Memorial Day and Other Memories

Although we missed being in South Dakota for the annual Ireland Family Reunion, we did have a very enjoyable Memorial weekend here at our place with Todd and Beth's family and Doug and Shannon's family and meeting our #34 grandchild, Corban Lee Ireland.  We also appreciate my brother's dedication to decorating the graves of our parents and other relatives in Cache Valley.

At the end of a baseball game with siblings and cousins

in our backyard during the Memorial weekend.

(Joshua, Jacob, Rebecca held by Megan, Jared, Ethan,

Isaac held by Amanda, and Brynlee)

Corban Lee Ireland

Parents are Doug and Shannon;

born May 21, 2014 at 11:45 p.m.

weighing 8 lbs. 5 oz. and

20 1/2 inches long.

The grandkids enjoyed the trampoline.

It looks nice after Sam covered the springs

with pool noodles and artificial grass.

(Mason, Brynlee, Rebecca, and Jacob)

 Sam has done a lot to make our yard nice.

Here he is replacing some fruit trees after

deer killed four he had planted last year.

The prairie fire crabapple trees in bloom this spring.

 We like the Miss Kim Lilacs

and planted some more earlier this month.

Brynlee and Mason in the pool with their dad.

 Jacob, Ethan, Doug, Mason, Brynlee, and Isaac

Brynlee getting ready.

Joshua keeping his eyes on the ball.

Grampa Sam, the power hitter!

Jacob is ready to hit that ball,

and Megan will get her turn at bat.

  Todd pitching to Amanda.

Ethan got a hit.

Now playing "pumpkin ball,"

and Doug is the pitcher.

(Doug, Jacob, Ethan, and Brynlee)

Isaac running to be safe at "home."

Lots of food available, including a pizza snack.

(Jared and Megan)

Isaac, Rebecca, Brynlee, and Joshua

busy with a coloring activity.

 Gramma happy to get to cuddle Corban.

 Brynlee lovingly holding her new little brother.

 Rebecca gets a turn, too.

 Another view of our backyard and pasture (April 29).

 

Sunset changing the colors on Maple Mountain

as seen from our backyard (May 13).

The roses were so pretty this week at the 

Provo Temple, 

where we serve each Tuesday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Marla forwarded us the e-mail from Maggie saying she has arrived in Mexico City (May 28) where she will be in the MTC (CCM) for Spanish language training before serving her Spanish-speaking mission for the church in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission.  [See Maggie's photo at the upper right (Curtis and Marla's daughter).]

 * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Remembering with love our parents on Memorial Day.  Here are two photos from my files:

 Gravesite of Harold and Mabel Ireland, Sam's parents.

Memorial Day at the Martin Community Cemetery

May 2012

(Rachel, Shannon, Scott, Jenna, Brittney, Kristine, and Matt)

In 2005, with my brother and sister on Memorial Day

in the cemetery in Logan, Utah,

at the site of our parents' grave:

Parley LeRoi and Margaret Nelson.

(Louise Hyer, K. LeRoi Nelson, and Narene Ireland)
 

Spring Brought Smiles and Some Tears

This spring has brought us both smiles and some tears.  One of the happy times was a visit from our former interpreter in Moscow, Anastasia (Nastya), and her husband, Jordan.  They live in Salt Lake City since their marriage last July.

 Anastasia (Nastya) and Jordan's visit - April 19.

On our mission in Russia, we grew to love Nastya, our interpreter,

and think of her as part of our family;

so it is always a pleasure when she and her husband

stop by for a visit.  It was nice to have

Beth and family come to see Nastya, too.

(Jared, Amanda, Sam, Joshua, 

Jordan and Anastasia Strate, 

Rebecca, Narene, Ethan, and Megan -

Beth took the picture)

It was an interesting sight on April 6

to look out our front door across the road to the pasture

and see all the seagulls.  This is only a small part of the flock. 

The weather was nice for Easter, and the

grandchildren enjoyed having an Easter egg hunt in our backyard.

(Rebecca, Isaac, Joshua, Amanda, Megan, Jacob, Mason,
Anna, Brynlee, and Ethan)

Rebecca and Isaac discovering what was inside
the eggs they found.

Some of Shannon's delicious cupcakes for our family dinner

in our home on Easter Sunday with our Utah families. 

