The Rockwood Family

Ridin’ the Red Rocks

2012-02-07T21:29:00.001-07:00

Doug and I took a much needed break from the daily routine and went south for the weekend. We joined Jody and Donna Denning and Dan and Lisa Denning for a 4-wheeler trip in Southern Nevada. The Dennings were on a 2 week camping road trip and we joined them for a couple days. We ventured to Logandale, Nevada which is about 45 minutes from Mesquite and near Overton,. The Logandale Trails are near Valley of the Fire State Park. The Dennings have Razrs and we have 4-wheelers, so I was a little concerned about keeping up, but all went well.

The scenery was gorgeous. I love the red, jagged rocks against the blue sky. We saw petroglyphs and mountain goats, cooked out over the fire, and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with good friends. It can’t get much better than that,

On Saturday, Doug and I were a little tired from riding and decided to just go for a pickup ride instead. We followed Lake Mead to Hoover Dam. We wanted to see the new suspension bridge that has been built to span the canyon above the dam. We walked out over the bridge and looked down at the dam below. It is incredibly high and not for anyone with a fear of heights. We also drove over the dam and viewed the bridge. It is amazing to me that people can even think of creating something of that magnitude let alone design, engineer, and actually build it. It is a wonder.

After a detour through Valley of the Fire, the trip was completed with a visit and night spent with Mom and Dad Schwieder. They are in St. George for a month. We watched the Utah Jazz game with them and had a great time before setting off for the return home.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

We had an excellent Christmas this year with all of our boys at home. Daren was home after being away for two years. We love having Rod and Steph close by. Reed is still around some of the time and this is the last Christmas with Scott at home for a couple years. This may be the last year that we have that opportunity. We received a lot and especially enjoyed the giving. The best part is just being together as a family. It can’t get much better than that.

It was nice to have Christmas on a Sunday this year. Our Sacrament Meeting wasn’t until 1:00, so there was plenty of time for opening gifts and having breakfast. Then we attended church as a family. What a special time to celebrate the reason for the season – CHRIST! It was a nice meeting filled with Christmas music.

Reed had worked all night and so he was a little sleepy.

Schwieder Christmas

2011-12-18T22:59:00.000-07:00

With the family getting increasingly larger and scattered, Grandma and Grandpa decided to have several mini-parties to accommodate everyone’s schedules. Each family scheduled the day and then Grandma and Grandpa Schwieder were invited to attend. Our family decided to have our get-together on Sunday, December 18th. We had dinner that evening and then watched one of the new church Bible videos of the birth of Christ. I had prepared a gift for everyone to open. It contained a framed family picture and socks. This was to symbolize our family goal of being a forever family with our Heavenly Father. I wrote a little poem to go with it.

Grandma and Grandpa also had presents with a thought.

Then we played the money game. Grandma started this a few years ago with Grandpa’s loose change that he would empty from his pockets into a bowl in the drawer. The family sits in a circle and each player has five coins. You can shake one dice for each coin. If a 1,2,or 3 is shook, you get to keep the coin; a 4 sends the coin to the center; for a 5 you pass the coin to the person on your left and a 6 sends it to the right. The last person with a coin gets to have the money from the center. This year we used Doug’s saved change and each person started with 5 quarters. Stephanie was the final winner of the $12.50. Maybe next year we will sweeten the pot and start with $5 each. That would get their interest.

We enjoyed the small, intimate time to spend together as a family. Family time is my most treasured gift!

MORE GOOD NEWS!!!

2011-12-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, December 17, 2011 we combined the celebration for the birthday of Doug’s mom and the Rockwood Family Christmas Party. We had all of the siblings in attendance and many of the grandchildren and great-grands. There were a total of 65 present. It was a wild, fun time for everyone. We held it at the Iona City Building and there was plenty of room to eat, visit and play.

Every year the kids look forward to playing “The Candy Bar Game”. Several years ago we started the tradition of putting candy bars in the center of the floor and if you shake a 1 or 6 on the die you get to choose something from the middle and put the item in your paper bag. Later they had a few minutes to continue shaking the dice, but they could steal an item from someone else IF they could remember where it was. It has expanded to more than candy bars. This year there was a huge heap of toys, candy, money, stuffed animals and more. The kids were all excited to see what they could claim. (we discontinued the stealing part, since some of the little ones have a hard time parting with their favorite item). As I put all of the spoils in the middle, I noticed one wrapped box and commented to everyone that Grandma had included a surprise package this year. The game proceeded as usual and everyone had stuffed paper sacks filled with goodies.

Soon after the game, one of the little girls came and handed me a small plastic ornament that had “Give to Ann and Doug” written on it. I thought, “Oh No! I put Doug’s mothers gifts in the middle of the game. I soon learned what had happened as I opened the small globe. Inside was a folded paper that contained the following message.

Sitting across the room were Rod and Stephanie grinning from ear to ear. We are sooooooo excited to be grandparents. Now it will just be hard to wait.

Rockwood Family Christmas

2011-12-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

The annual Rockwood Family Christmas Party was held December 17, 2011. This is also Grandma Venna’s birthday, so it was a double celebration. We partied at the Iona City Building, which was a good thing since there were 65 in attendance. We were happy that some of Sandy’s family was able to join us this year. Sandy, Ray, Arianne and family, Brittany and family, Ethan and family, and Tiffany made the trip to be with us. As always there was food, the candy bar game and Santa made an appearance. I was so glad that Ray took some pictures since I forgot my camera. This is one of my favorite pictures along with some other snapshots of the day.

More Remodeling

2011-12-03T22:59:00.001-07:00

Doug and I decided that for our Christmas gifts this year we would make some changes in the house. We have been wanting to get new countertops for quite awhile and decided to make the move to granite. We were pleasantly surprised by the quote and so Doug said I could get carpeting as well (another item on my wish list). I didn’t wait for him to change his mind.

The granite has been installed. It was interesting to see the process. Doug did the tile work for the backsplash area. I LOVE IT! It has made quite a difference already.

The next step was replacing the carpet throughout most of the upstairs. This carpet has been down since we built onto the house 15 years ago. Again the decision is hard to make from a small sample. I was a little concerned when they first started rolling out the carpet that it was too light. Now that it is laid and fluffed, it is looking much better and I am enjoying it. It is always fun to have something new. We took some of the old carpet and carpeted the stairs and living area downstairs. It makes a difference to have that changed as well.

The carpeting was installed at the beginning of December. It postponed the Christmas decorating, but it was worth the wait.

Christmas Traditions

2011-11-26T18:31:00.001-07:00

While others are shopping on Black Friday, my family is making candy. My mother has been hand-dipping chocolates for over 50 years. The process begins early with making the fondant centers and caramel. Then after Thanksgiving my sister, Janet, and I roll the centers while Mom dips them in chocolate. Mom has perfected the art and places letters on top to designate the filling. Over the last few years, we have started doing some of the dipping, but ours don’t look quite as nice. Our friends always know what they are getting for Christmas.

This year, Janet’s daughter-in-laws, Amanda and Annie, came with her and were a huge help. We dipped about 15 pounds of chocolate and packages 32 pound boxes and 12 1/2 pound boxes as well as the extras. It is a fun time to spend together.

GOOD NEWS

2011-11-25T21:22:00.001-07:00

DAREN IS ENGAGED!!!

It didn’t take him long, but he has found a really nice girl. He went to her home in Townsend, Montana for Thanksgiving and “popped the question”.

Marlene Beck and Daren John Rockwood will be married March 24, 2012.

We are excited for both of them and happy to have another daughter-in-law.

Where Have You Been Lately?

2011-11-25T20:54:00.001-07:00

I think that I have almost forgotten how to blog. It has been awhile since I have had the time. I thought that I would show where I spend a lot of my time. It is my home away from home….

SCHOOL!

Family Pics

2011-11-01T23:59:00.000-06:00

Daren returned from his mission and it was time for a new family picture. I will admit that my boys do not enjoy having their picture taken and we have some wonderful memories of trying to get a family picture. They aren’t to hep on dressing up or taking a ton of poses, so we went with a comfortable scheme. I decided if I let them wear their jeans and shorts and took them to a place they love, the farm, that maybe they might put a smile on their faces. It is also great to have a daughter-in-law with a nice camera and an eye for photography. She was a good sport to set the camera timer and then run to her spot before the flash. We tried a few in the wheat field and then moved to the trailer spot. It was a bright sunny day but even with squints and shadows, I think this is a pretty great looking bunch. I’m just a very proud mom!

