A Little More November Fun!

 November 4 - November 30, 2024

We did a couple of other fun things in the month of November...

When Darryl and I left Kansas City, we stopped by to visit Cody and Alisa and the kids.

Really, we stopped so Darryl could help Cody get the roof on the flip house. But really, any excuse to see our grandbabies is a good one!

Sweet Alma and her momma pet the puppy.

Liam is busy nailing the dirt down.

It rained in the morning, making a little pool out of the covered lumber pile, and the boys decided to make the most of it.

Ross, Sam and Liam told me they wouldn't need a bath because they could wash all their dirt off in this water. I didn't last too long though, as the water was quite cold.

Rachel has the most beautiful sunbursts around her eyes. I wish I could get a good photo of what it looks like in person.

Tuesday November 5, 2024 - 

Election Day in the USA

We drove over to Witchata Falls, Texas to visit Sandy. She was a little tired as she had a Chemotherapy Treatment the day before.

She thought she'd try out being a redhead! haha!

 

I'll be completely honest here. She doesn't look bad with her bald head, but I sure miss her gorgeous white hair! Anyway, it's always a good time when you're with Dr. Fun!

It is also election day in the USA and we are voting for all of the House of Representatives, 1/3 of the Senate and President, along with several Governors. I was very tired and didn't want to stress out, so I went to bed around 9:30 and told Darryl not to tell me any of the results or state tallies as I wanted to sleep well. I prayed to God for his blessings on this nation and for people to actually vote what was best for our country.

Darryl couldn't take it anymore, and when I got up in the early morning hours to use the bathroom he told me it looked like Donald Trump would win. Sure enough... he was right and I was very content with the outcome. We need some law and order and God back in our government.

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In the days after the election, so many people were saying the craziest things.. "Woman would have no say over what happens to their bodies", "Trump would put people in concentration camps", "Democracy would no longer exist in America"... I have a niece who was really anxious about all the stuff she was hearing.

I was grateful for the folks who posted these memes to remind us about what is really important in our lives.

November 18th, Darryl and Jesse started making 'Cowboy Candy', (pickled sweet Jalapeños)...

...and I spent the day cutting out and putting together little Alma's Birthday quilt she will get in April.

We had to go to Menan to pick up my quilting machine and drop off Alma's quilt at Elaine Gunderson's, so we stopped in at South Industries to see if Randy and Karen were there. They are still in England serving a mission, but we had a wonderful visit with Josh South. My how time flies!

Wednesday November 27, 2024

Travis brought Gideon and Parker over about 5:30 in the morning and we packed up the car and left for Phoenix around 6:00. It was a nice drive.... mostly, but around Las Vegas I started to get car sick and ended up puking in a gas station trash can. UGH! 😝

We finally made it to Cali's at 7:15, where she served a delicious dinner that I only ate a few bites of. 

Thanksgiving Day!

Luckily, I felt better for Thanksgiving and was able to eat the delicious meal Cali prepared..

And FYI - I have loved being able to wear my Autumn Sweater this fall!

A delicious dinner, games to play, football and Christmas movies to watch while decorating the tree. Great conversations and laughter!

It was a great day and I am very, very thankful to live in this great USA where we can celebrate however we want and with whomever we want!

Friday Night - What a lovely time!

On Friday Evening we took Gideon and Parker to the Phoenix Temple where we all participated in doing baptisms for the dead.

And of course we had to get ice cream afterward.

Saturday and Sunday were quite relaxing too, and I will say, some of the folks in Cali's neighborhood really know how to Deck the halls with lights.

A blessed Thanksgiving weekend! Thank you Cali, Alan, Gideon and Parker. 

A Job Well Done! - Darryl's Appreciation Dinner from Dome.

 Tuesday Nov. 19, 2024

Dome Technology - Idaho Falls, Idaho

Darryl went to work for Dome Technology in May of 1996, thinking he would only work there for a couple of years to learn the business, and then move on to doing his own dome building. I don't think he ever thought he would be ther3 for 28 1/2 years. He plans on retiring from full-time dome building after the first of the year, and his colleagues, bosses and friends had an Appreciation luncheon for him.

Jesse and Kelly came to the luncheon with us, it was nice to have family there. She sat across from Jason Craig and they had quite a good time reminiscing. 

All in all there were about 35-40 people there. Unfortunately, a few of our longtime friends from work couldn't be there. Rod South, Lane Roberts, John Kimball, Nick Clegg, Lalo Chavez and others were all working out of town, and Lily is in Salt Lake City where she is receiving treatment for her cancer.

Getting things ready to start. 

Jason Craig, who we've known since he was a high school kid in Indiana, me and Darryl.

Bradley Bateman, Adam Sullivan, Bryan Butikofer, Jason and Dan South and several others all shared stories of working with Darryl over the years.

Some stories were funny, some quite heartwarming and moving, but they were all wonderful to hear as they spoke of how much they appreciated Darryl and all they learned from him.

Then it was Darryl's turn to speak. He started out by telling them that the best decision he ever made and greatest "con" job he every pulled off was getting me to marry him. He spoke of his respect and friendship with Barry, who's health didn't allow him to be here, and of the two biggest influences in his life.

1. His parents. They taught him right from wrong and how to work.

2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which affects all his decisions, all aspects of his life.

Then he finished with his very beautiful testimony of the gospel and his Savior, Jesus Christ. And then, at the very end he said, "When all is said and done, I want you to remember these two things about me, - That I love the Lord and I love my wife. It was very moving for everyone.

They asked me to speak and I talked about how young we were when Darryl went to work for Dome Technology. He was 42 and I had turned 40 just days before we moved to Idaho, and all of the young people we have watched grow up in the company. Dan and Jason South were in their 20s, Bradley, who is now CEO, was just out of high school when we met him.

At one time or another all of our children have worked for Dome Technology, learning skills they will have with them the rest of their lives (4 of them worked as heavy equipment or crane operators) and what a blessing that has been for them. It's impossible to express how grateful we are for all the opportunities we have had to travel around the world and live in so many different places. 

We have been blessed to attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in branches and wards in far away places both in the USA and abroad, and to serve in the church in a few of those countries around the world. We have made good friends in a multitude of countries and of varying cultures and grown to love them. Our lives have been forever blessed by this good company.

Adam gifted me with the floral centerpiece. 

Darryl and I with Dome's CEO, Bradley Bateman. 

(Who is a wonderful man and was recently called to be an Area Authority of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

It was such a wonderful afternoon and a very well deserved honor for Darryl. 

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So, how do you finish off a day like that? By going to a Middle School Wrestling match to cheer on the neighbor kids. We love to watch wrestling, and Roselyn and her brother both won their matches!

And, we found out the the Cunningham family started a little wrestling tradition in Southeast Idaho back in 2006-2009. When Roselyn and McKade got their opponents in pinning position, Darryl and I would yell "Squeeze"!, just like we did when Cody was wrestling for Madison High School. It's something we picked when he wrestled in Colorado.

When Roselyn heard it she said, "Oh, that was you? I thought some people from Madison were here, because they always yell 'squeeze' at their meets when someone is trying to pin their opponent". 

Well, what do you know about that. Our little tradition lives on!