A Brand New Year!

A lot has happened since our last post in November. Its January now and looking back 2009 will be a hard year to beat. We added five new members to our family. Trek and Carter joined on May 22^nd our first grand children, Brooke in July, Amy in September and Joe in November. Three weddings in five months. We love all our new family so much.

All the kids and their spouses went to the other way for Thanksgiving this year – so we got them for Christmas. We took off Thanksgiving day after eating at Mom Webbs and having pie so that we could have Friday to get ready for the wedding Saturday up North. We enjoyed being with family again at Haven’s wedding. We were so excited to have all the family together in the temple. We had to get their early for Haven and Joe to get their paper work done. It had stormed quite a bit and as we sat in the waiting room I worried that everyone would make is safe and that the day would be as I had prayed for many years. I imagined it was a bit like Heaven Father yearning for all his children to make it back to their celestial home. So many things could go wrong. Our prayers were answered and all the children did make it – many family members their to take part in this sweet event. The day was cold outside, but our hearts were full as we enjoyed the spirit of the temple, family and friends. Haven was beautiful inside and out, and Joe was a wonderful match. The wedding dinner and reception turned out really nice – we rented a separate room with a big screen to that those who wanted to could check in on the big BYU vs Utah game. (Cougars Won – Ya Baby) Here are a few pics, you can see many others by visiting this address:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/album.php?aid=364286&id=584785580&ref=mf

Joe’s family was so awesome, we became instant friends and we miss their association. It would be so nice to be close to those in-laws that we have joined with.

Christmas came quickly and it seemed we just were not ready. We had concentrated on the wedding and Christmas shopping did not happen as fast as it normally does. Still with the few weeks in between we got prepared and Cody and Amanda were the first to arrive with the twins the weekend before. We loved having the babies here all week. Shad and Brooke got here on Sunday, and Haven, Lant & Amy on Wednesday, and Joe came on his own on Thursday since he had to work. We ate a lot, watched movies, played Wii, built a snow fort, shot guns, played games and just enjoyed being together. We made the usual Christmas Cookie Train, made candy, and went caroling. Christmas Eve was dinner and fun with the Johnson side of the family over at David and Ramona’s.

The holidays went way to fast and everyone was gone by that Sunday after Christmas. I took a few days off between Christmas and New Years to burn some time and spend time with Brett & Joan, Patrice & Richard, and Valynne & Lamar and families who were down. It was fun seeing and visiting with my brothers and sister too. Stacey and I spent New Years Eve with the youth since we were in charge of the New Year dance. We have been spending a lot of time preparing for Summer Trek and all that it will involve. We have been busy.

So here we are in a Brand New Year! We had our FHE and set family (couple) goals for the year and are excited for the progress and blessings that 2010 will bring. We pray for the kids in their work and school. We know we will all be blessed as we seek first the kingdom of God. So here we go – bring on 2010!!

Seasons Come & Go

The week was full again as usual, work was busy and the nights each filled with family, church, or work. Monday we had our FHE and Stacey and I did a service project, Tuesday was a 4^th Tuesday which means City Council, Wednesday was the Friends of Scouting drive – everyone was really giving on my assigned route, good attitudes made for a pleasant evening. Thursday was interesting with our Meet the Candidates night. It was fun to hear what all my potential new bosses had to say about their perceptions and plans for the City of Blanding. I expect things will continue to be financially tight for the next few years.

Stacey took off Thursday with Ramona and Kendra to head North for State Volleyball and to do some wedding shopping. (Of course she had to get a traffic ticket up there – speeding through a school zone) The volleyball team was eliminated this year - She got back early enough to watch a movie together. I took off and went fishing after getting things done around the house Friday evening and caught a few fish – I did not plan to keep any but caught my first albino fish – kind of weird – really white with pink eyes a touch of yellow down the back. You can’t see it too good in the picture - I cooked it up and ate it Friday – my favorite fish is fresh trout. It was a fair size trout 14” -

Saturday I got up for a High Priest reroofing service project – it got postponed in the end because there was still snow on the roof – pretty steep and slick.

Stacey and I went to the football game at 1:00 p.m.– San Juan won the quarter finals against Kanab 13-7 and move now to the semi-finals in Cedar next week. We met Randy and Lisa Rarrick at the game and went to dinner with them at the Lamplight after the game. They are always fun to be with. We had an early dinner and got back in time to give out candy to trick-or-treaters. I always like scaring the kids – I got a few pretty good screams. We get a ton of traffic at our house.

We got Haven and Joe engagement pics – they turned out good as well as Haven’s bridal pics. Stacey continues to spend a lot of time planning and preparing for the wedding. It was strange to have snow so early in the season. The leaves are mostly dropped now and the snow that fell is melted. Our life like the seasons seems to keep changing - and like the seasons the changes always are refreshing and rejuvenating. We have added five to our family this year and will need to update our family pic we took last Thanksgiving - we look forward to the holiday season and the change of the seasons and the changing events in our lives.

This Part of the Vineyard!

The week went fast again – busy with work and church stuff. Stacey took off Wednesday morning to go stay with Amanda and help with the Trey and Carter because Cody was off to San Diego on business. It gave her the opportunity to play with the grandbabies again and to see all the kids. She also spent time with Haven doing wedding stuff, announcements, flowers, reception, etc…, and helping Amanda decorate the new house.

