Spring Update

Here are a few spring updates:

Austin and I got our first covid vaccines. Canada has been sooooooo much slower than most of the world in getting vaccines. They finally became available for our age group, but only AstraZeneca. I actually prayed one night if I should get that vaccine or wait for another choice, and the next day my boss text me and said the Blackfeet Tribe was coming to the border to give vaccines to anyone who wants one. So we each went down there. It did take a couple hours to wait in line, cross the border, and get the vaccine and cross back into Canada, but we are so thankful to be able to get it. Everyone was friendly that was helping - even some of the border agents who have given us grief before. Austin did get AstraZenecca the next day here in Cardston. 

The Blackfoot Confederacy even came back the next month to give our second shot, even though in Canada they won't be giving second shots for several months until everyone has their first one. We thought the line to the border would be really long, so we each went early in the morning to be there in line. I got up at 3:50 am to get in line. I drove to the border and then I did sleep in my car for a couple hours. Lucy brought Grandma Nunn to the border to get in with me so she could get her second shot too. We were thankful to be fully vaccinated. I did spend the next day on the couch not feeling great as my body built up the immunity it needs to avoid getting the virus.

It was Drive your Tractor to School day. Only in Cardston. Lucy should have driven our mini tractor, Screwy, but she didn't. But at least she dressed up.

One night I was working late at my accounting office, and Austin said the vet was coming to pump our horse's stomachs because they had gotten into the bag of medicated calf grain and eaten most of it. The chemical in the grain can cause colic in horses if they eat too much, and we weren't sure which horses ate it and how much. So Dr. Todd Gunderson came out at 9 pm to pump mineral oil into each of our horses so it will clear their stomachs. It took him a couple hours to do all 5 horses, but we were grateful the vet could come.

Easter Sunday was General Conference Sunday. General Conference was so good. The Easter bunny came and hid the eggs outside. 

All of our goats had their babies on Easter weekend. We have 4 goats and Grandpa Buck takes care of them at his house - Thanks Grandpa. We had 8 babies that lived.

This string of pictures is while were talking to Hanna one p-day and Lucy and Austin told Hanna that Lena's tail had been chewed off by one of Grandpa's colt. (Lena's tail has been growing back for a couple years after one of our goats chewed it off). Hanna actually started crying, even while we were still laughing and laughing. Then when we told her it was a joke - she left the call. 

We bought new calves for us to rope this summer. We have bottle fed them everyday for 2 months. But they are just about ready to rope. Austin is just building a new breakaway box and roping chute.

 

Kaylynn's Trip to Utah

Luckily, Jill's graduation was right at the end of Canadian tax season. The days before I left, we were trying to get everyone's tax returns finished by the deadline, but I was also trying to get things ready because I would have to quarantine for 14 days after I got back and just work from home.

On Thursday morning, I was already feeling some anxiety about getting everything done and crossing the border and everything. Then I get a text from Jill - Larsen didn't pass his final and didn't pass the class. He was short by 1.6%. They contacted the professor and the advisor and the department head and the professor. Please let him retake the test. Nothing. So stressful and disappointing. Luckily Larsen could still walk at graduation. They will get through it, and he can retake the class this summer, but disappointing and frustrating on so many levels, definitely including that Larsen could have put more effort into the class.

Anyway, my travel to Montana went well and I did a little bit of shopping in Great Falls. The hotel I picked was a really good price, but it was a bit sketchy. Then all night I could hear people, trains, and other equipment working. But I saved $40, right. Then I flew from Great Falls to Las Vegas, and the people on the flight started drinking and so the flight got louder and louder. Then Jill and Larsen came to pick me up, which I appreciated since it is 3 hours from their house.

During the flight, I was listening to a podcast that Jeanette was on, and the interviewer asked her to tell about a moment in time that is simple but that brings her joy.  She told about when she picks up Lola from school, as soon as Lola sees her mom, her face lights up and she comes running. That was a turning point in my trip to calm my nerves and remind me why I was going - to be with Jill. Then I sat there and cried for a while as Jill's life played through my mind. One good thing about wearing a mask is that people can't tell you are crying.

When we got back to Panguitch, we went to meet Larsen & Jill's colt, Ella. She is a cute little horse that likes to chew her mom, Charlie's, tail and mane. Then we ate at the Cowboy's Smokehouse for dinner, the restaurant the Perkins own, where Jill and Larsen work. The food was delicious.

Saturday was graduation (see other post).

On Sunday, I got to go to church with Jill and Larsen. Their fast and testimony meeting was excellent, as they were having a stake fast for moisture and to improve their Come, Follow Me study in their homes. I was also so thankful to sing in church. Alberta hasn't let us sing in church because it will spread covid - even with masks on, we still can't sing. Then we also had Sunday School in person, which we haven't had two hour church yet either. Jill and Larsen teach youth Sunday School, but I stayed in the adult class. It was hopeful that things can return to normal after the pandemic, but also frustrating that Alberta just entered another lockdown because of rising covid cases.

After church, Larsen cooked a delicious dinner of porkchops with mango salsa. Yummy.