Welcome Home Daren

2011-09-19T18:44:00.001-06:00

We are so excited to have Daren home from the Richmond Virginia Mission. He has fit right back into the family life. Unfortunately, he wasn’t home for long before moving to Pocatello to begin school at ISU. At least he is close and we can call and text. I will miss my weekly email and I won’t have my letters to use for a weekly journal. Maybe I will do a little more blogging of everyday events.

Our Trip to Virginia

2011-09-19T18:42:00.001-06:00

Doug and I planned a trip to Virginia to get Daren from his mission, see the area, and meet some of the people. It wasn’t the best time of year for Doug to be leaving because it is typically harvest. We thought it was going to work out and be between fields, however the rain stalled things and the grain wasn’t cut. This caused a little bit of anxiety, but thanks to our boys the job was done without us. This is the first year EVER that Doug has missed part of harvest. We were blessed to have boys who could step in and take over. Thanks Reed and Scott for doing an awesome job.

We arrived in Richmond on August 9th. We were told that we could pick Daren up at the Mission Home after 3:00. Our flight didn’t arrive until 3:45 and we were on our way to the baggage claim when I noticed some missionaries. One of them had been Daren’s companion in the MTC and so I quickly said hello and told him who I was. He said Elder Rockwood is somewhere in the airport and then I really started searching the hallways. Our phones had been turned off for the flight and when we turned them on there was a voice message. Before I could retrieve it, I received a text asking where we were. It turns out that he had accompanied the missionaries to the airport and he was already headed back to the car when the mission president had texted that they needed to catch the departing Elders to get their VISA cards. As they were rushing back inside Doug spotted a group of Elders and I quickly picked Daren out of the group. I hurried to catch them and yelled “Daren”. He thought he was clever and kept on walking but finally stopped to give his mother a big hug. We were so excited to find him at the airport. It was a good thing as well, because we were able to follow the other Elders to the mission home. (I don’t think we would have found it on our own and I had the mission office address)

We had a wonderful visit with the mission president. He is a great man and truly called of God to serve over that mission. It is one of the largest missions and there are many Elders with special needs. He knows all the details of each of them and cares for and loves them.

The next day we traveled to Washington DC. Daren wanted to attend the Temple there before leaving the area. This is the Temple for the members of Richmond and South, however it is out of the mission area and so he had never been able to attend. It was a nice ride and super to spend time in the Temple together.

We were able to visit some of the history of this area over the next couple of days. We visited Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson), the Museum of the Confederacy, Jamestown, Kitty Hawk and the Outer Banks. There were many more places we would have liked to visit but time was limited.

Of course, the best part of the trip was meeting a few of the people who were special in Daren’s life for the past two years. We instantly connected with so many of them. It was a wonderful experience.

Sister Whitley lives in Hampton. She has been a member for about 4 years. She was always feeding and taking care of the missionaries.

Brother and Sister Smith live in Newport News. Brother Smith had been the ward mission leader and was always helping the missionaries. Sister Smith is originally from Brigham City.

President and Sister Hansen shared their home with Daren for over 7 months in Edenton, North Carolina. The missionaries live with them and they are like mission parents. Sister Hansen is from Orem, Utah and also a school teacher so we made a good connection.

The Giobelli family live in Edenton. They were a riot to visit with. We stayed later than we should have laughing and visiting. Sister Geobelli was a really Southern lady. Maybe we will be able to have them visit us someday.

The Ledfords also live in Edenton right on the Abermarle Sound. We have been a little concerned about how they faired with the hurricane that hit last week. We called them the redneck family. Brother Ledford (Marty) is an avid hunter and fisherman. You can tell by the names of their two sons, Hunter and Fischer. They were some of Daren’s favorite people.

Marsha was baptized about 6 months ago. She was so full of excitement and had such a strong and powerful testimony of the Gospel. She was in a car accident a few months ago and has had some health problems since. She still remains happy and is constantly serving others. Her compassionate spirit reaches out to all.

These are only some of the people we met.

We also met Bill and Fran in Hampton. They are not members of the church, but opened their home to us for a night. They fed us a wonderful meal and provided accommodations. They are retired and run a clothing closet in connection with the Catholic Church for the homeless along the waterfront. Daren met them as the missionaries donated time to help at the business. They were finding it hard to get members of their congregation to help and heard about the missionaries from the soup kitchen. Fran is from France and a short petite little lady. They have grown attached to the missionaries and call them “their boys”. I was amazed at their generosity. I am currently knitting hats to send to them. They said that is a big need when the weather grow cooler.

We had a wonderful trip and the memories will last forever.

Another Fun Year at REDFISH

2011-08-20T16:30:00.003-06:00

We spent our family vacation at Redfish again this year from July 20-26. We had everyone there except Daren, of course. We are looking forward to him being with us next year. With the late summer the water seemed a little colder. (If you can compare cold water. Redfish is always chilly) That didn’t stop us from enjoying the beach and boating. Everyone boarded and tubed and played in the water. Evenings were spent biking, playing games and visiting.

The funny and memorable event this year was with the squirrels. On Friday the weather was cloudy and a little cooler. Rod had gone boarding that morning and was covered in a blanket. Steph was sitting next to him.

The squirrels are quite the scavengers and will climb into your bags and the kids like to get them to come to their hands and eat. They are quite brave and will climb right into your lap. All of a sudden, Steph let out a little scream and through the blanket. A squirrel had climbed inside and bit/scratched her toe. When she jumped it went on Rod’s lap and started to scratch trying to get out of the blanket.

Now Steph and Rod were out for revenge. They started plotting on how to catch the squirrel and throw it in the water. They finally came up with the idea to set up a trap using a beach towel with food in the middle. They positioned themselves on each end in beach chairs. When the squirrel came onto the towel, they flung it through the air into the water. Scott was video taping the event, but we weren’t expecting thing to go so well and the laughing kind of altered the movie. The squirrel was safe and swam to the shore where he scurried quickly to his home. The scene was replayed the next day by some of the other boys and we laughed anew.

As always the company was GREAT! We have a great time with the Black family and feel like we belong. The Knowles went along this year. They are always good for an adventure and that makes everything exciting. If you can be outdoors, Joyce will love it. She was one of the first to jump in and ski. What more could we ask for than

family, friends, and food.

We have so many good memories to keep for a lifetime!

Windmills

2011-08-17T19:57:00.001-06:00

There has been a lot of construction and changes at the dry farm this summer. The Horse Butte Wind Farm has been being built. There are currently 32 windmills being built with 23 more to follow in the future. One of those in on our farm – we would have liked more but we are glad to have one. We have kept track of each step and the progress being made. They had a very large crane and two smaller cranes to lift the pieces in place. Some of the parts were so large that it took a separate truck “Iron Mike” to help pull them up the hills. Each turbine will power almost 800 homes for one year. In July the company hosted a luncheon and blade signing for everyone involved in the project. It brings a different look to the landscape, but one that I can handle. I only wish they would let me tap into the energy for my RV Park.

My Favorite Summer Hide-a-way

2011-07-19T22:09:00.002-06:00

I love to spend the summer days at the farm. We have been going up for a few days almost every week. With all of the spring rains, it has been pretty and green. The daytime breeze cools things off and the night air makes me sleep like a baby. Doug and the boys are usually busy farming. Lately they have spent a lot of time on the 4-wheelers riding the fields spraying for thistle. We are so grateful for all of their help.

While Doug is farming, I find projects and books to pass the time.

This year I even took a baby quilt I had pieced and tied it.

In the evenings we go for rides or relax.

We are always happy to have visitors and love sharing the space with friends and family. Our parents have been up with us and we love playing cards and having dinner together.

Art and Joyce brought their new trailer up and spent a few days. We enjoyed a four wheeler ride to see the wild flowers.

There are also many beautiful wildflowers right in my campground backyard.

The Belnaps and Knowles came for a cookout.

Good times with good friends making good memories.

GRADUATION

2011-06-11T12:43:00.001-06:00

Scott graduated from Bonneville High School on May 25, 2011. He has done really well and we are pleased and happy for him. He is planning on attending ISU in the fall.

Scott’s Senior Project

2011-05-31T17:18:00.001-06:00

A requirement of high school graduation is to complete a senior project. This project includes a 10 page research paper about the students desired field of study, a portfolio with letters and project information, and at least a 10 hour project. Scott chose to weld a two-place snowmobile trailer. He began by drawing all of the plans. Then he purchased the materials and started cutting and welding. It was an intense project and he spent much more than the required time working on it. From cutting, welding, grinding and even painting, he accomplished a great finished project of which he can be proud. His mentor, Hal Simmons, supervised along the way as well as his welding instructor, Ed Kopp. Probably one of his greatest resources was his Dad. I am amazed that he could put something like this together as a 17 year old. He has really learned a lot through the entire process.