 Toward evening on Easter, when the coals were right, the grandkids
roasted Peeps in the firepit.
(Jared and Isaac - stoking the fire)

Playing Elimination in the sport court.
(Trevor, Doug, Brady, Megan, Joshua, Ethan, and Jacob)
April 20

A fun day at Thanksgiving Point to see the Tulip Festival

on April 23.

Marla was here from South Dakota to spend a few days

after Maggie finished her freshman year at BYU.

They moved Maggie out of her dorm and did some

shopping for Maggie in preparation for her mission.

She will be serving a Spanish-speaking mission

in the Fort Lauderdale Florida Mission

after first going to the MTC in Mexico on May 28th.

 (Maggie on the Segway, Sarah with Anna, Narene, and Marla)

 Trevor taking a turn on one of the two Segways we rented.

  He That Is Without Sin

is one of the 15 sculptures depicting the teachings and miracles

of Jesus Christ in the Light of the World garden 

at Thanksgiving Point.

Trevor and Megan joined us

at Thanksgiving Point.

We were pleased but not surprised when

Trevor called us on May 16 to share their good news

that they are engaged.  We are very happy for them.

Megan took the picture of us as we

finished our tour of the Tulip Festival.

(Anna with Trevor, Derek, Sarah, Marla, Maggie,

Narene and Sam)

A close-up view of the many beautiful tulips

at Thanksgiving Point.

Our original plans were to go to Denver to hear our grandson Trent speak in church on May 11 (Mother's Day) following his return from his mission in Australia.  We then were going to spend time at the farm in South Dakota before going to Mitchell to hear our granddaughter Maggie speak in church prior to leaving for her mission.  Our plans were modified when we received word that our dear friend of almost 40 years died suddenly from a bleeding stroke.  We attended the wake on Friday, May 2, and the funeral the following day in Mission, SD.  There were many nice tributes paid to Galen that were a comfort to his family and friends.  Galen had taught and coached at Todd County High School for many years and was a supportive member in the community and in our church.  Sam and I appreciate being included in the "Give-Away."

Galen Busch 

September 10, 1939 - April 25, 2014 

We have many happy memories of times shared with Galen and Patti and their children through the years and feel like we are family.  Many holidays included being together as families.  Sam and Galen served together in the Rosebud District Presidency for many years.  Patti had been my counselor in the Rosebud District Relief Society and later in the Pierre District.  Galen liked to hunt and would come to the farm on the opening day of pheasant season.  As Sam had also been a teacher and coach, this was another interest they shared.  Patti helped me with the quilts for Marla and Beth when they got married.  The memories are numerous.

Back at the farm, Sam helped Brent customize the new corn planter.

It was nice to be with Brent and Tauna's family again.

(Weston, Rachel, and Seth; their brother Sam was at a golf tournament

when this picture was taken.)

Sam bringing two hay bales to be ground for feed.

Grinding hay 

The late snow fall had melted leaving the ground wet.

The auger filling the truck with wheat from the grain bin

to be hauled to market.

We drove to Mitchell and had a short visit with

Curtis, Marla, Haley and Maren and

stayed overnight with the Smiths (May 4).

With our change of plans, we didn't get to attend

the Ireland reunion on Memorial Day; but we

enjoyed our visit with Sam's Aunt Curly in Martin

before we left for Denver.

(Sam and Eulalia Mansfield or Curly, May 9)

On our way to Denver, we stopped for a visit

with Bill and Karen

and stayed with them overnight in Scottsbluff.

(Narene with Bill and Karen Hicks - May 9)

 We were pleased to see Trent after his two-year

mission in Australia and enjoyed his talk in church

on Mother's Day.  We didn't get the picture taken before

Sam changed out of his suit.

(Narene, Trent, and Sam)

Trent with his parents.

(Kristine, Trent, and Scott)

Monty enjoying the special Mother's Day dinner.

Amy, Judd's wife, prepared her special recipe of

southern fried chicken.

(Monty is Matt and Brittney's and our great-grandson.)

Snow scene - 

Scott and Kristine's backyard in Denver

the morning after Mother's Day! 

On our return trip to Spanish Fork on I-70 on Monday morning.

We waited to leave until 10:30,

so the interstate was okay for traveling

with only slush and wet roads.  I-80 was closed. 

We were glad we had been able to go to South Dakota and to Denver,

but it is always good to be back home again.

(The sunset looking out our front door.)