Tanner's Baptism

We finally have a grandchild who is baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Tanner was our first. He looked very nice and was so excited. The week prior was fun... He was excited about his birthday, not so much about his party, but about his baptism.

Family and friends gathered at the stake center to support Tanner in his choice of being baptized. He had both grandparents and Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Blumquist present. All of Davis' siblings were present. A few of the great Aunts and Uncles came, along with a few cousins. Many friends came to show support also.

Uncle Al had to work, he was supportive by working at Subway and going in early off the clock to make the food for the gathering. He ROCKS!!!

Tanner even got a few gifts at his 'party'.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Tour

Mike, Alexis, Seth, Rachael and I went to tour the temple on Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:50 a.m. We toured the Nauvoo Temple but it was nothing like this... We just walked through with our group or our little family... It was interesting. I guess they did the same at the Draper Temple also... We didn't tour that. I found this website giving information about the temple.

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/oquirrhmountain/

We started out in a large tent (fancy one with air and carpet etc...) to view the movie about this area and why we have temples here.

Next we walked through and felt the stillness and quiet. The funny thing about it tho, was that the building was loaded...yet you could hear the stillness. It was wonderful. The peaceful feelings were even present prior to the dedication. Such a great feeling...and no secrets, just sacred. Lexi commented on the designs of the carpets, the murals on the walls, and the chandeliers... and asked who cleaned them... Which I thought was funny... I said that they do not get to dirty, but I know that they get a good cleaning yearly...or when needed...

Seth and Poppie commented that there were many people present on the other side to... I am not sensitive enough to get those impressions... (thank you ) so I just felt the stillness and peace.

I got a few photos after the tour. The sun was bright and hot. It was a bit crazy at the spot... many people wanting pictures of their families. I just snapped a few for posterity... not for a photo shoot... so the pixs are a bit off... As I am in life...a bit off.... hehe

This picture of the girls has a saddness to it... With Lexi living in North Ogden and Rachael moving to Orem, this seems like one of the last times we will really be together. It's a fairly depressing thought, but we were at a point where we could view what eternity is like. We are family...

Winning City As of Right Now...

The city that seems to be close to Mike's work and have good prices is Spanish Fork...

It's the farthest away from my grandbabies...but the least expensive in houses.

Hm...

Torn... but also do not want to "have" to go to work to pay for a mortgage... I'd rather go to work for travel money or play money...not the needed items of life... Of course if that be the case, I would do it so Mike wouldn't have to work until he dies... We would like a few retirement years before that... RIGHT!!!

We found a few other places to rent also, but the prices were higher than we want to go...doesn't mean we will not consider them...just do we want to sacrifice more to get there...

Oh decisions are difficult... It's a good thing that our kids are able to hold up on their own without our help... John did you hear that!!! haha Time to take care of yourself...

These difficult financial times are not new to us... We lived through the 70's and survived...

So we know we will do just fine at this time also... We just need to have faith that we will be humble enough to listen to the promptings of the spirit...and then take that direction... Knee time again... (Seems the Lord knows how to keep me on those knees of mine!!)

We will keep you posted and probably be asking for help when the time comes to make that move to where... House!!! Sell!!! before winter sets in... I do not think moving in the winter is my favorite idea... hm

We are Looking...Guess in what city???

Mike woke up this morning and decided to go for a "ride"...

I spent the majority of yesterday with my 'garage sale' makine $250... Not bad for selling 1 of our 3 fridges and the edger...hurrah.

Ok, back to the city.... haha. The furthest either of us wanted to go was Spanish Fork...so we started there... We took the detour and ended up at the sugar factory...and under the freeway a few times and finally took Center Street (one of the main drags)...at this point in time Mike had his sense of direction totally out of whack... and we headed east (thanks to rosie the robot, the van)...

We stopped a few times in different communities to take their ads on the homes for sale...looking at prices and sizes...

We then went into a condo/townhome community to find a few places for rent...

We called a few numbers and got some numbers to work with...

We then headed to Springville and got off the freeway...WOW... the difference in 10 miles in price was ... ouch... a bit over our limit for a monthly without me going to work...

We figured we had a few ideas and headed home to look at the internet options. I am still looking and I am not thrilled to be so far away from my grandbabies... but the prices are right.

We now have a few ideas...ugh...the thought of moving is not in my happy thoughts, but with our options at Wild Oak getting slimmer and slimmer... we now have a new option or two to look at.

If we move to a less espensive place, we can have it a bit larger and have to down size less at the start... we can rent a place that gets Mike to work in less than 15 minutes... Right now he is commuting 60 minutes 2 times a day and when he gets home he is shot... So, if he and I want a life at all... we need to get closer to his work...and save money in the process...

Hm....

It's scarey and I've felt so sad... selling off our 'treasures' just seem to be alot of baggage to deal with at the same time as selling off our house...

It's all about choices and options...

Hm....one of the options for sale can be seen at http://www.ourtownhome.blogspot.com/... not exactly like the ones for rent, but close... 2 car garage and a fenced yard... Rusty would be thrilled... hahaha

OK...So this is IT!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows I have been trying to downsize for a few years...

This is the year... We have a for sale sign outfront and the garage is stuffed full of items we have 'stored' or not used in awhile... I am getting ready for another garage sale...moving sale. We figure that if we use it all the time and it's in good working order...KEEP... if we use it sometimes but not for the past 3 years, then SELL... and if we are just keeping it coz we don't know what to do with it or we don't LOVE it... then it's time to get rid of it..

This is hard for me...pack rat that I am...so I am asking others to help me out...be hard and tough with me...really make me work for the stuff I want to keep... It is just difficult to give away MY STUFF!!! Does that make me selfish...probably...but also I have to toss items that still have use...maybe not for me or my family, but others can use it or might use... OK I see my thinking errors...

So, I guess I just need to get rid of almost everything and just let it go and take a deep breath and allow myself to de clutter my mind as well as my house and garage... HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!! Then we get to work on Mike the great pack rat... Still has his trinket box from the army!!! ugh!!! Oh well, I can really only work on me... though I will try to help him also...

If you have any really good ideas, share them...

If you want to help...call me, we'll set up a time...

If you just think I'm nuts...I agree, but still need to do it...