Night time snow mobiling and who knows what you will find

We love to go later in day so you come down from the mountains at night and the towns down below look like diamonds. Also scares the crap out of me because you don't know what is in the woods. Cougar moose bear elk(they are all there) but when John found an open field a weird bird that looked like a big dove with a spikey hair do, came out and hit him hard on his helmet he didn't know what it was at first and when he caught up to me. The bird was following him down the hill. We stopped to watch it for a few minutes and I gave it a granola bar. I felt like we were bonding with this strange bird it was night time and you don't see birds out at night. I wanted to take it home. Was a very strange thing to see. I felt sorry to leave it up in the mts at night in all the snow. Then he wanted to venture down this long route downhill in the DARK, I like a nut, went with him, partly cause I didnt want to be left up top for a while by myself and the slope was so steep my sled went sideways down it. Once we went down which was several miles it came out to golf course. I told him how in the heck was I going to get back up (noticing lots of animal tracks on way down) and he said I could wait down there for a while and he would go back up and then around to get the truck. Thinking I would be there for probably an hour in the cold dark, I decided to floor the machine and make it back up to the top with him behind me in case I fell off. After getting back on track I realized it was way cool and also that you should always stay on the right track....

Christmas Cottages

Every year they have the cottages for the children. It is such a great thing to see how creative the gingerbread houses can be. They are made by families, churches, jails and local businesses. Some have lights inside that you can see the detail they have put inside them like christmas trees, fireplaces, animals, real like stuff which is really neat. Our Tyler and Abby each entered one to donate. I think maybe Santa's helpers put a bid in on them(shhh) They did a family home evening project and get to put a manger together with each service act they do. They were so cute when they were showing me their houses and very proud of them. All the proceeds go to help the children's justice center.

November memories

November fishing
Ready to ride the train

We love Poppa John and glad he had a birthday

Our funny Poppa John

This has been an unbelievable fall this year. We have still been fishing and four wheeling Which by now we have lots of snow in the mountains. We celebrated John's birthday, Rode the polar express with Tyler and Abby, Grandma is busy with the Polar express and tons of bell rehersals to get ready for christmas. Had a great Thanksgiving with Connie and Richard, Our son-in-law Gary's parents which feel like our family so does his sisters and brother and their families, Our littlest grandson finally decided to crawl so he could catch up with big bro. and sis. Like to try to keep up with this blog which at times can be hard but it is like a journal of life that we are trying to do even though it passes by so quickly. Bring on Christmas, with all the train rides, bell concerts and fun............

GRATITUDE

I am giving a talk this sunday on Gratitude. I have been thinking of all the things we have to be grateful for. The first thing that came to mind is my Heavenly father and then I thought about my husband that has been my best friend since I was 14. Then I thought about my daughter who I have always come to for advice or problems and could not ask for a more wonderful girl. She has always been a delight even through those teen years when they can be most challenging she has always been an inspiration to me. I don't think I have ever let her know how grateful I am for her. Then I think of my son (he has given me more chanllenges than anyone will ever know and has made me strong through all his learning of lessons)but has a very kind heart and you can't help but love him. The three beautiful nieces of mine that also feel like my kids and how proud I am of them and their little ones and families. Then I think of my son in law and my 3 beautiful grand kids who love me as much as I love them. My parents. I talk to my mom just about every day. Then I think of all the friends I have had in my life that are like angels in disguise not only back in Maryland but here as well. I truly adore my friends and family. The beauty of the sunrise, The night sky lit up with the beautiful stars and moon. The simple things are the ones you remember the most. My grandkids kisses, The ice that crystalizes on the evergreen trees. Seeing a baby smile, A rainbow, a flower bloom or an animal that you didn't expect to see. Heavenly father gave us all kinds of things to admire and for that and for you I am grateful.

Pay it forward

Thanks Jenn. I love the Magnet board you made. Ok so I have always been told by a visit teacher who helped me so much in Maryland to pay it forward when she would either take me to the hospital or make tons of dinners or give presents from the heart and I told her how can I ever repay her for all her service and she said Honey just pay it forward and do something for some one else. I will always treasure her comments and help as well as all my other friends in Maryland to help me learn the true meaning of service when I was getting tons of it from being so sick and embarrassed to recieve all the dinners and rides (boy there was lots of rides to the hospital emergency room) My good friend who has been and still is relief society president for many years said you need to let the sisters do service and swallow your pride and let them help which is hard for anyone to do. So now when I go visit teaching with the relief society president out here in Utah to some single lonely sisters I am able to pay it forward alot. Also a dear friend who lives in Midway who is like a grandmother to me. I am happy to give her rides and help her
with lots of things. Service is a great thing and gives you a warm feeling when you are helping someone who needs a pay it forward. So here is the pay it forward that Jen was doing and now I am doing:

I'm participating in a Pay It Forward Exchange. Want to play? I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward Exchange. You will receive your gift within a month(hopefully) from leaving your comment-- Promise! When you receive your gift create a post on your blog and Pay It Forward. Apparently this has been going on for over a year. It sounded like fun so I am helping to keep it going!

Riding at Snake Creek

Big Bull Moose near Deer Creek Camp ground

Some trails were pretty hard and rocky

Some were beautiful like cascade springs




We went four wheeling up at snake creek today and enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves and snow, yes there was snow up top. We first went to cascade springs, then back on the trail to silver lake resevoir for a late lunch then up to a bunch of different places. We ran into the biggest moose we have seen yet. He was very hugh which I thought was very cool until I realized the sun was starting to go down off the mountain and I didn't want to be stuck up there with those big guys in the woods. So I started going really fast back to our truck and trailer. It gets very cold when the sun goes down up high as well. We love to go in the fall. It is beautiful up in the mountains. We also saw a lot of deer.

Lake Powell

Really big largemouth bass that John caught at Lake Powell
Swimming was great, water was nice and warm

John and I went on our four day trip to Lake Powell last week and had a lot of fun but were sad the stripers from last year were not biting. We had enough fish last year to fill the freezer with salmon and stripers all winter and spring. We have caught some fish but it has been a lot slower this year than last at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. I don't know if it is because the water levels are up so high or just need to study more on where the fish move each year. Which sounds funny. We did swim and enjoy the beauty of Lake Powell and John had caught the biggest large mouth bass he ever dreamed of. I caught a tiny little bluegill that was as big as a minnow. Deer Creek was way more awesome in fishing this year. Especially with the trout. Lake Powell is a fun place to go for the beauty of the red rock, The southwestern look and warm water. 2 nights we slept out on the boat and the sky and moon were awesome. I didn't like hearing the fish jumping the first night but the beauty of the night sky and no noise from the campground made you want to do it again. I can't believe I slept in the outside without a tent or shelter just lots of blankets and pillows and I didn't get sick with my lungs. I love Utah being able to breathe and do fun things I was never able to do in Maryland. The state is so unbelievably beautiful north to the south. Lots of fun outdoor stuff to do.