Down in the Valley - Valley so Low

We enjoyed another busy week - I ended up taking Friday off because I had to work Saturday. We had a city leadership retreat and dignitary tour down in Monument Valley - I had to give a state of the city address to those in attendance and give my take on the effects of the current economic crisis on the City of Blanding. I sometimes wish I had a crystal ball and could see the future - sometimes I am glad I can't. The day was really pretty - Stacey stayed home and did the weekly house work. I told her it was payback for last week when she left me to go shopping with her sisters.
















I can't imagine living out in the middle of nowhere without any modern conveniences - regardless of how pretty the views are. It made me appreciate what I have.

I did make it back to watch the BYU/UTAH game - now I wish that I hadn't - it was painful to watch the team self destruct with 6 turnovers. Their defense just out played us. So I lost my lunch bets and will be buying lunch this week. Time to eat humble pie - I should learn not to be so mouthy.

Stacey dragged me to the movie again on Friday - "Twilight" - I whispered to her throughout the movie asking questions - that was helpful - it sure seemed to me that Bella fell in love fast with little relationship experiences to base that love on - she was ready to die for a guy she never even kissed. I did not like that part - overall it was entertaining.

Monday we worked on ornaments for each family in the Ward. Stacey is giving them out as part of the Ward party she is in charge of. She is so creative - the Ward party is on December 3rd. We enjoyed the temple again Tuesday and I was a veil worker and brought Stacey through - I like when that happens - it reminds me of our wedding day and bringing her through the veil that day. We always enjoy sitting in the celestial room together talking about our kids.

Haven's birthday was on Friday - yup 19 years old - my little girl growing up - I told Stacey I expect that by May 2010 all our kids will be married. Better be saving up for weddings - Haven says she will need at least $10,000. Oh boy - here we go!!

Looking forward to the week and everyone showing up for Thanksgiving. I enjoy this time a year when we get to spend time with family.

Life is good - we are striving to follow the Lord's plan of happiness.

A Short Work Week

This week was Veterans Day on Tuesday and so I took Monday off to make it a long weekend and a short work week. I have so much use it or lose it time at work I am taking every Friday off between now and the end of the year with two full weeks off at Christmas time. My year is almost over as far as work goes. It seems like this year has gone fast all around and I am getting old. Cody will be 25 in January - whoa - when did that happen - Haven will be 19 this week - that means this is my last year of teenagers since she will be 20 in 2009. (That was off on a bit of a tangent. )

I had City Council on Tuesday night and we went to the Temple on Wednesday and I taught Scout District Roundtable on Thursday Night. Stacey and I went to the movie High School Musical Three on Friday. (I think I was one of three guys in the audience) The days were just filled with work. That's a quick glimpse of the week.

Saturday we got up to clean the Stake Center and just before leaving Liz called Stacey to say they wanted to do a girls day to Farmington, so after gaining my blessing with her innocent pleading and sparkling eyes, I knew I was alone for the day.

It turned out good in the end - knowing I would be tied up the next two weekends I decided to put up Christmas lights. It seems a little early but I like to turn them on Thanksgiving weekend. The day was beautiful and warm. Of course I had to do the usual household weekend cleaning on my own - I will get as much mileage as I can out of Stacey for that. I do not have anything to complain about really - she is a wonderful wife who likes to spoil her husband (I think she does it mostly to get her daily back and feet rubs).

Grandpa Webb could not get the BYU game as normal so I got score updates as I could. Glad to see them get the win after a slow start. Next Saturday I hope to get back for the UofU game. I have to work - a special tour with dignitaries in Monument Valley.

Haven had decided a few weeks back to tryout for a professional dance team there in Utah Valley for the Utah Valley Thunder Arena Football team. There were 53 girls try out and they were taking 15. She called last night and was excited to report she made it. It won't take a ton of time since they only have 7 home games - it will be fun to go watch her perform. The season starts in March.

Thats it for this week - not too exciting - we are looking forward to the holidays and more family around and more time to enjoy them.

A Visit Up North and A Visit From Lant

Lant is home this weekend. We followed after him yesterday when we completed a little Christmas shopping with Shad and Haven. Lant is home for Cami Hurst’s mission fairwell talk. He came down with Mandy Flavel and two other friends to support Cami.

Stacey got up early and made him a big pancake, eggs & bacon breakfast. Then she put in a roast, potatoes and carrots for dinner, so she could make sure he was full before he heads for home.

