More Arkansas Adventures

Monday while Rebecca took her children for one last adventure at Silver Dollar City, we prepped for Sue and Steve's arrival.  They flew into St Louis, rented a car and drove down.  They may have arrived late, but that didn't keep us from staying up even later visiting.

Tuesday I went to visit someone I recently met; he is bed bound with cancer issues and a serious weight problem (over 450 pounds).  While his body may be declining, his mind is very active and is constantly thinking of things to do. He is really quite smart and manages to accomplish a lot of things considering his situation.

That evening, Rebecca invited the Maple family to join us for dinner.  We had a yummy dinner that she prepared and enjoyed visiting afterwards.  They are just a great family; their oldest son is serving a mission in the Salt Lake City area.

Wednesday was Rebecca's last full day here, so you know she had to make one last trip to WalMart.  She was busy organizing and packing.  The children did ask for one last ride in the back of the pickup truck across the pasture. Late that afternoon, the sister missionaries delivered a box of peaches that Miranda had purchased in Tulsa on Monday and that Dan transported to West Plains on Tuesday and gave to the sisters on Wednesday who were attending a training meeting so they could deliver them to me. We invited them to join us for dinner and, as always, enjoyed their company.

 I am always amazed at how Rebecca's  family comes for an extended period of time, ensconces in the downstairs area, and then packs up and leaves without a trace of their even being there! It was a sad day on Thursday morning when they were out the door before 630 am to catch their flight in Springfield. There never seems to be enough time to accomplish all that we would like to do when she visits. After their departure, I made three double batches of peach jam for a total of 21 pints. Yummy!  We are set for the next year!

Sandy went off Hospice early in the week so she could have a PET scan done on Thursday.  She has a doctor's appointment on Monday at which time we hope to know the results of the test.  While she has shown much improvement in the past several weeks which indicate to us a shrinkage of the cancer, we really won't know just how much and where until we see the results of this recent test. This past week she has had increased energy, followed by slower days.  So there are highs and lows, but she is still going strong.

We have enjoyed the slower, quieter pace with Sue and Steve.  We have spent time reminiscing about our childhood, trying to remember life back in the 50's and 60's.  Interesting the things each of us remembers that the other has no recollection of. Steve 'claims' I kicked down his door once because I was mad at him; I, on the other hand, have no recollection of any such dastardly deed. Sue has been busy typing up these experiences for posterity.

Friday was the ward temple trip; with the St Louis Temple closed until October, we drove to Kansas City since it is the next closest open temple. I had not wanted to make this trip since Sue and Steve were here, but they needed another driver or they would not go.  But it was a most productive day in accomplishing a lot of proxy work.

Saturday, I took Steve with me to a neighbor that had a roof leak.  Several days ago they called to say the wind had blown their skylight off the roof, could I come help.  While there, there was another area that was leaking into the workshop that needed a repair.  So Steve went and helped me with the workshop leak and we were done in under 90 minutes. 

Here are some pictures from two weeks ago when Ian and Dan and children helped cut up one of the downed trees.

Three generations of beautiful Fox Women:

Sandy with the White children: 

This is what happens when you leave your cell phone out and Rylee finds it.  She know how to access the camera without using the passcode!

We have been blessed to have had family visit us almost the entire summer.  Have they ever spoiled us with tasty meals, companionship, support and love! Tomorrow will start a new adventure as it will be just Sandy and I for the foreseeable future. Time for us to find out if we can survive on our own!

Thanks to all our amazing family and their loving support.

The blessing of Family

Sunday, 12 August 2018

Happy Birthday to Hailey Reck (3) on Friday and to Steven Reck (10) on Saturday and to Nathan on Saturday.  Congratulations to Adam and Savannah on 13 years of marriage!

Here are more pictures from our Nauvoo Trip:

Eggbert made several appearances:

Holding the zip tie for Andy.

Miranda and family as well as Deborah and her family followed us home from Nauvoo; Rebecca headed off to Jonathan's until early Tuesday when her family joined us. There were a couple of days when we had 15 grandchildren and 7 adults in the house.  While it got a little chaotic on occasion, it is a joy to see how the cousins bond together for a greater good and find things to do together; whether playing games, running around outside, keeping Rachel happy, or helping with some household chores, they are content and enthusiastic. And the ladies prepared yummy meals for us to enjoy.  They know how to spoil me!

Monday Ian and Dan, along with several of the children, helped cut up and burn a couple of the fallen trees. In less than two hours we had one tree completely burned and the usable firewood cut to length.  Normally I would use a maul to split them, but they are not very enthused about being split.  I put out a request to borrow a splitter in a couple of weeks. They also got a good portion of the larger tree (three foot diameter) cut.  I have been out a couple of times since to work over that tree and got another brush pile burned.  With the heat and humidity, 90 minutes of sweating is about all I want to endure.

