Pictures from our Trip

Since I haven't figured out how to put writing with photos yet, and I haven't had time to bug Nicole about how to do it, I thought I'd just post the photos with an explanation in this writing.

#1 - St. George Temple which we attended on February 14th

#2 - Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas where we spent 3 nights

#3 - Wayne and I at Hoover Dam

#4 - Beautiful fountains at the Bellagio Hotel

#5 - Las Vegas Temple which we attended on February 18th

#6 - Manti Temple which we attended on February 19th

FUN TRIP - hope to never see Las Vegas again!!!

Our Semi-Retirement Trip Celebration

Now that Wayne is semi-retired (I still plan to post photos of the cows leaving home) we were able to take a weeks vacation. The main focus of this trip was meeting Jeff, Nicole, and Michael in Las Vegas as Jeff was attending the Western Veterinary Conference. How fun to be with them and celebrate Michael's 1st birthday!

Las Vegas is a place I don't plan to visit again. Things have really changed in the 33 years since I've been there. Children are now allowed on the casino floor - they just have to stay about 4 feet from the slot machines. That, to me, is like throwing a skunk into the jury box and telling the jury to disregard it. Between the gambling, smoking, and basically naked ladies dancing on tables in the middle of the day, I am grateful Michael was young enough he won't remember it. I felt like I wasn't old enough to be exposed to that crap! The highlights of the trip to Vegas were touring Hoover Dam, the Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel, shopping at the M & M World Store, and a session in the Las Vegas Temple.

On the way there (we drove because we actually had time to be away!) we spent time in St. George checking out church sites and also a session in that temple. On the way home we took two days to drive and detoured off of I-15 to go to Manti and attend a temple session there. I'm hoping with three temple sessions the Lord will forgive us for walking through Vegas casinos (which we had to in order to get to Jeff's room or our car!)

We had a great time, but were exhausted when we got home - Clifton had never looked better. Give me my boring life anyday with fresh smoke-less air to breathe. My knees will never forgive me for this trip with all the walking. I think I need to get them worked on.

Emotional Day.....

As I write this our cows are on their way to Preston, to be shipped to a meat packing place in Salt Lake. I will put on some photos in a few days, but I just wanted to express my feelings.
The dairy business has been a wonderful blessing to our family. Raising kids on a farm was something I'd recommend to anyone. They always had chores to do and no time to get in trouble. Yes, my husband came in at night stinky and very tired, but the point is that he enjoyed his work. We weren't rich but always made enough to pay bills, put food on the table, send two sons on missions, and college-educate all five of our kids.
But, all good things must come to an end. Wayne is now 63 years old and feels that his energy level isn't what it used to be and that now is the time to begin another phase of our lives. So, we have gone on the dairy buyout. We feel blessed to have been accepted into the program.
He will still farm in the spring and summer but we will now be free to pursue other things. His goal is temple attendance weekly, and maybe family history (wife's thoughts on that one). Hopefully a mission will be coming sometime, also.
I appreciate and love him so much. He is the hardest worker that I know. He will probably drive me nuts now that he has extra time, but I plan to put him to work on those many projects in the house and yard that have been neglected for years. We are now "seniors" on a fixed income. That, itself, sounds strange to me. Please pray for us in this transition in our lives.