A NOTE-WORTHY DAY

2011-04-17T19:17:00.001-06:00

The other night as we went to town to get a hamburger, I put my hand in my coat pocket and felt a piece of paper. Curious to know what I had left in there, I pulled it out and read this note, “Just because I Love You.” That put a smile on my face. Later that night I opened a drawer in the bathroom I found another note and then another in the bedroom as I was putting on my pajamas. Those simple notes made my day.

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Tonight I got my book and decided to read for a little while. I had forgotten the notes. After I read a page or two this is what I found.

I have a wonderful husband who shows me daily how much I am loved. I am so grateful for the good man he is. We celebrated our 29th Anniversary on April 9th, and I hope we get to spend at least another 29 together.

Doug’s Winter Project

2011-04-03T09:30:00.003-06:00

Doug has been busy again this winter with a remodeling project. I always have something on the list of “to do’s”. We have always talked about putting a small kitchen in our basement for canning or the kids. This year the perfect opportunity presented itself. Doug’s mom was redoing her kitchen and having new cupboards put in. So we took over the old cupboards. Doug did the work of removing them and installing them in our basement. It was amazing how perfectly they fit. Of course, before the cupboards could be put in there was some major de-junking and tearing out of old shelves. The room had to be sheet rocked, spackled and painted. He built a closet around all of the water heaters and tanks to conceal them. Of course, there had to be new flooring (tile) and a ceiling put in as well. After several months of hard work, the final results look pretty good. So good that Rod and Stephanie have decided to move in for a while to save money for a house. We are excited to have them around as well.

Stephanie asked if I had taken a before picture. Unfortunately, that is not one of the rooms of my house I ever wanted to photograph. It was stuffed with shelves of books, boxes, and other storage items. Visualize studded walls with insulation showing, heating ducts, cement floor, and two-by-four wooden shelves against the walls.

IT WASN’T PRETTY!

Now it is kind of a fun little nook.

Our Last Eagle Scout

2011-03-27T21:56:00.005-06:00

After a lot of work and a little prodding, Scott is officially an Eagle Scout. Actually, he earned his award in May 2010 but we have procrastinated putting together a court of honor. Finally, we had a combined Court of Honor with 2 other boys in the ward. We are very proud of Scott for his hard work and good choices. He has had some excellent leaders who have helped him along the way. Many of them have moved, but it was exciting to see them attend that evening. A BIG thanks to all of them for their dedication and service.

Jed Denning spoke to all of the scouts and told a few of the many experiences they enjoyed during scouting. Jeff Wheeler, president of the local counsel, also presented them a special patch from the Grand Teton Council. I made him a special pillow as a reminder of his accomplishment. His dad had also picked out an eagle picture for him and we had a walking stick carved with his eagle information.

We are also grateful for three older brothers who set such a good example of setting goals and working to achieve them. We feel blessed to have four wonderful boys in our family.

Scott William Rockwood
will be receiving his Eagle Scout Award
at a Court of Honor on
Sunday, March 20, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Iona Denning Building
There will be a short Ward Court of Honor followed by the ceremonies for Eagle Scouts
Scott Rockwood
Wesley Shippen
Zachary Hunt
Refreshments will be served

Sanity and Satisfaction

2011-01-27T19:43:00.005-07:00

I have a need to see accomplishment in my days. I am a list maker and love to check items off the list to be able to see that I have been busy. Even when watching TV I usually will be working on the computer or doing some handiwork. I blame this behavior on my mother who is always working on a project.

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My latest endeavor has been sewing. I have a cousin (as well as my mom) who is always sewing cute things. We visited her in October and I was inspired to fix up a sewing room and then attempt some projects. Before Thanksgiving I rearranges a bedroom and organized my sewing supplies. Now I have a place to work without messing up the kitchen table.

Since then I have been making holiday table runners, towel aprons, and receiving blankets.

I bought some material to make a strip baby quilt and decided to learn a new skill. Mom helped me get started and I was excited to see the results.

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Before anyone gets the idea that there is something to announce, there’s not! I will just store them in the closet until the day when I might have grandchildren.

Our Paramedic

2011-01-16T15:57:00.003-07:00

We are very proud of Reed.

He is officially a certified paramedic. He completed the para-medicine program at BYU-I the end of July. I had the privilege of pinning his badge on him at the graduating ceremony. Then he worked as an intern from September through the first of December in Provo, Utah and Great Falls, Montana. He then passed the practical test and finally a written test to earn the certificate.

He is now taking a couple classes to earn his bachelors degree and working a few on-call shifts at the Madison Fire Department. He is hoping to find a more permanent employment in the near future. He will make a great fireman/paramedic.

Rockwood Family Christmas Party

2011-01-01T15:48:00.002-07:00

Christmas is a time for family and each year we gather with Doug’s family about a week before Christmas.

The kids look forward to Grandma’s paper sack game. There is lots of toys, candy, and trinkets to win with the shake of a dice.

This year there was a surprise visit from Santa himself.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-01-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2010 was a great time with family. We spent most of the holiday at home enjoying each others company. On Christmas Eve we watched a movie and then had the traditional reading of the Birth of Christ and watched the slideshow “Reflections of Christ”. This is one of our favorites with pictures depicting the life of Christ.

Christmas Day was marked with

dinner,

opening of gifts,

and games.

The highlight of course was the phone call from Daren. He is doing really well and enjoying his mission in Richmond, Virginia. Currently he is in Edenton, North Carolina and loves the rural life and beauty. We look forward to him returning and having the family all together for Christmas 2011.

Swimming

2010-12-02T22:08:00.002-07:00

Scott completed another successful year in swimming. We enjoyed going to his meets and watching him compete. He qualified in the 200 freestyle for the State meet in Boise. He also swam 3 relays at state.

This year he served as a co-captain. I think his favorite part was being with the other co-captains.

Austin, Devan, and Scott

We had a fun trip to Boise to be with the swim team. They are a wonderful bunch of kids.

Happy 60th Anniversary Mom and Dad

2010-11-29T22:17:00.001-07:00

My parents, Harold and Mary Schwieder, are celebrating their 60th year of marriage today. I am so grateful for their example of love and commitment family. We had a dinner last week with all the siblings and dessert with all of the grandkids. Their posterity includes (so far) 4 children, 20 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren currently and 6 to be added in the upcoming months.

Doug's Merry Christmas...Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Father's Day, 4th of July, etc., etc., etc.,

2010-11-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Last week Doug and I took a ride to Kellogg, Idaho. On Tuesday we drove as far as Missoula, Montana and then woke early and drove a couple more hours to Kellogg. We went to get Doug's early Christmas. Hope he likes it because he will have it for a while.

Homecoming Dance

2010-09-27T19:34:00.000-06:00

It sometimes doesn't seem fair that our kids grow older while we don't. Our baby is already a senior in high school and although it is fun to share in all the activities, there is a little melancholy that his time at home is slipping away.

On Saturday he went to the Homecoming Dance. He asked Kelcie Christianson by decorating her room and leaving a "hot and ready" pizza box with a treat and message. She answered by writing all over the windows of his car. It was pretty cute.

Most of them are members of the high school swim team and they started the day with a swim team breakfast. Then they went to the farm for some shooting for a day date. The group had dinner at our house, dessert at Palmers before heading to the dance. They were so cute and we enjoyed having them here.

Summer Adventures

2010-08-18T19:49:00.000-06:00

School begins next week and summer is coming to a close. I can't complain that I haven't been able to play because I have packed this summer full of activities. Here is a peek at a few of the things we have done.

Camping at Rockwood RV Park (June-August)

We have spent several nights at the farm camping in the trailer. Doug has kept the grass mowed and watered and this year we added a row of trees. We have enjoyed several visitors and cookouts as well. Paul's family had their reunion there, so it has gotten good use. Our parents have taken their trailers up as well and we have been able to spend time with them. It is fun to visit with them, play games, and of course eat.

We just spent three days there as our final summer get-away. We had a doe run past below the trailers and the same night a moose came into the yard and stood in the sprinkler. He pawed at the sprinkler and tried getting a drink as it went around. Finally he got down on his knees and then laid on the grass as the sprinkler hit him. He would place his mouth over the spray. The group had a fun time watching the program. Doug and I missed the show because we were on a 4-wheeler ride to where Tex Creek and Willow Creek meet. There was a pool of Kokanee Salmon climbing the creek to spawn. They were bright red and it was cool to watch them fight there way up the rocks and falling water. In places the water seemed almost red from so many fish. We enjoy the wildlife and peace and quiet at the farm as well as the great company.

