Priesthood Advancements

 Priesthood ordinations💕 In January 2021-

Noah was advanced to a priest

and Noah to a teacher!

Love all these guys so much...and the below picture is beyond dear to me. Ryan and Marci and family. 

Then we were off to Travis and Tenille's family-

Boston was advanced to a priest and Nash to a teacher.  Cousins the same age!

One quote that I have always loved is by Joseph Smith (and he was directing it to the first Relief Society- so the power of the Priesthood- acting in God's name- is unilateral.

Ben starring in Bloody Fingers and Dirty Diapers

Yesterday was son Ben's birthday.  This film is a treasure in our family.  I'm afraid it is going to fade away!  Who knows where he heard this?  We bring it up often.  That's what families do!

Winning

Had to share Brandi's post on Facebook about Halle and Bingham High's High School win:



This past weekend we got to cheer our Lady Miners on as they clinched the State B-ball Title! Such a fun ending to a great season!!

 It was particularly fun for us because Hallee tried out for their sophomore team this year. She put in many hours, 6 days/week, learned a lot and made many new friends. However, their team unlike the Varsity and JV squads had a very challenging season. I know that social media posts are typically snapshots of all of the "best" moments of our lives - but we couldn't be more proud of this girl for working hard when things didn't go her way! Unfortunately, life is usually made up of a lot more of these moments.... when we work as hard as the other guy/team but the cards don't fall in our favor. We love that she is learning that how we choose to respond in these circumstances is more important than the outcome - even though winning is always more fun ;) 


"The only way to prove you are a good sport is to lose." - Ernie Banks#lifelessons #Binghamminers #growingup #lovehersomuch

Gracie Raye

 

Gracie Raye of Sunshine had so much fun at her last dance.  For their pre-date they all headed to Top Golf.  Google it to see how amazing it is!  I think they also had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory.

Gracie just turned 17 and is a Junior at Bingham High.  She's an officer in the National Honor Society and consistently gets high grades with college and honors classes.  I miss all the time we used to hang out when she was younger (frowny face).    Gracie also seasonally sings with a group called Counterpoint and they perform all through the holidays.

 

Life is always full of challenges which help us grow.  I'm so happy Gracie is learning to be strong yet gentle with herself.  She's a wonderful and beautiful kiddo! I'm so thankful for the sweet relationship I have with her (smiley face).

Bri!

Doug's daughter, therefore my grand- graduated from the U of U a couple of weeks ago. !  So proud of her hard work!  At the beginning of her senior year of college, she won a special grant that allowed her to become a teacher a year earlier, her own classroom for the entire year and 1/2 pay rather than paying for her senior year!  It was such an honor and she loves teaching 2nd grade!

Friday night Brandi and Doug hosted a graduation party for her.  Bri's favorite meal is haystacks so they fixed that plus fancier ones with a chicken curry and mango chutney dressing as well.  Lots of fun desserts.  Nice evening!

Our Dancer Gymnast

I don't think my body EVER bended like that!  This is Sadi's first solo to take to competition- she took first at Thanksgiving Point plus a first in Showmanship.  This performance was at Lagoon.

The Littles

On Easter Sunday- after having most of the family for dinner, our 3 "littles" and Annee spent the night and I watched kiddos through Tuesday.  It helped me keep my mind off losing my dad- and brings me such joy to be around them.

 

We drew on the sidewalk with chalk.  Summer loves riding the wooden horse (indoors and out) but it was chilly and I found this darling sweater my mom MADE FOR BRANDI!  It's almost an antique! (ha-ha, Brandi!)  I have a million pictures of Brandi wearing this sweater so it was fun to get some with Summer in it.

 

 

 

 Peyton drew a giant bunny and then wanted to sit in the middle as an Easter egg.
 

 
I love Ryker's rendition of horses.  He always draws them the same way!  Love this little guy.  And the sweater he is wearing was hand knit by my Bucket friend Libby.