Then we started back toward Las Vegas. We stopped and drove up Kolob Canyon, which is part of Zion National Park. It was so pretty and we went on a little walk to a lookout point. I love nature.

Then we headed to Las Vegas and stayed at a hotel by the airport since I had to be at the airport by 5:45 am. It was so fun to be with Jill and Larsen for the weekend, and I am so thankful they have worked and worked to get their education.

My flight back to Great Falls was very quiet. Everyone slept on the plane.  I did a little more shopping in Great Falls since shopping is always better in America. It was Hanna's P-Day so she came shopping with me to JCPenney and North 40 on video call. I do think we were blessed with a tender mercy that one of the western stores had a set of pole bending bases. Our friends, Rick & Kris Olsen, had let us borrow theirs for several years, but they wanted them back and came and got them this week. They are not easy to find, but luckily I found a set in Great Falls. (Plus I paid $180 and Austin had found a set in Canada that were going to cost $600, so we were thankful they had a set in stock).

I had to stop in Shelby, Montana to get a covid test. They are set up to test Canadians who need a covid test to get across the border. They were so friendly, and Dr. Ham gave me a whole explanation about covid as a virus and that vitamin D & C and hydro(something) can help treat it. I really liked him.

Everything went smoothly at the border, especially since I had done my homework and had everything ready and had submitted my quarantine plan through the ArriveCan app. Then I took another covid test at the border and headed home to my 14-day quarantine. 

The day I came home, Lucy got notified that one of her teachers had tested positive for covid and so Lucy had to quarantine for 10 days (it had been 4 since was exposed). So I wasn't lonely in my days at home. She did online school and I did online work. She had to miss the Nanton high school rodeo. Then they announced that Alberta was going into another lockdown and that all schools would return on to online learning for 2 weeks. So then we had Carly home with us too. Lucy's time ended on Thursday, so she got to go to a friend party on Thursday night, a first aid class for her job on Friday, and then to the rodeo in High River on Saturday.

My friends were so thoughtful to bring me quarantine food. Erica Burt brought me a bag of fruit. Barb Salmon brought a box of Dairy Cream ice cream sandwiches (I can only eat the ice cream part), Jewel Hardy brought tortellini soup, banana bread sourdough bread, wheat bread and cesar salad (of course Jewel went all out), and Tammy Sommerfeldt brought brownies. Martha Nunn and Michelle Murray brought me flowers. Our ministering brother, Brother Walburger, also brought a box of Timbits for Mother's Day.

Austin had to be the chauffer, errand runner, and grocery shopper since Lucy and I couldn't do it. He probably hasn't been to the grocery store since last summer when I was in quarantine. And he has only been to the post office to check our mail one other time since we have lived in Canada.

Thank goodness for freedom again!!!

Jill & Larsen Graduate from College!!

Jill and Larsen are graduates from Southern Utah University - well, almost. Larsen has one more class to take this summer. Jill received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition. Larsen will receive his Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Agricultural Sciences and Business.

They divided the university in half and did two graduation ceremonies just to have less people at a time to prevent covid spread. The graduates first do a processional and walk under the bell tower and across campus. Then they had a commencement ceremony. It was so well done and classy. The valedictorian gave an excellent talk and the commencement speaker was Gail Miller, one of the richest women in Utah, but you wouldn't know it by the way she acts and talks. She is so generous and does so much good, and she gave an excellent talk. The current SUU president conducted and he was so likable and did a great job. 

Then they had a separate ceremony for each college. Jill and Larsen were both in the College of Health Sciences, so that worked out great. Larsen's sister, Lindsey, also graduated so good work to the 3 Perkins graduates. 

After graduation, we went to eat at a locally-run steak house in the middle of nowhere. The food was actually really good. The Perkins, who run their own restaurant, sure do have lots of opinions about food and restaurants. 

 

Carly's 13th Birthday

We got to spread out Carly's 13th birthday celebration over a few days.

On Tuesday, we had a friend birthday party joint with Presley Butler whose birthday was Monday. We went to the Leavitt Park and played softball and had a nacho bar and doughnuts. It was fun to have an actual gathering, and the girls gave Carly and Presley lots of candy for their birthday gift - we love treats!

Then on Wednesday night we had birthday dinner and grilled steaks.

On her birthday morning, we had birthday breakfast - although it failed as I burned the bacon and forgot to put yeast in the sticky buns.

I left to go to Montana on Thursday afternoon so I could fly to be there for Jill & Larsen's graduations, so we all did a messenger video call on Thursday night for Carly to open her birthday presents. She got a new backpack, an electric blanket, and gifts from all 3 grandmas (Martha, Carol & Karma). We also ordered her a new swimsuit that was shipped to Jill.

Welcome to teenage life! Austin told Carly that he would see her again in 3-5 years when she makes it  through the roller coaster of being a teenage girl!!

 

What have I learned from the pandemic?

President Nelson said, "There are many things the Lord wants us to learn from our experiences  during this pandemic. I invite you to make your own list, consider it carefully, and share it with those you love."

1. I have learned that I do not want to live far away from my kids. I don't want to have a border between us. I don't want to be the grandparents that only see their grandkids once a year. I want to be able to go to my kids' and grandkids' events. I want them to come to our house to rope and ride and celebrate holidays.