Redfish Lake (July 21-27)

Our annual trip to Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho was a blast again this year. We had everyone except Daren there at one time or another. My sister, Janet, also came and spent 3 nights with us while her boys and Mike were hiking in the Sawtooth Mountains. We took our boat this year and the kids had fun skiing and swimming. We also took Janet on the lily pond/waterfall hike. We were with the Black family again and it is great to just sit, relax and soak in the sun.

Playing Card Games

(A deer wondered up almost to the table)

Our Boat Captain

Lily Pond and Waterfall

Rod, Scott, and Reed wakeboarding

Daren's Birthday (July 25)

It seems that every year we are camping on Daren's birthday. When he was younger we were usually at Green Canyon for swimming lessons for the week. Then he spent a couple years at scout camp on his birthday. The past few years we have been at Redfish. This was the first year he wasn't camping with us for his birthday. I sent him a package with a cake mix and frosting. He made the cake and took it to the home where they were invited for dinner. While we were at Redfish a picture text came from one of the family members in Virginia that put a big smile on everyone's face. We got to share in a small way and have him on our camping trip for his birthday for a moment.

4-Wheeler Riding

(July 5 to 4th of July Ridge)

We have enjoyed some fun and exciting 4 wheeler rides this summer. On July 5th we rode with Jeff and Debbie Wheeler and Scotty to 4th of July Ridge. We started up Skyline Ridge which is a easy ride and then we progressingly got worse. There were some pretty hairy spots of rocks and ridges to pass over. It was however a beautiful day and from the top of the ridges we could see across the valley. There was only one spot that I got off and said "I'm walking!" Doug had to drive my 4-wheeler through and then walk back and get his own. We ended up coming down Rash Canyon where we had gone earlier. There were a few times I jokingly said Doug had a different name. It was a great day until the end. I flipped my 4-wheeler on it's side and it landed on my leg right toward the end of the ride. After going over some pretty tough terrain I did this going maybe 1 mph and in an easy spot. My leg became swollen but nothing seemed broken and I made it back to the trailer. Pettingills were coming for a cookout and thanks to Doug, Debbie, and Jeff for taking care of the cooking.

(July 17 to Caribou Mountain)

On a beautiful summer day we went with Jeff and Debbie Wheeler and Jody and Donna Denning for a ride to Caribou Mountain. They both have Razors and the guys drive while the girls ride along side. Sometimes that is good because you don't have to navigate the rough spots, but it can also be scary when they go through bad spots and you have NO control. Doug and I ride our seperate machines and I think they were impressed that I made it through. There were a few tight places escpecially some switch backs where you had to back up to make the turns and go over some very rocky precarious trails. We stopped at an old mine shaft for lunch. Doug was the only one brave enough to wade inside, but the water was ice cold and he didn't last long

Then we proceeded to climb to the tip top of the mountain. We could see Gray's Lake in one direction, the Tetons in another and even a small corner of Palisades. It was like standing on top of the world. After exploring the other side of the mountain as well, we loaded the machines and drove out through McCoy Creek Road and stopped in Alpine, Wyoming for dinner at a burger place. We enjoy spending time with our wonderful friends.

Fishing

We have been able to spend a couple summer days on the lake. Early in the summer Scott, Doug, and I went to Palisades for a fishing excursion. It was a little chilly but in the boat with the sun shining on it was toasty. We only caught a few, but as they say "A bad day fishing is better than a good day of work." Later we traveled to Henry's for a day with Scott. I'm so glad he doesn't mind spending time with the parents. Fishing was slow again with Mom taking all of the prizes (first, biggest, and most). It's just a great time being together.

Birthday Blessings

2010-06-16T19:53:00.000-06:00

I have been dreading the big "5-0" for at least the past 364 days. For some reason the thoughts have been depressing. I told Doug I just wanted to go away for the day, but we didn't get away quick enough. Saturday night Mom had a family party for all of the June birthdays in the family. It was fun to be together, but there were a few hints to the BIG day which only increased the foreboding. I had thought about leaving on Sunday night, but I was suppose to go to a Young Women practice and so I postponed until Monday. That gave all of the friends a window of opportunity to sneak over and bring the party - cake, hats, presents, and black roses. It was fun but it felt good to still say it wasn't my birthday YET!

Monday morning dawned and I was up early and headed for the grocery store. I decided to go to the farm and spend the day with Doug and Scott. At first I didn't even want to answer the phone and I felt a little depressed. Then I decided to just get busy and forget about it. That was a good idea since the day went by much better.

We spent the morning working around the trailer. Doug hooked onto the old wooden deck and pulled it away. The area is really looking good and I love to go and stay. It is entertaining to watch the little goldfinches and blue buntings come to the birdfeeder. There is a peace that comes from enjoying the quiet solitude of nature.

After lunch we went for a 4-wheeler ride. It was a 30 mile trip up Rash Canyon. I traversed the creek countless times and bounced over rocks and tree roots until finally coming to a muddy, steep, narrow slope where I stopped and called it quits. It was a beautiful sunny day and a perfect activity.

We returned to the trailer to have a cookout. Reed showed up and later Rod and Steph came. We visited around the fire and had a fun time together. I also got a card from Daren that Reed called and read to me at 11:00 p.m. The perfect end to a good day.

I have decided it doesn't matter how old I am as long as I have my family and friends. To celebrate my birthday I decided to think of 50 things that I am grateful for and that bring me happiness. I'm sure I could list more and they are not in any particular order.

1. My wonderful husband who puts up with my moods, projects, requests, and problems.

2. Four super boys that take good care of their mother.

3. My Savior, Jesus Christ who answers my prayers and boosts my spirits.

4. Parents who have had unconditional love for me for 50 years.

5. Missionaries especially the one who serves from my home.

6. FRIENDS - who are there with a smile and a helping hand

7. Babies - they are an elixir for happiness. I can't pass by one with out smiling.

8. Nature and the beauty of God's creations.

9. The farm, one of my favorite places to be. It holds so many memories.

10. Teaching - it brings me such joy and satisfaction to see others learn and I always learn too.

11. Children and their acceptance and forgiveness.

12. Sports that I can watch the kids or watch with them or talk about with them.

13. Technology - I can be a computer geek.

14. Weather - Rain to water the crops, flowers, lawn and us. Sunshine to help everything grow. I don't like wind unless I have a windmill.

15. Church callings that make me stretch and grow.

16. Sweets - I like these a little too much.

17. Books

18. Ancestors that left a legacy to follow.

19. Neighbors, I have some of the best anywhere to be found and some of them are relatives as well.

20. Camping in my trailer.

21. Fishing with the boys.

22. My warm, comfortable home.

23. Jobs to provide for our needs and wants

24. Crocheting that keeps my hands moving and my brain thinking.

25. Car rides to see new things and places.

26. Lunch out with the girls.

27. Missionary letters - Wednesdays are wonderful.

28. Hugs from my hubby, my boys, my parents, my kids, etc.

29. Electricity, I wouldn't have been a good pioneer.

30. 4-wheeler rides.

31. Flowers.

32. Listening to music and playing the piano (except when playing for others).

33. The smell of baking bread.

34. Siblings who are next door or on the phone. I wish Janet was closer!

35. Daughter-in-laws (I have one of the best and hope to have 3 more terrific girls)

36. The Book of Mormon

37. My wonderful In-laws who have always accepted and loved me as part of the family.

38. Watching the kids ski and wakeboard and wishing I could still get up.

39. Sitting around the campfire with friends and family.

40. Summer Vacation (3 months to catch-up and squeeze in all of the fun and play that I can)

41. A clean house and to know that I am able to work.

42. My health - there are aches and pains, but I am so grateful not to have serious health problems.

43. My eyes to be able to see all of the above.

44. A beautiful sunset.

45. Traveling to far away places with family and friends.

46. The flag and the freedoms of living in the United States.

47. Sunday to attend my church meetings and recharge for a new week.

48. Extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, neices, nephews.

49. Pictures and memories of days gone by.

50. Birthdays - It means I'm still alive to enjoy all of these wonders.

Memorial Day Camping

2010-06-12T12:24:00.000-06:00

We spent the Memorial Day Weekend at Buffalo Campground in Island Park with the Black Family. I'm so glad that Scott will still go with us. He's great to have around. Rod and Steph came up for a couple nights and Reed fit in a night with his busy schedule. Typically it is a rainy weekend and this year it was no exception. It was still fun to be with the kids and together. We watched movies, played games, went for a ride and visited with friends and family. Can't complain about those activities,

rain or shine!