Deborah and her family left on Thursday and Miranda's on Friday. Then came the text from Miranda:  three of her children were down with strep throat.  Deborah followed up with three of her own!  And school starts this week!  Fortunately, none of Rebecca's family or Sandy have symptoms...yet.

Rebecca and I were able to get to the theater to view the latest Mission Impossible film.  If there is such a thing as suspense upon suspense upon more suspense, this movie has it!  Lots of drama and 'sitting on the edge of your seat' action.

Friday the children greeted me by saying they caught a snake.  Yes, it was the same black snake that had been previously enjoying the chicken eggs; this time he was clever enough to know not to hide in the chicken coop and only visit to eat eggs. I took him a couple miles down the road and dropped him off.  He had a big bulge in his mid section; after several weeks of the fake glass egg being in the nesting box, he finally ate it. He will probably die from eating that egg.  Too bad, he could have been a big help to the mice population in the fields.

Sandy continues to show improvement; although, there are days of some regression.  Her energy level is improving; stomach doesn't seem to bother her and the appetite is slowly increasing.  Weight gain is her current challenge.  She hopes to get blood work and scans done in the near future to determine the status of her cancer.

Tomorrow, my brother and his wife arrive from CA; on Thursday AM Rebecca will return to Okinawa until next year. 

Hope you all have a great week.

The Great Family Nauvoo Expedition

Monday, 6 August 2018

Adam's flight from Medford was delayed 5 hours, so the family did not arrive here until 11 pm Sunday night.  We greeted them and then went to bed.  Great to have his family here with Rebecca's.  Adam's girls are so cute, cheerful and love to give hugs.

Monday was a low key day, getting ready for our trip to Nauvoo, which for us started on Tuesday. But we did take time to recognize Savannah's birthday with a 'death by chocolate' cake made by Rebecca.

 The adults were not the only ones hanging out.

And of  course, it was necessary to give the children a ride in the truck around the pasture.

Adam and family left for Jonathan's on Tuesday, and Rebecca's family and us left just after noon to drive to Mexico, MO to spend the night.  Sandy thought that the 7-8 hour trip to Nauvoo would be too much for her so we drove the 4+ hours to Mexico and continued to Nauvoo on Wednesday.  Of course we had to stop at Aldi's in Keokuk to stock up on food.

We arrived in Nauvoo early, so we managed to obtain tickets for the 30 minute horse wagon ride which gave an historical overview of Nauvoo as we rode the wagon.  We also were able to reserve seats for the evening's outdoor pageant.

Then Sandy and I went to see if the two rented houses were available.  They were, so we moved into our quarters.  Kristy had taken on the herculean task of making room assignments and she did an amazing job putting the right people in the right room.  By dinner, all six children and their children had arrived.  Only Dan White and Nathan were not there; so we had 42 of us.  To say it was rather hectic, chaotic and challenging to feed that many in one house would be an understatement; but it was enjoyable and fun to have all together as a group. We did rent two houses, but only one had a kitchen/dining area big enough for us.

Family fun.

Each family chose a dinner or breakfast to prepare and was in charge of that meal.  The MO Foxes provided us a yummy lasagna meal on Wednesday.  With a hasty cleanup, we headed off to the pageant area to view the 'British Pageant' which started at 830 pm.  With a cast of over 250 (my guess) it is an amazing hour and 45 minute dramatization of the apostles teaching the gospel in the British Isles in the 1830's and 1840's and the impact it had those peoples lives and follows several families that struggled with the decision to be baptized.  The cast is made up of mostly volunteers from around the world, with a small core group of actors.  All ages participate, to include small infants. It was a very spiritual ending for a long day.

Thursday was picture day.  We had a wonderfully delightful couple take family photos at three different locations in Nauvoo; the wife even had most of the children's names memorized!  And the grandchildren were mostly cooperative in smiling at the appropriate time.

Then families split up to do their own thing.  In the afternoon, all the adults attended a session in the temple. It was another special event for us, to have all the children in the temple at one time.  Especially so because two months ago, we weren't sure Sandy would be able to make this trip.  Deborah's family prepared a tasty potato bar for dinner and then we were off to the county fair at the pageant grounds.  They have a variety of games, crafts and activities for all ages for the 90 minutes prior to the pageant.  Log cutting, dancing, a several pioneer type games; my favorite is the bag pipe band.  This group of 12-15 come together from across the country, some never having played in a band together, to provide their amazing music.  Tonight was the 'American Pageant'; a sequel to the previous night's performance, tracing the lives of several families from the 'British Pageant'.  It was another marvelous performance that invited the spirit.

