June 2020 Blog - Dentist & Family Reunion

Our first full month in our new home. We've had

so much family, and it's been great. I'm very 

thankful to John Lee Roring for becoming a dentist!

Stacey came in for over a week for dentist appointments

and Paul's family came in right at the end. We've

had a great time. All this led up to the family reunion. 

I have lots of pictures, so I'm limiting on my writing.

1. Good to have the piano back. Mia and Catharine

in concert!

2. There's plenty of room to visit.

3. Quarantined hair cut, shave, and eyebrow clip

4. The library has turned into a favorite gathering

place for teens and games. Mike, Danny, Sam and Kirsten 

5. Marren, Leah, Amelia, Catharine

6. Sunday gathering

7. We had just Daniel and Ellen's family to dinner.

Michael and Samuel are eating a banana split!

8. We had a party for those who read the Family Story

book or tried. We had homemade pizza and root beer

floats. I think its: Sam, Suzie in corner, Timmy, Zach, Ben,

Zander at door, Kaden and Caleb.

9. Dad worked very hard to hand the pictures over

the stairs, the grand kids pictures, and family pictures.

10. We  had a wonderful Sacrament meeting with Stacey's

and Paul's family. Then we gathered more after that.

Left: Lacey, Sammi, Chloe, Nikki, Levi

 11. Kirsten, Elise, Nikki, Lacey, Stacey, Ruth E. Sam, Danny

12. Harry Potter room hosting teenagers: L. Kirsten, Mallory,

Bekah, Olivia, and Nikki

13.  Library gatherings. They loved the superstitions book and

playing "Marry Mr. Darcy" game. Sammi, Bekah, Danny,

Kirsten, Nikki, Caleb, Mallory.

14. Play dough entertains all ages. Made from the recipe I

used for Joy School. Levi, Linda, Ruth E., Amelia

15. Now the older kids: Olivia, Bekah, Katrina, Chris-but he

didn't play, Mallory, Nikki, Danny, Leah

16. Whenever they are together: Sammi, Samuel, Sam

17. A new game, "Take Grandma's phone for selfie pictures."

18. last night before John's family went home.

19. Susan and A. Anne came up for Father's day weekend.

Helping Joe and Tesha build the new firepit.

20. Peter's T-shirt picture: Olivia, Katrina & Bekah

with Peter and Tammy in the back taken on our deck.

21. Such a view from our deck. Elise, Catharine, Sammi

22. We had cousin Mark and Suzie come for dinner when Susan

and A. Anne were here. I brought out the china!
Dad, Mark & Suzie Leatham, A. Anne, Susan

23. Chloe, Ben and Zach. These three along with Suzie

had so much fun and stayed overnight at Joes several time.

 24. Playing with the magnets and Levi showing how the

magnet will stick to his head! (He just had surgery the

a few days before they came.)

25. They reenacted Star Wars or Lord of the Rings poster.

I can't remember. Someone will have to tell me and

I'll fix it. 

26. Deer. The game that goes on living forever here.

Joe and Paul both played with them all.

27. Hudson and Catharine played and had such a good time.

28. The fire pit was a work of art. 

Joe and Tesha have worked so hard to host

the family reunion. Many happy hours around

the new firepit.

29. I can finally hang the picture painted by my dear

cousin Barbara of the the Salt Lake Temple.

30, The reunion beings! The fire pit worked great.

31. The trees are finally providing shade 

32. Noelle meets little William John

33. Saturday morning crepes made by Joe & Tesha.

They cook them on a griddle and cut them in half. There

were tons of things to put on and in. They used 36 eggs to

make them all.

34. We played games in every corner of the house you

could imagine. We were all divided into 4 groups, each with

a color. It didn't matter who we played with, we earned a 

point for our team. Games were going steadily all day.

We had so much fun both Friday and Saturday!

35. Tesha, Jeffrey, Dad, Zach, and Caleb. I think this

is my new favorite card game. Texas Showdown.