We played a "Minute to Win It" game around the campfire. You put an Oreo cookie on your forehead between your eyes and without using your hands try and move it to your mouth. It was a lot of fun to watch everyone try. We also enjoyed eating the cookies and other goodies.

SNOW DAY in April???

2010-04-06T09:35:00.000-06:00

Last night some enormous snowflakes started falling and soon we had snow piling up. It was pretty, but in April! The wind really started to blow through the night and this morning there was a pleasant surprise. The phone rang with the message of NO SCHOOL. There is 6 inches of snow and some drifting. Apparantly the snow plows were put away for the year and so they couldn't get things plowed to get the buses out in time. DARN! It will be nice to enjoy the day with the family. So many things I could do...I have cinammon rolls rising and just enjoying staying in where it is warm and dry. Such a nice gift for Rod's birthday. He is 23 today. He is a great son and I'm glad he lives nearby. I love his and Steph's visits.

SPRING BREAK 2010

2010-04-04T10:04:00.000-06:00

Doug, Scott and I decided to get away for a few days and go for a drive. We didn't realize that it was going to be quite that much of a ride. We left early on Wednesday morning and headed to Utah. We wanted to visit Arches National Park since that is one that we have never visited. Canyonlands is also located in Eastern Utah and we thought we might be able to see it as well. We journeyed to Salt Lake, Provo, Price, Green River, and finally to Arches which is just a few miles from Moab, Utah.

It was a loooooong ride and we were glad to get out of the car and walk around some of the trails. The temperature was near 60 degrees but very windy. It is amazing what our Father in Heaven has created and how nature works. The large sandstone red rocks loom and weather and water have carved them in interesting shapes and forms. One of our favorites was the double arches. We climbed up to the base and marveled at the shaping of stone. Scott is a mountain goat and climbed over the rocks with ease. We were so glad that he would spend the time with us.

There wasn't enough time to go to Canyonlands because we had a hotel reservation in Richfield which was 2 hours away. We enjoyed the sites along the way of rocks and canyons. It is truly God's grandeur.

We awoke to Mother Nature's April Fools joke - about 2 inches of snow. It tooks us about 90 minutes to drive the 40 miles from Richfield to Cove Fort on I-70. We watched a car go off the road ahead of us. It was snowing and slick. We stopped at Cove Fort but the fort was closed so we didn't stay. Instead we continued to Cedar City, Utah.

Cedar City had been blanketed with 4 inches of snow overnight. We thought we could go south to get away from the cold and instead we got to experience it earlier than those at home. We still had a great time visiting and staying with Aunt Ann Lamb. We always take our quarters and play "Swish", a card game, with her.

Scott had a great time playing with her new dog, Brandy. It is always fun to laugh and talk. She is constantly trying to feed us and wait on us hand and foot. We love spending time with her.

It was a quick stay and we headed for home on Friday. I wanted to be home for General Conference and Easter. I'm so glad that we can have these times together as a family. It is good to make memories.

Shop Update

2010-04-03T21:58:00.000-06:00

I just want to update everyone on what Doug has been up to lately. As you saw in an earlier post the shop had some damage from an explosion. Insurance helped with the repairs, but Doug did all of the work with the help of the boys. It's really taking shape and looking good. The siding is up and a new door has been hung. We decided to add on a section to park the trailer under and that is still in the works. I'm so grateful that he is unharmed and able to do the work.

A Needed Break

2010-02-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

I took a day off from work on Friday, February 26th, to go for a weekend snowmobiling trip with Doug and Scott. After the excitement of Thursday's explosion we almost canceled, but decided that there wasn't much we could do at home. We went with Lynn and Leslie Rockwood to their cabin in Island Park. It is always so nice to visit with them. They make us feel comfortable and welcome. We enjoyed dinner with them and Jack and Shellie Edwards and then on Saturday we went for a snowmobile ride. The weather was beautiful (sunny and 45 degrees) and we enjoyed the ride and the company. The only problem was I forgot the camera. It is always hard to come back to work and the everyday world.

KABOOM

2010-02-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

We are counting our blessings this week!

On Thursday morning, February 25, Doug went out to the shop to work on his snowmobile. As he entered the shop, he stopped at the electrical box to flip the breaker for the air compressor. As he did there was an explosion. Gas had leaked from the snowmobile into the lube pit. When the compressor motor started it ignited the fumes and blew.

My phone buzzed at 8:45 as I was going into an assembly at school. It was Doug and he sounded pretty shaky. "Can you come home?" I immediately ran home to see the shop door bent and hanging. Doug was in the house and he was trembling. I think it helped just to have someone there and give him a hug. We then went out to assess the damage and call insurance. The door was blown from the track and bent. It was barely hanging from the bracket at the top. Several panels of siding were blown off, some of the fluorescent lights had exploded sending glass all over, some of the iron beams were bent, the snowmobile was turned on its side, and the boards over the pit were thrown around. Miraculously Doug was not hurt. We are still amazed that he was not injured. There were so many worse scenarios. A friend was coming over to help and we are glad he wasn't there yet because he probably would have been standing over the pit. If the compressor would have been full and delayed start-up, Doug would have been closer to the blast. The Lord was watching over and I believe a shield was placed around him.

Everything can be fixed or replaced and I am just grateful that no one was hurt. The boys came over that evening and helped board up the opening for the time being. Doug will have a spring project!

Full House

2010-02-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

We have had a few extras living at our house the past week. Our neighbors, the Longs, are in Arizona for a liver transplant. We are excited for them to finally get over this hurdle in their lives. While they are away, their two boys are staying with us. Aaron is 13 and Tim is 10. It is an adjustment for all of us, but we are doing well.
Jeff Long was the recipient of a liver from his oldest son, Roy. The procedure went well and they are both currently recovering at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Jeff will probably have to remain in Phoenix for 6-8 weeks. That will be a long separation for the boys, and we hope they are comfortable in our home. We are just grateful that we have been blessed with good health and do not have to endure this hardship. We continue to pray for their quick recovery.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REED

2010-02-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

UNBELIEVABLE!

My oldest turned 25 on Friday, January 29th. Does that make me old or just wise. Reed is so busy with school, internship, hospital shifts, and studying that we weren't sure we would get to see him, sooooo Doug and I planned to take dinner to the firehouse on Thursday night. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. It was fun to get a tour of where he spends some of his time. He does a 24 hour shift every 6 days for the Madison County Fire Department. In return his tuition is waved through BYU-I. He gave us a tour of the station and then we stayed to eat with the crew. (I wish I would have taken a few pictures.) They were a great bunch and we even learned a few secrets about Reed. It had been a busy day for all of them and Reed had helped respond to a cardiac arrest case and they performed CPR until they got him to the hospital. The chiefs and captains were all praising him on a great job. It's always nice to see your kids happy and finding a career that brings them satisfaction.
This picture is from his class in the paramedic program at BYU-I.

We did get to see Reed for a little bit on Friday and he was able to take a day off and go snowmobiling with his dad and little brother on Saturday. He's a lot of fun to have around and we are pretty proud of him.

WEDNESDAYS

2010-01-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

I Love Wednesdays!

Most people would probably list Saturday as their favorite day of the week. I also enjoy Saturdays because it is a break from the work week and time to catch up at home. Or Sunday because we attend church and rest from the ordinary. But Wednesday is the day we get an email from Daren. He is serving a mission in Richmond, Virginia. Currently he is in the small town of Franklin in Southern Virginia. He is busy and enjoys the work. Here is an excerpt from his latest letter.

"This week has been packed full of some exciting days. For the most part there hasn't been too many new things, but we were able to teach a lot of good lessons. First of all we came across someone who had started taking the missionary discussions but then moved and lost contact with the missionaries. His name is Bobby Brown and wow can the old man move.... We eventually were able to share the plan of salvation with him and that really got him thinking because he thought after we died there was no more learning, but we showed him that the Bible and Book of Mormon say otherwise. It was really powerful.

We were also able to teach Pat. She is still strugglin with smoking but she is slowly starting to get off of those. She had talked about getting some suckers to suck on whenever she felt the urge to smoke but couldn't find any little dum-dums. So, we went to Walmart and got her some. Hopefully they will help.
Another exciting lesson we had was with Chris Townes. We have been working with her and the lessons with her are usually pretty interesting. She is extremely paranoid.... Despite all that we were able to have a spiritual lesson with her. We based it off of Alma 32:28-30, 33 and pointed out that what she felt whenever we came over was the spirit. We then committed her to baptism. We have a lot of things to help her with but through prayer and through dilligence on her part, she will be ready."

