Wednesday Wander- Happy Harvest!

Come fall, I wish I could say that I bottled peaches and pears, and that I knew what to do with all my tomatoes and squash that come from our backyard garden, but If I did, I would be lying.  But harvesting bucks when the breeze of  Autumn sets in- well that's another story.  Or at least that is Rigby's story.

You must be strong and sturdy to Hunt with Rigby.  Madsen and Stockton headed to the "hunting spot" with him the first Monday morning of the Hunt and after hiking 14 miles and climbing 6,000 feet they landed a trophy.  

 But most of all they "harvested memories."  Memories that build the bonds of brotherhood and that get bigger and better with the telling.  "Memories" that I hope will bring them home to us when "Fall's Foliage" ignites the mountaintops each harvest.

We aren't much for road hunting, nor do we like to hang with a crowd.  But we live to hunt with our "Huntin' Fool" and love the moments we get to create together.

Tomorrow, I head with Rigby to try out my new 243"Muddy Girl camo."  Yep, because come Thanksgiving I have a "hunt" of my own!

#webelieve

 Football is violent poetry in action... there is nothing quite like the sound and rhythm of football.  It is intoxicating.  It is a synonym for fall.  The crunch of football players colliding- the snap of the football, the cheering of the fans- Friday night lights!

I watched my four older brothers suit up for what is now my sons' team cross town rivals.  I was enraptured by the movement of the ball even as a little girl and dreamed that I one day might be an "autumn girl."

Today, I travel to watch the falcons- my Rigby Boys compete for a spot in the state play offs.  I have been their taxi for years to and from practices and games.  We have scheduled our lives around the Falcons.  My basement has been engulfed by the aroma of pads, helmets, and cleats- Football is our fall music.  

25 seniors suit up today- not all will get playing time, but all will cheer.  Football takes the entire team.  It is doubtful my boys will get much playing time, but I go to cheer for they are all my "boys."

These two are my twins- born two years apart to the day (April 22nd).  They are so alike and yet so different.  One plays offense, the other defense.  But one thing they have in common is the love of the game.  They both have, heart, determination, and a work ethic I would stack up against any other player's.

 Their love of this poetry has made my love for it grow even more...  they are the boys of football.

It takes courage to play this sport. It is not for the weak or faint of heart.  The impact is real- strong and forceful.  But it is also a game of finesse and strategy.  

I will pray for them today and their coach, and I will be grateful that I was able to witness the memories.

Thankful to have two more years with # 22.  Hard to believe he was once that sick little baby boy who at 15 months old had the bone structure of a 6 month old baby.  This year has been his first ever at quarterback- Well done Stock!

"Life is a not a work of Art... the moment cannot last."

To be his parents has been a great gift

 Thank you Seleck for trading in your dreams for ones that will carry you to unknown places.  Thank you for your courage, persistence and dedication.  

 Thanks to the many coaches who have helped our boys along the way.  We are so very grateful.

Childhood friends

We will remain Falcons for years to come and we will cherish our days with CTC for # webelieve

                             Don't Give up... Anything is possible                   

Happy Harvest from So. Utah's Staheli Farm

It has been a relaxing fall break so very much needed in our house of 100 lives.  The boys hunted and hiked and hiked.  Emma, Maleck and I made Halloween sugar cookies and took walks and rode bikes, and then today Rigby joined us on a adventure to Staheli Farms.

 I loved touring the farm and hearing these two complain about the smell of the cows- I loved it and missed my grandpa Hofheins immensely!  It was the perfect night for the corn maze and pumpkin patch!

I love it when we get to stop the clock and enjoy the little things in life.  These two are our "littlest" and we love hanging with them because it makes us fee so young (people tend to "date" you by the age of your children).

 I love how much these two love each other!  It makes me so happy!

 Hanging with Rigby is my absolute favorite- I wish I got more of it!