36.  Kaden, Val and Hudson. Me, Caleb and Mallory were also playing.

37. Dusty and Jeffrey

38. A place I hadn't thought of to play. Down the first landing:

Leah, Catharine and Amelia

39. Ticket to ride in the Harry Potter room:

Elise, Christian, Noelle, Mallory (I think), and Nikki.

Christian came with Noelle. It was very fun to get to

know him. (Even though he was king in the scum game)

40.  Daniel and Dad fixing lunch - Ham and cheese sliders.

 Lunch time

41. Afternoon scavenger hunt and water games.

42. So, I've never seen this new invention. More than 30

water balloon are being filled and then automatically come

off the filler and are tied with the rubber band.

It was brilliant. Christian filling and Suzie watching and Mike

43. We had ice cream all through the reunion. And yes,

it was enjoyed as much as little Michael enjoyed his.

We had a great time. It was a first to have it in our

new home, but first in troubled times. The Corona Virus

did prevent all of us getting together, so there were some 

games and activities on line provided by David and Amanda.

We do live in a troubled time - riots, pandemic-temples closed, etc.

I was reading a lecture given by Hugh Nibley in a Pearl of Great

Price lecture series. I'm ready for Matthew 24. He reminded us that

no one knows the exact time and it's important to "watch." The important

thing is to act as if the Lord were coming all the time. My favorite part:

"Behave toward your fellowmen in a manner the Lord would have you if 

He were here Himself in Zion."

That is my message. Find peace in the Savior that He is in charge and will

come. We are to treat ALL our fellowmen as the Lord would have.

I love you all.

April 2020 written in May

1. It's been a great spring. The house continues

toward completion and the yard and garden

have never looked so great.

Tesha made this and it was a work of art.

Filled with veggies we had quite the feast.

2. Spring. Everyone has been outside enjoying

the great weather and working in the yard. The large

garden had been added to for a strawberry patch

and watermelon patch.

3. Joe's family has been on some great,

local hikes. They have a hobby of rock

collecting and found some great ones!

4. Daniel and Ellen bought a home and we

helped them clean and paint it so it was ready

to move in. Thanks to family for the moving day!

5. John and Caleb. This was during the

COVID 19 pandemic and quarantine.

6. Moving Grandma Capener's piano.

7. It was Caleb's birthday, so we celebrated with

pizza, drinks, and Twinkies for a "birthday cake."

8. The mama cat had kittens. The kids liked

to carry them around in their shirts.

9. This pandemic has given us all more family time.

In a way, it really has been nice. Here is Joe "working"

hard with family around. Sometimes he would come

downstairs when he needed quiet time.

10. We were refinishing the table that I grew up with to

have it in our new home. Under the table I had

written my on it. Now we know where it comes from.

11. Chris brought over his Fooseball table to put in our

unfinished basement. The kids have already had a great

time with it. One the other end of the basement is all

the food storage buckets and cans. We can't figure out where

we put it all. There are about 150 buckets. 

12. Less Wheatley (Val's dad) did our cabinets. They are

so beautiful. Jeffrey and Dusty helped install them.

13. Tesha has her tomato plants covered from the cold.

14. The outside of our house. We debated on whether to

have the rock, but we're very happy with it. 

15.  Back of the house. It sure looks big from the back.

I'm glad the basement is so high and has tons of light.

16. Dad's teserac light fixture in the front hall.

17. My big brother Paul also signed his name.

18. Catharine's birthday. She's four years old.

The last two months have gone by fast even though

we've been quarantined to the house. I'm glad we had

some little kids to be with and then Zander and Amelia came

to play also. Think back on the things we've learned from

this pandemic. It wasn't too bad, because we could still go

to the store. Stock up what you needed, because I don't think

it will be the last time we will be in need. Feel free to come and

get some of our buckets of wheat or flour. I would also add

milk to that, but I'm saving it for pigs if we ever get any.

Remember who is in charge. There are things that will come

to pass in these latter days that will be hard, but we know the

ending. One talk I listened to said, "Put your seat belts and hold

on to your principles." 

I promise you there truly is peace in the Savior.