So Many Things Have Happened

Well since August a lot has happened.  To start off with I had a hysterectomy on Aug 8th, and was down for the first 2 weeks not going any where and staying down as much as possible, I got very stir crazy so Scott would take me on a drive in the evenings every so often, which really helped.  After the 2 weeks were over I started putting my resume out there to try and get a job, I went through several interviews and I was getting frustrated, but I did have an interview with a company called Genesis Dental and ended up getting hired and started work on September 19, so our summer went by pretty fast, with Brad leaving and my surgery, then work and then on Sept 30 I had a second sinus surgery, and this time the doctors had found out that I had a fungus growing in my sinus's, they had been treating me for the infection, but didn't know that I had a fungus to treat, so I have been on a lot of antibiotics and fungal medications. And lately I have had no cough YAY! and I have been feeling pretty good, just a little stuffy.
So I started working and it is going ok, I just feel old and can not comprehend things like I used to. And I feel like I have a lot on my mind besides what I am doing at work.  If it would just it come to me a little faster.  I feel like an idiot, not getting it like I used to.
On October 14th Scott and I went to our Condo in Mesquite (we have timeshare every other year) and we decided to go the week of my birthday.  We got there and called our friends Pat and John Higley, and they met us at the Virgin River Casino buffet to have all you can eat sea food.  The next morning we woke up and joined Pat and John over at there house to have breakfast and then go on a 4 wheel ride through the desert.  That was pretty cool, the weather was fantastic, but it was dusty and muddy through the canal that we had to ride through to get to the desert.  We had a lot of fun.  When we got back we showered and then our friends the Behunin's came and we all (6) of us barbecued and played games, we really had a good time.  Sunday we went to church and then came back to the condo and relaxed, ate and then went to Pat's house and played games and had dessert. On Monday the guys Wendel and Scott went hiking at Zion's canyon to Angel's landing, and took 2 bikes and then Cindy and I met them in Bloominigton with 2 bikes and we rode on the trail that they have there.  It was really fun and the weather was so great.  We then went home and had dinner and just talked and watched movies.
Tuesday was my birthday and we played games, went swimming (just the hot tub) the pool was freezing so I didn't go in it, I am a woos when it comes to cold water. We went to St. George to visit the Jacob Hamblin Home and other sites, having lunch at Kneaders YUM!  We ended up going to the St. George Temple and did sealings and then to dinner at Texas Roadhouse one of my favorite places and yes I sat
on the bull (saddle) and the restaurant gave me a big YEE HA,it was great.  Then back to the condo for more games.
Wednesday games and then to The Little Mermaid at Tuachaun  which was amazing. On the way home we took the old highway back to Mesquite and stopped and got out of the truck to look at the stars, it was such a clear night that you could see the big dipper, the milky way and others.  We ended up getting home so late that we were tired so off to bed.
Thursday, we just stayed at the condo, and then we went to Leeds and just happened to see my Aunt Juday and Uncle Fred at my grandma's house. I felt like I had come home, being there. We then went to the Silver Reef and tried to go to Oak Grove, but it had a gate locked so we couldn't see it. Went to lunch at Chili's and then we headed to Tuachaun to see Grease, which was good but not as good as Little Mermaid.  Next year they are going to do Aladin and Hair Spray, which I would like to go to, we will have to see where we are next year.
Friday we packed up and headed home, we stopped in St. George to go to the Brigham Young home and the Tabernacle, we learned a lot of history and I want to go back and see more.  All the time I was growing up and as many times as I have been to St. George I don't remember going to those places, what a mistake.
Well we headed home, we stopped off in Beaver of course to get some cheese curds, and an Ice Cream Cone. Then Scott and I went on our way while Cindy and Wendell went to visit a friend there in Beaver.  On our way we stopped off at Cove Fort, which we have always wanted to do but never did, cuz we wanted to just get home, but we did this time and we are so glad that we did.  Some more great history.
Well saturday was off doing chores and cleaning up things, we then went up to Heidi's to go to there ward carnival, we ended up taking the twins with us, the dressed up in their Halloween costumes and we all had a great time.  Now that I have written a book, I will share some pictures of our trip and the other things we saw.  I totally didn't take pictures of our trip other than on my phone, which is weird for me. Hope you enjoy!

He's leaving on a Jet Plane!!

The day has finally come for Brad to leave to Norway!  He has been in the MTC since July 6, so a little over a month and a half 2 months.  He is leaving a week early, his mission President wanted the new missionaries to be there for a big conference that they are having, so they are leaving today. Scott and I just got off of the phone with him, he is way (understatement) excited to be going.  He said that their flight is delayed and so they will be leaving in about an hour around 12:30pm. they will go to Chicago and then on to London and then into Norway.  With Chicago being such a big airport I hope they make their flight, if not I guess they will have to find another one, but I hope Heavenly Father is with them, to help them on their way.  He said he will try and call us when he gets to London, but without a cell phone he may have to ask to borrow one (which he did in SLC), or buy a calling card.  It was sooooo good to hear his voice, but as Scott said as you read his letters you can hear his voice, which is true.  Well I will update this probably tomorrow and let you know how it went for him.

This past weekend was our Ward Rodeo, and like always it was a blast, food, games, rodeo, calf riding, mutton bustin, cake walk, square dancing, you name it, it was there or of course cotton candy and sno cones.
Sunday (yesterday) our Bishopric was released and we got a new one.  Doug Angus is the Bishop, his counselors are Blair Jensen and Dave Johnston.  They will have some big shoes to fill, but will do an outstanding job.

Well He's Off!

