Still More

Just thought I would mention that I don't think anyone reads this blog. I guess it is just for me. I'm not sure why I post (every now and then) on it. I keep the same thing in my jounal. Some of my thoughts are private and yet I put them on here. Maybe it's because I know no one reads it. Well, at least you can see how darling my grandchildren are. Love them to death.

More Pictures

A Big Move Update

July 2, 2010
I don’t know what happens to me. I am pretty good at writing for awhile and then I taper off. Such has been my last stint, I really tapered off. Well, here it goes again, a catch up.
First, Brady is now working as a department manager at JAX. They had to move to Loveland Colorado. They are in a cute little house that fits them. I can’t wait to see it.

Brady and family seem content and happy. He can ride his bike to work in 3 minutes and earns a dollar each day he rides. Let’s hope they can make ends meet on such a small budget. I also want to go on the record that Kenndi looks like Brady. What a sweetie she is. She loves the sand box and the grass and playing.
Craig has been offered a buy out/early retirement from the Church. He can retire in December with 9 months pay and full insurance premium payments. I believe he will take it. I have believed from the very beginning that he would take it. I can tell by the way he answers his customers (members) calls and the way he complains that he is ready to leave it all behind. Me, on the other hand, I think I will work till 62 unless the school offers a buy out. (Just for the record, I don’t think that will ever happen.) Like always, I worry about our finances and the money that is spent on hunting and fishing. We are at a point in our life where we pretty much buy and do what we want. I think that will change for me but I’m not sure about Craig. We have already met once with Chuck and will have another meeting with him next week to determine how our finances are. Let me just state, that I felt from the beginning that he will jump on the retirement. He feels he is to be the sacrificial lamb trying out the new program. FM’s will have twice the area with no custodians. The decision has to be to SLC by July 31.
Linda and her family invited us last Sunday to Idaho Falls to attend Scott and Jodi’s baby Max’s blessing. Afterwards, they did a picnic at the pavillion. It was a fun day and good to visit with everyone. Matt’s kids are sure growing up. They are very nice looking children. Scott and Jodi are very proud parents, as so they should be. Max looks just like Scott to me and has his grandpa’s (Jodi’s dad) cheeks. It was good to visit with them a little more as we will be staying with them in Hawaii for a couple of nights.
I continue to work on my devotional. I give it on August 17. I am very nervous because I don’t speak like I use to. My words don’t flow and get all jumbled. I worry so much about making sure things flow together and people understand what point I am trying to make. I am scared to have someone read it because the lack of comment tells me they don’t know what to say. I let Lexie read it but she hasn’t said much which actually says a lot. It doesn’t matter much what I think because I am locked into it.
Bonnie and Larry continue to struggle. Bonnie had her second surgery for tumors on her stomach. Larry had another CT scan and his lungs are full of cancer again. His family was told it is a matter of time. Gay had surgery this week for her condition. They had to go to San Diego for the surgery. We haven’t heard how she is doing. Craig’s family reunion is next week in Moab. We have been told not many are coming. All of the Springers’, only Jed from Dennis’ family, no Day’s, maybe MoNene and a few Denision’s. Kirtly goes to so much work and he loves the reunions but this time, I think they should have punted. I told Craig originally, that I thought they should have just a sibling reunion due to Larry and Bonnie’s health. They are not up to being at the cabin for more than a day. Bonnie isn’t even home from Grand Junction and surgery so who knows what will happen. We have rented a cabin on the river because we don’t have a camper to stay in. I don’t want to sleep in tents because of the heat and my back. I really don’t think at age 60 that I should have to sleep on the ground.

Humbling Experience to be Shared

I would like to share the following story by President and Sister Puzey. I served with them at BYU-Idaho campus stake. Truly humbling!