Elder Rockwood with President and Sister Millburn
You can see why I love getting his letters. It is so fun to see the growth that is coming from serving others.

It puts a smile on my face and makes my day.

Young Women Personal Progress

2010-01-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

I am back serving in the Young Women Program but this time I am in the Stake. I enjoy working with the Young Women especially because I don't have any girls of my own. Recently we have been visiting the wards and I am impressed with what wonderful YW there are today. Despite the influences of the world they are standing strong as the theme for this year states,
"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
Joshua 1:9.

As I youth I earned my Young Women awards and later as a ward leader I again earned the YW medallion. Just as I was released from Young Women's, the personal progress program was changed and I missed being able to earn the lastes award, however beginning this year the program has been revised again and I am now starting to earn my new YW medallion.

The Personal Progress Booklet has been updated and the medallion now includes the class emblems from when I was a girl in Mutual and a red ruby for the new value, virtue. I am excited to get the chance to continue to progress in the Gospel. Sometimes I need the extra incentive from an organized plan.

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

2009-12-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy, happy holiday season. It is always wonderful to spend time with family and friends. We have so much to be grateful for as this year comes to a close.
Here are a few highlights of our times spent together.

Reading the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve.

We spoke with Daren on Christmas Day. He sounds so good and is loving Virginia, the people and sharing the Gospel. We miss him but couldn't ask for a better gift than having a missionary.

We live close to both sets of Grandparents and love having them over to visit and eat. That is a wonderful blessing to all of us.

Our children are the most important thing to us. We love spending time with all of them. We were all very spoiled (or "loved" as Steph puts it) this year for Christmas.

Scott even built Rusty a new doghouse for his present.

Doug decided to surprise me with my own 4-wheeler for running around the farm. Then we found a boat unexpectedly and I made a deal on it. Needless to say, we have been blessed with more than enough. Although these THINGS aren't as important, we will enjoy them with the family. The boys can't wait to put the boat in water.

More Swimming

2009-11-08T21:53:00.001-07:00

Swimming is officially over for this school year. We spent this weekend in Boise at the State Swimming Championships. There were 426 athletes from 44 high schools across the State of Idaho. Many of these swimmers compete year round on club teams and are very good. Scott had qualified to swim in 4 events which is the limit. He swam the backstroke in the medley relay, the 200 yard freestyle, the 100 yard backstroke, and the 400 yard relay. We were very proud of him. He took seconds of all of his times and swam very hard. The medley relay team placed 15th and the top 16 places swim in the finals on Saturday.
We had a very touching day on Saturday morning. There is a young man on Scott's swim team who has cerebral palsy. He has a hard time walking and you can see that he has had several surgeries. He has been swimming for 3 years and this is his last year. He doesn't use his legs, but he gives it every bit of energy he has and finishes. It isn't fast and he has never qualified to swim at State. The boys on the team wanted to give him a chance to swim at Boise, and so Scott gave up his spot for Saturday to allow him the chance. It was a touching moment when the crowd cheered as he struggled and finished.

Later they gave him a special award for his courage in trying. I was equally proud of Scott for stepping aside and not needing any recognition. He is a great boy!

Channel 8 News did a sports clip of the experience. I am attaching a copy of the video.

Swimming

2009-10-20T18:58:00.001-06:00

Lately, if you try to find us on Saturdays you'll have to check at the pool. Scott has been swimming and he has meets every Saturday. Swimming is such a great sport and although it isn't the most exciting to watch we love being there to watch Scott. He practices almost every day as early as 5:30 on a couple mornings. Everyone is welcome on the team and everyone participates. Your biggest competition is to better your own times, and it's just great exercise. Those are just a few of the reasons we think it's a great activity. There's a young boy on Scott's team who has some physical disabilities. Each week he swims and I can really see the improvement. It takes everything he's got to complete his race, but his team and everyone else in the building are cheering him on. Scott has done well again this year and has qualified to go to the State swim meet in Boise in November. I'm excited to go on a ROAD TRIP!

It's hard to get a good picture because of the movement and water, but here are a few tries.

Relay Team Swimming the Backstroke

A Favorite Fall Treat

2009-10-05T21:02:00.000-06:00

All of my boys have a love of fruit leather. Doug's mom is always making it and keeps a stash for when they visit. I will make a few rolls now and then especially in the fall when the apples are plentiful. Last week we bottled lots of applesauce and made some into fruit leather. I just spread about 2 cups of sauce on a plastic lined cookie sheet and dry in my convection oven on 170 degrees. It usually takes 5-8 hours. This year we even sauced some plums and dried them. It was gone in a flash. I want to send some to Daren. I might have to hide it.

All Is Safely Gathered In - Harvest

2009-09-13T15:49:00.000-06:00

The Fall season means harvest for our family. It is the culmination of months

of hard work and hopefully a successful crop. We are constantly praying that we might see the benefits of our labors without any disasters of hail or fire. This was a good year

with a lot of early rains and mild weather. Doug spends long days cutting grain and the boys are always willing to help.

Scott was invaluable this year as he was the main trucker. Reed and Rod would join us after work to help whenever they were needed. Daren missed out this year, but we know he is engaged in another harvest.

It's a great feeling to have the grain in the bin and next years crop planted. We are grateful for the answers to our prayers.

Bittersweet

2009-08-06T19:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was one of those days that you pray for but when it comes you aren't sure you want it. We took Daren to the Mission Training Center (MTC) in Provo. It was a long day of riding since we just dropped him off and drove back home. He was excited to get started and just a little nervous too. They have changed the procedure for new missionaries entering and there is no longer a meeting with the families. Instead we went to the parking lot across the street for a few minutes of pictures and good-byes. Then we drove across the street and unloaded his luggage at the curb, gave hugs and more good-byes and off he went. I think I prefer that to a large room of people crying.

After we were back on the freeway and headed for home, Scott noticed that he had left his scriptures in the back seat. We weren't sure how to get them to him, so instead of turning around we stopped in Tremonton and put them in the mail. Hopefully he gets them today or tomorrow. I'm sure he's lost without them. He will make a super missionary in Richmond Virginia, but I will really miss him. I've been a little homesick today and I know that will get better as soon as I get a letter. For now all we can do is pray for him and write letters.

Redfish and THE RING

2009-07-29T09:40:00.000-06:00

We just spent another awesome summer week at Redfish Lake. This is our 5th year joining the Black Family to play in the water, catch some sun on the beach, bike ride to the store for ice cream, and lots of good food. The time just seems to fly by while we are there.
This year we had the entire family together again after a couple years while Rod was on his mission and before Daren leaves on his mission. It was so much fun to see everyone playing and laughing together. FAMILY really is what LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.
One experience will be a story that will be retold for years to come. On Saturday we awoke early and had breakfast before heading to the lake. It was Daren's 19th birthday and we had a great time soaking in the sun. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a great time. That evening it was hamburgers and as we were preparing the cobbler for the birthday, Stephanie asked Rod what he had done with her ring. She had taken it off at the beach that morning to apply sunscreen and handed it to Rod. He had placed it in the cup holder of her camp chair and thought she had known. The mood instantly dropped and silence fell over all of us as we realized that the wedding ring was gone. I remembered gathering all of the garbage as we left the beach and feeling a bump, so we jumped in the pickup and headed for the beach. I dug through the dumpster to find our sack of garbage (luckily it was an Arby's sack and easy to identify). NO luck! While I was sifting through garbage, others were on the beach digging through the sand. I checked the lost and found at the restaurant and others were going through the pickups and chairs back at camp. It was starting to get dark and we knew we wouldn't be able to see anything that night. We retired to camp and MANY prayers were uttered that night that we might find the ring.

It was a long, sleepless night. I tossed and turned and thought about any possibility of finding the ring. The possibility was slim since it might be at the beach. As we had gathered the chairs they had been dragged across the beach and one and slipped out of the bag going up the path. It could have remained with the chair until we set them up again at camp. We knew the ring could be anywhere and probably lost for good.

