Happy Father's Day

We always enjoy sharing times with family, and Sam appreciated those who were able to come to celebrate Father's Day with us and those who called to express their love and messages. Three of our seven children were here with family to celebrate the special day:  Scott, Ryan, and Beth; and we know the other four would have been here had they lived closer.  All seven families went together in the giving of the gifts for their dad.

Sunday, June 21

   A gift all ages will enjoy, a large wooden stacking game.

This was one of the gifts from our 7 families

along with special insoles to help relieve pain caused by

Sam's current Plantar Fasciitis

and a Roku attachment for the TV 

so we could watch "The Chosen" on vidangel.com.

They ended up, however, connecting to vidangel.com with my iPhone 

and using the Roku downstairs in the family room

where it can be enjoyed by those watching on that TV.

Joshua carefully adding a block.

Jared watches as Alex decides his next move.

Beth shared with us the special "Olive Garden-style" soup she had made

along with two desserts from their family dinner.

Sam is displaying the four creatively painted ties

that came in the mail from Brittney and Matt's kids in Texas

to wish Grampa Sam "Happy Father's Day." 

Saturday, June 20th

Ethan and Johusa posing with their dog, Peggy,

whose curls are beginning to show again after the recent shave she had.

We were invited for hamburgers and the trimmings

on Saturday in the Graham's backyard. 

Rebecca showing her agility.

Some petunias displayed in the Graham's backyard.

Friday, June 19th

Friday afternoon we stopped by to wish Empty Nester friends

Paul and Ginnie Snyder a "Happy Anniversary."

Prior to several ward boundary changes, we had been in the same ward,

and Ginnie was a regular coming to our choir practices in our downstairs.

 This is a picture of Paul and Ginnie Snyder

that was taken on their recent mission in Florida.

Monday, June 22

Sarah and Derek's Family came swimming for FHE

Monday evening about 7:00 on June 22nd.

(Paul, Max, Sarah, and Anna;

Derek hadn't gotten in the pool yet.)

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The storage room now holds the items we chose to keep

following the refinishing of the floors in the garage and storage room.

 I should qualify the statement indicating "we chose to keep,"

as Sam would gladly have gotten rid of most items

on the first three floor-to-ceiling storage shelves,

since they are the current home for the holiday decorations

(with the first two for Christmas decorations,

and the third one for the other holidays).

On the opposite side of this wall is the air hockey table,

and we also have a ping pong table currently folded up.

Continuing on down from the five floor-to-ceiling shelves 

are file cabinets, folding tables,

and a good drier if anyone would like to have it.

 

Sam's tool cabinet is on the opposite side,

with additional shelves for other storage items.

On the corner shelves at the end are

items currently being stored for three granddaughters.

This is our garage with its new floor finish.

We're liking how this all turned out.

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As we celebrated fathers this weekend, I posted the following picture on Facebook paying tribute to all fathers who have blessed my life.  Although the photo does not include my father or father-in-law, they were very much in my thoughts also.

This is the caption for my photo on Facebook:
Happy Father's Day to my husband Sam and to all the dads

who have blessed my life.

Today I am remembering with loving thoughts my father, my father-in-law,

my sons and sons-in-law, my brother and brothers-in-law,

my grandsons, my nephews,

and also my dear friends who are fathers and have a special place in my heart.

The photo was taken at a Nelson Reunion in 2002 at our farm in South Dakota.

I am grateful for all the happy memories

and times shared with the fathers in my life.

 

Visiting Family in Arkansas

We enjoyed being with Jeff and Rochelle's family in their home in Arkansas and watching Zack and Jamen compete in the state wrestling tournament in Little Rock representing Bentonville West High School.  We flew from Salt Lake City on Wednesday, February 19th and returned on Monday, February 24. 

Arkansas State High School Wrestling Tournament

Little Rock 

February 22 - 23, 2020

Jamon wrestling at 126, won by a fall 4:21 in his first match.

Jamon is in 10th grade competing at state with a 24-13 record.

  Jamon wrestled well, but lost 11-3 in his quarterfinal match.

In the team line-up, Jamon is wrestling underweight,

with the only advantage being he can eat and doesn't have to cut weight.

Jamon easily won his next match, winning by a pin 1:51.



 Next Jamon won by a pin 3:21.

The next day Jamon lost 1-0 putting him in for 5th and 6th.

Jamon placed 5th with a technical fall, 17-1.

Zack had a bye the first round, and in the next round
he pinned his opponent in 1:45.
 Going into the tournament, Zack's record was 21-6.

The second day, Zack won 10-2 in his next match.

Introducing the wrestlers before the championship matches.
Zack and Jamon's team had 6 wrestlers in finals;
but Bentonville, a team who regularly travels to competitions
beyond regular high school tournaments,
went on to easily be the top-placing team
at this year's state tournament, scoring 283 points.
Bentonville West (Zack and Jamon's team) placed 2nd.

Zack, a senior and a returning 2-time state champion,
had a tough championship match.
Zack's opponent from Bentonville is the coach's son
and a formidable wrestler.

Zack had shared his goal of not getting pinned or tech falled;
and he did go the distance, losing 11-0. 

 Jamon placing 4th at 126 weight class.

Zack placing 2nd at 132 weight class.

Watching the wrestlers at the state tournament.

(Miles, Rochelle, Jeff, and Chance;
Kate not in this photo was with a friend.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Zack is scheduled for surgery on one hip a couple of weeks
after the state tournament,
and then three months later will have surgery on the other hip.
The doctor had approved his getting some relief with a cortizone shot
and waiting for the surgery until after the state tournament. 

Austin's broken arm is healing following the snowboarding trip to Utah.
He is to keep it at his side during this healing time. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Grampa Sam with Chance  
(Chance had fallen the day before and cut his head.)

Kate, Zack, Jeff holding Chance, Miles, Rochelle, Austin, and Jamon

 Kate is looking forward to welcoming a little sister next month!

Grampa and Gramma with Miles and Kate

With Jamon and Zack.


 
With Austin and Chance.

 The last time we were with Jeff and Rochelle's family in Arkansas, 
we took pictures of the autumn colors.
The scenery has a different look this time.
Their dog is a Catahoula breed and is very smart and well trained.

 A view of the front of their home.

Chance took Grampa Sam for a walk.
It was chilly the first day we were there, so Jeff loaned his dad a warm jacket. 

They have a large acreage with a wooded area,
and Chance led Grampa for a very long walk.



* * * * * * * * * * * * 

We will be cheering for Weston this weekend as we watch his matches online.
He will be competing in the South Dakota State Tournament in Sioux Falls,
February 27, 28, and 29.
 
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Congratulations to Megan and Gabe on their engagement!