Friday was open for families to go do their own thing.  In the afternoon, eight of the grands went to the temple to do baptisms.  It was David Fox's first time.  This evening we were treated to a delicious taco salad by Andy's family.  And then we stayed home to play games and stay up later than we should have.

Eggbert even stopped by to visit us in Nauvoo and participate in activities.

Saturday, with lots of commotion, confusion and sadness, we packed and cleaned up so we could check out by 11.  And then all of us were on the road.  A time of joy and great excitement had come to an end and it was time to return to our own homes and routines.  The cousins all had a great time playing and visiting with each other. We have such a great family that loves to get together and have fun and enjoy being with each other.  It was a great experience for all of us and a real treat for Sandy to have the family surrounding her.

Play it Again Sam

Sunday 29 July 2018

Happy Birthday Savannah and Deborah!!

I would like to tell you about all the wonderful things that happened this week, but...either they didn't happen or I just don't remember what there were!

Okay, I finished the rental house.

Rebecca continues to keep us well fed.

The Children enjoy the chickens.

Callie is diligent at catching grasshoppers in the field and then hand feeding the chicks.  They will actually jump into her lap to eat them!

They have fun playing together.

We went out to Colton's one evening for dinner.  And two of the girls brought out their 'devices' to read while we waited for our food:

We are staying up late tonight to greet the Oregon Fox family as they fly/drive to our house.  They were delayed about 4 hours because, well, essentially the previously pilot of their plane took the 'keys' with him and was currently flying somewhere else.  Apparently he didn't sign off the plane and they had to wait for him to land in order to release the plane.  Gotta love United!

This is the week we will gather in Nauvoo for several days and moral is HIGH!

Sandy had a day or two that were a reversal of her previous slow and steady improvement.  Today was a better day though. We remain optimistic.

2nd Annual Pie Celebration Day!

Happy 15th Anniversary to Deborah and Ian!

Deborah and children joined us on Monday to spend the week. They are a diverse group that brings laughter and joy into the home.There may also be a few unhappy moments, but they don't linger long.  Wednesday evening Rebecca and children arrived from their drive from Utah, having delivered Dan to Springfield to catch his plane back to Okinawa.

I had noticed a decrease in our daily egg production and Sandy suggested it was due to a snake.  I had not seen one there for some time and didn't pay much attention to that, until this past week.  Over the nesting boxes we have a hinged lid over the top of the boxes.  I peeked in there this past week, and there he was.  Life was good for this guy; he just had to lean around the box and pick out an egg or two when ever he was hungry.  I removed him, all 6 1/2 plus feet, to the field, but suspect he will be back.  Meanwhile, we are getting more eggs each day and I thoroughly check the coop for snakes.

Thursday evening we had a strong gust of wind blow through for only a few minutes, but the accompanying lightening and thunder made for a spectacular light and sound show. Very brilliant. Then about 7:30 am Friday, an intense tempest and blustery storm blew through dumping hail and rain on the area.  This cell may have been associated with the storm that hit Branson and resulted in the capsizing of the 'duck' boat on the lake. I was on my way to the St Louis Temple at the time with 10 other ward members and missed all the excitement.  Deborah photo journaled the event and you can see that the children had a great time.

And they were most helpful with the cleanup that morning.

Saturday was the official 'Pie Celebration' day from 2-4.  We had invited family, friends, church members and neighbors to join us.  Since Rebecca is the pie maker, she had to hustle to get all the pies made.  She had prepared 4 or 5 that she froze before they drove to Utah, but she had less than three days to get all the other pies made.  I did my part by baking two pumpkin pies, and Josh made two Irish Beef pies but the remaining 18 (yes we had 22 pies!) were all cooked by her. Here is a list of the various pies:  Chocolate truffle, pecan, chocolate chess, lemon chess, toll house, pumpkin, apple, banana cream, oreo carmel, Irish beef pie, and chicken pot pie. Several of the grandchildren 'helped' peel the apples for that pie. We rearranged the living room furniture to accommodate chairs for seating, primed the younger children to go into hiding and had everything set up by the time the first guest arrived.  A wonderful time was had by all; we had approximately 60-65 come (includes family members).  It was fun to sit and visit with people.  And when the dust cleared, we still had 6-7 pies remaining.  One attendee brought three of his own pies which were well received.  We unleashed the grandchildren on the remaining pies, but will still be eating pie for a while.  Deborah and crew left shortly thereafter to return to their home. Next year I think we can make fewer pies!

With both Deborah and Rebecca here, we did some serious planning for our upcoming Fox family gathering in Nauvoo.  We have the food mostly arranged, housing assigned and are now trying to 'herd' the cats as to what time we can get to the temple as a family.

And oh, today is my birthday!