I spent Wednesday night with the 8^th Ward YM – no offense to the YM Adult Leaders, but it much more fun to work with the young men then the adults.

Thursday our Ward had initiatory assignments so I helped at the Temple. It wasn’t till Friday night that it got really lonely – I do not like being a bachelor even though I am a pretty good cook. I always buy a good steak and grill it when Stacey goes away – she is not much of a steak person so it is a good opportunity to eat what I want.

I get off at noon on Fridays so I spent Friday afternoon doing the weekly yard and house work and preparing for a four-wheeler trip to Arch Canyon on Saturday. We have our Stake Youth Standards night that I am partly in charge of and we are doing our 2010 “Ho to the San Juan” trek kick off. We invited Elder Gerald Lund down to speak and offered to take him on the Arch Canyon trip. He graciously accepted and decided to bring some of his family. We had 28 of us in all with 17 of the Lund family and leaders from both Stakes. We had 18 four-wheelers and were quite the caravan. It was a beautiful day and really enjoyable. I am looking forward to the fireside tonight. We are excited about our 3 day Trek June 3-5.

By the time we got everything cleaned up and returned it was late in the day and I went and caught the last half of the BYU game at Mom and Dad Webbs. It was great to watch the Cougars win it, but too close of a game – should have been a blow out. Mom’s B-Day is tomorrow and Dad’s Thursday – they continue to be such a support and example – I love them both a ton! It is fun being close to them.

Still, I missed being up North with Stacey and would enjoy living closer to the kids. I don’t doubt that we will move closer as they all settle down and we find out where everyone will be. For now they are all in Utah Valley and that suits us just fine. I like Utah Valley and could easily live somewhere near by. I doubt we will ever sale our home here in Blanding – still you never know – with every election I get new bosses and it just may be that the day will come that I will not survive the politics. Till then we will plug along doing our best to fill our responsibilities in the Lord’s Kingdom in this part of his Vineyard.

More Happenings

I can not believe it has been seven weeks since we last blogged. Time flies so quickly and so much has happened. Most of you who follow our happenings know much of what I talk about here.

Lant & Amy tie the Knot.
Of course Lant & Amy’s wedding went well and was so rewarding. We loved seeing so many of the family and enjoyed being together in the temple. Amy’s family is so wonderful and we have enjoyed getting to know them better and their commitment to each other and the gospel. I have determined that it is the gospel, our common goals, values and principles that make it so easy to love and join families. Amy’s family was no exception. Going through this now for the third time was another good experience for us.

We enjoyed our trip to Texas and were treated with so much hospitality and love by Steve and Sue. It was fun to see the love their friends and ward members had for them. Of course we were saddened at the news that came to us the Sunday we left Texas and the wedding reception down there that Amy’s brother Matt had been killed in Kuwait. That was followed by a tough week for Lant & Amy and her family as they buried their son and brother.

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped with the many aspects of the wedding. It is good to have so many loving family members and friends.

Three Weddings in Five Months.

Significant events did not stop with that – Haven and Joe formally announced their wedding that will be held the Saturday after Thanksgiving – November 28 at the Draper Temple. A reception will be held that same night in Alpine. I did not have a hard time saying yes when Joe asked my permission to propose to Haven. We have learned of his love for Haven, for his Heavenly Father, and know that they together will build a righteous home and family. We are excited for them.

During the past weeks we also spent a week in Salt Lake at training conference I had for work, and enjoyed a great weekend with Shad and Brooke on the mountain - it has been such a beautiful fall.

We love our children – they continue to bring joy into our lives as we see them make righteous decisions and progress in their lives.

Still My Little Princess!

Since Haven was a baby she has always been my little Princess and forever will be. At least for the next year I will have to share here with San Juan County since they crowned her Miss San Juan. We have always known we have a beautiful talented daughter. We are proud parents.

Lant Engagement Pictures - Here we Go Again!

Lant announced on the new Lant & Amy blog (http://www.lantandamy.blogspot.com/) his engagement as of May 25, 2009. They have been working hard to prepare for their wedding on September 5 in the Salt Lake Temple. They will have an open house in Blanding August 29, a reception/dinner in Provo the evening of September 5^th after the wedding and an open house in Texas on September 19 after the honeymoon.

Amy and Lant were made for each other and are so happy – I have included a little slide show with a few of their engagement pictures.

We Have Gained a Daughter

We have had such a busy summer starting with Lant and Amy’s engagement and we have not had much of a chance to blog, After I got through Timberline and Youth Conference, I joined Stacey in planning for weddings and receptions. Shad & Brooke got started early with their open house in Blanding the weekend of July 4^th. It was fun to have Brooke’s family down to join the celebration and join us for the open house. It was held in our backyard, and with the exception of a little rain in turned out nice.

The wedding and reception the following weekend in Ogden also turned out nice. We appreciated so much the support of family and friends. We love Brooke’s family and are so glad to have her part of ours now. This was a real payday for us as parents, I cried as Brooke and Shad committed to each other for eternity. I thank my Heavenly Father for this wonderful day.