Falliday Hive With My Sisters

My sister in law Cherie was a part of the Falliday Hive craft boutique up in Mountain Green over the weekend, and I really wanted to go to support her (and possible pick up a few treasures ;), but little did I know that just going and being with my family would be such a great blessing. I ended up finding out that the house where the boutique was held, was just 2 HOUSES away from an old and dear friend from Clint's mission...Amy Hess. (Pictured far right.)

Amy used to have the missionaries over regularly and she loved them like they were her own boys. Her husband Allen who is a doctor even took care of Clint with broken fingers from playing basketball on their P days. It was a real treat seeing her and being with such amazing women.

We also ran into my niece Holly's mother in law and their family which was fun! But most of all, I loved being with my sister Tiffany for an extra 2 hours driving there and back. :)

Sisters (and in my case sister in laws) are like having built in best friends, and I'm so grateful for the ones I've got! And when I look through my spiritual lens, I realize that all of the beautiful women around me are my sisters too!

I feel blessed and happy to have this loving family of mine! :)

(And just as a side note, I had to include this picture of some of Clint's mission t-shirts since we were talking about Amy Hess...we had gone through our closets to get rid of some things, and after 25 years of hanging in his closet it was time to retire the old things! But with this picture he can hold on to the memory of them. What a good time of life that was for him. :)

 

A Strong and Brave Heart

This summer during the pandemic, Kambriella had her check up with her cardiologist, Dr. Collin Cowley.

Every year when she was little we would take her in for her check ups from when she had her open heart surgery when she was a baby, and every year we have had amazing reports of which we are so grateful!

As Kambriella has gotten older, her check ups have gone from once a year, to once every 3 years, and now we won't need to go back for another 5. She is beautiful and brave and strong and optimistic. And if you don't believe me, just ask Dr. Cowley! He would not stop complimenting her and I think it really made her feel good. :) The older she gets, the more brave she becomes, and I cannot help but think about the good that still lies ahead of her with that strong and amazing heart.

I love you Kambriella!

 

Our Favorite People

A couple of weeks ago, we were lucky to have our favorite people in the world come to visit. :)

And when I say "people" yes, I am including Kierra and Riley, but really we mean Easton.  ;)

We went to lunch with Pops one day, and I took Easton for a run in the stroller...

I love taking this little guy out to see everything that God has made and to see his little excitement over simple things. (Although I did feel bad because I must have ran over a thorn and got a flat tire that Riley had to replace. Sorry!

We also walked through the neighborhood one night to an ice-cream social where we got to see friends and neighbors, and Kierra got to see some of her old young women leaders, and show off her cute little family. :)

We also spent the ENTIRE day on Saturday having fun!

We surprised Gavin with his trampoline for his birthday...

We went to the aquarium and saw all kinds of fun and crazy creatures...

Penguins and ducks and otters and bees...

Jellyfish, jaguars, and sea turtles too...

We had so much fun seeing these things, but the most enjoyable part for me was watching the wonder of the little ones, and remembering God's hand in all of these wonderful and unique creations.

I truly treasure the times that I get to have my family all together, because these times are a bit more rare now that some of my children are growing up and moving away...

We really feel blessed to be a part of a family and to have people that we know will always be there for us.

Having Riley and Easton now too makes it that much more fun! I love that we keep adding people to love and to grow this loving family of ours. Watching Kierra in her momma role has been fun for me too. She is such a good mom and Easton loves her so much!

He is a little ball of love and squishy joy and it was so fun to have them here, and to watch his face when he saw these new creatures...

Yep! Heavenly Father made them too! :)

After we finished up at the Aquarium, Easton needed a nap, so Lolli and Pops stayed home with him while all the kids went to Classic Skating.

They all had a ball (everyone but Kesslyn who got scared SO BAD by the "black out" sirens and lights.")

I had to go pick her up and bring her home, but that's ok, because I got to see everyone enjoying themselves together and having a good time.

Like I said before, these are times that I cherish and am so grateful for. Even though it's been a different year, full of worldwide crisis and pandemic, we have found so much good as a family. I believe that God wants us to find the good no matter where we are. Because there is good out there, we just need to have our hearts and minds open to see.

And when you do, the view is amazing!!!

 

Easton a.k.a. Chunky Monkey ~ Sweet Bubba Boy

Look at this Chunky Monkey. This little Butterball. This sweet little baby grandson of mine!!!

I just love him so much and when I get to see him on a video call it just brightens my whole day!

I mean how could you NOT smile when you see this cute boy???

Just look at the rolls on his butt and thighs...SO SQUISHY!!!

Anyways, Easton is getting to be such a big boy, and today he was showing me how he could push himself along the kitchen floor on his train that Grandma Johnson gave him...

So so cute. 

Family is such a blessing, and so is technology. I love this little man so much and I am so grateful to have his happy face light up my phone camera everyday!

I love you Easton!!!

