SLEEPOVER

 

Thursday Night was sleepover night for Rafe!!  This was his first sleepover WITHOUT his mommy and daddy being there.  It went pretty well......except maybe bedtime.  I think he was missing his mommy:(

 

Some things that Rafe got to do at Grandma and Grandpa's were:

 

Visiting Teaching with grandma (no picture)

 

A ride to Soelberg's in grandpa's fancy sports car (sunroof open:)

 

 

A visit to the Baker's house (no picture)

 

Playing in the swing

 

 

An otter pop treat (Rafe's first...he LOVED it!)

 

 

Playing the piano with grandma

 

 

Little Mozart

 

 

Bathtime

 

 

getting jammies on ....he didn't like that:(

 

 

papaya smoothie with gramps

 

 

bottle before bedtime

 

 

sleepytime

 

 

Good Morning!!

 

 

 

All while mommy and daddy were living it up!!

 

Me and Lou's

On Thursday the Phelps sisters all got together for  Robbie's birthday celebration.   Those from Grantsville carpooled to Robin's home in Bountiful.  Darla picked us up there and we drove to Malad (yes, Idaho) to meet up with Karen and Lar at a place called Me and Lou's for lunch.  It was a great way to spend the day. (and the food wasn't to shabby either:)  We had a wonderful time visiting and reminiscing.  We talked a lot of Fern and her funeral as well as some memories of the Phelps girls growing up.  It was a wonderful day spent with some of my favorite people!! 

 

Ruth, Karen, Lar, Kathy, Robbie, Darla, DeeAnn, Janell

Fern's Funeral

 

I know it's been a week since Fern's funeral but I wanted to post about it.  The viewing was held Friday evening.   Many friends from Grantsville came to visit.  There were so many in our ward (and stake) that truly loved Fern.  She brought joy to many people....even in her feeble state!  We received many cards and well wishes from so many thoughtful people.  That truly means a lot to our family!  The viewing went well.  Sasturday morning was another short viewing and the funeral.  This was attended by many of her posterity.  Of all 59 of her grandchildren only five were unable to make it.  Four of them are serving full time missions at this time. 

 

(Part of our family at the viewing.  The other kids dissappeared:(

 

The service was very beautiful!  The family prayer was given by Brad Phelps. 

The program went as follows:

 

Opening Hymn:  "Love at Home

Invocation:  Hal Phelps

Life Sketch:  Karen Hone

Tribute:  Darla Allen

Musical Number:  "Far Away in Illinois" sung by her children

Speaker:  Dee Ann Allen

Speaker:  Kathy Baker

Musical Number:  "Dearest Children God is Near You" sung by her grandchildren

Remarks:  John Beckett (friend and former Bishop)

Remarks:  Rick Phelps

Remarks:  Elder Steven Allen

Closing Hymn:  "Be Still My Soul"

Benediction:  Darla Allen

 

The funeral was such a wonderful tribute to Fern.  She lived a very difficult life but her children meant everything to her so she did what she had to.  Their life was made better because of her many sacrifices.  She taught them the gospel and overall she wanted to have an eternal family and she ever worked to that end.

 

The Pallbearers were the oldest grandsons from each family.

Wade Hone

Brian Gordon

Brandon Phelps

Nathan Phelps

Ben Allen

Kaleb Phelps

Adam Allen

Mark Baker

Skylar Phelps

 

The Honorary Pallbearers were all of her other grandsons,  nineteen in all. 

 

The dedication of the grave was given by Brenton Phelps.

 

Fern's children and their spouses

 

 

All of Fern's living children from oldest to youngest

 

 

Fern's grandchildren (we're missing quite a few in this picture)

After the dedication of the grave we went back to the church for a nice luncheon prepared by the sisters of the Deseret Peak Ward.  It was wonderful! 

Thanks to all who have showed us much love during this difficult time. 
I have thought many times this past week of Fern and she is already greatly missed!

Happy Fathers Day

 

This post is to celebrate the "fathers" in my life!

 

First is my own dear father who has always been an example of quiet strength.  He doesn't always have a lot to say but his presence is always known.  He has always been a hard worker and provided well for his wife and children.  When I was 11 years old he quit his job and ventured into the unknown........self employment.  He had six children and a mortgage.  I have thought about that through the years and admired him for his courage.  Not many people would take that leap of faith.  His business Richard Hafen Surveying was very successful and our family was well taken care of! 

When I was in Jr. High I played second base on the softball team.  It was fun for me to look out from the infield to see my dad standing by the fence watching me play ball.  I really appreciated his support! Sometimes I didn't even see him there but at dinner he would comment on something that happened at the game and I knew that he had been watching. 

 

My dad is a very giving person.  If  he sees someone in need he jumps right in a does what he can to help! 

 

 Lastly, my dad loves to work!  He has been retired for about eight years but he still works hard every day.   He tinkers in the back yard welding and making cool stuff.  He works at the farm in Mesquite watering, cutting, bailing, and stacking hay.  He tends to his TWO gardens and takes care of his cows and horses.  He works in the temple each Tuesday and takes his calling as Sunday School President very seriously.  Thanks dad, for being the giant of the man that you are!

 

mom, kendra, rafe, me, and dad (January 2013)

 

The next father in my life is this cute guy in the picture below!!

 He is the father of my children and is the kindest most generous man I know.  I am constantly amazed by his patience and unconditional love for other people. 

 Sometimes I just look at him and think,

"How did I ever get so lucky?" 

I cannot even begin to describe what I feel for him. 

 I am so blessed that he is mine forever!!

