residents retrieve what is left in their destroyed apartments, located in a five-story residential building that partially collapsed after shelling by Russian troops trying to encircle Kyiv, on March 20, 2022.

The Russian war in Ukraine has reached the one-month mark, with little sign of progress toward peace. Ukrainians have put up fierce resistance to the invasion, stalling Russian movement outside major cities and refusing to surrender.

But the war has come at a steep cost. Russian forces have increased indiscriminate bombing in residential areas and limited the use of humanitarian corridors. And on Wednesday, the US formally declared that Russia had committed war crimes by purposely hitting civilian targets in Ukraine. Over 3 million people have left the country — mostly women and children, as men between 18 and 60 are barred from leaving. For those who stay behind, the shelling has left a landscape of damaged and destroyed buildings that were once homes, schools, and businesses. The photos of people searching the wreckage for belongings and survivors serve as reminders of how much will need to be rebuilt.

With the conflict in Russia, it has caused the cost of oil to rise, thus the price of gas and natural gas is the highest it's ever been. Some in the Senate and Congress are wanting to allow the U.S. to start drilling oil in the states, but so far that's not an option as of now. Pres. Biden shut down the Keystone Pipeline soon after he took office, however so far nothing is leaning to starting it up again as of yet.

MSNBC --ECONOMY

Inflation rose 7.9% in February, as food and energy costs push prices to highest in more than 40 years

PUBLISHED THU, MAR 10 20228:31 AM ESTUPDATED THU, MAR 10, 2022

   David Bernhardt Mon, March 28, 2022  

 Biden is to blame for rising gas prices. America needs to expand energy production. Gasoline prices had already hit a record high the morning that President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian energy imports on March 8. The last time average gas prices topped $4 a gallon was in 2008, when George W. Bush was president. At that time, the White House worked with the Department of the Interior to expand American energy production. By contrast, the Biden administration has been curbing oil and gas drilling. This means that today’s pain at the pump is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.     

With the price of gas rising, so is the cost of everything else. Food, consumer goods, housing materials, apparel, air travel, hotel stays, etc. In our area we've supported a lot of food and clothes drives to help those in need. The numbers of those living on the streets has risen as well as those living just to survive each day as it comes. The dollar doesn't go as far anymore.

Locally our Utah State Aggies played in the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas, NV. They beat Air Force 83-56 but lost in the 2nd round to Colorado in a close game 51-53 so that ended that tournament. However, they were invited to get one last chance to play basketball in the NIT tournament. Their first game was held in The Spectrum, with a home crowd. They played the Oregon Ducks and lost it in the last half 83-72.  It was a good run with a new coach and we're looking forward to next year. GO AGGIES!

After two years of daily COVID reports, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Thursday issued the last of the updates which have featured COVID-19 data since March of 2020. The state is now going to update its statistical dashboard once a week.

The final daily report included the news that the number of Utahns considered fully vaccinated had surpassed two million, which means more than 60 percent of Utahns have received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. The state recently announced plans to focus on a more “long term, sustainable response” to the pandemic as it shuts down many testing facilities. From the start of the pandemic the lives of 4,714 Utahns have been lost to the virus. That includes 246 in Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties. UDOH reported 140 new positive cases of coronavirus and the rolling seven-day average for positive tests is 111 a day.  Since the start of the pandemic there have been 927,922 positive cases in Utah.

So, the good news is that our state is pretty much back to normal. Our cases are down, as well as deaths due to COVID-19. Most places, only the hospitals are requiring that you wear masks. Some people are still choosing to, which is fine, but the majority are mask free. It's so nice seeing smiles again!

The second definition of mania is obsession, craze, desire, and excitability. That's how the month played out for our clan. I was able to serve in the Logan Temples Youth Center and help with a cute, big 10-month-old boy. He was so fun and just happy, it made for a great experience for all involved. Dale and I also went to the temple and did some temple sealings for our families. One of the names went back to the 1700's. They've waited awhile to have their work done. We were glad to help out as proxies. 

I ushered at the Eccles for Music Theater West production of Beauty and the Beast, The Cache Valley School of Ballets production of Cinderella, and The Draper Philharmonic Orchestra and Choirs production of King of Kings and Lamb of God (Dale bought a ticket to go see this). All were wonderful shows!

Dale and I were asked to help with the new Hyde Park Prescient #3's Caucus Mtg. by checking attendees in. Because our area became a new Prescient, we had to vote in new leadership. Well, there were only around 30 people that attended and it ended up that all but 2-3 people (who were already in political callings) left without a position. Dale was nominated and put in as the Prescient Vice Chairman. I ended up getting nominated by Dale to be the Prescient Secretary, but I declined that (due to having no clue what to do) and ended up being a Prescient County Delegate because they still needed to fill the positions. Talk about volunteering!! Dale and I both attended the Hyde Park Town Hall Mtg. and heard different delegates share their credentials and desire to run. I attended a Cottage Meeting for a candidate and then we both went to the Republican County Convention to vote on the delegates. If a candidate got more that 70% of the votes they moved onto the General Election, and if no one got more than 70% of the vote, the two candidates with the highest votes moved onto a Primary Election that will be held in June to determine one to move onto the General Election. It was good to meet the candidates, and learn how everything works, but it was a LONG meeting. It started at 3:00pm and we didn't get home until around 9:00pm!! We both found out that we've got a lot to learn about politics and how it all runs still. There's more to it than just voting during elections.

Dr. Nathan D. Hansen has his new practice up and running and has been getting a fair amount of new patients coming in to see him since his opening in February.  To celebrate, he and Diana took a quick trip to Maui, HI to spend some time with friends. They did some sailing with them, and soaked in the sun and sights. 