Labor Day in St. George

Over Labor Day weekend, we loaded up the car and drove to St. George to go and visit my mom!

We rented an airbnb and invited her to come and stay with us there . 

We all love spending quality time with grandma and it was a fun time. :)

We did a bunch of NOTHIN' in the 111 degree weather, except for a LOT of playing in the pool!!!

Kesslyn had a ball playing with her Barbie mermaids in the pool...

...the boys all had a grand time goofing off in the water...

...and Kesslyn even loved sitting in the hot tub despite the already hot temperatures!

She said it was like taking a hot bath. :)

Yes Kesslyn, a VERY hot bath!!!

We invited Tiffany and Colby to join us too and so that made it extra fun. :)

We also played pickle ball, played a few board games, and watched movies too.

We even watched  Mulan, which was a super good movie! (We just pretended that we were in a movie theater since we couldn't watch it there because of covid-19).

Did I mention that the boys had fun goofing off???

(Who's child is that sitting in the waterfall like you are NOT supposed to do???)

I love my family and ANY fun time that we get to be together.

They are a blessing to me and I'm glad that we are stuck together for eternity! :)

Goodbye Dear Cliff

These beautiful birdhouses sit lovingly in my front yard, and similar ones crafted with tender loving care adorn the front yards, houses, and porches of our entire ward family.

Cliff and Anne Siler have been friends and neighbors of ours since we moved here to Riverton 12 years ago.

One of Cliff's missions in life was to make sure that every house in the ward had one of his beautiful birdhouses, and now that he is gone, his legacy and love lives on in so many ways, but in visual reminders of his birdhouses.

Cliff and Anne received news that Cliff had been diagnosed with a form of leukemia, and 9 days later he passed on from this life and "graduated" on to the next.

Emily and I had a great visit with Cliff and Anne on Thursday September 3rd as we rallied around each other very certain of what was happening. It was so good to enjoy one last really great conversation with Cliff with hugs and laughter and emotions all included...

...it was so good to hear Cliff laugh out loud as we joked about his "rectal exam" and how the doctor could have at least taken off his watch!!! ;) HA!!

 Oh Cliff...how greatly you will be missed.

Your smile and big bear hugs, and genuine concern and love for others...

I felt privileged to be in the home of this sweet family when the veil was so thin, to witness loved ones rallying around each other, to be on the inside of Anne's arms in the hugs of support and strength for each other...

I felt privileged to witness people caring for people, friends, neighbors, family, and loved ones all united in one of the most tender moments of this mortal life...the preparation for the "trek home."

I remember helping to move the kitchen table and chairs out of the house to make room for the hospital bed that hospice was bringing in for Cliff...

I remember feeling amazed and buoyed up by the love and testimony of Anne, her children, and their view on this pivotal moment in their lives...

I remember coming back to the home with new sheets for the hospital bed that Cliff would lie in, and making the bed with Becky, and sharing updates of Cliff's progress...

I remember coming back to their home on Friday September 4th and seeing Cliff so frail, looking around all above him and telling Anne that he was "following someone..."

Cliff passed on through the veil the next morning, Saturday, September 5th, 2020.

Anne has been my hero, solid as a Rock. But I believe that it is because her testimony is founded firmly and solid on THE Rock, our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 

Anne has always reminded me of one of my own sisters, and so I have always felt a close kinship to her, and I truly love her and feel like she is one of my very own.

Again I felt privileged when Anne asked me if I would take on the task of displaying Cliff's softball medals at their visitation, which I gladly did, and hope that it was a grand and beautiful reflection of some of the triumphs in Cliff's life, and a remembrance of the beautiful life that they had "played out" together.

Cliff's love for the game was evident, but then so was his love for his sweetheart. What a team they have made.

These are some of the walking sticks that Cliff had made that we also displayed at the funeral. But what I love about these walking sticks is the sight that I saw just the other day, as I watched Joe Giles, a good friend of Cliff and Anne, and a neighbor and friend of mine, (also the patriarch who gave my son Dallin his patriarchal blessing) out walking with the very stick that Joe had given Cliff from his own yard, that Cliff had finished, and now Joe has once again..Joe was out walking the neighborhood the other day with the stick in tote, and I felt so much love for all of these people when I saw that sight. It was Cliff's handiwork and love that had come full circle. Just like Heavenly Father's.

After decorating and preparations for Cliff's life celebration, it felt so good to sit in the beautiful sunshine and listen to the sweet sentiments and memories from people who loved Cliff and whom he had touched in his lifetime.

I like to try and imagine the reunions that go on in heaven when loved ones return, and I like to imagine the work that Cliff might be doing both for Heavenly Father, and for his beautiful bride Anne when it is her turn to go home...

Cliff, you will be greatly missed, but don't you worry, we are going to take good care of Anne, and your legacy lives on here with the people who love you most. Until we meet again sweet brother...

Love, Susette