 And now Harvest time and Halloween are here- we have been to the pumpkin Patch.  Thanks so much to the Staheli Farm for bring so much joy to our hearts- love it all!


Enjoy more pics of our visit in the photo gallery                                    below

                 Happiest of Halloweens!                        

Monday Mystery- Who is Elizabeth Gill

Prologue:  A friend and I were discussing today as we were making Halloween sugar cookies for our children to decorate why so many saints are leaving the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Do we really know or more importantly are we willing to listen to the "why?"they are leaving,  or is it we are afraid of the answers we might find.  Perhaps, our own faith might be tested and that scares us.  Elizabeth strengthened my faith tonight- she gave me my answers.

Elizabeth and her husband James Weaver lived on Smethwick's High Street near the Blue Gates Hotel in England.  Elizabeth was the son of a laborer and James was a cordwainer or shoemaker- a country journeyman.  The two met in Brierley Hill, a populous village.  Elizabeth was just 21 years old.  They were married at Kingswinford parish church December 27, 1841.

Kingswinford, parish church

  It was on this High street that Elizabeth and James met two Americans, Mormon missionaries who shared with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ- the restored church.  It was March 1842- they were baptized that very day!

Elizabeth's faith was tried and tested.  As the wife of a shoemaker, they family relocated often.  During this period Elizabeth buried four of her nine children in tiny caskets in different towns.  It was her faith in the resurrection which kept her going.

The family eventually relocated to Dudley where Christopher was able to add to the family's income as a blacksmith.  This provided the means for Elizabeth's daughters to be educated.  Elizabeth herself could not read or write.

  Determined to see her children grow up in "Zion" the Weavers saved for seven years.  During this time Mormons were harassed and persecuted for their beliefs.  Finally,  the day arrived on April 29, 1865 when the family boarded the Belle Wood at the Liverpool docks bound for New York City.  It was on this ship that their son Christopher met Ellen Jackson whom he would one day marry. The family arrived in American on May 31, 1865.

Many of the passengers of the Belle Wood made their from New York to Nebraska where they waited their wagon train assignment.  Elizabeth and James made a temporarily settled in Western Johnson County and became part of the network supplying Zion bound wagons trains.   These once city folk were now farmers who had to become accustomed to the unpredictable weather of the plains. 

Following their faith to Zion, the Weaver left the financial security of their farm and bought rail tickets to  Zion. Delighted by the mountain peaks topped with snow in the early spring Elizabeth and James arrived in Utah at the Ogden Union Depot in 1874.  It had taken them 30 years to reach Zion.   James' brother John brought them to his home in Kaysville where they once again farmed and toiled in the dirt.  

In August 1879, James and Elizabeth fulfilled their dream uniting their family unit throughout the eternities- never having forgotten the four little ones they buried in the English soil.  They were sealed as an eternal unit in Salt Lake's endowment house.

The Wasatch mountains were the backdrop to their remaining days.  Together, they worked and toiled as they had done since their earliest days in England.  Body worn and tired Elizabeth passed away at age 67 on June 24, 1887.  James followed soon after on a cold March day in 1888.  He was 73.   They were married for 45 years.

Kaysville cemetery, Utah

Epilogue: I admit, I too have questions.  But you know what, it took Elizabeth 30 years to reach  "Zion."  She buried 4 of her nine children before she even left England, she lived the life of a pioneer woman on the plains in dugouts.  Her livelihood was tested by weather- tornadoes, heat, chilling temperatures.  She left the life of "city folk" to become a farmer's wife.  And all the while she was determined to raise her children in Zion... you know what Elizabeth and I are a lot a like. Only my faith is tempted tried and different ways, but I am still determined to "raise my children in Zion."   Elizabeth and James were sealed in the Salt Lake Endowment house in August of 1879.  Travis and I were sealed in the St. George Temple in July 1995.

It took Elizabeth 30 years to reach Zion temporally... Its okay I am still trying to get their symbolically.  I have been blessed with her faith- I don't need to have all the answers right now!