We got to see all the children this week. We took off Thursday and drove to Salt Lake. We got there just after the TCU – UofU football game got going – we drove past the stadium and saw the crowd all decked out in black for their “blackout” night. They didn’t shutout TCU but did win them in the end. If BYU can beat Utah in two weeks it won’t matter either way. I had meetings all day Friday and Stacey did her own thing – all I can say is there was not a lot of room in the car when she picked me up. (We are going to have to stop going up north so much it is costing me a fortune.)

Friday we drove down and stayed with Cody & Amanda. All the family went to dinner at Café Rio – All the younger kids had social plans again – so we went back with Cody & Amanda and watched “Get Smart” and had popcorn and M&M’s. We stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream – I always eat too much when I travel and don’t exercise enough – I will have to make up for it this week. It is so fun to visit with Cody & Amanda – we relive our early married days as we see them building their lives together – they are further ahead of us at their young age and we are proud of them.

Shad headed up to Salt Lake to take Brooke to the Body Worlds Exhibit and then was going with her to Ogden to meet her parents. All part of the dating process in a search for an eternal companion. We watch with interest as our children date.

I have my Stake YM meetings today, choir and Messiah practice. Sundays always seem to keep us engaged in the Lords work. We do have time to read and an occasional nap. We will visit Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and Webb before the day is out.

We are living the gospel and finding happiness in the process. We love and cherish our family and our time together. We enjoy the simple things in life.

Halloween has Come & Past

The week went quick again ending in a trip to Provo. Stacey gets stir crazy and wanted to go support the volleyball team at State. Sounded like a good excuse to me - even though we really did not need one. We plan on traveling up North the next two weekends anyway. I have meetings in Salt Lake next Friday and Nate Einerson and the Broncos will be playing in State Football championship the next weekend we hope. Of course we stayed with Cody and Amanda. They are always gracious and happy to let us stay and visit. Friday was a good day for the Volleyball team and they won both matches putting them into the Semi-Finals on Saturday morning. We took everyone out to dinner at Brick Oven on Friday night and got to meet Brooke, a girl that Shad is dating. She was confident, cute and fun. I can see why Shad is attracted to her. She is from Odgen and is a sophmore at BYU. Of course we forgot to take pictures at dinner - I need to get better at using my phone camera at least.

After dinner we enjoyed carving pumpkins, making caramel apples, cooking pumpkin seeds - Amanda was prepared with all the fixins - I am sure it will be on their blog - so you will have to go to their blog to check out more pics. I was proud of my scary pumpkin - of course Mom helped but I claim it since I did most of the cutting. Cody's pumpkin is Peter Peter Pumpkin eater - he ate too much and threw most of it up -

The girls lost their semi-final match on Saturday and ended up wining the last game to finish 3rd - Lant, Haven, Shad & Brooke all came and watched volleyball. It is fun to be part of the social scene - it is a chance to see friends and family who come to support the Broncos.

Lant kept us up to speed with the progress of the BYU game as we traveled - and we could get 1160 AM on occasion - it was a finger nail biter, but they pulled it out. Go Cougars. We listened to two audio books traveling - it makes the time pass quickly and we enjoy them. The first was "Lost & Found" by Clair Poulson and the other "Playing for Pizza" - by John Grisham. We liked "Lost and Found" the best. Clair is an LDS writer and always ties the church into the story somehow. They are kind of cheesie sometimes though.

We loved seeing all our children and hearing how life is going. Haven, Lant, & Shad are all doing good in their college classes. Haven will transfer to BYU in January. Lant is not dating anyone seriously - though is anxiously engaged in dating. Haven gets a lot of attention and is avoiding dating too much - she has already had to give the "just friends" talk on occasion. Haven says to quit praying for her to find her eternal companion because she is not ready. None of them seem in a hurry to get married.

We got home Saturday about 10:30 pm and set our clocks back to 9:30 pm and went to bed. (After Stacey played with the littles for 30 minutes - she spoils those dogs)

Today is fast Sunday and we are still fasting. I visited the Priests Quorum in 6th for Priesthood as part of my Stake Calling and enjoy being with the youth. I bore my testimony today and testified of the Lord's hand in our lives and of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stacey and I have been reading in Preach My Gospel together and were reminded that even though this is a wonderful church with wonderful programs we should remember and testify it is Jesus Christ's gospel and Kingdom of God on the Earth. I know this is true.

We pray for all of you. Have a great week.