A page from my journal… 25 May 2010
What does it mean to be faithful or to endure to the end? That question has been on my mind recently as I have been serving here in the Philippines. Back home I felt content knowing that I had a current temple recommend and had served where called. I was mostly certain that having served three times as scout master and had been on what seemed a hundred campouts and taught that group of 14 year old wild youth in Sunday school that I had given my all. I had always tried to get my home teaching done before the middle of the month and I stopped fishing on Sunday, now that is sacrifice. I had thought that would rank me among the faithful saints of God. After being with the Saints here in the Philippines I have been thinking lately that it might require more of me.
On Sunday I attended the little branch in Maria Aurora. The meeting house is on the second story of the corner feed store just across from the town market. It is a busy, noisy place but the saints were so happy to move from the crowded front porch of one of the member’s homes months before. After making our way around the buildings crowded side alley we make the climb to the upper level. I make a dash to the CR (comfort room) after a long road trip. The bathroom is about four foot square with a small wall sink without faucets, wall tap, a small toilet bowl without a seat or a tank and a bucket of water to wash with and flush the toilet with. The floor is covered with water because members come early to wash before the meeting.
The meeting room holds about 75 people. It is a hot summer day in the mid 90’s as sweat is already beginning to run down my back. With all the windows open, the noise from the street and the heat makes me gasp for air. As we enter, members jump from the brown plastic chairs and greet us with eager smiles and hand shakes. The children take our hands and hold them to their foreheads as a sign of respect for their elders. We make our way to the front and the young branch president offers us a seat behind the simply built podium. As I look up from my seat about 40 beautiful brown eyed members are watching our every move. The crowd is mostly women and children with a few scattered priesthood brethren. Two young men sat ready to pass the sacrament while two older men were prepared to bless. The members were dressed in their very best which might be tee shirts and pants, a few dresses and white shirts. Shoes are mostly flip-flops.
Part of me wanted to whine about the difficulty of our assignment but as I looked out at those beautiful saints the thought made me ashamed. I thought of the beautiful chapel in Sugar City, the carpets and soft seats and comforting temperature. In my mind I could picture the seats full of well dressed members perfectly seated in rows. It was a quiet and reverent. Beautiful music was accompanied by a piano or organ. I can hardly remember what that was like. For a moment, I felt a bit torn between home and the mission field but I real peace comforted me.
Seated at the sacrament table next to me was Graciano Valdez, a 72 year old member who had joined the Church when I first arrived in the mission two years ago. He had lost his wife just a few months earlier. I knew he lived in a little run down house of about 12 foot square, made of used plywood with a tin roof. He walked about 2 miles to come to church each week with his worn Book of Mormon protected by a green plastic sack. He had an old pair of faded green military dress pants on that were rolled up at his ankles with the waist line puckered in piles under an old belt. His white shirt was bright white but was very large and I noticed that the shoulder seam was held together with blue thread, hand stitching. I felt a lump in my throat and a special closeness to my Savior as he knelt on the floor next to me and with his poor eye sight read the sacrament prayer.
After the meeting we greeted each other and reported on our resent health and happiness. He told me how thankful he was to be a member and how he loved the Gospel and the hope and peace that it brought to his life. He spoke tenderly of how happy he was that he and his wife had been sealed together forever in the temple just before her death. Brother Valdez then turned to me and said very solemnly that he had promised God that he would be faithful until he died. He then took my hand and told me again not to worry about him that he would be faithful until death and he would be with his wife again. I believed him and I know God was aware of his promise.
On my long travel home and until now I continue to ponder how faithful am I and what have I promised the Lord. I thought of my many blessings and if I could be faithful until death. I have renewed my to the Lord that I would be faithful so that I can be together again with those I love.
President Puzey
Pictures attached of the Chapel and Graciano Valdez

Don't forget my Reese

Just thought I would put a couple of pictures here because I don't want to forget my Reese. She is growing up fast and is such a doll. Mindi and Arnold are good parents and are great parents.

More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures.

Colorado Memories

Now, where shall I begin? Graduation was just wonderful, long but wonderful. It was a thrilling moment to watch Brady walk and receive his masters. After graduation, Erika had planned a barbeque for family and a few friends. She did a great job planning and cooking. Erika’s parents, his sisters Taylor and Kari were also there for the festivities. What a great day. On Saturday, we went to the bicycle library checkout. We all got bikes and went for a bike ride along the Poudre River walkway. It was a nice day and we truly enjoyed each other’s company. Erika’s parents are really great people and we do enjoy being with them. Taylor went with us to China and so we know her and enjoy her also. Later that afternoon, we left for dinner at Cinzetti’s and a Rockies baseball game. It truly was a fun day. The kids were really good at the game and we all had a good time. On Sunday, Erika went to Taylor’s singles ward to see her sustained at Relief Society president. We went to their ward and then Erika joined us later. Erika was supposed to speak but when we got there the counselor in the bishopric told her she would not speak till the following week. After church we ate dinner and then went to a park for a walk. Going for walks with Crew is very interesting. He meanders all along the way and it takes forever to get anywhere. Erika and Brady are so good with him. Kenndi rides in her carrier and is happy and smiling all the way. On Monday, we went to see Jax in Loveland where Brady will work. We also looked at some housing around the area. At this time they weren’t sure if they would move or not. We had lunch and Panda Express and then did a Sam’s Club trip. The afternoon was needed for rest and naps. After that we went to a park and had dinner then, before you knew it, it was bedtime. The four of us played Office Clue. I have never been very good at Clue and I reaffirmed my feeling that I still was not very good at Clue. It truly was a fun time. Tuesday morning came all too soon. Brady started his job at Jax and was off by 7:15 am. Craig and I got up, began to pack, watched Kenndi while Erika took Crew to preschool. As soon as she got home, we were packed and ready to go. We always dread the drive home because it is so long, 9 hours long. It was a great trip and so wonderful to be with them. My fear, however, is that Brady will become so content with this job that he will stay there and not move forward. He won’t be making very much and yet enough to scrape by. They are such good kids and I know the Lord will bless them. On Sunday night, about 1:00 in the morning, Craig and I heard a tap on the door. It was a police woman who asked if we were the Nordfelt’s. She said our car had been broken into. Craig went out to check and it was Brady’s cars that had been broken into. His Subaru car had papers strewn everywhere and they took his car registration and proof of insurance. We were told that they had started to look in his other car when a neighbor scared them off. The strange thing is that they didn’t take anything else. They had their bike racks in the car, baby backpack and blankets but none of that was taken. It seemed strange to me but the police said they probably just grabbed the small booklet that the papers were in hoping to get some money. I hope that’s all it was. We told Brady and Erika they need to be sure and watch their mail in case the thieves tried to commit identity theft. We arrived home in Rexburg about 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 18. All was well here and it was nice to be in my own bed. Thanks to the Coloradoan Nordfelt’s for a wonderful vacation and for their love and concern for us. It’s always fun to be grandma and grandpa.