Ohio trip

Rick and I have returned from a week in Ohio and what a great time we have had in the Buckeye State. It was nearly perfect. The humidity was tough on us old folks, but other than that and some rainy days, we had a fabulous time getting to visit with family and friends. My dream would be to have all my kids and their families attend the Hannum reunion with me some year. My dad's sisters are getting up there in years..one is 89...there are only 2 left now. I would love for them to see my kids...they sure would love to meet you. They asked lots of questions and most of my cousins had all of their kids and grandkids with them. Of course, we were the only ones from out of state. MOst of my relatives stayed in Noble County all of their lives..that is all good. I envy them a little...I love my roots. I get very homesick for the good days of Belle Valley and my parents and the simple life I had as a child. I got to go into an old house that I lived in when I was maybe 10 years old. You all would have a good laugh. Uncle Steve owns it. Ted and Marilyn and I discussed where we had our Christmas tree and I recall just like yesterday the red Christmas wreaths in the windows. Wow, memories are the best medicine. I hope each of you have memories of your childhood and that you are making memories with your kids. That is the most important thing in the world. When you get to be my age, you realize that money means nothing compared to family. I loved my childhood and we had so little, but I knew I was loved and I thought we had money because my parents were such good people...everybody in town loved them. Yesterday at our reunion, my cousin said the thought we were rich too because she wanted to come to our house because my parents were so fun and we had such a clean house. My brother Ted, said he remembered you could eat off of the floor. My mother was the best and she kept our house spotless even though we had no plumbing and no bathroom and no running water in the house. I admire her so much. Maybe that is why I tried hard to keep our home clean and neat. I am not half as efficient as her. I do believe each you have a little bit of Grandma Hannum in you as well. I am missing my parents this week. They would be so proud of their grandkids and great grandkids. Well, won't be long until we will be together and celebrating McKenna and her farewell. What a treat for me to see my granddaughter leave for a mission. Sure looking forward to being together as well. Hoping we can enjoy and have a safe and happy time together. Suppose everyone is making July 4th plans. Rick is staying in SLC and I am working here. Since it falls on a Thursday, we will just wait and get together on Friday this week. Too hot to do much here so I might as well work. Have a safe holiday and we will see you all soon. Love, Mom

Been awhile

Yes, I know its been awhile...my last few weeks seem like a blur. However, I realize everyone is busy! Had girls camp a couple weeks ago. It was so crazy this year. I'm in the stake YW, and we lost our stake camp director, our assistant, and our cook. So we as a presidency were left with everything. It was a little stressful, but in the end, I can see how Heavenly Father needed it to be this year. McKenna was called to be a ward youth leader this year. It was so great to be there with her one more time. I loved watching her and Kam interact! McKenna is so good with her sisters. They both bore beautiful testimonies. McKenna talked of her love and peace she has felt in the temple. What a tender moment for me. I only wish that Hallie and Brett could have been with us. Hallie will get to go next year (FINALLY in her words). Brett has gone every year with us as a priesthood leader, but his back wouldn't allow for that this year:(( We are not seeing much improvement at all and he is getting pretty discouraged. He went in for an injection this past week, but not seeing relief yet. It is his nerves...they are regenerating and we have been told that it can take up to 6 months! Not the answer we had hoped for. He is in constant pain. Not too much fun. I know he feels sad because this is our last summer with McKenna for awhile, and he is spending it in pain. Thanks for your continued prayers. It seems like your blogs are more exciting to read than mine....I've humbled myself and realized that I'm not so funny after all. My brothers definitely got the humor gene. Well, I guess I can make people laugh "AT" me with some of my funnies...but that's not really much to brag about huh?! I'm looking forward to visiting soon. I feel like my July is going to fly by...and then I will be left with many tears I fear. What will I do without me sweet Kenna-bunk?! I love my girls so much! So grateful to be their mom! So grateful for you all also...see ya soon!
LOVE- SIS

This is the last call for Buckeye shirts...Jeff is the only one who contacted me with what his family needs and sizes. Let me know if your family is in need soon...Rick and I are flying out Saturday am, but I leave for SLC on Friday at noon. Love, MOM