 

I got new tree faces for the littles.  This one is Ryker.  He has the look almost down!

 

Here's Peyton.

We didn't get Summer and Annee's hung but that is our next project.  There is 12 years difference between my oldest and youngest kids- so although we have lots of kiddos moving into teenage years- we do have these littles that keep us young.  They don't roll their eyes at Grandma and they think Grandpa and I are wonderful.  David plays ball with them for hours  and takes them on horseback rides while I spent a lot of time changing the batteries in remote controlled cars and pushing   Summer  around the house in the doll stroller while she insists on telling me each place to turn.  I don't want to forget these little moments because at their age, they probably will.  David had the kids riding in the arena and he put Ryker alone on a horse and off they went.  When Ryker decided he was done (he's 4), he just slid off the horse. (landed a little hard with a wee bit of tears.) Undeterred, Summer (age 2) toddles over and picks up Pokie's reins, and brings the horse back to grandpa.  David wishes he would have had it on video.

More About Dad

I mentioned the week before last that David had been sick and I tried so hard to stay far away from him since I was going to my Dad's in Washington.  Dad and I had 3 great days together, doing all we do, before I could tell I was getting sick...and basically stayed away from dad for 2 days before I flew home.  Every day after I got home, I would call to check on him and he said he hadn't gotten it.  Well, the following week he did and of course it went straight to his lungs.  Gary took him to the ER and they said they'd need to admit him for a few days to clear him up before he went home.  He and Gary were talking and joking most of the day.  When Gary went home for the night, Dad's last words were "Don't forget to feed the fish!"  Dad loved his aquarium.  The Dr. called Gary early the next morning and told him dad had fallen unconscious during the night.  He just wasn't able to release the Co2 from his lungs.  Gary called me about 10 and said that there wasn't any way I would be able to make it before he died.  So I didn't go.  He never regained consciousness....and died March 30 just a bit after 1:00 a.m.  He didn't know what hit him- no distress- no stress- just drifted away.  I couldn't have asked for an easier death for him. (and talk about coincidence- David's dad died on March 30 ten years before!!!!)

Now you know what jokesters my folks were.  I can just see them talking in heaven and Dad saying to mom- "You know, I always  told Marilyn she was going to be the death of me....and she was!"

I can say that jokingly because I know my folks would laugh.  He probably caught the flu from me or maybe not.  I don't feel guilty. It is what it is. I'm so grateful for our last few days together.  No regrets. Just pure love and laughter.

I had a big boo-hoo for a couple of days (he died on Good Friday.)  Cried my eyes out over and over.  But then, it was Conference and words from the prophet and apostles about dealing with all of life's challenges and I just had all these tender recollections and experiences and my heart was soothed and finally I could accept it.  I'm sooooo happy for him and my mom.  How I loved them both!  Still, almost every day when I wake, I have to think is my mom  alive or not and now I'll do it with dad.  Was it all a bad dream?

David and I flew to Washington last Wed. and for 3 days we, along with my dear brother Gary and his wife Cher, cleaned out their apartment at the Retirement Center.  It was a huge job but we stuck with it and got it done Friday afternoon.It was so hard saying goodbye to all the staff that loved both of my folks for years and we all cried.  I will miss them all!  The four of us went out to lunch, then David and I took off driving for Utah.  I had bought mom's car when she quit driving so I would have something to drive when I was there (it will be a perfect teenager car) so we drove it home, road tripping and I have to say, we had a nice time.  We stayed in Pendleton the first night, then went to Middleton by Boise where friend Pretty Patty Petty and husband Tom lives. (Drove by the Meridian Temple that is gorgeous!!!)  We stayed overnight with them and had such a good time.  When we got in bed that night, I said to David what wonderful people they were and no wondered they were our first "young marrieds" friends at BYU and we've stayed in touch all this time.  We are blessed with good family and great friends and love in our home and the gospel to lift us through difficult times......how blessed we are.  Today was temple day and of course it was easy to imagine Dad crossing through the veil.  Without his oxygen tanks or crummy lungs.  He had to leave his crew cut and suspenders behind, but I truly believe he's already got heaven laughing.  He's just that funny!  Love you now and forever, Dad!