Last Wednesday we took Brad off to the MTC!  It was a bittersweet thing.  We started off that morning with Scott getting up with him at 6:30 am (since he was his companion until we took him to the MTC where he would be given his "real" companion).  We then made sure he had everything packed, which was amazing that the bags did not even bulge. Scott and Brad went over to Gold's Gym to freeze his account for the 2 years that he will be gone.  Then they went to see if they could buy a cable for his camera that we had missed placed, so when they found out that it was going to be another $40 we just decided to forget it and we would work something out. Scott gave Brad and I blessings before we left. As we were headed to lunch I had this feeling to look in the glove compartment, and there it was the cable we were looking for. Blessings already starting. We ended up going to lunch early (11:00) Brad wanted to go to Pizza Factory so we get there and we are the only people there so it only took us til 12 to finish, so we had an hour to wait, so then we go to costco to get some gum, and that only took 15 minutes, so we decided to go up to the Provo temple knowing that it was closed for cleaning, but there were a lot of people there, we realized they were there for the same reason we were, to take a missionary to the MTC. we walked around the grounds, took pictures and enjoyed the spirit there.  the time had come so we got back in the car and headed for the MTC as we were going Brad's friend Cameron Krammer and his mom were running to give Brad a hug, we told Brad we could go around the corner and he said "it would be that much harder" so they said their good-byes.  We got in line and dropped him off, with not much time about 2-5 minutes to say our good-byes. Then it was off to take Scott to work. I turned around and there was Brad's suit jacket, so we turned around and took it back to the MTC, gave it to one of the host missionary's to get to Brad.  Well there you have it he is now at the MTC for at least the next 2 1/2 months, then on to Norway!            

Temple Day

It was most spectacular!

To have all of your children endowed is the most exciting thing that can happen in a parents life!

Our youngest child Brad went through the Mount Timpanogas Temple today.  It just so happened that we got 3 inches of snow, wouldn't you know, with the way the weather has been like this past year anything would be possible.  Any way all of my siblings my dad and Joan were there and 3 out of the 5 girls (Heidi, Lisa and Megan) were there along with Heidi's husband Casey who was there also.  Mike (Megan's husband stayed home with their new little baby) and Scott (Lisa's husband stayed home with sick kids).  Maybe when every one is here in June we can all go to the temple together and then to dinner, just a thought.

The session was great and there ended up being 6 missionaries that were taking out their endowments including Bradley.  It was just a special time to be in the Celestial Room and to have my kids and my siblings, their spouses and my parents there was just great. We took pictures afterwards so here they are.  ENJOY!  I am especially proud of Brad and am excited for him to serve a mission! And am grateful for his wanting to serve the Lord and be a disciple and preach the people of Norway.  GOOD LUCK BUDDLEY!

She's here!

Our youngest daughter had her baby!  She is as cute as can be.  Her name is Ashtyn Angela Miner, she weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was a short little thing of 18 inches.  She is now growing like a weed.  She had a time there for a while with jaundice issues, but they are all gone now. We are getting things ready to do yard work that is if the weather will cooperate with us.  It has been a cold and wet spring, the lawns are so saturated that the water can't go anywhere.  We have a lot of snow in the mountains and they are afraid that if it gets to hot to soon that we will be dealing with flooding.

We are still getting Brad ready to go on his mission, we still need to get his luggage and other slacks and some other things.  He is going to go through the temple to get his own endowments on the 30th of April.  I think that he is really nervous about it. I wished that all of us could be there but with Jenn and Amy living outside of the state it is hard to get us all together. There will be one day that we will be there all together, that might have to be when Brad gets married.

So all is well at the Farnsworth's house and will update as things go.  Here are some pictures of the baby and other pics as well.

Arkansas

So I made it to Arkansas and there was my cute daughter and her sweet family.

Matt drove me around to let me see what it was like. A lot of rolling hills and not as small as I thought.  I was quite impressed with everything.  Matt took me on a tour of Wal-Mart Headquarters and also the museum of Wal-mart and how it came to be.  I enjoyed it a lot and want to see it again when I come back with Brad and Scott. We then went to there house which is very nice.  We took Preston over to the park by their house and let him ride his motorcycle (with training wheels).  After that Matt wanted me to try the best fried chicken he has ever eaten. Which was great, all the fixings and chicken you can eat.  A little mom and pop place, you have to have a reservation because it gets so busy.
We did some sight seeing and vegged at the house, Amy thought she needed to entertain me, I told her that I don't need to be entertained I just enjoy being there with her, Matt and Preston.  We took Preston to the fire station to see the big woo woo trucks, and was he ever excited, until Chase (fireman) came to show us around then he became very quite.  Matt had to be out of town Mon-Wed.
Preston ended up with a bad cold, so we didn't do a whole lot, which I was fine.  I crocheted and study my lesson that I was doing when I got back home, so I was just fine with being at the house.
We did go to Gymboree for him to play one day, and we went to a park also, to the mall where they have a play place for him.
On Friday we met Matt and a friend of his, John for lunch at a place called Whole Hog?  It was very good also.  That evening we went touring downtown Bentonville/Fayettville we saw the University of Arkansas, very nice and BIG.  We then went to eat at this place called Catfish Hole which was so good, I have never eaten catfish, it was lightly breaded and very good, but the best thing was their hush puppies, oh my, they are so good that I couldn't stop eating them, and they just kept coming, same with coleslaw, pickles and something else but I can't remember it.
Well Saturday came I had to leave, which of course I didn't want to.  I so enjoyed being there and can not wait to go there in May.
Thanks Matt and Amy for everything I loved it there and enjoyed being with you.
Love you!   We will see you in May!