What a week

Wow, I have had quite a week. I was able to go to the temple 5 times this week. Every time I was able to do work for my ancestors that I am working so hard to locate. It is so fun and such a "high" to do work for your own family. Of course, the highlight was Friday afternoon when we all went with McKenna Lynn Remund for own endowment. As I sat in the temple next to Ashley Shay, McKenna and Sherri, I felt so emotional and then to look over th aisle and see Rick, Brett and Justin, I just could hardley contain my joy. When your Dad and I went to the temple in SLC more than 40 years ago, we had no family that even believed in us. Here I sat with 3 generations in a short span of 40 years. I could live to be there with a 4th generation(well, maybe not), but you know me...I dream big. At any rate, it was quite the experience. McKenna is just so nonchalant...We visited with her yesterday and she seems pretty ok with garments..considering it was 108 degrees here yesterday, that isn't too bad...I love her so much. I know the Phillipinos will adore my redheaded granddaughter. Rick and I have had a morning walk and he and I are both teaching today. He teaches Gospel Doctrine and today it is on the 2nd coming. I told him to stick to the manual...some will try to distract him with speculation. He is a bit nervous...so much he wants to talk about and so little time. I teach Relief Society and it it on Seeking the will of the Lord. I hope I can always do that. Sometimes I have not...then it never turns out the way it should. Rick and I are headed to the Buckeye State June 22 through June 29. If anyone needs shirts, let me know right away along with sizes. or if you are looking for anything else. Please send me that right away so I can make my list. The time will go fast. Do it now..otherwise, no complaining if you don't get anything. I have too many now to even remember if you don't tell me. Jeff, will you please mail be back those sister names that you accidentally took home with you for baptisms....I need to see who they are and get that work done so I will have some names for endowments when you guys do the "Hall men". We need to be deciding when we will go to the temple when all are here. We will be doing Wayne, Grandpa Hall,Great Grandpa Hall, Great Grandma Hall, Denny, My brother, Danny. I have many other names of course, but those are the ones you requested. I am still searching for a birthdate for baby girl Hall, All I have is the year "1950". the church needs more. I will keep trying. Getting so excited about July and family time. The summer will be flying by and then McKenna will be gone. After that, just 5 months and Rick and I will retire and hopefully be called on our mission as well. The older you get the faster it goes. Glad you all aren't old yet. I sure love my family. MOM

Yellowstone and summer

We had a great time in Yellowstone and Big Sky with Mom and Rick. It really was an amazing and relaxing weekend. For a first time at Yellowstone, I worry that we were a little spoiled with all the animals we saw. Everyone has their own favorites, but just being able to see the numerous animals and ones so different than what we had in Ohio was very neat. Rick was an excellent tour guide and took us all over the park, where we feel like we really saw the best stuff and did not waste any minute. We spent a lot of time checking out the many hot pots, which were Connley's favorite part of the trip, but in between each stop being able to here stories from Rick or receive some historical information added to the entire experience. The only thing better than Yellowstone was Mom's cooking and the company we kept. It was a fun time, and a great opportunity to spend time with Mom and Rick, and for my kids to spend a fun weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, especially considering they will not be around for 2 years very soon. I highly recommend the Mayfield Family tour for anyone who can make it up that way while they are there.

Well, our kids finish school this Thursday, yippee! Angela and I are excited because it will save us many miles and about 30 minutes on our commute to work each day. Right now we drive them to school and pick them up, since we did not want to make them transfer schools with only one month left in the year. It adds significant time and mileage to our drive each morning and evening, but it was worth it for the girls. The girls are dreading the summer, because they do not have any friends out here yet, so they are anticipating being bored out of their minds. Luckily we have so many family events happening that we hope that will help the summer go fast and make it more fun. Since Mason is in 6th grade, which here the elementary is K-6th, she is graduating from elementary to Junior High School in 4 days. Next year she will be in 7th grade, which here is 7-9th grades. I am a little nervous about her going to school with 9th graders, but I intend to continue to be the over-protected father, so we shall see. Since Mason and her class are graduating out of elementary, they are having a graduation ceremony for the 6th grade on Thursday, and they have selected Mason to speak at the graduation. She will be 1 of 3 kids speaking. We are excited and nervous for her, but she doesn't seem nervous at all...yet. She rejected all of my ideas for her speech, but taken all of her mom's advice, so my expectations have been lowered a bit. Haha, just kidding!!