Together Again!!!

Thank you all for the MANY sweet condolences sent my way.  Your friendship and kind and encouraging words mean so much and really are a balm for the heart.  Peace in the middle of the storm.

Our Science Girl!!!!

From Brandi's posting:

Super proud of this girl! She loves all things science and is very passionate about clearing up our atmosphere and decreasing pollution. We encouraged her to do her (dreaded) science fair on the topic and she ended up progressing from the school and region level to the Central Utah STEM Fair @ BYU where she placed 2nd in the Earth Science Category! 🙌🙌 More impressive to me is what she has done as a result of her findings. She contacted her principal to see if the school could... adopt a "No Idling Program" to reduce pollution in the parking lots due to parents idling their cars while waiting to pick up their children. She met with the principal last month and was allowed to select the signs to go up in the parking lots and locations (based on her results). Today the signs went up and her cute teacher took a picture and sent it to us! Can't wait to see what else this amazing girl does!!

Dad's Obituaary

Leo “Keith” Darley, born May 24, 1927 in Rupert, Idaho died Friday, March 30, 2018 in Vancouver, Wa. Keith was born to George Eckersell and Mary Grace Anderson Darley. He was one of 6 children, survived by youngest sister, Lola Darley Yearout. Keith had a life full of adventure, growing up on the farm but loving cars and airplanes. He owned Model T’s, an airplane, a motorcycle and even a gas station. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II when he was only 17 and spent most of his time in Guam. When he got home, he asked out a cute girl on a date and she said, “Why would I go out with you? You don’t even have a job!” Keith went right out and got a job and then back to get the date. He and M. Maxine James were married on August 11, 1947 despite Keith being late for the wedding because he was out water skiing on the canal. They were married for 69 years until Maxine’s passing in 2016. They eagerly moved to Moses Lake, Wa. in 1955 with their young family and raised two children, Gary (Cher) Darley (Battelground, WA.) and Marilyn (David) Williams (Sandy, Ut.) there. Keith was a wonderful father and so full of fun, everyone loved to be around him. He worked in the auto parts industry for most of his life, until he started his own pressure washer sales and service company and he and Maxine enjoyed their many associations from those in their rental properties in Cascade Valley. He loved hunting and fishing with his son, waterskiing with his family, boating on all the lakes of Washington and the San Juans in small and grand boats. In 2007, Keith and Maxine moved to Battleground, Wa. and eventually Vancouver, Wa. to be nearer their son and family. The last 8 years they enjoyed the staff and residents of Van Mall Retirement Community. Grandpa Darley (also known as Tractor Grandpa among other things) will be remembered for his crew cut, his suspenders and his many inspirational sayings like “Ten thousand comedians out of work and you want to be one.” Dad and Grandpa, your posterity loves and adores you. In addition to his children and their spouses, he leaves behind 7 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and a million funny stories. Keith will be interred in the Minidoka/Rupert Cemetery with his dear wife.

Blast From the Past

For Christmas my kids/kiddos gave me the most unexpected and wonderful surprise.  They had printed (3 books) of my first 2 years of blogging!!!!!  In beautifully bound books!  Oh, how I have loved re-reading life from 10 years ago and hopefully someday as my great-great-greats read it, it can help them know, not just me, but our family.  It's really a record of love.

And I have snorted out loud a few times.  Like when after General Conference and a talk on "the Great and Spacious" building, Ryan and Marci snickered.  Apparently they had recently had a Family Home Evening about it- and later heard Josh talking about the "Great and Suspicious Building."  Marci corrected him and he asked, "What's spacious mean?" Marci said "large and roomy.'"  Josh quickly replied, "You mean like Grandma William's house?"

Oh my.  I will try HARD not to be pointing any fingers!!!!!