Guardian Angels

The girls all loaded their horses and Jill drove the truck and trailer as they were headed to rodeo academy, just like they do every Thursday. I come a little later with some dinner, and then I can also leave early if I need to if I have my own car.

I watched out the window to make sure they got onto the driveway okay since there was some snow and ice. Then the next time I looked up, I could see the trailer tail lights at the end of the driveway. I could tell they were stopped, but I thought Jill must have been taking the truck out of 4-wheel drive. Then it was taking a while. Then she called me. Mom, I am in the ditch.

I called Austin as I got in the car to drive out. Then I got to the end of the driveway, and called him back and said, "You definitely need to come."

There were already two trucks that had stopped to see what was wrong. The first was Matt Nelson and a friend he was hunting with.  He drove by on the highway and could tell the truck was in the ditch and watched them unload the horses.  Matt Bevans also stopped.

The driveway was icy and as she started over the cattleguard and onto the road, the brakes locked and she was sliding and she tried to turn and ended up in the ditch. They were so lucky it didn't roll.The girls were fine.  Lucy and Hanna climbed out their side windows and they unloaded the horses. The horses were fine. 

Matt Nelson started to think of a plan to see if his truck could pull it out. Or maybe his truck and Matt Bevan's truck. Then Austin got there and they did try pulling with both trucks. Not quite enough.

Then along came Rod Olsen and his Dad, Dee Olsen. Then Brad Sommerfeldt and Ernie Olsen pulled in. I called our neighbor, Marvin Leavitt, and he came with his big tractor. When he got there, he said, "This is not as fun as the last block party we had."

They decided to unhook the trailer and pull the truck out first.  With some effort and thinking and trying, it worked.  The only damage to the truck was the driver's side of the box of the truck was quite dented. Then they figured out how to get the trailer pulled out of the ditch and onto the road.  The trailer was fine.

I took a few pictures, mostly to document it for insurance.  When we came back to the house and showed Jill, she told me that if I would have taken pictures of the other side we could have seen the angels who were holding up the truck and trailer. There were some who helped her slow down and not to roll.  Then Hanna said that Leighton (Austin's brother who died in 1997) had said, "Hanna, stay calm."

Besides the unseen angels, we are thankful for the angels we could see who came to help. It wasn't a coincidence that Matt Nelson, Matt Bevans, Rod Olsen, Brad Sommerfeldt, and Ernie Olsen were driving by, saw the lights and came to help.  We are also thankful that Marvin and his tractor were close by and could come and help. Marvin had been on vacation the past 2 weeks.

It could have been so much worse, and we are thankful that the damage was minimal.

Earlier in the day, Hanna, Lucy, Carly and I had spent the day in Lethbridge shopping. Hanna had bugged those girls and was bugged many times that day. But as soon as they got out and had the horses unloaded, Hanna gave Carly her coat and Lucy her gloves.  They went to put the horses back in the field, and it took Hanna a couple minutes to get the gate open, especially because her hands were so cold.  When it really counts, Hanna is the best sister.

We are thankful for the Lord's protecting hand.

Whipples Forever

My sister married this fantastic fella on November 1, 2008. On the eve of their seventh anniversary, they added these two gorgeous girls to their eternal family at the Mt. Timpanagos Temple.

Brooklyn Molly Whipple & Brylee Tricia Whipple

Grandpa Reeve

Lucy & Lindsey

Hailey, Hanna & Jill

My seven quality siblings

We enjoyed a delicious soup & bread luncheon.

Rachelle had a story to read, You Are Here for a Reason.

"Life can be tricky, there isn't a doubt. You'll skin your knees trying to figure it out. But life works together, the good and the bad, the silly and awful, the happy and sad, to paint a big picture we can't always see...a picture that needs you, most definitely!" Welcome to the family Brooklyn and Brylee, we love you! #familiesareforever #youarehereforever

Halloween in Utah

Five Nunn girls departed on an adventure from Canada to Utah. Austin couldn't come. 

The main purpose of the trip was to be there for Rachelle and Nathan's sealing to their adopted girls, Brylee and Brooklyn. 

Plus, we got to have lunch with Steve & Karma Albiston. 

We got to watch Nathan Bennett's football game. (He is in his senior year of playing football for Lone Peak High School. We got to watch the last two games of the season online, and they ended up losing in the state championship game by a few points. It was heartbreaking. But it was fun to watch his game while we were there.)

We got to celebrate Halloween with the cousins. Trick or treating in Cedar Hills is different than trick or treating in Leavitt but both super fun in their own way.  The weather on Halloween night was perfect!!

It was a very fun adventure!!!!

From Wyoming to Montana

Les has worked at the Padlock Ranch in Wyoming for seven years. He lost his job in March and had just found out that Hollis was pregnant with their fifth child, a seven-year caboose. 

Seven months later, after much prayer, worry, job interviews, fasting, advice from everyone, more prayer and waiting, he got a job at a ranch in Lewistown, Montana.

Austin had school in Friday and to speak in stake conference on Sunday so he couldn't go. Jill and Hanna had their last high school rodeo of the fall so they couldn't go. So Lucy, Carly and I drove the truck and horse trailer to Wyoming to help Les move. 

We did a caravan with grandma and grandpa and their truck and trailer. And some amazing saintly neighbors Dale and Karen Pilling also drove their truck and trailer down to help. 

Grandpa Buck was the leader. I had two phrases for him: cruise control & speed limit. It was a very slow journey. We did stop in Great Falls at Golden Corral for lunch. 

On our last stretch of freeway before Les's house, I finally passed grandpa so I could go the speed limit and put it on cruise control. 

We got to Wyoming and loaded the food storage. The house they have been living in the last few months was not ideal. They stayed in the house on the ranch until July and they moved into this house that someone in their ward let them live in for free. 

We were excited to get to meet Katie. 

On Saturday morning, we loaded and cleaned until we were ready to drive away to their new life. I have to admit there were a few moments I didn't think all of their stuff was going to fit. But it did.

Hollis's brother Austin came also. So we had four trucks and trailers and grandpa's truck because Les pulled grandpa's trailer. Les was the leader from Wyoming to Montana and we went at a much faster pace. 

We finally arrived at their new house. It is a long way from the highway but it is beautiful.

Inside the barn.

We were tired by the time we got to Montana and unloaded three of the trailers. 

The next morning we unloaded all the food storage.  That is a complete workout. 

We are so happy for the Young Nunns  and wish them luck in their new life!

Nunn Christmas Card

Jill took our family picture on a windy Sunday afternoon with her tripod. We used this one for our Christmas card this year.

Thanksgiving 2015

We had Thanksgiving dinner a week early because grandma and grandpa might be helping Les move next weekend. So we had a delicious turkey dinner in between General conference sessions. 

Sarah's family came too.

Grandma gave us each 2 jellybeans (stale from Easter) because she forgot to buy candy corns. We each said two things we are thankful for. We're glad that Carly is thankful for air!