When it was finally light enough outside, Doug and I got up and gathered a collection of possible tools (colander, deep fat fryer spoon, plastic bowl and nail to punch holes) and headed to the beach. I took the camera because I had taken a picture of Rod and Steph the day before and thought it might help us with a location. The best tool turned out to be the fryer scoop and I started digging. The most I found was an unrecognizable nickel and a shiny dime. Doug took over the scoop and I started to just sift through the sand with my hands. We talked about possibly driving to Ketchum and finding a store with a metal detector. Doug decided to walk the path and I resumed sifting with the scoop. We had been searching a 10 square foot area and I kept uttering a simple prayer to guide me where to look. Doug came back and I decided to keep scooping until we left. I sat back for a minute to rest, but stuck the scoop on the other side of me and shook. I couldn't believe the sound - it was a clinking. Usually it was bark or small rocks left in the scoop as the sand drained out, but this time a shiny ring remained. A dozen emotions rushed through me - relief, unbelief, gratitude, and awe. Tears filled my eyes and I knew that prayers had been answered. (It still brings tears to my eyes) We were anxious to return to camp and share the good news, but first we stopped to give one last prayer of thanks as we sat on the beach alone in the morning shadows. It was a very memorable experience and we know that Heavenly Father loves us and does answer our prayers.

Rockwood Reunion

2009-07-12T15:20:00.000-06:00

We had a great time with all of the family at the Rockwood Reunion. Everyone gathered at Lava Hot Springs for swimming, tubing, games, visiting, and of course lots of eating. It is so fun to see the kids and how much they have grown. Their smiles make the day picture perfect. Thanks to Kent and Shellie's family for organizing the event.

Scott is 16 - WOW!

2009-07-01T19:53:00.000-06:00

My baby boy turned SIXTEEN on June 30th. It is really hard for me to believe that he is that old. We took him to "Red Robin" for lunch. I mentioned him being the birthday boy to the hostess and he got just a little upset with me. Lunch was good and the company great, but no birthday song and so I asked the waitress again. She came back to the table with an ice cream sundae, balloons, and some co-workers. I thought they would just sing, BUT she did a SHOUT OUT to the entire restaurant telling them it was Scott's birthday and he was turning sweet 16. Everyone clapped and then they did a birthday rap. It was a lot of fun. Scott turned a few shades of RED and said he'd get even with me. It will be a birthday he won't forget.

Later he went to the lake with the teacher's quorum and then had banana pudding with everyone. He got a new fly fishing rod and can't wait for his brothers to take him on a fishing trip.

I'm so glad we have Scott in our family. He is one very special boy!

Family, Friends, Farm, and FUN

2009-06-22T14:52:00.000-06:00

The past couple weekends the boys have brought friends to the farm for riding, cookouts, and bonfires. We really enjoy spending time with our kids and their friends. Here are just a few of the pictures of their adventures.

Reed and his friends went 4-wheeling and found a few mud holes to play in.

Daren stacked wood for a big bonfire. His friends shot skeet before roasting hotdogs and smores.

I DID IT!

2009-06-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

My mom is always creating beautiful pieced quilts. She spends hours at her sewing machine and we have all been the recipients of these exquisite creations. I always wanted to learn or at least attempt to make something, so over a year ago I bought material to make a table runner (start small right?). It's a good thing it was small. It has taken quite a while, but I finally finished it! It really made me appreciate the time my mother takes to make something so beautiful, and I don't think I'm ready to tackle anything larger, at least for a few more years.

Relief Society Enrichment Luau

2009-06-14T13:46:00.000-06:00

Our ward had a fun, entertaining, and uplifting enrichment night on Thursday. Monica, Karri and the committee always put on a great night. It was decorated so cute with palm trees, surf boards, a tiki hut and all. We ate grilled pineapple chicken, fruit, and a yummy fruit slush. Following dinner Sister Jane Trane, a new sister in our ward, spoke to us on "Finding Joy In The Journey". She was so much fun and had everyone laughing. I think we all left wanting to just let go and have fun. Hopefully the ward sisters won't be too upset I added a few snapshots of some of our funny "ta dah" moments.

Four-Wheeler Ride

2009-06-04T22:32:00.000-06:00

We've been to the hills for a couple days. Today the boys did some fencing while Doug went to the valley for a meeting. I worked around the trailer a little and then fixed lunch. After lunch we decided to go for a 4-wheeler ride. It was a beautiful afternoon and I got a little too much sun on the face. We drove from Hell Creek to Dan Creek and then circled back over to the Skyline Ridge. The wildflowers were starting to come out and it was very pretty. In a week or two the hills will be covered with sunflowers.

We found a few mud puddles and Scott had to go straight through them. I laughed at the mud splashed all over his back and face. He reminds me so much of his Dad. Doug took it kind of easy since I was on behind.

It was a nice break from the work. After we came back Doug jumped on the tractor and the boys did some cleaning around the camp spot. Daren wants to have a campout and bonfire there in a couple weeks and so he's busy gathering the wood. I'm happy because that cleans out some of the dead wood. It's looking better all of the time.

New Address

2009-06-02T18:50:00.001-06:00

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

I always wonder if the kids realize how excited their teachers are to have school out for the summer. I probably count the last days more than they do.

We started the summer by moving the trailer (our summer home) to the farm. Last year we poured a cement pad and leveled the ground around it. We put in a septic tank and piped the spring water to the spot. This year we are adding some grass and horseshoe pits, maybe even a birdfeeder or two. There are some beautiful birds to see. I enjoy the peace, quiet, and beautiful view. It's close enough to run up for a night or two and the trailer offers most of the comforts of home. The only downside is no electricity but the generator provides that when needed. The cell phone also reaches out so we are not totally isolated.

Our camping spot and view from the trailer

Doug often works on the farm and machinery while I get to cook, crochet, read, and relax a little. We also like to go for rides or play on the four wheelers. Sometimes other family members come for a visit or bring their trailers for a stay. So, if you can't find us at home we are likely at the hills.

Stop in anytime!

The Mission Call and Camping

2009-05-26T19:19:00.000-06:00

We had an exciting weekend! Daren's mission call arrived on Friday. He had plans for the evening and the rest of us were leaving to go camping. After a few phone calls we were able to gather the troops on Saturday at Buffalo Campground. Daren and Reed drove up late on Friday night and Rod and Stephanie joined us Saturday morning. We had a surprise when G & G Schwieder and G & G Rockwood took a drive up to find us.

So, after all of that intro, I'm sure everyone is wondering where he is going. He has been called to serve in the Richmond Virginia Mission. He spent the rest of the afternoon spreading the news. He enters the MTC on August 5, so we have a lot to get ready. As soon as school is out we can start shopping and I can start psyching myself for the trip to Provo. That is one thing I'm not looking forward to.

After the excitement we had a fun weekend together. Saturday was a gorgeous day at Island Park. We enjoyed riding bikes, fishing, playing games, and of course EATING! In the evenings we would gather around the campfire with the Black family to talk and laugh. Everyone stuck around until Sunday night. It was so much fun to have the whole family together.

Signs of Summer

2009-05-17T14:59:00.001-06:00

A friend of mine told me that she uses her blog for a journal. I used to use my missionary emails for my journal, but since I'm between missionaries I decided to try and blog more. It is a fun way to save history with pictures. I've even printed my blogs and put a copy in my journal. Thanks Karri for the idea.

I'm so glad that spring/summer is finally here. (I hope there isn't snow tomorrow because I said that) The trees are leafing out and flowers blooming. Doug has planted the garden. I'm glad he takes on that project. It is a lot of work for him, but we really do enjoy the fresh vegetables. My work starts later when the picking and canning time starts. I always like to see the bottles of food filling the shelves. It's a secure feeling.

Scott helped me get the patio furniture out and arranged. We'll be getting the pond and waterfall going soon. Doug placed the bird feeder by the deck this year and I've had fun watching the little finches. The other day there were three yellow finches and one red perched on the railing and feeder. I wished I could have gotten a picture of them. Now we just need more time to go out and enjoy!

This time of year also means the end of the school year. I've enjoyed teaching 6th grade and the time has gone by so quickly. Still I'm ready for a break and my "summer to do list" grows longer every day. I'll have to add "get a missionary ready" to that list. Daren's mission call should be coming sometime this week. I'm excited and anxious to see where he will be going. Then I'll be back to missionary emails.

Mother's Day

2009-05-16T19:38:00.000-06:00

Even though Mother's Day isn't my favorite holiday, I enjoy spending it with my family. This year we had dinner with Doug's parents and then Rod & Stephaine dutch ovened dinner for both families that evening. It was a great day! It also gives me a chance to reflect on the greatest part of being a mother - my kids.

Reed Douglas Rockwood was born on January 29, 1985. He was a terrific baby and spoiled his parents. He rarely cried and was sleeping through the night at 3 months old. He has always been a good example of a big brother.

Rod Warren Rockwood was born on April 6, 1987. There was much excitement to welcome another boy into the family. From the start he was very determined to get what he wanted. This may have been one reason that he started moving in an untraditional way, scooting on his bottom, at 5 months old.