 

rick and rafe relaxing on the hammock on father's day

The last father in my life is Mr. Brach Boman.  He is my excellent son-in-law and the father of my sweet grandson Rafe.   Brach has many wonderful qualities.  First, he is a devoted husband to my Kendra Dee.  I am always pleased to see the tender way he treats her.  Brach is a first rate father as well.  He loves little Rafe and it's fun for me to see his softer side as he rocks his little guy to sleep or feeds him a bottle or changes his diaper.  I know that Brach is waiting patiently for that day when he can put a baseball in his son's hand and teach him to throw a ball:)  It is also fun to see how Rafe is clearly in love with his dad:)  Brach can make him giggle and laugh like no one else.

Thanks Brach!  You are awesome!

 

rafe and brach (April 2013)

                                         Happy Fathers Day to all fathers everywhere!!

Infatuation

 

See these trees.......

I love them!

I seriously love them. 

 

I love to look out my kitchen window and just stare at them. 

 I love to see their limbs touching the grass below. 

I love to see their long branches swaying in the breeze.

I love how they have grown together just like they are one tree.

I love the hiding place that it creates for those who do not want to be seen.

I love how they are my fastest growing trees.

I love the way they make me feel inside when I look at them. 

 

 

 

Rick just laughs at my infatuation.......but secretly I know he loves them ALMOST as much as I do!

Here is the view from my patio!

I love this view!

 

 

A few years ago I was horrified when I looked outside after a heavy snowfall and the highest branch on righty was cracked and hanging lifeless.  I am so happy that it has filled in and is looking back to it's old self.

Oh what joy these trees bring me!!!

It's a quiet afternoon....I think I will take a book and go read in their shade.

 

A TRIBUTE

This post is dedicated to my beloved mother in law who passed away Tuesday night.

 

  Audrey Fern Phelps was born August 29, 1926 in Christopher, Illinois.  She was the fourth of thirteen children.  She learned to work hard at an early age as she was expected to help with many chores and take care of her younger brothers and sisters.  In 1946 she married Lawrence Robin Phelps and throughout the next 18 years had ten children of her own.  She was a dedicated mother being the sole breadwinner after her divorce in 1972.  She was a saleswoman and during her working years sold many different products.  A few of the ones I know of are Watkins Products, Avon, Jewelry (she especially loved selling turquoise), and at times even carp (yes there's a story behind that one......and according to her kids NOT a pleasant story:)  She was always happy to say that she never had any welfare assitance from the church but that she was able to care for her family by her hard work.  She was a woman of faith and loved her Savior.  She relied on the power of prayer much in her life.  Even in her last days I would peek in her room after I had helped her into bed and I could see her lips moving in prayer.  This was a common occurance. 

She loved Heavenly Father and he in turn loved and took care of her. 

 

I remember the first time I met her.  I had been out on two dates with Rick and was really starting to like him.  He had to leave just after our second date (on a Tuesday) for a funeral service in Arizona and then I had to return to St. George that weekend for a banquet dinner from the school that I had recently graduated from.  On Sunday, I pulled into our aptartment complex (we both lived in Stonehege Apts and were in the same ward) and as I was pulling in I saw his truck leaving the complex.  I noticed a red headed female in his truck and my heart sank thinking he was on a date with another girl.  To my relief and happiness as I was parking my car he pulled around the corner and came right over to me.  He wanted to introduce me to HIS MOTHER who he was spending some time with!!  She was very cordial to me and the rest is history:)

 

Being the baby of the family Rick has been very close to his mother.  I think she had a very hard time after he left on his mission because he was the last of the nine to leave home.  From what I have witnessed he has only ever treated her with love and kindness.  He told me that when he was a young boy she always let him know that she believed he was an honest boy.  Because of this trust he never wanted to let her down and always wanted to be truthful.  She built him up and shaped him into the man he is today.  I will ever be grateful for that.  He truly is a man of honor and I know that I owe much of my happy life to this wonderful woman who raised such an amazing son!

 

A four generation picture in November, 2012

 

 

For the last nine years it has been my privilege of helping to care for this dear woman.  Every three to four months she would come and live with our family for a month at a time.  I will be the first to say that this was not an easy thing to do.  Not because she was any trouble or difficult but for my own selfish reasons of losing freedom.  She did not like to be alone so when she was here......so was I.  Not really though because with the help of my kids and my nieces I was able to leave some of the time to get out of the house.  They were so very helpful.  While I love to be home I also love to get out of the house as well:)  Fern always was so kind to me as she was in my home!  She always told me that I was like one of her own daughters.  I truly believed that she loved me as her own.  Always kind, always pleasant, and always patient with me....and my children.  I always felt that she was happy when she was here.  I know for a fact that she loved Rick, or Ricky, as she always called him so very much.  Her eyes would light up when he walked through the door after work and she loved for him to just sit and talk:)  Having her here in our home has been a great blessing for me.  In caring for her I have grown to love her more than I ever could have in any other way. 

Service is just like that. 

 

Fern with Ruth's mother Vanola taken in March 

 

 

Since Tuesday night I have, at the oddest times, found myself crying.  Sometimes it will just hit me that she will not be coming back to my kitchen table to spend her days.  Just yesterday I was out watering my flowers and the missionaries came home right as I was in the midddle of a cryfest! Embarrasing!

While she will be missed by many I know that we are all happy and relieved that her spirit is free from the body that has limited her so much these last years.   She is free from pain and I know that she is with many of her loved ones who have gone on before her. Fern, I am so thankful to have known you.  It is a great priviledge to be a part of your wonderful family. 

I love you!!  

 

 

PS.... I forgot to mention ice cream!! I will always remember her love of ice cream.  It was her favorite treat and sometimes she would have up to three small bowls a day:)  (Sugar free, of course!)