2. I have learned that we can simplify. The events we plan can be simplified and streamlined. The time we spend together is more important than the decorations or fancy refreshments. 

3. I have learned that isolation and separation is not the way it is supposed to be. The only reason drive-by receptions, funerals, birthday parties, etc are meaningful is because we have a previous relationship with people. We built those relationships by gathering, spending time together, and enjoying activities together. 

4. I have learned that prayer is essential. When the world seems so frustrating, pour out your heart to God. He hears your prayers and will comfort you. "Be Still My Soul, the Lord is on Thy Side."

5. I have learned that the Savior has prepared us to survive and still progress through a pandemic. We were prepared with a plan to study the gospel at home during the time we couldn't go to church. We were prepared to minister to others in new and creative ways, even when you can't go visit them in their homes. The mission rules changed about a year before the pandemic that missionaries could call home every week - before it was just on Mother's Day and Christmas. Having Hanna be able to video call us every week has been essential. It gives her something to look forward to. It gives us a chance to be together. It gives excitement to her P-Day since they are in lockdown and can only go buy groceries. They can't do activities with their district or other missionaries. We talk to her for 4-5 hours every Monday.

6. I have learned that time goes fast and slow. The days and weeks are sometimes long, but here we are 13 months into the pandemic.

7. I have  learned that it is so important to choose who and what we are going to listen to. Are we going to listen to the random post on Facebook, the forwarded email, and the random blog? Or are we going to listen to the prophet, our church leaders, and trusted professionals? There is so many opinions and so much information out there. It is vital that we choose our sources of information carefully and follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

8. I have learned not to procrastinate. On the day the pandemic started, that was what your grade was in school. It couldn't go down. You could raise it, but that was your grade. (I don't think Westwind School Division would go with that policy again - students stopped doing school work after a few weeks of online learning because they knew their grade wouldn't go down). Also, the standings for high school rodeo became the qualification to compete at provincials. Since we couldn't have spring rodeos, there was no chance to improve your standings. Another example is that the US gave economic stimulus money to all of its citizens who filed a tax return in 2019. All of a sudden we had dozens of clients come to our office who now wanted to file  their US tax return so they could get the stimulus money. Those who had faithfully filed all along had already received the stimulus money.

9. I have learned to be patient and something I still need to learn is to have more hobbies. I love events. I love going to watch games and rodeos and going to church and community activities. I am not as good at doing nothing. We did get tons of projects done in our yard last year. I have also done lots of cleaning projects, but after a year it all could use another good cleaning.

10. I have learned that technology is a blessing. For several months, we had church with Austin's extended family and got to know them in a way we never would have before. We have also had some great zoom calls with our kids and with my extended family. We have also been able to watch baptisms and funerals and our family member's speak in church all around the country. Also, a shoutout to Marco (a video messaging app) for being able to stay close to family and friends.

How long will the pandemic last?

 Last summer when we were in the middle of the pandemic, and it felt so discouraging for the borders to be closed and for all of the lockdowns and restrictions, I kept wondering how long the pandemic was going to last. I wished that I could ask President Nelson when it was going to end. I decided he would tell me that I can get the answer the same way he could - Ask God. Learn to Hear Him.

I decided to start reading conference talks to find peace. The first talk of the April General Conference was by Elder Russell M. Ballard. He said, "As we listen to the Spirit during this 200th anniversary celebration this weekend, consider what offering you will present to the Lord in righteousness in the coming days. Be courageous - share it with someone you trust, and most important, take time to do it!

I decided I was going to fast every Sunday for a couple months, and so I did. I fasted for peace in my heart, for the pandemic to end, for borders to open, and mostly for the temple to reopen so Hanna could go through before she left on her mission. 

My fasting and prayers were answered as I felt strengthened, and I was also most grateful when they announced that the Cardston Temple was going to Phase 2 on August 24. Hanna was able to go to the temple before she left to fly to Toronto. She had already started MTC online, so we were so thankful she could go before she left.

Here we are 1 year and 2 weeks into the pandemic, and it is still going strong. We can have no indoor gatherings, no sports or any events, church can happen at 15% capacity, restaurants and stores have limited capacity (except Walmart and Costco - there doesn't seem to be any rules there). It seems like there is good news, bad news, good news, bad news. Vaccines are starting to come out, and the numbers were going down in Alberta. Now they are going back up.

We just keep praying that some day the pandemic will end.

Hanna's Birthday

Hanna turned 20 in Brampton, Ontario. Her and her companion, Hermana Savanna Russell, ate pizza for Hanna's birthday lunch. And the elders (including Elder Mitch Olsen, Hanna's friend from high school) brought her some birthday snacks. Her recently baptized friends brought her a cake. The awesome family that she lives with asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner, and she wanted waffles, so they made her some. They had never made waffles before, so it was an act of love.

We sent her a birthday box with 20 treats or random things like bubbles or sidewalk chalk.

We had a few gifts that we opened for her that we will keep until we get back - a basketball t-shirt and a pocket knife. We did get to talk to her on video chat on her birthday. We love that kid!