Daren John Rockwood joined the family on July 25, 1990. He was named to have the same initials as his father, "DJ" and had many nicknames. He was known as "Little DJ", Dare Bear, Bear, and Dare. He was the cutest little curly headed boy and always on the go. Maybe that prompted his early desire to walk at 9 months old.

Scott made the family complete on June 30, 1993. He was Mom's little sweetheart and was good as gold as long as Mom was in the room. He's always followed after his brothers wanting to do everything they do. He has also loved the farm and at an early age accompanied his dad to work and has been a big help there.

It's also a good opportunity to tell my mothers how much I love them!

A Day With My Honey

2009-05-11T22:02:00.000-06:00

On Friday I decided to take a much needed break from everything and just get away. I took a day off of work and Doug skipped a day of farming. We decided to go for a ride to Twin Falls. The weather was beautiful, which is the exception this spring. First we visited Shoshone Falls, also known as the Niagra of the West. We have been there a couple times before but it has always been too late in the year and only a small trickle has been going over the falls. This time it was perfect! It was a spectacular view. As we exited the car we saw people donning jackets and hats because the mist was just like rain. We were dressed to go to the Temple without jackets, but we enjoyed the scenery anyway.

After grabbing a bite to eat, we went to the Temple in Twin Falls. It was beautiful inside and out. We had a great time together. On the way home we stopped in Pocatello and met Daren at Cosco. It was fun to spend a few minutes with him and buy him a couple goodies for his trip to Canada. It was a good day with good company! Thanks Doug, I love ya! I think I'm rejuvenate and can get back in the swing of things.

THE BIG DAY

2009-05-03T17:35:00.000-06:00

We have experienced our first wedding and reception. Our feet were sore and bruised, our bodies ached, but our hearts were filled with happiness. We feel so blessed to have wonderful friends and family who support us through all of life's journeys.

Rod Warren Rockwood and Stephanie Lynn Pettingill were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple for Time and All Eternity on April 25, 2009. The weather had been predicted to be stormy, but the sun was shining and NO WIND. It was beautiful for pictures outside the Temple. The atmosphere inside the Temple was also perfect. The bride and groom were beaming. They would have brightened up even a gloomy day. Brother Bruce Eckersell sealed them and his words were inspiring to all of us. I wish I could remember everything that he said.

The luncheon turned out really nice. I had worried about uncooked food, burnt food, and not enough food. My prayers were answered and it all came together. I think the only problem was too much food which I can live with. We used centerpieces from Natalie Jenkin's daughters wedding reception and the room was so springy and bright. All of our friends and family pitched in to help with cooking, serving, and cleaning up. I seriously don't know how it could be done without all of them.

I could have never imagined the turnout for the reception. There was a huge crowd of friends and relatives. It was good to see everyone of them and I wish we would have had more time to visit and catch up on all of the news. We are so fortunate to live in a close-knit community of where your neighbors spread for miles all around. At the end we were exhausted but we wouldn't have changed a thing...and it feels good to have a daughter.

The happy couple are now living in Iona and setting up house. We love when they call or drop in to say hi or have a bite to eat. It's a little different not having Rod at home, but it feels right.

Rod & Steph

2009-03-16T21:06:00.000-06:00

As you've probably noticed I'm a horrible blogger. After working all day and then taking care of home, RS, and more school work I'm ready to sit and chill or even better yet go to bed. However, we have some good news to pass along.

On February 7th Rod took Stephanie for a snowmobile ride. They rode to our farm and then stopped to build a fire and roast hot dogs. He made the excuse that he needed to go gather firewood but really he went to paint a message with red spray paint in the snow. It read "Marry Me". Then he returned for Steph and said he needed her help. He took her to the top of the hill and looked down on the message. Then getting on one knee he asked her and showed her the ring. They decided not to try it on until they were free of gloves and deep snow. I was impressed at how romantic he can be.

They are going to be married on April 25th in the Idaho Falls Temple. We are really excited for both of them. Stephanie has been part of the family for quite a while. Now we are busy making plans. I have been putting together a video of all their pictures. What a fun trip down memory lane. It's been fun to be reminded of all the little things Rod used to do. Also, thanks to Steph for including me in all of the fun wedding stuff like dress shopping, pictures, and such. Since I don't have a daughter to enjoy those things she's a good sport to invite me along.

Chihuahua, Mexico

2008-09-22T21:49:00.000-06:00

On September 13th Doug and I flew to El Paso and rented a car for a trip into Mexico. We were going to get Rod from his mission. It was a trip filled with joy, beautiful scenery, wonderful people, a few disappointments, and some anxious moments.

We entered Mexico and thought we had everything that we needed (car insurance, permission paper, passports). I'm not sure we were totally prepared for the sights and experiences we met. First the minute we crossed the border people were walking between the cars selling their trinkets, flags, papers, popsicles, flowers, toys, and almost anything else you could imagine. Some would stand in front of the cars and stop lights and do juggling acts. Driving was an act of faith as there were no lines on the road and few signs to follow. Horns were constantly honking as drivers turned whenever and where ever they wanted.

The next shock was the sight of uniformed soldiers with machine guns at the border and along the roads at several military checkpoints. We only had to get out of the car and have it searched once. Luckily Rod was with us then so he knew what was going on.

About 20 miles into Mexico we went through customs and were stopped because we didn't have a car permit. We weren't sure what they wanted and kept showing them all of the papers in our possession. Finally, someone who spoke a little English directed us to where we needed to purchase the "permit". That delayed us about an hour...but we finally reached Chihuahua. It is a big city and we had no idea where to go. It was 10:00 pm so, we decided to just stop at a grocery store pay phone and call the mission offices. They asked where we were and I gave them the name of the store. They laughed because there are only 40-50 of them throughout the city. I grabbed an old guy with no teeth standing there and handed him the phone. He told the missionaries where we were and after about an hour the mission president's wife and son found us and took us to the mission home. This was our reward on Sunday......

ours is the one that isn't so brown.

It was nice to have Rod as a travel guide and translator for the rest of the trip. There isn't enough time to tell it all, but we visited with many of his converts, investigators, and friends. Everyone was so kind and loved our son almost as much as we do.

We spent three nights with the President and Sister Flores and their two sons, Marcos and Cesar.

The Familia Felix welcomed us into their home giving up their own bed for us to sleep in. We became fast friends and Gorgina and I practiced our English/Spanish on each other. They have a son on a mission in Provo.

Bishop's Family in Juarez Investigator (Rod baptized her daughter)

These are some of the beautiful sights we saw. Sunsets over the mountains, waterfalls (Basaseachi is the tallest in Mexico - 750 feet), and Copper Canyon (the Grand Canyon of Mexico)

We had planned to attend the Temples while we were there, but we picked the wrong days and times. That was a little disappointing, but we did get to see the beautiful buildings and Temple grounds.

Colonial Juarez Temple Ciudad Juarez Temple

It was a great trip but we were so glad to get back into the good old USA. We are truly blessed to live in this country and enjoy the freedoms that we have. I also realized how blessed we areand YES! SPOILED. What really matters is our family. We arrived home at 1:00 am on Sunday morning and the other boys were waiting up. Oh how good it was to have them ALL together again.

Daren's Graduation

2008-05-22T21:31:00.000-06:00

DAREN IS GRADUATIONG FROM HIGH SCHOOL! It's hard to believe that he is already there. We attended seminary graduation and baccalaureate on Sunday and next Tuesday is Bonneville High School Graduation. We are very proud of his hard work and accomplishments. He is planning on working for the summer and then in the Fall he is off to ISU in Pocatello. As soon as school is out we've got to get started on housing and such. It will be really different around the house with only Scott at home, however Daren has been working so much this year I think he has been trying to prepare us. I'm glad it's just Pocatello for awhile to get me ready to send another missionary. We love you Dare!

Spring Break

2008-04-01T20:38:00.000-06:00

It was wonderful to have a week away from everything. Doug, Daren, Scott and I went to St. George and spent the week with Doug's parents in the warmth and sunshine. We relaxed, went on picnics, played cards, went on a few road trips, and ate!

We visited the Grand Canyon on the Northside near Tuweep, Zions, and Bryce Canyon National Parks. I loved the red hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. The best part was just spending time with the boys. We had a great time and it was good to come home but hard to come back to the cold and snow.

2008-03-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Janet will probably be sorry that she prompted this site. Here are just a few steps down memory lane. Remember Janet, there are more!

DAY 1

2008-02-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

Janet thinks I need to get into this blogging habit, however I'm not sure I have the time or creativity. But here's an attempt to answer the challenge. My computer died on me and I just got it back and running. I haven't had time to load pictures and things back on, so this looks pretty lame, but it's a start.