As for Connley she is a little nervous about school next year, because this will be the first year she has ever gone to school without Mason. It will be a little scary, but it is only one year before they are back in the same school. It might even be good for both of them, because now they will have their own experiences and more to share and talk about with each other.

As for Angela and I same old same old. We continue to work, and are trying to unpack still. We love our new house, but look forward to the day where we feel a little more established and settled in. With that as our worry, things are pretty good. We are very excited for summer, especially all of the family happenings. We look forward to seeing everyone and having the opportunity to spend some quality time together. It seems like it has been forever since we have seen David, Mike, and Jeff and families. We saw Sherri at Easter, but it was such a great visit that we do miss being closer. We truly cannot wait to see everyone!!

We hope you are all well. We are so excited and happy for Jeff and Catherine, and their new jobs. We know Jeff will do great, and hope it will be the blessing his family needs. I was so excited when I heard Jeff got the job. It was such an emotional roller coaster for about a week or two. Congrats Jeff and good luck! For those who may not know, Catherine was hired to be a real estate agent with Keller-Williams in Boise, and starts realtor school Monday. Sorry if I stole your thunder Catherine. She will do great as a realtor!

We hope to share some further exciting news with all of you very soon, but for now, we love you and will see you soon!

just love those blogs

I love reading everyone else's blogs. Jeff, I don't even know if you realize how funny you are when you write. I picture you writing and think of how it must be in South Carolina and I am glad you are with your family there, but sad that you are so far from family here. I do want to clarify that I have invited all of you to Yellowstone, but it is never a good time for anyone because of the time we have the condo...it is always in May. Wish it were later in the summer, but this is the month and week that Rick has reserved it for many years thus we cannot change it. That is how those time shares work...they lock you in and you cannot change it. We love the park in May as there are not many tourists yet so it works for us old foggies, but not good for kids in school. We had a wonderful time and I think Mark, Angela and girls enjoyed all the different animals as well. We didn't see any big horn sheep this trip so we were disappointed about that though. But my favorite is the moose and we saw more than ever. Kam did baptisms for some of our family this week for her YOuth Conference..I went to the temple as well. It is so much more exciting to do work for family members. I am really excited to have several of us go this summer together and do Grandpa Hall,Wayne, Denny, great grandpa Hall, Great grandma Hall, Danny, etc. We will surely feel good when that is done. I am trying hard to find the birthdate of Baby girl Hall, your dad's sister who was born and died the same day in 1950. I wrote to Melva to ask her to look at the cemetery marker, but the letter came back to me. I have looked in the cemetery listing but it only gives me the year. I have looked at the OHio Indexing for 1950 and it only gives me the year as well. We cannot do her sealing without more information. darn it!!!! Can you believe McKenna goes through the temple on Friday? Wow, so exciting for Sherri and Brett and all of us. Ashley is driving from Idaho to be with her sister. What a family we belong to. Rick is out cutting down palm tree branches. We took a walk early this am. We went to the movie "Ephraim's Rescue" last night. I think it was every bit as good as "17 Miracles". Same producer. I would recommend it to you. It reminds me of all those who sacrificed so much that we might be blessed today and just how blessed we are to have righteous Priesthood holders right in our family. That is the best thing. I lived many years waiting for my sons to have the Priesthood. It makes a difference. I am grateful that I know I can call on the powers of the Priesthood and we can receive blessings from the Lord. Maybe that is why I am happier Jeff. I love the gospel, I love my family, and I love life. Wow, what more can a woman want? 7 months and counting until retirement and a mission for Rick and I...we are getting excited. Love, MOM