They also headed to some warmer temps at the end of the month by catching a flight to Las Vegas, NV where they went rock climbing in the Red Rock National Monument area.  Both get-a-ways were a quick weekend trip, catching a late Thurs.  flight out and early morning flight home to get them back in time to be back in the office by Monday for a day of work. Just what the Dr. ordered, a few mental health weekends to clear the mind.

The Mallory's have been busy supporting the kids in their sports. We went to a few of Jaxson's games with them. One was a pre-season tournament in Orem where they played 6A teams, Cottonwood and Orem. They won both of those games. They played at home against Weber in another pre-season game and lost in a close game. Then we went to his first Region game against Bear River with them. Jaxson got a hat-trick within the first 10 min. of the game, and came close on a goal two other times! They won that game. He's a Sophomore, playing with the JV team. They've been winning the rest of the games they've played so far. Pretty sweet!

Langston played in a 3 v 3 indoor soccer tournament and his team took 1st place in their age division. It was his first gold medal!! Pretty awesome. 

Amie finished up teaching her skiing lessons due to an early closure because of lack of snow, but  she got Dale, Matt, and the kids back on the hill before they closed. They also met up with Andrew and Titan up on the hill.

Kennlyn was invited to participate in the Young Writer's Fest at USU. She's been working on writing a book, so she got some good tips and had a fun time with her team. What a great experience for her.

Jaxson had a big day--- he turned 16 this month!! To top it off, he went on his first date to a Girl's Choice Dance, "The Spring Fling" at his school, Green Canyon HS, on his 16th birthday!!

He looks pretty handsome in that new birthday suit he got for his birthday, don't you think? 

He also got a "car" for his birthday, but has yet to get his official license due to having to complete and pass his last driving test, but that's coming soon.

Happy 16th Birthday Jaxson!!  We wish you a wonderful, safe, and fun year.

Andrew and Lindsay's crew got a fun addition. They bought a new trailer with the idea of possibly renting it out to people when they're not using it. I hope it works out for them. 

To break it in they decided to pull the kids out of school a little early and let them finish off the year online so that they could drive back to Georgia and stay where Andrew's working for his next tour. That way he can see the kids at night and on weekends. 

They loaded up the trailer for a 4 week stay and headed out, stopping when needed to eat and sleep. The kids, along with their dog, Toby, were all good travelers.

When they were traveling on the Interstate near Sidney, Nebraska they ended up witnessing a truck go off the highway. It ended up rolling at least 2-3 times. Andrew ended up pulling over and was the first one on the scene. He didn't know what he was going to come upon. Luckily the occupant was alive but dangling because his seatbelt was holding him up because the truck was on it's side.  A truck driver also stopped and helped to get the young man out of the truck by cutting the seatbelt and lowering him on the ground, before the highway patrol showed up. The driver was 18 yrs. old, and his name was Nathan. Andrew called the boys mom in California so that Nathan could talk to her. He also called his girlfriend and Nathan talked to her. She was going to meet him at the hospital. Then help came via an Air-Med helicopter. Pretty crazy, that Andrew saved a Nathan and we have those two names in our family too. 

A cool thing was the next day Nathan called Andrew from the hospital and thanked him for helping him. He also told him that he didn't have any broken bones, just was pretty scraped up and bruised alot. He was wearing a seat belt which shows they work. I'm sure this is something they will all remember for a long time. Andrew will for sure.

Once they got to Georgia and settled in their "home away from home",  Andrew started work. He took Titan to work with him for a couple of hours one day. Titan also got to ride in the helicopter. Pretty cool for Titan! 

The kids have enjoyed the sunshine and the outdoors. More adventures will come next month.

Garrett and Zandra's girl, Jorie, participated in dance program with the group she's taking dance with at Morgan HS. What fun for them to cheer her on! Go little J!!

Garrett and Zandra had some visitors for a bit, Zandra's mom, Gloria, and brother, Johnny. The kids loved having them around.

They made the most of the snow we did get and went skiing at Snow Basin with some friends and the family. 

Garrett and Zandra also were able to get away and attend the John Mayer concert at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake. You know how they love music. A rewarding night out on the town is always better with music involved.

The Hassell's had something to smile about this month. Jason earned the Circle of Honor Award at his work by accomplishing a specific number of loans closed over the year of 2021. Hard work pays off, way to go Jason!!

Danica got busy and painted some cute ducks to be framed for the bathroom that their baby will be using. Her talents never cease to amaze me. So cute!!

Dale and I went for a little drive to visit Danica. We went to lunch at The Greenery restaurant

and visited. She was close to her due date so we thought we'd pop in to say "Hi" and see how things are going.  She's hanging in there!!

                                                

Well, June Cash Hassell was born March 22nd, around 3:00am weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs. 9 oz. and 21 inches. Danica's water broke around 11:00pm on the 21st. She ended up having her C-Section because she was measuring big and wasn't dropping even after her water broke. All went well, and we are delighted to have our 11th grandchild. We know have 6 girls and 5 boys. Pretty awesome!! Congratulations to the new parents, she's beautiful. The hospital just opened it up to having 4 in a room a day ago, so Dale and I were able to stop in to visit this cute family later in the afternoon. SO PRECIOUS!

                                               

She came home to a house full of loving. Jason took off two weeks from work and helped out with June and Danica. They are both totally enthralled with her and loving the new role that they have taken on as parents. Congratulations Hassell's!! Baby June is blessed in a lot of ways.

                     

The Mallory's were able to stop in and take a peek at their new niece and cousin on their way home from a soccer game. 

All the sleepless nights, poopy diapers, spit up, kisses, coo's, grunts, and cuddles make this gift from God all worth it. 💗💗💗

March is also the month where we celebrate the Luck of the Irish--- I think our family isn't just lucky, but VERY blessed.